Transportable hose-test containers, systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9903783-B2
Application number	US-201514675205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2015
Priority date	Oct 4, 2012
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A transportable test system having a control room module, a first IMR test module, and a second IMR test module. The test modules may have fasteners that permit assembly into a unitary package of predetermined overall dimension (i.e. size and shape) such as a standard shipping container dimension. A first IMR test module may have a clean fluid provider and/or supply reservoir, and a second IMR test module may have a used fluid collector and/or collection reservoir. The system may include pressurization, hose restraint, fluid containment, module stabilization/mobilization, lifting, cleaning, and control subsystems.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transportable test system for Inspection, Maintenance, and Revalidation (i.e., IMR) of a test hose comprising:
a control room module;
a first IMR test module with a clean fluid provider; and
a second IMR test module with a used fluid collector; and
wherein said control room module and said two IMR test modules comprise fasteners that permit assembly into a unitary package of predetermined overall size and shape of a standard shipping container.

2. The transportable test system of claim 1 wherein said fasteners comprise twist locks.

3. The transportable test system of claim 1 wherein said unitary package comprises an external lifting interface for moving and/or securing the unitary package.

4. The transportable test system of claim 3 wherein said lifting interface comprises one or more selected from a padeye, a shackle, a fork pocket, a tugger point, and a standard lifting set.

5. The transportable test system of claim 3 wherein said lifting interface comprises a lifting frame which together with said control room module and two test modules forms said unitary package with said predetermined size and shape of a standard shipping container.

6. The transportable test system of claim 1 further comprising a hose pressurization subsystem.

7. The transportable test system of claim 6 wherein said hose pressurization subsystem comprises one or more of a compressor or pump for pressurizing, filtration apparatus, individual test hose hook up, and a manifold for multiple test hoses.

8. The transportable test system of claim 7 wherein said hose pressurization subsystem is housed in one or more of said modules.

9. The transportable test system of claim 1 further comprising a cleaning subsystem.

10. The transportable test system of claim 9 wherein said cleaning subsystem comprises one or more of a pump, filter, hose, nozzle and a power washer.

11. The transportable test system of claim 10 wherein said cleaning subsystem is housed in one of said modules for transport of the system.

12. The transportable test system of claim 1 further comprising a fluid containment subsystem.

13. The transportable test system of claim 12 wherein said fluid containment subsystem comprises fluid collection apparatus and a reservoir housed in one or more of said IMR test modules.

14. The transportable test system of claim 1 further comprising a hose lifting subsystem.

15. The transportable test system of claim 14 wherein said hose lifting subsystem comprises at least one of one or more hose stands and a crane housed in or mounted on one or both of said IMR test modules.

16. The transportable test system of claim 15 wherein said hose stands are of varying or adjustable height and are stackable.

17. The transportable test system of claim 5 further comprising a hose restraint subsystem for restraining a test hose.

18. The transportable test system of claim 17 wherein said hose restraint subsystem comprises one or more of shackles, tethers, chains, an anti-whip or whip-check device for one or both ends of the test hose, and wherein the lifting frame is configured to restrain and support a length of the test hose during IMR testing.

19. The transportable test system of claim 1 further comprising a control system housed in said control room module and adapted to implement a predetermined test protocol including carrying out a hose pressurization schedule, leak detection, and test report generation.

20. The transportable test system of claim 1 wherein said modules are each transportable as a standard shipping container.

21. The transportable test system of claim 1 wherein each of said IMR test modules comprise a stabilizer subsystem and a mobilizer subsystem.

22. The transportable test system of claim 21 wherein said stabilizer and mobilizer subsystems comprise extendable legs with leveling jacks and wheels.

23. The transportable test system of claim 1 further comprising a frame that facilitates assembly of said modules into said unitary package, said frame including attachment sites for lifting said package as a unit.

24. The transportable test system of claim 23 wherein said frame is adapted to support and restrain a section of hose during testing.

25. The transportable test system of claim 23 wherein said frame assembles with said modules as the top portion of the unitary package.

26. The transportable test system of claim 23 wherein said frame assembles with said modules as the bottom portion of the unitary package.

27. A method of testing a hose comprising:
cleaning said hose;
inspecting said hose;
connecting said hose between two IMR test modules at least one of which is fluidically connected to a high pressure fluid source and a control room module;
restraining each hose end to a respective one of said test modules;
pressurizing said hose with a test fluid according to a predetermined test protocol;
detecting leaks from said hose if present; and
draining said test fluid from said hose into a reservoir housed in one of said test modules;
wherein said control room module and said two IMR test modules comprise fasteners that permit assembly into a unitary package of predetermined overall size and shape of a standard shipping container.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said pressurizing comprises pumping said test fluid from a supply reservoir in one of said test modules into said test hose via a high-pressure pump housed in a control module.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said control module further houses a computer which carries out said test protocol, implements a leak detection routine, and generates a report of the test results.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said control module, and said two test modules assemble, with a lifting frame, to form a transportable, standard shipping container.

Assignees

• Gates Corp

Inventors

• Henderson Kim
• Hills Andy
• Swift Jonathan Clark
• Edlund Robert Clifford

Classifications

• G01M3/2807 Primary

  for pipes (G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01M3/26 Primary

  by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors · CPC title

• G01M3/2846 Primary

  for tubes (G01M3/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01M3/2815

  using pressure measurements · CPC title