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Europaisches Patentamt

19

European Patent Office


Office europeen des brevets
EUROPEAN

12

(n) Publication number : 0 6 8 2

993

A2

PATENT A P P L I C A T I O N
@ int. ci.6 : B08B 9/04, F17D 3 / 0 8

@ Application number: 95250112.0


(22) Date of filing : 11.05.95

(72) Inventor : Labus, Wendelin


Binnenfeld 13a
D-21077 Hamburg (DE)

(30) Priority: 19.05.94 GB 9410081


(43) Date of publication of application
22.11.95 Bulletin 95/47

@) Representative : UEXKULL & STOLBERG


Patentanwalte
Beselerstrasse 4
D-22607 Hamburg (DE)

@ Designated Contracting States :


DE DK FR GB IT
(n) Applicant : Maschinenfabrik Nordwig
Georg-Heyken-Strasse 2
D-21147 Hamburg (DE)

(54) Liquid product distribution system.


(57)

A liquid distribution system suitable in use for


the substantially contamination free collection
of one of a variety of liquid products of differing
character from a selected source, and/or the
substantially contamination free delivery of a
said product to a selected one of a variety of
destinations. The preferred embodiment utilises
a novel manifold and manifold system and a
novel rotary valve unit. The preferred manifold
incorporates a pig which travels the length of a
common conduit of the manifold between deliveries of different liquids. Satellite conduits
are connected at T junctions between the extremities of the common conduit via the novel
rotary valve unit. An off-take connection including a main valve is connected at a T junction
spaced from the satellite junctions and the
nearest extremity of the common conduit. The
rotary valve unit is designed to conform to the
inner surface of the common conduit in its
closed position to provide a smooth unobstructed path for the pig, which is operated by
pressure of the product to be delivered.

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EP 0 682 993 A2

Field of the Invention


The present invention relates to a liquid distribution system suitable for the substantially contamination free collection of one of a variety of liquid products of differing character from a selected source,
and/or the substantially contamination free delivery
of such a product to a selected one of a variety of destinations.
By "liquid product" is meant a material in a pumpable form which may vary from a mobile liquid such
as alcohol ora light hydrocarbon which may be a compressed liquid (i.e. gaseous at ambient pressure) to a
viscous or paste-like material such as a sludge. The
invention is especially concerned with products employed in the chemical and petroleum industries.

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Background of the Invention


In industry and trade there are many applications
where, during production and filling, a large number
of base or finished products, or components and additives, from numerous sources must be distributed to
a certain destination or "place of action".
Such places, sometimes called "consumers",
may be e.g. blending tanks, scales, meters, loading
and filling facilities or reactors. Thus, for example, a
particular product may need to be selected from a
bank of storage tanks located at one end of a facility
and delivered to a selected reactor or blending tank at
a remote part of the facility. If each product were to
be delivered to an individual destination by a separate
pipeline, this would hardly be possible for lack of
space and would be prohibitively expensive. In the
past distribution systems were developed and installed utilising e.g. hoses with coupling devices. Such
systems are still in operation and constitute the state
of the art. Products are pumped from storage tanks
via pipelines to a central distribution point called a
"snake pit" from whence other pipe lines lead to various destinations. The snake pit can contain a hundred
or more hoses whose handling always represents an
operational safety risk. Handling of the hoses calls for
great physical exertion and can lead to accidents and
mistakes which can have serious consequences.
Likewise, assuring proper hose connection is not
without problems.
Since a single pipe to a consumer may have to
carry different products, pipelines to consumers are
now normally cleaned by pigs, or interior mobile
cleaning devices. "Pig" herein can have the engineering meaning given in the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of
Scientific and Technical Terms (1974 Edition).
To solve the problem of proper and safe product
distribution special systems have been marketed,
most calling for great mechanical effort in manufacturing, making them expensive for acquisition and operation.

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The present invention is aimed at the design of a


simple, low cost product distribution system suitable
for replacing systems utilising hose links or rotary distributors.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with one aspect the invention provides a manifold system connectable in use for the
substantially contamination free collection of one of a
variety of liquid products of differing character from
a selected source, or the substantially contamination
free delivery of a said product to a selected one of a
variety of destinations, comprising:
a manifold having a common conduit connecting a plurality of satellite conduits themselves connectable with respective said sources or destinations,
a satellite valve in each satellite conduit,
a connecting conduit leading from said comconduit
at a position spaced from the satellite
mon
connections,
a main valve in said connecting conduit, and
first cleaning means operable for freeing said
common conduit of contaminants between conveyance of different said products.
There are preferably included means forautomatically engaging said first cleaning means before
and/or after conveyance of a said product and means
forautomatically bringing the cleaning means to a rest
position between successive conveyance operations.
The common conduit preferably extends from a
first point beyond a first satellite connection furthermost from said connecting conduit to a second point
beyond a junction with said connecting conduit.
Preferably the first cleaning means comprises a
which
is preferably movable between a first pig
pig
at
said
first point and a second pig trap at said
trap
second point.
In the preferred embodiment the pig is arranged
to be actuated in at least one direction by hydraulic
pressure of a said product. It may be returned to a rest
position e.g. by pneumatic means.
The manifold system of the embodiment is designed to be suitable for the collection of a liquid product selected from a plurality of sources. This includes
a pilot manifold comprising a central pilot line connecting the first pig trap to a plurality of pilot lines
each containing a pilot valve, the pilot lines being respectively associated with a respective satellite conduit and connected thereto at a connection point on
the far side of the respective satellite valve from the
central conduit.
The manifold system of the invention may also be
designed to be suitable for the delivery of a liquid
product to a selected one of a variety of destinations.
Such a system may e.g. include a pilot line connecting
the second pig trap to a connection point on the far

EP 0 682 993 A2

side of the main valve from the central conduit, the


first pig trap being connected to a pneumatic gas
source via a gas valve, and to an exhaust line via an
exhaust valve.
The invention is inclusive of a liquid distribution
system arranged for the substantially contamination
free collection of one of a variety of liquid products of
differing characterfrom a selected source including a
manifold system as first above described with its satellite conduits connected to respective product sources via pumping means.
The invention is also inclusive of a liquid distribution system arranged for the substantially contamination free delivery of a liquid product under pumping
pressure to a selected one of a variety of destinations
including a manifold system as later above described
with its satellite conduits connected to respective
product destinations and means for cleaning said satellite conduits between successive deliveries.
The invention also includes a liquid distribution
system arranged for the substantially contamination
free collection of one of a variety of liquid products of
differing character from a selected source, and the
substantially contamination free delivery of said product to a selected one of a variety of destinations, comprising:
a common transit conduit for conveying a selected said product from an intake station to a terminal station,
second cleaning means operable for freeing
said transit conduit of contaminants between conveyance of different said products,
a manifold system according to the invention
connected at each end of said transit conduit via a
said connecting conduit,
the satellite conduits of the upstream manifold
connected
to respective product sources and
being
those of the downstream manifold being connected to
respective product destinations, and
individual cleaning means operable for freeing
said downstream satellite conduits of contaminants
between conveyance of different said products.
According to another aspect the invention provides a manifold suitable for the conveyance of liquid
products comprising:
a common conduit,
a plurality of satellite conduits connecting with
said common conduit intermediate of the extremities
of the common conduit,
a connecting conduit leading from said comconduit
at a position spaced from the satellite
mon
connections and the adjacent extremity of the common conduit, and
cleaning means within said common conduit
operable for freeing said common conduit of contaminants.
Each satellite conduit of the manifold is preferably connected to the common conduit via a rotary

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valve unit comprising:


a casing formed for connection to a pipe at a T
junction,
a member rotatable within said casing about
axis
an
lying in a plane parallel to the direction of said
between
pipe,
open and closed positions,
said rotatable member having a bore perpendicular to said axis so as to communicate with said
pipe in said open position,
wherein said rotatable member is formed with
a part-cylindrical re-entrant surface conforming to the
inner surface of said pipe so as to form with the pipe
a continuous cylindrical surface when in the closed
position.
The rotatable member is preferably formed as a
truncated sphere. It finds particular utility at the connections of the satellite conduits with the common
conduit of the manifold where it permits a smooth and
unobstructed path for the pig. However it is of general
applicability.
Brief Description of the Drawings

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Embodiments of the invention are hereafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of a first form of manifold system,
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic vertical crosssectional view of the manifold system of Figure 1
showing a single satellite conduit and associated
pilot line, and
Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a rotary valve unit of the invention in the open position, partly cut away to show the surface formation of the rotatable ball member.
Description of Preferred Embodiments

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Figure 1 illustrates schematically a manifold system comprising a manifold 10 having a main or common conduit 11 and e.g. twenty satellite conduits 12,
only the four endmost of which, at each end, are
shown in detail. As shown by these end conduits 12
each of the conduits 12 contains a satellite valve 13.
The manifold system of this embodiment is suitable
in use for the collection of one of a variety of liquid
products and when arranged in situ each satellite
conduit 12 will be connected from the remote end of
its valve 13 through a pump to a respective source
such as a storage tank. Aconnecting conduit 14 leads
from the common conduit 11 at a position spaced (in
this embodiment downstream) from the satellite conduits 12, and contains a main valve 15 which may be
fitted with a flow meter 16.
As will become apparent the satellite conduits 12
and connecting conduit 14 are connected via their
valves 13 and 15 at T junctions and the common con-

EP 0 682 993 A2

duit is a smoothly extending pipe which may be


straight as shown in Figure 1 or have a gradual curve
as in Figure 2.
An important feature of the invention lies in the
provision in association with the manifold of cleaning
means for freeing the common conduit 11 of contaminants. In the manifold system this is operable between the conveyance of different products to free
the conduit from contaminants which may arise from
the previous product. Preferably as shown in Figures
1 and 2 the cleaning means takes the form of a pig 17
located within the common conduit 11 and movable
past the satellite connections and connecting conduit
between pig traps 18, 19 at respective extremities of
the conduit. The pig trap 18 defines a rest position in
the present embodiment and the trap 19 an active
position.
As shown in Figure 1 each satellite conduit 12 is
connected at the far side of its valve 13 to the remote
or dead end of the pig trap 18 by a pilot line 20 containing a pilot valve 21. In this Figure the pilot lines are
connected with the dead end of trap 18 through a central pilot line 20a of a manifold which is only shown diagrammatically. In practice the lines from the trap to
the pilot valves, in particular the length of any common pilot line, 21 can be kept short to reduce any contamination through product remaining there between
operations.
In the operation of this embodiment the pig is
driven from its rest position in pig trap 18 to the active
position in pig trap 19 by the hydraulic pressure of
product flowing in a selected pilot line. In doing so it
frees the common conduit of air and ensures that no
contaminant remains from earlier operations.
The pig trap 19, which is downstream in the present embodiment, is connected at its dead end through
return valve 22 to a source of compressed air or other
pneumatic gas for return to the rest position at pig
trap 18 after an operation. It is also connected
through exhaust valve 23 to waste, so that air in the
conduit 11 and any contaminants picked up by the pig
can be discharged during active movement of the pig.
Figure 2 shows the construction of the manifold
in more detail than Figure 1, but only one of the satellite conduits 12 and associated components is
shown for the sake of clarity and to illustrate the operation of the manifold system. It can be seen that the
satellite valve, which is shown in greater detail in Figure 3 and constitutes an independent feature of the
invention, has a rotatable ball member which in the
closed position conforms to the cylindrical surface of
the common conduit, thereby creating no dead volume or projection to impede the cleansing action of
the pig 17 which can sweep the whole inner surface
clean.
In Figure 3 the valve unit 13 is shown in the open
position. It comprises a casing forming a connection
to a pipe, in the present case the conduit 11, at a T

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junction. The casing 24 is constructed in two parts,


24a and 24b with bolting flanges 25, 26. The upper
part 24a is formed with a bolting flange 27 for connection to the connecting pipe, in this case a satellite conduit 12. The lower part 24b is formed with a tubular
portion the inner surface 28 of which constitutes a
joining portion conforming to the inner surface of the
conduit 11 which is formed in sections. These sections fit within seats 29 on the two sides of part 24b.
The inner surface of the casing when bolted together
is formed as a part-spherical seating for a rotatable
ball member 30, which is correspondingly formed as
a truncated sphere having a bore 31 extending along
an axis 32 perpendicular to the axis 33 of the conduit
11. The ball member 30 is connected to an axle 34 arranged to rotate the ball member 30, as indicated by
the arrow on the right hand side, between the open
position shown with the bore 31 communicating with
the conduit 11 and a satellite conduit 12 (not drawn)
and a closed position in which the valve opening indicated at 35 is closed by the shaded surface area 36
of ellipsoidal outline. This shaded area is cut away
from the spherical ball surface to form a partcylindrical re-entrant surface conforming to the inner
pipe surface of the conduit 11 so as to form with the
pipe a smooth, continuous cylindrical surface.
In Figure 3 the member 30 is shown to be rotatable about an axis 34x parallel to the directional axis
33 of the conduit or pipe 11. In some situations, e.g.
where there is shortage of space, it will be more convenient for the rotational axis of the member 30 to extend perpendicular to the conduit 11 or axis 33 while
maintaining its position in the same plane, i.e. a plane
parallel to the axis 33. In other words the axle 34 can
be considered as extending out of the plane of the paper from the center of the member 30 as represented
by the junction of the axes 32 and 34 as presently
shown. In this case the shaded area 36 will be rotated
at 90 to its presently shown position, i.e. facing to the
left or right instead of towards the viewer so that it will
close the opening 35 when rotated about its axle.
It will be apparent that the valve unit illustrated in
Figure 3 will have many applications in which a
smooth, continuous and unobstructed pipe interior
surface is of importance, e.g. in reducing drag in long
pipe lines. It can also be used in the position of main
valve 15.
Although the pig may be put into operation manually it is preferred to use automatic means to control
the sequence of steps. The position of the pig at various points on its course is detected by sensors.
Sensors 37 and 38 (Figure 2) are positioned to detect
the presence of the pig respectively in the traps 18
and 19. Sensor 39 is positioned downstream of the f inal or last downstream satellite connection and sensor 40 upstream of the junction with the connection
conduit 14. The automatic circuit arrangement will be
evident from the sequence of operations.

EP 0 682 993 A2

The manifold system of Figures 1 to 3, e.g. when


connected in a liquid distribution system arranged for
collection of a selected liquid product, operates as follows.
i Upon selection of a said product or source the
corresponding pilot valve 21 is first opened, and
also the exhaust valve 23 in the active pig trap 19,
causing the selected product to flow to the pig
trap 18 under sufficient pressure to push the pig
17 from its rest position in trap 18 to its active
position in pig trap 19. The passage of the pig 17
frees the conduit 11 of any contaminant which is
driven out with the contained air through the exhaust valve 23.
ii Passage of the pig 17 past sensor 39, i.e. after
the last satellite connection has been passed,
triggers the opening of the satellite valve 13 corresponding to the selected product source allowing flow of the appropriate product into the common conduit 11.
iii Arrival of the pig 17 at the active pig trap 19 triggers sensor 38 closing the exhaust valve 23 and
opening the main valve 15, causing product to
flow to the destination to which the main valve is
connected.
iv Upon completion of a selected product flow volume, either by a manual operation or by programming the flow meter 16, the main valve 15 is
closed triggering subsequently the introduction
of pneumatic gas via valve 22 to pig trap 19 to return the pig to its rest position in pig trap 18.
v Passage of the pig 17 past sensor 40 i.e. after
passing the junction with connecting conduit 14,
triggers the closing of the satellite valve 13,
whereby remaining product being handled in the
common conduit 11 is returned to its source satellite conduit via the appropriate pilot line 20 and
the corresponding open pilot valve 21. The sensor 40 should be sufficiently spaced (e.g. 2m)
from the first satellite connection to ensure that
there is always sufficient time for the valve 13 to
close before arrival of the pig, so keeping the satellite system air free. The entire product handling
is air free and does not affect flow meters. The
use of liquid product to push the pig means that
the entire conduit volume behind the pig is full of
the liquid product being conveyed.
vi Finally the arrival of the pig 17 at the rest pig
trap 18 triggers sensor 37 closing the pilot valve
21 and valve 22, shutting off the pneumatic gas.
It will be evident that the only possible source of
contamination will be any residual product left after
the operation in the common portion of the pilot line
manifold.
The nominal diameter of the conduit 11 will normally be designed in line with the volume to be handled. No physical movement is required of the manifold for the conveyance of the liquid products. Essen-

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tially only two valves need to be opened and closed


again on return of the pig. Contamination in a manifold of 25 satellite lines has been found in tests to be
at a maximum 0.1 to 1 litre, depending upon product
viscosity and the arrangement of the pilot lines and is
negligible. Products tested had viscosities from 30 to
3,000 cSt (3x1 07 to 3x1 09 m2/s).
While the illustrated embodiment is designed to
be suitable for the collection of liquid products from a
number of different sources, the concept of the invention can also be applied to the delivery of a product
to a number of different destinations. In such a case
the satellite conduits will be connected in use to the
respective destinations or consumers. It wiil be evident that in such an arrangement the satellite conduits will require to be cleaned throughout their
lengths, since different products may be flowing
through them. As mentioned earlier, this is normal.
The control of the operations can be effected
generally as before, i.e. utilising pneumatic pressure
for pig propulsion in the return direction and utilising
hydraulic pressure from the single product line as the
forward propulsion medium. In this case a single pilot
line and pilot valve can be used to connect the dead
end of pig trap 19 to the upstream (right hand) side
of main valve 15 (which will in use be receiving a
pumped liquid product) and the dead end of pig trap
18 arranged for receiving pneumatic gas and expelling exhaust as presently shown for trap 19. Since the
downstream direction will in this case be from right to
left in Figure 2 the following is a possible sequence.
i Upon selection of a destination the pilot valve
and exhaust valve are opened causing product to
flow to pig trap 19 through the pilot line under suff icient pressure to push the pig from a rest position in trap 19 to an active position in pig trap 18.
ii Passage of the pig past a sensor corresponding
to sensor 39 but located downstream of the final
downstream satellite connection triggers the
opening of the main valve allowing flow of the
product into common conduit 11 .
iii Arrival of the pig at pig trap 18 triggers sensor
37 to close exhaust valve and open the satellite
valve 13 corresponding to the selected destination, causing product to flow to that destination.
iv Upon completion of a selected product flow volume the satellite valve 13 is closed triggering
subsequently the introduction of pneumatic gas
to pig trap 18 to return the pig to its rest position
in pig trap 19.
v Passage of the pig pasta sensor corresponding
generally in position to sensor 40 beyond the last
satellite junction and sufficiently spaced from the
connection or main valve conduit 14 closes the
main valve 15, whereby remaining product in
common conduit 11 is returned to the source conduit on the far side of main valve 15 via the pilot
line and open pilot valve.

EP 0 682 993 A2

vi Finally, the arrival of the pig 17 at pig trap 19


triggers sensor 38 to close the pilot valve and
shut off the pneumatic gas.
It is naturally possible to utilise a manifold system
of the invention at two ends of a liquid product distribution system, i.e. both for collection from a variety of
sources and final delivery to a selected one of a number of destinations or consumers, the two manifold
systems, which may be as separately described
above, being interconnected by a common transit
conduit. The transit conduit may run e.g. from a storage facility at one plant location to a consumer facility
at another general location. It, like the satellite lines
to different consumers, will normally require to be
cleaned by a suitable pig.
It will be evident that the invention provides a simand
ple
inexpensive liquid distribution means avoidthe
problems inherent in snake pits. It can be used
ing
in a great number of plants or facilities, some examples being in the loading and unloading of tank trucks,
rail tanks or barges, the collection and delivery of
products at tank farms, and in the filling of products
via scales or meters, as well as in refineries and
chemical reaction facilities.

conveyance operations.
4.
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Claims
1. A manifold system con nectable in use for the substantially contamination free collection of one of
a variety of liquid products of differing character
from a selected source, or the substantially contamination free delivery of a said product to a selected one of a variety of destinations, comprising:
a manifold (10) having a common conduit
(11) connecting a plurality of satellite conduits
(12) themselves con nectable with respective said
sources or destinations,
a satellite valve (13) in each satellite conduit,
a connecting conduit (14) leading from
said common conduit at a position spaced from
the satellite connections,
a main valve (15) in said connecting conand
duit,
first cleaning means (17) operable for
freeing said common conduit of contaminants between conveyance of different said products.
2.

A system according to claim 1 including means


for automatically engaging said first cleaning
means before and/or after conveyance of a said
product.

3.

A system according to claim 2 including means


for automatically bringing said first cleaning
means to a rest position between successive

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A system according to one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said common conduit extends from a first point
(18) beyond a first satellite connection furthermost from said connecting conduit to a second
point (19) beyond a junction with said connecting
conduit (14).

5. A system according to one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said first cleaning means comprises a pig (17).
6. Asystem according to claim 5 including a first pig
trap (18) at said first point and a second pig trap
(19) at said second point.
7. A system according to claim 5 or 6 wherein said
pig (1 7) is arranged to be actuated in at least one
direction by hydraulic pressure of a said product.
8. Asystem according to one of claims 5 to 7 wherein said pig (17) is arranged to be actuated in at
least one direction by pneumatic means.
9.

A system according to one of claims 6 to 8 suitable for the collection of a said product selected
from a plurality of sources, including a pilot manifold comprising a central pilot line (20a) connecting said first pig trap to a plurality of pilot lines
(20) each containing a pilot valve (21), said pilot
lines being respectively associated with a respective satellite conduit (12) and connected thereto
at a connection point on the far side of the respective satellite valve (13) from said central conduit
(11).

10. A system according to claim 9 including control


means arranged:
i upon selection of a said source to open the
corresponding pilot valve (21), and to open an
exhaust valve (23) in said second pig trap (1 9)
to enable selected product to flow to said first
pig trap (18) under sufficient pressure to push
the pig (17) from a rest position in said trap
(18) to an active position in the second pig
trap (19),
ii after passage of the pig past the final satellite connection to trigger (at 39) the opening of
the satellite valve (13) corresponding to the
selected source to enable flow of the product
into said common conduit (11),
iii upon arrival of the pig in said second pig
trap (19) to close said exhaust valve (23) and
open said main valve (15), enabling product to
flow to a desired destination,
iv upon completion of a selected product flow
volume to close the main valve (15) and subsequently to enable the introduction of pneu-

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EP 0 682 993 A2

matic gas (22) to said second pig trap (19) to


return the pig (17) to its rest position in the
first pig trap (18),
v following passage of the pig past the junction with said connecting conduit (14) to ciose
said satellite valve (13), whereby in use remaining product in said common conduit (11)
is returned to the source conduit via the pilot
line (20a, 20),
vi upon arrival of the pig in the first pig trap
(18) to close said pilot valve (21) and disable
entry of pneumatic gas (22).
11. A system according to one of claims 6 to 8 suitable for the delivery of a said product to a selected one of a variety of destinations, including a pilot line connecting said second pig trap to a connection point on the far side of the main valve
from said central conduit, said first pig trap being
connected to a pneumatic gas source via a gas
valve, and to an exhaust line via an exhaust
valve.
12. Asystem according to claim 11 including control
means arranged:
i upon selection of a said destination to open
the pilot valve, and to open the exhaust valve
in said first pig trap to enable product to flow
to said second pig trap under sufficient pressure to push the pig from a rest position in said
trap to an active position in the first pig trap,
ii after passage of the pig past the final satellite connection to trigger the opening of the
main valve enabling flow of the product into
said common conduit,
iii upon arrival of the pig in said first pig trap
to close said exhaust valve and open the satellite valve corresponding to the selected destination, to enable product to flow to the desired destination,
iv upon completion of a selected product flow
volume to close the satellite valve and subsequently enable the introduction of pneumatic
gas to said first pig trap to return the pig to its
rest position in the second pig trap,
v following passage of the pig past the junction with said connecting conduit to close said
main valve, whereby in use remaining product
in said common conduit is returned to the
source conduit via the pilot line,
vi upon arrival of the pig in the second pig trap
to close said pilot valve and disable the entry
of pneumatic gas.
13. A liquid distribution system arranged for the substantially contamination free collection of one of
a variety of liquid products of differing character
from a selected source including a manifold sys-

12
tern according to one of claims 1 to 10 with said
satellite conduits connected via pumps to respective product sources.

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14. A liquid distribution system arranged for the substantially contamination free delivery of a liquid
product under pumping pressure to a selected
one of a variety of destinations including a manifold system according to one of claims 1 to 8, 11
and 12 with said satellite conduits (12) connected
to respective product destinations and means for
cleaning said satellite conduits between successive deliveries.
15. A liquid distribution system arranged for the substantially contamination free collection of one of
a variety of liquid products of differing character
from a selected source, and the substantially
contamination free delivery of said product to a
selected one of a variety of destinations, comprising:
a common transit conduit for conveying a
selected said product from an intake station to a
terminal station,
second cleaning means operable for freesaid
transit conduit of contaminants between
ing
conveyance of different said products,
a manifold system according to one of
claims 1 to 8 connected at each end of said transit
conduit via a said connecting conduit,
the satellite conduits (12) of the upstream
manifold being connected to respective product
sources and those of the downstream manifold
being connected to respective product destinations, and
individual cleaning means operable for
freeing said downstream satellite conduits of
contaminants between conveyance of different
said products.
16. A system according to claim 15 wherein said upstream manifold system accords with claim 9 or
claim 10.
17. Asystem according to claim 15 or 16 wherein said
downstream manifold system accords with claim
11 or claim 12.
18. A manifold (1 0) suitable for the conveyance of liquid products comprising:
a common conduit (11),
a plurality of satellite conduits (12) connecting with said common conduit intermediate of
the extremities (18, 19) of the common conduit,
a connecting conduit (14) leading from
said common conduit (11) at a position spaced
from the satellite connections and the adjacent
extremity of the common conduit, and

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EP 0 682 993 A2

cleaning means (17) within said common


conduit (11) operable for freeing said common
conduit of contaminants.
19. A manifold according to claim 18 wherein said
cleaning means comprises a pig (17) located
within said common conduit and movable between pig traps (18, 19) at respective extremities
of said common conduit.
20. A manifold according to claim 19 wherein said
satellite connections and said connecting conduit
are connected at T junctions and said pig traps
are at terminal extremities of said common conduit beyond said T junctions whereby said common conduit forms an unobstructed path for said
pig which extends past all the junctions.
21. A manifold according to one of claims 18 to 20
wherein each said satellite conduit is connected
to the common condu it via a rotary valve u nit (Figure 3) comprising:
a casing (24) forming a connection to a
pipe (11) at a T junction,
a member (30) rotatable within said casing
about an axis lying in a plane parallel to the direction (33) of said pipe (11), between open and
closed positions,
said rotatable member (30) having a bore
(31) perpendicular to said axis so as to communicate with said pipe in said open position,
wherein said rotatable member is formed
with a partcylindrical re-entrant surface (36) conforming to the inner surface of said pipe (11) so
as to form with the pipe a continuous cylindrical
surface when in the closed position.
22. Avalve unit according to claim 21 wherein said rotatable member (30) is formed as a truncated
sphere.
23. Avalve unit according to claim 21 or 22 wherein
the rotatable member (30) is rotatable about an
axis parallel to the direction (33) of the pipe.
24. A valve unit according to claim 21 or 22 wherein
the rotatable member (30) is rotatable about an
axis perpendicular to the direction (33) of the
pipe.
25. A system according to one of claims 1 to 17
wherein each said satellite conduit is connected
to the common conduit via a rotary valve unit as
specified in one of claims 21 to 24.

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

14

EP 0 682 993 A2

EP 0 682 993 A2

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