Vibration release system for pipeline items
AssigneeHydrosave UK Limited
InventorStuart Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided apparatus and a method of releasing one or more seized components of an item using an adapter in location on said item, a vibration generating means in location with said adapter so as to allow vibration to be imparted from the said vibration generating means to the said one or more seized components; retaining the vibration generating means with the said item at a required orientation via engagement means, operating the vibration generating means and control means allow the control of the frequency of vibration to be within a predetermined range. This therefore allows the effective releases of the component of the item to allow the item, such as a valve of a pipeline to then be operated.
Claims14
Apparatus for operation in conjunction with an item fitted to a pipeline in order to release one or more components of the item from a seized or partially seized condition, said apparatus including engagement means to engage vibration generating means of the apparatus with said one or more components, said vibration generating means provided to impart a vibrating effect on the said item when engaged therewith, and
- control means and an actuation module to cause the vibration generating means to impart said vibration to the said item at a frequency within a predetermined frequency range and wherein the said control means monitors the frequency of the vibration imparted to the said item and compares the same to the said predetermined frequency range and, if it is found that the monitored frequency is outside of the predetermined frequency range the operation of the vibration generating means is adapted until the frequency of vibration lies within the said predetermined frequency range,
- wherein said apparatus further includes a pneumatic air supply and connecting tubes which allow the passage of said pneumatic air supply between the vibration generating means, the actuation module and the control means with said control means located remotely from the said item to which the vibration generating means and actuation module are mechanically fitted.
A method of releasing one or more seized components of an item provided in connection with a pipeline, said method comprising the steps of:
- at least one operator placing an adapter in location on said item;
- attaching a vibration generating means in location with said adapter so as to allow vibration to be imparted from the said vibration generating means to the said one or more seized components;
- retaining the vibration generating means with the said item at a required orientation via engagement means,
- providing an actuation module and operating the vibration generating means, and
- using control means to control the frequency of vibration to be within a predetermined range,
- wherein the said control means monitors the frequency of the vibration imparted to the said item and compares the same to the said predetermined frequency range and, if it is found that the monitored frequency is outside of the predetermined frequency range, the operation of the vibration generating means is adapted until the frequency of vibration lies within the said predetermined frequency range,
- wherein said apparatus further includes a pneumatic air supply and connecting tubes which allow the passage of said pneumatic air supply between the vibration generating means, the actuation module and the control means, with said control means located at a location remote from the said item to allow the operator to withdraw from said item to the remote location once the vibration generating means and actuation module are mechanically fitted to the item and then, at the said remote location, operating the control unit to commence and monitor the imparting of the vibration to the said one or more seized components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.