JP2008039127A - Pipe connecting structure and universal joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pipe connecting structure and a universal joint which can enlarge the connecting angle of two pipe members without lowering the connecting strength between a connecting end part and an acceptor part and reducing the flow rate. <P>SOLUTION: A spherical connecting end part 13 connected to the other pipe member 12 is formed at an end part of one pipe member 11, and an acceptor part 15 into which the connecting end part 13 of the pipe member 11 is inserted turnably around its center is formed in one end part of the other pipe member 12. Thereby, the one pipe member 11 is connected turnably with the other pipe member 12 around the center of the connecting end part 13 so that the angle θ of the axes of the two pipe members 11, 12 can be adjusted. In the pipe member 11, a channel part 23 extending to the circumferential direction of the pipe member for accepting the end part 15a of the acceptor part 15 when the pipe member is turned is formed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pipe connection structure and a universal joint for connecting two pipe members to each other so that the angle formed by the axes of two pipe members is variable.

  Conventionally, a spherical connection end formed at the end of one tube member is inserted into a receiving portion formed at the end of the other tube member so as to be rotatable around the center of the connection end. A pipe connection structure for connecting pipe members to each other is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

According to this pipe connection structure, since the connection end portion of the one pipe member is rotatably inserted into the receiving portion of the other pipe member, the one pipe member forms the axis of both pipe members. The angle, that is, the connection angle between both pipe members is connected to the other pipe member so as to be rotatable around the center of the connection end. Thereby, since the connection angle of both pipe members can be freely adjusted within the angle range in which the said one pipe member can be rotated, the arrangement mode of both pipe members can be easily adapted to, for example, a change in the piping direction. be able to.
JP-A-7-12279

  By the way, in the conventional pipe connection structure, the connection angle between both pipe members is maximized when the distal end of the receiving part comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the one pipe member, so the connection angle between both pipe members is increased. Therefore, in order to increase the pivotable angle range of the one tube member, the length of the receiving portion along the axis of the other tube member is reduced, or the outer diameter of the one tube member is reduced. By reducing the overall size, the distance between the distal end of the receiving portion and the outer peripheral surface of the one tube member at the rotational position where the axis of the one tube member coincides with the axis of the other tube member. It is necessary to increase the distance.

  However, if the length dimension of the receiving portion is reduced, the contact area between the connecting end portion and the receiving portion is reduced. Therefore, when the connecting end portion and the receiving portion are joined to each other, their bonding strength is reduced. Further, if the outer diameter of the one pipe member is reduced as a whole, the volume in the one pipe member is reduced, so that the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the one pipe member is greatly reduced.

  Then, the objective of this invention is providing the piping connection structure and universal joint which can enlarge the connection angle of both pipe members, without causing the fall of the joint strength between a connection edge part and a receiving part, and the fall of flow volume. It is in.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a pipe connection structure for connecting two pipe members to each other, wherein one of the pipe members is connected to one end thereof and the other pipe member is connected to the pipe member. The other pipe member has a receiving part into which the connection end part of the one pipe member is rotatably inserted around its center. The one pipe member is rotated around the center of the connection end so that the angle formed by the axis of the two pipe members is variable by inserting the connection end into the receiving part. The one pipe member is movably connected to the other pipe member, and the one pipe member has a groove portion that extends in a circumferential direction of the pipe member and receives the distal end portion of the receiving portion when the pipe member rotates. It is formed.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion has a hemispherical shape having an inner diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the connection end portion, and the tip portion of the receiving portion. Is provided with a retaining member that engages with the connecting end to prevent the connecting end from coming out of the receiving portion, and the retaining member is inserted into the receiving portion. It is attached to the tip of the receiving part later.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the second aspect, the retaining member has an annular shape and is disposed along the distal end portion of the receiving portion. The aperture at one end located on the side away from the tip is smaller than the outer diameter of the connection end.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the present invention, the inner peripheral surface at the tip of the receiving portion extends in the circumferential direction of the tip and opens to the end of the tip. An annular groove portion is formed, and an elastically deformable annular seal member for hermetically sealing between the connection end portion and the receiving portion is disposed in the annular groove portion, and the retaining The member has an annular insertion portion that is inserted into the annular groove portion, and the seal member has a size that allows the connection end portion to be inserted with play, and the insertion portion is inserted into the annular groove portion. Thus, the connection end portion and the receiving portion are sealed by being elastically deformed by being compressed between the insertion portion and the side surface of the annular groove portion.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the pipe members are each made of a thermoplastic resin material, and a heating wire is embedded in the receiving portion. The connecting end portion and the receiving portion are fused to each other by heat of the heating wire.

  The invention according to claim 6 is a universal joint for connecting two pipe members to each other, and includes a tubular first joint body and a tubular second joint body, The joint body has a spherical connection end connected to the second joint body at one end thereof, and the end of one of the pipe members is disposed at the other end of the first joint body. The second joint body has a receiving portion into which the connection end portion of the first joint body is rotatably inserted around its center at one end thereof; The other end of the main body is connected to an end of the other pipe member, and the first joint main body is inserted into the receiving portion so that the axis of the two joint main bodies The first joint body is connected to the second joint body so as to be rotatable around the center of the connection end so that the angle formed is variable. The joint body, extends in the circumferential direction of the 該継 hand body, characterized in that the groove for receiving the distal end portion of the receiving portion during rotation of 該継 hand body is formed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, one of the tube members is inserted into the receiving portion formed at the end of the other tube member with the spherical connection end portion thereof, thereby Since the angle formed is connected to the other pipe member so as to be rotatable around the center of the connection end, the connection angle between the two pipe members is the angle at which the one pipe member can be rotated. Since it can be adjusted freely within the range, the arrangement of both pipe members can be easily adapted to, for example, a change in the piping direction.

  Further, the one pipe member has a groove extending in the circumferential direction of the pipe member and receiving the tip of the receiving part when the pipe member is rotated. The angle formed, that is, the connection angle, becomes maximum when the distal end portion of the receiving portion comes into contact with the bottom surface of the groove portion of the one pipe member. Thereby, when the front-end | tip part of a receiving part contact | abuts to the outer peripheral surface of said one pipe member, the angle which can rotate said 1st pipe member compared with the past where the connection angle of both pipe members becomes the maximum. The range can be increased.

  Therefore, in order to increase the rotatable angle range of the one tube member, the length of the receiving portion along the axis of the other tube member is reduced, or the outer diameter of the one tube member is entirely reduced. It is not necessary to reduce the joint strength between the connecting end and the receiving portion as in the conventional case by reducing the length of the receiving portion when the connecting end and the receiving portion are joined to each other. In addition, the flow rate in the one pipe member is not greatly reduced as much as the outer diameter of the one pipe member is reduced as a whole.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the receiving portion has a hemispherical shape having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the connecting end portion, and the tip end portion of the receiving portion has a connecting end portion from the inside of the receiving portion. A retaining member that engages with the connection end portion is provided to prevent the withdrawal, and the retaining member is attached to the distal end portion of the receiving portion after the connection end portion is inserted into the receiving portion.

  Conventionally, when the receiving part has a hemispherical shape having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the connecting end part, the connecting end part can be easily inserted into the receiving part. When a pulling force is applied in a direction away from the other pipe member, the pulling force causes the connecting end portion to easily come out from the receiving portion. Even if the connecting end is joined to the receiving part by a fusion method or an adhesive, the majority of the pulling force acts as a peeling force to peel the connecting end from the receiving part on the connecting end. The connection between the connection end and the receiving portion is released.

  On the other hand, in order to prevent the connection end from coming off from the receiving part, it is conceivable to form a retaining part integrally with the receiving part at the front end of the receiving part. The leading end of the pipe is caught by the connecting end, and the efficiency of the connecting work of both pipe members deteriorates.

  On the other hand, according to the present invention, as described above, since the receiving portion has a hemispherical shape having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the connecting end portion, the connecting end portion of the one pipe member is provided. When inserting into the receiving part, the connecting end part is easily inserted into the receiving part without the tip part of the receiving part being caught by the connecting end part, and therefore without forcibly expanding the opening of the leading end part of the receiving part. be able to. Thereby, the efficiency of the connection operation | work of both pipe members can be improved reliably.

  In addition, as described above, the one pipe member is provided at the distal end portion of the receiving portion with the retaining member that engages with the connecting end portion in order to prevent the connecting end portion from coming out from the receiving portion. When a pulling force in a direction away from the other pipe member is applied to the other pipe member, the pulling force is received by the retaining member as a compressive force for compressing the retaining member. Can be reliably prevented. Thereby, the cancellation | release of joining between a connection end part and a receiving part by the connection end part pulling out from the inside of a receiving part can be prevented reliably.

  Further, as described above, since the retaining member is attached to the distal end portion of the receiving portion after the connection end portion is inserted into the receiving portion, the retaining member is brought into the receiving portion when the connecting end portion is inserted into the receiving portion. It is possible to reliably prevent the insertion of the connecting end of the.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, since the diameter at one end located on the side away from the tip of the receiving portion of the retaining member is smaller than the outer diameter of the connecting end, one end of the retaining member is connected to the connecting end. Can be engaged. Thereby, it is possible to more easily prevent the connection end portion from coming out from the receiving portion.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the elastically deformable annular seal member disposed in the annular groove portion formed in the inner peripheral surface at the distal end portion of the receiving portion allows insertion of the connection end portion with play. The connecting end portion and the receiving portion are sealed by being elastically deformed by being compressed between the insertion portion and the side surface of the annular groove portion by inserting the insertion portion of the retaining member into the annular groove portion. It has stopped.

  Therefore, when the insertion portion of the retaining member is not inserted into the annular groove portion, a large amount of friction is generated between the connection end portion and the seal member when the connection end portion is inserted into the receiving portion and when the connection end portion is rotated. Since the generation of force is prevented, it is possible to reliably prevent the seal member from interfering with the insertion of the connection end portion into the receiving portion and the rotation of the connection end portion.

  Further, in a state where the insertion portion of the retaining member is inserted into the annular groove portion, the connection end portion receives a tightening force tightened from the periphery thereof from the compression-deformed seal member. Therefore, by inserting the insertion portion of the retaining member into the annular groove portion with the one tube member rotated at a predetermined angle, the one tube member is rotated by a predetermined force by the tightening force from the seal member. It can be held in a posture. Thus, for example, when the connecting end is joined to the receiving portion, the connecting end can be temporarily fixed to the receiving portion, so that both the pipe members are pressed by hand, for example, to hold the both pipe members in a predetermined posture. Therefore, the workability of joining the connection end to the receiving portion can be improved reliably.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, each of the pipe members is made of a thermoplastic resin material, and a heating wire is embedded in the receiving portion, and the connection end portion and the receiving portion are fused to each other by the heat of the heating wire. Therefore, the connection end and the receiving portion can be easily joined to each other by supplying electricity to the heating wire embedded in the receiving portion.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, the first joint body is inserted into the receiving portion formed at the end of the second joint body with the spherical connection end, so that both joint bodies Because the angle formed by the axis is variable, it is connected to the second joint body so that it can rotate around the center of the connection end. It can be adjusted freely within the possible angular range. As a result, the angle formed by the axes of the two pipe members connected to each other via the universal joint according to the present invention, that is, the connection angle can be freely adjusted within the rotatable range of the first joint body. For example, the arrangement of the two pipe members can be easily adapted to a change in the piping direction.

  The first joint body has a groove extending in the circumferential direction of the joint body and receiving the tip of the receiving portion when the joint body is rotated. The angle formed is maximized when the tip of the receiving portion comes into contact with the bottom surface of the groove portion of the first joint body. Thereby, when the front-end | tip part of a receiving part contact | abuts to the outer peripheral surface of a 1st joint main body, compared with the past which the angle which the axis line of both joint main bodies makes becomes the maximum, the 1st joint main body can be rotated. Since the angle range can be increased, the variable range of the connection angle between the two pipe members connected to each other via the universal joint can be increased.

  Accordingly, in order to increase the variable range of the connection angle between the two pipe members, the length of the receiving portion along the axis of the second joint body is reduced or the outer diameter of the first joint body is reduced overall. It is not necessary to reduce the joint strength between the connecting end and the receiving part as in the conventional case by reducing the length of the receiving part when the connecting end and the receiving part are joined together. In addition, the flow rate in the joint body is not greatly reduced as much as the outer diameter of the first joint body is reduced as a whole.

  The present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

  FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a pipe connection structure 10 that connects two pipe members 11 and 12 constituting a pipe line for guiding clean water in the ground.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the pipe members 11 and 12 according to the present invention have a cylindrical shape, and are formed of a resin that can be easily melted by heating, such as polyolefin such as polyethylene and polypropylene. It consists of a cylindrical member.

  One pipe member 11 of the two pipe members 11 and 12 has a connection end 13 to which the other pipe member 12 is connected at one end thereof. The connection end portion 13 has a spherical shape as a whole, and is formed so that the center thereof is located on the axis of the one pipe member 11 in the illustrated example. The connection end 13 is formed with an opening 14 that opens outward in the axial direction of the one of the one pipe members 11. The size of the opening 14 is set so that the opening 14 is not exposed to the outside of the other pipe member 12 when a connection angle, which will be described later, of both the pipe members 11 and 12 becomes maximum.

  The other tube member 12 has a receiving portion 15 at one end of which the connecting end portion 13 of the one tube member 11 is inserted. In the illustrated example, the receiving portion 15 has a hemispherical shape having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the connection end portion 13, the center thereof is located on the axis of the other pipe member 12, and the diameter of the receiving portion 15 is The other pipe member 12 is formed so as to gradually increase outward in the axial direction.

  The connecting end portion 13 of the one pipe member 11 is inserted into the receiving portion so that the center thereof coincides with the center of the receiving portion 15, and in the state of being inserted into the receiving portion 15, Can be rotated. Thus, the one tube member 11 is connected to the other tube member 12 so as to be rotatable around the center of the connection end portion 13 by inserting the connection end portion 13 into the receiving portion 15. .

  On the inner peripheral surface 12a of the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15 of the other pipe member 12, an annular groove portion 16 is formed that extends in the circumferential direction of the distal end portion 15a and opens to the end surface 15b of the distal end portion 15a. An annular seal member 17 that is elastically deformable for hermetically sealing between the receiving portion 15 and the connecting end portion 13 inserted into the receiving portion is disposed in the annular groove portion 16.

  In the illustrated example, the sealing member 17 seals between the connection end portion 13 and the receiving portion 15 by compressing and deforming in the axial direction. Further, in the illustrated example, the seal portion 17 is set so that the inner diameter thereof is larger than the outer diameter of the connection end portion 13 of the one tube member 11 in the no-load state. The insertion of the end 13 is allowed with play.

  The distal end portion 15 a of the receiving portion 15 is provided with a retaining member 18 for preventing the connection end portion 13 from coming out of the receiving portion 15. In the illustrated example, the retaining member 18 has an annular shape as a whole, and is disposed along the distal end portion 15 a of the receiving portion 15. Further, in the illustrated example, the retaining member 18 includes an annular insertion portion 19 inserted into the annular groove portion 16 and one end portion 19a located on the side away from the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15 of the insertion portion. And an annular projecting portion 20 projecting outward from the insertion portion 19.

  The overhanging portion 20 can abut on the end surface 15b of the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15 when the insertion portion 19 is inserted into the annular groove portion 16, and is joined to the end surface by, for example, an adhesive.

  The diameter of the one end portion 19 a of the insertion portion 19 is set to be smaller than the outer diameter of the connection end portion 13. As a result, the one end 19a of the insertion portion 19 is attached to the connecting end 13 from the direction opposite to the pulling direction from the inside of the receiving portion 15 in a state where the retaining member 18 is attached to the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15. Engage. The length of the insertion portion 19 in the axial direction is such that when the insertion portion 19 is inserted into the annular groove portion 16, the other end portion 19 b of the insertion portion 19 is in contact with the sealing member before the overhanging portion 20 abuts on the end surface 15 b of the receiving portion 15. The seal member 17 is set to a size such that the seal member 17 is sandwiched between the insertion portion 19 and the side surface 16a of the annular groove portion 16 in contact with the groove 17. As a result, in a state in which the overhanging portion 20 is in contact with the end surface 15b of the receiving portion 15, a compressive force is applied to compress the sealing member in the axial direction from the side surface 16a of the insertion portion 19 and the annular groove portion 16 to the sealing member 17. Is done.

  In addition, a heating wire 21 is embedded in the receiving portion 15 for fusing the connection end portion 13 and the receiving portion 15 together. The heating wire 21 is made of a metal wire made of, for example, nickel chrome, and is wound in a coil shape along the circumferential direction of the receiving portion 15. At both ends of the heating wire 21, connector pins 22 to which a generator (not shown) for flowing a current through the heating wire 21 are connected are provided. Each connector pin 22 protrudes outward from the receiving portion 15. When a current flows from the generator to the heating wire 21 via each connector pin 22, the heating wire 21 generates heat, as is well known in the art.

  In the pipe connection structure 10 according to the present invention, when the one tube member 11 is rotated, the groove portion for receiving the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15 of the other tube member 12 and the retaining member 18 attached to the distal end portion. 23 is formed on the one pipe member 11.

  The groove portion 23 has an annular shape that goes around the one tube member 11 in the circumferential direction, and is open outward in the radial direction of the one tube member 11. The depth of the groove 23 is set so that the bottom 23 a of the groove is located on the extension of the outline of the connection end 13. As a result, when the one tube member 11 is rotated, the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15 moves on the outer peripheral surface 13a of the connection end portion 13 toward the bottom portion 23a of the groove portion 23, as shown in FIG. , Received in the groove 23. When the retaining member 18 attached to the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15 comes into contact with the bottom portion 23a of the groove portion 23, the angle formed by the axis of the one tube member 11 and the axis of the other tube member 12, that is, both tubes The aforementioned connection angle θ between the members 11 and 12 is maximized.

  When the pipe members 11 and 12 are connected to each other, first, the connecting end portion 13 of the one pipe member 11 is attached before the retaining member 18 is attached to the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15 of the other pipe member 12. Is inserted into the receiving portion 15. At this time, as described above, since the inner diameter of the seal portion 17 allows insertion of the connection end portion 13 of the one pipe member 11 in an unloaded state as described above, the connection end portion 13 and the seal member 17. It is possible to easily insert the connection end 13 into the receiving portion 15 without generating a large frictional force.

  Next, the one pipe member 11 is rotated around the center of the connection end 13 toward a predetermined rotation position. At this time, as described above, since the inner diameter of the seal portion 17 allows insertion of the connection end portion 13 of the one tube member 11 in an unloaded state, the seal portion 17 and the one tube member 11 are sealed. The one tube member 11 can be easily rotated without generating a large frictional force with the member 17. Further, as described above, the size of the opening 14 is set so that the opening 14 is not exposed to the outside of the other tube member 12 when the connection angle θ between the tube members 11 and 12 becomes maximum. Therefore, when the one tube member 11 is rotated to the rotation position where the connection angle θ is maximized, that is, the rotation position where the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15 is received by the groove portion 23, the opening 14 is By being exposed to the outside of the other pipe member 12, it is possible to reliably prevent the fluid flowing in both the pipe members 11, 12 from leaking to the outside of both the pipe members 11, 12 through the opening 14.

  Subsequently, in a state where the one tube member 11 is rotated to a predetermined rotation position, the insertion portion 19 is annularly formed until the protruding portion 20 of the retaining member 18 contacts the end surface 15b of the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15. It inserts in the groove part 16, and the overhang | projection part 20 is joined to the end surface 15b of the receiving part 15 with the adhesive agent which is not shown in figure, for example. At this time, as described above, a compressive force for compressing the seal member in the axial direction is applied to the seal member 17 from the side surface 16a of the insertion portion 19 and the annular groove portion 16. Is compressed and deformed in the axial direction so that the inner diameter and the outer diameter thereof are increased. By the compression deformation of the seal member 17, the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the seal member are pressed against the bottom surface 16 b (see FIG. 1) of the annular groove portion 16 and the outer peripheral surface 13 a of the connection end portion 13, respectively. Thereby, the space between the connection end portion 13 and the receiving portion 15 is hermetically sealed by the seal member 17. Further, in a state where the seal member 17 is compressed and deformed, the connection end portion 13 receives from the seal member 17 a tightening force that is tightened from the periphery thereof. With this tightening force, the one pipe member 11 is held in a predetermined rotational posture.

  In a state where the one tube member 11 is held in a predetermined rotation posture, the heating wire 21 is heated by causing a current to flow from the generator to the heating wire 21 via each connector pin 22. With the heat of the heating wire 21, the outer peripheral surface 13 a of the connection end 13 and the inner peripheral surface 12 a of the receiving portion 15 are melted, and the connecting end 13 and the receiving portion 15 are integrated. Thereafter, the melted portions of the connecting end portion 13 and the receiving portion 15 are solidified, respectively, so that the connecting end portion 13 and the receiving portion 15 are fused to each other. Thereby, the connection end part 13 and the receiving part 15 are mutually joined, and the mutual connection of both the pipe members 11 and 12 is complete | finished.

  According to the present embodiment, as described above, the one tube member 11 has the spherical connection end portion 13 inserted into the receiving portion 15 of the other tube member 12, whereby both the tube members 11, Since the angle formed by the axis of 12 is variable and is connected to the other tube member 12 so as to be rotatable around the center of the connection end 13, the connection angle of both the tube members 11, 12 is determined as described above. Since it can adjust freely within the angle range in which one pipe member 11 can rotate, the arrangement mode of both pipe members 11 and 12 can be easily made to change the direction of piping, for example.

  Further, since the one pipe member 11 is formed with a groove 23 that extends in the circumferential direction of the pipe member and receives the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15 when the pipe member is rotated, both pipes are formed. The connection angle θ between the members 11 and 12 becomes maximum when the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15 comes into contact with the bottom portion 23a of the groove portion 23 of the one pipe member 11. Thereby, when the front-end | tip part 15a of the receiving part 15 contact | abuts to the outer peripheral surface of the said one pipe member 11, said 1st pipe | tube compared with the past where the connection angle (theta) of both the pipe members 11 and 12 becomes the maximum. The angular range in which the member 11 can be rotated can be increased.

  Therefore, in order to increase the angle range in which the one tube member 11 can be rotated, the length of the receiving portion 15 along the axis of the other tube member 12 is reduced, or the outside of the one tube member 11 is removed. Since it is not necessary to reduce the diameter as a whole, when the connection end portion 13 and the receiving portion 15 are joined to each other, the conventional connection end portion 13 and the like by reducing the length of the receiving portion 15 and The joint strength between the receiving portions 15 is not reduced, and the flow rate in the one pipe member is greatly reduced as the outer diameter of the one pipe member 11 is reduced as a whole. Absent.

  Further, as described above, since the receiving portion 15 has a hemispherical shape having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the connecting end portion 13, the connecting end portion 13 of the one pipe member 11 is placed in the receiving portion 15. When inserting into the receiving portion 15, the distal end portion 15 a of the receiving portion 15 does not get caught on the connecting end portion 13, and therefore, the opening of the leading end portion 15 a of the receiving portion 15 is not forcedly expanded. 13 can be easily inserted. Thereby, the efficiency of the connection work of both the pipe members 11 and 12 can be improved reliably.

  Furthermore, as described above, the diameter of the one end portion 19a of the insertion portion 19 of the retaining member 18 provided at the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15 is set to be smaller than the outer diameter of the connection end portion 13. The one end portion 19a of the insertion portion 19 is connected to the connecting end portion 13 from a direction opposite to the direction of pulling out from the receiving portion 15 in a state in which the retaining member 18 is attached to the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15. When the pulling force is applied to the one pipe member 11 in the direction away from the other pipe member 12, the pulling force compresses the insertion portion on the insertion portion 19 of the retaining member 18. Since it is received as a compressive force, it is possible to reliably prevent the connection end 13 from coming out of the receiving portion 15 due to the pulling force. Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent the connection end 13 and the receiving portion 15 from being released due to the connection end 13 being pulled out of the receiving portion 15.

  Further, as described above, the retaining member 18 is attached to the distal end portion 15 a of the receiving portion 15 after the connection end portion 13 is inserted into the receiving portion 15, so that the connecting end portion 13 into the receiving portion 15 is inserted. At the time of insertion, it is possible to reliably prevent the retaining member 18 from interfering with the insertion of the connecting end portion 13 into the receiving portion 15.

  Further, as described above, the elastically deformable annular seal member 17 disposed in the annular groove portion 16 formed in the inner peripheral surface 12a of the distal end portion 15a of the receiving portion 15 plays the insertion of the connection end portion 13 into play. The connecting end by being elastically deformed by being compressed between the insertion portion and the side surface 16a of the annular groove portion 16 by insertion of the insertion portion 19 of the retaining member 18 into the annular groove portion 16. The space between the portion 13 and the receiving portion 15 is sealed.

  Therefore, in a state where the insertion portion 19 of the retaining member 18 is not inserted into the annular groove portion 16, when the connection end portion 13 is inserted into the receiving portion 15 and the connection end portion 13 is rotated, Since a large frictional force is prevented from occurring between the seal member 17 and the seal member 17, it is ensured that the seal member 17 prevents the connection end 13 from being inserted into the receiving portion 15 and the connection end 13 from rotating. Can be prevented.

  In addition, in a state where the insertion portion 19 of the retaining member 18 is inserted into the annular groove portion 16, the connection end portion 13 receives a tightening force tightened from the periphery thereof from the compression-deformed seal member 17. Therefore, by inserting the insertion portion 19 of the retaining member 18 into the annular groove portion 16 in a state in which the one tube member 11 is rotated at a predetermined angle, the one tube member is tightened by the sealing member 17. 11 can be held in a predetermined rotational posture. Thereby, when connecting the connection end part 13 to the receiving part 15, since the connection end part 13 can be temporarily fixed to the receiving part 15, both pipe members 11 and 12 are hold | maintained in a predetermined attitude | position. Since it is not necessary to hold the members 11 and 12 by hand, for example, the workability of joining the connection end 13 to the receiving portion 15 can be improved with certainty.

  Furthermore, as described above, both the pipe members 11 and 12 are each made of a thermoplastic resin material, and the heating wire 21 is embedded in the receiving portion 15, and the connection end portion 13 and the receiving portion are heated by the heat of the heating wire 21. Since the 15 is fused together, the connection end 13 and the receiving part 15 can be easily joined to each other by supplying electricity to the heating wire 21 embedded in the receiving part 15.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the pipe members 11 and 12 are connected to each other by forming the connection end portion 13 and the receiving portion 15 at the respective end portions of the two pipe members 11 and 12 is shown. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the two pipe members 11 and 12 can be connected to each other via a universal joint 24.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the universal joint 24 includes a cylindrical first joint body 25 and a cylindrical second joint body 26.

  The first joint body 25 has, at one end thereof, a spherical connection end portion 27 similar to that described above that is connected to the second joint body 26. The other end portion of the first joint body 25 is connected to the end portion 11 a of one pipe member 11 with its axis line coincided with the axis line of the first joint body 25.

  The second joint body 26 has, at one end thereof, a receiving portion 28 similar to that described above into which the connection end 27 of the first joint body 25 is rotatably inserted around its center. The other end portion of the second joint body 26 is connected to the end portion 12 a of the other pipe member 12 with its axis line coincided with the axis line of the second joint body 26. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a heating wire 29 is embedded inside the receiving portion 28, and the receiving portion 28 has a pair of connectors as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A pin 30, an annular groove 31, a seal member 32, and a retaining member 33 are provided.

  The connection end 27 of the first joint body 25 is inserted into the receiving portion 28, whereby the angle formed by the axes of the joint bodies 25, 26, that is, the connection angle θ between the pipe members 11, 12 can be varied. Thus, it is connected to the second joint body 26 so as to be rotatable around the center of the connection end 27.

  1 and 2, the first joint body 25 has a groove 34 that extends in the circumferential direction of the joint body and receives the tip 28a of the receiving portion 28 when the joint body rotates. Is formed.

  According to the example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, as described above, the first joint body 25 has the spherical connection end portion 27 inserted into the receiving portion 28 of the second joint body 26. Since both the joint bodies 25 and 26 are connected to the second joint body 26 so as to be rotatable around the center of the connection end 27 so that the angle formed by the axes of the joint bodies 25 and 26 is variable, both the joint bodies 25 and 26 are connected. It is possible to freely adjust the angle formed by the axis within the range in which the first joint body 25 can be rotated. Thereby, the connection angle θ of the pipe members 11 and 12 connected to each other via the universal joint 24 according to the present invention can be freely adjusted within the angular range in which the first joint body 25 can be rotated. Therefore, the arrangement mode of both the pipe members 11 and 12 can be easily adapted to the change of the piping direction, for example.

  Further, since the first joint body 25 is formed with a groove portion 34 that extends in the circumferential direction of the joint body and receives the distal end portion 28a of the receiving portion 28 when the joint body rotates, both joint bodies The angle formed by the axes 25 and 26 is maximized when the distal end portion 28 a of the receiving portion 28 contacts the bottom surface 34 a of the groove portion 34 of the first joint body 25. Thereby, when the front-end | tip part 28a of the receiving part 28 contact | abuts to the outer peripheral surface 25a of the 1st joint main body 25, compared with the past in which the angle which the axis line of both joint main bodies 25 and 26 makes becomes the maximum. Since the pivotable angle range of the joint body 25 can be increased, the variable range of the connection angle θ between the pipe members 11 and 12 connected to each other via the universal joint 24 can be increased.

  Therefore, in order to increase the variable range of the connection angle θ between the pipe members 11 and 12, the length of the receiving portion 28 along the axis of the second joint body 26 is reduced, or the outside of the first joint body 25 is removed. Since it is not necessary to reduce the diameter as a whole, when the connection end 27 and the receiving portion 28 are joined to each other, the length of the receiving portion 28 is reduced to reduce the length of the connection end 27 and the reception as in the prior art. The joint strength between the portions 28 is not lowered, and the flow rate in the joint body is not greatly reduced as much as the outer diameter of the first joint body 25 is reduced as a whole.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the connection end portions 13 and 27 and the receiving portions 15 and 28 are bonded to each other. However, instead of this, for example, bonding may be performed using an adhesive. it can. In this case, the heating wires 21 and 29 and the connector pins 22 and 30 can be omitted.

It is a longitudinal section showing the piping connection structure concerning the present invention roughly. It is a longitudinal section showing roughly the state where one tube member concerning the present invention rotated. It is a longitudinal section showing the universal joint concerning the present invention roughly. It is a longitudinal section showing the state where the 1st joint main part of the universal joint concerning the present invention rotated.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pipe connection structure 11,12 Pipe member 13,27 Connection edge part 15,28 Reception part 15a, 28a Tip part (tip part of a reception part)
16, 31 Annular groove portion 17, 32 Seal member 18, 33 Retaining member 19 Insertion portion 21, 29 Heating wire 23, 34 Groove portion 24 Universal joint 25 First joint body 26 Second joint body

Claims (6)

  A pipe connection structure for connecting two pipe members to each other, wherein one of the pipe members has a spherical connection end connected to the other pipe member at one end thereof, and the other pipe member Has a receiving portion at one end thereof into which the connecting end of the one pipe member is rotatably inserted around its center, and the one end of the pipe member receives the receiving end at the receiving end. Is inserted into the portion, and is connected to the other tube member so as to be rotatable around the center of the connection end so that the angle formed by the axes of the two tube members is variable. A pipe connection structure, wherein the pipe member is formed with a groove portion that extends in a circumferential direction of the pipe member and receives the tip of the receiving portion when the pipe member rotates.   The receiving portion has a hemispherical shape having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the connection end portion, and the tip end portion of the receiving portion is to be prevented from slipping out of the connection end portion from the receiving portion. A retaining member that engages with the connecting end is provided, and the retaining member is attached to the tip of the receiving portion after the connecting end is inserted into the receiving portion. Item 2. The pipe connection structure according to Item 1.   The retaining member has an annular shape and is disposed along the distal end portion of the receiving portion. The diameter of the retaining member at one end located on the side away from the distal end portion of the receiving portion is the connection end. The pipe connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the pipe connection structure is smaller than an outer diameter of the portion.   An annular groove that extends in the circumferential direction of the tip and opens to the end face of the tip is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tip of the receiving portion, and the connection end is formed in the annular groove. And an elastically deformable annular seal member for hermetically sealing between the receiving portions, and the retaining member has an annular insertion portion inserted into the annular groove portion, and the seal The member has a size that allows the insertion of the connecting end portion with play, and is elasticized by being compressed between the insertion portion and the side surface of the annular groove portion by insertion of the insertion portion into the annular groove portion. The pipe connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the connection end portion and the receiving portion are sealed by being deformed.   The both pipe members are each made of a thermoplastic resin material, and a heating wire is embedded in the receiving portion, and the connection end portion and the receiving portion are fused to each other by heat of the heating wire. The pipe connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   A universal joint for connecting two pipe members to each other, having a cylindrical first joint main body and a cylindrical second joint main body, the first joint main body at one end thereof A spherical connection end connected to the second joint body, the other end of the first joint body having one end of the pipe member connected thereto, and the second joint body Has a receiving portion into which the connection end portion of the first joint body is rotatably inserted around its center at one end portion, and the other end portion of the second joint body has the other end portion. The ends of the pipe members are connected, and the first joint body is inserted into the receiving part so that the angle formed by the axes of the joint bodies is variable. The joint body is connected to the second joint body so as to be rotatable around the center of the connection end. Universal joint of the circumferential extending direction, wherein the groove for receiving the distal end portion of the receiving portion during rotation of 該継 hand body is formed.

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