Air valve device

Abstract

To provide an air valve device for allowing an air valve to be easily installed even in a space which is narrow upward from a pipe.SOLUTION: An air valve device 1 includes a pipe 2 in which water flows, a bypass pipe 3 having a narrow part 31 which is connected to the pipe 2 at two places and the inner diameter of which is gradually narrowed as extending from the upstream side to the downstream side to increase the flow velocity of the water, an upper part pipe 4 connected to the upper part of the bypass pipe 3 near the end on the downstream side of the narrow part 31 and to the upper part of the pipe 2, and an air valve 5 connected to the upper part of the bypass pipe 3 near the connection part of the upper part pipe 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air valve device that is connected to a pipe through which water flows and that performs exhaust. [Background technology]

[0002] An air valve is connected to one or several of the multiple connected pipes that form a pipeline for water supply and sewerage, industrial water, agricultural water, or the like, wherever necessary. The air valve has a function of exhausting air (including other gases) mixed in the water flowing through the pipe to the outside. Air valves are widely used in various necessary places. There are widely known air valves that have both a large-volume exhaust (rapid exhaust) function that exhausts a large amount of air that has accumulated in the pipe after construction or the like to the outside through a large air hole, and a small-volume exhaust function that exhausts air that has entered the pipe for various reasons while water is flowing through the pipe at normal pressure to the outside in small amounts through a small air hole (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2, etc.).

[0003] An air valve having both a large amount exhaust function and a small amount exhaust function generally has, as a basic structure, a valve box connected to a pipe, a cover body in which a large air hole is formed and attached to the valve box, a floating valve body arranged in the valve box and capable of blocking the large air hole of the cover body from below, and a float valve body arranged in the valve box. A small air hole is formed in the cover body (for example, Patent Document 1, etc.) or in the floating valve body (for example, Patent Document 2, etc.). The float valve body can block the small air hole from below. The float valve body and the floating valve body have a specific gravity smaller than that of water. A separate water stop valve (including a repair valve, etc.) is usually provided near the air valve to stop (stop water) the intrusion of water into the valve box for repairing the air valve, etc.

[0004] During large volume exhaust, air is exhausted through the large air hole. Large volume exhaust is performed from when the stop valve is opened and water enters the valve box from the piping until the floating valve body comes into close contact with the cover from below and blocks the large air hole. After large volume exhaust is completed, small volume exhaust is performed. During small volume exhaust, air is exhausted through the small air hole formed on the cover or floating valve body. When the water level rises and the small air hole is a specified distance from the water level, the float valve body begins to block the small air hole from below, and exhaust stops. After that, air mixes with the water and enters the valve box from the piping, the amount of air from the water level to the small air hole increases, and when the water level drops, the float valve body drops, the small air hole is opened, and small volume exhaust is performed again. Then, when the water level rises due to the small volume exhaust and the small air hole is a specified distance from the water level, the float valve body begins to block the small air hole from below, and exhaust stops.

[0005] Also, air valves having only a function of small amount exhaust (for example, Patent Document 3, etc.) are known. Generally, such air valves have, as a basic structure, a valve box (cylinder in Patent Document 3) connected to a pipe, a cover body (end block and end cap, etc. in Patent Document 3) in which a small air hole is formed and attached to the valve box, and a float valve body arranged in the valve box and capable of blocking the small air hole of the cover body from below. Exhaust (small amount exhaust) is performed through the small air hole after the water stop valve is opened and water enters the valve box from the pipe. When the water level rises and the small air hole is a predetermined distance from the water level, the float valve body begins to block the small air hole from below, and exhaust stops. After that, air enters the valve box from the pipe mixed with water, and the amount of air from the water level to the small air hole increases, and when the water level drops, the float valve body drops, the small air hole is opened, and exhaust is performed again. Then, when the water level rises due to the exhaust and the small air hole is a specified distance from the water level, the float valve body blocks the small air hole from below, and the exhaust stops. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 4-126076 [Patent Document 2] JP 2009-121678 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2012-026570 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In air valves, the small air hole is blocked and opened by the float valve body to operate properly, so the float valve body and the like are usually large, and therefore the entire air valve is large. However, air valves are widely used in various necessary places as described above. In some cases, for example, when a pipe on a general road goes over another pipe for a different purpose, or when the buried depth of the pipe is shallow to begin with, there is not much space from the pipe to the aboveground part above. Also, for example, when a pipe on a bridge goes over a bridge structure to avoid the bridge structure, there is not much space from the pipe to the bridge structure above. In such cases, it may not be easy to install the air valve and operate it properly.

[0008] In addition, when the siphon principle is used to allow water to flow over hilly terrain, the internal pressure in the piping in the hilly area may approach or become negative pressure, and an air valve installed above it may not function properly.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide an air valve device that can install an air valve and operate it properly even when there is not much space above the piping or when there is negative pressure inside the piping. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the air valve device according to claim 1 includes at least one pipe through which water flows, and a valve member for connecting the at least one pipe to the water supply pipe. The bottomThe system comprises a bypass pipe connected at two points and having a narrowed section whose inner diameter gradually narrows from the upstream side to the downstream side, thereby increasing the flow rate of water, an upper pipe connected to an upper part of the bypass pipe near the downstream end of the narrowed section and to an upper part of the one pipe or another pipe of the at least one pipe, and an air valve connected to the upper part of the bypass pipe near the connection part of the upper pipe.

[0011] The air valve device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the air valve device according to the first aspect, wherein the bypass pipe has an inner pipe in a part of its interior, and the narrowed portion is formed in the inner pipe.

[0012] The air valve device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the air valve device according to the second aspect, wherein the connection portion of the upper pipe at the upper portion of the bypass pipe is provided above an outer surface of the inner pipe.

[0013] The air valve device according to claim 4 is the air valve device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air valve is connected to an upper part of the bypass pipe downstream of the connection part of the upper pipe.

[0014] Claim 5 The air valve device according to the present invention is 4 In the air valve device described in any one of claims 1 to 5, the pipe to which the upper pipe is connected among the at least one pipe has a periphery of a connection portion of the upper pipe at an upper portion thereof protruding upward.

[0015] Claim 6 The air valve device according to the present invention is 5 In the air valve device described in any one of claims 1 to 5, the bypass pipe is provided with water stop valves on the upstream and downstream sides of a region including the connection portion of the upper pipe and the connection portion of the air valve. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the air valve device of the present invention, even when there is little space above the piping or when there is negative pressure inside the piping, the air valve can be installed and can operate properly. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of an air valve device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the air valve device taken along the line AA in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the air valve device taken along the line BB in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an air valve of the air valve device of the above. [Diagram 5] 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, illustrating the operation of the air valve device of the same embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 and illustrating the operation of the air valve device of the same embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view showing, in a reduced scale, an air valve device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a plan view of one piping side of the air valve device. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the other piping side of the air valve device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, an air valve device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a pipe 2 (one pipe), a bypass pipe 3, an upper pipe 4, and an air valve 5. The air valve device 1 can also include two water stop valves 6.

[0019] The pipe 2, together with other pipes connected thereto (see Figs. 5 and 6 described below), forms a pipeline for water supply and sewerage, industrial water, agricultural water, or the like. In this pipe 2, water flows from the upstream side (the right side in Fig. 1, etc.) to the downstream side (the left side in Fig. 1, etc.). An upper pipe 4, which will be described in detail later, is connected to the upper part of the pipe 2 (usually the zenith part).

[0020] It is preferable that a protruding portion 2a that protrudes upward is provided at the top of the piping 2. In this case, the upper pipe 4 is connected to the protruding portion 2a. In other words, the periphery of the connection portion of the upper pipe 4 protrudes upward. In this way, air (including other gases) mixed in the water flowing through the piping 2 accumulates in the protruding portion 2a and is easily discharged from the upper pipe 4 as described below.

[0021] The bypass pipe 3 is connected to the piping 2 at two points (the upstream connection and the downstream connection). A portion of the water that has flowed into the piping 2 bypasses the bypass pipe 3 and returns to the piping 2. In other words, a portion of the water that has flowed into the piping 2 flows into the bypass pipe 3 from the upstream connection and flows out into the piping 2 from the downstream connection.

[0022] The length of the bypass pipe 3 is not particularly limited, and it is also possible for it to be extended to a suitable position (a suitable horizontal and / or vertical position) for installing the air valve 5, which will be described in detail later.

[0023] The bypass pipe 3 is preferably thinner than the piping 2. In other words, the inner diameter (diameter of the hollow portion) of the bypass pipe 3 is preferably smaller than the inner diameter of the piping 2. For example, the inner diameter of the bypass pipe 3 can be set to be one-fifth or less of the inner diameter of the piping 2. In this case, the position at which the air valve 5, which will be described in detail later, is installed can be lowered.

[0024] Moreover, it is preferable that the bypass pipe 3 is connected to the lower part of the piping 2 at the above-mentioned two locations. In other words, it is preferable that the vertical center position of the bypass pipe 3 is lower than the vertical center position of the piping 2. This makes the position at which the air valve 5 is provided lower, and also, for example, when the bypass pipe 3 is thinner than the piping 2, if the bottom position of the bypass pipe 3 and the bottom position of the piping 2 (the bottom position including the flange (see FIG. 3)) are aligned, the position at which the air valve 5 is provided becomes even lower.

[0025] The bypass pipe 3 has a narrowed section 31. The narrowed section 31 increases the water flow rate by gradually narrowing the inner diameter from the upstream side (right side in FIG. 3) to the downstream side (left side in FIG. 3). The narrowed section 31 can be formed in an inner pipe 3a by having the inner pipe 3a in a part of the inside of the bypass pipe 3. The inner pipe 3a separates from the main body (outer pipe) 3b of the bypass pipe 3 as it moves downstream midway through the bypass pipe 3, and is formed up to the downstream end of the narrowed section 31 (the outlet of the narrowed section 31). At the position where the inner pipe 3a is formed (horizontal position), the outer pipe 3b is usually thicker.

[0026] The upper pipe 4 is connected to an upper portion of the bypass pipe 3 (usually the apex portion) near the downstream end of the narrowed portion 31 and to an upper portion of the piping 2. The upper pipe 4 is a thin pipe. There is no particular limitation on the specific manner in which the upper pipe 4 is extended, but as shown in the figure, it is possible for the upper pipe 4 to extend upward from a connection portion at the upper portion of the bypass pipe 3, extend above the top of the piping 2 (and its protruding portion 2a), extend horizontally to the horizontal position of the connection portion at the upper portion of the piping 2 (bending and extending as necessary), and then extend downward to the connection portion at the upper portion of the piping 2.

[0027] When the narrowed portion 31 is formed in the inner pipe 3a, the connection portion of the upper pipe 4 at the upper portion of the bypass pipe 3 can be provided above the outer surface of the inner pipe 3a. In this way, when air moves from the upper portion of the piping 2 through the upper pipe 4 to the upper portion of the bypass pipe 3, as described below, it naturally becomes easier to move downstream from there.

[0028] In addition, the piping 2, the bypass pipe 3 and the upper pipe 4 can be integrally molded, connected to each other by welding, connected to each other by bolts or the like with flanges provided at the connection parts, or connected to each other by a drilling method using a saddle branch valve.

[0029] The air valve 5 is connected near the connection portion of the upper pipe 4 at the upper part of the bypass pipe 3. The air valve 5 is usually connected downstream of the connection portion of the upper pipe 4 at the upper part of the bypass pipe 3. In Fig. 3 etc., the air valve 5 is connected to the bypass pipe 3 via a connecting member.

[0030] The air valve 5 is not particularly limited as long as it has the function of exhausting air that has entered mixed with water to the outside. As explained in the Background Art section, it may be an air valve having only a small amount of exhaust function, or it may be an air valve having both a large amount of exhaust function and a small amount of exhaust function.

[0031] For example, as shown in Fig. 4, an air valve 5 having only a small amount of exhaust function can be provided with a valve box 51 connected to a pipe, a cover 52 having a small air hole 5a formed therein and attached to the valve box 51, and a float valve body 53 arranged in the valve box 51 and capable of blocking the small air hole 5a of the cover body 52 from below (see Patent Document 3, etc.). The float valve body 53 has a specific gravity smaller than that of water. Note that Fig. 4 shows a state in which the small air hole 5a is opened and exhausted to the outside (into the atmosphere) through it, and as the exhaust progresses from this state, the small air hole 5a is blocked from below by the float valve body 53.

[0032] The stop valve 6 can be provided on both sides (i.e., upstream and downstream) of the area including the connection part of the upper pipe 4 and the connection part of the air valve 5 in the bypass pipe 3. The stop valve 6 can stop water from entering the valve box 51 in the bypass pipe 3 for repair of the air valve 5 (stop water). The stop valve 6 may be anything generally called (e.g., repair valve, etc.) as long as it can stop water. Note that FIG. 3 and other figures show the stop valve 6 in an open state, and water flows through the hollow hole of the stop plate 61. When the stop plate 61 is rotated about 90 degrees from the open state, the stop valve 61 prevents water from flowing and the stop valve 6 is closed.

[0033] The stop valve 6 can also be provided halfway between the air valve 5 and the bypass pipe 3 (i.e., at the position of the above-mentioned connecting member interposed between the air valve 5 and the bypass pipe 3 in Figure 3, etc.), but by providing it on both sides of the area including the connection part of the upper pipe 4 and the connection part of the air valve 5, as described above, the installation position of the air valve 5 can be kept low even when the stop valve 6 is provided.

[0034] With the above-described configuration, the air valve device 1 operates as follows (see Figs. 5 and 6). Part of the water (shown by solid lines with arrows in Figs. 5 and 6) flowing into the pipe 2 from another pipe connected upstream (shown on the right side in Figs. 5 and 6) flows into the bypass pipe 3 through the upstream connection with the bypass pipe 3 with the water stop valve 6 open. The water that has flowed into the bypass pipe 3 passes through the narrowed section 31, returns to the pipe 2 through the downstream connection with the pipe 2, and flows toward the other pipe connected downstream (shown on the left side in Figs. 5 and 6).

[0035] Here, the flow rate of the water passing through the narrowed section 31 increases at the downstream end of the narrowed section 31, and the pressure drops in the vicinity of the narrowed section 31 due to the Venturi effect (aspirator effect). As a result, near the connection of the upper pipe 4 located near the downstream end of the narrowed section 31, the water flows toward the inside of the bypass pipe 3. In the upper pipe 4, a water flow is generated from the connection of the upper pipe 4 to the pipe 2 to the connection of the upper pipe 4 to the bypass pipe 3. At this time, if air has accumulated inside the pipe 2, the air (indicated by the dashed line with an arrow in Figures 5 and 6) mixes with the water and moves into the inside of the bypass pipe 3 through the upper pipe 4.

[0036] The air that has moved into the inside of the bypass pipe 3 is taken into an air valve 5 provided near the connection portion of the upper pipe 4, and then exhausted to the outside (to the atmosphere).

[0037] When the stop valve 6 is closed, there is no pressure drop near the downstream end of the narrowed portion 31 in the bypass pipe 3, so no water flow occurs in the upper pipe 4.

[0038] The air valve device 1 described above is not limited to a particular place where it can be used, but is particularly useful when used in a place where there is little space above the pipe 2. For example, when the pipe 2 and a pipe connected to it pass above another pipe for a different purpose on a general road (when they pass above another pipe for a different purpose that they cross), or when the buried depth of the pipe is shallow to begin with, there may be little space above the pipe 2 to the ground. Also, when the pipe passes under the bridge to avoid the bridge structure, there may be little space above the pipe. Even in such a case, the air valve device 1 can install the air valve 5 and operate it properly. If the air valve 5 is quite large, it is also possible to extend the bypass pipe 3 and the upper pipe 4 longer to a place where the air valve 5 can be installed.

[0039] Next, an air valve device 7 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in Figs. 7 to 9, the air valve device 7 includes a pipe 8 (first pipe) and a pipe 9 (second pipe), the bypass pipe 3 and the air valve 5 are provided on the pipe 8, and the upper pipe 4 is connected to the upper part of the bypass pipe 3 and the upper part of the pipe 9. The upper pipe 4 may be quite long, and a strong rubber hose or the like may be used in addition to a hard pipe. The two water stop valves 6 are the same as those described above. The pipe 9 may be provided with a protruding part 9a similar to the protruding part 2a described above.

[0040] Such an air valve device 7 can be configured to position the pipe 8 at a low point (i.e., a position where the internal pressure in the pipe 8 is positive) when water is made to flow over hilly areas using the siphon principle (in the case of a siphon-type water intake system) and the internal pressure in the pipe 9 in the hilly area is close to or can become negative, making it easy for gas-liquid separation to occur. In the upper pipe 4, as described above, a water flow occurs from the pipe 9 toward the bypass pipe 3 of the pipe 8 due to the Venturi effect, and if air accumulates inside the pipe 9, the air mixes with the water and moves to the inside of the bypass pipe 3 through the upper pipe 4, and is exhausted to the outside (to the atmosphere) by the air valve 5. In this way, the siphon principle is maintained without air accumulating in the hilly area beyond the pipe diameter, and water from a water source S (see FIG. 7), such as a reservoir, can be supplied to a rice field or the like across the hilly area for irrigation or the like.

[0041] The above describes an air valve device according to an embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design modifications are possible within the scope of the matters described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 Air valve device 2 Pipe (first pipe) 2a Protruding part of pipe (first pipe) 3 Detour pipe 3a Inner pipe of bypass pipe 3b Main body of bypass pipe (outer pipe) 31 Stenosis 4 Upper pipe 5 Air valve 5a Small air hole 51 Valve box 52 Lid 53 Float valve body 6. Water stop valve 61 Waterstop 7 Air valve device 8 Piping (first pipe) 9 Piping (other piping) 9a Protruding parts of pipes (other pipes) S water source

Claims

1. At least one pipe through which water flows; a bypass pipe connected to one of the at least one pipe at two locations in a lower portion thereof, the bypass pipe having a narrowed portion whose inner diameter gradually narrows from the upstream side to the downstream side, thereby increasing a water flow rate; an upper pipe connected to an upper portion of the bypass pipe near an end portion on the downstream side of the narrowed portion and to an upper portion of the one pipe or another pipe of the at least one pipe; an air valve connected to an upper portion of the bypass pipe in the vicinity of a connection portion of the upper pipe; An air valve device comprising:

2. 2. The air valve device according to claim 1, The bypass pipe has an inner pipe in a part of its interior, and the narrowed portion is formed in the inner pipe.

3. 3. The air valve device according to claim 2, An air valve device in which the connection portion of the upper pipe at the upper portion of the bypass pipe is provided above the outer surface of the inner pipe.

4. The air valve device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The air valve is an air valve device connected to the upper part of the bypass pipe downstream of the connection portion of the upper pipe.

5. The air valve device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The air valve device in which the upper pipe is connected to one of the at least one pipe, the periphery of the connection portion of the upper pipe at the upper part of the pipe protrudes upward.

6. The air valve device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The air valve device includes a bypass pipe, and water stop valves are provided on the upstream and downstream sides of a region including the connection portion of the upper pipe and the connection portion of the air valve.

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