A PIPE FLANGE COUPLING DEVICE, A PIPE ASSEMBLY AND A TOP-SUBMERGED-LANCE (TSL) SYSTEM

摘要

The disclosure is based on the idea of providing a pipe flange coupling device (3), which is attachable in connection with a first pipe (1) of a first pipe flange (1a), having pawls (6) engaging a second pipe flange (2a) of a second pipe (2). The pawls (6) are fixed to a spindle (5) retractable by a translation arrangement so as to pull the second pipe flange (2a) against the first pipe flange (1a). More particularly, the translation arrangement is configured such that, when the flanged pipes (1, 2) are coupled and the pawls (6) are retracted, a force exerted on the pawls (6) towards the extended position is transmitted via the translation arrangement against a mechanical stopper. Moreover, the translation arrangement is biased such that the translation arrangement must work against this bias in order to extend the pawls and release the flanged pipes (1, 2) coupled to each other.