GB2207201A

GB2207201A - Device for preventing leakages at a component having a sealed fluid chamber

Info

Publication number: GB2207201A
Application number: GB08815963A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans Hucke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-07-22
Filing date: 1988-07-05
Publication date: 1989-01-25
Also published as: JPS6436989A; GB8815963D0; FR2618525A1; DE3724276C2; DE3724276A1

Description

Device for Dreventina leakaces at a-component having a sealed fluid

chamber The invention relates to a device for prevention of Leakage at a component having a sealed fluid chamber, particularly such a component in which a movable part such as a rotating shaft passes through a wall of the fluid chamber and is seated against the fluid chamber by means of a seal, as is the case particularly with pump and rotor supply heads or 'Seating h6ads'for; delivery or removal of a fluid such as a lubricant or heat carrier oil to or from a rotating component..

Leakage at a component of the kind described may occur not only after prolonged operation, but at any time as a result of faulty material or installation, i.e. even immediately after installation of a device containing the component. In each case the escape of Leakage leads to impairment of the surroundings of the component, namely to soiling. When using fluids harmful to the environment a Leakage leads in addition to pollution. Furthermore, depending on the type of fluid used, it can result i,n damage through fire or explosion and to bodily harm particularly if a hot fluid is used as is the case with the use of hot oil in heat-exchange installations. A heat-exchange installation of this kind having a component in the form of a pump is described and illustrated in DE-PS 27 21 221. In,this known installation, if te akage should occur at the component, the aforementioned kinds of impairment and damage can result.

Prevention of such damage is possible if a Leakage receiving basin, accommodating the installation, is provided whose volume corresponds to the circulating volume of the fluid delivered to the installation. While it would be possible in this way to collect the Leakage and thus prevent environmental damage, in an is arrangement such as this impairment and damage in the form of soiling at least of the installation and unpleasant odours are not prevented. In addition, -there is the danger of bodily harm, particularly if hot leakage can escape under a relatively high pressure. In addition, the damage to the seal at the component would only become noticeable when the hot oil was seen in the cottecting basin.

The object of the invention is to obviate the aforementioned disadvantages by designing a device of the kind described in the introduction so that an escape of leakage from the component does not lead to any impairment of or damage to the surroundings of the component.

This object is achieved by the invention as characterised in claim 1.

The advantages achieved by the invention are essentially that by simple means, which are inexpensive to manufacture, a leakage can be detected and indicated before it escapes into the surroundings and leads to the aforementioned disadvantages. Hence these disadvantages cannot occur in the embodiment according to the invention.

Not only can the device according to the invention be simply incorporated when first installing the component or the installation containing the component, but it can also be added in a simple manner to a component already forming part of an existing installation.

A further advantage of the arrangement according to the invention consists in that owing to the indication of the leakage, the escape of large amounts of leakage is prevented and therefore further damage to the component or to the installation containing the component is avoided, that could, for example, arise from operating faults due to operation with loss of 1; i k, 1 1 j fluid in large amounts if a device for monitoring and indicating the loss of fluid is not provided. In the arrangement according to the invention such an additional device is not necessary as a small loss of fluid can already be indicated.

According to claim 2 it is possible to make the receiving chamber according to the invention, which need only have a relatively small volume, in the form of a pipeline or a pipe which can be fixed to the component in a simple manner, e.g. by means of a flange or screw or plug connection fittings. This makes a further simplification possible which can be manufactured inexpensively.

It is aLso possible to arrange the receiving chamber directly on the component or spaced from the component, e.g. at a point where an accessible space is available (claim 3). In particular, an arrangement of this kind also enables only one receiving chamber to be used for several components by connecting the receiving chamber to the respective component by pipelines.

The arrangement according to claim 5 is recommended in cases in which there is no possibility of making a connection to the component. The features in claims 6 and 7 simplify and facilitate the arrangement or assembly.

By means of the arrangement according to claim 8, the kinds of harm or damage mentioned in the introduction are also avoided even if the indication of the presence of a leakage is not noticed. In a case such as this it is recommended that volume of the container should correspond to the volume of the fluid present so that there is no harm or damage even if all of the fluid should teak out of the component. A further advantage of this arrangement is that venting of the seating space occurs automatically. As a result of this, damage to the sealing caused, e.g. by heat and excess pressure resulting therefrom, are avoided.

A container of this kind is not necessary in a heat-exchange installation without a protective gas cover in which e.g. a supply container is already incorporated. If there is a protective gas cover, a container connected to the receiving chamber is recommended.

The invention wilt now be described with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in a simplified drawing. Shown diagrammatically in the drawing is a heat-exchange installation, generally indicated by 1, to which hot oil is circulated by means of a pump 2.

Arranged in the circuit, generally indicated by 3, formed by a pipeline in which the direction of flow is indicated by the arrow 4, are the pump 2, a heater 5 for oil flowing in the circuit and a beat consumer 6. In front of the pump 2 two branch lines 8, 9 branch out from the section 7 of the supply Line of the circuit 3 in the direction of flow 4 to a supply container 11 having an inlet and discharge connection 12 and a vent opening 13. From a parallel line 14 leading to the heat consumer 6 and the heater 5 on the one side and the heat consumer 6 and the pump 2 on the other side, and connected to the circuit 3, a section 15 Leads to the upper region of the supply container 11, i.e. underneath the vent opening 13, the region-of the tine section 15 extending in the supply container 11 being perforated in order to degas the hot oil therein. Indicated by 16 are valves which can be closed as desired.

The pump 2 is of the type having a rotating shaft 10, indicated in outline, which is sealed against the casing space of the pump Z containing the hot oil by a shaft packing (not shown). If there is a defect in the shaft packing a leaky area results in the region of this shaft packing through which the hot oil escapes.

i i 1 j 1 i i 1 k' This area is covered by a pipeline 17 surrounding it, which is secured and seated to the casing of the pump Z, preferably by means of a flange. The pipeline 17 extends to a leakage-receiving chamber 18 whose housing is connected to the pipeline 17. Arranged in the receiving chamber 18 is a monitoring instrument 19, indicated in outline, such as a level or pressure switch, which when-leakage is present in the receiving chamber 18 initiates a signal by an e.g. optical or acoustic indicating instrument 21 with which the monitoring instrument is connected by way of a signal line. In addition, the receiving chamber 18 is connected to the supply container 11 by a further pipeline 22.

In the case of a defect in the seal between the casing space of the pump 2 and the shaft 10, hot oil reaches the receiving chamber 18 through the pipeline 17. The presence of the hot oil is detected by the monitoring instrument 19 and the defect signal is given so that the defect can immediately be recognized by the operator responsible. If the leaky area is large so that a relatively large leakage occurs, or if the signal is not noticed straight away, the leakage flows through the pipeline 22 to the supply container 11. This arrangement, in contrast to known arrangements in which the leakage escapes into the open, not only avoids pollution and unpleasant smelts in the environment but also, when hot oil is present, the danger of fire and explosion. Furthermore, the defect in the seal is indicated immediately.

Within the scope of the invention it is also advantageous to provide a signal connection between the monitoring instrument 19 and a circuit breaker (not shown) for the pump 2 or for the whole heat-exchange installation 1. This device can also be coupled with a timer by means -f which the interval between the is 1 _k detection of the presence of the leakage and switching off of the pump 2 or the heating installation 1 can be preset. The arrangement can be such that the switching off occurs on detection of the presence of the leakage by the monitoring instrument 19 or after a specified time after the detection, e.g. as a security measure in case the signal is not noticed.

Where no supply container 11 is associated with the. heat-exchange installation 1 or with some other delivery circuit, a special container 23 may be provided into which a pipeline Z4 from the receiving chamber 18 leads: this is shown by broken lines.

Within the scope of the invention it is also possible to connect the receiving chamber 18 directly to the casing of the pump 2 outside the seal.

In the case of pumps or of components that are comparable in respect of possible leakage it is already known to "enchamber" the seal on the outside, i.e. to provide on the outside of the seal a further housing chamber, e.g. for lubricating oil, which is sealed by a vent screw. In an arrangement of this kind, the pipeline 17 is connected to the existing opening for the vent screw.

For the connection of the pipelines 17, 22, 24, at Z5 least sections of which may be hose pipes, it is preferred to use quick-connection fittings -such as plug connection fittings.

1 i 1 i 1 1 C tai ms 1. A device for preventing leakage from a component having a sealed fluid chamber, particularly such a component in which a movable part such as a rotating shaft passes through a wall of the fluid chamber and is seated against the fluid chamber by a seal, as is the case in particular with a pump, characterised in that an additional Leakage-receiving chamber (18) is associated with the component (2) outside the seat and has associated therewith an instrument (19) for monitoring the presence of leaWage which is connected by a signal Line with an indicating instrument (21) in order to initiate an indicating signal when leakage is present.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in tfiat the component (2) has a further space in its casing outside the seal, e.g. to receive Lubricating oil, and the leakage-receiving chamber (18) is in the form of a pipeline (17) connected with the further space.

3. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the component has a further space in its casing outside the seal, e.g. to receive Lubricating oil, and the leakage-receiving chamber (18) is spaced from the Z5 component (2) and is connected with the further space by a pipeline (17).

4. A deice according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterised in that the pipetine (17) is connected to the upper part of the further casing space.

5. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that a funnel- or basin-shaped receiving pan is provided, for arrangement underneath the component (2), which forms the Leakage-receiving chamber or is connected to the leakage-receiving chamber (18) through the pipeline (17).

6. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that at least a section of the pipeline (17), preferably the end section facing the component (2), is a hose pipe.

7. A device according to any one of claims Z to 6, characterised in that the pipeline or hose pipe (17) can be connected to the further casing space or the receiving pan by means of a plug-connection fitting and that preferably at least the part of the fitting facing the further casing space or the receiving basin is automatically closed when it is in the open state.

8. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the leakage-receiving chamber (18) is connected to a container (11, 23) by a further pipeline (M.

9. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the monitoring instrument (19) is connected to a switch for the purpose of switching the component (Z), or the installation (1) including the component (Z), an and off, optionally after a specified period.

10. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised by its use for a heatexchange installation (1) in which hot oil is delivered by a pump M to a heater (5) and a heat consumer (6) in a circuit (3), particularly for a heat-exchange installation with a protective gas cover, e.g. in a container such as a supply container or expansion vessel.

11. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterised by its use for so-called rotor feeding heads or seating heads such as-those of roll or spiral heating devices.

1 1 z 11 i i 1 i 1 i j i 11 i i J 12. Device for preventing leakage substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

is 1 Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66,71 High Holborn, London WC1R 4TP. Yurther copies may be obtained from The Patent Office. Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary CraY, Kent. C... 1187.