JP2001295466A - Pipe material connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lock two pipe materials into a connected condition with simple operation of one locking tool when connecting the pipe materials constituting a column for a construction scaffold, unlock them in a single operation, improve operability, reduce a time for assembling the column constituting pipe materials and thus the scaffold by holding the locking tool at the end of one pipe material at all times, and reducing a manufacturing cost by reducing the number of parts. SOLUTION: A connection short pipe 5 protruded from the lower end of an upper column (a first pipe material) 1 for the scaffold is inserted into the upper end of a lower column (a second pipe material) 11 and the locking tool 21 is fitted to the upper end of the lower column 11. An engagement protruded portion 24 of the locking tool 21 is inserted into a recessed groove 8 of the short pipe 5 through a through-hole 15 at the side of the lower column 11 and the engagement protruded portion 24 is engaged with the locking protruded portion 10 in the recessed groove 8, so that the upper column 1 and the lower column 11 are locked to each other in a connected condition. The locking tool 21 is pulled back so as to be separated from the outer face of a curved wall portion 12 of the lower column 11 for unlocking.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pipe connecting device used for a building scaffold or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, circular pipes are often used as a pipe material for supporting columns of a scaffold for construction. For example, when the height of the scaffold is increased, the pipes are vertically connected to three pipes, two of which are arranged in the longitudinal direction, to form a support. The connecting short pipe is partially inserted into the lower end of the upper pipe, and the upper end of the lower pipe is fitted over the lower part of the short pipe protruding downward from the lower end of the upper pipe. The two ends are butted together, and a connection cover member is fitted over the connection end of the upper and lower tubes, and a stopper pin is inserted through the cover member, the lower tube, and the short tube in a penetrating manner, and the three members are integrally connected. It had been.

[0003]

However, according to such a conventional connecting device with a stopper, the structure is complicated, the operation is troublesome, and the number of parts is large, so that the manufacturing cost is high. . In addition, when the lock of the upper and lower tubing in the connected state is released, it is necessary to make a pin insertion hole in this portion in order to hold the connection cover member and the stopper pin at the upper end of the lower tubing. There was a problem that extra pipe material processing work had to be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. With one operation of a stopper, two pipes can be fixed in a connected state with one touch and locked, so that the pipes can be easily connected to each other. It can be connected securely, and the lock can be released with one touch.It is excellent in operability, and the retainer can always be held at the end of one of the pipes. Installation of such stoppers
An object of the present invention is to provide a tube connecting device which can reduce the number of parts and can reduce the manufacturing cost because the time and effort for dismounting can be reduced, the assembling time can be shortened, and only the stopper is used.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a pipe connecting device according to the present invention has a curved wall portion having an arc shape larger than a semicircle in cross section, and continuous with both side edges of the curved wall portion. An apparatus for connecting an end of a second tubular material having the same shape to an end of a first tubular material formed of a flat wall portion extending in a longitudinal direction in a longitudinal direction of the first tubular material via a stopper. First
At the end of the tube, a curved wall having an arc shape larger than a semicircle in cross section along the inner peripheral surface of the first tube, and a flat wall connected to both side edges thereof and extending in the longitudinal direction. A short pipe for connection having the same cross-sectional shape is attached in a partially inserted state, and a concave groove extending in the longitudinal direction and opening outward is provided in the center of the width of the curved wall portion of the short pipe, A retaining projection is provided in the groove at the outer end of the short pipe, and the retaining member is a left and right clamping wall that clamps the curved wall of the second pipe from both sides and an intermediate connecting wall that connects them. It has a substantially U-shape as viewed from the plane consisting of and has a spring property, and an engaging projection protruding inward is provided at the center of the width of the intermediate connecting wall portion of the stopper. Inwardly protruding ridges are provided at the ends of the left and right holding walls, respectively, and a curved wall near the connection end of the second pipe material. At the center of the width, a through hole is formed to fit the engaging projection of the retaining member, and a connecting short pipe projecting from the end of the first pipe is inserted into the end of the second pipe, and The end of the first tube and the end of the second tube are abutted against each other, and the through-hole on the second tube is opposed to the concave groove of the short tube. In this state, the end of the second tube is prevented from coming off. The stopper is fitted and the intermediate connecting wall of the stopper is in the second position.
By being pressed against the outer surface of the curved wall portion on the tube material side, the engaging convex portion of the stopper is inserted into the concave groove of the short pipe through the through hole on the second tube material side, and the engaging convex portion is formed. Engages with the retaining protrusion in the concave groove to lock the first tube and the second tube in a connected state, and the stopper has an intermediate connecting wall portion with a curved wall on the second tube side. Pulled back away from the outer surface of the portion, the inwardly protruding ridges at the ends of the left and right holding walls of the stopper are engaged with both side edges of the flat wall portion on the second pipe material side,
In addition, the engagement convex portion of the stopper is released from the concave groove of the short pipe and the through hole on the second pipe material side, so that the lock in the connection state between the first pipe material and the second pipe material is released. It is characterized by being done.

[0006]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the drawings.

In this specification, front and rear, left and right are based on FIG. 4, the front is the right side of FIG. 4, the rear is the same left side, and the left is the front side of the drawing sheet and the right is the right side of FIG. It means the back side.

Referring first to FIG. 1, an architectural scaffold (30)
Consists of a plurality of pairs of struts (31) arranged in front and rear, a large number of steps (33) passed between the front and rear struts (31), (31), and a scaffold.
At the required height of (30), the scaffold plate (6) passed horizontally between the left and right steps (33), (33) and the left and right steps (33), (33) Each strut (31) has an upper strut (first tubing) (1) and a lower strut (second tubing) (11) of the present invention. They are mutually connected by a connection device.

Next, referring to FIG. 2 to FIG.
The upper column (1) and the lower column (11) constituting (31) are both made of extruded aluminum (including an aluminum alloy).

The upper support (1) has a curved wall (2) having an arc shape larger than a semicircle in cross section, and a flat wall (3) connected to both side edges and extending in the longitudinal direction. And a reinforcing outer ridge (4) provided at the center of the width of the flat wall portion (3) so as to protrude outward and extend in the longitudinal direction, and the tip of the outer ridge (4) is provided. And the center of the curved wall (2) is equal to the radius of the arc-shaped cross section of the curved wall (2). The connecting short pipe (5) is partially inserted into the lower end (1a) of the upper support (1), and the bolt (16) and nut
Installed by (17).

The short pipe (5) has a curved wall portion having an arc shape larger than a semicircle in cross section along the inner peripheral surface of the upper support (1).
(6) and a flat wall portion (7) connected to both side edges thereof and extending in the longitudinal direction, and has the same cross-sectional shape as the upper support (1). At the center of the width of the curved wall (6) of the short pipe (5), a concave groove (8) extending in the longitudinal direction and opening outward is provided, and the left and right side edges of the bottom wall of the concave groove (8) are provided. At the outer end of the short pipe (5), that is, at the lower end, a retaining projection (stopper) (1) is provided in the groove (8).
0) is provided. In this embodiment, a retaining member made of a synthetic resin block is fitted into the groove (8) to form a retaining protrusion (10), and the retaining protrusion (10) is formed.
And groove (8) Screw (18) penetrating the bottom wall and both inward ridges
(9) It is fixed by a nut (19) inserted between (9). The retaining protrusion (10) may be constituted by a metal block or the like having a size that can be fitted into the concave groove (8).

On the other hand, the lower strut (11) has the same shape as the upper strut (1), and has a curved wall portion (12) having an arc shape larger than a semicircle in cross section, and two side edges thereof. A flat wall portion (13) that is continuous and extends in the longitudinal direction, and a reinforcing outer ridge (14) provided so as to protrude outward and extend in the longitudinal direction at the center of the width of the flat wall portion (13). The distance between the tip of the outwardly ridge (14) and the center of the curved wall (12) is equal to the radius of the arc-shaped cross section of the curved wall (12). Then, a square through-hole (see FIG. 4) is provided in which the engaging projection (24) of the retaining member (21) described later is fitted into the center of the width of the curved wall (12) near the connection end of the lower support (11). 15) has been opened.

The retaining member (21) is made of a synthetic resin such as Duracon (polyacetal resin), has a substantially U-shape when viewed from a plane, has spring properties, and has a curved surface of the lower support (11). Right and left sandwiching walls (22) (22) sandwiching the wall (12) from both sides and having inwardly protruding ridges (25) (25) at the tip
And an intermediate connecting wall portion (23) for connecting these, and an engaging projection (2) protruding inward at the center of the width of the intermediate connecting wall portion (23).
4) is provided. Two small positioning ridges (26) (26) extending in the vertical direction are provided at the center of the width of the left and right holding walls (22) and (22) and slightly behind.

Here, FIG. 2 shows an upper support (1) and a lower support.
3, 4, and 5 a show a locked state after the connection, and FIG. 5 b shows a state in which the lock is released.

Then, when assembling the scaffold (30), the support (3)
In order to connect the upper support (1) and the lower support (11) constituting the first support (1), first, as shown in FIG.
Insert the connecting short pipe (5) projecting from (1a) into the upper end (11a) of the lower support (11), and insert the lower end (1a) of the upper support (1) and the upper end (1) of the lower support (11). 11a) and the through hole (15) on the lower column (11) side and the concave groove of the short pipe (5).
(8) and.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5a, in this state, the right and left holding walls (22) and (2) of the stopper (21) are held.
2) Open the stopper (21) and attach the stopper (21) to the upper end (11) of the lower support (11).
a) and the stopper (21) is pressed rearward, that is, against the lower support (11) side, and the intermediate connecting wall (23) thereof is a curved wall (12) on the lower support (11) side. To the outer surface of the As a result, the engaging projection (24) of the stopper (21) is moved to the lower support (11).
Through the through hole (15), and into the groove (8) of the short pipe (5), and the engaging protrusion (24) engages with the retaining protrusion (10) in the groove (8). At the same time, the upper column (1) and the lower column (11) are locked in a connected state.

In this locked state, even if the upper column (1) is lifted upward, the engaging projection (24) of the retaining member (21) is not slid in the concave portion of the short pipe (5) on the upper column (1) side. In order to engage with the retaining projection (stopper) (10) in the groove (8), connect the upper support (1) to the lower support (1).
It cannot be removed from 1). In addition, lower prop (11)
Is contained in the so-called front half of the stopper (21), and the intermediate connecting wall (23) of the stopper (21) is attached to the outer surface of the curved wall (12) on the side of the lower support (11). Abuts and the retaining device (2
1) Two small ridges for positioning (2)
6) Between the (26), arc portions on both left and right sides of the curved wall portion (12) having an arc shape larger than the semicircle in cross section of the lower support (11) are housed, and the stopper (21) ) Left and right holding wall (22) (22)
However, due to the spring property of the material, the curved wall (12) of the lower support (11)
, So that the stopper (21) does not come off at all.

When the scaffold (30) is dismantled, to release the lock by the retaining device (21), as shown in FIG. Holding wall part (22)
What is necessary is just to pull it back forward against the spring nature of (22). Thereby, the intermediate connecting wall portion (23) of the retaining member (21) floats away from the outer surface of the curved wall portion (12) of the lower support (11),
The inner ridges (25) and (25) for preventing the tip of the left and right holding walls (22) and (22) of the retaining device (21) from coming off are on both sides of the flat wall (23) of the lower support (11). And the engaging projection (24) escapes from the groove (8) of the short pipe (5) and the through hole (15) of the lower support (11),
The lock in the connected state between the upper support (1) and the lower support (11) is released. In a state where the lock is released, the lower support (11) is housed in the so-called rear half of the retaining device (21), and the left and right holding wall portions (22) of the retaining device (21).
The inner ridges (25) and (25) for preventing the tip of (22) from coming off
It engages with both side edges of the flat wall portion (23) of (11), and the small ridges (26) (26) at the center of the left and right holding wall portions (22) (22), respectively.
Are brought into contact with the left and right sides of the curved wall portion (12) having an arc shape larger than the semicircle in cross section of the lower support (11), and the left and right holding wall portions (22) of the stopper (21). ) (22) strongly clamps the curved wall (12) of the lower support (11) due to the resiliency of the material, so that the stopper (21) does not come off, and the lower support It is held at the upper end (11a) of (11).

According to the pipe connecting device of the present invention, the upper support (1) and the lower support (11) can be fixed and locked in a connected state by one operation of the stopper (21). It can be unlocked with one touch, and it is easy to operate, and the upper support (1)
It is possible to reduce the time required for assembling the base and the lower support (11), and hence the time for assembling the scaffold (30). Moreover, the retaining device (2
Since only 1) is used, the number of parts is small and the manufacturing cost is low. When the lock with the upper and lower columns (1) and (11) is released, the stopper (21) is attached to the upper end (11a) of the lower column (11) by the spring property of the material. Can always be held in the rest position, and therefore the stopper (2
Once the (1) is attached to the upper end (11a) of the lower support (11), it is not necessary to remove or attach it, and it is very easy to assemble and disassemble the scaffold (30). Can be very convenient. Needless to say, in order to hold the retaining member in the release position as in the related art, there is no need for any extra tube material processing work such as making a hole in the tube material.

In the above embodiment, the upper and lower columns
(1) The tip of the outer ridge (4) of (11) and the curved wall (2) (1)
The distance from the center of 2) is set to be equal to the radius of the arc-shaped cross section of the curved wall portion (2) (12), respectively. (See Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-100710)
This is because (11) is connected in a tightened state.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the upper column (1) and the lower column (11) are vertically connected by the pipe connecting device of the present invention has been described. The pipe connection device is applied to all cases where pipes are connected to each other, such as when pipes forming horizontal rails of a scaffold are connected in a horizontal state.

[0022]

According to the present invention, as described above, according to the pipe connecting device of the present invention, a short connecting pipe protruding from the end of the first pipe is inserted into the end of the second pipe, and The end of the first tube and the end of the second tube are abutted against each other, and in this state, the stopper is fitted over the end of the second tube, and the intermediate connecting wall portion of the stopper is on the second tube side. Is pressed against the outer surface of the curved wall portion of
It is inserted into the groove of the short pipe through the through hole on the tube material side, the engaging projection engages with the retaining protrusion in the groove, and the first tube and the second tube are locked in a connected state. Is done. Therefore, with one operation of the stopper, the two pipes can be fixed and locked in a connected state with one touch, and the pipes such as the upper and lower columns of the architectural scaffold can be easily and reliably connected to each other. Very convenient. The retaining member is pulled back so that the intermediate connecting wall portion of the retaining member is separated from the outer surface of the curved wall portion on the side of the second tubular member, and an inner convex strip for preventing the left and right clamping wall portions of the retaining member from coming off. Are engaged with both side edges of the flat wall portion on the second pipe material side, and the engaging projections of the stoppers are made to escape from the concave groove of the short pipe and the through hole on the second pipe material side, so that the first
Since the lock in the connected state between the pipe and the second pipe is released, the lock can be released with one touch, and the operability is excellent. Further, since the retaining member can be always held at the end of one of the pipe members, the trouble of mounting and removing the retaining member as in the related art can be omitted, and the assembling time can be reduced. Moreover, since only the stopper is used, the number of parts is small and the manufacturing cost is low.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an architectural framework scaffold using struts connected by a pipe connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing a state before an upper column and a lower column are connected by the pipe connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part after the connection.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a main part after the connection.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a method of operating the retaining device of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5A is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the locked state after the connection between the short pipe on the upper support side and the lower support, which is taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 5B is a horizontal sectional view showing a state where the lock is released.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper support | pillar (1st pipe material) 1a End part 2 Curved wall part 3 Flat wall part 5 Short pipe for connection 6 Curved wall part 7 Flat wall part 8 Groove 9 Nut inner rotation convex part 10 Detent prevention convex Part 11 Lower pillar (second pipe material) 11a End part 12 Curved wall part 13 Flat wall part 15 Insertion hole 21 Retainer 22 Right and left clamping wall part 23 Intermediate connecting wall part 24 Engagement convex part 25 Inward convex part 30 Scaffolding 31 props

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An end portion of a first tubular member comprising a curved wall portion having an arc shape larger than a semicircle in cross section, and a flat wall portion connected to both side edges thereof and extending in a longitudinal direction. Is a device for connecting the end of the second tube in the longitudinal direction of the first tube via a retaining member, wherein the end of the first tube is cross-sectioned along the inner peripheral surface of the first tube. A connecting short pipe having the same cross-sectional shape consisting of a curved wall portion having an arc shape larger than a semicircle and flat wall portions connected to both side edges thereof and extending in the longitudinal direction is partially inserted. Attached, a groove extending in the longitudinal direction and opening outward is provided in the center of the width of the curved wall portion of the short tube, and a retaining protrusion is provided in the groove at the outer end of the short tube, The retainer is composed of left and right holding walls for holding the curved wall of the second pipe material from both sides and an intermediate connecting wall for connecting them. It has a substantially U-shape as viewed from the plane, and has resiliency. An engaging projection protruding inward is provided at the center of the width of the intermediate connecting wall portion of the stopper, and the stopper is clamped on the left and right sides. At the tip of the wall portion, an inward protrusion for prevention is provided, respectively, and a through-hole for fitting the engaging protrusion of the retaining member is provided at the center of the width of the curved wall near the connection end of the second pipe. The connecting short pipe projecting from the end of the first tube is inserted into the end of the second tube, and the end of the first tube and the end of the second tube are abutted with each other, The through-hole on the second pipe material side and the concave groove of the short pipe are opposed to each other, and in this state, the stopper is fitted over the end of the second pipe material,
When the intermediate connecting wall portion of the retaining member is pressed against the outer surface of the curved wall portion on the second tube material side, the engaging convex portion of the retaining member passes through the through-hole on the second tube material side to form the short pipe. The engaging projection is inserted into the groove, and the engaging projection engages with the retaining projection in the groove.
The tube and the second tube are locked in a connected state, and the stopper is pulled back so that the intermediate connecting wall portion of the stopper is separated from the outer surface of the curved wall portion on the second tube side, and the left and right holding of the stopper is performed. The inner projections for preventing the tip of the wall from coming off are engaged with both side edges of the flat wall on the side of the second pipe, and the engaging projections of the stopper are formed by the concave groove of the short pipe and the side of the second pipe. A pipe connecting device, which is released from the through hole of (1) to release a lock in a connected state between the first pipe and the second pipe.