Pipe joint and flexible pipe connecting method

Abstract

To provide a pipe joint which enables a user to easily check insertion of a flexible pipe.SOLUTION: A pipe joint 10 includes: an inner member 20 into which a flexible pipe 12 is inserted from one end side 20A; an inner seal member 26 which is disposed at an inner periphery of the inner member 20 and seals a space between an outer periphery of a corrugated pipe body 14 and the inner periphery of the inner member 20; a claw member 25 which is disposed at the inner periphery of the inner member 20 and engages with the outer periphery of the corrugated pipe body 14 to restrict movement of the corrugated pipe body 14 in a direction opposite to an insertion direction; a position check member 30 which is provided at the inner member 20 and enables a user to view a state that the flexible pipe 12 is inserted into a proper position of the inner member 20, from the outside of the inner member 20; an outer member 40 into which the inner member 20 is inserted from one end side 40A and which holds the inner member 20 within a cylinder; and an O ring 38 which seals a space between an inner periphery of the outer member 40 and an outer periphery of the inner member 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this application relates to a pipe joint and a method for connecting flexible pipes. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, flexible pipes have been widely used for piping within floors and walls of buildings. Various pipe joints have also been used to connect these flexible pipes to gas valves, steel pipes, etc. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a flexible pipe is inserted into a pipe joint, and a packing is used to maintain airtightness, while a retainer is used to hold the root portion of the flexible pipe and prevent it from coming loose. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5219266 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, it is important to insert the flexible pipe to a specified position in the pipe joint to maintain airtightness and prevent it from coming loose. However, the insertion state inside the pipe joint cannot be seen. Therefore, the specified position on the flexible pipe is marked for confirmation, or the insertion is performed by feel, which can lead to insufficient insertion due to incorrect marking positions or individual differences in insertion feel.

[0005] In consideration of the above, the present invention aims to provide a pipe joint and a method for connecting flexible pipes that allow easy confirmation of the insertion of a flexible pipe when connecting the flexible pipe to the pipe joint. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first aspect of the pipe fitting of the present invention is a pipe fitting for connecting a flexible pipe having at least a corrugated pipe body, and includes: a cylindrical inner member into which the flexible pipe is inserted from one end in the axial direction of the pipe; an annular inner seal member that is arranged on the inner periphery of the inner member and seals between the outer periphery of the corrugated pipe and the inner periphery of the inner member; claw members that are arranged on the inner periphery of the inner member and engage with the outer periphery of the corrugated pipe to restrict movement of the corrugated pipe in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the corrugated pipe; a position confirmation portion that is provided on the inner member and allows a state in which the tip of the flexible pipe is inserted into the inner member at the correct position to be visually confirmed from the outside of the inner member; a cylindrical outer member into which the inner member is inserted from one end in the axial direction of the pipe and holds the inner member within the pipe; an outer seal member that is arranged between the inner periphery of the outer member and the outer periphery of the inner member and seals between the inner periphery of the outer member and the outer periphery of the inner member;

[0007] The pipe joint of the first aspect comprises an inner member and an outer member. The inner member is cylindrical, and a flexible pipe is inserted from one end of the cylindrical member in the axial direction. An inner seal member and a claw member are arranged on the inner periphery of the inner member. The inner seal member seals the gap between the flexible pipe and the inner member, and the claw member prevents the flexible pipe from coming loose.

[0008] The inner member is inserted into the outer member from one end in the axial direction of the cylinder, and the inner member is held within the cylinder. The gap between the inner periphery of the outer member and the outer periphery of the inner member is sealed by an outer seal member.

[0009] The inner member is provided with a position confirmation portion that allows the operator to visually confirm from the outside that the tip of the flexible pipe is properly inserted in the inner member, thereby enabling the operator to easily check whether the flexible pipe is properly inserted in the inner member by directly visually checking the position of the tip of the flexible pipe.

[0010] In a second aspect of the present invention, in the pipe fitting, the position confirmation portion is located closer to the insertion portion than the outer seal member. of It is located at the back.

[0011] According to the pipe joint of the second aspect, since the position confirmation portion is not provided on the insertion front side of the outer seal member, sealing between the outer member and the inner member can be easily performed.

[0012] In a pipe joint of a third aspect of the present invention, the position confirmation portion has a protruding portion that protrudes outward in the axial direction from a circumferential portion of the other end portion of the inner member and is disposed circumferentially outward of the corrugated pipe, and an abutting portion that is formed at a tip of the protruding portion and against which the tip of the corrugated pipe abuts when the flexible pipe is inserted into the appropriate position of the inner member.

[0013] According to the pipe joint of the third aspect, the flexible pipe can be inserted into the appropriate position in the inner member by abutting the tip of the corrugated pipe against the abutment portion formed at the tip of the protrusion.

[0014] A fourth aspect of the method for connecting a flexible pipe of the present invention is a method for connecting a flexible pipe to a pipe fitting described in any one of claims 1 to 3, which comprises peeling off the outer covering portion of the tip end of the flexible pipe, inserting the flexible pipe into the appropriate position from one end side of the inner member, inserting the inner member into the outer member, and holding the inner member in the outer member.

[0015] According to the fourth aspect of the flexible pipe connecting method, the flexible pipe is inserted into the inner member from one end side to the appropriate position, and after visually confirming that it has been inserted into the appropriate position from the outside of the inner member, the inner member is inserted into the outer member and held by the outer member. This makes it easy to confirm that the flexible pipe has been inserted into the appropriate position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, when connecting a flexible pipe to a pipe joint, it is possible to easily check whether the flexible pipe is inserted properly. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a half cross-sectional view of the pipe joint of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] In this embodiment, (A) is a half cross-sectional view of the inner member, and (B) is a front view of the position confirmation portion. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a half cross-sectional view of an outer member of the present embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a flexible tube is inserted into an inner member of the present embodiment to an appropriate position. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] A pipe joint and a method for connecting flexible pipes according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] Figure 1 shows a half cross-sectional view of a pipe joint 10 of this embodiment. The pipe joint 10 is a joint that connects a flexible pipe 12 to other piping or the like. The flexible pipe 12 has a corrugated pipe material 14 and a flat outer skin 16 that covers the outer periphery of the corrugated pipe material 14. The corrugated pipe material 14 is made of a bellows-shaped metal. The outer skin 16 is made of resin with smooth inner and outer surfaces.

[0020] The pipe fitting 10 has an inner member 20 and an outer member 40 that are arranged coaxially. Hereinafter, the central axes of the inner member 20 and the outer member 40 are referred to as S. The inner member 20 is cylindrical and made of metal, and an annular flange portion 22 is formed on the outer periphery of one end portion 20A. The outer periphery of the inner member 20 has a smooth shape with no steps and the same outer diameter except for the flange portion 22. The inner periphery of the inner member 20 has a stepped portion D1, and the inner diameter on the one end portion 20A side is smaller than the inner diameter on the other end portion 20B side.

[0021] A seal groove 23 and a claw groove 24 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the inner member 20 on the side of one end 20A. An O-ring 23A is disposed in the seal groove 23. A claw member 25 is disposed in the claw groove 24. The claw member 25 is annular and has a claw 25A that protrudes radially inward. The claw 25A is tapered so that its diameter gradually decreases from the front side toward the back side of the insertion of the flexible pipe 12, and its tip is configured to fit into a valley portion of the bellows-shaped outer surface of the corrugated pipe 14. When the flexible pipe 12 is inserted, the claw member 25 is pushed by the corrugated pipe 14 and deforms so as to expand in diameter. The claw member 25 can be made of various materials, such as metal, resin, or rubber, as long as it is capable of expanding in diameter.

[0022] An inner seal member 26, a coil spring 28, and a position confirmation member 30 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inner member 20 on the other end 20B side.

[0023] The inner seal member 26 is annular with a square cross section, and is configured with a width sufficient to span two adjacent peaks on the bellows-shaped outer surface of the corrugated pipe 14. The inner seal member 26 is arranged along the step portion D1 and abuts against the peaks on the bellows-shaped outer surface of the corrugated pipe 14 to seal between the corrugated pipe 14 and the inner circumference of the inner member 20.

[0024] The coil spring 28 is arranged in a compressed state on the opposite side of the inner seal member 26 from the step portion D1, and urges the inner seal member 26 toward the step portion D1 by abutting against the position confirmation member 30 described below.

[0025] A retaining groove 21 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the inner member 20 on the other end 20B side. A position confirmation member 30 is retained in the retaining groove 21. The position confirmation member 30 has a base end 32, a protruding portion 34, and a tip abutting portion 36. The base end 32 is annular and is bent radially outward in a convex shape so as to fit into the retaining groove 21. One end 32A of the base end 32 extends radially inward to a position where the coil spring 28 can abut against it. The coil spring 28 is disposed in a compressed state between the one end 32A and the inner seal member 26.

[0026] Protrusions 34 are formed on the opposite side of the one end 32A of the base end 32 in the direction of the central axis S. The protrusions 34 extend from four equally spaced locations in the circumferential direction of the other end 32B opposite the one end 32A, and protrude from the other end 20B of the inner member 20. At the tips of the protrusions 34, tip abutting portions 36 are formed that are bent radially inward and connected to each other. Adjacent protrusions 34 in the circumferential direction are spaced apart. Therefore, openings up to the tip abutting portions 36 are formed between adjacent protrusions 34 in the circumferential direction, and the tip portion of the corrugated pipe material 14 of the inserted flexible pipe 12 can be seen from the outside.

[0027] A first outer seal groove 38A, a second outer seal groove 38B, and a third outer seal groove 38C are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner member 20. The first outer seal groove 38A is formed in a position corresponding to the claw groove 24. An O-ring 38AO is disposed in the first outer seal groove 38A. The second outer seal groove 38B is formed closer to the other end 20B than the first outer seal groove 38A and closer to the one end 20A than the stepped portion D1. An O-ring 38BO is disposed in the second outer seal groove 38B. The third outer seal groove 38C is formed in a position corresponding to the coil spring 28. An O-ring 38CO is disposed in the third outer seal groove 38C. Hereinafter, the O-rings 38AO, 38BO, and 38CO will be collectively referred to as "O-ring 38."

[0028] The outer member 40 is cylindrical and made of metal, and has an annular flange portion 42 formed on the outer periphery of one end portion 40A. Retaining members 43 are provided at multiple locations (six locations in this embodiment) in the circumferential direction on the adjacent portion of the flange portion 42 opposite the one end portion 40A of the outer member 40. The retaining members 43 extend from the outer peripheral surface of the outer member 40 beyond the flange portion 42 toward the one end portion 40A, and hold the flange portion 22 of the inner member 20 from the outside in the direction of the central axis S with a return portion 43A formed at the tip end.

[0029] A hexagonal portion 44 is formed in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of the other end 40B of the outer member 40, and a male thread 46 is formed on the other end 40B side of the hexagonal portion 44. A step portion D2 is formed on the inner periphery of the other end 40B of the outer member 40 in a portion corresponding to the hexagonal portion 44. The step portion D2 is formed so that the inner diameter on the other end 40B side is smaller than the inner diameter on the one end 40A side.

[0030] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0031] When connecting the flexible pipe 12 to the pipe fitting 10, first, a specified length of the outer cover 16 on the connection tip side of the flexible pipe 12 is removed. The specified length is set so that the length of the corrugated pipe 14 extends from the tip abutment 36 of the position confirmation member 30 provided on the inner member 20, past the claw members 25, to the seal groove 23, and at a position where the claws 25A enter the valley portions of the bellows-shaped outer surface of the corrugated pipe 14.

[0032] Next, the flexible pipe 12, from which a specified length of the outer skin 16 at the tip end has been removed, is inserted into the inner member 20 from the one end 20A side. The corrugated pipe 14 advances toward the other end 20B while elastically deforming the claws 25A of the claw members 25, and moves further toward the insertion depth while abutting against the inner seal member 26. The corrugated pipe 14 is then inserted until its tip abuts against the tip abutment 36 of the position confirmation member 30. The position where the tip of the corrugated pipe 14 protrudes from the other end 20B of the inner member 20 and is clearly visible from the side of the position confirmation member 30 (preferably the position where it abuts against the tip abutment 36) is the correct position for the flexible pipe 12 relative to the inner member 20. The operator can visually confirm from outside the position confirmation member 30 that the flexible pipe 12 is inserted in the correct position in the inner member 20.

[0033] When the flexible pipe 12 is inserted into the proper position in the inner member 20, the claws 25A of the claw members 25 fit into the valleys in the accordion-shaped outer surface of the corrugated pipe 14, preventing the flexible pipe 12 from slipping out of the inner member 20. The inner seal member 26 also seals the gap between the inner periphery of the inner member 20 and the outer periphery of the corrugated pipe 14, preventing fluid from leaking out.

[0034] With the flexible tube 12 inserted into the appropriate position of the inner member 20, the inner member 20 is inserted into the outer member 40 from one end 40A side. Then, the other end 20B is brought into contact with the stepped portion D2 of the outer member 40, and the flange portion 22 of the inner member 20 is held by the holding member 43.

[0035] On the other end 40B side of the outer member 40, the female thread of the member to be connected is screwed onto the male thread 46 to connect.

[0036] According to the pipe fitting 10 of this embodiment, the position confirmation member 30 is provided so as to protrude from the tip of the inner member 20, so that it is possible to visually confirm from the outside of the inner member 20 whether the tip of the flexible pipe 12 is inserted into the correct position in the inner member 20. Therefore, the worker can easily visually confirm whether the flexible pipe 12 is inserted into the correct position in the inner member 20. If the inner member 20 and the outer member 40 are not separate bodies, a connection portion for connecting another member is provided at the other end 20B of the inner member 20, making it difficult to visually confirm the position of the tip of the flexible pipe 12.

[0037] Furthermore, since the position confirmation member 30 is provided further back in the insertion direction than the first outer seal groove 38A, the second outer seal groove 38B, and the third outer seal groove 38C, even when the position confirmation member 30 is provided, sealing between the outer member 40 and the inner member 20 can be easily performed.

[0038] In addition, in this embodiment, the inner member 20 and the outer member 40 are separate bodies, so the pipe joint can be made into different shapes by using an outer member 40 with a different shape on the other end 40B side. For example, by changing only the outer member 40, pipe joints such as sockets, elbows, and tee pipes can be made.

[0039] In this embodiment, the position confirmation member 30 is provided so as to protrude from the other end 20B of the inner member 20, but an opening may be provided on the side surface of the other end 20B of the inner member 20, and the opening may serve as the position confirmation member.

[0040] In addition, in the present embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the flange portion 22 of the inner member 20 is held by the holding member 43, but other configurations may also be used. For example, the inner member 20 can be held to the outer member 40 by fastening the flange portion 22 and the flange portion 42 together with bolts.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, first outer seal groove 38A, second outer seal groove 38B, and third outer seal groove 38C are formed in the outer peripheral surface of inner member 20, and O-rings 38AO, 38BO, and 38CO are disposed therein, but grooves for disposing O-rings 38AO, 38BO, and 38CO may be formed in the inner periphery of outer member 40. Even in this case, a seal can be formed between the inner peripheral surface of outer member 40 and the outer peripheral surface of inner member 20.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the flexible pipe 12 having the outer jacket portion 16 has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to a flexible pipe made of only the corrugated pipe material 14 without the outer jacket portion 16. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10 Pipe fittings 12 Flexible pipe 14 Corrugated pipe material 16 Outer skin 20 Inner member 20A One end 20B Other end 25 Claw member 25A claw 26 Inner seal member 30 Position confirmation member (position confirmation part) 34 Protrusion 36 Tip contact part (contact part) 38 O-ring (outer seal material) 40 Outer member 40A One end 40B Other end 43 Retaining member S Center axis (cylindrical axis)

Claims

1. A pipe joint for connecting at least a corrugated pipe and a flexible pipe having an outer skin covering the outer periphery of the corrugated pipe, an inner member having a cylindrical shape and into which the flexible tube is inserted from one end side in the cylindrical axis direction; an inner seal member that is annular and disposed on the inner periphery of the inner member, and that seals between the outer periphery of the corrugated pipe and the inner periphery of the inner member; a claw member disposed on the inner periphery of the inner member and closer to the front side of the inner seal member in the insertion direction of the corrugated pipe, the claw member engaging with the outer periphery of the corrugated pipe to restrict movement of the corrugated pipe in a direction opposite to the insertion direction; a position confirmation part provided on the inner member, which makes it possible to visually confirm from the outside of the inner member whether the tip of the flexible tube is inserted into the appropriate position of the inner member; an outer member having a cylindrical shape, into which the inner member is inserted from one end side in the cylindrical axis direction and which holds the inner member within the cylindrical outer member; an outer seal member disposed between the inner periphery of the outer member and the outer periphery of the inner member, and sealing the gap between the inner periphery of the outer member and the outer periphery of the inner member; A pipe fitting comprising:

2. A pipe joint for connecting a flexible pipe having at least a corrugated pipe body, an inner member having a cylindrical shape and into which the flexible tube is inserted from one end side in the cylindrical axis direction; an inner seal member that is annular and disposed on the inner periphery of the inner member, and that seals between the outer periphery of the corrugated pipe and the inner periphery of the inner member; a claw member disposed on the inner periphery of the inner member and engaging with the outer periphery of the corrugated tube to restrict movement of the corrugated tube in a direction opposite to the insertion direction; a position confirmation part provided on the inner member, which makes it possible to visually confirm from the outside of the inner member whether the tip of the flexible tube is inserted into the appropriate position of the inner member; an outer member having a cylindrical shape, into which the inner member is inserted from one end side in the cylindrical axis direction and which holds the inner member within the cylindrical outer member; an outer seal member disposed between the inner periphery of the outer member and the outer periphery of the inner member, and sealing the gap between the inner periphery of the outer member and the outer periphery of the inner member; Equipped with The position confirmation portion has a protruding portion that protrudes outward in the axial direction from a circumferential portion of the other end portion of the inner member and is positioned on the circumferential outer side of the corrugated tube, and an abutting portion that is formed at a tip of the protruding portion and against which the tip of the corrugated tube abuts when the flexible tube is inserted into the appropriate position of the inner member. Pipe fittings.

3. 3. The pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein the position confirmation portion is provided on a rear side of the outer seal member in the insertion direction.

4. A method for connecting a flexible pipe to the pipe joint according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: Inserting the flexible tube into the appropriate position from one end side of the inner member; The inner member is inserted into the outer member and held by the outer member. How to connect flexible pipes.

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