WO2011053113A1

WO2011053113A1 - Hand wheel valve operator

Info

Publication number: WO2011053113A1
Application number: PCT/MY2010/000220
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mazlan B. Awang
Original assignee: Petroliam Nasional Berhad
Priority date: 2009-10-27
Filing date: 2010-10-25
Publication date: 2011-05-05

Abstract

The present invention relates to a socket (10, 40, 50) suitable for turning a hand wheel to close or open a valve. The socket can be attached to and detached from the hand wheel and can be driven by a portable power unit.

Description

Hand Wheel Valve Operator

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for operating a hand wheel valve. More particularly, it relates to a socket suitable for turning a hand wheel to close or open a valve.

Background of the Invention

Hand- wheel valves provided in oil and gas plants are usually operated by hand. Operators need to manually turn the hand wheels on the valves for closing or opening the valves. This manual operation can be a tedious and time-consuming task since the opening or closing of the valve will normally require plenty of turns of the hand wheel and may take several hours to complete. For example, a number of persons will take turns and take up to 8 hours to complete the task.

Accordingly, several power apparatuses are designed to facilitate the manual operation of the hand wheel so that the hand wheel can be turned with ease and eliminate the use of manual labour. Some of the apparatuses are configured with a number of complex rotating mechanisms or movable members that include gear, rotatable shaft and lever arm. One disadvantage of using these kind of apparatuses is that the mechanisms may require regular servicing as the movable members need to be lubricated and subject to wear . The worn parts may need to be replaced so that they will not affect other interconnected movable parts . Further, these members are enclosed in a casing and need to be opened for servicing or replacement of parts. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an alternative apparatus for actuating the hand wheel of manually operated valves which can be easily fixed to and detached from the hand wheel.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention, an apparatus for operating a hand-wheel valve comprising a socket driven by a rotational movement. The socket is adapted to be attached to any portable power unit that can deliver the rotational movement to drive the socket and transfer sufficient torque to turn the hand wheel in a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction. The socket has a plurality of slots for receiving a number of spokes of the hand wheel and positioning them in predetermined engagement slots. Locking mechanism is provided on the socket to secure the engagement. The slots are configured according to the corresponding profile of the spokes. Different types of hand wheels have different numbers of spokes and profiles.

In operation, the socket is positioned at the centre of the hand wheel to allow the spokes of the hand wheel to enter the slots. Next, the socket is twisted in a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction to position the spokes into the engagement slots. The socket is then locked to secure the spokes in the engagement position. The power unit is then attached to the socket The power unit will transfer sufficient torque to turn the hand wheel in a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction, depending on the direction of rotation required for closing or opening the valve. Brief Description of The Drawings

The present invention will be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. la shows a side view of a socket according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. lb shows a round profile of a hand wheel's spoke;

Fig. 2 shows a bottom view of the socket shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a and Fig. 3b show a locking bar to be used with the socket of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3c shows a pin to be adapted with the locking bar of Fig. 3a and 3b;

Fig. 4a shows an exploded side view of a socket according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4b shows a square profile of a hand wheel's spoke;

Fig. 5a shows an exploded side view of a socket according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5b shows an example of polygonal profile of a hand wheel's spoke. Detailed Description of Some of the Preferred Embodiments

According to the present invention, an apparatus for operating hand-wheel valves comprising a socket driven by a portable power unit, which rotates or turns the hand wheel in a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction, depending on the direction of rotation required for closing or opening the valve

Fig. la shows a side view of a socket (10) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The socket (10) is to be fixed to a hand wheel having spokes with round or tubular profiles as shown in Fig. lb. In this embodiment, a pluraUty of T-shaped slots are provided to receive the spokes and to position the spoke into an engagement slot. At least a locking bar is inserted into the socket to lock the respective spokes in the engagement position. As shown in Fig. 1, the socket (10) has a tubular body i.e. in the form of a cylindrical with hollow in the middle with T-shaped slots (101) radially located at the bottom circumference of the tubular body. Each slot has an open-ended section (101a) to allow the spoke to enter directly into the slot (101) when the socket is positioned on the hand wheel.

The open-ended section (101a) extends to a T-junction where first junction and second junction taper to the respective curved ends. The first and second junctions define the first and second engagement slots (101b, 101c) respectively. In an engagement position, the spoke is directed to the first (101b) or second (101c) engagement slot. The tubular body has a flange (103) located at the top of the socket which also covers the tubular body. A plurality of apertures (105a, 105b) is provided on the flange (103) to allow at least a locking bar to be inserted into one aperture that will lock the spoke in the first (101b) or second (101c) engagement slot. The socket (10) . is adapted to be driven by rotational movement. A portable power unit is used to deliver the rotational movement to drive the socket. Preferably, the power unit has a pressurized fluid such as pneumatic. Accordingly, a recess (107) is provided in the center at the top of the socket (10) to receive a rotatable member of a portable power unit.

Fig. 2 shows a bottom view of the socket shown in Fig. 1 having five T-shaped slots (101) with different sizes of apertures arranged at different locations adjacent to the slots. The different sizes of apertures are arranged in a mariner that allow the corresponding locking bars to direct different sizes of spokes sideways towards first or second engagement slot. For example, if bigger spokes are placed in the slots, the closet aperture to the spokes will be selected and the corresponding bar will be inserted.. Fig. 3a and 3b show an example of locking bar (30) that can be used with the socket (10). A hollow (301) is provided on the bar (30) to receive a pin (303) as shown in Fig, 3b to secure the bar to the socket. As shown in Fig.l and Fig. 2, different sizes of apertures are disposed at the top of the socket (10) away from the top area of the tubular body. The apertures can also be disposed at the top of the socket (10) within the top area of the tubular body.

Fig. 4a shows an exploded side view of a . socket (40) according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The socket (40) is to be fixed to a hand wheel having spokes with square profiles as shown in Fig. 4b. Slots are provided to receive the spokes in locking positions. At least a threaded bar is inserted into the socket to lock the respective spokes in a locking position.

As shown in Fig. 4, the socket (40) has a tubular body i.e. in the form of a cylindrical with hollow in the middle with slots (401) radially located at the bottom circumference of the tubular body. Each slot has an open-ended section (401a) to allow the spoke to enter the slot (401). The open-ended section (401a) extends to a first L-junction (401b) and a second opposing L-junction (401c). Each section has a different size for receiving a corresponding size of square profiles. At least an aperture is provided at the top of the socket to allow a locking bar to be inserted into the socket (40) and retain the respective spokes in a locking position. A recess (407) is provided on the central top of the socket (40) to receive a rotatable member of a portable power unit. As shown in Fig. 4, a pair of threaded locking bars (403) are to be inserted into the tubular body via threaded apertures (405a, 405b). As shown in Fig. 4, the apertures (404a, 405b) are disposed wilhin the top area of the tubular body. The apertures (405a, 405b) can also be disposed away from the top area of the tubular body.

Fig. 5a shows an exploded side view of a socket (50) according to me third embodiment of the present invention. The socket (50) is to be fixed to a hand wheel having 6 spokes with any polygonal profiles. Fig. 5b shows an example of polygonal profile. Stepped and narrowing slots are provided to receive the spokes. At least a locking bar is to be inserted into the socket (50) to retain the respective spokes in a locking position. In this embodiment, the locking bar (503) is threaded and extended beyond the spoke as to allow it to be fasten with a clamp (509). The clamp (509) will secure the spokes in the socket (50).

The socket (50) has a tubular body i.e. in the form of cylindrical with hollow in the middle with stepped slots (501) radially located at the bottom circumference of the tubular body. Each slot has an open-ended section (501a) to allow the spoke to enter the slot (501). The subsequent sections (501b, 501c) are stepped and have different smaller sizes. The open-ended section (501a) defines a first engagement slot. The first subsequent section and the second subsequent section define a second engagement slot and a third engagement slot respectively. At least an aperture is provided at the top of the socket to allow a threaded locking bar to be inserted into the socket and extends beyond the spokes' height to allow it to be attached to a clamp (509) to secure the spokes in locking positions, A recess (507) is provided on the central top of the socket (50) to receive a rotatable member of a portable power unit.

The portable power unit has pressurized fluid, preferably pneumatic that will transfer sufficient torque to the socket that is required to turn the hand wheel in a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction, depending on the direction of rotation required for closing or opening the valve.

In operation, the socket is positioned at the centre of the hand wheel wherein the spokes of the hand wheel enter the slots. Next, the socket is twisted to allow the spokes to be positioned into engagement positions. The socket is then locked with the locking bars to secure the spokes in the socket. A portable power unit, for example pneumatic torque wrench is then attached to the socket to drive socket in rotational movement.

Claims

1. A socket for liirning a hand wheel on a valve comprising:

a plurality of slots for receiving spokes of the hand wheel; and

a mechanism for locking the hand wheel

wherein the socket is driven by a rotational movement.

2. A socket according to Claim 1 wherein the slots are radially located at the bottom circumference of the socket.

3. A socket according to Claim 1 wherein the slots have an open-ended section to allow the spokes to engage the slots.

A socket according to Claim 3 wherein the slots have opposing engagement slots .

5. A socket according to Claim 1 further comprises a recess located at the centre top of the socket for receiving a rotatable member of a portable power unit.

6. A socket according to Claim 1 wherein the mechanism comprising at least an aperture located at the top of the socket for receiving a bar to retain a spoke in an engagement position.

7. A socket according to Claim 1 wherein the slots are configured according to the profile of the wheel.

8. A socket according to Claim 6 wherein the bar is detachably attached and fastened with a lock to secure the spokes in a locked position;

9. A socket according to Claim 1 wherein the portable power unit has a pressurized fluid to cause rotational movement.

10. A socket according to Claim 1 wherein the portable power unit transfers sufficient torque to the socket for rotating the wheel in a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction.

11. A socket according to Claims 8 and 9 wherein the portable power unit is a pneumatic torque wrench.

12. A socket according to Claim 6 wherein the apertures are adjacent to the slots.

13. A socket according to Claim 4 wherein one engagement slot provides an engagement position for turning the hand wheel in a clockwise direction.

14. A socket according to Claim 4 wherein one engagement slot provides an engagement position for turning the hand wheel in an anticlockwise direction.

15. A socket according to Claim 6 wherein the bar pushes the side of the spoke towards one of the engagement slots.

16. A socket according to Claim 6 wherein the bar push the top of the spoke towards one of the engagement slots. .

17. A socket according to Claim 6 wherein the apertures are threaded.

18. A socket according to Claim 6 wherein the bar is threaded.

19. A socket according to Claim 18 wherein the bar has at least a hole.

20. A socket according to Claims 8, 17 and 18 wherein the lock is a clamp having at least a threaded aperture for receiving the threaded bar .

21. A socket according to Claims 19 and 20 wherein the lock is a pin to be inserted into the hole.