Piping unit, piping unit installation method, electric heater wire, and piping unit manufacturing method

Abstract

To provide a piping unit that facilitates installation of piping provided with an electrothermal heater wire, a construction method for the piping unit, the electrothermal heater wire, and a method of manufacturing the piping unit.SOLUTION: A piping unit of the present invention comprises piping that has both ends provided with connecting portions for extending another piece of piping, respectively, and an electrothermal heater wire that is attached to the piping in a state in which a terminal for power supply connection is arranged on the one-end side of the piping and in which an electric power supply terminal for extension, capable of being connected to another electrothermal heater wire, is arranged on the other-end side of the piping.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a piping unit, a method for installing a piping unit, an electric heater wire, and a method for manufacturing a piping unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Insulation materials and electric heater wires for preventing freezing may be attached to the piping (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5211039 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6479042 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-17553 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When attaching both a thermal insulation material and an electric heater wire to a pipe, the thermal insulation material is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the pipe after the electric heater wire is attached to the pipe. Therefore, for example, when a piping unit with both a thermal insulation material and an electric heater wire attached to the pipe in advance is manufactured in a factory or the like in order to reduce on-site work at the location where the pipe is installed, it is necessary to connect the electric heater wire of each piping unit connected on-site to a power source installed near each piping unit.

[0005] However, there are cases where no power source is installed at the location where the piping unit is installed. For example, electric heater wires for heating piping are often installed on outdoor piping that is easily exposed to the cold outside air in winter. In such outdoor locations, there are few permanently installed power sources.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present application is to provide a piping unit that facilitates the installation of piping equipped with an electric heater wire, a construction method for the piping unit, an electric heater wire, and a manufacturing method for the piping unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, an electric heater wire is attached to a pipe having connection parts at both ends for extending other pipes, with a power connection terminal being placed at one end of the pipe and an extension power supply terminal to which another electric heater wire can be connected being placed at the other end of the pipe.

[0008] In detail, the present invention is a piping unit comprising a pipe having connection portions at both ends for extending other pipes, and an electric heater wire attached to the pipe with a power source connection terminal disposed at one end of the pipe and an extension power supply terminal to which another electric heater wire can be connected disposed at the other end of the pipe.

[0009] In the above piping unit, the electric heater wire attached to the piping has an extension power supply terminal in addition to a power supply terminal. The power supply terminal is disposed at one end of the piping, while the extension power supply terminal is disposed at the other end of the piping. Therefore, when connecting the piping units, the electric heater wire connection work of each piping unit can be completed by simply connecting the power supply terminal of one piping unit to the extension power supply terminal of the other piping unit. Therefore, with such a piping unit, even if there are a plurality of electric heater wires, there is no need to connect each electric heater wire to a power source, and therefore on-site installation work is easy.

[0010] The power supply connection terminal may be a plug of the wire socket connector, and the extension power supply terminal may be a plug receptacle of the wire socket connector. This makes it possible to connect the power supply connection terminal of the electric heater wire to either the extension power supply terminal of another electric heater wire or to a wire socket connector installed at the site.

[0011] The electric heater wire may have a heat generating portion that generates heat by electric power from the power supply connection terminal and a power transmitting portion that transmits electric power from the power supply connection terminal to the extension power supply terminal. In this way, the heat generating portion can heat the pipe and the power transmitting portion can supply electric power.

[0012] The heating device may further include a heat insulating material that covers the piping together with the electric heater wire, thereby allowing the piping to be effectively heated by the electric heater wire.

[0013] The present invention can also be understood from the aspect of an installation method. That is, for example, the present invention may be a piping unit installation method including an arrangement step of arranging a plurality of the piping units at a piping installation location, a piping connection step of connecting a piping connection part of any one of the plurality of piping units to a piping connection part of any other piping unit adjacent to any one of the plurality of piping units, and an electric heater wire connection step of connecting a power supply connection terminal of an electric heater wire of any one of the piping units to an extension power supply terminal of an electric heater wire of any other one of the piping units. In this case, the arrangement step may arrange a plurality of piping units in series. Also, the method may further include a heat insulating material attachment step of covering the connection parts of the pipes together with the connection parts of the electric heater wires with a heat insulating material.

[0014] The present invention may also be an electric heater wire comprising a power supply connection terminal arranged at one end of a pipe having connection portions at both ends for extending other pipes, and an extension power supply terminal arranged at the other end of the pipe and capable of connecting another electric heater wire.

[0015] The present invention may also be a method for manufacturing a piping unit, comprising: a preparation step of preparing piping having connection portions at both ends for extending other piping; and an attachment step of attaching an electric heater wire to the piping with a power source connection terminal disposed on one end of the piping and an extension power supply terminal to which another electric heater wire can be connected disposed on the other end of the piping. Effect of the Invention

[0016] The above-described piping unit, piping unit installation method, electric heater wire, and piping unit manufacturing method make it possible to easily install piping provided with an electric heater wire. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electric heater wire according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a method for manufacturing a piping unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a method for installing a piping unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a riser unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows an example of a construction process for a building. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a diagram comparing the locations of power sources. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The following describes an embodiment of the present invention. The following is an example, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

[0019] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an electric heater wire according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the electric heater wire 1 is a single-wire electric heater wire, and includes a heat-generating portion 2 that generates heat when electricity is applied, a power source side non-heat-generating portion 3 extending from one of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the heat-generating portion 2, and an extension side non-heat-generating portion 4 extending from the other end, an attachment plug 5 provided at the end of the power source side non-heat-generating portion 3, and a plug receptacle 6 provided at the end of the extension side non-heat-generating portion 4. The electric heater wire 1 is an integrated unit of these components into a single wire.

[0020] The heat generating portion 2 is an electric heater wire incorporating a heating resistor that generates heat when electricity is applied. The heat generating portion 2 is made of a flexible material. Therefore, the heat generating portion 2 can be wrapped around an object to be heated.

[0021] The power supply side non-heating part 3 and the extension side non-heating part 4 are electric wires consisting of two parallel conductors covered with insulating material. The power supply side non-heating part 3 and the extension side non-heating part 4 are made of a flexible material. Therefore, the power supply side non-heating part 3 and the extension side non-heating part 4 can bend freely like a commercially available electric cable.

[0022] The attachment plug 5 is an attachment plug for a wiring connector. In other words, the attachment plug 5 is a plug that can be inserted into a so-called outlet. Therefore, the attachment plug 5 can be inserted into an outlet on the wall of a building or a plug socket at the end of an extension cable, and functions as a terminal for connecting to a power source.

[0023] The plug receptacle 6 is a receptacle for a wiring connector. In other words, the plug receptacle 6 is a receptacle for a plug that can be inserted into a so-called outlet. Therefore, the plug receptacle 6 can receive the attachment plug 5 and functions as an extension power supply terminal.

[0024] The electric heater wire 1 has the above-mentioned configuration. Therefore, in addition to the heating resistor, the heat generating portion 2 has two built-in conductors for connecting the conductors built in the power source side non-heat generating portion 3 and the extension side non-heat generating portion 4 (these are examples of the "power transmitting portion" in this application) to each other and supplying power from the power source side non-heat generating portion 3 to the extension side non-heat generating portion 4. By connecting the electric heater wires 1 in series, they can be used to heat long objects.

[0025] An application example of the electric heater wire 1 will be described below. The application example shown below illustrates the case where the electric heater wire 1 is applied to heating pipes installed in cold regions. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a method for manufacturing a pipe unit. When manufacturing a pipe unit U, first, as shown in FIG. 2(A), the electric heater wire 1 is wound around the outer peripheral surface 12 of the pipe 11. Since the electric heater wire 1 generates heat at the heat generating portion 2, it is preferable to wind the electric heater wire 1 around the pipe 11 so that the heat generating portion 2 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface 12. In addition, it is preferable to standardize the winding direction and winding intervals of the electric heater wire 1 so that the entire pipe 11 is heated approximately uniformly.

[0026] After the electric heater wire 1 is wound around the outer peripheral surface 12 of the pipe 11, as shown in FIG. 2(B), a heat insulating material 14 is attached so as to cover the outer peripheral surface 12 of the pipe 11 around which the electric heater wire 1 is wound. The heat insulating material 14 is, for example, a heat insulating material such as glass wool having a high thermal resistance value surrounded by a protective material such as a stainless steel plate or a galvalume plate. The heat insulating material 14 covers the main part of the pipe 11, but as shown in FIG. 2(B), the flange 13 (an example of the "connection part" in this application) and its vicinity are exposed. Therefore, even when the heat insulating material 14 is attached to the pipe 11, the pipe unit U can be connected to another pipe unit at the part of the flange 13 exposed from the heat insulating material 14.

[0027] In addition, since the heat insulating material 14 is a heat insulating material that covers only the main part of the pipe 11, the plug 5 and the plug receptacle 6 of the electric heater wire 1 wound around the outer circumferential surface 12 are also exposed near the flange 13. Therefore, even when the heat insulating material 14 is attached to the pipe 11, the plug 5 and the plug receptacle 6 of the piping unit U can be connected to the electric heater wire 1 of another piping unit U or a power source near the flange 13 exposed from the heat insulating material 14. Note that the length of the electric heater wire 1 exposed from the heat insulating material 14 is preferably longer than the length from the heat insulating material 14 to the flange 13 so that it can be connected to the electric heater wire 1 of another piping unit U. In addition, since the relative attachment angle around the central axis of the pipes 11 may increase or decrease slightly during installation work on site, it is preferable to secure a length margin in the electric heater wire 1 that can allow an angle error of at least about 20 degrees. If the length of the electric heater wire 1 exposed from the heat insulating material 14 is within this range, it can be connected to the electric heater wire 1 of another piping unit U at the flange 13, and the length of the electric heater wire 1 does not remain excessively long. If the end of the electric heater wire 1 is an end portion to which another electric heater wire 14 is not connected, a cover such as a plastic cap that covers the hole in the plug receiver 6 may be attached.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a method for installing a piping unit U. The piping unit U manufactured in a factory or the like is carried to an installation location. Then, the piping unit U is placed on a piping support or the like provided at the installation location and arranged in series with other piping units U (an example of the "arrangement step" in the present application). When connecting the piping units U to each other, the flanges 13 of the piping units U are butted against each other as shown in FIG. 3(A). A rubber gasket or the like is appropriately used between the flanges 13. After butting the flanges 13 of the piping units U against each other, the flanges 13 are fastened to each other with bolts and nuts as shown in FIG. 3(B) (an example of the "pipe connection step" in the present application), and the plug 5 is inserted into the plug receptacle 6 (an example of the "electric heater wire connection step" in the present application). It is preferable that the plug 5 and the plug receptacle 6 are waterproofed with a self-adhesive tape or the like to prevent the electrodes from being submerged by condensation water or the like. After the flanges 13 are fastened together with bolts and nuts and the attachment plug 5 is inserted into the plug socket 6 to connect the electric heating wires 1 together, the connection portion is covered with a heat-insulating material 15 as shown in FIG. 3(C) (this is an example of the "heat-insulating material installation process" as referred to in this application).

[0029] The piping unit U can be applied to, for example, a building construction site. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a riser unit. At a building construction site, for example, a riser unit R as shown in FIG. 4 is used. The riser unit is a unit made up of a plurality of pipings extending in the vertical direction of a building, and is also called, for example, a vertical pipe unit. The riser unit R is attached to a building structure constructed using a crane or the like. The riser unit R is a unit made up of water supply and drainage piping and other materials (for example, communication cables, electric wires, etc.), and is arranged to extend in the vertical direction of a building. The piping unit U can be assembled to such a riser unit R. In such a riser unit R, since high-temperature piping and low-temperature piping are close to each other, the above-mentioned heat insulating material 14 or the like is appropriately used, or the communication cables, electric wires, etc. are appropriately subjected to heat resistance treatment. In addition, in such a riser unit R, in order to support cables with low tensile strength such as communication cables, the riser unit R is wrapped around or along the piping.

[0030] The piping units U are installed in a building in the following order: Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of a construction process of a building.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 5(A), at the construction site of the building 21, a structure 22 is constructed using a crane C or the like. Then, as shown in FIG. 5(B), in the process of constructing the structure 22, a riser unit R is attached to the structure 22. As the construction of the structure 22 using the group C progresses, the construction of the structure 22 to which the riser unit R is attached is eventually completed, as shown in FIG. 5(C).

[0032] At the construction site of such a building 21, when the piping units U of each riser unit R are connected to each other, the flanges 13 are fastened to each other with bolts and nuts, and the plug 5 is inserted into the plug receptacle 6. Then, the connection portion of the piping units U is covered with a heat insulating material 15. As a result, the piping units U attached to the building 21 are connected to each other by the plug 5 and the plug receptacle 6. Therefore, the electric heater wire 1 of each piping unit U can receive power from other electric heater wires 1 connected to the power source side without being individually connected to a power source. Therefore, the electric heater wire 1 of each piping unit U can generate heat by receiving power by inserting the plug 5 of the electric heater wire 1 located closest to the power source on the circuit into a wiring plug connector such as an outlet.

[0033] Fig. 6 is a diagram comparing the installation locations of the power source. Fig. 6(A) illustrates an example in which an electric heater wire 101 of a conventional example is attached to the outer peripheral surface 12. Fig. 6(B) illustrates an example in which an electric heater wire 1 of the embodiment is attached to the outer peripheral surface 12. In Fig. 6, for ease of understanding, the heat insulating material 14 and the heat insulating material 15 are omitted from illustration.

[0034] The electric heater wire 101 of the conventional example has an insertion plug 105, and does not have anything equivalent to the plug receptacle 6 of the electric heater wire 1 of the embodiment. For this reason, the electric heater wires 101 of the conventional example need to be individually connected to outlets P. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6(A), a large number of outlets P need to be provided at the location where the pipes 11 are installed.

[0035] On the other hand, the electric heater wire 1 of the embodiment has a plug receptacle 6 for connecting an attachment plug 5 of another electric heater wire 1. Therefore, the electric heater wire 1 can supply power to another electric heater wire 1. For this reason, the electric heater wire 1 of the embodiment does not need to be individually connected to an outlet P. Therefore, as can be seen by comparing Fig. 6(A) and Fig. 6(B), the number of outlets P provided near the pipe 11 can be reduced.

[0036] The above-mentioned electric heater wire 1 can be modified, for example, as follows.

[0037] For example, each electric heater wire 1 may have a thermostat for controlling temperature. In this case, each electric heater wire 1 can perform autonomous automatic temperature control by on / off control.

[0038] The electric heater wire 1 may have two or more plug sockets 6. In this case, even if the outer peripheral surface 12 branches into two or more paths, it is possible to supply power to the electric heater wire 1 of each path.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the piping unit U is provided in the building 21, but the present invention can be applied to various structures such as factories, hospitals, commercial facilities, plants, etc. In the above embodiment, the piping unit U is provided as a vertical pipe, but the piping unit U may be provided horizontally or obliquely. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] U Piping unit R··Riser Unit C. Crane P··Outlet 1. Electric heater wire 2. Heat generating part 3. Non-heat-generating part on the power supply side 4. Non-heating part on the extension side 5··Plug 6 Plug holder 11 Piping 12...Outer surface 13. Flange 14·Heat insulation material 15·Heat insulation material 21 Building 22...Structure 101 Electric heater wire 105··Plug

Claims

1. A pipe having connectors at both ends for extending other pipes; an electric heater wire attached to an outer circumferential surface of the pipe in a state in which a power supply connection terminal is disposed on one end side of the pipe and an extension power supply terminal to which another electric heater wire can be connected is disposed on the other end side of the pipe; A heat insulating material that covers the piping together with the electric heater wire, The length of the electric heater wire exposed from the heat insulating material is longer than the length from the heat insulating material to the connection portion so that the electric heater wire can be connected to the electric heater wire of the other pipe extended at the connection portion. Piping unit.

2. the power supply connection terminal is a plug of a wiring connector, The extension power supply terminal is a plug receptacle of the wiring plug connector. The piping unit according to claim 1 .

3. The electric heater wire has a heat generating portion that generates heat by electric power from the power supply connection terminal, and a power transmitting portion that transmits electric power from the power supply connection terminal to the extension power supply terminal. The piping unit according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A placement step of placing a plurality of the piping units according to any one of claims 1 to 3 at a piping installation location; a piping connection process of connecting a connection portion of the piping of any one of the plurality of piping units to a connection portion of the piping of any other one of the plurality of piping units adjacent to the one of the piping units; and an electric heater wire connecting step of connecting the power supply connection terminal of the electric heater wire of any one of the piping units to the extension power supply terminal of the electric heater wire of any one of the other piping units. How to install a piping unit.

5. In the arranging step, a plurality of the piping units are arranged in series. A method for installing the piping unit according to claim 4.

6. The method further includes a heat insulating material installation step of covering the connection portion between the pipes together with the connection portion between the electric heater wires with a heat insulating material. A method for installing the piping unit according to claim 4 or 5.

7. A preparation step of preparing a pipe having connection parts at both ends for extending other pipes; an attachment process of attaching an electric heater wire to the pipe in a state in which a power supply connection terminal is disposed on one end side of the pipe and an extension power supply terminal to which another electric heater wire can be connected is disposed on the other end side of the pipe; and covering the piping together with the electric heater wire with a heat insulating material, The length of the electric heater wire exposed from the heat insulating material is longer than the length from the heat insulating material to the connection portion so that the electric heater wire can be connected to the electric heater wire of the other pipe extended at the connection portion. A manufacturing method of a piping unit.

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