Ultra-low temperature fully automatic leak-proof connection device

Abstract

A fully automatic leak-proof connection device for ultra-low temperature applications is provided. Multiple cylinders are evenly distributed around the outer circumference of a pipe on the upper surface of the mounting base. The upper ends of the cylinders are fixedly connected to the lower end of the base plate. The upper end of the base plate is hinged to the lower end of a clamping jaw via a double-eared seat. The middle of the clamping jaw is hinged to the outer wall of the upper flange at the upper port of the pipe. The extension and retraction of the cylinder piston rod controls the upper end of the clamping jaw to quickly connect or separate the upper flange and the lower flange of the pipe (coaxially located above the pipe). A spring is fitted on the cylinder piston rod between the upper end of the cylinder body and the base plate. When the clamping jaws tightly connect the upper flange of the pipe and the lower flange of the pipe, the spring provides a leak-proof clamping force to the clamping jaws. This invention, by optimizing the structure of the quick-connect device, effectively compensates for the gaps caused by component shrinkage and fatigue deformation under low-temperature conditions, maintains constant pressure on the sealing surface, achieves extremely high sealing standards, and effectively prevents leakage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the technical field of fluid loading and unloading equipment, specifically relating to an ultra-low temperature fully automatic leak-proof connection device. Background Technology

[0002] In the fluid transfer process in the petroleum, chemical and other fields, loading arms are key loading and unloading equipment. Their rapid and sealed connection with containers such as storage tanks and tank trucks directly affects operational efficiency and safety.

[0003] LNG tanker truck loading / unloading operations demand rapid connection and efficient turnaround. However, the flanges require multiple high-strength bolts, which operators must manually tighten / remove one by one. Connecting a single flange is time-consuming, and large-diameter flanges require multiple people working together, making the process even more time-consuming. Furthermore, at ultra-low temperatures of -162℃, flanges, bolts, and tools shrink and become brittle, leading to the following problems during assembly and disassembly: 1) Operators wearing heavy cold-weather gloves experience reduced finger dexterity, making bolts prone to misalignment, stripping, or even freezing to the metal surface; 2) Low-temperature shrinkage of bolts reduces the mating clearance, increases resistance, and makes the material brittle, prone to breakage or chipping, resulting in connection failure. LNG tanker truck flange connections must achieve zero leakage, but manual bolt connections are difficult to guarantee. Uneven tightening torque causes stress imbalance on the sealing surface, and at low temperatures, the gasket shrinks, widening the gaps and increasing the risk of leakage. Manual operation also easily leads to localized deformation and damage to the gasket, and at low temperatures, the gasket's elasticity decreases, and repeated loading and unloading accelerates aging, increasing the probability of leakage.

[0004] Quick-connect devices have emerged as a result, such as the hydraulic quick-connect device disclosed in Chinese Utility Model Patent CN202320535285.3. Although it can achieve basic quick-connect functions, it still has shortcomings in practical applications: Under the low-temperature and high-pressure conditions of LNG transportation, the locking gap is prone to change due to slight deformation of components in the ultra-low temperature environment, which may lead to loosening of the connection and leakage, seriously affecting the reliability and safety of the connection; furthermore, the locking force of this device relies only on the instantaneous force of hydraulic drive and lacks a continuous pressing structure. In long-term low-temperature operation, fatigue deformation of components will further weaken the locking effect and affect the reliability of the connection; therefore, it is necessary to improve the device to address the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0005] The technical problem solved by this utility model is to provide a fully automatic leak-proof connection device for ultra-low temperature environments. By optimizing the structure of the quick connection device, the overall rigidity and deformation resistance are improved. A spring is installed on the piston rod of the cylinder, located between the upper end face of the cylinder body and the plate seat. After the jaws lock the flange, the spring provides a continuous and stable leak-proof clamping force for the two connected flanges, effectively compensating for the gaps caused by component shrinkage and fatigue deformation in low-temperature environments, maintaining constant pressure on the sealing surface, and solving the problem of flange loosening and leakage caused by slight deformation gaps in ultra-low temperature environments. It achieves extremely high sealing standards, effectively prevents leakage, and provides a safe operating environment for on-site personnel. The device has a compact structure, reasonable layout, and is convenient to install and debug. It can be flexibly applied to various fluid transfer scenarios such as petroleum, chemical, and LNG, and has a wide range of applications.

[0006] The technical solution adopted in this utility model is: an ultra-low temperature fully automatic leak-proof connection device, including a mounting base that is fitted and positioned on a pipeline. The upper end of the mounting base is provided with multiple cylinders that are evenly distributed around the outer circumference of the pipeline. The upper end of the cylinders is fixedly connected to the lower end of the plate base. The upper end of the plate base is hinged to the lower end of the chuck through a double-ear seat. The middle part of the chuck is hinged to the outer wall of the upper flange at the upper port of the pipeline. The extension and retraction of the cylinder piston rod controls the upper end of the chuck to quickly connect or quickly separate the upper flange and the lower flange of the pipeline two, which is coaxially located above the pipeline. A spring is fitted on the cylinder piston rod between the upper end of the cylinder body and the plate base. When the chuck clamps the upper flange on the pipeline one and the lower flange at the lower end of the pipeline two, the spring provides a leak-proof clamping force for the chuck.

[0007] The mounting base includes a cross plate with a through hole in the center and a positioning sleeve coaxially fixed to the bottom surface of the cross plate. The cross plate is a square plate with a through hole in the center and a plate-shaped structure in which the square plate is connected to the end plates by connecting plates around its perimeter. The positioning sleeve and the cross plate are fitted onto the pipe, and the lower end of the positioning sleeve abuts against the lower flange at the lower end of the pipe. Multiple reinforcing plates that are fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the cross plate are evenly distributed on the outer circumferential wall of the positioning sleeve, and four cylinders are respectively fixed to the upper surface of the four end plates of the cross plate.

[0008] Furthermore, the plate base includes a T-shaped sleeve and a circular plate. The lower end of the T-shaped sleeve is adapted and fixedly connected to the end of the cylinder piston rod, and the upper end of the T-shaped sleeve is coaxially fixed to the bottom surface of the circular plate. An ear plate is fixed in the middle of the upper surface of the circular plate, and the lower end of the double ear base is hinged to the ear plate through a pin. The upper and lower ends of the spring fitted on the cylinder piston rod and the small diameter section of the T-shaped sleeve respectively abut against the bottom surface of the circular plate and the upper surface of the cylinder body.

[0009] Furthermore, the pin hole of the double ear seat is provided with a copper sleeve with a solid lubricating coating on both the inner and outer surfaces, and a pin with a solid lubricating coating that passes through the copper sleeve hinges the double ear seat to the claw.

[0010] Furthermore, the double-ear seat is an H-shaped structure with pin holes at both the top and bottom ends.

[0011] Furthermore, the mounting base, plate base, and double-ear base are all made of nickel-based alloy or ultra-low temperature carbon steel.

[0012] Furthermore, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) gasket is provided between the upper flange and the lower flange.

[0013] Furthermore, the surfaces of the dual lugs and claws are coated with polytetrafluoroethylene or a zinc-nickel alloy with a thickness of ≥20μm.

[0014] Furthermore, the upper end of the cylinder is provided with a fixing ring, and the upper end of the bellows inside which the spring is fitted is fixed to the circular plate of the plate base, while the lower end of the bellows is fitted onto the fixing ring.

[0015] Advantages of this utility model compared to the prior art: 1. This technical solution achieves fully automatic quick connection and quick disconnection of flanges by using a cylinder to drive the chuck, eliminating the need for manual operation of each bolt. This shortens the connection time for a single flange and significantly improves efficiency compared to the traditional manual method. At the same time, the automated operation does not require multiple people to cooperate, which can reduce the number of on-site operators, reduce labor costs and management difficulty, and is especially suitable for LNG tank truck high-frequency turnover operation scenarios. 2. In this technical solution, a spring is installed on the cylinder piston rod. After the chuck locks the flange, the spring can provide a continuous and stable anti-leakage clamping force, effectively compensating for the gap caused by component shrinkage and fatigue deformation in low temperature environment, and maintaining constant pressure on the sealing surface. 3. The core components of this technical solution are made of nickel-based alloy or ultra-low temperature carbon steel, which have excellent low-temperature embrittlement resistance. Combined with the solid lubricating coating of moving parts, it ensures no jamming or cracking at low temperatures. It guarantees zero leakage sealing standards from both structural and material aspects, reducing the risk of safety accidents caused by LNG leakage. 4. The mounting base of this technical solution adopts a combination structure of cross plate and positioning sleeve, combined with a reinforcing plate design, which greatly improves the overall rigidity and deformation resistance, and can withstand low temperature and high pressure conditions for a long time without being easily damaged; the solid lubricating coating on the moving parts of the claw and piston rod can effectively reduce low temperature friction resistance, reduce component wear, extend service life, reduce maintenance frequency and spare parts replacement costs, and improve the overall operating efficiency of the equipment. 5. This technical solution eliminates the need for operators to have close contact with cryogenic flanges and metal components, completely avoiding safety hazards such as frozen gloves and frostbite; and the stable sealing performance eliminates the dangers of combustion, explosion, and suffocation caused by LNG leakage, providing a safe operating environment for on-site personnel. The compact structure and reasonable layout make it easy to install and debug and can be flexibly applied to various fluid transfer scenarios such as petroleum, chemical, and LNG, with a wide range of applications. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the mounting base structure of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the seat plate structure of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The following will be based on the embodiments of this utility model. Figure 1-3 The technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model are clearly and completely described herein. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0018] It should be noted that, unless otherwise stated herein, the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are used 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. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0019] In this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover a 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. Without further limitation, 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.

[0020] Ultra-low temperature fully automatic leak-proof connection device, such as Figure 1As shown, the device includes a mounting base 2 that is fitted and positioned on pipe 1. The upper surface of the mounting base 2 has multiple cylinders 3 evenly distributed around the outer circumference of pipe 1. The upper ends of the cylinders 3 are fixedly connected to the lower end of a plate base 7. The upper end of the plate base 7 is hinged to the lower end of a chuck 6 via a double-eared seat 4. The middle of the chuck 6 is hinged to the outer wall of the upper flange 5 at the upper port of pipe 1. The extension and retraction of the piston rod of the cylinders 3 controls the upper end of the chuck 6 to quickly connect or quickly... Separately, a spring 10 is installed on the piston rod of the cylinder 3, located between the upper end face of the cylinder body and the plate seat 7. When the chuck 6 clamps the upper flange 5 on pipe 1 and the lower flange 9 at the lower end of pipe 2 8, the spring 10 provides a leak-proof clamping force to the chuck 6. In the above structure, after the chuck 6 locks the flange on the piston rod of the cylinder 3, the spring 10 can provide a continuous and stable leak-proof clamping force, effectively compensating for the gap caused by the shrinkage and fatigue deformation of the components under low temperature environment, and maintaining a constant pressure on the sealing surface.

[0021] like Figure 2 As shown, the mounting base 2 includes a cross plate 2-1 with a through hole in the center of the plate surface and a positioning sleeve 2-2 coaxially fixed to the bottom surface of the cross plate 2-1. The cross plate 2-1 is a plate-shaped structure consisting of a square plate with a through hole in the center and the square plate being connected to the end plate by connecting plates around its perimeter. The positioning sleeve 2-2 and the cross plate 2-1 are fitted onto the pipe 1, and the lower end of the positioning sleeve 2-2 abuts against the lower flange 9 at the lower end of the pipe 1. Multiple reinforcing plates 2 are evenly distributed on the outer circumferential wall of the positioning sleeve 2-2 and are fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the cross plate 2-1. -3, to enhance the overall rigidity of the mounting base 2, and the four cylinders 3 are respectively fixed to the upper surface of the four end plates of the cross plate 2-1; in the above structure, the mounting base 2 adopts a combination structure of cross plate 2-1 and positioning sleeve 2-2, and with the design of reinforcing plate 2-3, the overall rigidity and anti-deformation ability are greatly improved, and it can withstand low temperature and high pressure conditions for a long time without being easily damaged; the setting of solid lubricating coating can effectively reduce low temperature friction resistance, reduce component wear, extend service life, reduce maintenance frequency and spare parts replacement costs, and improve the overall operating efficiency of the equipment; like Figure 3As shown, the plate base 7 includes a T-shaped sleeve 7-1 and a circular plate 7-2. The lower end of the T-shaped sleeve 7-1 is adapted and fixed to the end of the piston rod of the cylinder 3, and the upper end of the T-shaped sleeve 7-1 is coaxially fixed to the bottom surface of the circular plate 7-2. An ear plate 7-3 is fixed in the middle of the upper surface of the circular plate 7-2, and the lower end of the double ear seat 4 is hinged to the ear plate 7-3 by a pin. The upper and lower ends of the spring 10, which is fitted onto the piston rod of the cylinder 3 and the small diameter section of the T-shaped sleeve 7-1, respectively abut against the bottom surface of the circular plate 7-2 and the upper surface of the cylinder body of the cylinder 3. When the pawl 6 is locked, the spring 10 provides a continuous anti-leakage clamping force for the pawl 6. Specifically, the pin hole of the double ear seat 4 is provided with a copper sleeve with a solid lubricating coating sprayed on both the inner and outer surfaces. A pin with a solid lubricating coating and passing through the copper sleeve hinges the double ear seat 4 to the pawl 6. The solid lubricating coating, such as the high-performance solid lubricant MoS2, is used in the double ear seat 4. It can maintain a low coefficient of friction (μ≤0.1) at 162℃, eliminating the need for regular grease application, reducing frictional resistance at low temperatures, and ensuring the flexibility of component movement.

[0022] The double-ear seat 4 is an H-shaped structure with pin holes at both the upper and lower ends. The lower end is hinged to the ear plate 7-3 via a pin shaft, realizing the transmission of the driving force of the cylinder 3 to the chuck 6. Specifically, the mounting base 2, plate base 7, and double-ear seat 4 are all made of nickel-based alloy or ultra-low temperature carbon steel, which have excellent low-temperature strength and toughness and no risk of low-temperature brittle fracture. The core components are made of nickel-based alloy or ultra-low temperature carbon steel, which have excellent low-temperature anti-embrittlement performance. The solid lubricating coating ensures no jamming or cracking at low temperatures. It guarantees the zero-leakage sealing standard from both structural and material aspects, reducing the risk of safety accidents caused by LNG leakage.

[0023] A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sealing gasket is provided between the upper flange 5 and the lower flange 9, which can automatically compensate for low-temperature shrinkage (such as shrinkage of 0.8 mm at -162℃) to ensure long-term sealing performance; the surfaces of the double-ear seat 4 and the claw 6 are coated with PTFE or zinc-nickel alloy with a thickness of ≥20μm, and the salt spray test life exceeds 1000 hours, which is 5 times better than the traditional zinc plating layer.

[0024] The upper end of the cylinder 3 is provided with a fixing ring, and the upper end of the bellows inside which the spring 10 is fitted is fixed to the circular plate 7-2 of the plate base 7, while the lower end of the bellows is fitted onto the fixing ring. The bellows provides protection for the spring 10.

[0025] This technical solution eliminates the need for operators to have close contact with cryogenic flanges and metal components, completely avoiding safety hazards such as frozen gloves and frostbite. Furthermore, its stable sealing performance eliminates the dangers of combustion, explosion, and suffocation caused by LNG leaks, providing a safe operating environment for on-site personnel. With its compact structure, reasonable layout, and convenient installation and commissioning, it can be flexibly applied to various fluid transfer scenarios such as petroleum, chemical, and LNG, making it widely applicable.

[0026] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered illustrative and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within this invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0027] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A fully automatic leak-proof connection device for ultra-low temperature, characterized in that: The system includes a mounting base (2) positioned on pipe 1 (1). The upper surface of the mounting base (2) is provided with multiple cylinders (3) evenly distributed around the outer circumference of pipe 1 (1). The upper end of each cylinder (3) is fixedly connected to the lower end of a plate base (7). The upper end of the plate base (7) is hinged to the lower end of a chuck (6) via a double-eared seat (4). The chuck (6) is hinged in the middle to the outer wall of the upper flange (5) at the upper port of pipe 1 (1), and the extension and retraction of the piston rod of the cylinder (3) controls the movement of the chuck. 6) The upper flange (5) and the lower flange (9) of the second pipe (8) coaxially located above the first pipe (1) can be quickly connected or quickly separated. The piston rod of the cylinder (3) is fitted with a spring (10) located between the upper end face of the cylinder body and the plate seat (7). When the upper flange (5) on the first pipe (1) and the lower flange (9) at the lower end of the second pipe (8) are clamped and connected by the claw (6), the spring (10) provides the anti-leakage clamping force for the claw (6).

2. The ultra-low temperature fully automatic leak-tight connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting base (2) includes a cross plate (2-1) with a through hole in the middle of the plate surface and a positioning sleeve (2-2) coaxially fixed to the bottom surface of the cross plate (2-1). The cross plate (2-1) is a square plate with a through hole in the middle and a plate structure in which the square plate is connected to the end plate by connecting plates around the perimeter. The positioning sleeve (2-2) and the cross plate (2-1) are fitted onto the pipe (1), and the lower end of the positioning sleeve (2-2) abuts against the lower flange (9) at the lower end of the pipe (1). Multiple reinforcing plates (2-3) that are fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the cross plate (2-1) are evenly distributed on the outer circumferential wall of the positioning sleeve (2-2), and four cylinders (3) are respectively fixed to the upper plate surface of the four end plates of the cross plate (2-1).

3. The ultra-low temperature fully automatic leak-tight connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plate base (7) includes a T-shaped sleeve (7-1) and a circular plate (7-2). The lower end of the T-shaped sleeve (7-1) is adapted and fixed to the end of the piston rod of the cylinder (3), and the upper end of the T-shaped sleeve (7-1) is coaxially fixed to the bottom surface of the circular plate (7-2). An ear plate (7-3) is fixed in the middle of the upper surface of the circular plate (7-2), and the lower end of the double ear seat (4) is hinged to the ear plate (7-3) through a pin. The upper and lower ends of the spring (10) fitted on the piston rod of the cylinder (3) and the small diameter section of the T-shaped sleeve (7-1) abut against the bottom surface of the circular plate (7-2) and the upper surface of the cylinder body of the cylinder (3), respectively.

4. The ultra-low temperature fully automatic leak-tight connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The double ear seat (4) has a copper sleeve with a solid lubricating coating on both its inner and outer surfaces inside the pin hole. The pin with the solid lubricating coating and passing through the copper sleeve hinges the double ear seat (4) to the claw (6).

5. The ultra-low temperature fully automatic leak tight connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The double-ear seat (4) is an H-shaped structure with pin holes at both the top and bottom ends.

6. The ultra-low temperature fully automatic leak tight connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting base (2), plate base (7) and double ear base (4) are all made of nickel-based alloy or ultra-low temperature carbon steel.

7. The ultra-low temperature fully automatic leak tight connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) gasket is provided between the upper flange (5) and the lower flange (9).

8. The ultra-low temperature fully automatic leak tight connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surfaces of the double ear seat (4) and the claw (6) are coated with polytetrafluoroethylene or zinc-nickel alloy with a thickness of ≥20μm.

9. The ultra-low temperature fully automatic leak tight connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end of the air cylinder (3) is provided with a fixing ring, and the spring (10) is sleeved on the upper end of the bellows, and the lower end of the bellows is sleeved on the fixing ring.

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