JP2020041632A - Piping connection structure and connection member - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a piping connection structure having sealing performance and capable of suppressing insertion load and pull-out load in connection of piping, and a connection member used in the same.SOLUTION: In a piping connection structure for connecting first piping 1 and second piping 2 opposed to each other through a connection member 3 in a state of axially separating from each other in a through hole 10 of a wall body 101, the connection member is a cylindrical body having a first holding portion 30, a second holding portion 40, and a joint portion 50. An inner peripheral surface 40a of the second holding portion has a lip formation region A provided with an annular lip portion 42 kept into contact with an outer peripheral surface 2aa of the second piping, a reinforcement ring 4 for reinforcing fitting to the second piping is housed in a recessed portion 41, a bottom portion 41b has a contact portion 41ba kept into contact with an inner peripheral surface 4a of the reinforcement ring, the contact portion is formed at a position corresponding to a region of a connection portion side 42a of the lip portion, and a recessed portion 41c is formed at a position corresponding to a region of an anti-joint portion side 42b of the lip portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a pipe connection structure for connecting a first pipe and a second pipe which are opposed to each other in an axially separated state in a through hole of a wall body, and a connection member used for the pipe connection structure.

For example, an automotive inverter incorporates an internal pipe through which a cooling medium flows in an inverter case. The internal pipe is connected to an external pipe connected to a converter through a through hole provided in a wall of the inverter case. Patent Literature 1 listed below relates to a connection structure for connecting such an internal pipe and an external pipe.
Patent Literature 1 below discloses a pipe connection structure using a connection member having two grip portions attached to each of two pipes and a connecting portion connecting the two grip portions. .

JP-A-2005-227701

  By the way, a plurality of lip portions projecting from the inner peripheral surface of the connection member are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the connection member in order to prevent intrusion of muddy water, dust and the like into the inverter case and the connection site. Are formed. However, although the lip is indispensable to enhance the sealing performance, when the external pipe is attached to and detached from the internal pipe through the through hole, the lip increases the insertion load and the pull-out load. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a pipe connection structure having a sealing performance and capable of suppressing an insertion load and a pull-out load when connected to a pipe, and a connection member used for the pipe connection structure. It is an object.

In order to achieve the above object, a pipe connection structure according to the present invention includes a first pipe and a second pipe, which are disposed opposite to each other in an axially separated state in a through hole of a wall, via a connection member. A pipe connection structure for connecting, wherein the connection member is firstly fitted to the first pipe and internally fitted in the through hole, and second holding part is externally fitted to the second pipe. And a tubular body having a connecting portion connecting the first holding portion and the second holding portion, and an inner peripheral surface of the second holding portion abuts on an outer peripheral surface of the second pipe. A lip forming region provided with an annular lip portion to be formed, and a concave ridge portion having a bottom portion and a pair of groove wall portions is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the second holding portion corresponding to the lip forming region. The concave ridge portion accommodates a reinforcing ring for reinforcing the fitting to the second pipe, and the bottom portion is An abutting portion that abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the reinforcing ring, and a recessed portion that does not abut on the inner peripheral surface of the reinforcing ring, wherein the abutting portion is located in a region of the lip portion on the connecting portion side. It is formed at a corresponding position, and the depression is formed at a position corresponding to a region on the anti-joining portion side of the lip portion.
The connection member according to the present invention is a connection member used for the pipe connection structure, wherein the first holding portion is mounted on a connection end of the first pipe, and the connection member is mounted on a connection end of the second pipe. A second holding portion to be connected and an elastically deformable connecting portion connecting the first holding portion and the second holding portion.

  The pipe connection structure according to the present invention and the connection member used for the pipe connection structure have the above-described configuration, and have sealing performance, and can suppress insertion load and pull-out load when connecting to the pipe.

It is sectional drawing which showed typically the piping connection structure which concerns on this invention, and the principal part which concerns on one Embodiment of the connection member used for it. (a) is a partial enlarged sectional view schematically showing the connecting member according to the embodiment (part X in FIG. 1, a partial enlarged view), and (b) is a partial enlarged view showing a modification of (a). It is sectional drawing. (A) And (b) is a partially expanded sectional view which shows the further modification of FIG. 2 (a). (A) and (b) are partially enlarged sectional views showing still another modification of FIG. 2 (a). (A) and (b) are partially enlarged sectional views showing still another modification of FIG. 2 (a). It is a figure for demonstrating the piping connection structure which concerns on the same embodiment, and the connection member used for this, and is sectional drawing which shows typically the state before connecting piping. It is a figure for demonstrating the piping connection structure which concerns on the same embodiment, and the connection member used for this, and is sectional drawing which shows typically the state after connecting piping. It is a figure for demonstrating the piping connection structure which concerns on the same embodiment, and the connection member used for this, and is sectional drawing which shows typically the state which pulls out one of the connected piping.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In some of the drawings, some of the detailed reference numerals attached to other drawings are omitted. Also, in FIG. 1, in order to easily understand the shapes of the components of the connection member 3, the connection member 3 having the original shape that has not been elastically deformed is shown by a solid line, but actually, as shown in FIGS. Assembled in an elastically deformed state.

  In the pipe connection structure according to the present embodiment, the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 which are opposed to each other in the through hole 10 of the wall body 101 while being separated in the axial direction are connected via the connection member 3. It is a pipe connection structure. The connection member 3 includes a first holding portion 30 externally fitted to the first pipe 1 and internally fitted into the through hole 10, a second holding portion 40 externally fitted to the second piping 2, and a first holding portion. It is a tubular body having a connecting portion 50 connecting the second holding portion 40 and the second holding portion 40. The inner peripheral surface 40a of the second holding portion 40 has a lip forming area A in which an annular lip portion 42 that is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 2aa of the second pipe 2 is provided. The outer peripheral surface 40b of the second holding portion 40 corresponding to the lip forming region A has a bottom portion 41b and a pair of groove wall portions 41a, 41a. A recess 41 is provided for accommodating a reinforcing ring 4 for reinforcing the fitting. The bottom portion 41b of the concave streak portion 41 has a contact portion 41ba that contacts the inner peripheral surface 4a of the reinforcing ring 4 and a recessed portion 41c that does not contact the inner peripheral surface 4a of the reinforcing ring 4. The contact portion 41ba is formed at a position corresponding to the region of the lip portion 42 on the connecting portion 50 side, and the depression portion 41c is formed at a position corresponding to the region of the lip portion 42 on the opposite connecting portion side.

  The pipe connection structure of the present embodiment can be applied, for example, as a structure that connects a cooling pipe of a cooler that cools an electronic device for a vehicle with a refrigerant and an external hose. In this case, it is required not only to prevent the leakage of the refrigerant but also to withstand the intrusion of rainwater and the like from the outside and the injection of water at the time of high-pressure washing of a vehicle or the like, and further, it is required to have a sealing property capable of maintaining the eccentricity of the piping. In addition to having such a sealing property, it is also required to suppress the insertion load and the pull-out load when connecting the pipes as described above. In the following, a description will be given of a pipe connection structure in which the second pipe 2 provided in the automobile inverter case 100 and the first pipe 1 provided outside the inverter case 100 are connected by the connection member 3.

  In the case of a motor equipped with a motor as a drive source of an automobile, the operation of the motor is controlled by an inverter. The motor works as a motor or the like that generates driving force by obtaining power from a battery, and the inverter converts a DC power supplied from the battery or the like into an AC power by a switching action to supply power to the motor. An inverter used in such an automobile requires a large amount of electric power, and a large amount of current flows through a switching element or the like, and thus generates a large amount of heat. Therefore, a system for cooling the inverter by forming a coolant flow path in which a coolant such as cooling water or a coolant flows in the inverter case 100 accommodating the inverter is employed.

<Piping connection structure>
The inverter case 100 is a box having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape which is divided into upper and lower parts, and includes an upper case and a lower case shown as a wall 101 in FIG. The inverter case 100 is configured to be joined so as to cover the substantially concave upper case in cross section on the substantially concave lower case in cross section. It is said. The inverter case 100 is made of a metal material such as aluminum. In the inverter case 100, a refrigerant flow path for circulating a coolant such as cooling water or a cooling liquid for cooling the inverter is provided. The (cooling pipe) is provided so as to constitute a part of the refrigerant flow path. A semicircular cutout hole is formed in a side wall of the upper case and the lower case at a position facing each other so as to form a through hole 10 when the two cases are joined to form an inverter case 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the second pipe 2 is disposed such that the leading end of the connection end 2 a is located in the through hole 10. When looking inside, the front side of the connection end 2a of the second pipe 2 can be visually recognized. The shape of the through hole 10 is not particularly limited, and is formed according to the shape and size of the first pipe 1 (external hose) connected to the second pipe 2. The diameter of the through hole 10 is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of the first pipe 1 to be inserted.
Here, the second pipe 2 will be described as constituting a part of the coolant flow path, but is not limited thereto, and may be in communication with a separately provided coolant flow path. In the drawing, L indicates the axis of the through hole 10 provided in the inverter case 100, L1 is the axis of the first pipe 1, L2 is the axis of the second pipe 2, and L3 is the axis of the connection member 3. Is shown. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, a state where the axes L and L1 to L3 coincide with each other is desirable as the connection state. However, the connection structure of the present embodiment is a structure that assumes that these axes L to L3 are eccentric. It is.

<Connecting member>
The connection member 3 is a member for connecting the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 to form a refrigerant channel, and is entirely made of a rubber material such as ethylene propylene rubber, butyl rubber, silicone rubber, an elastomer, or a synthetic resin. It is a cylindrical molded body made of an elastic body made of the same. The connecting member 3 has a first holding portion 30, a second holding portion 40, and a connecting portion 50. One end 3a of the connecting member 3 is an end of the first holding portion 30, and the other end 3b is It is an end of the second holding section 40. The first holding portion 30 is externally fitted so as to cover the connection end 1 a of the first pipe 1 and is also internally fitted to the inner peripheral surface 10 a of the through hole 10. The second holding portion 40 is fitted externally so as to cover the connection end 2 a of the second pipe 2. The connecting portion 50 is a member that connects the first holding portion 30 and the second holding portion 40. Since the connecting portion 50 itself has elasticity, the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 are eccentric. Also, radial displacement is possible.
The outer diameter of the first pipe 1 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the second pipe 2, and accordingly, the inner diameter of the first holding section 30 is larger than the inner diameter of the second holding section 40. Therefore, the connecting portion 50 that connects the first holding portion 30 and the second holding portion 40 has a tapered shape that gradually decreases in diameter from the first holding portion 30 to the second holding portion 40.

<First piping, second piping>
The first pipe 1 is made of a hollow cylindrical body such as a resin material or an aluminum material, and is configured to send a refrigerant to a second pipe 2 serving as a refrigerant flow path circuit in the inverter case 100. The second pipe 2 is formed of a hollow cylindrical body such as a resin material or an aluminum material, and the refrigerant supplied from the first pipe 1 flows through the inside.
The connection end 1a of the first pipe 1 has an annular recess 11 into which the first holding portion 30 of the connection member 3 is fitted, and an annular recess formed on the outer periphery of the recess 11 so as to project radially outward. A flange 12 is provided. The concave portion 11 has a bottom portion 11c, an inner wall 11a serving as an outer peripheral surface 1aa of the first pipe 1, an outer wall 11b, and an opening 11d. The first holding portion 30 of the connection member 3 is fitted into the concave portion 11. A streak-like slit portion (not shown) serving as an air passage may be formed along the axial direction at the fitting portion between the concave portion 11 and the first holding portion 30. If the slit portion is formed along the outer wall 11b so as to extend from the bottom 11c of the concave portion 11 to the opening 11d, when the first holding portion 30 is fitted, air escapes from the slit portion and the connecting member 3 It is easy to insert the first holding portion 30 into the outer peripheral surface 1aa of the first pipe 1 (which also corresponds to the inner wall 11a of the concave portion 11). In a state where the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 are connected by the connecting member 3, the flange 12 has a diameter larger than the through hole 10 so as to abut on the wall body 101. An insertion hole (not shown) through which a fixture such as a screw or the like is inserted is formed. Then, the first pipe 1 which is an external pipe is fixed to the wall body 101 by fixing the flange portion 12 to the outer surface of the wall body 101 with a fixture (not shown).
On the other hand, the leading end of the connecting end 2a of the second pipe 2 is provided with a slanting leading end 2ab whose diameter is slightly smaller than other parts so that the connecting member 3 can be easily detached.
In addition, the recess 11 and the flange 12 may be formed integrally with the first pipe 1 as shown in FIG. 1, or may be configured to be fitted separately into a cylindrical pipe.

<First holding unit>
The first holding unit 30 has an inner peripheral lip 32, an inner peripheral protrusion 33, an outer peripheral lip 31, a flat part 34, and an end 35. The inner peripheral lip portion 32 is an annular lip that is continuous in the circumferential direction, elastically contacts the outer peripheral surface 1aa of the first pipe 1, and the inner peripheral lip portion 32 is fitted into the concave portion 11 while being elastically deformed. The inner peripheral projection 33 is provided adjacent to the inner peripheral lip 32. The outer peripheral lip portion 31 is an annular lip that is continuous in the circumferential direction, and elastically contacts the inner peripheral surface 10a of the through hole 10 with an interference due to bending deformation. The protrusion amount of the outer lip portion 31 is larger than the protrusion amount of the inner lip portion 32. The flat portion 34 is formed flat so as to abut along the outer wall 11 b of the concave portion 11. The end 35 is formed flat so as to abut along the bottom 11 c of the recess 11. A plurality of the inner peripheral lip portions 32 are provided side by side, and a region on the inner peripheral side where the plurality of inner peripheral lip portions 32, 32 are arranged is referred to as an inner seal region S1. Further, a region on the outer peripheral side where the outer peripheral lip portion 31 is disposed is referred to as an outer seal region S2. The inner seal area S1 and the outer seal area S2 are provided at positions that do not overlap in the radial direction.

As described above, since the inner seal region S1 and the outer seal region S2 are provided at positions that do not overlap in the radial direction, in a state where the connecting member 3 is fitted and assembled to the connecting end 1a of the first pipe 1, At the time of insertion into the through hole 10 of the wall body 101, it is possible to prevent an increase in the insertion load and to improve the assembling property. Also, even when the axis L1 of the first pipe 1 and the axis L of the through hole 10 are shifted and eccentric, the eccentricity is provided because the inner seal area S1 and the outer seal area S2 do not overlap in the radial direction. The sealing performance can be maintained without being affected by the surface pressure fluctuation and the internal stress of the inner and outer seal regions S1 and S2 at the time.
Further, the inner seal region S1 is provided on the opposite side to the insertion direction of the first pipe 1 with respect to the outer seal region S2, and the outer peripheral surface 30b corresponding to a portion where the inner seal region S1 is formed is a flat portion 34. Fitted in the recess 11 of one pipe 1. Therefore, even if the first pipe 1 is eccentric, the inner peripheral lip portions 32, 32 arranged in the inner seal region S1 can secure stable sealing performance.

The inner peripheral projection 33 is provided adjacent to the inner peripheral lips 32, 32 provided in the inner seal region S1, and is formed on the inner peripheral surface 30a corresponding to the position where the outer peripheral lip 31 is formed. This serves as a support for generating the surface pressure of the outer peripheral lip portion 31. The inner peripheral projection 33 may be formed continuously along the circumferential direction, or may be formed at appropriate intervals. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the inner peripheral lip portion 32 is formed to have a length enough to be elastically deformed and fall down, and the elastic contact portion elastically contacting the inner wall 11 a is formed to have a tapered cross-sectional mountain shape. ing. The inner peripheral projection 33 is formed in a mountain-shaped cross-section with a projection amount smaller than the inner peripheral lip 32.
Since the inner peripheral projection 33 is provided on the inner peripheral surface 30a corresponding to the position where the outer peripheral lip portion 31 is formed, even if a force for eccentricity is applied to the first pipe 1, The posture can be held at a correct position (a position where the axis L1 of the first pipe 1 and the axis L of the through hole 10 substantially match). Also, even when the first pipe 1 is eccentric, the inner peripheral projection 33 abuts on the outer peripheral surface 1aa of the first pipe 1 to suppress overcompression of the inner peripheral lip portion 32, and the sealing surface pressure of the inner peripheral lip portion 32 is reduced. , It is possible to maintain a stable sealing property. Further, when the pressure of the refrigerant passing through the first pipe 1 rises, the first holding portion 30 attached to the first pipe 1 generates a force to pull out from the concave portion 11, but the inner peripheral lip portion 32 and the inner peripheral protrusion are formed. The first pressing portion 33 acts to prevent the first holding portion 30 from coming off.
In the present embodiment, an example in which the inner peripheral projection 33 abuts on the outer peripheral surface 1aa of the first pipe 1 is elastically contacted when it is eccentric. 1aa may be approached (with a slight gap).

  The outer peripheral surface 30b of the first holding portion 30 is provided with an outer peripheral lip portion 31 that abuts on the inner peripheral surface 10a of the through hole 10 in an elastically deformed state. One surface of the outer peripheral lip portion 31 opposite to the insertion direction of the first pipe 1 has a linear shape, and the other surface has an inclined shape that gradually tapers toward a distal end portion. A base portion of the outer peripheral lip portion 31 on one surface has a bent portion 31b serving as a bending point of the outer peripheral lip portion 31 when elastically contacting the inner peripheral surface 10a of the through hole 10. The bent portion 31b is an intersection of the inclined portion 31a formed to be inclined from the outer peripheral surface 30b to one surface and the one surface. Further, the outer peripheral lip portion 31 is deformed into a state of being inclined as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and elastically contacts the inner peripheral surface 10a of the through hole 10. Therefore, even when the first pipe 1 is eccentric, the sealing performance with the inner peripheral surface 10a of the through hole 10 can be maintained, and the high responsiveness can be realized by the bending deformation of the outer peripheral lip portion 31. Further, when the outer peripheral lip portion 31 is elastically contacted with the inner peripheral surface 10a of the through hole 10, the outer peripheral lip portion 31 can be bent with the bent portion 31b as a bending point, and the bent portion 31b is at the base of the outer peripheral lip portion 31. Therefore, it is possible to bend not to bend smoothly but to be sharply bent. Thereby, the insertion load when inserting the first pipe 1 into the through hole 10 can be reduced, and the insertion performance can be improved. Further, the contact surface of the outer peripheral lip portion 31 with the inner peripheral surface 10a of the through hole 10 is widened, and the sealing performance is improved. Furthermore, since the contact surface of the outer lip portion 31 can be widened, when there is a porosity, a scratch, a foreign substance in the inner peripheral surface 10a of the through hole 10, or the surface of the outer lip portion 31 is slightly undulated or twisted. In such a case, the sealing function can be maintained by the elastic contact.

<Connecting part>
The connecting portion 50 connects the first holding portion 30 attached to the connection end portion 1a of the first pipe 1 and the second holding portion 40 attached to the connection end portion 2a of the second pipe 2, and is elastically deformable. It has been. Since the first holding part 30 and the second holding part 40 have different diameters depending on the diameters of the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2, the connecting part 50 is tapered. That is, the connecting portion 50 is formed to be inclined with respect to the axis L3 of the connecting member 3, and the connecting portion 50 has an angle. Therefore, when the connection member 3 is molded, the connection member 3 plays a role of draft and is easily released.

The connecting portion 50 is provided with an outer peripheral protruding portion 51 which is adjacent to the insertion direction side (the second holding portion 40 side) of the outer peripheral lip portion 31 and has a mountain-shaped cross section and elastically contacts the inner peripheral surface 10 a of the through hole 10. ing. The outer peripheral protrusions 51 may be formed continuously along the circumferential direction, or may be formed at appropriate intervals. The outer peripheral protruding portion 51 is formed in a mountain-shaped cross section having a protruding amount smaller than the outer peripheral lip portion 31. As described above, since the outer peripheral projection 51 is provided adjacent to the outer peripheral lip portion 31 in the insertion direction, the outer peripheral projection 51 reliably contacts the inner peripheral surface 10 a of the through hole 10, and Even with the presence of 51, the attitude of the first pipe 1 to be eccentric can be maintained at the correct position as described above. Further, even when the first pipe 1 is eccentric, the outer peripheral projection 51 abuts on the inner peripheral surface 10 a of the through hole 10 to suppress overcompression of the outer peripheral lip portion 31, thereby affecting the seal surface pressure of the outer peripheral lip portion 31. It can be prevented from being given and the sealing property can be maintained.
In the present embodiment, an example in which the outer peripheral protrusion 51 abuts on the inner peripheral surface 10a of the through hole 10 is illustrated. However, when the eccentricity occurs, the outer peripheral protrusion 51 contacts the inner peripheral surface 10a. It may be close to 10a (with a slight gap).

  As described above, the space between the inner peripheral surface 10a of the through hole 10 and the connection member 3 is sealed by the outer peripheral lip portion 31, and the axis L1, L2 of the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 is eccentric in either direction. In such a case, the connecting member 3 is supported by the outer peripheral protrusion 51 abutting on the inner peripheral surface 10 a of the through hole 10, and the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 of the first holding section 30 and the second holding section 40 are provided. The influence on the seal surface pressure on the pipe 2 can be suppressed. In addition, since the connecting member 3 is supported by the outer peripheral projection 51 and dents and buckling due to radial displacement are prevented, the first pipe 1 is inserted into the through hole 10 and the second pipe 2 is connected to the connecting member 3. 3 can be easily assembled.

<Second holding unit>
The inner peripheral surface 40a of the second holding portion 40 has a lip forming area A in which an annular lip portion 42 is provided in contact with the outer peripheral surface 2aa of the second pipe 2. An annular concave portion 41 having a bottom portion 41b and a pair of groove wall portions 41a, 41a is provided on an outer peripheral surface 40b of the second holding portion 40 corresponding to the lip formation region A formed on the inner peripheral surface 40a. Have been. The concave streak portion 41 is formed in an annular shape along the circumferential direction, and the concave streak portion 41 accommodates a reinforcing ring 4 for reinforcing the fitting to the second pipe 2 in a fitted state. The reinforcing ring 4 is an annular body made of a metal material, a synthetic resin material, or the like, and is formed according to the groove depth and groove width of the concave streak portion 41. As shown in the X part of FIG. 1, the reinforcing ring 4 is arranged on the outer peripheral surface 40 b of the second holding part 40 corresponding to the lip forming area A. When the reinforcing ring 4 is housed in the concave streak portion 41 of the second holding portion 40 and is externally fitted to the second pipe 2, the reinforcing ring 4 exerts a tightening action in the centripetal direction, and the reinforcing ring 4 and the lip portion The sealing force of the second pipe 2 to the second pipe 2 can be strengthened, and the second pipe 2 can be held more stably.

  A protrusion 43 is formed on an end of the second holding portion 40, that is, on the other end 3 b side of the connection member 3, adjacent to the lip 42. The protruding portion 43 is formed continuously along the circumferential direction, and the top is formed in a mountain-shaped cross section inclined to the opposite side to the insertion direction so that the connecting member 3 can be easily inserted into the second pipe 2. Have been. The protrusion 43 is formed so as to elastically contact the outer peripheral surface 2aa of the second pipe 2. The amount of protrusion of the protrusion 43 and the distance between the adjacent lip portion 42 can be determined even when the protrusion 43 is fitted to the outer peripheral surface 2aa of the second pipe 2 and the top portion is slightly elastically deformed and falls down to the lip portion 42 side. It is preferable that the protrusions 43 and the protrusions 43 are formed such that they do not abut on the lip portions 42 and are spaced apart from each other, and the protrusion amount of the protrusions 43 is smaller than the protrusion amount of the lip portions 42.

  The bottom portion 41b of the concave streak portion 41 provided on the second holding portion 40 has a contact portion 41ba that contacts the inner peripheral surface 4a of the reinforcing ring 4 and a concave depression that does not contact the inner peripheral surface 4a of the reinforcing ring 4. Part 41c. The contact portion 41ba is formed at a position corresponding to the region of the connecting portion side 42a (the one end 3a side of the connecting member 3) of the plurality of lip portions 42 and the connecting portion side 43a of the protrusion 43. The recess 41c is formed at a position corresponding to the region of the lip portion 42 on the side opposite to the joint portion 42b (on the other end 3b side of the connection member 3).

  Since the bottom portion 41b provided on the outer peripheral surface 40b of the second holding portion 40 has the concave portion 41c as described above, a gap is formed between the reinforcing ring 4 and the outer peripheral surface 40b of the second holding portion 40. I can do it. Thereby, the contact area between the reinforcing ring 4 and the second holding portion 40 is reduced, and the lip portion 42 generated when the second holding portion 40 in which the reinforcing ring 4 is externally fitted is inserted into and pulled out from the second pipe 2. The surface pressure can be reduced, and the insertion and withdrawal load can be reduced. Further, since the concave portion 41c is formed in the concave streak portion 41 in which the reinforcing ring 4 is accommodated, when the reinforcing ring 4 itself is externally fitted to the outer peripheral surface 40b of the second holding portion 40, the contact surface is reduced, The effect of reducing the resistance due to friction and facilitating the assembly of the reinforcing ring 4 is also achieved. Further, the contact portion 41ba is formed at a position corresponding to the region of the connecting portion side 42a of the lip portion 42, and the concave portion 41c is formed at a position corresponding to the region of the anti-connecting portion side 42b of the lip portion 42. Therefore, after the insertion, the sealing surface pressure of the lip portion 42 can be appropriately secured, and the load for inserting and pulling out the connecting member 3 can be reduced.

Subsequently, the second holding unit 40 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, illustration of the reinforcing ring 4 is omitted for the sake of explanation.
FIG. 2A is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion corresponding to a portion X in FIG.
FIG. 2A shows an example in which a plurality of lip portions 42, a plurality of contact portions 41ba, and a plurality of depression portions 41c are provided in the second holding portion 40.
Each of the plurality of lip portions 42 has the same substantially identical mountain-shaped cross section, and is formed in an annular shape along the circumferential direction. The contact portion 41ba is positioned from the position corresponding to the region of the connecting portion side 42a of each lip portion 42 (the back side of the connecting portion side 42a of the lip portion 42) to the position corresponding to the region of the top portion 42c of each lip portion 42 (lip portion). 42 to the back side of the top 42c). The contact portion 41ba is also provided in a region from a position corresponding to the region of the connecting portion side 43a of the protruding portion 43 (the back side of the connecting portion side 43a of the protruding portion 43) to the groove wall portion 41a on the other end 3b side. Is formed. The contact portion 41ba may be annularly provided in the circumferential direction similarly to the lip portion 42, but may be formed discontinuously at appropriate intervals. Since the contact portion 41ba is formed at a position corresponding to the region of the connecting portion side 42a of the lip portion 42, the contact portion 41ba is inclined toward the connecting portion 50 when the second holding portion 40 is inserted into the second pipe 2. Since the lip portion 42 elastically deformed is supported by the reinforcing ring 4 via the contact portion 41ba, the sealing surface pressure can be further increased, and the sealing performance can be improved. Here, an example is shown in which the abutting portions 41ba are provided so as to overlap in the radial direction from the connecting portion side 42a of the lip portion 42 in an upright state to the top portion 42c, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in a state where the lip portion 42 is connected to the second pipe 2, as shown in FIG. If the contact portion 41ba is provided at a position overlapping the lip portion 42 in the fallen state (a position corresponding to the region of the joint portion side 42a), the contact portion 41ba is provided as shown in FIG. It may not be provided so as to overlap the lip portion 42 in the upright state in the radial direction.

The depression 41c formed in the bottom 41b is formed at a position corresponding to a region where the lip portion 42 is not formed from a position corresponding to the region on the anti-joining portion side 42b of the lip portion 42. Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 2A, a total of three dents 41c are formed, and among these, the dent 41c provided closest to the joint 50 is arranged on the joint 50 side. The lip portion 42 is formed from a position corresponding to the region on the opposite connecting portion side 42b of the lip portion 42 to a position corresponding to the region on the connecting portion side 42a of the adjacent central lip portion 42. The second recessed portion 41c from the connecting portion 50 side also corresponds to the region of the connecting portion side 42a of the adjacent lip portion 42 from the position corresponding to the region of the central lip portion 42 on the opposite connecting portion side 42b. It is formed to the position where it does. The recessed portion 41c provided on the other end 3b side has a protrusion 43 formed on the other end 3b side from a position corresponding to the region of the anti-joining portion side 42b of the lip portion 42 arranged on the other end 3b side. It is formed up to a position corresponding to the area before the area of the connecting portion 43a.
The depression 41c provided in this manner sufficiently reduces the surface pressure of the lip 42 generated when the second holding portion 40 with the reinforcing ring 4 fitted to the second pipe 2 is inserted and withdrawn when the second holding portion 40 is pulled out. And the pull-out load can be reduced.

  Further, the concave streak portion 41 has the same number of concave portions 41c as the number of lip portions 42 formed. In the example of FIG. 2A, three concave portions 41c are provided corresponding to the three lip portions 42. The recessed portion 41c may be annularly provided in the circumferential direction similarly to the lip portion 42, but may be formed discontinuously at appropriate intervals. Since the depressions 41c are provided corresponding to the number of the lips 42 in this manner, an excessive increase in the surface pressure due to the increase in the lips 42 can be suppressed. In addition, since the plurality of lip portions 42 are provided, even when the second pipe 2 is inclined and eccentric, the second holding portion 40 can follow and secure the seal surface pressure. Further, since the recesses 41c are provided for the individual lip portions 42, the contact area when the reinforcing ring 4 is assembled to the concave streak portion 41 is reduced, and the assemblability can be improved.

The lip portions 42, 42, 42 provided on the second holding portion 40 are formed at a fixed distance Lp (interval). The protrusion amount LH of the lip portions 42, 42, 42 is larger than the distance Lp between the adjacent lip portions 42, 42 (LH> Lp). The lip portion 42 is configured to elastically contact the second pipe 2 with an interference Lh, and the distance Lp between the adjacent lip portions 42 is greater than the interference Lh of the lip portion 42 (Lp> Lh). ).
Although the second pipe 2 may vibrate or may cause thermal swelling of the second pipe 2 depending on the material of the second pipe 2, even in such a case, the plurality of lip portions 42 may be connected to each other as described above. If it is provided, it does not come into contact in the assembled state with the second pipe 2 (see FIG. 7), follows the movement of the second pipe 2, and can maintain the sealing property. Further, since the adjacent lip portions 42 do not contact each other in the assembled state to the second pipe 2, the lip reaction force is excessive due to the mutual fixing of the lip portions 42 (there is no sticking to the lip portions 42, 42). Thus, the insertion and withdrawal loads can be prevented from increasing without improving the insertion / extraction performance.
On the other hand, for example, when the protrusion amount LH is smaller than the distance Lp between the adjacent lip portions 42 provided on the second holding portion 40 (LH <Lp), the distance Lp is too empty. In addition, the amount of protrusion LH of the lip portion 42 is insufficient, and cannot follow the movement of the second pipe 2. Therefore, it is difficult to maintain the sealing property. For example, when the distance Lp between the adjacent lip portions 42 is smaller than the interference Lh of the lip portion 42 (Lp <Lh), the adjacent lip portions 42 are assembled to the second pipe 2. The lip portions 42 contact each other, and the lip portions 42 adhere to each other (sticking occurs to the lip portions 42, 42), so that the lip reaction force excessively increases, and the insertion and withdrawal load increases.

The configurations of the lip portion 42, the contact portion 41ba, and the depression portion 41c are not limited to the example shown in FIG. FIGS. 2B to 5B show various modifications. The same reference numerals are given to the common portions, and the description of the configuration, operation, effects, and the like is omitted.
First, FIGS. 2B to 3B show various modifications of the lip portion 42, the contact portion 41ba, and the depression portion 41c.
The example shown in FIG. 2B is an example in which the number of the concave portions 41c does not correspond to the number of the formed lip portions 42. In the recess 41c shown here, one wide recess 41c is formed for three lips 42.
That is, the concave portion 41c is located between the position corresponding to the region of the anti-joint portion side 42b of the lip portion 42 arranged closest to the joint portion 50 side and the anti-joint portion side 42b of the lip portion 42 arranged at the other end 3b side. It differs from the example shown in FIG. 2A in that it is formed up to the position corresponding to the region. Further, the position corresponding to the region of the top portion 42c of the lip portion 42 from the position corresponding to the region of the connection portion 42a of the lip portion 42 disposed on the connection portion 50 side and the region of the connection portion side 43a of the protrusion 43 to The point that the contact portion 41ba is formed in a region from the corresponding position to the groove wall portion 41a on the other end 3b side is the same as the example shown in FIG.

The example illustrated in FIG. 3A is an example in which the number of the formed lip portions 42 and the recessed portions 41c is different from FIG. 2A. In the example shown here, a contact portion 41ba is formed on the back side of the lip portion 42 and the protrusion 43 (position corresponding to the region of the connection portion side 42a, 43a) arranged on the connection portion 50 side, and these contact portions 41ba are formed. A wide depression 41c is formed between the portions 41ba.
The example illustrated in FIG. 3B is an example in which the number of the lip portions 42 and the recessed portions 41c is two, unlike FIG. 2A. The example shown here is different in that the central lip part 42 and the corresponding contact part 41ba shown in FIG. 2A are not provided, but is arranged on the other connecting part 50 side and the other end 3b side. The lip portion 42 and the two corresponding contact portions 41ba have the same structure. Further, one recess 41c is formed wider than the other recess 41c. Specifically, one of the recesses 41c is located at a position corresponding to the region of the one lip portion 42 disposed on the connecting portion 50 side on the opposite connecting portion side 42b, and the other lip disposed on the other end 3b side. The portion 42 is formed up to a position corresponding to the region on the connecting portion side 42 a of the portion 42. Further, the other depression 41c is formed from a region of the other lip portion 42 arranged on the other end 3b side to a position corresponding to a region closer to the near side than a region of the connection portion side 43a of the protrusion 43 from the region of the opposite lip portion 42b. I have.
Even in the case of the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 (b) to 3 (b), while having a desired sealing performance, it is possible to suppress the insertion load and the extraction load when connecting to the pipe.

Next, FIGS. 4A and 4B show various modifications of the contact portion 41ba.
The contact portion 41ba only needs to be formed at a position corresponding to the region on the connecting portion side 42a of the lip portion 42, and as in the example shown in FIG. 4A, the contact portion shown in FIG. It may be formed slightly closer to the connecting portion 50 side than 41ba. Further, as in the example shown in FIG. 4B, the contact portion 41ba shown in FIG. 2A may be formed wider.
As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, even if the area of formation of the contact portion 41ba is large or small, the contact portion 41ba and the concave portion 41c are formed at predetermined positions in relation to the lip portion 42. Then, while having desired sealing performance, the insertion load and the pull-out load at the time of connecting to the pipe can be suppressed.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show modified examples of the protrusion amount and width of the contact portion 41ba.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the plurality of contact portions 41ba corresponding to the plurality of lip portions 42 are such that the protrusion amount of one contact portion 41ba adjacent to each other in the axial direction is equal to the protrusion amount of the other contact portion 41ba. It may be formed to be smaller than the amount. Specifically, the amount of protrusion of the contact portion 41ba provided at a position close to the connecting portion 50 protrudes more than the central contact portion 41ba, and the contact portion 41ba provided at a position near the other end 3b. Is smaller than the central contact portion 41ba. That is, the projecting amount of the contact portion 41ba is large, medium, and small from the connecting portion 50 side.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5B, in the plurality of contact portions 41ba corresponding to the lip portion 42, the width of one contact portion 41ba adjacent to each other in the axial direction is smaller than the width of the other contact portion 41ba. May be formed. Specifically, the width of the contact portion 41ba provided near the connecting portion 50 is formed wider than the central contact portion 41ba, and the contact portion provided near the other end 3b. The width of 41ba is formed to be narrower than the central contact portion 41ba. That is, the width of the contact portion 41ba is formed large, medium, and small from the connecting portion 50 side.
According to the above, since the projecting amounts or widths of the plurality of contact portions 41ba that come into contact with the reinforcing ring 4 are made different, the respective surface pressures of the lip portions 42 can be individually adjusted. Therefore, the seal design can be performed assuming the eccentricity of the second pipe 2, and the followability to the eccentric second pipe 2 can be further improved.
Further, although not shown, the plurality of contact portions 41ba are such that the protrusion amount and the width of one contact portion 41ba adjacent to each other in the axial direction are larger than the protrusion amount and the width of the other contact portion 41ba. May be formed, or may be formed to be smaller.

Next, a procedure for connecting the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 in the through hole 10 using the connecting member 3 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
<Connection procedure>
First, the reinforcing ring 4 is fitted and accommodated in the connecting member 3 in advance in the concave streak portion 41 of the second holding portion 40. At this time, since the concave portion 41c is formed in the concave streak portion 41 in which the reinforcing ring 4 is accommodated, the contact surface of the reinforcing ring 4 is reduced, the resistance due to friction is reduced, and the reinforcing ring 4 is easily assembled.
Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the first holding portion 30 of the connection member 3 is fitted into the concave portion 11 of the first pipe 1, and the connection member 3 is assembled to the first pipe 1. During this assembling, the inner peripheral lip portion 32 is elastically deformed so as to be inclined obliquely from the bottom portion 11c toward the opening portion 11d.

  Then, the connection member 3 and subsequently the first pipe 1 are inserted into the through hole 10 of the wall body 101 from outside (see the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 6). The other end 3 b of the connection member 3 reaches the connection end 2 a of the second pipe 2, and first, the top of the projection 43 elastically contacts the front side 2 ab of the second pipe 2. The front side portion 2ab is formed so as to be smaller in diameter than the other portion of the second pipe 2 so as to gradually increase in diameter, so that the protrusion 43 inclined in the opposite direction to the insertion direction is smoothly elastically deformed. I do. Then, the lip portion 42 arranged on the other end 3b side elastically contacts the outer peripheral surface 2aa of the second pipe 2 and is elastically deformed while being compressed, so as to cover the second pipe 2 in an obliquely inclined state. Be fitted. At this time, the recess 41c serves as a space for allowing the elastically deformed lip portion 42 to escape, preventing the lip portion 42 from being excessively filled or overcompressed, and reducing the insertion load. Further, since each abutting portion 41ba is formed at a position corresponding to the region of the connecting portion side 42a of each lip portion 42, the sealing surface pressure of the second pipe 2 by each lip portion 42 can be maintained.

Then, the connecting member 3 is inserted toward the second pipe 2 until the flange 12 of the first pipe 1 comes into contact with the wall body 101 as shown in FIG. Then, the outer peripheral lip portion 31 elastically contacts the inner peripheral surface 10 a of the through hole 10. At this time, since the inner seal area S1 and the outer seal area S2 are provided at positions that do not overlap in the radial direction, an increase in insertion load can be prevented, and assemblability can be improved. Also, even when the axis L1 of the first pipe 1 and the axis L of the through hole 10 are shifted and eccentric, the eccentricity is provided because the inner seal area S1 and the outer seal area S2 do not overlap in the radial direction. The influence on the surface pressure fluctuation and the internal stress of the inner and outer seal regions S1 and S2 at the time is small, and a stable sealing property can be maintained. Also, at this time, since the connecting portion 50 has elasticity and can be displaced in the radial direction, even if there is some misalignment between the axis L of the through-hole 10 and the axis L2 of the second pipe 2. Is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the connecting portion 50. In particular, since the connecting portion 50 has a tapered shape, the eccentric displacement can be effectively absorbed in combination with the connecting portion 50 itself being made of an elastic body. Furthermore, since the outer peripheral lip portion 31 has the bent portion 31b, when the outer peripheral lip portion 31 is elastically contacted with the inner peripheral surface 10a of the through hole 10, the outer peripheral lip portion 31 is bent so as to be sharply bent with the bent portion 31b as a bending point. it can. Thereby, the insertion load when inserting the first pipe 1 into the through hole 10 can be reduced, and the insertion performance can be improved.
Finally, when the flange 12 of the first pipe 1 is fixed to the wall body 101 by the fixture, the connection of the two pipes 1 and 2 is completed.

  In the connection state shown in FIG. 7, the outer fitting portion of the first holding portion 30 to the first pipe 1 and the outer fitting portion of the second holding portion 40 to the second pipe 2 are each provided with an annular inner peripheral lip portion 32, Since the lip portion 42 is interposed in a compressed state, a connection structure having a high sealing property can be obtained, and the refrigerant can flow between the first pipe 1 and the second pipe 2 via the connection member 3. In addition, since the annular outer lip portion 31 is interposed between the first holding portion 30 and the through hole 10 in a compressed state, the inside and the outside of the inverter case 100 through the through hole 10 are sealed, and from outside through the through hole 10. It is possible to prevent dust and the like from entering the inverter case 100.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a description will be given of a procedure for extracting the first pipe 1 connected as described above.
<How to pull out>
First, the fixture that is inserted into the insertion hole of the flange portion 12 of the first pipe 1 and that fixes the first pipe 1 to the wall body 101 is removed, and the flange portion 12 and the like of the first pipe 1 are grasped and the second pipe 2 is removed. A force is applied in the direction of pulling apart, that is, the pulling direction. Then, the lip portion 42, the protruding portion 43, and the outer lip portion 31 slide along the inner peripheral surface 10a of the second pipe 2 or the through hole 10 in a state where the lip portion 42, the protruding portion 43 and the outer lip portion 31 are tilted in the anti-insertion direction, as shown in FIG. 3 is detached from the second pipe 2, and the connection member 3 together with the first pipe 1 can be smoothly pulled out from the second pipe 2. At this time, since the concave portion 41 is provided with the concave portion 41c, the inversion of the lip portion 42 at the time of pulling out is suppressed, and an increase in the pulling load due to the inversion of the lip portion 42 can be prevented. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, even when the lip portion 42, the protruding portion 43 and the outer lip portion 31 are stuck to the second pipe 2 or the inner peripheral surface 10 a of the through hole 10 and inverted, the recessed portion 41 has a concave portion. Since 41c is provided and the contact surface with the reinforcing ring 4 is small, the pulling load can be reduced. Also, since the plurality of lip portions 42 are formed at a predetermined distance Lp (interval) and the lip portions 42 are formed with the predetermined protrusion amount LH and the interference Lh, the mutual contact between the adjacent lip portions 42, 42 is established. Does not occur, and the lip reaction force does not increase. Therefore, an increase in the pulling load can be prevented.
Then, in the above-described state, if a force is applied in the pulling direction as it is, the connecting member 3 is separated from the second pipe 2, and the connecting member 3 together with the first pipe 1 is smoothly pulled out from the second pipe 2. Can be.

  In the above-described embodiment, a pipe connection structure for connecting the second pipe 2 provided inside the automobile inverter case 100 and the first pipe 1 provided outside the inverter case 100 by the connection member 3, and An example in which the present invention is applied to the connecting member 3 used in this case has been described. In the through hole of the wall, the first pipe and the second pipe, which are arranged to face each other while being separated in the axial direction, are connected via the connecting member. If it is a piping connection structure, it can be similarly applied to other piping connection structures. In addition, the configuration of the connection member 3 is also an example, and is not limited to the illustrated example. The numbers and shapes of the lip portions 42, the contact portions 41ba, and the recessed portions 41c are not limited to the illustrated example. The number and shape (projection amount, projection width, and the like) of the other protrusions 43, outer lip 31, inner lip 32, inner protrusion 33, and outer protrusion 51 are not limited to the illustrated example. .

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 inverter case 101 wall body 10 through hole 1 first pipe 2 second pipe 3 connecting member 30 first holding section 40 second holding section 40a inner peripheral surface 40b outer peripheral surface 41 concave ridge 41a groove wall 41b bottom 41ba abut Portion 41c Depressed portion 42 Lip portion 42a Connecting portion side 42b Non-connecting portion side 50 Connecting portion 4 Reinforcement ring A Lip forming area

Claims (8)

In the through hole of the wall, a pipe connection structure for connecting the first pipe and the second pipe, which are disposed to face each other in a state of being separated in the axial direction, via a connection member,
A first holding portion externally fitted to the first pipe and internally fitted into the through hole, a second holding portion externally fitted to the second pipe, and the first holding portion; A cylindrical body having a connecting portion that connects the second holding portion;
The inner peripheral surface of the second holding portion has a lip forming region provided with an annular lip portion abutting on the outer peripheral surface of the second pipe,
An outer peripheral surface of the second holding portion corresponding to the lip forming region is provided with a concave portion having a bottom portion and a pair of groove walls, and the concave portion is fitted to the second pipe. A reinforcement ring to reinforce is housed,
The bottom portion has an abutting portion that abuts on an inner peripheral surface of the reinforcing ring, and a concave portion that does not abut on an inner peripheral surface of the reinforcing ring, and the abutting portion includes the connecting portion of the lip portion. The pipe connection structure is formed at a position corresponding to a region on a side of the lip portion, and the recess is formed at a position corresponding to a region on a side opposite to the joint portion of the lip portion. The piping connection structure according to claim 1,
The pipe connection structure, wherein the recess is further formed at a position corresponding to a portion where the lip is not formed. In the pipe connection structure according to claim 1 or 2,
A pipe connection structure, wherein a plurality of the lip portions are provided. The piping connection structure according to claim 3,
The pipe connection structure, wherein the concave ridge portion has the same number of the concave portions as the number of the lip portions formed. In the pipe connection structure according to claim 3 or 4,
A pipe connection structure, wherein a distance between the lip portions is greater than an interference of the lip portions. In the pipe connection structure according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
In the plurality of contact portions corresponding to the lip portions, the protrusion amount and / or width of one of the contact portions adjacent to each other in the axial direction is larger than the protrusion amount and / or width of the other contact portion. Or a pipe connection structure characterized by being formed so as to be small. In the pipe connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A pipe connection structure, wherein the first holding part and the second holding part have different diameters depending on the diameters of the first pipe and the second pipe, and the connecting part is tapered. It is a connection member used for the piping connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A first holding portion attached to a connection end of the first pipe, a second holding portion attached to a connection end of the second pipe, and connecting the first holding portion and the second holding portion; A connecting member having an elastically deformable connecting portion.

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