Pipe support device and method for installing pipe support device

Abstract

The present invention achieves a pipe support device capable of easily installing a pipe in a trench and easily collecting the pipe from the inside of the trench. A pipe support device 1 includes: a body part 10 on which a pipe 90 can be placed; and a pair of pawl parts 20 provided on the body part 10 so as to position the pipe 90 on the body part 10. The pipe support device 1 is disposed in an excavated trench 77, and supports the pipe 90 in the trench 77. The body part 10 and the pair of pawl parts 20 of the pipe support device 1 have therein an internal space S into / from which fluid F can be injected or discharged, and are configured to expand by injection of the fluid F into the internal space S and to contract by discharge of the fluid F from the internal space S.

Description

Tube support device and method for installing the tube support device

[0001] The present invention relates to a pipe support device for supporting pipes in an excavated trench and a method for installing the same.

[0002] Generally, when installing water pipes, gas pipes, etc. underground, it is necessary to connect multiple pipes together in a trench obtained by excavating the ground. When connecting multiple pipes in the trench, sleepers are used to support the pipes while adjusting their height.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for laying underground buried pipes in which a buried pipe is supported by a bag installed in the excavation trench and sunk to the bottom of the excavation trench, the bag is removed from the excavation trench, and the excavation trench is then backfilled. Specifically, in the method for laying underground buried pipes in Patent Document 1, a fluid is poured into the bag installed in the excavation trench, and the buried pipe is placed on the top surface of the bag. The bag is then deflated by discharging the fluid, and the buried pipe is sunk to the bottom of the excavation trench while being supported by the bag. The bag is then removed from the excavation trench, and the excavation trench is backfilled.

[0004] The thickness of the top surface of the bag is greater than the thickness of the other portions of the bag, and a receiving groove having an arc-shaped cross section is formed in the top surface to improve the seating of the buried pipe.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-261360

[0006] The height of the buried pipe can be easily adjusted by injecting or discharging the fluid into or from the bag of Patent Document 1. Therefore, by using the bag, the buried pipe can be easily installed in the excavation trench.

[0007] However, as disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 6 of Patent Document 1, the top surface portion of the bag body including the receiving groove does not shrink or deform even after the bag body is deflated.

[0008] Therefore, after the buried pipe is installed in the excavation trench, when the bag is pulled out from under the buried pipe in a deflated state by discharging the fluid, the edge of the receiving groove may interfere with the buried pipe, making it difficult to easily retrieve the bag from under the buried pipe.

[0009] Therefore, there is a need for a pipe support device that supports a pipe in a trench obtained by excavation, which allows the pipe to be easily installed in the trench and easily retrieved from the trench.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a tube support device that allows the tube to be easily placed in the groove and easily removed from the groove.

[0011] A pipe support device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a pipe support device that is placed in an excavated trench to support the pipe in the trench, and includes a main body on which a pipe can be placed and a claw portion provided on the main body to position the pipe on the main body. The main body and the claw portion have internal spaces therein into which a fluid can be injected or into which a fluid can be discharged, and are configured to expand when the fluid is injected into the internal space and to contract when the fluid is discharged from the internal space (first configuration).

[0012] This allows the body portion and the pawl portion to expand or contract by injecting or discharging a fluid into or from the internal space of the body portion and the pawl portion. Therefore, the size of the body portion and the pawl portion can be easily changed by injecting or discharging a fluid into or from the internal space of the body portion and the pawl portion. Therefore, the height of the tube supported by the tube support device can be easily adjusted within the groove.

[0013] Furthermore, by contracting the main body and the pawl, the main body and the pawl can be prevented from interfering with the pipe when the pipe support device is pulled out from under the pipe, making it easy to remove the pipe support device from under the pipe.

[0014] Therefore, it is possible to realize a pipe support device that allows the pipe to be easily placed in the groove and easily retrieved from the groove.

[0015] In the first configuration, the internal space includes a main body internal space located inside the main body and a pawl internal space located inside the pawl, and the main body internal space and the pawl internal space are connected to each other so that fluid can move therethrough (second configuration).

[0016] This allows fluid to be injected into or discharged from either the main body internal space or the pawl internal space, simplifying the fluid injection and discharge operations compared to when the fluid is injected into and discharged from both the main body internal space and the pawl internal space.

[0017] In the second configuration, the pawl portion is configured so that when discharging the fluid from the internal space, the fluid in the pawl portion internal space is discharged after the fluid in the main body internal space (third configuration).

[0018] As a result, when the fluid is discharged from the internal space of the tube support device to collapse the tube support device, the pawl portion collapses after the main body portion. Therefore, the main body portion can collapse first while the tube is held by the pawl portion. Therefore, when the tube support device is collapsed, the tube can be prevented from rolling sideways. Therefore, the tube support device can be collapsed with the tube more stably supported.

[0019] In the second configuration, the main body has an injection / discharge section at an upper portion thereof for injecting a fluid into the internal space of the main body or discharging the fluid from the internal space of the main body, and the pipe support device further has a connecting pipe connected to the injection / discharge section and for flowing the fluid (fourth configuration).

[0020] This allows fluid to be injected into the internal space of the main body and discharged from the internal space of the main body via the connecting pipe and the inlet / outlet portion. Moreover, because the inlet / outlet portion is provided on the upper part of the main body, the connecting pipe connected to the inlet / outlet portion does not affect the position of the tube support device in the groove. This makes it easier to install the tube support device in the groove.

[0021] In the first configuration, the pipe support device further has a string-like posture adjustment part having one end connected to the main body part so as to adjust the posture of the main body part within the groove (fifth configuration).

[0022] This allows the attitude of the main body of the tube support device to be easily adjusted within the groove, thereby enabling the tube to be more reliably supported by the tube support device within the groove.

[0023] In the first configuration, the main body portion and the pawl portion are integrally formed (sixth configuration).

[0024] This eliminates the need for a separate pawl for positioning the pipe relative to the main body that supports the pipe. The pawl is less likely to get caught on the pipe when the pipe support device is pulled out from under the pipe. This makes it easier to retrieve the pipe support device.

[0025] A method for installing a pipe support device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a method for installing a pipe support device having a main body on which a pipe can be placed and a claw portion provided on the main body for positioning the pipe on the main body, the method comprising the steps of: placing the pipe support device, with a fluid injected into the internal spaces of the main body and the claw portion, into the trench; supporting the pipe with the pipe support device placed in the trench; and connecting the pipe to another pipe in the trench, discharging the fluid from the internal spaces of the main body and the claw portion to contract the pipe support device, and then removing the contracted pipe support device from the trench (first method).

[0026] This allows the pipe to be easily supported in the excavated trench by the pipe support device, which is expanded by injecting fluid into the internal space of the main body and the pawl, and then the pipe support device is contracted by discharging the fluid from the internal space, allowing the pipe to be easily installed in the trench.

[0027] Furthermore, by contracting the main body and the pawl, the main body and the pawl can be prevented from interfering with the pipe when the pipe support device is pulled out from under the pipe, making it easy to remove the pipe support device from under the pipe.

[0028] Therefore, the pipe can be easily placed in the groove, and the pipe support device can be easily removed from the groove.

[0029] In the first method, the installation method of the pipe support device further includes a height adjustment step of adjusting the height dimension of the main body of the pipe support device placed in the groove by the placement step (second method).

[0030] This allows the height of the main body supporting the pipe in the pipe support device to be easily adjusted within the groove, thereby allowing the height position of the pipe to be easily adjusted within the groove, making it possible to connect the pipe to another pipe accurately and easily.

[0031] In the first method, the pipe has a socket located at one end in the axial direction and a spigot located at the other end in the axial direction. In the arranging step, a plurality of the pipe support devices are arranged in the groove so as to support both axial ends of the pipe. In the removing step, after connecting the spigot of the pipe to the spigot of another pipe, the fluid is discharged from the internal space of a pipe support device that supports the end of the spigot side among the plurality of pipe support devices to contract the pipe support device, and the contracted pipe support device is removed from the groove (third method).

[0032] This allows the pipe support device supporting the end of the pipe on the insertion side to be removed after the pipe insertion side has been connected to the socket of another pipe. Therefore, while the end of the pipe on the socket side is supported by the pipe support device, the pipe support device supporting the end of the pipe on the insertion side can be easily removed.

[0033] In the first method, in the removal step, when the pipe support device is removed from the groove, the fluid is first discharged from the internal space of the main body portion, and then the fluid is discharged from the internal space of the pawl portion, thereby discharging the fluid from the internal space of the pipe support device and contracting the pipe support device (fourth method).

[0034] This allows the pawl portion of the pipe support device to be retracted after the main body of the pipe support device, thereby allowing the main body to be retracted while the pipe is supported by the pawl portion, thereby preventing the pipe from moving laterally relative to the pipe support device when the pipe support device is retracted.

[0035] A pipe support device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a pipe support device that is placed in an excavated trench to support the pipe in the trench, and includes a main body on which a pipe can be placed and a claw portion provided on the main body for positioning the pipe on the main body. The main body and the claw portion of this device have an internal space into which a fluid can be injected or into which a fluid can be discharged, and are configured to expand when the fluid is injected into the internal space and to contract when the fluid is discharged from the internal space.

[0036] A method for installing a pipe support device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a method for installing a pipe support device having a main body on which a pipe can be placed and a claw portion provided on the main body for positioning the pipe on the main body, the method being arranged in an excavated trench to support the pipe in the trench. The method includes the steps of: placing the pipe support device, with a fluid injected into the internal spaces of the main body and the claw portion, in the trench; supporting the pipe with the pipe support device arranged in the trench; and connecting the pipe to other pipes in the trench, discharging the fluid from the internal spaces of the main body and the claw portion to contract the pipe support device, and then removing the contracted pipe support device from the trench.

[0037] This allows the sizes of the main body and the pawl to be easily changed by injecting or discharging a fluid into or from the internal spaces of the main body and the pawl, thereby expanding or contracting the main body and the pawl, thereby realizing a pipe support device that allows the pipe to be easily placed in and retrieved from the groove.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which a pipe is supported using a pipe support device according to embodiment 1 in water pipe construction work. FIG. 2A is a front view of the pipe support device. FIG. 2B is a top view of the pipe support device. FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the pipe support device taken along line A-A in FIG. 2B. FIG. 3A is a diagram schematically showing an arrangement step in which a pipe support device is arranged in an excavated trench. FIG. 3B is a diagram schematically showing a pipe support step in which a pipe is supported by the pipe support device and a height adjustment step in which the height of the pipe is adjusted. FIG. 3C is a diagram showing a state in which the pipe support device is contracted in a removal step. FIG. 3D is a diagram showing a state in which the pipe support device is removed from the trench in a removal step. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method for installing a pipe in an excavated trench using a pipe support device. FIG. 5A is a front view of a pipe support device having an attitude adjustment unit. FIG. 5B is a top view of a pipe support device having an attitude adjustment unit. FIG. 5C is a diagram schematically showing a state in which a pipe support device having an attitude adjustment unit is arranged in an excavated trench. Figure 6A is a front view of a tube support device having a body portion and a pawl portion formed integrally, Figure 6B is a top view of a tube support device having a body portion and a pawl portion formed integrally, and Figure 6C is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of the tube support device shown in Figure 6B having a body portion and a pawl portion formed integrally.

[0039] Each embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of the same parts will not be repeated. Note that the dimensions of the components in each drawing do not faithfully represent the actual dimensions of the components and the dimensional ratios of the components.

[0040] In the following description, the axial direction refers to the direction in which the axis P of the tube 90 extends. The radial direction refers to the direction perpendicular to the axis P of the tube 90. The longitudinal direction X refers to the direction in which the tube support device 1 extends. The transverse direction Y refers to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X.

[0041] In addition, in the following description, expressions such as "connect" and "attach" (hereinafter referred to as "connection") include not only cases where members are directly connected to each other, but also cases where members are connected via other members. In other words, in the following description, expressions such as "connection" include both direct and indirect connection between members.

[0042] [Embodiment 1]

[0043] Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically showing how a pipe 90 is supported using a pipe support device 1 according to embodiment 1 in water pipe construction work. Fig. 2A is a front view of the pipe support device 1. Fig. 2B is a top view of the pipe support device 1. Fig. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the pipe support device 1 taken along line A-A in Fig. 2B.

[0044] The pipe 90 is, for example, a cast iron pipe used for water pipes, etc. The pipe 90 has a cylindrical shape extending along an axis P. As shown in Figure 1, a plurality of the pipes 90 are connected in the axial direction and installed in a trench 77 excavated in the ground 70.

[0045] The pipe 90 has a socket 99 located at one end in the axial direction and a spigot 91 located at the other end in the axial direction. The pipe diameter d1 of the socket 99 is larger than the pipe diameter d2 of the spigot 91. In water pipe installation work, the spigot 91 is inserted into the socket 99 of another pipe 90. In this way, multiple pipes 90 are connected in the axial direction in water pipe installation work.

[0046] (Pipe Support Device) The pipe support device 1 supports a pipe 90 in a trench 77 obtained by excavating the ground 70, for example, during water pipe construction. As shown in Fig. 2, the pipe support device 1 has a generally columnar shape with a bag-shaped fabric. The fabric is impermeable to a fluid F. The fabric is, for example, a tarpaulin. The fluid F includes, for example, at least one of a gas such as air and a liquid such as water.

[0047] The pipe support device 1 has a main body 10 , a pair of pawl portions 20 , and a connecting pipe 30 .

[0048] 2A to 2C, the main body 10 is a columnar shape in which the fabric is formed into a bag shape. The main body 10 has an elliptical shape that is long in the longitudinal direction X when viewed in the vertical direction.

[0049] A pair of generally cylindrical pawl portions 20 is provided on the upper surface 10a of the main body 10. The main body 10 is separate from the pair of pawl portions 20. The lower surface 10b of the main body 10 comes into contact with the bottom of the groove 77 when the pipe support device 1 is placed in the groove 77.

[0050] The pair of pawl portions 20 have a generally cylindrical shape extending in a short direction Y, which is a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X of the main body 10. Like the main body 10, the pair of pawl portions 20 are formed from the fabric in a bag shape. Parts of the lower parts 20b of the pair of pawl portions 20 are connected to the upper surface 10a of the main body 10. The vertical dimension L2 of the pair of pawl portions 20 is smaller than the vertical dimension (height dimension) L1 of the main body 10. In other words, the thickness of the pair of pawl portions 20 is smaller than the thickness of the main body 10.

[0051] The pair of pawl portions 20 are arranged on the upper surface 10a of the main body 10, at one end side in the longitudinal direction X and the other end side in the longitudinal direction X. When the pipe 90 is supported by the pipe support device 1, the axis P of the pipe 90 is aligned with the short direction Y of the pipe support device 1, and the pipe 90 is arranged between the pair of pawl portions 20. In this way, the pipe 90 is positioned on the main body 10 by the pair of pawl portions 20. The pipe 90 comes into contact with the upper surface 10a of the main body 10.

[0052] As shown in Fig. 2C, the tube support device 1 has an internal space S therein. The internal space S includes a main body internal space 15 and a pawl internal space 25, which will be described later. The internal space S is a space within the tube support device 1 into which a fluid F can be injected or discharged. By injecting the fluid F into the internal space S, the tube support device 1 expands. On the other hand, by discharging the fluid F from the internal space S, the tube support device 1 contracts.

[0053] The main body 10 has a main body internal space 15 therein. The main body internal space 15 is a part of the internal space S. By injecting a fluid F into the main body internal space 15, the main body 10 expands. On the other hand, by discharging the fluid F from the main body internal space 15, the main body 10 contracts.

[0054] The main body 10 has an injection / discharge section 19 on its upper surface 10a that injects fluid F into the main body internal space 15 or discharges fluid F from the main body internal space 15. The injection / discharge section 19 is located on one end side of the main body 10 in the longitudinal direction X on the upper surface 10a. The injection / discharge section 19 includes a protrusion 19a and a hole 19b. The hole 19b opens on the upper surface 10a of the main body 10. The protrusion 19a has a hollow cylindrical shape that protrudes upward from the periphery of the hole 19b on the upper surface 10a of the main body 10.

[0055] One end of a connecting pipe 30, which will be described later, is connected to the protruding portion 19a of the injection and discharge portion 19. As will be described in detail later, a device for supplying or discharging the fluid F is connected to the other end of the connecting pipe 30. This allows the fluid F to be injected into or discharged from the main body internal space 15 via the injection and discharge portion 19. Although not particularly shown, the protruding portion 19a may be provided with, for example, a valve or the like that can control the amount of fluid F injected or discharged.

[0056] The pair of pawl portions 20 have therein a pawl portion internal space 25. The pawl portion internal space 25 is part of the internal space S, which will be described later. By injecting a fluid F into the pawl portion internal space 25, the pair of pawl portions 20 expand. On the other hand, by discharging the fluid F from the pawl portion internal space 25, the pair of pawl portions 20 contract. The volume of the pawl portion internal space 25 is smaller than the volume of the main body internal space 15.

[0057] In the tube support device 1, a portion of the lower portions 20b of the pair of pawl portions 20 is joined to the upper surface 10a of the main body 10. The joining includes, for example, bonding with an adhesive or welding. One or more through holes H are provided at the joining portion between the pair of pawl portions 20 and the main body 10, penetrating the upper surface 10a of the main body 10 and the lower portions 20b of the pair of pawl portions 20 in the vertical direction. As a result, the main body internal space 15 and the pawl portion internal space 25 are connected by the through holes H so that the fluid F can move through them.

[0058] The connecting pipe 30 is a hollow, flexible, tubular member that extends in one direction. The length of the connecting pipe 30 is greater than the depth of the excavated trench 77. The connecting pipe 30 is, for example, a tube made of resin.

[0059] One end of the connecting pipe 30 is connected to the injection and discharge part 19 provided on the upper surface 10a of the main body 10. The other end of the connecting pipe 30 is connected to a supply and discharge device (not shown) that supplies or discharges the fluid F. For example, if the fluid F is a gas, the supply and discharge device is an air compressor, a blower, or the like. The supply and discharge device can supply the fluid F to the internal space S or discharge the fluid F from the internal space S via the connecting pipe 30. Note that instead of the supply and discharge device, a device having a supply function and a discharge function may be used separately.

[0060] According to the above-described configuration, by injecting fluid F into the internal space S of the tube support device 1 via the connecting pipe 30 and the injection / discharge part 19, the fluid F can be injected into the main body internal space 15 and the pawl internal space 25. Therefore, the main body 10 and the pair of pawl internal spaces 20 can be expanded. On the other hand, by discharging fluid F from the internal space S via the connecting pipe 30 and the injection / discharge part 19, the fluid F can be discharged from the main body internal space 15 and the pawl internal space 25. Therefore, the main body 10 and the pair of pawl internal spaces 20 can be contracted.

[0061] This allows the sizes of the main body 10 and the pair of pawl portions 20 to be easily changed. More specifically, the total size L3 of the height dimension L1 of the main body 10 and the vertical dimension L2 of the pawl portions 20 can be easily changed. Therefore, the height position of the pipe 90 supported by the pipe support device 1 within the groove 77 can be easily adjusted. Therefore, the height position of the insertion port 91 of one pipe 90 can be easily aligned with the height position of the receiving port 99 of another pipe 90, and the insertion port 91 of one pipe 90 can be connected to the receiving port 99 of another pipe 90.

[0062] Moreover, since not only the main body 10 but also the pair of pawl portions 20 contract, the pair of pawl portions 20 can be prevented from interfering with the pipe 90 when the pipe support device 1 is pulled out from under the pipe 90. Therefore, the pipe support device 1 can be easily removed from under the pipe 90.

[0063] Therefore, it is possible to realize a pipe support device 1 that allows the pipe 90 to be easily placed in the groove 77 and easily retrieved from the groove 77.

[0064] Furthermore, the main body internal space 15 and the pawl internal space 25 are connected by the through hole H to allow the fluid F to move. This allows the fluid F in the internal space S to be injected and discharged from the main body internal space 15 of the main body 10, where the injection and discharge part 19 is provided. Therefore, the operations of injecting and discharging the fluid F can be simplified compared to when injection and discharge parts for injecting or discharging the fluid F are provided in each of the main body internal space 15 and the pawl internal space 25.

[0065] 2C , when the tube 90 is placed on the upper surface 10a of the main body 10 having the above-described configuration, a pressure greater than that of the pair of pawl portions 20 acts on the main body 10 due to the load G of the tube 90. Therefore, when the fluid F in the internal space S is discharged through the injection / discharge portion 19 with the tube 90 placed on the upper surface 10a of the main body 10, the fluid F in the main body internal space 15 is discharged before the fluid F in the pawl portion internal space 25. As a result, the main body 10 is caused to contract first while suppressing the contraction of the pair of pawl portions 20, thereby reducing the height dimension L1 of the main body 10.

[0066] That is, when the fluid F is discharged from the internal space S of the tube support device 1 to contract the tube support device 1, the pair of pawl portions 20 contract later than the main body portion 10. Therefore, the timing at which the vertical dimension L2 of the pair of pawl portions 20 decreases is later than the timing at which the height dimension L1 of the main body portion 10 decreases. Therefore, the pair of pawl portions 20 can suppress the movement of the tube 90 in the lateral direction (longitudinal direction X), while the main body portion 10 can contract first. Therefore, the tube support device 1 can contract while stably supporting the tube 90.

[0067] Furthermore, since the injection and discharge part 19 is provided on the upper surface 10a of the main body 10, the connecting pipe 30 connected to the injection and discharge part 19 can be prevented from affecting the posture of the pipe support device 1 in the groove 77. Therefore, the pipe support device 1 can be more easily installed in the groove 77.

[0068] Furthermore, the injection and discharge section 19 is provided at one end of the main body 10 in the longitudinal direction X, and the length of the connecting pipe 30 is longer than the depth of the excavated trench 77. This allows a worker to operate the connecting pipe 30 on the ground and easily retrieve the pipe support device 1 from below the pipe 90 in the trench 77.

[0069] (Method of Installing a Pipe Using a Pipe Support Device) FIG. 3A is a diagram schematically illustrating an arrangement step S2 in which the pipe support device 1 is arranged in the excavated trench 77. FIG. 3B is a diagram schematically illustrating a pipe support step S3 in which the pipe 90 is supported by the pipe support device 1, and a height adjustment step S4 in which the height of the pipe 90 is adjusted. FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the pipe support device 1 is contracted in a removal step S6. FIG. 3D is a diagram illustrating a state in which the pipe support device 1 is removed from the trench 77 in the removal step S6. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of installing a pipe 90 in the excavated trench 77 using the pipe support device 1. Hereinafter, a method of installing a pipe 90 using the pipe support device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3A to 3D, and 4.

[0070] 4 starts (START), first in step S1, the ground 70 is excavated using a work machine 73 or the like to form a trench 77. The bottom of the excavated trench 77 is leveled by the work machine 73 or the like. The work machine 73 is, for example, a shovel.

[0071] In the next step S2, the supply and discharge device is used to inject fluid F into the internal space S through the connecting pipe 30, thereby expanding the main body 10 and the pair of pawl portions 20 of the pipe support device 1. As shown in Fig. 3A, the expanded pipe support device 1 is lowered to the bottom of the groove 77. At this time, the operator adjusts the position of the pipe support device 1 by moving the pipe support device 1 using the connecting pipe 30. Multiple pipe support devices 1 are arranged at positions where they can support the pipe 90 at both axial ends.

[0072] 3B, the pipe 90 is lowered by the work machine 73 or the like onto the upper surface 10a of the main body 10 of the pipe support device 1, which is arranged in the groove 77. One end side and the other end side of the pipe 90 in the axial direction are supported in the groove 77 by the plurality of pipe support devices 1.

[0073] 3B , in the next step S4, the height dimension L1 of the main body 10 is adjusted by injecting or discharging a fluid F into or from the internal space S of the tube support device 1. This allows the height position of the tube 90 supported by the tube support device 1 to be adjusted. The height dimension L1 of the main body 10 is adjusted, for example, so that the axis P of the tube 90 is horizontal and the insertion port 91 of the tube 90 is in a position that allows connection to the receiving port 99 of another tube 90.

[0074] Thereafter, in step S5, the pipe 90 is moved in the axial direction by the work machine 73 or the like, so that the spigot 91 of the pipe 90 is connected to the socket 99 of the other pipe 90. In this way, the pipe 90 is connected to the other pipe 90.

[0075] 3C, in the next step S6, the supply / discharge device discharges the fluid F from the internal space S of the tube support device 1 supporting the end on the insertion port 91 side, thereby contracting the main body 10 and the pair of pawl portions 20 of the tube support device 1. At this time, the fluid F in the main body internal space 15 is discharged before the fluid F in the pawl portion internal space 25.

[0076] The total dimension L3 of the height dimension L1 of the main body 10 of the contracted pipe support device 1 and the vertical dimension L2 of the pair of pawl portions 20 is smaller than the height from the bottom of the groove 77 in which the pipe support device 1 is installed to the bottom of the pipe 90 connected to another pipe 90.

[0077] 3D , when the connecting pipe 30 is pulled from the ground, the pipe support device 1, with the main body 10 and the pair of pawl portions 20 contracted, is pulled out from under the pipe 90. As a result, the pipe support device 1 is recovered from the groove 77.

[0078] Thereafter, in step S7, the pipe 90 is backfilled from the insertion port 91 side to just before the pipe support device 1 located on the receiving port 99 side.

[0079] In the next step S8, steps S2 to S5 are repeated to connect the insertion port 91 of another pipe 90 to the socket 99 of the pipe 90. Thereafter, as in step S6, the pipe support device 1 on the socket 99 side is contracted, and then this pipe support device 1 is withdrawn from the groove 77. Then, this flow ends (END).

[0080] In this manner, the tubes 90 are connected in the axial direction. Here, step S2 corresponds to the placement step, step S3 corresponds to the tube support step, step S4 corresponds to the height adjustment step, and step S6 corresponds to the removal step.

[0081] According to the above-described method, the tube 90 can be easily supported in the groove 77 by the tube support device 1 expanded by injecting the fluid F into the internal space S. Then, by injecting the fluid F into the internal space S or discharging the fluid F from the internal space S, the tube support device 1 can be expanded or contracted, thereby adjusting the height position of the tube 90. Therefore, the tube 90 can be easily connected to other tubes 90. Therefore, the tube 90 can be easily installed in the groove 77.

[0082] Furthermore, by contracting the main body 10 and the pair of pawl portions 20, when the pipe support device 1 is pulled out from under the pipe 90, the main body 10 and the pair of pawl portions 20 can be prevented from interfering with the pipe 90. Therefore, the pipe support device 1 can be easily removed from under the pipe 90.

[0083] Therefore, the pipe 90 can be easily placed in the groove 77 and the pipe support device 1 can be easily removed from the groove 77 .

[0084] Furthermore, by supplying or discharging the fluid F through the connecting pipe 30, the height dimension L of the main body 10 that supports the pipe 90 in the pipe support device 1 can be easily adjusted within the groove 77. Therefore, the height position of the pipe 90 can be easily adjusted within the groove 77, and the pipe 90 can be connected to another pipe 90 with high accuracy and ease.

[0085] Furthermore, after the insertion port 91 of one pipe 90 is connected to the socket 99 of another pipe 90, the pipe support device 1 supporting the end of the pipe 90 on the insertion port 91 side can be contracted while the end of the pipe 90 on the socket 99 side is supported by the pipe support device 1. This allows the contracted pipe support device 1 to be removed from under the pipe 90. Therefore, the pipe support device 1 supporting the end of the pipe 90 on the insertion port 91 side can be easily removed.

[0086] Furthermore, when discharging the fluid F from the internal space S of the tube support device 1, the fluid F in the main body internal space 15 is discharged before the fluid in the pawl internal space 25. This allows the pair of pawl portions 20 to contract after the main body portion 10. Therefore, the main body portion 10 can be contracted while the pair of pawl portions 20 restricts the movement of the tube 90 in the lateral direction (longitudinal direction X).

[0087] While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-described embodiments are merely examples for carrying out the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be practiced by appropriately modifying the above-described embodiments within the scope of the spirit thereof.

[0088] Fig. 5A is a front view of the tube support device 201 having the attitude adjustment unit 240. Fig. 5B is a top view of the tube support device 201. Fig. 5C is a schematic diagram showing the tube support device 201 placed in the excavated trench 77.

[0089] 5A and 5B , the pipe support device 201 may have a posture adjustment unit 240 that adjusts the installation posture of the pipe support device 201 in the groove 77, on the other end side in the longitudinal direction X of the upper surface 10 a of the main body 10. The posture adjustment unit 240 has an attachment portion 241 and a string portion 242.

[0090] The attachment portion 241 is provided on the other end side in the longitudinal direction X of the upper portion 10a of the main body portion 10. One end of the attachment portion 241 is connected to the upper surface 10a. The attachment portion 241 may be made of, for example, the same fabric as the main body portion 10. The attachment portion 241 may also be made of a different material than the main body portion 10.

[0091] The mounting portion 241 has a ring-shaped portion 241H having a through-hole that penetrates the mounting portion 241 in the thickness direction. One end of the string portion 242 is attached to the ring-shaped portion 241H. The mounting portion 241 does not necessarily have to have the ring-shaped portion 241H. The mounting portion 241 may have any configuration as long as it is a configuration that allows the string portion 242 to be attached.

[0092] The string portion 242 is a string-like member that extends in one direction. As shown in Fig. 5C, the string portion 242 is longer than at least the depth of the excavated trench 77. One end of the string portion 242 is connected to the main body portion 10 by an attachment portion 241. The string portion 242 may be connected directly to the main body portion 10 without using the attachment portion 241. The other end of the string portion 242 extends to the ground and is held by, for example, an operator.

[0093] This allows an operator to easily adjust the attitude of the pipe support device 201 in the groove 77 by operating the string 242 of the attitude adjustment part 240 from the ground. Moreover, while operating the connecting pipe 30 on one side in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the pipe 90, the operator can operate the attitude adjustment part 240 on the other side. This makes it easier to adjust the attitude of the pipe support device 201. As a result, the pipe 90 can be more reliably supported by the pipe support device 201 in the groove 77.

[0094] In the above embodiment, the main body 10 and the pair of pawl portions 20 are configured as separate bodies. However, the main body and the pawl portions may be formed integrally.

[0095] Figure 6A is a front view of tube support device 301, in which body portion 310 and pawl portion 320 are integrally formed. Figure 6B is a top view of tube support device 301. Figure 6C is a cross-sectional view of tube support device 301 taken along line BB.

[0096] The tube support device 301 includes a main body portion 310, a pawl portion 320, and a connecting tube 30. As shown in Figures 6A to 6C, the main body portion 310 and the pawl portion 320 are integrally formed.

[0097] The main body portion 310 has a main body portion internal space 315. The pawl portion 320 has a pawl portion internal space 325. The tube support device 301 has an internal space S' formed by the main body portion internal space 315 and the pawl portion internal space 325. In the internal space S', the main body portion internal space 315 and the pawl portion internal space 325 are integrally connected at a boundary E.

[0098] This allows the main body 310 and the pawl portion 320 to be formed integrally. This makes it easy to form the tube support device 301. Furthermore, because the main body 310 and the pawl portion 320 are smoothly connected in the longitudinal direction X, the pawl portion 320 is less likely to get caught on the tube 90 when the tube support device 301 is pulled out from under the tube 90. This makes it easy to retrieve the tube support device 301. Furthermore, the boundary between the main body 310 and the pawl portion 320 is less likely to be damaged.

[0099] In the above embodiment, the tube support device 1 is made of a fabric that is impermeable to the fluid F. However, the tube support device 1 may be made of any material as long as it is impermeable to the fluid and has flexibility that allows it to expand and contract by injecting and discharging the fluid. The tube support device 1 may be made of, for example, a silicon-impregnated fabric, a resin film, a rubber sheet, or the like.

[0100] In the above embodiment, the main body 10 is columnar and elliptical in shape with a long side in the longitudinal direction X when viewed in the vertical direction. The pair of pawl portions 20 are generally cylindrical. However, the main body and the pawl portions may have other shapes. For example, the main body may be rectangular parallelepiped-shaped. The pawl portions may be polygonal prism-shaped or protrusions. The pawl portions may be grooves formed on the top surface of the main body with an arc-shaped cross section.

[0101] In the above embodiment, the thickness of the pair of pawl portions 20 is smaller than the thickness of the main body portion 10. However, the thickness of at least one of the pair of pawl portions may be equal to the thickness of the main body portion. The thickness of at least one of the pair of pawl portions may be greater than the thickness of the main body portion.

[0102] In the above embodiment, the vertical dimension L2 of the pair of pawl portions 20 is smaller than the height dimension L1 of the main body portion 10. However, the vertical dimension of the pair of pawl portions may be equal to or greater than the height dimension of the main body portion.

[0103] In the above embodiment, the pair of pawl portions 20 are provided on the upper surface 10a of the main body portion 10. However, the pair of pawl portions may be provided on an upper portion of the main body portion, not on the upper surface of the main body portion. Note that the upper portion of the main body portion means a portion above half of the main body portion in the vertical direction.

[0104] In the above embodiment, the pair of pawl portions 20 are provided on one end side and the other end side of the upper surface 10 a of the main body portion 10 in the longitudinal direction X. However, the pawl portions may be provided on only one end side of the upper surface of the main body portion in the longitudinal direction X.

[0105] In the above embodiment, each of the pair of pawl portions 20 has a pawl portion internal space 25. However, only one of the pair of pawl portions may have a pawl portion internal space.

[0106] In the above embodiment, the main body internal space 15 and the pawl internal space 25 are connected by the through hole H to allow the fluid F to move. However, the main body internal space and the pawl internal space may not be connected, and the injection and discharge parts may be provided in the main body and the pawl, respectively.

[0107] In the above embodiment, the injection and discharge portion 19 is provided on the upper surface 10a of the main body portion 10. However, the injection and discharge portion may be provided on a side surface of the upper portion of the main body portion. The injection and discharge portion may be provided at a location other than the upper portion of the main body portion. The injection and discharge portion may be provided on a pawl portion.

[0108] In the above embodiment, the main body 10 has an inlet / outlet portion 19 for injecting the fluid F into the main body internal space 15 or for discharging the fluid F from the main body internal space 15. However, the main body may have an inlet portion for injecting the fluid into the internal space and a outlet portion for discharging the fluid from the internal space. Alternatively, a pawl may have the inlet portion and the outlet portion. The inlet portion may be provided on one of the main body or the pawl, and the outlet portion may be provided on the other of the main body or the pawl.

[0109] In the above embodiment, the pipe support device may be provided with a valve (e.g., a check valve) in the through hole connecting the internal space of the main body portion and the internal space of the pawl portion, which allows fluid to flow easily from the internal space of the main body portion to the internal space of the pawl portion, but makes it difficult for fluid to flow from the internal space of the pawl portion to the internal space of the main body portion.

[0110] The present invention can be used in a pipe support device that supports a pipe in an excavated trench.

[0111] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 201, 301 Pipe support device 10, 310 Main body 10a Upper surface (main body) 10b Lower surface (main body) 15, 315 Main body internal space 19 Injection / discharge section 19a Protrusion 19b Hole 20, 320 Pawl section 20b Lower section (pawl section) 25, 325 Pawl section internal space 30 Connecting pipe 70 Ground 73 Work machine 77 Groove 90 Pipe 91 Insertion port 99 Receiver 240 Posture adjustment section 241 Mounting section 241H Annular section 242 String section P Axis F Fluid H Through hole S, S' Internal space G Pipe load L1 Height dimension of main body L2 Vertical dimension of pawl section L3 Total dimension E Boundary section

Claims

1. A pipe support device comprising: a body portion on which a pipe can be placed; and a claw portion provided on the body portion for positioning the pipe on the body portion; the pipe support device being placed in an excavated trench to support the pipe in the trench, wherein the body portion and the claw portion have internal spaces therein into which a fluid can be injected or into which a fluid can be discharged, and the pipe support device is configured to expand when the fluid is injected into the internal space, and to contract when the fluid is discharged from the internal space.

2. A pipe support device as described in claim 1, wherein the internal space includes a main body internal space located inside the main body, and a pawl portion internal space located inside the pawl portion, and the main body internal space and the pawl portion internal space are connected to allow fluid movement.

3. A pipe support device as described in claim 2, wherein the pawl portion is configured such that, when discharging the fluid from within the internal space, the fluid within the pawl portion internal space is discharged after the fluid within the main body portion internal space.

4. A pipe support device as described in claim 2, wherein the main body has an injection and discharge section at an upper portion thereof for injecting a fluid into the internal space of the main body or discharging the fluid from the internal space of the main body, and the pipe support device further has a connecting pipe connected to the injection and discharge section for flowing the fluid.

5. A pipe support device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a string-like attitude adjustment part having one end connected to said main body part so as to be able to adjust the attitude of said main body part within said groove.

6. A tube support device according to claim 1, wherein said body portion and said pawl portion are integrally formed.

7. A method for installing a pipe support device having a main body on which a pipe can be placed, and a ratchet portion provided on the main body portion for positioning the pipe on the main body portion, the pipe support device being placed in an excavated trench to support the pipe in the trench, the method comprising the steps of: placing the pipe support device, into which a fluid has been injected into the internal space of the main body portion and the ratchet portion, in the trench; supporting the pipe with the pipe support device placed in the trench; and connecting the pipe to another pipe in the trench, discharging the fluid from the internal space of the main body portion and the ratchet portion to shrink the pipe support device, and removing the shrunken pipe support device from the trench.

8. The method for installing a pipe support device according to claim 7, further comprising a height adjustment step for adjusting a height dimension of the main body of the pipe support device placed in the groove by the placement step.

9. A method for installing a pipe support device as described in claim 7, wherein the pipe has a receiving port located at one axial end and a plug located at the other axial end, and in the arranging step, a plurality of the pipe support devices are arranged in the groove so as to support the pipe at both axial ends, and in the removing step, the plug of the pipe is connected to the receiving port of the other pipe, and then the fluid is discharged from the internal space of one of the plurality of pipe support devices that supports the end of the plug side, thereby shrinking the pipe support device, and the shrunken pipe support device is removed from the groove.

10. A method for installing a pipe support device as described in claim 7, wherein in the removal step, in the pipe support device being removed from within the groove, discharge of the fluid from the internal space of the main body portion is started, and then discharge of the fluid from the internal space of the pawl portion is started, thereby discharging the fluid from the internal space of the pipe support device and contracting the pipe support device.

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