Lubrication device and pipe connection method

Abstract

To provide a lubricity application device capable of preventing connection work of pipe bodies from being performed in a state where a lubricant is dried, and a pipe body connection method.SOLUTION: A lubricity application device 1 comprises: an operation rod 2 which can be rotated around an axis; a rubber ring surface sliding part 3 which is provided while protruding radially outside from an axial center of the operation rod 2 and rotated around the axis by the rotation operation of the operation rod 2, slides on a surface of a rubber ring 10 which is provided inside of a pipe body, and applies lubricity to the surface; and a carriage 4 capable of traveling inside of the pipe body while supporting the operation rod 2 so as to be rotatable. A pipe body connection method includes steps of: making the lubricity application device 1 stand by inside of a preceding pipe body P1 and then making a connection pipe body P2 closer from an axial direction; rotating the operation rod 2 around the axis and applying the lubricity onto the surface of the rubber ring surface sliding part 3; and connecting the connection pipe body P2 to the preceding pipe body P1 while a lubricated state on the surface of the rubber ring 10 is kept.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for imparting lubricity to a pipe body and a pipe connection method for connecting pipe bodies after imparting lubricity, which are used in the laying work of fluid transportation pipelines such as water pipes.

Background Art

[0002] In a construction method in which a sheath pipe is formed from a launching shaft to a receiving shaft, and a ductile iron pipe of a push-on joint such as a T-shaped joint or a PN-shaped joint with a diameter of 600 mm or less that becomes the main pipe is transported one by one into the sheath pipe from the launching shaft side and inserted into the socket of the preceding pipe body for piping. In order to smoothly connect the pipe bodies, a lubricant for reducing the sliding resistance associated with the insertion of the pipe body is applied to the surface of the rubber ring provided in the socket of the preceding pipe body.

[0003] For example, when the diameter of the sheath pipe is Φ1000 mm and the diameter of the main pipe is Φ500 mm, it is difficult to secure a gap for an operator to pass between the outside of the main pipe and the inside of the sheath pipe. Therefore, the lubricant is applied to the rubber ring provided in the socket of the preceding pipe body when the piping of the preceding pipe body is completed. And after the application of the lubricant, a series of steps including a step of moving the transport cart that has transported the pipe body from the piping position to the launching shaft, a step of loading the next pipe body onto the transport cart, a step of moving the transport cart loaded with the pipe body back to the piping position again, and a step of aligning the next pipe body and inserting this pipe body into the preceding pipe body are performed, and then the pipe bodies are connected.

[0004] This series of steps is managed in construction so as to be completed within the time when the lubricity of the lubricant is maintained. However, if work delays occur, the lubricant applied to the rubber ring may dry and lose its lubricity, and in this state, if the next pipe body is connected, problems such as the rubber ring shifting may occur.

[0005] Therefore, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, a film is provided on the lubricant application area, and this film is peeled off before application to prevent the applied lubricant from drying out (see paragraphs 0045, 0059, Figure 8, etc. of Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6956285 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the drying of the lubricant can be prevented while the film is in place, but this film must be removed before connecting the pipes. This removal is done manually by the worker, but if each step after the removal, such as moving the transport cart or loading the pipes, takes too long, the lubricant may dry out, causing problems in the connection work, similar to the method described above.

[0008] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to prevent the connection work of pipes from being performed while the lubricant is dry. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above problems, this invention provides: A rotating operating rod around an axis, A rubber ring surface sliding part is provided, which protrudes radially outward from the axis of the operating rod, rotates around the axis when the operating rod is rotated, and slides on the surface of a rubber ring provided inside the tube, thereby providing lubrication to that surface. A trolley that can move inside the pipe while supporting the operating rod so that it can be rotated, A lubrication device having the following characteristics was constructed.

[0010] In this way, by rotating the operating rod, lubrication can be applied to the surface of the rubber ring from a position away from the preceding pipe, just before connecting the pipes. This allows for smooth pipe connection work without problems such as the rubber ring shifting due to the lubricant drying out.

[0011] In the above configuration, it is preferable to further include a support column that is detachably attached to the operating rod and supports the operating rod outside the pipe body, and a support column retrieval member connected to the support column. This prevents the tip of the operating rod from drooping, allowing the operating rod to pass smoothly through the pipe body connected to the preceding pipe body, thereby improving work efficiency. Furthermore, since the support column retrieval member is connected to the support column, when the support column is no longer needed, it can be smoothly retrieved by operating the support column retrieval member (for example, by pulling it towards the launch shaft), preventing the support column from becoming an obstacle to the movement of the trolley.

[0012] In all of the above configurations, it is preferable to further include a supply pipe that supplies at least one of water or a lubricant to the sliding surface portion of the rubber ring. This ensures that the function of providing lubricity to the rubber ring surface by the sliding surface portion of the rubber ring can always be maintained.

[0013] In all of the above configurations, it is preferable to further include an imaging device for checking the internal condition of the tube. This allows for direct visual inspection of the condition of the lubricant on the surface of the rubber ring and whether or not the rubber ring is misaligned when the tubes are connected, thereby preventing problems associated with the connection.

[0014] In all of the above configurations, it is preferable that the trolley is equipped with a hydrostatic testing machine capable of applying water pressure to the joints of the connected pipes from the inner surface to perform a watertightness test. This allows the hydrostatic test to be performed continuously following the pipe connection work, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0015] Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, this invention provides: The process involves placing a lubrication device inside a preceding pipe, which includes an operating rod rotatable around its axis, a rubber ring surface sliding part that protrudes radially outward from the axis of the operating rod and rotates around its axis by the rotation of the operating rod, and a trolley that can move inside the pipe while supporting the operating rod so that it can be rotatably operated, and then bringing a pipe to be connected to the preceding pipe closer from its axial direction. The process involves rotating the operating rod around its axis to slide the rubber ring surface sliding portion against the surface of the rubber ring on the preceding pipe body, thereby imparting lubricity to that surface. The process of connecting the connecting pipe to the preceding pipe while the surface of the rubber ring is kept slippery, A pipe connection method having the following characteristics was constructed.

[0016] In this way, lubrication can be applied to the surface of the rubber ring by the sliding part of the rubber ring just before connecting to the preceding pipe, so that problems such as slippage of the rubber ring due to drying of the lubricant can be avoided and the pipe connection work can be performed smoothly.

[0017] In the above-described pipe connection method, it is preferable that the trolley is equipped with a hydrostatic testing machine capable of applying water pressure to the joint of the connected pipes from the inner surface to perform a watertightness test, and that the process further includes a step of testing the watertightness of the joint with the hydrostatic testing machine following the step of connecting the pipes. In this way, the hydrostatic test can be performed continuously after the pipe connection work, thereby improving work efficiency. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] In this invention, the sliding surface portion of the rubber ring is rotated by rotating an operating rod that can be rotated around an axis, thereby imparting lubricity to the surface of the rubber ring. This allows lubrication to be applied to the surface of the rubber ring from a position away from the preceding pipe body, just before connecting the pipe bodies. As a result, the pipe body connection work can be performed smoothly without causing problems such as slippage of the rubber ring due to the drying of the lubricant.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] Cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a lubricity-imparting device according to the present invention [Figure 2] Arrow view seen from the direction A in FIG. 1 [Figure 3] Arrow view seen from the direction B in FIG. 1 [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view showing the steps of a pipe connection method according to the present invention. (a) is a state in which a lubricity-imparting device is waiting inside a preceding pipe, (b) is a state in which a pipe to be connected to the preceding pipe is brought close and a rubber ring surface sliding portion is being slid on the surface of the rubber ring of the preceding pipe, and (c) is a state in which a water tightness test is being performed using a hydrostatic tester after the pipes are connected to each other

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] An embodiment of a lubricity-imparting device 1 according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, this lubricity-imparting device 1 has an operation rod 2, a rubber ring surface sliding portion 3, and a carriage 4 as main components, and is used during the connection work of pipes to each other.

[0021] The operation rod 2 is provided so as to be rotatable around an axis. Its length is set such that when a pipe to be connected (hereinafter referred to as a connection pipe P2) that is axially adjacent to this preceding pipe P1 is arranged in a state where the carriage 4 of the lubricity-imparting device 1 is waiting inside the receiving port of the preceding pipe (hereinafter referred to as a preceding pipe P1), the end portion of the operation rod 2 protrudes from the receiving port of this connection pipe P2 so that an operator can grip this end portion (see FIG. 4(b)).

[0022] The operating rod 2 is detachably provided with a support column 5 that supports the operating rod 2 from below, outside the pipe body (leading pipe body P1). A string-like support column retrieval member 6 is connected to the support column 5. By pulling the support column retrieval member 6, the support column 5 can be removed from the operating rod 2 and retrieved. The operating rod 2 is also provided with a wheeled support column 7 that can move axially within the pipe body.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the rubber ring surface sliding portion 3 is provided projecting radially outward from the axis of the operating rod 2, and rotates around the axis when the operating rod 2 is rotated. This rubber ring surface sliding portion 3 has an arm portion 8 extending radially outward and a sliding body 9 provided at the tip of the arm portion 8. In this embodiment, a porous material (sponge) is provided as the sliding body 9. This sliding body 9 is impregnated with water or a lubricant. By sliding the sliding body 9 of the rubber ring surface sliding portion 3 against the surface of the rubber ring 10 provided inside the pipe, lubricity is imparted to the surface.

[0024] A supply pipe 11 is provided on the sliding surface portion 3 of the rubber ring to supply water and lubricant. As a result, the sliding body 9 is always impregnated with a predetermined amount of water and lubricant.

[0025] As shown in Figure 3, the trolley 4 has a base 12 that is rotatable relative to the operating rod 2 around its axis and moves integrally in the axial direction, a frame 13 that extends radially outward from the base 12 and is assembled in an X shape in a side view, and a caster 14 provided at the tip of the frame 13. The trolley supports the operating rod 2 so that it can be rotated, and is able to move along the axial direction inside the pipe on the caster 14. Alternatively, a skid with a protective material such as nonwoven fabric at the contact point with the inner surface of the pipe can be used instead of the caster 14.

[0026] In this embodiment, the trolley 4 is equipped with a hydraulic pressure testing machine 15 that can perform a watertightness test by applying water pressure from the inner surface to the joint between the two connected pipes (the leading pipe P1 and the connecting pipe P2).

[0027] This hydrostatic testing machine 15 employs a method in which a sealed space is formed on the inner surface of the pipes, spanning the connected preceding pipe P1 and connecting pipe P2. While removing the air from this sealed space, water at a predetermined pressure is supplied to the sealed space to fill it with water, and the watertightness is evaluated from the degree of pressure drop within the sealed space after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0028] The operating rod 2 is equipped with an illuminated imaging device 16 for checking the internal condition of the pipe. A monitor 17 is connected to the imaging device 16, allowing the operator to perform the work while checking the internal condition. Furthermore, by rotating the operating rod 2, the imaging device 16 can capture images of the entire circumference of the inside of the pipe.

[0029] In the above-described lubrication device 1, the rubber ring surface sliding portion 3 is configured to protrude in two opposing directions from the axis of the operating rod 2. However, it is sufficient for it to protrude in at least one direction; for example, it can be configured to protrude in four directions at 90-degree intervals circumferentially from the axis of the operating rod 2. Furthermore, although the sliding body 9 is made of a porous material (sponge) in the above-described device, it may also be possible to use a rubber material or brush capable of holding a predetermined amount of water or lubricant instead of a porous material.

[0030] Furthermore, by making the arm portion 8 of the rubber ring surface sliding portion 3 foldable so that its tip bends toward the axis midway along its length, or by making it a rod type that can extend and retract radially, contact between the sliding body 9 and the inner surface of the pipe can be prevented when the lubrication device 1 moves within the pipe, thereby allowing for smoother movement.

[0031] In the above-described lubrication device 1, the rubber wheel surface sliding part 3 is provided on the launch shaft side (right side in Figure 1) relative to the trolley 4 (hydraulic testing machine 15). However, even if the rubber wheel surface sliding part 3 is provided on the arrival shaft side (left side in Figure 1) relative to the trolley 4 (hydraulic testing machine 15), the same effect as described above can be expected from the rubber wheel surface sliding part 3.

[0032] In the above-described lubrication device 1, both water and lubricant are supplied from the supply pipe 11. However, if it is sufficient to simply prevent the surface of the rubber ring 10 from drying out, the device can be configured to supply only water, and if it is sufficient to simply supply additional lubricant, the device can be configured to supply only lubricant.

[0033] In the above-described lubrication device 1, a hydrostatic testing machine 15 is provided on the trolley 4. However, the hydrostatic testing function may be omitted if hydrostatic testing is not required or if hydrostatic testing is performed by other methods. Furthermore, peripheral members and devices such as the support columns 5, wheeled support columns 7, and imaging device 16 provided on the above-described lubrication device 1 may be omitted as appropriate.

[0034] The pipe connection method using the above-described lubrication device 1 will be explained below based on Figures 4(a) to (c). This pipe connection method is applicable to a construction method in which, for example, a conduit pipe S is formed from the starting shaft to the receiving shaft, and ductile iron pipes, mainly T-type joints, PN-type joints, and other push-on joints of Φ600 mm or less, which will become the main pipes, are transported one by one into the conduit pipe S from the starting shaft side, and the insertion port of the connecting pipe P2 is inserted into the receiving port of the preceding pipe P1 to sequentially complete the piping. Note that in Figures 4(a) to (c), the description of components not directly related to this invention, such as transport carts for transporting pipes into the conduit pipe S, has been omitted.

[0035] In this pipe connection method, first, as shown in Figure 4(a), the lubrication device 1 described above is placed inside the lead pipe P1 installed in the conduit pipe S. At this time, the operating rod 2 is supported by the support column 5 with the rod protruding from the receiving end of the lead pipe pipe P1. The surface of the rubber ring 10 provided at the receiving end of the lead pipe pipe P1 is pre-coated with lubricant by the worker. In addition, the end of the lead pipe pipe P1 on the receiving end side is raised to a predetermined height from the inner surface of the conduit pipe S by the pipe support base 18.

[0036] Next, as shown in Figure 4(b), the connecting pipe P2, which was brought in from the launching shaft side, is brought into the preceding pipe P1 from the axial direction until the end of the operating rod 2 protrudes from its opening. Once the operating rod 2 is inside the connecting pipe P2, the support column 5 is detached from the operating rod 2 and recovered by pulling the support column retrieval member 6 from the launching shaft side. At this time, the wheeled support column 7 is in a state where it can travel along the inner surface of the connecting pipe P2 while supporting the operating rod 2.

[0037] Furthermore, with the axial position of the rubber ring surface sliding part 3 of the lubrication device 1 and the rubber ring 10 provided at the receiving end of the preceding pipe P1 aligned, the operating rod 2 is rotated to rotate the rubber ring surface sliding part 3 around its axis, causing the sliding body 9 (see Figure 2), which is impregnated with water and lubricant supplied appropriately from the supply pipe 11, to slide against the rubber ring 10, thereby providing lubrication to the surface of the rubber ring 10. The sliding state between the rubber ring 10 and the sliding body 9 and the lubrication state of the surface of the rubber ring 10 are monitored through the monitor 17.

[0038] Once the rubber ring 10 has been given lubrication by the rubber ring surface sliding part 3, as shown in Figure 4(c), while the lubrication state of the rubber ring 10 surface is maintained, the connecting pipe P2 is connected to the leading pipe P1, and a pipe support 18 is placed at the lower part of the receiving end of the connecting pipe P2. At this time, the connection state inside the pipe obtained by the imaging device 16 is monitored through the monitor 17 to check whether there are any abnormalities in the connection state. In this connected state, the hydrostatic testing machine 15 is moved to the joint of both pipes P1 and P2, and hydrostatic pressure is applied to the joint from the inner side to perform a watertightness test to confirm that there are no problems with watertightness. Once the connecting pipe P2 has reached the launch shaft by repeating the process in Figures 4(a) to 4(c), filler material is filled into the gap between the conduit pipe S and the connected pipe to complete the series of connection operations.

[0039] The above-described lubrication device 1 slides the rubber ring surface sliding part 3 on the surface of the rubber ring 10 by rotating the operating rod 2, so that lubrication can be applied to the surface of the rubber ring 10 from a position away from the preceding pipe body P1, just before connecting the connecting pipe body P2. Therefore, the pipe connection work can be performed smoothly without causing problems such as displacement of the rubber ring 10 due to the drying of the lubricant.

[0040] Furthermore, the above-mentioned lubrication device 1 is equipped with a support column 5 that supports the operating rod 2 on the outside of the pipe (leading pipe P1), which prevents the tip of the operating rod 2 from drooping and allows the operating rod 2 to pass smoothly through the connecting pipe P2, thereby improving work efficiency. In addition, since a support column retrieval member 6 is connected to the support column 5, when the support column 5 is no longer needed, it can be smoothly retrieved by operating the support column retrieval member 6 (for example, by pulling it towards the launch shaft), preventing the support column 5 from becoming an obstacle to the movement of the trolley 4.

[0041] Furthermore, since the above-mentioned lubrication device 1 employs a porous material (sponge) for the sliding body 9 of the rubber ring surface sliding part 3, the porous material deforms upon contact with the inner surface of the pipe, allowing the rubber ring surface sliding part 3 to move smoothly within the pipe.

[0042] Furthermore, since the above-described lubrication device 1 is equipped with a supply pipe 11 that supplies water and lubricant to the sliding part 3 on the surface of the rubber ring, a predetermined amount of water and lubricant is always impregnated into the sliding body 9 on the surface of the rubber ring, thereby ensuring the lubrication function of the rubber ring surface.

[0043] Furthermore, since the above-mentioned lubrication device 1 is equipped with an imaging device 16 for checking the internal condition of the pipe, it is possible to directly visually check the condition of the lubricant on the surface of the rubber ring and whether or not the rubber ring 10 is misaligned when the pipes are connected, thereby preventing problems from occurring during connection.

[0044] Furthermore, by equipping the trolley 4 with a hydraulic pressure testing machine 15, the above-mentioned lubrication device 1 can be used to test the watertightness of the joints between pipes using the hydraulic pressure testing machine 15, following the process of connecting the pipes, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0045] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description and is intended to include the meaning of equivalents of the claims and all modifications thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1. Lubrication device 2 Operating rods 3. Surface sliding part of the rubber ring 4 carts 5 pillars 6. Support column recovery member 7 Wheeled support poles 8 Arm section 9. Sliding body 10 rubber rings 11 Supply pipe 12 Base 13 frames 14 Caster 15. Water pressure testing machine 16 Imaging device 17 Monitors 18 Tube holder P1 Preceding tube (leading tube) P2 Connecting pipe (connecting pipe) S-shaped pipe

Claims

1. A rotating operating rod (2) around an axis, A rubber ring surface sliding part (3) is provided, which protrudes radially outward from the axis of the operating rod (2), rotates around the axis when the operating rod (2) is rotated, and slides on the surface of a rubber ring (10) provided inside the tube, thereby providing lubrication to that surface. A trolley (4) that can move inside the pipe while supporting the operating rod (2) so as to be rotatable, It has, A lubrication device configured such that, when the trolley (4) is waiting inside the socket of the preceding pipe (P1), and a pipe (P2) is positioned to be connected to the preceding pipe (P1) so as to be adjacent to it in the axial direction, the end of the operating rod (2) protrudes from the socket of the connecting pipe (P2), and the operating rod (2) is rotated by gripping the end.

2. A support column (5) is detachably attached to the operating rod (2) and supports the operating rod (2) outside the pipe body, A support column retrieval member (6) connected to the support column (5), The lubricity-imparting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. The lubrication device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a supply pipe (11) for supplying at least one of water or a lubricant to the rubber ring surface sliding portion (3).

4. The lubrication device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an imaging device (16) for checking the internal state of the tube.

5. The lubrication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the trolley (4) is provided with a hydraulic pressure testing machine (15) capable of performing a watertightness test by applying water pressure from the inner surface side to the joint of the connected pipe body.

6. The process involves placing a lubrication device (1) inside a preceding pipe (P1), which includes an operating rod (2) that can be rotated around its axis, a rubber ring surface sliding part (3) that protrudes radially outward from the axis of the operating rod (2) and rotates around its axis by the rotation of the operating rod (2), and a trolley (4) that can move inside the pipe while supporting the operating rod (2) in a rotatable manner, and then approaching the pipe (P2) that will be connected to the preceding pipe (P1) from its axial direction until the end of the operating rod (2) protrudes from its receiving opening. The process involves gripping the end and rotating the operating rod (2) around its axis to slide the rubber ring surface sliding portion (3) on the surface of the rubber ring (10) of the preceding pipe body (P1) to impart lubricity to that surface, The process of connecting the connecting pipe (P2) to the preceding pipe (P1) while the surface of the rubber ring (10) is kept slippery, A method for connecting pipes.

7. The pipe connection method according to claim 6, wherein the trolley (4) is equipped with a hydraulic pressure testing machine (15) capable of applying water pressure to the joint of the connected pipes from the inner surface to perform a watertightness test, and the method further comprises the step of testing the watertightness of the joint with the hydraulic pressure testing machine (15) following the step of connecting the pipes.

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