The present invention covers a shielding column of a pressure pipeline, in particular for air inflow and release in a sewage pressure pipeline, and also for flushing and emptying of a sewage pressure pipeline.

The subject of this invention can be used in any other systems which transmit liquids under pressure, including water-pipe networks and industrial networks, and its solution can also be used for the modernization of existing pressure pipelines.

Waste pressure conduits frequently possess air inflow and release systems, flushing systems and waste (liquid) drain systems. Air inflow and release chambers are increasingly frequently used which are ready to be installed on the ground. They finish with an inspection shield in the form of a vertical column. Their task is air release and/or inflow in the pressure pipelines of water supply and sewage systems.

In the shielding column known from the description utility design of DE 20 2007 001 179, a air release valve is installed on the starting pipe, whereas the cylindrical piston of the air release valve with two gasket placed in its grooves is installed in the in a cylindrical sealing collar. However, such a quick release coupling requires a very precise lead of the coaxial piston of the air release valve in relation to the collar for the purpose of sealing of this connection, which could only be obtained in the application for pure liquids. Any larger impurities which occur in sewage may prevent this quick release coupling from connecting or they may block it. The starting pipe together with the air release valve is blocked on the shielding column with the aid of a spindle guide installed on the side wall of the shielding pipe. This does not facilitate a quick operation of the air release valve or the replacement of the valve with a flushing and draining system, which is also installed on this guide. Considering the construction of the sealing of the aforementioned coupling, it is difficult to use it in a pressure sewage system in such a manner that it could be easy to replace the air release valve with a flushing and draining system.

The solution which exists on the market of the air inflow and release fittings for waste to be installed in the ground, e.g. one from the catalogue of Hawle company as the air inflow and release fittings to be directly installed in the ground, catalogue no. 9828 possesses very limited possibilities of flushing and draining of sewage from a pipeline for the purpose of its clearing. The company of Airvalve presents a solution which works in a similar manner. In the catalogue of Airvalve company (catalogue no.: D-025-BEVG, issue 1/2008), which was distributed during IFAT 2008 fair in Munich and available on www.airvalve.de website under catalogue no. BEVG-D025 and/or D-025 SB, an air inflow and release chamber to be installed in ground was presented. The gate valve which shuts off the flow of the medium (a gas and/or a liquid) from the pressure pipeline to the air inflow and release valve is located in these solutions on a vertical branch of the sewage pressure pipeline which connects the pressure conduit ended with a lower element of the quick release coupling of the air inflow and release valve with the pressure sewage pipeline, which makes the air inflow and release system complicated and makes difficult an access to the valve itself, its assembly and disassembly from the shielding column. In spite of the unquestionable advantages of the abovementioned solutions, such as an elimination of the danger connected with workers going into traditional concrete manholes, they are not very universal, and they do not form a uniform system for the air inflow and release of a pressure waste pipeline and for its flushing and emptying. These solutions practically speaking do not fulfill the conditions for complete flushing of a pressure sewage pipeline and its emptying with the use of the same shielding columns. For the servicing staff, they only serve the purpose of rinsing and cleaning the air inflow and release valves only. A different solution is used for the purpose of flushing waste pipelines and waste draining from waste pressure pipelines: in the form of special concrete manholes or with the aid of special sewage hydrants with a full passage.

On the market, there is no all-purpose inspection shielding column to be installed in the ground which, after a fast change of its configuration, could perform the function of an air inflow and release system, a flushing system and a waste (liquid) draining system. Also, there is no uniform system solution which would perform all the above mentioned functions. At the same time, there is not any relatively cheap and simple system solution which would meet the requirements of flushing a pressure pipeline in any direction, with the use of a shielding column of an air inflow and release system.

In view of the above, the expectations of the operators of water and waste management combined with increasingly more restrictive regulations concerning environment protection in the area where people live and stay near sewerage facilities and concerning maintaining hygienic conditions of their operation, are going in the direction of getting rid of odours being unpleasant and hazardous to the human health, including airtight sealing of sewage systems and their greater efficiency and reliability. Therefore, the abovementioned factors, and especially the minimization of the operation time in sewage environment and in field conditions, should be particularly taken into account as regards specific modern solutions connected with the operation of pressure waste pipelines. The purpose of the present invention is to develop a shielding column of a pressure pipeline branch, which is free of any inconveniences connected with the solutions known in the present state of the art, and which makes it possible to create a uniform system solution for an air inflow and release system, a flushing system and a sewage (liquid) draining system.

The essence of the invention consists in the fact that the shielding column of a pressure pipeline branch hydraulically connected to a pressure conduit principally ended with the vertically positioned lower element of a quick release coupling and possessing a shielding pipe, possesses a horizontal section of the pressure conduit, and the principally vertically positioned lower element of the quick release coupling is connected principally perpendicularly with the horizontal section of the pressure conduit, while both ends of the horizontal section of the pressure conduit end with shut-off gate valves with principally vertically positioned shanks.

In the second variant of the construction, especially for greater diameters of pressure pipelines, to both ends of the horizontal section of the pressure conduit, elbows are attached being connected with the horizontal section of the transit conduit with the aid of connector pipes, and the horizontal section of the transit conduit possesses transit shut-off gate valves being attached to it with principally vertically positioned shanks, which are located on the external sides of the horizontal section of the transit conduit.

To the best advantage, the said column possesses an upper element of the quick release coupling being constructed in the form of a piston sleeve, with an o-ring type gasket being attached to its lower end.

In the first variant, the lower inlet-outlet hole of the air inflow and release valve is attached to the upper end of the piston sleeve.

To the best advantage, the upper part of the air inflow and release valve possesses a fastening bracket connected to a pressure rod possessing an external thread with two pairs of nuts screwed on it, between which a sleeve is rotationally attached with two blocking rods being attached crosswise to it.

The shielding pipe may possess side and resistance recesses which are caught by two blocking rods in the working position of the air inflow and release valve. In the second constructional variant, the upper end of the piston sleeve is tightly closed with a plug.

In the third constructional variant, the upper end of the piston sleeve is connected to the pipe of the standpipe. To the best advantage, the upper end of the piston sleeve possesses guidance pins, whereas the lower element of the quick release coupling possesses side and catch recesses, which are caught by guidance pins, in the plugging position of the lower element of the quick release coupling or in the fastening position of the lower element of the quick release coupling, or in the fastening position of the standpipe. To the best advantage, in order to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the piston sleeve, to the upper end of the piston sleeve, an extension is attached with lateral lower guidance rods and with lateral upper safety and guidance rods.

To the best advantage, in order to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the standpipe, lateral lower guidance pins and lateral upper safety and guidance pins are attached to the pipe of the standpipe.

In order to guarantee the safety of the structure, the shielding pipe possesses a safety lever.

To the best advantage, for the purpose of the maintenance of the shut-off gate valves through the manhole of the shielding chamber, the stems of the shut-off gate valves are connected with casings, which are loosely inserted through the lead holes of the brackets of the shielding pipe.

In a different variant of the construction, the stems of the transit shut-off gate valves are attached to casings, which are inserted to surface boxes or to the lead holes of the covering plate of the shielding chamber. To the best advantage, in order to increase the rigidity of the column as per invention, the shielding pipe is permanently connected with the horizontal section of the pressure conduit.

The column according to the invention eliminates the danger connected with workers coming down into traditional concrete manholes; at the same time, its maintenance is easy: functioning both as an air inflow and release chamber and a flush and drain chamber. The solution according to the invention forms a uniform air inflow and release system of a pressure sewage pipeline and a system for its flushing and emptying. The column as per invention may possess a piston sleeve of a quick release coupling with a diameter equal to that of the pressure pipeline, or such as the maximum flow diameter of the pump which feeds sewage to the pressure pipeline; for this reason, this solution fulfils the conditions for complete flushing of a pressure waste conduit and its emptying with the use of the same shielding columns as well, which serve the purpose of air inflow and release in a pressure waste pipeline. This property has been achieved owing to, among others, the application of a horizontal section of the pressure conduit, which makes it possible to use standard resilient seated gate valve for installation in ground. Owing to the application of shut-off valves on the horizontal section of the pressure conduit, flushing of the pipeline in any direction is made possible, which facilitates the removal of blockades that have been formed inside the pipeline. It is possible to reduce by as much as half the number of flush and drain chambers to be installed on the pressure pipeline owing to the use of air inflow chambers also as flush and drain chambers, which constitutes an unexpected economic effect of the solution of the column according to the invention. The solution as per invention may also be applied for other media. The solution according to the invention constitutes a uniform system solution of the inspection column for installation in ground, with a versatile application. Once it has been quickly reconfigured, it performs the function of an air inflow and release system, a flushing system and a sewage (liquid) release system.

The expectations on the part of the operators of water and waste management combined with increasingly more restrictive regulations concerning environment protection in the area where people live and stay near sewerage facilities and concerning maintaining hygienic conditions of their operation, are going in the direction of getting rid of odours being unpleasant and hazardous to the human health; these expectations also concern airtight sealing of sewage systems as well as their greater efficiency and reliability. Therefore, the abovementioned factors, and especially the minimization of the operation time in sewage environment and in field conditions, are particularly taken into account as regards the specific modern solutions connected with the operation of pressure waste pipelines.

The subject of the present invention is presented in a greater detail in the construction examples in the drawing, where Fig. 1 presents the column in the longitudinal section, from its side, in the first constructional variant; Fig. 2 presents a revolved section of the side and resistance recess of the shielding pipe from one side, and Fig. 3 presents the same from the other side; Fig. 4 presents a revolved section of the side and catch recess of the lower element of the quick release coupling; Fig. 5 presents a view from above of the column from fig. 1 in a half-view and a half-section; Fig. 6 presents the column in a longitudinal section from its side in a second constructional variant; Fig. 7 presents a view from above of the column from Fig. 6 in a sectional view; Fig. 8 presents the column in a longitudinal section from its side in the third constructional variant; Fig. 9 presents a view from above of the column from Fig. 8 in a sectional view; Fig. 10 presents visually in a longitudinal section, from its side, the column according to the invention installed in ground, in the first constructional variant; Fig. 11 presents visually in a longitudinal section, from its side, the column according to the invention installed in ground, in the second constructional variant, with the casings installed of the stems of shut-off gate valves in surface boxes; Fig. 12 presents visually in a longitudinal section, from its side, the column according to the invention installed in ground, in the second constructional variant, with the casings installed of the stems of shut-off gate valves in the lead holes of the covering plate; Fig. 13 presents visually in a longitudinal section, from its side, the profile of the pressure pipeline with the columns according to the invention installed on them during flushing and/or emptying of this pipeline. The column according to the invention, in its three variants, is presented in Figs. 1-9.

Figs. 10-13 present its example installation in the field.

The column according to the invention possesses a quick release coupling 1, whose lower element 1.1 can be quickly connected and disconnected from its upper element 1.2. The lower element 1.1 of the quick release coupling 1 is connected with the horizontal section of the pressure conduit 2, while the principally vertically positioned lower element 1.1 of the quick release coupling 1 is connected principally perpendicularly with the horizontal section of the pressure conduit 2. Both ends 2.1, 2.2 of the horizontal section of the pressure conduit 2 are connected to the pressure pipeline 3.

In the first constructional variant, to both ends 2.1, 2.2 of the horizontal section of the pressure conduit 2, shut-off gate valves 4.1, 4.2 are attached with principally vertically positioned stems 5.1, 5.2, which is presented in Fig. 1.

In the second constructional variant, for pressure waste pipelines with greater diameters, to both ends 2.1, 2.2 of the horizontal section of the pressure conduit 2, elbows 6.1, 6.2 are attached being connected with the pressure pipeline 3 with the aid of connector pipes 7.1, 7.2, and the pressure pipeline 3 possesses transit shut-off gate valves 8.1, 8.2 being attached to it with principally vertically positioned shanks 5.1, 5.2, which are located on the external sides of the horizontal section of the transit conduit 9 connecting the connector pipes 7.1, 7.2, which is presented in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12. The upper element 1.2 of the quick release coupling 1 is constructed in the form of a piston sleeve 10, to whose lower end an o-ring type gasket 11 is attached.

In the first constructional variant, the lower inlet-outlet hole 12 of the air inflow and release valve 13 is attached to the upper end of the piston sleeve. The upper part of the air inflow and release valve 13 possesses a fastening bracket 14 connected to a pressure rod 15 possessing an external thread with two pairs of nuts 16.1, 16.2 and 17.1, 17.2 being screwed on it, between which a sleeve 18 is rotationally attached with two blocking rods 19.1, 19.2 being attached crosswise to it. The shielding pipe 20 possesses side and resistance recesses 21.1, 21.2. In the second constructional variant, the upper end of the piston sleeve 10 is tightly closed with a plug 22. In the third constructional variant, the upper end of the piston sleeve 10 is connected to the pipe 23 of the standpipe 24. The upper end of the piston sleeve 10 possesses guidance pins 25, and the lower element 1.1 of the quick release coupling 1 possesses side and catch recesses 26.

To the upper end of the piston sleeve 10, an extension 27 is attached with lateral lower guidance rods 28 and with lateral upper safety and guidance rods 29.

Lateral lower guidance pins 30 and lateral upper safety and guidance pins 31 are attached to the pipe 23 of the standpipe 24.

The shielding pipe 20 possesses a safety lever 32 and is permanently connected with the horizontal section of the pressure conduit 2. The stems 5.1, 5.2 of the shut-off gate valves 4.1, 4.2 are attached to the casings 33, which are loosely inserted through the lead holes 34 of the brackets 35 of the shielding pipe 20. In a different constructional variant: as presented in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, the stems 5.1, 5.2 of the transit shut-off gate valves 8.1, 8.2 are attached to the casings 33, which are inserted to the surface boxes 36 or to the lead holes 37 of the covering plate 38 of the shielding chamber 39.

The operation principle of the column according to the invention presented in Fig. 1 as an air inlet and release chamber consists in the fact that during normal operation, the air inlet and release valve 13 works normally, and the shut-off gate valves 4.1 and 4.2 are in their fully opened positions. The air located in waste flowing through the pressure pipeline 3, through the horizontal section of the pressure conduit 2, the lower element 1.2 of the quick release coupling 1 and the piston sleeve 10 reaches the lower inlet-outlet hole 12 of the air inflow and release valve 13, and then it escapes outside. Once negative pressure is formed in the pressure pipeline, air is taken away through the air inflow and release valve 13 in the reverse direction. When the air inflow and release valve 13 is blocked with solid impurities, we close the shut- off gate valves 4.1, 4.2, and then we open the safety lever 32, we unblock the two blocking rods 19.1, 19.2 from the side and resistance recesses 21.1, 21.2 and we pull out the pressure rod 15 with the fastening bracket 14 and the air inflow and release valve 13. Once impurities have been removed from the air inflow and release valve 13, we proceed in the reverse order. The seal of the lower element 1.1 with the upper element 1.2 of the quick release coupling is provided by an o-ring type gasket 11. We adjust the feed force with the aid of two pairs of nuts 16.1, 16.2 and 17.1, 17.2, between which there is a rotationally attached sleeve 18 with two blocking rods 19.1, 19.2 attached to it. In a different constructional variant, we can block the air inflow and release valve 13 simultaneously or alternatively in a similar manner with the aid of guidance pins 25 in side and catch recesses 26, when at the same time we firmly block the sleeve 18 with two pairs of nuts 6.1, 16.2 and 17.1, 17.2. In order to make possible maintenance of the shut-off gate valves 4.1, 4.2 from the ground surface, we connect their stems 5.1 and 5.2 with the casings 33, which are stabilized in the openings 34 of the brackets being attached to the shield pipe 20. Alternatively, in the place of the air inflow and release valve 13, we can install the piston valve 10 closed with the plug 22, as shown in Fig. 2, or we can install the pipe 23 of the standpipe 24, as shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 presents the column according to the invention in the second constructional variant: as a plugged chamber. Its principle of operation consists in the fact that in place of the air inlet and release valve 13 or the standpipe 24, on the lower element 1.1 of the quick release coupling 1, the piston sleeve 10 is installed, which is closed from the top with the plug 22, to which the extension 27 is permanently attached with the lateral lower guidance rods 28 connected to this extension 27, the said rods being blocked in the side and catch recesses 26, and with the lateral upper safety and guidance rods 29 attached to the said extension, which guarantee correct quasi-coaxial lead of the extension 27 inside the shielding pipe. The operation of this column is the same as the one described according to Fig. 1: only, in place of the piston sleeve 10 closed with the plug 22 we may install the air inlet and release valve 13, or we can install the pipe 23 of the standpipe 24, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 presents the column according to the invention in its third constructional variant as a flushing and drain chamber, whose principle of operation consists in the fact that in the place of the air inflow and release valve 13 or the piston sleeve 10 closed from the top with the plug 22 on the lower element 1.1 of the quick release coupling 1, the piston sleeve 10 is installed, which is permanently connected with the pipe 23 of the standpipe 24. The lateral lower guidance pins 30 attached to the pipe 23 of the standpipe 24 are caught in the side and catch recesses 26, and the lateral upper safety and guidance pins 31 ensure the correct quasi- coaxial lead of the pipe 23 of the standpipe 24 inside the shielding pipe 20. The maintenance of this column is provided in the same manner as described according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 present the second constructional variant of the column according to the invention, where the horizontal section of the pressure conduit 2 is introduced parallel to the pressure pipeline 3. Such a solution is to be applied for greater diameters of pressure pipelines, e.g. for diameters over DN 200. Owing to the use of the conical lower element 1.1 of the quick release coupling 1 with an obtuse bell turned upwards, an easy assembly and disassembly of this quick release coupling 1 is possible, and the tightness of this connection is ensured in spite of soft solid impurities, which are found in the place of its seal. Fig. 13 presents visually and in a longitudinal section the profile of the pressure pipeline 3 with the columns attached to it according to the invention during flushing and/or emptying of the said pipeline. As it can be seen in this figure, flushing and emptying of the pressure pipeline 3 can be done in any directions possible, also with the use of shielding pipes 20 of the air inflow and release valves 13. The columns of this type can be used in air inflow and release units which transmit potable water, process water and sewage; the said units can quickly be converted into flush and release sets.

The abovementioned examples of the constructions do not exhaust all the constructional possibilities and the application potential of the device according to the invention and covered by the Patent Claims from 1 to 15.