JPS597673Y2 - Element for piping insulation layer protection cover - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the invention] This is a heat insulating layer for relatively small-diameter pipes, such as a heat insulating layer for piping for cooling/heating medium flow that connects the indoor unit and outdoor unit in a separate type cooling/heating machine. Generally, this insulation layer is tightly attached to the outer surface of the pipe, and adhesive tape is wrapped around the outer circumference to protect it from rainwater, etc., but this adhesive tape is resistant to direct sunlight, temperature fluctuations, wind and rain, etc. It is susceptible to aging, breakage, and decreased adhesion due to the effects of heat, and as a result, it has the drawback that it cannot maintain its desired protective function for a long time, such as allowing rainwater to enter the heat insulating layer and reducing its heat insulating performance.

Further, the work of wrapping the tape many times is very troublesome and time-consuming.

The present invention mainly focuses on the problem of deterioration of insulation performance and workability due to the infiltration of rainwater as mentioned above, and aims to reliably prevent the infiltration of rainwater and maintain the desired insulation performance over a long period of time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a piping insulation layer protective cover element that is easy to handle and has excellent construction and workability.

First, embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 show a heat insulating layer 9 covering refrigerant flow pipes (two reciprocating pipes) 8, 8 connecting an indoor unit 6 and an outdoor unit 7 in a separate type air conditioner as an example of the construction target.
9. A series of protective covers A is constructed by fitting a plurality of protective cover elements E over the set of drain hose 10 and wiring 11 and connecting adjacent ones to each other. .

Each element}E is as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6,
It can be expanded and contracted in the axial direction, and can be bent not only in two-dimensional directions but also in three-dimensional directions, and it maintains its posture stably regardless of whether it is stretched, contracted, or bent. A bellows-like main body 1 having alternately different lengths of adjacent hypotenuses 1a, lb. the first and second connecting cylinder parts 2,
3, and the first connection cylinder part 2 and the second connection cylinder part 3 have the second connection cylinder part 3 of the adjacent element E and the first connection of another adjacent element E, respectively. Cylinder part 2
When the cylindrical parts 2 and 3 are fitted internally and externally,
Also, an engaging portion 4 and an engaged portion 5 that elastically engage with each other to prevent 3 and 2 from coming off are formed in a protruding shape.

However, the engaging part 4 has a ring shape extending over the entire length in the circumferential direction, and the secured part 5 has a combination of notches 5a formed at a plurality of locations spaced apart in the circumferential direction. 5a... is roughly hemispherical, more specifically, the inner end surface of this hemisphere in the direction of the cylinder axis is shaped into a plane 5a' perpendicular or almost perpendicular to the cylinder axis, and correspondingly, this surface 5a. The surface of the ring-shaped engaging portion 4 that faces 4' in the element removal direction is also shaped as a vertical or nearly vertical surface 4'.

The inner diameter of the first cylindrical portion 2 is equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion 3.

Further, the outer end of the first cylindrical portion 2 is shaped into a tapered portion 2a to facilitate insertion of the second cylindrical portion 3 therein.

Each element E is integrally constructed from a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene.

The piping 8 etc. is usually relatively long and bent, and when inserting the element E into the heat insulating layer 9 etc. for the piping 8, it is necessary to If the second cylindrical part 3 on the inner fitting side is inserted and moved to the required position while being contracted to the length, the heat insulating layer 9
Even if the pipe 8 is long and bent to correspond to the pipe 8, it can be inserted easily and quickly.

After the element E is inserted and moved to a required position, it is expanded according to the posture (straight, bent, degree, etc.) of the heat insulating layer 9 etc. at that position.

Next, insert the second element E in the same manner as above, and fit the second cylindrical portion 3 into the first cylindrical portion 2 of the first element E that has been inserted first, and each of the plurality of notches 5a. The engaged part 5 consisting of ... and one ring-shaped retaining part 4 are elastically engaged, and then the second element }E is extended in the same manner as above, and from then on, a plurality of elements } By repeating the same operation for E..., a protective force bar A for the entire heat insulating layer 9 etc. is constructed.

If the protective cover A were to be used as a whole, rather than being divided into a plurality of elements E..., the heat insulating layer 9 etc. would be long and bent, so Although insertion becomes extremely difficult, in this invention, as mentioned above, each element E is divided into a plurality of elements E.
Since the length is shortened and each element i-E can be contracted in its bellows-like body 1, the insertion work can be carried out very efficiently.

Furthermore, the posture followability for the bending heat insulating layer 9 is also extremely good.

Furthermore, during transportation and storage, it can be compacted by shrinking to the minimum length, and is lightweight, making it very convenient to handle.

In particular, since the first cylindrical part 2 and the second cylindrical part 3 are fitted over a relatively wide area and are fitted in a tight state, the first cylindrical part 2 on the external fitting side is fitted into the inner fitting of the adjacent element. Coupled with the fact that it is connected in a position above the second cylindrical part 3 on the side, it is possible to ensure that rainwater does not enter into the heat insulating layer 9 even though it is divided into a plurality of elements E. This can be prevented.

Furthermore, the engaging portion 4 and the engaged portion 5 are elastically fitted, and the vertical surface 4' of the engaging portion 4 and the vertical surface 5a' of the plurality of notches 5a constituting the engaged portion 5. ... and facing each other in the direction of the cylinder axis, a large pull-out prevention force can be exerted against the pull-out external force of the adjacent elements }E, E.

However, when inserting and fitting, the insertion tip surface of the notch 5a... is a hemispherical surface, and the taper portion 2a...
can be easily inserted.

In other words, it is easy to insert and difficult to remove.

FIG. 7 shows a structure for leading the drain hose 10 out of the protective cover A, in which the second cylindrical portion 3 of a suitable element E is extended, and the extended portion is connected to the above-mentioned Similarly, the first cylindrical portion 2 of the adjacent element E is fitted externally, and a hole 2b is formed in the base end portion.
The hose 10 is led out from b.

Incidentally, the first cylindrical portion 2 may be extended and the hole 2b may be formed therein.

As a structure for leading the drain hose 10 to the outside, a retractable joint E' as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 may be used.

This consists of half cylindrical members e and e whose diameter is slightly larger at one end in the axial direction than the other parts, which are integrally connected to each other so that the large diameter part can be opened and closed relatively. The protruding locking part 12 and the gate-shaped locked part 13 which are removable from each other are arranged in a row, and the engaged part 5 of the second cylindrical part 3 in element L-E is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the large diameter part. A concave circumferential groove 14 is formed to engage, and a convex circumferential line 15 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the free end side of the small diameter portion to engage with the engaging portion 4 of the first cylindrical portion 2 in element E. In addition, a notch 16 for guiding the drain hose 10 to the outside is formed in the small diameter portion.

In FIG. 10, the diameters of the first cylindrical part 2 and the second cylindrical part 3 are made large, and while the shape-retaining ring 17 is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical part 3, the outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical part 2 is A band 18 is wound and fixed on the holder.

That is, in the embodiment described above, the adjacent hypotenuses 1a, lb
...Even if a sufficiently large air insulation space is formed between them, the air insulation space at the connection point between the cylinder parts 2 and 3 is small, but with the structure shown in Figure 10, We have devised a way to ensure a sufficiently large air insulation space even at the connection point of the cylindrical parts 2 and 3.

FIG. 11 shows a ring-shaped structure that is lower than the height of the engaged parts 5 between adjacent parts in the circumferential direction of the engaged parts 5 to be formed in the connecting cylinder part 3 on the internal fitting side. The engaged convex portion 5b...
In other words, the engaged portion 5 is shaped by locally protruding outward at a plurality of locations of the engaged convex portion extending over the entire length in the circumferential direction. The engaged convex portions 5b are fitted over a wide range in the circumferential direction to the ring-shaped retaining portion 4 formed on the connecting cylinder portion 2 on the external fitting side, and the engaged portions 5b. Since the ring-shaped retaining portion 4 is strongly fitted, a great effect of preventing extraction can be expected.

Although various embodiments have been described below, the gist of the present invention is that the piping insulation layer 9 is fitted over the piping insulation layer 9 and the ends of adjacent ones are fitted and connected to each other.
A bellows-shaped main body 1 that is capable of expanding, contracting and bending the elements E constituting a series of protective covers A in the axial direction and self-maintaining each posture, and a connecting cylindrical part integrally connected to both ends of the bellows-shaped main body 1. 2 and 3, a ring-shaped retaining part 4 is formed in one connecting cylinder part 2, and a ring-shaped retaining part 4 is formed in the other connecting cylinder part 3. In the fitted state of both cylindrical parts, a plurality of secured parts 5 that can be elastically engaged with the ring-shaped retaining part protrude from the circumferential surface of the cylindrical part 3 at intervals in the circumferential direction, The piping insulation is characterized in that opposing surfaces of the ring-shaped engaging portion 4 and the secured portion 5 in the direction of element removal are both perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the cylinder axis. As explained in detail in the examples,
Since both the cylindrical parts 2 and 3 of the adjacent elements }E and E are fitted over a relatively wide area and in close contact, even though the protective force bar A is divided into multiple elements }E... It has become possible to reliably prevent rainwater from entering the heat insulating layer 9, and to maintain the desired heat insulating performance of the heat insulating layer 9 over a long period of time.

Also, compared to the conventional case of multiple wrapping of adhesive tape,
Since it is sufficient to simply insert element E..., the efficiency of piping construction can be greatly increased.

In particular, the bellows-shaped main body 1, which is expandable and bendable and self-maintains each posture, allows for a minimum length even when the heat insulating layer 9 is inserted into the relatively long and curved pipe 8. It can be easily and quickly inserted with one hand in a state where it is kept contracted, and after the external fitting is inserted, the posture can be easily changed and maintained by extending the bellows-like main body 1 according to the bent shape of the piping 8 and the heat insulating layer 9. In addition, among the connecting cylinder parts 2 and 3 at both ends of the element E, one cylinder part 2 has a ring-shaped retaining part 4, and the other cylinder part 3 has a circumferential space on its circumferential surface. A plurality of engaged portions 5 are formed to protrude apart from each other, and the retaining portions 4 and the opposing surfaces of the engaged portions 5 in the element withdrawal direction are both aligned with the cylinder axis. Since the shape is perpendicular or almost perpendicular to the plane, when connecting a plurality of elements with the piping 8 and the heat insulating layer 9 fitted externally as described above, it is difficult to maintain each posture. Although the element can be easily connected without applying extra restoring force, it has a shape in which a plurality of engaged parts 5 protrude in the circumferential direction compared to the cylindrical part 2 which has a ring-shaped engaging part 4. Since the cylindrical portion 3 is more easily deformed, both cylindrical portions 2
, 3 can be fitted together very easily, and the engaging portion 4
The engagement between the engaged portion 5 and the engaged portion 5 can be firmly maintained.

It goes without saying that the application of the element of the present invention is not limited to the piping insulation layer in an air conditioner.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an example of the piping insulation layer protection cover element according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the element applied to a separate type air conditioner as an example of construction, and FIG. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the piping insulation layer in the case where the above elements are connected in an extended state;
The figure is a sectional view of the contracted state before use, Figure 5 is a side view when bent in two dimensions, Figure 6 is a side view when bent in three dimensions, and Figure 7 is a drain hose lead-out means. 8 and 9 are side views showing the open and closed states of the joint for leading out the drain hose, FIG. 10 is a sectional view of another embodiment, and FIG. 11 is about the secured part. It is a partial perspective view which shows the applied modification example of. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Accordion-shaped main body, 2, 3...Connection cylinder part, 4...Engaging part, 5...Engaged part, 5a. ...Notch, 9...Piping insulation layer, A...Protection bar E...Element.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] By fitting the ends of adjacent pipe insulation layers 9 to each other and connecting them to each other, elements E constituting a series of protective force bars A are attached to the piping insulation layer 9 in the axial direction. This is an element for a protection cover for a piping heat insulation layer, which is composed of a bellows-shaped main body 1 which is expandable and bendable and can self-maintain its respective posture, and connecting cylindrical parts 2 and 3 integrally connected to both ends of the bellows-like main body 1. A ring-shaped retaining portion 4 is formed on one connecting tube portion 2, and when both tube portions are fitted together, a ring-shaped retaining portion 4 is formed on the other connecting tube portion 3. A plurality of elastically engageable engaged portions 5 are formed to protrude from the circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 3 at intervals in the circumferential direction, so that the elements of the ring-shaped engaging portion 4 and the engaged portion 5 can be pulled out. An element for a piping heat insulation layer protective cover whose opposing surfaces in both directions are perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the cylinder axis.