RU2423283C1 - Device for temporary sealing of punctures and cracks in steel tanks filled with fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: transport, package. ^ SUBSTANCE: invention relates to appliances intended for temporary repair of walls of tanks made from carbon (magnetising) steels and filled with oil, oil products and other pressurised fluids. Proposed device comprises rigid patch 1 with ledge 2 whereon sealing element 3 is secured. Pressure mechanism is arranged outside said rigid patch 1 comprising spring-loaded curved plates 4 fitted on ""-like posts 5 by pins 5. Said pressure mechanism accommodates permanent magnets 6, pressure mechanism damping assembly including rod 10 and damper 11 and piston fitted in cylinder 12 with metered orifice 33 and mechanism to tear rigid patch off from repaired surface that represents a threaded joint with its screw 13 running in through channel in magnet 6. Spring-loaded pressure mechanism latches 14 are arranged on ends of ""-like posts 8. Said latches 14 are connected via cables 15 with rod 16 arranged to turn through preset angle in aiming mechanism holder 17 made up of threaded rod 18. Lever 22 with cable 23 is secured on end face of rod 16. ^ EFFECT: reduced losses of oil products. ^ 7 dwg

Description

The invention relates to a means of temporary repair of the walls of hollow products made of carbon (magnetizing) steels, in particular steel tanks filled with oil, oil products and other liquids and under internal pressure, and can be used to temporarily eliminate leaks during operation of these products, and in the hulls of ships.

During the operation of steel tanks, there may be cases of the formation of holes on the tank body from firearms or accidental blows with sharp objects, as well as the formation of cracks when the strength of the metal is weakened.

Holes and cracks in reservoirs filled with petroleum products can cause significant loss of petroleum products, environmental pollution, cause fires and cause fatalities.

A device for sealing holes with torn edges in the wall of the tank, containing a hard patch, a sealing gasket, a tightening element and an internal support made in the form of a conical compression spring (AS USSR No. 963895, class B63C 7/00, 03/27/1981 g.).

The disadvantage of this device is the impossibility of installing it on a hole from which oil is poured out under pressure, as well as the inability to seal a crack in the tank body due to the presence of an internal support in the device.

Known sealing device containing a plug, a means of sealing it, made in the form of a toroidal element made of porous rubber or a chamber filled with air, and means for fixing the plug made in the form of permanent magnets attached to the plug using flexible connections, which are made in the form thin metal strips (RU No. 40987 U1, class B63B 43/16, March 16, 2004).

The disadvantage of this device is that the permanent magnets mounted on the plug using flexible connections, perform only the function of fixing the plug on the metal surface in order to prevent it from sliding from the installation site and do not provide a tight pressing of the toroidal element to the metal surface, and tightness is only ensured by water pressure on the plug from the outside.

The use of permanent magnets in this device with a higher pressing force will not give positive results due to the fact that during the installation of the device on the hole it will inevitably come into contact with the tank body, as a result of which the permanent magnets will be pressed firmly against the metal surface and will not allow the device to be pulled over the hole .

A device for eliminating a leak is known, comprising a magnetic holder, consisting of a head in the cavity of which a permanent magnet is located, and a sealing gasket mounted on the flat working surface of the head and made of ferromagnetic material with a polymer adhesive pre-coated containing a ferromagnetic filler in the form of iron powder (RU No. 2239119 C1, CL F16L 55/16, B23P 6/04, 11.28.2003).

The disadvantage of this device is that it cannot be installed on a hole or crack with protruding torn edges on the outside of the tank body, and it is also impossible to install the device on a hole or crack, from which the oil is poured out under pressure.

A device for sealing holes in a tank is also known, comprising a patch with a sealing gasket, a telescopic rod, the fixed part of which is made with an external thread, a clamping element mounted on the fixed part of the telescopic rod with the possibility of longitudinal movement. The device comprises a thrust ring screwed onto the fixed part of the telescopic rod, rods fixed at one end pivotally on the movable part of the telescopic rod with the possibility of their opening after the device is inserted into the reservoir hole. The supporting element is rigidly connected to the fixed part of the telescopic rod, in the end of which an annular groove is made to accommodate the free ends of the rods. The movable part of the telescopic rod is made with a thrust bearing, and the rods in the place of their attachment to the movable part of the telescopic rod are spring-loaded relative to the latter (RU No. 2083430 C1, class B63B 43/16, 06/24/1994).

The disadvantage of this device is that it cannot be installed on a hole from which oil is poured out under pressure without endangering the health of the operating personnel even if an extension rod is used. The device cannot also be installed on a crack in the tank body due to the presence in the device of elements that are placed inside the tank.

The closest in technical essence to the present invention is a device for sealing holes with torn edges, containing a rigid patch with a protrusion around the perimeter, on which is fixed a sealing element, a sealing seal, an internal support and a pull-up element made in the form of a rod installed in the outer and inner bushings, and is threaded to move it with a nut. The pull-up element is kept from turning by the lever. The internal support is made in the form of two S-shaped or U-shaped levers located at the bottom of the pull-up element and mounted on a common axis. The sealing element, mounted on the protrusion of the rigid patch, has the form of a flat gasket (AS USSR No. 1688007 A1, class F16L 55/10, 07/30/1989 - prototype).

The disadvantage of this device is the impossibility of sealing a hole in a tank filled with oil, and it is also impossible to seal a crack in the tank body due to the presence on the inside of the hard patch of the lower part of the pull-up element, sleeve and internal support.

The technical result of the invention is the provision of quick and reliable temporary elimination of a leak of an oil product from a hole or a crack in the tank body for the period of oil discharge to the level of a hole or crack.

This technical result is achieved in that a device for temporarily sealing holes and cracks in liquid-filled steel tanks, comprising a sealing element mounted on a protrusion made along the perimeter of the hard patch on the side facing the surface to be repaired, and a fixing unit in the initial position of the hard pressing mechanism patch, the central axis of which is mounted the holder of the aiming mechanism, according to the invention is equipped with a mechanism for tearing the rigid patch from repair the surface to be damped and the damping unit of the mechanism for pressing the rigid plaster, around the perimeter of which, on the outside, perpendicular to its surface, U-shaped posts are rigidly fixed, at the upper ends of which are spring-loaded latches of the fixing unit in the initial position of the mechanism of pressing the plaster, connected by cables with a rod fixed with the possibility of rotation by a predetermined angle and fixing in the holder of the aiming mechanism, the mechanism of pressing the rigid patch is made in the form of fixed-facing the initial position with the vertices towards the center of the rigid patch of spring-loaded rigid arcuate strips, each of which is fixed with one end to rotate towards the bend on an individual U-shaped rack, and the other end is rigidly connected to a permanent magnet, on the inside of which is symmetrically made with respect to its center recesses with through channels extending on opposite sides of the end of the arcuate plate, in one of which the rod of the damping unit is freely located, rigidly connected by one the end face with a shock absorber located in the recess of the magnet, and the other with a piston, in the cylinder of which a calibrated hole is made in the above-piston space, the tear-off mechanism of the rigid patch is made in the form of a threaded connection, the screw of which passes through another through channel of the magnet and is rigidly connected to the stop placed in the corresponding recess of the magnet and having an elastic antifriction outer surface, while in each of the arcuate planks of the mechanism for pressing the rigid patch at the level of the spring-loaded latches ok made windows.

Figure 1 shows a device for temporarily sealing holes and cracks in liquid-filled steel tanks, a general view in its original position (in section);

figure 2 is a General view of the device mounted on the hole (in the context);

figure 3 is a view along a in figure 2;

figure 4 is a view along aa in figure 1 (in section);

figure 5 is a view along B in figure 2 (in section);

figure 6 is a view along In figure 1 (in section);

Fig.7 - the device at the time of installation on the hole.

A device for temporarily sealing holes and cracks in liquid-filled steel tanks consists of a hard patch 1 along the perimeter of which there is a protrusion 2. A sealing element 3 is made on the protrusion 2, made of an elastic material, for example, oil and petrol resistant rubber.

On the outside of the hard patch 1 there are:

- the mechanism of pressing the rigid patch, on which the damping unit is pressed the pressure of the rigid patch and the mechanism of separation of the hard patch from the repaired surface;

- the fixation unit of the mechanism of pressing the hard patch in the initial position.

The mechanism of pressing the rigid patch is made in the form of spring-loaded arcuate strips 4, facing in the initial position with the vertices to the center of the hard patch 1, each of which is fixed with one end on the axis 5 with the possibility of rotation towards the bend, and the other end is rigidly connected to the permanent magnet 6 by means of a support 7, which is rigidly fixed to the end of the arcuate plank 4, perpendicular to its surface. The axis 5 is mounted on the U-shaped racks 8 installed around the perimeter of the hard patch 1 perpendicular to its surface. On the axis 5 put on torsion springs 9. Permanent magnets 6 are mounted on supports 7.

The damping unit of the pressing mechanism of the hard patch 1 consists of a rod 10, which is connected with a shock absorber 11 with one end and with a piston (not shown) placed in the cylinder 12, which is mounted on an arcuate bar 4. The damping unit protects the permanent magnets 6 from sharp blows against the tank wall (out of position).

The mechanism for tearing the rigid patch from the surface to be repaired is made in the form of a threaded connection, the screw 13 of which passes through the through channel in the magnet 6 and in the support 7.

The fixation mechanism of the clamping mechanism of the hard patch in the initial position includes spring-loaded latches 14, mounted on the ends of the U-shaped racks 8 and connected by cables 15 to the rod 16, mounted with the possibility of rotation by a given angle (not more than 45 °) in the holder 17 of the aiming mechanism, made in the form of a threaded rod 18 screwed into the holder 17. The holder 17 is rigidly fixed in the axial hole of the hard patch 1. The rod 16 is fixed at one end in the holder 17 with a screw 19, and the other in the sleeve 20, which is connected with P- shaped racks 8 by means of curved plates 21. At the end of the rod 16 is mounted a lever 22, at one end of which there is an opening for fastening the cable 23.

In the middle part of the rod 16 there is a cable mounting unit 15.

In each of the arcuate planks 4 of the mechanism for pressing the hard patch 1 at the level of the spring-loaded latches 14, windows 24 are made (Fig. 2).

Along the perimeter of the hard patch 1, at least three brackets 25 are installed for attaching the ropes (cables) 26, 27 and 28 (Fig. 3).

The attachment point of the cables 15 (Fig. 4) is made in the form of at least four bosses 29 rigidly fixed on the rod 16 along its perimeter, each of which has a through hole (dashed lines) for the cable 15. A threaded hole is made perpendicular to the cable hole 15 latch 30 (as an option - a screw).

The cylinder 12 of the damping unit of the pressing mechanism of the hard patch 1 (Fig. 5) is mounted on the arcuate plate 4 with the help of the bracket 31, and the rod 10 is passed through the through channels extending from one side of the end face of the arcuate plate 4 in the support 7 and in the magnet 6. The shock absorber 11 is placed in the corresponding recess of the magnet 6. On the surface of the shock absorber 11, elastic material is sprayed or glued, for example, from oil and petrol resistant rubber (without position). An annular bead 32 is made on the rod 10 to move the rod 10 to its original position, in which the shock absorber 11 protrudes above the surface of the magnet 6 by a distance of not more than 10 mm (Fig. 1). In the cylinder 12 in the piston space a calibrated hole 33 is made.

The screw 13 of the threaded connection of the tear-off mechanism 1 (Fig. 5) is screwed into a nut 34, which is rigidly fixed on the support 7 and aligned to the through channel in the support 7 and in the magnet 6 in the corresponding recess of which the stop 35 is placed in the corresponding recess of the arc-shaped strip 4 rigidly connected to the screw 13 and having an elastic antifriction outer surface (not shown). The screw 13 is equipped with an element 36 (as an option - the handle) for its rotation.

In the fixation unit of the clamping mechanism of the hard patch in the initial position (Fig.6), each latch 14 with a spring 37 is placed in the housing 38, which is mounted on the end of the U-shaped struts 8. In the housing 38, a roller 39 is installed, through which the cable 15. The latch 14 in the initial position of the pressing mechanism of the hard patch 1 enters the window 24 of the arcuate plank 4. In the U-shaped racks 8, slots 40 are made to accommodate the arcuate planks 4 in the initial position. Similar slots (without position) are made in curved plates 21.

In the mechanisms of pressing the rigid patch, the permanent magnets 6 are mounted on the supports 7 with the possibility of replacing them by any known method (as an option, a threaded connection 41).

The condition for the tight pressing of the sealing element 3 to the repaired surface is the following conditions:

H ₁ = (1.008 ÷ 1.010) · H ₂ ,

where H ₁ is the distance from the axis 5 to the outer surface of the sealing element 3 in the initial position of the pressing mechanism of the hard patch 1 (figure 1);

H ₂ is the distance from the axis 5 to the outer surface of the permanent magnet 6.

With a decrease in this ratio, the pressing force of the sealing element 3 to the surface being repaired decreases, which can lead to depressurization of the liquid leak.

With an increase in this ratio, magnets do not stick to the surface of the metal. A gap is formed between the metal surface and the magnet, which does not exclude the separation of the device from the hole.

The dimensions of the hard patch depend on the diameter of the hole. From practice it is known that holes are in diameter from 20 to 150 mm. Depending on the diameter of the rigid patch, the number of pressing mechanisms is selected. For holes with a diameter of up to 30 mm, the diameter of the rigid patch should be at least 80 mm, and the number of pressing mechanisms should be at least four. If the diameter of the rigid patch is more than 80 mm, the mechanisms for pressing the rigid patch must be at least six.

The maximum filling height of a vertical cylindrical tank with a capacity of 5000 m ³ is not more than 10 m. Therefore, the pressure of the oil in the lower zone of the tank is not more than 0.09 MPa (0.9 kgf / cm ² ). In the presence of holes with a diameter of, for example, 30 mm and a diameter of the patch of 80 mm, the force to squeeze the patch from the surface of the reservoir in the lower zone will be no more than 4.5 kN (45 kgf).

As the test results of a device with a patch diameter of 80 mm and a pressure on the patch from the inside of not more than 4.5 kN (45 kgf) showed, the tightness of the device is achieved by installing a permanent magnet on each of the four supports with a pressing force of at least 2 kN (20 kgf )

The sealing of holes in the tank body using the device is as follows.

One of the repairmen with a rope 26 and a cable 23 rises up the stairs to the roof of the tank and raises the device above the hole 42 or to a level with it. The second and third repairmen for the ropes 27 and 28 press the device to the surface of the tank and gradually push it onto the hole 42. As soon as the threaded rod 18 of the aiming mechanism enters the hole and the plaster 1 with tensioned ropes 27 and 28 is pressed to the surface of the tank, the first repairman located on the roof of the tank, pulls the cable 23, which rotates the lever 22, the latter rotates the rod 16 and for the cables 15 releases the arcuate strips 4 from engagement with the latches 14.

Under the action of the springs 9, the arcuate planks 4 diverge to the sides, moving the permanent magnets 6 to the surface of the tank.

The tank walls are first affected by the shock absorbers 11 of the damping unit of the mechanism for pressing the rigid patch 1. The piston rods 10 are slowly displaced towards the calibrated hole 33, displacing the air from the cylinders 12 until the permanent magnets 6 smoothly attract the metal.

If a crack has formed in the tank body, then it is sealed in the same order, having previously turned the threaded rod 18 out of the holder 17 of the aiming mechanism.

Drain the oil to the level of the hole. Next, one of the repairmen using a ladder or cradle dismantles the device from the hole. To do this, by rotating the screws 13 clockwise alternately wringes the magnets 6 from the metal surface and rotates the arcuate planks 4 until the latches 14 enter the window 24.

Then, by rotating the screws 13 counterclockwise, the stops 35 are sunk into the recesses of the magnets 6, and the rods 10 of the damping unit are pushed out of the cylinders 12 by the annular collars 32. The device is ready for the next use.

The final sealing of holes or cracks is carried out by known methods using welding with the obligatory complete discharge of the oil product and degassing of the tank, or using polymeric materials without complete drainage of the oil product.

The use of this device allows you to quickly and reliably temporarily eliminate the leakage of oil from a hole or crack in the tank body and reduce oil loss from emergency spills.

Claims (1)

A device for temporarily sealing holes and cracks in liquid-filled steel tanks containing a sealing element mounted on a protrusion made along the perimeter of the hard patch on the side facing the surface to be repaired, and a fixing unit in the initial position of the mechanism for pressing the hard patch, the central axis of which is installed holder of the aiming mechanism, characterized in that the device is equipped with a mechanism for tearing the rigid patch from the surface to be repaired and a damping unit the pressure of the rigid patch, along the perimeter of which, on the outside perpendicular to its surface, U-shaped posts are rigidly fixed, at the upper ends of which are spring-loaded latches of the fixation unit in the initial position of the clamping mechanism of the hard patch, connected via ropes to a rod fixed to rotate to a predetermined the angle and fixation in the holder of the aiming mechanism, the mechanism of pressing the rigid patch is made in the form of vertices facing in a fixed initial position to the center rigidly of a patch of spring-loaded rigid arcuate planks, each of which is fixed with one end to rotate in the direction of bending on an individual U-shaped stand, and the other end is rigidly connected to a permanent magnet, on the inside of which are recessed symmetrically with respect to its center, with recesses extending on opposite sides from the end of the arcuate plank through channels, in one of which the rod of the damping unit is freely placed, rigidly connected by one end to a shock absorber located in the recess of the the shield, and the other with a piston, in the cylinder of which a calibrated hole is made in the above-piston space, the tear-off mechanism of the rigid patch is made in the form of a threaded connection, the screw of which passes through another through channel of the magnet and is rigidly connected to a stop located in the corresponding recess of the magnet and having an elastic antifriction outer surface, while in each of the arcuate strips of the mechanism for pressing the hard patch at the level of the spring-loaded latches made windows.

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