Horizontal mounting tool and method for elastic ring of large pressure vessel

Abstract

The invention discloses a horizontal installation tool and method for an elastic ring of a large pressure vessel, and the tool comprises a circle supporting and fixing module which is used for fixedly connecting with the horizontally-arranged elastic ring and maintaining the roundness of the elastic ring; the posture adjusting module is connected to the center of the circle supporting and fixing module and used for achieving overall vertical overturning and gravity center leveling of the elastic ring and the circle supporting and fixing module which are fixedly connected with each other; the synchronous propelling modules are uniformly arranged near the end surface of the barrel flange and are used for providing a plurality of uniformly distributed propelling forces, so that the circle supporting and fixing module and the posture adjusting module which are assembled with the elastic rings are uniformly stressed and are pushed into a sealing groove of the barrel flange; and the centering fine adjustment module is integrated on the circle supporting fixing module and used for finely adjusting the radial position of the barrel flange in the propelling process so as to keep a gap between the elastic ring and the inner wall of the sealing groove of the barrel flange uniform. The invention provides a reliable assembly mode so as to ensure that the elastic ring keeps roundness, levelness and centering during and after installation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of pressure vessel manufacturing technology, and in particular to a horizontal installation fixture and method for elastic rings in large pressure vessels. Background Technology

[0002] In the assembly of large pressure vessels (such as certain chemical containers), it is often necessary to install large elastic rings at the flange connections to achieve sealing. Typically, a large pressure vessel mainly consists of a left head assembly, a clamp assembly, and a shell assembly. An elastic ring is designed between the head flange and the shell flange, with O-ring seals on the end face and side of the elastic ring. This elastic ring is placed within the sealing groove of the shell flange, employing a tight fit.

[0003] These types of elastic rings typically have large diameters, heavy weights, and poor rigidity. Their installation in a horizontal configuration is extremely difficult. Traditional installation methods rely mainly on hoisting, prying, and manual adjustment, which have the following significant drawbacks: 1. Prone to Out-of-Roundness and Jamming: Due to the poor rigidity of the elastic ring, it is highly susceptible to out-of-roundness deformation during hoisting, turning, and pushing if the force is uneven. When pushing it into the sealing groove of the cylindrical flange, if out-of-roundness, eccentricity, or asynchronous advancement occurs, the elastic ring will interfere with the groove wall, causing it to jam. Once jammed, not only will the installation fail, but it may also damage the expensive elastic ring and the flange sealing surface.

[0004] 2. Difficulty in centering and leveling: After the elastic ring is turned over and erected, its axis needs to be strictly horizontal and aligned with the flange hole of the cylinder. Traditional methods lack effective leveling and centering means, mainly relying on workers' experience and visual inspection, resulting in low accuracy and poor consistency.

[0005] 3. Synchronous advancement cannot be guaranteed: When pushing the elastic ring into the sealing groove, force needs to be applied evenly from all sides. Traditional methods use multiple jacks or pry bars operated manually, which makes it difficult to guarantee the synchronization of advancement speed and force, and is the main cause of eccentric jamming.

[0006] 4. High operational risks and low efficiency: The above process usually requires the cooperation of multiple workers, relies on experience, poses personal and equipment safety risks, and has a long installation cycle and uncontrollable quality.

[0007] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a specialized installation tool to systematically solve a series of problems in the horizontal installation of large elastic rings, such as rounding and fixing, safe turning, precise leveling, synchronous advancement and dynamic fine adjustment.

[0008] The statements herein provide only background information in relation to this invention and do not necessarily constitute prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide a horizontal installation fixture and method for elastic rings in large pressure vessels, aiming to achieve mechanization and controllability of the installation process, ensuring that the elastic ring maintains roundness, levelness and alignment throughout the installation process, and can be pushed into the sealing groove evenly and synchronously, thereby reducing the risk of jamming and improving the success rate, quality and efficiency of installation.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a horizontal installation fixture for elastic rings in large pressure vessels, used to install the elastic ring into the sealing groove of the cylindrical flange of the large pressure vessel, comprising: A rounding fixing module is used to fix and maintain the roundness of a horizontally placed elastic ring; An attitude adjustment module, which is connected to the center of the circular support fixing module, is used to realize the overall vertical flipping and center of gravity leveling of the elastic ring and the circular support fixing module that are fixedly connected to each other. The synchronous propulsion module is evenly arranged near the end face of the cylindrical flange to provide multiple evenly distributed propulsion forces so that the rounding fixing module and the attitude adjustment module after the elastic ring is assembled are evenly stressed and pushed into the sealing groove of the cylindrical flange. The centering fine-tuning module, which is integrated on the supporting round fixing module, is used to fine-tune the radial position of the cylindrical flange during the advancement process to maintain a uniform gap between the elastic ring and the inner wall of the sealing groove of the cylindrical flange.

[0011] Optionally, the circular support fixing module includes: An annular support plate, and a plurality of support tubes and a collection plate integrally formed within the annular ring of the annular support plate; the plurality of support tubes are arranged in a star-shaped pattern, with one end of the tubes near the annular support plate connected to the inner ring surface of the annular support plate, and the other end connected to the collection plate located at the center of the annular support plate; the annular support plate has a first support surface for supporting and fitting the elastic ring after the elastic ring is installed. An annular support plate is concentrically arranged with the annular support plate and located on the first support surface of the annular support plate, and the outer diameter of the annular support plate is smaller than the inner diameter of the elastic ring.

[0012] Optionally, the annular support plate has multiple pressure plates on one side of its first support surface; The pressure plates are evenly spaced along the annular first support surface, and the surface of each pressure plate is spaced apart from and parallel to the first support surface of the annular support plate. The elastic ring is housed in the space between the annular support plate and the pressure plates. A first fastener is provided between the annular support plate and the pressure plate. By tightening the first fastener, the distance between the annular support plate and the pressure plate is reduced, so as to press the elastic ring in a direction perpendicular to the annular support plate and the pressure plate.

[0013] Optionally, the circular support fixing module further includes: Multiple second fasteners are evenly distributed circumferentially along the inner ring surface of the annular support plate, and are perpendicularly inserted through the inner and outer ring surfaces of the annular support plate. One end of the second fastener passing through the outer ring surface of the annular support plate is close to the inner contour surface of the elastic ring. By screwing the multiple second fasteners, the elastic ring is expanded into a circle along each radial direction. The outer contour surface of the elastic ring is close to the sealing groove of the cylindrical flange. After the elastic ring is assembled into the sealing groove of the cylindrical flange, the assembly position of the rounded elastic ring is adjusted by tightening the second fastener so that the gap between the elastic ring and the inner wall of the sealing groove is uniform.

[0014] Optionally, the attitude adjustment module includes: multiple lifting rings, lifting rods, and lifting lugs; Multiple lifting rings are symmetrically arranged on the second support surface of the annular support plate. The second support surface is opposite to the first support surface and is used to horizontally lift the round fixing module after the elastic ring is assembled and to vertically flip it after lifting. The suspension rod is concentric with and perpendicular to the annular support plate on the assembly plate, and the suspension rod is oriented away from the elastic ring. The lifting lug is located at the end of the lifting rod that is not connected to the assembly plate, so as to adjust the center of gravity of the supporting ring fixing module after the lifting rope is connected, so that the first support surface of the annular support plate is parallel to the end face of the cylinder flange to be installed.

[0015] Optionally, the attitude adjustment module further includes: a counterweight; the counterweight is sleeved on the boom for balancing; The lifting rings are provided in multiple sets, and the two lifting rings in each set are distributed on both ends of the second support surface along the radial direction.

[0016] Optionally, the synchronous propulsion module includes multiple triangular propulsion frames located on one side of the second support surface of the annular support plate and symmetrically distributed with respect to the vertical reference line of the annular support plate. Each triangular propulsion frame includes a vertical support and an oblique support set at a certain angle to the vertical support. The vertical reference line is the vertical axis of the annular support plate that is perpendicular to the ground and passes through its center. Two mechanical jacks are installed symmetrically to the horizontal reference line on each vertical support, and the ends of the jack rods of the two mechanical jacks are respectively aligned with the second support surface of the leveled and aligned annular support plate; the horizontal reference line is a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the vertical reference line and passes through the center of the annular support plate. Each mechanical jack connected to a vertical support is connected to a synchronous control system to synchronously control the operation of the mechanical jacks, thereby generating synchronous and equal propulsive forces on the second support surface of the elastic ring and the support ring fixing module.

[0017] Optionally, the centering fine-tuning module is a third fastener, which is vertically inserted through the inner and outer ring surfaces of the annular support plate, and one end of the third fastener passing through the outer ring surface of the annular support plate is close to the inner wall of the cylinder flange. By tightening the third fastener, one end of the third fastener passes through the outer ring surface of the annular support plate and contacts and abuts against the inner wall of the cylindrical flange, thereby adjusting the radial gap between the sealing groove and the outer contour surface of the elastic ring.

[0018] The present invention also provides a method of using a flexible ring-shaped installation fixture, which is based on the installation fixture and includes the following steps: Step S1: The elastic ring is clamped in the rounding fixing module and the elastic ring is rounded. Step S2: The circular support module with the elastic ring clamped is lifted and vertically rotated as a whole, and the center of gravity is adjusted by the attitude adjustment module so that the annular support plate is parallel to the end face of the cylindrical flange to be installed. Step S3: Distribute the synchronous propulsion modules evenly along the circumference of the elastic ring; Step S4: Through the synchronous propulsion module and the centering fine-tuning module, the elastic ring and the overall assembly including the rounding fixing module and the attitude adjustment module are synchronously propulsed into the sealing groove of the cylinder flange at multiple points, and the centering fine-tuning of the elastic ring is performed in real time. Step S5: Remove each module from the elastic ring in the installation fixture.

[0019] Optionally, step S1 includes: The circular support fixing module is hoisted above the elastic ring, and the first support surface of the annular support plate is made to fit against the surface of the elastic ring, and the inner ring surface of the elastic ring is made close to the outer ring surface of the annular support plate. The pressure plate is locked to the annular support plate using the first fastener, thereby clamping the elastic ring between the two. Tighten the second fastener so that its end extends from the outer ring surface of the annular support plate and abuts against the inner contour surface of the elastic ring. By adjusting the second fasteners that are evenly distributed at multiple points, the roundness of the elastic ring can be corrected and maintained from all directions. Step S2 includes: At least two sets of lifting rings are connected by the first lifting equipment to horizontally lift the support ring fixing module after the elastic ring is assembled; each set is equipped with two lifting rings; Slowly disconnect the connection between the lifting equipment and the two adjacent lifting rings on one side of the ring support plate, while keeping the connection with the two lifting rings on the other side, so that the support ring fixing module and attitude adjustment module after the elastic ring is assembled can complete a 90° vertical flip in the air. After flipping, the side of the ring support plate with the elastic ring installed faces the end face of the cylinder flange. After the flipping is completed, the lifting rod is lifted by the second lifting equipment; by adjusting the weight of the counterweight, the center of gravity and attitude of the supporting ring fixing module and attitude adjustment module after the elastic ring is assembled are adjusted until the first support surface of the ring support plate is parallel to the end face of the cylinder flange to be installed. The real-time centering fine-tuning of the elastic ring in step S4 includes: When the elastic ring is pushed into the sealing groove of the cylindrical flange, if there is an uneven radial gap between the outer contour surface of the elastic ring and the inner wall of the sealing groove, the third fastener set at the uneven gap is tightened so that its end abuts against the inner wall of the cylindrical flange. Furthermore, by tightening the second fastener located at the uneven gap, the gap between the elastic ring and the inner wall of the sealing groove is further adjusted to ensure the centered assembly of the elastic ring.

[0020] In summary, compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. The present invention provides a horizontal installation fixture and method for elastic rings of large pressure vessels. The elastic ring is rigidly connected to the round fixing module to form a reinforcing frame. The roundness is actively corrected and maintained by the circumferentially adjustable first adjusting bolt, which fundamentally solves the problem of out-of-roundness of the elastic ring caused by its own weight and poor rigidity, and provides a stable foundation for subsequent precision operation.

[0021] 2. The present invention provides a horizontal installation fixture and method for elastic rings of large pressure vessels. Through specially designed turning lugs, counterweights and leveling lugs, the heavy elastic rings can be turned smoothly and controllably at 90° and accurately leveled, avoiding the deformation and risks that may be caused by traditional hoisting methods.

[0022] 3. The present invention provides a horizontal installation fixture and method for elastic rings of large pressure vessels. By using multiple power devices (such as mechanical jacks) evenly distributed around the circumference to provide synchronous propulsion force, it ensures that the elastic ring enters the sealing groove evenly and synchronously around the circumference, completely eliminating the risk of tilting, eccentricity, and seizing (jamming) caused by unilateral force, and making the propulsion process stable and controllable.

[0023] 4. The present invention provides a horizontal installation fixture and method for elastic rings of large pressure vessels. Through the second adjusting bolt integrated on the fixture, the radial position of the elastic ring can be adjusted online and dynamically during the advancement process. This corrects any possible minor eccentricities in real time, ensuring that the circumferential gap between the elastic ring and the inner wall of the cylinder flange remains uniform, and ultimately achieving high-precision alignment and assembly. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the elastic ring of the present invention installed inside the cylindrical flange; Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the circular support fixing module of the present invention; Figure 3A For along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view along the AA direction; Figure 3B For along Figure 2 Cross-sectional view along the BB direction; Figure 3C For along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view along the CC direction; Figure 3D For along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view along the DD direction; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the circular support fixing module of the present invention suspended after the elastic ring is installed; Figure 5 This is a side view of the synchronous propulsion module of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the forces acting on the annular support plate of the present invention under the multi-point propulsion force of the synchronous propulsion module. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The following will be combined with the appendix Figures 1-6 The present invention will be further described in detail through preferred embodiments. The advantages and features of the present invention will become clearer from the following description. It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are in a very simplified form and use non-precise proportions, only for the purpose of conveniently and clearly illustrating the embodiments of the present invention. Please refer to the accompanying drawings to make the objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable. It should be understood that the structures, proportions, sizes, etc., depicted in the accompanying drawings are only for the purpose of assisting those skilled in the art in understanding and reading the content disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to limit the implementation conditions of the present invention. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in the proportional relationships, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and objectives achieved by the present invention, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in the present invention.

[0026] This invention provides a horizontal mounting fixture for elastic rings in large pressure vessels, used to install a large elastic ring 200 onto a surface such as... Figure 1 The sealing groove 400 of the cylindrical flange 100 of the large pressure vessel shown is located within the cylindrical flange 100. The connection of the cylindrical flange 100 is clamped by a clamp 300. A sealing element 410 is also provided between the elastic ring 200 and the sealing groove 400. The application scenarios of this installation tool include clamping and supporting the elastic ring 200, lifting and flipping it, aligning and pushing it to the cylindrical flange 100, and installing it into the sealing groove 400 of the cylindrical flange 100. Figures 2-6As shown, the horizontal installation fixture includes: a rounding fixing module, which is used to fix and maintain the roundness of the horizontally placed elastic ring 200; an attitude adjustment module, which is connected to the center of the rounding fixing module, and is used to realize the overall rotation and center-of-gravity leveling of the elastic ring 200 and the rounding fixing module, which are fixedly connected to each other; a synchronous propulsion module, which is evenly arranged near the end face of the cylindrical flange 100, and is used to provide multiple evenly distributed propulsion forces so that the rounding fixing module and the attitude adjustment module after the elastic ring 200 is assembled are evenly stressed and pushed into the sealing groove 400 of the cylindrical flange 100; and a centering fine-tuning module, which is integrated on the rounding fixing module, and is used to fine-tune the radial position of the cylindrical flange 100 during the propulsion process to maintain a uniform gap between the elastic ring 200 and the inner wall of the sealing groove 400 of the cylindrical flange 100.

[0027] Among them, such as Figure 2 As shown, the circular support fixing module includes: An annular support plate 4, and a plurality of support tubes 3 and a collection plate 2 integrally formed within the annulus of the annular support plate 4; the plurality of support tubes 3 are arranged in a star-shaped pattern, with one end near the annular support plate 4 connected to the inner annular surface of the annular support plate 4, and the other end connected to the collection plate 2 located at the center of the annular support plate 4, thereby the annular support plate 4, the support tubes 3, and the collection plate 2 together constitute a support frame; after the elastic ring 200 is installed, the first support surface of the annular support plate 4 (i.e., as shown in the figure) Figure 2 The back side of the annular support plate 4 shown is attached to the surface of the elastic ring 200. Furthermore, the width of the annular support plate 4 is greater than the width of the elastic ring 200, meaning the inner diameter of the annular support plate 4 is smaller than the inner diameter of the elastic ring 200, and the outer diameter of the annular support plate 4 is larger than the outer diameter of the elastic ring 200.

[0028] like Figure 3CAs shown, a plurality of pressure plates 6 are provided on one side of the first support surface of the annular support plate 4. These pressure plates 6 are equally spaced along the annular first support surface, and the surface of each pressure plate 6 is spaced apart from and parallel to the first support surface of the annular support plate 4. The elastic ring 200 is accommodated in the space between the annular support plate 4 and the pressure plates 6, so as to be pressed by the pressure plates 6 in a direction perpendicular to the first support surface of the annular support plate 4. Further, a first fastener is provided between the annular support plate 4 and the pressure plates 6. By tightening the first fastener, the distance between the annular support plate 4 and the pressure plates 6 is reduced, thereby clamping and assembling the elastic ring 200 between the annular support plate 4 and the pressure plates 6. At this time, one side surface of the elastic ring 200 is in close contact with the first support surface of the annular support plate 4, and the other side surface of the elastic ring 200 is in close contact with the surface of the pressure plate 6 near the annular support plate 4. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the first fastener includes a first bolt 7 and a first nut 8; the first bolt 7 passes through the annular support plate 4 and the pressure plate 6; the first nut 8 is sleeved on the first bolt 7, and the first nut 8 is located on the side of the annular support plate 4 away from the pressure plate 6; by tightening the first nut 8 toward the pressure plate 6, the distance between the annular support plate 4 and the pressure plate 6 is reduced, thereby clamping the elastic ring 200 between the first support surface of the annular support plate 4 and the surface of the pressure plate 6 near the annular support plate 4.

[0029] The circular support fixing module further includes: an annular circular support plate 13, such as... Figure 3B As shown, it is concentrically arranged with the annular support plate 4 and located on the first support surface of the annular support plate 4, and the outer diameter of the annular support plate 13 is smaller than the inner diameter of the elastic ring 200; the annular support plate 13 is concentrically arranged inside the elastic ring 200; a plurality of second fasteners are evenly distributed along the inner ring surface of the annular support plate 13, and are perpendicularly inserted through the inner and outer ring surfaces of the annular support plate 13, and one end of the second fastener passing through the outer ring surface of the annular support plate 13 is close to the inner contour surface 220 of the elastic ring 200; by screwing the plurality of second fasteners, the ends of these second fasteners passing through the outer ring surface of the annular support plate 13 gradually approach the inner contour surface 220 of the elastic ring 200, thereby making the elastic ring 200 round along each radial direction.

[0030] When subsequently assembled into the sealing groove 400 of the cylindrical flange 100, since the outer contour surface 210 of the elastic ring 200, that is, the end of the elastic ring 200 away from the annular support plate 13, is close to the sealing groove 400 of the cylindrical flange 100, the assembly position of the supported elastic ring 200 can be adjusted by tightening the second fastener at this time, so that the gap between the elastic ring 200 and the inner wall of the sealing groove 400 is uniform.

[0031] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the second fastener is a second bolt 5. By screwing on the caps of all the second bolts 5, the end of the second bolt 5 away from the cap passes through the outer ring surface of the annular support plate 13 and gradually approaches the inner contour surface 220 of the elastic ring, so as to round the elastic ring 200 along each radial direction. When the elastic ring 200 is pushed into the sealing groove 400 of the cylindrical flange 100, the caps of the second bolts 5 are continued to be screwed on in the same direction to adjust the assembly position of the rounded elastic ring so that the gap between the elastic ring and the inner wall of the sealing groove is uniform.

[0032] Among them, such as Figure 3A and Figure 3D As shown, the attitude adjustment module includes: multiple lifting rings 1, lifting rods 10, counterweights 14, and lifting lugs 9; the multiple lifting rings 1 are symmetrically arranged on the second support surface of the annular support plate 4 opposite to the first support surface (i.e., as shown in the figure). Figure 2 On the front of the annular support plate 4 shown, the elastic ring 200 and the supporting round fixing module are horizontally lifted and vertically flipped after lifting, so that they do not rotate around their center; the lifting rod 10 is concentric with the annular support plate 4 and vertically arranged on the collection plate 2, and the lifting rod 10 is arranged in a direction away from the elastic ring 200; the counterweight block 14 is sleeved on the lifting rod 10 for balancing; the lifting lug 9 is arranged at the end of the lifting rod 10 that is not connected to the collection plate 2, so as to connect the lifting rope and adjust the center of gravity of the supporting round fixing module by means of the self-weight of the counterweight block 14, so that the first support surface of the annular support plate 4 is parallel to the end face of the cylindrical flange 100 to be installed.

[0033] The lifting rings 1 are provided in multiple sets. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the lifting rings 1 are provided in 2 sets, totaling 4 rings. The two lifting rings 1 in each set are distributed at both ends of the second support surface along the radial direction. During the horizontal lifting process using the first lifting equipment, all four lifting rings 1 are connected to the support surface via chains. Figure 4 At the upper space A shown, after hoisting to the appropriate position, slowly release the two nearest adjacent lifting rings 1 on the same side located on the second support surface (e.g., Figure 4 The two hanging rings 1 shown below, that is, the chains connected to the two closest hanging rings 1 in different groups, only allow the other side (such as Figure 4 The two nearest lifting rings 1 of the two upper lifting rings 1) shown are kept suspended to complete the vertical flipping of the elastic ring 200 and the supporting round fixing module, so that the side of the annular support plate 4 where the elastic ring 200 is installed faces the cylindrical flange 100; then, the second lifting device also hangs down another iron chain with a hook from the upper space B to hook the lifting lug 9 to lift the lifting rod 10, and maintain the vertical angle of the supporting round fixing module unchanged, so that the first support surface of the annular support plate 4 is parallel to the end face of the cylindrical flange 100 to be installed.

[0034] The second lifting device is a small lifting device; preferably, the present invention uses a hand chain hoist.

[0035] Furthermore, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, since the annular support plate 4 is vertically suspended at this time, the vertical axis of the annular support plate 4, which is perpendicular to the ground and passes through its center, is taken as the vertical reference line 54. The synchronous propulsion module includes multiple triangular propulsion frames located on one side of the second support surface of the annular support plate 4 and symmetrically distributed with respect to the vertical reference line 54. Each triangular propulsion frame includes a vertical support 51 and an inclined support 52 connected to the vertical support 51 at a certain angle. Two mechanical jacks 53 are symmetrically installed on each vertical support 51 with respect to the horizontal reference line, and the ends of the push rods of the two mechanical jacks 53 are respectively aligned with the leveled and aligned second support surface of the annular support plate 4. The horizontal reference line is the horizontal axis perpendicular to the vertical reference line 54 and passing through the center of the annular support plate 4. During operation, a unified command or a synchronous control system is used to make the two mechanical jacks 53 move synchronously to push the elastic ring 200 and the supporting and fixing module smoothly, synchronously, and without tilting into the sealing groove 400 of the cylinder flange 100.

[0036] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, two triangular propulsion frames are used, located on one side of the second support surface of the annular support plate 4 and symmetrically distributed with respect to the vertical reference line 54, and four mechanical jacks 53 are used to generate a propulsive force toward the cylinder flange 100 (i.e., two mechanical jacks 53 are used on each triangular propulsion frame); the four mechanical jacks 53, in such a way... Figure 6 Viewed from the direction perpendicular to the second support surface of the annular support plate 4, the rings are arranged at equal intervals along the circumference of the annular support plate 4 (i.e., each arrangement point forms a 45° angle with the center of the elastic ring 200 / annular support plate 4) to generate synchronous and equal propulsive forces on the elastic ring 200 and the second support surface of the circular fixing module.

[0037] In addition, the synchronous propulsion module also includes a support plate with wheels, which is set below the triangular propulsion frame to support the triangular propulsion frame, and the wheels and support plate move toward the end face of the cylindrical flange 100 as the propulsion force generated by the triangular propulsion frame is applied.

[0038] Furthermore, such as Figure 3BAs shown, the centering fine-tuning module is a third fastener, which is vertically inserted through the inner and outer ring surfaces of the annular support plate 13, and one end of the third fastener passing through the outer ring surface of the annular support plate 13 is close to the inner wall 500 of the cylindrical flange. Since the sealing groove 400 of the cylindrical flange 100 is embedded in the inner wall 500 of the cylindrical flange, by tightening the third fastener, one end of the third fastener passing through the outer ring surface of the annular support plate 13 can contact and abut against the inner wall 500 of the cylindrical flange, thereby adjusting the radial gap between the sealing groove 400 and the outer contour surface 210 of the elastic ring 200, and keeping the gap uniform.

[0039] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the third fastener is a third bolt 12. By screwing the cap of the third bolt 12, the end of the third bolt 12 away from the cap passes through the outer ring surface of the annular support plate 13 and gradually approaches the inner wall 500 of the cylindrical flange. By continuing to screw the cap in the same direction, the third bolt 12 contacts and abuts against the inner wall 500 of the cylindrical flange, thereby adjusting the gap between the sealing groove 400 and the outer contour surface 210 of the elastic ring 200 to adjust the alignment state in real time and ensure that the circumferential gap between the sealing groove 400 and the elastic ring 200 is uniform.

[0040] The present invention also provides a method for using a horizontal installation fixture for an elastic ring, wherein the elastic ring 200 is installed into the sealing groove 400 of the cylindrical flange 100, the method comprising the following steps: Step S1: The elastic ring 200 is clamped in the rounding fixing module and the elastic ring 200 is rounded.

[0041] Specifically, step S1 includes: S1.1 Place the elastic ring 200 to be installed in a horizontal position (i.e., horizontally) on the ground or workbench. S1.2, hoist the circular support fixing module above the elastic ring 200, and make the first support surface of the annular support plate 4 fit against the surface of the elastic ring 200, and make the inner ring surface of the elastic ring 200 close to the outer ring surface of the annular support plate 13. S1.3, the pressure plate 6 is locked to the annular support plate 4 using the first fasteners (i.e., the first bolt 7 and the first nut 8), thereby firmly clamping the elastic ring 200 between the two.

[0042] S1.4 Tighten the second fastener (i.e. the second bolt 5) so that its end extends from the outer ring surface of the annular support plate 13 and abuts against the inner contour surface 220 of the elastic ring 200. By adjusting the second fasteners that are evenly distributed at multiple points, the roundness of the elastic ring 200 is corrected and maintained from all directions to prevent its deformation.

[0043] Step S2: The circular fixing module with the elastic ring 200 clamped is lifted and vertically rotated as a whole, and the center of gravity is adjusted by the attitude adjustment module so that the support surface of the annular support plate 4 is parallel to the end face of the cylindrical flange 100 to be installed.

[0044] Specifically, step S2 includes: S2.1, the hook of the first lifting device located at point A above is connected to four lifting rings 1 symmetrically arranged on the second support surface of the annular support plate 4 by means of an iron chain; S2.2, Perform horizontal lifting to lift the fixed elastic ring 200 and the supporting round fixing module off the ground or workbench as a whole; S2.3, slowly release one side of the annular support plate 4 (e.g.) Figure 4 The chains of the two nearest rings 1 (as shown below) are left on only one side (e.g., the other side). Figure 4 The two nearest lifting rings 1 (as shown above) are subjected to force, causing the supporting round fixing module and attitude adjustment module after the elastic ring 200 is assembled to complete a 90° vertical rotation in the air; at this time, the side of the annular support plate 4 with the elastic ring 200 installed faces the end face of the cylinder flange 100. S2.4 After the flipping is completed, the second lifting equipment hooks the lifting lug 9 with another hooked iron chain from point B above and lifts the lifting rod 10; by adjusting the weight of the counterweight block 14, the center of gravity and attitude of the overall component including the supporting round fixing module and attitude adjustment module after the elastic ring is assembled are finely adjusted until the support surface of the annular support plate 4 is strictly parallel to the end face of the cylinder flange 100 to be installed (i.e., the axis of the elastic ring is horizontal).

[0045] Step S3: Distribute the synchronous propulsion modules evenly around the elastic ring 200.

[0046] Specifically, step S3 includes: S3.1, On one side of the second support surface of the annular support plate 4, two triangular propulsion frames are arranged symmetrically to the vertical reference line of the annular support plate 4, and the two triangular propulsion frames are mounted on the support plate with wheels. S3.2, two mechanical jacks 53 are provided symmetrically to the horizontal reference line of the annular support plate 4 on the vertical support 51 of each triangular propulsion frame, so that the top rod ends of the four mechanical jacks 53 on the two triangular frames are aligned with the second support surface of the leveled and aligned support fixing module; that is, the four mechanical jacks 53 are arranged at equal intervals (e.g., 45° intervals) along the circumference of the annular support plate 4.

[0047] Step S4: Through the synchronous propulsion module and the centering fine-tuning module, the tooling is synchronously advanced at multiple points until the elastic ring 200 enters the sealing groove 400 of the cylindrical flange 100, and the centering fine-tuning of the elastic ring 200 is performed during the propulsion process.

[0048] Specifically, step S4 includes: S4.1, a synchronous control system is adopted to simultaneously and synchronously start all mechanical jacks 53, so that they drive the triangular propulsion frame and support plate to move toward the direction close to the cylindrical flange 100 at the same speed and thrust, thereby pushing the elastic ring 200 and the overall assembly including the rounding fixing module and the attitude adjustment module to slowly move toward the sealing groove 400 of the cylindrical flange 100. S4.2 During the assembly process, the operator needs to observe the radial gap between the outer contour surface 210 of the elastic ring 200 and the inner wall of the sealing groove 400. If an uneven gap is found, the third fastener (i.e., the third bolt 12) on that side is tightened so that its end abuts against the inner wall 500 of the cylindrical flange. The second fastener (i.e., the second bolt 5) is tightened to further adjust the gap between the elastic ring 200 and the inner wall of the sealing groove 400, thereby dynamically fine-tuning the radial position of the elastic ring 200, correcting the eccentricity in real time, and ensuring that the circumferential gap between the elastic ring 200 and the inner wall of the sealing groove 400 is always uniform until the elastic ring 200 is fully and correctly assembled into the sealing groove of the cylindrical flange 100.

[0049] Step S5: Remove each module of the horizontal installation fixture from the elastic ring 200.

[0050] Specifically, step S5 includes: S5.1 After confirming that the elastic ring 200 is installed in place, reverse the operation of all mechanical jacks 53 to retract their push rods; S5.2, Disassemble all triangular propulsion frames; S5.3 Loosen and remove all first fasteners (i.e., first bolt 7 and first nut 8), second fasteners (i.e., second bolt 5) and third fasteners (i.e., third bolt 12). S5.4, remove the circular support fixing module (including the annular support plate 4, support tube 3, assembly plate 2, annular support plate 13, etc.) from the installed elastic ring 200; S5.5, Disconnect the attitude adjustment module (e.g., remove the chain from the lug 9) to complete the entire installation process.

[0051] In summary, the present invention provides a horizontal installation fixture and method for elastic rings of large pressure vessels, which can realize the mechanization and controllability of the installation process, ensure that the elastic ring maintains roundness, levelness and centering throughout the installation process, and can be pushed into the sealing groove evenly and synchronously, thereby eliminating the risk of jamming and improving the success rate, quality and efficiency of installation.

[0052] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0053] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "height," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0054] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0055] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0056] Although the present invention has been described in detail through the preferred embodiments above, it should be understood that the above description should not be considered as a limitation of the present invention. Various modifications and substitutions to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the above description. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A horizontal mounting fixture for elastic rings in large pressure vessels, used to install the elastic ring into the sealing groove of the cylindrical flange of the large pressure vessel, characterized in that, include: A rounding fixing module is used to fix and maintain the roundness of a horizontally placed elastic ring; An attitude adjustment module, which is connected to the center of the circular support fixing module, is used to realize the overall vertical flipping and center of gravity leveling of the elastic ring and the circular support fixing module that are fixedly connected to each other. The synchronous propulsion module is evenly arranged near the end face of the cylindrical flange to provide multiple evenly distributed propulsion forces so that the rounding fixing module and the attitude adjustment module after the elastic ring is assembled are evenly stressed and pushed into the sealing groove of the cylindrical flange. The centering fine-tuning module, which is integrated on the supporting round fixing module, is used to fine-tune the radial position of the cylindrical flange during the advancement process to maintain a uniform gap between the elastic ring and the inner wall of the sealing groove of the cylindrical flange.

2. The installation fixture as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The circular support fixing module includes: An annular support plate, and a plurality of support tubes and a collection plate integrally formed within the annular ring of the annular support plate; the plurality of support tubes are arranged in a star-shaped pattern, with one end of the tubes near the annular support plate connected to the inner ring surface of the annular support plate, and the other end connected to the collection plate located at the center of the annular support plate; the annular support plate has a first support surface for supporting and fitting the elastic ring after the elastic ring is installed. An annular support plate is concentrically arranged with the annular support plate and located on the first support surface of the annular support plate, and the outer diameter of the annular support plate is smaller than the inner diameter of the elastic ring.

3. The installation fixture as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The annular support plate has multiple pressure plates on one side of its first support surface. The pressure plates are evenly spaced along the annular first support surface, and the surface of each pressure plate is spaced apart from and parallel to the first support surface of the annular support plate. The elastic ring is housed in the space between the annular support plate and the pressure plates. A first fastener is provided between the annular support plate and the pressure plate. By tightening the first fastener, the distance between the annular support plate and the pressure plate is reduced, so as to press the elastic ring in a direction perpendicular to the annular support plate and the pressure plate.

4. The installation fixture as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The circular support fixing module further includes: Multiple second fasteners are evenly distributed circumferentially along the inner ring surface of the annular support plate, and are perpendicularly inserted through the inner and outer ring surfaces of the annular support plate. One end of the second fastener passing through the outer ring surface of the annular support plate is close to the inner contour surface of the elastic ring. By screwing the multiple second fasteners, the elastic ring is expanded into a circle along each radial direction. The outer contour surface of the elastic ring is close to the sealing groove of the cylindrical flange. After the elastic ring is assembled into the sealing groove of the cylindrical flange, the assembly position of the rounded elastic ring is adjusted by tightening the second fastener so that the gap between the elastic ring and the inner wall of the sealing groove is uniform.

5. The installation fixture as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The attitude adjustment module includes: multiple lifting rings, lifting rods, and lifting lugs; Multiple lifting rings are symmetrically arranged on the second support surface of the annular support plate. The second support surface is opposite to the first support surface and is used to horizontally lift the round fixing module after the elastic ring is assembled and to vertically flip it after lifting. The suspension rod is concentric with and perpendicular to the annular support plate on the assembly plate, and the suspension rod is oriented away from the elastic ring. The lifting lug is located at the end of the lifting rod that is not connected to the assembly plate, so as to adjust the center of gravity of the supporting ring fixing module after the lifting rope is connected, so that the first support surface of the annular support plate is parallel to the end face of the cylinder flange to be installed.

6. The installation fixture as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The attitude adjustment module further includes: a counterweight; the counterweight is sleeved on the boom for balancing; The lifting rings are provided in multiple sets, and the two lifting rings in each set are distributed on both ends of the second support surface along the radial direction.

7. The installation fixture as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The synchronous propulsion module includes multiple triangular propulsion frames located on one side of the second support surface of the annular support plate and symmetrically distributed with respect to the vertical reference line of the annular support plate. Each triangular propulsion frame includes a vertical support and an oblique support set at a certain angle to the vertical support. The vertical reference line is the vertical axis of the annular support plate that is perpendicular to the ground and passes through its center. Two mechanical jacks are installed symmetrically to the horizontal reference line on each vertical support, and the ends of the jack rods of the two mechanical jacks are respectively aligned with the second support surface of the leveled and aligned annular support plate; the horizontal reference line is a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the vertical reference line and passes through the center of the annular support plate. Each mechanical jack connected to a vertical support is connected to a synchronous control system to synchronously control the operation of the mechanical jacks, thereby generating synchronous and equal propulsive forces on the second support surface of the elastic ring and the support ring fixing module.

8. The installation fixture as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The centering fine-tuning module is a third fastener, which is vertically inserted through the inner and outer ring surfaces of the annular support plate, and one end of the third fastener passing through the outer ring surface of the annular support plate is close to the inner wall of the cylinder flange. By tightening the third fastener, one end of the third fastener passes through the outer ring surface of the annular support plate and contacts and abuts against the inner wall of the cylindrical flange, thereby adjusting the radial gap between the sealing groove and the outer contour surface of the elastic ring.

9. A method of using a flexible ring-shaped horizontal installation fixture, implemented based on the installation fixture as described in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The method of using the installation fixture includes the following steps: Step S1: The elastic ring is clamped in the rounding fixing module and the elastic ring is rounded. Step S2: The circular support module with the elastic ring clamped is lifted and vertically rotated as a whole, and the center of gravity is adjusted by the attitude adjustment module so that the annular support plate is parallel to the end face of the cylindrical flange to be installed. Step S3: Distribute the synchronous propulsion modules evenly along the circumference of the elastic ring; Step S4: Through the synchronous propulsion module and the centering fine-tuning module, the elastic ring and the overall assembly including the rounding fixing module and the attitude adjustment module are synchronously propulsed into the sealing groove of the cylinder flange at multiple points, and the centering fine-tuning of the elastic ring is performed in real time. Step S5: Remove each module from the elastic ring in the installation fixture.

10. The method of use as described in claim 9, characterized in that, Step S1 includes: The circular support fixing module is hoisted above the elastic ring, and the first support surface of the annular support plate is made to fit against the surface of the elastic ring, and the inner ring surface of the elastic ring is made close to the outer ring surface of the annular support plate. The pressure plate is locked to the annular support plate using the first fastener, thereby clamping the elastic ring between the two. Tighten the second fastener so that its end extends from the outer ring surface of the annular support plate and abuts against the inner contour surface of the elastic ring. By adjusting the second fasteners that are evenly distributed at multiple points, the roundness of the elastic ring can be corrected and maintained from all directions. Step S2 includes: At least two sets of lifting rings are connected by the first lifting equipment to horizontally lift the support ring fixing module after the elastic ring is assembled; each set is equipped with two lifting rings; Slowly disconnect the connection between the lifting equipment and the two adjacent lifting rings on one side of the ring support plate, while keeping the connection with the two lifting rings on the other side, so that the support ring fixing module and attitude adjustment module after the elastic ring is assembled can complete a 90° vertical flip in the air. After flipping, the side of the ring support plate with the elastic ring installed faces the end face of the cylinder flange. After the flipping is completed, the lifting rod is lifted by the second lifting equipment; by adjusting the weight of the counterweight, the center of gravity and attitude of the supporting ring fixing module and attitude adjustment module after the elastic ring is assembled are adjusted until the first support surface of the ring support plate is parallel to the end face of the cylinder flange to be installed. The real-time centering fine-tuning of the elastic ring in step S4 includes: When the elastic ring is pushed into the sealing groove of the cylindrical flange, if there is an uneven radial gap between the outer contour surface of the elastic ring and the inner wall of the sealing groove, the third fastener set at the uneven gap is tightened so that its end abuts against the inner wall of the cylindrical flange. Furthermore, by tightening the second fastener located at the uneven gap, the gap between the elastic ring and the inner wall of the sealing groove is further adjusted to ensure the centered assembly of the elastic ring.

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