Insulator

Abstract

To provide an insulator capable of preventing rust from occurring in a pipe while ensuring sound absorption performance and vibration isolation performance.SOLUTION: An insulator 10 comprises: a cover part 12 formed of a foamed resin having an open-cell structure and mounted to a pipe 20 so as to cover an outer peripheral surface 20a of the pipe 20; a plurality of protrusion parts 16 that protrudes from a surface of the cover part 12 facing the outer peripheral surface 20a of the pipe 20, of which a tip part 17 coming into contact with the outer peripheral surface 20a of the pipe 20 in a state of being attached to the pipe 20 has non-water-absorption, and that has an arrangement and shape that allow water to flow downward; and a drainage opening part 14 provided in an area that is below the cover part 12 in a state of being attached to the pipe 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an insulator, and more particularly to an insulator used in piping for sound and vibration insulation. [Background technology]

[0002] In vehicles such as automobiles, pipes such as fuel pipes and exhaust pipes are covered with insulators for sound and vibration insulation. As described in Patent Document 1, urethane resins with an open-cell structure are commonly used for insulators, and sound energy is absorbed within the open cells, thereby absorbing sound generated from the pipes. Furthermore, when vibrations occur in the pipes due to vehicle shaking, the insulators in contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the pipes absorb the vibration energy, thereby suppressing the vibrations of the pipes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-188586 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Insulators used for pipes that may be exposed to rainwater, such as pipes arranged in the engine compartment of a vehicle, have their surfaces treated with a water-repellent coating to prevent the surface of the pipes from being exposed to water for a long period of time and causing rust on the pipes.

[0005] However, if the water-repellent layer on the surface of the insulator deteriorates over time, water will penetrate into the insulator. When the water-repellent layer deteriorates, water is retained in the open cells inside the insulator. If this condition persists for a long time, the surface of the pipe will be exposed to water for a long time, which can accelerate corrosion of the pipe.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an insulator that can suppress the formation of rust on piping while ensuring sound absorption and vibration damping performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the insulator is characterized by comprising: a cover portion formed of a foamed resin having an open-cell structure and attached to a pipe so as to cover the outer surface of the pipe; a plurality of protrusions protruding from the surface of the cover portion facing the outer surface of the pipe, the protrusions having non-water-absorbent tips that come into contact with the outer surface of the pipe when attached to the pipe, and having an arrangement and shape that allows water to flow downward; and a drainage opening provided in an area that is below the cover portion when attached to the pipe. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The insulator according to the present invention can suppress the occurrence of rust in the pipe while ensuring sound absorption performance and vibration isolation performance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory view showing a state in which an insulator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a pipe. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an insulator attached to a pipe. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an insulator attached to a pipe. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating how water adhering to a pipe flows. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating how sound generated from a pipe is attenuated. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing another embodiment of the insulator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an insulator 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is attached to a pipe 20. In Fig. 1, in order to make it easier to understand the state of the insulator 10 and the pipe 20, the state in which the surface that is on the lower side in the vertical direction faces upward in the installed state is shown. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in the state in which the pipe 20 and the insulator 10 are installed, an opening 14 (described later) provided in the insulator 10 faces downward in the approximately vertical direction.

[0011] The insulator 10 is used in a pipe 20 for soundproofing and vibration-proofing. For example, in a vehicle such as an automobile, a fuel pipe for supplying fuel from a fuel tank to an internal combustion engine and an exhaust pipe for directing exhaust gas generated by the internal combustion engine to the outside of the vehicle body are installed in the vehicle body. In such a pipe 20, the insulator 10 is attached to the pipe 20 to suppress noise generated by fluid flowing inside and vibration of the pipe 20 caused by the vehicle running. In the example of the pipe 20 shown in FIG. 1, joints 22 and 24 for connecting to other pipes are provided at both ends of the pipe 20. In addition, a fixing part 26 for fixing the pipe 20 to the vehicle body is provided in the center of the pipe 20.

[0012] The insulator 10 is attached to cover the outer peripheral surface 20a of the pipe 20. In this embodiment, an example of the insulator 10 is shown that is attached to the pipe 20 that extends in a substantially horizontal direction in an installed state. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the insulator 10 of this embodiment includes a cover portion 12, an opening portion 14, and a plurality of protrusions 16.

[0013] The cover portion 12 of the insulator 10 is a portion that is attached to the pipe 20 so as to cover the outer peripheral surface 20a of the pipe 20, and is made of foamed resin having an open-cell structure. In the present embodiment, as an example, a foamed urethane resin having an open-cell structure is used for the cover portion 12. The cover portion 12 is formed in the shape of a split sleeve with a C-shaped cross section, and has an inner surface 12a that faces the outer peripheral surface 20a of the pipe 20 and an outer surface 12b on the opposite side. The inner diameter of the cover portion 12 is set larger than the outer diameter of the pipe 20 to which it is attached, so that a space is formed between the cover portion 12 and the outer peripheral surface 20a of the pipe 20.

[0014] In this embodiment, a circular pipe having a circular cross section is used as the pipe 20, but the cross section of the pipe 20 is not limited to a circular shape and may be, for example, a rectangular pipe having a cross section such as a square. In such a case, the shape of the inner surface 12a of the cover portion 12 can be a substantially U-shaped cross section that matches the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the rectangular pipe.

[0015] The insulator 10 has an opening 14 in a region below the cover portion 12 when attached to the pipe 20. This opening 14 is a drainage opening for discharging water that has entered between the pipe 20 and the cover portion 12 to the outside. In this embodiment, the opening 14 is formed as an opening that extends in the longitudinal direction of the pipe 20 when the insulator 10 is attached to the pipe 20. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the opening 14 is formed as a single opening that is continuous across both ends of the insulator 10 in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction of the insulator 10 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the pipe 20. Note that a structure in which a plurality of openings 14 are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the pipe 20 may also be used.

[0016] The protrusions 16 of the insulator 10 are protrusions that protrude from the surface of the cover portion 12 that faces the outer peripheral surface 20a of the pipe 20, i.e., the inner surface 12a. A plurality of protrusions 16 are provided on the inner surface 12a of the cover portion 12 in an arrangement and shape that allows water to flow downward. In this embodiment, each protrusion 16 is formed in a dot pattern, and the plurality of protrusions 16 are scattered throughout the entire inner surface 12a of the cover portion 12. The arrangement of the plurality of protrusions 16 may be regular or irregular.

[0017] The tip 17 of each protrusion 16 is non-absorbent. In this embodiment, the tip 17 of the protrusion 16 is made non-absorbent by being formed from a foamed resin having a closed-cell structure or a compressed foamed resin. Note that the non-absorbent tip 17 is not limited to being formed from a foamed resin, and may be formed from any non-absorbent structure, such as solid rubber. The region of the protrusion 16 other than the tip 17 is formed from a foamed resin having an open-cell structure, similar to the cover portion 12.

[0018] 2 and 3, when the insulator 10 is attached to the pipe 20, the tip portions 17 of the multiple protrusions 16 come into contact with the outer peripheral surface 20a of the pipe 20. This forms a space between the cover portion 14 and the pipe 20, and the cover portion 14 is kept out of contact with the outer peripheral surface 20a of the pipe 20.

[0019] The insulator 10 has a water-repellent layer on its surface. In this embodiment, the surfaces of the protrusions 16 and the cover 12, which are made of a foam resin having an open-cell structure, are subjected to a water-repellent treatment.

[0020] Next, a description will be given of the behavior of the piping structure including the insulator 10 and the piping 20 described above when the water-repellent layer of the insulator 10 deteriorates. In the following description, an example will be described in which the piping structure is used in the engine compartment of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine. In the engine compartment, the piping 20 is installed extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and the insulator 10 is attached so that the cover portion 12 covers the upper surface side of the piping 20 and the opening portion 14 faces downward in the vertical direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , when the insulator 10 is attached to the piping 20, only the tip portions 17 of the multiple protrusions 16 contact the outer peripheral surface 20a of the piping 20, and the cover portion 12 itself is not in contact with the piping 20.

[0021] If the water-repellent layer of the insulator 10 deteriorates, rainwater will seep into the engine compartment and the water will be absorbed into the open cells because the cover portion 12 and the protruding portion 16 excluding the tip portion 17 are made of foamed resin with an open-cell structure. When the insulator 10 is attached to the pipe 20, the cover portion 12 and the protruding portion 16 excluding the tip portion 17 are not in contact with the pipe 20, so the pipe 20 is prevented from being exposed to water absorbed by the cover portion 12 for a long period of time.

[0022] Furthermore, in the insulator 10, the tip portions 17 of the multiple protrusions 16 that come into contact with the pipe 20 are non-water-absorbent, so that the pipe 20 can be prevented from being exposed to water for a long period of time, even at the portions of the insulator 10 that come into contact with the pipe 20. This makes it possible to prevent the surface of the pipe 20 from being exposed to water absorbed into the indicator 10 for a long period of time, thereby preventing rust from forming on the pipe 20.

[0023] Furthermore, in the indicator 20 described above, the plurality of protrusions 16 are provided between the cover portion 12 and the pipe 20 in an arrangement and shape that allows water to flow downward. As a result, when water absorbed in the cover portion 12 seeps out of the insulator 10 and adheres to the pipe 20 due to vibrations caused by the vehicle running, the adhered water can be made to flow downward through the spaces between the plurality of protrusions 16. In addition, the water that has flowed downward can be discharged to the outside through the drainage openings 14 provided in the insulator 10.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating how water adhering to the pipe 20 flows. In FIG. 4, contact portions 21 on the outer peripheral surface 20a of the pipe 20 where the tips 17 of the protrusions 16 of the insulator 10 come into contact are indicated by white circles. When water 30 seeping out from the cover portion 12 adheres to the pipe 20, the water 30 flows downward along the surface of the pipe 20 between the contact portions 21, as shown by the arrows. The water 30 is then discharged to the outside through the opening 14 of the insulator 10. This prevents water from accumulating between the pipe 20 and the indicator 10, which could cause rust on the pipe 20.

[0025] Furthermore, in the insulator 10 described above, the cover portion 14 covering the outer peripheral surface 20a of the pipe 20 is formed of a foamed resin having an open-cell structure, so that the energy of sound generated from the pipe 20 is attenuated within the open cells, thereby achieving a sound-absorbing effect. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating how sound generated from the pipe is attenuated. As indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5, sound generated from the pipe 20 penetrates the protrusions 16 and the cover portion 12, which are formed of a foamed resin having an open-cell structure, and is absorbed by the open cells. This ensures the sound-absorbing performance of the insulator 10.

[0026] In the insulator 10, the multiple protrusions 16 may be entirely non-absorbent. In this embodiment, only the tip portions 17 of the protrusions 16 are made non-absorbent, and the open-cell structure region in the protrusions 16 is increased, thereby improving the sound absorbing effect of the insulator 10. Specifically, by making only the tip portions 17 non-absorbent, as shown in Fig. 5, the contact area between the air present between the outer peripheral surface 20a of the pipe 20 and the inner surface 12a of the cover portion 12 and the open-cell structure foamed resin is increased, thereby improving sound absorbing performance.

[0027] Furthermore, in the insulator 10 of this embodiment, the pipe 20 is supported by the plurality of protrusions 16 provided on the insulator 10, and therefore vibration of the pipe 20 can be suppressed by the insulator 10. In this way, the insulator 10 can also ensure vibration-damping performance.

[0028] Next, another embodiment of the insulator 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view similar to Fig. 2 for illustrating the insulator 10 attached to a pipe 20. In this embodiment, the insulator 10 is attached to the pipe 20 extending in a substantially horizontal direction in an installed state, and the multiple protrusions 16A of the insulator 10 are formed in a linear shape extending in the circumferential direction of the pipe 20. The multiple protrusions 16A are also arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the pipe 20. In this embodiment, the structures of the cover portion 12 and the opening 14 of the insulator 10 are similar to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and therefore will not be described here.

[0029] In this embodiment, the protrusions 16A are formed in a C-shape along the inner surface 12a of the cover portion 12. The inner diameter of each C-shaped protrusion 16A is set smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe 20, and when attached to the pipe 20, the tip 17 of each protrusion 16A contacts the outer peripheral surface 20a of the pipe 20. The tip 17 of each protrusion 16A is non-water-absorbent. Note that each protrusion 16A may have an arc shape extending linearly at intervals in the circumferential direction of the pipe 20, rather than a continuous C-shape extending in the circumferential direction of the pipe 20. The pipe 20 is supported by each protrusion 16A, so that the cover portion 12 of the insulator 10 is kept out of contact with the pipe 20.

[0030] 6, even when the protrusions 16A are linear, if water absorbed in the cover portion 12 seeps out of the insulator 10 and adheres to the pipe 20, the adhered water can be allowed to flow downward through the spaces between the protrusions 16A. The water that has flowed downward can be discharged to the outside through the openings 14 provided in the insulator 10. Furthermore, as in the previous embodiment, the protrusions 16A and the cover portion 12, excluding the tip portion 17, which are made of a foamed resin with an open-cell structure, can ensure soundproofing performance, and the pipe 20 is supported by the protrusions 16A, which can also ensure vibration-proofing performance.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 10 Insulator 12 Cover 12a Inner surface of cover 14 Openings 16,16A protrusion 17 Tip of protrusion 20 Piping 20a Outer surface of piping

Claims

1. a cover portion formed of a foamed resin having an open-cell structure and attached to the pipe so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the pipe; a plurality of protrusions that protrude from a surface of the cover that faces the outer peripheral surface of the pipe, and have non-water-absorbent tips that come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the pipe when the cover is attached to the pipe, and are arranged and shaped to allow water to flow downward; a drain opening provided in a region below the cover portion when the cover portion is attached to the piping; An insulator comprising:

2. The insulator according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are scattered on a surface of the cover portion that faces the outer peripheral surface of the pipe.

3. The cover portion is attached to the pipe extending in a substantially horizontal direction, 2. The insulator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions are formed in a linear shape extending in a circumferential direction of the pipe and are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the pipe.

4. 3. The insulator according to claim 1, wherein the non-water-absorbent tip of the protrusion is formed of a foamed resin having a closed-cell structure or a compressed foamed resin.

5. 3. The insulator according to claim 1, wherein the opening is formed as an opening that extends in the longitudinal direction of the pipe when the insulator is attached to the pipe.

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