| Modified flange for bitumen delivery |
After an incident where a tanker driver received serious burns when his hose became detached from the pipe during a bitumen delivery, the industry began recommending that a ‘Stokes Flange’ was fitted to each fill-line. However, this in itself brought problems – bitumen pipelines and fill-lines needed to be altered and this could often meant accessing highlevel pipe joints.
Midland Quarry Product’s asphalt maintenance supervisor developed a loose adapter flange, or ‘Fairbrother Adapter’ that has the benefits of the ‘Stokes Flange’ in preventing the two hose flange bolts from moving in the horizontal plane, but allows you to retain the original flange. It is secured to the pipeline by chain so it is always available, and is easily fitted by the bitumen delivery driver as he connects his hose to the tank fill-line.
The concept of MQP’s adapter could also be applied to the tanker, where it connects to the hose, and also to any other bulk-fluid tanker. The safety, environmental and cost benefits that derive from the reduced number of spillage incidents extend beyond the quarrying industry. |
Click image to enlarge
Modified flange for bitumen delivery
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Click image to enlarge
Modified flange for bitumen delivery
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