JP2003185083A - Pipe sealing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pipe sealing apparatus for surely seal a pipe and to suppress increase in gas concentration in a space of the sealed pipe. <P>SOLUTION: The sealing apparatus comprises: a cylindrical gas pack 10 that can be inserted in the pipe 1; a hose 11 for expanding the gas pack 10 by sending gas into the gas pack 10; a purged gas introducing hole 12 passing through the gas pack 10 from one end face 10a to the other end face 10b of the gas pack to introduce purged gas into the space 1b of the pipe sealed by the gas pack 10; a purged gas exhausting hose 14 passing through the gas pack 10 to one end face 10a from the other end face 10b of the gas pack to exhaust the purged gas from the space 1b; and an annular seal portion 16 formed on the circumference of the gas pack 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pipe sealing device for closing a pipe for feeding a gas such as LNG.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, pipes for supplying gas such as LNG are stretched in various ways from a supply source to a destination, and a part of the pipe is provided with a closed terminal pipe. .

When a new pipe is connected to such an end pipe to expand the pipe, from the closed portion of the pipe to the outside so that it is okay if gas such as LNG leaks from the closed portion of the stop valve or the like. The part between the two is further closed by a pipe sealing device.

As shown in FIG. 3, an example of the pipe sealing device is provided with a sponge-like disc body 2 which can be inserted into the pipe 1, and a presser having a diameter smaller than that of the disc body 2 on both side surfaces of the disc body 2. The plates 3 are respectively arranged, and the bolts 4 are attached to the disc body 2 and the pressing plate 3.
The disk body 2 and the pressing plate 3 are fixed by fastening the bolt 4 and the nut 5 by penetrating.

When closing the pipe 1, the disc body 2 is inserted into the pipe 1 with the holding plate 3 attached, and the nut 5 is tightened to widen the peripheral portion 2a of the disc body 2 to surround the disc body 2. Part 2a
The pipe 1 is closed by closely contacting with the inner peripheral surface 1 a of the pipe 1.

On the other hand, another example of the pipe sealing device is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a balloon-shaped gas pack 6 that can be inserted into the pipe 1 is provided, and the gas pack 6 is provided with an expansion hose 7 that introduces an inert gas from an introduction means (not shown) such as a cylinder. There is. Here, in FIG. 4, reference numeral 8 denotes a stop valve that closes the pipe 1.

When the pipe 1 is closed, the gas pack 6 that has shrunk
Is inserted into the pipe 1, and an inert gas is introduced from the introduction means through the expansion hose 7 to expand the gas pack 6 and bring the peripheral surface 6a of the gas pack 6 into close contact with the inner peripheral surface 1a of the pipe 1. The pipe 1 is blocked by.

[0008]

However, in the conventional pipe sealing device, when the disc body 2 and the gas pack 6 are brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface 1a of the pipe 1, the peripheral portion 2a of the disc body 2,
The peripheral surface 6a of the gas pack 6 is curved so that the inner peripheral surface 1 of the pipe 1 is curved.
Since there is line contact with a in the circumferential direction, there is a problem in that the pipe 1 cannot be reliably closed. Further, if gas such as LNG leaks in the pipe space 1b closed by the disk body 2 and the gas pack 6, the gas concentration becomes high and there is a risk of ignition.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe sealing device that surely closes a pipe and suppresses an increase in gas concentration in the closed pipe space.

[0010]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A pipe sealing device according to the present invention is a cylindrical gas pack which can be inserted into a pipe, an expansion hose for inflating a gas inside the gas pack, and the gas pack. From the one end surface of the gas pack to introduce the purge gas into the pipe space closed by the purge introduction hose arranged to penetrate through the inside, and from the other end surface of the gas pack to discharge the purge gas from the pipe space It is provided with a purge discharge hose arranged so as to penetrate through one end face thereof, and an annular seal portion formed around the gas pack.

Further, in the pipe sealing device of the present invention, a plurality of annular seal portions may be formed along the axial direction of the cylindrical gas pack.

When the pipe is closed, a deflated gas pack is inserted into the pipe, gas is introduced from an expansion hose to expand the gas pack, and the annular seal portion of the gas pack is brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pipe. To close the pipe. At the same time,
The purge gas is introduced into the pipe space closed by the gas pack from the purge introducing hose and the purge gas in the pipe space is discharged from the purge discharging hose.

As described above, since the gas pack is formed in a cylindrical shape to form a surface parallel to the inner peripheral surface of the pipe and has an annular seal portion, the gas pack should be in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pipe appropriately. The pipe can be reliably blocked. Further, since the pipe space closed by the gas pack is replaced by the purge introduction hose and the purge discharge hose, it is possible to suppress an increase in gas concentration in the pipe space and reliably prevent the risk of ignition. .

If a plurality of annular seal portions are formed along the axial direction of the cylindrical gas pack, the annular seal portions will be in complete contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pipe, and the pipe can be closed more reliably.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the pipe sealing apparatus of the present invention, in which the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 3 and 4 represent the same parts.

The pipe sealing device is provided with a cylindrical gas pack 10 formed of a stretchable material such as butyl rubber,
The gas pack 10 extends from an introducing means (not shown) such as a cylinder of an inert gas and has one end surface 1 of the gas pack 10.
0a, which extends through a substantially axial center portion of the gas pack 10 and is located inside the gas pack 10, and extends from an introducing means (not shown) such as a cylinder of an inert gas and has one end face 10a of the gas pack 10. From the substantially axial center part of the other end face 10b to the purge introducing hose 12 located on the opposite side of the introducing means, and the other end face 10b of the gas pack 10 from the substantially axial center part to the one end face. The purge discharge hose 14 is provided with a gas detector 13 at a midway position on the extending side. Here, in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 15 designates a plate material that puts together the expansion hose 11, the purge introduction hose 12, and the purge discharge hose 14.

Further, at least two or more annular seal portions 16 formed of a material such as soft urethane are provided around the gas pack 10 along the axial direction of the cylindrical gas pack 10 so as to have a predetermined interval. (The figure shows a total of two gas packs, one before and one in the axial direction of the gas pack 10).

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

When the pipe 1 is closed, the deflated gas pack 1
0 is inserted into the pipe 1, and an inert gas is introduced from an introducing means such as a cylinder through the expansion hose 11 to the gas pack 10
Is expanded and the annular seal portion 16 of the gas pack 10 is brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface 1a of the pipe 1 to close the pipe 1.
At the same time, the piping space 1b closed by the gas pack 10
To the pipe space 1 by introducing the purge gas of the inert gas from the introducing means such as a cylinder via the purge introducing hose 12.
The purge gas of b is discharged by the purge discharge hose 14.

The purged gas discharged is the gas detector 1
The state of the gas concentration in the piping space 1b is monitored by being checked by 3.

Here, a new pipe (not shown) is added to the pipe 1.
When connecting, the expansion hose 11, the purge introduction hose 12, the connector 17 and the like provided in the middle position of the purge discharge hose 14 (the connectors of the expansion hose 11 and the purge introduction hose 12 are not shown). ) Is removed and a new pipe for connection is passed through, and the expansion hose 11, the purge introduction hose 12, the connector 17 of the purge discharge hose 14 and the like are reconnected, and then the new pipe is connected to the pipe 1.

As described above, since the gas pack 10 is formed into a cylindrical shape to form a surface parallel to the inner peripheral surface 1a of the pipe 1, and the annular seal portion 16 is provided, the pipe 1
It is possible to close the pipe 1 reliably by closely adhering to the inner peripheral surface 1a. Further, since the pipe space 1b closed by the gas pack 10 is replaced by the purge introduction hose 12 and the purge discharge hose 14, an increase in the gas concentration in the pipe space 1b is suppressed, and the risk of ignition is ensured. Can be prevented.
Further, since the purge introduction hose 12 and the purge discharge hose 14 penetrate the gas pack 10 without passing through the inside thereof, the annular seal portion 16 can be more closely attached to the inner peripheral surface 1 a of the pipe 1.

The annular seal portion 16 has a cylindrical gas pack 1.
If a plurality is formed along the axial direction of 0, the annular seal portion 16
Completely closes the inner peripheral surface 1a of the pipe 1 to more reliably close the pipe 1.

The pipe sealing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0026]

According to the pipe seal device of the present invention, various excellent effects as described below can be obtained.

I) The gas pack is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to form a surface parallel to the inner peripheral surface of the pipe and has an annular seal portion. It can be surely closed. Further, since the pipe space closed by the gas pack is replaced by the purge introduction hose and the purge discharge hose, it is possible to suppress an increase in gas concentration in the pipe space and reliably prevent the risk of ignition. .

II) When a plurality of annular seal portions are formed along the axial direction of the cylindrical gas pack, the annular seal portions are in complete contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pipe, and the pipe can be closed more reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of an embodiment for carrying out a pipe sealing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing an example of a mode for carrying out the pipe sealing device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view showing an example of a conventional pipe sealing device.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view showing another example of a conventional pipe sealing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 piping 1b Piping space 10 gas packs 10a One end surface 10b other end surface 11 Inflating hose 12 Hose for introducing purge 14 Purge discharge hose 16 Annular seal part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical gas pack which can be inserted into a pipe, an expansion hose for inflating the gas inside the gas pack, and a purge gas to be introduced into a pipe space closed by the gas pack. A purge introducing hose that penetrates the inside from one end surface to the other end surface of the gas pack, and a purge that penetrates the inside from the other end surface to the one end surface of the gas pack to discharge the purge gas from the piping space. A pipe seal device comprising a discharge hose and an annular seal portion formed around the gas pack. 2. The pipe sealing device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of annular seal portions are formed along the axial direction of the cylindrical gas pack.