JP2006125573A - Coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coupler, holding a member to be connected with strong holding force without damaging the member, and facilitating re-assembling. <P>SOLUTION: A slitted piece 1 is integrally provided with a plurality of slitting grooves 1d disposed at equal spaces in the circumferential direction, and one 1d1 of the slitting grooves 1d is completely slit. A lever 11 is pushed counter-clockwise to insert a discharge pipe 20 in an insert hole 19, and when the hand is released from the lever 11, a push pipe 4 is moved to the insert side by energizing force of a spring 8 and the push pipe 4 presses the slitted piece 1 through a receiving member 6. Whereupon, a taper surface 1b of the slitted piece 1 abuts on a taper surface 5b of the lock ring 5, and the slitted piece 1 bends toward the inner periphery so that the inner peripheral surface 1a of the slitted piece 1 holds the outer peripheral surface of the discharge pipe 20 in the surface contact state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a coupler which is used for an air leak test or the like and particularly suitable for connecting a member to be connected such as a pipe connected to an inspection object.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a coupler used for, for example, an air leak test of a compressor or the like, for connecting a connected member such as a discharge pipe of an inspection target such as a compressor and a pipe of an inspection device such as a leak tester while maintaining airtightness. Are known. In general, this type of coupler has an insertion hole into which a member to be connected is inserted, and the member to be inspected is inserted into the insertion hole and locked to be hermetically connected to the inspection apparatus.

  For example, the coupler disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to lock a pipe that is a member to be connected with a split by moving a split split in the inner diameter direction by a tapered surface of a lock ring.

In addition, some of the commercially available couplers are designed to prevent the pipe from being pulled out when gas is filled by applying the end of a metal piece to the surface of the pipe, which is a connected member, and catching the pipe. There is also.
JP-A-10-299966

  However, since the coupler of Patent Document 1 locks the member to be connected with a split part, the contact area with the member to be connected is not large, and it is improved from the viewpoint of sufficiently securing the connecting member. There was room for. In addition, since the split is divided into two parts, for example, when a seal member such as an internal O-ring is exchanged, there is a problem that the split is easily dropped and the replacement work and the reassembly work are difficult to perform.

  Further, in the above-mentioned commercially available couplers, since the metal piece hits the surface of the connected member, the surface of the connected member is scratched, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of the strength and appearance of the connected member. It was.

  Further, in any of the couplers described above, the O-ring that is positioned on the outer periphery of the connected member and is airtightly held is usually configured to have a slightly smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the connected member. There is also a problem that the end surface of the connected member and the O-ring rub against each other, and the surface of the O-ring tends to wear and deteriorate.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and the object thereof is to maintain a strong holding force without damaging the connected member and facilitate reassembly. It is to provide a coupler that can be used.

  To achieve the above object, a coupler according to claim 1 of the present invention is a coupler that inserts and locks a member to be coupled (20) to be inserted into an insertion hole (19). A locking member (1) formed integrally with a slot (1d), an inner peripheral surface (1a) forming a part of the insertion hole, and a tapered surface (1b) facing the outer diameter direction; A pressing member (4) that is movable along the axial direction of the coupler and that presses the lock member by moving in the predetermined axial direction of the coupler, and an urging force that biases the pressing member in the predetermined axial direction. Outer fixing having an urging means (8) and a tapered surface (5b) disposed on the outer peripheral side of the lock member and in sliding contact with the taper surface of the lock member when the lock member is pressed by the pressing member Member (5) The taper surface of the lock member and the taper surface of the outer fixing member are slidably contacted by the urging force of the lock member, and the lock member is bent in the inner diameter direction, so that the coupled surface is connected by the inner peripheral surface of the lock member. The member is configured to be gripped in a surface contact state.

  According to this configuration, since the entire inner peripheral surface of the lock member grips the connected member in a surface contact state, the holding force is strong. In addition, since the lock member is integral, the lock member is unlikely to fall off during reassembly such as replacement of a seal member such as an O-ring, and the coupler can be easily reassembled. Therefore, it can hold | maintain with a strong holding force, without damaging a to-be-connected member, and can reassemble easily.

  Preferably, only one (1d1) of the plurality of slits of the lock member is formed over the entire length in the axial direction of the lock member and completely separated, and the other slits are stopped. It is a groove (Claim 2). According to this configuration, when the lock member bends in the inner diameter direction, distortion is less likely to occur at the root portion of the stop groove, and it becomes stronger repeatedly and improves durability.

  Preferably, a moving means (11) that moves the pressing member in a direction opposite to the predetermined axial direction against the urging force of the urging means, and between the locking member and the pressing member. The ring member (14) that is interposed and made movable along the axial direction of the coupler, and the locking member is pressed in the predetermined axial direction by the pressing member, and the connected member is gripped by the locking member. Restricting means (1, 5, 6) for restricting movement of the ring member in the predetermined axial direction in a state where the ring member is in a state where the ring member has a first surface on the pressing member side in the axial direction of the coupler. (14b), the pressing member has a second surface (4b) facing the first surface on the ring member side in the axial direction of the coupler, and the first surface and the second surface At least one side of A tapered surface directed in the direction, and between the first surface and the second surface in the axial direction of the coupler, is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the connected member in a free state or from the outer diameter A large O-ring (13) is disposed, and as the pressing member moves in the predetermined axial direction, the locking member is pressed in the predetermined axial direction by the pressing member, and the first surface and the When the second surface approaches, the O-ring is sandwiched between the first surface and the second surface and pressed in the inner diameter direction, so that the O-ring is in close contact with the connected member. (Claim 3). According to this configuration, since the O-ring is substantially equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the connected member in a free state, when the connected member is inserted and removed, the end surface of the connected member is There is no strong rubbing. On the other hand, since the O-ring is in close contact with the connected member when the connected member is held, airtightness is ensured. Therefore, wear / deterioration of the O-ring due to insertion / removal of the connected member can be suppressed while ensuring airtightness.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the said parenthesis is an illustration.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to hold the connected member with a strong holding force without damaging the connected member, and to facilitate reassembly.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a coupler according to an embodiment of the present invention. This coupler 30 has an insertion hole 19 and a connecting portion 21, and mainly inserts a discharge pipe 20 connected to an inspection target such as a compressor (not shown) into the insertion hole 19 and connects to an inspection device (not shown). The pipe to be inspected is connected to the connecting portion 21 to connect the inspection object and the inspection apparatus in an airtight manner. For example, the coupler 30 is used in an air leak test or the like, and the air in the inspection target is evacuated or the inspection gas is sealed while maintaining airtightness. The figure shows a state where the discharge pipe 20 is inserted and locked in the insertion hole 19 of the coupler 30 (hereinafter referred to as “locked state”).

  The coupler 30 includes a fixed part such as the lock ring 5 and the outer cylinder 10, movable parts such as a slotted piece 1, a piece guide 3, a receiving member 6, a tapered ring 14, a push tube 4 and a receiving rubber 2, and the like. It is mainly composed of a lever 11 and a spring 8 for moving the movable part. These components are arranged coaxially with respect to the central axis of the coupler 30 except for the lever 11. Hereinafter, the left side of the figure of the coupler 30 is referred to as “insertion side (predetermined axis direction)”, and the right side of the figure is referred to as “inspection apparatus side”.

  FIG. 2A is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the insertion side portion of the coupler 30 in the locked state. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the slotted piece 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the coupler 30, the cylindrical lock ring 5 and the outer cylinder 10 are both screwed and fixed by a screw portion 21. On the inner peripheral side of the insertion-side end portion of the lock ring 5, a tapered surface 5b that increases in diameter toward the inspection apparatus side is formed. A push tube 4 having a piston appearance is fitted on the inner peripheral side of the outer cylinder 10 so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the coupler 30. A through hole 9 for passing a gas is formed in the central portion of the push tube 4 over the entire length. On the inner peripheral side of the outer cylinder 10, a spring 8 is interposed between the outer tube 10 and the push tube 4, and the spring 8 always urges the push tube 4 toward the insertion side. The connecting portion 21 is a tapered screw portion and is formed on the base portion 15 of the push tube 4.

  A pair of bearing plates 12 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1) are fixed to the outer side of the end portion of the outer cylinder 10 on the inspection apparatus side by fixing tools 17 and 18. The lever 11 is attached to the bearing plate 12 via a rotation shaft 16 so as to be rotatable in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The drive portion 11 a of the lever 11 is in contact with the contact surface 15 a of the base portion 15 of the push tube 4. Since the push tube 4 is urged to the insertion side by the spring 8, the base portion 15 also urges the driving portion 11a to the insertion side, and therefore, when the coupler 30 is free, the lock as shown in FIG. It is kept in a non-insertion / removal state including the state (a state in which the discharge pipe 20 is not inserted / removed). When the lever 11 is turned counterclockwise against the urging force of the spring 8, the base 15 is driven to the inspection device side by the drive portion 11a, the spring 8 is contracted, and the push tube 4 is connected to the inspection device side. Move to. When the operation of the lever 11 is canceled, the non-insertion / removal state shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, a receiving rubber 2 that receives the end 20 a of the discharge pipe 20 is provided in the insertion side portion of the push tube 4. Further, the push tube 4 is formed with a first inner peripheral surface 4a and a second inner peripheral surface 4c having a larger diameter than the first inner peripheral surface 4a. These first inner peripheral surface 4a and second inner peripheral surface. Between 4c, it becomes the taper surface 4b which faced the internal diameter direction which expands as it goes to the insertion side. The tapered ring 14 is fitted inside the second inner peripheral surface 4 c of the push tube 4 so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the coupler 30. The end surface on the inspection device side of the tapered ring 14 is a tapered surface 14b that increases in diameter toward the inspection device side and faces the inner diameter direction facing the tapered surface 4b of the push tube 4. An O-ring 13 is interposed between the tapered surface 4b and the tapered surface 14b. The O-ring 13 has a slightly larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the discharge pipe 20 in a free state.

  An annular receiving member 6 is interposed between the insertion-side end surface 4 d of the push tube 4 and the insertion-side end of the lock ring 5, and a piece guide 3 is interposed on the inner peripheral side of the receiving member 6. The A slotted piece 1 is arranged so as to cover the piece guide 3 from the outer periphery. The piece guide 3 fulfills a guide function for smoothly moving the slotted piece 1 in the axial direction of the coupler 30. As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), a tapered surface 1b whose diameter increases toward the inspection apparatus side is formed on the outer peripheral side of the insertion side end of the slotted piece 1. The tapered surface 1b faces the tapered surface 5b of the lock ring 5 so as to be slidable.

  The slotted piece 1 has a plurality of slotted grooves 1d (1d1 to 1d4) provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and is configured integrally. Of these, the three slits 1d2 to 1d4 are so-called stop grooves formed from the insertion side end to the middle of the inspection apparatus side end, but only one slot 1d1 has a total axial length. Formed over and completely separated. Here, the insertion hole 19 is formed by the inner peripheral surface 1a of the slotted piece 1, the inner peripheral surface 3a of the piece guide 3, the inner peripheral surface 14a of the tapered ring 14, and the first inner peripheral surface 4a of the push tube 4. Although formed, it is the inner peripheral surface 1 a of the slotted piece 1 that substantially holds the discharge pipe 20. The inner peripheral surface 1a of the split piece 1 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the discharge pipe 20 in the free state.

  Next, an operation when the discharge pipe 20 is attached / detached will be described. FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the insertion side portion of the coupler 30 in an insertion / removal state where the discharge pipe 20 is inserted / removed, and corresponds to FIG. First, when the lever 11 is operated in the counterclockwise direction, the push tube 4 moves to the inspection device side, the slotted piece 1, the receiving member 6, the piece guide 3, and the tapered ring 14 are released and the coupler 30 is moved. It becomes a state in which it can move in the axial direction. At this time, the O-ring 13 is not restrained by the tapered surface 4b of the push tube 4 and the tapered surface 14b of the tapered ring 14, and is in a free state. Therefore, in this state, the inner diameter of the O-ring 13 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the discharge pipe 20.

  Next, in this state, the discharge pipe 20 is inserted into the insertion hole 19. As described above, since the inner diameter of the O-ring 13 is larger than the outer diameter of the discharge pipe 20, the end 20a does not rub the O-ring 13 strongly when the discharge pipe 20 is inserted. This is the same when the discharge pipe 20 is pulled out. Thereby, wear of the O-ring 13 is suppressed.

  From the viewpoint of suppressing the wear of the O-ring 13 as much as possible, the inner diameter of the O-ring 13 is not necessarily limited to being set larger than the outer diameter of the discharge pipe 20. For example, even if the inner diameter of the O-ring 13 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the discharge pipe 20, a considerable effect can be obtained, and even if the inner diameter of the O-ring 13 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the discharge pipe 20, If it is larger than the inner diameter setting of the O-ring, there is an effect of suppressing wear.

  When the discharge pipe 20 is inserted into the insertion hole 19, the lever 11 is released. Then, the lever 11 returns to the non-insertion / removal state, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the push tube 4 is moved to the insertion side by the urging force of the spring 8, and the end surface 4d of the push tube 4 receives the end surface 4d. The receiving member 6 comes into contact with the end surface 6a on the inspection apparatus side of the member 6 and is pressed to the insertion side. At the same time, the pressing surface 6b of the receiving member 6 presses the end surface 1c on the inspection device side of the slotted piece 1, so that the slotted piece 1 is biased toward the insertion side.

  When the biased slotted piece 1 moves to the insertion side, the taper surface 1b of the slotted piece 1 abuts against the taper surface 5b of the lock ring 5 and receives a force in the inner circumferential direction. The accessory piece 1 bends in the inner circumferential direction through the slits 1d1 to 1d4. Thereby, the inner peripheral surface 1a of the slotted piece 1 grips the outer peripheral surface of the discharge pipe 20 in a surface contact state. At this time, only the slot 1d1 is a completely separated groove, and therefore, compared to the case where all the slots are non-stop slots, in particular, the inspection apparatus side portion of the slotted piece 1 (the slot). Distortion is unlikely to occur in the root portions of the grooves 1d2 to 1d4.

  When the slotted piece 1 holds the discharge pipe 20, the pressing surface 6 b of the receiving member 6 and the end face 1 c of the slotted piece 1 come into contact with each other, and the tapered ring 14 is connected to the end face of the receiving member 6. Since the movement toward the insertion side is restricted by contacting with 6a, the taper surface 4b of the push tube 4 approaches the taper surface 14b of the tapered ring 14 by moving the push tube 4 toward the insertion side. Then, as shown in FIG. 2A, the O-ring 13 is sandwiched between the tapered surface 4 b and the tapered surface 14 b and pressed in the inner circumferential direction, while the discharge pipe 20 is disposed on the inner circumferential side of the O-ring 13. As a result, the O-ring 13 is eventually crushed by the three of the tapered surface 4b, the tapered surface 14b, and the outer peripheral surface of the discharge pipe 20 and deformed into a rice ball shape, whereby the outer peripheral surface of the discharge pipe 20 To ensure tightness and tightness.

  According to the present embodiment, the entire inner peripheral surface 1a of the slotted piece 1 grips the discharge pipe 20 in a surface contact state by the biasing force of the spring 8, so that a strong holding force can be ensured. In addition, since the slotted piece 1 is integrally formed, when the coupler 30 is reassembled, for example, when the O-ring 13 is replaced, it is not easily dropped like a split type piece. Therefore, the discharge pipe 20 can be held with a strong holding force without being damaged, and the coupler 30 can be easily reassembled.

  Further, in the slotted piece 1, since only one slotted groove 1d1 among the plurality of slotted grooves 1d is a completely separated groove, when the slotted piece 1 bends in the inner diameter direction, the inspection device Since distortion at the side end portion is unlikely to occur, even when the discharge pipe 20 is repeatedly attached and detached, fatigue is reduced, and the durability of the slotted piece 1 can be improved.

  Further, the O-ring 13 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the discharge pipe 20 in a free state, and is in close contact with the discharge pipe 20 in a locked state, so that the discharge pipe 20 is inserted and removed while ensuring airtightness. Wear and deterioration of the O-ring 13 can be suppressed.

  From the viewpoint of sandwiching the O-ring 13 from both sides in the axial direction of the coupler 30 and pressing the O-ring 13 toward the discharge pipe 20, at least one of the tapered surface 4 b and the tapered surface 14 b may be tapered, and the other is, for example, a coupler It may be an end face perpendicular to 30 axes.

  Note that although one O-ring 13 is provided between the tapered surface 4b and the tapered surface 14b, two or more O-rings may be provided.

  The coupler 30 can be used as a plug by inserting and locking a connecting member having no hole in place of the discharge pipe 20 as well as taking in / out the inspection gas. Therefore, the connected member to be connected and locked is not limited to the tubular member.

  In the slotted piece 1, only one slit groove 1d is required to be completely separated, and the number of other slit grooves 1d is not limited and the arrangement positions are not limited to equal intervals. The shape is not limited to those illustrated.

  In addition, the shape of each said component is an illustration, and it cannot be overemphasized that a shape etc. can be suitably changed in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the coupler which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged vertical sectional view (figure (a)) of the insertion side portion of a coupler in a locked state, and a perspective view (figure (b)) of a slotted piece. It is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the insertion side portion of the coupler in an insertion / removal state in which the discharge pipe is inserted / removed.

Explanation of symbols

  1 slotted piece (lock member, part of regulating means), 1a inner circumferential surface, 1b tapered surface, 1d1 to 1d4 slotted groove, 3a inner circumferential surface, 4 push tube (pressing member), 4b tapered surface (first 2 surface), 5 lock ring (outer fixing member, part of regulating means), 5b taper surface, 6 receiving member (part of regulating means), 8 spring (biasing means), 11 lever (moving means), 13 O-ring, 14 Tapered ring (ring member), 14b Tapered surface (first surface), 19 Insertion hole, 20 Discharge pipe (connected member), 30 Coupler

Claims (3)

In a coupler that inserts and locks a member to be connected into an insertion hole,
A lock member formed integrally with a plurality of slit grooves along the axial direction of the coupler, an inner peripheral surface forming a part of the insertion hole, and a tapered surface facing the outer diameter direction;
A pressing member that is movable along the axial direction of the coupler and that presses the lock member by moving in the predetermined axial direction of the coupler;
Biasing means for biasing the pressing member in the predetermined axial direction;
An outer fixing member that is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the lock member and has a tapered surface that slidably contacts the tapered surface of the lock member when the lock member is pressed by the pressing member;
The inner peripheral surface of the lock member is slidably contacted by the taper surface of the lock member and the taper surface of the outer fixing member by the biasing force of the biasing means, and the lock member bends in the inner diameter direction. The coupler is configured so that the connected member is gripped in a surface contact state.   Only one of the plurality of slot grooves of the lock member is formed over the entire axial length of the lock member and is completely separated, and the other slot grooves are stop grooves. The coupler according to claim 1.   A moving means for moving the pressing member in a direction opposite to the predetermined axial direction against the biasing force of the biasing means, and an axial direction of the coupler interposed between the lock member and the pressing member A ring member that is movable along the predetermined axial direction of the ring member in a state where the locking member is pressed in the predetermined axial direction by the pressing member and the connected member is gripped by the locking member And the ring member has a first surface on the pressing member side in the axial direction of the coupler, and the pressing member is the ring member in the axial direction of the coupler. A second surface facing the first surface, and at least one of the first surface and the second surface is a tapered surface facing the inner diameter direction, and the axial direction of the coupler In the above An O-ring that is substantially equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the connected member is provided between the surface and the second surface in a free state, and the pressing member moves in the predetermined axial direction. Accordingly, the locking member is pressed in the predetermined axial direction by the pressing member, and the first surface and the second surface approach each other, whereby the O-ring is connected to the first surface and the second surface. The coupler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the O-ring is configured to be sandwiched between and pressed in an inner diameter direction so that the O-ring is in close contact with the connected member.

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