Expandable joint

Abstract

To provide an expandable joint capable of easily laying pipes having adiabaticity.SOLUTION: An expansible joint 10 comprises a rubber ring socket member 12 to which a spigot of a first pipe member is connected in an expandable manner, and a spigot member 14 having adiabaticity. The spigot member comprises an enlarged diameter socket part 30 that receives the rubber ring socket member, a spigot part 32 connected to a socket of a second pipe member, and a coupling part 34 that couples the enlarged diameter socket part and the spigot part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an expansion joint, and more particularly to an expansion joint to which, for example, a spigot of another pipe member is connected in an expandable manner. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of a conventional expansion joint is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The expansion joint disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a rubber ring receptacle at one end to which a spigot of another pipe member (first pipe member) is connectable in an expandable manner, and a spigot at the other end to which a spigot of a socket or the like (second pipe member) is connectable, and is used in piping for carrying drainage water from air conditioning equipment, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-55471 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The conventional expansion joint disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not itself have thermal insulation properties. Here, it is possible to ensure thermal insulation at the rubber ring receptacle by connecting a straight pipe (insulated pipe) with thermal insulation properties. However, other parts (mainly the spigot part) to which the insulated pipe is not connected remain insufficiently insulated, and condensation occurs when cold running water such as drainage water comes into contact with them. It is possible to address the insufficiently insulated parts of the piping by covering them with an external thermal insulation material (thermal insulation cover), but this is time-consuming and inconvenient to install.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel expansion joint.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide an expansion joint that allows easy installation of thermally insulating piping. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The first invention is an expansion joint that connects a first pipe member and a second pipe member, and includes a rubber ring receptacle member to which the spigot of the first pipe member is connected in an expandable manner, and an insulating spigot member, the spigot member including an expanded diameter receptacle portion that receives the rubber ring receptacle member, a spigot portion that connects to the spigot of the second pipe member, and a connecting portion that connects the expanded diameter receptacle portion and the spigot portion.

[0008] In a first aspect of the invention, the expansion joint connects a first pipe member and a second pipe member, and includes a rubber ring receptacle member to which the spigot of the first pipe member is connected so as to be expandable and contractible, and a thermally insulating spigot member. The spigot member has an expanded diameter receptacle portion that receives the rubber ring receptacle member, and by connecting the rubber ring receptacle member to this expanded diameter receptacle portion, the rubber ring receptacle member and the spigot member are integrated. The spigot member also has a spigot portion that connects to the receptacle of the second pipe member, and a connecting portion that connects the expanded diameter receptacle portion and the spigot portion.

[0009] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the expansion joint is provided with a spigot member having thermal insulation properties, so that the expansion joint can be insulated without using an external heat-retaining member. This allows for easy installation of thermally insulated piping, and the occurrence of condensation can be appropriately prevented.

[0010] A second invention is dependent on the first invention, and the connecting portion is formed in a tapered shape that decreases in diameter from the enlarged diameter socket portion toward the spigot portion.

[0011] According to the second aspect of the present invention, wastewater can be made to flow smoothly along the inner circumferential surface of the connecting portion.

[0012] The third invention is dependent on the first or second invention, and the spigot portion has a support member mounting portion at the end on the connecting portion side that protrudes from the receiving port of the second pipe member and has an outer diameter the same as the outer diameter of the first pipe member.

[0013] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the same support member that supports and fixes the first pipe member can be used as the support member that supports and fixes the expansion joint. Furthermore, since the external dimensions of the support member mounting section are more compact than those of conventional expansion joints, interference with other piping and equipment within the narrow pipe shaft is reduced, making it easier to perform maintenance and repairs on the expansion joint and surrounding piping and equipment.

[0014] A fourth invention is according to the third invention, wherein the support member attachment portion has an axial length equal to the axial length of the pipe clamping portion of the support member.

[0015] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the pipe clamping portion of the support member can be clamped and fixed between the lower end of the expanded diameter receiving port portion and the upper end of the second pipe member, so that the expansion joint can be more reliably restrained in the axial direction.

[0016] A fifth invention is according to the first or second invention, wherein the spigot has an inner diameter equal to an inner diameter of a stopper formed on the second pipe member for engaging the tip of the spigot.

[0017] According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the inner circumferential surface of the spigot portion and the inner circumferential surface of the stopper are smoothly continuous, thereby preventing noise generation and a decrease in water flow performance. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, piping having thermal insulation properties can be easily installed, and condensation can be appropriately prevented.

[0019] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a view showing a vertical drainage piping system using an expansion joint according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an expansion joint piping portion of the drainage vertical piping of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the expansion joint. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an expansion joint. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a rubber ring receiving member provided in the expansion joint. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a spigot member provided in the expansion joint. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an expansion joint according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an expansion joint according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a front view showing an expansion joint according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a left side view showing the expansion joint of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the expansion joint taken along line XI-XI in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a horizontal drainage pipe installed using the expansion joint of FIG. 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] 1 and 2, an expansion joint 10, one embodiment of the present invention, is incorporated into piping that requires thermal insulation and is used in buildings 120 such as office buildings, commercial buildings, schools, hospitals, and apartment complexes. As will be described in detail below, the expansion joint 10 includes a rubber ring socket member 12 and a spigot member 14, and the spigot of another pipe member is connected to the rubber ring socket member 12 in an expandable manner, thereby providing elasticity to the piping. Furthermore, the spigot member 14 ensures the thermal insulation of the expansion joint 10 (and therefore the piping).

[0022] There are no particular limitations on the use or nominal diameter of the piping installed using the expansion joint 10, but the expansion joint 10 is suitable for use in drainage piping for carrying air conditioning drainage, domestic wastewater, etc. The nominal diameter of the piping formed using the expansion joint 10 is, for example, 40 mm to 150 mm. The following description will be given taking as an example an expansion joint 10 incorporated into a drainage vertical piping 100 with a nominal diameter of 50 mm, for carrying drainage from air conditioning equipment.

[0023] 1 and 2, the drainage standpipe 100 is laid by penetrating a floor slab 124 so as to follow a wall surface 122 of a building 120. In the drainage standpipe 100 of this embodiment, an upstream standpipe 102, which is an example of a first pipe member, is connected to the upstream end of the expansion joint 10, and a downstream standpipe 104, which is an example of a second pipe member, is connected to the downstream end of the expansion joint 10 via a socket 106, which is an example of a second pipe member.

[0024] The upstream standpipe 102 and the downstream standpipe 104 are each a straight pipe (insulated pipe) made of a thermally insulating synthetic resin. In this embodiment, the upstream standpipe 102 and the downstream standpipe 104 are three-layer pipes, each having an inner layer and an outer layer made of a non-foaming resin, with an insulating layer made of a foaming resin as an intermediate layer. The type of synthetic resin (non-foaming resin and foaming resin) used to form the upstream standpipe 102 and the downstream standpipe 104 is not particularly limited, but polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) can be used. In this embodiment, the inner and outer layers of the upstream standpipe 102 and the downstream standpipe 104 are made of rigid polyvinyl chloride, and the insulating layer (intermediate layer) is made of polyvinyl chloride foam. The outer diameter of the upstream standpipe 102 and the downstream standpipe 104 is, for example, 76 mm, and the inner diameter of each is, for example, 57 mm.

[0025] The socket 106 is a pipe fitting made of synthetic resin and has sockets 106a at both ends. A circular stopper 106b is formed in the center of the inner circumferential surface of the socket 106 to lock the tip of the spigot inserted into the socket 106a. The type of synthetic resin from which the socket 106 is made is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the socket 106 is made of hard polyvinyl chloride. The inner diameter of the socket 106 is set to the same size as the outer diameters of the upstream standpipe 102 and the downstream standpipe 104, e.g., 76 mm. The inner diameter of the stopper 106b is set to the same size as the inner diameters of the upstream standpipe 102 and the downstream standpipe 104, e.g., 57 mm.

[0026] Furthermore, the drainage standpipe 100 is supported and fixed to a wall surface 122 of the building 120 by support members 108, 110 and the like. The support members 108, 110 include a support member 108 that supports and fixes the expansion joint 10, and a support member 110 that supports and fixes the standpipes 102, 104. The support members 108, 110 are made of, for example, metal, and have ring-shaped pipe clamping portions 108a, 110a that clamp the outer circumferential surfaces of the expansion joint 10 or the standpipes 102, 104.

[0027] 1 and 2 as well as 3 and 4, the expansion joint 10 is configured by combining and integrating a rubber ring receptacle member 12 and a spigot member 14. The rubber ring receptacle member 12 is a member to which the lower end (spigot) of the upstream standpipe 102, an example of a first pipe member, is expandable and contractible, thereby providing elasticity to the drainage standpipe 100. The spigot member 14 is a member that is connected to the receptacle 106a of the socket 106, an example of a second pipe member, and is a member that provides thermal insulation to the expansion joint 10.

[0028] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the rubber ring receiving member 12 includes a cylindrical receiving body 20 made of synthetic resin. The type of synthetic resin from which the receiving body 20 is made is not particularly limited, but PVC, ABS, etc. can be used. In this embodiment, the receiving body 20 is made of rigid polyvinyl chloride. The inner diameter of the receiving body 20 is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the upstream standpipe 102, for example, 78 mm.

[0029] An annular rubber ring groove 22 extending circumferentially is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tip (upper end) of the receiving mouth body 20. In this embodiment, the rubber ring groove 22 is formed in an expanded diameter portion 24 formed at the tip of the receiving mouth body 20. Specifically, the rubber ring groove 22 is formed by a short cylindrical base wall portion parallel to the pipe axis and annular plate-shaped side wall portions (front side wall portion and rear side wall portion) extending radially (perpendicular to the pipe axis direction) from both ends of the base wall portion in the pipe axis direction.

[0030] A waterproof rubber ring 26 (also called a seal ring) is fitted into the rubber ring groove 22. The rubber ring 26 is made of a rubber material such as ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) or chloroprene rubber (CR), and in this embodiment, a lipped rubber ring 26 is used. That is, the rubber ring 26 comprises a rubber ring body and a lip portion protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the rubber ring body. The rubber ring body is the portion housed in the rubber ring groove 22 and closely contacts the base wall, and is formed in a short cylindrical (ring-like) shape. On the other hand, the lip portion is the portion that closely contacts the outer peripheral surface of the spigot, and is formed in a truncated conical cylindrical shape whose diameter gradually decreases from its base end side (the front side of the socket) to its protruding end side (the back side of the socket). However, the shape of the rubber ring 26 is not particularly limited.

[0031] Additionally, it is preferable to form a space-forming portion on the inner peripheral surface of the receptacle body 20, which provides an escape space for the lip portion of the rubber ring 26. The space-forming portion forms an escape space that communicates with the internal space of the rubber ring groove 22, and is formed contiguous with the inner surface of the rear wall portion of the rubber ring groove 22. The inner peripheral surface of this space-forming portion is preferably formed as an R-shaped (curved) surface that smoothly connects the inner surface of the rear wall portion to the inner peripheral surface of the receptacle body 20 on the rear side of the space-forming portion. By including such a space-forming portion in the rubber ring receptacle member 12, even if the lip portion is stretched when a spigot is inserted obliquely into the rubber ring receptacle member 12, the stretched lip portion can enter (escape from) the escape space formed by the space-forming portion. This prevents the lip portion from becoming pinched, and appropriately prevents damage to the rubber ring 26.

[0032] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 6, the spigot 14 is a cylindrical pipe made of synthetic resin and has thermal insulation properties similar to those of the upstream standpipe 102 and downstream standpipe 104. In this embodiment, the pipe wall of the spigot 14 has a three-layer structure: an inner layer 14a and an outer layer 14b made of foamed resin, and an insulating layer 14c made of foamed resin as an intermediate layer. The type of synthetic resin (non-foamed resin and foamed resin) used to form the spigot 14 is not particularly limited, but PVC, ABS, and the like can be used. In this embodiment, the inner layer 14a and the outer layer 14b of the spigot 14 are made of rigid polyvinyl chloride, and the insulating layer 14c (intermediate layer) is made of polyvinyl chloride foam. However, providing the insulating layer 14c made of foamed resin is not necessarily required to provide thermal insulation to the spigot 14; the intermediate layer can be hollow, or the pipe wall of the spigot 14 can be thickened.

[0033] In addition, the spigot member 14 has an expanded diameter receiving portion 30 formed at the upper end (upstream end), a spigot portion 32 formed at the lower end (downstream end), and a connecting portion 34 connecting the expanded diameter receiving portion 30 and the spigot portion 32.

[0034] The expanded diameter receiving portion 30 is the portion that receives the rubber ring receiving member 12. In this embodiment, the expanded diameter receiving portion 30 is provided to cover the portion from the lower end (downstream end) of the rubber ring receiving member 12 to the lower end of the expanded diameter portion 24. By fitting the rubber ring receiving member 12 into this expanded diameter receiving portion 30 and bonding it with an adhesive or the like, the rubber ring receiving member 12 and the spigot member 14 are fixedly integrated.

[0035] The spigot portion 32 is a portion that connects to the socket 106a of the socket 106. In this embodiment, the axial length of the spigot portion 32 is set to be greater than the axial length of the socket 106a of the socket 106. That is, the spigot portion 32 has an exposed portion at the end on the connecting portion 34 side (upstream side) that protrudes from the socket 106a of the socket 106. This exposed portion functions as a support member mounting portion 32a for mounting a support member 108 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The outer diameter of the spigot portion 32 including the support member mounting portion 32a is set to the same size as the inner diameter of the socket 106 (i.e., the same as the outer diameter of the standpipes 102 and 104), e.g., 76 mm. The inner diameter of the spigot portion 32 is set to the same size as the inner diameter of the stopper 106b of the socket 106 (i.e., the same as the inner diameter of the standpipes 102 and 104), e.g., 57 mm. Furthermore, the axial length of support member attachment portion 32a is set to the same size as the axial length of pipe clamping portion 108a of support member 108, for example, 30 mm.

[0036] The connecting portion 34 connects the enlarged-diameter socket portion 30 and the spigot portion 32. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 34 is tapered so that its diameter decreases from the enlarged-diameter socket portion 30 toward the spigot portion 32. The tapered shape of the connecting portion 34 allows wastewater to flow smoothly along the inner circumferential surface of the connecting portion 34. The inclination angle θ of the connecting portion 34 relative to the axial direction of the spigot member 14 is not particularly limited, but is preferably set to between 10 degrees and 30 degrees. Setting the inclination angle θ of the connecting portion 34 to 30 degrees or less allows wastewater to flow more smoothly along the inner circumferential surface of the connecting portion 34, preventing wastewater from hitting the connecting portion 34 and generating noise. Setting the inclination angle θ of the connecting portion 34 to 10 degrees or more prevents the spigot member 14 (and therefore the expansion joint 10) from becoming too large. In this embodiment, the inclination angle θ of the connecting portion 34 is approximately 13 degrees.

[0037] In the expansion joint 10 described above, the spigot of the upstream standpipe 102 is expandably connected to the rubber ring receiving member 12, thereby making the drainage standpipe 100 expandable and compliant, and absorbing expansion and contraction of the drainage standpipe 100 (mainly the standpipes 102, 104) due to differences in flowing water temperature and air temperature. Furthermore, by providing the spigot member 14 with thermal insulation, the portions of conventional expansion joints that lacked insulation (mainly the spigot portion) are insulated. As a result, the entire drainage standpipe 100 is insulated without the use of an external thermal insulation member, and condensation is appropriately prevented from occurring.

[0038] Furthermore, since the spigot portion 32 of the spigot member 14 is equipped with a support member mounting portion 32a having an outer diameter the same as the outer diameter of the standpipes 102, 104, it is possible to use the same support member 108 that supports and fixes the expansion joint 10 as the support member 110 that supports and fixes the standpipes 102, 104. Furthermore, since the outer dimensions of the support member mounting portion 32a are more compact than in conventional expansion joints, interference with other piping and equipment within the narrow pipe shaft is reduced, making it easier to perform maintenance and repairs on the expansion joint 10 and surrounding piping and equipment.

[0039] Furthermore, because the axial length of the support member mounting portion 32a is the same as the axial length of the pipe clamping portion 108a of the support member 108, the pipe clamping portion 108a can be clamped and fixed between the lower end of the expanded diameter receiving portion 30 and the upper end of the socket 106 (see FIG. 1). This allows the expansion joint 10 to be more securely restrained in the axial direction.

[0040] Furthermore, because the inner diameter of spigot 32 is the same as the inner diameter of stopper 106b of socket 106, no step is created in this area, and the inner circumferential surfaces of spigot 32 and stopper 106b are smoothly continuous. This allows wastewater to flow smoothly, preventing noise and a decrease in water flow performance.

[0041] As described above, according to this embodiment, the expansion joint 10 (and therefore the entire drainage standpipe 100) can be insulated without using an external heat-insulating member, since the spigot member 14 having thermal insulation is provided. Therefore, the insulated drainage standpipe 100 can be easily installed, and the occurrence of condensation can be appropriately prevented.

[0042] In the above-described embodiment, the expanded diameter receiving portion 30 of the spigot member 14 is extended to the lower end (downstream end) of the expanded diameter portion 24 of the rubber ring receiving member 12, but this is not limiting. For example, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the expanded diameter receiving portion 30 may be extended at least to the lower end position of the upstream standpipe 102 when it is fully expanded or contracted. Furthermore, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the expanded diameter receiving portion 30 may be extended so as to cover the entire outer circumferential surface of the rubber ring receiving member 12. For example, when the expansion joint 10 is incorporated into a horizontal drainage piping 200, wastewater may enter the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the upstream horizontal pipe 202 (another example of a first pipe member) and the inner circumferential surface of the rubber ring receiving member 12. Therefore, it is preferable to extend the expanded diameter receiving portion 30 to the downstream end position of the expanded diameter portion 24 (i.e., a position near the rubber ring 26) (see FIG. 12), and it is more preferable to extend the expanded diameter receiving portion 30 so as to cover the entire outer circumferential surface of the rubber ring receiving member 12.

[0043] 9-12, in the case of an expansion joint 10 incorporated into a horizontal drainage piping 200, it is preferable to offset the axis of the spigot portion 32 downward relative to the axis of the enlarged diameter receiving portion 30 so that the rubber ring receiving member 12, the connecting portion 34 of the spigot member 14, and the bottom surfaces of the spigot portion 32 are flush and continuous. This makes it possible to prevent a reverse gradient from occurring at the connecting portion 34 of the spigot member 14, which would cause wastewater to accumulate, when the expansion joint 10 is connected to the upstream horizontal pipe 202, socket 106, and downstream horizontal pipe 204 to construct the horizontal drainage piping 200.

[0044] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, the spigot portion 32 of the spigot member 14 is connected to the receiving port 106a of the socket 106, but this is not limiting. The spigot portion 32 of the spigot member 14 can also be connected to the receiving port of a pipe fitting such as a tee or elbow. Alternatively, a receiving port can be formed at the upstream end of the downstream standpipe 104 or downstream horizontal pipe 204, and the spigot portion 32 of the spigot member 14 can be connected directly to this receiving port. In other words, the second pipe member having a receiving port to be connected to the spigot portion 32 can be a variety of pipe fittings such as a socket or tee, or it can be a straight pipe.

[0045] It should be noted that the specific values ​​and shapes of the dimensions and the like given above are merely examples and can be changed as needed according to the specifications of the product, etc. It should also be noted that the expression "same size" in this invention does not mean in the strict sense, but also includes the meaning of approximately the same size. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10...Expansion joint 12...Rubber ring receiving member 14...Slotted part 26...rubber ring 30...Enlarged diameter socket 32...Socket part 32a ... Support member mounting portion 34…Connection part 100...Drainage vertical piping 102 ...Upstream vertical pipe (first pipe member) 104...Downstream vertical pipe 106...Socket (second pipe member) 106b ...Stopper 108 ...Support member 108a...Pipe clamping part 200...Drainage horizontal piping

Claims

1. An expansion joint that connects a first pipe member and a second pipe member, a rubber ring receiving member to which the spigot of the first pipe member is connected in an expandable manner; and A spigot member having thermal insulation properties is provided, The spigot member is an enlarged diameter receiving portion for receiving the rubber ring receiving member; a spigot portion connected to the socket of the second pipe member; and an expansion joint comprising a connecting portion connecting the expanded diameter receiving portion and the spigot portion.

2. 2. The expansion joint according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is formed in a tapered shape such that the diameter decreases from the enlarged diameter receiving portion toward the spigot portion.

3. 3. The expansion joint according to claim 1, wherein the spigot portion is provided at an end on the connecting portion side with a support member attachment portion that protrudes from the socket of the second pipe member and has an outer diameter the same as the outer diameter of the first pipe member.

4. 4. The expansion joint according to claim 3, wherein the support member mounting portion has an axial length equal to the axial length of the pipe clamping portion of the support member.

5. 3. The expansion joint according to claim 1, wherein the spigot has an inner diameter equal to an inner diameter of a stopper formed in the second pipe member for engaging the tip end of the spigot.

Images