Fluid pipe adjusting and measuring device

Within water distribution networks sectioning valves are widely used in order to regulate the flow and to operate on the pipelines. The most of the sectioning valves are quite old and have to be operated manually. Because of the cost of the measuring devices, flow and pressure meters are only marginally used within the network. Finally, fisical and chemical parameters of the water are generally measured only at the network intake. As a consequence, the knowledge of the networks’ status is rather poor and, in many cases, the response of the technical management to anomalies is very slow. Another problem coming form the lack of knowledge is connected to leak detection. In order to asses the amount of leaching, the balance between the volume of water supplied to the network and the total volume distributed to the users has to be performed over large areas. Therefore, the exact location of leaching is possible only whenever large volumes of water are lost. The new device is designed to attain different goals: transform a traditional gate valve in a monitoring and sectioning valve; obtain an easy access to the pipeline without necessity of flow shut down; perform real time remote control in several point of the network. The proposed machine differs from the already known system for measuring and sectioning pipelines within networks for fluid transportation because of its unique configuration, allowing a low cost and easy solution for using different measuring and sectionig devices in the same point of a the pipe. Patents are pending on the machinary and on most application thereof. The new monitoring and sectioning device can be used in almost all cases where flow, pressure or chemical parameters of fluid have to be measurered, or flow regulation is required. The new valve can handle, alternatively, the following situations: -flow regulation along water supply pipelines. Flow regulation can be operated manually or automatically by remote control. -automatic closure of the pipeline in presence of anomaluous water quality parameters; -automatic closure of the pipeline in presence of pipeline failure; -flow rate measurement. A large size flow meter can be inserted in the pipeline without flow shut down. -pressure measurement. A pressure tranducer can be inserted in the pipeline without flow shut down. -water quality measurement. A water quality probe can be inserted in the pipeline without flow shut down. -in deteriorated distribution networks. A leak detection probe, like an hydrophone, can be inserted in the pipeline and/or recovered. The new valve is suited for the following industries: -Municipal water supplies; -Industrial water supplies; -Irrigation water supplies; -Oil industry.