Description of the Related Art Generally, as shown in Fig. 5, a separated type air conditioner comprises an indoor unit 110 and an outdoor unit 120, which are communicated with each other through a conventional pipe 130. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the pipe

130 comprises an adiabatic material 131, which is made of a polyester foam resin and has a high pressure pipe insertion groove 132, a low pressure pipe insertion groove 133, an electric line insertion groove 134, and a communication cable insertion groove 135 formed therein, and a tape 61A surrounding the outer periphery of the adiabatic material 131 in which a high pressure pipe 140, a low pressure pipe 150, an electric line 160, and a communication cable 170 are received in the high pressure pipe insertion groove 132, the low pressure pipe insertion groove 133, the electric line insertion groove 134, and the communication cable insertion groove 135, respectively. However, when manufacturing the pipe 130 of such a conventional air conditioner, a process for forming the high pressure pipe insertion groove 132, the low pressure pipe insertion groove 133, the electric line insertion groove 134, and the communication cable insertion groove 135 through the outer peripheral surface of the adiabatic material 131, a process for indenting the high pressure pipe 140, the low pressure pipe 150, the electric line 160, and the communication cable 170 into the high pressure pipe insertion groove 132, the low pressure pipe insertion groove 133, the electric line insertion groove 134, and the communication cable insertion groove 135, respectively, and a process. for taping the outer peripheral surface of the adiabatic material 131 having the high

pressure pipe 140, the low pressure pipe 150, the electric line 160, and the communication cable 170 received therein are manually and separately carried out, causing operational inefficiency and requiring a lot of manufacturing time, thereby lowering productivity.

In order to solve the above problems, the applicant of the present invention has proposed an apparatus for manufacturing a pipe for an air conditioner, and a method for the same as is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2003-7477. The method of Korean Patent Application No.

2003-7477 comprises: the first step of supplying an adiabatic material made of a polyester foam material and having a circumferential cross-section; the second step of forming a plurality of primary machining grooves on an outer peripheral surface of the continuously supplied adiabatic material in a lengthwise direction using a cutting tool; the third step of forming a high pressure pipe insertion groove, a low pressure pipe insertion groove, an electric line insertion groove, and a communication cable insertion. groove after machining an inner surface of the primary machining grooves formed at the second step to have a diameter and shape corresponding to the high pressure pipe insertion groove, the low pressure pipe insertion groove, the electric line insertion groove, and the communication cable insertion groove, respectively, using a grinding ball; the fourth step

of continuously supplying and indenting a high pressure pipe, a low pressure pipe, an electric line, and a communication cable into the high pressure pipe insertion groove, the low pressure pipe insertion groove, the electric line insertion groove, and the communication cable of the adiabatic material formed in the third step; the fifth step of wrapping a tape around the outer peripheral surface of the adiabatic material having the high pressure pipe, the low pressure pipe, the electric line, and the communication cable received therein; and the sixth step of withdrawing the adiabatic material having the tape wrapped around the adiabatic material, the fourth step comprising the step of coating the high pressure pipe with vinyl.

Referring to Fig. 8, the apparatus of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-7477 is configured to continuously supply an adiabatic material 131, made of a polyester foam material and having a circumferential cross-section, from one side to the other side, and the apparatus comprises: a supply reel 210 provided at one side of the apparatus to supply the adiabatic material; a primary grooving part 230 having a grinding wheel 230A; a secondary grooving part 240 having a grinding ball 240A ; a high pressure pipe-supply reel 252, a low pressure pipe-supply reel 253; a tube inserting part 250 consisting of an indentation tube body 251 narrowed in a traveling direction and supplied with a

high pressure pipe 140, a low pressure pipe 150, an electric line 160, and a communication cable 170 from the high pressure pipe-supply reel 252, the low pressure pipe-supply reel 253, an electric line-supply reel (not shown), and a communication cable-supply reel (not shown), respectively; and a taping part 260 to wrap a tape, supplied from a tape supply reel 260A to a rear side of the tube inserting part 250, around an outer peripheral surface of the adiabatic material 131 ; and a withdrawal reel 220 provided at the other side of the apparatus, being sequentially positioned in this order.

The apparatus for manufacturing the pipe, disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2003-7477, forms the high pressure pipe insertion groove, the low pressure pipe insertion groove, the electric line insertion groove, and the communication cable insertion groove in the adiabatic material through primary and secondary grinding processes using the grinding wheel and the grinding ball, so that the processes are inconvenient, and are accompanied with powders of the adiabatic material, fine debris or dust, and noise, not only acting as an obstacle of the working environment, but also causing injury to the operator and environmental pollution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a pipe for an air conditioner, which allows a high pressure pipe insertion groove, a low-pressure pipe insertion groove, an electric line insertion groove, and a communication cable insertion groove to be formed on an adiabatic material pipe without generating powders of an adiabatic material, fine debris or dust, and noise, along with reduction in the number of processes, thereby enhancing convenience of an operation and working environment, and preventing injury to the operator and environmental pollution.

It is another object of the present invention to provide the apparatus for manufacturing the pipe, designed to allow an easy mounting of first, second, third, and fourth electrode plates on a jig, and a replacement thereof from the jig, thereby enhancing workability.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for manufacturing the pipe, designed to allow adjustment of the height of the electrode plates with respect to a body of the jig with a single electrode plate without providing several electrode plates, such as the first, second, third, and fourth electrode plates, thereby enhancing convenience in use and productivity.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for manufacturing the pipe, which allows effective supply of power to the first, second, third, and fourth electrode plates.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a jig for grooving in an apparatus for manufacturing a pipe for an air conditioner, the apparatus being configured to continuously supply an adiabatic material from one side to the other side and comprising a supply reel provided at one side of the apparatus to supply the adiabatic material, a tube insertion part, a taping part, and a withdrawal reel provided at the other side of the apparatus, being sequentially positioned in this order, wherein the jig has a ring-shaped body made of a thermal insulation material to allow the adiabatic material to pass through the body between the supply reel and the withdrawal reel, and provided with first, second, third, and fourth electrode plates, each having a ring-shaped heating portion whose diameter corresponds to that of a high pressure pipe insertion groove, a low pressure pipe insertion groove, an electric line insertion groove, and a communication cable insertion groove, such that when the first, second, third, and fourth electrode plates are fitted in the body of the jig, the heating portions of the electrode plates are

positioned in the body of the jig.

Preferably, the body of the jig is formed with first, second, third, and fourth electrode insertion grooves formed on the front side of the body of the jig while being directed up and down, respectively, and each of the first, second, third and fourth electrode plates comprises the heating portion having an opened portion formed at one side, supporting portions respectively extending in the perpendicular direction from opposite ends of the opened portion of the heating portion, and flanges oppositely extending from the end of each supporting portion, each of the flanges being formed with a fixing hole corresponding to a fastening hole formed on the body of jig such that a bolt is threadedly fastened to the fastening hole of the body of the jig through the fixing hole of the flange.

A plurality of slits, facing each other while being opened at the front of the slits, are formed at both sides of the first, second, third, and fourth electrode insertion grooves of the body of the jig, such that the flanges of the first, second, third and fourth electrode plates can be selectively inserted to the slits, and can then be fixed to the body of the jig.

In a state that that the first electrode plate is set as a cathode (+) plate and the fourth electrode plate is set as an anode (-) plate, the first, third, second, and fourth

electrode plates are connected in series by electrically connecting the first electrode plate to the third electrode plate, the third electrode plate to the second electrode plate, and the second electrode plate to the fourth electrode plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an apparatus for manufacturing a pipe for an air conditioner, which is provided with a jig according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the jig according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating a jig according to another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a front view illustrating the jig in a used state according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a

conventional air conditioner; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a pipe of Fig. 5 ; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating the configuration of an adiabatic material; Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional apparatus for manufacturing a pipe for an air conditioner; Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a primary grooving part of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a secondary grooving part of Fig. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an apparatus for manufacturing a pipe for an air conditioner, which is provided with a jig according to the present invention.

The apparatus for manufacturing the pipe for the air conditioner is configured to continuously supply an adiabatic material 131, which is made of a polyester foam material and has a circumferential cross-section, from one side to the other side. The apparatus comprises: a supply

reel 210 provided at one side to supply the adiabatic material; a high pressure pipe-supply reel 252; a low pressure pipe-supply reel 253; an electric line-supply reel (not shown) ; a communication cable-supply reel (not shown) ; a tube inserting part 250 consisting of an indentation tube 251 narrowed in a traveling direction, and supplied with a high pressure pipe 140, a low pressure pipe 150, an electric line, and a communication cable, which are supplied from the high pressure pipe-supply reel 252, the low pressure pipe- supply reel 253, the electric line-supply reel, and the communication cable-supply reel, respectively; and a taping part 260 to wrap a tape, supplied to the rear side of the tube inserting part 250 from a tape supply reel 260A, around an outer peripheral surface of the adiabatic material 131; and a withdrawal reel 220 provided at the other side to withdraw the adiabatic material, sequentially positioned in this order.

In the apparatus for manufacturing the pipe for the air conditioner, the jig of the present invention is characterized in that a body 1 of the jig provided between the supply reel 210 and the tube inserting part 250 (see Fig. 7) directly forms a high pressure pipe insertion groove 132, a low pressure pipe insertion groove 133, an electric line insertion groove 134, and a communication cable insertion groove 135 in the adiabatic material 131 with

heat.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a jig according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The jig has a body 1 made of a thermal insulation material, and having a ring shape of a relatively large diameter. The body 1 of the jig is formed at the center thereof with an adiabatic material insertion hole 11 to penetrate the body 1 of the jig while having a diameter corresponding to that of the adiabatic material, not shown.

The front side of the body 1 of the jig may be divided into four sections by approximately 90° such that first, second, third, and fourth electrode insertion grooves 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D are formed on the front side of the body 1 of the jig, and directed up and down. The first electrode insertion groove 13A is fitted with a first electrode plate 2, the second electrode insertion groove 13B is fitted with a second electrode plate 3, the third electrode insertion groove 13C is fitted with a third electrode plate 4, and the fourth electrode insertion groove 13D is fitted with a fourth electrode plate 5.

The first, second, third, and fourth electrode insertion grooves 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D are used for forming the high pressure pipe insertion groove 132, the low pressure pipe insertion groove 133, the electric line

insertion groove 134, and the communication cable insertion groove 35, respectively, in the adiabatic material 131.

The first, second, third and fourth electrode plates 2,. 3,4, and 5 have the same shapes, but different diameters. The configuration of the first, second, third and fourth electrode plates 2,3, 4, and 5 will be described in detail as follows.

Each of the first, second, third and fourth electrode plates 2,3, 4, and 5 comprises a heating portion 21, which is a ring-shaped metallic piece, to directly contact the adiabatic material and has an opened portion at one side, supporting portions 22 extending in the perpendicular direction from opposite ends of the opened portion of the heating portion 21, and flanges 23 oppositely extending from the end of each supporting portion 22. Each of the flanges 23 is formed at the center of the flange 23 with a fixing hole 24 corresponding to a fastening hole 12 formed on the body 1 of the jig, such that a bolt is threadedly fastened to a fastening hole 12 through the fixing hole 24 of the flange 23.

With such a configuration of the present invention, after fitting the supporting portions 22 of the first, second, third and fourth electrode plates 2,3, 4, and 5 into the first, second, third, and fourth electrode insertion grooves 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D, and contacting the

flanges 23 of the supporting portions 22 to the body 1 of the jig, the bolts are threadedly fastened to the fastening holes 12 of the body 1 of the jig through the fixing holes 24 of the flanges 23, thereby providing a completely assembled jig. These electrode plates 2,3, 4, and 5 are electrically connected in series (see Fig. 4).

Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating a jig according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the height of the first, second, third and fourth electrode plates 2,3, 4, and 5 can be adjusted with respect to the body 1 of the jig by selectively using a plurality of electrode plates, for instance, a plurality of second electrode plates 3 having different lengths. Alternatively, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the body 1 of the jig is formed with a plurality of slits 14, each having a length and width corresponding to the flange 23 of the electrode plate, at ether side of the second electrode insertion groove 13B in the perpendicular direction, so that the first, second, third and fourth electrode plates 2,3, 4, and 5 can be adjusted in the height thereof to the body 1 of the jig without providing the plurality of electrode plates as mentioned above.

According to the other embodiment of the present

invention, after the flanges 23 of the electrode plates are fitted into the corresponding slits 14, the bolts are threadedly fastened to the fastening holes 12 of the body 1 of the jig through the fixing holes 24 of the flanges 23, fastening the electrode plates to the body 1 of the jig. The slits 14 are formed on either side of the second electrode plate 13B to face each other while being opened at one lateral side and at the front side of each of the slits.

Fig. 4 is a front view illustrating the jig in a used state according to the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 4, the jig of the present invention is assembled by fitting the first, second, third and fourth electrode plates 2,3, 4, and 5 into the first, second, third, and fourth electrode insertion grooves 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D formed in the body 1 of the jig, respectively, followed by fastening the flanges 23 to the body 1 of the jig made of the heat insulation material with the bolts, and these first, second, third and fourth electrode plates 2,3, 4, and 5 are electrically connected in series.

That is, with the first electrode plate 2 connected to a cathode (+) of a power source, and with the fourth electrode plate 5 connected to an anode (-) of the power source, the first electrode plate 2 is electrically connected to the third electrode plate 4 through an electric line, the third electrode plate 4 is electrically connected

to the second electrode plate 3 through the electric line, and the second electrode plate is electrically connected to the fourth electrode plate 5 through the electric line.

When power is supplied to the first electrode plate 2 serving as the cathode (+) and to the fourth electrode plate 5 serving as the anode (-), the first, second, third, and fourth electrode plates 2,3, 4, and 5 generate heat.

In the state wherein heat is generated from the first, second, third, and fourth electrode plates 2,3, 4, and 5, as the adiabatic material passes through the body 1 of the jig made of the heat insulation material, the adiabatic material thermally contacts the ring-shaped heating portions 21 respectively formed in the first, second, third, and fourth electrode plates 2, 3,4, and 5, whereby, corresponding to the shapes of the heating portions in the respective electrode plates, the first electrode plate 2 forms the high pressure insertion groove 132, the second electrode plate 3 forms the low pressure insertion groove 133, the third electrode plate 5 forms the electric line insertion groove 134, and the fourth electrode plate 6 forms the communication cable insertion groove 135.

The adiabatic material remaining in the heating portions 21 of the first, second, third, and fourth electrode plates 2,3, 4, and 5 is extracted like a yarn during subsequent processes for the apparatus, and is then

removed.

As is apparent from the description, there is an advantageous effect in that the high pressure pipe insertion groove, the low pressure pipe insertion groove, the electric line insertion groove, and the communication cable insertion groove are formed in the adiabatic material pipe without generating powders of an adiabatic material, fine debris or dust, and noise, along with reduction in the number of processes, thereby enhancing convenience of operation and working environment, and preventing injury to the operator and environmental pollution.

There is another advantageous effect in that the first, second, third, and fourth electrode plates can be conveniently fitted into the body of the jig and fastened thereto with the bolts, thereby allowing an easy mounting and replacement of the first, second, third, and fourth electrode plates from the jig, thereby enhancing workability.

Furthermore, there is another advantageous effect in that a plurality of slits are formed at either side of the first, second, third, and fourth electrode insertion grooves, thereby allowing adjustment of the height of the electrode plates with respect to the body of the jig only with a single electrode plate without additionally providing the several electrode plates, leading to enhanced

convenience in use and productivity.

Furthermore, there is another advantageous effect in that the first, second, third, and fourth electrode plates are electrically connected in series, allowing more effective supply of power to the first, second, third, and fourth electrode plates.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.