Apparatus and method for removing connecting member

Abstract

To provide a removal device and a removal method of a connection member capable of removing the connection member from a branch pipe in a continuous flow state without applying a load to a rising part.SOLUTION: A removal device 1 includes a housing 9 that hermetically surrounds a branch portion 2a of an existing fluid pipe 2 and a connecting member 20 having a flange 2a attached to the branch portion 10b and a rising portion 10b connected to the flange 20a, an operation valve device 50 that can open and close the inside of the housing 9, and an insertion device 90 that can move the connecting member 20 in the housing 9. 95a 10b, the stand 30 is erected on the flange side 20a along the rising portion side 10b of the connecting member 20, and is fixed to the flange side 20a in a non-engaged state in the moving direction of the spindle side 95a of the insertion device 90 with respect to the rising portion side 10b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting member removal device and a removal method for removing a connecting member having a branch portion of an existing fluid pipe, a flange portion attached to the branch portion, and a rising portion connected to the flange portion, while maintaining an uninterrupted flow. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a branch section branching off from an existing fluid pipe is connected to a connecting member consisting of a flange of a manhole cover attached to the end opening of the branch section, and a short pipe connected to the flange, a gate valve, and an air valve. When replacing these existing connecting members with new connecting members, the connecting members are removed from the branch section without interrupting the flow and then replaced with the new connecting members.

[0003] A removal device for removing this type of existing connecting member from a branch section without interrupting flow includes, for example, a housing that hermetically encloses the branch section and the connecting member, an on-off valve device that can open and close the inside of the housing, and a moving device with a moving shaft for lifting the connecting member, the lower end of which is connected to a repair valve that serves as the rising part of the connecting member via a valve hanging fitting, and the connecting member can be removed without interrupting flow by being pulled up above the on-off valve by the moving shaft to close the on-off valve (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-80823 A (pages 8 and 9, figures 9 and 10) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the connecting member removal device described in Patent Document 1 above, if there is a leak at the rising portion of the connecting member or at the connection portion between the rising portion and the flange portion, or if there is a portion weakened by corrosion, when the repair valve (rising portion) of the connecting member removed from the branch portion is connected to a moving shaft and the connecting member is pulled up, the load from the weight of the entire connecting member is applied to the rising portion, which causes a problem in that part of the rising portion may be damaged or the member may fall off and enter the fluid pipe.

[0006] The present invention has been made in response to these problems, and aims to provide a device and method for removing connecting members that can be removed from branch pipes without interrupting flow, without placing a load on the rising portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the connecting member removal device of the present invention comprises: A connecting member removal device that includes a housing that hermetically encloses a branching portion of an existing fluid pipe, a flange portion attached to the branching portion, and a connecting member having a rising portion connected to the flange portion, an on-off valve device that can open and close the inside of the housing, and a moving device that can move the connecting member within the housing, and that removes the connecting member in a state where flow is not interrupted, a connector capable of connecting the moving device and the flange portion, The connecting body is erected on the flange portion so as to follow the rising portion of the connecting member, and is fixed to the flange portion in a non-engaged state with respect to the rising portion in the movement direction of the moving device. According to this feature, even if the structural strength of the rising portion or the connecting portion between the rising portion and the flange portion is reduced, by connecting the moving device to the flange portion via a connector, it is possible to avoid the rising portion being subjected to load and damaged when moved by the moving device, and therefore it is possible to move and remove the connecting member in a stable state.

[0008] The connector is characterized by having a positioning means for installing the connector on the flange portion so as to be concentric with the center of the rising portion. According to this feature, when the connecting member is moved by the moving device, it can be moved stably without losing balance.

[0009] the connecting body has a plurality of standing portions arranged around the standing portion and a support portion supported by the plurality of standing portions, The positioning means is characterized by being composed of the rising portion or an extension portion extending from the rising portion, and an insertion hole formed through the support portion and allowing the extension portion to be inserted therethrough. According to this feature, by installing the connector so that the rising portion or the extending portion passes through the insertion hole, the connector can be easily positioned relative to the connecting member.

[0010] The connecting body is characterized by having fastening means for fastening the support portion and the flange portion so as to sandwich the standing portion. According to this feature, the connection member can be easily positioned relative to the flange portion.

[0011] Further, the method for removing a connecting member of the present invention includes the steps of: A method for removing a connecting member, comprising: a housing that hermetically encloses a branching portion of an existing fluid pipe, a flange portion attached to the branching portion, and a connecting member having a rising portion connected to the flange portion; an on-off valve device that can open and close the inside of the housing; and a moving device that can move the connecting member within the housing, the method comprising: removing the connecting member in a state in which flow is not interrupted; a step of erecting a connector that connects the moving device and the flange portion on the flange portion so as to be along the rising portion, and fixing the connector to the flange portion in a state of not engaging with the rising portion in the moving direction of the moving device; sealingly surrounding the connection member with the housing; opening the on-off valve device and connecting the moving device to the flange portion via the connecting body; and a step of moving the connecting member to a position upstream of the on-off valve device within the housing by the moving device. According to this feature, even if the structural strength of the rising portion or the connecting portion between the rising portion and the flange portion is reduced, by connecting the moving device to the flange portion via a connector, it is possible to avoid the rising portion being subjected to load and damaged when moved by the moving device, and therefore it is possible to move and remove the connecting member in a stable state.

[0012] The method is characterized by including a step of removing a non-leaking portion in a protruding portion of the rising portion that protrudes outward. According to this feature, even if there is a connecting member with a protruding portion in one part, the rising portion can be surrounded by a small-capacity housing, so the connecting member can be removed without interrupting the flow without increasing the scale or time required for removal. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1A is a plan view showing a state in which a connecting member according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to a branching portion branching from an existing fluid pipe, and FIG. 1B is a front view. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the state in which the platform is placed on the flange of the manhole cover connected to the branch section. [Figure 3] (a) is a front view of the stand, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a bottom view. [Figure 4] 1(a) is a plan view showing the state in which the stand is placed on the flange of the manhole cover connected to the branch section, and FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1(a). [Figure 5] This is a front view showing the state in which the flange of the manhole cover connected to the branch section and the stand are connected by a lever hoist. [Figure 6] This is a plan view showing the state in which the flange of the manhole cover connected to the branch section and the stand are connected by a lever hoist. [Figure 7] This is a partially broken side view showing the state in which the flange of the manhole cover connected to the branch section and the stand are connected by a lever hoist. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway front view showing the state in which the lower part of the housing is attached above the branching portion and the valve hanging fitting is attached to the top of the stand. [Figure 9] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a connecting member removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state in which the spindle of the insertion device is connected to the stand in the housing. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state in which a connecting member connected to a spindle of an insertion device via a stand is being pulled up. [Figure 12] 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a connecting member is housed in the upper part of the housing, the inside of the housing is partitioned by a gate valve device, and the sealing material is collected. FIG. [Figure 13] 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state in which the upper part of the housing and the insertion device have been removed and the inside of the branch section is closed by the closing device. FIG. [Figure 14] 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the state in which the upper part of the housing and the insertion device are attached and the new connection member is connected to the spindle of the insertion device. FIG. [Figure 15] 10 is a front view showing the state in which a new connecting member has been connected to the branch section and then the housing, gate valve device, and insertion device have been removed from the branch section. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A description will now be given of an embodiment of a connecting member removal device and a removal method according to the present invention. [Example]

[0015] A connecting member removal device and removal method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 15. In the following description, the near side of Figure 1 will be referred to as the front of the connecting member removal device, the far side as the rear, the left side as the left side, and the right side as the right side.

[0016] The connecting member removal device 1 in this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as removal device 1 for short; see Figure 9) is a device that removes, in an uninterrupted flow state, a connecting member 20 that is hermetically connected to a branching section 2a that communicates with an existing fluid pipe 2 serving as a flow path component, as shown in Figure 1. In this embodiment, the connecting member 20 includes a manhole cover 10 connected to the end opening of the branching section 2a, a gate valve 3 that is hermetically connected above the manhole cover 10, and an air valve 4 that is hermetically connected above the gate valve 3, and the removal device 1 is used when removing the manhole cover 10 and the gate valve 3 excluding the air valve 4 from these connecting members 20.

[0017] In this embodiment, the fluid in the fluid pipe 2 is clean water, but this is not limited to this and may be, for example, industrial water, agricultural water, sewage, or a gas or a gas-liquid mixture of gas and liquid.

[0018] The fluid pipe 2 according to the present invention is a ductile cast iron pipe formed as a straight pipe having a generally circular cross section. In this embodiment, the fluid pipe 2 is disposed in a generally horizontal direction. The fluid pipe according to the present invention may be made of other metals such as cast iron or steel, or may be made of concrete, vinyl chloride, polyethylene, or polyolefin. Furthermore, the inner circumferential surface of the fluid pipe 2 may be coated with an epoxy resin layer, mortar, plating, or the like, or may be coated with an appropriate material by powder coating.

[0019] 1(a) and (b), the manhole cover 10 is mainly composed of a large-diameter flange 10b as a flange portion connected to a flange 2b protruding radially outward from the end of the branching portion 2a, a short pipe 10a as a rising portion formed in a cylindrical shape with a smaller diameter than the flange 10b and erected upward at approximately the center position of the flange 10b, and a flange 10c protruding radially outward from the upper end of the short pipe 10a and with a smaller diameter than the flange 10b. The flange 10b of the manhole cover 10 and the flange 2b of the branching portion 2a are connected in a sealed state by fastening them with a plurality of existing bolts and nuts N1 with a sealing member (not shown) interposed between them.

[0020] On the upper surface of the flange 10b of the manhole cover 10, vertical ribs 11a, 11a and horizontal ribs 11b, 11b are erected in a crisscross pattern so as to surround the short pipe 10a connected to the flange 10b, thereby reinforcing the flange 10b.

[0021] Furthermore, slits (not shown) formed downward from two locations, front and rear, on the upper side of the vertical ribs 11a and 11a and slits (not shown) formed upward from two locations, left and right, on the lower side of the horizontal ribs 11b are fitted together to form a grid pattern in plan view. In this way, the vertical ribs 11a and the horizontal ribs 11b are erected so as to surround the periphery of the short pipe 10a, thereby increasing the structural strength of the flange 10b near the connection portion with the short pipe 10a.

[0022] The gate valve 3 mainly comprises a valve box 3a connected to a flange 10c at the upper end of the short pipe 10a and communicating with the branch section 2a, a valve cover 3f communicating with the valve box 3a and extending outward, an operating part 3b communicating with the valve cover 3f and extending outward beyond the flange 2b of the branch section 2a, a valve element 3c connected to the operating part 3b and capable of opening and closing the inside of the valve box 3a, a flange 3d extending radially outward from the lower end of the valve box 3a, and a flange 3e extending radially outward from the upper end of the valve box 3a. The branch section 2a can be opened and closed by moving the valve element 3c into the valve box 3a or the valve cover 3f by operating the operating part 3b. The valve cover 3f and operating part 3b form the extending part of the present invention.

[0023] Furthermore, the gate valve 3 is connected to the upper part of the short pipe 10a, and the air valve 4 is connected above it. Specifically, the flange 3d and the flange 10c of the manhole cover 10 are hermetically connected by fastening them with a plurality of bolts and nuts N2 with a sealing member (not shown) interposed between them. Furthermore, the flange 3e and the flange 4a protruding radially outward from the lower end of the air valve 4 are hermetically connected by fastening them with a plurality of bolts and nuts N3 with a sealing member (not shown) interposed between them.

[0024] In this embodiment, the manhole cover 10, the gate valve 3, and the air valve 4 constitute the connecting member 20 of the present invention. In addition, the short pipe 10a of the manhole cover 10, the gate valve 3, and the air valve 4 constitute the rising part 20a of the connecting member 20, and the flange 10b of the manhole cover 10 constitutes the flange part of the connecting member 20.

[0025] [Connection member removal process] Hereinafter, the configuration of the removal device 1 will be described while sequentially explaining the steps (method) of removing the connection member 20.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the valve body 3c of the check valve 3 is opened and closed relatively infrequently and is often left in an open state. Therefore, after long-term use, rust may occur, making it impossible to open or close the valve body 3c while it is in an open state. However, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the check valve 3 can be opened and closed, and before installing the removal device 1 described below, the check valve 3 is closed and the air valve 4 connected above the check valve 3 is detached and removed.

[0027] Furthermore, when removing the connecting member 20 using the removal device 1 described later, the spindle 95a of the insertion device 90 (as a moving device, shown in FIG. 9) is connected to the connecting member 20 and pulled up to remove it from the flange 2b of the branch section 2a. However, the existing connecting member 20 may have leaks or become weakened due to corrosion at the rising portion 20a or the connecting portion between the rising portion 20a and the flange 10b. Therefore, in this embodiment, the spindle 95a is not directly connected to the gate valve 3 (the rising portion 20a of the connecting member 20), but is connected to a base 30 (as a connecting body) fixed to the upper surface of the flange 10b of the manhole cover 10, as shown in FIG. 2. This allows the connecting member 20 to be removed from the branch section 2a without applying load to the gate valve 3 (the rising portion 20a), the short pipe 10a, etc. The base 30 will be described later.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, an adjustment pipe 15 for adjusting the length is connected above the gate valve 3 from which the air valve 4 has been removed, and a centering flange 16 is connected above the adjustment pipe 15.

[0029] The adjustment pipe 15 has a short pipe 15a of a predetermined length, a flange 15b protruding radially outward from the bottom end of the short pipe 15a, and a flange 15c protruding radially outward from the top end of the short pipe 15a. The flange 15b and the flange 3e of the gate valve 3 are hermetically connected by fastening them with multiple bolts and nuts N4, with a sealing member (not shown) interposed between them. The adjustment pipe 15 adjusts the height position of the centering flange 16 in accordance with the vertical dimensions of the connecting members, such as the short pipe 10a and the gate valve 3, located below it, and the vertical dimensions can be varied. If height adjustment is not required, this may not be provided.

[0030] The centering flange 16 has a short pipe 16a and a cover plate 16b fixed to close the lower end opening of the short pipe 16a. The cover plate 16b and the flange 15c of the adjustment pipe 15 are hermetically connected by fastening them with multiple bolts and nuts N5 with a sealing member (not shown) interposed between them. The short pipe 16a is also a stepped pipe with the outer diameter of its upper part slightly smaller than that of its lower part.

[0031] The adjustment pipe 15 and the centering flange 16 constitute an extension portion for extending the rising portion 20a upward. The centering flange 16 also constitutes a positioning jig (positioning means) for determining the installation position of the frame 30 (described later) relative to the flange 10b.

[0032] After connecting the adjustment pipe 15 and centering flange 16 above the check valve 3, the stand 30, which serves as a connecting body connecting the spindle 95a (see Figure 9) of the insertion device 90 that constitutes the removal device 1 described later and the manhole cover 10, is placed on the upper surface of the flange 10b of the manhole cover 10.

[0033] As shown in Figures 3(a) to (c), the mounting base 30 has upright portions 31, 31 having an approximately C-shaped cross section and arranged on the left and right sides of the upright portion 20a of the connecting member 20, a support portion 32 having a horizontally elongated rectangular shape in plan view that is supported by spanning the upper ends of the left and right upright portions 31, 31, leg plate portions 33, 33 having a vertically elongated rectangular shape in plan view that are fixed to the lower parts of the left and right upright portions 31, 31, a plurality of ribs 34 that reinforce the upright portions 31, 31 and the support portions 32, and a plurality of ribs 35 that reinforce the upright portions 31, 31 and the leg plate portions 33, 33, and is configured from steel so as to have an approximately downward C-shape when viewed from the front.

[0034] A centering opening 36 having a circular shape in a plan view is formed in the center of the support portion 32, penetrating vertically. As shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the diameter L1 of the centering opening 36 is larger than the outer diameter L2 of the short tube 16a of the centering flange 16 (L1>L2), allowing the short tube 16a to be inserted therethrough. As shown in Figures 3(a) to 3(c), screw holes 37a penetrating vertically are formed in each of the four corners of the support portion 32, and bolt insertion holes 37b, 37b penetrating vertically are formed on the left and right sides, respectively, in front and behind the centering opening 36 in the support portion 32.

[0035] The platform 30 configured in this manner is suspended by a crane device (not shown), and as shown in Figure 2, the centering opening 36 is positioned directly above the centering flange 16 above the manhole cover 10, and the left and right leg plate portions 33, 33 are each positioned directly above the area outside the vertical ribs 11a, 11a between the front and rear horizontal ribs 11b, 11b.

[0036] When the leg plate portions 33, 33 are further lowered and approach the manhole cover 10, the centering flange 16 is inserted into the centering opening 36, and the left and right leg plate portions 33, 33 are placed on the upper surface of the flange 10b.

[0037] Here, the centering (installation positioning) of the cradle 30 with respect to the manhole cover 10 is performed. Specifically, as shown in Figures 4(a) and (b), with the leg plate portions 33, 33 of the cradle 30 placed on the upper surface of the flange 10b of the manhole cover 10, the upper portion of the centering flange 16 is inserted into the centering opening 36, and a portion of it protrudes upward from the upper surface of the support portion 32. In addition, an annular gap S (the dotted area in Figure 4) is formed between the outer peripheral surface 16c of the upper portion of the centering flange 16 and the inner peripheral surface 36a of the centering opening 36.

[0038] The position and orientation of the base 30 relative to the flange 10b are adjusted by sliding the base 30 on the upper surface of the flange 10b so that the radial dimension L3 of this annular gap S, that is, the radial dimension L3 from the outer peripheral surface 16c of the upper part of the centering flange 16 to the inner peripheral surface 36a of the centering opening 36, is approximately uniform around the periphery. This allows the base 30 to be positioned concentrically with the rising portion 20a of the connecting member 20 and the center of the flange 10b.

[0039] Whether the radial dimension L3 of the annular gap S is approximately uniform around the circumference can be confirmed visually, or by measuring with a ruler or the like placed on the support portion 32 and facing radially and abutting it against the outer surface 16c of the centering flange 16 protruding upward from the centering opening 36, or by making it approximately uniform using a jig (not shown), and any method can be used.

[0040] Once the installation position of the frame 30 relative to the flange 10b has been determined, as shown in Figures 5 to 7, clamps 41 are attached to each of the four locations outside the vertical ribs 11a, 11a on the front and rear horizontal ribs 11b, 11b, and the upper eyebolts 42 attached by screwing them into the screw holes 37a at the four corners of the support part 32 and the lower clamps 41 are connected by the chain of the lever hoist 43, and the operating lever 43a of the lever hoist 43 is operated to tighten the chain, thereby fastening the flange 10b of the manhole cover 10 and the frame 30 so that the flange 10b of the manhole cover 10 and the support part 32 of the frame 30 clamp the erected parts 31, 31 from above and below. Next, the leg plate parts 33, 33 of the frame 30 are fixed in a state where they are placed on the upper surface of the flange 10b of the manhole cover 10, and the manhole cover 10 and the frame 30 are integrated. If there are no structural or water leakage problems with the upper surface of the flange 10b, the leg plate portion 33 may be fixed by welding.

[0041] In this state where the cradle 30 is fixed to the flange 10b of the manhole cover 10 and integrated, the cradle 30 is in a non-contact state with the rising portion 20a. That is, the cradle 30 is fixed to the flange 10b in a non-engaged state in the upward direction, which is the movement direction of a spindle 95a (see FIG. 9) of the insertion device 90, which will be described later. The non-engaged state in the movement direction of the spindle 95a refers to a state in which the cradle 30 engages with the rising portion 20a and no load is applied when the cradle 30 is pulled upward, as will be described later. Therefore, as long as the cradle 30 engages with the rising portion 20a and no load is applied when the cradle 30 is pulled upward, the cradle 30 may be fixed to the flange 10b in a state in which it is in contact with or close to the rising portion 20a in the radial direction, for example.

[0042] Furthermore, when the stand 30 is pulled upward, the left and right leg plate portions 33, 33 are positioned on the outer diameter side of the approximately square area in plan view formed by the horizontal ribs 11b, 11b and vertical ribs 11a, 11a that are erected to surround the rising portion 20a, so that the stress due to the load applied to the stand 30 is dispersed by the horizontal ribs 11b, 11b and the vertical ribs 11a, 11a and is less likely to be transmitted to the rising portion 20a side.

[0043] 6 and 7, after the gate valve 3 is set to the fully open state, the connection between the valve cover 3f and the operating part 3b, which is a part of the protruding part consisting of the valve cover 3f and the operating part 3b that is not affected by leakage of the internal fluid, is cut, and the operating part 3b that extends from the valve cover 3f of the gate valve 3 and protrudes radially outward beyond the flange 10b is removed. Note that the gate valve 3 of this embodiment is an externally threaded gate valve, and even if the connection between the valve cover 3f and the operating part 3b, which is a predetermined part of the protruding part that protrudes radially outward from the valve box 3a, is cut and the operating part 3b is removed, watertightness is maintained and there is no impact on the watertight function.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connecting portion between the valve cover 3f and the operating portion 3b is cut as a predetermined portion of the protruding portion protruding in the outer diameter direction of the gate valve 3, and the operating portion 3b is removed, but it is also possible to cut a portion of the valve cover 3f or the operating portion 3b that is not affected by leakage. Also, for example, a sliding plate or the like may be used to close the gap between the flange 10c of the short pipe 10a of the rising portion 20a and the flange 3d of the valve box 3a using a closing device or the like (not shown), and then the predetermined portion of the gate valve 3 may be cut. Furthermore, if the gate valve 3 does not have a protruding portion protruding in the outer diameter direction beyond the flange 10b, this step may be omitted.

[0045] Next, as shown in Figure 8(a), the multiple existing bolts and nuts N1 that fasten the flange 2b of the branch section 2a and the flange 10b of the manhole cover 10 are sequentially replaced with guide bolts and nuts N11 that are longer than the bolts.

[0046] Next, a base pedestal 73 is attached to the fluid pipe 2. The base pedestal 73 serves as a base for attaching a housing 9 (see FIG. 9 ), which will be described later. The base pedestal 73 is placed on a base 71, such as an iron plate, placed around the fluid pipe 2, and a jack 72 is placed on the base pedestal 73. Note that instead of the base 71, for example, a concrete base may be provided, and depending on the ground conditions around the fluid pipe 2 and the size of the work case to be installed on the fluid pipe 2, an iron plate or lumber may be laid on the excavated ground, or the ground may be excavated to a suitable depth, or the pipe body of the fluid pipe 2 may be used.

[0047] Next, split clamp 74 is placed on jack 72 and attached to branch portion 2a. At this time, a sealing clamp packing 75 is placed between the underside of split clamp 74 and the outer periphery of branch portion 2a, and a pressure ring 76 placed below split clamp 74 is pushed up with a bolt (not shown) that advances it toward split clamp 74, thereby sealing the gap between the lower end of split clamp 74 and branch portion 2a with clamp packing 75.

[0048] Next, the locking member case 91 is placed on the divided clamp 74. A plurality of locking members 91a, which advance and retreat in the radial direction of the branch portion 2a, are attached to the locking member case 91 at intervals in the circumferential direction of the locking member case 91. The locking member case 91 and the divided clamp 74 are connected by bolts and nuts (not shown) in a sealed state with a sealing material (not shown) interposed between them. The locking member 91a is advanced from the locking member case 91 toward the flange 10b of the manhole cover 10, and the gap between the flange 10b and the flange 2b of the branch portion 2a is maintained in a sealed state. After that, the lower work case 92 is connected on top of the locking member case 91 in a sealed state with a sealing material (not shown) interposed therebetween.

[0049] Additionally, a valve hanger 87 constituting a connecting body is attached to the upper surface of the support portion 32 of the pedestal 30. As shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), the valve hanger 87 is primarily composed of a main body 87a, a valve hanger rod 87b fixed to the upper portion of the main body 87a, and a valve hanger adapter 87c fixed to the upper portion of the valve hanger rod 87b. The main body 87a is composed of front and rear mounting plates 87d, 87d, standing plates 87e, 87e erected upward from the mounting plates 87d, 87d, and a connecting plate 87f connecting the upper portions of the standing plates 87e, 87e. The main body 87a is attached to the upper portion of the pedestal 30 by fastening bolts and nuts N6 inserted through bolt insertion holes 37b, 37b (see FIG. 3(b)) of the support portion 32 and mounting holes formed in the mounting plates 87d, 87d.

[0050] 9, the working valve device 50 is connected on top of the lower working case 92, the upper working case 93 is connected on top of the working valve device 50, and the drive machine mounting case 94 is connected on top of the upper working case 93, and the insertion device 90 is connected to the drive machine mounting case 94. The insertion device 90 as a moving device has a drive mechanism part 95 connected to the drive machine mounting case 94, and a spindle 95a as a moving axis provided so as to be movable up and down relative to the drive machine mounting case 94, and the spindle 95a can be moved up and down by the drive mechanism part 95.

[0051] The connecting surfaces of the lower working case 92, working valve device 50, upper working case 93, drive machine mounting case 94 and drive mechanism section 95 are hermetically connected by sealing materials (not shown).

[0052] Furthermore, these divided clamps 74, case 91 for locking members, lower working case 92, working valve device 50, upper working case 93, and driving machine mounting case 94 constitute the housing 9 of the present invention, but are not limited to these, and the manner of the divided structure etc. can be set appropriately as long as it is configured to at least enclose the connecting members in a sealed manner.

[0053] 10, the packing recovery tool 81 is hermetically attached to the working cylinder 92a of the lower working case 92. The spindle 95a is lowered by the drive mechanism 95, and the valve hanging fitting adapter 87c and the spindle 95a are connected to each other through the working hole 93a of the upper working case 93 by a connecting pin (not shown).

[0054] Additionally, nuts are removed from the guide bolts of the guide bolt-nut N11 through the multiple working cylinders 92a arranged around the circumference of the lower working case 92. Next, covers are attached to the working holes 93a of the upper working case 93, and working windows (not shown) are attached to the working cylinders 92a except for the working cylinder 92a to which the above-mentioned packing recovery tool 81 is attached, and the split clamp 74, locking member case 91, lower working case 92, working valve device 50, upper working case 93, drive machine mounting case 94, and drive mechanism section 95 are sealed.

[0055] Next, as shown in Figure 11, while the flange 10b of the manhole cover 10 is held by the drive mechanism unit 95, water is poured into the upper work case 93 until the pressure is approximately the same as that in the fluid pipe 2, and then the manhole cover 10 is released from its hold by the locking member 91a (see Figure 10), and the valve hanging fitting 87, the stand 30, and the connecting member 20 including the flange 10b and the rising portion 20a are lifted by the drive mechanism unit 95 via the spindle 95a in a state where they are integrated, and moved above the lower work case 92.

[0056] In this way, when the spindle 95a is connected to the flange 10b via a connecting body consisting of the valve hanging fitting 87 and the base 30 and raised inside the housing 9, the base 30 is in a non-engaged (non-contact) state with respect to the rising portion 20a, so that the rising portion 20a is not subjected to loads such as the weight of the entire connecting member 20, and the load is applied to the flange 10b, which is less affected by corrosion and the like than the rising portion 20a, which is always filled with fluid inside, so the connecting member 20 can be raised in a stable state.

[0057] Furthermore, when connecting member 20 is moved upward inside housing 9 filled with fluid, flange 10b is more likely to receive resistance from the fluid than rising portion 20a because flange 10b is approximately perpendicular to the direction of movement. Therefore, when spindle 95a is directly connected to rising portion 20a and lifted, the load due to the resistance of the fluid acting on flange 10b is transmitted to rising portion 20a and the connecting portion between rising portion 20a and flange 10b, causing the risk of damage to these portions. However, according to the present invention, by connecting spindle 95a to flange 10b via frame 30, the load due to the resistance of the fluid acting on flange 10b is less likely to be transmitted to rising portion 20a, thereby preventing damage to rising portion 20a and the connecting portion between rising portion 20a and flange 10b.

[0058] Here, if there is a problem with the peeling of the sealing material 2c, such as if part of the sealing material 2c adhering to the underside of flange 10b of manhole cover 10 is hanging down, or if part or all of the sealing material 2c is adhering to branch portion 2a, then retrieval rod 81a, which is attached in a sealed and movably manner to the main body of packing retriever 81, can be operated, and the tip of retrieval rod 81a can be moved back and forth to hook onto sealing material 2c, and by rotating retrieval rod 81a, sealing material 2c can be wound up and retrieved into the main body of packing retriever 81 (see Figure 12). Note that if sealing material 2c remains stuck to flange 10b when flange 10b is raised, the above-mentioned packing retriever 81 does not need to be used.

[0059] 12, the valve hanging fitting 87, the base 30, and the connecting member 20 including the flange 10b and the rising portion 20a are raised together by the drive mechanism 95 and moved into the upper working case 93, and then the upper working case 93 and the lower working case 92 are separated by the gate valve body 50c of the working valve device 50. Next, the fluid in the upper part of the working valve device 50 separated by the gate valve body 50c, the upper working case 93, and the driver mounting case 94 is drained from a drain port (not shown), and the bolts (not shown) fastening the upper working case 93 and the working valve device 50 are removed. The valve hanging fitting 87, the base 30, and the connecting member 20 including the flange 10b and the rising portion 20a are removed together with the drive mechanism 95 while still housed in the upper working case 93.

[0060] This completes the process of detaching and removing the valve hanging fitting 87, the base 30, and the connecting member 20 including the flange 10b and the rising portion 20a from the branch portion 2a.

[0061] [Installation process of new connecting parts] Next, the process of installing a new connecting member in the branch portion 2a will be described with reference to Figures 13 to 15. First, instead of the above-mentioned insertion device 90, etc., a working flange 61 and a closing device 62 are hermetically attached to the top of the working valve device 50 via a sealing material (not shown), as shown in Figure 13. The closing device 62 is mainly composed of a closing body 63 placed inside the valve box 50a of the working valve device 50, and an operating shaft 64 that connects the closing body 63 to the tip and is hermetically and movably attached to the working flange 61.

[0062] Next, the gate valve body 50c of the working valve device 50 is retracted into the valve cover 50b, connecting the valve box 50a to the lower working case 92. The closure body 63 connected to the lower end of the operating shaft 64 is lowered. With the guide bolt of the guide bolt-nut N11 inserted through the bolt insertion hole of the connecting body 65 of the closure body 63, the closure body 63 is expanded radially outward, sealingly closing the branch section 2a. Water is then drained from the split clamp 74, the locking member case 91, the lower working case 92, and the working valve device 50 through a drain port (not shown). A nut is attached to the guide bolt of the guide bolt-nut N11 via the working tube 92a, etc., and the closure body 63 of the closure device 62 is fixed to the branch section 2a via the connecting body 65. The packing recovery tool 81 is then removed.

[0063] Next, after inspecting the flange 2b and its upper surface and removing and cleaning any packing or debris, the nuts are removed from the guide bolts of the guide bolt-nut N11 from the working cylinder 92a of the lower working case 92 to release the connecting body 65, and the recovery port of the working cylinder 92a is sealed with a lid (work window). Water is then poured into the dividing clamp 74, the locking member case 91, the lower working case 92, and the working valve device 50 to achieve a pressure approximately equal to that in the fluid pipe 2, returning the blocking body 63 to its natural state and releasing the seal on the branch section 2a. Next, the blocking body 63 connected to the operating shaft 64 is raised and moved above the working valve device 50, and the gate valve body 50c of the working valve device 50 separates the working valve device 50 from the lower working case 92. The water in the working valve device 50 is drained, and the blocking device 62 and working flange 61 are removed together.

[0064] Next, as shown in Figure 14, an upper work case 93 and a drive machine mounting case 94, which house the valve hanging fitting 77, short work pipe 78, new repair valve 5, and new manhole cover 10N as a single unit, are connected in a sealed state to the top of the work valve device 50, along with the drive mechanism part 95. Next, water is poured into the upper work case 93 to make the pressure approximately the same as that in the fluid pipe 2, and then the gate valve body 50c of the work valve device 50 is housed in the valve cover 50b, connecting the inside of the work valve device 50 to the inside of the lower work case 92. The new repair valve 5 is in a closed state.

[0065] Next, the drive mechanism 95 is lowered, and the valve hanging fitting 77, new repair valve 5, and new manhole cover 10N are placed together on the flange 2b of the branch section 2a. A new sealant (not shown) is attached to the underside of the new manhole cover 10N, so by advancing the locking member 91a into the new manhole cover 10N (see Figure 10), the new manhole cover 10N is fixed and the space between the new manhole cover 10N and the flange 2b of the branch section 2a is kept sealed. In this example, the existing gate valve 3 has been cut and therefore cannot be reused, but it may be reused if the existing gate valve 3 does not protrude radially outward from the flange 10b, is in good condition, and does not pose any functional problems.

[0066] Next, the water inside the split clamp 74, locking member case 91, work valve device 50, lower work case 92, work valve device 50, upper work case 93, drive machine mounting case 94, and drive mechanism unit 95 is drained through the drain outlet (not shown), the work window is removed from the work cylinder 92a, and the guide bolt and nut N11 are tightened through the work cylinder 92a to secure the new manhole cover 10N. Thereafter, the split clamp 74, locking member case 91, work valve device 50, lower work case 92, upper work case 93, drive machine mounting case 94, drive mechanism unit 95, jack 72, base 73, and foundation 71 are removed.

[0067] Finally, as shown in Figure 15, the guide bolt and nut N11 are replaced with new bolts and nuts N10, the short work pipe 78 connected to the top of the new repair valve 5 is removed, a new air valve 4N is attached to the top of the new repair valve 5, and the new repair valve 5 is opened. This completes the removal of the connecting member 20 (gate valve 3 and manhole cover 10) and the replacement with a new connecting member 20N (new manhole cover 10N, new repair valve 5, new air valve 4N). In addition, flange reinforcing fittings, flange repair fittings, and flange fixing fittings (not shown) may be attached to the periphery of the new manhole cover 10N and the branch section 2a, the connection between the new manhole cover 10N and the new repair valve 5, and the connection between the new repair valve 5 and the new air valve 4N.

[0068] [Actions and Effects] As described above, the removal device 1 as an embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing 9 that hermetically encloses the branching portion 2a as a communicating pipe that communicates with the existing fluid pipe 2, the flange 10b as a flange portion attached to the branching portion 2a, and the connecting member 20 having the rising portion 20a connected to the flange 10b, an operating valve device 50 as an opening / closing valve device that can open and close the inside of the housing 9, and an insertion device 90 as a moving device that can move the connecting member 20 within the housing 9, and comprises a base 30 as a connecting body that can remove the connecting member 20 in an uninterrupted flow state and can connect the spindle 95a of the insertion device 90 to the flange 10b, the base 30 is erected on the flange 10b so as to follow the rising portion 20a of the connecting member 20, and is fixed to the flange 10b in a non-engaged state in the movement direction of the spindle 95a of the insertion device 90 relative to the rising portion 20a.

[0069] According to this, even if the structural strength of the rising portion 20a or the connecting portion between the rising portion 20a and the flange 10b is reduced, by connecting the spindle 95a of the insertion device 90 to the flange 10b via the frame 30, it is possible to avoid the rising portion 20a being subjected to load and damaged when being raised by the spindle 95a of the insertion device 90, and therefore it is possible to move and remove the connecting member 20 in a stable state.

[0070] Furthermore, by providing the centering flange 16 and centering opening 36 as positioning means for installing the stand 30 on the flange 10b so that it is concentric with the center of the rising portion 20a, the connecting member 20 can be moved stably without losing balance when moved by the spindle 95a of the insertion device 90.

[0071] In addition, the base 30 has a plurality of upright portions 31, 31 arranged around the upright portion 20a, and a support portion 32 supported by the plurality of upright portions 31, 31, and the positioning means is composed of a centering flange 16 which is formed through the support portion 32 and is an extension portion extending from the upright portion 20a, and a centering opening 36 which serves as an insertion hole through which the centering flange 16 can be inserted.Therefore, by installing the base 30 so that the centering flange 16 is inserted into the centering opening 36, the base 30 can be easily positioned relative to the connecting member 20.

[0072] Furthermore, the mount 30 has a lever hoist 43 as fastening means for fastening the upright portions 31, 31 so as to sandwich them between the support portion 32 and the flange 10b, thereby making it possible to easily position the connection member 20 relative to the flange 10b.

[0073] Furthermore, since the flange 10b can be fixed by simply clamping and tightening the support part 32 and the flange 10b without forming holes or the like in the flange 10b, such as by welding the flange 10b or forming bolt insertion holes for fixing, it is possible to prevent water leakage during work and a decrease in the structural strength of the flange 10b.

[0074] The method for removing a connecting member of the present invention includes a housing 9 hermetically enclosing a branch portion 2a as a communicating pipe communicating with an existing fluid pipe 2, a flange 10b as a flange portion attached to the branch portion 2a, and a connecting member 20 having a rising portion 20a connected to the flange 10b, an operating valve device 50 as an opening / closing valve device capable of opening and closing the inside of the housing 9, and an insertion device 90 as a moving device capable of moving the connecting member 20 within the housing 9, and is a method for removing the connecting member 20 in an uninterrupted flow state, the method including: a base 30 as a connecting body capable of connecting a spindle 95a of the insertion device 90 to the flange 10b; The method includes the steps of erecting the connecting member 20 on the flange 10b so as to align with the upper portion 20a and fixing it to the flange 10b in a non-engaged state in the direction of movement of the spindle 95a of the insertion device 90 relative to the erected portion 20a (see Figures 4 to 7), hermetically surrounding the connecting member 20 with the housing 9 (see Figure 9), opening the working valve device 50 and connecting the spindle 95a of the insertion device 90 to the flange 10b via the frame 30 (see Figure 10), and moving the connecting member 20 upstream of the check valve body 50c within the housing 9 by the spindle 95a of the insertion device 90 (see Figures 11 and 12).

[0075] According to this, even if the structural strength of the rising portion 20a or the connecting portion between the rising portion 20a and the flange 10b is reduced, by connecting the spindle 95a of the insertion device 90 to the flange 10b via the frame 30, it is possible to avoid the rising portion 20a being subjected to load and damaged when being raised by the spindle 95a of the insertion device 90, and therefore it is possible to move and remove the connecting member 20 in a stable state.

[0076] In addition, by including a process of cutting and removing the connection between the valve cover 3f, which is a protruding portion that protrudes outward from the rising portion 20a, and the operating portion 3b, which is a non-leaking portion that is not affected by leakage, and the operating portion 3b, even if there is a check valve 3 that has the valve cover 3f or operating portion 3b as a protruding portion in part, the rising portion 20a can be surrounded by a small-capacity housing 9, so the connecting member can be removed without interrupting the flow without increasing the scale or time required for removal.

[0077] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes modifications and additions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0078] For example, in the above embodiment, a form in which a connecting member 20 consisting of a manhole cover 10, a gate valve 3, an air valve 4, etc. is applied is exemplified as an example of a connecting member having a flange portion attached to the branch portion 2a and a rising portion connected to the flange portion, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other connecting members such as repair valves may be applied as long as they are members that can be connected to a branch pipe. Also, while the connecting member 20 has multiple rising portions 20a such as short pipes 10a and gate valves 3, it is sufficient that it is composed of at least one rising portion 20a.

[0079] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, as an example of a flange portion and a rising portion connected to the flange portion, a form in which manhole cover 10 consisting of flange 10b and short pipe 10a connected to flange 10b is applied is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the flange portion and the rising portion do not have to form a manhole cover, and for example, the rising portion connected to the flange portion may be a check valve 3. In other words, the flange portion and the rising portion do not have to constitute a single connecting member, and the flange portion may be a member independent of the rising portion.

[0080] In the above embodiment, the pedestal 30 is used as an example of the connecting body, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the shape and configuration of the connecting body are arbitrary and can be changed in various ways. For example, the pedestal 30 is composed of the left and right standing portions 31, 31 and the support portion 32 supported on the upper portions thereof, but it may be composed of a tubular body that can surround the periphery of the standing portion 20a.

[0081] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the platform 30 is exemplified as being fixed to the flange 10b in a non-contact state with respect to the rising portion 20a, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the platform 30 may be fixed to the flange 10b in a contacting or close proximity to the rising portion 20a as long as it is fixed to the flange portion in a non-engaged state in the movement direction of the moving device.

[0082] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the position of the platform 30 is adjusted with respect to the flange 10b, and the platform 30 is fixed to the flange 10b with the lever hoist 43, and then the leg plate portions 33, 33 of the platform 30 are fixed to the upper surface of the flange 10b of the manhole cover 10 by welding, but the present invention is not limited to this, and at least one of fixing by the lever hoist 43 and fixing by welding may be performed. Furthermore, fixing of the connecting body to the flange portion is not limited to fastening means such as welding or a lever hoist, and various fixing means such as adhesives or screws may be used.

[0083] In addition, in the above embodiment, a form in which a centering flange 16 and a centering opening 36 are used as positioning means for installing the connecting body on the flange portion so that it is concentric with the center of the rising portion is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a positioning jig or the like may also be used.

[0084] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was given in which an adjustment tube 15 and a centering flange 16 were used as extensions extending from the rising portion, but the present invention is not limited to this, and part of the positioning means may be formed by utilizing the existing rising portion 20a without extending such extensions.

[0085] In addition, in the above embodiment, a form in which a lever hoist 43 is applied is exemplified as an example of a fastening means for fastening the support portion and the flange portion so as to clamp the erected portion, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the fastening means may be constituted by a connecting member and a bolt having a length sufficient to connect the support portion and the flange portion.

[0086] In addition, in the above embodiment, the process of installing a new connecting member at the branching portion 2a has been described based on Figures 13 to 15, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as it includes at least the process (method) of removing the connecting member 20 described based on Figures 1 to 12, it does not necessarily have to include the process of installing a new connecting member at the branching portion 2a. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1. Connection member removal device 2 Fluid pipes (existing fluid pipes) 2a Branch 2b Flange (flange part) 3. Gate valve (connecting member, rising part) 3a Valve box 3b Operation section (projection section) 3f Valve lid (overhang) 4 Air valve (connector, rising part) 5 Repair valve 9. Cabinet 10 Manhole cover (connecting member) 10a short pipe (standing part) 10b Flange (flange part) 11a vertical rib 11b horizontal rib 15 Adjustment pipe (extension part) 16 Centering flange (positioning means, extension part) 20 Connecting member 20a Rising section 30 Mounting stand (connector) 31 Standing section 32 Support part 33 Leg plate part 36 Centering opening (positioning means, insertion hole) 43 Lever hoist (fastening means) 50 Working valve device (opening and closing valve device) 61 Work flange 74 Split clamp (housing) 87 Valve hanging fitting (connector) 90 Insertion device (movement device) 91 Case (housing) for locking member 92 Lower work case (chassis) 93 Upper work case (chassis) 94 Drive unit mounting case (housing) 95 Drive mechanism 95a spindle

Claims

1. A connecting member removal device that includes a housing that hermetically encloses a branching portion of an existing fluid pipe, a flange portion attached to the branching portion, and a connecting member having a rising portion connected to the flange portion, an on-off valve device that can open and close the inside of the housing, and a moving device that can move the connecting member within the housing, and that removes the connecting member in a state where flow is not interrupted, a connector capable of connecting the moving device and the flange portion, The connecting member removal device is characterized in that the connecting body is erected on the flange portion so as to follow the rising portion of the connecting member, and is fixed to the flange portion in a state of disengagement from the rising portion in the movement direction of the moving device.

2. 2. The connecting member removal device according to claim 1, further comprising positioning means for installing the connecting body on the flange portion so as to be concentric with the center of the rising portion.

3. the connecting body has a plurality of standing portions arranged around the standing portion and a support portion supported by the plurality of standing portions, The connection member removal device described in claim 2, characterized in that the positioning means is composed of the rising portion or an extension portion extending from the rising portion, and an insertion hole formed through the support portion and through which the extension portion can be inserted.

4. 4. The connecting member removal device according to claim 3, wherein the connecting body has fastening means for fastening the support portion and the flange portion so as to sandwich the erected portion.

5. A method for removing a connecting member, comprising: a housing that hermetically encloses a branching portion of an existing fluid pipe, a flange portion attached to the branching portion, and a connecting member having a rising portion connected to the flange portion; an on-off valve device that can open and close the inside of the housing; and a moving device that can move the connecting member within the housing, the method comprising: removing the connecting member in a state in which flow is not interrupted; a step of erecting a connector that connects the moving device and the flange portion on the flange portion so as to be along the rising portion, and fixing the connector to the flange portion in a state of not engaging with the rising portion in the moving direction of the moving device; sealingly surrounding the connection member with the housing; opening the on-off valve device and connecting the moving device to the flange portion via the connecting body; a step of moving the connecting member to a position upstream of the on-off valve device within the housing by the moving device.

6. 6. The method for removing a connecting member according to claim 5, further comprising the step of removing a non-leaking portion in a projecting portion of the rising portion that projects outward.

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