GB1566599A - Pipework assembly - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVED PIPEWORK ASSEMBLY (71) We, SCOTTISH & NEWCASTLE BREWERIES LIMITED, a British Company of lii Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8YS, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following Statement:- This invention relates to a pipework assembly for varying the connection arrangement between first and second multiple pipe arrays.

In many process operations there is a need for periodically modifying the interconnection between two pipe arrays and one accepted method of doing this is to employ permanent connections between any pipe of the first array that may need to be connected to each pipe of the second array and to locate shut-off valves in each connection, so that interpipe flows can occur only along the chosen connections at any given time.

Such a method relies on the security of the shut-off valves and the reliability of such valves under some process conditions may not be sufficient to give the required security against wrong mixing of fluids between the two-pipe arrays.

This invention relates to a connection arrangement which does not rely on shut-off valves and which ensures that a pipe in one array can only be connected to a single pipe in the other array.

According to the present invention a pipework assembly comprises a framework, first and second pipe arrays supported on the framework with a space between pipe ends of one array and pipe ends of the other array, and a plurality of two-part bent connection pipe sections each part pipe section a) being securable at one end to a pipe end of one of the arrays in a plurality of different orientations relative to the axis of the pipe providing that pipe end, b) being connectable in fluid-tight manner to at least two different part pipe sections connected to the pipe ends of the other array and c) terminating in a common plane within said space.

Conveniently, each part pipe section has a double 90" bend, all the part pipe sections connected to one pipe array having male connections and all the part pipe sections connected to the other pipe array having female connections.

Where a process carried out in the pipe arrays is controlled from a central station and information as to the precise connections effected between the arrays at an assembly in accordance with the invention is required, it may be desirable to locate sensing means on each of the one part pipe sections and locate coded units on the other part pipe sections which actuate the sensing means in a unique way and to ensure that when two part pipe sections are connected together to establish flow connection between chosen pipes in the two arrays, the sensing unit transmits information to the central station indicative of the appropriate coded unit. The sensing means can be an array of switches and the coded unit comprise means to actuate selected ones of those switches.

Two embodiments of pipework assembly in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification, in which: Figure 1 is a plan from above of a first embodiment of pipework assembly prior to a chosen interconnection being made, Figure 2 is a front elevation corresponding to Figure 1 with some of the pipes of the left-hand assembly being omitted for reasons of clarity, Figure 3 is an end elevation seen from the right in Figures 1 and 2 and showing only the pipes of the right-hand array and the part pipe sections connected thereto, Figure 4 is an end elevation seen from the left in Figures 1 and 2 showing five connections made between the pipes of the right-hand assembly and some of the pipes of the left-hand assembly, Figures 5, 6 and 7 are respectively front elevation, a right-hand end elevation and a left-hand end elevation of a second embodiment of pipework assembly in accordance with the invention, Figure 8 is a partial view of two interconnected part pipe sections in either first or second embodiments showing one method of signalling to a remote location details of the connection made, and Figures 8a and 8b are schematic views of parts of the arrangement shown in Figure 8.

Referring to Figure 1, the assembly shown comprises a framework 10 defining a righthand inclined pipe rack 11 and a left-hand horizontal pipe rack 12. Five pipes (A-E) define a first array and these terminate in pipe ends supported on the rack 11. Seven pipes (0-6) define a second array and these terminate in pipe ends supported on the rack 12.

Each pipe end of each array is connected to a swingable bent pipe section which extends into the space between the racks 11 and 12, all the bent sections terminating at one vertical plane. The pipe ends have been designated with a primed letter or number corresponding to the pipe of the array to which they are connected. The lettered pipe sections have male pipe connections at their open end and the numbered pipe sections have female pipe connections at their open end, any one of the former being connectible to any one of the latter by appropriate orientation of the pipe sections in the said space relative to the axial direction of the pipe ends to which they are connected.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show how the pipes of the first array are supported on the framework 10, the integers 13 being sight glasses.

Figure 4 shows one mode of interconnection between the two arrays, the five interconnections being A-4, B-2, C-0, D-3 and E-6. The pipe sections 1 and 5' are shown vertical in Figure 4 because the pipes 1 and 5 are not involved in this particular interconnection.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of assembly in which there are just four pipes in each array (spaces for fifth pipes in each case being shown dotted and provided for when required). The racks 11' and 12' in the second embodiment are parallel to each other (rather than diverging as in the first embodiment) and the pipe runs to the framework 10' are different in this embodiment. However, the facility for varying the interconnection between the swingable pipe sections is still available although no interconnection has been shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7.

Figure 8 shows. the interconnection between pipe sections D' and 3' with the provision of means to sense the nature of the interconnection. On pipe section D' a housing 15 is provided this including a board 16 (see Figure 8al) on which are mounted an array of magnetic reed switches 17 and an array of magnetic mild steel screening bars 18. A cable 19 leads to a decoder box 20 which can be located at any convenient location. An identical housing 15, is provided on each lettered pipe section, the various cables 19 all leading to the decoder box 20. To the pipe section 3' (via a short chain length 21) is attached a magnet block 22 (see Figure 8b), in two of the recesses 23 of which bar magnets 24 are located. A chained magnet block is provided on each numbered pipe section but the disposition of the magnets 24 in the recesses 23 is different in each block 22 and the chain length 21 is too short to allow the block to be accommodated in any housing 15 except that of the lettered pipe section to which the appropriately numbered pipe section is connected. Since each block 22 has a unique arrangement of magnets 24, and only the reed switch 17 directly opposite a magnet is affected when a block is located in a housing, the decoder box can, at any time, indicate which connections have been made.

A holder 25 is available on the pipe section 3, to accommodate the block 22 when the latter is not in a housingl5.

The decoder box 20 can be used to control a stage in a process operation allowing this to proceed only when the switched arrangements in the various housings indicated on the cables 19, is in agreement with a preset arrangement. Each block 22 is shaped so that it can only be located in a housing 15, the correct way round.

The pipework assembly shown in the drawings has been specifically designed for use in automatic brewing plant but the invention should not be construed as being limited to that particular application.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A pipework assembly comprising a framework, first and second pipe arrays supported on the framework with a space between pipe ends of one array and pipe ends of the other array, and a plurality of twopart bent connection pipe sections each part pipe section a) being securable at one end to a pipe end of one of the arrays in a plurality of different orientations relative to the axis of the pipe providing that pipe end, b) being connectable in fluid-tight manner to at least two different part pipe sections connected to the pipe ends of the other array and c) terminating in a common plane

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Figure 4 is an end elevation seen from the left in Figures 1 and 2 showing five connections made between the pipes of the right-hand assembly and some of the pipes of the left-hand assembly, Figures 5, 6 and 7 are respectively front elevation, a right-hand end elevation and a left-hand end elevation of a second embodiment of pipework assembly in accordance with the invention, Figure 8 is a partial view of two interconnected part pipe sections in either first or second embodiments showing one method of signalling to a remote location details of the connection made, and Figures 8a and 8b are schematic views of parts of the arrangement shown in Figure 8. Referring to Figure 1, the assembly shown comprises a framework 10 defining a righthand inclined pipe rack 11 and a left-hand horizontal pipe rack 12. Five pipes (A-E) define a first array and these terminate in pipe ends supported on the rack 11. Seven pipes (0-6) define a second array and these terminate in pipe ends supported on the rack 12. Each pipe end of each array is connected to a swingable bent pipe section which extends into the space between the racks 11 and 12, all the bent sections terminating at one vertical plane. The pipe ends have been designated with a primed letter or number corresponding to the pipe of the array to which they are connected. The lettered pipe sections have male pipe connections at their open end and the numbered pipe sections have female pipe connections at their open end, any one of the former being connectible to any one of the latter by appropriate orientation of the pipe sections in the said space relative to the axial direction of the pipe ends to which they are connected. Figures 1, 2 and 3 show how the pipes of the first array are supported on the framework 10, the integers 13 being sight glasses. Figure 4 shows one mode of interconnection between the two arrays, the five interconnections being A-4, B-2, C-0, D-3 and E-6. The pipe sections 1 and 5' are shown vertical in Figure 4 because the pipes 1 and 5 are not involved in this particular interconnection. Figures 5, 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of assembly in which there are just four pipes in each array (spaces for fifth pipes in each case being shown dotted and provided for when required). The racks 11' and 12' in the second embodiment are parallel to each other (rather than diverging as in the first embodiment) and the pipe runs to the framework 10' are different in this embodiment. However, the facility for varying the interconnection between the swingable pipe sections is still available although no interconnection has been shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. Figure 8 shows. the interconnection between pipe sections D' and 3' with the provision of means to sense the nature of the interconnection. On pipe section D' a housing 15 is provided this including a board 16 (see Figure 8al) on which are mounted an array of magnetic reed switches 17 and an array of magnetic mild steel screening bars 18. A cable 19 leads to a decoder box 20 which can be located at any convenient location. An identical housing 15, is provided on each lettered pipe section, the various cables 19 all leading to the decoder box 20. To the pipe section 3' (via a short chain length 21) is attached a magnet block 22 (see Figure 8b), in two of the recesses 23 of which bar magnets 24 are located. A chained magnet block is provided on each numbered pipe section but the disposition of the magnets 24 in the recesses 23 is different in each block 22 and the chain length 21 is too short to allow the block to be accommodated in any housing 15 except that of the lettered pipe section to which the appropriately numbered pipe section is connected. Since each block 22 has a unique arrangement of magnets 24, and only the reed switch 17 directly opposite a magnet is affected when a block is located in a housing, the decoder box can, at any time, indicate which connections have been made. A holder 25 is available on the pipe section 3, to accommodate the block 22 when the latter is not in a housingl5. The decoder box 20 can be used to control a stage in a process operation allowing this to proceed only when the switched arrangements in the various housings indicated on the cables 19, is in agreement with a preset arrangement. Each block 22 is shaped so that it can only be located in a housing 15, the correct way round. The pipework assembly shown in the drawings has been specifically designed for use in automatic brewing plant but the invention should not be construed as being limited to that particular application. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A pipework assembly comprising a framework, first and second pipe arrays supported on the framework with a space between pipe ends of one array and pipe ends of the other array, and a plurality of twopart bent connection pipe sections each part pipe section a) being securable at one end to a pipe end of one of the arrays in a plurality of different orientations relative to the axis of the pipe providing that pipe end, b) being connectable in fluid-tight manner to at least two different part pipe sections connected to the pipe ends of the other array and c) terminating in a common plane

within said space.

2. A pipework assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which each part pipe section has a double 90" bend, all the part pipe sections connected to one pipe array having male connections and all the part pipe sections connected to the other pipe array having female connections.

3. A pipework assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which sensing means are located on each of the one part pipe sections and coded units are located on the other part pipe sections which actuate the sensing means in a unique way, each sensing means being adapted to transmit information to a central control station which is indicative of the appropriate coded unit on the pipe section coupled thereto.

4. A pipework assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which each sensing means is an array of switches and each coded unit comprises means to actuate respectively different ones of those switches.

5. A pipework assembly substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the drawings accompanying the provisional specification