JPH10231986A - Pipe end cap - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent dislocation or slipping-off caused by a change in a internal pressure of a pipe. SOLUTION: A cap 31 for pipe end is provided with grooves 38a and 38b leading from a disc part 41 to the free end at the inside circumferential surface of a first cylindrical part 33, wherein the disc part 41 is furnished with recesses 49a and 49b at the inner surface of the cylindrical part, and these recesses are in communication with the grooves 38a and 38b. If the pipe internal pressure rises when fitting is attached to the pipe end, the pressure can be vented to the outside through the recesses 49a and 49b and grooves 38a of 38b, the pipe internal pressure in not applied directly to the cap 31. Therefore slipping off or dislocation of the cap due to a rise of the internal pressure is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a pipe end cap which is attached to an end of a pipe forming a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner and is closed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an air conditioner for a vehicle includes a compressor,
Refrigeration equipment such as evaporators, liquid tanks, condensers, etc. are connected by refrigerant pipes (hereinafter simply referred to as "tubes"),
A refrigeration cycle in which the refrigerant circulates is formed.

[0003] Such an air conditioner for air-conditioning of an automobile is connected to refrigeration equipment and pipes when mounted on a car. When an air conditioner is shipped from a factory, a refrigeration cycle is divided into parts. At the time of assembly, required parts are connected by a union joint provided on the pipe.

On the other hand, when an air conditioner is shipped from a factory in a state where it is divided into required parts, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 58-82591, dust is introduced into the pipe from the pipe end. A cap is attached to the end of the tube and a lid is placed on the opening of the tube so that dust, moisture and the like do not enter. Such a cap is usually made of resin and has a shape which is in close contact with the tube end in order to protect the tube end and to apply a predetermined gripping force so as not to come off the tube end.

[0005]

However, in the product state in which the cap is attached to the pipe end, since the cap is held in close contact with the pipe end as described above, the pipe end and the cap are kept in an airtight state. Has become. Therefore, if the pipe is exposed to direct sunlight or the outside air temperature is high, and the air in the pipe expands, the cap may be displaced from the pipe end or may fall off due to the internal pressure. Further, even when the cap is displaced, there is a problem that the cap is likely to fall off from the pipe end depending on subsequent handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe end cap that can prevent displacement or dropout due to internal pressure fluctuation in a pipe.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is provided with a bottom portion to be brought into contact with an end face of a pipe, and a pipe end portion standing upright from the bottom face. A cylindrical portion to be fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the cap, which is attached to the pipe end, wherein the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion is formed with a groove extending from a bottom surface to a free end, and The bottom portion has a concave portion inside the cylindrical portion, and the concave portion is communicated with the groove.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the concave portion is formed in the bottom portion with which the pipe end face abuts, when the internal pressure of the pipe increases, the internal pressure of the pipe is increased via the concave portion to the cylindrical portion. Get out through the groove. In this way, since the pipe pressure can be released to the outside from the groove of the cap, the pipe pressure is not directly applied to the cap, and the cap is prevented from coming off or slipping due to an increase in the pipe pressure.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the bottom surface has a rib formed radially, and the concave portion is located at a position on an extension of the rib. It is characterized by the following.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the bottom portion is reinforced by the ribs to enhance the rigidity, and the concave portions are formed in the same phase as the ribs. In addition, the deformation of the recess is prevented. Therefore, since the deformation of the concave portion can be prevented, the passage can be prevented from being narrowed, and the concave portion can be set to the minimum width, so that the dustproof effect can be enhanced.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 to FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The pipe to which the pipe end cap according to the present embodiment is attached,
Piping for an air conditioner. This air conditioner 3 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the refrigerating equipment of the compressor 7, the condenser 9, the liquid tank 11, and the evaporator 13 is connected by a refrigerant pipe (pipe) to form a refrigerating cycle. The evaporator 13 is arranged in a ventilation duct 14 of the vehicle. The air taken in from an air intake (not shown) by the drive of the fan 15 passes through the evaporator 13 and is then blown into the vehicle interior R from the blower 16. A heat exchanger 17 into which the heat of the engine E is introduced is arranged in the air duct 14, and by opening and closing each door 19, the air is mixed with the air that has passed through the evaporator 13 and the air is blown. Is controlled.

The air conditioner 3 is manufactured in a factory separately from the vehicle, and then is shipped in a state where the air conditioner 3 is divided into required parts such as the evaporator 13 and the compressor 7. Each part is connected when mounted on the vehicle 5 to form a refrigeration cycle.

When the air conditioner 3 is shipped in required parts, each refrigeration component such as an evaporator is provided with a connecting pipe (an entrance / exit tube) so as to be mounted on a vehicle. Forms a refrigeration cycle by connecting these pipes to each other, and a union joint 21 is provided at a pipe end to be connected.

Next, the configuration of the union joint will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the union joint 21 is provided with a flange 25 at an end 23a of the pipe 23, and the end face of the other pipe to be connected is brought into contact with the flange 25. An O-ring 27 is attached to the side. A union nut 29 is inserted through a rear side of the flange 25 opposite to the O-ring 27, and the union nut 29 can slide with respect to the pipe 23. When connecting the pipe, the union nut 29 is moved toward the pipe end 23a and screwed to the external thread 28 (see FIG. 8) of the other pipe 26 to connect the other pipe 26. Note that the connection portion is held airtight by an O-ring 27.

In such a union joint 21, a pipe end cap 31 (hereinafter simply referred to as a pipe end 23a) is attached to the pipe end 23a so as to prevent dust, dirt, moisture, etc. from entering the pipe end opening 24 before being mounted on an automobile. "Cap") is attached. The tube end cap 31 also holds the union nut 29.

Next, the cap 31 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the cap 31 is provided with a second cylindrical portion 35 on the inner side and a third cylindrical portion 37 on the outer side thereof in a concentric manner with an interval therebetween. The first cylindrical portion 33 is formed integrally with the second cylindrical portion 35 on the inner peripheral wall. A disk portion (bottom portion) 41 forming a common bottom surface is integrally formed on the base end side of each of the cylindrical portions 33, 35, and 37. In other words, these cylindrical portions 33, 3
5 and 37 are erected from the disk part 41.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first cylindrical portion 33 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the tube end 23a, and covers the outer periphery of the tube end. The opening 24 of the tube 23 is covered by a disk portion 41, which is the bottom surface of the cylinder, to prevent dust and water from entering from the opening.

The inner diameter of the first cylindrical portion 33 is formed to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the tube 23. When the first cylindrical portion 33 is pressed into the outer surface of the tube 23, it is elastically deformed and held by the tube 23. . Although the specific dimensions of the first cylindrical portion 33 vary depending on the thickness of the tube, it is common to use a tube having a diameter of 8 mm, 12 mm, 16 mm, 19 mm, or the like. It is desirable that the inner diameter of the first cylindrical portion is formed to be narrower by 0.2 to 0.5 mm than that of the first cylindrical portion. Can be. If it is smaller than 1.5 Kgf, it is too loose and easily comes off. If it is larger than 3.0 Kgf, it becomes difficult to attach and pull out the cap.

The height of the first cylindrical portion 33 (the rising dimension from the disk portion 41) is such that the cap 31 does not reach the O-ring 27 from the pipe end face or is in contact with the O-ring 27 when the cap 31 is attached to the pipe joint. And the length. As described above, the first cylindrical portion 33 is integrally provided inside the second cylindrical portion 35, and extends from the disk portion 41 to a height of about a half of the second cylindrical portion 35. . The first cylindrical portion 33
May be formed by increasing the thickness of the second cylindrical portion.

The first cylindrical portion is formed with grooves 38a and 38b at two locations so as to divide the cylinder into two. The grooves 38a and 38b are formed along the side wall of the first cylindrical portion 33. It reaches the free end from the disk part 41.

The second cylindrical portion 35 is disposed outside the first cylindrical portion 33 and presses against the inner peripheral surface of the union nut 29. That is, a screw 30 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the union nut 29 as shown in FIG.
The outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 35 has such a size as to be pressed against the thread of the screw 30.

In this embodiment, FIGS. 2 and 3
As shown in the figure, a pair of ribs 43, 43 are provided at positions facing each other along the direction in which the cylinder extends in the second cylindrical portion 35, so as to reinforce the second cylindrical portion 35 and return after elastic deformation. It is easy to do.

The third cylindrical portion 37 is provided with the second cylindrical portion 35 described above.
And is pressed against the outside of the union nut 29. That is, the union nut 29 is a hexagonal nut as shown in FIG. 1 and is pressed against a hexagonal side wire portion 29a formed on the outside. The third cylindrical portion 37 is formed to have such a size as to be slightly elastically deformed when being pressed into the hexagonal union nut 29.

Accordingly, the union nut 29 is sandwiched between the second cylindrical portion 35 on the inside and the third cylindrical portion 37 on the outside, so that the union nut 29 is securely held at the tube end 23a. Therefore, the union nut 29 does not rattle during transportation or the like, and when the vehicle is assembled, the union nut 29 is always located close to the pipe connection.

The disk portion 41 corresponds to the bottom surface of the first cylindrical portion 33, the second cylindrical portion 35, and the third cylindrical portion 37, and the respective cylinders are erected from the disk portion 41. In each of the cylindrical portions 33, 35, and 37, the closer to the disk portion 41 having the bottom surface, the more the cylindrical shape is maintained and the more difficult it is to be elastically deformed. Since it is easily deformed, mounting is easy.

That is, the cap 31 is connected to the union pipe joint 21.
When mounted on the tube end, the distal end of each cylindrical portion is easily deformed and can be easily inserted into the tube end 23a or the union nut 29.
a and the union nut 29, etc., and are securely held.

The disc portion 41 has a flange portion 46 extending outside the third cylindrical portion 37, and the union joint 21
When the cap 31 is detached from the rim, the finger can be easily put on the collar portion 46 to remove it.

As shown in FIG. 2, reinforcing ribs 44 are arranged on the disk portion 41 radially from the center. Although the number and thickness of the reinforcing ribs 44 are not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, six reinforcing ribs 44 are arranged at equal intervals.
The reinforcing ribs 44 have increased rigidity and reinforced against bending, deformation, and the like of the disk portion 41.

Further, the disk portion 41 has concave portions 49a and 49b formed inside the first cylindrical portion. This recess 49
a, 49b are formed at portions where the end surfaces of the tube ends abut, and are longer than the thickness of the tube so that the concave portions 49a, 49b are interposed so as to communicate the inside and the outside of the opening 24 of the tube end. A groove 38a that has dimensions and reaches the second cylindrical portion 35, and divides the first cylindrical portion 33 described above;
38b. Thereby, the cap 31
When the tube end is attached to the tube end, a passage communicating with the inside and outside of the tube end opening 24 is formed.

According to the cap structure of the present embodiment, a groove communicating between the inside and the outside of the opening 24 of the tube 23 held by the disk portion 41 and the first inner cylinder 33 is formed. Even if the internal pressure increases, the pressure in the pipe can be released to the outside.

Further, since the cylindrical portions 33, 35, and 37 have a triple structure, it is possible to reliably prevent intrusion of dust and water and to mount the cylinder and the cylinder securely. Moreover, the grooves 38a, 38b
In addition, the concave portions 49a and 49b are formed only in part, and do not affect the entry of dust and water. The cap 31 is integrally manufactured by injection molding of a so-called resin material. The resin material is not particularly limited, but polyethylene is preferable because it is inexpensive and easy to take a shape.
Further, as the material of the cap 31, a transparent material or a translucent material is preferable. If transparent, each part of the union joint can be seen.

Next, the operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, first, the union nut 29 is moved toward the pipe end 23a, and the cap 31 is attached to the union joint side. When pressing the cap 31, the tube end 23 a is inserted and fitted inside the first cylindrical portion 33. In this state, the union nut 29 is connected to the second cylindrical portion 35 and the third cylindrical portion 35.
It is located between the cylindrical portion 37 and the second cylindrical portion 35 as it is.
And the third cylindrical portion 37.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the internal pressure of the pipe is increased, the internal pressure of the pipe is reduced by the concave portions 49a and 49 communicating with the opening 24.
b, through the grooves 38a, 38b of the first cylindrical portion 33,
Get out. In this way, since the pipe pressure can be released to the outside from the groove of the cap, the pipe pressure is not directly applied to the cap, and the cap is prevented from coming off or slipping due to an increase in the pipe pressure.

Further, after the cap is attached, the disk 4
The first and third cylindrical portions 37 cover the entire union joint 21 and protect the union joint from external damage. When the cap 31 is mounted on a vehicle, the cap 31 can be easily removed by picking up the flange 43. Note that the cap 31 can be reused.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in the above-described embodiment, and the details of the parts will be described. Detailed description is omitted. The cap 51 according to the second embodiment is a cap 51 attached to the end 28 of the other pipe 26 (or the other end of the pipe 23) to be connected to the union joint described above. No union nut is provided at the end of the tube to which 51 is attached.

In the cap 51, an inner cylinder (cylindrical part) 53 and an outer cylinder 55 are provided upright on the disk portion 41, and a pipe end is provided between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder 55. The portion 28 is configured to be inserted. The inner cylinder 53 has an opening 2 at the pipe end.
4, the inner surface of the pipe faces the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 53, and the outer surface of the threaded pipe end is pressed into the inner surface of the outer cylinder. Inner cylinder 53 and outer cylinder 5
5, concave portions 49a and 49b are formed in the disk portion 41, and the opening 2 at the pipe end to be brought into contact with the disk portion 41.
The inside and outside of 4 are communicated by these concave portions 49a and 49b.

The inner cylinder 53 has the recesses 49a and 49 described above.
b, grooves 38a and 38b are formed in which the side wall of the inner cylinder is depressed inward.
a and 38b extend from the disk portion 41 to the free end along the side wall of the inner cylinder 53.

When the internal pressure of the pipe 23 increases, the internal pressure of the pipe 23 is increased through the recesses 49a and 49b communicating with the opening 24, as in the above-described embodiment. Through the threaded portion 28a formed outside the tube end 28. In this way, since the pipe pressure can be released to the outside from the groove of the cap, the pipe pressure is not directly applied to the cap, and the cap is prevented from coming off or slipping due to an increase in the pipe pressure.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the grooves 38a and 38b and the recesses 49a and 49b are not limited to being provided two by two, but may be provided one by one or three by one.

[0040]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the concave portion is formed on the bottom surface with which the pipe end face abuts and the groove is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, the internal pressure of the pipe is reduced. Can be released to the outside via the concave portion and the groove, and the cap can be prevented from coming off or displacing due to an increase in the pipe internal pressure.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the bottom portion is reinforced by increasing the rigidity with the rib, and the concave portion is formed in the same phase as the rib, so that the concave portion has a minimum width. Since it can be set, the dustproof effect can be enhanced.

[0042]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an attached state of a tube end and a tube end cap.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the pipe end cap according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the tube end cap shown in FIG. 2;

4 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounted state of the pipe end cap shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view for explaining the operation of the pipe end cap.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a pipe end cap according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the pipe end cap shown in FIG. 6;

8 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounted state of the pipe end cap shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an air conditioner for vehicle air conditioning.

[Explanation of symbols]

 31, 51 cap (cap for pipe end) 33 first cylindrical portion (cylindrical portion) 38a, 38b groove 41 disk portion (bottom portion) 49a, 49b concave portion 53 inner cylinder (cylindrical portion)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pipe end having a bottom surface to be brought into contact with an end surface of a tube and a cylindrical portion standing upright from the bottom surface and fitted to an outer peripheral surface of the tube end. In the cap, a groove extending from a bottom surface to a free end is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, and the bottom has a concave portion inside the cylindrical portion, and the concave portion communicates with the groove. A pipe end cap characterized in that: 2. The pipe end cap according to claim 1, wherein the bottom portion has a rib formed radially, and the concave portion is located at a position on an extension of the rib.