JP2010002045A - Fluid leak detector for marine hose - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluid leak detector for a marine hose for certainly detecting ocularly an occurrence of a fluid leak even if the fluid is of colorless transparent nature despite its structure which uses an oil pod. <P>SOLUTION: A communication pipe connected with a fluid stagnation layer is extended to outside the hose and put in communication with the fluid leak detector 9 equipped with a casing 10 having a window 11 for viewing the inside, and as a sensor element, a float 12a having a smaller specific gravity than the transported fluid is accommodated in the casing 10 borne by the shaft P of a movable bracket 13 protruded at the hose surface, and when a main reinforcing layer is broken to cause the transported fluid leaking to the fluid stagnation layer to intrude into the casing 10 through the communication pipe and an influx hole h, a condition is brought about in which the float 12a is afloat in the intruded transported fluid. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a marine hose fluid leak detector, and more specifically, a marine hose that has a structure using an oil pod and can reliably detect the occurrence of leakage even with a colorless and transparent fluid. The present invention relates to a fluid leak detector.

  A marine hose that transports crude oil etc. by sea between a tanker on the sea and an onshore facility will cause a great deal of environmental pollution if the transport fluid leaks outside the hose due to breakage, etc. Leakage prevention measures are taken. For example, a fluid retention layer is provided between the reinforcing layers laminated on the outer peripheral side of the fluid flow path so that the leaked transport fluid can be temporarily stored in the fluid retention layer to prevent leakage outside the hose. Yes.

  In order to detect the transport fluid leaking into the fluid retention layer, for example, a fluid leak detector using an oil pod is known (see Patent Document 1). In this fluid leak detector, since the transport fluid leaking into the fluid retention layer enters the oil pod through the communication pipe, the presence or absence of crushing of the crushing member housed inside the oil pod and the wetting of the wetting member By visually detecting the presence or absence, it can be confirmed whether or not fluid leakage has occurred. In addition, it has also been proposed to provide a complicated mechanism.

However, it is difficult to set the crushing member to be surely crushed at a predetermined pressure, and if a complicated mechanism is used, the risk of not functioning normally increases. Therefore, it is desirable to make the structure as simple as possible. In addition, it is difficult to visually check whether or not the wet member is wet in water. In the case of a structure using such an oil pod, it is difficult to visually confirm the presence or absence of the fluid in the oil pod, especially if the transport fluid is a colorless and transparent fluid such as gasoline or diesel. There was a problem of lack of certainty for leak detection.
JP 2003-156180 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a marine hose fluid leak detector that can reliably detect the occurrence of leakage even with a colorless and transparent fluid, even though the structure uses an oil pod.

  In order to achieve the above object, a fluid leak detector for a marine hose according to the present invention has a communication pipe connected to a fluid retention layer formed between reinforcing layers laminated in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral side of a fluid flow path. In a marine hose fluid leak detector that is provided on the hose surface with a hollow casing that extends to the outside and has a window portion through which the inside can be seen, than the transport fluid that passes through the fluid flow path. At least one type of detection body among a detection body having a small specific gravity, a detection body that changes color by contact with the transport fluid, a detection body that swells by contact with the transport fluid, and a detection body that dissolves by contact with the transport fluid Is housed in the casing.

  Here, the casing can be attached to the hose surface via an angle adjusting means. At this time, the angle adjusting means can be provided so as to be rotatable around a support shaft protruding from the hose surface in the hose radial direction. A non-floating body having a specific gravity larger than that of the transport fluid can be accommodated in the casing together with the detection body having a specific gravity smaller than that of the transport fluid. A reflector may be provided on the surface of the detection body.

  According to the fluid leak detector of the marine hose of the present invention, a hollow casing (oil pod) having a communication pipe connected to the fluid retention layer extending to the outside of the hose and having a window portion through which the inside can be seen through. Even if it is a colorless and transparent transport fluid in this casing, a detector that can detect the presence or absence of the transport fluid is housed in this casing. The detection body changes due to the transport fluid that leaks into the casing and enters the casing.

  For example, when a detection body having a specific gravity smaller than that of the transport fluid is used, the transport fluid that has entered the casing causes the detection body to float. When a detection body that changes color by contact with the transport fluid is used, the transport fluid that has entered the casing changes the color of the detection body. When a detection body that swells by contact with the transport fluid is used, the transport fluid that has entered the casing swells and deforms the detection body. In the case of using a detection body that dissolves by contact with the transport fluid, the transport fluid that has entered the casing dissolves the detection body to make it small or disappear.

  By visually confirming such a change in the detection body, it is possible to reliably visually detect the occurrence of leakage even with a colorless and transparent fluid.

  Hereinafter, the fluid leak detector of the marine hose of the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the marine hose 1 is provided with a connecting end 2 that connects another marine hose 1 at both ends, and the connecting end 2 is constituted by a nipple 2b having a flange 2a at one end. Yes. An inner rubber layer 3, a main reinforcing layer 4, a main body wire layer 5, and an auxiliary reinforcing layer 6 are sequentially wound around the outer periphery of the nipple 2 b from the inner side to the outer side in the circumferential direction. Covered with. A fluid retention layer 7 serving as a sealed space is formed between the main body wire layer 5 and the auxiliary reinforcing layer 6, and the inner peripheral side of the inner rubber layer 3 serves as a fluid flow path 1 a.

  The inner rubber layer 3 in contact with the transport fluid is composed of nitrile rubber or the like having excellent oil resistance, and the main body wire layer 5 is formed by spirally winding a metal wire around the rubber layer on the outer periphery of the main reinforcing layer 4 at a predetermined interval. It is configured with. Each of the reinforcing layers 4 and 6 is formed by laminating a plurality of reinforcing cord layers in which the reinforcing cords are covered with rubber.

  The main reinforcing layer 4, the main body wire layer 5, and the auxiliary reinforcing layer 6 are fixed to the nipple 2b by nipple wires 4a, 5a, 6a at one end of each, and a fixing ring 2c protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the nipple 2b. Has been. The cover rubber layer 8 is made of a water-impermeable material such as rubber, and the surface is provided with a line pattern having excellent visibility.

  The fluid retention layer 7 functions to temporarily store the transport fluid that has leaked from the main reinforcing layer 4. One end of the communication pipe 14 is connected to the fluid retention layer 7 and the other end extends to the outside of the hose. Thus, the communication pipe 14 extending from the fluid retention layer 7 on the outer periphery of the nipple 2b in the direction of the flange 2a is connected to a fluid leak detector 9 (hereinafter referred to as detector 9) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the nipple 2b. Has been.

  Among the marine hoses 1, in the case of a submarine hose, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the marine hose may be connected to a marine tanker 15 and extend vertically in water, and remains submerged in water. , It may be in a state where it extends from side to side. On the other hand, in the case of a floating hose, a buoyancy material layer is provided between the auxiliary reinforcing layer 6 and the cover rubber layer 8 and is extended to lie on the left and right in a state of floating on the sea. The detector 9 of the present invention can be applied to both types of submarine hoses and floating hoses.

  The detector 9 includes a hollow casing 10 (so-called oil pod) having a window portion 11 through which the inside can be seen, and a floating body 12 a housed inside the casing 10. The floating body 12a has a specific gravity smaller than that of the transport fluid passing through the fluid flow path 1a. That is, in this embodiment, the floating body 12a is used as a detection body.

  The floating body 12a is preferably made of, for example, a thermoplastic resin (polycarbonate, nylon, etc.), a thermosetting resin, or the like, is a sphere having a diameter of about 3 mm to 10 mm, and has a fluorescent color. The number of floating bodies 12a accommodated in the casing 10 is not limited to one, and may be two or three.

  The communication pipe 14 connected to the bottom of the casing 10 and the inside of the casing 10 communicate with each other through an inflow hole h formed in the casing 10. Therefore, the transport fluid leaking into the fluid retention layer 7 due to the damage of the main reinforcing layer 4 enters the casing 10 through the communication pipe 14.

  The detector 9 is attached via a movable bracket 13 fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the nipple 2b. Since the casing 10 is pivotally supported by the support shaft P of the movable bracket 13 which is an angle adjusting means, as illustrated in FIG. 3, even if the marine hose 1 is in the vertical state, it is illustrated in FIG. 4. Thus, even if the marine hose 1 is in an inclined state, the window portion 11 of the detector 9 can be brought into a vertical state by rotating around the support shaft P regardless of the state of the marine hose 1. It has a structure that can be done. The detector 9 can be fixed to the hose surface so that the mounting angle cannot be changed, but it is preferably attached to the hose surface via the angle adjusting means as described above.

  Here, when the main reinforcing layer 4 breaks and the transport fluid leaks into the fluid retention layer 7, the leaked transport fluid enters the casing 10, so the floating body 12a in the state of FIG. The infiltrated transport fluid will float as illustrated in FIG. Therefore, even if the transport fluid is a colorless and transparent fluid such as gasoline or diesel, the occurrence of leakage can be visually detected.

  Moreover, since the casing 10 can adjust the attachment angle by the movable bracket 13 according to the state of the marine hose 1 to make the window portion 11 vertical, the floating body 12a floating in the transport fluid is placed above the casing 10. Can surface. That is, even when the marine hose 1 is extended to the left and right so that it lies down, the floating state of the floating body 12a can be easily visually confirmed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the floating state of the floating body 12a in the casing 10 can be easily visually confirmed even with a colorless and transparent fluid, although the structure uses an oil pod. It is possible to reliably visually detect the occurrence of leakage. Even underwater where visual detection is difficult, confirmation work can be easily performed.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the casing 10 may contain a non-floating body 12 b having a specific gravity larger than that of the transport fluid together with the floating body 12 a. The floating body 12a and the non-floating body 12b are different in color and shape to facilitate identification. In this case, when the transport fluid enters the casing 10, only the floating body 12a is floated, so that the floating state of the floating body 12a can be further visually confirmed.

  As illustrated in FIG. 9, a reflector R can be provided on the surface of the floating body 12a. For example, a reflective paint is applied to the entire surface or a part of the surface of the floating body 12a, or a reflective material is attached. In the water, it is darker than on the water, and at night, it is difficult to visually detect the floating state of the floating body 12a. Moreover, although the window part 11 becomes dirty with time and the inside of the casing 10 becomes difficult to see through, the reflector R can be provided to easily confirm the floating state of the floating body 12a when illuminated with light.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, the movable bracket 13 may be provided so as to be rotatable around a support shaft P <b> 1 projecting from the hose surface (nipple 2 b) in the hose radial direction. According to this configuration, the movable bracket 13 is rotated around the support shaft P1 and the casing 10 is rotated around the support shaft P in accordance with every state of the marine hose 1 such as a twisted state or a bent state. By rotating, the window 11 can be set in a vertical state, and the floating body 12a floating in the transport fluid can be floated above the casing 10. Therefore, the floating state of the floating body 12a can be easily visually confirmed.

  In the embodiment described above, the floating body 12a is employed as the detection body, but is not limited to this. A detection body (floating body 12a) having a specific gravity smaller than that of the transport fluid, a detection body that changes color when contacting the transport fluid, a detection body that swells when contacting the transport fluid, and a detection body that dissolves when contacting the transport fluid Among these, at least one type of detection body can be accommodated in the casing 10.

  The detection body that changes color when in contact with the transport fluid is applied to the surface of the detection body with a paint that is easily soluble in the transport fluid. For example, a color in which the lower layer color) appears. Or what applied the reagent discolored by the property of a transport fluid to the detection body surface can be illustrated. When this detection body is used, the transport fluid that has entered the casing 10 changes the color of the detection body. You may accommodate the detection body which does not discolor in the casing 10 with the detection body which changes color by contacting a transport fluid.

  Examples of the detection body that swells by contact with the transport fluid include those formed of materials (organic compounds such as resin and rubber) that are highly swellable with respect to the transport fluid. When this detection body is used, the transport fluid that has entered the casing 10 swells the detection body and changes its shape (size). A detection body that does not swell may be accommodated in the casing 10 together with a detection body that swells by contact with the transport fluid.

  As a detection body which melt | dissolves by contacting a transport fluid, when the transport fluid is gasoline, what was formed with polystyrene (styrene resin) can be illustrated. When this detection body is used, the transport fluid that has entered the casing 10 dissolves the detection body to make it smaller or disappear. A detection body that does not dissolve may be accommodated in the casing 10 together with a detection body that dissolves by contact with the transport fluid.

  Even with the above-mentioned types of detectors, changes in the detectors can be easily visually confirmed, so that the occurrence of leakage can be reliably visually detected even with colorless and transparent transport fluids. Become.

  The internal structure of the marine hose 1 is different in the number of reinforcing layers and the type of the laminated body depending on the specifications, and is not limited to the structure exemplified in the embodiment, but for the marine hose 1 having various structures including the fluid retention layer 7, The present invention can be applied. The present invention can be used not only for colorless and transparent fluids but also for colored fluids.

It is sectional drawing which illustrates the marine hose provided with the fluid leak detector of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the use condition of the marine hose of FIG. It is a side view which illustrates the fluid leak detector of the A section of FIG. It is a side view which illustrates the fluid leak detector of the B section of FIG. It is a front view of a fluid leak detector when no fluid leak has occurred. FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating the fluid leak detector of FIG. 5 when a fluid leak occurs. It is a front view which illustrates another fluid leak detector in case fluid leak has not arisen. FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating the fluid leak detector of FIG. 7 when a fluid leak occurs. It is a front view which illustrates another fluid leak detector when a fluid leak arises. It is a side view which illustrates the fluid leak detector which enabled the movable bracket to rotate around a spindle.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Marine hose 1a Fluid flow path 2 Connection end 2a Flange 2b Nipple 2c Fixing ring 3 Inner surface rubber layer 4 Main reinforcement layer 4a Nipple wire 5 Main body wire layer 5a Nipple wire 6 Auxiliary reinforcement layer 6a Nipple wire 7 Fluid retention layer 8 Cover rubber Layer 9 Fluid leak detector 10 Casing 11 Window portion 12a Floating body (detecting body)
12b Non-floating body 13 Movable bracket (angle adjustment means)
14 Communication pipe 15 Tanker P, P1 Support shaft h Inflow hole R Reflector

Claims (5)

  A hollow casing having a window portion through which a communication pipe connected to a fluid retention layer formed between reinforcing layers laminated in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral side of the fluid flow path is extended to the outside of the hose, and the inside can be seen through. A marine hose fluid leak detector provided on the hose surface in communication with the communication pipe, a detector having a specific gravity smaller than that of the transport fluid that passes through the fluid flow path, a detector that changes color by contact with the transport fluid, A marine hose fluid leak detector in which at least one type of detection body is housed in the casing among a detection body that swells by contact with the transport fluid and a detection body that dissolves by contact with the transport fluid.   The fluid leak detector for a marine hose according to claim 1, wherein the casing is attached to the hose surface via an angle adjusting means.   The fluid leak detector for a marine hose according to claim 2, wherein the angle adjusting means is provided so as to be rotatable about a support shaft protruding in the hose radial direction from the hose surface.   The fluid leak detector for a marine hose according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a non-floating body having a specific gravity larger than that of the transport fluid is accommodated in the casing together with a detector having a specific gravity smaller than that of the transport fluid.   The fluid leak detector for a marine hose according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a reflector is provided on a surface of the detector.

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