JP2011043178A - Cylindrical universal joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cylindrical universal joint which has flexibility allowing free directional adjustment with respect to a connecting direction and has a smooth constitution having no fine irregular obstacle on a pipe internal surface, is easy in fit connection, and can freely change a length by combining a small number of kinds. <P>SOLUTION: The cylindrical universal joint comprises both-side end members 1, 2 having connecting ports 1a, 2a, and intermediate members 3 which are slidably fit-connected to the both-side end members 1, 2 between the end members 1, 2. The end member 1 has a female-side connecting port 1b which is continuously formed from the connecting port 1a, the end member 2 has a male-side connecting port 2b which is continuously formed from the connecting port 2a, and the intermediate member 3 has a male-side connecting port 3a which is slidably fit-connected to the female-side connecting port 1b at the side of the end member 1, and a female-side connecting port 3b which is slidably and externally fit-connected to the male-side connecting port 2b at the side of the end member 2 which is continuously formed from the male-side connecting port 3a. Also, the cylindrical universal joint has an elastic fitting part 6 composed of a group of irregular elastic salient pieces 6a which are circumferentially continued to external fit-connecting end faces of the female-side connecting ports 1b, 3b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a flexible tubular joint that can be freely connected in any piping direction such as a straight pipe shape or a curved pipe shape, and in particular, a connection exhaust port of a ventilator. The present invention relates to a cylindrical universal joint that is effective for connection to an external exhaust port attached to a wall of a building.

Ventilators for indoor ventilation are known to have an opening on the wall of the building, and a wall-mounted type that can be directly attached to the opening, or an installation type that is installed inside the ceiling or wall. . In recent years, installation types have become mainstream. In this installation type ventilation device, an elbow pipe, a bellows pipe, or the like is used to connect to an external exhaust port that is attached to the wall of the building.
In other words, depending on the opening direction of the connection exhaust port on the installation type ventilator side, due to the relationship with the mounting position of the external exhaust port on the wall, misalignment occurs in the connection direction between the connection exhaust port and the external exhaust port, May not match. In this case, either the elbow pipe or the bellows pipe, or a combination of the elbow pipe and the bellows pipe is used to connect the connection exhaust port and the external exhaust port.

By the way, the elbow pipe is effective as a pipe joint for indoor ventilation because there is no unevenness on the inner surface that obstructs the flow of air. Depending on the misalignment of the direction (center misalignment angle) and the like, not only the work becomes very difficult, but the elbow pipe alone may not be able to cope with it. In this case, it is often performed by using a combination with a bellows tube having flexibility in a direction or a single bellows tube.
In this way, the bellows pipe can be adjusted smoothly and smoothly with respect to misalignment in the connection direction between the connection exhaust port and the external exhaust port. I can say that. However, the bellows pipe has a problem that a smooth circulation of room air cannot be expected, such as a high ventilation resistance, because fine irregularities exist on the pipe inner surface in the pipe direction.
In particular, when bellows pipes are used for external piping of a range hood that exhausts polluted air generated during cooking to the outdoors, the convexity of uneven obstacles with fine oil and fat contained in the polluted air, etc. Repeating the collision with the portion makes it easy for oil and fat to accumulate in the pipe, which is undesirable in terms of fire safety.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, the inner peripheral surface does not have an uneven obstacle existing in the pipe direction at a fine pitch like a bellows pipe, and is flexible so that the misalignment with respect to the connection direction can be adjusted. Has proposed a ventilation joint (see, for example, Patent Document 1)
The vent joint includes a connection port portion connected to a pipe end portion of a connection pipe by band fastening or the like, end members on both sides having semicircular ridges connected to the connection port portion, and end members on both sides The intermediate member is formed by connecting two-way semicircular ridges in the respective connecting directions that are fitted and connected to the semicircular ridges of the both end members.
As a result, the semicircular ridges of the end members on both sides and the semicircular ridges of the intermediate member are pivotally connected so that the connection ports of the end members on both sides are coaxial with the connection direction to the connection pipe. It has flexibility that allows centering adjustment on the core, and the entire length can be changed by the number of intermediate members connected between the end members on both sides.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 8-525

By the way, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 after correction, for example, the conventional technology described in Patent Document 1 is an end formed so as to overlap in the same flange part (end face) form in relation to inside and outside. This is a connecting structure in which the female semicircular ridges of the members are fitted and connected so as to cover the male semicircular ridges of the intermediate member.
For this purpose, it is necessary to install a sealing material such as an O-ring to close (seal) the gap between the fitting overlap portions of both male and female semicircular ridges. It took time and effort.
For example, at the installation site of a range hood, a fitting connection using a plurality of intermediate members performed according to the connection length of the connection exhaust port of the hood part attached to the indoor wall surface and the external exhaust port attached to the wall part There were still problems in handling such as taking time.

  In the prior art, also in terms of production, two different types of female intermediate members and male intermediate members must be manufactured in addition to the end members on both sides. Furthermore, since a sealing material such as an O-ring that fills the space between the mating overlapped parts is required as an essential part, the cost is high.

  Therefore, the present invention has been created to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is fitted with a flexible structure in which the direction of the connection direction can be freely adjusted and a smooth structure that does not have fine irregularities on the pipe inner surface. An object of the present invention is to provide a cylindrical universal joint which is easily connected and improved so that the length can be freely changed by a small number of combinations.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a cylindrical universal joint having flexibility,
An end member on both sides having a connecting port portion made of a straight pipe, and an intermediate member that is slidably fitted and connected to the end members on both sides between the end members on both sides, One end member is provided with a substantially hemispherical female side connection port provided continuously from the connection port, and the other end member is provided with a substantially hemispherical male connected continuously from the connection port. A side connection port portion, and the intermediate member is connected to the female side connection port portion of the one end member and is connected to the male side connection port portion. A female side connection port portion that is externally connected to the male side connection port portion of the end member on the side, and further includes an external connection connection end surface of the female side connection port portion or an internal connection connection end surface of the male side connection port portion Is provided with an elastic fitting portion.
Here, the cylindrical universal joint includes a plurality of the intermediate members, and the female side connection port portion and the female side connection port portion of each of the intermediate members are slidably fitted and connected to each other. It is preferable that the entire length between the end members can be freely changed.
In addition, it is preferable that the elastic fitting portion is formed in an uneven shape that is continuous in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, it is preferable that the end members and the intermediate members on both sides are formed of a non-combustible material.

According to such a configuration, among the end members on both sides, the female side connection port provided in one end member is fitted and connected to the male side connection port side of the intermediate member, and the other end member is connected. A cylindrical joint having a relatively smooth inner pipe surface and flexibility by slidably fitting and connecting the male side connection port provided to the female side connection port side of the intermediate member. It can be.
At this time, the elastic fitting portion of the circumferentially concave and convex shape provided on the outer fitting connection end surface of the female side connection port portion or the inner fitting connection end surface of the male and female connection port portion opens outward or closes inward. The female connection port can be easily fitted and connected to the female connection port by fitting the female connection port to the male connection port, and the male connection port to the female connection port. It is possible to close the fitting overlap between the portion and the male connection port portion with high sealing performance.

  In addition, a tubular universal joint having an arbitrary length can be obtained by fitting and connecting a plurality of intermediate members by external fitting and internal fitting as described above. In other words, a cylindrical shape having a length in which end members on both sides are connected to one intermediate member using one kind of intermediate member having both the male and female connection ports. A type universal joint and a cylindrical type universal joint having an arbitrary length in which 2 to 8 intermediate members are connected between end members on both sides are obtained.

According to the present invention, with respect to the male side connection port portion and the female side connection port portion of the intermediate member, the female side connection port portion of the one end member and the male side connection port portion of the other end member are uneven. These elastic fitting portions can be easily fitted and connected. Further, in the connected state, the fitted overlapping portions can be brought into close contact with each other with high sealing performance.
As a result, a tubular universal joint having a relatively smooth inner surface and flexibility can be obtained. For example, for external piping of a range hood that exhausts contaminated air generated during cooking to the outside, for connection between the connection exhaust port of the hood and an external exhaust port attached to the wall, or one end connected to the external exhaust port It is effective for connecting the other end of the exhaust duct to be connected to the connection exhaust port of the hood portion. In addition, it is possible to provide a cylindrical universal joint that is effective in terms of handling properties and fire safety.
And since the fitting overlap part of the male side connecting port part and the female side connecting port part can be brought into close contact with high sealing properties, the O-ring packing as in the prior art becomes unnecessary, and the range hood It is possible to provide a cylindrical universal joint that is improved in workability at a site where a ventilation device such as the above is installed and the cost is reduced.

Moreover, the cylindrical universal joint of arbitrary length can be connected and comprised using one kind of intermediate member provided with both the opening parts of a male side connection port part and a female side connection port part. That is, as in the prior art, the cylindrical universal joint can be connected to an arbitrary length by the number of connections of one type of intermediate member without using two types of intermediate members.
This makes it possible to easily connect and configure the cylindrical universal joint of the required length according to each site in the connection piping with the external exhaust port at the installation site of the ventilation device such as a range hood. The connection work in the field is greatly improved. In addition, as a component part of the cylindrical universal joint brought in on the site, one end member on each side and one or several kinds of intermediate members to be fitted and connected between the both side members may be used.

The cylindrical universal joint which concerns on this embodiment is shown, (a) is a half sectional view which shows a straight pipe | tube form, (b) is the half sectional view which shows a curved form. The end member of the one side of the cylindrical type universal joint is shown, (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (b) is a perspective view. The other end member of the cylindrical universal joint is shown, (a) is a longitudinal sectional view, and (b) is a perspective view. The intermediate member of the cylindrical universal joint is shown, (a) is a longitudinal sectional view, and (b) is a perspective view. An example of the use of the cylindrical universal joint is shown, (a) is a plan view when the ventilator is viewed from above, and (b) is a front view when the ventilator is viewed from the front. is there.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
FIG. 1 is a half cross-sectional view showing a straight pipe form and a curved form of a cylindrical universal joint according to the present embodiment.

≪Configuration of cylindrical universal joint≫
As shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical universal joint A includes end members 1 and 2 on both sides in the cylindrical direction having connection ports 1 a and 2 a, and end portions on both sides between the end members 1 and 2 on both sides. It comprises a plurality of intermediate members 3 that are slidably fitted and connected to the members 1 and 2, respectively.
This cylindrical universal joint A is obtained by sliding and rotating the end members 1 and 2 and the plurality of intermediate members 3 on both sides, thereby changing the straight pipe form shown in FIG. 1A to the curved form shown in FIG. It can be configured to be connected to any cylindrical form such as (elbow form or twist form). Further, the length can be freely changed according to the number of intermediate members 3 connected.
The end members 1, 2 and the intermediate member 3 on both sides are each formed of a nonflammable material having moderate elasticity. For example, it is formed by press working (working such as punching, drawing, drawing) using stainless steel, galvanized steel sheet, or the like.

<End member configuration>
2 is a cross-sectional view and a perspective view showing an end member on one side, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view and a perspective view showing an end member on the other side.
The connection ports 1a and 2a of the end members 1 and 2 on both sides are provided, for example, in a ventilator B such as a range hood that sucks and captures contaminated air generated during cooking, as shown in FIG. It is formed of a straight pipe having a diameter that is fitted and connected to a connection exhaust port 4 and an external exhaust port 5 that is installed on a wall K of the building and exhausts contaminated air to the outside.
Of the end members 1 and 2 on both sides, the end member 1 on one side is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a substantially hemispherical female side continuously provided on the coaxial core from the connection port 1a. A connection port 1b is provided. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the other end member 2 includes a substantially hemispherical male side connection port portion 2 b that is connected to the coaxial port from the connection port portion 2 a.

The female side connecting port portion 1b on the end member 1 side and the male side connecting port portion 2b on the end member 2 side are inside and outside of the male side connecting port portion 3a and the female side connecting port portion 3b described later of the intermediate member 2. Are formed with a diameter (an inner diameter and an outer diameter) that are slidably connected with each other.
And the elastic fitting part 6 is provided in the external fitting connection end surface of the female side connection port part 1b by the side of the end member 1 as shown in FIG.

≪Configuration of elastic fitting part≫
As shown in FIG. 2, the elastic fitting portion 6 includes a group of a plurality of elastic protrusions 6 a that are continuous in the circumferential direction of the female side connection port portion 1 b, and in the illustrated example, are substantially zigzag in the circumferential direction. Is formed elastically.
Thereby, when connecting the female side connection port part 1b by the side of the end member 1 with the male side connection port part 3a of the intermediate member 3 by external fitting, the elastic protrusion piece 6a group is the male side connection port part 3a. Can be easily slid with a connecting structure in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the male connection port 3a under the elastic action of expanding and deforming along the outer peripheral surface. It is made to connect to. That is, unlike the prior art, it is possible to provide a connection structure in which the fitting and overlapping portions of both are slidably brought into close contact with each other without being loaded with an O-ring or other sealing material.

≪Configuration of intermediate member≫
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view and a perspective view showing the intermediate member.
As shown in FIG. 4, the intermediate member 3 includes a male connection port 3a slidably fitted and connected to the female connection port 1b of the one end member 1, and the male connection port 3a. And a female side connecting port portion 3b that is slidably fitted and connected to the male side connecting port portion 2b of the end member 2 on the other side.

The male side connection port part 3a is formed in the same shape as the male side connection port part 2b of the other end member 2, and the female side connection port part 3b is the end member 1 on one side. Are formed in the same shape with the same diameter as the female side connection port 1b.
The outer fitting connection end face of the female side connection port portion 3b is provided with an elastic fitting portion 6 composed of a plurality of elastic projection pieces 6a provided in the female side connection port portion 1b of the end member 1. ing.
Thereby, the intermediate member 3 is slidably connected to the female side connection port portion 1b and the male side connection port portion 2b of the end members 1 and 2 on both sides. Further, the intermediate member 3 includes a male side connection port portion 3a that is slidably connected in an internal / external relationship, and a female side connection port portion 3b on the other open side. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of them are slidably connected in a state where they are arranged in parallel in the cylinder direction. That is, the cylindrical universal joint A having a required length according to the number of connections between the intermediate members 3 can be easily connected and configured on the site.

[Description of operation]
Next, an example of construction by the cylindrical universal joint A according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be briefly described.
FIG. 5 is a front view and a plan view showing an example of construction in which a connection exhaust port of the ventilator and an external exhaust port are connected using a cylindrical universal joint. Here, description will be made with reference to FIG. 1 as appropriate.
First, at the installation site of the ventilator B, according to the connection dimension between the connection exhaust port 4 of the ventilator B installed inside the wall K and the external exhaust port 5 attached to the wall K. The number of intermediate members 3 to be used is determined, and the male side connection port portion 3a and the female side connection port portion 3b of each intermediate member 3 are sequentially fitted and connected. In the figure, six intermediate members 3 are fitted and connected.
And the female side connection port part 1b by the side of the end member 1 with respect to the male side connection port part 3a of the intermediate | middle part 3 material located in the both ends side, and the male side by the side of the end member 2 with respect to the female side connection port part 3b As shown in FIG. 5, a cylindrical universal joint A having a length corresponding to the connection dimension between the connection exhaust port 4 and the external exhaust port 5 is assembled by fitting and connecting the connection port portions 2 b.

In this way, for example, the connection port portion 1a side of the end member 1 of the cylindrical universal joint A assembled to the length required at the installation site is set to the external exhaust port 5 and the connection port portion 2a side of the end member 2 is connected. Are connected to the connection exhaust port 4 of the ventilation device B, respectively.
At this time, the male side connection ports of the intermediate members 3 slidably connected so as to adjust the misalignment in the connection direction of the connection port portions 1 a and 2 a with respect to the external exhaust port 5 and the connection exhaust port 4. The fitting connection part of the part 3a and the female side connection port part 3b, and the fitting connection part of the female side connection port part 1b and the male side connection port part 2b of the end members 1 and 2 on both sides with respect to the intermediate member 3 By rotating to form a tubular shape in which the entire tubular universal joint A is meandered, the connection port portion 1 a side of the end member 1 is connected to the external exhaust port 5 and the connection port portion 2 a of the end member 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the connection port portions 1a and 2a are connected to the external exhaust port 5 and the connection exhaust port 4, respectively. can do.

Note that the specific configuration of the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and even if there is a design change or the like without departing from the gist of the present invention described in claims 1 to 4. It is included in the invention.
For example, the elastic fitting portion 6 provided on the outer fitting connection end face of the female side connection port portions 1b and 3b may have a substantially wave shape, a substantially trapezoidal shape, or any other irregular shape continuous in the circumferential direction. it can.

A cylindrical shaped universal joint 1, 2 end member 3 intermediate member 1a, 2a connection port 1b, 3b female side connection port 2b, 3a male side connection port 4 connection exhaust port 5 external exhaust port 6 elastic fitting portion 6a Elastic protrusion

Claims (4)

A tubular universal joint having flexibility,
End members on both sides having a connection port portion made of a straight pipe;
An intermediate member that is slidably fitted and connected to the end members on both sides between the end members on both sides, and
Of the end members, one end member is provided with a substantially hemispherical female side connection port portion provided continuously from the connection port portion, and the other end member is provided with a substantially hemisphere shape provided continuously from the connection port portion. It has a male side connection port part
The intermediate member includes a male side connecting port portion that is fitted and connected to the female side connecting port portion of the one end member, and the male side connecting port portion that is connected to the male side connecting port portion and the end member on the other side. A female side connection port part that is externally connected to the male side connection port part,
Furthermore, an elastic fitting part is provided in the external fitting connection end surface of the said female side connection port part, or the internal fitting connection end surface of the said male side connection port part, The cylindrical type universal joint characterized by the above-mentioned. The cylindrical universal joint according to claim 1,
A plurality of the intermediate members are provided, and the length of the entire cylinder between the end members on both sides can be freely set by fitting and connecting the female side connection port portion and the female side connection port portion of each of the intermediate members. A cylindrical universal joint, characterized in that it can be changed.   3. The cylindrical universal joint according to claim 1, wherein the elastic fitting portion is formed in an uneven shape that is continuous in the circumferential direction. 4.   The cylindrical universal joint according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cylindrical universal joint is formed of a non-combustible material.

Images