JP2009216160A - Pipe fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a specific pipe fitting capable of eliminating work of selecting a predetermined engagement member attached to the pipe fitting, improving the work efficiency when attaching the engagement member, attaching the engagement member by only one-touch operation with fingertips of one hand, realizing attachment stability such that the attached engagement member does not easily fall away, covering sharp portions at the top ends of support legs of the pipe fitting, and eliminating the risk of damage or disconnection of pipes or the like. <P>SOLUTION: In the pipe fitting, the support legs are formed by bending the top end portions of a pair of arm parts having shapes symmetrical with each other and extending from a substantially U-shaped base part. Each arm portion has window holes 11f in which flanges of the pipes are fitted in when fastening the pipe fitting. The pipe fitting 50 includes the engagement member 1 connected to one of the support legs in such a manner that one end of the engagement member is freely movable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pipe connection fitting that is configured to fasten pipes and maintain a connection state firmly in order to constitute a pipe line inside a water heater or the like.

  In a water heater or the like to which high-pressure tap water is supplied, it is known that a water hammer phenomenon occurs in an internal pipe line, and the influence of an impact load at this time appears remarkably in a pipe connection part. Therefore, a pipe connection fitting formed of a metal elastic plate as shown in FIG. 6 is usually attached to a pipe connection portion that is easily affected by the water hammer phenomenon (see Patent Document 1).

  This pipe connection fitting is designed to simultaneously fasten flanges formed at the ends of both pipes to be connected. In the case of the pipe connection fitting 50 illustrated in FIG. And a pair of symmetrically extending arm portions 52, 53 extending from the base portion 51. The arm portions 52, 53 include upper arm portions 52a, 53a and lower arm portions 52b, 53b connected to the base portion 51. It has a shape of a square shape with the bent portions 52c and 53c as a boundary. The distal ends of the arm portions 52 and 53 are further bent outward at bent portions 52d and 53d so as to become support legs 52e and 53e.

  The pipe connection fitting 50 formed in this manner is formed with a window hole 54 facing the flange of the pipe, and when installed as shown in FIG. 7, the flanges 100 a and 101 a of the pipes 100 and 101 are simultaneously installed in the window hole 54. The connection state is maintained by fastening. The pipe fitting 50 has a distance from the axis of the pipes 100 and 101 to the top of the base 51 and a distance from the axis of the pipes 100 and 101 to the tops of the bent parts 52c and 53c of the arm parts 52 and 53. And the distance from the axial center of the pipes 100 and 101 to the tips of the support legs 52e and 53e are substantially equal and are located on the same circumference. Therefore, the support legs 52e and 53e are as shown in FIG. The shape is almost horizontal.

  The pipe connection fitting 50 formed in this way is pushed in and mounted so as to straddle the flanges 100a and 101a of the pipes 100 and 101, and the pipes 100 and 101 are in the state shown in FIG. 7 with the space between the support legs 52e and 53e being opened. When a fluid flows through the pipe and an impact due to the water hammer phenomenon occurs, a force that separates the flanges 100a and 101a in the relative direction is applied at the connecting portion of the pipe. When such a load is repeatedly applied, a crack S is generated from the support legs 52e and 53e of the pipe fitting 50 as shown in FIG. 8, and the original function cannot be obtained.

  And when the pipe connection fitting breaks, it becomes a serious matter such as a water leakage accident immediately. Therefore, improving the durability of the pipe connection fitting is an extremely important issue. With respect to the durability of this pipe connection fitting, for example, a standard required for a water heater requires durability capable of withstanding an impact of 200,000 times or more in a repeated durability test of the water hammer phenomenon.

  Under these requirements, trial and error such as material selection and plate thickness setting have been repeated in order to improve the durability of the pipe fittings. The major problem is that the rigidity is lowered, and since there is an opening, the fear of falling off cannot be eliminated. Such a problem has already been a problem in the practical application of this type of pipe fitting, and therefore, it is necessary to bridge between the support legs to improve the structural rigidity of this part and prevent it from falling off. Attempts have been made (see Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3).

  The above-mentioned patent document 2 is configured to bind the end portions of the coupling device, and the above-mentioned patent document 3 employs a cover for preventing the drop-off on a clip corresponding to a pipe connection fitting, but is easy to mount. Since there is a difficulty in dropping, and there is a concern that it will fall off, there is a cover made up of a divided body to cope with such a problem, and this divided body is slid to the left and right and attached to a clip ( (See Patent Document 4).

In Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4 described above, the openings of the clips, that is, the ends of the support legs 52e and 53e are mounted so as to cover from the outside, but the window holes of the support legs 52e and 53e are used. There have been proposed ones in which a stopper is mounted inside the window hole (see Patent Document 5) or ones in which a locking piece is mounted (see Patent Document 6).
Utility Model Registration No. 3084382 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-9487 JP-A-8-28770 JP 2004-69009 A JP 2004-156755 A JP 2006-90526 A

  In order to obtain the retaining effect in the connecting device disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to bind the end portions of the connecting device, and the enforcement work for this is performed inside the device in a narrow space. This is extremely difficult, and it is impossible to desire so-called one-touch mounting. Also in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, since the cover must be elastically coupled to the clip, there is a construction work in which the cover is mounted while the end of the clip is bent inward with a tool or the like. In this case as well, one-touch mounting is impossible, and since the elasticity of the clip is used, it is assumed that the end of the clip is opened in a C shape.

  Further, in the case of the technique disclosed in Patent Document 4, the divided body has a very complicated structure, which increases the number of parts and the manufacturing cost, and deteriorates with time when manufactured by synthetic resin molding. Therefore, it cannot be used for piping with high heat. Furthermore, even in the case of the technique disclosed in Patent Document 5, since it is assumed that the stopper is elastically coupled, a representative example is made of a synthetic resin from which elasticity is obtained. It is a necessary condition that the part has a square shape.

  In the case of the technique disclosed in Patent Document 6, the locking pieces are attached to the window holes from the inside in the same manner as in Patent Document 5, and the locking portions are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the metal pieces. The locking portion is formed and hooked on the window hole of the pipe connection fitting. Therefore, even in such a configuration, in order to facilitate the mounting of the locking piece, it is assumed that the support legs of the pipe connection fitting are opened in a C shape.

  Further, in the case of the techniques disclosed in Patent Document 5 and Patent Document 6, the ends of the support legs of the pipe connection fitting are left exposed, and the ends of the support legs as in Patent Documents 3 and 4 are used. Will not be obscured. However, the end of this support leg protrudes outwards, especially the corners are sharp, and if burrs remain on the edges, it becomes even more dangerous and can be used during inspection work. There is a risk of damaging a person's fingertips and arms, or a risk of damaging or cutting wiring for sensors. Therefore, consideration that can prevent these dangers has been desired.

  By the way, the conventional locking member is a separate member that is attached to the support leg of the pipe connection fitting. After the pipe connection fitting is attached to the pipe, the fitting that fits the opening of the support leg of this pipe is provided. A support member is attached. However, since the actual pipe diameters vary, a plurality of types of pipe connection fittings are manufactured so as to match the pipe diameter. Therefore, a plurality of types of locking members that match the dimensions between the support legs of the pipe connection fitting must be prepared.

  However, at the actual work site, after mounting a specific pipe connection fitting, it is troublesome to select a predetermined locking member to be attached to this pipe connection fitting, or to lose this locking member because the part shape is small. This causes a reduction in work efficiency associated with the mounting of the locking member. In addition, when the size of the pipe fitting is greatly different, it is easy to visually recognize the size of the locking member, but when the size is close, it is possible to accidentally attach a different locking member and drop off or obtain the original function. It may not be possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and can improve the work efficiency associated with the mounting of the locking member by enabling the selection of a locking member that is suitable for a specific pipe connection fitting. Furthermore, the one-touch mounting of the locking member can be performed only by the operation of the fingertip of one hand. The attached locking member is provided with a mounting stability that can be removed only by an artificial work using a tool or the like and can be removed, and can be a highly reliable pipe connection fitting. .

  Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by means described below. That is, in the first aspect of the present invention, a window hole that faces the flange of the pipe is formed at the time of fastening, and the ends of a pair of left and right symmetrical arm portions extending from a substantially U-shaped base portion are bent, In the pipe connection fitting, a locking member having one end connected to one of the support legs in a floating state is provided.

  In the invention according to claim 2, a window hole is formed in which the flange of the pipe faces at the time of fastening, and the ends of a pair of left and right symmetrical arms extending from a substantially U-shaped base part are bent to become a support leg. In the pipe connection fitting, a check claw that hangs down toward the support leg of the pipe connection fitting is formed on the locking wall formed at one end of the plate-shaped main body, and the other end of the support leg of the pipe connection fitting is formed. One is provided with a locking member connected in a floating state.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the pipe connection fitting according to the second aspect, the plate-shaped main body is a locking member in which a window hole for avoiding contact with the flange of the pipe is formed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the pipe connection fitting according to the second or third aspect, the locking member has a guide surface formed at the tip of the locking wall of the plate-like main body.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while being able to wipe the selection operation | work of the latch member attached to this with respect to a specific piping connection metal fitting, while being able to improve the work efficiency accompanying mounting | wearing of a latch member, one hand One-touch mounting of the locking member is possible only by the operation of the fingertip. And the mounting stability is acquired, without the mounted latching member falling off easily. In addition, since it is possible to provide a highly reliable pipe connection fitting and the sharp portion of the tip of the support leg of the pipe connection fitting is covered, the risk of injury or disconnection of wiring can be eliminated. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the structure of the principal part of this invention in embodiment can be implemented in any of the pipe fittings which connect the same diameter pipes or different diameter pipes, and the object of implementation is limited. is not.

  1 and 2 are perspective views showing a completed state of the pipe connection fitting 50 according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the locking member 1 is hooked and connected to the pipe connection fitting 50, and FIG. Show. FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of the locking member 1 in the configuration of FIG. 1, which are integrally formed of a metal plate steel plate (for example, a stainless steel plate). The width L1 of the bent portions B1 and B2 at both ends substantially coincides with the lateral width between the end portions of the support legs 52e and 53e determined when the pipe connection fitting 50 is mounted on the flanges 100a and 101a of the pipes 100 and 101. . The plate-shaped main body 11 is bent at an acute angle at one end of the bent portion B1 to form a locking wall 11a. Further, the latch is suspended from the center of the locking wall 11a toward the plate-shaped main body 11. A piece 11b is formed.

  The other end of the plate-like main body 11 is formed with a locking wall 11c that is bent and raised at the bent portion B2. The locking wall 11c is formed with a check claw 11d that hangs down with the upper part as a fixed end, and the tip of the check claw 11d is attached to one end of the support legs 52e and 53e of the pipe connection fitting 50 when mounted. Determine the formation position in consideration of the situation. In addition, an upwardly inclined guide surface 11e is formed on the top of the locking wall 11c so as to facilitate mounting. However, the guide surface 11e is not limited to a flat surface but is an arc surface. Also good.

  The locking member 1 formed in this way utilizes a slight gap formed between the tip of the latching piece 11b and the plate-like main body 11, and either one of the support legs 52e and 53e of the pipe connection fitting 50. As shown in FIG. 1, the pipe connection fitting 50 and the locking member 1 are connected and integrated with each other. Note that the pipe connection fitting 50 and the locking member 1 may be connected to each other by a hinge connection as shown in FIG. 2, and in any case, the locking member 11 is in an idle state. What should I do.

  When the pipe connection fitting 50 to which the locking member 1 is connected in this way is attached to the pipes 100 and 101, first, as shown in FIG. 4A, the pipes are connected from the arbitrary direction toward the flanges 100a and 101a. The connection fitting 50 is pushed in and attached as shown in FIG. Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, when the locking wall 11c at the other end of the locking member 1 is pushed into the support leg 53e of the pipe connection fitting 50 and the check claw 11d gets over the end of the support leg 52e, The stop wall 11c returns to its original shape, and the mounting is completed in the state shown in FIG. 4D with the tip of the check claw 11d positioned on the stop leg 52e.

  When the mounting of the locking member 1 to the pipe connection fitting 50 is completed, the tips of the support legs 52e and 53e of the pipe connection fitting 50 come into contact with the inner walls of the locking walls 11a and 11c, so that the support legs 52e and 53e of the locking member 1 Movement in the left-right direction is restricted. Since the support leg 52e of the pipe connection fitting 50 is locked by the locking wall 11a and the support leg 53e is locked by the check claw 11d, the movement in the vertical direction is restricted.

  As a result, even if a forcible force is applied to the locking member 1 mounted on the pipe connection fitting 50 in the direction opposite to the mounting direction, the locking member 1 is removed in a normal operation by the action of the locking wall 11a and the check claw 11d. Becomes impossible, and reliable mounting becomes possible. Further, when the mounting of the locking member 1 is completed, the ends of the support legs 52e and 53e are covered with the locking member 1, and a sharp portion that causes injury or disconnection of wirings may be exposed. Absent.

  In this way, when the locking member 1 is mounted on the pipes 100 and 101, if the plate-shaped main body 11 comes into contact with the flanges 100a and 101a, a tightening action is obtained, so that the mounting state is not loose. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the window hole 11f for preventing the plate-like main body 11 from coming into contact with the flanges 100a and 101b is formed, the stress received from the flanges 100a and 101a can be avoided.

  As described above in detail, the pipe fitting of the present invention exemplifies a water heater mainly used, but as another example, like a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus or a hot water pipe of a cogeneration system by a fuel cell, High reliability can be ensured when it is adopted in an apparatus or system in which the concern of water leakage must be completely eliminated.

It is a perspective view which shows the completion state of the piping connection metal fitting of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the other example of the completion state of the piping connection metal fitting of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the latching member in the piping connection metal fitting of FIG. It is a figure explaining the aspect of mounting | wearing with the piping connection metal fitting of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the other example of the latching member linked with the piping connection metal fitting of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the example of a piping connection metal fitting. It is a perspective view which shows the mounting state to piping of the pipe connection metal fitting of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of generation | occurrence | production of the malfunction which arises in a piping connection metal fitting.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 .... Locking member 11 ... Plate-like main body 11a ... Locking wall 11b ... Stopping piece 11c ... Standing piece 11d ... Checking claw 11e ··· Guide surface 11f · · · Window hole 50 · · · Pipe fittings 52e · · · Support legs 53e · · · Support legs B1 · · · Bending portion B2 · · · Bending Part

Claims (4)

In the pipe connection fitting in which a window hole facing the flange of the pipe is formed at the time of fastening, and the ends of a pair of left and right symmetrical arm parts extending from a substantially U-shaped base part are bent to serve as support legs,
A pipe connection fitting comprising: a locking member having one end connected to one of the support legs of the pipe connection fitting in a floating state. In the pipe connection fitting in which a window hole facing the flange of the pipe is formed at the time of fastening, and the ends of a pair of left and right symmetrical arm parts extending from a substantially U-shaped base part are bent to serve as support legs,
The locking wall formed at one end of the plate-like main body is formed with a check claw that hangs down toward the support leg of the pipe connection fitting, and the other end is connected to one of the support legs of the pipe connection fitting in a floating state. A pipe fitting having a locking member.   The pipe connection fitting according to claim 2, wherein the plate-shaped main body is a locking member in which a window hole for avoiding contact with a flange of the pipe is formed.   The pipe connection fitting according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the fitting member is a locking member having a guide surface formed at a tip of the locking wall of the plate-like main body.

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