JPH09229251A - Union joint - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a union joint capable of preventing an electronic part such as a microcomputer inside a gas meter from being damaged caused by electric current even if water drops are stuck to a joint main body by rain, and capable of preventing electric corrosion of a piping system. SOLUTION: A waterproof cover 7 for covering a cap nut 9 is attached to a joint main body 1 for connecting a gas port 11 of a gas meter 10 to a pipe 20. Water drops are prevented from entering a clearance between the joint main body 1 and the cap nut 9, insulating properties of the pipe 20 and the gas meter 10 are held, and an electronic part such as a microcomputer inside the gas member 10 can be protected from breakage to be generated caused by current. Moreover, electric corrosion of the pipe 20 in the electrifying state is prevented, and gas leakage can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a union joint for connecting a gas inlet / outlet of a gas meter and a pipe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of union joint generally has a structure as shown in FIG. The union joint shown here is a case where the joint body 1 is made of metal (that is, conductive).
According to this conventional example, one end portion 2 of the joint body 1 is inserted into the gas inlet / outlet port 11 of the gas meter 10, and the other end portion 3 is screwed with the pipe 20.

A lower insulator 4 is provided between the gas inlet / outlet port 11 and the joint body 1, and an upper insulator 5 is interposed between the cap nut 9 and the joint body 1. The lower and upper insulators 4 and 5 insulate the pipe system (the pipe 20 and the joint body 1) from the gas meter system (the gas meter 10 and the cap nut 9), so that the current from the pipe system does not flow to the gas meter 10, Electronic components such as a microcomputer built in 10 are protected.

On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows a case where the joint body 1 is insulative. In this case, since the joint body 1 itself acts as an insulator, the lower and upper insulators 4 and 5 as described above are unnecessary. Therefore, the piping system and the gas meter system are insulated. Although not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the seal packing is provided regardless of whether the joint body 1 is insulative or metallic.

[0005]

However, in the case of FIG. 3, water drops adhere to the joint body 1 due to rain or the like, and the gap between the joint body 1 and the upper insulator 5 or the cap nut 9 and the upper insulator 5 is caused.
When water droplets enter inside through the gap between the gas meter 10
The normal function of is impaired. In addition, the joint body 1 is
When the gas inlet / outlet 11 of the gas meter 10 is energized, if electric current flows through the pipe 20 due to lightning or the like, electronic components such as a microcomputer inside the gas meter 10 will be destroyed. Furthermore, when it is energized, the pipe 20 is electrically corroded, which causes gas leakage.

On the other hand, also in the case of FIG. 4, if water drops adhere to the joint body 1 and penetrate into the inside through the gap between the joint body 1 and the cap nut 9, the normal function of the gas meter 10 is impaired. In addition, the pipe 20 and the gas meter 1 through water droplets
0 is energized, and in this state, the gas meter 10
If a current flows through the gas meter 10, the gas meter 10 will fail.
Furthermore, the electrical corrosion of the pipe 20 due to the energized state causes gas leakage.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and prevents the electronic parts such as the microcomputer inside the gas meter from being damaged by the electric current even if water drops adhere to the joint body due to rain or the like. In addition to that, it is an object of the present invention to provide a union joint that also prevents electrical corrosion of the piping system.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the union joint of the present invention (claim 1) has a pipe connected to one end, and the other end screwed into a gas inlet / outlet of a gas meter. A waterproof cover for covering at least a gap between the joint body and the cap nut is attached to the joint body fixed to the gas inlet and outlet of the gas meter by the cap nut.

According to this union joint, since the union joint has the waterproof cover that covers at least the gap between the joint body and the cap nut, water droplets flow along the waterproof cover to the outside of the cap nut, and the gap between the joint body and the cap nut. Water droplets and rainwater do not enter the part, and the insulation between the piping system (piping, joint body, etc.) and the gas meter system (gas meter, cap nut, etc.) is maintained. Therefore, there is no possibility that electronic components such as a microcomputer inside the gas meter will be destroyed by the electric current. Moreover, electrical corrosion of the piping system can be prevented.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a main part in a state where a pipe and a gas meter are connected by a union joint according to one embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a case where the joint body 1 of the union joint is made of metal (that is, electrically conductive), and is structurally similar to the conventional one shown in FIG. That is, one end portion 2 of the joint body 1 is inserted into the gas inlet / outlet port 11 of the gas meter 10, and the other end portion 3 is screwed with the pipe 20 by the male screw portion 3a. A lower insulator 4 is provided between the joint body 1 and the gas inlet / outlet port 11 of the gas meter 10, and an upper insulator 5 is provided between the joint body 1 and the cap nut 9. . Then, the female screw portion 9a of the cap nut 9 is screwed into the male screw portion 11a of the gas inlet / outlet 11, whereby the joint body 1 is airtightly fixed to the gas inlet / outlet 11 of the gas meter 10.

The waterproof cover 7 which is a feature of this embodiment
Has a skirt shape and is attached to the joint body 1 to cover the entire cap nut 9. The waterproof cover 7 is made of rubber, resin, or the like, and has flexibility such that it can be bent in the vertical direction. Further, the end portion of the waterproof cover 7 on the joint body 1 side is formed into a spherical shape, and the spherical portion is fitted into the concave groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the joint body 1, so that the waterproof cover 7 can be easily attached to the joint body 1. Mounted on.

When a union joint provided with such a waterproof cover 7 is used, water drops due to rain or the like directly attach to the waterproof cover 7 and travel along the waterproof cover 7 to drip outside the cap nut 9, or through the pipe 20. The water drops that have flowed down also travel along the waterproof cover 7 and drop outside the cap nut 9.
Therefore, water drops do not enter the gap between the joint body 1 and the cap nut 9, and the pipe 2 formed by the upper insulator 5 and the lower insulator 4
The insulation property between 0 and the gas meter 10 is maintained, and destruction of electronic components such as a microcomputer inside the gas meter 10 due to current is prevented. In addition, since the pipe 20 and the gas meter 10 are not in the energized state, the pipe 20 does not cause electric corrosion, and gas leakage due to corrosion can be prevented.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an essential part in a state where the pipe and the gas meter are connected by a union joint having an insulating joint body. Also in this case, the structure is the same as the conventional one shown in FIG. 4 (there is no lower and upper insulators 4 and 5 as compared with FIG. 1), and the waterproof cover 7 is attached to the joint body 1. Is. Also in this embodiment, water droplets such as rainwater are blocked by the waterproof cover 7, do not penetrate into the gap between the joint body 1 and the cap nut 9, and the insulation of the joint body 1 is maintained. Therefore, the insulating joint body 1 maintains the insulation between the pipe 20 and the gas meter 10 and protects the electronic components inside the gas meter 10 from damage due to electric current. In addition, gas corrosion can be prevented because electrical corrosion of the pipe 20 due to the energized state does not occur.

The waterproof cover 7 shown in the above embodiment.
Is an example, and various changes can be made. For example,
The waterproof cover 7 covers the entire cap nut 9, but in order to ensure insulation, at least the joint body 1 and the cap nut 9 are required.
It suffices to cover the gap between and. Further, the waterproof cover 7 may be attached by fastening with screws or screws in addition to fitting, but the fitting is easier to carry out.

[0015]

As described above, in the union joint of the present invention, since the waterproof cover covering at least the gap between the joint body and the cap nut is attached to the joint body, water drops due to rain or the like can be prevented by the waterproof cover. It is blocked and does not enter the gap between the fitting body and the cap nut. Even if the fitting body is made of metal (conductive) or insulative, the insulation between the pipe and the gas meter is always maintained. It is possible to prevent destruction of electronic components due to current. Moreover, it is possible to prevent electrical corrosion of the piping system due to the energized state, and prevent gas leakage due to electrical corrosion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts in a state where a gas meter and a pipe are connected by a union joint according to one embodiment (when a joint body is made of metal).

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts in a state where a gas meter and a pipe are connected by a union joint according to another embodiment (when the joint body is insulative).

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts in a state where a gas meter and a pipe are connected by a union joint according to a conventional example (when the joint body is made of metal).

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts in a state where a gas meter and a pipe are connected by a union joint according to another conventional example (when the joint body is insulative).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Joint body 4, 5 Insulator 7 Waterproof cover 9 Cap nut 10 Gas meter 11 Gas inlet / outlet 20 Piping

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A joint body fixed to a gas inlet / outlet of a gas meter by a cap nut having one end connected to a pipe and the other end screwed into a gas inlet / outlet of a gas meter, and at least a gap between the joint body and the cap nut. A union joint featuring a waterproof cover that covers the part. 2. The union joint according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof cover is made of rubber and is bendable in a vertical direction. 3. The union joint according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof cover covers the entire cap nut. 4. The waterproof cover is attached to the joint body by fitting.
Alternatively, the union joint according to claim 3.