Wiring and piping material housing jig and wiring and piping material housing device

Abstract

To enable continuous enlargement of a slit by a jig, by antecedently enlarging a slit of a next pipe with slit, in a connection part of the pipe with slit.SOLUTION: A wiring / piping material housing jig T having a slit enlargement body D1 enlarging a slit S of a pipe P with slit and maintaining the enlargement state, and a pipe feeding roller 22 feeding wiring / piping material A from the slit S enlarged of the pipe P with slit to the inside of the pipe P with slit, just before reaching a next pipe P with slit connected in series, abuts on a joint C connecting the next pipe P with slit itself or the pipes P with slit together, and has an antecedent slit enlargement body D2 antecedently enlarging the next pipe P with slit to the slit enlargement doby D1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiring and pipe material accommodating jig and a wiring and pipe material accommodating device for accommodating wiring and pipe materials inside a slit tube.

Background Art

[0002] A slit tube is a tube for accommodating and holding wiring and pipe materials inside it. As one of them, a corrugated tube with slits disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. The slit tube is manufactured to a predetermined length (for example, 3 to 4 m) and is used by being connected in series at a construction site using a connecting portion integrally provided on the slit tube or an independent connector. In the corrugated tube with slits disclosed in Patent Document 1, a connecting portion slightly larger in size than other portions is integrally formed at its end, and two corrugated tubes are connected using the connecting portion.

[0003] On the other hand, in order to accommodate wiring and pipe materials inside a slit tube, a jig that can expand the slit portion to a size (inner width) capable of accommodating the wiring and pipe materials is used. As one of these jigs, the one disclosed in Patent Document 2 is known. This jig uses a plurality of sets of expanding rollers with the interval between a pair of sets of expanding rollers sequentially increased to expand the slit of the slit tube and accommodates the wiring and pipe materials from a portion that maintains the expanded state in the slit tube. Here, in a single slit tube, the expansion of the slit can reach a portion of a predetermined length ahead and can be expanded without problems. However, at the connecting portion of two slit tubes, the expanding force of one slit tube by the jig is blocked at its end and does not reach the other slit tube, and the other slit tube needs to be newly expanded. There was a problem that the next slit tube could not be smoothly expanded at the connecting portion of the two slit tubes.

[0004] Furthermore, the jig disclosed in Patent Document 3 has a structure in which a blade with an acutely angled tip is inserted into the slit portion of a slitted pipe and pulled to expand the slit. When multiple slitted pipes are connected with a connector or connector, the slits of the multiple slitted pipes are connected so as to be continuous in the longitudinal direction (formation direction), but the slits may be connected with a slight misalignment in the circumferential direction of the pipe, and moreover, as described above, the expanding force of one slitted pipe by the jig is blocked at its end and does not reach the other slitted pipe. For this reason, at the connection part of the slitted pipes, the blade may hit the end face of the next slitted pipe and not smoothly enter into its slit, hindering the smooth accommodation of wiring and piping materials. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-141099 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-130715 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-93907 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The present invention aims to enable continuous slit expansion by a jig when expanding the slits of a connected set of slotted pipes to accommodate wiring and piping materials inside, by first expanding the slits of the next slotted pipe at the connection point of the slotted pipes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The invention of claim 1, which solves the above problem, A wiring / piping material housing jig is provided for housing wiring / piping materials inside a series of slotted pipes, wherein multiple slotted pipes are connected in series, and the slotted pipes are provided with continuous slots in the longitudinal direction, and the ends of the pipe walls are positioned facing each other in close proximity or in close contact due to the formation of the slots, and by expanding the slots, wiring / piping materials can be housed inside from between the ends, and the jig moves along the slots of the multiple slotted pipes connected in series to house the wiring / piping materials inside the slotted pipes, A slit-expanding portion is positioned between the opposing ends of the slit-equipped pipe, and by inserting its tip-interlocking portion into the space between the ends of the pipe that are close together or in close contact, it expands the space between the ends of the pipe and maintains that spaced-out state. The pipe feeding section is provided for feeding the wiring and piping material into the interior of the slit pipe from the spaced edges of both ends of the slit pipe, During the movement of the wiring and piping material housing jig, the tip of the slit expansion section intercepts the next slitted pipe connected in series just before it reaches the next slitted pipe itself Opposite inner Or a joint for connecting pipes with slits. On the opposite inner surface The invention is characterized in that a leading alignment portion, which comes into contact with the slit-expanding portion and allows the leading intervening portion of the slit-expanding portion to smoothly fit between the edges of both ends of the slit of the next slit-equipped pipe, is provided in front of the slit-expanding portion in the direction of movement.

[0008] According to the invention of claim 1, when the wiring / piping material housing jig travels along the general section of a plurality of slitted pipes, the tip insertion part provided at the tip of the slit-expanding part of the wiring / piping material housing jig inserts between the edges of both ends of the pipe wall constituting the slit, expanding the slit. While the expansion is maintained, the wiring / piping material housing jig moves along the slits of the slitted pipe, and during this time, the wiring / piping material introduced between the expanded slits is sequentially fed into the interior of the slitted pipe by a pipe feeding part located behind the tip insertion part.

[0009] On the other hand, when the wiring and piping material housing jig travels along the connection points of multiple slotted pipes, if the leading alignment portion of the slit-expanding portion comes into contact with the inner surface of the next slotted pipe itself or the joint connecting the slotted pipes just before the leading interlocking portion of the slit-expanding portion reaches the next slotted pipe connected in series, and the width of the slotted pipe itself or the joint is expanded, the slit at the end of the next slotted pipe is expanded. As a result, the expanding force of the slit-expanding portion that expands the slit of the slotted pipe housing the wiring and piping material The Even if the slit is blocked by a slit pipe and does not reach the next slit pipe, the tip of the slit expansion section can intercept the slit of the next slit pipe, allowing the slit of the next slit pipe to be continuously expanded at the connection point of the connected slit pipes, and enabling the wiring and piping materials to be continuously accommodated in the different connected slit pipes. Furthermore, even if the leading alignment section only contacts the inner surface of the next slit pipe itself or the joint connecting the slit pipes just before the tip of the slit expansion section reaches the next slit pipe connected in series, and the width of the slit pipe itself or the joint is not expanded, the contact of the leading alignment section guides the slit expansion section during the expansion operation to a position where the tip of the intercept can intercept the slit of the next slit pipe, enabling the continuous expansion of each slit in the two connected slit pipes.

[0010] The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the preceding alignment portion has an inclined guide portion that widens from the front side to the rear side along the direction of movement.

[0011] According to the invention of claim 2, the leading alignment portion, by forming an inclined guide portion, is pressed like a wedge against the inner surface of the slit pipe itself or the inner surface of the joint connecting the slit pipes at the connection portion of the slit pipe, making it easier to expand the slit of the next slit pipe. Furthermore, the inclined guide portion of the leading alignment portion contacts the inner surface of the slit pipe itself or the inner surface of the joint connecting the slit pipes at the connection portion of the slit pipe, gradually guiding the slit expanding portion of the wiring / piping material housing jig to be positioned directly opposite both ends of the slit of the next slit pipe (so that the positions of both slits along the circumferential direction of the pipe are aligned), thus enabling smooth alignment of the slit expanding portion with respect to the slit of the next slit pipe.

[0012] The invention of claim 3 is a plurality of slitted pipes connected in series such that each slit is arranged on the same straight line, wherein the formation of the slits causes both ends of the pipe wall to be positioned close together or in close contact with each other, and by expanding the slits, wiring and piping materials can be accommodated inside from between the ends, and the slits are arranged on the same straight line. A wiring / piping material housing jig according to claim 1, which is moved sequentially in a series direction along each slit in the plurality of slit pipes, and feeds wiring / piping material into the interior of the plurality of slit pipes through the slits, It is characterized by being composed of [this].

[0013] The invention of claim 3 is an interpretation of the invention of claim 1 from the perspective of the combination of a plurality of slit pipes and a wiring / piping material housing jig, and its substantial effects are equivalent to those of the invention of claim 1.

[0014] The invention of claim 4 is the invention of claim 3, wherein the plurality of slit pipes are connected via joints, The aforementioned joint is, It is equipped with a pipe passage opening that allows the aforementioned wiring and piping materials to pass through and be housed inside, It is positioned inside the connecting portion of two slotted pipes, and the slots of the slotted pipes and the pipe passage opening of the joint are aligned along the circumferential direction of the pipe, and the joint can be connected in such a way that the slots and the pipe passage opening do not shift significantly along the circumferential direction of the pipe. The aforementioned pre-alignment portion is characterized by having a configuration that abuts against the inner surface of the joint.

[0015] The invention of claim 4 is such that a plurality of slotted pipes are provided with pipe passage openings that allow wiring and piping materials to pass through and be housed inside, and are connected via a joint positioned inside the connecting portion of two slotted pipes, and when the leading alignment portion of the wiring and piping material housing jig abuts against the inner surface of the joint, the slot of the next slotted pipe is expanded, so that at the connecting portion of two slotted pipes, the slot expanding portion of the wiring and piping material housing jig smoothly enters from one slot to the next slot, the next slit is expanded, and the wiring and piping materials are smoothly housed inside the slotted pipe.

[0016] The invention of claim 5 is the invention of claim 4, wherein the joint is deformable so as to widen the width of the pipe passage opening, The aforementioned pre-alignment portion is characterized by comprising a pre-slit widening portion that presses against the inner surface of the joint, thereby separating both ends of the slits of the next slitted pipe through the joint.

[0017] According to the invention of claim 5, when the tip intrusion part at the tip of the slit expansion part of the wiring and pipe material housing jig approaches the connection part of each slitted pipe, that is, the joint part, the preceding slit expansion part presses the inner surface of the joint that connects each slitted pipe inside outward. As a result, the pressing force reaches up to the part arranged in the next slitted pipe in the joint, and the next slitted pipe is pressed outward. Thereby, the end part of the next slitted pipe is pressed outward so that the pipe passing opening of the joint arranged inside becomes wider, and the slit end of the next slitted pipe is expanded. Therefore, the tip intrusion part at the tip of the slit expansion part of the wiring and pipe material housing jig smoothly intrudes between the slits (between the both end edges of the slit) of the next slitted pipe that has already been (previously) expanded. At the connection part of the two connected slitted pipes, the slit expansion part that has entered the slit of one of the two slitted pipes smoothly intrudes into the slit of the next slitted pipe and shifts.

[0018] The invention of claim 6 is, in the invention of claim 5, wherein the slitted pipe is in a rectangular cylindrical shape. The slit is provided at the center of one specific surface. The joint includes a base portion extending along the opposing surface facing the specific surface, and a pair of arm portions standing upright from both ends in the direction orthogonal to the slit in the base portion and extending along the inside of two adjacent surfaces adjacent to both the specific surface and the opposing surface. The pair of arm portions have a standing length exceeding the middle of the two adjacent surfaces, and the pipe passing opening is formed between the tips of each arm portion.

[0019] According to the invention of claim 6, the slotted tube is in the shape of a rectangular cylinder, and the joint for connecting two slotted tubes is disposed inside thereof, standing upright at both ends of the base, and a tube passage opening is formed between a pair of arm portions having a standing length with the tip disposed on the side of the specific surface rather than the middle of the adjacent surface. The leading slit expansion portion of the wiring and pipe material accommodation jig is deformed so as to press the inner sides of the tip portions of the pair of arm portions outward to widen the tube passage opening. Due to the deformation of the pair of arm portions, the width of the end portion of the next slotted tube connected by the joint is deformed to be widened, the slit of the end portion of the next slotted tube is expanded, and while the leading slit expansion portion is pressing the arm portion of the joint outward, the tip cut-in portion at the tip of the slit expansion portion cuts into the expanded slit of the next slotted tube, whereby the slit expansion portion is guided to the slit.

[0020] According to the invention of claim 7, in the invention of claim 5 or 6, in the width direction of the slotted tube perpendicular to both the moving direction of the wiring and pipe material accommodation jig and the inner and outer directions of the slit portion of the slotted tube, the maximum width of the leading slit expansion portion is narrower than the inner width in the width direction of the slotted tube at the portion where the slit is expanded by the slit expansion portion, which is characterized.

[0021] According to the invention of claim 7, since the maximum width of the leading slit expansion portion is narrower than the inner width in the width direction of the slotted tube at the portion where the slit is expanded by the slit expansion portion, when the leading slit expansion portion passes through the joint and enters the general portion of the slotted tube due to the running of the wiring and pipe material accommodation jig, the leading slit expansion portion and the inner surface of the slotted tube are non-contact, and the inner surface of the slotted tube is not damaged by the passage of the leading slit expansion portion.

[0022] According to the invention of claim 8, in the invention of claim 3, the plurality of slotted tubes have connecting portions at both ends, slits are formed over the entire length, and one end connecting portion can be connected in series by being fitted into the other end connecting portion of another slotted tube adjacent in series, In order to allow the slit-expanding portion of the wiring / piping material housing jig, which has been moved toward one end of the slitted pipe, to smoothly fit between the edges of both ends of the slit of the other slitted pipe, the preceding alignment portion abuts against the inside of the connecting portion at one end of the slitted pipe, thereby allowing adjustment of the relative position between the slit-expanding portion and the edges of both ends of the slit of the other slitted pipe. A key feature is that the relative positions of the slits in each connected slitted pipe do not shift excessively along the circumferential direction of the pipe.

[0023] The invention of claim 8 is such that the connecting portion at one end of a slotted pipe is fitted into the connecting portion at the other end of another slotted pipe adjacent to it in series, thereby connecting multiple slotted pipes in series. Therefore, when the leading alignment portion of the wiring and piping material housing jig presses the connecting portion at one end of the slotted pipe from the inside, the pressing force extends to the connecting portion of the other slotted pipe, and the slit in the connecting portion of the other slotted pipe is expanded. As a result, the slit-expanding portion of the wiring and piping material housing jig, which expands the slit in the general portion of the slotted pipe, smoothly intercepts the already expanded slit in the connecting portion of the other slotted pipe at the connection portion of both slotted pipes, allowing each slit to be continuously expanded at the connection portion of each slotted pipe.

[0024] The invention of claim 9 is the invention of claim 8, wherein in a direction perpendicular to both the direction of movement of the wiring / piping material housing jig and the inward / outward direction of the slit portion of the slit pipe, The connecting portion at one end of the slitted pipe, which is fitted inside the connecting portion at the other end of the aforementioned slitted pipe, has a narrower inner portion that is narrower than the other parts. The aforementioned pre-alignment portion is characterized by having a pressing portion that is wider on the outside than the narrow portion, and the wider outer portion presses the narrow portion of the connecting portion of the slit pipe outwards.

[0025] According to the invention of claim 9, when the leading alignment portion of the wiring and piping material housing jig passes through the connection portion of each slotted pipe connected in series, the leading alignment portion, which has a wider outer width than the narrow inner width portion of the connection portion of the slotted pipe, presses the narrow inner width portion outward, deforming the connection portion of the slotted pipe located on the inside outward. As a result, the slit in the inner connection portion of the slotted pipe is expanded, and the connection portion of the other slotted pipe fitted onto the inner connection portion is also deformed outward, so that its slit is expanded while being adjusted so that its position along the circumferential direction of the pipe coincides with the slit in the inner connection portion. In this way, the slit expanding portion of the wiring and piping material housing jig intercepts the upper and lower slits that overlap each other at the connection portion of each slotted pipe and passes through the connection portion, thereby enabling the continuous expansion of each slit in each slotted pipe at the connection portion.

[0026] The invention of claim 10 is the invention of claim 8, wherein in a direction perpendicular to both the direction of movement of the wiring / piping material housing jig and the inward / outward direction of the slit portion of the slit pipe, A contact portion is formed on the inside of the connecting portion at one end of the slitted pipe that is fitted inside the connecting portion at the other end of the aforementioned slitted pipe, The preceding alignment portion is characterized by contacting the contact portion of the connecting portion at one end of the slitted pipe and pressing the opposing pipe walls of the connecting portion outward, thereby pressing the opposing pipe walls of the connecting portion of another slitted pipe fitted onto the connecting portion at one end of the slitted pipe outward, and thereby enabling the slits of the connecting portion of the other slitted pipe to be continuously expanded.

[0027] According to the invention of claim 10, a contact portion is formed on the inside of the connecting portion of the slotted pipe, so that the deformation of the opposing pipe wall of the connecting portion of the slotted pipe outward by the preceding alignment portion extends to the connecting portion of the other slotted pipe fitted onto the connecting portion of the slotted pipe, and the slit of the connecting portion of the other slotted pipe is expanded. As a result, the slit-expanding portion of the wiring and piping material housing jig, while expanding the slit of the slotted pipe, can continuously expand the slit of the other slotted pipe at the connecting portion of both slotted pipes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] According to the present invention, when the wiring / piping material housing jig travels along the connection point of multiple slotted pipes, the leading alignment portion of the slit-expanding portion comes into contact with the inner surface of the next slotted pipe itself or the joint connecting the slotted pipes just before the leading insertion portion of the slit-expanding portion reaches the next slotted pipe connected in series. This expands the width of the slotted pipe itself or the joint, thereby expanding the slit at the end of the next slotted pipe. As a result, even if the expanding force that expands the slit of the slotted pipe housing the wiring / piping material is blocked by the contacting slotted pipe and does not reach the next slotted pipe, the leading insertion portion of the slit-expanding portion can still insert into the slit of the next slotted pipe. This allows the slit of the next slotted pipe to be continuously expanded at the connection point of the connected slotted pipes, enabling the wiring / piping material to be continuously housed in different connected slotted pipes. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0029] [Figure 1] (a) and (b) are perspective views of two slit pipes P connected by a joint C, in their unconnected and connected states, respectively. [Figure 2] (a) and (b) are perspective views showing a portion of one of the slits S of two slitted pipes P connected by a joint C, in the closed and expanded states, respectively, with a section broken. [Figure 3] (a) and (b) are the central longitudinal section and plan cross section, respectively, of the connection point between two slit pipes P connected by a joint C. [Figure 4] (a) and (b) are cross-sectional views taken along the lines X1-X1 and X2-X2 in Figure 3(a). [Figure 5] This is an overall perspective view of the wiring and piping material housing jig T according to the present invention. [Figure 6] (a) and (b) are perspective views of the slit expansion unit U, which constitutes the wiring and piping material housing jig T, viewed from different directions. [Figure 7] (a), (b), and (c) are the plan view, side view, and bottom view, respectively, of the slit expansion unit U that constitutes the wiring and piping material housing jig T. [Figure 8] (a), (b), and (c) are cross-sectional views along the lines Y1-Y1, Y2-Y2, and Y3-Y3 in Figure 7(b), respectively. [Figure 9] This is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly of the pipe feeding roller 22 to the first and second frames 21 and 23 of the wiring and piping material housing jig T. [Figure 10] This is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly of the slit expansion unit U to the second frame 23 of the wiring and piping material housing jig T. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view showing the process of housing wiring and piping materials A inside a slotted pipe P while expanding the slit S of the slotted pipe P using a wiring and piping material housing jig T. [Figure 12] Figure 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the wiring and piping material housing jig T. [Figure 13] This is also a cross-sectional view. [Figure 14] This is a perspective view showing a portion of the state in which the pair of arms 13 of joint C are elastically deformed outward, and the slit S of the next slit pipe P is expanded by the preceding slit expanding body D2, with the joint C partially broken. [Figure 15] This is a plan cross-sectional view showing the state where a pair of leading slit-expanding plates 26 of the leading slit-expanding body D2 of the wiring and piping material housing jig T have reached the joint C connecting two slit-equipped pipes P. [Figure 16]Similarly, this is a plan cross-sectional view showing the state in which the pair of arms 13 of the joint C are elastically deformed outward by the pair of leading slit expanding plates 26 of the leading slit expanding body D2, and the slit S of the next slit pipe P is expanded. [Figure 17] This is a plan cross-sectional view showing the state in which the slit expander D1 has entered the slit S of the next slitted pipe P, which has been expanded in advance by the preceding slit expander D2. [Figure 18] This is a cross-sectional view of the ZZ line in Figure 16, as seen from the direction of arrow Q. [Figure 19] (a) and (b) are schematic plan cross-sectional views of the connected state of slit pipes P1 and P2, each having connecting portions P1a and P2a integrally formed at its ends. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the best embodiment. First, with reference to Figures 1 to 4, a structure in which multiple slit pipes P are connected in series by a separate joint C will be described, and then a wiring / piping material housing jig (hereinafter simply referred to as "jig") T that can accommodate wiring / piping materials by continuously expanding each slit S of the multiple slit pipes P connected in series will be described.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the slitted pipe P is formed by injection molding of resin, has a rectangular cross-section with a predetermined wall thickness, and has concave and convex portions alternately formed at a constant pitch on its inner and outer surfaces. On the outer surface, there are alternating outer convex portions 1 and outer concave portions 2, and on the inner surface, there are alternating inner concave portions 3 and inner convex portions 4 in the portions corresponding to the outer convex portions 1 and outer concave portions 2, respectively, forming a flexible rectangular tube overall, and the internal space serves as a space 5 for accommodating wiring and piping material A. Such a slitted pipe P is a type of corrugated pipe, and due to its corrugated structure, it has great flexibility and is often referred to as a "corrugated pipe" in the industry. Of the four faces of the slitted pipe P, a hinge portion 7 is formed linearly along the entire length of the middle part of the pipe wall 6 on one of the two opposing faces, and the middle part of the other pipe wall 6 is cut along its entire length to form a slit S. As shown in Figure 4, the hinge portion 7 is formed by a part of the pipe wall 6 of the outer recess 2 protruding outward. Therefore, in the portion of the outer protrusion 1, the pipe wall 6 and the hinge portion 7, which is positioned inward of the pipe wall 6, are connected by a pair of left and right connecting wall portions 9. With this structure, when the slit portion S of the slit pipe P is forcibly expanded using the hinge portion 7 as a deformation fulcrum, the pair of connecting wall portions 9 (see Figure 4(a)) are elastically deformed so that they move closer to each other, thereby forming a pipe insertion opening 10 (see Figure 2(b)) for the wiring and piping material A. When the forcing force causing the expansion is released, the slit S, which was expanded, is closed by the elastic restoring force of the pair of connecting wall portions 9, and the cut edges 6a of the pipe wall 6, which are formed continuously in the longitudinal direction by the formation of the slit S, move close to or touch each other. Here, "pipe wall" refers to any corrugated portion of a predetermined thickness that constitutes a rectangular tubular slit pipe P made of resin, and "planar pipe wall portion" described later refers to the four corrugated planar portions of the rectangular tubular slit pipe P with a corrugated structure.

[0032] Next, with reference to Figures 1 to 4, a joint C for connecting multiple slit pipes P in series will be described. The joint C connects two slit pipes P by utilizing the inner recesses 3 closest to the opposing ends of the two slit pipes P. Corresponding to the inner shape of the slit pipes P, a pipe passage opening 11 is provided in the portion corresponding to the flat portion of the pipe wall where the slits S of the slit pipe P are provided, along the circumferential direction, allowing wiring and piping material A to pass through. The width of the pipe passage opening 11 is slightly narrower than the distance between the opposing inner protrusions 4 of the slit pipe P. That is, the joint C comprises a plate-shaped base 12 positioned along the circumferential direction opposite to the pipe passage opening 11, and a pair of plate-shaped arms 13 erected opposite each other at the ends of the base 12 in directions perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction of the slit pipe P, which is the direction of movement of the jig T, and the inward and outward direction of the slit S portion. The pipe passage opening 11 is formed between the tips of the pair of arms 13. The pair of arms 13 are elastically deformable outward. Each tip of the pair of arms 13 reaches a portion of the pipe wall surface of the slit pipe P where the slit S is formed. On the outer surface of the plate-shaped pair of arms 13, a pair of engaging portions 14 are formed at the same interval as the formation pitch of the inner surface recesses 3 of the slit pipe P, which are closest to the opposing ends of the two connected slit pipes P. In the opposing arrangement, the pair of engaging portions 14 have an L-shape in cross-section due to the absence of the outer flesh portion of each solid body, and are arranged back to back. Each flat surface on the inner surface of the pair of arms 13 is a contact surface 15 that causes the pair of arms 13 to elastically deform outward when the most protruding portion of the preceding slit expanding plate unit 26, which constitutes the preceding slit expanding body D2 that constitutes the jig T described later, comes into contact with it. Furthermore, on the upper surface (inner surface) of the base portion 12, a pipe support portion 16 is formed along the opposing direction of the pair of arm portions 13 to facilitate the support of the wiring and piping material A housed in the accommodating space 5 of the slitted pipe P.

[0033] To connect two slotted pipes P via a joint C, the connecting ends of the two slotted pipes P to be connected are brought close together, and with the slits S at the connecting ends widened, the opening directions of the widened slits S of the two slotted pipes P and the pipe passage opening 11 of the joint C positioned between the two slotted pipes P are aligned. Then, the pair of engaging parts 14 provided on the joint C are fitted into the inner recesses 3 closest to the opposing ends of the two slotted pipes P, respectively, and the widened slits S of the two slotted pipes P are closed. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the two slotted pipes P are connected via the joint C. A small gap 17 [see Figure 3(b)] is formed between the opposing end faces of the two connected slotted pipes P, but as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the joint C is not at all or hardly noticeable when the two slotted pipes P are connected, making it appear as if it were a single pipe.

[0034] Next, with reference to Figures 5 to 10, a jig T for continuously expanding the slits S of the slitted pipe P and accommodating wiring and piping materials A in the internal storage space 5 will be described. The jig T comprises a pipe feeding roller 22 rotatably supported on a U-shaped first frame 21, and a slit expansion unit U connected to the front of the first frame 21 via a similarly U-shaped second frame 23. The slit expansion unit U is for continuously expanding each slit S of a plurality of slitted pipes P connected via a joint C to form a pipe insertion opening 10, and for continuously accommodating wiring and piping materials A in the storage space 5 of the slitted pipe P through the pipe insertion opening 10 immediately after expansion.

[0035] As shown in Figures 6 to 8, the slit expansion unit U comprises a slit expansion body D1, which has a V-shape in plan view due to the integral joining of the tips of a pair of vertically arranged expansion plate units 24, with the joined tip being a tip interruption portion 25, and a leading slit expansion body D2, which consists of a pair of leading expansion plate units 26 arranged on both sides of the lower end of the tip interruption portion 25 of the slit expansion body D1. The pair of expansion plate units 24 have a symmetrical shape, and by bending a single thin metal sheet, multiple functional parts, described later, necessary for accommodating wiring and piping materials A in the accommodating space 5 of the slit pipe P through the pipe insertion opening 10 are integrally formed, including the leading expansion plate units 26. Specifically, the expansion plate unit 24 has a rectangular shape with a large aspect ratio, with the longer side in the diagonal front-to-back direction when positioned, and has an expansion plate body 27 with a tall portion 27a that is taller by the tip protruding downward by a predetermined length relative to the rest of the part, the preceding expansion plate unit 26 in which the lower end of the tall portion 27a of the expansion plate body 27 is bent outward at a right angle, the tip portion of the preceding expansion plate unit 26 is bent downward at an obtuse angle so that it can remove foreign matter present in front of the preceding slit expansion body D2, and the lower end of the expansion plate body 27, excluding the tall portion 27a, along its entire length is bent outward at a right angle, and has a slit The device includes: a depth-restricting plate portion 29 that abuts against the outer surface of the portion of the pipe P facing the pipe insertion opening 10 immediately after slit formation, thereby restricting the insertion depth of the preceding slit expanding body D2 into the slit pipe P; a wiring / piping material storage guide plate portion 31, in which the upper end of the expanding plate body portion 27 is bent outward along its entire length to abut the wiring / piping material A being housed in the slit pipe P and guide its housing; and an over-expansion restricting plate portion 32, in which a portion formed in the same high height state as the high height portion 27a at the rear end of the expanding plate body portion 27 is bent inward at an obtuse angle, thereby abutting against both sides of the slit pipe P while the wiring / piping material A is housed in it, thereby restricting excessive expansion of the slit pipe P.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7(b), the pre-expansion plate unit 26, the placement depth regulating plate section 29, and the wiring / piping material housing guide plate section 31 are arranged parallel to each other. Therefore, when the slit S of the slit pipe P is expanded using the jig T, the pair of pre-expansion plate units 26, which constitute the pre-slit expansion body D2 and are positioned inside the slit pipe P, are positioned in a portion that is recessed from the portion of the slit S being formed in the slit pipe P during the expansion work by a distance E along the height direction between the placement depth regulating plate section 29 and the pre-expansion plate unit 26 [see Figure 7(b)].

[0037] The pair of expansion plates 24 are arranged in a V-shape in plan view with their tips in close contact. An isosceles triangular connecting plate portion 33 is placed in the space inside the tip of each expansion plate 24, and the expansion plate 24 and the connecting plate portion 33 are fixed by welding, forming a slit expansion body D1 with a pre-slit expansion body D2 integrally formed at the lower tip. Fitting plate portions 33a are formed protruding outward from each equilateral side of the isosceles triangular connecting plate portion 33, and each fitting plate portion 33a is fitted into the fitting hole portion 27b of the pair of expansion plate main portions 27 that constitute the slit expansion body D1, thereby increasing the unity of the pair of expansion plate 24. A towing cord hole 34 is formed in the portion of the lower tip of the pair of expansion plate 24 that constitute the slit expansion body D1 that is close to the pre-slit expansion plate 26.

[0038] In this invention, the jig T is positioned inside the slit pipe P through the slit S of the slit pipe P, and the jig T is moved along the slit pipe P. When the leading slit expanding body D2 reaches the joint C connecting multiple slit pipes P, the widest portion of the pair of leading expanding plates 26 constituting the leading slit expanding body D2 contacts the contact surface portion 15 on the inner surface of the pair of arms 13 of the joint C and presses outward, thereby elastically deforming the pair of arms 13 of the joint C outward and enabling the slit S of the next slit pipe P to be expanded in advance. To this end, the maximum width W1 of the widest portion 26a of the pair of leading expanding plates 26 is formed to be a predetermined width wider than the inner width W2 (see Figure 15) of the pair of arms 13 of the joint C. In front of the maximum width portion 26a of the pair of advance expanding plates 26, an inclined guide portion 26b is formed that is inclined so as to gradually widen toward the maximum width portion 26a. Because the inclined guide portion 26b acts like a wedge, it is easier for it to enter the contact surface portion 15 of the joint C connecting the slit pipe P during operation.

[0039] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 5 and 10, the pair of over-expansion restricting plate portions 32 constituting the slit-expansion body D1 have L-shaped bolt insertion holes 37 that open on the rear end surface of the over-expansion restricting plate portion 32, through which the pair of bolts 35 can be inserted when the slit-expansion body D1 is connected to the second frame 23 via a pair of bolts 35 and a pair of wing nuts 36, while the bolts 35 and wing nuts 36 are screwed into the second frame 23. The bolt insertion holes 37 consist of a horizontal hole portion 37a and a vertical hole portion 37b formed continuously above the inner end of the horizontal hole portion 37a. When the slit-expansion body D1 is connected to the second frame 23, the pair of bolts 35 are positioned in the vertical hole portion 37b of the bolt insertion holes 37, creating a connection structure that makes it difficult for the slit-expansion body D1 to separate from the second frame 23 during operation.

[0040] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 5, 9, and 10, the U-shaped second frame 23 has a pair of side plates 23a inserted inside a pair of side plates 21a of the first frame 21 of the same shape, and a pipe feeding roller 22 is positioned between the pair of side plates 23a of the second frame 23. A shaft-through bolt 38 is inserted through the shaft-through hole 22a of the pipe feeding roller 22 and a total of four bolt insertion holes 21b, 23b formed in the side plates 21a, 23a of the first and second frames 21, 23, respectively, and a nut 39 is screwed onto the protruding part on the opposite side of the shaft-through bolt 38, thereby connecting the first and second frames 21, 23 so that they can rotate relative to each other, and the pipe feeding roller 22 is rotatably supported on the second frame 23. As shown in Figure 11, the first frame 21 is integrally fitted with a push rod 42 equipped with a handle 41 that has a length that allows the worker M1 to move the slit expanding body D1 along the slit pipe P by pushing it from behind the slit expanding body D1.

[0041] Next, referring to Figures 11 to 18, the process of using the jig T to expand the slits S of multiple slotted pipes P connected by a joint C and accommodating wiring and piping materials A in their internal space will be explained. First, as shown in Figures 11 to 13, the slits S at one end of the multiple connected slotted pipes P are expanded by hand, and only the leading slit expansion body D2 of the slit expansion unit U of the jig T is positioned inside the slotted pipe P through the expanded slits S to a depth restricted by the pair of placement depth regulating plates 29. At the same time, the pipe feeding roller 22 is positioned over the slits S of the slotted pipe P. Worker M1 pushes and moves the slit expansion unit U from behind, while another worker M2 guides the wiring and piping materials A in front of the slit expansion unit U. Specifically, in the general section of the slitted pipe P excluding the connecting portions at both ends, the slit expansion unit U is pushed from behind by the worker M1 and moves along the slitted pipe P. As a result, the slit S is expanded to a predetermined width by the V-shaped expansion portion formed by the pair of expansion plates 24 of the slit expansion body D1, sequentially forming pipe insertion openings 10. At the same time, the wiring and piping material A, which is fed and guided by the worker M2 in front, is pressed downward by the rolling pipe feeding rollers 22 over the slit S portion of the slitted pipe P, and is sequentially housed in the slitted pipe P's storage space 5 through the opening 43 of the V-shaped slit expansion body D1 and the pipe insertion opening 10 of the slitted pipe P. When the slit S of the slitted pipe P is expanded by the slit expansion body D1, the slit S is expanded while the excessive expansion of the slitted pipe P is restricted by the pair of over-expansion restricting plates 32 located at the rear end of the slit expansion body D1.

[0042] Figure 15 shows a plan cross-sectional view of the state where the slitting material A is nearing completion in a specific slit pipe P of the multiple slit pipes P connected via the joint C, and has reached the connection point between two slit pipes P. In this state, the inclined guide portions 26b of the left and right pair of leading expansion plates 26 of the leading slit expansion body D2 constituting the slit expansion unit U abut against the inner end faces of the pair of arms 13 of the joint C, and the slit S of the slit pipe P containing the wiring / piping material A is greatly expanded by the slit expansion body D1 to form a pipe insertion opening 10. However, for the next slit pipe P, the expanding force that is expanding the slit S of the slit pipe P containing the wiring / piping material A is blocked at the end of that slit pipe P and does not reach the next slit pipe P. Moreover, since the joint C is not deformed (the pair of arms 13 are not elastically deformed outward), the slit S remains closed.

[0043] In the above state, when the slit expansion unit U moves toward the next slit pipe P, as shown in Figures 14, 16, and 18, the maximum width portions 26a of the pair of leading expansion plates 26 of the leading slit expansion body D2 come into contact with the contact surfaces 15 on the inner surfaces of the pair of arms 13 of the joint C, causing the pair of arms 13 to elastically deform outward. This outward elastic deformation of the pair of arms 13 extends to the end of the next slit pipe P, and the pair of planar pipe walls facing each other in the lateral (width direction) direction of the next slit pipe P are similarly elastically deformed outward, causing the slit S of the next slit pipe P to expand prior to the arrival of the slit expansion body D1. Therefore, the tip insertion portion 25 at the tip of the slit expansion body D1 can reliably insert into the slit S of the next slit pipe P that has already been expanded, allowing for smooth and continuous expansion of two different slits S at the connection point between the two slit pipes P. Therefore, even if two consecutive, different slits S are slightly misaligned along the width direction of the slitted pipe P, this misalignment is absorbed by the expanding width of the next slit S in the slitted pipe P, and the continuous expanding action of the two different slits described above is performed without any problems.

[0044] As the slit expansion unit U moves further toward the next slit pipe P, the maximum width portion 26a of the pair of preceding expansion plates 26 of the preceding slit expansion body D2 escapes from the joint C and enters the next slit pipe P, and as the expansion portion of the slit expansion body D1 enters the next slit pipe P, as shown in Figure 17, the slit S of the slit pipe P on the near side of the joint C is closed by the cut end edge 6a of the pipe wall 6 coming into contact with or approaching it, and the next slit pipe P is greatly expanded by the expansion portion of the slit expansion body D1 to form a pipe insertion opening 10. Since the inner width of the next slitted pipe P, after each cut edge 6a of the pipe wall 6 is spaced apart, is wider than the maximum width W1 of the maximum width portion 26a of the pair of preceding expanding plates 26 of the preceding slit expanding body D2, the maximum width portion 26a of the pair of preceding expanding plates 26 of the preceding slit expanding body D2 moves without contact with the inner surface of the next slitted pipe P as it moves inside the next slitted pipe P, and the inner surface of the next slitted pipe P is not damaged by the preceding slit expanding body D2. In the above embodiment, the positions of each slit S in the circumferential direction of the multiple slitted pipes P connected by the joint C coincide, and each slit S is arranged on the same straight line (facing each other), but even if the position of each slit S in the circumferential direction is slightly misaligned, the effect of expanding the slit S of the next slitted pipe P will be achieved.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the slit S to be expanded is shown as being formed in a plurality of slit pipes P connected using a joint C. However, the present invention is also applicable to slit pipes P1 and P2 in which connecting parts are integrally formed at the ends, as shown in the schematic plan cross-sectional view of Figure 19(a), without using a joint. It should be noted that the cross-section of each slit pipe P1 and P2 is described as being rectangular, similar to that of the slit pipe P. Figure 19 schematically illustrates a state in which the first and second slit pipes P1 and P2 are connected, with the first slit pipe P1 having the same cross-sectional shape over its entire length, including the connecting parts P1a at both ends, and the second slit pipe P2 having smaller connecting parts P2a at both ends compared to the first slit pipe P1, by fitting the connecting part P1a of the first slit pipe P1 onto the connecting part P2a of the second slit pipe P2. In the schematic plan cross-sectional view of Figure 19, if the slits S1 and S2 of the first and second slitted pipes P1 and P2 were represented by dashed lines, the two dashed lines would overlap at the connecting sections P1a and P2a, making them difficult to read. Therefore, the dashed lines representing the slits S1 and S2 are shifted in the width direction of the first and second slitted pipes P1 and P2.

[0046] Therefore, at the connecting portions of the first and second slitted pipes P1 and P2, the movement of the jig T causes the leading slit expanding body D2 to press outward against the opposing planar pipe walls of the connecting portion P2a of the second slitted pipe P2, which is smaller in size than the first slitted pipe P1. This also causes the planar pipe walls of the connecting portion P1a of the first slitted pipe P1 to be pressed outward, resulting in elastic deformation of both portions. As a result, the connecting portions P1a and P2a of the first and second slitted pipes P1 and P2 are expanded in advance, and the leading tip insertion portion 25 of the subsequent slit expanding body D1 can reliably insert into either the slit S1 or S2 of the previously expanded connecting portions P1a or P2a, regardless of the direction in which the jig T moves.

[0047] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 19(b), if a protruding contact portion 51 is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the opposing planar pipe wall portion of the small connecting portion P2a of the second slit pipe P2, and the leading slit expanding body D2 of the jig T contacts the contact portion 51, thereby pressing and deforming each of the opposing planar pipe wall portions outward, there is an advantage in that the pressing deformation can be performed more reliably.

[0048] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, although the overall shapes of the first and second slit pipes P1 and P2 are different, by providing a smaller connecting section than the general section only at one end in the longitudinal direction (axial direction), multiple slit pipes of the same shape can be connected in series in the same manner as above by using the connecting section provided at one end of each pipe.

[0049] In particular, the pair of inclined guide portions 26b that constitute the preceding slit-expanding body D2 are symmetrically arranged on both sides and extend evenly, so that they can evenly press the inner surface of the slit-equipped pipe or joint, and guide the slit-expanding body of the jig toward the slit of the next slit-equipped pipe in a balanced manner.

[0050] Furthermore, regarding the operation of the jig T described above, the preceding slit expander D2 may be adjusted by the operator to change the position of the preceding slit expander D2 of the jig T relative to the slitted pipe, thereby pressing against the inner surface of the joint C connecting the slitted pipes or the connection part of the slitted pipe, and selecting a position where the slit of

[0051] Furthermore, although the above embodiment described a slitted pipe with a rectangular cross-section, the present invention can also be implemented for slitted pipes with a cross-section other than rectangular, for example, a circular one.

[0052] Furthermore, regarding the method of using the jig T, it is not limited to pushing the slit expansion unit U from behind, but is also possible to pass a towing string through the towing string hole 34 formed at the tip of the slit expansion body D1 that constitutes the slit expansion unit U, and to pull the slit expansion unit U from the front to move it and house wiring and piping materials inside the slit pipe P. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0053] A: Wiring and piping materials C: Fittings D1: Slit expansion body D2: Pre-slit expansion body (pre-alignment section) P, P1, P2: Slit tube P1a, P2a: Connection part of slit pipe S, S1, S2: Slit U: Slit expansion unit W1: Maximum width of a pair of advance expansion plates W2: Inner width of the pair of arms of the joint 6: Pipe wall 6a: Cut edge of the pipe wall 11: Pipe passage opening 12: Base of the joint 13: Joint arm 15: Contact surface of the joint 24: Slit expansion plate unit 25: Tip interrupt section 26: Pre-slit expansion body, pre-expansion plate only 26a: Maximum width portion of the leading slit expansion body 26b: Inclined guide section of the leading slit expansion body

Claims

1. A wiring and piping material housing jig is provided for housing wiring and piping materials inside a series of slotted pipes, each of which has continuous slots in the longitudinal direction, and the formation of these slots causes the ends of the pipe walls to be positioned facing each other in close proximity or in close contact, and by expanding the slots, wiring and piping materials can be housed inside from between the ends of the pipes, and moves along the slots of the series-connected series of slotted pipes to house the wiring and piping materials inside the slotted pipes. A slit-expanding portion is positioned between the opposing ends of the slit-equipped pipe, and by inserting its tip-interlocking portion into the space between the ends of the pipe that are close together or in close contact, it expands the space between the ends of the pipe and maintains that spaced-out state. The pipe feeding section is provided for feeding the wiring and piping material into the interior of the slit pipe from the spaced edges of both ends of the slit pipe, A wiring and piping material housing jig characterized in that, during the movement of the wiring and piping material housing jig, a leading alignment portion is provided in front of the slit expansion portion in the direction of movement, which abuts against the opposing inner surface of the next slit pipe itself or the opposing inner surface of a joint connecting the slit pipes together, just before the tip of the slit expansion portion reaches the next slit pipe connected in series, thereby enabling the tip of the slit expansion portion to smoothly fit between the edges of both ends of the slit of the next slit pipe.

2. The wiring and piping material housing jig according to claim 1, characterized in that the preceding alignment portion has an inclined guide portion that widens from the front to the rear along the direction of movement.

3. Multiple slitted pipes are connected in series such that each slit is aligned on the same straight line, and the formation of these slits causes both ends of the pipe wall to be positioned close together or in close contact with each other, and by expanding the slits, wiring and piping materials can be accommodated inside from between the ends, and the slits are arranged in a continuous slit in the longitudinal direction, A wiring / piping material housing jig according to claim 1, which is moved sequentially in a series direction along each slit in the plurality of slit pipes, and feeds wiring / piping materials into the interior of the plurality of slit pipes through the slits, A wiring and piping material housing device characterized by being composed of the following.

4. Multiple of the aforementioned slitted pipes are connected via joints, The aforementioned joint is, It is equipped with a pipe passage opening that allows the aforementioned wiring and piping materials to pass through and be housed inside, It is positioned inside the connecting portion of two slotted pipes, and the slots of the slotted pipes and the pipe passage opening of the joint are aligned along the circumferential direction of the pipe, and the joint can be connected in such a way that the slots and the pipe passage opening do not shift significantly along the circumferential direction of the pipe. The wiring and piping material housing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the preceding alignment portion is configured to abut against the inner surface of the joint.

5. The aforementioned joint is deformable so as to widen the width of the pipe passage opening. The wiring and piping material housing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the preceding alignment portion comprises a preceding slit widening portion that presses against the inner surface of the joint to separate both ends of the slits of the next slitted pipe through the joint.

6. The aforementioned slitted tube is rectangular in shape, The wiring and piping material housing device according to claim 5, characterized in that the slit is provided in the center of one specific surface, the joint comprises a base extending along an opposing surface opposite to the specific surface, and a pair of arms erected from both ends of the base in a direction perpendicular to the slit and extending along the inside of two adjacent surfaces adjacent to both the specific surface and the opposing surface, the pair of arms having an erection length that exceeds the midpoint of the two adjacent surfaces, and the pipe passage opening is formed between the tips of each arm.

7. In the width direction of the slitted pipe, which is perpendicular to both the direction of movement of the wiring and piping material housing jig and the inward and outward direction of the slit portion of the slitted pipe, The wiring and piping material housing device according to either 5 or 6, characterized in that the maximum width of the preceding slit expansion portion is narrower than the inner width in the width direction of the slitted pipe in the portion where the slit is expanded by the slit expansion portion.

8. The aforementioned multiple slitted pipes have connecting parts at both ends, slits are formed along their entire length, and the connecting part at one end can be fitted into the connecting part at the other end of another slitted pipe adjacent to it in series, allowing them to be connected in series. In order to allow the slit-expanding portion of the wiring / piping material housing jig, which has been moved toward one end of the slitted pipe, to smoothly fit between the edges of both ends of the slit of the other slitted pipe, the preceding alignment portion abuts against the inside of the connecting portion at one end of the slitted pipe, thereby allowing adjustment of the relative position between the slit-expanding portion and the edges of both ends of the slit of the other slitted pipe. The wiring and piping material housing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the relative positions of the slits in each connected slitted pipe are not excessively misaligned along the circumferential direction of the pipe.

9. In a direction perpendicular to both the direction of movement of the wiring and piping material housing jig and the inward and outward direction of the slit portion of the slit pipe, The connecting portion at one end of the slitted pipe, which is fitted inside the connecting portion at the other end of the aforementioned slitted pipe, has a narrower inner portion that is narrower than the other parts. The wiring and piping material housing device according to claim 8, characterized in that the preceding alignment portion is provided with a pressing portion which has a wider outer width than the narrow portion, and the portion with the wider outer width presses the narrow portion of the connecting portion of the slit pipe outward.

10. In a direction perpendicular to both the direction of movement of the wiring and piping material housing jig and the inward and outward direction of the slit portion of the slit pipe, A contact portion is formed on the inside of the connecting portion at one end of the slitted pipe that is fitted inside the connecting portion at the other end of the aforementioned slitted pipe, The wiring and piping material housing device according to claim 8, characterized in that the preceding alignment portion abuts against the contact portion of the connecting portion at one end of the slitted pipe, and presses the opposing pipe walls of the connecting portion outward, thereby pressing the opposing pipe walls of the connecting portion of another slitted pipe fitted onto the connecting portion at one end of the slitted pipe outward, and thereby enabling the slits of the connecting portion of the other slitted pipe to be continuously expanded.

Images