Keiyo Gas has made intensive efforts in the research and development for further benefits of customers over the past years.  Their efforts have produced a number of successful achievements.  Among others, Keiyo Gas has won JGA's R&D Awards for five consecutive years since 2000.   This newsletter introduces the company's efforts and highlights the "Development of the Transition Branch Joint for Steel Pipes", which was awarded by JGA this year.

	R&D by Keiyo Gas focuses on niche technologies and engineering methods with the potential to provide merits for gas utilities, and won its first JGA R&D Award in 1997 with its development of a "UM-screw gas outlet" that permits the installation of gas meters in restricted piping spaces.  Since 1999, the company has held annual in-house R&D presentations as part of its efforts to enhance the technical abilities of members.  Keiyo Gas has given individual operations their own targets for the number of applications for patents and other intellectual property rights as well as financial targets for cost-cutting technology, and targets for the number of releases.  It is working to develop technologies that are readily acceptable to business partners such as piping contractors.

	FY 1997: UM-screw gas outlet FY 2000: Pressure tester for newly-laid flexible piping (Nail detection balloon) FY 2001: Color mantles for gas lamps FY 2002: Low cost pipe branching method (CLIP joint method) FY 2003: Gas bag usable when welding (SP FLAGRON) FY 2004: Transition Branch Joint for Steel Pipes

The tools required for ordinary branching methods for live pipes include a non-blow shutter unit and a unit for taking away cutting debris.  Since it is necessary to sever an existing pipe or to install a bypass, the process usually takes a great deal of time and is expensive.  A joint R&D team was set up by Keiyo Gas, Hokuriku Gas, Otaki Gas, and joint manufacturer JFE Pipe Fitting Mfg. to pursue ways of cutting costs and raising safety levels for regional gas utilities, and developed the transition branch joint for steel pipes.   The joint is constructed so as to already incorporate a non-blow receptacle that simultaneously functions as a means of recovering cutting debris, enabling the branching work to proceed without leaks when adding a branch to a low pressure steel pipe.  This joint prevents the occurrence of accidents associated with branching work, thereby producing a significant leap forward in safety levels.  Because the technology eliminates the need for shutter units and associated equipment, it also helps to cut initial costs and makes the work easier to perform.   The whole branching process from the start of excavation to the point where the road can be used again takes only about 3-4 hours, which is only about 50% of the time required for ordinary branching methods. Construction costs are also cut by about 50% from about JPY 369,000 per branch to about 184,000 per branch. (These calculations are estimates based on Keiyo Gas experience.)   In addition to the cost savings, the excavation area is also reduced by about 75%, and there is an approximately 75% reduction in the volume of excavated soil, which has to be handled as industrial waste.  Through these cuts, the technology contributes to preservation of the environment.

	The cost savings produced by use of this joint, and the ease with which it can be used, have led to it being adopted by 20 utilities, and put into practical use in about 120 cases.   For details of the R&D process for this technology, please contact Daisuke Saito (d-saito@keiyogas.co.jp) or Tadashi Terunuma (t-terunuma@keiyogas.co.jp) at the Keiyo Gas Technical Training Center.