JPWO2019053818A1 - External piping connection structure - Google Patents

Abstract

An external pipe connection structure for connecting an in-machine pipe in a housing and an external pipe outside the housing, the cylindrical pipe having an in-machine pipe connected to an opening provided in the housing and an inner end of the housing. The socket includes a joint having a connection portion connected to the external pipe, and a first connection member that connects the end of the socket outside the housing to the joint. Then, a plurality of types of joints having different shapes of the connection portion are interchangeably connected to the socket by the first connection member.

Description

  The present invention relates to an external pipe connection structure for connecting a pipe in a housing to an external pipe.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a pipe connection structure for connecting a pipe in a housing of a device (hereinafter, referred to as an in-machine pipe) to an external pipe, there is a pipe connection structure including a bush having a cylindrical portion (for example, see Patent Document 1). In Patent Literature 1, a bush is mounted on an opening provided in a housing, and a tip end of an in-machine pipe is fitted into a cylindrical portion of the bush. A female screw is provided on the inner surface of the tip of the in-machine pipe, and the external pipe is connected to the in-machine pipe by screwing a male screw provided on the outer periphery of the tip of the external pipe to the female screw. It has a configuration.

JP-A-5-26515

  In Patent Literature 1, since a female screw is formed on the inner surface of a tip portion of the internal pipe, an external pipe having a male screw connectable to the internal thread cannot be connected to the internal pipe.

  By the way, when the device is, for example, an air conditioner, it is necessary to use a local existing external pipe in which the air conditioner is installed. However, if the local external pipe does not have a male screw that can be connected to the internal thread of the internal pipe, it is necessary to process the external pipe to adjust the size of the male screw, which has been a problem in that it is troublesome.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide an external pipe connection structure that enables connection of an external pipe while eliminating the need for processing the external pipe.

  An external pipe connection structure according to the present invention is an external pipe connection structure that connects an in-machine pipe in a housing and an external pipe outside the housing, and is attached to an opening provided in the housing and has an end portion inside the housing. A cylindrical socket having an internal pipe connected thereto, a joint having a connection portion connected to an external pipe, and a first connection member connecting the end of the socket outside the housing to the joint. A plurality of types of joints having different portions are interchangeably connected to the socket by the first connection member.

  According to the present invention, by replacing the joint with a joint suitable for the local external pipe, the external pipe can be connected while eliminating the need for processing the external pipe.

1 is an external perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner to which an external piping connection structure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the external pipe connection structure and the external pipe according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the external piping connection structure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a side view of the external piping connection structure and the external piping according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a ZZ cross-sectional view of FIG. 4. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an assembled state when another external pipe is connected using the pipe connection structure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference characters, and description thereof will be omitted or simplified as appropriate. Further, the configuration, size, arrangement, and the like of the configuration shown in each drawing can be appropriately changed within the scope of the present invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner to which an external piping connection structure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied.
The indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner includes a piping connection structure 20 to which a local external piping 10 (see FIG. 2 described later) in which the indoor unit 100 is installed is connected to the top plate 1a of the housing 1. The housing 1 is provided with a heat exchanger (not shown) and the like. An in-machine pipe 30 (see FIG. 2 described later) connected to a heat exchanger (not shown) is connected to a pipe connection structure 20 inside the housing 1, and an external pipe 10 is connected from outside the housing 1 to the pipe connection structure 20. To form a refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner. The refrigerant circuit is provided with a compressor and the like, and the refrigerant circulates through the refrigerant circuit to perform one or both of cooling and heating of the indoor space. Although an example in which the refrigerant circuit is configured together with the heat exchanger provided in the indoor unit 100 has been described here, the fluid flowing through the indoor unit 100 is not limited to the refrigerant but may be water. In this case, a water circuit is formed together with elements provided outside the indoor unit 100, and water circulates in the water circuit, so that one or both of cooling and heating of the indoor space are performed.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the external pipe connection structure and the external pipe according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the external pipe connection structure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view of the external pipe connection structure and the external pipe according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line ZZ of FIG.
The pipe connection structure 20 includes a socket 21 mounted on the top plate 1 a of the housing 1, a joint 22 having a connection part 22 d connected to the external pipe 10, and an elastic connection fitting 23 connecting the socket 21 and the joint 22. And The pipe connection structure 20 is a structure in which a plurality of types of joints 22 having different shapes of the connection portions 22d can be exchangeably connected to the sockets 21 by the elastic connection fittings 23. Hereinafter, each component will be described.

  The socket 21 is made of resin, and includes a tube portion 21a, a flange portion 21b provided at a central portion in the axial direction of the tube portion 21a, and flange portions 21c provided at both axial end portions of the tube portion 21a. And a flange portion 21d.

  The joint 22 includes a tube portion 22a, a cylindrical insertion portion 22b formed at a lower end of the tube portion 22a, a flange portion 22c formed between the tube portion 22a and the insertion portion 22b, and an upper end of the tube portion 22a. And a cylindrical connecting portion 22d formed at the end of the connecting portion 22d. The insertion portion 22b is a portion to be inserted into the socket 21, and an O-ring 22e is mounted in a groove (not shown) formed on the outer periphery of the insertion portion 22b. The O-ring 22 e is for keeping the insertion portion 22 b liquid-tight with respect to the inside of the socket 21. The connection portion 22d is a screw pipe portion having an external thread 22da for connecting to the external pipe 10 formed on the outer peripheral surface. In this case, the screw formed in the connection portion 22d is a male screw, but may be a female screw.

  The elastic connection fitting 23 is a connection component for connecting the socket 21 and the joint 22 and enables the socket 21 and the joint 22 to be attached and detached by elastic deformation. The elastic connection fitting 23 has a pair of substantially V-shaped arms 23a and a connecting portion 23b that connects ends of the pair of arms 23a in the same direction. As will be described below, a through hole 23c is formed in the pair of arms 23a to fit the laminated portion 40 of the socket 21 and the joint 22. The elastic connection fitting 23 elastically deforms the pair of arms 23a away from each other when an external force is applied, and returns to a natural state when the external force is released, and is a so-called quick fastener.

  The in-machine pipe 30 connected to the pipe connection structure 20 from the inside of the machine includes a pipe section 30a, a cylindrical insertion section 30b formed at one end of the pipe section 30a and inserted into the socket 21, a pipe section 30a and an insertion section. 30b. A groove (not shown) is formed on the outer periphery of the insertion portion 30b, and an O-ring 30d that holds the insertion portion 30b in a liquid-tight manner with respect to the inside of the socket 21 is mounted in the groove. The O-ring 30 d is for keeping the insertion portion 30 b liquid-tight with respect to the inside of the socket 21.

  The elastic connection fitting 31 is a connection component for connecting the socket 21 and the in-machine piping 30, and has the same configuration as the elastic connection fitting 23.

  In the piping connection structure 20 configured as described above, the socket 21 is attached to the opening 1b (see FIG. 5) provided in the top plate 1a of the housing 1. That is, a portion of the socket 21 below the flange portion 21b is inserted into the housing 1 through the opening 1b, and the socket 21 is fixed to the top plate 1a with the screw while the flange portion 21b is in contact with the top plate 1a. Then, the insertion portion 22b of the joint 22 is inserted into the outer end of the socket 21 together with the O-ring 22e, and the joint 22 and the socket 21 are engaged. In this state, the socket 21 and the joint 22 are kept liquid-tight by the deformation of the O-ring 22e.

  Then, when the joint 22 and the socket 21 are engaged with each other, the flange portion 21c of the socket 21 and the flange portion 22c of the joint 22 overlap as shown in FIG. The elastic connection fitting 23 is attached as follows so as to surround the overlapped laminated portion 40, and the socket 21 and the joint 22 are fixed. Specifically, the pair of arms 23a of the elastic fitting 23 is elastically deformed in a direction away from each other, and the laminated portion 40 is positioned in the space between the pair of arms 23a. When the external force is released and the pair of arms 23a return to the natural state, the outer peripheral portions of the stacked portion 40 are fitted into the through holes 23c formed in the pair of arms 23a, and the socket 21 and the joint 22 are fixed. Is done. As described above, the socket 21 and the joint 22 are connected by the one-touch connection that can be easily attached and detached using the elastic connection fitting 23.

  The internal pipe 30 is connected to an end of the socket 21 inside the housing. This connection is similar to the connection between the joint 22 and the socket 21 using the elastic connection fitting 23. In other words, the insertion portion 30b is inserted into the socket 21 together with the O-ring 30d, and the O-ring 30d is deformed, so that the socket 21 and the in-machine piping 30 are kept liquid-tight. Then, the elastic connection fitting 31 is attached to the laminated portion 50 where the flange portion 30c of the in-machine pipe 30 and the flange portion 21d of the socket 21 overlap, and the socket 21 and the in-machine pipe 30 are connected.

  The indoor unit 100 is delivered to the installation site in a state where the pipe connection structure 20 is attached as described above. Then, the on-site external pipe 10 is connected to the joint 22 of the pipe connection structure 20.

  Here, when the external pipe 10 has a female screw 10a that can be connected to the male screw 22da of the joint 22 as shown in FIG. The pipe 10 can be connected to the pipe connection structure 20.

  However, if the local external pipe does not have a female thread, replace it with another joint that can connect the local external pipe. This exchange will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an assembled state when another external pipe is connected using the pipe connection structure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Here, an example is shown in which the external pipe 10A at the site is a pipe having no screw formed. When the external pipe 10A is used, a joint 22A in which a connection portion 22d to the external pipe 10A is an unthreaded pipe portion is used as a joint. In this case, the joint 22 shown in FIG. 2 is replaced with the joint 22A. At the time of this replacement, it is not necessary to remove the screws or the like, and the replacement can be easily performed with one touch by using the elastic connection fitting 23.

  As described above, by exchanging the joint 22A according to the external pipe 10A, it is not necessary to process the distal end of the external pipe 10A in accordance with the shape of the connection portion 22d of the joint 22. The connection between the joint 22A and the external pipe 10A may be performed by caulking the outer pipe 10A to the outer periphery of the joint 22A, or by connecting the outer pipe 10A by welding.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the joint 22 can be easily replaced by using the elastic connection fitting 23. For this reason, the external pipe 10 can be connected by exchanging the joint 22 suitable for the local external pipe 10. Therefore, it is not necessary to process the external pipe 10 in accordance with the shape of the connection portion 22d of the joint 22, and it is possible to avoid the trouble of processing.

  Further, in the conventional structure that requires processing of the external pipe 10, there is a possibility that a problem such as water leakage may occur depending on the performance of the processing. However, according to the first embodiment, since the processing of the external pipe 10 is unnecessary as described above, such inconvenience can be avoided.

  Further, since the socket 21 is made of a resin, it is possible to suppress heat conduction from the socket 21 to the top plate 1 a of the housing 1 when the cooled refrigerant or the cooled water flows inside the socket 21. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the top plate 1a of the air conditioner from being dewed or dripping from the top plate 1a due to the temperature difference from the outside air, and it is also possible to suppress the generation of mold and rust of parts due to the dew.

  Although the example in which the present invention is applied to the indoor unit of the air conditioner has been described above, the present invention may be applied to an outdoor unit. Further, the present invention is not limited to the air conditioner, and may be applied to a heat pump device for supplying hot water or the like.

  Reference Signs List 1 housing, 1a top plate, 1b opening, 10 external piping, 10A external piping, 10a female thread, 20 piping connection structure, 21 socket, 21a pipe portion, 21b flange portion, 21c flange portion (first flange portion), 21d flange Part (third flange part), 22 joint, 22A joint, 22a pipe part, 22b insertion part (first insertion part), 22c flange part (second flange part), 22d connection part, 22da male screw, 22e O-ring (second 1 O-ring), 23 elastic connection fitting (first connection member), 23a arm, 23b connection part, 23c through hole (first through hole, second through hole), 30 in-machine piping, 30a pipe part, 30b insertion part (first 2c insertion part), 30c flange part (fourth flange part), 30d O-ring (second O-ring), 31 elastic connection fitting (second contact) Members), 40 stacked portion 50 stacked portion, 100 indoor unit.

An external pipe connection structure according to the present invention is an external pipe connection structure that connects an in-machine pipe inside a housing and an external pipe outside the housing, and is attached to an opening provided in the housing and has an end portion inside the housing. A cylindrical resin socket having an in-machine pipe connected thereto, a joint having a connection portion connected to an external pipe, a first connection member connecting the end of the socket outside the housing to the joint , A second connection member for connecting an end of the socket inside the housing and the in-machine piping, wherein a plurality of types of joints having different shapes of the connection portion are interchangeably connected to the socket by the first connection member . , The socket includes a first flange portion at an outer end of the housing, and the joint includes a first insertion portion inserted into the inside of the socket and an outer periphery of the first insertion portion. Keep liquid tight inside A first O-ring, and a second flange overlapping the first flange in a state where the first insertion portion is inserted into the socket together with the first O-ring, wherein the first connection member includes the first flange and the first flange. The first flange is arranged so as to surround the laminated portion where the two flange portions overlap, and the outer peripheral portion of the laminated portion has a first through hole fitted therein, and the fitting and the release of the fitting are performed by elastic deformation of the first connection member. The socket and the joint are attached and detached, the socket is provided with a third flange portion at an end inside the housing, and the in-machine piping is provided with a second insertion portion inserted into the socket, and a second insertion portion. A second O-ring mounted on an outer periphery of the insertion portion and holding the second insertion portion in a liquid-tight manner with respect to the inside of the socket; and a third flange with the second insertion portion inserted into the socket together with the second O-ring. And a fourth flange portion overlapping the portion. The second connection member is disposed so as to surround a stacked portion where the third flange portion and the fourth flange portion overlap, and has a second through hole into which an outer peripheral portion of the stacked portion is fitted. Fitting and disengagement are performed by the elastic deformation of the socket, and connection and disconnection of the connection between the socket and the internal piping are performed .

Claims (6)

An external pipe connection structure for connecting an in-machine pipe in the housing and an external pipe outside the housing,
A cylindrical socket attached to an opening provided in the housing, and the in-machine piping is connected to an end inside the housing,
A joint having a connection portion connected to the external pipe,
A first connection member that connects the end of the socket outside the housing and the joint;
An external piping connection structure in which a plurality of types of the joints having different shapes of the connection portion are interchangeably connected to the socket by the first connection member. The socket includes a first flange portion at an end outside the housing,
A first insertion portion inserted into the socket; and a first O-ring mounted on an outer periphery of the first insertion portion for holding the first insertion portion in a liquid-tight manner with respect to the inside of the socket. And a second flange portion overlapping the first flange portion in a state where the first insertion portion is inserted into the socket together with the first O-ring,
The first connection member is disposed so as to surround a laminated portion where the first flange portion and the second flange portion overlap, and has a first through hole into which an outer peripheral portion of the laminated portion fits, 2. The external pipe connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the fitting and the release of the fitting are performed by elastic deformation of the connection member, and the socket and the joint are attached and detached. 3.   The external pipe connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the socket is fixed to the housing with a screw.   The external pipe connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connection part of the joint is a threaded pipe part on which a male screw or a female thread is formed, or a raw pipe part without a screw. . A second connection member that connects an end of the socket inside the housing and the internal pipe;
The socket includes a third flange portion at an end inside the housing,
The in-machine pipe has a second insertion portion inserted into the socket, and a second O which is mounted on an outer periphery of the second insertion portion and holds the second insertion portion in a liquid-tight manner with respect to the inside of the socket. A ring, and a fourth flange portion that overlaps the third flange portion in a state where the second insertion portion is inserted into the socket together with the second O-ring,
The second connection member is disposed so as to surround a laminated portion where the third flange portion and the fourth flange portion overlap, and has a second through hole into which an outer peripheral portion of the laminated portion is fitted, and 5. The fitting according to claim 1, wherein the fitting and the release of the fitting are performed by the elastic deformation of the connection member, and the connection between the socket and the in-machine pipe is performed. External piping connection structure.   The external piping connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the housing is a housing of an indoor unit of an air conditioner.

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