JP2009287612A - Pipe joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pipe joint for allowing easy work for disconnecting a socket from a plug while surely preventing accidental disconnection in use. <P>SOLUTION: A locking pin 15 is protruded by the pressure of fluid in the socket 10. A lock sleeve 14 is locked to the locking pin 15 to restrict the axial movement thereof. This avoids the axial movement of the lock sleeve 14 due to external contact or vibration to surely prevent accidental disconnection in use. When the distribution of fluid is stopped and the pressure of the fluid in the socket 10 lowers, the locking pin 15 is set therein to permit the axial movement of the lock sleeve 14. This eliminates work for visual alignment of the locking pin to the groove of the lock sleeve with the conventional turn of the lock sleeve to allow easy work for disconnecting the socket 10 from the plug 20 at a dark site or a site where a pipe is intricately arranged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,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 type of pipe joint, a socket connected to one pipe, a plug connected to the other pipe, and an axially movable socket are provided in the socket, and the valve seat on the socket side is provided by a spring. A socket-side valve element that closes the socket-side flow path by press-contacting, and a plug-side flow path that closes the plug-side valve seat by spring contact with the plug-side valve seat. A plug-side valve body, a plurality of balls that are provided on the socket side so as to be movable in the radial direction, and that engage with the engagement portion on the plug side to restrict axial movement of the plug, and an axial direction on the socket side It is provided so as to be movable, restricting movement of each ball in the disengagement direction by moving in one axial direction, and allowing movement in the disengagement direction of each ball by moving in the other axial direction That a Kkusuribu are known (e.g., see Patent Document 1.).

  In this pipe joint, when the lock sleeve is moved in the other axial direction and the plug is inserted into the socket, the valve bodies retreat from the valve seats with their tips abutting each other, and the valve bodies are opened to release the socket and the plug. These flow paths communicate with each other. When the plug is inserted into the socket, each ball engages with the engaging portion of the plug, and when the lock sleeve moves in one axial direction, the movement of each ball in the radially outward direction (disengagement direction) is restricted. The socket and the plug are locked in a coupled state.

By the way, in the pipe joint, by moving the lock sleeve in one axial direction, each ball is restricted from moving in the disengagement direction by the lock sleeve. There is a possibility that the connection between the socket and the plug may be released due to movement in the other axial direction due to contact or vibration. Therefore, a pin that can be locked in the axial direction to the lock sleeve is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the socket, and movement of the lock sleeve in the other axial direction is restricted by locking with the pin, and the pin is placed at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the lock sleeve. In order to release the connection between the socket and the plug by accepting a groove, the lock sleeve is rotated to align the groove with the pin so that the lock sleeve can be moved in the other axial direction. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-202096 A JP-A-8-178159

  However, in the pipe joint, when releasing the connection between the socket and the plug, it is necessary to visually align the groove of the lock sleeve with the pin. Therefore, in a dark place or a place where piping is complicatedly arranged, the lock sleeve Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to perform the operation for releasing the connection between the socket and the plug.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to facilitate the disconnection operation of the socket and the plug and to reliably prevent the accidental disconnection during use. It is to provide a pipe joint that can be used.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a socket connected to one pipe, a plug connected to the other pipe, and a diametrically movable socket side, and an engagement portion on the plug side. A plurality of balls that restrict the axial movement of the plug by engaging with each other and the socket side are provided so as to be movable in the axial direction, and each ball moves in the disengagement direction by moving in one axial direction. In a pipe joint provided with a lock sleeve that regulates and moves in the axial direction to the other, the lock sleeve that enables movement in the disengagement direction of each ball is provided in the socket so as to be able to protrude and retract in a predetermined direction. A locking member that locks the lock sleeve and restricts the movement of the lock sleeve in the axial direction is provided by protruding by pressure.

  As a result, when the locking pin protrudes due to the pressure of the fluid in the socket, the locking sleeve is locked to the locking member and the movement in the axial direction is restricted. It does not move in the axial direction due to vibration or the like. Further, when the flow of the fluid is stopped and the pressure of the fluid in the socket is reduced, the locking pin is immersed and the lock sleeve can be moved in the axial direction.

  According to the present invention, since the lock sleeve does not move in the axial direction due to contact with the outside or vibration during use, accidental disconnection can be reliably prevented. When the fluid flow is stopped and the pressure of the fluid in the socket decreases, the locking pin is retracted and the lock sleeve can be moved in the axial direction. It is not necessary to visually align the stop pin and the groove of the lock sleeve, and the socket and plug can be easily disconnected even in a dark place or a place where piping is complicatedly arranged.

  1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a partially sectional side view of a pipe joint, FIG. 2 is a partially sectional side view of a socket, and FIG. 3 is a partially sectional side view of a plug. 4 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the main part of the socket, and FIG. 5 is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the 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 body 11 having a flow path 10a therein, a valve body 12 that opens and closes the flow path 10a of the socket body 11, a plurality of balls 13 provided in the socket body 11 so as to be movable in a radial direction, A lock sleeve 14 that restricts the movement of each ball 13 in the radial direction and a lock pin 15 as a lock member that restricts the movement of the lock sleeve 14 in the axial direction are configured.

  The socket body 11 is formed so that the plug 20 can be inserted on one end side in the axial direction, and a tapered valve seat 11a with which the valve body 12 abuts in the axial direction is provided on the inner peripheral surface on one end side in the axial direction. . A pipe connection part 11 b is provided on the other axial end side of the socket body 11, and the pipe connection part 11 b is formed by a screw part (not shown) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the socket body 11. A plurality of holding holes 11c for holding each ball 13 movably in the radial direction are provided at one end side in the axial direction of the socket body 11 at intervals in the circumferential direction. It is formed so as to penetrate through. Further, a sealing material 11d made of an annular rubber is provided on the inner peripheral surface on one axial end side of the socket body 11, and the space between the socket body 11 and the plug 20 is sealed by the sealing material 11d. .

  The valve body 12 is held in the socket main body 11 so as to be movable in the axial direction via a guide member 12 a, and its tip end is brought into contact with the valve seat 11 a of the socket main body 11. The valve body 12 has a contact surface with the valve seat 11a formed in a tapered shape, and a protruding portion 12b protruding in the axial direction is provided on the tip side thereof. The guide member 12a is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the socket body 11, and is formed so that a fluid can flow by opening a part of the circumferential direction in the axial direction. A spring 12c that presses the valve body 12 toward the valve seat 11a is attached to the guide member 12a, and the socket-side flow path 10a is closed by pressing the valve body 12 against the valve seat 11a by the spring 12c. ing.

  Each ball 13 is held in the holding hole 11c of the socket body 11 so as to be movable in the radial direction, and a part of the ball 13 protrudes outside or inside the holding hole 11c.

  The lock sleeve 14 is formed of a cylindrical member provided on the outer peripheral surface side of the socket main body 11 so as to be movable in the axial direction, and the outer peripheral surface thereof is knurled to prevent slipping. On the inner peripheral surface of the lock sleeve 14, an annular contact portion 14a capable of contacting each ball 13 in the radial direction is projected, and one end surface in the axial direction of the contact portion 14a is tapered. The lock sleeve 14 is urged in one axial direction by a spring 14b. When the lock sleeve 14 moves in one axial direction, the contact portion 14a comes into contact with each ball 13, and a part of each ball 13 is part of the socket body 11. The balls 13 protrude radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the ball 13 so that the movement of the balls 13 outward in the radial direction is restricted. Further, when the lock sleeve 14 is moved in the other axial direction, the contact between the contact portion 14a and each ball 13 is released, and each ball 13 can be moved radially outward.

  The locking pin 15 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the socket body 11 so as to be able to project and retract, and protrudes to the outside of the socket body 11 by the pressure of the fluid in the socket body 11. The locking pin 15 is provided in a hole 11e provided in the socket body 11 so as to be movable in the radial direction of the socket body 11, and is urged toward the bottom surface side of the hole 11e by a spring 16 as shown in FIG. . The socket body 11 is provided with a communication path 11f that communicates the bottom surface of the hole 11e and the flow path 10a. When the pressure of the fluid in the flow path 10a is applied to the hole 11e through the communication path 11f, FIG. ), The locking pin 15 protrudes outside the socket body 11 against the spring 16. In this case, the spring 16 biases the locking pin 15 with a biasing force smaller than the pressure of the internal fluid at the time of use, and when the pressure of the internal fluid becomes a predetermined pressure (for example, 0.5 MPa) or less, the locking pin 15 is immersed in the hole 11e by the spring 16. A fixing ring 17 is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the hole 11e, and a spring 16 that locks one end side to a first flange 15a provided on the locking pin 15 is connected to the fixing ring 17 via the spacer ring 18 on the other end side. Is locked. Further, a sealing material 19 and a backup ring 19a made of an annular rubber are provided between the second flange 15b and the first flange 15a provided on the locking pin 15, and the inner periphery of the hole 11e is formed by the sealing material 19. The space between the surface and the locking pin 15 is sealed.

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

  The plug body 21 is formed so that one end in the axial direction can be inserted into one end in the axial direction of the socket body 11, and a tapered valve seat in which the valve body 22 abuts in the axial direction on the inner peripheral surface of the one end in the axial direction. 21a is provided. A pipe connecting portion 21 b is provided on the other axial end side of the plug main body 21, and the pipe connecting portion 21 b includes a screw portion (not shown) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the plug main body 21. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the plug main body 21, concave engagement portions 21c with which the balls 13 are engaged are provided continuously in the circumferential 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 brought into contact with the valve seat 21 a of the plug main body 21. The valve body 22 has a tapered contact surface with the valve seat 21a, and a protruding portion 22b protruding 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 formed to allow fluid to flow by opening a part of the circumferential direction in the axial direction, like the guide member 12a of the socket 10. The guide member 22a is provided with a spring 22c that presses the valve body 22 toward the valve seat 21a, and the plug-side flow path 20a is closed by pressing the valve body 22 against the valve seat 21a by the spring 22c. It has become.

  In the pipe joint configured as described above, when the lock sleeve 14 is moved from one side to the other side in the axial direction and the plug 20 is inserted into the socket 10, the valve bodies 12 and 22 are connected to the projections 12b and 22b at the tip. Retracting from the valve seats 11a and 21a while being in contact with each other, the valve bodies 12 and 22 are opened, and the flow paths 10a and 20a of the socket 10 and the plug 20 communicate with each other. When the plug 20 is inserted into the socket 10, each ball 13 engages with the engaging portion 21 c of the plug 20, and the lock sleeve 14 moves from the other side in the axial direction to one side, whereby the contact portion 14 a of the lock sleeve 14. Thus, the movement of each ball 13 in the radially outward direction (disengagement direction) is restricted, and the socket 10 and the plug 20 are locked in a coupled state. Here, when the pressure of the internal fluid is applied in the socket 10 during use, the locking pin 15 protrudes to the outside of the socket body 11 as shown in FIG. As a result, even when the lock sleeve 14 tries to move to the other side in the axial direction due to contact with the outside, vibration, or the like, the lock sleeve 14 is locked to the locking pin 15 and the movement to the other side in the axial direction is restricted. Therefore, the connection between the socket 10 and the plug 20 is not released during use. When the fluid flow is stopped and the pressure of the fluid in the socket 10 is lower than the urging force of the spring 16, the locking pin 15 is immersed in the hole 11e as shown in FIG. 14 becomes movable in the other axial direction. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5C, the connection between the socket 10 and the plug 20 is released by operating the lock sleeve 14 and moving it to the other axial direction.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the locking pin 15 that can restrict the movement of the lock sleeve 14 in the axial direction is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the socket body 11 so as to be freely retractable and locked by the pressure of the fluid in the socket 10. By projecting the pin 15, the lock sleeve 14 is locked to the locking pin 15 to restrict the movement in the axial direction, so that the lock sleeve 14 moves in the axial direction by contact with the outside, vibration, or the like. Without accidental disconnection during use. When the fluid flow is stopped and the pressure of the fluid in the socket 10 is reduced, the locking pin 15 is retracted and the lock sleeve 14 can be moved in the axial direction. Thus, it is not necessary to visually align the locking pin and the groove of the lock sleeve, and the connection between the socket 10 and the plug 20 can be easily released even in a dark place or a place where piping is complicatedly arranged. be able to.

  Further, since the spring 16 for urging the locking pin 15 in the immersion direction is provided, the locking pin 15 can be moved even if a slight residual pressure (for example, about 0.2 MPa) is generated after the fluid flow is stopped. The spring 16 can be reliably immersed and the connection release operation between the socket 10 and the plug 20 can always be performed satisfactorily.

The partial cross section side view of the pipe joint which shows one Embodiment of this invention Partial cross-sectional side view of socket Partial cross-sectional side view of plug Enlarged side sectional view of the main part of the socket Partial side sectional view showing the operation of the pipe joint

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Socket, 11 ... Socket main body, 13 ... Ball | bowl, 14 ... Lock sleeve, 15 ... Locking pin, 16 ... Spring, 20 ... Plug.

Claims (2)

A socket connected to one pipe, a plug connected to the other pipe, and a radial movement on the socket side so that the plug can be moved in the axial direction by engaging with an engagement portion on the plug side. A plurality of balls that regulate the movement of the ball and the socket side so as to be movable in the axial direction, by moving in one axial direction, the movement of each ball in the disengagement direction is restricted, and by moving in the other axial direction In a pipe joint provided with a lock sleeve that enables movement of each ball in the disengagement direction,
The socket is provided so as to be able to protrude and retract in a predetermined direction, and is provided with a locking member that locks on the lock sleeve and restricts movement of the lock sleeve in the axial direction by protruding by the pressure of the internal fluid. Pipe fittings. The pipe joint according to claim 1, further comprising an urging means for urging the locking member in the immersion direction.

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