Erosion-indicating safety fitting
AssigneeWorldwide Matrix Inc.
InventorMarcel Menard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An erosion-indicating safety fitting having a fluid passage formed within for connection in-line with a pipe and a cage of interconnecting breach passages formed into the block and surrounding the fluid passage, particularly at areas having a predicted risk of erosion. A pressure gauge, connected to the breach passages, registers a change in pressure to equal that of the pressure in the fluid passage should the material between the fluid passage and one or more of the breach passages be eroded by the flow of particulate-laden fluid within the fluid passage. The fitting can then be changed before compromising the safety of personnel and the environment.
Claims15
An erosion-indicating pipe fitting comprising:
- a unitary body having a fluid passage formed therethrough from an inlet to an outlet and an outer surface;
- a plurality of breach passages formed in the body spaced from and around the fluid passage forming intervening material therebetween, two or more of the plurality of breach passages, each being at a different position relative to the fluid passage and being fluidly interconnected for forming at least one chamber and
- at least one pressure sensor in fluid communication with the at least one chamber,
- wherein an amount of the intervening material is sufficient to maintain pressure integrity of the fluid passage during operation and the unitary body is effective to maintain pressure integrity of the body when the intervening material is breached;
- and
- wherein, when the intervening material of at least one of the plurality of the breach passages is breached, a change in pressure in the at least one chamber indicates erosion of the fluid passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.