Title of Invention

"AN APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVE CONNECTION"

Abstract

An installation includes a support 2 " to which are fixed at variovis heights fixed sections to each of which is connected an articulated pipe 3" which is deformable in a horizontal plane. Other fixed sections B"l, ..., B"19 are disposed at a common level along a substantially horizontal reference line L" . The end of each pipe is connected to a tubular column 8 " which terminates at the level of the reference line. Each column is movable along the reference line with the facility for transverse movement to enable crossing of the columns and this line. An installation of this kind finds a specific application in the oil industry. (Figure 7).

Full Text

The invention concerns with an apparatus for selective connector an installation for connecting any one of a plurality of input pipes to any one of a plurality of output pipes. It is particularly, but not exclusively, directed to the circulation of petroleum products. In most petrochemical installations it is necessary to make many temporary connections in order to transfer products of different kinds in the same pipes. To this end it is necessary to be able to connect any one of a plurality of input lines to any one of a plurality of output lines, the numbers of input and output lines possibly being large, for example in the order of 20 or even more. These multiple connections are unavoidable in the case of installations which can be cleaned by scraping (i.e. in which the internal cross-section of the fluid passage is the same everywhere). There are various existing solutions to the problem of making these connections. The first is to use flexible connections (hoses). There are other solutions, usually automated, which use telescopic connections, which can cause problems with cleaning by scraping. The Applicant has already proposed the following solutions: connections with double articulated joints in two perpendicular planes (see patent application 90-03050 of 9 March, 1990), connections with multiple tubular members mobile in two stacked planes in the manner of abacus members and joined by a double elbow (see patent application FR-A-2 680 559 of 21 August 1991). These automated solutions have the drawback of being relatively costly and are therefore ruled out in some projects for budgetary reasons. It is therefore necessary to propose economical, possibly manual solutions to the problem of making multiple connections (multiple input lines connected to multiple output lines) in a way that enables cleaning by scraping. These solutions must use rigid members which can be manoeuvred without major physical effort and which can be cleaned by scraping. It must be possible to connect simultaneously all the input lines (or all the output lines if they are fewer in number) , in any order, and without having to disconnect any line(s) already, in service. To this end the invention proposes an installation for provisional selective connection of any one of an ordered plurality of first fixed sections all having the same inside diameter to any one of an ordered plurality of second fixed sections all having the same inside diameter as the first fixed sections, including: a vertical first support to which the plurality of fixed sections is fixed, each at a specific level. an ordered plurality of articulated pipes all having the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections, deformable independently of each other in stacked horizontal planes, a specific articulated pipe being connected to each first fixed section, an ordered plurality of first coupling sections all having the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and coupling flanges in an imaginary coupling plane (P), the nurber of first coupling sections being equal to the number cf first fixed sections, a support to which the ordered plurality of second fixed sections is fixed, an ordered plurality of seccnd coupling sections all having the sarr.e inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and coupling flanges parallel to the imaginary coupling plane, the number of second coupling sections being equal to the number of second fixed sections, a plurality of couplers each adapted to couple a first coupling section and a second coupling section, which installation is characterised in that: each second coupling section is connected directly to a second fixed section, said second coupling sections having fixed positions parallel to the imaginary coupling plane and being regularly arranged facing a substantially horizontal reference line in said plane at a level below the level of the first sections, each articulated pipe is connected, at the end opposite the end connected to the first section to which it is connected, to a tubular column having the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and extending vertically as far as a respective first coupling section, the respective lengths of the tubular columns being such that the first coupling sections are all at substantially the same level, each combination of a pipe, a tubular column and a first coupling section being provided with means for limiting movement of said combination along the whole of the reference line to within a given range of horizontal movement to either side of said reference line, the distance between adjacent second coupling sections and the given range of movement being greater than the diameter of the first coupling sections. In accordance with preferred features cf the invention: the imaginary coupling plane is horizontal, each articulated pipe is formed of three rigid sections articulated to each other, the reference line is substantially rectilinear, the ends of the articulated pipes are inserted in respective carriages sliding on substantially horizontal coplanar rails in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the reference line, said given range of movement is delimited at least in part by abutments carried by said ends and cooperating with said carriages, the vertical support and the plurality of first fixed sections are divided into two sets on respective sides of a vertical plane through the rectilinear reference line, the reference line is part of a circle, each articulated pipe is formed of three rigid sections articulated together and includes a spacer link articulated to the end rigid sections the same length as the median rigid section and forming a pantograph with the rigid sections, the end rigid section to which a tubular column is connected is oriented radially, the second coupling sections are mounted telescopically on the second fixed sections, perpendicularly to the imaginary coupling plane, the telescopic second sections are provided with pivoting manoeuvring levers, the second coupling sections include two jaws articulated at first ends to said second coupling sections perpendicular to the imaginary coupling plane and a locking device adapted to hold second ends of the jaws in a closed configuration, the locking device comprises clamping means, the clamping means are operated by a lever, the locking device is articulated to the second end of one jaw, the second coupling sections include sensors for identifying the first coupling sections, a plug is disposed between a first coupling section and a second coupling section held in a bottom position. Accordingly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for the selective connection of any one of an ordered plurality of first fixed sections (Al, etc.; A'l, etc.), which all have the same inside diameter, to any one of an ordered plurality of second fixed sections (Bl, etc.; B'l, etc.), which all have the same inside diameter as the first fixed sections, the apparatus including: a vertical first support (2,2') to which the first fixed sections are connected, each at a specific level; an ordered plurality of articulated pipes (3A, etc.; 3'A, etc.) which all have the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and which all are deformable independently of each other in stacked horizontal planes, each articulated pipe being connected to a corresponding first fixed section; a first ordered plurality of first coupling sections (4A, etc., 4'A, etc.) which all have the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and which all have a coupling flange in an imaginary coupling plate (P), the number of first coupling sections being equal to the number of first fixed sections; a support (5, 5') to which the second fixed sections are connected; a second ordered plurality of second coupling sections (6A, etc.; 6'A, etc.) which all have the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and which all have a second coupling flange parallel to the imaginary coupling plane, the number of second coupling sections being equal to the number of second fixed sections; a plurality of couplers (7) each adapted to couple a first coupling section with a second coupling section; characterized in that: each second coupling section is connected directly to a corresponding second fixed section, has a fixed position parallel to the imaginary coupling plane, and is arranged along a substantially horizontal reference line (L, L') in said plane at a level (HL) below the level of the first coupling sections; each articulated pipe comprises a first end which is connected to the first fixed section and a second end which is connected to a tubular column (8A, etc.; 8'A) having the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and extending vertically as far as a corresponding first coupling section, the respective lengths of the tubular columns being such that the first coupling sections are all located at substantially the same level; each combination of an articulated pipe, a tubular column and a first coupling section is provided with means such as hereindescribed for limiting movement of said combination within a given range of horizontal movement to either side of said reference line; and the distance between adjacent second coupling sections and the given range of movement are greater than the diameter of the first coupling sections. BRIEF DESCRTPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS Objects, features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description given by way of----------------------------------------------------------------- non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: figure 1 is a side view of a provisional selective connection installation in accordance with the invention, figure 2 is a front view of it as seen in the direction of the arrow II in figure 1, figure 3 is a plan view of it, - figure 4 is a partial side view of it, showing several tubular columns in the course of displacement, - figure 5 is a plan view of part of the second coupling sections and of three first coupling sections in course of displacement, - figure 6 is a side view of another provisional selective connection installation which constitutes a duplicated version of the installation from figures 1 through 5 , - figure 7 is a plan view of another provisional selective connection installation in -which the fixed second sections are arranged in a circle around the fixed first sections, - figure 8 is a partial side view showing a plurality of tubular columns in course of displacement, - figure 9 is a partial plan view of this other installation, similar to figure 5, - figure 10 is a partial side view of one of the articulated pipes from figure 7, - figure 11 is a plan view of the latter, - figure 12 is . a side view partly in cross- section of a first coupling section connected to a second coupling section by a coupler, - figure 13 is a side view partly in cross- section of the sections from figure 12 in a release configuration, - figure 14 is a side view partly in -fr- °cross-section of the sections from figure 12 in a rest configuration, figure 15 is a partly cut away plan view of the coupler from figures 12 through 14, figure 16 is a partial view in the direction of the arrow XVI in figure 15, and figure 17 is a view in cross-section on the line XVII-XVII in figure 14. Figures 1 through 5 show the whole of a provisional selective connection installation for connecting any one of an ordeyed plurality of first fixed sections Al, A2, ...., A10 ail having the same inside diameter to any one of an ordered plurality of second fixed sections Bl, B2, B3, ...., B21 all having the same inside diameter as the first fixed sections. This installation includes: a vertical first support 2 to which the plurality of fixed sections is fixed, each at a specific level between levels Hmin and Hmax; an ordered plurality of articulated pipes 3A, 3B, 3C, . . . ., 3J having the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections, deformable independently of each other in stacked horizontal planes, a specific one of the articulated pipes being connected to each first section, an ordered plurality of first coupling sections 4A, . . . . , 4J having the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and coupling flanges in an imaginary coupling plane (P), the number of first coupling sections being equal to the number of first fixed sections, a support 5 to which the ordered plurality of second fixed sections is fixed, an ordered plurality of second coupling sections 6A, .... , 6U having the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and coupling flanges parallel to the imaginary coupling plane P, the number of second coupling sections being equal to the number of second fixed sections, - a plurality of couplers 7 (see also figures 12 through 17) each adapted to couple a first coupling section and a second coupling section. In accordance with various features of the invention: - each of the second coupling sections 6A, 6U is connected directly to one of the second fixed sections Bl, ...., B21, these second coupling, sections having fixed positions parallel to the imaginary coupling plane and being regularly arranged facing a substantially horizontal reference line L in said plane P and having a level HL lower than the levels of the first sections, each of the articulated pipes 3A, ...., -J is connected at the end opposite the end connected tc the first section to which it is connected to a tubular column 8A, ...., 8J having the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and extending vertically as far as a respective first coupling section 4A, ...., 4J, the respective lengths of the tubular columns being such that the first coupling sections are all at substantially the same level (that of the reference line), each combination of a pipe, a tubular column and a first coupling section being provided with means for limiting relative movement of this combination along all of the reference line to within a given range of horizontal relative movement to either side of said reference line (see below), the distance between adjacent second coupling sections and the given range of angular movement is greater than the diameter of the first coupling sections see figure 5) . In this example the imaginary coupling plane ? is horizontal. It could instead be inclined or even vertical. In this example each articulated pipe 3A, 3J is formed by three rigid sections articulated to each other. The reference line L is substantially rectilinear. The ends of the articulated pipes are inserted by means of rods 12A , 12J into respective carriages 10A, . . . ., 10J provided with bearings for the rods and sliding on rails 11A, . . . ., 11J which are substantially horizontal and coplanar in a vertical plane PV substantially parallel to the reference line. These rails support and guide horizontal movement of the carriages 10A, ...., 10J. Said given range of movement is delimited at least in part by abutments 14, 15 carried by said erds and cooperating with said carriages (in this example with the bearings). To stiffen the pipe-column connection an inclined spacer 16B, . . . ., 16J is fixed to the end cf the articulated pipe and to the associated column. The system shown thus comprises a set of articulated links made up of: a fixed member Al, A2, etc with its coupling flange attached to a support structure 5, three mobile members linked together by rotation joints to form articulated arms 3A, etc, the last member curving downwards to form a vertical tube -adapted to be connected to any one cf the fixed outlet pipes Bl, B2, etc. It is provided with a system of guidance in two mutually perpendicular directions: lengthwise of and transversely to the line along which the fixed support pipes are disposed. In the vertical plane FY each rail provide! with a guide carriage attached to the vertical column cr tube enables displacement towards the right or towards the left over the width of the assembly (over the entire length of the reference line). In a plane perpendicular to the plane PV the rod 12A, etc or sliding guide enables the vertical tube to move from the front towards the rear over a limited distance. This enables positioning of the vertical tube either in front of or behind the fixed pipes. The function of this guide is important to manoeuvring of the whole system since, depending on the lines already in service and the location of the line to be connected, the vertical tube can be moved without infterfering- with lines already, connected only (see figure 5) : either on the inside (in front) if the line being manoeuvred is at a level lower than the level of the connected line, or on the outside (to the rear) if the line being manoeuvred is situated at a level higher than the level of the connected line. The other members of the articulated connection are disposed so that they never interfere with each other when they move. The length of the vertical tube is adapted for each connection so that the point of connection is always at the level of the connecting coupling on the fixed pipes, on the exit side of the installation. These fixed output pipes, arranged in a line, are equipped with two devices (see figures 12 through 17). The first of these devices is a quick-connect coupler for connecting the vertical mobile tube to the fixed pipework and disconnecting it therefrom. This coupler comprises two jaws or half-flanges 20-21, etc articulated about a fixed axis perpendicular to the coupling plane P and a coarse thread screw-nut system 22 for quick locking and clamping. This arrangement enables opening of the coupler in two stages: unclamping of the two half-flanges by moving the handle 23 into the opening position; the coupler is nc longer sealed but the pipes are still held in place as a safety-precaution (against accidental opening of a line under pressure), opening of the two half-flanges after pivoting of the screw-nut system 22. An inductive sensor 24 attached to the part 25 to which the half-flanges are articulated senses and identifies the vertical pipe connected. The coupler assembly is advantageously mounted on a telescopic section constituting one of the aforementioned second coupling sections moved between top and bottom positions by a lever 26 articulated transversely to one of the fixed sections B, etc. This movement moves the coupling flange of the coupler away from the coupling flange on the vertical tube to enable the latter to be moved without interfering with the coupler. A plug 27 adapted to be clamped by the coupler hermetically seals a line when it is to remain out of service. A guide groove 28 in the plug holds the unused vertical tube in the rest position. This plug is also a valuable safety measure in the event of accidental pressurisation of a line that is not used or activation of the cleaning scraper. As "an alternative to this, if the number of vertical tubes must be greater than ten, to avoid an excessive length of vertical tube a second set of inputs and pipes can be installed facing the first (see fig-ire 6), on opposite sides of the row of fixed outlet pipes E etc. A connection sequence can proceed as follrws, if mobile (input) line No X must be connected to fixed line No Y (the mobile line is in the rest position on the plug). 1. The operator moves the vertical tube to the rear. so that it can be moved towards the right or towards the left, depending on the position of fixed line No Y. 2. To reach this position, it is necessary to avoid any interference with the lines which are in service or in the rest position; the distance between the centre lines of the fixed lines is sufficient to allow movement to the front and to the rear of a vertical tube between two adjacent lines in service (extreme case). The operator displaces the vertical tube and moves it around (in front of or behind) any connected lines it encounters as it is moved. 3. Connection of the mobile vertical tube to the fixed pipework: opening of the coupler, displacement of the connecting flange of the telescopic section using the lever, closing of the two half-flanges of the coupler, fitting and tightening of the screw-nut system. Disconnection requires the converse operation and fitting of the plug. In an alternative embodiment shown in figures 7 through 9 the reference numbers are the same but "primed". This alternative embodiment entails: dispensing with the horizontal guides, installing the output lines in a circle around a central point at which is located the (fixed) first articulation of the articulated pipes, equipping the articulated pipes 3' with a link 30 fastening the outer section to the inner secticr., in parallel with the median section so as to form at least approximately a deformable parallelogram or pantograph, installing abutments to limit relative movement of the vertical tube in the plane perpendicular to 'the fixed rotation. These abutments 31, 32 limit relative movement to the inside and outside crossing position. Operation of this embodiment can be deduced from the above description of the operation of the first embodiment. The advantages of this embodiment are as follows: reduced cost (through the elimination of the guide systems), the pantograph produces a rigid coupling by fastening the section carrying the vertical connecting tube, giving the latter a fixed orientation relative to the centre of the circle, preferable a radial orientation, right-left movement entrains only -the first fixed rotation, front-back movement is always by pushing or pulling along an axis which always passes through the first fixed rotation. This prevents any spurious force which could otherwise tends to displace the connection as a whole in one direction or the other {to the right or to the left). However, because the horizontal guidance is dispensed with, the length of the articulated connections is limited and consequently the possible number of fixed connection points is small. However, there are many applications in which this is acceptable. The figures show the area W in which an operator works. The first coupling sections 4A, etc are advantageously provided with handles 40. There follows a detailed numerical example of implementation of the invention: the figure 1 installation has ten inputs and 21 outputs and in the duplicated example of figure 6 the nurirer of inputs is not quite doubled (to 19) to leave enouhg room for the operator: there is provision here for some iegree of flexibility to suit requirements, the rails are 5 m long for 21 outputs spaced by 0.25 m, for example; the total range of movement is around 0.37 m for a transverse overall dimension of the couplers of around 0.2 m and a column cross-section of around 0.1 m, the length of the first two articulated pipe sections is 1.7m while the third section has a width of 1.2 m, the total height is 6 m with a minimal level at 1.15 m and a height of 0.9 m for the front plane, the inclined spacers 16B, ..., 16J advantageously include polyurethane buffers, in the circular configuration the pipe sections have respective lengths from the centre of 1.05 m, 0.525 m and 0.6m and the angular separation of the outputs is 10° for a reference line with a radius of 1.5 m, the range of movement of the articulated pipe is determined by an abutment joined to the intermediate section adapted to sweep out an angular sector delimited by two abutments attached to the internal section, the telescopic travel is 50 mm. It goes without saying that the preceding description has been given by way of non-limiting example only and that numerous variants can be put forward by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, for short lengths of pipe (small number of outlets B! the support guides can be dispensed with even in the embodiments of figures 1 to 6. As an alternative, supports can be provided even in the circular configuration. Choosing a vertical coupling plane can have the advantage of enabling the telescopic section to be dispensed with, although this increases the range of movement required of each column. WE CLAIM: 1. An apparatus for the selective connection of any one of an ordered plurality of first fixed sections (Al, etc.; A'l, etc.), which all have the same inside diameter, to any one of an ordered plurality of second fixed sections (Bl, etc.; B'l, etc.), which all have the same inside diameter as the first fixed sections, the apparatus including: a vertical first support (2,2') to which the first fixed sections are connected, each at a specific level; an ordered plurality of articulated pipes (3A, etc.; 3'A, etc.) which all have the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and which all are deformable independently of each other in stacked horizontal planes, each articulated pipe being connected to a corresponding first fixed section; a first ordered plurality of first coupling sections (4A, etc., 4'A, etc.) which all have the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and which all have a coupling flange in an imaginary coupling plate (P), the number of first coupling sections being equal to the number of first fixed sections; a support (5, 5') to which the second fixed sections are connected; a second ordered plurality of second coupling sections (6A, etc.; 6'A, etc.) which all have the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and which all have a second coupling flange parallel to the imaginary coupling plane, the number of second coupling sections being equal to the number of second fixed sections; a plurality of couplers (7) each adapted to couple a first coupling section with a second coupling section; characterized in that: each second coupling section is connected directly to a corresponding second fixed section, has a fixed position parallel to the imaginary coupling plane, and is arranged along a substantially horizontal reference line (L, L') in said plane at a level (HL) below the level of the first coupling sections; each articulated pipe comprises a first end which is connected to the first fixed section and a second end which is connected to a tubular column (8A, etc.; 8'A) having the same inside diameter as the first and second fixed sections and extending vertically as far as a corresponding first coupling section, the respective lengths of the tubular columns being such that the first coupling sections are all located at substantially the same level; each combination of an articulated pipe, a tubular column and a first coupling section is provided with means such as hereindecribed for limiting movement of said combination within a given range of horizontal movement to either side of said reference line; and the distance between adjacent second coupling sections and the given range of movement are greater than the diameter of the first coupling sections. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the imaginary coupling plane (P) is horizontal. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each articulated pipe (3A, etc.; 3'A, etc.) is formed of three rigid sections articulated to each other. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reference line (L) is substantially rectilinear. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ends of the articulated pipes are supported by respective carriages (10A, etc.) which slide on substantially horizontal coplanar rails (11 A, etc.) that are arranged in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the reference line. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said given range of movement is delimited at least in part by abutments (14, 15) carried by said ends and cooperating with said carriages. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein an inclined spacer (16B, etc.) is connected to the end of each articulated pipe and an associated column, and each spacer carried a buffer. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein that the vertical support and the plurality of first fixed sections are divided into two sets, each of which is located on a respective side of a vertical plane through the rectilinear reference line. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reference line (L') is curvilinear. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein that each articulated pipe is formed of three rigid sections articulated together and includes a spacer link (30) which is articulated to an end rigid section to thereby form a pantograph with the rigid sections. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the end rigid section to which a tubular column is connected is oriented radially. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second coupling sections are mounted telescopically on the second fixed sections perpendicular to the imaginary coupling plane. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said second sections are provided with pivoting maneuvering levers (26). An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second coupling sections include two jaws (20, 21) which are articulated at first ends to said second coupling sections perpendicular to the imaginary coupling plane and a locking device (22) which is adapted to hold second ends of said jaws in a closed configuration. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said locking device (22) comprises clamping means. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the clamping means is operated by a lever (23). An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the locking device is articulated to the second end of one jaw. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second coupling sections include sensors (24) for identifying the first coupling sections. An apparatus as claimed in claim, wherein a plug (27) is disposed between a first coupling section and a second coupling section held in a bottom position. 20. An apparatus for the selective connection of any one of an ordered plurality of first fixed sections, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

1177-del-1995-abstract.pdf

1177-del-1995-claims.pdf

1177-DEL-1995-Correspondence-Others-(14-06-2010).pdf

1177-DEL-1995-Correspondence-Others-(17-03-2011).pdf

1177-del-1995-correspondence-others.pdf

1177-del-1995-correspondence-po.pdf

1177-del-1995-description (complete).pdf

1177-del-1995-drawings.pdf

1177-del-1995-form-1.pdf

1177-del-1995-form-13.pdf

1177-del-1995-form-2.pdf

1177-DEL-1995-Form-27-(17-03-2011).pdf

1177-del-1995-form-4.pdf

1177-del-1995-form-5.pdf

1177-del-1995-form-6.pdf

1177-del-1995-form-9.pdf

1177-DEL-1995-GPA-(14-06-2010).pdf

1177-del-1995-gpa.pdf

1177-del-1995-petition-138.pdf

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