Clip for composite pipe

Abstract

To provide a new clip for a composite pipe capable of improving workability of piping.SOLUTION: A clip 1 for a composite pipe is attached to a composite pipe 11 that includes a bellows shaped sheath pipe 13 with ridge portions 15 and valley portions 16 alternately arranged in an axial direction and is expandable and contractible along the axial direction, and a pipe body 12 inserted through the sheath pipe 13, and which holds an outer peripheral surface of the sheath pipe 13 to deform the sheath pipe 13, and thereby, holds a pipe body 12 via the sheath pipe 13 as well. The clip 1 for a composite pipe comprises: a body part 2 that forms an annular shape with a circumferential portion spaced apart to open (a detachable port 2a), and which can change an opening of the detachable port 2a by elastic deformation; and first and second finger hook parts 3 and 4 provided on the body part 2, serving as grips when increasing the opening of the detachable port 2a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a clip for attaching to a composite pipe used for water supply, hot water supply, etc.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a composite pipe including a corrugated pipe and an inner pipe inserted through the corrugated pipe.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the composite pipe, since it is configured to allow expansion and contraction of the corrugated pipe in the axial direction, the corrugated pipe is not fixed to the inner pipe as a matter of course. For example, during the operation of connecting the inner pipe to a pipe joint located above the inner pipe, the corrugated pipe may fall off the inner pipe, and it has been troublesome to directly hold not only the inner pipe but also the corrugated pipe by hand so that the corrugated pipe does not fall.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a novel clip for a composite pipe that can improve the workability of piping.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the clip for a composite pipe according to the invention of claim 1 is attached to a composite pipe including a sheath pipe having a bellows shape in which ridges and valleys are alternately arranged in the axial direction and capable of expanding and contracting in the axial direction, and a pipe body inserted through the sheath pipe. By sandwiching the outer peripheral surface of the sheath pipe and deforming the sheath pipe, the pipe body is also sandwiched through the sheath pipe.

[0007] The clip for a composite pipe according to the invention of claim 2, in claim 1, has an annular shape with a part in the circumferential direction being spaced apart and opening, and includes a main body portion that can change the opening degree of the opening by elastic deformation, and a finger hook portion provided on the main body portion and serving as a clue for increasing the opening degree of the opening.

[0008] The clip for a composite pipe according to the invention of claim 3, in claim 2, at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction on the inner circumferential surface of the main body portion, there are provided valley portion protrusions that respectively contact the bottom surface of the valley portion of the sheath pipe.

[0009] The clip for a composite pipe according to the invention of claim 4, in claim 3, on the inner circumferential surface of the main body portion, between the valley portion protrusions in the circumferential direction of the inner circumferential surface, there are provided peak portion protrusions that respectively contact the upper surfaces of a pair of peak portions located on both sides of the valley portion corresponding to the valley portion protrusion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the clip for a composite pipe of the present invention, by sandwiching the outer circumferential surface of the sheath pipe and deforming the sheath pipe, the pipe body is also sandwiched through the sheath pipe, and the pipe body and the sheath pipe are mutually fixed so as not to shift in the axial direction. Therefore, for example, during the operation of connecting the pipe body to a pipe joint located above the pipe body, it is possible to prevent the sheath pipe from dropping with respect to the pipe body without directly holding the sheath pipe by hand, and the workability of the piping becomes good.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the clip for composite pipes of the present invention is embodied will be described. First, the composite pipe 11 to which the clip 1 for composite pipes is attached will be described.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the composite pipe 11 includes a pipe body 12 and a sheath pipe 13 in which the pipe body 12 is loosely inserted. The pipe body 12 is made of a synthetic resin such as cross-linked polyethylene or polybutene, and is formed in a flexible circular tube shape. The sheath pipe 13 protects the pipe body 12 from being stepped on during construction, etc., ensures the weather resistance of the pipe body 12, and can also be used in a sheath pipe construction method for facilitating future replacement of the pipe body 12.

[0014] The sheath pipe 13 is made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyamide, and is formed in a flexible circular tube shape. The sheath pipe 13 has a bellows shape in which an annular mountain portion 15 and an annular valley portion 16 are alternately arranged in the axial direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 7, the front-back direction of the paper surface in FIG. 8). That is, it can be said that the sheath pipe 13 is a corrugated pipe that can expand and contract in the axial direction. Note that the upper surface 15a of the mountain portion 15 is the portion where the outer diameter of the sheath pipe 13 is the largest. The bottom surface 16a of the valley portion 16 is the portion where the outer diameter of the sheath pipe 13 is the smallest.

[0015] Next, the clip 1 for composite pipes will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the main body portion 2 has a short cylindrical shape with a part in the circumferential direction being separated and opened (hereinafter, the opening is referred to as the "attachment / detachment port 2a"). The attachment / detachment port 2a serves as the entrance and exit of the composite pipe 11 when attaching / detaching the composite pipe clip 1 to / from the composite pipe 11 (see FIG. 8). The main body portion 2 is made of a synthetic resin such as cross-linked polyethylene or polybutene and has elasticity that allows the opening degree of the attachment / detachment port 2a to be increased by manual force through fingers.

[0016] At a plurality of locations (two locations in this embodiment) on the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 2, first finger-hooking portions 3 are respectively provided so as to protrude outward in the radial direction. The first finger-hooking portion 3 is curved as a whole such that the end face 3a on the attachment / detachment port 2a side has a concave curved surface shape. The first finger-hooking portion 3 is for the operator to hook the index finger onto the end face 3a when increasing the opening degree of the attachment / detachment port 2a. The end face 3a having a concave curved surface shape improves the contact of the finger and suppresses the slipping of the finger.

[0017] A through-hole 3b penetrating in the axial direction is provided in one of the first finger-hooking portions 3. By passing a ring, a carabiner, a strap, etc. (not shown) through the through-hole 3b, the portability of the composite pipe clip 1 is improved.

[0018] A second finger-hooking portion 4 is provided between the pair of first finger-hooking portions 3 on the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 2. The second finger-hooking portion 4 has a planar end face 4a facing outward in the radial direction. The second finger-hooking portion 4 is for the operator to hook the thumbs of both hands onto the end face 4a respectively when increasing the opening degree of the attachment / detachment port 2a. The planar end face 4a exhibits good stability, for example, as a placement surface when the composite pipe clip 1 is placed upright.

[0019] When the operator increases the opening degree of the insertion and removal port 2a of the composite pipe clip 1, with the thumbs of both hands placed on the end face 4a of the second finger hook portion 4 as fulcrums, the index fingers placed on the end faces 3a of the respective first finger hook portions 3 are moved toward the corresponding thumb sides, thereby elastically deforming the main body portion 2. If the operator relaxes the force applied to the composite pipe clip 1, the main body portion 2 elastically returns to reduce the opening degree of the insertion and removal port 2a.

[0020] At a pair of tips of the main body portion 2 facing the insertion and removal port 2a, first valley portion protrusions 5 are respectively provided. The first valley portion protrusions 5 are disc-shaped and are arranged at the axial center in the main body portion 2. The first valley portion protrusions 5 extend in the circumferential direction from the tip end face to the inner peripheral surface at the tip end of the main body portion 2. In a portion of the first valley portion protrusions 5 located on the inner peripheral surface of the main body portion 2, a pressing region 5a is set at the tip of an arc shape that tapers inward in the radial direction.

[0021] Note that the arc-shaped portion of the first valley portion protrusions 5 located on the tip end face of the main body portion 2 serves as a guide when inserting the composite pipe 11 (sheath pipe 13) from the insertion and removal port 2a into the main body portion 2, making the insertion operation smooth.

[0022] At the circumferential center on the inner peripheral surface of the main body portion 2, a second valley portion protrusion 6 is provided. The second valley portion protrusion 6 is flat plate-shaped and is arranged at the axial center in the main body portion 2 and extends curvedly in the circumferential direction. A pressing region 6a is set on the radial tip end face of the second valley portion protrusion 6.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the composite pipe clip 1 elastically presses the bottom surface 16a of the valley portion 16 of the sheath pipe 13 at a plurality of locations (three locations in this embodiment) of the pressing region 5a of the first valley portion protrusion 5 and the pressing region 6a of the second valley portion protrusion 6 to deform the sheath pipe 13, thereby pressing the sheath pipe 13 against the pipe body 12 (clamping the pipe body 12 and the sheath pipe 13) and fixing the pipe body 12 and the sheath pipe 13 to each other so as not to shift in the axial direction.

[0024] Therefore, during the operation of connecting, for example, the pipe body 12 to a pipe fitting (not shown) located above the pipe body 12, even if the sheath tube 13 is not directly held by hand, it is possible to prevent the sheath tube 13 from falling onto the pipe body 12, and the workability of the piping becomes good.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, on the inner peripheral surface of the main body portion 2, between each first valley portion protrusion 5 and the second valley portion protrusion 6, peak portion protrusions 7 are respectively provided. The peak portion protrusion 7 has a semi-cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction. On the radially leading end surface of the peak portion protrusion 7, a pressing region 7a is set. Inside the main body portion 2, the radial position of the pressing region 7a is on a virtual circle with a larger radius than the radial positions of the pressing regions 5a and 6a of the first valley portion protrusion 5 and the second valley portion protrusion 6.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in a state where the composite pipe clip 1 is attached to the composite pipe 11, the pressing region 7a of the peak portion protrusion 7 is in contact with the upper surfaces 15a of a pair of peak portions 15 located on both sides of the valley portion 16 where the first valley portion protrusion 5 and the second valley portion protrusion 6 are in pressure contact in the composite pipe 11.

[0027] The peak portion protrusion 7 is for suppressing the distorted deformation by suppressing the peak portion 15 that tries to escape (locally greatly deform) between the first valley portion protrusion 5 and the second valley portion protrusion 6 at a plurality of locations (two locations in this embodiment) due to the pressure contact of the first valley portion protrusion 5 and the second valley portion protrusion 6 with the valley portion 16. The distorted deformation of the peak portion 15 leads to damage to the sheath tube 13 and, ultimately, to deterioration of the appearance.

[0028] After the piping work is completed, the composite pipe clip 1 may be removed from the composite pipe 11. For example, a composite pipe clip 1 colored red and a composite pipe clip 1 colored blue may be prepared in advance, and the composite pipe clip 1 may be selected and used for the identification of hot and cold water for the composite pipe 11. In this case, even after the piping work is completed, the composite pipe clip 1 may remain attached to the composite pipe 11.

[0029] (Alternative example) The above embodiment can be modified as follows, for example. ○ Providing the groove portion projections (the first groove portion projection 5 and the second groove portion projection 6) at a plurality of locations other than three locations (for example, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 locations).

[0030] ○ Providing the ridge portion projection 7 at a plurality of locations other than two locations (for example, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 locations).

[0031] 〇 Making the main body portion 2 into a square tube shape.

[0032] 〇 Providing the through hole 3b in the main body portion 2.

[0033] 〇 Making the main body portion 2 made of an elastic metal.

[0034] ○ Dividing the main body portion 2 into two parts and connecting the divided pieces with an elastic member such as a spring.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0035] 1... Clip for composite pipe, 2... Main body portion (a... Insertion / removal opening), 3... First finger hook portion, 4... Second finger hook portion, 5... First groove portion projection, 6... Second groove portion projection, 7... Ridge portion projection. 11... Composite pipe, 12... Pipe body, 13... Sheath pipe, 15... Ridge portion (a... Upper surface), 16... Groove portion (a... Bottom surface).

Claims

1. A composite pipe clip that is attached to a composite pipe including a bellows-shaped sheath tube having ridges and valleys alternately arranged in the axial direction and being stretchable and contractible in the axial direction, and a pipe body inserted into the sheath tube. By sandwiching the outer peripheral surface of the sheath tube to deform the sheath tube, the pipe body is also sandwiched through the sheath tube.

2. A main body portion having an annular shape with a part in the circumferential direction being separated and opened, and the opening degree of the opening being changeable by elastic deformation, and a finger hook portion provided on the main body portion and serving as a clue when increasing the opening degree of the opening. The composite pipe clip according to Claim 1.

3. On the inner peripheral surface of the main body portion at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction, valley portion protrusions that respectively contact the bottom surfaces of the valleys of the sheath tube are provided. The composite pipe clip according to Claim 2.

4. On the inner peripheral surface of the main body portion, between the valley portion protrusions in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface, mountain portion protrusions that respectively contact the upper surfaces of a pair of the mountains located on both sides of the valley corresponding to the valley portion protrusion are provided. The composite pipe clip according to Claim 3.

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