Saddle branch joint, pipe branching method, and fluid device

Abstract

To configure a saddle branch joint or fluid device using inexpensive and versatile components, and enable on-site construction in a simple way.SOLUTION: A saddle branch joint comprises a branch joint 10 attached to an opening O formed in advance on an outer peripheral surface of a main pipe P, and a fixing mechanism 20 that fixes the branch joint 10 to the main pipe P. The branch joint 10 has a positioning protrusion 12 that is fitted into the opening O and positions the branch joint 10 with respect to the main pipe P.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a saddle branch joint, a pipe branching method, and a fluid device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, for example, when drawing water from an existing main pipe, a so-called saddle branch joint as shown in Patent Document 1 has been used.

[0003] This saddle branch joint includes a pair of saddles that sandwich a mother pipe, and a branch joint that is attached to an opening formed in one of the saddles.

[0004] During construction, a pair of saddles are fixed to the parent pipe, and a hole is drilled in the parent pipe using a drilling machine through an opening formed in one of the saddles. A branch joint is then attached to the opening, and a new water pipe is connected to the branch joint to complete the pipe branching.

[0005] However, such saddle branch joints require the saddle, which is fixed to the parent pipe and to which the drilling machine is attached, to have sufficient mechanical strength, making them expensive dedicated items and requiring large-scale construction on site.

[0006] The above-mentioned problems are not limited to those occurring during pipe branching construction, but can also occur during construction in which openings are formed in existing piping and various fluid devices such as flow meters and pressure gauges are attached to the openings. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-214585 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to make it possible to construct saddle branch fittings and fluid equipment using inexpensive, highly versatile parts, while also making on-site installation easy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In other words, the saddle branch joint of the present invention comprises a branch joint that is attached to an opening pre-formed in the outer peripheral surface of a mother pipe, and a fixing mechanism that fixes the branch joint to the mother pipe, and is characterized in that the branch joint has a positioning protrusion that is fitted into the opening and positions the branch joint relative to the mother pipe.

[0010] Since the saddle branch joint constructed in this manner is attached to an opening pre-formed on the outer circumferential surface of the parent pipe, it does not require the same mechanical strength as a drilling machine, and can be constructed using inexpensive, versatile parts. Moreover, since the branch joint has a positioning protrusion that fits into the opening, construction of pipe branching on-site can be simplified, and it becomes possible to easily build a system with a complex circuit.

[0011] One way to position the branch joint relative to the mother pipe is, for example, to provide a plurality of positioning protrusions intermittently along the inner surface of the opening of the mother pipe. In order to position the branch joint more stably, however, it is preferable that the positioning protrusions be annular and in contact with the entire inner surface of the opening.

[0012] In order to prevent leakage of the fluid flowing through the mother pipe, it is preferable that the branch joint has a ring-shaped groove formed around the positioning protrusion for fitting an O-ring therein.

[0013] A specific example of the fixing mechanism is one that includes a saddle provided on the branch joint so as to span the opening, and a jig attached to the back side of the opening on the outer peripheral surface of the mother pipe, and by attaching one of the jig and the saddle to the other, the branch joint is pressed against the mother pipe and fixed.

[0014] In order to manufacture the saddle inexpensively, it is preferable that the saddle be flat and have a through hole through which the branch joint passes.

[0015] A specific configuration of the jig can include one having an arc-shaped mounting portion that is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the mother pipe, and a pair of mounting portions that are bent from both circumferential ends of the mounting portion to which the saddle is attached. With this configuration, for example, a general-purpose U-shaped fitting used for fixing piping can be used as the jig, making the saddle branch joint inexpensive and highly versatile.

[0016] In addition, the pipe branching method of the present invention comprises an opening step of forming an opening at a predetermined location on the outer peripheral surface of a mother pipe, an installation step of attaching a branch fitting to the opening, and a fixing step of fixing the branch fitting to the mother pipe using a fixing mechanism, and is characterized in that in the installation step, the branch fitting is positioned relative to the mother pipe by fitting a positioning protrusion formed on the branch fitting into the opening. According to such a pipe branching method, it is possible to achieve the same effects as those of the above-mentioned saddle branch joint.

[0017] Furthermore, the fluid equipment of the present invention comprises an equipment body that is attached to an opening pre-formed on the outer peripheral surface of a mother pipe, and a fixing mechanism that fixes the equipment body to the mother pipe, and the equipment body has a positioning protrusion that is fitted into the opening to position the equipment body relative to the mother pipe. Since the fluid device constructed in this manner is used by attaching it to an opening pre-formed on the outer circumferential surface of the mother pipe, it does not require the same mechanical strength as, for example, a drilling machine, and can be constructed using inexpensive, versatile parts. Moreover, since the device body has a positioning protrusion that fits into the opening, on-site installation can be simplified. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention described above, it is possible to construct saddle branch fittings and fluid equipment using inexpensive, highly versatile parts, while simplifying on-site installation, thereby making it possible to easily build systems with complex circuits. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a saddle branch joint in one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a saddle branch joint in the same embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the saddle branch joint in the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a saddle and a branch joint in the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 4 shows a procedure for constructing a pipe branch using the saddle branch joint in this embodiment. [Figure 6] 4 shows a procedure for constructing a pipe branch using the saddle branch joint in this embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a saddle branch joint in another embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a saddle branch joint in another embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a saddle branch joint according to another embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a saddle in another embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid device according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] The saddle branch joint of this embodiment is used, for example, when laying a new branch pipe such as a water pipe from an existing main pipe, and is placed between the existing main pipe and the newly installed branch pipe to connect them.

[0022] Specifically, this saddle branch joint 100, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a branch joint 10 that is attached to an opening O that is pre-formed on the outer peripheral surface of a parent pipe P, and a fixing mechanism 20 that fixes the branch joint 10 to the parent pipe P using a saddle 30.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the branch fitting 10 has an internal flow path 10L formed therein, with one end opening 10a of the internal flow path 10L communicating with the interior of the parent pipe P and the other end opening 10b communicating with the interior of the branch pipe.

[0024] The branch joint 10 of this embodiment has a linear internal flow path 10L formed therein, but may also be configured, for example, so that the internal flow path 10L branches midway and the fluid flowing into one end opening 10a is diverted to multiple other end openings 10b.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fixing mechanism 20 is composed of a saddle 30 on which the branch joint 10 is placed, a jig 40 to which the saddle 30 is attached, and a fastener 50 that attaches one of the saddle 30 and the jig 40 to the other.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the saddle 30 is provided integrally with or separately from the branch joint 10, and is disposed so as to straddle the opening O of the parent pipe P.

[0027] 3, the saddle 30 of this embodiment is a separate body from the branch joint 10 and is a flat plate made of, for example, resin. A through hole 31 is formed in the center of the saddle 30, penetrating in the thickness direction. A step 11 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the branch joint 10 fits into the through hole 31, whereby the branch joint 10 is placed on the saddle 30 and attached.

[0028] Further, the saddle 30 has screw holes 30h formed at a plurality of locations in addition to the above-described through hole 31. In this embodiment, a pair of screw holes 30h are formed at positions sandwiching the through hole 31. However, the positions and number of the screw holes 30h may be changed as appropriate.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the jig 40 sandwiches the main pipe P and the branch joint 10 between itself and the saddle 30, and is, for example, a deformed metal plate member.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, the jig 40 of this embodiment is constructed using what is called a U-shaped fitting, which is used for fixing piping, and specifically has an attachment portion 41 that is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the mother pipe P, and a pair of mounting portions 42 to which the saddle 30 is attached.

[0031] The mounting portion 41 has an arc-shaped portion and forms an accommodation space 41S in which the parent pipe P and the branch joint 10 are accommodated. The width dimension of this accommodation space 41S, i.e., the opposing distance L1 of the inner peripheral surface of the mounting portion 41, is equal to the outer diameter L2 of the parent pipe P, and here is also equal to the outer diameter L3 of the end portion of the branch joint 10. With this configuration, the mounting portion 41 is mounted in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the parent pipe P, and is also mounted in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the end portion of the branch joint 10.

[0032] The mounting portions 42 are bent from both ends of the mounting portion 41, and are flat in shape here. Screw holes 42h are formed in a plurality of locations in the mounting portions 42. In this embodiment, the pair of mounting portions 42 each have a screw hole 42h formed at a location corresponding to the screw hole 30h of the saddle 30 described above.

[0033] With the above-mentioned configuration, one of the jig 40 and the saddle 30 can be attached to the other by passing the screws as the fasteners 50 through the multiple screw holes 30h, 42h. Then, by tightening the screws, the distance between the jig 40 and the saddle 30 is reduced, and the branch joint 10 is pressed against the mother pipe P and fixed.

[0034] Therefore, in order to improve the workability when attaching the above-mentioned branch fitting 10 to the opening O of the parent pipe P, the branch fitting 10 of this embodiment has a positioning protrusion 12 that is fitted into the opening O of the parent pipe P to position the branch fitting 10 relative to the parent pipe P, as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 4, the positioning protrusion 12 has an annular shape and is provided so as to surround one end opening 10a of the internal flow path 10L of the branch joint 10. Then, as shown in Fig. 1, the positioning protrusion 12 is inserted into the opening O of the mother pipe P and contacts the entire inner circumferential surface O1 that forms the opening O. Furthermore, the positioning protrusion 12 of this embodiment has a dimension that does not protrude into the mother pipe P so as not to obstruct the flow of fluid in the mother pipe P, and more specifically, is shaped to fit along the inner circumferential surface of the mother pipe P.

[0036] Furthermore, the branch joint 10 of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, further has a ring-shaped groove 13 formed around the above-mentioned positioning protrusion 12, and is configured to fit an O-ring 60 into this ring-shaped groove 13 to ensure airtightness between the mother pipe P and the branch joint 10.

[0037] This ring-shaped groove 13 is formed by recessing the end face of the branch joint 10 facing the mother pipe P in the pipe axial direction. In other words, by forming this ring-shaped groove 13, the radially inner side of this ring-shaped groove 13 is formed as a positioning protrusion 12.

[0038] Furthermore, by forming the ring-shaped groove 13 as described above, an annular outer circumferential protrusion 14 is formed radially outward from the ring-shaped groove 13. The inner circumferential surface of the outer circumferential protrusion 14 is shaped to fit the outer circumferential surface of the mother pipe P and functions as a guide surface when the branch joint 10 is moved to the opening O along the pipe axis direction of the mother pipe P after the mother pipe P has been passed through the branch joint 10.

[0039] Next, a pipe branching method using the above-mentioned saddle branch joint 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0040] First, an opening O is formed at a predetermined location on the outer peripheral surface of the mother pipe P (S1). Specific methods for forming the opening O include, for example, a method of scraping off the predetermined location on the outer peripheral surface of the mother pipe P by moving a piston at high speed using explosives or the like, and a method of drilling the predetermined location on the outer peripheral surface of the mother pipe P using a drilling machine.

[0041] Next, one of the saddle 30 and the jig 40 is attached to the other (S2). Specifically, a fastener 50 is passed through screw holes 30h, 42h provided in the saddle 30 and the jig 40 and slightly tightened to maintain a gap Z between the saddle 30 and the jig 40.

[0042] In this state, the branch joint 10 is fitted into the through hole 31 of the saddle 30 via the accommodation space 41S formed by the mounting part 41 of the jig 40 (S3). Note that the O-ring 60 may be fitted into the ring-shaped groove 13 of the branch joint 10 before S3, or the O-ring 60 may be fitted after S3. This makes the branch joint 10, saddle 30, jig 40, and O-ring 60 integrated.

[0043] Next, the mother pipe P is passed through the above-mentioned accommodation space 41S, and while aligning the outer peripheral protrusion 14 of the branch joint 10 with the outer peripheral surface of the mother pipe P, the branch joint 10 is moved along the pipe axis direction of the mother pipe P to an opening O, and the positioning protrusion 12 of the branch joint 10 is inserted into this opening O (S4). At this time, as described above, the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral protrusion 14 functions as a guide surface for smoothly moving the branch joint 10 along the pipe axis direction of the mother pipe P. This positions the branch joint 10 with respect to the mother pipe P.

[0044] Finally, the above-mentioned fastener 50 is tightened to reduce the distance X between the saddle 30 and the jig 40, whereby the branch joint 10 is pressed against and fixed to the parent pipe P, thereby completing the construction of the pipe branch (S5).

[0045] The saddle branch joint 100 configured in this manner is attached to an opening O formed in advance on the outer peripheral surface of the parent pipe P, so it does not require the same mechanical strength as, for example, one to which a drilling machine can be attached, and can be constructed using inexpensive, highly versatile parts. Furthermore, since the branch joint 10 has a positioning protrusion 12 that is fitted into the opening O, construction of pipe branching on-site can be simplified, thereby making it possible to easily construct systems with complex circuits.

[0046] Furthermore, since the positioning protrusion 12 has an annular shape, the branch joint 10 can be positioned more stably.

[0047] Furthermore, by fitting an O-ring 60 into the ring-shaped groove 13, the airtightness between the main pipe P and the branch joint 10 can be increased, and leakage of the fluid flowing through the main pipe P can be reliably prevented.

[0048] Furthermore, since a general-purpose U-shaped metal fitting used for fixing pipes, for example, is used as the jig 40, the saddle branch joint 100 can be made inexpensive and highly versatile.

[0049] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0050] For example, in the above embodiment, the branch joint 10 and the saddle 30 are separate bodies. However, as shown in Figs. 7 to 9, the branch joint 10 and the saddle 30 may be integrated together.

[0051] In addition, in the above embodiment, one of the saddle 30 and the jig 40 is attached to the other, and then the branch fitting 10 is fitted into the through hole 31 of the saddle 30, and then the mother pipe P is passed through the accommodating space 41S, and the positioning protrusion 12 is inserted into the opening O of the mother pipe P, but this work procedure may be changed as appropriate. For example, first, an O-ring 60 is provided on the branch joint 10, and the positioning protrusion 12 of this branch joint 10 is inserted into the opening O of the mother pipe P to position the branch joint 10 with respect to the mother pipe P. Then, the branch joint 10 may be fixed to the mother pipe P by sandwiching this branch joint 10 between the saddle 30 and the jig 40.

[0052] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the positioning protrusion 12 was annular, but as shown in Figure 10, multiple positioning protrusions 12 may be intermittently provided along the inner surface O1 of the opening O formed in the mother pipe P.

[0053] Furthermore, although the saddle 30 is flat in the above embodiment, it may be block-shaped or curved.

[0054] In addition, the fluidic devices described below also constitute the present invention. That is, as shown in Figure 11, the fluid device 200 of the present invention comprises an device main body 70 that is attached to an opening O pre-formed on the outer peripheral surface of a mother pipe P, and a fixing mechanism 20 that fixes the device main body 70 to the mother pipe P, and the device main body 70 may have a positioning protrusion 12 that is fitted into the opening O to position the device main body 70 relative to the mother pipe P.

[0055] This fluid device 200 has a configuration in which the branch joint 10 in the above-mentioned saddle branch joint 100 is replaced with an equipment main body 70, and the equipment main body 70 may include various valves such as on-off valves and check valves, pressure sensors, mixers, agitators, etc.

[0056] The fluid equipment configured in this manner is used by being attached to an opening O formed in advance on the outer circumferential surface of the mother pipe P, so it does not require the same mechanical strength as, for example, an equipment to which a drilling machine is attached, and can be constructed using inexpensive, highly versatile parts. Moreover, since the equipment body 70 has the positioning protrusion 12 that fits into the opening O, on-site installation work can be simplified.

[0057] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 100···Saddle branch joint P...Main tube O...opening 10 Branch joint 10L...Internal flow path 10a...One end open 10b... Other end opening 11...Double section 12 Positioning protrusion 13 Ring-shaped groove 14...Outer protrusion 20...Fixing mechanism 30···Saddle 40... Jig 41 Mounting part 42 Mounting section 50 Fastener 60 ···O-ring 70 Equipment body

Claims

1. a branch joint attached to an opening pre-formed on an outer peripheral surface of the mother pipe; a fixing mechanism for fixing the branch joint to the mother pipe, The branch joint includes: a positioning protrusion that is fitted into the opening to position the branch joint relative to the mother pipe; A step portion having a flat surface formed on the outer peripheral surface, The fixing mechanism includes: A saddle is provided on the branch joint so as to straddle the opening, has a flat plate shape, and has a through hole through which the branch joint passes; a jig attached to a rear side of the opening in the outer peripheral surface of the mother pipe, A saddle branch joint in which one of the jig and the saddle is attached to the other and the step is fitted into the through hole, so that the flat surface of the step is placed on the flat surface of the saddle and the branch joint is pressed against the mother pipe and fixed to the saddle.

2. The saddle branch joint according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning projection is annular and in contact with the entire inner circumferential surface of the opening.

3. 3. The saddle branch joint according to claim 1, wherein the branch joint has a ring-shaped groove formed around the positioning projection for fitting an O-ring therein.

4. The jig is an arc-shaped mounting portion that is mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the mother pipe; 4. The saddle branch joint according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of mounting portions bent from both circumferential ends of the mounting portion, to which the saddle is attached.

5. A pipe branching method using the saddle branch joint according to claim 1, an opening step of forming an opening at a predetermined location on an outer circumferential surface of the mother pipe; an attachment step of attaching a branch joint to the opening; and a fixing step of fixing the branch joint to the mother pipe using a fixing mechanism, A pipe branching method in which, in the installation step, a positioning protrusion formed on the branch fitting is fitted into the opening and the step portion is fitted into the through hole, thereby placing the flat surface of the step portion on the flat surface of the saddle and pressing the branch fitting against the mother pipe to fix it to the saddle, thereby positioning the branch fitting relative to the mother pipe.

6. An apparatus main body that is attached to an opening that is pre-formed on an outer peripheral surface of the mother pipe; a fixing mechanism for fixing the device body to the mother pipe, The device body includes: a positioning protrusion that is fitted into the opening to position the device body relative to the mother pipe; A step portion having a flat surface formed on the outer peripheral surface, The fixing mechanism includes: a saddle provided on the device body so as to straddle the opening, the saddle being flat and having a through hole through which the device body passes; a jig attached to a rear side of the opening in the outer peripheral surface of the mother pipe, A fluid equipment in which one of the jig and the saddle is attached to the other and the step portion is fitted into the through hole, so that the flat surface of the step portion is placed on the flat surface of the saddle and the equipment body is pressed against the mother pipe and fixed to the saddle.

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