JP2007064417A - Pipe joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pipe joint capable of easily connecting a socket and a plug even in a state that a pressure of fluid in piping is added thereto, having high safety, operability and durability, and advantageous for miniaturization. <P>SOLUTION: A rotary ring 14 is disposed on a socket body 11 rotatably in the circumferential direction, the rotary ring 14 and an inner sleeve 12 are screwed to axially move the inner sleeve 12 by rotation of the rotary ring 14, and valve elements 13, 22 are pressed to each other by the movement of the inner sleeve 12, thus a socket-side flow channel 10a and a plug-side flow channel 20a can be easily communicated with each other even in a state that the pressure of fluid in the piping is added to the valve elements 13, 22. Here, the force for moving the inner sleeve 12 can be sufficiently added by the rotary ring 14 without lengthening like a lever. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pipe joint for connecting, for example, a high-pressure pipe used in a hydraulic device or the like.

  Conventionally, as this kind of pipe joint, a socket connected to one pipe, a plug connected to the other pipe, a socket side valve body for opening and closing the flow path of the socket, and opening and closing the flow path of the plug Plug-side valve body, socket-side valve seat portion that closes the flow path when the socket-side valve body is pressed by a spring, and plug-side valve seat portion that closes the flow path when the plug-side valve body is pressed by a spring When the socket and the plug are coupled, the valve bodies are retracted from the valve seats while the tips are in contact with each other, and the valve bodies are opened so that the flow paths of the socket and the plug communicate with each other. It is common. However, since the pipe joint has a structure in which the valve body is pressed against the valve seat portion in the axial direction to close the flow path, the pressure of the fluid remaining in the pipe (residual pressure) is applied to the valve body. When connecting the socket and the plug, the valve bodies must be pressed against the residual pressure, which makes it difficult to connect the socket and the plug.

  Therefore, when a cylindrical member in which the valve body is slidably inserted in the axial direction is provided in the flow path, and the valve body is retracted to a predetermined position in the axial direction, a fluid circulation port provided on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical member Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this pipe joint, since the fluid pressure in the axial direction is not applied to the valve bodies, the socket and the plug can be easily coupled without being affected by the residual pressure when the valve bodies are pressed together.

In addition, as another pipe joint, a cylindrical movable member having a socket-side valve seat on one axial end side is provided in the socket so as to be movable in the axial direction. When the member is moved toward the plug side, each valve body retreats from the valve seat part with its tips contacting each other, and each valve body is opened so that the flow path between the socket and the plug communicates. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2). In this pipe joint, the valve body is pressed against the valve seat in the axial direction to close the flow path, so that the residual pressure of the fluid is applied to the valve body, but when the socket and plug are joined In this case, the valve bodies are not pressed and the crank lever is rotated to move the movable member, thereby pressing the valve bodies and opening the flow path. Socket and plug can be easily combined.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-14155 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-38170

  However, in the former structure of the pipe joint, it is necessary to join a cylindrical member made of a separate part to the inner peripheral surface of the flow path by brazing or the like, and there is a risk of fluid leakage due to deterioration of the joint location. Further, a ball that locks the coupling state with the plug and a sleeve for fixing the ball are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the socket, and the contact portion with the ball is subjected to heat treatment for increasing the strength. However, since the joint portion of the cylindrical member is close to the contact portion with the ball, the contact portion with the ball is easily softened due to the heat effect of the brazing of the cylindrical member, thereby reducing durability. There was a problem. Furthermore, since the tip of the valve body protrudes to the outside, in a structure that does not receive residual pressure in the axial direction of the valve body, there is a risk that fluid may be discharged to the outside when the valve body is inadvertently pressed. . For this reason, it is necessary to attach a cap for preventing pressure to cover the valve body at the time of non-bonding, and there is a problem that the number of parts increases and troublesome cap attachment / detachment work is required.

  In the latter pipe joint structure, the movable member is moved by pressing the crank lever to press the valve bodies, but in order to move the movable member smoothly against the residual pressure. However, it is necessary to increase the length of the crank lever, and there is a problem that the entire pipe joint is enlarged. Further, in the structure using the crank lever, the crank lever is easily turned unintentionally, so that the flow path may be unintentionally closed, and the crank lever is provided at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the socket. For this reason, for example, when the circumferential direction of the socket is not fixed, such as when used for a flexible hose, there is a problem that the crank lever is likely to be difficult to operate.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to easily connect the socket and the plug even when the pressure of the fluid in the pipe is applied, as well as safety and operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a pipe joint that is excellent in performance and durability and is advantageous for downsizing.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a socket connected to one pipe, a plug connected to the other pipe, a socket-side valve body that opens and closes the flow path of the socket, and opens and closes the flow path of the plug. Plug-side valve element, socket-side valve element that closes the flow path when the socket-side valve element is pressed by the spring, and plug-side valve seat that closes the flow path when the plug-side valve element is pressed by the spring A cylindrical movable member provided in the socket so as to be movable in the axial direction and having a socket-side valve seat portion on one axial end side, and an operation member for moving the movable member in the axial direction by a predetermined operation. When the movable member is moved toward the plug by the operation member by connecting the socket and the plug, each valve body retreats from the valve seat portion with its tip contacting each other, and each valve body is opened. The In a pipe joint in which the flow path of the socket and the plug communicates with each other, the operation member is provided in the socket so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction, and the operation member is moved in the axial direction by the rotation of the operation member. And the movable member are screwed together.

  Thus, after the socket and the plug are coupled, the operation member is rotated to move the movable member in the axial direction and press the valve elements against each other, thereby resisting the pressure of the fluid in the pipe. Thus, the socket and plug flow paths communicate with each other without coupling the socket and the plug. In this case, since each valve body is pressed in the axial direction to be brought into pressure contact with the valve seat portion, the valve body is not easily opened even if it contacts the valve body from the outside when not coupled. Further, since the movable member is moved by the rotation operation of the operation member, a force for moving the movable member can be sufficiently applied without increasing the length dimension like a lever, and the operation member is rotated. It can be operated from any position in the direction. Furthermore, since the movable member is movably provided in the socket, it is not necessary to join parts by brazing or welding.

  According to the present invention, since the flow path of the socket and the plug can be communicated with each other without coupling the socket and the plug against the pressure of the fluid in the pipe, the pressure of the fluid in the pipe is connected to each valve body. The socket and the plug can be easily coupled even in the state where the is added. In this case, even if it contacts the valve body from the outside when it is not coupled, the valve body is not easily opened, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the release of the internal fluid and improve safety. it can. Further, since the force for moving the movable member can be sufficiently applied by the operation member without increasing the length dimension like a lever, there is an advantage that the entire socket is not enlarged. Furthermore, even when the circumferential direction of the socket is not determined as in the case of use for a flexible hose, there is an advantage that the operability is not lowered. In addition, since it is not necessary to join parts by brazing or welding, the material is not softened due to thermal influence, and durability can be improved.

  1 to 7 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a partially sectional side view of a pipe joint socket, FIG. 2 is a partially sectional side view of a pipe joint plug, and FIG. 3 is a pipe joint. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 5 to 7 are partial sectional side views showing the coupling operation of the pipe joint.

  This pipe joint includes a socket 10 connected to one pipe (not shown) and a plug 20 connected to the other pipe (not shown). By connecting the socket 10 and the plug 20, a flow path on the socket 10 side is formed. 10a communicates with the flow path 20a on the plug 20 side.

  The socket 10 includes a socket main body 11 having a socket-side flow path 10 a therein, an inner sleeve 12 as a movable member provided in the socket main body 11 so as to be movable in the axial direction, and a flow path 10 a in the socket main body 11. It comprises a valve body 13 that opens and closes, a rotating ring 14 as an operating member that moves the inner sleeve 12 in the axial direction, and a lock mechanism 15 that locks the plug 20 in a coupled state.

  The socket body 11 includes a first tubular member 11a disposed on one end side in the axial direction of the socket 10, a second tubular member 11b disposed on the other end side in the axial direction of the socket 10, and a first tube. Between the first annular member 11c arranged on the side of the cylindrical member 11a, the second annular member 11d arranged on the side of the second cylindrical member 11b, and the first and second annular members 11c, 11d It consists of guide sleeves 11e as engaging members arranged at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction. The first cylindrical member 11a is fixed to the first annular member 11c by bolts 11f at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction, and the second cylindrical member 11b is fixed to the second annular member 11d by bolts 11g at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction. Has been. The first annular member 11c and the second annular member 11d are fixed to each other via the guide sleeves 11e by a plurality of bolts 11h that pass through the guide sleeves 11e. Further, a seal member 11 i is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical member 11 a, and when the plug 20 is coupled, the seal member 11 i comes into pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface of the plug 20.

  The inner sleeve 12 is slidably provided in the socket main body 11 so as to form a socket-side flow path 10a therein, and the outer circumferential surfaces on one end side and the other end side in the axial direction are formed to have the same outer diameter. ing. Sealing members 12 a are provided at two axial positions between the outer peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 12 and the inner peripheral surface of the socket body 11, and one sealing member 12 a is disposed on one axial end side of the inner sleeve 12. The other seal member 12 a is disposed on the other axial end side of the inner sleeve 12. A taper-shaped valve seat portion 12b is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 12 at one end in the axial direction, and the valve body 13 is in contact with the valve seat portion 12b in the axial direction. A flange 12c that extends radially outward is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 12, and a screw portion 12d that is screwed into the rotating ring 14 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the flange 12c. Further, insertion holes 12e through which the guide sleeve 11e of the socket body 11 is inserted are provided at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the flange 12c, and the flange 12c is engaged with the guide sleeve 11e through the insertion hole 12e so as to be movable in the axial direction. At the same time, the rotation of the inner sleeve 12 relative to the socket body 11 is restricted by the engagement between the guide sleeve 11e and the insertion hole 12e.

  The valve body 13 is held in the inner sleeve 12 so as to be movable in the axial direction via a guide member 13 a, and its tip end is in contact with the valve seat 12 b of the inner sleeve 12. The valve body 13 is formed with a tapered contact surface with the valve seat portion 12b, and a protruding portion 13b protruding in the axial direction is provided on the tip side thereof. The guide member 13a is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 12, and is formed to allow fluid to flow by opening a part of the circumferential direction in the axial direction. The guide member 13a is provided with a spring 13c for pressing the valve body 13 toward the valve seat portion 12b. The socket 13 is closed by pressing the valve body 13 against the valve seat portion 12b by the spring 13c. It has become so.

  The rotating ring 14 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the socket main body 11, and the outer peripheral surface is subjected to anti-slip knurling. A flange 14 a extending radially inward is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating ring 14, and a screw portion 14 b that is screwed into the screw portion 12 d of the inner sleeve 12 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the flange 14 a. That is, when the rotation ring 14 is rotated in the circumferential direction, the inner sleeve 12 is moved in the axial direction by the propulsive force of the screw portions 12d and 14b.

  The locking mechanism 15 is movable in the axial direction to a plurality of balls 15a provided in a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the first cylindrical member 11a so as to be movable in the radial direction and to the outer peripheral surface side of the first cylindrical member 11a. And a spring 15c that urges the lock sleeve 15b in one axial direction. The outer peripheral surface of the lock sleeve 15b is knurled to prevent slipping. An annular contact portion 15d that can radially contact each ball 15a protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the lock sleeve 15b, and the lock sleeve 15b moves in one axial direction so that the contact portion 15d is moved to each ball 15a. , A part of each ball 15a protrudes radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical member 11a, and the lock sleeve 15b is moved in the other axial direction to contact the contact portion 15d and each ball 15a. When the abutment is released, each ball 15a moves radially outward from the inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical member 11a.

  The plug 20 includes a plug main body 21 having a plug-side flow path 20a therein and a valve body 22 that opens and closes the flow path 20a in the plug main body 21.

  The plug body 21 is formed such that one end in the axial direction can be inserted into one end in the axial direction of the socket body 11, and an annular engagement groove 21 a capable of engaging each ball 15 a of the lock mechanism 15 is provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof. It has been. That is, when the plug main body 21 is inserted into the socket main body 11 and the lock sleeve 15b of the lock mechanism 15 is moved in one axial direction, a part of each ball 15a protrudes radially inward to the engagement groove 21a of the plug main body 21. The plug body 21 is locked to the socket body 11 by being engaged. Further, a tapered valve seat portion 21b is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the plug main body 21 on one end side in the axial direction, and the valve body 22 is in contact with the valve seat portion 21b in the axial direction.

  The valve body 22 is held in the plug main body 21 so as to be movable in the axial direction via a guide member 22 a, and its distal end is in contact with the valve seat portion 21 b of the plug main body 21. The valve body 22 has a tapered contact surface with the valve seat portion 21b, and a protruding portion 22b that protrudes in the axial direction is provided on the tip side. The guide member 22a is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the plug main body 21 and is not shown in the figure. Like the guide member 13a of the socket 10, a fluid can be circulated by opening a part of the circumferential direction in the axial direction. Is formed. The guide member 22a is provided with a spring 22c that presses the valve body 22 toward the valve seat portion 21b. The plug 22 is closed by pressing the valve body 22 against the valve seat portion 21b with the spring 22c. It has become so. In this case, a spring 22c having a larger pressing force than the spring 13c of the valve body 13 of the socket 10 is used.

  When connecting the socket 10 and the plug 20 in the pipe joint configured as described above, first, the plug body 21 is inserted into the socket body 11 as shown in FIG. 5, and the socket body 11 and the plug body are locked by the lock mechanism 15. 21 and lock. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, when the rotating ring 14 is rotated in a predetermined direction, the inner sleeve 12 moves toward the plug 20 side, and the protrusions 13b and 22b of the valve bodies 13 and 22 come into contact with each other. It is pressed while. At this time, the springs 13c and 22c that press the valve bodies 13 and 22 have a large pressing force on the plug 20 side, so that the valve body 13 of the socket 10 is first moved to the valve seat portion 12b by the movement of the inner sleeve 12. The socket side flow path 10a is opened. Thereafter, when the inner sleeve 12 further moves and the valve body 13 of the socket 10 comes into contact with the guide member 13a and the retreating stops, the valve body 22 on the plug 20 side retreats from the valve seat portion 21b as shown in FIG. Then, the plug-side channel 20a is opened, and the socket-side channel 10a and the plug-side channel 20a communicate with each other.

  As described above, according to the pipe joint of the present embodiment, the rotating ring 14 is provided in the socket body 11 so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction, and the rotating ring 14 and the inner sleeve 12 are connected to the rotating ring 14. The inner sleeve 12 is screwed so as to move in the axial direction by the movement, and the valve bodies 13 and 22 are pressed against each other by the movement of the inner sleeve 12, so that the fluid in the pipe is transferred to the valve bodies 13 and 22, respectively. Even when pressure is applied, the socket-side channel 10a and the plug-side channel 20a can be easily communicated with each other. In this case, since the valve bodies 13 and 22 are pressed in the axial direction and pressed against the valve seat portions 12b and 21b, the valve body 13 can be contacted with the valve bodies 13 and 22 from the outside when not coupled. , 22 are not easily opened, and the release of the internal fluid can be reliably prevented. Further, since the inner sleeve 12 is moved by the rotation ring 14 that rotates about the axis of the socket body 11, the inner sleeve 12 can be moved without increasing the length as in the lever. This has the advantage that the entire socket 10 is not increased in size. In this case, since the rotation ring 14 can be operated from any position in the circumferential direction, even if the circumferential direction of the socket 10 is not fixed, for example, when used for a flexible hose, the operability is improved. There is an advantage that it is not lowered. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to join parts by brazing or welding, the material is not softened due to thermal effects, and the durability can be improved.

  Further, since the inner sleeve 12 is engaged with guide sleeves 11e provided at a plurality of circumferential positions of the socket body 11 so as to be movable in the axial direction, the radial direction of each seal member 12a between the socket body 11 and the inner sleeve 12 The inner sleeve 12 can be moved in the axial direction without being affected by the reaction force, and the turning operation of the turning ring 14 can always be performed smoothly.

  In this case, the inner sleeve 12 is provided with a flange 12c extending radially outward, and the guide sleeve 11e is inserted through the insertion hole 12e provided at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the flange 12c so as to be movable in the axial direction. 12 can be reliably engaged with the guide sleeve 11e, and the inner sleeve 12 can always be moved stably.

  Furthermore, since the outer peripheral surfaces on the one end side and the other end side in the axial direction of the inner sleeve 12 are formed to have the same outer diameter, the seal members 12a are provided on the one end side and the other end side in the axial direction of the inner sleeve 12, respectively. The seal diameter of each seal member 12a can be made equal. As a result, even when the inner sleeve 12 is moved in either the forward or backward direction, the frictional force with each seal member 12a can be evenly generated, and the torque required for the rotation operation of the rotation ring 14 is large. There is an advantage that the difference does not occur depending on the rotation direction.

  In the above-described embodiment, the springs 13c and 22c that press the valve bodies 13 and 22 are shown so that the pressing force of the springs 22c on the plug 20 side is increased. However, the springs 13c on the socket 10 side are pressed. The valve body 22 on the plug 20 side may be opened first by increasing the pressure.

The partial cross section side view of the socket for pipe joints which shows one Embodiment of this invention Partial cross-sectional side view of a fitting plug Front view of fitting socket AA arrow direction sectional view of FIG. Partial cross-sectional side view showing coupling operation of pipe joint Partial cross-sectional side view showing coupling operation of pipe joint Partial cross-sectional side view showing coupling operation of pipe joint

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Socket, 11e ... Guide sleeve, 10a ... Socket side flow path, 12 ... Inner sleeve, 12a ... Seal member, 12b ... Valve seat part, 12c ... Flange, 12d ... Screw part, 12e ... Insertion hole, 13 ... Valve body , 13c ... Spring, 14 ... Rotating ring, 14b ... Screw part, 20 ... Plug, 20a ... Plug side channel, 21b ... Valve seat part, 22 ... Valve body, 22c ... Spring.

Claims (4)

A socket connected to one pipe, a plug connected to the other pipe, a socket side valve body that opens and closes the flow path of the socket, a plug side valve body that opens and closes the flow path of the plug, and a socket side valve body Socket-side valve seat part that closes the flow path when pressed by a spring, plug-side valve seat part that closes the flow path when the plug-side valve body is pressed by a spring, and freely movable in the axial direction in the socket Provided with a cylindrical movable member having a socket-side valve seat on one end in the axial direction, and an operation member for moving the movable member in the axial direction by a predetermined operation, and connecting the socket and the plug to operate When the movable member is moved toward the plug by the member, the valve bodies retreat from the valve seats with their tips abutting each other, the valve bodies are opened, and the flow paths of the socket and the plug communicate with each other. In the pipe joint was so that,
A pipe joint, wherein the operation member is provided in a socket so as to be rotatable in a circumferential direction, and the operation member and the movable member are screwed so that the movable member moves in the axial direction by the rotation of the operation member. The pipe joint according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging member that engages the movable member so as to be movable in the axial direction of the socket. 3. A flange extending radially outward is provided in the movable member, and an insertion hole through which the engagement member is movably inserted in the axial direction of the socket is provided at a predetermined circumferential position of the flange. Pipe fittings. The outer peripheral surface on the one end side and the other end side in the axial direction of the movable member are formed to have the same outer diameter, and the outer peripheral surface on the one end side and the other end side in the axial direction of the movable member are respectively between the inner peripheral surface of the socket. The pipe joint according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein a seal member to be disposed is provided.

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