JP2948480B2 - Piping connection coupler - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coupler for connecting pipes used for connecting pipe ends to each other, which is suitable for use in extending a pipe for sending and discharging mud in a tunnel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Fluid pipes used in tunnel construction are:
The pipes are connected and extended as the tunnel excavates. FIG. 5 shows the condition of the mud pipe in the tunnel. As shown in the figure, the feeding and discharging mud pipe 1 is configured by adding a plurality of pipes 4 to a fixed pipe 3 of an extension cart 2.
The fixed pipe 3 and the pipe 4 and the pipes 4 are connected by a pipe connection coupler (coupler) 5.

A conventional coupler 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 shows the appearance of the conventional coupler 5, FIG. 6 (a) shows its front, FIG. 6 (b) shows its side, and FIG. Is shown. As shown in FIG. 6, the coupler 5 is divided into an upper joint 6 and a lower joint 7, and the upper joint 6 and the lower joint 7 are connected by bolts 8 and nuts 9. As shown in FIG. 7, a ring-shaped collar 10 is fitted to the ends of the fixed pipe 3 and the pipe 4, and
The packing 11 is attached over the outer circumferences of.
The coupler 5 is attached so as to cover the packing 11, and the thrust direction of the collar 10 is changed to the upper joint 6 of the coupler 5.
The fixed pipe 3 and the pipe 4 are connected to each other by being restricted by the edge 12 of the lower joint 7.

[0004] Referring to FIG. 8, a description will be given of the state of extension of the feeding and discharging pipe 1 connected by the conventional coupler 5 shown in FIG. When the stretching becomes necessary, the bolt 8 and the nut 9 on the fixed pipe 3 side are removed, and the pipe 4 is released while the packing 11 is attached to the collar 10 on the fixed pipe 3 side. After releasing the pipe 4, the extension cart 2
Is advanced (to the left in FIG. 8), and a new pipe 13 having a length corresponding to the advanced length is taken in. The collar 10 on the side (right side in the figure) of the pipe 13 connected to the pipe 4 has a packing 1 in advance.
1 is attached. The end of the pipe 13 is butted against the fixed pipe 3, and the packing 11 attached to the fixed pipe 3 is connected to the pipe 1.
3 to be mounted on the collar 10 at the end. Packing 1
After attaching the upper joint 1, the upper joint 6 and the lower joint 7
Are connected by bolts 8 and nuts 9, and the fixed pipe 3 and the pipe 13 are connected and fixed by the coupler 5. The connection between the pipe 13 and the existing pipe 4 is similarly performed. When connecting the upper joint 6 and the lower joint 7, the lower joint 7 is held from below, and after the upper joint 6 is aligned, the bolt 8 and the nut 9 are tightened. After the connection work of the new pipe 13 is completed, a fluid can be supplied to the inside of the feeding and discharging mud pipe 1. The feeding and discharging pipe 1 is made up of the collar 10 of the fixed pipe 3 and the pipe 1.
Packing 11, which is mounted over the collar 10 of 3,
And airtightness is maintained by a packing 11 laid across the collar 10 of the pipe 13 and the collar 10 of the pipe 4,
The fluid supplied to the inside of the pipe 1 does not leak to the outside. Further, since the end of the collar 10 is restrained by the edge 12 of the upper joint 6 and the lower joint 7 of the coupler 5, the pipe 13 and the pipe 4 do not come off due to the thrust force due to the internal pressure.

[0005]

When the conventional coupler 5 described above is used, when connecting the pipe 13, the packing 11 is attached to the collar 10 in advance, and the fixed pipe 3 and the pipe 13 are connected.
It is necessary to re-attach the packing 11 after striking the (pipe 4, 13) so as to straddle both the collars 10.
However, since the inside diameter of the packing 11 is made smaller than the outside diameter of the collar 10 in order to maintain airtightness, the work of re-attaching the packing 11 requires a lot of time and labor. In particular, as the diameter of the pipe 1 increases, the rigidity of the packing 11 increases, and the work of reattaching the packing 11 requires more time and labor. Also,
When the upper joint 6 and the lower joint 7 are joined by the bolts 8 and the nuts 9 after the packing 11 is attached, it is necessary to hold the lower joint 7, and if the diameter of the pipe 1 becomes large, extremely heavy labor is required. Had become. In addition, the bolts 8 and the nuts 9 become large, and a large amount of time and labor are required for fastening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a pipe connecting coupler which can easily connect pipes and does not require much time and labor for connection even when the pipe diameter becomes large. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a coupler which is used for connecting the ends of tubes having a ring-shaped collar fitted thereto. A body attached to the end of one tube, a tubular annular packing provided on the body and covering the outer periphery of the collar of the other tube when the ends of the tube abut against each other, and an inside of the annular packing. A fluid supply means for causing a fluid to act on the annular packing to bring the annular packing into close contact with the collar of the other tube; and a counter end of the collar of the other tube provided when the ends of the tube are abutted against each other. A cam portion which moves from a position fitted on the outer periphery of the other tube to an outer position of the collar by being rotated about an axis parallel to the central axis of the tube and located on the side of the collar. And supported on the outer periphery of the main body, Characterized by comprising the cam rotation means for rotating the arm.

[0008]

The outer circumference of the collar of the other pipe is covered with an annular packing by abutting the ends of the pipes, and a fluid is applied to the inside of the annular packing by a fluid supply means to expand the annular packing and thereby expand the collar. And keep the pipe connection airtight. The cam is rotated by the cam rotation means so that the cam portion is fitted to the outer periphery of the tube at the opposite end of the collar, and a thrust force is provided by the cam to prevent the tube from coming off. When releasing the pipe, the fluid acting inside the annular packing is released to reduce the annular packing, and the cam is rotated by the cam rotating means so that the cam portion is located outside the collar, and the pipe of the main body is removed. Expand the insertion frontage.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A description will now be given of a case where a pipe connecting coupler according to one embodiment of the present invention is used for connecting a mud pipe in a tunnel. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a pipe connection portion using a pipe connection coupler according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an arrow II portion in FIG. 1, and FIG. The view from the line III is shown. FIG. 4 shows the situation of the mud pipe in the tunnel.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 4, the feed / discharge pipe 21 is configured by adding a plurality of pipes 24 to a fixed pipe 23 (one pipe) of an extension carriage 22. The pipes 24 are shown in FIGS.
The fixed pipe 23 and the new pipe 25 (the other pipe) are connected by the pipe connecting coupler (coupler) 26 of the present embodiment.

The coupler 26 will be described with reference to FIGS. A ring-shaped collar 27 is fitted to an end of the pipe 25, and a main body 28 of the coupler 26 is fitted to an end of the fixed pipe 23. A protrusion 29 is formed on the inner peripheral end surface of the main body 28 so as to abut against the collar 27. An annular packing 3 having a bellows-shaped (tube-shaped) cross section is provided on the inner periphery of the main body 28.
0 is provided, and the annular packing 30 is fitted into the main body 28 by the presser foot 31. The annular packing 30 covers the outer periphery of the collar 27 of the pipe 25 when the ends of the fixed pipe 23 and the pipe 25 abut against each other. A fluid supply pipe 32 as fluid supply means is connected to the presser foot 31, and fluid is supplied (operated) to the inside of the annular packing 30 via the fluid supply pipe 32. When a fluid is supplied into the annular packing 30, the annular packing 30 expands and comes into close contact with the collar 27 of the pipe 25.

On the other hand, a plurality of (four in the illustrated example) cams 33 are provided on the end face of the main body 28 in the circumferential direction.
Is supported rotatably about a pin 34 parallel to the central axis of the fixed tube 23. The cam 33 is connected to the fixed pipe 23 and the pipe 2.
When the ends of the pipes 5 abut against each other, the pipes 25 are located on the side opposite to the end of the collar 27 (the right side in FIG. 1). As the cam 33 rotates, the fan-shaped cam portion 35 of the cam 33 is fitted to the outer periphery of the pipe 25 (see FIG. 3).
It moves within a range from the middle position (shown by a) to the outer position of the collar 27 (shown by b in FIG. 3). A stop plate 36 is attached to a side surface of the main body 28 with a bolt 37,
The cam 33 is fixed in the axial direction of the pin 34 by a stopper plate 36 to prevent the cam 33 from coming off. A ring 38 as a cam rotating means is rotatably supported on the outer periphery of the main body 28, and the ring 38 slides around the outer peripheries of the main body 28 and the stopper plate 36 to rotate. The ring 38 has a cam 3
3, four grooves 39 are formed.
9 is fitted with an end 40 of a cam 33. That is, by rotating the ring 38, the four cams 33 rotate in conjunction with each other.

The connection state of the mud pipe 21 using the coupler 26 will be described. When the pipe 25 is attached to the fixed pipe 23, the pipe 25 having the conventional packing 11 attached thereto is taken into one side (the right side in FIG. 4), and one side of the pipe 25 is connected to the conventional coupler 5
Connect by. With the fluid from the fluid supply pipe 32 released, the annular packing 30 is contracted, and a space is formed between the collar 27 and the annular packing 30.
Further, the ring 38 is rotated clockwise in FIG.
The four cams 33 are rotated in conjunction with each other via 9 to move the cam portion 35 to a position outside the collar 27 (the state shown by B in FIG. 3). As a result, the insertion opening of the pipe 25 of the coupler 26 is widely opened. In this state, the pipe 25
The collar 27 against the projection 29 of the body 28 of the coupler 26, and rotate the ring 38 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.
The four cams 33 are rotated in conjunction with each other through the grooves 39, and the cam portions 35 are fitted to the outer periphery of the pipe 25 (the state shown in FIG. 3A). Since the collar 27 has a larger outer diameter than the pipe 25, the collar 27 abuts on the end face of the cam 33 when the cam portion 35 is fitted on the outer periphery of the pipe 25, thereby preventing the pipe 25 from coming off. Connect the cam part 35 of the cam 33 to the pipe 2
After being fitted to the outer periphery of 5, a fluid is supplied from the fluid supply pipe 32 into the annular packing 30 to expand the annular packing 30. Due to the expansion of the annular packing 30, the outer circumference of the projection 29 of the main body 28 and the collar 27 of the pipe 25 are changed to the annular packing 30.
To keep the connection part airtight. In this state, the fluid supplied to the inside of the pipe 21 does not leak to the outside. Thus, the pipe 2 to the fixed pipe 23
Connection of No. 5 is completed.

A description will be given of a state of extension of the feed / discharge tube 21 connected by the coupler 26. When the stretching becomes necessary, after the fluid (muddy water) in the feeding and discharging mud pipe 21 is drained, the fluid from the fluid supply pipe 32 is released, and the bellows of the annular packing 30 is restored to its original state by its own rigidity. Then, the annular packing 30 is contracted to increase the inner diameter. The ring 38 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3, and the four cams 33 are rotated in conjunction with each other via the groove 39 to move the cam portion 35 to the outer position of the collar 27 (see FIG. State shown). Thereby, the connection part of the pipe 25 is released, and the pipe 25 can be removed from the main body 28 of the coupler 26. After removing the pipe 25, the extension carriage 22 is moved by the length of the new pipe 25, and the new pipe 2 is moved.
Then, the pipe 25 is connected to the fixed pipe 23 in the same manner as described above.

The above-described coupler 25 includes an annular packing 30.
By supplying fluid to the inside, the annular packing 30 is expanded to tighten the outer periphery of the collar 27 of the pipe 25 to maintain airtightness, and the cam portion of the cam 33 that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the ring 38. Since the movement of the collar 27 of the pipe 25 in the thrust direction is regulated by 35, the rotation of the ring 38 and the supply of the fluid to the annular packing 30 are performed to prevent the leakage of the fluid and maintain the thrust force due to the pressure in the pipe. Can be done easily. Also, when removing the pipe 25, the rotation of the ring 38 in the opposite direction and the annular packing 3
This can be done simply by releasing the fluid in zero.

Although the above embodiment has been described with respect to an example in which the coupler 25 is used for extending the feed / discharge pipe 21 in tunnel construction, the coupler 25 can be used for connecting other pipes. Further, the shape of the annular packing 30 is not limited to a bellows-like shape as long as the shape is a tube shape. Further, the number and shape of the cams 33 are not limited to those of the above-described embodiment.

[0017]

The pipe connecting coupler of the present invention covers the outer circumference of the collar of the other pipe when the ends of the pipes are abutted against each other, and has a tubular shape which is in close contact with the collar by the action of a fluid inside. Is provided on the other end of the collar of the other tube when the ends of the tubes are abutted against each other, and is rotated by the cam rotating means so as to be fitted to the outer periphery of the other tube. Equipped with a cam that moves the cam part in the range of the outer position of the collar, the ends of the pipes are butted against each other, and the fluid acts on the inside of the annular packing, thereby bringing the annular packing into close contact with the collar and sealing the pipe connection. By rotating the cam, the cam part is fitted to the outer circumference of the pipe at the opposite end of the collar so that the cam receives the thrust force. Strike force of the holding can be performed easily. In addition, the pipe can be easily removed by rotating the cam in the opposite direction and releasing the fluid in the annular packing. As a result,
The connection between the pipes can be easily performed, and even if the diameter of the pipes becomes large, the connection does not require much time and labor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a pipe connection portion using a pipe connection coupler according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an arrow II part in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the situation of a mud pipe in a tunnel.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the situation of a mud pipe in a tunnel.

FIG. 6 is an external view of a conventional coupler.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a connection portion between a fixed pipe and a pipe.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a stretching state of a sending and discharging mud pipe.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Sending / discharging pipe 22 Stretching cart 23 Fixed pipe 25 Piping 26 Piping connection coupler (coupler) 27 Collar 28 Main body 29 Projection 30 Annular packing 32 Fluid supply pipe 33 Cam 34 Pin 35 Cam part 36 Stop plate 38 Ring 39 Groove 40 End Department

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tadashi Okamoto 1-3-2 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo Shimizu Construction Co., Ltd. (56) Reference Literature 1-1-2060 (JP, Y2) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F16L 21/08

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A coupler which is used for connecting ends of tubes having a ring-shaped collar fitted to ends thereof,
A main body attached to an end of one of the tubes, a tubular annular packing provided on the main body and covering the outer periphery of the collar of the other tube when the ends of the tubes abut against each other, and inside the annular packing. A fluid supply means for applying a fluid to bring the annular packing into close contact with the collar of the other tube; and a counter end of the collar of the other tube provided on the main body when the ends of the tube abut against each other. A cam that moves in a range from a position fitted to the outer periphery of the other tube to an outer position of the collar by being rotated about an axis parallel to a center axis of the tube and located on the side of the other tube. And a cam rotating means supported on the outer periphery of the main body to rotate the cam.