WO2008056387A1

WO2008056387A1 - System and device for detecting the blockage of pipes particularly for siphons of discharge ducts.

Info

Publication number: WO2008056387A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000792
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francesco Troncelliti
Original assignee: Mazzini Service Srl
Priority date: 2006-11-09
Filing date: 2006-11-13
Publication date: 2008-05-15
Also published as: ITPI20060123A1

Abstract

System for monitoring the obstruction of pipes, in particular of discharge pipes and syphons, and to signal this situation to the exterior, if necessary also remotely. The system includes a floating level switch (13) adapted to produce a signal related to the liquid level in the pipe and a blade flow switch (18) adapted to produce a signal related to the prescence or abscence of a flow of liquid in the pipe. The floating level switch comprises a rod (15) which end part is integral to a mobile element (8) of an electric contact (7) normally opened and the blade flow switch comprises a blade with a rod (19) which end part is integral to a second mobile element (9) of an electric contact (7) normally closed. These electric contacts are inserted into a connecting circuit of an alarm system (11) to an electrical supply source allowing the operation of said alarm system. The device in question is simple and easy to install and maintain.

Description

SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING THE BLOCKAGE OF PIPES PARTICULARLY FOR SIPHONS OF DISCHARGE DUCTS.

Technical Field The invention relates to the field of control instruments for pipes, in particular for discharge pipes.

Background Art

It is advisable to insert siphons or traps into discharge pipes that can be inspected frequently and that have various functions including the prevention of the rising of liquids or gases, the separation of parts of the liquid with a different specific weight, the control of the installation and the like. These types of siphons or traps form, often intentionally, a critical point of the pipe where debris is accumulated together with undissolved substances, bodies with a greater volume or weight with respect to the granulometry of the liquid in the pipe, to the extent that the periodic control of these elements almost certainly ensures the correct working of the discharge.

Unfortunately the control of said elements, although straightforward often proves difficult as the siphons or traps are not always immediately accessible and they can be numerous and distributed in various ways, the opening operations may require time and obstructions can occur in an unpredictable way, thus frustrating possible periodic inspections.

Instruments are available that allow the remote inspection of pipes, by means of multiparameter video cameras or probes. These types of systems provide the use of complex signals and as a result the system for the management of the data acquired is rather sophisticated with the consequent costs and criticalities. Moreover, the detection instrument must be installed accurately and the opportunity to insert said instrument in a certain section of the discharge installation rather than another must be evaluated with particular attention. Disclosure of Invention

The proposed system is based on the detection of only two sizes, with the acquisition of two pieces of information, that in the simpler version can be of the binary type (yes/no), and the two signals obtained are combined, with a single logical operation, to provide when necessary the activation signal of a local or remote alarm. The system is thus very simple and therefore sufficiently strong with respect to problematic elements.

The proposed system is devised preferably to be inserted at a precise point on the installation, that is to say on the plug of the siphons, an area that is always accessible, its installation does not provide any specific requisite in relation to the elements of the installation nor to the type of discharge, moreover, with the exception of components necessary to the transmission of the alarm, as this can also be carried out with components that do no require a supply source, it has very limited energy consumption and as a result can work with a small local supply source intended to last for a long time.

The object of the present invention is a system consisting of two sensors and of an alarm device inserted into an electric or electronic circuit. The two sensors are inserted into the interior of the discharge pipe in correspondence to the siphon and they provide two signals: the first in response to the rising of the liquid level in the first section of the pipe, the second signal in response to the rising of the liquid level in the second section of the pipe or, as an alternative, in response to the presence or absence of the flow of the liquid. The reading of both these signals allows an electric circuit suitable for this aim to distinguish between four possible situations and to recognise one from among them, that being identified as an alarm situation produces the consequent signal.

The system is represented in summary according to the diagram in Figure 1 : a level switch (1) and a flow switch or a second level switch (2) respectively pilot two controlled switches (3) and (4) that allow or prevent the functioning of an alarm device (5) by connecting it to the supply source (6).

The level switch (1) and the flow switch (2) are inserted into the inlet pipe of a siphon, preferably in correspondence to the plug. When in place of the flow switch (2) the second level switch is used, this is instead inserted into the outlet pipe of the siphon, preferably in correspondence to the plug.

The switch (3), connected to the level switch is normally opened when the liquid is below the working threshold of the level switch, the switch (4) connected to the flow switch (or to the second level switch) is opened in the presence of flow (or when the liquid is above the working threshold of the level switch)

The alarm state is that with high fluid level - switch (3) closed - and absence of flow, or low liquid to the second level switch, - switch (4) closed-.

The controlled switches can be produced with mechanical devices, for example simple contacts between two elements of which one is mobile, magnetic, such as a relay, reed contacts or others, electric or electronic devices such as transistors, logic gates and semiconductor devices in general, or also with remote operating devices.

The level sensor is a device that has at least two stable states depending on the rising of the liquid level over a certain threshold. It can be a simple floating level switch, an electric or electronic device in which the rising of the liquid produces the variation of an electrical quantity, or a probe that monitors parameters different to the level but from which the liquid level is indirectly a derivable quantity.

The flow switch is a device that assumes at least two stable states depending on the presence or not of a liquid flow, it can be a blade flow switch or any sensor or meter of parameters from which the presence of a flow is indirectly a derivable quantity (speed, load, pressure, etc..)

The alarm device is a device that produces any type of signalling if supplied, it can be a visual indicator, an acoustic signal or a communication device that sends a predefined signal to a remote receiver.

The object of the present invention is furthermore a device that executes the system previously described.

With reference to Figure 2, a possible embodiment of the device is shown as an example.

An electric switch (7) with two mobile contacts (8) and (9) connects the battery (10) to a wireless communication device (11) connected to an alarm control unit (12) of a telecontrol system of the type used in intrusion systems or systems of other types.

The mobile contacts of the switch (7) are directly operated by two sensors. A first level sensor (13) consists of a float (14) integral with a rod (15) that slides into the guide (16). The rod, on the opposite side to the float, supports the first mobile contact (8) of the switch, which on exiting the rod joins with the fixed contact (17).

The second sensor is a blade flow sensor. (18) This comprises a rod (19) hinged at a point (20) with an end having a blade (21). In the presence of a flow the blade moves in the direction of the flow. The other end of the rod (19) supports the second mobile contact (9) of the switch (7), that due to the rotation of the rod approaches or moves away from the fixed contact (17).

When the level (32) of the liquid is sufficiently high the contacts (8) and (17) close. If there is a flow the contacts (9) and (17) are open, if instead there is no flow the contacts (9) and (19) are also closed and the wireless communication device (11) is in a working state: this sends the alarm to the control unit and thus to the telecontrol system.

The two sensors (13) and (18) are mounted on the plug (30) of the inlet pipe (31) of a siphon, in order to monitor the level and flow of the liquid in the pipe. The switch (7), the battery (10) and the wireless communication device (11) are also placed in the proximity of the plug.

When the liquid level in the pipe is low, the conditions are normal (70, Fig. 1a); when the liquid level in the pipe is high and the liquid flows, the discharge pipe is in the correct working state (71 , Fig. 3A). When the level (32) of the liquid in the pipe is high and the liquid does not flow it means that an obstruction (72, Fig. 2a) has been verified and a maintenance intervention is necessary. The intervention request starts automatically thanks to the alarm signalling system.

With reference to Figure 3, a different possible embodiment of the described device is shown as an example, with sensors and switches of different types, but still mounted on the plug (30) of the inlet pipe (31) of a siphon.

The level sensor (40) in this case is the same as the previous one with the only difference being that the rod (43), instead of supporting the mobile contact, supports the plate (41) of a wireless magnetic sensor (42) of the type used for the control of the fixtures of intrusion systems. The raising of the rod carries the plate in the active sensor state.

The flow sensor (50) is also in this case a blade device, where the rod (51) of the blade (52) at the opposite end has a toothed roller (53), the rotating rod vertically moves a rack (54) that supports the plate (44) of a second wireless magnetic sensor (45) of the type used for the control of the fixtures in intrusion systems. The consequence of the rotation of the rod in the presence of a flow is the positioning of the plate in the inactive sensor state.

The combination of the signals of the two sensors is carried out on the interior of control unit (12), wherein, depending on the state of the magnetic sensors, the sending of an alarm to the telecontrol system is activated.

Also in this case, when the liquid level in the pipe is low, the state is normal (70); when the liquid level in the pipe is high and the liquid flows the discharge pipe is in the correct working state (71, Fig.3B). When the level (32) of the liquid in the pipe is high and the liquid does not flow it means that an obstruction has been verified (72, Fig. 3a) and a maintenance intervention is necessary.

With reference to Figure 4, a third possible embodiment of the system that can be carried out in the case of siphons with two plugs is shown as an example.

In this case, on the first plug (30) a level switch (61) is inserted carried out by means of a moisture sensor (62), connected to a transmitter (63), an identical moisture sensor (64) with transmitter (65) is inserted into the plug (66) of the outlet section of the siphon that has two plugs. The control unit (12) sends an alarm to the telecontrol system in correspondence to the moisture signal received from the first sensor and the dry signal received from the second transmitter.

With reference to the Figures of the annexed drawings, a system for detecting the blockage of pipes particularly for siphons of discharge ducts according to the present invention includes:

- at least one level switch (1) and at least one flow switch and/or a second level switch (2), each connected to at least one activation control or pilot entry of a controlled switch (3 and 4); - at least one connecting circuit of at least one alarm device (5) to a supply source (6) on which said controlled switches are inserted. Advantageously, each controlled switch is inserted into a different connecting circuit of a different alarm device to the supply source allowing the operation of said alarm devices. The switch controlled by the level switch is normally opened and is closed when the level switch detects a liquid level higher than its setting value. The switch controlled by the flow switch and/or by the second level switch is normally closed and is opened in correspondence to the presence of a flow registered by said flow switch and/or when said second level switch detects a liquid level higher than its setting value.

The controlled switches used in the system in question are operated by a mechanical type force exerted by an element of the flow switch or level switch or by an electric or magnetic type force induced by the state of the flow switch or the level switch.

Advantageously, the controlled switches are produced by means of a semiconductor device or by one or more semiconductor electronic circuits that perform as a whole an equivalent function piloted by the state of the flow switch or level switch.

Advantageously, one or more of the controlled switches are produced by means of remote control devices.

Advantageously, one or more level switches are obtained by means of a device capable of producing an electric signal if it is wet by the liquid or a device capable of producing an electric signal correlated to the liquid level or a device capable of detecting one or more physical characteristics of the liquid in such a way that the liquid level can be deduced from this measurement indirectly and the device can produce an electric signal correlated to said level. Advantageously, the flow switch is a device capable of producing an electric signal correlated to the presence or absence of the flow of the liquid or a device capable of detecting one or more physical characteristics of the liquid in such a way that the flow of the liquid can be deduced from this measurement indirectly and the device can produce an electric signal correlated to said flow.

The object of the present invention is a system that includes a single device having one or more of the characteristics previously indicated or a system that includes at least two devices, each containing at least one level switch and/or a flow switch according to one or more of the indicated characteristics.

With reference to the Figures of the annexed drawings, a device for detecting the blockage of pipes particularly for siphons of discharge ducts according to the present invention includes: - at least one level switch and at least one flow switch each connected with at least one activation control of a controlled switch;

- at least one connecting circuit of at least one alarm device to a supply source on which said controlled switches are inserted.

It further comprises a level switch and/or a flow switch, according to one or more of the characteristics previously described.

The device in question is applied on a discharge duct.

Advantageously the device that is the object of the invention includes a floating level switch (13) of which the end portion of the rod (15) is integral to a mobile element (8) of an electric contact (7) normally opened, by a blade flow switch (18) in which the end portion of the rod (19) of the blade (21) is integral to a second mobile element (9) of an electric contact (7) normally closed, and these electric contacts are inserted into at least one connecting circuit of at least one alarm system (11) to the supply source that allows the operation of said alarm system.

Advantageously, the rod of the floating level switch is integral, rather than to the mobile element of an electric contact, to the mobile element of a magnetic sensor

(42) with electric contact that is normally opened of the type commonly used as an intrusion sensor, the latter being used according to the alarm detector function in connection with the alarm control unit (12), and said intrusion sensor is used as the pilot circuit of a controlled switch placed remotely, on the control unit, in order to activate an alarm according to the described system.

Advantageously, the rod (51) of the blade of the blade flow switch (50), rather than being integral to the mobile element of an electric contact, ends with a toothed roller (53) on which is inserted a rack rod (54), moved vertically by the movement of said blade and in which the upper end of said rod (54) is integral to the mobile element of a magnetic contact (45) normally closed of the type commonly used as an intrusion sensor, the latter being used according to the alarm detector function in connection with the alarm control unit as a remote- controlled switch according to the described system.

Advantageously, the rod of the blade flow switch is integral to the mobile element of a magnetic sensor with electric contact normally opened of the type commonly used as an intrusion sensor, the latter being used according to the alarm detector function.

A device for detecting the blockage of pipes particularly for siphons of discharge duct according to the present invention includes a first floating level switch inserted into the inlet section of a siphon, the rod of which is connected to the mobile element of an electric contact normally opened, and a second floating level switch installed on the outlet section of a siphon, whose rod is connected to the mobile element of an electric contact normally closed, these electric contacts being inserted into at least one connecting circuit of at least one alarm or alarm system to the supply source allowing the operation of said alarm or alarm system.

Advantageously, the rod of the first floating level switch inserted into the inlet section of a siphon is integral to the mobile element of a magnetic sensor of the type commonly used as an intrusion sensor, the latter being used according to the alarm detector function in connection with the alarm control unit and activated by the rising of the level, said intrusion sensor is used as a pilot circuit of a controlled switch placed remotely on the control unit in order to activate an alarm according to the system described.

Advantageously, also the rod of the second floating level switch, inserted into the outlet section of a siphon is integral to the mobile element of a magnetic sensor identical to the previous one.

A device for detecting the blockage of pipes particularly for siphons of discharge ducts according to the present invention includes one or more level switches carried out by means of a moisture sensor (62) with transmitter (63), inserted into the inlet section of a siphon, and/or into the outlet section of the same siphon, said transmitters being used as pilot circuits of controlled switches positioned remotely, preferably on a control unit, in order to activate an alarm.

Advantageously, the described device is completely or partially inserted into the plug of the inlet section (30) of a siphon.

Advantageously, the described device is completely or partially integrated into the plug of the inlet section of a siphon.

Advantageously, the described device is partially inserted into the plug of the outlet section (66) of a siphon with two plugs. Advantageously, the device described is partially integrated into the plug of the outlet section of a siphon with two plugs.

Advantageously, the alarms or alarm systems mentioned generate a remote and/or local signalling being carried out by a communication device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the system.

Figure 2, 2A and 2B show a device that implements the system in question applied to a siphon with a plug on the inlet pipe, in which the sensors and the switches are made up of components that do not require an electrical supply.

Figure 3, 3A and 3B show a device that implements the system in question applied to a siphon with only one plug on the inlet pipe, in which the sensors and the switches are made up of electronic devices.

Figure 4 shows a device that implements the system in question applied to a siphon with two plugs, one the inlet pipe and one on the outlet pipe.

Claims

1. System for detecting the blockage of discharge ducts characterised in that it includes: - at least one level switch (1) and at least one flow switch and/or a second level switch (2), each connected with at least one activation control or pilot entry of a controlled switch (3 and 4);

- at least one connecting circuit of at least one alarm device (5) to a supply source (6) on which said controlled switches are inserted.

2. System according to claim 1 characterised in that each controlled switch is inserted into a different connecting circuit of a different alarm device to the supply source allowing the operation of said alarm devices;

3. System according to the claims 1 or 2 characterised in that the switch controlled by the level switch is normally opened and is closed when the level switch detects a liquid level higher than its setting value.

4. System according to one or more of the claims 1 to 3 characterised, in that the switch controlled by the flow switch and/or by the second level switch is normally closed and is opened in correspondence to the presence of the flow registered by said flow switch and/or when said second level switch detects a liquid level higher than its setting value.

5. System according to one or more of the previous claims characterised in that one or more of the controlled switches are operated by a mechanical type force exerted by an element of the flow switch or level switch.

6. System according to one or more of the previous claims characterised in that one or more of the controlled switches are operated by a force of the magnetic type induced by the state of the flow switch or level switch.

7. System according to one or more of the previous claims characterised in that one or more of the controlled switches are operated by a force of the electric type induced by the state of the flow switch or level switch.

8. System according to one or more of the previous claims characterised in that one or more of the controlled switches are operated by means of a semiconductor device piloted by the state of the flow switch or level switch.

9. System according to one or more of the previous claims characterised in that one or more of the controlled switches are operated by means of one or more semiconductor electronic circuits that perform as a whole an equivalent function piloted by the state of the flow switch or level switch.

10. System according to one or more of the previous claims characterised in that one or more of the controlled switches are operated by means of devices with remote control.

11. System according to one or more of the previous claims characterised in that one or more level switches is a device capable of producing an electric signal if it is wet by the liquid.

12. System according to one or more of the previous claims characterised in that one or more level switches is a device capable of producing an electric signal correlated to the liquid level.

13. System according to one or more of the previous claims characterised in that one or more level switches is a device capable of detecting one or more physical characteristics of the liquid in such a way that the liquid level can be deduced from this measurement indirectly and the device can produce an electric signal correlated to said level.

14. System according to one or more of the previous claims characterised in that the flow switch is a device capable of producing an electric signal correlated to the presence or absence of a flow of the liquid in question.

15. System according to one or more of the previous claims characterised in that the flow switch is a device capable of detecting one or more physical characteristics of the liquid in such a way that the flow of the liquid can be deduced from this measurement indirectly and the device can produce an electric signal correlated to said flow.

16. System according to one or more of the previous claims characterised in that it includes a single device having one or more of the characteristics of claims 1 to 15;

17. System according to one or more of the claims from 1 to 15 characterised in that it has at least two devices, each of which contain at least one level switch and/or a flow switch according to one or more of the characteristics of claims 1 to 15;

18. Device for detecting the blockage of discharge duct pipes characterised in that it includes:

- at least one level switch and at least one flow switch, each connected with at least one activation control of a controlled switch;

19. Device for detecting the blockage of discharge duct pipes characterised in that it includes a level switch and/or a flow switch, according to one or more of the characteristics of claims 1 to 17;

20. Device as in claim 18 or 19 characterised in that it is applied on a discharge duct and has the characteristics according to one or more of claims 1 to 19.

21. Device according to one or more of claims 18 to 20 characterised in that it includes a floating level switch (13) of which the end part of the rod (15) is integral to a mobile element (8) of an electric contact (7) normally opened, by a blade flow switch (18) in which the end part of the rod (19) of the blade (21) is integral to a second mobile element (9) of an electric contact (7) normally closed, and in that these electric contacts are inserted into at least one connecting circuit of at least one alarm system (11) to the supply source allowing the operation of said alarm system.

22. Device as in claim 21 characterised in that the rod of the floating level switch is integral, rather than to the mobile element of an electric contact, to the mobile element of a magnetic sensor (42) with electric contact normally opened of the type commonly used as an intrusion sensor, the latter being used according to the alarm detector function in connection with the alarm control unit (12) and in that said intrusion sensor is used as a pilot circuit of a controlled switch placed remotely, on the control unit, in order to activate an alarm according to the system described in claims 1 to 17.

23. Device according to one or more of claims 21 to 22 characterised in that the rod (51) of the blade of the blade flow switch (50), rather than being integral to the mobile element of an electric contact, ends with a toothed roller (53) on which is inserted a rack rod (54), moved vertically by the movement of said blade and in that the upper end of said rod (54) is integral to the mobile element of a magnetic contact (45) normally closed of the type commonly used as an intrusion sensor, the latter being used according to the alarm detector function in connection with the alarm control unit, as a remote-controlled switch according to the system described in claims 1 to 17.

24. Device according to one or more of the claims 21 to 22 characterised in that the rod of the blade flow switch is integral to the mobile element of a magnetic sensor with electric contact normally opened of the type commonly used as an intrusion sensor, the latter being used according to the alarm detector function in connection with the alarm control unit as a remote-controlled switch according to the system described in claims 1 to 17.

25. Device according to one or more of the claims 18 to 20 characterised in that it consists of a first floating level switch inserted into the inlet section of a siphon, whose rod is connected to the mobile element of an electric contact normally opened, and of a second floating level switch installed on the outlet section of a siphon, whose rod is connected to the mobile element of an electric contact normally closed, and in that these electric contacts are inserted into at least one connecting circuit of at least one alarm or alarm system to the supply source allowing.the operation of said alarm or alarm system.

26. Device according to claim 25 characterised in that the rod of the first floating level switch inserted into the inlet section of a siphon is integral to the mobile element of a magnetic sensor of the type commonly used as an intrusion sensor, the latter being used according to the alarm detector function in connection with the alarm control unit and activated by the raising of the level and in that said intrusion sensor is used as a pilot circuit of a controlled switch placed remotely, on the control unit, in order to activate an alarm according to the system described in claims 1 to 17.

27. Device according to claims 25 and/or 26 characterised in that the rod of the second floating level switch, inserted into the outlet section of a siphon is integral to the mobile element of a magnetic sensor of the type commonly used as an intrusion sensor, the latter being used according to the alarm detector function in connection with the alarm control unit and activated by the rising of the level and in that said intrusion sensor is used as a pilot circuit of a controlled switch placed remotely, on the control unit, in order to activate an alarm according to the system described in claims 1 to 17

28. Device according to one or more of claims 18 to 20 characterised in that one or more level switches are operated by means of a wet sensor (62) with transmitter (63) inserted into the inlet section of a siphon, and/or on the outlet section of the same siphon, and in that said transmitter is used as a pilot circuit of a controlled switch placed remotely, preferably on a control board, in order to activate an alarm according to the system described in claims 1 to 17.

29. Device according to one or more of claims 18 to 28 characterised in that it is completely or partially inserted into the plug of the inlet section (30) of a siphon.

30. Device according to one or more of claims 18 to 28 characterised in that it is completely or partially integrated into the plug of the inlet section of a siphon.

31. Device according to one or more of claims 18 to 30 characterised in that it is partially inserted into the plug of the outlet section (66) of a siphon with two plugs.

32. Device according to one or more of claims 18 to 30 characterised in that it is partially integrated into the plug of the outlet section of a siphon with two plugs.

33. System and/or device according to one or more of the previous claims characterised in that one or more of said alarms or alarm systems generate a local signalling.

34. System and/or device according to one or more of the previous claims characterised in that one or more of said alarms or alarm systems produce a remote signalling being carried out by means of a communication device.