JPS597879B2 - Conduit sealing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sealing device for conduits such as pipes and ducts of equipment.

An example of a conventional sealing device is a method of supplying pressurized air to a pressure chamber surrounded by two expandable seal members to improve the sealing effect.

This method results in half or complete loss of sealing effectiveness when the air source pressure of the inflatable seal member is destroyed.

In addition, as another conventional example, when welding a submerged pipe from inside the pipe, the outside of both ends are covered with an outer pipe, and two tubes are provided at the ends of the outer pipe in close contact with the outer periphery of the pipe. The first seal was created by inflating the tubes, then asphalt was filled between the tubes to ensure completeness, and then the tubes were welded together.

This method is suitable when the sealing mechanism is not removed after welding, but it has the disadvantage that it cannot be used when the sealing mechanism is temporarily sealed and the sealing mechanism is removed after the purpose is achieved.

The present invention was made in an attempt to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional example. For example, by blocking the inlet nozzle of a steam generator in a nuclear power plant, work inside the steam generator can be performed even when water is filled inside the reactor core. A cap-shaped flexible diaphragm consisting of a flange part in contact with the wall and a web in contact with the pipe at the end of the conduit, a blind flange (supporting member) inserted into the diaphragm, and the diaphragm and the blind flange. an annular tube filled with a compressible fluid of the first seal and an annular tube of the second seal filled with a high viscosity fluid interposed in the space between them; and means for bringing the blind flange into close contact with the wall of the end of the conduit. It has been established.

Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG.
When working inside tank 1 by closing the cock or valve with water filled in tank 1, blind flange 1
4 must be attached to conduit 3.

Normally, the manhole 15 provided in the tank 1 is smaller in diameter than the conduit 3, so it is difficult to carry parts into it.

Furthermore, if the tank 1 is in a radiation environment such as a steam generator in a nuclear power plant, shortening the working time inside the tank is a serious problem.

The present invention satisfies these requirements and is shown in Fig. 2 a1 Fig. 2 b
1 This will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 2a shows the conduit 3 and blind flange (support member) 5 of FIG. 1 in detail.

A substantially hat-shaped diaphragm 6 having a flange portion is inserted into the end of the conduit 3, and a blind flange 5 is further inserted into the diaphragm 6.

The blind flange 5 is smaller than the inner diameter of the conduit 3 and has a space 8 between it and the diaphragm 6.

The blind flange 5 is made of a divided block to be inserted through the manhole, and between the protrusion 5' of the blind flange 5 in the space 8 and the diaphragm 6 is an annular first seal that can be filled with a compressible fluid. At least two tubes 7 are provided, and a second seal annular tube 11 filled with a highly viscous fluid is fitted in between.

The bar-like support beams 16 are used to press the diaphragm 6 and the blocked blind flange 5 against the wall 10, and as shown in FIG. By driving a wedge 17 into a gap between a claw metal fitting 18 fixed to a wall 10, the wedge 17 is brought into close contact with the wall 10 by a reaction force.

This support structure has a bar shape, a wedge 17, and a claw metal fitting 18.
The method is not limited to this, and other methods may be used instead of bolts as long as they can be fixed in a short time.

Furthermore, the blind flange 5 was made into a block because it was divided into parts for delivery and assembly, and it may be made into one piece if it is possible to carry it in.

In FIG. 2, the blind flange 5 is shown installed horizontally, but when it is facing downward, it is held by its own weight and the core is automatically drawn out by later inflating the tube.

In the case of upward mounting, before driving the wedge 17, temporarily place each block of the blind flange 5 and the bar-shaped support beam 16 on the nail, pressurize the tube slightly, push it in when the friction force of the tube is generated, and then tighten the wedge. Use a method such as typing 17.

The blocks of the blind flange 5 are only assembled like building blocks, are not airtight, and have a structure that supports water pressure.

Therefore, the water seal is provided by the diaphragm 6 covering the outer surface of the diaphragm 6.

There is a large space 8 between this blind flange 5 and the diaphragm 6.

The seal inflates the tube 7 that goes in between, supports the blind flange 5 and the tube wall, and then the tube 7 connects to the diaphragm 6.
The tube 7 can be handled freely by removing air etc. until the blind flange 5 is assembled.

One of the features of the present invention is that the first
The flexible annular tube 7 of the seal and the flexible annular tube 11 filled with a highly viscous fluid are used together.

The work of installing the blind flange 5 and others must be completed as soon as possible.

Therefore, air, gas, etc. are suitable for the tube.

In addition, although in principle the purpose of sealing can be achieved with just the gas tube, the pressure decreases quickly if the pressurized gas source is lost.

On the other hand, since the tube 11 filled with highly viscous fluid is a backup, it may be pressurized slowly even while the water pressure is increasing.

In other words, although the idea of using a gas tube is usually considered, there was an obstacle in finding a backup means.

Furthermore, a feature of the present invention is that leakage due to fluid pressure applied to the right side 9 of the blind flange 5 in FIG. This is prevented by the configuration of the tube 7 that is in contact with q.

Although this alone is sufficient to achieve the purpose of sealing, sealing is achieved by injecting pressurized fluid into tube 7, but in the unlikely event that there is a leak from the pressurized source of this fluid or other system paths. Assuming a situation in which the pressure decreases due to the diaphragm 6 and the flange protrusion, an annular tube 11 of another second seal (second
(Fig. a and Fig. 4), and inject a highly viscous fluid or a fluid that solidifies with temperature changes, such as water (changes to ice) or asphalt, into the tube, and then close the first seal as described above. The structure is designed to assist when the tube 7 loses its function.

As shown in FIG. 4, the method for solidifying or fluidizing the object inside the tube 11 of the second seal is to
3 or a thermocouple type freezing device.

The capacity of the device that provides the temperature change may be extremely small.

This is because the first seal is performed rapidly in tube 7.
The second seal is less urgent.

Furthermore, when removing the blind flange 5, the internal pressure of the tube 11 of the second seal only needs to be released by releasing a very small amount of fluid, and if asphalt is used, it is enough to simply melt the inlet of the tube. It is enough.

Tubes 7 and 11 of the first seal and '2nd seal
A fluid inflow or outflow conduit as shown in the lower part of FIG. 4 is provided at the end.

This tube may be a thin tube, and a hole or the like is provided in the gap or protrusion 5' when the blind flange 5 is made into a block, and it is connected from there to a pressurizing device (not shown) installed on the tank 1 side.

Although the above description assumes that the conduit 3 is circular, this sealing device is not limited to the shape of the conduit 3 or the tube shape, for example, the shape shown in FIG. Similar effects can be expected if the shape is appropriate for the purpose.

For example, in the case of a square duct, the difficult part is the corner, but if a plastic material is provided at the corner of the diaphragm 6, and a tube is pressed against the inside of the diaphragm 6, then For example, the tube can push the diaphragm 6 in an annular shape, and at the corners, it can be pressed along the shape of the wall.

Although some of the functions described above have also been explained, they will be further explained.

In FIG. 2a, fluid leakage in the right side 9 can be prevented by injecting pressurized fluid into the tube 7 through the diaphragm 6.
It is blocked by pushing it to 0.

This task is accomplished in a very short time.

As a countermeasure in case the pressing force of the tube 7 decreases, another tube 1 is inserted between the diaphragm 6, the tube 7, and the tube 7 in the space 8 surrounded by the protrusion 5'.
1, and by enclosing a highly viscous fluid therein or injecting a material that solidifies with temperature changes, the second sealing effect is exerted.

This second seal injection material needs to be softened before being taken out, and for this purpose a heater 13 (FIG. 4) or a thermocouple freezer (in the case of water) or the like is used in combination depending on the injection material.

Of course, the same effect can be obtained by enclosing a flowable fluid and partitioning it off with a cock or the like.

In addition, the blind flange 5 is provided to facilitate transportation and assembly.
It is divided into blocks.

They have a small profile when inserted, are easily assembled and installed, serve their sealing purpose well during use, and return to their initial compact or deformable state when removed after completion of the operation.

In addition, since there are no parts that can easily come loose, such as nuts, you can work with peace of mind.

The force of pushing the fluid from the right side 9 is first applied to the blind flange 5.
This blind flange is then supported by a bar-shaped support beam 1.
It is supported by being attached to the tank wall 10 at 6.

According to the sealing device according to the invention, the protrusion 5' of the cavity flange 5 is smaller than the inner diameter of the tank wall 10, and its precision is not so important, so that the fabrication of the structural parts and the accessory parts are deformable, so that small manholes can be used. 15, the blind flange 5 can be divided into 3 to 5 parts, and there is no need to create it with very strict tolerances, making it extremely easy and safe to handle.

The components may be lightweight, the blind flange has a manageable weight and shape, and it can be easily attached from the outside using a lever-like arm mechanism.

The most important thing is that by providing the second seal, the sealing function is maintained even in the unlikely event that the first seal fails.

The time-saving effect of the sealing device of the present invention will be described.

An example of an experiment was to close a conduit with a diameter of 800mm from a manhole with a diameter of 500mm, and it took 16 minutes from delivery to assembly using the 3-part blind flange type.

In contrast, the apparatus of the present invention was able to complete the process in 9 minutes. This 7-minute reduction is important from the perspective of radiation exposure, and if this work can be done remotely, it will be much more effective in terms of radiation exposure.

This time difference is the difference between the conventional method of centering and bolting, and the method of block laying and wedge driving.

The above-mentioned remote operation can be performed by inserting an arm that has the function of grasping the block and fitting it into a predetermined position from outside the tank, etc., to enable operation from outside the tank.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the location where the sealing device is installed, Figure 2 a
2b is a sectional view showing the configuration of the sealing device of the present invention, FIG. 2b is a front view thereof, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an example of the tube shape, and FIG. be. 1...tank, 2...pool, 3...
...Conduit, 5...Blind flange, 5'...
...Protrusion, 6...Diaphragm, 7...
...first seal annular tube, 8...space,
9... Right side, 10... Tank wall, 1
1...Second seal annular tube, 13...
・Sweater, 15... Manhole, 16...
...Bar-shaped support beam, 17...Wedge, 18
・・・・・・Claw metal fittings.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A hat-shaped flexible diaphragm having a web that contacts the inner surface of the guide path and a flange that contacts the end in a device that seals the end of a guide path provided in a narrow part; a support member having an annular protrusion inserted into the web and an outwardly extending part sandwiching the flange and facing the end; the support member is interposed between the annular protrusion and the web and is filled with a compressible fluid; at least two first flexible annular tubes, which are interposed between the first flexible annular tubes, and a second flexible annular tube that is fitted into the annular protrusion and filled with a highly viscous fluid. 1. A conduit sealing device comprising: a flexible annular tube; and means for fixing the support member to the end portion, the support member being able to be assembled in parts.