JPH0972818A - Method and system for inspecting airtightness of exhaust duct - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inspect airtightness conveniently and reliably by determining the airtightness based on the flow rate of gas being fed into an exhaust duct at a moment of time when the detected pressure in the exhaust duct reaches a set level. SOLUTION: Pressurized air is fed into an exhaust duct 1 under a state where the inlet 11 and outlet 12 of duct 1 are closed hermetically. Consequently, pressure in the duct 1 increases and detected along with the flow rate of pressurized air. When the detected pressure in the duct 1 reaches a set level, a decision is made whether the flow rate of pressurized air is higher than a set value. A decision is made that the leakage from the duct 1 exceeds a specified level and the airtightness of duct 1 is not acceptable if the flow rate of pressurized air is higher than the set value, otherwise the airtiqhtness of duct 1 is acceptable.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airtightness inspection method for an exhaust path and an airtightness inspection apparatus used therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When installing a large-capacity water heater installed indoors, in an apartment house, etc., an exhaust path for guiding combustion exhaust gas discharged from a gas-fired water heater to a position that does not affect residents, etc. 1) is installed. Inlet (11) of this exhaust path (1)
Is connected to the outlet of the water heater and the other outlet (12)
Is exposed outdoors (see FIG. 1).

The exhaust path (1) is usually a plurality of cylinders (1
0) and (10) are continuously connected to each other. These cylinders (1
(0) (10) The mutual connecting portion is configured such that the other end portion is fitted into one end portion whose diameter is enlarged, and the other end portion is connected to the other end portion by an aluminum tape or the like. Leakage of combustion exhaust gas is suppressed. If a long time elapses after the installation of the exhaust path (1), the amount of combustion exhaust gas leaking from the connection portion increases due to deterioration over time. Therefore, it is necessary to inspect the airtightness of the exhaust path (1) at a predetermined time. However, conventionally, there is only a method of visually confirming.
This visual confirmation alone cannot accurately determine the quality of the airtightness of the connecting portions between the cylindrical bodies (10) and (10). or,
Depending on the installation status of the exhaust path (1), confirmation work may not be possible.

[0004]

In view of such a point,
An object of the invention of claim 1 is to make it possible to easily and surely check the airtightness of the exhaust path (1).

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

[Invention of Claims 1 to 3] The problem-solving means of the invention of Claim 1 is "exhaust path from an inlet portion (11) connected to an exhaust port of a combustion apparatus to an outlet portion (12) exposed to the outdoors. In the airtightness inspection method of (1), pressurized air is supplied to the exhaust path (1) in a state where the outlet portion (12) and the inlet portion (11) are closed in an airtight state, and in this state The pressure in the exhaust path (1) is detected and the supply flow rate of the pressurized air is measured, and the supply flow rate is set when the detected pressure in the exhaust path (1) reaches a set pressure. It is determined that the airtightness is poor when the flow rate is equal to or higher than that.

In this case, the outlet part (12) of the exhaust path (1) is
The pressurized air is supplied to the exhaust path (1) while the inlet part (11) is closed in an airtight state. As a result, the pressure in the exhaust path (1) rises. Then, the pressure in the exhaust path (1) is detected and the supply flow rate of the pressurized air is measured. When the detected pressure in the exhaust path (1) reaches the set pressure, it is determined whether the supply flow rate is equal to or higher than the set flow rate. At this time, when the supply flow rate is equal to or higher than the set flow rate, it can be determined that the amount of leakage from the exhaust path (1) is larger than a predetermined amount, and the exhaust path (1) is determined to be airtight. On the contrary, when the flow rate is smaller than the set flow rate, the airtightness of the exhaust path (1) is determined to be acceptable.

According to the second aspect of the invention, "the inflatable air bag (220) is inserted into the outlet portion (12) in a contracted state and then connected to the air bag (220). By sending air through the compressed tube (222) to inflate the air bag (220) and close the outlet portion (12) in an airtight state '', the outlet portion (1
After the air bag (220) is inserted into 2), air is pumped from the tube (222) connected to the air bag (220) and the air bag (220) is inflated. As a result, the air bag (220) comes into close contact with the constituent wall of the outlet portion (12), and the outlet portion (12) is closed in an airtight state.

Further, as in the invention of claim 3, the inside of the outlet part (12) is obtained by inserting the air bag (220) in which the tube (222) is connected in communication from the inlet part (11) side. After that, the air bag (220) is inflated by closing the inlet part (11) and closing the inlet part (11). The air bag (220) is positioned inside the outlet portion (12), and then the airbag (220) is inflated to close the outlet portion (12) and the inlet portion (11). Therefore, in this structure, the inlet portion (11) and the outlet portion (12) can be closed in an airtight state only by the operation from the inlet portion (11) side. [Invention of Claims 4 to 6] The invention of Claim 4 relates to an airtightness inspection apparatus used for carrying out the invention of Claim 1 described above, from "an inlet portion (11) connected to an exhaust port of a combustion apparatus". A device used for airtightness inspection of an exhaust path (1) reaching an outlet part (12) exposed to the outdoors, the second closing means (22) for closing the outlet part (12) in an airtight state, and the inlet. A first closing means (21) for closing the portion (11) in an airtight state, and a first closing means (2)
Supply means (3) connected to 1) for supplying pressurized air into the exhaust path (1), flow rate measuring means (4) for measuring and displaying the supply flow rate of the pressurized air, 1 is connected to the closing means (21), and comprises pressure detection means (7) for detecting that the pressure in the exhaust path (1) has reached a set value.

In this structure, the first and second closing means (2
1) In the state where the inlet part (11) and the outlet part (12) are closed in an airtight state by (22), pressurized air is supplied into the exhaust path (1) by the supply means (3), The pressure detection means
(7) detects that the pressure in the exhaust path (1) has reached the set value, and the flow rate measuring means (4) measures the supply flow rate of the pressurized air. Therefore, whether the airtightness of the exhaust passage (1) is acceptable or not is determined by the measured flow rate value of the flow rate measuring means (4) when the detected pressure value of the pressure detecting means (7) reaches a set value.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the "notification unit (70) for notifying that the detected pressure value of the pressure detection means (7) has reached the set value" is provided. Division (7
It is understood from the notification of 0) that the detected pressure value of the pressure detecting means (7) has reached the set value. Therefore, by confirming whether the measured flow rate value displayed by the flow rate measuring means (4) at this time is equal to or more than the set flow rate value, it is possible to determine whether the airtightness of the exhaust path (1) is acceptable or not.

According to the invention of claim 6, "the measured flow rate value of the flow rate measuring means (4) when the detected pressure value of the pressure detecting means (7) reaches a set value and a detection signal is input. Is equipped with a determination device (80) for displaying or notifying the determination result as well as for determining whether or not is equal to or greater than a set flow rate value '', the detected pressure value of the pressure detection means (7) reaches the set pressure value. The determination device (80) determines whether or not the measured flow rate value of the flow rate measurement means (4) when the signal is input is equal to or greater than the set flow rate value, and the determination result is displayed or notified. Therefore, whether the airtightness of the exhaust path (1) is acceptable or not is automatically determined.
It is also possible to confirm the measured flow rate value by the display of the flow rate measuring means (4) at this time.

[0012]

As described above, in the inventions of claims 1 and 4, when the pressure in the exhaust passage (1) reaches the set pressure, the pressurized air to the exhaust passage (1) is This determination is accurate and reliable, since the amount of leakage from the exhaust passage (1), that is, whether the airtightness of the exhaust passage (1) is acceptable or not is determined depending on the magnitude of the supply flow rate.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the closing means of the outlet portion (12) is the air bag (220), its handling and mounting work are easy. In addition, the inflated air bag (22
Since the outer surface of (0) closely follows the shape of the wall of the outlet portion (12), airtightness can be secured regardless of the shape of the outlet portion (12). In the invention of claim 3, the inlet portion (11)
Since the outlet portion (12) can be closed in an airtight state only by the operation from the side, even if the outlet portion (12) is located at a high position on the outer wall of the building, it is easy to close the outlet portion (12). .

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is understood that the pressure in the exhaust passage (1) has reached the set pressure by the notification of the notification unit (70). Therefore, the measurement of the flow rate measuring means (4) at this time is performed. It is easy to check the flow rate value. Therefore, the above inspection work becomes simpler. According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the air-tightness of the exhaust path (1) is automatically determined, the above-mentioned inspection work becomes even simpler and more reliable.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
This will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment is carried out for airtightness inspection of a substantially horizontal exhaust path (1) connected to an exhaust port (111) protruding from the upper surface of a casing of a gas combustion type water heater (110). It was done. This exhaust path
(1) has a configuration in which a plurality of cylindrical bodies (10) and (10) are continuously connected as in the conventional case, and a certain range on the inlet part (11) side connected to the exhaust port (111) is An exhaust top (120) extending upward is connected to the outlet (12) at the downstream end of the exhaust path (1).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outlet portion (12) is closed by the air bag (220) and the inlet portion (11) is closed by the closing block (210).
In addition, a pressure gauge (71) and a flow meter (41) are attached to the block block (210).
Are connected, and an airtight inspection of the exhaust path (1) is performed. [Configuration of Airtightness Inspection Device] Each part of the inspection device used for the airtightness inspection will be described.

* Air bag (220) * As shown in FIG. 2, the air bag (220) is made of an inflatable material such as synthetic resin, and when inflated, has a spherical shape with a diameter larger than that of the exhaust passage (1). It is a physical structure. A tube (222) for introducing inflation air into the air bag (220) is connected to the air bag (220). This tube
(222) is set longer than the exhaust path (1). Further, the air bag (220) includes the exhaust path.
Hollow balls (221) having a diameter smaller than that of (1) are continuously provided.
This air bag (220) is the second closing means (22) described in claim 4.

* Blocking block (210) * The blocking block (210), as shown in FIGS.
It is attached to the upstream end of an inspection cylinder (13) inserted and connected to the inlet portion (11) of the exhaust path (1). This block (21
0) is a disk portion that closes the upstream end of the inspection cylinder (13)
(211) and a tubular portion (212) which is connected to the tubular portion (211) and is fitted into the inspection tubular body (13). The disk portion (211) is provided with a through hole (23) for inserting the tube (222) in a penetrating state at the center thereof, and an O-ring (for ensuring airtightness with the tube (222) ( 231) is equipped.
A pair of screw holes (24) and (24) for connecting later-described connecting tools (25) and (25) are provided on both sides of the through hole (23).

The inspection cylinder (13) has the exhaust port (1).
It is inserted in the enlarged diameter part (101) provided for external fitting connection to (11). An aluminum tape (15) is wrapped around the inner end of the inspection cylinder (13).
(15) ensures the airtightness between the inspection cylinder (13) and the enlarged diameter portion (101). Then, the fitting portion of the blocking block (210) in the inspection cylinder (13) is provided with an annular groove (16) having an arcuate cross section which bulges outward, and the blocking block (210). An O-ring (14) for ensuring airtightness with the cylindrical portion (212) is fitted. This block (2
10) is the first closing means (21) described in claim 4.

* Compressor (31) and flow meter (41) * The above-mentioned connecting tools (25) and (25) are cylindrical bodies equipped with male screw parts that fit into the above-mentioned screw holes (24) and (24). , One-sided fittings (25)
A first tube (301) for connecting a compressor (31) and a flow meter (41) described later to the exhaust path (1) is connected to the. A second tube (302) for connecting a pressure gauge (71) described later to the exhaust path (1) is connected to the other connecting tool (25).
Is connected.

The compressor (31) has a known structure, and the downstream side of the compressor (31) (exhaust path (1)
A flow meter (41) is installed on the side. A manually operated screw-type first flow control valve (33) is interposed between the compressor (31) and the flow meter (41).
A bypass tube (303) open to the atmosphere branches from between the first flow rate control valve (33) and the compressor (31) in the first tube (301), and the bypass tube (3)
A screw-in type second flow rate control valve (34) similar to the first flow rate control valve (33) is interposed in 03). These first
The second flow rate control valve (33) (34) is the flow rate control valve (32) according to claim 7, and the first and second flow rate control valves (33) (34).
And the compressor (31) are the supply means (3) according to claim 4.

Further, the flow meter (41) is so constructed as to display the measured flow rate numerically on the basis of a signal from the flow rate measuring function section. This flow meter (41) is the flow rate measuring means (4) described in claim 4. * Pressure gauge (71) * The pressure gauge (71) is for detecting the pressure in the exhaust path (1) communicated via the second tube (302),
The configuration is provided with a display unit for displaying the detected pressure value by a numeral and a buzzer for notifying that the detected pressure value has reached a set value. The pressure detecting function part in the pressure gauge (71) is the pressure detecting means (7) according to the above-mentioned claim 4.
And the buzzer is the alarm unit (70) according to claim 5.
It is.

[Actual Use] The actual airtightness inspection of the exhaust path (1) will be described below. First, the air bag (220) is inserted into the inlet part (11) with the exhaust port (111) removed. In this state, the blower (223) installed opposite to the inlet part (11) is operated, and the blown air transfers the air bag (220) inward.
Then, when the air bag (220) is transferred to the outlet portion (12), the blower (223) is stopped (Fig. 2a).
State). During this transfer, the air bag (220) is in a contracted state, and it is difficult to transfer the air bag (220) alone, but since the balls (221) are connected to the air bag (220), the transfer Is carried out smoothly.

After this, the inlet part (11) of the exhaust path (1)
The inspection cylinder (13) is inserted into the (enlarged diameter part (101)),
Further, the blocking block (210) is fitted into the inspection cylinder (13). At this time, the tube (222) connected to the air bag (220) extends to the inlet portion (11), and the tube (222) is inserted into the through hole (23) of the blocking block (210). Then, as described above, the airtightness between the block block (210) and the tube (222) is secured.

Then, at the end of the tube (222),
A manual pump (27) equipped with a pressure gauge (not shown) is connected. Then, the manual pump (27) is operated while checking the pressure gauge. By this operation, the air bag (220) is inflated and brought into close contact with the peripheral wall of the outlet portion (12), and the outlet portion (12) is closed in an airtight state (state of FIG. 2B). In addition, when the pressure gauge reaches a predetermined pressure value, the air bag (220) has the outlet portion (12).
It can be seen that it has come into close contact with. At this point, the operation of the manual pump (27) is terminated. The closed state is maintained by tightening a valve (not shown) provided at the mouth of the manual pump (27).

Further, the screw holes (2
4) The above-mentioned connecting tools (25) and (25) are screw-connected to (24). As a result, the compressor (31), the flow meter (41), and the pressure gauge (71) are brought into a state of being communicatively connected to the exhaust path (1). Further, the inlet portion (11) is closed in an airtight state. After this, the compressor (31) is started. At this time, the first flow rate control valve (33) is fully closed and the second flow rate control valve (34) is fully open. Therefore, immediately after the start of the compressor (31), the compressed air output from this is released from the bypass tube (303) to the atmosphere,
It is possible to prevent damage to the above-mentioned parts due to the sudden action of compressed air immediately after the start.

The first flow rate control valve (33) is gradually opened by manual operation, and the second flow rate control valve (33) is opened.
(34) is gradually closed by manual operation. This allows
The flow rate of the compressed air to the exhaust path (1) side increases,
The pressure in the exhaust path (1) gradually rises. The pressure in the exhaust path (1) is detected by the pressure gauge (71),
The detected pressure value is displayed on the display.

When the detected pressure value reaches a predetermined set value (for example, 12 mmH ₂ O), the pressure gauge (7
The buzzer provided in 1) sounds and the flow meter (4
Check the measured flow rate displayed in 1). The measured flow rate value at this time is the set flow rate value (for example, 10 milliliters per minute).
When the above is the case, the amount of leakage from the exhaust path (1) is recognized to be excessive, and the airtight performance of the exhaust path (1) is determined to be unacceptable. On the contrary, when the value is smaller than the set flow rate value, the leak amount is small,
The airtightness is judged to be acceptable. If the first flow rate control valve (33) is fully opened and the flow rate to the exhaust path (1) does not reach the set value even if it reaches the maximum value, it is recognized that the leakage amount is extremely large. , At this time, it is also judged as a failure.

In this case, since the outlet part (12) can be closed by only the operation from the inlet part (11) side, the above-mentioned exhaust top (120) is not removed from the outlet part (12). Inspection can be carried out. [Second Embodiment] The first embodiment described above is the same as the flow meter described above.
By checking the display of (41), it is determined whether the airtightness inspection of the exhaust path (1) is successful or not.
Indicates that only the result of the determination is displayed.

The configuration of each section will be described below. As the pressure gauge (71), the one without the buzzer or display is adopted, and the detected pressure value is sent as a signal to the microcomputer of the control circuit (8) as shown in FIG. The measured flow rate value of the flow meter (41) is also sent to the microcomputer as a signal. The flow meter
(41) is also provided with a display unit for displaying the measured flow rate value.

The first and second flow rate control valves (33) and (34) are constructed such that the valve shaft is screwed in by the motor drive and the opening degree of the valve body is adjusted. Then, a signal for turning on / off the operation of the motor is sent from the microcomputer. Further, the microcomputer is connected with a first LED (91) which is turned on when the airtightness check fails and a second LED (92) which is turned on when the airtightness test is passed.

Each part of this inspection apparatus is controlled by a control program stored in the microcomputer. The control program is started by turning on the power supply to the inspection device. The operation of this inspection apparatus will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, the first flow rate control valve (33) is initially fully closed and the second flow rate control valve (34) is initially fully opened (step 01). Thereafter, when a switch (not shown) is turned on, the compressor (31) is operated and the first flow rate control valve (33) is opened by a motor drive, and the second flow control valve (33) is opened.
The flow control valve (34) is closed (steps 02, 03, 0).
5). As a result, the pressure in the exhaust path (1) rises, and when the detected pressure value of the pressure gauge (71) for detecting this rises to the same set value as above, the flow rate measured by the flow meter (41) is measured. It is determined whether the value is larger than the set flow rate value (steps 07 and 08). If the measured flow rate is larger, the first
The LED (91) is turned on to notify that the inspection has failed, and when it is small, the second LED (92) is turned on to notify that the inspection has been passed (steps 09 and 10).
After this, the compressor (31) is turned off and the first
The operation of the second flow rate control valves (33) (34) stops (step 1
1, 12). When a reset button (not shown) is pressed, the LED in the lit state is turned off (step 1
3, 14), and the process returns to step 01.

When the compressor (31) is started, the timer built in the microcomputer is reset to start time measurement, and the detected pressure value does not reach the set value even if the measured time reaches the set time. Is informed that the first LED (91) is lit up and that it has failed (steps 04 and 06). In this case, the amount of leakage from the exhaust path (1) is extremely large.

In the second embodiment, the above step 0
7, 08, 09, 10 and the first and second LEDs (9
1) (92) is the determination device (80) according to the above-mentioned claim 6.
The first and second closing means (21) (22) are not limited to the airbag (220) and the closing block (210) described above. The supply means (3) is also the above-mentioned compressor (31) and the first and second
It is not limited to the combination of the flow rate control valves (33) (34).

The combustor according to claim 1 may not be the water heater (110).

[Brief description of drawings]

[Fig.1] Illustration of the exhaust path (1)

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an airtightness inspection method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the closure block (210)

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the block block (210).

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an airtightness inspection device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control program for this.

[FIG. 7] Same as above

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) ・ ・ ・ Exhaust path (11) ・ ・ ・ Inlet part (12) ・ ・ ・ Outlet part (220) ・ ・ ・ Air bag (222) ・ ・ ・ Tube (22) ・ ・ ・ Second closing means ( 21) ... First blocking means (3) ... Supplying means (7) ... Pressure detecting means (4) ... Flow rate measuring means (70) ... Notification section (80) ... Judgment apparatus

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An inlet portion (1) connected to an exhaust port of a combustion device.
Exhaust path (1) from (1) to the outlet (12) exposed outdoors
In the airtightness inspection method, the outlet part (12) and the inlet part (11) are closed in an airtight state, pressurized air is supplied to the exhaust path (1), and the exhaust path is supplied in this state. The pressure inside (1) is detected and the supply flow rate of the pressurized air is measured, and the supply flow rate at the time when the detected pressure inside the exhaust path (1) reaches the set pressure is more than the set flow rate. In this case, the airtightness inspection method of the exhaust path is determined to be poor. 2. An inflatable air bag (22)
(0) is inserted into the outlet part (12) in a contracted state, and then air is pressure-fed through the tube (222) connected to the air bag (220), whereby the air bag (220)
The method for inspecting airtightness of an exhaust path according to claim 1, wherein the outlet portion (12) is closed in an airtight state by inflating. 3. The inlet (11) after the air bag (220) connected to the tube (222) is inserted from the inlet (11) side and positioned in the outlet (12). ) Is closed to inflate the air bag (220). 4. An inlet part (1) connected to an exhaust port of a combustion device.
Exhaust path (1) from (1) to the outlet (12) exposed outdoors
Which is used for airtightness inspection of the second closing means (22) for closing the outlet part (12) in an airtight state
And a first closing means for closing the inlet portion (11) in an airtight state
(21), a supply means (3) connected to the first closing means (21) for supplying compressed air into the exhaust path (1), and a display for measuring the supply flow rate of the compressed air. Flow rate measuring means (4)
And the exhaust path connected to the first closing means (21).
(1) An airtightness inspection device comprising pressure detection means (7) for detecting that the pressure inside has reached a set value. 5. The airtightness inspection apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an informing section (70) for informing that the detected pressure value of the pressure detecting means (7) has reached a set value. 6. A determination is made as to whether or not the measured flow rate value of the flow rate measuring means (4) when the detected pressure value of the pressure detection means (7) reaches a set value and a detection signal is input, The airtightness inspection device according to claim 4, further comprising a determination device (80) for displaying or notifying the determination result. 7. The supply means (3) includes the exhaust path (1).
Compressor (31) that outputs compressed air to the side, and a flow rate control valve (3 that controls the flow rate of compressed air to the exhaust path (1)
The airtightness inspection device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, which comprises 2).