JP2010230073A - Pipe connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pipe connection device allowing easy confirmation whether a pipe connection has been perfectly completed or not. <P>SOLUTION: The pipe connection device 42, connecting between a male pipe 48 provided on one side of piping and a socket member 44 provided on the other side, includes: a pair of elastic legs 80; a coming-off preventing clip 50 having a connection portion connecting between one ends of elastic legs 80; a contact portion 142 coming in contact with a flange 58 of the male pipe 48 in the axis direction and pushing it toward the male pipe insertion side; and an engaging claw 128 elastically engaging with an engaged portion 130 on the socket member 44 side. This device also includes a connection confirmation cover 122 in a positional relation where the engaging claw 128 is unable to engage with the engaged portion 130, when the male pipe 48 is in an imperfectly inserted state in the axial positional relation between the contact portion 142 and the engaging claw 128. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pipe connection device, and more particularly to a feature of technical means for confirming whether or not a pipe is correctly connected.

Conventionally, what is indicated by the following patent documents 1 is publicly known as a pipe connection device.
FIG. 10 shows an example in which this type of pipe connection device is applied to connection of a pipe for supplying water or hot water to a faucet instrument. Specifically, a supply pipe directly connected to a faucet instrument and its upstream pipe This is an example applied to connection.

In the figure, 200 is a faucet device, and 202 is a supply pipe directly connected to the faucet device 200 to supply water and hot water to the faucet device 200. In this example, the supply pipe 202 is made of a flexible pipe.
Reference numeral 204 denotes a pipe connection device for connecting the supply pipe 202 and the upstream pipe, and includes a socket member 206 as a female pipe and a retaining clip 208.

FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the pipe connection device 204 in detail.
As shown in the figure, the socket member 206 has an insertion opening 212 at one end in the axial direction, and further has a female fitting surface 214 having a circular cross section following the insertion opening 212. A flange portion 216 is formed on the outer peripheral surface at the axial end.

On the other hand, an end member 218 made of a metal fitting is attached to the supply pipe 202. The end member 218 has a male tube 220. The male tube 220 is inserted into the socket member 206 through the insertion opening 212 of the socket member 206, and the male fitting surface 222 on the outer peripheral surface is the socket member 206. Are fitted into the female fitting surface 214 and sealed between them by an O-ring 224 attached to the male fitting surface 222.
Here, also in the male tube 220, the same flange portion (projecting portion) 216 as that in the socket member 206 is formed.

  The retaining clip 208 is made of a metal and a leaf spring and has a substantially annular shape. That is, the retaining clip 208 has a pair of elastic legs and a connecting portion for connecting them, and has an engaging groove 228 at each intermediate portion in the width direction of the pair of elastic legs. In addition, a part of the circumferential direction is notched, the notch part forms an opening 226, and the guide part 230 having a shape opened in the shape of a letter C follows the opening 226. Is formed.

  The retaining clip 208 is elastically fitted in a direction perpendicular to the axis through the opening 226 with the male tube 220 inserted into the socket member 206 and the pair of flange portions 216 being combined. By engaging these flange portions 216 in the engaging grooves 228, the socket member 206 and the supply pipe 202 are prevented from being pulled out in the axial direction and fastened.

  However, in the case of this pipe connection device 204, there is a problem in that the retaining clip 208 is exposed to the outside and the appearance and appearance of the pipe connecting portion are poor, and further, the retaining clip 208 is in a protruding state. If the hand or the like is accidentally hit, there is a risk of injury, and the retaining clip 208 may come off at that time.

As a countermeasure, it is considered that the pipe connection part is covered with a connection cover from the outside together with the retaining clip.
For example, the following patent document 2 discloses an example thereof.
FIG. 12 shows a specific example thereof.

In the figure, reference numeral 232 denotes a connection cover that covers the pipe connection portion from the outside together with the retaining clip 208, and has a peripheral wall 234 and an upper wall 236.
The upper wall 236 is formed with an insertion opening 238 for inserting the end member 218 together with the supply pipe.

In this example, the socket member 206 does not include the flange portion as described above, but instead is provided with a stopper surface 240 that abuts the flange portion 216 of the male tube 220 in the axial direction.
The socket member 206 is also provided with notches 242 at two circumferential positions, and a retaining clip 208 is attached thereto. Here, the retaining clip 208 is held in the notch 242 so as not to move in the axial direction.

In this example, the retaining clip 208 is capable of expanding a pair of elastic legs as the male tube 220 is inserted.
Specifically, a mortar-shaped cam surface 244 is provided on each of the pair of elastic legs, and the flange portion 216 of the male tube 220 is brought into contact with the cam surface 244 so that the flange portion 216 of FIG. A pair of elastic legs expands as it moves in the middle and downward direction.

  Therefore, the male tube 220 can be inserted downward into the socket member 206 with the retaining clip 208 attached to the socket member 206, and is prevented from being detached by the retaining clip 208 after the insertion.

By the way, during pipe connection work at a construction site, the male pipe 220 may not be completely inserted into the socket member 206 as a female pipe, and may be pipe-connected in an incompletely inserted state.
This is especially likely when the pipe connection is in a narrow and dark place such as under the counter.

  In addition, in the case of the pipe connection device shown in FIG. 12, since the connection cover 232 covers the pipe connection portion from the outside together with the retaining clip 208, the state of the pipe connection cannot be directly visually confirmed from the outside. There is a concern that incomplete piping connections will be made.

  Therefore, if the male tube 220 is not completely inserted into the socket member 206 as a female tube and is in an incompletely inserted state, the male tube 220 may come out of the socket member 206 when water pressure is applied. is there.

  Such an incomplete connection becomes a particularly serious problem in the pipe connection device in which the pipe connection portion is covered from the outside with the connection cover 232 as described above, but also in the pipe connection device that does not include such a connection cover 232, The situation is the same in that the same problem occurs when the male pipe is incompletely connected to the female pipe.

It has been proposed in the past that a pipe connection device is provided with a connection confirmation member for confirming whether or not the pipe connection is sufficiently performed.
For example, this type of pipe connection device is disclosed in Patent Document 3 below.
However, what is disclosed in Patent Document 3 is not pipe-connected by a retaining clip having a pair of elastic legs extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis and a connecting portion that connects one end side of the elastic legs. The structure is fundamentally different from the present invention.

JP 2001-182108 A JP 2004-3626 A JP 2001-74185 A

The present invention is based on the circumstances as described above, and it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the pipe connection is completely performed, and the pipe connection having a function capable of bringing the pipe connection into a complete connection state. It was made for the purpose of providing a device.
Another object is to provide the connection confirmation member itself with a function that makes it easy to understand at a glance that the pipe connection is incomplete.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pipe connection device capable of confirming a pipe connection state without trouble even in a pipe connection device with a connection cover, and further capable of bringing the pipe connection into a complete connection state even when the connection cover is attached. .

  Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a male pipe provided on one side of a pair of pipes to be connected to each other and having a male fitting surface and a projecting portion projecting radially outward on the outer surface, A female pipe having a female fitting surface on the inner surface and having an insertion opening on one end in the axial direction is connected to the male pipe inserted into the female pipe. (A) a pair of elastic legs that are attached to the female pipe and extend in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and a connecting portion that connects one end side of the elastic legs, and the elastic legs are connected to the male pipe. While expanding in the radial direction as the tube is inserted, the elastic leg is brought into axial contact with the protruding portion in the contracted state to prevent the male tube and the female tube from being pulled out in the axial direction. A retaining clip that releases the retaining member in the expanded state, and (b) a member that is attached in the axial direction to check the connection, and is opposed to the protruding portion of the male pipe. And a latching claw for elastically locking to the locked part on the female tube side, and a position in the axial direction between the corresponding part and the locking claw. When the male tube is incompletely inserted into the female tube, the locking claw cannot be locked to the locked portion under the contact state of the corresponding contact portion with the protruding portion. A connection confirmation member that is in a positional relationship, and the abutting portion presses the protruding portion to the male tube insertion side based on an operating force applied to the connection confirmation member, It has a pressing part that pushes the male pipe to a fully inserted state.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, an elastic member that is elastically elastically deformable in the axial direction is provided on the rear side in the axial direction opposite to the protruding portion of the contact portion. The locking claw is locked to the locked portion by compressing and deforming the elastic member in the axial direction under a state where the male tube is completely inserted and the contacting portion is in contact with the protruding portion. It is characterized by being made possible.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, when the elastic member is elastically deformed by a set amount in the axial direction, a stopper for preventing further deformation of the elastic member is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, a connection cover that covers the pipe connection portion from the outside together with the retaining clip is provided, and the connection confirmation member is attached under the attachment state of the connection cover. It is attached to a pipe connection part.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the connection cover includes a peripheral wall that surrounds the pipe connection portion from an outer peripheral side, and an upper wall on one end side on the male pipe insertion side of the peripheral wall. An opening for inserting the male pipe is formed in the upper wall, and the opening forms a gap with the pipe under the pipe connection state, and the connection confirmation is made through the gap. The contact portion of the member can be inserted into the connection cover.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the fourth and fifth aspects, the connection confirmation member includes a leg portion extending in an axial direction along the peripheral wall of the connection cover, and the leg The engaging claw is provided at the tip of the portion, and the connecting cover is formed with a locked portion for engaging the engaging claw.

Effects and effects of the invention

  As described above, the present invention has a pair of elastic legs extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis and a connecting portion that connects each one end side of the elastic legs, and after expanding the elastic legs as the male pipe is inserted, A retaining clip that contracts and axially contacts the protruding portion of the male tube in the contracted state to prevent the male tube and the female tube from coming off, and an abutting portion and female tube that contact the protruding portion of the male tube in the axial direction A locking claw that elastically locks to the locked portion on the side of the tube, and the axial positional relationship between the contact portion and the locking claw is that the male tube is incompletely inserted into the female tube In this case, the pipe connection device includes a connection confirmation member that has a positional relationship in which the locking claw cannot be locked to the locked portion under the contact state of the contact portion with the protruding portion.

  In the pipe connection device of the present invention, when the male tube is incompletely inserted into the female tube, the locking claw of the connection confirmation member is locked to the locked portion to be in the mounted state. Therefore, it can be immediately recognized by visual observation that the male tube is in an incompletely inserted state, and based on this, the male tube is completely inserted, and the male tube is pulled out by the action of water pressure. Such a problem can be prevented.

  In the present invention, the contact portion of the connection confirmation member is not a pressing portion that presses the protrusion to the male tube insertion side based on the applied operating force and pushes the male tube to the fully inserted state. Keep it.

  In the present invention, when the connection confirmation member knows that the male pipe is in an incompletely inserted state, it applies a force in the direct insertion direction to the pipe on the male pipe side, thereby completely inserting the male pipe In this case, the connection confirmation operation using the connection confirmation member, the operation of inserting the male pipe side into the male pipe and applying force to the male tube itself, and then the connection confirmation member It is necessary to perform a plurality of operations for completely attaching the engaging claw to the engaged portion.

  However, if the contact portion is made into a pressing portion in accordance with the above, when the connection confirmation member knows that the male tube is in an incompletely inserted state, the connection confirmation member is pushed in the axial direction to move the male tube as it is. It is possible to complete the installation by locking the locking claw of the connection confirmation member to the locked part after the insertion into the female tube, and complete insertion of the male tube from the connection confirmation (correction of piping connection) ) And the operation of completely mounting the connection confirmation member can be performed very easily with one touch.

  Next, according to a second aspect of the present invention, an elastic member that is elastically elastically deformable in the axial direction is provided on the rear side in the axial direction opposite to the protruding portion of the abutting portion. Under the abutting state of the abutting portion, the locking claw can be locked to the locked portion by compressing and deforming the elastic member in the axial direction.

  For example, when such an elastic member is not provided, the connection confirmation member is separated from the original mounting position, that is, the position where the locking claw is locked to the locked portion in the axial direction by the amount of insufficient insertion of the male pipe. It will only be located.

  However, in the pipe connection device according to the second aspect, when the contact portion of the connection confirmation member is brought into contact with the protruding portion of the male tube, the connection confirmation member is larger than the amount of insufficient insertion of the male tube. At first glance, it appears that the connection confirmation member is in a state of being largely lifted from the original attachment position and the connection confirmation member has not reached the original attachment position. It is easy to understand and immediately knows that the male tube is incompletely inserted without observing closely whether or not the locking claw of the connection confirmation member is hanging on the locked portion. This makes it easier to check the pipe connection.

  In this case, when the elastic member is elastically compressed and deformed by a set amount in the axial direction, a stopper for preventing further deformation of the elastic member can be provided.

By doing so, the contact claw of the connection confirmation member is still in a state where the abutment portion abuts against the protruding portion of the male tube by the operation force applied to the connection confirmation member and the elastic member is prevented from being deformed by the stopper. It can be known that the male tube is in an incompletely inserted state by being in a position where it cannot be locked to the locked portion.
When the operating force applied in this state is removed, the elastic member extends in the axial direction, and the connection confirmation member is largely lifted from the original mounting position.

  Further, the operating force applied to the connection confirmation member can be transmitted to the contact portion as it is by the stopper, and the protruding portion of the male tube is pushed to the male tube insertion side by the contact portion, that is, the pressing portion, so that the male tube is completely It can be inserted into the female tube up to the insertion position.

  Next, when the pipe connection device includes a connection cover that covers the pipe connection portion from the outside together with the retaining clip, the connection confirmation member can be attached to the pipe connection portion under the connection cover attached state. It is a thing.

As described above, it is particularly difficult to confirm the pipe connection state in the pipe connection device provided with such a connection cover.
In other words, since the connection cover covers the pipe connection part from the outside, it cannot be visually confirmed from the outside whether the male pipe is completely inserted into the female pipe or not fully inserted. Such an incomplete insertion state of the male tube is likely to occur.

  However, according to the fourth aspect, it is possible to easily know whether the male pipe is in the fully inserted state or the incompletely inserted state even in the pipe connecting device provided with such a connection cover. It is highly effective.

In this case, the connection cover has a peripheral wall that surrounds the pipe connection part from the outer peripheral side, and an upper wall on one end side of the peripheral wall on the male tube insertion side, and the upper wall is used for insertion of the male tube. An opening is formed, and the opening is to form a gap with the pipe in the pipe connection state, and the contact portion of the connection confirmation member can be inserted into the connection cover through the gap. (Claim 5).
By doing in this way, it becomes possible to easily perform the pipe connection state confirmation work by the connection confirmation member under the connection cover attached state.

  In these cases, the connection confirmation member is provided with a leg portion extending in the axial direction along the peripheral wall of the connection cover, and the locking claw is provided at the tip portion of the leg portion, A locked portion for locking the locking claw can be formed on the connection cover side (Claim 6).

  In this way, the connection confirmation member can be attached to the connection cover with the connection cover attached, and the connection confirmation member can be visually checked from the connection cover. By checking, it can be made easier to understand the quality of the pipe connection state.

It is a figure which shows the piping connection apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention with the application object. It is a perspective view which shows the piping connection apparatus of the embodiment in a piping connection state and an external appearance state. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the piping connection apparatus of the embodiment to each member. It is a single-piece figure of the connection cover in the embodiment. It is a single item figure of the connection check cover in the embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of pipe connection of the pipe connection apparatus of the embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the connection confirmation cover of the piping connection apparatus of the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the connection confirmation cover of other embodiment of this invention. FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram of the connection confirmation cover of FIG. 8. It is a figure which shows the conventional piping connection apparatus with the application object. It is a figure which expands and shows the piping connection apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the conventional piping connection apparatus different from FIG.

  Next, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a connection between a supply pipe for supplying water and hot water to a faucet instrument and a supply pipe on the upstream side will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 1, 10 is a faucet device (in this example, a single lever type hot and cold water mixing faucet) installed on the upper surface of a counter or the like (not shown), 12 is a faucet body, and 14 is provided on the top. A single lever type operation unit 16 is a water discharge pipe extending from the faucet body 12.

The water discharge pipe 16 includes a pipe main body 18 integrally formed with the faucet main body 12 and a water discharge head 22 that can be pulled out together with the hose 20.
Here, the water discharge head 22 has a water discharge port 24 at its tip, and water is discharged from the water discharge port 24.
In this example, the water discharge head 22 can switch the water discharge from the rectified water discharge to the shower water discharge or vice versa.

  A supply pipe 26 supplies water and hot water to the faucet body 12, and in this example, the supply pipe 26 is a flexible pipe. The upper ends of these supply pipes 26 are connected to the faucet body 12, and water and hot water are supplied to the faucet body 12 through the supply pipes 26 and 26. The supplied water and hot water are mixed in the faucet body 12 and then flow out to the outflow pipe 28.

The hose 20 is connected to the outflow pipe 28, and the mixed water flowing out to the outflow pipe 28 is guided to the water discharge head 22 through the hose 20.
In addition, 30 is a hose guide and 32 is a stopper. The pull-out amount of the hose 20 is defined by the stopper 32 coming into contact with the hose guide 30.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a water / hot water supply pipe that protrudes laterally from the wall W to the room side. A stop cock 36 is provided at the tip of the pair of supply pipes 34.
The stop cock 36 has an upward connection port 38. A male screw 40 is formed on the outer surface of the connection port 38.
In this example, the supply pipe 26 and the supply pipe 34 are connected to each other by the pipe connection device 42 of the embodiment.

2 and 3 show a specific configuration of the pipe connection device 42. FIG.
As shown in these drawings, the pipe connection device 42 of this example includes a socket member 44 as a female pipe and a male pipe provided in a metal end member 46 provided at the end of the supply pipe 26. 48, a retaining clip 50 having elasticity configured separately from these, and a connection cover 52.
The male pipe 48 has a male fitting surface 54 on the outer surface, and an O-ring 56 for sealing is attached thereto. Further, an outward flange portion (protruding portion) 58 is provided at the base end.

On the other hand, the socket member 44 has a female fitting surface 60 for fitting the male fitting surface 54 on the inner surface, and further has an insertion opening 62 at one end in the axial direction.
Further, a female screw hole 64 (see FIG. 6) is provided at the end opposite to the insertion opening 62, and the female screw hole 64 is screwed into the supply pipe 34, specifically, the male screw 40 of the connection port 38 of the water stop cock 36. Are combined.
Here, the screw coupling portion between the male screw 40 and the female screw hole 64 is sealed in a watertight manner by a packing 66.

The socket member 44 is provided with a pair of cutout portions 68 formed by cutting out a part thereof in the circumferential direction at a position in the vicinity of the insertion opening 62, and a retaining clip 50 is attached thereto.
Here, both end surfaces in the axial direction of the notch portion 68 are a first locking surface 70 and a second locking surface 72.

  The socket member 44 is also formed with a stopper surface 74 that abuts the flange portion 58 on the male tube 48 side to define the amount of insertion, and a tool hook portion on the outer surface of the end portion on the female screw hole 64 side. 78 is provided.

The socket member 44 is also provided with a stepped portion 77 in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface at a position below the notch 68 in the drawing.
Furthermore, a pair of engaging surfaces 79 extending in a straight line in parallel with each other are formed at the upper end in the figure, with a part of the outer periphery cut off.

The retaining clip 50 is formed by bending a metal leaf spring material into a U shape, and has a pair of elastic legs 80 and a connecting portion 82 that connects them at each one end side.
The end opposite to the connecting portion 82 is a fitting opening 83, and a guide portion 84 that is opened in a C shape is formed integrally with the fitting opening 83.
A pair of protrusions 90 are integrally formed at the lower ends of the guide portions 84 so as to protrude downward in the drawing, that is, in the axial direction of the socket member 44.

  These projecting portions 90 together with the stepped portion 77 of the socket member 44 form a mounting guide for mounting the retaining clip 50 to the notch portion 68 of the socket member 44 in the direction perpendicular to the axis.

  The retaining clip 50 includes a cam surface 94 on each of the pair of elastic legs 80. Here, the cam surface 94 is a mortar-shaped surface that approaches the axial direction as the male tube 48 is inserted.

  The retaining clip 50 is fitted into the notch 68 of the socket member 44 through the fitting opening 83 in a direction perpendicular to the axis. At this time, the pair of elastic legs 80 are positioned in the notch 68, and the lower end and the upper end of the pair of elastic legs 80 in the figure are the first locking surface 70 and the second locking surface 72 in the notch 68, respectively. The position is regulated in the axial direction.

In this example, the connection cover 52 is made of resin and has a cylindrical shape as a whole.
The connection cover 52 covers the connecting portion between the male pipe 48 and the socket member 44 together with the retaining clip 50 from the outside. The connecting wall 52 surrounds the pipe connecting portion and the retaining clip 50 from the outer peripheral side, The upper wall 98 is provided at the upper end, and a circular opening 100 for inserting the male tube 48 is formed in the upper wall 98.
Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the opening 100 has a larger diameter than the male pipe 48 and the supply pipe 26, and an annular gap is formed between the opening 100 and the supply pipe 26.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connection cover 52 is integrally provided with elastic claws 102 at the lower end portion (lower end portion in FIG. 3). The connection cover 52 is detachably attached to the socket member 44 by being elastically locked to the bottom surface of the attaching portion 77.

As shown in FIG. 4, the connection cover 52 is integrally formed with a pair of fitting pieces 104 and 106 having an arc shape at a position spaced inward from the peripheral wall 96.
When the connection cover 52 is fitted in the socket member 44 in the axial direction, the fitting pieces 104 and 106 are fitted into the outer peripheral surface of the socket member 44 and are fitted and guided while positioning in the direction perpendicular to the axis.

As shown in FIG. 4, the connection cover 52 has flat engagement surfaces 110 and 112 that are cut out in a corresponding shape at positions corresponding to the engagement surfaces 79 of the socket member 44 on the upper wall 98 side. Is formed.
The engagement surfaces 110 and 112 engage with the pair of engagement surfaces 79 of the socket member 44 under the connection cover 52 attached state, and serve to prevent the connection cover 52 from rotating with respect to the socket member 44.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the connection cover 52, specifically, the peripheral wall 96 is provided with a through window 114, and a release button (release operation unit) 116 is fitted therein. .

  Here, the release button 116 expands the pair of elastic legs 80 of the retaining clip 50 by pushing operation and releases the retaining of the male tube 48 by the retaining clip 50, and includes a cam surface 120.

  When the release button 116 is pushed to the right in the figure, the cam surface 120 pushes and opens the fitting opening 83 of the retaining clip 50, thereby causing the retaining clip 50 to expand and the male clip 48 of the retaining clip 50 to move. Release the retaining action.

In this example, first, the socket member 44 is connected to the connection port 38 of the supply pipe 34, and the retaining clip 50 and the connection cover 52 are attached to the socket member 44.
FIG. 6 (I) shows this state.
In this state, as shown in FIGS. 6 (I) and (II), the end member 46 provided at the end of the supply pipe 26, more specifically, the male pipe 48 is inserted into the opening 100 of the connection cover 52 and the socket member 44. The socket member 44 is inserted through the insertion opening 62.

  At this time, the flange portion 58 of the male tube 48 comes into contact with the cam surface 94 of the retaining clip 50 during the insertion process, and when the male tube 48 is further inserted, the cam surface 94 follows the cam action. The pair of elastic legs 80 of the retaining clip 50 is caused to expand and allow the flange portion 58 to pass through the retaining clip 50.

When the flange portion 58 passes through the retaining clip 50 and abuts against the stopper surface 74 of the socket member 44, the retaining clip 50 contracts based on its own elastic force, and the lower end of the elastic leg 80 in FIG. 58 is brought into contact. Here, the male tube 48 is secured from the socket member 44.
In other words, the male tube 48 is locked to the socket member 44 by the retaining clip 50.
FIG. 6 (III) shows the state at this time.

In this embodiment, a connection confirmation cover (connection confirmation member) 122 that is attached to the pipe connection portion, specifically, the connection cover 52 and confirms the connection between the male pipe 48 and the socket member 44 is provided.
The connection confirmation cover 122 is made of resin and has a plate shape and a planar shape that is placed on the upper surface of the upper wall 98 of the connection cover 52 when mounted on the connection cover 52 as shown in FIG. Has a base portion 124 having a substantially rectangular shape, and a total of four elastic leg portions 126 hanging from the four corners of the base portion 124, and inwardly directed to the distal end portion (lower end portion in the figure) of each leg portion 126. The locking claw 128 is provided.

When the connection check cover 122 is attached to the connection cover 52, the four legs 126 extend outward in the axial direction along the peripheral wall 96 on the outside of the peripheral wall 96 of the connection cover 52, and at the tip of each leg 126. The locking claw 128 is attached to the connection cover 52 by being locked to the locked portion 130 at the lower end of the connection cover 52 (see FIGS. 2 and 7 (III)).
Note that the position of the connection confirmation cover 122 in the rotation direction when the four checkers 126 are attached to the connection cover 52 is automatically defined because the four leg portions 126 cannot rotate relative to the connection cover 52.
That is, the four legs 126 have a function of defining the mounting position in the rotation direction of the connection confirmation cover 122 with respect to the connection cover 52.

A fitting recess 132 having a substantially semicircular shape is formed in the base portion 124, and the connection confirmation cover 122 is adapted to fit the fitting recess 132 to the supply pipe 26 through the opening 134 in the direction perpendicular to the axis. Attached to the connection cover 52.
The fitting recess 132 is for avoiding interference with the supply pipe 26.
The base 124 is also provided with a concave portion 136 at another location.
Here, the concave-shaped portion 136 has the same shape (in the planar shape) as the concave-shaped portion 138 formed in the connection cover 52 as shown in FIG.

The connection confirmation cover 122 is integrally formed with a falling portion 140 that hangs down from the base portion 124 at a substantially central portion.
Here, the entire falling portion 140 has an arc shape that is curved along the fitting recess 132, and an annular shape between the peripheral edge of the insertion opening 100 of the connection cover 52 and the supply pipe 26. It is formed with a thickness that can be inserted into the connection cover 52 through the gap.

The falling portion 140 includes a lower contact portion 142 that can move relatively close to and away from the base portion 124 in the vertical direction in the figure, an upper support portion 144 that is fixed to the base portion 124, and elastically moves them up and down. It is divided into an intermediate spring portion 146 (elastic member) to be connected.
The contact portion 142 can move up and down by elastic deformation in the axial direction of the spring portion 146, that is, in the vertical direction in the drawing.
Here, the spring portion 146 includes a pair of leaf spring portions 148 and 148 each having a semi-annular shape, and has a substantially annular shape as a whole.

The support portion 144 is integrally provided with a pair of stoppers 150 that protrude downward at the left and right side positions of the spring portion 146 in the drawing.
When the contact portion 142 moves while compressing and elastically deforming the spring portion 146 upward in the drawing, the stopper 150 hits the contact portion 142 when the amount of movement (compression deformation amount) reaches the set deformation amount. Further, the upward relative movement of the contact portion 142 is prevented, and the downward operating force applied to the connection confirmation cover 122 is directly transmitted to the contact portion 142 without passing through the spring portion 146 as it is.

The axial positional relationship between the contact portion 142, the stopper 150, and the locking claw 128 is determined as follows.
That is, in a state where the male tube 48 is completely inserted into the socket member 44, the contact portion 142 contacts the flange portion 58 of the male tube 48 downward, and the stopper 150 contacts the contact portion 142. The positional relationship is determined so that the pawl 128 can be just locked to the locked portion 130 at the lower end of the connection cover 52.

In other words, even when the male tube 48 is in the fully inserted state, when the spring portion 148 is not bent (is not deformed) in the axial direction, the locking claw 128 of the locked portion 130 of the connection cover 52 is provided. It is a positional relationship that does not reach down to the position.
In such a state, each of the locking claws 128 is brought into contact with the locked portion 130 for the first time by pushing the connection confirmation cover 122 downward in the drawing while bending the spring portion 148 until the stopper 150 contacts the contact portion 142. The connection confirmation cover 122 can be attached to the connection cover 52 by reaching the position where it can be locked and first locking the locking claw 128 with the locked portion 130.

  Accordingly, when the male pipe 48 is insufficiently inserted into the socket member 44, the connection confirmation cover is in a state where the contact portion 142 is in contact with the flange portion 58 of the male tube 48 and the spring portion 146 is not bent. Each locking claw 128 of 122 is greatly separated upward in the drawing from the locked portion 130, and the base portion 124 is largely lifted upward in the drawing from the upper wall 98 of the connection cover 52.

FIG. 7 shows the operation of the connection confirmation cover 122 of FIG.
In the connection confirmation cover 122 of FIG. 5, the falling portion 140 having an arc shape is inserted into the connection cover 52 so that the fitting recess 132 of the base portion 124 is fitted to the supply pipe 26 in the direction perpendicular to the axis. Then, the whole is pushed downward in the figure and attached to the connection cover 52.

  At this time, when the male tube 48 is in the fully inserted state with respect to the socket member 44, the connection check cover 122 is pushed downward fully in the drawing to lock the locking claw 128 to the locked portion 130, It can be attached to the connection cover 52.

When the connection confirmation cover 122 is pushed downward in the figure, the contact portion 142 first contacts the flange portion 58 of the male tube 48, and then the spring portion 146 is bent in the axial direction (compressed) and stopped. 150 hits the contact portion 142, and in that state, the locking claw 128 reaches the position of the locked portion 130, where the locking claw 128 is automatically elastically locked to the locked portion 130, The connection cover 52 is attached.
FIG. 2 shows the state at this time.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7 (I), when the insertion of the male tube 48 is incomplete (half-inserted state), the connection confirmation cover 122 is pushed downward, and the contact portion 42 is first moved to the male portion. Even when the spring part 146 is compressed and deformed in the axial direction by contacting the flange part of the tube 48 and the stopper 150 is applied to the contact part 142, the locking claw 128 is locked to the locked part 130. If the operating force applied there is removed, the spring portion 146 extends in the axial direction and returns to its original shape, and here the connection confirmation cover 122 is largely lifted from the connection cover 52. .
For more information with respect to insertion shortage H ₁ of the male pipe 48, which results in up connection confirmation cover 122 floats at large the raised height H ₂ than.
Therefore, the large rise of the connection confirmation cover 122 makes it possible to immediately know visually that the male pipe 48 is insufficiently inserted into the socket member 44.

By holding the supply pipe 26 in this state and pushing it downward, the male pipe 48 can be completely inserted. At that time, the connection confirmation cover 122 can be attached to the connection cover 52.
However, the connection confirmation cover 122 of this embodiment can bring the male tube 48 into a completely inserted state by pushing the connection confirmation cover 122 downward as it is without performing such an operation.

When the connection check cover 122 is pushed downward, the spring portion 146 is first elastically compressed and deformed in the axial direction, and when the amount of deformation reaches the set amount of deformation, as shown in FIG. Hits the contact portion 142, where further deformation of the spring portion 146 is prevented, and the downward force applied to the connection confirmation cover 122 is directly applied to the contact portion 142 by the stopper 150 and further to the male tube. The male pipe 48 is moved downward together with the connection confirmation cover 122, and finally the male pipe 48 is completely inserted into the socket member 44.
At this time, the locking claw 128 reaches the position of the locked portion 130, and each locking claw 128 is automatically and elastically locked to the locked portion 130 as shown in FIG. 7 (III). It becomes a state.

Then, it can be confirmed that the male tube 48 has been completely inserted when the locking claw 128 of the connection confirmation cover 122 is locked to the locked portion 130.
In other words, if the locking claw 128 can be locked to the locked portion 130, it means that the male tube 48 has been completely inserted.

  As described above, in the pipe connection device 42 of the present embodiment, when the male tube 48 is incompletely inserted into the socket member 44, the locking claw 128 of the connection confirmation cover 122 is connected to the locked portion 130. It cannot be locked and cannot be put into the mounted state, and it is immediately possible to visually recognize that the male tube 48 is in an incompletely inserted state, and based on this, the male tube 48 is brought into a fully inserted state. In addition, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a problem such that the male tube 48 comes off due to the action of water pressure.

  In this embodiment, when the connection confirmation cover 122 finds that the male tube 48 is incompletely inserted, the connection confirmation cover 122 is pushed in the axial direction as it is, so that the male tube 48 is moved against the socket member 44. After complete insertion, the locking claw 128 of the connection check cover 122 can be locked to the locked portion 130 to complete the mounting. From the connection check, the male pipe 48 is completely inserted (correction of piping connection). ) And the operation of completely mounting the connection confirmation cover 122 can be performed very easily with one touch.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the male tube 48 is insufficiently inserted, when the contact portion 142 of the connection confirmation cover 122 is brought into contact with the flange portion 58 of the male tube 48, the spring portion 46 The connection confirmation cover 122 can be made to float more in the axial direction from the original mounting position than the amount of insufficient insertion, and the work of confirming the quality of the pipe connection is further facilitated.

8 and 9 show the main part of another embodiment of the present invention.
In this example, a lump portion is integrally provided in the middle of a spring portion 146 formed of a leaf spring, and these are formed as a stopper 150. When the spring portion 146 is bent in a vertical direction in the figure (when compressed and deformed) ), The stoppers 150 that are vertically opposed to each other are applied, and the stopper 150 is further applied to the contact part 142 to prevent further elastic deformation of the spring part 146, and the operation force applied to the connection confirmation cover 122 is In this example, the contact portion 142 is added via the stopper 150.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, this is merely an example. For example, the elastic member in the connection confirmation cover may be formed in a form other than the above example, and may be configured separately from the contact part and the support part, and the connection confirmation member may be formed in a form other than the cover form as described above. It is also possible to configure, and the present invention is particularly effective when applied to a pipe connection device with a connection cover, but is applied to a pipe connection device that does not have such a connection cover. The present invention can be configured in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

26 Supply pipe 42 Pipe connection device 44 Socket member 48 Male pipe 50 Stop clip 52 Connection cover 54 Male fitting surface 58 Flange (projection)
60 female fitting surface 62 insertion opening 80 elastic leg 82 connecting part 96 peripheral wall 98 upper wall 100 opening 122 connection confirmation cover 126 leg part 128 locking claw 130 locked part 142 contact part 146 spring part 148 leaf spring part 150 Stopper

Claims (6)

Provided on one side of a pair of pipes to be connected to each other, provided on the other side of the pair of pipes, a male pipe having a male fitting surface and a projecting portion projecting radially outward on the outer surface, A pipe connection device for connecting a female pipe having a female fitting surface on the inner surface and having an insertion opening on one end side in the axial direction in a state where the male pipe is inserted into the female pipe,
(A) A pair of elastic legs attached to the female pipe and extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and a connecting portion for connecting each one end side of the elastic leg, the elastic leg having a diameter as the male pipe is inserted. In the contracted state, the elastic leg is brought into contact with the protruding portion in the axial direction to prevent the male tube and the female tube from being pulled out in the axial direction, while releasing in the expanded state. Retaining clip to be
(B) A member that is mounted in the axial direction to check connection, and is elastically connected to the abutting portion that abuts the protruding portion of the male tube in the axial direction and the locked portion on the female tube side. And when the male tube is incompletely inserted into the female tube, the protruding portion has a locking claw that stops. A connection confirmation member that is in a positional relationship that the locking claw cannot be locked to the locked portion under the contact state of the corresponding contact portion;
And the abutting portion pushes the protruding portion toward the male tube insertion side based on the operating force applied to the connection confirmation member, and pushes the male tube to the fully inserted state. A piping connection device characterized by comprising a pressing portion.   In Claim 1, the elastic member which can be elastically elastically deformed to an axial direction is provided in the axial direction back side on the opposite side to the said protrusion part of the said contact part, The insertion state of the said male tube is complete In addition, the locking claw can be locked to the locked portion by compressing and deforming the elastic member in the axial direction under a contact state of the contact portion with the protruding portion. Characteristic pipe connection device.   3. The pipe connection device according to claim 2, wherein a stopper is provided to prevent further deformation of the elastic member when the elastic member is elastically deformed by a set amount in the axial direction.   The connection cover that covers the pipe connection portion from the outside together with the retaining clip is provided in any one of claims 1 to 3, and the connection confirmation member is attached to the pipe connection portion under an attachment state of the connection cover. Piping connection device characterized by being a thing.   5. The connection cover according to claim 4, wherein the connection cover includes a peripheral wall that surrounds the pipe connection portion from an outer peripheral side, and an upper wall on one end side of the peripheral wall on the male pipe insertion side, and the male pipe is formed on the upper wall. An opening for insertion is formed, and the opening forms a gap with the pipe under the pipe connection state, and the contact portion of the connection confirmation member passes through the gap. A pipe connection device characterized in that it can be inserted into a connection cover.   6. The connection confirmation member according to claim 4, wherein the connection confirmation member has a leg portion extending in an axial direction along the peripheral wall on an outer side of the peripheral wall of the connection cover, and the engagement member is connected to a distal end portion of the leg portion. A pipe connection device according to claim 1, further comprising a pawl, and a locking portion for locking the locking pawl is formed on the connection cover.

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