The present invention relates to a header device, which is provided in a tube line under
environment with a high hygiene level of medical service, pharmacy, food, chemistry, or the like,
and which is used for supplying a fluid toward a plurality of supply destinations diverging from a
supply source, and a piping system using the header device.
[Background Art]
[0002]
Conventionally, as the use of such a header device, there is a dialysis system including a
reverse osmosis membrane device (RO device), a dialysis agent dissolving device, and a dialysate
supply device, which are set in a machine room, and a plurality of dialyzers, which are set in a
dialysis room separated from the machine room, in a dialysis facility of a hospital or the like for
simultaneously performing a blood dialysis treatment for a plurality of patients (see, e.g., PTL 1 ).
RO water generated at the RO device is supplied to the dialysis agent dissolving device
and the dialysate supply device via an RO water supply line. The dialysis agent dissolving device
dissolves an A agent and a B agent of powder formulations for dialysis by RO water, resulting in a
solution A and a solution B. The solution A and the solution B are each supplied to the dialysate
supply device via a dialysis raw solution supply line.
The dialysate supply device adjusts the solution A, the solution B, and the RO water at
prescribed ratios, thereby forming a dialysis solution with a prescribed concentration. The dialysis
solution is supplied to a plurality of dialyzers via a header and a branch pipe for the dialysis solution.
[Citation List]
[Patent Literature]
[0003]
[PTL 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-104631
[Summary of Invention]
[Problem to Be Solved by the Invention]
[0004]
Incidentally, the RO water of the RO device is required to be supplied not only to the
dialysis agent dissolving device (an A agent dissolving device and a B agent dissolving device) and
the dialysate supply device in the machine room but also to a plurality of dialyzers in the dialysis
room. The plurality of dialyzers include a dialyzer for a large number of people for supplying a
dialysate with a prescribed concentration from the dialysate supply device, a personal dialysis
device for supplying only the RO water, and the like, and may perform simultaneous supply thereto.
To this end, a distribution pipe having branch ports, which are called headers, is connected and
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fixed to the RO water supply line from the RO device, and distributes the RO water from the plurality
of branch ports. As the header (distribution pipe), there is used an integrated header device
obtained by integrating a plurality of branch ports with a pipe member made of a metal or made of a
synthetic resin by welding or fusing, or a split header device including header parts mutually joined
and connected so that a plurality of branch ports are set side by side with a combination of header
parts including elbows, tees, nipples, sockets, or the like.
The connection ports of devices such as the RO device, the A agent dissolving device, the
B agent dissolving device, the dialysate supply device, vary in size and connection structure
_according to the equipment manufacture and the dialysis facility. Thus, the connection
therebetween is required to be established by interposing various adaptors at the inlets of the
integrated header device and the split header device, and at a plurality of branch ports. Further, in
the dialysis system, the facilities such as the RO device, the A agent dissolving device, the B agent
dissolving device, the dialysate supply device, and a plurality of dialyzers require regular
replacement of parts. In addition, at the time of renewal of the facilities, and at the time of the
relocation of the facilities, the number of distributions of the RO water is often increased or
decreased.
When the number of distributions of the RO water is increased or decreased, in the case
where the header (distribution pipe) is an integrated header device, the header must be replaced
with an integrated header device having the number of branch ports corresponding to the increased
or decreased number of distributions. This accordingly may result in a construction of the tube
lines of not only the RO water supply line but also the dialysis solution supply line. During the
construction, the dialysis treatment cannot be performed. When various germs are deposited
during construction, contamination expands to the whole tube lines. Thus, much time is spent until
the cleanliness of the whole tube lines is recovered, undesirably resulting in the occurrence of the
period in which the blood dialysis treatment cannot be performed.
In contrast, when the header (distribution pipe) is a split header device, the increase or
decrease in number of the header parts is adaptable thereto. This eliminates the necessity of
replacement of the whole header, resulting in the reduction of the work amount of the construction.
However, the number of branch ports included in one header part is one. Thus, an
increase in number of distributions of RO water results in an increase in number of parts of the
header parts, which also increases the number of joint parts between the header parts. As a
result, leakage from the joint parts or breakage or the like at the joint parts becomes more likely to
occur as much as the increase in number of joint parts. In addition, the risk of various germs
. contamination due to liquid pool at the joint parts is increased, undesirably resulting in an increase
in cost. Further, the work time of assembly is increased as much as the increase in number of
parts of the header parts, undesirably resulting in inferior workability in association with the change
------ --· - - - ----- --- .
in number of distributions. Particularly, the joint parts are the parts to be directly touched by the
hands of workers in the assembly work of the header parts. This has undesirably resulted in a
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higher probability that various germs may be deposited as much as the increase in number of the
joint parts.
Under such circumstances, there has been a demand for a split header adaptable thereto
with a small number of parts even when the number of distributions of RO water is increased or
decreased.
[Means for Solving the Problem]
[0005]
In order to solve such a problem, a header device in accordance with the present invention
is a header device equipped in a tube line extending from a supply source toward a plurality of
supply destinations. The header device is charactelized by including: an inflow header part having
an inlet leading to the supply source; a first header part having an odd number of first branch ports
leading to any of the plurality of supply destinations; and a second header part having an even
number of second branch ports leading to some of the plurality of supply destinations, and
characterized in that the inflow header part, the first header part, and the second header part are
formed in a mutually joined and detachably connected structure, and have flow paths linearly
communicated inside the inflow header part, the first header part, and the second header part in
mutually joined and connected states.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
[0006]
[Fig. 1]
Fig. 1 is an explanatory view showing an overall configuration of a header device in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially cutaway front view of the connected state.
[Fig. 2]
Fig. 2 is an explanatory view showing a modified example of the header device in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially cutaway front view when a branch port is
rotatably disposed.
[Fig. 3]
Fig. 3 is an explanatory view showing a modified example of the header device in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially cutaway front view when the inlet
direction is changed.
[Fig. 4]
Fig. 4 is an explanatory view showing a modified example of the header device in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially cutaway front view when the opening is
covered with a sealing lid.
[Fig. 5]
Fig. 5 is an explanatory view showing a modified example of the header device in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially cutaway front view when division into a
main header and a sub header is achieved.
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linearty communicated with one another while being joined and connected by the combination of the
inflow header part 1, the first header part 2, and the second header part 3.
Namely, inside the inflow header part 1, an inflow side flow path 12 is formed as the flow
path, and the inlet 11 is opened so as to be communicated with the inflow side flow path 12.
Inside the first header part 2, a first flow path 22 is formed as the flow path, and the first
branch port 21 is opened so as to be communicated with the first flow path 22.
Inside the second header part 3, a second flow path 32 is formed as the flow path, and the
second branch ports 31 are opened so as to be communicated with the second flow path 32.
[0009]
The whole of the inflow header part 1, the first header part 2, and the second header part 3,
or the liquid contact surface of the flow path (the inflow side flow path 12, the first flow path 22, and
the second flow path 32) in contact with at least the fluid at the header parts thereof is preferably
formed of a fluororesin such as vinylidene polyfluoride (PVDF), or a sulfone type resin such as
polyphenyl sulfone (PPSU), polysulfone (PSU), or polyether sulfone (PESU).
When the whole of the inflow header part 1, the first header part 2, and the second header
part 3 is integrally formed of a hard material, an opaque hard material can be used. However, use
of a transparent or translucent hard material enables the fluid passing through the flow path (the
inflow side flow path 12, the first flow path 22, and the second flow path 32) to be seen through from
the outside, which is advantageous.
Particularly, the sulfone type resin is higher in temperature of deflection under load (thermal
deformation temperature) than a fluororesin (PVDF), and keeps non-crystallinity, and hence is
transparent, which is preferable. Out of the sulfone type resins, PPSU is higher in heat resistant
temperature than PSU and PESU, and is also excellent in resistance against a wide variety of
chemicals such as an acid and a base, and hence is preferable.
[0010]
At the first header part 2, first branch ports 21 leading to any of the plurality of supply
destinations C are formed in an odd number.
The term "odd number" herein denoted is a positive integer not divisible by 2 of natural
numbers, such as 1, 3, 5, or the like, and does not include a negative integer such as -1, -3, or -5.
Especially of the odd numbers, the number of the first branch ports 21 is preferably limited to a
smaller number of types such as one or three types from the viewpoint of control of parts.
· At the second header part 3, second branch ports 31 leading to some of the plurality of
supply destinations C are formed in an even number.
The term "even number" herein denoted is a positive integer divisible by 2 of natural
numbers, such as 2, 4, 6, or the like, and does not include zero or a negative integer such as -2, -4,
or -6. Especially of the even numbers, the number of the second branch ports 31 is preferably
controlled to a smaller number of branches such as two or four from the viewpoint of control of
DArtS.
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.,
[0011]
Further, the inflow header part 1, the first header part 2, and the second header part 3 each
have any one of an insertion opening 4 or a socket 5 fitted into each other or both of the insertion
opening 4 and the socket 5 so as to be joined and connected with one another. The insertion
opening 4 or the socket 5 is formed in a detachably joined and connected structure in which each
undergoes recess/projection fitting each other in the flow path direction, and is configured such that
a sealing material S such as a packing is interposed between the joint surfaces of both so as to
prevent leakage. The inflow header part 1, the first header part 2, and the second header part 3
are preferably joined and ·connected with one another respectively rotatably around the flow path
(the inflow side flow path 12, the first flow path 22, and the second flow path 32) as the center by
the insertion opening 4 and the socket 5.
In addition, preferably, the inflow header part 1, the first header part 2, and the second
header part 3 are each provided with a fastening member 6 for holding the mutual joined and
connected state, and are detachably connected with one another by the fastening members 6.
Further, the connection ports of the supply source B and the plurality of supply destinations
C may vary in size and connected structure according to the equipment manufacturer
manufacturing them. In this case, at the inlet 11 of the inflow header part 1, the first branch port 21
of the first header part 2, and the sei::ond branch ports 31 of the second header part 3, conversion
joints (adaptors) 7 corresponding to the connection ports of the supply source B, and the plurality of
supply destinations Care preferably mounted detachably.
The tube line D extending from the supply source B to the plurality of supply destinations C
is preferably provided at the inside thereof with an open/close valve 8 for selectively controlling the
flow of the fluid toward the plurality of supply destinations C.
At the inflow header part 1, the first header part 2, and the second header part 3, the open
end of the flow path (the inflow side flow path 12, the first flow path 22, and the second flow path 32)
can also be covered with a sealing lid 9, if required. The first branch port 21 of the first header part
2 ahd the second branch ports 31 of the second header part 3 can be blocked by mounting a
sealing stopper 10 thereon, if required.
[0012]
Then, a piping system P using the header device A in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention is equipped with a tube line D extending from the supply source B of a fluid
toward the plurality of supply destinations C under environment with a high hygiene level of medical
service, pharmacy, food, chemistry, or the like. The tube lineD is equipped therein with a plurality
of types of header devices A manufactured in different structures according to the use site.
A description will be given to the case where the piping system P equipped with the header
device A is used for a dialysis system.

[CLAIMS]
[Claim 1]
A header device equipped in a tube line extending from a supply source toward a plurality
of supply destinations, the header device comprising:
an inflow header part having an inlet leading to the supply source;
a first header part having an odd number of first branch port or ports leading to any of the
plurality of supply destinations; and
a second header part having an even number of second branch ports leading to some of
the plurality of supply destinations,
wherein the inflow header part, the first header part, and the second header part are
formed in a mutually joined and detachably connected structure, and have flow paths linearly
communicated in mutually joined and connected states inside the inflow header part, the first
header part, and the second header part.
[Claim 2]
The header device according to claim 1, wherein· the first header part has only one of the
first branch port or ports, and the second header part has only two of the second branch. ports.
[Claim 3]
The header device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supply source is a dialysis water
treatment device, and the plurality of supply destinations include a dialyzer, a dialysate supply
device, and a dialysis agent dissolving device.
[Claim 4]
A piping system using the header device according to any one of claim 1, 2, or 3.