JP7020879B2 - Fitting caps and fittings - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a joint cap and a joint.

Conventionally, a fitting cap to be attached to a fitting of a pipe for water supply, hot water supply, or air conditioning equipment in a building has been known. This joint cap is attached to the opening of the joint to prevent dust and foreign matter from entering the inside of the joint until the pipe connection work for connecting the pipe to the joint, and closes the opening.
In the pipe connection work, when inserting the pipe into the opening of the joint, an inner cylinder may be inserted into the end of the pipe in order to prevent the radial inward deformation of the end of the pipe. In this case, before connecting the pipe to the joint, it is preferable to hold the inner cylinder in the joint so that the inner cylinder is not lost.
For example, in the joint caps described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 below, the inner cylinder body is held by the joint cap by fitting the inner cylinder body inside the joint cap.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-106895 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-233350

However, each of the fitting cap and the inner cylinder is a part manufactured with a certain dimensional tolerance. Therefore, in the conventional configuration, when the fitting portions of the joint cap and the inner cylinder are the farthest from each other due to the influence of the dimensional tolerance, there is a gap between the joint cap and the inner cylinder. As a result, there was a risk that the inner cylinder could not be held by the fitting cap. On the other hand, when the fitting portions approach each other due to the influence of the dimensional tolerance, there is a possibility that the inner cylinder does not enter the inside of the joint cap.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a joint cap capable of reliably holding the inner cylinder within the range of dimensional tolerances of the joint cap and the inner cylinder. The purpose is.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
The fitting cap according to the present invention is attached to a joint to which a pipe having an inner cylinder inserted in an end portion is connected, and holds the inner cylinder in a state before the pipe is connected to the joint. A joint cap that closes the opening of the joint while projecting axially from the cap body that covers the opening and the cap body along the central axis of the opening and is arranged in the joint. The protrusion is provided with a protrusion, and the protrusion is gradually outward in the axial direction orthogonal to the central axis as the opening is located on one side of the cap body. It is characterized in that it extends toward the joint and abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder arranged in the joint to hold the inner cylinder.

According to the present invention, since the joint cap includes a protrusion, the inner cylinder can be held by the joint cap when the protrusion abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder. Further, since the protrusion gradually extends outward in the radial direction toward the opening side in the axial direction, it is easy to control the radial dimensions of the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder and the protrusion. Therefore, the inner cylinder can be reliably held within the dimensional tolerances of the joint cap and the inner cylinder.

Further, a plurality of the protrusions may be arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction around the central axis in a plan view seen from the opening side.

In this case, since a plurality of protrusions are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, it is easy to deform the protrusions inward in the radial direction when the protrusions are brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder. can do. Further, the protrusions can be brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder at a plurality of points in the circumferential direction, and the protrusions can firmly hold the inner cylinder.

Further, the protrusion may extend in an arc shape coaxially arranged with the central axis.

In this case, since the protrusions extend in an arc shape, it is possible to secure a large range in the circumferential direction in which the protrusions abut on the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder. As a result, the inner cylinder can be held more firmly by the protrusions.

Further, by arranging a plurality of the protrusions, a cylindrical portion arranged coaxially with the central axis is formed, and the outer diameter of one end of the cylindrical portion in the axial direction is the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion. It may be larger than the inner diameter of the cylinder, and the outer diameter of the other end of the cylinder in the axial direction may be smaller than the inner diameter of the inner cylinder.

Further, the protrusions are a pair of plate-shaped members separately arranged at positions sandwiching the central axis in the radial direction, and the protrusions are located between the ends of the pair of protrusions on one side in the axial direction. The maximum width in the radial direction is larger than the inner diameter of the inner cylinder, and the maximum width in the radial direction between the pair of protrusions on the other side in the axial direction is larger than the inner diameter of the inner cylinder. May be small.

In these cases, one end of the protrusion in the axial direction can be reliably brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder, and the other end of the protrusion in the axial direction can be reliably brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder. Can be separated inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder. As a result, the protrusion can be inserted to the base end of the inner cylinder so that the inner cylinder abuts on the joint cap in the axial direction, and the inner cylinder is held by the joint cap. However, it is possible to suppress the bulkiness in the axial direction.

Further, the joint according to the present invention is characterized by including any of the above-mentioned joint caps and the inner cylinder held by the protrusion.
According to the present invention, the fitting comprises a fitting cap. Therefore, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the opening before the pipe is inserted into the opening of the joint. Further, the joint is provided with an inner cylinder. Therefore, when the pipe is inserted into the opening of the joint, it is possible to prevent the inner cylinder from being lost and to prepare it separately, and it is possible to efficiently perform the connection work for connecting the pipe to the joint.

According to the present invention, the inner cylinder can be reliably held within the dimensional tolerances of the joint cap and the inner cylinder.

It is a vertical sectional view which shows the state which attached the joint cap which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention to a joint. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the state which removed the joint cap from the joint shown in FIG. 1, and connected the pipe. It is (a) a vertical sectional view and (b) a bottom view of the joint cap shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a modified example of the joint cap shown in FIG. 1 is attached to the joint. It is a vertical cross-sectional view and (b) bottom view which shows the state which holds (a) the inner cylinder body in the joint cap which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical sectional view which shows the state which holds the inner cylinder body in the joint cap which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is (a) vertical sectional view and (b) bottom view of the joint cap which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the joint cap 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the joint cap 1 is connected to a pipe 60 having an inner cylinder 50 inserted in the end of the joint of a pipe for water supply, hot water supply, or air conditioning equipment in a building. It is attached to the joint 10.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the joint cap 1 closes the opening 10A of the joint 10 while holding the inner cylinder 50 before the pipe 60 is connected to the joint 10. The joint cap 1 has a ridged cylinder shape and is formed of, for example, a synthetic resin material. The joint cap 1 is fixed to the joint 10 by the elastic force of the joint cap 1 or the locking structure. The joint 10 is shipped in the state shown in FIG. That is, the joint 10 includes a joint cap 1 and an inner cylinder 50.

In the following description, the direction along the central axis O of the opening 10A is referred to as the axial direction, and of the axial directions, one side on which the opening 10A is located is the lower side with respect to the top wall portion 30A of the joint cap 1. , The opposite side (the other side) is the upper side.
Further, in a plan view seen from the axial direction, the direction orthogonal to the central axis O is referred to as the radial direction, and the direction orbiting around the central axis O is referred to as the circumferential direction. The vertical orientation in the following description is used for convenience of explanation of the configuration, and does not limit the postures of the joint 10 and the joint cap 1.

The joint 10 also includes a tubular joint body 11 and a ridged tubular bush 12 attached to the joint body 11. An inner flange portion 11A protruding inward in the radial direction is formed in the lower portion of the joint body 11. The inner flange portion 11A extends over the entire circumference to the inner peripheral surface of the joint body 11.

An outer flange portion 11B that projects outward in the radial direction is formed in the intermediate portion of the joint body 11 in the axial direction. The outer flange portion 11B extends over the entire circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the joint body 11. A male screw portion 11C is formed on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the joint body 11 located above the outer flange portion 11B.
An accommodating recess 11D that is recessed outward in the radial direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the joint body 11. The accommodating recess 11D extends all around the inner peripheral surface of the bush 12. An O-ring 20 is arranged in the accommodating recess 11D.

An opening 10A is formed in the top wall portion 12A of the bush 12. The opening 10A has a circular shape when viewed from above. The bush 12 surrounds the joint body 11 from the outside in the radial direction. The bush 12 is attached to the joint body 11 by attaching the female thread portion 12B formed on the inner peripheral surface of the bush 12 to the male thread portion 11C of the joint body 11.
The lower end portion of the bush 12 is in axial contact with the outer flange portion 11B of the joint body 11.

An inner peripheral latch 12D is formed on the inner peripheral surface at the lower end of the bush 12. The inner peripheral latch 12D engages with the outer peripheral latch 11E formed on the outer peripheral surface at the lower end of the joint main body 11 in the circumferential direction, so that the bush 12 attached to the joint main body 11 can be attached to the joint main body 11. Prevent loosening.

Inside the joint 10, an axial gap is formed between the upper end portion of the joint body 11 and the top wall portion 12A of the bush 12. In the gap, the fixing ring 25 and the retaining tooth 26 are arranged side by side in the axial direction.
The fixing ring 25 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin material. The fixing ring 25 fixes the retaining tooth 26 to the bush 12. Further, the fixing ring 25 fixes the O-ring 20 in the accommodating recess 11D to the joint body 11.

The retaining tooth 26 has an annular shape in which a portion located inside in the radial direction is bent downward. The radial inner end portion of the retaining tooth 26 is located radially inside the inner peripheral surface of each of the joint body 11, the bush 12, and the fixing ring 25.
The retaining tooth 26 is made of a metal material such as a stainless steel material. The retaining tooth 26 bites into the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 60 inserted into the opening 10A of the joint 10 to prevent the pipe 60 from coming out of the opening 10A of the joint 10 in the axial direction.

The inner cylinder 50 is made of, for example, a metal material having higher rigidity than the material forming the pipe 60. At the upper end of the inner cylinder 50, a tip flange portion 51 projecting outward in the radial direction is formed. The upper surface of the tip flange portion 51 is formed in a curved surface shape that protrudes upward.

At the construction site, the joint cap 1 that holds the inner cylinder 50 is removed, and the inner cylinder 50 is further removed from the joint cap 1. Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner cylinder 50 is inserted into the end of the pipe 60 when the pipe 60 connected to the joint 10 is inserted into the opening 10A. At this time, the tip flange portion 51 is arranged so as to be located at the open end edge by being caught by the open end edge of the pipe 60. That is, the axial orientation of the inner cylinder 50 is opposite between the state shown in FIG. 1 and the state shown in FIG. When the pipe 60 is connected to the joint 10, the joint cap 1 becomes unnecessary and may be discarded.

Then, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the joint cap 1 has a cap main body 30 that covers the opening 10A and a protrusion 31 that projects downward from the cap main body 30 and is arranged in the joint 10. And have.
The cap body 30 has a ridged cylinder shape, and the top wall portion 30A of the cap body 30 closes the opening 10A of the joint 10. The outer shapes of the top wall portion 30A and the peripheral wall portion 30B in the joint cap 1 have a shape that follows the outer shape of the joint 10. In the illustrated example, the axial size of the cap body 30 is 22.6 mm.

The protrusion 31 is formed on the lower surface of the top wall portion 30A of the cap body 30. The protrusion 31 gradually extends outward in the radial direction as it goes downward. As shown in FIG. 1, the protrusion 31 abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50 and holds the inner cylinder 50 before the pipe 60 is connected to the joint 10. In the illustrated example, the lower end of the protrusion 31 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of protrusions 31 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction in a plan view seen from below. The protrusion 31 has an arc shape extending in the circumferential direction. The plurality of protrusions 31 are arranged coaxially with the central axis O.
In the illustrated example, the protrusions 31 are arranged in pairs at positions sandwiching the central axis O in the radial direction. The size of the protrusion 31 in the circumferential direction is such that the central angle about the central axis O is 90 ° or less. The quantity and size of the protrusions 31 are not limited to such an embodiment and can be arbitrarily changed.

By arranging a plurality of the protrusions 31, a cylindrical portion 35 arranged coaxially with the central axis O is formed.
The outer diameter L1 of the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 35 is larger than the inner diameter L2 of the inner cylinder 50. In the illustrated example, the outer diameter L1 of the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 35 is 12.1 mm, and the inner diameter L2 of the inner cylinder 50 (see FIG. 1) is 11.9 mm.
Further, the outer diameter L3 of the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 35 is smaller than the inner diameter L2 of the inner cylinder body 50. In the illustrated example, the outer diameter L3 of the upper end portion of the protrusion 31 is 11.8 mm. Further, the axial size L4 of the protrusion 31 (cylindrical portion 35) is 5 mm.

When the protrusion 31 is inserted into the inner cylinder 50 from the tip flange portion 51 side, the lower end portion of the protrusion 31 is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50, and the protrusion 31 is radially oriented. The protrusion 31 and the inner cylinder 50 are brought close to each other in the axial direction in a state of being elastically deformed inward. As a result, due to the restoring force of the protrusion 31, the lower end of the protrusion 31 presses the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50 toward the outside in the radial direction, so that the protrusion 31 holds the inner cylinder 50. can do.

Here, for example, the dimensional tolerance of the inner cylinder 50 is ± 0.05, and the dimensional tolerance of the protrusion 31 is ± 0.1. In this case, assuming each of the above-mentioned dimensional values, the dimension of the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50 is 11.95 mm, which is the upper limit of the dimensional tolerance. On the other hand, the dimension of the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 35 is 12.00 mm at the lower limit of the dimensional tolerance. Therefore, the dimension of the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 35 is always larger than the dimension of the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder body 50 within the range of the dimensional tolerances of the joint cap 1 and the inner cylinder body 50, respectively. The inner cylinder 50 can be held by the protrusion 31.

Next, a modified example of the protrusion 31B will be described with reference to FIG.
In the protrusion 31B according to the modified example, the length in the axial direction is larger than that of the protrusion 31. The axial size of the protrusion 31B is larger than half the axial size of the cap body 30. As a result, the position of the lower end portion of the protrusion 31B that abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50 can be positioned below the protrusion 31, and the joint cap 1 makes the inner cylinder 50. It can be held in a stable state.

As described above, according to the joint cap 1 according to the present embodiment, since the joint cap 1 includes the protrusion 31, the protrusion 31 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50. The inner cylinder 50 can be held by the joint cap 1.
Further, since the protrusion 31 gradually extends outward in the radial direction as it goes downward, it becomes easy to control the dimensions of the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50 and the protrusion 31 in the radial direction. The inner cylinder 50 can be reliably held within the dimensional tolerances of the joint cap 1 and the inner cylinder 50.

Further, since a plurality of protrusions 31 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, when the protrusions 31 are brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50, the protrusions 31 are directed inward in the radial direction. It can be easily deformed. Further, the protrusion 31 can be brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50 at a plurality of points in the circumferential direction, and the protrusion 31 can firmly hold the inner cylinder 50. ..
Further, since the protrusion 31 extends in an arc shape, it is possible to secure a large range in the circumferential direction in which the protrusion 31 abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50. As a result, the inner cylinder 50 can be held more firmly by the protrusion 31.

Further, the outer diameter L1 of the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 35 formed by the protrusion 31 is larger than the inner diameter L2 of the inner cylinder 50, and the outer diameter L3 of the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 35 is larger than the inner diameter L2 of the inner cylinder 50. Is also getting smaller. Therefore, the lower end portion of the protrusion 31 can be reliably brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50, and the upper end portion of the protrusion 31 is radially from the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50. It can be separated inward. As a result, the protrusion 31 can be inserted to the inside of the inner cylinder 50 up to the base end portion of the inner cylinder 50 so that the inner cylinder 50 abuts on the top wall portion 30A of the joint cap 1 in the axial direction. It is possible to prevent the inner cylinder 50 held by the cap 1 from being bulky in the axial direction.

Further, the joint 10 includes a joint cap 1. Therefore, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the opening 10A before inserting the pipe 60 into the opening 10A of the joint 10. Further, the joint 10 includes an inner cylinder body 50. Therefore, when the pipe 60 is inserted into the opening 10A of the joint 10, it is prevented that the inner cylinder 50 is lost and separately prepared, and the connection work for connecting the pipe 60 to the joint 10 is efficient. Can be done.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In each of the following embodiments, the same configurations as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, the description thereof will be omitted, and only the differences will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the joint cap 2 according to the present embodiment, the protrusion 32 is formed in a columnar shape extending in the axial direction. The protrusions 32 are arranged in pairs so as to sandwich the central axis O in the radial direction.
Further, in the present embodiment, the maximum width L5 in the radial direction between the lower end portions of the pair of protrusions 32 is larger than the inner diameter L2 of the inner cylinder 50. Further, the maximum width L6 in the radial direction between the upper end portions of the pair of protrusions 32 is smaller than the inner diameter L2 of the inner cylinder 50.

As described above, the size of the protrusion 32 in the circumferential direction is reduced, so that the protrusion 32 can be easily deformed in the radial direction. As a result, even when the processing accuracy of the protrusion 32 is lowered and the dimensional tolerance is set wide, the variation in the dimensions is absorbed by the radial deformation of the protrusion 32, and the lower end portion of the protrusion 32 is surely set. Can be brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50.

(Third Embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In each of the following embodiments, the same configurations as those of the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, the description thereof will be omitted, and only the differences will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, the joint cap 3 according to the present embodiment includes a holding cylinder portion 33 extending downward from the top wall portion 30A. The holding cylinder portion 33 is arranged coaxially with the central axis O. The protrusion 34 is arranged on the lower end edge of the holding cylinder 33.
By arranging the protrusion 34 on the lower end edge of the holding cylinder 33 in this way, the protrusion 34 is positioned downward while the position of the lower end of the protrusion 34 that abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 50 is positioned downward. The size of the portion 34 in the axial direction can be suppressed. As a result, the durability of the protrusion 34 can be ensured while the inner cylinder 50 is held in a stable state by the joint cap 1.

(Fourth Embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In each of the following embodiments, the same configurations as those of the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, the description thereof will be omitted, and only the differences will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 36 in the joint cap 4 according to the present embodiment is a plate-shaped member. The protrusions 36 are arranged in pairs so as to sandwich the central axis O in the radial direction.
The pair of protrusions 36 extend in a direction orthogonal to each other in the radial direction in a plan view seen from below.
Further, in the present embodiment, the maximum width L5 in the radial direction between the lower end portions of the pair of protrusions 36 is larger than the inner diameter L2 of the inner cylinder 50. Further, the maximum width L6 in the radial direction between the upper end portions of the pair of protrusions 36 is smaller than the inner diameter L2 of the inner cylinder 50.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in each of the above embodiments, the cap body 30 has a structure in which the cap body 30 has a ridged cylinder shape, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The cap body 30 does not have to include the peripheral wall portion 30B.
Further, in each of the above embodiments, a plurality of protrusions 31 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction in a plan view seen from below, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The protrusion 31 may have a tubular shape whose diameter gradually increases as it goes downward, for example.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the radial size at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 35 is larger than the inner diameter of the inner cylinder 50, and the radial size at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 35 is the inner cylinder. Although the configuration shown is smaller than the inner diameter of 50, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The dimensions of each of the cylindrical portion 35 and the inner cylinder portion 50 can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

In addition, it is possible to appropriately replace the components in the embodiment with well-known components without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the above-mentioned modifications may be appropriately combined.

1, 2, 3 Fitting cap 10 Fitting 10A Opening 30 Cap body 31, 32, 34, 36 Protrusion 35 Cylindrical 50 Inner cylinder 60 Pipe

Claims (6)

Attached to the fitting to which the pipe with the inner cylinder inserted in the end is connected,
A joint cap that closes the opening of the joint while holding the inner cylinder before the pipe is connected to the joint.
The cap body, which has a ridged cylinder shape and covers the opening,
It protrudes from the top wall of the cap body to one side where the opening is located with respect to the cap body in the axial direction along the central axis of the opening, and is arranged inside the inner cylinder. With the inner cylinder held in place, the inner cylinder is provided with a protrusion arranged in the joint together with the inner cylinder.
The one-sided end in the axial direction of the protrusion is closer to the other side of the axial direction, which is the opposite side of the one-sided end in the axial direction of the peripheral wall portion of the cap body. Position to,
The protrusion gradually extends outward in the radial direction orthogonal to the central axis as it goes to one side in the axial direction, and abuts on the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder to make the inner cylinder. A fitting cap characterized by holding. The joint cap according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the protrusions are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction around the central axis in a plan view seen from the opening side. The joint cap according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protrusion extends in an arc shape coaxially with the central axis. By arranging a plurality of the protrusions, a cylindrical portion arranged coaxially with the central axis is formed.
The outer diameter of one end of the cylindrical portion in the axial direction is larger than the inner diameter of the inner cylinder.
The joint cap according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer diameter of the other end of the cylindrical portion in the axial direction is smaller than the inner diameter of the inner cylinder. The protrusions are a pair of plate-shaped members separately arranged at positions sandwiching the central axis in the radial direction.
The maximum width in the radial direction between the pair of protrusions on one side in the axial direction is larger than the inner diameter of the inner cylinder.
The joint according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the maximum width in the radial direction between the pair of protrusions on the other side in the axial direction is smaller than the inner diameter of the inner cylinder. Cap for. The joint cap according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
A joint comprising the inner cylinder body held by the protrusion.

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