Pipe joint, and header for piping

The present invention relates to a pipe header that branches the inflowing fluid, and a pipe joint that constitutes the pipe header by connecting a plurality of the headers.

In recent years, a header for piping has been used, which is formed by connecting a plurality of pipe joints having a straight flow path and a branch flow path branched from the straight flow path. The header structure of Patent Document 1 is to insert an inner cylinder formed at an end portion of a header base into a cylinder formed at an end portion of another header base and make a one-touch connection to connect a plurality of header bases. It is composed of.

However, since the connection between the header bases cannot be released, the configuration of the header structure once assembled cannot be changed. For example, if it becomes necessary to change the configuration of the header structure at the site where such a header for piping is installed, it is not possible to reduce the header base or change the connection order on the spot, so it is newly manufactured at the factory. I have to start over.

<p><patcit num="1"><text>JP-A-2007-100807</text></patcit></p>

<p> In consideration of such facts, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe joint capable of connecting and disconnecting, and a header for piping composed of the pipe joint.</p>

<p> The invention according to claim 1 comprises an inner pipe portion having a connecting portion formed at one end portion, and an outer pipe portion provided on the outer periphery of the inner pipe portion by exposing the other end portion of the inner pipe portion. In the pipe joint having the above, the connecting portion includes a holding member that holds the other end of the inner pipe portion of one pipe joint inserted into the connecting portion, and a release member that releases the holding state by the holding member. , And the other end of the inner pipe portion is inserted into the connecting portion of another pipe joint and held by the holding member, and the one end portion of the outer pipe portion and the other pipe joint are connected. It is a pipe joint in which a space for operating the release member is formed between the portion and the portion.</p><p> In the invention according to claim 1, the pipe joint and the other pipe joint are separated by inserting the other end of the inner pipe portion into the connecting portion of the other pipe joint and holding it by the holding member of the other pipe joint. Can be connected. Further, by operating the release member by utilizing the space formed between one end of the outer pipe portion and the connecting portion of the other pipe joint, the other end of the inner pipe portion by the holding member of the other pipe joint is operated. The holding state of the portion is released, and the connection between the pipe joint and another pipe joint can be released.</p><p> The invention according to claim 2 is the pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein the space is a notch portion in which one end of the outer pipe portion is cut out.</p><p> In the invention according to claim 2, by using the space as a notch portion, various sizes, arrangements, and numbers of spaces can be formed at one end of the outer pipe portion.</p><p> In the invention according to claim 3, a plurality of the cutout portions are formed along the circumferential direction of one end portion of the outer pipe portion.</p><p> In the invention according to claim 3, by forming a plurality of notches along the circumferential direction of one end of the outer pipe portion, "the connection of the pipe joint cannot be released unless the plurality of notches are used at the same time". Can be. That is, it is possible to prevent the pipe joint from being disconnected without permission. In addition, the person who can disconnect the pipe joint can be limited to a specific person (the person who can surely connect the pipe joint). In this way, since this person (specific person) performs the connection work of the pipe joint, it is possible to prevent a connection error of the pipe joint.</p><p> The invention according to claim 4 has a branch flow path that branches from the inner pipe portion.</p><p> In the invention according to claim 4, the fluid flowing into the pipe joint can be branched.</p><p> The invention according to claim 5 is a pipe header formed by connecting a plurality of pipe joints according to any one of claims 1 to 4.</p><p> In the invention according to claim 5, by connecting a plurality of pipe joints, it is possible to form a header for piping in which various pipe joints are combined.</p>

<p> Since the present invention has the above configuration, it is possible to provide a pipe joint capable of connecting and disconnecting, and a header for piping composed of the pipe joint.</p>

<figref num="1">It is a perspective view which shows the header for piping which concerns on embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a side sectional view which shows the header for piping which concerns on embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="3">It is a side sectional view which shows the state before connecting the pipe joint which concerns on embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="4">It is a side sectional view which shows the state which connected the pipe joint which concerns on embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="5">It is a side sectional view which shows the state which the pulling force acted on the inner pipe of the pipe joint which concerns on embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="6">It is a side sectional view which shows the method of breaking the connection of the pipe joint which concerns on embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="7">It is a perspective view which shows the method of breaking the connection of the pipe joint which concerns on embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="8">It is sectional drawing which shows the cutout part of the pipe joint which concerns on embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="9">It is a perspective view which shows the pushing member which concerns on embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="10">It is a side sectional view which shows the modification of the pipe joint which concerns on embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="11">It is a side sectional view which shows the application example of the pipe joint which concerns on embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="12">It is a perspective view which shows the claw member and release ring of the connecting mechanism to which the pipe joint which concerns on embodiment of this invention can apply.</figref>

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a pipe header and a pipe joint according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1, the pipe header 10 is configured by connecting a plurality of header units 12 as pipe joints. As shown in the side sectional view of FIG. 2, the header unit 12 has an inner pipe 14 as an inner pipe portion, an exodermis resin 24 as an outer pipe portion, a connecting portion 18, and a branch port 20.

The side sectional views of FIGS. 1 and 2 show three header units 12 connected to each other. For convenience of explanation, the header unit 12 as one pipe joint arranged on the left side is used as the header unit 12A, the header unit 12 arranged in the center is used as the header unit 12B, and the other pipe joint arranged on the right side. Let the header unit 12 of the above be the header unit 12C.

The inner pipe 14 has a linear flow path 22 through which a fluid such as water or hot water flows. Further, the inner pipe 14 is provided with a branch flow path (not shown) that is branched from the straight flow path 22 and is substantially orthogonal to the straight flow path 22. A pipe such as a water supply, hot water supply, or drainage pipe is detachably connected to the branch port 20 which is an inlet / outlet for a fluid flowing through the branch flow path.

The connecting portion 18 is composed of a tubular portion 92 formed at one end of the inner pipe 14 and a cap 38 provided on the tubular portion 92. That is, the connecting portion 18 is formed at one end of the inner pipe 14. Further, the outer surface (outer circumference) of the central portion (near the intersection of the straight flow path 22 and the branch flow path) of the inner pipe 14 is covered with the outer skin resin 24 by exposing the other end portion 16 of the inner pipe 14. ..

A male screw 36 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 92, and the cylindrical cap 38 is attached to the tubular portion 92 by screwing the male screw 36 into the female screw 40 formed on the inner peripheral surface. Has been done.

On the inner wall of the tubular portion 92, an O-ring 30, a support ring 32, and a collet 34 as a release member are formed from the opening 26 formed at the other end 16 of the inner pipe 14 toward the opening 28 of the cap 38. It is provided in order. In the following description, the direction from the opening 26 to the opening 28 is the X direction, and the direction from the opening 28 to the opening 26 (the direction opposite to the X direction) is Y with respect to the material axis of the inner pipe 14. The direction. The O-ring 30, the support ring 32, and the collet 34 are annular members.

When the other end 16 of the inner pipe 14 of one header unit 12 is inserted into the tubular portion 92, the inner peripheral surface of the O-ring 30 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe 14 and is connected to the inner pipe 14. Ensure water stoppage at the connecting portion with the portion 18 (prevent fluid from leaking from the connecting portion between the inner pipe 14 and the connecting portion 18).

As shown in the side sectional view of FIG. 5, a flange portion 42 protruding outward in the radial direction of the support ring 32 is formed at the end of the support ring 32 on the opening 28 side, and the support ring 32 is on the O-ring 30 side. A flange portion 44 is formed at the end portion of the support ring 32 so as to project inward in the radial direction.

The support ring 32 is fixed to the tubular portion 92 by sandwiching the flange portion 42 between the end portion of the tubular portion 92 and the cap 38 attached to the tubular portion 92.

The flange portion 44 is located between the O-ring 30 and the collet 34, and the tip portion of the flange portion 44 is wedge-shaped so as to have a tapered portion 46 that is inclined inward in the radial direction of the support ring 32 toward the X direction. It is formed.

The collet 34 is provided so as to be movable in the X direction and the Y direction, and can be expanded or contracted in the radial direction of the collet 34 by a plurality of slits (not shown) in the material axial direction formed in the collet 34. The collet 34 is provided with a plurality of claw members 48 as holding members protruding inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface along the circumferential direction. The claw member 48 projects inward in the radial direction of the collet 34 in the Y direction. That is, a claw member 48 as a holding member is provided on the inner wall of the tubular portion 92.

A tapered portion 50 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the collet 34 in the vicinity of the intermediate portion in the X direction so as to reduce the outer diameter of the collet 34 in the X direction. A tapered portion 52 facing the tapered portion 50 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap 38.

A part of the exodermis resin 24 is cut out to form one notch 54. As shown in FIG. 8A, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2, the cutout portion 54 is formed in a semicircular shape in which the lower half of the exodermis resin 24 is cut out. A pushing member 56, which will be described later, is inserted into the notch 54.

Next, connection and disconnection of the header unit according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the connection and disconnection between the header unit 12B and the header unit 12C will be described, but the same applies to the connection and disconnection between other header units.

When the other end 16 of the inner pipe 14 of the header unit 12B is inserted into the connecting portion 18 of the header unit 12C shown in FIG. 3 in the Y direction, the claw member 48 of the collet 34 is inside as shown in the side sectional view of FIG. The collet 34 moves in the Y direction together with the inner pipe 14 in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 14. As a result, the end portion of the collet 34 slides on the tapered portion 46 of the support ring 32 so as to ride on the tapered portion 46, and the collet 34 expands in diameter in the radial direction. Therefore, the force for pressing the claw member 48 against the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe 14 is reduced, and the other end portion 16 of the inner pipe 14 can be easily inserted into the connecting portion 18.

The inner pipe 14 is pulled out from the connecting portion 18 due to a fluid flowing through the inner pipe 14 (straight flow path 22) to pressurize the inside of the inner pipe 14 (straight flow path 22) or the header unit 12B being pulled. When a trying force is applied, the inner tube 14 moves in the X direction, as shown in FIG. As a result, the end portion of the collet 34 slides down on the tapered portion 46 of the support ring 32, and the collet 34 is reduced in diameter in the radial direction. Therefore, the force for pressing the claw member 48 against the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe 14 is increased to prevent the other end portion 16 of the inner pipe 14 from coming out from the connecting portion 18, and the other end portion of the inner pipe 14 is prevented from coming out from the connecting portion 18. Can hold 16.

Further, if the force for pulling out the inner pipe 14 from the connecting portion 18 continues to act, the collet 34 further moves in the X direction, and the tapered portion 50 of the collet 34 slides with respect to the tapered portion 52 of the cap 38. To do. As a result, the collet 34 is reduced in diameter in the radial direction, the force for pressing the claw member 48 against the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe 14 is increased, the claw member 48 bites into the outer peripheral surface of the pipe portion 16, and the connecting portion 18 to the inner pipe 14 The other end 16 of the inner pipe 14 can be held by the connecting portion 18 by preventing the other end 16 of the inner pipe 14 from coming off.

When pulling out the other end 16 of the inner pipe 14 of the header unit 12B from the connecting portion 18 of the header unit 12C and removing the header unit 12B from the header unit 12C, first, the side sectional view of FIG. 6A and the side sectional view of FIG. 6A and As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 7A, the pushing member 56 is inserted into the notch 54, and the pushing member 56 is arranged in front of the collet 34 as shown in the side sectional view of FIG. 6B. As shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 7 (a), the pushing member 56 is provided with a plate portion 58 having a semicircular arc cross section and protruding outward in the radial direction from the end portion of the plate portion 58. It is composed of a collar part 60.

Next, as shown in the perspective views of FIGS. 6 (c) and 7 (b), the pushing member 56 is pushed in the Y direction, the end face of the plate portion 58 is applied to the end face of the collet 34, and the back of the cylinder portion 92. Push collet 34 to the side (Y direction). As a result, the collet 34 moves in the Y direction, so that the end portion of the collet 34 slides on the tapered portion 46 of the support ring 32, and the collet 34 expands in the radial direction. Therefore, the force for pressing the claw member 48 against the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe 14 is lost, and the other end 16 of the inner pipe 14 of the header unit 12B can be pulled out from the connecting portion 18 of the header unit 12C. That is, the holding state in which the claw member 48 prevents the other end portion 16 of the inner pipe 14 from coming out from the connecting portion 18 is released.

In this way, in the header unit 12, the inner pipe 14 (the other end 16) of the header unit 12B is inserted into the connecting portion 18 of the header unit 12C, and is held by the claw member 48 of the header unit 12C. A notch 54 is provided between one end of the outer skin resin 24 of 12B and the connecting portion 18 (cap 38) of the header unit 12C as a space for operating the collet 34.

Next, the operation and effect of the piping header and the header unit according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the other end 16 of the inner pipe 14 of the header unit 12B is inserted into the connecting portion 18 of the header unit 12C and held by the claw member 48 of the header unit 12C to form the header unit 12B. It can be connected to the header unit 12C.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c), the push member 56 is inserted into the notch 54 and placed in front of the collet 34, and the push member 56 causes the collet 34 to be placed on the back side of the tubular portion 92 ( When pushed in the Y direction), the state in which the claw member 48 prevents the other end 16 of the inner pipe 14 inserted into the connecting portion 18 from coming out is released, and the connection between the header unit 12B and the header unit 12C is released. can do. That is, by operating the collet 34 using the space of the notch 54, the holding state of the other end 16 of the inner pipe 14 by the claw member 48 of the header unit 12C is released, and the header unit 12B and the header unit 12C Can be disconnected.

In this way, the header unit 12 can be connected and the header unit 12 can be disconnected. Therefore, when it becomes necessary to change the configuration of the header structure of the piping header 10 at the site where the piping header 10 is installed, The header unit 12 can be reduced, added, or the connection order can be changed on the spot. As a result, it is possible to reduce the header unit 12 that becomes unusable and isted and wasted due to the change in the header structure configuration of the piping header 10, and the worker connects the header unit 12 with the wrong configuration. The header unit 12 can be connected at the site without fear of being damaged.

Further, when it becomes necessary to change the configuration of the header structure of the piping header 10 at the site, it is not necessary to newly manufacture the piping header 10 at the factory, so that it is possible to prevent a delay in the construction period of the piping work at the site.

Further, by making the space where the collet 34 as the release member can be operated as the cutout portion 54, various sizes, arrangements, and numbers of spaces can be formed at one end of the exodermis resin 24.

Further, the fluid flowing into the header unit 12 can be branched by the branch flow path branching from the inner pipe 14.

Further, by connecting a plurality of header units 12, it is possible to form a header 10 for piping in which various header units 12 are combined.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

In the embodiment of the present invention, an example in which the notch portion 54 is formed in a semicircular shape is shown, but a push member is inserted and arranged in front of the collet 34, and the collet 34 is connected to the connecting portion 18 by the push member. The cutout portion 54 may have any shape as long as it can be pushed to the back side, or a plurality of cutout portions 54 may be formed along the circumferential direction of the exodermis resin 24. For example, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 (b), even if a circular notch 54 is formed on the entire circumference of one end of the exodermis resin 24 in front view (in the AA cross section of FIG. 2). Alternatively, as shown in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 8 (c) and 8 (d), a plurality of notches 54 may be formed along the circumferential direction of one end of the exodermis resin 24. In the case of the notch 54 of FIG. 8 (c), the pushing member 56 as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 9 (a) is used, and in the case of the notch 54 of FIG. 8 (d), FIG. 9 (b). ) Is used as shown in the perspective view of).

By forming a plurality of notches 54 along the circumferential direction at one end of the exodermis resin 24, "a pushing member 56 capable of simultaneously inserting a pushing member 56 into a plurality of notches 54 to push the collet 34" It is possible to prevent the header unit 12 from being disconnected without using (unless the plurality of cutouts 54 are used at the same time). That is, it is possible to prevent the header unit 12 from being unconnected without permission. Further, the person who can release the connection of the header unit 12 can be limited to a specific person (the person who can surely connect the header unit 12). In this way, since this person (specific person) performs the connection work of the header unit 12, it is possible to prevent a connection error of the header unit 12. It should be noted that the person who can release the connection of the header unit 12 can be limited to a specific person by closing the accommodating portion 54 with a cover which cannot be removed without using a special jig or the like.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, an example is shown in which the outer surface of the inner tube 14 as the inner tube portion is covered with the outer skin resin 24 as the outer tube portion, but the outer skin resin 24 and the inner surface are covered by integral molding or the like. and the pipe 14 is integral single part, which is of (hereinafter referred to as "joint body") may be configured to. In this case, the joint body is composed of an inner pipe portion having the same configuration as the inner pipe 14 and an outer pipe portion having the same configuration as the exodermis resin 24. That is, the inner portion of the joint body, which is one member, is the inner pipe portion, and the outer portion is the outer pipe portion.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, an example in which the cutout portion 54 is formed by cutting out the outer skin resin 24 is shown. For example, as shown in the side sectional view of FIG. 10, the cutout portion 54 is located substantially below the branch port 20. In the case of the header unit 12 having a configuration in which only the inner pipe 14 is covered with the outer skin resin 24, the length of the other end 16 of the inner pipe 14 in the material axial direction is lengthened to increase the length of the connecting portion of the header unit 12C. With the other end 16 of the inner pipe 14 of the header unit 12B completely inserted into 18, the push member 56 is inserted so that a space that can be placed in front of the collet 34 (a space 94 that can operate the collet 34) is created. May be good.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the holding member is the claw member 48 and the release member is the collet 34, but the inner pipe portion of the other header unit inserted into the connecting portion of one header unit is shown. The present invention is applied to a header unit having a holding member for preventing the end portion from coming off and a release member for releasing the holding state of the inner pipe portion by the holding member by being pushed toward the back side of the connecting portion. The form is applicable.

For example, the notch 64 may be provided in the header units 62A and 62B having the configuration shown in the side view of FIG. In FIG. 11, the cylinder portion 68 of the header unit 62A is inserted into the inner pipe 66 as the inner pipe portion of the header unit 62B, and the inner pipe 66 is covered with the cover 88 as the connecting portion in this state. The claw member 70 as a holding member is provided inside the cap 90 fixed to the cover 88, and prevents the inner pipe 66 from coming out of the cover 88. Further, the release ring 72 as a release member provided inside the cap 90 is pushed toward the back side of the cover 88 by an extrusion member (not shown), and the claw member 70 prevents the inner pipe 66 from coming out from the cover 88. Release the holding state.

Further, for example, the claw member 76 provided on the cylindrical collet 74 shown in the perspective view of FIG. 12 may be used as a holding member, and the cylindrical release ring 78 may be used as a release member. The collet 74, the claw member 76, and the release ring 78 are provided on the inner wall of the connecting portion constituting the header unit.

The claw member 76 is provided so as to project from the inner peripheral surface of the collet 74. The collet 74 is formed with a slit 82 formed in the direction of the material axis of the collet 74 and having a tapered portion 80 on the side surface of the inner wall. Further, the release ring 78 is provided with a protrusion member 86 that protrudes downward and has a tapered portion 84 on the side surface of the outer wall.

The release ring 78 and the collet 74 are provided on the inner wall of the connecting portion that constitutes the header unit with the protrusion member 86 inserted into the slit 82. As a result, when the release ring 78 is pushed toward the collet 74 (toward the back side of the connecting portion) by the pushing member, the tapered portion 84 of the protruding member 86 is pressed against the tapered portion 80 of the slit 82 while sliding. The slit 82 is expanded in the protruding member 86, the collet 74 is expanded in the radial direction, and the force of pressing the claw member 76 against the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe portion inserted and connected to the connecting portion of the header unit is eliminated.

Further, any number of header units 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be connected. Further, the plurality of header units 12 to be connected may have the same specifications, may have different specifications, or may have the same specifications of some header units 12. The specifications here mean the length of the straight flow path, the presence or absence of the branch flow path, the size of the branch port (diameter of the connectable pipe body), the position of the branch port, the number of branch ports, and the like.

Further, the header unit 12 of the embodiment of the present invention may be used as a pipe joint for connecting pipe bodies such as water supply, hot water supply, or drainage pipes. Further, the header unit 12 of the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to various connecting structures for connecting tubular members.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

10 Plumbing header 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 62, 62A, 62B Header unit (pipe fitting) 14, 66 Inner pipe (inner pipe part) 16 The other end 18 Connection 24 Exodermis resin (outer tube) 34 Collet (release member) 48, 70, 76 Claw member (holding member) 54, 64 Notches (spaces) 72, 78 Release ring (release member) 88 cover (connecting part)