Tank pipe insertion / removal device
The pipe insertion/removal device addresses the challenge of sealing thicker pipes by using adjustable seals and additional chambers to prevent gas leakage during maintenance, ensuring safe and effective insertion and removal of pipes in tanks.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2021213061
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2021-12-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-06
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-12-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies face challenges in inserting and removing pipes through tank walls while preventing leakage of gas contents, particularly when the gas content remains in the tank, as conventional seals are inadequate for thicker pipes.
A pipe insertion/removal device with a first chamber and first sealing portion using a sealing plate made of an airtight and elastic material, clamped by a pressing plate, and adjusted by a pressure device to seal the gap between the pipe and the tank opening, supplemented by a second chamber and sealing portion with a packing to further secure the seal.
The device effectively prevents leakage of gas-containing material during pipe insertion and removal by adjusting the seal pressure, ensuring the pipe can move while maintaining a secure seal, even with flammable gases.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technique for inserting and removing a tube into a tank while preventing leakage of a gaseous substance contained therein to the outside of the tank. [Background technology]
[0002] Conventionally, techniques have been proposed for inserting or removing parts into or from a tank while preventing leakage of gaseous contents remaining in the tank during maintenance and inspection work on the tank.
[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for removing a liquid level sensor housed in a guide tube that penetrates a tank vertically. An open-topped cylindrical sealing device is attached to the tank roof so as to surround the top of the guide tube, the top opening of the cylindrical sealing device is airtightly closed with an upper lid, a sealing member is placed between the guide tube and the cylindrical sealing device, and an inert gas is supplied into the cylindrical sealing device so that the pressure inside the cylindrical sealing device is higher than the internal pressure of the tank. The liquid level sensor is lifted by a wire rope inside the cylindrical sealing device. The wire rope passes through a wire seal attached to the upper lid of the cylindrical sealing device and is drawn out. The wire seal is generally made of a rubber material such as silicone rubber and has a through-hole through which the wire rope passes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 1-23392 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0005] During tank maintenance and inspection work, there is a need to insert and remove a pipe through the tank wall while preventing leakage of the gas content from the tank when the gas content remains in the tank. In Patent Document 1, a wire seal seals the gap between the wire rope and the penetration part of the upper cover while allowing the wire rope to move relative to the upper cover of the cylindrical sealing device. Because the pipe is thicker than the wire rope, it is difficult to seal the gap between the pipe and the penetration part while allowing the pipe to move using a seal structure similar to the wire seal in Patent Document 1.
[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a technology for inserting and removing a tube into a tank while preventing leakage of gas-containing material remaining in the tank. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] A pipe insertion / removal device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a pipe insertion / removal device attached to an opening edge of a tank opening that can communicate between the inside and outside of a tank containing gas, in order to insert or remove a pipe into the tank, a first chamber having a first opening into which the pipe is loosely inserted and detachably connected to an opening edge of the tank opening; a first sealing portion that seals a gap between an edge of the first opening and the tube that is passed through the first opening, The first sealing portion has a first insertion hole through which the tube is slidably passed, and is characterized by having a sealing plate made of an airtight and elastic material, a pressing plate that clamps the sealing plate in the plate thickness direction, and a pressure device that pressurizes the sealing plate in the plate thickness direction and can adjust the degree of pressure. [Effects of the Invention]
[0008] According to the present disclosure, a technique can be provided for inserting and removing a tube into a tank while preventing leakage of gas-containing material remaining in the tank. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0009] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a tank to which a pipe insertion / extraction device according to the present disclosure is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pipe insertion / extraction device used for temporarily installing a suction pipe as a temporary pipe. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a pipe insertion / removal device used for temporarily installing a sampling pipe as a temporary pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Next, one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a tank 3 to which a pipe insertion / extraction device 10 according to the present disclosure is applied. The tank 3 according to this embodiment is an LNG tank that stores liquefied natural gas (LNG). The LNG tank may be, for example, a double-walled tank. However, the use of the tank 3 is not limited to this embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a tank 3 undergoing maintenance and inspection work. The inside of the tank 3 is filled with vaporized LNG gas. A small amount of residual liquid containing a large amount of heavy components such as propane and butane may be present at the bottom of the tank 3. For maintenance and inspection of the tank 3, a plurality of temporary pipes 30 are provided in the tank 3. The temporary pipes 30 are pipes that are temporarily provided in the tank 3 for maintenance and inspection. The temporary pipes 30 according to this embodiment include a suction pipe 31 and a sampling pipe 32. However, the use of the temporary pipes 30 is not limited to this embodiment.
[0012] The suction pipe 31 is used to suck gas from the bottom of the tank 3. The suction pipe 31 is inserted into the tank 3 from the tank roof, with its lower end located at the bottom of the tank 3. The suction pipe 31 is a flexible metal hose with a smooth-surfaced steel pipe inserted midway. The flexible hose and the steel pipe are connected. At least the flexible metal hose portion of the suction pipe 31 is covered with a heat-shrinkable tube around its outer periphery. The flexible metal hose has an outer surface that is uneven because it is covered with metal fiber, but this unevenness is reduced by covering it with a heat-shrinkable tube, and the outer surface of the suction pipe 31 is smooth.
[0013] The sampling pipes 32 are used to sample gas inside the tank 3. In this embodiment, in order to sample gas from multiple positions at different heights inside the tank 3, multiple sampling pipes 32 are inserted into the tank 3 from the tank roof. The sampling pipes 32 are made of copper tubes.
[0014] A pipe insertion / extraction device 10 is used when temporarily installing the temporary pipe 30 in the tank 3. The structure of the pipe insertion / extraction device 10 will be described below.
[0015] An existing pipe 51 protruding upward is provided on the roof of the tank 3. This existing pipe 51 penetrates the roof of the tank 3 and can communicate between the inside and outside of the tank 3, and an on-off valve 52 that switches between communication and blocking is provided on the existing pipe 51. The on-off valve 52 may be, for example, a ball valve. In this embodiment, the opening of the existing pipe 51 is defined as a "tank opening 50" through which the temporary pipe 30 is inserted and removed. However, the tank opening 50 is not limited to this embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pipe insertion / extraction device 10 used to temporarily install a suction pipe 31 as the temporary pipe 30. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pipe insertion / extraction device 10 has a first chamber 64, a first sealing portion 41, a second chamber 63, and a second sealing portion 42, which are aligned in the insertion / extraction direction of the temporary pipe 30. The temporary pipe 30 is inserted through these elements. The first sealing portion 41 allows movement of the temporary pipe 30 in the insertion / extraction direction relative to the tank 3, while sealing the gap between the temporary pipe 30 and the tank 3 so that the gas-containing content hardly leaks. The second sealing portion 42 is not designed for movement of the temporary pipe 30 relative to the tank 3, and can seal the gap between the temporary pipe 30 and the tank 3 so that the gas-containing content does not leak.
[0017] In this embodiment, the first chamber 64 has a cylindrical shape and is detachably connected to the opening edge of the existing pipe 51. In this embodiment, the first chamber 64 is formed by multiple members: a first cylindrical member 641, a second cylindrical member 642 fastened to the first cylindrical member 641, and a portion of the case main body 61 joined to the second cylindrical member 642. The interior of the first chamber 64 is in communication with the tank opening 50.
[0018] The first chamber 64 has a first gas supply port 643 and a first exhaust port 644. An inert gas source such as nitrogen is connected to the first gas supply port 643, and the inert gas is supplied into the first chamber 64 through the first gas supply port 643. The gas in the first chamber 64 is exhausted to the outside through the first exhaust port 644.
[0019] The first chamber 64 has a first opening 611 into which the temporary pipe 30 is loosely inserted. In this embodiment, the first opening 611 is open to the bottom surface of the case body 61. The diameter of the first opening 611 is larger than the outer diameter of the temporary pipe 30, and a gap (hereinafter referred to as the first gap G1) is generated between the edge of the first opening 611 and the temporary pipe 30 inserted into the first opening 611. The first sealing section 41 seals this first gap G1. The first sealing section 41 is composed of one or more seal plates 47, multiple pressing plates 48, and a pressurizing device 6.
[0020] The pressurizing device 6 includes a case body 61 and a lid body 62. The case body 61 has a bottom surface and is cylindrical in shape, opening upward. The lid body 62 has a top surface and is cylindrical in shape, opening downward. A third opening 622 is formed in the center of the top surface of the lid body 62, for passing the temporary pipe 30 through. The diameter of the third opening 622 is larger than the outer diameter of the temporary pipe 30.
[0021] The lower part of the lid 62 is fitted onto the upper part of the case body 61. An external thread is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the case body 61, and an internal thread is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the lid 62, and these threads mesh together to screw the case body 61 and the lid 62 together. A gasket is interposed between the external thread of the case body 61 and the internal thread of the lid 62, and further, the lower edges of the case body 61 and the lid 62 are sealed with a sealing material. The lid 62 is provided with a handle 621 that is used to rotate the lid 62 relative to the case body 61.
[0022] A laminate of a pressure plate 48 and a sealing plate 47 is housed in the case body 61. The laminate is disposed on the bottom surface of the case body 61. The sealing plate 47 is a thin plate having a first insertion hole 471 in the center. The sealing plate 47 is made of a closed-cell rubber sponge such as a silicone rubber sponge. Closed-cell rubber sponge has airtightness and elasticity. The diameter of the first insertion hole 471 of the sealing plate 47 in an unpressurized state is the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the temporary pipe 30. The pressure plate 48 is made of metal and is a doughnut-shaped thin plate having a central opening. The diameter of the central opening of the pressure plate 48 is larger than the diameter of the first insertion hole 471 of the sealing plate 47.
[0023] In the laminate of pressure plates 48 and sealing plates 47, pressure plates 48 are arranged in the uppermost and lowermost layers, and sealing plates 47 are arranged between them. Pressure plates 48 are also arranged between sealing plates 47 so that each sealing plate 47 is sandwiched between pressure plates 48. For example, in the case where three sealing plates 47 are provided as in this embodiment, they are laminated in the following order: pressure plate 48, sealing plate 47, pressure plate 48, sealing plate 47, pressure plate 48, sealing plate 47, and pressure plate 48.
[0024] The sealing plate 47 and the pressing plate 48 are positioned relative to the case body 61 by passing through a positioning pin 612 provided on the case body 61. The first opening 611 of the case body 61, the first insertion hole 471 of the sealing plate 47, and the central opening of the pressing plate 48 are arranged concentrically, and the temporary pipe 30 is passed through them.
[0025] A spacer 49 is disposed between the uppermost pressure plate 48 and the top surface of the lid body 62. The spacer 49 according to this embodiment is a double pipe connected to the uppermost pressure plate 48. A fluororesin sheet 46 is disposed between the spacer 49 and the top surface of the lid body 62 to reduce friction between them. The distance between the bottom surface of the case body 61 and the top surface of the lid body 62 varies depending on the rotational position of the lid body 62 relative to the case body 61. The smaller the distance between the bottom surface of the case body 61 and the top surface of the lid body 62, the more strongly the sealing plate 47 is pressed in the thickness direction. The sealing plate 47 pressed in the thickness direction is crushed in the thickness direction and extends parallel to the thickness direction, reducing the diameter of the first insertion hole 471. When the temporary pipe 30 is inserted into the first insertion hole 471 of the sealing plate 47, the diameter of the first insertion hole 471 of the sealing plate 47 is reduced, causing the edge of the first insertion hole 471 of the sealing plate 47 to be pressed against the temporary pipe 30.
[0026] A second chamber 63 is connected to the lid 62. The second chamber 63 covers the third opening 622 of the lid 62 and has a cylindrical shape in this embodiment. The interior of the second chamber 63 is in communication with the interior of the lid 62 through the third opening 622. The second chamber 63 has a second opening 631 through which the temporary pipe 30 is loosely inserted. The diameter of the second opening 631 is larger than the outer diameter of the temporary pipe 30. The second opening 631 is disposed concentrically with the third opening 622 of the lid 62. The second chamber 63 also has a second air supply port 632 and a second exhaust port 633. An inert gas source such as nitrogen is connected to the second air supply port 632, and the inert gas is supplied into the second chamber 63 through the second air supply port 632. The gas in the second chamber 63 is exhausted to the outside through the second exhaust port 633.
[0027] The second sealing portion 42 includes a packing 55 that is detachably fitted into the second opening 631 of the second chamber 63. The packing 55 is pressed in the direction of entry into the second chamber 63 by a retaining plate 56 coupled to the second chamber 63, preventing it from coming out of the second opening 631. The packing 55 is made of an airtight and elastic material, such as silicone rubber. The packing 55 has a tapered shape and includes a second insertion hole 551 for inserting the temporary pipe 30. The degree of tightening of the temporary pipe 30 inserted into the second insertion hole 551 of the packing 55 varies depending on the degree of fitting of the packing 55 into the second opening 631, in other words, the amount of entry into the second chamber 63. The greater the degree of fitting of the packing 55, the greater the degree of tightening of the temporary pipe 30 inserted into the packing 55.
[0028] [Temporary installation and removal method of suction pipe 31] Here, a method for temporarily installing and removing the temporary pipe 30 using the pipe insertion / extraction device 10 having the above configuration will be described. First, a method for temporarily installing the suction pipe 31 as the temporary pipe 30 will be described.
[0029] First, with the on-off valve 52 closed, the existing pipe 51 and the first chamber 64 are connected. The first chamber 64 and the case body 61, the case body 61 and the lid body 62, and the lid body 62 and the second chamber 63 are connected in this order, respectively, to assemble the pipe insertion and extraction device 10. The temporary pipe 30 is passed through the second insertion hole 551 of the packing 55 in advance, but the packing 55 is not attached to the second opening 631 of the second chamber 63. The temporary pipe 30 is passed through the second opening 631 of the second chamber 63, the third opening 622 of the lid body 62, the first insertion hole 471 of the seal plate 47, and the first opening 611 of the case body 61 in this order, and the tip of the temporary pipe 30 reaches the inside of the first chamber 64.
[0030] A liquid gasket is applied in advance to each of the external threads of the case body 61 and the internal threads of the lid body 62. Then, by rotating the lid body 62 relative to the case body 61, the case body 61 and the lid body 62 are screwed together and the sealing plate 47 is pressurized. As a result, the edge of the first insertion hole 471 of the sealing plate 47 is pressed against the temporary pipe 30, sealing the gap between the sealing plate 47 and the temporary pipe 30. The degree of pressurization of the sealing plate 47 is adjusted so that the sealing plate 47 is pressed against the temporary pipe 30 but the temporary pipe 30 is allowed to move in the insertion / removal direction while sliding on the sealing plate 47. When the sealing plate 47 reaches this degree of pressurization, the gap between the case body 61 and the lower end of the lid body 62 is filled with sealing material.
[0031] As described above, the first sealing portion 41 seals the gap between the seal plate 47 and the temporary pipe 30, thereby almost sealingly sealing the internal space of the first chamber 64. In this state, an inert gas is supplied from the first air supply port 643 of the first chamber 64 and exhausted from the first exhaust port 644, so that the inside of the first chamber 64 is replaced with the inert gas.
[0032] After the replacement of the first chamber 64 with the inert gas is completed, the on-off valve 52 is opened, and the first chamber 64 and the tank 3 are connected to each other. Here, the supply of inert gas to the first chamber 64 may be continued so that the pressure inside the first chamber 64 is maintained at or above the tank internal pressure. It is difficult to achieve strict sealing with the first sealing portion 41, and a small amount of contained gas may leak from a small gap between the seal plate 47 and the temporary pipe 30. Therefore, as described above, by supplying inert gas into the first chamber 64 during the insertion / removal work of the temporary pipe 30, the outflow of residual gas from the tank 3 to the pipe insertion / removal device 10 is suppressed, and the leakage of flammable gas to the outside is prevented.
[0033] The temporary pipe 30 is pushed into the pipe insertion / extraction device 10 in the insertion direction until the tip of the temporary pipe 30 reaches a predetermined position inside the tank 3. If the temporary pipe 30 is a suction pipe 31, the temporary pipe 30 is pushed into the pipe insertion / extraction device 10 until the tip of the temporary pipe 30 reaches the bottom of the tank 3. When the tip of the temporary pipe 30 reaches a predetermined position, the packing 55 is fitted into the second opening 631 of the second chamber 63, and the retaining plate 56 is coupled with the second chamber 63 to prevent the packing 55 from coming off.
[0034] The packing 55 seals the gap (second gap G2) between the second opening 631 of the second chamber 63 and the temporary pipe 30. With the second chamber 63 sealed by the packing 55, an inert gas is supplied from the second air supply port 632 and exhausted from the second exhaust port 633, so that the inside of the second chamber 63 is replaced with the inert gas.
[0035] Through the above steps, the suction pipe 31 is temporarily installed as the temporary pipe 30 in the tank 3. When the temporarily installed temporary pipe 30 is to be removed, the temporary installation steps can be retraced.
[0036] [Temporary installation and removal method of sampling pipe 32] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a pipe insertion and extraction device 10 used to temporarily install sampling pipes 32 as temporary pipes 30. As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, five sampling pipes 32 are temporarily installed in the tank 3. Comparing the pipe insertion and extraction device 10 used to temporarily install sampling pipes 32 with the pipe insertion and extraction device 10 used to temporarily install suction pipes 31 (see FIG. 2), the difference is that the seal plate 47 of the first sealing portion 41 is provided with a plurality of first insertion holes 471 corresponding to the number of sampling pipes 32, and that the packing 55 in the second sealing portion 42 of the pipe insertion and extraction device 10 is provided with a plurality of second insertion holes 551 corresponding to the number of sampling pipes 32, but the remaining configurations are substantially the same. Components that are the same as or similar to those of the above-described pipe insertion and extraction device 10 are designated by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.
[0037] Here, a method for temporarily installing and removing the sampling pipe 32 as the temporary pipe 30 using the pipe insertion / extraction device 10 having the above configuration will be described.
[0038] First, with the on-off valve 52 closed, the existing pipe 51 is connected to the first chamber 64. The first chamber 64 is connected to the case body 61, the case body 61 to the lid 62, and the lid 62 to the second chamber 63, respectively, in that order, to assemble the pipe insertion / extraction device 10. The pressure applied to the seal plate 47 by the pressure device 6 is released. The packing 55 is fitted into the second opening 631 of the second chamber 63.
[0039] The temporary pipe 30 is passed through the second insertion hole 551 of the packing 55, the second opening 631 of the second chamber 63, the third opening 622 of the lid body 62, the first insertion hole 471 of the seal plate 47, and the first opening 611 of the case main body 61 in that order, and the tip of the temporary pipe 30 reaches the inside of the first chamber 64. The degree of fit of the packing 55 into the second opening 631 is adjusted so that the temporary pipe 30 can slide through the second insertion hole 551 of the packing 55 while suppressing the flow of gas through the second opening 631 and the second insertion hole 551.
[0040] As described above, the second sealing portion 42 seals the gap between the second opening 631 and the temporary pipe 30, thereby hermetically sealing the internal spaces of the second chamber 63 and the first chamber 64. In this state, an inert gas is supplied from the first air supply port 643 of the first chamber 64 and exhausted from the first exhaust port 644, thereby replacing the air inside the first chamber 64 with the inert gas. Similarly, an inert gas is supplied from the second air supply port 632 of the second chamber 63 and exhausted from the second exhaust port 633, thereby replacing the air inside the first chamber 64 with the inert gas.
[0041] After the replacement of the chambers 63, 64 with the inert gas is completed, the on-off valve 52 is opened to connect the chambers 63, 64 to the tank 3. Here, the supply of air to and exhaust from the chambers 63, 64 may be continued so that the pressure inside the chambers 63, 64 is maintained at or above the tank internal pressure.
[0042] The temporary pipe 30 is pushed into the pipe insertion / extraction device 10 in the insertion direction until the tip of the temporary pipe 30 reaches a predetermined position in the tank 3. If the temporary pipe 30 is a plurality of sampling pipes 32, the temporary pipe 30 is pushed into the pipe insertion / extraction device 10 so that the height positions of the tips of the plurality of sampling pipes 32 are different. When the tip of the temporary pipe 30 reaches the predetermined position, the packing 55 is pushed further into the second opening 631 of the second chamber 63, and the degree to which the packing 55 tightens the temporary pipe 30 increases, thereby maintaining the position of the temporary pipe 30. Note that if the second opening 631 of the second chamber 63 is sufficiently sealed by the packing 55 when the tip of the temporary pipe 30 reaches the predetermined position, the operation of further pushing the packing 55 may be omitted.
[0043] Through the above steps, the sampling pipe 32 is temporarily installed as the temporary pipe 30 in the tank 3. When the temporarily installed temporary pipe 30 is to be removed, the temporary installation steps can be retraced.
[0044] [Summary] As described above, the pipe insertion and extraction device 10 according to this embodiment is a pipe insertion and extraction device 10 that is attached to the opening edge of the tank opening 50 that can communicate between the inside and outside of the tank 3 in order to insert and extract a pipe (temporary pipe 30) into the tank 3 containing gas, a first chamber (64) having a first opening (611) into which the pipe (30) is loosely inserted and detachably connected to the edge of the tank opening (50); a first sealing portion 41 that seals a gap (first gap G1) between the edge of the first opening 611 and the tube 30 that is passed through the first opening 611; The first sealing portion 41 has a first insertion hole 471 through which the tube 30 is slidably passed, and is characterized by having a sealing plate 47 made of an airtight and elastic material, a pressing plate 48 that clamps the sealing plate 47 in the plate thickness direction, and a pressure device 6 that pressurizes the sealing plate 47 in the plate thickness direction and the degree of pressure can be adjusted.
[0045] The tube insertion / extraction device 10 configured as described above is connected to the edge of the tank opening 50 when temporarily installing the tube 30 in the tank 3, and the first chamber 64 is connected to the tank opening 50. The tube 30 is introduced into the first chamber 64 through the first insertion hole 471 of the seal plate 47 and the first opening 611 of the first chamber 64, and is further introduced into the interior of the tank 3 through the tank opening 50. In the first sealing portion 41, the degree of pressure contact between the edge of the first insertion hole 471 of the seal plate 47 and the tube 30 can be adjusted by adjusting the degree of pressurization of the seal plate 47 with the pressurizing device 6. The degree of pressure contact between the seal plate 47 and the tube 30 is adjusted to a degree that allows movement of the tube 30 in the insertion / extraction direction. As a result, the first sealing portion 41 can prevent leakage of the gas content remaining in the tank 3 while allowing movement of the tube 30 in the insertion / extraction direction. Therefore, by using the tube insertion / removal device 10 having the above configuration, the tube 30 can be inserted into and removed from the tank 3 while preventing leakage of the gas content remaining in the tank 3.
[0046] In the tube insertion / extraction device 10 having the above configuration, the pressure applying device 6 has a case body 61 in which a stack of a sealing plate 47 and a pressing plate 48 is housed, and a lid body 62 that screws into the case body 61, and may be configured so that the degree of pressure applied to the sealing plate 47 in the thickness direction can be adjusted by loosening or tightening the screw connection between the case body 61 and the lid body 62.
[0047] According to such a pressurizing device 6, no mechanical power or electric power is required to adjust the degree of pressurization of the sealing plate 47. Therefore, even when the gas content is a flammable gas, the pressurizing device 6 can be operated reliably and safely.
[0048] In the tube insertion and extraction device 10 configured as described above, the first chamber 64 may have a first air supply port 643 and a first exhaust port 644, and an inert gas may be supplied to the first chamber 64 from the first air supply port 643. By supplying the inert gas into the first chamber 64 in this manner, the flow of the gas-containing material flowing into the first chamber 64 from the tank opening 50 can be suppressed. In addition, the gas-containing material flowing into the first chamber 64 through the tank opening 50 can be diluted with the inert gas and then discharged.
[0049] The tube insertion / extraction device 10 configured as described above may further include a second chamber 63 connected to the first chamber 64 via the first sealing part 41 and having a second opening 631 through which the tube 30 is loosely inserted, and a second sealing part 42 that seals a gap (second gap G2) between the edge of the second opening 631 and the tube 30 that is passed through the second opening 631. Here, the second sealing part 42 is fitted into the second opening 631 and has a second insertion hole 551 through which the tube 30 is slidably passed, and may have a tapered packing 55 made of an airtight and elastic material.
[0050] According to the tube insertion and extraction device 10 configured as described above, the degree of tightening of the tube 30 inserted through the second insertion hole 551 of the packing 55 changes depending on the degree to which the packing 55 is fitted into the second opening 631, in other words, the degree to which the packing 55 enters the second chamber 63. By adjusting the degree to which the packing 55 tightens the tube 30, it is possible to make the tube 30 slidable through the second insertion hole 551 of the packing 55 while suppressing the flow of gas through the second opening 631. Therefore, by using the tube insertion and extraction device 10 configured as described above, it is possible to insert the tube 30 into the tank 3 and remove the tube 30 from the tank 3 while preventing leakage of the gas-containing content remaining in the tank 3.
[0051] Furthermore, by providing a double sealing section consisting of the first sealing section 41 and the second sealing section 42, even if the sealing of the first gap G1 between the seal plate 47 of the first sealing section 41 and the pipe 30 is released, the sealing of the second gap G2 between the gasket 55 of the second sealing section 42 and the pipe 30 continues, thereby preventing leakage of the gas-containing material through the existing pipe 51 and the pipe insertion / extraction device 10.
[0052] In the tube insertion and extraction device 10 configured as described above, the second chamber 63 may have a second gas supply port 632 and a second exhaust port 633, and an inert gas may be supplied to the second chamber 63 from the second gas supply port 632. By supplying the inert gas to the second chamber 63 in this manner, the flow of the gas-containing material flowing into the second chamber 63 can be suppressed. In addition, the gas-containing material flowing into the second chamber 63 can be diluted with the inert gas and then discharged.
[0053] The foregoing discussion of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the form disclosed herein. For example, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features of the present disclosure are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. However, multiple features included in the present disclosure can be combined into alternative embodiments, configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above. [Explanation of symbols]
[0054] 3: Tank 6: Pressure device 10: Pipe insertion / extraction device 30: Pipe (temporary pipe) 31: Suction pipe 32: Sampling tube 41: First sealing portion 42: Second sealing portion 47: Seal plate 48: Pressure plate 49: Spacer 50: Tank opening 51: Existing pipe 52: On-off valve 55: Packing 56: Retaining plate 61: Case body 62: Lid 63: Second Chamber 63: Chamber 64: Chamber 64: First Chamber 471: First insertion hole 551: Second insertion hole 611: First opening 631: Second opening 632: Second air supply port 633: Second exhaust port 643: First air supply port 644: First exhaust port
Claims
1. A pipe insertion / removal device that is attached to an opening edge of a tank opening that can communicate between the inside and outside of a tank containing gas in order to insert or remove a pipe into the tank, a first chamber having a first opening into which the pipe is loosely inserted and detachably connected to an opening edge of the tank opening; a first sealing portion that seals a gap between an edge of the first opening and the tube that is passed through the first opening, The first sealing portion has a first insertion hole through which the tube is slidably passed, and includes a sealing plate made of an airtight and elastic material, a pressing plate that sandwiches the sealing plate in a plate thickness direction, and a pressing device that presses the sealing plate in the plate thickness direction and is capable of adjusting the degree of pressure. Pipe insertion / extraction device.
2. The pressure applying device has a case body in which a stack of the sealing plate and the pressing plate is housed, and a lid body that is screwed onto the case body, and the degree of pressure applied to the sealing plate in the plate thickness direction can be adjusted by loosening or tightening the screw connection between the case body and the lid body. The tube insertion / extraction device according to claim 1.
3. the first chamber has a first gas supply port and a first exhaust port, and an inert gas is supplied to the first chamber from the first gas supply port; 3. The tube insertion / extraction device according to claim 1 or 2.
4. a second chamber connected to the first chamber via the first sealing portion and having a second opening into which the tube is loosely inserted; a second sealing portion that seals a gap between an edge of the second opening and the tube that is passed through the second opening, the second sealing portion is fitted into the second opening, has a second insertion hole through which the tube is slidably passed, and has a tapered packing made of an airtight and elastic material; The tube insertion / extraction device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
5. The second chamber has a second gas inlet port and a second exhaust port, and an inert gas is supplied to the second chamber from the second gas inlet port.
5. The tube insertion / extraction device according to claim 4.
Citation Information
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