US 11,940,067 B2
Remote process equipment bolt flange joint opening and closing system and method of use
Kevin Larsen, Mesa, AZ (US)
Filed by Kevin Larsen, Mesa, AZ (US)
Filed on Mar. 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/204,390.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/000,336, filed on Mar. 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0301956 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. B25B 5/00 (2006.01); B25B 27/16 (2006.01); F16L 23/036 (2006.01); F16L 33/16 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 23/036 (2013.01) [B25B 27/16 (2013.01); F16L 33/16 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process equipment bolt flange joint opening and closing system, comprising:
at least one actuator assembly, comprising:
a double acting piston cylinder;
a first clamping member coupled to the double acting piston cylinder at a rod end thereof;
a second clamping member coupled to a protruding end of a rod of the double acting piston cylinder, wherein the first clamping member comprises a first jaw portion extending in a radial direction from a longitudinal axis of the rod and the second clamping member comprises a second jaw portion extending in a radial direction from the longitudinal axis of the rod, wherein the first and second clamping members correspond to each other, wherein the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion are configured to engage and to be coupled to a first flange and a second flange of a bolt flange joint, respectively;
a fluid reservoir;
a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir;
a control valve in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump and also in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir;
a closing side hydraulic line coupled between and in fluid communication with the control valve and a closing side of the double acting piston cylinder of the at least one actuator assembly;
an opening side hydraulic line coupled between and in fluid communication with the control valve and an opening side of the double acting piston cylinder of the at least one actuator assembly, wherein the control valve is changeable between a closing position, in which hydraulic fluid is flowable between the pump and the closing side hydraulic line, and an opening position, in which hydraulic fluid is flowable between the pump and the opening side hydraulic line;
a closing side shut-off valve coupled to the closing side hydraulic line between the control valve and the closing side of the double acting piston cylinder, wherein the closing side shut-off valve is changeable between an open position, in which hydraulic fluid is flowable through the closing side shut-off valve and a closed position, in which hydraulic fluid is prevented from flowing through the closing side shut-off valve;
an opening side shut-off valve coupled to the opening side hydraulic line between the control valve and the opening side of the double acting piston cylinder, wherein the opening side shut-off valve is changeable between an open position, in which hydraulic fluid is flowable through the opening side shut-off valve, and a closed position, in which hydraulic fluid is prevented from flowing through the opening side shut-off valve; and
an accumulator in fluid communication with the closing side hydraulic line at a location between the closing side shut-off valve and the closing side of the double acting piston cylinder, wherein the control valve is further changeable to, and biased toward, a neutral position, in which hydraulic fluid is flowable between the fluid reservoir and each of the closing side hydraulic line and the opening side hydraulic line.