JP6799856B2 - Gas meter unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gas meter unit, particularly a gas meter unit provided with a gas plug.

Generally, a gas meter for measuring the amount of gas used is suspended between a gas drawing pipe extending from a main in the ground and a gas feeding pipe for sending gas to an indoor gas appliance. ..
The gas meter consists of a meter body with a built-in measuring instrument and a gas inlet and a gas outlet arranged side by side on the top surface of the meter body, and these gas inlets and gas outlets are pipes for drawing in gas. It is connected to the downstream end of the gas feed pipe and the upstream end of the gas feed pipe via a substantially inverted U-shaped gas inflow side joint and gas outflow side joint, respectively. The gas inflow side joint and the gas inflow port, and the gas outflow side joint and the gas outflow port are each screw-connected with a union nut.
The gas inflow side joint is provided with a gas plug that opens and closes the gas flow path to the gas meter, and the gas outflow side joint is provided with a pressure detection plug connection portion. There is a gas meter unit in which a gas inflow side joint provided with a plug and a gas outflow side joint provided with a pressure detection plug connection portion are integrated so as to be parallel to the left and right via a connecting plate.
By using such a gas meter unit, the installation work of the gas meter is simplified, and the gas meter can be easily installed even in a narrow place such as in a pipe shaft of an apartment house.

Further, as the gas plug to be provided in the gas meter unit, similarly to a general gas plug, a gas plug main body in which a cylinder portion is continuously provided at an open end of a spring accommodating portion communicating with a gas flow path, and the perimeter accommodating portion. When the gas flow path is opened and closed by being rotatably accommodated via grease, the gas flow path is mounted on the cylinder portion in a relative rotatable state and is rotated by a presser spring. A configuration consisting of an operation handle can be adopted.
It should be noted that a plurality of engaging collars projecting outward in the radial direction project from the lower surface of the operation handle, and a plurality of coverings inward in the radial direction are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder portion of the gas plug body. The engaging collar is projected. Position the engaging collar of the operation handle between the engaged collar and the engaged collar in the cylinder. At the initial assembly position, the operating handle is located behind the engaged collar. Is pushed into the cylinder and then rotated by a predetermined angle, the engaging collar engages with the engaged collar from below, and the operation handle is attached to the gas plug body in a retaining state.

In this type of gas plug, the operation handle is provided with a means for restricting rotation of the operation handle, such as a stopper pin. By projecting the tip of the stopper pin into the cylinder of the gas plug body and providing a contact portion in the cylinder at which the tip of the stopper pin abuts in the circumferential direction at 90 degree intervals, the operation handle can be operated. Together with the stopper pin, it can rotate between the contact portions within a range of 90 degrees. As a result, the operation handle can rotate within a rotation range of 90 degrees from the open position where the gas flow path opens through the wire to the closed position where the gas flow path is closed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-94624 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-346297 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-329251

In the gas plug provided in the gas meter unit, since the opening and closing operation of the gas plug is not frequently performed, the pipe in the storage portion is also not frequently rotated. In other words, the grease applied to the sliding surface between the two is not mixed back, and the shavings are directly exposed to the shavings in a state where they are pressed against each other by the urging force of the holding spring for a long period of time. Since it continues to be affected by sunlight, temperature changes, etc., the film due to grease on the sliding surface between the spring housing and the spring becomes thin, and the static friction force between the two becomes large.

In this way, the gas plug that has been left for a long time and the operating force of the gas plug has increased may not be able to be opened and closed by normal manual operation. In such a case, the operation handle is rotated. As the initial operating force to be performed, a relatively large force using a tool is required.
However, if the operation handle is forcibly rotated by using a tool, the operation handle may be rotated beyond the normal rotation range due to excessive momentum, and in some cases, the stopper pin may be damaged. There is an inconvenience.
If the stopper pin is damaged, the rotation restriction of the operation handle becomes ineffective, the operation handle rotates beyond the rotation range, and the engagement collar of the operation handle becomes the engaged collar and the engaged collar of the cylinder. When the initial assembly position located between the two is reached, the engaging collar is not engaged with the engaged collar, so the operating handle jumps out of the gas plug body due to the urging force of the presser spring, and the plug body There is a problem that it comes off from.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and even when the operation handle rotates beyond a predetermined rotation range, the operation handle is surely prevented from falling off from the gas plug main body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas meter unit provided with a capable gas plug.

The gas meter unit of the present invention taken to achieve the above object is "a gas inflow side joint connected between a gas drawing pipe and a gas inlet of a gas meter and provided with a gas plug, and a gas feeding pipe. It consists of a gas outflow side joint connected between the gas meter and the gas outlet of the gas meter, and a connecting plate that integrally provides these in a parallel state.
In the gas plug, an operation handle for opening and closing the gas flow path is rotatably attached to a tubular portion extending to the open end of the gas plug body in a state where the operation handle is rotatably attached, and the rotation range of the operation handle. Is restricted from rotating between the open position where the gas flow path is located in the open state and the closed position when the gas flow path is located in the closed state by the rotation regulating means.
A rotation blocking means for preventing further rotation of the operating handle is provided in an expanded range in which the operating handle exceeds the rotating range.
The rotation blocking means includes the connecting plate and an operation handle that abuts on the connecting plate.
The initial assembly position of the two so that the operation handle can be attached to and detached from the tubular portion is provided at a position outside the enlarged range. ”

According to the above configuration, the operation handle is set at the initial assembly position with respect to the tubular portion of the gas plug main body integrally provided on the gas inflow side joint, and then the operation handle is pushed and turned. Is set in the gas plug body to prevent it from coming off. Then, the rotation range of the operation handle is set to a predetermined rotation range for opening and closing the gas flow path by assembling the rotation regulating means, and then the gas inflow side joint is fixed to the connecting plate.
If the rotation regulating means is damaged when the operation handle is rotated by a tool, the operation handle can be rotated to an expansion range beyond the rotation range, but in the expansion range, The rotation blocking means functions, and the operating handle comes into contact with the connecting plate to prevent further rotation of the operating handle. As a result, the operation handle does not rotate beyond the enlarged range. Since the initial assembly position where the operation handle can be attached to and detached from the gas plug main body is set to be located outside the expansion range, the operation handle whose further rotation is prevented in the expansion range is described above. It does not reach the initial assembly position. Therefore, there is no inconvenience that the operation handle is inadvertently removed from the gas plug body.

In the gas meter unit, it is desirable that "the operation handle is a tubular main body coaxially attached to the tubular portion of the gas plug main body and a handle portion extending unilaterally from the outer peripheral surface of the tubular main body. Consists of
The tubular main body includes an outer cylinder that surrounds the cylinder portion and an inner cylinder that protrudes higher than the outer cylinder and is pushed into the cylinder portion of the gas plug main body.
The rotation regulating means penetrates the notch formed by cutting out a part of the peripheral wall of the tubular portion so as to open to the open end side at an opening angle of about 90 degrees, and the peripheral surface of the outer cylinder. Moreover, it consists of a stopper pin that is inserted into the notch.
A plurality of engaging collars are projected outward in the radial direction at a predetermined interval at the tip of the inner cylinder, and on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder portion on the back side of the notch. A plurality of engaged collars to which the engaging collar engages from the back side are projected inward in the radial direction through a gap through which the engaging collar can pass.
When the operating handle rotates beyond the formation range of the notch portion, the tip of the handle portion is set to come into contact with the connecting plate before the engaging collar reaches the gap portion. " is there.

The tubular body of the operation handle consists of an outer cylinder through which the stopper pin penetrates the peripheral surface and an inner cylinder in which the engaging collar projects outward in the radial direction. The engaging collar is the cylinder of the gas plug body. The initial position of assembling the operation handle to the gas plug main body is the state corresponding to the gap between the plurality of engaged collars protruding into the portion.
After passing the engaging collar through the gap and pushing it toward the back side from the engaged collar, rotate the operation handle in a predetermined direction to engage the engaging collar with the engaged collar from the back side. Then, the operation handle is held in a retaining state with respect to the gas plug main body. In this state, by projecting the stopper pin that penetrates the peripheral surface of the outer cylinder into the notch formed in the cylinder of the gas plug body, the rotation range of the operation handle is such that the stopper pin is inside the notch. It is regulated to about 90 degrees that can be moved by.
When the operation handle rotates to an expansion range beyond this rotation range due to damage to the stopper pin or the like, the tip of the handle portion of the operation handle comes into contact with the connecting plate to prevent further rotation. By projecting the handle portion of the operation handle from the tubular body to one side by a predetermined length, the tip of the handle portion easily comes into contact with the connecting plate, and the operation handle is inadvertently rotated to the expansion range. Then, the tip of the handle portion can be quickly brought into contact with the connecting plate to prevent its rotation.

According to the gas meter unit of the present invention, even if an abnormal situation such as damage to the rotation regulating means occurs and the operation handle is inadvertently rotated to an enlarged range beyond the rotation range, the operation handle can be operated. By contacting the connecting plate, the rotation blocking means functions, further rotation of the operating handle is blocked, and the operating handle does not rotate until it reaches the initial position of assembly with the gas plug body. , There is no inconvenience that the operation handle comes off from the gas plug body. Therefore, it is possible to provide a gas meter unit provided with a gas plug having high safety and security.
In addition, since the connecting plate of the gas meter unit can be used as a means for preventing the rotation of the operation handle, it is not necessary to separately prepare a part as the means for preventing the rotation, and the operation handle is inadvertently removed from the gas plug body. A gas meter unit provided with a gas stopper that is eliminated can be provided at a low cost while facilitating assembly work with a simple structure.

It is a perspective view which shows the use state of the gas meter unit of embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view of the gas plug provided in the gas inflow side joint which constitutes the gas meter unit of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the operation handle part of the gas plug provided in the gas inflow side joint which constitutes the gas meter unit of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the operation handle and the gas plug main body at the initial position of assembly of the gas plug provided in the gas inflow side joint constituting the gas meter unit of embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the state which the rotation blocking means function | functioned with the gas plug provided in the gas inflow side joint which constitutes the gas meter unit of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the operation handle and the gas plug main body in the state which the rotation blocking means function | functioned with the gas plug provided in the gas inflow side joint constituting the gas meter unit of embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The gas meter adopted in this embodiment has the same configuration as the conventional one, and as shown in FIG. 1, a gas inflow port (30a) is formed on the top surface of the meter body (30) in which a measuring instrument or the like is built. ) And the gas outlet (30b) are arranged in parallel, and the gas inlet (30a) and the downstream end of the gas lead-in pipe (not shown) are substantially inverted U-shaped gas inflow side joints (31). The gas outlet (30b) and the upstream end of the gas feed pipe (not shown) are also connected via a substantially inverted U-shaped gas outflow side joint (32). To. The downstream end of the gas inflow side joint (31) is screwed to the gas inlet (30a), and the upstream end of the gas outflow side joint (32) is screwed to the gas outlet (30b) with a union nut (33). ..

The gas inflow side joint (31) is integrally provided with a gas plug (1) that opens and closes the gas flow path to the meter body (30), and the gas outflow side joint (32) is provided with a pressure detection plug. The plug connection port (32a) for connecting the gas and the flexible pipe connection port (32b) (32c) for connecting the flexible pipe as the gas feeding pipe are open vertically.
Mounting pieces (34a) and (34b) are projected near the downstream end of the gas inflow side joint (31) and near the upstream end of the gas outflow side joint (32), respectively, and these mounting pieces (34a) ) (34b) is attached to the area near both ends of the horizontal surface portion (3a) of the metal connecting plate (3) by screwing to connect the gas inflow side joint (31) and the gas outflow side joint (32). The gas meter unit integrated by the plate (3) is completed.
Behind the horizontal surface portion (3a) of the connecting plate (3), a vertical surface portion (3b) is formed so as to extend vertically via an inclined plate (3c), and this vertical surface portion (3b) is formed on the house. The gas meter can be fixed via the gas meter unit by attaching it to a wall surface or a predetermined place in the pipe shaft.

As shown in FIG. 2, the meter gas plug (1) provided in the gas inflow side joint (31) of this embodiment is a thread accommodating portion (10a) accommodating an inverted truncated cone-shaped thread (12). ) Is rotatably attached to the gas plug body (10) that opens laterally in the drawing and the cylinder part (11) that extends to the open end of the gas plug body (10) (12). The gas flow path, which is composed of an operation handle (2) for rotating the gas, and is opened and closed by the cone (12), is configured to communicate with the gas inflow side joint (31).
With the grease (12) housed in the grease housing (10a), the inner peripheral surface of the grease housing (10a) and the outer peripheral surface of the grease (12) are sliding parts that can slide with each other. Grease for lubrication and sealing is applied.

A thin annular thin-walled portion (11a) extends from the open end of the tubular portion (11), and the annular thin-walled portion (11a) is opened to the open end side within a range of an opening angle of about 90 degrees. A notch (13) is formed so as to be cut out. A pair of engaged collars (14a) and (14b) are projected inward at positions facing the inner peripheral surface of the sword housing portion (10a) on the back side of the notch portion (13). A gap (15a) (15b) is formed between the engaged collars (14a) and (14b), and one gap (15a) is formed wider in the circumferential direction than the other gap (15b). Has been done.

The operation handle (2) consists of a tubular main body (20) composed of an outer cylinder (20a) and an inner cylinder (20b), and a handle portion (21) protruding in one direction from the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder (20a). Therefore, the annular thin-walled portion (11a) of the gas plug main body (10) is rotatably housed in the annular groove portion (22) between the outer cylinder (20a) and the inner cylinder (20b). Further, at the tip of the inner cylinder (20b), engaging collars (25a) (25b) that engage with the above-mentioned engaged collars (14a) (14b) from the back side of the spiral housing portion (10a) are provided. It is projected outward in the radial direction. One of the large engaging collars (25a) has a size that allows the wider gap (15a) of the gaps (15a) (15b) between the engaged collars (14a) and (14b) to be inserted. Along with being formed, the other small engagement collar (25b) is formed to a size that allows it to be inserted through the narrow gap (15b).

Further, in the center of the inner cylinder (20b), a recess (23) for fitting a pair of protrusions (12a) protruding from the top surface of the cylinder (12) into a relative rotation blocking state is opened. As shown in FIG. 3, a stopper pin insertion hole (24) for inserting the stopper pin (4) is penetrated at a predetermined position on the peripheral surface of the outer cylinder (20a), and the corresponding inner cylinder (20a) is inserted. An insertion hole (26) into which the tip of the stopper pin (4) is inserted is formed at a predetermined position on the peripheral surface of the cylinder (20b).

In order to assemble the gas plug main body (10) and the operation handle (2) described above, grease is applied to the vicinity of the open end of the spring accommodating portion (10a) of the gas plug main body (10), and the spring (12) is accommodated. After setting the presser spring (40) for pushing the grease (12) into the grease housing (10a) on the top surface of the grease (12), set the operation handle (2) to the cylinder of the gas plug body (10). Attach it to the part (11).
At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, one large engaging collar (25a) is inserted into the wider gap (15a) through which it can be inserted, and the other small engaging collar (25b) is inserted into the wide gap (15a). Correspond to each possible narrow gap (15b). Then, the protrusion (12a) on the top surface of the spring (12) is fitted into the recess (23) of the inner cylinder (20b) of the operation handle (2), and the annular groove portion (22) of the operation handle (2) is fitted. The annular thin-walled portion (11a) of the tubular portion (11) of the gas plug main body (10) is fitted into the gas plug body (10) via the waterproof packing (41) and the presser spring (40). This state is the initial position for assembling the gas plug body (10) and the operation handle (2). When the hand is released from the operation handle (2), the urging force of the presser spring (40) causes the operation handle (2). Drops off from the gas plug body (10).

Push the operation handle (2) in the initial assembly position toward the back side of the housing (10a), and the large and small engaging collars (25a) (25b) are larger than the engaged collars (14a) (14b). With it positioned in the back, rotate the operation handle (2) counterclockwise by a predetermined angle. As a result, the large and small engaging collars (25a) and (25b) are engaged with the engaged collars (14a) and (14b) from the back side, respectively, and the operation handle (2) is attached to the tubular portion (11). It is relatively rotatable and can be attached in a retaining state. When the operation handle (2) is rotated, the holding spring (41) rotates the spiral (12) contained in the spiral accommodating portion (10a) to prevent it from floating, and the gas inflow side joint (31) is internally rotated. The gas flow path can be opened and closed.

In this state, the stopper pin insertion hole (24) opened on the peripheral surface of the outer cylinder (20a) of the operation handle (2) corresponds to the notch (13) formed in the annular thin portion (11a). When the stopper pin (4) is inserted from the stopper pin insertion hole (24) and inserted into the insertion (26) of the inner cylinder (20b), the stopper pin (4) is inserted into the notch (13). It will be erected. The range of 90 degrees from one end (13a) to the other end (13b) of the notch (13) of the stopper pin (4) is the rotation range of the operation handle (2). That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the state in which the stopper pin (4) is in contact with one end (13a) of the notch (13) is the fully closed state of the gas plug (1), which is not shown, but is a stopper pin. The state in which (4) is in contact with the other end (13b) of the notch (13) is the fully open state of the gas plug (1). The stopper pin (4) and the notch (13) constitute a rotation regulating means as a matter for specifying the invention.

In the above procedure, the gas inflow side joint (31) having the gas plug (1) with the operation handle (2) attached to the gas plug body (10) and the other gas outflow side joint (32) are respectively. , The gas meter unit as shown in FIG. 1 is configured by being integrated with the horizontal surface portion (3a) of the connecting plate (3) via the mounting pieces (34a) and (34b) by screwing.
The gas plug (1) does not open and close frequently, and remains in the fully open state described above during normal use, and remains in the fully closed state described above when the gas is not used for a long period of time due to moving or the like. The gas (12) is pressed by the presser spring (40) and is affected by sunlight and temperature changes for a long period of time. As a result, the grease applied to the sliding surfaces of the thread accommodating portion (10a) and the thread (12) becomes thin, and it may be difficult to manually rotate the operation handle (2).

In such a case, if the operation handle (2) is forcibly rotated by using a tool, the operating force applied to the operation handle (2) is increased, so that the stopper pin (4) is inserted into the notch (13). It may hit one end (13a) or the other end (13b) of the wheel with a relatively large force. In such a case, if the stopper pin (4) is broken or a part of the annular thin portion (11a) is damaged, the stopper pin (4) or the annular thin portion (11a) functions as a rotation restricting means. There is an inconvenience that the operation handle (2) rotates in an enlarged range beyond the formed range of the notch (13).

For example, when the operation handle (2) is further rotated clockwise from the fully closed state shown in FIG. 3, the large and small engaging collars (25a) (25a) of the operation handle (2) shown in FIG. The handle portion (21) of the operation handle (2), as shown in FIG. 5, before the 25b) reaches the above-mentioned initial assembly position corresponding to the gap portion (15a) (15b) in the cylinder portion (11). The tip of the contact plate (3) comes into contact with the horizontal surface portion (3a) of the connecting plate (3), and further rotation is prevented. That is, the tip of the handle portion (21) and the horizontal surface portion (3a) of the connecting plate (3) function as a rotation blocking means for preventing further rotation of the operating handle (2), and the stopper pin ( Even if the rotation regulating means that holds the rotation range of the operation handle (2) at 90 degrees is damaged due to damage to the 4) or the annular thin wall portion (11a), the operation handle (2) is still shown in FIG. Since the initial assembly position as shown in is not reached, the operation handle (2) does not come off from the gas plug body (10).

Further, when the stopper pin (4) is further rotated counterclockwise from the fully open state of the gas plug in contact with the other end (13b) of the notch (13), the large engagement collar (25a) Passes through the formation position of the gap (15b), but the large engagement collar (25a) is larger than the gap (15b), so the large engagement collar (25a) cannot escape the gap (15b). The operation handle (2) does not come off from the gas plug body (10).

In this way, the operating handle (2) is attached to the gas plug body (10) in a retaining state by using the large and small engaging fittings (25a) (25b) and the engaged fittings (14a) (14b). In the gas meter unit in which the gas inflow side joint (31) equipped with the gas plug of the above is integrated with the horizontal surface portion (3a) of the connecting plate (3) by screwing, even if the rotation control means for the operation handle (2) is Is damaged and the operation handle (2) can rotate beyond the 90 degree rotation range, but the operation handle (2) can be attached to and detached from the gas plug body (10) at the initial assembly position. Before reaching, the tip of the handle (21) of the operation handle (2) abuts on the horizontal surface (3a) to prevent further rotation of the operation handle (2). It is possible to reliably prevent the operation handle (2) from falling off from the plug body (10), providing a gas meter unit with high safety and security, a simple structure, low cost, and easy assembly work. Can be done.

(1) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Gas plug
(10) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Gas plug body
(11) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Cylinder
(2) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Operation handle
(3) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Connecting plate
(30a) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Gas inlet
(30b) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Gas outlet
(31) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Gas inflow side joint
(32) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Gas outflow side joint

Claims (2)

A gas inflow side joint connected between the gas inlet pipe and the gas inlet of the gas meter and provided with a gas plug, and a gas outflow side joint connected between the gas feed pipe and the gas outlet of the gas meter. And a connecting plate that integrally provides these in a parallel state,
In the gas plug, an operation handle for opening and closing the gas flow path is rotatably attached to a tubular portion extending to the open end of the gas plug body in a state where the operation handle is rotatably attached, and the rotation range of the operation handle. Is restricted from rotating between the open position where the gas flow path is located in the open state and the closed position when the gas flow path is located in the closed state by the rotation regulating means.
A rotation blocking means for preventing further rotation of the operating handle is provided in an expanded range in which the operating handle exceeds the rotating range.
The rotation blocking means includes the connecting plate and an operation handle that abuts on the connecting plate.
The gas meter unit is provided at a position outside the enlarged range at the initial assembling position of the two so that the operation handle can be attached to and detached from the cylinder portion. In the gas meter unit according to claim 1,
The operation handle is composed of a tubular main body coaxially attached to the tubular portion of the gas plug main body and a handle portion extending unilaterally from the outer peripheral surface of the tubular main body.
The tubular main body includes an outer cylinder that surrounds the cylinder portion and an inner cylinder that protrudes higher than the outer cylinder and is pushed into the cylinder portion of the gas plug main body.
The rotation regulating means penetrates the notch formed by cutting out a part of the peripheral wall of the tubular portion so as to open to the open end side at an opening angle of about 90 degrees, and the peripheral surface of the outer cylinder. Moreover, it consists of a stopper pin that is inserted into the notch.
A plurality of engaging collars are projected outward in the radial direction at a predetermined interval at the tip of the inner cylinder, and on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder portion on the back side of the notch. A plurality of engaged collars to which the engaging collar engages from the back side are projected inward in the radial direction through a gap through which the engaging collar can pass.
A gas meter unit set so that when the operating handle rotates beyond the formation range of the notch portion, the tip of the handle portion abuts on the connecting plate before the engaging collar reaches the gap portion.

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