Spacer for spiral pipe manufacturing and spiral pipe manufacturing method

Abstract

To provide a spacer to be interposed between an end of a preceding strip member and a starting end of a succeeding strip member used in a production of a spiral pipe.SOLUTION: A spacer 50 has a cavity 100. Through the cavity 100, a guide groove 17 at an end Fe of a leading strip-shaped member 10F and a starting end Rs of a trailing strip-shaped member 10R, as well as a gap 19 between the guide grooves 17, are visible from an inner periphery of a spiral pipe 2. This allows a guide protrusion 36a of a pipe making machine 30 to be moved from the guide groove 17 at the end Fe of the preceding strip-shaped member 10F to the guide groove 17 at the starting end Rs of the succeeding strip-shaped member 10R, while leaving the spacer 50 in place. The spacer 50 also has a pair of abutment members 51 and a connecting mechanism 55 that can adjust the spacing between the pair of abutment members 51. After pipe making, the spacer 50 can be removed from between the end of the leading strip-shaped member and the starting end of the trailing strip-shaped member by narrowing the spacing between the pair of abutment members.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a spacer that is interposed between a preceding strip-shaped member and a succeeding strip-shaped member when manufacturing a helical pipe such as a rehabilitation pipe, and to a method for manufacturing a helical pipe using this spacer. [Background technology]

[0002] A method for rehabilitating an existing pipe, such as an aging sewer pipe, by spirally winding a strip-shaped member (profile) around the inner surface of the existing pipe to produce a rehabilitating pipe (helical pipe) is known.

[0003] When a strip-shaped member is not long enough to produce a rehabilitated pipe, it is necessary to add a strip-shaped member. Patent Document 1 discloses a process for adding a strip-shaped member using a self-propelled pipe-making machine. Briefly, a spacer is placed between the end of a leading strip-shaped member and the start of a following strip-shaped member, and pipe production is resumed using the following strip-shaped member. Without a spacer, the start of the following strip-shaped member directly abuts the end of the leading strip-shaped member. Therefore, when the pipe-making machine begins producing the following strip-shaped member, if the following strip-shaped member is pushed toward the leading strip-shaped member by the pipe-making machine, the butted portion cannot withstand the force, and the start of the following strip-shaped member may ride up on the end of the leading strip-shaped member or bend over. Spacers can prevent this problem. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-47544 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The self-propelled pipe making machine moves along a spiral trajectory along a strip-shaped member located at the end of the rehabilitated pipe in the extension direction during pipe making. This pipe making machine is guided by a guide protrusion on the pipe making machine engaging with a guide groove formed on the edge of the strip-shaped member (the edge on the extension direction side of the rehabilitated pipe), so it can move stably without falling off the strip-shaped member. When the succeeding strip is made into a pipe approximately one revolution (actually less than one revolution), the guide protrusion of the pipe making machine reaches the spacer. At this point, the guide protrusion of the pipe making machine must be moved from the guide groove located at the end of the preceding strip to the guide groove located at the beginning of the succeeding strip.

[0006] The spacer in Patent Document 1 is a rectangular parallelepiped block that substantially blocks the gap between the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the beginning of the following strip-shaped member, making it impossible to visually confirm the engagement between the guide groove and the guide protrusion of the following strip-shaped member from the inner periphery of the rehabilitation pipe. Therefore, the only option is to remove the spacer and visually check through the gap formed by removing it. As described above, if the spacer is removed and pipe production is resumed after the trailing strip-shaped member has completed less than one revolution, the trailing strip-shaped member will move along the spiral trajectory toward the end of the preceding strip-shaped member, and the starting end of the trailing strip-shaped member may hit the end of the preceding strip-shaped member, which could result in the strip-shaped member climbing over or otherwise climbing up.

[0007] Another problem is that the spacer is sandwiched between the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the beginning of the succeeding strip-shaped member with a pressing force, so that removing the spacer requires a large force and is time-consuming. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in a pipe making process in which a self-propelled pipe making machine is used to spirally wind a strip-shaped member, and the side edges of adjacent wound portions are fitted together to produce a helical pipe while stretching it, and the pipe making machine is self-propelled with guidance provided by engagement between a guide protrusion of the pipe making machine and a guide groove of the strip-shaped member, a spacer is interposed between the end of a preceding strip-shaped member used in producing the helical pipe and the start of a succeeding strip-shaped member, The spiral tube is characterized by having a cavity through which the guide grooves at the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the start of the following strip-shaped member, as well as the gap between these guide grooves, can be seen from the inner periphery of the spiral tube. With this configuration, the guide protrusion of the pipe making machine can be accurately engaged from the guide groove at the end of the preceding strip-shaped member to the guide groove at the start of the following strip-shaped member while visually checking, without removing the spacer.

[0009] The spacer includes at least one abutment portion that extends in the width direction of the strip-shaped member and has a pair of abutment surfaces that abut against the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the beginning of the following strip-shaped member, respectively.

[0010] In one embodiment, the at least one contact portion comprises a pair of contact portions spaced apart in the strip length direction, and the pair of contact portions are connected by a plurality of connecting portions. This configuration allows a large cavity to be formed for visually checking the spacer.

[0011] The strip-shaped member has a main strip portion, one surface of which serves as the inner circumference of the spiral tube, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed on the other surface of the main strip portion and protruding radially from the spiral tube, and the pair of abutment surfaces of the at least one abutment portion abut against the plurality of reinforcing ribs at the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the start of the following strip-shaped member, respectively. According to this configuration, the spacer abuts against the reinforcing rib, so that the strong pressing force from the belt-shaped member can be stably received.

[0012] Preferably, in the shape of the at least one contact portion as viewed in the length direction of the band-shaped member, the radial dimension of the spiral tube is smaller on the extension direction side of the spiral tube and larger on the opposite side to the extension direction. This configuration allows a wider field of view to the guide grooves at the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the start of the following strip-shaped member, as well as the gap between the guide grooves.

[0013] In one embodiment, the at least one abutment portion is L-shaped when viewed from the length direction of the strip-shaped member and has a first portion and a second portion that are perpendicular to each other, the first portion extending in the width direction of the strip-shaped member and positioned at a distance from the main strip portion of the strip-shaped member, and the second portion extending from the end of the first portion opposite to the extension direction of the spiral tube toward the main strip portion. This configuration makes it possible to further widen the field of view to the guide grooves at the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the start of the following strip-shaped member, and to the gap between the guide grooves.

[0014] Preferably, the second portion of the spacer abuts against a reinforcing rib among the plurality of reinforcing ribs that is located on the opposite side to the extension direction of the spiral tube, and the first portion abuts against the tip of another reinforcing rib among the plurality of reinforcing ribs. With this configuration, the spacer can receive the pressing force from the belt-shaped member more stably.

[0015] In one embodiment, a surface of the at least one abutting portion located radially inward of the helical tube is inclined in the extending direction of the helical tube so as to move away from the main band portion of the band-shaped member. With this configuration, it is possible to widen the field of view to the guide grooves at the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the start of the following strip-shaped member, and to the gap between the guide grooves, while maintaining the strength of the contact portion.

[0016] The spiral pipe manufacturing method includes the steps of: while maintaining the spiral pipe spacer interposed between the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the start of the following strip-shaped member, engaging the guide protrusion of the pipe manufacturing machine from the guide groove at the end of the preceding strip-shaped member, over the spiral pipe spacer, and into the guide groove at the start of the following strip-shaped member; and, while leaving the spiral pipe spacer between the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the start of the following strip-shaped member, continuing to manufacture the spiral pipe using the following strip-shaped member while guiding the pipe manufacturing machine by engaging the guide protrusion of the pipe manufacturing machine with the guide groove of the following strip-shaped member. According to this method, pipe production continues using the following strip-shaped member without removing the spacer, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the starting end of the following strip-shaped member from riding over and curling up.

[0017] Another aspect of the present invention is a process for producing a spiral pipe by spirally winding a strip-shaped member using a self-propelled pipe-making machine and fitting the side edges of adjacent wound portions together to produce a spiral pipe while stretching the spiral pipe, comprising a spacer interposed between the end of a preceding strip-shaped member used in the production of the spiral pipe and the start of a succeeding strip-shaped member, The device is characterized by comprising a pair of abutment members facing each other in the length direction of the strip-shaped members, each having abutment surfaces that abut against the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the beginning of the following strip-shaped member, and a connecting mechanism that allows the spacing between the pair of abutment members in the length direction to be adjusted and connects the pair of abutment members. With this configuration, by narrowing the gap between the pair of abutment members of the spacer using the connecting mechanism, the spacer that is clamped with a pressing force between the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the beginning of the following strip-shaped member can be easily removed.

[0018] In one embodiment, the connecting mechanism has a plurality of connecting portions, each of which has a screw portion that is provided on the opposing surfaces of the pair of abutment members in the same straight line and has a reverse-threaded configuration with respect to each other, and a nut that is screwed onto these screw portions. According to this configuration, the distance between the pair of contact members can be easily narrowed by turning the nut.

[0019] In another embodiment, the connecting mechanism has a plurality of connecting portions, each of which has a threaded portion provided on one of the opposing surfaces of the pair of abutment members, a rotational support portion provided on the other of the opposing surfaces of the pair of abutment members in the same straight line as the threaded portion, and a nut rotatably supported on the rotational support portion and screwed onto the threaded portion. According to this configuration, the distance between the pair of contact members can be easily narrowed by turning the nut.

[0020] The spiral pipe manufacturing method includes a spacer installation process in which one abutment surface of the spiral pipe manufacturing spacer is abutted against the end of the preceding strip-shaped member, and then the other abutment surface is abutted against the starting end of the following strip-shaped member; a following pipe manufacturing process in which manufacturing of the spiral pipe is resumed using the following strip-shaped member; and a spacer removal process in which, during or after the following pipe manufacturing process is completed, the gap between the pair of abutment members is narrowed using the connecting mechanism, and the spiral pipe manufacturing spacer is removed from between the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the starting end of the following strip-shaped member. According to this method, in the spacer removal step, the spacer can be easily removed from the spiral tube by narrowing the gap between the pair of abutting members of the spacer using the connecting mechanism. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to one aspect of the present invention, the guide protrusion of the pipe making machine can be visually confirmed to engage with the guide groove at the start end of the succeeding strip-shaped member without removing the spacer, and the production of the spiral pipe using the succeeding strip-shaped member can be continued. Also, according to another aspect of the present invention, the spacer can be easily removed from the spiral pipe. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1]This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the process of using a strip-shaped member to produce a rehabilitating pipe along the inner circumference of an existing pipe, where (A) shows the state when the preceding strip-shaped member is broken, (B) shows the state when the succeeding strip-shaped member is added via a spacer, and (C) shows the state immediately after pipe production is resumed with the added succeeding strip-shaped member. However, to simplify the drawing, the drive unit of the pipe production machine is omitted. [Figure 2] This is an oblique view showing the state when pipe making using the subsequent strip-shaped member has resumed and the brake guide of the pipe making machine has reached just before the spacer after making less than one revolution of pipe. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of a spacer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded top view of the spacer. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view showing a leading strip-shaped member, a trailing strip-shaped member, and a brake guide that are fitted together, in which the arrangement of the spacer relative to the strip-shaped member is shown by dashed lines and the area that should be visually confirmed is shown by dashed lines. [Figure 7] (A) is a top view showing a spacer placed between a leading strip-shaped member and a trailing strip-shaped member, and (B) is a top view showing the state in which the thickness of the spacer (the dimension in the strip length direction of the strip-shaped member) has been narrowed. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a visual cavity defined by a spacer. [Figure 9] FIG. 6 is a top view showing a spacer according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing a spacer according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a spacer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a spacer according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, an existing pipe 1, such as an aged sewer pipe, is rehabilitated by lining the inner periphery of the existing pipe 1 with a rehabilitation pipe 2 (spiral pipe). Examples of the existing pipe 1 include sewer pipes, water supply pipes, agricultural water pipes, hydroelectric power generation water pipes, gas pipes, etc.

[0024] <About the belt-shaped member> The rehabilitating pipe 2 is manufactured by spirally winding a strip-shaped member 10 (profile) around the inner periphery of the existing pipe 1. The strip-shaped member 10 is obtained by extrusion molding a resin such as polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene. As shown in FIG. 6, the strip-shaped member 10 has a main band portion 11. One surface of the main band portion 11 is formed smooth and serves as the inner periphery of the rehabilitating pipe 2. The other surface of the main band portion 11, which serves as the outer periphery of the rehabilitating pipe 2, has a pair of reinforcing ribs 12 formed on both sides in the band width direction, and a reinforcing rib 13 also formed in the center in the band width direction. These multiple reinforcing ribs 12, 13 extend in the band length direction of the main band portion 11 and protrude in a direction perpendicular to the main band portion 11 (radial direction of the rehabilitating pipe 2). In this embodiment, the reinforcing ribs 12 on both sides are formed higher than the central reinforcing rib 13.

[0025] The belt-shaped member 10 further has mating portions 15, 16 formed on both side edges of the main belt portion 11. The mating portions 15, 16 have complementary shapes, for example, mating portion 15 is female and mating portion 16 is male. Between the female mating portion 15 and the reinforcing rib 12 adjacent to this female mating portion 15, a guide groove 17 is formed, into which a claw 36a (guide protrusion) of a brake guide 36, which will be described later, engages.

[0026] <About the self-propelled pipe making machine> The strip-shaped member 10 is spirally produced into a rehabilitated pipe 2 by a self-propelled pipe-making machine 30. As described below, this pipe-making machine 30 moves circumferentially around the rehabilitating pipe 2, i.e., along the spiral path of the strip-shaped member 10, and is always positioned at the end of the rehabilitating pipe 2 in the extension direction. The pipe-making machine 30 is well known, so to briefly explain it, as shown in FIG. 2, it comprises a drive unit 31 mounted on a frame (not shown), a fitting unit 32, and a brake mechanism 35. The fitting unit 32 is located behind the drive unit 31 in the self-propelled direction of the pipe-making machine 30, and the brake mechanism 35 is located ahead of the drive unit 31 in the self-propelled direction. The drive unit 31 has an inner roller 31a and an outer roller 31b. The fitting unit 32 has an inner guide unit 32a and an outer guide unit 32b. The brake mechanism 35 has a brake guide 36, a brake shoe 37, and an adjustment bolt (not shown). As shown in FIG. 6, the brake guide 36 has a claw 36a (guide protrusion) that engages with the guide groove 17 of the belt-shaped member 10.

[0027] <Rehabilitation pipe manufacturing process> The unmanufactured strip-shaped member 10 passes from one end of the existing pipe 1 through the rehabilitating pipe 2 being manufactured, and is supplied to the pipe manufacturing machine 30 located at the end of the rehabilitating pipe 2 in the extension direction. The strip-shaped member 10 is pushed rearward in the self-propelled direction of the pipe manufacturing machine 30 by the drive unit 31 of the pipe manufacturing machine 30, and introduced into the fitting section 32. At this fitting section 32, the male fitting section 16 of the unmanufactured strip-shaped member 10 fits into the female fitting section 15 of the strip-shaped member 10 one revolution before the pipe end of the rehabilitating pipe 2. The pipe manufacturing machine 30 self-propels in the direction opposite to the feeding direction due to the reaction force generated when the strip-shaped member 10 is fed. In this way, the rehabilitating pipe 2 is manufactured as the pipe manufacturing machine 30 self-propels.

[0028] The claws 36a of the brake guide 36 engage with the guide groove 17 of the strip-shaped member 10 approximately one revolution before the end of the rehabilitated pipe 2 during pipe production, thereby guiding the pipe making machine 30 along the spiral of the strip-shaped member 10 and allowing the pipe making machine 30 to move stably. The brake mechanism 35 can adjust the frictional resistance against the strip-shaped member 10 by adjusting the distance between the brake guide 36 and the brake shoe 37 with an adjustment bolt.

[0029] <Spacer installation process> Since one strip-shaped member 10 is not enough to line the entire length of the existing pipe 1 with the rehabilitating pipe 2, additional strip-shaped members 10 are added during the pipe manufacturing process. In the following explanation and drawings, when distinguishing between the preceding strip-shaped member and the succeeding strip-shaped member used in manufacturing the rehabilitating pipe 2, the preceding strip-shaped member will be given the symbol 10F and the succeeding strip-shaped member will be given the symbol 10R.

[0030] Figure 1(A) shows a state in which the preceding strip-shaped member 10F is interrupted during the production of the rehabilitation pipe 2. In this state, as shown in Figure 1(B), one abutment surface of the spacer 50 is brought into contact with the end 10Fe of the preceding strip-shaped member 10F, and production of the following strip-shaped member 10R is started, so that the starting end 10Rs of the following strip-shaped member 10R is brought into contact with the other abutment surface of the spacer 50. In this way, the spacer 50 is interposed between the end 10Fe of the preceding strip-shaped member 10F and the starting end 10Rs of the following strip-shaped member 10R.

[0031] <Spacer structure and arrangement> The structure of the spacer 50 according to the first embodiment will now be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. The spacer 50 is made of a rigid material such as metal, and includes a pair of abutment members 51 (abutment portions) that are parallel to each other and have the same shape, and a connecting mechanism 55 that connects the abutment members 51 so that they can move toward and away from each other. Each abutment member 51 is L-shaped and has a first portion 52 and a second portion 53 that extend linearly and form a right angle. The first portion 52 is longer than the second portion 53.

[0032] The connecting mechanism 55 has three (plural) connecting portions 55x spaced apart from each other. Each connecting portion 55x has a threaded portion 56 fixed to the opposing surfaces of the pair of abutting members 51 in the same straight line, and a nut 57 that screws onto the threaded portions 56. The threaded portions 56 fixed to the pair of abutting members 51 are reverse-threaded, and by turning the nuts 57 that screw onto the threaded portions 56, the pair of abutting members 51 move closer to or farther apart, thereby adjusting the distance between them. The surfaces of the pair of abutting members 51 opposite to the opposing surfaces are provided as abutting surfaces 51a.

[0033] 7, when the spacer 50 is interposed between the end 10Fe of the preceding strip-shaped member 10F and the starting end 10Rs of the following strip-shaped member 10R and pipe production of the following strip-shaped member 10R is performed, the end 10Fe of the preceding strip-shaped member 10F abuts against one of the abutment surfaces 51a with a pressing force, and the starting end 10Rs of the following strip-shaped member 10R abuts against the other abutment surface 51a with a pressing force. In this way, the starting end 10Rs of the following strip-shaped member 10R does not directly abut against the end 10Fe of the preceding strip-shaped member 10F, but abuts against the abutment surface 51a of the spacer 50, thereby preventing the occurrence of riding up and curling.

[0034] The spacer 50 is disposed in the position shown in FIG. 6. That is, the first portion 52 of the abutting member 51 extends in the width direction of the belt-shaped member 10 and is spaced apart from and parallel to the main belt portion 11. The second portion 53 of the abutting member 51 extends from the end of the first portion 52 opposite the extension direction of the rehabilitation pipe 2 toward the main belt portion 11. The second portion 53 is perpendicular to the main belt portion 11 and is positioned approximately coincident with the reinforcing rib 12 on the opposite side of the extension direction, and abuts against this reinforcing rib 12. The tip of the first portion 52 abuts against the tip of the reinforcing rib 12 on the extension direction side. In this way, the pair of abutting surfaces 51a abut against substantially the entire cross section of one reinforcing rib 12 and the tip of the other reinforcing rib 12, which are spaced apart in the width direction. Therefore, the load from the belt-shaped members 10F, 10R can be received evenly.

[0035] <Subsequent pipe manufacturing process for strip-shaped components> With the spacer 50 installed as described above, pipe production using the following strip-shaped member 10R is started by the self-propelled pipe making machine 30 (see Figure 1(C)). That is, the driving unit 51 of the pipe making machine 30 sends the following strip-shaped member 10R toward the spacer 50, and the reaction force causes the pipe making machine 30 to self-propel. During this process, the mating portion 16 of the following strip-shaped member 10R is mated with the mating portion 15 one revolution before of the preceding strip-shaped member 10F.

[0036] <Step of Engaging the Guide Groove of the Subsequent Belt-Shaped Member with the Guide Protrusion> When the succeeding strip-shaped member 10R has been produced approximately one revolution (actually less than one revolution), the brake mechanism 35 of the pipe production machine 30 reaches just before the spacer 50, as shown in Figure 2. At this point, the claws 36a of the brake guide 36 must pass over the spacer 50 and engage with the guide groove 17 at the starting end 10Rs of the succeeding strip-shaped member 10R. The worker visually checks the engagement of this claw 36a with the guide groove 17 from both the inside and outside of the rehabilitating pipe 2. If pipe production is performed without this engagement, there is a possibility that the pipe production machine 30 will fall off the rehabilitating pipe 2.

[0037] If the spacer is a rectangular parallelepiped as in the conventional case, the space between the end 10Fe of the preceding strip-shaped member 10F and the beginning 10Rs of the following strip-shaped member 10R is blocked, making it impossible to visually confirm the engagement between the guide groove 17 and the claw 36a, and forcing the spacer to be removed. However, in this embodiment, the spacer 50 has a cavity 100 through which the guide grooves 17 and the claws 36a can be seen from inside the rehabilitating pipe 2. This will be described in detail with reference to Figure 8. The cavity 100 of the spacer 50 has a first window 101 and a second window 102 that open to the inner periphery of the rehabilitating pipe 2. The second window 102 opens toward the guide grooves 17 of the end 10Fe of the preceding strip-shaped member 10F and the start end 10Rs of the following strip-shaped member 10R, and also opens in the extension direction of the rehabilitating pipe 2 (i.e., toward the gaps 19 between the guide grooves 17 (see Figure 7(A))).

[0038] Through the cavity 100 of the spacer 50, the worker can visually observe the guide grooves 17 at the end 10Fe of the preceding strip-shaped member 10F and the start 10Rs of the following strip-shaped member 10R, and the gap 19 between the guide grooves 17 (the area indicated by the symbol M in Figure 6).Therefore, while leaving the spacer 50 between the preceding strip-shaped member 10F and the following strip-shaped member 10R, the claw 36a of the brake guide 36 can be securely engaged from the guide groove 17 at the end Fe of the preceding strip-shaped member F, over the spacer 50, and into the guide groove 17 at the start 10Re of the following strip-shaped member 10R.

[0039] <Pipe manufacturing restart process> As described above, the claws 36a of the brake guide 36 can be engaged with the guide grooves 17 of the succeeding strip-shaped member 10R to resume pipe production of the succeeding strip-shaped member 10R without removing the spacer 50. Therefore, even if the pushing force of the succeeding strip-shaped member 10R from the pipe making machine 30 reaches the starting end 10Rs, particularly during the pipe production process immediately after resumption, the spacer 50 can absorb the force, thereby reliably preventing the strip-shaped member 10R from riding up or curling up.

[0040] <Spacer removal process> After the pipe production of the succeeding strip-shaped member 10R is completed (including after the installation of the rehabilitating pipe 2 over the entire length of the existing pipe 1 is completed, or even during pipe production), the spacer 50 is removed from the rehabilitating pipe 2. The pair of abutment surfaces 51a of the spacer 50 are pressed against the end 10Fe of the preceding strip-shaped member 10F and the start 10Rs of the following strip-shaped member 10R, preventing easy removal. However, in this embodiment, by turning the nut 56 of the connecting mechanism 55 and bringing the pair of abutment members 51 closer to each other as shown in FIG. 7(B), the lengthwise dimension H of the strip-shaped member 10F can be shortened (reducing the thickness of the strip-shaped member) to be shorter than the gap between the end 10Fe of the preceding strip-shaped member 10F and the start 10Rs of the following strip-shaped member 10R. As a result, the spacer 50 can be easily removed. After the spacer 50 is removed, the gap is closed with a closing member or the like.

[0041] Hereinafter, a spacer according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In these drawings, components corresponding to those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Second Embodiment A spacer 50A of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9 has a connecting mechanism 55A different from that of the first embodiment. Each connecting portion has a threaded portion 56 fixed to the opposing surface of one of the contact members 51 and a rotation support portion 59 fixed to the opposing surface of the other contact member 51. The threaded portion 56 and the rotation support portion 59 are arranged coaxially. One end of a nut 57 is rotatably supported by the rotation support portion 59, and the other end is threadedly engaged with the threaded portion 56. With this spacer 50A, the thickness (dimension in the band length direction) of the spacer 50A can also be changed by turning the nut 57.

[0042] Third Embodiment 10 includes a pair of abutment members 51B having a different shape from those of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the abutment members 51B are trapezoidal, and the radially inner surface 51x of the rehabilitating pipe is inclined away from the main band portion 11 in the extension direction of the rehabilitating pipe. In the third embodiment, the spacer 50B also has a cavity 100B for visual confirmation. The cavity 100B has a first window 101B that opens to the inner periphery of the rehabilitation pipe and a second window 102B that opens to the guide groove 17 and gap 19 (see FIG. 7). The contact surface of the contact member 51B in the third embodiment contacts almost the entire surface of the auxiliary rib 12 on the side opposite to the advancing direction of the rehabilitation pipe 2, contacts the tip of the auxiliary rib on the advancing direction side, and also contacts the central auxiliary rib 13.

[0043] <Fourth embodiment> A spacer 50C of the fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 11 does not have a pair of abutment members and a connecting mechanism as in the first to third embodiments, but is made of a single block. The shape of the strip-shaped member of this spacer 50C in the strip length direction is the same as in the first embodiment, and it has a flat first portion 52C and a flat second portion 53C. This spacer 50C is arranged in the same manner as in the first embodiment (see Fig. 6). A visual confirmation cavity 100C of the spacer 50C has a first window 101C and a second window 102C.

[0044] Fifth Embodiment A spacer 50D of the fifth embodiment shown in Figure 12 is also made of a single block, similar to the fourth embodiment. The shape of the strip-shaped member of this spacer 50D in the strip length direction is the same as in the third embodiment, being trapezoidal and having an inclined surface 51y. This spacer 50D is arranged in the same manner as in the third embodiment (see Figure 9). A visual confirmation cavity 100D of the spacer 50D has a first window 101D and a second window 102D.

[0045] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The spacer may have a variety of shapes, and may be configured, for example, by a pair of contact portions and a plurality of connecting portions that connect the contact portions without adjusting the spacing between them. The guide protrusions of the pipe making machine do not have to be brake guide claws, but may be claws for guiding the strip-shaped member or for engaging the pipe making machine with the strip-shaped member, for example. It may also be applied to the manufacturing of spiral pipes other than rehabilitated pipes. The strip-shaped member may have various shapes, for example, a hollow strip-shaped member having a rectangular cross section, in which case the side wall portion extending in the radial direction of the rehabilitating pipe serves as a reinforcing rib. The reinforcing ribs may have metal reinforcing members embedded therein. The spacer and the pipe manufacturing method are not limited to a configuration in which strip-shaped members are directly connected to each other, but can also be applied to a configuration in which adjacent strip-shaped members are connected via a strip-shaped connecting member. [Industrial Applicability]

[0046] The present invention can be applied, for example, to a process of adding a strip-shaped member during the manufacturing process of a rehabilitation pipe for lining an existing pipe. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1 Existing pipes 2 Rehabilitation pipe (spiral pipe) 10 Strip-shaped member (profile) 10F Leading strip 10Fe termination 10R Subsequent strip 10Rs starting point 11 Main belt section 12,13 Reinforcing rib 15, 16 Fitting part 17 Guide groove 30 Self-propelled pipe making machine 36a Brake guide tab (guide protrusion) 50, 50A, 50B, 50C, 50D spacers 51, 51B contact member (contact portion) 51a Contact surface 52,52C Part 1 53,53C 2nd part 55, 55A connection mechanism 55x connection 56 Threaded part 57 Nut 59 Rotation support part 100, 100B, 100C, 100D cavity 101, 101B, 101C, 101D 1st window 102 102B, 102C, 102D 2nd window

Claims

1. In a pipe making process in which a self-propelled pipe making machine is used to spirally wind a strip-shaped member, and the side edges of adjacent wound portions are fitted together to produce a helical pipe while stretching it, and the pipe making machine is self-propelled with guidance provided by the engagement of a guide protrusion on the pipe making machine with a guide groove on the strip-shaped member, a spacer is interposed between the end of a preceding strip-shaped member used in producing the helical pipe and the start of a succeeding strip-shaped member, A spacer for spiral pipe manufacturing, characterized in that it has a cavity that allows the guide grooves at the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the start of the following strip-shaped member, as well as the gap between these guide grooves, to be visible from the inner side of the spiral pipe.

2. A spacer for spiral pipe manufacturing as described in claim 1, characterized in that it includes at least one abutment portion, which extends in the width direction of the strip-shaped member and has a pair of abutment surfaces, and the pair of abutment surfaces abut against the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the starting end of the following strip-shaped member, respectively.

3. A spacer for spiral pipe manufacturing as described in claim 2, characterized in that at least one abutment portion consists of a pair of abutment portions spaced apart in the band length direction, and the pair of abutment portions are connected by a plurality of connecting portions.

4. the belt-shaped member has a main belt portion having one surface serving as an inner periphery of the helical tube, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed on the other surface of the main belt portion and protruding in the radial direction of the helical tube, A spiral pipe manufacturing spacer as described in claim 2, characterized in that the pair of abutment surfaces of at least one abutment portion abut against the multiple reinforcing ribs at the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the start of the following strip-shaped member, respectively.

5. A spacer for spiral pipe manufacturing as described in claim 4, characterized in that, in the shape of at least one abutment portion when viewed from the band length direction of the band-shaped member, the radial dimension of the spiral pipe is smaller on the extension direction side of the spiral pipe and larger on the opposite side to the extension direction.

6. the at least one abutment portion is L-shaped when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the belt-shaped member and has a first portion and a second portion that are perpendicular to each other; the first portion extends in a width direction of the belt-shaped member and is spaced apart from the main belt portion of the belt-shaped member; 6. A spacer for spiral pipe manufacturing according to claim 5, wherein the second portion extends from an end of the first portion opposite to the extending direction of the spiral pipe toward the main band portion.

7. A spacer for spiral pipe manufacturing as described in claim 6, characterized in that the second part of the spacer abuts a reinforcing rib among the plurality of reinforcing ribs that is located on the opposite side of the extension direction of the spiral pipe, and the first part abuts the tip of another reinforcing rib among the plurality of reinforcing ribs.

8. A spacer for spiral pipe manufacturing as described in claim 5, characterized in that the surface located radially inward of the spiral pipe at at least one abutment portion is inclined so as to move away from the main band portion of the band-shaped member toward the extension direction of the spiral pipe.

9. a step of engaging a guide protrusion of the pipe making machine from the guide groove at the end of the preceding strip-shaped member, over the spiral pipe spacer, into the guide groove at the start of the succeeding strip-shaped member, while maintaining a state in which the spiral pipe spacer according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is interposed between the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the start of the succeeding strip-shaped member; a step of continuing to produce the spiral pipe using the succeeding strip-shaped member while guiding the pipe making machine by engaging the guide protrusion of the pipe making machine with the guide groove of the succeeding strip-shaped member, while leaving the spiral pipe spacer between the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the start of the succeeding strip-shaped member; A method for producing a spiral pipe, comprising:

10. In a process of spirally winding a strip-shaped member using a self-propelled pipe-making machine and engaging the side edges of adjacent wound portions to produce a helical pipe while stretching it, a spacer is interposed between the end of a preceding strip-shaped member used in the production of the helical pipe and the start of a succeeding strip-shaped member, a pair of contact members each having a contact surface that contacts the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the start of the following strip-shaped member, the contact members facing each other in a strip length direction of the strip-shaped members; a connecting mechanism that connects the pair of contact members and makes the spacing between the pair of contact members in the strip length direction adjustable; A spacer for spiral pipe manufacturing, comprising:

11. the coupling mechanism has a plurality of coupling portions; A spiral pipe manufacturing spacer as described in claim 10, characterized in that each connecting portion has a threaded portion that is provided on the opposing surfaces of the pair of abutment members in the same straight line and has a reverse thread with respect to each other, and a nut that is screwed onto these threaded portions.

12. the coupling mechanism has a plurality of coupling portions; A spacer for spiral pipe manufacturing as described in claim 10, characterized in that each connecting portion has a threaded portion provided on one of the opposing surfaces of the pair of abutment members, a rotational support portion provided on the other of the opposing surfaces of the pair of abutment members in the same straight line as the threaded portion, and a nut rotatably supported on the rotational support portion and screwed onto the threaded portion.

13. a spacer installation process in which one abutment surface of the spiral pipe making spacer according to any one of claims 10 to 12 is abutted against the end of the preceding strip-shaped member, and then the other abutment surface is abutted against the start of the following strip-shaped member; a subsequent pipe making process in which the subsequent strip-shaped member is used to resume the production of the spiral pipe; a spacer removal process in which, during or after the subsequent pipe making process, the gap between the pair of abutment members is narrowed by the connecting mechanism, and the spiral pipe making spacer is removed from between the end of the preceding strip-shaped member and the start of the subsequent strip-shaped member; A method for producing a spiral pipe, comprising:

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