Connected structure of vacuum double pipe, vacuum double pipe, and joint of vacuum double pipe

• US 8,590,942 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2011
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CKD Corporation, Mirapro Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: CKD Corporation, Mirapro Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kouketsu, Masayuki, Itafuji, Hiroshi, Hayakawa, Shinji, Kohno, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCHNA, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/073,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20110233923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 285/123.4, 285/123.3, 285/123.1, 285/123.12, 285/904
• US Class Current: 285/123.3
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 39/005 for concentric pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/065 using vacuum F16L59/075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/182 Joints with sleeve or socket in general F16L21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67017 Apparatus for fluid treatment H01L21/67126, H01L21/6715 take precedence

Abstract

The connected structure includes a plurality of vacuum double pipes and a joint connecting the plurality of vacuum double pipes. Each vacuum double pipe includes an inner pipe and an outer pipe, and a vacuum passage is formed between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. The vacuum passage is open at both ends in an extension direction of the inner pipe and sealed between the both ends. The joint includes an inner pipe joint portion having inner pipe connectors and an outer pipe joint portion having outer pipe connectors. The joint evacuation passage connects the vacuum passages and is sealed between the outer pipe connectors.

Claims

1. A connected structure of vacuum double pipes, comprising:

a plurality of vacuum double pipes, each of the plurality of vacuum double pipes including an inner pipe having a flow passage for flowing a fluid, and an outer pipe covering the inner pipe to form a vacuum passage between the inner pipe and the outer pipe, the vacuum passage being open at both ends in an extension direction of the inner pipe and sealed between the both ends; and

a joint configured to connect the plurality of vacuum double pipes,

wherein the joint includes;

an inner pipe joint portion having inner pipe connectors, each of the inner pipe connectors being connected to corresponding one of the inner pipes so as to connect the flow passage, the inner pipe joint portion being sealed between the inner pipe connectors; and

an outer pipe joint portion having outer pipe connectors, each of the outer pipe connectors being connected to corresponding one of the outer pipes, the outer pipe joint portion covering the inner pipe joint portion to form a joint evacuation passage between the inner pipe joint portion and the outer pipe joint portion, the joint evacuation passage connecting the vacuum passages of the vacuum double pipes and is sealed between the outer pipe connectors,

wherein the double vacuum pipes include;

a plurality of nodes formed on the inner pipe by bending a pipe wall of the inner pipe with intervals, each node having an annular shape and projecting outwardly in a radial direction; and

a support member mounted on an outer periphery of the inner pipe, the support member having a plurality of projecting portions provided on an outer periphery thereof, and a groove formed on an inner surface thereof, the support member being mounted on the outer periphery of the inner pipe by fitting one of the nodes into the groove,

and wherein the outer pipe is supported by the plurality of projecting portions in a state of point contact or line contact.

2. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 1, further comprising:

an inner pipe sealing structure configured to form a seal between the inner pipe and the inner pipe connector in a radial direction of the inner pipe;

an outer pipe sealing structure configured to form a seal between the outer pipe and the outer pipe connector; and

an outer pipe connecting structure configured to connect the outer pipe and the outer pipe connector detachably.

3. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 2, wherein

the outer pipe sealing structure includes an outer pipe sealing member that forms the seal between the outer pipe and the outer pipe connector in an extension direction of the outer pipe, and

the outer pipe connecting structure maintains a connection between the outer pipe and the outer pipe connector in a state where the outer pipe sealing member is deformed by a predetermined amount.

4. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 2, wherein

the outer pipe connecting structure includes a manipulator configured to manipulate the outer pipe connecting structure to disconnect the outer pipe and the outer pipe connector.

5. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 4, wherein

the manipulator includes a visual confirmation unit configured to enable visual confirmation for a connection of the outer pipe and the outer pipe connector by the outer pipe connecting structure.

6. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 1, further comprising:

a bellows portion formed in the inner pipe, the bellows portion including a plurality of nodes continuously formed at intervals.

7. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 1, wherein the inner pipe joint portion and the outer pipe joint portion support each other in a state of point contact or line contact.

8. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 1, further comprising:

a joint support member mounted on an outer periphery of the inner pipe joint portion; and

a plurality of projecting portions provided on an outer periphery of the joint support member,

wherein the outer pipe joint portion is supported in a state of point contact or line contact by the plurality of projecting portions.

9. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 1, wherein

the joint forms a valve unit for controlling a fluid flowing through the inner pipe of the vacuum double pipe,

the inner pipe joint portion forms a fluid passage connected to the inner pipe, the fluid passage allowing a fluid from the inner pipe to flow therethrough, the valve unit includes a valve having a valve main body and a valve body for controlling the fluid flowing through the fluid passage,

the outer pipe joint portion forms a valve case that covers the fluid passage and the valve main body and is connected to the outer pipe,

the joint evacuation passage is formed by a space between the fluid passage portion and valve and the valve case, and the joint evacuation passage connects spaces between the inner pipe and the outer pipe of the vacuum double pipes, the joint evacuation passage being sealed between the vacuum double pipes.

10. A connected structure of vacuum double pipes, comprising:

a plurality of vacuum double pipes, each of the plurality of vacuum double pipes including an inner pipe having a flow passage for flowing a fluid, and an outer pipe covering the inner pipe to form a vacuum passage between the inner pipe and the outer pipe, the vacuum passage being open at both ends in an extension direction of the inner pipe and sealed between the both ends; and

a joint configured to connect the plurality of vacuum double pipes, the joint including;

an inner pipe joint portion having inner pipe connectors, each of the inner pipe connectors being connected to corresponding one of the inner pipes so as to connect the flow passage, the inner pipe joint portion being sealed between the inner pipe connectors; and

an outer pipe joint portion having outer pipe connectors, each of the outer pipe connectors being connected to corresponding one of the outer pipes, the outer pipe joint portion forming a joint evacuation passage between the inner pipe joint portion and the outer pipe joint portion, the joint evacuation passage connecting the vacuum passages of the vacuum double pipes and being sealed between the outer pipe connectors,

wherein the outer pipe is connected to the outer pipe connector by being inserting into the outer pipe connector, the outer pipe having a first groove formed on an outer surface thereof, and the outer pipe connector having a second groove formed on an inner surface thereof at a position to be aligned with a position of the first groove when the outer pipe is inserted to a connection position, the connected structure of vacuum double pipes further comprising;

an inner pipe sealing structure configured to form a seal between the inner pipe and the inner pipe connector in a radial direction of the inner pipe;

an outer pipe sealing structure including an outer pipe sealing member configured to form a seal between the outer pipe and the outer pipe connector in an extension direction of the outer pipe; and

an outer pipe connecting structure configured to connect the outer pipe and the outer pipe connector detachably, the outer pipe connecting structure maintaining a connection between the outer pipe and the outer pipe connector in a state where the outer pipe sealing member is deformed by a predetermined amount, the outer pipe connecting structure including a latch ring which is elastically deformable, the latch ring allowing the outer pipe to be inserted through the outer pipe connector by being compressed to have a reduced diameter so as to engage with the first groove only, and connecting the outer pipe and the outer pipe connector at the connection position by widening to have an enlarged diameter so as to engage with both of the first groove and the second groove.

11. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 10, wherein

the outer pipe connecting structure includes a manipulator configured to manipulate the outer pipe connecting structure to disconnect the outer pipe and the outer pipe connector.

12. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 11, wherein

the manipulator includes a visual confirmation unit configured to enable visual confirmation for a connection of the outer pipe and the outer pipe connector by the outer pipe connecting structure.

13. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 10, wherein the double vacuum pipes include:

a plurality of nodes formed on at least one of the inner pipe and the outer pipe by bending a pipe wall of the at least one of the inner pipe and the outer pipe with intervals, each node having an annular shape and projecting outwardly in a radial direction.

14. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of nodes are formed on the outer pipe.

15. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of nodes are formed on the inner pipe.

16. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of nodes are formed on both of the inner pipe and the outer pipe.

17. The connected structure of vacuum double pipes according to claim 13, further comprising:

a bellows portion formed in at least one of the inner pipe and the outer pipe, the bellows portion including a plurality of nodes continuously formed at intervals on the at least one of the inner pipe and the outer pipe.