JP2004278907A - Flexible duct - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and inexpensively connect flexible ducts of different inner diameters, to improve the bendability and to prevent the air leakage and the damage. <P>SOLUTION: This flexible duct 10 comprises a heat insulating material 14, an inner sheath 13, an outer sheath 15 and a reinforcement member 17. At least one end part of the flexible duct 10 has a small-diameter part 11 having an outer diameter smaller than an intermediate part of the flexible duct 10, a ring-shaped supporting band 18 is mounted on the small-diameter part 11 to improve the rigidity of the small-diameter part 11 and to hold its shape, to be used as an entry point 10a. This flexible duct 10 comprises the entry point 10a having an outer diameter D1 fittable to an inner diameter D2 of another flexible duct 20, and the entry point 10a is fitted into an end opening 20a of the other flexible duct 20, to fix the entry point 10a in a state of being closely kept into contact with an inner face of the other flexible duct 20, whereby the flexible ducts 10, 20 of different inner diameters are directly connected and integrated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a flexible (flexible and bendable) duct used for air conditioning equipment.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a duct used for air conditioning equipment, a heat insulating material provided as an intermediate layer using a material such as glass wool, an inner skin and an outer skin provided on the inner and outer circumferences thereof, and inside the heat insulating material. Flexible ducts are known which include a spirally wound steel wire that is positioned to retain the shape of a tube. Since the duct is flexible and can be bent to an arbitrary angle to some extent, it has flexibility, and is used for connecting ducts or a duct and a box, a chamber, or the like in air conditioning piping work.
[0003]
When piping is performed using the above-described flexible duct, connection between flexible ducts having the same diameter (inner diameter) is performed using a pipe joint called a nipple.
As shown in FIG. 6, when connecting flexible ducts 60 and 61 having different diameters, cylindrical portions 71 and 72 having different diameters are formed at both ends, and the peripheral diameter gradually decreases at an intermediate portion. A reducer (diameter reduction pipe) 70 having a throttle portion 73 is used, and this reducer 70 is interposed between the flexible ducts 60 and 61 as a joint, and each of the flexible ducts 60 and 61 is provided outside the cylindrical portions 71 and 72. By inserting the end openings, the flexible ducts 60 and 61 are connected to each other. The material of the reducer 70 is generally a galvanized steel plate, but a synthetic resin material is also known as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-1657. Although those made of synthetic resin are lighter and easier to handle than those made of metal, they have a problem in terms of heat resistance.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-1657
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the reducer 70 as shown in the prior art is used, two steps of (1) connecting the reducer and the duct, and (2) connecting the reducer and covering the reducer with an insulating heat insulating material at the site of the air conditioning piping work. Therefore, there is a problem that the construction is complicated and the cost is high.
Further, since the reducer 70 has a predetermined length L1 in the longitudinal direction, the flexibility of the entire flexible duct is deteriorated by interposing the reducer 70 between the flexible ducts 60 and 61, and the flexibility is reduced. There is. If the bend is large, air leakage may occur between the reducer 70 and the flexible ducts 60 and 61, and the ends of the reducer 70 may bite into the flexible ducts 60 and 61 to cause damage.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to enable connection of flexible ducts having different inner diameters easily and at low cost, and further, to improve flexibility. The purpose is to prevent air leakage and damage.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) A heat insulating material provided as an intermediate layer, an inner skin and an outer skin provided on inner and outer peripheries thereof, and a reinforcing member positioned inside the heat insulating material and holding a tube shape are provided. In flexible ducts,
On at least one end of the flexible duct, a small-diameter portion having an outer diameter smaller than the intermediate portion of the flexible duct is formed, and the small-diameter portion has a ring-shaped support band that increases the rigidity of the small-diameter portion and retains its shape. The flexible duct is provided as an insertion port.
(2) The ring-shaped support band is formed in a band shape having a width that fits within the width of the small-diameter portion, and the one provided on the outer periphery of the small-diameter portion is easy to manufacture, and is a preferred embodiment. is there.
(3) The ring-shaped support band is formed in a cylindrical shape having a diameter adapted to the inner diameter of the flexible duct, is provided on the inner periphery of the small-diameter portion, and has one end on the end side of the flexible duct. In addition, a configuration in which a flange portion bent outward in the circumferential direction is formed is one of preferred embodiments.
(4) In the above (3), in the ring-shaped support band, the claws are heat-insulated at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction from the inner surface to the outer surface in the band-shaped portion forming the cylindrical portion of the support band. One that is fixed to the flexible duct by cutting into the interior of the material is one of the preferred embodiments.
[0008]
(5) Inserting the insertion port of the flexible duct according to claim 1 provided with an insertion port formed to an outer diameter adapted to the inner diameter of another flexible duct, into the end opening of another flexible duct, The flexible duct is formed by directly connecting and integrating flexible ducts having different inner diameters by fixing the insertion port in close contact with the inner surface of the another flexible duct.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings by way of examples.
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flexible duct 10, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flexible duct 10 and a flexible duct 20 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the connection state of the flexible duct 10 and the flexible duct 20. 4A is a longitudinal sectional view of the flexible duct 10 and the flexible duct 20 according to the second embodiment, FIG. 4B is a partially enlarged view of the support band 18, and FIG. 5 is a flexible duct 10 and a flexible according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a connection state of a duct 20. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted as appropriate.
[0010]
<Example 1>
As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible duct 10 has an annular shape with a circular cross section, and includes a heat insulating material 14 provided as an intermediate layer and interior skins 13 (provided on the inner and outer circumferences of the heat insulating material 14, respectively). (Indicated by a thick solid line), an outer skin 15, and a reinforcing member 17 for maintaining a tube shape. It is formed in a cylindrical shape having a constant inner diameter as a whole.
[0011]
The heat insulating material 14 is made of a non-combustible material such as glass wool, rock wool, and ceramic wool, and exhibits heat retention and noise reduction. The interior skin 13 covers the inner surface of the heat insulating material 14 and is made of a sheet or film such as a nonwoven fabric or a glass cloth. The outer skin 15 covers the outer surface of the heat insulating material 14, and is made of a single-layer sheet or a composite sheet using a synthetic resin. As the synthetic resin, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate is preferably used. The exterior skin 15 may be configured to have an aluminum layer. Normally, the outer cover 15 is folded back to the inner surface side of the flexible duct 10 at both ends of the flexible duct 10 so as to cover the end surface of the heat insulating material 14 and the ends are fixed by a stapler or the like (not shown).
[0012]
The reinforcing member 17 holding the tube shape is usually made of a spirally wound steel wire. The reinforcing member 17 is disposed, for example, between the heat insulating material 14 and the interior skin 13 and is adhered to the interior skin 13, but may be arranged inside the interior skin 13, The engagement relationship can be set as appropriate. For example, a band-shaped interior skin may be spirally wound and overlapped and joined at an edge portion, and the reinforcement member may be positioned in the joined overlapping portion so that the reinforcement member is covered with the interior skin. Good.
The heat insulating material 14, the interior skin 13 and the exterior skin 15 are not usually bonded to each other in order to ensure flexibility, but may be provided with an appropriate bonding portion.
[0013]
At one end of the flexible duct 10, a small-diameter portion 11 (a cylindrical portion having a width T1) having an outer diameter smaller than that of an intermediate portion of the flexible duct 10 is formed. And a ring-shaped support band 18 for maintaining the shape is provided as an insertion port 10a. That is, the small diameter portion 11 provided with the support band 18 becomes the insertion port 10a.
The width T1 of the small diameter portion 11 depends on the size of the duct, but usually about 50 mm is sufficient. Since the heat insulating material 14 is formed of a compressible material, the small-diameter portion 11 can be formed by compressing the end of the flexible duct 10 from the outer peripheral side toward the center. In order to maintain the shape compressed to a small diameter, the adhesive tape 12 such as an aluminum tape may be wound and fixed (shown with a thick solid line only on the right side of FIG. 1 and the other end). The other end of the flexible duct 10 has a small diameter portion 11 except that the support band 18 is not provided, and other configurations are the same as those of the one end.
[0014]
The ring-shaped support band 18 is formed in a band shape having a width that fits within the width T1 of the small diameter portion 11. The support band 18 is provided on the outer periphery of the small diameter portion 11. The support band 18 is usually formed using a metal plate such as a steel plate or a stainless steel plate. However, as long as the rigidity of the small diameter portion 11 can be increased and its shape can be maintained, a synthetic resin material or the like is appropriately used. May be used. The support band 18 may have a gap like an endless ring shape or a C shape bent in an annular shape.
The fixing method of the support band 18 to the small-diameter portion 11 of the flexible duct 10 is, for example, as shown in the figure, by fixing an adhesive tape 19 (indicated by a thick solid line) such as an aluminum tape from the outer surface of the support band 18. This is convenient, but is not limited in any way.
Since the thickness of the support band 18 is about several mm at most, the outer diameter D1 of the insertion port 10a including the support band 18 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion 11 and the middle of the flexible duct 10. Part smaller than the part.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2, the outer diameter D1 of the insertion port 10a including the support band 18 is formed to have a size compatible with the inner diameter D2 of another flexible duct 20 to be connected. In other words, another flexible duct 20 to be connected has an inner diameter D2 that matches the outer diameter D1 of the insertion port 10a. Usually, the outer diameter D1 of the insertion port 10a and the inner diameter D2 of another flexible duct 20 are formed to have substantially the same size. The basic configuration of another flexible duct 20 to be connected is the same as that of the flexible duct 10, and a support band can be provided at the end opposite to the end opening 20a, similarly to the flexible duct 10.
[0016]
The connection between the flexible duct 10 and another flexible duct 20 is performed by inserting the insertion port 10a of the flexible duct 10 into the end opening 20a of the other flexible duct 20, as shown by an arrow in FIG. At this time, since the insertion port 10a is formed to have a smaller outer diameter than the intermediate portion of the flexible duct 10 as described above, the end face of the flexible duct 20 is located on the center side of the insertion port 10a of the flexible duct 10. The flexible duct 10 can be inserted at an appropriate position with respect to the flexible duct 20 because the flexible duct 10 can be locked at the end (the center end of the small diameter portion 11).
By performing the insertion work, as shown in FIG. 3, the insertion port 10a of the flexible duct 10 is fitted inside the end opening 20a of another flexible duct 20, and the insertion port 10a is connected to another flexible duct 20. Is almost in close contact with the inner surface of the substrate.
[0017]
By fixing the insertion port 10a of the flexible duct 10 in close contact with the inner surface of another flexible duct 20, the flexible ducts 10 and 20 having different inner diameters are directly connected, and an integrated flexible duct is obtained. The insertion port 10a is fixed to the flexible duct 20 by, for example, a method of penetrating a plurality of screws 40 in the circumferential direction from the outside of the end portion 20b of the flexible duct 20 and fixing it to the support band 18 or fixing. A method in which a binding band is appropriately wound around the outside of the end portion 20b of the duct 20 and fastened and fixed, or a method in which these are used in combination is exemplified. At the time of insertion, it goes without saying that an adhesive can be used.
The ring-shaped support band 18 at the insertion port 10a of the flexible duct 10 increases the rigidity of the end portion (small diameter portion) of the flexible duct 10 and retains its shape. Since it bears the load in the direction, it functions as a support when fixing the insertion port 10a and the flexible duct 20 located on the outer periphery thereof, and the connection is made firmly and reliably. When such a support band 18 is not provided, the end of the flexible duct 10 cannot function sufficiently as an insertion port due to insufficient rigidity, and cannot be firmly and reliably fixed to the flexible duct 20. In addition, sufficient airtightness of the connection portion cannot be obtained.
[0018]
After the connection operation is completed, if necessary, a heat insulating material may be wound around the outside of the end portion 20b of the flexible duct 20, which is a connection portion between the flexible ducts 10, 20, to cover the flexible duct.
[0019]
In addition, the insertion port of another flexible duct having the same configuration as the flexible duct 10 having an insertion port formed with an outer diameter adapted to the inner diameter of the flexible duct 10 is connected to the other end of the flexible duct 10. And the insertion port can be fixed in a state where the insertion port is in close contact with the inner surface of the flexible duct 10. By repeatedly performing such connection sequentially, three or more flexible ducts having different inner diameters can be connected and integrated, and according to this, the integrated inner diameter is gradually reduced. A flexible duct can be easily obtained.
[0020]
<Example 2>
Example 2 shown in FIG. 4 shows an example in which a ring-shaped support band 18 is provided on the inner periphery of the small diameter portion 11. The support band 18 is formed in a tubular shape having a diameter that matches the inner diameter of the flexible duct 10, and the band-shaped portion forming the tubular portion has a width substantially equal to the width T1 of the small diameter portion 11. Further, a flange portion 18a bent outward in the circumferential direction is formed at one end on the end side of the flexible duct 10. By forming the flange portion 18a, rigidity and shape retention as a support of the support band 18 are enhanced, and insertion into the flexible duct 20 is facilitated. The support band 18 is usually formed using a metal plate such as a steel plate or a stainless steel plate as in the first embodiment.
In the illustrated example, the support band 18 is fixed to the small-diameter portion 11 of the flexible duct 10 by, in the illustrated example of the belt-like portion of the support band 18, erecting the claws 18 b from the inner surface to the outer surface at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction. The claws 18b are fixed by being cut into the inside of the heat insulating material 14 (see a partially enlarged view of the support band 18 in FIG. 4B). By raising and fixing the claws 18b, it is not necessary to use screws or the like, and the fixing operation is simplified. The claw 18b is preferably punched out in a V-shape or a U-shape, leaving the connecting portion 18c for connecting to the support band 18 at the center side of the flexible duct 10, and standing up using the connecting portion 18c as a fulcrum. The nail 18b can be raised by inserting the support band 18 into a predetermined position inside the small-diameter portion 11 and then pressing with a tool. In addition, by setting the angle α for raising the claw 18b to be less than 90 °, the claw 18b is securely locked in the heat insulating material 14 of the flexible duct 10, and the support band 18 is more reliably separated from the flexible duct 10. Can be prevented.
The outer diameter D1 of the insertion port 10a in which the support band 18 is provided on the inner periphery of the small-diameter portion 11 is equal to the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion 11, and is smaller than the intermediate portion of the flexible duct 10. Reference numeral 12 denotes an adhesive tape 12 such as an aluminum tape wound and fixed in order to maintain a shape in which the small-diameter portion 11 is compressed to a small diameter, as described above.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 4, the outer diameter D1 of the insertion port 10a is formed to have a size compatible with the inner diameter D2 of another flexible duct 20 to be connected. The basic configuration of another flexible duct 20 to be connected is the same as that of the flexible duct 10, and a support band can be provided at the end opposite to the end opening 20a, similarly to the flexible duct 10. This is the same as in the first embodiment. .
[0022]
The connection between the flexible duct 10 and another flexible duct 20 is performed by inserting the insertion port 10a of the flexible duct 10 into the end opening 20a of the other flexible duct 20, as shown by an arrow in FIG. At this time, since the insertion port 10a is formed to have a smaller outer diameter than the intermediate portion of the flexible duct 10 as described above, the end face of the flexible duct 20 is located on the center side of the insertion port 10a of the flexible duct 10. The flexible duct 10 can be inserted at an appropriate position with respect to the flexible duct 20 because the flexible duct 10 can be locked at the end (the center end of the small diameter portion 11).
By performing the insertion work, as shown in FIG. 5, the insertion port 10a of the flexible duct 10 is fitted inside the end opening 20a of another flexible duct 20, and the insertion port 10a is connected to another flexible duct 20. Is almost in close contact with the inner surface of the substrate.
[0023]
By fixing the insertion port 10a of the flexible duct 10 in close contact with the inner surface of another flexible duct 20, the flexible ducts 10 and 20 having different inner diameters are directly connected, and an integrated flexible duct is obtained. For fixing the insertion port 10a and the flexible duct 20, for example, as in the case of the first embodiment, a plurality of screws 40 are pierced in the circumferential direction from the outside of the end 20b of the flexible duct 20 to the support band 18. A method of stopping and fixing, a method of appropriately wrapping a binding band around the end 20b of the flexible duct 20 to fasten and fix it, and a method of using these together are used. At the time of insertion, it goes without saying that an adhesive can be used.
The ring-shaped support band 18 at the insertion port 10a of the flexible duct 10 increases the rigidity of the end portion (small diameter portion) of the flexible duct 10 and retains its shape. Since it bears the load in the direction, it functions as a support when fixing the insertion port 10a and the flexible duct 20 located on the outer periphery thereof, and the connection is made firmly and reliably. When such a support band 18 is not provided, the end of the flexible duct 10 cannot function sufficiently as an insertion port due to insufficient rigidity, and cannot be firmly and reliably fixed to the flexible duct 20. In addition, sufficient airtightness of the connection portion cannot be obtained.
This is the same as the case of the first embodiment in that the processing after the connection work is completed and that three or more flexible ducts having different inner diameters can be connected and integrated.
[0024]
As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified and added within the scope of the present invention. It is. Although the connection between the flexible duct 10 and the flexible duct 20 has been described as an example, the flexible duct 10 may be connected by inserting the insertion port 10a into an opening of another type of duct or box.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
(1) According to the first aspect of the invention, flexible ducts having different inner diameters can be directly connected without interposing a reducer, and only one connection is required. It becomes something. Furthermore, since the flexible duct can be directly connected at the end without interposing a reducer having a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction, the flexibility can be improved and the flexibility is excellent. The airtightness of the connection portion can be maintained well, and air leakage and damage to the flexible duct can be prevented.
In addition, a small-diameter portion having an outer diameter smaller than the middle portion of the flexible duct can lock another flexible duct to be connected at a predetermined position, or the small-diameter portion serves as a guide for insertion, so that flexible ducts are connected to each other. Can be reliably performed at an appropriate position.
Also, unlike using a synthetic resin reducer, the weight can be reduced while ensuring heat resistance.
[0026]
(2) According to the second aspect of the invention, the flexible duct as described above is simple to manufacture and economical.
(3) According to the third aspect of the present invention, the rigidity and shape retention of the support band as the support are enhanced, and the flexible band can be easily and securely inserted into the flexible duct. it can.
(4) According to the invention as set forth in claim 4, by raising and fixing the claws, it is not necessary to use screws or the like, and the work of fixing the support band to the flexible duct is simplified.
[0027]
(5) In addition, the invention according to claim 5 uses a flexible duct having the above-described effects. The flexible duct has improved flexibility and is easy to handle, and has excellent flexibility. Flexible ducts that are directly connected and integrated are manufactured in advance at the factory, regardless of on-site construction, and are suitable for being brought into the site and used. The construction work is omitted, the labor is greatly reduced, and the construction period can be shortened and the quality can be stabilized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flexible duct 10 according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flexible duct 10 and a flexible duct 20 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a connection state between the flexible duct 10 and the flexible duct 20 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4A is a longitudinal sectional view of a flexible duct 10 and a flexible duct 20 according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a partially enlarged view of a support band 18.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a connection state between a flexible duct 10 and a flexible duct 20 according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a connection example of a conventional flexible duct using a reducer.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 flexible duct 10 a insertion port 11 small diameter portion 13 interior skin 14 heat insulating material 15 exterior skin 17 reinforcing member 18 support band 20 flexible duct

Claims (5)

In a flexible duct including a heat insulating material provided as an intermediate layer, an inner skin and an outer skin provided on the inner and outer peripheries thereof, and a reinforcing member positioned inside the heat insulating material and holding a tube shape. ,
On at least one end of the flexible duct, a small-diameter portion having an outer diameter smaller than the intermediate portion of the flexible duct is formed, and the small-diameter portion has a ring-shaped support band that increases the rigidity of the small-diameter portion and retains its shape. A flexible duct characterized by being provided as an outlet. The flexible duct according to claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped support band is formed in a band shape having a width that fits within the width of the small-diameter portion, and is provided on an outer periphery of the small-diameter portion. The ring-shaped support band is formed in a cylindrical shape having a diameter adapted to the inner diameter of the flexible duct, is provided on the inner periphery of the small-diameter portion, and has one end on the end side of the flexible duct. The flexible duct according to claim 1, wherein a flange portion bent outward in the direction is formed. In the ring-shaped support band, in the band-shaped portion forming the cylindrical portion of the support band, the claws are erected at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction from the inner surface to the outer surface, and the claws are cut into the heat insulating material, The flexible duct according to claim 3, wherein the flexible duct is fixed to the flexible duct. 5. The insertion port of the flexible duct according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an insertion port formed to have an outer diameter adapted to the inner diameter of another flexible duct. A flexible duct formed by directly connecting and integrating flexible ducts having different inner diameters by fixing the insertion port in close contact with the inner surface of the another flexible duct.

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