JPH1151907A - Method for locating damaged parts in concealed pipelines - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To probe a damaged position from the outside by feeding a prescribed current between both ends of a pipeline of a flexible pipe to generate the magnetic field abound the pipe, detecting the induced current caused by the change of the magnetic field from the surface of a concealed member of the pipeline, and comparing it with the current value having the field strength corresponding to the depth of the pipeline and prepared in advance. SOLUTION: Current values are registered in the judgment section of a probing device as threshold values for damaged position judgment based on the correlation between the field strength generated on a pipeline and the induced current by the electromagnetic induction of the magnetic field. The prescribed current is applied to a flexible pipe 6 in an object zone, and the magnetic field is generated around the pipe 6 for probing. In the probing process of the layout route of the pipe 6, an inspection section 3 is brought into slide contact with the surface of an interior material 10 to obtain an induced current value, it is compared with the current value registered in advance, and the position can be recognized as the layout of the pipe 6 when they coincide with each other. When the detected current value is larger than the registered value in the damaged position probing process, it can be judged that a nail 11B penetrating or kept in contact with the pipe 6 at the shallow layout depth state exists, and the damaged position can be specified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for locating a damaged portion of a concealed pipe line, and more particularly, to a method for detecting a damaged portion of a flexible pipe installed in a concealed portion from the outside and identifying the corresponding portion from the outside. Exploration method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a piping structure used for a mass-produced detached house or an apartment house such as a prefabricated house or a two-by-four house, for example, when a pipe for supplying gas is used, a pipe in a lamp is used. Of these, indoor piping requires a structure in which multiple pipes are laid in accordance with the installation location of each gas appliance in order to cope with cases where gas appliances are used at different locations such as stoves, water heaters, and heating appliances It has been said.

[0003] On the other hand, since it is desired that the piping space and the time required for the construction to have the above-described structure are minimized, it is not necessary to perform the piping construction using a cast iron pipe, but to use a thin wall. Piping construction using flexible stainless steel flexible pipes has been used. In piping construction using flexible pipes, the laying configuration according to the piping space is arbitrarily determined by utilizing the flexibility of the flexible pipe, so that parts such as floors and walls will be hidden in the future during the construction work It is possible to perform construction for a location.

[0004]

By the way, there are the following problems in piping construction using a flexible pipe.
That is, since the flexible tube is relatively thin to have flexibility, it is vulnerable to an impact due to an external force. Especially,
After plumbing, when the interior board or plywood is driven in from the outside with a nailing machine when finishing the floor or wall using nails driven by a nailing machine, the nails that have been driven through the flexible pipe or Contact may cause damage and cause gas leakage.

Conventionally, if interior finishing is performed after piping of a flexible pipe, a damaged portion of the flexible pipe cannot be found from the outside. For this reason, at the time of inspection at the time of completion, air or the like having a predetermined pressure is flowed into the flexible pipe, and the change in the pressure is observed to check whether the flexible pipe has a damaged portion. Also,
In such an inspection, it is difficult to identify a damaged portion. Therefore, a fiberscope or a television camera is introduced into the flexible pipe, and the presence or absence of the damaged portion and the damaged portion may be specified from the image.

However, in the search for a damaged portion using the above-described equipment, it is necessary to open a part of a pipeline in order to introduce a search device, or a pipeline corresponding to the size of the introduced equipment. There is a problem that a flexible pipe having a diameter smaller than the diameter cannot be targeted. Moreover, not only is the equipment itself expensive, but also work that is not related to the piping work, such as the work of partially opening the pipe, is required, and there is a risk that the piping cost will increase.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional method for searching for a damaged portion of a flexible pipe,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting a damaged portion of an existing pipeline, which can detect a damaged portion from the outside and can simplify equipment and work required for the search.

[0008]

In order to achieve this object, an invention according to claim 1 is a method for locating a damaged portion of a pipeline provided at a concealed portion, the method comprising: A magnetic field is generated around the flexible pipe by flowing a predetermined current between both ends of the section to be searched, and an induced current corresponding to a change in the magnetic field is detected from the surface of the concealing member of the pipe, and the detected current and the pipe depth are determined in advance. While comparing the current value obtained from the strength of the corresponding magnetic field to determine the pipe depth of the flexible pipe to search for the pipe position, in the process of searching for the pipe position, the current value corresponding to the pipe depth is smaller than the current value corresponding to the pipe depth. It is characterized in that a location where the detected induced current value becomes large is determined as a location where an electric conductor that contacts or penetrates the flexible tube is present, and the location is designated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method for detecting a damaged portion of the concealing conduit according to the first aspect, a marking process is performed on a surface of the concealing portion where the electric conductor is detected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of searching for a damaged portion of a pipeline provided at a concealed portion, wherein a predetermined current is applied between both ends of a section to be searched for the flexible pipeline. A magnetic field is generated in the periphery, an induced current corresponding to a change in the magnetic field is detected from the surface of the concealing member of the pipe line, and the detected current and a current value obtained from the strength of the magnetic field according to the pipe depth in advance are calculated. While comparing and judging the pipe depth of the flexible pipe and exploring the pipe position, in the process of exploring the pipe position, the point where the detected induced current value is larger than the current value corresponding to the pipe depth is the flexible pipe. It is determined that there is an electrical conductor that touches or penetrates through the flexible pipe, and that location is specified. After the treatment of the flexible pipe at the specified location is completed, the concealment section is restored. It is.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the magnitude of the induced current from the detecting section is detected based on the previously input pipe depth of the flexible pipe by scanning the detecting section on the surface of the pipe path. In the exploration process, the nail contacted or penetrated the flexible pipe at the location where the magnitude of the induced current was detected, which corresponds to the state where the electrical conductor was located at a position shallower than the pipe depth in the exploration process. It can be determined as a damaged location and that location can be specified.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the damaged portion found by the exploration can be confirmed from the outside by displaying the damaged portion by marking.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the magnitude of the induced current from the detecting section is detected based on the previously input pipe depth of the flexible pipe by scanning the detecting section on the surface of the pipe path. In the exploration process, the nail contacted or penetrated the flexible pipe at the location where the magnitude of the induced current was detected, which corresponds to the state where the electrical conductor was located at a position shallower than the pipe depth in the exploration process. The piping path can be rehabilitated by performing the work of restoring the concealing member after completion of the treatment on the flexible pipe at that location while determining the location as the damaged location.

[0014]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an exploration apparatus used for a method for exploring a damaged part according to the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a damage location detecting device 1 includes a determination unit 2 having a microcomputer as a main unit, and a detection unit 3 connected to the input / output side via an I / O interface (not shown) for the determination unit 2. , A current generating means 4 and an alarm unit 5.

The current generating means 4 has feed terminals 4A and 4B connected to both ends of the section to be searched, and supplies a predetermined current to the section to be searched to generate a magnetic field around a pipe located in the section. As shown in FIG. 2, the transmitting circuit 4C, the output current adjusting circuit 4D, and the output amplifying circuit 4E are connected to the determination unit 2 via an A / D converter (not shown).
And a power supply circuit 4F. The current value output by the current generating means 4 is displayed by an ammeter 4H connected to the output side of the determination unit 2. The current value output from the current generating means 4 is
Can be externally adjusted and changed by an output current adjuster 4G such as a volume or a numeric keypad connected to the input side of the digital camera. In FIG. 2, for convenience, the output current regulator 4G is shown in association with the output current adjustment circuit 4D as a member related to the change of the current value.

The detecting section 3 has a structure in which a magnetic coil is built in and detects an induced current due to electromagnetic induction generated when moving in a magnetic field. Although not shown, the detection unit 3 includes a detection unit that searches for a pipe route of the flexible pipe and a detection unit that searches for the presence of a nail in contact with or penetrating the flexible pipe in the pipe route. The current value corresponding to the strength of the magnetic field is to be detected, and the latter detection unit is to detect changes in self-inductance (see FIG. 3).

On the other hand, the determination section 2 is provided with a signal processing section 2A for processing a detection signal from the detection section 3, and the signal processing section 2A searches for a pipe route in the detection section 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the amplification circuits 2A1 and 2A2 amplify the detection current from the detection unit 3 (for convenience, the detection unit for exploring the piping route is indicated by reference numeral 3A) to a signal level necessary for determination. And a filter 2A3 for removing noise from the detection current, and the amplified detection current is A / D converted and output to the determination unit 2. In FIG. 3, a signal processing unit 2A includes a self-excited oscillation circuit connected to a detection unit 3 (for convenience, a detection unit for searching for a nail is indicated by reference numeral 3B) as a configuration for detecting the presence of a nail. 2A4 is provided, and a detection current based on an inductance amount changed by a nail in contact with or penetrating the flexible tube is A / D converted and output to the determination unit 2.

The judging section 2 temporarily registers a ROM (not shown) storing a processing program necessary for exploring a damaged portion and basic data necessary for judging, and signal data relating to a current detected by the detecting section 3. It has a RAM (not shown). In the determination unit 2, a current value corresponding to the pipe depth of the flexible pipe is input in advance from the interior material surface, and the current value is used as a threshold to detect the change in the detected current value output from the detection unit 3 from the pipe depth. Part 3
Is determined to determine the presence of a nail close to. In other words, if there is a nail that is in contact with or penetrates the flexible tube with respect to the distance between the detection unit 3 and the flexible tube, the change in the magnetic flux through the nail indicates the change in the induced current. , The induced current value can be compared with a threshold value.

The alarm unit 5 includes a warning unit 5A using a speaker, a lamp, and the like, and a marking processing unit 5B. The warning unit 5A is configured to warn by sounding a speaker or lighting a lamp by a warning signal output when the determination unit 2 determines the presence of a nail that is in contact with or penetrates the flexible pipe.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the marking processing section 5B is disposed in the same
A comprises a solenoid 5B1 operated by an output signal from the determination unit 2 and a marking pen 5B2 driven by the solenoid 5B at the same time as the activation of the marking pen 5B12. And can be stamped. The solenoid 5B1 is magnetically shielded with the detection unit 3 so that the solenoid 5B1 is not affected by the magnetic force at the time of excitation. Note that, instead of such a measure, the detection operation of the detection unit 3 may be interrupted when the solenoid 5B21 is excited.

In the method of searching for a damaged part of this embodiment using the searching device having the above-described configuration, a procedure based on a flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is executed. In FIG. 5, the exploration device 1
Performs necessary preparation steps for the concealed piping shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. First, before explaining the exploration method, the concealed piping in FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described as follows. Flexible pipe 6 that constitutes a pipe line
Is fixed by being attached to a structural material 7 such as a stud by a pipe fixing tool 8 and a concealing material 9
An interior material 10 such as a gypsum board or a decorative lining material is disposed on the surface of the concealing material 9. The interior material 10 is attached to the surface of the concealing material 9 by nails 11 driven by a nailing machine (not shown) or the like.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, a nail indicated by reference numeral 11A indicates a nail which has erroneously penetrated the flexible tube 6 and damaged the flexible tube 6, and a nail indicated by reference numeral 11B indicates a nail which is not attached to the flexible tube 6. Each nail is shown driven into a position that does not cause damage.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the method for searching for a damaged portion targeting the concealed pipe line having the above configuration, a predetermined current is applied to the flexible pipe 6 in the section to be searched, and a magnetic field is applied around the flexible pipe 6. Is generated (ST1). When the predetermined current is applied, although not shown, a process for initializing the determination unit 2 in the search device 1 and setting the predetermined current is performed. Feeding terminals 4A and 4B of the current generating means 4 are connected to both ends of a section to be searched in a pipe line constituted by the flexible pipe 6 for applying a predetermined current. Power supply terminals 4A, 4B
Is connected to the section to be searched, the section to be searched is configured as a closed circuit, a predetermined current flows in the section, and a magnetic field having a strength corresponding to the current value is formed around the pipeline. At this time, the determining unit 2 registers this current value as a threshold for determining a damaged portion based on the correlation between the strength of the magnetic field generated in the pipe line and the value of the induced current due to electromagnetic induction obtained from the magnetic field. You. Therefore, the induced current value corresponding to the depth from the surface of the interior material 10 to the arrangement position of the flexible pipe 6 is registered in the determination unit 2 in advance, and the change in the induced current value according to the change in the pipe depth is obtained. Thereby, the location of the nail 11B penetrating the flexible pipe 6 can be searched.

When the preparation for the search by applying the predetermined current is completed, the actual search is started. In this case, the exploration involves exploring the route of the flexible piping route (ST2).
And investigation of damage spots by nails in the placement route (ST
3) is executed. In the exploration process of the arrangement route of the flexible pipe 6, in FIG. 8, an induced current value (I ₁₎ obtained by bringing the detection unit 3 into contact with the surface of the interior material 10 and slidingly contacting the surface of the interior material 10 in that state. ) Is taken into the determination unit 2 (ST2A), and the current value is compared with the current value (I) registered in the determination unit 2 in advance (ST2B). In the comparison in step ST2A, when the value matches the induced current value registered in the determination unit 2, the location can be recognized as the arrangement position of the flexible tube 6, and the result is displayed on the display unit (ST2C). Note that, instead of the display on the display unit, the ammeter 4H may be observed to check the induced current value obtained from the detection unit 3. In this case,
It is preferable that the current value registered in the determination unit 2 is displayed as a numerical value so that the current value can be compared.

On the other hand, in the damage location search processing, the induced current value (I ₂ ) obtained by the detection unit 3 in FIG. 9 is taken into the determination unit 2 (ST3A), and the current value is determined in advance by the determination unit 2
Is compared with the current value (I) registered in (ST3)
B). In step ST3B, the detected current value (I ₂ ) is the current value (I ₀ ) registered in advance in the determination unit 2.
If it is larger than this, it means that the presence of the nail 11B corresponding to a state where the arrangement depth is shallow by penetrating or contacting the flexible pipe 6 is detected. As a result, the determination unit 2 outputs a warning signal to the warning unit 5 described later, and outputs a drive signal for executing the marking process (ST3C).

When the presence of the nail 11B is detected in the nail search processing, the warning unit 5 determines the presence or absence of a warning signal. If the warning signal is output, the warning unit 5 is driven to activate a buzzer or a lamp. Is driven (ST4, ST5 in FIG. 5).

When a warning signal is output from the determination unit 2, a marking process is performed (ST in FIG. 5).
6). In the marking process, as shown in FIG. 10, it is determined whether or not a drive signal has been output from a drive unit of a solenoid used for marking (ST6A).
When the drive signal is output, the solenoid is driven to activate the marking pen 5B2 (see FIG. 4), and the interior material 1
0 is stamped on the surface (ST6B).

The operation of the exploration apparatus 1 has been described above. When the presence of the nail 11A that is in contact with or penetrates the flexible pipe 6 in the arrangement route of the flexible pipe 6 is warned, the entire area of the exploration target section is warned. After the exploration is over,
Removal or replacement of the flexible pipe 6 at the corresponding location is performed. When removing or replacing the flexible pipe 6, the surface of the interior material 10 stamped by the marking process is confirmed, and the interior material 10 is perforated at that position. In the drilling operation in this case, a hole having a size necessary for removing or replacing the flexible tube 6 and confirming the state of the nail and the flexible tube 6 is formed by a drill or the like. When the nail 11 is in contact with the flexible pipe 6 and does not affect the gas leakage, the nail is pulled out from the interior material 10 without replacing the flexible pipe 6, and the nail is pulled to another position. It may be overshot.

On the other hand, when the above-described removal or replacement of the flexible pipe is completed, the interior material 10 is restored. This work only needs to be performed on the perforated portion of the interior material 10, and the re-attachment of the concealing material 9 and the
Work such as pasting is performed.

In this embodiment, in order to search for the route of disposition of the flexible pipe 6 and the damaged portion of the flexible tube 6 due to the nail, the electromagnetic conditions in the detector 3 are used as the search conditions. In addition to the above conditions, the conduction state at the search position may be detected. That is, the nail 11 </ b> B
A probe is brought into contact with the head of the flexible tube 6, and the probe and the section to be searched for the flexible tube 6 are formed in a closed circuit, and the electric resistance value in the circuit is observed. Since the electric resistance changes according to the contact relationship between the flexible tube 6 and the nail 11 including the penetrating state, a threshold value in the penetrating state is set for the electric resistance value, and the resistance value is lower than this threshold value. Is determined. According to the addition of such a condition, it is possible to determine the damage state of the flexible pipe 6 due to the nail at the search position together with the search for the damaged portion.

[0031]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the detecting section is scanned on the surface of the pipe, thereby detecting the detecting section based on the previously input pipe depth of the flexible pipe. Where the magnitude of the induced current is detected and the location of the induced current corresponding to the state where the electrical conductor is located at a position shallower than the depth of the pipe during the exploration process while exploring the piping position is detected. Is determined as a damaged portion where the nail comes into contact with or penetrates the flexible tube, and that portion can be designated. As a result, the damaged portion can be easily identified without requiring a large-scale facility and without an operation of removing the entire surface of the concealing portion.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the damaged portion found by the exploration can be confirmed from the outside by displaying the damaged portion by marking. This facilitates the confirmation work after the exploration.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the magnitude of the induced current from the detecting section is determined based on the previously input pipe depth of the flexible pipe by scanning the detecting section on the surface of the pipe path. Detecting and exploring the pipe position, and in the exploration process, the nail is in contact with the flexible pipe at the point where the magnitude of the induced current corresponding to the state where the electrical conductor is located at a position shallower than the pipe depth is detected. Judge as a penetrated damage point and specify that point,
After the treatment of the flexible pipe at that point is completed, the pipe line can be rehabilitated by performing the restoration work of the concealing member. This enables the concealment pipeline to be repaired within the minimum necessary range in the concealment section, so that it is possible to reduce the equipment and labor required for restoring a damaged portion of the concealment pipeline and to simplify the operation. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of an exploration device used in a method for exploring a damaged part according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a current generating means used in the search device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a signal processing unit provided in a determination unit used in the search device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration of a marking device used in an alarm unit in the search device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the search device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a schematic pipeline which is an object of the damage location exploration method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a pipeline which is an object of the damage location exploration method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a pipeline arrangement route search process in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a damaged portion search process in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a marking process in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Exploration apparatus 2 Judgment part 3 Detection part 3A Pipe route detection part 3B Nail presence detection part 4 Current generation means 5 Warning part 5A Warning part 5B Marking processing part 6 Flexible pipe 8 Concealing material 10 Interior material 11 Nail 11A Flexible pipe Nail not contacting or penetrating 11B Nail contacting or penetrating flexible tube

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method for searching for a damaged portion of a pipeline provided at a concealed portion, wherein a predetermined current is applied between both ends of a section to be searched of a flexible pipe to generate a magnetic field around the flexible pipe. Detecting the induced current according to the change in the magnetic field from the surface of the concealing member of the pipe, and comparing the detected current with a current value obtained from the strength of the magnetic field according to the pipe depth in advance, for the flexible pipe. While determining the pipe depth and exploring the pipe position, in the process of exploring the pipe position, the location where the induced current value detected is larger than the current value corresponding to the pipe depth is in contact with or penetrates the flexible pipe. A method for locating a damaged part of a concealed conduit, which is determined as a place where a target conductor is present and the position is designated. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a marking process is performed on a surface of the concealed portion where the electric conductor is detected. Construction method. 3. A method for searching for a damaged portion of a pipeline provided at a concealed portion, wherein a predetermined current is applied between both ends of a section to be searched for a flexible pipe and a magnetic field is generated around the flexible pipe. Detecting the induced current according to the change in the magnetic field from the surface of the concealing member of the pipe, and comparing the detected current with a current value obtained from the strength of the magnetic field according to the pipe depth in advance, for the flexible pipe. While determining the pipe depth and exploring the pipe position, in the process of exploring the pipe position, the location where the induced current value detected is larger than the current value corresponding to the pipe depth is in contact with or penetrates the flexible pipe. Damage to the concealed conduit characterized by determining the position where the physical conductor is present, specifying the position, and performing the restoration work of the concealed part after the treatment of the flexible pipe at the specified position is completed. Where exploration method.