The present invention relates to a hydraulic closure device and hydraulic and measuring test apparatus using said hydraulic closure device.

More specifically, the invention concerns a device and apparatus of said type, designed and realized in particular to carry out hydraulic pipe seal tests, used in particular in pressure equipment and heat exchangers in general, but which can be used for any pipe that needs to undergo tests and pressure operation measures.

In the following, the description will be directed to the use of pipes for heat exchangers, but it is clear that the same should not be considered limited to this specific use.

As it is well known there are currently several apparatuses for the preparation of pipe measuring set up. Such apparatuses generally include a pair of closure devices or caps, each welded at the ends of a pipe portion.

Each closure device has a pair of holes. In particular, a first cap includes a hole for inserting a fluid, typically water, and the other hole for connecting a pressure gauge.

The second closing device includes a hole for connecting a tap, for any water outlet, and the other hole for connecting an additional pressure gauge.

The hydraulic test takes place according to operating pressures

(even over 300 bar), by measuring the pressure at the ends of the pipe.

A technical problem of the apparatus according to the prior art is that the pipes after the tests are generally damaged, since the caps are welded to the ends of the same so as to withstand the high test pressures they are subjected to. This involves the deformation of such pipes or the thinning of the walls thereof.

It is obvious that this procedure is costly in both economic and technical terms.

In the light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to propose a closure device and related pipe hydraulic test and measurement apparatus, which should not be welded to the end of the pipe for testing.

It is therefore a specific object of the present invention a hydraulic closure device for a pipe to be tested comprising a reaction bushing, through which the pipe to be tested is insertable, having a plurality of threaded holes on an edge, a vice for fixing said reaction bushing to said pipe to be tested, and at least one locking assembly arranged in use between said reaction bushing and said pipe, said at least one locking assembly being adapted to exert a radial force, so as to block the position of said reaction bushing and of said pipe to be tested, a plug for closing the end of said pipe to be tested having a plurality of peripheral through holes, said plug having a first and a second threaded hole on the outer surface, and a plurality of locking bolts engaged in said peripheral through holes of said plug and in said plurality of threaded holes on the edge of said reaction bushing.

Always according to the invention, said reaction bushing may comprise a first portion, having a diameter larger than the pipe to be tested on which it is applicable, and a second portion, having a diameter substantially equal to that of the pipe to be tested on which it is applicable, having a groove and said device may further comprises a protection bushing, intended to be arranged between said pipe to be tested and said at least one locking assembly.

Still according to the invention, said vice may comprise a pair of jaws that can be clamped by means of bolts.

Further according to the invention, said second portion of said reaction bushing may have a groove and said jaws may be are internally shaped so as to engage in a complementary way with said groove of said second portion of said reaction bushing.

Advantageously according to the invention, said device may comprise a spacer, having a stop, arranged between said at least one locking assembly and said plug, and one or more gaskets, arranged between said plug and said stop of said spacer.

Always according to the invention, said plug may comprise a flange having a radius greater than the pipe to be tested, said at least one gaskets being arranged between said flange and said pipe to be tested, said peripheral through holes of said plug being obtained on said flange.

Still according to the invenbtion, said device may comprise two locking assemblies.

Further according to the invention, said at least one locking assembly may comprise a pair of inner double tapered rings coupled by a plurality of tightening screws. It is further object of the present invention a measuring test apparatus for a pipe to be tested comprising a first and a second hydraulic closure device as defined above, said first closure hydraulic device being fixed to a first end of said pipe to be tested and said second hydraulic closure device being fixed to a second end of said pipe to be tested, a first pressure gauge, connected to the first threaded hole of said first hydraulic closure device, a second pressure gauge, connected to the first threaded hole of said second hydraulic closure device, said second threaded hole of said first closure hydraulic device being intended for the connection to an inlet of a fluid to be compressed, and said second threaded hole of said second hydraulic closure device being intended for the connection of a tap for the air outlet in the filling phase and of said fluid to be compressed when the test is completed.

The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:

figure 1 shows a side view of a hydraulic and measuring test apparatus according to the present invention applied to a pipe;

figure 2 shows a front view of the apparatus according to figure 1 ; figure 3 shows a perspective view of the apparatus according to figure 1 ;

figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a closure device according to the present invention;

figure 5 shows a section of a sectional view of an installed hydraulic closing device; and

figure 6 shows a longitudinal section of a locking assembly.

In the various figures, similar parts will be indicated by the same reference numbers.

Referring to figures 1-3, a hydraulic and measuring test apparatus 1 according to the present invention can be observed.

The hydraulic and measuring test apparatus 1 essentially comprises hydraulic closing devices 2, and in particular a first and a second hydraulic device 2' and 2", fixed to the ends of a pipe 3.

In particular, referring to figures 4 and 5, a closure device 2 according to the invention can be observed, as applied to the end of a pipe to be tested 3. The closure device 2 comprises a reaction bush 21 through which, in use, the test pipe 3 is inserted, having a plurality of threaded holes 211 on the edge.

The reaction bush 21 comprises a first portion 212 and a second portion 213 having a groove 214.

The closure device 2 also includes a clamp 22 comprising a pair of jaws 221 and 222 and bolts 223 for clamping said jaws 221 and 222.

Said jaws 221 and 222 are internally shaped to engage, in a complementary manner, with said groove 214 of said second portion 213 of said reaction bush 21.

The closure device 2 also includes a pair of known locking assemblies 23, in which the pipe 3 to be tested can be inserted.

Each one of the locking assemblies 23 is arranged between said reaction bush 21 and a further protection bush 24. In the latter, the pipe to be tested 3 is inserted.

Referring also to figure 6, the longitudinal section of a locking assembly 23 is seen, which comprises a pair of double-conical concentric rings 231 and 232 joined by a series of tightening screws 233. By tightening the tightening screws 233, there is the clamping of the double conical ring 232 on the bush 24 and then on the pipe to be tested 3, and the tightening of the double conical ring 232 on the inner surface of the reaction bush 21 , i.e. the one facing on the external surface of said pipe to be tested 3.

The closure device 2 also comprises a spacer 25 having a stop 251 and a plug 26, in which the edge of the pipe to be tested is inserted for a tract. Said plug 26 comprises a flange 261 having a radius larger than the pipe to be tested 3 and a set of perimetral through holes 262, in which a plurality of locking bolts 263 can be engaged.

Said plug 26 also has on the outer surface a first 264 and a second threaded hole 265, whose function will be better described hereinafter.

Finally, said hydraulic closing device 2 comprises a set of gaskets 27 arranged between said flange 261 of said plug 26 and said stop 251 of said spacer 25.

When the closing hydraulic device 2 is in use on a pipe to be tested 3, the locking bolts 263 engage both with the through holes 262 of said plug 26 and with the threaded holes 211 of said reaction bush 21 , compressing the gaskets 27. The operation of the hydraulic closure device 2 and of the hydraulic and measuring test apparatus 1 described above is as follows.

When a pipe 3 is to be tested, a first and a second hydraulic device 2' and 2" are installed at the ends of said pipe 3 to be tested as shown in figures 1 and 2.

An inlet for the compressed fluid, such as water and the like, is connected to said first threaded hole 264 of said first hydraulic device 2', while a pressure gauge is connected to said second threaded hole 265 of said first hydraulic device 2'.

A tap for the air outlet in the filling step of the fluid to be compressed by said pipe 3 to be tested at the end of the test is connected to said first threaded hole 264 of said second hydraulic device 2", while a second pressure gauge is connected to said second hydraulic device 2".

The hydraulic closing devices 2 allow the inlet/outlet of the fluid to be compressed, the pressure control and the air discharge.

The locking assemblies 23 create radial forces, blocking a reaction bush 21 and the protecytion bush 24.

The clamp 22 provides additional radial forces to the reaction bush 21 and the clamping bolts 263 compress the gaskets 27 against the spacer 25 on the bush 24 by means of the plug 26, ensuring the perfect seal and resisting the axial thrusts exerted by the fluid under pressure.

An advantage of the hydraulic and measuring test apparatus according to the present invention is to allow the closure of one end of a pipe to be tested without necessarily carry out a welding, but by means of wedge-shaped systems and elastomeric gaskets, to allow the pressurizing of this pipe to be tested beyond the 300 bars, thus providing a noninvasive tool for easy to be assembled and disassembled.

The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.