JP7625486B2 - Container or piping connection mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a container or piping connection mechanism, and in particular to a container or piping connection mechanism suitable for those that have an internal fluid and are used under high temperature and pressure.

As a prior art document on containers or piping connection mechanisms, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a joining structure between tubular members that can prevent fluid leakage when joining tubular members that cannot avoid thermal expansion differences, such as fuel nozzles for gas turbine combustors.

This patent document describes how a pair of pipe members through which a fluid passes are each formed with a flange, the flanges are butted together and the seams are seal welded, the welded flanges are clamped together with clamping members, and the clamping members are tightened with bolts and nuts to generate surface pressure between the flange end faces, thereby reducing thermal stress at the seal welds, and how, because the seal welds are subjected to compressive force, no fluid leakage will occur even if a crack occurs at the seal welds.

JP 2004-68997 A

In nuclear reactor facilities, the possibility of a full-circumference rupture must be considered when welding pipes together or between vessels or valves and piping. However, full-circumference rupture can be avoided by using flange connections with bolts to connect pipes together or between vessels or valves and piping.

In other words, a double connection structure using welding and bolts can prevent circumferential rupture, but the flange connection described above has the problem of increasing the potential for leakage from connections between pipes, or between containers or valves and pipes.

The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 describes a joining structure for pipe members that can prevent fluid leakage when joining pipe members that cannot avoid thermal expansion differences, but there is still room for improvement to further reduce the risk of fluid leakage from the flange portion.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and its purpose is to provide a container or piping connection mechanism that suppresses thermal stress at the welded portion to increase the connection strength at the welded portion, while ensuring the strength (reliability) of the connection through both the weld and the connection support, preventing breaks all around the circumference, and avoiding the risk of fluid leaks from the flange portion.

In order to achieve the above object, the container or pipe connection mechanism of the present invention is a container or pipe connection mechanism in which axially protruding portions of two containers or pipes are butted together and the butted portions are connected by welding,
A connection support is provided near the connection of the axially protruding portions of the two containers or pipes, facing each other across the welded portion, and a bolt is provided on the outer periphery of the facing connection support to fasten the facing connection support to each other;
The connection supports provided to face each other are fastened by a plurality of the bolts provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction,
The connection portion of the axially protruding portion of the container or piping is a pipe member integral with the container at a portion extending in the axial direction from a nozzle portion of the container, and a pipe member integral with the valve box at a portion extending in the axial direction from the valve box,
The connection portion supports provided to face each other are fixed to the tube member of the container and the tube member of the valve box by drilling holes in the tube member of the container and the tube member of the valve box, respectively, that do not radially penetrate the tube member of the container and the tube member of the valve box, and inserting the connection portion supports provided to face each other into each of the holes ;
The present invention is characterized in that a gasket is attached to each of the connection supports fixed to the tube member of the container and the tube member of the valve box so as to be adjacent to and facing the connection support, and a spacer is installed between the gaskets attached so as to face each other .

According to the present invention, the connection support suppresses thermal stress at the weld and increases the connection strength at the weld, while ensuring the strength (reliability) of the connection through both the weld and the connection support, preventing all-around fracture and avoiding the risk of fluid leakage from the flange.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a container or piping connection mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a connection mechanism between a container and a valve body. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the container or piping connection mechanism of the present invention, illustrating the connection mechanism between the container and the valve body. FIG. 3 is a half cross-sectional view showing a connection support cover employed in the connection mechanism between the container and the valve body of FIG. 2 . FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the container or piping connection mechanism of the present invention, illustrating the connection mechanism between the container and the valve body. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the container or piping connection mechanism of the present invention, illustrating the connection mechanism between the container and the valve body.

The container or piping connection mechanism of the present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiments. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same components in each embodiment.

In addition, the embodiment described below will be explained using the connection mechanism between the container 1 and the valve box 2 as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the connection mechanism between the container 1 and the valve box 2, and can also be applied to connection mechanisms between other elements, such as between pipes, containers and pipes, and valve boxes and pipes.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the container or piping connection mechanism of the present invention. The embodiment shown in the figure is a connection mechanism between a container 1 and a valve box 2.

In the connection mechanism between the container 1 and the valve box 2 of this embodiment shown in Figure 1, the tube member 3 of the container 1 is a portion that extends axially (portion that protrudes in the axial direction) from the nozzle portion 1a of the container 1 without a welded connection, while the tube member 4 of the valve box 2 is a portion that extends axially (portion that protrudes in the axial direction) from the valve box 2 without a welded connection, and the tube member 3 of the container 1 and the tube member 4 of the valve box 2 each have disk-shaped connection support members 7 and 8 at a position (a position distant by a distance "W" in Figure 1) at least 2T or more (T is the thickness of the tube member 4 of the valve box 2 or the tube member 3 of the container 1) away from the welded portion 10 (the same applies to Examples 2 and 3 described below).

The above-mentioned connection supports 7 and 8 are fixed at a position at least 2T or more away from the welded portion 10 of the tube member 3 of the vessel 1 and the tube member 4 of the valve box 2 (at a position at a distance "W" in Figure 1) because, in consideration of the inspectability of the welding inspection (e.g., ultrasonic flaw detection test) after welding the tube member 3 of the vessel 1 and the tube member 4 of the valve box 2, if the connection supports 7 and 8 are at a position (W is 2T or more) away from the welded portion 10 by a distance required for inspection (e.g., a distance at which ultrasonic flaw detection test of the welded portion 10 can be performed with an inspection device), there is no problem in performing the ultrasonic flaw detection test (the same applies to Examples 2 and 3 described below).

In this embodiment, the height of the connection supports 7 and 8 from the tube member 3 of the container 1 or the tube member 4 of the valve box 2 (indicated by the symbol "C" in FIG. 1) is set to be D/10 or more, where "D" is the outer diameter of the tube member 3 of the container 1 or the tube member 4 of the valve box 2 (this also applies to embodiments 2 and 3 described below).

This is based on the fact that the height "C" of the connection supports 7 and 8 from the tube member 3 of the container 1 or the tube member 4 of the valve box 2, which does not interfere with the fastening of the connection supports 7 and 8 with the bolts 9, is sufficient if it is equal to or greater than D/10 of the outer diameter dimension "D" of the tube member 3 of the container 1 or the tube member 4 of the valve box 2 (the same applies to Examples 2 and 3 described below).

The above-mentioned connection supports 7 and 8 are fixed to the tube member 3 of the container 1 and the tube member 4 of the valve box 2 by drilling bolt holes in the tube member 3 of the container 1 and the tube member 4 of the valve box 2 and inserting the connection supports 7 and 8 into the respective bolt holes.

Furthermore, the connection part 5 of the tube member 3 of the container 1 and the connection part 6 of the tube member 4 of the valve box 2 are connected by welding all around and from the outer surface to the inner surface of both the connection parts 5, 6.

Moreover, in this embodiment, after the above welding, the connection supports 7 and 8 are connected by bolts 9 at at least four or more points (four points in this embodiment) at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction. The connection of the connection supports 7 and 8 by bolts 9 applies a compressive stress in the axial direction to the welds 10 of the connections 5 and 6, which reduces the force that tends to separate the welds 10, improving the reliability of the welds 10 of the connections 5 and 6.

According to the configuration of this embodiment, the strength (reliability) of the connection parts 5 and 6 between the pipe member 3 of the container 1 and the pipe member 4 of the valve box 2 can be ensured by both welding and bolted connections using the connection supports 7 and 8. Leak resistance is ensured by the full-circumference welding. Even if the welded part 10 breaks, the probability that at least four bolts 9 will break simultaneously is very small, so the bolted connection between the welded supports 7 and 8 can avoid the risk of full-circumference breakage. Therefore, the connection supports 7 and 8 suppress the thermal stress of the welded part 10 and increase the connection strength of the welded part 10, while the strength (reliability) of the connection is ensured by both welding and the connection supports 7 and 8, preventing full-circumference breakage and avoiding the risk of fluid leaking from the flange part.

Figures 2 and 3 show a second embodiment of the container or piping connection mechanism of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows the connection mechanism between the container 1 and the valve box 2 in this embodiment, and Figure 3 shows the connection support cover 11 used in the connection mechanism between the container 1 and the valve box 2 in Figure 2.

The connection mechanism between the container 1 and the valve box 2 in this embodiment shown in the figure has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, but in this embodiment, a ring gasket 12 is fitted into the fitting grooves formed in the connection supports 7 and 8, and the connection 5 of the tube member 3 of the container 1 and the connection 6 of the tube member 4 of the valve box 2 are fixed by welding all around, from the outer surface to the inner surface of both connections 5, 6, and in this embodiment, after welding the connection 5 of the tube member 3 of the container 1 and the connection 6 of the tube member 4 of the valve box 2, the connection supports 7, 8 are sandwiched between semi-disk-shaped connection support covers 11, and when the connection supports 7, 8 are sandwiched between the connection support covers 11, the semi-disk-shaped connection support covers 11 are connected using bolts 13 as shown in FIG. 3.

By tightening the semi-disk-shaped connection support cover 11 with the bolts 13, the ring gasket 12 can be crushed by surface pressure, thereby ensuring leak resistance.

With this configuration of the present embodiment, it goes without saying that the same effect as in embodiment 1 can be obtained, and although there is a possibility of small leaks at the welded joints 10 of the connections 5 and 6 of the connection supports 7 and 8, the connection support cover 11 and ring gasket 12 can further prevent leaks.

The fitting groove and ring gasket 12 described above are installed on the connection support 7, 8 side, but the same effect can be obtained by installing them on the weld support cover 11 side.

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the container or piping connection mechanism of the present invention. The embodiment shown in this figure is a connection mechanism between a container 1 and a valve box 2.

The connection mechanism between the container 1 and the valve box 2 in this embodiment shown in the figure has a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment, but in this embodiment, gaskets 15a and 15b are attached to the tube member 3 of the container 1 and the tube member 4 of the valve box 2, respectively, and a spacer 14 is installed between the gaskets 15a and 15b attached to the tube member 3 of the container 1 and the tube member 4 of the valve box 2.

With this configuration of the present embodiment, not only can the same effects as in the first embodiment be obtained, but even if the welded portion 10 is slightly broken, the gaskets 15a, 15b and the spacer 14 can prevent fluid leakage from the piping (welded portion 10).

Figure 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the container or piping connection mechanism of the present invention. The embodiment shown in this figure is a connection mechanism between a container 1 and a valve box 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the connection parts 5 and 6 of the tube member 3 of the vessel 1 and the tube member 4 of the valve box 2 are connected by a welded part 10. Furthermore, a connection part support 7 is provided on the tube member 4 of the valve box 2, and a bolt hole 1b is drilled in the wall of the vessel 1. The connection part support 7 is fixed by inserting a bolt 9 into the bolt hole 1b drilled in the wall of the vessel 1.

In FIG. 5, the connection support 7 is provided on the pipe member 4 of the valve box 2, a bolt hole 1b is drilled in the wall of the container 1, and the connection support 7 is fixed by inserting a bolt 9 into the bolt hole 1b drilled in the wall of the container 1; however, the connection support 7 may be provided on the pipe member 3 of the container 1, a bolt hole is drilled in the wall of the valve box 2, and the connection support 7 may be fixed by inserting a bolt 9 into the bolt hole drilled in the wall of the valve box 2.

With this configuration of the present embodiment, it goes without saying that the same effects as in embodiment 1 can be obtained, and the connection mechanism between the container 1 and the valve box 2 is simplified compared to embodiment 1.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes various modified examples. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all of the configurations described. It is also possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. It is also possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations.

1...container, 1a...nozzle part of container, 1b...bolt hole, 2...valve box, 3...tube member of container, 4...tube member of valve box, 5...connection part of tube member of container, 6...connection part of tube member of valve box, 7, 8...connection part support, 9, 13...bolt, 10...weld part, 11...connection part support cover, 12...ring gasket, 15a, 15b...gasket, 14...spacer.

Claims (3)

A container or pipe connection mechanism in which axially protruding portions of two containers or pipes are butted together and the butted portions are connected by welding,
A connection support is provided near the connection of the axially protruding portions of the two containers or pipes, facing each other across the welded portion, and a bolt is provided on the outer periphery of the facing connection support to fasten the facing connection support to each other;
The connection supports provided to face each other are fastened by a plurality of the bolts provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction,
The connection portion of the axially protruding portion of the container or piping is a pipe member integral with the container at a portion extending in the axial direction from a nozzle portion of the container, and a pipe member integral with the valve box at a portion extending in the axial direction from the valve box,
The connection portion supports provided to face each other are fixed to the tube member of the container and the tube member of the valve box by drilling holes in the tube member of the container and the tube member of the valve box, respectively, that do not radially penetrate the tube member of the container and the tube member of the valve box, and inserting the connection portion supports provided to face each other into each of the holes ;
A container or piping connection mechanism characterized in that a gasket is attached to each of the connection supports fixed to the pipe member of the container and the pipe member of the valve box so as to be adjacent to and facing the connection support, and a spacer is installed between the gaskets attached so as to face each other . 2. The container or piping connection mechanism according to claim 1 ,
A container or piping connection mechanism characterized in that the connection support is connected to a position at least 2T or more away from the welded portion of the pipe member of the container and the pipe member of the valve box, respectively (wherein T is the thickness of the pipe member of the valve box or the pipe member of the container). 3. The container or piping connection mechanism according to claim 2 ,
A container or piping connection mechanism characterized in that the height of the connection support from the container pipe member or the valve box pipe member is D/10 or more, where "D" is the outer diameter dimension of the container pipe member or the valve box pipe member.

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