Flange reinforcement

Abstract

To provide a flange reinforcement tool capable of sufficiently holding both flanges of a conduit constitution member in a vertical direction.SOLUTION: In a flange reinforcement tool 10 for holding both flanges 3c, 5a of conduit constitution members 3, 5 respectively joined to both flanges 4c, 4d of a connection member 4 having the flanges 4c, 4d at upper and lower both ends by a pair of upper and lower annular holding members 11, 14, and reinforcing flange connection by connecting the pair of holding members 11, 14 in a vertical direction by connection bolts 17a, the upper holding member 11 is provided with insertion portions 12f to which shaft portions of the connection bolts 17a can be inserted, and on which nuts 17c engaged with the connection bolts 17a can be locked at a peripheral edge, and the lower holding member 14 is provided with supporting portions 17d for supporting head portions 17b of the connection bolts 17a to the lower holding member 14, at a position corresponded to the insertion portions 12f in the vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a flange reinforcing tool for reinforcing a flange joint between a connecting member and pipeline components joined to both sides of the connecting member. [Background technology]

[0002] The fluid pipeline components are provided with connecting members such as repair valves and gate valves at various locations, allowing the fluid pipeline to be controlled by the connecting members. Such connecting members and pipeline components are joined by flanges on both ends of the connecting members and flanges of the pipeline components arranged on both sides of the connecting members, and are connected in a sealed manner with fasteners such as bolts and nuts.

[0003] When flanges are joined in this way, there is a risk that fluid in the fluid pipeline will leak out from the joint due to corrosion or uneven settlement over time, or external forces such as earthquakes. Therefore, as shown in Patent Document 1, a flange reinforcement has been developed that reinforces the flange joint between the connecting member and the pipeline component by arranging a pair of clamping members in contact with the flange surfaces of the flanges of the pipeline component that are joined to both flanges of the connecting member, opposite the connection surfaces connected to the flanges of the connecting member, and connecting the pair of clamping members in the pipeline axial direction with connecting members composed of bolts and nuts. In this flange reinforcement, a bolt is inserted from below through the pair of clamping members so that the head of the bolt is located on the lower clamping member side, and then a nut is screwed onto the shank of the bolt from above, bringing the pair of clamping members close to each other and clamping the both flanges of the pipeline component in the vertical direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-148337 A (page 7, Figure 6) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the flange reinforcement of Patent Document 1, for example, even when the flange reinforcement is placed in a narrow valve housing having an opening at the top, the nut can be accessed at a position close to the opening, and the work of screwing the nut to connect a pair of clamping members can be easily performed. However, in the flange reinforcement of Patent Document 1, a bolt is inserted from below across a pair of clamping members so that the head is positioned on the side of the lower clamping member, and then a nut is screwed onto the shank of the bolt from above, so that the pair of clamping members are brought close to each other and both flanges of the pipeline component are clamped in the vertical direction. However, because this bolt is assembled by passing through both insertion holes of both the upper and lower clamping members, there is a risk that the flange reinforcement will be attached to both flanges of the pipeline component unevenly due to a gap between the bolt and the insertion hole, and both flanges of the pipeline component will not be sufficiently clamped in the vertical direction.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide a flange reinforcing tool that can sufficiently clamp both flanges of a pipeline component in the vertical direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the flange reinforcing device of the present invention comprises: A flange reinforcement device that clamps both flanges of a pipeline component that are respectively joined to both flanges of a connecting member having flanges at both upper and lower ends with a pair of upper and lower annular clamping members, and connects the pair of clamping members in the vertical direction with connecting bolts to reinforce the flange connection, The upper clamping member has an insertion portion formed therein through which the shaft of the connecting bolt can be inserted and around which a nut threaded onto the connecting bolt can be engaged, and the lower clamping member has a support portion provided at a position corresponding in the vertical direction to the insertion portion for supporting the head of the connecting bolt relative to the lower clamping member. According to this feature, by inserting the shank of the connecting bolt through the insertion portion of the upper clamping member and rotating the nut threaded onto the connecting bolt, the lower clamping member moves closer to the upper clamping member, and the pair of clamping members vertically clamps the flange of the connection member and the flange of the pipeline component member. In particular, by supporting the head of the connecting bolt placed on the lower clamping member with the support portion, the lower clamping member is automatically centered and positioned relative to the connecting bolt, allowing for highly accurate installation without complicated work and ensuring sufficient clamping of both flanges vertically.

[0008] The support portion is configured from a support nut disposed on the upper portion of the lower clamping member and threadedly engaged with the connecting bolt. According to this feature, the head of the connecting bolt positioned below the lower clamping member and the support nut threaded onto the connecting bolt can clamp the lower clamping member from above and below, thereby allowing the connecting bolt to be stably supported against the lower clamping member.

[0009] The support nut is characterized in that it is fixed to the upper part of the lower clamping member. According to this feature, the support strength can be increased by the support nut fixed to the lower clamping member.

[0010] The lower clamping member is characterized in that a rotation restricting means for restricting rotation of the head of the connecting bolt is formed at the bottom thereof. According to this feature, there is no need to restrict the rotation of the head of the connecting bolt disposed below the lower clamping member using a jig or the like, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0011] The rotation restricting means is a receiving portion that receives the head of the connecting bolt in a fitted state. According to this feature, the rotation of the head of the bolt can be restricted by utilizing the fitting of the accommodating portion, thereby simplifying the structure.

[0012] The clamping member has a plurality of segments divided circumferentially and a plurality of connecting bolts extending in the vertical direction to connect the plurality of segments, the segments having joints provided at both ends in the circumferential direction, the joints of the segments overlapping in the vertical direction with the joints of adjacent segments, the upper joint having an insertion hole through which the connecting bolt can be loosely inserted, and the lower joint having a threaded portion into which the shank of the connecting bolt can be screwed. According to this feature, the clamping member can be easily constructed by inserting the shaft portion of the joining bolt into the insertion hole from above and screwing it into the threaded portion.

[0013] The fastening bolts of the upper clamping member and the fastening bolts of the lower clamping member are arranged in positions that overlap each other in the vertical direction. According to this feature, by temporarily assembling the upper and lower clamping members with one connecting bolt removed from the upper and lower corresponding clamping members and the connecting bolt, the upper and lower divided bodies can rotate integrally around the connecting bolt corresponding to the upper and lower parts, and therefore can be easily installed on the flange of the pipeline component. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1A is a side view showing the state in which the flange reinforcement in the embodiment is attached, and FIG. 1B is a side view showing the repair valve, connecting pipe, and branch neck portion to which the flange reinforcement is attached. [Figure 2] FIG. 2(a) is a perspective view of the flange reinforcement seen from above, and FIG. 2(b) is a perspective view of the flange reinforcement seen from below. [Figure 3] (a) is a top view showing the divided body of the first clamping member, (b) is a side view of (a) seen from the bottom of the paper, (c) is a bottom view showing the divided body of the first clamping member, (d) is a side view of (a) seen from the right side of the paper, and (e) is a side view of (c) seen from the bottom of the paper. [Figure 4](a) is a top view showing the divided body of the second clamping member, (b) is a side view of (a) seen from the bottom of the paper, (c) is a bottom view showing the divided body of the second clamping member, (d) is a side view of (c) seen from the right side of the paper, and (e) is a side view of (c) seen from the bottom of the paper. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the temporarily assembled flange reinforcing tool has been moved from above to the position of the connecting pipe and the branch neck portion. [Figure 6] This is a top view similar to FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 1A is a front view showing a temporary tool in a state where a flange reinforcing member is temporarily assembled, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the temporary placement tool in a state in which the flange reinforcing member is engaged with the flange. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how the split bodies are joined together by a joining bolt. [Figure 10] This is a top view similar to FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the temporary tool being removed from the flange reinforcing tool. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the temporary tool removed from the flange reinforcing tool. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how the connecting bolt is tightened from above. [Figure 14] This is a top view similar to FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a first modified example of a flange reinforcing member. [Figure 16] 10(a) and 10(b) are explanatory views showing a second modified example of the flange reinforcing member. [Figure 17] 10(a) and 10(b) are explanatory views showing a third modified example of the flange reinforcing member. [Figure 18] 10(a) and 10(b) are explanatory views showing a fourth modified example of the flange reinforcing member. [Figure 19] 10(a) and 10(b) are explanatory views showing a fifth modified example of the flange reinforcing member. [Figure 20]10(a) and 10(b) are explanatory views showing a sixth modified example of the flange reinforcing member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A flange reinforcing tool according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the following examples. [Example]

[0016] A flange reinforcement according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14. As shown in FIG. 1(b), a flange 4c of a repair valve 4 (a connecting member) is connected to a branch flange 3c provided at a branch neck 3b of a fluid pipe 3 (a lower pipeline component). A flange 5a of a connecting pipe 5 (an upper pipeline component) is connected to a flange 4d of the repair valve 4, extending vertically. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1(b), the repair valve 4 is a type that is divided into upper and lower halves and connected with bolts or the like. However, the repair valve type is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 1(a), a flange reinforcement 10 according to the present invention is connected to and reinforces the branch flange 3c of the fluid pipe 3 and the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5. Therefore, it goes without saying that the divided portion of the repair valve 4 can also be reinforced. Furthermore, a flange 2d of a fire hydrant 2 is connected to the upper flange 5b of the connecting pipe 5.

[0017] Here, the fluid pipe 3 may be an existing fluid pipe or a new fluid pipe. It is made of ductile cast iron, is formed into a generally circular cross section, and is coated on its inner circumferential surface with a mortar layer. The fluid pipe according to the present invention may also be made of other metals, such as cast iron or steel, or concrete, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, or polyolefin. Furthermore, the inner circumferential surface of the fluid pipe is not limited to a mortar layer and may be coated with, for example, epoxy resin, or an appropriate material such as powder coating. In this embodiment, the fluid in the fluid pipe is tap water. However, it is not limited to tap water; it may be industrial water, agricultural water, sewage, or a gas or a gas-liquid mixture of gas and liquid.

[0018] As shown in Figures 1(a) and 2, the flange reinforcement 10 is mainly composed of an upper first clamping member 11 that engages with the upper surface of the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5, a lower second clamping member 14 that engages with the lower surface of the branch flange 3c of the fluid pipe 3, a connecting bolt 17a that connects the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 14, a nut 17b that is fixedly screwed onto the lower end of the connecting bolt 17a, a nut 17c that is disposed on the upper part of the first clamping member 11 and screwed onto the connecting bolt 17a, a support nut 17d that is disposed on the upper part of the second clamping member 14 and screwed onto the connecting bolt 17a, and a connecting member 18 that connects the divided bodies 12, 12' described below together to form the annular first clamping member 11 and connects the divided bodies 15, 15' together to form the annular second clamping member 14. Nut 17b is configured as the head of connecting bolt 17a and is fixed by welding, adhesive, a setscrew, or the like, and may be a bolt head that is integral with connecting bolt 17a instead of nut 17b.

[0019] Next, the first clamping member 11 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. As shown in Figure 2, the first clamping member 11 is composed of divided bodies 12, 12' divided in the circumferential direction, and the divided bodies 12, 12' are connected by a connecting member 18 to form an annular integral body. This connecting member 18 is composed of a bolt 18a (connecting bolt) and a nut 18b having a threaded portion 18c consisting of a female screw. Note that while this embodiment shows an example in which the first clamping member 11 is divided into two, it is not limited to this and may be divided into three or more bodies. Furthermore, since the divided bodies 12, 12' have the same configuration, only the divided body 12 will be described below.

[0020] 3, the divided body 12 includes clamping portions 12a, 12a' formed at two circumferential locations so as to face radially inward, clamping flanges 12c, 12c' formed at two circumferential locations so as to face radially outward at circumferential positions corresponding to the clamping portions 12a, 12a', a connecting arm portion 12b connecting the base of one clamping portion 12a to the base of the other clamping portion 12a', and an arm portion 12d extending from the base of one clamping portion 12a in the opposite direction to the other clamping portion 12a'. The divided body 12 may be provided with one clamping portion 12a and one clamping flange 12c, or three or more clamping portions 12a and 12c.

[0021] Each of the clamping portions 12a and 12a' is composed of two protrusions 12e that protrude radially inward from the upper edge of the base of the clamping portion 12a and 12a'. The clamping flanges 12c and 12c' protrude radially outward from the base of the clamping portion 12a and 12a', respectively, and each has a through-hole 12f that penetrates vertically. A nut 17c that threads onto the connecting bolt 17a is engaged with the periphery of the through-hole 12f, and the through-hole 12f functions as an insertion portion through which the shank of the connecting bolt 17a can be inserted. A notch 12j that opens radially outward and downward is formed at the lower end of the base of each of the clamping portions 12a and 12a' on the outer diameter side, and the notch 12j communicates with the through-hole 12f. Furthermore, the notch 12j has a tapered portion 12m that gradually reduces in diameter toward the bottom. The tapered portion 12m of the notch 12j, which opens toward the outer diameter side and downward, facilitates access to the through-hole 12f, significantly improving paintability of that portion. The shank of the connecting bolt 17a includes both a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, and the connecting bolt 17a may be fully threaded or partially threaded.

[0022] The connecting arm 12b is formed in a generally arcuate shape to connect the lower end of the base of one clamping portion 12a with the lower end of the base of the other clamping portion 12a'. The arm 12d is formed in a generally arcuate shape that is concentric with but different in diameter from the connecting arm 12b and extends from the upper end of the base of one clamping portion 12a in a generally horizontal direction. The arm 12d is formed so that its outer surface is linear. The arm 12d may also be formed in a generally arcuate shape that is concentric with and has the same diameter. The end of the arm 12d is formed with a connecting portion 12g (lower joint) that protrudes circumferentially from the lower end of the arm 12d. The connecting portion 12g has a notched through-hole 12h that penetrates vertically and is open on the outer diameter side. The through-hole 12h does not necessarily have to be notched, but may be an annular hole that penetrates vertically. Furthermore, the outer diameter sides of the arm portion 12d, the connecting portion 12g, and the connecting portion 12p described later are cut out along the operating direction of the handle of the repair valve 4 so as not to come into contact with parts of the connecting member, such as the handle of the repair valve 4, when attached to the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5 as described above (see Figure 6).

[0023] The coupling portion 12g also has a recess 12k formed therein as a downwardly opening receiving portion. A through-hole 12h is formed approximately at the center of the recess 12k, and a substantially hexagonal nut 18b is disposed within the recess 12k. The recess 12k is substantially hexagonal in bottom view, i.e., its inner shape is substantially identical to the outer shape of the nut 18b. The nut 18b is fixed to the inner wall of the recess 12k with an adhesive (not shown) or other adhesive to prevent it from falling out of the recess 12k. That is, the inner wall of the recess 12k functions as a rotation restricting means for the nut 18b, and the adhesive also functions as a fall prevention means for the nut 18b. While the nut 18b and the recess 12k are illustrated as being substantially hexagonal in bottom view, they may be freely modified to be substantially elliptical in bottom view, polygonal shapes other than hexagonal, etc. By forming them in such a non-circular shape, the inner wall of the recess 12k functions as a rotation restricting means.

[0024] Furthermore, a connecting portion 12p (upper joint) that protrudes circumferentially from the upper end of the base of the other clamping portion 12a' is formed at the end of the base of the other clamping portion 12a', and a notched through-hole 12q that penetrates in the vertical direction and is open on the outer diameter side is formed in the connecting portion 12p. That is, the connecting portion 12p is provided near the clamping flange portion 12c'. Note that the through-hole 12q is not necessarily limited to a notched shape, and may be an annular hole that penetrates in the vertical direction.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2 in particular, when joining these segments 12 and 12', the joint 12g of segment 12 and the joint 12p of segment 12' are stacked one on top of the other, and bolts 18a are inserted from above through holes 12h and 12q and tightened into threaded portions 18c (female threads) formed on the inner circumferential surfaces of nuts 18b in recesses 12k. Similarly, with the other segment 12p and the joint 12g of segment 12 and 12' stacked one on top of the other, bolts 18a are inserted from above through holes 12h and 12q and tightened into threaded portions 18c (female threads) of nuts 18b in recesses 12k. At this time, the joint 12p of segment 12 is positioned higher than the joint 12g of segment 12', and the joint 12p of segment 12' is positioned higher than the joint 12g of segment 12.

[0026] These divided bodies 12, 12' are joined together to form the first clamping member 11, which is annular when viewed from above. The bases of the clamping portions 12a, 12a' of the divided bodies 12, 12', the connecting arms 12b, and the arms 12d form the main body portion that forms the annular shape of the first clamping member 11, and the connecting portions 12g, 12p of the divided bodies 12, 12' are provided on the extensions of the main body portion that extends in the circumferential direction.

[0027] Next, the second clamping member 14 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 4. As shown in Figure 2, the second clamping member 14 is made up of divided bodies 15, 15' divided in the circumferential direction, and the divided bodies 15, 15' are connected by a connecting member 18 (see Figure 2) to form an annular integral body. Note that, although this embodiment shows an example in which the second clamping member 14 is divided into two, the present invention is not limited to this and the second clamping member 14 may be divided into three or more bodies.

[0028] 4, the divided body 15 includes clamping portions 15a, 15a' formed at two circumferential locations so as to face radially inward, clamping flanges 15c, 15c' formed at two circumferential locations so as to face radially outward at circumferential positions corresponding to the clamping portions 15a, 15a', a connecting arm portion 15b connecting the base of one clamping portion 15a to the base of the other clamping portion 15a', and an arm portion 15d extending from the base of one clamping portion 15a in the opposite direction to the other clamping portion 15a'. Note that the divided body 15 may be provided with one clamping portion 15a and one clamping flange 15c, or three or more.

[0029] The clamping portions 15a, 15a' are each composed of two protrusions 15e, 15e that protrude radially inward from the lower edge of the base of the clamping portion 15a, 15a'. The clamping flanges 15c, 15c' protrude radially outward from the base of the clamping portions 15a, 15a' and each have a through-hole 15f that penetrates vertically. The shank of the connecting bolt 17a can be inserted through the through-hole 15f. The lower portions of the clamping flanges 15c, 15c' each have a recess 15j that opens downward and serves as a housing. A through-hole 15f is formed approximately at the center of each recess 15j, and a nut 17b that forms the head of the connecting bolt 17a is placed within each recess 15j. The recess 15j is generally hexagonal in bottom view, i.e., its inner shape is approximately the same as the outer shape of the nut 17b. That is, the inner wall of recess 15j functions as a rotation restricting means for nut 17b. Although the nut 17b and recess 15j have been exemplified as being generally hexagonal when viewed from below, they may be freely changed to generally elliptical when viewed from below, polygonal shapes other than hexagonal, etc., and by forming them into such a non-circular shape, the inner wall of recess 15j functions as a rotation restricting means.

[0030] Furthermore, a notch 15n that opens to the outer diameter side and upward is formed in the upper portion of the clamping flange 15c, 15c'. The notch 15n is connected to the through-hole 15f. Furthermore, the notch 15n has a tapered portion 15m that gradually narrows downward. The tapered portion 15m of the notch 15n that opens to the outer diameter side and downward facilitates access to the through-hole 15f, significantly improving paintability of the corresponding area. A support nut 17d that threads onto the connecting bolt 17a is located on the upper surface of the notch 15n, facing the upper side of the recess 15j. That is, the clamping flanges 15c, 15c' are configured to be clamped vertically by the support nut 17d and nut 17b, which are arranged vertically, as described below. In particular, by tightening the support nut 17d threaded onto the connecting bolt 17a downward, the clamping flanges 15c, 15c' are compressed between the lower surface of the support nut 17d and the upper surface of the nut 17b, and are positioned so that they face vertically with high precision relative to the connecting bolt 17a.

[0031] The connecting arm portion 15b is formed in a generally arcuate shape to connect the upper end of the base of one clamping portion 15a with the upper end of the base of the other clamping portion 15a'. The arm portion 15d is formed in a generally arcuate shape that is concentric with but has a different diameter from the connecting arm portion 15b and extends from the lower end of the base of one clamping portion 15a in a generally horizontal direction. The arm portion 15d may also be formed in a generally arcuate shape that is concentric with and has the same diameter. The end of the arm portion 15d is formed with a connecting portion 15g (upper joint) that protrudes circumferentially from the upper end of the arm portion 15d, and a through-hole 15h that penetrates in the vertical direction. Furthermore, unlike the outer diameter side of the arm portion 12d, the outer diameter side of the arm portion 15d is formed along the operating direction of the handle of the repair valve 4 so as not to come into contact with part of the connecting member, such as the handle of the repair valve 4, when attached to the branch flange 3c of the fluid pipe 3 as described above.

[0032] Furthermore, a connecting portion 15p (lower joint) protruding circumferentially from the lower end of the base of the other clamping portion 15a' is formed at the end of the base of the other clamping portion 15a', and a through-hole 15q extending vertically is formed in the connecting portion 15p. That is, the connecting portion 15p is located near the clamping flange 15c'. The connecting portion 15p also has a recess 15k that serves as a storage portion and opens downward. A circular through-hole 15q extending vertically is formed at the approximate center of the recess 15k, and the nut 18b is disposed within the recess 15k. The recess 15k has a generally hexagonal shape in bottom view, i.e., an inner shape that is generally the same as the outer shape of the nut 18b. The nut 18b is fixed to the inner wall of the recess 15k with an adhesive or the like (not shown) to prevent it from falling out of the recess 15k. That is, the inner wall of recess 15k functions as a means for restricting the rotation of nut 18b, and the adhesive functions as a means for preventing nut 18b from falling. Note that through-hole 15q is not necessarily limited to being formed in an annular shape, and may be, for example, a notched hole with an open outer diameter side.

[0033] Returning to FIG. 2, when joining these segments 15, 15', with joint portion 15g of segment 15 and joint portion 15p of segment 15' stacked vertically, bolt 18a is inserted from above through holes 15h, 15q and tightened to threaded portions 18c formed on the inner surfaces of nuts 18b in recesses 15k. Similarly, with joint portion 15p of segment 15 and joint portion 15g of segment 15' stacked vertically, bolt 18a is inserted from above through holes 15h, 15q and tightened to threaded portions 18c of nuts 18b in recesses 15k. At this time, joint portion 15p of segment 15 is located lower than joint portion 15g of segment 15', and joint portion 15p of segment 15' is located lower than joint portion 15g of segment 15.

[0034] The segments 15, 15' are joined together to form the second clamping member 14, which is annular when viewed from above. The bases of the clamping portions 15a, 15a', the connecting arms 15b, and the arms 15d of the segments 15, 15' form the main body that forms the annular shape of the second clamping member 14, and the connecting portions 15g, 15p of the segments 15, 15' are provided on the extensions of the main body that extends in the circumferential direction. The first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 14 have different shapes when viewed from above in the assembled state, depending on whether they are notched along the operating direction of the handle of the repair valve 4 or are formed along the operating direction of the handle, but they may have the same shape.

[0035] Next, a procedure for reinforcing a flange joint using the flange reinforcement device 10 will be described. Note that this embodiment illustrates an example in which the flange reinforcement device 10 is attached inside a relatively narrow valve housing 20 that is approximately circular in plan view and surrounds the branch neck portion 3b of the fluid pipe 3, the repair valve 4, the connecting pipe 5, and the fire hydrant 2. Note that the shape of the valve housing is not necessarily limited to approximately circular in plan view, and may be, for example, approximately rectangular, elliptical, or oval in plan view.

[0036] First, as shown in FIG. 5 , the cover (not shown) placed over the valve housing 20 is removed. Then, the flange reinforcement 10 is inserted through the opening at the top of the open valve housing 20 and attached to the branch flange 3c of the fluid pipe 3 and the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5. Specifically, the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 14 are positioned facing each other outside the valve housing 20, with a distance greater than the distance between the branch flange 3c and the flange 5a. The nut 17b, which is the head of the connecting bolt 17a, is inserted from below and temporarily assembled with the nut 17c. In this temporarily assembled state, the tip of the male threaded portion located at the upper end of the connecting bolt 17a is exposed above the nut 17c. At this time, the support nut 17d is screwed onto the connecting bolt 17a at a location on the upper surface of the second clamping member 14 and tightened. The second clamping member 14 is tightly clamped between the support nuts 17d and 17b. Furthermore, at this time, the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 14 are arranged so that the positions of the connecting members 18 of each member are overlapped in the vertical direction, and one bolt 18a is loosened and threaded into the nut 18b, while the other bolt 18a is removed from the nut 18b. As a result, the divided bodies 12, 12' of the first clamping member 11 and the divided bodies 15, 15' of the second clamping member 14 rotate integrally with the corresponding upper and lower connecting members 18 as fulcrums, so that the divided bodies 12, 12' and the divided bodies 15, 15' can be arranged in an open state on the outer diameter side of the branch flange 3c of the fluid pipe 3 and the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5 (see Figures 5 and 6).

[0037] The flange reinforcement 10 temporarily assembled in this manner is moved while suspended by a pair of temporary placement tools 50, 50 configured to be long in the vertical direction to the positions of the branch flange 3c of the fluid pipe 3 and the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5. The temporary placement tool 50 is mainly composed of a long rotating shaft 51 having a handle portion 51a at its upper end and a male thread portion 51b at its lower end, and an engagement piece 52 attached to the lower end of the rotating shaft 51. Furthermore, the engagement piece 52 is made up of an upper edge portion 52a, a side edge portion 52b, and a lower edge portion 52c that are formed in a substantially U-shape when viewed from the front, and the male thread portion 51b passes through a through hole 52d formed in the upper edge portion 52a in a loose fit, and nuts 53 and high nuts 54 are fixedly screwed onto the male thread portion 51b above and below the through hole 52d.

[0038] 7 , the temporary placement tool 50 has a groove 52e formed by cutting out a bifurcated shape in the lower edge 52c of the engagement piece 52, which is fitted to sandwich the connecting bolt 17a from the outer diameter side. The lower edge 52c supports the underside of the first clamping member 11, and the high nut 54 is removably threaded onto the upper end of the connecting bolt 17a. That is, the temporary placement tool 50 movably supports the flange reinforcement 10 by the high nut 54 threaded onto the upper end of the connecting bolt 17a and the lower edge 52c. In this supported state, a gap is formed between the nut 17c and the upper surface of the first clamping member 11. In this way, the pair of temporary placement tools 50, 50, the first clamping member 11, and the connecting bolts 17a, 17a are fixed together, facilitating the work of temporarily placing the flange reinforcement 10 on the branch flange 3c of the fluid pipe 3 and the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5. The connecting bolts 17a, 17a connected to the pair of temporary tools 50, 50 are arranged at a position away from the bolts 18a, 18a on one side as shown in FIG. 6, and therefore can be easily rotated around the connecting members 18, 18 as a fulcrum.

[0039] As shown in Figure 8, when the clamping portions 12a, 12a' of the first clamping member 11 are placed on the upper surface of the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5, there is no gap between the above-mentioned nut 17c and the upper surface of the first clamping member 11, and instead a gap is formed between the lower surface of the first clamping member 11 and the lower edge portion 52c of the temporary placement tool 50.

[0040] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the segments 12, 12' and segments 15, 15' of the temporarily assembled flange reinforcement 10 are placed in an open state on the outer diameter side of the branch flange 3c of the fluid pipe 3 and the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5, and then a pair of temporary placement tools 50, 50 are operated to close the segments 12, 12' and segments 15, 15', and the connecting portions 12p, 15p of the segments 12, 15 and the connecting portions 12g, 15g of the segments 12', 15' are stacked one above the other.

[0041] 9 and 10, bolts 18a are inserted from above using a fastening jig 60 into joints 12p, 15p of the vertically stacked segments 12, 15 and joints 12g, 15g of the segments 12', 15', and are threaded into threaded portions 18c of nuts 18b. The loosened bolts 18a are then fully tightened to attach the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 14 to the branch flange 3c of the fluid pipe 3 and the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5. At this time, clamping portions 12a, 12a' of the first clamping member 11 are placed on the upper surface of the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5, and the weight of the segments 12, 12' and segments 15, 15' is placed on the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5, and the bolts 18a and nuts 18b can be tightened.

[0042] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9 , the fastening jig 60 for connecting the segments 15, 15′ of the second clamping member 14 includes a long pivot shaft 61 with a handle portion 61a at its upper end and a socket adapter 61b at its lower end. One end of a horizontally extending stabilizer ratchet handle 62 is connected to the socket adapter 61b, and a nut grip socket 63 is connected to the other end via the socket adapter 62a, allowing the bolt 18a to be held and rotated around a vertical axis. Although not specifically shown, when connecting the segments 12, 12′ of the first clamping member 11, the nut grip socket 63 is connected to the socket adapter 61b at the lower end of the pivot shaft 61, allowing the bolt 18a to be held and rotated. The nut grip socket 32a may be fixed to the lower end of the pivot shaft via a universal joint (not shown). However, because this requires rotation from an oblique direction, using the stabilizer ratchet handle 62 as in this embodiment is easier to install.

[0043] Next, the bolt 18a of the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 14 is tightened. In this way, when tightening the bolt 18a of the second clamping member 14, the bolt 18a can be rotated around a vertical rotation axis different from the axis of the bolt 18a, avoiding the first clamping member 11 above, via the stabilizer ratchet handle 62, making it easy to tighten the bolt 18a.

[0044] 11, the handle 51a of the temporary placement tool 50 is operated to rotate the rotating shaft 51, and the high nut 54 is removed upward from the connecting bolt 17a. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, the temporary placement tool 50 can be removed from the flange reinforcement 10 by moving the temporary placement tool 50 toward the outer diameter side.

[0045] 13 and 14, a jig 66 is fitted to the upper end of a pivot shaft 65 having a deep socket 65a fixed to its lower end, and the nut 17c threaded onto the upper end of the connecting bolt 17a is manipulated from above by rotating the jig 66, thereby tightening the nut 17c onto the shank of the connecting bolt 17a. As a result, the connecting bolt 17a moves upward relative to the threaded nut 17c, and the second clamping member 14 moves upward, so that the branch flange 3c of the fluid pipe 3 and the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5 are clamped vertically by the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 14.

[0046] As described above, with the shaft of connecting bolt 17a inserted through through-hole 12f of upper first clamping member 11, by rotating nut 17c threaded onto connecting bolt 17a from above, lower second clamping member 14 moves closer to upper first clamping member 11, and first clamping member 11 and second clamping member 14 vertically clamp branch flange 3c of fluid pipe 3 and flange 5a of connecting pipe 5. In particular, by vertically clamping and supporting this second clamping member with support nut 17d, serving as a support portion of the present invention, threaded onto the upper side of lower second clamping member 14, and nut 17b, which is the head of connecting bolt 17a located below, second clamping member 14 is automatically centered and positioned perpendicular to connecting bolt 17a, enabling highly accurate installation without complicated work and sufficient vertical clamping of pipeline components, branch flange 3c of fluid pipe 3 and flange 5a of connecting pipe 5. Furthermore, even in a narrow valve housing 20 that opens upward, the flange reinforcement device 10 can be easily installed by operating from above. For example, when fastening the connecting bolt 17a to a nut separate from the bolt or the second clamping member 14, it is necessary to provide a rotation stopper for the bolt head or nut on the second clamping member 14, or to prevent rotation using a jig. During assembly, there is a risk that the second clamping member 14 and the connecting bolt 17a or the separate nut may come into impact contact, causing the rust inhibitor or paint on the surface to peel off and rust to form. However, this structure eliminates this risk. In particular, because the area below the valve housing is prone to submersion, this structure is particularly effective in preventing damage to the rust inhibitor treatment.

[0047] In addition, the support portion of this embodiment is composed of a support nut 17d arranged on the upper part of the lower second clamping member 14 and screwed onto the connecting bolt 17a. Therefore, the lower second clamping member 14 can be clamped from above and below by the nut 17b, which is the head of the connecting bolt 17a arranged on the lower part of the second clamping member 14, and the support nut 17d screwed onto the connecting bolt 17a, so that the connecting bolt 17a can be stably supported relative to the second clamping member 14.

[0048] Furthermore, the shaft of connecting bolt 17a is adapted to be threadedly engaged with support nuts 17d and 17b, which are arranged to sandwich second clamping member 14 from above and below. This eliminates the need for direct thread machining on second clamping member 14, thereby preventing corrosion of second clamping member 14.

[0049] Furthermore, nut 17b, which is the head of connecting bolt 17a, is positioned relative to second clamping member 14 by a rotation restricting means. Specifically, nut 17b is restricted so as to be unrotatable by the inner wall of recess 15j of second clamping member 14, and there is no need to hold nut 17b unrotatable with another jig or the like. First clamping member 11 and second clamping member 14 can be easily connected simply by screwing support nut 17d or nut 17c onto the shaft of connecting bolt 17a from above, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0050] Furthermore, since the nut 17b is housed in the recess 15j, the rotation of the nut 17b is restricted by the inner wall of the recess 15j, thereby simplifying the structure.

[0051] Furthermore, the connecting portion 12p of the divided body 12 constituting the first clamping member 11 overlaps the connecting portion 12g of the adjacent divided body 12' in the vertical direction, and the upper connecting portion 12p is provided with a through hole 12q into which a bolt 18a can be loosely inserted, and the lower connecting portion 12g is provided with a nut 18b into which the shank of the bolt 18a can be screwed. In this way, the first clamping member 11 can be simply constructed by inserting the shank of the bolt 18a into the through hole 12q from above and screwing it into the nut 18b. Note that the second clamping member 14 has a similar configuration, so the second clamping member 14 can be simply constructed.

[0052] Furthermore, the bolt 18a of the first clamping member 11 and the bolt 18a of the second clamping member 14 are arranged in positions that overlap in the vertical direction. Accordingly, by temporarily assembling the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 14 with the connecting bolt 17a and the bolts 18a, 18a corresponding to the top and bottom removed at one location, the segments 12, 12' and the segments 15, 15' can rotate integrally around the connecting member 18 corresponding to the top and bottom, and therefore can be easily installed on the branch flange 3c of the fluid pipe 3 and the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5.

[0053] Furthermore, since the nut 18b is disposed within the recesses 12k, 15k, even if the adhesion between the recesses 12k, 15k and the nut 18b comes loose during the operation of screwing the bolt 18a and the nut 18b together, the rotation of the nut 18b is restricted by the inner walls of the recesses 12k, 15k, and the bolt 18a and the nut 18b can be securely screwed together.

[0054] In this embodiment, the support nut 17d into which the connecting bolt 17a is threaded is disposed on the upper surface of the second clamping member 14, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the support nut 17d may be fixed by welding or the like to the upper surface of the second clamping member 14 in a position concentric with the through-hole portion 15f. In this way, the support strength can be increased by the support nut fixed to the second clamping member 14. Also, a female thread portion may be directly formed on the second clamping member 14 instead of the support nut 17d.

[0055] In addition, in this embodiment, the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 14 are temporarily assembled with the connecting bolts 17a and nuts 17c and then integrally installed outside the valve housing 20 on the branch flange 3c of the fluid pipe 3 and the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5. However, the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 14 may be attached to the branch flange 3c of the fluid pipe 3 and the flange 5a of the connecting pipe 5, and then the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 14 may be connected with the connecting bolts 17a and nuts 17c. In this case, the second clamping member 14 may be provided with a locking portion that can be locked to the flange 4c of the repair valve 4, and the second clamping member 14 may be configured in a state where it is locked to the flange 4c. In this case, the connecting bolts 17a may be attached to the second clamping member 14 in advance, or the connecting bolts 17a may be attached later.

[0056] Next, a first modification of the flange reinforcement will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, the divided body 121 of the first clamping member 111 is notched so that the through-hole 121f opens to the outer diameter side. The opening dimension of this notch is larger than the shank of the connecting bolt 17a but smaller than the nut 17c that screws onto the connecting bolt 17a. This improves workability because the shank of the connecting bolt 17a can be inserted from the outer diameter side and placed in the through-hole 121f even without a large working space above. Furthermore, the through-holes 121h and 121q may be partially notched as long as the shank of the bolt 18a cannot be removed radially. This allows the area of ​​the connecting portion 121g and the clamping flange 121c' to be narrowed. In FIG. 15, the through-hole portion 121f, the through-hole 121h, and the through-hole 121q are all cut out, but this is not limiting, and only any one of the through-hole portions or the through-hole may be cut out.

[0057] Next, Modification 2 of the flange reinforcement will be described. In particular, in Modification 2 and Modifications 3 to 6 described below, it is preferable that the connecting bolt 17a and the nut 17b, which is its head, are separate components, but this is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 16 , a downwardly opening recess 151j is formed in the clamping flange 151c of the second clamping member 141 as a housing, and small protrusions 151r, 151r are formed facing each other on the opening side of the recess 151j, extending substantially horizontally toward the center of the recess 151j. The nut 17b, which is the head of the connecting bolt 17a, is positioned in the recess 151j by press-fitting the nut 17b into the recess 151j while elastically deforming the protrusions 151r, 151r. The recess 151j is sized to allow the nut 17b to fit loosely, and the nut 17b positioned in the recess 151j is locked by the protrusions 151r, 151r, preventing it from slipping out of the recess 151j.

[0058] Furthermore, since the nut 17b is accommodated in the recess 151j in a loose fit state, even if there is a misalignment between the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 141, the gap between the nut 17b and the recess 151j can be used to absorb the misalignment between the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 141, and this can be used when it is desired to adjust the screwing operation between the connecting bolt 17a and the nut 17c.

[0059] Furthermore, when connecting bolt 17a and nut 17c are being screwed together, the inner wall of recess 151j restricts the rotation of nut 17b, ensuring reliable screwing of connecting bolt 17a and nut 17c. Recess 151j, and in particular its inner wall, constitutes a rotation restricting mechanism, allowing the worker to screw connecting bolt 17a and nut 17c together without holding nut 17b to prevent rotation. In this case, it is preferable that connecting bolt 17a and nut 17b, which were previously separate pieces, be integrated by welding or the like.

[0060] Next, a third variation of the flange reinforcement will be described. As shown in FIG. 17, a recess 152j serving as a storage section that opens downward is formed in the clamping flange 152c of the second clamping member 142, and notched recesses 152r, 152r that are cut out toward the outer diameter side of the recess 152j are formed facing each other on the opening side of the recess 152j. The notched recess 152r opens toward the bottom of the second clamping member 142 and the recess 152j side, and an elastic body 152s is press-fitted into the notched recess 152r. The nut 17b, which is the head of the connecting bolt 17a arranged in the recess 152j, is locked by the elastic bodies 152s, 152s, and is prevented from slipping out of the recess 152j. In other words, the elastic bodies 152s, 152s constitute a fall prevention means. According to this, after placing the nut 17b in the recess 152j, the elastic bodies 152s, 152s can be press-fitted into the notched recesses 152r, 152r, thereby simplifying the task of installing the nut 17b in the recess 152j. Note that the fall prevention means is not limited to the elastic body 152s, and may be a filler material, a metal or resin plate, or the like, as long as it can be attached to the recess 152j. Furthermore, the formation locations, sizes, and number of the recesses 152j are not limited to those described above.

[0061] Next, a fourth variation of the flange reinforcement will be described. As shown in FIG. 18, a notched groove 153j that opens to the outer diameter side is formed in the clamping flange 153c of the second clamping member 143 and extends substantially horizontally. This notched groove 153j is formed slightly below the upper surface of the clamping flange 152c and communicates with the through-hole 15f of the clamping flange 153c. The nut 17b, which is the head of the connecting bolt 17a, is inserted from the opening on the outer diameter side of the notched groove 153j. When the nut 17b contacts the inner diameter side end of the notched groove 153j, the female thread portion of the nut 17b and the through-hole 15f overlap in the vertical direction. In this way, the inner diameter side end of the notched groove 153j allows for easy positioning of the nut 17b and the through-hole 15f. After placing the nut 17b in the notched groove portion 153j, a fall prevention means such as an elastic body or filler (not shown) can be installed on the opening side (outer diameter side) of the notched groove portion 153j to prevent the nut 17b from slipping out of the notched groove portion 153j.

[0062] Next, a fifth variation of the flange reinforcement will be described. As shown in FIG. 19, a downwardly opening recess 154j is formed in the clamping flange 154c of the second clamping member 144. On the opening side of the recess 154j, screw holes 154r, 154r are formed at positions facing each other across the recess 152j. Screws 154s, 154s are threadedly engaged with the screw holes 154r, 154r, and can be advanced and retreated toward the recess 152j. With the screws 154s, 154s retracted from the recess 152j, a nut 17b, which is the head of the connecting bolt 17a, can be easily positioned in the recess 152j. Furthermore, by advancing the screws 154s, 154s into the recess 152j, the nut 17b can be easily prevented from coming out of the recess 152j. In other words, the screws 154s, 154s constitute a fall prevention mechanism.

[0063] Next, a sixth variation of the flange reinforcement will be described. As shown in FIG. 20, a downwardly opening recess 155j is formed in the clamping flange 155c of the second clamping member 145, and a sheet-like elastic body 155s is attached to the inner wall of the recess 155j by adhesive or vulcanization. The nut 17b, which is the head of the connecting bolt 17a, is placed in the recess 155j while elastically deforming the elastic body 155s. This prevents the nut 17b from falling out of the recess 155j due to the elastic restoring force of the elastic body 155s, which is pressed between the nut 17b and the recess 155j. In other words, the elastic body 155s constitutes a fall prevention means.

[0064] It is preferable that the elastic body 155s be made of a material with a high friction coefficient, so that the frictional force generated between the nut 17b and the elastic body 155s prevents the nut 17b from falling out of the recess 155j. Alternatively, the elastic body 155s may be bonded to the nut 17b. While the sixth modification illustrates an example in which the elastic body 155s is formed on the inner wall of the recess 155j, it may also be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the nut 17b. The fall prevention means disposed between the nut 17b and the recess 155j is not limited to the elastic body 155s. For example, it may be a filler material that is filled after the nut 17b is placed in the recess 155j. This configuration provides insulation and improves rust prevention. It also eliminates the risk of scratches due to contact between the inner wall of the recess 155j and the nut 17b.

[0065] The recesses 151j to 155j of the above-described modified examples 2 to 6 can also be applied to the recesses 12k and 15k that accommodate the nut 18b in the above-described embodiment, or can be applied as a recess that accommodates the support nut 17d.

[0066] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes modifications and additions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0067] For example, in the above embodiment, the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 14 are formed into a circular shape in a plan view by combining the divided bodies 12, 12' and the divided bodies 15, 15', but they may be formed into a non-circular shape such as an ellipse, an oval, or a rectangle as long as they are endless in a plan view. Furthermore, the divided bodies 12, 12' may be formed into a different shape, and further the divided bodies 15, 15' may be formed into a different shape.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the repair valve 4 is described as a connecting member, and the branch neck 3b of the fluid pipe 3 and the connecting pipe 5 are described as pipeline components, but the connecting member and pipeline components can be freely changed as long as the connecting member is flange-connected between the pipeline components. Also, although the repair valve 4 is a lever type equipped with an operating handle, it may be a cap type.

[0069] Furthermore, in the above embodiment and variants 2 to 6, the inner wall of the accommodation portion that accommodates the nut 17b, which is the head of the connecting bolt 17a, has been described as the rotation restricting means, but anything that can restrict the rotation of the nut 17b will do, and it may be, for example, a plurality of protruding pieces, screws, separate parts, etc. that protrude from the clamping member and come into contact with the outer surface of the nut 17b.

[0070] Furthermore, the notches in the first modified example are cut out so as to open to the outer diameter side, but as long as the notches are formed, the invention is not limited to this, and the notches may be cut out so as to open in the circumferential direction, for example. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 3 Fluid pipes (pipe components) 3b Branch neck 3c Branch flange (both flanges) 4 Repair valve (connecting part) 4c flange 4d flange 5. Connecting pipes (pipe components) 5a Flange (double flange) 10 Flange reinforcement 11 First clamping member (upper clamping member) 12,12' split field 12f Through hole (insertion part) 12g Joint part (joint part) 12k recess (accommodation part) 12p joint (junction) 14 Second clamping member (lower clamping member) 15,15' split body 15f Through hole (insertion part) 15g Joint part (joint part) 15j Recess (accommodating portion, rotation restricting means) 15p Joint part (joint part) 17a Connecting bolt 17b Nut (head) 17c nut 17d Support nut (support part) 18 Connecting members 18a bolt 18b Nut 20 Bento 50 Temporary Tools 60 Fastening jig 111 First clamping member (upper clamping member) 141 to 145 Second clamping member (lower clamping member) 151j Recess (accommodating portion, rotation restricting means) 151r protrusion 152j Recessed portion (accommodating portion, rotation restricting means) 152s Elastic Body 153j Notched groove portion (accommodating portion, rotation restricting means) 154j Recess (accommodating portion, rotation restricting means) 154s screw 155j Recessed portion (accommodating portion, rotation restricting means) 155s Elastic Body

Claims

1. A flange reinforcement device that clamps both flanges of a pipeline component that are respectively joined to both flanges of a connecting member having flanges at both upper and lower ends with a pair of upper and lower annular clamping members, and connects the pair of clamping members in the vertical direction with connecting bolts to reinforce the flange connection, a flange reinforcement having an upper clamping member formed with an insertion portion through which the shank of the connecting bolt can be inserted and around which a nut threaded onto the connecting bolt can be engaged; a support nut threaded onto the connecting bolt is provided on the upper part of the lower clamping member at a position corresponding in the vertical direction to the insertion portion and supporting the head of the connecting bolt by threading onto the connecting bolt; a storage portion formed on the lower part of the lower clamping member for receiving the head of the connecting bolt in a fitted state and restricting circumferential rotation of the head; and a fall prevention means for preventing the head of the connecting bolt from falling downward, which is configured as a separate part from the storage portion.

2. 2. The flange reinforcement of claim 1, wherein the support nut is secured to an upper portion of the lower clamping member.

3. The clamping member has a plurality of segments divided circumferentially and a plurality of connecting bolts extending in the vertical direction that connect the plurality of segments, the segments having joints provided at both ends in the circumferential direction, the joints of the segments overlapping in the vertical direction with the joints of adjacent segments, the upper joints having insertion holes through which the connecting bolts can be loosely inserted, and the lower joints having threaded portions into which the shanks of the connecting bolts can be threaded.

4. 4. The flange reinforcement according to claim 3, wherein the fastening bolts of the upper clamping member and the fastening bolts of the lower clamping member are arranged in positions that overlap each other in the vertical direction.

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