JP7610431B2 - Branch pipe connection parts - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a branch pipe connection member.

Conventionally, branch pipe connection members such as the branch pipe installation jig described in Patent Document 1 below have been provided as construction jigs for connecting branch pipes to the main pipe (main pipe) of an existing sewer system, etc.

The branch pipe installation jig of Patent Document 1 is intended to form a branch pipe section to which a branch pipe can be connected by assembling an inner surface locking member that can be locked to the inner surface of the main pipe and an outer surface connecting member that can be connected to the inner surface locking member from the outer surface of the main pipe to an opening formed in the main pipe to which the branch pipe is to be connected. The branch pipe installation jig of Patent Document 1 is equipped with a branch pipe installation jig main body that can temporarily hold the inner surface locking member inside the main pipe when assembling it to the main pipe.

Patent No. 5859844

In the prior art, a branch pipe connecting member such as the branch pipe installation jig of Patent Document 1 is used to install a branch pipe. However, in the prior art, it takes a considerable amount of time, effort, and labor to prepare a jig such as the branch pipe installation jig described above and to use such a jig to install the branch pipe in a specified location. In addition, in the prior art, there is also the trouble that the jig must be removed before the branch pipe can be connected when installing the branch pipe.

The inventors of the present invention have conducted extensive research and have found that unless the height of the branch pipe connecting member is low relative to the depth from the ground surface to the main pipe (the distance between the ground surface and the position where the main pipe is buried), problems may arise such as the branch pipe connecting member being difficult to attach to the main pipe or the branch pipe connecting member not being able to be attached to the main pipe. Based on this knowledge, it is believed that by configuring the branch pipe connecting member to have a reduced height, it will be possible to connect the branch pipe to the main pipe using the branch pipe connecting member even in cases where a large space cannot be secured in the height direction (depth direction) to connect the branch pipe to the main pipe using the branch pipe connecting member.

The present invention aims to provide a branch pipe connection member that can be attached to a main pipe to which a branch pipe is to be attached without using special tools, and that has a compact configuration in the vertical direction.

(1) The branch pipe connection member of the present invention is used to connect a branch pipe to a main pipe, and includes an outer peripheral member arranged on the outside of the main pipe and capable of connecting the branch pipe, an inner peripheral member introduced into the main pipe and attached to the inner peripheral side of the main pipe around an opening drilled in the main pipe, and a linear member connecting the inner peripheral member and the outer peripheral member, the outer peripheral member including an outer tube portion arranged such that its axis crosses the main pipe, a moving part movable in the axial direction of the outer tube portion, an operating part that can be rotated at a position radially outward of the outer tube portion relative to the moving part, and a power transmission mechanism that transmits a rotational force generated by rotating the operating part to the moving part and moves the moving part in the axial direction, and the linear member includes a connecting part on the outer peripheral member side that can move in the axial direction in conjunction with the moving part.

The branch pipe connection member of the present invention is equipped with a power transmission mechanism that transmits the rotational force generated by rotating the operating part to the moving part and moves the moving part in the axial direction. The branch pipe connection member of the present invention also has a linear member that connects the inner circumferential member and the outer circumferential member, and the connecting part of the linear member on the outer circumferential member side is movable in the axial direction in conjunction with the moving part. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member of the present invention can move the linear member in the axial direction together with the moving part as the operating part is rotated, and draw the inner circumferential member toward the outer circumferential member side. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member of the present invention can move the inner circumferential member in a direction approaching the inner circumferential surface of the main pipe by introducing the inner circumferential member into the main pipe through an opening drilled in the main pipe and, in a state in which the outer circumferential member is arranged on the outer periphery of the main pipe, by rotating the operating part and moving the moving part in the axial direction. This allows the inner circumferential member to be crimped against the main pipe, and the branch pipe connection member to be firmly connected. Therefore, the present invention provides a branch pipe connection member that can be securely attached to a main pipe without using special tools, etc.

The branch pipe connecting member of the present invention is also capable of transmitting a rotational force from the radial outside to the moving part via the power transmission mechanism by rotating the operating part radially outward from the outer tube part. In this way, the branch pipe connecting member of the present invention has an operating part and a power transmission mechanism disposed radially outward from the outer tube part, rather than in the axial direction (height direction) of the outer tube part, and is thus configured to be compact in the height direction. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a branch pipe connecting member that can be used to connect a branch pipe to a main pipe, even in cases where a large space cannot be secured in the height direction (depth direction) to attach the branch pipe connecting member to the main pipe.

When attaching the branch pipe connection member of the present invention to a main pipe, it is advisable to fix the outer peripheral member to the main pipe appropriately using an adhesive, bonding agent, etc. In this case, it is advisable to select an appropriate material for the adhesive, bonding agent, etc. depending on the main pipe to be fixed and the material of the outer peripheral member. Also, when attaching the branch pipe connection member of the present invention to a main pipe, it is advisable to fix the inner peripheral member to the main pipe using an adhesive, bonding agent, water-expanding rubber, etc. when the inner peripheral member is pulled to the inner wall (inner peripheral surface) of the main pipe by the linear member and abutted against it. In this case, it is advisable to select an appropriate material for the adhesive, bonding agent, etc. depending on the main pipe to be fixed and the material of the inner peripheral member.

(2) The branch pipe connection member described above has a winding portion that can rotate around the axial center position of the outer tube portion to wind the linear member, and the connecting portion of the linear member on the outer peripheral member side is connected to the winding portion, and the winding portion can move in the axial direction together with the moving portion.

In this configuration, by rotating the winding portion, the linear member can be wound around the winding portion, and the inner peripheral member can be pulled in a direction approaching the inner peripheral surface by an amount corresponding to the length of the linear member wound around the winding portion. In addition, the above-mentioned branch pipe connection member can move the winding portion together with the moving portion in the axial direction. Therefore, the above-mentioned branch pipe connection member can improve the degree of crimping of the inner peripheral member against the main pipe and firmly connect the branch pipe connection member by, for example, first rotating the winding portion to pull the inner peripheral member in a direction approaching the inner peripheral surface, and then rotating the operating portion to move the moving portion together with the winding portion in the axial direction.

If the moving part of the branch pipe connecting member described above is capable of moving not only in the axial direction but also in the circumferential direction, there is a possibility that part of the power transmitted by the power transmission mechanism is used to move the moving part in the circumferential direction. Therefore, it is considered that the branch pipe connecting member described above can efficiently utilize the power transmitted by the power transmission mechanism to move the moving part in the axial direction by limiting the circumferential movement (rotation) of the moving part.

(3) Based on this knowledge, it is preferable that the above-mentioned branch pipe connecting member has a movable portion whose rotation around the axis of the outer tube portion is restricted.

With this configuration, the power transmitted by the power transmission mechanism can be efficiently used to move the moving part in the axial direction. This reduces the amount of rotation of the operating part required to move the moving part in the axial direction, making it possible to efficiently install the branch pipe connection member.

(4) The branch pipe connection member described above is preferably configured such that the moving part is restricted in its rotation about the axis of the outer tube part, and has a switching mechanism that can switch between a rotation-locked state in which the winding part is connected to the moving part so as not to rotate, and a rotation-free state in which the winding part is rotatable relative to the moving part.

With this configuration, the winding part can be rotated in a free rotation state to wind the linear member and pull the inner peripheral member toward the outer peripheral member, and then the rotation can be locked to prevent the linear member wound around the winding part from unwinding.

In the branch pipe connection member of the present invention, when performing the operation of winding a linear member around the winding part in a free rotation state (independent rotation operation), and then performing the operation of rotating the moving part in a rotation-locked state (integral rotation operation) to move the winding part together with the moving part in the axial direction and crimp the inner peripheral member to the main pipe, it is necessary to apply a larger torque during the integral rotation operation than when performing the independent rotation operation. On the other hand, the work site where the work of connecting the branch pipe to the main pipe is performed is a place with poor workability, as the soil in which the main pipe is buried must be dug up. Therefore, it is preferable that the branch pipe connection member described above is configured to be able to apply a large torque to the moving part without applying a large force during the integral rotation operation.

(5) The branch pipe connection member of the present invention, which is provided based on such knowledge, is characterized in that it has a winding rotation force acting part that can apply a rotation force centered on the axial position of the outer tube part to the winding part, and the power transmission mechanism is capable of transmitting a rotation force to the moving part at a position farther away from the axial position of the outer tube part than the winding rotation force acting part.

The branch pipe connection member of the present invention can transmit a rotational force to the winding portion by applying a rotational force to the winding force application portion. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member of the present invention can wind a linear member around the winding portion and draw the inner peripheral member toward the inner peripheral surface of the main pipe by applying a rotational force to the winding force application portion. Furthermore, in the branch pipe connection member of the present invention, the power transmission mechanism can transmit a rotational force to the winding portion at a position farther away from the axial center position of the outer tube than the winding rotation force application portion. Therefore, according to the above-mentioned configuration, a branch pipe connection member can be provided that can apply a large torque to the winding portion without applying a large force, and can easily perform the task of winding a linear member around the winding portion.

(6) The branch pipe connection member of the present invention may be characterized in that it has a winding and rotating force acting portion that applies a rotational force to the winding portion about the axial center position of the outer tube portion, and the winding and rotating force acting portion has a protruding portion that protrudes radially outward from the winding portion.

In this way, if the protruding portion of the winding rotation force acting portion is configured to protrude radially outward from the winding portion, it is possible to easily rotate the winding portion by applying a rotation force to the protruding portion.

(7) The branch pipe connection member of the present invention may be characterized in that the protruding portion is provided with a shaft insertion portion into which a shaft body can be inserted in the tangent direction of the rotation of the winding portion.

With this configuration, by inserting the shaft body into the shaft insertion section, it is possible to apply a rotational force to the winding section via the shaft body. The shaft body inserted into the shaft insertion section can be a tool having an axial portion, such as a screwdriver. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a branch pipe connection member that can apply a rotational force to the winding section without using special tools.

(8) The branch pipe connecting member of the present invention is preferably characterized in that the switching mechanism has a first engaged portion provided on the moving portion, a second engaged portion provided on the winding portion side, and an engaging body that can be engaged and disengaged with both the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion, and the rotation locked state can be achieved by engaging the engaging body with both the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion, and the rotation free state can be achieved by disengaging the engaging body from at least one of the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion.

With this configuration, it is possible to switch between a rotation locked state and a rotation free state by switching the engagement state of the engagement body with the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion.

(9) The branch pipe connection member of the present invention may be characterized in that the engaging body is slidable along the circumferential surfaces of the moving portion and the winding portion, and that the engaging body can be engaged and disengaged with respect to the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion by sliding the engaging body.

With this configuration, the engaging body can be slid to switch the engagement state of the engaging body with the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion, making it possible to switch between a rotation locked state and a rotation free state.

(10) The branch pipe connection member of the present invention may be characterized in that, when the engaging body is engaged with the first engaged portion, it functions as a winding rotation force acting portion for applying a rotation force about the axial center position of the outer tube portion to the winding portion.

With this configuration, the engagement body can also be used as the winding and rotating force acting part, which simplifies the configuration of the branch pipe connection member accordingly.

(11) The branch pipe connection member of the present invention is preferably characterized in that the operating part is rotatable around the axial center position of the outer tube part on the outer peripheral side of the moving part, and its movement in the axial direction relative to the outer tube part is restricted, the power transmission mechanism is formed by screwing together a moving part side screw part formed in a spiral shape on the outer peripheral surface of the moving part and an operating part side screw part formed in a spiral shape on the inner peripheral surface of the operating part, and the moving part can be moved in the axial direction by rotating the operating part.

According to this configuration, the movable part can be moved in the axial direction by rotating the operating part. Also, as described above, by arranging the operating part on the outer periphery side of the movable part, it is possible to suppress the height of the branch pipe connection member while applying an appropriate force to the operating part, thereby applying sufficient torque to the operating part and smoothly moving the movable part in the axial direction.

If the above-mentioned configuration is used, and the linear member becomes tangled, it may cause problems in rotating the winding portion to pull the inner peripheral member toward the inner peripheral surface of the main pipe.

(12) Based on this knowledge, it is preferable that the above-mentioned branch pipe connection member has a guide portion that guides the linear member, and the guide portion guides the linear member in the axial direction on the inner peripheral member side relative to the winding portion.

With this configuration, the linear member can be guided in the axial direction by the guide portion while being wound neatly around the winding portion. Therefore, with the above-mentioned configuration, it is possible to provide a branch pipe connection member that can smoothly perform the task of drawing the inner peripheral member to the inner peripheral surface of the main pipe by rotating the winding portion and winding the linear member around the winding portion.

(13) In the above-mentioned branch pipe connection member, it is preferable that the winding portion has a winding groove in which the linear member fits, the winding groove being formed in a spiral shape in the axial direction.

With this configuration, by rotating the winding part, it is possible to wind the linear member neatly along the winding groove provided in the winding part. Therefore, with the above-mentioned configuration, it is possible to provide a branch pipe connection member that can more smoothly perform the task of rotating the winding part to draw the inner peripheral member to the inner peripheral surface of the main pipe.

(14) The above-mentioned branch pipe connecting member is preferably such that the inner peripheral member has a first inner peripheral piece and a second inner peripheral piece, the linear member has a first linear member connected to the first inner peripheral piece and a second linear member connected to the second inner peripheral piece, and the winding groove is configured by two helical grooves consisting of a helical groove forming a first winding groove in which the first linear member fits, and a helical groove forming a second winding groove in which the second linear member fits.

If the winding groove is configured with two spiral grooves as described above, the amount of movement of the inner peripheral member relative to the amount of rotation of the winding portion can be made large. Furthermore, if two spiral grooves are provided as described above, the first linear member and the second linear member can be wound approximately evenly around the winding portion, and the inner peripheral member can be pulled toward the main pipe in a balanced manner. Therefore, with the above-mentioned configuration, it is possible to improve the work efficiency of the pulling operation in which the winding portion is rotated to pull the inner peripheral member toward the inner surface of the main pipe.

(15) The above-mentioned branch pipe connection member is an inner peripheral member that is connected to a plurality of inner peripheral pieces that abut the inner peripheral surface of the main pipe in a bendable and extendable manner, and by bending the inner peripheral pieces, the inner peripheral pieces are brought into a bent state that can be introduced from the outside to the inside of the main pipe through the opening of the main pipe, and by extending the inner peripheral pieces inside the main pipe, the inner peripheral pieces are brought into an extended state that cannot be removed from the opening of the main pipe to the outside of the main pipe, and it is preferable that the inner peripheral member can be brought into the extended state while being brought close to the inner peripheral surface by rotating the winding portion in the bent state and winding the linear member around the winding portion.

The above-mentioned branch pipe connection member is an inner peripheral member that connects multiple inner peripheral pieces in a bendable and extendable manner. In addition, by bending the inner peripheral member, it is possible to make it compact enough to be introduced into the main pipe through an opening provided in the main pipe. Therefore, the above-mentioned branch pipe connection member allows the inner peripheral member to be easily and smoothly introduced into the main pipe.

In addition, in the branch pipe connection member described above, the inner peripheral member can be brought into a state (extended state) in which it cannot be removed from the opening of the main pipe to the outside of the main pipe by extending the multiple inner peripheral pieces inside the main pipe. In addition, by rotating the winding portion and winding a linear member around the winding portion, the inner peripheral member can be changed from a bent state to an extended state in the process of being drawn to the inner peripheral portion of the main pipe. Therefore, with the branch pipe connection member of the present invention, after the inner peripheral member is introduced into the inside of the main pipe, by rotating the winding portion and performing a drawing operation, the inner peripheral member can be attached to the inner peripheral portion of the main pipe so that it will not come off through the opening.

(16) The above-mentioned branch pipe connection member may be such that the inner peripheral member has a connecting portion that connects the inner peripheral pieces so that they can be bent and extended around a predetermined bending axis, and the linear member is connected so that a force accompanying the rotation of the winding portion acts at a position away from the bending axis.

In the branch pipe connection member described above, the multiple inner peripheral pieces that make up the inner peripheral member are connected via the connecting portion so that they can be bent and extended around a predetermined bending axis. Therefore, by applying a pulling force to the inner peripheral piece at a position away from the bending axis, the inner peripheral piece can be bent or extended around the bending axis. In the branch pipe connection member described above, the operating member is connected to the inner peripheral piece, and by performing a pulling operation, an operating force can be applied to the inner peripheral piece at a position away from the bending axis. Therefore, in the branch pipe connection member described above, by performing a pulling operation with the operating member, the inner peripheral piece can be extended around the bending axis and changed to an extended state.

The present invention provides a branch pipe connection member that can be attached to a main pipe to which a branch pipe is to be attached without using special tools, and that has a compact configuration in the vertical direction.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a branch pipe connecting member according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a branch pipe connecting member according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to a main pipe. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a branch pipe connecting member according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to a main pipe. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a branch pipe connecting member according to one embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a branch pipe connecting member according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing the winding portion, and FIG. 4B is a side view showing the winding portion. FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an inner circumferential member in an extended state. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an inner circumferential member in a bent state.

The branch pipe connection member 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the expressions of directions such as up, down, left, right, front, back, front, back, etc. will be described based on the state in which the branch pipe connection member 10 is attached to the main pipe 1 in the position shown in Figure 1, etc. In the following description, the configuration of the branch pipe connection member 10 will first be described, and then the construction method of connecting the branch pipe 5 to the main pipe 1 using the branch pipe connection member 10 will be described.

<<Configuration of branch pipe connecting member 10>>
As shown in Figures 1 to 4, etc., the branch pipe connection member 10 is used to connect a branch pipe 5 to an opening 3 newly formed by drilling in an existing main pipe 1, such as a sewer pipe. The main pipe 1 can be, for example, a concrete pipe, a hume pipe, or a resin pipe made of resin such as polyvinyl chloride. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, etc., the branch pipe connection member 10 includes an outer circumferential member 20, an inner circumferential member 80, and a linear member 100.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer peripheral member 20 is a member that is attached to the outer peripheral surface 7 of the main pipe 1 in the periphery of the opening 3 drilled in the main pipe 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the outer peripheral member 20 includes an outer peripheral fixing portion 22, a branch pipe connecting portion 24, a winding portion 26, a guide portion 30, a moving portion 40, an operating portion 62, etc. In addition, a switching mechanism 50, a power transmission mechanism 60, etc. are provided on the outer peripheral member 20 by combining the various portions that make up the outer peripheral member 20.

The outer peripheral fixing portion 22 is a portion that is attached so as to abut against the outer peripheral surface 7 of the main pipe 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the outer peripheral fixing portion 22 has an outer peripheral abutment portion 22x and an outer tube portion 22y. The outer peripheral abutment portion 22x is a member that has a cross-sectional shape of an arc that is curved with the same curvature as the outer peripheral surface 7 and has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. The outer peripheral abutment portion 22x has a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction (generatrix direction) and is provided with a through hole 22c that is provided at approximately the center in the longitudinal direction so as to penetrate from the front surface 22a to the back surface 22b.

The outer cylinder portion 22y is a cylindrical portion formed to surround the through hole 22c. The outer cylinder portion 22y is provided with an operating portion engaged portion 22d, a moving portion guide portion 22e, and a guide portion engaged portion 22f.

The operating unit engaged portion 22d is a portion that engages with the operating unit engaging portion 68b of the operating unit 62, which will be described in detail later. The outer tube portion 22y bulges outward in the radial direction of the outer tube portion 22y at the portion where the operating unit engaged portion 22d is formed. Therefore, the outer tube portion 22y is formed in a stepped shape at the portion where the operating unit engaged portion 22d is provided. The operating unit engaged portion 22d is a groove that extends in the circumferential direction of the outer tube portion 22y. The operating unit engaged portion 22d can support the operating unit 62 engaged with the groove that constitutes it so that it can rotate and restricts movement in the axial direction.

The moving part guide portion 22e is provided above the operation part engaged portion 22d. The moving part guide portion 22e is a protrusion formed to engage with the moving part guided portion 40d provided on the moving part 40 described in detail later. The moving part guide portion 22e, in combination with the moving part guided portion 40d, guides the moving part 40 so as to restrict the movement of the outer tube portion 22y in the circumferential direction while allowing the moving part 40 to move up and down in the axial direction of the outer tube portion 22y. In this embodiment, the moving part guide portion 22e is configured by a protrusion formed to bulge outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube portion 22y and extend in the axial direction (up and down direction). The protrusions forming the moving part guide portion 22e are provided at multiple locations (two locations in this embodiment) in the circumferential direction of the outer tube portion 22y. In addition, the amount by which the ridges that form the moving part guide part 22e protrude from the surface of the outer cylinder part 22y is smaller than the amount by which the part that forms the above-mentioned operating part engaged part 22d protrudes.

The guide portion engaged portion 22f is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube portion 22y. The guide portion engaged portion 22f is a portion that engages with the guide portion engaging portion 30e of the guide portion 30, which will be described in detail later. By engaging the guide portion engaged portion 22f with the guide portion engaging portion 30e, it is possible to restrict the movement of the guide portion 30 in the circumferential direction while allowing the movement of the guide portion 30 in the axial direction. The guide portion engaged portion 22f is provided on the inner bulging portion 22g, which is a portion from the axial middle portion of the outer tube portion 22y toward the lower end side, and is a portion formed so that the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube portion 22y bulges radially inward. The guide portion engaged portion 22f is composed of a groove formed downward from the upper end side of the inner bulging portion 22g to the axial middle portion.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the branch pipe connection part 24 is a tubular member that penetrates in the vertical direction. The branch pipe connection part 24 is a part that functions as a receiving port to which the branch pipe 5 is connected. The branch pipe connection part 24 is formed from an elastic material such as resin or rubber. The branch pipe connection part 24 can be connected by inserting its lower end into the winding part 26, which will be described in detail later.

The winding section 26 is used to wind up the linear member 100 connecting the outer peripheral member 20 and the inner peripheral member 80 by rotating the winding section 26 when attaching the branch pipe connection member 10 to the main pipe 1. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the winding section 26 has a generally cylindrical external shape. From the upper end side in the installed state, the winding section 26 has three regions in the axial direction: a first winding section region 34, a second winding section region 35, and a third winding section region 36.

The first region 34 of the winding portion is a region that forms one side (upper end side) of the axial direction in the winding portion 26. The first region 34 of the winding portion is the region that bulges outward in the radial direction among the three regions that constitute the winding portion 26. The outer diameter of the first region 34 of the winding portion is larger than the inner diameter of the outer tube portion 22y described above. The winding portion 26 has a second engaged portion 26a on the outer periphery of the first region 34 of the winding portion. The second engaged portion 26a is a portion that engages and disengages with the engaging body 52 of the switching mechanism 50, which will be described in detail later. The second engaged portion 26a is formed by a protrusion that extends in the axial direction (up and down direction) of the winding portion 26. In addition, the second engaged portion 26a is provided at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction of the first region 34 of the winding portion (four at approximately 90 degrees in this embodiment).

The second winding region 35 is a portion that forms the axial middle portion of the winding portion 26. The winding portion 26 has a shape that is smaller in diameter than the first winding region 34 at the portion where the second winding region 35 is provided. In this embodiment, the winding portion 26 is made equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the outer tube portion 22y from the second winding region 35 to the third winding region 36. In the assembled state of the branch pipe connection member 10, the portion of the second winding region 35 that is axially lower than the moving portion engaged portion 35a is inserted inside the outer tube portion 22y. The second winding region 35 is provided with the moving portion engaged portion 35a and the seal groove 35b.

The movable part engaged part 35a is a part that engages with a convex part that constitutes the movable part engaging part 40b of the movable part 40, which will be described in detail later. The movable part engaged part 35a is configured by a groove formed to extend in the circumferential direction at the lower end side of the winding part first region 34. The seal groove 35b is a part where an annular seal member 35c that seals between the inner circumferential surface of the outer tube part 22y and the winding part 26 is attached when the branch pipe connection member 10 is in an assembled state. The seal groove 35b is provided at a position that is offset axially downward from the movable part engaged part 35a.

The third winding region 36 is provided at a position offset from the second winding region 35 in the axial direction of the winding portion 26 on the other side (the lower side in the illustrated state). The third winding region 36 is a portion around which the linear member 100 is wound as the winding portion 26 rotates. In this embodiment, a winding groove 38 in which the linear member 100 fits is formed in a spiral shape in the axial direction of the winding portion 26 on the outer circumferential surface of the third winding region 36. The winding groove 38 has a first winding groove 38a and a second winding groove 38b. The winding groove 38 is a double spiral groove in which the first winding groove 38a and the second winding groove 38b are alternately arranged in the axial direction of the winding portion 26. The first winding groove 38a and the second winding groove 38b are intended to accommodate the first linear member 100a and the second linear member 100b, respectively, that make up the linear member 100.

2, 3, 5, etc., the guide portion 30 is provided in the portion where the winding groove 38 is provided in the third region 36 of the winding portion. The guide portion 30 functions as a guide to guide the linear member 100. The guide portion 30 is a cylindrical member arranged between the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube portion 22y and the outer peripheral surface of the third region 36 of the winding portion. As shown in FIG. 8, etc., the guide portion 30 has a guide groove 30a on its peripheral surface. The guide groove 30a is provided in two locations in the circumferential direction of the guide portion 30. The guide groove 30a has a rising portion 30b and a circumferential groove portion 30c. The rising portion 30b is a groove formed so as to rise in the vertical direction from the position on the lower end side of the guide portion 30 to the middle portion in the axial direction (height direction) in the illustrated state. The circumferential groove portion 30c is a groove that is continuous with the rising portion 30b at the axial middle portion of the guide portion 30 and extends in the circumferential direction of the guide portion 30. The circumferential groove portion 30c is a groove that has a one-sided tapered shape when the peripheral surface of the guide portion 30 is viewed from the front. The circumferential groove portion 30c is formed so that the upper side is inclined upward as it moves away from the portion that is continuous with the rising portion 30b in the circumferential direction, and the groove width (length in the vertical direction) increases. The guide portion 30 also has a communication portion 30d at the end side of the circumferential groove portion 30c. The communication portion 30d is configured by an opening that extends in the axial direction of the guide portion 30 (vertical direction in the illustrated state). Therefore, the outer circumferential side and the inner circumferential side of the guide portion 30 are connected via the communication portion 30d.

The guide portion 30 has a guide portion engaging portion 30e on the outer peripheral surface. The guide portion engaging portion 30e is configured by a protruding portion protruding radially outward from the guide portion 30. The guide portion engaging portion 30e is provided at multiple locations (two locations in this embodiment) in the circumferential direction of the guide portion 30. The guide portion engaging portions 30e, 30e are provided in the middle of the two guide grooves 30a, 30a provided in the circumferential direction of the guide portion 30. The guide portion 30 is inserted inside the above-mentioned outer tube portion 22y, and is arranged so that the guide portion engaging portions 30e, 30e are engaged with the guide portion engaged portion 22f provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube portion 22y. As a result, the guide portion 30 is positioned in the circumferential direction with respect to the outer tube portion 22y. In addition, by arranging the guide portion 30 inside the outer tube portion 22y, two paths formed by the guide grooves 30a, 30a are formed so that the linear member 100 can pass through.

As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the moving part 40 is a cylindrical member that is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the outer cylinder part 22y. As shown in Figure 9, the moving part 40 has a moving part side threaded part 40a, a moving part engaging part 40b, a first engaged part 40c, and a moving part guided part 40d.

The moving part side screw portion 40a is a portion on the outer periphery of the moving part 40 where a screw is formed in a spiral shape centered on the axial center position of the moving part 40. The moving part side screw portion 40a constitutes part of the power transmission mechanism 60, which will be described in detail later. The moving part engaging portion 40b engages with the second engaged portion 26a provided on the winding portion 26. The moving part engaging portion 40b is formed so as to protrude radially inward from the moving part 40 at a position that is the upper end side of the moving part 40 when the branch pipe connection member 10 is in an assembled state.

Specifically, when the moving part 40 is inserted onto the outer tube part 22y, it is erected on the bulging part (step part) that constitutes the operation part engaged part 22d in the outer peripheral member 20. In this state, the moving part engaging part 40b is formed so as to protrude toward the radial inside of the outer tube part 22y at a position above the upper end part of the outer tube part 22y and reach the moving part engaged part 35a provided in the winding part second region 35 of the winding part 26. As described above, the moving part engaged part 35a is a groove extending in the circumferential direction of the winding part 26. Therefore, by engaging the moving part engaging part 40b with the moving part engaged part 35a, the winding part 26 is allowed to rotate with respect to the moving part 40, but is restricted from moving in the axial direction with respect to the moving part 40.

The first engaged portion 40c is a convex portion provided on the outer circumferential surface of the moving portion 40. Specifically, the first engaged portion 40c is provided on one axial side (the side on which the moving portion engaging portion 40b is formed) in the assembled state of the branch pipe connection member 10, at a position continuous with the lower side of the first winding portion region 34 of the winding portion 26. The first engaged portion 40c forms part of the switching mechanism 50, which will be described in detail later, and is capable of engaging and disengaging with an engaging body 52 of the switching mechanism 50.

The moving part guided part 40d is a concave part formed on the inner peripheral surface of the moving part 40 so as to extend in the axial direction. The moving part guided part 40d engages with the moving part guide part 22e provided on the outer tube part 22y when the branch pipe connection member 10 is in an assembled state. In combination with the moving part guided part 22e, the moving part guided part 40d can guide the moving part 40 so as to restrict the movement of the outer tube part 22y in the circumferential direction while allowing the moving part 40 to move up and down in the axial direction of the outer tube part 22y.

The switching mechanism 50 is a mechanism for switching between a state in which the winding portion 26 is connected to the moving portion 40 so as not to rotate (rotation locked state) and a state in which the winding portion 26 is rotatable relative to the moving portion 40 (rotation free state). The switching mechanism 50 is composed of an engaging body 52 in addition to the second engaged portion 26a and the first engaged portion 40c described above. As described above, the second engaged portion 26a is a protrusion provided on the outer periphery of the winding portion first region 34 that constitutes the winding portion 26. In addition, the first engaged portion 40c is a protrusion provided on the outer periphery of the moving portion 40.

The engaging body 52 is capable of engaging and disengaging with both the second engaged portion 26a and the first engaged portion 40c. As shown in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, the engaging body 52 is provided with a protrusion 56 and a shaft insertion portion 58 on the engaging body main body 54 formed in a ring shape. The engaging body main body 54 has an inner diameter that is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the portion where the second engaged portion 26a is provided in the first region 34 of the winding portion and the outer diameter of the portion where the first engaged portion 40c is provided in the moving portion 40. As a result, the engaging body main body 54 is capable of sliding along the outer peripheral surfaces of the winding portion 26 and the moving portion 40. In addition, a number of engaging grooves 54a are provided in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the engaging body main body 54. The engaging grooves 54a are formed to extend in the axial direction of the engaging body 52. As a result, the engaging body 52 can be disengaged from the engaging groove 54a by sliding the engaging body main body 54 in the axial direction on the outer circumferential side of the winding portion 26 and the moving portion 40.

The engagement body 52 can be brought into a state in which the engagement groove 54a provided in the engagement body main body 54 engages with the second engaged portion 26a of the winding portion 26 and does not engage with the first engaged portion 40c by moving the engagement body main body 54 toward the winding portion 26. By putting it in such a state, the winding portion 26 can be brought into a state in which it can rotate independently of the moving portion 40 (a free rotation state). Here, the engagement body 52 has a protrusion 56 formed so as to protrude radially outward from the outer periphery of the engagement body main body 54. Furthermore, the protrusion 56 is provided with a shaft insertion portion 58, and a shaft body can be inserted into the protrusion 56 in the tangent direction of the rotation of the winding portion 26. Therefore, in the free rotation state, an external force can be applied to the protrusion 56 in the circumferential direction of the winding portion 26 by inserting a shaft body such as a screwdriver into the shaft insertion portion 58, for example, to rotate the winding portion 26. In this way, in the free rotation state, the engagement body 52 can function as a winding rotation force acting part for applying a rotation force to the winding part 26 about the axial center position of the outer tube part 22y.

When the engagement body 52 is moved to a position where the engagement body main body 54 straddles the winding portion 26 and the moving portion 40, the engagement groove 54a engages with both the second engaged portion 26a and the first engaged portion 40c. This brings the winding portion 26 into a state where it is non-rotatably connected to the moving portion 40 (rotation locked state). In this way, the switching mechanism 50 can switch between a rotation free state and a rotation locked state by moving the engagement body 52 in the axial direction.

The power transmission mechanism 60 is a mechanism that, in the rotation lock state, allows the moving part 40 to move in the axial direction by the rotation force generated by the rotation operation of the operating part 62. That is, the power transmission mechanism 60 is a mechanism for converting the rotation force generated by the rotation operation of the operating part 62 into a moving force in the axial direction of the outer tube part 22y to move the moving part 40. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the power transmission mechanism 60 is capable of transmitting the rotation force to the operating part 62 radially outside the engaging body 52 (wrapping rotation force acting part). The power transmission mechanism 60 is capable of transmitting the rotation force applied to the operating part 62 by screwing the operating part side screw part 68c provided on the operating part 62 with the moving part side screw part 40a provided on the moving part 40. In addition, the power transmission mechanism 60 can use the rotational force transmitted from the operating unit 62 to move the moving unit 40 in the axial direction by combining the moving unit guided portion 40d provided on the moving unit 40 and the moving unit guide portion 22e provided on the outer cylinder portion 22y.

More specifically, the operating unit 62 is a cylinder that can rotate around the axial center position of the outer cylinder 22y on the outer peripheral side of the moving unit 40, and the movement of the outer cylinder 22y in the axial direction is restricted. The operating unit 62 can be configured as a single cylinder, but as shown in Figures 11 and 12, in this embodiment, it has two cylinders, an operating outer cylinder 66 and an operating inner cylinder 68, and the operating inner cylinder 68 is inserted into the operating outer cylinder 66 to form an integrated unit.

The operation outer tube 66 is a cylinder that forms the outer periphery of the operation unit 62. A plurality of operation handles 64 are provided on the outer periphery of the operation outer tube 66. In this embodiment, the two operation handles 64, 64 are arranged at an interval of approximately 180 degrees in the circumferential direction. The operation handles 64, 64 are each foldable. Specifically, the operation handles 64, 64 can be switched between a folded position along the outer periphery of the operation outer tube 66 and a position protruding radially outward from the operation outer tube 66 by rotating them about a hinge provided on the base end side. The operation unit 62 can function as a gripping portion for rotating the operation unit 62 by making the operation handles 64, 64 protrude radially outward. In addition, an outer tube engagement portion 66a is provided on the inner periphery of the operation outer tube 66. The outer tube engagement portion 66a is shaped like a groove that extends in the axial direction from the lower end of the operating outer tube 66. The grooves that make up the outer tube engagement portion 66a are formed in multiple positions (two in this embodiment) around the circumference of the operating outer tube 66, spaced apart by a predetermined angle (approximately 180 degrees in this embodiment).

The operation inner cylinder 68 is a cylinder inserted into the operation outer cylinder 66 and integrated with the operation outer cylinder 66. The outer diameter of the operation inner cylinder 68 is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the operation outer cylinder 66. In addition, an inner cylinder engagement portion 68a is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the operation inner cylinder 68. The inner cylinder engagement portion 68a is provided at a position corresponding to the outer cylinder engagement portion 66a formed on the operation outer cylinder 66 described above. In addition, the inner cylinder engagement portion 68a is formed so as to protrude radially outward from the operation inner cylinder 68 and extend in the axial direction of the operation inner cylinder 68. The operation inner cylinder 68 is inserted into the operation outer cylinder 66 with the inner cylinder engagement portion 68a and the outer cylinder engagement portion 66a aligned. As a result, the operation inner cylinder 68 is integrated with the operation outer cylinder 66 in a state of being positioned circumferentially, forming the operation portion 62.

The inner peripheral surface of the operation inner tube 68 is provided with an operation unit engaging portion 68b and an operation unit side screw portion 68c. The operation unit engaging portion 68b is a portion that engages with the operation unit engaged portion 22d provided on the outer tube portion 22y of the outer peripheral member 20 described above. The operation unit engaging portion 68b is formed in an uneven shape over the circumferential direction of the operation inner tube 68. The operation unit side screw portion 68c is provided at a position offset in the axial direction of the operation inner tube 68 from the operation unit engaging portion 68b. The operation unit side screw portion 68c is composed of a screw formed in a helical shape.

In the power transmission mechanism 60, the operation part side screw part 68c provided on the operation part 62 and the moving part side screw part 40a provided on the moving part 40 are screwed together. In addition, the operation part 62 is restricted from moving in the axial direction by the operation part engagement part 68b engaging with the operation part engaged part 22d of the outer tube part 22y. Furthermore, the moving part 40 is movable up and down in the axial direction of the outer tube part 22y while being restricted from moving in the circumferential direction of the outer tube part 22y by the engagement of the moving part guided part 40d with the moving part guide part 22e provided on the outer tube part 22y. Therefore, by applying a rotational force to the operation part 62, the rotational force is transmitted to the moving part 40 via the operation part side screw part 68c and the moving part side screw part 40a, and the moving part 40 can be moved in the axial direction by the moving part guided part 40d and the moving part guide part 22e. In this way, the functions of each part of the power transmission mechanism 60 allow the rotational force applied to the operating part 62 to be converted into a moving force in the axial direction, and the moving part 40 can be moved in the axial direction.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the inner peripheral member 80 is a portion that is fixed to the inner peripheral surface 9 of the main pipe 1 in the periphery of the opening 3 drilled in the main pipe 1. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the inner peripheral member 80 has multiple curved pieces 82 (two in this embodiment), a connecting piece 84, and an inner cylindrical portion 86.

The curved piece 82 is a piece-like member that is curved in an arc shape so as to fit the inner circumferential surface 9 of the main pipe 1 when viewed from the side. In other words, the curvature of the curved piece 82 is approximately the same as the curvature of the inner circumferential surface 9 of the main pipe 1. The curved pieces 82 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable in a state in which they are arranged in parallel via a connecting piece 84, which will be described in detail later.

When the inner peripheral member 80 is rotated so that the back surfaces of the adjacent curved pieces 82, 82 move away from each other, the adjacent curved pieces 82, 82 are butted together and the surfaces become continuous. This causes the inner peripheral member 80 to be in an extended state as a whole (extended state). In addition, when in the extended state, the inner peripheral member 80 has an external shape that is roughly saddle-shaped. In this way, the curved pieces 82 have a portion (joint portion 82x) that butts against the adjacent curved pieces 82 in the extended state.

In addition, the inner peripheral member 80 can be folded so that the back surfaces of adjacent curved pieces 82, 82 are close to each other at the connecting piece 84, forming a discontinuous portion between the surfaces of the adjacent curved pieces 82, 82, resulting in a bent (deformed) state.

The connecting piece 84 connects multiple curved pieces 82 (two in this embodiment) so that they can rotate around a predetermined rotation axis C that extends in the generatrix direction of the curved pieces 82. The rotation axis C is located at a position on the side of the joint 82x that forms the boundary between the curved pieces 82, 82 arranged side by side.

The inner cylindrical portion 86 is a cylindrical portion that is inserted into the inside of the opening 3 drilled in the main pipe 1. The inner cylindrical portion 86 is composed of a combination of multiple (two in this embodiment) cylindrical components 88 that can be assembled and separated in conjunction with the rotation of the curved pieces 82. The inner cylindrical portion 86 is formed by assembling the cylindrical components 88 when the inner member 80 is in an extended state. The cylindrical components 88 are integrally provided with the curved pieces 82. The cylindrical components 88 protrude upward from the surface side of the curved pieces 82. The cylindrical components 88 are provided approximately in the center of the curved pieces 82 in the longitudinal direction (generatrix direction). In the curved pieces 82, the base end (lower end) side of the cylindrical components 88 is cut into a semicircular shape to match the shape of the curved pieces 82.

Furthermore, fixing portions 90, 90 for fixing the linear member 100 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tube components 88, 88 that constitute the inner cylindrical portion 86. The fixing portions 90, 90 have fixing grooves 90a, 90a formed to extend from the base end side (the surface side of the curved pieces 82, 82) of the inner cylindrical portion 86 in the axial direction of the inner cylindrical portion 86 (the vertical direction in the illustrated state). The fixing grooves 90a, 90a are grooves into which the linear member 100 can be fitted and fixed. Furthermore, the fixing grooves 90a, 90a are bent in an approximately U-shape on the base end side, and the terminal end of the linear member 100 can be connected.

The linear member 100 is a member for pulling the inner peripheral member 80 introduced inside the main pipe 1 in a direction approaching the inner peripheral surface 9 of the main pipe 1 by an operation (pulling operation) from the outside of the main pipe 1. The linear member 100 is composed of a wire made of a material such as metal or resin. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the linear member 100 includes a first linear member 100a connected to one of the curved pieces 82, 82 (hereinafter also referred to as the "first inner peripheral piece 82a") and a second linear member 100b connected to the other (hereinafter also referred to as the "second inner peripheral piece 82b").

The first linear member 100a and the second linear member 100b that constitute the linear member 100 are connected so that the operating force associated with the pulling operation acts at a position that is off the rotation axis C of the first inner peripheral piece 82a and the second inner peripheral piece 82b that constitute the inner peripheral member 80.

Specifically, one end of the first linear member 100a is fitted into a fixing groove 90a provided on the outer periphery of the tube-forming portion 88 constituting the first inner peripheral piece 82a, and the terminal end is connected to the inner peripheral member 80. As shown in FIG. 5, the first linear member 100a is introduced into the inside of the guide portion 30 through one of two paths provided between the outer tube portion 22y and the guide portion 30. Furthermore, the first linear member 100a is connected to the winding portion 26. As a result, the first linear member 100a can be wound around the first winding groove 38a by rotating the winding portion 26.

Similarly, one end of the second linear member 100b is fitted into a fixing groove 90a provided on the outer periphery of the tube component 88 constituting the second inner peripheral piece 82b, and the terminal end is engaged with the fixing groove 90a to connect it to the inner peripheral member 80. The second linear member 100b is also introduced into the inside of the guide portion 30 through a path provided between the outer tube portion 22y and the guide portion 30 in the guide portion 30. Furthermore, the second linear member 100b is connected to the winding portion 26. This allows the second linear member 100b to be wound around the second winding groove 38b by rotating the winding portion 26.

<<Concerning the construction method using the branch pipe connection member 10>>
Next, a construction method for connecting the branch pipe 5 to the opening 3 drilled in the main pipe 1 using the branch pipe connecting member 10 will be described.

When connecting the branch pipe 5 to the main pipe 1, the branch pipe connection member 10 is first prepared with the outer peripheral member 20 assembled, and the winding portion 26 of the outer peripheral member 20 and the inner peripheral member 80 connected by the linear member 100. At this time, the linear member 100 is hardly wound around the winding portion 26, and the outer peripheral member 20 and the inner peripheral member 80 are prepared in a state where they are sufficiently separated. With the branch pipe connection member 10 thus prepared, the curved pieces 82, 82 constituting the inner peripheral member 80 are bent at the connecting piece 84 to be in a folded state (deformed state). In this state, the inner peripheral member 80 is introduced into the interior from the opening 3 of the main pipe 1 in a deformed state.

When the inner peripheral member 80 is introduced into the main pipe 1 as described above, the outer peripheral abutment portion 22x of the outer peripheral fixing portion 22 is placed along the outer peripheral surface 7 of the main pipe 1, and the position of the outer peripheral member 20 is adjusted so that the through hole 22c provided in the outer peripheral fixing portion 22 arrives at a position corresponding to the opening 3 of the main pipe 1. In this way, when the arrangement of the outer peripheral member 20 is completed, the branch pipe connection member 10 is made free to rotate by the switching mechanism 50. Specifically, the engaging body 52 (engaging body main body 54) of the switching mechanism 50 is moved toward the winding portion 26, and the engaging groove 54a is engaged with the second engaged portion 26a of the winding portion 26 and is not engaged with the first engaged portion 40c, thereby making it free to rotate. In this state, a shaft such as a screwdriver is inserted into the shaft insertion portion 58 of the protruding portion 56 protruding radially outward from the engaging body main body 54 to apply an external force to the protruding portion 56, and the engaging body main body 54 is rotated in the circumferential direction. In conjunction with this, the winding part 26 engaged with the engagement body main body 54 rotates independently with respect to the moving part 40. As a result, the linear members 100, 100 connected to the curved pieces 82, 82 that form the inner peripheral member 80 are wound around the winding groove 38 of the winding part 26.

As described above, when the branch pipe connection member 10 is in a free-rotating state and the winding portion 26 continues to rotate in the positive direction, the inner circumferential member 80 approaches the inner circumferential surface 9 of the main pipe 1, and the inner circumferential member 80 (first inner circumferential piece 82a and second inner circumferential piece 82b) changes state from a deformed state to an elongated state inside the main pipe 1. When the inner circumferential member 80 is drawn close to the inner circumferential surface 9, the inner circumferential member 80 enters an elongated state and approaches the inner circumferential surface 9.

As described above, when the winding portion 26 is rotated in the free rotation state and the inner peripheral member 80 is brought close to the inner peripheral surface 9 of the main pipe 1, the branch pipe connection member 10 is placed in the rotation-locked state, and the rotation of the winding portion 26 is locked. Specifically, the engagement body 52 (engagement body main body 54) of the switching mechanism 50 is slid in the axial direction to a position that spans the winding portion 26 and the moving portion 40. As a result, the engagement groove 54a of the engagement body main body 54 is engaged with both the second engaged portion 26a of the winding portion 26 and the first engaged portion 40c of the moving portion 40. As a result, the branch pipe connection member 10 is switched from the free rotation state to the rotation-locked state. This makes it possible to prevent the linear member 100.100 wound around the winding portion 26 from being unexpectedly unwound.

When the inner peripheral member 80 is brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface 9 of the main pipe 1 as described above, the operation handles 64, 64 provided on the operation unit 62 are gripped to rotate the operation unit 62 in the forward direction. This allows the moving unit 40, which is screwed into the operation unit side screw portion 68c of the operation unit 62 via the moving unit side screw portion 40a, to be moved axially upward. As a result, the inner peripheral member 80, which was in a position close to the inner peripheral surface 9, is brought into even closer contact with the inner peripheral surface 9. This completes the attachment of the branch pipe connection member 10 to the main pipe 1. In addition, when the branch pipe connection member 10 is attached to the main pipe 1, the branch pipe 5 is inserted into the branch pipe connection portion 24 and connected. This completes the attachment of the branch pipe 5 to the main pipe 1 using the branch pipe connection member 10.

<Function and effect of branch pipe connecting member 10>
According to the above-described branch pipe connecting member 10, the following operational effects can be obtained.

The branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment includes a power transmission mechanism 60 that transmits the rotational force generated by rotating the operating unit 62 to the moving unit 40 and moves the moving unit 40 in the axial direction. The branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment also has a linear member 100 that connects the inner periphery member 80 and the outer periphery member 20, and the connecting portion of the linear member 100 on the outer periphery member 20 side is movable in the axial direction in conjunction with the moving unit 40. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment can move the linear member 100 in the axial direction together with the moving unit 40 as the operating unit 62 is rotated, thereby drawing the inner periphery member 80 toward the outer periphery member 20. Therefore, in the branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment, the inner peripheral member 80 is introduced into the main pipe 1 through the opening 3 drilled in the main pipe 1, and in a state in which the outer peripheral member 20 is disposed on the outer periphery of the main pipe 1, the inner peripheral member 80 can be moved in a direction approaching the inner peripheral surface of the main pipe 1 by rotating the operating part 62 and moving the moving part 40 in the axial direction. This allows the inner peripheral member 80 to be crimped against the main pipe 1, and the branch pipe connection member 10 to be firmly connected. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a branch pipe connection member 10 that can be firmly attached to the main pipe 1 without using a special jig or the like.

In addition, the branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment is capable of transmitting a rotational force from the radial outside to the moving unit 40 via the power transmission mechanism 60 by rotating the operating unit 62 radially outward relative to the outer tube portion 22y. In this way, the branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment has the operating unit 62 and the power transmission mechanism 60 arranged at a position radially outward relative to the outer tube portion 22y, rather than in the axial direction (height direction) of the outer tube portion 22y, and is thus configured to be compact in the height direction. Therefore, according to this embodiment, even in cases where a large space cannot be secured in the height direction (depth direction) to attach the branch pipe connection member 10 to the main pipe, a branch pipe connection member 10 that can be used to connect the branch pipe 5 to the main pipe can be provided.

In addition, the above-mentioned branch pipe connection member 10 has a winding section 26 that can rotate around the axial center position of the outer tube section 22y to wind the linear member 100, and the connecting section on the outer peripheral member 20 side of the linear member 100 is connected to the winding section 26, and the winding section 26 is movable in the axial direction together with the moving section 40. Therefore, by rotating the winding section 26, the branch pipe connection member 10 can wind the linear member 100 around the winding section 26 and draw the inner peripheral member 80 in a direction approaching the inner peripheral surface by an amount equivalent to the length of the linear member 100 wound around the winding section 26. In addition, the above-mentioned branch pipe connection member 10 can move the winding section 26 in the axial direction together with the moving section 40. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 described above can be firmly connected by, for example, first rotating the winding portion 26 to draw the inner peripheral member 80 closer to the inner peripheral surface, and then rotating the operating portion 62 to move the moving portion 40 together with the winding portion 26 in the axial direction, thereby improving the degree of compression of the inner peripheral member 80 against the main pipe 1.

When attaching the branch pipe connection member 10 to the main pipe 1, the outer peripheral member 20 may be fixed to the main pipe with an adhesive, adhesive, water-swelling rubber, or the like. In this case, the material of the adhesive, adhesive, or the like may be selected appropriately depending on the material of the main pipe 1 to be fixed and the outer peripheral member 20. When attaching the branch pipe connection member 10 to the main pipe 1, when the inner peripheral member 80 is pulled to the inner surface 9 of the main pipe 1 by the linear member 100 and abutted against it, the inner peripheral member 80 may be fixed to the main pipe 1 with an adhesive, adhesive, water-swelling rubber, or the like. In this case, the material of the adhesive, adhesive, or the like may be selected appropriately depending on the material of the main pipe 1 to be fixed and the inner peripheral member 80.

The branch pipe connection member 10 described above has the movable part 40 restricted in its rotation about the axis of the outer tube part 22y. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 can efficiently use the power transmitted by the power transmission mechanism 60 to move the movable part 40 in the axial direction. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 can suppress the amount of rotation of the operating part 62 required to move the movable part 40 in the axial direction, and can efficiently perform the attachment work to the main pipe 1.

In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the rotation of the moving part 40 in the direction around the axis of the outer tube part 22y is restricted by engaging the moving part guided part 40d of the moving part 40 with the moving part guiding part 22e of the outer tube part 22y, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the moving part 40 may be configured to be capable of moving in the axial direction while rotating in the direction around the axis.

The branch pipe connection member 10 described above has a moving part 40 that is restricted in rotation around the axis of the outer tube part 22y, and has a switching mechanism 50 that can switch between a rotation-locked state in which the winding part 26 is non-rotatably connected to the moving part 40, and a rotation-free state in which the winding part 26 is rotatable relative to the moving part 40. As a result, the branch pipe connection member 10 can rotate the winding part 26 in the rotation-free state to wind the linear member 100 and pull the inner peripheral member 80 toward the outer peripheral member 20, and then maintain the rotation-locked state so that the linear member 100 wound around the winding part 26 does not unwind.

In this embodiment, an example in which a switching mechanism 50 is provided is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the branch pipe connection member 10 may not be provided with a switching mechanism 50. In addition, the switching mechanism 50 is not limited to the above-mentioned configuration, and may be configured in a different way to obtain the same effect.

The branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment also includes an engagement body 52 that functions as a winding and rotating force acting part that can apply a rotational force to the winding part 26 around the axial center position of the outer tube part 22y. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment can wind the linear member 100 around the winding part 26 by applying a rotational force to the engagement body 52, and pull the inner peripheral member 80 toward the inner peripheral surface of the main pipe 1. In addition, in the branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment, the power transmission mechanism 60 is capable of transmitting a rotational force to the moving part 40 at a position farther away from the axial center position of the outer tube part 22y than the engagement body 52 (winding and rotating force acting part). Therefore, according to the above-mentioned configuration, by applying a rotational force to the engagement body 52, a large torque can be applied to the winding part 26, and the operation of winding the linear member 100 can be performed easily.

In this embodiment, a configuration in which the engaging body 52 is provided as the winding and rotating force acting portion is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. A configuration in which no member that functions as the winding and rotating force acting portion is provided, or a configuration in which a member that functions as the winding and rotating force acting portion is provided separately from the engaging body 52 may also be used.

The branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment has an engagement body 52 (winding rotation force acting part) that applies a rotation force to the winding part 26 around the axial center position of the outer tube part 22y, and the engagement body 52 (winding rotation force acting part) has a protrusion 56 that protrudes radially outward from the winding part 26. With this configuration, it is possible to rotate the winding part 26 easily by applying a rotation force at the protrusion 56. Note that in this embodiment, a configuration in which the protrusion 56 is provided on the member that functions as the winding rotation force acting part (the engagement body 52 in this embodiment) is exemplified, but in cases where a rotation force can be easily applied to the engagement body 52 without providing the protrusion 56, for example, a configuration without providing the protrusion 56 may be used.

The branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment is provided with an axis insertion portion 58 in the protruding portion 56 into which an axis body can be inserted in the tangential direction of the rotation of the winding portion 26. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 can apply a rotational force to the winding portion 26 via the axis body by inserting an axis body such as a screwdriver into the axis insertion portion 58. This configuration provides a branch pipe connection member 10 that can apply a rotational force to the winding portion 26 without using special tools. Note that, although the configuration provided with the axis insertion portion 58 has been exemplified in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration may be one without the axis insertion portion 58.

In the branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment, the switching mechanism 50 includes a first engaged portion 40c provided on the moving portion 40, a second engaged portion 26a provided on the winding portion 26 side, and an engaging body 52 that can be engaged and disengaged with both the first engaged portion 40c and the second engaged portion 26a. In addition, the branch pipe connection member 10 can be in a rotationally locked state by engaging the engaging body 52 with both the first engaged portion 40c and the second engaged portion 26a, and in a rotationally free state by disengaging the engaging body 52 from at least one of the first engaged portion 40c and the second engaged portion 26a. In addition, in the branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment, the engaging body 52 can slide along the circumferential surfaces of the moving portion 40 and the winding portion 26, and the engaging body 52 can be engaged and disengaged with the first engaged portion 40c and the second engaged portion 26a by sliding the engaging body 52. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 can switch the engagement state of the engagement body 52 with the first engaged portion 40c and the second engaged portion 26a, and can switch between a rotation locked state and a rotation free state by sliding the engagement body 52. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 can switch between a rotation locked state and a rotation free state by a simple operation of sliding the engagement body 52.

In this embodiment, an example is shown in which a switching mechanism 50 is provided that allows switching between a rotation locked state and a rotation free state by sliding the engagement body 52, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the branch pipe connection member 10 may be provided with a mechanism different from that described above in place of the switching mechanism 50, or the switching mechanism 50 may be omitted.

In the branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment, the operation unit 62 is rotatable around the axial center position of the outer tube portion 22y on the outer peripheral side of the moving unit 40, and the movement in the axial direction relative to the outer tube portion 22y is restricted. In addition, the branch pipe connection member 10 is formed by screwing the moving unit side screw portion 40a formed in a spiral shape on the outer peripheral surface of the moving unit 40 and the operation unit side screw portion 68c formed in a spiral shape on the inner peripheral surface of the operation unit 62, and the moving unit 40 can be moved in the axial direction by rotating the operation unit 62. In addition, the branch pipe connection member 10 of this embodiment is configured such that the operation unit 62 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the moving unit 40. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 described above can smoothly move the moving unit 40 in the axial direction by applying a sufficient torque to the operation unit 62 by applying an appropriate force to the operation unit 62 while suppressing the height.

The branch pipe connection member 10 described above has a guide section 30 that guides the linear member 100, and the guide section 30 guides the linear member 100 in the axial direction on the inner peripheral member 80 side of the winding section 26. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 can wind the linear member 100 in an orderly manner around the winding section 26 while guiding the linear member 100 in the axial direction with the guide section 30. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 can smoothly rotate the winding section 26 to wind the linear member 100, thereby drawing the inner peripheral member 80 to the inner peripheral surface of the main pipe 1.

In this embodiment, a configuration in which a guide portion 30 that guides the linear member 100 is provided is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the branch pipe connection member 10 may be configured without the guide portion 30, or may be configured to include another member capable of guiding the linear member 100 instead of or in addition to the guide portion 30.

As described above, the branch pipe connection member 10 has a winding section 26 in which the winding groove 38, in which the linear member 100 fits, is formed in a spiral shape in the axial direction. Because of this configuration, by rotating the winding section 26, it is possible to wind the linear member 100 orderly along the winding groove 38 provided in the winding section 26. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 described above can smoothly wind the linear member 100 around the winding section 26 without problems such as the linear member 100 becoming tangled.

In this embodiment, a configuration in which the winding groove 38 is provided in the winding portion 26 is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the branch pipe connection member 10 may be configured without the winding groove 38, or a mechanism for winding the linear member 100 in an orderly manner may be provided in addition to or in place of the winding groove 38.

In addition, in the above-mentioned branch pipe connection member 10, the inner peripheral member 80 is provided with the first inner peripheral piece 82a and the second inner peripheral piece 82b, and the linear member 100 is provided with a first linear member 100a connected to the first inner peripheral piece 82a and a second linear member 100b connected to the second inner peripheral piece 82b, and the winding groove 38 is provided with a double spiral groove consisting of a first winding groove 38a for the first linear member 100a and a second winding groove 38b for the second linear member 100b. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 can have a large amount of movement of the inner peripheral member 80 relative to the amount of rotation of the winding portion 26. In addition, if the first winding groove 38a and the second winding groove 38b are configured as two spiral grooves, the first linear member 100a and the second linear member 100b can be wound approximately evenly, and the inner peripheral member 80 can be pulled toward the main pipe 1 in a balanced manner. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 can improve the work efficiency of the pulling operation in which the inner peripheral member 80 is pulled toward the inner peripheral surface of the main pipe 1 by rotating the winding portion 26.

In this embodiment, the inner peripheral member 80 is provided with the first inner peripheral piece 82a and the second inner peripheral piece 82b, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first inner peripheral piece 82a and the second inner peripheral piece 82b may be integrally formed so that the state does not change between the bent state and the extended state, or the inner peripheral member 80 may be formed by combining a number of inner peripheral pieces in addition to the first inner peripheral piece 82a and the second inner peripheral piece 82b. Also, for example, when the configuration of the inner peripheral member 80 is different from that described above, the linear member 100 may be configured differently from the first linear member 100a and the second linear member 100b.

The above-mentioned branch pipe connection member 10 is configured such that the inner circumferential member 80 is connected to a plurality of abutment pieces (two in this embodiment) so as to be bent and stretchable. In addition, the inner circumferential member 80 can be made compact enough to be introduced into the inside of the main pipe 1 through the opening 3 provided in the main pipe 1 by bending it. Therefore, the above-mentioned branch pipe connection member 10 can easily and smoothly introduce the inner circumferential member 80 into the inside of the main pipe 1. In addition, the branch pipe connection member 10 can change the inner circumferential member 80 from a bent state to an extended state in the process of winding the linear member 100 around the winding portion 26 and drawing the inner circumferential member 80 to the inner circumferential portion of the main pipe 1 by rotating the winding portion 26. Therefore, the branch pipe connection member 10 can complete the installation work on the main pipe 1 by introducing the inner circumferential member 80 into the inside of the main pipe 1 and then rotating the winding portion 26 to draw the inner circumferential member 80.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and variations, and other embodiments may be possible within the scope of the claims, based on the teachings and spirit of the invention. The components of the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily selected and combined. Any component of the embodiment may also be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the means for solving the invention or any component that embodies any component described in the means for solving the invention. We intend to obtain rights to these as well through amendments to this application or divisional applications, etc.

The present invention can be suitably used to connect branch pipes to main pipes in various types of piping, such as water pipes, sewer pipes, and drainage pipes.

1: Main pipe 3: Opening 5: Branch pipe 10: Branch pipe connecting member 20: Outer peripheral member 22y: Outer cylinder portion 26: Winding portion 26a: Second engaged portion 40: Moving portion 40a: Moving portion side thread portion 40c: First engaged portion 50: Switching mechanism 52: Engagement body (winding rotation force acting portion)
56: Protrusion 58: Shaft insertion portion 60: Power transmission mechanism 62: Operation portion 68c: Operation portion side screw portion 80: Inner peripheral member 100: Linear member

Claims (10)

A branch pipe connecting member used to connect a branch pipe to a main pipe,
an outer circumferential member disposed outside the main pipe and capable of connecting the branch pipe;
an inner circumferential member that is introduced into the main pipe and attached to the inner circumferential side of the main pipe around an opening formed in the main pipe;
a linear member connecting the inner circumferential member and the outer circumferential member,
The outer peripheral member is
An outer tubular portion is disposed so that an axial direction thereof intersects with the main pipe;
a moving part that is movable in an axial direction of the outer cylinder part;
an operating portion that is rotatably operable at a position that is radially outwardly spaced from the outer cylinder portion with respect to the moving portion;
a power transmission mechanism that transmits a rotational force generated by rotating the operation unit to the moving unit and moves the moving unit in an axial direction,
A connecting portion of the linear member on the outer peripheral member side is movable in the axial direction in conjunction with the moving portion,
a winding portion that can rotate around an axial center position of the outer cylinder portion and wind the linear member therearound,
a connecting portion of the linear member on the outer peripheral member side is connected to the winding portion,
A branch pipe connecting member, wherein the winding portion is movable in the axial direction together with the moving portion . 2. The branch pipe connecting member according to claim 1 , wherein the movable portion is restricted in its rotation about the axis of the outer tubular portion. The movable portion is restricted in its rotation about the axis of the outer cylinder portion,
The branch pipe connection member described in claim 1, characterized in that it has a switching mechanism that can switch between a rotation locked state in which the winding portion is non-rotatably connected to the moving portion, and a rotation free state in which the winding portion is rotatable relative to the moving portion . A branch pipe connecting member used to connect a branch pipe to a main pipe,
an outer circumferential member disposed outside the main pipe and capable of connecting the branch pipe;
an inner circumferential member that is introduced into the main pipe and attached to the inner circumferential side of the main pipe around an opening formed in the main pipe;
a linear member connecting the inner circumferential member and the outer circumferential member,
The outer peripheral member is
An outer tubular portion is disposed so that an axial direction thereof intersects with the main pipe;
a moving part that is movable in an axial direction of the outer cylinder part;
an operating portion that is rotatably operable at a position that is radially outwardly spaced from the outer cylinder portion with respect to the moving portion;
a power transmission mechanism that transmits a rotational force generated by rotating the operation unit to the moving unit and moves the moving unit in an axial direction,
A connecting portion of the linear member on the outer peripheral member side is movable in the axial direction in conjunction with the moving portion,
a winding portion that can rotate around an axial center position of the outer cylindrical portion to wind the linear member;
a winding/rotating force acting portion that can apply a rotation force about an axial center position of the outer cylinder portion to the winding portion,
The branch pipe connecting member according to claim 1, wherein the power transmission mechanism is capable of transmitting a rotational force to the moving part at a position farther away from an axial center position of the outer tube part than the winding/rotating force acting part is. A branch pipe connecting member used to connect a branch pipe to a main pipe,
an outer circumferential member disposed outside the main pipe and capable of connecting the branch pipe;
an inner circumferential member that is introduced into the main pipe and attached to the inner circumferential side of the main pipe around an opening formed in the main pipe;
a linear member connecting the inner circumferential member and the outer circumferential member,
The outer peripheral member is
An outer tubular portion is disposed so that an axial direction thereof intersects with the main pipe;
a moving part that is movable in an axial direction of the outer cylinder part;
an operating portion that is rotatably operable at a position that is radially outwardly spaced from the outer cylinder portion with respect to the moving portion;
a power transmission mechanism that transmits a rotational force generated by rotating the operation unit to the moving unit and moves the moving unit in an axial direction,
A connecting portion of the linear member on the outer peripheral member side is movable in the axial direction in conjunction with the moving portion,
a winding portion that can rotate around an axial center position of the outer cylindrical portion to wind the linear member;
a winding/rotating force acting portion capable of applying a rotation force about an axial center position of the outer cylinder portion to the winding portion,
A branch pipe connecting member, wherein the winding/rotating force acting portion has a protruding portion that protrudes radially outward from the winding portion. 6. The branch pipe connecting member according to claim 5 , wherein the protruding portion is provided with a shaft insertion portion into which a shaft body can be inserted in a tangential direction of rotation of the winding portion. The switching mechanism is
A first engaged portion provided on the moving portion;
A second engaged portion provided on the winding portion side;
an engaging body that can be engaged and disengaged with both the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion;
having
the engaging body is engaged with both the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion to establish the rotation locked state;
The branch pipe connecting member according to claim 3 , wherein the free rotation state can be achieved by disengaging the engaging body from at least one of the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion. The engagement body is slidable along circumferential surfaces of the moving portion and the winding portion,
The branch pipe connecting member according to claim 7 , wherein the engaging body can be slidably moved to engage with and disengage from the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion. The branch pipe connection member described in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, when the engaging body is engaged with the second engaged portion, it functions as a winding rotation force acting portion for applying a rotation force to the winding portion about the axial center position of the outer tube portion. the operating portion is rotatable around an axial center position of the outer cylinder portion on an outer peripheral side of the moving portion, and movement of the operating portion in an axial direction relative to the outer cylinder portion is restricted,
The power transmission mechanism includes:
a movable part-side threaded portion formed in a spiral shape on an outer circumferential surface of the movable part and an operation part-side threaded portion formed in a spiral shape on an inner circumferential surface of the operation part are screwed together,
10. The branch pipe connecting member according to claim 1, wherein the movable portion is movable in the axial direction by rotating the operating portion.

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