[0001] A portable motor-driven apparatus for manipulating valves of the kind having screwthreaded
valve spindles which extend in wells or like conduits, said apparatus including an
internal combustion motor firmly mounted on a carrier frame, a valve spindle rotating
tool mounted on one end of a rod driven by said motor, and a torsionally rigid tube
which at its one end is non-rotatably connected to the motor and which surrounds the
drive rod.
[0002] Valves incorporated in the service conduits of municipal water networks and equivalent
systems are at present normally opened and closed manually with the aid of a so-called
T-spanner. Field measurements have shown that the torque required to manipulate the
valves ranges from about 1500 to 400 Nm. Many valves are stiff to turn, or move sluggishly.
Such stiffness is particularly experienced when closing valves which have remained
open for long periods of time, the stiffness of the valve being due to the formation
of iron-oxide fungus on the moveable valve components. This fungus will also prevent
the valve from being closed in one single working step, and often necessitates the
valve being opened and closed a number of times, so that the fungus is scraped off
and flashed away. Only then can the valve be fully closed. The work required in this
respect is physically hard and places great strain on primarily the elbows, shoulders
and arms. Furthermore, the jerking forces engendered when a tight valve suddenly loosens
can result in serious injuries.
[0003] In order to overcome these drawbacks, motor-driven apparatus or machines are to be
found for manipulating valves of the aforesaid kind. Present day apparatus, however,
can only be used to a limited extent, since they are operated either electrically
or hydraulically and thus need to be connected to a service vehicle. Many of the valves
in question, however, are located in so-called green areas, where they cannot be reached
with a service vehicle, at least not without causing destruction of the surrounding
vegetation, etc.
[0004] Simple, portable apparatus or machines driven by an internal combustion motor have
also been proposed in the art. One drawback with the known apparatus of this kind,
however, is that the motor unit is liable to rotate in relation to the well or conduit
and consequently the whole of the torque generated is taken up by the operator. The
operator can thus be subjected to heavy and abrupt jerking forces, even when using
apparatus of this kind. Furthermore, since the apparatus as a whole is liable to rotate
around the well or like conduit such apparatus represent a serious accident hazard.
Another drawback with this particular kind of apparatus is that the operator is totally
unaware of the amount of torque that is applied and consequently the threads of tight
valves may be damaged as a result of the application of excessive torque.
[0005] WO-A-83/00368, which represents the weakest prior art, discloses a portable power
drive means adapted to be connected to the handwheel shaft of larger size valve actuators.
The drive means is non-rotatably secured to the valve actuator housing by means of
bolts and clamps. This means that the drive means requires the valve actuator housing
to be easily accessible which is not the case in connection with valve spindles which
extend in wells or like conduits.
[0006] The main objects of the present invention are to provide a portable, motor-driven
apparatus for the manipulation of valve spindles extending in wells or like conduits
which apparatus eliminates the aforesaid injury and accident risks, and also to provide
an apparatus which can be used in any selected location without being dependent on
the presence of a service vehicle.
[0007] These objects are achieved with an apparatus as specified in the introductory paragraph
in which the tool co-acting with the valve spindle is driven by an internal combustion
motor, this apparatus being mainly characterized in that the torsionally rigid tube
at its other end is provided with a catch device which surrounds the tube in a non-rotatably
manner and is axially slideable along the tube, that the catch device can be non-rotatably
connected to the well or like conduit by coaction with the inner, or with the inner
and outer contours of the well or like conduit so as to prevent relative rotation
between the motor unit and said well or like conduit, and that the torsionally rigid
tube can be laterally displaced in one direction within the catch device.
[0008] The inventive apparatus thus eliminates the risks of injury and accidents that can
occur as a result of heavy jerks and also the risk of the apparatus rotating. Further,
it can be used for the manipulation of valves which are angulary displaced in relation
to the valve spindle and/or wich are not located in the center of the well or like
conduit.
[0009] The rigid element may conveniently be provided with catch means which fits in the
well opening.
[0010] The apparatus preferably also includes means for detecting the torque between the
motor unit and the means for preventing rotational motion, thereby eliminating, inter
alia the risk of damage due to torn screwthreads.
[0011] The torque detector preferably comprises at least one hydraulic piston-cylinder device,
or equivalent device, connected between the rotation-preventing means and the motor
unit, and the apparatus may accordingly incorporate a gear mechanismus between the
motor and the drive rod, said gear mechanism being controllable in accordance with
the hydraulic pressure prevailing in the cylinder of said device. The gear mechanism
will conveniently include a variator in which the mutual distance between the disks
of a belt pulley of the variator is adjusted in dependence on the hydraulic pressure.
This will afford an automatic gear change in accordance with the required torque.
[0012] Other features and characteristics of the invention will be apparent from the following
claims.
[0013] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0014] Figure 1 is a side view of valve manipulating apparatus according to the invention.
[0015] Figure 2 is a view taken on the line II-II in Figure 1, showing the apparatus applied
in a well or like conduit.
[0016] Figure 3 is a view taken on the line III-III in Figure 2.
[0017] Figure 4 is a view taken on the line IV-IV in Figure 1, rotated through 90°.
[0018] Figure 5 is a view taken on the line V-V in Figure 4.
[0019] The apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 includes an internal combustion motor 1 having
a manual starting device 2. The apparatus is carried by means of a handle 3 which
surrounds the motor 1 and which is constructed to dampen occurrent vibrations. The
surrounding handle also forms an effective device for protecting the motor and associated
components, e.g., during transportation of the apparatus. The apparatus may advantageously
also be fitted with a carrier harness, not shown.
[0020] The motor 1 is preferably a high-speed motor and one which, subsequent to gear reduction
is able to generate the requisite torque despite its small dimensions and low weight.
The speed of the motor is regulated with the aid of a throttle lever 4 mounted on
the handle 3.
[0021] The output shaft of the motor 1 is connected, via a centrifugal clutch 5 to a variator
mechanism 2 comprising two belt pulleys 6 and 7, the disks of which can be displaced
relative to one another in order to vary the gear ratio in a known manner. The reference
8 identifies a belt extending between the pulleys. The disks of the pulley 6 are biassed
towards one another with the aid of a spring 9, whereas the distance between the disks
of the pulleys 7 can be adjusted with the aid of a hydraulic piston-cylinder device
10.
[0022] The pulley 7 drives a shaft 11 which is connected to an output rod 15 via a reversible
gear 12, which can be adjusted with the aid of an auxiliary device 13, and angle gear
14. The rod 15 carries at its lower end a tool 16 intended for driving a valve spindle
in one or the other direction.
[0023] In order to ensure that the operator will not need to take-up the torque required
to operate a valve, the illustrated apparatus is provided with a tortionally rigid
square-section tube 17 which surrounds the rod 15 and which connects the motor unit
with the well or like conduit in question, such as to prevent relative rotation between
the motor unit and said well or like conduit. To this end, the lower end of the tube
17 is surrounded by a catch device 18 which is arranged non-rotatably in relation
to the tube and which is intended to be non-rotatable connected to a well or like
conduit when introduced thereinto. In this regard, the catch device 18 is displaceablealong
the tube 17, so as to enable valve spindles located at different depths to be reached.
[0024] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate schematically a well 19 provided with an inner support
flange 20 which surrounds a substantially square opening 21. The catch device 18 is
inserted through this opening, said device including an inner tube 22 which fits closely
around the square tube 17 at two opposing sides while leaving a relatively large clearance
on the other two sides. This enables the square-section tube 17 to be displaced laterally
in relation to the tube 22, so that the rod 15 can be connected to a valve spindle
even when said spindle is not centered in the well, see the chain-line circles in
Figure 2. This will also enable the rod 15 to be angled relative to the valve spindle
should the spindle be inclined to the vertical.
[0025] The inner tube 22 is axially moveable but not rotatable in an outer tube 23, which
is provided with an upper flange 24 which is intended to abut the support flange 20
of the well and which is a relatively close fit in the well opening 21, so as to enable
the transmission of torque from the square-section tube 17 to the well. In this case,
the tubes 17, 22 and 23 will be rotated slightly in relation to the well opening 21,
as illustrated in Figure 2. The same dimensioned tube 23 can therewith be used in
wells whose dimensions vary within given limits.
[0026] As illustrated in Figure 1, the lower end of the torsionally rigid tube 17 has provided
thereon a number of shoulders 25 for retaining the catch device 18 on said tube. The
tube 22 is also provided with upper and lower stop shoulders 26 and 27, for restricting
movement of the tube 22 relative to the tube 23. Because the tube 22 can be moved
axially relative to the tube 23, it is possible to transmit torque to a well even
when manipulating a valve spindle which is placed at a shallow depth in the well.
[0027] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the manner in which a torsionally rigid tube 17 is coupled
to the motor unit. The reference 28 identifies a plate bolted to the motor unit. The
plate 28 has provided therein an opening which accommodates the rod 15 and which is
partially filled with a ring 29 made of synthetic material, to permit rotational movement
between the plate and the rod 15. A lever 30 is welded to the rotationally rigid tube
17 at a location beneath the plate 28. The arm 30 extends in between the piston rods
31 and 32 projecting from respective hydraulic piston-cylinder devices 33 and 34.
The piston-cylinder devices are firmly connected to the plate 28, and each incorporate
a thrust spring 36 which acts on respective piston rods 31 and 32. The piston-cylinder
devices 33 and 34 are connected to a common hydraulic pipe 39 by means of respective
hydraulic pipes 37 and 38, said hydraulic pipe 39 extending to the cylinder 10 intended
for operating the pulley 7, see Figure 1. A branch pipe 40 conducts pressure oil to
a manometer 41.
[0028] The manner in which the apparatus described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 operates
will now be described. When the apparatus is at rest, or in its starting position,
the pistons 35 of the two piston-cylinder devices 33 and 34 are held in their outer
terminal positions by the action of respective springs 36, the lever 30 being in a
centered position. When a valve is opened or closed, by rotating the rod 15 in one
or the other direction, torque is generated in an opposite direction between the motor
unit and the torsionally rigid tube 17 connected to the well. This causes the piston
35 of one piston-cylinder device 33 or 34 to be pressed into its associated cylinder
against the action of the spring provided therein while increasing the hydraulic pressure.
The other piston rod will remain in its outer terminal position.
[0029] This increase of the oil pressure in the cylinder indicates the prevailing torque,
and the pressure is transmitted through the pipe 39 to the piston of the piston-cylinder
device 10, which adjusts the pulley 7 to produce a suitable transmission in response
to the torque indicated, see Figure 1. When the rod 15 is rotated about its longitudinal
axis in the opposite direction, the piston of the other piston-cylinder device will
be pressed into its cylinder and supply the piston-cylinder device 10 with oil at
a pressure corresponding to the prevailing torque. Thus, in this way, there is obtained
an automatic gear change corresponding to the requisite torque.
[0030] Reversal of the direction of rotation is effected simply by extending or withdrawing
the auxiliary device 13, which determines which of the conical gears on the horizontal
shaft of the reversable gear 12 shall be coupled to the conical gear on input shaft
11.
[0031] The pressure delivered by respective hydraulic piston-cylinder devices 33 and 34
is also applied to the manometer 41 which may be graduated in a manner to enable the
prevailing torque to be read off. This enables the operator to see immediately the
torque generated by the apparatus at any given moment, thereby greatly reducing the
risk of damaging a valve as a result of excessively high torque. The manometer may
also be provided with signs representing different types of valves. Other indicating
devices may be used instead of a manometer, such as light emitting diodes which are
activated in response to hydraulic pressure, each diode representing the maximum value
for a particular type of valve.
[0032] The volume of oil in respective hydraulic piston-cylinder devices 33 and 34 is so
large as to prevent bottoming of respective pistons, and consequently the oil pressure
delivered will always represent the prevailing torque.
[0033] The use of a gear transmission arrangement according to the invention provides an
apparatus which is capable of turning the valve spindle very rapidly at low torques
and which can be stepped down to provide the requisite torque for loosening and tightening
a valve. In the case of one tested embodiment of the invention, which afforded good
results, the gear ratio was such that the valve spindle could be turned at a speed
of 26 rpm at low torques and at a speed of 7 rpm when loosening and tightening the
valve. The maximum torque for valve types of the kind in question normally lies within
the range of 150-400 Nm. The primary speed of the motor was in the order of 7000 rpm.
[0034] A preferred embodiment of the inventive apparatus has been described above with reference
to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that modifications can
be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the scope of the following
claims. For example, the two hydraulic piston-cylinder devices of the described embodiment
can be replaced with a single piston-cylinder device which is constructed for detecting
torque in both one and the other directions of rotation. The catch device may also
be modified in a suitable manner, depending upon the configuration of the well or
like conduit. This alternative catch means may be constructed for co-action with the
outer contours of the well in addition to the interior thereof. The variator may also
be replaced with some other kind of automatically actuable gear change device. In
this case, torque detection can be effected in some other suitable manner.
1. A portable motor-driven apparatus for manipulating valves of the kind having screwthread
valve spindles which extend in wells or like conduits, said apparatus including an
internal combustion motor (1) firmly mounted on a carrier frame, a valve spindle rotation
tool (16) mounted on one end of a rod (15) driven by said motor, and a torsionally
rigid tube (17) which at its one end is non-rotatably connected to the motor and which
surrounds the drive rod (15), characterized in that the torsionally rigid tube (17) at its other end is provided with a catch device
(18) which surrounds the tube (17) in a non-rotatably manner and is axially slideable
along the tube, that the catch device (18) can be non-rotatably connected to the well
or like conduit by coaction with the inner, or with the inner and outer contours of
the well or like conduit so as to prevent relative rotation between the motor unit
and said well or like conduit, and that the torsionally rigid tube (17) can be laterally
displaced in one direction within the catch device (18).
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the catch device (18) fits non-rotatably in the well opening (21).
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further includes means (30, 33, 34) for detecting the torque prevailing between
the motor unit and said rotation-preventing means (17, 18).
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that the torque detecting means includes at least one hydraulic piston-cylinder device
(33; 34) or a corresponding device connected between the motor unit and the rotation-preventing
means (17, 18); and that the apparatus further includes a gear transmission (6, 7)
between the motor (1) and the drive rod (15), said gear transmission being controlled
in response to the hydraulic pressure in said at least one piston-cylinder device.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the gear transmission includes a variator in which the mutual distance between the
disks of a pulley (7) of the variator is adjusted in response to the hydraulic pressure.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, characterized by means (41) for detecting the hydraulic pressure for the purpose of indicating the
torque prevailing on the valve spindle.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, characterized in that the apparatus further includes a centrifugal clutch (5) connected between the motor
(1) and the variator (6, 7).
8. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1-7, characterized in that the apparatus further includes a reversable gear (12) connected between the motor
(1) and the drive rod (15).
1. Eine tragbare motorbetriebene Vorrichtung zur Bedienung von Ventilen mit mit Schraubengewinde
versehenen Ventilspindeln, die in Brunnen oder ähnliche Rohrleitungen hineinreichen,
wobei die Vorrichtung einen eingebauten Verbrennungsmotor (1), der fest auf einem
Tragrahmen montiert ist, ein Ventilspindel-Drehwerkzeug (16), das an dem einen Ende
einer durch den Motor angetriebenen Stange (15) befestigt ist, und ein verdrehfestes
Rohr (17), das mit seinem einen Ende nicht drehbar mit dem Motor verbunden ist und
das die Antriebsstange (15) umgibt, aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das verdrehsteife Rohr (17) an seinem anderen Ende mit einer Fangvorrichtung
(18) versehen ist, die das Rohr (17) in nicht drehbarer Weise umgibt und axial entlang
des Rohres verschiebbar ist, daß die Fangvorrichtung (18) mit dem Brunnen oder der
ähnlichen Rohrleitung durch Zusammenwirken mit der inneren oder der inneren und der
äußeren Kontur des Brunnens oder der ähnlichen Rohrleitung verbindbar ist, um eine
relative Drehung zwischen der Motoreinheit und dem Brunnen oder der ähnlichen Rohrleitung
zu verhindern, und daß das verdrehsteife Rohr (17) seitlich in eine Richtung innerhalb
der Fangeinrichtung (18) verlagerbar ist.
2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Fangeinrichtung (18)
nicht drehbar in der Brunnenöffnung (21) sitzt.
3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie weiter Einrichtungen
(30, 33, 34) zum Erfassen des zwischen der Motoreinheit und den Einrichtungen zur
Drehverhinderung vorhandenen Drehmomentes umfaßt.
4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Drehmomenterfassungseinrichtung
mindestens eine hydraulische Kolben-Zylinder-Einheit (33, 34) oder eine entsprechende
zwischen der Motoreinheit und der Drehverhinderungsrichtung (17, 18) gekoppelte Einrichtung
aufweist und daß die Vorrichtung außerdem ein Übersetzungsgetriebe (6, 7) zwischen
dem Motor (1) und der Antriebsstange (15) aufweist, wobei das Übersetzungsgetriebe
gesteuert wird in Abhängigkeit des hydraulischen Drucks in mindestens einer Kolben-Zylinder-Einheit.
5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Übersetzungsgetriebe
einen Variator aufweist, bei dem der gegenseitige Abstand zwischen den Scheiben einer
Riemenscheibe (7) des Variators in Abhängigkeit des hydraulischen Druckes einstellbar
ist.
6. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 4 oder 5, gekennzeichnet durch Einrichtungen (41) zur Erfassung
des hydraulischen Druckes zum Zwecke des Erkennens des an der Ventilspindel vorhandenen
Drehmoments.
7. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 5 oder 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Vorrichtung weiter
eine zwischen dem Motor (1) und dem Variator (6, 7) angeordnete Fliehkraftkupplung
(5) aufweist.
8. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Vorrichtung
weiter ein zwischen dem Motor (1) und der Antriebsstange (15) vorgesehenes Umkehrgetriebe
(12) aufweist.
1. Dispositif portable entraîné par un moteur destiné au maniement de vannes du type
ayant des tiges de vanne munies d'un filetage de vis qui s'étendent dans des puits
ou des conduits analogues, ledit dispositif comportant un moteur (1) à combustion
interne monté à demeure sur un châssis porteur, un outil (16) de mise en rotation
de la tige de vanne monté sur une extrémité d'une tige (15) entraînée par ledit moteur,
et un tube (17) rigide en torsion qui au niveau de sa première extrémité est relié
de manière non rotative au moteur et qui entoure la tige (15) d'entraînement, caractérisé
en ce que le tube (17) rigide en torsion au niveau de son autre extrémité est muni
d'un dispositif de saisie (18) qui entoure le tube (17) d'une manière non rotative
et est coulissant axialement le long du tube, en ce que le dispositif de saisie (18)
peut être relié de manière non rotative au puits ou au conduit analogue par coopération
avec le contour intérieur, ou avec les contours intérieur et extérieur du puits ou
du conduit analogue, de manière à empêcher une rotation relative entre l'ensemble
formant moteur et ledit puits ou ledit conduit analogue, et en ce que le tube (17)
rigide en torsion peut être déplacé latéralement dans une direction à l'intérieur
du dispositif de saisie (18).
2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de saisie
(18) s'adapte de manière non rotative dans l'ouverture (21) du puits.
3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre
des moyens (30, 33, 34) pour détecter le couple existant entre l'ensemble moteur et
lesdits moyens (17, 18) empêchant une rotation.
4. Dispositif selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de détection
de couple comportent au moins un dispositif (33 ; 34) hydraulique du type piston-cylindre
ou un dispositif correspondant relié entre l'ensemble moteur et les moyens (17, 18)
empêchant une rotation, et en ce que le dispositif comporte en outre une transmission
(6, 7) à engrenages située entre le moteur (1) et la tige (15) d'entraînement, ladite
transmission par engrenages étant commandée en réponse à la pression hydraulique existant
dans ledit au moins un dispositif du type piston-cylindre.
5. Dispositif selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que la transmission par engrenages
comporte un variateur dans lequel la distance mutuelle existant entre les disques
d'une poulie (7) du variateur est réglée en réponse à la pression hydraulique.
6. Dispositif selon la revendication 4 ou 5, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des moyens
(41) de détection de la pression hydraulique pour déterminer le couple existant sur
la tige de vanne.
7. Dispositif selon la revendication 5 ou 6, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif comporte
en outre un embrayage (5) centrifuge relié entre le moteur (1) et le variateur (6,
7).
8. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisé en ce que
le dispositif comporte en outre un engrenage réversible (12) relié entre le moteur
(1) et la tige d'entraînement (15).