# US 11,906,081 B2 · Pipe joint structure and air conditioner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,906,081 B2 - Document ID: US11906081B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/280,510 - Filed: 2018-12-20 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-20 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Inventors: Yasushi Oba; Takuya Goto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906081B2 ## CPC - F16L 19/025: the pipe ends having integral collars or flanges - F16L 19/0283: {and having a bell-mouthed shape} - F16L 19/005: {comprising locking means for the threaded member} - F24F 1/0068: characterised by the arrangement of refrigerant piping outside the heat exchanger within the unit casing - F24F 1/26: Refrigerant piping - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) ## Abstract A pipe joint structure includes: a union; a flare nut that includes a female thread formed at one of axially opposite ends of the flare nut, and a first annular surface formed at the other of the axially opposite ends of the flare nut; a cylindrical sleeve that houses the flare nut such that the flare nut can be rotate and moved forward and backward; a rotary ring that has a second annular surface located to face the first annular surface, and is attached to the sleeve such that the rotary ring can be rotated for the union; and a pressing member that presses the flare nut toward the rotary ring. At the second annular surface, a claw is formed in such a manner as to protrude towards the flare nut. The first annular surface includes an engagement surface that is formed in such a manner to face one side in a circumferential direction and a helically inclined surface that is adjacent to the engagement surface in the circumferential direction and formed helically in such a way as to incline and face the opposite side of the one side in the circumferential direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pipe joint structure formed to connect two pipes and comprising: a union connected to one of the two pipes, and including a male thread and a tapered outer circumferential surface; a flare nut including a female thread that is formed at one of axially opposite ends of the flare nut, and is fitted to the male thread, a through-hole that is formed in the other of the axially opposite ends of the flare nut, and allows the other of the two pipes to pass through the through-hole, a tapered inner circumferential surface that is formed between the female thread and the through-hole, and is located such that a flare portion of the other of the two pipes is sandwiched between the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface, and a first annular surface that is formed around the through-hole at the other of the axially opposite ends of the flare nut; a cylindrical sleeve configured to house the flare nut such that the flare nut is allowed to rotate and move forward and backward; a rotary ring having a second annular surface that faces the first annular surface, the rotary ring being attached to the cylindrical sleeve such that the rotary ring is allowed to rotate for the union; and a spring configured to press the flare nut toward the rotary ring, wherein at the second annular surface, a claw is formed in such a manner as to protrude toward the flare nut, and wherein the first annular surface includes an engagement surface that is formed in such a manner to face one side in a circumferential direction and a helically inclined surface that is adjacent to the engagement surface in the circumferential direction and formed helically in such a way as to incline and face the opposite side of the one side in the circumferential direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pipe joint structure of claim 1, wherein the engagement surface is configured to engage with the claw when the rotary ring is rotated in a tightening direction for the union, and the helically inclined surface is configured to cause the claw to slide in the circumferential direction when the rotary ring is rotated for the union in the opposite direction to the tightening direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pipe joint structure of claim 1, wherein the helically inclined surface is helical in the same direction as the female thread. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An air-conditioning apparatus comprising: an indoor unit including an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor pipe that extends from the indoor heat exchanger; and an outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit by an extension pipe, wherein the indoor pipe and the extension pipe are connected by the pipe joint structure of claim 1. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pipe joint structure of claim 1, wherein the flare nut includes a first contact surface configured to support a first end of the spring, and the cylindrical sleeve includes a second contact surface configured to support a second end of the spring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pipe joint structure of claim 1, wherein the spring is provided between an outer circumferential surface of the flare nut and an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical sleeve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pipe joint structure of claim 1, wherein the claw is formed in the shape of a trapezoid having a flat distal end.