JPH08296778A - Piping connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To interconnect plural pairs of pipings with a small number of parts and satisfactory workability. CONSTITUTION: Refrigerant pipings 13, 14 are fitted respectively in through holes 23 and 24 of divided flanges 21, 22 and both divided flanges 21, 22 are joined to constitute a connecting flange 19. Refrigerant pipings 15, 16 are fitted respectively in the refrigerant pipings 13, 14, and a connecting plate 20 is bolted to one divided flange 22 to secure the refrigerant pipings 15, 16 fixedly to the divided flanges 21, 22. Thus two pairs of refrigerant pipings can be interconnected by two divided flanges 21, 22 and one connecting plate 20 to reduce the number of parts while the connecting operability can be improved. Also, when a gap is produced between the contact surface 22a of the divided flange 22 and the connecting plate 20, the refrigerant piping 15 is inclined to the refrigerant piping 13, while the compressibility of an O-ring 17 is set large to maintain the closing property of the O-ring 17.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pipe connecting device for connecting a plurality of pipes to each other in a refrigeration cycle of an automobile with a small number of parts and with good workability.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a device for connecting a refrigerant pipe in a refrigerating cycle of an automobile air conditioner, there is, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-266521. This is a structure in which a male side refrigerant pipe and a female side refrigerant pipe are connected by attaching connecting flanges to the male side and female side refrigerant pipes and connecting the connecting flanges to each other. The structure of the flange is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show male refrigerant pipes 1 and 2.
This connection flange 3 is shown.
Is composed of two divided flanges 4 and 5, and the divided surfaces of the divided flanges 4 and 5 have concave grooves 4a, 4b and 5a, 5 respectively.
b is formed, and hook-shaped holding portions 4c, 4c are provided on both side portions of the one division flange 4. These divided flanges 4 and 5 are resin molded products, and nuts 6 and 7 inserted during molding are embedded therein.

In order to attach the connection flange 3, that is, the division flanges 4 and 5 to the refrigerant pipes 1 and 2, as shown in FIG. 11, the concave grooves 4a and 4b and 5a and 5b are fitted to the refrigerant pipes 1 and 5.
By sliding the split flanges 4 and 5 in a state of being fitted in 2, the holding portions 4c and 4 of the split flange 4 can be formed.
Fit both sides of the split flange 5 into c. And
A machine screw 8 passed through the split flange 5 is screwed onto the split flange 4. As a result, the connection flange 3 is attached to the refrigerant pipes 1 and 2, as shown in FIG.

Although not shown, the connection flange of the female side refrigerant pipe also has the same structure as the connection flange 3 except that the nuts 6 and 7 are not provided and the bolts are passed therethrough. It is where holes are formed.

In order to connect the male and female refrigerant pipes to each other by such a connecting flange, the male refrigerant pipes 1 and 2 are inserted into the female pipe so that the male side refrigerant pipes 1 and 2 are inserted into the female pipe. The connection flange 3 and the female connection flange are butted against each other, and the bolts passed through the through holes of the two female division flanges are connected to the division flanges 4, 5 of the male refrigerant pipes 1, 2.
The connection flange 3 on the male side and the connection flange on the female side are fastened by screwing onto the nuts 6 and 7. As a result, the female side refrigerant pipe and the male side refrigerant pipes 1 and 2 are connected.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional pipe connecting device, the male side connecting flange 3 consisting of the two divided flanges 4 and 5 is attached to the male side refrigerant pipes 1 and 2 and is not shown. The female side connecting flange, which is also made up of two split flanges, is attached to the female side refrigerant pipe, and the male side connecting flange 3 and the female side connecting flange are connected to each other with two bolts. Since the structure is such that the nuts 6 and 7 are connected by being screwed on, there is a problem that the number of parts is large and the efficiency of the connecting work of the pipe is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a first object thereof is to connect a plurality of male side pipes and a plurality of female side pipes with good workability with a small number of parts. The second purpose is to provide a pipe connection device that can
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe connecting device that can prevent fluid from leaking out between a male side pipe and a female side pipe even if steps are formed on the end faces of a plurality of divided flanges.

[0009]

According to a first means, a connecting flange is formed by connecting a plurality of divided flanges having through holes, and a tip portion is fitted in the through holes of each divided flange. A plurality of female-side pipes, a plurality of male-side pipes whose tips are fitted to the inside of the tips of the female-side pipes, and a plurality of male-side pipes engaged with the plurality of male-side pipes. The pipe connecting device comprises a connecting member that is fixed to any of the split flanges and fixes the plurality of male-side pipes to the split flange side (claim 1).

A second means is to connect a plurality of divided flanges each having a through hole to each other, and a tip end thereof is fitted to one end side and the other end side of the through hole of each of the divided flanges. And a plurality of first and second male-side pipes, which are communicated with each other through the through holes, and a plurality of the first and second male-side pipes, respectively. A first fixed to one of the flanges to fix the plurality of first and second male pipes to each of the divided flanges.
And a second connecting member, which is a pipe connecting device (claim 2).

A third means is provided with an O-ring which is attached to the outer peripheral portion of each male side pipe and seals a fitting portion with the mating side, and when the plurality of divided flanges are connected to each other, When a plurality of split flanges have a step on the end surface on the side fixing the male side pipe, the compression rate of the O-ring of the male side pipe fixed to the split flange on the end face lower than the other is set to the other one. It is characterized in that it is made larger than the compressibility of the O-ring of the male side pipe (claim 3).

A fourth means is provided with an O-ring which is attached to the outer peripheral portion of each male side pipe and seals a fitting portion with the mating side, and when the plurality of split flanges are connected to each other, the plurality of O-rings are provided. A plurality of O-rings are attached to the male side pipe fixed to the dividing flange of the end face lower than the other when the dividing flange has a step on the end face on the side fixing the female side pipe. (Claim 4).

A fifth means is, when the plurality of divided flanges are connected to each other, when the plurality of divided flanges form a step on the end face on which the male side pipe is fixed, the end face lower than the other end faces. An interposing member is provided between the split flange and the pressing member (claim 5).

[0014]

In the pipe connecting device of the first means, the plurality of female side pipes are fitted into the through holes of the plurality of divided flanges, respectively, and the plurality of divided flanges are joined together. Configure the connection flange. Then, the plurality of male side pipes are fitted and connected to the plurality of female side pipes, and the connecting member is fixed to one of the divided flanges. Thereby, each male side pipe is fixed to each divided flange side. Thus the first
According to the above means, a plurality of female flanges and a male pipe can be connected by a plurality of divided flanges and one connecting member, and the number of parts can be reduced and the connection workability is improved. Can be achieved.

In the pipe connecting device of the second means, a plurality of first and second male pipes are fitted to one end side and the other end side of the through holes of the plurality of split flanges, respectively. Connect a plurality of divided flanges to form a connection flange. Then, the first connecting member is fixed to any of the dividing flanges, and the second connecting member is fixed to any of the dividing flanges. As a result, the plurality of first male-side pipes are fixed to one end side of each split flange, and the plurality of second male-side pipes are fixed to the other end side of each split flange. According to the second means, it is possible to connect the plurality of male-side pipes and the plurality of male-side pipes by the plurality of split flanges and the two connecting members, and it is possible to reduce the number of parts. Therefore, the connection workability can be improved.

By the way, in the pipe connecting device having the above-mentioned first and second means, when a plurality of divided flanges are combined and assembled as a connecting flange, a manufacturing error of each divided flange or an assembly error causes A step may be formed on the end faces of the plurality of divided flanges. Then, fixing of the male side pipe to be fixed to the division flange of the end face lower than the other becomes uncertain, and the male side pipe may be inclined with respect to the mating side. Then, the inclination creates a gap between the male side pipe and the mating side, and the fluid flowing in the pipe may leak from the gap.

In the third means, since the compression rate of the O-ring of the male side pipe to be fixed to the split flange of the end face lower than the other is set to be large, the male side pipe is inclined and the female side pipe is inclined. Even when the gap between the O-ring and the O-ring increases, the O-ring swells due to its elastic restoring force and maintains close contact with both the outer peripheral surface of the male side pipe and the inner peripheral surface of the female side pipe. Therefore, the fluid is prevented from leaking out between the male side pipe and the female side pipe.

Further, in the fourth means, since two or more O-rings are attached to the outer peripheral portion of the male side pipe, it is possible to prevent the male side pipe from tilting with respect to the female side pipe. Therefore, even if the O-ring has a normal compression rate, there is no gap between the O-ring and the outer peripheral surface of the male side pipe, and between the O-ring and the inner peripheral surface of the female side pipe. It can be prevented.

Further, in the fifth means, since the interposition member is provided between the pressing member and the division flange, the male side pipe is favorably fixed to the division flange by the interposition member. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the male pipe from tilting.

[0020]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples. The following examples are applied to the case where the refrigerant pipes of the refrigeration cycle of the automobile air conditioner are connected.
First, FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a cooler unit that constitutes a part of an automobile air conditioner, and inside a case 12 of the cooler unit 11, an evaporator (not shown) of a refrigeration cycle is provided.

The evaporator has a refrigerant pipe 13 for receiving the refrigerant liquid supplied from the condenser, and a refrigerant pipe 1 for returning the vaporized refrigerant vapor to the compressor.
4 and 4 are connected. An inlet 12a for the air sent from a blower (not shown) is provided on one side of the case 12. And the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 are
After the cooler unit 11 is placed inside the vehicle, it is connected to the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16 extending from the outlet of the condenser and the inlet of the compressor in the engine room of the vehicle. In addition, the refrigerant pipes 13 to 1
All of 6 are made of aluminum.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ends of the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 of the evaporator are expanded in diameter through tapered steps 13a and 14a, and the ends of the expanded ends 13b and 14b are expanded. Flanges 13c and 14c
Is formed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, flange-shaped bulge portions 15a and 16 are provided on the outer circumferences of the end portions of the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16 connected to the condenser and the compressor.
a is formed, the bulge portions 15a and 15a
Insert O-rings 17 and 18 on the tip side of 6a 1
Book-shaped annular grooves 15b and 16b are formed.

The refrigerant pipes 13 to 16 are connected by inserting the tip ends of the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16 inside the expanded ends 13b and 14b of the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14, respectively. Therefore, the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 are female pipes, and the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16 are male pipes. In this case, the O-rings 17 and 18 seal the expanded ends 13a and 14a of the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 and the fitting portions of the tip ends of the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16, respectively.

In order to fit and connect the two pairs of refrigerant pipes 13 to 16 as described above, the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 are provided with the connection flanges 19 as shown in FIG. 2, and the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16 are connected to each other. A connecting plate 20 as a connecting member is attached. The connection flange 19 of the female side refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 is composed of a plurality of, for example, two divided flanges 21 and 22 which are divided into two in the radial direction. The divided flanges 21 and 22 are made of a non-conductive resin molding for preventing electrolytic corrosion of the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14, and the resin is nylon, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene, or the like.
Epoxy, polyester and the like are preferable in terms of strength, and nylon is particularly preferable. Here, in the following description, of the axially opposite end faces of the split flanges 21 and 22, the end faces of the male side refrigerant pipes 15 and 16 on the side of the connecting plate 20 which are the connection target sides are referred to as contact faces 21a and 22a. To do.

As shown in FIG. 1, both split flanges 2 are
Stepped through holes 23 and 24 are formed in 1 and 22. The through holes 23 and 24 are for fitting the enlarged diameter ends 13b and 14b of the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 and the roots thereof, respectively, and contact surfaces 21a and 22.
The large-diameter portions 23a and 24a on the a side are the enlarged-diameter end portions 13b and 1a.
The outer diameter of 4b is almost the same as the outer diameter of the contact surface 21a and 2
The small diameter portions 23b and 24b on the side opposite to 2a are the refrigerant pipes 13
And 14 are formed to have substantially the same diameter as the outer diameters of the root portions of the expanded end portions 13b and 14b, and between them, a tapered stepped portion 23c and a tapered stepped portion 23c that match the tapered stepped portions 13a and 14a of the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14, respectively. 24c, it is configured to function as a stopper that prevents the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 from coming off. Further, the tips of the large-diameter portions 23a and 24a of the fitting holes 23 and 24 are formed to have a larger diameter, and the maximum diameter portions 23d and 24d are almost the same as the outer diameters of the flanges 13c and 14c of the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14, respectively. They have the same diameter.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, contact surfaces 21a and 22 are provided on the division surfaces of the division flanges 21 and 22, respectively.
Engagement recesses 21b and engagement protrusions 22b that can be fitted to each other are formed along the way from the end surface on the side opposite to a to the contact surfaces 21a and 22a.
By fitting the engagement convex portion 22b and the engaging convex portion 22b, the split flanges 21 and 22 can be separated in the axial direction, but cannot be separated in the radial direction. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, through holes for bolts 25 as fastening members, for example, counterbore holes 26 and female screw holes 27 are formed at symmetrical positions in both of the divided flanges 21, and the bolts 25 are counterbored. The two divided flanges 21 and 22 are inseparably coupled by being screwed into the female screw hole 27 through the hole 26. Also,
A female screw hole 29 for a bolt 28 for fixing the connecting plate 20 is provided on the split flange 22 of both of the split flanges 21 and 22 on which the large diameter pipe, that is, the coolant pipe 14 through which the gas refrigerant flows is attached. Has been formed.

Here, when the two divided flanges 21 and 22 are joined together, it is preferable that the contact surfaces 21a and 22a thereof are flush with each other, but manufacturing errors and assembly errors of the divided flanges 21 and 22 should be eliminated. Considering that it is very difficult, it is not easy to make the contact surfaces 21a and 22a flush with each other. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when both split flanges 21 and 22 are joined to each other, if a step is generated between the contact surfaces 21a and 22a, the split flange 21 on the smaller diameter side pipe, that is, the refrigerant pipe 13 side through which the liquid refrigerant flows. The dimensional tolerance of the split flanges 21 and 22 at the time of molding is set so that the contact surface 21a is lower than the contact surface 22a of the other split flange 22.

On the other hand, the connecting plate 20 is made of resin in order to prevent the electrolytic corrosion of the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16. A circular hole 30 that fits into the refrigerant pipe 16 is formed in the connecting plate 20, and the refrigerant pipe 1 on the smaller diameter side is formed.
An arcuate groove 31 that fits in 5 is formed. Further, the connecting plate 20 is located near the circular hole 30 and a through hole 32 for the bolt 28 is formed. The circular hole 30
And the arc groove 31 is the bulge portion 16 of the refrigerant pipes 16 and 15.
It is formed in a stepped shape so that a and 16a are fitted therein.

Next, a procedure for connecting the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 and the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16 in the above structure will be described. First, the split flanges 21 and 22 are slidably attached to the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 in advance by passing the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 through the through holes 23 and 24, respectively. The connecting plate 20 is attached to the refrigerant pipe 16 in advance so as to be slidable and rotatable by inserting the refrigerant pipe 16 into the circular hole 30. The O-rings 17 and 18 are attached to the annular grooves 15b and 16b of the male refrigerant pipes 15 and 16, respectively.

At this time, the O-ring 18 mounted on the large diameter refrigerant pipe 16 has a normal outer diameter with respect to the expanded end 14b of the counterpart refrigerant pipe 14 to which the refrigerant pipe 16 is fitted. The size is used. On the other hand, the O-ring 17 attached to the refrigerant pipe 15 on the smaller diameter side is
A relatively large outer diameter is used for the expanded diameter end portion 13b of the other side of the refrigerant pipe 13 into which the refrigerant pipe 13 is fitted. The compression rate of the O-ring 17 is larger than the compression rate of the O-ring 18 of the refrigerant pipe 16 when fitted into. Here, the compression rate of the O-ring is generally set to 7 to 20.8%, but the refrigerant pipe 15 on the smaller diameter side is
The compression rate of the O-ring 17 of the
It may be set larger than the compression rate of the ring 18.

Therefore, in order to connect the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 and the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16, the tip end portion of the refrigerant pipe 13 is fitted into the through hole 23 of the split flange 21 in which the engaging recess 21b is formed. The other split flange 22 is slid so that the tip of the refrigerant pipe 14 is fitted into the through hole 24 in this state. In the sliding process of the split flange 22, the engaging protrusion 2
2b is fitted in the engaging recess 21b, and the two split flanges 21
And 22 are provisionally connected. And two bolts 25,2
5 is passed through the counterbore holes 26, 26 and screwed into the female screw holes 27, 27, thereby connecting the split flanges 21 and 22.
Thereby, the relative positions of the two refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 are maintained in a predetermined relationship.

After this, the tip ends of the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16 are inserted into the expanded diameter end portions 13b and 14b of the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14, and the connecting plate 20 is rotated around the refrigerant pipe 16 to make the arc groove 31. The refrigerant pipe 15 is fitted inside. Then, the connecting plate 20 is slid to abut (engage) the bulge portions 15a and 16a of the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16, and also abut the contact surfaces 21a and 22a of the split flanges 21 and 22, and in this state, the bolts 28 is screwed into the female screw hole 29 of the split flange 22. Connection plate 20 by this bolt 28
The bulge portion 1 of the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16 by tightening the
5a and 16a are divided flanges 21 and 22 side, and in this embodiment, flanges 13c and 1 of the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14
It is pressed against 4c and fixed. As described above, the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 and the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16 are connected to the O-ring 1.
7 and 18 fix the fitting portion in a sealed connection state.

As shown in FIG. 5, the connecting flange 1
9 is arranged in an opening 33a provided in a dash lower panel 33 that separates a vehicle compartment from an engine room. A gap between the opening 9 and the opening 33a is a grommet attached to the opening 33a. It is designed to be airtightly closed by 34.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the refrigerant pipe 1
3 and 14 and the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16 are connected to each other by a connecting flange 19 composed of divided flanges 21 and 22, and a connecting plate 20.
Since it can be connected by
That is, a structure in which a plurality of pairs of male and female pipes are connected by connecting a two-part type connecting flange attached to the male side pipe and a two-part type connecting flange also attached to the female side pipe Compared with this, the number of parts is reduced, and the connection work is simplified and the workability is improved.

By the way, the reason why the connection flange 19 is divided into two divided flanges 21 and 22 is that the refrigerant pipe 13
And 14 are individually connected to the outlet of the condenser and the inlet of the compressor, the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 cannot be handled individually unless the connecting flange 19 is divided into two parts, which makes connection work difficult. Because it will be something.

By the way, when the two divided flanges 21 and 22 are joined by the bolt 25, the contact surfaces 21a and 22 are
When a is flush, the connecting plate 20 has two contact surfaces 2
The refrigerant pipes 15 and 16 are in contact with 1a and 22a.
Can be fixed to the refrigerant pipes 13 and 14 in a straight and proper fitting state. However, both split flanges 21 and 2
Due to manufacturing error and assembly error of 2, both contact surfaces 2
Steps 1a and 22a are formed so that the contact surface 21a is the contact surface 2
If the height is lower than 2a, the connecting plate 20 will contact the contact surface 2
1a is not abutted, and a gap G exists between them.

Then, the refrigerant pipe 16 is good, but the refrigerant pipe 15 is incompletely fastened and fixed by the connecting plate 20,
Further, since there is an inherent gap between the refrigerant pipe 15 and the circular arc groove 31 of the connecting plate 20, the refrigerant pipe 15 is inclined with respect to the refrigerant pipe 13 as shown in FIG. 4, for example. The gap between the fitting portions of the refrigerant pipes 13 and 15 locally increases.

However, in this embodiment, the refrigerant pipe 1
Since the compression rate of the O-ring 17 of No. 5 is set to be large, if the gap between the fitting portions of the refrigerant pipes 13 and 15 is locally increased as described above, the O-ring 17 has its own elastic restoring force. Swells, that is, swells in a circular direction from the state in which the cross section is crushed into an elliptical shape, and expands on both the inner peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter end 13b of the refrigerant pipe 13 and the inner bottom surface of the annular groove 15b of the refrigerant pipe 15. Holds the state of being pressed against honey. For this reason, the sealing property between the fitting portions of the refrigerant pipes 13 and 15 can be favorably maintained by the O-ring 17, and the refrigerant can be prevented from leaking from the fitting portions. In FIG. 4, the inclination of the refrigerant pipe 15 and the gap between the fitting portions of the refrigerant pipes 13 and 15 are exaggerated.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, the same parts as those described in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and only different parts will be described. For example, two annular grooves 15b are formed in the small-diameter male side refrigerant pipe 15 so as to be separated from each other in the axial direction.
Two O-rings 17, 17 are attached to 5b. In this case, the compression rate of the O-ring 17 is set to a normal relatively small value.

According to this embodiment, even if the contact surface 21a of the split flange 21 is lower than the contact surface 22a of the split flange 22 and the fixing of the refrigerant pipe 15 is incomplete, the refrigerant pipe 15 is still connected to the refrigerant pipe 13. The two O-rings 17,
Since it is in a state of being supported at two locations axially separated via 17, it is difficult for the refrigerant pipe 15 to incline with respect to the refrigerant pipe 13, and even if it inclines, the degree of the inclination is suppressed to be extremely small. Will be done. Therefore, the O-ring 1
There is no possibility of causing a problem such that the clearances 7 and 17 are separated from the inner peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter end portion 13b of the refrigerant pipe 13 to cause a gap, and the refrigerant leakage can be effectively prevented. In this case, the O-ring 17 may be set to a large compression rate similar to that in the first embodiment. Also, three or more O-rings 17 may be attached.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, the same parts as those described in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and only different parts will be described. Refrigerant pipe 1
5, an interposition member 35 made of an elastic material such as rubber is fitted in advance at a position closer to the connecting plate 20 than the bulge portion 15a, and the connecting plate 20 is rotated to form an arc groove 31 therein. When the refrigerant pipe 15 is fitted to the
0 and the contact surface 21a of the split flange 21 are sandwiched.

In this embodiment having such a structure, even if the contact surface 21a of the split flange 21 is lower than the contact surface 22a of the split flange 22, the connecting plate 20 and the refrigerant pipe 15 are connected.
The gap between the bulge portion 15a and the bulge portion 15a is filled with the interposition member 35, and the bulge portion 15a is strongly pressed against the flange 13c of the refrigerant pipe 13 by the elastic force due to the compression of the interposition member 35. Therefore, the refrigerant pipe 15 is maintained in a straight and regular connection state with respect to the refrigerant pipe 13, and is prevented from tilting with respect to the refrigerant pipe 13. As a result, the space between the fitting portions of the refrigerant pipes 13 and 15 is kept in a good sealed state by the O-ring 17, and the refrigerant does not leak out.

FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
The difference from the third embodiment is that the interposition member 36 is made of an inelastic material, and instead, the arcuate groove 3 of the connecting plate 20 is used.
The plate thickness on one side is made thinner than that on the circular hole 30 side so that the bulge portion 15a of the refrigerant pipe 15 is pressed against the flange 13c of the refrigerant pipe 13 by the elastic force of the small plate portion via the interposition member 36. It is in the place where it was made. Even with this structure, the same effect as that of the third embodiment can be obtained.

FIG. 9 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In addition,
9, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and only different parts will be described. Straight flanges 37, 38 having no step are formed in the divided flanges 21, 22. The refrigerant pipe 39 connected to the inlet of the evaporator and the refrigerant pipe 40 connected to the outlet are first male-side pipes, and are fitted to one end sides of the through holes 37 and 38 functioning as female pipe lines. ing. Further, the refrigerant pipe 41 extending from the outlet of the condenser and the refrigerant pipe 42 extending from the suction port of the compressor are second male side pipes,
The other end of the through holes 37 and 38 is fitted. Then, the refrigerant pipes 39, 41, 40, 42 are connected to the through hole 3
7 and 38.

Flange-shaped bulge portions 39a to 42a similar to those of the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16 of the first embodiment are formed at the tip ends of the refrigerant pipes 39 to 42, and the bulge portions 39a to 42a are used. One annular groove 39 on the tip side
b to 42b are formed. And those annular grooves 3
O-rings 43-46 are fitted in 9b-42b, and refrigerant pipes 39-4 are attached by O-rings 43-46.
2, the fitting portion between the tip of the second member and the other side, that is, the refrigerant pipe 39,
The fitting portion between the tip end portion of 41 and the through hole 37, the refrigerant pipe 4
The fitting portions of the leading end portions of Nos. 0 and 42 and the through holes 38 are sealed.

The connecting members 20 of the first embodiment as the first and second connecting members are connected to the refrigerant pipes 40 and 42.
First and second connecting plates 47 and 48 similar to the above are attached. Then, the first and second connecting plates 47 and 4
8 is fixed to one end side and the other end side of the split flange 22 by bolts 28 with the refrigerant pipes 39 and 41 fitted in the circular arc groove 31, respectively.
By tightening 8, the first and second connecting plates 47 and 4
Reference numeral 8 presses and fixes the bulge portions 39a to 42a of the refrigerant pipes 39 to 42 against the divided flanges 21 and 22.

Here, in the present embodiment, both split flanges 2
When a step is formed between the end surfaces 21a, 21b and 22a, 22b of the first and second ends 22, 22, the end surface 21a of the split flange 21,
21b are lower than the end faces 22a, 22b of the split flange 22, so that both split flanges 21, 22
The dimensional tolerance at the time of molding is set. The compressibility of the O-rings 43 and 45 of the refrigerant pipes 39 and 41 fitted to the split flange 21 is equal to the O-ring 4 of the refrigerant pipes 40 and 42.
It is set larger than that of 4,46.

According to the present embodiment configured as described above, 2
Since the pair of refrigerant pipes 39, 41 and 40, 42 can be connected by the two split flanges 21, 22 and the two connecting plates 47, 48, the number of parts is reduced as compared with the conventional one. At the same time, the connection work becomes simpler,
Workability is improved.

A gap G is formed between the first and second connecting plates 47, 48 and the end faces 21a, 21b of the split flange 21.
Even if occurs, the sealability between the O-rings 43 and 45 and the through holes 37 is not impaired even if the refrigerant pipes 39 and 41 are inclined.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and the following expansions and modifications are possible. The number of pipes connected by the connection flange 19 may be three or more, and the number of divisions of the connection flange 19 (the number of division flanges) may be three or more.
The bulge portions 15a and 16a of the refrigerant pipes 15 and 16 function as engaged portions to be engaged with the connecting plate 20, but instead of the bulge portions 15a and 16a, separate ring-shaped flange members are fixed by welding. It may be done. In FIG. 9, when a gap G is generated between the first and second connecting plates 47 and 48 and the end faces 21a and 21b of the split flange 21, the refrigerant pipes 39 and 41 are connected to the refrigerant pipes 39 and 41 as in the embodiment of FIG. By providing two O-rings or by providing an interposing member between the first and second connecting plates 47 and 48 and the split flange 22 as in the embodiment of FIGS. A configuration may be adopted in which 39 and 41 are not inclined with respect to the through hole 37 and the hermeticity between them is maintained.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the case of connecting the refrigerant pipes of the refrigeration cycle of the automobile, but can be widely applied to the case of connecting a plurality of pairs of pipes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view

FIG. 3 is a front view of the joint flange.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view exaggeratedly shown for explaining the operation.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a cooler unit portion of an automobile.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional pipe connecting device.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view.

[Explanation of symbols]

13, 14 are refrigerant pipes (female side pipes), 15 and 16 are refrigerant pipes (male side pipes), 17 is an O-ring, 19 is a connecting flange, 20 is a connecting plate (connecting member), 21 and 22 are split flanges, 23 and 24 are through holes, 35 and 36 are interposition members, 3
7, 38 are through holes, 39, 40 are refrigerant pipes (first male side pipe), 41, 42 are refrigerant pipes (second refrigerant pipe), 4
3 to 46 are O-rings, and 47 and 48 are first and second connecting plates (first and second connecting members).

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shinji Kada 1-1, Showa-cho, Kariya city, Aichi Nihon Denso Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Kinoshita 1-1-chome, Showa town, Kariya city, Aichi Nidec Within the corporation

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A connection flange formed by joining a plurality of divided flanges having through holes, a plurality of female side pipes whose tip portions are fitted in the through holes of each of the divided flanges, and a tip. A plurality of male side pipes whose parts are fitted inside the tip end portion of each female side pipe, and engage with these plural male side pipes, and are fixed to any of the plurality of divided flanges. A pipe connecting device comprising: a connecting member for fixing a plurality of male pipes to each of the divided flanges. 2. A connection flange formed by joining a plurality of divided flanges having through holes, and a tip portion fitted to one end side and the other end side of the through holes of each divided flange. A plurality of first and second male-side pipes that are communicated with each other via a plurality of first and second male-side pipes, respectively, and any one of the plurality of divided flanges. A pipe connecting device comprising: first and second connecting members that are fixed to each other to fix the plurality of first and second male pipes to each of the split flanges. 3. An O-ring, which is mounted on the outer peripheral portion of each male side pipe and seals a mating portion with a mating side, and is divided into a plurality of divided flanges in a state in which the divided flanges are combined. When the flange has a step on the end surface on the side fixing the male side pipe, the compression rate of the O-ring of the male side pipe fixed to the split flange of the end face lower than the other is compared with that of the other male side pipe. The pipe connecting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the compressibility of the O-ring is made larger. 4. An O-ring, which is mounted on the outer peripheral portion of each male side pipe and seals a mating portion with a mating side, wherein the plurality of divided flanges are coupled to each other when the plurality of divided flanges are joined. A plurality of the O-rings are attached to the male side pipe fixed to the split flange of the end face lower than the other side when there is a step on the end face on the side fixing the female side pipe. The pipe connecting device according to 1 or 2. 5. When the plurality of divided flanges are connected to each other, and when the plurality of divided flanges have a step on the end face on the side for fixing the male side pipe, the divided flanges have lower end faces than others. The pipe connecting device according to claim 1, wherein an interposing member is provided between the pressing member and the pressing member.