Flow interruption means attachable to fluid-filled tubular¹pipe at any point

Start of patent period: 1980 11 15 Longest possible duration:

© Issued on: igsi 06 25 © inventor:

© Dependency: '© Pamphlets considered to delineate the state of the art:

DE-CS 2458876

Nr.362971

- 2 The invention relates to a method for reducing or interrupting a media flow through a pipe and an apparatus for performing the method, with the aid of a hydraulic or pneumatic medium, preferably an ignition charge.

It is already known to use various types of valve devices for reducing or interrupting media flow through a pipeline. However, such valves can only be attached to the pipe when the pipe is being laid or no medium is passed therethrough, unless the nature and the flow and pressure characteristics of the medium to be passed allow the pipe to be leaked during the time in which a part of the same removed and the valve is used for it. This installation method can be used only in cases where low pressures and flow rates occur and when the nature of the medium and the environment in which the pipeline is laid allow a method of installation associated with leakage of the pipe.

For the connection of a branch pipe to a continuous, liquid or gas lead15 of the conveying pipe has become known from DE-OS 2458876 a device consisting of two attachable to the conveyor pipe connecting parts, wherein the branch pipe is arranged on the one of the two connecting parts. To produce the connection between the branch pipe and the conveying pipe, a part of the wall of the conveying pipe is removed by means of a piston, which is displaceably arranged in a guide channel running transversely to the conveying pipe. This device allows the connection of a branch pipe even if there is a medium flowing through this in the delivery pipe. However, a reduction or interruption of the media flow through the delivery pipe is not possible with this known device.

The object of the invention, in contrast, is to provide a method and a device with which a continuous flow of media through a pipe regardless of type,

Pressure and Durchströmgeschwxndigkeit the medium can be reduced or interrupted.

According to the invention opposite wall sections of the pipe with two preferably parallel movable elements whose running direction is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline, removed, whereupon another element, the running direction preferably transverse to the direction of the parallel elements and the longitudinal axis of the pipeline ver30, forward and through at least one of the parallel elements and the pipeline is driven through and at the same time or thereafter placed in sealing engagement with the inner wall of the pipeline between the parallel elements.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises two substantially parallel pistons, whose internal distance between adjacent outer surfaces is equal to or less than the inner diameter of the pipeline, the pistons, by advancing towards the pipeline, removing two opposite wall parts of the pipeline, and that a further piston is provided, which is moved after completion of the first movement in the direction of the pipeline and the piston fixed in the pipeline, whose movement is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the parallel piston and the longitudinal axis of the pipeline 40, wherein the longitudinal axis of the further piston preferably perpendicular to the central axis of the pipeline,and that after passing through at least one of the parallel pistons of the pipeline and at least part of the second parallel piston, the further piston wholly or partly prevents the flow of media past the further piston projecting through the pipeline.

The interruption can be carried out according to the invention with minimal expenditure of time effectively and without leaking the pipeline, the point of interruption can be chosen arbitrarily, without the pipeline must be shut down, ie, in cases where a temporary UntIt may well be achieved if the media flow is to be disrupted. It is thus apparent that the method and apparatus according to the invention find a very wide field of application, for example for interrupting a media flow, such as oil and / or natural gas, which seeps out of the pipelines of a drilling rig. In this way, damage caused by the leakage can be prevented and oil and gas fires can be effectively extinguished by removing the oil and gas stream from the well under No. 362971

- 3 will break. Further uses of the invention are, for example, the blocking of a pipe, for example a hot water supply pipe to a Heizradiator, eg in one

Apartment, for the purpose of installing a flow meter at a location before or after the breakpoint. In this way it is possible, various types of measuring devices or

To install counters, for example, for measuring the hot water or heating consumption in already laid pipelines, without having to interrupt the operation of the piping system.

Further details of the invention will become apparent upon reference to the drawings, in which some embodiments of devices according to the invention are shown, wherein the device according to the invention is provided in conjunction with an inner tube which is enveloped by a cladding tube dar10. Such double tubes are generally used for the transport of oil and / or natural gas from drilling rigs, wherein the inner tube is the actual delivery pipe for the oil and / or gas flow. It must be emphasized, however, that the method according to the invention and the device according to the invention can also be used in conjunction with a simple tube without a second jacket tube.

2 shows a side view of a device according to the invention mounted on a vertical pipeline, FIG. 2 in a first, partly the flow reducing position, Figure 4 shows a part of the device shown in Figure 3 in a corresponding cross section, wherein the flow through the inner tube for

Figure 5 is a cross-section of a somewhat modified embodiment of the device according to the invention in a position in which the media flow through the inner tube is partially interrupted, Figure 6 is a cross section corresponding to Figure 5, wherein the media flow interrupted by the inner tube entirely 7 shows a cross section through a further embodiment of the device according to the invention in a position in which the medium flow is partially interrupted, Figure 8 shows a cross section corresponding to Figure 7, wherein the media flow is completely interrupted by the inner tube, Fig.9 a longitudinal section of the embodiment according to Fig.7, Fig.10 shows a longitudinal section of the embodiment according to Fig.8 and Fig.11 partially in cross section, another embodiment of a device according to the invention immediately before a substantial reduction of the cross-sectional area of ​​the pipeline is achieved.

The reference numerals -1 and 2- of the figures indicate two housing parts, which by means of

Screw or bolt connection or the like. can be connected to each other so that in the illustrated embodiment, the cladding tube -3- of this and an inner tube -4- existing pipe sealingly surround, wherein the inner tube -4- serves as a delivery pipe for the media flow to be interrupted. For simplicity, the Gehäusetei35 le -1, 2- were indicated with similar cross-sectional lines and no particular dividing lines drawn. However, such a dividing line between the two housing parts, for example, in Figs.l and 2 can be seen, where connecting flanges are shown. Here, the dividing line passes through the housing -1, 2- along the dividing line for these flanges. The housing -1, 2- extends in the direction of the pipeline and has perpendicular to this direction two parallel, preferably cylindrical guide channels -5, 5'- for two parallel pistons -6, 6'-, which are arranged in the guide channels -5, 5'- movable. The distance between the guide channels -5, 5'- is dimensioned so that the distance between the adjacent peripheral parts is smaller than the inner diameter of the inner tube -4-. The facing away from the cladding tube -3- and the inner tube -4- open parts of the guide channels -5, 5'- are shown in the

Embodiments closed by a closure cap -7-, which is also divided along the dividing line mentioned above. Between the parallel pistons -6, 6'- and the closure cap -7- at least one ignition charge -8- is provided, which can be ignited with a through the cap -7- projecting trigger device -9-. Depending on the type of ignition required, a mechanical, electrical or any other detonator can be used.

Substantially perpendicular to the through the housing -1, 2- extending guide channels -5, 5'- extends a tubular cylindrical portion -10- of the of the cladding tube -3- and the inner tube -4- existing pipeline away, the longitudinal axis this part -10-

Nr.362971

- 4 corresponds to the center axis of the pipeline. The tubular part -10- encloses another

Piston -11- and serves as a guide for this, with the end of the further piston -11- and a closure lid -13-, which is the open end of the tubular tube facing away from the tube consisting of the cladding tube -3- and the inner tube -4- cylindrical Tei5 les -10- hermetically sealed, another ignition charge -12- is arranged. Again, on the cap -13- a trigger device -14- provided for the primer.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Fig.l to 4, in Figs.l and 2, the cladding tube -3- enclosed by the device according to the invention, wherein the attachment is made such that the housing part -1- and the tubular cylindrical

Part -10- by means of screws, bolts or the like. connected to the other housing part -2-.

In Fig.2, the parallel pistons -6, 6'- and the other piston -11- in abutment with the associated closure cap -7, 13- are shown. The from the cladding tube -3- and the inner tube -4- existing pipe facing ends of the two parallel pistons -6, 6'- are concave or otherwise formed such that an easy removal of the pipe material at the point of impact of the piston on the Cladding tube -3- and the inner tube -4- is made possible. By exciting the first tripping device -9-, the squibs -8- which face away from the ends of the parallel pistons -6, 6 '- which face away from the tubular tube -3- and the inner tube -4- will be arranged. ignited. The parallel pistons -6, 6 ' - Are thereby driven at high speed in the direction of the sheath -3- and the inner tube -4- forward. When the front parts of the parallel pistons -6, 6 'meet the cladding tube -3- and the inner tube -4-, two opposite wall parts thereof are removed. The parallel pistons -8, 6'- are further provided with through holes -15, 15'- whose central axis substantially coincides with the central axis of the further Kol25 bens -11- in the tubular cylindrical portion -10-, when the parallel piston - 6, 6'- have finished their movement.

Then the second trigger device -14- is energized and the ignition charge -12- ignited in the tubular cylindrical portion -10-, whereby the piston -11- in the tubular cylindrical portion -10- at high speed in the direction of the cladding tube -3-, Innen30 tube -4-, the parallel piston -6, 6'- and thus also through the cladding tube -3- and the inner tube -4- is driven, so that the flow area is partially reduced, as shown in Figure 3 can be seen. According to this embodiment of the device according to the invention, the parallel pistons --6, 6'- are connected to their ends facing away from the cladding tube -3- and the inner tube -4- existing pipe ends, which Verbin35 düng partly serves to the axis of the holes -15, 15'- in the parallel pistons -6, 6 '

From Figure 3 is further seen that the transverse piston -11- at its end of the tube of the -3- and the inner tube -4- existing pipe facing end 40 is formed. Subsequent to the sharpened portion, there follows a cylindrical portion surrounded by a resilient gasket 16 of flexible, compressible material, the gasket 16 being interposed between the tapered portion of the piston 11 and a second tubular member 17 is, which is fastened in the embodiment shown by means of screw thread on the piston -11-.

Once the parallel pistons -6,6'- have been brought into a locked position both with respect to each other and with respect to the sheath -3- and inner tube -4-, the tubular cylindrical portion -10- may be removed, such as 4, whereupon the tubular element -17- can be rotated by means of a tool relative to the transverse piston -11-, thereby first moving the tubular element -17- in the direction of the pointed part of the piston -11- becomes. As a result, the piston -11- surrounding elastic seal -16- is compressed and thus the remaining cross-sectional area of ​​the inner tube -4- completely closed, whereby the media flow through the inner tube -4- is completely interrupted.

Nr.362971

Optionally, the original flow-through capacity through the inner tube -4- can also be restored by retracting the transverse piston -11-. For this purpose, first the elastic gasket -16- is brought to its original shape by screwing the tubular element -17- in the direction of the front pointed part of the Kol5 bens -11-, after which the piston -11- is completely removed. At the same time, the parallel pistons -6,6'- are brought into a reciprocal angular position by a rotational movement, which prevents the bores -15,15'-located in the parallel pistons -6,6'- from being connected to the inner tube -4-. stay in contact. The resulting reduction in the cross-sectional area of ​​the inner tube -4- is so insignificant

It must further be emphasized that according to the invention, a very good anchoring of the device in the -3- and the inner tube -4- consisting of the tube existing pipe is ensured. When the parallel pistons -6, 6'- are triggered, a very good resistance to the cladding tube -3- and the inner tube -4- is achieved. If the transverse Kol15 ben -11- activated, such anchoring is achieved that the device is held regardless of the pressure and the speed of a medium flowing through in position. The device is also very suitable for installation in oil and gas lines, because of the

Lack of oxygen during attachment no danger of explosion exists.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4 is based on the use of a resilient, compressible seal -16- in conjunction with a threaded tubular element -17- to achieve a perfect interruption of the inner tube -4-. Another embodiment is shown in Figures 5 and 6. Here, the transverse piston -11- has a smaller diameter portion formed by two conical surfaces -18-, again using a tubular, resilient, compressible seal -16-25. According to this embodiment, the tubular elastic seal -16- is provided with stops which prevent it from being moved beyond a predetermined position. With continued movement of the piston -11- the elastic seal -16- expands in the inner tube -4-,

A further embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in Figures 7 to 10, wherein the transverse piston -11- with two sealing valve parts -19, 19'- is formed, the mutually facing surfaces via a channel -20- in the interior of the transversely extending piston -11- with a pressure medium, such as a hy35 draulic or pneumatic medium, are in communication. Optionally, this channel -20- may be arranged so as to communicate with the region behind the end of the transverse piston -11- facing away from the sheath -3- and the inner tube -4-, with the combustion gases in that region being pressurized produce, through which the sealing valve parts -19, 19'- pressed against the inner wall of the inner tube -4-. It is obvious40 that in this embodiment, if appropriate, a slight return of the sealing valve parts -19, 19'- in an enclosed by the transverse piston -11- position is possible, for example by connecting the channel -20- to a vacuum source or the like. The sealing valve parts -19, 19'- can also be retracted by turning the transverse piston -11-, whereby first on one of the sealing valve parts -19- of the medium in the inner tube -4- pressure is exerted, followed by another rotation to about 180 ° and the second valve part -19'- is returned.

The embodiments described above serve as examples of various methods for achieving a complete break as soon as the transverse piston -11- has completed its forward movement. However, it is clear that there are other ways to achieve this interruption without the need for further examples. Fig. 11 shows an alternative to the arrangement of the parallel piston -6, 6 '-, in which a guide and a corresponding forward movement of the piston completely unnecessary. According to this embodiment, the parallel pistons -6, 6'- are relatively thin-walled

- 6 No. 362971

Outer walls -21, 21'- on the forward relatively strong, provided with cutting wall portions -22, 22'- for the removal of two opposite wall parts of the cladding tube -3- and the inner tube -4- have. Furthermore, floors -23, 23'- are provided, which serve as effective area for the gases produced during ignition. However, these soils -23, 23'-can also be left out in many cases. After ignition of the primer, the transversely extending piston -11- is driven through the thin-walled outer walls -21, 21 'of the parallel pistons. Accordingly, the provided in the embodiments according to the Fig.l to 10 holes -15, 15'- and the guide elements for the parallel piston -6, 6'- in this embodiment are not required.

All of the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings relate to devices for use with pipes consisting of a cladding tube -3- and an inner tube -4- 15, the inner tube -4- being the actual transport tube for the medium. This is because the method and apparatus for carrying it out are particularly well suited to interrupting oil or gas flow in a faulty underwater pipeline, since the apparatus is both automatic and manual given that it consists of two interconnectable parts attached to the pipeline can the 2020.

Although no example has been given of the attachment of a device according to the invention to a single tube, which in and of itself is simpler, the device according to the invention can obviously also be used for such single tubes. This fact can be easily illustrated by considering the cladding tube -3- as the outer wall of a single tube, from which it can be seen that the method according to the invention and the device according to the invention can also be used for this purpose without further modification.

Especially in connection with only simple tubes could be provided means by which the wall parts between the parallel piston -6, 6'- would be compressed in the direction of each other 30, wherein the pressing pressure may be relatively low. In this way, corresponding outer surfaces of the transverse piston could effect a direct complete sealing and interruption of the media flow, preferably with a smaller portion of the compressed tube walls being adapted to or removed from the transverse piston shape.