JP7762756B2 - Valve box structure and pipe structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a valve box structure and a pipe structure.

Conventionally, bileaflet valves, such as those disclosed in Patent Document 1, use a valve body that can be separated by a split surface extending along the axial direction. The valve body in Patent Document 1 is configured to be split into two in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and a gasket is provided on the split surface to prevent water leakage. One of the split surfaces of the valve body that is split into two has a groove into which the gasket can be fitted. With the gasket fitted into the groove formed on one of the split surfaces, the two split surfaces are joined together to integrate the valve body, and the split surfaces are joined liquid-tight via the gasket, preventing water leakage between the two split surfaces.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-146010

In the valve box of Patent Document 1, the groove formed in one of the split surfaces extends to the end of the split surface (for example, the axial end) and communicates with the outside of the end of the split surface. Therefore, when the split surfaces are joined together, the pressing force between the split surfaces causes the packing to stretch along the groove toward the end of the split surface, and may protrude beyond the end of the split surface. Once the packing protrudes beyond the end of the split surface, it is difficult to push it back into the groove, and it is necessary to either cut off the protruding portion or disassemble the valve box and re-install the packing. Cutting off the protruding portion or having to redo the work reduces the productivity of valve box assembly work.

The present invention was developed in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a valve box structure and a pipe structure that can prevent a decline in assembly productivity.

The valve box structure of the present invention comprises a valve box that can be divided by a split surface extending along the axial direction, and a split surface packing provided on the split surface. The split surface is provided with a split surface packing fitting groove that extends to the end of the split surface and into which the split surface packing fits. The split surface packing fitting groove comprises a main axis direction groove that extends along the main axis direction and a cross direction groove that extends in a cross direction that intersects the main axis direction. The split surface packing comprises a main axis direction seal portion that fits into the main axis direction groove and a cross direction seal portion that fits into the cross direction groove. The cross direction groove is provided with an engagement portion that can engage with the cross direction seal portion in a direction toward the end of the split surface in the main axis direction, and the cross direction seal portion comprises a high-rigidity portion that has higher rigidity than the main axis direction seal portion.

The pipe structure of the present invention comprises a pipe that can be split at a split surface extending along the axial direction, and a split surface gasket provided on the split surface. The split surface is provided with a split surface gasket fitting groove that extends to the end of the split surface and into which the split surface gasket fits. The split surface gasket fitting groove comprises a main axis direction groove that extends along the main axis direction and a cross direction groove that extends from the main axis direction groove in a cross direction that intersects the main axis direction. The split surface gasket comprises a main axis direction seal portion that fits into the main axis direction groove and a cross direction seal portion that fits into the cross direction groove. The cross direction groove is provided with an engaging portion that can engage with the cross direction seal portion in a direction toward the end of the split surface in the main axis direction, and the cross direction seal portion comprises a high-rigidity portion that has higher rigidity than the main axis direction seal portion.

The present invention provides a valve box structure and a pipe structure that can suppress a decline in assembly productivity.

1 is a front view of a valve incorporating a tubular body structure (valve box structure) according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the lower half is cut away. FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view of the valve of FIG. 1 with one tube (valve body) component partially removed. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part III in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view showing a modified example of the split surface packing. FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view showing another modified example of the split surface packing. FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view showing yet another modified example of the split surface packing.

Below, a valve box structure and a tube structure according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiment shown below is merely an example, and the valve box structure and tube structure of the present invention are not limited to the following embodiment.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tubular body structure 1 of this embodiment forms a flow path FP for a fluid such as water or gas. As described below, the tubular body structure 1 can be embodied, for example, as a valve box structure that forms part of a valve. However, the tubular body structure 1 can also be embodied as a structure that does not form part of a valve, such as a flanged short pipe. Below, a valve box structure will be described as an example of the tubular body structure 1. The valve box included in the valve box structure is configured to be able to accommodate a valve disc therein, but the tubular body included in the tubular body structure 1 includes not only a configuration that can accommodate a valve disc, but also a configuration that does not accommodate a valve disc. In the following description, the term "valve box" can be read as "tube body," and the term "valve box structure" can be read as "tube body structure."

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the valve body structure 1 of this embodiment is incorporated into a valve V for controlling the flow of a fluid such as water or gas. The valve V includes the valve body structure 1 having an internal fluid flow path FP, a valve disc VB that can move between an open position that opens the flow path FP and a closed position that closes the flow path FP, and an operating unit (not shown) for manually or automatically operating the valve disc VB. The valve V into which the valve body structure 1 can be incorporated is not particularly limited, and examples include a bileaf valve, a butterfly valve, and a spherical valve. In the illustrated example, the valve V is a bileaf valve, and the valve disc VB is configured to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position around a rotation axis RA that is substantially perpendicular to an axial direction AD that is substantially parallel to the flow path FP. A bileaf valve has a small loss coefficient when the flow path FP is fully open, and can be used, for example, as an inlet valve for a hydraulic turbine in a hydroelectric power plant.

The valve box structure 1 has a fluid flow path FP therein and movably (e.g., rotatably) accommodates a valve element VB in the flow path FP. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the valve box structure 1 comprises a valve box 2 that can be divided by split surfaces 21, 22 extending along an axial direction AD that is substantially parallel to the flow path FP, and split surface packings 3 provided on the split surfaces 21, 22. In the valve box structure 1, the split surface packings 3 are provided between adjacent split surfaces 21, 22, thereby joining the adjacent split surfaces 21, 22 in a liquid-tight or airtight manner, preventing fluid from leaking from the interior of the valve box structure 1 between the split surfaces 21, 22.

1 and 2, the valve box 2 extends along an axial direction AD that is substantially parallel to the central axis of the valve box 2. It is formed in a tubular shape (substantially cylindrical in the illustrated example) with both ends in the axial direction AD open, allowing fluid to flow from one end (opening) in the axial direction AD to the other end (opening) (from left to right in the example shown in FIG. 2). The valve box 2 accommodates a valve element VB movably (e.g., rotatably) in an internal space that forms a flow path FP. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the valve box 2 is configured so that its end in the axial direction AD can be joined to another component, such as a pipe P. In this embodiment, the valve box 2 is configured as a substantially cylindrical straight pipe that extends substantially linearly along the substantially linear axial direction AD. However, the valve box 2 need only be formed in a tubular shape, and may be formed in other shapes, such as a curved extension along the curved axial direction AD or a spherical shape. The valve box 2 can be made of any metal, such as stainless steel or iron, as long as it has the strength to suppress deformation even when subjected to the pressure of the fluid flowing through the internal space and when movably supporting the valve body VB.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the valve box 2 includes multiple (two in the illustrated example) valve box components 2A, 2B that can be separated by split surfaces 21, 22 extending along the axial direction AD. Each of the valve box components 2A, 2B is formed as a split cylinder (a semi-split cylinder in the illustrated example) separated by split surfaces 21, 22 extending along the axial direction AD, with split surfaces 21, 22 formed at both ends in the circumferential direction CD. The valve box 2 is assembled by joining the split surfaces 21, 22 of the multiple valve box components 2A, 2B together, and is separated by separating the split surfaces 21, 22. The multiple valve box components 2A, 2B are joined to each other by joining the split surfaces 21, 22 together using known fastening means such as bolts and nuts. In this embodiment, the valve box 2 includes two valve box components 2A, 2B, but it may include three or more valve box components as long as they can be separated by the split surfaces.

2 and 3, the split surface 21 of the valve box 2 is provided with a split surface packing fitting groove 4 into which the split surface packing 3 fits. The split surface packing fitting groove 4 extends along the split surface 21 to the ends 21a and 21b of the split surface 21 and is connected to the outside of the ends 21a and 21b of the split surface 21. In this embodiment, the split surface packing fitting groove 4 extends from one end 21a of the split surface 21 in the axial direction AD to the other end 21a of the split surface 21 in the axial direction AD, over substantially the entire length of the split surface 21 in the axial direction AD. Furthermore, in addition to the end 21a of the split surface 21 in the axial direction AD, the split surface packing fitting groove 4 extends to the end 21b of the split surface 21 on the inside in the radial direction RD of the valve box 2 perpendicular to the axial direction AD. In this embodiment, the split surface packing fitting groove 4 is provided on one of the split surfaces 21, 22 that face each other, namely, the split surface 21. However, it may also be provided on the other split surface 22, or on both split surfaces 21, 22. In this specification, the term "fit" is used simply to mean that the packing fits into the groove, and is used to mean not only that the packing fits into the groove in contact with the side wall of the groove, but also that the packing fits into the groove with a gap between it and the side wall of the groove.

The split surface packing fitting groove 4 facilitates positioning of the split surface packing 3 relative to the split surface 21 when placing the split surface packing 3 on the split surface 21. The split surface packing fitting groove 4 is shaped to correspond to the split surface packing 3 and is formed so that the split surface packing 3 can be fitted into it. The split surface packing fitting groove 4 is not particularly limited as long as it can fit the split surface packing 3, but in this embodiment, it is formed so that its width (length perpendicular to the extension direction) is slightly larger than the width (length perpendicular to the extension direction) of the split surface packing 3 and its depth (length from the split surface 21 to the bottom surface) is slightly smaller than the height (length perpendicular to the split surface 21) of the split surface packing 3. Because the depth of the split surface packing fitting groove 4 is slightly smaller than the height of the split surface packing 3, the split surface packing 3 protrudes beyond the split surface 21 toward the opposing split surface 22 when fitted into the split surface packing fitting groove 4. The split surface packing 3 deforms when its protruding portion is pressed by the opposing split surface 22, and is fixed between the split surfaces 21, 22, sealing the gap between the split surfaces 21, 22.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4B, the split surface packing engagement groove 4 includes main axis grooves 41, 43 extending along the main axis direction and transverse direction grooves 42, 44 extending in a transverse direction intersecting the main axis direction. Here, the main axis direction refers to the direction extending along the split surface 21 toward the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21, and the transverse direction refers to the direction intersecting the main axis direction (in the illustrated example, a direction substantially perpendicular to the main axis direction). In this embodiment, there are two main axis directions: one extending along the axial direction AD toward the end 21a of the split surface 21 (the direction in which the main axis groove 41 extends), and the other extending along the radial direction RD of the valve body 2, perpendicular to the axial direction AD, toward the end 21b of the split surface 21 on the inside of the radial direction RD (the direction in which the main axis groove 43 extends). In the main axis direction in which the main axis groove 41 extends, the split surface packing fitting groove 4 extends to the joining surfaces 23 and 24 (described below) of the valve body 2, which are located at the end 21a of the split surface 21. Furthermore, in the main axis direction in which the main axis groove 43 extends, the split surface packing fitting groove 4 extends to the valve seat 25, which is located at the end 21b of the split surface 21.

3 and 4B, in this embodiment, the split surface packing fitting groove 4 includes two main shaft direction grooves 41, 43 and three intersecting grooves 42, 44 connected to the two main shaft direction grooves 41, 43, respectively. The other of the two main shaft direction grooves 41, 43, the main shaft direction groove 43, branches off from one of the two main shaft direction grooves 41 and extends toward the end 21b of the split surface 21 on the inside in the radial direction RD in a direction intersecting the main shaft direction of the main shaft direction groove 41 (in the illustrated example, a direction substantially perpendicular to the main shaft direction groove 41). However, as long as the split surface packing fitting groove 4 includes at least one main shaft direction groove and at least one intersecting groove connected to that main shaft direction groove, the number of main shaft direction grooves and intersecting grooves is not particularly limited. The split surface packing fitting groove 4 may include one or three or more main shaft direction grooves, or one main shaft direction groove may be connected to three or more intersecting grooves. In this embodiment, the main axis direction is a direction substantially parallel to the axial direction AD and a direction substantially parallel to the radial direction RD, but it need only extend at least along the divided surface 21 toward the ends 21a, 21b of the divided surface 21, and may be inclined from the axial direction AD or the radial direction RD. The main axis direction grooves 41, 43 and the transverse direction grooves 42, 44 only need to be able to mate with the main axis direction seal portions 31, 33 and the transverse direction seal portions 32, 34, respectively, as described below, and their shapes are set appropriately depending on the shapes of the main axis direction seal portions 31, 33 and the transverse direction seal portions 32, 34.

The split surface packing 3 that fits into the split surface packing fitting groove 4 is located between the adjacent split surfaces 21, 22 and provides a liquid-tight or airtight seal between the adjacent split surfaces 21, 22, preventing fluid from leaking from the inside to the outside of the valve box 2 through the gap between the adjacent split surfaces 21, 22. The split surface packing 3 has a shape that corresponds to the split surface packing fitting groove 4 and is formed to be able to fit into the split surface packing fitting groove 4. In this embodiment, as described above, the split surface packing 3 is formed to a size that protrudes from the split surface 21 toward the opposing split surface 22 when fitted into the split surface packing fitting groove 4. When the adjacent split surfaces 21, 22 are joined together, the split surface packing 3 is pressed by the split surface 22 facing the split surface 21 and deforms, becoming fixed between the split surfaces 21, 22 and sealing the gap between the split surfaces 21, 22. The split surface packing 3 is not particularly limited in material, as long as it is formed so that when pressed between the split surfaces 21, 22, it deforms while preventing breakage and seals the space between the split surfaces 21, 22; for example, it can be made of a flexible material such as nitrile rubber (NBR).

As shown in Figures 3 and 4A, the split surface packing 3 includes main axial direction seal portions 31, 33 that fit into the main axial direction grooves 41, 43, and transverse direction seal portions 32, 34 that fit into the transverse direction grooves 42, 44. The main axial direction seal portions 31, 33 and the transverse direction seal portions 32, 34 extend in directions that intersect with each other (approximately perpendicular directions in the illustrated example) and are formed to extend along the main axial direction and the transverse direction when fitted into the main axial direction grooves 41, 43 and the transverse direction grooves 42, 44, respectively. Note that hereinafter, when the terms main axial direction, transverse direction, axial direction AD, and radial direction RD are used in reference to the directions of the split surface packing 3, they refer to the directions when the split surface packing 3 is fitted into the split surface packing fitting groove 4, unless otherwise specified. The main axial direction seal portions 31, 33 and the transverse direction seal portions 32, 34 only need to be able to fit into the main axial direction grooves 41, 43 and the transverse direction grooves 42, 44, respectively, and their shapes are set appropriately according to the shapes of the main axial direction grooves 41, 43 and the transverse direction grooves 42, 44.

The axial seal portions 31, 33 and the transverse seal portions 32, 34 may be disposed so as to intersect with one another, and their relative positions are not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the transverse seal portion 32 is formed at the axial end of the split surface packing 3, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A. The transverse seal portion 32 includes a high-rigidity portion 32a, as described below, and is configured to suppress deformation. Therefore, by forming the transverse seal portion 32 at the axial end of the split surface packing 3, the split surface packing 3 is prevented from elongating along the axial direction and from protruding beyond the end 21a of the split surface 21. For example, as shown in FIG. 5C , if the axial seal portion 31 extends beyond the transverse seal portion 32 toward the end 21a of the split surface 21 in the axial direction, when the axial seal portion 31 extending beyond the transverse seal portion 32 is pressed between the opposing split surfaces 21, 22, it may elongate in the axial direction and protrude beyond the end 21a of the split surface 21. However, as in the present embodiment, by forming the transverse seal portion 32 at the end of the split surface packing 3, the main axial direction seal portion 31 is prevented from extending beyond the end 21 a of the split surface 21. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4A , if the transverse seal portion 32 formed at the end of the split surface packing 3 in the main axial direction is formed so that its transverse length is longer than the transverse length of the main axial direction seal portion 31, when the transverse seal portion 32 and the interface surface packing 5 described later are arranged in contact with each other in the main axial direction, as described below, the contact between the transverse seal portion 32 and the interface surface packing 5 is more reliably achieved, thereby further improving the sealing performance between the transverse seal portion 32 and the interface surface packing 5. However, as shown in FIG. 5C , the transverse seal portion 32 may be arranged at a position spaced apart from the end of the split surface packing 3 in the main axial direction. Even if the cross-direction seal portion 32 is positioned away from the end of the split surface packing 3 in the axial direction, it is configured to be suppressed from deformation by including a high-rigidity portion 32a as described below and shown in FIG. 5C, thereby suppressing movement of the split surface packing 3 in the axial direction and preventing it from protruding beyond the end 21a of the split surface 21.

As shown in FIG. 4B , the transverse grooves 42, 44 of the split surface packing fitting groove 4 are provided with locking portions 42a, 44a that can lock the transverse seal portions 32, 34 in the direction toward the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21 in the axial direction. In this embodiment, the locking portions 42a, 44a are formed by the side walls of the transverse grooves 42, 44 on the side of the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21 in the axial direction. By locking with the locking portions 42a, 44a of the transverse grooves 42, 44, the transverse seal portions 32, 34 are restricted from moving in the direction toward the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21 along the axial direction. Accordingly, the main axial seal portions 31, 33 connected to the transverse seal portions 32, 34 are also restricted from moving in the direction toward the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21 along the axial direction.

The cross-direction seal portions 32, 34 are not particularly limited in shape, as long as they extend in the cross direction and are capable of engaging with the engaging portions 42a, 44a of the cross-direction grooves 42, 44. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A , the cross-direction seal portions 32, 34 each include a plurality of protrusions 32b, 34b extending in the cross direction from the main shaft direction seal portions 31, 33. More specifically, the plurality of protrusions 32b, 32b of the cross-direction seal portion 32 are formed to extend in opposite directions from the main shaft direction seal portion 31 in the cross direction. Similarly, the plurality of protrusions 34b, 34b of the cross-direction seal portion 34 are formed to extend in opposite directions from the main shaft direction seal portion 33 in the cross direction. As a result, the cross-direction seal portions 32, 34 are formed so that their cross-direction lengths are longer than the cross-direction lengths of the main shaft direction seal portions 31, 33. Therefore, the transverse seal portions 32, 34 can be engaged with the engaging portions 42a, 44a of the transverse grooves 42, 44 on both sides of the main axial seal portions 31, 33 in the transverse direction, further suppressing movement along the main axial direction toward the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21. In this embodiment, each transverse seal portion has two protrusions, but it may have three or more protrusions. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the two protrusions are formed so as to extend in opposite directions on the same line, but as long as they extend in at least the transverse direction, they may extend at an angle to each other within a plane that includes the transverse direction.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the transverse seal portions 32, 34 have high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a that are more rigid than the axial seal portions 31, 33. This reduces deformation of the transverse seal portions 32, 34, for example, when they are pressed between the split surfaces 21, 22, further reducing movement along the axial direction toward the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21. Accordingly, the axial seal portions 31, 33 connected to the transverse seal portions 32, 34 are also reduced in movement toward the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21. Therefore, even when pressed when the split surfaces 21, 22 are joined, movement along the axial direction toward the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21 is reduced, reducing protrusion beyond the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21. This reduces the need for work such as cutting off protruding portions and redoing assembly work, thereby preventing a decline in productivity in the assembly work of the valve box structure 1. From the perspective of suppressing movement or deformation in the direction along the axial direction toward the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21, the transverse direction seal portions 32, 34 are preferably formed with high rigidity portions 32a, 34a so that the rigidity in the axial direction of the transverse direction seal portions 32, 34 is higher than the rigidity in the transverse direction of the axial direction seal portions 31, 33.

In this embodiment, the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a are disposed inside the cross-directional seal portions 32, 34, constitute part of the cross-directional seal portions 32, 34, and are configured as regions with higher rigidity than the portions of the cross-directional seal portions 32, 34 other than the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a. More specifically, as shown in Figures 4A and 5A-5C, the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a are formed in a rod shape extending in one direction from a highly rigid material such as a metal such as iron or stainless steel. In this embodiment, the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a are provided in the cross-directional seal portions 32, 34 by being inserted into insertion holes provided in the cross-directional seal portions 32, 34, as described below. However, the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a may also be molded integrally with the cross-directional seal portions 32, 34 and embedded within the cross-directional seal portions 32, 34.

The high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a may be formed to a size sufficient to constitute at least a portion of the transverse seal portions 32, 34, without any particular limitations on their size, as long as they constitute at least a portion of the transverse seal portions 32, 34 and can suppress deformation of the transverse seal portions 32, 34. When the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a are formed in a rod shape as described above and are provided along the axial or transverse direction as described below, they can be formed to have a length shorter than the axial or transverse length of the transverse seal portions 32, 34 so that they do not penetrate the transverse seal portions 32, 34 but are provided within the transverse seal portions 32, 34. Furthermore, the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a can be formed to have a width smaller than the height (length perpendicular to the cutting surfaces 21, 22) of the transverse seal portions 32, 34.

The high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a may be positioned without limitation as long as they are able to suppress deformation of the transverse seal portions 32, 34. When the split surfaces 21, 22 are joined together, the transverse seal portions 32, 34 are not only subjected to a direct pressing force from the split surfaces 21, 22, but also to a pressing force in the axial direction from the main axial seal portions 31, 33 as the main axial seal portions 31, 33 expand in the axial direction due to the pressing force between the split surfaces 21, 22. Therefore, it is preferable that the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a provided in the transverse seal portions 32, 34 be positioned so as to resist the pressing force exerted by the main axial seal portions 31, 33 on the transverse seal portions 32, 34 in the axial direction toward the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21. As a result, even if the axial seal portions 31, 33 are pressed by the split surfaces 21, 22 when the split surfaces 21, 22 are joined together and attempt to expand in the axial direction, the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a resist the axial pressing force of the axial seal portions 31, 33, thereby suppressing deformation of the cross-direction seal portions 32, 34 and suppressing expansion of the axial seal portions 31, 33. By suppressing expansion of the axial seal portions 31, 33, the split surface packing 3 is further prevented from protruding beyond the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21 when the split surfaces 21, 22 are joined together.

Furthermore, the transverse seal portions 32, 34 may be subjected not only to the above-mentioned pressing force but also to a force in the opposite direction from the axial seal portions 31, 33. For example, when fluid flows through the valve box 2, the axial seal portions 31, 33 are subjected to not only the pressing force between the split surfaces 21, 22 as described above but also the fluid pressure of the fluid. This fluid pressure also causes the transverse seal portions 32, 34 to stretch in the axial direction, exerting additional pressing force. On the other hand, when the fluid stops flowing through the valve box 2, the fluid pressure disappears, and the axial seal portions 31, 33 attempt to return to their original state, exerting a force in the opposite direction to the above-mentioned pressing force (the direction opposite to the direction toward the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21 in the axial direction) on the transverse seal portions 32, 34. Therefore, it is preferable that the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a be positioned to resist the pressing force from the axial seal portions 31, 33 and/or the force in the opposite direction to the pressing force. The arrangement of the high-rigidity sections 32a and 34a in this manner suppresses movement and deformation of the axial seal sections 31 and 33 and the transverse seal sections 32 and 34, further improving the sealing performance of the split face packing 3.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a are preferably positioned on the opposite side of the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21 in the main axis direction from the center of the transverse seal portions 32, 34 in the main axis direction (to the left of the left-right center of the transverse seal portion 32 and below the up-down center of the transverse seal portion 34 in FIG. 4A). This prevents the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a from protruding beyond the ends of the transverse seal portions 32, 34 on the side of the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21 in the main axis direction, even if excessive pressure is applied from the main axis seal portions 31, 33 in the direction toward the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21 in the main axis direction, causing the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a to deform or move.

When the transverse seal portion 32, 34 includes multiple protrusions 32b, 34b extending in the transverse direction from the axial seal portion 31, 33, as shown in Figure 4A, the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a are preferably provided on the multiple protrusions 32b, 34b. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4B, grooves are formed on the axial extensions of the axial grooves 41, 43, beyond the transverse grooves 42, 44, on the ends 21a, 21b side of the split surface 21. Therefore, the locking portions 42a, 44a are located on both sides of the axial extensions of the axial grooves 41, 43 in the transverse direction, and are provided at positions corresponding to the multiple protrusions 32b, 34b. By providing high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a on the multiple protrusions 32b, 34b arranged in positions corresponding to the locking portions 42a, 44a of the cross-directional seal portions 32, 34, the cross-directional seal portions 32, 34 can resist the reaction force received from the locking portions 42a, 44a when they lock with the locking portions 42a, 44a, further suppressing deformation and movement of the cross-directional seal portions 32, 34.

When the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a are provided on multiple protrusions 32b, 34b, they may be provided along the transverse direction as shown in Figures 4A and 5C, or along the main axis direction as shown in Figure 5A, or a combination thereof as shown in Figure 5B. Also, only one high-rigidity portion 32a, 34a may be provided on each protrusion 32b, 34b along the transverse direction as shown in Figure 4A, or multiple high-rigidity portions (two in the illustrated example) may be provided on each protrusion 32b, 34b along the transverse direction as shown in Figure 5B. Also, only one high-rigidity portion 32a, 34a may be provided on each protrusion 32b, 34b along the main axis direction as shown in Figure 5A, or multiple high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a may be provided along the main axis direction. However, the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a are not limited to the above arrangement and may be provided along a direction inclined with respect to the main axis direction or the transverse direction.

As shown in Figure 4A, the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a are preferably provided across multiple protrusions 32b, 34b. In other words, the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a are preferably provided in the cross-direction seal portions 32, 34 so as to extend from one protrusion 32b, 34b beyond the portion on the axial extension of the axial direction seal portions 31, 33 to another protrusion 32b, 34b. By providing the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a across multiple protrusions 32b, 34b, deformation of the portion on the axial extension of the axial direction seal portions 31, 33 is suppressed when the cross-direction seal portions 32, 34 are pressed in the axial direction by the axial direction seal portions 31, 33, thereby further suppressing overall deformation. When the high rigidity portions 32a, 34a are provided across multiple protrusions 32b, 34b, for example, as shown in Figures 4A, 5B, and 5C, one or more (two in the example shown in Figure 5B) high rigidity portions 32a, 34a are provided along the intersecting direction. However, the high rigidity portions 32a, 34a are not limited to the above arrangement, and may be provided along a direction inclined relative to the intersecting direction.

In this embodiment, as described above, the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a are formed from a high-rigidity material (such as metal) that has higher rigidity than the portions of the cross-directional seal portions 32, 34 other than the portions where the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a are provided. The cross-directional seal portions 32, 34 are provided with insertion holes that have an opening at one end and a bottom at the other end and do not penetrate the cross-directional seal portions 32, 34, in order to insert the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a. In this case, it is preferable that the insertion holes be provided so that their openings face a surface different from the surface that receives the highest pressure from the fluid flowing through the flow path FP within the valve box 2 (for example, the opposite surface). Explaining this in more detail with reference to Figures 3 and 4A, the transverse seal portion 32 provided adjacent to the end 21a of the split surface 21 receives the greatest pressure from the fluid in the flow path FP from the inside to the outside in the radial direction RD (from top to bottom in Figure 3), so the insertion hole is preferably provided so that its opening faces the outside of the transverse seal portion 32 in the radial direction RD (the lower side in Figure 4A). Furthermore, the transverse seal portion 34 provided adjacent to the end 21b of the split surface 21 receives the greatest pressure from the fluid in the flow path FP in the direction of the fluid flow (from left to right in Figure 3). Therefore, the insertion hole is preferably provided in the transverse seal portion 34 so that its opening faces the downstream side of the flow path FP of the transverse seal portion 34 (the right side in Figure 4A). In this way, by providing the insertion hole so that its opening faces a surface different from the surface receiving the greatest pressure from the fluid flowing through the flow path FP in the valve box 2 (for example, the opposite surface), fluid leakage can be suppressed. If an opening is formed on the surface that receives the highest pressure, the pressure may push against the high-rigidity sections 32a, 34a, causing the insertion opening to penetrate, which would impair the sealing properties of the cross-direction seal sections 32, 34.

While the configuration of the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a has been described above, the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a are not limited to the above configurations as long as they have a rigidity at least higher than that of the axial seal portions 31, 33 and suppress deformation of the transverse seal portions 32, 34. For example, the high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a may be formed in a unidirectional plate shape rather than a unidirectional rod shape, or may be formed in a rod or plate shape that is bent or curved so as to be convex or concave toward the ends 21a, 21b of the split surface 21 in the axial direction. Furthermore, the entire transverse seal portions 32, 34, rather than just a portion thereof, may be configured as high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a having a rigidity higher than that of the axial seal portions 31, 33. For example, the entire transverse seal portions 32, 34 may be configured to have a rigidity higher than that of the axial seal portions 31, 33 by heat-treating the transverse seal portions 32, 34 or by adding other elements. Alternatively, the main axial seal portions 31, 33 and the cross-direction seal portions 32, 34 may be made of the same material, and the width (e.g., length in the main axial direction) of the cross-direction seal portions 32, 34 may be made larger than the width (e.g., length in the cross direction) of the main axial seal portions 31, 33, thereby configuring the entire cross-direction seal portions 32, 34 as high-rigidity portions 32a, 34a. The above-mentioned configurations can be used individually or in combination.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the valve box 2 is configured so that its end in the axial direction AD can be joined to another component, such as a pipe P. To this end, the valve box 2 has joining surfaces 23, 24 at its end in the axial direction AD, facing the axial direction AD, which can be joined to another component. As shown in FIG. 1, the joining surfaces 23, 24 are formed so as to extend along the circumferential direction CD of the valve box 2, which is formed in a cylindrical shape (approximately cylindrical in the illustrated example). The joining surfaces 23, 24 are provided with joining surface packings 5 (see FIGS. 3 and 4B). The joining surface packings 5 are sandwiched between the joining surfaces 23, 24 and joining surfaces P1, P2 of the other component to be joined to the joining surfaces 23, 24, providing a liquid-tight or air-tight seal between the joining surfaces 23, 24 and the joining surfaces P1, P2 of the other component. The joint surface packing 5 is formed in an annular shape so as to extend substantially around the entire circumference of the joint surfaces 23, 24 in the circumferential direction CD. The material of the joint surface packing 5 is not particularly limited, as long as it is formed so that when pressed between the joint surfaces 23, 24 and the joint surfaces P1, P2 of the other member, it deforms while suppressing damage and seals the gap between the joint surfaces 23, 24 and the joint surfaces P1, P2 of the other member, and can be made of a flexible material such as nitrile rubber (NBR).

1, 3, and 4B, the joint surfaces 23 and 24 are provided with a joint surface packing fitting groove 6 into which the joint surface packing 5 can be fitted. The joint surface packing fitting groove 6 is formed to have a shape corresponding to the shape of the joint surface packing 5 so that the joint surface packing 5 can be fitted. In this embodiment, the joint surface packing fitting groove 6 is formed so that the width (length perpendicular to the extension direction) of the joint surface packing fitting groove 6 is slightly larger than the width (length perpendicular to the extension direction) of the joint surface packing 5, and the depth (length from the joint surface 23 and 24 to the bottom surface) of the joint surface packing fitting groove 6 is slightly smaller than the height (length perpendicular to the joint surface 23 and 24) of the joint surface packing 5. Because the joint surface packing 5 has a height greater than the depth of the joint surface packing fitting groove 6, when fitted into the joint surface packing fitting groove 6, it protrudes from the joint surfaces 23 and 24 toward the joint surfaces P1 and P2 of the other components. When the joining surfaces P1, P2 of the other member are joined to the joining surfaces 23, 24, the protruding portions of the joining surface packing 5 are pressed against the joining surfaces P1, P2 of the other member, deforming and becoming fixed between the joining surfaces 23, 24 and the joining surfaces P1, P2 of the other member, thereby sealing the gap between the joining surfaces 23, 24 and the joining surfaces P1, P2 of the other member.

As shown in FIG. 1, the interface packing fitting groove 6 is provided along the circumferential direction CD of the valve box 2, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4B, it is provided adjacent to the end of the split surface packing fitting groove 4 in the axial direction. The interface packing fitting groove 6 is arranged to communicate with the split surface packing fitting groove 4 at the end of the split surface packing fitting groove 4 in the axial direction. As a result, the interface packing 5 fitted into the interface packing fitting groove 6 is arranged to contact the split surface packing 3 fitted into the split surface packing fitting groove 4. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4B, the interface packing fitting groove 6 is formed so that the depth D1 of the interface packing fitting groove 6 from the interface surface 24 is longer than the length D2 of the engagement portion 42a of the transverse direction groove 42 from the interface surface 24. Therefore, when the joining surfaces 23, 24 and the joining surfaces P1, P2 of the other component are joined, the joining surface packing 5 fitted into the joining surface packing fitting groove 6 is pressed by the joining surfaces P1, P2 of the other component and is positioned so as to bite into the split surface packing 3 fitted into the split surface packing fitting groove 4 (for example, the transverse seal portion 32 fitted into the transverse groove 42) in the axial direction. As a result, even if a force is applied in a direction that moves the joining surfaces 23, 24 and the joining surfaces P1, P2 of the other component away from each other in the axial direction AD when fluid flows through the valve box 2, for example, contact between the joining surface packing 5 and the split surface packing 3 is maintained, and sealing is maintained between the joining surfaces 23, 24 and the joining surfaces P1, P2 of the other component.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Note that the above embodiments primarily describe an invention having the following configuration:

(1) a valve body that can be divided at a split surface extending along the axial direction;
A valve box structure comprising a split surface packing provided on the split surface,
The split surface is provided with a split surface packing fitting groove that extends to an end of the split surface and into which the split surface packing is fitted,
The split surface packing fitting groove includes a main axis direction groove extending along the main axis direction and a cross direction groove extending in a cross direction crossing the main axis direction,
the split surface packing includes a main axial direction seal portion that fits into the main axial direction groove and a cross direction seal portion that fits into the cross direction groove,
The intersecting groove is provided with a locking portion that can lock the intersecting seal portion in a direction toward an end of the split surface in the main axis direction,
The cross-direction seal portion includes a high-rigidity portion having higher rigidity than the main-axis seal portion.
Valve box structure.

(2) The high-rigidity portion is arranged to resist a pressing force that the main axis direction seal portion presses the transverse direction seal portion in a direction toward the end of the split surface in the main axis direction and/or a force in a direction opposite to the pressing force.
The valve box structure described in (1).

(3) The high-rigidity portion is disposed inside the cross-direction seal portion.
The valve box structure according to (1) or (2).

(4) The cross-direction seal portion includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the main axis direction seal portion in the cross direction,
The high-rigidity portion is provided on the plurality of protrusions.
A valve box structure according to any one of (1) to (3).

(5) The high-rigidity portion is provided across the plurality of protrusions.
A valve box structure according to any one of (1) to (4).

(6) The high-rigidity portion is disposed on the opposite side of the end portion of the split surface in the main axis direction from the center of the main axis direction of the cross-direction seal portion.
A valve box structure according to any one of (1) to (5).

(7) The cross-direction seal portion is formed at an end portion of the split surface packing in the main axis direction.
A valve box structure according to any one of (1) to (6).

(8) The valve body has a joining surface at an end in the axial direction, facing the axial direction, that can be joined to another member,
The joint surface is provided with a joint surface packing fitting groove into which a joint surface packing provided on the joint surface can be fitted,
The joint surface packing fitting groove is provided adjacent to an end of the split surface packing fitting groove in the main axis direction,
The joint surface packing fitting groove is formed so that a depth of the joint surface packing fitting groove from the joint surface is longer than a length of the engaging portion of the intersecting direction groove from the joint surface.
A valve box structure according to any one of (1) to (7).

(9) A pipe body that can be split at a split surface extending along the axial direction;
A pipe structure comprising a split surface packing provided on the split surface,
The split surface is provided with a split surface packing fitting groove that extends to an end of the split surface and into which the split surface packing is fitted,
the split surface packing fitting groove includes a main axis direction groove extending along the main axis direction, and a cross direction groove extending from the main axis direction groove in a cross direction crossing the main axis direction,
the split surface packing includes a main axial direction seal portion that fits into the main axial direction groove and a cross direction seal portion that fits into the cross direction groove,
The intersecting groove is provided with a locking portion that can lock the intersecting seal portion in a direction toward an end of the split surface in the main axis direction,
The cross-direction seal portion includes a high-rigidity portion having higher rigidity than the main-axis seal portion.
Tube structure.

(10) The high-rigidity portion is arranged to resist a pressing force that the main axis direction seal portion presses the transverse direction seal portion in a direction toward an end of the split surface in the main axis direction and/or a force in a direction opposite to the pressing force.
(9) A tube structure according to the present invention.

(11) The high-rigidity portion is disposed inside the cross-direction seal portion.
The tube structure according to (9) or (10).

(12) The cross-direction seal portion includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the main axis direction seal portion in the cross direction,
The high-rigidity portion is provided on the plurality of protrusions.
A tube structure according to any one of (9) to (11).

(13) The high-rigidity portion is provided across the plurality of protrusions.
A tube structure according to any one of (9) to (12).

(14) The high-rigidity portion is disposed on the opposite side of the end of the split surface in the main axis direction from the center of the main axis direction of the cross-direction seal portion.
A tube structure according to any one of (9) to (13).

(15) The cross-direction seal portion is formed at an end portion of the split surface packing in the main axis direction.
A tube structure according to any one of (9) to (14).

(16) The pipe body has a joining surface at an end in the axial direction, facing the axial direction, which can be joined to another member,
The joint surface is provided with a joint surface packing fitting groove into which a joint surface packing provided on the joint surface can be fitted,
The joint surface packing fitting groove is provided adjacent to an end of the split surface packing fitting groove in the main axis direction,
The joint surface packing fitting groove is formed so that a depth of the joint surface packing fitting groove from the joint surface is longer than a length of the engaging portion of the intersecting direction groove from the joint surface.
A tube structure according to any one of (9) to (15).

1. Pipe structure (valve box structure)
2. Pipe body (valve box)
21, 22 Split surface 21a, 21b End of split surface 23, 24 Joint surface 25 Valve seat 2A, 2B Pipe body (valve box) constituent body 3 Split surface packing 31, 33 Main axial direction seal portion 32, 34 Transverse direction seal portion 32a, 34a High rigidity portion 32b, 34b Projection portion 4 Split surface packing fitting groove 41, 43 Main axial direction groove 42, 44 Transverse direction groove 42a, 44a Locking portion 5 Joint surface packing 6 Joint surface packing fitting groove AD Axial direction CD Circumferential direction D1 Depth of joint surface packing fitting groove from joint surface D2 Length from joint surface of locking portion of transverse direction groove FP Flow path P Piping P1, P2 Piping joint surface RA Rotating axis RD Radial direction V Valve
VB valve body

Claims (10)

a valve body that can be separated at a split surface extending along the axial direction;
A valve box structure comprising a split surface packing provided on the split surface,
The split surface is provided with a split surface packing fitting groove that extends to an end of the split surface and into which the split surface packing is fitted,
the split surface packing fitting groove includes a main axis direction groove extending along the split surface toward an end of the split surface and in a main axis direction extending to the end of the split surface , and a cross direction groove extending in a cross direction crossing the main axis direction,
the split surface packing includes a main axial direction seal portion that fits into the main axial direction groove and a cross direction seal portion that fits into the cross direction groove,
The intersecting groove is provided with a locking portion that can lock the intersecting seal portion in a direction toward an end of the split surface in the main axis direction,
the transverse direction seal portion includes a high-rigidity portion having higher rigidity than the main axial direction seal portion ,
The valve body has a joining surface at an end in the axial direction, the joining surface facing the axial direction and capable of joining with another member,
The joint surface is provided with a joint surface packing fitting groove into which a joint surface packing provided on the joint surface can be fitted,
The joint surface packing fitting groove is provided adjacent to an end of the split surface packing fitting groove in the main axis direction,
The joint surface packing fitting groove is formed so that a depth of the joint surface packing fitting groove from the joint surface is longer than a length of the engaging portion of the intersecting direction groove from the joint surface .
Valve box structure. the high-rigidity portion is arranged to resist a pressing force that the main axis direction seal portion presses the transverse direction seal portion in a direction toward the end of the split surface in the main axis direction and/or a force in a direction opposite to the pressing force.
The valve body structure according to claim 1 . The high-rigidity portion is disposed inside the cross-direction seal portion.
The valve body structure according to claim 1 or 2. the transverse direction seal portion includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the main axial direction seal portion in the transverse direction,
The high-rigidity portion is provided on the plurality of protrusions.
The valve body structure according to claim 1 or 2. The high-rigidity portion is provided across the plurality of protrusions.
The valve body structure according to claim 4. the high-rigidity portion is disposed on the opposite side of the end portion of the split surface in the main axis direction from the center of the main axis direction of the cross-direction seal portion,
The valve body structure according to claim 1 or 2. The cross-direction seal portion is formed at an end portion of the split surface packing in the main axis direction.
The valve body structure according to claim 1 or 2. a valve body that can be separated at a split surface extending along the axial direction;
a split surface packing provided on the split surface;
A valve body structure comprising:
The split surface is provided with a split surface packing fitting groove that extends to an end of the split surface and into which the split surface packing is fitted,
the split surface packing fitting groove includes a main axis direction groove extending along the split surface toward an end of the split surface and in a main axis direction extending to the end of the split surface, and a cross direction groove extending in a cross direction crossing the main axis direction,
the split surface packing includes a main axial direction seal portion that fits into the main axial direction groove and a cross direction seal portion that fits into the cross direction groove,
The intersecting groove is provided with a locking portion that can lock the intersecting seal portion in a direction toward an end of the split surface in the main axis direction,
the transverse direction seal portion includes a high-rigidity portion having higher rigidity than the main axial direction seal portion,
the transverse direction seal portion includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the main axial direction seal portion in the transverse direction,
the locking portion is configured to be able to lock the plurality of protrusions in a direction toward an end of the split surface in the main axis direction,
The high-rigidity portion is provided on the plurality of protrusions.
Valve box structure. a pipe body that can be split along a split surface extending along the axial direction;
A pipe structure comprising a split surface packing provided on the split surface,
The split surface is provided with a split surface packing fitting groove that extends to an end of the split surface and into which the split surface packing is fitted,
the split surface packing fitting groove includes a main axis direction groove extending along the split surface toward an end of the split surface and in a main axis direction extending to the end of the split surface , and a transverse direction groove extending from the main axis direction groove in a transverse direction intersecting the main axis direction,
the split surface packing includes a main axial direction seal portion that fits into the main axial direction groove and a cross direction seal portion that fits into the cross direction groove,
The intersecting groove is provided with a locking portion that can lock the intersecting seal portion in a direction toward an end of the split surface in the main axis direction,
the transverse direction seal portion includes a high-rigidity portion having higher rigidity than the main axial direction seal portion ,
the pipe body has, at an end in the axial direction, a joining surface that faces the axial direction and can be joined to another member,
The joint surface is provided with a joint surface packing fitting groove into which a joint surface packing provided on the joint surface can be fitted,
The joint surface packing fitting groove is provided adjacent to an end of the split surface packing fitting groove in the main axis direction,
The joint surface packing fitting groove is formed so that a depth of the joint surface packing fitting groove from the joint surface is longer than a length of the engaging portion of the intersecting direction groove from the joint surface .
Tube structure. a pipe body that can be split along a split surface extending along the axial direction;
a split surface packing provided on the split surface;
A pipe structure comprising:
The split surface is provided with a split surface packing fitting groove that extends to an end of the split surface and into which the split surface packing is fitted,
the split surface packing fitting groove includes a main axis direction groove extending along the split surface toward an end of the split surface and in a main axis direction extending to the end of the split surface, and a transverse direction groove extending from the main axis direction groove in a transverse direction intersecting the main axis direction,
the split surface packing includes a main axial direction seal portion that fits into the main axial direction groove and a cross direction seal portion that fits into the cross direction groove,
The intersecting groove is provided with a locking portion that can lock the intersecting seal portion in a direction toward an end of the split surface in the main axis direction,
the transverse direction seal portion includes a high-rigidity portion having higher rigidity than the main axial direction seal portion,
the transverse direction seal portion includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the main axial direction seal portion in the transverse direction,
the locking portion is configured to be able to lock the plurality of protrusions in a direction toward an end of the split surface in the main axis direction,
The high-rigidity portion is provided on the plurality of protrusions.
Tube structure.