INTERCHANGEABLE ORIFICE PLATE INTEGRATED TO A BALL

VALVE

The object of the invention is a system for measuring the flow of utilities, in particular gas, water or oil, for application especially on industrial pipelines.

Known solutions are based on placing a metering orifice plate in a specially made casing placed between the flanges of the pipeline. Replacing the flange necessitates prior to disassembling the pipeline to cut off the inflow of utility and to reduce pressure in the pipeline.

Known from the description of the invention Nr WO20051 16494 is a double flange chamber, which connects in one casing the flow from bottom chamber of the pipeline and from top chamber of the pipeline. Valve set closes hydraulically in order to isolate the top chamber from the bottom chamber and to allow for the sifting of the utility through the flange between the chambers. Carrier flange may be withdrawn from its housing via the top chamber. The housing may have a curved external surface in order to contain the rectangular section of external chambers. Also known from the patent description Nr US2010229988 is a method and equipment for positioning the flange in a device which has a straight flow aperture. One embodiment comprises a carrier supporting orifice plates and a drive link adapted to connecting with the carrier in order to shift the carrier along first axis perpendicular to a flow aperture. Moreover, the drive link is adapted to limiting the carrier flow along second axis perpendicular to the flow aperture and perpendicular to the first axis. PIN is adapted to connecting with the carrier, in order to limit shifting along the first axis.

Also known from the patent description Nr HKl 1 19232 is equipment and methods of operation of double chamber orifice plate. The double chamber of the orifice plate comprises a housing that has a bottom chamber and a top chamber. A screen connects the top chamber with the bottom chamber. A closing module is mounted rotatively. A pivot arm is mounted rotatively to the housing and to the closing module.

The main assumption when creating a system for measuring the flow of media according to the invention was to create such system, which would eliminate the main problem of the currently applied devices, namely the necessity to close and dismount large part of the pipeline in a situation of replacing the metering orifice plate. Unexpectedly, this was achieved by applying a ball valve and its properties.

The substance of the invention is a system for measuring the flow of utilities which is characterized in that it consists of a ball valve, which in a through-hole of the ball possesses turned fittingly shaped chambers and surfaces cooperating with pressure bushings, which determine the location of the introduced metering orifice plate. Moreover, the flange differential pressure tapping is done through impulse pipes going out of the ball outside the valve in such a manner that enables connecting via five- valve manifold, that it enables connecting via a five- valve manifold all pressure difference converters. Beneficial effects of the system for measuring the flow of media according to the invention consist in very quick and easy replacement of the measurement system applied especially on industrial pipelines of such utilities as gas, water or oil. The structure of the system according to the invention enables to replace the metering orifice plate in a pipeline without closing a major section of the pipeline. The currently applied devices necessitate cutting off the inflow of the flowing medium and reducing the pressure as well as disassembling of a large part of the pipeline between flanges, which causes downtime in work lasting many hours.

Moreover, such undertaking is harmful for humans and for the enviromnent. Prior to replacing the measurement module the contents of the closed part of the pipeline have to be removed from it - most often, 'into the air' or to soil. The system according to the invention closes only the section in which the ball valve is set and only its contents have to be removed.

Another advantage of the system for measuring the flow of media according to the invention is totally safe operation, because its structure enables operation that is safe both for humans and for the environment and its simple construction enables mounting vertically or horizontally, without making any construction modifications.

The object of the invention was presented in the embodiment in the picture, in which fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section of the system from the side, fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section of the system with ball valve open, and fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of the system with ball valve closed. The system for measuring the flow of utilities is characterized in that it consists of the ball valve which possesses in the through-hole of the ball 2 turned fittingly shaped chambers and surfaces cooperating with the pressure bushings 4. Into the inside of the so turned ball 2 is introduced the metering orifice plate 3, the location of which is determined by the pressure bushings 4. Part of the external surfaces of the pressure bushings 4 creates a ring chamber 13. The flange tapping of differential pressure is done through impulse pipes 7 going out of the ball 2 outside the valve 1 in such a manner that enables connecting via the five-valve manifold 8) all converters 9 of pressure difference. Tightness of the ball valve 1 with the metering orifice plate 3 is ensured by a system of seals 6 of the ball 2, the blind flange 5 and seals 14 of stuffing boxes.

The system for measuring the flow of utilities according to the invention with ball valve with metering orifice plate is designed for continuous measurement of the flow of media in a pipeline, especially an industrial one.

The system for measuring the flow of utilities due to its characteristics, construction and designation, can adopt two positions during operation:

• working position (presented in fig. 2) - the ball valve 1 is open, on the metering orifice plate 3 placed in the ball there occurs pressure difference, which is tapped by means of impulse pipes 7 going outside to, connected via a five-valve manifold 8, converter 9 of pressure difference and

• servicing position (presented in fig. 3) - the ball valve, 1 by rotating the lever 10 by 90°, is closed in this position and via servicing aperture 11 access is enabled to the metering orifice plate 3.

In the servicing position the operator unscrews the screws 12 of the blind flange 5 and uses a special wrench to unscrew the pressure bushing 4 of the metering orifice plate 3 gaining access do the metering orifice plate 3, which may be withdrawn and replaced.

Mounting the system for measuring the flow of media according to the invention is done in reverse order i.e. first done is fitting the metering orifice plate 3, subsequently tightening it with the pressure bushing 4, subsequently fitting the seal, tightening the blind flange 5 and opening the ball valve 1.

The converter 9 of pressure difference if fitted on the ball 2 of the ball valve 1 with the metering orifice plate 3 and when closing the valve rotates by 90° together with the ball 2. Such way of connecting the converter does not necessitate unscrewing the impulse pipes 7 from the casing of the metering orifice plate 3.