MXPA00006663A - A valve connector for dry disconnection - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention refers to hermetic couplings of dry disconnection for transferring Gas LP and chemical or toxic fluids with almost null emissions to the atmosphere at the moment of disconnection, which are around 0.2 cm3 to 0.5 cm3 for connection sizes of 19mm up to 75mm. Basically, it counts with two main components:1) a check valve connector manually actuated by circular movements of its lever with a trigger-type safety device for the open and close positions and, 2) an adapter directly coupled to the valve connector by the traction force of the connector nut between both of them. The ACME-type nut 6 thread per inch CLASS 2G, has a very robust design and its operation is very steady, it is fabricated to facilitate its maintenance in a fast and simple way, though it almost does not require it, the only thing that has to be replaced after a long use are the"O"seals and it is delivered with a replacement kit of the same. It is fabricated in bronze, brass, stainless steel, and plastic materials.

Description

DRY DISCONNECT HERMETIC COUPLING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the transfer of LPG GAS and transfer of fluids in general from one container to another, the problems of their emissions to the atmosphere are currently presented mainly at the moment of the disconnection previously transferred from one container to another through arrangements connection for pipes, hoses, adapters and valves.

The disconnection emissions range from 60 cm3 to 2 liters at least for connection sizes from 19mm to 50 mm and thus increase the emissions proportionally to the size of the same.

At present some attempts are being made to solve the problem of reducing emissions with processes that are slow or with equipment that the user can not directly repair with ease and depends on manufacturer-specific spare parts, as well as a direct maintenance of the equipment manufacturer. that it uses, resulting in expensive acquisition or repair respectively. Solving this problem by a limit between 0.2 cm3 to 0.5 cm3 at disconnection for sizes from 19mm to 75mm for example and so on and proportionally for larger and smaller sizes; is what is intended to protect according to our Industrial Property Law with this patent application, counting this equipment with the characteristics that are described and claimed below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 represents a cut in the center and passing through the vertical axis of the dry disconnect valve connector and adapter with 1 1/2 to 2 turns of screwing the nut with the Valve Connector in the closed position, showing the corresponding number of its parts.

FIG. 2 is the same FIG. 1 showing only the main components.

FIG. 3, represents a cut to the center and vertical of the valve connector and the adapter fully engaged and in the open position without the cut in the center by the cap, without identifying its parts.

FIG. 4 represents a downward view only of the manibel in three variations in the closed position.

FIG. 5 is a rear view only of the guide shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 3 in two variants.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the cap showing the position of the stud-bolt, of the lever and of the groove or channel that limits the open or closed position.

FIG. 7 shows the seal housing "O" in the conical part of the front segment of the secondary body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Basically the equipment consists of two main components: 1) Connector Check valve manually operated by a circular movement with a lever and 2) An adapter that is directly attached to the Valve Connector, as illustrated in the accompanying Figures 1, 2 and 3.

The FilG. 1, shows the VALVE CONNECTOR formed the body by two main parts; the primary body 1 and the secondary body 2 assembled through a thread in both with ACMÉ Type 2G rope, 6 wires per inch hermetically sealed with the "O" type seal between them. It also has a NUT 3 with four supporting protrusions 3 'that serve to join and couple with force and rigidity the two main components and this in turn limited to a firm stop 2' of the secondary body. The primary body 1 has a bonnet 5 threaded on the upper part that supports and allows the rotation of the support shaft 12 and the cap 4, with the shaft-support 12, the bonnet is sealed with a tightening to the primary body 1, this bonnet carries a packer nut 6 for fixing the "O" type seal 11 that makes a hermetic seal between the bonnet and the SUPPORT shaft 12 supported by a 7-way washer thus eliminating any possibility of leakage between the body and the environment.

The support shaft 12 has a cam-arm 15 articulated through the spindle 14 with a handle 13 and the latter is also articulated with the piston-like retaining element 21 with four cross-fins 21 'through a fixing screw. 19 with a nut 19a and an articulation pin 18; giving a longitudinal movement to the retaining element 21 moving the lever 9 by previously activating the trigger-type safety 10 towards the lever or upwards until the rod 10 'stops with the lever 9 at 9' to give freedom to the movement with the lever in the direction positive to open and in the negative direction to close, releasing the trigger-type safety device 10 in the required position: open or closed by securing this position by the rod 10"that enters the circular housing 10 '" pushed by the action of the spring 10a.

The housing member 17 of the retaining element is always abutting the secondary body by the action of the spring 17 'and not allowing possible leaks with its seals in O "25 and 25' when the seal fails in O" 23.

When the coupling of the connector-valve and the adapter are present one against the other, they are made to fit end to end. The secondary body 2 of positive truncated conical shape in the coupling part 2"and with a bore of two diameters, in the final end joins just in the negative truncated cone of the adapter 26 'when tightening the nut, carrying this secondary body 2 a circular housing in the conical part FIG. 6 or in the truncated flat end thereof to mount a seal in "O" 24 or 24 'giving the assembly two seals: the first elastomeric and the second metallic.

FIG. 1 shows the adapter, formed the main body 26 by only one component that gives it greater rigidity; it also has a retaining element 30 such that when the pushing force is supplied by the spring 29 held by the rod-union 27 and guided by the guide 28 housed inside the threaded end with a rope for pipe or rope normal and this guide with a stop limited by the internal step 26"of the Adaptor and also by the stop 28 'in the same guide, gives a primary seal when the seal" O "31 contacts the internal diameter of the flow adapter and a secondary seal by the contact surface 30 'of the retaining element 30 of the adapter, this sealing pressure increased by the pressure existing in the container where the adapter is installed or at the end of the connection line where it is installed. The double seal in the union areas of the valve and adapter connector after having passed the fluid from one side to the other is such that, after having put in the closed position the coupling at the moment and disconnect the valve connector from the adapter at an operating pressure that guarantees the design; the emission to the atmosphere of the fluid trapped by the interstides of the metal joints limited by the seals in O "22, 23, 24 or 24 'and 31 is minimal and in some cases almost imperceptible.

Analystically and algebraically, the volumes of the interstitial spaces can be obtained, reaching at most the calculations of 0.2 cm3 and 0.5 cm3.

In FIG. 1, the bonnet 5 is fixed to the primary body 1 with a tightening torque such that a metal-to-metal seal is obtained between the bonnet and the primary body with very fine machining in the contact areas; for additional security, in some cases a metal glue can be placed on the bonnet strings in the area where it is screwed to the primary body. The support shaft 12 is firmly connected to the cap 4 through a grub screw 8 pressed against the support shaft 12 in such a way that when the lever 9 is rotated it is fixed to the cap through a grub screw 8 'by previously operating with the finger index the trigger-type safety device 10 the entire cap can rotate freely in a positive or negative direction, this rotational movement being limited by a 5'-tight stopper screwed on the primary body 1 and also by a drilled slot 4 'of the FIG. 6 in the lower part of the cap to the open and closed positions., With a range that can be between 160 ° and 180 ° of rotation of the lever 9. The keys 16 are installed to avoid accidental misalignments and disassemblies.

These LP gas and fluid handling couplings of the present invention can be manufactured from 316 or 304 stainless steel, bronzes, brass, monel, plastics or other metal and suitable material and the coupling can also be in the form of an elbow or "T" and different adaptations on site.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention that are limited by the content of the following clauses:

Claims (12)

CLAIMS Having described the invention, I consider as a novelty and, therefore, claim as property, what is contained in the following clauses:

1. Improvements in Dry Disconnection Hermetic Couplings for GAS LP transfer and transfer of fluids of the type that include a Retendon Valve Connector operated manually by a lever and with a trigger-type latch continuously supported by a spring for the open and closed positions, a nut with ACMÉ thread type 2G pitch 6 threads per inch and a concentrically arranged check valve adapter characterized improvement because the connection stiffness is achieved by the precision truncated conical coupling in its conical and flat contact areas secured and reinforced rigidity by the union of union and traca'ón with the nut on the connector valve of retention and the adapter valve of retendón; the seal in the union is achieved with the O-shaped seals located in the conical or flat contact areas with circular housings of transverse type of dovetails.

2. Improvements in dry disconnection couplings according to clause 1, characterized in that the calculation of the emissions to the atmosphere after having passed LP GAS or transferred fluids and putting it in the closed position when disconnecting it, is defined and limited only and accurately by the position and arrangement of the "O" seals located in both retention elements and by the interstitial volumetric spaces in the curved or flat contact areas and when the degree of sliding adjustment of the same retention elements is left tolerance between 0.1 mm and 0.25 mm, a calculation of maximum emission to the atmosphere of 0.2 cm3 up to 0.5 cm3 is obtained for connection sizes from 19mm to 75mm and proportionally for larger and smaller sizes.

Improvements in Dry Disconnect Hermetic Couplings according to clause 1, characterized in that when manually placing it in the open and closed positions these positions are secured and limited by perforations in the primary body on one of its flat sides to the surrounding side of the bonnet and by the stopper that fixes these positions first and by the direct action of the spring on the trigger type safety.

Improvements in Dry Disconnect Hermetic Couplings according to clause 1, characterized in that when driving it to the open position, the losses in the vector flow forces resulting from the retention element of the valve connector decrease notably due to the curved and angular trajectory they obtain with respect to the coaxial axis being on average between 60 ° and 45 ° of deviation of flow lines, obtaining higher yields of the order of 8% to 15% demonstrably analytical and experimentally compared with other designs at present.

Improvements in Dry Disconnect Hermetic Couplings according to Clause 1, characterized in that when operating it continuously and daily, the mismatch that may occur in its calipers due to wear on its parts of the check valve connector are absorbed in the first instantaneous by the permissible range of Factory location of the O-seals of the retention element, after a considerable use of approximately one to three years and if the calibration exceeds the emission limits established for each connection size, it can be compensated by loosening the nut 19a and rotating the retaining element 21 as necessary and retightening the nut to fix this subassembly again, there being no risk of concentrating efforts in a fin 21 'of the retention element to be four in total and the stresses are normally balanced in two of them, not happening this way comparatively with those of the current market that have three fins and in which there is concentrate of efforts in a fin and can not be recalibrated after wear.

Improvements in Hermetic Couplings of dry disconnection according to clause 1 characterized because the wear to the failure that could occur by the continuous and daily use in one and / or in all the seals in "O" is very easy and direct its substitution in site without the need to send it to the factory and also to obtain the spare parts, which considerably reduces the cost of maintenance and repaired for this concept, also happens when the need arises to change any part subjected to friction wear, because it is easy disarm and reassemble completely either the valve connector or the adapter does not occur with different brands currently existing.

Improvements in dry disconnection couplings according to clause 1 characterized by the pushing force on the lever that was necessary to open the adapter retaining element due to the fluid pressure in it between 3 and 7 kg / cm2 proportional to the size of the connection against the shaft-stem mechanism, cam-arm, crank and the retention element when maneuvering it to open the adapter and transfer LP gas or fluid at higher pressure is supported by the crankcase because it is formed of a single piece and with greater resistance to failure per column compared to other designs currently that are formed by thinner parts and not designed for pressure against the valve connector.

Improvements in Dry Disconnect Hermetic Couplings according to clause 1, characterized in that the cylinder that contains the retention element of the valve connector is formed in a single piece and not in two, which results in greater rigidity and the sealing point or area with said retention element is a standard "O" seal housed circularly in the form of a dovetail cross-section and easy to replace, unlike other current products, the dlindro housing is formed in two parts and the seal is special and vulcanized together with one of the two parts of the cylinder.

Improvements in Dry Disconnect Hermetic Couplings according to Clause 3, characterized in that its two retention elements when overlapping are aligned, aligned and secured fairly and concentrically, avoiding misalignments that could occur due to sudden overpressures either axially or perpendicularly thus increasing the useful life of its parts subject to longitudinal friction.

Improvements in Dry Disconnect Hermetic Couplings according to clause 1, characterized in that the Adapter, being formed in a single piece and with ACMÉ type 2G type male thread, passes 6 threads per inch, greater stiffness and security is obtained against any disassembly that would happen it is formed of two parts and also because the guide of the rod of the retaining element, and the retaining element are easily removable in case of necessary maintenance either for replacement of some of its elements or for change of the corresponding "O" seal and can be installed safely and quickly again by squeezing the rod guide.

11. Improvements in Dry Disconnect Hermetic Couplings according to clause 1, characterized in that when using the NUT with thread type 2G, step 6 threads per inch to join the two main connector and adapter components there is no risk of disconnection due to wear or accidental fatigue due to that comparatively the existing cords or threads in the Nut and the adapter and the stop 2 'are much more resistant compared to the current methods of lever-cam mechanisms under pressure used for coupling and tightening.

12. Improvements in Hermetic Couplings of dry disconnection for GAS LP transfer and transfer of fluids according to the previous clauses characterized because the valve connector can be in the form of an elbow or