JPH0514154B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to the use of fixed conduit flanges and removable conduit sections in handling technology cells, in particular in large-scale cells for the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuel. The present invention relates to a centering and operating aid for interconnectable conduit flanges, for remotely connecting flanges, of the type in which the separating plane of the two flanges is arranged vertically.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Plants for reprocessing irradiated nuclear fuel are equipped with so-called hot cells for accommodating components for handling technology. Handling equipment is installed in a frame or rack within this radiation-shielding cell.

Maintenance work inside the cell, which is loaded with radioactive irradiation, is carried out via movable remote control equipment. The handling equipment arranged in the racks are connected to each other by conduits or to conduits guided through the cell walls. When replacing handling equipment, the conduits must be separated remotely and reconnected to each other after the new handling equipment has been installed. In order to make it possible to replace this handling equipment or to dismantle the entire frame, it is necessary to remove the entire section of the conduit, since the conduit is not suitable for the exchange of handling equipment or for the removal of the frame or frame module. This is because it prevents

For this purpose, removable pipe sections of the type that are connected with connectable flanges at their ends, so-called pipe connection units, have come into use. The flange at the end of the tube coupling unit is connected to a stationary conduit passed through the cell wall when it is connected thereto, or to a flange of a conduit connection of a handling equipment arranged in the frame. The pipe coupling unit therefore has two fixed pipe connections.
It is remotely mounted between two flanges and is replaceable or removable. The connection of the flange pairs, each consisting of two flanges, takes place by known means, for example by a clamping ring connection or by a screw connection.

When assembling a tube coupling unit, the flanges to be coupled together must be centered and aligned. Such centering aids are known and ensure the coincidence of the positions of corresponding holes in the flanges to be joined to each other, which is necessary when remotely assembling and threading the flanges of a pair of flanges. It is suitable for

Since this joining operation has to be carried out using remote handling techniques, special problems arise for the on-site operator who monitors the joining process by means of television images. In other words, visibility to the joining location becomes poor immediately before the flanges are assembled to each other. This often results in failure to install replaceable or removable tube coupling units.

Normally, threaded bolts are placed in the flanges of pipe coupling units so as not to be lost, and the threaded bolts are screwed into the flanges of stationary conduits after matching the images of the holes provided in the flanges to be joined together. There must be. Therefore, the relative position of the threaded hole in the flange of the pipe coupling unit to the through hole in the flange that is attached by remote control or the threaded bolt located in the through hole can be adjusted correctly so that the opposite flange has a threaded bolt. It is necessary to ensure that they are screwed together.

It is known that flange pairs in nuclear technology installations are equipped with so-called adjustment pins. The adjustment pin is a centering pin, and the centering pin has a thread that is screwed into the plate-like part of the flange of the pipe coupling unit, and the protruding tip part matches the inside of the mating flange when two flanges are assembled. into the centering hole. The use of such adjustment pins is less advantageous in tube coupling units with unfavorable geometries, for example tubes with complicated curved configurations, and failure or damage to the flange sealing elements is very likely.

West German patent application P3341044.5 states:
A centering device for remotely connecting the flange of a stationary conduit and a flange of a tube coupling unit is provided by means of an upwardly facing vertical centering pin arranged on the stationary conduit, while a centering pin is arranged on the removable tube coupling unit. It has been proposed that a nut member with a centering surface is arranged which fits into the nut. According to this proposal, optimal auxiliary means are proposed for aligning the flanges to be joined together.

Problem to be Solved by the Invention It is an object of the invention to design a centering and operating aid of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the joining process is possible quickly, reliably and with low technical outlay. That's true.

Means for Solving the Problems The means of the present invention for solving the above problems are as follows:
In a centering and operating aid of the type mentioned at the outset, the flange at the end of the stationary conduit is provided with an upwardly open guide pin receptacle arranged laterally on the circumference and parallel to the axis; The guide pin receptacle transitions into a capture ring in the region of the rear, stationary conduit side, and a guide fits into the guide pin receptacle laterally on the circumferential surface of the flange at the end of the removable conduit section. A pin is mounted, the guide pin being located in the guide pin receptacle with the pair of flanges connected to each other and projecting through the capture ring.

Embodiment According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention as defined in claim 2, the indentation provided on the surface of the guide pin is such that the threaded connection has been released but has not yet been removed. Preventing replaceable conduit sections or replaceable equipment from falling out.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the patent claim 3, further improvements in the centering and operating conditions are obtained.

EXAMPLES The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to Examples, but explanations and devices that are not relevant to the understanding of the present invention have been omitted in order to make the present invention easier to understand.

Two conduits 7, 9 bent at 90° at their ends extend from a frame 5 (FIG. 1) which receives handling equipment (not shown) for the chemical reprocessing of nuclear fuel; 9 has a flange 11 or 13 welded to the end. The flanges 11 and 13, located in a common horizontal plane, are connected to each other by a tube connection unit 15, which connects the conduits 7, 9, the tube connection unit 15, which are the sections of the conduit guiding the treatment medium.

In order to obtain a more advantageous center of gravity, the tube coupling unit 15 has an arcuate conduit section 17, which has a flange 19 or 21 welded to its end. two flanges 19 and 21
are connected to the flanges 11 or 13 of the conduits 7 and 9 on the frame side, respectively, by threaded bolts 23.

A suspension member 25 is screwed together so as to be aligned with the center of gravity of the tube coupling unit 15, and the suspension member 25 is provided with a receiving hole 27 welded in the center, and the receiving hole 27 is connected to the hook of the lifting machine. It can be hung.

The flanges 19, 21 are each provided laterally with a welded guide pin 29, 31, which is aligned parallel to the axis of the through hole in the flanges 19, 21. Each guide pin 29, 31 is located in a corresponding guide pin receptacle 33 provided on the side of each flange 11, 13. The guide pin receivers 33 each have one catch ring 3 at their rear end facing the frame 5.
It is moving to 5. Each guide pin 20, 31 is located within a corresponding guide pin receiving portion 33,
Furthermore, it passes through each capture ring 35 and protrudes from the capture ring 35.

It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the flange pair 13, 21 connects the conduits 9, 17 which extend centrally to the flange pair 13, 21. Three threaded bolts 23 are arranged around the conduit section 17, the threaded bolts 23 having hexagonal bolt heads for actuation from the flange side of the tube coupling unit. A through hole is formed in the flange 21, and a corresponding screw hole is provided in the flange 13. The threaded bolt 23 is secured on the rear side of the flange 13 by a corresponding nut 41. Although the guide pin 31 is shown in FIG. 3, the threaded bolt 23 has been removed.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is used to connect conduit connections that are not axially parallel to each other. With the aid of the centering and operating aid device according to this embodiment, it is possible to connect mutually inclined conduit connections to one another. Regarding the centering and operation assisting device, FIG.
That is, only the guide pins 55 and 57 are shown.

This tube coupling unit 59 also has a receiving hole 6 at the center of gravity.
1, and the receiving hole 61 can be hung with a hook. The guide pins 55, 57 have a notch 63 on their surface due to the action of a reverse hook, and the notch 63 effectively prevents the tube coupling unit 59 from falling off when the flanges are screwed together. This is because the notch 63 catches on the upper edge of the capture ring at the end of the guide pin receiver.

The disassembly of the tube coupling unit 15 (FIGS. 1 to 3) is carried out as follows: The operator uses a lifting machine with a remotely controlled percussion driver on the two flange pairs 11, 19 and 1.
3 and 21 to the flange side of the tube coupling unit 15. Remove the three screw bolts 23,
Then, pull it out completely from the screw hole of flange 11 or 13. The threaded bolt 23 is held within the through hole of the flange 19 or 21. Subsequently, the operator moves the percussion driver to the other flange pair 11,1.
9 or 13 or 21, and repeat the above operations here. Pipe coupling unit 15 and fixed flange 1
1 and 13 have been released, but the guide pins 29 and 31 are still inserted, so that the pipe coupling unit 15 is prevented from falling. The operator uses the lifting machine to return the percussion driver to the storage position and uses the same lifting machine to grasp the receiving hole 27 of the tube coupling unit 15. The guide pins 29 and 31 are moved away from the fixed flanges 11 and 13 and the capture ring 35 is moved.
remove from In this way, the tube coupling unit 1
5 becomes removable.

A new pipe coupling unit 15 is received in the receiving hole 27 by a lifting machine equipped with a hook and transported to the coupling location. The operator places the tube coupling unit 15 on approximately the center of the circumferential surfaces of the flanges 11 and 13 using guide pins 29 and 31. Next, pipe coupling unit 1
By lowering the guide pins 29, 3
1 is slid down on the outer peripheral surfaces of the flanges 11 and 13. The guide pins 29 and 31 are forcibly accommodated in the guide pin receiving portion 33. The lifting machine is then used to move it towards the flanges 11 and 13, so that the guide pins 29, 31 are inserted into each catch ring 35 and held therein.
Remove the hook of the lifting machine from the receiving hole 27, and grab the impact driver with the same lifting machine,
Then, it is carried to the flange side of the tube coupling unit 15 of one of the flange pairs 11, 19 and 13, 21. Threaded bolt 23 is screwed into flange 11 or 13 and the same process is then carried out with the other pair of flanges 11, 19 or 13, 21. The tube coupling unit 15 can be replaced quickly and reliably.

Effects of the invention The centering and operation assisting device according to the present invention has two
It consists of two parts, each part being located at the flange of the stationary conduit and the flange of the tube coupling unit. A guide pin is attached to the side of the flange of the tube coupling unit and projects beyond the separation plane, and in the assembled state the guide pin is arranged in a guide pin receptacle with a capture ring arranged at the rear end. ing. The operator has good visibility of this centering and operating aid under television viewing conditions, and a smooth and trouble-free assembly of the flange connection is achieved.

For remote-controlled disassembly of the tube coupling unit or the line section of the construction according to the invention, all screws can be separated from the flanges and the lifting machine can then be activated on the tube coupling unit or the line section to be replaced. . By virtue of the embodiment according to the invention, the risk of the tube coupling unit or the exchange device falling is minimized, since the guide pins hold the tube coupling unit or the exchange device in the capture ring of the guide pin receptacle. This is because it will be ensured.
Therefore, one lifting machine can be used to carry out the threaded connection and subsequent replacement, or vice versa.

An operator who performs remote control work while observing the joining process via a television monitor installs the pipe joining unit by guiding the pipe joining unit suspended from a lifting machine using guide pins from above the outer circumferential surface of the flange. into position so that it is received within the pin receptacle. When the tube coupling unit is moved by the lifting machine holding it in the direction of the stationary conduit flange, the guide pin is inserted into a capture ring arranged at the end of the guide pin receptacle.

The insertion of the guide pins of both flanges of the tube coupling unit into the catch ring ensures that the tube coupling unit does not fall out during tightening of the threaded bolts. The same lifting machine can be used to bring the percussion driver used for screwing into the working position.

For an operator who remotely controls a process while observing the process through the image receiving surface, the centering and operation assist device according to the invention allows the operator to carry out satisfactory work even under poor visibility conditions.

According to the present invention, it is possible to omit the adjustment pin provided on the plate-shaped portion of the flange.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a pipe coupling unit that is installed horizontally on flanges on two frame sides of two stationary conduits; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the flange pair as seen from the pipe coupling unit side; Figure 3 shows the flanged joints in the unthreaded state and slightly separated from each other, omitting the tensile screws that are normally held in the flanges of the pipe joint unit. FIG. 4 is a side view showing another embodiment of a tube coupling unit with a centering and operating aid according to the invention. 5... Frame, 7,9... Conduit, 11,1
3, 19, 21, 51, 53...flange, 1
5, 59... Pipe coupling unit, 23... Screw bolt, 25... Suspension member, 27, 61... Receiving hole,
29, 31, 55, 57...Guide pin, 33...
... Guide pin receiving part, 35 ... Capture ring, 41
...Natsuto, 63... Notches.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1 Centering and operating aid for interconnectable conduit flanges for remotely connecting flanges of stationary conduits and flanges of removable conduit sections in cells of handling technology It is a device,
In those types in which the separating plane of the two flanges is arranged vertically, the flange 11 or 13 at the end of the stationary conduit 7 or 9 is arranged laterally on the circumference, parallel to the axis, facing upward. It is provided with a guide pin receptacle 33 which is open to the rear and which in the area on the stationary conduit 7 or 9 side transitions into a catch ring 35 and which is open to the removable conduit part 17. End flange 1
Guide pin receiving part 3 on the side of the circumferential surface of 9 or 21
3, and the guide pins 29, 31 are positioned in the guide pin receiving portion 33 when the flanges pair 11, 19 or 13, 21 are connected to each other. Centering and handling aid for interconnectable conduit flanges, characterized in that the centering and handling aid for interconnectable conduit flanges is characterized in that it has an inner diameter and projects through the capture ring 35. 2. Centering and handling aid according to claim 1, wherein the guide pins 29 or 31 of the removable conduit sections 15, 59 have indentations 63 on their surfaces. 3 The removable conduit portions 15, 59 are connected to the receiving hole 2
7 or 61.
The centering and operation aid device described in Section 1.