How to remove inclined pipelines

Abstract

To provide a removal method of an inclined pipeline which enables safe and easy removal of an inclined pipeline installed in an inclined tunnel.SOLUTION: A method for removing an inclined pipeline 21 installed in an inclined tunnel 1 comprises: an introduction step A of introducing a work machine 3 into a lower opening of the inclined pipeline 21; a feeding step B of feeding a wire 51 from a winch 5 installed above the tunnel 1; a lifting step C of lifting the work machine 3 along the inside of the inclined pipeline 21 by winding up the wire 51 with the winch 5; a cutting step D of cutting the inclined pipeline 21 sequentially from the top while the work machine 3 lifted above the tunnel 1 holds an upper end of the inclined pipeline 21 from the side; a flowing down step E of allowing the cut pieces of the inclined pipeline 21 cut in the cutting step D to flow down along the inside of the inclined pipeline 21; and a discharging step F of discharging the cut pieces to the outside of the tunnel 1 from the lower opening.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for removing an inclined pipeline installed in an inclined tunnel. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional method for repairing existing, deteriorated tunnels involves repeatedly carrying out the following cycles of repair work over a predetermined length of tunnel: a scraping process in which the surface of the concrete wall is scraped away with a mobile chipping machine, a cleaning process in which the scraped surface is cleaned by spraying high-pressure water onto it, a reinforcing bar arrangement process, and a grout injection and curing process using a mobile sliding center formwork (see Patent Document 1).This method uses transparent plastic formwork plates in the sliding center formwork, injects grout made of highly fluid, rapid-hardening cement mortar, and heats and cures the injected grout inside the formwork to promote hardening.

[0003] Also known is a hydroelectric power generation facility in which water drawn from a water supply source such as a dam or reservoir installed at a high altitude in a mountainous region is dropped down an inclined pipeline (steel penstock), and the water pressure is used to drive a generator installed below (see Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-41891 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-183375 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] If the system is configured to remove the surface layer of the concrete wall using a mobile chipping machine or the like brought into the tunnel, as described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to carry out repair work on aging tunnels safely and efficiently.

[0006] Incidentally, the inclined pipeline described in Patent Document 2, i.e., the penstock that carries water from the water supply source to the generator, is usually installed inside a concrete tunnel, making it difficult to remove the inclined pipeline using a work machine brought into the tunnel. That is, inclined pipelines made of penstocks are often installed at a steep angle inside narrow tunnels, and since it is not possible to freely operate a work vehicle inside the tunnel, the inclined pipeline has to be cut and removed manually.

[0007] However, the working environment inside inclined tunnels and inclined pipelines is extremely poor, making it difficult to erect large-scale scaffolding. Furthermore, since the inclined pipelines are made of steel pipes with fairly large diameters and thicknesses, they must be cut into small pieces to prevent danger if they fall when being removed manually, which creates the problem of lengthening the work period.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for removing an inclined pipeline that can safely and easily perform the work of removing an inclined pipeline installed in an inclined tunnel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention includes the following inventions.

[0010] (1) A method for removing an inclined pipeline installed in an inclined tunnel, comprising: an introduction step of introducing a work machine into a lower opening of the inclined pipeline; an unwinding step of unwinding a wire from a winch installed above the tunnel; a lifting step of winding the wire with the winch to lift the work machine along the inside of the inclined pipeline; a cutting step of cutting the inclined pipeline from the top while the work machine, which has been lifted above the tunnel and is supported by the wire, holds the upper end of the inclined pipeline; a flowing-down step of allowing the cut pieces of the inclined pipeline cut in the cutting step to flow down along the inside of the inclined pipeline; and a discharging step of discharging the cut pieces to the outside of the tunnel from the lower opening, wherein the cutting step, the flowing-down step, and the discharging step are performed alternately or in parallel.

[0011] (2) In the lifting process, the tip of the wire is fixed to a transport sled that can slide within the inclined pipeline, and the work machine is transported into the inclined pipeline while fixed on the transport sled, and the transport sled is lifted up by winding up the wire with the winch.

[0012] (3) A method for removing an inclined pipeline according to (2), wherein in the feeding step, the tip of the wire is fixed to the transport sled, the transport sled is carried into the upper opening of the inclined pipeline, and the wire is fed by sliding downward along the inside of the inclined pipeline.

[0013] (4) A method for removing an inclined pipeline described in any one of (1) to (3), in which, in the cutting process, a cutting slit is formed in the inclined pipeline fixed to the wall surface of the tunnel with fixing concrete, and then the fixing concrete is crushed using the work machine, and in the flowing down process, the crushed pieces of the fixing concrete and the cut pieces of the inclined pipeline are caused to flow downward along the inclined pipeline.

[0014] (5) A method for removing an inclined pipeline described in any one of (1) to (4), in which a regulating section is provided at the lower opening of the inclined pipeline to prevent the cut pieces from flying out, and in the discharge process, the cut pieces accumulated upstream of the regulating section are sequentially discharged to the outside. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the inclined pipeline removal method of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, even if the inclined pipeline is installed at a steep angle in a narrow tunnel, the inclined pipeline can be cut to a predetermined size by using a work machine that is pulled up above the tunnel during the pulling process while holding the upper end of the inclined pipeline. This prevents the cut pieces of the inclined pipeline from falling and posing a danger to workers, and makes it possible to cut and remove the inclined pipeline installed in the inclined tunnel one by one, shortening the work period without erecting large-scale scaffolding and reducing the cost of the construction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] A side cross-sectional view showing the tunnel and power generation pipelines. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the relative positions of the tunnel, the power generation pipeline, and the work equipment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a work machine used in the method for removing an inclined pipe. [Figure 4] FIG. 1(a) is a side view of a transport sled used in the method for removing an inclined pipeline, and FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view of the same transport sled. [Figure 5] 1 is a process diagram showing the steps of a method for removing an inclined pipeline. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing a preparation step before performing the method for removing an inclined pipeline. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing a process of letting out a wire from a winch. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a lifting process in which the working machine is lifted along the inclined pipeline. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which the working machine is pulled up above the tunnel. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the removal of the inclined pipe at the upper portion of the inclined pipe. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the process of discharging cut pieces from the inclined pipeline. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the cutting process of the inclined pipeline. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view showing the process of flowing cut pieces down an inclined pipeline. [Figure 14] 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in FIG. 13. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the removal of the inclined pipeline at a lower portion of the inclined pipeline. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a lower portion of the inclined pipe has been removed. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view showing the state after the removal of the power generation pipeline. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] A method for removing an inclined pipeline according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The method for removing an inclined pipeline according to this embodiment is used to remove an inclined pipeline from among aging power generation pipelines in hydroelectric power plants and the like. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a power generation pipeline 2 made of steel pipes or the like installed in a concrete tunnel 1 in a hydroelectric power plant constructed in a mountainous region or the like. This power generation pipeline 2 has an inclined pipeline 21 into which power generation water supplied from a water source such as a dam is introduced, and a horizontal pipeline 22 that supplies the power generation water drawn from this inclined pipeline 21 to a hydroelectric generator (not shown).

[0018] 3 shows an example of a work machine 3 used in a method for removing an inclined pipe 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This work machine 3 is composed of a shovel or the like having a crawler-type lower body 31, an upper rotating body 32 rotatably mounted on the upper part of the crawler-type lower body 31, and an operating unit 33 attached to the upper rotating body 32. A breaker 34 that drives a crushing chisel back and forth at high speed is attached to the tip of the operating unit 33. In addition, a blade 35 for ground leveling work is attached to the lower body 31, and a mechanical fork 36 attached to the tip of the operating unit 33 in place of the breaker 34 is held on the blade 35.

[0019] 4(a) and (b) show a transport sled 4 capable of sliding within the inclined pipeline 21. The transport sled 4 has a pair of left and right side members 42 each provided with a plurality of rollers 41 (six in this embodiment) that roll while abutting against the bottom of the inner wall of the inclined pipeline 21, a connecting member 43 connecting the side members 42, and a work machine mounting portion 45 made up of a pair of left and right angle members fixed to the upper surface of the connecting member 43. Brackets 44 that serve as anchors for a wire 51, which will be described later, are provided at both front and rear ends of the side members 42.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1, the upper part of an inclined pipeline 21 installed inside tunnel 1 is fixed to the wall of tunnel 1 with fixing concrete 11. In addition, inclined pipeline 21 is supported by a frame (not shown) along tunnel 1, which is inclined at a predetermined angle, and the middle part of inclined pipeline 21 is fixed to tunnel 1 with fixing concrete (not shown). Furthermore, the lower part of inclined pipeline 21 and the base end of horizontal pipeline 22 connected to it are fixed to the wall of tunnel 1 with fixing concrete 12.

[0021] 5, the method for removing an inclined pipe 21 according to the present invention includes an introduction step A of introducing a work machine 3 into the lower opening of the inclined pipe 21, an unwinding step B of unwinding a wire 51 from a winch 5 (see FIG. 6) installed above the tunnel 1, a lifting step C of winding up the wire 51 with the winch 5 to lift the work machine 3 along the inside of the inclined pipe 21, a cutting step D of cutting the inclined pipe 21 from the top while holding the upper end of the inclined pipe 21 with the work machine 3 lifted above the tunnel 1, a flowing-down step E of allowing the cut pieces of the inclined pipe 21 cut in the cutting step D to flow down along the inside of the inclined pipe 21, and a discharging step F of discharging the cut pieces from the lower opening of the inclined pipe 21 to the outside of the tunnel 1. The cutting step D, the flowing-down step E, and the discharging step F are performed alternately or in parallel.

[0022] In the introduction step A, as shown in FIG. 1, the work machine 3 is introduced into the lower opening of the inclined pipeline 21. Before the introduction step A is performed, the work machine 3 is brought into the tunnel 1 and holds the horizontal pipeline 22, as in the cutting step D described below, and sequentially cuts the horizontal pipeline 22 using a gas cutting machine (not shown) or the like. As shown in FIG. 6, the cut pieces of the horizontal pipeline 22 are discharged to the outside of the tunnel 1 using a transport trolley 6 or the like. The horizontal pipeline 22 is installed on a flat part of the tunnel 1, and the working environment is not particularly dangerous. For this reason, it is also possible to set up a simple scaffold inside the tunnel 1, manually cut the horizontal pipeline 22, and pile it on the floor, and then sequentially discharge it to the outside using the work machine 3 and the transport trolley 6 or the like.

[0023] By removing the horizontal pipe 22 as described above, a passageway along which the work machine 3 can travel is formed in the horizontal part of the tunnel 1, as shown in Figure 7. In addition, by pouring cockreat into the lower part of the inclined pipe 21, a sloped path 53 (see Figure 11) is formed for moving the work machine 3 into the inclined pipe 21. This makes it possible to introduce the work machine 3 into the lower opening of the inclined pipe 21.

[0024] In wire 51 unwinding process B, which is carried out simultaneously with or before or after the work of introduction process A, first, as shown in FIG. 6, winch 5 is installed above tunnel 1, and the tips of a pair of wires 51 unwound from winch 5 are fixed to brackets 44 of transport sled 4 (see FIG. 9). Then, transport sled 4 is carried into the upper opening of inclined pipeline 21 and caused to slide downward along the interior of inclined pipeline 21. In this way, wire 51 is unwound below inclined pipeline 21, and transport sled 4 is moved toward the lower opening of inclined pipeline 21, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0025] In order to ensure smooth operation of the wire 51 in the above-mentioned feeding step B and the lifting operation of the working machine 3 in the later-described lifting step C, it is preferable to provide guide rollers 52 (see FIG. 12) for guiding the wire 51 on the inner wall surface of the inclined pipeline 21. In the feeding step B, it is also possible to feed the wire 51 without using the transport sled 4.

[0026] Next, the work machine 3 is moved onto the transport sled 4 located within the lower opening of the inclined pipeline 21. The work machine 3 is then secured to the transport sled 4 with a fastening rope or fixing bolts (not shown). In this state, the winch 5 is driven to wind up the wire 51, and the transport sled 4 together with the work machine 3 is pulled up along the inside of the inclined pipeline 21, as shown in FIG. 8 (pulling-up step C). At this time, the rollers 41 provided on the left and right lower sides of the transport sled 4 are smoothly rotated while in close contact with the bottom of the inner periphery of the inclined pipeline 21, so that the transport sled 4 and the work machine 3 can be smoothly pulled up. In this case, it is preferable that each roller 41 is supported in a downwardly inclined position.

[0027] As shown in Figure 9, after the work machine 3 and transport sled 4 are raised to the upper part of the tunnel 1, the work machine 3 is lowered from the transport sled 4, and the mechanical fork 36 is lowered from the blade 35 of the work machine 3, and cutting process D is performed. In this cutting process D, the upper rotating body 32 of the work machine 3 is first rotated to change the direction so that the operating part 33 faces the inclined pipeline 21, and the wire 51 is removed from the transport sled 4 and the tip of the wire 51 is reattached to the work machine 3.

[0028] 10, a cutting machine such as a gas cutting machine (not shown) is operated in the direction indicated by the black triangle to form a cutting slit 24 of a predetermined size in the inclined pipe 21. Since the work of forming this cutting slit 24 is carried out on the inclined pipe 21 which is fixed to the wall surface of the tunnel 1 by the fixing concrete 11, there is no risk of the inclined pipe 21 falling during this work.

[0029] 11, a restricting unit 7 made of chains or the like that restricts the escape of broken pieces is provided at the lower opening of the inclined pipe 21, and the fixing concrete 11 is then crushed using the breaker 34 of the work machine 3 as shown in FIG. 10. As a result, in the flow-down process E, the broken pieces of the fixing concrete 11 flow downward along the inclined pipe 21, and the inclined pipe 21 is cut along the cutting slits 24, and the broken pieces flow downward along the inclined pipe 21 and accumulate in front of the restricting unit 7. The broken pieces of the fixing concrete 11 and the broken pieces of the inclined pipe 21 are sequentially discharged to the outside in the discharge process F. When the work of crushing the fixing concrete 11 is completed, the breaker 34 attached to the operating unit 33 of the work machine 3 is removed and replaced with a mechanical fork 36.

[0030] Thereafter, in a cutting step D, as shown in Fig. 12, the upper end of the inclined pipe 21 is gripped by the mechanical forks 36 of the work machine 3, and a cutter such as a gas cutting machine (not shown) is operated in the direction indicated by the black triangle to cut the inclined pipe 21 into a predetermined size. Next, in a flow-down step E, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the operating unit 33 is operated to feed the cut pieces 21a of the inclined pipe 21 gripped by the mechanical forks 36 of the work machine 3 into the inclined pipe 21, causing the cut pieces 21a to flow down along the inside of the inclined pipe 21. Furthermore, in a discharge step F, the cut pieces 21a accumulated upstream of the restrictor 7 are sequentially discharged to the outside using the discharge unit 6 or the like (see Fig. 11).

[0031] The cutting process D, flowing down process E, and discharge process F are carried out alternately or in parallel. Specifically, the work machine 3 is supported by a wire 51, and the wire 51 is let out from the winch 5, thereby moving the work machine 3 downward in sequence inside the tunnel 1. Then, the inclined pipe 21 is cut in sequence from the top, and the cut pieces 21a are caused to flow down along the inside of the inclined pipe 21 and are sequentially discharged to the outside.

[0032] As shown in Figure 15, once cutting work has been completed down to the lower part of the inclined pipeline 21, the mechanical fork 36 attached to the operating unit 33 of the work machine 3 is removed and replaced with a breaker 34. Then, as with the upper part of the inclined pipeline 21, a cutting machine such as a gas cutting machine is operated in the direction indicated by the black triangle to form cutting slits 24 of a predetermined size in the inclined pipeline 21. Next, the fixing concrete 12 is crushed using the breaker 34 of the work machine 3. In this way, the fixing concrete 12 is crushed and, at the same time, the inclined pipeline 21 is cut along the cutting slits 24, and then these are loaded onto the discharge vessel 6 or the like and sequentially discharged to the outside.

[0033] 16 and 17, the lower opening of the inclined pipeline 21 and the restricting member 7 made of chains or the like are removed, and the sloped road 53 is crushed and removed. As a result, the deteriorated power generation pipeline 2 and all related facilities are removed, making it possible to install a new power generation pipeline inside the tunnel 1.

[0034] The method for removing an inclined pipeline 21 according to the present invention is configured so that a work machine 3 introduced into the lower opening of the inclined pipeline 21 is pulled up along the inside of the inclined pipeline 21, and then, with the upper end of the inclined pipeline 21 held by the work machine 3, the inclined pipeline 21 is cut from the top, and the cut pieces 21a of the inclined pipeline 21 are caused to flow down along the inside of the inclined pipeline 21 and discharged from the lower opening of the inclined pipeline 21 to the outside of the tunnel 1, thereby making it possible to safely and easily remove an inclined pipeline 21 installed inside an inclined tunnel 1.

[0035] That is, even when the inclined pipeline 21 of the power generation pipeline 2 is installed at a steep angle in a narrow tunnel, the work machine 3 is pulled up above the tunnel 1 in the pulling-up process C and grips the upper end of the inclined pipeline 21 while cutting the inclined pipeline 21, thereby preventing the cut pieces 21a of the inclined pipeline 21 from falling and endangering the worker, and safely performing the cutting work of the inclined pipeline 21. Furthermore, since the work machine 3 can be moved downward inside the inclined tunnel 1 while supported by the wire 51 and cut the inclined pipeline 21 sequentially from the top, even without skilled workers, it is possible to cut a large-diameter and thick inclined pipeline 21 installed in an inclined tunnel 1 with poor footing to a predetermined size and sequentially remove it, thereby shortening the work period and reducing the cost required for construction.

[0036] In the pulling-up step C, instead of the above-described embodiment in which the tip of the wire 51 is fixed to a transport sled 4 capable of sliding within the inclined pipeline 21, and the work machine 3 is fixed to the transport sled 4 and then pulled up by winding the wire 51 with the winch 5, it is also possible to pull up the work machine 3 along the inside of the inclined pipeline 21 without using the transport sled 4. However, in this case, there is a possibility that the work machine 3 may wobble and come into contact with the inner wall surface of the inclined pipeline 21. Therefore, it is preferable to fix the work machine 3 to the transport sled 4 and pull them up smoothly along the inside of the inclined pipeline 21.

[0037] In the above-described embodiment, in the delivery step B, the tip of the wire 51 is fixed to the transport sled 4 that can slide within the inclined pipeline 21, and the transport sled 4 is caused to slide downward along the inclined pipeline 21 to deliver the wire 51, so that the wire 51 can be delivered smoothly toward the lower part of the inclined pipeline 21. Note that, instead of the above-described embodiment, the transport sled 4 may be carried into the lower opening of the inclined pipeline 21 from the lower part of the tunnel 1, and the tip of the wire 51 delivered downward from the winch 5 may be fixed to the transport sled 4.

[0038] 10, in the above-described embodiment, after forming cutting slits 24 in an inclined pipe 21 fixed to the wall surface of a tunnel 1 by fixing concrete 11, the fixing concrete 11, 12 is broken up using a work machine 3, so that the broken pieces of the fixing concrete 11 and the cut pieces of the inclined pipe 21 flow downward along the inclined pipe 21. Therefore, by breaking up the fixing concrete 11 using a breaker 34 of the work machine 3 while preventing the cut pieces of the inclined pipe 21 from falling when forming the cutting slits 24, the work of causing the broken pieces of the fixing concrete 11 and the cut pieces of the inclined pipe 21 to flow downward and be discharged can be performed efficiently and safely.

[0039] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, if a regulating section 7 is provided at the lower opening of the inclined pipeline 21 to regulate the escape of the cut pieces 21a, accidents caused by the cut pieces 21a flowing down the inside of the inclined pipeline 21 escaping to the outside from the lower opening of the inclined pipeline 21 can be effectively prevented, and there is the advantage that the cut pieces 21a and the like accumulated upstream of the regulating section 7 can be efficiently discharged to the outside.

[0040] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the present invention was applied to an inclined pipeline 21 made of iron pipe material or the like that supplies power generation water supplied from a water source such as a dam to a hydroelectric generator, but the use of the present invention is not limited to the above, and the present invention can be applied to various inclined pipelines installed on any inclined surface. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 Tunnel 2 Power generation pipeline 3 Work equipment 4 Transport sled 5 Winch 6 Transport trolley 7 Restriction part 11,12 Fixing concrete 21 Inclined pipe 22 Horizontal pipe 24 Cutting slit 31 Lower running body 32 Upper rotating body 33 Operating unit 34 Breaker 35 Blade 36 Mechanical fork 41 Roller 42 Side member 43 Connecting member 44 Bracket 45 Work equipment mounting portion 51 Wire 52 Roller 53 Inclined Road

Claims

1. A method for removing an inclined pipe installed in an inclined tunnel, comprising: an introduction step of introducing a work machine into a lower opening of the inclined pipeline; a sending out step of sending out a wire from a winch installed above the tunnel; a lifting process in which the winch winds up the wire to lift the working machine along the inside of the inclined pipeline; a cutting process in which the inclined pipeline is cut sequentially from the top while the working machine, which is pulled up above the tunnel and supported by the wire, grips an upper end of the inclined pipeline; a flow-down process of causing the cut pieces of the inclined pipe cut in the cutting process to flow down along the inside of the inclined pipe; and a discharge step of discharging the cut pieces from the lower opening to the outside of the tunnel, The method for removing an inclined pipeline, wherein the cutting step, the flowing down step, and the discharging step are performed alternately or in parallel.

2. 2. The method for removing an inclined pipeline according to claim 1, wherein in the lifting step, the tip of the wire is fixed to a transport sled that can slide within the inclined pipeline, the work machine is transported into the inclined pipeline while fixed on the transport sled, and the transport sled is lifted up by winding up the wire with the winch.

3. 3. The method for removing an inclined pipeline according to claim 2, wherein in the feeding step, the tip of the wire is fixed to the transport sled, the transport sled is carried into an upper opening of the inclined pipeline, and the wire is fed by sliding downward along the inside of the inclined pipeline.

4. In the cutting step, a cutting slit is formed in the inclined pipe fixed to the wall surface of the tunnel by fixing concrete, and then the fixing concrete is crushed using the work machine; 4. A method for removing an inclined pipeline according to claim 1, wherein in the flow-down process, the crushed pieces of the fixing concrete and the cut pieces of the inclined pipeline are caused to flow downward along the inclined pipeline.

5. a restricting portion for restricting the cutting pieces from protruding is provided at the lower opening of the inclined pipe; The method for removing an inclined pipeline according to claim 1 , wherein in the discharging step, the shredded pieces accumulated on the upstream side of the restricting portion are sequentially discharged to the outside.

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