A bougie indicator

Abstract

The application discloses a ball passing indicator and relates to the technical field of instruments and meters. The ball passing indicator is novel and reasonable in structure, and comprises a ball valve, an indicator body and a telescopic driving assembly. When the indicator body needs to be disassembled, maintained or repaired, the indicator body is first adjusted from a detection state to a disassembly state through the telescopic driving assembly, and then the ball valve is closed to isolate the indicator body from the pipeline to be cleaned. Based on the isolation function of the ball valve, the second flange or the indicator body in the second flange can be disassembled and repaired at any time according to requirements while ensuring the normal operation of the pipeline to be cleaned, the working state of the pipeline to be cleaned does not need to be interrupted, damaged parts of the indicator can be repaired at any time, and the problem that damaged parts can be disassembled and removed only when the pipeline to be cleaned is stopped in the prior art mechanical ball passing indicator is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of instrumentation technology, and in particular to a ball-passing indicator. Background Technology

[0002] After prolonged use, oil and gas pipelines often accumulate impurities or waxy substances on their inner walls, necessitating the periodic cleaning of the pipeline interior using pipeline pigs. To monitor the pig's movement within the pipeline, a pigging indicator is typically installed to assist cleaning personnel. The pigging indicator is an essential piece of equipment in the pipeline cleaning and descaling process, accurately indicating whether the pig has passed a predetermined location, thus facilitating the smooth completion of the cleaning process.

[0003] Commonly used ball-passing indicators include mechanical pendulum ball-passing indicators and mechanical universal ball-passing indicators. Mechanical pendulum ball-passing indicators are directly installed on the pipeline, making installation difficult. The pendulum's swing direction must be consistent with the pipeline's axial orientation; otherwise, the indicator will not function. Furthermore, if internal components of the indicator are damaged, the pipeline pressure must be reduced to zero, meaning production must be stopped before the damaged parts can be removed and repaired. This not only affects pipeline transport efficiency but also shortens the indicator's lifespan. Mechanical universal ball-passing indicators are also directly installed on the pipeline, and the problem of requiring pipeline shutdown for repairs of damaged internal components also exists. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel ball-passing indicator whose internal parts can be disassembled and maintained at any time without adjusting the working state of the pipe to be cleaned. This solves the problem of existing mechanical ball-passing indicators that require the pipe to be shut down before damaged parts can be disassembled and removed.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following solution:

[0006] This invention provides a ball-passing indicator, comprising:

[0007] A ball valve has a first flange at one end for connecting to the pipeline to be cleaned, and a second flange at the other end; the ball valve is opened or closed to allow the first flange and the second flange to communicate with each other or to be separated from each other.

[0008] The indicator body is movably inserted into the second flange and is used to detect whether a pipeline cleaning device has passed through the pipeline to be cleaned.

[0009] A telescopic drive assembly is used to drive the indicator body to extend and retract relative to the second flange, so as to switch the indicator body between a detection state and a disassembly state; wherein, when the indicator body is in the detection state, the ball valve is open, and the detection end of the indicator body passes through the ball valve and the first flange in sequence and extends out of the first flange; when the indicator body is in the disassembly state, the ball valve is closed, the indicator body is located inside the second flange, and is isolated from the pipeline to be cleaned through the closed ball valve.

[0010] Optionally, the indicator body includes a meter head, an upper shaft assembly, and a lower shaft assembly arranged sequentially from top to bottom, wherein:

[0011] The meter head is located outside the second flange and is detachably connected to the second flange; a triggering device is provided on the meter head;

[0012] The upper shaft assembly includes an upper hollow shaft, a push rod movably inserted into the upper hollow shaft, and a push rod reset component. The top end of the push rod extends through the top end of the upper hollow shaft and is used to contact the triggering device. A first magnet is provided at the bottom end of the push rod. The push rod reset component is used to drive the push rod to reset in a direction away from the triggering device.

[0013] The lower shaft assembly includes a lower hollow shaft, a connecting rod movably inserted into the lower hollow shaft, and a connecting rod reset component. The top end of the lower hollow shaft is detachably connected to the bottom end of the upper hollow shaft. The connecting rod is located below the first magnet, and a second magnet is provided at the top end of the connecting rod. The second magnet is spaced apart from the first magnet, and the second magnet and the first magnet have the same poles facing each other. A universal pin is provided at the bottom end of the connecting rod extending outside the lower hollow shaft. The universal pin is used to sense whether a pig has passed through the pipe to be cleaned, and rotates when the pig passes through to drive the connecting rod to move upward, thereby using the principle of like poles repulsion of magnets to drive the push rod to move upward and touch the triggering device. The connecting rod reset component is used to drive the connecting rod to reset in a direction away from the push rod.

[0014] Optionally, the upper hollow shaft includes a top flange, an upper shaft sleeve, and a hollow upper shaft arranged sequentially from top to bottom. The outer wall of the upper shaft sleeve is provided with a sliding sealing ring. The top end of the hollow upper shaft is detachably connected to the bottom end of the upper shaft sleeve, and the bottom end of the hollow upper shaft is detachably connected to the top end of the lower hollow shaft. The inner wall of the hollow upper shaft is provided with a first limiting step, the first magnet is located below the first limiting step, and the push rod reset component is disposed between the first limiting step and the first magnet.

[0015] Optionally, the upper sleeve is further provided with an observation hole and a strip guide groove, wherein:

[0016] The observation hole is used to indicate that the universal pendulum needle has been lifted above the ball valve by the telescopic drive assembly along with the indicator body;

[0017] The strip guide groove is arranged along the axial direction of the upper shaft sleeve, and the side wall of the second flange is provided with a protruding structure that is slidably adapted to the strip guide groove.

[0018] Optionally, the lower hollow shaft includes a lower shaft and a lower shaft sleeve arranged sequentially from top to bottom. A partition is provided inside the lower shaft to divide the interior of the lower shaft into an upper receiving cavity and a lower receiving cavity along the axial direction. The upper receiving cavity is used to accommodate the first magnet, and the lower receiving cavity is used to accommodate the second magnet. The connecting rod reset member is disposed between the partition and the second magnet. The outer wall of the lower shaft is provided with the sliding sealing ring. The lower shaft sleeve is detachably connected to the bottom end of the lower shaft.

[0019] Optionally, the hollow upper shaft and the lower shaft, as well as the lower shaft and the lower shaft sleeve, are all threaded connections.

[0020] Optionally, the telescopic drive assembly is disposed on the second flange, and the telescopic drive assembly is a hydraulic cylinder, an electric telescopic rod, or a pneumatic cylinder.

[0021] Optionally, the telescopic drive component includes:

[0022] The lifting nut is rotatably mounted on the top of the second flange via a ball bearing assembly or bearing;

[0023] A threaded rod segment is provided on the top outer wall of the upper hollow shaft, and the threaded rod segment is threadedly engaged with the lifting nut;

[0024] A nut rotation drive is used to drive the lifting nut to rotate, so that the upper hollow shaft moves up and down relative to the lifting nut.

[0025] Optionally, the gauge head is detachably connected to the top of the lifting nut via a connecting flange, and both ends of the connecting flange are provided with sealing rings.

[0026] Optionally, the nut rotation drive is a manual drive handle disposed on the outer periphery of the lifting nut; or, the nut rotation drive is an electric drive connected to the lifting nut.

[0027] The present invention achieves the following technical effects compared to the prior art:

[0028] The ball-passing indicator proposed in this invention has a novel and reasonable structure, comprising a ball valve, an indicator body, and a telescopic drive assembly. When it is necessary to disassemble, repair, or maintain the indicator body, the telescopic drive assembly is first used to adjust the indicator body from the detection state to the disassembly state. Then, the ball valve is closed to isolate the indicator body from the pipeline to be cleaned. Based on the isolation effect of the ball valve, the indicator body can be disassembled and maintained at any time as needed, while ensuring normal operation within the pipeline to be cleaned, without interrupting the operation of the pipeline to be cleaned. This allows for the repair of damaged parts of the indicator at any time, solving the problem that existing mechanical ball-passing indicators require the pipeline to be shut down before damaged parts can be disassembled and removed. Attached Figure Description

[0029] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the ball-passing indicator disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ball-passing indicator in the detection state as disclosed in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged structural diagram at point A;

[0033] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Enlarged structural diagram at point B;

[0034] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ball-passing indicator disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention when it is in a disassembled state;

[0035] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Enlarged structural diagram at point C;

[0036] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the upper hollow shaft in the upper shaft assembly disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the DD cross-sectional structure;

[0038] Figure 9This is a schematic diagram of the push rod in the upper shaft assembly disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the lower shaft assembly disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the header structure disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the universal pendulum when no pig passes through, as disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the universal pendulum needle when a pigging device passes through, as disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] The attached figures are labeled as follows:

[0044] 100. Ball passing indicator;

[0045] 1. Ball valve; 11. Valve body; 12. Ball; 13. Valve stem handle;

[0046] 2. Indicator body; 21. Meter head; 211. Trigger screw; 22. Upper shaft assembly; 221. Top flange; 222. Upper shaft sleeve; 2221. Observation hole; 2222. Strip guide groove; 223. Hollow upper shaft; 2231. First limiting step; 224. Push rod; 2241. Upper top seat; 2242. Push rod tube; 2243. Lower connecting seat; 225. Push rod reset part; 226. First magnet; 227. First magnet fixing bolt; 23. Lower shaft assembly; 231. Lower shaft; 2311. Partition plate; 2312. Upper receiving cavity; 2313. Lower receiving cavity; 232. Lower shaft sleeve; 2321. Penetrating pin through hole; 233. Connecting rod; 234. Connecting rod reset piece; 235. Second magnet; 236. Universal penetrating pin; 2361. Outer protruding edge; 237. Second magnet fixing bolt; 24. Sliding sealing ring;

[0047] 3. First flange;

[0048] 4. Second flange;

[0049] 5. Raise and lower nuts;

[0050] 6. Ball bearing assembly; 61. Ball bearing; 62. Sealing screw;

[0051] 7. Connecting flange;

[0052] 8. Raised structure; 81. Guide screw; 82. Locking nut;

[0053] 9. Sealing ring. Detailed Implementation

[0054] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0055] One of the objectives of this invention is to provide a novel ball-passing indicator whose internal parts can be disassembled and maintained at any time without adjusting the working state of the pipe to be cleaned. This solves the problem of existing mechanical ball-passing indicators that require the pipe to be shut down before damaged parts can be disassembled and removed.

[0056] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0057] Example 1

[0058] like Figures 1-10 As shown, this embodiment provides a pigging indicator 100, mainly composed of a ball valve 1, an indicator body 2, and a telescopic drive assembly. One end of the ball valve 1 is provided with a first flange 3 for connecting to the pipeline to be cleaned, and the other end is provided with a second flange 4. Generally, the pipeline to be cleaned is arranged horizontally, and the pigging indicator 100 is located above the pipeline. At this time, the bottom end of the ball valve 1 can be connected to the corresponding flange on the pipeline to be cleaned through the first flange 3, and the second flange 4 is located at the top of the ball valve 1. The first flange 3 and the second flange 4 can be connected or separated by controlling the opening or closing of the ball valve 1. The indicator body 2 is movably inserted into the second flange 4 to detect whether a pig has passed through the pipeline to be cleaned. The telescopic drive assembly is used to drive the indicator body 2 to extend and retract relative to the second flange 4, so that the indicator body 2 switches between a detection state and a disassembly state. Taking the pigging indicator 100 already installed at the corresponding position on the pipeline to be cleaned through the first flange 3 as an example... Figures 2-4 The diagram shows the structure of the indicator body 2 in the detection state. The ball valve 1 is open, and the detection end of the indicator body 2 passes through the ball valve 1 and the first flange 3, extending beyond the first flange 3. At this time, the detection end of the indicator body 2 is located inside the pipeline to be cleaned, allowing detection of whether a pipeline cleaning tool has passed through the pipeline. Figures 5-6The diagram shows the structure of the indicator body 2 in the disassembled state. At this time, the ball valve 1 is closed, and the ball valve 1 of the ball indicator 100 is still connected to the pipeline to be cleaned through the first flange 3. However, the indicator body 2 is lifted into the second flange 4 by the telescopic drive assembly. The detection end of the indicator body 2 is located above the ball valve 1. Based on the isolation effect of the ball valve 1 in the closed state, the second flange 4 or the indicator body 2 inside it can be disassembled and maintained at any time as needed while ensuring normal operation in the pipeline to be cleaned. There is no need to interrupt the working state of the pipeline to be cleaned. This enables the repair of damaged parts at any time and solves the problem that existing mechanical ball indicators require the pipeline to be shut down before damaged parts can be disassembled and removed.

[0059] In this embodiment, as Figures 2 to 10 As shown, the indicator body 2 includes a meter head 21, an upper shaft assembly 22, and a lower shaft assembly 23 arranged sequentially from top to bottom. The meter head 21 is located outside the second flange 4 and is detachably connected to the second flange 4 by means of bolts, plug-in connections, etc., so as to obtain the passage status of the pipeline cleaning machine in the pipeline to be cleaned by observing the meter head 21. A triggering device is provided at the bottom of the meter head 21. The upper shaft assembly 22 includes an upper hollow shaft, a push rod 224 movably inserted into the upper hollow shaft, and a push rod reset component 225. The top end of the upper hollow shaft is usually connected to the telescopic drive assembly. The top end of the push rod 224 extends through the top end of the upper hollow shaft and is used to contact the trigger device of the meter head 21. A first magnet 226 is provided at the bottom end of the push rod 224. The push rod reset component 225 is used to drive the push rod 224 to reset in a direction away from the trigger device. The lower shaft assembly 23 includes a lower hollow shaft, a connecting rod 233 movably inserted into the lower hollow shaft, and a connecting rod reset component 234. The top end of the lower hollow shaft is detachably connected to the bottom end of the upper hollow shaft. The connecting rod 233 is located below the first magnet 226, and a second magnet 235 is provided at the top end of the connecting rod 233. The second magnet 235 and the first magnet 226 are arranged at intervals, with their poles facing each other. That is, the magnetic poles at their closest points are the same. A universal pin 236 extending out of the lower hollow shaft is provided at the bottom of the connecting rod 233. The universal pin 236 is used to insert into the pipe to be cleaned to sense whether a pig has passed through. When the pig passes through, it rotates to drive the connecting rod 233 upwards. This, in turn, utilizes the principle of magnetic repulsion to drive the push rod 224 upwards relative to the upper hollow shaft and touch the trigger device, causing the meter 21 to display a signal indicating that a pig has passed through the pipe. The connecting rod reset member 234 is used to drive the connecting rod 233 to reset in a direction away from the push rod 224. Both the second magnet 235 and the first magnet 226 are preferably permanent magnets, and they can be arranged with their N poles facing each other or their S poles facing each other.

[0060] In this embodiment, as Figure 11 As shown, a triggering device is provided at the bottom of the meter head 21. This triggering device includes a trigger screw 211 and related electronic components located inside the meter head 21. When a pipeline pig passes through the pipeline, the push rod 224 moves upward, and the upper seat 2241 touches the trigger screw 211. The trigger screw 211 then touches the related electronic components inside the meter head, and the electronic components generate an electrical signal. This signal is then converted and displayed on the meter head display screen. The aforementioned triggering device and triggering principle are existing technologies and will not be described in detail here.

[0061] In this embodiment, as Figures 5-9 As shown, the upper hollow shaft specifically includes, from top to bottom, a top flange 221, an upper shaft sleeve 222, and a hollow upper shaft 223. The top flange 221 is generally connected to the gauge head 21. At least one set of sliding sealing rings 24 is fitted onto the outer wall of the upper shaft sleeve 222. The top end of the hollow upper shaft 223 is detachably connected to the bottom end of the upper shaft sleeve 222 via a plug-in or threaded connection. The bottom end of the hollow upper shaft 223 is detachably connected to the top end of the lower hollow shaft via a plug-in or threaded connection. Furthermore, the inner wall of the hollow upper shaft 223 is provided with a first limiting step 2231. Figure 3 As shown, the first magnet 226 is located below the first limiting step 2231, and the push rod reset member 225 is disposed between the first limiting step 2231 and the first magnet 226. The push rod reset member 225 is preferably a spring, which is sleeved on the outer periphery of the push rod 224, and one axial end of the spring abuts (contacts but does not connect) or connects with the first limiting step 2231, and the other axial end abuts (contacts but does not connect) or connects with the end face of the first magnet 226 (i.e., the end face of the first magnet 226 facing away from the second magnet).

[0062] In this embodiment, the upper shaft sleeve 222 is also provided with an observation hole 2221 and a strip guide groove 2222. The observation hole 2221 is used to indicate that the universal pin 236 has been raised above the ball valve 1 along with the indicator body 2. The observation hole 2221 is generally located near the bottom of the upper shaft sleeve 222. When the lifting nut 5 rotates to drive the indicator body 2 to move upward relative to the second flange 4, when the observation hole 2221 just rises to the top port of the second flange 4 or slightly higher than the top port of the second flange 4, it indicates that the universal pin 236 has been raised above the ball valve 1 along with the indicator body 2. At this time, the ball valve 1 can be closed to disassemble or repair the indicator body 2. The strip-shaped guide groove 2222 is arranged axially along the upper sleeve 222. A protruding structure 8, which slides and adapts to the strip-shaped guide groove 2222, is provided on the side wall of the second flange 4. This protruding structure 8 includes a guide screw 81 and a locking nut 82. The guide screw 81 passes through the side wall of the second flange 4 and is located near the bottom of the second flange 4. The guide screw 81 is arranged radially along the second flange 4. The inner end of the guide screw 81 is slidably embedded in the strip-shaped guide groove 2222, and the outer end of the guide screw 81 is located outside the second flange 4. Its position is fixed by tightening with the locking nut 82. When the lifting nut 5 rotates to drive the indicator body 2 to move upward relative to the second flange 4, the guide screw 81 slides and engages with the strip-shaped guide groove 2222, providing guidance and ensuring that the indicator body 2 can move axially along the second flange 4 during its overall movement.

[0063] In this embodiment, the push rod 224 includes an upper top seat 2241, a push rod tube 2242, and a lower connecting seat 2243 arranged sequentially from top to bottom. The upper top seat 2241, push rod tube 2242, and lower connecting seat 2243 are all made of stainless steel and are preferably connected by welding. An internal thread is provided at the bottom of the lower connecting seat 2243, allowing the first magnet 226 to be detachably connected to the lower connecting seat 2243 via a first magnet fixing bolt 227. The first magnet 226 is preferably cylindrical and coaxially arranged with the push rod 224, and the outer diameter of the first magnet 226 is larger than the outer diameter of the push rod 224.

[0064] In this embodiment, as Figure 6 and Figure 10As shown, the lower hollow shaft includes a lower shaft 231 and a lower shaft sleeve 232 arranged sequentially from top to bottom. The lower shaft sleeve 232 is detachably connected to the bottom end of the lower shaft 231 by a plug-in or threaded connection. A partition 2311 is provided inside the lower shaft 231 to divide the interior of the lower shaft 231 axially into an upper receiving cavity 2312 and a lower receiving cavity 2313. The upper receiving cavity 2312 is used to accommodate the first magnet 226, and the lower receiving cavity 2313 is used to accommodate the second magnet 235. A connecting rod reset member 234 is disposed between the partition 2311 and the second magnet 235. The connecting rod reset member 234 is preferably a spring, which is sleeved on the outer periphery of the connecting rod 233 and the second magnet 235. One axial end of the spring abuts (contacts but does not connect) or connects with the partition 2311, and the other axial end is connected to the outer periphery of the connecting rod 233 by fitting, bonding or hooking. The outer wall of the lower shaft 231 is fitted with at least one sliding sealing ring 24. Preferably, the connecting rod 233 has an internal thread at its top, allowing the second magnet 235 to be detachably connected to the top of the connecting rod 233 via a second magnet fixing bolt 237. The second magnet 235 is preferably a cylindrical object coaxially arranged with the connecting rod 233.

[0065] In this embodiment, the overall outline of the universal oscillating pin 236 is roughly conical, with its tip pointing downwards and its larger end movably fitted inside the lower bushing 232. Specifically, as shown... Figure 10 As shown, the bottom of the lower bushing 232 has a through hole 2321 for the universal pin 236, and the large end of the universal pin 236 extends radially outward to form a convex edge 2361. This convex edge 2361 overlaps and limits the universal pin 236 to the edge step of the through hole, thus preventing the universal pin 236 from coming out of the through hole. Figure 12 As shown, when no pig passes through the pipeline, the lower end of the connecting rod reset member 234 (spring) presses against the upper part of the connecting rod 233. The spring force of the connecting rod 233 presses the universal pin 236 against the edge step of the pin's through hole. At this time, the bottom end of the connecting rod 233 contacts the large end of the universal pin 236 but is not connected. Figure 13 As shown, when a pipeline pig passes through the pipeline, the edge of the pig contacts the tip of the universal pin 236, causing the universal pin 236 to rotate under the movement of the pig. The universal pin 236 tilts as a whole and is pushed upward, which in turn pushes the connecting rod 233 upward. The connecting rod 233 moves upward, which in turn drives the second magnet 235 to move upward. After the pig passes through the universal pin 236 in the pipeline, the connecting rod 233 and the universal pin 236 return to their original positions under the elastic force of the connecting rod reset member 234 (spring). Figure 12 The state shown.

[0066] In this embodiment, the top flange 221, upper shaft sleeve 222, and hollow upper shaft 223 of the upper shaft assembly 22 are preferably connected by welding. An internal thread is provided at the bottom of the hollow upper shaft 223, allowing for threaded connection with the lower shaft 231 in the lower shaft assembly. The lower shaft 231 and lower shaft sleeve 232 are also preferably connected by threads. The threaded connections between the hollow upper shaft 223 and the lower shaft 231, and between the lower shaft 231 and the lower shaft sleeve 232, ensure connection strength, facilitate assembly and disassembly, and simplify manufacturing.

[0067] In this embodiment, the telescopic drive assembly is mounted on the second flange 4, and can be a hydraulic cylinder, an electric telescopic rod, or a pneumatic cylinder, etc. As a preferred embodiment, the telescopic drive assembly includes a lowering nut 5, a threaded rod segment, and a nut rotation drive. The lowering nut 5 is rotatably mounted at the top end of the second flange 4 via a ball bearing assembly 6 or a bearing. The threaded rod segment is located on the top outer wall of the upper hollow shaft. This threaded rod segment is primarily an external threaded segment located on the top outer wall of the upper shaft sleeve 222. The top of the upper shaft sleeve 222 passes through the internal threaded hole of the lowering nut 5 and is threadedly connected to the internal threaded hole of the lowering nut 5 via the external threaded segment. Due to the arrangement of the ball bearing assembly 6 or the bearing, the lowering nut 5 can only rotate relative to the second flange 4 and cannot move axially relative to the second flange 4. The nut rotation drive is used to drive the lowering nut 5 to rotate relative to the second flange 4, so that the upper hollow shaft rises and falls relative to the lowering nut 5, thereby causing the indicator body 2 as a whole to rise and fall relative to the lowering nut 5, achieving the purpose of controlling the rise and fall of the indicator body 2 relative to the second flange 4.

[0068] In this embodiment, the lifting nut 5 is preferably rotatably mounted on the top end of the second flange 4 via the ball bearing assembly 6. Figure 4 As shown, the ball assembly 6 includes several balls 61 and sealing screws 62. A threaded hole is provided on the top sidewall of the second flange 4, extending radially through it. Semi-circular grooves adapted to the contours of the balls 61 are provided on the outer circumference of the lifting nut 5 and the inner wall of the second flange 4. The threaded hole on the second flange 4 communicates with the semi-circular groove on its inner wall. After the lifting nut 5 is inserted into the top port of the second flange 4, the semi-circular groove on the outer circumference of the lifting nut 5 perfectly aligns with the semi-circular groove on the inner wall of the second flange 4 to form a complete annular groove, i.e., the cross-section of the groove after alignment is a closed circle. The balls 61 are pushed into the aligned complete annular groove through the threaded hole on the sidewall of the second flange 4 until the complete annular groove is circumferentially filled with balls 61. The sealing screws 62 are then screwed into the threaded hole on the sidewall of the second flange 4 to seal the groove and prevent the balls 61 from falling out of the complete annular groove. After the sealing screw 62 seals the complete annular groove, any one of the balls 61 is in a state of free rotation within the complete annular groove, which allows the lifting nut 5 to rotate relative to the second flange 4, while limiting the axial movement of the lifting nut 5.

[0069] In this embodiment, a connecting flange 7 is provided at the bottom of the indicator head 21, which is detachably connected to the top of the lifting nut 5 via bolts. Sealing rings 9 are provided on both the upper and lower end faces of the connecting flange 7 to ensure that the indicator body 2 is in a position as described above. Figure 2 In the detection state shown, the upper and lower end faces of the connecting flange 7 maintain a good seal with the top face of the indicator head 21 and the lifting nut 5, respectively. The sealing ring 9 is preferably an O-ring, which can prevent sand and rainwater from entering the interior of the indicator body 2 when the indicator body 2 is in the detection state.

[0070] In this embodiment, the aforementioned nut rotation drive can be a manual drive handle located on the outer periphery of the lifting nut 5. The lifting nut 5 can be driven to rotate relative to the second flange 4 by manually rotating the handle, thereby controlling the raising and lowering of the indicator body 2 relative to the second flange 4. To improve accuracy and production efficiency, the nut rotation drive can also be an electric drive connected to the lifting nut 5. This electric drive includes a motor, which can drive the lifting nut 5 to rotate via a belt drive assembly or a gear meshing assembly. Taking the example of the motor driving the lifting nut 5 to rotate via a gear meshing assembly, the gear meshing assembly can include a driving gear and a driven gear meshing with the driving gear. The driving gear is connected to the output end of the motor, and the driven gear can be fitted onto the outer periphery of the lifting nut 5 via a key connection or interference fit. When the motor starts, it drives the driving gear to rotate, which in turn drives the driven gear to rotate, thereby causing the lifting nut 5 to rotate synchronously with the driven gear.

[0071] In this embodiment, the ball valve 1 is an existing ball valve, and its structure and working principle will not be described in detail here. It should be noted that the valve body 11 of the ball valve 1 has threaded holes on both end faces, and the first flange 3 and the second flange 4 are respectively connected to the two end faces of the valve body 11 via studs. Furthermore, sealing rings 9 are provided between the first flange 3 and the bottom end face of the valve body 11, and between the second flange 4 and the top end face of the valve body 11. These sealing rings 9 are preferably O-rings, which prevent sand and rainwater from entering the ball indicator 100.

[0072] The working process and working principle of the ball-passing indicator 100 described above in this embodiment will be explained in detail below.

[0073] After the ball indicator 100 is installed in the pipeline to be cleaned, open the ball valve 1 and adjust the indicator body 2 to the desired position by rotating the lifting nut 5. Figure 2In the detection state shown, the universal pin 236 at the bottom of the indicator body 2 extends into the pipeline to be cleaned. When a pig passes through the pipeline, the pig will touch the universal pin 236, causing the universal pin 236 to rotate and push the connecting rod 233 upward. The connecting rod 233 drives the second magnet 235 to move upward and compresses the connecting rod reset piece 234 (spring). Due to the principle of like poles repulsion, the first magnet 226 above will also move upward and compress the push rod reset piece 225 (spring), thereby driving the push rod 224 to move upward. The upper seat 2241 of the push rod 224 can touch the trigger device of the meter head 21, and the display of the meter head 21 will show an indicator that a pig has passed through the pipeline. After the pig passes through, the second magnet 235 and the connecting rod 233 are reset to their initial positions under the elastic force of the connecting rod reset member 234 (spring), and the first magnet 226 and the push rod 224 are reset to their initial positions under the elastic force of the push rod reset member 225 (spring).

[0074] When any component of the indicator body 2, such as the first magnet 226 or the push rod 224, needs maintenance, the lifting nut 5 can be rotated to move the indicator body 2 upward relative to the second flange. After the indicator body 2 rises to a certain height, the observation hole 2221 will be visible, indicating that the universal pin 236 has been raised above the upper flange of the ball valve 1, and the rising position of the indicator body 2 has met the requirements. (During the movement of the indicator body 2, at least one of the sliding sealing rings 24 on the upper and lower shaft assemblies can complete the sealing function.) At this time, the ball valve 1 can be closed. After removing the studs and nuts connecting the second flange 4 to the ball valve 1, the second flange 4 and all the internal components of the indicator body 2 can be removed from the upper surface of the ball valve 1 for maintenance.

[0075] Compared with existing technologies, the ball-passing indicator 100 proposed in this solution has a novel and reasonable structure, and features low manufacturing cost, simple operation, and safety and reliability. The internal components of the indicator can be disassembled, repaired and maintained at any time, which helps to extend the service life of the indicator.

[0076] It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the details of the above exemplary embodiments, and that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention, and no reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0077] Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this invention. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that, based on the ideas of this invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

Claims

1. A ball-passer indicator, characterized in that The utility model relates to a pipeline pig indicator, which comprises a ball valve and an indicator body. The ball valve has a first flange at one end and a second flange at the other end, and is opened or closed to make the first flange and the second flange communicate with each other or be spaced apart from each other. The indicator body is movably inserted into the second flange and is used to detect whether a pipeline pig passes through the pipeline to be cleaned. The indicator body comprises a table head, an upper shaft assembly and a lower shaft assembly arranged in sequence from top to bottom. The table head is located outside the second flange and is detachably connected to the second flange. A trigger device is arranged on the table head. The upper shaft assembly comprises an upper hollow shaft, a push rod movably inserted into the upper hollow shaft and a push rod return member. The top end of the push rod penetrates through the top end of the upper hollow shaft and is arranged to touch the trigger device. The bottom end of the push rod is provided with a first magnet. The push rod return member is used to drive the push rod to return towards the direction away from the trigger device. The lower shaft assembly comprises a lower hollow shaft, a connecting rod movably inserted into the lower hollow shaft and a connecting rod return member. The top end of the lower hollow shaft is detachably connected to the bottom end of the upper hollow shaft. The connecting rod is located below the first magnet. The top end of the connecting rod is provided with a second magnet. The second magnet is arranged to be spaced apart from the first magnet and has the same polarity as the first magnet. The bottom end of the connecting rod is provided with a universal pivot needle extending to the outside of the lower hollow shaft. The universal pivot needle is used to sense whether a pipeline pig passes through the pipeline to be cleaned and rotates to drive the connecting rod to move upwards when a pipeline pig passes through. Then, the connecting rod is driven to move upwards by the principle of repulsion between magnets with the same polarity, and the push rod is driven to move upwards and touch the trigger device. The connecting rod return member is used to drive the connecting rod to return towards the direction away from the push rod. The upper hollow shaft comprises a top flange, an upper shaft sleeve and a hollow upper shaft arranged in sequence from top to bottom. The outer wall of the upper shaft sleeve is provided with a sliding sealing ring. The top end of the hollow upper shaft is detachably connected to the bottom end of the upper shaft sleeve. The bottom end of the hollow upper shaft is detachably connected to the top end of the lower hollow shaft. The inner wall of the hollow upper shaft is provided with a first limiting step. The first magnet is located below the first limiting step. The push rod return member is arranged between the first limiting step and the first magnet. A telescopic driving assembly is arranged on the second flange for driving the indicator body to telescope relative to the second flange, so as to switch the indicator body between a detection state and a disassembly state; when the indicator body is in the detection state, the ball valve is opened, the detection end of the indicator body penetrates the ball valve and the first flange in sequence, and extends out of the first flange; when the indicator body is in the disassembly state, the ball valve is closed, the indicator body is located in the second flange, and is isolated from the pipeline to be cleaned by the closed ball valve; the telescopic driving assembly comprises a lifting nut, a threaded rod segment and a nut rotating driving member; the lifting nut is rotatably arranged at the top end of the second flange through a ball assembly or a bearing; the threaded rod segment is arranged on the top outer wall of the upper hollow shaft, and is in threaded cooperation with the lifting nut; the nut rotating driving member is used for driving the lifting nut to rotate, so as to lift the upper hollow shaft relative to the lifting nut; the telescopic driving assembly is arranged on the second flange, and the telescopic driving assembly is a hydraulic cylinder, an electric telescopic rod or a pneumatic cylinder.

2. The balloon indicator of claim 1, wherein, The upper shaft sleeve is also provided with an observation hole and a strip-shaped guide groove, wherein: The observation hole is used to prompt that the universal pivot pin has been lifted with the indicator body to above the ball valve by the telescopic driving assembly; The strip-shaped guide groove is arranged along the axial direction of the upper shaft sleeve, and the side wall of the second flange is provided with a protruding structure which is slidably matched with the strip-shaped guide groove.

3. The balloon indicator of claim 1, wherein, The lower hollow shaft comprises a lower shaft and a lower shaft sleeve arranged in sequence from top to bottom; a partition plate is arranged in the lower shaft, so as to divide the inside of the lower shaft into an upper accommodating cavity and a lower accommodating cavity along the axial direction; the first magnet is accommodated in the upper accommodating cavity, the second magnet is accommodated in the lower accommodating cavity, and the connecting rod reset member is arranged between the partition plate and the second magnet; the outer wall of the lower shaft is provided with the sliding sealing ring; and the lower shaft sleeve is detachably connected with the bottom end of the lower shaft.

4. The balloon indicator of claim 3, wherein, The upper hollow shaft and the lower shaft are in threaded connection, and the lower shaft and the lower shaft sleeve are also in threaded connection.

5. The balloon indicator of claim 1, wherein, The table head is detachably connected with the top end of the lifting nut through a connecting flange, and the both end faces of the connecting flange are provided with sealing rings.

6. The balloon indicator of claim 1, wherein, The nut rotating driving member is a manual driving handle arranged on the outer periphery of the lifting nut; or the nut rotating driving member is an electric driving member connected with the lifting nut.

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