JP2006029402A - Connecting end structure of protective pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce manufacturing costs by a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: A connection end 21 of a sheath pipe 2 can be inserted through an opening 12a in a connecting end 12 of a connection pipe 1. The connecting end 12 of the connection pipe is provided with a stopper piece 14 foldable toward the inside of the opening so as to surround the opening. The stopper piece 14 is formed to be enlarged outside from the connecting end 12. In the connection end 21 of the sheath pipe, a groove 21a is provided in its outer periphery. The connection end of the sheath pipe can press the stopper piece 14 to the inside of the opening 12a. The groove 21a and the stopper piece 14 can be engaged with each other in the connection pipe. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection end structure of a protective pipe for protecting a water supply pipe, a hot water supply pipe, a gas pipe, an electric wire and the like.

As a connecting pipe that passes through a fluid pipe for hot water, water, gas, etc. and is attached to the end of the fluid pipe and protects and keeps the fluid pipe, a "tube end connecting tube" described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-198088 Has been proposed. This pipe end connection tube is formed in a straight tube shape through which a fluid pipe can be inserted, and has an inner diameter that can accommodate a joint attached to the branch header, and a lower end that is engaged with the outer circumference of the sheath pipe. A locking portion is formed. The engaging portion is an annular convex portion, and is fitted to the concave portion on the outer periphery of the sheath tube, and the position of the tube end connecting tube and the sheath tube is fixed in a fitted state with each other. It is a structure (refer FIG. 1 of the said gazette). As another example of the tube for the tube end, a bellows shape is used instead of a straight tube, and a locking member that also serves as a sealant is interposed between the recess of the tube for the tube end and the recess on the outer periphery. Thus, both the tube-end connecting tube and the sheath tube are connected (see FIG. 5 of the above publication).
In addition, in the “fluid pipe terminal connector” described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-32553, the terminal connector is formed in a tubular shape through which a fluid pipe can be inserted, and has a funnel-shaped covering provided at the upper end. The portion covers the outside of the joint constituting the connection end portion of the header, and the other end is an insertion portion that is inserted into the sheath tube by a predetermined length. A large number of annular protrusions are formed on the outer surface of the insertion portion, and the terminal connector is prevented from slipping by engaging with a sealing cap inserted into the end portion of the sheath tube through a through hole. (See FIG. 4 of the above publication). The connection between the insertion part of the terminal connector and the sheath tube is to engage the annular convex part with the through hole of the sealing cap. When the insertion portion is inserted into the sheath tube, the projections and depressions on the insertion portion are engaged with the projections and recesses on the inner surface of the sheath tube.
A fluid pipe branched from the header (“branch pipe” in the above publication) is inserted into the terminal connector and the sheath pipe, and the end of the fluid pipe is piped to a kitchen, a washroom, a toilet, and the like.
JP-A-7-198088 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-32553

The structure of the connection end portion disclosed in the “tube end connection tube” described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-198088 includes an annular convex portion provided on the tube end connection tube, and an outer periphery of the sheath tube. Are connected to each other, or a connecting member is interposed between the concave portion of the connection tube for the bellows-like tube end portion and the concave portion on the outer periphery of the sheath tube to connect the pipe end portion. It connects both the tube and the sheath tube. According to the former connection means by the engagement composed of the convex portion and the concave portion, there is a problem that the engagement accuracy is required in order to achieve a reliable connection, and the molding is costly. According to the connection means using the latter locking member, parts that are independent from the tube connecting tube for the tube end and the sheath tube are required, which is troublesome to handle and has a problem of high manufacturing costs.
In another example in which an unevenness that engages with an inner surface unevenness of a sheath tube as an example disclosed in “Terminal Connector for Fluid Pipe” disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-32553 is provided on the outer surface of the insertion portion. However, the precision for engaging the unevenness of the insertion portion with the unevenness of the inner surface of the sheath tube is required.
In each of the conventional examples, in order to achieve reliable engagement, the pipe end connection tube and the terminal connector are each formed by injection molding. However, there is a problem that the injection molding increases the manufacturing cost. Some improvement was expected to solve the problem.
An object of the present invention is to reduce the manufacturing cost by a simple configuration.

The first feature of the present invention is that the connection end of the other protective tube can be inserted from the opening of the connection end of the one protective tube, and the connection end of the one protective tube surrounds the opening. And a stopper piece that can be bent to the inside of the opening is integrally provided, a groove is provided on the outer periphery of the connection end of the other protective tube, and the connection end of the other protective tube is The stopper piece can be pushed into the opening, and the groove and the stopper piece can be engaged with each other in the one protective tube.
The second feature of the present invention resides in that the stopper piece is formed in an expanded shape outside the connection end portion on the premise of the first feature.
The third feature of the present invention is that, on the premise of the first or second feature, the other protective tube is a sheath tube provided with a groove over its entire length.
According to a fourth feature of the present invention, on the premise of the first, second or third feature, one of the protective tubes has a second connection end on the side facing the connection end. The connection pipe can be connected to the third protection pipe at the second connection end.
The fifth feature of the present invention is that the third protective tube is a terminal tube on the premise of the fourth feature.

  According to the present invention, the structure is simple, and the stopper piece is integrally formed at the connection end of one protective tube so that it can be bent inward and outward. Therefore, one protective tube is formed by blow molding. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced, and the stopper piece is formed integrally with the connection end portion, and is not a component independent of the connection end portion, so that it is easy to handle and manufacture.

  In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the connecting pipe 1 that is the first protective pipe is connected to the sheath pipe 2 that is the second protective pipe at one of the connection ends (lower side in the figure) and the other connection end. Are connected to the terminal tube 3 which is a third protective tube.

The connecting pipe 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The connecting pipe 1 is a plastic pipe formed by a blow molding method, and includes a main body portion 11, a first connecting end portion 12, and a second connecting end portion 13. The main body 11 has a plurality of grooves formed on the entire outer peripheral surface.
The first connection end portion 12 is provided on one end (lower end in FIG. 4) side of the connection pipe 1 and is formed in an outwardly expanded shape (expanded shape), that is, a cross-sectional “C” shape. . The connecting end 12 is provided with a stopper piece 14 that can be bent inward and outward so as to surround the opening 12a. The stopper piece 14 of the first connecting end 12 is bent inside the opening 12a as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 when connected, and projects outward as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 before connection. It is in the state that was done. Thus, the stopper piece 14 can be bent toward the inside or the outside of the connection end portion 12.
The second connection end portion 13 is provided at the other end (upper end in FIG. 4) of the connection pipe 1 and is formed of a cylindrical body smaller than the inner diameter of the main body portion 11. A female screw 13 a is formed in a spiral shape on the inner peripheral surface of the second connection end 13.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sheath tube 2 has one end side (upper end side) as a connection end portion 21, and grooves 21 a are provided on the outer periphery at equal intervals over the entire length. The sheath tube 2 is a plastic tube formed by injection molding.

The terminal tube 3 is a plastic tube in which the outer peripheral surface of the tube main body is formed in a bellows shape by the groove 31 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and can extend and contract in the axial direction of the tube main body. The groove 31 in the terminal pipe 3 is V-shaped as shown in FIG. 8, and one side 31a constituting the V-shape is shorter than the other side 31b. For this reason, the terminal tube 3 can maintain this form in the contracted state, and is not automatically expanded and restored by a spring force, and even when it is expanded as shown in FIG. The state can be maintained.
A hook-like cover portion 32 is provided at one end (upper end) of the terminal tube 3, and this cover portion has an internal shape that can cover a joint that is not shown but serves as a connection port of the header. ing. A connecting end 33 is provided at the other end (lower end) of the terminal tube 3. A male screw 33a is formed on the upper outer periphery of the connection end 33, and a rib-like engagement portion 33b is formed on the entire lower outer periphery.

The connection relationship between the connecting tube 1 and the sheath tube 2 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connection end 21 of the sheath tube 2 is inserted into the main body 11 from the opening 12 a of the first connection end 12 in the connection tube 1. In a state where the sheath tube 2 is inserted, the stopper piece 14 of the connection tube 1 is engaged with the groove 21 a of the sheath tube 2. By this engagement, the connecting tube 1 is securely coupled to the sheath tube 2.
In order to release the connection between the connecting tube 1 and the sheath tube 2, when the sheath tube is pulled strongly downward in FIG. 1, the groove 21 a engaged with the stopper piece 14 is lowered. In this process, the stopper piece is pulled downward at the tip, and is eventually elastically deformed and bent downward, so that the stopper function for the groove is weakened, so that the sheath pipe is connected further by pulling the sheath pipe further downward. Drawn from 1.
On the contrary, in order to connect the sheath tube 2 to the connection tube 1, when the connection end 21 of the sheath tube is pushed into the opening 12a, the stopper piece 14 is pressed upward, so that the tip end side thereof is elastically deformed. The stopper piece 14 is engaged with the groove 21a when the connecting end 21 of the sheath tube is inserted into the main body 11 of the connecting tube 1 and abuts on the upper part of the inner wall of the main body. Since the stopper piece 14 is bent inward and engages with the groove 21a of the sheath tube 2, the sheath tube is less likely to be detached downward from the connection tube 1, and the coupling between the sheath tube and the connection tube is ensured. Become.
The connection relationship between the connecting pipe 1 and the terminal pipe 3 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connection end 33 of the terminal tube 3 is fitted to the second connection end 13 of the connection tube 1, and the male screw 33 a of the connection end 33 is the second connection end. It is screwed to the female screw 13a of the portion 13.

A method for using the connecting pipe 1 will be described.
First, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, from the state in which the tip of the connection end 33 of the terminal tube 3 is fitted into the opening of the second connection end 13 of the connection tube 1, the terminal tube or connection When either one of the pipes is turned, the connection end 33 gradually enters the second connection end 13 while the male thread 33a of the terminal pipe engages with the female thread 13a (FIG. 1), and eventually the connection end of the terminal pipe The part is screwed to the second connecting end of the connecting tube.
Next, the sheath tube 2 is moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 10 toward the opening 12a of the first connection end 12 of the connection tube 1, and the connection end 21 of the sheath tube is pushed into the opening 12a. Since the tip end side of the opening side of the piece 14 is pressed upward, the whole is elastically deformed and bent upward, and the connecting end portion 21 of the sheath tube is inserted into the main body portion 11 of the connecting tube 1, As shown in FIG. 1, the stopper piece 14 is engaged with the groove 21 a of the sheath tube 2 in a state where the stopper piece 14 is bent inward as shown in FIG. By this engagement, the sheath tube 2 is coupled to the connecting tube 1 and is also coupled to the terminal tube 3 through the connecting tube.
Thereafter, although not shown, for example, the upper end of the flowing water pipe passes through the inside of the sheath pipe from the lower end side of the sheath pipe 2 shown in FIG. 2, and the upper end is raised to penetrate the sheath pipe, the connecting pipe 1 and the terminal pipe 3. Then, when it protrudes from the end pipe, it is pulled further upward to be connected to a header joint (not shown).

  According to the connecting pipe 1 shown in FIG. 1, since the first connecting end 12 is formed in a shape (expanded shape) that is expanded outward, the stopper piece 14 is connected to the connecting end 21 of the sheath pipe 2. During insertion, the tube is smoothly bent inward, and the insertion operation of the sheath tube 2 is facilitated. Further, when engaged, the sheath tube 2 is bent into a cross-section “L” shape, so that strong engagement is possible. Further, since the stopper piece 14 is integrally formed on the first connecting end portion 12 so as to be bent inward and outward, the connecting pipe 1 can be formed by a blow molding method, so that it is compared with that formed by an injection molding method. Manufacturing costs can be greatly reduced. The stopper piece 14 exhibits a function similar to that of the engaging member, but is formed integrally with the first connection end 12 and is easy to handle because it is not a component independent of the first connection end. In addition, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Although the connecting pipe 1 is formed short in FIG. 1, it may be long, and the third protective pipe connected to the connecting pipe is not limited to the terminal pipe 3. The first connection end 12 does not necessarily need to be formed in an expanded shape as shown in FIG.
The scope of application of the present invention is not limited to the connection end portion of the protective tube, but can also be used as a connection end portion structure of a normal tubular body.

It is an expanded sectional view which shows the structure of the connection end part of the protective tube which concerns on this invention. It is a front view which shows the connection state of the protective tube which concerns on this invention. It is a front view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the state shown in FIG. It is an expanded sectional view of a connecting pipe in a connected state. It is an expanded sectional view of a connecting pipe in the state before connection. It is an enlarged front view of a connecting pipe in a state before connection. FIG. 7 is a bottom view of FIG. 6. It is a front view which shows a terminal tube. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the lower end part of a terminal pipe. It is a front view which shows the straight state which inserts a sheath pipe in a connection pipe.

Explanation of symbols

1 Connection pipe (first protective pipe)
11 Body 12 First connection end (connection end)
12a Opening 13 Second connection end (connection end)
13a Female thread 14 Stopper piece 2 Sheath tube (second protective tube)
21 connection end 21a groove 3 terminal tube (third protective tube)
31 groove

Claims (5)

The connection end of the other protective tube can be inserted from the opening of the connection end of one protective tube,
The connection end of the one protective tube is integrally provided with a stopper piece that surrounds the opening and can be bent to the inside of the opening.
A groove is provided on the outer periphery of the connection end of the other protective tube,
The connecting end of the other protective tube is capable of pushing the stopper piece into the opening, and the groove and the stopper piece are engageable with each other in the one protective tube. Protection tube connection end structure. 2. The connecting end structure of a protective tube according to claim 1, wherein the stopper piece is formed to expand outward from the connecting end. The protective tube connecting end structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the other protective tube is a sheath tube provided with a groove over its entire length. One protective tube is provided with a second connection end on the side facing the connection end, and a connection tube to which a third protective tube can be connected to the second connection end. The connection end structure of the protective tube according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3. 5. The protective tube connecting end structure according to claim 4, wherein the third protective tube is a terminal tube.

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