| 摘要 |
<p>Apparatus and method for clamping a flanged joint, in the form of a clamp that is applied across the flanges, having first and second clamp devices applied to circumferentially separate portions of the flanges, each of the first and second clamp devices having a foot portion to engage an outer face of a flange, and a force driver, e.g. in the form of a tensioning nut and bolt assembly, adapted to press the flanges together from opposite sides of the flanged connection. Typically the flange connection is a bolted connection, with bolts or threaded studs etc passing through the flanges, and typically a foot portion on the apparatus is adapted to engage the outer face of each flange between the bolts, to allow transmission of forces to the flanges without applying forces to the bolts, or the nuts or other fixings attached thereto. Typically the clamping devices are provided at spaced apart locations on the circumference of the flange, and a tensioning band is typically fitted around the head of each clamping device and tensioned to retain the clamping devices in position and to allow fine adjustment of the clamping force. The clamping force applied across the flanged connection is applied not through the existing bolts passing through the flanges, as these might be structurally compromised, but instead is applied through the clamping device of the invention. In this way, structurally intact threaded studs and other components of the invention which are applied to an older failing flanged connection can be certified for use for a further period of time to coincide with or extend beyond the expected lifetime of the flanged connection and the pipeline itself, without disturbing the existing bolts. These can optionally be left in place if desired, as they no longer apply any force, or can optionally be removed according to operator preference.</p> |
