Title of Invention

A PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED VALVE CLEANING AND TESTING MACHINE

Abstract This invention relates to a pneumatically operated valve cleaning and testing machine comprising a valve manifold (8) having plurality of bungs into which the defective valves to be retrieved are screw mounted and the plurality of injection nozzles (15) mounted on an aligning sheet are positioned on the valves to be retrieved, said injection nozzles (15) are connected to the kerosene container (9) through a shuttle valve (4) and gas stop valve (3), said gas stop valve (3) is connected to the kerosene on/off valve (1) provided with a timer (5) and said shuttle valve (4) is connected to the air supply valve (2) with a timer (6) and said valve manifold (8) is connected to said kerosene container (9) through a low pressure leak check valve (7), and a valve holder (14) is provided for high pressure leak test connected to a booster pump (11) provided with high pressure leak check valve (10), inlet regulator (12) and a pressure gauge (13).
Full Text

The invention relates to a pneumatically operated valve cleaning and testing machine for reuse particularly for LPG cylinders.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One of the major replacement expenses for the oil industry is due to replacement of defective valves generated at plants. On an average atleast 1% of the valves are replaced in a bottling plant of LPG. Various attempts has been made to reduce the cost of such replacement of valves.
As a development research it has been identified the various causes of failure and explore the possibility of salvaging the defective valves by rectifying the defects in a co.-3:t- effective and safe manner so that the life of the valves are extended.
The result of the research has identified to the following major causes of failure of the valves.

1) Heavy deposits of dirt on the valve spindle gasket resulting in an uneven contact with the valve seat thereby causing leakage.
2) Depression of the spindle gasket after prolonged usage thereby preventing a leak proof seal of the gasket against the seat.
3) Weakening of the valve spring with reduced spring force in some cases which result in inadequate pressure of the gasket against the valve seat, thus resulting in leakage.
4) Due to the failure of the spring and dimensional error due to wear and tear of the valve housing, the valve pin gets stuck frequently.
Out of the above four categories the failure due to heavy deposits of dirt on the valve spindle is about 50 to 60%. The replacement cost of the vlves can be considerably reduced by servicing the dirt accumulated defective valves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore the main object of the invention is to provide a phe/.umatically operated valve cleaning and testing machine to extend the valve life and thereby achieving enormous savings to the oil industry.
Another object of the invention is to provide a pneumatically operated valve cleaning and testing machine for retrieval of valves in which the valves are tested for leakage and safety. The valves are also checked if the valve threads are worn out causing a leakage.

According to the present invention there is provided a pneumatically operated valve cleaning: and testing machine comprising a valve manifold with a plurality of bungs in which a plurality of defective valves to be retrieved are screw mounted* a plurality of injection nozzles s.r& positioned on said valves to be retrieved, said nozzles being connected to a. kerosene container and an air supply valve said valve manifold being connected to said kerosene container through a. low pressure leak check valve for pneumatically cleaning and testing the valves to be retrieved.
The nature of the invention, its objective and further advantages residing in the same will be apparent from the following description made with reference to the nan limiting exemplary embodiments of the invention represented in the accompanying drawing :

Figure 1 shows schematically the apparatus for cleaning
and testing valves. Figure 2 shows the pneumatic circuit for cleaning and
low pressure test, Figure 3 shows the pneumatic circuit for high pressure
test. DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The defective valves to be retrieved are screw mounted on the bungs of the manifold (8) at hand tight. The injection nozzle jets (15) is positioned on the valves by closing the aligning sheet (16) and clamping it rigid with the lock knob (17). Figure 1 shows the aligning sheet (16) with four injection/jet nozzle (15).
Operating the button kerosene ON off valve (1) activates the Pneumatic Valve Retrieval apparatus. The pneumatic suply is branched to gas stop valve (3) and timer (5). The gas stop valve (3) controls the flow of kerosene from the container (9) to the injection nozzle (15) through the shuttle valve (4). The timer ( 5 )controls the operating time of the gas stop valve (3) i.e. 10 to 15 seconds. After the lapse of the stipulated time, the timer/puts in the kerosene ON valve (1) to OFF mode.

This kerosene ensures the loosening of the dirt particles from the inside of the defective valve.
The kerosene wash is followed by high pressure air flushing for effective cleaning.
Operating the button on air supply valve (2) the pneumatic supply is branched to the injection nozzle (15) and timer (6). The high-pressure air supply flows through the shuttle valve (4) and the injection nozzle (15) into the defective valve and flushes the dirt. The timer (6) holds the reset supply air for 15 seconds. On lapse of the stipulated time the timer puts the air supply valve (2) to OFF mode.
This operation ensures the complete flushing of the dirt particle. For better result this operation can be performed twice or thrice.
The cleaned defective valves are checked for leak at normal pneumatic pressure. By operating the leak check (LP) valve (7) the pneumatic supply is forced into the valve manifold, the leak detector (not shown) placed on the cleaned Valve indicates whether the valve is leaky (bubbles observed) or good (no bubbles). The good valves are segregated.

The segregated good valves from normal pressure leak test
2 are subjected to leak test at high-pressure (17.5Kg/cm ). The
good valves segregated are fixed tightly on the valve
holder (14). The high pressure leak check valve (10) is then
activated. This activates the to/fro movement of the piston
in the big cylinder of the pneumatic booster (11). This piston
movement intensifies the regulator (12) of the air supply in
the small cylinder of the booster (11) to high pressure output
which amounts to 17.5 kg/cm in the pressure gauge (13). The
high pneumatic presure generated is forced through the valve
holder (14). The leak detector placed on the valve indicates
whether the valve is leaky (bubbles observed) or good (no
bubbles) .
This operation certifies the quality of the retrieved valve. The sound valves can be taken up for use.
The life of the retrieved valves can be further enhanced by replacing the '0' ring.
The Leak Detector is to detect pin leak only. KEORSENE should be used as the detecting medium.

INSTALLATION OF THE APPARATUS
1) The apparatus is placed on a firm bench top at repair shed.
2. The apparatus is connectable to pressurised pneumatic supply at ease.
PRE OPERATION CHECKS
a) ENSURE source pneumatic supply
b) ENSURE minimum quantity of kerosene in the container
c) ENSURE the valve buttons off mode
d) ENSURE correct quantity of kerosene in the leak detector and
e) CLEAR the block in tubing/injection nozzle PROCEDURE TO OPERATE

1. SCREW THE DEFECTIVE VALVES ON THE MANIFOLD BUNGS (8) AT HAND TIGHT.
2. ALIGN THE INJECTION JETS (15) BY CLOSING THE ALIGNING SHEET (16) AND LOCK IT TIGHT WITH THE LOCK KNOB (17)
3. ACTIVATE THE KEROSENE ON OFF VALVE(l) BUTTON
4. AT THE END OF THE CYCLE ACTIVATE THE AIR SUPPLY VALVE BUTTON (2)

5. PLACE THE LEAK DETECTOR IN THE VALVE CAVITY AND ACTIVATE
THE LEAK CHECK VALVE (LP)(7). CHECK FOR BUBBLES,
6. SEGERATE SOUND VALVES FOR FURTHER TEST AT HIGH PRESSURE.
7. SCREW THE SOUND VALVE ON THE VALVE HOLDER (14) TIGHTLY.
8. PLACE THE LEAK DETECTOR IN THE VALVE CAVITY AND ACTIVATE THE LEAK CHECK VALVE (HP) (10) BUTTON.CHECK FOR BUBBLES.
9. SOUND VALVES RETRIEVED CAN BE TAKEN UP FOR USE. SAFETY CHECK
Pull the button (l) back In case of excess/ continuous
leak of kerosene
Pull the button (2) back In case of excess/ continuous
leak of air
Pull the button (10) back In case of excess/ continuous
leak of high pressure air from booster outlet.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
a) Valve not fixing : Check for spurious valve
Check for worn out valve threads
b) Non-locking of valves: Check for spurious valve
Check for Foreign particles inside the valve
Check the Aligning sheet operation

c) ON buttons not : Check for source pneumatic
activating supply (Kerosene, air,testing)
Check for air leak
d) Kerosene not flowing : Check for kerosene in the container
Check the valve button for ON mode Check the gas stop valve Check the shuttle valve Check for kerosene leak/block in tubing /container/injection nozzle
e) Air not flowing : Check for source supply
Check the valve button for ON mode
Check the shuttle valve
Check for air leak/block intubing
Check for block in injection nozzle
f) Excess kerosene flow : Check for timer (5) operation
Check the air leak/block to and from timer
Check the gas stop valve Check the kerosene ON valve.

g) Excess air flow : Check for timer (6) operation
Check the air leak/block to and
from timer
Check the shuttle valve
Check the air supply valve
h) Kerosene not re¬
cycling : Check for block in manifold outlet
Check for leak/block in tubing Check for block in container Check for block in injection nozzle
The invention described hereinabove is in relation to the non-limit; ing embodiments and as defined by the accompanying claims.


WE CLAIMS
1. A oneumatically operated valve cleaning and testing machine
comprising a valve manifold (B) with a plurality of bungs in
which a plurality of defective valves to be retrieved are screw
mounted, wherein
a plurality of injection nozzles (15) are postioned on said' valves to be retrieved., said nozzles (15) being connected to a kerosene container (9) and an air- supply valve (2) ;
said valve manifold CS)) being coramected to said kerosene container C9> through a low pressure leak check valve C7> for pneufflatxcally cleaning mod testing the valves to oe retrieved.
2. The testing asachiime as claimed' in claim 1T wherein a valve
holder (14) is provided for coramectirag said valve to 'be retrieved
to a booster pump CIO with a high, pressure leak check valve C.I0)
for high pressure leak testing of said valve,
3. The testing (machine as claimed in claims 1 or 2,, wherein
said valve manifold tf@'3 is provided iwitn four butngs for testing
four defective valves at a time.
4. The testing machine as claimed in claim I., wherein
said injection: nozzles 05 3f are connected to said teerosene

container (9) through a shuttle valve (4) and a gas stoo valve (3), said gas stop valve (3) being connected to a kerosene on-off valve (1).
5. The testing, machine as, claimed in claim 4, whrerein. a. timer
(5) is provided to said on—off valve CO for controlling the supply of kerosene f:rom said container (9) for 10-15 seconds.
6. The testing machine as claimed in claim I, wherein for
positioning said injections nozzle (15) on true valves the nozzles
are mounted on an aligning sheet (16) for aligning tne jets to
the valves, said alinging sheet being. lockable tight using a. lock-
knob C 17) ,
7. The testing; machine as claimed in the preceding claims, wherein a timer (6) is provided for connecting said shuttle valve 4 to said air supply valve (2) for controlling flushing of dirt for about 15 seconds after the 'kerosene wash.
8. The testing, machine as claimed in lr wherein in the leak check valve KLP {i'7'$ is OW mode and connected to the valve mansi fold C8:J for leak test with a leak detector.
9. The pneumatically operated valve cleaning and testing machine as claimed in; claims I, (wherein the cleansed valve is fixed

tightly onto the valve holder (14) and said valve nolder is connected to the pneumatic booster (11) for high pressure leak test at IT,.5 Kg/em2 ,
8. A pneumatically operated valve cleaning and testing machine
as herein described and :iIllustrated.


Documents:

0257-che-2003 abstract duplicate.pdf

0257-che-2003 abstract.pdf

0257-che-2003 claims duplicate.pdf

0257-che-2003 claims.pdf

0257-che-2003 correspondence others.pdf

0257-che-2003 correspondence po.pdf

0257-che-2003 description (complete) duplicate.pdf

0257-che-2003 description (complete).pdf

0257-che-2003 drawings.pdf

0257-che-2003 form-1.pdf

0257-che-2003 form-13.pdf

0257-che-2003 form-19.pdf

0257-che-2003 form-26.pdf

0257-che-2003 form-3.pdf


Patent Number 210210
Indian Patent Application Number 257/CHE/2003
PG Journal Number 30/2009
Publication Date 24-Jul-2009
Grant Date 25-Sep-2007
Date of Filing 26-Mar-2003
Name of Patentee M/S. LPG EQUIPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE
Applicant Address OPP ITI MAIN GATE, P.B.NO. 118, DOORVANINAGAR, BANGALORE,
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 R. ANBUCHEZIAN OPP ITI MAIN GATE, P.B.NO. 118, DOORVANINAGAR, BANGALORE.
PCT International Classification Number B08B7/04
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 NA