Pipe guide

Abstract

To provide a pipe guide which is easily inserted into a multiple pipe and hardly pulled out of the multiple pipe.SOLUTION: The pipe guide includes an inner pipe fixing part, an outer pipe fixing part, and a guide part, the outer pipe fixing part including a base part, an engagement part, and a spring function part. The engagement part is provided on the outer periphery of the base part, and caught on the inner peripheral part of an outer pipe when the outer pipe fixing part is inserted into the inner periphery side of the outer pipe, to suppress the displacement in such a direction that the outer pipe fixing part is pulled out of the outer pipe. The spring function part is provided on the outer periphery of the base part, and elastically deformed when the outer pipe fixing part is inserted into the inner periphery side of the outer pipe, to energize the outer pipe to the radial outside with the elastic force. The engagement part is caught on the inner periphery part of the outer pipe at a position where the outer pipe is energized to the radial inside along with the outer pipe energized to the radial outside by the spring function part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a pipe guide.

Background Art

[0002] Pipe guides used when laying multiple pipes are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The pipe guide described in Patent Document 1 has an engagement protrusion that catches on the inner peripheral portion of the outer pipe, and this engagement protrusion suppresses the outer pipe from coming off the pipe guide.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the space under the floor or the like is narrow, it may be necessary to pull multiple pipes with a wire threading tool to conduct the pipe. At that time, the wire threading tool was fixed to the multiple pipes using an adhesive tape or the like. In contrast, the inventors of the present case have considered attaching the above-described pipe guide to the multiple pipes and connecting the pipe guide and the wire threading tool. However, as a result of repeated studies by the inventors of the present case, the following problems have been newly found.

[0005] When pulling the pipe guide with a wire threading tool, a strong load may be applied to the pipe guide in the direction of being pulled out from the end of the multiple pipes. When the pipe guide is pulled with a wire threading tool, if the pipe guide is pulled out from the end of the outer pipe, the pipe guide and the inner pipe will be pulled out from the end of the outer pipe, and the multiple pipes cannot be properly laid.

[0006] In response to such a problem, for example, by increasing the protruding height of the engaging projection, it is possible to make it difficult for the outer pipe to come off from the pipe guide. However, simply increasing the protruding height of the engaging projection alone causes a problem that it becomes difficult to insert the pipe guide into the outer pipe.

[0007] In one aspect of the present disclosure, it is desirable to provide a pipe guide that is easy to insert into a multi-tube and difficult to come off from the multi-tube.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0008] (1) One aspect of the present disclosure is a pipe guide used when laying a multi-tube including an outer pipe that is a corrugated pipe and an inner pipe passed through the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe through a narrow place, and includes an inner pipe fixing portion, an outer pipe fixing portion, and a guide portion. The inner pipe fixing portion is fixed to the inner pipe by being inserted into the inner peripheral side of the inner pipe from the end portion of the inner pipe. The outer pipe fixing portion is continuously provided with the inner pipe fixing portion, and when the relative position of the outer pipe and the inner pipe is displaced in the axial direction and a part of the outer pipe is pushed out to a position extending from the end portion of the inner pipe in a state where the inner pipe fixing portion is fixed to the inner pipe, it is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe from the end portion of the outer pipe, thereby being fixed to the outer pipe. The guide portion is continuously provided with the outer pipe fixing portion and is disposed at a position protruding from the end portion of the outer pipe when the outer pipe fixing portion is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe. The outer pipe fixing portion includes a base portion, an engaging portion, and a spring function portion. The base portion is provided between the inner pipe fixing portion and the guide portion. The engaging portion is provided on the outer periphery of the base portion and suppresses displacement of the outer pipe fixing portion in a direction of being pulled out from the outer pipe by being caught by the inner peripheral portion of the outer pipe when the outer pipe fixing portion is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe. The spring function portion is provided on the outer periphery of the base portion, elastically deforms when the outer pipe fixing portion is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe, and biases the outer pipe radially outward by an elastic force generated along with the elastic deformation. The engaging portion is configured to be caught by the inner peripheral portion of the outer pipe at a location where the outer pipe is biased radially inward as the outer pipe is biased radially outward by the spring function portion.

[0009] According to the pipe guide configured as described above, the outer pipe fixing portion is provided with a spring function portion in addition to the engaging portion as described above. Therefore, when the engaging portion catches on the inner peripheral portion of the outer pipe, it is possible to prevent the pipe guide from being pulled out of the outer pipe. In particular, when the outer pipe is urged radially outward by the spring function portion, at the location where the engaging portion catches on the inner peripheral portion of the outer pipe, the outer pipe is urged radially inward. Therefore, the contact pressure between the engaging portion and the inner peripheral portion of the outer pipe can be increased, thereby making it difficult for the pipe guide to come off from the multi-tube. Further, since the spring function portion urges the outer pipe radially outward, the spring function portion itself also suppresses the pipe guide from being pulled out of the outer pipe. Therefore, compared with the prior art that does not have a configuration corresponding to the spring function portion and the engaging portion, it is possible to make it difficult for the pipe guide to come off from the multi-tube. Further, when inserting the outer pipe fixing portion into the outer pipe in order to attach the pipe guide to the multi-tube, if the spring function portion is elastically deformed and displaced radially inward, the spring function portion will not interfere when inserting the outer pipe fixing portion into the outer pipe. Therefore, unlike the case where the protruding height of the engaging protrusion is increased, providing the spring function portion does not impair the ease of insertion into the multi-tube.

[0010] Note that the pipe guide of the present disclosure may further have the following configuration. (2) In one aspect of the present disclosure, the engaging portion may be configured to catch on the inner peripheral portion of the outer pipe at a location where the outer pipe deforms radially outward when an external force is applied to the outer pipe and the outer pipe is deformed radially inward at a location where the spring function portion is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe.

[0011] If configured in this way, when an external force is applied to the outer pipe and the outer pipe is deformed radially inward at a location where the spring function portion is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe, at the location where the engaging portion catches on the inner peripheral portion of the outer pipe, the outer pipe deforms radially outward. Therefore, when removing the pipe guide from the multi-tube, by applying an external force to the outer pipe, it is possible to make it easier for the engaging portion to disengage from the inner peripheral portion of the outer pipe and make it easier to remove the pipe guide from the multi-tube.

[0012] (3) In one aspect of the present disclosure, the engaging portions may be arranged in a vertical row along the axial direction and each have a plurality of claws protruding radially. Among the plurality of claws, the claw located at the position closest to the inner tube fixing portion may be shaped such that the amount of protrusion in the radial direction is smaller than that of the claw located at the position farthest from the inner tube fixing portion.

[0013] With such a configuration, when the outer tube fixing portion is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube, the claw first inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube is a claw with a small amount of protrusion in the radial direction. Therefore, the outer tube fixing portion can be more easily introduced into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube compared to the case of inserting a claw with a large amount of protrusion in the radial direction from the beginning. Further, when a claw with a small amount of protrusion in the radial direction is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube, the outer tube is urged radially outward by that claw. Therefore, thereafter, it becomes easier to insert a claw with a large amount of protrusion in the radial direction into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube. If a claw with a large amount of protrusion in the radial direction is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube, the pipe guide can be made even more difficult to come off from the multi-tube.

[0014] (4) In one aspect of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of claws may have a protruding direction tip portion at a position on the guide portion side thereof, and have an inclined surface whose radial dimension gradually decreases from the protruding direction tip portion toward the inner tube fixing portion side.

[0015] With such a configuration, when the outer tube fixing portion is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube, the convex portion on the inner peripheral side of the outer tube gradually approaches the protruding direction tip portion of the claw along the inclined surface of the claw. Thereafter, when the convex portion gets over the protruding direction tip portion of the claw, the protruding direction tip portion of the claw enters into the concave portion on the inner peripheral side of the outer tube, and the claw is caught on the inner peripheral portion of the outer tube. Therefore, different from a claw not provided with the inclined surface as described above, the convex portion can be smoothly guided along the inclined surface without rapidly increasing the contact pressure between the claw and the convex portion until the convex portion gets over the protruding direction tip portion of the claw.

[0016] (5) In one aspect of the present disclosure, the inclined surface may be shaped such that the circumferential dimension gradually increases from the protruding direction tip portion toward the inner tube fixing portion side. With such a configuration, when the outer tube is screwed in both forward and reverse directions while twisting the outer tube so that the outer tube reciprocates in the circumferential direction and the outer tube is pushed into the outer circumferential side of the outer tube fixing portion, the inclined surface of the claw can be smoothly inserted into a position in contact with the convex portion on the inner circumferential side of the outer tube.

[0017] (6) In one aspect of the present disclosure, among the plurality of claws, the claw located at the position closest to the inner tube fixing portion may be shaped such that the inclination angle of the inclined surface with respect to the axial direction is less steep than that of the claws at other positions.

[0018] With such a configuration, when the outer tube fixing portion is inserted into the inner circumferential side of the outer tube, the claw that is first inserted into the inner circumferential side of the outer tube is the claw with a less steep inclination angle of the inclined surface. Therefore, compared with the case where a claw with a steep inclination angle of the inclined surface is inserted into the inner circumferential side of the outer tube from the beginning, the outer tube fixing portion can be easily introduced into the inner circumferential side of the outer tube. Further, if a claw with a less steep inclination angle of the inclined surface is inserted into the inner circumferential side of the outer tube, the outer tube is urged radially outward by that claw, so that thereafter, it is possible to facilitate the insertion of a claw with a steep inclination angle of the inclined surface into the inner circumferential side of the outer tube.

[0019] (7) In one aspect of the present disclosure, the base portion may have a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is a portion where no engaging portion and spring function portion exist on the outer circumferential side. The second portion is a portion where an engaging portion and spring function portion exist on the outer circumferential side. The first portion may be provided between the guide portion and the second portion. The second portion may be provided between the first portion and the inner tube fixing portion. Further, the first portion may have an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the outer tube and be configured to be fitted into the outer tube so that even when a force in a direction tilting the pipe guide with respect to the axial direction of the multi-tube acts on the pipe guide or the outer tube, the outer tube fixing portion and the outer tube can be maintained in a state of being arranged on the same axis around the outer tube fixing portion.

[0020] With such a configuration, the outer tube and the pipe guide are less likely to tilt with respect to each other, so that the engaging portion can be made less likely to come off from the outer tube compared with the case where the configuration corresponding to the first portion is not provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Next, the above-mentioned pipe guide will be described with exemplary embodiments. (1) Configuration of the pipe guide FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate the pipe guide 1 of the present embodiment. In the following description, in order to briefly explain the relative positions of the respective parts included in the pipe guide 1, the left, right, front, rear, upper, and lower sides of the pipe guide 1 are defined as follows. First, in the six views of the pipe guide 1 (see FIGS. 2A to 2F), the direction in which the portion shown in the front view (see FIG. 2C) faces is defined as the front, and the direction in which the portion shown in the rear view (see FIG. 2E) faces is defined as the rear. Also, the direction in which the portion shown in the right side view faces is defined as the right (see FIG. 2D), and the direction in which the portion shown in the left side view (see FIG. 2B) faces is defined as the left. Further, the direction in which the portion shown in the plan view (see FIG. 2A) faces is defined as the upper, and the direction in which the portion shown in the bottom view (see FIG. 2F) faces is defined as the lower.

[0023] The pipe guide 1 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B includes an inner pipe fixing portion 3, an outer pipe fixing portion 5, and a guide portion 7. The inner pipe fixing portion 3, the outer pipe fixing portion 5, and the guide portion 7 are integrally formed of a resin material (in this embodiment, polyacetal resin). The inner pipe fixing portion 3 is continuously provided on the rear side of the outer pipe fixing portion 5, and the outer pipe fixing portion 5 is continuously provided on the rear side of the guide portion 7, whereby the inner pipe fixing portion 3, the outer pipe fixing portion 5, and the guide portion 7 are arranged in a vertical row in the front-rear direction. The inner pipe fixing portion 3 and the outer pipe fixing portion 5 have a hollow structure having a cavity 9 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and weight reduction is achieved as compared with the case where the cavity 9 is not formed.

[0024] The pipe guide 1 is attached to the end of the multi-tube 91 when the multi-tube 91 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is passed through a narrow portion and laid. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the multi-tube 91 is shown in a cross-sectional view. In the case of this embodiment, the multi-tube 91 is a double tube including an inner pipe 93 and an outer pipe 95. The inner pipe 93 is a cross-linked polyethylene pipe and is a pipe for water supply and hot water supply. The outer pipe 95 is a polyethylene corrugated pipe and corresponds to an example of a corrugated pipe. The outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the outer pipe 95 have a shape in which annular concave portions and convex portions are repeatedly formed in the axial direction. Note that another pipe may be coaxially arranged in the multi-tube 91.

[0025] (1.1) Configuration of Inner Pipe Fixing Portion The inner tube fixing portion 3 is a portion that is fixed to the inner tube 93 by being inserted from the end of the inner tube 93 into the inner circumferential side of the inner tube 93. The inner tube fixing portion 3 includes a cylindrical portion 11 connected to the rear side of the outer tube fixing portion 5, a threaded portion 13 connected to the rear side of the cylindrical portion 11, and a flange portion 15 connected to the rear side of the threaded portion 13. The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 11 is smaller than the inner diameter of the inner tube 93. The outer diameter of the flange portion 15 is dimensioned to substantially match the inner diameter of the inner tube 93, and when the inner tube fixing portion 3 is inserted into the inner circumferential side of the inner tube 93, the flange portion 15 is configured to fit snugly into the inner circumferential side of the inner tube 93. Thereby, since the flange portion 15 is disposed at the center of the inner tube 93 near the rear end of the inner tube fixing portion 3, the inner tube fixing portion 3 can be appropriately positioned at the center of the inner tube 93.

[0026] The threaded portion 13 is a double-threaded screw, and two threads are formed at positions shifted by 180 degrees in the circumferential direction. The thread of the threaded portion 13 is configured such that the radial dimension is smaller than the inner diameter of the inner tube 93 on the rear end side of the threaded portion 13 and larger than the inner diameter of the inner tube 93 on the front end side of the threaded portion 13. Therefore, when the inner tube fixing portion 3 is inserted into the inner circumferential side of the inner tube 93 from the rear end side and the entire inner tube fixing portion 3 is screwed into the inner circumferential side of the inner tube 93, the thread bites into the inner circumferential surface of the inner tube 93 on the front end side of the threaded portion 13. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the inner tube fixing portion 3 from being pulled out from the inner circumferential side of the inner tube 93.

[0027] While the inner tube 93 deforms radially outward around the threaded portion 13, the inner tube 93 does not deform radially outward around the cylindrical portion 11. Therefore, the shape of the inner tube 93 becomes a shape that tapers from around the threaded portion 13 toward the end of the inner tube 93, and thereby, it is possible to suppress the inner tube 93 from coming off the inner tube fixing portion 3. In addition, if the axial dimension of the cylindrical portion 11 is 4 mm or more, it is possible to suppress the inner tube 93 from coming off the inner tube fixing portion 3. Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, the axial dimension of the cylindrical portion 11 is set to 5 mm.

[0028] (1.2) Configuration of the outer tube fixing portion The outer tube fixing portion 5 is a portion that is fixed to the outer tube 95 by being inserted from the end of the outer tube 95 into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95. When the outer tube fixing portion 5 is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95, with the inner tube fixing portion 3 fixed to the inner tube 93, the relative position between the outer tube 95 and the inner tube 93 is shifted in the axial direction. At that time, a part of the outer tube 95 is pushed forward from the end of the inner tube 93, and a part of the pushed-out outer tube 95 fits into the outer peripheral side of the outer tube fixing portion 5, whereby the outer tube fixing portion 5 is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95.

[0029] The outer tube fixing portion 5 includes a base portion 21, an engaging portion 23, and a spring function portion 25. The base portion 21 is provided between the inner tube fixing portion 3 and the guide portion 7. The engaging portion 23 is a portion that suppresses the displacement of the outer tube fixing portion 5 in the direction of being pulled out from the outer tube 95 by being caught by the inner peripheral portion of the outer tube 95 when the outer tube fixing portion 5 is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95. The engaging portion 23 is provided on the outer periphery of the base portion 21 on the left side and the right side of the base portion 21.

[0030] Each of the engaging portions 23 on the left side and the right side has three claws 31, 32, 33. The three claws 31 to 33 provided in each engaging portion 23 are arranged in a vertical row along the axial direction (front-rear direction), and each projects in the radial direction. Among the three claws 31 to 33 provided in each engaging portion 23, the claw 31 at the position closest to the inner tube fixing portion 3 (the rearmost side) has a shape in which the amount of protrusion in the radial direction is smaller than that of the other claws 32, 33 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2F.

[0031] In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2F, the three claws 31 to 33 provided in each engaging portion 23 have the tip portions in the protruding direction at positions on the guide portion 7 side (front side) in each of them. An inclined surface where the radial dimension (that is, the protruding height in the radial direction) gradually decreases is formed at a location from the tip portion in the protruding direction toward the inner tube fixing portion 3 side (rear side). As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2D, this inclined surface is shaped such that the circumferential dimension gradually increases from the tip portion in the protruding direction toward the inner tube fixing portion 3 side. That is, in FIGS. 2B and 2D, the inclined surface is shaped such that one side on the front side and one side on the rear side are parallel, and the vertical width (that is, the circumferential dimension) gradually increases from the one side on the front side toward the one side on the rear side.

[0032] Among the three claws 31 to 33 provided in each engaging portion 23, the claw 31 located at the position closest to the inner tube fixing portion 3 is shaped such that the inclination angle of the inclined surface with respect to the axial direction is a gentle inclination compared to the claws 32 and 33 at other positions. In the case of the present embodiment, the inclined surface of the claw 31 located at the position closest to the inner tube fixing portion 3 has an inclination angle with respect to the axial direction of about 30 degrees (gentle inclination), and the inclined surfaces of the claws 32 and 33 at other positions have an inclination angle with respect to the axial direction of about 45 degrees (steep inclination).

[0033] The spring function portion 25 is a portion that elastically deforms when the outer tube fixing portion 5 is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95, and biases the outer tube 95 radially outward by the elastic force generated with the elastic deformation. The spring function portion 25 is provided above and below the base portion 21 on the outer periphery of the base portion 21. In the case of the present embodiment, the spring function portion 25 is a leaf spring, and is continuously provided to the base portion 21 on the rear end side, and is configured such that the front end side swings substantially in the vertical direction as it elastically deforms.

[0034] When no external force is acting on the spring function part 25, the spring function part 25 is in the first position as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2D. Also, when the outer tube fixing part 5 is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95, the spring function part 25 elastically deforms and thus displaces to the second position as shown in FIG. 4A. When the spring function part 25 displaces to the second position, the spring function part 25 is in a state of biasing the outer tube 95 in the direction of expanding its diameter vertically.

[0035] When the spring function part 25 biases the outer tube 95 in the direction of expanding its diameter vertically, the biasing force is a force that attempts to deform the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction of the outer tube 95 into an elliptical shape where the vertical direction is the major axis direction and the horizontal direction is the minor axis direction. The engaging part 23 is configured to be hooked on the inner peripheral part of the outer tube 95 on both the left and right sides. Therefore, as the outer tube 95 is biased radially outward (vertically) by the spring function part 25, at the location where the engaging part 23 contacts the outer tube 95, the outer tube 95 is biased radially inward. Accordingly, at the location where the engaging part 23 contacts the outer tube 95, the contact pressure between the engaging part 23 and the outer tube 95 can be increased, and the engaging part 23 can be made less likely to come off from the outer tube 95 compared to the case where the spring function part 25 is not provided.

[0036] Even when the spring function part 25 displaces to the second position, a gap 35 remains between the spring function part 25 and the base part 21 as shown in FIG. 5. Therefore, if an external force is applied from the outer peripheral side of the outer tube 95 toward the spring function part 25, the spring function part 25 can be further elastically deformed in the direction of narrowing the gap 35 between the spring function part 25 and the base part 21, and thereby the spring function part 25 can be displaced to the third position.

[0037] At this time, since the outer tube 95 is deformed in the direction of reducing its diameter in the vertical direction under an external force, the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction of the outer tube 95 is deformed into an elliptical shape with the vertical direction being the minor axis direction and the horizontal direction being the major axis direction. When the outer tube 95 is deformed in the direction of reducing its diameter vertically, the engaging portion 23 is hooked on the inner peripheral portion of the outer tube 95 at a location where the outer tube 95 is deformed in the direction of expanding its diameter horizontally. Therefore, when the spring function portion 25 is displaced to the third position, the engaging portion 23 is likely to be disengaged from the inner peripheral portion of the outer tube 95. Accordingly, if the outer tube 95 is displaced in the direction of being pulled out from the outer tube fixing portion 5 while the spring function portion 25 is in the displaced state to the third position, the outer tube 95 can be easily removed from the outer tube fixing portion 5.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the base portion 21 has a first portion 21A and a second portion 21B. The first portion 21A is a portion where the engaging portion 23 and the spring function portion 25 do not exist on the outer peripheral side. The second portion 21B is a portion where the engaging portion 23 and the spring function portion 25 exist on the outer peripheral side. The first portion 21A is provided between the guide portion 7 and the second portion 21B. The second portion 21B is provided between the first portion 21A and the inner tube fixing portion 3. In the second portion 21B, the engaging portion 23 and the spring function portion 25 are in pressure contact with the inner peripheral portion of the outer tube 95, thereby deforming the outer tube 95 radially outward. On the other hand, the first portion 21A is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the outer diameter of the first portion 21A is dimensioned to substantially match the inner diameter of the outer tube 95. When the first portion 21A is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95, the first portion 21A is configured to fit snugly on the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95. Thereby, the first portion 21A is disposed at the center of the outer tube 95, and around the first portion 21A, the outer tube 95 is not deformed either radially outward or radially inward.

[0039] If the first part 21A fits snugly into the outer tube 95, even when a force tending to tilt the pipe guide 1 with respect to the axial direction of the multi-tube 91 acts on the pipe guide 1 or the outer tube 95, the state in which the outer tube fixing portion 5 and the outer tube 95 are arranged on the same axis can be maintained around the outer tube fixing portion 5. Therefore, since the outer tube 95 and the pipe guide 1 are less likely to tilt relative to each other, the engaging portion 23 can be made less likely to come off from the outer tube 95 compared to the case where the structure corresponding to the first part 21A is not provided.

[0040] (1.3) Configuration of the guide portion The guide portion 7 is a portion arranged at a position protruding from the end of the outer tube 95 when the outer tube fixing portion 5 is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95. As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2D, the upper portion of the guide portion 7 is configured to be substantially parallel to the axial direction (front-rear direction), and the lower portion of the guide portion 7 is configured to be inclined obliquely rearward and downward with respect to the axial direction (front-rear direction). The inclination angle of the lower portion of the guide portion 7 is an inclination angle that forms an acute angle (30 degrees in this embodiment) with the upper portion of the guide portion 7 on the tip side (front end side) of the guide portion 7.

[0041] The guide portion 7 is formed with a first through hole 51 and a second through hole 52 that penetrate the guide portion 7 in the left-right direction. As will be described in detail later, the first through hole 51 is a hole for passing the shaft of a driver or the like. The first through hole 51 penetrates the guide portion 7 straight in the left-right direction. On the other hand, the second through hole 52 is a hole for passing a carabiner 97 (see FIG. 6E) connected to the guide portion 7. The second through hole 52 penetrates the guide portion 7 in the left-right direction near the center in the left-right direction, and in the portion from near the center in the left-right direction to near both ends in the left-right direction of the second through hole 52, the second through hole 52 is formed in a shape that gradually curves forward. Thereby, when the carabiner 97 is passed through the second through hole 52, the curved portion of the carabiner 97 is configured to fit into the curved portion of the second through hole 52.

[0042] At the upper and lower portions of the guide portion 7, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2F, triangular marks 55 are formed. This mark 55 indicates the position of the spring functional portion 25. Therefore, even when the outer tube 95 is attached to the outer periphery of the outer tube fixing portion 5 and the spring functional portion 25 is accommodated on the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95, the position of the spring functional portion 25 can be specified relying on the mark 55. Thus, an operation of pressing the spring functional portion 25 from the outer periphery of the outer tube 95 can be easily performed. Depressions 57 are formed on both left and right side surfaces of the guide portion 7. When attaching or detaching the pipe guide 1 from the inner tube 93 or the outer tube 95, an operator can firmly grip the pipe guide 1 by placing a finger in the depression 57.

[0043] (2) Method of using the pipe guide Next, the method of using the pipe guide 1 will be described. When attaching the pipe guide 1 to the end of the multi-tube 91, as shown in FIG. 6A, a part of the inner tube 93 is pulled out from the end of the outer tube 95, and the inner tube fixing portion 3 is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the inner tube 93 from the end of the inner tube 93. In the case of this embodiment, since the inner tube fixing portion 3 has a threaded portion 13, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6A, while pushing the pipe guide 1 axially rearward and rotating it circumferentially, the inner tube fixing portion 3 is screwed into the inner peripheral side of the inner tube 93. At this time, if the screwing is tight and difficult, as also shown in FIG. 6A, by passing the shaft of a driver or the like through the first through hole 51 and using the shaft as a lever to rotate the pipe guide 1, the inner tube fixing portion 3 can be easily screwed into the inner peripheral side of the inner tube 93. Finally, as shown in FIG. 6B, the inner tube fixing portion 3 is screwed in until the whole enters the inner peripheral side of the inner tube 93.

[0044] Subsequently, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6C, while being twisted so that the outer tube 95 reciprocates in the circumferential direction, it is pushed forward in the axial direction to push the outer tube 95 into the outer periphery of the outer tube fixing portion 5. At this time, the outer tube 95 first gets over the claw 31 with a low protruding height, and then gets over the claws 32 and 33 with a high protruding height. Therefore, compared with the case of getting over the claw with a high protruding height from the beginning, it can smoothly get over the claws 31 to 33. Further, when the outer tube 95 is pushed into the outer periphery of the outer tube fixing portion 5, the spring function portion 25 elastically deforms by the force received from the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube 95 and fits into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95 in a state of being in pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube 95. Finally, as shown in FIG. 6D, the outer tube fixing portion 5 is pushed in until the whole enters the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95, whereby the attachment of the piping guide 1 to the multi-tube 91 is completed.

[0045] After attaching the piping guide 1 to the end of the multi-tube 91, as shown in FIG. 6E, a carabiner 97 can be passed through the second through hole 52 and attached to the piping guide 1, and one end of the piping guide 1 and one end of the line threading tool 99 can be connected via this carabiner 97. When laying the multi-tube 91 through a narrow space such as above the ceiling or under the floor, the line threading tool 99 is passed through the narrow space in advance, and one end of the line threading tool 99 and one end of the multi-tube 91 to which the piping guide 1 is attached are connected via the carabiner 97. Then, if the line threading tool 99 is pulled in the direction of pulling it out from the narrow space, the multi-tube 91 can be pulled into the narrow space and the multi-tube 91 can be laid at the intended position.

[0046] Once the multi-tube 91 can be drawn into the narrow section, the pipe guide 1 is removed from the end of the multi-tube 91. When removing the pipe guide 1 from the end of the multi-tube 91, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 7A, while pressing the outer tube 95 from the outer peripheral side, the outer tube 95 is pulled axially rearward from the outer tube fixing portion 5. When pressing the outer tube 95 from the outer peripheral side, as also shown in Fig. 7A, using the triangular marks 55 provided above and below the guide portion 7 as a guide, the location where the spring function portion 25 exists on the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95 is identified, and the outer peripheral side of that location is pressed. At this time, the spring function portion 25 is displaced from the second position described above to the third position, and the outer tube 95 is deformed such that the vertical direction is radially inward and the horizontal direction is radially outward. When the outer tube 95 is deformed so that the horizontal direction is radially outward, the inner peripheral portion of the outer tube 95 is displaced in a direction away from the claws 31 - 33 of the engaging portion 23. Therefore, it becomes possible to pull the outer tube 95 axially rearward from the outer tube fixing portion 5.

[0047] Subsequently, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 7B, the inner tube fixing portion 3 is pulled out from the inner peripheral side of the inner tube 93. In the case of this embodiment, since the inner tube fixing portion 3 has a threaded portion 13, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 7B, if the pipe guide 1 is rotated in the direction to loosen the screw, the inner tube fixing portion 3 can be removed from the inner tube 93.

[0048] When the inner tube fixing portion 3 is removed from the inner tube 93, a screw mark remains on the inner peripheral side of the inner tube 93. To remove the portion with this screw mark, as shown in Fig. 7C, the inner tube 93 may be cut at a location where the length from the end of the inner tube 93 is a length L2 that is sufficiently longer than the length L1 of the inner tube fixing portion 3.

[0049] As described above, the pipe guide 1 can be used when drawing the multi-tube 91 into the narrow section using the wire-passing tool 99 passed through the narrow section in advance. However, the pipe guide 1 can also be used when arranging the multi-tube 91 in the narrow section by other methods. The pipe guide 1 may be connected to the tip of a wire-passing rod, which is a rod-shaped wire-passing tool, and the multi-tube 91 may be pushed into the narrow section together with the wire-passing rod.

[0050] Alternatively, when the multi-tube 91 itself is axially moved without using a wire-passing tool and pushed into a narrow space, a pipe guide 1 may be attached to the tip of the multi-tube 91. In this case, since the tip of the guide portion 7 has a shape forming an acute angle (about 30 degrees in this embodiment), compared with the case where the pipe guide 1 is not attached, the end portion of the multi-tube 91 can be more easily inserted into the narrow space. Also, when there is some obstacle (e.g., a stepped portion) at the moving destination of the multi-tube 91, if the multi-tube 91 is twisted in the circumferential direction to bring the inclined surface at the lower part of the guide portion 7 into contact with the obstacle, the inclined surface may slide while contacting the obstacle, and the pipe guide 1 may overcome the obstacle. Therefore, unlike the multi-tube 91 without the pipe guide 1 attached, it is possible to prevent the end portion of the multi-tube 91 from hitting an obstacle and becoming immovable.

[0051] (3) Effects of the above embodiment The above pipe guide 1 has the following operations and effects. (3.1) By the engaging portion 23 being caught by the inner peripheral portion of the outer tube 95, it is possible to suppress the pipe guide 1 from being pulled out of the outer tube 95. In particular, when the outer tube 95 is biased radially outward by the spring function portion 25, at the location where the engaging portion 23 is caught by the inner peripheral portion of the outer tube 95, the outer tube 95 is biased radially inward. Therefore, the contact pressure between the engaging portion 23 and the inner peripheral portion of the outer tube 95 can be increased, and thereby, it is possible to make the pipe guide 1 difficult to come off from the multi-tube 91. Also, since the spring function portion 25 biases the outer tube 95 radially outward, the spring function portion 25 itself also suppresses the pipe guide 1 from being pulled out of the outer tube 95. Therefore, compared with the prior art not having a configuration corresponding to the spring function portion 25 and the engaging portion 23, it is possible to make the pipe guide 1 difficult to come off from the multi-tube 91. Also, when inserting the outer tube fixing portion 5 into the outer tube 95 to attach the pipe guide 1 to the multi-tube 91, if the spring function portion 25 is elastically deformed and displaced radially inward, the spring function portion 25 will not interfere when inserting the outer tube fixing portion 5 into the outer tube 95. Therefore, unlike the case of increasing the protruding height of the engaging protrusion, providing the spring function portion 25 does not impair the ease of insertion into the multi-tube 91.

[0052] (3.2) When an external force is applied to the outer tube 95 in a location where the spring functional part 25 is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95 and the outer tube 95 is deformed radially inward, at the location where the engaging part 23 catches on the inner peripheral part of the outer tube 95, the outer tube 95 deforms radially outward. Therefore, when removing the pipe guide 1 from the multi-tube 91, by applying an external force to the outer tube 95, the engaging part 23 can be made easier to disengage from the inner peripheral part of the outer tube 95, and the pipe guide 1 can be made easier to remove from the multi-tube 91.

[0053] (3.3) When the outer tube fixing part 5 is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95, the claw that is first inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95 is the claw 31 with a small radially protruding amount. Therefore, compared with the case of inserting a claw with a large radially protruding amount into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95 from the beginning, the outer tube fixing part 5 can be easily introduced into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95. Also, if the claw 31 with a small radially protruding amount is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95, the outer tube 95 is biased radially outward by the claw 31, so afterwards, it becomes easier to insert the claws 32 and 33 with a large radially protruding amount into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95. If the claws 32 and 33 with a large radially protruding amount are inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95, the pipe guide 1 can be made even more difficult to disengage from the multi-tube 91.

[0054] (3.4) When the outer tube fixing part 5 is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95, the convex part on the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95 gradually approaches the tip of the protruding direction of the claws 31 to 33 along the inclined surfaces of the claws 31 to 33. After that, when the convex part crosses over the tip of the protruding direction of the claws 31 to 33, the tip of the protruding direction of the claws 31 to 33 enters the concave part on the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95, and the claws 31 to 33 catch on the inner peripheral part of the outer tube 95. Therefore, different from the claws not having the inclined surfaces as described above, until the position where the convex part crosses over the tip of the protruding direction of the claws 31 to 33, the convex part can be smoothly guided along the inclined surface without rapidly increasing the contact pressure between the claws 31 to 33 and the convex part.

[0055] (3.5) The inclined surface is shaped such that the circumferential dimension gradually increases from the tip in the protruding direction toward the inner tube fixing portion 3. Therefore, when the outer tube 95 is screwed in both the forward and reverse directions so that the outer tube 95 reciprocates in the circumferential direction and the outer tube 95 is pushed into the outer peripheral side of the outer tube fixing portion 5 while being twisted, the inclined surfaces of the claws 31 to 33 can be smoothly inserted into the positions where they contact the convex portions on the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95.

[0056] (3.6) When the outer tube fixing portion 5 is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95, the first claw to be inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95 is the claw 31 with a gentle inclination angle of the inclined surface. Therefore, compared with the case where a claw with a steep inclination angle of the inclined surface is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95 from the beginning, the outer tube fixing portion 5 can be easily introduced into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95. Also, if the claw 31 with a gentle inclination angle of the inclined surface is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95, the outer tube 95 is biased radially outward by the claw 31. Therefore, thereafter, it becomes easier to insert the claws 32 and 33 with a steep inclination angle of the inclined surface into the inner peripheral side of the outer tube 95.

[0057] (3.7) The first portion 21A has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the outer tube 95 and is configured to be able to maintain the state where the outer tube fixing portion 5 and the outer tube 95 are arranged on the same axis around the outer tube fixing portion 5 even when a force in the direction of tilting the pipe guide 1 with respect to the axial direction of the multi-tube 91 acts on the pipe guide 1 or the outer tube 95 by fitting into the outer tube 95. Therefore, since the outer tube 95 and the pipe guide 1 are less likely to tilt with respect to each other, the engaging portion 23 can be made less likely to come off from the outer tube 95 compared with the case where the configuration corresponding to the first portion 21A is not provided.

[0058] (4) Other Embodiments As described above, the pipe guide 1 has been described by giving exemplary embodiments. However, the above-described embodiments are merely examples illustrated as one aspect of the present disclosure. That is, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea of the present disclosure.

[0059] For example, in the above embodiment, the inner tube fixing portion 3 included the threaded portion 13, but whether or not to include the threaded portion 13 is arbitrary. When the inner tube fixing portion 3 does not include the threaded portion 13, the inner tube fixing portion 3 may be press-fitted into the inner tube 93 for fixation. Alternatively, after inserting the inner tube fixing portion 3 into the inner tube 93, some kind of fastener may be inserted from the outer periphery of the inner tube 93 to fix the inner tube 93 and the inner tube fixing portion 3.

[0060] Also, in the above embodiment, the first through hole 51 and the second through hole 52 were formed in the guide portion 7, but whether or not to provide these through holes is arbitrary. Also, in the above embodiment, three claws 31 to 33 were provided in the engaging portion 23, but the number of claws 31 to 33 can be arbitrarily changed, and it may be two or less, or four or more.

[0061] Also, in the above embodiment, the engaging portions 23 were provided on the left and right of the base portion 21, and the spring function portions 25 were provided above and below the base portion 21, but the positions of the engaging portion 23 and the spring function portion 25 may be different from those in the above embodiment. For example, in the case of the above embodiment, the position of the spring function portion 25 is 90 degrees offset in the circumferential direction from the position of the engaging portion 23, but it does not necessarily have to be exactly 90 degrees offset.

[0062] Also, for example, there may be one spring function portion 25 or three or more. There may be one engaging portion 23 or three or more. For example, the outer periphery of the outer periphery fixing portion may be equally divided into six in the circumferential direction, and three spring function portions 25 and three engaging portions 23 may be alternately arranged in the circumferential direction.

[0063] Note that multiple functions realized by one component exemplified in the above embodiment may be realized by multiple components. One function realized by one component exemplified in the above embodiment may be realized by multiple components. Multiple functions realized by multiple components exemplified in the above embodiment may be realized by one component. One function realized by multiple components exemplified in the above embodiment may be realized by one component. A part of the configuration exemplified in the above embodiment may be omitted. At least a part of the configuration exemplified in one embodiment among the above embodiments may be added to or replaced with the configuration exemplified in the above embodiments other than the one embodiment.

[0064] (5) Reference Example It is also possible to configure another pipe guide by using a part of the configuration provided in the pipe guide 1 described above. For example, if the inner pipe fixing portion 3 is removed from the pipe guide 1 and a pipe guide including the outer pipe fixing portion 5 and the guide portion 7 is configured, it becomes a pipe guide that can be attached to the end portion of the corrugated pipe equivalent to the outer pipe 95.

[0065] Also, if the outer pipe fixing portion 5 is removed from the pipe guide 1 and a pipe guide including the inner pipe fixing portion 3 and the guide portion 7 is configured, it becomes a pipe guide that can be attached to the end portion of the pipe equivalent to the inner pipe 93.

[0066] (6) Technical Idea Disclosed in this Specification [Item 1] A pipe guide used when laying a multi-tube including an outer pipe that is a corrugated pipe and an inner pipe passed through the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe through a narrow place, An inner pipe fixing portion that is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the inner pipe from the end portion of the inner pipe and is fixed to the inner pipe, Connected to the inner pipe fixing portion, when the relative position of the outer pipe and the inner pipe is shifted in the axial direction in a state where the inner pipe fixing portion is fixed to the inner pipe and a part of the outer pipe is pushed out to a position extending from the end portion of the inner pipe, an outer pipe fixing portion that is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe from the end portion of the outer pipe and is fixed to the outer pipe, A guide part that is connected to the outer pipe fixing part and is arranged at a position protruding from the end of the outer pipe when the outer pipe fixing part is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe; and; The outer pipe fixing part includes: a base part provided between the inner pipe fixing part and the guide part; an engaging part provided on the outer periphery of the base part, which is caught by the inner peripheral part of the outer pipe when the outer pipe fixing part is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe, thereby suppressing displacement of the outer pipe fixing part in the direction of being pulled out from the outer pipe; a spring function part provided on the outer periphery of the base part, which elastically deforms when the outer pipe fixing part is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe, and biases the outer pipe radially outward with the elastic force generated by the elastic deformation; and; The engaging part is configured to be caught by the inner peripheral part of the outer pipe at a location where the outer pipe is biased radially inward as the outer pipe is biased radially outward by the spring function part. Pipe guide.

[0067] [Item 2] The pipe guide according to Item 1, wherein the engaging part is configured to be caught by the inner peripheral part of the outer pipe at a location where the outer pipe deforms radially outward when an external force is applied to the outer pipe and the outer pipe is deformed radially inward at a location where the spring function part is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe. Pipe guide.

[0068] [Item 3] The pipe guide according to Item 1 or Item 2, wherein the engaging part has a plurality of claws arranged in a vertical row along the axial direction, each of which protrudes radially; among the plurality of claws, the claw at the position closest to the inner pipe fixing part has a shape with a smaller protruding amount in the radial direction than the claws at other positions. Pipe guide.

[0069] [Item 4] The pipe guide according to Item 3, wherein each of the plurality of claws has a protruding direction tip portion at a position on the guide portion side, and has an inclined surface whose radial dimension gradually decreases from the protruding direction tip portion toward the inner pipe fixing portion side. Pipe guide.

[0070] [Item 5] The pipe guide according to Item 4, wherein the inclined surface is shaped such that its circumferential dimension gradually increases from the protruding direction tip portion toward the inner pipe fixing portion side. Pipe guide.

[0071] [Item 6] The pipe guide according to Item 5, wherein, among the plurality of claws, the claw closest to the inner pipe fixing portion is shaped such that the inclination angle of the inclined surface with respect to the axial direction is gentler than that of the claws at other positions. Pipe guide.

[0072] [Item 7] The pipe guide according to any one of Items 1 to 6, wherein the base portion has a first portion that is a portion where the engaging portion and the spring function portion do not exist on the outer peripheral side, and a second portion that is a portion where the engaging portion and the spring function portion exist on the outer peripheral side, and the first portion is provided between the guide portion and the second portion, the second portion is provided between the first portion and the inner pipe fixing portion, the first portion has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the outer pipe, and is configured to maintain a state in which the outer pipe fixing portion and the outer pipe are arranged on the same axis around the outer pipe fixing portion even when a force in a direction that tilts the pipe guide with respect to the axial direction of the multi-layer pipe acts on the pipe guide or the outer pipe by fitting into the outer pipe. Pipe guide.

[0073] [Item 8] A pipe guide used when laying a corrugated pipe by passing it through a narrow part, a corrugated pipe fixing part that is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the corrugated pipe from the end of the corrugated pipe and is fixed to the corrugated pipe, a guide part that is connected to the corrugated pipe fixing part and is arranged at a position protruding from the end of the corrugated pipe when the corrugated pipe fixing part is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the corrugated pipe, comprising: The corrugated pipe fixing part a base part connected to the guide part, an engaging part provided on the outer periphery of the base part, which, when the corrugated pipe fixing part is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the corrugated pipe, catches on the inner peripheral part of the corrugated pipe to suppress displacement of the corrugated pipe fixing part in the direction of being pulled out from the corrugated pipe, a spring function part provided on the outer periphery of the base part, which elastically deforms when the corrugated pipe fixing part is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the corrugated pipe, and biases the corrugated pipe radially outward by the elastic force generated along with the elastic deformation, comprising: The engaging part is configured to catch on the inner peripheral part of the corrugated pipe at a location where the corrugated pipe is biased radially inward as the corrugated pipe is biased radially outward by the spring function part. Pipe guide.

[0074] [Item 9] A pipe guide used when laying a multi-pipe including an outer pipe that is a corrugated pipe and an inner pipe passed through the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe through a narrow part, an inner pipe fixing part that is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the inner pipe from the end of the inner pipe and is fixed to the inner pipe, an outer pipe fixing part that is connected to the inner pipe fixing part and, when the relative position of the outer pipe and the inner pipe is displaced in the axial direction with the inner pipe fixing part fixed to the inner pipe and a part of the outer pipe is pushed out to a position extending from the end of the inner pipe, is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe from the end of the outer pipe and is fixed to the outer pipe, A guide part that is continuously provided to the outer pipe fixing part and is arranged at a position protruding from the end part of the outer pipe when the outer pipe fixing part is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe; comprises; The outer pipe fixing part a base part provided between the inner pipe fixing part and the guide part; an engaging part provided on the outer periphery of the base part, which is caught by the inner peripheral part of the outer pipe when the outer pipe fixing part is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe, thereby suppressing the displacement of the outer pipe fixing part in the direction of being pulled out from the outer pipe; a spring function part provided on the outer periphery of the base part, which elastically deforms when the outer pipe fixing part is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the outer pipe, and biases the outer pipe radially outward by the elastic force generated along with the elastic deformation; A pipe guide comprising.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0075] 1... Pipe guide, 3... Inner pipe fixing part, 5... Outer pipe fixing part, 7... Guide part, 9... Cavity, 11... Cylindrical part, 13... Threaded part, 15... Flange part, 21... Base part, 23... Engaging part, 25... Spring function part, 31, 32, 33... Claws, 35... Gap, 51... First through hole, 52... Second through hole, 55... Mark, 57... Depression, 91... Multitube, 93... Inner pipe, 95... Outer pipe, 97... Carabiner, 99... Wiring tool.

Claims

1. A pipe guide used when laying a multi-tube including an outer tube which is a corrugated tube and an inner tube passed through the inner circumferential side of the outer tube through a narrow place, an inner tube fixing portion fixed to the inner tube by being inserted into the inner circumferential side of the inner tube from the end of the inner tube, connected to the inner tube fixing portion, when the inner tube fixing portion is fixed to the inner tube, the relative position of the outer tube and the inner tube is displaced in the axial direction, and a part of the outer tube extends from the end of the inner tube When pushed out to the extending position, an outer tube fixing portion fixed to the outer tube by being inserted into the inner circumferential side of the outer tube from the end of the outer tube, connected to the outer tube fixing portion, when the outer tube fixing portion is inserted into the inner circumferential side of the outer tube, a guide portion disposed at a position protruding from the end of the outer tube, comprising: The outer tube fixing portion, a base portion provided between the inner tube fixing portion and the guide portion, provided on the outer periphery of the base portion, when the outer tube fixing portion is inserted into the inner circumferential side of the outer tube, by being caught by the inner circumferential portion of the outer tube, the outer tube fixing portion is displaced in the direction of being pulled out from the outer tube An engaging portion for suppressing, provided on the outer periphery of the base portion, when the outer tube fixing portion is inserted into the inner circumferential side of the outer tube, it elastically deforms, and with the elastic force generated by the elastic deformation, the outer tube is urged radially outward A spring function portion, comprising: The engaging portion is configured to be caught by the inner circumferential portion of the outer tube at a location where the outer tube is urged radially inward as the outer tube is urged radially outward by the spring function portion. Pipe guide.

2. The pipe guide according to claim 1, The engaging portion is configured to be caught by the inner circumferential portion of the outer tube at a location where the outer tube deforms radially outward when an external force is applied to the outer tube and the outer tube is deformed radially inward at a location where the spring function portion is disposed on the inner circumferential side of the outer tube. Pipe guide.

3. The pipe guide according to claim 1 or claim 2, The engaging portion is arranged in a vertical row along the axial direction and has a plurality of claws each protruding radially, Among the plurality of claws, the claw at the position closest to the inner tube fixing portion has a shape in which the amount of protrusion in the radial direction is smaller than that of the claws at other positions. Pipe guide.

4. The pipe guide according to claim 3, Each of the plurality of claws has a tip portion in the protruding direction at a position on the guide portion side, and has an inclined surface whose radial dimension gradually decreases from the tip portion in the protruding direction toward the inner pipe fixing portion side. Pipe guide. **Claim 5** The pipe guide according to claim 4, wherein the inclined surface is shaped such that its circumferential dimension gradually increases from the tip portion in the protruding direction toward the inner pipe fixing portion side. Pipe guide. **Claim 6** The pipe guide according to claim 5, wherein, among the plurality of claws, the claw located closest to the inner pipe fixing portion is shaped such that the inclination angle of the inclined surface with respect to the axial direction is less steep than that of the claws at other positions. Pipe guide. **Claim 7** The pipe guide according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the base portion has a first portion which is a portion where the engaging portion and the spring function portion do not exist on the outer peripheral side, and a second portion which is a portion where the engaging portion and the spring function portion exist on the outer peripheral side, and the first portion is provided between the guide portion and the second portion, the second portion is provided between the first portion and the inner pipe fixing portion, and the first portion has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the outer pipe, and is configured such that, even when a force in a direction to tilt the pipe guide with respect to the axial direction of the multi-tube acts on the pipe guide or the outer pipe, the outer pipe fixing portion and the outer pipe can be maintained in a state of being arranged on the same axis around the outer pipe fixing portion. Pipe guide.

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