Piping connection unit
The piping connection unit addresses the challenge of connecting devices with varying face-to-face distances by using a base portion and reverse connection prevention mechanisms, ensuring proper alignment and preventing reverse installation.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024117426
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-04
AI Technical Summary
Existing piping systems struggle to accommodate both long- and short-face-to-face distance devices while preventing reverse installation, which is crucial for maintaining proper functionality and preventing misconnection.
A piping connection unit with a base portion, primary and secondary side connection portions, and reverse connection prevention mechanisms that allow for both long and short devices to be connected while preventing reverse installation through abutment and positional switching of the short reverse connection prevention parts.
The solution effectively connects devices with varying face-to-face distances and prevents reverse installation, ensuring proper alignment and functionality of piping systems.
Smart Images
Figure 2026016922000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a pipe connection unit. [Background technology]
[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a meter unit. This meter unit comprises a base frame 4, a forward / backward support member 21 with a stop valve 2 on the primary side, and a meter receiver support member 31 with a check valve 3 built in on the secondary side. In addition, the base frame 4 is formed with a meter reverse-mounting prevention protrusion 41, which prevents the primary and secondary directions of the water meter M from being reversed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-190147 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] Incidentally, there are water meters M of which the face-to-face distance between the primary end M1 and the secondary end M2 is long and short.
[0005] However, there are cases where both types of meters are installed using a single meter unit, and even in this case, it is desirable to prevent reverse installation. The same applies to meters other than water meters, pipes, and other connected devices with long and short face-to-face distances.
[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a piping connection unit that can connect both long-connection devices with long face-to-face distances and short-connection devices with short face-to-face distances, and that can prevent the primary and secondary directions from being reversed. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] The piping connection unit of the present invention comprises a base portion, a primary side connection portion provided on the base portion and connected to a primary side piping, and a secondary side connection portion provided on the base portion and connected to a secondary side piping, the primary side connection portion and the secondary side connection portion being configured to form a pair on the pipe axis, and a long connection device having a long face-to-face distance between a primary end and a secondary end or a short connection device having a short face-to-face distance can be connected between the primary side connection portion and the secondary side connection portion, and the long connection device connects the primary end to the secondary The long reverse connection prevention part is provided at the side connection part, which prevents the secondary end from being connected in the reverse direction to the primary side connection part, and the short reverse connection prevention part is provided at the side connection part, which prevents the short connection device from being connected in the reverse direction, with the primary end being connected to the secondary side connection part and the secondary end being connected to the primary side connection part, and the short reverse connection prevention part is configured to be switchable between an abutting state in which it abuts against the short connection device in the reverse direction to prevent reverse connection, and a non-abutting state in which it does not abut against the long connection device connected between the primary side connection part and the secondary side connection part.
[0008] With the piping connection unit of the above configuration, when a short-connection device is attempted to be connected in reverse between the primary side connection portion of the base portion and the secondary side connection portion of the base portion, the short reverse-connection prevention portion abuts to prevent the device from being connected in reverse, and when a long-connection device is attempted to be connected in reverse between the primary side connection portion of the base portion and the secondary side connection portion of the base portion, the long reverse-connection prevention portion prevents the device from being connected in reverse, and at this time, the short reverse-connection prevention portion switches its state to a non-abutting state with the long-connection device.
[0009] In the piping connection unit of the present invention, the short reverse attachment prevention portion is provided on one of the base portion, the primary side connection portion, and the secondary side connection portion, and the short reverse attachment prevention portion may be configured to be able to switch between the abutting state and the non-abutting state by changing its posture while attached to the one portion, or to be able to switch between the abutting state when attached to the one portion and the non-abutting state when detached from the one portion.
[0010] According to the piping connection unit having the above configuration, the short reverse connection prevention part provided on one of the base part, the primary connection part, and the secondary connection part can be switched between a contact state in which it contacts the short-connection device and a non-contact state in which it does not contact the long-connection device by changing its position while attached to one of the parts. Alternatively, the short reverse connection prevention part can be switched between a contact state in which it is attached to one of the parts and contacts the short-connection device and a non-contact state in which it is detached and does not contact the long-connection device.
[0011] The piping connection unit of the present invention comprises a base portion, a primary side connection portion provided on the base portion and connected to a primary side piping, and a secondary side connection portion provided on the base portion and connected to a secondary side piping, the primary side connection portion and the secondary side connection portion being configured to form a pair on the pipe axis, and a long connection device having a long face-to-face distance between a primary end and a secondary end or a short connection device having a short face-to-face distance can be connected between the primary side connection portion and the secondary side connection portion, and the long connection device is The short connection device has an abutment portion that abuts against the reverse long connection device to prevent the primary end from being connected to the secondary side connection portion and the secondary end from being connected to the primary side connection portion in the reverse direction, and the short connection device has an abutment portion that abuts against the reverse short connection device to prevent the primary end from being connected to the secondary side connection portion and the secondary end from being connected to the primary side connection portion in the reverse direction, and the abutment portion is positionable between a long abutment position where it abuts against the reverse long connection device and a short abutment position where it abuts against the reverse short connection device.
[0012] According to the piping connection unit of the above configuration, when a long connection device or a short connection device is to be connected between the primary side connection portion of the base portion and the secondary side connection portion of the base portion, the long abutment position and the short abutment position of the abutment portion are changed so that when a long connection device is connected in the reverse direction between the primary side connection portion and the secondary side connection portion, the long abutment position of the abutment portion abuts against the long connection device, and when a short connection device is connected in the reverse direction between the primary side connection portion and the secondary side connection portion, the short abutment position of the abutment portion abuts against the short connection device.
[0013] In the piping connection unit of the present invention, the primary side connection portion comprises a primary side connection main body portion provided on the base portion and having a primary long connection portion to which the primary end of the long connection device is connected, and a primary short connection portion that is detachably connected to the primary long connection portion and to which the primary end of the short connection device is connected, and the secondary side connection portion can also be configured to comprise a secondary side connection main body portion provided on the base portion and having a secondary long connection portion to which the secondary end of the long connection device is connected, and a secondary short connection portion that is detachably connected to the secondary long connection portion and to which the secondary end of the short connection device is connected.
[0014] According to the piping connection unit of the above configuration, the primary end of the long connection device and the secondary end of the long connection device are connected at the primary side connection main body and the secondary side connection main body, respectively, and a primary short connection part is attached to the primary long connection part, and a secondary short connection part is attached to the secondary long connection part, thereby connecting the primary end of the short connection device and the secondary end of the short connection device, respectively. [Effects of the Invention]
[0015] According to the present invention, a piping connection unit can be provided that can connect both long connection devices with long face-to-face distances and short connection devices with short face-to-face distances, and can prevent the primary and secondary directions from being reversed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a long connection device or a short connection device is omitted from a pipe connection unit. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating the same-length connection device in a normal state. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the reverse connection of the same length connection device. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the short connector device omitted and the primary short connector and the secondary short connector provided. [Figure 7]FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the short-connection device in a normal state. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of a rod-shaped body that is the short reverse attachment prevention portion. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the short-connection device in reverse connection. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating the long connection device in a normal state with the rod-shaped body removed. [Figure 11] 10 is a partially cutaway front view showing another example of a rod-shaped body that is the short reverse attachment prevention portion. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 illustrates the first embodiment of the present invention and is a front view illustrating a long-connection device in a normal state. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the reverse connection of the same length connection device. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the short-connection device in a normal state. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a bottom view illustrating the short-connection device in a normal state. [Figure 16] 16 is a partially cutaway view showing the relationship between the outflow portion and the secondary arc body in FIG. 15. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the short-connection device in reverse connection. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing the short connection device in reverse. [Figure 19] 19 is a partially cutaway view showing the relationship between the inlet portion and the secondary arc body in FIG. 18. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 11. The present invention relates to a pipe connection unit 1, which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is connected to a plurality of predetermined through holes 3a formed in a bottom plate 3 of a lower chamber 2 of a meter box that is rectangular in plan view.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the piping connection unit 1 includes a base portion (also referred to as a base frame) 5 connected to the bottom plate 3 of the lower box 2 via a protrusion 4. The base portion 5 has a plate-shaped connecting portion 6 extending from the primary side to the secondary side, a primary holding portion 7 provided on the primary side of the connecting portion 6, and a secondary holding portion 8 provided on the secondary side of the connecting portion 6. More specifically, the base portion 5 has the primary holding portion 7 that holds the primary side connection portion 9 (primary side piping unit) arranged on its primary end side, and the secondary holding portion 8 that holds the secondary side connection portion 10 (secondary side piping unit) arranged on its secondary end side, with the connecting portion 6 being a flat plate between the primary holding portion 7 and the secondary holding portion 8. The base portion 5 is made of metal (e.g., iron or stainless steel) and is coated with an anti-corrosion coating.
[0019] Between the primary side connection part 9 and the secondary side connection part 10, a long connection device 11, which has a long face-to-face distance between the primary end and secondary end, as shown in Fig. 2, or a short connection device 12, which has a short face-to-face distance, as shown in Fig. 7, can be connected. In this case, the long connection device 11 and the short connection device 12 are water meters, and therefore, a meter water passage (not shown) is formed inside each of them. The primary side connection part 9 and the secondary side connection part 10 are paired on the axis S (on the pipe axis), and are configured to be able to connect the long connection device 11 or the short connection device 12.
[0020] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the primary side connection part 9 is held from above by the primary holding part 7 via a bolt 13, and the secondary side connection part 10 is held from above by the secondary holding part 8 via a bolt 13.
[0021] The primary side connection part 9 will now be described. The primary side connection part 9 comprises, in order from the primary side, a stop valve 14, a sleeve-shaped position adjustment part 15, and a substantially annular pressing member 16. Furthermore, a plurality of rotation projections 17 protrude from the outer periphery of the secondary side end of the pressing member 16. In the primary side connection part 9, the stop valve 14 is held to the primary holding part 7 via bolts 13. Furthermore, the stop valve 14, the position adjustment part 15, and the pressing member 16 each have a water passage in the stop valve, a water passage in the position adjustment part, and a water passage in the primary side pressing member inside, which are connected along the axis S.
[0022] The rotation protrusion 17 can be gripped by hand or with a tool to rotate the pressing member 16 and the position adjustment part 15, and the rotation of the rotation protrusion 17 moves the pressing member 16 and the position adjustment part 15 forward and backward in the direction of the axis S relative to the stop valve 14. The pressing member 16 is then moved forward and backward, and is configured to be moved forward and backward to one end of the long connection device 11 or the short connection device 12.
[0023] The pressing member 16 is provided with a primary side connection body 18 that fits internally on the secondary side. The primary side connection body 18 has a primary side annular area 19 (primary long connection portion) to which the primary side end (in this case, the inlet section 26 side) of the long connection device 11 is connected. The primary side annular area 19 is an annular member. The primary side connection body 18 also has a primary side arcuate area 20 that is disposed below the secondary side of the primary side annular area 19, and the primary side annular area 19 and the primary side arcuate area 20 are integrally formed. The primary side arcuate area 20 is an arcuate member. The primary side arcuate area 20 has an arcuate upper surface 20a that is the upper surface and an arcuate lower surface 20b that is the lower surface. The primary side connection body 18 is made of metal.
[0024] An O-ring (not shown) is attached to the primary side annular area 19, and the O-ring seals in the axial direction when the primary end of the long connection device 11 is placed on the arc-shaped upper surface 20a of the primary side arc-shaped area 20 and the meter water passage of the long connection device 11 is connected along the axis S.
[0025] The secondary side connection part 10 will now be described. The secondary side connection part 10 comprises, from the primary side, a secondary side connection main body part 21 and a check valve device 22. In the secondary side connection part 10, the check valve device 22 is held by the secondary holding part 8 via bolts 13, and the secondary side connection main body part 21 and the check valve device 22 are fixed to the secondary holding part 8.
[0026] The secondary side connection main body 21 and the check valve device 22 each have a water passage inside the secondary side connection main body and a passage inside the check valve device, which are connected by an axis S.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the secondary-side connection main body 21 is integrally formed on the primary side of the check valve device 22, and has a secondary-side annular region 23 (secondary long connection portion) to which the secondary-side end (in this case, the outlet 27 side) of the long connection device 11 is connected. The secondary-side annular region 23 is an annular member. The secondary-side connection main body 21 has a secondary-side arcuate region 24 disposed below the primary side of the secondary-side annular region 23, and the secondary-side annular region 23 and the secondary-side arcuate region 24 are integrally formed. The secondary-side arcuate region 24 is an arcuate member. The secondary-side arcuate region 24 has an arcuate upper surface 24a, which is its upper surface, and an arcuate lower surface 24b, which is its lower surface. The secondary-side connection main body 21 is made of metal. The arc shape of the secondary arc region 24 has a smaller diameter than the arc shape of the bottom surface 26a of the inlet portion 26 of the long connection device 11, which will be described later.
[0028] An O-ring (not shown) is attached to the secondary annular region 23, and the O-ring seals in the axial direction when the secondary end of the long connection device 11 is placed on the arc-shaped upper surface 24a of the secondary arc-shaped region 24 and the meter water passage of the long connection device 11 is connected in the axial direction S.
[0029] Such primary side arc region 20 and secondary side arc region 24 each have an arc upper surface 20a, 24a and an arc lower surface 20b, 24b, and the arc upper surface 20a of the primary side arc region 20 and the arc upper surface 24a of the secondary side arc region 24 are at the same height along the direction of the axis S, and the arc lower surface 20b of the primary side arc region 20 and the arc lower surface 24b of the primary side arc region 20 are at the same height along the direction of the axis S.
[0030] As mentioned above, a long connection device 11 with a long surface-to-surface distance between its primary end and secondary end, or a short connection device 12 with a short surface-to-surface distance, can be connected between the primary connection portion 9 and the secondary connection portion 10. FIG. 2 shows the long connection device 11 installed normally between the primary connection portion 9 and the secondary connection portion 10. In this case, the primary end (inlet portion 26 side) of the long connection device 11 is located on the arcuate upper surface 20a of the primary arcuate region 20, and the primary end is fitted into the primary annular region 19. In addition, the secondary end (outlet portion 27 side) of the long connection device 11 is located on the arcuate upper surface 24a of the secondary arcuate region 24, and the secondary end is fitted into the secondary annular region 23. As will be described later, the secondary side of the tip of the juxtaposed ribs 30 formed on the bottom surface 27a of the outflow portion 27 is contained in the secondary arcuate region 24 and abuts against the arcuate upper surface 24a from above.
[0031] Then, by rotating the rotation protrusion 17 while the long connection device 11 is normally installed between the primary side connection part 9 and the secondary side connection part 10, the water passages between the primary side connection part 9, the long connection device 11, and the secondary side connection part 10 are connected to each other.
[0032] However, the primary side connection portion 9 and the secondary side connection portion 10 are configured to form a pair on the axis S. For this reason, it is possible that the long connection device 11 (or the short connection device 12) may be placed with the primary end connected to the secondary end and the secondary end connected to the primary end in reverse. As a measure for such cases, a long reverse connection prevention unit that prevents the long connection device 11 from being connected with the primary end connected to the secondary end and the secondary end connected to the primary end in reverse will be described. The long connection device 11 is of a type known as a water meter with a nominal diameter of 20.
[0033] Prior to that, the configuration of the long connection device 11 will be described with reference to Figure 3 and other figures. The long connection device 11 has a typical shape and includes a substantially circular long connection device main body 25, an inlet section 26 extending to the primary side of the long connection device main body 25, and an outlet section 27 extending to the secondary side of the long connection device main body 25. A horizontal rib 28 (extending along the axis S) and a vertical rib 29 (extending perpendicular to the axis S) are formed on the bottom surface 25a of the long connection device main body 25, centered on the central vertical line of the long connection device main body 25, forming a cross shape. Furthermore, parallel ribs 30 are formed from the bottom surface 25a of the long connection device main body 25 to the bottom surface 27a of the outlet section 27, spaced apart from the horizontal ribs 28. The bottom surface 26a of the inlet section 26 has no ribs and is shaped like a predetermined arc.
[0034] Therefore, let us consider a case where the long connection device 11 is installed in an inverted manner, with the primary end facing the secondary end and the secondary end facing the primary end. The state shown in Figure 4 is an inverted state. That is, the secondary end (outlet 27 side) of the long connection device 11 is arranged on the primary side, and the primary end (inlet 26 side) of the long connection device 11 is arranged on the secondary side.
[0035] In this state, the arc shape of the secondary-side arcuate region 24 has a smaller diameter than the arc shape of the bottom surface 26a of the inlet portion 26 of the long connecting device 11. This causes interference between the secondary-side arcuate region 24 and the bottom surface 26a of the inlet portion 26. As a result, the bottom surface 26a of the inlet portion 26 does not fit into the secondary-side arcuate region 24, and the inlet portion 26 is floating above the secondary-side arcuate region 24. That is, the bottom surface 26a of the inlet portion 26 of the long connecting device 11 has a predetermined arc shape without a rib formed thereon. The portion of the long connecting device 11 that abuts against the secondary-side arcuate region 24 is the upper end region of the secondary-side arcuate region 24, and this upper end region is the long abutted portion that abuts against the long connecting device 11. For this reason, the primary end cannot be fitted into the secondary-side annular region 23. In other words, the water passages of the primary connection part 9, the long connection device 11, and the secondary connection part 10 cannot communicate with each other, and the long connection device 11 prevents the primary end from being connected to the secondary end and the secondary end from being connected to the primary end in reverse. Therefore, the long reverse connection prevention part is the secondary connection main body part 21 (secondary arc region part 24) connected to the secondary connection part 10.
[0036] In the embodiment of the present invention, a short connection device 12 having a short face-to-face distance between the primary end and the secondary end can also be connected between the primary side connection part 9 and the secondary side connection part 10. The short connection device 12 is of a type called a water meter with a nominal diameter 13.
[0037] The configuration of the short-connection device 12 will now be described with reference to Figure 5 etc. The short-connection device 12 has a general shape and includes a substantially circular short-connection device body 31, an inlet portion 32 extending to the primary side of the short-connection device body 31, and an outlet portion 33 extending to the secondary side of the short-connection device body 31.
[0038] On the bottom surface 31a of the short connection device body 31, horizontal ribs 34 (directed along the axis S) and vertical ribs 35 (directed perpendicular to the axis S) are formed around the central vertical line of the short connection device body 31, forming a cross. Water passages are formed inside the inlet section 32, the short connection device body 31, and the outlet section 33, and although the water passages of the short connection device body 31 communicate with the water passages of the inlet section 32 and the outlet section 33, there is a left-right misalignment δ.
[0039] When connecting a short-connection device 12 between the primary connection part 9 and the secondary connection part 10, the configuration is as follows: That is, as shown in Figures 6 to 7, in addition to the primary connection main body part 18 and the secondary connection main body part 21, a primary short connection part 38 and a secondary short connection part 39 are provided as support members 36 that support the short-connection device 12 on the base part 5.
[0040] The primary short connection part 38 is detachably connected to the primary side annular area 19 (primary long connection part), and the primary end of the short connection device 12 is connected to it along the axis S. The primary short connection part 38 is a sleeve-shaped member whose entirety extends along the axis S, and is formed from a primary main body part 41 that can be fitted into the primary side annular area 19, and a primary holder 42 that is integrally formed on the secondary side of the primary main body part 41 and supports the primary side end of the short connection device 12.
[0041] The primary holder 42 is composed of a primary annular body 43 arranged on the primary side and a primary arc body 44 formed below the primary annular body 43 on the secondary side of the primary annular body 43. The primary annular body 43 is an annular member, and the primary arc body 44 is an arc-shaped member, and they are formed integrally. An O-ring (not shown) is attached to the primary holder 42, which seals in the axial direction when the primary end of the short connection device 12 is placed on the primary arc body 44 and the meter water passage of the short connection device 12 is connected along the axis S.
[0042] The secondary short connection part 39 has the same configuration as the primary short connection part 38, is detachably connected to the secondary annular area part 23, and is connected to the secondary end part of the short connection device 12.
[0043] The secondary short connection section 39 is a sleeve-shaped member extending entirely along the axis S. It comprises a secondary main body 45 that fits freely into the secondary annular region 23, and a secondary holder 46 that is integrally formed on the primary side of the secondary main body 45 and supports the secondary end of the short connection device 12. The secondary holder 46 is composed of a secondary annular body 47 disposed on the secondary side and a secondary arc-shaped body 48 that is formed below the secondary annular body 47 on the primary side of the secondary annular body 47. The secondary annular body 47 is an annular member, and the secondary arc-shaped body 48 is an arc-shaped member, and these are integrally formed. An O-ring (not shown) is attached to the secondary holder 46 to provide an axial seal when the secondary end of the short connection device 12 is placed on the secondary arc-shaped body 48 and the meter water passage of the short connection device 12 is connected along the axis S.
[0044] The primary arc body 44 and the secondary arc body 48 have arc upper surfaces 44a, 48a and arc lower surfaces 44b, 48b, respectively, and the arc lower surfaces 44b, 48b of the primary arc body 44 and the secondary arc body 48 are arranged higher than the arc lower surfaces 20b, 24b of the primary arc region portion 20 and the secondary arc region portion 24. The arc lower surfaces 44b, 48b of the primary arc body 44 and the secondary arc body 48 are at the same height along the axis S.
[0045] The short reverse connection prevention part prevents the short connection device 12 from connecting the primary end to the secondary end and vice versa in the reverse direction. The short reverse connection prevention part is a rod-shaped body 40 shown in Figures 6 to 8.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 6, the rod-shaped body 40 is positioned offset from the center of the axis S of the connecting portion 6 of the base portion 5, toward the secondary side of the connecting portion 6. This offset δ1 corresponds to the offset δ of the short-connection device main body 31. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rod-shaped body 40 includes a base 50, a body 51 that is detachably attached and screwed to the center of the base 50, and a head 52 that is positioned on top of the body 51. The base 50 is composed of an embedded portion 53 that is embedded in the connecting portion 6 and a bulge portion 54 that bulges out from the center of the embedded portion 53 onto the surface of the connecting portion 6. The embedded portion 53 is fitted into a hole 6a of the connecting portion 6, and in this case, is fitted partway into the hole 6a. The body 51 is screwed from above the bulge portion 54. The top surface of the bulge portion 54 is flat. The head 52 has a larger diameter than the body 51, and the upper end 52a of the head 52 is flat. Note that the inner surface of the hole 6a formed in the base 5 is also coated with the anticorrosive coating, so the body 51 is provided via the base 50.
[0047] 7, the upper end 52a of the head 52 is set to be at the same height as the arcuate lower surfaces 44b, 48b of the primary arcuate body 44 and the secondary arcuate body 48. The configuration of the rod-shaped body 40 has been described above.
[0048] The height of the arcuate undersides 44b, 48b of the primary arc body 44 and the secondary arc body 48 is set lower than the height of the bottom surface 31a of the short-connection device body 31 of the short-connection device 12 when the short-connection device 12 is connected in a normal state between the primary side connection portion 9 and the secondary side connection portion 10.
[0049] FIG. 7 shows a state in which short-connection device 12 is connected between primary side connection part 9 and secondary side connection part 10 in a normal state.
[0050] In the normal state, the short connection device 12 is disposed in the left-right center of the connecting portion 6 of the base portion 5, but there is a left-right offset δ between the water passage of the short connection device main body 31 and the water passages of the inlet portion 32 and outlet portion 33, so that the inlet portion 32 and outlet portion 33 are disposed in the left-right center of the connecting portion 6 of the base portion 5. In the normal state, the primary side end of the short connection device 12 is placed on the primary arc body 44 of the primary holder 42, and the secondary side end of the short connection device 12 is placed on the secondary arc body 48 of the secondary holder 46. As mentioned above, there is a misalignment δ between the water passage of the short-connection device main body 31 and the water passages of the inlet section 32 and outlet section 33, and the inlet section 32 and outlet section 33 are positioned in the left-right center of the connecting section 6 of the base section 5, so the head section 52 of the rod-shaped body 40 is located between the horizontal rib 34 and the vertical rib 35, i.e., on one side of the width direction of the horizontal rib 34 and on the secondary side of the vertical rib 35.
[0051] Furthermore, the heights of the arcuate undersides 44b, 48b of the primary arc body 44 and the secondary arc body 48 are set lower than the height of the bottom surface 31a of the short-connection device main body 31 of the short-connection device 12, so that the upper end 52a of the head 52 of the rod-shaped body 40 is lower than the bottom surface 31a of the short-connection device main body 31 of the short-connection device 12 and does not abut against the bottom surface 31a of the short-connection device main body 31.
[0052] In this normal state, by rotating the rotation protrusion 17, the water passages of the primary side connection part 9, the short-connection device 12, and the secondary side connection part 10 are connected to each other, and normal operation is resumed.
[0053] However, when the short connection device 12 is installed backwards, as shown in Figure 9, the following occurs. That is, when the short connection device 12 is installed backwards, the primary end of the short connection device 12 attempts to rest on the secondary arc body 48 of the secondary holder 46, and the secondary end of the short connection device 12 attempts to rest on the primary arc body 44 of the primary holder 42, but the water passage of the short connection device main body 31 is in the opposite direction, i.e., the primary end and the secondary end are in the opposite direction, and the amount of misalignment δ of the short connection device main body 31 corresponds to the amount of misalignment δ1 of the rod-shaped body 40. When this happens, the upper end 52a of the head 52 of the rod-shaped body 40 abuts against the horizontal rib 34 (34a) in the vertical direction. That is, the upper end 52a of the head 52 of the rod-shaped body 40 abuts against the horizontal rib 34 (34a) in the vertical direction, and the portion of the short connection device 12 that abuts against the lower end region of the horizontal rib 34 (34a) is the short abutted portion of the rod-shaped body 40. As a result, the primary side end of the short connection device 12 is raised by an amount corresponding to the height of the horizontal rib 34 (34a) compared to the normal state, and the primary side end of the short connection device 12 does not rest on the secondary arc body 48 of the secondary holder 46. This makes it clear that the short connection device 12 has been installed backwards.
[0054] Now, let us consider the case where the short connection device 12 is changed to the long connection device 11. When changing to the long connection device 11, the primary short connection portion 38 and the secondary short connection portion 39 are removed from the primary connection body 18 and the secondary connection body 21, respectively. However, a rod-shaped body 40 is provided as a short reverse connection prevention portion. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10 , the body portion 51 of the rod-shaped body 40 is unscrewed from the base 50, leaving only the base 50. By leaving only the base 50 of the rod-shaped body 40, the rod-shaped body 40 does not abut against the long connection device 11, even when changing from the short connection device 12 to the long connection device 11. In other words, by removing the body portion 51 of the rod-shaped body 40, the rod-shaped body 40 can be switched from a contact state in which it abuts against the short connection device 12 to a non-contact state in which it does not abut against the long connection device 11.
[0055] 11 shows another example of rod-shaped body 40, which differs from the above embodiment in that base body 50 has a trunk holding portion 55 that penetrates through hole 6a that penetrates connecting portion 6 to the back surface of connecting portion 6 and overlaps the back surface. The other configuration is the same as the above embodiment.
[0056] Furthermore, the rod-shaped body 40, which is the short reverse attachment prevention part, is configured by unscrewing the body part 51 from the base body 50, leaving only the base body 50, but this is not limited to this, and it can also be configured so that by changing its posture while attached to the base part 5, i.e., by raising and lowering or moving in and out, it can be switched between an abutting state in which it abuts the short connection device 12 and a non-abutting state in which it does not abut the long connection device 11.
[0057] 12 to 19 show the second embodiment. In the first embodiment, when the long connection device 11 is attached in reverse, the long reverse attachment prevention part is the secondary arc region 24 connected to the secondary connection part 10. In contrast, in the second embodiment, the long reverse attachment prevention part is arranged in the connecting part 6 of the base part 5.
[0058] The shape of the secondary-side connection body 21 differs between the first and second embodiments. That is, as shown in FIG. 12 , the secondary-side connection body 21 is the same as the first embodiment in that it includes a secondary-side annular region 23 as a secondary long connection part to which the secondary end (in this case, the outlet 27 side) of the long connection device 11 is connected. However, the secondary-side arc region 24 integrally formed with the secondary-side annular region 23 is shorter relative to the primary side than in the first embodiment. This secondary-side connection body 21 is not a component constituting a long reverse-connection prevention part or a short reverse-connection prevention part, but is configured to be connectable to the secondary end of the long connection device 11 and, when a short connection device 12 is used, to be connectable to a secondary short connection part 39.
[0059] The long reverse-attachment prevention part, which is used when the long connection device 11 is attached backwards, is located and fixed in the center of the left-right direction near the secondary side of the connecting part 6. That is, the long reverse-attachment prevention part is formed as a protrusion 60 that bulges out from the center of the left-right direction near the secondary side of the connecting part 6, and is U-shaped with a recess 61 that is recessed in the center. Here, the arc shape of the recess 61 has a smaller diameter than the bottom surface 26a of the inlet part 26, and the long reverse-attachment prevention part is shaped so that the upper surfaces of the protrusions 60 are located on both the left and right sides of the recess 61.
[0060] When the long connection device 11 is installed in the correct position, as shown in FIG. 12 , the primary end of the long connection device 11 abuts against the arcuate upper surface 20a of the primary arcuate region 20 of the primary connection body 18, and the secondary end of the long connection device 11 abuts against the arcuate upper surface 24a of the secondary arcuate region 24 of the secondary connection body 21. At this time, the juxtaposed rib 30 enters the recess 61 of the long reverse-attachment prevention part. The juxtaposed rib 30 enters the recess 61 only partway into the recess 61, and at this point, the secondary end of the long connection device 11 abuts against the arcuate upper surface 24a of the secondary connection body 21. In other words, when the long connection device 11 is installed in the correct position, the long connection device 11 and the long reverse-attachment prevention part are not in contact with each other. In this state, by rotating the rotation projection 17, the water passages of the primary side connection part 9, the long connection device 11, and the secondary side connection part 10 are connected to each other, and normal operation is resumed.
[0061] In contrast, when the long connection device 11 is installed upside down, the arc shape of the recess 61 has a smaller diameter than the bottom surface 26a of the inlet portion 26, so as shown in Figure 13, the bottom surface 26a of the inlet portion 26 of the long connection device 11 interferes with the recess 61 and comes into contact with the upper surface of the protrusion 60, resulting in an abutting state where the primary side end (the inlet portion 26 side) of the long connection device 11 is floating above the secondary side connection main body 21. This makes it clear that the long connection device 11 has been installed upside down. That is, in the second embodiment, the long abutted portions of the long connection device 11 are on both the left and right sides of the recess 61 (the upper surfaces of the protrusions 60).
[0062] 14, the short-connection device 12 may be connected between the primary connection part 9 and the secondary connection part 10. In a normal state, the short-connection device 12 can be connected to the primary connection part 9 and the secondary connection part 10 by the primary short-connection part 38 and the secondary short-connection part 39.
[0063] In the second embodiment, the primary short joint portion 38 is the same as in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted. In the secondary short joint portion 39, the secondary main body portion 45 is the same as in the first embodiment, but the shape of the secondary retainer 46 is different. That is, the secondary arc body 48 extends further toward the primary side along the axis S than in the first embodiment.
[0064] 15 and 16, a notch 62 is formed on one side of the secondary arc-shaped body 48 midway along the arc, extending from the primary side to the secondary side of the secondary arc-shaped body 48 along the axis S. The notch 62 is offset in one direction from the left-right center of the secondary arc-shaped body 48, and the amount of offset δ2 is the same as the amount of offset δ in the first embodiment. This notch 62 is formed about halfway along the length of the secondary arc-shaped body 48, and is formed so that one of the horizontal ribs 34 of the short-connection device 12 can be inserted from above.
[0065] When the short connection device 12 is connected correctly between the primary connection part 9 and the secondary connection part 10, as shown in Figure 14, the primary end of the short connection device 12 abuts against the arc-shaped upper surface 44a of the primary arc-shaped body 44 of the primary short connection part 38, the secondary end of the short connection device 12 abuts against the arc-shaped upper surface 48a of the secondary arc-shaped body 48 of the secondary short connection part 39, and one of the horizontal ribs 34 is inserted into the notch 62. Therefore, by rotating the rotation protrusion 17, the water passages of the primary connection part 9, primary short connection part 38, short connection device 12, secondary short connection part 39, and secondary connection part 10 communicate with each other, returning to a normal state.
[0066] Consider a situation in which the short connection device 12 is installed in reverse between the primary connection portion 9 and the secondary connection portion 10, as shown in FIG. 17 . In this case, the short connection device 12 is installed in reverse, with the secondary end (outlet 33) positioned on the primary holder 42 side and the primary end (inlet 32) positioned on the secondary holder 46 side. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 , the lower surface of the horizontal rib 34 (34a) is not inserted into the notch 62 and abuts against the arc-shaped upper surface 48a of the secondary arc-shaped body 48 from above. Because the lower surface of the horizontal rib 34 (34a) abuts against the arc-shaped upper surface 48a of the secondary arc-shaped body 48, the primary end of the short connection device 12 is raised above the secondary arc-shaped body 48 of the secondary short connection portion 39 by an amount corresponding to the height of the horizontal rib 34 (34a) (see FIG. 17 ). This identifies a case in which the short connection device 12 is installed in reverse. That is, in the second embodiment, the short reverse attachment prevention portion is the secondary holding body 46 (secondary arc body 48).
[0067] The piping connection unit 1 of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, although the secondary side connection main body 21 is formed integrally with the check valve device 22, the secondary side connection main body 21 may be provided separately from the check valve device 22 and may be detachably attached to the check valve device 22.
[0068] In addition, in the second embodiment, the short reverse connection prevention part is provided in the secondary side connection part 10, but it is also possible to not provide it in the secondary side connection part 10, but to provide the secondary holder 46 inverted and in the primary side connection part 9.
[0069] Although not shown, the abutting portion may also include an abutting portion that abuts against the long connection device 12 when the long connection device 12 is connected in the reverse direction and that abuts against the short connection device 12 when the short connection device 12 is connected in the reverse direction. Such a abutting portion is configured to be positionally changeable between a long abutting position where it abuts against the long connection device 12 in the reverse direction and a short abutting position where it abuts against the short connection device in the reverse direction. To change the position of the abutting portion, for example, the abutting portion may be provided on the base portion 5 and detachable so as to abut against the short connection device 12 in the reverse direction, or the abutting portion may be provided on the base portion 5 and change its direction (for example, pivot) or move along the axis S, for example.
[0070] With this configuration, when a long connection device 11 or a short connection device 12 is to be connected between the primary side connection portion 9 of the base portion 5 and the secondary side connection portion 10 of the base portion 5, the long abutment position and the short abutment position at the abutment portion are changed so that when the long connection device 11 is connected in reverse between the primary side connection portion 9 and the secondary side connection portion 10, the long abutment position of the abutment portion abuts the long connection device 11, and when the short connection device 12 is connected in reverse between the primary side connection portion 9 and the secondary side connection portion 10, the short abutment position of the abutment portion abuts the short connection device, thereby preventing reverse connection. [Explanation of symbols]
[0071] 1: Pipe connection unit, 2: Lower manhole, 5: Base portion, 6: Connection portion, 7: Primary holding portion, 8: Secondary holding portion, 9: Primary side connection portion, 10: Secondary side connection portion, 11: Long connection device, 12: Short connection device, 14: Stop valve, 15: Position adjustment portion, 16: Pressing member, 17: Rotation projection, 18: Primary side connection main body portion, 19: Primary side annular area portion, 20: Primary side arc area portion, 20a: Arc upper surface, 20a, 24a: Arc upper surface, 20b, 24b: Arc lower surface, 21: Secondary side connection main body portion, 22: Check valve device, 23: Secondary side annular area portion, 24: Secondary side arc area portion, 25: Long connection device main body, 25a: Bottom surface, 26: Inlet portion, 26a: Bottom surface, 27: Outlet portion, 27a: Bottom surface, 30: parallel ribs, 31: short connection device body, 31a: bottom surface, 32: inlet portion, 33: outlet portion, 34, 34a: horizontal ribs, 36: support member, 38: primary short connection portion, 39: secondary short connection portion, 40: rod-shaped body, 41: primary body portion, 42: primary retaining body, 43: primary annular body, 44: primary arc body, 44a, 48a: arc upper surface, 44b, 48b: arcuate lower surface, 45: secondary main body portion, 46: secondary holder, 47: secondary annular body, 48: secondary arc body, 50: base body, 51: body portion, 52: head portion, 52a: upper end, 53: embedded portion, 54: bulge portion, 55: body holder portion, 60:: protrusion, 61: recess, 62: notch, S: axis, δ: amount of deviation, δ1: amount of deviation, δ2: amount of deviation
Claims
1. A base portion; a primary side connection portion provided on the base portion and connected to a primary side pipe; a secondary side connection portion provided on the base portion and connected to a secondary side pipe, The primary side connection portion and the secondary side connection portion are configured to form a pair on the tube axis, a long-connection device having a long face-to-face distance between a primary end and a secondary end, or a short-connection device having a short face-to-face distance, can be connected between the primary-side connection portion and the secondary-side connection portion; a long reverse connection prevention part that prevents the long connection device from being connected in reverse, with the primary end connected to the secondary side connection part and the secondary end connected to the primary side connection part; the short-connection device is provided with a short-reverse connection prevention part that prevents the primary end from being connected to the secondary side connection part and the secondary end from being connected to the primary side connection part in reverse, The short reverse connection prevention portion is a piping connection unit configured to be switchable between a contact state in which it contacts the short connection device in the reverse direction to prevent reverse connection, and a non-contact state in which it does not contact the long connection device connected between the primary side connection portion and the secondary side connection portion.
2. the short reverse connection prevention portion is provided in one of the base portion, the primary side connection portion, and the secondary side connection portion, The short reverse connection prevention part is The state can be switched between the contact state and the non-contact state by changing the posture while attached to the one part, or Or, 2. The pipe connection unit according to claim 1, wherein the pipe connection unit is configured to be switchable between the contact state when attached to the one portion and the non-contact state when detached from the one portion.
3. A base portion; a primary side connection portion provided on the base portion and connected to a primary side pipe; a secondary side connection portion provided on the base portion and connected to a secondary side pipe, The primary side connection portion and the secondary side connection portion are configured to form a pair on the tube axis, a long-connection device having a long face-to-face distance between a primary end and a secondary end, or a short-connection device having a short face-to-face distance, can be connected between the primary-side connection portion and the secondary-side connection portion; the long connection device abuts against the long connection device in a reverse direction to prevent the primary end from being connected to the secondary side connection portion and the secondary end from being connected to the primary side connection portion in a reverse direction; the short connection device has an abutment portion that abuts against the short connection device in an inverse direction to prevent the primary end from being connected to the secondary side connection portion and the secondary end from being connected to the primary side connection portion in an inverse direction, A piping connection unit characterized in that the contact portion can be moved between a long contact position where it contacts the long connection device in the opposite direction and a short contact position where it contacts the short connection device in the opposite direction.
4. The primary side connection portion includes a primary side connection main body portion provided on the base portion and having a primary long connection portion to which a primary end of the long connection device is connected; a primary short connection part detachably connected to the primary long connection part and to which a primary end of the short connection device is connected; The secondary side connection portion includes a secondary side connection main body portion provided on the base portion and having a secondary long connection portion to which a secondary end portion of the long connection device is connected; 4. The piping connection unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a secondary short connection part detachably connected to the secondary long connection part and to which a secondary end of the short connection device is connected.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Method for positioning and fixing meter unit and fixing mechanism member used therefor
JP2019190147A