RU2612353C1 - Device for exothermic underwater cutting - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: technological processes.

SUBSTANCE: invention can be used for thermal cutting of metals and nonmetals under water and on surface in ambient conditions. System of hoses and pipelines of oxygen system main line 2 connects independent source of oxygen 1 with electrode 4 holder 3. Ignition device 5 is made in form of independent moisture proof power unit, connected by wiring 6 with electrode 4. Oxygen system has controlled oxygen reducer 8 and is equipped with flow control valve 9, operating mode tap 10 and blowdown valve 11 connected to oxygen system main line 2. Oxygen system is also equipped with quick-detachable connection assembly 12 for supply of oxygen from surface, check valves 13 and 14 and controlled check valve 15. Control panel 16 has mimic oxygen system and control members of flow control valve 9, operation mode tap 10 and blowdown valve 11.

EFFECT: device provides high safety when conducting underwater exothermic cutting and ease of use.

8 cl, 5 dwg

Description

The invention relates to devices for cutting metals and non-metals, in particular to underwater devices for exothermic cutting, which can be used both under water and on the surface in atmospheric conditions.

Cutting is one of the most necessary actions when performing most types of underwater technical work. In turn, the most common type of cutting is the use of tubular electrodes, in which oxygen is supplied from the deck of the vessel through a hose, and a large current and low voltage current source is usually used to ignite the electrodes. To place such equipment, at least a raid diving boat is required, which limits the scope of exothermic cutting to only large open water areas.

At the same time, there is often a need to perform cutting in conditions where the delivery of standard equipment is impossible or unsafe, for example, in the case of insufficiently reliable ice cover in a closed reservoir in winter, an internal reservoir with a swampy shore, a river without access roads, etc. There are also cases where the above conditions are combined with a significant depth of the reservoir at the proposed site for underwater cutting.

These circumstances contributed to the creation of devices that dispense with a full-fledged carrier vessel, for example, a device in the form of a shoulder oxygen cylinder and a miniature current source for igniting the electrode.

Accepted diving practice requires the diver to have a reserve supply of breathing mixture in case of loss of the main supply when the diving hose is depressurized. The diver has such a reserve just in the tank behind him and, in this case, the additional cylinder for providing exothermic cutting extremely complicates the diver's actions.

A device for exothermic cutting is known from the prior art, including a fuel element with a central through channel for oxygen passage and a thin-walled body. The housing concentrically surrounds the fuel element over its entire length. The gap between the housing and the fuel element forms a peripheral annular channel for the passage of oxygen. The ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the central and peripheral channels is chosen in the range of 0.3-0.5, and the fuel element and thin-walled housing in the range of 2.0-2.5 (see RF patent No. 1792043, IPC VK 35/02, 1991 .).

The achievement of the desired result in this analogue is impeded by the unsuitability of this device for use in an offline cutting mode.

It is also known from the prior art that an underwater cutting device having an oxygen source, a tubular oxygen spear with a handle, a plug of flammable material mounted on the working end of the spear, coated with a sheath, and ignition means made in the form of a power source and connected to its poles by an incandescent filament, covered with flammable substance. A switch connected to the ignition means is installed in the handle, and the control lever is installed with the possibility of interaction with the switch (see USSR patent No. 1238725, IPC V23K 7/08, 1983).

The achievement of the desired result in this analogue is impeded by the fact that this device can only be used in combination of elements located on a carrier not immersed in water.

The closest technical solution selected for the prototype is a cutting device designed for cutting metals and non-metals under water and in air, containing an oxygen source, a tubular oxygen spear with a handle mounted on the working end of the spear initiating pyrotechnic means with an electric igniter. An initiating pyrotechnic tool with an electric igniter is installed on the working end of the tubular oxygen spear. Holes are made in the lance body from the side of the initiating means. The initiating agent contains a pyrotechnic composition, the slags of which burn in oxygen. The housing of the initiating agent is made of a material burning in oxygen (see RF patent No. 2104131, IPC V23K 7/08, 1996).

The achievement of the desired result in the prototype is impeded by the fact that, firstly, this device, like the previous analogue, can only be used in combination of elements located on a carrier not immersed in water, and, secondly, this device is not mobile and unsuitable for direct control by a diver-carver.

The problem to which the claimed invention is directed, is to create a mobile device exothermic underwater cutting, providing:

- mobility of performing underwater exothermic cutting in water areas that are difficult to access for vessels with standard means of underwater welding / cutting, as well as in the absence thereof using any available diving equipment, including autonomous;

- the safety of the device during underwater exothermic cutting and the ease of use of the device due to the exclusion of long electrical cables from the equipment, as well as the absence of the need for continuous use of long oxygen hoses;

- mobility of performing exothermic cutting on the surface in inaccessible conditions with standard welding / cutting means, as well as in the absence thereof.

The technical result obtained from the implementation of the claimed invention in comparison with the prototype is to increase the safety of the device during underwater exothermic cutting and increase the usability of the device.

The problem is solved, and the technical result is achieved by the fact that in an exothermic underwater cutting device containing an electrode holder with an electrode installed therein, an ignition device and an oxygen system having an autonomous oxygen source, a system of hoses and pipelines forming an oxygen system line connecting the autonomous source oxygen with an electrode holder, and an oxygen reducer installed in the oxygen system line between an autonomous oxygen source and an electric holder of the rod, according to the invention, the oxygen reducer is made adjustable, the ignition device is made in the form of an autonomous waterproofing power unit connected by wiring to the electrode, the oxygen system is equipped with a flow valve installed in the oxygen system line behind the autonomous oxygen source along the oxygen supply, an operation mode valve installed in the line oxygen system in front of the oxygen reducer along the oxygen supply, purge valve connected to the oxygen system a section between the flow valve and the operation mode valve, a quick-disconnect assembly for supplying oxygen from the surface connected to the oxygen system line in the area between the flow valve and the operation mode valve, and non-return valves installed in the oxygen system line behind the purge valve along the oxygen supply line, forming a purge line, and behind the oxygen reducer, while the oxygen system is additionally equipped with an adjustable check valve connected to the oxygen system line for oxygen one reducer in the course of oxygen supply, forming an etching line, and the device is equipped with a control panel with a mimic diagram of the oxygen system deposited on its surface, and the control panel displays the control elements of the flow valves, operation and purge mode, oxygen reducer and connecting elements of the quick disconnect assembly for supply oxygen from the surface and connecting the electrode holder to the oxygen system line, as well as open return pipe openings to the environment there is a pan of the purge line and an adjustable non-return valve of the etch line, while all the elements of the device are mounted together on a supporting base with the formation of a mobile structure having negative buoyancy.

In an exothermic underwater cutting device, an autonomous oxygen source of the oxygen system can be made in the form of an oxygen cylinder, and a stand-alone waterproofed power unit of the device can be made in the form of an electric DC battery and is additionally equipped with a contact igniter plate of the arc.

In an exothermic underwater cutting device, the flow, purge and operation taps can be made needle-shaped, and the electrode installed in the electrode holder can be made tubular.

In the exothermic underwater cutting device, the mimic diagram of the oxygen system on the surface of the control panel can be engraved.

In an exothermic underwater cutting device, the supporting base on which all the elements of the device are mounted together can be made in the form of a frame.

The invention is illustrated by drawings, where

in FIG. 1 shows a general view of an exothermic underwater cutting device in an arrangement on a carrier base;

in FIG. 2 - the same side view;

in FIG. 3 - the same, top view, without electrode holder and eyeliner;

in FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a device;

in FIG. 5 is a view of a control panel.

The exothermic underwater cutting device has an oxygen system including an autonomous oxygen source 1, for example in the form of an oxygen cylinder, a system of hoses and pipelines forming an oxygen system line 2 connecting an autonomous oxygen source 1 with an electrode holder 3.

An electrode 4 is mounted in the electrode holder 3, which can be made, for example, tubular.

The ignition device 5 is made in the form of an autonomous waterproofing power unit, for example, in the form of an electric DC battery connected by a wiring 6 to the electrode 4 and provided with a contact igniter plate 7 of the arc.

The oxygen system has an oxygen reducer 8 mounted in the oxygen system line 2 between an autonomous oxygen source 1 and an electrode holder 3. The oxygen reducer 8 is adjustable.

The device’s oxygen system is equipped with a flow valve 9 installed in the oxygen system line 2 behind the autonomous oxygen source 1 in the direction of oxygen supply, an operating mode valve 10 installed in the oxygen system line 2 in front of the oxygen reducer 8 in the direction of the oxygen supply and purge valve 11 connected to line 2 of the oxygen system in the area between the flow valve 9 and the valve operating mode 10.

The taps of the flow rate 9, the operating mode 10 and the purge 11 can be made needle-shaped or others suitable for performing specified functions.

The oxygen system of the device is also equipped with a quick disconnect assembly 12 for supplying oxygen from the surface connected to the oxygen system line 2 in the area between the flow valve 9 and the operation mode valve 10.

The device’s oxygen system is also equipped with check valves 13 and 14 installed in the oxygen system line 2 behind the purge valve 11 along the oxygen supply, forming a purge line, and behind the oxygen reducer 8.

The oxygen system of the device is additionally equipped with an adjustable check valve 15 connected to the oxygen system line behind the oxygen reducer 8 along the oxygen supply, forming an etching line.

The device is equipped with a control panel 16 with a mimic diagram of the oxygen system deposited on its surface, which, for example, can be engraved on the surface of the control panel 16.

The control element 17 displays the control element 17 of the flow valve 9, the control element 18 of the valve operating mode 10 and the control element 19 of the purge valve 11.

The control panel 16 also displays a control element 20 of the oxygen reducer 8 and a connecting element 21 of the quick disconnect assembly 12 for supplying oxygen from the surface and a connecting element 22 for connecting the electrode holder 3 to the oxygen system line 2.

The control panel 16 displays open to the environment a pipe 23 of the outlet of the check valve 13 of the purge line and a pipe 24 of the outlet of the adjustable check valve 15 of the etch line.

All elements of the device are mounted together on a carrier base, for example in the form of a frame 25, with the formation of a mobile structure having negative buoyancy.

Device exothermic underwater cutting works as follows.

Cutting is one of the most commonly performed types of work underwater. The most widespread at the moment is the exothermic method of cutting materials. This method is based on the combustion of a metal in an oxygen environment.

The high burning temperature of the electrode allows you to cut almost any material: ferrous and non-ferrous metals, concrete, stone, wood, plastics, as well as composite materials. In addition, exothermic cutting is more productive than traditional electric arc cutting.

The essence of the cutting process is that iron, when heated to a temperature of 1100-1300 ° C, acquires the ability to burn in a stream of oxygen.

The process of oxidation of iron is exothermic, that is, it proceeds with the release of heat, as a result of which neighboring areas of iron are heated to a temperature of ignition. Thus, conditions are created for the continuation of the combustion process, and it becomes continuous.

For exothermic cutting, special tubular electrodes are used, consisting, for example, of an internal fuel element made in the form of rods, which are installed in a copper tube coated with an insulating material, which provides burning of the insulation simultaneously with the tubular electrode.

The electrode is ignited in an oxygen stream due to the action of an electric arc on it, arising between it and the cut object or a special plate of the contact igniter of the arc when cutting composite materials and other non-metals.

After the formation of an electric arc, the electrode begins to burn on its own, while the combustion temperature at the tip of the electrode reaches 5500 ° C. Burning of the electrode continues as long as oxygen is supplied.

The effectiveness of exothermic underwater cutting is largely dependent on the feed rate and oxygen consumption. To ensure the necessary supply, special high-performance oxygen reducers are used.

Exothermic cutting equipment consists of a number of components, a complete set of which provides oxygen (up to 2100 l / min) and electric energy (direct current 150-200 A) to the electrode holder 3.

When opening the valve 26 of the autonomous oxygen source 1, for example in the form of an oxygen cylinder, the oxygen contained under high pressure in the autonomous oxygen source 1, enters the line 2 of the oxygen system.

The flow valve 9 and the operating mode valve 10 are open, as a result of which oxygen enters the oxygen reducer 8, where its pressure decreases. When this valve purge 11 is closed.

Further, from the reducer 8, oxygen enters the check valve 14, installed behind the oxygen reducer 8, which, acting on the working pressure of oxygen, provides oxygen access to the electrode holder 3.

Oxygen in line 2 of the oxygen system enters the oxygen valve (not shown) of the electrode holder 3. When you press the lever (not shown) located on the electrode holder 3, the oxygen valve opens and the oxygen stream enters the inner tube cavity of the electrode 4.

The electrode 4 is ignited in an oxygen stream due to the action of a low-current electric arc arising between it and the cut object or a special plate 7 of the contact igniter of the arc.

Unlike traditional electro-oxygen cutting, a low-current (150-200 A) power source is enough to ignite electrode 4, which is used only to ignite electrode 4 for 5-15 seconds, and then the power can be turned off.

A low-current electric arc arising between the electrode 4 and the cut object or a special plate 7 of the contact igniter of the arc is provided by the ignition device 5, which is made in the form of an autonomous waterproofing power unit, for example, in the form of an electric DC battery connected by wiring 6 to the electrode 4 and already complete with a plate 7 contact igniter arc.

During underwater operations, when working in shallow water, electrode 4 can be ignited above the surface of the water, and then immersed under water and perform work. The electrode 4 can be ignited using a gas burner or other flame source, for example burning wood. Oxygen supply is minimal.

Ignition of electrode 4 will occur in 3-7 seconds. After ignition of the electrode 4, the oxygen supply is gradually increased.

Thus, continuous burning of the electrode 4 in an oxygen stream is ensured, which makes it possible to effectively carry out underwater exothermic cutting of metal and nonmetallic objects.

Thus ensuring stable burning of the electrode 4, the operator-cutter using the inventive device carries out the process of exothermic underwater cutting.

When oxygen is consumed in an autonomous oxygen source 1 - in the oxygen cylinder of the device, the claimed device allows for the supply of oxygen from the surface.

For these purposes, there is a quick disconnect assembly 12 for supplying oxygen from the surface.

Through the connecting element 21 of the quick disconnect assembly 12 for supplying oxygen from the surface to the oxygen line, a hose for supplying oxygen from the surface is connected.

At the same time, when connecting an external oxygen source, close the flow valve 9 using its control element 17 on the control panel 16 and close the valve operating mode 10 using its control element 18 on the control panel 16.

Then, the purge valve 11 is opened using its control element 19 on the control panel 16 and the oxygen system line 2 is blown through the pipe 23 of the outlet of the check valve 13 of the purge line into the environment to ensure that there is no oxygen system in the line 2.

Further, by closing the purge valve 11 with the control element 19 on the control panel 16 and opening the operation mode valve 10 with the control element 18 on the control panel 16, you can continue to work.

Using traditional practices of underwater exothermic cutting, where both oxygen and power supply for igniting the electrode are supplied only from the surface via a cable-hose connection, the oxygen pressure is regulated by maintenance personnel depending on the depth at which the cutting operator operates.

For stable burning of the electrode, this pressure must exceed the pressure of the environment (water) by a certain amount, which varies somewhat depending on a number of factors.

In practice, the operator-cutter always requires to slightly increase or decrease the pressure that the service personnel set before the descent in accordance with the depth table. This leads to a loss of time and excessive consumption of oxygen to “adjust” the pressure to a convenient diver’s value by several attempts to ignite the electrode.

In the inventive device, the operator-cutter himself controls the oxygen pressure using a pressure reducer 8 on the control panel 16 - the greater the depth, the more revolutions of the control element 20 of the oxygen reducer 8 of the control panel 16 must be done by increasing the pressure, and vice versa.

As shown above, the oxygen system of the device has an adjustable check valve 15 connected to the line 2 of the oxygen system after the oxygen reducer 8 along the oxygen supply, forming an etching line.

The check valve 15 is adjustable for response pressure, for example, in the range from 3.5 bar to 10.3 bar.

Before mounting into the device, an adjustable non-return valve 15 is regulated, for example, by a set pressure of 9 bar, and the oxygen system lines 2 are installed between the output of the reducer 8, i.e. from the low pressure side, and a connecting element 22 for connecting the electrode holder 3 to the oxygen system line 2 so that its outlet is open to the environment.

The outlet 24 of the outlet of the adjustable non-return valve 15 is brought out to the control panel 16 so that the diver can see or, in the absence of visibility in the muddy water, feel with his fingers and also hear oxygen leakage when the valve 15 is triggered to open.

It should be borne in mind that the ambient pressure constantly acts on the adjustable check valve 15 from the outside through the always open pipe 24 of its outlet.

Thereby, a state is achieved in which the pressure of oxygen going to the electrode holder 3 cannot exceed 9 bar at any working depth.

This value is the upper limit beyond which, with the available performance of the oxygen reducer 8, its volumetric flow rate, the electrode 4 starts to ignite worse due to the "blowing" of the flame.

Thus, no matter how deep the diver is, he can quickly adjust the output of a small amount of oxygen from the nozzle 24 of the outlet of the adjustable check valve 15, and then, reducing the pressure of the oxygen reducer 8 through the control element 20 of the oxygen reducer 8 on the control panel 16, proceed to work.

It is important to keep in mind that all elements of the device are mounted together on a supporting base, for example, in the form of a frame 25.

As a result, a mobile structure is formed, which the developer has given negative buoyancy.

This is done so that the entire exothermic underwater cutting device can be immersed in water for its use. When giving a mobile device a small negative buoyancy, manipulating it under water is greatly facilitated.

It should be noted that to ensure the underwater use of the device, all its elements are designed to be immersed in water and operate safely in this mode.

Naturally, the requirements for the tightness of the elements of the device and the connections in it, the tightness of the oxygen system, the tightness of the ignition device, which is made in the form of an autonomous waterproofing power unit - a direct current battery, the tightness (waterproofing) of the wiring from the battery to the electrode, etc.

As a technical result realized by the claimed invention, in comparison with the prototype is to increase the safety of the device during underwater exothermic cutting and increase the usability of the device.

All the essential features of the independent claim of the claimed invention in their entirety are aimed at achieving precisely this result.

As you know, the technical result is, in particular, a characteristic of the property that is objectively manifested when using the product, in this case, the claimed device.

It is the creation of a mobile submersible device for exothermic underwater cutting, including all its elements and combined on a single frame 25 with the formation of a structure having negative buoyancy, which makes it possible to increase its usability by, in particular, eliminating lengthy cable-hose connections and imparting small negative buoyancy device mounted on a frame that allows you to easily manipulate the device under water, the introduction of an additional plate 7 into the device arc igniter, allowing you to set fire to the electrode anywhere and for cutting any material, the presence of the control panel 16 "at hand" from the diver operator, etc.

Improves the safety of the device during underwater exothermic cutting. This is ensured by the fact that all of its elements are "immersed" to ensure tightness and waterproofing, that the control panel 16 is "at hand" by the diver-operator, which allows you to quickly respond to changing processes, by the presence of a system of overflow taps and check valves in a device that allows you to quickly configure it to the desired mode of operation depending on the conditions of use, etc.

Thus, the whole set of essential features given in the independent claim of the claimed invention is aimed at achieving the required technical result.

The exothermic underwater cutting device is made of traditional structural materials and can be manufactured in serial or experimental production.

Claims (8)

1. An exothermic underwater cutting device comprising an electrode holder with an electrode installed therein, an ignition device and an oxygen system having an autonomous oxygen source, a system of hoses and pipelines forming an oxygen system line connecting the autonomous oxygen source to the electrode holder, and an oxygen reducer, installed in the oxygen system line between an autonomous oxygen source and an electrode holder, characterized in that it is provided with a control panel with a printed a mimic diagram of the oxygen system on its surface, while the oxygen reducer is made adjustable, the ignition device is made in the form of an autonomous waterproofing power unit connected by wiring to the electrode, the oxygen system is equipped with a flow valve installed in the oxygen system line behind the autonomous oxygen source along the oxygen supply, the mode valve work installed in the oxygen system line in front of the oxygen reducer along the oxygen supply, purge valve connected to the mag parts of the oxygen system in the area between the flow valve and the operation mode valve, a quick-disconnect assembly for supplying oxygen from the surface connected to the oxygen system line in the area between the flow valve and the operation mode valve, and non-return valves installed in the oxygen system line behind the purge valve in the course of oxygen supply with the formation of a purge line and behind the oxygen reducer, and the oxygen system is additionally equipped with an adjustable check valve connected to the mag they took the oxygen system downstream of the oxygen reducer along the oxygen supply line to form an etching line, and the control panel of the device displays the control elements of the flow valves, the operation and purge valves, the control element of the oxygen reducer and the connecting elements of the quick disconnect assembly for supplying oxygen from the surface and connecting the electrode holder to the line of the oxygen system, as well as open pipes of the outlet openings of the check valve of the purge line and regulate removable non-return valve of the etching line, and all of the mentioned elements are mounted together on a supporting base with the formation of a mobile structure having negative buoyancy. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the autonomous oxygen source of the oxygen system is made in the form of an oxygen cylinder. 3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the autonomous waterproofing power unit of the device is made in the form of an electric DC battery. 4. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that the stand-alone waterproofing power unit of the device is additionally equipped with a contact igniter plate of the arc. 5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow valve, purge valve and operation mode valve are made needle-shaped. 6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrode mounted in the electrode holder is made tubular. 7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mimic diagram of the oxygen system on the surface of the control panel is engraved. 8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting base is made in the form of a frame.