JP2003113973A - Very low temperature piping joint - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a very low temperature piping joint used for piping for supplying very low temperature liquid propellant to a rocket on a launcher in a rocket launch complex for disconnecting piping, and capable of connecting and disconnecting without opening the piping to atmosphere in a connecting/ disconnecting work. SOLUTION: This joint is comprised of a pair of a ball valves 15, 20 opening and closing an opening of the piping connected thereto by rotating balls provided at connection parts of piping and having inner channels 16, 21 formed therein; a female bayonet joint 7 provided between one ball valve 15 and the piping 25 connected to the same and having a female joint 6 toward a direction of the ball valve 15 formed; and a male bayonet joint 10 provided between the other ball valve 20 and the piping connected to the same, extending in the inner channel 21, 16 of a pair of the ball valves 20, 15 and having a male joint 9 to engage with the female joint 6 formed.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tank lorry or elf for transporting a cryogenic fluid such as liquid helium, liquid hydrogen, or liquid oxygen, to another storage tank or facility. The present invention relates to a pipe joint that is interposed in the middle of a pipe to be transferred so that connection and disconnection of the pipe can be quickly performed, and particularly disposed between a mobile launch pad of a rocket launch facility and a fixed storage facility. The present invention relates to a cryogenic pipe joint suitable for use in a joint of a cryogenic fluid pipe (hereinafter, simply referred to as a pipe) for transferring liquid hydrogen or liquid oxygen. 2. Description of the Related Art A large number of rockets have hitherto been launched from the ground into outer space for investigation or utilization of outer space. Cryogenic fluids such as liquid fuel and liquid oxidizer, which are drugs, need to be supplied from a fixed storage facility provided on the ground to a rocket assembled on a mobile launch pad immediately before launch. For example, an improved H-2A developed in Japan
As for the launch of the rocket, as in the case of Ariane 5 developed in Europe, the rocket's body was assembled and inspected and maintained in the rocket assembly building, and about 8 hours before the launch, the rocket was moved to the launch pad with the mobile launch pad. It is planned to move the tank and fill the tanks with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, which are propellants for the rocket, from fixed storage facilities provided at the launch site via individual pipes. For this purpose, it is necessary to connect the mobile launch pad and the fixed storage facility, and to connect the pipes for transferring the propellant in a short time, and to prevent foreign matter such as moisture from entering the pipes. . If the launch is stopped for some reason after the propellant is supplied to the rocket, it is necessary to return the rocket from the launch point to the rocket assembly building. Therefore, it is necessary to disconnect the pipe without returning the inside of the pipe, which is extremely low in temperature, to normal temperature. As described above, the bayonet joint shown in FIG. 2 is conventionally used as a joint for connecting and disconnecting the connecting portions of the pipes for transferring the liquid oxygen and the liquid hydrogen as the cryogenic propellants in a short time. . [0005] As shown in FIG.
Evacuates the space 04 formed between the inner tube 02 and the outer tube 03, performs vacuum insulation on the inside of the inner tube 02 through which the cryogenic fluid passes, and allows the cryogenic liquid flowing through the inner tube 02 to pass through. Boiling is suppressed so that the flow of the cryogenic liquid and the filling of the rocket into the tank are smooth. The female joint 06 directed to the flange 05 provided at the end is provided with an inner pipe 0.
2 The female bayonet joint 07 formed on the inner surface and the flange 08 protruded outward from the flange 08 provided at the end connected to the flange 05, inserted into the female bayonet joint 07, and engaged with the female joint 06. The mating male joint 09 consists of a male bayonet joint 010 provided at the tip. By providing such a bayonet joint 01, connection and disconnection of pipes can be performed in a short time, and the transfer of the cryogenic liquid and the filling of the tank become smooth. Net fitting 01
The following inconveniences have been encountered in the connection of pipes. That is, in the conventional bayonet joint 01, the flange 05 of the female bayonet joint 07 and the flange 08 of the male bayonet joint 010 are connected to transfer the cryogenic liquid, and then the flange 05 and the flange 08 are connected. When the pipe is separated and the end of the pipe is opened to the atmosphere, foreign matter including moisture in the air may be sucked into the inside of the pipe which has been maintained at an extremely low temperature, and may be contaminated. [0007] For this reason, each time the pipe is disconnected, it is necessary to perform a gas blow or the like until the inside of the pipe reaches a normal temperature before the disconnection to prevent moisture and foreign substances from being sucked into the pipe. There is a problem that this occurs. Furthermore, after rejoining the pipes, it is necessary to perform gas blowing and check the cleanliness of the pipes in order to maintain the cleanliness of the cryogenic fluid flowing in the pipes. is there. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the conventional cryogenic pipe joint, which requires a long time to disconnect and rejoin the pipe through which the cryogenic liquid flows. Even when the pipes are disconnected, the pipe ends where the pipes are disconnected do not open to the atmosphere, and even if the pipes are disconnected before the pipes reach room temperature, moisture and foreign substances in the atmosphere can be sucked into the pipes. It is another object of the present invention to provide a cryogenic pipe joint which can be prevented and need not be performed after re-joining the pipe, and need not perform gas blowing in the pipe or check the cleanliness. Therefore, the cryogenic piping joint of the present invention has the following means. (1) A flange connected to a flange provided on a mating ball valve and a flange connected to a bayonet joint are provided at both ends, respectively. Moving the internal flow path to an open state where the internal flow path is aligned with the flow path direction in the connected pipe, and the internal flow path to a closed state where the internal flow path is orthogonal to the flow direction in the connected pipe. A pair of ball valves for opening and closing the opening of the above was installed at the connection part where the pipe for transferring the cryogenic fluid was cut off and joined. In addition, the spherical body includes not only an outer shape having a substantially perfect circular shape but also a shape having a partially arcuate shape. (2) A flange is provided for connection to the ball valve, and is connected to a pipe for transferring the cryogenic fluid to provide a space for vacuum insulation of an internal flow passage through which the cryogenic fluid passes.
An engaging portion is formed on the inner surface of the inner tube, which is formed by an inner tube and an outer tube formed therebetween, and is directed toward one of the ball valves connected via a flange. A female bayonet joint provided with a female joint was provided between the end of the connection portion of the pipe and one ball valve. (3) A flange connected to the ball valve is provided and connected to a pipe for transferring the cryogenic fluid to form a space for vacuum insulation of an internal flow passage through which the cryogenic fluid passes.
It is formed by an inner pipe and an outer pipe formed between them, and when connecting the pipe, it protrudes outward from the flange connected to the ball valve and extends inside the internal flow path of the open ball valve to form the female bayonet. A male bayonet fitting with a male fitting inside that engages with the female fitting was provided between the end of the tubing connection and the other ball valve. According to the cryogenic pipe joint of the present invention, a connecting portion for connecting / disconnecting the pipe by the above-mentioned means, that is,
At the end of the pipe, a pair of ball valves are provided, this ball valve is closed, connection and disconnection of the pipe are performed,
After being connected, the ball valve is opened, the male joint of the male bayonet joint is opened,
Connect the pipe by penetrating through the internal passage of the ball valve in the same direction as the flow path in the pipe, and engaging the female joint of the female bayonet joint formed toward the ball valve. I do. Accordingly, even when the cryogenic fluid flows, the inner surface of the internal flow path of the ball valve is located outside the male joint of the male bayonet joint, and the normal temperature state is maintained. As the ball valve used in the cryogenic pipe joint of the present invention, a ball valve having a normal temperature specification can be used. Furthermore, at the time of connection and disconnection, since the ball valve is closed, entry of moisture and foreign matter into the piping can be prevented. In particular, after the flow of the cryogenic fluid, even in the disconnection performed when the pipe is cooled, the ball valve is closed at the connection position between the male bayonet joint and the female bayonet joint and the ball valve. Since it is cut off, it is possible to prevent moisture and foreign matter from entering the inside of the pipe. As described above, it is possible to prevent moisture and foreign matter from entering the inside of the pipe without the necessity of an operation such as gas blowing for bringing the inside of the pipe to a normal temperature before disconnecting the pipe.
Gas blow after cleanup and cleanliness inspection are not required. An embodiment of a cryogenic pipe joint according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the cryogenic pipe joint of the present invention, which is disposed between a mobile launch pad installed at a rocket launch site and a fixed storage facility to transfer liquid hydrogen or liquid oxygen. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cryogenic pipe joint interposed in the middle of a pipe to be formed.
In the drawing, the right half shows the connected state where the pipe is conducting at the connecting part, and the left half shows the connected state before the pipe is cut off at the connecting part. As shown in the figure, a female bayonet joint 7 connected to one end of one pipe 25 for transferring a cryogenic fluid is provided.
Are an inner tube 2 and an outer tube 3 forming a vacuum space 4 for performing vacuum insulation, and a flange 5 fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube 3.
And a female joint 6 provided with an opening in the direction of a lower ball valve 15 which is one of the ball valves described later.
Is provided. On the other hand, a male bayonet joint 10 connected to an end of a pipe (not shown) for disconnecting and connecting to the pipe 25.
Like the female bayonet joint 7, the inner pipe 2 and the outer pipe 3 forming the vacuum space 4 for performing vacuum insulation, and the flange 8 fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the outer pipe. An upper ball valve 20, which is the other ball valve described below,
And a male joint 9 which extends to and engages with the female joint 6 through the internal flow paths 21 and 16 provided in the lower ball valve 15 respectively. The bayonet joint 1 composed of the female bayonet joint 7 and the male bayonet joint 10 described above has a structure substantially the same as the bayonet joint 01 shown in FIG. . Next, at the end of the female bayonet joint 7,
A lower flange 17 connected to the flange 5 is provided at the lower end, and an upper flange 18 connected to the lower flange 22 of the upper ball valve 20 is provided at the upper end inside the cylindrical body.
The lower ball valve 15 is housed. The lower ball valve 15 has a substantially spherical outer shape in which a concave portion that allows the rotation of the upper ball valve 20 is formed at an upper portion. A flow path 16 is provided through. At the end of the male bayonet joint, an upper flange 23 connected to the flange 8 is provided at the upper end, and a lower flange 22 connected to the upper flange 18 of the lower ball valve 15 is provided at the lower end. The upper ball valve 20 is housed inside the provided cylinder. The upper ball valve 20 has a substantially spherical outer shape, and an internal flow path 21 having the same flow area as the internal flow path 16 of the lower ball valve 15 is provided therethrough. The internal flow passages 1 provided in the lower ball valve 15 and the upper ball valve 20, respectively, are provided.
The rotation of the lower ball valve 15 and the upper ball valve 20 forms an open state facing the same direction as the flow path of the pipe 25 and a closed state facing the direction orthogonal to the flow path of the pipe 25. be able to. As described above, the connection between the upper ball valve 20 and the male bayonet joint 10 is performed by connecting the upper flange 23 of the upper ball valve 20 to the male bayonet joint 10.
When the connection state of the pipe is cut off as shown in the left half of the figure, the male joint 9 of the male bayonet joint 10 is connected to the upper ball by connecting it with a long bolt 11. When the pipe 20 is pulled out and connected to a position where it does not hinder the rotation of the valve 20, and when the pipe is connected, the end of the male joint 9 is connected to the internal flow passage 21 of the upper ball valve 20 by connecting with the short bolt 12. , Through the internal flow path 16 of the lower ball valve 15 to engage with the female joint 6. Also,
A spring 13 is inserted into the outer periphery of the outer tube 3 of the male bayonet joint 10, and a protective tube 14 that expands and contracts is provided. Since the cryogenic pipe joint of the present embodiment is constructed as described above, when the pipe is disconnected, the flange 8 and the upper ball valve 20 are switched from the state of communication of the pipe shown in the right half of the figure. After the short bolt 12 connecting the upper flange 23 is removed, the male bayonet joint 10 is pulled up, and the connection between the flange 8 and the upper flange 23 is performed by the long bolt 11, whereby the internal flow path 16 is removed. , 21 and the male joint 9 engaged with the female joint 6 is retracted to the vicinity of the position of the flange 23 above the upper ball valve 20 which does not hinder the rotation of the upper ball valve 20. Next, the upper ball valve 20 and the lower ball valve 15 are rotated to change from the open state shown in the right half of the figure to the closed state shown in the left half of the figure. By disconnecting the connection between the lower flange 22 and the upper ball valve 20, the disconnection of the pipe is completed. That is, in the conventional cryogenic pipe joint provided only with the bayonet joint 01 shown in FIG. 2, when the flange 05 for separating the pipe is separated from the flange 08, the pipe is inevitably opened to the atmosphere, and when the pipe is disconnected. , Because moisture or foreign matter in the atmosphere may enter the piping.
When disconnecting the pipe, it was necessary to perform a gas purge to heat the pipe to a normal temperature state, which required time for the work preparation and work. As described above, when the pipe is disconnected, the connection portion of the pipe is closed by the upper ball valve 20 and the lower ball valve 15. Therefore, even if the pipe is disconnected before the pipe reaches a normal temperature state. ,
Contamination due to intrusion of moisture, foreign matter, etc. into the pipe does not occur, and the work of disconnecting the pipe can be completed in a short time. Further, even after the pipe is disconnected, the connection portion of the pipe remains closed, so that maintenance work for preventing contamination due to intrusion of water, foreign matter, etc., which enter the pipe regardless of the temperature of the pipe is simplified. Can be At the time of connecting the pipe, as shown in the left half of the figure, an upper ball valve 20 to which the pipe and the male bayonet joint 10 are connected, and a lower ball valve 15 to which the pipe 25 and the female bayonet joint 7 are connected. Is arranged, the upper flange 18 and the lower flange 22 are connected, and the upper ball valve 20 and the lower ball valve 15 are rotated so that the directions of the internal flow paths 21 and 16 match the direction of the flow path of the pipe 25. Next, the connection between the male bayonet joint 10 and the upper ball valve 20 is changed from the long bolt 11 to the short bolt 12 so that the male joint 9 is connected to the internal passage 2.
It is inserted through 1 and 16 and engages with the female joint 6.
This completes the connection of the pipe in a state in which the cryogenic fluid can flow. That is, in the conventional cryogenic pipe joint provided with only the conventional bayonet joint 01 shown in FIG. 2, when the flange 05 for connecting the pipe and the flange 08 are connected, the sealing member whose opening has been closed so far. Must be removed, and the piping is inevitably open to the atmosphere, and even when the piping is connected, moisture or foreign matter in the air may enter the piping. It is necessary to perform a gas purge to discharge foreign substances, etc.
In contrast to the time required for the work preparation and work, the cryogenic pipe joint according to the present embodiment, as described above, also requires the upper ball valve 20 when connecting the pipe, as described above. Also, since it is closed by the lower ball valve 15, no intrusion of moisture, foreign matter, and the like into the piping occurs, and therefore, it is performed to maintain the cleanliness of the cryogenic fluid flowing through the piping. In addition, it is not necessary to perform gas purging and check the cleanliness of the piping, and the work of disconnecting the piping can be simplified and completed in a short time. The upper ball valve 20 and the lower ball valve 15 for opening and closing the connection opening of the pipe flow through the internal flow passages 21 and 16 via the male joint 9 in which the cryogenic fluid is vacuum-insulated. Therefore, there is no need to use expensive cryogenic specifications. Although the cryogenic pipe joint of the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the pipes used in the above-mentioned rocket launching field, but also includes a tank lorry for cryogenic fluids such as liquid helium, liquid oxygen, and liquid hydrogen. It can also be used for piping for transferring from an elf or the like to a container such as a storage tank. As described above, according to the cryogenic pipe joint of the present invention, according to the configuration shown in the claims, (1) pipes which need to be connected and disconnected, especially cryogenic pipes It is possible to prevent the intrusion of moisture and foreign matter into the piping from the connection part of the piping for transferring the fluid. In particular, in pipes that transfer cryogenic fluids, a large amount of moisture and foreign matter will enter if the pipes are disconnected at a very low temperature inside the pipes.
This becomes unnecessary, and the separating operation can be performed quickly. (2) When joining the separated pipes, it is necessary to carry out a gas purge for removing and cleaning water and foreign matter that have entered the inside of the pipe, and to inspect the inside of the pipe. However, this is not required, and the connection work is simplified, speeded up, and the work efficiency can be improved in the same manner as (1). (3) Since the ball valve does not come into direct contact with the cryogenic fluid, it can be used at room temperature.
It can be cheap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of a cryogenic pipe joint of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a conventional cryogenic pipe joint. [Description of Signs] 1,01 Bionette joint 2,02 Inner tube 3,03 Outer tube 4,04 Space 5,05 Flange 6,06 Female joint 7,07 Female Bionette joint 8,08 Flange 9,09 Male Mold joint 10,010 Male bayonet joint 11 Long bolt 12 Short bolt 13 Spring 15 Lower ball valve 16 Internal flow path 17 Lower flange 18 Upper flange 20 Upper ball valve 21 Internal flow path 22 Lower flange 23 Upper flange 25 Piping

Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Yoshihiko Torano             Open space, 2-4-1 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo             Within the departure business (72) Inventor Hirotaka Okura             Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., 10 Oecho, Minato-ku, Nagoya-shi             Nagoya Aerospace System Works (72) Inventor Hidehisa Okmura             Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., 10 Oecho, Minato-ku, Nagoya-shi             Nagoya Aerospace System Works (72) Inventor Toshio Kamachi             Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., 10 Oecho, Minato-ku, Nagoya-shi             Nagoya Aerospace System Works F-term (reference) 3H016 EA02                 3H036 AA02 AA04 AB33 AE02                 3J106 AB03 BA01 BB01 BC06 BC12                       BD01 BE29 CA01 GA02 GA05                       GA30

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A cryogenic pipe joint that is interposed in a pipe for transferring a cryogenic fluid and that disconnects and reconnects the pipe, is installed at a connection portion of the pipe,
A pair of ball valves for rotating the spheres on which the internal flow paths are formed to open and close the connection openings of the pipes connected to each other, and between one of the ball valves and the connection part of the pipes And a female bayonet joint having a female joint formed toward the ball valve and a connection portion between the other ball valve and the pipe, and the internal flow is opened when the ball valve is opened. A cryogenic piping joint, comprising: a male bayonet joint formed by extending in a road and forming a male joint fitting with the female joint.