Flexible expansion pipe

Abstract

To provide an expansion joint that can be deformed greatly, by compressive deformation, S-shaped deformation, curvature deformation and the like, and can reliably absorb and mitigate the displacement of piping due to an earthquake and the like.SOLUTION: An expansion joint F1 comprises a peripheral wall P having a uniform thickness and provided with crest parts M and trough parts V alternately and continuously over the total length, wherein a height H1 of a crest part M1 and a height H2 of a crest part M2 (in addition, each width of the crest parts M1 and M2 and a width S of the trough part V) are set such that the crest part M2, which is as short as the height H2, enters between the adjacent crest parts M1 and M1, which are as tall as the height H1, when the peripheral wall P is deformed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an expansion joint, a connecting pipe, or other expandable flexible pipe that absorbs displacement of the pipe due to an earthquake or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] In an expansion flexible pipe such as an expansion joint, whose peripheral wall has a uniform thickness and alternating peaks and valleys along its entire length, displacement occurs in the axial direction between the peaks and valleys, resulting in compression deformation, S-shaped deformation, bending deformation, etc., and this allows the pipe to absorb and mitigate displacement caused by earthquakes, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 50-127047 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, conventional expandable flexible pipes have alternating peaks with the same height and width and valleys with the same width, so adjacent peaks interfere with each other, reducing the amount of deformation, such as compressive deformation, S-shaped deformation, and bending deformation, and there is a risk that displacement of the pipe during an earthquake or the like cannot be reliably absorbed and mitigated.

[0005] The present invention aims to solve these problems and provide an expandable flexible pipe, such as an expansion joint, that can undergo large amounts of deformation, including compressive deformation, S-shaped deformation, and bending deformation, and can reliably absorb and mitigate displacement of piping during earthquakes and other events. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention proposes an expandable flexible pipe such as an expansion joint having a uniform wall thickness and alternating peaks and valleys along its entire length, and in particular, to achieve the above-mentioned object, the expandable flexible pipe is characterized by having a pattern in which at least one of the peak height, peak width, and valley width varies.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the expandable flexible tube of the present invention, the tube has at least one of a pattern in which the height of all or some of the peaks varies, a pattern in which the width of all or some of the peaks varies, and a pattern in which the width of all or some of the valleys varies.

[0008] Specifically, the expandable flexible tube of the present invention is a pattern in which an odd number of peaks and valleys, each having the same width, are arranged alternately with high and low peaks, and the peaks at both ends are low in height; a pattern in which an odd number of peaks, each having the same peak width and valley width, are arranged alternately with high and low peaks, and the peaks at both ends are higher; A pattern in which an odd number of peaks, each having the same peak width and valley width, are arranged in rows with tall and short peaks, and the peaks adjacent to the tall peaks at each end and the peaks at the center are short, and there is a pair of tall peaks between the short peaks. A pattern in which an odd number of peaks, each having the same peak width and valley width, are arranged in rows with tall and short peaks, and the peaks adjacent to the low peaks at each end and the peaks at the center are tall, and there is a pair of short peaks between the tall peaks. A pattern in which an odd number of peaks, each having the same peak width and valley width, are arranged with some having high heights, some having low heights, and some having heights intermediate between the two peaks, and the peaks located at each end and the central portion are the lowest in height, and the peak located in the middle between the lowest peaks is the highest in height, with the heights decreasing sequentially from the highest peak to the lowest peak. A pattern in which an odd number of peaks, each having the same peak width and valley width, are arranged with some having high heights, some having low heights, and some having a height intermediate between the two peaks, with the peaks located at each end and the central peak being the highest, and the peak located in the middle between the highest peaks being the lowest, with the heights decreasing sequentially from the highest peak to the lowest peak. A pattern in which an odd number of peaks, each with the same valley width, are arranged alternately with high and low peaks, the low peaks being wider and the high peaks being narrower, and the low peaks being located every other peak from the edge. A pattern in which an odd number of peaks, each with the same valley width, are arranged alternately with high and low peaks, the high peaks being wider and the low peaks being narrower, and the high peaks being located every other peak from the edge; A pattern consisting of an odd number of peaks of the same height, with the peak width and the valley width gradually decreasing from the peaks at each end to the peaks at the center. A pattern consisting of a plurality of peaks each having the same height and width, and the width of each valley between the peaks is greater than the width of the peak; A pattern in which two pairs of peaks, each having the same height and width, are arranged side by side, and the width of the valley between one pair of peaks and an adjacent pair of peaks is larger than the width of the valley between each pair of peaks. A pattern consisting of an odd number of peaks of the same width, in which the peaks located at each end and the center are higher in height, and the peaks adjacent to the peaks located at each end and the peaks adjacent to the peaks located at the center are lower in height, and the width of the valleys between the peaks adjacent to the peaks located at each end and the peaks adjacent to the peaks located at the center is greater than the width of the valleys between the peaks located at each end and the peaks adjacent thereto and between the peaks located at the center and the peaks adjacent thereto. A pattern consisting of an odd number of peaks of the same width, in which the peaks located at each end and the center are low in height, and the peaks adjacent to the peaks located at each end and the peaks adjacent to the peaks located at the center are high in height, and the width of the valleys between the peaks adjacent to the peaks located at each end and the peaks adjacent to the peaks located at the center is greater than the width of the valleys between the peaks located at each end and the peaks adjacent thereto and between the peaks located at the center and the peaks adjacent thereto. a pattern in which an odd number of peaks, each having the same peak width and valley width, are arranged in rows of high and low peaks, with the peaks decreasing in height from the highest peaks at both ends to the lowest peak in the center; A pattern consisting of an odd number of peaks, in which the peaks at each end have the largest height and width, and the peaks at the center have the smallest height and width, and the peak heights and widths and valley widths increase sequentially from the central peak to the peaks at each end. a pattern consisting of an odd number of peaks, each having the same peak width and valley width, with the peak height decreasing sequentially from the central peak to the peaks at each end; a pattern consisting of an odd number of peaks, each having a peak height, width, and valley width increasing sequentially from the peaks at each end to the central peak; A pattern consisting of an odd number of peaks, each having the same peak height and valley width, with peaks of larger width and peaks of smaller width alternately arranged, with peaks of larger width at the end being wider; or It has a pattern consisting of an odd number of peaks of the same height, and the width of the peaks and the width of the valleys between the peaks gradually increase from the peak located in the center to the peaks located at each end. That is, it has one or more patterns selected from such patterns, and this pattern The pattern may be formed over the entire length of the peripheral wall, or may be formed over a portion of the peripheral wall, with the remaining portion being formed in a general pattern (such as a pattern of successive ridges of the same height).

[0009] The expandable flexible tube of the present invention is preferably an expansion joint in which the pattern is formed over the entire length or part of the peripheral wall. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The expandable flexible tube of the present invention has a pattern in which at least one of the height of the peaks, the width of the peaks, and the width of the valleys changes, and in the peripheral wall portion where this pattern is formed, at least one of the height of the peaks, the width of the peaks, and the valleys changes significantly, allowing for a large amount of deformation, so that displacement of the piping (compression deformation, S-shaped deformation, bending deformation, etc.) during earthquakes, etc. can be reliably absorbed and mitigated. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing an example of an expandable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of compressive deformation of the expandable flexible tube. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the S-shaped deformation of the telescopic flexible tube. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the bent and deformed telescopic flexible tube. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a half-sectioned cross-sectional view showing yet another modified example of the extendable flexible tube according to the present invention. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional telescopic flexible tube. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of compressive deformation of the expandable flexible tube. [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing the S-shaped deformation of the same extendable flexible tube. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the bent and deformed telescopic flexible tube. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a half-section cross-sectional view showing an example of an expandable flexible tube according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of compressive deformation of the same expandable tube, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of S-shaped deformation of the same expandable tube, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of curved deformation of the same expandable tube.

[0014] The expandable flexible tube F of the present invention has a peripheral wall P of uniform thickness with alternating peaks M and valleys V along its entire length, and has at least one pattern in which at least one of the height H of the peaks M, the width S of the peaks M, and the width S of the valleys V varies, i.e., a pattern in which the height H of all or part of the peaks M varies, a pattern in which the width W of all or part of the peaks M varies, and a pattern in which the width S of all or part of the valleys V varies.

[0015] That is, the expansion joint F1 (hereinafter referred to as the "first expansion joint"), which is an example of an expandable flexible tube shown in Figure 1, has an odd number (nine in this example) of peaks M, each with the same width W of the peaks M and the same width S of the valleys V, and is arranged in a pattern in which peaks M1 with a high height H1 and peaks M2 with a low height H2 are arranged alternately, and the peaks M2 located at the ends have a low height H2.

[0016] In the first expansion joint F1, the height H1 of the peaks M1 and the height H2 of the peaks M2 (and further the width W of the peaks M1, M2 and the width S of the valleys V) are set so that when the peripheral wall P is deformed, the peaks M2 with a lower height H2 fit between the adjacent peaks M1, M1 with a higher height H1. In other words, in a compressively deformed state, an S-shaped deformed state, or a curved deformed state, the peaks M2 with a lower height H2 fit between the adjacent peaks M1, M1 with a higher height H1 without interfering with each other.

[0017] Therefore, since the high peaks M1 and the low peaks M2 are set so as not to interfere with each other, the amount of deformation is sufficiently large in the state of compressive deformation A as shown in Fig. 2, the state of S-shaped deformation B as shown in Fig. 3, or the state of curved deformation C as shown in Fig. 4, and displacement of the piping due to earthquakes, etc. can be reliably absorbed and mitigated. In Figs. 1 to 4, compressive deformation is indicated by arrow A, S-shaped deformation is indicated by arrow B, and curved deformation is indicated by arrow C (the same applies to Figs. 5 to 22 below).

[0018] As a comparative example, a conventional expansion flexible pipe, i.e., an expansion joint f, was modified. As shown in Figure 23, this expansion joint f has a peripheral wall p whose length and diameter are the same as those of the peripheral wall P, the height h of the nine peaks m is the same as the height H1 of the long peak M1, and the width w of the peaks m and the width s of the valleys v are the same as the width W of the peaks M and the width S of the valleys V, respectively.

[0019] In the conventional expansion joint f, adjacent peaks m, m interfere with each other, making deformation difficult, and it can be seen that the compressive deformation (indicated by arrow a) shown in FIG. 24, the S-shaped deformation (indicated by arrow b) shown in FIG. 25, and the curved deformation (indicated by arrow c) shown in FIG. 26 are all significantly smaller than the deformation amounts of the first expansion joint shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0020] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment (first expansion joint F1), and any other embodiments may be used without departing from the basic principles of the present invention. For example, various shapes are possible as shown in Figs.

[0021] The expansion joint F2 shown in FIG. 5 (hereinafter referred to as the "second expansion joint") differs from the first expansion joint only in the arrangement of the peaks M1 and M2, and is capable of deformations similar to the compressive deformation A shown in FIG. 2, the S-shaped deformation B shown in FIG. 3, and the curved deformation C shown in FIG. 4.

[0022] That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the second expansion joint F2 has an odd number (nine in this example) of peaks M with the same width W and valleys V with the same width S, with peaks M1 with a higher height H1 and peaks M2 with a lower height H2 arranged alternately, and the peaks M1 located at each end have the higher height H1.

[0023] The expansion joint F3 shown in Figure 6 (hereinafter referred to as the "third expansion joint") has an odd number (nine in this example) of peaks M, each with the same width W and valley V, arranged in a pattern with some M1 having a high height H1 and others M2 having a low height H2, with the peaks M1 located at each end and the peaks M2 adjacent to them having a high height H1 and the peaks M2 located in the center having a low height H2, and a pair of peaks M1, M1 with a high height H1 between the peaks M2, M2 with a low height H2. Even in this pattern, the low peak M2 with a high height H2 fits between the high peaks M1, M1, so that the third expansion joint F3 experiences large amounts of compressive deformation A, S-shaped deformation B, and bending deformation Cm, and these deformations are reliably absorbed and mitigated.

[0024] 7 (hereinafter referred to as the "fourth expansion joint") F4 differs from the third expansion joint in the high peaks M1 and low peaks M2. That is, the fourth expansion joint F4 has an odd number of peaks (nine in this example) with the same width W of each peak M1, M2 and the same width S of each valley V, and is arranged with some M1 having a high height H1 and some M2 having a low height H2, and the peaks M1 adjacent to the peaks M2 located at each end and the peak M1 located in the center have a high height H1, and there is a pair of low peaks M2, M2 with a low height H2 between the peaks M1, M1 with a high height H1.

[0025] Furthermore, the expansion joint F5 shown in FIG. 8 (hereinafter referred to as the "fifth expansion joint") has an odd number (nine in this example) of peaks M1, M2, M3, each with the same width W and the same width S of each valley V, arranged in a pattern with peaks M1 having a high height H1, peaks M3 having a low height H3, and peaks M2 having a height H2 intermediate between the peaks M1 and M3, and the peaks M3 located at each end and the central peak M3 have the lowest height H3, and the peak M1 located in the middle between the lowest peaks M3 and M3 has the highest height H1, with the heights decreasing sequentially from the highest peak M1 to the lowest peak M3.

[0026] 9 (hereinafter referred to as the "sixth expansion joint") F6 is basically the same as the fifth expansion joint F5, but differs in the positions of the peaks M1, M2, and M3. That is, the sixth expansion joint F6 has an odd number of peaks (nine in this example) with the same width W of each peak M1, M2, and M3 and the same width S of each valley V, and is arranged in a pattern in which peaks M1 with a high height H1, peaks M3 with a low height H3, and peaks M2 with a height H2 intermediate between the peaks M1 and M3 are arranged in a pattern in which the peaks M1 located at each end and the central peak M1 have the highest height H1, and the peak located in the middle between the highest peaks M1 and M1 has the lowest height H3, with the heights decreasing sequentially from the highest peak M1 to the lowest peak M3.

[0027] Furthermore, the expansion joint F7 shown in FIG. 10 (hereinafter referred to as the "seventh expansion joint") has an odd number (nine in this example) of peaks, each of which has the same width S of each valley V, and these peaks M1 with a high height H1 and M2 with a low height H2 are arranged alternately. The peaks M2 with a low height H2 have a large width W2, and the peaks M1 with a high height H1 have a small width W1. The peaks M2 with a low height H2 are positioned every other peak from the end. In this seventh expansion joint F7 as well, compressive deformation A, S-shaped deformation B, or curved deformation C is sufficiently performed.

[0028] 11 (hereinafter referred to as the "eighth expansion joint") F8 differs from the seventh expansion joint only in the relationship between the peaks M1 and M2. That is, the eighth expansion joint F8 has an odd number of peaks (nine in this example) with the same width S of each valley V, with peaks M1 with a high height H1 and peaks M2 with a low height H2 arranged alternately, with the peaks M1 with a high height H1 having a large width W1 and the peaks M2 with a low height H2 having a small width W2, and the peaks M1 with a high height H1 being located every other peak from the end.

[0029] 12 (hereinafter referred to as the "ninth expansion joint") F9 consists of an odd number (five in this example) of peaks M1, M2, M3 that have the same height H, and the widths W1, W2, W3 of the peaks and the widths S1, S2 of the valleys V1, V2 gradually decrease from the peak M1 at each end to the peak M3 in the center. In the ninth expansion joint F9, the widths W1, W2, W3 of the peaks M1, M2, M3 and the valleys V1, V2 between them are set so that compressive deformation A, S-shaped deformation B, or bending deformation C is sufficiently large.

[0030] Furthermore, the expansion joint (hereinafter referred to as "tenth expansion joint") F10 is composed of a plurality of (for example, five) peaks M, each having the same height H and width W, and is configured in a pattern in which the width S of each valley V between the peaks M, M is larger than the width W of the peak M. In this tenth expansion joint F10, by appropriately setting the width S of the valley V, it is possible to increase the amount of deformation in the S-shaped deformation B and the bending deformation C. The amount of deformation in the compressive deformation A is not so large, but it can be deformed to the same extent as the conventional expansion joint f.

[0031] 14 (hereinafter referred to as the "eleventh expansion joint") F11 is basically the same as the tenth expansion joint. That is, the eleventh expansion joint has a pattern in which two peaks M, M, each having the same height H and width W, are lined up in multiple pairs (three pairs in this example), and the width S2 of the valley V2 between one pair of peaks M, M and an adjacent pair of peaks M, M is larger than the width S1 of the valley V1 between each pair of peaks M, M.

[0032] Furthermore, the expansion joint F12 shown in FIG. 15 (hereinafter referred to as the "twelfth expansion joint") is made up of an odd number (seven in this example) of peaks M1, M2 that are the same width W, and the peaks M1 located at each end and in the center have a high height H1, and the peaks M2 adjacent to the peaks M1 located at each end and the peaks M2 adjacent to the peaks M1 located in the center have a low height H2, and the width S2 of the valleys V2 between the peaks M2 adjacent to the peaks M1 located at each end and the peaks M2 adjacent to the peaks M1 located in the center is greater than the width S1 of the valleys V1 between the peaks M1 located at each end and the peaks M2 adjacent to them, and between the peaks M1 located in the center and the peaks M2 adjacent to them.

[0033] Furthermore, the expansion joint F13 shown in FIG. 16 (hereinafter referred to as the "thirteenth expansion joint") has a different arrangement from the twelfth expansion joint. That is, the thirteenth expansion joint F13 is composed of an odd number (seven in this example) of peaks M1, M2 with the same width W, and the peaks M2 located at each end and in the center have a low height H2, and the peaks M1 adjacent to the peaks M2 located at each end and the peaks M1 adjacent to the peaks M2 located in the center are high in height, and the width S2 of the valleys V2 between the peaks M1 adjacent to the peaks M2 located at each end and the peaks M1 adjacent to the peaks M2 located in the center is greater than the width S1 of the valleys V1 between the peaks M2 located at each end and the peaks M1 adjacent to them, and between the peaks M2 located in the center and the peaks M1 adjacent to them. For the 11th to 13th expansion joints F11, F12, and F13, as with the 10th expansion joint F10, the deformation amounts of S-shaped deformation B and curved deformation C can be increased, but the compressive deformation A cannot be increased so much, but it can be increased. It can deform to the same extent as the conventional expansion joint f.

[0034] 17 (hereinafter referred to as the "14th expansion joint") F14 has an odd number (nine in this example) of peaks M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, each with the same width W and the same width S of each valley V, and these peaks M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 are arranged in a pattern with heights H1, H2, H3, H4, H5 that decrease in height from the peak M1 located at each end, which has the highest height H1, to the peak M5 located in the center, which has the lowest height H5. This 14th expansion joint F14 has sufficiently large deformation amounts for compressive deformation A and bending deformation C, but small deformation amounts for S-shaped deformation B, which is comparable to that of the conventional expansion joint f.

[0035] 18 (hereinafter referred to as the "15th expansion joint") F15 is composed of an odd number of peaks M (five in this example), with the peaks M1 located at each end having the largest height H1 and width W1, and the peaks M3 located in the center having the smallest height H3 and width W3, with the height H and width W of the peaks M and the width S of the valleys V gradually increasing from the central peak M3 to the peaks M1 at each end. In this 15th expansion joint, as in the 14th expansion joint F14, compressive deformation A and bending deformation C are sufficiently carried out, but the amount of S-shaped deformation B is small, comparable to that of the conventional expansion joint f.

[0036] The expansion joint F16 shown in Figure 19 (hereinafter referred to as the "16th expansion joint") is made up of an odd number (nine in this example) of peaks M, each with the same width and valley width, and the height H of the peaks M gradually decreases from the peak M1 located in the center to the peaks M5 located at each end. In this 16th expansion joint F16, compressive deformation A and S-shaped deformation B are carried out effectively. The amount of bending deformation C is small, and it is carried out to the same extent as in the conventional expansion joint F.

[0037] 20 (hereinafter referred to as "17th expansion joint") F17 is composed of an odd number of peaks M (five in this example), with the height H and width W of the peaks M and the width S of the valleys V each increasing successively from the peaks M3 located at each end to the peak M1 located in the center. In this 17th expansion joint F17, as in the 16th expansion joint F16, compressive deformation A and S-shaped deformation B are carried out sufficiently effectively, and the amount of bending deformation C is small, approximately the same as in the conventional expansion joint f.

[0038] Moreover, the expansion joint F18 shown in Fig. 21 (hereinafter referred to as the "18th expansion joint") consists of an odd number of peaks M (nine in this example), each with the same height H of the peaks M and the same width S of the valleys V, and consists of alternating peaks M1 with larger widths M1 and smaller peaks M2, with the peaks M1 located at the ends having larger widths W1. In this 18th expansion joint F18, compressive deformation A is carried out sufficiently effectively. The amounts of S-shaped deformation B and curved deformation C are small, and are carried out to the same extent as in the conventional expansion joint f.

[0039] Moreover, the expansion joint F19 shown in Fig. 22 (hereinafter referred to as the "19th expansion joint") is made up of an odd number (five in this example) of peaks M of the same height H, and is configured in a pattern in which the width W of the peaks M and the width S of the valleys V between the peaks increase successively from the peak M1 located in the center to the peaks M3 located at each end. In this "19th expansion joint" F19, as in the 18th expansion joint F18, compressive deformation A is carried out sufficiently effectively, but the amounts of S-shaped deformation B and curved deformation C are small, and are considered to be about the same as those of the conventional expansion joint f.

[0040] In the above embodiment, examples have been shown in which the patterns shown in Figs. 1 and 5 to 22 are formed over the entire length of the peripheral wall, but it is also possible to form a combination of patterns selected from the above over the entire length of the peripheral wall. Furthermore, it is also possible to form a pattern selected from the above on a part of the peripheral wall. and the remainder of the peripheral wall may be formed with a conventional expansion joint f or other.

[0041] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the expansion flexible pipe of the present invention was applied to an expansion joint, but it can also be applied to expansion flexible pipes other than expansion joints, such as connecting pipes, etc. In particular, for long pipes, the necessary portions can be configured with each of the above patterns or patterns that combine these. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] H Height of the peak M Yamabe P Peripheral wall S valley width V Tanibe W Width of the ridge

Claims

1. It is a flexible pipe that absorbs and mitigates the displacement of piping during earthquakes. An expandable flexible tube having a uniform wall thickness, in which peaks and valleys alternately continue along the entire length of the peripheral wall, and in which at least one of the peak height, peak width, and valley width varies; An expandable flexible tube characterized in that the width of all or part of the peaks varies, the diameter of the peripheral wall at the bottom of each valley is the same, the diameter of the peripheral wall at the top of each peak is the same, and each peak and each adjacent valley always have a continuous peripheral wall sandwiched between straight portions perpendicular to the axis in a cross section including the axis.

2. It is a flexible pipe that absorbs and mitigates the displacement of piping during earthquakes. An expandable flexible tube having a uniform wall thickness, in which peaks and valleys alternately continue along the entire length of the peripheral wall, and in which at least one of the peak height, peak width, and valley width varies; An expandable flexible tube characterized in that the width of all or part of the valley portions varies, the diameter of the peripheral wall at the bottom of each valley portion is the same, and each peak portion and each adjacent valley portion always have a continuous peripheral wall sandwiched between straight portions perpendicular to the axis in a cross-sectional view including the axis, as described above.

3. It is a flexible pipe that absorbs and mitigates the displacement of piping during earthquakes. An expandable flexible tube having a uniform wall thickness, in which peaks and valleys alternately continue along the entire length of the peripheral wall, and in which at least one of the peak height, peak width, and valley width varies; An expandable flexible tube characterized by having the above pattern in which an odd number of peaks, each having the same peak width and each valley width, are arranged in rows of tall and short peaks, the peaks adjacent to the tall peaks located at each end and the peaks located in the center are short, there are a pair of tall peaks between the short peaks, and the diameter of the peripheral wall at the bottom of each valley is the same.

4. It is a flexible pipe that absorbs and mitigates the displacement of piping during earthquakes. An expandable flexible tube having a uniform wall thickness, in which peaks and valleys alternately continue along the entire length of the peripheral wall, and in which at least one of the peak height, peak width, and valley width varies; An expandable flexible tube characterized in that an odd number of peaks, each having the same peak width and each valley width, are arranged in rows of tall and short peaks, the peaks adjacent to the low peaks located at each end and the peaks located in the center are tall, there are a pair of short peaks between the tall peaks, and each peak and each adjacent valley have a pattern in which the peripheral walls are continuous across a straight line perpendicular to the axis in a cross-sectional view including the axis.

5. It is a flexible pipe that absorbs and mitigates the displacement of piping during earthquakes. An expandable flexible tube having a uniform wall thickness, in which peaks and valleys alternately continue along the entire length of the peripheral wall, and in which at least one of the peak height, peak width, and valley width varies; An expandable flexible tube characterized in that an odd number of peaks, each having the same width as the peaks and the same width as the valleys, are arranged in rows of tall, short, and intermediate heights, the peaks located at each end and the center being the lowest, the peak located in the middle between the lowest peaks being the highest, and the heights decrease successively from the highest peak to the lowest peak, and each peak and each adjacent valley always have a pattern in which the peripheral walls are continuous across a straight line perpendicular to the axis in a cross-sectional view including the axis.

6. It is a flexible pipe that absorbs and mitigates the displacement of piping during earthquakes. An expandable flexible tube having a uniform wall thickness, in which peaks and valleys alternately continue along the entire length of the peripheral wall, and in which at least one of the peak height, peak width, and valley width varies; An odd number of peaks, each with the same width as the peaks and valleys, are arranged in rows with some high, some low, and some intermediate in height, and the peaks at each end and the central peak are the tallest, with the peak at the center between the tallest peaks being the tallest. the highest peak portion is the lowest peak portion, and the height decreases successively from the highest peak portion to the lowest peak portion, and each peak portion and each adjacent valley portion always have a pattern in which the peripheral wall is continuous across a straight line portion perpendicular to the axis in a cross section including the axis.

7. It is a flexible pipe that absorbs and mitigates the displacement of piping during earthquakes. An expandable flexible tube having a uniform wall thickness, in which peaks and valleys alternately continue along the entire length of the peripheral wall, and in which at least one of the peak height, peak width, and valley width varies; An expandable flexible tube, characterized in that it has a pattern in which an odd number of peaks, each having the same width as the valleys, are arranged alternately with tall and short peaks, the tall peaks are larger in width than the short peaks, the tall peaks are located every other peak from the end, the diameter of the peripheral wall at the bottom of each valley is the same, and the diameter of the peripheral wall at the top of the tall peak is 1.5 times the diameter of the peripheral wall at the bottom of the valley.

8. It is a flexible pipe that absorbs and mitigates the displacement of piping during earthquakes. An expandable flexible tube having a uniform wall thickness, in which peaks and valleys alternately continue along the entire length of the peripheral wall, and in which at least one of the peak height, peak width, and valley width varies; An expandable flexible tube, characterized in that it has an odd number of peaks of the same height, the widths of the peaks and valleys gradually decreasing from the peaks at each end to the peaks at the center, and each peak and each adjacent valley always have a pattern in which the peripheral walls are continuous across a straight line perpendicular to the axis in a cross section including the axis.

9. It is a flexible pipe that absorbs and mitigates the displacement of piping during earthquakes. An expandable flexible tube having a uniform wall thickness, in which peaks and valleys alternately continue along the entire length of the peripheral wall, and in which at least one of the peak height, peak width, and valley width varies; An expandable flexible tube, characterized in that it has a pattern consisting of a plurality of peaks each having the same height and width, the width of each valley between the peaks being greater than the width of the peak, and each peak and each adjacent valley always having a continuous peripheral wall sandwiching a straight line perpendicular to the axis in a cross section including the axis.

10. It is a flexible pipe that absorbs and mitigates the displacement of piping during earthquakes. An expandable flexible tube having a uniform wall thickness, in which peaks and valleys alternately continue along the entire length of the peripheral wall, and in which at least one of the peak height, peak width, and valley width varies; An expandable flexible tube characterized by having a pattern in which two pairs of peaks, each having the same height and width, are lined up in pairs, the width of the valley between one pair of peaks and an adjacent pair of peaks is larger than the width of the valley between each pair of peaks, and the diameter of the peripheral wall at the bottom of each valley is the same.

11. It is a flexible pipe that absorbs and mitigates the displacement of piping during earthquakes. An expandable flexible tube having a uniform wall thickness, in which peaks and valleys are alternately arranged along the entire length of the peripheral wall, and in which at least one of the peak height, peak width, and valley width varies; An odd number of peaks, each having the same width as the peaks and valleys, are arranged in rows, some taller and some shorter, and the peaks decrease in height from the highest peaks at both ends to the lowest peak in the center, The diameter of the peripheral wall at the bottom of each valley is the same, An expandable flexible tube, characterized in that the width of the peaks and the width of the valleys are equal, and the radius of curvature of the peaks and the radius of curvature of the valleys are equal in a cross-sectional view including the axis.

12. It is a flexible pipe that absorbs and mitigates the displacement of piping during earthquakes. A flexible pipe having a uniform wall thickness, in which peaks and valleys are alternately arranged along the entire length of the peripheral wall, a pattern in which at least one of the height of the peaks, the width of the peaks, and the width of the valleys varies; An expandable flexible tube, characterized in that it is composed of an odd number of peaks, each having the same width and valley width, the heights of the peaks decreasing successively from those located in the center to those located at each end, and each peak and each adjacent valley always have a pattern in which the peripheral walls are continuous across a straight line perpendicular to the axis in a cross section including the axis.

13. It is a flexible pipe that absorbs and mitigates the displacement of piping during earthquakes. An expandable flexible tube having a uniform wall thickness, in which peaks and valleys are alternately arranged along the entire length of the peripheral wall, and in which at least one of the peak height, peak width, and valley width varies; An expandable flexible tube, characterized in that it is composed of an odd number of peaks, the height and width of the peaks and the width of the valleys each increasing sequentially from the peaks located at each end to the peaks located in the center, and each peak and each adjacent valley always have the above pattern in which the peripheral walls are continuous across a straight line portion perpendicular to the axis in a cross section including the axis.

14. An expandable flexible tube having a uniform wall thickness, in which peaks and valleys are alternately arranged along the entire length of the peripheral wall, and in which at least one of the peak height, peak width, and valley width varies; An expandable flexible tube, characterized in that it has a pattern consisting of an odd number of peaks of the same height, in which the widths of the peaks and the widths of the valleys between the peaks gradually decrease from the peak located in the center to the peaks located at each end.

15. 15. The expandable flexible pipe according to claim 1, wherein the pattern is an expansion joint formed over the entire length or part of the peripheral wall.

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