JPH0320633Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a pipe joint structure used for interconnecting refrigerant pipes in, for example, an automobile air conditioner.

(Prior art) For example, in the piping of an automobile air conditioner, in addition to the refrigerant piping that constitutes the so-called cooling cycle system,
Hot water piping is installed, and hot water such as refrigerant or engine cooling water is guided to a heat exchanger, which cools and heats the air blown into the cabin, thereby heating and cooling the cabin. . Various pipe joint structures have been used to interconnect various types of pipes, including those of automobile air conditioners (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 16082/1982). Recently, a one-touch joint has been proposed that allows two pipes to be connected in one go without any brazing work (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-36123).

This pipe joint structure will be explained in detail with reference to FIG.

Of the two pipes, the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12 fitted thereto, a thick wall portion 13 is formed at the tip of the first pipe 11.
3 has an annular recess 15 for accommodating an O-ring 14 for ensuring watertightness or airtightness between the pipes. Further, a radial stepped portion 16 is formed at the rear end portion of the thick portion 13 .

The second pipe 12 has a large diameter portion 17 formed at its tip that fits into the outer peripheral surface of the thick wall portion 13 of the first pipe 11, and a rear end of this large diameter portion 17 has a diameter. A direction step portion 18 is formed.

The sleeve 19 for interconnecting the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12 has a radial step 16 and a sleeve 19 for fitting the radial step 16 has a radial step 16.
A contact portion 20 is formed to fit with the first pipe 11, and the sleeve 19 is in a state of being fitted to the first pipe 11 before these pipes 11 and 12 are connected to each other. An accommodating recess 21 is formed in the sleeve 19, and an elastic body 22 for fastening is mounted within this accommodating recess 21.

The elastic body 22 for fastening will be explained in detail. As shown in FIG. 5, the elastic body 22 is made of a spring material, and has a main body portion 24 having a substantially C-shaped cross section and a cutout portion 23.
and four leg parts 26 which are cut and raised from the main body part 24 except for the base part 25. Each of the leg portions 26 has a tip bent radially inward to form a claw portion 26a, and this claw portion 26a is inserted into the second position when the elastic body 22 is installed in the sleeve 19.
It is adapted to engage a radial step 18 of the pipe 12. Also, when removing this engagement, use a tool (not shown) to open the opening 2 of the sleeve 19.
This is done by inserting this tool from 7 and expanding the claw portion 26a in the radial direction.

(Problem that the invention aims to solve) However, the pipe joints configured in this way do not have anything to restrict the rotation of the pipes, and if one of the pipes is twisted, the rotation of this pipe will be prevented by the other pipe. This cannot be prevented and the pipe will rotate within the fitting. Therefore, if the pipes connected by this joint are deformable, such as flexible tubes, both pipes will not be able to maintain the specified shape as one pipe unless the entire pipe is fixed at various points. . In other words, there is a possibility that the strength with which both pipes can maintain a predetermined shape as one pipe even when an external force is applied (hereinafter referred to as the rigidity of the piping system) may be weakened by the joint.

For this reason, if the above-mentioned joint is used to connect pipes in a place where various devices are tightly packed together, such as in the engine room of a car, if force is applied to one pipe, the shape of the entire pipe will change. There is a risk that it may come into contact with nearby equipment and cause abnormal noises such as vibrations. Also, if the pipe rotates within this joint, there is a risk that the O-ring will be rubbed and damaged.

The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to make it possible to easily connect and disconnect pipes, and to prevent the rigidity of the piping system from being weakened by the joints.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention fixes a support ring for holding the sealing material provided on the first pipe to the outer circumference of the first pipe, and also fixes the support ring to the outer periphery of the first pipe. It is characterized in that it is fixed to the second pipe, and the support ring and the receiver are fitted in a concave and convex manner.

(Function) With this configuration, even if twisting or the like is applied to one of the connected pipes, the support ring and the receiver will remain connected, and the pipe, the support ring, and the receiver will be integrally connected. Since they are in a connected state, the torsional force, etc. does not cause rotation within the joint, and the rigidity of the piping system when both pipes are connected is not weakened by the joint, and the entire pipe is a single pipe. As a result, the predetermined shape is maintained.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a half-sectional view showing stepwise the connected state and uncoupled state of the same embodiment, Fig. 3 A is a sectional view taken along the - line of Fig. 2 A, and Fig. 3 B is a modification thereof. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing members having the same functions as those shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the same reference numerals are used to omit the explanation thereof.

In this embodiment, the bead portion 30 of the first pipe 11
Two O-rings 14, 14 are provided at the tip of the support ring 31 (31
a, 31b, and 13c), and a ring-shaped receiver 32 is attached to the radial step portion 18 of the second pipe 12.

The bead portion 3 of the support ring 31
A support ring 31c called a back-up spring closest to
The base end portion 32a of is also fixed to the second pipe 12 by caulking.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the receiver 32 has a large number of teeth 33 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the enlarged diameter end 32b. The surfaces are hexagonal.

The elastic body 22 has substantially the same structure as that shown in FIG. 5, but has a tongue piece 26b instead of the claw portion 26a described above. This tongue piece 26b
The tongue pieces 26b protrude from the main body part 24 so that their tips are directed inward in the radial direction, and are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.
is prominent. Note that the tip of this tongue piece 26b is bent radially outward (see FIG. 2A).

This elastic body 22 is attached to the sleeve 1 in a reduced diameter state.
When the diameter of the sleeve 19 is released, the elastic body 22 expands due to the elastic force of the elastic body 22 itself, and is brought into close contact with the housing recess 21 of the sleeve 19.

The elastic body 22 installed inside the sleeve 19 in this way
The tool 35 is designed to disengage from the radial stepped portion 18 fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the second pipe 12, and this tool 35 is used to remove the second pipe 12 from the outside. It is made of an elastic material such as resin and has a slit 36 for fitting onto the outer peripheral surface.

Next, the action will be explained.

To assemble the embodiment configured as described above, first, the O-ring 14 and the support ring 31 are inserted into the tip of the bead portion 30 of the first pipe 11.
The diameter of the first pipe 11 corresponding to c is expanded, and the backup spring 31c is fixed to the first pipe 11 by caulking.

The first pipe 11 is inserted into the sleeve 19, and an elastic material 22 is placed inside the sleeve 19.

On the other hand, insert the receiver 32 until it engages with the radial stepped portion 18 of the second pipe 12, and
Preparation for assembly is completed by caulking and fixing the base end 32a of the pipe to the second pipe 12.

Next, this second pipe 12 is inserted into the sleeve 19, and the tongue piece 26b of the elastic body 22 is inserted into the radial step portion 18.
The connection between the two pipes 11 and 12 is completed by engaging the tooth portions 33 of the receiver 32 and the outer circumferential surface of the back-up spring 31c in a concave-convex manner.

In this case, the receiver 32 fixed to the second pipe 12 and the back-up spring 31c are fitted in a concave-convex manner, so that even if, for example, a torsional force is applied to the first pipe 11, this force is not applied to the concave-convex fit. It is transmitted to the other second pipe 12 through the joint, and the pipe does not idle in this joint.

Moreover, both pipes 11, 1 connected in this way
2, use the tool 35 on the outer circumferential surface of the second pipe 12.
Insert. This fitting is done through the slit 36 of the tool 35.
is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the second pipe 12,
This is done by elastically deforming the tool 35. If the tool 35 is slid along the second pipe 12 after this fitting, it will enter the sleeve 19 through the opening 27 as shown in FIG. The tongue pieces 26b of the elastic body 26 are expanded and come out of the radial stepped portion 18.

This tool 35 is inserted into the sleeve 1 with the tool 35 in the inserted state.
9 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2C, the tongue piece 26
Since the tip of b is bent outward in the radial direction, it is smoothly moved from the tool 35 to the outer peripheral surface of the radial stepped portion 18, and the engagement is released.

In this way, the second pipes 11 and 12 are uncoupled while the tool 35 is moved back and forth after the engagement is removed.

FIG. 3B shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which a recess 38 is formed at one place on the inner circumferential surface of the receiver 32, and a projection 39 of the support ring 31c is formed in this recess 38.
are fitted together. In this way, various modifications can be made to the concave-convex fitting portion.

(Effects of the invention) As described above, according to the invention, the support ring that holds the sealing material provided on the first pipe is fixed to the outer circumference of the first pipe, and the receiver is fixed to the second pipe. However, since the support ring and the receiver are fitted in an uneven manner, the rigidity of the pipe diameter is increased, the shape of the pipe is fixed, the pipe does not come into contact with nearby equipment even in the engine room of an automobile, and vibration noise etc. does not make any strange noise. Also, since there is no rotation of the pipe within the joint, the O-ring will not be damaged.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention, Figs. 2 A, B, and C are half sectional views showing the assembled and disassembled states of the same embodiment, and Figs. 3 A and B are , FIG. 4 is a half-sectional view showing a pipe joint structure according to the prior art of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the elastic body of the same pipe joint structure. be. 11...First pipe, 12...Second pipe, 1
6, 18...Radial step portion, 19...Sleeve, 1
9a... Main body, 20... Contact portion, 21... Accommodating recess, 22... Elastic body, 26b... Tongue piece, 31c...
...support ring, 32...receptacle, 35...tool.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 2 that are fitted together in a sealed state through a sealing material
A contact portion 20 that engages with the radial stepped portion 16 formed on the first pipe 11 of one of the two pipes is formed on the sleeve 19 that covers the fitting portion of the two pipes. housing recess 2
The elastic body 22 for fastening is installed inside the pipe 1, and the elastic body 22 is displaced in the radial direction so that the second
The elastic body 22 is provided with a tongue piece 26b that fits into the radial step part 18 of the receiver 32 provided on the pipe 12, and the tongue piece 26b engages with the radial step part 18 of the other pipe. The pipe joint structure is such that a tool 35 attached to the second pipe 12 is slid along the second pipe 12 to expand and release the engagement.
A support ring 31c that holds the sealing material provided on the pipe 11 is fixed to the outer periphery of the first pipe 11, and the receiver 32 is fixed to the second pipe 12, and the support ring 31c and the receiver 32 are arranged in an uneven manner. A joint structure for pipes that fit together.