WO2009099393A1

WO2009099393A1 - Tension inhibitor for gas hoses and electrical cables

Info

Publication number: WO2009099393A1
Application number: PCT/SG2008/000041
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Patrick Swyny; Shalayne Deborah-Ann Swyny
Original assignee: Richard Patrick Swyny; Shalayne Deborah-Ann Swyny
Priority date: 2008-02-05
Filing date: 2008-02-05
Publication date: 2009-08-13

Abstract

A tension inhibitor (10) for holding a long flexible conduit while preventing tension in said conduit, the tension inhibitor (10) consisting of a cover piece (14); and a flexible conduit holding piece; said cover piece (14) hingely connected to the flexible conduit holding piece at a first end, which when in operation, the flexible conduit is laid on the conduit holding piece, and the cover piece (14) closed onto the flexible conduit holding piece, to prevent any movement of the long flexible conduit, confining the tension inside the tension inhibitor (10). The tension inhibitor (10) can be used on gas hoses and electrical cables.

Description

TENSION INHIBITOR FOR GAS HOSES AND ELECTRICAL CABLES

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a tension inhibitor to prevent tension in cutting hoses which causes damage to hoses, flashback arrestors and regulators which can lead to flashbacks and gas explosions as well as prevent electrical cables from becoming loose from their connections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fires, explosions and flashbacks caused by damaged gas hoses and gas regulators are quite common due to the rough handling by workers at the worksites. Therefore it is a requirement for all work sites to have their equipment checked very often to prevent fires and explosions.

The inventor has observed that damages to cutting hose breaks and cracks at hose clip joints are a common occurrence. Flashback arrestors tend to have breakages at joints. Regulator outlets get damaged or the nuts loosens frequently. Hose clips also tend to cut into the hoses, damaging both hoses and clips. The main cause of the problem is the pulling along at ground level or downwards into an open trench of the cutting hose. When this is done, great stress is created at the hose clip, causing the clip to cut into the hose. When the same cutting hose is pulled along the ground at the work site, the cutting hose tends to get damaged from the stresses and entanglements with sharp objects at the worksite. At the same time, the thread joints of flashback arrestors tend to break or snap due to wear arising from frequent tugging of the cutting hoses as these are dragged about the work sites.

It is the requirement that all work and safety equipment and fittings for the purpose of carrying out hot work including gas hoses, pressure regulators, nozzles and connections shall be inspected periodically to ensure these are free from defects and leaks. The same equipment must also be inspected and tested by competent person like a safety officer to ensure the equipment are working properly and effectively.

lnspite of work site safety inspections and equipment inspections, if the root cause of the problem is not resolved, such damages to cutting hoses, hose clips and regulators would continue. The costs of replacement of damaged cutting hoses, clips and regulators and the costs of damage to buildings and danger to human lives arising from hazardous fires starting or explosions are always high.

There are many approaches towards improvements in cutting hoses safety in worksites. Various patents have been directed towards preventing flashbacks and gas leakages.

DE 3324972 describes a hose-burst device used in combination with a pressure regulator which interrupts the gas flow as soon as a predetermined flow rate is exceeded such as in a hose burst.

DE 10129386 describes a gas regulator with a housing and an intermediate regulation valve which when gas uptake is greatly increased e.g. due to a broken pipe, the valve is configured to greatly reduce gas outlet or even to shut it off altogether.

US 6 199 583 describes a safety gas valve for hoses feeding gas powered equipment. If the pressure proximal to the valve is suddenly released due to disconnection of the flexible hose from the primary conduit, the force of gas pressure in the flexible hose distal to the safety gas valve forces the plunger against the seat to prevent the rapid release of gas and prevent the loud noise and whipping of the flexible hose usually associated with loss of pressure.

Another direction towards improvements in cutting hoses is for hoses to be made incombustible, as proposed in US 2004/0175540. A further direction taken is making safety hoses which have a protective braid, as in the case of U S Patent No, 5 988 226. Although these inventions are directed towards safer equipment, their costs may be an issue. Another issue is that workmen at the worksite are ignorant about proper handling of cutting hose and equipment remains. The most dangerous situation occurs when the hose is dragged along the ground and some part of the cutting hose getting twisted along the entire length of the cutting hose. Under pressurization, one kink in the hose can cause a twisting force capable of stressing the hose walls, causing wear and tear. Continued twisting and turning of the hose through movements in the cutting hose may cause any fixed coupling to be separated from the cutting hose. If this occurs, the cutting hose becomes detached from the coupling and combustible gas immediately escapes. Any spark caused by the uncoupling or rotating line could also cause an explosion to erupt, causing damage by fire and explosion.

Another cause is when hoses are dropped into open trenches. The tension induced by gravity in addition to the constant tugging of these hoses, generate extreme tension to gas regulator meters and flashback arrestor joints. Also the clips, which are used to hold cutting hoses to the flashback arrestors, are prone to cutting into these hoses and as a result of this tension, gas leakage occurs.

The inventor has observed that inspite of improvements in safety devices and practices, the vulnerable areas are still the gas cutting equipment such as gas regulators meters, cutting torches, hoses, hose clips and joints at gas regulators meters and flashback arrestors. To avoid tension in the cutting hoses, the current and prevalent practice is to loop and then tie the cutting hoses with ropes or twine to reduce tension at the joints. The procedure only provide a temporary solution to the prevailing problem as the ropes or twine used to secure these hoses are subject to slack and eventually give way.

If the clips or wires are used to secure the cutting hoses to pallets, this technique would ultimately lead to cracked or severed hoses, thereby shifting the prevailing problem to a different part along the length of the hose. What is desirable is a simple and low costs device which could provide a more effective and lasting solution to the problem by diverting tension away from the stress joints while preventing damage from occurring at a different location of the cutting hose.

What is also desirable is a hose tension inhibiting device (hereinafter referred to as "Tension inhibitor") which makes it easy for workers at work sites to secure the cutting hose as a safety procedure, rather than depending on the initiative of the workers to tie the cutting hoses with ropes or twine to any portion at the work site where the cutting hoses could be hung.

What the inventive device does is to confine the tension in the device by forming two stationary reels and locking a portion of the hose with the device, thereby preventing or eliminating tension at joints.

The same device can similarly hold electrical cables when electrical extension cables are laid along the ground, then upwards to a scaffolding or downwards into an open trench or tunnel.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to have a tension inhibitor which would provide a more effective and lasting solution to the problem of tension to long flexible conduits caused by twisting and turnings in the flexible conduits as these are laid by diverting tension away from stress joints while preventing damage from occurring at a different location of the flexible conduits.

The tension inhibitor would confine tension within the tension inhibitor. The flexible conduits be it cutting hose or electrical cables would remain securely within the tension inhibitor, locked in within the tension inhibitor.

The tension inhibitor would completely eliminate the risk of over-clamping or risk of damage to the hose. In addition, it would also eliminate tension and stress from Gas Regulator Meters, Flashback Arrestor and Hose Clip joints. A first object of the invention is a tension inhibitor for holding a long flexible conduit while preventing tension in said conduit, said tension inhibitor consisting of a cover piece; and a flexible conduit holding piece said cover piece hingely connected to the flexible conduit holding piece at a first end,

which when in operation, the flexible conduit is laid on the conduit holding piece, and the cover piece closed onto the flexible conduit holding piece, to prevent any movement of the long flexible conduit, confining the tension inside the tension inhibitor.

A second object of the invention is a tension inhibitor for holding a cutting hose while preventing tension in cutting hoses, said tension inhibitor consisting of

a cover piece; and a hose holding piece said cover piece hingely connected to the hose holding piece at a first end,

which when in operation, the cutting hose is laid on the hose holding piece, and the cover piece closed onto the hose holding piece, to prevent any movement of the cutting hose, confining the tension inside the tension inhibitor.

Preferably, the tension inhibitor further have

a locking means;

wherein the cover piece and the hose holding piece can be locked with the locking means once the cutting hose has been laid on the hose holding piece and the cover piece closed. Preferably, the tension inhibitor further have

clamping means

wherein the tension inhibitor can be hung and held in position by the clamping means.

Preferably the locking means for the tension inhibitor securely locks the cover piece and hose holding piece when the cutting hose is placed inside the hose holding piece in operation and said locking means can be unlocked to release the cutting hose from the hose holding piece, when said tension inhibitor is not in operation.

Preferably the hose holding piece consists of an incoming hose reel holder and an outgoing hose reel holder.

Preferably the hose holding piece have an incoming female hose guide and an outgoing female hose guide.

Preferably the cover piece has an incoming male hose guide and an outgoing male hose guide.

A third object of the invention is a method of securing a cutting hose which prevents movement of the cutting hose, using the tension inhibitor, said method consisting of the following steps:

laying the cutting hose through the incoming hose reel guide; leading the cutting hose from the incoming hose reel guide to the outgoing hose reel guide, hingely closing the cover piece onto the hose holding piece, the incoming hose male guide and incoming female hose guide are locked in, the outgoing hose male guide and outgoing female hose guide are locked in, the cutting hose being secured onto the incoming and outgoing hose reel guides, preventing movement of the cutting hose; the locking means being activated to secure the cutting hose in the hose inhibitor;

wherein the cutting hose is held in place and cannot move, thereby confining tension to the cutting hose inside the tension inhibitor.

A subsidiary object of the invention is an electrical cable tension inhibitor for holding an electrical cable while preventing tension in the electrical cable, said electrical cable tension inhibitor consisting of

a cover piece; and a electrical cable holding piece said cover piece hingely connected to the electrical cable holding piece at a first end,

which when in operation, the electrical cable is laid on the electrical cable holding piece, and the cover piece closed onto the electrical cable holding piece, to prevent any movement of the electrical cable, confining the tension inside the electrical cable tension inhibitor.

Another subsidiary object is a method of securing an electrical cable which prevents movement of the electrical cable, using the electrical cable tension inhibitor of claim 10, said method consisting of the following steps:

laying the electrical cable through the incoming cable reel guide; leading the electrical cable from the incoming cable reel guide to the outgoing cable reel guide, hingely closing the cover piece onto the electrical cable holding piece, the incoming electrical cable male guide and incoming electrical cable female guide are locked in, the outgoing electrical cable male guide and outgoing electrical cable female guide are locked in, the electrical cable being secured onto the incoming and outgoing cable reel guides, preventing movement of the electrical cable; the locking means being activated to secure the electrical cable in the electrical cable tension inhibitor;

wherein the electrical cable is held in place and cannot move, thereby confining tension to the electrical cable inside the electrical cable tension inhibitor.

DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a drawing of one side of the tension inhibitor when not in use.

Rg. 2 is a drawing of the other side of the tension inhibitor when not in use.

Fig. 3 is a drawing of the tension inhibitor set up for use with cutting hose.

Fig. 4 is a close up drawing of the hose tension inhibitor set up for use with cutting hose.

Fig. 5 is a illustration of another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An description of an embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example and by referring to the use of the invention on cutting hoses, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a drawing of the tension inhibitor (10) when not in use. Fig. 2 is a drawjng of the other side of the tension inhibitor (10) when not in use.

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the tension inhibitor (10) consists of two pieces joined by a hinge at one end. The inner side of the first piece (hereinafter referred to as 'hose holding piece (16)') has two hose reel holders (30,32) to hold the hose and prevent the hose from moving. The second and opposite piece (hereinafter referred to as 'cover piece (14)') has a flat inner face, which will close onto the inner face of the hose holding piece (16). The cover piece (12) is joined to the hose holding piece (16) at one end by the hinge and has a locking means (20) on its outer side at the other end.

The two hose reel holders (30,32) can have inner grooves for better grip of the cutting hose (12).

The outer side of the hose holding piece (16) has a handle for hanging the tension inhibitor (10).

The cover piece (14) and hose holding piece (16) each has an incoming and outgoing male hose (44,46) and female hose (40,42) guides which are directly opposite each other. When both hose holding piece (16) and cover piece (14) are opened and ready for winding of the cutting hose (12) through the tension inhibitor (10), the incoming and outgoing hose guides would assist in guiding the worker in leading the cutting hose (12) (incoming into the tension inhibitor (10)), through the tension inhibitor (10) and out (outgoing of the tension inhibitor (10)). When both hose holding piece (16) and cover piece (14) are closed, the incoming and outgoing hose guides hold the cutting hose (12) in place.

Fig. 3 is a drawing of the tension inhibitor (10) set up for use. Fig. 4 is a close up drawing of the tension inhibitor (10) set up for use, with cutting hose (12).

Referring to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, a cutting hose (12) is firstly laid through the hose holding piece (16), the beginning of the hose being wound around the incoming hose reel holder (30) and then going through the outgoing hose reel holder (32) before being led out.

The cover piece (12) is then hingely closed with the inner face of the cover piece (12) towards the inner face of the hose holding piece (16). When this is done, the incoming male hose guide (44) will fit into the incoming female hose guide (40) and the outgoing male hose guide (46) will fit into the outgoing female hose guide (42). Both incoming and outgoing male (44,46) and female (40,42) hose guides have protective insulation on its surface which ensures that no sparks arise when the male (44,46) and female (40,42) hose guides are closed on each other. To further secure the tension inhibitor (10), the locking means (20) is activated, locking the cover piece (14) with the hose holding piece (16). Once this is done, the cutting hose (14) is securely wound around inside the hose reel holders (30,32) in the tension inhibitor (10). Movement of the cutting hose (12) is thus prevented.

A description of how the cutting hose (12) is fitted into the tension inhibitor (10) is now described.

When operation of the tension inhibitor (10) is to commence, the two pieces which are hingely joined at one end are opened and can be laid on a flat surface. In this opened position, the cover piece (14) and hose holding piece (16) are laid 180 degrees diametrically to each other. A cutting hose (12) can then be laid with the one portion of the cutting hose (12) going through the incoming hose guide, then round the incoming hose reel holder (30) and then going round the outgoing hose reel holder (32) and through the outgoing hose guide before leaving the tension inhibitor (10).

When the cutting hose (12) has gone round both incoming and outgoing hose reel holders (30,32), the inner face of the cover piece (14) is brought to meet the inner face of the hose holding piece (16). When this is done, the tension inhibitor (10) is closed, with the cover piece (14) pressed against the hose holding piece (16). When this is done, it can be seen that the cutting hose (12) is now held tightly in place by the tension inhibitor (10), with the cutting hose (12) going through the incoming hose guide, round the incoming hose reel holder (30), round the outgoing hose reel holder (32) and through the outgoing hose guide and outwards. Movement of the cutting hose (12) inside the tension inhibitor (10) is very much restricted.

The tension inhibitor (10) can now be secured by activating the locking means (20), The tension inhibitor (10) can now be suspended from a position above ground level in the worksite. Once this is done, it can be seen any movement of the cutting hose (12) further down before the portion locked in place by the tension inhibitor (10) and also the length of cutting hose (12) after the tension inhibitor (10) is controlled.

In operation, the tension inhibitor (10) is then hung or suspended from a height and thus tension confined to the two hose reel holders (30,32). The tension inhibitor (10) device would completely eliminate the risk of over clamping or damage caused to the hose. In addition, the tension inhibitor (10) would eliminate tension and stress from gas regulator meter, flashback arrestor and hose clip joints.

Furthermore, by suspending the tension inhibitor (10), the situation whereby hoses are being dropped into open trenches are avoided. The tension inhibitor (10) will reduce any chance of extreme tension being induced to gas regulator meters and flashback arrestor joints by gravity in addition to the constant tugging of these hoses. Also the clips, which are used to hold cutting hoses (12) to the flashback arrestors, would also not cut into these hoses since the tension is reduced if not eliminated.

When the tension inhibitor (10) is not in used, the tension inhibitor (10) removed from its suspended position and laid on a flat surface. The locking means (20) is deactivated and the two pieces which are hingely joined at one end are laid opened. In this opened position, the cover piece (14) and hose holding piece (16) are laid 180 degrees diametrically to each other. The cutting hose (12) can then be removed by taking out one portion of the cutting hose (12) going through the incoming hose guide, from the incoming hose reel holder (30), from the outgoing hose reel holder (32) and from the outgoing hose guide.

Once the cutting hose (12) has been removed from the tension inhibitor (10), the tension inhibitor (10) can then be closed by bring both the cover piece (14) and hose holding piece (16) together. The tension inhibitor (10) can then be locked by activating the locking means (20) and kept.

An exemplary prototype of the tension inhibitor (10) was tested at a YongNam Project Engineering Pte Ltd gas or oxygen pallet situated at Samsung Corporation KPE 423 worksite for a month.

The tension inhibitor (10) can also be used to hold electrical cables for the purpose of running electrical extension cables in work sites especially where the source of power is far away from the electrical tool. In work sites, electrical cables are usually run along the ground, then upwards to a scaffolding or downwards into an open trench or a tunnel; where the work is done. Using the tension inhibitor (10) for electrical cables would secure the main industrial plug attached to the outlet source of electricity from becoming loose or damaged and further preventing short circuit or electrical shock.

While only one embodiment of the tension inhibitor (10) for use with cutting hose (12) has been described, other embodiments are also envisaged, it is possible the tension inhibitor (10) can be adapted to suit various work site conditions.

For example, to facilitate speedier locking, the locking means (20) could be a snap on lock which would lock the cover piece (14) and hose holding piece (16) when both are pressed together. This would enable a worker to single handedly wind the cutting hose (12) onto the hose reel holders (16), and close the cover and lock the tension inhibitor (10) in a single action.

Likewise, the use of a snap on lock could facilitate easy removal of the cutting hose (12), again, with the cutting hose (12) in the tension inhibitor (10) being released when the snap on lock is released.

The tension inhibitor (10) can be made of any metal provided insulating material are used to protect the cutting hose (12) as well as prevent sparks from arising when metal parts are rubbed against each other.

Fig. 5 is a representation of a second embodiment. ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a simple device to restrict movement of cutting hose (12) along a certain portion of the cutting hose (12), and in so doing, reduce tension in cutting hoses (12) and also reduce tension and stress on gas regulator meter, flashback arrestor and hose clip joints.

The tension inhibitor (10) makes it easy for workers to adopt usage of the cutting hose (12) as a safety procedure, rather than depend on their initiative to tie the cutting hoses (12) with ropes or twine to any portion at the work site where the cutting hoses (12) could be hung.

This inventive device would in the long term save costs by minimizing, damage to equipment through the rough handling of the cutting hoses (12) and reduce the risk of worksite explosion and fires. Damage to human lives and property is also avoided through use of this inventive device.

Claims

1. A tension inhibitor for holding a long flexible conduit while preventing tension in said conduit, said tension inhibitor consisting of

a cover piece; and a flexible conduit holding piece said cover piece hingely connected to the flexible conduit holding piece at a first end,

characterized by when in operation, the flexible conduit is laid on the conduit holding piece, and the cover piece closed onto the flexible conduit holding piece, to prevent any movement of the long flexible conduit, confining the tension inside the tension inhibitor.

2. A tension inhibitor (10) for holding a cutting hose (12) while preventing tension in cutting hoses (12), said tension inhibitor (10) consisting of

a cover piece (14); and a hose holding piece (16) said cover piece (14) hingely connected to the hose holding piece (16) at a first end,

characterized by when in operation, the cutting hose (12) is laid on the hose holding piece (16), and the cover piece (14) closed onto the hose holding piece (16), to prevent any movement of the cutting hose (12), confining the tension inside the tension inhibitor (10).

3. A tension inhibitor (10) as claimed in Claim 2 further having

a locking means (20); wherein the cover piece (14) and the hose holding piece (16) can be locked with the locking means (20) once the cutting hose (12) has been laid on the hose holding piece (16) and the cover piece (14) closed.

4. A tension inhibitor (10) as claimed in Claim 2 further having

clamping means (22)

wherein the tension inhibitor (10) can be hung and held in position by the clamping means (22).

5. A locking means (20) for a tension inhibitor (10) as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the locking means (20) securely lock the cover piece (14) and hose holding piece (16) when the cutting hose (12) is placed inside the hose holding piece (16) in operation and said locking means (20) can be unlocked to release the cutting hose (12) from the hose holding piece (16), when said tension inhibitor (10) is not in operation.

6. A hose holding piece (16) as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the hose holding device consists of an incoming hose reel holder (30) and an outgoing hose reel holder (32).

7. A hose holding piece (16) as claimed in Claim 2 said hose holding piece (16) having an incoming female hose guide (40) and an outgoing female hose guide (42).

8. A cover piece (14) as claimed in Claim 2 said cover piece (14) having an incoming male hose guide (44) and an outgoing male hose guide (46).

9. A method of securing a cutting hose (12) which prevents movement of the cutting hose (12), using the tension inhibitor (10) of any one of claim 2 to 8, said method consisting of the following steps:

laying the cutting hose (12) through the incoming hose reel guide; leading the cutting hose (12) from the incoming hose reel guide to the outgoing hose reel guide, hingely closing the cover piece (14) onto the hose holding piece (16), the incoming male hose guide (44) and incoming female hose guide (40) are locked in, the outgoing male hose guide (46) and outgoing female hose guide (42) are locked in, the cutting hose (12) being secured onto the incoming and outgoing hose reel guides, preventing movement of the cutting hose (12); the locking means (20) being activated to secure the cutting hose (12) in the hose inhibitor (10);

wherein the cutting hose (12) is held in place and cannot move, thereby confining tension to the cutting hose (12) inside the tension inhibitor (10).

10. A electrical cable tension inhibitor for holding an electrical cable while preventing tension in the electrical cable, said electrical cable tension inhibitor consisting of

which when in operation, the electrical cable is laid on the electrical cable holding piece, and the cover piece closed onto the electrical cable holding piece, to prevent any movement of the electrical cable, confining the tension to the electrical cable inside the electrical cable tension inhibitor.

11. A method of securing the electrical cable which prevents movement of the electrical cable, using the electrical cable tension inhibitor of claim 10, said method consisting of the following steps:

laying the electrical cable through the incoming electrical cable reel guide; leading the electrical cable from the incoming electrical cable reel guide to the outgoing electrical cable reel guide, hingely closing the cover piece onto the electrical cable holding piece, the incoming electrical cable male guide and incoming electrical cable female guide are locked in, the outgoing electrical cable male guide and outgoing electrical cable female guide are locked in, the electrical cable being secured onto the incoming and outgoing cable reel guides, preventing movement of the electrical cable; the locking means being activated to secure the electrical cable in the electrical cable tension inhibitor;