GB2088567A - Portable pressure testing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A test rig for pressure testing a fluid-pressurisable system, such as a hydraulic hose (40) with couplings, comprises first and second concentric cylinders (16, 5), the second being intended for coupling to the system to be tested. A first piston (21) in the first cylinder is coupled to a second piston (1A) in the second cylinder. Fluid from a reservoir 8 is applied under pressure to the first piston, by operating a handle (3), the resulting pressure being transmitted to fluid supplied from a reservoir 35 to the second cylinder and thence to the system to be tested, the applied pressure being intensified as a result of differential areas of the pistons. A pressure gauge (33) indicates the pressure applied to the test system. After test, fluid from the system being tested is returned to a reservoir through a strainer (36) provided with a cover (38). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Portable test rig This invention relates to fluid pressurisable systems and especially, but not exclusively, to hydraulic hose and coupling assemblies used to convey hydraulic fluid under high pressure. More particularly, the invention relates to a portable proof test rig for pressure testing such systems prior to installation in order to minimise risk of accidents and possible injury to personnel in event of failure of defective systems after installation and pressurisation.

The present invention provides a portable proof test rig for pressure testing a fluid-pressurisable system, said rig comprising: first and second cylinders arranged in end-to-end relationship on a common axis, said second cylinder being of smaller diameter than said first cylinder and adapted to be coupled to a fluid pressurisable system to be tested; a first piston slideable in said first cylinder and coupled by rigid coupling means to a second piston of smaller area than said first piston slideable in said second cylinder; a hydraulic pump adapted to apply fluid under pressure from a first reservoir to said first piston; a second reservoir adapted to supply a working fluid to said second cylinder for application to said system to be tested; pressure when applied to said first piston by said pump being transmitted by way of said second piston to said working fluid and thence to said system to be tested and intensified as a result of differential areas of said first and second pistons; means to indicate the pressure of said working fluid in said second cylinder; and means capable of releasing pressure applied to said working fluid.

The said hydraulic pump may be manually operated or motor driven. When the pump is manually operated, a lever-type operating handle is suitably provided. Means may be provided to enable the handle to be secured to a rest position whereby the handle is capable of serving as means for carrying the rig. The means for securing the handle suitably comprises a clip retaining the handle against a block of resilient material.

The said means to indicate the pressure of said working fluid suitably comprises a pressure gauge coupled to the second cylinder.

Drainage means may be provided to enable working fluid applied from said second cylinder to the system under test to be returned to said second reservoir after uncoupling said system from said second cylinder. Strainer means for said working fluid is preferably provided in association with said drainage means.

The second reservoir is conveniently interchageable with others of different volume to accommodate systems of different volume to be tested.

Means may additionally be provided to partially fill with working fluid the system to be tested, prior to complete filling and pressurisation by way of the second piston in the second cylinder. Conveniently, this partial filling of the system is effected by means of a priming pump. The priming pump may be arranged to be integral with the test rig.

In a preferred application, the said system to be tested comprises a hydraulic hose and coupling assembly; the assembly is securable by a coupling at one end to the said second cylinder, a blanking plug being arranged to be applied to a coupling at the other end of the assembly.

Protective means may be provided to surround the system to be tested to protect an operator of the rig in event of failure of the system during test.

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portable proof test rig according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rig of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through a pump assembly incorporated in the rig of Figures 1 and 2, showing in detail the piston assembly and release valve therein.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through part of the test rig of Figure 1, showing a release valve system, pressure gauge adaptor and combined base and reservoir for working fluid.

Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of portable proof test rig for pressure testing a fluidpressurisable system comprises a first cylinder 16 and a second cylinder 5 arranged in end-to-end relationship on a common axis, the second cylinder 5 being of a smaller diameter than the first cylinder 16. The second cylinder is adapted to be coupled to a fluid pressurisable system to be tested after removal of a blanking plug 2, such a system comprising, for example, a hydraulic hose 40, sealed at one end by a plug 42 and having a connector 41 at the other end.

After removal of the blanking plug 2, connector 41 is able to be screwed in a port 2Ato couple the hose 40 to the second cylinder 5. A first piston 21 is arranged to be slideable in the first cylinder 16 and is coupled by a rigid coupling means 1 to a second piston it of smaller area than the first piston 21 and slideable in the second cylinder 5. A hydraulic pump, manually operable by means of a lever type handle 3, is provided to apply hydraulic fluid under pressure from a first reservoir 8 to the first piston 21. This pump comprises a cylinder 7 with a piston 11 therein capable of being raised and lowered by up and down movement of the handle 3, the handle being pivotable at a fulcrum 4.A release valve 10 and ball valves 9 and 13 are included in the pump. Asecond reservoir 35 contains a working fluid for supply to the second cylinder 5 and from thence to the hose 40 to be tested. The reservoir 35 also serves as a base for supporting the test rig. Pressure when applied to the first piston 21 by the hydraulic pump, is arranged to be transmitted by way of the second piston 1A to the working fluid supplied to the second cylinder 5 from the reservoir 35. This pressure is intensified as a result of differential areas of the pistons 21 and 1A.

A pressure gauge 33 is provided to indicate the pressure of the working fluid in the second cylinder 5 and hence the pressure applied to the hose 40 for testing it. A release valve 12 is provided for releasing the pressure applied to the working fluid.

The operating handle 3 may be secured in a rest position against a block 29 of resilient material, such as rubber, by means of a clip 28, whereby the handle 3 may serve as a means for carrying the rig. A cover 38 may be retracted to enable working fluid applied from the second cylinder 5 to the hose 40 under test to drain into the reservoir 35 at the end of the test after uncoupling the hose from the rig. A strainer 36 is provided for the fluid which is returned to the reservoir 35.

The second reservoir 35 is arranged to be interchangeable with others of different volume to accommodate systems of different volume to be tested. Bolts 32 allow such interchange to be effected.

A priming pump (not shown) may be provided integral with, or separate from, the rig to enable the hose 40 to be partially filled with working fluid prior to complete filling and pressurisation of the hose by way of the second piston 1A in the second cylinderS.

Protective means (not shown), such as a cylindrical sheath secured to the rig by means of a chain, may be provided to surround the hose 40 and its couplings to protect an operator of the rig in event of failure of the hose and coupling assembly during pressure testing.

The method of operation of the test rig is as follows. The handle retaining clip 28 is detached and the cover 38 is retracted. The hose 40 under test and sealed at one end by plug 42 is connected to port 2A by connector 41, after removing blank plug 2, the connector 41 being left partly unscrewed to allow discharge of air and priming of the hose under test.

The release valve screws 10 and 12 are screwed in, thus seating balls 9 and 14. The handle 3 is raised to cause piston 11 to outstroke, thereby drawing oil from reservoir 8 via filter tube 39 and past ball valve 13 into cylinder 7. Handle 3 is then lowered, thus pressurising the oil in cylinder7 and closing the ball valve 13 on its seat, allowing oil to be discharged past ball seat 15 and into oilway 17 and cylinder 16.

Piston 21 is caused to advance in cylinder 16 and as this piston is coupled by rigid coupling 1 to piston 1A, the latter is caused to advance in cylinder 5, thus pressurising working fluid in cylinderS, drawn from reservoir 35. The working fluid is discharged by way of port 24, past ball seat 30 and through port 2A into the hose 40 undertest.Atthesametime,the working fluid is applied through an oilway in adaptor 31 to pressure gauge 33.

Raising and lowering of the handle 3 is repeated until the working fluid is discharged through the loose connector 41, thus indicating complete discharge of air from the hose 40 under test. Connector 41 is then screwed up tight and operation of the handle is repeated until the test pressure is reached.

The release valve 10 is then opened, releasing pressure in cylinder 16 and allowing spring 18to push pistons 21 and 1A back to instroke and allowing oil to be discharged into reservoir 8 by way of port 17, past ball seat 9 and through port 19. Simultaneously during the instroking of piston 1A, working fluid is drawn from reservoir 35, by way of tube and filter 37, past ball seat 43 and through port 24 into cylinder 5.

The hose 40 under test remains at the test pressure as long as required. To release the test pressure, release valve 12 is opened, allowing the working fluid to discharge past ball seat 14 and into reservoir 35, by way of port 34. The hose 40 is then disconnected from port 2A and surplus working fluid in the hose is allowed to drain back through the strainer 36 into the reservoir 35.

New claims filed on 12owt. 1981 Newclaims:- pages 9, 10 & 1.

Claims (16)

1. A portable proof test rig for pressure testing a fluid-pressurisable system, said rig comprising: first and second cylinders arranged in end-to-end relationship on a common axis, said second cylinder being of smaller diameter than said first cylinder and adapted to be coupled to a fluid-pressurisable system to be tested; a first piston slideable in said first cylinder and coupled by rigid coupling means to a second piston of smaller area than said first piston slideable in said second cylinder; a hydraulic pump adapted to apply fluid under pressure from a first reservoir to said first piston; a second reservoir adapted to supply a working fluid to said second cylinder for application to said system to be tested; pressure when applied to said first piston by said pump being transmitted by way of said second piston to said working fluid and thence to said system to be tested and intensified as a result of differential areas of said first and second pistons; means to indicate the pressure of said working fluid in said second cylinder; and means capable of releasing pressure applied to said working fluid.

2. A test rig according to Claim 1 in which said hydraulic pump is manually operated or motor driven.

3. A test rig according to Claim 2 in which said pump is manually operated, a lever type operating handle being provided.

4. Atest rig according to Claim 3 in which means is provided to enable the handle to be secured to a rest position whereby the handle is capable of serving as means for carrying the rig.

5. A test rig according to Claim 4 in which the means for securing the handle suitably comprises a clip retaining the handle against a block of resilient material.

6. Atest rig according to any one of the preceding claims in which said means to indicate the pressure of said working fluid suitably comprises a pressure gauge coupled to the second cylinder.

7. Atest rig according to any one of the preceding claims in which drainage means is provided to enable working fluid applied from said second cylinder to the system under test to be returned to said second reservoir after uncoupling said system from said second cylinder.

8. A test rig according to Claim 7 in which strainer means for said working fluid is provided in association with said drainage means.

9. Atest rig according to any one of the preceding claims in which said second reservoir is inter changeable with others of different volume to accomodate systems of different volume to be tested.

10. Atest rig according to any one of the preceding claims in which means are additionally provided to partially fill with working fluid the system to be tested, prior to complete filling and pressurization by way of the second piston in the second cylinder.

11. A test rig according to Claim 10 in which partial filling of the sytem is effected by means of a priming pump.

12. A test rig according to Claim 11 in which the priming pump is arranged to be integral with the test rig.

13. Atest rig according to any one of the preceding claims in which the system to be tested comprises a hydraulic hose and coupling assembly.

14. Atest rig according to Claim 13 in which the assembly is securable by a coupling at one end to said second cylinder, a blanking plug being arranged to be applied to a coupling at the other end of the assembly.

15. A test rig according to any one of the preceding claims in which protective means is provided to surround the system to be tested to protect an operator of the rig in event of failure of the system during test.

16. A portable proof test rig constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.