Identification ring

Abstract

To provide a new identification ring which enables smooth pipe installation work even in a state that the identification ring is attached to a bellows pipe.SOLUTION: An identification ring 10 is attached to an outer surface of a bellows pipe 90 in which crest parts 93 and trough parts 94 are alternately provided in an axial direction Y. The identification ring 10 includes: a cylindrical body 20 in which a part in a circumferential direction is divided; and a projection 30 which is provided protruding on an inner surface 21 of the body 20 and may be arranged in the trough part 94. A length L3 in the axial direction Y from the projection 30 to a first end edge 25 and a length L3 in the axial direction Y from the projection 30 to a second end edge 26 are set so that the first end edge 25 and the second end edge 26 in the axial direction Y of the body 20 are respectively located in the crest parts 93 when the projection 30 is disposed in the trough part 94.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an identification ring attached to a tubular body.

Background Art

[0002] For example, a display body attached to a tubular body to indicate the piping destination of the tubular body is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The display body shown in FIG. 16 of Patent Document 1 is attached to a laid bellows-shaped sheath pipe. The display body has a cylindrical shape with a part in the circumferential direction being separated, and protrusions are provided on its inner surface. The protrusions are arranged in the valleys on the outer surface of the sheath pipe to suppress displacement in the axial direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There are cases where it is desired to pass a pipe under a floor or in a ceiling space with a display body for identifying hot and cold water attached to a tubular body before laying, for example, a bellows-shaped corrugated pipe. At this time, when attaching the above display body to the bellows-shaped corrugated pipe, a gap is likely to occur between the valleys on the outer surface of the corrugated pipe and the display body, and there is a risk that the display body may get caught on a structure under the floor or in the ceiling during pipe passing, making pipe passing difficult.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a novel identification ring that can smoothly perform pipe passing work even when attached to a bellows-shaped tubular body.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The identification ring that solves the above problem is an identification ring that is attached to the outer surface of a bellows-shaped tube in which peaks and valleys are arranged alternately in the axial direction, and comprises a cylindrical main body that is spaced apart in a circumferential direction, and a protrusion that protrudes from the inner surface of the main body and can be positioned within the valley, and the axial length from the protrusion to the first edge and the axial length from the protrusion to the second edge are set so that when the protrusion is positioned within the valley, the first and second axial edges of the main body are positioned at the peaks, respectively.

[0007] In the above-mentioned identification ring, tapered surfaces are formed on the outer surface of the main body at both ends in the axial direction, inclined at an angle of 4° to 16° with respect to the axis of the tube so that they approach the outer surface of the tube as they approach the first end edge and the second end edge, respectively. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008]

Figure 1

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Figure 8

[0009] [One embodiment] An embodiment embodied in an identification ring attached to a bellows-shaped tubular body will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, the identification ring 10 is attached to the outer surface of a bellows-shaped tubular body 90. The tubular body 90 has a pipe 91 for water supply and hot water supply and a corrugated pipe 92 that covers and protects the pipe 91. The corrugated pipe 92 is a bellows-shaped pipe in which ridges 93 and valleys 94 are alternately provided in the axial direction Y. The entire corrugated pipe 92 is white. Since the pipe 91 and the corrugated pipe 92 have a common axis P and a common axial direction Y, hereinafter, they will be described as the axis P or the axial direction Y of the tubular body 90. In the axial direction Y, let the total length of the ridges 93 and valleys 94 of the corrugated pipe 92 (hereinafter referred to as the "unit length") be La, the length of the ridge 93 be Lb, and the length of the valley 94 be Lc.

[0010] The identification ring 10 is entirely colored to indicate whether water or hot water flows through the tubular body 90 (pipe 91). For example, the identification ring 10 indicating that water flows is blue, and the identification ring 10 indicating that hot water flows is red. The identification ring 10 is integrally formed by injection molding or the like using a resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the identification ring 10 includes a cylindrical main body 20 with a part in the circumferential direction spaced apart, and a protrusion 30 protruding from the inner surface 21 of the main body 20 and capable of being disposed in the valley 94 of the corrugated pipe 92. In the drawing, the axis P and the axial direction Y of the tubular body 90 when the identification ring 10 is attached to the tubular body 90 are shown. Note that the axis P and the axial direction Y are also the axis and the axial direction of the virtual cylinder formed by the main body 20 of the identification ring 10, respectively.

[0012] 2 and 4, the outer surface 22 of the main body 20 has a central surface 23 located in the center in the axial direction Y, which forms a single cylindrical surface centered on the axis P and spaced apart from the circumferential surface. On both ends of the outer surface 22 of the main body 20 in the axial direction Y, tapered surfaces 24 are formed that are inclined so as to approach the outer surface of the pipe body 90 as they approach a first edge 25 and a second edge 26, respectively. Even when the pipe body 90 is passed through an underfloor or ceiling space with the identification ring 10 attached to it, the tapered surfaces 24 make it less likely for the identification ring 10 to get caught on structures under the floor or ceiling space.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 5, the tapered surface 24 is inclined at an angle α with respect to the axis P of the tubular body 90. The angle α is set so that the identification ring 10 is less likely to get caught when passing through the tubular body, and so that the end of the identification ring 10 does not stand out when attached to the tubular body 90 and appears to blend in with the tubular body 90. The angle α is preferably 4° to 16°, more preferably 6° to 14°, and even more preferably 8° to 12°. In this embodiment, the angle α is set to 10°.

[0014] Because the tapered surfaces 24 are formed as described above, the thickness T2 at the first and second end edges 25 and 26 of the main body 20 in the axial direction Y is thinner than the thickness T1 at the center of the main body 20. The thicker the thickness T2, the stronger the end edges 25, 26 become. Therefore, it is preferable to set the thickness T2 of the end edges 25, 26 to at least half the thickness T1 at the center of the main body 20.

[0015] The shorter the length L1 of the tapered surface 24, the greater the strength of the entire body 20, so it is desirable to make it less than half the length L2 from the center of the axial direction Y of the body 20 to the first edge 25 and the second edge 26.

[0016] A gate mark 27 is formed on the inner surface 21 of the main body 20. This gate mark 27 is formed at a location corresponding to the gate of the mold when the identification ring 10 is formed by injection molding.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 5, the center of the rib 30 in the axial direction Y is located at the center of the main body 20 in the axial direction Y. Therefore, the length from the center of the rib 30 in the axial direction Y to both end edges 25 and 26 is L2. As shown in FIG. 3, the rib 30 extends to the end portions 28 spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical main body 20. That is, the rib 30 extends over the entire circumferential length of the inner peripheral surface of the main body 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the top portion 31 of the rib 30 has a cylindrical surface shape centered on the axis P with a part thereof spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The two side surfaces 32 of the rib 30 are inclined so as to approach each other as they are farther from the inner surface 21 of the main body 20.

[0018] Next, the lengths of the respective parts of the identification ring 10 related to the lengths of the respective parts of the pipe body 90 will be described. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the identification ring 10 is attached to the pipe body 90. In this state, the rib 30 is disposed in the trough portion 94 of the corrugated pipe 92. In the trough portion 94, the dimensions of the rib 30 are set so that the rib 30 hardly moves in the axial direction Y.

[0019] The first edge 25 and the second edge 26 of the main body 20 of the identification ring 10 are located on the peaks 93 of the corrugated tube 92. The length in the axial direction Y from the rib 30 to the first edge 25 and the length in the axial direction Y from the rib 30 to the second edge 26 are set to achieve this positional relationship. The length in the axial direction Y from the rib 30 to the first edge 25 and the length in the axial direction Y from the rib 30 to the second edge 26 are the same length L3. Specifically, when the portion of the main body 20 closer to the first edge 25 (or the second edge 26) than the rib 30 covers one valley 94, the length L3 is set so that both end edges 25, 26 are located on the peaks 93. The length L3 is equal to or greater than the unit length La of the corrugated tube 92 and equal to or less than the unit length La plus the length Lb of the peaks 93. That is, La ≦ L3 ≦ La + Lb. In addition, when the portion of the main body 20 closer to the first edge 25 (or the second edge 26) than the ridge 30 covers N (N is an integer greater than or equal to 0) valley portions 94, the length L3 is set so that both end edges 25, 26 are located at the peak portions 93, and is equal to or greater than N times the unit length La of the corrugated pipe 92 and equal to or less than the sum of N times the unit length La and the length Lb of the peak portions 93. In other words, La×N ≦ L3 ≦ La×N + Lb.

[0020] Alternatively, it can be considered that the length L2 in the axial direction Y from the center of the rib projection 30 to the both end edges 25, 26 of the main body 20 is set so that the both end edges 25, 26 of the main body 20 are positioned at the peaks 93 of the corrugated pipe 92. In the case where the portion of the main body 20 closer to the first end edge 25 (or the second end edge 26) than the rib projection 30 covers N valleys 94 (N is an integer greater than or equal to 0), the length L2 is equal to or greater than N times the unit length La of the corrugated pipe 92 plus half the length Lc of the valleys 94, and is equal to or less than N times the unit length La plus the length Lb of the peaks 93 and half the length Lc of the valleys 94. In other words, La×N+Lc / 2≦L2≦La×N+Lb+Lc / 2.

[0021] In addition, the length from the ridge 30 to the gate mark 27 is set so that the gate mark 27 is located in the valley portion 94 of the corrugated pipe 92.

[0022] Next, the method of using the identification ring 10 will be described. Based on whether water or hot water flows through the pipe body 90, a blue or red identification ring 10 is attached to the tip of the pipe body 90 before laying. At this time, when the side of the end portion 28 of the identification ring 10 is pressed toward the pipe body 90, the identification ring 10 elastically opens and closes, so that the identification ring 10 is attached to the outer surface of the pipe body 90. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the main body 20 of the identification ring 10 covers more than half of the outer circumference of the pipe body 90 and is prevented from falling off the pipe body 90.

[0023] Subsequently, the pipe body 90 is laid under the floor or in the ceiling space. After the pipe laying, it is possible to recognize whether water or hot water flows through the pipe body 90 from the color of the identification ring 10 attached to the pipe body 90.

[0024] In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, even if the pipe body 90 has a larger diameter than that in FIG. 7, the identification ring 10 can be elastically deformed to sufficiently widen the space between both end portions 28, so that it can be attached to the pipe body 90 with a larger diameter.

[0025] Next, the operation and effect of the identification ring 10 of the present embodiment will be described. (1) When the protrusion 30 is disposed in the groove portion 94 of the corrugated pipe 92, the length L3 in the axial direction Y from the protrusion 30 to the first edge 25 and the length L3 in the axial direction Y from the protrusion 30 to the second edge 26 are set so that the first edge 25 and the second edge 26 of the main body 20 are respectively located on the ridge portion 93.

[0026] When the edges 25 and 26 of the main body 20 are located in the groove portion 94 of the corrugated pipe 92, a gap is formed between the edges 25 and 26 and the outer surface of the pipe body 90. However, in the identification ring 10, since the edges 25 and 26 are located on the ridge portion 93, the gap between the edges 25 and 26 and the outer surface of the pipe body 90 is almost eliminated or the gap becomes small, and the main body 20 is less likely to be caught by the structures under the floor or in the ceiling space during pipe laying, and the pipe laying work can be smoothly performed.

[0027] (2) On the outer surface 22 of the main body 20, tapered surfaces 24 are formed at both ends in the axial direction Y. The tapered surfaces 24 are inclined at an angle α of 10° with respect to the axis P of the pipe 90 so that the tapered surfaces approach the outer surface of the pipe 90 toward the first edge 25 and the second edge 26, respectively. This makes it difficult for the main body 20 to get caught on structures under the floor or in the ceiling during pipe installation work, and the main body 20 appears to blend in with the pipe 90.

[0028] (3) As shown in Figure 3, the ribs 30 extend to the ends 28 spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body 20. If the ribs 30 were not formed at the ends 28, the ends 28 would be particularly susceptible to deformation in the axial direction Y if they were caught on a structure during pipe passage, which could result in the identification ring falling off. In this embodiment, the ribs 30 are formed all the way to the ends 28, making the ends 28 less likely to deform, reducing the risk of the identification ring 10 falling off during pipe passage.

[0029] (4) The length from the ridge 30 to the gate mark 27 is set so that the gate mark 27 is located in the valley portion 94 of the corrugated pipe 92. Therefore, even if a resin protrusion is formed at the gate mark 27, the protrusion will not interfere with the peak portion 93 of the corrugated pipe 92, reducing the risk of a gap occurring between the main body 20 of the identification ring 10 and the pipe body 90.

[0030] [Other embodiments] The above embodiment can be modified as follows, for example: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0031] The number of valley portions 94 of the corrugated pipe 92 covered by the main body 20 may be changed. For example, the length of the main body 20 in the axial direction Y may be shortened so that the main body 20 covers only one valley portion 94 where the rib protrusion 30 is located, and the portions of the main body 20 closer to the first edge 25 and the second edge 26 than the rib protrusion 30 do not cover any valley portion 94. Alternatively, the portions of the main body 20 closer to the first edge 25 and the second edge 26 than the rib protrusion 30 may each cover two or more valley portions 94.

[0032] · The number of valleys 94 covered by the portion of the main body 20 on the first edge 25 side of the ridge 30 may be different from the number of valleys 94 covered by the portion of the main body 20 on the second edge 26 side of the ridge 30.

[0033] · The ridge 30 may not extend to the spaced-apart end 28 in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical main body 20 and may extend only to a part of the circumferential direction of the main body 20. · The dimension of the ridge 30 in the axial direction Y may be reduced, and there may be play when it is disposed in the valley 94.

[0034] · As shown in FIG. 5, although the tapered surface 24 is linearly inclined in the cross-sectional shape along the axial direction Y, alternatively, the tapered surface 24 may be curved, for example, arc-shaped, in the cross-sectional shape along the axial direction Y.

[0035] · The entire outer surface 22 of the main body 20 may be the tapered surface 24. · What is identified by the identification ring 10 may not be hot and cold water. · Instead of color-coding the identification ring 10 in blue or red, it may be handled to identify something by the mere fact that the identification ring 10 is attached.

[0036] · Characters or figures may be placed on the outer surface 22 of the identification ring 10, and identification may be performed based on the characters or figures. · The material of the identification ring 10 is not limited to resin and may be, for example, metal.

[0037] [Appendix] The technical idea grasped from the above embodiments will be described. (1) The identification ring according to claim 1, wherein on the outer surface of the main body, tapered surfaces that are inclined with respect to the axis of the tubular body are formed at both ends in the axial direction so as to approach the outer surface of the tubular body toward the ends in the axial direction.

Explanation of Signs

[0038] 10... Identification ring, 20... Body, 21... Inner surface, 22... Outer surface, 23... Central surface, 24... Tapered surface, 25... First edge, 26... Second edge, 27... Gate mark, 28... End, 30... Ridge, 31... Top, 32... Side surface, 90... Pipe body, 91... Pipe, 92... Corrugated pipe, 93... Crest, 94... Trough, L1, L2, L3, La, Lb, Lc... Length, P... Axis, T1, T2... Thickness, Y... Axial direction, α... Angle.

Claims

1. An identification ring attached to the outer surface of a bellows-shaped tube body in which mountain portions and valley portions are alternately provided in the axial direction, a cylindrical main body with a part in the circumferential direction spaced apart, and a protrusion projecting from the inner surface of the main body and capable of being disposed within the valley portion, wherein when the protrusion is disposed within the valley portion, the length in the axial direction from the protrusion to the first edge and the length in the axial direction from the protrusion to the second edge are set such that the first edge and the second edge in the axial direction of the main body are respectively positioned at the mountain portions. An identification ring.

2. The identification ring according to claim 1, wherein on the outer surface of the main body, at both ends in the axial direction, tapered surfaces are formed that are inclined at an angle of 4° to 16° with respect to the axis of the tube body so as to approach the outer surface of the tube body toward the first edge and the second edge, respectively.

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