Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.

Kenji Kitani

Kosuke Sakai

Shintaro Suzuki

A telescopic pivotal pipe joint for use in a fluid transporting pipe system such as water transporting pipe system installed under the ground is disclosed. The joint has a first pipe member including a semi-spherical inner peripheral face, a second pipe member including a semi-spherical pipe portion projecting radially outward and sidable along the semi-spherical inner peripheral face of the first pipe member, the second pipe member being slidably engaged within the first pipe member, and a third pipe member telescopically sidable in an axial direction and engaged on a straight pipe portion co-extensive with the semi-spherical pipe portion of the second pipe member. The semi-spherical pipe portion of the second pipe member defines an annular groove, into which one end of the third pipe member comes into engagement along the axial direction when the second pipe member and the third pipe member are contracted maximally relative to each other.

Telescopic pivotal pipe joint

A method of connecting a branch pipe to an existing main pipe is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: connecting and communicating a branch-pipe joint having a branching pipe portion to an existing main pipe; connecting a branch pipe to the branch-pipe joint; and communicating the branch pipe with the existing main pipe through the branch-pipe joint, with all these steps being effected while outflow of fluid from inside the main pipe being prevented. In the above method, the branch pipe is connected with a connecting pipe portion which in turn is connected with the branching pipe portion via a flange joint including a pair of flanges. A shutter plate is inserted between the pair of flanges of the flange joint and communicating the connecting pipe portion with the branching pipe portion thus preventing outflow of the fluid from the branching pipe portion. The flange joint is loosened while the connecting pipe portion is kept connected with the branch pipe so as to withdraw the shutter plate from between the flanges to allow communication between the branch pipe and the branching pipe portion. The flange joint is then tightened and the connecting pipe portion the branching pipe portion are connected and communicated with each other.

Method of connecting branch pipe

A connecting construction of a branch pipe is disclosed. The construction includes a branch-pipe joint fixed to an outer peripheral face of an existing pipe and attached to a passage forming member for forming, between the passage forming member and the outer peripheral face of the existing pipe, a guide passage extending from a lower portion to an upper portion of the existing pipe along a peripheral direction of the pipe, with the branch-pipe joint being oriented along a radial direction of the existing pipe so that a branching pipe portion thereof for branch-pipe connection is opened at an upper portion within the guide passage, and a closing member for closing an upper through hole after formation of a lower through hole, the upper through hole being provided in an upper pipe wall of the existing pipe for forming, in a lower pipe wall of the existing pipe, the lower through hole communicated with a lower portion inside the guide passage through the branching pipe portion, with the closure of the upper through hole, communication being established between a branch pipe connected to the branching pipe portion and the existing pipe through the guide passage and the lower through hole. The closing member is fixed to the branching pipe portion. A method of connecting a branch pipe is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Higashiosaka, Japan

Kenji Kitani