JP3242825U - In-pipe moving device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide an in-pipe moving device that can pass through a sharply curved portion of a pipeline without breaking. A pipe moving device 10 that is guided by the inner peripheral surface of a pumping pipeline 100 and moves in the pipe length direction includes an intermediate ring portion 41 disposed between a cylindrical one end portion 11 and a cylindrical other end portion 21; a propeller propulsion mechanism; 1 and is provided with a plurality of second elastic members 52 arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the intermediate ring portion 41 . [Selection drawing] Fig. 4

Description

The present invention relates to a device for traveling in long pipes.

2. Description of the Related Art A pumping pipeline is known that connects steel pipes that are resistant to pressure and pumps slurry containing earth, sand, water, and unhardened concrete. Pumping pipelines are standardized to some extent in terms of abrasion resistance to aggregate, lengthening by connecting many pipes, and versatility in replacement. Specifically, individual pipes of the pumping pipeline are standardized to have pipe lengths of 300, 500, 1000 and 2000 mm. The pipe diameters are standardized as nominal diameters of 100, 125, 175, and 200, and have substantially the same inner diameter (unit: mm) as these numbers. Also, the curvature of the curved pipe alone is standardized such that the radius of curvature of the axis of the pumping pipe is 300 mm or 400 mm. Also, the curve length (degrees) of a single curved pipe is standardized as 30°, 45°, and 90°.

In other words, the inner diameter of the pressure-feeding pipeline is generally 100 to 200 mm. There are places where you can change direction.

As the aggregate passes through the pressure-feeding pipeline, the inner peripheral surface of the pressure-feeding pipeline wears over time, and the thickness of the pipe becomes thinner. Therefore, there is a demand to inspect the condition inside the pumping pipeline, such as the inner diameter. For inspection, for example, it is conceivable to move the inspection machine in the pipe length direction using a string that passes through the inside of the pumping pipeline.

However, since the pumping pipeline has a plurality of sharp curves as described above, it is not easy to pass the string through the pumping pipeline.

As one proposal, it is conceivable to divert the power self-propelled pipe cleaner described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-020387 (Patent Document 1) to the pumping pipeline. The power self-propelled pipe cleaner described in Patent Document 1 scrapes off dirt adhering to the inner wall of the pipe in a pneumatic transportation system in which air is flowed into the pipe to transport municipal waste with the air flow. In such a pneumatic transportation system, the curves should be as gentle as possible and should not include sharp curves so that municipal waste can pass through the pipes smoothly.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-020387

If a self-powered self-propelled pipe cleaner for a pneumatic transportation system as described in Patent Document 1 is self-propelled in the pressure feed pipeline described above, when passing through a sharp curve, the middle of the self-powered self-propelled pipe cleaner The thin part of the pipe breaks off, and the self-powered self-propelled pipe cleaner gets caught in the curve and becomes unable to self-propell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an in-pipe moving device that can pass through sharp curves of a pumping pipeline or other pipelines without breaking.

For this purpose, the pipe moving device according to the present invention is a device that is guided by the inner peripheral surface of the pipeline and moves in the pipe length direction, and comprises a cylindrical one end, a cylindrical other end, and a cylindrical one end. and a propeller propulsion mechanism provided at the center of at least one of the cylindrical one end and the cylindrical other end, and connecting the cylindrical one end and the intermediate part. A plurality of first elastic members, which are elastic members, are arranged at intervals, and a plurality of second elastic members, which are elastic members that connect the intermediate portion and the cylindrical other end portion, are arranged at intervals. and an elastic member.

According to this invention, when the cylindrical one end and the cylindrical other end are guided along the inner peripheral surface of the pipe at a sharply curved portion of the pipeline, the elastic deformation of the first elastic member and the elasticity of the second elastic member are reduced. The deformation allows the in-pipe moving device to follow sharp bends. Therefore, the in-pipe moving device of the present invention can smoothly pass through sharp curves without breaking on the way.

The first elastic member and the second elastic member are separate members. In one aspect of the present invention, the arrangement of the first elastic member and the arrangement of the second elastic member are different from each other. According to this aspect, smooth movement of the in-pipe moving device is possible even when the pipeline includes various three-dimensional curved pipes such as S-shaped pipes. As another aspect, the first elastic member and the second elastic member may be one continuous elastic member.

A preferred aspect of the invention includes a battery centrally located in the intermediate section to power the propeller propulsion mechanism. According to this aspect, there is no need to supply power to the in-pipe moving device from outside the in-pipe moving device. In another aspect, the propeller propulsion mechanism may be connected to a power cable brought in from outside the pipeline.

As a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the cord is provided with one end held by the other tubular end and the other end extending to a point remote from the tubular end and the tubular opposite end. According to this aspect, the string can be passed through the pipeline.

As one aspect of the present invention, the cord has one end connected to at least one of the propeller propulsion mechanism and the battery, and the other end connected to a control unit installed at the end of the pipeline, a signal cable for controlling the thrust of the propeller propulsion mechanism. is. According to this aspect, the in-pipe moving device can be controlled to advance or stop. In another aspect, the thrust of the propeller propulsion mechanism may be controlled by radio signals.

As one aspect of the present invention, the other cylindrical end portion includes a bracket erected on the outer peripheral surface of the other cylindrical end portion, a roller pivotally supported by the bracket and in rolling contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pipeline, and a roller It has a signal cable holding part which is erected on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical other end so as to hold the signal cable. According to this aspect, it is possible to prevent the signal cable from being entangled in the movable portion of the propeller propulsion mechanism, or from being pinched by the cylindrical one end portion and the inner peripheral surface of the pipe.

In this way, according to the present invention, it is possible to move smoothly through a sharply curved pipe.

1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. It is a front view which shows the same embodiment. It is a side view which shows the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how the same embodiment moves through a sharp curve in a pipeline;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an in-pipe moving device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the same embodiment. The in-pipe moving device 10 of the present embodiment includes a cylindrical one end portion 11, a cylindrical other end portion 21, two propeller propelling mechanisms 31 and 32, an intermediate ring portion 41, and a plurality of elastic members as second propellers. It includes a first elastic member 51 and a second elastic member 52 .

The cylindrical one end portion 11, the intermediate ring portion 41, and the cylindrical other end portion 21 are coaxially arranged in series in this order. The cylindrical one end portion 11, the intermediate ring portion 41, and the cylindrical other end portion 21 are basically cylindrical with both ends open, but may be other polygonal cylinders. Also, the intermediate ring portion 41 may have a shape other than a ring, and should be understood to be an intermediate portion arranged between the cylindrical one end portion 11 and the cylindrical other end portion 21 . The in-pipe moving device 10 moves forward in the longitudinal direction of the pipe of the pumping pipeline, with one cylindrical end portion 11 on the front side F and the other cylindrical end portion 21 on the rear side R.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the cylindrical one end portion 11 has a cylindrical member 12 and a bracket 13 erected on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 12 and protruding radially outward of the cylindrical member 12 . One bracket 13 extends in the axial direction of the cylindrical member 12 with two wall bodies facing each other in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical member 12 forming a pair. Bracket 13 rotatably supports roller 14 between the pair of walls. With respect to the radial direction of the tubular end portion 11 , the roller 14 protrudes radially outward beyond the bracket 13 . Regarding the circumferential direction of the cylindrical one end portion 11, the brackets 13 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, four brackets 13 are arranged, and these are equally spaced at 90 degrees. The cylindrical other end portion 21 has the same shape and size as the cylindrical one end portion 11 .

The propeller propulsion mechanisms 31 and 32 are arranged in the cylinders of the tubular end portion 11 and the tubular end portion 21, respectively. Specifically, the propeller propulsion mechanism 31 has blades 33 and a motor section 34 . The motor portion 34 is arranged coaxially with the tubular member 12 and is attached and fixed to the tubular member 12 via a column portion 35 extending radially. With respect to the circumferential direction of the cylindrical member 12, three column portions 35 of this embodiment are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

The vane 33 is a set of three rotationally symmetrical vanes extending radially, has a rotation axis aligned with the axis of the cylindrical member 12 , and is coupled to a motor shaft protruding forward from the motor section 34 . The propeller propulsion mechanism 32 of the cylindrical other end portion 21 is similar, but the blades 36 of the propeller propulsion mechanism 32 are arranged behind the motor portion 37 with reference to FIG. 3 . That is, the propeller propulsion mechanisms 31 and 32 are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction with respect to the intermediate ring portion 41 . However, the propeller propulsion mechanisms 31 and 32 generate thrust in the same direction, that is, in the forward direction F by rotating the blades 33 and 36 .

The intermediate ring portion 41 is arranged in the central portion of the moving device 10 in the front-rear direction. A battery 42 is arranged in the intermediate ring portion 41 . The battery 42 is box-shaped and supplies power to the motor section 33 . A power distribution unit 46 is provided in the center of the battery. A power distribution section 46 of the battery 42 is connected to the motor section 33 of the propeller propulsion mechanism 31 on one end side by an electric cable 44 , and is connected to the motor section 37 of the propeller propulsion mechanism 32 on the other end side by an electric cable 45 . Also, the power distribution unit 46 is connected to one end of a signal cable 47 . The signal cable 47 is longer than the entire length of the pumping pipeline along which the in-pipe moving device 10 moves, and the other end of the signal cable 47 extends outside the pumping pipeline. Such other end is connected to the control section 48 . A control unit 48 controls the propulsive forces of the propeller propulsion mechanisms 31 and 32 . As a result, the in-pipe moving device 10 advances or stops in the pipe length direction.

With respect to the advancing direction of the in-pipe moving device 10 , the rear cylindrical other end portion 21 includes a signal cable holding portion 26 . The signal cable holding portion 26 is a protrusion erected on the outer peripheral surface of the other tubular end portion 21 and extends in the axial direction of the other tubular end portion 21 . The signal cable holding portion 26 is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the other tubular end portion 21 with respect to the protrusion height of the other tubular end portion 21 in the outer diameter direction. It is erected on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical other end portion 21 so as to be lower than the protruding height of the roller 14 .

A through hole 27 extending in the axial direction of the tubular other end portion 21 is formed in the signal cable holding portion 26 , and a signal cable 47 is passed through the through hole 27 . As a result, the signal cable 47 is held by the signal cable holding portion 26 and does not interfere with the blades 32 and rollers 14 .

The battery 42 and the power distribution unit 46 are attached and fixed to the intermediate ring portion 41 by the radially extending column portions 43 of the intermediate ring portion 41 . In this embodiment, six pillar portions 43 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the intermediate ring portion 41 . Three of the six pillars 43 are connected to the end of the first elastic member 51 . The remaining end portion of the first elastic member 51 is coupled to the column portion 35 of the cylindrical one end portion 11 . The other three of the six pillars 43 are connected to the ends of the second elastic members 52 . The remaining end portion of the second elastic member 52 is coupled to the column portion 25 (FIG. 1) inside the tubular other end portion 21 . Three pillars 25 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, like the pillars 35 in the cylindrical one end 11 described above.

Referring to FIG. 1, three first elastic members 51 and three second elastic members 52 are provided. With respect to the circumferential direction of the intermediate ring portion 41, the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 are arranged so as to be displaced from each other. The first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 are metal members such as spring steel, elastically deformed to be curved when a bending moment is applied, and return to the original shape when the bending moment is removed. become straight. Due to the elastic deformation of the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52, the cylindrical one end portion 11, the intermediate ring portion 41 and the cylindrical other end portion 21 are relatively displaced.

Next, the action of the in-pipe moving device 10 will be described. The in-pipe moving device 10 is inserted into one end of a pumping pipeline having an inner diameter larger than that of the cylindrical one end 11 and the cylindrical other end 21 . When the two propeller propulsion mechanisms 31, 32 rotate the blades 33, 36 to generate thrust, the in-pipe moving device 10 moves toward the other end of the pumping pipeline with the signal cable 47 still attached. move in the line. Here, a plurality of rollers 14, which are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the in-pipe moving device 10, are in rolling contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pressure feeding pipeline. As a result, the tubular end portion 11 and the tubular end portion 21 are guided along the inner circumferential surface of the pressure-feeding pipeline, and the in-pipe moving device 10 moves in the longitudinal direction of the pipe.

FIG. 4 shows a portion of a pumping pipeline 100 and elbows 101,102. Pumping pipeline 100 runs along concrete pump arm 103 . Focusing on the joints of the arm 103, the pumping pipeline 100 includes sharp curves such as the elbow pipes 101 and 102 along the way.

When the in-pipe moving device 10 reaches the elbow pipe 102 , the roller 14 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the elbow pipe 102 , and the cylindrical one end 11 and the cylindrical other end 21 are guided to the inner peripheral surface of the elbow pipe 102 . , and the first elastic member 51 and the second elastic member 52 are bent as appropriate. The in-pipe moving device 10 then moves through a sharp curve such as the elbow pipe 102 .

When the in-pipe moving device 10 has completed the movement from one end of the pumping pipeline 100 to the other, the signal cable 47 is threaded from one end of the pumping pipeline 100 to the other end. This allows the string to be threaded through the pumping pipeline 100 . Such a string can be used to pass a measuring device through the pumping pipeline 100 to inspect the inner circumference of the pumping pipeline 100 or to measure the inner diameter of the pumping pipeline 100 .

The in-pipe moving device 10 of this embodiment moves through the pressure-feeding pipeline 100 larger than the maximum outer diameter of the in-pipe moving device 10 itself, regardless of the size of the inner diameter of the pressure-feeding pipeline 100. Guided by the surface, it can move forward in the pipe length direction. Particularly in the forward direction, the first elastic member 51 is arranged in front of the intermediate ring portion 41, and the second elastic member 52 is arranged behind the intermediate ring portion 41, so that the bending performance of the pipe moving device 10 is improved. , the in-pipe moving device 10 can pass through a sharp curve without breaking at the intermediate portion.

Further, according to this embodiment, regarding the circumferential position of the intermediate ring portion, the circumferential arrangement of the first elastic member 51 and the circumferential arrangement of the second elastic member 52 are different from each other. It can smoothly pass through various curves.

In addition, since the pipe moving device 10 of the present embodiment is provided with the battery 42 that is arranged at the center of the intermediate ring portion 41 and supplies power to the propeller propulsion mechanisms 31 and 32, the pipe moving device 10 is supplied with power from outside. Can move without feeding.

Further, the in-pipe moving device 10 of this embodiment is provided with a string-like signal cable 47 , one end of the signal cable 47 is held by the tubular other end 21 , and the other end of the signal cable 47 is held by the tubular one end 11 . and to a point away from the other cylindrical end 21 , that is, to the outside of the pumping pipeline 100 . Thus, by passing the in-pipe moving device 10 through the pumping pipeline 100 , the string can be passed from one end to the other end of the pumping pipeline 100 .

Further, in the pipe moving device 10 of the present embodiment, the cylindrical one end portion 11 is on the forward side when viewed from the cylindrical other end portion 21 . The other cylindrical end portion 21 has a signal cable holding portion 26 which is a member erected on the outer peripheral surface of the other cylindrical end portion 21 . This prevents the signal cable 47 from interfering with the blades 33 and 36 and being pinched by the cylindrical member of the cylindrical other end 21 and the inner peripheral surface of the pumping pipeline 100 and being damaged.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same scope as the present invention or within an equivalent scope. As a modification not shown, instead of using the signal cable 47, the control unit 48 may control the moving speed of the in-pipe moving device 10 by radio control.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is advantageously used in inspection of long pipelines (pipelines).

10 In-pipe moving device 11 Cylindrical one end 12 Cylindrical member
13 bracket, 14 roller, 21 cylindrical other end,
25 pillar 26 signal cable holder 31, 32 propeller propulsion mechanism 35 pillar 41 intermediate ring (intermediate portion) 43 pillar
42 battery, 47 signal cable (string), 48 control unit,
51 first elastic member, 52 second elastic member, 100 pumping pipeline.

Claims (6)

A device that is guided by the inner peripheral surface of a pipeline and moves in the pipe length direction,
a cylindrical one end;
the other end of the tubular shape;
an intermediate portion disposed between the cylindrical one end and the cylindrical other end;
a propeller propulsion mechanism provided at the center of at least one of the cylindrical one end and the cylindrical other end;
a first elastic member, which is an elastic member that connects the cylindrical one end portion and the intermediate portion, and is arranged in plurality with a space therebetween;
A moving device in a pipe, comprising a plurality of second elastic members, which are elastic members connecting the intermediate portion and the tubular other end portion, and are arranged at intervals. 2. The in-pipe moving device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of the first elastic member and the arrangement of the second elastic member are different from each other. 2. The in-pipe moving device of claim 1, comprising a battery centrally located in said intermediate section for powering said propeller propulsion mechanism. 4. The in-pipe moving device according to claim 3, further comprising a string whose one end is held by said other tubular end and whose other end extends to said tubular one end and to a point away from said tubular other end. The string is a signal cable having one end connected to at least one of the propeller propulsion mechanism and the battery, and the other end connected to a control unit installed at the end of the pipeline to control the thrust of the propeller propulsion mechanism. 5. The in-pipe moving device of claim 4, wherein there is a The other cylindrical end portion includes a bracket erected on the outer peripheral surface of the other cylindrical end portion, a roller pivotally supported by the bracket and in rolling contact with the inner peripheral surface of the pipeline, and 6. The in-pipe moving device according to claim 5, further comprising a signal cable holding portion erected on an outer peripheral surface of said cylindrical other end so as to be lowered to hold said signal cable.

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