JP2000065258A - Tube body connecting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tube body connecting structure which can connect a pair of tube bodies in a good condition, even through in the case that one side tube body has a male fitting surface, while the other side tube body has a female screw part, when the both tube bodies are connected. SOLUTION: When one side tube body 10 having a flat male fitting surface 16 extending in the tube axial direction at its outer peripheral side is connected to the other side tube body 12 having a female screw part 43, one side tube body 10 and the other side tube body 12 are separately formed, and a tubular adaptor 20 furnished with a female fitting surface 18 fitting with the male fitting surface 16 at the inner periphery side, and a male screw part 22 screwed with the female screw part 43 at the outer periphery side, respectively, is used to connect the tube bodies 10 and 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pipe connection structure, and more particularly, to a pipe connection structure using an adapter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art
As a pipe connection structure for connecting a pair of pipes, for example, as a pipe connection structure for connecting a faucet fitting and a pipe, a pipe connection structure as shown in FIG. 5 is generally used. In the figure, 200 is one side (for example, on the pipe side).
A female thread portion 202 (FIG. 5 (A)) on the inner peripheral side of the distal end portion of the tubular body
Alternatively, it has a male screw portion 204 (FIG. 5B) on the outer peripheral side.

Reference numeral 206 denotes the other (for example, a faucet side) tube body, and a cap nut 212 (FIG. 5) having a male screw portion 208 (FIG. 5A) on the outer peripheral side of the tip or a female screw portion 210 on the inner peripheral side.
(B)).

In the case of this conventional pipe connection structure, as shown in FIG. 1A, a connection is made by screwing a male thread 208 of the other pipe 206 into a female thread 202 of one pipe 200. Alternatively, as shown in (B), the external thread portion 204 of one of the tubes 200 is
The pair of pipes 200 and 206 are connected by screwing together the cap nut 212 of No. 06.

The sealing between the pair of pipes 200 and 206 is performed by winding a sealing tape around the male screw portion 208 shown in FIG. 1A and screwing it together, or as shown in FIG. This is performed by sandwiching a packing 214 between the tubular bodies 200 and 206.

However, in the case of the pipe connection structure shown in FIG.
It is necessary to rotate the seal tape or screw the screw part several times with a tool to rotate the screw. There is a problem that the variation of the above occurs.

On the other hand, a tube connecting structure as shown in FIG. 6 has recently been used. In this pipe connection structure, a pair of pipes can be connected with one touch by using a clamp member. More specifically, in the figure, reference numeral 216 denotes a cylindrical hollow insertion shaft portion provided on the tube 206 so as to protrude, and has a male fitting surface 217 having a smooth circular cross section extending in the tube axis direction on the outer peripheral side. ing.

Reference numeral 220 denotes a female fitting surface provided on the pipe 200 and having a smooth circular section extending in the pipe axis direction.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a circumferentially continuous flange portion as a flange-shaped portion provided on each of the tubes 200 and 206, and reference numeral 226 denotes an elastic clip as a clamp member.

The elastic clip 226 is formed by bending a band-shaped metal plate spring material into a substantially ring shape as shown in FIG. 1C, and has a fitting opening 228 at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction. In addition, it has an engagement groove 230 extending in the circumferential direction at the widthwise intermediate portion.

In the case of this tube connection structure, the insertion shaft 216
Is inserted into the tube 200, the male fitting surface 217 and the female fitting surface 220 are fitted to each other, and the elastic clip 226 is elastically stretched over the tube 200, 206 through the fitting opening 228. The pair of flange portions 22 of the pipes 200, 206 which are fitted to each other and brought into contact with each other.
The pair of pipes 200 and 206 are connected by engaging the engagement members 2 and 224 into the engagement grooves 230 of the elastic clip 226.

In the case of this tube connecting structure, as shown in FIG. 6, a male fitting surface 217 and a female fitting surface 220 are connected by a seal member 218 formed of an O-ring mounted on the male fitting surface 217. Seal tightly. Alternatively, female mating surface 22
A male member surface 217 and a female member surface 220 are sealed by the seal member 218 in a watertight manner. Alternatively, the tube 20
The seal member is interposed between the contact surface 221 of the first tube 20 and the contact surface 219 of the tube 206, thereby forming a pair of tube 20.
A seal between 0,206 can also be made.

The pipe connection structure shown in FIG. 6 allows the pipes 200 and 206 to be connected very easily with a single touch. In recent years, this pipe connection structure has been increasingly used. However, at present, the pipe connection structure using the screw connection method shown in FIG. 5 and the pipe connection structure using the fitting connection method shown in FIG. 6 coexist at present.

Therefore, when connecting a pair of pipes at the construction site, there is a case where one of the pipes has the male fitting surface and the other has a female screw portion. In this case, it is impossible to connect the two pipes as they are, so that the connection of the pipes may have to be interrupted.

[0014]

The tube connecting structure of the present invention has been devised to solve such a problem. According to the first aspect of the present invention, when connecting one pipe having a smooth male fitting surface extending in the pipe axis direction on the outer peripheral side to the other pipe having a female screw portion, A smooth female fitting surface that is separate from the one tubular body and the other tubular body and extends in the pipe axial direction on the inner peripheral side and that fits with the male fitting surface is screwed into the female screw part on the outer peripheral side. A tubular adapter provided with a male thread portion to be combined with each other, and a retaining means for retaining the adapter from the one tubular body in the tubular axis direction, so as to connect the one tubular body and the other tubular body. It is characterized by the following.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the tube connecting structure according to the first aspect, the retaining means is configured to select one of the male fitting surface of the one tubular body and the female fitting surface of the adapter. An annular groove formed on one side, a stopper surface formed on the other side and in a radial direction, and a retaining ring elastically fitted into the annular groove and abutting against the stopper surface. It is characterized by the following.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the retaining means is provided on the one of the tubular body and the adapter so as to protrude outward in the radial direction. And a clamp member for clamping the pair of flanges in the tube axis direction.

[0017]

As described above, the tubular connection structure according to claim 1 is a tubular adapter having a female fitting surface on the inner peripheral side and a male screw portion on the outer peripheral side, and the adapter and the male fitting surface. A pair of pipes is connected using a retaining means for retaining one of the pipes in the pipe axis direction, and in this pipe connection structure, one of the pipes is male-fitted. Surface, and is connected to the mating tube at its male fitting surface,
Further, even when the other tube has a female screw portion and is configured to be screw-coupled to the other tube at the female screw portion, the pair of tubes can be connected without any trouble. .

More specifically, the adapter is fitted on the male fitting surface of one of the tubes at the female fitting surface, and is stopped by the retaining means. By screw-connecting the female screw portions of the tubes, a pair of tubes can be connected via an adapter.

The retaining means comprises an annular groove formed in one of the male fitting surface of one of the tubular bodies and the female fitting surface of the adapter, a stopper surface formed in the other and in the radial direction, It is possible to have a retaining ring elastically fitted into the annular groove and abutting against a stopper surface thereof (claim 2). According to the second aspect, the retaining means can be easily configured with a small number of parts, and the adapter can be reliably and easily retained from one of the tubes.

In this case, the above-mentioned annular groove is formed on the male fitting surface side, a retaining ring is fitted and mounted therein, and the retaining ring is formed on the adapter by using the distal end surface of the adapter in the axial direction of the adapter as a stopper surface. The adapter can be brought into contact to prevent the adapter from coming off.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pipe connection structure, wherein the stopper means is provided on one of the pipes and the adapter so as to protrude outward in the radial direction. In this pipe connection structure, the adapter is easily prevented from being pulled out from one pipe simply by clamping a pair of flanges with the clamp member. be able to.

In this case, the clamp member is formed by bending a band-shaped leaf spring material into a substantially ring shape, has a fitting opening at a predetermined position in a circumferential direction, and has a width direction. An intermediate portion may be provided with an engagement groove extending along the circumferential direction, the engagement groove being engageable in a state where the pair of flange portions are fitted together.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1A, reference numerals 10 and 12 denote a pair of pipes to be connected to each other, and one of the pipes 10 has a cylindrical insertion shaft portion 14. The insertion shaft portion 14 has a smooth male fitting surface 16 having a circular cross section and extending in the tube axis direction on the outer peripheral side, and a female fitting surface 18 on the inner peripheral side with respect to the male fitting surface 16. Adapter 20 is fitted. That is, an adapter 20 which is a separate body is attached to one of the tubes 10.

The adapter 20 has a cylindrical shape and has a male screw portion 22 on the outer peripheral side. Between the female fitting surface 18 of the adapter 20 and the male fitting surface 16 of the insertion shaft portion 14, an annular seal member 24 composed of an O-ring previously fitted in the annular groove of the male fitting surface 16 is attached. And water tightly sealed.

An annular groove is formed in the female fitting surface 18 of the adapter 20 and an annular seal member 2 made of an O-ring is formed therein.
4, the sealing member 24 can be used to seal the space between the female fitting surface 18 of the adapter 20 and the male fitting surface 16 of the insertion shaft portion 14 in a watertight manner. Alternatively,
A seal member is interposed between the radial contact surface 26 at the axial end of the adapter 20 and the radial contact surface 28 on the tube 10 side, thereby providing a gap between the adapter 20 and the tube 10. It can also be made to seal watertight.

Each contact surface 2 of the adapter 20 and the tube 10
As shown in detail in FIG. 2, a plurality of key grooves 30 are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction (two in this example, two at 180 °), and rectangular blocks are formed therein. A key member 32 made of one piece is fitted, and the adapter 20 is stopped from rotating with respect to the tube 10 based on the fitting between the key member 32 and the key groove 30.

That is, in this example, the pipe 10 and the adapter 2
The adapter 2 includes a key groove 30 as an engagement groove formed on a radial surface facing each other and a key member 32 as an engagement member engaged over the key grooves 30.
A stop means for stopping the 0 from rotating with respect to the one tube body 10 is configured.

The engagement grooves formed on the adapter 20 and the pipe body 10 and the engagement members engaging with them are as follows.
It can be formed in other forms other than the above example. For example, the planar shape of each engaging groove and engaging member may be a polygonal shape such as a hexagonal shape.

An annular groove 34 is formed in the male fitting surface 16 on the outer peripheral side in the vicinity of the distal end portion of the insertion shaft portion 14, and a retaining ring (e.g., a C ring, an E ring, or the like) having elasticity in the radial direction is formed therein. A snap ring 36 is fitted and mounted.
On the other hand, the distal end face in the axial direction of the adapter 20 is a stopper face 38 in the radial direction, and the retaining ring 36 is brought into contact with the stopper face 38, so that the adapter 20 is moved from one pipe body 10 in the pipe axis direction. It has been stopped. That is, in this example, the annular groove 34 formed in the male fitting surface 16, the retaining ring 36 fitted and mounted therein, and the stopper surface 38 of the adapter 20 constitute a retaining means for retaining the adapter 20. Have been.

The one tubular body 10 is provided with a circumferentially continuous annular flange portion 40 as a flange-like portion projecting outward in the radial direction. However, instead of the flange portion 40, a plurality of flange-shaped portions projecting outward in the radial direction may be provided discontinuously in the circumferential direction and at regular intervals.

The other tubular body 12 has a tubular body 42 and a cap nut 44 rotatably mounted on the tubular body 42 and having a female screw portion 43 on the inner peripheral side. The pipe body 42 and the cap nut 44 are each provided with a radially outward flange portion 46.
And a flange portion 48 facing inward in the radial direction.
4 is retained from the tube main body 42.

In the case of the pipe connection structure of this embodiment, one of the pipes 1
0 is of the mating connection type on the male mating surface 16;
Further, although the other tube 12 is of a screw connection type using the female screw portion 43, the adapter 20 is connected to the one tube 1
By being interposed between 0 and the other tubular body 12,
The pair of pipes 10, 12 can be connected without any trouble.

Specifically, for example, an adapter 20 is attached to one of the tubes 10 so as not to rotate, and the adapter 2
0 to the female screw 4
By screwing in 3, the pair of pipes 10 and 12 can be connected.

At this time, the adapter 20 and the other tube 12
The seal can be made watertight by sandwiching the ring-shaped sealing member 54 between the axial end surface (stopper surface 38) of the adapter 20 and the flange portion 46 of the other tubular body 12.

In the case of the pipe connection structure of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1B, the other pipe 13 having the female fitting surface 18 on the inner peripheral side is also connected to one pipe 10. Can be connected. Specifically, the insertion shaft portion 14 of one tube 10 is inserted into the inside of the other tube 13, and
With the male fitting surface 16 of the pair and the female fitting surface 18 of the other tube 13 fitted together, the flange 4 of the pair of tubes 10
The pair of pipes 10 and 13 can be connected by clamping the pipes 0 and 52 in the pipe axis direction with an elastic clip 56 as a clamp member.

Here, the elastic clip 56 has a form in which a band-shaped leaf spring material is bent into a substantially ring shape. More specifically, the elastic clip 56 has a fitting opening 58 at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction, and an engaging groove 60 is formed along the circumferential direction at an intermediate portion in the width direction. A relief 62 is formed on the side opposite to the fitting opening 58 in order to avoid interference with the flanges 40 and 52. Further, a portion following the fitting opening 58 has a C-shape. An open guide portion 64 is formed.

The elastic clip 56 having such a configuration is elastically fitted so as to straddle the pair of tubes 10, 13, and the flange portions 40, 52 of the pair of tubes 10, 13 are engaged with the engagement grooves of the elastic clip 56. By engaging the elastic member 60, the pair of tubes 10 and 13 can be connected by the elastic clip 56.

In this embodiment, the retaining means can be easily constituted with a small number of parts, and the adapter 20 can be reliably and easily retained from one of the tubes 10.

In the above embodiment, an annular groove 34 is formed in the male fitting surface 16.
The retaining ring 36 is fitted and mounted therein. As shown in FIG. 3, an annular groove 66 is formed in the female fitting surface 18 of the adapter 20, and a retaining ring 70 is formed therein. Are mounted in a state where they are elastically expanded in the radial direction, and when the female fitting surface 18 and the male fitting surface 16 are fitted, the retaining ring 7 is mounted.
0 may be reduced in diameter so that the inner peripheral end is fitted into the inside of the annular groove 68 of the male fitting surface 16 so that the adapter 20 is prevented from being removed. In this case, one side surface of the annular groove 68 serves as a stopper surface 72 in the radial direction, and the adapter 20 is prevented from being removed by the contact of the retaining ring 70 with the stopper surface 72.

In this case, however, the retaining ring 70 is fitted and mounted in the annular groove 68 in a state where the diameter of the retaining ring 70 is reduced, and when the male fitting surface 16 and the female fitting surface 18 are fitted. ,
It is also possible to elastically deform the retaining ring 70 in the expanding direction so that the outer peripheral end is fitted into the annular groove 66 to prevent the adapter 20 from being removed. In this case, one side surface of the annular groove 66 serves as a radial stopper surface 74 to serve as the retaining ring 7.
0 abuts here, thereby preventing the adapter 20 from being pulled out.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the adapter 20 is provided with a flange portion 76 as a flange portion, and the flange portion 76 and one of the pipes 10 are provided.
The stopper means is constituted by the flange portion 40 and the elastic clip 56 as a clamp member.

In the case of this tube connection structure, one of the tubes 10
When the flanges 40 and 76 of the adapter 20 are in contact with each other, the elastic clip 5
6 and the flanges 40 and 76 are
The adapter 20 can be prevented from being pulled out of the pipe body 10 by engaging the inside of the engagement groove 60.

In this tube connection structure, the adapter 20 is previously screwed into the cap nut 44 of the other tube 12, that is, the female screw portion 43 on the inner peripheral side thereof, and in this state, the one tube 10 and the other tube 12 are screwed. It is also possible to connect the body 12 via an adapter 20.

In this case, the cap nut 44 and the adapter 20 can be screwed together by using the key groove 30 as the engagement groove of the adapter 20 as the engagement groove of the tool. Alternatively, in a state where the key member 32 is fitted in the key groove 30, the cap nut 44 and the adapter 20 can be screwed together by engaging a tool with the key member 32.

In this example, one of the pipes 10 and the adapter 20
Flange portions 40 and 76 as flange portions provided in such a manner as to protrude outward in the radial direction.
An elastic clip 56 serving as a clamp member for clamping the tube 76 in the tube axis direction constitutes a retaining means. In the case of this tube connection structure, the elastic clip 56 only clamps the pair of flange portions 40 and 76. Easy Adapter 20
Can be stopped.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely examples, and for example, a clamp member for clamping one of the tubular body 10 and the adapter 20 other than the elastic clip 56 of the above embodiment may be used. It is also possible to use.

Further, according to the present invention, one of the tubes 10 and the adapter 20 are elastically fitted with a predetermined frictional force, and the tube 10 and the adapter 20 are prevented from being pulled out by the frictional force between the tubes 10 and the adapter 20. The frictional force generated between the body 10 and the adapter 20 can be configured as a retaining means.
By providing elastic engagement claws on each of the adapter and the adapter 20 and elastically engaging them with each other, the adapter 20 can be prevented from being pulled out of the tube 10.
The present invention can be configured in variously modified forms without departing from the gist of the present invention, for example, it is possible to configure the non-retaining means of 0 in another form.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a tube connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the adapter of FIG. 1 and one of the tubes separately.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a tube connection structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a tube connection structure according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional pipe connection structure.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example different from FIG. 5 of the conventional pipe connection structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 12, 13 Tube 16 Male fitting surface 18 Female fitting surface 20 Adapter 22 Male screw portion 34, 66, 68 Annular groove 36, 70 Retaining ring 38, 72, 74 Stopper surface 40, 52, 76 Flange (flange) 43) Female thread 56 Elastic clip (clamp member)

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3H013 GA08 3J106 AB01 BA01 BB01 BC04 BD01 BE40 CA03 EA03 EB08 EC01 EC07 ED39 EE02 EF05

Claims (3)

[Claims] When connecting one pipe having a smooth male fitting surface extending in the pipe axis direction on the outer peripheral side and the other pipe having a female screw portion, the one pipe and the other pipe are connected. Formed separately from the body, provided with a smooth female fitting surface that fits with the male fitting surface on the inner peripheral side and extends in the pipe axis direction, and a male screw portion that is screwed into the female screw portion on the outer peripheral side. The one tubular body and the other tubular body are connected by using a tubular adapter and a retaining means for retaining the adapter from the one tubular body in the pipe axis direction. Pipe connection structure. 2. The tubular connection structure according to claim 1, wherein said retaining means is formed in one of a male fitting surface of said one tubular body and a female fitting surface of said adapter. And a stopper surface formed on the other side in the radial direction, and a retaining ring elastically fitted into the annular groove and abutting against the stopper surface. Construction. 3. The tubular body connection structure according to claim 1, wherein said stopper means is provided on said one tubular body and said adapter in a form protruding radially outward, and a pair of said flanges. And a clamp member for clamping the flange-shaped portion in the tube axis direction.