JP5210744B2 - Equipment design support apparatus, method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to equipment design support technology.

  When constructing facilities such as buildings, buildings and factories, there are the following problems. For example, the manufacturer of the equipment included in the facility may not be determined at the stage from order receipt to construction. Then, after starting the creation of the facility design drawing, the specific construction information of the equipment may be determined. In this case, when starting, it is necessary to proceed with drawing with a device of a specific manufacturer in mind and to replace it with a device of another manufacturer at a later stage. In addition, for a large-scale device, there may be a case where the pipe take-out position, the pipe size, and the like are changed even after the manufacturer and capacity are determined.

When such a change of equipment or a change in the piping connection position occurs, in the conventional construction drawing creation process, the construction company or the equipment designer has manually changed the pipes. . For this reason, it takes a lot of time to delete or change a part of the pipe whose connection point has been designed before replacing the equipment, and to design the connection of the pipe after the new equipment is arranged.
JP 2006-215731 A

  The purpose of the present invention is to change pipes using the pipe connection information that has already been drawn when the equipment is changed after drawing of the equipment that needs to be connected to the pipe. It is to realize a function that supports

  The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems. That is, the present invention relates to in-facility equipment information storage means for storing the position coordinates of the connecting portion where the pipe is connected to the equipment in the equipment and the arrangement direction of the connected pipe, and the first equipment is the first in the equipment. Input means for accepting designation to change to the second device, and the arrangement of the pipes connected to the position coordinates of the connecting portion to which the pipe should be connected in the second device when the first device is changed to the second device From the connection position calculation means for calculating the direction, and the pipe end formed by deleting a part in the direction going back from the pipe end or the pipe end connected to the connection part of the first device before the change, It can be illustrated as an equipment design support device comprising a route setting means for setting a route of piping to the connection part of the second device. According to the present design support device, the pipe can be connected to the second device after the replacement based on the position coordinates of the connecting portion before and after the replacement and the arrangement direction of the connected pipe.

  Furthermore, the design support apparatus includes a device connection position storage unit that stores, for each device, the position coordinates of the connection portion in the first coordinate system in the device and the arrangement direction of the pipe to be connected, and the second in the facility. Installation state memory for storing equipment placement points when equipment is installed in the coordinate system, the relative angle between the first coordinate system and the second coordinate system, and a reference point when equipment is placed at the equipment placement points And a means. The connection position calculation means positions the reference point of the second device at the arrangement point in the facility, and connects the second device when the first coordinate system is set at a relative angle with respect to the second coordinate system. What is necessary is just to calculate the position direction of the piping connected to the position coordinate of a part. According to the present design support device, it is possible to present the position coordinates of the connection part and the arrangement direction of the pipe after the device replacement.

In addition, the design support apparatus includes a device attribute storage unit that stores connection attribute information including a use of a pipe connected to the connection unit for each device, a connection unit of the first device, and a connection unit of the second device. And attribute comparison means for comparing the connection attribute information. Then, as a result of the comparison, if the connection attribute information does not match between the connection unit of the first device and the connection unit of the second device, the path setting unit and the connection unit of the first device There may be provided means for prompting input of a correspondence relationship for setting a route with the connection unit of the other device. According to this design support apparatus, when the connection attribute information does not match, it is possible to prompt the input of the connection port of the first device that should correspond to the connection port of the second device, and specify the pipe end to be connected.

  In this design support apparatus, the starting point vector indicating the arrangement direction of the pipe reaching the second device with the end of the pipe as the connection portion and the end point vector indicating the arrangement direction of the pipe in the connection portion of the second device are on the same plane. A parallel plane determining means for determining whether or not the starting point vector and the ending point vector are on different planes parallel to each other, and a path is set between the plane having the starting point vector and the plane having the end point vector. One level connection means may be further provided. That is, when the two vectors are on the same plane, the connection process may be executed according to the conditions on the same plane. On the other hand, when the two vectors are on different planes parallel to each other, a path connecting the respective planes can be set to result in a relationship on the same plane.

  In this design support apparatus, the starting point vector and the ending point vector are not on the same plane or on different planes parallel to each other, and one of the starting point vector and the ending point vector is an XY plane, a YZ plane, Or, when it is on the first target plane parallel to the ZX plane, the 90 degree joint, the 45 degree joint, the straight pipe in the other vector direction from the connecting portion indicated by the other vector not on the first target plane, and 90 Single target plane path setting means connected to a straight pipe on a second target plane parallel to the first target plane by a combination with a degree joint, or a combination of a straight pipe in the other vector direction and a 45 degree joint And a second interlevel connecting means for setting a route from the straight pipe of the second target plane to the first target plane. According to the present design support apparatus, when one of the start point vector and the end point vector is on a plane parallel to the XY plane, the YZ plane, or the ZX plane, the XY plane, the YZ plane, or the ZX plane in which the vector exists A parallel plane is defined as a first target plane. Then, the second target plane is set in the vicinity of the other vector that is not on the first target plane. Then, by setting a path from the connecting portion indicated by the other vector to the second target plane and a path from the second target plane to the first target plane, the origin vector and end point vector sharing the plane are set. Return to the relationship and execute the process.

  The design support apparatus further includes means for determining whether the other vector that is not on the first target plane is on a stepped plane parallel to the first target plane, and the first inter-level connection means includes The route may be set between the first target plane and the uneven plane. According to this design support apparatus, the processing of the starting point vector and the ending point vector on two parallel uneven planes can be reduced to the processing on each plane.

In addition, the present design support apparatus is such that the starting point vector and the ending point vector are not on the same plane or on different planes parallel to each other, and the starting point vector and the ending point vector are both XY plane, YZ plane, and ZX. A path on a third target plane parallel to the two coordinate axes, when not parallel to any of the planes, from the connection point indicated by the origin vector to a 90 degree joint, a 45 degree joint, and a straight pipe in the direction of the origin vector; A path of the first straight pipe that can be connected to the combination with the 90 degree joint or by the combination of the straight pipe and the 45 degree joint in the direction of the starting vector is set, and the first parallel pipe parallel to the third target plane is set. 4 on the target plane, 90 degree joint, 45 degree joint from the connection point indicated by the end point vector, combination of straight pipe and 90 degree joint in the direction of the end point vector, or other A plurality of target plane path setting means for setting a path of a second straight pipe connectable by a combination of a straight pipe in the vector direction and a 45 degree joint, and between the first straight pipe and the second straight pipe And a third inter-level connecting means for setting a route. By such processing, the relationship between the start point vector and the end point vector that are not on the same plane, and the start point vector and the end point vector are not on the XY plane, the YZ plane, or the plane parallel to the ZX plane, Reduce to the shared relationship and execute the process.

  The multiple target plane path setting means sets the first straight pipe in the direction of the intersection of the plane perpendicular to the starting point vector and the third target plane, and the first straight line from the connecting portion indicated by the starting point vector. Means for setting a path by a 90-degree joint, a 45-degree joint, a combination of a straight pipe and a 90-degree joint in the starting vector direction, or a combination of a straight pipe and a 45-degree joint in the starting vector direction; and an end point A second straight pipe is set in the direction of the intersection of the plane perpendicular to the vector and the fourth target plane, and a 90-degree joint, a 45-degree joint is connected to the second straight pipe from the connecting portion indicated by the end point vector, There may be provided means for setting a route by a combination of a straight pipe in the direction of the end point vector and a 90 degree joint, or a combination of a straight pipe in the direction of the end point vector and a 45 degree joint. Further, the third inter-level connecting means may include means for connecting the first straight pipe and the second straight pipe through a route including a pipe provided with 90 degree joints or 45 degree joints at both ends. Good. With such a configuration, the path of the first straight pipe perpendicular to the starting point vector can be set as the third target plane. Also, the second straight pipe path perpendicular to the end point vector can be set as the fourth target plane. And it can be reduced to the process which shares a plane by providing piping which eliminates a level difference between the 1st straight pipe and the 2nd straight pipe.

  According to the present invention, when drawing of a device requiring connection with piping proceeds, when the device is changed, the piping connection information is changed using the drawn piping connection information in accordance with the change. Can help.

A design support apparatus according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described below with reference to the drawings. The configuration of the following embodiment is an exemplification, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment.
<Function overview>
FIG. 1 exemplifies a functional outline of the design support apparatus. This design support apparatus supports the design of various equipment including piping, specifically, heat source equipment and air conditioning equipment to which the pipe is connected, for example, temperature control equipment including a refrigerator. In such facilities, it is necessary to install piping such as refrigerators as well as equipment.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of the screen of the present design support apparatus that supports the design of such equipment. FIG. 1 illustrates a design drawing (perspective view and plan view) of equipment including equipment and piping. In FIG. 1, the plan view is a view seen from the direction of arrow A in the perspective view. In this example, for example, a turbo chiller 100 and valves 101-104 connected to piping for supplying cold water, cooling water, and the like to the turbo chiller 100 are shown.

  Consider a case in which equipment is changed during the creation of a blueprint for such construction or after the blueprint is completed. FIG. 2 is an example of a design diagram (perspective view and front view) for construction when an absorption chiller 110 is introduced instead of the turbo chiller 100, for example, with respect to the drawing of FIG. In this example, as the equipment is changed from the turbo refrigerator 100 to the absorption refrigerator 110, the valves 101-104 are changed to valves 111-114, and the positions of the connection ports to various pipes are changed. Has been. In this case, with the change of the equipment, the position of the connection port to each pipe is changed, and it is necessary to redraw the pipe. In this case, the design support apparatus performs an automatic connection as much as possible to the position of the new connection port based on the drawn piping information in FIG. 1 and changes the connection destination. Support. Therefore, for example, the manual operation of connecting the pipes one by one to the nodes of the pipes such as the valves 111 to 114 or the connection ports of the equipment is reduced as much as possible, thereby enabling the drawing accompanying the equipment replacement.

  3 and 4 show examples of screens displayed by the design support apparatus. In FIG. 3, the top view of the screen shows a plan view of the heat exchanger as equipment, from the device 120 (shell and tube type heat exchanger) on the left side of the screen to the device 130 (plate type heat exchanger) on the right side of the screen. An example of modified equipment is shown. Moreover, in FIG. 3, the front view of each installation is shown by the middle stage. Furthermore, the connection port connection information of the device 120 before replacement is shown on the lower left side, the information on the pipe connected to each connection port is shown in the lower center, and the connection port information of the device 130 after replacement is shown on the lower right side. ing.

Here, the connection port information is information defining attributes of each connection port. These attributes are stored in a device master that stores attributes for each device. An example of connection port information is shown below.
(1) Connection position In this design support apparatus, for example, the connection position is specified by relative coordinates (U, V, W) with respect to the origin for each device and stored in the device master. For example, the connection positions with respect to the device 120 are indicated by symbols A1 to E1. In addition, once the device is placed in the facility, the design support apparatus holds the connection position in the coordinate system (X, Y, Z) in the facility.
(2) Direction The direction is the direction in which the fluid in the pipe enters and exits as viewed from the corresponding device, and is also referred to as the flow direction. The flow direction is designated as exit or entry.
(3) Application classification of connection port The application classification of the connection port is an application of the fluid flowing in or out from each connection port of the device. The usage is defined in the usage master of this design support apparatus. As the use, for example, warm water (feed), warm water (return), steam, steam return water, drainage, etc. are designated by symbols.
(4) System The system is the primary side, secondary side, etc. The system is also defined by a symbol in the system master of this design support apparatus.
(5) Size Size is the sectional dimension (nominal diameter) of piping.

  Whether or not it is necessary to reconnect the connection port to which the pipe is connected between the device before replacement and the device after replacement when the replacement of the device is specified on the screen. Determine. In this case, the design support apparatus first determines a difference in connection port information between the device before replacement and the device after replacement, and determines whether there is a mismatch in connection port information. .

  The determination as to whether or not the connection port attribute is inconsistent is made, for example, with respect to the connection port information (2) to (5). Judgment is made in the order of connection port information (2) to (5), and if any one does not match, it is regarded as inconsistent. Also, items that are not set before and after device replacement are not determined. Also, (3) in the use classification determination of the connection port, the difference between “feed” and “return” is ignored.

  If there is a mismatch in the connection port information (2) to (5), the design support apparatus displays a screen as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and prompts the user of the connection port before and after the replacement. Encourage confirmation of correspondence and determination of new correspondence. Even when equipment is replaced, the equipment before and after replacement may be the same type (eg, refrigeration machine) with the same type (eg, turbo type) / capacity, or the manufacturer may differ only in type ( In the case of changing the turbo type to the screw type), the connection port information matches. In the example of FIG. 3, A1 and A2 and B1 and B2 in the connection port information match, and the other connection ports do not match.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the connection port information is inconsistent in addition to the connection position before and after the device replacement in the example of the heat exchanger replacement. In this example, the connection port of the steam pipe at the connection position C1, the connection port of the steam return water at the connection port D1, and the connection port for draining the connection port E1 disappear, and hot water (feed) is newly supplied to the connection position C2. A connection port for warm water (return) is provided at the connection port and the connection position D2. In this example, what was scheduled to use steam as a heating medium for supplying hot water was canceled, and hot water was supplied to the secondary side by hot water (the primary side equipment is also a steam boiler, for example) To a hot water boiler). By changing the heat medium, the heat exchanger is also changed to a suitable type, and the specifications of the fluid connection port are changed. Moreover, FIG. 4 shows an example in which the connection port is reversed so that, for example, with the change of manufacturer, the entrance position of the device of company A at the beginning becomes the exit position of the device of company B after the change. .

  In the example of FIG. 4, since the steam pipe connection port (C1, D1) is connected to the hot water pipe connection pipe (C2, D2), after the connection, the user separately uses the piping from the steam pipe. Change to a hot water tube. However, the usage of the piping attribute may be automatically changed according to the attribute of the connection port in conjunction with such device replacement.

  In this case, since the correspondence cannot be determined before and after the device replacement only by the connection port information, the design support apparatus requests the user to associate the connection ports. The association is performed, for example, by connecting the point designation objects 140 and 141 by operating a pointing device (for example, a mouse). When the user clicks one of the point designation objects 140 before the device replacement with the pointing device, and then clicks one of the point designation objects 141 after the device replacement, the two connection port information is associated with each other. Is done. After associating such connection port information, the present design support device automatically connects the pipe connected to the connection port of the device before replacement to the connection port of the device after replacement.

  That is, the automatic connection is executed between the starting point P1 and the ending point P2, with the opening of the pipe connected to the connecting port before replacement as the starting point P1, and the connecting port after replacement as the end point P2.

  When the distance from the starting point P1 to the ending point P2 is short and slightly shifted, and the starting point P1 is originally on the straight pipe, the starting point P1 extends from the starting point P1 to a position that goes back in the length direction of the straight pipe. May be moved to secure a necessary distance for connection. Then, the straight pipe up to the retroactive position may be deleted to form a new pipe end.

  What is necessary is just to set the length of the straight pipe to delete in this case from the minimum dimension of the joint which should be inserted for a connection, for example. Further, for example, a deletion amount per time may be set (for example, 10 cm), and the process of deleting stepwise and determining whether or not connection is possible may be repeated until a necessary distance can be secured.

  When a part of the straight pipe is deleted, there is no change in the extending direction of the pipe at the starting point P1. Further, when deleting beyond the range of the straight pipe, for example, when deleting the pipe beyond the joint of 90 degrees, 45 degrees, etc., it is necessary to recalculate the extending direction of the pipe at the retroactive position. In addition, when the starting point P1 is located on a member other than a straight pipe, for example, a joint of 90 degrees, 45 degrees, or the like, it is necessary to re-determine the extending direction of the pipe at the retroactive position. These processes will be described in the second embodiment.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a control flow from device arrangement to pipe connection. This control flow is executed in response to a user operation. In this flow, SQ1 to SQ4 indicate the conventional flow assumed by the design support apparatus of the present embodiment. SQ5 to SQ9 indicate flows newly added by the design support apparatus of the present embodiment.

First, the design support apparatus receives designation of a device to be arranged (SQ1). The designation of the device is, for example, a device selection operation from a device list on the screen. Upon receiving the designation of the device, the design support apparatus reads attribute information about the device, for example, connection port information from the device master. The connection port information includes information on the external shape of the device, the position of the connection port, the direction (vector) on the coordinate axis, the size, and the use in the in-device coordinate system (local coordinate system, U, V, W). . The external shape is defined by a combination of a linear shape, a curved surface, and a plane in the in-device coordinates, as in a normal machine CAD (computer Aided Design). However, it can also be defined by combining three-dimensional shapes, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped, an extruded (sweep) shape of a predetermined cross section, and the like.

  Next, the design support apparatus accepts designation of an arrangement position (also referred to as an arrangement reference point) of the device from the user (SQ2). The arrangement reference point is a position in the facility where the origin of the device is to be set. For the position in the facility, the coordinate values (X, Y, Z) are designated with respect to the origin defined on the drawing screen. Note that (X, Y) may be designated on the screen showing the plan view, and the Z-axis, that is, the position in the height direction may be designated by another operation.

  Further, the design support apparatus accepts designation of the direction in which the device is arranged (SQ3). The orientation of the device is a designation of the relationship between the coordinate axes in the device and the coordinate axes on the drawing screen. For example, the coordinate axes U and V in the device are associated with the coordinate axes X and Y on the drawing screen. This is because the equipment is usually installed in a horizontal plane. However, the relationship of the coordinate axes U, V, and W with respect to the coordinate axes X, Y, and Z may be designated. In that case, it is possible to specify the device to be installed at an angle. As described above, when the origin of the device is specified as the placement point and the placement orientation of the device is instructed, the coordinates of the connection port on the coordinate axis on the drawing screen and the piping connected to the connection port The arrangement direction is fixed. The arrangement direction of the piping is determined by the direction of the connection port. If necessary, when the shape of the device is described by a solid model or a surface model, the normal vector direction of the solid surface or the normal vector direction of the surface may be used.

  Next, this design support apparatus automatically connects a pipe to each connection port of the device. In the present embodiment, the user designates the starting point P1 of the pipe and the end point P2 of the pipe, and executes automatic connection between the two points. This automatic connection process is the same as the automatic connection after device replacement. When all the connection ports of the device are automatically connected, the arrangement of the devices is determined (SQ4). In this way, the device arrangement is once completed.

  In this design support apparatus, it is further possible to specify replacement of devices (SQ5). The design support apparatus accepts designation of a device to be exchanged on a drawing screen through a pointing device or the like. Furthermore, the designation of a device to be replaced with that device is accepted. At this time, the origin of the device to be replaced is matched with the arrangement point on the drawing screen. Also, the device orientation is designated by the user in the same procedure as in SQ2.

  Next, this design support apparatus determines whether or not the connection port information is consistent before and after the device replacement (SQ6). If they do not match, the design support apparatus displays a connection confirmation window (means for prompting input of the correspondence relationship of the present invention) (SQ7). The connection confirmation window is the screen shown in the upper part of FIG. 3 or FIG. The lower part of FIG. 4 shows a conceptual image of a graphics object (referred to as a point designation object) in the connection confirmation window.

  Then, the design support apparatus accepts designation of the connection destination by the user (SQ8). As shown in FIG. 4, the designation of the connection destination is a designation that associates the point designation object 140 that indicates the connection port before the device replacement with the point designation object 141 that indicates the connection port after the device replacement.

  And this design support apparatus performs automatic piping connection (SQ9).

(Hardware configuration)
FIG. 6 illustrates a hardware configuration of this design support apparatus. This design support apparatus is realized by, for example, a personal computer and a computer program executed on the personal computer. The design support apparatus may be realized as a program on a server that provides services to a plurality of personal computers. The design support apparatus may be realized as a computer system in which a plurality of computers cooperate to provide functions. For example, the design support apparatus may be realized by one or more database servers, one or more simulators, and one or more web servers.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a computer constituting the design support apparatus. The design support apparatus includes a CPU 1, a memory 2, various interfaces 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, and peripheral devices connected to the CPU 1 through these interfaces. In FIG. 2, a hard disk 4, an input device 6, a display device 8, a network interface 10, and a removable storage medium driving device 12 are shown as examples of peripheral devices.

  The CPU 1 executes a program developed in the memory 2 and provides a function of the design support apparatus. The memory 2 holds a program in a format that can be executed by the CPU 1. The memory 2 holds data processed by the CPU 1. The memory 2 is a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory) or the like. However, a flash memory may be used as the memory 2.

  The hard disk drive 4 accesses the hard disk and stores data processed by the CPU 1, programs executed by the CPU 1, and the like. The input device 6 is, for example, a character input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse. The display device 8 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an electroluminescence panel, or the like.

The network interface 10 is, for example, a LAN (local area network) board. The removable medium drive device 12 is a drive device such as a CD-ROM, a DVD, or a flash memory card. Note that the program executed by the CPU 1 is normally stored in the hard disk and expanded in the memory 2 through the network interface 10 or the removable storage medium driving device 12.
(Function block)
FIG. 7 illustrates a functional block diagram of the present design support apparatus. As shown in FIG. 7, the functional blocks of the present design support apparatus are realized by the control unit 20 that controls the display device 8 and the input device 6 and provides the functions of the design support apparatus. The control unit 20 is realized by, for example, the configuration of the CPU 1 and the memory 2 shown in FIG. 2 and a computer program that is expanded in the memory 2 of FIG. This program may be stored in a storage medium readable by a computer and removable from the computer, and installed in the computer. Alternatively, it may be downloaded from a server on the network and installed on a computer. Further, the program itself may be installed on a server on the network, and only the function of the program may be provided to a user who uses the computer.

As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 20 of the present design support apparatus includes a display control unit 21, an input unit 22, a path storage unit 23, a connection position calculation unit 24, a path setting unit 25, a device connection position storage unit 26, and an installation state. Storage means 35, equipment information storage means 27 in equipment, attribute comparison means 28, equipment attribute storage means 29, plane determination means 30, single target plane path setting means 31, multiple target plane path setting means 32, between the first levels Connection means 33 and second level connection means 34 are provided.

  Among these, the display control means 21 displays information processed by the CPU 1 on the display device 8 in accordance with a command from the CPU 1. The input unit 22 detects a user operation on the input device 6 and transmits it to the CPU 1. The display device 8, the input device 6, the display control means 21, and the input means 22 detect, for example, display of GUI (graphics user interface) parts on the screen and operations on the GUI parts, and configure a user interface.

  The route storage means 23 stores the route of the piping in the facility. The connection position calculation means 24 is connected to the position coordinates of the connection portion to which the pipe should be connected in the second device when the user changes the device in the facility from the first device to the second device by an operation on the GUI. The direction of arrangement of the pipes to be calculated is calculated. More specifically, the control unit 20 includes a device connection position storage unit 26 that stores, for each device, the position coordinates of the connection portion in the first coordinate system in the device and the arrangement direction of the pipe to be connected, and the equipment. In-equipment placement points when equipment is installed in the second coordinate system, relative angles between the first coordinate system and the second coordinate system, and reference points for positioning the equipment at the equipment placement points And installation state storage means 35 for storing. Then, the connection position calculation means 24 positions the reference point of the second device at the arrangement point in the facility, and connects the second device when the first coordinate system is set at a relative angle with respect to the second coordinate system. The position coordinates of the part and the arrangement direction of the pipe to be connected are calculated. The in-facility device information storage means 27 stores the calculated position coordinates of the connection portion of the second device and the arrangement direction of the pipe to be connected. Then, the route setting unit 25 connects the end of the pipe that has been connected to the first device in the calculated arrangement direction to the calculated position of the connection portion of the second device.

  Moreover, the control part 20 is provided with the apparatus attribute memory | storage means 29 which memorize | stores the connection attribute information including the use of the piping connected to a connection part for every apparatus. And the attribute comparison means 28 compares connection attribute information between the connection part of a 1st apparatus, and the connection part of a 2nd apparatus. Then, the control unit 20 determines that the connection position calculation unit does not match the connection attribute information between the connection unit of the first device and the connection unit of the second device as a result of the comparison by the attribute comparison unit 28. The user is prompted to input a correspondence relationship for setting a route between the connection unit of the first device and the connection unit of the second device.

  The plane determination unit 30 includes a parallel plane determination unit 30A and a vector plane determination unit 30B. The parallel plane determining means 30A determines whether or not the starting point vector indicating the arrangement direction of the pipe in the connection part of the first device and the end point vector indicating the arrangement direction of the pipe in the connection part of the second device are on the same plane. And whether the starting point vector and the ending point vector are on different planes parallel to each other. The vector plane determination unit 30B determines whether one of the start vector and the end vector is on an XY plane, a YZ plane, or a plane parallel to the ZX plane.

  When the starting point vector and the ending point vector are not on the same plane, and one of the starting point vector and the ending point vector is on the first target plane parallel to the XY plane, the YZ plane, or the ZX plane. In addition, the single target plane path setting 31 is a combination of a 90 degree joint, a 45 degree joint, and a straight pipe in the other vector direction and a 90 degree joint from the connecting portion indicated by the other vector that is not on the first target plane. Alternatively, a straight pipe on a second target plane parallel to the first target plane is connected by a combination of the straight pipe in the other vector direction and a 45-degree joint. At this time, the first inter-level connecting means 33 sets a route from the straight pipe of the second target plane to the first target plane.

Multiple target plane paths are set when the starting point vector and the ending point vector are not on the same plane, and neither the starting point vector nor the ending point vector is on the XY plane, YZ plane, or plane parallel to the ZX plane. The means 32 is a path on a third target plane parallel to the two coordinate axes, and includes a 90 degree joint, a 45 degree joint, and a straight pipe and a 90 degree joint in the direction of the origin vector from the connection portion indicated by the origin vector. A path of the first straight pipe that can be connected is set by a combination or a combination of the straight pipe in the other vector direction and a 45-degree joint. Along with the setting, the plurality of target plane path setting means 32 is a path on the fourth target plane parallel to the two coordinate axes, and is directed from the connecting portion indicated by the end point vector to the 90 ° joint, the 45 ° joint, and the end vector direction. A path of a second straight pipe that can be connected is set by a combination of the straight pipe and the 90-degree joint, or a combination of the straight pipe in the other vector direction and the 45-degree joint. At this time, the second inter-level connecting means 34 sets a route for piping from the second straight pipe to the first straight pipe.
(data structure)
8 to 11 show the structure of main data processed by the design support apparatus. Information indicated by these data structures is stored in a file on the memory 2 or the hard disk when a confirmation signal is received, for example, when a confirmation button is pressed during drawing. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the node information file. The node information file is a file for recording a piping route. The node information file has node identification information, coordinates X, coordinates Y, coordinates Z, and attributes. The node identification information is identification information for individually identifying the nodes. Coordinate X, coordinate Y, and coordinate Z are the coordinates of the node. Also, the attribute is an attribute of a node, for example, a connection port, a valve, a 45-degree joint, a 90-degree joint, a joint that changes the path at an angle other than an integer multiple of 45 degrees (referred to as an arbitrary angle joint), etc. Is done. The node attribute is defined by a symbol in the node attribute master, and the defined symbol is set as the attribute of the node information file.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of route information describing a route of piping. As the route information, the route information may be stored in a single data file, or the information may be stored in a different file for each individual node, and the route information may be configured by a set of a plurality of files. The memory 2 for storing route information or a file on the hard disk corresponds to the route storage means 23.

  The route information is composed of a list structure 200 indicating the connection relationship between nodes and head instruction information 201 indicating a pointer to the head node. The head instruction information 201 includes route identification information and a pointer to the head node. The route identification information is information that uniquely identifies each route.

  The pointer to the head node is information indicating the element information 202 of the head node, and is, for example, the address of the element information 202 having the information of the head node. The element information 202 includes a pointer to the next node, a pointer to the upstream, a pointer to the branching node, and node identification information.

  Among these, the pointer to the next node is a pointer indicating element information of the next node adjacent to the node. Further, the upstream pointer is a pointer that goes back in the list structure, that is, in the reverse direction. Further, the pointer to the branching node is a pointer indicating the head of the branch path when the node is branched. The node identification information is node identification information defined in the node information file of FIG. By searching the node information file using the node identification information as a key, the attribute of the node can be read out.

  This design support apparatus connects the part connected to the connection port of the device at the end portion of the piping route defined by such a data structure to the connection port of the new device after replacement.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the data structure of the device master. The device master is information in which the attribute of the device is recorded for each device. In the device master, information unique to the device is registered, and information affected by the installation site where the device is installed, the installed building, and the like is not registered. In addition, the information of the device master is sequentially registered by the user as new devices are added. FIG. 10 is an example of one record of the device master and shows information about one device. The device master includes device identification information, a pointer to external shape information, an arrangement reference point, the number of connection ports, and an array of information for each connection port.

  The device identification information is information that uniquely identifies each device. The pointer to the external shape information is a pointer to graphic information indicating the external shape of the device, for example, a path name of a file storing the graphic information. The external shape information is described by, for example, a combination of surfaces such as a vertex row, a plane, and a curved surface, and a solid. The solid is a three-dimensional shape, and is a model that can identify the direction of the surface and the inside of the solid surrounded by the surface by the normal vector of the three-dimensional surface.

  The arrangement reference point is a position in the device where the device is to be positioned with respect to a position where the device is installed in a coordinate system in the facility (referred to as an installation point in the facility). When the placement reference point is (0, 0), the origin of the device is positioned at the placement point in the facility. Therefore, the arrangement reference point can also be considered as an inversion of the sign of the shift amount when the device is positioned in the facility. Such a shift amount is also set in the device master for each device so that the shift amount can be defined collectively for each device type. Note that the actual location in the installation site, installation building, or the like where the equipment is installed is specified separately in the coordinate system in the facility.

  The number of connection ports is the number of connection ports of the device. The arrangement of information for each connection port includes the connection port coordinates, the application classification, the size, the system, the direction, and the connection point vector by the number of connection ports. Information for each connection port is listed by the number of connection ports. One record of the device master is a fixed-length record that can store information for each connection port by the maximum number of connection ports. However, the device master may be composed of variable-length records having different data lengths depending on the number of connection ports.

  The coordinates of the connection port are coordinate values indicating the position of the connection port in the coordinate system (UVW coordinate system) in the device. The application classification, size, system, and direction are the same as those described in FIG. The connection point vector is a unit vector indicating the arrangement direction of the piping when the piping is viewed from the connection port of the piping connected to the connection port. When a device is described by a solid model or a surface model, the connection point vector usually coincides with the surface normal vector. Therefore, the connection point vector may be omitted, and the arrangement direction of the pipes may be set from the normal vector of the external shape of the device. The memory 2 for storing the device master or the hard disk file corresponds to the device connection position storage means 26 and the device attribute storage means 27.

  FIG. 11 shows a data structure example of the arrangement device information. The arrangement device information includes information set when each device is arranged in the facility on the drawing screen. The arrangement device information includes arrangement device identification information, device identification information, in-facility arrangement point, orientation, pointer to external shape information, number of connection ports, and information for each connection port.

  Among these, the arrangement device identification information is information for uniquely identifying the device arranged in the drawing screen. For example, when a plurality of devices of the same type are arranged, arrangement device identification information is assigned to each arranged device. The device identification information is the same as the device identification information of the device master, and is used as a key for specifying the type of device.

The in-facility placement point is a position in the coordinate system of the equipment where the equipment placement reference point (see FIG. 10) is to be located. The direction is information indicating a mutual rotation angle between the coordinate system (UVW) of the device and the coordinate system (XYZ) on the drawing when the device is arranged. Therefore, the position and orientation of the equipment are determined by setting the equipment placement reference point as the equipment placement point and setting the rotation angle indicated by the orientation.

  The arrangement number and the arrangement of information for each connection port are the same as in the device master. However, in the arrangement device information, the coordinates of the connection port are converted into the coordinate system (X, Y, Z) of the drawing. The connection point vector is information obtained by rotating the connection point vector of the device master according to the direction. The memory 2 for storing the arrangement device identification information or the hard disk file corresponds to the in-facility device information storage means 27. Further, the memory 2 for storing the in-facility placement points and orientations, or the hard disk file corresponds to the installation state storage means 35.

  In FIG. 11, an element corresponding to the device information storage unit 27 and an element corresponding to the installation state storage unit 35 are stored as arranged device information in a single record. However, the elements corresponding to the device information storage means 27 and the elements corresponding to the installation state storage means 35 may be stored in different tables and different files, respectively. In that case, the arrangement device identification information of FIG. 11 is stored in each table or each record constituting the file.

Further, in FIG. 11, the coordinates of the connection port and the connection point vector are converted into the in-facility coordinate system at each in-facility placement point. However, the coordinates of the connection port and the connection point vector may be omitted from the arrangement device information. In that case, the design support apparatus may calculate the coordinates of the connection port and the connection point vector based on the device master shown in FIG.
(Processing flow)
FIG. 12 illustrates a main processing flow at the time of device replacement in this design support apparatus. In the following, it is assumed that a design drawing of equipment in which piping is connected to the device is displayed on the screen. This process is started when the user inputs a device replacement command through the input device 6 (S1). However, this processing is also activated by selecting a menu on the screen or a graphic user interface component (hereinafter referred to as GUI component) such as a button. If an escape key is input after this process is activated (YES in S2), the process according to this command ends (S3).

  In this process, the design support device accepts designation of the pre-replacement device through the user input device 6 (S4). The pre-replacement device is designated by selecting a GUI component indicating the device on the screen with the input device 6. With this designation, the design support apparatus recognizes the type of the device before the device replacement. In addition, the present design support apparatus reads arrangement device information (see FIG. 11) before device replacement. As described above, the design support apparatus recognizes the connection port information before the device replacement. The connection port information includes attributes such as the position coordinates of the connection port, the arrangement direction of the pipe at the connection port, and the use of the pipe connected to the connection port. A vector indicating the arrangement direction of the pipe is called a connection point vector.

  Next, the design support device accepts designation of the post-replacement device through the user input device 6 (S5). The device after replacement is selected from, for example, a list of menus on the screen. When the device after replacement is specified, the design support apparatus reads out the information of the device after replacement from the device master (see FIG. 10) and displays a GUI part indicating the device after the replacement on the screen. The GUI component indicating the device after replacement can be moved by operating the pointing device. Thereafter, both the pre-replacement device and the post-replacement device are displayed in duplicate on the screen in an indeterminate state. The information of the device after replacement includes attributes such as the position coordinates of the connection port of the device, the connection point vector, and the use of the pipe connected to the connection port.

Next, the design support apparatus accepts designation of an arrangement point through the user input device 6 (S6).
). The placement reference point is a position where the device is placed at a placement point in the coordinate system of the drawing screen. The placement reference point is specified by, for example, a coordinate system (U, V) of a plan view in the device. When the designation of the placement reference point is omitted, the origin of the coordinate system in the device becomes the placement reference point. At this time, the designation of the direction in which the device is arranged is also accepted. The direction is a rotation angle of the coordinate system (U, V) in the device with respect to the coordinate system (X, Y) of the plan view of the drawing screen. When the designation of the orientation is omitted, the orientations of the coordinate system (X, Y) of the drawing screen and the coordinate system (U, V) in the device are the same.

  Furthermore, the design support apparatus accepts designation of an arrangement position (corresponding to an in-facility arrangement point) through the user input device 6 (S7). The arrangement position is, for example, the position of the coordinate system (X, Y) of the plan view of the drawing screen. However, if the designation of the placement position is omitted, the device after the replacement is placed as it is at the device placement position before the replacement. With the above specification, the position and orientation of the device after replacement are determined on the plan view.

  Next, the present design support device matches the device before replacement with the bottom surface level (the height in the Z-axis direction) (S8). As a result, the position and orientation in the three-dimensional space where the replaced device is arranged are determined. Further, the position coordinates of each connection port and the connection point vector at the position coordinates are determined. The connection point vector is obtained by converting the connection point vector of the connection port in the coordinate system (U, V) in the device into the coordinate system (X, Y, Z) in the arrangement space. The connection point vector may be obtained from a solid model describing the external shape of the device or a normal vector of the surface model.

  Next, the design support apparatus compares the connection port information before and after the device replacement (S9). And this design support apparatus determines whether all the connection port information before and behind apparatus replacement corresponds (S10). The CPU 1 that executes this process corresponds to attribute comparison means.

  If any one of the connection port information does not match, the design support apparatus displays a pipe connection setting dialog window (FIGS. 3 and 4) (S12). And the confirmation and setting of the correspondence of the connection port before and after apparatus replacement are received (S13). With this setting, a correspondence list between the connection port information before the device replacement and the connection port information before the device replacement is created and stored in the memory. Thereby, the relationship between the connection ports before and after the device replacement and the information on the connection ports after the replacement are acquired. As shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, the correspondence list includes the application classification, size, system, direction, and connection point vector of each connection port.

  However, in this embodiment, the design support apparatus checks whether or not the display setting of the pipe connection setting dialog window is set by the user setting even when all the connection port information matches (S11). If the display setting of the pipe connection setting dialog window is set as the system parameter of the apparatus, the present design support apparatus displays the pipe connection setting dialog window and advances the control to the process of S12.

  If the display setting is not made in the determination of S11, or if the confirmation OK button is pressed after S13 (YES in S14), the design support apparatus connects the pipes after replacing the devices. The correction process is executed (S15). Thereafter, the arrangement device information (FIG. 11) regarding the device before replacement and the external shape of the device before replacement on the screen are deleted (S16). And the arrangement | positioning apparatus information of the apparatus after replacement | exchange is preserve | saved and an external shape is displayed on a drawing screen.

FIG. 13 illustrates details of the process of reconnecting the pipe to the replaced device (S15 in FIG. 12). The CPU 1 that executes this process corresponds to the route setting means 25. In this process, the design support apparatus lists the correspondence relationship between the connection port before the device replacement and the connection port after the device replacement (
One record is read out (created in S13 of FIG. 12) (S151). In one record, a pair of connection port information before device replacement and connection port information before device replacement are recorded.

  Then, the information processing apparatus compares the position coordinates and the connection point vectors with respect to the connection port information of the record (S152). If there is a change in either the position coordinates or the connection point vector (YES in S153), the opening position of the pipe connected to the connection port of the device before the replacement is the starting point P1, and the connection point is the opening. The vector is set as the starting point vector V1, the position of the connection port of the replaced device is set as the end point P2, the connecting point vector is set as the end point vector V2, and the “piping reconnection process” is executed (S154). However, in this embodiment, both the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are positive in the direction from the starting point P1 and the ending point P2 to the piping direction.

  And this design support apparatus determines whether the process was complete | finished about all the connection ports. If the process has not been completed for all the connection ports, the design support apparatus returns the control to S151. On the other hand, it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all connection ports. When the process is finished for all the connection ports, the design support apparatus finishes the process of reconnecting the piping to the replacement device.

  FIG. 14 illustrates details of the process executed in the pipe connection change process (S154 in FIG. 13). This process is realized, for example, as a computer subprogram. This subprogram is handed over the start point P1, the start point vector V1, the end point P2, and the end point vector V2, and forms a pipe line connecting the start point P1 and the end point P2.

  The design support apparatus that executes this subprogram first determines whether the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are on the same plane (M1). Whether or not two vectors are on the same plane is determined by setting an equation of two straight lines including the respective vectors and determining whether the two straight lines are parallel or have an intersection when they are not parallel. That's fine.

  When the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are on the same plane, the design support apparatus executes a two-dimensional process on the common plane (M2).

  When the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are not on the same plane, the design support apparatus determines that the base point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are different from each other in the XY plane, the YZ plane, and the ZX plane. It is determined whether or not they are on two planes parallel to either one (M1A). When the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are not on the same plane, the present design support apparatus, when the base point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are on two parallel planes having a step difference from each other, The support device connects the two planes and executes a two-dimensional process in each horizontal plane (M2A).

  For example, when the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are on two horizontal planes having a level difference (on a plane parallel to the XY plane), by connecting the two horizontal planes using a vertical pipe, Basically, it can be reduced to processing when all the pipes are on one plane. For example, what is necessary is just to connect to a vertical pipe from the starting point P1 by the combination of a 90 degree joint, a 45 degree joint, a straight pipe and a 90 degree joint, or a combination of a straight pipe and a 45 degree joint. Then, the vertical pipe may be extended to a plane having the end point vector P2 and connected to the pipe on the plane having the end point vector P2 by a 90 degree joint or a 45 degree joint. The same applies when the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are on two planes parallel to the YZ plane or the ZX plane.

In this case, not from the starting point P1, but from the end point P2, 90 degree joint, 45 degree joint, straight pipe and 9
You may connect to a vertical pipe by the combination with a 0 degree joint, or the combination of a straight pipe and a 45 degree joint. Then, the vertical pipe may be extended to a plane having the end point vector P2 and connected to the pipe on the plane having the end point vector P2 by a 90 degree joint or a 45 degree joint.

  In this way, by providing a vertical pipe, reconnecting the pipe line from the start point to the vertical pipe on the plane with the start point P1 (and the start vector V1) and on the plane with the end point P2 (and the end point vector V2) In this case, the reconnection of the pipes from the vertical pipe to the end point P2 can be executed, and the reconnection of the pipes can be executed by the processing on the horizontal plane even in a pipe having a step.

  Next, the design support apparatus determines whether one of the start vector V1 and the end vector V2 is parallel to the X, Y, or Z axis (M3). This is because whether any of the X, Y, and Z components of the starting vector V1 and the ending vector V2 has only one of the X, Y, and Z components, that is, the components in the two axial directions are 0. This is a process for determining whether or not.

  When one of the start vector V1 and the end vector V2 is parallel to the X, Y, or Z axis, the design support apparatus executes processing including a vector parallel to the coordinate axis (M4). In addition, when neither the starting point vector V1 nor the ending point vector V2 is parallel to the X, Y, or Z axis, the design support apparatus determines that one of the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 is an XY, YZ, or ZX plane. It is determined whether or not it is on a plane parallel to any one of (M5). This is a process for determining whether any of the X, Y, and Z components of the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 is zero. The CPU 1 that executes the determination of M1, M3, and M5 corresponds to the plane determination unit 30.

  When one of the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 is on a plane parallel to any of the XY, YZ, and ZX planes, the design support apparatus is a plane parallel to the XY, YZ, and ZX planes. A process including the above vector is executed (M6). In addition, when both the starting vector V1 and the ending vector V2 are not parallel to any of the XY, YZ, and ZX planes, the present design support apparatus has the two vectors parallel to any of the XY, YZ, and ZX planes. If not, the process is executed (M7).

  FIG. 15 illustrates processing of two-dimensional processing (M2 in FIG. 14) on the shared plane. In this process, the design support apparatus first determines whether or not the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are parallel and opposed (M21). Opposing means that the direction of the vector is opposite.

(A) When two vectors are parallel and facing each other (excluding a difference);
FIG. 16 shows an example in which the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are parallel and face each other. Whether or not two vectors are parallel can be determined by the inner product of the two vectors. Further, whether two parallel vectors are opposed to each other is determined by obtaining a unit vector of length 1 for each of the two vectors and canceling the addition result of the two unit vectors to 0 (or close to 0). Whether the value is equal to or smaller than the allowable value ε may be determined based on whether the addition result of the two unit vectors approaches a vector twice as large as the unit vector. Here, the case where the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are different from each other (see FIG. 22) is excluded. A method for determining whether or not the vehicle is in a wrong state will be described in (B).

Now, as shown in FIG. 16, the distance between a straight line L1 passing through the starting point P1 and parallel to the base point vector V1 and a straight line passing through the end point P2 and parallel to the end point vector V2 is ΔD1. The distance ΔD1 is obtained by calculating an intersection P3 where a straight line passing through the starting point P1 and a straight line including the starting point vector V1 intersects a plane PLN2 perpendicular to the ending point vector V2 including the ending point P2 (also a plane orthogonal to the base point vector V1). And a distance ΔD1 between the point P3 and the intersection P3. However, more generally, it can be obtained as the length of the perpendicular drawn to one straight line L2 from the intersection of the plane PLN2 perpendicular to one straight line L2 and the other straight line L1.

  A distance between a plane PLN1 passing through the starting point P1 and perpendicular to the starting point vector V1 and a plane PLN2 passing through the starting point P2 and perpendicular to the starting point vector V2 is ΔD2.

  The distance ΔD2 can be obtained as the distance from the start point P1 to the intersection point P3 when the intersection point P3 passing through the start point P1 and the straight line including the start point vector V1 intersects the plane perpendicular to the end point vector V2 including the end point P2 is obtained. . However, conversely, the distance ΔD2 may be obtained from the end point P2 and the point passing through the end point P2 and the straight line including the end point vector V2 intersecting the plane perpendicular to the start point vector V1.

Hereinafter, the starting point P1 and the ending point P2 are classified as follows based on the distances ΔD1 and ΔD2. )
When the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are parallel and face each other (in the case of YES in M21), the design support apparatus executes the facing vector process (M22). The opposing vector processing is performed by classifying the positional relationship between the starting point P1 and the starting point P2 and the positional relationship between the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2, for example, drawing of connections by joints.
(1) Distance ΔD1 = 0 or distance D1 <predetermined allowable value ε;
This is a case where the starting point vector V1 from the starting point P1 and the ending point vector V2 from the ending point P2 are on the same straight line. In this case, the starting point P1 and the end point P2 are connected by a straight pipe. FIG. 17 shows an example in which the start point P1 and the end point P2 are connected by a straight pipe.
(2) Allowable value ε <distance ΔD1 <L45RMIN;
L45RMIN is the minimum distance required to connect two parallel pipes with a 45 degree joint in a direction perpendicular to the pipes. L45RMIN is a value determined from the length in the direction perpendicular to the piping of the 45-degree joint and the minimum length LMIN of the straight pipe between the 45-degree joints, and is a catalog value determined by the shape characteristics in the manufacture of the joint. In this case, the case is further divided as follows according to the distance in the direction parallel to the connection point vector (start point vector V1, end point vector V2) between the openings to be connected.
(2-1) LAPMIN <distance ΔD2;
LAPMIN is a minimum distance in a direction parallel to a pipe necessary for connecting pipes facing each other with an arbitrary angle joint. LAPMIN is a value determined from the length in the direction parallel to the pipe of the joint and the minimum length LMIN of the straight pipe between the joints, and is a catalog value determined by the shape characteristics of the joint.

If this condition is satisfied, the starting point P1 and the ending point P2 are connected by an arbitrary angle joint. FIG. 18 shows an example in which piping is connected by an arbitrary angle joint. In this case, a straight pipe is inserted according to the distance between the start point P1 and the end point P2.
(2-2) Distance ΔD2 <LAPMIN;
In this case, since an arbitrary angle joint cannot be disposed between the starting point P1 and the end point P2, a plurality of 90-degree joints are combined to form a detour. FIG. 19 shows an example in which a detour is formed and the start point P1 and the end point P2 are connected. Here, a detour is formed by the starting point P1, straight pipe 1, 90-degree joint, straight pipe 2, 90-degree joint, straight pipe 3, 90-degree joint, straight pipe 4, 90-degree joint, and end point P2. As a result, the position of the starting point P1 is moved to P11 by the straight pipe 1. Note that when the pipe PIPE1 including the starting point P1 or the pipe PIPE2 including the end point P2 interferes with the detour, the pipe PIPE1 and the pipe PIPE2 may have the central axes of the pipe PIPE1 and the pipe PIPE2. The lengths of the straight pipe 2 and the straight pipe 4 may be adjusted after moving to a position where the detour is swung in the center. That is, the straight pipe 3 is shifted in the vertical direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and the straight pipe 2 and the straight pipe 4 are connected to the paper surface in an oblique direction.

It is assumed that the place where the detour is formed often reconnects the pipe, but the pipe is congested due to the formation of such a pipe on the system. The operator's eyes can be caught, and forgetting to connect can be prevented. That is, the display of the formed detour is guidance for reconnection.
(3) L45RMIN <distance ΔD1 <L90RMIN;
Also in this case, the case is further divided as follows according to the distance in the direction parallel to the connection point vector (start point vector V1, end point vector V2) between the openings to be connected. Note that L90RMIN is the minimum distance between pipes for connecting two parallel pipes with a 90-degree joint. L90RMIN is a value determined from the length in the direction perpendicular to the pipe of the 90-degree joint and the minimum length LMIN of the straight pipe between the 90-degree joints, and is a catalog value determined by the shape characteristics of the joint.
(3-1) L45PMIN <distance ΔD2;
L45PMIN is the minimum distance in the direction parallel to the pipes necessary to connect the opposing pipes and the parallel pipes with a 45 degree joint. L45PMIN is a value determined from the length in the direction parallel to the pipe of the joint and the minimum length LMIN of the straight pipe between the joints, and is a catalog value determined by the shape characteristics in the manufacture of the joint.

If this condition is satisfied, the starting point P1 and the ending point P2 are connected by a 45 degree joint. FIG. 20 shows an example in which piping is connected by a 45 degree joint. In this case, a straight pipe is inserted according to the distance between the start point P1 and the end point P2.
(3-2) Distance ΔD2 <L45PMIN;
In this case, since the 45 degree joint cannot be arranged between the starting point P1 and the end point P2, a plurality of 90 degree joints are combined to form a detour. The configuration of the detour is the same as in FIG.
(4) L90RMIN <distance ΔD1;
Also in this case, the case is divided as follows according to the distance in the direction of the connection point vector between the openings to be connected.
(4-1) L90PMIN <distance ΔD2;
L90PMIN is the minimum distance in the direction parallel to the pipes necessary to connect pipes facing each other and parallel pipes with a 90-degree joint.

When this condition is satisfied, the starting point P1 and the ending point P2 are connected by a 90-degree joint. FIG. 21 shows an example in which piping is connected by a 90-degree joint.
(4-2) Distance ΔD2 <L90PMIN;
In this case, since the 90-degree joint cannot be disposed between the starting point P1 and the ending point P2, the following processing is performed when the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 shown below are parallel and not opposed (NO in P21). The same processing is executed.

  In the above classification, the case where the allowable value ε = <L45RMIN = <L90RMIN has been described as an example. For example, in the case of L90RMIN <L45RMIN, it is only necessary to consider the condition for using the 90 degree joint without using the 45 degree joint. That is, in the determination in (2), the determination is made based on the size of the 90-degree joint (L90RMIN), and the processing in (3) may be eliminated.

(B) When two vectors are parallel and not opposite;
Hereinafter, returning to FIG. 15, when the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are parallel and not facing each other (in the case of NO in M21), the present design support apparatus has the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 facing each other. It is determined whether or not they are parallel (M23). When the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are not opposed to each other but are parallel, the design support apparatus forms a detour with a 90-degree joint between the starting point P1 and the ending point P2. FIG. 22 to FIG. 24 show processing examples for the start vector V1 and the end vector V2 that are not opposed but are parallel to each other. here,
The fact that they are not facing each other means that the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are in a crossing relationship or the directions are the same.

  FIG. 22 shows an example of the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 that are in a crossing relationship. In this case, a bypass is formed as in the case of FIG. FIG. 23 shows an example in which the start point vector V1 and the end point vector V2 are in a crossing relationship and form a detour.

  Whether or not there is a crossing relationship is obtained by determining a position where the starting point P1 is moved by a small amount Δ in the direction of the starting vector V1, a change amount of the end point vector P2 and the change in distance ΔL = ΔD2, and whether ΔL increases. Can be determined. That is, it can be determined whether the distance ΔD2 becomes longer or shorter as the starting point P1 moves in the starting point vector direction. As already described in (4-2) above, in the present embodiment, even when ΔD2 <L90PMIN, the same processing as in the case of a crossing is performed.

  If the detour interferes with the pipe PIPE1 including the starting point P1 or the pipe PIPE2 including the end point P2, the detour is swung around the central axes of PIPE1 and PIPE2 as in the procedure described in FIG. What is necessary is just to set to the position.

  24 and 25 show processing examples for parallel non-opposing vectors. FIG. 24 shows a case where L90RMIN <distance ΔD1. In this case, the starting point P1 and the end point P2 are connected to the 90-degree joint by a straight pipe.

  FIG. 25 shows a case where the distance ΔD1 <L90RMIN. In this case, a 90-degree joint cannot be arranged between a straight line passing through the starting point P1 and parallel to the starting point vector V1 and a straight line passing through the end point P2 and parallel to the end-point vector V2. Then, the starting point P1 and the ending point P2 are connected.

(C) When two vectors are non-parallel;
Next, returning to FIG. 15, a case where the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 do not satisfy the condition of the process M23 will be described. This is the case, for example, when the flow path inside the replacement device is formed obliquely with respect to the connection port. In this case, the design support apparatus executes processing for each vector angle (M25). The processing for each vector angle is processing for combining a joint and a straight pipe according to the positional relationship between the starting point P1 and the ending point P2 and the angle θ formed by the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2, as described below.

  Hereinafter, an angle formed by a straight line L1 passing through the start point P1 and parallel to the start point vector V1 and a straight line L2 passing through the end point P2 and parallel to the end point vector V2 is defined as θ. However, although the angle formed by the straight line can be defined in two ways, in the present embodiment, it is defined as the angle formed by the reverse vector of the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2.

(1) When the angle θ at the intersection PX is less than 45 degrees;
(1-1) When the position of the intersection point PX is located between the start point P1 and the end point P2 (see FIG. 26), it is connected to an arbitrary angle joint with a straight pipe (see FIG. 27). That is, an arbitrary angle joint having an angle θ is arranged at the intersection point PX, and the start point P1 and the intersection point PX, and the intersection point PX and the end point P2 are connected by a straight pipe (see FIG. 27). However, when the distance ΔDA1 between the start point P1 and the intersection point PX and the distance ΔDA2 between the intersection point PX and the end point P2 are smaller than the minimum dimension LAMIN from the center of the arbitrary angle joint to one end, (1-2) By processing.

(1-2) When the position of the intersection point PX is not located between the start point P1 and the end point P2 (see FIG. 28), a detour is formed by a combination of a 90-degree joint and an arbitrary angle joint (see FIG. 29). ). In the example of FIG. 29, a detour of a starting point P1, a straight pipe 1, a 90-degree joint, a straight pipe 2, a 90-degree joint, a straight pipe 3, a 90-degree joint, a straight pipe 4, an arbitrary angle joint, and an end point P2 is formed. .

Further, when either the pipe PIPE1 having the starting point P1 or the pipe PIPE2 having the end point P2 interferes with the detour, the interference may be maintained as it is, but once it is perpendicular to the paper surface of the drawing. The level is moved in the direction (for example, the Z-axis direction when the figure shows the XY plane). For example, when FIGS. 28 and 29 are on the XY plane, the 90-degree joint that once shifts in the Z-axis direction in the straight pipe 1 and the 90-degree joint that returns the level in the Z-axis direction in the straight pipe 2-4 And provide.
(2) When θ at the intersection PX is 45 degrees;
(2-1) When the position of the intersection point PX is located between the start point P1 and the end point P2, it is connected to the 45 degree joint with a straight pipe. That is, a 45 degree joint is arranged at the intersection point PX, and the start point P1 and the intersection point PX, and the intersection point PX and the end point P2 are connected by a straight pipe (see FIG. 30). However, when the distance ΔD451 between the start point P1 and the intersection point PX and the distance ΔD452 between the intersection point PX and the end point P2 are smaller than the minimum dimension L45MIN from the center of the 45 degree joint to one end, (2-2) By processing.

  (2-2) In the case of the above (2-1) proviso and when the position of the intersection point PX is not located between the start point P1 and the end point P2 (see FIG. 31), the 90 degree joint and 45 degree A detour is formed by a combination of joints. In the example of FIG. 31, a detour of the starting point P1, straight pipe 1, 90 degree joint, straight pipe 2, 90 degree joint, straight pipe 3, 90 degree joint, straight pipe 4, 45 degree joint, and end point P2 is formed. . Further, in FIG. 30, even when the distance ΔD451 between the start point P1 and the intersection point PX and the distance ΔD452 between the intersection point PX and the end point P2 are smaller than the minimum dimension L45MIN from the center of the 45 degree joint to one end portion, the detour is similarly performed. Form a road.

  Furthermore, when either the pipe PIPE1 having the starting point P1 or the pipe PIPE2 having the end point P2 interferes with the detour, the straight pipe 1 is once in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the drawing (for example, the figure is the XY plane). If there is, a 90-degree joint that moves the level in the Z-axis direction) and a 90-degree joint that returns the level in the Z-axis direction by the straight pipe 2 are provided.

(3) When θ at the intersection PX is greater than 45 degrees and less than 90 degrees;
In this case, the same processing as in the case of (2) is executed by using an arbitrary angle joint greater than 45 degrees and less than 90 degrees. FIG. 32 shows a configuration example for forming a detour.

(4) When θ at the intersection PX is 90 degrees;
(4-1) When the position of the intersection point PX is located between the start point P1 and the end point P2, it is connected to the 90-degree joint with a straight pipe. That is, a 90-degree joint is arranged at the intersection point PX, and the start point P1 and the intersection point PX, and the intersection point PX and the end point P2 are connected by a straight pipe (see FIG. 33). However, when the distance ΔD901 between the start point P1 and the intersection point PX and the distance ΔD902 between the intersection point PX and the end point P2 are smaller than the minimum dimension L90MIN from the center of the 90-degree joint to one end, (4-2) By processing.
(4-2) When the position of the intersection point PX is not located between the start point P1 and the end point P2 (see FIG. 34), a detour is formed by a combination of 90-degree joints. In the example of FIG. 34, a detour of a starting point P1, a straight pipe 1, a 90-degree joint, a straight pipe 2, a 90-degree joint, a straight pipe 3, a 90-degree joint, a straight pipe 4, and an end point P2 is formed. However, in FIG. 33, when the distance ΔD901 between the start point P1 and the intersection point PX and the distance ΔD902 between the intersection point PX and the end point P2 are smaller than the minimum dimension L90MIN from the center of the 45-degree joint to one end portion, the detour is similarly performed. Form a road.

Further, when either the pipe PIPE1 having the starting point P1 or the pipe PIPE2 having the end point P2 interferes with the detour, the straight pipe 1 is once in a direction perpendicular to the drawing sheet (when the figure is XY). Is provided with a 90 degree joint that moves the level in the Z axis direction and a 90 degree joint that returns the level in the Z axis direction with the straight pipe 2.

(5) When θ at the intersection PX is greater than 90 degrees and less than 135 degrees;
(5-1) When the position of the intersection point PX is located between the starting point P1 and the ending point P2, the angle θ is set to the outside angle with respect to the angle θ formed by the reverse vector of the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2. Is set (see FIG. 35). The right triangle TR1 can be set by setting a straight line L1 orthogonal to the start point vector V1 between the intersection point PX and the start point P1.

  Assuming that the intersection of the straight line L1 including the starting point vector V1 and the straight line LH1 perpendicular to the starting point vector V1 is PX1, and the intersection of the straight line L2 including the end point vector V2 and the straight line LH1 perpendicular to the starting point vector V1 is PX2, the intersection PX , PX1, PX2 triangle TR1. At this time, the start point P1 and the end point P2 can be connected by disposing a 90 degree joint at the intersection point PX1 and disposing an arbitrary angle joint (less than 45 degrees) at the intersection point PX2.

However, the connection shown in FIG. 34 cannot be made under the following conditions. That is, the 90-degree joint and the arbitrary angle joint cannot be arranged between the intersection point P1 and the end point P2.
(Condition 1) When the distance ΔDX1 from the starting point P1 to the intersection point PX1 is smaller than the minimum dimension L90MIN from the center of the 90-degree joint to one opening;
(Condition 2) When the distance ΔDX3 from the end point P2 to the intersection point PX2 is smaller than the minimum dimension LAMIN from the center of the arbitrary angle joint to one opening;
(Condition 3) When the distance ΔDX2 between the intersection point PX1 and the intersection point PX2 is smaller than L90MIN + LAMIN, which is the sum of the minimum dimensions from the center of each of the 90-degree joint and the arbitrary angle joint to one opening;
In this case, the positional relationship between the 90-degree joint and the arbitrary angle joint is switched. That is, as a right triangle, a straight line orthogonal to the end point vector V2 is set between the intersection point PX and the end point P2, and the same procedure is executed. Then, according to the same procedure, it is determined whether or not the 90-degree joint and the arbitrary angle joint can be arranged between the intersection point P1 and the end point P2. If it can be arranged, connect by that arrangement. If it cannot be arranged, a detour is constructed by the procedure (5-2).

  (5-2) When the position of the intersection point PX is not located between the start point P1 and the end point P2 (see FIG. 36), a detour is formed by a combination of a 90-degree joint and an arbitrary angle joint. In the example of FIG. 35, a detour of the starting point P1, straight pipe 1, 90-degree joint, straight pipe 2, 90-degree joint, straight pipe 3, 90-degree joint, straight pipe 4, arbitrary angle joint, and end point P2 is formed. .

  Further, when either the pipe PIPE1 having the starting point P1 or the pipe PIPE2 having the end point P2 interferes with the detour, the straight pipe 1 is once in a direction perpendicular to the drawing sheet (in the case where the figure is the XY plane). , A 90-degree joint that moves the level in the Z-axis direction) and a 90-degree joint that returns the level in any of straight pipe 1 to straight pipe 5. Thus, the processing for each vector angle in FIG. 15 (two-dimensional processing on the shared plane) is completed.

(D) when one of the two vectors is parallel to the coordinate axis;
FIG. 37 exemplifies details of processing (M4 in FIG. 14) including a vector parallel to the coordinate axis. FIG. 38 illustrates the concept of processing including a vector parallel to the coordinate axis. In order to facilitate understanding, in the example of FIG. 38, the starting point P1 is at the origin (0, 0, 0) of the coordinate axis, the starting point vector V1 is parallel to the X axis, while the end point vector V2 is set. The case where it is not parallel to any coordinate axis is shown. In this case, the design support apparatus first sets a path from the end point P2 to the point P3 on the XY plane, assuming that the starting vector V1, which is one vector, is on the XY plane. Thereafter, a two-dimensional process on the common plane is executed between the starting point P1 and the point P3 on the XY plane.

  In this case, a plane including the origin vector V1 (XY plane in FIG. 38) is referred to as a target plane TP1. When the starting point P1 and the starting point vector V1 are not on the XY plane and the starting point vector V1 is parallel to the X axis, the target plane TP1 can be generalized as a plane parallel to the XY plane including the starting point vector V1.

  A target plane TP2 parallel to the target plane TP1 is set near the end point P2. The position of the target plane TP2 is a position where the straight pipe R0 and the 90-degree joint CR1 can be connected to the straight pipe R1 on the target plane TP2 from the end point P2. The straight pipe R0 is a straight pipe connected to the end point P2, and may have a length of zero.

  Hereinafter, a procedure for setting the target plane TP2 at a position where the straight pipe R0 and the 90-degree joint CR1 can be connected in the vicinity of the end point P2 will be described. First, a plane perpendicular to the end point vector V2 is assumed at the position P20 of the front end of the straight pipe R0 having a predetermined length (for example, the length is 0 and the straight pipe may be omitted) from the end point P2 to the end point vector V2. . Further, a target plane TP2 parallel to the target plane TP1 passing through the position P20 is assumed. Then, the straight pipe R1 is set at the position of the intersection line between the plane perpendicular to the end point vector V2 and the target plane TP2. The target plane TP2 is a plane formed by the X2 axis and the Y2 axis in FIG. The straight pipe R1 is on the target plane TP2 parallel to the XY plane and is orthogonal to the end point vector V2. Therefore, the end point P2 and the straight pipe R3 can be connected by providing the 90-degree joint CR1 at the position P20 shifted by the straight pipe R0 from the end point P1 in the direction of the end point vector V2.

  In this case, the target planes TP1 and TP2 are first given priority as candidates that are parallel to the XY plane. This is because, if the XY plane is a plane parallel to the floor on which the equipment and piping are provided, it is convenient for grasping the drawing, construction, and the like. Note that, depending on the device to be replaced, it may be convenient to use the wall, that is, the ZX plane and the YZ plane as a reference instead of the XY plane. For example, it is a case where a wall-mounted air conditioner or the like is replaced.

  As described above, in this process, the design support apparatus first sets the target plane TP1 from a vector parallel to the coordinate axis (for example, the starting point vector V1) (M41).

  Next, this design support apparatus arranges the 90-degree joint CR1 at the end point (end point P2) of the vector not parallel to the XYZ coordinate axes, and the path of the straight pipe R1 on the target plane TP2 (X2Y2 plane) parallel to the target plane TP1. And the end point P2 and the straight pipe R1 are connected (M42). In this case, a straight pipe R0 having a predetermined length may be provided between the end point (end point P2) and the 90-degree joint CR1. Also, instead of the 90-degree joint CR1, a 45-degree path that bypasses the path of the 90-degree joint CR1 (a path that becomes a hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle with respect to a path that bends at right angles to the path of the 90-degree joint CR1). A joint may be provided. In this case, a straight pipe R0 having a predetermined length may be provided between the end point (end point P2) and the 45 degree joint.

  Further, the 90-degree joint CR2 is arranged in the path on the extension line of the straight pipe R1, and the path of the straight pipe R2 parallel to the Z axis is generated (M43). In this case, the straight pipe R1 may be provided between the 90-degree joint CR1 and the 90-degree joint CR2, or the length of the straight pipe R1 may be 0 and the straight pipe may be substantially omitted. The straight pipe R2 is arranged to eliminate a level difference between the XY plane and the X2Y2 plane. The CPU 1 that executes this process corresponds to the first inter-level connection means 33.

Furthermore, this design support apparatus arrange | positions 90 degree | times coupling CR3 in the intersection P3 of the straight pipe R2 and XY plane (M44). The 90-degree joint CR3 can freely set the rotation direction on the XY plane. With the above settings, 90-degree joints CR2 and CR3 are provided at both ends of the straight pipe R2, and a path on the target plane TP2 (X2Y2 plane) parallel to a path on the target plane TP1 (XY plane) is connected. It will be. Note that either or both of the 90-degree joints CR2 and CR3 at both ends of the straight pipe R2 may be 45-degree joints. That is, by using a 45 degree joint that constitutes a path that bypasses the path of the 90 degree joint CR2 or CR3 (a path that is a hypotenuse of a right triangle with respect to a path that is bent at a right angle by the path of the 90 degree joint CR2 or CR3). Also good.

  In this state, on the target plane, the vector in the opening direction of the 90-degree joint CR3 and the start point vector from the start point P1 share the target plane. Therefore, the two-dimensional process on the common plane is executed as in the process M2 of FIG. 14 (M45).

  However, the 90-degree joint CR3 can freely set the rotation direction on the XY plane. Therefore, for example, in this example, the 90 joint CR3 may be provided in a direction orthogonal to the start point vector. As a result, the path between the start point P1 and the end point P2 may be completed by providing the 90 degree joint CN4 at the intersection of the straight pipe R3 in the extending direction of the 90 degree joint and the starting point vector V1. In addition, when a route cannot be set simply by providing the 90-degree joint CN4, two-dimensional processing (processing M2 in FIG. 14) on the common plane may be executed.

  Next, the design support apparatus determines whether or not the route setting is successful (M46). If the path setting between the starting point vector on the target plane and the opening direction vector of the 90-degree joint is not successful, the design support device then selects one vector (in this example, It is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed plane (ZX plane in the case of FIG. 38) that is parallel to the start point vector V1) and has not yet been set as the target plane (M47). If there is an unprocessed plane (XY, YZ, or ZX plane) that is not set as an unprocessed target plane, the remaining plane is set as the target plane (M48). And this design support apparatus returns control to P42, and repeats a process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in P47 that there is no unprocessed target plane, the design support apparatus executes a drawing process by user intervention (M49). If the path setting is successful in the determination of P46, the design support apparatus ends the process as it is.

  Although FIG. 38 shows an example in which the starting point vector V1 is parallel to the X axis and the starting point P1 coincides with the origin, the same processing can be performed when the starting point P1 is not at the origin. For example, if the coordinates of the starting point P1 are (a, b, c), the target plane may be set to Z = a and the same processing as in FIG. 38 may be executed.

  FIG. 38 illustrates an example in which the starting vector V1 is parallel to the X axis. In this case, first, the XY plane is assumed as the target plane. This is the same when the starting point vector V1 is parallel to the Y axis. Further, when the starting point vector is parallel to the Z axis, for example, as a target plane, by default, the YZ plane may be first set as the target plane, and then the ZX plane may be set as the target plane.

  In FIG. 38, when the route setting is successful on the first target plane, the processing is terminated as it is. However, regardless of whether or not the first target plane (for example, the XY plane) is successful, the next target plane (for example, the XZ plane) may be set and the processes of P42 to P45 may be repeated again. Then, compare the path setting result on the first target plane with the path setting result on the second target plane, for example, based on the number of joints used, the length of the path for connection, etc. Thus, the person who can set the route in a simple manner may be selected.

  In FIG. 38, the case where the starting point vector V1 is parallel to the X axis has been described as an example, but the same processing can be performed when the end point vector V2 is parallel to one of the coordinate axes.

(E) When one of the two vectors is parallel to any plane of XY, YZ, ZX;
FIG. 39 exemplifies the details of the process (M6 in FIG. 14) when the starting point vector or the ending point vector is parallel to any of the XY, YZ, and ZX planes. The CPU 1 that executes this process corresponds to the single target plane path setting means 31. This process is the same as the process of FIG. 37 except that there is no room for selection of the target plane. That is, if either the start vector V1 or the end vector V2 is on a plane parallel to XY, YZ, or ZX, the plane parallel to XY, YZ, or ZX remains as the target plane (here, TP1). Become.

  Then, the design support apparatus executes the processing from M62 to M65. Since this process is the same as the process from M42 to M45 in FIG. 37, the description thereof is omitted.

  Then, the design support apparatus determines whether or not the route setting is successful (M66). If the route setting is not successful, the design support apparatus executes a drawing process by user intervention (M69). If it is determined in M66 that the route has been successfully set, the design support apparatus ends the process.

(F) When the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 are not parallel to any of the XY, YZ, and ZX planes;
FIG. 40 exemplifies processing in the case where none of the starting point vector V1 and the ending point vector V2 is parallel to any of the XY, YZ, and ZX planes. The CPU 1 that executes this process corresponds to the multiple target plane path setting means 32. FIG. 41 shows the concept of processing in this case. In the example of FIG. 41, the target plane TP3 is set at a position that can be connected to the straight pipe R01 and the 90-degree joint CR4 in the vicinity of the starting point P1. The procedure first assumes a plane perpendicular to the starting point vector V1 at a position P10 having a predetermined length (for example, the length may be 0 and the straight pipe may be omitted) from the starting point P1 in the starting point vector V1 direction. A target plane TP3 parallel to the XY plane passing through the position P10 is assumed. Then, the straight pipe R1 is set at the position of the intersection line between the plane perpendicular to the starting point vector V1 and the target plane TP3. The straight pipe R1 is on the target plane TP3 parallel to the XY plane and is orthogonal to the starting point vector V1. Therefore, the starting point P1 and the straight pipe R1 can be connected by providing the 90-degree joint CR4 at the position P10 shifted by the straight pipe R01 in the direction of the starting vector V1 from the starting point P1. In addition, instead of the 90-degree joint CR4, a 45-degree path that bypasses the path of the 90-degree joint CR4 (a path that is a hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle with respect to a path that bends at right angles to the path of the 90-degree joint CR4). A joint may be provided. In this case, a straight pipe having a predetermined length may be provided between the end point (starting point P1) and the 45 ° joint.

  Similarly, in the vicinity of the end point P2, the target plane TP4 is set at a position where the straight pipe R02 and the 90-degree joint CR1 can be connected. The procedure is as follows. First, a plane perpendicular to the end point vector V2 is located at the position P20 of the end of a straight pipe having a predetermined length (for example, the length is 0 and the straight pipe may be omitted) from the end point P2 to the end point vector V2. Is assumed. Further, a target plane TP4 parallel to the target plane TP3 passing through the position P20 is assumed. Then, the straight pipe R3 is set at the position of the intersection line between the plane perpendicular to the end point vector V2 and the target plane TP4. The straight pipe R3 is on the target plane TP4 parallel to the XY plane and is orthogonal to the end point vector V2. Therefore, the end point P2 and the straight pipe R3 can be connected by providing the 90-degree joint CR1 at the position P20 shifted by the straight pipe R02 in the direction of the end point vector V2 from the end point P1. Also, instead of the 90-degree joint CR1, a 45-degree path that bypasses the path of the 90-degree joint CR1 (a path that becomes a hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle with respect to a path that bends at right angles to the path of the 90-degree joint CR1). A joint may be provided. In this case, a straight pipe having a predetermined length may be provided between the end point (end point P2) and the 45 degree joint.

  As described above, after setting the target plane TP3, the straight pipe R1 on the target plane TP3, the target plane TP4, and the straight pipe R3 on the target plane TP4, the level difference between the target plane TP3 and the target plane TP4 is eliminated. do it. This level difference elimination processing is the same as in the case of FIG.

  In the above processing, for example, the target plane is set in the order of the XY, YZ, and ZX planes, and the level difference elimination path from both of the vectors (starting point vector V1 and end point vector V2) to the target plane is set. Then, two-dimensional processing on the shared plane is executed on the target plane.

  The details of the procedure will be described below with reference to FIG. First, the design support apparatus sets the normal direction of the target planes TP3 and TP4 (M70). The normal direction is, for example, the Z-axis direction. Next, the design support apparatus sets a target plane TP3 (M71). The target plane TP3 is set to a position that can be connected to the straight pipe R1 on the target plane TP3 by the straight pipe R01 from the starting point P1 in the starting vector direction and the 90-degree joint CR4 (or 45-degree joint). This procedure is as described according to FIG.

  Similarly, the design support apparatus sets a target plane TP4 (M72). The target plane TP4 is set to a position that can be connected to the straight pipe R3 on the target plane TP4 by the straight pipe R02 from the end point P2 to the end point vector V2 and the 90-degree joint CR1 (or 45-degree joint). Next, the design support apparatus executes level difference elimination processing from the target plane TP4 to the target plane TP3 (M73). This process is the same as M43 in FIG. The CPU 1 that executes this process corresponds to the second inter-level connection means 34.

  And this design support apparatus performs the two-dimensional process on a shared plane on a target plane. This process is the same as M2 in FIG.

  Next, the design support apparatus determines whether or not the route setting is successful (M76). If the path setting on the target plane is not successful, the design support apparatus next determines whether or not there is an unprocessed plane (normal vector) that has not yet been set as the target plane. (M77). If there is an unprocessed plane (normal vector) that is not an unprocessed target plane, the remaining plane (YZ plane, ZX plane) is set as the target plane (M78). And this design support apparatus returns control to P71, and repeats a process.

  On the other hand, when there is no unprocessed target plane in the determination of P77, the design support apparatus executes a drawing process by user intervention (M79). If the route is successfully set in the determination of M76, the design support apparatus ends the process as it is.

  As described above, according to this design support apparatus, when the equipment in the facility once drawn is replaced, the drawn pipe size / position / direction and the size of the connection port of the newly placed equipment are displayed.・ Provides a function to compare the position and orientation, and to switch between them. In addition, a route change on the piping side is automatically executed to change the connection.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 40 and 41, when the start point vector V1 and the end point vector V2 are not parallel to any of the XY, YZ, and ZX planes, the target planes TP3, TP4 And the route was calculated. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to such processing. For example, the coordinate conversion may be executed so that one of the coordinate axes (X, Y, Z axis) is parallel to the start point vector V1 and the end point vector V2. In that case, it can be handled by processing including vectors parallel to the coordinate axes shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, but the coordinate axes have an inclination with respect to the floor surface direction or the vertical direction. For this reason, unlike the case of FIG. 37 and FIG. 38, the direction of the designed piping has an inclination with respect to a floor surface or a vertical line. That is, when the coordinate transformation as described above is used, the target plane is not necessarily parallel or perpendicular to the floor surface on which the equipment is constructed, and therefore the construction conditions are different. Therefore, when the installer is accustomed to the construction based on the floor on which the equipment is constructed, the procedure shown in FIGS. 40 and 41 is desirable. In this case, the design is suitable for floor construction as in the procedures shown in FIGS.

  In the first embodiment, the opening position of the pipe connected to the connection port of the device before replacement is the starting point P1, the connection point vector is the starting vector V1 at the opening, and the position of the connection port of the device after replacement is the end point P2. The connection point vector was set as the end point vector V2, and the “piping reconnection process” was executed (see S154 in FIG. 13). In this process, the starting point P1 and the end point P2 are basically fixed, the mutual positional relationship is determined, and the processes shown in FIGS. 13 to 41 are executed. Instead of such processing, when the distance from the starting point P1 to the ending point P2 is short and slightly shifted, and the starting point P1 is originally on the straight pipe, the length from the starting point P1 to the length of the straight pipe The starting point P1 may be moved to a retroactive position to ensure a distance necessary for connection. Then, the straight pipe up to the retroactive position may be deleted to form a new pipe end.

  For example, the interface for calling from the upper program of the subprogram executed in S154 of FIG. 13 is set to F1 (varP1, varVP1, varP2, varVP2, L, PX, RC). In this case, varP1, varVP1, varP2, and varVP2 are arguments for passing the starting point P1, the starting point vector V1, the ending point P2, and the ending point vector V2 from the upper program to the subprogram. L is a distance when the starting point P1 goes back from the piping end in the starting vector direction and a part of the original piping is deleted in the length direction, and is a value calculated in the subprogram. Further, PX is the coordinates of the starting point P1 after the starting point P1 is moved by deleting a part of the piping. PX is also a value calculated in the subprogram. RC is a return code from the subprogram.

  By executing such a process in the processes subsequent to the “piping reconnecting process” (S154 in FIG. 13), the distance between the starting point P1 and the ending point P2 can be sufficiently secured. In this case, if the pipe connected to the device before the device replacement designated by the starting point P1 is a straight pipe, a new starting point is simply obtained by shortening the straight pipe by the length L in the direction of the starting point vector P1. The position PX of P1 can be calculated. The distance L may be determined from the dimensions of a joint or the like required for connection.

  By such processing, the distance ΔD2 shown in FIG. 16 can be set to L45PMIN <ΔD2 or L90PMIN <ΔD2. Therefore, a pipe line can be basically formed by a 90-degree joint or a 45-degree joint without using any arbitrary joint as shown in FIG. 18 and a bypass as shown in FIG. Further, by ensuring a sufficient distance between the starting point P1 and the ending point P2, it is possible to reduce the formation of a detour that occurs when the two vectors do not compete with each other as shown in FIG. 22-24. In addition, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of detours that occur in the cases shown in FIGS. 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, and 36.

  Further, the starting point P1 may be moved from the starting point P1 to a position going back beyond the range of the straight pipe. For example, a joint such as 90 degrees and 45 degrees is connected to a straight pipe, and the extending direction of the pipe line is changed. When the starting point P1 is moved to such a position, it is necessary to reset the starting point vector. Therefore, in this case, the interface of the call from the upper program of the subprogram executed in S154 of FIG. 13 is set to F2 (varP1, varVP1, varP2, varVP2, VX, N, multi-PX, RC). . In this case, VX is a new starting point vector indicating the extending direction of the pipe when the starting point P1 is moved. N is the number of nodes that pass through the pipe from the starting point P1. The multi-PX is an array including a coordinate sequence of nodes that pass through the pipe from the starting point P1. multi-PX = {(x1, y1, z1), (x2, y2, z2),..., (xN, yN, zN)}, and the Nth node is the starting point P1 It becomes the move destination.

  In this case, the position to go back from the starting point P1 is determined from the distance necessary for the connection to be secured. For example, when a distance DIS to be originally secured is given between the start point P1 and the end point P2, a sphere having a radius DIS (or a circle having a radius DIS when the pipe is on a plane) is centered on the end point P2. Set and go back until the position of the starting point P1 is located outside the sphere (or circle). In that case, the nodes on the midway pipeline going back from the starting point P1 may be searched based on the route information shown in FIG. Further, the starting point vector indicating the extending direction of the pipe at the retroactive position may be obtained by searching the member specification information according to the node information shown in FIG. Further, the starting point vector may be calculated from the difference value of the coordinates between the two nodes in the route information shown in FIG.

It is a figure which illustrates the functional outline of a design support apparatus. It is an example of the design drawing (perspective view and front view) for construction after equipment replacement. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen which a design support apparatus displays. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen which a design support apparatus displays (when connection information does not match). It is a figure which illustrates the control flow from arrangement | positioning of an apparatus to piping connection. It is a figure which illustrates the hardware constitutions of a design support apparatus. It is a figure which illustrates the functional block diagram of a design support apparatus. It is a figure which shows the data structure example of a node information file. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of the route information which describes the path | route of piping. It is a figure which shows the data structure example of an apparatus master. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of arrangement | positioning apparatus identification information. It is a figure which illustrates the main processing flow at the time of apparatus replacement. It is a figure which illustrates the detail of the process (S15 of FIG. 12) which reconnects piping to the apparatus after replacement. It is a figure which illustrates the detail of the process performed by piping connection change process. It is a figure which illustrates the process of the two-dimensional process on a common plane. It is a figure which shows the example which the starting vector V1 and the end point vector V2 are parallel and oppose. It is a figure which shows the example which connects the starting point P1 and the end point P2 with a straight pipe. It is a figure which shows the example which connects piping by an arbitrary angle joint. It is a figure which shows the example which forms a detour and connects the starting point P1 and the end point P2. It is a figure which shows the example which connects piping by a 45 degree | times joint. It is a figure which shows the example which connects piping by a 90-degree coupling. It is a figure which illustrates the origin vector and the end point vector which are not opposed but are parallel. It is a figure which shows the process example with respect to the parallel start point vector and end point vector which are not opposed. It is a figure which shows the example of a process with respect to a parallel non-opposing vector. It is a figure which shows the example of a process with respect to a parallel non-opposing vector. It is a figure which illustrates the case where the position of intersection PX is located between the starting point P1 and the end point P2. It is a figure which shows the process example which connects with an arbitrary angle joint with a straight pipe | pipe, when the position of intersection PX is located between the starting point P1 and the end point P2. It is a figure which illustrates the case where the position of intersection PX is not located between the starting point P1 and the end point P2. It is a figure which shows the process example which forms a detour by the combination of a 90 degree | times joint and an arbitrary angle joint, when the position of the intersection PX is not located between the starting point P1 and the end point P2. It is a figure which shows the process example in case the position of the intersection of an origin vector and an end point vector is located between an origin and an end point. It is a figure which shows the process example which forms a detour when the position of an intersection is not located between the starting point P1 and the end point P2. It is a figure which shows the structural example which forms a detour when the crossing angle in an intersection is larger than 45 degree | times and less than 90 degree | times. It is a figure which shows the process example connected with a 90 degree joint and a straight pipe | tube, when (theta) in intersection PX is 90 degree | times. It is a figure which shows the example of a process which forms a detour by the combination of a 90 degree joint, when the position of an intersection is not located between the starting point and an end point. In this example, the intersection angle at the intersection is greater than 90 degrees and less than 135 degrees, and the position of the intersection is between the start point and the end point. In this example, the intersection angle at the intersection is greater than 90 degrees and less than 135 degrees, and the position of the intersection is not located between the start point and the end point. It is a figure which illustrates the detail of the process containing a vector parallel to a coordinate axis. It is a figure which illustrates the concept of the process containing a vector parallel to a coordinate axis. It is a figure which illustrates the detail of a process in case a starting point vector or an end point vector is parallel to either XY, YZ, and a ZX plane. It is a figure which illustrates the process in case neither a starting point vector and an end point vector are parallel to all of XY, YZ, and ZX planes. It is a figure which illustrates the outer surface of a process in case all the starting point vectors and end points vectors are not parallel to all of XY, YZ, and ZX planes.

Explanation of symbols

1 1 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Memory 4 Hard disk drive device 6 Input device 8 Display device 10 Network interface 12 Removable storage medium drive device 20 Control part 21 Display control means 22 Input control means 23 Path | route storage means 24 Connection position calculation means 25 Path | route setting 26 Equipment connection position memory | storage Means 27 Equipment arrangement storage means 28 Attribute comparison means 29 Equipment attribute storage means 30 Plane determination means 31 Single target plane path setting means 32 Multiple target plane path setting means 33 First interlevel connection means 34 Second interlevel connection means

Claims (5)

In-facility equipment information storage means for storing the position coordinates of the connecting portion where the pipe is connected to the equipment in the equipment and the arrangement direction of the connected pipe;
Input means for accepting designation to change the first device to the second device in the facility;
A connection position calculation means for calculating a position coordinate of a connection portion to which the pipe is to be connected and a direction of arrangement of the pipe to be connected in the second device when the first device is changed to a second device; ,
From the end of the pipe connected to the connection part of the first device before the change or from the end of the pipe formed by deleting a part of the pipe from the end of the pipe to the connection part of the second device A facility design support apparatus comprising: a route setting means for setting a route of the pipe. Device connection position storage means for storing, for each device, the position coordinates of the connecting portion in the first coordinate system in the device and the arrangement direction of the pipe to be connected;
In-facility placement point when equipment is installed in the second coordinate system in the equipment, a relative angle between the first coordinate system and the second coordinate system, and the equipment is positioned at the in-facility placement point And an installation state storage means for storing a reference point at the time,
The connection position calculating means positions the reference point of the second device at an installation point in the facility, and the second coordinate system is set when the first coordinate system is set at the relative angle with respect to the second coordinate system. The equipment design support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position coordinates of the connecting portion of the equipment and the arrangement direction of the pipe to be connected are calculated. Device attribute storage means for storing connection attribute information including the use of piping connected to the connection unit for each device;
Attribute comparison means for comparing the connection attribute information between the connection part of the first device and the connection part of the second device;
As a result of the comparison, when the connection attribute information does not match between the connection unit of the first device and the connection unit of the second device, the connection unit of the first device and the connection unit of the second device The facility design support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that prompts input of a correspondence relationship for setting a route between the facility and the facility. Computer
  An input step of accepting a designation to change the first device to the second device in the facility;
  Reading the position coordinates and the arrangement direction from the equipment information storage means in the facility for storing the position coordinates of the connecting portion where the pipe is connected to the equipment in the facility and the arrangement direction of the pipe to be connected;
  A connection position calculation step of calculating a position coordinate of a connection portion to which the pipe is to be connected and an arrangement direction of the pipe to be connected in the second device when the first device is changed to a second device; ,
  From the end of the pipe connected to the connection part of the first device before the change or from the end of the pipe formed by deleting a part of the pipe from the end of the pipe to the connection part of the second device A route setting step for setting the route of the piping of the facility, and a facility design support method for executing the step. Computer
  In-facility equipment information storage means for storing the position coordinates of the connecting portion where the pipe is connected to the equipment in the equipment and the arrangement direction of the connected pipe,
  Input means for accepting designation to change the first device to a second device;
  A connection position calculation means for calculating a position coordinate of a connection portion to which the pipe is to be connected and an arrangement direction of the pipe to be connected in the second device when the first device is changed to a second device; and
  From the end of the pipe connected to the connection part of the first device before the change or from the end of the pipe formed by deleting a part of the pipe from the end of the pipe to the connection part of the second device A program for functioning as a route setting means for setting the route of piping.

Images