JP2010196812A - Easy release joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an easy release joint which allows a plug to be mounted into a socket simply, and which enables downsizing of the socket to reduce manufacturing cost, and can surely transmit rotational torque. <P>SOLUTION: This easy release joint 11 has the socket 12 having an insertion hole 21 and the plug 13 inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the socket 12, and is provided so that the socket 12 has a body 12a having the insertion hole 21, a locking means 23 projecting inside the insertion hole 21 from the body 12a and fixing by locking on the plug 13, a sleeve 28 energizing the locking means 23 toward the inside of the insertion hole 21, and a regulating means for regulating the inward movement of the insertion hole 21 of the locking means 23 energized by the sleeve 28. The regulating means is a spring member 38 expandable in the shaft 20 direction along an inner peripheral surface of the body 12a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a one-touch joint for joining a plug to a socket such as a power transmission joint or a fluid joint.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, when the plug 71 and the socket 72 of the power transmission joint are detached, the steel ball 75 is regulated in the outer diameter direction by the sleeve 74 elastically attached by the spring 73 of the socket 72. ing. Further, the steel ball 75 is pressed against the inner surface of the sleeve 74, engages with a tapered surface 77 formed in the hole 76, and is stationary in a state where it protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the socket 72. Therefore, the plug 71 cannot be attached to the socket 72 in the state as it is. For this reason, in order to attach the plug 71 to the socket 72, first, the sleeve 74 is slid in the direction of arrow C to release the restraint in the outer diameter direction of the steel ball 75 as shown in FIG. Next, after the plug 71 is mounted while the sleeve 74 is slid, the sleeve 74 is returned to the original position, and the mounting is completed (see FIG. 12). Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to attach the plug 71 to the socket 72.

  Even in a power tool having a socket for fixing a driver bit inserted into a hexagonal hole to the hexagonal hole via a steel ball as described in Patent Document 1, the guide sleeve is moved to the hexagonal hole after moving the guide sleeve. Since it is necessary to attach a driver bit, there was the same problem as described above.

  Therefore, a structure in which the plug can be attached to the socket without sliding the sleeve has been proposed for the fluid coupling shown in FIGS. That is, the fluid coupling 85 includes a plug 81 and a socket 82, and a one-touch ring 83 that slides in the axial direction is provided in the socket 82, and the one-touch ring 83 moves in the inner diameter direction of the steel ball 84. It is regulated. When the plug 81 is inserted into the socket 82, the inclined portion 86 of the plug 81 presses the one-touch ring 83, so that the one-touch ring 83 moves in the direction of arrow D against the urging force of the spring 87, and the inner diameter direction of the steel ball 84 Will be released. Thus, when the plug 81 is further inserted, the steel ball 84 is engaged with the groove portion 88 of the plug 81, and the plug 81 is fixed to the socket 82.

  In the plug 81 and the socket 82, it is necessary to provide a large space in the inner diameter portion of the socket 82 in order to accommodate the one-touch ring 83 and the spring 87 in the socket 82. Further, in order to install the one-touch ring 83 in the inner diameter portion of the socket 82, the socket 82 is divided into the first main body 89 and the second main body 90, and after the one-touch ring 83 is installed, a screw (not shown) is attached. Thus, it is necessary to manufacture the socket 82 by connecting the first main body 89 and the second main body 90 to each other. Thereby, there existed a problem that a number of parts increased and manufacturing cost increased. Further, since the first main body 89 and the second main body 90 are coupled via a screw, there is a problem that the first main body 89 and the second main body 90 cannot be applied to a power transmission joint in which rotational torque is applied to the plug 81 and the socket 82.

JP 2000-254869 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a one-touch joint capable of easily attaching a plug to a socket.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a one-touch joint that can downsize a socket, reduce manufacturing costs, and can reliably transmit rotational torque.

As a means for solving the above problems, the one-touch joint according to the present invention is:
A socket having an insertion hole, and a plug inserted into the insertion hole of the socket,
The socket has a main body having the insertion hole, a locking means that protrudes inward from the main body to the insertion hole, and is locked and fixed to the plug, and the locking means is positioned inward of the insertion hole. In the one-touch joint, comprising: a sleeve that biases toward the sleeve; and a restricting means that restricts the inward movement of the insertion means of the locking means biased by the sleeve.
The restricting means is a spring member that can extend and contract in the axial direction along the inner peripheral surface of the main body.

  Since the spring member restricts the movement of the locking means into the insertion hole, the locking means can be prevented from protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the socket, and the plug can be easily socketed without sliding the sleeve. Can be attached to.

  In addition, by configuring the restricting means with a spring member, it is not necessary to divide the socket for mounting and connect it via screws, compared to the case where the one-touch ring is mounted on the socket as the restricting means, It can be provided integrally. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced to reduce the manufacturing cost, and the rotational torque can be reliably transmitted.

  Furthermore, there is no need for a space for providing a one-touch ring in the socket body, and the socket body can be miniaturized.

  As a specific means, it is preferable that the spring member presses the locking means outward at an outer peripheral portion to restrict the inward movement of the locking means.

  The spring member is preferably a compression coil spring.

  When the plug is inserted into the socket, it is preferable that a circular peripheral edge portion that is continuous via a tip portion and a step portion of the plug press the spring member in the axial direction.

  When the plug is inserted into the socket, the tip of the plug preferably presses the spring member in the axial direction.

  The circumferential edge or tip of the socket presses the spring member in the axial direction and the spring member is compressed, so that the engagement between the spring member and the steel ball is released so that the steel ball can move inward of the socket. Thus, the plug can be fixed to the socket via the steel ball.

  It is preferable that a sliding contact means for sliding contact with the plug is provided in the insertion hole of the socket.

  Accordingly, when the plug is removed from the socket, the plug and the sliding contact means are in sliding contact, so that it is possible to prevent the plug from being accidentally ejected from the socket by the biasing force of the compressed spring member.

  The sliding contact means is preferably an O-ring provided in the circumferential direction of the insertion hole.

  It is preferable that the locking means is sandwiched between an outer peripheral portion of the spring member and an inclined surface provided on the inner peripheral side of the sleeve.

  It is preferable that a counterbore is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the socket, and the spring member is installed between the stepped portions of the counterbore.

  The stepped portion of the counterbore portion is composed of a front side stepped portion and a back side stepped portion, and the front side stepped portion includes the center of the locking means and is in contact with the spring member within a plane perpendicular to the axis. It is preferable to contact.

  Thereby, the spring member presses the locking means outward of the socket in a direction perpendicular to the axis. Therefore, the pressing force of the spring member can be reliably transmitted to the locking means.

  It is preferable that the height of the front side step portion is substantially the same length as the radius of the wire constituting the spring member.

  The height of the front side step is approximately the same length as the radius of the wire. That is, the inner side of the center of the spring member that comes into contact with the front side step portion protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the socket, so that it comes into contact with and is pressed against the plug inserted into the socket.

The radius of the large-diameter portion constituting the near-side step is r1, the radius of the small-diameter portion constituting the near-side step is r2, the diameter of the wire constituting the spring member is d1, and the large-diameter portion When the predetermined distance provided between the spring member and the spring member is α, it is preferable to determine a value satisfying the following relationship.
r1 = r2 + r3 + α (where r3 = (d1) / 2)

  Since the spring member regulates the inward movement of the locking means, the locking means can be prevented from protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the socket, and the plug can be easily attached to the socket without sliding the sleeve. Can do. Further, by configuring the restricting means with a spring member, the socket body can be provided integrally as compared with the case where the one-touch ring is attached to the socket as the restricting means, thereby reducing the number of parts and reducing the manufacturing cost. At the same time, the rotational torque can be reliably transmitted. Furthermore, there is no need for a space for providing a one-touch ring in the socket body, and the socket body can be miniaturized.

It is sectional drawing of the socket and plug in the case of using the one-touch coupling by embodiment of this invention as a power transmission coupling. It is a partial expanded sectional view of the socket of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the socket and plug which show the state which inserts a plug in the socket of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which couple | bonded the socket and plug of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the socket and plug which show the state which inserts the plug which is a modification into the socket which is a modification of the one-touch coupling of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which couple | bonded the socket and plug of FIG. It is sectional drawing at the time of removing a plug from the socket of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the socket and plug in the case of using the one-touch coupling by embodiment of this invention as a fluid coupling. It is sectional drawing of the socket and plug which show the state which couple | bonded the plug with the socket of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the socket and the plug isolate | separated with the conventional coupling. It is sectional drawing which shows the state before inserting a plug in the socket of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which couple | bonded the socket and plug of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the socket and plug of the one-touch coupling provided with the conventional one-touch ring isolate | separated. It is a partial expanded sectional view of the socket of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the socket and plug of FIG. 13 couple | bonded.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example in which the one-touch joint 11 is used as a power transmission joint that transmits rotational torque. The one-touch joint 11 includes a socket 12 and a plug 13. A square hole 16 is formed in the end 15 (right end in FIG. 1) of the socket body 12a, and a device (not shown) for transmitting rotational torque is fitted therein. The socket 12 and the device are fixed via fixing rods (not shown) that fit into a pair of holes 17 formed so as to face the side surfaces of the square holes 16. A plug 13 is attached to the socket 12 fixed to the apparatus, and a nut box 13a, for example, is provided on the opposite side of the plug 13 from the socket 12. Thereby, the rotational torque from the said apparatus is transmitted to the nut box 13a via the one-touch coupling 11, and a nut (not shown) etc. are screwed together by this nut box 13a.

  An insertion hole 21 having a circular cross section extending along the shaft 20 is formed at the open end 19 (left side in FIG. 1) of the socket 12.

  In the insertion hole 21, a plurality of steel ball holding holes 24 that hold the steel balls 23 that are locking means are formed in the radial direction from the insertion holes 21 at equally spaced positions in the circumferential direction.

  A stopper 26 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the socket 12. A sleeve 28 is inserted from the stopper 26 via a spring 27, and the sleeve 28 is urged by the spring 27 toward an outer peripheral step portion 29 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the socket 12. When the sleeve 28 is urged by the spring 27 and is in contact with the outer peripheral step portion 29, the inner surface of the sleeve 28 presses the steel ball 23 and protrudes to the inside of the insertion hole 21 (see FIG. 4). On the other hand, when the sleeve 28 moves to the side opposite to the outer circumferential step portion 29, the steel ball 23 is retracted into an inner circumferential groove 31 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve 28. The steel ball 23 retracted in the inner circumferential groove 31 is pressed inward in the radial direction by the inclined surface 32 that forms the inner circumferential groove 31.

  A counterbore part 34 is formed on the inner peripheral surface on the back side from the opening end 19 of the insertion hole 21. The counterbore part 34 is continuous from the near side step part 35 formed on the near side of the socket 12, the back side step part 37 formed on the back side of the socket, and from the near side step part 35 to the back side step part 37. And an inner peripheral surface 36. A compression coil spring 38, which is a spring member (regulating means), is arranged between the front side step portion 35 and the back side step portion 37 of the spot facing portion 34 so as to expand and contract in the direction of the axis 20. Further, the front side step portion 35 contains the center of the steel ball 23 and is in contact with the compression coil spring 38 in a plane orthogonal to the shaft 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the radius of the inner peripheral surface 36 of the counterbore 34 that is the large diameter portion is r1, and the radius of the insertion hole 21 that is the small diameter portion is r2. The diameter of the wire forming the compression coil spring 38 is d1. The compression coil spring 38 is installed on the counterbore part 34 with a distance α from the inner peripheral surface 36 in order to enable expansion and contraction in the direction of the axis 20. These values are determined to satisfy the relationship r1 = r2 + r3 + α (where r3 = (d1) / 2). Further, the compression coil spring 38 is installed such that the center of the wire cross section 41 is located on the extension line of the insertion hole 21.

  Further, the force F1 that the compression coil spring 38 presses the steel ball 23 outward and the component force F2 in the radial direction of the force that the inclined surface 32 of the sleeve 28 presses the steel ball 23 have a relationship of F1 ≧ F2. is there.

  Further, an engagement hole 42 surrounded by four seating surfaces along the shaft 20 is formed in the further depth of the insertion hole 21.

  The plug 13 includes, for example, an operating portion 44 including a nut box 13a, a cylindrical portion 45 extending from the operating portion 44 and having a diameter smaller than that of the operating portion 44, an outer circumferential groove 46 provided in the cylindrical portion 45, and a cylinder. And an engagement protrusion 48 that is a front end portion of a square section protruding from the end face of the portion 45. The corner portion 49 of the circular peripheral edge portion 47 is chamfered.

  In order to couple the one-touch joint 11 having the above-described configuration, first, as shown in FIG. 3, when the plug 13 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the socket 12, the compression coil spring 38 is brought into the corner portion 49 of the cylindrical portion 45. It is pressed and retracts in the direction of the seating surface 42. Next, the steel ball 23 pressed outward by the compression coil spring 38 and retracted in the inner peripheral groove 31 of the sleeve 28 is pressed by the inclined surface 32 of the sleeve 28 and detached from the inner peripheral groove 31. Then, the steel ball 23 protrudes from the steel ball holding hole 24 to the inner surface of the socket 12 and is locked by being locked in the outer peripheral groove 46 of the plug 13. Since the steel ball 23 is locked, the plug 13 is prevented from being detached from the inner periphery of the socket 12. At this time, since the engaging protrusion 48 is fitted into the engaging hole 42, the rotational torque applied to the socket 12 is reliably transmitted to the plug 13.

  To release the connection between the plug 13 and the socket 12, when the sleeve 28 is moved in the direction of arrow A from the state shown in FIG. 4 and pulled in the direction in which the plug 13 is pulled away, the steel ball 23 becomes the inner circumferential groove 31 of the sleeve 28. Since the lock is released, the plug 13 can be pulled out. When the plug 13 is separated from the socket 12, the compression coil spring 38 of the socket 12 moves forward by the elastic force and comes into contact with the near-side step portion 35. As a result, the outer peripheral portion of the compression coil spring 38 presses the steel ball 23 outward, and the steel ball 23 is retracted into the inner peripheral groove 31.

  According to the one-touch joint 11 according to the present invention, the compression coil spring 38 presses the steel ball 23 outward, and the steel ball 23 is prevented from protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 21. Thereby, the plug 13 can be easily attached to the socket 12 without sliding the sleeve 28.

  Further, compared with the case where the one-touch ring is attached to the socket 12 in order to press the steel ball 23 outward, it is not necessary to divide the socket 12 for attachment of the one-touch ring and to connect it with screws. The main body 12a can be provided integrally. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced to reduce the manufacturing cost, and the rotational torque can be reliably transmitted.

  Furthermore, there is no need for a space for providing a one-touch ring in the socket body 12a, and the socket body 12a can be reduced in size.

  Since the circumferential edge portion 47 of the socket 12 presses the compression coil spring 38 in the direction of the axis 20 and the compression coil spring 38 is compressed, the steel ball 23 can move inward of the socket 12, and the steel ball 23 passes through the steel ball 23. Thus, the plug 13 can be fixed to the socket 12.

  The front side step portion 35 contains the center of the steel ball 23 and abuts against the compression coil spring 38 in a plane orthogonal to the shaft 20, so that the compression coil spring 38 has the steel ball 23 and the shaft outside the socket 12. Press in the orthogonal direction. Therefore, the pressing force of the compression coil spring 38 can be reliably transmitted to the steel ball 23.

  The height of the front side step 35 is substantially the same length as the radius of the wire. That is, the inner side of the center of the wire constituting the compression coil spring 38 that comes into contact with the front side step portion 35 protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the socket 12, so that it comes into contact with the plug 13 inserted into the socket 12, Pressed.

  The one-touch joint 11 of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

  Regarding the steel balls 23, the number of the steel balls 23 is not particularly limited as long as the plug 13 can be fixed to the socket 12.

  Further, when the plug 13 is inserted into the socket 12, the shape of the plug 13 is particularly limited as long as the compression coil spring 38 in the socket 12 is pressed to allow the steel ball 23 to move inward in the radial direction. Not. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, it is possible to employ a configuration in which a distal end portion 48 that is directly continuous with the outer peripheral groove 46 of the plug 13 is provided and the distal end portion 48 abuts against and presses the compression coil spring 38.

  Further, an O-ring 54 that is a sliding contact means is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 21. The inner diameter portion of the O-ring 54 is smaller than the diameter of the tip portion 48 of the plug 13. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, when the plug 13 is removed from the socket 12, the distal end portion 48 and the O-ring 54 come into sliding contact. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the plug 13 from being inadvertently ejected from the socket 12 by the urging force of the compression coil spring 38 compressed. The O-ring 54 may be provided in the socket 12 of the one-touch joint 11 shown in FIG.

  The spring member is not limited to the compression coil spring 38 as long as the spring member expands and contracts and presses the steel ball 23 outward or releases the press, and, for example, a bamboo spring can be adopted.

  The one-touch joint 11 is not limited to the one that transmits the rotational torque as long as the plug 13 is mounted and fixed to the socket 12, and the same effect can be obtained when applied to the fluid joint shown in FIG. The fluid coupling includes a valve body 56 that rotates about the axis in the socket main body 12 a, and the valve body 56 rotates by being driven by the sleeve 28 by mounting the plug 13 on the socket 12. Thereby, the flow path 58 and the flow path 59 are communicated with each other through the through flow path 57 provided in the valve body 56.

  In the plug 13 of the one-touch joint 11, a step portion 52 whose diameter increases toward the outer circumferential groove 46 is formed between the end portion 51 on the socket 12 side and the outer circumferential groove 46. In addition, an inclined surface 32 that presses the steel ball 23 inward is formed at the end of the sleeve 28 on the opening end 19 side. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the socket main body 12 a and in the vicinity of the opening end 19, a locking ring 53 that locks the sleeve 28 that is urged by the spring 27 and moves forward toward the opening end 19 is provided.

  When the plug 13 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the socket 12, the compression coil spring 38 is pressed by the step portion 52 and retracts in the direction of the back side step portion 37. Then, the steel ball 23 is pressed against the inclined surface 32, protrudes from the steel ball holding hole 24 to the inner surface of the socket 12, and is locked to the outer peripheral groove 46 of the plug 13 as shown in FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 One-touch coupling 12 Socket 12a Socket main body 13 Plug 21 Insertion hole 23 Steel ball (locking means)
28 Sleeve 32 Inclined surface 34 Counterbore part 35 Front side step part 37 Back side step part 38 Compression coil spring (spring member)
47 Circle peripheral edge 48 Engagement protrusion (tip)
54 O-ring (sliding contact means)

Claims (12)

A socket having an insertion hole, and a plug inserted into the insertion hole of the socket,
The socket has a main body having the insertion hole, a locking means that protrudes inward from the main body to the insertion hole, and is locked and fixed to the plug, and the locking means is positioned inward of the insertion hole. In the one-touch joint, comprising: a sleeve that biases toward the sleeve; and a restricting means that restricts the inward movement of the insertion means of the locking means biased by the sleeve.
The one-touch joint, wherein the restricting means is a spring member that can extend and contract in an axial direction along an inner peripheral surface of the main body.   2. The one-touch joint according to claim 1, wherein the spring member presses the locking unit outward at an outer peripheral portion, and restricts movement of the locking unit to the inside of the insertion hole.   The one-touch coupling according to claim 1, wherein the spring member is a compression coil spring.   4. When the plug is inserted into the socket, a circumferential edge that is continuous with the tip of the plug through a step presses the spring member in the axial direction. One-touch fitting as described.   4. The one-touch joint according to claim 1, wherein when the plug is inserted into the socket, a tip portion of the plug presses the spring member in an axial direction. 5.   The one-touch joint according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein sliding contact means for sliding contact with the plug is provided in the insertion hole of the socket.   The one-touch joint according to claim 6, wherein the sliding contact means is an O-ring provided in a circumferential direction of the insertion hole.   The one-touch according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the locking means is held between an outer peripheral portion of the spring member and an inclined surface provided on an inner peripheral side of the sleeve. Fittings.   The one-touch joint according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a counterbore portion is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the socket, and the spring member is installed between stepped portions of the counterbore portion.   The stepped portion of the counterbore portion is composed of a front side stepped portion and a back side stepped portion, and the front side stepped portion includes the center of the locking means and is in contact with the spring member within a plane perpendicular to the axis. The one-touch coupling according to claim 9, wherein the one-touch coupling contacts with each other.   11. The one-touch joint according to claim 9, wherein a height of the front side stepped portion is substantially the same length as a radius of a wire constituting the spring member. The radius of the large-diameter portion constituting the near-side step is r1, the radius of the small-diameter portion constituting the near-side step is r2, the diameter of the wire constituting the spring member is d1, and the large-diameter portion The value satisfying the following relationship is determined when α is a predetermined distance provided between the spring member and the spring member: 12. One-touch fitting.
r1 = r2 + r3 + α (where r3 = (d1) / 2)

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