JP7807933B2 - Joint unit and water leak detection method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fitting and a water leak detection method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fitting for connecting pipes used for cold water supply, hot water supply, etc., which is capable of detecting water leaks caused by incomplete insertion of the pipe, etc., and a water leak detection method using the fitting.

Pipes used for cold and hot water supply are inserted into the pipe connection port of a fitting, and the water-stopping effect is achieved by the contact between the pipe and the water-stopping material such as rubber inside the fitting. Therefore, if the pipe is not inserted sufficiently and the contact between the pipe and the water-stopping material is insufficient, water leakage will occur.
In order to ensure that the pipe is inserted to the appropriate length, Patent Document 1 proposes attaching a seal member to the pipe as a marker to indicate the insertion length into the fitting. However, there is a possibility that the seal member will be attached to the wrong position, and insufficient insertion cannot be completely avoided.

After all the piping is completed, a water pressure test is performed to detect any improper pipe insertion. However, it takes time to identify the leak location by hand, and there is also the problem that if the leak is very small, it may be overlooked depending on the skill level.
Therefore, a method for detecting water leaks visually, rather than relying on tentacles, has been proposed.

Patent Document 2 proposes a pipe fitting in which a coloring agent is placed between the water-stopping member closest to the fluid flowing through the pipe and another water-stopping member, so that in the event of a water leak, colored water flows out of the water outlet. With this fitting, the user can know that a water leak has occurred because the water flowing out of the faucet is colored.
However, the coloring at the leak point is not visible, so in order to identify the leak point, it is necessary to check by feeler.

Patent Document 3 proposes a pipe fitting in which a coloring agent is placed closer to the opening of the pipe connection port than the water stop part, which is farthest from the fluid flowing inside the pipe, so that in the event of a water leak, colored water seeps out of the opening side, thereby alerting the user to the leak. With this fitting, the user can visually identify the location from which the colored water seeps and identify that area as the leak site.
However, if there is a leak, the colored water can stain the area around the pipes. While this is not so bad if it is under the floor, it can become a problem if the colored water contaminates areas exposed to the living space, such as under the sink.

Patent No. 2975019 Patent No. 5290815 JP 2010-209950 A

In consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a fitting that allows for easy visual confirmation of water leak locations, and a water leak detection method that uses the fitting.

The present invention is as follows.
[1] A fitting body having a pipe connection port and a water detection seal,
a water detection seal that is affixed to the pipe so that, when the pipe is inserted into the pipe connection port, at least a portion of the water detection seal is not inserted into the pipe connection port and is located near the open end of the pipe connection port.
[2] The joint according to [1], wherein the water detection seal has a colored layer containing a water-soluble pigment.
[3] The joint described in [2], wherein the water-soluble dye includes a fluorescent dye.
[4] A fitting described in any one of [1] to [3], wherein the water detection seal is attached to the fitting body so as to cover the open end of the pipe connection port, and when a pipe is inserted into the pipe connection port, the water detection seal is peeled off from the fitting body and attached to the pipe.
[5] The joint described in [4], in which perforations are formed in the water detection seal, and the water detection seal can be attached to the pipe in a state in which it is divided at the perforations.
[6] Further, a core ring is provided which is fitted inside the end of the pipe,
The joint according to [4] or [5], wherein the core ring is housed within the pipe connection port.
[7] A water leakage detection method comprising inserting a pipe into the pipe connection port of the fitting described in any one of [1] to [5], and adhering the water detection seal to the pipe so that at least a portion of the seal is not inserted into the pipe connection port of the pipe and is positioned near the open end of the pipe connection port.
[8] A water leak detection method characterized by fitting the core ring in the fitting described in [6] into the inside of the end of the pipe, then inserting the pipe into the pipe connection port, and attaching the water detection seal to the pipe so that at least a portion of the seal is not inserted into the pipe connection port of the pipe and is located near the open end of the pipe connection port.

The fitting and leak detection method of the present invention make it easy to visually check the location of a leak.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a usage mode of a joint according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the water detection seal in the joint of FIG. 1 . FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a joint according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the water detection seal in the joint of FIG. 2 . FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a water detection seal in the joint of FIG. 2 . 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the joint of FIG. 2 is used. FIG.

The present invention will be described in detail below. The following embodiments are merely examples for the purpose of explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to these embodiments. The present invention can be implemented in various modifications within the scope of its essence.

First Embodiment
1 is a schematic diagram showing a fitting according to a first embodiment of the present invention and how the fitting is used. The fitting of this embodiment comprises a fitting body 10 and a water detection seal 20. The fitting body 10 has a first pipe connection port 11 and a second pipe connection port 12 formed on both ends thereof.

The first pipe connection port 11 opens at a first opening end 13 on the right side of the illustration, allowing a pipe 30 to be inserted from the first opening end 13. The second pipe connection port 12 opens at a second opening end 14 on the left side of the illustration, allowing another pipe to be inserted. The first pipe connection port 11 and the second pipe connection port 12 are connected by a connecting portion 15, allowing water to flow between the pipe 30 inserted into the first pipe connection port 11 and another pipe inserted into the second pipe connection port 12.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which a pipe 30 is inserted into the first pipe connection port 11 and another pipe is not yet inserted into the second pipe connection port 12.
The inserted tip of the pipe 30 reaches the boundary between the first pipe connection port 11 and the connecting portion 15. When another pipe is inserted into the second pipe connection port 12, the tip of the pipe is also inserted so that it reaches the boundary between the second pipe connection port 12 and the connecting portion 15.

In addition, a water-stopping material (not shown) is placed at the boundary between the first pipe connection port 11 and the connecting portion 15, etc., to maintain watertightness between the inserted pipe 30 and the first pipe connection port 11.
In addition, an anti-slip member (not shown) is appropriately provided inside the first pipe connection port 11, so that the pipe 30 will not easily fall out of the first pipe connection port 11 even if a force is applied in a direction that would cause the inserted pipe 30 to fall out of the first pipe connection port 11.
Similarly, a water-stopping material and a retaining member are provided on the second pipe connection port 12 side.

The water detection sticker 20 is a sticker that shows a visual change when it comes into contact with water. The visual change may be a change in color such as color development or discoloration, or a change in pattern.
There is no particular limitation on the shape of the water detection sticker 20, but for example, in the case of a strip-shaped sticker, it can be attached so that its length direction is aligned with the circumferential direction of the pipe 30 as shown in FIG.

The layer structure of the water detection sticker 20 is not particularly limited, but for example, as shown in FIG. 2, it may have a colored layer 22 on one side of a substrate 21 and an adhesive layer 23 on the other side.
Examples of the substrate 21 include resin substrates such as polypropylene resin, polyester, and polyvinyl chloride, metal sheets such as aluminum, and synthetic paper.

The colored layer 22 is preferably a layer containing a water-soluble dye or a layer containing a dye that changes color by contact with water.
When the colored layer 22 is a layer containing a water-soluble dye, the pattern or color changes when the layer is wetted with water due to bleeding of the water-soluble dye. Suitable water-soluble dyes include those approved as food additives due to their high safety. Furthermore, it is preferable that the water-soluble dye contains a fluorescent dye, which is easily visible even in the dark.

Examples of dyes that change color on contact with water include cobalt chloride.
The colored layer 22 may contain, in addition to the pigment, a water-soluble paper material such as water-disintegrable paper, or a water-soluble resin such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, or polyvinyl alcohol.

There are no particular limitations on the material of the adhesive layer 23, but for example, an acrylic adhesive, a urethane adhesive, etc. can be used as appropriate. The adhesive layer 23 is preferably removable and reattachable so that it can be reattached to a desired location on the pipe 30.
The water detection sticker 20 may have a two-layer structure consisting of a colored layer and an adhesive layer. In this case, the colored layer is also required to have the strength required of a base material.

The water detection seal 20 is attached to the pipe 30 so that at least a portion of it is not inserted into the first pipe connection port 11 of the pipe 30 and is positioned near the first opening end 13 of the first pipe connection port 11.
Here, "near the first opening end 13" means close enough to the first opening end 13 that the seal 20 can come into contact with water that seeps out from the first opening end 13. As shown in Figure 1, it is preferable that the periphery of the water detection seal 20 be in contact with or nearly in contact with the first opening end 13.

Furthermore, the water detection sticker 20 must be attached to the portion of the pipe 30 that is not inserted into the first pipe connection port 11, i.e., the outside of the fitting body 10, so that it can be seen from the outside. However, it is sufficient if at least a portion of it is attached to the outside of the fitting body 10, and the remaining portion may extend beyond the first open end 13 of the first pipe connection port 11 and into the portion inserted inside the first pipe connection port 11.

In the water leak detection method of this embodiment, the pipe 30 is inserted into the first pipe connection port 11, and the water detection seal 20 is attached to a portion of the pipe 30 that is not inserted into the first pipe connection port 11, near the first open end 13 of the first pipe connection port 11. As a result, if a water leak occurs between the first pipe connection port 11 and the pipe 30, the water detection seal 20 will become wet with the leaked water.
As a result, the water detection sticker 20 exhibits visual changes such as changes in pattern as well as color changes such as color development and discoloration, making it possible to visually detect that a water leak has occurred at that location.

Before being attached to the pipe 30, the water detection seal 20 may be attached to any location on the joint body 10, or may be attached to a release sheet or the like prepared separately from the joint body 10.
The water detection seal 20 may be attached to the pipe 30 before or after the pipe 30 is inserted into the first pipe connection port 11 .

If the water detection sticker 20 is affixed before inserting the pipe 30 into the first pipe connection port 11, the water detection sticker 20 can also be used as a marker to indicate the insertion length of the pipe 30 into the first pipe connection port 11. For example, if the appropriate insertion length into the first pipe connection port 11 is x cm, the water detection sticker 20 can be affixed to the outside of the pipe 30 (the side facing outward from the first pipe connection port 11) so that its edge fits along the x cm from the tip of the pipe 30.

Second Embodiment
3 is an exploded perspective view of a joint according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The joint of this embodiment comprises a joint body 50, a core ring 60, and a water detection seal 70.

The fitting body 50 is composed of a nut portion 51, a male threaded portion 52 formed integrally with the nut portion 51, and a cap 53 that screws onto the nut portion 51. The male threaded portion 52 can be screwed onto a pipe such as a water pipe by engaging the nut portion 51 with a wrench or similar tool and rotating it. The cap 53, when screwed onto the nut portion 51, presses against a water stop material or retaining member (not shown), securing it in place.

The nut portion 51, the male thread portion 52, and the cap 53 are all formed into a coaxial cylindrical shape, and the inside from the cap 53 to the nut portion 51 forms a pipe connection port 54.
When the pipe is not in use and a pipe is inserted, a core ring 60 is housed in the pipe connection port 54. A water detection seal 70 is attached to close the open end 55 of the pipe connection port 54 housing the core ring 60.

The core ring 60 is composed of a cylindrical portion 61 and an annular flange portion 62 that extends outward from one end of the cylindrical portion 61 so as to be perpendicular to the cylindrical portion 61. The core ring 60 is used by fitting the cylindrical portion 61 into a pipe. Fitting the core ring 60 into the tip of the pipe prevents the pipe from deforming inward due to heat or the like.
When the core ring 60 is not in use and a pipe is inserted, the core ring 60 is housed in the pipe connection port 54 with the flange 62 facing the open end 55 as shown in FIG.

It is preferable that the longitudinal length of the core ring 60 be equal to the appropriate insertion length of the pipe into the pipe connection port 54. This makes it possible to use the core ring 60 to determine the appropriate insertion length of the pipe into the pipe connection port 54, and then affix a water detection sticker 70 to that location and use the water detection sticker 70 as a marker for the insertion length of the pipe 30 into the fitting.

As shown in Figure 4, the water detection seal 70 is composed of a substantially circular seal body 71 with one end formed into a straight section 72, and a gripping piece 73 that protrudes outward from the edge of the seal body 71 on the side opposite the straight section 72. The size of the seal body 71 is such that it closes the open end 55 of the pipe connection port 54.

The water detection sticker 70 has a perforation 75 that divides the water detection sticker 70 in two, running from the straight section 72 of the sticker body 71 to the gripping piece 73, allowing it to be separated into a first divided piece 76 and a second divided piece 77 and attached to the pipe 30. The water detection sticker 70 can be attached to the pipe 30 as is, but by dividing it, it can be attached so that it covers almost the entire circumference of the pipe 30.

The water detection sticker 70 is a sticker that shows a visual change when it comes into contact with water, similar to the water detection sticker 20. The visual change may be a change in color such as color development or discoloration, or a change in pattern.
The layer structure of the water detection sticker 70 is not particularly limited, but for example, as shown in FIG. 5, it may have a colored layer 82 on one side of a substrate 81 and an adhesive layer 83 on the other side.

In this embodiment, the adhesive layer 83 is not formed on the portion corresponding to the grip piece 73. As a result, the grip piece 73 portion has no adhesive strength, and the water detection sticker 70 can be easily peeled off from the opening edge 55 by holding this portion.
When the adhesive layer 83 is formed on the entire surface including the grip piece 73, a glue-blocking layer may be provided on the adhesive layer 83 of the portion that will become the grip piece 73. Also, the portion that is folded back with the adhesive layer 83 on the inside may be used as the grip piece 73.

The substrate 81 can be made of the same material as the substrate 21. The colored layer 82 can be made of the same material as the colored layer 22. The adhesive layer 83 can be made of the same material as the adhesive layer 23. The water detection sticker 70 may also have a two-layer structure consisting of a colored layer and an adhesive layer. In this case, the colored layer is also required to have the strength of a substrate.

The water detection seal 70 is attached to the pipe 30 so that at least a portion of it is not inserted into the pipe connection port 54 of the pipe 30 and is positioned near the open end 55 of the pipe connection port 54.
Here, "near the open end 55" means close enough to the open end 55 that it can come into contact with the seeping water when the water seeps out from the open end 55. As shown in Figure 6, it is preferable that the periphery of the water detection seal 70 is in contact with or almost in contact with the pipe connection port 54.

Furthermore, the water detection sticker 70 must be attached to the portion of the pipe 30 that is not inserted into the pipe connection port 54, i.e., the outside of the fitting body 50, so that it can be seen from the outside. However, it is sufficient if at least a portion of it is attached to the outside of the fitting body 50, and the remaining portion may extend beyond the open end 55 of the pipe connection port 54 and into the portion inserted inside the pipe connection port 54.

In the water leak detection method of this embodiment, the pipe 30 is inserted into the pipe connection port 54, and the water detection seal 70 is attached to the portion of the pipe 30 that is not inserted into the pipe connection port 54, near the open end 55 of the pipe connection port 54. As a result, if a water leak occurs between the pipe connection port 54 and the pipe 30, the water detection seal 70 will become wet with the leaking water.
As a result, the water detection sticker 70 shows visual changes such as changes in color, such as color development and discoloration, as well as changes in pattern, making it possible to visually detect that a water leak has occurred at that location.

In this embodiment, the water detection seal 70 is attached to the joint body 50 so as to close the open end 55 of the joint body 50 before being attached to the pipe 30. This prevents the core ring 60 from falling out of the pipe connection port 54. It also prevents dust and the like from entering the pipe connection port 54.
In this embodiment, when the pipe 30 is inserted into the pipe connection port 54 , the water detection seal 70 is peeled off from the joint body 50 and attached to the pipe 30 .

When using the water detection sticker 70 as a marker for the insertion length into the pipe connection port 54, the water detection sticker 70 can be attached to the outside (the outer side of the pipe connection port 54) of the pipe 30 before insertion, with the periphery of the sticker 70 aligned with the appropriate insertion length position into the pipe connection port 54.
If the longitudinal length of the core ring 60 is equal to the appropriate insertion length of the pipe into the pipe connection port 54, the core ring 60 can be used to determine the appropriate insertion length position of the pipe.

When using the water detection sticker 70 without dividing it at the perforations 75, it is preferable that the straight portion 72 be located on the periphery of the water detection sticker 70 so that it aligns with the appropriate insertion length. When using the water detection sticker 70 divided at the perforations 75, it is preferable that the perforations 75 of the first divided piece 76 and the second divided piece 77 be located on the periphery of the water detection sticker 70 so that it aligns with the appropriate insertion length.

In the water leak detection method of this embodiment, the core ring 60 is fitted into the end of the pipe 30 before the pipe 30 is inserted into the pipe connection port 54 .
Then, the water detection seal 70 is attached to the outside of the straight portion 72 or the perforation 75 portion of the first divided piece 76 and the second divided piece 77 divided into two by the perforation 75 so that the perforation 75 portion is aligned with the appropriate insertion length position of the pipe into the pipe connection port 54 of the pipe 30.
In this state, if the pipe 30 is properly inserted into the pipe connection port 54 , the water detection seal 70 will naturally be attached near the open end 55 of the pipe connection port 54 .

Figure 6 shows the state in which the perforation 75 of the first split piece 76 and the second split piece 77, which are divided into two by the perforation 75, has been attached along the perforation 75 so as to align with the appropriate insertion length position of the pipe 30 into the pipe connection port 54, and then the pipe 30 has been inserted into the pipe connection port 54.
As shown in Figure 6, when the size of the seal body 71 is just enough to close the open end 55 of the pipe connection port 54, the two divided first and second segments 76 and 77 can cover most of the outer circumference of the pipe 30, making it easy to detect water leakage between the pipe connection port 54 and the pipe 30.

In this embodiment, the water detection seal 70 not only detects water leaks, but also prevents dust and other particles from entering the pipe connection port 54. It also prevents the core ring 60 from falling out of the pipe connection port 54. Furthermore, the water detection seal 70 can be used to determine the appropriate insertion length of the pipe 30.

<Other Embodiments>
In the first embodiment described above, a configuration having two pipe connection ports is shown, and in the second embodiment, a configuration having one pipe connection port is shown, but there is no limit to the number of pipe connection ports in the fitting of the present invention, and the fitting may have three or more pipe connection ports.
Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the core ring 60 is provided, but the joint may be composed of the joint body 50 and the water detection seal 70 without the core ring 60 .

10 Joint body 11 First pipe connection port 12 Second pipe connection port 13 First opening end 14 Second opening end 20 Water detection seal 21 Base material 22 Colored layer 23 Adhesive layer 30 Pipe 50 Joint body 54 Pipe connection port 55 Opening end 60 Coring 70 Water detection seal 75 Perforation 76 First divided piece 77 Second divided piece 81 Base material 82 Colored layer 83 Adhesive layer

Claims (8)

A water leakage detection method using a pipe, a joint body having a pipe connection port into which the pipe is inserted , and a water detection seal,
The water detection seal has a perforation formed in the middle that divides the seal in two,
When the joint body is unused, the water detection seal is attached to the joint body so as to close the open end of the pipe connection port,
When inserting the pipe into the pipe connection port, the water detection seal is peeled off from the joint body, and then divided into two pieces along the perforation into a first divided piece and a second divided piece,
A water leak detection method characterized in that, when the pipe is inserted into the pipe connection port, the first and second split pieces are attached to the pipe so that at least a portion of the first and second split pieces are not inserted into the pipe connection port of the pipe and are positioned near the open end of the pipe connection port. 2. The water leakage detection method according to claim 1, wherein the water detection seal has a colored layer containing a water-soluble pigment. The water leak detection method according to claim 2 , wherein the water-soluble dye comprises a fluorescent dye. A water leakage detection method as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the perforation is linear, and the first and second divided pieces are attached to the outside of the appropriate insertion length position on the pipe so that the linear cut portion cut by the perforation is aligned with the appropriate insertion length position of the pipe, and then the pipe is inserted into the pipe connection port. The water detection seal is approximately circular with one end being a straight section, and the perforations are formed from the straight section side to the end opposite the straight section. A water leakage detection method as described in any one of claims 1 to 4. The water detection seal is composed of a seal body that is approximately circular and has one end formed as a straight section, and a gripping piece that protrudes outward from the edge of the seal body opposite the straight section, and the perforation is formed from the straight section side to the gripping piece. A water leakage detection method as described in any one of claims 1 to 4. A coupling unit used in the water leakage detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising the pipe, the coupling body, and the water detection seal, wherein the water detection seal is affixed to the coupling body so as to close the open end of the pipe connection port. The joint unit according to claim 7 , further comprising a core ring, the core ring being housed in the pipe connection port whose open end is closed by the water detection seal.