JP7482671B2 - Meter coupler structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a meter coupler structure that is responsible for at least one of the following: a meter inlet portion, which is one of the meter flow ends through which gas flows into and out of a gas meter that measures the flow rate of gas flowing through a gas pipe, and a gas pipe outlet portion, which is the gas pipe end of a primary gas pipe; or a meter outlet portion, which is one of the meter flow ends through which gas flows out, and a gas pipe inlet portion, which is the gas pipe end of a secondary gas pipe.

A union-type pipe fitting is known as a pipe fitting that connects a gas pipe end of a gas pipe system to a meter flow end, which is a meter inlet portion and a meter outlet portion of a gas meter, without any relative rotation between the two (see Patent Document 1).
The union type pipe fitting is composed of a union nut that is prevented from coming loose by a union flange that extends radially outward from the outer periphery of the gas pipe end, and a union screw that is provided at the meter flow end and into which the union nut can be screwed.
When the gas meter's inspection deadline has come, the gas meter is removed from the gas pipe system by releasing the union nut from the union screw, and the meter is replaced by screwing the union screw provided at the meter flow end of a new gas meter into the union nut.

JP 2006-9951 A

In the union-type pipe joint of the technology disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the gas pipe end and the meter flow end are connected by screwing the union nut onto the union screw, so in order to reliably connect the two, it is necessary to retighten them after fastening, but there was a risk that this retightening work would not be carried out.

Furthermore, in the current situation where the domestic workforce is declining, it is conceivable that inexperienced installers who have not yet acquired sufficient skills will be working as meter replacement installers. In such cases, there is a high possibility that retightening work will not be carried out, so the development of new technology was desired.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a meter coupler structure that can improve safety by eliminating the risk of insufficient retightening during meter replacement and installation, even if the installer has low construction skills.

The meter coupler structure for achieving the above object is a meter coupler structure which is responsible for at least one of the following: a meter inlet portion, into which gas flows in and out of a meter flow end portion through which gas flows in and out of a gas meter which measures the flow rate of gas flowing through a gas pipe, and a gas pipe outlet portion which is a gas pipe end portion of a primary gas pipe; or a meter outlet portion, into which gas flows out of the meter flow end portion, and a gas pipe inlet portion which is a gas pipe end portion of a secondary gas pipe; and its characteristic configuration is as follows:
an adapter member having a cylindrical shape that can be connected to the gas pipe end and has an adapter passage that communicates with a gas passage formed inside the gas pipe end, and a first annular recess formed along an outer circumferential direction of the cylinder;
a locking mechanism for locking the adapter member and the meter flow end by a locking member that moves in a cylindrical diameter direction of the adapter member and engages with the first annular recess when the meter flow end moves in a direction approaching the adapter member in a state in which the meter flow end faces the adapter member,
The gas pipe end has a pipe end locking portion formed along an outer circumferential direction of the pipe,
The pipe end locking portion is an annular flange portion formed along an outer circumferential direction of the gas pipe end portion to prevent a union nut constituting a union type pipe joint from coming off,
The adapter member has an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the pipe end locking portion,
a stop ring that is fitted into an annular groove formed along an inner circumferential direction of the adapter passage, has an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the pipe end locking portion in a natural state, and is expandable and contractible;
When the adapter member is moved in a direction approaching the gas pipe end while the stop ring is overlapping with the pipe end locking portion as viewed in the gas flow axial direction, the stop ring goes through an expanded diameter position in which it is larger than the outer diameter of the pipe end locking portion, and then moves in the gas flow axial direction toward the base end of the gas pipe end beyond the pipe end locking portion, transitioning to a reduced diameter position in which it is smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe end locking portion, thereby acting as a connecting mechanism that connects the gas pipe end and the adapter member .

According to the above-described characteristic configuration, when the adapter member is connected to the gas pipe end, the locking mechanism locks the adapter member and the meter flow end portion together by using a locking member that engages with the first annular recess formed along the outer periphery of the adapter member. This ensures a secure locked state without the installer having to tighten or retighten a nut, as is the case with union-type pipe fittings.
Furthermore, since the connection form of the adapter member to the gas pipe end is not restricted by the structure of the locking mechanism, the gas pipe end can be maintained in its conventional structure. In other words, even in a transitional situation where the gas pipe maintains its conventional structure while the gas meter side is newly constructed, the gas meter and gas pipe can be well connected and the gas meter can function effectively. In this case, it is expected to be more economical than changing the structure of the gas pipe end.
Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned characteristic configuration, by using the union flange portion provided to prevent the union nut of the union type pipe joint from coming loose as the pipe end hanging portion, it is possible to realize a connection between a gas pipe and a gas meter using the meter coupler structure of the present invention while adopting the configuration of the conventional gas pipe end as it is, so that improved economic efficiency can be expected compared to the case where the configuration of the gas pipe end is changed.
In other words, even in a transitional situation in which the gas pipe end maintains the conventional structure while the gas meter side has a new structure, the gas meter and gas pipe can be connected well and the gas meter can function effectively.
As a result, even if the installer has low installation skills, there is no risk of insufficient retightening during meter replacement or installation, and a meter coupler structure that can improve safety can be realized.

A further characteristic configuration of the meter coupler structure is that the lock mechanism is
a cylindrical locking member base provided at the meter flow end;
an actuating member that is urged by a first urging member from the meter flow end toward the adapter member in a state in which the adapter member faces the meter flow end, and that is capable of changing its posture between a restricting posture in which the locking ball serving as the locking member is restricted from moving inward in the cylindrical diameter direction, and an allowing posture in which, when the meter flow end moves in a direction approaching the adapter member, the actuating member moves in a direction opposite to the urging direction by the first urging member to allow the locking ball to move inward in the cylindrical diameter direction, thereby realizing the locked state;
When the adapter member is facing the meter flow end, a second biasing member biases the operating member from the meter flow end toward the adapter member, and the sleeve member can be freely changed in position between a retracted position in which the operating member is retracted toward the meter base end side, which is the meter body side of the meter flow end, when the operating member is in the restrictive position, and a protruding position in which the operating member protrudes toward the meter tip side, which is the opposite side to the meter base end side, when the operating member is in the permissive position, and moves the locking ball inward in the cylindrical diameter direction to restrict outward movement.

According to the above characteristic configuration, when the adapter member faces the meter flow end, the meter flow end is moved in a direction approaching the adapter member, the actuating member is shifted to an allowable position that allows the locking ball to move inward in the tube diameter direction, and the sleeve member is moved to a protruding position, restricting the locking ball from moving outward in the tube diameter direction, thereby easily maintaining the locked state between the adapter member and the meter flow end.

Further characteristic configurations of the meter coupler structure include:
the actuating member has an inner circumferential surface facing a cylindrical outer circumferential surface of the adaptor member in the allowable position,
The feature is that when the adapter member is opposed to the meter flow end, a first sealing member is provided on the inner surface of the operating member to seal between the meter flow end and the adapter member when the meter flow end moves in a direction approaching the adapter member.

In a connection method using a conventional union-type pipe fitting, when replacing a meter, a seal member that seals between the gas pipe end and the meter flow end is installed between the gas pipe end and the meter flow end by the installer separately from the gas meter to be replaced. With this method, there is a risk that the seal member will be forgotten to be installed when the installation is carried out by an installer with little installation experience.
According to the above-described characteristic configuration, the first sealing member is installed against the inner surface of the operating member serving as a locking mechanism provided at the meter flow end of the gas meter, thereby preventing forgetting to install the sealing member as in the conventional case, and reducing the associated risk of gas leakage to zero.

Further characteristic configurations of the meter coupler structure include:
The connection mechanism is characterized in that the adapter member is provided with a biasing means for biasing the tube end locking portion toward the stop ring in the reduced diameter position when the gas pipe end and the adapter member are connected together.

In the above-mentioned connection state formed only by the stop ring and the pipe end locking portion, the stop ring and the pipe end locking portion are only abutted in the direction along the gas flow axis due to the weight of the gas meter, so if large external vibrations are applied, the stop ring and the pipe end locking portion may move apart in the direction along the gas flow axis.
According to the above-described characteristic configuration, the biasing means biases the gas pipe end locking portion toward the stop ring in the reduced diameter position, thereby realizing a connection state in which the abutment between the stop ring and the gas pipe end locking portion is well maintained, and rattling between the adapter member and the gas pipe end in the connected state in the gas flow axial direction can be suppressed.

Further characteristic configurations of the meter coupler structure include:
The adapter passage of the adapter member is provided with a second seal member that seals between the inner surface of the adapter passage and the outer surface of the gas pipe end in a direction intersecting the biasing direction by the biasing means.

As described above, in the connection mechanisms described thus far, there are cases in which the stop ring and the gas pipe end locking portion move apart in the biasing direction of the biasing means, and if a seal is made between the inner surface of the adapter flow path and the outer surface of the gas pipe end in that biasing direction, there is a risk that the sealing function will not be fully exerted.
According to the above characteristic configuration, the second sealing member seals between the inner surface of the adapter flow passage and the outer surface of the gas pipe end in a direction intersecting the biasing direction of the biasing means, so that the sealing function can be better exhibited even when the connection configuration of the present invention is adopted.

The meter coupler structures explained so far are as follows :
It is preferable that the connection mechanism is provided so as to be detachable from the end of the gas pipe.
As a result, for example, if a configuration is adopted in which a seal member for connecting the gas pipe end and the adapter member is provided on the adapter member, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of forgetting to attach the seal member, which has been a conventional concern.

1 is a side view showing a gas meter equipped with a meter coupler structure according to a first embodiment and a gas pipe end portion of a gas pipe system to which the gas meter is connected. 6A to 6C are cross-sectional views showing a process of connecting and disconnecting the meter coupler structure to a gas pipe end according to the first embodiment ; 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a meter coupler structure . FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a meter coupler structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of a meter coupler structure .

The meter coupler structure 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention relates to an improved safety by eliminating the risk of insufficient retightening during meter replacement/installation, even if the installer has low construction skills.
A first embodiment of the meter coupler structure 100 will now be described.
The meter coupler structure 100 is intended to be used, for example, when replacing a gas meter 10 that has reached the end of its inspection period. Therefore, the gas meter 10 and its associated gas pipe system will first be described below, and then the meter coupler structure 100 will be described.

[ First Reference Form]
A gas meter 10 for measuring the flow rate of gas supplied to a consumer side is attached to a gas pipe system operated by a gas supplier as a gas supply source for supplying gas such as city gas from a primary side. The gas pipes as the gas pipe system are installed in a form in which a pair of standpipes 1, 7 extend upward from the ground or the like. In the first reference form, the standpipe 1 corresponds to the primary gas pipe, and the standpipe 7 corresponds to the secondary gas pipe.

A pair of elbows 2, 6 are attached to the upper ends of each of the pair of standpipes 1, 7, and each of the elbows 2, 6 is formed with piping side connection portions 2a, 6a that face a pair of meter flow ends 11, 12 provided on a gas meter 10, the details of which will be described later.
The pair of piping side connection parts 2a, 6a are formed as a pair of openings that open downward at the ends of the elbows 2, 6 opposite to the ends connected to the risers 1, 7.
A meter gas valve 2b is provided on the primary side standpipe 1. By operating this meter gas valve 2b, the supply of gas from the primary side through the gas meter 10 to the secondary side can be turned on and off.

The gas meter 10 has a similar structure to known gas meters, and detailed description thereof will be omitted, but has a pair of meter flow ends 11, 12 that open opposite the above-mentioned piping side connections 2a, 6a, and is configured to measure the flow rate of gas by causing gas that flows in from the meter inlet 11 of the pair of meter flow ends 11, 12 to flow out from the meter outlet 12. The pair of meter flow ends 11, 12 are provided on the upper surface of the gas meter 10, and are formed as a pair of openings that open upward.

A pair of piping side connectors 2a, 6a, which are provided in the above-mentioned gas piping system and open downward, have male threads formed on one end (upper end) of the pipes 3, 4, which are screwed into female threads formed on the piping side connectors 2a, 6a, with a liquid sealant or the like applied thereto. A bracket 90 for supporting the gas meter 10 is fixed with nuts 91, 92.
The other ends (lower ends) of the tubes 3, 4 are provided with a gas pipe outlet portion 3a and a gas pipe inlet portion 4a as gas pipe end portions 3a, 4a, and a connection mechanism 30 as a meter coupler structure 100 described later is provided so as to be connectable to the gas pipe end portions 3a, 4a.
In the first embodiment, the gas pipe ends 3a, 4a and the meter flow ends 11, 12 are connected using a meter coupler structure 100, which will be described later, instead of the union type pipe joint.
Incidentally, in the first reference form, the meter coupler structure 100 is used for both the connection between the gas pipe outlet section 3a and the meter inlet section 11, and the connection between the gas pipe inlet section 4a and the meter outlet section 12. However, since the meter coupler structure 100 used for both has the same configuration, the following explanation will use the meter coupler structure 100 used for the connection between the gas pipe outlet section 3a and the meter inlet section 11 as an example.

Meter coupler structure 100
As shown in FIG. 2, the meter coupler structure 100 includes an adapter member 20 that is connectable to the gas pipe outlet 3a and has a cylindrical shape with an adapter flow path 20a that communicates with a gas flow path 11a formed inside the gas pipe outlet 3a, and has a first annular recess 22 formed along the cylindrical outer circumferential direction, and a locking mechanism 40 that, when the meter inlet 11 is opposed to the adapter member 20 (FIGS. 2(a) and (b)), and the meter inlet 11 moves in a direction approaching the adapter member 20 (movement from FIG. 2(b) to FIG. 2(c)), moves in the cylindrical diameter direction of the adapter member 20 and engages with the first annular recess 22 to lock the adapter member 20 and the meter inlet 11 in a locked state (the state shown in FIG. 2(c)).

The lock mechanism 40 has a cylindrical lock member base 11c that is integral with the meter inlet 11, and a first operating member 42 (an example of an operating member) that is biased from the meter inlet 11 toward the adapter member 20 by a third coil spring SP3 (an example of a first biasing member) when the adapter member 20 is opposed to the meter inlet 11 as the meter flow end, and is capable of freely changing its position between a restricting position (position shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b)) that restricts the first locking ball 41 from moving inward in the cylindrical diameter direction and an allowing position (position shown in FIG. 2(c)) that, when the meter inlet 11 moves in a direction approaching the adapter member 20, moves in the opposite direction to the biasing direction by the third coil spring SP3 to allow the first locking ball 41 to move inward in the cylindrical diameter direction and realize a locked state. The first operating member 42 is provided in a ring shape along the inner circumferential surface of the lock member base 11c. Furthermore, the first operating member 42 has an abutment flange 42a extending toward the inner diameter side with which the adapter member 20 abuts when the first operating member 42 is in the permissible posture and realizes the locked state, and is provided with a second seal member S2 (an example of a first seal member) at an inner diameter portion on the adapter member 20 side of the abutment flange 42a in the direction along the gas flow axis P, which seals between the inner surface of the first operating member 42 and the outer surface of the adapter member 20.
The third coil spring SP3 is provided in such a manner that one end thereof abuts against a step portion 11d provided on the locking member base portion 11c, and the other end thereof abuts against a contact flange portion 42a of the first operating member 42.
Furthermore, when the adapter member 20 is opposed to the meter inlet portion 11, the locking mechanism 40 is urged from the meter inlet portion 11 toward the adapter member 20 by a fourth coil spring SP4 (an example of a second urging member), and has a first sleeve member 43 that can be freely changed in position between a retracted position (position shown in FIGS. 2(a) and (b)) in which the first operating member 42 is retracted to the meter base end side (base end side of arrow Y in FIG. 2), which is the base end side of the meter inlet portion 11 (in other words, the side of the meter main body), when the first operating member 42 is in the restrictive position, and a protruding position (position shown in FIG. 2(c)) in which the first operating member 42 protrudes to the meter tip side (tip side of arrow Y in FIG. 2), which is the opposite side to the meter base end side, and moves the first locking ball 41 inward in the cylindrical diameter direction to restrict outward movement.
The first sleeve member 43 has a cylindrical shape that fits along the outer circumferential surface of the locking member base 11c, and on its inner circumferential surface, a first recessed portion 43a that is ring-shaped along the inner circumferential direction at the meter tip side of the locking mechanism 40 (the tip side of arrow Y in FIG. 2) and is recessed outward in the cylinder diameter direction is formed, and a first bulging portion 43b that is ring-shaped along the inner circumferential direction at the meter base end side of the first recessed portion 43a and bulges inward in the cylinder diameter direction is formed. In the retracted position, the first sleeve member 43 stores the first locking ball 41 in the first recessed portion 43a, and in the protruding position, the first bulging portion 43b pushes the first locking ball 41 toward the inner diameter side in the cylinder diameter direction.
The position of the first sleeve member 43 in the direction of the gas flow axis P in the protruding position is determined by a first stop ring 44 provided on an outer circumferential portion on the meter tip side of the first operating member 42. That is, the tip portion (the portion on the protruding tip side) of the first sleeve member 43 in the protruding position abuts against the first stop ring 44.
In addition, a fifth seal member S5 that hermetically seals the space between the inner surface of the locking member base 11c and the outer surface of the first operating member 42 is provided between the inner surface of the locking member base 11c and the outer surface of the first operating member 42, and is adhered to the outer periphery of the first operating member 42.

[Connection mechanism]
The above-mentioned adapter member 20 and the gas pipe outlet portion 3a are connected by a connection mechanism 30 described below.
When facing the gas pipe outlet portion 3a, the adapter member 20 has a second annular recess 21 formed along the outer circumferential direction of the tube, on the gas pipe outlet portion 3a side rather than the first annular recess 22.
To explain further, the connection mechanism 30 has a cylindrical connection mechanism base 30a connected to the gas pipe outlet 3a, and has a second operating member 32 that is biased by the first coil spring SP1 from the gas pipe outlet 3a toward the adapter member 20 when the adapter member 20 is opposed to the gas pipe outlet 3a, and is freely changeable between a restricting position (position shown in Figs. 2(a) and (b)) in which the second locking ball 31 (one example of a connection member) is restricted from moving inward in the cylindrical diameter direction, and an allowing position (position shown in Fig. 2(c)) in which the second locking ball 31 moves in the opposite direction to the biasing direction by the first coil spring SP1 when the adapter member 20 moves in the direction approaching the gas pipe outlet 3a, thereby allowing the second locking ball 31 to move inward in the cylindrical diameter direction and realizing a locked state. The second operating member 32 is provided in a ring shape along the inner circumferential surface of the connection mechanism base 30a. Furthermore, the second operating member 32 has an abutment flange 32a extending toward the inner diameter side against which the adapter member 20 abuts when the second operating member 32 is in the permissible posture and realizes the connected state, and is provided with a first seal member S1 at an inner diameter portion closer to the adapter member 20 than the abutment flange 32a in the direction along the gas flow axis P, which seals between the inner surface of the second operating member 32 and the outer surface of the adapter member 20.
The first coil spring SP1 is provided in such a manner that one end thereof abuts against a step 3b provided at the tip portion of the gas pipe outlet portion 3a, and the other end thereof abuts against a contact flange 32a of the second operating member 32.

Furthermore, the connection mechanism 30 has a second sleeve member 33 that is urged by the second coil spring SP2 from the gas pipe outlet portion 3a toward the adapter member 20 when the adapter member 20 is opposed to the gas pipe outlet portion 3a, and has a position that can be freely changed between a retracted position (position shown in FIG. 2(a)) in which the second operating member 32 is retracted to the gas pipe base end side (tip side of arrow Y in FIG. 2), which is the base end side of the gas pipe outlet portion 3a, when the second operating member 32 is in the restricting position, and a protruding position (positions shown in FIGS. 2(b) and 2(c)) in which the second operating member 32 protrudes to the gas pipe tip side (base end side of arrow Y in FIG. 2), which is the opposite side to the gas pipe base end side, when the second operating member 32 is in the allowing position, and moves the second locking ball 31 inward in the cylindrical diameter direction to restrict outward movement.
The second sleeve member 33 has a cylindrical shape that fits along the outer circumferential surface of the connection mechanism base 30a, and has an inner circumferential surface on the gas pipe tip side of the connection mechanism 30 that is annular along the inner circumferential direction and is recessed outward in the cylindrical radial direction, and has a second bulging portion 33b on the gas pipe base end side of the second bulging portion 33a that is annular along the inner circumferential direction and bulges inward in the cylindrical radial direction. The second sleeve member 33 stores the second locking ball 31 in the second bulging portion 33a in the retracted position, and pushes the second locking ball 31 toward the inner diameter side in the cylindrical radial direction at the second bulging portion 33b in the protruding position, so that the second locking ball 31 fits into the second annular recess 21 to establish a connected state.
The position of the second sleeve member 33 in the direction of the gas flow axis P in the protruding position is determined by a second stop ring 34 provided on the outer circumferential portion of the second operating member 32 on the gas pipe tip side. That is, the tip portion of the second sleeve member 33 in the protruding position abuts against the second stop ring 34.
In addition, a third seal member S3 that hermetically seals the space between the inner surface of the connection mechanism base 30a and the outer surface of the second operating member 32 is provided between the inner surface of the connection mechanism base 30a and the outer surface of the second operating member 32, and is adhered to the outer periphery of the second operating member 32.

The connection mechanism 30 has a female thread portion 30b formed on the inner surface of the gas pipe base end side of the connection mechanism base 30a, and is formed so as to be able to screw into a male thread portion 3c formed on the outer surface of the gas pipe outlet portion 3a, which serves as the gas pipe end portion, and a fourth seal member S4 is provided at the gas pipe base end side end portion of the connection mechanism base 30a to hermetically seal the gap between the connection mechanism base 30a and the gas pipe outlet portion 3a.
The connection mechanism base 30a may be integrally provided with the gas pipe outlet portion 3a instead of being connected to the gas pipe outlet portion 3a by screwing.

[Connection and disconnection of gas meter from gas pipe system using meter coupler structure ]
The procedure for replacing the gas meter 10 at the time of expiry of the inspection period will be described below.
When the old gas meter 10 is connected to the gas pipe ends 3a, 4a of the gas piping system using the meter coupler structure 100 (the state shown in FIG. 2(c)), when the gas meter 10 is to be detached from the gas pipe ends 3a, 4a, first, leakage adjustments are performed before the work and confirmation is made that gas is not being used, and then the meter gas valve 2b is closed.
Thereafter, while maintaining the vertical position of the gas meter 10 (the direction along the arrow Y in FIG. 2), the outer diameter portion of the first sleeve member 43 of the locking mechanism 40 is grasped to move the first sleeve member 43 from the protruding position to the retracted position. This releases the restriction of the first locking ball 41 to the inside in the pipe diameter direction, allowing the gas meter 10 to be detached from the gas pipe ends 3a, 4a (movement from FIG. 2(c) to FIG. 2(b)). In this detached state, the connection mechanism 30 and the adapter member 20 are connected (attached) to the gas pipe ends 3a, 4a as shown in FIG. 2(b).
After the detachment, a closing cap (not shown) is attached to the adapter member 20 connected to the gas pipe inlet portion 4 a via the connection mechanism 30 .

Next, the meter inlet 11 of the new gas meter 10 is connected to the adapter member 20, which is connected to the gas pipe outlet 3a via the connection mechanism 30, via the lock mechanism 40 (the lock mechanism 40 is set to the locked state).
Specifically, with the gas flow axis P of the adapter member 20 and the gas pipe outlet portion 3a aligned and facing each other, the adapter member 20 is brought close to the gas pipe outlet portion 3a together with the gas meter 10, the tip portion of the adapter member 20 on the gas pipe side is brought into contact with the abutment flange portion 42a of the first operating member 42, the first operating member 42 is moved from the restricting position (the position shown in Figures 2(a) and (b)) to the allowing position (the position shown in Figure 2(c)), the first locking ball 41 is fitted into the first annular recess 22, and the first sleeve member 43 is changed in position from the retracted position on the base end side of the gas pipe to the protruding position on the tip end side of the gas pipe, thereby entering the locked state.
Thereafter, a gas bag (not shown) is attached to the meter outlet 12, the meter gas valve 2b is switched to the open state to reset the gas meter 10, and approximately 14 L of gas is guided into the gas bag to air purge the inside of the gas meter 10.
After air purging, for example within 60 seconds, the meter gas valve 2b is switched to the closed state, and the locked state of the meter coupler structure 100 is released using the procedure described above to release the connection between the gas pipe outlet 3a and the meter inlet 11.
Thereafter, the gas bag is removed from the meter outlet 12, and the closing cap is detached from the gas pipe inlet 4a. Then, the meter inlet 11 is connected in communication with the gas pipe outlet 3a via the meter coupler structure 100, and the meter outlet 12 is connected in communication with the gas pipe inlet 4a via the meter coupler structure 100, and both meter coupler structures 100 are transitioned to a locked state.

In the above example, the connection mechanism 30 is not replaced during the connection and disconnection operation of the gas meter 10. However, if the sealing member included in the connection mechanism 30 is deteriorated, the connection mechanism 30 may be replaced when the gas meter 10 is replaced.

[Embodiment ]
In the meter coupler structure 100 according to this embodiment, the configuration of the connection mechanism 30 that connects the gas pipe ends 3a, 4a and the adapter member 20 is different from that of the first embodiment.
In the following description of the meter coupler structure 100 according to the embodiment, the configuration relating to the connection mechanism 30 that differs from that of the first reference embodiment will be mainly described, and the same symbols will be used for configurations that are the same as those of the meter coupler structure 100 according to the first reference embodiment, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

In the connection mechanism 30 in the meter coupler structure 100 according to this embodiment , the gas pipe outlet portion 3a serving as the end portion of the gas pipe has an annular pipe end locking portion 8b formed along the outer periphery of the pipe, and has a union nut 8a that is prevented from coming loose by the pipe end locking portion 8b.
That is, in this embodiment, the same configuration as that of the gas pipe ends 3a, 4a connected using a conventional union type pipe joint is adopted.

In the meter coupler structure 100 in this embodiment, the structure related to the lock mechanism 40 is the same as that in the first reference embodiment. That is, the adapter member 20 is provided with a first annular recess 22 having a ring shape along the cylindrical outer periphery at a portion on the side of the meter inlet 11 of the gas meter 10 (the portion on the base end side of the arrow Y in FIG. 3 ).
In the portion of the adapter member 20 on the side of the gas pipe outlet 3a (the portion on the tip side of the arrow Y in FIG. 3 ), the adapter passage includes an adapter passage large diameter portion 20b having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the pipe end locking portion 8b, an adapter passage medium diameter portion 20c having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe end locking portion 8b and substantially the same as the outer diameter of the tip portion of the gas pipe outlet 3a, and an adapter passage small diameter portion 20a having a diameter smaller than the adapter passage medium diameter portion 20c, in the order described from the side of the gas pipe outlet 3a. Between the adapter passage medium diameter portion 20c and the adapter passage small diameter portion 20a, a step portion 20d having a stepped surface in the axial radial direction of the gas flow axis P is provided.
The inner diameter of the large diameter portion 20b of the adapter flow passage is provided with a third stop ring 23 (an example of a stop ring) which fits into an annular groove 23a formed along the inner circumferential direction, has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe end engagement portion 8b in the natural state, and is freely expandable and contractable.
The adapter passage medium diameter portion 20c is provided with a fifth coil spring SP5 (an example of a biasing means) that runs along its inner surface and has one end abutting against a step 20d between the adapter passage medium diameter portion 20c and the adapter passage small diameter portion 20a.
With the above configuration, when the adapter member 20 and the gas pipe outlet 3a are coaxial, the third stop ring 23 in its natural state is in a state where it partially overlaps the pipe end locking portion 8b when viewed in the direction along the gas flow axis P. In this state, when the adapter member 20 moves in a direction approaching the gas pipe outlet 3a, the third stop ring 23 abuts against the front surface 8c (the surface on the base end side of the arrow Y in FIG. 3, the surface on the adapter member 20 side) of the pipe end locking portion 8b and passes through an expanded diameter posture in which its inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the pipe end locking portion 8b, and then the third stop ring 23 moves to the rear surface 8d (the surface on the tip end side of the arrow Y in FIG. 3, the surface on the gas pipe outlet 3a side) of the pipe end locking portion 8b, changing its posture to a reduced diameter posture in which its inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe end locking portion 8b, thereby connecting the adapter member 20 and the gas pipe outlet 3a.
In this connected state, the fifth coil spring SP5, one end of which abuts against the step 20d, biases the adapter member 20 and the gas pipe outlet 3a in a direction away from each other, with the other end abutting against the tip of the gas pipe outlet 3a. This causes a biasing force to act in a direction in which the third stop ring 23 abuts against the rear surface 8d of the pipe end locking portion 8b, suppressing rattling between the adapter member 20 and the gas pipe outlet 3a in the connected state in a direction along the gas flow axis P. In this case, the third stop ring 23 abuts against the end surface of the inner surface of the annular groove 23a on the base end side of the gas pipe outlet 3a.
Furthermore, a sixth seal member S6 (an example of a second seal member) is provided on the inner surface of the large diameter portion 20b of the adapter passage, and a seventh seal member S7 is provided on the inner surface of the medium diameter portion 20c of the adapter passage. In the above-mentioned connected state, the sixth seal member S6 and the seventh seal member S7 seal between the inner surface of the adapter passage and the outer surface of the gas pipe outlet portion 3a in a direction intersecting the biasing direction of the fifth coil spring SP5 (in this embodiment, a direction perpendicular to the biasing direction).

[ Second Reference Form]
In the meter coupler structure 100 according to the second embodiment, a connection mechanism 30 that connects the adapter member 20 and the gas pipe end portions 3a, 4a is different from that of the first embodiment .
In the following description of the meter coupler structure 100 for the second reference embodiment, the configuration of the connection mechanism 30 that differs from that of the first reference embodiment will be mainly described, and the same symbols will be used for configurations that are the same as those of the meter coupler structure 100 for the first reference embodiment, and descriptions of these configurations may be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the gas pipe outlet portion 3a serving as the gas pipe end portion according to the second embodiment has a third annular recessed portion 3f formed along its outer circumferential surface.

As shown in Figure 4, the adapter member 20 of the second reference embodiment is configured to include an adapter gas pipe side body 50a facing the gas pipe outlet portion 3a and an adapter meter side body 20e facing the meter inlet portion 11.
The adapter meter side body 20e is cylindrical in shape and can be connected to the meter inlet 11, and has an adapter passage 20a that communicates with the gas passage 11a formed inside the meter inlet 11. The adapter meter side body 20e has a first annular recess 22 formed along the outer circumferential direction of the cylinder, and a male screw portion 20f is formed along the outer circumferential direction at its gas pipe side end (the end on the tip side of the arrow Y in Figure 4).
Meanwhile, the adapter gas pipe side body 50a is provided at its meter side end (the end at the base end of the arrow Y in FIG. 4) with a female screw portion 56a that can be screwed into the male screw portion 20f of the adapter meter side body 20e.
When the male thread portion 20f of the adapter meter side body 20e and the female thread portion 56a of the adapter gas pipe side body 50a are screwed together, a ninth sealing member S9 is provided between the adapter gas pipe side body 50a and the adapter meter side body 20e to hermetically seal the space between them.

Furthermore, the adapter gas pipe side main body 50a of the adapter has, as the connection mechanism 30, a third operating member 52 that is biased from the adapter member 20 toward the gas pipe outlet 3a by the sixth coil spring SP6, one end of which abuts against the step portion 25, and that can be freely changed between a restricting position (position shown in FIG. 4(a)) in which the third locking ball 51 is biased toward the gas pipe outlet 3a in the state where the adapter member 20 is facing the gas pipe outlet 3a, and the third locking ball 51 is biased toward the gas pipe outlet 3a in the direction opposite to the biasing direction of the sixth coil spring SP6 when the adapter member 20 moves toward the gas pipe outlet 3a, thereby allowing the third locking ball 51 to move toward the gas pipe outlet 3a in the direction opposite to the biasing direction of the sixth coil spring SP6, thereby realizing a connected state. The third operating member 52 is provided in a ring shape along the inner circumferential surface of the adapter gas pipe side main body 50a. Furthermore, when the third operating member 52 is in the permissible position and the adapter member 20 and the gas pipe outlet 3a are connected, the third operating member 52 has an abutment flange 52a extending toward the inner diameter side against which the tip portion 3h of the gas pipe outlet 3a abuts, and is provided with an eighth seal member S8 that seals between the inner peripheral surface of the third operating member 52 and the outer peripheral surface of the gas pipe outlet 3a at the inner diameter portion closer to the gas pipe outlet 3a than the abutment flange 52a in the direction along the gas flow axis P.

Furthermore, the connection mechanism 30 has a third sleeve member 53 that is urged from the adapter member 20 toward the gas pipe outlet 3a by the seventh coil spring SP7 when the adapter member 20 is facing the gas pipe outlet 3a, and can freely change its position between a retracted position (position shown in FIG. 4(a)) in which the third operating member 52 is retracted to the meter side of the adapter member 20 (the base end side of the arrow Y in FIG. 4) when the third operating member 52 is in the restricting position, and a protruding position (positions shown in FIGS. 4(b) and 4(c)) in which the third operating member 52 protrudes to the gas side (the tip side of the arrow Y in FIG. 2), which is the opposite side to the meter pipe side, when the third operating member 52 is in the allowing position, and moves the third locking ball 51 inward in the cylindrical diameter direction to restrict outward movement.
The third sleeve member 53 has a cylindrical shape that fits along the outer circumferential surface of the adapter gas pipe side main body 50a, and has a third recessed portion 53a formed on its inner circumferential surface that is annular along the inner circumferential direction on the meter side and recessed outward in the cylindrical radial direction, and a third bulging portion 53b formed on the meter side of the third recessed portion 53a that is annular along the inner circumferential direction and bulges inward in the cylindrical radial direction. The third sleeve member 53 stores the third locking ball 51 in the third recessed portion 53a in the retracted position, and pushes the third locking ball 51 outward in the cylindrical radial direction at the third bulging portion 53b in the protruding position.
The position of the third sleeve member 53 in the direction of the gas flow axis P in the protruding position is determined by a third stop ring 54 provided on the outer periphery of the third operating member 52 on the meter side. That is, the tip portion of the third sleeve member 53 in the protruding position abuts against the third stop ring 54.
In addition, a ninth seal member S9 that hermetically seals the space between the inner surface of the third sleeve member 53 and the inner surface of the third operating member 52 is provided between the inner surface of the third sleeve member 53 and the inner surface of the third operating member 52, and is positioned on the outer periphery of the third operating member 52.

[Other embodiments and reference embodiments ]
(1) In the above embodiment or reference form , the meter coupler structure 100 is shown as a configuration example used for both connecting the gas pipe outlet portion 3a and the meter inlet portion 11, and connecting the gas pipe inlet portion 4a and the meter outlet portion 12, but a configuration in which it is provided on either one of them may be adopted.
In this case, a union type pipe joint can be suitably adopted as the other configuration example.

(2) As described above, when the meter coupler structure 100 according to the present invention uses the configuration shown in the embodiment or the reference example , the gas pipe ends 3a, 4a can maintain the conventional configuration.
In other words, by using the meter coupler structure 100 of the present invention, it is possible to connect a gas meter 10 in which only the meter flow end is newly developed, while maintaining the configuration of the gas pipe end that was connected by a conventional union-type pipe joint.

(3) Of the locking mechanisms and connection mechanisms of the meter coupler structure 100 described thus far, in the configuration having a sleeve member, a third party other than the operator may move the sleeve member in the axial direction to switch between the extended position and the retracted position, which may result in switching from a locked state to an unlocked state or from a connected state to a non-connected state being performed in a manner unintended by the user.
Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable to provide a rotational position switching mechanism that prohibits the sleeve member from changing between the protruding position and the retracted position.
The rotational position switching mechanism will be described below by taking the meter coupler structure 100 according to the first embodiment as an example.
In addition, in FIG. 5, (a-1), (b-1), and (c-1) are side views of the rotational position switching mechanism including the connection mechanism 30, and (a-2), (b-2), and (c-2) are cross-sectional views of the connection mechanism 30, with (a-2) corresponding to (a-1), (b-2) corresponding to (b-1), and (c-2) corresponding to (c-1).

As shown in FIG. 5, in the meter coupler structure 100, a first sleeve member 33 (an example of a sleeve member) is provided so as to be freely rotatable around a gas flow axis P, and has a rotational position switching mechanism that switches, in the rotational direction around the gas flow axis P, between a position-change permitting rotational position (positions shown in FIG. 5(a) and (b)) that permits the first sleeve member 33 to change its position between a retracted position and an extended position, and a position-change prohibiting rotational position (position shown in FIG. 5(c)) that prohibits the first sleeve member 33 from changing its position between a retracted position and an extended position.
To further explain, the rotational position switching mechanism is composed of a groove portion 130 formed by a first notched groove 131 cut into the cylindrical inner circumferential surface of the first sleeve member 33 along the direction along the gas flow axis P and a second notched groove 132 cut into the cylindrical inner circumferential surface of the first sleeve member 33 along the circumferential direction about the gas flow axis P, which are continuous with each other, and a protrusion portion 134 protruding from a portion facing the inner circumferential surface of the first sleeve member 33 (locking member base 11c in FIG. 5) toward the inner circumferential surface of the first sleeve member 33 and fitting into the groove portion 130, and when the protrusion portion 134 is fitted into the first notched groove 131, the position is the position where attitude change is permitted, and when the protrusion portion 134 is fitted into the second notched groove 132, the position is the position where attitude change is prohibited.
Furthermore, at the end opposite the portion of the second notch groove 132 that communicates with the first notch groove 131, a recessed portion 133 is provided that is recessed in a direction intersecting the notch direction of the second notch groove 132, and the protrusion portion 134 in the posture change prohibited rotation position is positioned in the recessed portion 133 of the second notch groove 132.

Furthermore, the configurations disclosed in the above embodiments or reference forms (including other embodiments or reference forms , the same applies below) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments or reference forms , as long as no contradiction arises. Furthermore, the embodiments or reference forms disclosed in this specification are examples, and the embodiments or reference forms of the present invention are not limited thereto, and can be appropriately modified within the scope that does not deviate from the purpose of the present invention.

The meter coupler structure of the present invention can be effectively used as a meter coupler structure that can significantly reduce construction costs, and can improve safety by eliminating the risk of insufficient retightening during meter replacement and installation, even if the installer has low construction skills.

3a: Gas pipe outlet (gas pipe end)
4a: Gas pipe inlet (gas pipe end)
8b: Pipe end locking portion 10: Gas meter 11: Meter inlet portion (meter flow end portion)
11a: Gas flow passage 11c: Lock member base 12: Meter outlet portion (meter flow end portion)
20: Adapter member 20a: Adapter passage 23: Third stop ring 30: Connection mechanism 40: Lock mechanism 41: First lock ball (lock member)
42: First operating member 43: First sleeve member 100: Meter coupler structure P: Gas flow axis S2: Second seal member S6: Sixth seal member S7: Seventh seal member SP3: Third coil spring SP4: Fourth coil spring SP5: Fifth coil spring

Claims (6)

A meter coupler structure which is responsible for at least one of the following: a meter inlet portion, into which gas flows in and out of a meter flow end portion through which gas flows in and out of a gas meter that measures the flow rate of gas flowing through a gas pipe, and a gas pipe outlet portion, which is a gas pipe end portion of a primary gas pipe; or a meter outlet portion, from which gas flows out of the meter flow end portion, and a gas pipe inlet portion, which is a gas pipe end portion of a secondary gas pipe;
an adapter member having a cylindrical shape that can be connected to the gas pipe end and has an adapter passage that communicates with a gas passage formed inside the gas pipe end, and a first annular recess formed along an outer circumferential direction of the cylinder;
a locking mechanism for locking the adapter member and the meter flow end by a locking member that moves in a cylindrical direction of the adapter member and engages with the first annular recess when the meter flow end moves in a direction approaching the adapter member in a state in which the meter flow end faces the adapter member,
The gas pipe end has a pipe end locking portion formed along an outer circumferential direction of the pipe,
The pipe end locking portion is an annular flange portion formed along an outer circumferential direction of the gas pipe end portion to prevent a union nut constituting a union type pipe joint from coming off,
The adapter member has an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the pipe end locking portion,
a stop ring that is fitted into an annular groove formed along an inner circumferential direction of the adapter passage, has an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the pipe end locking portion in a natural state, and is expandable and contractible;
When the adapter member is moved in a direction approaching the gas pipe end with the stop ring overlapping with the tube end locking portion as viewed in the gas flow axial direction, the stop ring passes through an expanded diameter position in which it is larger than the outer diameter of the tube end locking portion, and then moves toward the base end of the gas pipe end beyond the tube end locking portion in the gas flow axial direction, transitioning to a reduced diameter position in which it is smaller than the outer diameter of the tube end locking portion, thereby functioning as a connection mechanism for connecting the gas pipe end and the adapter member . The locking mechanism includes:
a cylindrical locking member base provided at the meter flow end;
an actuating member that is urged by a first urging member from the meter flow end toward the adapter member in a state in which the adapter member faces the meter flow end, and that is capable of changing its posture between a restricting posture in which the locking ball serving as the locking member is restricted from moving inward in the cylindrical diameter direction, and an allowing posture in which, when the meter flow end moves in a direction approaching the adapter member, the actuating member moves in a direction opposite to the urging direction by the first urging member to allow the locking ball to move inward in the cylindrical diameter direction, thereby realizing the locked state;
2. The meter coupler structure according to claim 1, further comprising a sleeve member which is urged from the meter flow end toward the adapter member by a second urging member when the adapter member is opposed to the meter flow end, and which can be freely changed in position between a retracted position in which the operating member is retracted toward the meter base end side, which is the meter body side of the meter flow end, when the operating member is in the restrictive position, and a protruding position in which the operating member protrudes toward the meter tip side, which is the opposite side to the meter base end side, when the operating member is in the permissive position, and moves the locking ball inward in the cylindrical diameter direction to restrict outward movement of the locking ball. the actuating member has an inner circumferential surface facing a cylindrical outer circumferential surface of the adaptor member in the allowable position,
3. The meter coupler structure according to claim 2, wherein a first seal member is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the actuating member to seal between the meter flow end and the adapter member when the meter flow end moves in a direction approaching the adapter member while the adapter member is facing the meter flow end. 2. The meter coupler structure according to claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism includes a biasing means provided in the adapter member for biasing the tube end locking portion toward the stop ring in the reduced diameter position when the gas tube end and the adapter member are connected. 5. The meter coupler structure according to claim 4, wherein a second seal member is provided in the adapter passage of the adapter member to seal between the inner surface of the adapter passage and the outer surface of the end of the gas pipe in a direction intersecting the biasing direction of the biasing means. 6. The meter coupler structure according to claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism is detachably provided at the end of the gas pipe.

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