Rail inspection trolley for a framed valve

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an inspection trolley (10) of a hydraulic valve (1) for shutting off a flow into a body of water, the valve comprising: a body (2), a guide rail (5) and a counter-guide rail (4), a sealing plate (19) substantially parallel to the counter-guide rail (4) or to the guide rail (5), in which the inspection trolley (10) comprises: a guide train (11) and a counter-guide train (12), a measuring frame (7) disposed between the guide train (11) and the counter-guide train (12), a reference sensor (18) configured to measure a distance between the inspection trolley (10) and the sealing plate (19), a guide sensor (21) and / or a counter-guide sensor (22), and a means for measuring a distance between the inspection trolley (10) and a horizontal reference plane (25). Abbreviated figure: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Rail inspection trolley for a framed valve technical field

[0001] The present application falls within the field of hydraulic valves designed to prevent flow into a body of water. More specifically, it relates to a rail inspection device on which the body of such a valve can slide. PRIOR TECHNOLOGY

[0002] A hydraulic frame valve is frequently used to selectively prevent or allow the flow of water in a flowing body of water, such as a lake. Such a valve classically comprises a body in the form of a frame and a plurality of rollers arranged on either side of the frame, so as to allow vertical movement of the frame between rails arranged on each side of the rollers.

[0003] When the valve is in the closed position, a first rail located downstream of the frame, called the guide rail, absorbs the forces exerted on it by the frame due to the water pressure. A second rail located upstream of the frame, called the counter-guide rail, serves to prevent the valve from tilting upstream when the water pressure is equalized following at least a partial opening of the valve.

[0004] During the life of a hydraulic valve frame, the frame is regularly mounted on its rails to allow water to flow. The opening of the valve takes place in two stages: a first stage during which the frame is raised slightly, so as to connect the water on both sides of the valve and to balance the pressure upstream and downstream of the valve, then the frame is raised further to allow complete communication between the two sides, this second stage being carried out when the pressures on both sides of the valve are balanced.

[0005] These repeated openings of the valve can cause deformations in the rails. In particular, when the pressure is balanced upstream and downstream of the valve, the frame exerts a non-uniform force on the counter-guide rail along its height, with a greater force towards the top of the counter-guide rail due to a "tilting" of the top of the frame towards this rail.

[0006] In addition, a phenomenon known as "peening" can occur on the guide rail: due to the pressure exerted by the water on the frame, the rollers come to press against the guide rail at specific positions of it located opposite the rollers in the closed position of the valve body, and cause the appearance of deformations in these areas of the guide rail.

[0007] It is desirable to be able to study such deformations of the guide and counter-guide rails precisely, so as to be able to detect rail wear, the possibility of derailment of the frame, an increase in operating forces, and wear of a seal early enough, and to replace or repair the seal in order to prevent a deterioration of the valve's watertightness. One solution that has been considered is to install a cofferdam upstream of the valve, that is, to place a cofferdam (or a small dam) that prevents the flow of water towards the valve so as to keep the valve out of the water and allow for its inspection. However, this is expensive and difficult to implement.

[0008] More generally, any solution that keeps the framework out of the water allows the measurement of rail deformations, but is impractical due to the time and resources required for its implementation. EXPOSED

[0009] It is therefore necessary to allow a precise inspection to the millimeter of deformations of the rails of a framed hydraulic valve, immersed in turbid water, more precise, less expensive and faster than with known methods.

[0010] To this end, an inspection trolley for a hydraulic shut-off valve for a flow into a body of water is proposed, the valve comprising:

[0011] a body,

[0012] a guide rail located downstream of the body and a counter-guide rail located upstream of the body in the normal direction of water flow in the water body,

[0013] a sealing plate substantially parallel to the counter-guide rail or the guide rail,

[0014] wherein the inspection trolley comprises:

[0015] a guide train configured to allow the inspection carriage to roll on the guide rail and a counter-guide train configured to allow the inspection carriage to roll on the counter-guide rail,

[0016] a measuring frame disposed between the guide train and the counter-guide train,

[0017] a reference sensor configured to measure a distance between the inspection carriage and the sealing plate,

[0018] a guidance sensor configured to measure a distance between the inspection carriage and the guide rail, and / or a counter-guidance sensor configured to measure a distance between the inspection carriage and the counter-guidance rail, and

[0019] a means of measuring a distance between the inspection trolley and a horizontal reference plane.

[0020] Thus, the use of a submerged inspection trolley, which can be moved vertically and The ability to measure its distance from a rail allows for the rapid identification of rail deformations without the need to dewater the valve, as well as the creation of a precise rail profile based on the considered height. The trolley is particularly useful for measuring rail alignment during the construction or renovation of a hydraulic valve.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the means for obtaining the distance between the inspection trolley and the horizontal reference plane is chosen from:

[0022] an altitude sensor configured to measure the distance between the inspection trolley and the horizontal reference plane, and

[0023] a surface configured to allow measurement by an altitude sensor positioned on the horizontal reference plane of a distance between the inspection trolley and the horizontal reference plane.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the guidance sensor is located on the guidance train and / or the counter-guidance sensor is located on the counter-guidance train.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the trolley includes a lifting winch configured to selectively exert a lifting force enabling the inspection trolley to rise, so as to allow the inspection trolley to descend under the effect of the weight of the inspection trolley in the absence of the lifting force.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the reference sensor is mounted on a support arm attached to the chassis and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a main axis of the chassis.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the guide train comprises a wheel and the counter-guide train comprises a mechanical suspension configured to maintain contact between the wheel and the guide rail.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the reference sensor and at least one of the guidance sensor and the counter-guidance sensor are arranged substantially in the same plane orthogonal to a first axis substantially parallel to the counter-guidance rail, preferably in a median plane of the chassis.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the reference sensor, the altitude sensor and at least one of the guidance sensor and the counter-guidance sensor are induction sensors or potentiometric sensors.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the trolley includes a tilt sensor configured to measure a tilt of the chassis with respect to a plane orthogonal to a first axis substantially parallel to the counter-guiding rail.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the chassis includes a receiving compartment equipped with a support plate.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the chassis comprises two receiving compartments located on either side of the chassis along an axis of movement of the inspection trolley and separated by the support plate, and the chassis is substantially symmetrical along a plane defined by the support plate.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the inspection trolley includes a stability leg extending outward from the guide train and / or the counter-guide train and configured to come into contact with the guide rail or with the counter-guide rail when moving the inspection trolley in a direction perpendicular to a slice of the valve.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the trolley includes two stability legs extending outward from the guide train and / or two stability legs extending outward from the counter-guide train so as to come into contact with the guide rail and / or with the counter-guide rail during a rotation of the inspection trolley around a main axis of the chassis.

[0035] Another aspect of this disclosure relates to a method for inspecting a hydraulic shut-off valve for a flow into a body of water using an inspection cart as defined above, comprising:

[0036] an acquisition of measurements by the reference sensor and by at least one of the guidance sensor and the counter-guidance sensor,

[0037] a measurement of the distance between the inspection trolley and the horizontal reference plane, and

[0038] Establishing a distance profile, over at least a portion of the height of the guide rail and / or the counter-guide rail, between the guide rail and the guide sensor and / or between the counter-guide rail and the counter-guide sensor, as a function of the distance between the inspection carriage and the horizontal reference plane. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0039] [Fig. la] schematically represents a hydraulic valve with a framed body.

[0040] [Fig.lb] schematically represents the valve of [Fig.la], top view.

[0041] [Fig. 2] schematically represents a hydraulic valve rail inspection trolley.

[0042] [Fig.3A] schematically represents distances measured using the inspection trolley of [Fig.2].

[0043] [Fig.3B] schematically represents distances measured using the inspection trolley of [Fig.2].

[0044] Throughout the description, the same reference signs denote similar or identical elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENTATION METHODS

[0045] Figures 1a and 1b represent a hydraulic valve, used for selective permitting or preventing the flow of water into a body of water. In what follows, reference will be made in particular to a framed gate as an example, but this disclosure applies to any device for shutting off a flow of water into a body of water, provided that the device is mounted on guide rails, or generally on any fixed element necessary for guiding a gate body (for example, these elements may be angles, flat bars or IPN beams).

[0046] The hydraulic valve 1 comprises a body 2 which provides a water damming function. This body 2 comprises two vertically oriented sections 9, equipped with rollers 3 enabling them to roll on a guide rail 5 extending below a level of the water surface when it is necessary to move the body 2 vertically, in order to open or close the valve 1. The guide rail 5 is positioned downstream of the body 2 with respect to a normal direction of water flow in the water surface.

[0047] According to some embodiments, the slices do not include rollers 3, and the valve 1 includes other means of vertical sliding movement that replace these rollers. For example, the valve 1 may include sliding lugs, or leaf springs that allow the valve 1 to be guided in the rails.

[0048] The valve 1 further comprises a counter-guide rail 4, positioned upstream of the body 2 relative to the normal direction of water flow in the water body. When the valve is submerged, and the pressure on the upstream side is greater than the pressure on the downstream side, the counter-guide rail 4 is subjected to low forces. Indeed, the body 2 is then pressed against the guide rail 5 by means of the rollers 3 and therefore does not exert any force on the counter-guide rail 4.However, an upstream seal 25 may be provided between the counter-guide rail 4 and the body 2 so as to ensure a seal of the valve on the upstream side, even when it is pressed against the guide rail 5, this seal 25 then being pre-stressed and exerting, when the pressures upstream and downstream of the body 2 are balanced, a force on the counter-guide rail 4, this force being however small compared to that exerted by the body 2 on the guide rail 5 via the rollers 3. .

[0049] Because of the greater forces that can be exerted on the guide rail 5, it is typically wider and therefore more resistant than the counter-guide rail 4.

[0050] Thus, when the valve 1 is closed, the rollers 3 are only in contact with the guide rail 5. The rollers only make contact with the counter-guide rail 4 when the valve 1 is opened.

[0051] In addition to or instead of the upstream seal 25, the valve may include a downstream seal (not shown) extending between the body 2 and the guide rail 5.

[0052] The valve 1 also includes a sealing plate 19. The sealing plate 19 can be designed to contact the upstream seal 25, and is therefore located near the counter-guide rail 4. Alternatively, the sealing plate 19 can be designed to contact the downstream seal (not shown), and is therefore located near the guide rail 5. Preferably, the sealing plate is made of stainless steel. The sealing plate 19 is designed to be stable over time, i.e., to deform as little as possible, so as to constantly perform its sealing function. The sealing plate 19 can normally be considered straight and parallel to the rails 4, 5.

[0053] The valve defines an orthonormal axis system, comprising a first axis X substantially parallel to the counter-guide rail 4 and extending from the bottom to the top of the valve 1, a second axis Y perpendicular to the first axis X and parallel to the slice 9, and a third axis Z extending at a distance from the body 2 of the valve 1.

[0054] With reference to [Fig. 2], an inspection carriage 10 is positioned between the guide rail 5 and the counter-guide rail 4, at the location of the rollers 3. The inspection carriage 10 allows for the inspection of deformations on the guide rail 5 or on the counter-guide rail 4, or preferably on both rails 4 and 5. The inspection carriage 10 comprises a frame 7 which defines a principal axis, substantially parallel to the second Y-axis. The frame 7 is arranged between, on the one hand, a guide train 11 positioned opposite the guide rail 5, and on the other hand, a counter-guide train 12 positioned opposite the counter-guide rail 4. In some embodiments, the guide train 11 is positioned opposite the counter-guide rail 4 and the counter-guide train 12 is positioned opposite the guide rail 5.

[0055] The guide train 11 comprises one or more wheels 15, for example, between two and eight wheels 15. The spacing between two successive wheels 15 may be constant. For example, two successive wheels 15 may be arranged at a distance between 200 and 260 mm, in particular 200 mm. Alternatively, the spacing between the wheels 15 may vary. For example, a guide train 11 comprising four wheels may have wheels spaced, respectively, along the first axis X, at 210 mm, 260 mm, and 210 mm.

[0056] The counter-guidance train 12 also includes one or more wheels 24. The wheels 15, 24 of the trains 11, 12 allow movement of the inspection trolley 10 along the rails, according to the first axis X.

[0057] As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the inspection trolley 10 comprises a plurality of sensors.

[0058] A reference sensor 18 is positioned opposite the sealing plate 19, and allows for the detection of a displacement of the chassis 7 along the second Y-axis. The sealing plate is particularly suitable for providing a reference position along the second axis. Y, due to its stability over time. Thus, the reference sensor 18 is able to acquire a signal representative of a distance Mi8 between the reference sensor 18 and the reference plate 19.

[0059] The inspection trolley 10 also includes at least one sensor configured to measure the distance between the trolley 10 and one of the rails 4, 5. According to a first embodiment, the trolley 10 includes a guide sensor 21 positioned opposite the guide rail 5 along the second Y-axis, and capable of measuring a distance M5 separating it from the guide rail 5 for any vertical position the inspection trolley 10 may be in. This makes it possible, in particular, to detect deformations of the guide rail 5 due to a phenomenon known as "peening," which corresponds to the crushing of the guide rail 5 by the rollers 3 of the valve 1 during the valve's service life. This also makes it possible to measure deformations due to other phenomena, such as wear of the guide rail 5 over time, corrosion from contact with water, assembly defects of the guide rail 5, or other types of deformation.

[0060] According to another embodiment, the carriage 10 includes a counter-guidance sensor 22 arranged opposite, along the second Y-axis, the counter-guidance rail 4, and capable of measuring a distance M4 separating it from the counter-guidance rail 4 for any vertical position in which the inspection carriage 10 may be located. This makes it possible, in particular, to detect deformations of the counter-guidance rail 4 that may occur due to the tilting of the valve after its partial opening by the raising of the body 2. Indeed, during such a tilting, the body 2 presses on the counter-guidance rail 4 in a non-uniform manner depending on the altitude considered. This also makes it possible to measure deformations due to other phenomena, such as wear of the counter-guidance rail 4 over time, its corrosion in contact with water, mounting defects of the counter-guidance rail 4, or other types of deformations.

[0061] According to some embodiments, and as illustrated in [Fig.3A], the inspection trolley 10 includes both a guidance sensor 21 and a counter-guidance sensor 22.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the counter-guidance train 12 includes a mechanical suspension 14, configured to keep the guide train 11 in contact with the guide rail 5. The mechanical suspension 14 ensures, in particular, that when the wheels 15 of the guide train 11 pass over a portion of the guide rail 5 that has undergone deformation and therefore presents a sudden depression, the guide train 11 remains in contact with the guide rail 5. This prevents the chassis 7 from moving jerkily, and prevents the guidance sensor 21 from momentarily being in a plane that is not perpendicular to the guide rail 5, which would distort the distance measurement performed by the guidance sensor 21.

[0063] The mechanical suspension 14 includes at least one return element such as a A linear spring, preferably with at least two return elements arranged at distinct positions on the counter-guidance train 12 along the first X-axis, provides improved stability to the inspection carriage 10. The mechanical suspension 14 may also include one or more shock absorbers. In this case, the return element compresses the wheels 15 of the guide train 11 onto the guide rail 5, while the shock absorbers smooth out vibrations in the chassis 7 as the guide train 11 passes over a non-uniform area of ​​the guide rail 5.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the wheels 24 of the counter-guidance train 12 are arranged opposite a slide 34 of the counter-guidance rail 4 so as to be able to move on this slide during a vertical movement of the carriage 10. Equivalently, the wheels 15 of the guide train 11 are arranged opposite a slide 35 of the guide rail 5 so as to be able to move on this slide during a vertical movement of the carriage 10.

[0065] In order to ensure that the guide train 11 does not leave the slide 35 when a wheel 15 passes over a deformed area of ​​the guide rail 5, a maximum travel of the mechanical suspension 14 - defined as a maximum increase in the length of the shock absorbers of the suspension 14 compared to their length when the guide train 11 is on an undeformed area of ​​the guide rail 5 - is greater than the maximum distance along the Y axis between a worn or damaged area and an unworn or undamaged area of ​​the guide rail 5. Thus, regardless of the depth of the deformed area, there is no risk that the wheel 15 will leave the guide rail 5 due to an inability of the mechanical suspension 14 to extend further.If necessary, depending on the geometry of the carriage 10 and more particularly of the mechanical suspension 14, a preload of the return elements of the suspension 14 may be provided so as to ensure contact of the wheel 15 of the guide train 11 with the slide 35 when the roller is opposite an area without deformation.

[0066] Each mechanical suspension 14 is connected to a wheel 24 of the counter-guidance train 12.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the carriage includes at least one stability leg 16 extending outward from the guide train 11. The stability leg 16 is located near the slide 35, and comes into contact with one end of the slide 35 during movement of the carriage 10 along the third axis Z, so as to ensure that the wheels 15 remain substantially opposite the slide 35 and to prevent derailment of the guide train 11. Preferably, the guide train 11 includes two stability legs 16, located on either side of the slide 35 along the third axis Z.

[0068] According to one embodiment, the guide train 11 comprises two legs of stability 16, extending from one side of the slide 35 along the third Z-axis, to two distinct positions along the first X-axis. Preferably, the guide train 11 also includes two stability lugs 16 extending from the second side of the slide 35 along the third Z-axis, to two distinct positions along the first X-axis. This allows, in addition to preventing derailment of the carriage 10, for preventing excessive rotation of the chassis 7 around the main axis of the chassis 7.

[0069] Similarly, the counter-guiding train 12 may include one or more stability lugs 16.

[0070] The stability tabs 16 are configured to be able to deform within the elastic range by a few millimeters, for example from 1 to 3 millimeters. In the event of rail deformation, this prevents the chassis from locking up. Each stability tab 16 extends preferentially along the first X-axis over a distance greater than or equal to 10 millimeters.

[0071] The inspection trolley 10 includes an altitude sensor 20. The altitude sensor 20 allows a measurement of a distance h between itself and a reference altitude plane 25, so as to know, at any time, a relative distance along the first axis X between the chassis 7 and the reference altitude plane 25. Alternatively, and as shown in [Fig. 3B], the altitude sensor 20 is not arranged on the inspection trolley 10, but is placed at the level of the reference altitude plane 25, opposite the inspection trolley 10 and so as to measure a distance h between the altitude sensor 20 - and therefore the reference altitude plane 25 - and a surface of the chassis 7.

[0072] Thanks to the sensor measurements, it is possible to establish a distance profile along the second Y-axis between the sealing plate 19, constituting the geometric reference along the Y-axis, and the guide rails 5 and counter-guide rails 4. For example, when the carriage 10 has both a guide sensor 21 and a counter-guide sensor 22, and the reference sensor 18 has a position along the second Y-axis intermediate between that of the counter-guide sensor 22 and the reference plate 19, the distance profiles D4(h) of the counter-guide rail 4 and D5(h) of the guide rail 5 as a function of the distance h can be determined using the following equations:

[0073] D4(h) =Mi8( / î) +L1-M4( / î)

[0074] D5(h) ^M^(h)+L2 + M5(h)

[0075] where L1 is a distance between the reference sensor 18 and the counter-guidance sensor 22, and L2 is a distance between the reference sensor 18 and the guidance sensor 21. The distances L1 and L2 can preferably be adjusted by means of a sensor adjustment system, for example a nut system.

[0076] By moving the carriage along the first X-axis relative to the rails, a precise profile of each rail can be obtained in a short time, without needing to put valve 1 out of the water. This allows us to characterize the state of wear of the rails 4, 5 not only due to the phenomenon of sagging and tilting of the body 2 mentioned previously, but also due to abrasion or corrosion of the rails 4, 5 in prolonged contact with water.

[0077] According to one embodiment, the reference sensor 18 is positioned on a retaining arm 6. The retaining arm 6 is fixed to the frame 7. According to the geometry of the valve 1, the sealing plate 19 can, thanks to the retaining arm 6, be positioned at a distance from the counter-guide rail 4 along an axis Z orthogonal to the XY plane defined by the principal axis Y of the frame 7 and the axis of movement X of the carriage 10, when the sealing plate 19 itself is offset relative to the counter-guide rail 4 along the Z axis.

[0078] The reference sensor 18, guide sensor 21, and counter-guide sensor 22 are watertight. Preferably, the sensors 18, 21, and 22 are potentiometric or inductive sensors, for example, LVDT or eddy current sensors. Thus, due to the absence of necessary contact between the sensors 18, 21, and 22 and the sealing plate 19, the guide rail 5, and the counter-guide rail 6, the inspection carriage 10 is able to acquire the corresponding distance measurements even in water with high turbidity, which can be difficult or lead to unsatisfactory measurement accuracy with optical sensors, for example, laser sensors. The sensors 18, 21, and 22 can, in particular, have a measuring range of approximately 10 millimeters.Preferably, these three sensors 18, 21 and 22, or at a minimum the reference sensor 18 and one of the guidance sensor 21 and the counter-guidance sensor 22, are arranged substantially in the same plane orthogonal to the first X axis. This may in particular be a plane M median to the chassis 7 along the first X axis.

[0079] The altitude sensor 20 is watertight if it is placed on the inspection trolley 10. However, when the altitude sensor 20 is positioned on a horizontal reference plane rather than on the trolley 10, it does not need to be watertight, as the altitude sensor 20 is then positioned above the water level. The altitude sensor 20 can be a wire displacement sensor, such as a wire potentiometer, with the wire being substantially parallel to the rails 4, 5. Alternatively, when the surface area of ​​the water body is known, the altitude sensor 20 can be a pressure sensor.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the inspection trolley 10 further includes an inclinometer, which makes it possible to check a relative inclination of the chassis 7 with respect to the median plane M. This makes it possible to verify that this inclination does not change as the trolley 10 moves along the first axis X, which would distort the measurements acquired by the sensors 18, 20, 21, 22.

[0081] A sampling frequency of the sensors 18, 20, 21, 22 is chosen according to the vertical speed of movement of the carriage 10 and the distance according to the first desired X-axis between two successive distance measurements. For example, the sampling frequency is less than 50 ms, preferably less than 20 ms, and preferably approximately equal to 10 ms.

[0082] The chassis 7 is rigid, so as to ensure a rigid connection between the guide train 11 and the counter-guide train 12. When the sensors 18, 21, 22 are all three arranged on the median plane M, the chassis ensures the perpendicularity of the median plane M containing the sensors with the rails 4, 5. In one embodiment, the chassis 7 includes a receiving compartment 13 arranged between the guide train 11 and the counter-guide train 12. The receiving compartment 13 serves to house a sealed housing 23, which may include a system for acquiring measurements taken by the sensors 18, 20, 21, 22. In particular, when the sensors are of the inductive type, the housing 23 may house electronic boards. The housing 23 may also house a power supply system for the sensors when necessary.The same sheath can accommodate a power cable from the housing 23 to a sensor and a signal transfer cable from that same sensor to the acquisition system contained in the housing 23.

[0083] The inspection trolley 10 is movable along the first axis X, so as to allow measurement of the distances M4, M5, M8 for any position along the rails 4, 5. To this end, the inspection trolley 10 may include a lifting winch 8 which allows movement of the inspection trolley 10 by pulling a cable connected on one side to the winch 8 and on the other side to the trolley 10, the winch 8 exerting a lifting force. In this case, the weight of the trolley 10 is designed to allow gravity descent of the trolley 10 when the winch does not exert a lifting force on the trolley 10, or when it exerts a lifting force on the trolley 10 below a predefined threshold. In stationary configuration of the trolley 10, i.e. when its position along the first X axis does not change, the lifting force exerted by the winch 8 compensates for the weight of the trolley 10. The lifting winch 8 can be motorized or manually operated.

[0084] According to an alternative embodiment, one or more of the wheels 15 of the guide train 11 and / or the wheels 24 of the counter-guide train 12 are motorized to allow the carriage 10 to ascend along the first axis X. Gravity descent can occur when the motor is not activated or when it provides an upward force below a predefined threshold. Preferably, however, a support cable is provided to allow the carriage 10 to ascend in the event of a failure of the motorization of the wheels 15, 24. The support cable is connected on one side to the carriage 10 and on the other side to a non-submerged anchor point. In this embodiment, the support cable is not necessarily connected to a winch, and simple manual pulling may suffice to raise the inspection carriage 10.

[0085] The chassis 7, and optionally the guide trains 11 and counter-guide trains 12 The rails 4 and 5 can be symmetrical with respect to the median plane M formed by the Y and Z axes of the frame 7, so as to allow the successive measurement of distances for the rails 4 and 5 located on one side of the valve body 2, and then, after rotating the frame 7 180° with respect to the median plane M and around the Y axis, the measurement of distances for the rails 4 and 5 located on a second side of the body 2. The housing 23 can be arranged in a first receiving compartment 13 for measuring distances on one side of the valve body 2, and then in a second receiving compartment 13 for measuring distances on the other side of the valve body 2. The first and second receiving compartments 13 are separated by a receiving plate 17 located in the median plane M.

Claims

Demands

1. Inspection trolley (10) for a hydraulic valve (1) for shutting off flow into a body of water, the valve comprising: a body (2), a guide rail (5) located downstream of the body (2) and a counter-guide rail (4) located upstream of the body (2) in a normal direction of water flow in the body of water, a sealing plate (19) substantially parallel to the counter-guide rail (4) or to the guide rail (5), wherein the inspection trolley (10) comprises: a guide train (11) configured to allow the inspection trolley (10) to roll on the guide rail (5) and a counter-guide train (12) configured to allow the inspection trolley (10) to roll on the counter-guide rail (4), a measuring frame (7) disposed between the guide train (11) and the counter-guide train (12), a reference sensor (18) configured to measure a distance between the inspection trolley (10) and the sealing plate (19),a guidance sensor (21) configured to measure a distance between the inspection carriage (10) and the guide rail (5), and / or a counter-guidance sensor (22) configured to measure a distance between the inspection carriage (10) and the counter-guidance rail (4), and a means for measuring a distance between the inspection carriage (10) and a horizontal reference plane (25).

2. Inspection trolley (10) according to claim 1, wherein the means for measuring the distance between the inspection trolley (10) and the horizontal reference plane (25) is selected from: an altitude sensor (20) configured to measure the distance between the inspection trolley (10) and the horizontal reference plane (25), and a surface configured to allow the measurement by an altitude sensor (20) positioned on the horizontal reference plane (25) of a distance between the inspection trolley (10) and the horizontal reference plane (25).

3. Inspection trolley (10) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the guidance sensor (21) is located on the guide train (11) and / or the counter-guidance sensor (22) is located on the counter-guidance train (12).

4. Inspection trolley (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a lifting winch (8) configured to selectively exert a lifting force enabling the inspection trolley (10) to rise, so as to allow the inspection trolley (10) to descend under the effect of the weight of the inspection trolley (10) in the absence of the lifting force.

5. Inspection trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reference sensor (18) is mounted on a support arm (6) integral with the chassis (7) and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a principal axis (Y) of the chassis (7).

6. Inspection trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the guide train (11) comprises a wheel (15) and the counter-guide train (12) comprises a mechanical suspension (14) configured to maintain contact between the wheel (15) and the guide rail (5).

7. Inspection trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reference sensor (18) and at least one of the guidance sensor (21) and the counter-guidance sensor (22) are arranged substantially in the same plane orthogonal to a first axis (X) substantially parallel to the counter-guidance rail (4), preferably in a median plane (M) of the chassis (7).

8. Inspection trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the reference sensor (18), the altitude sensor (20) and at least one of the guidance sensor (21) and the counter-guidance sensor (22) are induction sensors or potentiometric sensors.

9. Inspection trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a tilt sensor configured to measure a tilt of the chassis (7) with respect to a plane orthogonal to a first axis (X) substantially parallel to the counter-guide rail (4).

10. Inspection trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the chassis includes a receiving compartment (13) equipped with a support plate (17).

11. Inspection trolley according to claim 10, wherein the chassis (7) comprises two receiving compartments (13) located on either side of the chassis (7) along a travel axis (X) of the inspection trolley (10) and separated by the support plate (17), the chassis (7) being substantially symmetrical about a plane defined by the support plate (17).

12. Inspection trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a stability leg (16) extending outward from the guide train (11) and / or the counter-guide train (12) and configured to come into contact with the guide rail (5) or with the counter-guide rail (4) when moving the inspection trolley (10) in a direction perpendicular to a slice (9) of the valve (1).

13. Inspection trolley according to claim 12, comprising two stability lugs extending outward from the guide train (11) and / or two stability lugs extending outward from the counter-guide train (12) so as to come into contact with the guide rail (5) and / or with the counter-guide rail (4) during a rotation of the inspection trolley (7) about a principal axis (Y) of the chassis (7)

14. Method of inspecting a hydraulic valve (1) for shutting off a flow in a body of water by means of an inspection trolley (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising: an acquisition of measurements by the reference sensor (18) and by at least one of the guidance sensor (21) and the counter-guidance sensor (22), a measurement of the distance between the inspection trolley (10) and the horizontal reference plane (25), and the establishment of a distance profile, over at least a part of a height of the guide rail (5) and / or the counter-guidance rail (4), between the guide rail (5) and the guidance sensor (21) and / or between the counter-guidance rail (4) and the counter-guidance sensor (22) as a function of the distance between the inspection trolley (10) and the horizontal reference plane (25).

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