Patents Assigned to Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20100164224
    Abstract: A separation prevention device for a pipe joint has disengagement prevention members and a press member. The disengagement prevention members are disposed at a plurality of locations in a circumferential direction of the pipe, on an inner peripheral surface of an engaging tool or of a receiving opening itself and which are formed with claws. The press member presses the disengagement prevention member radially inward of the pipe and which engages the claw with the outer peripheral surface of an inserting opening. The claw of the disengagement prevention member and the claw of the disengagement prevention member which is adjacent to the former disengagement prevention member in the circumferential direction of the pipe are arranged so as to overlap on each other in the axial direction of the pipe in a state where the claws are engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the inserting opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: WATERWORKS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION CO. LTD
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Bekki
  • Patent number: 7717136
    Abstract: A pipeline closing apparatus comprises a lid member attachable to a downstream end portion of a sluice valve, a first control shaft extending through the lid member, a second control shaft extending through the first control shaft, an elastic annular member disposed between pressing plates and provided on inward end regions of the control shafts and elastically deformable to a diameter-increased position by being clamped and pressed, thereby to block between an inner peripheral surface of a branch pipe and the pressing plates, and a retaining device. The retaining device includes engaging link pairs flexing and bulging to a diameter-increased position in response to outward sliding movement of the second control shaft relative to the first control shaft. The apparatus further comprises a reversal preventing device F which, contacts and limits the engaging link pairs and to an outwardly bent position where flexing pivotal portions of the engaging link pairs project radially outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Sakai
  • Publication number: 20090166573
    Abstract: To enable efficient and easy attachment of a shutoff operation cover at a proper attaching position relative to two joining flange portions and also to restrict deformation in a leading end portion of a gate plate valve. A shutoff operation cover B is attached to two pipe portions 2, 3 jointed and fastened together with a fastener 5. The shutoff operation cover B is capable of surrounding outer peripheries of the two joining flange portions 2A, 3A under a sealed condition, and there is provided a gate plate valve 10 in the form of a thin plate, the valve being insertable and withdrawable for shutting off conduits of the two pipe portions 2, 3. As the gate plate valve 10 is inserted to a conduit shutting position through a gap S formed between the two joining flange portions 2A, 3A in association with a loosening operation of the fastener 5, the conduit is shut off between the two joining flange portions 2A, 3A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Sakai, Akihito Totsugi
  • Patent number: 7354073
    Abstract: A pipe joint includes a push ring having a tapered receptacle and fitted to a junction pipe; a pipe joint main body having a pipe receptacle and fitted to the junction pipe; a clamp for moving the push ring toward the joint main body; a packing ring disposed between the pipe joint main body and the junction pipe and fitted into the pipe receptacle; an anti-slip ring disposed between the push ring and the junction pipe and cleaved at one position; an elastic member disposed between the push ring and the packing ring, to press the anti-slip ring toward the tapered receptacle and the junction pipe; and a spacer disposed between the packing ring and the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouichi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7328874
    Abstract: A supporting device for non-averaged force in a pipeline comprised of a frame that is fixed to a supporting portion and a fixing mechanism for fixing a pipe body to the frame, wherein wedge bodies capable of blocking movements of the pipe body in a pipe axial direction with respect to the frame are provided when being pressed against an outer surface of the pipe body through pressing force acting from the frame towards the pipe body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Tenma, Masashi Igarashi, Kenji Otsuka, Kikuo Saito, Haruhiko Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7073776
    Abstract: A sluicing valve device in which a valve element is arranged in case members attachable to a pipe, and the valve element comprises a valve element core metal fitting, an elastic seal member covering the same, and a lifting and lowering shaft formed into a rod shape along an insertion direction in order to move the valve element core metal fitting along the insertion direction inside of the pipe, wherein the valve element core metal fitting supports the elastic seal member inserted into the pipe and presses the same from the insertion direction to deform elastically, and a guide portion preventing the elastic seal member from protruding in an axial center direction of the pipe is formed on a tip end side in the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Mori
  • Patent number: 6893001
    Abstract: A gate valve apparatus comprising an elastic seal member inserted into a pipe, a pressure member for elastically deforming the elastic seal member under pressure, a drive shaft for moving the pressure member along the direction of insertion, a movable member for keeping the elastic seal member in pressure contact with the inner wall surface of the pipe, and a support member for supporting the elastic seal member. The elastic seal member is elastically deformed and kept in close contact with the inner wall surface of the pipe thereby to gate the flow path in the pipe. The elastic seal member includes a through hole which is formed nearer to the forward end portion along the direction of insertion than the guide hole of the support member and by way of which the forward end portion of the drive shaft can be inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tamotsu Maenishi
  • Patent number: 6773040
    Abstract: A spacer-less type pipe joint comprises a press ring which has a protruding portion at its outer periphery and is fitted to an outer periphery of one end side of jointed pipe, a joint main body which has a protruding portion opposing the protruding portion of the press ring at a side opposing the press ring and a receiving opening portion which is extended toward the press ring at the inner peripheral side of the protruding portion of the joint main body and which is fitted to the outer periphery of the jointed pipe with a peripheral clearance being formed there between, a securing tool which can move the press ring in a direction of the joint main body, and a packing ring which is provided between the joint main body and the jointed pipe and fitted into the receiving opening portion by its elastic deformation due to direct press of the press ring moved by operation of the securing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kikuo Saito, Akihito Totsugi
  • Publication number: 20040040606
    Abstract: A flexible pipe joint joins, in a bendable manner, a first pipe member provided with a partially spherical outer circumferential surface that protrudes outward in radial direction and a second pipe member provided with a partially spherical inner surface that can slide along the partially spherical outer circumferential surface. A sleeve made of a synthetic resin is inserted and fitted in a state of contact, bridging the inner circumferential surfaces of the two pipe members. The sleeve has a length that covers a cavity portion that opens inward in radial direction at a location where the two pipe members are joined together, and is elastically deformed substantially maintaining its circular tube shape when following a flexure of the two pipe members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: WATERWORKS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Bekki, Tsutomu Kiyozumi
  • Patent number: 6659511
    Abstract: A flexible pipe joint apparatus for use in a fluid (e.g., water) transport pipe system for maximally absorbing an external force such as a compression or tensile force applied to a pipe of the fluid transport system due to an earthquake, differential settlement, thermal expansion or contraction of the pipe per se, thus preventing resultant damage at a weak portion of the pipe. The apparatus includes a receiving tubular member and an inserting tubular member insertable into and connectable with the receiving tubular member along a tube axial direction. A stopper portion is formed in an outer peripheral face of the inserting tubular member, the stopper portion projecting radially outward from the outer peripheral face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Yoneyama, Akihito Totsugi
  • Publication number: 20020189692
    Abstract: A fluid transport pipe joint for use in connecting a branch pipe to an existing fluid transport pipe is disclosed. The joint includes a joint body having first and second open ends connectable respectively with first and second ends of the fluid transport pipe formed by cutting away a predetermined length portion from the pipe, and a third open end connectable with the branch pipe, a pair of seal rings fitted over the first and second ends of the fluid transport pipe, the seal rings being slidable over an outer peripheral face of the fluid transport pipe so as to respectively seal a border portion between the first open end of the joint body and the first end of the fluid transport pipe and a border portion between the second open end of the joint body and the second end of the fluid transport pipe, a valve disposed inside the joint body to be pivotable therein to control flow of fluid running inside the joint body, and a seat provided within the joint body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: WATERWORKS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taichi Sato, Kikuo Saito
  • Patent number: 6467813
    Abstract: A reinforcement fitting provides shrinkage and expansion capabilities while maintaining sealability at the connection between existing pipes. The reinforcement fitting includes an externally fitting portion with an inside diameter that can fit over the existing pipes, a contact member installed in a recessed portion formed on the inside of the externally fitted portion having a tapered contact surface and a contact portion to contact with an outer surface of one of the existing pipes wherein contact resistance with one of the existing pipes increases when an external force is exerted in the direction to separate the existing pipes, an engagement portion which is able to engage with a flange portion of the other existing pipe when the external force is exerted in the direction to separate the existing pipes, and a cut out portion formed at an outer side of the reinforcement fitting for establishing a clearance for a protruded portion used in connecting the existing pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Takemura, Kikuo Saito, Kohtaro Morikawa
  • Patent number: 6371530
    Abstract: A tube joint comprises: a pushing ring provided at its outer periphery with a projection and fitted to an outer periphery of one end of a joint tube; a tube or a joint body provided at is side opposed to the pushing ring with a projection opposed to the projection of the pushing ring, the tube or the joint body having a receiving portion which is widened toward the pushing ring and the tube or the joint body being fitted to an outer periphery of the joint tube with a peripheral gap left therebetween; a fastening tool capable of moving the pushing ring in a direction of the tube or the joint body; a packing provided between inner and outer side of the tube or the joint body and the joint tube, and fitted through the receiving portion by its own resilient deformation by operation of the fastening tool; and a spacer inserted between the pushing ring and the tube or the joint body to limit a distance between the pushing ring and the tube or the joint body to a constant value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taichi Sato, Koichi Shirakawa, Kosuke Sakai
  • Patent number: 6305426
    Abstract: An expansion tube joint of the present invention comprises a first cylindrical body, a second cylindrical body inserted along an axis of the first cylindrical body, a seal member mounted between the first and second cylindrical bodies closer to an insertion port of the first cylindrical body, a lock mechanism provided at a position deeper than the seal member for restricting a relative movement range along the axis of the first and second cylindrical bodies, and a coming-out preventing member for preventing the seal member from coming out from the insertion port of the first cylindrical body, wherein after a member constituting the lock mechanism is mounted, the seal member can be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taichi Sato, Yasushi Fujita
  • Patent number: 6250690
    Abstract: An expansion flexible tube joint comprising a first cylindrical body having a pair of spherical surface ring materials each formed with partially spherical outer surface, a second cylindrical body comprising a sleeve inserted into the first cylindrical body for relative movement thereof from an axial direction thereof, the sleeve provided at its end portion with stopper means for limiting extending and contracting movement relative to the first cylindrical body, and third cylindrical bodies fitted over both outer peripheral surfaces and comprising a pair of casing tubes each having slidable spherical inner peripheral surfaces and connection portions at opposite ends thereof, wherein an end inner peripheral surface of each of third cylindrical bodies at the thereof to which second cylindrical body is inserted is chamfered, and the chamfered angle is 16° or greater, and the stopper means is mounted to an outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical body and is formed into a closed ring shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kosuke Sakai
  • Patent number: D453552
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taichi Sato, Yasushi Fujita
  • Patent number: D453816
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taichi Sato, Yasushi Fujita
  • Patent number: D454623
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taichi Sato, Yasushi Fujita
  • Patent number: D481108
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Go Horikawa
  • Patent number: D489434
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Waterworks Technology Development Organization Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Go Horikawa