Valve device

Abstract

To provide a valve device with long-term reliability, in which a fluid pipe is cut with a cylindrical cutter inside a housing that hermetically surrounds the fluid pipe and can be installed in the housing in an uninterrupted flow state.SOLUTION: A valve device 1 has a housing 4 with a divided structure that surrounds a fluid pipe 2 in a sealed manner, and a valve body 5 that is cut by a cylindrical rotatable cutter 72 in an uninterrupted flow state in the housing 4 and inserted into the housing 4. The valve body 6 at least comprises a valve element 5v, a valve seat body 5b having a valve seat hole part 5f that is opened and closed by the valve element 5v, and a sealing member 5e that seals between the valve seat body 5b and the housing 4. A housing lower part 42 that constitutes the housing 4 has a bowl-shaped housing bottom part 42d that is sealed by the sealing member 5e, and a discharge hole 42b is formed in approximately the center of the housing bottom part 42d in a pipe axial direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve device that cuts a fluid pipe with a cylindrical cutter inside a housing that encloses the fluid pipe in a sealed state and can be installed inside the housing in a non-stop flow state.

Background Art

[0002] In a conventional valve device that cuts a fluid pipe with a cylindrical cutter inside a housing that encloses the fluid pipe in a sealed state and can be installed inside the housing in a non-stop flow state, in order to make the housing smaller and lighter, the fluid pipe is cut with a cylindrical cutter having the smallest possible diameter, and the valve body is directly inserted into the housing, and the flow inside the fluid pipe is controlled by blocking the housing with the valve body. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In Patent Document 1, since a small-diameter cylindrical cutter is used to cut the fluid pipe, the separation distance of the portion where the cut surface of the fluid pipe is closest becomes small, and the valve body has to be directly inserted into the housing. However, when the valve body is directly inserted into the housing, the turbulence of the fluid flowing inside the housing increases, the pressure loss increases, and at the same time, the force acting on the valve body due to the pressure difference before and after the valve body also increases, and there is also a risk of deterioration of long-term reliability.

[0005] The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and in a method of installing a valve body that can be installed in a housing in a non-stop flow state by cutting a fluid pipe with a cylindrical cutter in a housing that encloses the fluid pipe in a sealed manner, an object is to provide a method of installing a valve body with high long-term reliability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention is a method of installing a valve body in a split structure housing that encloses a water pipe in a sealed manner. The housing is filled with water by being cut with a rotatable cylindrical cutter in a non-stop flow state. In the housing, the valve body is inserted and installed by a valve body insertion device into the separation part between the cut surfaces of the water pipe formed in an arc shape. The method is characterized in that, the valve body includes a valve element, a valve operation shaft connected to the upper part of the valve element and movable the valve element by rotating an operation part at the upper end, a valve seat body having a valve seat hole part, a valve cover that closes the housing opening of the housing, a sealing member that seals between the valve seat body and the housing, and an overhanging part formed above the valve cover and having a housing part for the valve element inside. The valve element can open and close the valve seat hole part by being inserted downward from the housing part toward the valve seat body installed in the housing. The valve body insertion device has an insertion device housing connected to the housing, an insertion shaft that can move forward and backward with respect to the insertion device housing, and a holding part provided at one end of the insertion shaft. The valve body is inserted into the housing with the holding part below the operation part at the upper end of the valve operation shaft in the valve body and while holding the overhanging part, and installed so that the bottom of the valve body contacts the bowl-shaped housing bottom of the housing. With the holding part holding the overhanging part of the valve body, a pressing screw provided on the housing side below the holding part is screwed in to fix the outer peripheral part of the valve body with the pressing screw.

[0007] The holding part is characterized by extending downward so as to straddle the valve operation shaft.

[0008] After inserting the valve body into the housing, the removal operation of the insertion shaft and the holding portion is performed through a working hole formed in the insertion device housing so as to be openable and closable.

[0009] The removal operation is characterized in that it is an operation of removing a mounting bolt that couples the insertion shaft and the holding portion.

[0010] After the removal operation, the insertion device housing and the insertion shaft are removed, and the holding portion is removed from the valve body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] The valve device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the valve device 1 according to the present invention includes a housing 4 that seals the existing fluid pipe 2, and a valve body 5 as an insertion body that can be inserted into the housing 4. The valve body 5 includes a valve lid 5a that closes the housing opening 41d of the housing 4, a valve seat body 5b having a valve seat hole portion 5f, a valve body 5v that opens and closes the valve seat hole portion 5f, and a valve operation shaft 5j connected to the upper part of the valve body 5v. Further, the valve device 1 includes a packing that is housed in the packing box 5h and seals the valve operation shaft 5j, a packing (not shown) that seals between the valve body 5v and the valve seat body 5b, and a sealing member 5e that seals between the valve seat body 5b and the housing 4. Then, the valve device 1 is inserted into the housing 4 in a sealed state, and by rotating the valve operation shaft 5j and moving the valve body 5v, the valve body 5v can open and close the valve seat hole portion 5f provided in the valve seat body 5b to control the flow of the existing fluid pipe 2. However, the sealing between the valve body 5v and the valve seat body 5b is not limited to packing, and for example, sealing between metals may be used.

[0014] Here, the existing fluid pipe 2 is, for example, made of ductile cast iron for a water supply pipe buried underground, is formed in a substantially circular shape in cross-section, and the inner peripheral surface is covered with an epoxy resin layer. Note that the fluid pipe according to the present invention may be made of other metals such as cast iron and steel, or may be made of asbestos, concrete, vinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyolefin, etc. Furthermore, the inner peripheral surface of the fluid pipe is not limited to an epoxy resin layer, and may be covered with, for example, mortar, or may be covered with an appropriate material on the inner peripheral surface of the fluid pipe by powder coating. Also, in this embodiment, the fluid in the fluid pipe is tap water, but it is not limited to the tap water in this embodiment, and may be, for example, industrial water, agricultural water, sewage, etc., or a gas or a gas-liquid mixture of a gas and a liquid. Also, the materials of the housing 4 and the valve body 5 may be adapted to the above.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 4 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the existing fluid pipe 2 is a so-called split T-shaped pipe, and has a structure divided into an upper housing part 41 and a lower housing part 42 in the radial direction (vertical direction in this embodiment) of the existing fluid pipe 2. Further, the housing 4 is provided with detachment prevention fittings 6, 6 for preventing the detachment of the existing fluid pipe 2.

[0016] The upper housing part 41 is formed with a neck part 41a, a flange part 41b connected to the neck part 41a, and a housing opening part 41d connected to the flange part 41b and communicating with the inside of the housing. Further, at the end of the housing opening part 41d, a housing recess 41c for inserting and fixing a fixing member 7 described later is formed. And, to the flange part 41b, a fixing flange main body 50, a fluid pipe cutting device 70, a valve body insertion device 80 (see FIG. 3), etc. can be attached via a working valve 60 described later.

[0017] On the other hand, the lower housing part 42 has a bowl-shaped housing bottom part 42d, and a discharge hole 42b is formed at the center of the housing bottom part 42d. The discharge hole 42b can be connected to a valve 49, and as will be described later, the chips generated during the cutting of the existing fluid pipe 2 can be discharged together with the fluid from the discharge hole 42b by operating the valve 49.

[0018] In this embodiment, the upper housing part 41, the lower housing part 42, etc. are described, but the splitting direction of the housing is not limited to the vertical direction, and may be, for example, the horizontal direction or an inclined direction at a predetermined angle. Also, the number of splits may be 3 or more. Similarly, the piping direction of the existing fluid pipe 2 is not limited to the horizontal direction, and may be, for example, the vertical direction. Further, the cutting direction of the cutter 72 described later is not limited to the vertical direction, and may be, for example, the horizontal direction. In the following embodiments, an example in which a cylindrical cutter such as a hole saw with good working efficiency is used as the cutter 72 will be described, but a wire saw, a tool bit, etc. may also be used.

[0019] The following describes the fixed flange body 50, the working valve body 60, and the fluid pipe cutting device 70. As shown in FIG. 1, with the housing 4 sealed and attached to the existing fluid pipe 2, the fixed flange body 50, the working valve body 60, and the fluid pipe cutting device 70 are attached to the flange portion 41b of the upper part 41 of the housing.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a seal member 53 is inserted between the joint surface of the fixed flange portion 51 of the fixed flange body 50 and the flange portion 41b, and is tightened by bolts and nuts 54, so that the fixed flange portion 51 and the flange portion 41b are sealed. In the radial direction of the fixed flange portion 51, a plurality of pressing screws 52 are attached in a sealed manner at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. As will be described later, when the valve body 5 is inserted into the housing 4, the valve body 5 can be temporarily fixed.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, a seal member 63 is inserted between the joint surface of the working valve housing 61 of the working valve body 60 and the fixed flange body 50, and is tightened by bolts 55, so that the working valve body 60 and the fixed flange body 50 are sealed. A working valve 62 that can be opened and closed between the housing 4 and the fluid pipe cutting device 70 by sliding horizontally is attached to the working valve housing 61 of the working valve body 60 in a sealed manner.

[0022] Also, a seal member 73 is inserted between the joint surface between the fluid pipe cutting device 70 and the working valve body 60, and is tightened by bolts 74, so that the space between the fluid pipe cutting device 70 and the working valve body 60 is sealed. Further, a cutter 72 attached to the cutter shaft 75 is attached to the drilling device housing 71 in a sealed manner so as to be movable up and down and rotatable. The cutter 72 and the cutter shaft 75 can be rotationally driven by a driving device (not shown) from the outside of the fluid pipe cutting device 70.

[0023] The following describes the cutting process of the existing fluid pipe 2 and the attachment process of the valve body 5.

[0024] First, the cutting process will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, with the working valve 62 open, the existing fluid pipe 2 is cut in a non-stop flow state by the cutter 72. Since the cutter 72 has a cylindrical shape, the pipe cutting portion of the existing fluid pipe 2 is formed in an arc shape along the cylindrical cutter 72 when viewed from the direction of the cutter shaft 75. The chips generated when cutting the existing fluid pipe 2 are discharged together with the fluid by operating the valve 49 attached to the discharge hole 42b provided at the center of the lower part of the housing 42.

[0025] After cutting the existing fluid pipe 2, the cutter 72 is raised, the working valve 62 in the working valve housing 61 is closed, and the space between the housing 4 and the fluid pipe cutting device 70 is sealed. Then, the fluid inside the fluid pipe cutting device 70 is discharged, the fluid pipe cutting device 70 is removed from the working valve body 60, and the cutting process operation of the existing fluid pipe 2 is completed.

[0026] Next, as shown in FIG. 3, a valve body insertion device 80 is attached to the upper part of the working valve body 60 in a sealed manner. This valve body insertion device 80 includes an insertion device housing 86, an insertion shaft 87, a holding portion 83 for holding the valve body 5 is attached to one end of the insertion shaft 87 by a mounting bolt 88, and at the other end of the insertion shaft 87, there is a threaded portion 89 screwed into the insertion shaft 87 and a handle 90 for rotating the threaded portion 89. By rotating the handle 90, the insertion shaft 87 can be raised and lowered, and the valve body 5 can be inserted into and removed from the housing 4.

[0027] When the handle 90 is rotated to lower the insertion shaft 87 and the valve body 5 provided with the fixing members 7, 7 is inserted and installed in the housing 4, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the pressing screw 52 provided on the fixing flange body 50 is screwed in, and the valve cover inclined surface 5c formed on the outer peripheral portion of the valve cover 5a of the valve body 5 is temporarily fixed by the pressing screw 52. Then, the fluid inside the valve body insertion device 80 is discharged, the insertion device cover 84 is removed, the mounting bolt 88 connecting the holding portion 83 and the insertion shaft 87 is removed from the working hole 85, and after the valve body insertion device 80 is removed from the working valve body 60, the holding portion 83 of the valve body insertion device 80 is removed from the valve body 5 (see FIG. 3).

[0028] Next, as shown in FIG. 5, when the valve body insertion device 80 is removed from the working valve body 60, the substantially rectangular fixing members 7, 7 in plan view are attached to the housing recess 41c formed in the upper part 41 of the housing described later. By attaching the fixing member 7 so as to straddle the valve cover 5a and the housing recess 41c, the fixing member 7 can hold the fluid force applied to the valve cover 5a. At this time, the inside 61b of the working valve housing 61 of the working valve housing is narrow in the working space due to the presence of the packing box 5h and the like. Further, since the distance from the working valve housing flange 61a of the working valve housing 61 to the fixing member is also long, it is difficult to insert the fixing member 7. Therefore, a working jig 92 is inserted between the valve cover 5a and the fixing member 7 so that the fixing member 7 can be inserted into the housing recess 41c. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the fixing member 7 is provided with a tapered portion 7d so that the working jig 92 can be easily inserted even in a narrow working space. Further, the fixing member 7 is provided with a plurality of holes 7e, 7e. By inserting a working jig (not shown) into the holes 7e, 7e, not only can the fixing member 7 be inserted into the housing recess 41c even in a narrow working space, but the fixing member 7 can be easily removed from the housing recess 41c.

[0029] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6, the fixing members 7, 7 are locked by a plurality of bolts 7a, 7a. Thereafter, the holding screw 52 is loosened (see FIG. 4(b)), and the fixing flange main body 50 and the working valve body 60 are removed. In this way, since the fixing flange main body 50 can be removed, not only can the structure of the installation body be simplified without the fixing flange main body 50 and the plurality of holding screws 52 provided on the fixing flange main body 50 remaining in the housing 4 and deteriorating over time, but the removed fixing flange main body 50 and the plurality of holding screws 52 can be attached to another housing and reused.

[0030] Finally, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the upper lid 43 is attached to the flange portion 41b with bolts and nuts 43b to complete the attachment process of the installation body. Further, an upper lid convex portion 43a for holding the fixing member 7 is provided at a position where the upper lid 43 faces the fixing member 7. In a state where the upper lid 43 is tightened to the flange portion 41b with bolts and nuts 43b, the fixing member 7 is also held by the upper lid convex portion 43a, so that the pressure received by the fixing member 7 can be reduced. Although an upper lid convex portion 43c for holding not only the fixing member 7 but also the valve lid 5a is formed on the upper lid 43, it may be omitted.

[0031] Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the valve device 1 according to the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the valve body 5 is configured to be cut by a cylindrical cutter 72 in a housing 4 that seals the existing fluid pipe 2 and can be inserted into the housing 4 in a non-stop flow state.

[0032] Here, when the existing fluid pipe 2 is cut in the radial direction by the cylindrical cutter 72, as shown in FIG. 9, the separation distance in the pipe axis direction between the fluid pipe cut surfaces 2a, 2a is the largest at the top and bottom of the existing fluid pipe 2, and the minimum separation distance L1 at a substantially intermediate position between the top and bottom of the existing fluid pipe 2. This minimum separation distance L1 determines the sizes of the valve seat body 5b and the valve body 5v of the valve device 1 that can be inserted into the housing 4.

[0033] For example, when the width of the valve seat body 5b in the pipe axis direction is large, it is necessary to cut the existing fluid pipe 2 with a cutter 72 having a large diameter to ensure the minimum separation distance L1 so that the valve seat body 5b can pass through. However, in order to cut the existing fluid pipe 2 with a cutter 72 having a large diameter, it is necessary to increase the size of the housing 4 that seals the existing fluid pipe 2. For this reason, the cost of the valve device 1 increases, and the amount of earth and sand excavation for embedding the large valve device 1 also increases, so the installation cost also increases. Further, when the housing 4 becomes large, the surface area of the valve body 5 inserted into the housing also becomes large, so the force exerted by the fluid on the valve body 5 also becomes large, and it is necessary to further reinforce the valve seat body 5b, and the cost of the valve device 1 further increases.

[0034] On the contrary, if the housing 4 that hermetically surrounds the existing fluid pipe 2 is made smaller and the existing fluid pipe 2 is cut by a small-diameter cylindrical cutter 72, the minimum separation distance L1 also becomes smaller. Therefore, it is necessary to make the valve seat body 5b and the valve body 5v thinner. As a result, the structural strength of the valve seat body 5b and the valve body 5v is limited to be low, and the long-term reliability deteriorates.

[0035] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the valve device 1 of the present invention forms the axial width L2 of the valve seat body in the direction of the pipe axis at the position closest to the fluid pipe cut surface 2a to be smaller than the minimum separation distance L1 of the existing fluid pipe 2. By making the housing 4 smaller, the valve seat body 5b and the valve body 5v can also be made smaller. By making the housing 4 smaller, the cost of the valve device 1 and the installation cost of the valve device 1 can be reduced, the surface area of the valve seat body 5b and the valve body 5v can be made smaller, and the force applied to the valve seat body 5b and the valve body 5v can be made smaller.

[0036] On the other hand, since the valve seat body 5b and the valve body 5v are in a cantilever state, the structural strength of the valve seat body 5b and the valve body 5v is limited to be low by making the housing 4 smaller. Therefore, in order to withstand the high stress generated in the valve seat body 5b and the valve body 5v, the valve seat body 5b is provided with a valve seat body inclined surface 5q that faces the fluid pipe cut surface 2a and tapers and inclines in the direction in which the valve seat body 5b is inserted. The axial width L3 of the base end portion side of the valve seat body 5b is formed to be larger than the axial width L2 of the valve seat body 5b at the position closest to the fluid pipe cut surface 2a. Similarly, the valve body 5v is provided with a valve body inclined surface 5r that faces the valve seat hole portion 5f and tapers and inclines in the direction in which the valve body 5v is inserted. The axial width L4 of the base end portion side of the valve body 5v is formed to be larger than the axial width L2 of the valve seat body 5b at the position closest to the fluid pipe cut surface 2a.

[0037] Also, by forming the axial width L3 of the base end portion side of the valve seat body 5b to be large, the valve seat body 5b can be brought closer to the fluid pipe cut surface 2a. Therefore, the change in the cross-sectional area inside the housing can be reduced by the valve seat body 5b, and the turbulence of the flow inside the housing 4 can be suppressed. As a result, the pressure loss can be reduced.

[0038] Also, as shown in FIG. 9, the valve seat body 5b is provided with a valve seat body extension portion 5p extending toward the fluid pipe cut surface 2a. Since the valve seat body extension portion 5p extends in the circumferential direction along the fluid pipe cut surface 2a toward the fluid pipe cut surface 2a, the flow from the existing fluid pipe 2 is guided by the valve seat body extension portion 5p, suppressing the turbulence of the flow in the housing and reducing the pressure loss. Further, the force acting on the valve body can be reduced, ensuring long-term reliability. Also, by forming the valve seat hole portion 5f to have the same cross-section as the fluid pipe, the change in the cross-sectional area of the flow path can be minimized, suppressing the turbulence of the flow in the housing and reducing the pressure loss. Note that the valve seat hole portion 5f is preferably made to have the same diameter as the inner diameter of the fluid pipe, but may be appropriately adjusted according to the outer diameter of the fluid pipe or the like.

[0039] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and modifications and additions within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention.

[0040] In FIG. 9, the surface of the valve seat body 5b facing the fluid pipe cut surface 2a is formed as a valve seat body inclined surface 5q that tapers and inclines in the direction in which the valve seat body 5b is inserted into the housing 4. However, the surface of the valve seat body 5b facing the fluid pipe cut surface 2a is not limited to an inclined surface, and the upper portion of the valve seat body 5b above the position closest to the fluid pipe cut surface 2a may be formed to be wider in a stepped manner. Also, the axial width L3 of the base end portion side of the valve seat body 5b can be further increased to be even larger than the minimum separation distance L1 of the existing fluid pipe 2. For example, for the upper portion of the valve seat body 5b above the position closest to the fluid pipe cut surface 2a, the axial width of the valve seat body 5b or the valve seat body extension portion 5p, or both the valve seat body 5b and the valve seat body extension portion 5p, can be further increased to minimize the separation distance between the valve seat body 5b and the fluid pipe cut surface 2a or the separation distance between the valve seat body extension portion 5p and the fluid pipe cut surface 2a, further suppressing the turbulence of the flow in the housing 4 and reducing the pressure loss.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0041] 1 Valve device 2 Existing fluid pipe (fluid pipe) 4 Housing 5 Valve body (insertion body) 5a Valve cover 5b Valve seat body 5f Valve seat hole part 5p Extended part of valve seat body 5q Inclined surface of valve seat body 5r Inclined surface of valve body 5v Valve body 72 Cutter

Claims

1. A valve device comprising a housing with a split structure that encloses a fluid pipe in a sealed manner, and an insert body that is cut by a cylindrical rotatable cutter in a continuous flow state within the housing and inserted into the housing, wherein the insert body includes at least a valve body, a valve seat body having a valve seat hole portion opened and closed by the valve body, and a sealing member that seals between the valve seat body and the housing, wherein a lower housing portion constituting the housing has a bowl-shaped housing bottom sealed by the sealing member, and a discharge hole is formed at substantially the center in the pipe axis direction of the housing bottom. The valve device is characterized by this.

2. The valve device according to claim 1, characterized in that a valve for opening and closing the discharge hole is provided in the discharge hole.

3. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a detachment prevention tool for preventing detachment of the fluid pipe is provided on the housing.

4. The valve device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sealing member that seals between the valve seat body and the housing extends so as to avoid the discharge hole.

Images