Flushing ring alignment tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12070837-B2
Application number	US-202217867806-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2022
Priority date	Jul 19, 2022
Publication date	Aug 27, 2024
Grant date	Aug 27, 2024

Abstract

An alignment tool is used to install an instrument onto a vessel. The alignment tool includes a semicylindrical body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a process end surface, and an instrument end surface. The inner surface comprises a process bearing surface, an instrument bearing surface, and a ring bearing disposed between the process bearing surface and the instrument bearing surface. The ring bearing comprises a first fastener aperture, a second fastener aperture, and a ring bearing surface having an alignment feature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An alignment tool comprising:
a semicylindrical body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a process end surface, and an instrument end surface, wherein the inner surface comprises:
a process bearing surface, wherein the process bearing surface is configured to receive a process flange;
an instrument bearing surface, wherein the instrument bearing surface is configured to receive an instrument flange; and
a ring bearing disposed between the process bearing surface and the instrument bearing surface, wherein the ring bearing comprises:
a first fastener aperture;
a second fastener aperture; and
a ring bearing surface having an alignment feature, wherein the ring bearing surface is configured to receive a flushing ring, and wherein the alignment feature is configured to fit into a flushing ring connection port on the flushing ring.

2. The alignment tool of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture pass through the ring bearing.

3. The alignment tool of claim 2 , wherein the ring bearing surface is disposed between the first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture.

4. The alignment tool of claim 3 , wherein the first fastener aperture is disposed between the ring bearing surface and a first support wall and wherein the second fastener aperture is disposed between the ring bearing surface and a second support wall.

5. The alignment tool of claim 2 , wherein first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture are in the shape of a slot.

6. The alignment tool of claim 1 , further comprising a first outer fastener aperture and a second outer fastener aperture.

7. The alignment tool of claim 6 , wherein the ring bearing surface is disposed between the first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture.

8. The alignment tool of claim 7 , wherein the first fastener aperture is disposed between the ring bearing surface and a first support arm and wherein the second fastener aperture is disposed between the ring bearing surface and a second support arm.

9. The alignment tool of claim 8 , wherein the first outer fastener aperture is disposed between the first support arm and a first support wall and wherein the second outer fastener aperture is disposed between the second support arm and the second support wall.

10. The alignment tool of claim 9 , wherein the first fastener aperture, the first outer fastener aperture, the second fastener aperture, and the second outer fastener aperture are in the shape of a slot.

11. The alignment tool of claim 1 , wherein the alignment tool is further configured to receive a first fastener in the first fastener aperture and a second fastener in the second fastener aperture.

12. The alignment tool of claim 11 , wherein the alignment tool is further configured to receive:
an instrument gasket between the instrument flange and the flushing ring; and
a process gasket between the process flange and the flushing ring.

13. The alignment tool of claim 1 , wherein the alignment tool further comprises a first outer fastener aperture and a second outer fastener aperture; and wherein the alignment tool is further configured to receive a first fastener in the first fastener aperture, a first outer fastener in the first outer fastener aperture, a second fastener in the second fastener aperture, and a second outer fastener in the second outer fastener aperture.

14. A method for installing an instrument using an alignment tool, the method comprising:
placing a process bearing surface of the alignment tool against a process flange, the alignment tool comprising a semicylindrical body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a process end surface, and an instrument end surface, wherein the inner surface comprises:
the process bearing surface;
an instrument bearing surface; and
a ring bearing disposed between the process bearing surface and the instrument bearing surface;

placing an instrument flange onto the instrument bearing surface of the alignment tool;
placing a flushing ring onto the ring bearing of the alignment tool such that an alignment feature of the ring bearing fits into a flushing ring connection port on the flushing ring;
inserting a first fastener through a first fastener aperture of the ring bearing;
inserting a second fastener through a second fastener aperture of the ring bearing;
placing an instrument gasket onto the alignment tool between the instrument flange and the flushing ring;
placing a process gasket onto the alignment tool between the process flange and the flushing ring;
tightening the first fastener and the second fastener thereby securing the instrument flange, the instrument gasket, the flushing ring, the process gasket, and the process flange together; and
removing the alignment tool.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the ring bearing comprises a ring bearing surface having an alignment feature and wherein the alignment feature aligns the flushing ring when the flushing ring is placed on the ring bearing surface.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the ring bearing is disposed between the first fastener aperture and the second fastener aperture.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the ring bearing further comprises a first outer fastener aperture and a second outer fastener aperture.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
inserting a third fastener through the first outer fastener aperture of the ring bearing; and
inserting a fourth fastener through the second outer fastener aperture of the ring bearing.

19. An alignment tool comprising:
a semicylindrical body having an inner surface facing radially inward toward a longitudinal axis of the semicylindrical body, an outer surface facing radially away from the longitudinal axis, a process end surface, and an instrument end surface, wherein the inner surface comprises:
a process bearing surface facing radially inward;
an instrument bearing surface facing radially inward; and
a ring bearing extending in a radially inward direction and disposed longitudinally between the process bearing surface and the instrument bearing surface, wherein the ring bearing comprises:
a first fastener aperture;
a second fastener aperture; and
a ring bearing surface having an alignment feature.

20. The alignment tool of claim 19 , wherein the ring bearing surface is configured to receive a flushing ring, and wherein the alignment feature is configured to fit into a flushing ring connection port on the flushing ring.

Assignees

• Chevron Usa Inc

Inventors

• Butterfield Iv Albert E
• Riede Jason Frederick

Classifications

• F17C13/02 Primary

  Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment (measuring in general G01) · CPC title

• B25B27/16

  abutted flanges · CPC title

• B25B11/02 Primary

  Assembly jigs · CPC title