JP2020020221A - Branch metal fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a branch metal fitting which has only one component for slip-off prevention and can realize space saving.SOLUTION: A branch metal fitting 10 comprises a main body pipe 20 having a main pipe 22 through which fluid flows, and a sub pipe 24 for dividing the flow of the fluid from the main pipe 22, a branch pipe 30 having a joint pipe 36 inserted into the sub pipe 24, and a slip-off prevention component 50 that prevents the joint pipe 36 from slipping out of the sub pipe 24. The joint pipe 36 has a groove 36op1bd formed to rotate in the circumferential direction. The sub pipe 24 has a screw hole 24bh formed at an axial position corresponding to the position of the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36 with an opening width corresponding to the width of the groove 36op1bd and penetrating in the radial direction. The slip-off prevention component 50 is a male screw having a screw shaft corresponding to the screw hole 24bh, which is screwed into the screw hole 24bh of the sub pipe 24 into which the joint pipe 36 is inserted, and functions as a stopper for the joint pipe 36 from coming off the sub pipe 24 by inserting the tip of the screw shaft into the groove 36op1bd.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a branch fitting that is connected to a pipe that supplies hot water or water toward a faucet and branches hot water or water from the pipe.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a branch fitting described in Patent Literature 1 is known. The branch metal fitting described in Patent Literature 1 has a branch body provided with a branch opening. A joint is rotatably connected to the branch port by a cap nut via a bush.

JP 2004-156354 A

  However, conventional branch fittings are intended to provide a branch fitting with excellent operability, which is capable of supplying hot and cold water without being restricted by an installation location when supplying hot water to a dishwasher or the like. However, the distance between the branch body and the joint is not sufficiently short. This is apparent from the fact that the joint is curved toward the branch body. In particular, the place where the piping for supplying hot water or water to the faucet is installed, for example, the space under the sink of the kitchen is very narrow, and the length required for branching the branch fitting is shortened. Realizing the space saving of the above is advantageous when the piping is constructed in a narrow space.

  Further, the conventional branch metal fitting uses two parts consisting of a bush and a cap nut for connection (retaining) between the branch body and the joint, and further reduction in the number of parts is desired. This is because an excessively large number of parts leads to an increase in the price of the entire branch fitting.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a branch metal fitting that has only one component for retaining and can realize space saving.

  The branch metal fitting according to the present invention includes a main pipe having a main pipe through which a fluid flows and a sub pipe which separates the flow of the fluid from the main pipe, a branch pipe having a joint pipe inserted into the sub pipe, and a joint pipe coming out of the sub pipe. And a retaining component that prevents the component from falling off. The joint pipe has a groove formed so as to orbit in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the joint pipe. The secondary pipe is formed with an opening width corresponding to the width of the groove of the joint pipe at an axial position corresponding to the position of the groove of the joint pipe on the side surface of the secondary pipe when the joint pipe is inserted, and penetrates in the radial direction and has a female screw. It has a screw hole. The retaining part is a male screw having a screw shaft corresponding to the screw hole of the auxiliary pipe, screwed into the screw hole of the auxiliary pipe into which the joint pipe was inserted, and inserted the tip of the screw shaft into the groove of the joint pipe, It prevents the joint pipe from coming off the sub pipe.

  According to the branch fitting of the present invention, when the joint pipe is inserted, the opening corresponding to the width of the groove of the joint pipe is provided at the axial position corresponding to the groove position of the joint pipe on the side surface of the sub pipe when the joint pipe is inserted. It has a screw hole that is formed with a width and penetrates in the radial direction to be a female screw, and the retaining component is a male screw having a screw shaft corresponding to the screw hole of the auxiliary pipe, and a screw hole of the auxiliary pipe into which the joint pipe is inserted. It is screwed in, and the tip of the screw shaft is inserted into the groove of the joint pipe to prevent the joint pipe from falling out of the auxiliary pipe. In other words, the shaft of the male screw, which is a retaining part, and the screw hole of the auxiliary pipe are screwed together, and the shaft of the external screw engages with the groove of the joint pipe, so that the joint pipe does not come off from the auxiliary pipe. Become. The interval required to prevent the joint pipe from falling out of the auxiliary pipe is the width of the groove of the joint pipe, that is, the outer diameter of the shaft of the male screw which is a retaining part.

  The branch fitting according to the present invention may be configured as follows. That is, the joint pipe has a first groove formed so as to orbit in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the joint pipe, and a second groove formed at a position closer to the main pipe than the first groove on the outer surface of the joint pipe. And a groove. The third sub-tube is formed so as to orbit in the circumferential direction at an axial position corresponding to the position of the end of the second groove on the main pipe side on the inner surface of the sub-tube when the joint pipe is inserted. It has a groove. The retaining part extends to a length equal to the length from the end of the first groove of the joint pipe opposite to the main pipe to the end of the second groove on the main pipe, from the first groove to the second groove. A cylindrical shape capable of covering the outer surface of the joint pipe located between the cylindrical pipe and the cylindrical side face is divided into a plurality of pieces in a circumferential direction from a distal end located on the main pipe side to a proximal end located on the opposite side to the main pipe side. A main body portion formed so that the front end side is divided into a plurality of portions, and a flange shape corresponding to the shape of the first groove extending radially inward from the base end of the main body portion. And an inner flange portion formed in a C-shape by further cutting in the radial direction at the same position as one of the plurality of notches in the main body portion, and a third groove projecting radially outward from the tip of the main body portion. And a hook portion formed in a hook shape corresponding to the shape, wherein the inner flange portion fits in the first groove. By being connected to the joint pipe, by hook is fitted into the third groove, is engaged with the sub-tube, the stopper from the secondary tube joint pipe.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the branch metal fitting which concerns on this invention, a joint pipe and a sub-pipe are connected, and it will be in the state which does not come off through the following processes. First, the retaining component has a substantially cylindrical shape that can cover the outer surface of the joint pipe, and the inner flange portion cut out in the radial direction and formed in a C shape is fitted into the first groove, Connected to the fitting tube. The joint pipe to which the retaining component is connected is inserted into the auxiliary pipe together with the retaining component. At this time, the hook located on the distal end side of the main body of the retaining component enters the sub-tube along the inner surface of the sub-tube. Then, from the relationship between the outer diameter of the retaining part at the hook and the inner diameter of the inner surface of the sub-tube, the main body of the retaining part is elastically deformed and has a shape such that the distal end portion shrinks radially inward. Become. At this time, the main body of the retaining component is cut out so that the cylindrical side surface is divided into a plurality of pieces in the circumferential direction from the tip located on the main pipe side to the base end located on the opposite side to the main pipe side, and the tip side has a plurality of pieces. Since it is formed so as to be divided into portions, the front end portion of the main body can be shrunk by using the notch as a shrinkage margin. Furthermore, at this time, in order for the tip end portion of the main body portion of the retaining component to shrink in the radial direction, it is necessary to prevent interference with the outer surface of the joint pipe radially inside the main body portion of the retaining component. The joint pipe has a second groove formed at a position closer to the main pipe than the first groove on the outer surface of the joint pipe, and the main body of the retaining component is provided with a main pipe of the first groove of the joint pipe. Covering the outer surface of the joint pipe extending from the edge opposite to the side to the length of the second groove to the main pipe side edge and located between the first groove and the second groove. Since the end portion of the main body portion of the retaining component shrinks radially inward, it enters the second groove of the joint pipe and does not interfere with the outer surface of the joint pipe. Since the hook portion of the retaining component projects radially outward from the tip of the main body and is formed in a hook shape corresponding to the shape of the third groove, it enters the position of the third groove of the sub pipe. Then, the contraction in the radial direction is released by the elastic force of the main body, and the main body is fitted into the third groove. Thereby, the retaining component is locked to the sub-tube. That is, through the retaining part which is connected to the joint pipe by fitting the inner flange portion into the first groove and locked to the sub pipe by fitting the hook into the third groove, The joint pipe and the sub pipe are connected and are in a state where they do not come off. The interval required for preventing the joint pipe from coming off the sub pipe is the length from the end of the first groove of the joint pipe opposite to the main pipe to the end of the second groove on the main pipe, that is, This is the axial length of the main body of the retaining component.

  The branch fitting according to the present invention may be configured as follows. That is, the joint pipe has a groove formed so as to orbit in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the joint pipe. The secondary pipe is formed so as to be circumferentially aligned with the side of the secondary pipe at an axial position corresponding to the position of the groove of the secondary pipe when the secondary pipe is inserted, and to penetrate through the side of the secondary pipe. Has holes. The two holes are spaced such that the distance between them is equal to the diameter of the joint pipe at the bottom of the groove of the joint pipe, and the opening width of the hole in the axial direction of the auxiliary pipe is equal to the width of the groove in the axial direction of the joint pipe. It is formed to have equal width. The retaining part has an outer locking portion formed in a shape of a superior arc and having a radius of curvature equal to the radius of curvature of the outer surface of the sub-tube, and two skewer-shaped two holes in the sub-tube. And two inner locking portions formed in a space and a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the space and the shape of the outer locking portion and extending in parallel to the center of curvature from the outer locking portion so as to sandwich the arcuate center of curvature of the outer locking portion. It is configured. Then, the retaining part is such that the inner locking portion enters the two holes of the sub-tube into which the joint pipe has been inserted, and the inner locking portion passes through the bottom of the groove of the joint pipe, and the inner locking portion passes from the sub-tube of the joint pipe. The retaining member is retained on the outer surface of the sub-tube so that the outer retaining portion holds the sub-tube, thereby preventing the retaining component from coming off the sub-tube.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the branch metal fitting which concerns on this invention, a joint pipe and a sub-pipe are connected, and it will be in the state which does not come off through the following processes. First, the joint pipe is inserted into the sub pipe. The joint pipe has a groove formed so as to orbit in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the joint pipe, and the sub pipe has an axial position corresponding to the groove position of the joint pipe when the joint pipe is inserted. The joint pipe has two holes which are formed so as to be circumferentially arranged on the side surface of the sub-tube and penetrate the side surface of the sub-tube. Enter the sub pipe until it overlaps with. The two holes are spaced such that the distance between them is equal to the diameter of the joint pipe at the bottom of the groove of the joint pipe, and the opening width of the hole in the axial direction of the auxiliary pipe is equal to the width of the groove in the axial direction of the joint pipe. Since they are formed so as to have the same width, at this time, the two holes of the sub pipe are arranged at positions overlapping the groove of the joint pipe in plan view. The retaining part has an outer locking portion formed in a shape of a superior arc and having a radius of curvature equal to the radius of curvature of the outer surface of the sub-tube, and two skewer-shaped two holes in the sub-tube. And two inner locking portions formed in a space and a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the space and the shape of the outer locking portion and extending in parallel to the center of curvature from the outer locking portion so as to sandwich the arcuate center of curvature of the outer locking portion. As configured, the two inner catches can enter two holes in the sub-tube. Then, the retaining part is such that the inner locking portion enters the two holes of the sub-tube into which the joint pipe has been inserted, and the inner locking portion passes through the bottom of the groove of the joint pipe, and the inner locking portion passes from the sub-tube of the joint pipe. It keeps out. That is, the two pipes of the auxiliary pipe engage with the inner locking portion of the retaining part, and the bottom of the groove of the joint pipe engages with the inner locking part of the retaining part. It is in a state where it does not fall out of. The space required to prevent the joint tube from falling out of the sub-tube is the width of the groove of the joint tube, that is, the width of the inner locking portion in the axial direction of the retaining component. Further, the retaining component is locked to the outer surface of the sub-tube such that the outer locking portion holds the sub-tube, thereby preventing the retaining component from falling out of the sub-tube. That is, since the outer locking portion of the retaining member is formed in a shape that is arc-shaped and has a radius of curvature equal to the radius of curvature of the outer surface of the auxiliary pipe, the outer locking portion is formed into the two holes of the inner locking portion. As it enters, it is elastically deformed, and the distal end of the outer locking portion widens its interval along the outer surface of the sub-tube. When the distal end portion of the outer locking portion passes through a middle position between the outer surfaces of the sub-tubes, the distal end portion of the outer locking portion is narrowed along the outer surface of the sub-tube by elastic force. When the inner locking portion completely enters the hole of the sub-tube, the outer locking portion is in a mode of holding the sub-tube, and at the same time, the interval between the distal ends of the outer locking portion is smaller than the diameter of the sub-tube. , To be locked to the outer surface of the secondary pipe. As a result, the retaining component does not fall out of the sub pipe.

  Therefore, according to the branch fitting of the present invention, the number of components for retaining is one, and space saving can be realized.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of parts of a branch fitting according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially cutaway sectional view for clearly showing a characteristic portion. Drawing 2 is a figure showing the main part pipe of the branch metal fitting concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention, and (A) is a front view and a partial cutaway sectional view for clearly showing a characteristic part. (B) is a left side view of the sub pipe. FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing a main body and a joint pipe of a branch pipe of a branch fitting according to the first and third embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 3A is a front view, and FIG. It is a right side view, (C) is a top view, (D) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view. FIG. 4 is a view showing a connecting pipe of a branch pipe of a branch fitting according to the first, second, and third embodiments of the present invention, (A) is a front view, and (B) is It is a top view, (C) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view. FIG. 5 is a view showing a retaining part of the branch fitting according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a front view showing a connection state between the branch pipe and the main body pipe in the branch fitting according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially cutaway sectional view for clearly showing a characteristic portion. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the branch fitting according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially cutaway sectional view for clearly showing a characteristic portion. Drawing 8 is a figure showing the main part pipe of the branch metal fitting concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention, and (A) is a front view and a partial cutaway sectional view for clearly showing a characteristic part. (B) is a left side view of the sub pipe. Drawing 9 is a figure showing the main part and joint pipe of the branch pipe of the branch metal fitting concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention, (A) is a front view, (B) is a right side view. (C) is a plan view, and (D) is a longitudinal sectional view. FIGS. 10A and 10B are views showing a retaining part of a branch fitting according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 10A is a front view, FIG. 10B is a left side view, and FIG. Is a right side view, and (D) is an XD-XD sectional view of (C). FIG. 11 is a front view showing a connection state between a branch pipe and a main pipe in the branch fitting according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially cutaway sectional view for clearly showing a characteristic portion. FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the branch metal fitting according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially cutaway sectional view for clearly showing a characteristic portion. Drawing 13 is a figure showing the main part pipe of the branch metal fittings concerning a 3rd embodiment of the present invention, and (A) is a front view and a partial cutaway sectional view for clearly showing a characteristic part. (B) is a left side view of the sub pipe. 14A and 14B are views showing a retaining part of a branch fitting according to a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 14A is a front view, FIG. 14B is a plan view, and FIG. FIG. FIG. 15 is a front view showing a connection state between a branch pipe and a main pipe in the branch fitting according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially cutaway sectional view for clarifying a characteristic portion. 16A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVIA-XVIA in FIG. 15, and FIG. 16B is a perspective view of the XVIA section in FIG. FIG. 17 is a component exploded perspective view showing a modified example of the branch metal fitting according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

  The directions used in the following description are defined as follows according to FIG. The side that captures the main pipe valve and the sub pipe valve of the main pipe in the front is the front side (front side), and the side opposite to the front side is the rear side (back side). The left side when viewed from the front is the left side, and the right side when viewed from the front is the right side. Also, the direction in which the main pipe of the main pipe extends is defined as the up-down direction, the direction toward the faucet is defined as upward, and the opposite direction is defined as downward. When the direction is defined with the sub-tube of the main body tube as the center, the axial direction of the sub-tube and the joint pipe inserted into the sub-tube is the axial direction, and the radial direction of the sub-tube and the joint pipe inserted into the sub-tube is the radial direction. And the circumferential direction of the auxiliary pipe and the joint pipe inserted into the auxiliary pipe is defined as the circumferential direction. In the axial direction, a main pipe side and a side opposite to the main pipe side are defined. That is, when viewed from the sub pipe, the radial direction coincides with the front-back direction or the up-down direction. When viewed from the sub-tube, the axial direction coincides with the left-right direction. When viewed from the sub pipe, the right side coincides with the main pipe side. When viewed from the sub pipe, the left side coincides with the side opposite to the main pipe side.

<First embodiment>
The branch fitting 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The branch fitting 10 is connected to a pipe (not shown; hereinafter, referred to as "water supply pipe") for supplying hot water or water toward the faucet, and is supplied with hot water or water (hereinafter, referred to as "fluid") from the water supply pipe. ) To a faucet (not shown; hereinafter, referred to as “faucet-side piping”); and, for example, piping toward a dishwasher (not shown, hereinafter, referred to as “branch-side piping”). Each is for branching. The branch fitting 10 is attached to, for example, a water supply side pipe, a faucet side pipe, and a branch side pipe in a space below a sink in a kitchen. The branch metal part 10 includes, as shown in FIG. 1, a main pipe 20 having a main pipe 22 for flowing fluid from the water supply pipe to the faucet side pipe, and a sub pipe 24 for dividing the flow of the fluid from the main pipe 22 to the branch pipe. And a branch pipe 30 having a joint pipe 36 inserted into the sub pipe 24 and attached to the branch side pipe, and a retaining part 50 for preventing the joint pipe 36 from falling out of the sub pipe 24.

  The main pipe 20 is located between the water supply pipe and the faucet pipe. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body pipe 20 has a main pipe 22 which is a pipe extending in one direction which is a vertical direction, and a sub pipe 24 which is a pipe which extends in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the main pipe 22 extends.

  The main pipe 22 has a lower end 22n formed in a nut shape connected to a water supply side pipe, and attached to the water supply side pipe. The main pipe 22 has an upper end 22u on which a thread of an external thread is formed connected to a faucet side pipe via a cap nut (not shown), and is attached to the faucet side pipe. A main pipe handle 26 for adjusting the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the main pipe 22 is provided on the front side of the main pipe 22, and further, for adjusting the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the sub pipe 24. A sub-tube handle 28 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sub pipe 24 is connected, for example, by welding to a position on the left side of the main pipe 22 in the middle of the main pipe 22. The sub pipe 24 is connected to a branch pipe 30 attached to the branch pipe, and divides the fluid flow from the main pipe 22 toward the branch pipe. The joint pipe 36 of the branch pipe 30 is inserted into the sub pipe 24 from left to right and radially inward. Therefore, the sub pipe 24 is formed such that the inner side surface 24ip thereof has a shape for inserting the joint pipe 36. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner side surface 24ip has a distal end conical portion 24ip1 that decreases in diameter from a distal end located on the left side to a proximal end located on the right side, and a proximal peripheral edge of the distal end conical portion 24ip1. A large-diameter cylindrical portion 24ip2 extending to the base end side in the axial direction while maintaining a constant diameter, and an intermediate conical portion connected to the base end side peripheral edge of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24ip2 to reduce the diameter toward the base end side 24ip3, and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 24ip4 connected to the base end side peripheral edge of the intermediate conical portion 24ip3 and extending to the base end in the axial direction while keeping the diameter constant. The tip conical portion 24ip1 is a surface for facilitating the tip located on the right side of the joint pipe 36 to smoothly enter the radially inner side of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24ip2. The large-diameter cylindrical portion 24ip2 is a surface opposed to a proximal-side cylindrical portion 36op1 of the joint pipe 36 described later. The intermediate conical portion 24ip3 is a surface for facilitating the right end of the joint pipe 36 to smoothly enter the radially inner side of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 24ip4. The small-diameter cylindrical portion 24ip4 is a surface facing a later-described distal-side cylindrical portion 36op2 of the joint pipe 36. The joint pipe 36 can be smoothly inserted into the sub pipe 24 because the inner side surface 24ip is constituted by the tip conical portion 24ip1, the large diameter cylindrical portion 24ip2, the intermediate conical portion 24ip3, and the small diameter cylindrical portion 24ip4.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the sub pipe 24 has a screw hole 24 bh which penetrates the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24 ip 2 and the outer surface 24 op in the inner surface 24 ip in the radial direction and has a female screw thread. I have. When the joint pipe 36 is inserted into the sub pipe 24, the screw hole 24bh is positioned at an axial position corresponding to a position of a groove 36op1bd described later of the joint pipe 36 on the inner side surface 24ip and the outer side face 24op of the sub pipe 24. Of the groove 36op1bd. The screw hole 24bh is formed on the rear side of the sub pipe 24 and at an intermediate position in the vertical direction. For this reason, when the branch metal part 10 is viewed from the front, the screw holes 24bh and the retaining parts 50 described later are difficult to see. Note that the expression that the opening width of the screw hole 24bh corresponds to the width of the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36 means that the diameter of the valley of the female screw of the screw hole 24bh is the same as the width of the groove 36op1bd, or the female screw of the screw hole 24bh. Is that the diameter of the valley is slightly shorter than the width of the groove 36op1bd.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the branch pipe 30 includes a main body 32 that changes the direction of fluid flow, and one end 342 connected to the main body 32 and the other end 344 connected to, for example, a branch pipe. It has a connection pipe 34 to be connected, and a joint pipe 36 whose base end 36f is connected to the main body 32 and which is inserted into the auxiliary pipe 24 from the tip 36s side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main body 32 is formed in a substantially square shape in a front view (FIG. 3A) and a plan view (FIG. 3C), and in a side view (FIG. 3B). In ()), it is formed in a circular shape. That is, the main body 32 is formed in a substantially columnar shape having the left-right direction as the axial direction. The main body 32 is rotatable in the circumferential direction with the rotation of the joint pipe 36 described later in the circumferential direction. In the main body 32, the fluid flowing from the joint pipe 36 located on the right side is directed toward the branch pipe located on the upper, lower, front or rear side with the rotation of the main body 32 in the circumferential direction. In order to flow out, a space 32sp formed in a substantially L-shape in a front view is formed. The main body part 32 is formed with a connection pipe hole 32ch which is a hole formed by being drilled from a side surface of the substantially cylindrical main body part 32 toward the space 32sp. In the connection pipe hole 32ch, a female screw thread corresponding to a male screw thread formed on one end 342 side of the connection pipe 34 is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the connection pipe 34 is connected from one end 342 to a connection pipe hole 32ch located on a side surface of the substantially cylindrical main body 32. An external thread is formed on one end 342 of the connection pipe 34. The one end 342 side of the connection pipe 34 can be screwed into the connection pipe hole 32ch of the main body 32. On the other end 344 side of the connection pipe 34 connected to the branch-side pipe, a male screw thread for screwing a cap nut (not shown) is formed. The connection pipe 34 is connected to a connection pipe hole 32ch of the main body 32 via an O-ring OR1. The O-ring OR1 ensures watertightness between the main body 32 and the connection pipe 34.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the joint pipe 36 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having a left-right direction as an axial direction. The joint pipe 36 is connected to, for example, the right side of the main body 32. That is, the base end 36f located on the left side of the joint pipe 36 is connected to the main body 32. The fluid flow path formed by the inner side surface of the joint pipe 36 communicates with the space 32sp of the main body 32. The joint pipe 36 has a shape in which the outer surface 36op is inserted into the inner surface 24ip of the sub-tube 24, and is rotatable in the circumferential direction along the inner surface 24ip of the sub-tube 24. Is formed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the outer side surface 36op includes a proximal-side cylindrical portion 36op1 located on the left side and the proximal end 36f side, and a distal-side cylindrical portion located on the right side and located on the distal end 36s side. 36op2.

  The proximal-side cylindrical portion 36op1 is a surface that contacts and faces the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24ip2 of the sub pipe 24. The proximal cylindrical portion 36op1 is formed such that its diameter matches the diameter of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24ip2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the proximal-side cylindrical portion 36op1 has a groove 36op1bd formed so as to orbit in the circumferential direction. That is, the proximal cylindrical portion 36op1 is formed such that the diameter L _{D at} the bottom of the groove 36op1bd is smaller than the diameter at a portion other than the groove 36op1bd. The groove 36op1bd is inserted into the shaft of the retaining part 50 while the tip of the male screw shaft 52, which is the retaining part 50, is inserted into the groove 36op1bd so that the joint pipe 36 can rotate in the circumferential direction with respect to the auxiliary pipe 24. A groove for engaging with the groove 52.

  The distal-side cylindrical portion 36op2 is a surface facing the small-diameter cylindrical portion 24ip4 of the sub pipe 24. The distal-end-side cylindrical portion 36op2 is formed such that its diameter matches the diameter of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 24ip4.

  Further, the distal-end-side cylindrical portion 36op2 has an O-ring groove 36op2od, which is a groove formed to rotate in the circumferential direction. That is, the distal-end-side cylindrical portion 36op2 is formed such that the diameter at the bottom of the O-ring groove 36op2od is smaller than the diameter at a portion other than the O-ring groove 36op2od. The O-ring groove 36op2od allows the fluid to leak from between the inner surface 24ip of the sub-tube 24 and the outer surface 36op of the joint tube 36 when the O-ring OR2 is fitted and the joint tube 36 and the sub-tube 24 are connected. Ensure water tightness so that there is no

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the retaining component 50 is a male screw inserted into the screw hole 24 bh of the sub pipe 24. That is, the retaining component 50 has the screw shaft 52 corresponding to the screw hole 24bh of the sub pipe 24, and the screw head 54 connected to the screw shaft 52. The screw shaft 52 is formed such that the diameter of the ridge of the male screw matches the diameter of the valley of the female screw formed in the screw hole 24bh of the sub pipe 24. The screw shaft 52 has a nominal length that is equal to or shorter than the radial length from the outer surface 24op of the sub pipe 24 into which the joint pipe 36 is inserted to the bottom of the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36. In addition, the length is longer than the radial length from the outer surface 24op of the auxiliary pipe 24 into which the joint pipe 36 is inserted to a portion other than the groove 36op1bd of the proximal cylindrical portion 36op1 of the joint pipe 36. That is, the tip of the screw shaft 52 is formed to have a length that is inserted into the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36 in the sub pipe 24 into which the joint pipe 36 is inserted. Then, the retaining component 50 is screwed into the screw hole 24bh of the sub pipe 24 into which the joint pipe 36 is inserted, and the tip of the screw shaft 52 is inserted into the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36, and the sub pipe 24 of the joint pipe 36 is inserted. It will keep you from getting out of. The screw head 54 is formed with a so-called low head. The retaining part 50 has an improved appearance compared to a male screw having a normal screw head because the screw head 54 has a low head.

(Effects)
According to the branch fitting 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the shaft 52 of the male screw as the retaining part 50 and the screw hole 24bh of the auxiliary pipe 24 are screwed together, and the shaft 52 of the male screw and the groove of the joint pipe 36 are formed. By engaging with 36op1bd, the joint pipe 36 does not fall out of the sub pipe 24. The interval required to prevent the joint pipe 36 from coming off from the auxiliary pipe 24 is the width of the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36, that is, the outer diameter of the shaft 52 of the external thread which is the retaining part 50. Therefore, according to the branch metal fitting 10, the number of components for retaining is one, and space saving can be realized. Further, according to the branch metal fitting 10, since the number of parts for retaining is one, and space saving can be realized, the design can be improved as compared with the conventional one.

  According to the branch fitting 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the joint pipe 36 has a groove 36op1bd that circulates in the circumferential direction on the outer side surface 36op. Since the tip of the shaft 52 is only inserted into the groove 36op1bd, the engagement between the groove 36op1bd and the tip of the screw shaft 52 is free in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the joint pipe 36 can rotate in the circumferential direction without being removed from the sub pipe 24. That is, the branch pipe 30 having the joint pipe 36 can rotate in the circumferential direction with respect to the main pipe 20. Therefore, even if the water supply side pipe and the branch side pipe are not parallel, by rotating the branch pipe 30 in the circumferential direction with respect to the main pipe 20, the flow of the fluid from the main pipe 20 to the branch pipe can be divided. it can.

  In addition, according to the branch fitting 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the retaining part 50 necessary for preventing the joint pipe 36 from coming off from the auxiliary pipe 24 is a male screw, so that the assembling / disassembling is easily performed. It can be easily maintained. Further, according to the branch fitting 10, the cost can be reduced by using a male screw mass-produced for the retaining component 50. Further, according to the branch fitting 10, since the retaining component 50 is provided on the back side of the sub pipe 24, the design property in a front view can be improved. Further, according to the branch metal fitting 10, the screw head 54 of the retaining component 50 is formed with a low head, so that the design can be further improved.

<Second embodiment>
A branch fitting 10B according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the branch fitting 10B, the same components as those of the branch fitting 10 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the common components denoted by the same reference numerals is omitted. It shall be.

  The branch fitting 10B is connected to the water supply side pipe to branch the fluid from the water supply side pipe into the faucet side pipe and the branch side pipe, similarly to the branch fitting 10 according to the first embodiment. It is. As shown in FIG. 7, the branch metal part 10B has a main pipe 20B having a main pipe 22 and a sub pipe 24B for dividing the flow of fluid from the main pipe 22, and a joint pipe 36B inserted into the sub pipe 24B. It has a branch pipe 30B attached to the pipe, and a retaining part 50B for preventing the joint pipe 36B from falling out of the sub pipe 24B.

  The sub pipe 24B is connected to the branch pipe 30B connected to the branch pipe, and divides the flow of the fluid from the main pipe 22 toward the branch pipe. In the auxiliary pipe 24B, a joint pipe 36B described later of the branch pipe 30B is inserted from left to right and radially inward. Therefore, the inner surface 24Bip of the sub pipe 24B is formed so that the fitting pipe 36B is inserted and the retaining part 50B described later is fitted therein. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the inner side surface 24Bip has a distal end conical portion 24Bip1 that decreases in diameter from a distal end located on the left side to a proximal end located on the right side, and a proximal peripheral edge of the distal end conical portion 24Bip1. A large-diameter cylindrical portion 24Bip2 extending to the base end side in the axial direction while keeping the diameter constant, and an intermediate conical portion connected to the base-side peripheral edge of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24Bip2 to reduce the diameter toward the base end side 24Bip3, and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 24Bip4 connected to the base end side peripheral edge of the intermediate conical portion 24Bip3 and extending to the base end in the axial direction while keeping the diameter constant. The large-diameter cylindrical portion 24Bip2 is a surface facing the proximal-side cylindrical portion 36Bop1 of the joint pipe 36. The small diameter cylindrical portion 24Bip4 is a surface facing the distal end cylindrical portion 36Bop2 of the joint pipe 36. Furthermore, the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24Bip2 is a surface that contacts and faces the main body 56 of the retaining component 50B. The large-diameter cylindrical portion 24Bip2 has a third groove D3 that is a groove into which a hook 57 described later of the retaining component 50B is fitted.

  The third groove D3 is circumferentially circulated to an axial position corresponding to the position of the end of the second groove D2 on the main pipe side on the inner side surface 24Bip of the sub pipe 24B when the joint pipe 36B is inserted. Is formed. The third groove D3 is a groove into which the hook 57 of the retaining component 50B is fitted.

  The inner side surface 24Bip and the outer side surface 24Bop of the sub-tube 24 in the first embodiment have the third groove D3 and do not have the screw hole 24bh except for the screw hole 24bh. This is the same mode as described above. Similarly, the main body tube 20B is the same as the main body tube 20 in the first embodiment except that the main body tube 20B has the third groove D3 and does not have the screw hole 24bh.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 9, the branch pipe 30B includes a main body 32 that changes the direction of fluid flow, and one end 342 side connected to the main body 32 and the other end 344 side connected to, for example, a branch side pipe. It has a connection pipe 34 to be connected, and a joint pipe 36B whose base end 36Bf is connected to the main body 32 and which is inserted into the auxiliary pipe 24B from the tip 36Bs side.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the joint pipe 36B is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having the left-right direction as the axial direction. The joint pipe 36B is connected to, for example, the right side of the main body 32. That is, the base end 36Bf located on the left side of the joint pipe B36 is connected to the main body 32. The fluid flow path formed by the inner side surface of the joint pipe 36 </ b> B communicates with the space 32 sp of the main body 32. As shown in FIG. 7, the joint pipe 36B is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having the left-right direction as the axial direction. Also, the joint pipe 36B has a shape in which the outer surface 36Bop is inserted into the inner surface 24Bip of the sub-tube 24B, and is rotatable in the circumferential direction along the inner surface 24Bip of the sub-tube 24B. Is formed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the outer side surface 36Bop includes a proximal-side cylindrical portion 36Bop1 located on the left side and a proximal side, and a distal-side cylindrical portion 36Bop2 located on the right side and a distal side. , Is constituted. The distal-side cylindrical portion 36Bop2 in the second embodiment is the same as the distal-side cylindrical portion 36Op2 in the first embodiment, and thus the description is omitted.

  The proximal cylindrical portion 36Bop1 is a surface facing the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24Bip2 of the sub pipe 24B. The proximal cylindrical portion 36Bop1 is formed such that its diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24Bip2. The difference between the inner diameter of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24Bip2 of the sub pipe 24B and the outer diameter of the proximal-end cylindrical portion 36Bop1 matches the radial thickness of the main body 56 of the retaining component 50B described later.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the proximal-side cylindrical portion 36Bop1 has a first groove D1 formed so as to extend in the circumferential direction with a slight width in the axial direction from the proximal end 36Bf. The first groove D1 is a groove for fitting the later-described inner flange portion 58 of the retaining component 50B to connect the retaining component 50B to the joint pipe 36B. Further, the proximal cylindrical portion 36Bop1 has a second groove D2 formed at a position on the distal end side (main pipe side) on the right side of the first groove D1. The second groove D2 serves as a shrinkage allowance so as not to interfere with the outer surface 36Bop of the joint pipe 36B when the hook portion 57 of the retaining component 50B described later shrinks radially inward together with the main body portion 56. It is. The proximal-side cylindrical portion 36Bop1 has a flange 36Bop1g formed between the first groove D1 and the second groove D2 in a flange shape protruding radially outward. That is, the diameter of the proximal-side cylindrical portion 36Bop1 matches the diameter of the flange-shaped portion 36Bop1g.

  The radial depth of the groove bottom of the second groove D2 with respect to the outer surface of the flange 36Bop1g is greater than the radial depth of the groove bottom of the first groove D1 with respect to the outer surface of the flange 36Bop1g. Is preferred. That is, the radial depth of the groove bottom of the first groove D1 only needs to be such that the inner flange portion 58 of the retaining component 50B described later can be fitted. The depth in the radial direction of the groove bottom of the second groove D2 is a depth required for the shrinkage allowance when the hook portion 57 of the retaining component 50B shrinks radially inward together with the main body portion 56. Good. Further, it is preferable that the axial width of the second groove D2 is longer than the axial width of the first groove D1. The axial width of the first groove D1 may be any width as long as the inner flange portion 58 of the retaining component 50B described below can be fitted. The axial width of the second groove D2 may be any width that does not interfere with the outer surface 36Bop of the joint pipe 36B when the hook portion 57 of the retaining component 50B contracts radially inward together with the main body portion 56. .

  The retaining component 50B is a substantially cylindrical member as shown in FIGS. The retaining component 50B is formed of an elastic resin material. The retaining component 50B includes a substantially cylindrical main body portion 56, a hook portion 57 formed at a distal end 56s of the main body portion 56, and an inner flange portion 58 extending radially inward from a base end 56f of the main body portion 56. Be composed.

  The main body portion 56 extends to a length equal to the length from the left edge of the first groove D1 of the joint pipe 36B, that is, the base end 36Bf to the right edge of the second groove D2, and extends from the first groove D1. A cylindrical shape that can cover the outer side surface 36Bop of the joint pipe 36B located between the second groove D2, that is, the flange portion 36Bop1g, and a base located on the left side from the tip 56s located on the right side to the cylindrical side surface. It is notched so as to be divided into a plurality in the circumferential direction toward the end 56f, and the leading end 56s is formed so as to be divided into a plurality of portions. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the main body 56 includes a first notch 56t1, a second notch 56t2, and a third notch, which are four notches in the axial direction from the distal end 56s to the vicinity of the proximal end 56f. The first main body portion 561, the second main body portion 562, the third main body portion 563, and the first main body portion 561 are formed by being cut out by 56t3 and the fourth notch 56t4, and are separated from each other by 90 degrees in the circumferential direction. It is divided into four components 564. The first notch 56t1 separates the main body first component 561 and the main body second component 562. The second notch 56t2 divides the main body second component 562 and the main body third component 563. The third notch 56t3 separates the main body third component 563 and the main body fourth component 564. The fourth notch 56t4 divides the main body fourth component 564 and the main body first component 561.

  The first main body portion 561, the second main body portion 562, the third main body portion 563, and the fourth main body portion 564 are respectively viewed from the side (FIGS. 10B and 10C). It has an arc shape and is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view and front view (FIG. 10A). That is, the first component 561, the main component second component 562, the main component third component 563, and the main component fourth component 564 are each formed in a plate shape curved in the circumferential direction and extended in the axial direction. Have been. The first main body part 561, the second main body part 562, the third main body part 563, and the fourth main body part 564 are connected to each other on the base end 56f side. However, as will be described later, the first main body portion 561 and the fourth main body portion 564 are not connected on the base end 56f side. The first main body portion 561 and the second main body portion 562 connected to the base end 56f side can shrink the tip 56s side portion radially inward with the first notch 56t1 as a shrinkage margin. Similarly, the main body second component 562 and the main body third component 563 to which the base end 56f is connected shrink the distal end 56s side portion radially inward with the second notch 56t2 as a shrinkage margin. Can be. The third main body portion 563 and the fourth main body portion 564 connected to the base end 56f side can shrink the distal end 56s side portion radially inward with the third notch 56t3 as a shrinkage margin. The main body fourth component 564 and the main body first component 561 to which the base end 56f is not connected can use the fourth notch 56t4 as a shrinkage margin to shrink the distal end 56s side portion radially inward.

  The inner flange portion 58 extends radially inward from the base end 56f of the main body portion 56 and is formed in a flange shape corresponding to the shape of the first groove D1. That is, the inner flange portion 58 is formed such that its radial length from the outer diameter to the inner diameter matches the radial depth of the first groove D1 of the joint pipe 36B. Further, the inner flange portion 58 is formed such that its axial length (width) matches the axial length (width) of the first groove D1 of the joint pipe 36B.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10 (B), the inner flange portion 58 is further notched in the radial direction at one of a plurality of notches of the main body portion 56, for example, at the same position as the fourth notch 56t4, and is C-shaped. Is formed. That is, the inner flange portion 58 has a notch 58t that radially cuts a part of the disk-like shape. Accordingly, when the inner flange portion 58 is to be fitted into the first groove D1 of the joint pipe 36B, the gap between the notches 58t is temporarily reduced because the retaining component 50B is formed of an elastic resin material. The inner groove 58 can be fitted into the first groove D1 by temporarily expanding the inner diameter of the inner flange 58 temporarily.

  The hook portion 57 projects radially outward from the distal end 56s of the main body portion 56 and is formed in a hook shape corresponding to the shape of the third groove D3 of the sub pipe 24B. Specifically, the hook portion 57 is formed at the distal end 56 s of each of the first main body portion 561, the second main body portion 562, the third main body portion 563, and the fourth main body portion 564. Have been. As shown in FIG. 10 (D), the hook portion 57 gradually expands radially outward from the distal end 56s to the proximal end 56f in the cross-sectional shape of the retaining component 50 in a cross section cut in the radial direction and the axial direction. The third groove D3 is bent inward in the radial direction at a position corresponding to the position of the left edge of the third groove D3 when the retaining component 50 is inserted into the sub pipe 24B. It is formed so as to be able to engage with the left edge of the groove D3. The hook 57 has a maximum length in the radial direction of the hook 57, which is the difference between the outer diameter of the main body 56 and the outer diameter of the hook 57, and the maximum length from the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24Bip2 of the sub pipe 24B. 3 is formed so as to coincide with the depth of the groove D3. In other words, the hook portion 57 is formed such that the maximum diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the portion other than the third groove D3 of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24Bip2 of the sub pipe 24B.

(Effects)
According to the branch metal fitting 10B, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, the joint pipe 36B and the sub pipe 24B are connected and do not come off through the following process. First, the retaining component 50B has a substantially cylindrical shape capable of covering the outer side surface 36Bop of the joint pipe 36B, and an inner flange portion 58 cut out in the radial direction and formed in a C shape fits in the first groove D1. By joining, it is connected to the joint pipe 36B. The joint pipe 36B to which the retaining component 50B is connected is inserted into the auxiliary pipe 24B together with the retaining component 50B. At this time, the hook part 57 located on the tip end 56s side of the main body part 56 of the retaining part 50B enters the sub pipe 24B along the inner side surface 24Bip of the sub pipe 24B. Then, from the relationship between the outer diameter of the retaining part 50B at the hook part 57 and the inner diameter of the large-diameter cylindrical part 24Bip2 of the inner side surface 24Bip of the sub pipe 24B, the main body part 57 of the retaining part 50B formed of an elastic resin material. Is elastically deformed, and has a shape such that the end 56 s side portion shrinks radially inward. At this time, the main body portion 56 of the retaining component 50B has a first notch 56t1 and a second notch 56c from the distal end 56s located on the side of the main pipe 22 toward the base end 56f located on the opposite side to the main pipe 22 side. The notch 56t2, the third notch, and the fourth notch 56t4 are notched so as to be divided into four in the circumferential direction, and the leading end 56s side is the main body first component 561, the main body second component 562, and the main body third. Since it is formed so as to be divided into the component part 563 and the main body part fourth component part 564, the tip 56s side portion of the main body part 56 has the first notch 56t1, the second notch 56t2, the third notch, and the fourth notch. The notch 56t4 can be shrunk as a shrinkage margin. Further, at this time, in order for the distal end 56s side portion of the main body portion 56 of the retaining component 50B to shrink in the radial direction, it is necessary that the outer surface 36Bop of the joint pipe 36B radially inside the main body portion 56 of the retaining component 50B does not interfere. There is. The joint pipe 36B has a second groove D2 formed at a position closer to the main pipe 22 than the first groove D1 on the outer surface 36Bop of the joint pipe 36B. The first groove D1 of the pipe 36B extends from the first groove D1 on the side opposite to the main pipe 22 side, that is, from the base end 36Bf to the end of the second groove D2 on the main pipe 22 side, from the first groove D1. Since it is formed in a cylindrical shape that can cover the outer surface 36Bop of the joint pipe 36B located up to the second groove D2, that is, the flange-shaped portion 36Bop1g, the tip 56s side portion of the main body 56 of the retaining component 50B is Even if it shrinks radially inward, it does not interfere with the outer surface 36Bop of the joint pipe 36B by entering the second groove D2 of the joint pipe 36B. The hook portion 57 of the retaining component 50B projects radially outward from the distal end 56s of the main body portion 56 and is formed in a hook shape corresponding to the shape of the third groove D3. When it enters into the position of the groove D3, the contraction in the radial direction is released by the elastic force of the main body portion 56, and the groove is fitted into the third groove D3. Thereby, the retaining component 50B is locked to the sub pipe 24B. That is, the inner flange portion 58 is connected to the joint pipe 36B by fitting into the first groove D1, and the hook portion 57 is locked by the sub pipe 24B by fitting into the third groove D3. The joint pipe 36B and the auxiliary pipe 24B are connected via the retaining component 50B and are in a state where they are not removed. The interval required for preventing the joint pipe 36B from coming off from the sub pipe 24B is the length from the base end 36Bf of the first groove D1 of the joint pipe 36B to the end of the second groove D2 on the main pipe side, that is, This is the axial length of the main body 56 of the retaining component 50B. Therefore, according to the branch fitting 10B, the number of components for retaining is one, and space saving can be realized. Furthermore, according to the branch fitting 10B, the number of components for retaining is one, and space saving can be realized, so that the design can be improved as compared with the conventional one.

  According to the branch fitting 10B, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, the hooks 57 arranged in the circumferential direction on the distal end 56s side of the main body 56 of the substantially cylindrical retaining part 50B are formed inside the sub pipe 24B. Since the third groove D3 formed in the circumferential direction on the side surface 24Bip is fitted, the fitting between the hook 57 and the third groove D3 is free in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the joint pipe 36B connected to the inside of the retaining component 50B can rotate in the circumferential direction without being detached from the auxiliary pipe 24B. That is, the branch pipe 30B having the joint pipe 36B can rotate in the circumferential direction with respect to the main pipe 20B. Therefore, even if the water supply side pipe and the branch side pipe are not parallel, the fluid flow can be divided from the main pipe 20B to the branch side pipe by rotating the branch pipe 30B in the circumferential direction with respect to the main pipe 20B. it can.

  In addition, according to the branch fitting 10B, in the connection state between the joint pipe 36B and the sub pipe 24B, the retaining component 50B is completely invisible, so that the design is significantly improved as compared with the conventional one. it can.

  Further, according to the branch fitting 10B, since the retaining component 50B is formed of a resin material, the cost can be reduced compared to the retaining component formed of a metal material in the conventional branch fitting.

  Further, according to the branching fitting 10B, the work required for connecting the retaining part 50B and the joint pipe 36B is performed by a human hand while expanding the notch 58t of the inner flange part 58 of the retaining part 50B by hand. Only needs to be pushed into the first groove D1. Further, the work required for connecting the joint pipe 36B and the sub pipe 24B is manually performed by manually inserting the joint pipe 36B to which the retaining component 50B is connected into the sub pipe 24B. Since it is only necessary to insert into the inner side surface 24Bip, assembly can be performed easily.

<Third embodiment>
A branch fitting 10C according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that, in the branch metal fitting 10C, the same components as those of the branch metal fitting 10 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description of the common components denoted by the same reference numerals is omitted. It shall be. In particular, in the third embodiment, the joint pipe 36, the auxiliary pipe 24C, and the retaining component 50C will be described.

  The branch fitting 10C is connected to the water supply side pipe to branch the fluid from the water supply side pipe to the faucet side pipe and the branch side pipe, similarly to the branch fitting 10 according to the first embodiment. It is. As shown in FIG. 12, the branch metal part 10C has a main pipe 20C having a main pipe 22 and a sub pipe 24C for dividing the flow of fluid from the main pipe 22, and a joint pipe 36 inserted into the sub pipe 24C. It has a branch pipe 30 attached to the pipe, and a retaining part 50C that prevents the joint pipe 36 from coming off the sub pipe 24C.

The joint pipe 36 according to the third embodiment is formed in the same shape as the joint pipe 36 according to the first embodiment. In the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36 in the third embodiment, the inner locking portion 64 of the retaining component 50C is inserted as described later, and the joint pipe 36 is rotatable in the circumferential direction with respect to the auxiliary pipe 24C. In this way, the groove is for engaging with the inner locking portion 64 of the retaining component 50C. And for the following description, as shown in FIG. 3, the width in the axial direction of the groove 36op1bd in joint pipe 36, and the width L _W. Further, the diameter of the joint pipe 36 at the bottom of the groove 36op1bd the joint pipe 36, the diameter L _d.

The sub pipe 24C is connected to the branch pipe 30 connected to the branch pipe, and divides the flow of the fluid from the main pipe 22 toward the branch pipe. The joint pipe 36 of the branch pipe 30 is inserted into the sub pipe 24C from left to right and radially inward. Therefore, the sub pipe 24C is formed such that the inner surface 24Cip has a shape into which the joint pipe 36 is inserted. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the inner side surface 24Cip has a distal end conical portion 24Cip1 that decreases in diameter from a distal end located on the left side to a proximal end located on the right side, and a proximal peripheral edge of the distal end conical portion 24Cip1. A large-diameter cylindrical portion 24Cip2 extending to the base end side in the axial direction while maintaining a constant diameter, and an intermediate conical portion connected to the base-side peripheral edge of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 24Cip2 to reduce the diameter toward the base end side 24Cip3 and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 24Cip4 that is connected to the base end side peripheral edge of the intermediate conical portion 24Cip3 and extends to the base end in the axial direction while keeping the diameter constant. The large-diameter cylindrical portion 24Cip2 is a surface facing the proximal-side cylindrical portion 36op1 of the joint pipe 36. The small-diameter cylindrical portion 24Cip is a surface facing the distal-end-side cylindrical portion 36op2 of the joint pipe 36. The large-diameter cylindrical portion 24Cip2 has two holes 24Ch1 and 24Ch2 into which the later-described inner locking portions 641 and 642 of the retaining component 50C enter. For the following description, as shown in FIG. 13B, the radius of curvature of the outer surface 24Cop of the sub pipe 24C in a side view is defined as a radius of curvature r _24C . Further, the distance between the holes 24Ch1 and holes 24Ch2, the distance L _ch. Also, the opening width of the hole 24Ch1 and hole 24Ch2, the opening width W _ch.

The holes 24Ch1 and 24Ch2, which are the two holes, are axial positions corresponding to the positions of the grooves 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36 when the joint pipe 36 is inserted, as shown in FIGS. The sub pipe 24C is formed so as to be circumferentially aligned with the inner side face 24Cip and the outer side face 24Cop, and is formed so as to penetrate the inner side face 24Cip and the outer side face 24Cop of the sub pipe 24C. Furthermore, bore 24Ch1 and hole 24Ch2 are two holes, the interval L _ch is formed such that the spacing equal to the diameter L _d of the joint pipe 36 at the bottom of the groove 36op1bd the joint pipe 36. Furthermore, bore 24Ch1 and hole 24Ch2 are two holes, the opening width W _ch hole 24Ch1 and hole 24Ch2 in the axial direction of the secondary pipe 24C is a width equal to the width L _W of the groove 36op1bd in the axial direction of the joint tube 36 So, it is formed.

  The inner side surface 24Cip and the outer side surface 24Cop of the sub-tube 24C have the hole 24Ch1 and the hole 24Ch2 but do not have the screw hole 24bh, and the inner side surface 24ip and the outer side surface 24op of the sub-tube 24 in the first embodiment. This is the same mode as described above. Similarly, the main body tube 20C has the same configuration as the main body tube 20 in the first embodiment except that the main body tube 20C has the holes 24Ch1 and 24Ch2 and does not have the screw holes 24bh.

As shown in FIG. 14, the retaining component 50 </ b> C sandwiches the outer locking portion 62 formed in an arc shape in a side view and the two skewers and the arc-shaped curvature center C ₆₂ of the outer locking portion 62. and two inner engaging portion 64 extending in parallel from the outer locking portion 62 to the center of curvature C ₆₂ side as, and is made of. The superior arc is an arc larger than a semicircle when the circumference is divided into two arcs by two points. The two inner locking portions 64 are constituted by a first inner locking portion 641 and a second inner locking portion 642. The outer locking portion 62 has an arc shape, and has a main body arc portion 622 for supporting the two inner locking portions 64, and a back surface that draws an arc continuously to the main body arc portion 622 on the back side of the main body arc portion 622. It comprises an arc portion 621 and a front arc portion 623 that draws an arc continuously from the main arc portion 622 on the front side of the main arc portion 622. In the outer locking portion 62, the back circular arc portion 621, the main body circular arc portion 622, and the front circular arc portion 623 are continuously formed to form an integral arc shape. Further, the outer locking portion 62, the radius of curvature r ₆₂ is formed in a shape that is the radius of curvature r _24C equal the radius of curvature of the outer surface 24Cop the secondary pipe 24C. And two inner engaging portion 64 that is, the first inner engaging portion 641 and the second inner engaging portion 642, the interval L ₆₄ is the distance L _ch two holes 24Ch1,24Ch2 the secondary pipe 24C, Further, it is formed so that its cross-sectional shape is a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the two holes 24Ch1, 24Ch2. The two inner locking portions 64 are formed such that the axial width W ₆₄ is equal to the axial opening width W _{ch of the} sub pipe 24C of the two holes 24Ch1 and 24Ch2. Further, the inner locking portion 64 has a length in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) is longer than the radius of curvature r ₆₂ of the outer locking portion 62, is shorter than 2 times or diameter of the radius of curvature r ₆₂ So, it is formed. The inner locking portion 64 preferably has a length in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction), as shown in FIG. 16, when the inner locking portion 64 enters the two holes 24Ch1, 24Ch2 of the sub pipe 24C. The tip of the inner locking portion 64 is formed so as to have a length that abuts on the upper inner surface 24Cip of the sub pipe 24 or reaches a position slightly below the upper inner surface 24Cip. The outer locking portion 62, the width in the axial direction, may be formed to be a width equal to the width W ₆₄ of the inner locking portion 64 may be formed such that different widths.

From the above, as shown in FIG. 16, the distance L _ch two holes 24Ch1,24Ch2 the secondary pipe 24C, the distance L ₆₄ of the inner locking portion 64 of the retaining part 50C, the joint pipe 36 at the bottom of the groove 36op1bd the diameter L _d, are equal. Further, a curvature radius r ₆₂ of the outer locking portion 62 of the retaining part 50C, and a radius r _24C of the outer side surface 24Cop of the secondary pipe 24C, are equal. Furthermore, the width L _W in the axial direction of the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36, the width W ₆₄ of the inner locking portion 64 in the axial direction of the retaining component 50C, and the opening in the axial direction of the two holes 24Ch1, 24Ch2 of the sub pipe 24C. The width W _ch is equal. The distance between the tip of the tip portion and the front arcuate portion 623 of the rear arcuate portion 621 of the outer locking portion 62 formed on Yu arc is more than twice or diameter of the curvature radius r ₆₂ of the outer locking portion 62 Is also small. That is, the radius of curvature r ₆₂ of the outer locking portion 62, the tip of the is equal to the curvature radius r _24C of the outer side surface 24Cop of the secondary pipe 24C, the distal end portion and the front arcuate portion 623 of the rear arcuate portion 621 of the outer locking portion 62 The distance between the outer pipe 24C and the outer pipe 24C is smaller than the diameter of the outer surface 24Cop of the sub pipe 24C.

  Therefore, in the sub pipe 24C into which the joint pipe 36 has been inserted, the inner locking portion 64 can enter the two holes 24Ch1 and 24Ch2. Then, the entered inner locking portion 64 can pass through the bottom of the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36. Further, the outer locking portion 62 can be locked to the outer surface 24Cop of the sub pipe 24C so as to hold the sub pipe 24C.

(Effects)
According to the branch fitting 10C, as shown in FIGS. 12, 15, and 16, the joint pipe 36 and the sub-pipe 24C are connected through the following process, and do not come off. First, the joint pipe 36 is inserted into the sub pipe 24C. The joint pipe 36 has a groove 36op1bd formed so as to orbit in the circumferential direction on the outer surface 36op of the joint pipe 36, and the sub pipe 24C is located at the position of the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36 when the joint pipe 36 is inserted. Since there are two holes 24Ch1 and 24Ch2 formed in the axial position corresponding to the above and formed in the circumferential direction on the side surface of the sub pipe 24C and penetrating the side faces 24Cip and 24Cop of the sub pipe 24C, the joint The pipe 36 enters the auxiliary pipe 24C until the groove 36op1bd overlaps the position of the two holes 24Ch1 and 24Ch2 of the auxiliary pipe 24C in the axial direction. The two holes 24Ch1,24Ch2, as is equal intervals to the diameter L _d of the joint tube 36 that interval L _ch is at the bottom of the groove 36op1bd the joint pipe 36, and the hole in the axial direction of the secondary pipe 24C 24Ch1,24Ch2 as the opening width W _ch is a width equal to the width L _W of the groove 36op1bd in the axial direction of the joint tube 36 of, since it is formed, this time, in a plan view, two holes secondary pipe 24C 24Ch1,24Ch2 Is disposed at a position overlapping with the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36. On the other hand, the retaining part 50C has an outer locking portion 62 radius of curvature r ₆₂ A Yu arc is formed in a shape which is the radius of curvature r _24C equal the radius of curvature of the outer surface 24Cop of the secondary pipe 24C, 2 two skewers formed a Jo into two intervals L ₆₄ and cross-sectional shape corresponding to the distance L _ch and shape of the hole 24Ch1,24Ch2 sub tube 24C so as to sandwich the Yu arcuate curvature center C ₆₂ of the outer locking portion 62 and two inner engaging portion 64 extending in parallel from the outer locking portion 62 to the center of curvature C ₆₂ side, which is configured by, the two inner engaging portion 64, two holes secondary pipe 24C 24Ch1,24Ch2 Can be entered. Then, in the retaining component 50C, the inner locking portion 64 enters the two holes 24Ch1, 24Ch2 of the sub pipe 24C into which the joint pipe 36 is inserted, and the inner locking portion 64 passes through the bottom of the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36. As a result, the joint pipe 36 is prevented from coming off from the sub pipe 24C. That is, the two holes 24Ch1, 24Ch2 of the auxiliary pipe 24C engage with the inner locking portion 64 of the retaining component 50C, and the bottom of the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36 engages with the inner locking portion 64 of the retaining component 50C. By doing so, the joint pipe 36 does not fall out of the sub pipe 24C. The interval required to prevent the joint pipe 36 from coming off from the sub pipe 24C is the width L _W of the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36, that is, the width W ₆₄ of the axial inner locking portion 64 of the retaining part 50C. Further, the retaining component 50C is locked to the outer surface 24Cop of the sub-tube 24C so that the back circular arc portion 621 and the front circular arc portion 623 of the outer locking portion 62 embrace the sub-tube 24C. It will keep you from getting out of. That is, the outer locking portion 62 of the retaining part 50C, since the radius of curvature r ₆₂ A Yu arc is formed in a shape which is the radius of curvature r _24C equal the radius of curvature of the outer surface 24Cop of the secondary pipe 24C, the inner engagement As the stop portion 64 enters the two holes 24Ch1 and 24Ch2, the rear circular arc portion 621 and the front circular arc portion 623 are elastically deformed, and the rear circular arc portion 621 and the front circular arc portion 623 of the outer locking portion 62 are The spacing is increased along the outer surface 24Cop of the tube 24C. When the front end portions of the back circular arc portion 621 and the front circular arc portion 623 of the outer locking portion 62 pass through the intermediate position of the outer surface 24Cop of the sub tube 24C, the distal ends thereof are spaced along the outer surface 24Cop of the sub tube 24C by elastic force. Narrow. When the inner locking portion 62 completely enters the holes 24Ch1 and 24Ch2 of the sub pipe 24C, the back circular arc portion 621 and the front circular arc portion 623 of the outer locking portion 62 take the form of holding the sub pipe 24C, and at the same time, the outer locking. The distance between the distal end portions of the back circular arc portion 621 and the front circular arc portion 623 of the portion 62 is smaller than the diameter (2 × radius r _24C ) of the outer surface 24Cop of the auxiliary tube 24C, and therefore, is related to the outer surface 24Cop of the auxiliary tube 24C. Stop. As a result, the retaining component 50C does not fall out of the sub pipe 24C. The distance required for retaining from the secondary pipe 24C of the joint pipe 36, the opening width in the two axial bore 24Ch1,24Ch2 of axial width L _W i.e. the secondary pipe 24C of the groove 36op1bd the joint pipe 36 W _ch is the width W ₆₄ of the inner locking portion 64 in the axial direction of the retaining component 50. Therefore, according to the branch fitting 10C, the number of components for retaining is one, and space saving can be realized. Furthermore, according to the branch metal fitting 10C, the number of components for retaining is one, and space saving can be realized, so that the design can be improved as compared with the conventional one.

  According to the branch metal fitting 10C, as shown in FIGS. 12, 15, and 16, the joint pipe 36 has the groove 36op1bd that circulates in the circumferential direction on the outer surface 36op, and the inside of the retaining component 50C. Since the locking portion 62 only passes through the bottom of the groove 36op1bd, the engagement between the groove 36op1bd and the inner locking portion 62 is free in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the joint pipe 36 can rotate in the circumferential direction without being removed from the sub pipe 24C. That is, the branch pipe 30 having the joint pipe 36 can rotate in the circumferential direction with respect to the main pipe 20C. Therefore, even if the water supply side pipe and the branch side pipe are not parallel, by rotating the branch pipe 30 in the circumferential direction with respect to the main pipe 20C, it is possible to divide the fluid flow from the main pipe 20C to the branch pipe. it can.

  Further, according to the branch fitting 10C, as shown in FIGS. 12, 15 and 16, the retaining parts 50C necessary for preventing the joint pipe 36 from coming off from the sub pipe 24C are inserted into the sub pipe 24C and the joint pipe 36. The branch fitting 10C can be easily assembled / disassembled, and is excellent in maintenance. Furthermore, according to the branch metal fitting 10C, cost reduction can be realized by forming the branch metal fitting from a resin material.

(Modification)
The retaining component 50 in the first embodiment is screwed into the screw hole 24bh of the sub pipe 24 from any position in the circumferential direction of the sub pipe 24, and inserts the screw shaft 52 into the groove 36op1bd of the joint pipe 36. You may. That is, the position of the screw hole 24bh formed in the sub pipe 24 is not limited to the back side, and may be any position on the bottom side, the front side or the top side, or may be a position therebetween. For example, FIG. 17 shows that the screw hole 24bh is formed on the bottom side of the sub pipe 24, and the retaining component 50 can be screwed in from the bottom side of the sub pipe 24. Thus, the joint pipe 36 does not fall out of the sub pipe 24 regardless of the position of the retaining component 50 in the circumferential direction of the sub pipe 24.

  Further, the number of retaining parts 50 in the first embodiment is not limited to one, and a plurality of retaining parts 50 are prepared, and a plurality of screw holes 24bh are formed in the auxiliary pipe 24 in the circumferential direction and screwed. Is also good. In this case, although the number of parts for retaining is not one, space saving of the branch fitting 10 can be realized.

  Regarding the main body 56 of the retaining component 50B in the second embodiment, the number of cutouts for dividing the distal end side into a plurality of parts is not limited to four, and may be two or more. That is, the main body 56 of the retaining component 50B in the second embodiment may be configured by two or more components. Also in this case, when the joint pipe 36B to which the retaining component 50B is connected is inserted into the auxiliary pipe 24B, the distal end side of the main body 56 is contracted radially inward, and the retaining component 50B is inserted. be able to.

  The sub pipe 24C according to the third embodiment has a concave portion for being more strongly locked to the locking portion on the outer surface 24Cop where the tip of the outer locking portion 62 of the retaining component 50C is locked. A circumferential groove may be formed.

10, 10B, 10C Branch fitting 20, 20B Main pipe 22 Main pipe 22u Upper end of main pipe (connection end on faucet side)
22n Lower end of main pipe (connection end on water supply side)
24, 24B, 24C Secondary pipe 24ip, 24Bip, 24Cip Inner surface of secondary pipe 24ip1, 24Bip1, 24Cip1 Tip cone 24ip2, 24Bip2, 24Cip2 Large diameter cylindrical part 24ip3, 24Bip3, 24Cip3 Medium diameter cylindrical part 24Bip4 D3 Third groove 24op, 24Bop, 24Cop Outer side surface of sub pipe 24bh Screw hole 24Ch1, 24Ch2 hole 26 Main pipe handle 28 Sub pipe handle 30, 30B Branch pipe 32 Main body 32sp space 32ch Connection pipe hole 34 Connection pipe 342 Connection pipe One end 344 The other end of the connection pipe 36, 36B Joint pipe 36f, 36Bf Joint pipe base end 36s, 36Bs Joint pipe tip 36op, 36Bop Connection pipe outer surface 36op1, 36Bop1 Base end cylindrical part 6op1bd Groove 36Bop1g Flange portion 36op2, 36Bop2 Tip side cylindrical portion 36op2od O-ring groove D1 First groove D2 Second groove 50, 50B, 50C Locking part 52 Screw shaft 54 Screw head 56 Main body 56f Base end of main body 56s Tip of main body 561 Main body first component 562 Main body second component 563 Main body third component 564 Main body fourth component 56t1 First notch 56t2 Second notch 56t3 Third notch 56t4 Fourth Notch 57 Hook 58 Inner flange 58t Inner flange notch 62 Outer engaging part 621 Outer engaging first part 622 Outer engaging second part 623 Outer engaging third part 64 the diameter L _w of the joint pipe in the retaining portion 641 first bottom groove of the inner locking portion 642 the center of curvature L _d joint pipe of the second inner engaging portion C ₆₂ outer locking portion The outer locking of the two hole spacing W _ch two holes opening width r ₆₂ retaining parts in the axial direction of the secondary pipe of radius L _ch secondary pipe of the outer side surface of the width r _24C auxiliary tube in the axial direction of the grooves of Tekuda Radius of curvature of part L ₆₄ Distance between inner locking parts of retaining parts W ₆₄ Width of inner locking part in axial direction of retaining parts

Claims (3)

A main pipe having a main pipe through which the fluid flows and a sub pipe which separates the flow of the fluid from the main pipe;
A branch pipe having a joint pipe inserted into the sub pipe,
A retaining part that serves as a stopper to prevent the joint pipe from falling out of the sub pipe,
The joint pipe has a groove formed so as to orbit in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the joint pipe,
The secondary pipe is formed with an opening width corresponding to the width of the groove of the joint pipe at an axial position corresponding to the position of the groove of the joint pipe on the side surface of the secondary pipe when the joint pipe is inserted, and penetrates in the radial direction and has a female screw. With screw holes
The retaining parts are
A male screw having a screw shaft corresponding to the screw hole of the sub pipe,
The fitting tube is screwed into the screw hole of the inserted sub-tube, and the tip of the screw shaft is inserted into the groove of the joint tube to prevent the joint tube from falling out of the sub-tube.
Branch fittings. A main pipe having a main pipe through which the fluid flows and a sub pipe which separates the flow of the fluid from the main pipe;
A branch pipe having a joint pipe inserted into the sub pipe,
A retaining part that serves as a stopper to prevent the joint pipe from falling out of the sub pipe,
The joint pipe has a first groove formed on the outer surface of the joint pipe so as to orbit in a circumferential direction, and a second groove formed on the outer surface of the joint pipe at a position closer to the main pipe than the first groove. And having
The third sub-tube is formed so as to orbit in the circumferential direction at an axial position corresponding to the position of the end of the second groove on the main pipe side on the inner surface of the sub-tube when the joint pipe is inserted. With a groove,
The retaining parts are
The joint pipe extends from the end of the first groove on the side opposite to the main pipe side to the end of the second groove on the main pipe side to a length equal to the length from the first groove to the second groove. A cylindrical shape capable of covering the outer surface of the joint pipe to be cut, and the side surface of the cylindrical shape is cut so as to be divided into a plurality in the circumferential direction from a distal end located on the main pipe side to a proximal end located on the opposite side to the main pipe side. A main body portion formed so that the leading end side is divided into a plurality of portions, and a flange shape corresponding to the shape of the first groove extending radially inward from a base end of the main body portion, and At the same position as one of the plurality of cutouts, the inner flange portion is further cutout in the radial direction and formed in a C-shape, and projects radially outward from the tip of the main body to correspond to the shape of the third groove. And a hook portion formed in a hook shape,
The inner flange portion is connected to the joint pipe by fitting into the first groove,
The hook is engaged with the sub-tube by fitting into the third groove,
It prevents the joint pipe from falling out of the secondary pipe.
Branch fittings. A main pipe having a main pipe through which the fluid flows and a sub pipe which separates the flow of the fluid from the main pipe;
A branch pipe having a joint pipe inserted into the sub pipe,
A retaining part that serves as a stopper to prevent the joint pipe from falling out of the sub pipe,
The joint pipe has a groove formed so as to orbit in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the joint pipe,
The secondary pipe is formed so as to be circumferentially aligned with the side of the secondary pipe at an axial position corresponding to the position of the groove of the secondary pipe when the secondary pipe is inserted, and to penetrate through the side of the secondary pipe. With holes,
The two holes are spaced such that the distance between them is equal to the diameter of the joint pipe at the bottom of the groove of the joint pipe, and the opening width of the hole in the axial direction of the auxiliary pipe is equal to the width of the groove in the axial direction of the joint pipe. Are formed to be of equal width,
The retaining parts are
An outer locking portion formed in a shape of a superior arc and having a radius of curvature equal to the radius of curvature of the outer surface of the sub-tube, and a space and a shape between two skewers and two holes in the sub-tube. And two inner locking portions extending in parallel to the center of curvature from the outer locking portion so as to sandwich the arcuate center of curvature of the outer locking portion and having an interval and a cross-sectional shape corresponding to
The inner locking portion enters the two holes of the sub-tube into which the joint tube has been inserted, and the inner locking portion passes through the bottom of the groove of the joint tube, thereby preventing the joint tube from falling out of the sub-tube.
The outer locking portion is locked to the outer surface of the sub-tube so as to hold the sub-tube, and the retaining component is prevented from falling out of the sub-tube,
Branch fittings.

Images