Pipe joint and jig for pipe joint

Abstract

To provide a ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit, a construction method of a ceiling-suspended air conditioner, a pipe joint, and a tool for the pipe joint, capable of suppressing erroneous attachment / detachment as much as possible while attaching a pipe without requiring a tool.SOLUTION: The present invention is a ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit including a ceiling-suspended air conditioner main body, an accessory coupled to the air conditioner main body, and a ceiling-suspended frame that integrally holds the air conditioner main body and the accessory, in which the air conditioner main body has a pipe joint with which a pipe can be engaged without a tool and from which the pipe can be disengaged with a jig.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit, an installation method for a ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit, a pipe joint, and a jig for the pipe joint. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, various techniques have been proposed to facilitate the installation of air conditioners in the ceiling (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5208841 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-207092 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-207095 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When installing an air conditioner in the attic, a work platform such as a lifter for high-altitude work is prepared, and work is performed on the platform. Furthermore, in the case of a concealed air conditioner, it must be fitted into the narrow attic space. Therefore, it is preferable for an air conditioner to be easy to install in the attic. Therefore, from the perspective of construction, it is preferable to use one-touch joints that can be connected without tools for the piping connected to the air conditioner. However, since various other devices besides the air conditioner may be installed in the attic, there is a risk that workers may come into contact with tools or accidentally disconnect the joints when installing or maintaining these various devices.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit, an installation method for a ceiling-mounted air conditioner, a pipe joint, and a jig for the pipe joint, which allow piping to be installed without the need for tools while minimizing incorrect installation and removal as much as possible. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention uses a pipe fitting that can be engaged with a pipe without the need for tools and can be disengaged with a jig.

[0007] In detail, the present invention is a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit comprising a ceiling-mounted air conditioning main body, accessory parts connected to the air conditioning main body, and a ceiling-mounted frame that holds the air conditioning main body and accessory parts together, and the air conditioning main body has pipe fittings that can be engaged with piping without the need for tools and can be disengaged with a jig.

[0008] In the case of the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit, the pipe fittings that engage with the piping can be engaged without tools and cannot be disengaged without a jig, which minimizes the risk of contact with tools or incorrect attachment / detachment due to operator error.

[0009] The jig may be a pair of members that can clamp the pipe joint, thereby enabling the operation of releasing the engaged state to be performed by clamping the pipe joint.

[0010] The present invention can also be seen as a method. For example, the present invention is a method for installing a ceiling-mounted air conditioner that can be installed in a building at a construction site, comprising an assembly process for assembling and integrating the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit outside the construction site, and a process for transporting the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit to the construction site. and an installation process of placing the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit transported to the construction site at a predetermined location in the building and engaging the piping with the pipe fittings with jigs prepared.

[0011] The above-described method for installing a ceiling-mounted air conditioner may further include a disengaging step of disengaging the pipe engaged with the pipe joint using a jig.

[0012] The present invention also provides a pipe fitting comprising a female fitting and a male fitting inserted into the female fitting, wherein the male fitting has a cylindrical male fitting body having an internal flow path through which a fluid passes, and an engaging groove formed around the outer circumferential surface of the male fitting body, and the female fitting has a cylindrical female fitting body into which the male fitting body is inserted, an engaging member arranged around the inner circumferential surface of the female fitting body, and an engaging member arranged inside the female fitting body so as to be movable in the central axis direction of the female fitting body. The pipe fitting may have a fixing member that fixes the engaging member to the engaging groove when the male fitting body is inserted into the female fitting body, and an elastic body that presses the fixing member in the fixing direction along the central axis so that the fixing member fixes the engaging member to the engaging groove, and the female fitting body forms a gap between the male fitting body and the female fitting body when the male fitting body is inserted into the female fitting body, into which a jig can be inserted to press the fixing member in the release direction, which is the opposite direction to the fixing direction.

[0013] In this case, the male fitting may have, on the outer surface of the male fitting body, a first indicator that is exposed even when the male fitting is fully engaged with the female fitting, and a second indicator that is covered by the female fitting when the male fitting is fully engaged with the female fitting and is exposed when the engagement is not yet complete.

[0014] The present invention also provides a jig for a pipe fitting, comprising a female fitting and a male fitting to be inserted into the female fitting, wherein the male fitting has a cylindrical male fitting body having an internal flow path through which a fluid passes, and an engaging groove formed around the outer circumferential surface of the male fitting body, and the female fitting has a cylindrical female fitting body into which the male fitting body is inserted, an engaging member for engaging which is arranged along the circumferential direction on the inner circumferential surface of the female fitting body, a fixing member which is arranged inside the female fitting body so as to be movable in the central axial direction of the female fitting body and which fixes the engaging member to the engaging groove when the male fitting body is inserted into the female fitting body, and a fixing member which is arranged in the central axial direction and fixes the engaging member to the engaging groove when the male fitting body is inserted into the female fitting body, and a fixing member which is arranged in the central axial direction and fixes the engaging member to the engaging groove when the male fitting body is inserted into the female fitting body. and an elastic body that presses the fixing member in a fixing direction so that the material fixes the engaging member to the engaging groove, and the female joint body forms a gap between the male joint body and the female joint body when the male joint body is inserted into the female joint body, into which a jig can be inserted for pressing the fixing member in a release direction that is the opposite direction to the fixing direction, and the jig has an annular portion that can be inserted into the gap formed between the male joint body and the female joint body, a gripping portion that is located outer than the annular portion and is formed integrally with the annular portion, and a hinged opening and closing portion that can open and close the integrated annular portion and gripping portion in the direction in which the ring of the annular portion opens. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The above-described ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit, installation method for a ceiling-mounted air conditioner, pipe joint, and jig for pipe joint allow the piping to be attached without tools, while minimizing the risk of incorrect attachment and detachment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit as viewed obliquely from above. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit as viewed from the side. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a method for mounting a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit on a vehicle. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit loaded on the bed of a vehicle in a sideways position. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit mounted on a cart. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a diagram explaining how to install a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the details of the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the state of the pipe connection work. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the duct connection work. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing how the coupler is attached. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a first view showing how the coupler is removed. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a second view showing how the coupler is removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following describes embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the following aspects.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 as viewed diagonally from above. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 as viewed from the side. FIG. 1 shows the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 suspended from the ceiling by a suspension bolt K. For ease of explanation, in this embodiment, the Z-axis direction in FIGS. 1 and 2 is defined as the upward direction of the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1, and the direction along the XY plane defined by the X and Y axes is defined as the lateral direction of the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1. Furthermore, the suspension bolt K that suspends the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 from the ceiling of a building is typically provided with a sway brace F as shown in FIG. 1, but the sway brace provided on the suspension bolt K is not limited to this form. For example, the sway brace provided on the sway brace F may be a cross-type sway brace that intersects diagonally when viewed from above. Furthermore, the vibration stopper may be omitted, for example, when the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 is directly attached to the ceiling, when the hanging bolts K that suspend the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 are extremely short, or when the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 is rigidly connected to the ceiling with metal fittings that are stronger than the hanging bolts K. Furthermore, the vibration stopper is not limited to being attached to the top and bottom of the hanging bolts K, and may be, for example, one in which the top end is embedded in the ceiling and the bottom end is connected to the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 is an air conditioning unit that integrates an air conditioner main body 3, an air supply chamber 4, and a return air chamber 5 mounted on a frame 2. The air supply chamber 4 and the return air chamber 5 are examples of "accessory parts" as used herein. The "accessory parts" as used herein refer to all air conditioning-related parts used with the air conditioner main body 3, including the air supply chamber 4 and the return air chamber 5, as well as various chambers, refrigerant piping, water piping, drain piping, drain pumps, dampers, intake and exhaust grilles, filters, and other air conditioning-related parts. The ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 is installed in a narrow attic space between the floor that forms the floor surface of the upper floor or roof of a building and the decorative ceiling panel that forms the ceiling surface of the floor on which the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 is installed. Therefore, as shown in Figure 1, the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 has a generally horizontally elongated appearance, with its horizontal dimension being longer than its vertical dimension.

[0020] Furthermore, when the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 is installed behind a ceiling panel, the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 is in a concealed state. However, the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 is not limited to being installed in such a concealed state. For example, when no decorative ceiling panel is installed on the ceiling, the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 is visible to people in the room.

[0021] In addition, the hanging bolt K may be threaded into a nut for supporting the hanging bolt embedded in the floor concrete that makes up the floor, but alternatively, it may be threaded into various components such as hangers attached to structural materials such as H-beams that make up the beams.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 has an air supply chamber 4 connected to the exhaust port side of the air conditioner main body 3, and a return air chamber 5 connected to the intake port side of the air conditioner main body 3. Therefore, the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 has the air conditioner main body 3 placed in the center of the frame 2, with the air conditioner main body 3 sandwiched between the supply air chamber 4 and the return air chamber 5. The connecting parts between the air conditioner main body 3 and the supply air chamber 4, and the connecting parts between the return air chamber 5 and the supply air chamber 4, are loosely connected, allowing for some relative movement. In other words, one opening that fits into the other opening is made slightly smaller, and the gap between the openings is filled with a sealing material such as a flexible, airtight sponge packing, resulting in a loose connection structure that allows for some relative movement.

[0023] First, we will explain the air conditioner main body 3. The air conditioner main body 3 is a package unit that houses a coil through which a heat medium for temperature adjustment flows and an electric fan for blowing air inside a rectangular housing 31, and is also equipped with auxiliary equipment 32 and auxiliary piping 33 outside the housing 31. Examples of auxiliary equipment 32 include a valve that switches the flow path of the heat medium piping through which the heat medium flows to the coil, and a drain pump that drains the drain pan that receives water condensed on the coil.

[0024] The air conditioner main body 3 is supported by a ceiling-hanging mounting portion 34 provided on the outer surface of the housing 31, which is attached to a hanging bracket 26 provided on the frame 2. The air conditioner main body 3 is a commercially available device intended to be used in a suspended state using a hanging bracket such as a hanging bolt K provided on a building, and therefore the ceiling-hanging mounting portion 34 is also designed to be attached to a hanging bracket such as a hanging bolt K. Therefore, in the ceiling-hanging air conditioning unit 1 of this embodiment, the hanging bracket 26 provided on the frame 2 is designed to resemble such a hanging bracket, so that the air conditioner main body 3 is suspended within the frame 2. Furthermore, because the air conditioner main body 3 has a built-in electric fan, the ceiling-hanging mounting portion 34 is provided with vibration-isolating rubber 35, which blocks vibrations transmitted from the air conditioner main body 3 to the frame 2. This minimizes the generation of abnormal noise and other problems caused by vibrations generated by the air conditioner main body 3 causing the frame 2 to resonate. Such vibration-isolating rubber 35 is designed with a vibration-isolating allowable direction that allows movement for vibration isolation. Therefore, when the unit is transported under load, it is desirable that the vibration-isolating allowable direction and the direction of the load (direction of gravity) roughly coincide. Note that the means for isolating the vibration of the air conditioner body 3 is not limited to the above-described form in which the vibration-isolating rubber 35 is interposed between the frame 2 and the air conditioner body 3. For example, a spring or rubber may be provided at the connection between the frame 2 and the suspension bolt K. However, in this case, the frame 2 is movable relative to the suspension bolt K, and therefore the frame 2 itself does not have earthquake resistance. Therefore, from the perspective of ensuring the earthquake resistance of the entire ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit 1, in this embodiment, the connection between the frame 2 and the suspension bolt K is rigidly connected, making the frame 2 itself earthquake-resistant. Instead, the vibration-isolating rubber 35 is interposed between the frame 2 and the air conditioner body 3.

[0025] Next, the air supply chamber 4 will be described. The air supply chamber 4 is a chamber for diverting the conditioned air blown out from the air conditioner main body 3 to multiple air supply ducts installed throughout the building. Therefore, a rectangular housing 41 that forms the interior space of the chamber is provided with multiple connection openings 42 for connecting the air supply ducts. While six connection openings 42 are provided in the housing 41 in FIGS. 1 and 2, the number of connection openings 42 can be changed as appropriate depending on the size of the housing 41, the diameter of the connection openings 42, and other factors. Furthermore, the air supply chamber 4 is not limited to a configuration in which air supply ducts are connected to all six connection openings 42. The number of air supply ducts actually connected to the air supply chamber 4 depends on the number of air supply ducts installed where the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit 1 is installed. Therefore, if there are, for example, two air supply ducts provided at the location where the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit 1 is installed, four of the six connection openings 42 in the air supply chamber 4 will be used with the openings closed. Therefore, it is possible to omit the connection openings 42 with the openings closed in advance and manufacture an air supply chamber 4 with only the required number of connection openings 42 and incorporate it into the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit 1, but in this embodiment, it is possible to improve construction efficiency and shorten the manufacturing period of the components. To shorten the installation time, we propose preparing a large number of standardized ceiling-mounted air conditioning units 1 that can be used in a variety of installation locations. However, the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 disclosed in this application is not limited to a form that can be used in a variety of locations. The ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 may also be equipped with air supply chambers 4 each having a number of connection openings 42 corresponding to the number of installation locations.

[0026] Next, we will explain the return air chamber 5. The return air chamber 5 is a chamber for joining air flowing from multiple return air ducts installed throughout the building. Therefore, like the supply air chamber 4, the return air chamber 5 is also provided with multiple connection openings for connecting the return air ducts. Like the supply air chamber 4, the return air chamber 5 also has a configuration provided with multiple connection openings so that it can be installed in a variety of locations, but the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 may also be provided with a return air chamber 5 with a number of connection openings corresponding to the installation location, as described above.

[0027] Unlike the air conditioner main body 3, the supply air chamber 4 and the return air chamber 5 do not incorporate driving units such as electric fans, and therefore do not generally generate vibrations. Therefore, in this embodiment, the supply air chamber 4 and the return air chamber 5 are attached to the frame 2 without any components that block vibration transmission, such as vibration-isolating rubber. However, the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 may have the supply air chamber 4 and the return air chamber 5 attached to the frame 2 via vibration-isolating rubber. Furthermore, the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 may have the supply air chamber 4 and the return air chamber 5 attached to the frame 2 by members with a hanging structure, similar to the air conditioner main body 3.

[0028] Thus, the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1, which integrates the air conditioner main body 3, the supply air chamber 4, and the return air chamber 5, is naturally heavier than each of the air conditioner main body 3, the supply air chamber 4, and the return air chamber 5 individually. Therefore, weight reduction is required to enable lifting using an indoor aerial work vehicle and installation near the ceiling of a building. Therefore, in the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 of this embodiment, the frame 2 is constructed from aluminum members. Therefore, even in the areas where the angle irons 21 constituting the frame 2 are fastened together, bolts are used to fasten the rib plates 22 and 23, thereby achieving sufficient strength compared to welding the angle irons 21 together. Furthermore, to strengthen the strength near the ends of the frame 2, rod screws 25 are provided to fasten the ends of the angle irons 21 together at locations corresponding to the corners of the frame 2. Furthermore, among the fastening portions between the multiple angle irons 21 on the frame 2, one rib plate 23 is provided at each location (locations indicated by reference numeral 23) where a load is applied in a direction along the plate surface of the rib plate (plane direction), while two rib plates 22 are provided at each location (locations indicated by reference numeral 22) where a load is applied in a direction that bends the rib plate. Fastening the angle irons 21 together while sandwiching the angle irons 21 between the two rib plates 22 prevents deformation or damage to the rib plates 22 due to the load. For example, as can be seen from FIG. 1 , the hanging portion 24 provided on the frame 2 for attaching to the hanging bolt K that hangs the ceiling-suspended air-conditioning unit 1 is provided midway along the angle iron 21 extending laterally. Therefore, when the ceiling-suspended air-conditioning unit 1 is suspended by the hanging bolt K, the weight of the entire ceiling-suspended air-conditioning unit 1 is applied to the end of the angle iron 21. Therefore, providing two rib plates 22 at such locations is effective in ensuring the strength of the frame 2.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing how to mount the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 on a vehicle. As mentioned above, the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 has a horizontally elongated external shape with its horizontal dimension longer than its vertical dimension in order to be installed in the narrow ceiling space between the floor and the ceiling panel. The air conditioner main body 3 is suspended within the frame 2 by a suspension bracket 26 provided on the frame 2. For this reason, for example, when a ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit assembled in a factory is mounted on the frame 2, the air conditioner main body 3 is suspended within the frame 2 by a suspension bracket 26 provided on the frame 2. When transporting the unit 1 to a construction site, as shown in FIG. 3(A), the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 is normally stacked flat on the loading platform of the vehicle V without being turned over on its side. In this case, however, the space above the loading platform of the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 is not used effectively, and the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 cannot be transported efficiently. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 3(B), it is possible to load the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 on its side on the loading platform of the vehicle V. If the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 is placed over its side on the loading platform of the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1, the space above the loading platform of the vehicle V can be used effectively.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows an example of a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 loaded on the bed of a vehicle V in a laid-down state. The ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1, which is longer in the horizontal direction (along the XY plane) than in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), can be laid on its side and loaded on the bed of the vehicle V to effectively utilize the space above the bed of the vehicle V. When laying the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 on its side, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 , the auxiliary equipment 32 and auxiliary piping 33 protruding from the substantially rectangular frame 2 can be laid on its side with the unit positioned at the top, which prevents the auxiliary equipment 32 and auxiliary piping 33 from interfering with the floor or wall of the bed, making it easier to load the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 onto the bed. Furthermore, if the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 is placed on a dolly such as the one shown below and loaded onto the bed of the vehicle V, loading and unloading into and from the vehicle V becomes even easier.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit 1 placed on a cart D. The cart D has four wheels D2 on the underside of a flat base D1 on which the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit 1 is placed. The cart D also has four auxiliary rods D3 that extend upward from the edge of the base D1. Therefore, after placing the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit 1 on the base D1 of the cart D, a worker transporting the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit 1 can move the wheels D2 smoothly by pushing the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit 1 and the auxiliary rods D3 with their hands. Furthermore, since the auxiliary rod D3 is erected to surround the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1, even if the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 mounted on the bed of the vehicle V while on the cart D shakes while the vehicle V is moving, the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 will not shift position on the top surface of the base D1 and will not fall off the cart D.

[0032] In the case of the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 of this embodiment, in addition to the air conditioner main body 3, various components such as the air supply chamber 4 and the air return chamber 5 are integrated, making it easy to transport to the site using a vehicle V or cart D and to install it on the ceiling of a building.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a method for installing a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1. When installing a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1, first, as shown in FIG. 6(A), worker M prepares the sway brace F and the gauge 7 while the sway brace F is not yet attached to the hanging bolts K. Then, worker M approaches the ceiling T using an aerial work platform S. Next, as shown in FIG. 6(B), worker M inserts the lower end of each hanging bolt K into four positioning holes provided in the gauge 7 and temporarily secures them with nuts or the like. Then, worker M extends his upper body above the gauge 7 through the manhole 73 of the gauge 7 and attaches the sway brace F to the hanging bolts K. Once the sway brace F is attached to the hanging bolts K, the position of the lower end of the hanging bolts K is fixed by the sway brace F, so the position of the lower end of the hanging bolts K is maintained even when the gauge 7 is removed. After the installation of the steady rest F is complete, as shown in Figure 6(C), remove the gauge 7 from the hanging bolt K and instead move the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 closer to the hanging bolt K. Then, attach the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 to the hanging bolt K. This completes the installation of the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 as shown in Figure 6(D).

[0034] When attaching the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 to the hanging bolt K without using the gauge 7, it is not possible to align the lower end of the hanging bolt K with the hanging portion 24 of the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 unless the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 is actually attached to the hanging bolt K. The steady rest F cannot be attached to the hanging bolts K before the unit 1 is attached to the hanging bolts K. Furthermore, when attaching the steady rest F to the hanging bolts K after the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 has been attached to the hanging bolts K, it is impossible to attach the steady rest F to the hanging bolts K by placing the upper half of the body in a position surrounded by the four hanging bolts K, as shown in FIG. 6(B). Therefore, the worker M must attach the steady rest F while gradually moving the aerial work platform S so as to circle around the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 attached to the hanging bolts K. This means that the work time required to attach the steady rest F is long. Furthermore, since the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 needs to be attached to the hanging bolt K whose lower end is not positioned by the gauge 7, when attaching the hanging bolt K to the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1, adjustment work is required, such as lifting the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 near the ceiling using the aerial work platform S and then changing the position of the hanging part 24, and attaching the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 to the hanging bolt K is not easy.

[0035] In this regard, the installation method shown in FIG. 6 , in which the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit 1 is attached to the lower end of the hanging bolt K, which is positioned using a gauge 7 and fixed in position by a steady rest F, makes it extremely easy to both attach the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit 1 to the hanging bolt K and to attach the steady rest F to the hanging bolt K. Therefore, for example, at a construction site where multiple identical ceiling-mounted air-conditioning units 1 need to be installed, the steady rest F can be attached to the hanging bolt K in advance, even before the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning units 1 arrive at the construction site. Then, once the manufacturing of the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning units 1 is completed and they arrive at the construction site from the factory, the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning units 1 can be attached to the hanging bolts K one after another. Furthermore, as described above, if the air supply chamber 4 and other components are configured to be commonly applicable at various locations, there is no risk of incorrectly attaching the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning units 1 to the hanging bolts K one after another.

[0036] The following describes the details of the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1. Figure 7 is a diagram showing the details of the ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1. The ceiling-suspended air conditioning unit 1 is provided with a duct connection part 101. The frame 2 is also provided with an auxiliary frame 103 for supporting a cold / hot water piping connection part 102 attached to the air conditioner main body 3.

[0037] The duct connector 101 barely protrudes from the outer surface of the air supply chamber 4. The chilled / hot water pipe connector 102 is a section for connecting chilled / hot water pipes that pass through a coil installed inside the air conditioner main body 3. The connector is composed of a pipe connector coupler (pipe joint) that allows one-touch connection without the use of pipes, solenoid valves, or tools. The pipes are appropriately provided with thermal insulation. Because the chilled / hot water pipe connector 102 protrudes from the housing of the air conditioner main body 3, the base of the chilled / hot water pipe connector 102 may be damaged if various external forces, such as the weight of the pipe, are applied to the chilled / hot water pipe connector 102. Therefore, when such a chilled / hot water pipe connector 102 is installed in a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1, it is preferable to install an auxiliary frame 103 on the frame 2 to support the chilled / hot water pipe connector 102. The auxiliary frame 103 is formed of angle irons 104 similar to the angle irons 21 of the frame 2, bolts, nuts, and various other structural members.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the process of connecting the pipes. As described above, the hot and cold water pipe connection portion 102 is equipped with a one-touch coupler for connecting the pipes. Therefore, if the pipe 105 has a coupler (female side) at its end that matches the coupler (male side) provided on the hot and cold water pipe connection portion 102, the pipe 105 can be connected to the hot and cold water pipe connection portion 102 by hand without using any tools. This makes it extremely easy to connect the pipe 105 to the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit 1 that is suspended from the ceiling of a building by the suspension bolts K. This allows the work to proceed extremely smoothly even in high places or in narrow spaces.

[0039] FIG. 9 shows the duct connection process. The duct connector 101 is not a cylindrical body that protrudes from the outer surface of the air supply chamber 4, like the connection opening 42 illustrated in the above embodiment. In other words, the duct connector 101 barely protrudes from the outer surface of the air supply chamber 4, and therefore a dedicated duct is connected to the duct connector 101. The duct connector 101 includes an opening 101A that forms a ventilation path, and a fitting portion 101B and a packing 101C that form the edge of the opening 101A. The fitting portion 101B is made of a flexible material that can easily engage with the duct 106. The packing 101C is made of a flexible resin that is flexible and airtight, and protrudes more toward the center of the opening than the fitting portion 101B.

[0040] The duct 106 is provided with a heat insulating material 106A that keeps the duct warm, and a fitting portion 106B that forms the end of the duct. The fitting portion 106B is also provided with a rib 106C. The fitting portion 106B is an annular body having an outer diameter substantially equal to that of the opening 101A of the duct connecting portion 101, and can be fitted into the opening 101A. The outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion 106B is raised so as to engage with the fitting portion 101B. The rib 106C protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion 106B bites into the flexible fitting portion 101B, firmly fixing the duct 106 to the duct connecting portion 101. Furthermore, since the packing 101C for ensuring airtightness protrudes further toward the center of the opening than the fitting portion 101B, the force of the packing 101C adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion 106B also keeps the duct 106 connected to the duct connecting portion 101 fixed.

[0041] Because the air supply chamber 4 is provided with this type of duct connection part 101, it is possible to connect the duct 106 to the duct connection part 101 simply by manually pushing the fitting part 106B into the opening 101A without using any tools. This makes it extremely easy to connect the duct 106 to the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit 1 that is suspended from the ceiling of a building by the suspension bolts K. This means that the work can be carried out extremely smoothly even in high places or in narrow spaces.

[0042] Furthermore, because the air supply chamber 4 is provided with this type of duct connection part 101, the ceiling-mounted air-conditioning unit 1 can be made smaller than if it were provided with a connection opening 42. Compared to the connection opening 42, the duct connection part 101 hardly protrudes from the outer surface of the air supply chamber 4, making it possible to reduce the external dimensions.

[0043] The following is a detailed description of the coupler used in the hot and cold water pipe connection portion 102. Figure 10 is a diagram showing how the coupler is attached.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 10(A), coupler 50 has male fitting 51 and female fitting 52. Male fitting 51 and female fitting 52 are components provided at one end of pipes, and male fitting 51 and female fitting 52 engage with each other to connect the pipes. Male fitting 51 is provided with blue line 51a, red line 51b, engagement groove 51c (an example of the "engagement groove" referred to in this application), and sleeve 51d. Blue line 51a is a marking provided in a position that is exposed and not hidden by female fitting 52 even when female fitting 52 is properly engaged with male fitting 51. Red line 51b is a marking provided in a position that is hidden by female fitting 52 when female fitting 52 is properly engaged with male fitting 51. Therefore, the worker who connects the pipes can check whether the female joint 52 is properly engaged with the male joint 51 by checking the state of the blue line 51a and the red line 51b.

[0045] The female joint 52 is provided with an engagement piece 52a (an example of the "engagement member" referred to in the present application), a locking ring 52b (an example of the "fixing member" referred to in the present application), a seal 52c, a spring 52d (an example of the "elastic body" referred to in the present application), a spring 52e, a cylindrical portion 52f, and a seal 52g. The mating piece 52a is a member that engages with the engagement groove 51c. The locking ring 52b is a member that holds the engagement piece 52a in place when it is engaged with the engagement groove 51c. The seal 52c is an airtight seal that fits tightly against the sleeve 51d. The spring 52d is a spring that presses the locking ring 52b. The spring 52e is a spring that presses the tubular portion 52f. The tubular portion 52f is a member that moves inside the female joint 52 when fitted into the sleeve 51d. The female joint 52G is an airtight seal that fits tightly against the tubular portion 52f.

[0046] When connecting pipes using coupler 50, male fitting 51 and female fitting 52 are placed opposite each other, as shown in FIG. 10(A). Then, sleeve 51d is fitted into cylindrical portion 52f, as shown in FIG. 10(B). After sleeve 51d is fitted into cylindrical portion 52f, male fitting 51 is further pushed toward female fitting 52, as shown in FIG. 10(C). When male fitting 51 is further pushed toward female fitting 52 with sleeve 51d fitted into cylindrical portion 52f, the gap between sleeve 51d and cylindrical portion 52f is sealed by seal 52c. Furthermore, the tip surface of sleeve 51d abuts against cylindrical portion 52f.

[0047] If the male joint 51 continues to be pressed toward the female joint 52 after the tip surface of the sleeve 51d abuts against the tubular portion 52f, as shown in Figure 10(D), the spring 52e contracts due to the pressing force of the sleeve 51d, and the tubular portion 52f pressed by the spring 52e moves in the direction opposite to the pressing direction of the spring 52e. When the tubular portion 52f moves within the female joint 52, the engagement piece 52a, which had been held on the non-engagement side by the tubular portion 52f, is released, and the engagement piece 52a fits into the engagement groove 51c. When the engagement piece 52a fits into the engagement groove 51c, the locking ring 52b, which is pressed against the seal 52c, moves due to the pressing force, retaining the engagement piece 52a fitted in the engagement groove 51c. With the engagement piece 52a held in the engagement groove 51c, the engagement between the male joint 51 and the female joint 52 is maintained. When the male joint 51 and the female joint 52 are properly engaged, the red line 51b is covered by the female joint 52 and becomes invisible. Therefore, the worker can tell that the male joint 51 and the female joint 52 are properly engaged by checking the state of the blue line 51a and the locking ring 52b.

[0048] As described above, the coupler 50 can be engaged without using tools by facing the male joint 51 and the female joint 52 and pressing them together. Next, a method for disengaging the coupler 50 will be described.

[0049] Fig. 11 is a first diagram showing how the coupler is removed, and Fig. 12 is a second diagram showing how the coupler is removed.

[0050] To release the engagement state of the coupler 50, a jig 53 is used. The jig 53 is a pair of semicircular ring-shaped members, each of which is formed by dividing a ring-shaped member into two halves, connected via a hinge. To release the engagement state of the coupler 50, as shown in FIG. 11(A), the two semicircular ring-shaped jigs 53 are opened at the hinge, positioned to sandwich the male joint 51, and the hinge is closed. Then, with the gripping portion 53a firmly grasped by hand, the push-in portion 53b (an example of the "annular portion" as used herein) is fitted into the gap between the male joint 51 and the female joint 52, as shown in FIG. 11(B). When the push-in portion 53b is fitted into the gap between the male joint 51 and the female joint 52, the end face of the push-in portion 53b comes into contact with the locking ring 52b.

[0051] When the jig 53 is further pushed toward the female joint 52 with the end face of the pushing portion 53b in contact with the locking ring 52b, the locking ring 52b, which has been pressed by the spring 52d, moves in the direction opposite to the pressing direction of the spring 52d, as shown in Figure 11(C). When the locking ring 52b moves, the engagement piece 52a, which has been held by the locking ring 52b while fitted in the engagement groove 51c, is released.

[0052] When the engagement piece 52a is released, the male joint 51 can be pulled out from the female joint 52. Therefore, the worker pushes the jig 53 toward the female joint 52 and pulls the male joint 51 away from the female joint 52, and as shown in FIG. 12(A), the male joint 51 is pulled out from the female joint 52. 12(B), the male joint 51 begins to come off from the female joint 52. Then, by further pulling the male joint 51 away from the female joint 52, the male joint 51 comes off completely from the female joint 52.

[0053] As described above, with coupler 50, the operation of engaging male joint 51 and female joint 52 can be performed without the need for tools. In addition, it is possible to confirm that male joint 51 and female joint 52 are correctly engaged by viewing blue line 51a and red line 51b. Furthermore, coupler 50 cannot release the engaged state of male joint 51 and female joint 52 without using jig 53. Therefore, coupler 50 can minimize contact with tools or erroneous attachment and detachment due to operator error.

[0054] The coupler 50 does not require any tools to engage the male joint 51 and the female joint 52, but requires a jig 53 to disengage, making it suitable for, for example, the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 described above. That is, compared to when the air conditioner main body 3, the supply air chamber 4, and the return air chamber 5 were carried separately to the construction site and assembly work was performed, the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 allows on-site work to be completed in an extremely short time, significantly shortening the construction period at the construction site. However, if the ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 is provided with the coupler 50, the piping connection work can also be performed in an extremely short time. Therefore, with a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 1 using the coupler 50, it is possible to reduce the overall man-hours compared to when the air conditioner main body 3, the supply air chamber 4, and the return air chamber 5 were carried separately to the construction site and assembly work was performed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] K·· Hanging bolt T··Ceiling F··Steady Rest V··Vehicle S··Aerial Work Platform M··Worker D··Cart 1. Ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit 2 Frames 3. Air conditioner unit 4. Air supply chamber 5. Return air chamber 7 Gauge 21. Angle iron 22 Rib plate 23 Rib plate 24 Hanging part 25··Bar screw 26··Hanging bracket 31··Case 32. Auxiliary equipment 33. Auxiliary piping 34··Ceiling mounting part 35 Anti-vibration rubber 41··Case 42... Connection opening 50 Coupler 51 Male joint 51a··Blue Line 51b··Red line 51c...Engagement groove 51d sleeve 52 Female joint 52a Engagement piece 52b Locking ring 52c··Seal 52d··Spring 52e spring 52f·Cylinder part 52g··Seal 53 Jig 53a...Gripping part 53b Push-in part D1··Pedestal D2·Wheel D3 Auxiliary rod 101 Duct connection part 102 Cold and hot water piping connection 103 Auxiliary frame 104··Angle iron 105 Piping 106··Duct 101A...Aperture 101B...Mating part 101C··Packing 106A··Insulation material 106B...Mating part 106C··Rib

Claims

1. A pipe joint comprising a female joint and a male joint inserted into the female joint, The male joint is a cylindrical male connector body having an internal flow path through which a fluid passes; an engagement groove formed around the outer circumferential surface of the male joint body, The female joint is a cylindrical female joint body into which the male joint body is inserted; an engaging member for engagement arranged along a circumferential direction on an inner circumferential surface of the female joint body; a fixing member that is arranged inside the female joint body so as to be movable in the central axis direction of the female joint body, and that fixes the engaging member to the engaging groove portion when the male joint body is inserted into the female joint body; an elastic body that presses the fixing member toward a fixing direction in the central axis direction, in which the fixing member fixes the engaging member to the engaging groove portion, a gap is formed between the male joint body and the female joint body when the male joint body is inserted into the female joint body, into which a jig can be inserted to press the fixing member in a release direction that is the opposite direction to the fixing direction; Pipe fittings.

2. The male joint has an outer peripheral surface of the male joint body, a first indicator that is exposed even when the male joint is fully engaged with the female joint; a second indicator that is covered by the female joint when the male joint is in a fully engaged state with the female joint and is exposed when the engagement is not yet complete, 2. The pipe fitting of claim 1.

3. A jig for a pipe joint comprising a female joint and a male joint to be inserted into the female joint, The male joint is a cylindrical male connector body having an internal flow path through which a fluid passes; an engagement groove formed around the outer circumferential surface of the male joint body, The female joint is a cylindrical female joint body into which the male joint body is inserted; an engaging member for engagement arranged along a circumferential direction on an inner circumferential surface of the female joint body; a fixing member that is arranged inside the female joint body so as to be movable in the central axis direction of the female joint body, and that fixes the engaging member to the engaging groove portion when the male joint body is inserted into the female joint body; an elastic body that presses the fixing member toward a fixing direction in the central axis direction, in which the fixing member fixes the engaging member to the engaging groove portion, a gap is formed between the male joint body and the female joint body when the male joint body is inserted into the female joint body, into which a jig can be inserted to press the fixing member in a release direction that is the opposite direction to the fixing direction; The jig is an annular portion that can be inserted into the gap formed between the male joint body and the female joint body; a gripping portion that is disposed on an outer circumferential side of the annular portion and is integrally formed with the annular portion; and an opening / closing part with a hinge that can open and close the integral annular part and the grip part in a direction in which the ring of the annular part opens. Jig for pipe joints.

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