DESC:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of the invention:

AN APPARATUS AND METHOD TO TEST LEAKAGE OF A JOINT BETWEEN TWO PIPES

Applicant:
GOA SHIPYARD LIMITED
(A Govt. of India Undertaking-Ministry of Defence) Having address as:
GOA SHIPYARD LIMITED
Vasco-Da-Gama, Goa - 403802, India

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY
[001] The present application claims priority to Indian Patent Application No 201921015600 titled “MAGNETIZED BLANKING/CLOSING ARRANGEMENT” filed on April 18th 2019, the entity of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[002] The present disclosure, in general, relates to testing of leakage of a pipe joint. More particularly, the present disclosure further relates to an apparatus and method to test leakage of a joint between two pipes.

BACKGROUND

[003] The conventional method of testing the piping system with flange joints is to blank/close one end of the flange with either blank flange or blank sheet and carryout the testing of the remaining flanges. Flanges are welded to the pipe ends to make most of the pipe spools. Pipe-flange combinations are connected together by using gaskets and fasteners. The inappropriate tightening of the fasteners may lead to leakages through pipe flanges. A quality check is essential for checking the leakages through the pipe flanges post installation of piping system. Further, the blanked flange has to dismantle and connect to the system after completion of testing, which results in the requirement of re-examining the end flange after reinstallation at the site. Thus there is need to overcome the limitation.

SUMMARY

[004] It is to be understood, that this application is not limited to the particular systems, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments, which are not expressly illustrated, in the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodimentsonly, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an apparatus and method to test leakage of a joint between two pipes. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[005] The present subject matter discloses an apparatus to test leakage of at least one flanged joint of pipes. The apparatus comprises a lifter, a conical plate and a resilient strip. The conical plate is of a conical shape with a groove provided on its conical periphery for mounting of the resilient strip on the conical circumference of the conical plate. The conical plate is configured to be lifted by the lifter to seal an opening of a first pipe by engaging the conical circumferential portion along with the resilient strip on said opening of the first pipe.
[006] Further a method to test leakage of at least one flanged joint of pipes by an apparatus is disclosed. The method comprises steps of: positioning a lifter below a plate on which a first pipe of the two pipes is fixed; mounting a conical plate fitted with a resilient strip, concentric to an opening of the said first pipe, on a top surface of the lifter; lifting the lifter, by actuating a lever, until a top surface of the lifter touches a bottom surface of the plate and thereby pushing the conical plate upwards and resulting in the resilient strip to engage with and to seal the said opening of the first pipe; and checking, by visual inspection, the leakage at the joint after filling water in the two pipes to a level above the joint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[007] The foregoing detailed description of embodiments is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating of the present subject matter, an example of construction of the present subject matter is provided as figures; however, the present subject matter is not limited to the specific method and system disclosed in the document and the figures.

[008] The present subject matter is described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer various features of the present subject matter.

[009] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an apparatus to test leakage of a joint between two pipes, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0010] Figure 2a illustrates a schematic diagram of a conical plate, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0011] Figure 2b illustrates a schematic diagram of a resilient strip, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0012] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an assembly of the conical plate and the resilient strip, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0013] Figure 4 illustrates a schematic flow chart for a method to test leakage of a joint between two pipes by using the apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words "blanking", “closing”, "turning" and other forms thereof, are intended to be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although a magnetized blanking/closing arrangement, similar or equivalent to those described here in can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the exemplary, the magnetized blanking/closing arrangement is now described.

[0015] Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments for a magnetized blanking/closing arrangement. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure of the magnetized blanking/closing arrangement is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.

[0016] Now referring to figure 1, an apparatus 100 to test leakage of a joint 135 between two pipes is illustrated in accordance to an embodiment of the present subject matter. A first pipe 125 comprises two ends integrated with respective flanges; a lower flange 125a and an upper flange 125b. A second pipe 130 comprises two ends integrated with respective flanges; a lower flange 130a and an upper flange 130b. It is to be noted that inner diameter of the pipe and the inner diameter of the respective flanges may be same. The first pipe 125 and the second pipe 130 are joined together by fastening the upper flange 125b of the first pipe 125 and the lower flange 130a of the second pipe 130 while also sandwiching a sealing material in between to form the joint 135. Similarly the upper flange 130b of the second pipe 130 may be joined to a third pipe to form another joint. Hence there may be multiple joints of two pipes based on number of pipes to be joined together. Further the lower flange 125a of the first pipe 125 is configured to be fixed to an upper surface 115a of a plate 115 by means of welding or by an equivalent method so that there is no leakage between the lower flange 125a and the upper surface 115a. In an embodiment, the plate 115 may be part of a tank on which the first pipe 125 has to be permanently fixed. Further the plate 115 may comprise a hole 116 concentric to the lower flange 125a of the first pipe 125.

[0017] The apparatus 100 of present subject matter may be configured for quick and easy testing of leakage of the joint 135 and subsequent joints between two pipes. The apparatus 100 comprises a lifter 102 comprising a top surface 110 and a lever 105. The lever 105 is configured to activate and deactivate lifting of the lifter 102. The lifter 102 may be a hydraulic, mechanical, electronic or magnetic system. In a preferred embodiment, the lifter 102 may be a magnetic lifter and the lever 105 is configured to activate and deactivate the magnetic lifter by temporarily magnetized and demagnetized respectively.

[0018] The apparatus 100 further comprises a conical plate 120 configured to form a conical shape. As illustrated in figure 2a, the conical plate 120 comprises an upper end 120a and a lower end 120b wherein the upper end 120a has a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the lower flange 125a of the first pipe 125 and the lower end 120b has a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the lower flange 125a of the first pipe 125. As illustrated in figure 2b, a resilient strip 140 is configured to wrap around the outer surface of the conical plate 120. In an embodiment as shown in figure 2a, the conical plate 120 may comprise a groove 122 to accommodate the resilient strip 140. The figure 3 illustrates an assembly of the conical plate 120 and the resilient strip 140. In an embodiment, the resilient strip 140 may comprise a material such as neoprene rubber or any other equivalent material. Further the dimensions of the resilient strip 140 may be chosen such that there is at least one section of the resilient strip 140 which comprises an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of the lower flange 125a of the first pipe 125.

[0019] Now referring to figure 4, a method 400 to test leakage of the joint 135 by using the apparatus 100 is illustrated. At step 402, the lifter 102 is positioned below the plate 115 on which the lower flange 125a of the first pipe 125 is fixed. At step 404, the conical plate 120 fitted with the resilient strip 140 is positioned, concentric to an opening of the first pipe 125 at lower flange 125a, on the top surface 110 of the lifter 102. At step 406, the lifter 102 is lifted by actuating the lever 105 until the top surface 110 of the lifter 102 touches the bottom surface 115b of the plate 115 and thereby pushing the conical 120 plate upwards and resulting in the resilient strip 140 to tightly seal the opening of the first pipe 125. Therefore the thickness of the plate 115 may be chosen to limit the upward movement of the lifter 102 to apply adequate force on the conical plate 120 to effectively seal the opening of the first pipe 125. Now at step 408, checking visually the leakage at the joint 135 by filling water in the pipes (125, 130) above the joint 135. Further the water may be filled above the subsequent joints to test the leakage at these joints.

[0020] In an implementation of the present subject matter, a magnetized blanking/closing arrangement 100 is disclosed in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. In one implementation, a blank/close is at a bottom part of an air-vent distance piece (a pipe), from inside a tank, with a conical plate 120 and a neoprene rubber strip 140 fitted in a groove 122 of the conical plate 120. In one aspect, after inserting the conical plate 120 at the bottom of the pipe, a magnetic lifter 102 is placed to hold it in a position.

[0021] Thus, after placing the magnetic lifter 102 in the position, switch is made on by on and off lever 105 of the magnetic lifter 102. Furthermore and water is filled in the pipes from the top most point until the water level reaches there. In addition, any visible leakages are checked through all the flange joints. Thus, if no leakage is found then demagnetize the base of the magnetic lifter 102 by turning it off by on and off lever 105 of the magnet lifter 102 and remove the conical plate 120.

[0022] An apparatus 100 to test leakage of at least one flanged joint 135 of pipes 125, 130 wherein the apparatus 100 comprises a lifter 102, a conical plate 120 and a resilient strip 140 wherein the conical plate 120 is of a conical shape with a groove 122 provided on its conical periphery for mounting of the resilient strip 140 on the conical circumference of the conical plate 120. The conical plate 120 is configured to be lifted by the lifter 102 to seal an opening of a first pipe 125 by engaging the conical circumferential portion along with the resilient strip 140 on said opening of the first pipe 125. Further the resilient strip 140 is configured to may be integrated with the conical plate 120.
[0023] The lifter 102 is configured with a lever 105 to lift and release the lifter 102. The lifter 102 is configured to be a hydraulic, magnetic, mechanical or an electrical lifter.
[0024] A plate 115 configured to be placed between the first pipe 125 and the lifter 102 wherein an upper surface 115a of the plate 115 is configured to be fixed with a lower flange 125a of the first pipe 125 and a bottom surface 115b is configured to touch a top surface 110 of the lifter 102 in a lifted position. The plate 115 is configured with a hole 116 concentric with the opening of the first pipe 125. Further the thickness of the plate 115 is configured to limit the upward movement of the lifter 102 to apply adequate force on the conical plate 120 for effectively sealing the opening of the first pipe 125.
[0025] A method 400 to test leakage of at least one flanged joint 135 of pipes 125, 130 by an apparatus 100, wherein the method comprises steps of:
• positioning a lifter 102 below a plate 115 on which a first pipe 125 of the two pipes is fixed;
• mounting a conical plate 120 fitted with a resilient strip 140, concentric to an opening of the said first pipe 125, on a top surface 110 of the lifter 102;
• lifting the lifter 102, by actuating a lever 105, until a top surface 110 of the lifter touches a bottom surface 115b of the plate 115 and thereby pushing the conical 120 plate upwards and resulting in the resilient strip 140 to engage with and to seal the said opening of the first pipe 125; and
• checking, by visual inspection, the leakage at the joint 135 after filling water in the two pipes 125, 130 to a level above the joint 135.
[0026] The method further comprises a step wherein water may be filled above the subsequent joints between two or more pipes to test the leakage at these joints.

[0027] Exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, multiple advantages may are provided by the following features.

[0028] Some embodiments of the present subject matter enable to increase the productivity in testing procedure of air-vent pipes for an on-board ship.

[0029] Some embodiments of the present subject matter enable to test the tightness of very first joint on top of the tank.

[0030] Some embodiments of the present subject matter eliminate the requirement for inserting and removing of blanks after final installation, thereby eliminates the major time consuming activities in the on-board leakage testing.
[0031] Some embodiments of the present subject matter eliminates retesting at the end flange.

[0032] Although implementations for the apparatus and method to test leakage of a joint between two pipes have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features of the magnetized blanking/closing arrangement as described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations for the apparatus.

,CLAIMS:
1. An apparatus (100) to test leakage of at least one flanged joint (135) of pipes (125, 130) wherein the apparatus (100) comprises
a lifter (102), a conical plate (120) and a resilient strip (140) wherein the conical plate (120) is configured with a groove (122) provided on its conical periphery for mounting of the resilient strip (140) on the conical circumference of the conical plate (120);
wherein the conical plate (120) is configured to be lifted by the lifter (102) to seal an opening of a first pipe (125) by engaging the conical circumferential portion along with the resilient strip (140) on said opening of the first pipe (125).
2. The apparatus (100), as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifter (102) is configured with a lever (105) to lift and release the lifter (102).
3. The apparatus (100), as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifter (102) is configured to be a hydraulic, magnetic, mechanical or an electrical lifter.
4. The apparatus (100), as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plate (115) configured to be placed between the first pipe (125) and the lifter (102) wherein an upper surface (115a) of the plate (115) is configured to be fixed with a lower flange (125a) of the first pipe (125) and a bottom surface (115b) is configured to touch a top surface (110) of the lifter (102) in a lifted position.
5. The apparatus (100), as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plate (115) is configured with a hole (116) concentric with the opening of the first pipe (125).
6. The apparatus (100), as claimed in claim 4, wherein the thickness of the plate (115) is configured to limit the upward movement of the lifter (102) to apply adequate force on the conical plate (120) for effectively sealing the opening of the first pipe (125).
7. The apparatus (100), as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient strip (140) is configured to be integrated with the conical plate (120).
8. A method to test leakage of at least one flanged joint (135) of pipes (125, 130) by an apparatus (100), wherein the method comprises steps of:
• positioning a lifter (102) below a plate (115) on which a first pipe (125) of the two pipes is fixed;
• mounting a conical plate (120) fitted with a resilient strip (140), concentric to an opening of the said first pipe (125), on a top surface (110) of the lifter (102);
• lifting the lifter (102), by actuating a lever (105), until a top surface (110) of the lifter touches a bottom surface (115b) of the plate (115) and thereby pushing the conical (120) plate upwards and resulting in the resilient strip (140) to engage with and to seal the said opening of the first pipe (125); and
• checking, by visual inspection, the leakage at the joint (135) after filling water in the two pipes (125, 130) to a level above the joint (135).
9. The method, as claimed in claim 8, wherein water is filled above the subsequent joints between two or more pipes to test the leakage at these joints.