JP7593886B2 - Switching valve - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a switching valve for concrete pumping piping.

As a method of pouring concrete for tunnel lining, a movable formwork (slide center) that moves in the tunnel axial direction may be used to continuously cast the concrete. When casting concrete for lining using a movable formwork, concrete is poured with a concrete casting pipe inserted into a casting hole formed in the formwork. The formwork has multiple casting holes spaced apart in the axial and circumferential directions, and when pouring concrete, the concrete casting pipe is moved to each casting hole as appropriate. The concrete casting pipe is moved from one casting hole to another by a worker manually. However, moving the concrete casting pipe by hand takes time and effort.
On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which, instead of manually switching piping, a branch pipe branched off from a concrete pouring pipe installed in the upper part of the inner space of the formwork via a diverter is connected to the top and side wall of the formwork, and concrete supplied through the branch pipe is poured into the formwork. The concrete pouring pipe is provided with a plurality of diverters in the axial direction of the formwork, and is configured to be able to control the pouring location of the concrete according to the pouring situation. That is, the pouring method of Patent Document 1 supplies concrete to a selected pouring port by controlling the flow of concrete in the diverter.
However, because the distance from the diverter to the pouring port of the formwork is long and concrete remains inside the branch pipes extended from the diverter after pouring, it is necessary to clean the inside of each branch pipe. In addition, the concrete remaining in the branch pipes becomes industrial waste, so disposal is costly and time-consuming.

Publication No. 4-19119

The objective of the present invention is to propose a switching valve that reduces the amount of pipe cleaning work and minimizes the amount of residual concrete.

The present invention for solving the above problem is a switching valve that is interposed between an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe and switches between a state in which the concrete supplied from the upstream pipe can be poured into a formwork and a state in which the concrete can flow down to the downstream pipe. The switching valve includes a cylinder connected to the formwork and a sliding body that is housed in the cylinder and slides in the axial direction of the cylinder to switch between a state in which the concrete can be poured into the formwork and a state in which the concrete can flow down to the downstream pipe . The upstream pipe and the downstream pipe are concrete pouring pipes that are extended from a concrete pump and piped along the inner surface of a slide center. The cylinder has an injection port that opens at the tip of the cylinder, an inlet that is formed on the side of the cylinder and directly connected to the upstream pipe, and an outlet that is formed on the side of the cylinder and connected to the downstream pipe. The outlet is formed at a position offset in the axial direction of the cylinder from the inlet. Furthermore, the sliding body has an internal flow passage formed therein, which connects the inlet and the outlet with the tip surface of the sliding body being flush with the concrete side surface of the formwork.
This switching valve is installed in the middle of the concrete pouring pipe (between the upstream pipe and the downstream pipe) that transports the concrete, and since the concrete transported through the concrete pouring pipe is directly guided into the formwork, the amount of concrete remaining in the concrete pouring pipe can be reduced compared to the conventional method that uses branch pipes. Also, since the concrete pouring pipes (upstream pipe and downstream pipe) are continuous through the switching valve, cleaning work inside the concrete pouring pipe is easier compared to the case where cleaning work is required for each of the multiple branch pipes.

It is desirable that the tip surface of the cylindrical member has a shape that is flush with the surface of the formwork (the surface facing the concrete).
Furthermore, if the internal flow passage is a linear flow passage inclined with respect to the moving direction of the sliding body, the number of bends in the concrete pouring pipe can be minimized.
Furthermore, if the inlet is formed closer to the injection port than the outlet, the amount of concrete pushed out from the cylinder can be minimized when the supply of concrete into the formwork is switched to the downstream pipe.

The switching valve of the present invention makes it possible to reduce the amount of pipe cleaning work and minimize the amount of residual concrete.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the construction status of the lining concrete according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an outline of a slide center. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an outline of a switching valve, in which FIG. 1A is a plan sectional view and FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view showing the switching valve when concrete is poured, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing the switching valve when concrete is flowing down.

In this embodiment, an automatic pouring technique for lining concrete 1 using medium fluidity concrete will be described. FIG. 1 shows a construction state of lining concrete 1.
As shown in Fig. 1, the lining concrete 1 is formed by pouring fresh concrete 10 between a formwork (slide center 2) installed in the tunnel and the natural ground G (shotcrete 11). In this embodiment, the slide center 2 is used as the formwork. An outline of the slide center 2 is shown in Fig. 2.
2, the slide center 2 includes a plurality of formwork members 21, 21, ..., a plurality of vibrators 22, 22, ..., and a plurality of pouring detection sensors 23, 23, .... In addition, a concrete pouring pipe 3 for supplying fresh concrete (medium fluidity concrete) 10 is installed on the inner space side of the slide center 2.

The slide center 2 is formed by combining a plurality of formwork members 21, 21, ... to have a cross-sectional arc shape (semi-cylindrical shape) corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the tunnel. The formwork members 21 are rotatably connected to other formwork members 21 adjacent in the circumferential direction, and can move in the tunnel radial direction. That is, the slide center 2 can be reduced in diameter by moving the formwork members 21. In addition, the slide center 2 is formed with a check window 24 equipped with an opening and closing door, and is configured to allow the concrete pouring status to be checked. The arrangement, shape, dimensions, etc. of the check window 24 are set appropriately.
The vibrator 22 is fixed to the inner surface (the surface facing the inner space) of the slide center 2. The vibrator 22 applies vibrations to the concrete poured between the slide center 2 and the natural ground G. In this embodiment, a plurality of rows of the vibrators 22 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the tunnel, and are arranged in parallel in multiple rows in the axial direction of the tunnel. In this embodiment, the vibrators 22 are installed adjacent to the observation windows 24 formed in the formwork members 21. This allows a worker to check the compaction effect of the vibrators 22 through the observation windows 24.
The pouring detection sensor 23 is fixed to the outer surface (the surface facing the ground G) of the formwork member 21. The pouring detection sensor 23 detects concrete poured between the slide center 2 and the ground G. The pouring detection sensor 23 detects the concrete, so that the concrete pouring status can be grasped. In this embodiment, a plurality of rows of the pouring detection sensors 23 are arranged at intervals in the tunnel circumferential direction, and are arranged in parallel in multiple rows in the tunnel axial direction.

The concrete pouring pipe 3 extends from the concrete pump P and is piped along the inner surface of the slide center 2. In this embodiment, two concrete pouring pipes 3, 3 are piped on the left and right. In this embodiment, the pipeline connected to the concrete pump P branches into the left and right concrete pouring pipes 3, 3 via a branch valve, but the concrete pouring pipes 3 may each be connected to a different concrete pump P.
Each concrete pouring pipe 3 includes a horizontal pipe 31 extending in the horizontal direction (tunnel axis direction) and a vertical pipe 32 extending in the vertical direction (tunnel circumferential direction) on the inner surface of the slide center 2. In this embodiment, the horizontal pipes 31 are extended in the tunnel axis direction near the boundary between the upper and lower halves of the tunnel (near the spring line), near the tunnel shoulder, and near the tunnel top. The horizontal pipes 31 piped near the boundary between the upper and lower halves and the horizontal pipes 31 piped near the tunnel shoulder are connected via the vertical pipes 32 at the end of the tip side of the slide center 2. The horizontal pipes 31 piped near the tunnel shoulder and the horizontal pipes 31 piped near the tunnel top are connected via the vertical pipes 32 at the end of the base side of the slide center 2. That is, the concrete pouring pipes 3 reciprocate on the inner surface of the slide center 2 while changing their height position via the vertical pipes 32.

A plurality of switching valves 4, 4, ... are provided at intervals on the concrete pouring pipe 3. The switching valves 4 switch between a state in which concrete supplied from the upstream side (concrete pump P side) through the concrete pouring pipe 3 (upstream pipe) can be injected between the slide center 2 and the natural ground (into the formwork) and a state in which concrete can flow down to the concrete pouring pipe 3 (downstream pipe) connected to the downstream side (opposite the complete pump P). In this embodiment, the switching valves 4 are provided at the corners between the horizontal pipe 31 and the vertical pipe 32 and in the middle of the horizontal pipe 31.
Fig. 3 shows an outline of the switching valve 4. As shown in Fig. 3, the switching valve 4 includes a cylindrical body 5 connected to a slide center (form) 2, and a sliding body 6 housed in the cylindrical body 5.

The tip of the cylindrical body 5 is fixed to the formwork member 21 of the slide center 2. The tip of the cylindrical body 5 has a shape that is flush with the surface (the surface on the concrete side) of the formwork member 21. Furthermore, the tip of the cylindrical body 5 is opened as an injection port 51. The injection port 51 communicates with a through hole formed in the formwork member 21.
An inlet 52 and an outlet 53 are formed on the side of the cylinder 5. A concrete pouring pipe 3 (upstream pipe) extending from the concrete pump P side (upstream side in the transport direction) is connected to the inlet 52. On the other hand, a concrete pouring pipe 3 (downstream pipe) extending on the opposite side to the concrete pump P (downstream side in the transport direction) is connected to the outlet 53.
The flow outlet 53 is formed at a position offset from the flow inlet 52 in the axial direction of the cylindrical body 5. In this embodiment, the flow inlet 52 is formed closer to the injection port 51 than the flow outlet 53. The flow outlet 53 is offset toward the inner space side (the opposite side to the formwork member 21) than the flow inlet 52 so that the edge on the outer side (the side of the formwork member 21) is located closer to the inner space than the edge on the inner space side of the flow inlet 52. In other words, the flow inlet 52 and the flow outlet 53 are arranged so as not to overlap when projected onto a plane parallel to the central axis of the cylindrical body 5.

The sliding body 6 is capable of sliding in the axial direction of the cylindrical body 5 inside the cylindrical body 5. A tip end surface 61 of the sliding body 6 is formed in an arc shape in a side view so as to be flush with the surface (the surface on the concrete side) of the formwork member 21. The sliding body 6 is also formed with an internal flow path 62 that connects the inlet 52 and the outlet 53 in a state in which the tip end surface 61 of the sliding body 6 is flush with the surface on the concrete side of the formwork member 21. The internal flow path 62 is a linear flow path inclined with respect to the moving direction of the sliding body 6.
The sliding body 6 is connected to a control means 7, and slides back and forth within the cylinder 5 in response to a signal transmitted from the control means 7. The movement of the sliding body 6 switches between a state in which the inlet 52 and the injection port 51 are connected to each other and a state in which the inlet 52 and the outlet 53 are connected to each other.

Hereinafter, a method for pouring the lining concrete 1 using the automatic pouring technique of this embodiment will be described. First, the slide center 2 is installed inside the tunnel. The slide center 2 is moved to a predetermined position with the formwork members 21 folded and reduced in diameter. Once the slide center 2 is in the predetermined position, it is expanded in diameter to form a predetermined shape (see Figs. 1 and 2).
Next, a concrete pump P is connected to the concrete pouring pipe 3, and concrete (medium-fluidity concrete) is pumped by the concrete pump P. In this embodiment, concrete is poured in order from the changeover valve 4 closest to the lower concrete pump P (located most upstream) (see FIG. 2). Figures 4(a) and (b) show the use of the changeover valve 4.

The control means 7 sends a signal to start injection to the switching valve 4 that pours the concrete, and the sliding body 6 retracts. When the sliding body 6 retracts, the tip surface 61 of the sliding body 6 is positioned behind (inner space side) the inlet 52. In this way, the inlet 52 remains open, the outlet 53 is closed by the side of the sliding body 6, and the injection port 51 is opened. Therefore, the concrete pumped through the concrete pouring pipe 3 is discharged from the injection port 51 and poured into the formwork (between the slide center 2 and the ground G). At this time, the other switching valves 4 are in a state where the tip surface 61 of the sliding body 6 coincides with the surface of the formwork member 21, and the inlet 52 and outlet 53 are in communication.

In parallel with pouring of the concrete, a vibrator 22 arranged near the switching valve 4 operates to vibrate the formwork member 21 and compact the concrete. In addition, while the concrete is being poured, a pouring detection sensor 23 arranged near the switching valve 4 during concrete pouring is operating. When the pouring detection sensor 23 detects that the concrete has been poured to a specified height, a signal indicating the end of pouring is sent from the control means 7 to the switching valve 4, and the sliding body 6 advances. When the sliding body 6 advances, the injection port 51 is blocked, and the inlet 52 and outlet 53 are connected by an internal flow path 62.

The control means 7 transmits a signal to the switching valve 4 to end injection, and transmits a signal to start injection to the adjacent switching valve 4 downstream of the switching valve 4 (the switching valve 4 that ends the injection of concrete). When the switching valve 4 receives the signal to start injection, the sliding body 6 retracts, and the injection port 51 is opened.
In this way, concrete is injected sequentially from the switching valve 4 on the upstream side (concrete pump P side) of the concrete pouring pipe 3, thereby filling the back side of the slide center 2 with concrete.

As described above, the switching valve 4 of this embodiment is interposed in the concrete pouring pipe 3 that transports concrete, and makes it possible to guide the concrete transported through the concrete pouring pipe 3 directly to the back of the slide center 2 (between the slide center 2 and the ground G). Therefore, compared to the conventional construction method in which multiple branch pipes are extended from the concrete pouring pipe 3, the amount of concrete remaining in the pipe can be reduced. Therefore, the effort and cost required for disposing of the remaining concrete can be reduced. In addition, since the concrete pouring pipe 3 (upstream pipe and downstream pipe) are continuous through the switching valve 4, cleaning work inside the concrete pouring pipe 3 is easier than when cleaning work is required for each of the multiple branch pipes.

Since the tip of the cylinder 5 and the tip surface 61 of the sliding body 6 are shaped to be flush with the surface (concrete side) of the slide center 2, traces (unevenness) of the pouring hole are unlikely to appear on the concrete surface. Therefore, the labor required for repairing the traces after removing the slide center 2 (after construction of the lining concrete 1) can be omitted or reduced.
In addition, since the internal flow path 62 is a linear flow path inclined with respect to the moving direction of the sliding body 6, it is possible to minimize the number of bends in the concrete pouring pipe 3. Therefore, it is possible to minimize the resistance of the concrete passing through the switching valve 4 during pumping.

In addition, when the injection of concrete by the switching valve 4 is terminated, the sliding body 6 is advanced toward the injection port 51, so that the concrete in the cylindrical body 5 is pushed out and the injection is terminated, so that air pockets are unlikely to form near the injection port 51. Therefore, the lining concrete 1 can be constructed with higher quality.
Furthermore, since the inlet 52 is formed closer to the injection port 51 than the outlet 53, when the sliding body 6 is advanced to switch from a concrete pouring state to an outflow state from the outlet 53, the amount of concrete pushed out from inside the cylindrical body 5 can be minimized.

The pouring sensor 23 detects the pouring status and automatically moves the concrete injection point (switching valve 4), so there is no need to visually check the pouring status. This reduces the amount of work required by workers. Compaction using the vibrator 22 is also performed automatically, reducing the amount of work required for construction. In this way, by mechanically checking the pouring status and compacting the concrete, unevenness in the concrete filling is less likely to occur, regardless of the skill level of the workers, compared to when it is done manually.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and each of the above-described components can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above embodiment, a case has been described in which medium-fluidity concrete is poured as the lining concrete 1, but the type of concrete used as the lining concrete 1 is not limited, and any type of concrete can be used, such as high-strength concrete, fiber-reinforced concrete, ordinary concrete, etc.
In addition, in the above embodiment, the horizontal pipes 31 are arranged in three vertical tiers, but the piping of the concrete pouring pipes 3 may be determined appropriately depending on the shape of the tunnel.

Furthermore, the number and arrangement of the switching valves 4 are not limited and may be determined appropriately.
The inlet 52 and the outlet 53 may be formed in the cylindrical body 5 so that their central axes are parallel to each other, or so that their central axes intersect with each other.
The tip of the cylindrical body 5 does not necessarily need to be flush with the surface of the formwork member 21 (the surface facing the natural ground G) and may be fixed, for example, to the inner surface of the formwork member 21 (the surface facing the inner space).
Furthermore, the shape of the tip end surface of the sliding body 6 is not limited, and may be, for example, a flat surface.
Furthermore, the internal flow passage 62 does not necessarily have to be linear, and may be shaped, for example, in an arc connecting the inlet 52 and the outlet 53 .
The positional relationship between the inlet 52 and the outlet 53 is not limited and may be determined appropriately.

1 Lining concrete 2 Slide center (formwork)
21 Formwork member 3 Concrete pouring pipe 4 Switching valve 5 Cylinder 51 Inlet 52 Inlet 53 Outlet 6 Slider 61 Tip surface 62 Internal flow path

Claims (4)

A switching valve is interposed between an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe, and switches between a state in which concrete supplied from the upstream pipe can be poured into a formwork and a state in which concrete can flow down to the downstream pipe,
A cylinder connected to the formwork;
A sliding body is housed in the cylindrical body and slides in the axial direction of the cylindrical body to switch between a state in which the concrete can be poured into the formwork and a state in which the concrete can flow down to the downstream pipe ,
The upstream pipe and the downstream pipe are concrete pouring pipes extending from a concrete pump and arranged along an inner surface of a slide center,
The cylindrical body has an injection port that opens at a tip of the cylindrical body;
an inlet formed on a side surface of the cylindrical body and directly connected to the upstream pipe;
An outlet port is formed on a side surface of the cylindrical body and connected to the downstream pipe,
The outlet is formed at a position offset in the axial direction of the cylindrical body from the inlet,
a switching valve, characterized in that an internal flow path is formed in the sliding body, the internal flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet with a tip surface of the sliding body being aligned with a concrete side surface of the formwork. The switching valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the tip surface of the cylinder has a shape that is flush with the surface of the mold. The switching valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the internal flow path is a linear flow path inclined with respect to the moving direction of the sliding body. The switching valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inlet is formed closer to the inlet than the outlet.

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