connecting pipe

Abstract

A connecting pipe (10) comprising a connecting pipe part (22) having, at opposite ends thereof, connecting opening end parts (18, 20) intended to be connected by fitting them together with two pipe end parts (14a, 16a) arranged at mutually spaced positions and having respective pipe openings (14b, 16b), the connecting pipe (10) comprising: a bendable part (26) provided between the opposite ends (44, 46) of the connecting pipe part (22) to allow that the connecting pipe part (22) is bent relative to a longitudinal axis of the connecting pipe part (22); rigid parts (28) extending from the bendable part (26) to the respective connection opening end parts (18, 20), the rigid parts (28) having a higher rigidity than the bendable part (26); and Guide recesses (50, 52) provided in respective opposite end surfaces (44, 46) of the connecting pipe part (22) so as to extend radially from an outer peripheral surface of the connecting pipe part (22) to an inner bore (48) of the connecting pipe part (22), the guide recesses (50, 52) allowing the pipe end parts (14a, 16a) to be guided from the outer peripheral surface to the inner bore (48); wherein bending of the connecting pipe part (22) at the bendable part (26) allows the connecting opening end parts (18, 20) at the opposite ends (44, 46) to be fitted to the pipe end parts (14a, 16a) respectively associated therewith, wherein the bendable part (26) has an elastic restoring force to maintain a state where the connection opening end parts (18, 20) are fitted with the pipe end parts (14a, 16a) associated therewith after the state has been established.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting pipe comprising a connecting pipe part having, at opposite ends thereof, connection opening end parts provided for connection by fitting with two pipe end parts arranged at mutually spaced positions and having respective pipe openings. Technical background

[0002] When connecting port end parts at opposite ends of a connecting pipe are to be connected by fitting them together with two pipe end parts arranged at mutually spaced positions and having respective pipe openings, the distance between the connecting port end parts of the connecting pipe must be greater than the space between the two pipe end parts by a length of the parts to be fitted together. Accordingly, it is difficult to install the connecting pipe between the two pipe end parts. On the other hand, there is a conventional technique of using a connecting pipe made of elastomer resin so that it has elasticity.In this technique, after one end of the connecting pipe has been connected to one pipe end part, the connecting pipe is deformed so that the other end thereof is aligned with the other pipe end part, thereby establishing the connection, as is apparent, for example, from JP H09 - 105 492 A.

[0003] Furthermore, reference is made to US 3 791 679 A, ​​which shows a pipe connection made of elastic plastic material, with bushings which are connected by tubular flexible necks in one piece to a hollow body which is stiffened by longitudinal ribs. Summary of the inventionTechnical problem

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a connecting pipe of the type described above which can be easily connected and which can maintain a connected state more reliably. Solution to the problem

[0005] The present invention provides a connecting pipe according to the claims. The connecting pipe comprises a connecting pipe part having, at opposite ends thereof, connecting opening end parts provided for connection by fitting with two pipe end parts arranged at mutually spaced positions and having respective pipe openings. The connecting pipe has a bendable part provided between the opposite ends of the connecting pipe part for allowing the connecting pipe part to be bent relative to a longitudinal axis of the connecting pipe part, and rigid parts extending from the bendable part to the respective connecting opening end parts, the rigid parts having a higher rigidity than the bendable part.The connecting pipe further includes guide grooves provided on opposite end surfaces of the connecting pipe part, respectively, to extend radially from the outer peripheral surface of the connecting pipe part to the inner bore of the connecting pipe part. The guide grooves allow the pipe end parts to be guided from the outer peripheral surface to the inner bore. The connecting opening end parts at the opposite ends can be fitted even more easily to the associated pipe end parts by bending the connecting pipe part at the bendable part to engage the connecting opening end parts with the respective pipe end parts, and then by guiding the pipe end parts along the guide grooves.Bending the connecting pipe part at the bendable part allows the connecting opening end parts at the opposite ends to fit onto the respective pipe end parts associated therewith. The bendable part has an elastic recovery force to maintain a state where the connecting opening end parts fit together with the pipe end parts associated therewith after the state has been established.

[0006] The connecting pipe enables connection with the pipe end parts by bending the connecting pipe part at the bendable part, and after the connection is made, the connected state is maintained by the elastic restoring force resulting from the bending.

[0007] The above-described connecting pipe may further include a branch pipe portion extending laterally from the connecting pipe portion between the opposite ends of the connecting pipe portion. The bendable portion may be provided at a junction between the branch pipe portion and the connecting pipe portion.

[0008] In particular, the bendable part can be formed by reducing the wall thickness of a corner between the connecting pipe part and the branch pipe part. In this case, it becomes easy to tilt each rigid part extending from the bendable part, which is formed as a part with a reduced wall thickness, with respect to the branch pipe part, so that the angle of the corner decreases.

[0009] The guide recesses extending to the inner bore may have respective bottom surfaces inclined to approach the end surfaces of the connecting pipe part where the guide recesses are provided as the distance from the outer peripheral surface to the inner bore increases. In other words, the bottom surfaces of the guide recesses are located furthest from the associated end surfaces on the outer peripheral surface, which facilitates the guiding of the pipe end parts into the respective guide recesses.

[0010] Furthermore, the arrangement may be as follows: The connecting pipe part has thick-walled parts at the respective connecting opening end parts, wherein the thick-walled parts each have a thickened wall extending from the inner bore to the outer peripheral surface. The guide recesses are formed in the respective thick-walled parts.

[0011] In this case, the arrangement may be as follows. The thick-walled parts are each formed as a whole in a substantially annular shape along the outer circumference of the connecting pipe part, the thick-walled parts each having a portion thereof cut off by a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connecting pipe part so as to have flat surfaces, respectively, the guide recesses being formed to extend from respective substantially central portions of the flat surfaces to the inner bore. The provision of flat surfaces makes it possible to guide the pipe end parts into the respective radial guide recesses when the connection to the pipe end parts is made.

[0012] An embodiment of a connecting pipe according to the present invention will be explained below based on the accompanying drawings. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connecting pipe according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the connecting pipe. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a double pump as an example of an object to which the connecting pipe can be attached. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the state where the connecting pipe is connected to the Fig. 3 shown double pump. Description of implementation examples

[0013] A connecting pipe 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to be mounted between respective pipe end portions 14a and 16a of two pump units 14 and 16 of a double pump 12, as shown in Fig. 3. The double pump 12 has two pump units 14 and 16 arranged symmetrically on the respective left and right sides thereof. The two pump units 14 and 16 are driven by a motor provided midway therebetween to discharge fluid from pipe openings (outlet openings) 14b and 16b of the respective pipe end portions 14a and 16a. The connecting pipe 10 is connected by fitting it onto the pipe end portions 14a and 16a, as shown in Fig. 4 shown.

[0014] As in Fig. 1, the connecting pipe 10 is formed as a T-shaped pipe having a connecting pipe portion 22 and a branch pipe portion 24. The connecting pipe portion 22 has at its opposite ends connecting opening end portions 18 and 20, which are provided for connection by fitting with the respective pipe end portions 14a and 16a. The branch pipe portion 24 extends laterally from the connecting pipe portion 22 at an angle of approximately 90 degrees thereto between the opposite ends of the connecting pipe portion 22. The connecting pipe 10 is made of relatively rigid synthetic plastic (for example, relatively rigid silicone) or the like, so that it is relatively rigid overall. The connecting pipe 10 has, as shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, bendable parts 26 are formed at the connection between the connecting pipe part 22 and the branch pipe part 24. The connectable parts 26 are formed by making the corners between the connecting pipe part 22 and the branch pipe part 24 thinner in wall thickness than the other regions. The bendable parts 26 allow the connecting pipe part 22 to be bent relative to its longitudinal axis. The connecting pipe 10 further has respective rigid parts 28 that extend from the bendable parts 26 to the connection opening end parts 18 and 20 at the opposite ends and that have higher rigidity than the bendable parts. The branch pipe part 24 has, as shown in Fig. 1, an axial reinforcing rib 30 and annular reinforcing ribs 32 and 34 on its outer peripheral surface.

[0015] The connecting pipe part 22 is configured such that the connecting opening end parts 18 and 20 have corresponding thick-walled parts 40 and 42 at the opposite ends thereof. The thick-walled parts 40 and 42 have end surfaces 44 and 46, each provided with guide recesses 50 and 52 extending radially from the lower outer peripheral surface to an inner bore 48 of the connecting pipe part 22. In the illustrated example, the thick-walled parts 40 and 42 are formed as a whole in a substantially annular shape of the outer periphery of the connecting pipe part 22. The thick-walled parts 40 and 42 each have a portion cut off by a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connecting pipe part, thus being formed substantially into inverted U-shapes having flat surfaces 40a and 42a, respectively.The guide recesses 50 and 52 are shaped to extend from respective substantially central portions of the flat surfaces 40a and 42a to the inner bore 48. As shown in . Fig. 2, the guide recesses 50 and 52 have respective bottom surfaces 50a and 52a that are inclined to approach the end surfaces 44 and 46 of the connecting pipe portion 22, where the guide recesses 50 and 52 are provided, as the distance to the inner bore (48) decreases. By providing the thick-walled portions 40 and 42 with the respective flat surfaces 40a and 42a and by inclining the bottom surfaces 50a and 52a of the guide recesses 50 and 52 as shown above, the pipe end portions 14a and 16a of the double pump 12 can be easily received in the respective connecting port end portions 18 and 20.

[0016] To connect the above-described connecting pipe 10 to the pipe end portions 14a and 16a of the dual pump 12, first, the connecting pipe portion 22 is bent at one or both of the bendable portions 26 provided on the opposite sides of the branch pipe portion 24, and the pipe end portions 14a and 16a are engaged with the guide recesses 50 and 52 located at the opposite ends of the connecting pipe portion 22. Next, the pipe openings 14b and 16b of the pipe end portions 14a and 16a are positioned so that they are substantially aligned with the inner bore 48 of the connecting pipe portion 22. Thereafter, the connecting pipe part 22 is allowed to return or bend from the bent state to the original straight state to allow the connecting opening end parts 18 and 20 to be fitted to the associated pipe end parts 14a and 16a.

[0017] The bendable parts 26 of the connecting pipe part 22 are configured to have an elastic restoring force sufficient to maintain the restored state of the connecting pipe part 22 when they have returned from the bent state to the state where the connecting opening end parts 18 and 20 are fitted to the associated pipe end parts 14a and 16a.

[0018] A connecting pipe as an embodiment of the present invention is as described above. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Although the foregoing connecting pipe has been explained as a T-shaped pipe, the present invention can be applied, for example, to a straight connecting pipe that does not have a branch pipe portion. Furthermore, the connecting pipe portion may be curved or bent instead of being straight. List of reference symbols 10 connecting pipe 12 double pump 14 and 16 pump units 14a and 16a pipe end parts 14b and 16b pipe openings (outlet openings) 18 and 20 connection opening end parts 22 Connecting pipe part 24 Branch pipe part 26 bendable parts 28 rigid parts 30 axial reinforcement rib 32 and 34 annular reinforcing ribs 40 and 42 thick-walled parts 40a and 42a flat surfaces 44 and 46 end faces 48 inner bore 50 and 52 guide recesses 50a and 52a floor areas

Claims

[1] A connecting pipe (10) comprising a connecting pipe part (22) having, at opposite ends thereof, connection opening end parts (18, 20) intended to be connected by fitting with two pipe end parts (14a, 16a) arranged at mutually spaced positions and having respective pipe openings (14b, 16b), the connecting pipe (10) comprising: a bendable part (26) provided between the opposite ends (44, 46) of the connecting pipe part (22) to allow that the connecting pipe part (22) is bent relative to a longitudinal axis of the connecting pipe part (22); rigid parts (28) extending from the bendable part (26) to the respective connection opening end parts (18, 20), the rigid parts (28) having a higher rigidity than the bendable part (26); and Guide recesses (50, 52) provided in respective opposite end surfaces (44, 46) of the connecting pipe part (22) so as to extend radially from an outer peripheral surface of the connecting pipe part (22) to an inner bore (48) of the connecting pipe part (22), the guide recesses (50, 52) allowing the pipe end parts (14a, 16a) to be guided from the outer peripheral surface to the inner bore (48); wherein bending of the connecting pipe part (22) at the bendable part (26) allows the connecting opening end parts (18, 20) at the opposite ends (44, 46) to be fitted to the pipe end parts (14a, 16a) respectively associated therewith, wherein the bendable part (26) has an elastic restoring force to maintain a state where the connection opening end parts (18, 20) are fitted with the pipe end parts (14a, 16a) associated therewith after the state has been established. [2] Connecting pipe (10) according to claim 1, further comprising: a branch pipe portion (24) extending laterally from the connecting pipe portion (22) between the opposite ends (44, 46) of the connecting pipe portion (22); wherein the bendable part (26) is provided at a connection between the branch pipe part (24) and the connecting pipe part (22). [3] The connecting pipe (10) according to claim 2, wherein the bendable part (26) is formed by reducing a wall thickness of a corner between the connecting pipe part (22) and the branch pipe part (24). [4] A connecting pipe (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide recesses (50, 52) extending to the inner bore (48) have respective bottom surfaces (50a, 52a) which are inclined to come closer to the end surfaces (44, 46) of the connecting pipe part (22) where the guide recesses (50, 52) are provided, as a distance from the outer peripheral surface to the inner bore (48) increases. [5] A connecting pipe (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting pipe part (22) has thick-walled parts at the respective connecting opening end parts (18, 20), the thick-walled parts each having a thickened wall extending from the inner bore (48) to the outer peripheral surface, the guide recesses (50, 52) being formed in the thick-walled parts, respectively. [6] The connecting pipe (10) according to claim 5, wherein the thick-walled parts are each formed as a whole in a substantially tubular shape along an outer circumference of the connecting pipe part (22), wherein a part of the thick-walled parts is cut off by a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connecting pipe part (22) so that they have flat surfaces, respectively, wherein the guide recesses (50, 52) are formed so that they extend from substantially central parts of the flat surfaces to the inner bore (22).

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