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RMS Getting Tooled Up for Lpg Vessel Safety

By Peter Roberts, Remanufacturing Services Ltd

Whatever lpg vessel equipment you use or maintain, having the correct tools is essential to ensure maintenance and replacement work is carried out to good engineering standards. Over the years, RMS has realised that there is a shortage of specialised equipment to assist in the inspection and maintenance of domestic lp gas vessels and, to this end, has set about developing tools to meet the needs of the industry.

Firstly, the supply of wear gauges has greatly enhanced the safety of the industry, not only in the UK, but worldwide. It is now obligatory that all ACME threads be checked in this way. More recently, the introduction of the safe swap, for use when changing relief valves on underground lpg gas vessels, has had such an impact that they have been widely adopted and are specified by many lp gas companies for use on all relief valve changes, including aboveground vessels. The units, which were shortlisted for a British Gas Safety Award, have been reported to be instrumental in preventing possible incidents.

Breaking the joint between the relief valve and the check device on an underground lp gas vessel is almost impossible with conventional tooling due to the confined location. The latest aid is a cracking tool for doing just this. Compact and needing only a ratchet spanner to operate, it uses opposing forces to break the joint. As a result, it cannot disturb the joint between the check valve and the lpg vessel, which is always a possibility with other methods of release.

Other lesser-known devices available include a drilling jig for snapped float gauge studs, and a relief valve adaptor for rapid suction when using a Gem compressor to de-gas vessels. About to be launched is a chek-lok opening tool for emergency liquid withdrawal. Lpg gas vessels can be fitted with any number of different manufacturers’ chek-loks, whose opening characteristics vary considerably. The supply of adaptors to open the chek-loks is limited so, when the incorrect adaptor is used, it can vary in effectiveness from not opening the chek-lok to opening it to the point of damage, which can result in a forced vessel uplift.

RMS has reviewed all the common chek-loks and has designed a very compact valve that is effective on all listed chek-loks. Final trials are taking place and it will be launched shortly. It is evident that more and more lpg gas vessels are being refurbished and many are being re-valved in the field. Our current project is to design and sell suitable spanners for all the common valves. The range will include relief valves, chek-loks, fill valves and vapour valves. Their application will all be square drive ratchet, so they will be suitable for underground lp gas vessel valve replacement.

We appreciate the cooperation shown by several lp gas companies in assisting the development of these tools, and would advise anyone that has a special requirement for tooling, particularly where safety is concerned, to get in touch.

Contact Remanufacturing Services Ltd on 01792 224000 www.rmsgaseng.com

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