JP7624649B2 - Piping structure and installation method within buildings - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a piping structure for water facilities and the like installed within a building, and to a construction method for the same.

In buildings such as apartment complexes and commercial facilities, facility piping such as water pipes is installed. In buildings with two or more floors, the facility piping can be a vertical pipe that runs through multiple floors. In addition, equipment such as water meters is installed on each floor of the building, and construction work is carried out to connect the piping from the vertical pipe to the equipment.

Conventionally, during this construction work, a bellows-shaped flexible pipe and adapters to be attached to both ends of the flexible pipe were brought to the construction site, where the flexible pipe was cut to the appropriate length and the adapters were attached.

However, when working on-site, there is a risk of leakage from the piping due to processing errors when attaching the flexible pipe to the adapter. In addition, working on-site may impose a burden on workers depending on the on-site environment.

JP 2009-191556 A

To eliminate such inconveniences in on-site work, it is conceivable to prepare pre-assembled piping of a specified length based on design drawings and on-site construction drawings, and then only perform the work of connecting the vertical pipe to the piping adapter at the site. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a construction method that shortens the construction period by installing a unit box on-site for connecting the necessary equipment in a one-room apartment, etc.

However, at the construction site, the actual layout of vertical pipes and equipment often differs from that shown in the design drawings and on-site construction drawings. Although the pre-assembled piping mentioned above is made slightly longer than shown on the design drawings and on-site construction drawings, there is a risk that the piping will not be long enough. Conversely, if the actual piping distance is shorter than shown on the design drawings and on-site construction drawings, it may be difficult to manage the piping.

In view of the above, the present invention aims to improve the piping of water facilities and the like installed within buildings and the construction method thereof, and more specifically, to provide a piping structure and a construction method thereof that do not require modification of the piping, even if the layout of the piping at the construction site differs from the design drawings or on-site construction drawings.

To achieve this objective, the piping structure of the present invention is a piping structure that connects equipment piping installed inside a building to equipment installed inside the building and connected to the equipment piping, and is characterized in that it includes a branching member installed on the equipment piping, an adapter having a connection member connectable to the branching member, and a flexible tube having one end connected to the adapter and the other end connectable to the equipment, the adapter is formed to be rotatable around a rotation axis that intersects with the axial direction of the equipment piping at a predetermined intersection angle, and the flexible tube is connected to the adapter at a predetermined connection angle with respect to the rotation axis.

According to the piping structure of the present invention, the adapter is formed to be rotatable around the rotation axis relative to the branching member, so that when connecting the flexible tube to the equipment, even if the distance between the actual facility piping and the equipment differs from that shown in the design drawing, the flexible tube can be routed differently by rotating the adapter, making installation easier.

In addition, in the piping structure of the present invention, the flexible tube may be rotatable about its own axis relative to the adapter while connected to the adapter. With this configuration, the flexible tube can be rotated by rotating the flexible tube itself.

In addition, in the piping structure of the present invention, the equipment piping may be connected by a butt joint, and the branching member may be formed so as to be rotatable about the central axis of the equipment piping by rotating the butt joint. With this configuration, the flexible tube can be arranged differently by rotating the branching pipe relative to the equipment piping.

The piping construction method of the present invention is a piping construction method for connecting equipment piping installed inside a building to equipment installed inside the building and connected to the equipment piping, using a branching member installed on the equipment piping, an adapter having a connection member connectable to the branching member, and a flexible tube having one end connected to the adapter and the other end connectable to the equipment, the adapter is rotatable around a rotation axis that intersects with the axial direction of the equipment piping at a predetermined intersection angle, the flexible tube is connected to the adapter at a predetermined connection angle to the rotation axis, and the method includes the steps of attaching the branching member to the equipment piping, attaching the adapter to the branching member, and rotating the adapter to adjust the distance between the connection member and the other end of the flexible tube and connecting the other end of the flexible tube to the equipment.

According to the piping construction method of the present invention, the branching member is attached to the equipment piping, the adapter is attached to the branching member, and the adapter is rotated to adjust the distance between the connecting member and the other end of the flexible tube, and the other end of the flexible tube is connected to the equipment, thereby deforming the flexible tube and changing the way the flexible tube is handled. According to this construction method, when connecting the flexible tube to the equipment, even if the distance between the actual equipment piping and the equipment is different from that in the design drawing, the flexible tube can be easily connected to the equipment.

In addition, in the piping installation method of the present invention, the flexible tube may be rotatable around its own axis relative to the adapter while connected to the adapter, and in the step of connecting the other end of the flexible tube to the equipment, the flexible tube may be connected by rotating it relative to the adapter. According to this installation method, the flexible tube can be connected to the equipment by rotating the flexible tube itself to change its arrangement.

In addition, in the piping construction method of the present invention, the equipment piping is connected by a butt joint joint, the branching member can be rotated around the central axis of the equipment piping by rotating the butt joint joint, and the branching member can be rotated in the process of connecting the other end of the flexible tube to the equipment. According to this construction method, by rotating the branching pipe relative to the equipment piping, the flexible tube can be routed differently and connected to the equipment.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing vertical pipes (facility piping) and equipment installed in a building, and a piping structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the piping structure of the embodiment. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a piping structure and a construction method according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a piping structure and a construction method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

A piping structure and construction method according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. As shown in Fig. 1, the piping unit 1 (piping structure) according to the first embodiment of the present invention is composed of a branching member 10 attached to a vertical pipe 40, which is equipment piping installed inside a building, an adapter 20 rotatably attached to the branching member 10, and a flexible tube 30 that is connected in advance to the adapter 20 and connected to equipment 41. The vertical pipe 40 is installed so as to penetrate the floor 42 of the building, and the equipment 41 is fixed to the floor 42 of the building.

In this embodiment, the branching member 10 is a so-called EF (electrofusion) joint, which is attached by cutting the vertical pipe 40 horizontally to a specified length and inserting it between the upper and lower cut surfaces. The connection between the vertical pipe 40 and the branching member 10 is joined by heating and fusing with an electric heating wire inside the EF joint. The branching member 10 is formed from a pipe body 11 with a larger diameter than the vertical pipe 40, and a branching port 12 that protrudes laterally from the pipe body 11.

The adapter 20 is rotatably attached to the branch port 12 of the branch member 10 by the connection member 21. In this embodiment, the adapter 20 is rotatable when the connection member 21 and the elbow 22 are not fully tightened. When the connection member 21 and the elbow 22 are fully tightened, the position of the elbow 22 relative to the branch port 12 is fixed.

The adapter 20 rotates around a rotating shaft 20a. In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 20a is designed to intersect with the central axis 40a of the vertical tube 40 at an intersection angle of approximately 90 degrees. The standard value of this intersection angle is 90 degrees, but it can be set to an angle of approximately 80 degrees to 110 degrees as needed.

An elbow 22 is attached to the connection member 21 of the adapter 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the upstream side of the elbow 22 (the vertical pipe 40 side) is held between the connection member 21 and the cylindrical branch port 12, and a packing 23 is provided at the upstream tip of the elbow 22, as well as a lock ring, a washer, etc. This configuration allows the elbow 22 to rotate with respect to the branch port 12 while the connection member 21 is temporarily fixed.

On the other hand, one end 30b of the flexible tube 30 is attached to the downstream side (flexible tube 30 side) of the elbow 22 so that it can rotate freely around the central axis 30a of the flexible tube 30 itself. This elbow 22 is formed so that the fluid flow path is 90 degrees. Therefore, the central axis 30a of the flexible tube 30 is provided so that it forms a connection angle of 90 degrees with the rotation axis 20a of the adapter 20. This connection angle, like the intersection angle, can be set to approximately 80 degrees to 110 degrees as necessary.

The flexible tube 30 comprises a flexible hose 31 having flexibility and sleeves 32 provided on both ends of the flexible hose 31. An O-ring 33 is attached between the sleeve 32 and the inner circumferential surface on the downstream side of the elbow 22. In addition, one end 30b of the flexible tube 30 is positioned by a stop ring 34 when the sleeve 32 is inserted into the elbow 22.

The other end 30c of the flexible tube 30 is connected to the connection member 43 of the equipment 41 as shown in FIG. 1, and is rotatably attached to the connection member 43 of the equipment 41, similar to the one end 30b of the flexible tube 30 shown in FIG. 2. The flexible hose 31 of the flexible tube 30 and the upstream and downstream sleeves 32 are connected to each other by welding.

Next, the construction method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The construction method of the first embodiment is a method of constructing piping using the piping unit 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. In FIG. 3, the equipment 41 shown in solid lines shows a state in which it is installed according to the design drawings and on-site construction drawings, and the equipment 41 shown in dotted lines shows a state in which it is installed in a position different from the design drawings and on-site construction drawings.

The piping unit 1 is designed with a certain amount of leeway so that the flexible tube 30 is slightly longer when it is installed in the desired path from the branching member 10 to the equipment 41 in the design drawings. The length of the flexible tube 30 that is slightly longer due to this leeway can be adjusted by changing the rotation angle of the elbow 22 and the bending position of the flexible tube 30.

In the construction method of the present invention, the worker first performs the process of attaching the branching member 10 to the vertical pipe 40. In this embodiment, the process of attaching the branching member 10 is performed by cutting the vertical pipe 40 horizontally at two locations and attaching the branching member 10 to the cut parts. In this embodiment, the branch opening 12 of the branching member 10 is configured not to rotate relative to the vertical pipe 40, so when attaching the branching member 10, the direction of the branch opening 12 is positioned according to the design drawings and on-site construction drawings. This attachment of the branching member 10 may be performed in advance when the vertical pipe 40 is installed in the building.

Next, the worker performs the process of attaching the adapter 20 to the branching member 10. Specifically, the connecting member 21 of the adapter 20 is attached to the branching port 12 of the branching member 10. In this embodiment, with the adapter 20 temporarily fixed to the branching port 12 of the branching member 10, the elbow 22 is rotatable around the rotation axis 20a relative to the connecting member 21 of the adapter 20.

Next, the worker performs the process of connecting the other end 30c of the flexible tube 30 to the connection member 43 of the equipment 41 that has been fixed in advance. At this time, the worker rotates the elbow 22 of the adapter 20 and deforms the flexible tube 30 to position the other end 30c of the flexible tube 30 so that it can be connected to the connection member 43 of the equipment 41, and then tightens and fixes the connection member 21.

When the equipment 41 is installed according to the design drawings and on-site construction drawings, the adapter 20 and the connection member 43 of the equipment 41 are connected in a substantially straight line, as shown by the flexible tube 30 on the right side of Figure 3. In this way, when the equipment 41 is installed according to the design drawings, the flexible tube 30 can be easily handled.

On the other hand, if the equipment 41 is not installed according to the design drawings or on-site construction drawings, for example, as shown on the left side of FIG. 3, the flexible tube 30 can be rotated relative to the branching member 10 and the flexible tube 30 between the adapter 20 and the connection member 43 of the equipment 41 can be curved, and the flexible tube 30 can be routed differently to accommodate the change in the distance between the adapter 20 and the connection member 43 of the equipment 41. The rotation angle of the adapter 20 and the shape of the flexible tube 30 can be changed as desired as long as they are compatible with the shape at the construction site.

If the vertical pipe 40 is provided with a well-known butt joint joint 44 as shown in FIG. 1, the branch port 12 of the branching member 10 may be rotated relative to the vertical pipe 40. The butt joint joint 44 is fixed to the ends of the upper and lower vertical pipes 40 by butt welding 44c at end joints 44b having flanges 44a, and connects the upper and lower vertical pipes 40 with a two-part arch-shaped housing joint 44d shaped to fit into the flanges 40a.

The butt joint joint 44 is attached by attaching a packing 44e to the boundary between the upper and lower end joints 44b, combining a pair of housing joints 44d, and fastening the housing joints 44d with fastening members 44f such as bolts and nuts. The butt joint joint 44 is preferable because it adds more freedom to the handling of the flexible tube 30 between the adapter 20 and the connection member 43 of the device 41.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the equipment 41 shown in solid lines is installed according to the design drawings and on-site construction drawings, while the equipment 41 shown in dotted lines is installed in a position different from that shown in the design drawings.

The piping unit 1a (piping structure) of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the branch port 17 of the branch member 15 is rotatable around the central axis 40a of the vertical pipe 40. Since the other points are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions are omitted.

The branching member 15 has an external appearance similar to that of the branching member 10 in FIG. 2, but inside, an O-ring (not shown) is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the pipe body 16 and the outer peripheral surface of the vertical pipe 40, so that the pipe body 16 is liquid-tight with respect to the vertical pipe 40.

In the construction method of the second embodiment, the worker first performs the process of attaching the branching member 15 to the vertical pipe 40. In this embodiment, the branching opening 17 of the branching member 15 rotates relative to the vertical pipe 40, so when attaching the branching member 10, the branching opening 17 can be placed in any position.

Next, the worker performs the process of attaching the adapter 20 to the branching member 15. Specifically, the connecting member 21 of the adapter 20 is attached to the branching port 17 of the branching member 15. In this embodiment, with the adapter 20 temporarily fixed to the branching port 17 of the branching member 15, the elbow 22 is rotatable around the rotation axis 20a relative to the connecting member 21 of the adapter 20.

Next, the worker connects the other end 30c of the flexible tube 30 to the connection member 43 of the equipment 41, which has been fixed in advance. At this time, the branch port 17 of the branch member 15 is rotated relative to the vertical tube 40 to position the branch port 17 at the position indicated by the solid line in Figure 4. Furthermore, if necessary, the elbow 22 of the adapter 20 is rotated to deform the flexible tube 30, thereby positioning the other end 30c of the flexible tube 30 and the connection member 43 of the equipment 41.

When the equipment 41 is installed according to the design drawings and on-site construction drawings, as shown in the upper flexible tube 30 in Figure 4, the adapter 20 and the connection member 43 of the equipment 41 are bent and deformed to connect. In this way, when the equipment 41 is installed according to the design drawings and on-site construction drawings, the flexible tube 30 can be handled simply.

On the other hand, if the equipment is not installed according to the design drawings or on-site construction drawings, such as the lower equipment 41 in Figure 4, the branch port 17 of the branching member 15 is rotated relative to the vertical pipe 40 and positioned so that the branch port 17 is located at the dotted line position in Figure 4. Furthermore, if necessary, the elbow 22 of the adapter 20 is rotated to deform the flexible tube 30, thereby positioning the other end 30c of the flexible tube 30 and the connecting member 43 of the equipment 41, and connecting the two.

According to the construction method of the second embodiment, the branching opening 17 of the branching member 15 can be rotated relative to the vertical pipe 40 to flexibly respond to changes in the fixed position of the equipment 41. In addition, if necessary, the adapter 20 can be rotated relative to the branching member 15 to change the degree of curvature of the flexible tube 30 between the adapter 20 and the connecting member 43 of the equipment 41, and the flexible tube 30 can be changed to respond to changes in the distance between the adapter 20 and the connecting member 43 of the equipment 41. In this case, too, the direction of the branching opening 17, the rotation angle of the adapter 20, and the shape of the flexible tube 30 can be changed as desired as long as they are shapes that can be handled at the construction site.

In the above embodiment, the vertical pipe of a water supply facility is used as an example of the facility piping, but the present invention is not limited to this and can also be applied to the piping of a fire extinguishing facility (such as a sprinkler). In the above embodiment, the vertical pipe 40 is cut and the branching member 10 is attached, but the present invention is not limited to this and a hole may be opened on the side of the vertical pipe 40 and the branch port 12 of the branching member 10 may be attached to the hole.

In the above embodiment, an EF joint is used for the branching member 10, but this is not limited thereto, and a well-known spigot joint (SP joint) may also be used for joining. In addition, other well-known joints may also be used for the branching member 10.

1, 1a...piping unit, 10, 15...branching member, 11, 16...pipe body, 12, 17...branching port, 20...adapter, 20a...rotating shaft, 21...connecting member, 22...elbow, 23...packing, 30...flexible tube, 30a...center shaft, 30b...one end, 30c...other end, 31...flexible hose, 32...sleeve, 33...O-ring, 34...stop ring, 40...vertical tube (facility piping), 40a...center shaft, 41...equipment, 42...floor, 43...connecting member, 44...butt joint.

Claims (4)

A piping structure that connects an equipment pipe installed inside a building to an apparatus that is installed inside the building and connected to the equipment pipe,
a branching member that is installed on the facility piping; an adapter having a connection member that can be connected to the branching member; and a flexible tube that is flexible and has one end connected to the adapter and the other end that can be connected to the device,
The adapter is formed to be rotatable about a rotation axis that intersects with an axial direction of the facility piping at a predetermined intersection angle,
the flexible tube is connected to the adapter at a predetermined connection angle with respect to the rotation shaft,
A piping structure , characterized in that the flexible tube is rotatable about its own axis relative to the adapter while being connected to the adapter . The piping structure according to claim 1 ,
A piping structure characterized in that the facility piping is connected by a butt connection joint, and the branching member is formed so as to be rotatable around a central axis of the facility piping by rotating the butt connection joint. A piping construction method for connecting an equipment piping installed inside a building to a device installed in the building and connected to the equipment piping, comprising:
A branching member to be installed on the facility piping, an adapter having a connection member connectable to the branching member, and a flexible tube having one end connected to the adapter and the other end connectable to the device,
the adapter is rotatable about a rotation axis that intersects with an axial direction of the facility piping at a predetermined intersection angle;
the flexible tube is connected to the adapter at a predetermined connection angle with respect to the rotation shaft,
Attaching the branching member to the facility piping;
attaching the adapter to the branching member;
and rotating the adapter to adjust a distance between the connection member and the other end of the flexible tube and connect the other end of the flexible tube to the device .
the flexible tube is rotatable about its own axis relative to the adapter while being connected to the adapter;
A piping construction method, characterized in that in the step of connecting the other end of the flexible tube to the equipment, the flexible tube is rotated relative to the adapter to connect them . The piping construction method according to claim 3 ,
The facility piping is connected by a butt joint, and the branching member is rotatable about a central axis of the facility piping by rotating the butt joint,
A piping construction method, comprising the step of rotating the branching member in the step of connecting the other end of the flexible pipe to the equipment.

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