JP2000271069A - Connecting structure of water feeding tank for endoscope and pipe line - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connecting structure of a water feeding tank for an endoscope and a pipe line avoiding the overflow of water in a water sending tank by adopting structure of atmosphere-opening a vent before a water sending pipe at the time of removing a pipeline-side connector from a tank-side connector. SOLUTION: The pipeline-side connector 90 is fixed to the end parts of a water sending tube 88 and air sending tube 84, and the connector 90 is connected to the tank-side connector 92 disposed at the entrance of the water feeding tank 86. The water sending pipe 94 is projectingly arranged at the connector 92, and packing 106 disposed at the connector 90 is closely adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 94. Consequently, though the vent 96 is atmosphere-opened by separating the connector 90 and the connector 92 a little, the pipe 94 is kept in the state of communicating with the tube 88.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection structure for connecting an endoscope water supply tank, in which a liquid used in an endoscope is stored, to a pipe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A water supply tank in which water used for an endoscope is stored is provided with a water supply pipe and an air supply pipe, and a water supply tube (water supply pipe) is connected to the water supply pipe. An air supply tube (air supply pipe) is connected. The water supply tube is
The tube is connected to the endoscope and the air supply tube is connected to the pump. Therefore, when the air from the pump is supplied from the air supply tube to the water supply tank via the air supply pipe, the internal pressure of the water supply tank increases, so that the water in the water supply tank is transmitted from the water supply pipe to the endoscope via the water supply tube. Supplied.

An end of the water supply tube and an end of the air supply tube are held by a connector. By attaching this connector to the mouth of the water supply tank, the water supply tube and the water supply pipe are connected, and the air supply tube and the air supply pipe are connected.

[0004]

However, in the conventional connection structure between the water supply tank and the pipe, when the connecting tool is removed from the mouth of the water supply tank, the water in the tank overflows from the tip of the water supply pipe. There was a drawback to put it out. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connection structure between an endoscope water supply tank and a pipe that can prevent overflow of water in the water supply tank.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a water tank in which a liquid used in an endoscope is stored and in which an air supply pipe and a water supply pipe are disposed, and the water supply tank. And a connector holding an end of an air supply pipe connected to the air supply pipe and an end of the water supply pipe connected to the water supply pipe, from the air supply pipe. By supplying air to the water supply tank through the air supply pipe and increasing the internal pressure of the water supply tank, the liquid in the water supply tank is supplied from the water supply pipe to the endoscope through the water supply pipe to the endoscope water supply tank and pipe. In the connection structure with a road, the connection tool is configured to open the air pipe to the atmosphere before the water pipe when the connection tool is removed from the mouth of the water tank.

According to the present invention, since the air supply pipe provided in the water supply tank is opened to the atmosphere before the water supply pipe, the internal pressure of the water supply tank decreases when the water supply path is opened to the atmosphere. . Therefore, the liquid in the water tank does not overflow when the connection tool is removed from the mouth of the water tank.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a connection structure between a water supply tank for an endoscope and a pipe according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The endoscope 10 shown in FIG.
It has a hand operation unit 12 and an insertion unit 16 connected to a distal joint 14 of the hand operation unit 12. The insertion portion 16 includes a flexible portion 18, a bending portion 20, and a distal end hard portion 22. The bending portion 20 is connected to a hand operating portion via an angle operating wire (not shown) inserted into the flexible portion 18. 12 is a pair of angle operation knobs 2
4, 24. Therefore, when the angle operation knobs 24, 24 are operated by the operator, the bending portion 20 is bent, and the distal end hard portion 22 is directed in a desired direction. Reference numeral 26 denotes a forceps hole, through which a treatment tool such as forceps is inserted into the insertion section 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, an air supply / water supply port 28 and a forceps channel 30 are formed on the end face of the distal end hard portion 22. In addition, an objective lens, an illumination lens, and the like (not shown) are provided adjacent to the air / water supply port 28 and the forceps channel 30. The image formed by the objective lens is guided to an eyepiece 32 (see FIG. 1) of the hand operation unit 12 via an image guide (not shown), and is observed from the eyepiece 32.

A light guide (not shown) is provided behind the illumination lens. The light guide is inserted into the bending portion 20, the flexible portion 18, the hand operation portion 12, and the flexible cable 34, and is connected to a light guide rod 38 of a light guide connector 36 connected to the flexible cable 34. The light guide connector 36
The light source device 8 shown in FIG.
Connected to 0. At this time, the light guide rod 38
The light source unit 80 is connected to a light source unit (not shown), so that light from the light source unit is emitted from the illumination lens toward the affected part via the light guide rod 38 and the light guide.

The hand operation unit 12 is provided with an air / water supply valve 40, and a suction valve 42 and a shutter button 44 are arranged adjacent to the air / water supply valve 40. The air / water supply valve 40 includes a cylinder 46, a piston 48, and an operation button 50 as shown in FIG. The cylinder 46 has an air supply pipe 5
2 and the distal end of each water supply pipe 54 are connected.
The air supply pipe 52 is disposed on the light guide connector 36 via the flexible cable 34, and a connection end 52 </ b> A protrudes from the light guide connector 36. When the light guide connector 36 is connected to the light source device 80, the connection end 52A is connected to a pump 82 built in the light source device 80. Thus, air from the pump 82 is supplied to the cylinder 46 via the air supply pipe 52. The air supplied to the cylinder 46 is supplied to the air supply pipe 58 by closing the air leak hole 51 of the operation button 50 with the operator's finger.

The air supply pipe 52 is connected to a branch pipe 56 in the light guide connector 36. This branch pipe 56
The connection end 56 </ b> A protrudes from the light guide connector 36 and is connected to a water supply tank 86 via an air supply tube (corresponding to an air supply tube) 84. In the water supply tank 86,
A water supply tube (corresponding to a water supply tube) 88 is connected, and the water supply tube 88 is connected to a connection end 54 </ b> A of the water supply tube 54 protruding from the light guide connector 36. Therefore, when the piston 48 is pressed down in a state where the air leak hole 51 of the air / water supply valve 40 is closed, the air from the pump 82 flows to the branch pipe 56, and then flows through the air supply tube 84. And is blown out to the water supply tank 86. Accordingly, the internal pressure in the water supply tank 86 increases, and the water in the water supply tank 86 flows to the water supply pipe 54 via the water supply tube 88 at this pressure, and is supplied to the cylinder 46. The water supplied to the cylinder 46 is supplied to the piston 4 with the air leak hole 51 closed.
8 is supplied to the water pipe 60 by pressing down the button 8.

The proximal end of each of the air supply pipe 58 and the water supply pipe 60 is connected to a predetermined position of the cylinder 46, and the distal end of each of the air supply pipe 58 and the water supply pipe 60 is connected to the hand operating section 12. Inside, it is connected to one air / water pipe 62. The air / water pipe 62 is inserted through the insertion section 16 and connected to the air / water port 28 formed in the distal end hard portion 22. Reference numeral 64 is a check valve for preventing backflow.

On the other hand, the suction valve 42 includes a cylinder 66,
It is composed of a piston 68 and an operation button 70. The distal end of a connecting pipe 72 is connected to the cylinder 66. The connection pipe 72 is disposed on the light guide connector 36 via the flexible cable 34, and a connection end 72 A thereof protrudes from the light guide connector 36. The connection end 72A is connected to a suction pump (not shown).

A suction tube 74 is provided in the cylinder 66.
The suction tube 74 is inserted through the insertion portion 16, and the forceps channel 30 formed in the distal end hard portion 22.
It is connected to the. Therefore, when the piston 68 is pressed down by the operation button 70 of the suction valve 42 to make the connection pipe 72 and the suction pipe 74 communicate with each other through the cylinder 66, the liquid in the body cavity is sucked from the forceps channel 30 to the suction pipe 74. Then, it is discharged outside through the connecting pipe 72. Note that the forceps hole 26 is connected to the suction tube 74 in the hand operation unit 12. That is, the suction tube 74
Is also used as a treatment instrument insertion tube such as forceps.

At the ends of the water supply tube 88 and the air supply tube 84, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pipe-side connector 90 is provided.
0 is attached to the tank-side connector 92 provided at the mouth of the water supply tank 86. A water pipe 94 is provided in the tank-side connector 92 so as to protrude from the center of the upper end surface 92 </ b> A, and a lower part of the water pipe 94 is immersed in water stored in a water tank 86. Further, a pair of ventilation holes (corresponding to an air supply pipe) 96, 96 are formed in the tank side connection tool 92, and the ventilation holes 96, 96 communicate with the inside of the water supply tank 86.

On the other hand, the pipe-side connecting member 90 has a lower end face 90.
A water supply hole 102 is formed in the center of A.
Is connected to the water supply tube 88. When the water supply pipe 94 is inserted into the water supply hole 102 as shown in FIG. 5, the packing 106 provided on the lower end face 90A is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the water supply pipe 94 and the water supply tube 88 is provided.
And the water supply pipe 94 are communicated.

The pipe-side connecting member 90 has an air supply hole 10.
4, and the air supply hole 104 is communicated with the air supply tube 84 as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 6, when the upper end surface 92 </ b> A of the tank-side connector 92 abuts on the packing 106, the air supply hole 104 communicates with one of the pair of air holes 96. This allows
The air supply tube 84 communicates with the water supply tank 86.

An outer cylinder 108 is slidably supported by the tank-side connecting member 92 in a vertical direction. The outer cylinder 108 is urged downward by a spring 110. As shown in FIG. 7, an inverted L-shaped notch groove 112 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 108. In addition,
The cutout grooves 112 are formed at two positions at positions facing the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 108.

On the other hand, a pair of pins 114, 114 (only one pin 114 is shown) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe-side connecting device 90.
The pin 114 is provided with the notch groove 11.
2, 112 are engaged. Therefore, when the outer cylinder 108 is slid upward against the urging force while engaging the pin 114 with the notch groove 112 and rotated in the circumferential direction, the pin 114 is engaged with the horizontal groove 112A of the notch groove 112. Therefore, the pipe-side connector 90 and the tank-side connector 92 are connected.

Next, the operation of the connection structure between the water supply tank and the pipeline configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. When releasing the connection between the tank-side connector 92 and the pipeline-side connector 90 connected as shown in FIG. 6, first, the engagement between the pin 114 and the notch groove 112 is released, and the tank-side connector 92 and the pipeline-side connector 90 are released. The connection of the connecting tool 90 is released.
Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the pipe-side connector 90 is slightly lifted upward. In the state shown in FIG. 5, a part of the water pipe 94 is inserted into the water supply hole 102 and cut off, while the tank-side connector 92 and the pipe-side connector 94 are separated from each other and the vent 96
Is open to the atmosphere. Therefore, the water supply tank 86 is opened to the atmosphere through the ventilation hole 96, and its internal pressure decreases to the atmospheric pressure.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the pipe side connector 90 is further lifted upward, and the water supply pipe 94 is pulled out from the water supply hole 102. As a result, the water supply pipe 94 is opened to the atmosphere, but since the internal pressure of the water supply tank 86 at this time has decreased to the atmospheric pressure, the water stored in the water supply tank 86 does not overflow from the tip of the water supply pipe 94. . As described above, according to the connection structure between the endoscope water supply tank and the conduit of the present embodiment, the vent hole 96 is opened to the atmosphere before the water supply tube 94, and when the water supply tube 94 is opened to the atmosphere. Water tank 86
The internal pressure of the water tank 86 has been reduced to the atmospheric pressure.
Can be prevented from overflowing from the water pipe 94.

In the above-described embodiment, the outer cylinder 10
Although the inverted L-shaped notch groove 112 is formed in FIG. 8, a notch groove 116 having a shape shown in FIG. 8 may be formed. Notch groove 1 in FIG.
According to FIG. 16, when the pin 114 moves upward along the vertical groove 116A, the ventilation hole 96 is opened to the atmosphere,
When the water pipe 14 moves upward along the vertical groove 116B, the water pipe 94 is opened to the atmosphere. Therefore, the vertical groove 116
A once stops after the pin 114 moves along A, and the horizontal groove 1 formed between the vertical groove 116A and the vertical groove 116B
While the pin 114 moves along 16C, the ventilation holes 96
Only the air is kept open to the atmosphere, so that the air in the water supply tank 86 is reliably opened to the air during that time.

Further, as shown in FIG.
When the end 118 of the zero air supply hole 104 is projected from the lower end face 90A and the opening 120 of the packing 106 is fitted into the end 118, the packing 106 is positioned. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the packing 106 from rotating and peeling off from the pipeline side connection tool 90. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the water supply pipe 94 is protruded from the upper end surface 92A of the tank side connection tool 92, and the water supply hole 102 into which the water supply pipe 94 is inserted is formed in the pipe side connection tool 90. It is not limited to. For example, a projecting water pipe may be provided in the pipe-side connector 90, and a water-feed hole into which the water pipe is inserted may be formed in the tank-side connector 92.

[0024]

As described above, according to the connecting structure of the water supply tank for an endoscope and the pipe of the present invention, the connecting tool holding the end of the air supply pipe and the end of the water supply pipe is provided. When the air supply pipe is removed from the mouth of the water supply tank, the air supply pipe is opened to the atmosphere before the water supply pipe, so that the liquid in the water supply tank for an endoscope can be prevented from overflowing from the water supply pipe.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a plurality of conduits arranged in the endoscope.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection structure between an endoscope water supply tank and a pipe according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view illustrating the connection structure shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view illustrating the connection structure shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view illustrating the connection structure shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the connection portion shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a cutout groove having a shape different from that of FIG. 7;

9 is a sectional view showing an example of a method for positioning the packing shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Endoscope, 84 ... Air supply tube, 86 ... Water supply tank, 88 ... Water supply tube, 94 ... Water supply pipe, 96 ... Vent hole, 102 ... Water supply hole, 104 ... Air supply hole, 106 ... Packing, 108 ... Outer cylinder, 112: Notched groove, 114: Pin

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A water supply tank in which a liquid used in an endoscope is stored and provided with an air supply pipe and a water supply pipe, and connected to the mouth of the water supply tank and connected to the air supply pipe. A connector that holds an end of the air supply pipe and an end of the water supply pipe connected to the water supply pipe, and supplies air from the air supply pipe to the water supply tank through the air supply pipe, In the connection structure between the endoscope water supply tank and the pipeline that supplies the liquid in the water supply tank from the water supply pipe to the endoscope via the water supply pipe by increasing the internal pressure of the water supply tank, the connection tool includes the water supply tank A connection structure between the water supply tank for an endoscope and a pipe, wherein the air supply pipe is opened to the atmosphere before the water supply pipe when the air supply pipe is removed from the mouth of the endoscope. 2. The connection structure between an endoscope water supply tank and a pipe according to claim 1, wherein the air supply pipe is provided so as to protrude from an opening of the water supply tank.