JP2003185081A - Joint for piping - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a male joint member come off or completely couple with a female joint member, when a retainer is pressed therein while the male joint member is incompletely inserted into the female joint member. <P>SOLUTION: A spool portion 24 of the male joint member 14 is engaged to hold an end of the male joint member to prevent the end from dropping out. Holding portions constituted of ribs 26a, 26b curving in a U-shape according to an peripheral face of the male joint member 14 are disposed to a retainer 16. Slits 34a, 34b are formed to the holding portion to constitute an elastic deformation portion that elastically deforms to push out the male joint member 14 to a pull-out position or a normal position when a relative physical relationship between the spool portion 24 of the male joint member 14 and a holding portion of the retainer 16 is not normal and the retainer 16 is pressed therein. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pipe joint, and more particularly to a quick connector type pipe joint used for connecting pipes and tubes to each other in a fluid circuit of a machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a fuel supply system of an automobile, a joint called a quick connector is widely used as a pipe joint for connecting a fuel pipe.

The quick connector includes a female joint member and a male joint member which are respectively attached to pipes to be connected.
The retainer that connects these is a main component, and the pipes can be easily connected with one touch by inserting the male joint member into the female joint member without using a fastening element such as a bolt.

Various types of quick connectors of this kind have been devised so far. As the functions required for the quick connector, it is important that the connection is strong, easy to remove, the sealing performance is high, and the incomplete connection is difficult. The incomplete connection here means that the retainer is quasi-locked and incompletely connected while the male joint member is not completely inserted into the female joint member. It means the state of contacting the O-ring inside the member and sealing the inside.

As a quick connector improved to prevent such incomplete coupling, for example, there is one disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,542,716 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 10-509232).

[0006] This quick connector is basically constructed so that the retainer will not normally lock even if the retainer is inserted through the window of the female member unless the male joint member is completely inserted into the female joint member. This prevents incomplete coupling due to pseudo lock.

However, in this type of quick connector, when the male joint member is inserted into the female joint member and then the retainer is to be pushed, it is incomplete if the retainer is pushed first and then the male joint member is inserted. There is a drawback that the retainer pseudo locks while the coupling state is overlooked.

In order to remedy such a drawback, the applicant of the present invention discloses in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-1661 that the female joint member and the male joint member are in an incompletely joined state when the retainer is pseudo-locked. We have proposed a quick connector type pipe joint that has a structure that makes it clear.

[0009]

As described above, in the conventional quick connector type pipe joint, when the male joint member is not completely inserted into the female joint member but is inserted halfway,
It has a structure that cannot be locked even if the retainer is pushed in.

However, even if the retainer is pushed in with the incompletely connected state, the male joint member does not come off from the female joint member. Therefore, if the retainer is forcibly pushed in forcibly, the retainer will be damaged or the retainer will be damaged. There is a problem in that it cannot be removed from the female joint member.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and when the retainer is pushed in while the male joint member is incompletely inserted, the male joint member separates from the female joint member. It is to provide a pipe joint adapted to be either completely or completely connected.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 provides a male joint member having a spool portion, a female joint member, and a window opened in a housing of the female joint member. In a pipe joint comprising a resin retainer having a main body in which a leg portion extending in a U shape is formed by inserting the male joint member and the female joint member by being inserted from a portion in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, The retainer is a retainer having a rib that is engaged with the spool portion of the male joint member so as not to come out of the end of the male joint member, and is formed of a rib that is curved in a U shape following the outer peripheral surface of the male joint member. When the retainer is pushed in when the relative positional relationship between the spool portion of the male joint member and the retaining portion of the retainer is not in the regular position, the male joint member is elastically deformed to move the male joint member to the separated position or the regular position. A slit for forming the elastic deformation portion to extrude and is characterized in that formed in the ribs of the holder.

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the retainer is pushed in while the insertion of the male joint member is incomplete, the lower portion of the slit of the retaining portion of the retainer elastically deforms and opens outward, so as to restore. The male joint member is pushed out to the disengagement position or the normal position by the elastic force.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a pipe joint according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a pipe joint according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This piping joint 10 is a female joint member 1
2, a male joint member 14, and a retainer 16 that connects them. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a connected state in which the female joint member 12 and the male joint member 14 are completely connected by the retainer 16.

The present invention is basically applied to the female joint member 1 from the side.
2 is a quick connector type pipe joint in which the female joint member 12 and the male joint member 14 are joined by a retainer 16 that is inserted into the retainer 16, unless the male joint member 14 is completely inserted into the female joint member 12. The present invention is applied to a quick connector type pipe joint having a pseudo lock preventing structure that prevents the retainer 16 from normally locking even if the retainer 16 is inserted into the female joint member 12.

The female joint member 12 is a resin tube 11
The press-fitting mounting portion 13 which is the mounting side of and the cylindrical housing 15 are integrated, and a stepped passage 17 is axially formed therethrough. Housing 15
Includes a connecting portion 18 that is a side into which the male joint member 14 is inserted, and a window portion 19 for inserting the retainer 16 is formed on a side surface of the connecting portion 18. Housing 15
Is connected from such a connecting portion 18 to a first cylindrical portion 20a and a second cylindrical portion 20b whose diameters are successively reduced. As shown in FIG. 2, the spacer 21 is provided inside the first cylindrical portion 20 a of the housing 15.
The O-rings 22a and 22b are attached between them. Reference numeral 23 is a top hat for preventing the O-rings 22a and 22b from falling off.

On the other hand, the male joint member 14 is formed with a spool portion 24 which circulates around the outer peripheral portion at a position separated from the tip thereof by a predetermined distance. In this spool section 24,
It engages with the retainer 16 inserted through the window portion 19 and restrains the male joint member 14 from coming off.

The retainer 16 is an integrally molded U-shaped member made of plastic, and the retainer body includes legs 25a and 25b extending parallel to both sides. This leg 25
First ribs 26a, 26b having curved facing surfaces are integrally formed inside the a, 25b.

The first ribs 26a and 26b are the spool portion 2
4, which functions as a holding portion for holding the first end portion 28a, which corresponds to the front side in the direction in which the male joint member 14 is inserted.
And a second end edge portion 28b on the rear side, of which the first end edge portion 28a has a spool of the male joint member 14 that is completely inserted into the female joint member 12. Part 24
To prevent the male joint member 14 from moving in the axial direction so as not to come off.

As shown in FIG. 1, the retainer 16 includes
In addition to the first ribs 26a, 26b, the second ribs 30a,
30b is integrally formed. This second rib 30
Reference numerals a and 30b are ribs having inside facing surfaces that are curved so as to follow the outer peripheral surface of the male joint member 14, and are the first ribs 26a,
26b from the first end edge portion 28a to at least the male joint member 14
Are formed at positions separated by a distance longer than the width of the spool portion 24.

In FIG. 1, the entire length of the retainer 16 is set to be substantially equal to the length of the window portion 19 of the female joint member 12. When the male joint member 14 is completely inserted into the female joint member 12, the spool portion 24 of the male joint member 14 is inserted.
Is positioned in a space 32 formed between the first end edge portions 28a of the first ribs 26a and 26b of the retainer 16 and the second ribs 30a and 30b, and the retainer 16 is slid. It becomes possible to push in. And the leg 25 of the retainer 16
The claws 33a and 33b formed on the a and 25b are engaged with the lower edge portion (not shown) of the window portion 19, and the retainer 16
Can be locked.

On the other hand, when the male joint member 14 is not sufficiently inserted, the spool portion 24 does not enter the space portion 32,
Even if the retainer 16 is pushed in as it is, it cannot be locked.

In the present invention, in such a case, the first rib 2
Slits 34a, 34b are formed in the first ribs 26a, 26b of the retainer 16 in order to push out the male joint member 14 and separate the spool portion 24 by elastically deforming a part of 6a, 26b. . In the first embodiment of the present invention, the slits 34a and 34b are
It is formed so as to be cut from the second end edge 28b on the rear side of the first ribs 26a, 26b and extend in the insertion direction of the male joint member 14.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 36 indicates a notch, and the notches 36 are engaged with projections 37 projecting on both shoulders of the retainer 16. Further, reference numeral 38
Indicates a water drain hole formed by cutting out between the second ribs 30a and 30b. The water drain hole 38 is formed in the space 3
It communicates with 2. Therefore, when the actual piping posture is upside down from FIG. 1, water is discharged from the water drain hole 38 so that the space 32 does not collect, and the male joint member 14 is a metal pipe. Also, it becomes possible to prevent deterioration of corrosion resistance.

The pipe joint according to the present embodiment is constructed as described above. Next, its operation and effect will be described.

In FIG. 2, when the male joint member 14 is completely inserted into the female joint member 12, the retainer 16 can be slid and pushed in. Then, when the retainer 16 is locked and the female joint member 12 and the male joint member 16 are completely coupled, the retainer 1
The second ribs 30a and 30b of 6 have a function of restricting the top hat 23 from protruding. Therefore, the O-rings 22a and 22b are not displaced and the sealing performance is not impaired, and high pressure resistance performance can be maintained.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the male joint member 14 is inserted into the female joint member 12. FIG. 3B is a view of the positional relationship between the retainer 16 and the spool portion 24 of the male joint member 14 in FIG. 3A as viewed from the side opposite to the inserting direction of the retainer. Male joint member 14
If the retainer 16 is pushed in when the insertion of the retainer 16 is insufficient, the spool portion 24 of the male joint member 14 interferes with the first ribs 26a and 26b of the retainer 16 and cannot be locked. However, the slits 34a, 34b are formed in the first ribs 26a, 26b of the retainer 16.
Is cut from the rear edge, so the spool part 2
When the retainer 16 is pushed in while 4 is interfering with the first ribs 26a and 26b, the lower portions of the slits 34a and 34b are elastically deformed and open outward as shown in FIG. 3B. The elastic force to be pushed pushes out the male joint member 14 to the detached position. As shown in FIG. 3C, at this disengaged position, the tip end of the male joint member 14 is prevented from reaching the O-rings 22 a and 22 b inside the female joint member 12 from the spool portion 24 of the male joint member 14. Length, retainer 16 length and O-ring 2
The positions of 2a and 22b are preferably related. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the inconvenience that the sealing is effective while the male joint member 14 and the female joint member 12 are incompletely coupled at the separated position.

Then, the male joint member 14 is replaced by the female joint member 12
If the retainer 16 is pushed in again after being inserted again, the retainer 16 is normally locked, so that the male joint member 14 and the female joint member 12 can be properly coupled.

When the spool portion 24 of the male joint member 14 enters the space portion 32 in the female joint member 12 and is in a proper position, when the retainer 16 is pushed in, the slits 34a and 34b are provided. The first rib 26a,
Since 26b fits into the male joint member 14 with a small insertion resistance, the lock can be smoothly performed.

Second Embodiment Next, FIG. 4 is a view showing a retainer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The pipe joint according to the second embodiment differs from the pipe joint according to the first embodiment in that the retainer 16 is used.
In addition to the slits 34a and 34b, the first ribs 26a and 26b are further provided with slits 40a and 40b. In this second embodiment, the slits 40a, 40b
Are cut from the front end edges 28a of the first ribs 26a and 26b, and are formed so as to extend in the pipe removing direction of the male joint member 14.

5 (a) and 5 (b), the insertion of the male joint member 14 into the female joint member 12 is insufficient,
When the spool portion 24 is located near the first end edge portions 28a of the first ribs 26a and 26b, the spool portion 24 is in a state of interfering with the first ribs 26a and 26b. Figure 5
As shown in (b), when the retainer 16 is pushed in, the slits 40a, 40b are formed in the first ribs 26a, 26b.
The lower portion of the male joint member 14 is elastically deformed and opened outward, and the elastic force of the restoring force pushes the male joint member 14 to a normal position where the spool portion 24 enters the space portion 32 (see FIG. c)).

Therefore, according to this second embodiment,
In addition to the function of the first embodiment described above, even if the male joint member 14 is not sufficiently inserted into the female joint member 12, a function of automatically moving the spool portion 24 to the regular position by pushing the retainer 16 is added. The retainer 16 can be normally locked.

Third Embodiment FIG. 6 is a view showing a retainer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the pipe joint according to the third embodiment,
The slits 50a, 50b of the retainer 16 are cut from the center of the lower end edges of the first ribs 26a, 26b at right angles to the axial direction, and the slits 50a, 50b cause the first ribs 26a, 26b to move the spool portion 24. A fixing portion 52 that fixes the male joint member 14 so as to prevent rotation of the male joint member 14 is separated from the holding portion 51 that holds the male joint member 14.

The holding portion 51 is formed with a taper portion 53 which guides the spool portion 24 of the male joint member 14 to a regular position where the spool portion 24 enters the space portion 32, and the fixed portion 52 guides the male joint member 14 to the detached position. A tapered portion 54 is formed.

In this embodiment, a surface having a high degree of roughness is formed on the inner side surface of the fixing portion 52 by the satin finish or the like, so that the frictional force between the male joint member 14 and the outer peripheral surface is increased. There is. The fixing portion 52 utilizes this frictional force to improve the rotation inhibiting force with respect to the male joint member 14.

Next, the operation of the third embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. When the spool portion 24 is in the position shown in FIG. 7 due to insufficient insertion of the male joint member 14 into the female joint member 12, the taper portion 53 of the retaining portion 51 of the retainer 16 has a spool portion 2
When the retainer 16 is pushed in as it is, the taper portion 53 advances the male joint member 14 until the spool portion 24 enters the space portion 32. As a result, the male joint member 14 is positioned at the proper position and the retainer 1
6 can be locked.

When the spool portion 24 of the male joint member 14 is at the position shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 7, the spool portion 24 contacts the taper portion 54 of the fixed portion 52 of the retainer 16 and the retainer 16 is pushed in as it is. The taper portion 53 retracts the male joint member 14 to the detached position.

In any case, when the male joint member 14 is not sufficiently inserted, pushing the retainer 16 results in either complete connection or complete disconnection, so it is sure that the incomplete connection is overlooked. Can be prevented.

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the invention, when the retainer is pushed in while the male joint member is incompletely inserted, the male joint member is detached from the female joint member or completely. They can be combined with each other, and insertion resistance can be reduced without damaging the retainer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a pipe joint according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the piping joint.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the action of the pipe joint according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a retainer for a piping joint according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the operation of the pipe joint according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a retainer for a piping joint according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the action of the pipe joint according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Piping joint 12 Female joint member 15 housing 14 Male joint member 16 retainer 19 window 23 Top Hat 26a, 26b First rib (holding portion) 34a, 34b slits

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A male joint member having a spool portion, a female joint member, and a male joint member and a female joint member which are inserted from a window opening in a housing of the female joint member in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction. In a pipe joint comprising a resin retainer having a main body that is coupled to each other and has a U-shaped extending leg portion formed therein, a spool portion of the male joint member does not come out of the end of the male joint member. And a holding portion formed of a rib that curves in a U shape following the outer peripheral surface of the male joint member is provided in the retainer, and the relative position between the spool portion of the male joint member and the holding portion of the retainer. When the retainer is pushed in when the relationship is not in the regular position, a slit is formed in the holding portion to elastically deform and push out the male joint member to the disengagement position or the regular position. Pipe joint characterized. 2. The slit is formed so as to extend in the insertion direction of the male joint member by being cut from the edge opposite to the edge of the holding portion engaging with the spool portion. Piping joint. 3. The holding portion is further formed with a slit that is cut from an end edge on the side that engages with the spool portion and extends in the pipe removing direction of the male joint member. Pipe fittings. 4. The slit is a slit that is cut from a lower end edge of the holding portion and separates a fixing portion having a rotation restraining structure that fixes the rotation of the male joint member from the holding portion. The holding portion is formed with a taper portion for guiding the spool portion of the male joint member to a regular position, and the fixed portion is formed with a taper portion for guiding the spool portion of the male joint member to the disengagement position. The pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein: