Arrangement for Separating a Connection Between Two Pressurized Flanged Tube Sections

• US 20190316724A1
• Filed: 08/18/2017
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IK Norway AS (IK Group AS)
• Original Assignee: IK Norway AS (IK Group AS)
• Inventors: Aamodt, Kjetil
• Granted Patent: US 11,149,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/0281 Guillotine or blade-type valves, e.g. no passage through the valve member
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 23/003 Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/06 making use of attaching means embracing the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/105 Closing devices introduced radially into the pipe or hose
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/18 Appliances for use in repairing pipes F16L55/10 takes precedence

Abstract

An arrangement is for separating a connection between two pressurized flanged tube sections. The arrangement comprises a first type element having a first body adapted to be arranged around a flange of a first tube section, and which first body comprising a first sealing arrangement, and a second type element comprising a second body adapted to be arranged around a flange of a second tube section, and which second body comprising a second sealing arrangement. The second type element further comprises a displaceable obstruction. The first and the second type elements are adapted to form a sealed compartment that allows the flanges of the tube sections to be displaced away from each other so that a gap is formed, which allows the obstruction to enter and isolate the second tube section.

Claims

1. An arrangement for separating a connection between two pressurized flanged tube sections, the arrangement comprising:

a first type element comprising a first body adapted to be arranged around a flange of a first tube section of said connection, and which first body comprising a first sealing arrangement,

a second type element comprising a second body adapted to be arranged around a flange of a second tube section of said connection, and which second body comprising a second sealing arrangement, and wherein the second type element further comprises a displaceable obstruction,

wherein the first type element and the second type element are adapted to form a sealed compartment between the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section, and the first sealing arrangement and the second sealing arrangement are adapted to maintain the sealing of the sealed compartment while allowing the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section to be displaced away from each other so that a gap is formed, which allows the obstruction to enter and isolate the second tube section.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing arrangement comprises a first sealing adapted to be in abutment with the flange of the first tube section and the second sealing arrangement comprises a second sealing adapted to be in abutment with the flange of the second tube section.

3. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the first sealing and the second sealing are ring-formed and are adapted to abut along the outer circumference of the flanges of the respective first tube section and second tube section.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second type element further comprises a guide member adapted to guide the displacement of the obstruction from an open position in which the obstruction is outside said gap between the flanges and a closed position in which the obstruction isolates an opening of the second tube section.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the guide member comprises a channel in the second body.

6. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the arrangement comprises an entrance to the channel for introducing the obstruction and a lock device for controllably closing and opening the entrance to the channel.

7. The arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the lock device comprises a further obstruction controllably displaceable into and out of the entrance to the channel for opening and closing the entrance to the channel.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement further comprises a cleansing tool adapted to be introduced into the gap between the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the cleansing tool comprises a structure holding one or more abrasive members for engaging with the at least one of the flanges of the first tube section and the second tube section.

10. The arrangement according to claim 5, wherein arrangement comprises a further guide member for guiding the introduction of the obstruction into the channel, which further guide member is adapted to be removable connected to the second type element.

11. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement further comprises a third sealing arrangement between the second and the obstruction.

12. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the third sealing arrangement comprises a pair of third sealings.

13. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first body comprises a first flanged part and the second body comprises a second flanged part, and the arrangement further comprises a connection assembly for connecting the first flange part and the second flanged part together adjustable spaced apart from each other.

14. The arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the first body comprises a protruding part adapted to protrude perpendicular to the extension of the first flanged part and the second body comprises a recess directed perpendicular to the extension of the second flanged part, wherein the shape of the protruding part and the shape of the recess are complementary for enabling displacement of the protruding part within the recess.

15. The arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the protruding part of the first body comprises a tubular element and the recess of the second body comprises a tubular depression.

16. The arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the arrangement comprises a fourth sealing arrangement positioned in abutment between a wall section of said protruding part and a wall section of said recess.

17. The arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the fourth sealing arrangement comprises a fourth ring-formed sealing.

18. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first body and the second body comprises respective openings for enabling removal of one or more bolts of a bolt assembly between the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section.

19. A method for separating a connection between two pressurized flanged tube sections by means of an arrangement comprising a first type element comprising a first body comprising a first sealing arrangement, and a second type element comprising a second body comprising a second sealing arrangement, and wherein the second type element further comprises a displaceable obstruction, wherein the method comprises:

arranging the arrangement on the connection so that the first type element is positioned around a flange of a first tube section and the second type element is positioned around a flange of a second tube section, and so that the first type element and the second type element form a sealed compartment between the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section,

arranging a connection assembly so that the first type element and second type element exert a force on the flanges of the first tube section and the second tube section,

removing one or more bolts of a bolt assembly between the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section,

displacing the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section away from each other so that a gap is formed within the sealed compartment between the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section, and

displacing the obstruction into the gap between the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section .

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

plugging one or more opening in in the flanges of the first tube section and the second tube section formed after the removal of the bolt assembly.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the method comprises:

arranging the first type element around a flange of a first tube section of said connection, and

arranging the second type element around a flange of a second tube section of said connection so that the first type element and the second type element form a sealed compartment between the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

disconnecting the connection assembly between the first type element and second type element,

separating the first type element from the second type element,

draining the first tube section and possible tube sections connected to the first tube section, and

removing the first tube section from the connection.

23. A method for re-establishing a connection of a first tube section to a pressurized isolated second tube section by means of an arrangement comprising a first type element comprising a first body with a first sealing arrangement, and a second type element comprising a second body with a second sealing arrangement, and wherein the second type element further comprises a displaceable obstruction, where the second type element is arranged around a flange of the second tube section, wherein the method comprises:

positioning the first tube section next to the second tube section,

arranging the first type element around a flange of the first tube section of said connection to be formed so that the first type element and the second type element forms a sealed compartment between the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section,

arranging a connection assembly for connecting the first type element and second type element together,

connecting one or more bolts to form a bolt assembly between the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section,

displacing the obstruction out of a gap between the flanges of the two tube sections), and

displacing the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section towards each other so that said gap formed between the flanges of the two tube sections is closed.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the method comprises:

removing one or more plugs from one or more opening in the flanges of the first tube section and the second tube section prior to connecting one or more bolts to form a bolt assembly between the flanges.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the method comprises:

tightening the bolt assembly between the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section, and

removing the first type element from the first tube section and the second type element from the second tube section.

26. A method for re-establishing a connection of a first tube section to a pressurized isolated second tube section by means of an arrangement comprising a first type element comprising a first body with a first sealing arrangement, and a second type element comprising a second body with a second sealing arrangement, and wherein the second type element further comprises a displaceable obstruction, where the first type element is positioned around a flange of a first tube section and the second type element is positioned around a flange of a second tube section so that the first type element and the second type element form a sealed compartment between the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

connecting one or more bolts to form a bolt assembly between the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section,

displacing the obstruction out of a gap between the flanges of the two tube sections, and

displacing the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section towards each other so that said gap formed between the flanges of the two tube sections is closed.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the method comprises:

removing one or more plugs from one or more opening in the flanges of the first tube section and the second tube section prior to connecting one or more bolts to form a bolt assembly between the flanges.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein the method comprises:

tightening the bolt assembly between the flange of the first tube section and the flange of the second tube section, and

removing the first type element from the first tube section and the second type element from the second tube section.

29. (canceled)