WO2002002976A1

WO2002002976A1 - Valve connector for dry disconnection

Info

Publication number: WO2002002976A1
Application number: PCT/MX2001/000047
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ernesto Guillu Segura
Original assignee: Ernesto Guillu Segura
Priority date: 2000-07-05
Filing date: 2001-07-05
Publication date: 2002-01-10
Also published as: AU2001276777A1

Abstract

The invention relates to hermetic couplings for dry disconnection for moving LP gas and the transfer of chemical or toxic fluids with almost no emissions to the atmosphere when disconnection takes place, said emissions ranging from 0.2 cm3 to 0.5 cm3 for connection sizes from 19mm to 75mm. Said connector basically has two main components: 1) a retention valve connector that is manually actuated by means of circular movements of its lever having a trigger type safety catch for the open and closed position and 2) an adapter that is directly coupled to the valve connector by means of the traction force exerted by the nut of the connector between both components. The nut has CLASS 2G ACME threads, 6 threads per inch, its design being robust and operation thereof being very safe. It has been manufactured in such a way that maintenance can be provided very easily and rapidly, maintenance being almost superfluous. The only thing that needs to be changed after long periods of use are the O-shaped seal rings. It is supplied with a replacement kit of said rings. It is manufactured in bronze, brass, stainless steel, monel and plastic material.

Description

DRY DISCONNECTION VALVE CONNECTOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the transfer of GAS LP and transfer of fluids in general from one container to another, the problems of their emissions to the atmosphere are present, mainly at the moment of the previously transferred disconnection of a container container to another through arrangements. of connection for pipes, hoses, adapters and valves.

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

Currently there are some attempts to solve the problem of reducing emissions with processes that are slow or with equipment that the user cannot repair directly with ease and depends on manufacturer-specific spare parts, as well as direct maintenance of the equipment manufacturer which he uses, resulting in expensive purchase or repair respectively. To solve this problem through a limit between 0.2 cm3 to 0.5 cm3 to disconnection for sizes from 19mmm to 75mm for example and so on and proportionally for larger and smaller sizes; This is what we intend to protect according to our Industrial Property Law with this patent application, with this equipment having the characteristics described below and claimed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

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

F1G 2 is the same F1G. 1 showing only the main components with a housing cylinder of the valve connector retaining element and without the housing cylinder.

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

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

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

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

FIG. 7 shows the "O" seal housing 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) Check Valve Connector manually operated by a circular movement with a lever and 2) An adapter that is directly coupled to the Valve Connector, as illustrated in the attached 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, pass 6 wires per inch tightly sealed with the "O" type seal 20 between them. It also has a NUT 3 with four protrusions of support 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 axis-support 12, the bonnet is sealed with a tightening to the primary body 1, this bonnet has a packing nut 6 to fix the "O" type seal 11 that makes an airtight seal between the bonnet and the SUPPORT shaft 12 backed by a washer 7 thus eliminating any possibility of leakage between the body and the environment.

The support shaft 12 has a cam-arm 15 articulated through the bolt 14 with a crank 13 and the latter also articulates with the piston-like retaining element 21 with four cross fins 21 'through a fixing screw 19 with a nut 19a and a joint 18; giving a longitudinal movement to the retaining element 21 by moving the lever 9 by previously activating the trigger-type lock 10 towards the lever or upwards until it stops the bar 10 ^' with the lever 9 in 9' to release the movement with the lever in the direction positive to open and in the negative direction to close, releasing the trigger-type lock 10 in the required position: open or closed, ensuring this position by the bar 10 "that enters the circular housing 10 ^' " pushed by the action of the spring 10a.

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

At the beginning of the coupling of the connector-valve and the adapter they are presented opposite each other and are made to emboss end to end. The secondary body 2 of positively truncated conical shape in the part of the coupling 2 "and with a bore of two diameters, at the end end assembles precisely in the negative truncated cone of the adapter 26 'when tightening the nut; this secondary body 2 carrying a circular housing in the conical part FIG. 7 or in the truncated flat end thereof to mount an "O" seal 24 or 24 'giving the assembly two seals: the first elastomeric and the second metallic.

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

Analytically 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 obtain a metal-to-metal seal between bonnet and the primary body with very fine machining in the contact areas; to obtain additional security in some cases a metallic glue can be placed on the bonnet strings in the area where the primary body is screwed. The support shaft 12 is firmly connected to the cap 4 through a prisoner-breast 8 pressed against the support shaft 12 in such a way that by turning the lever 9 attached to the cap through a prisoner 8 ^' previously operating with the finger index the trigger lock 10, the entire cap can rotate freely in a positive or negative direction, this rotational movement is limited by a 5-bolt stop fixed by pressure or with thread in the primary body 1 and also by a circular groove 4 ^' of the FIG. 6 at the bottom 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 misalignment and disassembly.

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

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

Claims

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 Connector Valve for Dry Disconnection for GAS LP transfer and transfer of fluids of the type comprising a Retaining Valve Connector operated manually by a lever and with trigger type safety operated continuously by a spring for open and closed positions , a nut with ACMÉ thread type 2G, 6 threads per inch and a concentrically arranged check valve adapter characterized the improvement because the connection stiffness is achieved by precision truncated conical coupling in its conical and flat areas of secured and reinforced contact the rigidity by the action of union and traction with the nut on the check valve connector and the check valve adapter; The tightness in the joint is achieved with the "O" seals located in the conical or flat contact areas with circular housings of the type dovetails.

2.- Improvements in hermetic dry disconnection couplings according to clause 1 characterized in that the calculation of the emissions to the atmosphere after having transferred GAS LP or transferred fluids and putting it in the closed position at the time of disconnection, 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 conical or flat contact areas and when the degree of sliding adjustment of the same retention elements a tolerance between 0.1 mm and 0.25 m is left, a maximum emission calculation is obtained, at the atmosphere of 0.2 cm3 up to 0.5 cm3 for connection sizes from 19mm to 75mm and proportionally for larger and smaller sizes.

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

4.- Improvements in Hermetic Dry-disconnect Couplings according to clause 1 characterized in that when operated to the open position, these losses in the flow vector forces resulting from the retention element of the valve connector decrease significantly due to the curved path and angular that are obtained with respect to the coaxial axis being on average between 60 ° and 45 ° deviation of flow lines obtaining higher flow yields of the order of 8% to 15% demonstrable analytically and experimentally compared to other designs at present.

5.- Improvements in Hermetic Dry-disconnect Couplings according to clause 1 characterized in that when it is operated continuously and daily the mismatch that could occur in its calibrations due to wear on its parts of the check valve connector are absorbed in the first instance by the permissible range of factory location of the "O" seals of the retention element, after considerable use of approximately one to three years and in case the calibration exceeds the emission limits established for each connection size, it is possible compensate by loosening the nut 19a and turning the retaining element 21 as necessary and re-tightening the nut to fix this subassembly again, there is no risk of stress concentration on a fin 21 'of the retention element for being four in total and the efforts they are normally balanced in two of them, thus not happening comparatively with those of the mercad or current that have three fins and in the

6.- that there is a concentration of stress on a fin and cannot be recalibrated after wear.

7.- Improvements in Hermetic Dry Disconnect Couplings according to clause 1 characterized in that the wear up to the failure that could occur due to continuous and daily use in one and / or in all O-seals "is very easy and direct On-site replacement without sending it to the factory and also easy to get the spare parts which considerably reduces its cost of maintenance and repair for this concept, also happens when there is the need to change any part subjected to friction wear, because it is easy to disassemble it and reassemble it completely either the connector valve or adapter not happening like this with different brands existing today.

8.- Improvements in Hermetic Dry-disconnect Couplings according to clause 1 characterized in that the pushing force on the lever that was necessary to open the retaining element of the adapter due to the fluid pressure in it between 3 and 7 kg / cm2 proportionally to the size of the connection against the shaft-stem, 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 crank because it is formed in one piece and with greater resistance to column failure compared to other designs today that are formed by thinner parts and not designed for pressure against the valve connector.

9.- Improvements in Hermetic Dry-disconnect Couplings according to clause 1 characterized in that the cylinder containing the valve connector retaining element is formed in one piece and not in two, which results in greater stiffness and the point or Sealing area with said retaining element is a standard "O" seal housed circularly in a dovetail type and easily replaced unlike other current products that the host cylinder is formed of two parts and the seal is special and vulcanized together with one of the two parts of the cylinder.

10.- Improvements in Hermetic Dry Disconnect Couplings according to clause 1 characterized in that at the time of transferring liquids the retention element of the Valve Connector can also dispense with the cylinder that contains it and thus also obtain the leak-proof seal through from it and the point or area of main contact with the secondary body and its sealing is still with the standard "O" seal housed circularly in a cross-section type of dovetail and easily replaceable unlike other current products.

11.- Improvements in Hermetic Dry-disconnect Couplings according to clause 3 characterized in that their two retention elements at the time of superposition are aligned, embossed and secure just and concentrically, avoiding misalignment that could occur due to sudden overpressures either in the direction axial or perpendicular thus increasing the life of its parts subjected to longitudinal friction.

12.- Improvements in Hermetic Dry-disconnect Couplings according to clause 3 characterized in that by placing it in the open position the retention element of the Valve Connector instead of advancing can retract allowing the flow through an extension inside the interior Passage area in the secondary body equivalent to the Passage area of the Adapter previously rotating, only the 180 ° crank on its support points from right to left to install it, thus obtaining greater security if the conduction line that supports the Connector is broken Valve, because the adapter retaining element would automatically close, not allowing the transferred liquid to escape to the environment; compared to other products that do not have this security and is not included in its design

13.- Improvements in Hermetic Dry Disconnection Couplings according to clause 1 characterized in that the Adapter being formed in one piece and with a male thread type ACMÉ type 2G step 6 threads per inch, greater rigidity and safety against any disassembly is obtained what happens if it were formed of two parts and also because the guide of the rod of the retention element, and the retention element are easily removable in case of necessary maintenance either for replacement of any of its elements or for change of the seal in O " corresponding and can be installed safely and quickly again by squeezing the rod guide.

14.- Improvements in Hermetic Dry Disconnect Couplings according to clause 1 characterized in that when using the NUT with 2M ACMÉ thread, I pass 6 wires per inch to join the two main connector and adapter components there is no risk of uncoupling due to wear or tear. accidental fatigue because comparatively the existing ropes or threads in the Nut and the adapter and the stopper 2 ^' are much more resistant compared to the current methods of pressure lever-ieva mechanisms used to couple and tighten or small bearings through them.

15.- Improvements in Hermetic Dry-disconnect Couplings for GAS LP transfer and fluid transfer according to the previous clauses characterized in that the valve connector can be in the form of an elbow or "T".