JP2001248777A - Quick pipe joint - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive quick pipe joint capable of quickly connecting pipes in a single action and using an existing male pipe as it is. SOLUTION: This quick pipe joint 10 is composed by including flange parts 40 and 18 provided on the male pipe 24 and a socket member 14 and an anti- loosening clip 12 comprising a substantially annular shape resiliently expandable and contractible in a diametral direction. A cam face 52 following an inserting direction motion of the flange part 40 of the male pipe 24 for expanding the anti-loosening clip 12 is formed on the anti-loosening clip 12, and after the flange part 40 passes the cam face 52, the anti-loosening clip 12 is contracted for engaging the flange part 40 inside an engaging groove 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a quick fitting which can be used for connecting pipes such as a plumbing pipe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of such a quick fitting, there is conventionally known a fitting as shown in FIG. This example is an example of a pipe joint for connecting a pipe for supplying water or hot water to a faucet apparatus, more specifically, a pipe joint for connecting a supply pipe directly connected to the faucet apparatus and its upstream pipe. This is an example.

In the figure, reference numeral 200 denotes a faucet device, and reference numeral 202 denotes a supply pipe directly connected to the faucet device 200 to supply water and hot water to the faucet device 200. In this example, supply tube 202 comprises a flexible tube. Reference numeral 204 denotes a quick fitting for connecting the supply pipe 202 to the upstream pipe, and includes a socket member (female pipe) 206 and a retaining clip 208.

FIG. 9 shows the structure of the quick fitting 204 in detail. As shown in the figure, the socket member 206 has an insertion opening 212 at one end in the axial direction.
14. A flange (projection) 216 is formed on the outer peripheral surface at the axial end.

On the other hand, the end fitting 21 is connected to the supply pipe 202.
8 is attached. The end fitting 218 has a male pipe 220. The male pipe 220 is inserted into the socket member 206 through the insertion opening 212 of the socket member 206. The female fitting surface 214 is fitted, and the space between them is sealed by an O-ring 224 mounted on the male fitting surface 222 in a watertight manner. Here, a flange 216 similar to that of the socket member 206 is also formed in the end fitting 218.

The retaining clip 208 is made of a leaf spring, has a substantially annular shape, has an engaging groove 228 at an intermediate portion in the width direction, and has a shape in which a part in the circumferential direction is cut out. The part forms an opening 226 for fitting,
Further, following the opening 226, a guide 230 having a C-shaped open shape is formed continuously.

[0007] The retaining clip 208 inserts the male pipe 220 into the socket member 206 and, when the pair of flanges 216 are fitted together, elastically in the direction perpendicular to the axis through the opening 226 with respect to the flanges 216. The socket member 206 and the male pipe 220, that is, the supply pipe 202, are fastened in the axial direction by being fitted and engaging the flange portions 216 in the engagement grooves 228.

However, in the case of the quick fitting 204, an operation (action) of inserting the male pipe 220 into the socket member 206 at the time of pipe connection, and an operation of elastically fitting the retaining clip 208 in the direction perpendicular to the axis in that state.
That is, a two-stage operation is required, and there is a problem that the workability at the time of pipe connection is not sufficiently simple.

FIG. 10 shows another conventional example of quick fittings (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-46294). In this example, the male pipe 220 is inserted into the insertion opening 2 at one axial end of the socket member 206.
12 and inserted into the socket member 206, and the male fitting surface 222 on the outer surface thereof is fitted to the female fitting surface 214 of the socket member 206, and the space therebetween is sealed with an O-ring 224. 8 and 9 described above.
However, in this example, a male clip 2 is provided by a retaining clip 236 attached to the socket member 206.
20 is prevented from coming off.

More specifically, in this example, the socket member 206
A notch 238 in the circumferential direction is formed in the notch 23
8, a retaining clip 236 having elasticity is attached, and the front end and the rear end of the retaining clip 236 are connected to the male tube 2.
The male tube 220 is prevented from being removed from the socket member 206 via the retaining clip 236 by contacting the flange portion 216 provided on the second member 20 and the second locking surface 240 of the cutout portion 238. In this case, the male pipe 22
In the case of 0, the insertion amount is defined by the flange portion 216 abutting on the stepped first locking surface 242 of the socket member 206.

However, in the case of the quick fitting 244 of this example, the male pipe 220 cannot be inserted into the socket member 206 while the retaining clip 236 is mounted on the socket member 206, so that the retaining clip 236 cannot be inserted. Under the detached state, first, the male pipe 220 is inserted into the socket member 206, and then the retaining clips 23 are inserted.
6 must be fitted to the socket member 206 so that at least the male pipe 220 can be connected for pipe connection.
In this case, there is a problem that the connecting operation of the pipes is not yet sufficiently simple even in the case of the quick fitting 244 of this example.

FIG. 11 shows still another conventional quick fitting (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-92185). In this example,
The male tube 220 is inserted into the socket member 206 through the insertion opening 212 at one axial end of the socket member 206, and the male fitting surface 222 of the male tube 220 is fitted to the female fitting surface 214 of the socket member 206, The space between them is sealed with a seal member 246 in a water-tight manner, and a retaining clip 248 having elasticity at a notch 250 formed in the socket member 206 is attached to the socket member 206, and this is inserted into the engaging recess 252 of the male pipe 220. While engaging,
The retaining clip 248 is connected to the first locking surface 253 of the notch 250.
And the second locking surface 254, whereby the male pipe 220
Is fixed to the socket member 206 in the axial direction.

In the case of the quick fitting 256 shown in FIG. 11, a tapered cam surface 258 is formed on the male pipe 220. Therefore, in the quick fitting 256 of this embodiment, the retaining clip 248 is attached to the socket member 206. In this state, the male pipe 220 can be inserted into the socket member 206 and the male clip 220 can be stopped with the retaining clip 248 as it is.

However, in the case of the quick fitting 256, the cam surface 258 is formed on the male pipe 220 so that the male pipe 220 is expanded and deformed by inserting the male pipe 220 with the retaining clip 248 attached to the socket member 206. There is a problem that needs to be formed. That is, there is a problem that a special male pipe 220 is required to adopt such a connection method.
There is a disadvantage that the male pipe not provided with 8 cannot be connected in this manner.

For example, supply pipe 202 shown in FIGS.
Further, the end fitting 218 attached to the end does not have such a cam surface, and therefore, there is a problem that the conventional supply pipe 202 cannot be applied as it is when it is connected to the other side. is there.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The quick fitting of the present invention has been devised to solve such a problem.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, (a) radially outwardly protruding portions provided on the male pipe and the female pipe, and (b) a substantially annularly elastically expandable and contractable radially. Having an opening for fitting at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction, and having an engaging groove extending along the circumferential direction at a widthwise intermediate portion, wherein the male pipe and the female pipe are provided in the engaging groove. And a retaining clip for engaging the pair of projections to prevent the male tube and the female tube from coming off, and the retaining clip has one of the pair of projections in the insertion direction. A cam surface for expanding the retaining clip following the movement is formed, and the retaining clip contracts and moves the projection into the engagement groove after the protrusion passes through the cam surface. It is characterized by being engaged.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, each of the pair of protrusions is a flange portion having a circumferentially continuous form.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the cam surface is driven by the movement of the protrusion on the male pipe side in the insertion direction to cause the retaining clip to expand. It is characterized by that.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the third aspect, the cam surface is shaped so as to approach the centripetal direction as it moves forward in the insertion direction of the male tube.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the retaining clip has a stopper claw that projects in the axial direction of the female tube, and has an outer surface formed on the female tube. When the retaining clip has moved by a predetermined distance in the direction perpendicular to the axis, a stopper surface is formed to engage the stopper claw to perform a stopper function.

[0021]

In the case of the quick fitting of the present invention, the retaining clip is attached to one of the male pipe and the female pipe, and more specifically, the protruding portion of one of the pipes is engaged in the engagement groove. The pair of male and female pipes can be connected by inserting the other pipe in the axial direction while being mounted in a state in which the pipes are connected.

When the other tube is inserted, the retaining clip expands by the action of the projection and the cam surface following the insertion motion, and then the projection passes through the cam surface and enters the engagement groove of the retaining clip. As the clip enters, the retaining clip contracts and engages the pair of protrusions in the engaging groove, thereby fastening the male and female pipes in the axial direction in a retaining state. That is, according to the quick fitting of the present invention, the connection of the pipe can be extremely easily performed by one operation (one action).

In addition, in this quick fitting, since the cam surface is formed on the retaining clip itself, when inserting the other pipe with the retaining clip attached to one of the pipes as shown in FIG. As described above, there is no need to form a cam surface on the male pipe side. Therefore, according to the quick fitting of the present invention, the conventional existing supply pipe as shown in FIGS. The male pipe can be directly inserted and connected to the socket member, that is, the female pipe side.

Here, the projecting portion may be a flange portion which is continuous in the circumferential direction.
According to this configuration, there is obtained an advantage that the position in the rotation direction can be selected when the protrusion is engaged in the engagement groove of the retaining clip.

In the present invention, when the male pipe and the female pipe are connected in a fitted state, the retaining clip is attached to the male pipe side, and the retaining clip is expanded by following the insertion movement of the female pipe. , Then it can be contracted to make the pipe connection,
Conveniently, the retaining clip is attached to the female tube side, and the male tube is inserted and then contracted after the expanding movement so that the tube can be connected (claim 3).

[0026] The cam surface may be formed in a shape that approaches the centripetal direction as it advances forward, which is the insertion direction of the male tube (claim 4).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a stopper claw is formed on the retaining clip, and a stopper surface is formed on the outer surface of the female pipe so as to engage the stopper claw to perform a stopper function. If the locking clip is moved in the direction perpendicular to the axis to release the lock on the male pipe, the locking clip can be prevented from coming off the female pipe, so that the locking clip may be lost due to the female clip coming off the female pipe. In addition to eliminating the risk of sacrifice, it is advantageous that only a slight movement in the direction perpendicular to the axis when returning to the original position is achieved.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a quick fitting of the present embodiment, and reference numeral 12 denotes a retaining clip which is a main component thereof. Reference numeral 14 denotes a socket member as a female pipe, which is formed in a tubular shape. The socket member 14 has an insertion opening 16 and a flange (projection) 18 at one end in the axial direction (upper end in the figure).
A female screw hole 20 is provided on the other end side (the lower end side in the figure), and the female screw hole 20 is screwed to the mating pipe.

The socket member 14 has a female fitting surface 22 on the inner surface.
The female fitting surface 22 has a male pipe 2 to be described later.
4 is fitted with the male fitting surface 26. An O-ring 28 is mounted on the male fitting surface 26, and the space between the male fitting surface 26 and the female fitting surface 22 is sealed watertight by the O-ring 28.

Reference numeral 30 denotes another pipe to be connected to each other (in this example, the supply pipe shown in FIGS. 8 and 9), and a tubular end member 32 made of a metal fitting is attached to the end thereof.
The end member 32 has a nipple portion 34 which is fitted into the main body 36 of the pipe 30 and is attached to the main body 36 together with a sleeve 38 which is crimped in the radial direction on the outer surface of the main body 36. Fixed.

The end member 32 has a flange (projection) 40.
And, following the flange portion 40, the male tube 24 described above. Male tube 24 is socket member 14
From the insertion opening 16 at
Watertightly fitted to the socket member 14 via the ring 28. In this example, the diameter of the flange 40 of the male pipe 24 is smaller than the diameter of the flange 18 of the socket member 14.

In this example, the end member 32 of the pipe 30 which is separate from the main body 36 is fixed to the main body 36, whereby the male pipe 24 is provided in the pipe 30. It is also possible to provide the tube 24 and the flange portion 40 integrally. The same applies to the female pipe, that is, the socket member 14. That is, the female fitting portion 22 and the flange portion 18 can be provided directly on the mating pipe to be connected to the pipe 30.

As shown in detail in FIG. 3 (D), the retaining clip 12 is formed by bending a metal leaf spring material into a substantially annular shape.
And a guide 44 which is open in a C-shape following the opening 42.

The retaining clip 12 is also provided with a pair of elastic arms 4 that are bent in a substantially arc shape following the guides 44.
6 and a connecting portion 48 for connecting them. Further, an engagement groove 50 extending along the circumferential direction is formed in the middle portion in the width direction.

The retaining clip 12 is provided with its engaging groove 50.
The male member 24 and the respective flange portions 40 and 18 of the socket member 14 are engaged with each other, so that the socket member 14 and the male tube 24, that is, the tube 30 are fastened in the axial direction so as not to be pulled out.

The retaining clip 12 comes into contact with the flange portion 40 when the male tube 24 is inserted, and the cam surface which expands and deforms the pair of elastic arms 46 of the retaining clip 12 following the further insertion movement of the male tube 24. 52 is formed on each of the pair of elastic arms 46. Specifically, these cam surfaces 5
Reference numeral 2 denotes a mortar-shaped surface having a shape approaching the axis of the socket member 12 as it advances forward in the insertion direction of the male tube 24, that is, a shape approaching the centripetal direction.

As shown in FIGS. 3D and 4, the retaining clip 12 has a socket
4 is formed with a stopper claw 54 projecting in the axial direction. On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
A locking recess 56 is formed on the outer surface of the locking member 12. When the retaining clip 12 moves a predetermined distance in the direction perpendicular to the axis and in the removal direction, the stopper claw 54 comes into contact with the stopper surface 58 of the locking recess 56. Here, further movement of the retaining clip 12 is prevented, so that the retaining clip 12 is prevented from coming off the socket member 14.

Next, the operation of the quick fitting 10 of this embodiment will be described. In the case of the quick fitting 10 of this example, FIGS.
As shown in (I), the retaining clip 12 is attached to the socket member 14 in advance (however, it is also possible to attach the male tube 24 after inserting it into the socket member 14).
Specifically, the retaining clip 12 is attached to the socket member 14 in a state where the flange portion 18 of the socket member 14 is engaged in the engaging groove 50 of the retaining clip 12.

Under this condition, the male tube 24 is connected to the socket member 1.
4 through the insertion opening 16. At this time,
When the cam surface 52 comes into contact with the flange portion 40 of the male pipe 24, the retaining clip 12 is expanded and deformed following the further insertion movement of the male pipe 24 (FIG. 6 (II)).

When the flange portion 40 of the male pipe 24 further advances and reaches the position of the engagement groove 50, the flange portion 40 is contracted by the retracting movement of the retaining clip 12, and the inside of the engagement groove 50 of the retaining clip 12 is moved. And the socket member 14 and the male tube 24, that is, the tube 30, are joined together by the retaining clip 12 in a state where the pair of flange portions 18 and 40 are overlapped in the axial direction and are prevented from being pulled out in the same direction. (Fig. 5 (I
I), FIG. 6 (III)).

FIG. 7 shows the operation of locking the male tube 24 by the retaining clip 12, ie, releasing the retaining state. As shown in FIG.
The lock can be released by moving 2 in the direction perpendicular to the axis (upward in FIGS. 7I and 7A).

More specifically, the retaining clip 12 is
When the state is raised from the state of (I) to the state of (II), the pair of elastic arms 46 of the retaining clip 12 expand at this point. Here, the male pipe 2 by the retaining clip 12
4 is released (FIG. 7 (III)), so that the male tube 24 can be easily pulled out of the socket member 14 as it is.

At this time, the stopper claw 54 enters the locking concave portion 56 of the socket member 14 and comes into contact with the stopper surface 58, so that the further movement of the retaining clip 12 is stopped. That is, the retaining clip 12 is prevented from coming off the socket member 14.

In the case of the quick fitting 10 of the present embodiment as described above, the connection of the pipe can be extremely easily performed by one operation (one action). In addition, in this quick fitting 10,
Since the cam surface 52 is formed on the retaining clip 12 itself, the male pipe is directly inserted into the socket member 14, that is, the female pipe side without any modification of the existing supply pipe as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. You can connect just by doing.

In this embodiment, since the stopper clip 54 is provided on the retaining clip 12 and the stopper surface 58 is formed on the socket member 14, the retaining clip 12 is released from the socket member 14 when the male tube 24 is unlocked. It is possible to prevent the retaining clip 12 from being detached from the socket member 14 and to lose the retaining clip 12 when the retaining clip 12 comes off from the socket member 14, and to slightly return the retaining clip 12 in the direction perpendicular to the axis when returning to the original position. Good benefits can be obtained simply by moving it.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, this is only an example. For example, in the present invention, the male pipe and the female pipe can be formed integrally with each of the pipes to be connected to each other, and the present invention can be applied to the connection of pipes other than faucet and other various pipes. For example, the present invention can be configured in various modified forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a quick fitting according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a peripheral portion thereof.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the tube shown in FIG. 1 in a state before being inserted into a socket member.

FIG. 3 is a diagram specifically showing a configuration of a retaining clip according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the retaining clip and the socket member of the same embodiment in a separated state from each other.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state before and after insertion of a male pipe into a socket member to which a retaining clip according to the same embodiment is mounted.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view of the retaining clip of the same embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view following FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional quick fitting.

9 is an exploded view of the quick fitting of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view showing another example of a conventional quick fitting.

FIG. 11 is a view showing still another example of the conventional quick fitting.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 quick fitting 12 retaining clip 14 socket member (female pipe) 18, 40 flange part (projection part) 24 male pipe 42 opening 50 engagement groove 52 cam surface 54 stopper claw 58 stopper surface

Claims (5)

[Claims] (A) radially outwardly protruding portions provided on a male pipe and a female pipe; and (b) a substantially annular, elastically expandable / contractible radially expandable and contractible radial direction. It has an opening for fitting at a predetermined location, and has an engagement groove extending along the circumferential direction at a middle portion in the width direction, and a pair of protrusions of the male pipe and the female pipe in the engagement groove. And a retaining clip for retaining the male pipe and the female pipe by engaging with the retaining pipe, and the retaining clip is driven by the movement of one of the pair of protrusions in the insertion direction. A cam surface for expanding the retaining clip is formed, and the retaining clip contracts and moves into the engagement groove after the protrusion passes through the cam surface. A quick fitting characterized by being made. 2. The quick fitting according to claim 1, wherein each of said pair of projecting portions is a flange portion which is continuous in a circumferential direction. 3. The clip surface according to claim 1, wherein the cam surface is driven by the movement of the protrusion on the male tube side in the insertion direction to cause the retaining clip to expand. Characterized by quick fittings. 4. The quick pipe coupling according to claim 3, wherein the cam surface is shaped so as to approach a centripetal direction as the cam surface advances forward in the insertion direction of the male pipe. 5. The retaining clip according to claim 3, wherein the retaining clip is formed with a stopper claw projecting in an axial direction of the female pipe, and the retaining clip is provided on an outer surface of the female pipe. A quick fitting having a stopper surface that acts as a stopper by engaging the stopper claw when the stopper pawl moves a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the axis.