JP7163161B2 - branch saddle joint - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a branch saddle joint, and more particularly to a branch saddle joint that is electrically fused and joined to the outer peripheral surface of a synthetic resin main pipe in order to take out the branch from the main pipe.

Conventionally, EF (ElectroFusion) saddle joints and branch saddle joints such as branch faucets with EF saddles have been used as pipe branching methods for extracting branches from the main pipe of synthetic resin water supply pipes. methods are known.
In order to prevent fusion failures in such an electric fusion joint type branch saddle joint, the outer peripheral surface of the main pipe and the inner peripheral surface of the saddle portion should be fixed in a state of being in proper contact with each other during the operation of applying current. It is important to keep Therefore, there is a demand for a branch saddle joint in which the inner peripheral surface of the saddle portion can be more stably brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the main pipe. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2018-105371 (Patent Document 1) discloses such a branched saddle joint.

The branch saddle joint disclosed in this Patent Document 1 is a branch saddle joint that is electrically fused and joined to the outer peripheral surface of a synthetic resin main pipe in order to take out the branch from the main pipe, and has a branch hole. A plate-shaped saddle portion and a branch pipe portion rising from the peripheral edge portion of the branch hole are provided, and when the branch saddle joint is placed on the main pipe, the inner peripheral surface of the saddle portion and the outer peripheral surface of the main pipe are aligned. The saddle portion has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the main pipe so that a gap is formed therebetween.

According to this branch saddle joint, the radius of curvature of the inner peripheral surface of the saddle portion is smaller than the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the main pipe. A gap is formed with the outer peripheral surface of the main pipe. When the saddle portion of the branch saddle joint and the main pipe are fusion-bonded, a fixing tool such as a saddle clamp is used to expand the saddle portion so as to be in close contact with the main pipe. At this time, a restoring force acts on the saddle portion that has been deformed in the diameter-expanding direction in the diameter-reducing direction (that is, the direction that presses the main pipe), and the saddle portion embraces the main pipe. When the saddle part is pushed out and brought into close contact with the main pipe, the saddle part embraces the main pipe. The main pipe and the saddle can be appropriately fused together.

The branch saddle joint disclosed in Patent Document 1 is not limited to this, but is used when taking out a branch pipe from a main pipe made of heat-sealable synthetic resin such as polyethylene and polypropylene. A branch saddle joint that is electrically fused and joined to the outer peripheral surface of a pipe, and is preferably used for branching from the main pipe of a water distribution pipe with an outer diameter of up to about 250 mm (nominal diameter of 200 mm).

JP 2018-105371 A

By the way, the main pipe for which such a branch saddle joint is used is not limited to the tap water distribution pipe targeted by Patent Document 1. For example, various pipes for factories and plants (industrial water, well water, river water, seawater/salt water, cooling water, various chemicals, compressed air, various wastewater, rainwater/recycled water, sewage/sludge), small hydroelectric power plant piping, agriculture It is used in a wide variety of applications such as water supply pipes, pressure feed sewage pipes, snow melting/snow removal equipment pipes, and fire extinguishing equipment pipes. Many of such pipes have a nominal diameter of 200 or more. It is possible to employ the branch saddle joint disclosed in Patent Document 1 for such a large outer diameter main pipe.

However, the rigidity of the saddle portion of the branched saddle joint disclosed in Patent Document 1 is the same regardless of its position. A large pressing force is required, and workability may be unfavorable. In particular, if the branch saddle joint disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used for a main pipe having a large outer diameter in the above-mentioned applications, a large pressing force is required, and workability may be even worse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been developed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the object thereof is to provide a branch which is electrically fused and joined to the outer peripheral surface of a synthetic resin main pipe in order to extract the branch from the main pipe. To provide a branched saddle joint which is a saddle joint and has good workability.

In order to achieve the above object, the branch saddle joint according to the present invention takes the following technical measures.
That is, a branch saddle joint according to the present invention is a branch saddle joint that is electrically fused and joined to the outer peripheral surface of a synthetic resin main pipe in order to take out a branch from the main pipe, and has a branch hole and a cross section includes an arc-shaped saddle portion and a branch pipe portion rising from the peripheral edge of the branch hole, and the end portion of the arc-shaped saddle portion is provided with an easily deformable portion having a lower rigidity than the central portion. It is characterized by

Preferably, the saddle portion includes a fused portion in which the heating wire is embedded around the branch hole on the inner peripheral surface side thereof, and a non-fused portion closer to the end than the fused portion, The easily deformable portion can be configured to be provided only in the non-fused portion.
More preferably, the easily deformable portion is provided only in a range in which the center angle of the circular arc shape of the saddle portion exceeds 70 degrees. Here, in order to obtain sufficient fusion bonding performance between the main pipe and the branch saddle joint, it is preferable that the easily deformable portion is provided only in the range exceeding the central angle of 70 degrees, and when the diameter of the branch saddle joint is small, As long as the fusing performance is sufficient, the easily deformable portion will be provided in the range of the center angle of 70 degrees or less even if it is smaller than 70 degrees.

More preferably, the easily deformable portion can be configured such that the thickness of the end portion side is smaller than that of the center portion side.
More preferably, the thickness of the easily deformable portion can be configured so as to gradually decrease from the central portion side toward the end portion side.
More preferably, the easily deformable portion can be configured such that a groove portion is provided on the inner peripheral surface or the outer peripheral surface thereof along the axial direction or the circumferential direction of the main pipe.
More preferably, the groove can be configured such that the rigidity of the saddle is gradually reduced from the central portion toward the end portions.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a branch saddle joint that is electrically fused and joined to the outer peripheral surface of a synthetic resin main pipe in order to take out the branch from the main pipe, and that has good workability. .

1 is a front view (half-sectional view) showing a piping structure for extracting a branch from a main pipe 200 using a branch saddle joint 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. (A) A plan view (top view) of the branch saddle joint 100 shown in FIG. 1, (B) a front view (half-sectional view) thereof, and (C) a side view (half-sectional view) thereof. be. FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view for explaining an easily deformable portion 112 of the branch saddle joint 100 shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a plan view (top view) of a branched saddle joint 101 according to a first modified example of the embodiment of the invention; FIG. 11 is a plan view (top view) of a branched saddle joint 102 according to a second modification of the embodiment of the invention; It is a front sectional enlarged view (region 6 part of FIG.2(B)) of the branch saddle joint 103 which concerns on the 3rd modification of embodiment of this invention. It is a front sectional enlarged view (region 7 part of FIG. 2(B)) of the branch saddle joint 104 which concerns on the 4th modification of embodiment of this invention.

A branch saddle joint 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1, this branch saddle joint 100 is used when taking out a branch pipe (not shown) from a main pipe 200 made of heat-sealable synthetic resin such as polyethylene and polypropylene. It is an EF saddle joint that is electrofusion-bonded to the outer peripheral surface. This branch saddle joint 100 is used for main pipes that are not limited to water supply pipes, for example, but are used for the above-mentioned various applications, and can be used for branching from existing pipes, branching from new pipes, and using pipes. It can also be used for branching in a state and for branching in a pipe unused state.

Hereinafter, the overall configuration of the branch saddle joint 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. As shown in these figures, the branch saddle joint 100 includes a saddle portion 110 and a branch pipe portion 150 integrally formed of the same heat-sealable synthetic resin as the main pipe 200 . In the present embodiment, each of saddle portion 110 and branch pipe portion 150 is made of polyethylene.

The saddle portion 110 of the branched saddle joint 100 is a curved plate-shaped body having a predetermined inner diameter (curvature radius) and an arc-shaped cross section. be. The branched saddle joint 100 includes a branched pipe portion 150 that rises radially outward of the saddle portion 110 from the periphery of the branched hole 110H. A characteristic feature of the saddle portion 110 is that easily deformable portions 112 having lower rigidity than the central portion are provided at the ends of the arc shape of the saddle portion 110 .

The saddle portion 110 includes a fused portion 110X in which the heating wire 114 is embedded around the branch hole 110H on the inner peripheral surface side, and a non-fused portion 110Y on the end side of the fused portion 110X, The easily deformable portion 112 is provided only in the non-fused portion 110Y. From another point of view, the easily deformable portion 112 is provided only in a range where the central angle θ of the circular arc shape of the saddle portion 110 exceeds 70 degrees. Here, in order to obtain sufficient fusion performance between the main pipe and the branch saddle joint, it is preferable that the easily deformable portion 112 is provided only in the range where the central angle θ exceeds 70 degrees, and the branch saddle joint has a small diameter. In some cases, if the fusion performance is sufficient, the easily deformable portion 112 is also provided in the range where the central angle θ is 70 degrees or less, even if it is smaller than 70 degrees.

Furthermore, the easily deformable portion 112 has a thickness t(2) on the end portion side smaller than a thickness t(1) on the central portion side. Moreover, it is also preferable that the easily deformable portion 112 is formed such that the thickness thereof gradually decreases from the central portion side to the end portion side. It does not matter if the rate of change in the case of gradual decrease is constant or varies.
The branch saddle joint 100 having such features will be described in more detail.

The heating wire 114 for electrical fusion joining is arranged on the inner peripheral surface side of the saddle portion 110, that is, on the joint surface side with the main pipe 200, and has an arbitrary shape such as a spiral shape or a zigzag shape around the branch hole 110H. are placed in The heating wire 114 is provided within the range of a central angle θ of 70 degrees in the circular arc shape of the saddle portion 110, and exhibits sufficient fusion bonding performance. As described above, if the branch saddle joint has a small diameter and the fusion performance is sufficient, the heating wire 114 may be provided only up to the central angle θ of 70 degrees or less.

Both ends of the heating wire 114 are connected to power connection terminals 120 formed to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the saddle portion 110 or be embedded in the inner surface thereof. The power connection terminals 120 are arranged at both ends of the saddle portion 110 in the axial direction, and are covered with terminal covers 122 . By connecting the power supply connection terminal 120 to a power supply and applying an electric current to the heating wire 114, the resin on the joint surfaces of the saddle portion 110 and the main pipe 200 is heated and melted. An indicator 124 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the saddle portion 110 inside the power connection terminal 120 to indicate that the fused surfaces of the saddle portion 110 and the main pipe 200 have been fused together. The saddle portion 110 is provided with cold caps on the inside and outside of the heating wire 114 (on the central portion side and the end portion side of the arc shape of the saddle portion 110 with the heating wire 114 interposed therebetween) in order to prevent the melted resin from oozing out during fusion bonding. zone is formed.

The easily deformable portion 112 is only a range in which the central angle θ of the circular arc shape of the saddle portion 110 exceeds 70 degrees, that is, a range in which the heating wire 114 does not exist and which is also a cold zone on the end portion side described above. It is provided only in 110Y. As described above, if the branch saddle joint has a small diameter and the fusion performance is sufficient, the easily deformable portion 112 may be provided in the range where the central angle θ is 70° or less. More specifically, the easily deformable portion 112 is formed such that the thickness t(2) on the end portion side is smaller than the thickness t(1) on the central portion side, or the thickness of the easily deformable portion 112 is increased from the central portion side to the edge portion. It is formed so that it gradually becomes smaller toward the part side. Here, the easily deformable portion 112 is not limited to such a shape. ) can be of any shape.

Next, a pipe branching method for extracting a branch from the main pipe 200 using such a branch saddle joint 100 will be described.
First, the branch saddle joint 100 is electrofused to the main pipe 200 . Specifically, the branch saddle joint 100 is placed at a desired position on the main pipe 200, and a fixture such as a saddle clamp having a saddle holding portion and a chain clamping portion disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used to secure the saddle. The outer peripheral surface of the portion 110 is pressed from above, and the outer peripheral surface of the main pipe 200 and the inner peripheral surface of the saddle portion 110 are brought into close contact and fixed. Then, the heating wire 114 embedded in the saddle portion 110 is energized to generate heat, and the outer peripheral surface of the main pipe 200 and the inner peripheral surface of the saddle portion 110 are fusion-bonded. It is assumed that the main pipe 200 corresponding to the position and size of the branch hole 110H of the saddle portion 110 is perforated at an appropriate timing. This causes the pipe to branch from the main pipe 200 via the branch saddle joint 100 .

Here, as described above, in order to prevent defective fusion bonding between the main pipe 200 and the branch saddle joint 100, the outer peripheral surface of the main pipe 200 and the inner peripheral surface of the saddle portion 110 should be properly aligned during the energization operation. It is important to fix it in a state where it is in close contact with the
Therefore, in this branched saddle joint 100, easily deformable portions 112 having lower rigidity than the central portion are provided at the ends of the saddle portion 110 in the arc shape. That is, the saddle portion 110 is formed such that the rigidity of the end portions thereof is smaller than that of the central portion thereof, and the saddle portion 110 is easily deformable. Therefore, when the saddle portion 110 is brought into close contact with the main pipe 200 , the end portion side of the saddle portion 110 is more easily deformed and can be brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the main pipe 200 . As a result, in the operation of extracting a branch from the main pipe 200 via the branch saddle joint 100, workability is improved without requiring a large pressing force when bringing the outer peripheral surface of the main pipe 200 and the inner peripheral surface of the saddle portion 110 into close contact with each other. preferable.

As described above, according to the branched saddle joint 100, the easily deformable portions 112 having lower rigidity than the central portion are provided at the ends of the arc shape of the saddle portion 110, so that the saddle portion 110 can be Workability is preferable because a large pressing force is not required when the substrate is brought into close contact with the substrate. Therefore, the saddle portion 110 can be stably brought into close contact with the main pipe 200 and fixed, and the main pipe 200 and the saddle portion 110 can be appropriately fusion-bonded.

<Modification>
Branch saddle joints according to first to fourth modifications of the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. FIG. Note that the branch saddle joints 101 to 104 described below have the easily deformable portion 112 provided in the branch saddle joint 100 in the above-described embodiment (the rigidity at the ends of the arc shape of the saddle portion 110 is higher than the rigidity at the central portion). The only difference is that the shape of the saddle portions 110A to 110D that realizes the small size is different, and the rest is the same as the branch saddle joint 100 according to the above-described embodiment. The same reference numerals are attached to the same structures as those of the above-described embodiment in the following modified examples. Descriptions thereof will not be repeated here because they overlap with the descriptions given above. It should be noted that the easily deformable portion 112 may be realized by combining the modification described below and the above-described embodiment (thickness t(1) on the central portion side>thickness t(2) on the end portion side). For example, for the first and second modifications shown below, it is easy to change the thickness of the above-described embodiment (thickness t(1) on the central portion side>thickness t(2) on the end portion side) without combining it. Although the deformable portion 112 is realized, the thickness changes of the above-described embodiments may be combined, and the easily deformable portion 112 is obtained by combining the thickness changes of the above-described embodiments for the third and fourth modifications. However, it is not necessary to combine the thickness changes of the above-described embodiments.

The easily deformable portion 112 in the branch saddle joint according to the first to fourth modifications described below has grooves along the axial direction or the circumferential direction of the main pipe 200 on the inner or outer peripheral surface of the saddle portion. is provided. Further, it is preferable that the grooves are provided so that the rigidity of the saddle portion gradually decreases from the central portion side to the end portion side.

- 1st modification With reference to FIG. 4, the branch saddle joint 101 which concerns on a 1st modification is demonstrated. The branch saddle joint 101 has a groove 112A along the circumferential direction of the main pipe 200 on the outer peripheral surface of the saddle 110A. Note that this groove portion 112A is only the non-fused portion 110Y, and is provided only in a range where the central angle θ of the circular arc shape of the saddle portion 110A exceeds 70 degrees, and when the branch saddle joint has a small diameter. With respect to the point that the easily deformable portion 112 (here, the groove portion 112A) may be provided in the range where the central angle θ is 70° or less as long as the fusion performance is sufficient, the branch saddle according to the above-described embodiment Same as joint 100 .

By providing the groove portion 112A in this manner, the easily deformable portion 112 is realized in which the rigidity of the end portion of the circular arc shape of the saddle portion 110A is smaller than the rigidity of the central portion. By gradually increasing the depth and/or width of the groove 112A from the central portion of the saddle portion 110A toward the end portions thereof, the rigidity of the saddle portion 110A increases in the central portion. The easily deformable portion 112 can be provided so as to gradually become smaller from the side to the end portion side.

Second Modification A branch saddle joint 102 according to a second modification will be described with reference to FIG. The branch saddle joint 102 has a groove portion 112B along the circumferential direction of the main pipe 200 on the inner peripheral surface of the saddle portion 110B. The position where this groove portion 112B is provided is the same as that of the groove portion 112A of the saddle portion 110A of the branched saddle joint 101 according to the first modification, except for the front and back (outer peripheral surface/inner peripheral surface) of the saddle portion 110B. be.
By providing the groove portion 112B in this manner, the easily deformable portion 112 is realized in which the rigidity of the end portion of the circular arc shape of the saddle portion 110B is smaller than the rigidity of the center portion. The depth and/or width of the groove portion 112B is changed in the same manner as the groove portion 112A of the saddle portion 110A of the branched saddle joint 101 according to the first modification.

Third Modification A branch saddle joint 103 according to a third modification will be described with reference to FIG. The branch saddle joint 103 has a groove portion 112C along the axial direction of the main pipe 200 on the outer peripheral surface of the saddle portion 110C. Note that this groove portion 112C is only the non-fused portion 110Y and is provided only in a range where the central angle θ of the circular arc shape of the saddle portion 110C exceeds 70 degrees, and when the branch saddle joint has a small diameter. As long as the fusion performance is sufficient, the deformable portion 112 (here, the groove portion 112C) may be provided in the range where the central angle θ is 70° or less. Same as joint 100 .

By providing the groove portion 112C in this manner, the easily deformable portion 112 is realized in which the rigidity of the end portion of the circular arc shape of the saddle portion 110C is smaller than the rigidity of the central portion. By gradually increasing the depth and/or width of the groove 112C from the central portion of the saddle portion 110C toward the end portions thereof, the rigidity of the saddle portion 110C increases. The easily deformable portion 112 can be provided so as to gradually become smaller from the side to the end portion side. Furthermore, by gradually narrowing the interval at which the groove portions 112C are provided (providing more grooves) from the central portion of the saddle portion 110C toward the end portions, the rigidity of the saddle portion 110C increases from the central portion to the end portions. The easily deformable portion 112 can be provided so as to gradually decrease toward the edge.

- Fourth Modification A branch saddle joint 104 according to a fourth modification will be described with reference to FIG. The branch saddle joint 104 has a groove 112D along the axial direction of the main pipe 200 on the inner peripheral surface of the saddle 110D. The position where this groove portion 112D is provided is the same as that of the groove portion 112C of the saddle portion 110C of the branched saddle joint 103 according to the third modification, except for the front and back (outer peripheral surface/inner peripheral surface) of the saddle portion 110B. be.

By providing the groove portion 112D in this way, the easily deformable portion 112 is realized in which the rigidity of the end portion of the circular arc shape of the saddle portion 110D is lower than that of the central portion. It should be noted that the depth, width and interval of this groove portion 112D are the same as those of the groove portion 112C of the saddle portion 110C of the branched saddle joint 103 according to the third modification.
As described above, even with the branch saddle joints 101 to 104 according to the first to fourth modifications, the easily deformable portions 112 having lower rigidity than the central portions are provided at the ends of the arc shapes of the saddle portions 110A to 110D. is realized by the grooves 112A to 112D, so that a large pressing force is not required to bring the saddle portion into close contact with the main pipe 200, so workability is favorable. Therefore, the saddle portion can be stably brought into close contact with the main pipe 200 and fixed, and the main pipe 200 and the saddle portion can be appropriately fusion-bonded.

It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as examples in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and range of equivalents of the scope of the claims.
An example of such a change is to implement the easily deformable portion 112 by a hole instead of a groove. Furthermore, by gradually increasing or narrowing the diameter of the holes and/or the intervals at which the holes are provided from the central portion of the saddle toward the ends (providing more holes), the saddle can be The easily deformable portion can be provided so that the rigidity of the portion gradually decreases from the central portion side toward the end portion side.

Here, according to the branch saddle joint according to the above-described embodiment and modification, since the easily deformable portion is provided in which the rigidity of the end portions of the circular arc shape of the saddle portion is smaller than the rigidity of the center portion, the saddle portion is provided with the main pipe. It does not require a large pressing force when it is brought into close contact with the surface. Therefore, a saddle portion of one size can be fused to main pipes having different outer diameters. Therefore, since the branch saddle joint can be used for a plurality of sizes of main pipes, the manufacturing cost of the branch saddle joint can be reduced.

The present invention is suitable for a branch saddle joint that is electrically fused and joined to the outer peripheral surface of a main pipe in order to take out a branch from a main pipe made of synthetic resin. It is particularly preferable in that workability is good because the inner peripheral surface of the saddle portion can be brought into close contact without requiring a large pressing force.

100, 101, 102, 103, 104 Branch saddle joint 110, 110A, 110B, 110C, 110D Saddle portion 110H Branch tube portion 110X Fusion portion 110Y Non-fusion portion 112 Easily deformable portion 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D Groove portion 114 Electrical Hot wire 150 Branch pipe part 200 Main pipe

Claims (6)

A branch saddle joint that is electrically fused and joined to the outer peripheral surface of a synthetic resin main pipe in order to extract the branch from the main pipe,
a saddle portion having a branch hole and having an arc-shaped cross section;
a branch pipe portion rising from the peripheral edge of the branch hole,
The saddle part includes a fused part in which the heating wire is embedded around the branch hole on the inner peripheral surface side and a non-fused part on the end side of the fused part,
the tip of the saddle portion does not exceed a half circumference of the main pipe;
An easily deformable portion having a lower rigidity than the fused portion is provided at an end portion of the arc shape of the saddle portion ,
The easily deformable portion is provided only in the non-fused portion,
A branch saddle joint , wherein the easily deformable portion is integrally formed of the same synthetic resin as the branch pipe portion and the fusion-bonded portion . 2. The branch saddle joint according to claim 1 , wherein the easily deformable portion is provided only in a range in which the center angle of the circular arc shape of the saddle portion exceeds 70 degrees. 3. The branch according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the easily deformable portion has a thickness on an end portion side smaller than a thickness of a boundary between the fused portion and the non-fused portion. saddle fittings. 4. The branched saddle joint according to claim 3 , wherein the thickness of the easily deformable portion gradually decreases from the boundary between the fused portion and the non-fused portion toward the end portion. 4. The easily deformable portion according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein a groove portion is provided on an inner peripheral surface or an outer peripheral surface of the easily deformable portion along the axial direction or the circumferential direction of the main pipe. branch saddle fitting. 6. The groove according to claim 5 , wherein the groove portion is provided so that the rigidity of the saddle portion gradually decreases from the boundary between the fused portion and the non-fused portion toward the end portion side. Branch saddle joint.

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