JP2008190704A - Pipe joint with connection checker - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pipe joint with a connection checker capable of checking whether pipes are in a complete connection state or in an incomplete connection state irrespective of the field condition of pipe connection. <P>SOLUTION: The pipe joint with the connection checker is made up of a female connector 1, a retainer 3 which retains in a coming-off prevention state a male connector 2 inserted into the female connector 1, and a checker 4 for checking the connection state of the male connector 2. When the male connector 2 is inserted up to a complete connection position to the female connector 1, the retainer 3 can be moved to a position where it can grip the male connector 2. The checker 4 can be pulled off the female connector 1 only in a state that the retainer 3 is moved to the gripping position of the male connector 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pipe joint used when connecting pipes in a fluid transfer pipe such as an automobile fuel or oil, and in particular, a connection that allows easy visual recognition at a glance whether or not the pipes are securely connected. This relates to a pipe joint with a checker.

  Conventionally, there is a pipe joint with a connection checker that can visually recognize whether pipes are in a completely connected state or an incompletely connected state (for example, Patent Document 1), and this pipe joint is used. In such a case, a dangerous state such as fluid leakage can be easily avoided.

However, in the pipe joint with the connection checker, when checking whether the pipes are in a completely connected state or an incompletely connected state, the face should be brought close to the pipe joint and the checker should be closely watched. For example, there is a problem that the confirmation is very difficult in a case where machines or parts are crowded or in a place where a pipe connection portion is narrow.
JP 2005-155665 A

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide the pipe joint with a connection check checker which can confirm whether pipes are in a complete connection state or an incomplete connection state irrespective of the field situation of pipe connection. .

  The pipe joint with a connection checker according to the present invention includes a female connector 1, a retainer 3 that holds the male connector 2 inserted into the female connector 1 in a retaining state, and a connection state of the male connector 2. And a checker 4 for checking. When the male connector 2 is inserted into the female connector 1 to the fully connected position, the retainer 3 can move to a position where the male connector 2 is gripped. The checker 4 can be detached from the female connector 1 only when the 3 is moved to the holding position of the male connector 2.

  The present invention is configured as described above and has the following effects.

  According to the pipe joint with the connection checker, it is possible to confirm whether the pipes are in a completely connected state or an incompletely connected state regardless of the situation of the pipe connection on the spot.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing components of a pipe joint with a connection checker according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view just before connecting a male connector 2 to a female connector 1 in the pipe joint with a connection checker. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the male connector 2 is connected to the female connector 1 in the pipe joint with the connection checker, and FIGS. 4 (a) (b) to 7 (a) (b) show the female connector 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process in which the male connector 2 is connected to.

(Basic configuration of pipe fitting with connection checker)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the pipe joint with the connection checker includes a female connector 1, a retainer 3 that holds the male connector 2 inserted into the female connector 1 in a retaining state, The checker 4 is used to check the connection state of the male connector 2. When the male connector 2 is inserted into the female connector 1 to the fully connected position, the retainer 3 holds the male connector 2. The checker 4 can be detached from the female connector 1 only when the retainer 3 is moved to the holding position of the male connector 2.

  Below, the concrete structure etc. of the female connector 1, the male connector 2, the retainer 3, and the checker 4 which comprise this pipe joint with a connection checker are explained in full detail.

(About female connector 1)
The female connector 1 has a cylindrical shape formed of a synthetic resin. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a housing portion 10 in which the male connector 2, the retainer 3, and the checker 4 are engaged, and the male connector. 2 includes a press-fit portion 15 for connecting 2 to a fluid-tight state, and a hose connection portion 16 extending to the press-fit portion 15.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing portion 10 includes an insertion port portion 11 formed on the front surface and a pair of rectangular window portions 12 and 13 formed at intervals of 180 ° around the axis. In addition, recesses 14 and 14 are provided in the vicinity of the side parallel to the axial direction of the window 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the press-fit portion 15 is configured to have a smaller diameter than the housing portion 10, and the inner periphery thereof ensures fluid tightness with the male connector 2 inserted therein. A seal ring (not shown) is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the hose connecting portion 16 has an outer peripheral surface configured in a bamboo stalk shape, and is configured by disposing a seal ring 18 in a groove 17 provided on the outer peripheral surface. The seal ring 18 serves to ensure fluid tightness with a hose (not shown) that is extrapolated to the hose connection portion 16.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, groove portions 17 and 17 are provided on the inner wall surface of the housing portion 10.

(About male connector 2)
The male connector 2 is made of a metal or resin member, and has a cylindrical shape having an enlarged diameter portion F at a position away from the distal end portion 20 by a predetermined distance, as shown in FIGS. A screw portion 21 is provided at the other end of the male connector 2 so as to be connected to an unillustrated counterpart resin tube or hose.

  Here, in connection with the female connector 1, the male connector 2 is inserted into the insertion port 11 of the male connector 1 from the distal end portion 20, and then the enlarged diameter portion F is an inner configuration of the housing portion 10. Push until it touches the wall 19. In this pushed-in state, the distal end portion 20 passes through a seal ring provided on the inner peripheral portion of the press-fit portion 15 to ensure the fluid tightness.

(Retainer 3)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the retainer 3 is formed integrally with a resin having a reverse U-shaped cross section, and is inserted from the window portion 12 toward the window portion 13.

  More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the retainer 3 has an arcuate ceiling wall portion 30 and outer long leg portions 31, 31 that are suspended from both ends of the ceiling wall portion 30. And short leg portions 32, 32 suspended between the long leg portions 31, 31.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a locking claw 33 is provided at the lower end of the long legs 31, 31, and an extension piece 34 extending downward from the locking claw 33 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the short legs 32, 32 are arcs having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the male connector 2 (part other than the enlarged diameter portion F) in relation to the top wall 30. The angle of the arc is a little larger than 90 °.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, protrusions 35 that fit into the recesses 14 are provided at both ends of the top wall 30.

(About Checker 4)
The checker 4 is entirely made of resin. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a horizontal U-shaped main body 40 with an open upper end and an annular pull attached to the lower portion of the main body 40. Part 41, positioning piece 42 provided on one side of horizontal bar 40a of main body 40, and M-shaped elastic deformation part 43 provided on the other side of horizontal bar 40a of main body 40 , And a force acting portion 44 attached to the central recess 43a of the M-shaped elastic deformation portion 43.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the main body portion 40 is formed in a horizontal U-shape as described above, and a pair of left and right vertical bars 40 b and 40 b are connected to the vertical bar portions 40 b and 40 b. It is comprised from the stick | rod 40a. Here, in the main body 40, locking claws 40c, 40c that are locked with the recesses 14, 14 are provided at the distal ends of the vertical bars 40b, 40b. Moreover, in this main-body part 40, if force is added in the direction which turns back from the latching claws 40c and 40c, the distance between the latching claws 40c and 40c will spread.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the pull portion 41 is formed in an annular shape, and the size thereof is such that one finger can be inserted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the positioning piece 42 is formed in an L shape.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, when the force acting portion 44 provided in the M-shaped central recess 43 a is pushed in, the elastic deformation portion 43 has a space between the left and right top portions 43 b and 43 b. It is designed to be narrow.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the force acting part 44 takes a form that is inclined upward from the insertion port part 11 toward the press-fitting part 15.

  In this checker 4, the positioning piece 42 is the constituent wall of the window portion 13 (on the insertion port portion 11 side), and the force acting portion 44 is the window portion 13 of the window portion 13 in a state where the locking claw 40 c is fitted in the recessed portion 14. They are in contact with the constituent walls (on the press-fit portion 15 side), and are thereby arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axis.

(How to connect the pipe fitting with connection checker)
In this pipe joint with a connection checker, the female connector 1 and the male connector 2 can be connected in a completely connected state by the retainer 3 through the following processes (1) to (4).
(1) About the state before the male connector 2 is connected to the female connector 1 In this state, the retainer 3 and the checker 4 are attached to the female connector 1 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS. The retainer 3 is simply assembled, and the retainer 3 cannot be pushed in due to the crest 43b of the elastic deformation portion 43, and cannot be pulled out due to the engagement between the engagement claw 33 and the wall of the groove portion 17.

Further, in the checker 4, in a state where the locking claw 40 c is fitted in the recessed portion 14, the positioning piece 42 is a constituent wall of the window portion 13 (on the insertion port portion 11 side), and the force acting portion 44 is a constituent portion of the window portion 13. They are in contact with the walls (on the press-fit portion 15 side), and are thereby arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axis.
(2) Regarding the state in which the male connector 2 is inserted into the female connector 1, but the enlarged diameter portion F of the male connector 2 has not yet reached the force acting portion 44. In this state, FIG. ) As shown in (b), the relationship among the female connector 1, the retainer 3, and the checker 4 is not changed.
(3) Regarding the state where the male connector 2 is further inserted into the female connector 1 and the enlarged diameter portion F of the male connector 2 reaches the uppermost position of the force acting portion 44. In this state, FIG. As shown in (b), the force acting portion 44 is pushed downward, and accordingly, the left and right top portions 43b, 43b of the elastically deforming portion 43 move so as to approach each other, and the wall of the housing portion 10 and the top portion 43b are moved. A gap G is formed between them.
(4) About the state in which the retainer 3 is pushed into the female connector 1 In this state, as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), the locking claw 33 and the extension piece 34 protrude from the gap G and are locked. The retainer 3 does not return to the original state due to the locking of the claw 33 and the housing portion 10, and the completely connected state between the female connector 1 and the male connector 2 is maintained.

  Further, in this state, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the protrusion 35 enters the recessed portion 14, so that the locking claw 40 c is driven out or driven away, and as a result, the pull portion 41. If, for example, is picked and pulled downward, the checker 4 can be detached from the female connector 1.

(About the excellent effect of this fitting with a connection checker)
As described above, in this pipe joint with a connection checker, when the checker 4 is removed from the female connector 1, it can be seen that the completely connected state between the female connector 1 and the male connector 2 is maintained.

  Therefore, according to this pipe joint with connection checker, the pipes are completely connected regardless of the situation of the pipe connection even if the machine or parts are crowded or the pipe connection place is narrow. It is clear that it can be confirmed whether it is in an incompletely connected state.

  Moreover, in this pipe joint with a connection checker, if there are N pipe joints with a connection checker used in the system and the number of stored checkers 4 is N, the pipe joint of the entire system It can be seen that the female connector 1 and the male connector 2 are in a completely connected state.

The disassembled perspective view which shows each structural member of the pipe joint with a connection checker of this invention. The perspective view just before connecting a male connector to the female connector in the pipe joint with a connection checker. The perspective view which shows the state which connected the male connector to the female connector in the said pipe joint with a connection checker. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st process of connecting a male connector to a female connector. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd process of connecting a male connector to a female connector. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd process of connecting a male connector to a female connector. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the 4th process of connecting a male connector to a female connector.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Female connector 10 Housing part 11 Insertion part 12 Window part 13 Window part 14 Recessed part 15 Press-fit part 16 Hose connection part 17 Groove part F Enlarged diameter part 2 Male connector 20 Tip part 21 Screw part 3 Retainer 30 Top wall part 31 Long leg part 32 Short leg part 33 Locking claw 34 Extension piece 35 Projection 4 Checker 40 Main body part 40a Horizontal bar 40b Vertical bar 41 Pull part 42 Positioning piece 43 Elastic deformation part 43a Central recess part 43b Top part 44 Force action part

Claims (1)

A female connector 1, a retainer 3 that holds the male connector 2 inserted into the female connector 1 in a retaining state, and a checker 4 for confirming the connection state of the male connector 2. When the male connector 2 is inserted into the female connector 1 to the fully connected position, the retainer 3 can move to a position where the male connector 2 is gripped, and the retainer 3 is moved to the gripping position of the male connector 2. A pipe joint with a connection checker characterized in that the checker 4 can be detached from the female connector 1 only in the moved state.

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