Patent Description:
Fitting accessories are generally used and fittings are diversely used throughout the world to serve as a joint to pipes (or hoses) (hereinafter referred to as "pipes") from metal pipes or urethane hoses to water purifier hoses.

<FIG> illustrates a conventional fitting device.

As shown in <FIG>, when dismantling or separating a pipe <NUM> that was previously inserted ("pre-inserted pipe"), the conventional fitting device <NUM> expands an inner diameter of an inner bore lock washer spring by pressing both ends of the fitting device so as to remove the pipe that has been gripped (or fixed). However, in this process, both ends of the fitting device <NUM>, that is, a circular periphery should be continuously pressed until the pipe is released and, if force is applied to only one side of the periphery, an inner diameter of a ring lock washer spring cannot be evenly expanded in overall directions and causes an inconvenience in that the pipe <NUM> is not easy to remove.

In order to overcome such inconvenience, as shown in <FIG>, a C-shaped tool <NUM> is used as a washer such that the tool is fitted into the pre-inserted pipe <NUM>, followed by evenly applying force to both sides of the circular periphery at the end of the fitting device <NUM>, in order to separate the pipe <NUM>. However, the C-shaped tool <NUM> should be carried and managed along with different types or pipe diameters of the pipe <NUM> and, if the C-shaped tool <NUM> is lost or not carried, there is a problem of considerable inconvenience in removing the pipe <NUM>. Further, for most of the fitting devices <NUM>, when the pipe <NUM> is inserted into the fitting device, the pipe is often scratched by the ring lock washer spring and the repeatedly scratched pipe <NUM> is easily released even without applied force, hence causing a problem in that the pipe must be inserted after cutting out an end of the inserted portion of the pipe.

In general, an element for cooling is used for air conditioning in a cycle of compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation, wherein gas is introduced through a service valve and heat-exchange type air conditioning is performed by interaction between an indoor unit and an outdoor unit.

Herein, with regard to the service valve with reference to <FIG>, attachment of a pipe E to a conventional air-conditioning service valve A is implemented using the service valve A and threads of a thread nipple B included in the service valve rather than any fitting device. More particularly, after expanding the pipe E in a trumpet shape (C) by means of an expansion tool, the service valve A and the pipe E are fastened to each other using nuts corresponding to the thread nipple B while tightening and turning the nuts D.

As shown in <FIG>, when the air-conditioning service valve A shown in <FIG> is installed on the outdoor unit, an inconvenient operation of pipe expansion is required in order to modify the pipe E into a trumpet(C) shape at both of the indoor unit side and the outdoor unit side. Further, in order to fasten the pipe E with a nipple integrally with an evaporator at the indoor unit side, the trumpet-shaped (C) pipe E should be tightened with a monkey spanner using a nut D, which is a cumbersome operation.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, the service valve A at the outdoor unit side has a configuration such that a fluid (gas) is blocked by fitting a hexagonal wrench G into a hexagonal groove of a valve nut F and turning the same, so as to control flow thereof. As shown in the figures, the hexagonal wrench G is a "¬"-shaped wrench but a worker must carry different types and sizes of wrenches.

In other words, since the outdoor unit installed on an outer wall of a high-rise building has insufficient space between the unit and the outer wall, the valve nut F and the outer wall are too close to each other, and thus, a wrench in a straight form cannot be inserted into the hexagonal groove. Therefore, different types of " ¬" "-shaped wrenches must be carried.

Under such background, with regard to fastening the service valve A with the pipe E at the outdoor unit side, due to a narrow space depending upon conditions of the working environment, the nut D may not be tightened and turned even using a small monkey spanner. In such case, it is inevitable that the worker pokes the body out of a window (or door) when working on a banister, high floors, exterior walls, etc. In this case, if the worker accidentally drops a tool, the tool may hit a pedestrian's head or fall onto a passenger car bonnet. Worse still, there are cases where workers having tried to fasten the service valve A with the pipe E on the <NUM>th floor of an apartment building fell to their death. As such, the above operation entails serious risk.

Accordingly, there is an urgent need for technical embodiments to solve the aforementioned problems.

The present inventors have invented a fitting device for easy insertion and removal of a pipe and a service valve including the same (<CIT>) and further proposed a fitting device for easy fastening and dismantling of a pipe in an alternative manner.

<CIT> relates to pipe fitting, for example, of pipes and hoses, and more particularly to a service valve including a fitting device for easy insertion and removal of a pipe that is utilized as a cooling/heating cycle air conditioning part. <CIT> provides an improved structure of a quick-connect pipe fitting, and particularly a structure for a quick-connect pipe fitting used to connect a pressure pipe or a hydraulic tubing in a system that comprises a compression member on top of a lock washer such that the compression member is fitted and secured in a base. <CIT> discloses an instantaneous coupling connection for connecting metallic tubes for e.g. hydraulic transmission. <CIT> relates to mechanical pipe couplings for joining pipe elements.

According to the invention, a fitting device is provided as set out in claim <NUM>. According to another aspect of the invention, a service valve is provided as set out in claim <NUM>.

The present disclosure has been devised to overcome the aforementioned problems and reduce accident factors during work, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fitting device for easily, safely and conveniently fastening and dismantling a pipe, as well as a service valve including the same.

With regard to a service valve that includes a service valve unit <NUM> having a valve handle <NUM> exposed to the outside and a fitting device <NUM> provided with a fitting housing <NUM> coupled to the service valve unit100 at one end of the fitting housing, the present invention provides a service valve including a fitting device, characterized in that a fitting housing <NUM> may have an outer thread formed by a predetermined length on an outer ring at the other end of the fitting housing, and a first inner boss protruding from the other end at a predetermined depth, in addition, the fitting device <NUM> may include: a cap handle <NUM> screwed to the outer thread of the fitting housing <NUM>; a ring lock washer spring <NUM> seated on the first inner boss; and a sleeve <NUM> fitted into an inner bore of the other end and interposed between the ring lock washer spring <NUM> and the cap handle <NUM>, wherein the sleeve <NUM> moves and presses the ring lock washer spring <NUM> by rotation of the cap handle <NUM> to expand a diameter of the inner bore ("inner diameter"), so as to dismantle a pipe <NUM> previously inserted ("pre-inserted pipe") in the fitting device <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, the fitting housing <NUM> may include an inner thread formed by a predetermined length at the inner bore of the other end, wherein the first inner boss protrudes from the innermost side of the inner thread and the ring lock washer spring <NUM> is seated on the first inner boss, and the fitting device <NUM> may further include a guide ring nut <NUM> screwed to the inner thread to fix the ring lock washer spring <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, the fitting housing <NUM> may include a second inner boss protruding at a predetermined depth from the first inner boss toward the service valve, and the fitting device <NUM> may include: a support ring <NUM> which is seated on the second inner boss and comes into contact with an end of the pre-inserted pipe <NUM> to block further entry of the pipe <NUM>; and a rubber packing <NUM> interposed between the support ring <NUM> and the ring lock washer spring <NUM>, an end of which is tapered to be in contact with tapered teeth protruding from an inner diameter of the ring lock washer spring <NUM>.

According to one embodiment, the support ring <NUM> may include at least one gas inlet perforated on an outer circumference thereof, and the rubber packing <NUM> may be formed in a tapered tubular shape having an outer diameter increasing toward the service valve, which is provided with a gas compression groove on a thickness surface at the service valve side, wherein a portion of gas introduced from the service valve presses the gas compression groove through the gas inlet, so as to improve air-tightness between the rubber packing <NUM> and the ring lock washer spring or increase fastening force between the ring lock washer spring <NUM> and the pipe <NUM>.

In addition, the present invention provides a fitting device <NUM> capable of dismantling a pipe <NUM> previously inserted into the fitting device <NUM>, including: a fitting housing <NUM> which includes an outer thread formed by a predetermined length on an outer ring at the other end thereof and a first inner boss protruding at a predetermined depth from the other end; a cap handle <NUM> screwed to the outer thread of the fitting housing <NUM>; a ring lock washer spring <NUM> seated on the first inner boss; and a sleeve <NUM> which is fitted into an inner bore at the other end of the fitting housing <NUM> and interposed between the ring lock washer spring <NUM> and the cap handle <NUM>, wherein the sleeve <NUM> moves and presses the ring lock washer spring <NUM> by rotation of the cap handle <NUM> so as to expand a diameter of the inner bore, that is, an inner diameter.

The fitting device and the service valve including the same according to the present invention may exhibit effects of fastening or dismantling a pipe only by rotating the cap handle without scratching an outer surface of the pipe, even though a periphery of both ends of the fitting device is not continuously pressed as in the prior art and even if no further tool is carried and used.

In addition, the present invention can control a fluid (gas) by simply turning the valve handle even in a narrow space without loosening the nut.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the same or similar elements are assigned the same reference numbers regardless of the reference numerals, and repeated descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "unit" and "part" or "member" for components used in the following description are given or interchangeably used only considering ease of writing the specification, and do not have meanings or roles distinguished from one another in themselves. In addition, with regard to the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, if descriptions of related known technologies are considered to obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, and the technical scope of present invention as defined by the appended claims is not limited by the accompanying drawings, and it should be appreciated that all modifications, equivalents and/or substitutions of the present invention are included in the technical scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Terms including ordinal numbers such as first and second may be used to describe different components, but the components are not limited by the terms.

The aforementioned terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components.

When a component is said to be "connected" or "coupled" to another component, it is understood that a component may be directly connected to or coupled to another component but a different component may also exist therebetween. On the other hand, when a component is said to be "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another component, it should be understood that no other component exists therebetween.

Singular expressions may include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In this specification, although terms such as "comprises" or "have" are intended to indicate that there are features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, it should be appreciated that possibilities of existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof are not excluded in advance.

<FIG> illustrates overall appearance of a service valve including a fitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, a fitting device <NUM> is fastened to one end of the service valve unit <NUM>, wherein a pipe may be installed on the fitting device <NUM>, more particularly, may be inserted into a pipe inlet of a fitting housing <NUM>, and one end of the fitting housing <NUM> may be fastened to the service valve unit <NUM> having a valve handle <NUM> exposed to the outside.

For reference, a base <NUM> integrally formed with a valve housing 100a illustrated in <FIG> may be attached to the outside of an outdoor unit, and a copper pipe <NUM> may be connected to a coupler of a compressor.

The fitting device according to one embodiment of the present invention may of course be widely employed in general hydraulic/pneumatic applications or injection fitting applications other than a refrigerating machine.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the service valve including a fitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in <FIG>, the valve housing 100a may be fastened with a valve nut <NUM> on one side thereof. That is, a thread formed on an inner bore of a coupler formed in one direction of the valve housing 100a is mutually engaged and fastened with another thread formed on an outer ring at one end of the valve nut <NUM>, so that the valve nut <NUM> is fitted into the valve housing 100a to be installed.

A circular groove may be formed along an outer circumference in the middle of the valve nut <NUM>, and a valve packing 130a may be fitted into the circular groove. A ringshaped guide washer pin 130b which is partially opened may be fitted into a C-shaped groove at an end of the inner bore of the coupler formed in one direction of the valve housing 100a.

In addition, a nut stopper <NUM> may be fastened while turning around the outer thread at the end of the valve housing 100a such that the valve nut <NUM> protruding outwardly penetrates a hollow part. Further, a valve stopper packing <NUM> may be interposed between the nut stopper <NUM> and the valve nut <NUM>.

The end portion protruding outwardly through the hollow part of the nut stopper <NUM> has a square shape and is provided with a thread groove on an outer surface thereof, and a handle screw <NUM> is fastened in the thread groove in a state in which a valve handle <NUM> having a square groove is fitted, so that the valve nut <NUM> may rotate in correspondence with rotation of the valve handle <NUM>.

After a pin nut <NUM> is fitted into a fluid (GAS) inlet 150a of the valve housing 100a, a fluid stopper nut <NUM> may be fastened by turning the outer thread of the fluid (GAS) inlet 150a. When the fluid (GAS) is introduced, the pin nut <NUM> may be pressed by an injection nut to introduce the fluid.

Meanwhile, the fitting housing <NUM> may be fastened to a coupler provided in one direction of the valve housing 100a, as shown in <FIG>. According to a specific embodiment, the coupler in one direction of the valve housing 100a may consist of a nipple <NUM> and, in order to be coupled to the nipple <NUM>, one end of the fitting housing <NUM> may have an inner bore formed with a thread by a predetermined length corresponding to the nipple <NUM> (see <FIG> and the like).

On an outer ring at the other end of the fitting housing <NUM>, an outer thread may be formed by a predetermined length, to which a cap handle <NUM> having a thread corresponding to the inner side may be screw-fastened. Herein, the cap handle <NUM> may include a thru-hole formed as an entrance in the center portion, through which a pipe <NUM> is inserted to penetrate the center portion. An outer ring of the cap handle may be formed in a sawtooth shape to be easily turned by a hand.

An inner bore of the cap handle <NUM> may be engaged and fastened with the outer thread of the fitting housing <NUM>, wherein an end of the cap handle <NUM> is preferably folded by means of press processing to be caught on the outer thread of the protruding fitting housing <NUM>, thus preventing the cap handle <NUM> from being released from the fitting housing <NUM>.

Among the terms used in this specification, one end of the fitting housing <NUM> refers to an end of the fitting housing <NUM>, to which the valve housing 100a is coupled. On the other hand, the other end of the fitting housing <NUM> refers to an opposite end thereof, to which the cap handle <NUM> is coupled.

The fitting housing <NUM> may be formed in a straight tubular shape, however, the present invention is not limited thereto. Instead, as shown in <FIG>, a variety of shapes such as an L-shape, a Y-shape, etc. may also be applied.

A sleeve <NUM> may be fitted into the other end of the fitting housing <NUM>, and the sleeve <NUM> may move forward or backward according to rotation of the cap handle <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and the like, the sleeve <NUM> may include: a tubular sleeve body with an outer diameter corresponding to an inner diameter of the ring lock washer spring <NUM>; and a wing part with an outer diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the other end of the fitting housing <NUM>. Herein, one end <NUM> of the body of the sleeve <NUM> may have a sharp-tapered shape while the wing part may be extended to be bent outwardly from the other end of the sleeve body.

As shown in <FIG> and the like, the sleeve <NUM> may be installed such that the sleeve body is inserted into the other end of the fitting housing <NUM> and the wing part spans the other end of the fitting housing <NUM>.

Accordingly, when the cap handle <NUM> rotates in an unlocking direction and moves toward the fitting housing <NUM>, the wing part of the sleeve <NUM> is pressed toward the fitting housing side <NUM> and an end <NUM> of the body of the sleeve <NUM> may expand teeth formed along a circumference of the inner bore of the ring lock washer spring <NUM> (see <FIG>).

On the contrary, when the cap handle <NUM> rotates in a locking direction and moves away from the fitting housing <NUM>, the wing part of the sleeve <NUM> is not pressed toward the fitting housing side <NUM> but retracts the sleeve <NUM> by elastic force of the ring lock washer spring <NUM> and, at the same time, the inner bore of the ring lock washer spring <NUM> may be closed to reduce the inner diameter (see <FIG>).

To this end, a length of the sleeve body may be defined such that, when the sleeve <NUM> is pressed toward the fitting housing <NUM>, a front end of the sleeve <NUM> reaches the tapered tooth portion of the ring lock washer spring <NUM>.

In this case, in order to move the sleeve <NUM> forward or backward whenever the cap handle <NUM> moves forward or backward, the cap handle <NUM> may be formed integrally with the sleeve <NUM> or may be attached to the sleeve <NUM>.

The ring lock washer spring <NUM> positioned in front of the sleeve <NUM> may include a first inner boss protruding at a predetermined depth from the other end of the fitting housing <NUM> so as to expand the inner bore without being pushed by a pressure of the sleeve <NUM>.

On the first inner boss, the ring lock washer spring <NUM>, specifically, a periphery of the ring lock washer spring <NUM>, is seated, wherein teeth formed on the inner bore of the ring lock washer spring <NUM> may be arranged to be tapered in a direction parallel to a pressing direction of the sleeve <NUM> by the cap handle <NUM>.

On the other hand, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the fitting housing <NUM> may include an inner thread formed by a predetermined length on the inner bore at the other end, and the first inner boss may protrude from the innermost side of the inner thread and the ring lock washer spring <NUM> is preferably seated on the first inner boss.

At this time, a guide ring nut <NUM> is preferably screwed to the inner thread so as to press/fix the periphery of the ring lock washer spring <NUM> seated on the first inner boss.

Accordingly, the ring lock washer spring <NUM> seated on the first inner boss is interposed between the first inner boss and the guide ring nut <NUM>, so that the guide ring nut <NUM> tightened along the inner thread may rigidly fix the ring lock washer spring <NUM>. As a result, even when the sleeve <NUM> is inserted into or released from the inner bore of the ring lock washer spring <NUM>, the ring lock washer spring <NUM> may not move but maintain the original position thereof.

Of course, the sleeve <NUM> penetrates a hollow part or an inner bore of the guide ring nut <NUM>, and the sleeve <NUM> may not move forward or backward without interference with the guide ring nut <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the fitting housing <NUM> may further include a second inner boss protruding at a predetermined depth from the first inner boss in the direction of the service valve unit <NUM>.

The support ring <NUM> is seated on the second inner boss wherein the support ring <NUM> is in contact with an end of the inserted pipe <NUM> to prevent the pipe <NUM> from further entering the service valve unit side <NUM>.

Although not specifically defined, the support ring may include a stepped part <NUM> to seat the support ring on the second inner boss, and a tubular diameter of the support ring <NUM> may be different before and after the stepped part <NUM>.

In addition, the support ring <NUM> may include at least one gas inlet perforated on an outer circumference of the support ring, wherein a space is present in the gas inlet in order to guide gas passing through the gas inlet to a gas compression groove of the rubber packing <NUM> to be described later.

The gas inlet may be perforated and formed on the outer circumference of the support ring <NUM>. However, according to another embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the gas inlet may comprise at least one groove formed in a length direction around the outer circumference of the support ring <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the gas inlet through which the fluid enters may be formed around an outer periphery of the support ring <NUM>, thus easily manufacturing the support ring <NUM> while reducing production cost.

In this case, the fluid flowing through the gas inlet formed in a length direction of the outer circumference of the support ring <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, may directly/indirectly press the rubber packing <NUM> and the ring lock washer spring <NUM> in order, and therefore, fastening force between the ring lock washer spring <NUM> and the pipe <NUM> may be increased.

The rubber packing <NUM> may be interposed between the support ring <NUM> and the ring lock washer spring <NUM>.

At this time, a portion where the rubber packing <NUM> is installed, that is, a region from the second inner boss to the first inner boss of the fitting housing <NUM> may have a tapered shape to be gradually narrowed. Accordingly, the rubber packing <NUM> made of an elastic material may also have an outer ring in a tapered tubular shape that becomes narrower toward the first inner boss.

Further, a gas compression groove is preferably formed on a thickness surface of one end of the rubber packing <NUM>, that is, on the end facing the second inner boss.

Accordingly, some of the gas introduced through the gas inlet of the support ring <NUM> may press the rubber packing <NUM> toward the ring lock washer spring <NUM> with reference to the gas compression groove as an operating point. By pressing the rubber packing <NUM>, the rubber packing <NUM> may be compressed with the ring lock washer spring <NUM> so as to improve air-tightness between the rubber packing <NUM> and the ring lock washer spring <NUM>.

For this purpose, more preferably, a thickness surface of the other end of the rubber packing <NUM>, that is, the end facing the ring lock washer spring <NUM>, is tapered to be in contact with teeth protruding to be tapered in the ring lock washer spring <NUM>, so as to have a concave shape.

Hereinafter, a process of operating the fitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in <FIG>, for example, when the cap handle <NUM> is turned to the right, that is, in the unlocking state, the end <NUM> of the body of the sleeve <NUM> expands the teeth in the inner bore of the ring lock washer spring <NUM> by the cap handle <NUM>, as in the unlocking state shown in <FIG>, and therefore, the pipe <NUM> may be inserted without scratching an outer circumference of the pipe. Herein, the stepped part <NUM> formed on the inner bore of the support ring <NUM> inhibits further entry of the pipe <NUM>, whereby the end of the pipe <NUM> inserted into the fitting device <NUM> may contact the stepped part <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, for example, when the cap handle <NUM> is turned to the left, that is, in the locking state, the sleeve <NUM> retracts to reduce a diameter of the expanded inner bore of the ring lock washer spring <NUM> by the cap handle <NUM>, as in the locking state shown in <FIG>, and therefore, the teeth are closed to bite the pipe <NUM> and the pipe <NUM> may be firmly fixed.

In this regard, a rotational direction for moving the cap handle <NUM> forward and backward may be determined along a direction of threads formed between the cap handle <NUM> and the fitting housing <NUM>, and the present invention does not particularly limit the direction of the threads between the cap handle <NUM> and the fitting housing <NUM>.

At this time, when the gas fluid flows, as shown in <FIG>, the gas fluid may pass through the gas inlet formed on the outer circumference of the support ring <NUM> (for example, formed in each of four directions) and press the gas compression groove of the rubber packing <NUM>, whereby the rubber packing <NUM> may be compressed with the ring lock washer spring <NUM>. Herein, due to the tapered inner bore of the fitting housing <NUM> in which the rubber packing <NUM> is inserted, the periphery of the ring lock washer spring <NUM> may be further air-tightened. The higher the gas pressure, the more air-tightening effects can be expected. Since the rubber packing <NUM> compresses the tapered portion of the ring lock washer spring <NUM>, air-tightening effects may be maximized.

In addition, since the tapered teeth portion of the ring lock washer spring <NUM> is pressed to the rubber packing <NUM> by gas while biting the pipe <NUM>, fastening force between the ring lock washer spring <NUM> and the pipe <NUM> may be further enhanced.

On the other hand, whether the cap handle <NUM> is in the unlocking or locking state cannot be visibly checked. Therefore, when a worker turns the cap handle <NUM> to the right for locking as a habit, there is a serious problem in that the pipe <NUM> may burst due to gas pressure if the gas maintains a predetermined pressure.

Accordingly, in order to identify the locking or unlocking state of the cap handle <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the fitting housing <NUM> may have a display unit A on the outer ring. The display unit A is in the form of a colored band, and the color is preferably visible in the locking state while being hidden in the unlocking state by the cap handle <NUM> to cover the outer ring of the fitting housing <NUM>, whereby the worker can identify the locking state and the unlocking state.

For example, if the display unit A is blue, it may be identified that the cap handle is in the locking state when a blue line is visible while being in the unlocking state when the blue line is invisible. As shown in <FIG>, the pipe may be inserted in the unlocking state and then switched to the locking state, whereby the pipe <NUM> can be coupled to the fitting device <NUM> without damage to an outer surface of the pipe <NUM>. Therefore, a problem of scratching the outer circumference of a pipe when the pipe is inserted into the conventional fitting device may be overcome.

That is, as shown in <FIG> and the like, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the teeth of the ring lock washer spring <NUM> are expanded in the unlocking state and do not interfere with the inserted pipe, thereby causing no problem as in the prior art.

Further, after coupling the pipe <NUM> to the fitting device <NUM>, the rubber packing <NUM> is compressed to the ring lock washer spring <NUM> by gas pressure. Therefore, the tapered teeth of the ring lock washer spring <NUM> are pressed to the pipe <NUM> to improve fastening force between the ring lock washer spring <NUM> and the pipe <NUM>.

Meanwhile, with regard to removal of the pipe <NUM>, when dismantling the pipe <NUM> from the fitting device <NUM>, the valve handle <NUM> is gradually locked by starting from a high pressure valve. After the gas is fully exhausted, the valve handle <NUM> is completely locked at a low pressure valve. Then the cap handle <NUM> is turned to the right to switch the locking state to the unlocking state, thereby separating the pipe <NUM> without interference with the ring lock washer spring <NUM>.

As such, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The description of the present invention is for illustrative purpose only, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention may be easily modified into other specific forms without changing the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A fitting device (<NUM>) comprising:
a ring lock washer spring (<NUM>) in which a pipe (<NUM>) is insertable into an inner bore to be coupled therein;
a support ring (<NUM>) which is configured to be in contact with an end of the insertable pipe (<NUM>) to inhibit further entry of the pipe (<NUM>), and includes at least one perforated gas inlet; and
a rubber packing (<NUM>) interposed between the support ring (<NUM>) and the ring lock washer spring (<NUM>), one end of which is tapered to be in contact with teeth protruding to taper the inner bore of the ring lock washer spring (<NUM>),
wherein the rubber packing (<NUM>) is pressed by a fluid introduced through the gas inlet so as to improve air-tightness between the rubber packing (<NUM>) and the ring lock washer spring (<NUM>) or to increase fastening force between the ring lock washer spring (<NUM>) and the pipe (<NUM>).