Design and Application Manual

QUICK RELEASE CLOSURES

CONTENTS - SECTION 5.0

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Clamicseal

5.3 Clamp Ring

5.4 Selection

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Design and Application Manual

QUICK RELEASE CLOSURES

INTRODUCTION
1.0 INTRODUCTION

Closures are pressure retaining structures typically designed to provide quick, easy
access to pig traps, strainers, filter units, meter prover end chambers, etc., whilst
maintaining the ability to seal against the working pressure within the pipeline.

The most basic form of closure is a blind

flange bolted onto a flange-terminated pipeline
– a simple and inexpensive method for small
diameter pipelines requiring infrequent
access. However, larger flanges capable of
retaining high pressures are heavy and all
require many bolts to be removed and refitted
every time access is required. Therefore, in
situations where pipelines must be accessed
regularly, e.g. to implement any form of
pigging activity, a much more efficient, but
equally safe, means of access is necessary.
Fig 1.

Quick Release Closures provide the solution. Whilst there are many designs in
existence, certain key features are common and offer several advantages over the
use of blind flanges:

• A mechanism for opening and closing the door quickly

• Safety features to ensure the door cannot be opened before the pipeline has
been completely and safely depressurised
• A hinge mechanism to allow doors of all diameters to be opened and closed with
minimum effort
• A seal, energised by the internal pipeline pressure, typically an ‘O’-ring type

In order to be able to offer clients keenly priced, quality products which are designed
to suit their individual requirements, Pipeline Engineering have developed two types
of closure, each of which can incorporate all of the features listed above. These are:

1. The CLAMICSEAL Closure 2. The CLAMP RING Closure

The following chart shows the general scope of each type of closure:

Quick Release Closures

Clamic Seal Clamp Ring

• Up to 12” ns • 6” – 48” ns
• Up to ANSI Class 600 •Up to ANSI Class 2500
• Meets the intent of the BS5500 Design Code • Meets the intent of the ASME VIII Div 1 Design Code
or ASME Viii Div 1 or BS5500

Horizontald Horizontal Vertical

• Dependent upon trap orientation •

Fig 2.

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QUICK RELEASE CLOSURES

CLAMICSEAL
2.1 DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE

The Clamicseal Quick Release Closure is a quick, safe and cost-effective means of
gaining access to pig launching and receiving traps when installed in pipeline
systems.

Clamicseal closures are an excellent choice when:

• Pipeline diameters are not greater than 12”

• Pressure ratings are not greater than ANSI Class 600
• Meets the intent of the BS5500 design code or ASME VIII Div 1

Clamicseal ‘Standard’ closures cover the range 3” to 12” ANSI Class 600 and offer a
lower cost alternative to Clamp Ring Closures.

All Clamicseal Closures will meet a wide range of operating temperatures as

standard (-40°C to 75°C) and can be manufactured to meet the requirements of
NACE or to client’s own material requirements.

Closures are typically supplied with ends prepared for butt welding to the existing
pipeline barrel, in accordance with the instructions that accompany all closures.

2.2 FUNCTION

The Clamicseal Quick Opening Closure is supplied as a modular unit which must be
butt welded onto the end of the pipe (or trap barrel) on which it is to operate.

The main features of the closure are:

• The Hub. Welded to the pipe or barrel it houses the ‘O’-ring seal and
incorporates the fixed half of the Clamp Ring
• The Door. Attached to the free swinging half of the Clamp Ring
• The Clamp Bracket mechanism. Opens/closes the door and incorporates the
safety interlock

The ‘O’-Ring seal maintains the pressure seal between

the hub and the door and is available in various materials
specified to meet the demands of the application.

The closure is based on a split clamp ring design. One

half of the clamp ring is fixed to the hub whilst the other is
hinged and free swinging. This free swinging half is
permanently attached to the closure door (Fig 3).

Fig 3.

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Design and Application Manual

QUICK RELEASE CLOSURES

When the door is closed and locked, the clamping
mechanism is secured by the vent plug (Fig 4) which must
be undone before it is possible to open the door. The vent
plug is designed to give early indication of any residual
pressure within the trap by allowing it (the pressure) to
escape at a controlled and audible rate. This interlock
system prevents the closure door being opened until the
operator is satisfied that the trap has been fully vented.
Fig 4.

With the vent plug removed, the clamp bracket handle

can be swung outwards away from the closure. The
clamp bracket itself is linked directly to the closure door
handle so that any movement ultimately breaks the seal
between the closure door and the hub. The clamping
mechanism is unhooked and, using the handle, the door
can be slid across the face of the hub until it is clear of the
barrel and rests against its hinge (Fig 5). The procedure
is reversed to close.
Fig 5.

2.3 CONSTRUCTION

Clamicseal Quick Release Closures (Fig 6) feature:

1. Clamp Ring half-hinged

2. Clamp Ring half-fixed
3. Clamp Bracket Handle
4. Clamp Bracket Catch
5. Door
6. Door Handle
7. Vent Plug
8. Hinge
9. ‘O’-Ring Seal (Not visible)
10. Hub
11. Clamp Bracket

Fig 6.

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QUICK RELEASE CLOSURES

CLAMP RING
3.1 DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE

The Clamp Ring Quick Release Closure gives a single operator a quick, safe means
of gaining access to pig launching and receiving traps, strainers, filter units and meter
prover end chambers.

Closures for both horizontal and vertical mounting are supplied ready for immediate
welding to the trap barrel and are suitable for use in a wide range of operating
temperatures, process fluids and gases.

Clamp Ring Closures are manufactured to suit nominal pipe diameters from 6” to 48”
and should always be specified when:

• Pressure ratings are in excess of ANSI Class 600 and up to Class 2500
• Meets the intent of the ASME VIII Div. 1 design code or BS5500

Several options are available, including:

• Key interlock
• Electrical position switches (door open/door closed)
• Protective neoprene bellows for operating screws
• Double bolt actuating mechanism
• Third party design reviews (Lloyds, DNV, ABS).

All standard Clamp Ring Closures are designed to meet the intent of ASME VIII Div
1, BS5500 and B31.3/4/8 (supplemented where required by the client’s own
contract/project specification).

Standard closure forgings (Clamp Rings and Hub) are manufactured from material to
ASTM A694 F52 and all pressure retaining components are manufactured from
certified materials which meet the recognised standards: DIN, BS, NACE.

3.2 FUNCTION

Although there are two types of clamp ring closure – horizontally and vertically
mounted – the only difference between them is that vertically mounted types
incorporate torsion springs to assist the operator when opening and closing the door
of the unit. The function and operating methods of both types are identical. Main
features are common to both types of closure:

• Hub - welded to the pipe barrel it houses the ‘O’-ring seal and provides
attachment for the door and clamp ring hinged and the fixed part of the operating
screw assembly.
• Door – hinged, it incorporates the vent plug port and latching plate
• Clamp Rings – provide 360° clamping across door/seal/hub. Split into two
halves, each half shares a common hinge and is opened/closed using the
operating screw.
• Operating Screw Mechanism – provides the force required to create and break
door seal and move clamping rings in order to operate door
• Vent Plug – safety mechanism designed to alert operator to internal trap pressure
before the door can be opened
• Latching Plate – safety interlock designed to prevent clamp rings being released
before the vent plug is unscrewed.

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QUICK RELEASE CLOSURES

Additionally, vertically mounted clamp ring closures incorporate:

• Torsion Springs – assist door opening/closing

• Latch – retains open door

Sealing relies on the effect of the forged clamp rings

compressing together three components – the hub
flange, the ‘O’-ring seal and the door – with sufficient
force to resist the internal pressure attempting to force
the door open (fig 7a).

Fig 7a. To do this, the split clamp

rings are hinged and
attached to the hub on one side of the closure. On the
other side, they are held and controlled by the
operating screw mechanism which, by turning
clockwise or anti-clockwise, moves the clamp rings and
respectively releases or clamps the pressure seal
between the door and the hub flange (Fig 7b)
Fig 7b.

Clamp Ring Closures incorporate two significant safety features:

1. In order to provide a physical means of warning an operator that residual

pressure may exist within the trap, a threaded vent plug in the door holds down a
latching plate, the function of which is to prevent the
clamp rings being moved apart and the door
subsequently opened. It does this by locating onto
two steel dowels – one in each clamp ring half. The
latching plate can then only be raised to release the
clamp rings by unscrewing the vent plug (fig 8.) In
turn, the vent plug is designed so that as soon as its
seal with the door is broken, any residual pressure
is released in restricted quantities, audibly and
Fig 8.
under control. Having been alerted, the operator
can then respond appropriately.

2. Once the latching plate has been removed, the first few turns of the operating
screw will break the main door seal while the door and hub flange are still retained by
the clamping rings.

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QUICK RELEASE CLOSURES

3.3 CONSTRUCTION

Horizontally Mounted Clamp Ring Quick Release Closures (fig 9) feature:

1. Clamp Ring – half

2. Clamp Ring – half
3. Hub
4. ‘O’-ring Seal (Not Visible)
5. Door
6. Operating Screw Assembly
7. Hinge Assembly
8. Latching Plate
9. Vent Plug

Fig 9.

Vertically Mounted Clamp Ring Quick Release Closure (Fig 10 feature:

1. Clamp Ring – half

2. Clamp Ring – half
3. Hub
4. ‘O’-Ring Seal (Not visible)
5. Door
6. Operating Screw Assembly
7. Hinge Assembly
8. Latching Plate
9. Vent Plug
10. Torsion Springs

Fig 10.

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Design and Application Manual

QUICK RELEASE CLOSURES

4.0 SELECTION

To provide the user with the most suitable equipment for their application, PE would
appreciate the following information:

• Details of application (To what will it be attached? Purpose, orientation –

horizontal/vertical)

• Nominal pipeline diameter

• Pipe wall thickness (ANSI pipe schedule) or minimum internal pipe diameter

• Design Pressure

• Design temperature range

• Finish coating system

• Manufacturing design code

• Third party inspection requirement

• Handling points (lifting eyes, etc).

• Materials requirement (relevant standards: BS/DIN/NACE)

• Projected operating pipeline pressure

• Projected operating temperatures (max/min)

• Projected pipeline product (what will the pipeline be carrying?

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