Pipe guide device

Abstract

To make it possible to limit friction while reducing the risk of damage to a non-stick coating.SOLUTION: A guide device 10 is for a pipe to be moved along a first axis X, and the guide device 10 comprises: a support 51 having a receiving plate that has a front face extending in a first plane P1 substantially parallel to the first axis X; a non-stick coating film 12 that is fixed to the front face of the receiving plate and forms a first line contact part 13 with the pipe; a support collar 14 having a U-shaped section that has an internal face 15 surrounding the pipe, the support collar 14 being extended in a second plane P2 substantially parallel to the first plane P1 by two end portions 16, 17 extending on respective opposite sides of the U-shaped section; fixation means 18 for fixing each end portion 16, 17 to the support 51; and a circular non-stick coating pad 19 fixed to the internal face 15 that forms at least one second line contact part 23 with the pipe.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a guide device for a pipe of circular cross section. [Background technology]

[0002] This type of guide device is more particularly intended to be used in sealed, insulated tanks for the transportation and / or storage of liquefied gases, for holding and guiding pipes of the spray manifold type or any other type of pipe (for example pipes of type discharge lines, feeder lines or fuel return lines, radar).

[0003] Each tank wall is characterized in a thickness direction, continuously from the inside to the outside of the tank, by at least one sealing membrane intended to be in contact with the fluid contained in the tank and one insulating barrier intended to abut the support structure, or the wall may equally include two levels of sealing and insulation.

[0004] The tank generally includes at least one pipe or spray manifold for supplying or injecting liquefied gas into the tank. A pipe of this kind is guided along the wall by a guide assembly comprising a support fixed to the wall of the tank and a guide device adapted to receive, hold and guide the pipe. The support is generally welded to the sealing membrane.

[0005] FIG. 1 represents a known prior art guide device 5, which is intended to guide a pipe passing through it when fitted. The guide device 5 for a pipe adapted to be moved along a first axis X comprises a support 51 with a backing plate 52 with a front face 53 and a rear face 54, the front face 53 extending in a first plane P1 substantially parallel to the first axis X. The guide device 5 comprises a non-stick coating film 12 extending in the first plane P1 and fixed to the front face 53 of the backing plate 52. When the pipe (not shown) is in position in the guide device, the non-stick coating film 12 forms a first line contact with the pipe. In other words, the pipe and the film 12 are tangential to a straight line segment forming the first line contact.

[0006] The guide device 5 further comprises a support collar 4 of essentially rounded shape for surrounding a pipe of circular cross section. The support collar 4 extends in a second plane P2 substantially parallel to the first plane P1 with two end portions extending at each end of the support collar 4. At each end portion the guide device comprises fastening means 18 for fastening the end portion to the support 51. Finally, the guide device 5 comprises a further non-stick coating film 12' fixed to the inner surface of the collar 4. The further film 12' forms a surface contact with the pipe.

[0007] The rounded shape of the support collar 4 is therefore provided to support the circular shape of the pipe as optimally as possible in order to reliably guide the pipe thanks to the surface contact formed between the further film 12' arranged against the inner surface of the support collar and the outer wall of the pipe.

[0008] The guiding device 5 is fixed to the tank wall by means of a support 51. More precisely, the non-stick coating films 12 and 12' are held in position between the front surface of the backing plate 52 and the inner surface of the support collar 4 by means of fastening means 18. The fastening means 18 thus fastens the end portion of the support collar, the further non-stick coating film 12' and the non-stick coating film 12 together to the support 51.

[0009] 2 represents a view of a pipe guide device 5 known from the prior art in a cross section on a plane perpendicular to the first axis X. In this view, a support 51 is fixed to the wall of the tank. More precisely, the support 51 is welded to the sealing membrane 7. A pipe 11 is shown.

[0010] The film 12 forms a first line contact 13 with the pipe and the film 12' forms a surface contact at the surface of the outer half of the pipe 11. In other words, the film 12' is in contact with the pipe over half of its outer portion.

[0011] The films 12, 12' have an important function in the guide device: in fact, the pipe is slid in a support collar, which is generally made of a metal such as stainless steel. The non-stick coating films 12 and 12' allow the pipe to slide in the guide device without deteriorating either the support collar or the pipe.

[0012] As can be seen in figure 2, the film 12' covers the entire inner surface of the support collar. The support collar has a rounded shape that corresponds to the complementary shape of the pipe. The film 12' supports the rounded shape of the support collar. The pipe is thus guided and held in place within the support collar, ensuring that friction between the pipe and the guiding device is reduced to a minimum.

[0013] Although generally satisfactory, this solution has drawbacks: the friction is too high when there is no functional clearance between the film 12 and 12' and the pipe, which is generally associated with installation errors. The pipe is now moved in the guide device, contracting at low temperatures and expanding at high temperatures. Due to the too high friction and the repeated movements of the pipe in the guide device, the non-sticky coating film, which is too thin overall to resist this, is damaged. As a result, the non-sticky coating film, which is fixed only at their ends by the fixing means 18 at the position of the end parts of the support collar, can break and break away from the support collar. This results in a defective guide device that cannot accurately provide a sliding function for the pipe. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0014] A solution envisaged to solve this problem could be to fix the film 12' to the inner surface of the support collar, in particular by gluing the film to the inner surface of the support collar. However, the applicant considers that this type of solution should be avoided. In fact, the non-stick coating film 12' (generally made from polytetrafluoroethylene, also known as PTFE or its trade name Teflon®) has a higher coefficient of expansion than the coefficient of expansion of the support collar (generally made from stainless steel). It is therefore preferable for the film 12' to remain free so as to prevent any stress on the film 12' that would result in the risk of breaking.

[0015] The present invention aims to alleviate some or all of the problems mentioned above by proposing a new guide device that is robust, easy to install and allows easy checking of the position of the non-stick coating. Furthermore, the guide device according to the invention makes it possible to limit friction while reducing the risk of damage to the non-stick coating. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] To this end, the invention has for its object a guide device for a pipe adapted to be moved along a first axis, said guide device comprising: a support comprising a backing plate with a front face and a rear face, the front face extending in a first plane substantially parallel to a first axis; a non-stick coating film fixed to the front surface of the backing plate and adapted to form a first line contact with the pipe; a support collar having a U-shaped section with a so-called inner surface adapted to surround the pipe, the support collar extending in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane with two end portions extending on either side of each of the U-shaped sections; - for each end portion, fastening means for fastening the end portion to a support; at least one circular non-stick coating pad fixed to the so-called inner surface of the U-shaped section intended to form at least one second line contact with the pipe; Equipped with.

[0017] In one embodiment of the guiding device according to the invention, the at least one circular non-stick coating pad is fixed to the so-called inner surface of the U-shaped section by means of fixing means arranged in the centre of said at least one circular non-stick coating pad.

[0018] Suitably the non-stick coating is a fluoropolymer, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0019] Preferably, the U-shaped section comprises a central portion spaced a distance from and substantially parallel to the first plane, and two lateral portions extending to one and the other end portions on either side of the central portion.

[0020] In one embodiment of the guide device according to the invention, each of the two lateral portions forms an obtuse angle with the central portion.

[0021] In another embodiment of the guide device according to the invention, each of the two lateral portions forms a right angle with the central portion.

[0022] The invention also relates to a guide assembly for a pipe intended to extend inside a tank, the guide assembly comprising a guide device and a fixing tab connected to a rear face of the backing plate, the fixing tab being intended to be connected to the wall of the tank.

[0023] The invention also relates to a wall of a sealed, insulated tank for storing liquefied gas, the wall having a continuous thickness from the exterior to the interior: at least one insulating panel adapted to abut directly or indirectly against a support structure; a sealing membrane abutting the at least one insulating panel and adapted to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank; a guide assembly for a pipe intended for introducing liquefied gas into a tank, the guide assembly having a fixing tab welded to a sealing membrane; Includes.

[0024] The invention also relates to a sealed, insulated tank for a ship, equipped with such a wall and adapted to contain a liquefied gas.

[0025] The invention also relates to a vessel including a hull forming a support structure and a tank of the above kind fixed on said support structure.

[0026] Furthermore, the guide device according to the invention may have one or more of the following features, either separately or in combination:

[0027] The described aspects of the invention may include one or more examples, embodiments or features separately or in various combinations, whether or not specifically described in that combination or separately (including as recited in the claims).

[0028] These characteristics and advantages of the invention, as well as others, will become more clearly apparent on the basis of the following description given in relation to the attached drawings, given as a non-limiting example, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 shows a pipe guide device known from the prior art; [Diagram 2] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a pipe guide device known from the prior art; [Diagram 3] 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a guide device according to the present invention. [Figure 4] 2 shows a second embodiment of a guide device according to the invention. [Diagram 5] 3 illustrates a third embodiment of a guide device according to the present invention. [Figure 6] 4 shows a guide assembly according to the invention comprising a fourth embodiment of a guide device according to the invention. [Figure 7] 1 illustrates a side view of a guide assembly according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] For purposes of clarity, like elements have the same reference numbers in the various figures.

[0031] 1 shows a pipe guide device known from the prior art, which has already been mentioned above.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of a pipe guide device known from the prior art and already mentioned above.

[0033] FIG. 3 represents a first embodiment of a pipe guide device 10 according to the invention. This type of guide device is more particularly intended to be used in sealed insulated tanks for the transport and / or storage of liquefied gases and is exposed to wide temperature variations. As a result, the pipes contract at low temperatures and expand at high temperatures. The pipes therefore translate in the guide device. A guide device 10 for a pipe 11 (not shown) intended to be moved along a first axis X comprises a support 51 with a backing plate 52 with a front face 53 and a rear face 54, the front face 53 extending in a first plane P1 substantially parallel to the first axis X. The guide device 10 comprises a non-stick coating film 12 fixed to the front face 53 of the backing plate 52, the non-stick coating film 12 being adapted to form a first line contact 13 with the pipe 11. The pipe is generally of circular cross section and the pipe and the non-stick coating film 12 are tangential to the straight line segment 13 (parallel to the first axis X).

[0034] The guide device 10 comprises a support collar 14 consisting of a U-shaped section (or U-shaped zone) having a so-called inner surface 15 intended to surround the pipe. The support collar 14 extends in a second plane P2 substantially parallel to the first plane P1 by means of two end parts (or end portions) 16, 17 extending on either side of each of the U-shaped sections. With regard to the support collar 14, the terms section, zone and portion define parts of the support collar, as can be seen in the figures.

[0035] The U-shape should be understood to be a shape having a central portion 31 spaced at a distance from and substantially parallel to a first plane P1, and two lateral portions 32, 33 each extending in a plane intersecting the central portion 31 on either side of the central portion 31 up to one and the other end portions 16, 17.

[0036] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, each of the two lateral portions 32 , 33 forms a right angle 42 with the central portion 31 .

[0037] For each end portion 16, 17, the guide device 10 comprises fastening means 18 for fastening the end portion 16, 17 to the support 51. The fastening means 18 may be a nut-and-bolt assembly or a rivet or any other suitable fastening means. Furthermore, the fastening means 18 may be two nut-and-bolt assemblies or two rivets.

[0038] According to the invention, the guide device 10 comprises a circular non-stick coating pad 19 fixed to the so-called inner surface 15 of the U-shaped section, which is intended to form a second line contact 23 with the pipe. As is evident from the figure, the inner surface 15 corresponds to the surface of the support collar which is arranged facing the non-stick coating film 12. The circular pad 19 is fixed to the support collar by fastening means 26, for example screws or rivets. By circular pad is to be understood a pad of circular shape, i.e. it has a circular cross section in the plane in which it extends (in other words in a plane locally parallel to the part to which it is fixed (central part 31 or lateral parts 32, 33)). As a non-limiting example, the circular pad can have a diameter of the order of 60 or 80 mm and a thickness of 5 mm. Obviously, the dimensions of the circular pad are adapted as a function of the dimensions of the pipe and of the support collar. The diameter of the circular pad is preferably equal to the width of the so-called inner surface 15 of the support collar 14.

[0039] In the context of the present invention, by way of non-limiting example, the non-stick coating may be formed from a fluoropolymer, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, better known by the trademark Teflon®), or perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), or fluoroethylenepropylene (FEP).

[0040] Thanks to these features, the guide device 10 makes it possible to hold the pipe while allowing it to be guided as it slides through the support collar due to the two line contacts 13, 23. To allow sliding, the support collar 14 is dimensioned such that the distance between the two segments 13, 23 corresponds to the outside diameter of the pipe (typically around 60 mm) with a tolerance of a few millimeters (typically 0.5 mm to 3 mm for this type of pipe).

[0041] The non-stick coating pads 19 are fixed to the so-called inner surface 15 of the U-shaped zone by means of a fixing means 26, preferably arranged in the centre of said at least one non-stick coating pad 19. Furthermore, the pads are of circular shape, the pads being totally symmetrical around the fixing means. These features make it possible to obtain a robust guiding device due to the fixed circular pads of controlled thickness. Furthermore, the positioning of the pads is guaranteed and the clearance between the pads and the pipe (defined as 0.5 mm to 3 mm) is easy to control due to the line contact.

[0042] As mentioned above, the fastening means 26 may be a screw or a rivet. The pad has a passage channel through it that allows the fastening means to pass through. The passage channel further comprises an opening in the upper surface of the pad that is configured to receive the head (rivet head or screw head) of the fastening means 26, without allowing the head to protrude from the pad. In other words, the passage channel in the pad prevents the fastening means 26 from protruding beyond its upper surface. Thus, the pipe makes a line contact with the pad.

[0043] Thanks to these features, the pad has only one attachment point to the support collar, which avoids problems with thermal contraction when the tank is cooling down, since the contraction occurs symmetrically with respect to the only attachment point of the pad on the support collar.

[0044] Although pipes are generally of circular cross section, a particular feature of the invention is based on the combination of a U-shaped support collar with mutually angular parts (i.e. with a non-rounded overall shape) and a circular non-adhesive pad. In other words, while the or each guide device known from the prior art favors the contact area between the support collar and the pipe in order to provide the pipe guiding function and allow the pipe to slide in the collar, the guide device according to the invention is innovative in that it aims to reduce this contact area while ensuring good guiding and sliding of the pipe. The circular pad ensures that there is less friction in line contact than in surface contact. The guide device according to the invention guarantees both its function of guiding the pipe and the possibility of the pipe sliding during its contraction / expansion.

[0045] In the embodiment shown in figure 3, the central portion 31 is wider than the lateral portions 32, 33. This configuration of the support collar 14 allows a free space that gives the pipe a degree of freedom in translation along an axis parallel to the first plane P1. In other words, in addition to allowing sliding along the axis X, a translational movement of the pipe in the support collar perpendicular to the axis X is also possible. This degree of freedom in translation, which is necessary for positioning the pipe at low temperatures due to thermal contraction, allows adaptation of the positioning of the pipe along the wall of the tank according to the positioning configuration of the guide device in the tank.

[0046] Note that this degree of freedom in translation is optional. In other embodiments, the central portion 31 may be as wide as the height of the lateral portions 32, 33. In this configuration, the pipe 11 only has the possibility to slide along the first axis X.

[0047] 4 represents a second embodiment of a guide device 20 according to the invention. The guide device 20 comprises the same elements as the guide device 10. In this embodiment of the invention, each of the two lateral portions 32, 33 forms an obtuse angle 41 with the central portion 31. As a non-limiting example, the angle 41 may be in the order of 120°.

[0048] Furthermore, the guide device 20 comprises two circular non-stick coating pads 21, 22 fixed to the so-called inner surface of the collar 14 at the location of the lateral portion 33 and the lateral portion 32, respectively. In this configuration, the two circular non-stick coating pads 21, 22 fixed to the so-called inner surface 15 of the U-shaped zone are adapted to form two line contacts 24, 25 with the pipe (line contact 25 is not shown). The two line contacts 24, 25 and the first line contact 13 ensure three contact segments between the pipe and the guide device with the non-stick coating. Here again, the exact dimensions of the support collar and the thickness of the pads make it possible to reduce the contact area between the guide device and the pipe while ensuring the sliding function necessary for the functioning of the guide device of the spray manifold. Furthermore, the positioning of the two non-stick coating pads 21, 22 on both sides of the pipe makes it possible to prevent any vertical movement of the pipe, i.e. there is no translational movement of the pipe along an axis perpendicular to the first axis X, which runs parallel to the first plane P1. Thus, proper positioning of the pads 21, 22 ensures that the pipe can slide along a first axis X, while preventing the pipe from moving perpendicular to its axis X.

[0049] 5 shows a third embodiment of the guide device 30 according to the invention. The guide device 30 comprises the same elements as the guide device 20. In this embodiment of the invention, each of the two lateral parts 32, 33 is perpendicular to the central part 31. As in the guide device 20, in the guide device 30, two non-sticky coating pads 21, 22 are fixed to the so-called inner surface of the collar 14 at the location of the lateral parts 33 and 32, respectively.

[0050] It should be noted that in the configuration shown in Figure 5 (where a circular pad is secured to each side portion 32, 33) there is no departure from the scope of the invention, regardless of the shape of the central portion 31. The central portion may be planar, as shown in Figure 5, or may take a more rounded shape (e.g., in the form of a semi-cylinder adjacent the side portions).

[0051] In this variant, the distance between the central portion 31 and the non-stick coating film 12 may be a few millimeters larger than the outside diameter of the pipe, for example 9 mm. This configuration of the support collar 14 allows the provision of a free space that gives the pipe a degree of freedom of translation along an axis perpendicular to the first plane P1. In other words, in addition to allowing sliding along the axis X, a translational movement of the pipe in the support collar perpendicular to the axis X is also possible. This degree of freedom of translation makes it possible to adapt the positioning of the pipe along the wall of the tank. It is a necessary additional degree of freedom at low temperatures due to thermal contraction. This kind of additional degree of freedom is uniquely necessary in some guide devices as a function of the position of the guide device relative to the fixing point of the pipe in the tank.

[0052] 6 represents a guide assembly 50 according to the invention, comprising a fourth embodiment of a guide device 40 according to the invention. The guide device 40 comprises the same elements as the guide device 20. In this embodiment of the invention, each of the two lateral parts 32, 33 is perpendicular to the central part 31. As in the guide device 20, in the guide device 40, two non-sticky coating pads 21, 22 are fixed to the so-called inner surface of the collar 14 at the location of the lateral parts 33 and 32, respectively. The guide device 40 further comprises a non-sticky coating pad 19 at the location of the so-called inner surface of the central part 31 of the support collar.

[0053] The guide assembly 50 comprises a guide device 40 and a fixing tab 55 connected to a rear surface 54 of a backing plate 52, the fixing tab 55 being adapted to be connected directly or indirectly to a wall of the tank. It is noted that in the context of the present invention the guide assembly may comprise any other guide device 10, 20, 30 described above.

[0054] The backing plate is also adapted to be fixed to the wall of the tank. The fixing tabs form reinforcements for the backing plate 52.

[0055] 7 shows a side view of a guide assembly 50 according to the present invention, in which in particular the line contacts 13, 23, 24, 25 of the other embodiments of the guide device according to the present invention described above can be seen.

[0056] Thanks to the invention it is possible to consider only one form of the non-stick coating pad, regardless of the shape of the support collar.

[0057] Furthermore, the fixing of the circular pads makes it possible to control the functional clearance between the non-stick coating and the pipe, which reduces the risk of damage to the non-stick coating.

[0058] Fixing the circular pads also makes it possible to reduce the contact area between the pipe and the guide device. This reduction in the non-stick coating area contributes to limiting the friction between the pipe and the guide device. This also results in a reduced risk of damage to the non-stick coating.

[0059] The invention also relates to a wall of a sealed, insulated tank for storing liquefied gas, the wall having a continuous thickness from the exterior to the interior: at least one insulating panel adapted to abut directly or indirectly against a support structure; a sealing membrane 7 abutting against at least one insulating panel and intended to be in contact with the liquefied gas contained in the tank; a guide assembly 50 for a pipe 11 intended to introduce liquefied gas into the tank, the guide assembly 50 having a fixing tab welded to the sealing membrane 7; Equipped with.

[0060] The invention also relates to a sealed, insulated tank for a ship, comprising at least one such wall and adapted to contain a liquefied gas.

[0061] Finally, the invention also relates to a vessel comprising a hull forming a support structure and a tank as described above fixed on said support structure.

[0062] In light of the teachings just disclosed, it will be more generally apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the above-described embodiments. In the following claims, the terms used should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims to the embodiments disclosed herein, but should be construed as including all equivalents that the claims are intended to cover by their formulation and prediction within the skill of the skilled artisan based on that background knowledge.

Claims

1. A guiding device (10, 20, 30, 40) for a pipe (11) adapted to be moved along a first axis (X), - a support (51) comprising a receiving plate (52) having a front face (53) and a rear face (54), the front face (53) extending in a first plane (P1) substantially parallel to the first axis (X), support (51); - a non-stick coating film (12) fixed to the front face (53) of the receiving plate (52) and adapted to form a first line contact portion (13) with the pipe (11); - a support collar (14) having a U-shaped section with a so-called inner face (15) adapted to surround the pipe, the support collar (14) extending in a second plane (P2) substantially parallel to the first plane (P1) by two end portions (16, 17) extending on both sides of each of the U-shaped sections; - fixing means (18) for fixing the end portions (16, 17) to the support (51) with respect to each end portion (16, 17); - at least one circular non-stick coating pad (19, 21, 22) fixed to the so-called inner face (15) of the U-shaped section and adapted to form at least one second line contact portion (23, 24, 25) with the pipe; characterized in that it comprises a guiding device (10, 20, 30, 40).

2. The guiding device (10, 20, 30, 40) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one circular non-stick coating pad (19, 21, 22) is fixed to the so-called inner face (15) of the U-shaped section by fixing means (26) arranged at the center of the at least one circular non-stick coating pad (19, 21, 22).

3. The guiding device (10, 20, 30, 40) according to claim 1, wherein the non-stick coating is a fluoropolymer, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene.

4. The guiding device (10, 20, 30, 40) according to claim 1, wherein the U-shaped section comprises a central portion (31) spaced from the first plane (P1) and substantially parallel to the first plane (P1), and two side portions (32, 33) extending from both sides of the central portion (31) to one and the other of the end portions (16, 17).

5. The guide device (20) according to claim 4, wherein each of the two side portions (32, 33) forms an obtuse angle (41) with the central portion (31).

6. The guide device (10, 30, 40) according to claim 4, wherein each of the two side portions (32, 33) forms a right angle (42) with the central portion (31).

7. A guide assembly (50) for a pipe (11) adapted to extend within a tank, the guide assembly (50) comprising a guide device (10, 20, 30, 40) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and a fixed tab (55) connected to the rear surface (54) of the receiving plate (52), characterized in that the fixed tab (55) is adapted to be connected to the wall of the tank.

8. A wall in a hermetically insulated tank for storing liquefied gas, the wall being continuously in the thickness direction from the outside to the inside, - at least one heat insulating panel (1) adapted to abut directly or indirectly against a support structure; - a sealing film (7) in contact with the at least one heat insulating panel (1) and adapted to contact the liquefied gas contained in the tank; - a guide assembly (50) according to claim 7 for a pipe (11) adapted to introduce the liquefied gas into the tank, wherein the fixed tab is welded to the sealing film (7). The wall including the above.

9. A hermetically insulated tank of a ship adapted to contain liquefied gas, comprising at least one wall according to claim 8.

10. A ship comprising a hull forming a support structure and a tank according to claim 9 fixed on the support structure.

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