RU226438U1 - LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to measuring devices, namely direct action level measuring devices, and is intended for visual monitoring of the liquid level in the drums of boiler units, pressure vessels and other containers. The liquid level indicator device is a welded structure consisting of columns, an upper shut-off head, a lower shut-off head, a drain valve and a protective lighting device, while the columns consist of a housing with an inspection slot, and the slot is closed on both sides by a transparent element that is pressed to the body with an inspection frame with a slot, clamping strips and studs with nuts, and between the transparent element and the body there is a gasket, to fix the transparent element in the body there is a groove for installing a bounding frame, the drain valve is connected to the flow part of the column through the body of the lower shut-off head, the upper and the lower shut-off heads consist of a steel body with two shut-off valves located in series on the body and a separate ball valve in the flow part of the body, and the spindles are made in the form of a wedge, while the stands of the shut-off heads are made in the form of a welded structure. The technical result is to increase the reliability and service life of the device.

Description

The utility model relates to measuring devices, namely direct action level measuring devices.

A level indicating device for a reservoir is known from the prior art (US 2023112119 A1, publ. 2023-04-13), which includes: a differential pressure level configured to determine the liquid level in the reservoir based on pressure depending on the liquid level in the reservoir, and a level indicator configured to indicate liquid levels by moving in a vertical direction in accordance with a differential pressure signal associated with the differential pressure level.

The closest to the stated technical solution is the T-229b level indicator TKZ "Red Kotelshchik" (http://pek.su/services/oao-tkz-red-coppersmith/armature-test-of-direct-action/level-indicators/ t-229b/, publ. 10/1/2022), which is a direct-acting indicator and is designed to monitor the water level in the boiler drum and vessel.

The disadvantages of these technical solutions are the fragility and unreliability of the devices, as well as the complexity of the designs.

The problem to be solved by the claimed utility model is the development of a liquid level indicator.

This problem is solved due to the fact that the liquid level indicator device is a welded structure consisting of columns, an upper shut-off head, a lower shut-off head, a drain valve and a safety lighting device, while the columns consist of a housing with an inspection slit, and the slit is closed with two sides by a transparent element, which is pressed to the body by an inspection frame with a slot, clamping strips and studs with nuts, and between the transparent element and the body there is a gasket; to fix the transparent element, a groove is made in the body for installing a bounding frame; the drain valve is connected to the flow part of the column through the housing of the lower tripping head, the upper and lower tripping heads consist of a steel housing with two shut-off valves located in series on the housing and a separate ball valve in the flow part of the housing, and the spindles are made in the form of a wedge, while the racks of the tripping heads are made in the form of a welded structure.

The technical result is to increase the reliability and service life of the device.

The utility model is intended for visual monitoring of the liquid level in the drums of boiler units, pressure vessels and other containers.

The essence of the utility model is illustrated by drawings:

Fig. 1 - front view of the device;

Fig. 2 - side view of the device;

Fig. 3 - a fragment of the column in an enlarged view;

Fig. 4 - upper trip head;

Fig. 3 - lower tripping head;

Fig. 6 - drain valve;

Fig. 7 - utility model without protective lighting device;

Fig. 8 - diagram of connecting the level indicator to the tank.

The figures indicate: 1 - tube; 2 - column body; 3 - viewing slot; 4 - transparent element; 5 - viewing frame; 6 - clamping bar; 7 - hairpin; 8 - gasket; 9 - bounding frame; 10 - housing of the upper disconnecting head; 11 - rack of the upper disconnecting head; 12, 13 - sealing seats of spindles 15 and 16 of the upper disconnecting head; 14 - sealing seat of the ball 17 of the upper disconnecting head; 15 - spindle; 16 - spindle with a projection; 17 - ball of the upper tripping head; 18 - short handle; 19 - stuffing box rings of the upper disconnecting head; 20 - bushing of the upper disconnecting head; 21 - bolt of the upper disconnecting head; 22 - housing of the lower disconnecting head; 23 - rack of the lower disconnecting head; 24, 25 - sealing seats of spindles 27 and 28 of the lower disconnecting head; 26 - sealing seat of the ball 29 of the lower disconnecting head; 27 - spindle; 28 - spindle with a protrusion; 29 - ball of the lower tripping head; 30 - short handle of the lower tripping head; 31 - stuffing box rings of the lower disconnecting head; 32 - bushing of the lower disconnecting head; 33 - handle of the lower disconnecting head; 34 - bolt; 35 - pipe; 36 - drain valve spindle; 37 - drain valve body; 38 - drain valve stand; 39 - drain valve handle; 40 - gland rings of the drain valve; 41 - drain valve bushing; 42 - pressure plate of the drain valve; 43 - drain valve bolt; 44 - protective lighting device; 45 - upper connecting pipeline; 46 - lower connecting pipeline; 47 - capacity; 48 - level gauge; 49 - column nut; 50 - transparent glass speakers; 51 - LED lamp; 52 - handle of the upper trip head; 53 - pressure plate of the upper disconnecting head; 54 - plug; 55 - washer; 56 - pressure plate of the lower disconnecting head; 57 - slot; 58 - bolt for box 44; 59 - observation slot; 60 - slit for illumination; 61 - inner wall.

The utility model is a welded structure (Fig. 1, 2), consisting of columns, an upper switching head and a lower switching head. Columns and switching heads are connected to each other by tubes 1 (∅25×4) by manual welding in accordance with GOST 5264-80. The number of columns can be from two to five depending on the required level of control.

Each column consists of a steel body 2 with a viewing slot 3 6 mm wide (Fig. 7). The thickness of the housing 2 is 45 mm. The viewing slot 3 is closed on both sides by a transparent element 4 in the form of a set of SMOG mica plates. The transparent element 4 is pressed against the body 2 by a viewing frame 5 with a slot 57, clamping bars 6 and studs 7 with nuts 49. The thickness of the clamping bar 6 is 45 mm. Slot 57 with a width of 6 mm is necessary for visual observation through the transparent element 4. Slot 57 is made in the form of a groove with round chamfers at the corners. The tightness of the connection of the transparent element 4 with the body 2 is ensured by the gasket 8, made of paronite PON-0.5 in accordance with GOST 481-80. To securely fix the transparent element 4 in the body 2, a groove is made for installing the bounding frame 9. The tie rods 7 at both ends are made with a fine thread pitch.

Inspection slot 3, 6 mm wide, in housing 2 and a slot in viewing frame 5 (Fig. 3) provide quality control of the meniscus level at the interface between steam and water.

In the housing 2 of the column there is a groove, 4 mm deep, rectangular in shape, for installing a bounding frame 9 into it. The bounding frame 9 does not allow the transparent element 4 to slip out or move. In addition, the presence of a bounding frame 9 allows the transparent element 4 and the gasket to be accurately placed in the center 8 when replacing them in the working (vertical) position of the level indicator. This ensures ease of maintenance and reliability of the level indicator during operation.

The upper shut-off head is designed to shut off the level indicator on the steam line side. The shut-off head is a shut-off valve (faucet) with three shut-off elements (see Fig. 4). The upper tripping head contains a tripping head housing 10, made of steel, which is equipped with a stand 11. The housing 10 has three sealing seats 12, 13, 14. The sealing seats 12, 13 are made by surfacing (welding) in the form of a ring of corrosion-resistant surfacing material under spindles 15, 16, and the third sealing seat 14 is made in the form of a conical bore for ball 17. Spindles 15, 16 and ball 17 with their sealing seats 12, 13, 14 act as locking organs. The spindles 15, 16 and the rack 11 have a trapezoidal thread for moving the spindles 15, 16. The spindle 16 is combined with a short handle 18 (the handle 18 is shorter so that when rotating it does not touch the box 44), which drives the spindle 16. To seal the spindles 15 , 16 in the housing 10 of the tripping head there are gland rings 19, which are compressed to ensure tightness by the sleeve 20 and the pressure bar 53 when compressing the bolts 21. The handle 52 of the upper tripping head is designed to rotate the spindle 15.

Ball 17 automatically locks the passage of the medium into the column housing 2. The movement of the ball 17 occurs as a result of damage to the transparent element 4 of the column, or depressurization of the column, which increases the reliability and service life of the claimed device.

The racks of 11 disconnecting heads are made in the form of a welded structure, which is more technologically advanced in manufacturing (in contrast to the stamped design of the analogue). The structure of the rack 11 is made of steel parts welded together followed by final boring. The rack 11 ensures the rotation of the spindles 15, 16. In addition, bolts 21 are attached to it, which compress the stuffing box rings 19 to ensure sealing of the spindles 15, 16.

Spindles 15, 16 (valve shut-off bodies) are made in the form of a wedge, which, when rotated, close/open the flow path in the housing 10 of the shutdown head. The spindle with protrusion 16 differs from spindle 15 in the shape of the tip (the presence of a cylindrical protrusion with a diameter of 4 mm and a length of 10 mm). The protrusion on the spindle 16 is necessary to push the ball 17 out of the sealing seat 14.

The lower shut-off head (Fig. 3) is designed to turn off the level indicator from the water line side. The design of the lower tripping head is similar to the design of the upper tripping head. The shut-off head is a shut-off valve (faucet) with three shut-off elements. The lower disconnecting head contains a housing 22 of the switching head, made of steel, which is equipped with a stand 23. The housing 22 has three sealing seats 24, 25, 26. The sealing seats 24, 25 are made by surfacing (welding) in the form of a ring of corrosion-resistant surfacing material under spindles 27, 28, and the third sealing seat 26 is made in the form of a conical bore for ball 29. Spindles 27, 28 and ball 29 with their sealing seats 24, 25, 26 act as locking organs. The spindles 27, 28 and the rack 23 have a trapezoidal thread for moving the spindles 27, 28. The spindle 27 is combined with a short handle 30 that drives the spindle 27. To seal the spindles 27, 28, the housing 22 of the trip head is equipped with gland rings 31, which are compressed to ensure the tightness of the sleeve 32 and the pressure bar 56 when compressing the bolts 34. The plug 54 is made of a cylindrical shape with a thread for screwing into the body of the disconnecting head. Washer 55 is made in the form of a ring 2 mm thick, made of brass, which is pressed by plug 54 and serves to seal the threaded connection of plug 54 and the body of the trip head. The handle 33 of the lower tripping head is designed to rotate the spindle 28.

The rack 23 of the trip head is made in the form of a welded structure, which is more technologically advanced in manufacturing (in contrast to the stamped design of the analogue). The structure of the rack 23 is made of steel parts welded together followed by final boring. The rack 23 ensures the rotation of the spindles 27, 28. In addition, bolts 34 are attached to it, which compress the stuffing box rings 31 to ensure sealing of the spindles 27, 28.

Spindles 27, 28 (valve shut-off bodies) are made in the form of a wedge, which, when rotated, close/open the flow path in the housing 22 of the shutdown head. The spindle with protrusion 28 differs from spindle 27 in the shape of the tip (the presence of a cylindrical protrusion with a diameter of 4 mm and a length of 10 mm). The protrusion on the spindle 28 is necessary to push the ball 29 out of the sealing seat 26.

In the lower part of the housing of the lower disconnecting head there is a pipe 35 for purging the level indicator. This pipe 35 is connected to a drain valve.

The drain valve (Fig. 6) is connected to the flow part of the level indicator column through the housing of the lower shut-off head. It is designed to purge the level indicator during start-up. The drainage valve is a shut-off valve (faucet) with 1 shut-off elements (Fig. 6). The drain valve contains a housing 37, made of steel, which is equipped with a stand 38. The spindle 36 (valve shut-off element) is made in the form of a wedge, which, when rotated, closes/opens the flow path in the housing 38 of the drain valve. On the spindle 36 and the rack 38 there is a trapezoidal thread for moving the spindle 36. The spindle 36 is combined with a handle 30 that drives the spindle 36. To seal the spindle 36, the drain valve body 37 contains gland rings 40, which are compressed to ensure tightness of the sleeve 41 and the pressure bar 42 when compressing bolts 43. Drain valve handle 39 is designed to rotate spindle 36.

The drain valve stand 38 is made in the form of a welded structure, which is more technologically advanced in manufacturing (in contrast to the stamped design of the analogue). The structure of the rack 38 is made of steel parts welded together followed by final boring. The stand 38 ensures the rotation of the spindle 36. In addition, bolts 43 are attached to it, which compress the stuffing box rings 40 to ensure sealing of the spindle 36.

The welded box 44 is made of steel. On the back wall inside the box 44 there are LED lighting lamps 51, and on the front wall there are transparent glasses 50 17 mm thick (Fig. 3), through which viewing slits 3 are visible. The box 44 on the front wall contains an observation slot 59, which coincides with transparent glass 50 (that is, glass 50 is visible through the slot 59). Also in the box 44 there is an inner wall 61, which contains a slot for illuminating 60 of the viewing slit 3 (that is, through this slit 60 light passes to the viewing slit 3). LED lamps 51 are designed to illuminate the inspection slits 3 of the level indicator for visual observation of the meniscus level. Welded box 44 is designed to protect personnel from direct steam in the event of depressurization of the column. The box 44 also contains electrical wiring to the lighting lamps 51 and a plug connector for connecting to a 36 V AC mains. The box 44 is attached using bolts 58 to the speaker housings 2, on top of all three speaker housings 2. In the event of destruction of the transparent element 4 in the housing 2 level indicators steel box 44 prevents direct ingress of steam and hot water into the operating personnel. The design of the box 44 in figure 3 is shown by a dashed line, the design of the column body 2 and other elements by the main solid line.

The utility model works as follows.

The liquid level indicator works as follows (Fig. 8). The level indicator is connected by the upper connecting pipeline 45 and the lower connecting pipeline 46 with the top and bottom of the container 47 (boiler drum, vessel, etc.) with heated liquid (to boiling point) under pressure, the shut-off heads and drain valve are closed.

The level indicator is put into operation after the following operations:

- slowly open the drain valve, slightly opening the upper shut-off head and heat the level indicator housing with steam for 5-7 minutes.

- when the housing temperature reaches about 180°C, gradually close the drain valve, open the upper shut-off head completely, and then slowly open the lower shut-off head.

The level indicator has been put into operation.

After putting the level indicator into operation, the liquid level in container 47 is determined using a measuring scale, in level units. The results of a reliable and accurate visual measurement of fluctuations or a steady state of the liquid level in a container are transmitted by the operator to the control panel, where they are compared with the readings of an electronic level gauge 48 connected “in parallel.” The operator enters the measurement results into a personal computer, which, according to the program containing the calibration table, determines the exact level of liquid in the container.

If it is necessary to turn off the level indicator (emergency condition, repair, etc.), the shut-off heads are closed, and the drain valve is opened to “bleed off” the excess pressure in the device and drain the remaining liquid into the drainage container.

Advantages of this utility model:

- Increased thickness of the body and clamping strips, which increases the service life of the device and the reliability indicator by 1.5 times compared to analogues.

- Fine thread pitch (1.5 mm pitch) on the stud ensures reliable connection and sealing of the column, which leads to increased service life of the device.

- A 6 mm wide inspection slot in the housing and inspection frame ensures quality control of the meniscus level at the steam-water interface.

- The groove in the housing and the limiting frame installed in it do not allow the transparent element to slip out or move. This ensures reliability and increased service life of the level indicator during operation.

- The presence of a bounding frame allows you to accurately place the transparent element and gasket in the center when replacing them in the working (vertical) position of the level indicator. This ensures ease of maintenance and reliability of the level indicator during operation.

- Due to the activation of the ball shutter when the transparent element of the column is damaged, or the column is depressurized, it leads to an increase in the service life of the device.

- The wedge, in comparison with the flat plate of analogues, provides a reliable seal without additional grinding of the plate and valve seat, which leads to an increase in the service life of the device, which is confirmed during testing.

The main characteristics are presented in Table 1.

*DN - nominal diameter of supply pipes

*Рр - highest working pressure;

*H - visible field of the observed level;

*L - construction length;

All examples given are specific embodiments of this utility model and are not limiting.

To determine the achievement of the technical result, which consists in increasing the reliability and service life of the device, studies were carried out on the TE-229bsm level indicator according to example 1 (table 2, 3) and on the TE-74bsm level indicator according to example 2 (table 4, 5).

An external inspection revealed no discontinuities, leaks, tears, sweating in welded joints and on the base metal, leaks in detachable joints, visible residual deformations, or pressure drop on the pressure gauge.

As a result of the test, no leaks were found in the valve.

Table 4 - Hydraulic tests of the TE-74bsm level indicator

An external inspection revealed no discontinuities, leaks, tears, sweating in welded joints and on the base metal, leaks in detachable joints, visible residual deformations, or pressure drop on the pressure gauge.

As a result of the test, no leaks were found in the valve.

Thus, when using the claimed utility model, a technical result is achieved consisting of increasing the reliability and service life of the device.

Claims (7)

1. A liquid level indicator device, which is a welded structure consisting of columns, an upper shut-off head, a lower shut-off head, a drain valve and a safety lighting device, wherein the columns consist of a housing with an inspection slot, and the slot is closed on both sides by a transparent element , which is pressed against the body by an inspection frame with a slot, clamping strips and studs with nuts, characterized in that there is a gasket between the transparent element and the body, to fix the transparent element in the body, a groove is made for installing a bounding frame, the drain valve is connected to the flow part of the column through the housing of the lower shut-off head, the upper and lower shut-off heads consist of a steel body with two shut-off valves located in series on the body and a separate ball valve in the flow part of the body, and the spindles are made in the form of a wedge, while the racks of the shut-off heads are made in the form of a welded structure. 2. The liquid level indicator device according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of columns can be from two to five pieces. 3. The liquid level indicator device according to claim 1, characterized in that the width of the inspection slit is 6 mm. 4. The liquid level indicator device according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the column body is 45 mm. 5. The liquid level indicator device according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the pressure strip is 45 mm. 6. The liquid level indicator device according to claim 1, characterized in that the gasket is made of paronite. 7. The liquid level indicator device according to claim 1, characterized in that the groove in the column body is made of a rectangular shape with a depth of 4 mm.