JP2009180377A - Connector with built-in valve - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector with a built-in valve having a longer service life while securing a stable flow amount. <P>SOLUTION: The body 9 of an connector housing 3 is composed of a valve storage part 33 on one axial side for storing a valve body 57, and a flow-out part 35 on the other axial side integrated with the valve storage part 33. The flow-out part 35 is composed of a cylindrical base 37 having the other axial end integrated with the longitudinal center of a second connection portion 13 and extending short in the axial direction, and a large-diameter fitted portion 39 integrally formed at one axial end of the cylindrical base 37. A flow-out hole 43 of the flow-out part 35 is made to communicate with the inside of the second connection portion 13 via a flow-out side orifice 45. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector with a built-in valve for use in, for example, an evaporation pipe used in an automobile fuel supply system.

  It is preferable that the fuel evaporative gas (vapor) generated in the gasoline fuel tank of the automobile is processed so as not to be released into the atmosphere. However, as a mechanism for preventing the vapor discharge that performs such processing, the generated vapor is used as a canister. The type that is adsorbed on the surface is widely used. This type of vapor discharge prevention mechanism connects the fuel tank and the inlet pipe to reduce the amount of vapor generated during refueling by connecting the fuel tank and the canister, or reducing the amount of vapor generated during refueling. For the breather circuit or piping to be used, a 1 WAY valve or a check valve for keeping the pressure in the fuel tank properly is used.

  Such a 1WAY valve used for an evaporator pipe or a breather pipe is disposed, for example, as a built-in valve in a connector housing of a connector for piping (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). The built-in valve has a valve seat formed in the flow passage or through-passage of the connector housing, and a valve body that opens and closes a valve hole in the valve seat and controls the vapor flow rate from the fuel tank side to the canister side or the inlet pipe side. A compression coil spring that urges the valve body toward the fuel tank, and when the vapor pressure in the fuel tank increases, the valve body moves against the canister side against the spring force of the compression coil spring. Or it moves to an inlet pipe side, and it is constituted so that a valve hole may be opened. Therefore, as the vapor pressure rises, the vapor in the fuel tank passes through the built-in valve and flows into the canister or the inlet pipe.

JP 2002-168384 A JP 2003-028010 A

  By the way, in such a built-in valve configuration, the amount of vapor flowing from the fuel tank side to the canister side or the inlet pipe side depends solely on the degree of opening of the valve hole of the valve seat by the valve body. Therefore, here, not only the valve opening pressure of the valve body (the lowest pressure at which the valve body operates to open the valve hole) but also from the fuel tank side to the canister side or inlet pipe side due to the spring characteristics of the compression coil spring. The vapor flow rate is also determined.

  However, the spring characteristics of compression coil springs (especially the spring characteristics of compression coil springs with low rigidity) are likely to change over time due to fatigue or aging, and all the flow of vapor depends on the spring characteristics of the compression coil springs. In the conventional configuration to be controlled, in other words, in the conventional configuration in which the valve characteristic mostly depends on the spring characteristic of the compression coil spring, the control mode of the vapor flow rate may change greatly as the use period becomes longer.

  Further, if the vapor flow rate is controlled only by the spring force of the compression coil spring, the operation of the valve body after the valve opening becomes unstable. For example, when the vapor pressure changes, the valve body vibrates, but when the valve body is unstable, the vapor flow rate is not stable. However, in order to keep vapor (gasoline) transpiration low, it is a good idea to minimize the variation in the vapor flow rate.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a valve built-in connector with a long life that can secure a stable flow rate.

  In order to achieve this object, the connector with a built-in valve of the present invention has a first connection part for one side pipe, for example, upstream side pipe, formed on one side in the axial direction, and the other side pipe, for example, on the other side in the axial direction. A connector housing having a second connection portion for downstream piping, and a built-in valve provided in a flow passage or a through-passage of the connector housing, wherein the built-in valve is connected to the connector housing. A valve seat formed in the flow passage; a valve body that opens and closes a valve hole of the valve seat; and a compression coil spring that biases the valve body toward one axial side, for example, the upstream side. A connector with a built-in valve, wherein the flow passage of the connector housing is arranged on the other side in the axial direction of the valve seat (that is, on the downstream side) and on the other side. In which the outflow side orifice for restricting the flow rate of the fluid flows, is formed on. Here, the spring characteristic of the compression coil spring is set, for example, from the viewpoint of ensuring a predetermined valve opening pressure. Further, the cross-sectional area or diameter of the outflow side orifice or the cross-sectional area ratio or diameter ratio with respect to the flow passage is set such that, for example, when one side pipe has a predetermined fluid pressure, the fluid flows into the other side pipe at a predetermined flow rate. It is set from the point of view. The valve characteristic of the valve built-in connector of the present invention essentially depends on the outlet side orifice and the spring characteristic of the compression coil spring. Therefore, it is possible to stabilize the operation of the valve body.

  By the way, if the flow of the fluid flowing in from the one side pipe is disturbed, the valve body may be shaken in the radial direction and move while rubbing the inner peripheral surface of the flow passage. When the valve body moves while rubbing on the inner peripheral surface of the flow passage, an abnormal noise that is a rubbing sound is generated, and this abnormal noise is transmitted to, for example, the passenger compartment, thereby hindering ensuring the quietness in the passenger compartment. Accordingly, it is preferable that an inflow side orifice for adjusting the flow of fluid flowing in from one side pipe is formed in the flow passage of the connector housing on one side in the axial direction (that is, on the upstream side) from the valve seat or the valve body.

  As described above, the connector with a built-in valve according to the present invention can maintain a predetermined valve characteristic or can maintain it even if the spring characteristic of the compression coil spring changes with time. Excellent durability. In addition, since the flow rate is not controlled only by the spring force of the compression coil spring, the operation of the valve body can be stabilized to reduce variations in the flow rate, effectively preventing transpiration of internal fluid. And has an excellent design freedom. Furthermore, since the valve characteristics are set by the combination of the outlet orifice and the compression coil spring, the number of types of compression coil springs to be managed is reduced. As a result, the management of parts for assembly is facilitated. There is also an advantage that can be reduced.

It is a perspective view of the connector with a built-in valve according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the connector with a built-in valve. It is sectional drawing of the main-body part location of a connector housing. It is a perspective view of a valve body. It is a figure explaining the case where a valve built-in connector is used for evaporation piping. It is a figure for demonstrating the open state of a valve main body. It is a figure which shows the pressure-flow rate characteristic at the time of changing the diameter of an outflow side orifice.

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

  1 is a perspective view of a connector with a built-in valve according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector with a built-in valve, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main body portion of the connector housing.

  For example, a connector 1 with a built-in valve used for an evaporation pipe of a gasoline fuel tank includes a connector housing 3 made of polyacetal (POM), a flow passage 5 of the connector housing 3, or a built-in check valve 7 provided in the flow passage 5. The connector housing 3 includes a main body portion 9 in which the built-in check valve 7 is disposed, and a first connecting portion 11 having a small diameter extending in the axial direction, formed on one side of the main body portion 9 in the axial direction. And a large-diameter second connecting portion 13 formed on the other axial side of the main body portion 9 and extending in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and formed in a substantially T shape. .

  The first connecting portion 11 has an axially one side portion 15 whose outer peripheral surface gradually increases in diameter toward the other side in the axial direction, and a substantially simple cylindrical outer surface on the other side in the axial direction of the one side portion 15 in the axial direction. The outer peripheral surface extending as a retaining annular protrusion 17 having a square cross section and two retaining annular protrusions 19 and 19 having a triangular cross section extending in diameter toward the other side in the axial direction have one axial direction. The other side portion 21 in the axial direction is formed with an interval in the axial direction sequentially from the side toward the other side in the axial direction. 23: see FIG. 5) and are connected with a tight fit. The outer circumferential surface 25 on one axial end of the other axial side 21 (between the axial one side 15 and the retaining annular protrusion 17) is formed as a small diameter or relatively deep annular groove, and is a resin tube. A seal ring (first seal ring 27: see FIG. 5) is arranged on the outer circumferential surface 25 on one axial end.

  The inner peripheral surface of the first connecting portion 11 extends as a simple cylindrical inner surface over almost the entire length to form an inflow hole 29 (a part of the flow passage 5). Then, for example, an inflow side orifice 31 having a diameter approximately one-half of the inflow hole 29 is formed.

  The main body portion 9 of the connector housing 3 includes a valve housing portion 33 in which a small-diameter cylindrical first connection portion 11 is integrally formed on one side in the axial direction, and a large-diameter cylindrical second portion on the other axial side. The connecting portion 13 is composed of an outflow portion 35 provided by integral molding, and the valve housing portion 33 and the outflow portion 35 are disposed on the outer periphery of the other end portion in the axial direction of the valve housing portion 33. Are integrated by ultrasonic welding (reference numeral 36 indicates a welded portion). The outflow portion 35 is connected to the other end in the axial direction by integrally forming the center in the length direction of the second connection portion 13, and has a cylindrical base portion 37 that extends short in the axial direction, and a shaft of the cylindrical base portion 37. It is formed from a large-diameter fitting portion 39 formed by integral molding at one end portion in the direction, and this fitting portion 39 is fitted to the outer periphery of the other end portion in the axial direction of the valve housing portion 33. An annular spring receiving groove 41 is formed on the annular axial one end surface of the cylindrical base portion 37, and the inner surface of the cylindrical base portion 37 is formed as a simple cylindrical inner peripheral surface constituting the outflow hole 43. Yes. The outflow hole 43 communicates with the inside of the second connection portion 13 through an outflow side orifice 45, and the outflow side orifice 45 has an inner diameter that is approximately one quarter of the inner diameter of the outflow hole 43 of the cylindrical base portion 37. It is formed as follows.

  An inner surface 47 of the valve housing portion 33 of the connector housing 3 extends as a simple cylindrical inner peripheral surface on one side in the axial direction, and has a diameter approximately 1.5 times that of the inflow hole 29 of the first connection portion 11. And a guide hole 49 (a part of the flow passage 5) having a diameter substantially equal to the outflow hole 43 of the cylindrical base portion 37, extending on the other side in the axial direction as a simple cylindrical inner peripheral surface, A slide hole 51 (a part of the flow passage 5) having a diameter approximately 1.7 times that of the guide hole 49 is formed. The inner peripheral surface 47 between the slide hole 51 and the guide hole 49 of the valve housing portion 33 is tapered from one end in the axial direction of the slide hole 51 in a tapered shape toward one side in the axial direction at a relatively steep angle. A first taper portion 53 extending in a tapered manner, and extending from one end in the axial direction of the first taper portion 53 to the other end in the axial direction of the guide hole 49 at a relatively loose angle. A second taper portion 55 having an axial length approximately twice that of the taper portion 53, and the inner surface of the second taper portion 55 or the second taper portion 55 serves as a valve seat. It functions and has a valve hole inside.

  A valve main body 57 constituting the built-in check valve 7 is accommodated in the valve accommodating portion 33. As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the valve main body 57 includes a closing portion 63 integrally including an annular portion 61 that extends short on the other side in the axial direction on the outer periphery of a thin disk-like portion 59, and the closing portion 63. It is integrally formed from the other side guide 65 provided on the annular part 61 and extending to the other side in the axial direction, and the one side guide 67 extending from the outer periphery of the disk-like part 59 of the closing part 63 to the one side in the axial direction. POM is used as the material of the valve body 57 (FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the valve body 57). In the blocking portion 63, the outer peripheral surface (connection outer peripheral surface) 69 of the connection portion between the disc-shaped portion 59 and the annular portion 61 is formed in an arc shape that swells outward in the cross section, thereby forming a linear cross section. It is comprised as a contact surface which contact | abuts airtightly to the 2 taper part 55 (valve seat).

  The other side guide 65 is composed of a plurality of (specifically six) plate-like other side slide legs 71 that are integrally provided in the annular portion 61 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction (specifically, 60 degree intervals). Each of the other slide legs 71 includes a support portion 73 provided in the annular portion 61, a rectangular slide portion 75 formed integrally and continuously at the other axial end of the support portion 73, And the thickness direction of the plate is arranged so as to coincide with the tangential direction of the annular portion 61. The radial distance from the center of the annular portion 61 to the radially outer end surface of each slide portion 75 is substantially equal to the radius of the inner peripheral surface of the slide hole 51 or slightly smaller than the radius of the inner peripheral surface of the slide hole 51. The outer end surface in the radial direction of the slide portion 75 is formed as a surface extending in the axial direction so as to be slidable on the inner peripheral surface of the slide hole 51. From the other axial end of each slide portion 75, a support groove 77 extending or cutting in one axial direction is formed, and the support groove 77 is disposed at substantially the same radial position as the annular portion 61.

  The one-side guide 67 is a plurality of (specifically, four) plate-like one-side slide legs that are integrally provided on the outer periphery of the disc-shaped portion 59 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction (specifically, 90 ° intervals). 79, each one-side slide leg 79 is arranged so that the thickness direction of the plate coincides with the tangential direction of the disc-like portion 59, and the outer end in the radial direction is formed in a right triangle shape extending in the axial direction. Has been. The radial distance from the center of the disk-shaped portion 59 to the radially outer end or the radially outer end surface of each one-side slide leg 79 is substantially equal to the radius of the inner peripheral surface of the guide hole 49, or within the guide hole 49 It is set slightly smaller than the radius of the peripheral surface, and the radially outer end surface of the one-side slide leg 79 is formed so as to be slidable on the inner peripheral surface of the guide hole 49.

  The valve main body 57 configured in this way is accommodated in one side in the axial direction in the support groove 77 formed in the slide portion 75 of the other side slide leg 71, and the other in the axial direction in the spring receiving groove 41 of the cylindrical base portion 37. The compression coil spring 81 in which the side portion is accommodated causes the one-side guide 67 to enter the guide hole 49 of the main body portion 9, and the connection outer peripheral surface 69 of the closing portion 63 is substantially the second tapered portion 55 (valve seat). It is urged to one side in the axial direction so as to contact the central position in the axial direction.

  As well shown in FIG. 2, the second connecting portion 13 has connecting portions 83 and 83 having the same configuration on both sides in the length direction (direction orthogonal to the axial direction). Each connecting portion 83 includes a lengthwise outer side portion 85 whose outer peripheral surface gradually increases in diameter toward the lengthwise center, and a substantially simple cylindrical outer surface on the lengthwise center side of the lengthwise outer portion 85. The outer circumferential surface extending as a retaining annular protrusion 87 having a square cross section and two retaining annular protrusions 89, 89 having a triangular cross section extending in diameter toward the center in the length direction are provided in the length direction. A lengthwise center side portion 91 formed with an interval in the length direction sequentially from the outside toward the center in the length direction, and a resin tube (second resin) on the other side pipe on the outer periphery or outer peripheral surface The tube 93 and the third resin tube 95 (see FIG. 5) are tightly fitted and connected. The outer peripheral surface 97 in the length direction outer end of the central side portion 91 in the length direction (between the length direction outer side portion 85 and the retaining annular protrusion 87) is formed as a small diameter or relatively deep annular groove. When fitting the tube, a seal ring (second seal ring 99 and third seal ring 101: see FIG. 5) is arranged on the outer circumferential surface 97 in the longitudinal direction. In the figure, reference numeral 103 denotes a hanging part.

  FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the case where the valve built-in connector 1 is used for an evaporation pipe.

  The first resin tube 23 extending from the gasoline fuel tank is fitted to the outer periphery of the first connection portion 11 of the valve built-in connector 1, and the first connection portion 83 of the second connection portion 13 is connected to the first connection portion 83. A second resin tube 93 (the other side pipe) constituting a pipe different from the resin tube 23 is fitted, and the other connection portion 83 of the second connection portion 13 is fitted to the first resin tube 23. And the 3rd resin tube 95 (other side piping) which comprises piping different from the 2nd resin tube 93 is fitted, and evaporation piping is comprised. In the figure, reference numerals 105, 107, and 109 denote stoppers for restricting the fitting amount or press-fitting amount of the resin tube.

  Here, when the vapor pressure in the gasoline fuel tank rises, as shown in FIG. 6, the valve body 57 moves to the other side in the axial direction against the spring force of the compression coil spring 81 (FIG. 6 shows the valve body). The figure for demonstrating the open state of 57). When the valve main body 57 moves to the other side in the axial direction and the connection outer peripheral surface 69 of the closing portion 63 moves away from the axial center position of the second tapered portion 55, the connection outer peripheral surface 69 of the closing portion 63 and the second outer peripheral surface 69. The vapor flows into the slide hole 51 through the large-diameter annular gap between the taper-shaped portion 55 and the central position in the axial direction (see arrow A), and the vapor that has flowed from the outflow hole 43 of the cylindrical base portion 37. It passes through the outflow side orifice 45 and flows into the second connecting portion 13 (see arrow B). The valve main body 57 can move to the other side in the axial direction until the slide portion 75 of the other side slide leg 71 comes into contact with the annular one side end surface of the cylindrical base portion 37. The axial movement of the valve body 57 is accompanied by a sliding movement on the inner peripheral surface of the guide hole 49 of the one side slide leg 79 and a sliding movement on the inner peripheral surface of the slide hole 51 of the other side slide leg 71. There is no risk that the valve body 57 will tilt. However, if the vapor flow is disturbed, the valve main body 57 is biased and pressed against the inner peripheral surface 47 of the main body 9, and as a result, a rubbing sound (abnormal noise) may be generated. If the inflow side orifice 31 is provided at one end portion in the axial direction of the first connection portion 11, the vapor flow can be adjusted. The one-side slide leg 79 is an axial distance between the other-side slide leg 71 and one axial end of the cylindrical base 37 when the valve main body 57 is closed, or an axial movement distance of the valve main body 57. Therefore, the one-side slide leg 79 does not come out of the guide hole 49 due to the movement of the valve main body 57.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing pressure-flow rate characteristics (PQ characteristics) when the diameter (cross-sectional area) of the outflow side orifice 45 is changed.

  The internal diameter of the outflow hole 43 of the valve built-in connector 1 is set to 8.0 mm, and the spring characteristics of the compression coil spring 81 are set so that the valve opening pressure of the valve body 57 is 1.4 kPa. Pressure (first connection portion 11 side pressure (kPa)) − flow rate (outflow side) when the orifice diameter of the outflow side orifice 45 is changed to 1.8 mm, 2.0 mm, 2.2 mm, and 2.4 mm. The orifice 45 passage flow rate (L / min. Or l / min)) characteristic or valve characteristic was measured. In the figure, the first curve is the measurement result when the orifice diameter is 1.8 mm, the second curve is the measurement result when the orifice diameter is 2.0 mm, the third curve is the measurement result when the orifice diameter is 2.2 mm, the fourth curve The curve shows the measurement result when the orifice diameter is 2.4 mm, and the fifth curve shows that the spring constant of the compression coil spring 81 is increased five times (the valve opening pressure is the same at 1.4 kPa), and the orifice diameter is 2 The measurement result in the case of 4 mm is shown. As can be understood from FIG. 7, even if the spring constant of the compression coil spring 81 is increased by a factor of 5, the influence on the PQ characteristic is slight, but if the orifice diameter is slightly changed, the PQ characteristic can be greatly changed. . This also indicates that the valve characteristics are not greatly affected even if the spring characteristics of the compression coil spring 81 change somewhat due to changes over time.

  The connector with a built-in valve according to the present invention can appropriately handle the vapor generated in the fuel tank, for example, when used in an evaporation pipe of an automobile.

1 Connector with built-in valve 3 Connector housing 7 Built-in valve
11 1st connection part 13 2nd connection part 23 1st resin tube (one side piping)
55 Second tapered portion (valve seat)
81 Compression coil spring 93 Second resin tube (other side piping)
95 3rd resin tube (other side piping)

Claims (2)

A connector housing in which a first connecting portion for one-side piping is formed on one side in the axial direction and a second connecting portion for the other-side piping is formed on the other side in the axial direction, and a flow passage of the connector housing A built-in valve provided in the valve housing, wherein the built-in valve includes a valve seat formed in the flow passage of the connector housing, a valve body that opens and closes a valve hole of the valve seat, and the valve body A compression coil spring that urges toward one side of the direction, and a connector with a built-in valve,
In the flow passage of the connector housing, an outflow side orifice that restricts the flow rate of the fluid flowing out to the other side pipe is formed on the other axial side of the valve seat, and the outflow side orifice and the built-in portion A connector with a built-in valve, wherein an outflow hole having a diameter larger than that of the outflow side orifice is formed between the valves.   The inflow side orifice which adjusts the flow of the fluid which flows in from the said one side piping is formed in the said flow path of the said connector housing in the axial direction one side rather than the said valve seat. Connector with built-in valve.

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