Joint

Abstract

To provide a joint capable of making it difficult for water to accumulate inside even when the joint is connected to a side wall inclined outward from the end of the bottom of a gutter.SOLUTION: This means comprises: a body 10 having a flat surface 10b1 which abuts against the outer surface of a side wall 2b of a gutter 2; a screw shaft 11 vertically protruding from the flat surface 10b1 of the body 10, having a screw groove in the outer periphery, and capable of fitting in a fitting hole 2b1 formed in the side wall 2b; a cylindrical mounting part 12 provided in the body 10 to be mountable to one end of a hose B; and a discharge passage 13 opened from the tip surface of the screw shaft 11 and passed through the body 10 to communicate with the inside of the mounting part 12. The discharge passage 13 is formed in a direction crossing an axis Y of the screw shaft 11 obliquely upward from the tip side of the screw shaft 11 in a horizontal sectional view seen from a direction orthogonal to the point of intersection Z between a vertical virtual line X on the flat surface 10b1 and the axis Y of the screw shaft 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a joint. [Background technology]

[0002] Simple buildings such as vinyl greenhouses, greenhouses, and simple warehouses are constructed in an arch shape, with multiple arch-shaped aggregates arranged in a row in the depth direction, multiple sheet fixing frames stretched between the aggregates, and covering sheets fixed to the sheet fixing frames and stretched to cover each aggregate.

[0003] In such temporary buildings, when the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the building becomes large, condensation water forms on the inner surface of the covering sheet. If the condensation water falls into the room, it can cause problems such as root rot in the crops grown inside the temporary building, so the temporary building is equipped with a water receiver for collecting the condensation water that forms on the inner surface of the covering sheet (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, a hose for draining the condensation water is attached to the water receiver, and the lower end of the hose is housed in a gutter that is installed outside the building below the water receiver and has a bottom and a pair of side walls rising from both ends of the bottom. Therefore, the condensation water collected in the water receiver is drained into the gutter through the hose.

[0004] The water hose is then pulled out from the inside of the building through the opening, and the water hose is then pulled out from the outside of the building through the opening.

[0005] The opening and closing device includes a winding shaft around which the opening and closing sheet is wound, and a drive source that rotates the winding shaft, and the opening is opened and closed by rolling the winding shaft on the arch portion of the aggregate. When such an opening and closing device is installed, the hose is led out of the opening to the outside of the building, so when the opening is opened and closed, the winding shaft rides up on the hose.

[0006] When the winding shaft rides up on the hose in this way, the weight of the winding shaft is applied to the hose, causing the hose to deteriorate, and the winding shaft to meander, making it impossible to wind up the sheet evenly.

[0007] One possible solution is to provide a mounting hole in the side wall of the gutter and connect the end of the hose to the mounting hole, thereby positioning the end of the hose below the side wall of the gutter and preventing the winding shaft of the opening and closing device from interfering with the hose. In this case, a joint that can be connected to the side wall of the gutter is attached to the end of the hose to prevent the hose from falling off the side wall of the gutter. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-182425 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] As an example of such a joint, as shown in Figure 7, a joint 100 may be considered, which includes an L-shaped pipe 100a having a first tubular portion 100a1 that can be attached to the end of a hose 130 and a second tubular portion 100a2 that is connected from the end of the first tubular portion 100a1 at a right angle to the first tubular portion 100a1, a cylindrical fitting tubular portion 100b that extends from the end of the second tubular portion 100a2 of the L-shaped pipe 100a along the axial direction of the second tubular portion 100a2, has a screw groove on its outer periphery, and can be fitted into a mounting hole 110a formed in the side wall 110 of the gutter.

[0010] 7, such a joint 100 is attached to the side wall 110 by fitting the fitting cylindrical portion 100b into the mounting hole 110a with the end of the first cylindrical portion 100a1 of the L-shaped pipe 100a facing upward to connect it to the hose 130 coming down from above, screwing a nut 120 onto the outer periphery of the fitting cylindrical portion 100b, and clamping the side wall 110 between the flange portion 100c and the nut 120. When the end of the hose 130 is attached to the end of the first cylindrical portion 100a1, the end of the hose 130 is connected to the side wall 110 via the joint 100, and the interior of the hose 130 and the gutter are communicated with each other via a discharge passage 140 formed by the interior of the second cylindrical portion 100a2 and the interior of the fitting cylindrical portion 100b.

[0011] Here, the fitting cylindrical portion 100b is fitted into the mounting hole 110a in an orientation perpendicular to the side wall 110 so that no gap is formed between the nut 120 and the side wall 110 when the nut 120 is tightened. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 7, when the fitting cylindrical portion 100b is fitted into the mounting hole 110a formed in the side wall 110 that slopes outward from the bottom, the fitting cylindrical portion 100b assumes an inclined orientation so that the tip end (the right end in the figure) is located higher than the base end (the left end in the figure). Furthermore, because the discharge passage 140 is formed along the axial direction of the fitting cylindrical portion 100b, the discharge passage 140 is also inclined so that the open end is located higher than the end opposite the open side, similar to the fitting cylindrical portion 100b.

[0012] In this way, L-shaped joint 100 is fixed to the gutter so that the bent elbow portion is positioned below the opening that protrudes into the gutter, so water that flows from hose 130 into discharge passage 140 accumulates in the elbow portion. When the water that has accumulated inside joint 100 freezes, the volume of the water increases, and a force acts on the inner periphery of joint 100 to push joint 100 outward, which may damage joint 100.

[0013] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a joint that is less likely to trap water inside even when connected to a side wall that rises outward and inclined from the bottom end of a gutter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] The above-mentioned object can be achieved by a joint for connecting one end of a hose to a gutter having a bottom and a pair of side walls rising from both ends of the bottom, the joint comprising: a main body having a flat surface abutting the outer surface of the side walls; a screw shank protruding perpendicularly from the flat surface of the main body and having a threaded groove on its outer periphery and capable of fitting into a mounting hole formed in the side walls; a tubular mounting portion provided on the main body and capable of being attached to one end of the hose; and a discharge passage opening at the tip surface of the screw shank, penetrating the main body and communicating with the interior of the mounting portion, the discharge passage extending in a direction obliquely intersecting the axis of the screw shank in a horizontal cross section viewed from a direction perpendicular to an imaginary line extending along the vertical direction of the flat surface and the axis of the screw shank. With this configuration, since the extension direction of the discharge passage does not coincide with the axial direction of the screw shank, even when the joint is connected to side walls rising from the end of the bottom of the gutter at an angle outward, the discharge passage can be tilted so that its open end is located below the side end of the mounting portion.

[0015] In addition, in the joint of the present invention, the discharge passage may open from a portion below the center of the tip surface of the screw shank when the screw shank is fitted into the mounting hole. With this configuration, compared to when the opening of the discharge passage is formed above the center of the tip surface of the screw shank, the thickness of the screw shank can be maximized for forming the discharge passage, preventing the screw shank from becoming larger in diameter. This also prevents the mounting hole formed in the side wall of the gutter from becoming larger, facilitating the drilling process for forming the mounting hole in the side wall of the gutter.

[0016] In addition, in the joint of the present invention, the bottom surface of the interior of the mounting portion and the bottom of the discharge passage may be arranged on the same straight line in a horizontal cross-sectional view. With this configuration, there is no corner or step at the boundary between the bottom surface of the interior of the mounting portion and the bottom of the discharge passage, which makes it possible to more effectively prevent water from accumulating inside the joint.

[0017] In addition, in the joint of the present invention, the drain passage may be inclined so that, when the screw shank is fitted into the mounting hole, the open end opening from the tip face of the screw shank is positioned lower than the end of the mounting portion. With this configuration, water that flows into the drain passage through the hose flows toward the open side under its own weight and is discharged into the gutter. This further prevents water from accumulating inside the joint.

[0018] In the joint of the present invention, the cross section of the discharge passage may be formed in an elliptical shape. With this configuration, when the diameter of the screw shaft is constant, the flow path area of the discharge passage is larger than when the cross section of the discharge passage is circular. Therefore, with a joint configured in this manner, the flow path area of the discharge passage can be increased while preventing the diameter of the screw shaft from increasing. This allows for smoother water flow through the discharge passage, and prevents the mounting holes formed in the side walls of the gutter from becoming too large, facilitating the drilling process for forming the mounting holes in the side walls of the gutter.

[0019] In the joint of the present invention, the cross-sectional area of the discharge passage may be equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of the hose. With this configuration, the flow of water flowing in from the hose is not restricted by the discharge passage, and the water flows smoothly through the discharge passage and is discharged into the gutter.

[0020] The joint of the present invention may also include a nut that is threaded onto the outer periphery of the screw shank when fitted into the mounting hole to clamp the side wall together with the flat surface, and the tip surface of the screw shank may protrude toward the opposite flat surface beyond the end of the nut on the opposite side of the flat surface. With this configuration, the nut does not obstruct the flow of water discharged through the discharge passage that opens from the tip surface of the screw shank.

[0021] The joint of the present invention may also be made of synthetic resin. With this configuration, the joint is inexpensive, rust-proof, lightweight, and easy to transport. Furthermore, in the joint of the present invention, the discharge passage is formed in a straight line along a direction that intersects the axis of the screw shank diagonally upward from the tip of the screw shank in a horizontal cross-sectional view. Therefore, when forming the discharge passage, the injection molding die can be removed along the extension direction of the discharge passage. Therefore, the joint can be manufactured by injection molding, improving the mass productivity of the joint.

[0022] Furthermore, in the joint of the present invention, when the screw shank is fitted into the mounting hole, the angle formed by the flat surface and a horizontal plane passing through the lower end of the flat surface may be set in the range of 90 degrees or more and 150 degrees or less. With this configuration, when the joint is connected to a side wall parallel to the flat surface, it is easy to tilt the discharge passage so that the open end is positioned lower than the mounting portion side end. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the joint of the present invention, even when the joint is connected to a side wall that rises outwardly and inclined from the end of the bottom of the gutter, water is less likely to accumulate inside. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the simple building of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a front view of a simple building according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the joint of the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the joint of the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a side view of the joint of the present embodiment. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an exemplary joint. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The present embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used throughout the several views to denote like parts.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the joint 1 of this embodiment is attached to the lower end of one end of a hose B attached to a water receiving device A attached to a sheet fixing frame F of a greenhouse H as a simple building, and is fixed in a fitted state into a mounting hole 2b1 formed in a side wall 2b of the gutter 2, thereby connecting the hose B to the gutter 2.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the greenhouse H comprises a plurality of aggregates P arranged in a line along the depth direction, each having a pair of standing portions Pa, Pa rising from the ground and an arch-shaped arch portion Pb connecting the upper ends of each standing portion Pa, and a sheet fixing frame F installed along the depth direction at the boundary between the standing portions Pa and Pb in the arch portion Pb (hereinafter referred to as the "shoulder portion") and halfway up the top.

[0028] The sheet fixing frame F is a long frame made of metal such as aluminum or steel that extends along the depth direction of the greenhouse H, and has the same cross-sectional shape at any position in the longitudinal direction. Also, fixed to the sheet fixing frame F are the lower end of a roof sheet S1 that covers the roof side above the sheet fixing frame F in the greenhouse H, and the upper end of an opening / closing sheet S2 that covers an opening O formed between the sheet fixing frame F and the shoulder of the greenhouse H.

[0029] Specifically, as shown in Figure 1, the sheet fixing frame F has a dew receiving frame Fa and a lower frame Fb arranged side by side when viewed from the depth direction, and an upper frame Fc arranged so as to overlap the upper side of the dew receiving frame Fa and the lower frame Fb.

[0030] The lower frame Fb and the upper frame Fc each have a groove (not shown) whose opening is narrower than the bottom. The lower end of the roof sheet S1 is inserted into the groove of the upper frame Fc, and a corrugated elastic member W1 is inserted into the groove from above the roof sheet S1, thereby securing the end of the roof sheet S1 to the upper frame Fc. Meanwhile, the upper end of the opening / closing sheet S2 is inserted into the groove of the lower frame Fb, and a corrugated elastic member W2 is inserted into the groove from above the opening / closing sheet S2, thereby securing the upper end of the opening / closing sheet S2 to the lower frame Fb. The elastic members W1 and W2 are not limited to corrugated metal springs, and may be other elastic members such as rubber or coil springs.

[0031] In addition, the dew receiving frame Fa has a connecting piece (not shown) extending perpendicularly from the lower end of the bottom of the upper frame Fc to the bottom of the upper frame Fc, and a receiving piece (not shown) extending perpendicularly from the tip of the connecting piece toward the opposite side of the lower frame, and is formed with an L-shaped cross section.

[0032] 1, a winding shaft 3 around which the opening and closing sheet S2 is wound is attached to the lower end of the opening and closing sheet S2, and the winding shaft 3 is rotated by a drive source (not shown) to roll over the arch portion Pb of the aggregate P, thereby allowing the winding shaft 3 to wind and unwind the opening and closing sheet S2. When the opening and closing sheet S2 is wound around the winding shaft 3 in this way and the opening O is opened, the inside of the greenhouse H can be ventilated. Conversely, as the opening and closing sheet S2 is unwound from the winding shaft 3 and the winding shaft 3 moves to the lower end of the opening O, the opening O is closed by the opening and closing sheet S2, thereby keeping the inside of the greenhouse H warm and preventing rain from falling into the greenhouse H.

[0033] In this embodiment, the roof sheet S1 and the opening / closing sheet S2 are made of soft sheets such as polyolefin films, such as vinyl chloride film and PET film, but the roof sheet S1 may be made of hard sheets, such as polyester film and fluorine film.

[0034] In addition, in the greenhouse H of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, multiple sheet fixing frames F are arranged in a row in the depth direction, and a water receiving device A is provided at the joint between two adjacent sheet fixing frames F in the depth direction, and the water receiving device A functions as a connecting member that connects the two sheet fixing frames F in series in the longitudinal direction.

[0035] In addition, the upper end of a hose B is attached to the outlet that communicates with the part of the water receiving device A that collects water, and the lower end of the hose B is attached to a joint 1 that can be connected to the side wall 2b of the gutter 2 described below.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the greenhouse H of this embodiment is a row type in which the greenhouses are adjacent to each other in the width direction, and a gutter 2 extending along the depth direction is installed between the shoulder portions of the aggregate P of adjacent greenhouses H.

[0037] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the gutter 2 has a flat bottom 2a and a pair of side walls 2b, 2b that rise and incline outward from both left and right ends of the bottom 2a when viewed from the depth direction.

[0038] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3, of the pair of side walls 2b, 2b of the gutter 2, the side wall 2b that is located on the top side of the aggregate P has a mounting hole 2b1 formed therein to which a joint 1, described below, attached to the lower end of a hose B can be attached. The mounting hole 2b1 is provided in a position in the depth direction below the installation position of the water receiver A of the gutter 2. Therefore, the distance between the water receiver A and the mounting hole 2b1 is the shortest, and the length of the hose B attached to the water receiver A can be short. However, the mounting hole 2b1 may be formed in a position offset in the depth direction from the water receiver A, as long as it is within the range where the lower end of the hose B attached to the water receiver A can reach.

[0039] The mounting holes 2b1 are formed by drilling holes in the side wall 2b after the water receiver A and the gutter 2 are installed on the aggregate P. In this way, the mounting holes 2b1 can be formed in the side wall 2b while checking the position of the installed water receiver A, so that the mounting holes 2b1 can be easily provided in the gutter 2 at positions corresponding to the installation positions of the water receiver A. However, the gutter 2 with the mounting holes 2b1 already formed in the side wall 2b may also be installed on the shoulders of the aggregate P.

[0040] Furthermore, when the lower end of the hose B is connected to the side wall 2b of the gutter 2 via the joint 1 described below, the lower end of the hose B can be positioned inside the greenhouse H relative to the aggregate P without passing above the opening O, so there is no risk of the winding shaft 3 riding up onto the lower end of the hose B when moving. This prevents the hose B from deteriorating or the winding shaft 3 from meandering due to the load of the winding shaft 3 being applied to the hose B.

[0041] In addition, in the greenhouse H configured in this manner, the sheet fixing frame F is fixed to the aggregate P so that the bottoms of the upper frame Fc and lower frame Fb slope downward along the inclination of the arch portion Pb, as shown in Figure 1. Therefore, the dew receiving frame Fa is located diagonally above the lower frame Fb when viewed from the depth direction of the greenhouse H. Therefore, when condensation water generated on the roof sheet S1 runs down the roof sheet S1 and hits the sheet fixing frame F, the condensation water runs down the side wall of the upper frame Fc and flows into the dew receiving frame Fa.

[0042] In this way, water such as condensation water that has accumulated in the sheet fixing frame F is guided by the sheet fixing frame F to the water receiving device A and collected in the water receiving device A. The water collected in the water receiving device A is then discharged into the gutter 2 through a discharge passage 13 formed inside a joint 1 (described later) that is attached to the lower end of the hose B via a hose B whose upper end is attached to the water receiving device A and that is attached to the mounting hole 2b1 in the side wall 2b of the gutter 2.

[0043] Next, the joint 1 of this embodiment will be described in detail. The joint 1 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, comprises a main body 10 having a disk portion 10b including a flat surface 10b1 that abuts against the outer surface of the side wall 2b of the gutter 2, a screw shank 11 that protrudes perpendicularly from the flat surface 10b1 and has a screw groove on its outer periphery, a cylindrical attachment portion 12 that is provided on the main body 10 and can be attached to the lower end, which is one end of the hose B, and a discharge passage 13 that opens from the tip surface of the screw shank 11, penetrates the main body 10, and communicates with the inside of the attachment portion 12.

[0044] Below, each part of the joint 1 will be described in detail. In the following description, the top and bottom of the joint 1 when connected to the side wall 2b of the gutter 2 as shown in Fig. 3 will be simply referred to as "top" and "bottom," and the horizontal direction of the joint 1 will be the direction perpendicular to the intersection Z of an imaginary line X, shown as a dashed line in the drawing, which runs along the vertical direction on the flat surface 10b1, and an axis Y of the screw shaft 11, shown as a chain line in the drawing (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface).

[0045] 3, 4, and 5, the main body 10 has a triangular prism-shaped intermediate portion 10a that extends in the horizontal direction and includes a substantially right-angled triangular side whose hypotenuse is parallel to the outer surface of the side wall 2b of the gutter 2 when viewed from the horizontal direction, and a disk portion 10b that is disk-shaped and has a diameter larger than the horizontal width of the intermediate portion 10a at the lower end (right end in the figures) of the intermediate portion 10a, and is provided so that the flat surface 10b1 that is the upper surface is flush with the slope 10a1. The center of the disk portion 10b is located on a center line that passes through the center of the slope 10a1 in the horizontal direction when viewed from above.

[0046] Furthermore, the main body 10 has a rib 10c that connects a lower surface 10a2, which is the lower surface of the middle portion 10a, to the lower surface of the disk portion 10b. Therefore, the load acting on the disk portion 10b can be borne not only by the middle portion 10a but also by the rib 10c, so that even if the disk portion 10b is thin, the disk portion 10b can be prevented from being damaged by the load.

[0047] 3, 4, and 5, the screw shank 11 is cylindrical, protruding perpendicularly from the flat surface 10b1 of the disk portion 10b of the main body 10, with the axis Y passing through the center of the disk portion 10b, and has a screw groove formed on its outer periphery. The diameter of the screw shank 11 is set to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the mounting hole 2b1 formed in the side wall 2b of the gutter 2, so that the screw shank 11 can be fitted into the mounting hole 2b1.

[0048] 3 and 5, the screw shank 11, which has an annular rubber packing 15 attached to its outer periphery, is fitted into the mounting hole 2b1 from outside the side wall 2b, and a synthetic resin nut 14 is threaded onto the outer periphery of the screw shank 11. The side wall 2b of the gutter 2 is sandwiched between the nut 14 and the flat surface 10b1, thereby connecting the joint 1 to the side wall 2b of the gutter 2. The rubber packing 15 is disposed between the disk portion 10b and the side wall 2b and adheres closely to both, providing excellent sealing performance. This prevents water from leaking from the gutter 2 through the gap between the inner periphery of the mounting hole 2b1 and the outer periphery of the screw shank 11 during rain, etc. The rubber packing 15 is not shown in FIG. 3 because it is compressed and thin when the joint 1 is connected to the side wall 2b, making the illustration more complicated.

[0049] Furthermore, the slope 10a1 of the middle portion 10a is flush with the flat surface 10b1 and parallel to the outer surface of the side wall 2b, so that it abuts against the outer surface of the side wall 2b together with the flat surface 10b1. This increases the contact area between the main body 10 and the side wall 2b, thereby reducing rattling of the joint 1 against the side wall 2b. Furthermore, the rubber packing 15 is compressed evenly in the circumferential direction, so it adheres closely to the disk portion 10b and the side wall 2b, providing excellent sealing performance.

[0050] 3, the axial length of the screw shaft 11 is set to be longer than the sum of the height of the nut 14 and the thickness of the side wall 2b. Therefore, when the joint 1 is attached to the side wall 2b of the gutter 2, the tip face of the screw shaft 11 protrudes to the right in FIG. 3, which is the anti-flat face side, beyond the anti-flat face end of the nut 14, which is the right end in FIG. 3, and is located below the upper end of the nut 14 on the axis Y of the screw shaft 11, so that the nut 14 does not obstruct the flow of water discharged through the discharge passage 13 opening from the tip face of the screw shaft 11.

[0051] Furthermore, since the nut 14 is made of synthetic resin, it will not rust even if water droplets get on the nut 14. The nut 14 may be made of a material other than synthetic resin, such as stainless steel, but synthetic resin is cheaper to manufacture.

[0052] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the mounting portion 12 is cylindrical and protrudes from the left end of the middle portion 10a of the main body 10 in Figure 5, with the lower end of the hose B fitted inside. The hose B is made of synthetic resin and has a bellows-like irregularity on its outer periphery. The inner diameter of the mounting portion 12 is set to be slightly smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the hose B. Therefore, the hose B is attached to the mounting portion 12 by pushing the lower end of the hose B into the mounting portion 12. In this way, the hose B extending downward from the water receiver A installed above the temporary building is fitted into the mounting portion 12, and the lower end of the hose B is covered by the mounting portion 12, making it difficult for water flowing in from the hose B to leak outside. To prevent water leakage, a filler may be filled between the hose B and the mounting portion 12 to form a caulking seal.

[0053] The method of attaching hose B to attachment part 12 is not particularly limited as long as hose B does not come off attachment part 12. For example, hose B may be fixed to attachment part 12 with tape while the lower end of hose B is inserted inside attachment part 12. The material of hose B is not limited to synthetic resin, and may be rubber, for example. Furthermore, hose B may be cylindrical and not have bellows-like irregularities on its outer periphery.

[0054] 3, a discharge passage 13 is formed in the screw shaft 11 and the main body 10. The discharge passage 13 opens below the center of the tip end surface of the screw shaft 11, penetrates the main body 10, and communicates with the inside of the attachment part 12, and extends along a direction obliquely intersecting the axis Y of the screw shaft 11 in a horizontal cross-sectional view. The discharge passage 13 is inclined so that, when the screw shaft 11 is fitted into the mounting hole 2b1, the opening end that opens on the tip end surface of the screw shaft 11 (the right end in FIG. 3) is located lower than the end on the attachment part 12 side (the left end in FIG. 3).

[0055] In this way, when the discharge passage 13 is formed along a direction that intersects obliquely with the axis Y of the screw shaft 11 when viewed in horizontal cross section, the extension direction of the discharge passage 13 does not coincide with the axial direction of the screw shaft 11, so even if the joint 1 is connected to a side wall 2b that rises outward and inclined from the end of the bottom 2a of the gutter 2, the discharge passage 13 can be inclined so that the opening end (right end in Figure 3) is positioned lower than the mounting portion side end (left end in Figure 3), as shown in Figure 3.

[0056] When the discharge passage 13 is inclined so that the open end is positioned lower than the end of the mounting part, water that flows into the discharge passage 13 through the hose B attached to the mounting part 12 flows under its own weight toward the open side and is discharged into the gutter 2. This prevents water from accumulating inside the joint 1.

[0057] However, as long as the water is discharged with enough force when it flows in from the hose B, the discharge passage 13 may be formed so that its extension direction is along the horizontal direction, or the discharge passage 13 may be formed so that its opening end is positioned slightly above the end on the side of the attachment portion.

[0058] 3 and 4, in this embodiment, when the screw shank 11 is fitted into the mounting hole 2b1 and the joint 1 is connected to the side wall 2b, the discharge passage 13 opens from a portion below the center of the tip surface of the screw shank 11. In this way, compared to when the opening of the discharge passage 13 is formed above the center of the tip surface of the screw shank 11, the wall thickness of the screw shank 11 can be used to the maximum for forming the discharge passage 13, and therefore the diameter of the screw shank 11 can be prevented from becoming large.

[0059] 3, in a horizontal cross-sectional view, the bottom of the interior of the mounting portion 12 and the bottom of the discharge passage 13 are arranged on the same straight line, so that no elbow or step is formed at the boundary between the interior bottom surface of the mounting portion 12 and the bottom of the discharge passage 13, which further prevents water from accumulating inside the joint 1. Note that the mounting portion 12 may be provided in any manner relative to the main body 10, as long as it does not interfere with the side wall 2b and is oriented such that the left end (end opposite the main body) in FIG. 3 is positioned higher than the right end (end on the main body) in FIG. 3.

[0060] Furthermore, because discharge passage 13 is formed in a straight line along a direction that intersects obliquely from the tip side of screw shaft 11 with respect to axis Y of screw shaft 11 in a horizontal cross-sectional view, the injection molding die can be removed along the extension direction of discharge passage 13 when forming discharge passage 13. Therefore, joint 1 can be manufactured by injection molding, which improves the mass productivity of joint 1.

[0061] However, the joint 1 may be manufactured by a method other than injection molding. Also, the joint 1 may be formed from a material other than synthetic resin, but if the joint 1 is made from synthetic resin, it will be cheaper, will not rust, and will be lighter and easier to transport than if it were made from metal.

[0062] 6, the cross section of the discharge passage 13 is formed into an ellipse whose cross section is equal to or larger than the cross section of the hose B. When the cross section of the discharge passage 13 is elliptical, the flow path area of the discharge passage 13 is larger than when the cross section of the discharge passage 13 is circular, assuming that the diameter of the screw shaft 11 is constant. In other words, when the cross section of the discharge passage 13 is elliptical, the cross section of the discharge passage 13 can be made equal to or larger than the cross section of the hose B, while preventing the diameter of the screw shaft 11 from becoming larger.

[0063] In this way, if the cross-sectional area of the discharge passage 13 is set to be equal to or larger than the cross-sectional area of the hose B, the flow of water flowing in from the hose B is not restricted by the discharge passage 13, and the water flows smoothly through the discharge passage 13 and is discharged into the gutter 2. However, the cross-sectional area of the discharge passage 13 may be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the hose B.

[0064] Furthermore, by preventing the screw shaft 11 from becoming larger in diameter in this way, the mounting hole 2b1 into which the screw shaft 11 is fitted can also be prevented from becoming larger, making it easier to drill the mounting hole 2b1 in the side wall 2b of the gutter 2.

[0065] The shape of the intermediate portion 10a of the main body 10 in the above-mentioned joint 1 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, box-shaped, as long as it can form part of the discharge passage 13 inside and does not interfere with the side wall 2b when the screw shaft 11 is fitted into the mounting hole 2b1.

[0066] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the joint 1 is connected to the side wall 2b that rises from the bottom 2a at an inclination outward, but the joint 1 may also be connected to a side wall that rises from the bottom 2a at an inclination inward or that rises perpendicular to the bottom 2a. Even in this case, with the screw shank 11 fitted in the mounting hole 2b1, the discharge passage 13 can be inclined so that the opening end that opens from the tip face of the screw shank 11 is positioned lower than the mounting portion side end, thereby preventing water from accumulating inside the joint 1.

[0067] Furthermore, the inclination angle of the side wall 2b, which is the angle between the side wall 2b and the bottom 2a of the gutter 2, is not particularly limited, but if the inclination angle of the side wall 2b is set in the range of 90 degrees or more and 150 degrees or less, even when the joint 1 is connected to the side wall 2b that stands upright and inclined outward from the bottom 2a, the discharge passage 13 can be inclined so that the opening end (right end in Figure 3) is positioned lower than the mounting portion side end (left end in Figure 3).

[0068] In other words, when the screw shaft 11 is fitted into the mounting hole 2b1, and the angle between the flat surface 10b1 abutting the outer surface of the side wall 2b and the horizontal plane passing through the lower end of the flat surface 10b1 is set to be in the range of 90 degrees or more and 150 degrees or less, when the joint 1 is connected to the side wall 2b parallel to the flat surface 10b1, it is easy to tilt the discharge passage 13 so that the opening end (right end in Figure 3) is positioned lower than the mounting portion side end (left end in Figure 3).

[0069] As described above, the joint 1 of this embodiment connects one end of a hose B to a gutter 2 having a bottom 2a and a pair of side walls 2b, 2b rising from both ends of the bottom 2a, and is equipped with a main body 10 having a flat surface 10b1 abutting the outer surface of the side wall 2b, a screw shank 11 protruding vertically from the flat surface 10b1 of the main body 10, having a screw groove on its outer periphery, and capable of fitting into a mounting hole 2b1 formed in the side wall 2b, a cylindrical mounting portion 12 provided on the main body 10 and capable of being attached to one end of the hose B, and a discharge passage 13 opening from the tip surface of the screw shank 11, penetrating the main body 10 and communicating with the inside of the mounting portion 12, the discharge passage 13 being formed along a direction obliquely intersecting the axis Y of the screw shank 11 in a horizontal cross-sectional view seen from a direction perpendicular to the intersection Z between an imaginary line X extending in the vertical direction on the flat surface 10b1 and the axis Y of the screw shank 11.

[0070] In the joint 1 configured in this manner, the discharge passage 13 is formed along a direction that intersects obliquely with the axis Y of the screw shaft 11 when viewed in horizontal cross section, so the extension direction of the discharge passage 13 does not coincide with the axial direction of the screw shaft 11.

[0071] Therefore, even if the joint 1 is connected to the side wall 2b that rises outward and inclined from the end of the bottom 2a of the gutter 2, when the screw shaft 11 is fitted into the mounting hole 2b1, the discharge passage 13 can be inclined so that the opening end opening from the tip surface of the screw shaft 11 is positioned lower than the side end of the mounting portion.

[0072] In this way, when the discharge passage 13 is inclined so that the open end is positioned lower than the end on the mounting portion side, water that flows into the discharge passage 13 through the hose B attached to the mounting portion 12 flows to the open side by its own weight and is discharged into the gutter 2. This prevents water from accumulating inside the joint 1. This also eliminates the risk of water accumulating and freezing inside the discharge passage 13, preventing damage to the joint 1.

[0073] However, as long as the force of the water flowing in from the hose B allows it to be discharged, the discharge passage 13 may be formed so that its extension direction is horizontal, or the discharge passage 13 may be formed so that its open end is positioned slightly above the end on the mounting portion side. Even in such a case, the inclination angle of the discharge passage 13 is smaller than when the discharge passage 140 is formed along the axial direction of the fitting cylindrical portion 100b, as shown in at least FIG. 7, so that the water flowing in from the hose B flows more easily through the discharge passage 13 and water is less likely to accumulate inside the joint 1.

[0074] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the joint 1 is connected to the side wall 2b that rises from the bottom 2a at an inclination outward, but the joint 1 may also be connected to a side wall that rises from the bottom 2a at an inclination inward or that rises perpendicular to the bottom 2a. Even in this case, with the screw shank 11 fitted in the mounting hole 2b1, the discharge passage 13 can be inclined so that the opening end that opens from the tip face of the screw shank 11 is positioned lower than the mounting portion side end, thereby preventing water from accumulating inside the joint 1.

[0075] Furthermore, in the joint 1 of this embodiment, the discharge passage 13 opens from a portion below the center of the tip surface of the screw shank 11 when the screw shank 11 is fitted into the mounting hole 2b1. With the joint 1 configured in this manner, the discharge passage 13 can be more efficiently provided within the screw shank 11 than when the opening of the discharge passage 13 is formed above the center of the tip surface of the screw shank 11, thereby preventing the screw shank 11 from becoming larger in diameter. This also prevents the mounting hole 2b1 formed in the side wall 2b of the gutter 2 from becoming larger, making it easier to drill the mounting hole 2b1 in the side wall 2b of the gutter 2. However, the opening of the discharge passage 13 may be provided at the center of the screw shank 11 or above the center of the screw shank 11.

[0076] Furthermore, in the joint 1 of this embodiment, the internal bottom surface of the mounting portion 12 and the bottom of the discharge passage 13 are arranged on the same straight line in a horizontal cross-sectional view. With the joint 1 configured in this manner, there are no corners or steps at the boundary between the internal bottom surface of the mounting portion 12 and the bottom of the discharge passage 13, which makes it possible to better prevent water from accumulating inside the joint 1. However, the mounting portion 12 may be provided in any manner relative to the main body 10, as long as it does not interfere with the side wall 2b of the gutter 2 and is oriented so that the end opposite the main body is positioned higher than the end on the main body.

[0077] Furthermore, in the joint 1 of this embodiment, the cross section of the discharge passage 13 is formed in an elliptical shape. When the cross section of the discharge passage 13 is formed in an elliptical shape in this manner, the flow path area of the discharge passage 13 is larger when the diameter of the screw shaft 11 is constant, compared to when the cross section of the discharge passage 13 is formed in a perfect circle. Therefore, with the joint 1 configured in this manner, the flow path area of the discharge passage 13 can be increased while preventing the diameter of the screw shaft 11 from increasing. This allows for smooth flow of water passing through the discharge passage 13, and also prevents the mounting hole 2b1 formed in the side wall 2b of the gutter 2 from becoming too large, facilitating the drilling process for forming the mounting hole 2b1 in the side wall 2b of the gutter 2. However, the cross section of the discharge passage 13 may have a shape other than an elliptical shape.

[0078] Furthermore, in the joint 1 of this embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the discharge passage 13 is equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of the hose B. With the joint 1 configured in this manner, the flow of water flowing in from the hose B is not restricted by the discharge passage 13, and the water flows smoothly through the discharge passage 13 and is discharged into the gutter 2. However, the cross-sectional area of the discharge passage 13 may be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the hose B.

[0079] In addition, the joint 1 of this embodiment is provided with a nut 14 that is screwed onto the outer periphery of the screw shaft 11 when it is fitted into the mounting hole 2b1, and can clamp the side wall 2b together with the flat surface 10b1, and the tip surface of the screw shaft 11 protrudes toward the anti-flat surface side beyond the anti-flat surface side end of the nut 14.

[0080] In the joint 1 configured in this manner, the nut 14 does not obstruct the flow of water that is discharged through the discharge passage 13 that opens from the tip end face of the screw shank 11. However, as long as the nut 14 does not obstruct the flow of water, the end of the nut 14 on the opposite side to the flat surface may be at the same height as the tip end face of the screw shank 11, or the end of the nut 14 on the opposite side to the flat surface may protrude further than the tip end face of the screw shank 11.

[0081] The joint 1 of this embodiment is made of synthetic resin. A joint 1 configured in this manner is less expensive and rust-resistant than a joint made of metal, and is lightweight and easy to transport. Furthermore, in this joint 1, the discharge passage 13 is formed in a straight line along a direction that intersects obliquely from the tip side of the screw shaft 11 with respect to the axis Y of the screw shaft 11 in a horizontal cross-sectional view. Therefore, when forming the discharge passage 13, the injection molding die can be removed along the extension direction of the discharge passage 13. Therefore, the joint 1 can be manufactured by injection molding, which improves the mass productivity of the joint 1. However, the material of the joint 1 is not limited to synthetic resin and may be, for example, stainless steel.

[0082] Furthermore, the inclination angle of the side wall 2b, which is the angle between the side wall 2b and the bottom 2a in the gutter 2, is not particularly limited, but if the inclination angle of the side wall 2b is set in the range of 90 degrees or more and 150 degrees or less, even when the joint 1 is connected to the side wall 2b that stands upright and inclined outward from the bottom 2a, the discharge passage 13 can be inclined so that the opening end is positioned lower than the side end of the mounting portion.

[0083] In other words, when the screw shaft 11 is fitted into the mounting hole 2b1, if the angle between the flat surface 10b1 abutting the outer surface of the side wall 2b and the horizontal plane passing through the lower end of the flat surface 10b1 is set in the range of 90 degrees or more and 150 degrees or less, when connecting the joint 1 to the side wall 2b parallel to the flat surface 10b1, it is easy to tilt the discharge passage 13 so that the opening end is positioned lower than the side end of the mounting portion.

[0084] In addition, in this embodiment, the joint 1 is attached to a hose B attached to a water receiver A for collecting condensed water, but the use of the hose B to which the joint 1 is attached is not limited to the water receiver A for collecting condensed water.

[0085] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the vinyl greenhouse H has been described as an example of a simple building, but the simple building may be a greenhouse, a simple warehouse, or the like, and is not limited to the vinyl greenhouse H.

[0086] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, it will be appreciated that modifications, variations and changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1···Joint, 2···Gutter, 2a···Bottom, 2b···Side wall, 2b1···Mounting hole, 10···Main body, 10b1···Flat surface, 11···Screw shaft, 12···Mounting part, 13···Discharge passage, 14···Nut, B···Hose, X···Imaginary line along the vertical direction on the flat surface, Y···Axis line of the screw shaft, Z···Intersection point

Claims

1. A joint for connecting one end of a hose to a gutter having a bottom and a pair of side walls rising from both ends of the bottom, a body having a flat surface abutting the outer surface of the side wall; a screw shaft that protrudes perpendicularly from the flat surface of the body, has a screw groove on its outer periphery, and is fittable into a mounting hole formed in the side wall; a cylindrical attachment portion provided on the main body and attachable to one end of the hose; a discharge passage that opens from the tip end surface of the screw shaft, penetrates the main body, and communicates with the inside of the mounting portion, The discharge passage is formed along a direction obliquely intersecting with the axis of the screw shaft in a horizontal cross section seen from a direction perpendicular to an intersection of an imaginary line extending in the vertical direction on the flat surface and the axis of the screw shaft. A joint characterized by:

2. The discharge passage opens from a portion of the tip surface of the screw shaft that is lower than the center when the screw shaft is fitted into the mounting hole.

2. The joint according to claim 1 .

3. The bottom surface of the interior of the mounting portion and the bottom of the discharge passage are arranged on the same straight line in the side cross-sectional view.

2. The joint according to claim 1 .

4. The discharge passage is inclined so that, when the screw shaft is fitted into the mounting hole, an opening end that opens from the tip surface of the screw shaft is positioned lower than the mounting portion side end.

2. The joint according to claim 1 .

5. The cross section of the discharge passage is formed in an elliptical shape.

2. The joint according to claim 1 .

6. The cross-sectional area of the discharge passage is equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of the hose.

2. The joint according to claim 1 .

7. a nut that is threaded onto the outer periphery of the screw shaft when fitted into the mounting hole and that can clamp the side wall together with the flat surface, The tip surface of the screw shaft protrudes toward the anti-flat surface side beyond the anti-flat surface side end of the nut.

2. The joint according to claim 1 .

8. Made of synthetic resin 2. The joint according to claim 1 .

9. When the screw shaft is fitted into the mounting hole, the angle formed by the flat surface and a horizontal plane passing through the lower end of the flat surface is set in the range of 90 degrees or more and 150 degrees or less.

2. The joint according to claim 1 .

Images