Description PIPE CLAMP WITH PIPE BRANCH

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a pipe clamp with a pipe branch for a technique for replacing a pipeline without suspension of water supply, and more particularly, to a pipe clamp with a pipe branch in which an upper clam member with a pipe branch and a lower clamp member are clamped together to surround an outer circumference surface of a pipeline, and the pipe branch is sealed by a sealing cover, wherein the pipe branch has a coupling portion formed on its outer circumference surface to be coupled to an apparatus used for a technique for replacing a pipeline without suspension of water supply and a coupling portion formed on its inner circumference surface to be coupled to the sealing cover. Background Art

[2] FIG. 1 shows a conventional technique for replacing a pipeline with suspension of water supply. Conventionally, in order to replace a water supply pipeline, water supply of a pipeline replacing section is controlled by only a first sluice and a second sluice valve as shown in FIG. Ia, and water supply is suspended in the whole section other than a pipeline replacing section as shown in FIG. 2b even though a pipeline replacing section is short.

[3] Since an interval between sluice valves is typically lkm to 3km, a region where a water supply is suspended is too large, and a number of residents suffer inconvenient and damage. In case where a sluice valve is old and causes an abnormal operation in water supply control, a section where water supply is suspended is more increased, and a pipeline replacing time is also increased, weighting inconvenience and damage of residents.

[4] In order to resolve the above problems, a technique for replacing a pipeline without suspension of water supply has been introduced. FIG. 2 shows a conventional technique for replacing a pipeline without suspension of water supply. A pipeline fluid blocking apparatus is installed on both sides to control water supply in a pipeline replacing section. Since the pipeline fluid blocking apparatus plays the same role as a sluice valve, water supply is suspended only in a pipeline replacing section, while water is supplied in the other sections, as shown in FIG. 2.

[5] As described above, a technique for replacing a pipeline without suspension of water supply has an advantage of reducing a pipeline replacing time since a replacing work can be performed regardless of the existing sluice valve which is already installed and resolving problems caused by the conventional technique for replacing a pipeline with

suspension of water supply.

[6] A conventional technique for replacing a pipeline without suspension of water supply is described below in more detail. A pipe clamp with a pipe branch is installed on a pipeline section adjacent to a working section (step Sl). As shown in FIG. 4a, an upper clamp member 10 with a pipe branch 12 and a lower clamp member 20 are clamped together on a pipeline 1 by a coupling member such as a bolt and a nut. That is, the pipe clamp with the pipe branch is installed to surround an outer circumference surface of the pipeline 1 by coupling the upper and lower clamp members 10 and 20.

[7] A water control valve 2 is coupled to the pipe branch 12 of the upper clamp member

10 (step S2). That is, the water control valve 2 is placed onto the pipe branch 12 in a state that the upper and lower clamp members 10 and 20 are clamped together on the pipeline 1 and then coupled to the pipe branch 12 by a coupling means such as a bolt and a nut as shown in FIG. 4b. The pipe clamp with the pipe branch is opened or closed by an opening or closing operation of the water control valve 2.

[8] After the water control valve 2 is attached to the pipe branch 12 of the upper clamp member 10 as shown in FIG. 4b, then a tapping apparatus 3 is coupled to the water control valve 2 to tap the pipeline 1 as shown in FIG. 5 (step S3).

[9] In detail, the tapping apparatus 3 for tapping the pipeline 1 is coupled to the water control valve 2 as shown in FIG. 5a and a hole is formed in the pipeline 1 by the tapping apparatus 3 as shown in FIG. 5b. Thereafter, the water control valve 2 is closed to close the pipe branch 12 as shown in FIG. 5c, and the tapping apparatus 3 is then removed from the water control valve 2 as shown in FIG. 5d.

[10] After the tapping apparatus 3 is removed as shown in FIG. 5, a fluid blocking apparatus 4 is attached to the water control valve 2 as shown in FIG. 6 (step S4). The pipeline fluid blocking apparatus 4 closes one side of the pipeline 1 to thereby block a fluid (step S5).

[11] In detail, the pipeline fluid blocking apparatus 4 is attached to the water control valve

2 which is in a closed state as shown in FIG. 6a. Then, the water control valve 2 is opened as shown in FIG. 6b, so that a space through which a fluid blocking portion of the pipeline fluid blocking apparatus 4 can be inserted into the pipeline 1 is prepared. Subsequently, the fluid blocking portion of the pipeline fluid blocking apparatus 4 is inserted into the pipeline 1 to block a fluid from flowing in one side direction as shown in FIG. 6c.

[12] As a result, the pipeline replacing work is performed in a section where a fluid is blocked (step S6).

[13] When the pipeline replacing work is completed, the pipeline fluid blocking apparatus

4 is removed from the water control valve 2 which is in a closed state, and a sealing cover coupling apparatus 5 with a sealing cover 30 is attached to the water control

valve 2, as shown in FIG. 7(step S7).

[14] Then, the sealing cover 30 is coupled to the pipe branch 12 by using the sealing cover coupling apparatus 5 to tightly seal the pipe clamp.

[15] In detail, the fluid blocking portion of the pipeline fluid blocking apparatus 4 is pulled up, and then the water control valve 2 is closed as shown in FIG. 7a. The sealing cover coupling apparatus 5 with the sealing cover 30 is coupled to the water control valve 2 which is in a closed state, and then the water control valve 2 is opened, as shown in FIG. 7b.

[16] When the water control valve 2 is opened, water goes up to the sealing cover coupling apparatus 5, and the sealing cover 30 is coupled to the pipe branch 12 of the upper clamp member 10 by using the sealing cover coupling apparatus 5 as shown in FIG. 7c.

[17] Accordingly, the pipe branch 12 of the pipe clamp is sealed by the sealing cover 30.

Finally, the sealing cover coupling apparatus 5 is removed from the water control valve 2 as shown in FIG. 7d. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[18] As described above, such a technique for replacing a pipeline without suspension water supply has an effect of reducing a pipeline replacing time and resolving the problems caused by the technique for replacing a pipeline with suspension of water supply since a section where water supply is suspended is minimized and a pipeline replacing work is performed regardless of the already installed water control valve.

[19] However, the pipe clamp with a pipe branch used in the technique for replacing a pipeline without suspension of water supply has a problem in that it is not easy to firmly couple the sealing cover to the pipe branch of the pipe clamp.

[20] Referring to FIG. 8, the sealing cover 30 goes down without high resistance from an installation line Hl to a sealing start line H2 from which the sealing cover 30 starts to contact the pipe branch 12, but it is very difficult to make the sealing cover 30 go down up to a sealing end line H3 since the sealing cover 30 starts to seal the pipe branch 12 from the sealing start line H2 and water pressure is high from the sealing start H2 to the sealing end line H3. Such a problem becomes worse as the diameter of the pipeline 1 is larger since water pressure is higher as much.

[21] In more detail, the sealing cover coupling apparatus 5 with the sealing cover 30 attached thereto is coupled to the water control valve 2 which is in a closed state so that the sealing cover 30 is installed at the height of the installation line Hl as shown in FIG. 9a. Then, the water control valve 2 is opened, so that water goes up toward the sealing cover coupling apparatus 3 as shown in FIG. 9b. At this time, since water

pressure is applied to the sealing cover coupling apparatus 3, the sealing cover 30 easily goes down from the installation line Hl to the sealing start line H2 by the sealing cover coupling apparatus 5. However, since water pressure is applied directly to the sealing cover 30 from the sealing start line H2 from which the sealing cover 30 starts to be coupled to the pipe branch 12 for sealing, it is not easy to firmly couple the sealing cover 30 to the pipe branch 12 as shown in FIG. 9c. That is, there occurs a big water pressure difference, centering on the sealing cover 30.

[22] In order to resolve the above problem, high pressure gas is conventionally injected into the inside of the sealing cover coupling apparatus 5 to relatively reduce a water pressure difference in order to make it easy to couple the sealing cover 30 up to the sealing end line H3 as shown in FIG. 9d. However, this method is useful in a small- sized pipeline having a smaller water pressure difference but is not effective in a large- sized pipeline having a high water pressure difference, and it may lead to an accident caused by high pressure gas. Technical Solution

[23] It is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe clamp with a pipe branch in which a sealing cover is easily, firmly coupled to a pipe branch without injecting high pressure gas.

[24] One aspect of the present invention provides a pipe clam with a pipe branch, comprising: a lower clamp member; an upper clamp member with a pipe branch which is clamped with the lower clamp member to surround an outer circumference surface of a pipeline; and a sealing cover for sealing the pipe branch, wherein the pipe branch comprises a first coupling portion formed on an outer circumference surface to be coupled to an apparatus used for a technique for replacing a pipeline without suspension of water supply and a second coupling portion formed on an inner circumference surface to be coupled to the sealing cover, and the sealing cover has a check valve for reducing a water pressure difference when coupled to the pipe branch.

[25] The sealing cover comprises a check valve insertion groove formed on a center in which the check valve is installed, a drain hole which communicates with the check valve insertion groove and water flowing in through the check valve is drained through, and a push protrusion through hole through which a push protrusion for opening the check valve passes.

[26] The sealing cover and the pipe branch are screw-coupled such that a screw thread formed on an outer circumference surface of the sealing cover and a screw thread from on an inner circumference surface of the pipe branch are coupled to each other.

[27] The sealing cover and the pipe branch are screw-coupled such that a coupling screw coupled to a side coupling hole formed in the pipe branch is inserted into and coupled

to a screw catching groove formed on an outer circumference surface of the sealing cover. [28] The sealing cover further comprises a packing groove formed below the screw catching groove, and a portion of an inner circumference surface of the pipe branch corresponding to the packing groove has a taper shape whose diameter is gradually smaller in a down direction.

Brief Description of the Drawings [29] FIG. 1 shows a typical technique for replacing a pipeline with suspension of water supply; [30] FIG. 2 shows a typical technique for replacing a pipeline without suspension of water supply; [31] FIG. 3 shows a detailed process of the typical technique for replacing the pipeline without suspension of water supply; [32] FIG. 4 shows installation of a pipe clamp with a pipe branch and a coupling of a water control valve;

[33] FIG. 5 shows installation of a tapping apparatus and a tapping process;

[34] FIG. 6 shows installation of a pipeline fluid blocking apparatus and a fluid blocking process; [35] FIG. 7 shows removal of the pipeline fluid blocking apparatus and a coupling of a sealing cover;

[36] FIG. 8 shows a sealing cover coupled to the pipe clamp with the pipe branch;

[37] FIG. 9 shows a detailed process for coupling the pipe clamp with the pipe branch and the sealing cover according to the conventional art;

[38] FIG. 10 shows a pipe clamp with a pipe branch according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [39] FIG. 11 shows a check valve-type sealing cover screw-coupled to the pipe branch of the pipe clamp according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and [40] FIG. 12 shows the check valve-type sealing cover coupled to the pipe branch by a coupling screw according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [41] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various types. Therefore, the present exemplary embodiments are provided for complete disclosure of the present invention and to fully inform the scope of the present invention to those ordinarily skilled in the art. [42] FIG. 10 shows a pipe clamp with a pipe branch according to an exemplary em-

bodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 shows a check valve-type sealing cover coupled to the pipe branch of the pipe clamp according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 shows the check valve-type sealing cover coupled to the pipe branch by a coupling screw according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[43] As shown in FIG. 10a, a check valve-type sealing cover 40 includes a check valve 45 and is attached to the sealing cover coupling apparatus 5. The sealing cover coupling apparatus 5 has a structure for holding the check valve-type sealing cover 40 by a method using a screw thread or a magnet and a structure with a push protrusion for making the check valve 45 opened in an attached state.

[44] That is, as shown in FIG. 10a, the check valve 45 is opened in a state that it is attached to the sealing cover coupling apparatus 5.

[45] Here, the scope of the present invention is not limited to a structure of the check valve 45, and as the check valve 45, any check valve which can be externally opened may be used.

[46] Then, as shown in FIG. 10b, the water control valve 2 is opened, and water flows into the sealing cover coupling apparatus 5, and water pressure is applied to the sealing cover coupling apparatus 5.

[47] The check valve type sealing cover 40 has little difference with the conventional sealing cover 30 of FIG. 9 from the installation line Hl to the sealing start line H2. However, the conventional sealing cover 30 of FIG. 9 blocks water from flowing into the sealing cover coupling apparatus 5 while moving from the sealing start line H2 to the sealing end line H3 and so water pressure is directly applied to the sealing cover 30 due to a water pressure difference caused by movement of the sealing cover 30, whereas in the check valve type sealing cover 40, water continuously flows into the sealing cover coupling apparatus 5 through the opened check valve 45 while the check valve type sealing cover 40 goes down, so that a water pressure difference is reduced, and the check valve type sealing cover 40 easily goes down up to the sealing end line H3 to be firmly coupled to the pipe branch 12, as shown in FIG. 10c.

[48] As shown in FIG. 1Od, after the check valve type sealing cover 40 is completely coupled to the pipe branch 12, when the sealing cover coupling apparatus 5 is removed from the check valve type sealing cover 40, the check valve 45 is closed, so that the pipe branch 12 is tightly sealed by the check valve type sealing cover 40.

[49] As shown in FIG. 11, the check valve type sealing cover 40 includes a check valve insertion groove 41 formed on its center in which the check valve 45 is accommodated, a drain hole 42 through which water flowing in though the check valve 45 is drained, and a push protrusion through hole 43 through which a push protrusion for opening the check valve 45 passes.

[50] The check valve type sealing cover 40 of FIG. 11 has a screw thread 44 formed on its outer circumference surface, and the pipe branch 12 has a screw thread 44 formed on its inner circumference surface, so that the check valve type sealing cover 40 and the pipe branch 12 are screw-coupled to each other. The check valve insertion groove 41 which the check vale 45 is inserted into and installed in is preferably formed at a lower portion of the check valve type sealing cover 40. Preferably, the push protrusion through hole 43 into which a push protrusion for pushing the check valve 45 is inserted is formed at a center of the check valve type sealing cover 40, and two to six drain holes 42 which communicate with the check valve insertion groove 41 are formed around the push protrusion through hole 43.

[51] After the check valve 45 is inserted into and coupled to the check valve type sealing cover 40, the check valve 45 is fixed by a fixing means. For example, as shown in FIG. 12b, the check valve 45 is inserted into the check valve insertion groove 41 and then fixed by a fixing means 45-1 which comprises a doughnut-shaped cover for covering an edge of the check valve 45 and a screw for coupling the doughnut- shaped cover to the check valve type sealing cover 40.

[52] As another configuration that the sealing cover 40 and the pipe branch 12 are coupled, as shown in FIG. 12, the pipe branch 12 has a side coupling hole (or groove) 14 and a coupling screw 16 coupled to the side coupling hole 14, and the check valve type sealing cover 40 has a screw catching groove 46 formed on its outer circumference surface. The check valve type sealing cover 40 and the pipe branch 12 are coupled to each other such that the coupling screw 16 coupled to the side coupling hole 14 is inserted into the screw catching groove 46.

[53] In more detail, as shown in FIG. 12a, the pipe branch 12 has a plurality of side coupling holes 14 formed on its inner circumference surface, and the coupling screws 16 are coupled to a plurality of side coupling holes 14.

[54] Here, the coupling screw 16 may be a typical screw, but it is preferably a screw which has a structure of a pole form with no screw head which is coupled by a tool like a wrench.

[55] A packing groove 47 may be formed on an outer circumference surface of the sealing cover 40 below the screw catching groove 46. In this instance, a portion 12-1 of an inner circumference surface of the pipe branch 12 corresponding to the packing groove 47 preferably has a taper shape whose diameter is gradually smaller in a down direction. This is to more pressurize a packing 50 to enhance sealability when the check valve type sealing cover 40 is inserted into the pipe branch 12 as shown in FIG. 12c.

[56] The screw catching groove 46 is formed on an inner circumference surface of the check valve type sealing cover 40 as shown in FIG. 12b. The screw catching groove 46

provides a space into which the coupling screw 16 coupled to the pipe branch 12 is inserted into when the check valve type sealing cover 40 is completely inserted into the pipe branch 12 and has the coupling crew 16 to be caught therein, thereby having the check valve type sealing cover 40 to be substantially coupled to the pipe branch 12.

[57] The packing groove 47 into which the packing 50 is inserted is preferably formed below the screw catching groove 46 as shown in FIG. 12b.

[58] The pipe branch 12 of FIG. 12a and the check valve type sealing cover 40 of FIG.

12b are completely coupled to each other such that the check valve type sealing cover 40 is inserted into the pipe branch 12 and then the coupling screw 16 is inserted into and coupled to the screw catching groove 46 of the check valve type sealing cover 40 through the side coupling hole 14.

[59] As described above, the pipe clamp with the pipe branch according to the present invention has the following advantages. A water pressure difference is compensated by the check valve without injecting high pressure gas when the sealing cover and the pipe branch are coupled, and thus it is easy to firmly couple the sealing cover to the pipe branch. In particularly, the pipe clamp with the pipe branch according to the present invention can be applied to a large-scaled pipeline, and since a work for injecting high pressure gas for compensating a water pressure difference is not need, work safety is secured and a working time is reduced.