JP7655832B2 - Pipe connection member and pipe connection method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tube connection member and a tube connection method using the same.

2. Description of the Related Art As a method for connecting pipes such as long resin pipes at a construction site, a connecting member such as a pipe joint is used.
The method of visually checking whether the pipes are connected is prone to human error, so there is a need to improve its reliability.
Patent Document 1 proposes a method for confirming the connection between a pipe fitting and a pipe by using an identification code. In this method, an insertion confirmation member having an identification code on its surface is provided inside the pipe fitting so that it can be moved. When the pipe to be connected is inserted into the pipe fitting, the insertion confirmation member moves, and when the insertion is completed, the identification code becomes visible through a window provided on the outer surface of the pipe fitting. If the identification code can be read by a reading device from outside the window, it is determined that the connection between the pipe fitting and the pipe is complete.

JP 2020-143754 A

In the method of Patent Document 1, the identification code is provided on an insertion confirmation member inside the pipe joint, so if the diameter of the pipe is small, the identification code is also small, and the identification code may not be readable in a dark construction site with limited working space. Therefore, the code information is prone to being read incorrectly or human error when reading it.
An object of the present invention is to provide a connecting member capable of preventing human error in connecting pipe bodies.

The present invention has the following aspects.
[1] A pipe connection member having a pair of first and second divided bodies surrounding the connection portion of two pipes from the outer periphery, the first and second divided bodies being capable of being tightened in a direction in which they approach each other, and having first and second outer surfaces respectively which are flush with each other when the first and second divided bodies are closest to each other, and code information spanning both sides is present on the first and second outer surfaces.
[2] The pipe connection member according to [1], wherein the first outer surface and the second outer surface have positioning portions for positioning the code information.
[3] The pipe connection member of [1] or [2], wherein the code information is a matrix type two-dimensional code, and the area of the code information present on the first outer surface is 10 to 90% of the total area of the code information.
[4] The pipe connection member according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the pipe is a resin pipe having an annular flange portion at an end thereof.
[5] A method for connecting two pipes using any one of the pipe connection members [1] to [4], comprising: surrounding the connection portion of the two pipes from the outer periphery with the pair of first and second divided bodies; tightening the first and second divided bodies in a direction in which they approach each other; and then reading the code information with a reading device; and determining that the connection is complete if the code information is readable.

The present invention provides a connection member that can prevent human error when connecting pipes.

1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing one embodiment of a connecting member of the present invention. 2 is a perspective view showing the connection member shown in FIG. 1 cut along a plane perpendicular to the tube axis direction. FIG. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views showing the connecting member shown in FIG. 1 cut along a plane perpendicular to the tube axis direction, in which FIG. 2A shows the state before fastening and FIG. 2B shows the state after fastening. FIG. 2 is a front view of the connection member shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 is a front view of the connection member shown in FIG. 1 .

Hereinafter, a pipe joint will be taken as an example of one embodiment of a connecting member of the present invention and will be described with reference to Figs.
1 is a perspective view showing, in partial cross section, an example of a connection structure using a connection member (pipe joint) according to the present embodiment, in which reference numerals 1 and 2 denote pipes to be connected, and reference numeral 5 denotes the connection member.
In this embodiment, the pipes 1 and 2 are resin pipes having flanges 1a and 2a at the ends of the pipe body. Examples of materials for the resin pipes include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polybutene, etc. The pipes 1 and 2 can be manufactured, for example, by butt welding a short pipe having the flanges 1a and 2a to the pipe body.
The pipes 1 and 2 are connected by butting the flanges 1a and 2a against each other. In order to make the connection between the pipes 1 and 2 liquid-tight, an annular groove is provided on one of the butting surfaces of the flanges 1a and 2a, and an O-ring 3 is fitted into the groove.

The connection member 5 has a pair of a first divided body 10 and a second divided body 20 which surround the butted flange portions 1a, 2a (the connection portions of the pipes 1, 2) from the outer periphery.
The material of the first and second divided bodies 10, 20 is, for example, glass fiber reinforced resin (nylon, polypropylene, polyacetal, etc.).

Figures 2 and 3 show the shapes of the first and second divided bodies 10 and 20 cut along a plane perpendicular to the tube axis direction Z of the tube bodies 1 and 2, with Figure 2 being a perspective view and Figure 3 being a cross-sectional view. In Figure 2, the first divided body 10 and the second divided body 20 are viewed from different directions.

The first and second divided bodies 10, 20 have first and second clamping portions 11, 21, first and second hinge portions 15, 25, and first and second fastening portions 18, .
The first and second clamping portions 11 and 21 clamp the flange portions 1 a and 2 a of the pipes 1 and 2 .
The first and second clamping portions 11, 21 are substantially semi-cylindrical in shape and have fitting grooves 12, 22 on their inner surfaces into which the flange portions 1a, 2a fit.

The first and second hinge portions 15, 25 connect the first and second divisional bodies 10, 20 so as to be rotatable relative to each other.
The first hinge portion 15 has an extension portion 15a extending downward from one end portion of the first clamping portion 11, and an engagement hole 15b passing through the extension portion 15a.
The second hinge portion 25 has an engagement projection 25a that projects radially outward from one end of the second clamping portion 21 .
1 and 3, the engaging projection 25a is inserted into the engaging hole 15b to form a hinge means. The hinge means connects the first divided body 10 and the second divided body 20 to be relatively rotatable along a plane perpendicular to the tube axis direction Z.

The first and second fastening portions 18, 28 fasten the first and second sections 10, 20 in a direction in which they approach each other.
The first fastening portion 18 has a first support portion 18a that protrudes radially outward from the other end of the first clamping portion 11, and a first through hole 18b that penetrates the first support portion 18a.
The second fastening portion 28 has a second support portion 28a that protrudes radially outward from the other end of the second clamping portion 21, and a second through hole 28b that penetrates the second support portion 28a.
3B, when the first and second divisions 10 and 20 are closest to each other, the end face 16 on the fastening portion side of the first division 10 comes into contact with the end face 26 on the fastening portion side of the second division 20, and the first through hole 18b and the second through hole 28b communicate with each other. When fastening, a bolt 31 is inserted through the communicated first and second through holes 18b, 28b.
2 and 3, reference numeral 29 denotes a rotation-preventing protrusion, which is omitted in FIGS.

When viewed from above in the depth direction (hereinafter also referred to as the X direction) of the first and second through holes 18b, 28b, the first fastening portion 18 and the second fastening portion 28 have the same planar shape.
4 and 5 are front views of the first and second sections 10 and 20 as viewed from the first and second fastening portions 18 and 28 sides.
As shown in Figure 5, when the first division 10 and the second division 20 are closest to each other, the outer surfaces of the first fastening portion 18 and the second fastening portion 28, which are parallel to the X direction, are flush with each other and adjacent to each other via the boundary line between the end face 16 and the end face 26.
Of the outer surfaces of the first fastening portion 18 and the second fastening portion 28, the outer surfaces that are parallel to the X direction and closest to the first and second through holes 18b, 28b are defined as a first outer surface 17 and a second outer surface 27.

Code information 40 exists on the first outer surface 17 and the second outer surface 27, spanning both surfaces.
When code information 40 spans both sides, it means that a portion of one code information 40 (hereinafter also referred to as the "first partial code") exists on the first outer surface 17 and the remaining portion (hereinafter also referred to as the "second partial code") exists on the second outer surface 27, and one code information 40 is completed when the first outer surface 17 and the second outer surface 27 are adjacent and flush with each other.

The code information 40 is a machine-readable representation of information such as numbers and letters, arranged by arranging lines and dots of different thicknesses and intervals. Examples include one-dimensional barcodes (JAN code, GS1-128, etc.) in which multiple digits are written, and two-dimensional barcodes in which information is written in two directions, with data in both horizontal and vertical directions (vertical and horizontal directions).
Examples of two-dimensional barcodes include matrix type two-dimensional codes such as QR (registered trademark) codes and stack type two-dimensional codes such as PDF417.

A method for providing the code information 40 on the first and second outer surfaces 17, 27 can be, for example, a method in which printed sheets on which the first partial code 40a and the second partial code 40b are printed are attached to respective predetermined positions.
In this case, it is preferable to provide a positioning portion in advance at the position where each printed sheet is attached on the first and second outer surfaces 17 and 27. The shape of the positioning portion is not particularly limited as long as it allows the printed sheet to be attached at the predetermined position. For example, a positioning recess, a positioning groove, etc. can be exemplified.
Also, a method not using a printing sheet may be used. For example, a method of directly printing on the first and second outer surfaces 17, 27 may be used. Alternatively, when the first and second divided bodies 10, 20 are manufactured by an injection molding method, the first and second outer surfaces 17, 27 may be formed with projections and recesses corresponding to the respective code information during the injection molding to form the first partial code 40a and the second partial code 40b.

If the overall size of the code information 40 is too small, it may be difficult for the reading device to read it, and if it is too large, the distance from the code information 40 to the reading device becomes large. Therefore, it is preferable to set the size so as to avoid these inconveniences.
For example, when the code information 40 is a two-dimensional matrix code, the size of the two-dimensional matrix code is preferably such that the length of one side is 7 mm to 100 mm, and more preferably 10 mm to 50 mm.
Here, the size of the entire code information 40 is the size of the portion necessary to read the code, and includes, for example, a blank area (quiet zone) surrounding a QR (registered trademark) code.

The orientation of the code information 40 on the first and second outer surfaces 17, 27, the size of the elements constituting the code information 40 (element width, cell size, etc.), and the area ratio of the first partial code 40a to the second partial code 40b (hereinafter also referred to as the "code information division ratio") are set so that they cannot be read when the connection is not complete, but can be read when the connection is complete.
Specifically, when the width W of the gap between the first outer surface 17 and the second outer surface 27 in the X direction is within the range of 0 to Wa (Wa is the maximum value of the gap width W at which the connection state can be determined to be appropriate), the code information 40 can be read, and when the gap width W exceeds Wa, the code information 40 cannot be read.

For example, when the code information 40 is a matrix type two-dimensional code, the orientation of the code information 40 on the first and second outer surfaces 17 and 27 is such that one of the two directions (vertical and horizontal directions) in which the information is carried is the X direction, as shown in FIG.
If the block width (size of one side of a cell) Wb in the X direction is too small, it may be difficult for the reading device to read it, but if it is too large, the code information 40 can be read even if the gap width W exceeds Wa (even in an improper connection state), so the block width Wb is set so as to avoid these inconveniences.
The block width Wb is, for example, preferably 0.2 mm to 10 mm, and more preferably 1 mm to 6 mm.

When the code information 40 is a matrix type two-dimensional code, the code information division rate, which is the ratio of the area of the first partial code 40a present on the first outer surface 17 to the total area of the code information 40, is preferably 10 to 90%, and more preferably 40 to 70%. If it is within the above range, it is easy to prevent erroneous determination that the code information 40 is readable when the gap width W exceeds Wa.
Here, the total area of the code information 40 is the total area of the parts necessary for reading the code, and includes, for example, the blank area (quiet zone) surrounding the QR (registered trademark) code.
The total area of the code information 40 is equal to the sum of the areas of the first partial code 40a and the second partial code 40b.

<Connection method>
The method of connecting the pipes 1 and 2 using the connection member 5 of this embodiment is to first surround the connection portion of the pipes 1 and 2 from the outer periphery side with the first divided body 10 and the second divided body 20.
Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3(A), the flanges 1a, 2a of the pipes 1, 2 are accommodated in the fitting groove 22 of the second clamping portion 21 of the second divided body 20, and the engaging protrusion 25a of the second hinge portion 25 is inserted into the engaging hole 15b of the first hinge portion 15. Next, the first divided body 10 is rotated, and as shown in Fig. 3(B), the flanges 1a, 2a of the pipes 1, 2 are accommodated in the fitting groove 12 of the first clamping portion 11, and the first and second divided bodies 10, 20 surround the flanges 1a, 2a.

Next, the first divided body 10 and the second divided body 20 are fastened in a direction in which they approach each other.
3B, the bolt 31 is passed through the first and second through holes 18b, 28b, and the nut 32 is screwed in. The bolt 31 is tightened to clamp the flange portions 1a, 2a between the first clamping portion 11 and the second clamping portion 21, thereby connecting the pipe body 1 and the pipe body 2 in a liquid-tight manner.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the bolt 31 is tightened, the first and second fastening portions 18, 28 approach each other, and when the first outer surface 17 and the second outer surface 27 become flush and adjacent to each other, as shown in FIG. 5, the code information 40 is completed and can be read.
The code information 40 is read by a reading device, and if the code information 40 can be read, it is determined that the connection of the pipes 1 and 2 is complete.
As a reading device, for example, a terminal (smartphone, mobile phone, tablet terminal, etc.) equipped with an application configured to be able to read the code information 40 can be used.
Management information such as the connection position, lot number, and installer may be entered in advance into the code information 40, so that this management information can be obtained and recorded on a pre-configured system at the same time as determining that the connection is complete.

According to this embodiment, the completion of the connection is determined based on whether the code information 40 can be read, which prevents human error. In addition, the code information 40 is present on the outer surface of the connection member, making it easy to read, and the size of the code information 40 is highly flexible.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above embodiment, a pipe joint is given as an example of a connecting member, but the present invention can also be applied to a connecting member having two adjacent outer surfaces that are flush when the divided bodies are fastened together.
In the above embodiment, a plastic pipe having a flange portion is taken as an example of the pipe body to be connected, but the present invention can be applied to any other pipe body that is connected by tightening with a divided body.

The present invention will be described in more detail below using examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.
(Examples 1 to 8)
The connection members 5 shown in Figures 4 and 5 were produced and the following tests were carried out. A matrix type two-dimensional code was used as the code information 40. In Examples 1 to 8, the code information division rate and block width Wb were changed as shown in Table 1. The results of each test are shown in Table 1.

[Gap increase test]
In each example, while reading the code information 40 using a mobile terminal (software ios14.8), the gap width W was gradually increased from zero, and the gap value Wc was measured when the code information 40 could no longer be read (not measured in Example 8).

[Reading test]
(Test 1) In each example, a test was conducted to see whether the code information 40 could be read by bringing a mobile terminal (software ios14.8) close to the code information 40 with the gap width W set to zero.
(Test 2) A test was conducted to determine whether the code information 40 could be read when the gap width W exceeded the maximum value Wa at which the connection state was determined to be appropriate. Specifically, the gap width W was set to 3 mm, and the test was conducted in the same manner as in Test 1.
The results of tests 1 and 2 are shown in Table 1, with "possible" if the test was readable and "not possible" if the test was not readable.
Based on the results of tests 1 and 2, if the character could be read in test 1 but not in test 2, it was judged as ○ (good judgment accuracy), and otherwise it was judged as × (poor judgment accuracy).
Table 1 also shows the ratio (unit: %) of the gap (3 mm) to the block width Wb for each example.

From the results in Table 1, it can be seen that by adjusting the code information division rate and block width, it is possible to design the code information 40 so that it can be read when the connection state is appropriate (gap width W is 0 or more and Wa or less), but that it cannot be read when the connection state is inappropriate (gap width W exceeds Wa).
The maximum value Wa at which the connection state can be determined to be appropriate varies depending on, for example, the diameters of the pipes 1 and 2. For example, it can be determined by carrying out a water leakage test while changing the width W of the gap.

1, 2 Pipe body 1a, 2a Flange portion 5 Connection member (pipe joint)
10 First divided body 11 First clamping portion 12 Fitting groove 15 First hinge portion 15a Extension portion 15b Engagement hole 16 End surface on the fastening portion side 17 First outer surface 18 First fastening portion 18a First support portion 18b First through hole 20 Second divided body 21 Second clamping portion 22 Fitting groove 25 Second hinge portion 25a Engagement protrusion 26 End surface on the fastening portion side 27 Second outer surface 28 Second fastening portion 28a Second support portion 28b Second through hole 29 Anti-rotation protrusion 31 Bolt 32 Nut 40 Code information 40a First part code 40b Second part code

Claims (5)

a pair of first and second divided bodies surrounding a connection portion of two pipes from an outer periphery side;
the first divided body and the second divided body are fastenable in a direction in which they approach each other, and have first and second outer surfaces, respectively, which are flush with each other when the first divided body and the second divided body are closest to each other;
A pipe connection member, wherein code information is present on both the first outer surface and the second outer surface, the code information extending across both surfaces. The tube connection member according to claim 1, wherein the first outer surface and the second outer surface have positioning portions for positioning the code information. The pipe connection member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the code information is a matrix type two-dimensional code, and the area of the code information present on the first outer surface is 10 to 90% of the total area of the code information. A pipe connection member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pipe is a resin pipe having an annular flange at the end. A method for connecting two pipes using the pipe connecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the steps of:
A method for connecting pipes, comprising: surrounding the connection portion of the two pipes from the outer periphery with the pair of first and second divided bodies; tightening the first and second divided bodies in a direction such that they approach each other; and then reading the code information with a reading device; and determining that the connection is complete if the code information is readable.

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