Inspection fixtures and inspection methods

Abstract

The aim is to improve the efficiency of work when inspecting for fluid leaks. [Solution] The present invention relates to an inspection jig 150 that is attached to a hole 26 in the side wall of a joint member 10 that connects one pipe 2A and the other pipe 2B, and comprises a cover portion 170 that closes the hole 26 and a blocking portion 160 that blocks communication between one pipe 2A and the other pipe 2B. The cover portion 170 is characterized by having an opening 175a on one side that communicates with one pipe 2A and an opening 175b on the other side that communicates with the other pipe 2B.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection jig and an inspection method for inspecting leakage of fluid flowing through a pipe.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a jig for inspecting leakage of fluid flowing through a pipe installed in a building has been known. Patent Document 1 discloses a jig for a piping system full water test joint that is inserted into a pipe joint through a peripheral wall opening of a pipe joint of a piping system arranged along the vertical direction to inspect the presence or absence of water leakage in the piping system. The jig for the piping system full water test joint of Patent Document 1 has a switching means for opening and closing or blocking, in a freely openable and closable manner, an upper space inside the pipe joint above the closing means and an outer piping system outer space outside the peripheral wall opening of the pipe joint located below the closing means.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the jig for the piping system full water test joint of Patent Document 1, when an operator inspects the leakage of fluid, it is necessary to perform operations such as switching a switching valve or connecting a drain pipe inside the pipe joint. However, since the pipes in a building are generally arranged in a narrow space, there is a problem that the workability deteriorates when performing operations related to the inspection of fluid leakage inside the pipe joint like the jig for the piping system full water test joint of Patent Document 1.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to improve the efficiency of work when inspecting fluid leakage.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention relates to an inspection jig that is attached to a hole in the side wall of a joint member connecting one pipe and another pipe, and comprises a cover portion that closes the hole and a blocking portion that blocks communication between the one pipe and the other pipe, wherein the cover portion has an opening on one side that communicates with the one pipe and an opening on the other side that communicates with the other pipe. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the efficiency of work when inspecting for fluid leaks can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the piping system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the configuration of a joint member. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of the configuration of the lid member. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing the lid member attached to the joint member. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of the configuration of an inspection jig. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view showing the inspection jig attached to the joint member. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the full-water inspection. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view illustrating how to drain the water that has been supplied. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the occupancy inspection. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the piping system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] This is a cross-sectional view showing the lid member attached to the joint member. [Figure 12] This figure shows an example of the configuration of an inspection jig for modified shapes. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> First, the configuration of the joint system 1 of the first embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the joint system 1 of the first embodiment. In all figures, including Figure 1, the upstream side is shown as "up" and the downstream side as "down" with respect to the fluid flowing through the pipe, but in actual construction, they may be arranged horizontally or in other directions.

[0010] The joint system 1 comprises a joint member 10, a cover member 40, and an inspection jig 150. The joint member 10 connects pipes together. The joint member 10 in this embodiment is for drainage piping and connects a vertical upper pipe 2A and a vertical lower pipe 2B so that they are in a straight line in the vertical direction. The upper pipe 2A corresponds to an example of one pipe, and the lower pipe 2B corresponds to an example of the other pipe. The inspection jig 150 is attached to the joint member 10 when performing a full-water test or full-empty test to check for leaks of the fluid flowing through the pipe. On the other hand, the cover member 40 is permanently attached to the joint member 10 when not performing a full-water test or full-empty test, i.e., after the full-water test or full-empty test.

[0011] (Composition of joint members) First, let's describe the joint member 10. Figure 2(a) is a plan view of the joint member 10, and Figure 2(b) is a cross-sectional view along line II. In each figure, including Figure 2, the side of the joint member 10 where the hole 26 (described later) is open is referred to as "rear," the opposite side as "front," and the directions perpendicular to the front-rear and up-down directions are referred to as "left" and "right," respectively. The up-down direction is parallel to the direction of fluid flow. The joint member 10 has a joint body 20 in which a fluid flow path is formed inside, and a covering portion 30 that covers the joint body 20.

[0012] The joint body 20 is formed in a vertically long cylindrical shape. The joint body 20 is made of synthetic resin and integrally formed by injection molding. For example, rigid polyvinyl chloride (the first synthetic resin) can be used as the material of the joint body 20.

[0013] The joint body 20 has an upper connection part 21a and a lower connection part 21b. The upper connection part 21a is open upward, and the upper pipe 2A is connected from above. The lower connection part 21b is open downward, and the lower pipe 2B is connected from below. The upper pipe 2A and the lower pipe 2B are respectively inserted into the upper connection part 21a and the lower connection part 21b. Further, the upper connection part 21a and the lower connection part 21b respectively have an annular step part 22a and an annular step part 22b formed by reducing the inner diameter at positions away from the upper end and the lower end. When the lower end of the upper pipe 2A abuts against the annular step part 22a of the upper connection part 21a and the upper end of the lower pipe 2B abuts against the annular step part 22b of the lower connection part 21b, the upper pipe 2A and the lower pipe 2B are connected via the joint body 20. A thermal expansion joint material is arranged in the receiving parts such as the upper opening, the lower opening, and the hole 26 to be described later of the joint body 20. The thermal expansion joint material has a gap between the receiving part and the upper pipe 2A, the lower pipe 2B, etc., and can close the gap by foaming when a fire occurs.

[0014] Further, the joint body 20 has a housing part 23, an upper reduced-diameter part 25a, a lower reduced-diameter part 25b, a hole 26, and a lid mounting part 27. The accommodating portion 23 is formed substantially at the center in the vertical direction of the joint body 20. When the lid member 40 is attached to the joint member 10, the accommodating portion 23 accommodates a communication portion 60 (to be described later) of the lid member 40, and when the inspection jig 150 is attached to the joint member 10, the accommodating portion 23 accommodates a blocking portion 160 (to be described later) of the inspection jig 150. The accommodating portion 23 is a space with an increased inner diameter of the joint body 20, and has a substantially annular upper stepped portion 24a and a substantially annular lower stepped portion 24b formed by increasing the inner diameter. The upper stepped portion 24a and the lower stepped portion 24b are continuously formed from the opening edge of the hole 26 to the front end of the accommodating portion 23, respectively. Further, the upper stepped portion 24a and the lower stepped portion 24b are inclined so as to approach each other as they go from the hole 26 toward the front side of the accommodating portion 23. Specifically, the upper stepped portion 24a and the lower stepped portion 24b have a vertically symmetric shape with respect to the vertical center of the accommodating portion 23. Note that either one of the upper stepped portion 24a and the lower stepped portion 24b may be substantially parallel to the horizontal direction without being inclined.

[0015] The upper reduced-diameter portion 25a and the lower reduced-diameter portion 25b are formed between the accommodating portion 23 and the upper connecting portion 21a and between the accommodating portion 23 and the lower connecting portion 21b, respectively. The upper reduced-diameter portion 25a and the lower reduced-diameter portion 25b are spaces with a reduced inner diameter of the joint body 20 and are part of the flow path through which the fluid flows.

[0016] The hole 26 is formed in the side wall of the joint body 20. The hole 26 communicates the inside of the joint body 20, that is, the accommodating portion 23 of the joint body 20, with the outside of the joint body 20. When the lid member 40 is attached to the joint member 10, the communication portion 60 of the lid member 40 is inserted into the hole 26, and when the inspection jig 150 is attached to the joint member 10, the blocking portion 160 of the inspection jig 150 is inserted into the hole 26. When viewed from the rear side, the hole 26 has a substantially rectangular shape, and the width dimension in the left-right direction is larger than the height dimension in the up-down direction.

[0017] The lid mounting portion 27 is formed to surround the hole 26. When the lid member 40 is attached to the joint member 10, the lid portion 70 of the lid member 40 (described later) is attached to the lid mounting portion 27, and when the inspection jig 150 is attached to the joint member 10, the lid portion 170 of the inspection jig 150 (described later) is attached to the lid mounting portion 27. The lid mounting portion 27 is cylindrical and protrudes toward the rear from the side wall of the joint body 20, and opens toward the rear. In addition, the lid mounting portion 27 has a plurality of engaging portions 28 formed on its opening edge and inner circumferential surface at intervals in the circumferential direction. The engaging portions 28 engage with the engaging portion 82 of the lid portion 70 of the lid member 40 (described later) or the engaging portion 182 of the lid portion 170 of the inspection jig 150 (described later), thereby locking the lid member 40 or the inspection jig 150 attached to the lid mounting portion 27.

[0018] The covering portion 30 improves the fire resistance of the joint member 10 by covering the outer circumferential surface of the side wall of the joint member 10. The covering portion 30 is integrally formed with the joint member 10 by injection molding. The material of the covering portion 30 is a fire-resistant material, and for example, mortar mixed with fibers can be used.

[0019] (Construction of the lid component) Next, the lid member 40 will be described. Figure 3(a) is a plan view of the lid member 40, Figure 3(b) is a cross-sectional view along line II-II, and Figure 3(c) is a view of the lid member 40 from the rear. The lid member 40 is a member that is permanently attached to the joint member 10. The lid member 40 has a lid body 50 that is attached to the joint member 10 and a covering portion 90 that covers the locking portion 80 of the lid body 50, which will be described later.

[0020] The lid body 50 has a communication portion 60, a lid portion 70, and a locking portion 80. The communication portion 60, the lid portion 70, and the locking portion 80 are all made of synthetic resin and are formed by injection molding. Specifically, the material of the communication portion 60, the lid portion 70, and the locking portion 80 can be, for example, rigid polyvinyl chloride (first synthetic resin). In this embodiment, the lid body 50 is constructed by assembling the locking portion 80, which is formed by injection molding, to the communication portion 60 and the lid portion 70, which are formed integrally by injection molding.

[0021] The connecting section 60 is housed in the housing section 23 of the joint member 10 when the cover member 40 is attached to the joint member 10. The connecting section 60 also connects the upper pipe 2A and the lower pipe 2B in the vertical direction through the joint member 10 when the cover member 40 is attached to the joint member 10. The connecting section 60 has a frame portion 61 that protrudes forward from the front surface of the cover portion 70 and a connecting hole 62 that penetrates the frame portion 61 in the vertical direction.

[0022] The frame portion 61 has a shape similar to the space of the housing portion 23, and the lid member 40 fits into the housing portion 23 when attached to the joint member 10. The frame portion 61 protrudes forward from the lid portion 70 with a width dimension that is approximately constant in the left-right direction, and the front end is formed in a semicircular shape. In addition, the upper side surface 63a and the lower side surface 63b of the frame portion 61 are inclined so that they move closer to each other as they move forward from the lid portion 70. Specifically, the upper side surface 63a and the lower side surface 63b have a shape that is vertically symmetrical with respect to the vertical center of the frame portion 61. Note that either the upper side surface 63a or the lower side surface 63b may be not inclined and be approximately parallel to the horizontal direction. Seal members 64a and 64b are arranged on the upper side surface 63a and the lower side surface 63b, respectively, so as to surround the communication hole 62. In a plan view (or bottom view), the sealing members 64a and 64b are not a perfect circle or annular shape, but are arranged to bulge outwards from the communication hole 62 at positions adjacent to the lid 70 and separated to the left and right.

[0023] The communication hole 62 connects the upper connection portion 21a (or upper reduced diameter portion 25a) and the lower connection portion 21b (or lower reduced diameter portion 25b) of the joint member 10 when the cover member 40 is attached to the joint member 10. The communication hole 62 is part of the fluid flow path. The communication hole 62 has the same inner diameter as the upper reduced diameter portion 25a and the lower reduced diameter portion 25b of the joint member 10.

[0024] The lid portion 70 is attached to the lid mounting portion 27 of the joint member 10 when the lid member 40 is attached to the joint member 10, and closes the hole 26 from the outside. The lid portion 70 has a lid-like portion 71 that is larger than the hole 26 of the joint member 10 when viewed from the rear, and an outer wall portion 72 that protrudes toward the rear from the lid-like portion 71. The lid portion 71 is roughly plate-shaped and, when viewed from the rear, is roughly circular. The outer wall portion 72 is roughly cylindrical and protrudes toward the rear from the outer peripheral edge of the lid portion 71. On the front side of the outer peripheral surface of the outer wall portion 72, a sealing member 73 is arranged along the outer peripheral surface, and on the rear side of the outer peripheral surface, a groove portion 74 is formed along the outer peripheral surface into which the engaging portion 82 of the lock portion 80, described later, is fitted.

[0025] The locking portion 80 locks the lid member 40 in the state in which it is attached to the joint member 10. The locking portion 80 has a main body portion 81 which is positioned to overlap the lid portion 70 on the rear side, an engaging portion 82 which protrudes forward from the outer peripheral edge of the main body portion 81, and a joining piece 83 for joining the covering portion 90. The main body 81 is roughly plate-shaped and, when viewed from the rear, is roughly circular in shape, larger than the lid 70. The engaging portion 82 is slidably fitted into the groove 74 of the outer wall portion 72 of the lid 70. Therefore, as the engaging portion 82 slides along the groove 74, the locking portion 80 is rotatable relative to the lid 70. The locking portion 80 and the lid 70 are prevented from being separated by the engaging portion 82 being fitted into the groove 74. In addition, the engaging portion 82 can engage with the engaged portion 28 of the joint member 10. Specifically, with the lid member 40 attached to the joint member 10, the worker rotates the locking portion 80 in one direction (to the right) relative to the lid 70, causing the engaging portion 82 to engage with the engaged portion 28 of the joint member 10 from the front. The operator rotates the locking part 80 in the opposite direction (leftward) relative to the lid part 70 until the engaging part 82 faces the missing position of the engaged part 28, thereby releasing the engagement between the engaging part 82 and the engaged part 28. The connecting piece 83 is positioned at intervals along the outer edge of the main body part 81.

[0026] The covering portion 90 improves the fire resistance of the lid member 40 by covering the rear surface of the locking portion 80 of the lid body 50. The covering portion 90 is integrally formed with the locking portion 80 of the lid body 50 by injection molding. The covering portion 90 can improve the joint strength with the locking portion 80 by covering the joining piece 83 of the locking portion 80. The covering portion 90 can be made of the same material as the covering portion 30 of the joint member 10.

[0027] Next, we will describe the case in which the lid member 40 is attached to the joint member 10. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the lid member 40 attached to the joint member 10. The worker brings the lid member 40 close to the joint member 10 and inserts the communication portion 60 of the lid member 40 through the hole 26 of the joint member 10. By inserting the lid member 40 until the lid portion 70 of the lid member 40 abuts against the lid mounting portion 27 of the joint member 10, the hole 26 of the joint member 10 is closed by the lid portion 70, and the lid member 40 can be attached to the joint member 10. At this time, the communication portion 60 of the lid member 40 is housed in the housing portion 23, so that the communication hole 62 of the communication portion 60 connects the upper connection portion 21a (or upper reduced diameter portion 25a) and the lower connection portion 21b (or lower reduced diameter portion 25b) of the joint member 10. Therefore, the upper pipe 2A and the lower pipe 2B can be connected vertically through the joint member 10.

[0028] When the connecting portion 60 is housed in the housing portion 23, the upper stepped portion 24a and the lower stepped portion 24b of the housing portion 23 come into contact with the sealing members 64a and 64b, respectively, which are positioned on the upper surface 63a and the lower surface 63b of the frame portion 61 of the connecting portion 60, thereby creating a tight seal. This prevents fluid from leaking to the outside of the joint member 10 from between the hole 26 of the joint member 10 and the lid portion 70 of the lid member 40 or the connecting portion 60. The upper stepped portion 24a and the lower stepped portion 24b are inclined to move closer to each other, and the upper surface 63a and the lower surface 63b of the frame portion 61 are also inclined to move closer to each other. Therefore, the connecting portion 60 functions like a wedge, improving the tight seal between the upper stepped portion 24a and the lower stepped portion 24b and the sealing members 64a and 64b. Furthermore, the sealing members 64a and 64b are positioned so that a portion of them bulges away from the communication hole 62, and when the communication portion 60 is housed in the housing portion 23, the distance at which the sealing members 64a and 64b contact the upper surface 63a and lower surface 63b, respectively, can be shortened, thereby preventing the sealing members 64a and 64b from falling out of the frame portion 61.

[0029] Furthermore, when the lid portion 70 of the lid member 40 is in contact with the lid mounting portion 27 of the joint member 10, the sealing member 73 positioned on the outer wall portion 72 of the lid portion 70 comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the lid mounting portion 27, resulting in a tight seal. Therefore, leakage of fluid from the joint member 10 to the outside of the joint member 10 is prevented from between the lid mounting portion 27 of the joint member 10 and the lid portion 70 of the lid member 40. Finally, the worker rotates the locking portion 80 of the lid member 40 in one direction (to the right) relative to the lid portion 70, causing the engaging portion 82 of the locking portion 80 to engage with the engaged portion 28 of the joint member 10, thereby locking the lid member 40 attached to the joint member 10.

[0030] With the lid member 40 attached to the joint member 10, the upper pipe 2A and the lower pipe 2B can be connected vertically through the joint member 10, allowing fluid to flow from the upper pipe 2A to the lower pipe 2B. The communication hole 62 of the lid member 40 has the same inner diameter as the upper reduced diameter portion 25a and the lower reduced diameter portion 25b of the joint member 10, and there is no step between the upper reduced diameter portion 25a and the lower reduced diameter portion 25b and the communication hole 62, allowing fluid to flow smoothly. Furthermore, the lid member 40 has a locking portion 80 that is covered by a covering portion 90, and when the lid member 40 is attached to the joint member 10, the entire joint member 10 and the lid member 40 are covered by the covering portion 30 and the covering portion 90, thus improving fire resistance.

[0031] (Configuration of the inspection jig) Next, the inspection jig 150 will be described. Figure 5(a) is a plan view of the inspection jig 150, Figure 5(b) is a cross-sectional view from the line III-III, and Figure 5(c) is a view of the inspection jig 150 from the rear. The inspection jig 150 is a component that is attached to the joint member 10 when performing a full-water inspection or an empty-water inspection. Note that, unlike the lid member 40, the inspection jig 150 does not have a covering portion.

[0032] The inspection jig 150 has a shut-off section 160, a lid section 170, and a locking section 180. The shut-off section 160, lid section 170, and locking section 180 are all made of synthetic resin and are formed by injection molding. Specifically, the material of the shut-off section 160, lid section 170, and locking section 180 can be, for example, ABS resin (second synthetic resin) which has excellent impact resistance. In this embodiment, the inspection jig 150 is constructed by assembling the locking section 180, which is formed by injection molding, to the shut-off section 160 and lid section 170, which are formed integrally by injection molding.

[0033] The blocking section 160 is housed in the housing section 23 of the joint member 10 when the inspection jig 150 is attached to the joint member 10. The blocking section 160 also blocks communication between the upper pipe 2A and the lower pipe 2B when the inspection jig 150 is attached to the joint member 10. The blocking section 160 has a frame section 161 that protrudes forward from the front surface of the lid section 170, a partition section 162 that divides the inside of the frame section 161 vertically, and an upper communication section 165a and a lower communication section 165b.

[0034] The frame portion 161 has the same configuration as the frame portion 61 of the lid member 40 and is denoted by the same reference numerals as the frame portion 61. Sealing members 64a and 64b are arranged on the upper surface 63a and lower surface 63b of the frame portion 161, respectively, so as to surround the partition portion 162. The partition portion 162 is roughly plate-shaped and extends horizontally within the frame portion 161. The partition portion 162 can separate the space above the partition portion 162 from the space below the partition portion 162.

[0035] The upper connecting portion 165a connects the upper space separated by the partition portion 162 with the upper opening 175a formed in the lid portion 170, which will be described later. The lower connecting portion 165b connects the lower space separated by the partition portion 162 with the lower opening 175b formed in the lid portion 170, which will be described later. The upper connecting portion 165a and the lower connecting portion 165b are positioned vertically apart from each other, straddling the vertical center of the inspection jig 150. In a plan view, the upper connecting portion 165a and the lower connecting portion 165b are positioned horizontally apart from each other, straddling the horizontal center of the inspection jig 150, and do not overlap each other. The upper connecting portion 165a is a hole through which a component passes in the front-rear direction within the upper bulge portion 166a, which is formed within the frame portion 161, above the partition portion 162 and closer to the lid portion 170. The lower connecting portion 165b is a hole through which a component passes in the front-rear direction within the lower bulge portion 166b, which is formed within the frame portion 161, below the partition portion 162 and closer to the lid portion 170.

[0036] The cover portion 170 is attached to the cover mounting portion 27 of the joint member 10 when the inspection jig 150 is attached to the joint member 10, and closes the hole 26 from the outside. The cover portion 170 has a cover-like portion 171 that is larger than the hole 26 of the joint member 10 when viewed from the rear, and an outer wall portion 172 that protrudes toward the rear from the outer peripheral edge of the cover-like portion 171. The lid-like portion 171 is roughly plate-shaped and roughly circular when viewed from the rear. The lid-like portion 171 has an upper opening 175a and a lower opening 175b. The upper opening 175a corresponds to an example of an opening on one side, and the lower opening 175b corresponds to an example of an opening on the other side. The upper opening 175a and the lower opening 175b are located vertically separated from each other, straddling the vertical center of the inspection jig 150. Furthermore, the upper opening 175a and the lower opening 175b are located on opposite sides of the partition portion 162. Also, the upper opening 175a and the lower opening 175b are located horizontally separated from each other, straddling the horizontal center of the inspection jig 150. Moreover, the upper opening 175a and the lower opening 175b are located so as not to overlap each other in a plan view.

[0037] The upper opening 175a is located at the rear end of the upper communication section 165a and opens towards the rear from the upper communication section 165a. The upper opening 175a communicates with the upper space partitioned by the partition section 162 through the upper communication section 165a. The lower opening 175b is located at the rear end of the lower communication section 165b and opens towards the rear from the lower communication section 165b. The lower opening 175b communicates with the lower space partitioned by the partition section 162 through the lower communication section 165b. The upper opening 175a and the lower opening 175b have the same inner diameter, and female threads are formed on their inner circumferential surfaces. The outer wall portion 172 has the same configuration as the outer wall portion 72 of the lid member 40 and is denoted by the same reference numerals as the outer wall portion 72.

[0038] The locking portion 180 locks the inspection jig 150 in the state where it is attached to the joint member 10. The locking portion 180 has a main body portion 181 that is positioned to overlap the lid portion 170 on the rear side, and an engaging portion 182 that extends forward from the outer peripheral edge of the main body portion 181. The engaging portion 182 has the same configuration as the engaging portion 82 of the lid member 40. The main body 181 is roughly plate-shaped and, when viewed from the rear, is roughly circular in shape and larger than the lid 170. The main body 181 has a working hole 183 that penetrates in the front-to-back direction to allow the worker to access the lid 170 from the rear, and a finger rest 184 for the worker to place their fingers on when rotating the locking part 180 relative to the lid 170.

[0039] The upper opening 175a is detachably connected to a valve device 100. The valve device 100 opens to allow fluid to flow through the internal passage and closes to prevent fluid from flowing. The valve device 100 includes a valve body 101, an opening connection 102, a tool engagement 103, a hose connection 104, and an operating 105.

[0040] The valve body 101 has a valve that can be opened and closed positioned in the middle of a flow path formed inside, extending from the opening connection part 102 to the hose connection part 104. The valve body 101 can be, for example, a ball valve. The opening connection part 102 is connected to the upper opening 175a. Specifically, the outer circumferential surface of the opening connection part 102 has a male threaded portion that screws into the female threaded portion formed in the upper opening 175a. The tool engagement part 103 is where a tool is engaged when an operator rotates the valve device 100 to attach or detach the opening connection part 102 of the valve device 100 to the upper opening 175a. The tool engagement part 103 is a hexagonal shape and is integrally formed with the valve body 101. The hose connection part 104 is to which a hose 120, described later, is detachably connected. The operating part 105 is the part that the operator uses to open or close the flow path inside the valve body 101.

[0041] The lower opening 175b is detachably connected to a blocking member 110. The blocking member 110 blocks the lower opening 175b to prevent fluid from flowing in or out. The closing member 110 has an opening connection portion 112 and a tool engagement portion 113.

[0042] The opening connection portion 112 is connected to the lower opening 175b. Specifically, the outer circumferential surface of the opening connection portion 112 has a male threaded portion that screws into the female threaded portion formed in the lower opening 175b. The tool engagement portion 113 is where a tool is engaged when an operator rotates the closing member 110 to attach or detach the opening connection portion 112 of the closing member 110 to and from the lower opening 175b.

[0043] Since the upper opening 175a and the lower opening 175b are spaced apart vertically and horizontally, the valve device 100 and the closing member 110 can be attached and detached from each other without interference. Note that the upper opening 175a and the lower opening 175b are not limited to being spaced apart vertically and horizontally; they may be spaced apart in either vertically or horizontally.

[0044] (Full water level test) Next, we will describe the case where the inspection jig 150 is attached to the joint member 10 and a full-water test is performed. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the inspection jig 150 attached to the joint member 10. If a cover member 40 is attached to the joint member 10, the worker removes the cover member 40 from the joint member 10 to expose the hole 26 of the joint member 10. Next, the worker inserts the blocking portion 160 of the inspection jig 150 through the hole 26 of the joint member 10. By inserting the jig 150 until the cover portion 170 of the inspection jig 150 abuts against the cover mounting portion 27 of the joint member 10, the hole 26 of the joint member 10 is closed by the cover portion 170, allowing the inspection jig 150 to be attached to the joint member 10. At this time, the blocking portion 160 of the inspection jig 150 is housed in the housing portion 23, so that the partition portion 162 of the blocking portion 160 blocks the space between the upper connection portion 21a (or upper reduced diameter portion 25a) and the lower connection portion 21b (or lower reduced diameter portion 25b) of the joint member 10. In other words, the blocking section 160 of the inspection jig 150 blocks the upper pipe 2A and the lower pipe 2B from communicating.

[0045] The state in which the blocking section 160 is housed in the housing section 23 is the same as the state in which the communication section 60 is housed in the housing section 23 when the lid member 40 is attached to the joint member 10, and the sealing members 64a and 64b, which are positioned on the upper side surface 63a and lower side surface 63b, respectively, of the frame section 161 of the blocking section 160, come into contact and are tightly sealed. In addition, the sealing member 73, which is positioned on the outer wall section 172 of the lid section 170, comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the lid mounting section 27 and is tightly sealed.

[0046] The operator can lock the inspection jig 150 in place by rotating the locking portion 180 of the inspection jig 150 in one direction relative to the cover portion 170, similar to when the inspection jig 150 was attached to the joint member 10. This causes the engaging portion 182 of the locking portion 180 to engage with the engaged portion 28 of the joint member 10, thereby locking the inspection jig 150 attached to the joint member 10. The operator can also operate the control unit 105 to close the valve of the valve body portion 101 of the valve device 100 connected to the upper opening 175a of the inspection jig 150 if it is open.

[0047] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of a full-water test performed with the inspection jig 150 attached to the joint member 10. The worker supplies liquid (water) from the upper pipe 2A (or the pipe further above). At this time, the upper pipe 2A and the lower pipe 2B are blocked from communicating by the shut-off section 160 of the inspection jig 150 attached to the joint member 10, so the supplied water is stored and the upper pipe 2A becomes full. After a predetermined time set for the inspection has elapsed, the worker checks the change in the water level in the upper pipe 2A (or the pipe further above), and performs a full-water test in which it is determined that there is no leak if the water level has dropped below the specified value, and that there is a leak if the water level has dropped above the specified value. After the full-water test is completed, the worker drains the stored water.

[0048] Figure 8(a) is a cross-sectional view illustrating the first drainage method. The first drainage method involves draining water from a hose 120 connected to a hose connection 104 of the valve device 100 of the inspection jig 150 to the outside of the joint member 10 and the inspection jig 150. Specifically, the worker connects one end of the hose 120 to the hose connection part 104 of the valve device 100 and operates the operating part 105 to open the valve body part 101 of the valve device 100. As a result, the valve body part 101 opens, allowing the stored water to pass through the upper communication part 165a of the shut-off part 160 and the upper opening 175a of the lid part 170 of the inspection jig 150, through the flow path inside the valve body part 101, and be drained from the other end of the hose 120 into a drainage container or the like.

[0049] Here, the inspection jig 150 connected to the joint member 10 has a valve device 100 connected to its upper opening 175a. Therefore, the valve device 100 can be positioned outside the joint member 10, and the worker can easily access the valve device 100, thereby improving the efficiency of inspection-related work. This first drainage method can be applied when drainage to the lower pipe 2B is not possible because the construction of piping further below the lower pipe 2B has not been completed, or when draining into a drainage container for reuse during a full-water inspection of the upper floors.

[0050] Figure 8(b) is a cross-sectional view illustrating the second drainage method. The second drainage method involves bypassing the hose 120 connected to the hose connection 104 of the valve device 100 of the inspection jig 150 to the lower opening 175b of the lid 170 of the inspection jig 150 and draining into the lower piping 2B. Specifically, the worker connects one end of the hose 120 to the hose connection part 104 of the valve device 100, removes the blocking member 110 connected to the lower opening 175b, and inserts the other end of the hose 120 into the lower opening 175b from which the blocking member 110 was removed. Next, the worker operates the control unit 105 to open the valve body 101 of the valve device 100. As a result, the valve body 101 opens, allowing the stored water to drain through the upper communication part 165a of the shut-off part 160 and the upper opening 175a of the cover part 170 of the inspection jig 150, through the flow path inside the valve body 101, and out to the lower piping 2B from the other end of the hose 120.

[0051] Here, the inspection jig 150 connected to the joint member 10 has a valve device 100 and a closing member 110 connected to the upper opening 175a and the lower opening 175b, respectively. Therefore, the worker can easily access the valve device 100 and the closing member 110, thereby improving the efficiency of work related to the inspection. This second drainage method can be applied when the piping and other equipment further below the lower pipe 2B have been installed and drainage into the lower pipe 2B is possible. The water drained into the lower pipe 2B can be used for a full-water test of the lower pipe 2B.

[0052] (Occupancy check) Next, we will explain the case where the inspection jig 150 is attached to the joint member 10 and an air-fill inspection is performed. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of a full-empty inspection performed with the inspection jig 150 attached to the joint member 10. Here, the first pipe 3A to the fourth pipe 3D are arranged in a straight line vertically from the top, and the first pipe 3A and the second pipe 3B, the second pipe 3B and the third pipe 3C, and the third pipe 3C and the fourth pipe 3D are connected by joint members 10 (10a to 10c), respectively. Inspection jigs 150 (150a, 150c) are attached to the joint member 10 (10a) connecting the first pipe 3A and the second pipe 3B, and to the joint member 10 (10c) connecting the third pipe 3C and the fourth pipe 3D, respectively. On the other hand, a cover member 40 is attached to the joint member 10 (10b) connecting the second pipe 3B and the third pipe 3C. Therefore, the first pipe 3A and the second pipe 3B are blocked from communicating, the second pipe 3B and the third pipe 3C are connected, and the third pipe 3C and the fourth pipe 3D are blocked from communicating.

[0053] The worker connects the pressurizing unit 130 to the hose connection 104 of the valve device 100, which is connected to the upper opening 175a of the inspection jig 150c. The pressurizing unit 130 includes a hose 131 connected to the hose connection 104, a pressure gauge 132 connected to the hose 131, a pressurizing device 133 that pumps air (gas) through the hose 131, and a valve 134 provided between the pressure gauge 132 and the pressurizing device 133. The operator operates the control unit 105 to open the valve body 101 of the valve device 100 of the inspection jig 150c, and then drives the pressurizing device 133 of the pressurizing unit 130. The pressurizing device 133 pumps air through the hose 131, the valve device 100, and the upper opening 175a, pressurizing the inside of the second pipe 3B, the third pipe 3C, and the joint member 10b until they are full. As part of the fullness inspection, the operator closes the valve 134 of the pressurizing unit 130 and, with the valve body 101 of the valve device 100 still open, waits for a predetermined time set for the inspection to elapse, then checks the change in atmospheric pressure with the pressure gauge 132. If the pressure drop is below the specified value, it is determined that there is no leak; if the pressure drop is above the specified value, it is determined that there is a leak. After completing the fullness inspection, the operator vents the air as appropriate by removing the inspection jig 150 from the joint member 10, etc.

[0054] If no leaks are found as a result of the full-water or full-empty inspection as described above, the inspection jig 150 is removed from the joint member 10 and the cover member 40 is permanently attached to the joint member 10. On the other hand, if a leak is found as a result of the full-water or full-empty inspection, the cause of the leak is identified and the piping is repaired or replaced to eliminate the leak and the work is redone.

[0055] Thus, according to the inspection jig 150 of this embodiment, the lid portion 170 has an upper opening 175a that communicates with the upper pipe 2A and a lower opening 175b that communicates with the lower pipe 2B. Therefore, when an operator inspects for leaks in the fluid flowing through the pipe, the work related to the inspection can be performed at a location away from the joint member 10 rather than inside the joint member 10, thereby improving the efficiency of the work related to the inspection. In this embodiment, the case in which the cover member 40 is permanently attached to the joint member 10 has been described, but it can be removed when cleaning the piping, etc. That is, by removing the cover member 40 from the joint member 10 and exposing the hole 26 of the joint member 10, the hole 26 of the joint member 10 can be used as a cleaning port when high-pressure cleaning or the like of the piping including the upper pipe 2A and the lower pipe 2B.

[0056] <Second Embodiment> Next, the configuration of the joint system 3 of the second embodiment will be described. Figure 10 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the joint system 3 of this embodiment. The joint system 3 comprises a joint member 10, a cover member 240, and an inspection jig 150. In this embodiment, the configuration of the cover member 240 differs from that of the first embodiment, while the configurations of the joint member 10 and the inspection jig 150 are the same as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the explanation will focus on the cover member 240.

[0057] (Construction of the lid component) The lid member 240 has a lid body 250 that is attached to the joint member 10, and a covering portion 90 that covers the locking portion 280 of the lid body 250, which will be described later. The lid body 250 has a communication portion 60, a lid portion 270, and a locking portion 280, and the lid portion 270 and the locking portion 280 are separable.

[0058] The lid portion 270 is attached to the lid mounting portion 27 of the joint member 10 when the lid member 240 is attached to the joint member 10, and closes the hole 26 from the outside. The lid portion 270 has a lid-like portion 271 that is larger than the hole 26 of the joint member 10 when viewed from the rear, and an outer wall portion 272 that protrudes from the lid-like portion 271 toward the rear. The lid portion 271 is roughly plate-shaped and, when viewed from the rear, is roughly circular. In this embodiment, the lid portion 271 has a handle portion 290 located roughly in the center of its rear surface. The handle portion 290 is roughly plate-shaped and elongated in the left-right direction, and can be grasped by an operator with a tool or their fingers.

[0059] The outer wall portion 272 is substantially cylindrical in shape and protrudes toward the rear from the outer peripheral edge of the lid portion 271. A sealing member 73 is arranged along the outer peripheral surface on the front side of the outer peripheral surface of the outer wall portion 272, whereas, unlike the first embodiment, a groove into which the lock portion 280 is fitted is not formed on the rear side of the outer peripheral surface.

[0060] The locking portion 280 locks the lid member 240 in the state in which it is attached to the joint member 10. The locking portion 280 has a main body portion 81, an engaging portion 282 that protrudes forward from the outer peripheral edge of the main body portion 81, and a joining piece 83 for joining the covering portion 90. Unlike the first embodiment, the locking portion 280 in this embodiment is not fitted into the outer wall portion 72 of the lid portion 270, so the locking portion 280 and the lid portion 270 can be easily separated.

[0061] Next, we will describe the case in which the lid member 240 is attached to the joint member 10. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the lid member 240 attached to the joint member 10. The worker places the locking portion 280 on top of the lid portion 270 at the rear, then brings the lid member 240 closer to the joint member 10 and inserts the connecting portion 60 of the lid member 240 through the hole 26 of the joint member 10. By inserting the lid member 240 until the lid portion 270 of the lid member 240 abuts against the lid mounting portion 27 of the joint member 10, the hole 26 of the joint member 10 is closed by the lid portion 270, and the lid member 240 can be attached to the joint member 10. Finally, the worker rotates the locking portion 280 of the lid member 240 in one direction (to the right) relative to the lid portion 270, so that the engaging portion 282 of the locking portion 280 engages with the engaged portion 28 of the joint member 10, and the lid member 240 can be locked attached to the joint member 10.

[0062] Furthermore, the method is not limited to attaching the lid member 240 to the joint member 10 after overlapping the locking part 280 with the lid part 270 at the rear. Alternatively, the lid part 270 may be attached to the joint member 10 with the locking part 280 separated from the lid part 270, and then the locking part 280 may be overlapped with the lid part 270 at the rear and rotated in one direction (to the right) relative to the lid part 270 to lock the lid member 240 attached to the joint member 10.

[0063] On the other hand, when removing the lid member 240 from the joint member 10, the worker rotates the locking part 280 in the opposite direction (leftward) relative to the lid member 270, thereby releasing the engagement between the engaging part 282 and the engaged part 28, and the lock in the state in which the lid member 240 is attached to the joint member 10 is turned off. Next, the worker pulls the locking part 280 toward the rear, separating the locking part 280 from the lid member 270, and only the locking part 280 can be removed from the joint member 10. Separating the locking part 280 from the lid member 270 exposes the handle part 290 formed on the rear surface of the lid member 270. Finally, the worker grasps the handle part 290 with a tool or their fingers and pulls it toward the rear, thereby removing the lid member 270 from the joint member 10.

[0064] As the locking portion 280 and the lid portion 270 are separable, when removing the lid member 240 from the joint member 10, it is necessary to remove the locking portion 280 and the lid portion 270 from the joint member 10 in that order. Therefore, by increasing the effort required to remove the lid member 240 from the joint member 10, it is possible to remind the worker not to accidentally remove the lid member 240 from the joint member 10. In this embodiment, the case in which the lid member 240 has a lid portion 270 and a lock portion 280 that can be separated has been described. However, in the inspection jig 150, a handle portion may be provided on the lid portion 170 and the lid portion 170 and the lock portion 180 may be configured to be separable, so that when removing the inspection jig 150 from the joint member 10, the lid portion 170 and the lock portion 180 can be removed from the joint member 10 in that order.

[0065] Next, various modified examples of the embodiment will be described. The above-described embodiment of the inspection jig 150 has been explained in the case where the partition portion 162 of the blocking portion 160 is roughly plate-shaped and extends horizontally, but it is not limited to this case. (Variation 1) Figure 12(a) is a rear view of the inspection jig 150A according to Modification 1. In this view, the valve device 100 and the occluding member 110 are omitted. The blocking section 160A of the inspection jig 150A according to Modification 1 has an inclined partition section 162A. Specifically, the partition section 162A is inclined so that it slopes downwards as you move from one side (left) to the other side (right) in the left-right direction. The upper opening 175a and the lower opening 175b are positioned on opposite sides of the partition section 162A. The upper opening 175a is positioned above the lower opening 175b, and the lower opening 175b is positioned below the upper opening 175a. Furthermore, the upper opening 175a and the lower opening 175b are positioned so that they overlap each other when viewed from the right or left side. With the partition section 162A of Modification 1, when draining water after completing the full-water inspection, the water flows along the inclined partition section 162A towards the upper opening 175a, making drainage easy.

[0066] (Modification 2) Figure 12(b) is a rear view of the inspection jig 150B according to the modified example 2. In this example, the valve device 100 and the occluding member 110 are omitted. The blocking section 160B of the inspection jig 150B according to Modified Example 2 has a pair of partition sections 162B. Specifically, the pair of partition sections 162B are each roughly plate-shaped and extend horizontally, and are arranged to overlap vertically with a gap 163 between them. The partition section 162B of Modified Example 2 can improve the strength of the blocking section 160B.

[0067] (Variation 3) Figure 12(c) is a rear view of the inspection jig 150C according to the third modification. In this view, the valve device 100 and the occluding member 110 are omitted. The blocking section 160C of the inspection jig 150C according to Modified Example 3 has a partition section 162C that is partially inclined. Specifically, the partition section 162C is approximately horizontal on the left and right sides, and the center is inclined downwards from one side (left) to the other side (right). The openings 175a and 175b are located on opposite sides of the partition section 162C. Also, the openings 175a and 175b are located at approximately the same height. With the partition section 162C of Modified Example 3, when draining water after the full-water inspection is completed, the water flows along the inclined partition section 162C towards the opening 175a, so all the water can be drained without any residue.

[0068] (Other variations) The above-described embodiment of the inspection jig 150 has been described in which the lid portion 170 has an upper opening 175a and a lower opening 175b, and a valve device 100 and a closing member 110 are connected to the upper opening 175a and the lower opening 175b, respectively, but is not limited to this case.

[0069] As an example of a modified configuration, when draining using the first drainage method as shown in Figure 8(a), there is no need to drain into the lower pipe 2B, so the lower opening 175b may be omitted. In other words, the lid 170 of the inspection jig 150 may have an upper opening 175a but no lower opening 175b.

[0070] As an example of a modified configuration, when draining using the second drainage method as shown in Figure 8(b), instead of connecting the closing member 110 to the lower opening 175b, the other end of the hose 120 may be connected directly or indirectly to the lower opening 175b. Specifically, the other end of the hose 120 and the lower opening 175b may be connected via a connecting member that connects the two, or via a valve device 100.

[0071] As an example of a modified configuration, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 9, a closing member 110 may be connected to the upper opening 175a of the inspection jig 150, a valve device 100 may be connected to the lower opening 175b, and a pressurizing unit 130 may be connected to the hose connection part 104 of the valve device 100. In this case, the upper opening 175a may not be necessary. That is, the lid 170 of the inspection jig 150 may have a lower opening 175b but no upper opening 175a.

[0072] Although embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, and modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention, and each modification can be combined.

[0073] In this embodiment, the inspection jig 150 has been described in the case where the blocking portion 160 has an upper communication portion 165a and a lower communication portion 165b, but the upper communication portion 165a and the lower communication portion 165b may be omitted. That is, in the inspection jig 150, the upper space of the partition portion 162 and the upper opening 175a of the lid portion 170 may be in direct communication, or the lower space of the partition portion 162 and the lower opening 175b of the lid portion 170 may be in direct communication.

[0074] In this embodiment, the inspection jig 150 has been described as having a lid 170 with an upper opening 175a and a lower opening 175b, but it may also be configured to have only one of the upper opening 175a and the lower opening 175b. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0075] 1,3: Fitting system 2A,2B: Piping 10: Fitting component 20: Fitting body 23: Housing section 26: Hole 27: Lid mounting section 40,240: Lid component 100: Valve device 105: Operating section 110: Closure component 120: Hose 130: Pressurizing unit 133: Pressurizing device 150: Inspection jig 160: Shut-off section 170: Lid section 161: Frame section 162: Partition section 175a: Upper opening 175b: Lower opening

Claims

1. An inspection jig that is attached to a hole in the side wall of a joint member that connects one pipe to the other pipe, A lid portion that closes the aforementioned hole, It has a blocking section that blocks communication between one pipe and the other pipe, The aforementioned lid portion is An inspection jig characterized by having an opening on one side that communicates with one of the aforementioned pipes and an opening on the other side that communicates with the other pipe.

2. The blocking portion has a substantially plate-shaped partition portion that separates the space on one pipe side from the space on the other pipe side within the joint member. The inspection jig according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening on one side and the opening on the other side are positioned on opposite sides of the partition.

3. The inspection jig according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening on one side and the opening on the other side are positioned so as not to overlap with each other when viewed from the direction of fluid flow.

4. It has a valve device connected to the opening on one side, The inspection jig according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the valve device has an operating part for opening and closing the internal flow path.

5. The inspection jig according to claim 4, characterized in that the valve device has a hose connected to the opposite side of the opening on one side for draining the liquid stored in the one pipe through the opening on one side and the valve device.

6. The inspection jig according to claim 4, characterized in that the valve device has a pressurizing device connected to the opposite side of the opening on one side to the one pipe for pressurizing gas through the opening on one side and the valve device.

7. It has a closing member connected to the other side opening, The inspection jig according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the closing member is detachably attached to the opening on the other side.

8. A valve device connected to the opening on one side, The inspection jig according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by having a closing member connected to the opening on the other side.

9. An inspection method using the inspection jig described in claim 5, A determination step in which liquid is stored in one of the pipes and liquid leakage is determined by attaching the inspection jig to the joint member and closing the flow path inside the valve device with the operating unit, An inspection method characterized by comprising a drainage step, in which the liquid stored in one of the pipes is drained from the hose by opening the flow path inside the valve device using the operating unit.

10. The inspection jig has a closing member connected to the other side opening, The inspection method according to claim 9, characterized in that in the drainage step, the hose is inserted into the other opening from which the blocking member has been removed, and the liquid stored in one pipe is drained into the other pipe.

11. An inspection method using the inspection jig described in claim 6, An inspection method characterized by having a determination step of determining whether gas leaks occur by pressurizing gas into one of the pipes using the pressurizing device while the inspection jig is attached to the joint member and the flow path inside the valve device is opened by the operating unit.

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