Pipe joint and connection structure of pipe joint

Abstract

To provide a pipe joint whose dimension in a radial direction can be reduced, and a connection structure thereof.SOLUTION: A pipe joint 1 comprises: a nearly cylindrical body part 10 comprising a front end part 11 to be inserted into an insertion hole of a connection object body 30, an intermediate part 12 continuous with the front end part, and a rear end part 13 continuous with the intermediate part; a front flange part 14; an arm part 40; and a claw part 44 provided in a front end part of the arm part 40. The arm part 40 comprises a first piece 41 protruding rearward from the intermediate part 12, a second piece 43 extending frontward, and the claw part 44 provided in a front end part of the second piece 43.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pipe joint, and more particularly to a pipe joint having an arm portion extending in the insertion direction to prevent the pipe joint from coming off. The present invention also relates to a connection structure for the pipe joint.

[0002] A widely used pipe fitting connection method involves inserting a pipe fitting attached to the end of a pipe such as a hot water or cold water tube into a connected object at the end of a device or another pipe, and then restraining the flanges of both with a clip to prevent the pipe fitting from coming loose.

[0003] As a pipe fitting that does not require such a separate clip, one has been proposed that has an arm extending in the insertion direction (forward) and a claw at the tip of the arm. In such a pipe fitting with an arm, the pipe fitting is inserted into a pipe fitting connection port of a connected body such as a header, and the claw at the tip of the arm is engaged with the outer periphery of the flange of the pipe fitting connection port. This prevents the pipe fitting from slipping out of the pipe fitting connection port. The pipe fitting also has a flange, and when the pipe fitting is inserted into the pipe fitting connection port of the header until the flanges overlap, the claw engages with the outer periphery of the flange on the connection port side.

[0004] Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a pipe joint 1 according to an existing example and its connection structure. Fig. 7 is a diametric cross-sectional view of a main body 10 of the pipe joint 1, showing a cross-section of the main body 10 as viewed rearward from a front end 11 thereof.

[0005] This pipe joint 1 has a substantially cylindrical main body 10 with a water passage hole 2 passing through from the front end to the rear end, and a pair of arm portions 20 connected to the main body 10.

[0006] The main body 10 has a cylindrical front end 11, an intermediate portion 12, and a rear end 13. A front flange 14 is provided between the front end 11 and the intermediate portion 12, protruding in the radial direction, and a rear flange 15 is provided between the intermediate portion 12 and the rear end 13, protruding in the radial direction.

[0007] The outer peripheral edge of the rear flange portion 15 is circular. The outer peripheral edge of the front flange portion 14 is composed of a pair of arcuate portions 14a and a pair of chord direction portions 14b. The chord direction portions 14b, 14b are parallel and linear.

[0008] A circumferential groove 16 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the front end portion 11, and an O-ring 17 is fitted in this circumferential groove 16.

[0009] A pipe P made of a resin tube or the like is fitted onto the rear end 13. A bamboo shoot-shaped uneven portion 18 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the rear end 13 to prevent the pipe P from coming off. After the pipe P is fitted onto the rear end 13, the pipe P is tightened from the outer periphery with a tightening ring to prevent the pipe 13 from coming off.

[0010] The arm portion 20 has a first piece 21 rising radially from the intermediate portion 12, a second piece 22 extending forward from the radial tip side of the first piece 21, a third piece 23 connected to the second piece 22 via a connecting portion 25 and extending rearward, a fourth piece 24 extending forward from the connecting portion 25, and a claw portion 26 rising from the front end of the fourth piece 24 toward the main body portion 10.

[0011] The second piece 22 and the third piece 23 are connected via the connecting portion 25, so that the shape thereof in a side view is U-shaped. The third piece 23 is located on the outer periphery side of the second piece 22.

[0012] The connecting portion 25 is located rearward of the front flange portion 14, and the fourth piece 24 extends forward across the chord direction portion 14b of the front flange portion 14. The fourth piece 24 is plate-shaped, and the plate surface thereof is parallel to the chord direction portion 14b.

[0013] The claw portion 26 is located between the front end of the front end portion 11 and the front flange portion 14. The surface of the claw portion 26 facing the main body portion 10 is inclined so as to approach the main body portion 10 toward the rear. The rear end of the claw portion 26 is a stepped surface that slopes down toward the fourth piece 24 side.

[0014] The front end 11 of this pipe fitting 1 is inserted into an insertion hole of a connected body 30. Examples of the connected body 30 include a header, a connection part in a gas heat source unit, a connection part in a heat pump unit, and a connection part in a heat source unit tank unit. The connected body 30 has a cylindrical tubular part 31 near its tip, and a flange part 32 is provided at the tip of the tubular part 31. The pipe hole of the tubular part 31 serves as the insertion hole of the pipe fitting 1.

[0015] To connect the pipe fitting 1 to the connected body 30, the front end 11 is inserted into the insertion hole of the tubular portion 31 until the front flange portion 14 and the flange portion 32 overlap. When the front end 11 is inserted into the tubular portion 31 so that the front flange portion 14 and the flange portion 32 are close to each other, the claw portion 26 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 32, and the fourth piece 24 is bent in the radial direction. When the front flange portion 14 and the flange portion 32 overlap each other, the claw portion 26 climbs over the flange portion 32 and engages with the back corner edge (the corner edge opposite the pipe fitting 1) of the flange portion 32. This prevents the pipe fitting 1 from being separated from the connected body 30. The O-ring 17 is in watertight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion 31.

[0016] When removing the pipe fitting 1 from the connected body 30, the rear portion of the third piece 23 is pushed down so as to approach the middle portion 12. This causes the front end side of the fourth piece 24 to rotate away from the front end portion 11, and the claw portion 26 comes off the flange portion 32. Then, the pipe fitting 1 is pulled out from the connected body 30. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0017] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-210967 [Patent Document 2] JP 2014-88950 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0018] In the above-mentioned existing example, the first pieces 21 of the arm portions 20 stand up radially from two diametrically opposed locations on the outer circumferential surface of the pipe joint. The pair of arms extend forward, passing diametrically outside the flange portion of the pipe joint. Therefore, the distance between the pair of arms is considerably larger than the diameter of the flange portion of the pipe joint, and the dimensions of the pipe joint are large. Such a large pipe joint may not be applicable to pipe connections in a water heater housing or the like, which has a small space.

[0019] An object of a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a pipe joint that can reduce the radial dimension, and a connection structure thereof.

[0020] Furthermore, in the existing pipe fittings, the flange portion 32 of the pipe fitting connection port of the connected body 30 is clamped between the flange portion 14 and the claw portion 26 of the pipe fitting, so it is necessary to fabricate a pipe fitting having a flange portion-claw portion spacing according to the thickness of the flange portion 32.

[0021] An object of a second aspect of the present invention is to provide a pipe joint that can accommodate different flange thicknesses, and a connection structure thereof. [Means for solving the problem]

[0022] The pipe fitting of the first invention is a pipe fitting that is inserted into a pipe fitting insertion hole of a connected body having a flange portion at its tip and is engaged with the connected body by a pair of arm portions, the pipe fitting having a substantially cylindrical main body portion having a front end portion that is inserted into the insertion hole, an intermediate portion connected to the front end portion, and a rear end portion connected to the intermediate portion, a front flange portion that protrudes radially at the boundary between the front end portion and the intermediate portion, the arm portion having a base end side that is connected to the intermediate portion and a front end side that extends forward beyond the front flange portion, and a claw portion that is provided at the front end of the arm portion and engages with the flange portion of the connected body, the arm portion having a first piece that protrudes rearward from the intermediate portion, a second piece that extends forward from the rear end of the first piece, and a claw portion provided at the front end of the second piece.

[0023] In one aspect of the first invention, a pipe (P) is inserted between the inner edge of the first piece and the outer circumferential surface of the rear end portion.

[0024] A pipe fitting of a second invention is a pipe fitting that is inserted into a pipe fitting insertion hole of a connected body having a flange portion at its tip and is engaged with the connected body by a pair of arm portions, the pipe fitting having a substantially cylindrical main body portion having a front end portion that is inserted into the insertion hole, an intermediate portion connected to the front end portion, and a rear end portion connected to the intermediate portion, a front flange portion that protrudes radially at the boundary between the front end portion and the intermediate portion, the arm portion having a base end side that is connected to the intermediate portion and a front end side that extends forward of the front flange portion, and a claw portion that is provided at the front end of the arm portion and engages with the flange portion of the connected body, the claw portion having a plurality of step surfaces extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the main body portion, and the distance between each step surface and the front flange portion is different.

[0025] In one aspect of the second invention, the step surface includes a first step surface on the front end side and a second step surface further rearward, and the second step surface is positioned radially outward from the first step surface.

[0026] The connection structure of a pipe fitting of the present invention comprises the pipe fitting of the first or second invention, and a connected body in which the pipe fitting is inserted into an insertion hole and the arm portion is engaged with the flange portion at the tip.

[0027] In one aspect of the pipe joint connection structure of the present invention, the distance between the tips of the arm portions is 1.3 times or less the diameter of the flange portion of the connected body.

[0028] In one aspect of the connection structure of the pipe joint of the present invention, a pair of chord direction portions extending in the chord direction are provided in parallel on the front flange portion, and the arm portion extends forward across the chord direction portions. Effect of the Invention

[0029] In the first invention, the arm portion has a first piece protruding rearward from the intermediate portion, a second piece extending forward from the rear end of the first piece, and a claw portion provided at the front end of the second piece. Since the first piece protrudes rearward, the second piece can be made sufficiently long. Therefore, the length of the joint is compact, but the claw portion can move flexibly and can be incorporated into the flange portion of the connected body. In addition, the inner edge of the first piece is in contact with or set very close to the outer circumferential surface of the piping portion inserted into the bamboo shoot shape at the rear end, which allows the insertion of the piping to be guided and allows the arm portion to be designed to be compact in the radial direction.

[0030] The pipe joint and its connection structure of the second invention are highly versatile because the thickness of the flange portion of the connected body to which the pipe joint is connected is not limited to one type. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a pipe joint and a connection method thereof according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between an arm portion of a pipe joint main body and a pipe connection portion according to the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a pipe joint according to another embodiment. [Figure 4] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pipe joint of FIG. 4 in a connected state. [Diagram 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pipe joint of FIG. 4 in a connected state. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pipe joint according to an existing example and a connection method thereof. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view of the front end portion of the pipe joint body of FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0033] [First embodiment of the invention] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a pipe joint 1A according to an embodiment of the first invention and its connection structure. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the pipe joint 1A connected to a pipe P. Note that the same reference numerals are used to denote members or parts common to the existing example in Fig. 6.

[0034] This pipe joint 1A has a substantially cylindrical main body 10 with a water passage hole 2 penetrating therethrough from the front end to the rear end.

[0035] The main body 10 has a cylindrical front end 11, an intermediate portion 12, and a rear end 13. A front flange 14 is provided between the front end 11 and the intermediate portion 12, protruding in the radial direction, and a rear flange 15 is provided between the intermediate portion 12 and the rear end 13, protruding in the radial direction.

[0036] A circumferential groove 16 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the front end portion 11, and an O-ring 17 is fitted in this circumferential groove 16.

[0037] A pipe P made of a resin tube or the like is fitted to the rear end portion 13. A bamboo shoot-shaped uneven portion 18 for preventing the pipe P from coming off is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rear end portion 13. After the pipe P is fitted to the rear end portion 13, the pipe P is tightened from the outer periphery with a tightening ring to prevent the pipe 13 from coming off. As this tightening ring, the one described in JP 2021-60057 A is suitable. In addition, it is preferable that the thickness of this tightening ring and the thickness of the pipe P have the relationship described in the same publication, but is not limited thereto. The tip end of the pipe P is inserted between the rear end 13 and a first piece 41 of the arm portion 40 described below. The outer circumferential surface of the tip end of the pipe P may be in contact with the first piece 41 or may be separated therefrom.

[0038] In this pipe fitting 1A, a pair of arm portions 40 are provided so as to be connected to the rear end surface of the rear flange portion 15. The arm portion 40 has a first piece 41 extending rearward from the rear end surface of the intermediate portion 12, a second piece 42 connected to the first piece 41 and extending in the radial direction, a third piece 43 connected to the tip side of the second piece 42 and extending forward, and a claw portion 44 standing from the front end side of the third piece 43 toward the front end portion 11. The claw portion 44 is located closer to the front end than the front flange portion 14.

[0039] In this embodiment, the claw portion 44 has a first step surface 44a and a second step surface 44b. Each step surface 44a, 44b extends in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the main body portion 10. The first step surface 44a is located forward of the second step surface 44b. Between the first step surface 44a and the second step surface 44b, a plane 44c is formed that extends in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the main body portion 10. The second step surface 44b descends from the plane 44c toward the third piece 43, that is, toward the outside in the radial direction of the main body portion 10. The second step surface 44b is located forward of the front flange portion 14.

[0040] Other configurations of this pipe joint 1A are similar to those of the pipe joint 1, and the same reference numerals denote the same parts.

[0041] The front end 11 of this pipe fitting 1 is inserted into an insertion hole of a connected body 30. Examples of the connected body 30 include, but are not limited to, a header, a connection part in a gas heat source device, a connection part in a heat pump unit, and a connection part in a heat source device tank unit. The connected body 30 has a cylindrical tubular part 31 near its tip, and a flange part 32 is provided at the tip of the tubular part 31. The pipe hole of the tubular part 31 serves as the insertion hole of the pipe fitting 1.

[0042] To connect the pipe fitting 1A to the connected body 30, the front end 11 is inserted into the insertion hole of the tubular portion 31 until the front flange portion 14 and the flange portion 32 overlap. When the front end 11 is inserted into the tubular portion 31 so that the front flange portion 14 and the flange portion 32 are close to each other, the claw portion 44 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 32, and the third piece 43 is bent in the radial direction. When the front flange portion 14 and the flange portion 32 overlap each other, the claw portion 44 climbs over the flange portion 32 and engages with the back corner edge (the corner edge opposite the pipe fitting 1A) of the flange portion 32. This prevents the pipe fitting 1 from being separated from the connected body 30. The O-ring 17 is in watertight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion 31.

[0043] When removing the pipe fitting 1A from the connected body 30, the third piece 43 is pulled up in a direction away from the intermediate portion 12. This causes the front end side of the third piece 43 to rotate away from the front end portion 11, and the claw portion 44 comes off the flange portion 32. Then, the pipe fitting 1A is pulled out from the connected body 30.

[0044] As described above, in this embodiment, the arm portion 40 has the first piece 41 protruding rearward from the flange portion 15, the second piece 43 extending forward from the rear end of the first piece 41, and the claw portion 44 provided at the front end of the second piece 43. Since the first piece 41 protrudes rearward, the second piece 43 can be made sufficiently long. Therefore, the claw portion 44 can move flexibly and be incorporated into the flange portion 32 of the connected body 30 while the length of the joint is compact. In addition, the inner edge of the first piece 41 is in contact with or set very close to the outer circumferential surface of the pipe P inserted into the rear end portion 13, thereby guiding the insertion of the pipe P and allowing the arm portion 40 to be designed to be compact in the radial direction. In the present invention, it is preferable that the distance L between the arm portions 40, 40 is 1.3 times or less, for example 1 to 1.25 times, and particularly 1 to 1.2 times, the diameter D of the flange portion 32 of the connected body 30. Note that, even in this embodiment, a chord direction portion 14b may be provided on the front flange portion 14 as shown in Fig. 7 to further reduce the distance L between the arm portions 40, 40.

[0045] By reducing the distance L in this manner, the dimension of the pipe joint 1A (the dimension in the direction connecting the arm portions 40, 40) is reduced, which allows the pipe joint 1A to be used even in a narrow space.

[0046] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the pipe joint 1A and the connected body 30 can be connected even if the flange portion 32 of the connected body 30 has a different thickness.

[0047] For example, this pipe joint 1A can be applied to two types of connected bodies 30M, 30R having flange portions 32 with different thicknesses, as shown in FIGS.

[0048] 4 is made of metal, and has a small thickness of the flange portion 32. In this case, the flange portion 32 is sandwiched between the second step surface 44b and the front flange portion .

[0049] 5 is made of synthetic resin, and has a large thickness of the flange portion 32. In this case, the flange portion 32 is sandwiched between the first step surface 44a and the front flange portion .

[0050] The above-described embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and the present invention may be embodied in other forms than those described above [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1,1A Pipe Fittings 2 Water Vent 10 Main body 11 Front end 12 Middle section 13 Rear end 14 Front flange 14a Arc section 14b Chord direction section 15 Rear flange 20 Arm section 21 1st piece 22 2nd piece 23 3rd piece 24 4th piece 25 Linking Section 26 Claw part 30,30M,30R Connected body 40 アームBU 41 No.1 42 No.2 43 No.3 44 claws 44a The first section difference 44b Second segment difference 44c Plane

Claims

1. A pipe fitting that is inserted into a pipe fitting insertion hole of a connected body having a flange portion at a tip portion and is engaged with the connected body by a pair of arms, a substantially cylindrical main body having a front end portion inserted into the insertion hole, a middle portion connected to the front end portion, and a rear end portion connected to the middle portion; a front flange portion protruding in a radial direction at a boundary portion between the front end portion and the intermediate portion; the arm portion having a base end connected to the intermediate portion and a front end extending forward beyond the front flange portion; a claw portion provided at a front end of the arm portion and adapted to be engaged with a flange portion of the connected body; In a pipe fitting having A pipe fitting characterized in that the arm portion has a first piece protruding rearward from the intermediate portion, a second piece extending forward from the rear end of the first piece, and a claw portion provided on the front end of the second piece.

2. 2. A pipe joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pipe (P) is inserted between the inner edge of said first piece and the outer circumferential surface of said rear end portion.

3. A pipe fitting that is inserted into a pipe fitting insertion hole of a connected body having a flange portion at a tip portion and is engaged with the connected body by a pair of arms, a substantially cylindrical main body having a front end portion inserted into the insertion hole, a middle portion connected to the front end portion, and a rear end portion connected to the middle portion; a front flange portion protruding in a radial direction at a boundary portion between the front end portion and the intermediate portion; the arm portion having a base end connected to the intermediate portion and a front end extending forward beyond the front flange portion; a claw portion provided at a front end of the arm portion and adapted to be engaged with a flange portion of the connected body; In a pipe fitting having The claw portion has a plurality of step surfaces extending in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the main body portion, A pipe joint characterized in that the distances between each step surface and the front flange portion are different.

4. The step surface includes a first step surface on the front end side and a second step surface on the rear side thereof, 4. The pipe joint according to claim 3, wherein the second stepped surface is located radially outward from the first stepped surface.

5. A pipe joint according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a connecting body in which the pipe joint is inserted into the insertion hole and the arm portion is engaged with a flange portion at the tip of the connecting body; A connection structure between a pipe fitting and a connected body, comprising:

6. 6. A connection structure between a pipe joint and a connected body according to claim 5, wherein the distance between the tips of said arms is 1.3 times or less the diameter of the flange portion of said connected body.

7. The front flange portion is provided with a pair of chord direction portions extending in a chord direction in parallel, 6. The connection structure between a pipe joint and a connected body according to claim 5, wherein the arm portion extends forward across the chord direction portion.

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