JPH022413B2 - - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make possible execution of fusion welding without skill by a method wherein the lapsed time in each process is measured automatically according to each pipe size program and clamps are locked until time is up to tell the specified lapsed times of heating and welding through an alarm. CONSTITUTION:A pipe P is fixed to clamps 2a, 2b on the pipe side, a socket S is to clamps 3a, 3b on the socket side and a heater 10 is set to a fusion welder. Then, the pipe side is fixed and the socket side is approached. When the pipe P and the socket S have been inserted into the heater 10 by specified depths the confirmation signal is outputted, a locking device 14 locks the socket side and a timer measures heat holding time. At the completion 3 of heat holding an alarm rings, the locking device 14 is unlocked and the heater 10 is removed from the fusion welder. Then, the pipe P is inserted into the socket S and if the inserted length is confirmed to be as specified, the socket side is locked. When contact bonding and cooling have been completed like at the heating time, the alarm rings, the lock is unlocked and fusion welding is completed. Times of heating and contact bonding are controlled not to require special training.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a socket fusion machine suitable for use in fusion joining synthetic resin pipes using synthetic resin sockets.

Conventionally, metal pipes have been used as city gas conduits, but medium-density polyethylene pipes have appropriate rigidity and flexibility as city gas conduits, and do not have the problem of underground corrosion like metal pipes. It has the excellent property of being able to be used semi-permanently.

A polyethylene socket is usually used to join polyethylene pipes, the outer surface of the end of the pipe and the inner surface of the socket socket are heated and melted with a heater, and the molten end of the pipe is inserted into the socket socket that has also been melted. Fusion bonding is performed by inserting the material, pressing it with a certain pressure, and leaving it for a certain period of time to cool and solidify.

The applicant has devised a socket fusion machine suitable for use in such fusion bonding, and has filed an application for registration of a utility model.

First, this will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Socket side clamps 3a, 3b (made of a split ring with one end pivoted so that it can be opened and closed) Pipe side clamps 2a, 2b (similar to the socket side clamp, made of a split ring with one end pivoted) The sockets S and pipes P are clamped by the sockets S and pipes P, respectively, and set by the heater plates 11 and heater plate receiving pins 6, which respectively hold the heaters 10. Next, the clamps 2a, 2b and the clamps 3a, 3b are pulled together using the gripping rods 7, 7 provided on the clamps 2a, 2b and 3a, 3b, and the heater 10 heats the inner surface of the socket S and the outer surface of the pipe P for a specified period of time to melt them. (heating and holding), and once melting is completed, clamp 2a, 2b with gripping rods 7, 7.
Then, pull the clamps 3a and 3b apart and remove the heater 10. Then, pull the clamps 2a, 2b and 3a, 3b again using the gripping rods 7, 7, insert the pipe P into the socket S, hold the state as it is for a specified period of time until it cools and solidifies (crimping and cooling), and then cools and solidifies it. When this is completed, the clamps 2a, 2b and 3a, 3b are opened and the socket welder is removed from the pipe in which the socket S and the pipe P are welded together.

Although such a socket fusion machine has certain effects, it has the disadvantage that its operation requires considerable skill. In other words, in fusion bonding, the heating and holding time differs depending on the size of the pipe to be joined, so it takes a lot of effort for the operator to memorize that time and the crimping and cooling times for the next process. There were also problems such as forgetting the time required for each process after being away from pipe connection work for a while. Also, to measure time, a stopwatch with an easily visible second hand is usually used, but to measure the time for each process, the second hand of the stopwatch must be quickly returned to zero and restarted, or the cumulative time of each process can be measured. Since calculations had to be made, a dedicated timekeeper was required. Furthermore, there was also the problem that the required time for each process was incorrect and the process was moved to the next process.

The present invention was developed in view of these conventional problems, and it automatically measures the elapsed time of each process according to a program, locks the movement of the clamp until the time is up, and eliminates the need for manual labor such as removing the heater and crimping. This was done with the aim of solving the above problem by providing a function to issue an alarm before the start of the process. Further, according to the present invention, by locking the movement of the clamp until time-up, there is no need to hold the gripping rod by hand during each process.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show the entire structure of a socket fusion machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, 12 is a rack whose one end is fixed to the lower clamp portion 3b of the socket-side clamp, and 13a is a cover 16. This pinion 13a is fixed to the lower clamp portion 2b of the tube side clamp through the pinion and meshes with the rack 12. This pinion 13a is a position detection sensor that detects the position of the socket S according to the position of the socket side clamps 3a and 3b. It is one of the elements that make up 13. In this embodiment, the rack is fixed to the socket-side clamp and the position detection sensor is fixed to the pipe-side clamp, but conversely, the rack is fixed to the pipe-side clamp and the position detection sensor is fixed to the socket-side clamp. It's okay. 14 is a locking device fixed to the clamp portion 2b via a cover to restrict movement of the rack 12 (details thereof will be described later);
15a is a micro switch of the program switching device 15 that is attached to the clamp portion 2b and detects the size of the pipe and switches the program (details will be described later); 16 is a part of the rack 12 attached to the clamp portion 2b; and a pinion. This is a cover that covers the position detection sensor 13 such as 13a, the lock device 14, and the program switching device 15. Others 1 is the base of the socket fusion machine, 8 is a shaft fixed to the base 1 and guides when sliding the clamps 3a and 3b or clamps 2a and 2b, and 9 is the lower clamp portion 2b of the tube side clamp and the socket. A slide bearing is attached to the lower clamp portion 3b of the side clamp, 4 is a female threaded pipe pivotally supported on the lower clamp portions 2b and 3b of the tube side clamp and the socket side clamp, and 5 is screwed to the female threaded pipe 4 and its tip The pipe P and the socket S are clamped by the pipe side clamps 2a and 2b and the socket side clamps 3a and 3b by pressing the upper clamp parts 2a and 3a at the male thread, 7 is the aforementioned gripping rod, and 11 is a heater. A heater plate, 1 is a heater, 6 is a heater plate receiving pin, 17 is a liner divided into upper and lower halves, and 18 is a presser metal fitting for operating a micro switch attached to the lower part of the liner 17.

Next, its operation will be explained. Pipe side clamp 2a,
Clamp the pipe P using the female threaded pipe 4 and the male thread 5 on the socket side clamps 3a and 3b.
Then, clamp the socket S in the same manner, and set the heater 10 in the fusion machine using the heater holding plate 11. Then, fix the tube side clamps 2a, 2b (on the contrary, you may fix the socket side clamps 2a, 2b), grasp the socket side clamps 3a, 3b by hand, and bring them closer to the tube side clamps 2a, 2b by grasping the gripping rods 7. Position detection sensor 1 that meshes with Rack 1
3 rotates, and the number of rotations of this pinion 13a causes the socket side clamp 3 to rotate.
The positions of a and 3b are detected, and an electric signal is emitted after confirming that the tube P and socket S have been inserted into the heater 10 by a specified length. This electrical signal may be a change in electrical resistance, an electrical pulse, or a limit switch. This electrical signal causes the locking device 14 to stop the movement of the rack 12 and lock the socket side clamp 3.
A and 3b are locked, and a timer (not shown) starts to measure the heating retention time.
The outer surface of the tube P and the inner surface of the socket S are heated by a heater for a specified time. For example, a warning alarm will sound a few seconds before the heating retention time expires.
When the time is up, a notification alarm will sound and the lock device 14 will be released. When the locking device 14 is removed, the socket side clamps 3a, 3b can be moved away from the tube side clamps 2a, 2b, so the tube P and the socket S can be removed from the heater 10, and the heater 10 can be removed from the socket fusion machine. Next, replace the socket side clamps 3a, 3b with the tube side clamps 2a, 2b again.
When the pipe P is inserted into the socket S, the position detection sensor 13 detects the position of the socket side clamps 3a and 3b in the manner described above, and confirms that the pipe P is inserted into the socket S to a specified length. ,
This electric signal activates the locking device 14 to lock the socket side clamps 3a, 3b and to start measuring the crimping and cooling times. A warning alarm will sound a few seconds before the end of cooling, and when the time is up, a notification alarm will sound and lock device 1 will sound.
4, so the socket side clamps 3a, 3b
can be moved away from the tube side clamps 2a, 2b. Socket side clamps 3a, 3b
away from the tube side clamps 2a, 2b and tighten the male screw 4.
Loosen the clamp, open the clamp, and remove the fusion machine from the pipe where the socket S and pipe P are fused together.

Figure 9 and Table 1 show an example of the heating holding time, crimping and cooling time for pipes with pipe diameters of 50 mm and 57 mm, and the heating holding time, crimping and cooling times are programmed in advance according to the pipe diameter. According to the program, the position detection sensor generates an electric signal to sound an alarm and locks the socket side clamp in this embodiment, and when the programmed specified heating holding time, crimping and cooling time is reached, the locking device activates. is canceled.

Table-1 Time (S) 25A, 30A 50A T ₁ +T ₅ 50 60 T ₂ +T ₅ 60 90 T ₃ +T ₅ 180 180 T ₅ (5) Variable (5) Variable T ₆ 5 5 Next, Figure 3 or Refer to Figure 5 for locking device 1.
4 will be explained.

In FIGS. 3 to 5, reference numerals 19, 19 refer to a pair of friction plates 2 having one end held between pins 20, 20 implanted in the case 16 and a roller 21 at the other end.
2 and 22 are springs interposed between the case 16 and the friction plate 19; 23 is the friction plate 19 at the tip thereof;
It is an expansion fitting that the roller 21 contacts and whose base end is connected to a solenoid 25 by a pin 24. The rack 12 extends through a hole 19a formed in the friction plate 19, and one end thereof is fixed to the lower clamp portion 3b of the socket side clamp as described above. The pinion 13a is in mesh with the pinion 13a. Fig. 3 shows that the friction plates 19, 19 are easy 12.
FIG.
In other words, the lock state is shown.
In FIG. 3, the solenoid 25 is energized and the arrow A
When the expansion fitting 23 moves in the direction, the roller 21,
21 is pushed outward, and as a result, the friction plate 1
9 and 19 also have springs 2 with the pin 20 as the fulcrum.
2, 22, and is pushed outward to a locked state as shown in FIG. When the solenoid 25 is demagnetized, the friction plates 19, 19 are activated by the springs 22, 2.
2 and is pushed inward using pin 20 as a fulcrum, pushing up solenoid 25 and returning to the unlocked state shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the locking action of the friction plate 19, where 19a is a hole provided in the friction plate 19 and through which the rack 12 passes, and 19b is an expansion fitting 23.
This is a notch provided in the friction plate 19 to prevent the friction plate 19 from interfering with the tip of the friction plate 19. Now, when a force is applied to the rack 12 in the direction of arrow F, the friction between the edge of the hole 12 and the rack 12 causes the friction plate 19 to further increase its inclination using the pin 20 as a fulcrum; The friction between the rack 19a and the rack 12 increases and the hole 19a bites the rack 12, thereby locking the movement of the rack 12 in the direction of arrow F. On the other hand, the force in the opposite direction to arrow F is easy12
When activated, another friction plate 19 (see FIG. 4), not shown in FIG. 5, locks the working rack 12 in the manner described above. Therefore, in the locked state, the rack 12 cannot move in either the left or right direction.

In the second embodiment of the locking device shown in FIG. 6, when the solenoid 25 pulls the L-shaped friction plates 19A, 19A in the direction of arrow A via the connecting fitting 26, the force of the springs 22A, 22A to contract causes L
The mold friction plates 19A, 19A open outward and the rack 12
engage with. When the solenoid 25 is demagnetized and the force of the solenoid 25 in the direction of the arrow A disappears, the L-shaped friction plate 19A,
19A closes inward and hits the pins 20A, 20A, releasing the engagement with the rack 12.

In the third embodiment of the lock device shown in FIG. 7, when the solenoid 25 pulls the connecting fitting 26B in the direction of arrow A, the roller 21B pushes the tapered portions 19b of the friction plates 19B, 19B inward.
19B rotates inward using the pin 20 as a fulcrum and connects to the rack 1.
2 and the friction plates 19B, 19B engage with each other. When the solenoid 25 is demagnetized and loses its pulling force in the direction of arrow A, the spring 22B tries to expand, causing the friction plates 19B, 19B to open.
At the same time as releasing the engagement between the rack 12 and the connecting fitting 26B
Move the solenoid 25 to the opposite side of arrow A to return the solenoid 25 to its original position. The pin 20B is for restricting the outward opening of the friction plates 19B, 19B. In any case, the feature of this locking device is that a friction plate with a hole in the center for the shaft to pass through is tilted in the direction in which the shaft moves relative to the shaft, and the friction between the shaft and the area around the hole is used to prevent the shaft from moving. It is at the point where it stops moving.

FIG. 8 shows a program switching device for automatically switching programs by switching tube sizes. When the liner 17 is removed, the micro switch 15 is fixed to the lower liner portion 17b, and the presser metal fitting 18 for operating the micro switch is attached to the lower clamp portion 2b of the tube side clamp.
Since you no longer press a, an electrical signal is generated and the program automatically switches.

As explained above, according to the present invention, in addition to the structure of the previously filed socket fusion machine, a position detection sensor that detects the relative position of the tube side clamp and the socket side clamp and generates an electric signal, and a position detection sensor are provided. A locking device that activates a program using an electric signal from the pipe to lock the relative movement between the two clamps, and also activates a program to release the lock, and a program switching device that generates an electric signal to switch programs according to changes in pipe size. Then, according to the program according to the pipe size, the pipe and socket are automatically kept heated for a predetermined period of time, and the pipe and socket are held crimped with the necessary pressing force for a predetermined period of time, and the predetermined time elapses. Then, the system automatically issues an alarm and unlocks the locking device, which eliminates the aforementioned drawbacks of the previously applied socket fusion machine, and allows the pipe to be properly connected to the socket without requiring special skill or experience. It is possible to perform fusion bonding.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 show a socket fusion machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 1 being a front view and FIG. 2 being a side view. 3 to 5 are a plan view and a side view of main parts of a first embodiment of a locking device used in a fusing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 3 showing an unlocked state and FIG. 4 shows the lock state, and FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the rack and the friction plate when a force is applied to the rack in the locked state. 6 and 7 are plan views of second and third embodiments of the locking device. FIG. 8 is a front view of a program switching device used in a fusion splicer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a program. 2a, 2b...Pipe side clamp, 3a, 3b...Socket side clamp, 10...Heater, 12...Rack, 13...Position detection sensor, 13a...Pinion, 14...Lock device, 15...Program switching device, 17...Liner, 19 ...Friction plate, 25...Solenoid, P...Pipe, S...Socket.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pipe-side clamp for clamping a synthetic resin pipe and a socket-side clamp for clamping a synthetic resin socket, the pipe being clamped by the pipe-side clamp and the socket being clamped by the socket-side clamp, One of the clamps and the socket-side clamp is fixed, and the other clamp is moved toward the fixed clamp, and the outer surface of the end of the tube and the inner surface of the socket opening are heated and melted using a heater. This is a socket fusion machine that inserts the end of a molten tube into the spigot of the molten socket, crimps it, waits for it to cool and solidify, and then fusion-bonds the tube and socket. During the heating process, when the movable clamp moves and the movable and stationary clamps reach the predetermined programmed positions relative to the heater and the tube and socket are crimped to the heater, an electrical signal is sent to lock the movable clamp. Also, in the process of joining the pipe and socket, the movable clamp moves, and when the movable clamp moves to a predetermined programmed position relative to the stationary clamp and the pipe and socket are crimped together, the movable clamp is locked. The movable clamp is locked by the electric signal from the position detection sensor, and when the specified heating time programmed in the tube and socket heating process is reached, and when the tube and socket are heated. A socket fusion machine characterized in that it is equipped with a locking device that unlocks a movable side clamp when a specified welding time programmed in a welding process is reached. 2. The socket fusion machine according to claim 1, further comprising a program switching device that detects the size of the pipe and switches the program according to the size of the pipe.