Downpipe connection structure

Abstract

To provide a connection structure and a connection method of a down-pipe.SOLUTION: A connection structure of a down-pipe comprises a cylindrical upper down-pipe, a cylindrical lower down-pipe and a cylindrical down-pipe connection member inserted into a lower end of the upper down-pipe and an upper end of the lower down-pipe to connect the upper down-pipe and the lower down-pipe, an upper part of the down-pipe connection member is adhered to the upper down-pipe by an adhesive layer provided at a lower end inner periphery of the upper down-pipe and a lower part of the down-pipe connection member is adhered to the lower down-pipe by an adhesive layer provided at an upper end inner periphery of the lower down-pipe, a first ring member for positioning an adhesive agent is provided at a position where the adhesive layer is provided at the lower end inner periphery of the upper down-pipe and a second ring member for positioning the adhesive agent is provided at a position where the adhesive layer is provided at the upper end inner periphery of the lower down-pipe.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the connection of a vertical downspout In structure .

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, a rain gutter described in Patent Document 1, a member for connecting a vertical downspout described in Patent Document 2, and a mounting structure of a vertical downspout described in Patent Document 3 are known.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which grooves having a depth of about 5 to 50 μm are formed so as to be orthogonal to the extrusion direction of the outer peripheral surface of a rain gutter in consideration of the exterior design of the outer surface of the rain gutter made of an extruded product made of synthetic resin. Patent Document 2 describes a member for connecting a vertical downspout having a first fitting portion for a first downspout member having mounting ribs and a second fitting portion for a second downspout member having a similar configuration, and having an annular flange portion between the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion. Patent Document 3 describes a support structure for an eaves gutter including a vertical downspout provided with hollow mounting ribs, a vertical downspout support for supporting and fixing the vertical downspout, and an end cap for closing the upper end of the hollow mounting ribs.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Regarding the ribbed downpipes described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, when joining them via a downpipe connecting member, adhesive is applied along the inner circumference of the joint between the first downpipe member and the second downpipe member, and then the upper and lower parts of the downpipe connecting member are fitted into the upper and lower downpipe members to join them.

[0006] However, applying adhesive uniformly to the inner surfaces where the cylindrical first and second gutter members are to be joined presents a challenge in on-site construction. For example, if too little adhesive is applied to the inner surface of the gutter members, there is a risk of water leakage from the joint, so on-site construction tends to involve applying more adhesive than necessary. However, applying more adhesive than required can cause deformation around the joint of the gutter members due to the swelling of the adhesive. Furthermore, if subtle irregularities occur on the inner surface of the gutter components due to the molding process during production, areas that are difficult to bond may develop, potentially leading to water leakage from these insufficiently bonded areas.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and provides a joint for a downpipe that can be joined without water leakage when using an adhesive. Downpipe connection structure The purpose is to provide it. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention proposes the following embodiments. "1" The downpipe connection structure according to this embodiment comprises a cylindrical upper downpipe, a cylindrical lower downpipe, and a cylindrical downpipe connecting member that is inserted into the lower end of the upper downpipe and the upper end of the lower downpipe to connect the upper downpipe and the lower downpipe, wherein the upper part of the downpipe connecting member is bonded to the upper downpipe by an adhesive layer provided on the inner circumference of the lower end of the upper downpipe, and the lower part of the downpipe connecting member is bonded to the lower downpipe by an adhesive layer provided on the inner circumference of the upper end of the lower downpipe, wherein an upper ring member for adhesive positioning is provided at the position where the adhesive layer is provided on the inner circumference of the lower end of the upper downpipe, and a lower ring member for adhesive positioning is provided at the position where the adhesive layer is provided on the inner circumference of the upper end of the lower downpipe. The ring member has a plurality of protrusions on one or both end faces that contact the end face of the downpipe connecting member. It is characterized by the following: "2" The downpipe connection structure according to this embodiment comprises a cylindrical upper downpipe, a cylindrical lower downpipe, and a cylindrical downpipe connecting member that is inserted into the lower end of the upper downpipe and the upper end of the lower downpipe to connect the upper downpipe and the lower downpipe, wherein the upper part of the downpipe connecting member is bonded to the upper downpipe by an adhesive layer provided on the inner circumference of the lower end of the upper downpipe, and the lower part of the downpipe connecting member is bonded to the lower downpipe by an adhesive layer provided on the inner circumference of the upper end of the lower downpipe, wherein an upper ring member for adhesive positioning is provided at the position where the adhesive layer is provided on the inner circumference of the lower end of the upper downpipe, and a lower ring member for adhesive positioning is provided at the position where the adhesive layer is provided on the inner circumference of the upper end of the lower downpipe, and an uneven surface is formed on one or both end faces of the ring members.

[0009] The upper and lower ring members allow for precise positioning of the adhesive layer, enabling accurate placement of the adhesive layer and resulting in a reliable connection structure that prevents water leakage in the connection between the upper and lower downpipes.

[0010] " 3 In the downpipe connection structure according to this embodiment, a configuration can be adopted in which a regulating surface for adhesive positioning is formed on the end face of the upper ring member on the side closer to the lower downpipe.

[0011] The regulating surface of the upper ring member allows for the positioning of the adhesive layer applied to the inner circumference of the upper downpipe. The downpipe connecting member can be joined to the upper downpipe with the precisely positioned adhesive layer, ensuring good connectivity between the upper and lower downpipes.

[0012] " 4 In the downpipe connection structure according to this embodiment, a configuration can be adopted in which a regulating surface for adhesive positioning is formed on the end face of the lower ring member on the side closer to the upper downpipe.

[0013] The regulating surface of the lower ring member allows for the positioning of the adhesive layer applied to the inner circumference of the lower downpipe. The downpipe connecting member can be joined to the lower downpipe with the precisely positioned adhesive layer, ensuring good connectivity between the upper and lower downpipes.

[0014] " 5 In the downpipe connection structure according to this embodiment, the upper downpipe has a hollow mounting rib extending in the longitudinal direction of the upper downpipe on its outer surface, and the lower downpipe has a hollow mounting rib extending in the longitudinal direction of the lower downpipe on its outer surface, and the mounting ribs are connected to each other by connecting the upper downpipe and the lower downpipe via the downpipe connection member.

[0015] If the connection between the upper and lower downpipes has mounting ribs, the mounting ribs can be used to provide a connection structure that stably supports the upper and lower downpipes on the exterior wall of the building.

[0017] When the protrusion of the ring member comes into contact with the end face of the vertical gutter connecting member, a uniform gap can be generated between the ring member and the vertical gutter connecting member. This gap can be used as a gap for accommodating an adhesive. Therefore, an adhesive layer containing a required amount of adhesive can be provided at an accurate position, and good joint performance between the vertical gutter and the vertical gutter connecting member can be ensured.

[0019] By providing a concavo-convex surface on the end face of the ring member, a gap can be generated between the ring member and the vertical gutter connecting member. This gap can be used as a gap for accommodating an adhesive. Therefore, an adhesive layer containing a required amount of adhesive can be provided at an accurate position, and good joint performance between the vertical gutter and the vertical gutter connecting member can be ensured.

Advantages of the Invention

[0026] In the connection structure of the vertical gutter according to the present invention, the upper ring member and the lower ring member can position the adhesive layer, so that the adhesive layer can be arranged at an accurate position, and a reliable connection structure that does not cause water leakage in the connection structure between the upper vertical gutter and the lower vertical gutter can be obtained.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] [Figure 1] A perspective view showing an overview of a vertical gutter to which the connection structure of the vertical gutter according to the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] An exploded perspective view for explaining an example of the connection structure of the vertical gutter according to the present invention. [Figure 3] A perspective view of a ring member applied to the connection structure of the vertical gutter shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] A cross-sectional view showing a state in which an upper ring member is inserted into an upper vertical gutter and a lower ring member is inserted into a lower vertical gutter in a vertical gutter connection method. [Figure 5] A cross-sectional view showing a state in which an adhesive is applied along the end faces of the upper ring member and the lower ring in a vertical gutter connection method. [Figure 6] A cross-sectional view showing a state in which a vertical gutter connecting member is arranged between an upper vertical gutter and a lower vertical gutter in a vertical gutter connection method. [Figure 7]A cross-sectional view showing the downpipe connection member inserted to the final insertion position for both the upper and lower downpipes in a downpipe connection method. [Figure 8] A perspective view showing a second form of ring member applied to the connection structure of a downpipe. [Figure 9] A perspective view showing a third form of ring member applied to the connection structure of a downpipe. [Figure 10] A perspective view showing a fourth form of ring member applied to a downpipe connection structure. [Figure 11] A perspective view showing a fifth form of ring member applied to a downpipe connection structure. [Figure 12] A perspective view showing a sixth form of ring member applied to a downpipe connection structure. [Figure 13] An explanatory diagram showing a water leak occurring in a downpipe connection structure having an L-shaped connection. [Figure 14] An explanatory diagram showing a water leak occurring in a connection structure of straight-line downpipes. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0028] An example of a downpipe connection structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 4. The downpipe connection structure according to this embodiment is applied to a downpipe 1, as shown in Figure 1, which has a cylindrical downpipe body 1A and mounting ribs 3 formed on the side surface of the downpipe body 1A so as to protrude radially outward from the downpipe body 1A. This downpipe 1 is supported vertically up and down by a downpipe support 4 attached to the exterior wall 2 of the building. As shown in Figure 1, the mounting rib 3 is formed in a substantially T-shape in cross-section, comprising a shaft portion 5 extending radially outward from the outer circumferential surface 1a of the downpipe 1, and a locking portion 6 provided at the tip of the shaft portion 5 in the protruding direction, which is formed to bulge outwards on both sides in a direction perpendicular to the axis O1 of the downpipe 1, centered on the shaft portion 5. Furthermore, the mounting rib 3 is formed with a hollow portion 7 on the inside. The hollow portion 7 extends in the direction of the axis O1 of the mounting rib 3 and opens at the upper and lower ends in the direction of the axis O1 of the mounting rib 3, respectively. The mounting rib 3 with this hollow portion 7 is formed to have a thickness approximately equal to the thickness of the downpipe 1, and is integrally formed with the downpipe 1 by using a mold corresponding to the shape of the mounting rib 3 when manufacturing the downpipe 1 by extrusion molding or injection molding.

[0029] The downpipe 1 is formed by extrusion molding using a resin such as polyvinyl chloride. The downpipe support 4 is formed by extrusion molding or injection molding using resins such as AES (acrylonitrile ethylene styrene copolymer), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin), polycarbonate, and polyvinyl chloride. As shown in Figure 1, the downpipe support 4 comprises a fixing part 8 and a pair of locking pieces (elastic pieces) 9 formed on the tip side of the fixing part 8, with the portion where the locking pieces 9 are formed having a roughly C-shaped cross-section. As a result, the downpipe support 4 has an insertion groove 8a that extends vertically between the pair of locking pieces 9 on the tip side.

[0030] To attach the downpipe 1 to the exterior wall 2 of a building or the like, the downpipe support 4 is attached to the exterior wall. At this time, a screw (fastener) is inserted through a through hole (not shown) formed in the fixing part 8, and this screw is screwed into the exterior wall 2, thereby fixing the downpipe support 4 in surface contact with the exterior wall 2. As a result, the downpipe support 4 is installed on the exterior wall 2 with a pair of locking pieces 9 and thus the fitting groove 8a facing outwards.

[0031] The downpipe 1 is positioned in the predetermined location, and the tip surface of the locking portion 6 of the mounting rib 3 is pressed against the pair of locking pieces 9, pushing the downpipe 1 inward into the downpipe support 4. When the downpipe 1 is pushed in in this way, the arc-shaped tip surface of the locking portion 6 of the mounting rib 3 and the locking pieces 9 of the downpipe support 4 guide each other, causing the pair of locking pieces 9 to elastically deform so that they tilt outward, and the fitting groove 8a expands. As a result, the locking portion 6 of the mounting rib 3 enters the inside of the downpipe support 4 through the fitting groove 8a. When the locking portion 6 of the mounting rib 3 is inserted into the downpipe support 4 in this manner, the locking portion 6 of the mounting rib 3 is locked into the pair of locking pieces 9 of the downpipe support 4. As a result, the downpipe 1 can be attached to the downpipe support 4 simply by pushing and fitting the locking portion 6 of the mounting rib 3 into the downpipe support 4 from the fitting groove 8a.

[0032] As shown in Figure 1, a downpipe 1 can be attached to the exterior wall 2, and the connection structure for connecting two downpipes vertically will be explained below. Figure 2 shows a cross-section of a structure in which another downpipe 10 of the same structure is connected above the downpipe 1 supported by the exterior wall 2, as shown in Figure 1. The following explanation assumes that the downpipe 1 shown in Figure 1 is the lower downpipe in Figure 2, and that the upper downpipe 10 is connected above it. In the following explanation, the lower downpipe in Figure 2 will be referred to as the lower downpipe 1, and the upper downpipe as the upper downpipe 10. The lower ring member 11 is inserted horizontally inside the lower downpipe 1 at a predetermined distance below the upper end of the lower downpipe 1. The upper ring member 12 is inserted horizontally inside the upper downpipe 10 at a predetermined distance above the lower end of the upper downpipe 10. The lower ring member 11 and the upper ring member 12 are formed by extrusion molding or injection molding using resins such as AES (acrylonitrile ethylene styrene copolymer), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin), polycarbonate, and polyvinyl chloride, but they may also be made of metal.

[0033] A cylindrical downpipe connecting member 13 is inserted between the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10, between the lower ring member 11 and the upper ring member 12. The downpipe connecting member 13 has a lower cylindrical body 13A that is inserted into the lower downpipe 1 and an upper cylindrical body 13B that is inserted into the upper downpipe 10, and has an annular flange portion 13C formed between the lower cylindrical body 13A and the upper cylindrical body 13B. Since the outer diameter of the flange portion 13C is larger than that of the lower cylindrical body 13A and the upper cylindrical body 13B, the flange portion 13C is not inserted into the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10, but is positioned between the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10. In other words, the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10 are connected so as to extend vertically up and down with the flange portion 13C interposed between them. The thickness of the flange portion 13C is, for example, about the same as the wall thickness of the lower cylindrical body 13A or the upper cylindrical body 13B, and the wall thickness of the lower cylindrical body 13A or the upper cylindrical body 13B is slightly thinner than the wall thickness of the lower downpipe 1 or the upper downpipe 10. Therefore, the distance between the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10, which are positioned above and below each other with the flange portion 13C in between, is very small.

[0034] As shown in Figure 2, the lower end surface 13a of the downpipe connecting member 13 is in contact with the upper end surface 11a of the lower ring member 11, and an adhesive layer is formed around this contact area. Around this contact area, an internal adhesive layer 15 is formed so as to partially cover the inner circumferential surface of the downpipe connecting member 13 and the inner circumferential surface of the lower ring member 11, and an external adhesive layer 16 is formed so as to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the downpipe connecting member 13 and the outer circumferential surface of the lower ring member 11 and the inner surface of the lower downpipe 1 outside of them. The internal adhesive layer 15 and the external adhesive layer 16 can be described as adhesive layers formed on the inner circumferential side of the upper end of the lower downpipe 1. Furthermore, the upper end surface 13b of the downpipe connecting member 13 is in contact with the lower end surface 12a of the upper ring member 12, and an adhesive layer is formed around this contact area. Around this contact area, an internal adhesive layer 17 is formed so as to partially cover the inner circumferential surface of the downpipe connecting member 13 and the inner circumferential surface of the upper ring member 12, and an external adhesive layer 18 is formed so as to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the downpipe connecting member 13 and the outer circumferential surface of the upper ring member 12 and the inner surface of the lower downpipe 1 outside of them. The internal adhesive layer 17 and the external adhesive layer 18 can be described as adhesive layers formed on the inner circumferential side of the lower end of the upper downpipe 10.

[0035] The lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10 are connected by inserting the lower cylindrical body 13A of the downpipe connecting member 13 into the upper end of the lower downpipe 1, inserting the upper cylindrical body 13B of the downpipe connecting member 13 into the lower end of the upper downpipe 10, and interposing a flange portion 13C between the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10. The lower ring member 11 and the lower cylindrical body 13A are bonded to the lower downpipe 1 by an external adhesive layer 16, and the lower cylindrical body 13A and the lower ring member 11 are bonded by an internal adhesive layer 15. Similarly, the upper ring member 12 and the upper cylindrical body 13B are bonded to the upper downpipe 10 by an external adhesive layer 18, and the upper cylindrical body 13B and the upper ring member 12 are bonded by an internal adhesive layer 17.

[0036] The lower ring member 11 consists of a ring body 11A with a constant thickness, and a regulating surface 11b is formed on the outer surface of the peripheral wall in the region near the upper end surface 11a of the ring body 11A, which is inclined to make the thickness of the ring body 11A thinner as it approaches the upper end surface 11a. The upper ring member 12 consists of a ring body 12A with a constant thickness, and a regulating surface 12b is formed on the outer surface of the peripheral wall in the region near the lower end surface 12a of the ring body 12A, which is inclined so that the thickness of the ring body 12A decreases as it approaches the lower end surface 12a. In the lower ring member 11, the width of the restricting surface 11b along its height direction is, for example, about 3 mm. The restricting surface 11b of the lower ring member 11 is formed as an inclined surface that reduces the thickness of the lower ring member 11 by about 0.5 mm from the base end to the tip end. The width and inclination of the restricting surface 12b formed on the upper ring member 12 are the same as those of the lower ring member 11.

[0037] "How to connect downpipes" Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the connection structure between the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10 shown in Figure 2. To connect the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10 shown in Figure 2, the lower ring member 11 is inserted into the inside of the upper end of the lower downpipe 1, which is positioned as shown in Figure 5, and the upper ring member 12 is inserted into the inside of the lower end of the upper downpipe 10. By making the outer diameter of the ring body 11A approximately the same as the inner diameter of the lower downpipe 1, when inserting the lower ring member 11, the lower ring member 11 can be inserted to any depth on the inner circumference of the upper end of the lower downpipe 1 and left in that position. By making the outer diameter of the ring body 12A approximately the same as the inner diameter of the upper downpipe 10, when inserting the upper ring member 12, the upper ring member 12 can be inserted to any depth on the inner circumference of the lower end of the upper downpipe 10 and left in that position.

[0038] Furthermore, when inserting the lower ring member 11 into the inner side of the upper end of the lower downpipe 1 as shown in Figure 5, the initial insertion depth from the upper end of the lower downpipe 1 to the upper end surface 11a of the lower ring member 11, as shown in Figure 5, should be shallower than the final insertion depth from the upper end of the lower downpipe 1 to the upper end surface 11a of the lower ring member 11 after adhesive fixing as shown in Figure 2. In other words, the depth from the upper end of the lower downpipe 1 to the upper end surface 11a of the lower ring member 11, as shown in Figure 5, should be shorter than the length of the lower cylindrical body 13A of the downpipe connecting member 13. Furthermore, when inserting the upper ring member 12 into the inside of the lower end of the upper downpipe 10, the initial insertion depth from the lower end of the upper downpipe 10 to the lower end surface 12a of the upper ring member 12, as shown in Figure 5, is made shallower than the final insertion depth from the lower end of the upper downpipe 10 to the lower end surface 12a of the upper ring member 12 after adhesive fixing, as shown in Figure 2. In other words, the depth from the lower end of the upper downpipe 10 to the lower end surface 12a of the upper ring member 12, as shown in Figure 5, is made shorter than the length of the upper cylindrical body 13B of the downpipe connecting member 13.

[0039] Next, as shown in Figure 6, the lower adhesive layer 20 is applied to the entire inner circumference of the lower downpipe 1, along the upper end surface 11a of the lower ring member 11, with a predetermined thickness and width. The upper adhesive layer 21 is also applied to the entire inner circumference of the upper downpipe 10, along the lower end surface 12a of the upper ring member 12, with a predetermined thickness and width. When applying the lower adhesive layer 20, the upper end surface 11a of the lower ring member 11 can be used as a guide for applying the adhesive, so that the lower adhesive layer 20 with a uniform width and thickness can be easily applied to the inner circumferential surface of the lower downpipe 1. When applying the upper adhesive layer 21, the lower end surface 12a of the upper ring member 12 can be used as a guide surface for applying the adhesive, so that the upper adhesive layer 21 with a uniform width and thickness can be easily applied to the inner circumferential surface of the upper downpipe 10.

[0040] Next, as shown in Figure 7, the downpipe connecting member 13 is positioned vertically between the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10. The lower cylindrical body 13A is inserted into the lower downpipe 1, and the upper cylindrical body 13B is inserted into the upper downpipe 10. The insertion of the lower cylindrical body 13A and the upper cylindrical body 13B can be done in any order, or they can be done simultaneously. When inserting the lower cylindrical body 13A into the lower downpipe 1, insert it until the flange portion 13C of the downpipe connecting member 13 touches the upper end of the lower downpipe 1. When inserting the upper cylindrical body 13B into the upper downpipe 10, insert it until the flange portion 13C of the downpipe connecting member 13 touches the lower end of the upper downpipe 10. After these insertion operations are completed, allow the adhesive to dry. As the adhesive dries, a connection structure is obtained in which the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10 are bonded together with the flange portion 13C interposed between them, as shown in Figure 2.

[0041] When inserting the lower cylindrical body 13A into the lower downpipe 1, the lower end of the lower cylindrical body 13A reaches the adhesive layer 20, pushing it downwards and expanding it, while simultaneously pushing the lower ring member 11 downwards by a predetermined distance. The lower cylindrical body 13A descends for a predetermined distance until the flange portion 13C contacts the upper end of the lower downpipe 1 and reaches the final insertion depth. During this descent, the adhesive layer 20 is expanded by the lower end of the lower cylindrical body 13A, and the lower ring member 11 descends. As a result of these actions, an internal adhesive layer 15 is formed by the adhesive layer 20 that has protruded onto the inner circumference of the lower cylindrical body 13A. Additionally, an external adhesive layer 16 is formed by the adhesive layer 20 that has protruded onto the outer circumference of the lower cylindrical body 13A. This external adhesive layer 16 spreads along the outer circumferential surface of the lower cylindrical body 13A and the inner circumferential surface of the lower downpipe 1, as well as between the restricting surface 11b on the upper end surface of the lower ring member 11 and the inner circumferential surface of the lower downpipe 1. Since the restricting surface 11b is a surface with an inclination as described earlier, a small gap is created between it and the inner circumferential surface of the lower downpipe 1, and the adhesive accumulates in this gap, forming an adhesive layer.

[0042] As a result, the internal adhesive layer 15 and the external adhesive layer 16 can be formed. By forming the internal adhesive layer 15 and the external adhesive layer 16, the gaps between the lower cylindrical body 13A, the lower ring member 11, and the inner surface of the lower downpipe 1 are almost completely filled with adhesive, so that they can be tightly bonded together. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, if the initial depth of insertion of the lower ring member 11 into the upper end of the lower downpipe 1 is kept constant, the conditions for inserting the lower cylindrical body 13A and spreading the adhesive can be kept constant, thus enabling the formation of a constant amount of internal adhesive layer 15 and external adhesive layer 16. This ensures that a consistent adhesive layer is formed regardless of variations in the work environment or the worker, allowing the lower cylindrical body 13A to be joined to the lower downpipe 1 with a constant adhesive force. As described above, the lower ring member 11 positions the internal adhesive layer 15 and external adhesive layer 16 provided on the inner circumference of the upper end of the lower downpipe 1. In addition, the adhesive can be reliably spread around the outer circumference of the regulating surface 11b of the lower ring member 11, contributing to gap-free bonding.

[0043] When inserting the upper cylindrical body 13B into the upper downpipe 10, the upper end of the upper cylindrical body 13B reaches the adhesive layer 21 and pushes it upward, while simultaneously pushing the upper ring member 12 upward by a predetermined distance. The upper cylindrical body 13B moves up and down for a predetermined distance until the flange portion 13C contacts the upper end of the upper downpipe 10, reaching the final insertion depth. During this upward movement, the adhesive layer 21 is pushed and expanded by the upper end of the upper cylindrical body 13B, and the upper ring member 12 is raised. As a result of these movements, an internal adhesive layer 17 is formed by the adhesive layer 21 that has protruded onto the inner circumference of the upper cylindrical body 13B. In addition, an external adhesive layer 18 is formed by the adhesive layer 21 that has protruded onto the outer circumference of the upper cylindrical body 13B. This external adhesive layer 18 spreads along the outer circumferential surface of the upper cylindrical body 13B and the inner circumferential surface of the upper downpipe 10, and also spreads between the regulating surface 12b of the lower end surface of the upper ring member 12 and the inner circumferential surface of the upper downpipe 10. As a result, an internal adhesive layer 17 and an external adhesive layer 18 can be formed. By forming the internal adhesive layer 17 and the external adhesive layer 18, the gaps between the upper cylindrical body 13B, the upper ring member 12, and the inner surface of the upper downpipe 10 are almost completely filled with adhesive, allowing them to be tightly bonded together.

[0044] As shown in Figure 6, if the initial depth of insertion of the upper ring member 12 into the lower end of the upper downpipe 10 is kept constant, the conditions for inserting the upper cylindrical body 13B and spreading the adhesive can be kept constant, thus forming a constant amount of internal adhesive layer 17 and external adhesive layer 18. This allows for the formation of a constant adhesive layer regardless of variations in the work environment or the worker, enabling the upper cylindrical body 13B to be joined to the upper downpipe 10 with a constant adhesive force. As described above, the upper ring member 12 positions the internal adhesive layer 17 and external adhesive layer 18 provided on the inner circumference of the lower end of the upper downpipe 10. Furthermore, since the adhesive can be reliably spread around the outer circumference of the regulating surface 12b of the upper ring member 12, it contributes to gap-free bonding.

[0045] As explained above, in the connection structure shown in Figure 2, the bonding portion between the lower downpipe 1 and the lower side of the downpipe connecting member 13, and the bonding portion between the upper downpipe 10 and the upper side of the downpipe connecting member 13 can be precisely bonded, so a highly watertight connection structure can be obtained that does not risk water leakage at the downpipe connection portion. Furthermore, in construction sites, there is a tendency to apply too much adhesive out of concern for poor adhesion. However, by adopting the connection structure shown in Figure 2, even if too much adhesive is applied, the lower ring member 11 and the upper ring member 12 spread the adhesive, preventing a concentration of a large amount of adhesive in one area. Therefore, deformation of the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10 due to adhesive swelling is less likely to occur. Consequently, deformation of parts of the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10 due to adhesive swelling at the joint between the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10 is prevented. In this respect, a connection structure that can prevent rainwater leakage is provided. Furthermore, in the structure shown in Figure 2, in order to effectively prevent water leakage at the connection between the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10, it is desirable that the connection portion on the upper cylindrical body 13B side of the downpipe connection member 13 be sufficiently watertight. Therefore, it is important to provide the upper ring member 12.

[0046] Figure 8 shows a second form of a ring member suitable for application to the downpipe connection structure shown in Figure 2. This second form of the ring member 25 is mainly composed of a ring body 25A made of a ring plate of a certain thickness. As shown in Figure 8, when the ring body 25A is placed on a horizontal plane with its opening face up and down, a restricting surface 25b is formed on the outer circumferential surface near the upper end surface 25a of the ring body 25A, and a restricting surface 25d is formed on the outer circumferential surface near the lower end surface 25c of the ring body 25A. The restricting surface 25b near the upper end surface 25a of the ring body 25A is an inclined surface in which the thickness of the ring body 25A is inclined so that it becomes thinner as it approaches the upper end surface 25a. The restricting surface 25d near the lower end surface 25c of the ring body 25A is an inclined surface in which the thickness of the ring body 25A is inclined so that it becomes thinner as it approaches the lower end surface 25c. In the ring member 25, the width of the restricting surfaces 25b and 25d along the height direction of the ring member 25 is, for example, about 3 mm. In the second embodiment, the ring member 25 has three projections 25e formed around the circumference of the upper end surface 25a at regular intervals. In the second embodiment, the ring member 25 has three projections 25f formed around the circumference of the lower end surface 25c at regular intervals. The height (length) of the projections 25e and 25f can be set to approximately 1 to 2 mm as an example. The number of projections 25e and 25f may be multiple, and it is preferable to have three or more.

[0047] The second form of the ring member 25 can be used in place of the lower ring member 11 and upper ring member 12 used in the first embodiment described earlier with reference to Figure 2. When the second form of the ring member 25 is applied to the downpipe connection structure shown in Figure 2, the ring member 25 can be inserted into the upper side of the lower downpipe 1 and into the lower side of the upper downpipe 10. In this case, the downpipe connecting member 13 is bonded to the lower downpipe 1 when the projection 25e of the ring member 25 inserted into the upper side of the lower downpipe 1 is in contact with the lower end surface of the lower cylindrical body 13A. The downpipe connecting member 13 is bonded to the upper downpipe 10 when the projection 25f of the ring member 25 inserted into the lower side of the upper downpipe 10 is in contact with the upper end surface of the upper cylindrical body 13B.

[0048] In this structure, a gap is created between the lower end surface of the lower cylindrical body 13A and the upper end surface 25a of the ring member 25 on the lower downpipe 1 side, with a gap corresponding to the length of the projection 25e. In this structure, when adhesive is applied to connect the lower downpipe 1 and the lower downpipe 10 in the same way as described earlier based on Figures 5 to 7, the aforementioned gap is filled with the adhesive layer. This allows the gap between the lower end surface of the lower cylindrical body 13A and the upper end surface 25a of the ring member 25 to be used as an adhesive reservoir, creating a structure in which a certain amount of adhesive can be retained. Therefore, by connecting the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10 using the second form of the ring member 25, a precise connection structure can be provided that prevents rainwater leakage from the connection point.

[0049] Figure 9 shows a third form of a ring member suitable for application to the downpipe connection structure shown in Figure 2. This third form of the ring member 26 mainly consists of a ring body 26A made of a ring plate of a certain thickness, with a restricting surface 26b formed on the outer circumferential surface near the upper end surface 26a of the ring body 26A, and a restricting surface 26d formed on the outer circumferential surface near the lower end surface 26c. The restricting surface 26b near the upper end surface 26a of the ring body 26A is an inclined surface that is sloped so that the thickness of the ring body 26A decreases as it approaches the upper end surface 26a. The restricting surface 26d near the lower end surface 26c of the ring body 26A is an inclined surface that is sloped so that the thickness of the ring body 26A decreases as it approaches the lower end surface 26c. In the ring member 26, the width of the restricting surfaces 26b and 26d along the height direction of the ring member 26 is, for example, about 3 mm. In the ring member 26, the slope of the restricting surface 26b is such that the thickness of the ring body 26A is reduced by, for example, about 1 mm between the base end and the tip of the restricting surface 26b.

[0050] The third form of the ring member 26 can be used in place of the lower ring member 11 and upper ring member 12 used in the first embodiment described earlier with reference to Figure 2. Since the restricting surfaces 26b and 26d of the ring member 26 are inclined surfaces as described above, a small gap is created between them and the inner circumferential surface of the lower downpipe 1, and adhesive accumulates in this gap, forming an adhesive layer. Since the ring member 26 has a greater inclination than the restricting surfaces 11b and 12b of the ring members 11 and 12, the gap created between it and the inner circumferential surface of the lower downpipe 1 can be made larger than in the first embodiment. Therefore, the amount of adhesive that can accumulate in this gap can be increased. As a result, a tighter bond can be obtained between the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10. When the third form of the ring member 26 is applied to the connection structure shown in Figure 2, the same effects and advantages as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0051] Figure 10 shows a fourth form of a ring member suitable for application to the downpipe connection structure shown in Figure 2. The fourth form of the ring member 27 mainly consists of a ring body 27A made of a ring plate of a certain thickness, with a restricting surface 27b formed on the outer circumferential surface near the upper end surface 27a of the ring body 27A, and a restricting surface 27d formed on the outer circumferential surface near the lower end surface 27c. The restricting surface 27b near the upper end surface 27a of the ring body 27A is an inclined surface that is sloped so that the thickness of the ring body 27A decreases as it approaches the upper end surface 27a. The restricting surface 27d near the lower end surface 27c of the ring body 27A is an inclined surface that is sloped so that the thickness of the ring body 27A decreases as it approaches the lower end surface 27c. In the ring member 27, the width of the restricting surfaces 27b and 27d along the height direction of the ring member 27 is, for example, about 5 mm. In the ring member 27, the slope of the restricting surface 27b is such that the thickness of the ring body 27A is reduced by about 0.5 mm between the base end and the tip of the restricting surface 27b. The fourth form of the ring member 27 can be used in place of the lower ring member 11 and upper ring member 12 used in the first embodiment described earlier with reference to Figure 2.

[0052] Since the restricting surfaces 27b and 27d of the ring member 27 are inclined surfaces as described above, a small gap is created between them and the inner circumferential surface of the lower downpipe 1, and adhesive accumulates in this gap, forming an adhesive layer. Since the ring member 27 has a wider surface width than the restricting surfaces 11b and 12b of the ring members 11 and 12, the gap created between it and the inner circumferential surface of the lower downpipe 1 can be made wider than in the first embodiment. Therefore, the width of the adhesive that can accumulate in this gap can be increased. As a result, a tighter bond can be obtained between the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10. When the fourth form of the ring member 27 is applied to the connection structure shown in Figure 2, the same effects and advantages as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0053] Figure 11 shows a fifth form of a ring member suitable for application to the downpipe connection structure shown in Figure 2. This fifth form of the ring member 28 mainly consists of a ring body 28A made of a ring plate of a certain thickness, with a regulating surface 28b formed on the outer circumferential surface near the upper end surface 28a of the ring body 28A, and a regulating surface 28d formed on the outer circumferential surface near the lower end surface 28c. The upper end surface 28a and lower end surface 28c of the ring member 28 are wavy, uneven surfaces with a smooth height difference (approximately 1 mm) around the circumference of the ring body 28A. The restricting surface 28b near the upper end surface 28a of the ring body 28A is an inclined surface that slopes so that the thickness of the ring body 28A decreases as it approaches the upper end surface 28a. The restricting surface 28d near the lower end surface 28c of the ring body 28A is an inclined surface that slopes so that the thickness of the ring body 28A decreases as it approaches the lower end surface 28c. In the ring member 28, the widths of the restricting surfaces 28b and 28d along the height direction of the ring member 28 are, for example, approximately 3 mm at maximum and approximately 1.5 mm at minimum. In the ring member 28, the slope of the restricting surface 28b is such that the thickness of the ring body 27A is reduced by approximately 0.5 mm between the base end and tip of the restricting surface 28b. The fifth form of the ring member 28 can be used in place of the lower ring member 11 and upper ring member 12 used in the first embodiment described earlier with reference to Figure 2.

[0054] Since the restricting surfaces 28b and 28d of the ring member 28 are inclined surfaces as described above, a small gap is created between them and the inner circumferential surface of the lower downpipe 1. The adhesive accumulates in this gap, forming an adhesive layer. In the ring member 28, the upper end surface 28a and the lower end surface 28c are uneven surfaces, so it is possible to create partial differences in the width of the gap between the ring member 28 and the inner circumferential surface of the lower downpipe 1. By allowing the adhesive to accumulate in these gaps of varying widths, a tighter bond between the lower downpipe 1 and the upper downpipe 10 can be obtained. When the fifth form of the ring member 28 is applied to the connection structure shown in Figure 2, the same effects and advantages as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0055] Figure 12 shows a sixth form of a ring member suitable for application to the downpipe connection structure shown in Figure 2. This sixth form of the ring member 29 mainly consists of a ring body 29A made of a ring plate of a certain thickness, with a regulating surface 29b formed on the outer circumferential surface near the upper end surface 29a of the ring body 29A, and a regulating surface 29d formed on the outer circumferential surface near the lower end surface 29c. The restricting surface 29b near the upper end surface 29a of the ring body 29A consists of a circumferential step. The restricting surface 29d near the lower end surface 29c of the ring body 29A also consists of a circumferential step. In the ring member 29, the width of the restricting surfaces 29b and 29d along the height direction of the ring member 29 is, for example, about 3 mm. The sixth form of the ring member 29 can be used in place of the lower ring member 11 and upper ring member 12 used in the first embodiment described earlier with reference to Figure 2.

[0056] Since the restricting surfaces 29b and 29d of the ring member 29 consist of the circumferential stepped portion described earlier, a small gap is created between them and the inner circumferential surface of the lower downpipe 1, and adhesive accumulates in this gap, forming an adhesive layer. When the sixth form of the ring member 29 is applied to the connection structure shown in Figure 2, the same effects and advantages as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0057] Figure 13 is an illustrative diagram showing the condition in the downpipe connection structure in the event of a water leak. Figure 13 shows a structure in which a lower downpipe 34, equipped with mounting ribs 33, is connected to an upper downpipe 31 equipped with mounting ribs 30 via a downpipe connecting member 32, and an L-shaped joint 35 is tentatively connected to the lower part of the lower downpipe 34. In this connection structure, if water leakage occurs due to poor adhesion at the joint between the upper downpipe 31, the downpipe connecting member 32, and the lower downpipe 34, the leaked water 36 will descend along the mounting rib 33 and fall downward from the joint portion 35 as water droplets 37. If water droplets 37 fall, it poses a significant problem with the downpipe connection structure and worsens the user's experience. Therefore, it is preferable to adopt the downpipe structure described based on Figures 2 to 12 above to prevent water leakage.

[0058] Figure 14 is an illustrative diagram showing another case in which water leakage may occur in the connection structure of a downpipe. Figure 14 shows a structure in which a lower downpipe 44 equipped with mounting ribs 43 is connected to an upper downpipe 41 equipped with mounting ribs 40 via a downpipe connecting member 42, and a straight pipe-type joint 45 is further connected to the lower part of the lower downpipe 44. In this connection structure, if water leakage occurs due to poor adhesion at the joint between the upper downpipe 41, the downpipe connecting member 42, and the lower downpipe 44, the leaked water 46 will descend along the mounting rib 43. If water leakage 46 occurs, it poses a significant problem with the downpipe connection structure and worsens the building occupants' experience. Therefore, it is preferable to adopt the downpipe structure described based on Figures 2 to 12 above to prevent water leakage. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1... Downpipe (lower downpipe), 2... Exterior wall, 3... Mounting rib, 10... Upper downpipe, 11... Lower ring member, 11a... Upper end surface, 11b... Restricting surface, 12... Upper ring member, 12a... Lower end surface, 12b... Restricting surface, 13... Downpipe connecting member, 13A... Lower cylinder, 13B... Upper cylinder, 13C... Flange part, 15, 17... Internal adhesive layer, 16, 18... External adhesive layer, 25... Ring member, 25b, 25d... Restricting surface, 26... Ring member, 26b, 26d... Restricting surface, 27... Ring member, 27b, 27d... Restricting surface, 28... Ring member, 28b, 28d... Restricting surface, 29... Ring member, 29b, 29d... Restricting surface.

Claims

1. It comprises a cylindrical upper downpipe, a cylindrical lower downpipe, and a cylindrical downpipe connecting member that is inserted into the lower end of the upper downpipe and the upper end of the lower downpipe to connect the upper downpipe and the lower downpipe. This downpipe connection structure is such that the upper part of the downpipe connecting member is bonded to the upper downpipe by an adhesive layer provided on the inner circumference of the lower end of the upper downpipe, and the lower part of the downpipe connecting member is bonded to the lower downpipe by an adhesive layer provided on the inner circumference of the upper end of the lower downpipe. An upper ring member for positioning the adhesive is provided at the position where the adhesive layer is provided on the inner circumference of the lower end of the upper downpipe. A lower ring member for positioning the adhesive is provided at the position where the adhesive layer is provided on the inner circumference of the upper end of the lower downpipe. A downpipe connection structure having a plurality of protrusions on one or both end faces of the ring member that contact the end face of the downpipe connection member.

2. A cylindrical upper downpipe, a cylindrical lower downpipe, and a cylindrical downpipe connecting member that is inserted into the lower end of the upper downpipe and the upper end of the lower downpipe to connect the upper downpipe and the lower downpipe, This downpipe connection structure is such that the upper part of the downpipe connecting member is bonded to the upper downpipe by an adhesive layer provided on the inner circumference of the lower end of the upper downpipe, and the lower part of the downpipe connecting member is bonded to the lower downpipe by an adhesive layer provided on the inner circumference of the upper end of the lower downpipe. An upper ring member for positioning the adhesive is provided at the position where the adhesive layer is provided on the inner circumference of the lower end of the upper downpipe. A lower ring member for positioning the adhesive is provided at the position where the adhesive layer is provided on the inner circumference of the upper end of the lower downpipe. A downpipe connection structure in which an uneven surface is formed on one or both end faces of the ring member.

3. The downpipe connection structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a regulating surface for positioning adhesive is formed on the end face of the upper ring member on the side closer to the lower downpipe.

4. A downpipe connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a regulating surface for positioning adhesive is formed on the end face of the lower ring member that is closer to the upper downpipe.

5. A downpipe connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the upper downpipe has a hollow mounting rib extending in the longitudinal direction of the upper downpipe on its outer surface, and the lower downpipe has a hollow mounting rib extending in the longitudinal direction of the lower downpipe on its outer surface.

Images