Branching pipe joint and an air conditioner provided therewith

Abstract

A branching pipe joint includes a substantially Y-pipe shaped branch part, a first branch nozzle part, a second branch nozzle part, and a first branch pipe. The first branch pipe has an end connected to a tip part of the first branch nozzle part during plumbing work. The first branch nozzle part and the second branch nozzle part are disposed so that a spacing between a portion of the tip part of the first branch nozzle part nearest the second branch nozzle part side and a portion of the second branch nozzle part nearest the tip part of the first branch nozzle part is less than or equal to 40 mm.

1 . A branching pipe joint comprising: 
 a substantially Y-pipe shaped branch part including an inlet pipe part through which a refrigerant flows in from a main pipe, a first outlet pipe part and a second outlet pipe part through which flows the refrigerant along a first direction, which is a flow direction of the refrigerant that flows through said inlet pipe part, and along said first direction in paths substantially symmetric to a centerline of said inlet pipe part;    a first branch nozzle part connected to said first outlet pipe part and extending along said first direction;    a second branch nozzle part connected to said second outlet pipe part and extending along said first direction; and    a first branch pipe with an end connected to a tip part of said first branch nozzle during plumbing work, said first branch pipe being bent so that another end faces a direction that intersects said first direction in a state in which said first branch pipe is connected to said first branch nozzle part,    said first branch nozzle part and said second branch nozzle part being disposed so that a spacing between a portion of said tip part of said first branch nozzle part nearest a second branch nozzle part side and a portion of said second branch nozzle part nearest said tip part of said first branch nozzle part is less than or equal to 40 mm.    
   
   
       2 . The branching pipe joint as recited in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said first branch pipe is configured for connecting to said first branch nozzle part by brazing; and    said spacing is greater than or equal to 7 mm.    
   
   
       3 . The branching pipe joint as recited in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said another end of said first branch pipe has a first reducer pipe connecting part, and wherein a pipe diameter changes in steps.    
   
   
       4 . The branching pipe joint as recited in  claim 1 , wherein 
 a tip part of said second branch nozzle part has a second reducer pipe connecting part that protrudes further than said tip part of said first branch nozzle part toward said first direction and wherein a pipe diameter changes in steps.    
   
   
       5 . The branching pipe joint as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a second branch pipe having an end connected during plumbing work to said second branch nozzle part, said second branch pipe including a second reducer pipe connecting part at another end with a pipe diameter changing in steps, and extending along said first direction in a state connected to said second branch nozzle part.    
   
   
       6 . An air conditioner, comprising: 
 at least one indoor unit;    a plurality of outdoor units;    a union connecting piping that serves as a main pipe extending from said indoor unit to said plurality of outdoor units;    at least one branching pipe joint, as recited in  claim 1 , said at least one branching pipe joint being connected to said union connecting piping in accordance with a number of said outdoor units and distributing a flow of a refrigerant to two flows; and    a plurality of unit branch pipings that each connects said at least one branching pipe joint to a connection port of one of said outdoor units.    
   
   
       7 . The branching pipe joint as recited in  claim 3 , wherein 
 a tip part of said second branch nozzle part has a second reducer pipe connecting part that protrudes further than said tip part of said first branch nozzle part toward said first direction and wherein a pipe diameter changes in steps.    
   
   
       8 . The branching pipe joint as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising 
 a second branch pipe having an end connected during plumbing work to said second branch nozzle part, said second branch pipe including a second reducer pipe connecting part at another end with a pipe diameter changing in steps, and extending along said first direction in a state connected to said second branch nozzle part.    
   
   
       9 . An air conditioner, comprising: 
 at least one indoor unit;    a plurality of outdoor units;    a union connecting piping that serves as a main pipe extending from said indoor unit to said plurality of outdoor units;    at least one branching pipe joint, as recited in  claim 3 , said at least one branching pipe joint being connected to said union connecting piping in accordance with a number of said outdoor units and distributing a flow of a refrigerant to two flows; and    a plurality of unit branch pipings that each connects said at least one branching pipe joint to a connection port of one of said outdoor units.    
   
   
       10 . An air conditioner, comprising: 
 at least one indoor unit;    a plurality of outdoor units;    a union connecting piping that serves as a main pipe extending from said indoor unit to said plurality of outdoor units;    at least one branching pipe joint, as recited in  claim 5 , said at least one branching pipe joint being connected to said union connecting piping in accordance with a number of said outdoor units and distributing a flow of a refrigerant to two flows; and    a plurality of unit branch pipings that each connects said at least one branching pipe joint to a connection port of one of said outdoor units.    
   
   
       11 . The branching pipe joint as recited in  claim 2 , wherein 
 said another end of said first branch pipe has a first reducer pipe connecting part, and wherein a pipe diameter changes in steps.    
   
   
       12 . The branching pipe joint as recited in  claim 2 , wherein 
 a tip part of said second branch nozzle part has a second reducer pipe connecting part that protrudes further than said tip part of said first branch nozzle part toward said first direction and wherein a pipe diameter changes in steps.    
   
   
       13 . The branching pipe joint as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising 
 a second branch pipe having an end connected during plumbing work to said second branch nozzle part, said second branch pipe including a second reducer pipe connecting part another end with a pipe diameter changing in steps, and extending along said first direction in a state connected to said second branch nozzle part.    
   
   
       14 . An air conditioner, comprising: 
 at least one indoor unit;    a plurality of outdoor units;    a union connecting piping that serves as a main pipe extending from said indoor unit to said plurality of outdoor units;    at least one branching pipe joint, as recited in  claim 2 , said at least one branching pipe joint being connected to said union connecting piping in accordance with a number of said outdoor units and distributing a flow of a refrigerant to two flows; and    a plurality of unit branch pipings that each connects said at least one branching pipe joint to a connection port of one of said outdoor units.