Flow control device

Abstract

To provide a flow control device which can restrict movement of a flow control part toward the secondary side without deteriorating sealability by a seal material when a flow control body receives a load by a fluid pressure from the primary side and the flow control part is pressed to the secondary side.SOLUTION: In a flow control device 1, a plug 4 serving as a flow control body inserted into a housing 3 attached to a fluid pipe 2 in a sealing manner has: a partition wall part 41 serving as a flow control part which is disposed so as to partition the inside of the housing 3; and a packing 43 serving as a seal material extending a lower end surface 41a and side end surfaces 41b, 41b of the partition wall part 41. The housing 3 has: a seat part 8 with which the packing 43 of the partition wall part 41 contacts; and a restriction part 20 which restricts movement of the partition wall part 41 to the secondary side of a passage. A contact surface 21 of the restriction part 20 is provided in a manner that the contact part 21 may contact with a restricted part 41d at the secondary side of the passage relative to the packing 43 in a lower end part of the partition wall part 41.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a flow control device including a housing that is sealingly attached to a fluid pipe, and a fluid control member that is inserted into a cut portion of the fluid pipe inside the housing.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in the case of constructing a part of an existing fluid pipe, etc., a flow control device is provided at a predetermined location in a flow path, which includes a cylindrical housing that is sealingly attached to the fluid pipe, and a fluid control member such as a valve body or a plug that is inserted into the cut portion of the fluid pipe inside the housing, to temporarily stop the flow of fluids such as water and gas, or to control the flow of fluids such as changing the flow path to a branch pipe connected to the fluid pipe.

[0003] As a flow control device of this type, there is one that includes a fluid control member formed in a substantially T-shape by a lid portion that closes the upper opening of a cylindrical housing and a plate-shaped flow control portion that hangs down from the lid portion. A recess that can be fitted into a protrusion (seat portion) protruding from the inner surface of the housing is formed on the end surface of the flow control portion, and a sealing material is provided in the recess. By fitting the recess of the flow control portion onto the protrusion and causing the sealing material to adhere to both side surfaces of the protrusion, the fluid can be blocked (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the flow control device described in the above Patent Document 1, when closing the flow path through which fluid flows from the primary side (upstream side) to the secondary side (downstream side), a load due to the fluid pressure from the primary side is applied to the flow control portion of the flow control fluid disposed so as to partition the flow path. Particularly in a flow path with a high-pressure specification, since the load due to the fluid pressure from the primary side increases, the force pressing the flow control portion toward the secondary side becomes large.

[0006] In the above flow control fluid, the upper lid portion is supported circumferentially on the inner wall of the housing, and the concave portion of the lower flow control portion is supported by the protrusion of the housing. Thus, when a load due to the fluid pressure from the primary side is applied to the flow control portion, the movement of the flow control fluid toward the secondary side is restricted. However, since a sealing material is interposed between the concave portion and the protrusion, when the flow control portion is pressed toward the secondary side, the sealing material is deformed, and the force pressing the sealing material against the protrusion becomes large on the primary side of the protrusion while becoming small on the secondary side, resulting in a bias. Therefore, there is a problem that the sealing performance by the sealing material deteriorates.

[0007] The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a flow control device capable of restricting the movement of the flow control portion toward the secondary side without deteriorating the sealing performance by the sealing material when the flow control fluid receives a load due to the fluid pressure from the primary side and the flow control portion is pressed toward the secondary side.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the flow control device of the present invention is a flow control device including a housing hermetically attached to a fluid pipe and a flow control fluid inserted into a cut portion of the fluid pipe inside the housing, wherein the flow control fluid has a flow control portion disposed so as to partition the inside of the housing and a sealing material extending along an end surface of the flow control portion, the housing has a seat portion with which the sealing material of the flow control portion abuts and a restricting portion that restricts the movement of the flow control portion toward the secondary side of the flow path, and the restricting portion is provided so as to be able to abut on a portion to be restricted on the secondary side of the flow path with respect to the sealing material at an insertion-side end portion of the flow control portion. According to this feature, when the flow control part is pressed toward the secondary side by the fluid pressure load from the primary side of the flow path, the regulated part on the secondary side contacts the regulating part against the sealing material in the flow control part. Since no sealing material is interposed between the regulating part and the regulated part, the movement of the flow control part to the secondary side can be restricted without reducing the sealing performance by the sealing material.

[0009] The regulating part is characterized in that it is supported by the peripheral wall of the housing on the secondary side of the flow path rather than the seat part. According to this feature, since the load applied to the regulating part can be dispersed to the housing, breakage or displacement of the regulating part can be prevented.

[0010] The regulating part is characterized in that it is provided at a position separated from the seat part toward the secondary side of the flow path. According to this feature, while avoiding contact between the regulated part and the regulating part when inserting the fluid control body, when the flow control part is pressed toward the secondary side, the regulating part contacts the regulated part to restrict movement. Therefore, leakage due to damage to the fluid control body or the regulating part can be prevented.

[0011] The regulating part is characterized in that it is provided at a position separated from the regulated part of the flow control part toward the secondary side of the flow path. According to this feature, the movement of the fluid control body can be restricted when a load due to the fluid pressure from the primary side of the flow path is applied to the fluid control body without the regulating part interfering when inserting the fluid control body.

[0012] The regulating part is characterized in that it is supported by the bottom surface of the housing on the secondary side of the flow path rather than the seat part. According to this feature, since the regulating part can be provided on the bottom surface that does not affect the insertion of the flow control part, it is possible to prevent the flow control part and the sealing material from contacting and damaging the regulating part.

[0013] The regulating part is characterized by being composed of a main body part extending along the seat part and a support part extending from the main body part toward the secondary side of the flow path. According to this feature, the main body can restrict the insertion-side end of the flow control part in the width direction, and the support part can enhance the supporting force against the pressing force on the secondary side.

[0014] The restricting part is characterized in that a guiding inclined surface for guiding the flow control part toward the seat part side in the insertion direction is formed. According to this feature, even when the flow control part approaches the restricting part side during the insertion of the flow control fluid, it can be smoothly guided to the seat part side.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Example

[0016] The current-limiting device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. In the following description, the front side of FIG. 1 is defined as the upper (plane) of the current-limiting device, the lower side as the front, and the upper side as the rear.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 1, for example, when constructing a bypass flow path that bypasses a specific area E in a flow path composed of an existing fluid pipe 2 to perform removal or repair work on the fluid pipe 2 in the specific area E, first, throttle devices 1, 1 (the throttle device 1 on the secondary side is not shown) as embodiments of the present invention are installed in the pipe portion on the primary side (upstream side) of the specific area E shown in Fig. 1 and the pipe portion on the secondary side (downstream side) of the specific area E. Next, after connecting these throttle devices 1, 1 to each other with a bypass pipe 9, plugs 4, 4 (see Fig. 2) described later are inserted into the inside of each throttle device 1, 1 to stop the water. Thus, the fluid inside the fluid pipe 2 flows from the throttle device 1 installed on the primary side of the specific area E into the bypass pipe 9 as shown by the white arrow in Fig. 1, bypasses the specific area E, and then flows down into the fluid pipe 2 from the throttle device 1 installed on the secondary side. Therefore, the specific area E can be put into a water cutoff state. After that, a drain port (not shown) provided in the throttle device 1, 1 is opened, and the fluid in the fluid pipe 2 of the specific area E is discharged to the outside, enabling removal or repair work on the fluid pipe 2. In this way, only the specific area E can be put into a water cutoff state while keeping the flow path in a non-stop flow state.

[0018] In addition, the fluid in the fluid pipe 2 is high-pressure service water in this embodiment. However, for example, in addition to industrial water, agricultural water, sewage, etc., it may also be a liquid other than water, or a gas or a gas-liquid mixture of gas and liquid. Further, the fluid pipe 2 is a ductile cast iron pipe and is formed into a straight pipe with a substantially circular cross-section in a cross-sectional view. In this embodiment, the pipeline direction of the fluid pipe 2 is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction. It should be noted that the fluid pipe according to the present invention may be made of other metals such as cast iron, steel, or may be made of concrete, vinyl chloride, polyethylene, or polyolefin. Furthermore, the inner peripheral surface of the fluid pipe may be coated with an epoxy resin layer, mortar, plating, etc., or the inner peripheral surface of the fluid pipe may be coated with an appropriate material by powder coating.

[0019] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the throttle device 1 mainly includes a housing 3 that externally fits a predetermined portion of the fluid pipe 2 in a sealed manner, and a plug 4 as a throttle body that is inserted into the housing 3 and can change the flow path by stopping the water inside the fluid pipe 2.

[0020] [Housing] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing 3 is made of steel and mainly comprises a main portion 5 formed in a cylindrical shape with an upper opening, side portions 6, 6 protruding in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the main portion 5 from the left and right sides of the peripheral wall 5a of the main portion 5 and formed in a cylindrical shape capable of covering the fluid pipe 2, and a bottom portion 7 closing the lower opening of the main portion 5. Each portion is welded to each other. Note that the respective members constituting the housing 3 and the like are not limited to those welded and integrated with each other as in this embodiment, and may be integrally formed by casting or the like.

[0021] Further, the housing 3 is vertically divided into an upper housing 3a having a substantially T-shaped front view and a lower housing 3b having a substantially inverted T-shaped front view along the pipe axis of the side portions 6, 6. The lower portion of the fluid pipe 2 is covered by the lower housing 3b, the upper portion of the fluid pipe 2 is covered by the upper housing 3a, and by connecting the lower housing 3b and the upper housing 3a, it is hermetically attached so as to cover a predetermined portion of the fluid pipe 2. Further, the axial end portions in the pipe axis direction of the side portions 6, 6 are externally fitted in a sealed manner, and the housing 3 is fixed to the fluid pipe 2 by pressing wheels 10, 10 (see FIG. 1).

[0022] Since the housing 3 of this embodiment is of a high-pressure specification, although not particularly shown in detail, reinforcing ribs 47 are fixed to a plurality of locations on the outer surface of the housing 3 for reinforcement. Note that the housing 3 may be divided, for example, in the front-rear direction, or may be divided into a predetermined number of three or more divisions. Further, the lower housing 3b and the upper housing 3a are joined in a sealed state by a plurality of fastening members (not shown) composed of bolts and nuts in this embodiment, but welding joints or the like may also be used.

[0023] On the inner surface of the housing 3, a steel seat portion 8 for receiving a plug 4 inserted from the upper surface opening of the housing 3 protrudes. Specifically, the seat portion 8 includes a horizontal seat portion 8a extending in the front-rear direction (direction orthogonal to the pipe axis) so as to pass through a substantially central position of the bottom portion 7 having a circular shape in plan view in the housing 3, and vertical seat portions 8b, 8b extending upward along the inner surface of the main portion 5 from the front and rear ends of the horizontal seat portion 8a. Note that the left and right dimensions of the seat portion 8 are substantially the same as the plate thickness dimension L3 (see FIG. 5) of the partition wall portion 41 of the plug 4 described later.

[0024] Further, communication ports 13a and 13b are formed on the left and right sides sandwiching the horizontal seating portion 8a at the lower front side of the peripheral wall 5a of the main body portion 5, and the housing 3 and the bypass pipe 9 are in communication. By making the vertical dimension of the horizontal seating portion 8a as large as the diameter of the communication ports 13a and 13b and bringing the contact surface 8c that becomes the upper surface of the horizontal seating portion 8a closer to the side portions 6 and 6, an increase in the vertical dimension of the plug 4 is avoided.

[0025] On the left and right sides (both sides in the pipe axis direction) of the vertical seating portions 8b and 8b, a pair of left and right guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, and 15b for guiding the plug 4 downward are provided vertically. The guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, and 15b protrude in the inner diameter direction from the contact surface 8c of the vertical seating portions 8b and 8b, and are extended vertically along the vertical seating portions 8b and 8b at a position slightly separated from the vertical seating portions 8b and 8b to the left and right. Incidentally, the separation dimension L2 of the guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, and 15b is longer than the plate thickness dimension L3 (see FIG. 5) of the partition wall portion 41 of the plug 4 described later (L2 > L3).

[0026] Further, on the upper portions of the respective guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, and 15b, guide inclined surfaces 14c and 15c that incline upward and toward the left and right sides are formed, so that the descending plug 4 can be smoothly guided between the left and right guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, and 15b.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a regulating portion 20 for regulating the movement of the plug 4 to the secondary side is provided on the secondary side (the right side in the drawing) of the seating portion 8 in the bottom portion 7. The regulating portion 20 is made of steel material and is fixed by welding W to a secondary side region on the upper surface of the bottom portion 7 that is more secondary than the horizontal seating portion 8a. Specifically, the regulating portion 20 is formed to protrude above the horizontal seating portion 8a, and is formed in a substantially T-shaped in plan view by a plate-shaped main body portion 20a that extends in the front-rear direction along the horizontal seating portion 8a and a plate-shaped support portion 20b that extends from the main body portion 20a toward the secondary side.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, the front-rear dimension of the main body portion 20a is shorter than the front-rear dimension of the horizontal seating portion 8a, and a gap is provided between the front and rear end portions of the main body portion 20a and the inner surface of the main portion 5. The support portion 20b extends from a substantially central position in the front-rear direction on the right side surface of the main body portion 20a to the inner surface of the main portion 5. In addition, in this embodiment, the front-rear dimension of the main body portion 20a is set to the minimum necessary dimension, but it may extend so as to abut without providing a gap with the inner surface of the main portion 5.

[0029] Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base portion below the contact surface 8c on the left side surface of the main body portion 20a abuts against the horizontal seating portion 8a and is fixed by welding W, and the right side surface of the support portion 20b abuts against the peripheral surface of the main portion 5 and is fixed by welding W. Further, the contact surface 21 with the plug 4 protruding upward above the contact surface 8c on the left side surface of the main body portion 20a is arranged to be separated from the horizontal seating portion 8a by a predetermined distance L1 on the secondary side. Also, on the upper part of the contact surface 21, a guide inclined surface 22 that inclines upward toward the secondary side is extended in the front-rear direction, and the descending plug 4 can be guided toward the horizontal seating portion 8a side.

[0030] The upper surface of the main portion 5 is open, and a flange 3e protruding in the outer diameter direction is formed at the periphery of the opening. Below the flange 3e on the inner peripheral surface, a seal seating portion 26 that abuts in a sealed manner along the outer peripheral surface of a lid portion 42 of the plug 4 described later is provided. Specifically, the seal seating portion 26 is formed of a steel material welded and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the main portion 5, and is attached annularly over the circumferential direction to the inner peripheral surface of the main portion 5. In addition, the contact surface of the seal seating portion 26 is an inclined surface that gradually inclines toward the inner diameter side downward.

[0031] Also, a plurality of cylindrical portions 27 protruding outward in the outer diameter direction are formed in the circumferential direction above the seal seat portion 26 at the lower part of the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 5. A screw hole (not shown) is formed inside each cylindrical portion 27, and a fixing pin 28 is screwed in a sealed manner in the radial direction into the screw hole. The fixing pin 28 can be rotated around the axis by a tool or the like from the outside of the cylindrical portion 27, and the plug 4 can be inserted by retracting the tip of the fixing pin 28 into the cylindrical portion 27 (see FIG. 3), or the tip of the fixing pin 28 can be made to protrude into the main body portion 5 and abut against the upper surface of the lid portion 42 so that the plug 4 can be fixed (see FIG. 9(a)). Incidentally, the tip of the fixing pin 28 is formed in a tapered shape that tapers toward the inner diameter side. Further, a plurality of stoppers 29 for preventing the lid portion 42 from falling are provided protruding in the circumferential direction at a position near the lower side of the seal seat portion 26 on the inner peripheral surface of the main body portion 5.

[0032] [Plug] As shown in FIGS. 5(a) to 5(c), the plug 4 mainly includes a plate-shaped partition wall portion 41 formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape in side view and arranged to partition the inside of the main body portion 5, and a disk-shaped lid portion 42 fixed substantially horizontally to the upper part of the partition wall portion 41 and closing the upper surface opening of the main body portion 5. Further, a packing 43 is provided in a concave groove 41c (see FIG. 9(b)) extending across the lower end surface 41a and the side end surfaces 41b, 41b of the partition wall portion 41, and a packing 44 is fitted in a concave groove 42c (see FIG. 9(a)) extending in the circumferential direction on the circumferential end surface 42f of the lid portion 42. These packings 43 and 44 are integrated so as to be continuous and extend along the end surfaces of the plug 4 (the lower end surface 41a of the partition wall portion 41, the side end surfaces 41b, 41b, and the circumferential end surface 42f of the lid portion 42).

[0033] The front-rear dimension of the partition wall portion 41 and the diameter dimension of the lid portion 42 are formed in accordance with the inner diameter dimension of the housing 3. When installed inside the housing 3, the inside of the main body portion 5 is partitioned left and right by the partition wall portion 41, and the upper opening of the housing 3 is closed by the lid portion 42.

[0034] The cover portion 42 is composed of an annular member 42d having a small-diameter portion 42a and a large-diameter portion 42b below the small-diameter portion 42a, and a cover plate 42e that closes the opening of the annular member 42d. Further, a plurality of screw holes 46 are formed in the upper surface of the annular member 42d in the circumferential direction.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 5(b), on the left and right side surfaces of the partition wall portion 41, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 45 extending in the vertical direction are fixed at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction. Each rib 45 is fixed to the partition wall portion 41 and the cover portion 42 by welding. Further, the vertical dimension of each rib 45 is shorter than the vertical dimension of the partition wall portion 41, and the lower end of each rib 45 is located slightly above the lower end portion of the partition wall portion 41, so that the rib 45 on the right side surface of the partition wall portion 41 does not contact the regulating portion 20 when installed inside the housing 3 (see Fig. 9(b)).

[0036] [Plug Insertion Process] Next, based on Figs. 6 to 10, the process of inserting the plug 4 into the housing 3 in a non-stop flow state will be described. In Figs. 9(a), (b) and Figs. 10(a), (b), a plurality of horizontal short lines indicating the fluid are shown in the region filled with the fluid, and in Figs. 6 to 8, the illustration of the horizontal short lines in the region filled with the fluid is omitted.

[0037] First, as shown in Fig. 6, after attaching the housing 3 to the fluid pipe 2, the partition valve device 50 is hermetically connected to the upper end opening of the main body portion 5. The partition valve device 50 includes a cylindrical valve box 50a penetrating in the vertical direction, a valve lid 50b formed to protrude rightward with respect to the valve box 50a and connected to the valve box 50a through a communication port (not shown) formed on the inner peripheral surface, a valve body 50c provided so as to be movable substantially horizontally between the valve box 50a and the valve lid 50b, and a concave groove portion 50d (see Fig. 8(a)) serving as a valve seat for receiving the valve body 50c. The concave groove portion 50d is configured such that the valve body 50c can be hermetically contacted via a seal member (not shown).

[0038] On the peripheral edges of the upper and lower openings of the valve box 50a, flanges 50e and 50f protruding in the outer diameter direction are formed. By fastening the lower flange 50e to the flange 3e of the main body 5 with a plurality of fastening members 91 composed of bolts and nuts arranged in the circumferential direction, the valve box 50a is hermetically connected to the upper opening end (opening) of the main body 5 via a sealing member (not shown). Further, at the tip of the valve cover 50b, the end of a valve rod 50h screwed with a valve body 50c inside the valve cover 50b protrudes, and an operation handle 50g is provided at the end of this valve rod 50h. By rotating the operation handle 50g to move the valve body 50c between the valve box 50a and the valve cover 50b, the inside of the housing 3 can be opened and closed.

[0039] Next, a cutting device 70 is hermetically connected to the upper opening end of the valve box 50a. The cutting device 70 mainly consists of a mounting flange cylinder 71, a cutter 72 for cutting the fluid pipe 2, a drive motor 74 for rotating the cutter 72 inside the mounting flange cylinder 71, and a feed mechanism 73 for advancing and retracting the cutter 72 in the vertical direction. The cutter 72 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the fluid pipe 2, and includes a hole saw 72a provided with a cutting edge along the circumferential direction at its lower end, and a center drill 72b disposed coaxially with the rotation axis 72c of the hole saw 72a and protruding beyond the cutting edge. Incidentally, the cutter 72 is arranged concentrically with the upper opening end of the main body 5 of the housing 3, is inserted into the main body 5 from the upper opening end, and can advance to at least a position penetrating the pipe wall of the fluid pipe 2.

[0040] On the peripheral edge of the lower opening of the mounting flange cylinder 71, a flange 71a protruding in the outer diameter direction is formed. By fastening the flange 71a to the flange 50f of the partition valve device 50 with a plurality of fastening members composed of bolts and nuts (not shown) arranged in the circumferential direction, the cutting device 70 is hermetically connected to the upper opening end of the valve box 50a via a sealing member (not shown).

[0041] Next, the drive motor 74 of the cutting device 70 rotates the cutter 72 around the rotary shaft 72c, and the cutter 72 is advanced downward by the advancing and retracting mechanism 73 to cut the fluid pipe 2 in a non-stop flow state.

[0042] When the fluid pipe 2 is cut by the cutter 72, a section (not shown) separated between the end portions 2H and 2T (see FIG. 7) of the fluid pipe 2 is held in the hole saw 72a. Then, the cutter 72 is drawn into the inside of the mounting flange cylinder 71 together with the section (not shown) by the advancing and retracting mechanism 73, and the valve body 50c of the partition valve device 50 is moved to the concave groove portion 50d side to close the inside of the housing 3.

[0043] Foreign substances such as chips generated by cutting are partially discharged by hydraulic pressure together with the in-pipe fluid from a drain port (not shown) provided at the lower part of the housing 3, while the rest gradually sink by gravity over time and fall onto the bottom 7 of the housing 3 and stay there. The foreign substances staying at the bottom 7 of the housing 3 in this way are discharged to the outside by a discharge device (not shown) attached to the valve box 50a after removing the mounting flange cylinder 71 from the valve box 50a and removing the cutting device 70.

[0044] Next, a plug installation step of installing the plug 4 as a fluid control body in the housing 3 is performed. As shown in FIG. 7, first, the flange 50f above the valve box 50a and the flange portion 90c of the cylindrical member 90a of the insertion device 90 are connected by bolts and nuts (not shown) to connect the valve box 50a and the cylindrical member 90a in a sealed manner.

[0045] Next, connect the hole (not shown) formed in the upper part of the housing 3 and the hole 92 formed in the lower part of the cylindrical member 90a with a connecting pipe (not shown) to communicate the inside of the housing 3 and the inside of the cylindrical member 90a. While venting air from the air vent valve (not shown) provided in the upper part of the cylindrical member 90a, fill the housing 3 with fluid. After applying a water pressure substantially the same as that in the fluid pipe 2 to the inside of the cylindrical member 90a to check for water leakage, confirm that the air inside the cylindrical member 90a has escaped and close the air vent valve (not shown). Then, with the inside of the housing 3 and the inside of the cylindrical member 90a at substantially the same pressure, open the valve body 50c and operate the drive mechanism 90b of the insertion device 90 to lower the plug 4.

[0046] After the plug 4 enters the inside of the housing 3, as shown in Fig. 8(a), when the lower end of the partition wall portion 41 of the plug 4 reaches the guide portions 14a and 14b, the front and rear sides of the partition wall portion 41 are inserted between the guide portions 14a and 14b. Here, when the plug 4 is inserted by the insertion device 90, even if the plug 4 is displaced to the left and right while descending, or the partition wall portion 41 is pressed toward the secondary side (the right side in Fig. 8) by the fluid flowing inside the fluid pipe 2, the guide inclined surface 14c formed at the upper part of the guide portions 14a and 14b allows the partition wall portion 41 to be smoothly inserted between the guide portions 14a and 14b.

[0047] Then, as shown in Fig. 8(b), when the packing 43 at the lower end of the partition wall portion 41 is crimped to the horizontal seat portion 8a, the front and rear packings 43, 43 are crimped to the vertical seat portions 8b, 8b, and the packing 44 of the lid portion 42 is crimped to the inner peripheral surface of the seal seat portion 26. In this way, when the plug 4 is installed at a predetermined installation position, the upper opening of the housing 3 is hermetically closed by the lid portion 42, and the end portions 2H and 2T of the fluid pipe 2 are partitioned inside the housing 3 by the partition wall portion 41 to stop the water flow.

[0048] Further, since the separation dimension L2 between the guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, and 15b is longer than the plate thickness dimension L3 of the partition wall portion 41 of the plug 4 described later, as shown in FIG. 8(c), when the partition wall portion 41 descending between the guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, and 15b is displaced, for example, to the secondary side (right side) for the above-described reason, the lower end portion of the partition wall portion 41 is smoothly guided downward toward the lateral seat portion 8a by the inclined guide inclined surface 22 formed on the upper portion of the restricting portion 20. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the restricting portion 20 from inhibiting downward movement.

[0049] After the plug 4 is installed at a predetermined installation position, as shown in FIG. 9(a), a plurality of fixing pins 28 arranged in the circumferential direction of the main portion 5 are advanced to the inner diameter side of the main portion 5 and brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion 42a of the lid portion 42. Thereby, since the upward movement of the lid portion 42 is restricted by the large-diameter portion 42b below the small-diameter portion 42a being locked by the fixing pins 28 and is held at a predetermined installation position, the plug 4 is prevented from deviating from the housing 3.

[0050] Thereafter, an air vent valve (not shown) provided in the cylindrical member 90a is opened, it is confirmed whether the packings 43 and 44 of the plug 4 can stop water, and the insertion device 90 and the partition valve device 50 are removed from the housing 3.

[0051] Further, an annular liner 60 is placed on the upper surface of the lid portion 42, and a plurality of bolts 61 attached to the liner 60 are screwed into and fixed to a plurality of screw holes 46 formed on the upper surface of the lid portion 42. Incidentally, the plug 4 may be inserted into the housing 3 in a state where the liner 60 is integrally attached to the upper portion of the lid portion 42 in advance.

[0052] Then, the main body lid 30 is placed on the upper portion of the housing 3 from above the lid portion 42, and the flange 3e of the main portion 5 and the main body lid 30 are fastened by a plurality of fastening members 95 composed of bolts and nuts to be connected in a sealed manner, thereby completing the installation of the plug 4. Further, in a state where the plug 4 is installed, the upper surface 60a of the liner 60 abuts against the lower surface 30a of the main body lid 30, and the lid portion 42 is held substantially parallel to the pipe axis.

[0053] Further, as shown in Fig. 9(a), in a state where the partition wall portion 41 is installed at the installation position and the packing 43 is pressed against the seat portion 8, the lower end surface 41a and the side end surfaces 41b, 41b of the partition wall portion 41 face the contact surface 8c of the seat portion 8. Thus, as shown in Fig. 9(b), the restricted portion 41d at the lower part of the right side surface of the partition wall portion 41 is separated from the contact surface 21 of the restricting portion 20 by a predetermined distance L1.

[0054] By installing the plug 4 so as to partition the inside of the housing 3, the fluid is divided into the primary side and the secondary side of the plug 4, and the specific area E becomes a water cut state. Here, by allowing the fluid on the primary side of the plug 4 inside the housing 3 to flow out from the communication port 13a to the bypass pipe 9, it is possible to perform operations such as removal and repair of the fluid pipe 2 in the specific area E while keeping the fluid pipe 2 in a non-stop flow state.

[0055] Also, as shown in Fig. 10(a), when the fluid on the secondary side of the partition wall portion 41 inside the housing 3 is discharged to the outside from a drain port (not shown), a load due to the fluid pressure from the primary side (white arrow in the figure) is applied to the plug 4, and the partition wall portion 41 is pressed toward the secondary side.

[0056] The upper lid portion 42 is supported by the packing 44 on the outer periphery being circumferentially pressed against the seal seat portion 26 of the main portion 5, but the lower end portion of the partition wall portion 41 is not supported and is a free end. Incidentally, the stopper 29 is disposed away from the lid portion 42 downward.

[0057] Therefore, when the partition wall portion 41 is pressed toward the secondary side, the plug 4 tilts slightly counterclockwise in a front view so that the primary side (left side) of the lid portion 42 supported by the main portion 5 descends, and the partition wall portion 41 may move toward the secondary side so that the lower end portion of the partition wall portion 41 tilts more toward the secondary side than the upper end portion (see the black arrow in Fig. 10(a)).

[0058] When the lower end of the partition wall portion 41 moves to the secondary side, as shown in FIG. 10(b), the restricted portion 41d of the partition wall portion 41 abuts against the contact surface 21 of the restricting portion 20, and the lower end of the partition wall portion 41 is supported by the restricting portion 20 on the right side, thereby restricting the movement of the lower end of the partition wall portion 41 to the secondary side. Further, the lid portion 42 is restricted from moving upward by the main body lid 30 fixed to the housing 3 via the liner 60 fixed to the upper portion, so that the counterclockwise rotation of the plug 4 when viewed from the front is restricted. Therefore, the movement of the lower end of the partition wall portion 41 to the secondary side is restricted. And in the state where the restricted portion 41d of the partition wall portion 41 abuts against the contact surface 21 of the restricting portion 20, the packing 43 maintains the contact state without deviating from the horizontal seating portion 8a and the vertical seating portions 8b, 8b, thus preventing a decrease in sealing performance.

[0059] Further, since the restricted portion 41d of the partition wall portion 41 is provided on the secondary side of the flow path from the packing 43, when the lower end of the partition wall portion 41 moves to the secondary side or in the state where the movement is restricted by the restricting portion 20, the packing 43 does not intervene between the restricted portion 41d of the partition wall portion 41 and the contact surface 21 of the restricting portion 20. The packing 43 only slides or elastically deforms on the contact surface 8c of the seating portion 8 and does not deform beyond the elastic limit such as being crushed between the restricted portion 41d and the contact surface 21. Therefore, the movement restriction does not affect the sealing performance of the packing 43.

[0060] In addition, in this embodiment, the form in which the plug 4 as the fluid control member is installed in the housing 3 in a non-stop flow state is exemplified, but it may be installed in the housing 3 in a water cut-off state.

[0061] [Function and Effect] As described above, in the flow control device 1 as an embodiment of the present invention, there are provided a housing 3 that is sealingly attached to the fluid pipe 2, and a plug 4 as a fluid control body that is inserted into a cut portion (between the end portions 2H and 2T) of the fluid pipe 2 inside the housing 3. The plug 4 has a partition wall portion 41 as a flow control portion that is disposed so as to partition the inside of the housing 3, and a packing 43 as a sealing material that extends along the lower end surface 41a and the side end surfaces 41b, 41b of the partition wall portion 41. The housing 3 has a seat portion 8 with which the packing 43 of the partition wall portion 41 abuts, and a restricting portion 20 that restricts the movement of the partition wall portion 41 to the secondary side of the flow path. The contact surface 21 of the restricting portion 20 is provided so as to be able to abut against a restricted portion 41d on the secondary side of the flow path rather than the packing 43 at the lower end portion (insertion side end portion) of the partition wall portion 41.

[0062] According to this, when the partition wall portion 41 is pressed toward the secondary side by the load of the fluid pressure from the primary side of the flow path, the restricted portion 41d on the secondary side rather than the packing 43 in the partition wall portion 41 abuts against the contact surface 21 of the restricting portion 20, so that the packing 43 does not intervene between the contact surface 21 of the restricting portion 20 and the restricted portion 41d. That is, when restricting the movement of the partition wall portion 41 to the secondary side, the packing 43 is not affected, so that the movement of the partition wall portion 41 to the secondary side can be restricted without reducing the sealing performance by the packing 43.

[0063] Further, since the restricting portion 20 abuts against and is supported at a predetermined position on the inner peripheral surface of the main portion 5 of the housing 3 on the secondary side of the flow path rather than the seat portion 8 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), the load applied to the restricting portion 20 can be dispersed to the housing 3, so that breakage or displacement of the restricting portion 20 can be prevented.

[0064] Further, since the main body portion 20a of the restricting portion 20 is provided at a position away from the seat portion 8 to the secondary side of the flow path (see FIG. 3), while avoiding the contact between the restricted portion 41d and the restricting portion 20 when inserting the plug 4, when the partition wall portion 41 is pressed to the secondary side, the restricting portion 20 can abut against the restricted portion 41d to restrict the movement, so that leakage due to damage to the plug 4 or the restricting portion 20 can be prevented.

[0065] Further, the main body portion 20a of the restricting portion 20 is provided at a position away from the restricted portion 41d of the partition wall portion 41 to the secondary side of the flow path (see FIG. 9(b)). Thus, when the plug 4 is inserted, the restricting portion 20 does not interfere, and when a load due to the fluid pressure from the primary side of the flow path is applied to the plug 4, the movement of the plug 4 can be restricted.

[0066] Also, the seat portion 8 extends in the front-rear direction intersecting the tube axis of the fluid tube 2 on at least the upper surface (bottom surface) of the bottom portion 7 of the housing 3. The restricting portion 20 is supported on the upper surface of the bottom portion 7 of the housing 3 on the secondary side of the flow path rather than the seat portion 8. Thus, the restricting portion 20 can be provided on the upper surface of the bottom portion 7 that does not affect the insertion of the partition wall portion 41. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the partition wall portion 41 and the packing 43 from coming into contact with the restricting portion 20 and being damaged. Further, when the partition wall portion 41 comes into contact with the restricting portion 20, tilting of the partition wall portion 41 can be prevented, so that damage to the seat portion 8 due to tilting of the partition wall portion 41 can be avoided. Furthermore, by providing the restricting portion 20 on the bottom portion 7, the bottom portion 7 is reinforced, so that ribs 47 or the like provided on the lower surface of the bottom portion 7 can be reduced.

[0067] Also, the restricting portion 20 is composed of a main body portion 20a extending along the seat portion 8 and a support portion 20b extending from the main body portion 20a toward the secondary side of the flow path. Thus, the lower end portion of the partition wall portion 41 can be restricted in the width direction by the main body portion 20a, and the supporting force against the pressing force to the secondary side can be increased by the support portion 20b.

[0068] Also, a guide inclined surface 22 for guiding the partition wall portion 41 toward the seat portion 8 in the insertion direction is formed on the restricting portion 20. Thus, even when the partition wall portion 41 approaches the restricting portion 20 side by water flow when the plug 4 is inserted, it can be smoothly guided to the seat portion 8 side.

[0069] In addition, vertical seating portions 8b, 8b (predetermined seating portions) against which packings 43 abutting along side end faces 41b, 41b of the partition wall portion 41 contact are extended toward the insertion direction of the plug 4 on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 5a of the housing 3, and guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b for guiding the side end faces 41b, 41b of the partition wall portion 41 in the insertion direction are provided in the vicinity of the vertical seating portions 8b, 8b, whereby the partition wall portion 41 can be guided toward the seating portion 8.

[0070] Also, in a state where the partition wall portion 41 abuts against the restricting portion 20, since the partition wall portion 41 is separated from the guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b, even if the partition wall portion 41 is pressed to the secondary side and abuts against the restricting portion 20, it does not contact the guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b, so that damage to the guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b can be avoided.

[0071] 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.

[0072] For example, in the above embodiment, as an example of a fluid control member capable of controlling the flow of fluid, a form in which a plug 4 (stop valve) is applied is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the fluid control member may be a valve body such as a partition valve, a switching valve, or a butterfly valve capable of opening and closing a flow path. Further, the partition valve may have a partition wall portion 41, or may be provided with a valve body capable of switching a flow path in the partition wall portion 41. Further, the partition wall portion 41 is not limited to a flat plate shape, and may be a curved shape.

[0073] Also, in the above embodiment, the restricting portion 20 is made of steel, but the material is arbitrary and may be made of other materials such as stainless steel or synthetic resin. Further, the restricting portion 20 is fixed to the housing 3 by welding W, but may be fixed by bolts or the like, or may be integrally formed with the housing 3.

[0074] In addition, in the above embodiment, the restricting portion 20 is exemplified as being formed in a substantially T-shape in plan view by the main body portion 20a and the support portion 20b. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it may be formed like the restricting portions 120 to 122 as modified examples shown in FIGS. 11(a), (b) and FIGS. 12(a), (b), and the shape and size can be arbitrarily changed. In the modified examples of FIGS. 11 to 13, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations and parts as in the above embodiment, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0075] Specifically, the restricting portion 20 in the above embodiment was formed in a substantially T-shape in plan view by the main body portion 20a and the support portion 20b. However, like the restricting portion 120 as a modified example shown in FIG. 11(a), a plurality of support portions 20b, 20b, 20b may extend from a plurality of locations in the front-rear direction of the main body portion 20a toward the right side. By doing so, the load applied to the main body portion 20a is dispersed among the plurality of support portions 20b, 20b, 20b, so that damage to the restricting portion 20 can be prevented.

[0076] Also, like the restricting portion 121 as a modified example shown in FIG. 11(b), the support portions 20b, 20b may extend from the front and rear ends of the main body portion 20a toward the right side, so that it may be formed in a substantially U-shape in plan view.

[0077] In addition, in the above embodiment, one restricting portion 20 formed in a substantially T-shape in plan view by the main body portion 20a and the support portion 20b was provided. However, like the modified example shown in FIG. 12(a), a plurality of restricting portions 122, 122 each composed of the main body portion 20a and the support portion 20b may be provided at a plurality of locations, or like the modified example shown in FIG. 12(b), a plurality of columnar restricting portions 123, 123 each composed only of the support portion may be provided at a plurality of locations. Although not particularly shown, it may be provided at three or more locations.

[0078] Also, when a butterfly valve (not shown) is applied as the control fluid, as shown in FIG. 12(b), when a circular portion 108 or the like for receiving a bearing portion for rotatably supporting a valve body (not shown) is provided at a substantially central position in the front-rear direction of the lateral seat portion 8a, the restricting portions 123, 123 can be disposed on the front and rear sides thereof while avoiding the circular portion 108.

[0079] In addition, in the above-described embodiments and modified examples, the form in which the restricting portions 20 and 120 to 123 project from the upper surface of the bottom portion 7 of the housing 3 is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. As shown in FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b), when a concave groove 130 is formed in the lower surface of the bottom portion 7 of the housing 3 and the bottom surface of the concave groove 130 is the horizontal seating portion 8a, the vertical wall portion on the right side of the horizontal seating portion 8a in the concave groove 130 may be the restricting portion 125, and the inner surface of the restricting portion 125 may be the abutting surface 126 that can abut against the portion to be restricted 41d. That is, the restricting portion may be provided by using a part of the bottom portion 7.

[0080] In the above-described embodiment, the form in which the restricting portion 20 is fixed to the upper surface of the bottom portion 7 is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The restricting portion 20 may be fixed to a portion other than the bottom portion 7, such as the inner peripheral surface of the main portion 5. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b), restricting portions 127 and 127 as modified examples may project from the front and rear sides of the inner peripheral surface of the main portion 5 and may be provided so as to be able to abut against the front and rear sides of the partition wall portion 41.

[0081] In the above-described embodiment, guide inclined surfaces 14c and 15c that are inclined upward and toward the left and right sides are formed on the upper portions of the guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, and 15b, so that the plug 4 descending can be smoothly guided between the left and right guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, and 15b. However, as shown in FIG. 15, by chamfering the corners of the lower end surface and the front and rear surfaces of the partition wall portion 41 of the plug 4 to form guide inclined surfaces 41e and 41e, the partition wall portion 41 of the plug 4 can be more smoothly guided between the left and right guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, and 15b. Note that such a guide inclined surface may be provided on either one of the guide portions 14a, 14b, 15a, and 15b and the partition wall portion 41 of the plug 4, or may be provided on both of them.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0082] 1 Flow control device 2 Fluid pipe 3 Housing 4 Plug (fluid control) 5 Main part 5a Peripheral wall 7 Bottom (bottom surface) 8 Seating part 8a Horizontal seating part 8b Vertical seating part 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b Guide parts 14c, 15c Guide inclined surfaces 20 Regulation part 20a Main body part 20b Support part 21 Contact surface 22 Guide inclined surface 30 Main body cover 41 Partition wall part (flow control part) 41a Lower end surface (end face) 41b Side end surface (end face) 41d Part to be regulated 42 Cover part 42f Peripheral end surface 43, 44 Packing (sealing material) 50 Partition valve device 60 Liner 70 Cutting device 90 Insertion device 120 - 123, 127 Regulation part 126 Contact surface

Claims

1. A flow control device comprising a housing hermetically attached to a fluid pipe and a flow control fluid inserted into a cut portion of the fluid pipe inside the housing, wherein the flow control fluid has a flow control portion disposed so as to partition the inside of the housing and a sealing material extending along an end face of the flow control portion, the housing has a seat portion against which the sealing material of the flow control portion abuts and a restricting portion that restricts movement of the flow control portion to the secondary side of the flow path, and the restricting portion is provided so as to be able to abut against a portion to be restricted on the secondary side of the flow path relative to the sealing material at the insertion-side end of the flow control portion. The flow control device is characterized by this.

2. The flow control device according to claim 1, wherein the restricting portion is supported by a peripheral wall of the housing on the secondary side of the flow path relative to the seat portion.

3. The flow control device according to claim 1, wherein the restricting portion is provided at a position separated from the seat portion toward the secondary side of the flow path.

4. The flow control device according to claim 1, wherein the restricting portion is provided at a position separated from the portion to be restricted of the flow control portion toward the secondary side of the flow path.

5. The flow control device according to claim 1, wherein the restricting portion is supported by a bottom surface of the housing on the secondary side of the flow path relative to the seat portion.

6. The flow control device according to claim 1, wherein the restricting portion is composed of a main body portion extending along the seat portion and a support portion extending from the main body portion toward the secondary side of the flow path.

7. The flow control device according to claim 1, wherein a guide inclined surface for guiding the flow control portion toward the seat portion in the insertion direction is formed in the restricting portion.

Images