Pipe connection structure, connecting metal pipe, connection method, and drainage pipe

Abstract

To enable easy connection of thin metal pipes, even under difficult working conditions such as at high places, while ensuring watertightness and allowing installation of drainage pipes.SOLUTION: When connecting thin metal pipes 11 to each other, each thin metal pipe 11 is provided with an expanded portion 12 formed at its end and a flange portion 13 forming an end face. An inner pipe 21 with a sealing member 31 fitted on the outside is inserted so as to bridge the expanded portions 12 of both thin metal pipes 11. With the sealing member 31 clamped between the flange portions 13 of both thin metal pipes 11, the flange portions 13 are fastened from the outer peripheral side by a tightening member 41, thereby pressing the sealing member 31 against the flange portions 13 of both thin metal pipes 11 and against the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connection structure between thin metal pipes suitable for construction at high altitudes, a connecting metal pipe, a connection method, and a drainage pipe to which the same is applied. [Background technology]

[0002] As shown in Figure 7, drainage pipes P are attached to the sides of the bridge girders to prevent rainwater from accumulating on the top surface of the girders. When installing these drainage pipes P, if a large number of thin metal pipes 11 are connected to form a pipeline, the work must be done on scaffolding at a high altitude, so safety must be taken into consideration and a connection structure that is easy to install must be used.

[0003] A common pipe connection structure uses nipples as joint parts, but Patent Document 1 describes a method in which a flange is fitted onto the end of each pipe to be connected so that it can move freely in the axial direction of the pipe, a flange portion is formed as the end surface, a gasket is placed between the flanges of both pipes, and the flanges are brought close to each other and tightened with bolts.

[0004] Patent Document 2 also describes a method in which an expanded section is formed at the end of each of the pipes to be connected, and a flange portion that forms the end surface is formed, and an inner pipe with O-rings fitted in each groove near both ends is inserted across both pipes, and with each O-ring in contact with the inside of each pipe, the flange portions of both pipes are clamped with clips. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-211811 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-14111 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, nipple connection structures are prone to leaks when filled with water, and the connection structures described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above also have areas that need improvement in terms of watertightness and ease of installation, and there is also the problem that they are not necessarily suitable as connection structures for thin-plate metal pipes used as drainage pipes.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to easily connect thin metal pipes together even under difficult construction conditions such as at high altitudes, thereby ensuring watertightness and enabling the installation of drainage pipes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a pipe connection structure for connecting thin plate metal pipes, in which each thin plate metal pipe has an expanded pipe portion formed at its end and a flange portion formed at its end edge, an inner pipe fitted with a sealing member is inserted across the expanded pipe portions of both thin plate metal pipes, the sealing member is interposed between the flange portions of both thin plate metal pipes, and these flange portions are tightened from the outer periphery by a tightening member, so that the sealing member is in pressure contact with the flange portions of both thin plate metal pipes and the outer periphery of the inner pipe (Configuration 1).

[0009] In addition, in the pipe connection structure of Configuration 1, the step between the expanded pipe portion of the thin metal pipe and the other portion is made equal to the pipe thickness of the inner pipe (Configuration 2).

[0010] Furthermore, in the pipe connection structure of configuration 1 or 2, the plate thickness of the thin metal pipe is 3 mm or less (configuration 3).

[0011] In addition, there is a connection method for the pipe connection structure of configuration 1, in which the inner pipe is pre-inserted and fixed into the expanded pipe portion of one of the thin plate metal pipes, and then the inner pipe is inserted into the expanded pipe portion of the other thin plate metal pipe (configuration 4).

[0012] Furthermore, in order to implement the connection method of configuration 4, a connecting metal pipe is provided which comprises a thin plate metal pipe having an expanded portion formed at the end and a flange portion formed at the end edge, and an inner pipe fitted with a sealing member, the inner pipe being inserted into the expanded portion of the thin plate metal pipe, and the inner pipe being fixed to the expanded portion of the thin plate metal pipe with the sealing member aligned with the flange portion of the thin plate metal pipe (configuration 5).

[0013] Then, one thin sheet metal tube fitted with a sealing member is inserted into the other thin sheet metal tube having a flange formed on its end face, and after adjusting the insertion length, the sealing member and the flange are tightened from the outer periphery with a tightening member, and the thin sheet metal tube is connected to the one thin sheet metal tube using the tube connection structure of configuration 1 (configuration 6).

[0014] In addition, by applying the pipe connection method of configuration 6 and adjusting the length of the pipeline, the drainage pipe can be installed in the designated position (configuration 7). [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] In the pipe connection structure of this invention, a sealing member fitted onto the outside of the inner pipe is interposed between the flanges of the thin plate metal pipes and tightened from the outer periphery with a tightening member, and sealing is achieved by pressing the sealing member against the flanges of the thin plate metal pipes and the outer periphery of the inner pipe.This makes it easier to install and ensures watertightness than connection structures using nipples, connection structures in which a flange is tightened with a bolt, or connection structures in which a sealing member fitted into a groove in the inner pipe is in contact with the thin plate metal pipe, and it allows for safe work to be done at high altitudes to install drainage pipes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1A is a perspective view showing a construction process of a connection structure for thin plate metal pipes according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a completed construction state; [Figure 2] (a) A cross-sectional view of the pipe axis showing the construction process, (b) A cross-sectional view of the pipe axis showing the completed construction state [Figure 3](a) A cross-sectional view along the pipe axis showing the installation process, and (b) a cross-sectional view along the pipe axis showing the completed installation state, in which an inner pipe is pre-caulked and inserted into one of the thin metal pipes. [Figure 4] (a) is a perspective view showing the construction process of a pipe connection structure with an adjustable insertion length, and (b) is a perspective view showing the completed construction state. [Figure 5] (a) A cross-sectional view in the pipe axis direction showing the construction process, (b) A cross-sectional view in the pipe axis direction showing an example of a construction-completed state in which the support members have been used to prevent the construction from coming off, and (c) A cross-sectional view in the pipe axis direction showing another example of a construction-completed state in which the support members have been used to prevent the construction from coming off. [Figure 6] FIG. 1B is a side view of the clamping member used in the embodiment; [Figure 7] A perspective view showing the installation of drainage pipes on a bridge DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] 1 and 2 show a connection structure for thin sheet metal pipes 11 used for drainage pipes, etc., in which thin sheet metal pipes 11 having similarly shaped ends to be connected are connected to each other. The thin sheet metal pipes 11 are straight pipes with a thickness of 3 mm or less, and each end of the thin sheet metal pipe 11 is formed with an expanded pipe portion 12 and a flange portion 13 forming the end surface.

[0019] This connection structure uses a short, straight inner pipe 21. The thickness of the inner pipe 21 is equal to the difference in height between the expanded portion 12 and the remaining portion of the thin plate metal pipe 11. This makes the inner diameter of the pipe line almost constant along the pipe axis.

[0020] An annular seal member 31 is fitted around the center of the inner pipe 21 in the axial direction. As the seal member 31, an O-ring is preferably used.

[0021] Also, a clamping member 41 as shown in Fig. 6 is used. The clamping member 41 is made by combining a pair of semi-annular metal strips with a central angle slightly smaller than 180°.

[0022] The semi-annular band material of the tightening member 41 has an internal width that gradually narrows from the inner diameter side to the outer diameter side, which is the fitting direction of the thin plate metal pipe 11, and is shaped to have ears 42 on both ends. A nut is welded to the ear 42 of one semi-annular band material, and a hole for inserting a bolt is drilled in the ear 42 of the other semi-annular band material (not shown).

[0023] When connecting thin plate metal tubes 11 to each other, the flange portions 13 of the thin plate metal tubes 11 to be connected are placed opposite each other, and an inner tube 21 is inserted across the expanded tube portions 12 of both thin plate metal tubes 11, as shown in Figures 1(a) and 2(a).

[0024] 1(b) and 2(b), with the sealing member 31 sandwiched between the flanges 13 of the thin plate metal pipes 11 to be connected, the flanges 13 and the sealing member 31 are fitted into the tightening member 41, and the bolts 43 are screwed into the nuts of the ears 42, and the tightening member 41 tightens them from the outer periphery. As a result, the sealing member 31 is pressed against the flanges 13 of both thin plate metal pipes 11 and the outer periphery of the inner pipe 21.

[0025] This type of pipe connection structure can be constructed more easily and ensures watertightness than conventional connection structures, and allows for safe work and installation of drainage pipes even at high altitudes.

[0026] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3( a), an inner pipe 21 fitted with a sealing member 31 may be inserted into the expanded pipe portion 12 of one of the thin plate metal pipes 11 in advance, and the inner pipe 21 may be fixed to the expanded pipe portion 12 of the thin plate metal pipe 11 with the sealing member 31 aligned with the flange portion 13 of the thin plate metal pipe 11, thereby forming a connecting metal pipe. Thereafter, the inner pipe 21 may be inserted into the expanded pipe portion 12 of the other thin plate metal pipe 11, and the thin plate metal pipes 11 may be connected to each other as shown in FIG. 3( b). This makes construction even easier and ensures watertightness.

[0027] The thin plate metal pipe 11 and the inner pipe 21 in the connecting metal pipe are fixed together by caulking, welding or adhesive.

[0028] As shown in Figure 7, when installing a drainage pipe P on a bridge, it is necessary to adjust the length of the pipe in order to connect the thin metal pipe 11 connected horizontally along the side of the bridge girder to the metal pipe of the downspout 51 that runs vertically downward.

[0029] 4(a) and 5(a), a seal member 31 is fitted onto the insertion-side end of one thin plate metal tube 11 without forming an expanded portion 12 or a flange portion 13, and an expanded diameter adjusting portion 14 is formed on the other thin plate metal tube 11 so as to extend long in the tube axial direction from the receiving-side end, and a flange portion 13 is formed on the end face of the adjusting portion 14. The inner diameter of the adjusting portion 14 is set to a size corresponding to the outer diameter of the insertion-side end of one thin plate metal tube 11.

[0030] Then, the end portion of one thin plate metal tube 11 fitted with the sealing member 31 is inserted into the adjustment tube portion 14 of the other thin plate metal tube 11, and the insertion length is adjusted, and the sealing member 31 is slid appropriately in the tube axis direction as shown in Figures 4(b) and 5(b) until it abuts against the flange portion 13 of the other thin plate metal tube 11.

[0031] Thereafter, the sealing member 31 and the flange 13 of the other thin plate metal pipe 11 are fitted into the tightening member 41, and the bolts 43 are screwed into the nuts of the ears 42, and the tightening member 41 is used to tighten the sealing member 31 from the outer periphery. As a result, the sealing member 31 is pressed against the outer periphery of one thin plate metal pipe 11 and the flange 13 of the other thin plate metal pipe 11, ensuring watertightness.

[0032] In a drainage pipe whose pipeline length has been adjusted in this manner, one possible method for preventing one thin plate metal pipe 11 from slipping out of the adjustment pipe section 14 of the other thin plate metal pipe 11 is to fix the other thin plate metal pipe 11 that sandwiches the two thin plate metal pipes 11 connected by a connection structure for adjusting the pipeline length with a support member 52 (see Figure 7) for attachment to a bridge, as shown in Figure 5(b), to prevent the thin plate metal pipe 11 from slipping in the axial direction of the pipe.

[0033] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 5(c), a method can be considered in which two thin-plate metal pipes 11 connected by a connection structure for adjusting the length of the pipe are fixed with a support member 52 for attachment to a bridge, thereby preventing the thin-plate metal pipes 11 from shifting in the pipe axial direction.

[0034] In the above embodiment, a case where thin-plate metal pipes are connected to construct a drainage pipe attached to a bridge is illustrated, but the pipe connection structure and connection method according to the present invention can also be applied to the construction of drainage pipes installed in other buildings and structures. In addition, the direction of the pipeline formed by connecting thin-plate metal pipes is not limited. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 11 Sheet metal tube 12 Expanded section 13 Tsuba 14 Adjustment pipe section 21 Inner tube 31 Sealing material 41 Fastening member 42 Ears 43 volts 51 Downpipe 52 Support member P drain pipe

Claims

1. In a pipe connection structure for connecting thin plate metal pipes together, each thin plate metal pipe has an expanded pipe portion formed at its end and a flange portion formed at its end edge, an inner pipe fitted with a sealing member is inserted across the expanded pipe portions of both thin plate metal pipes, the sealing member is interposed between the flange portions of both thin plate metal pipes, and the flange portions are tightened from the outer periphery with a tightening member, so that the sealing member is in pressure contact with the flange portions of both thin plate metal pipes and the outer periphery of the inner pipe.

2. 2. The pipe connection structure according to claim 1, wherein a step between the expanded portion of the thin metal pipe and the remaining portion is equal to a pipe thickness of the inner pipe.

3. 3. The pipe connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the thin metal pipe is 3 mm or less.

4. 2. A method for connecting pipes using the pipe connection structure according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: inserting and fixing the inner pipe into the expanded pipe portion of one of the thin plate metal pipes in advance; and then inserting the inner pipe into the expanded pipe portion of the other thin plate metal pipe.

5. A connecting metal pipe comprises a thin plate metal pipe having an expanded portion formed at the end and a flange portion formed on the end edge, and an inner pipe fitted with a sealing member, the inner pipe being inserted into the expanded portion of the thin plate metal pipe, and the inner pipe being fixed to the expanded portion of the thin plate metal pipe with the sealing member aligned with the flange portion of the thin plate metal pipe.

6. 10. A pipe connecting method for connecting a thin plate metal pipe to the first thin plate metal pipe using the pipe connecting structure according to claim 1, comprising: inserting one thin plate metal pipe fitted with a sealing member into another thin plate metal pipe having a flange portion formed on its end face; adjusting the insertion length; and tightening the sealing member and the flange portion from the outer periphery with a tightening member.

7. A drainage pipe installed at a predetermined position by adjusting the length of the pipe using the pipe connecting method according to claim 6.

Images