JP2541309Y2 - Bottom valve closed state confirmation device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for confirming a closed state of a bottom valve. That is, the present invention relates to a confirmation device capable of confirming a closed state of a bottom valve provided in each tank chamber of a tank of a tank truck.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, the technical background will be described. Tank tanks for loading and transporting dangerous liquids such as gasoline, light oil, and kerosene are divided into a plurality of tank chambers so that the capacity of one chamber is 4 KL or less. A bottom valve is provided. As an opening / closing mechanism of each of these bottom valves, for example, a mechanism in which an opening / closing handle is provided on a tank and the bottom valve is opened / closed by a rotation operation thereof is used. In such a tank lorry, unloading of dangerous liquid loaded in each tank chamber is performed by first connecting a discharge hose to a discharge pipe connected to each bottom valve and having a discharge valve at the tip. Connection and then opening the required bottom and discharge valves of the tank chamber. Therefore, even after the unloading is completed, even though the liquid as a dangerous substance remains in the tank room and is still loaded, if the bottom valve is closed by an opening / closing mechanism such as an opening / closing handle, it is forgotten, and such a state is forgotten. For example, when a vehicle accident occurs, the liquid as a dangerous substance may flow out onto the road or the like, leading to a serious accident. Therefore, in tank lorries, it is necessary to ensure that the bottom valve is always closed except when unloading.

Further, in tank lorries, different types of dangerous substances such as liquids are often loaded and transported in each tank chamber for reasons such as enhancing transport efficiency. Therefore, when the dangerous liquid is mixed in this way, if the bottom valve is closed by the opening / closing mechanism, and if the unloading is performed in such a state, for example, in an underground tank of a gas station, a different kind of dangerous substance liquid is used. There is a concern that an accident may occur in that they are mixed. If such an accident occurs, the mixed dangerous liquids are almost unusable and need to be disposed of, and the underground tanks must be cleaned after the fact, resulting in large economic losses. A situation occurs in which it suffers. Further, dangerous substances may overflow from underground tanks and the like, leading to a major accident such as a fire. Therefore, from such a viewpoint, in the tank lorry, it is necessary to surely close the bottom valve except when unloading.

Since the bottom valve is provided at the center of the bottom of the tank, it is almost impossible to externally check the state of the bottom valve, that is, whether the tank is open or closed. Therefore, for example, as described above, when unloading only half of the liquid as a dangerous substance loaded in a tank chamber and moving to the next unloading place, it is necessary to close the bottom valve of the tank chamber. I often forgot. Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of the above-mentioned accidents accompanying this, there has been a demand for the development of a device capable of easily confirming the closed state of the bottom valve from the outside. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part showing a conventional example of such a bottom valve closed state checking device. That is, the closed state checking device that has been provided conventionally is used together with the opening / closing mechanism 2 of the type that opens and closes the bottom valve with the opening / closing handle 1 as described above, and connects the opening / closing handle 1 side to the upper surface of the tank 3. Markers 4 and 5 such as arrows are provided at predetermined positions, respectively.
5 was positioned so as to coincide when the bottom valve was completely closed, for example, to indicate the same direction. In the figure, reference numeral 6 denotes a handle shaft.

[0005]

However, the following problems have been pointed out in such a conventional example. That is, in the conventional bottom valve closing state checking device, firstly, although the closing state of the bottom valve can be easily checked from the outside, secondly, there is a great problem in the continuity of the accuracy. Was pointed out. In other words, in this conventional example, one of the markers 4 is attached to the side of the opening / closing handle 1 to be rotated. When the bottom valve is completely closed in a state where the bottom valve is completely closed due to a shape change due to abrasion or the like, looseness or backlash occurring in the opening / closing mechanism 2 of the bottom valve, that is, a connection / connection portion of each operation member, etc. There were many things that did not work. Thus, in the conventional example,
Changes in the positional relationship, errors, and the like are likely to occur, and it is difficult to maintain the accuracy over a long period of time, and there is a problem that the device often does not function as a device for confirming the closed state of the bottom valve. Third, the conventional example is further provided with an opening / closing mechanism 2 of a type in which the bottom valve is opened / closed by an opening / closing handle 1.
There is also a problem that it cannot be used with other types of opening and closing mechanisms because it is used by being mounted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example. An air flow path opened from a valve seat side toward a valve body of a bottom valve is provided. By providing a predetermined display means based on a change in air pressure, firstly, the closed state of the bottom valve can be easily checked from the outside, secondly, accuracy can be maintained for a long time, and thirdly, It is an object of the present invention to propose a bottom valve closing state checking device that can be used with various types of opening and closing mechanisms of a bottom valve.

[0007]

The technical means of the present invention for achieving this object is as follows. That is, the closed state confirmation device for the bottom valve of the tank in the tank lorry includes an air pipe connected to an air source to form an air flow path, and an air pipe provided at the bottom valve and one end connected to the air pipe. And a vent provided at the other end to the valve body from the valve seat of the bottom valve to the valve body, and a display means attached to the air flow path for displaying the closed state of the bottom valve based on a change in air pressure. And

[0008]

The present invention comprises the above-mentioned means and operates as follows. That is, at the end of unloading of the dangerous liquid loaded on the tank lorry, the bottom valve is still open. Therefore, in this bottom valve closed state confirmation device, air from an air source through an air flow path such as an air pipe or a vent hole is discharged from an opening on the valve seat side of the bottom valve toward a gap between valve bodies. Therefore, no air pressure is applied to the air flow path, and the display means displays a state in which the predetermined pressure is not applied, that is, the fact that the bottom valve is open. Thereafter, when the bottom valve is switched to the closed state and the valve body is pressed against the valve seat, the opening of the vent hole on the valve seat side is closed to prevent the release of air, so that air pressure is applied to the air flow path. The display means indicates that the predetermined pressure is applied, that is, the bottom valve is in the closed state. So it looks like this:

First, by observing the display means from the outside, the bottom valve closed state confirming device can easily confirm the closed state of the bottom valve from the outside. Second, the device for confirming the closed state of the bottom valve has a predetermined air pipe, a ventilation hole, and a display means and uses air pressure, so that accuracy can be maintained for a long time. That is, even when used for a long period of time, there is no influence of a change in shape due to abrasion or the like, looseness or looseness of the connection / connection portion, and no change in positional relationship, no error or the like occurs. Thirdly, the use of an opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the bottom valve with an opening / closing handle is provided.
The present invention is not limited to the case where the valve can be mounted, and the present invention can be applied to a bottom valve having an opening / closing mechanism for other various types of bottom valves.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system diagram of piping and the like showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the opening / closing handle 1, the bottom valve 7, and the like.

In the tank 3 of the tank truck 8, the tank 3
Each partition 9 and 10 along the width direction of each tank chamber 1
The tanks 11 are each provided with a bottom valve 7 at the center of the bottom of each tank chamber 11. A discharge pipe (not shown) is provided below the bottom of the tank 3. The discharge pipe communicates with each tank chamber 11 through each bottom valve 7, and the other end of each tank is connected to a tank. 3, a discharge valve is provided at each of the front and rear ends of the bottom. Therefore, by connecting a discharge hose to a desired discharge valve of such a discharge pipe, dangerous liquids such as gasoline, light oil, and kerosene loaded in each tank chamber 11 are unloaded.

First, the bottom valve 7 will be described with reference to FIG.
The bottom valve 7 is closely fixed to a discharge port 12 provided at the center of the bottom of each tank chamber 11 of the tank 3. 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a valve hole formed in the center of the valve seat 14.
The lower part 3 is connected to the above-mentioned discharge pipe via a pipe joint A, and is opened and closed by a valve body 15 which can contact the valve seat 14 from above. A lower end of a stem 16 serving as a valve rod is rotatably attached to the valve body 15. The stem 16 has a screw portion provided on the outer periphery thereof at a center of an upper portion of a support member 17 attached to the bottom valve 7. The upper end is connected to the lower end of a connecting rod 19 serving as a rod of the opening / closing mechanism 2 via a universal joint 18. Next, the opening / closing mechanism 2 of the bottom valve 7 will be described with reference to FIG. The opening / closing mechanism 2 first includes a holding unit 20.
The holding portion 20 is tightly fixed to an upper opening 21 provided at the center of the upper part of each tank chamber 11, and the handle shaft 6 is rotatably inserted in the center of the holding portion 20, and the handle The connecting rod 1 is connected to the lower end of the shaft 6 via a universal joint 22.
9 are connected at the upper end. At the upper end of the handle shaft 6, a hub portion 24 below the opening / closing handle 1 is externally fitted and fixed. The opening / closing handle 1 is rotatable forward and backward. Therefore, in the opening / closing mechanism 2 of the bottom valve 7, when the opening / closing handle 1 is rotated in the forward / reverse direction, the stem 16 is screwed through the handle shaft 6, the universal joint 22, the connecting rod 19, the universal joint 18, and the like. The bottom valve 7 opens and closes by opening and closing the valve hole 13 by the valve body 15 being pressed against or separated from the valve seat 14 while rotating in the forward and reverse directions by the portion. .

Next, a device for checking the closed state of the bottom valve 7 of each tank chamber 11 according to the present invention will be described. 25
Is an air tank, and the air tank 25 has, for example, a P.O. T. O. Device 2
6, and this P. T. O. Compressed air is stored in an air compressor 27 driven by the device 26.
An air source 28 such as the air tank 25 is connected to a main pipe 30 of an air pipe 29 that forms an air flow path. The main pipe 30 is provided with a pressure adjusting valve 31 for adjusting air pressure in order on the upstream side. A main valve 32 is provided. Main piping 3
0 is a downstream side, a branch pipe 33 corresponding to each tank chamber 11.
Each of the branch pipes 33 is provided with a gate valve 34 and a check valve 35 in this order from the upstream side, and then penetrates through the inside of the tank chamber 11 and has a tip provided in the bottom valve 7. It is connected to the pore 36 via a connector or the like. The ventilation hole 36 is provided in the flange portion 37, the peripheral member 38 of the bottom valve 7 and the valve seat 14 formed integrally therewith, and one end thereof is connected to the branch pipe 33 of the air pipe as described above, thereby forming an air flow path. The valve body 1 is formed at the other end from the upper surface of the valve seat 14 of the bottom valve 7.
5 is provided. A pressure gauge 40 is an example of a display unit. The pressure gauge 40 is provided in a branch pipe 41 of the air pipe 29 at a branch pipe 41 branched from the middle of the gate valve 34 and the check valve 35, and based on a change in air pressure in the air flow path, a bottom valve is provided. 7 is displayed. For example, when the scale of the pressure gauge 40 indicates 0, the bottom valve 7 is open, and the scale of the pressure gauge 40 moves from 0,
When a predetermined value is indicated, the bottom valve 7 is in a closed state,
Display each. The pressure gauge 40 as a display means is disposed at an appropriate place where it can be easily checked from the outside, in the illustrated example, on the tank 3 near the opening / closing handle 1 of the tank chamber 11.

The device for confirming the closed state of the bottom valve 7 according to the present invention is as described above. Therefore, it operates as follows.

In the tank lorry 8, the unloading handle 1 of the opening and closing mechanism 2 of the desired tank chamber 11 is rotated, for example, in the forward direction when unloading, so that the stem 16 and the valve body 15 are opened.
And the like, the valve body 15 is separated from the valve seat 14, the valve hole 13 is opened, and the bottom valve 7 of the tank chamber 11 is opened. Then, the dangerous liquid in the tank chamber 11 flows out through a discharge pipe, a discharge valve and the like, and is discharged to, for example, an underground tank of a gas station. Now, for example, when unloading a predetermined amount of a liquid as a dangerous substance loaded in a certain tank chamber 11, first, the main valve 32 of the closed state confirmation device for the bottom valve 7 and the tank chamber 11 When the gate valve 34 is opened and the bottom valve 7 is opened, the air from the air tank 25 of the air source 28 flows into the main pipe 30 of the air pipe 29 and the branch pipe 33 of the tank chamber 11. Then, it flows through the ventilation holes 36 and the like and reaches the opening 39. Since the bottom valve 7 is open, air flows from the opening 39 on the valve seat 14 side to the valve body 1.
5 is released toward the gap. Accordingly, no air pressure is applied to the air flow path of the branch pipe 33 of the air pipe 29,
The pressure gauge 40 as a display means displays a state of 0 where no predetermined pressure is applied, that is, that the bottom valve 7 is open.

After that, assuming that the unloading of a predetermined amount has been completed, if the opening / closing handle 1 of the opening / closing mechanism 2 of the tank chamber 11 is rotated, for example, in the opposite direction, the stem 16, the valve body 15 and the like are lowered. Then, the valve body 15 is pressed against the valve seat 14 to close the valve hole 13, and the bottom valve 7 of the tank chamber 11 is closed. In this way, when the bottom valve 7 is switched to the closed state and the valve body 15 is pressed against the valve seat 14, the opening 39 of the vent hole 36 on the valve seat 14 side is closed and the discharge of air is prevented. Therefore, the branch pipe 33 of the air pipe 29
Since air pressure is applied to the air flow path and the air pressure rises to a predetermined pressure, the pressure gauge 40 as a display means is in a state where the predetermined pressure is applied and the needle moves from 0 to indicate a predetermined value, that is, in a state where the bottom valve 7 is closed. The fact that there is is displayed. After the fact, the main valve 32 and the gate valve 34 are closed. Now, there will be the following first, second and third.

First, such a pressure gauge 4 as a display means is provided.
By viewing 0 from the outside, the closed state confirmation device for the bottom valve 7 can easily confirm the closed state of the bottom valve 7 of the tank chamber 11 from the outside. That is, looking at the pressure gauge 40 disposed near the opening / closing handle 1 of the opening / closing mechanism 2 of the tank chamber 11,
By judging whether or not the scale is 0, the closed state of the bottom valve 7 can be easily confirmed.

Second, the device for confirming the closed state of the bottom valve 7 has a predetermined air pipe 29, a vent hole 36, and a display means such as a pressure gauge 40, and uses air pressure, so that accuracy can be maintained over a long period of time. Can last. That is, even when used for a long period of time, since it is not a method attached to the opening / closing handle 1 of the opening / closing mechanism 2 as in the above-described closed state checking device according to the conventional example of this type (see FIG. 3), it is necessary to provide an interposed packing or the like. There is no influence of shape change due to abrasion etc.
There is no influence of looseness or looseness of the connection / connection portion of each operation member, and no change in the positional relationship, no error, and the like occur.

Third, the device for confirming the closed state of the bottom valve 7 is not limited to being mounted and mounted on the opening / closing mechanism 2 of the type in which the bottom valve 7 is opened / closed by the opening / closing handle 1. The present invention is also applicable to the case of the bottom valve 7 having the opening / closing mechanism 2 for the bottom valve 7 of various other types. That is, regardless of the opening / closing mechanism 2 using the opening / closing handle 1 in the illustrated example, for example, an air cylinder or the like is used to control the bottom valve 7 by fluid pressure such as air pressure.
A type that opens and closes the bottom valve 7 via a cam, a wire, and the like based on an operation from the ground side, that is, a type that opens and closes the bottom valve 7
For example, the device for confirming the closed state of the bottom valve 7 can be easily applied.

First, in the illustrated example, the branch pipe 33 of the air pipe 29 is disposed so as to penetrate the inside of the tank chamber 11, but is not limited to this.
You may arrange so that it may go around 1 outside. Secondly, in the illustrated example, the pressure gauge 40 as the display means is disposed near the opening / closing handle 1 on the tank 3, but is not limited to this, of course, so that it can be confirmed from the ground side. For example, it may be arranged near the bottom valve 7. In particular, when a type that does not use the opening / closing handle 1 is adopted as the opening / closing mechanism 2, it is preferable to dispose it near the bottom valve 7. Third
In the illustrated example, the pressure gauge 40 is used as the display means, but the display means is not limited to this. For example, an air indicator whose color changes based on a change in the air pressure in the air flow path may be used. It may be used. In other words, a display means may be used in which the indicator plate of the air indicator indicates a specific color at a predetermined pressure, thereby indicating that the bottom valve 7 is in the closed state. Fourth, the function of the check valve 35 in FIG. 1 will be described. If the check valve 35 is provided, an excellent advantage is exhibited when the bottom loading method is adopted in the tank truck 8. That is, not only the liquid as a dangerous substance in the tank chamber 11 is unloaded from the bottom valve 7, but also the liquid as a dangerous substance from the bottom valve 7 is discharged from the tank chamber 1.
In the tank lorry 8 of the type loaded in 1, the liquid as a dangerous substance loaded through the bottom valve 7 flows into the air pipe 29 such as the vent hole 36, the branch pipe 33, the main pipe 30 from the opening 39, and the air source 33 barrels of air tank 2
The check valve 35 functions to prevent an accident that flows back to 5 beforehand.

[0021]

As described above, the bottom valve closing state confirmation device according to the present invention provides a predetermined indication based on a change in air pressure in an air flow path opened from the valve seat side toward the valve body of the bottom valve. By providing the means, the following effects are exhibited.

First, the closed state of the bottom valve can be easily confirmed from the outside. That is, although the bottom valve is provided at the center of the tank bottom, the closed state of the bottom valve can be easily confirmed by providing the display means at an appropriate place where it can be easily confirmed from the outside. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the closure of the bottom valve from being forgotten, and to avoid the danger of spillage of a liquid as a dangerous substance, mixing accident, fire accident and the like. Second, the device for confirming the closed state of the bottom valve can maintain its accuracy for a long time. That is, the accuracy can be maintained even after the period elapses, not to mention at the beginning of mounting, and an error or the like does not occur for a long period of time, so that the device can function as a closed valve check device for the bottom valve. Third, it can also be used with various types of opening and closing mechanisms for bottom valves. That is, not only the opening and closing mechanism of the type that opens and closes the bottom valve with the opening and closing handle, but also the case where the opening and closing mechanism of the various types of bottom valve is adopted,
It is feasible. As described above, the effects exhibited by the present invention are remarkably large, for example, all the problems existing in this type of conventional example are eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of pipes and the like showing an embodiment of a device for checking a closed state of a bottom valve according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the opening / closing handle, the bottom valve, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of a device for checking a closed state of a bottom valve according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 tank 7 bottom valve 8 tank lorry 14 valve seat 15 valve body 28 air source 29 air pipe 36 vent hole 39 opening (opening) 40 pressure gauge (display means)

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. An apparatus for confirming a closed state of a bottom valve of a tank in a tank lorry, comprising: an air pipe connected to an air source to form an air flow path; and one end provided at the bottom valve and connected at one end to the air pipe. A vent hole that forms the air flow path and has the other end opened toward the valve body from inside the valve seat of the bottom valve, and the closed state of the bottom valve is provided on the air flow path based on a change in air pressure. Display means for displaying the closed state of the bottom valve.