JP7535293B2 - Pressure reducing valve unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pressure reducing valve unit that connects a vertical pipe to a water supply pipe.

In buildings such as high-rise hotels and apartment buildings, if you try to ensure water pressure in the water pipes of each room on the top floor, the water pressure in the water pipes of each room on the lower floors will be too high. Therefore, on each floor, a pressure reducing valve is installed between the water supply standpipe and the water pipes that extend to each room, and the water pressure in each room on each floor is adjusted to a specified level. Patent Document 1 describes a pressure reducing valve unit that is used in such cases. The pressure reducing valve unit in this document includes a pressure reducing valve and a stop valve connected to the primary side of the pressure reducing valve.

JP 2020-35299 A

The water supply system standpipe and pressure reducing valve unit are generally installed in a pipe shaft in which electric meters, information system wiring, water heaters, gas meters, etc. are also installed. Therefore, the connection between the standpipe and the pressure reducing valve unit, and the connection between the pressure reducing valve unit and the water piping, are made within a relatively narrow space inside the pipe shaft.

If the pressure reducing valve unit connected to the standpipe and the water piping connected to the secondary side of the pressure reducing valve unit are not in the desired positional relationship within the pipe shaft, it will be necessary to reconnect the pressure reducing valve unit to the standpipe or change the arrangement of the water piping. In such cases, it is not easy to install the pressure reducing valve unit or install the piping within the limited space.

In view of the above, the object of the present invention is to propose a pressure reducing valve unit that can easily connect a pressure reducing valve unit connected to a vertical pipe or the like to a pipe located on the secondary side of the vertical pipe, even if the two are misaligned from the desired positional relationship.

In order to solve the above problem, the pressure reducing valve unit of the present invention comprises an inlet pipe, a stop valve, a stop valve connection mechanism connecting the stop valve to the inlet pipe, and a pressure reducing valve connected to the opposite side of the inlet pipe of the stop valve, wherein the inlet pipe comprises a first pipe portion extending in a first axial direction along a first axis, and a second pipe portion communicating with the first pipe portion and extending in a second axial direction along a second axis intersecting the first axis, the first pipe portion comprising an upstream pipe portion extending in the first axial direction, a downstream pipe portion coaxial with the upstream pipe portion, and a rotary connection mechanism connecting the downstream pipe portion to the upstream pipe portion so as to be rotatable around the first axis, wherein water flowing into the inlet pipe flows through the upstream pipe portion and the downstream pipe portion in that order, the second pipe portion communicates with the downstream pipe portion, and the stop valve connection mechanism connects the stop valve to the second pipe portion so as to be rotatable around the second axis.

In the pressure reducing valve unit of the present invention, the inflow pipe is provided with a rotary connection mechanism that connects the downstream pipe section, to which the second pipe section is connected, to the upstream pipe section so as to be rotatable around the first axis. In addition, the stop valve connection mechanism that connects the second pipe section of the inflow pipe to the stop valve connects the stop valve to the second pipe section so as to be rotatable around the second axis. Therefore, for example, when the upstream pipe section of the inflow pipe is connected to the standpipe, the pressure reducing valve unit main body section consisting of the stop valve and the pressure reducing valve can rotate around the first axis and the second axis. Therefore, when the pressure reducing valve unit main body of the pressure reducing valve unit connected to the standpipe and the water pipe connected to the secondary side of the pressure reducing valve unit main body are not positioned in the desired positional relationship, the pressure reducing valve unit main body can be rotated around the first axis to adjust the positional relationship between the pressure reducing valve unit main body and the water pipe connected to the secondary side of the pressure reducing valve unit. This makes it possible to connect the pressure reducing valve unit to the pipe without reattaching the pressure reducing valve unit to the standpipe or performing the pipe routing work. Therefore, it is easy to connect the pressure reducing valve unit to the piping located on the secondary side. In addition, the pressure reducing valve unit main body rotates about the second axis. Therefore, when the pressure reducing valve unit main body is rotated about the first axis, the direction of the handle of the stop valve, etc. can be oriented in a direction that is easy to operate.

Next, a pressure reducing valve unit according to another embodiment of the present invention includes an inlet pipe, a first stop valve, a second stop valve, a first stop valve connection mechanism that connects the first stop valve to the inlet pipe, a second stop valve connection mechanism that connects the second stop valve to the inlet pipe, a first pressure reducing valve connected to the opposite side of the first stop valve to the inlet pipe, and a second pressure reducing valve connected to the opposite side of the second stop valve to the inlet pipe, and the inlet pipe includes a first pipe portion extending in a first axial direction along a first axis, a second pipe portion communicating with the first pipe portion and extending in a second axial direction along a second axis intersecting the first axis, and a third pipe portion communicating with the first pipe portion and extending in a third axial direction along a third axis intersecting the first axis. The first pipe section includes a first pipe section extending in the first axial direction, a second pipe section coaxial with the first pipe section, and a rotary connection mechanism that connects the second pipe section to the first pipe section so as to be rotatable around the first axis. Water flowing into the inlet pipe flows through the first pipe section and the second pipe section in this order, the second pipe section is connected to the first pipe section, and the third pipe section is connected to the second pipe section. The first stop valve connection mechanism connects the first stop valve to the second pipe section so as to be rotatable around the second axis, and the second stop valve connection mechanism connects the second stop valve to the third pipe section so as to be rotatable around the third axis.

In the pressure reducing valve unit of the present invention, the inflow pipe is provided with a rotary connection mechanism that allows the second pipe section, with which the third pipe section is connected, to rotate about the first axis relative to the first pipe section with which the second pipe section is connected. Also, the first stop valve connection mechanism that connects the second pipe section of the inflow pipe to the first stop valve connects the first stop valve to the second pipe section so that it can rotate about the second axis. Furthermore, the second stop valve connection mechanism that connects the third pipe section of the inflow pipe to the second stop valve connects the second stop valve to the third pipe section so that it can rotate about the third axis. Therefore, for example, when the first pipe section of the inflow pipe is connected to the vertical pipe, the first pressure reducing valve unit body consisting of the first stop valve and the first pressure reducing valve can rotate about the second axis. Also, the second pressure reducing valve unit body consisting of the second stop valve and the second pressure reducing valve can rotate about the first axis and the third axis.

Here, if the second pressure reducing valve unit body of the pressure reducing valve unit connected to the standpipe and the water pipe connected to the secondary side of the second pressure reducing valve unit body are not positioned in the desired positional relationship, the second pressure reducing valve unit body can be rotated around the first axis to adjust the positional relationship between the second pressure reducing valve unit body and the water pipe connected to the secondary side of the second pressure reducing valve unit body. This allows the second pressure reducing valve unit body and the pipe to be connected without having to reattach the pressure reducing valve unit to the standpipe or perform the work of laying the pipe. Therefore, even if the pressure reducing valve unit and the pipe located on the secondary side of the second pressure reducing valve unit body are deviated from the desired positional relationship, they can be easily connected. In addition, the second pressure reducing valve unit body rotates around the third axis. Therefore, when the second pressure reducing valve unit body is rotated around the first axis, the second pressure reducing valve unit body can be rotated around the third axis to orient the handle of the second stop valve in a direction that is easy to operate. Furthermore, since the first pressure reducing valve unit body can be rotated about the second axis, the handle of the first stop valve can be oriented in a direction that is easy to operate.

Furthermore, a pressure reducing valve unit of the present invention according to another aspect of the present invention includes an inlet pipe, a first stop valve, a second stop valve, a first stop valve connection mechanism connecting the first stop valve to the inlet pipe, a second stop valve connection mechanism connecting the second stop valve to the inlet pipe, a first pressure reducing valve connected to the side of the first stop valve opposite the inlet pipe, and a second pressure reducing valve connected to the side of the second stop valve opposite the inlet pipe, wherein the inlet pipe includes a first pipe portion extending in a first axial direction along a first axis, a second pipe portion communicating with the first pipe portion and extending in a second axial direction along a second axis intersecting the first axis, and a third pipe portion communicating with the first pipe portion and extending in a third axial direction along a third axis intersecting the first axis, and the first pipe portion includes an upstream pipe portion extending in the first axial direction, The inlet pipe has a first pipe section coaxial with the upstream pipe section, a second pipe section coaxial with the first pipe section, a first rotary connection mechanism that connects the first pipe section to the upstream pipe section so that it can rotate around the first axis , and a second rotary connection mechanism that connects the second pipe section to the first pipe section so that it can rotate around the first axis, wherein water flowing into the inlet pipe flows through the upstream pipe section, the first pipe section, and the second pipe section, in that order, the second pipe section is connected to the first pipe section, the third pipe section is connected to the second pipe section, the first stopcock connection mechanism connects the first stopcock to the second pipe section so that it can rotate around the second axis, and the second stopcock connection mechanism connects the second stopcock to the third pipe section so that it can rotate around the third axis.

In the pressure reducing valve unit of the present invention, the inflow pipe is provided with a first rotation connection mechanism 31 that allows the first pipe section, to which the second pipe section is connected, to rotate about the first axis relative to the upstream pipe section. The inflow pipe is also provided with a second rotation connection mechanism 32 that allows the second pipe section, to which the third pipe section is connected, to rotate about the first axis relative to the first pipe section. Furthermore, the first stop valve connection mechanism that connects the second pipe section of the inflow pipe to the first stop valve connects the first stop valve to the second pipe section so that it can rotate about the second axis. The second stop valve connection mechanism that connects the third pipe section of the inflow pipe to the second stop valve connects the second stop valve to the third pipe section so that it can rotate about the third axis. Therefore, for example, when the upstream pipe section of the inflow pipe is connected to the vertical pipe, the first pressure reducing valve unit body consisting of the first stop valve and the first pressure reducing valve can rotate about the first axis and the second axis. In addition, the second pressure reducing valve unit body consisting of the second stop valve and the second pressure reducing valve can rotate around the first axis and the third axis.

Here, if the first pressure reducing valve unit body of the pressure reducing valve unit connected to the vertical pipe and the first water pipe connected to the secondary side of the first pressure reducing valve unit body are not positioned in the desired positional relationship, the first pressure reducing valve unit body can be rotated around the first axis to adjust the positional relationship between the first pressure reducing valve unit body and the first pipe. Also, if the second pressure reducing valve unit body of the pressure reducing valve unit connected to the vertical pipe and the second water pipe connected to the secondary side of the second pressure reducing valve unit body are not positioned in the desired positional relationship, the second pressure reducing valve unit body can be rotated around the first axis to adjust the positional relationship between the second pressure reducing valve unit body and the second pipe. This makes it possible to connect the second pressure reducing valve unit body and the pipe without reattaching the pressure reducing valve unit to the vertical pipe or performing the work of laying the pipe. Therefore, even if the pressure reducing valve unit connected to the vertical pipe and the first pipe are deviated from the desired positional relationship, they can be easily connected. Also, even if the pressure reducing valve unit connected to the vertical pipe and the second pipe are deviated from the desired positional relationship, they can be easily connected.

Moreover, the first pressure reducing valve unit body rotates about the second axis. Therefore, when the first pressure reducing valve unit body is rotated about the first axis, the first pressure reducing valve unit body can be rotated about the second axis, so that the handle of the first stop valve and the like can be oriented in a direction that is easy to operate. Similarly, the second pressure reducing valve unit body rotates about the third axis. Therefore, when the second pressure reducing valve unit body is rotated about the first axis, the second pressure reducing valve unit body can be rotated about the third axis, so that the handle of the second stop valve and the like can be oriented in a direction that is easy to operate.

In the present invention, the first pipe section and the second pipe section are made of one piping member, and in the piping member, the second pipe section protrudes in the second axial direction from the middle of the first pipe section in the first axial direction, and it is desirable that a guide protrusion is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the piping member on one side of an imaginary plane including the first pipe axis of the first pipe section extending along the first axis and the second pipe axis of the second pipe section extending along the second axis, for guiding a part of the water flowing through the first pipe section to the second pipe section. In this way, a part of the water flowing through the first pipe section flows into the second pipe section along the guide protrusion. Therefore, the water flowing in from the inlet pipe can be made to flow through the second pipe section and the first pressure reducing valve unit main body into the pipe connected to the secondary side of the first pressure reducing valve unit main body, and through the third pipe section and the second pressure reducing valve unit main body into the pipe connected to the secondary side of the second pressure reducing valve unit main body. In addition, by providing such a guide protrusion, it becomes easy to ensure the flow rate of the water flowing through the first pressure reducing valve unit main body.

In the present invention, when the upstream side of the flow direction of water flowing through the first pipe section is defined as a first direction and the downstream side is defined as a second direction, the guide protrusion can be curved in the first direction from a region of the end of the second pipe section that is on the first pipe section side and that is located in the second direction from the second pipe axis toward the first pipe section, and the end of the guide protrusion in the first direction can be located in the first direction from the second pipe axis. In this way, the guide protrusion can easily guide the water flowing through the first pipe section to the second pipe section.

In the present invention, the guide protrusions include a one-side guide protrusion provided on one side of the imaginary plane and a second-side guide protrusion provided on the other side of the imaginary plane, and the one-side guide protrusion and the other-side guide protrusion can be continuous in a region of the second pipe section that is located in the second direction from the second pipe axis. In this way, the water flowing through the first pipe section can be guided to the second pipe section by a pair of guide protrusions consisting of the one-side guide protrusion and the other-side guide protrusion, and the portion where the pair of guide protrusions are continuous. Therefore, it becomes easier to ensure the flow rate of water flowing through the first pressure reducing valve unit body.

In the present invention, the inner diameter of the second pipe section can be smaller than the inner diameter of the first pipe section. In this way, water flowing through the first pipe section can more easily flow into the second pipe section. Therefore, it becomes even easier to ensure the flow rate of water flowing through the first pressure reducing valve unit body.

In the pressure reducing valve unit of the present invention, when the inlet pipe is connected to a vertical pipe or the like, the pressure reducing valve unit body consisting of a stop valve and a pressure reducing valve can be rotated around the first axis. Therefore, if the pressure reducing valve unit body and the water piping connected to the secondary side of the pressure reducing valve unit body are not positioned in the desired positional relationship, the pressure reducing valve unit body can be rotated around the first axis to adjust the positional relationship between the pressure reducing valve unit body and the water piping connected to the secondary side of the pressure reducing valve unit. This makes it easy to connect the pressure reducing valve unit to the piping located on the secondary side. In addition, in the pressure reducing valve unit, the pressure reducing valve unit can be rotated around a second axis that intersects with the first axis. Therefore, when the pressure reducing valve unit body is rotated around the first axis, the direction of the stop valve handle, etc. can be oriented in a direction that is easy to operate.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pressure reducing valve unit of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an inlet pipe of the pressure reducing valve unit of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure reducing valve unit main body of the pressure reducing valve unit of the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an installation state in which the orientation of the pressure reducing valve unit main body is changed. 13 is an explanatory diagram of another installation state in which the orientation of the pressure reducing valve unit main body is changed. FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a pressure reducing valve unit according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an inlet pipe of a pressure reducing valve unit of a second embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of a tee constituting the inlet pipe. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 8. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an installation state in which the orientation of the second pressure reducing valve unit body is changed in the pressure reducing valve unit of the second embodiment. 10 is an explanatory diagram of another installation state in which the orientation of the second pressure reducing valve unit body is changed in the pressure reducing valve unit of the second embodiment. FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a pressure reducing valve unit according to a third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an inlet pipe of a pressure reducing valve unit of a third embodiment. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an installation state in which the orientation of the second pressure reducing valve unit body is changed in the pressure reducing valve unit of the third embodiment. 13 is an explanatory diagram of another installation state in which the orientation of the second pressure reducing valve unit body is changed in the pressure reducing valve unit of the third embodiment. FIG. FIG. 11 is a side view of a pressure reducing valve unit according to a modified example.

Below, we will explain the pressure reducing valve unit, which is an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings.

Example 1
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pressure reducing valve unit of the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an inlet pipe of the pressure reducing valve unit of the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure reducing valve unit body of the pressure reducing valve unit of the first embodiment. The pressure reducing valve unit 1 is installed on each floor of a high-rise hotel or apartment building between a water supply standpipe 2 and water supply piping 4 extending to each room, and adjusts the water pressure in each room to a predetermined water pressure. The water supply system standpipe 2 and pressure reducing valve unit 1 are generally installed in a pipe shaft in which an electric meter, information system wiring, a water heater, a gas meter, etc. are installed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pressure reducing valve unit 1 includes an inlet pipe 10, a stop valve 11, and a stop valve connection mechanism 14 that connects the stop valve 11 to the inlet pipe 10. The pressure reducing valve unit 1 also includes a pressure reducing valve 17 that is connected to the stop valve 11 on the side opposite the inlet pipe 10. The stop valve 11 and the pressure reducing valve 17 form a pressure reducing valve unit main body 20. The primary side of the inlet pipe 10 is connected to the standpipe 2 via a pipe joint 3. The pressure reducing valve unit main body 20 is disposed on the secondary side of the inlet pipe 10. A water pipe 4 is connected to the secondary side of the pressure reducing valve unit main body 20. That is, the water pipe 4 is connected to the secondary side of the pressure reducing valve 17.

(Inlet pipe)
As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the inlet pipe 10 includes a first pipe portion 21 extending in a first axial direction X along a first axis L1, and a second pipe portion 22 extending in a second axial direction Y along a second axis L2 that communicates with the first pipe portion 21 and intersects with the first axis L1. The first pipe portion 21 and the second pipe portion 22 communicate with each other via a curved pipe portion 24 that is continuous with an end portion of the first pipe portion 21 on the opposite side to the standpipe 2. One end of the first pipe portion 21 is connected to the standpipe 2. The first axis L1 and the second axis L2 are orthogonal to each other. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 2, the first pipe axis L21 of the first pipe portion 21 and the second pipe axis L22 of the second pipe portion 22 are orthogonal to each other. In the following description, the upstream side of the flow direction of water flowing in the first axial direction X through the first pipe portion 21 is defined as the first direction X1, and the downstream side is defined as the second direction X2. That is, in the first pipe section 21, the side where the vertical pipe 2 is located is defined as a first direction X1, and the side where the curved pipe section 24 is located is defined as a second direction X2.

The first pipe section 21 includes an upstream pipe section 25 extending in the first axial direction X, a downstream pipe section 26 extending coaxially with the upstream pipe section 25 on the second direction X2 side of the upstream pipe section 25, and a rotary connection mechanism 30 that rotatably connects the downstream pipe section 26 to the upstream pipe section 25 around the first axis L1. Water flowing from the vertical pipe 2 into the inlet pipe 10 flows through the upstream pipe section 25 and the downstream pipe section 26 in this order. The second pipe section 22 communicates with the downstream pipe section 26 of the first pipe section 21 via the curved pipe section 24. The second pipe section 22, the curved pipe section 24, and the downstream pipe section 26 are made of an elbow 8. The elbow 8 curves from the first axial direction X toward the second direction X2 in the first axial direction Y. The elbow 8 includes a protrusion 8a that protrudes from the curved pipe section 24 to the outer periphery.

2, the upstream pipe section 25 has a large-diameter cylindrical portion 33 at its end in the second direction X2, the large-diameter cylindrical portion 33 being larger in diameter than the portion in the first direction X1. The rotary connection mechanism 30 has the large-diameter cylindrical portion 33, an insertion cylindrical portion 34 that is the end portion of the downstream pipe section 26 in the first direction X1 and is inserted into the inner periphery of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 33, an annular packing 35 that is interposed between the large-diameter cylindrical portion 33 and the insertion cylindrical portion 34, and a ring-shaped member 36 that is interposed between the large-diameter cylindrical portion 33 and the insertion cylindrical portion 34.

More specifically, the rotary connection mechanism 30 has a notch 37 cut out from the tip side and the outer periphery side at the end of the insertion tube portion 34 in the first direction X1. The packing 35 is disposed in the notch 37 and elastically deforms in the radial direction between the insertion tube portion 34 and the large diameter tube portion 33. The insertion tube portion 34 also has an inner annular groove 38 surrounding the first tube axis L21 in the second direction X2 of the notch 37. The large diameter tube portion 33 has an outer annular groove 39 that faces the inner annular groove 38 in the radial direction when the insertion tube portion 34 is inserted into the large diameter tube portion 33. The ring-shaped member 36 has an inner peripheral portion inserted into the inner annular groove 38 and an outer peripheral portion inserted into the outer annular groove 39.

(Stop valve)
Next, the stop valve 11 is a ball stop valve. As shown in FIG. 3, the stop valve 11 includes a valve box portion 50, an inlet pipe portion 51 extending from the valve box portion 50 in the second axial direction Y, and an outlet pipe portion 52 extending from the valve box portion 50 in the second axial direction Y to the opposite side to the inlet pipe portion 51. The valve box portion 50 includes a valve chamber 53 therein. A ball valve body 54 is accommodated in the valve chamber 53. The ball stop valve also includes a handle 55 for rotating the ball valve body 54. The handle 55 includes a shaft portion 56 and an operating portion 57 provided at one end of the shaft portion 56. The shaft portion 56 penetrates the valve box portion 50 from the outside to the inside in the orthogonal direction V perpendicular to the second axis L2, and the end of the shaft portion 56 opposite the operating portion 57 is connected to the ball valve body 54. Here, the inlet pipe portion 51 is connected to the second pipe portion 22 of the inlet pipe 10 via the stopcock connection mechanism 14 .

(Stop valve connection mechanism)
The stop valve connection mechanism 14 connects the stop valve 11 to the second pipe portion 22 so as to be rotatable about the second axis L2. As shown in Fig. 2, the second pipe portion 22 has a large-diameter cylindrical portion 41 at an end portion in the second axial direction Y, the large-diameter cylindrical portion 41 having a larger diameter than the portion on the curved pipe portion 24 side. The stopcock connection mechanism 14 comprises a large diameter tubular portion 41, an insertion tubular portion 51a which is the tip portion of the inlet pipe portion 51 of the stopcock 11 and is inserted into the inner side of the large diameter tubular portion 41, a ring-shaped stopcock side flange portion 51b which protrudes outward from a position adjacent to the insertion tubular portion 51a in the inlet pipe portion 51 of the stopcock 11, two ring-shaped gaskets 44 interposed between the large diameter tubular portion 41 and the insertion tubular portion 51a, and a holding mechanism 45 which holds the large diameter tubular portion 41 and the insertion tubular portion 51a of the stopcock 11 so that they cannot be separated in the second axial direction Y and can be rotatable around the second axis L2.

More specifically, the large-diameter tube portion 41 of the second pipe portion 22 has an annular inlet pipe flange portion 42 protruding toward the outer periphery at its end, and an annular recess 43 provided along the inlet pipe flange portion 42 at a position adjacent to the inlet pipe flange portion 42. When the insertion tube portion 51a of the stopcock 11 is inserted into the large-diameter tube portion 41, the stopcock flange portion 51b abuts against the inlet pipe flange portion 42. The insertion tube portion 51a of the stopcock 11 has two annular grooves 51c provided in parallel on its outer periphery. The two packings 44 are each disposed in the annular grooves 51c and are elastically deformed in the radial direction between the large-diameter tube portion 41 and the insertion tube portion 51a of the stopcock 11. The holding mechanism 45 has a plurality of holding members 46 having arc grooves 46a that can receive the stopcock flange portion 51b and the inlet pipe flange portion 42 in a state of abutment in the second axial direction Y. As shown in Fig. 1, the multiple holding members 46 are arranged at intervals around the second axis L2. As shown in Fig. 2, when the stopcock side flange portion 51b and the inlet pipe side flange portion 42 are inserted into the arc groove 46a, the portion of each holding member 46 located above the arc groove 46a in the second axial direction Y abuts against the bottom surface of the annular recess 43 of the large diameter tubular portion 41, and the portion located below the arc groove 46a abuts against a portion adjacent to the stopcock side flange portion 51b on the outer circumferential surface of the inlet pipe portion 51 of the stopcock 11. As shown in Fig. 1, the holding mechanism 45 includes a wire member 47 stretched across the multiple holding members 46, and a tightening mechanism 48 that pulls the wire member 47 in the circumferential direction to press each of the multiple holding members 46 against the bottom surface of the annular recess 43 and the outer circumferential surface of the inlet pipe portion 51 of the stopcock 11. The tightening mechanism 48 keeps each retaining member 46 pressed against the bottom surface of the annular recess 43 and the outer circumferential surface of the inlet pipe portion 51 of the stopcock 11.

(Pressure reducing valve)
As shown in FIG. 3, the pressure reducing valve 17 includes an inlet pipe portion 61 extending in the second axial direction Y, an outlet pipe portion 62 coaxial with the inlet pipe portion 61, and a pressure reducing valve main body portion 60 located between the inlet pipe portion 61 and the outlet pipe portion 62. The inlet pipe portion 61 is connected to the outlet pipe portion 52 of the stop valve 11 via a connection mechanism 58. The connection mechanism 58 is a general one including a cap nut and a packing. The pressure reducing valve main body portion 60 has an internal flow path 65 that communicates with the inlet pipe portion 61 and the outlet pipe portion 62. The pressure reducing valve main body portion 60 also holds a diaphragm 66 inside. Water flowing into the pressure reducing valve 17 through the stop valve 11 passes through the inlet pipe portion 61, the internal flow path 65, and the outlet pipe portion 62 in this order. The outlet pipe portion 62 is connected to a water supply pipe 4 heading toward each room of the building. A check valve may be disposed at the end of the pipe 4 on the side of the pressure reducing valve 17.

The internal flow passage 65 provided in the pressure reducing valve main body portion 60 has a flow passage portion 67 extending in an orthogonal direction V perpendicular to the second axis L2. The flow passage portion 67 extends coaxially with the diaphragm 66. The flow passage portion 67 has an intermediate region 67a communicating with the inlet pipe portion 61 in the middle in the orthogonal direction V. The end of the flow passage portion 67 opposite the diaphragm 66 is the downstream end of the flow passage portion 67. An annular valve seat 68 is provided on the opening edge of the downstream end of the flow passage portion 67. Here, in the internal flow passage 65, the first region 65a located on the opposite side of the valve seat 68 from the flow passage portion 67 communicates with the second region 65b located on the diaphragm 66 side in the flow passage portion 67. The first region 65a and the second region 65b are the downstream flow passage portion 69 located downstream of the valve seat 68 in the internal flow passage 65. The downstream flow passage portion 69 communicates with the outlet pipe portion 62. The intermediate region 67a and the second region 65b are shielded by a shielding member.

The diaphragm 66 constitutes a part of the wall surface of the downstream flow path portion 69. The diaphragm 66 has a circular outline shape when viewed from the orthogonal direction V. The diaphragm 66 is disposed at a position overlapping with the flow path portion 67 and the valve seat 68 when viewed from the orthogonal direction V. The outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm 66 is held by the pressure reducing valve main body portion 60. The diaphragm 66 is supported at a predetermined position by a coil spring 70 disposed on the opposite side of the diaphragm 66 to the internal flow path 65. The central portion of the diaphragm 66 is displaced in the orthogonal direction V in response to the water pressure in the downstream flow path portion 69.

A stem 71 is fixed to the diaphragm 66 on the side opposite the coil spring 70. The stem 71 extends from the center of the diaphragm 66 in the perpendicular direction V. The stem 71 passes through the shielding member from the second region 65b of the flow passage portion 67, passes through the valve seat 68 via the intermediate region 67a, and reaches the first region 65a. A valve body 72 is fixed to the end of the stem 71 on the side opposite the diaphragm 66. The valve body 72 is located in the first region 65a, and faces the valve seat 68 from the downstream side of the valve seat 68.

When the central portion of the diaphragm 66 is displaced in the perpendicular direction V in response to the water pressure in the downstream flow passage portion 69, the stem 71 is displaced in the perpendicular direction V in conjunction with the displacement of the diaphragm 66. This causes the valve body 72 to displace in a direction toward and away from the valve seat 68, changing the distance between the valve seat 68. Therefore, the pressure reducing valve 17 can adjust the pressure of the water passing through the pressure reducing valve 17 to a predetermined pressure.

(Connection between vertical pipe and water piping via pressure reducing valve unit)
Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an installation state in which the direction of the pressure reducing valve unit body 20 is changed in the pressure reducing valve unit 1 of Example 1. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a usage state in another installation state in which the direction of the pressure reducing valve unit body 20 is changed in the pressure reducing valve unit 1 of Example 1.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, when the water pipe 4 connected to the secondary side of the pressure reducing valve unit 1 is installed parallel to the vertical pipe 2 and the pipe 4 is located below the pipe fitting 3 attached to the vertical pipe 2, the downstream pipe section 26 of the first pipe section 21 of the inlet pipe 10 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1 is rotated around the first axis L1 to point the second pipe section 22 downward and make the second pipe section 22 parallel to the vertical pipe 2. Then, the pipe 4 is connected to the outlet pipe section 62 of the pressure reducing valve 17.

Although not shown, if the pipe fitting 3 attached to the standpipe 2 and the piping 4 are misaligned in the circumferential direction around the pipe axis L0 of the standpipe 2, the rotation angle position of the downstream pipe section 26 relative to the upstream pipe section 25 around the first axis L1 is adjusted to tilt the second pipe section 22 relative to the standpipe 2. This aligns the positions of the outlet pipe section 62 of the pressure reducing valve 17 and the piping 4 in the circumferential direction, and then the piping 4 is connected to the outlet pipe section 62 of the pressure reducing valve 17.

In addition, when connecting the vertical pipe 2 and the piping 4 via the pressure reducing valve unit 1, if the operating part 57 of the stop valve 11 faces in a direction that makes it difficult to operate, the pressure reducing valve unit body 20 is rotated around the second axis L2 relative to the second pipe portion 22 of the inlet pipe 10 as shown in Figure 4 to adjust the orientation of the handle 55 of the stop valve 11.

Furthermore, for example, when the piping 4 is installed parallel to the standpipe 2 and the piping 4 is located above the pipe fitting 3 attached to the standpipe 2, as shown in FIG. 5, the downstream pipe section 26 of the first pipe section 21 of the inlet pipe 10 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1 is rotated about the first axis L1 to orient the second pipe section 22 upward and make the second pipe section 22 parallel to the standpipe 2. Also, to make it easier to operate the operation section 57 of the stopcock 11, the pressure reducing valve unit main body 20 is rotated about the second axis L2 relative to the second pipe section 22 of the inlet pipe 10 to change the orientation of the handle 55 of the stopcock 11. Then, the piping 4 is connected above the outlet pipe section 62 of the pressure reducing valve 17.

In this case as well, if the pipe joint 3 attached to the stand pipe 2 and the piping 4 are misaligned in the circumferential direction about the pipe axis L0 of the stand pipe 2, the rotation angle position of the downstream pipe section 26 about the first axis L1 relative to the upstream pipe section 25 is adjusted to incline the second pipe section 22 with respect to the stand pipe 2. This aligns the positions of the outlet pipe section 62 of the pressure reducing valve 17 and the piping 4 in the circumferential direction, and then the piping 4 is connected above the outlet pipe section 62 of the pressure reducing valve 17.

(Action and Effect)
According to this example, the inlet pipe 10 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1 includes a rotary connection mechanism 30 that connects the downstream pipe section 26, with which the second pipe section 22 is in communication, to the upstream pipe section 25 so as to be rotatable about the first axis L1. Also, the stop valve connection mechanism 14 that connects the second pipe section 22 of the inlet pipe 10 to the stop valve 11 connects the stop valve 11 to the second pipe section 22 so as to be rotatable about the second axis L2. Therefore, when the upstream pipe section 25 of the inlet pipe 10 is connected to the standpipe, the pressure reducing valve unit main body 20, which is composed of the stop valve 11 and the pressure reducing valve 17, becomes rotatable about the first axis L1 and the second axis L2.

Therefore, if the pressure reducing valve unit body 20 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1 connected to the vertical pipe 2 and the piping 4 are not positioned in the desired positional relationship, the pressure reducing valve unit body 20 can be rotated around the first axis L1 to adjust the positional relationship between the pressure reducing valve unit body 20 and the piping 4 connected to the secondary side of the pressure reducing valve unit 1. This makes it possible to connect the pressure reducing valve unit 1 and the piping 4 without having to reattach the pressure reducing valve unit 1 to the vertical pipe 2 or perform the work of routing the piping 4. Therefore, even in a narrow space such as a pipe shaft, it is easy to connect the pressure reducing valve unit 1 to the piping 4 located on its secondary side. In addition, the pressure reducing valve unit body 20 rotates around the second axis L2. Therefore, when the pressure reducing valve unit body 20 is rotated around the first axis L1, the handle 55 of the stop valve 11 can be oriented in a direction that is easy to operate.

Example 2
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pressure reducing valve unit of the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the inlet pipe 10 of the pressure reducing valve unit of the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a side view of a tee constituting the inlet pipe. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of A-A in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of B-B in FIG. The pressure reducing valve unit 1A of this embodiment is installed between the water supply standpipe 2 and the piping 4 extending to each room, similar to the pressure reducing valve unit 1 described above. In this embodiment, the water in the standpipe 2 is circulated through the pressure reducing valve unit 1A to two piping systems, the first piping 5 for water supply and the second piping 6 for water supply. The pressure reducing valve unit 1A has a configuration corresponding to that of the pressure reducing valve unit 1 described above, and corresponding components are assigned corresponding symbols, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

6, the pressure reducing valve unit 1A includes an inlet pipe 10, a first stop valve 12, a second stop valve 13, a first stop valve connection mechanism 15 that connects the first stop valve 12 to the inlet pipe 10, and a second stop valve connection mechanism 16 that connects the second stop valve 13 to the inlet pipe 10. The pressure reducing valve unit 1A also includes a first pressure reducing valve 18 connected to the opposite side of the first stop valve 12 from the inlet pipe 10, and a second pressure reducing valve 19 connected to the opposite side of the second stop valve 13 from the inlet pipe 10. The first stop valve 12 and the first pressure reducing valve 18 constitute a first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1). The second stop valve 13 and the second pressure reducing valve 19 constitute a second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2). The primary side of the inlet pipe 10 is connected to the vertical pipe 2 via a pipe joint 3. The first pressure reducing valve unit body 20(1) and the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2) are disposed on the secondary side of the inlet pipe 10. The first pipe 5 is connected to the secondary side of the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20(1). The second pipe 6 is connected to the secondary side of the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2). That is, the first pipe 5 is connected to the secondary side of the first pressure reducing valve 18, and the second pipe 6 is connected to the secondary side of the second pressure reducing valve 19.

(Inlet pipe)
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the inlet pipe 10 includes a first pipe portion 21 extending in a first axial direction X along a first axis L1, a second pipe portion 22 communicating with the first pipe portion 21 and extending in a second axial direction Y along a second axis L2 intersecting the first axis L1, and a third pipe portion 22 communicating with the first pipe portion 21 and intersecting the first axis L1.
The third pipe portion 23 extends in a third axial direction Z along the axis L3. The third pipe portion 23 and the first pipe portion 21 communicate with each other via a curved pipe portion 24 that is continuous with the end portion of the first pipe portion 21 on the opposite side to the stand pipe 2. The first axis L1 and the second axis L2 are perpendicular to each other. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the first pipe axis L21 of the first pipe portion 21 and the second pipe axis L22 of the second pipe portion 22 are perpendicular to each other. The first axis L1 and the third axis L3 are perpendicular to each other. Therefore, the first pipe axis L21 of the first pipe portion 21 and the third pipe axis L23 of the third pipe portion 23 are perpendicular to each other.

The first pipe section 21 includes an upstream pipe section 25 extending in the first axial direction X, a first pipe section 27 extending in the first axial direction X coaxially with the upstream pipe section 25, a second pipe section 28 extending in the first axial direction X coaxially with the first pipe section 27, a fastening mechanism 7 fastening the upstream pipe section 25 and the first pipe section 27, and a rotary connection mechanism 30 connecting the second pipe section 28 to the first pipe section 27 so as to be rotatable around the first axis L1. The upstream pipe section 25 is connected to the standpipe 2 via a pipe joint 3. Water flowing from the standpipe 2 into the inlet pipe 10 flows through the upstream pipe section 25, the first pipe section 27, and the second pipe section 28 in this order. The second pipe section 22 is connected to the first pipe section 27. That is, the second pipe section 22 protrudes in the second axial direction Y from the middle of the first pipe section 27 in the first axial direction X. Here, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the first pipe section 27 and the second pipe section 22 are made of a tee 9 (piping member). The third pipe section 23 is connected to the second pipe section 28 via the curved pipe section 24. The second pipe section 22, the curved pipe section 24, and the second pipe section 28 are made of an elbow 8. As shown in Fig. 7, the elbow 8 is curved from the first axial direction X toward the second direction X2 in the third axial direction Z. The elbow 8 has a protrusion 8a that protrudes from the curved pipe section 24 toward the outer periphery.

As shown in FIG. 7, the upstream pipe section 25 has an annular flange section 25a that extends outward at its end in the second direction X2. The first pipe section 27 has a male thread 27a on the outer circumferential surface of its end in the first direction X1. The first pipe section 27 also has a notch section 27b that is cut out from the first direction X1 and outer circumferential side at its end in the first direction X1. The fastening mechanism 7 has an annular packing 74 that is disposed in the notch section 37 and is interposed between the upstream pipe section 25 and the first pipe section 27, and a bag nut 77. The bag nut 77 has a bag section 77a that is engaged with the flange section 25a of the upstream pipe section 25 from the first direction X1 side, and a nut section 77b that is screwed into the male thread 27a of the first pipe section 27.

The rotary connection mechanism 30 has the same configuration as the rotary connection mechanism 30 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1 of Example 1. That is, the rotary connection mechanism 30 includes a large diameter cylindrical portion 33 provided at the end portion of the first pipe portion 27 in the second direction X2, an insertion cylindrical portion 34 that is at the end portion of the second pipe portion 28 in the first direction X1 and is inserted into the inner periphery of the large diameter cylindrical portion 33, an annular packing 35 interposed between the large diameter cylindrical portion 33 and the insertion cylindrical portion 34, and a ring-shaped member 36 interposed between the large diameter cylindrical portion 33 and the insertion cylindrical portion 34.

Here, as shown in Figs. 7, 9, and 10, a pair of guide protrusions 75a, 75b are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the tee 9 constituting the first pipe section 27 and the second pipe section 22 to guide a portion of the water flowing through the first pipe section 27 to the second pipe section 22. More specifically, on the inner peripheral surface of the tee 9, a one-side guide protrusion 75a is provided on one side of an imaginary plane S (see Figs. 9 and 10) including the first pipe axis L21 of the first pipe section 27 extending along the first axis L1 and the second pipe axis L22 of the second pipe section 22 extending along the second axis L2, and a second-side guide protrusion is provided on the other side of the imaginary plane S. The one-side guide protrusion 75a and the other-side guide protrusion 75b have shapes that are symmetrical with respect to the imaginary plane S.

7, each of the guide projections 75a, 75b curves in the first direction X1 from a region H located in the second direction X2 from the end of the second tube portion 22 on the side of the first tube section 27 relative to the second tube axis L22 toward the first tube section 27. Each of the guide projections 75a, 75b tapers from the region H toward the tip side in the first direction X1.
The end 75c in the direction X1 is located in the first direction X1 further than the second tube axis L22. In this example, the end 75c in the first direction X1 of each guide protrusion 75a, 75b is located in the first direction X1 further than the second tube axis L22. The end 75c in the first direction X1 of each guide protrusion 75a, 75b is located in the first direction X1 further than the end in the first direction X1 of the opening of the second tube portion 22 on the outer circumferential surface of the first tube portion 27. In addition, the end 75c in the first direction X1 of each guide protrusion 75a, 75b is located on the first tube axis L21 of the first tube portion 27 or on a side slightly separated from the second tube portion 22 (opposite the second tube portion 22) from the first tube axis L21 of the first tube portion 27 when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the imaginary plane S, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, each of the guide projections 75a, 75b has a mountain-like shape with a gently sloping arcuate outline in a cross section cut in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which it extends.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the one-side guide protrusion 75a and the other-side guide protrusion 75b are continuous in a region located in the second direction X2 from the second tube axis L22 in the second tube portion 22. As shown in Figures 6, 8, and 10, the tee 9 has recesses 76 in its outer circumferential surface at positions overlapping with the guide protrusions 75a and 75b. The recesses 76 are curved in the first direction X1 from the outer circumferential surface of a region H located in the second direction X2 from the second tube axis L22 at the end of the second tube portion 22 on the first tube portion 27 side toward the first tube portion 27 side.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the second inner diameter dimension D2 of the elbow 8 is shorter than the first inner diameter dimension D1 of the first pipe section 27 of the tee 9. In other words, the inner diameters of the second pipe section 28, the curved pipe section 24, and the third pipe section 23 are smaller than the inner diameter of the first pipe section 27.

Next, the first stop valve 12 and the second stop valve 13 are the same as the stop valve 11 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1 described above. As shown in FIG. 6, the first stop valve 12 is connected to the second pipe portion 22 of the inlet pipe 10 via the first stop valve connection mechanism 15. The second stop valve 13 is connected to the third pipe portion 23 of the inlet pipe 10 via the second stop valve connection mechanism 16.

The first stop valve connection mechanism 15 connects the first stop valve 12 to the second pipe portion 22 so that it can rotate about the second axis L2. The second stop valve connection mechanism 16 connects the second stop valve 13 to the third pipe portion 23 so that it can rotate about the third axis L3. The first stop valve connection mechanism 15 and the second stop valve connection mechanism 16 have the same configuration as the stop valve connection mechanism 14 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1 described above. That is, as shown in FIG. 7 , the first stopcock connection mechanism 15 comprises a large diameter tubular portion 41 provided at the end of the second pipe portion 22 opposite the first pipe portion 27, an insertion tubular portion 51a which is the tip portion of the inlet pipe portion 51 of the first stopcock 12 and is inserted into the inner side of the large diameter tubular portion 41, a ring-shaped stopcock side flange portion 51b which protrudes outward from a position adjacent to the insertion tubular portion 51a in the inlet pipe portion 51 of the first stopcock 12, two ring-shaped gaskets 44 interposed between the large diameter tubular portion 41 and the insertion tubular portion 51a, and a holding mechanism 45 which holds the large diameter tubular portion 41 and the insertion tubular portion 51a of the stopcock 11 so that they cannot be separated in the second axial direction Y and can be rotatable around the second axis L2. Similarly, the second stopcock connection mechanism 16 includes a large diameter tube 41 provided at the end of the third pipe section 23 opposite the second pipe section 28, an insertion tube 51a that is the tip of the inlet pipe section 51 of the second stopcock 13 and is inserted into the inner circumference of the large diameter tube 41, an annular stopcock side flange 51b that protrudes outward from a position adjacent to the insertion tube 51a in the inlet pipe section 51 of the second stopcock 13, two annular gaskets 44 interposed between the large diameter tube 41 and the insertion tube 51a, and a holding mechanism 45 that holds the large diameter tube 41 and the insertion tube 51a of the stopcock 11 in such a way that they cannot be separated in the third axis direction Z and can rotate around the third axis L3.

The first pressure reducing valve 18 and the second pressure reducing valve 19 are the same as the pressure reducing valve 17 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1 described above. As shown in Fig. 6, an inlet pipe portion 61 of the first pressure reducing valve 18 is connected to an outlet pipe portion 52 of the first stop valve 12 via a connection mechanism 58. The first piping 5 leading to each room is connected to the outlet pipe portion 62 of the first pressure reducing valve 18. The inlet pipe portion 61 of the second pressure reducing valve 19 is connected to an outlet pipe portion 52 of the second stop valve 13 via a connection mechanism 58. The second piping 6 leading to each room is connected to the outlet pipe portion 62 of the second pressure reducing valve 19.

(Connection between vertical pipe and water piping via pressure reducing valve unit)
Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an installation state in which the orientation of the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2) is changed in the pressure reducing valve unit 1A of the embodiment 2. Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram of another installation state in which the orientation of the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2) is changed in the pressure reducing valve unit 1A of the embodiment 2.

First, as shown in FIG. 6, when the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 6 are installed parallel to the vertical pipe 2 and are located below the pipe fitting 3 attached to the vertical pipe 2, the second pipe portion 22 of the inlet pipe 10 is directed downward when connecting the pressure reducing valve unit 1A to the vertical pipe 2. In addition, the second pipe portion 28 of the inlet pipe 10 is rotated around the first axis L1 relative to the first pipe portion 27 to direct the third pipe portion 23 downward. Then, the first pipe 5 is connected below the outlet pipe portion 62 of the first pressure reducing valve 18, and the second pipe 6 is connected below the outlet pipe portion 62 of the second pressure reducing valve 19.

If the operating part 57 of the first stop valve 12 or the operating part 57 of the second stop valve 13 faces in a direction that makes it difficult to operate, the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) is rotated about the second axis L2 relative to the second pipe section 22 of the inlet pipe 10 to adjust the orientation of the handle 55 of the first stop valve 12. Alternatively, the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) is rotated about the third axis L3 relative to the third pipe section 23 of the inlet pipe 10 to adjust the orientation of the handle 55 of the second stop valve 13.

In addition, if the pipe fitting 3 attached to the vertical pipe 2 and the second pipe 6 are misaligned in the circumferential direction around the pipe axis L0 of the vertical pipe 2, as shown in FIG. 11, the rotation angle position of the second pipe section 28 relative to the first pipe section 27 around the first axis L is adjusted to tilt the third pipe section 23 relative to the vertical pipe 2. This brings the positions of the outlet pipe section 62 of the second pressure reducing valve 19 and the second pipe 6 closer together in the circumferential direction, and then the second pipe 6 is connected below the outlet pipe section 62 of the second pressure reducing valve 19.

Furthermore, when the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 6 are installed parallel to the vertical pipe 2, the first pipe 5 is located below the pipe joint 3 attached to the vertical pipe 2, and the second pipe 6 is located above the pipe joint 3 attached to the vertical pipe 2, as shown in FIG. 12, the pressure reducing valve unit 1A is connected to the vertical pipe 2 so that the second pipe portion 22 of the inlet pipe 10 faces downward. Also, the second pipe portion 28 of the inlet pipe 10 is rotated around the first axis L1 relative to the first pipe portion 27 so that the third pipe portion 23 faces upward. Then, the first pipe 5 is connected below the outlet pipe portion 62 of the first pressure reducing valve 18, and the second pipe 6 is connected above the outlet pipe portion 62 of the second pressure reducing valve 19.

Here, when connecting the vertical pipe 2, the first pipe 5, and the second pipe 6 through the pressure reducing valve unit 1A, if the operation part 57 of the first stop valve 12 or the operation part 57 of the second stop valve 13 faces in a direction that is difficult to operate, the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) is rotated about the second axis L2 relative to the second pipe section 22 of the inlet pipe 10 to adjust the orientation of the handle 55 of the first stop valve 12. Alternatively, the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) is rotated about the third axis L3 relative to the third pipe section 23 of the inlet pipe 10 to adjust the orientation of the handle 55 of the second stop valve 13. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) is rotated 180° about the first axis L1 from the state shown in FIG. 6, and then the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) is further rotated 180° about the third axis L3.

(Action and Effect)
According to this example, the inlet pipe 10 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1A is provided with a rotary connection mechanism 30 that allows the second pipe section 28, to which the third pipe section 23 is connected, to rotate about the first axis L1 relative to the first pipe section 27, to which the second pipe section 22 is connected. Also, the first stop valve connection mechanism 15 that connects the second pipe section 22 of the inlet pipe 10 to the first stop valve 12 connects the first stop valve 12 to the second pipe section 22 so as to be rotatable about the second axis L2. Furthermore, the second stop valve connection mechanism 16 that connects the third pipe section 23 of the inlet pipe 10 to the second stop valve 13 connects the second stop valve 13 to the third pipe section 23 so as to be rotatable about the third axis L3. Therefore, when the first pipe section 27 of the inlet pipe 10 is connected to the standpipe 2, the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) consisting of the first stop valve 12 and the first pressure reducing valve 18 is rotatable about the second axis L2. Further, the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2) consisting of the second stop valve 13 and the second pressure reducing valve 19 is rotatable about the first axis L1 and about the third axis L3.

Therefore, if the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) of the pressure reducing valve unit 1A connected to the vertical pipe 2 and the second pipe 6 connected to the secondary side of the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) are not positioned in the desired positional relationship, the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) can be rotated around the first axis L1 to adjust the positional relationship between the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) and the second pipe 6. Therefore, even if the pressure reducing valve unit 1A and the second pipe 6 are deviated from the desired positional relationship, they can be easily connected. This makes it possible to connect the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) and the pipe 4 without reattaching the pressure reducing valve unit 1A to the vertical pipe 2 or performing the work of routing the second pipe 6.

The second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2) also rotates around the third axis L3. Therefore, when the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2) is rotated around the first axis L1, the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2) can be rotated around the third axis L3, so that the handle 55 of the second stop valve 13 and other elements can be oriented in a direction that is easy to operate. Furthermore, the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20(1) can be rotated around the second axis L2, so that the handle 55 of the first stop valve 12 and other elements can be oriented in a direction that is easy to operate.

Furthermore, in this example, the first pipe section 27 and the second pipe section 22 form one tee 9. In the tee 9, the second pipe section 22 protrudes in the second axial direction Y from the middle of the first pipe section 27 in the first axial direction X. On the inner peripheral surface of the tee 9, a pair of guide protrusions 75a, 75b that guide a portion of the water flowing through the first pipe section 27 to the second pipe section 22 is provided on one side and the other side of an imaginary plane S including the first pipe axis L21 of the first pipe section 27 extending along the first axis L1 and the second pipe axis L22 of the second pipe section 22 extending along the second axis L2. Therefore, a portion of the water flowing through the first pipe section 27 flows into the second pipe section 22 along the one-side guide protrusion 75a and the other-side guide protrusion 75b. Therefore, water flowing in from the inlet pipe 10 can be passed through the second pipe portion 22 and the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) and flow into the first pipe 5, and water flowing in from the inlet pipe 10 can be passed through the third pipe portion 23 and the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) and flow into the second pipe 6. In addition, by providing such a pair of guide protrusions 75a, 75b, it is easy to ensure the flow rate of water flowing into the first pipe 5 via the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1).

In addition, each guide protrusion 75a, 75b is curved in the first direction X1 from a region H located in the second direction X2 from the second pipe axis L22, which is the end of the second pipe section 22 on the side of the first pipe section 27, toward the first pipe section 27. The end of the guide protrusion in the first direction X1 is located in the first direction X1 from the second pipe axis L22. Therefore, each guide protrusion 75a, 75b makes it easy to guide water flowing through the first pipe section 27 to the second pipe section 22.

Furthermore, in this example, the one-side guide protrusion 75a provided on one side of the imaginary plane S and the other-side guide protrusion 75b provided on the other side of the imaginary plane S are continuous in a region H located further in the second direction X2 than the second pipe axis L22 in the second pipe portion 22. Therefore, the water flowing through the first pipe portion 27 can be guided to the second pipe portion 22 by the pair of guide protrusions 75a, 75b consisting of the one-side guide protrusion 75a and the other-side guide protrusion 75b, and the portion where the pair of guide protrusions 75a, 75b are continuous. This makes it easier to ensure the flow rate of water flowing into the first piping 5 via the first pressure reducing valve unit main body 20(1).

In addition, in this example, the inner diameter (inner diameter dimension D2) of the second pipe section 28 is smaller than the inner diameter (inner diameter dimension D1) of the first pipe section 27. Therefore, water flowing through the first pipe section 27 is more likely to flow into the second pipe section 22. This makes it even easier to ensure the flow rate of water flowing through the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) to the first piping 5.

Example 3
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a pressure reducing valve unit of the third embodiment. Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an inlet pipe 10 of the pressure reducing valve unit of the third embodiment. The pressure reducing valve unit 1B of this embodiment is installed between the water supply standpipe 2 and the piping extending to each room, similar to the pressure reducing valve units 1 and 1A described above. In this embodiment, the water in the standpipe 2 is circulated through the pressure reducing valve unit 1B to two piping systems, the first water pipe 5 and the second water pipe 6. The pressure reducing valve unit 1B has a configuration corresponding to that of the pressure reducing valve unit 1A described above, and therefore the corresponding configuration is denoted by the corresponding reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 13, the pressure reducing valve unit 1B includes an inlet pipe 10, a first stop valve 12, a second stop valve 13, a first stop valve connection mechanism 15 that connects the first stop valve 12 to the inlet pipe 10, and a second stop valve connection mechanism 16 that connects the second stop valve 13 to the inlet pipe 10. The pressure reducing valve unit 1B also includes a first pressure reducing valve 18 connected to the opposite side of the first stop valve 12 from the inlet pipe 10, and a second pressure reducing valve 19 connected to the opposite side of the second stop valve 13 from the inlet pipe 10. The first stop valve 12 and the first pressure reducing valve 18 constitute a first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1). The second stop valve 13 and the second pressure reducing valve 19 constitute a second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2). The primary side of the inlet pipe 10 is connected to the vertical pipe 2 via a pipe joint 3. The first pressure reducing valve unit body 20(1) and the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2) are disposed on the secondary side of the inlet pipe 10. The first pipe 5 is connected to the secondary side of the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20(1). The second pipe 6 is connected to the secondary side of the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2). That is, the first pipe 5 is connected to the secondary side of the first pressure reducing valve 18, and the second pipe 6 is connected to the secondary side of the second pressure reducing valve 19.

(Inlet pipe)
As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the inlet pipe 10 includes a first pipe portion 21 extending in a first axial direction X along the first axis L1, a second pipe portion 22 extending in a second axial direction Y along a second axis L2 communicating with the first pipe portion 21 and intersecting the first axis L1, and a third pipe portion 23 extending in a third axial direction Z along a third axis L3 communicating with the first pipe portion 21 and intersecting the first axis L1. The third pipe portion 23 and the first pipe portion 27 communicate with each other via a curved pipe portion 24 that is continuous with the end portion of the first pipe portion 27 on the opposite side to the stand pipe 2. The first axis L1 and the second axis L2 are orthogonal to each other. Therefore, the first pipe axis L21 of the first pipe portion 27 and the second pipe axis L22 of the second pipe portion 22 are orthogonal to each other. The first axis L1 and the third axis L3 are also orthogonal to each other. Therefore, the first tube axis L21 of the first tube portion 27 and the third tube axis L23 of the third tube portion 23 are perpendicular to each other.

The first pipe section 27 includes an upstream pipe section 25 extending in the first axial direction X, a first pipe section 27 coaxially extending in the first axial direction X with the upstream pipe section 25, a second pipe section 28 coaxially extending in the first axial direction X with the first pipe section 27, a first rotary connection mechanism 31 that connects the first pipe section 27 to the upstream pipe section 25 rotatably about the first axis L1, and a second rotary connection mechanism 32 that connects the second pipe section 28 to the first pipe section 27 rotatably about the first axis L1. The upstream pipe section 25 is connected to the standpipe 2 via a pipe joint 3. Water flowing into the inlet pipe 10 from the standpipe 2 is passed through the upstream pipe section 25, the first rotary connection mechanism 31, and the second rotary connection mechanism 32.
The third pipe portion 23 flows through the pipe portion 27 and the second pipe portion 28 in this order. The second pipe portion 22 communicates with the first pipe portion 27. That is, the second pipe portion 22 protrudes from the middle of the first pipe portion 27 in the first axial direction X to the second axial direction Y. Here, the first pipe portion 27 and the second pipe portion 22 are made of a tee 9 (piping member). The third pipe portion 23 communicates with the second pipe portion 28 via the curved pipe portion 24. The second pipe portion 22, the curved pipe portion 24, and the second pipe portion 28 are made of an elbow 8. As shown in FIG. 14, the elbow 8 is curved from the first axial direction X toward the second direction X2 to the third axial direction Z. The elbow 8 has a protrusion 8a protruding from the curved pipe portion 24 to the outer circumferential side.

The first rotary connection mechanism 31 that connects the upstream pipe section 25 and the first pipe section 27 has the same configuration as the rotary connection mechanism 30 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1, 1A of the first and second embodiments. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the upstream pipe section 25 has a large diameter cylindrical portion 33 at its end portion in the second direction X2, which has a larger diameter than the portion on the first direction X1 side. The first rotary connection mechanism 31 has the large diameter cylindrical portion 33 of the upstream pipe section 25, an insertion cylindrical portion 34 that is the end portion of the first pipe section 27 in the first direction X1 and is inserted on the inner periphery side of the large diameter cylindrical portion 33, an annular packing 35 interposed between the large diameter cylindrical portion 33 and the insertion cylindrical portion 34, and a ring-shaped member 36 interposed between the large diameter cylindrical portion 33 and the insertion cylindrical portion 34. The second rotary connection mechanism 32 that connects the first pipe section 27 and the second pipe section 28 also has the same configuration as the rotary connection mechanism 30 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1, 1A of Examples 1 and 2. That is, the second rotary connection mechanism 32 includes a large diameter cylindrical portion 33 provided at the end portion of the first pipe section 27 in the second direction X2, an insertion cylindrical portion 34 that is at the end portion of the second pipe section 28 in the first direction X1 and is inserted into the inner periphery of the large diameter cylindrical portion 33, an annular packing 35 interposed between the large diameter cylindrical portion 33 and the insertion cylindrical portion 34, and a ring-shaped member 36 interposed between the large diameter cylindrical portion 33 and the insertion cylindrical portion 34.

Here, the inner peripheral surface of the tee 9 is provided with a pair of guide protrusions 75a, 75b that guide a portion of the water flowing through the first pipe section 27 to the second pipe section 22, similar to the inner peripheral surface of the tee 9 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1A of the second embodiment. That is, as shown in Figures 14, 9, and 10, the inner peripheral surface of the tee 9 is provided with a one-side guide protrusion 75a on one side of an imaginary plane S including the first pipe axis L21 of the first pipe section 27 extending along the first axis L1 and the second pipe axis L22 of the second pipe section 22 extending along the second axis L2, and a other-side guide protrusion 75b on the other side of the imaginary plane S. Each guide protrusion 75a, 75b is curved in the first direction X1 from a region H located in the second direction X2 from the end of the second pipe section 22 on the side of the first pipe section 27 and located in the second direction X2 from the second pipe axis L22 toward the first pipe section 27 side. Each guide protrusion 75a, 75b tapers from region H toward the tip. One side guide protrusion 75a and the other side guide protrusion 75b are continuous in region H. Here, as shown in FIG. 13, the tee 9 has a recess 76 on its outer circumferential surface at a position overlapping with each guide protrusion 75a, 75b. The recess 76 is curved in the first direction X1 from region H, which is the end of the second pipe portion 22 on the side of the first pipe section 27 and is located in the second direction X2 from the second pipe axis L22 toward the first pipe section 27.

As shown in FIG. 14, the second inner diameter dimension D2 of the elbow 8 is shorter than the first inner diameter dimension D1 of the first pipe section 27 of the tee 9. In other words, the inner diameters of the second pipe section 28, the curved pipe section 24, and the third pipe section 23 are smaller than the inner diameter of the first pipe section 27.

Next, the first stop valve 12 and the second stop valve 13 are the same as the stop valve 11 of the pressure reducing valve units 1 and 1A of Examples 1 and 2. The inlet pipe portion 51 of the first stop valve 12 is connected to the second pipe portion 22 of the inlet pipe 10 via the first stop valve connection mechanism 15. The inlet pipe portion 51 of the second stop valve 13 is connected to the third pipe portion 23 of the inlet pipe 10 via the second stop valve connection mechanism 16.

The first stop valve connection mechanism 15 connects the first stop valve 12 to the second pipe portion 22 so as to be rotatable about the second axis L2. The second stop valve connection mechanism 16 connects the second stop valve 13 to the third pipe portion 23 so as to be rotatable about the third axis L3. The first stop valve connection mechanism 15 and the second stop valve connection mechanism 16 have the same configuration as the stop valve connection mechanism 14 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1 of the first embodiment. That is, the first stopcock connection mechanism 15 comprises a large diameter tubular portion 41 provided at the end of the second pipe portion 22 opposite the first pipe portion 27, an insertion tubular portion 51a which is the tip portion of the inlet pipe portion 51 of the first stopcock 12 and is inserted into the inner side of the large diameter tubular portion 41, a ring-shaped stopcock side flange portion 51b which protrudes outward from a position adjacent to the insertion tubular portion 51a in the inlet pipe portion 51 of the first stopcock 12, two annular gaskets 44 interposed between the large diameter tubular portion 41 and the insertion tubular portion 51a, and a holding mechanism 45 that holds the large diameter tubular portion 41 and the insertion tubular portion 51a of the stopcock 11 so that they cannot be separated in the second axial direction Y and can be rotatable around the second axis L2. Similarly, the second stopcock connection mechanism 16 comprises a large diameter tubular portion 41 provided at the end of the third pipe portion 23 opposite the second pipe portion 28, an insertion tubular portion 51a which is the tip portion of the inlet pipe portion 51 of the second stopcock 13 and is inserted into the inner side of the large diameter tubular portion 41, a ring-shaped stopcock side flange portion 51b which protrudes outward from a position adjacent to the insertion tubular portion 51a in the inlet pipe portion 51 of the second stopcock 13, two annular gaskets 44 interposed between the large diameter tubular portion 41 and the insertion tubular portion 51a, and a holding mechanism 45 that holds the large diameter tubular portion 41 and the insertion tubular portion 51a of the stopcock 11 so that they cannot be separated in the third axial direction Z and can be rotatable around the third axis L3.

The first pressure reducing valve 18 and the second pressure reducing valve 19 are the same as the pressure reducing valve 17 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1 of the first embodiment. The inlet pipe portion 61 of the first pressure reducing valve 18 is connected to the outlet pipe portion 52 of the first stop valve 12 via the connection mechanism 58. The outlet pipe portion 62 of the first pressure reducing valve 18 is connected to the first piping 5 for water supply toward each room. The inlet pipe portion 61 of the second pressure reducing valve 19 is connected to the outlet pipe portion 52 of the second stop valve 13 via the connection mechanism 58. The outlet pipe portion 62 of the second pressure reducing valve 19 is connected to the second piping 6 for water supply toward each room.

(Connection between vertical pipe and water piping via pressure reducing valve unit)
Fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram of an installation state in which the orientation of the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2) is changed in the pressure reducing valve unit 1B of Example 3. Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram of another installation state in which the orientation of the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2) is changed in the pressure reducing valve unit 1B of Example 3.

First, as shown in FIG. 13, when the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 6 are installed parallel to the vertical pipe 2 and are located below the pipe joint 3 attached to the vertical pipe 2, the pressure reducing valve unit 1B is connected to the vertical pipe 2, and the first pipe section 27 of the inlet pipe 10 is rotated about the first axis L1 relative to the upstream pipe section 25 to point the second pipe section 22 downward. Also, the second pipe section 28 of the inlet pipe 10 is rotated about the first axis L1 relative to the first pipe section 27 to point the third pipe section 23 downward. Then, the first pipe 5 is connected below the outlet pipe section 62 of the first pressure reducing valve 18, and the second pipe 6 is connected below the outlet pipe section 62 of the second pressure reducing valve 19.

If the operating part 57 of the first stop valve 12 or the operating part 57 of the second stop valve 13 faces in a direction that makes it difficult to operate, the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) is rotated about the second axis L2 relative to the second pipe section 22 of the inlet pipe 10 to adjust the orientation of the handle 55 of the stop valve 11. Alternatively, the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) is rotated about the third axis L3 relative to the third pipe section 23 of the inlet pipe 10 to adjust the orientation of the handle 55 of the stop valve 11.

Furthermore, although not shown, when the pipe fitting 3 attached to the standpipe 2 and the second pipe 6 are misaligned in the circumferential direction around the pipe axis L0 of the standpipe 2, the rotation angle position of the second pipe section 28 about the first axis L1 relative to the first pipe section 27 is adjusted to tilt the third pipe section 23 with respect to the standpipe 2. This aligns the positions of the outlet pipe section 62 of the second pressure reducing valve 19 and the second pipe 6 in the circumferential direction, and then the second pipe 6 is connected below the outlet pipe section 62 of the second pressure reducing valve 19. Similarly, when the pipe fitting 3 attached to the standpipe 2 and the first pipe 5 are misaligned in the circumferential direction around the pipe axis L0 of the standpipe 2, the rotation angle position of the second pipe section 28 about the first axis L1 relative to the first pipe section 27 is adjusted to tilt the third pipe section 23 with respect to the standpipe 2.
If there is a circumferential deviation around axis L0, the rotation angle position of the first pipe section 27 relative to the upstream pipe section 25 about the first axis L1 is adjusted to incline the second pipe section 22 with respect to the vertical pipe 2. This aligns the positions of the outlet pipe section 62 of the first pressure reducing valve 18 and the first piping 5 in the circumferential direction, and then the first piping 5 is connected below the outlet pipe section 62 of the second pressure reducing valve 19.

Furthermore, when the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 6 are installed in parallel to the vertical pipe 2, the first pipe 5 is located below the pipe joint 3 attached to the vertical pipe 2, and the second pipe 6 is located above the pipe joint 3 attached to the vertical pipe 2, as shown in FIG. 15, the pressure reducing valve unit 1B is connected to the vertical pipe 2, and the first pipe section 27 of the inlet pipe 10 is rotated about the first axis L1 relative to the upstream pipe section 25 to orient the second pipe section 22 downward. Also, the second pipe section 28 of the inlet pipe 10 is rotated about the first axis L1 relative to the first pipe section 27 to orient the third pipe section 23 upward. After that, the first pipe 5 is connected below the outlet pipe section 62 of the first pressure reducing valve 18, and the second pipe 6 is connected above the outlet pipe section 62 of the second pressure reducing valve 19.

Here, when connecting the vertical pipe 2 to the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 6 via the pressure reducing valve unit 1B, if the operation part 57 of the first stop valve 12 or the operation part 57 of the second stop valve 13 faces in a direction that is difficult to operate, the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) is rotated about the second axis L2 relative to the second pipe section 22 of the inlet pipe 10 to adjust the orientation of the handle 55 of the stop valve 11. Alternatively, the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) is rotated about the third axis L3 relative to the third pipe section 23 of the inlet pipe 10 to adjust the orientation of the handle 55 of the stop valve 11. In the state shown in FIG. 15, the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) is rotated 180° about the first axis L1, and then the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) is further rotated 180° about the third axis L3.

In addition, when the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 6 are installed in parallel to the vertical pipe 2, the first pipe 5 is located above the pipe joint 3 attached to the vertical pipe 2, and the second pipe 6 is located above the pipe joint 3 attached to the vertical pipe 2, as shown in FIG. 16, the pressure reducing valve unit 1B is connected to the vertical pipe 2, and the first pipe section 27 of the inlet pipe 10 is rotated about the first axis L1 relative to the upstream pipe section 25 to orient the second pipe section 22 upward. Also, the second pipe section 28 of the inlet pipe 10 is rotated about the first axis L1 relative to the first pipe section 27 to orient the third pipe section 23 upward. Thereafter, the first pipe 5 is connected above the outlet pipe section 62 of the first pressure reducing valve 18, and the second pipe 6 is connected above the outlet pipe section 62 of the second pressure reducing valve 19.

Here, when connecting the vertical pipe 2 to the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 6 via the pressure reducing valve unit 1B, if the operation part 57 of the first stop valve 12 or the operation part 57 of the second stop valve 13 faces in a direction that is difficult to operate, the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) is rotated about the second axis L2 relative to the second pipe portion 22 of the inlet pipe 10 to adjust the orientation of the handle 55 of the stop valve 11. Alternatively, the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) is rotated about the third axis L3 relative to the third pipe portion 23 of the inlet pipe 10 to adjust the orientation of the handle 55 of the stop valve 11. In the state shown in FIG. 16, the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) is rotated 180° about the first axis L1, and then the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) is further rotated 180° about the second axis L2. In addition, after the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) is rotated 180° around the first axis L1, the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) is further rotated 180° around the third axis L3.

(Action and Effect)
According to this example, the inlet pipe 10 of the pressure reducing valve unit 1B includes a first rotary connection mechanism 31 that enables the first pipe section 27, with which the second pipe portion 22 communicates, to rotate about the first axis L1 relative to the upstream pipe section 25. The inlet pipe 10 also includes a second rotary connection mechanism 32 that enables the second pipe section 28, with which the third pipe portion 23 communicates, to rotate about the first axis L1 relative to the first pipe section 27. Furthermore,
The first stop valve connection mechanism 15, which connects the second pipe portion 22 of the inflow pipe 10 and the first stop valve 12, connects the first stop valve 12 to the second pipe portion 22 so as to be rotatable around the second axis L2. The second stop valve connection mechanism 16, which connects the third pipe portion 23 of the inflow pipe 10 and the second stop valve 13, connects the second stop valve 13 to the third pipe portion 23 so as to be rotatable around the third axis L3. Therefore, when the upstream pipe portion 25 of the inflow pipe 10 is connected to the standpipe 2, the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) consisting of the first stop valve 12 and the first pressure reducing valve 18 can rotate around the first axis L1 and the second axis L2. The second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) consisting of the second stop valve 13 and the second pressure reducing valve 19 can rotate around the first axis L1 and the third axis L3.

Therefore, if the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) of the pressure reducing valve unit 1B connected to the vertical pipe 2 and the first water pipe 5 connected to the secondary side of the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) are not positioned in the desired positional relationship, the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) can be rotated around the first axis L1 to adjust the positional relationship between the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (1) and the first pipe 5. Also, if the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) of the pressure reducing valve unit 1B connected to the vertical pipe 2 and the second water pipe 6 connected to the secondary side of the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) are not positioned in the desired positional relationship, the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) can be rotated around the first axis L1 to adjust the positional relationship between the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) and the second pipe 6. This allows the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20 (2) to be connected to the piping 4 without having to reattach the pressure reducing valve unit 1B to the standpipe 2 or perform the work of routing the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 6. Therefore, even if the pressure reducing valve unit 1B connected to the standpipe 2 and the first pipe 5 are misaligned from the desired positional relationship, they can be easily connected. Also, even if the pressure reducing valve unit 1B connected to the standpipe 2 and the second pipe 6 are misaligned from the desired positional relationship, they can be easily connected.

The first pressure reducing valve unit body 20(1) also rotates around the second axis L2. Therefore, when the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20(1) is rotated around the first axis L1, the first pressure reducing valve unit body 20(1) can be rotated around the second axis L2 to orient the handle 55 of the first stop valve 12 in a direction that is easy to operate. Similarly, the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2) rotates around the third axis L3. Therefore, when the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2) is rotated around the first axis L1, the second pressure reducing valve unit body 20(2) can be rotated around the third axis L3 to orient the handle 55 of the second stop valve 13 in a direction that is easy to operate.

In addition, the pressure reducing valve unit 1B of this example can achieve the same effects as the pressure reducing valve unit 1A of Example 2.

In Examples 2 and 3, the guide protrusions are a one-side guide protrusion 75a provided on one side of the imaginary plane S and an other-side guide protrusion 75b provided on the other side, but one of the guide protrusions may be omitted. Also, the first inner diameter dimension D1 of the first pipe section 27 of the tee 9 and the second inner diameter dimension D2 of the elbow 8 may be the same. In other words, the inner diameter of the second pipe section 28 may have the same dimension as the inner diameter of the first pipe section 27.

(Modification)
17 is a side view of a pressure reducing valve unit of a modified example. The pressure reducing valve unit 1C of this example distributes water from the vertical pipe 2 to three systems, the first pipe 5, the second pipe 6, and the third pipe 80 for water supply. The pressure reducing valve unit 1C of this example is obtained by inserting a second tee 85 between the tee 9 and the elbow 8 in the pressure reducing valve unit 1B of the third embodiment. In addition, a third pressure reducing valve unit body 83 consisting of a third stop valve 81 and a third pressure reducing valve 82 is connected to the secondary side of the second tee 85 via a stop valve connection mechanism 84. The second tee 85 is the same member as the tee 9. The tee 9 and the second tee 85 are connected to be rotatable around the first axis L1 by a third rotation connection mechanism 86 that is the same as the second rotation connection mechanism 32. The second tee 85 and the elbow 8 are connected to be rotatable around the first axis L1 by a fourth rotation connection mechanism 87 that is the same as the second rotation connection mechanism 32. The stopcock connecting mechanism 84 has the same configuration as the first stopcock connecting mechanism 15 .

In the pressure reducing valve unit 1A of the second embodiment, even if the second tee 85 is inserted between the tee 9 and the elbow 8 and the third pressure reducing valve unit body 83 is connected to the secondary side of the second tee 85 via the stop valve connection mechanism 84, a pressure reducing valve unit can be configured that distributes water from the vertical pipe 2 to three systems, the first pipe 5, the second pipe 6, and the third pipe 80 for water supply. In the pressure reducing valve unit 1C of the second embodiment and the pressure reducing valve unit 1C of the third embodiment, if a plurality of intermediate units 90 consisting of the second tee 85, the stop valve connection mechanism 84, and the third pressure reducing valve unit body 83 are arranged between the tee 9 and the elbow 8 and each is connected to be rotatable around the first axis L1, the pressure reducing valve unit can distribute and circulate water from the vertical pipe 2 to the desired number of systems.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C...pressure reducing valve unit, 2...standpipe, 3...pipe fitting, 4...piping, 5...first pipe, 6...second pipe, 7...fastening mechanism, 8...elbow, 9...tee (piping component), 10...inlet pipe, 11...stop valve, 12...first stop valve, 13...second stop valve, 14...stop valve connection mechanism, 15...first stop valve connection mechanism, 16...second stop valve connection mechanism, 17...pressure reducing valve, 18...first pressure reducing valve, 19...second pressure reducing valve, 20...pressure reducing valve unit main body, 20(1)...first pressure reducing valve unit main body, 20(2)...second pressure reducing valve unit main body, 21...first pipe section, 22...second pipe section, 23...third pipe section , 24...curved pipe portion, 25...upstream pipe portion, 25a...annular flange portion, 26...downstream pipe portion, 27...first pipe portion, 27b...notched portion, 28...second pipe portion, 30...rotating connection mechanism, 31...first rotating connection mechanism, 32...second rotating connection mechanism, 33...large diameter cylindrical portion, 34...insertion cylindrical portion, 35...packing, 36...ring-shaped member, 37...notched portion, 38...inner annular groove, 39...outer annular groove, 41...large diameter cylindrical portion, 42...inlet pipe side flange portion, 43...annular recess, 44...packing, 45...retaining mechanism, 46...retaining member, 46a...arc groove, 47...wire member, 48...fastening Mechanism, 50... valve box portion, 51... inlet pipe portion, 51a... insertion tube portion, 51b... stop valve side flange portion, 51c... annular groove, 52... outlet pipe portion, 53... valve chamber, 54... ball valve body, 55... handle, 56... shaft portion, 57... operation portion, 58... connection mechanism, 60... pressure reducing valve main body portion, 61... inlet pipe portion, 62... outlet pipe portion, 65... internal flow path, 65a... first region, 65b... second region, 66... diaphragm, 67... flow path portion, 67a... intermediate region, 68... valve seat, 69... downstream side flow path portion, 70... coil spring, 71... stem, 72... valve body, 74... packing, 75a... one side guide protrusion , 75b... other side guide protrusion, 76... recess, 77... bag nut, 77a... bag portion, 77b... nut portion, 80... third pipe, 81... third stop valve, 82... third pressure reducing valve, 83... third pressure reducing valve unit body, 84... stop valve connection mechanism, 85... second elbow, 86... third rotating connection mechanism, 87... fourth rotating connection mechanism, 90... intermediate unit, D1... first inner diameter dimension, D2... second inner diameter dimension, L1... first axis, L2... second axis, L21... first pipe axis, L22... second pipe axis, L3... third axis, V... orthogonal direction, X... first axis direction, X1... first direction, X2... second direction, Y... second axis direction, Z... third axis direction

Claims (7)

An inlet pipe;
A stop valve and
a stop valve connection mechanism for connecting the stop valve to the inlet pipe;
a pressure reducing valve connected to the opposite side of the inlet pipe of the stop valve,
The inlet pipe includes a first pipe portion extending in a first axial direction along a first axis, and a second pipe portion communicating with the first pipe portion and extending in a second axial direction along a second axis intersecting the first axis,
the first pipe portion includes an upstream pipe portion extending in the first axial direction, a downstream pipe portion coaxial with the upstream pipe portion, and a rotary connection mechanism that connects the downstream pipe portion to the upstream pipe portion rotatably around the first axis,
Water flowing into the inlet pipe flows through the upstream pipe section and the downstream pipe section in this order, and the second pipe section is connected to the downstream pipe section,
A pressure reducing valve unit characterized in that the stop valve connection mechanism connects the stop valve to the second pipe portion so as to be rotatable around the second axis. An inlet pipe;
A first stop valve;
A second stop valve;
a first stop valve connection mechanism that connects the first stop valve to the inlet pipe;
a second stop valve connection mechanism that connects the second stop valve to the inlet pipe;
A first pressure reducing valve connected to the opposite side of the first stop valve from the inlet pipe;
a second pressure reducing valve connected to the second stop valve on the opposite side to the inlet pipe,
the inlet pipe includes a first pipe portion extending in a first axial direction along a first axis, a second pipe portion communicating with the first pipe portion and extending in a second axial direction along a second axis intersecting the first axis, and a third pipe portion communicating with the first pipe portion and extending in a third axial direction along a third axis intersecting the first axis,
the first pipe portion includes a first pipe portion extending in the first axial direction, a second pipe portion coaxial with the first pipe portion, and a rotation connection mechanism that connects the second pipe portion to the first pipe portion rotatably around the first axis,
Water flowing into the inlet pipe flows through the first pipe section and the second pipe section in this order,
the second pipe portion communicates with the first pipe portion;
the third pipe portion communicates with the second pipe portion;
The first stop valve connection mechanism connects the first stop valve to the second pipe portion so as to be rotatable around the second axis,
A pressure reducing valve unit characterized in that the second stop valve connection mechanism connects the second stop valve to the third pipe portion so as to be rotatable around the third axis. An inlet pipe;
A first stop valve;
A second stop valve;
a first stop valve connection mechanism that connects the first stop valve to the inlet pipe;
a second stop valve connection mechanism that connects the second stop valve to the inlet pipe;
A first pressure reducing valve connected to the opposite side of the first stop valve from the inlet pipe;
a second pressure reducing valve connected to the second stop valve on the opposite side to the inlet pipe,
the inlet pipe includes a first pipe portion extending in a first axial direction along a first axis, a second pipe portion communicating with the first pipe portion and extending in a second axial direction along a second axis intersecting the first axis, and a third pipe portion communicating with the first pipe portion and extending in a third axial direction along a third axis intersecting the first axis,
the first pipe portion includes an upstream pipe portion extending in the first axial direction, a first pipe portion coaxial with the upstream pipe portion, a second pipe portion coaxial with the first pipe portion, a first rotary connection mechanism that connects the first pipe portion to the upstream pipe portion rotatably about the first axis, and a second rotary connection mechanism that connects the second pipe portion to the first pipe portion rotatably about the first axis,
Water flowing into the inlet pipe flows through the upstream pipe section, the first pipe section, and the second pipe section in this order,
the second pipe portion communicates with the first pipe portion;
the third pipe portion communicates with the second pipe portion;
The first stop valve connection mechanism connects the first stop valve to the second pipe portion so as to be rotatable around the second axis,
A pressure reducing valve unit characterized in that the second stop valve connection mechanism connects the second stop valve to the third pipe portion so as to be rotatable around the third axis. the first pipe portion and the second pipe portion are formed of a single piping member,
In the piping member, the second pipe portion protrudes in the second axial direction from a middle of the first pipe portion in the first axial direction,
4. The pressure reducing valve unit according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that an inner circumferential surface of the piping member is provided with a guide protrusion on one side of an imaginary plane including a first pipe axis of the first pipe portion extending along the first axis and a second pipe axis of the second pipe portion extending along the second axis, the guide protrusion guiding a portion of the water flowing through the first pipe portion to the second pipe portion. When the upstream side of the flow direction of water flowing through the first pipe portion is defined as a first direction and the downstream side is defined as a second direction,
the guide protrusion is curved in the first direction from a region of the second pipe portion at an end portion on the first pipe portion side that is positioned in the second direction relative to the second pipe axis toward the first pipe portion,
The pressure reducing valve unit according to claim 4 , wherein an end of the guide protrusion in the first direction is located in the first direction relative to the second pipe axis. The guide protrusions include a one-side guide protrusion provided on one side of the imaginary plane and an other-side guide protrusion provided on the other side of the imaginary plane,
The pressure reducing valve unit according to claim 5 , wherein the one-side guide protrusion and the other-side guide protrusion are continuous in a region of the second pipe portion that is positioned in the second direction relative to the second pipe axis. The pressure reducing valve unit according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the inner diameter of the second pipe section is smaller than the inner diameter of the first pipe section.

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