JP7824866B2 - Pressure maintaining unit and inversion device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pressure-maintaining unit and an inversion device.

Patent Document 1 discloses an inverting device in which the tip of a flexible cylindrical body introduced through a slit formed at the rear end of a pressure vessel is fixed in a circular shape to a nozzle attached to the tip of the pressure vessel. With the tip of the flexible cylindrical body fixed to the nozzle, the inverting device pressurizes the pressure vessel, inverting the flexible cylindrical body so that the inside faces out and discharging it from the nozzle.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-38757

However, with the turning-over device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a flexible cylindrical body is introduced through a slit formed at the rear end of the pressure vessel, there is a risk of compressed air leaking from the slit. As a result, the turning-over device is unable to ensure sufficient internal pressure inside the pressure vessel to turn over the flexible cylindrical body, which can result in the flexible cylindrical body being unable to be turned over. One aspect of the present invention aims to stabilize construction using flexible cylindrical bodies.

In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a pressure retention unit used in an inversion device that injects pressurized fluid into a pressure vessel having a rear end forming an insertion section into which a flexible cylindrical body is inserted and a front end to which the tip of the flexible cylindrical body is fixed, and inverts the flexible cylindrical body so that the inside becomes the outside. The pressure retention unit includes: a guide member that is provided in the insertion section and guides the flexible cylindrical body inserted into the insertion section to the front end; and an annular pressure retention member that is provided on the guide member and is formed to extend in the insertion direction of the flexible cylindrical body, and that deforms due to the pressure of the pressurized fluid that is injected into the pressure vessel by the inversion device, thereby adhering closely to the flexible cylindrical body.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an inversion device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a pressure vessel having a rear end where an insertion section into which a flexible cylindrical body is inserted is formed, and a front end where the tip of the flexible cylindrical body is fixed; a press-fitting unit that pressurizes a pressurized fluid into the pressure vessel to invert the flexible cylindrical body so that the inside becomes the outside; a guide member that is provided in the insertion section and guides the flexible cylindrical body inserted into the insertion section to the front end; and an annular pressure-retaining member that is provided on the guide member and is formed to extend in the insertion direction of the flexible cylindrical body, and that deforms due to the pressure of the pressurized fluid that is pressurized into the pressure vessel by the press-fitting unit to adhere closely to the flexible cylindrical body.

According to one aspect of the present invention, construction using a flexible cylindrical body can be stabilized.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a reversing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a dotted line A1 shown in FIG. 1 . 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B1-B1 in FIG. 1. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a pressure-maintaining unit included in the inversion device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining the length of an inner periphery of a pressure holding member included in the pressure holding unit shown in FIG. 4. FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a pressure-retaining unit included in an inversion device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a pressure-maintaining unit included in an inversion device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Embodiment 1]
<Configuration of Reversing Device 1>
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an inversion device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by dotted line A1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B1-B1 shown in FIG. 1. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the insertion direction in which a flexible cylindrical body L1 is inserted into an insertion portion 24 formed in a pressure vessel 2 is defined as the X-axis direction, the direction perpendicular to an installation surface S1 on which the inversion device 1 is installed is defined as the Z-axis direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction is defined as the Y-axis direction. The X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction are mutually perpendicular directions.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inversion device 1 includes a pressure vessel 2, a pressurizing unit 3, a tube 4, and a pressure retention unit 11. The inversion device 1 is a device that pressurizes a pressure fluid into the pressure vessel 2 and inverts the flexible cylindrical body L1 so that the inside becomes the outside. Note that the inversion device 1 does not necessarily have to include the pressure retention unit 11. In other words, the pressure retention unit 11 is not included in the inversion device 1, and may be considered to be a separate entity from the inversion device 1.

When the flexible cylindrical body L1 is inserted into the insertion section 24, it is folded flat with the Y-axis direction as the longitudinal direction, as shown in Figure 3. The flexible cylindrical body L1 is intended to protect the inner surface T2 of the pipe T1. The pipe T1 is, for example, a water pipe, sewer pipe, or gas conduit.

<Configuration of pressure vessel 2>
The pressure vessel 2 has a main body 21, a rear end 22, and a front end 23. The main body 21 is formed with a rear end 25, which has openings OP1 and OP2. As shown in Figure 2, the opening OP1 is closed by the rear end 22, which forms the lid. The rear end 22 is fixed to the rear end 25 with a bolt B1.

The base portion 7 of the pressure holding unit 11 is sandwiched between the rear end portion 22 and the back portion 25. The bolt B1 is composed of a head portion B2 and a threaded portion B3, which passes through the rear end portion 22 and the base portion 7 and screws into the back portion 25. The rear end portion 22 is formed with an insertion portion 24 into which the flexible tubular body L1 is inserted. The insertion portion 24 is an opening, and its shape is such that its longitudinal direction is in the Y-axis direction. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the front end portion 23 is a fixing portion to which the tip end L2 of the flexible tubular body L1 is fixed in an annular shape.

<Configuration of press-fitting unit 3>
The pressurizing unit 3 is connected to the pressure vessel 2 by a tube 4. One end of the tube 4 is connected to the pressurizing unit 3, and the other end of the tube 4 is connected to the opening OP2. The pressurizing unit 3 is a discharge device that discharges a pressurized fluid such as air. The pressurizing unit 3 pressurizes the pressurized fluid into the pressure vessel 2 from the opening OP2 via the tube 4,
The flexible cylindrical body L1 is turned over so that the inside faces outward.

Specifically, when pressurized fluid is injected into the pressure vessel 2 by the pressurizing unit 3, the flexible cylindrical body L1 is inverted at the folded portion L3 of the flexible cylindrical body L1 so that the inside becomes the outside, and the folded portion L3 moves in the positive direction of the X-axis. As a result, the flexible cylindrical body L1, which is wound around the axis L4, is pulled out in the positive direction of the X-axis, and the flexible cylindrical body L1 is turned inside out.

The pressurized fluid is heated by the pressurized unit 3 and pressurized into the pressure vessel 2. The flexible cylindrical body L1 is turned inside out, and the resin material impregnated inside the flexible cylindrical body L1 is hardened by the pressurized fluid heated by the pressurized unit 3, thereby bonding the inside of the flexible cylindrical body L1 to the inner surface T2 of the pipe T1.

<Configuration of pressure maintaining unit 11>
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the pressure retention unit 11 provided in the inversion device 1 shown in Fig. 1. The pressure retention unit 11 is used in the inversion device 1, and as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, includes a guide member 5, a fixing member 6, a base portion 7, and a pressure retention member 8. The threaded portions B3 of the multiple bolts B1 are aligned in the Y-axis direction and screwed into the back surface portion 25 on the Z-axis positive side and Z-axis negative side of the opening OP1.

The guide member 5 is provided in the insertion portion 24 and guides the flexible cylindrical body L1 inserted into the insertion portion 24 to the front end portion 23. The guide member 5 extends from the base portion 7 in the positive direction of the X axis. The guide member 5 is annular in shape, and the outer peripheral surface of the guide member 5 is covered by the pressure retaining member 8. In other words, the pressure retaining member 8 is fitted into the outer peripheral surface of the guide member 5.

The fixing member 6 is positioned outside the pressure retaining member 8. The fixing member 6 also fixes the pressure retaining member 8 so that it remains in close contact with the flexible cylindrical body L1. The fixing member 6 and the pressure retaining member 8 are fixed to each other with an adhesive. Because the fixing member 6 fixes the pressure retaining member 8, the pressure of the pressure fluid pressed into the pressure vessel 2 by the press-fitting unit 3 maintains the pressure retaining member 8 in close contact with the flexible cylindrical body L1.

The shape of the fixing member 6 is generally a right-angled triangle, but is not limited to this. Two roughly perpendicular sides of the fixing member 6 are fixed to the base portion 7 and the pressure retaining member 8, respectively. This allows the size of the fixing member 6 to be minimized while the pressure retaining member 8 extends in the positive direction of the X-axis, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the fixing member 6.

The base portion 7 is provided around the insertion portion 24, and a portion of the base portion 7 is exposed to the interior of the pressure vessel 2 through the opening OP1. The fixing member 6 extends from the base portion 7 in the positive direction of the X-axis, and fixes the pressure retaining member 8 so that the pressure retaining member 8 also extends in the positive direction of the X-axis. The length of the fixing member 6 along the X-axis direction is longer than the length of the guide member 5 along the X-axis direction. The length of the pressure retaining member 8 along the X-axis direction is, for example, 100 mm.

The fixing member 6 fixes the pressure retaining member 8 so that it extends in the positive direction of the X-axis, and the pressure retaining member 8 is positioned along the flexible cylindrical body L1. This allows the pressure of the pressure fluid inside the pressure vessel 2 to maintain the pressure retaining member 8 in close contact with the flexible cylindrical body L1.

The pressure retaining member 8 is provided on the guide member 5 and is formed to extend in the X-axis direction. The pressure retaining member 8 is deformed by the pressure of the pressure fluid pressurized into the pressure vessel 2 by the pressurizing unit 3 of the inversion device 1, and comes into close contact with the flexible cylindrical body L1. The pressure retaining member 8 is deformable by the pressure of the pressure fluid, and is, for example, a film. The material of the pressure retaining member 8 is silicone or resin. The pressure retaining member 8 has an annular shape, and comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the flexible cylindrical body L1. This reduces the occurrence of a gap between the pressure retaining member 8 and the outer peripheral surface of the flexible cylindrical body L1.

The pressure of the pressurized fluid inside the pressure vessel 2 causes the annular pressure retaining member 8 to adhere tightly to the flexible cylindrical body L1, reducing leakage of the pressurized fluid inside the pressure vessel 2 to the outside of the pressure vessel 2 and preventing a drop in the internal pressure of the pressure vessel 2. This makes it possible to stabilize construction using the flexible cylindrical body L1.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, by setting the internal pressure of the pressure vessel 2 to a predetermined value or higher, the flexible cylindrical body L1 can be smoothly inverted. In this way, the internal pressure required to invert the flexible cylindrical body L1 can be sufficiently secured inside the pressure vessel 2, allowing the flexible cylindrical body L1 to be inverted. Furthermore, since leakage of pressurized fluid inside the pressure vessel 2 to the outside of the pressure vessel 2 is reduced, the time required for construction using the flexible cylindrical body L1 can be shortened and problems that occur when performing construction using the flexible cylindrical body L1 can be eliminated.

As a result, the inside of the flexible cylindrical body L1 can be attached to the inner surface T2 of the pipe T1 before the resin material impregnated inside the flexible cylindrical body L1 hardens. Furthermore, since there is no need to increase the internal pressure of the pressure vessel 2 to shorten the time required for construction using the flexible cylindrical body L1, increasing the internal pressure of the pressure vessel 2 can reduce leakage of pressurized fluid inside the pressure vessel 2 to the outside of the pressure vessel 2.

As described above, the fixing member 6 fixes the pressure retaining member 8 so that it remains in close contact with the flexible cylindrical body L1. This prevents the pressure retaining member 8 from separating from the flexible cylindrical body L1, and more effectively reduces leakage of the pressurized fluid inside the pressure vessel 2 to the outside of the pressure vessel 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fixing member 6 has an exposed portion 61 that exposes the pressure retaining member 8 from the fixing member 6. The exposed portion 61 is the portion of the fixing member 6 that is in contact with the pressure retaining member 8. By forming the exposed portion 61 on the fixing member 6, the exposed portion of the pressure retaining member 8 can be the portion where the pressure retaining member 8 is in close contact with the flexible cylindrical body L1 due to the pressure of the pressure fluid in the pressure vessel 2. Therefore, airtightness between the pressure retaining member 8 and the flexible cylindrical body L1 can be sufficiently maintained.

Furthermore, multiple fixing members 6 are arranged around the insertion portion 24. By arranging multiple fixing members 6 that secure the pressure retaining member 8 along the periphery of the insertion portion 24, the pressure retaining member 8 can be tightly attached along the periphery of the flexible cylindrical body L1. This makes it possible to more effectively reduce leakage of pressurized fluid inside the pressure vessel 2 to the outside of the pressure vessel 2.

It is preferable that multiple fixing members 6 are arranged at equal intervals around the insertion portion 24. By arranging multiple fixing members 6 at equal intervals, it is possible to stably maintain airtightness between the flexible tubular body L1 and the entire pressure retaining member 8. It is also preferable that multiple fixing members 6 are arranged at equal intervals around the circumference of the pressure retaining member 8.

<Regarding the inner periphery IP of the pressure retaining member 8>
5 is a perspective view illustrating the length of the inner periphery IP of the pressure retaining member 8 included in the pressure retaining unit 11 shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the pressure retaining member 8 is formed so that the length of the inner periphery IP of the pressure retaining member 8 is equal to or less than the length of the outer periphery OP of the flexible cylindrical body L1 when the insertion portion 24 is released from the flexible cylindrical body L1. The inner periphery IP is the inner periphery of the cross section of the pressure retaining member 8 when the pressure retaining member 8 is cut along a plane perpendicular to the X-axis direction. The outer periphery OP is the outer periphery of the cross section of the flexible cylindrical body L1 when the flexible cylindrical body L1 is cut along a plane perpendicular to the X-axis direction.

By making the length of the inner circumference IP of the pressure retaining member 8 equal to or less than the length of the outer circumference OP of the flexible cylindrical body L1, the pressure retaining member 8 can be tightly attached to the flexible cylindrical body L1 when the flexible cylindrical body L1 is inserted into the insertion section 24. This more effectively reduces leakage of pressurized fluid from within the pressure vessel 2 to the outside of the pressure vessel 2.

As a result, by using the inversion device 1, which reduces leakage of pressurized fluid inside the pressure vessel 2 to the outside of the pressure vessel 2 and prevents a drop in the internal pressure of the pressure vessel 2, it is possible to stabilize construction using the flexible cylindrical body L1.

[Embodiment 2]
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, components having the same functions as those described in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will not be repeated. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a pressure holding unit 11A provided in an inversion device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The inversion device according to the second embodiment differs from the inversion device 1 in that it includes a pressure holding unit 11A instead of the pressure holding unit 11.

As shown in FIG. 6, pressure retaining unit 11A differs from pressure retaining unit 11 in that it includes fixing member 6A in addition to fixing member 6. Fixing member 6A is provided at the end of pressure retaining member 8 on the positive X-axis side, and is annular in shape. Fixing member 6A is disposed on the outside of pressure retaining member 8. Fixing member 6A also fixes pressure retaining member 8 so that pressure retaining member 8 remains in close contact with flexible cylindrical body L1. Fixing member 6A is connected to the end of fixing member 6 on the positive X-axis side. Fixing member 6A is fixed around the entire circumference of pressure retaining member 8 with adhesive.

The fixing member 6A has an exposed portion 61A that exposes the pressure retaining member 8 from the fixing member 6A. The exposed portion 61A is the portion of the fixing member 6A that is in contact with the pressure retaining member 8. The pressure retaining member 8 is exposed from the exposed portion 61 of the fixing member 6A and the exposed portion 61A of the fixing member 6A.

By fixing the fixing member 6A around the entire circumference of the pressure retaining member 8, the pressure retaining member 8 can be more firmly maintained in close contact with the flexible cylindrical body L1. Furthermore, when viewed from inside the pressure vessel 2, the end of the pressure retaining member 8 on the positive X-axis side forms the boundary between the pressure retaining member 8 and the flexible cylindrical body L1. Therefore, the fixing member 6A keeps the end of the pressure retaining member 8 on the positive X-axis side in close contact with the flexible cylindrical body L1, more effectively reducing leakage of pressurized fluid from within the pressure vessel 2 to the outside of the pressure vessel 2.

[Embodiment 3]
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals will be used to designate components having the same functions as those described in the first and second embodiments, and the description thereof will not be repeated. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a pressure-retaining unit 11B provided in an inversion device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The inversion device according to the third embodiment differs from the inversion device 1 in that it includes a pressure-retaining unit 11B instead of the pressure-retaining unit 11.

7, pressure retaining unit 11B differs from pressure retaining unit 11A in that it does not include a fixing member 6. Pressure retaining member 8 covers the outer peripheral surface of guide member 5, and fixing member 6A is provided at the end of pressure retaining member 8 on the positive X-axis direction side. Pressure retaining member 8 is exposed from exposed portion 61A of fixing member 6A.

In pressure retention unit 11B, the area of the exposed portion of pressure retention member 8 is larger than in pressure retention units 11 and 11A due to the absence of fixing member 6. As a result, the area of the portion where pressure retention member 8 is in close contact with flexible cylindrical body L1 also increases, improving the airtightness between pressure retention member 8 and flexible cylindrical body L1.

〔summary〕
The pressure retaining unit of aspect 1 of the present invention is a pressure retaining unit used in an inversion device that pressurizes a pressure fluid into the inside of a pressure vessel having a rear end where an insertion portion into which a flexible cylindrical body is inserted is formed, and a front end where the tip of the flexible cylindrical body is fixed, and inverts the flexible cylindrical body so that the inside becomes the outside, and is configured to include a guide member that is provided in the insertion portion and guides the flexible cylindrical body inserted into the insertion portion to the front end, and a ring-shaped pressure retaining member that is provided on the guide member and formed to extend in the insertion direction of the flexible cylindrical body, and that deforms due to the pressure of the pressure fluid that is pressed into the inside of the pressure vessel by the inversion device and adheres closely to the flexible cylindrical body.

The pressure retention unit according to Aspect 2 of the present invention may be the same as Aspect 1 above, but further include a fixing member disposed on the outside of the pressure retention member, and the fixing member may be configured to fix the pressure retention member so as to maintain the pressure retention member in close contact with the flexible cylindrical body.

A pressure retention unit according to Aspect 3 of the present invention may be configured as in Aspect 2 above, wherein the fixing member extends in the insertion direction and fixes the pressure retention member so that the pressure retention member extends in the insertion direction.

A pressure-retaining unit according to aspect 4 of the present invention may be configured as in aspect 2 or 3 above, with the fixing member having an exposed portion that exposes the pressure-retaining member from the fixing member.

A pressure-retaining unit according to Aspect 5 of the present invention may be configured as in Aspect 3 above, with multiple fixing members arranged around the insertion portion.

A pressure retention unit according to Aspect 6 of the present invention may be configured in any one of Aspects 1 to 5 above, wherein the pressure retention member is formed so that the length of the inner circumference of the pressure retention member is equal to or less than the length of the outer circumference of the flexible cylindrical body when the insertion section is open.

The inversion device according to aspect 7 of the present invention comprises a pressure vessel having a rear end forming an insertion section into which a flexible cylindrical body is inserted and a front end to which the tip of the flexible cylindrical body is fixed; a pressurizing unit that pressurizes a pressurized fluid into the pressure vessel to invert the flexible cylindrical body so that the inside becomes the outside; a guide member that is provided in the insertion section and guides the flexible cylindrical body inserted into the insertion section to the front end; and an annular pressure retaining member that is provided on the guide member and extends in the insertion direction of the flexible cylindrical body, and that deforms due to the pressure of the pressurized fluid that is pressurized into the pressure vessel by the pressurizing unit to fit closely to the flexible cylindrical body.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Inversion device 2 Pressure vessel 3 Press-fit unit 5 Guide member 6, 6A Fixing member 8 Pressure-retaining member 11, 11A, 11B Pressure-retaining unit 22 Rear end 23 Front end 24 Insertion portion 61, 61A Exposed portion IP Inner circumference OP Outer circumference L1 Flexible cylindrical body L2 Tip T1 Tube

Claims (4)

A pressure holding unit used in an inversion device that injects a pressurized fluid into a pressure vessel having a rear end portion where an insertion portion into which a flexible cylindrical body is inserted is formed, and a front end portion to which a tip of the flexible cylindrical body is fixed, and inverts the flexible cylindrical body so that the inside becomes the outside,
a guide member provided in the insertion portion and configured to guide the flexible cylindrical body inserted into the insertion portion to the front end portion;
an annular pressure retaining member provided on the guide member, extending in the insertion direction of the flexible cylindrical body, and deformed by the pressure of the pressure fluid injected into the pressure vessel by the inverting device to come into close contact with the entire circumference of the flexible cylindrical body;
a fixing member disposed outside the pressure retaining member and extending in the insertion direction,
the pressure retaining member is formed so that the length of the inner periphery of the pressure retaining member is equal to or less than the length of the outer periphery of the flexible cylindrical body when the insertion portion is open,
the pressure retaining member is fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the guide member,
A pressure-retaining unit characterized in that the fixing member fixes the pressure-retaining member so that the pressure-retaining member maintains a state in which the pressure-retaining member is in close contact with the flexible cylindrical body and extends in the insertion direction . 2. The pressure-holding unit according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing member has an exposed portion that exposes the pressure-holding member from the fixing member. 2. The pressure-holding unit according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the fixing members are arranged around the insertion portion. a pressure vessel having a rear end portion formed with an insertion portion into which a flexible cylindrical body is inserted, and a front end portion to which a tip of the flexible cylindrical body is fixed;
a pressurizing unit that pressurizes a pressure fluid into the pressure vessel and inverts the flexible cylindrical body so that the inside faces the outside;
a guide member provided in the insertion portion and configured to guide the flexible cylindrical body inserted into the insertion portion to the front end portion;
an annular pressure retaining member provided on the guide member, extending in the insertion direction of the flexible cylindrical body, and deformed by the pressure of the pressure fluid pressurized into the pressure vessel by the pressurization unit to come into close contact with the entire circumference of the flexible cylindrical body;
a fixing member disposed outside the pressure retaining member and extending in the insertion direction,
the pressure retaining member is formed so that the length of the inner periphery of the pressure retaining member is equal to or less than the length of the outer periphery of the flexible cylindrical body when the insertion portion is open,
the pressure retaining member is fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the guide member,
An inversion device characterized in that the fixing member fixes the pressure retaining member so that the pressure retaining member maintains a state in which the pressure retaining member is in close contact with the flexible cylindrical body and extends in the insertion direction .