Innovation alive in dockyard
Shelley Lipke, Staff writer
Mechanical fitter Rick Hartley, techonolgist Barry Ross and machinist Mike Bozman are the proud developers of a new safety device that ensures caps on valves don't blow off and injure workers.
Photo by Shelley Lipke, Lookout
An innovative safety device that took three years to design and manufacture is now being used by Fleet Maintenance Facility mechanical fitters working on HMCS Victoria.
Last November trades people began using the "bonnet restraint" device that ensures their safety when working on the submarine's high pressure valves.
The initiative and creativity of the dockyard trio who created the device has not gone unnoticed. They each received an award recently for outstanding dedication to safety.
"We have 30 mechanical fitters on the sub repair project and they have welcomed this engineered safety measure with open arms," says mechanical fitter, and device creator, Rick Hartley. "They are glad to have a safety device to use so no one gets hurt."
Hartley, technologist Barry Ross and machinist Mike Bozman took on the project following an accident three years ago when a bonnet covering a valve ejected under high pressure, injuring the worker.
From the incident new safety measures were implemented, including developing an engineered device that would protect them when working on valves.
"It needed to be small enough that mechanical fitters could work around tight spaces on the submarine, and also be strong enough that if a bonnet on a valve ejected under pressure, the device would take the pressure and prevent the worker from being injured," said Ross.
The bonnet device is specific to valves used on the submarine and since there are three sizes of valves, they created three device sizes. The restraint also includes a jacking mechanism so workers can remove the bonnet without damaging the valve.
The mechanism has two collars that go around the flange of the bonnet, and locking pins are used to join the collars. Then jacking bolts are used to extract the bonnet in a controlled manner. "With this device workers can extract the bonnet easily, to the point they can hear the pressure backing off," says Ross.
It was a team effort, Ross says, and while the three worked together for the entire project, they received help from others. Industrial projects engineer Gordon Hardy spent six months engineering the restraint strap that absorbs the pressure and stretches to seven times its size to keep the bonnet from fully ejecting should there be a release of pressure.
"We went through four prototypes and four revisions before we had a final design solution, and by no means was it an easy device to create," said Ross. "A lot of research and development went into it, and it was difficult because the amount of force involved to stop one of these bonnets was a factor; so we needed the proper material to absorb the energy," said Ross.
The mechanical fitters are delighted with the new bonnet restraint, says Hartley. "It gives them real piece of mind when working on the valves, and the timing is crucial because they are entering a work period involving putting things back on the boat and charging the systems, so they are using it a lot."
