JP2012141046A - Connector for fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure that there is no fluid leakage from a hydraulic circuit and to suppress the inclusion of air into the hydraulic circuit and the generation of noise, when a connector is connected and separated.SOLUTION: When a male-side connector body 12 is inserted inside a female-side connector body 52, the male-side connector body 12 is brought into contact with a female-side valve body 82 and a pillar member 64 is brought into contact with a male-side valve body 30, and then while the male and female valve bodies 30, 82 are closed, a sealing means (O-ring 22) is positioned such that the sealing means is airtight.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluid connector, and more particularly to a fluid connector in which a pair of connectors each incorporate a cutoff valve.

  In order to avoid fluid leakage from the connector when the connector is separated, the connector for fluid that connects the fluids in a separable manner has a built-in lift valve type cut-off valve in each of the male and female connectors. Is known (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  A male connector of a fluid connector with a built-in shutoff valve of this type includes a cylindrical male connector body defining a male valve port therein, and the male connector along the axial direction within the male connector body. A male valve body that is movably provided between a valve closing position on the distal end side and a valve opening position on the proximal end side of the main body, and that opens and closes the male valve port; and And a male valve closing spring biased toward the

  The female connector of the fluid connector includes a cylindrical female connector main body, an axial female port body extending in the axial direction within the female connector main body, and defining an annular female valve port in cooperation with the female connector main body. The female side connector main body and the female side connector main body provided in the female side main body so as to be movable between a valve closing position on the distal end side and a valve opening position on the proximal end side along the axial direction. A cylindrical female valve body that opens and closes the valve port, and a female valve closing spring that biases the female valve body toward the valve closing position.

  Furthermore, in order to prevent the fluid flowing through the connector from leaking to the outside when the connector is connected, the fluid connector is inserted into the female connector main body so that the two are sealed from each other. It is provided with sealing means such as an O-ring connected to.

  In such a fluid connector, by inserting the male connector main body into the female connector main body, the female valve body is inserted into the female valve closing spring after the male connector main body comes into contact with the female valve body. Both valve bodies are opened and moved against the spring force, and the male side valve body is moved against the spring force of the male side valve spring after the female connector body contacts the male side valve body. The communication flow path between the two connector bodies is established by opening the valve.

Japanese National Patent Publication No. 11-500517 Japanese Patent No. 3529562

  In the conventional fluid connector as described above, first, the male connector body and the female connector body are hermetically connected by the sealing means, and the male connector body is further inserted into the female connector body from this state, Until the female valve port and the male valve port are opened, an airtight sealed space is formed between the opposing surfaces of the male connector body and the female connector body. The sealed space is reduced as the male connector body is inserted into the female connector body, and the air in the sealed space is compressed.

  The sealed space is opened inside the connector by opening the female valve port and the male valve port, and the compressed air confined in the sealed space is discharged into the connector from both valve ports. This discharge of compressed air into the connector causes air (heterogeneous fluid) to be mixed into the fluid circuit in a fluid circuit other than the pneumatic circuit such as a refrigerant circuit, thereby degrading the performance of the fluid circuit, such as a decrease in cooling performance. Cause.

  At the time of connector separation, an airtight space formed between the male connector main body and the female connector main body is enlarged, and this portion becomes negative pressure, so that force is required for connector separation.

  Also, when compressed air is released into the connector when the connector is connected, or when the air in the airtight space where the internal pressure is reduced is released to the atmosphere when the connector is separated, the abnormal noise of compressed air release such as “pong” is released. This will cause the operator to feel uncomfortable.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that in a fluid connector with a built-in cutoff valve, it is ensured that fluid leakage of the fluid circuit does not occur when the connector is connected / disconnected, and air is not mixed into the fluid circuit. It is to suppress the occurrence of abnormal noise.

  The fluid connector according to the present invention includes a cylindrical male connector body (12) defining a male valve port (24) therein, and a distal end side along the axial direction in the male connector body (12). A male valve body (30) which is provided movably between a valve closing position and a proximal valve opening position and opens and closes the male valve port (24); and the male valve body (30). A male connector (10) having a male valve closing spring (48) biasing toward the valve closing position, a cylindrical female connector body (52), and the female connector body (52) A column member (64) extending in the axial direction and defining an annular female valve port (72) in cooperation with the female connector body (52); and in the female connector body (52) The female valve position is provided so as to be movable between a valve closing position on the distal end side and a valve opening position on the proximal end side along the axial direction. A female female valve body (82) that opens and closes the female valve body (72), and a female valve closing spring (96) that biases the female valve body (82) toward the closed position. A side connector (50) and a sealing means (O-ring 22) for hermetically connecting the male connector body (12) to each other by being inserted into the female connector body (52); The male connector main body (12) is inserted into the female connector main body (54) so that the male connector main body (12) comes into contact with the female valve body (82). By displacing the female valve body (82) with a stroke, the female valve body (82) is opened against the spring force of the female valve closing spring (96), and the column member ( 64) after contacting the male valve body (30), By displacing the male valve body (30) with a troke, the male valve body (30) is opened against the spring force of the male valve closing spring (48), and between the two connector main bodies. A fluid connector that establishes a communication flow path to the male connector body (12) when the male connector body (12) is inserted into the female connector body (52). After contact with the valve body (82) and after the pillar member (64) has contacted the male valve body (30), both valve bodies (30, 82) are closed. The position of the sealing means (O-ring 22) is determined so that the sealing means (O-ring 22) establishes airtightness therebetween.

  According to this configuration, when the male connector main body (12) is inserted into the female connector main body (52), the male connector main body (12) comes into contact with the female valve body (82) and the column member ( 64) is in contact with the male valve body 30) and the sealing means (O-ring 22) establishes airtightness while both valve bodies are closed. The amount of air mixed in the fluid circuit connected by the fluid connector is reduced without causing fluid leakage, and the generation of abnormal noise is avoided.

  In the fluid connector according to the present invention, preferably, the sealing means is attached to the outer periphery of the male connector main body (12) and is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the female connector main body (52). And an annular seal member (90) attached to the outer periphery of the female valve body (82) and in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the female connector body (52).

  According to this structure, an O-ring or the like can be used as the annular seal member (22, 90), and the airtightness of the sliding portion can be obtained easily and reliably.

  In the fluid connector according to the present invention, preferably, the male valve port (24) and the female valve port (72) are each configured as a straight hole having the same inner diameter over a predetermined axial length. Any one of the outer periphery of the male valve body (30) and the inner periphery of the male valve port (24), the outer periphery of the column member (64), and the inner periphery of the female valve body (82) An annular seal member (46, 76) is attached to any one of the parts.

  According to this structure, a stroke necessary for opening and closing the male valve body (30) and the female valve body (82) is obtained, and the male valve body (30) and the female valve body (82) are opened. Prior to this, a state in which the sealing means (O-ring 22) ensures airtightness can be reliably obtained.

  In the fluid connector according to the present invention, preferably, the column member is fixed to the male connector body.

  According to this configuration, the structure is not complicated.

  In the fluid connector according to the present invention, preferably, the column member (64) is provided on the female connector main body (52) so as to be movable in the axial direction by a predetermined amount, and the female connector main body is provided by a spring (98). It is urged toward the tip end side of (82).

  According to this configuration, the state in which the sealing means (O-ring 22) secures airtightness is the same as the opening of the male valve body (30) and the female valve body (82) by the stroke in the axial direction of the column member (64). You can definitely get ahead of the valve.

  In the fluid connector according to the present invention, when the male connector main body is inserted into the female connector main body by setting the position of the sealing means, the male connector main body abuts on the female valve body, and the column member is on the male side. After contact with the valve body, the sealing means establishes airtightness while both valve bodies are closed, so there is no fluid leakage when connecting / disconnecting the connector. Air mixing in the fluid circuit to be connected is reduced, and generation of abnormal noise is avoided.

Sectional drawing which shows the connector isolation | separation state of Embodiment 1 of the connector for fluids by this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the first touch (contact start) state of Embodiment 1. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the airtight establishment state of the Embodiment 1. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the connector connection completion state of Embodiment 1. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the connector isolation | separation state of Embodiment 2 of the connector for fluids by this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the first touch (contact start) state of Embodiment 2. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the airtight establishment state of the Embodiment 2. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the connector connection completion state of the same Embodiment 2. FIG.

  Embodiment 1 of a fluid connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This fluid connector is used, for example, for connection of a refrigerant circuit through which a refrigerant flows.

  The fluid connector of the present embodiment includes a male connector 10 and a female connector 50 that form a pair.

  The male connector 10 has a male connector body 12. The male connector body 12 is formed of a cylindrical body having the same outer diameter over a predetermined axial length. Here, the side (upper side) where the male connector body 12 approaches and opposes the female connector 50 to be connected is referred to as a distal end side 12A, and the opposite side (lower side) is referred to as a proximal end side 10B.

  A hose nipple 16 is airtightly attached to the base end side 12B of the male connector main body 12 with a seal member 14 interposed therebetween. An annular circumferential groove 20 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the distal end side 12 </ b> A of the male connector main body 12. A rubber-like elastic O-ring 22 is fitted into the circumferential groove 20 as a sealing member.

  The male connector main body 12 defines a male valve port 24 in the distal end side 12A by a straight through hole having the same inner diameter over a predetermined axial length. Accordingly, an annular front end surface 18 extending around the male valve port 24 exists on the front end side 12 </ b> A of the male connector body 12. The annular front end surface 18 is radially outward from the front end opening end of the male valve port 24 and is a plane parallel to a virtual plane orthogonal to the central axis of the male connector body 12. The lower side of the male valve port 24 (the same side as the base end portion 10B) is expanded in diameter by the tapered portion 26 and is continuous with the straight general inner cylinder portion 12A of the male connector body 12. The general inner cylinder portion 28 communicates with the internal passage 16 </ b> A of the hose nipple 16.

  In the male connector main body 12, a male valve body 30 forming a male cutoff valve is disposed concentrically so as to be movable in the axial direction (vertical direction). The male valve body 30 includes a cylindrical valve portion 32 that can be fitted into the male valve port 24, a tapered annular shoulder portion 34 that continues to the proximal end side of the cylindrical valve portion 32, and an annular shoulder portion 34. A cylindrical guide portion 36 having an outer peripheral surface that is continuous with the base end side (large diameter side) of the first inner cylindrical portion 28 and that is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the general inner cylindrical portion 28, and a plurality of slit-shaped slits formed through the cylindrical guide portion 36 Each of the communication passages 38, and a prefix conical centering convex portion 42 that protrudes from the central portion of the distal end surface 40 of the cylindrical valve portion 32. The front end surface 40 of the cylindrical valve portion 32 is a plane parallel to a virtual plane orthogonal to the central axis of the male valve body 30. An annular circumferential groove 44 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical valve portion 32. A rubber-like elastic O-ring 46 is fitted into the circumferential groove 44 and attached.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the male valve body 30 has a cylindrical valve portion 32 fitted to the male valve port 24 to close the male valve port 24, and an annular shoulder portion 34 having a tapered portion 26. The valve closing position (maximum ascending position) of the distal end side 12A that is in contact with the base end side of the male connector body 12 more than a predetermined stroke (opening / closing stroke) from the valve closing position as shown in FIG. By displacing to 12B, the columnar valve portion 32 comes out from the male valve port 24 to the general inner cylinder portion 28 side, and opens between the valve opening position on the base end side 12B where the male valve port 24 is opened. It can be moved.

  In the valve closing position, the distal end surface 40 of the male valve body 30 is positioned at the same axial position as the annular distal end surface 18 of the male connector body 12, and the distal end surface 40 of the male valve body 30 and the connector body 12 are located. Is substantially flush with the annular tip surface 18 (see FIG. 1). In the state where the male side valve body 30 is in the valve closing position, the air tight shut-off of the male side valve port 24 is ensured by the surface of the O-ring 46 being in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the male side valve port 24. The

  In the valve open position, the annular shoulder 34 is separated from the tapered portion 26, and the communication between the male valve port 24 and the internal passage 16 </ b> A of the hose nipple 16 is established by the communication passage 38 of the male valve body 30.

  The general inner cylinder portion 28 of the male connector body 12 is provided with a male valve closing spring 48 by a compression coil spring. The male side valve closing spring 48 is attached between the end surface portion of the hose nipple 16 and the back surface portion of the male side valve body 30 and biases the male side valve body 30 toward the valve closing position.

  The female connector 50 has a female connector main body 52. Here, the side (lower side) where the female-side connector body 52 approaches and opposes the male connector 10 to be connected is referred to as a distal end side 52A, and the opposite side (upper side) is referred to as a proximal end side 52B.

  The female connector main body 52 has a distal end cylindrical portion 54 having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the male connector main body 12 and a proximal end cylindrical portion 56 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the distal end cylindrical portion 54 on the same axis. Each has a predetermined axial length continuously. A hose nipple 60 is hermetically attached to the base end side (base end side cylindrical portion 56 side) of the female connector main body 52 with a seal member 58 interposed therebetween. Further, a conical guide guide 62 having a divergent shape whose inner diameter increases toward the bottom is continuously formed on the tip (bottom end) of the tip side cylindrical portion 54 on one axis.

  A column member 64 is provided at the center of the female connector main body 52. The column member 64 is fixed to the female connector main body 52 so that a flange portion 66 formed on the same side as the base end side 52B is sandwiched between the female connector main body 52 and the hose nipple 60. It extends in the axial direction. The flange portion 66 is formed with a communication passage 68 that allows the inner cylinder portion 52C of the female connector body 52 and the internal passage 60A of the hose nipple 60 to communicate with each other.

  The column member 64 has a valve port defining portion 70 having an enlarged diameter shape on the distal end side. The outer diameter of the valve port defining portion 68 is equal to the outer diameter of the male valve body 30. The valve port defining portion 68 cooperates with the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 of the female connector main body 50 to define an annular female valve port 70. That is, the female side valve port 70 is configured as an annular space between the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 and the valve port defining portion 68. An annular circumferential groove 74 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the valve port defining portion 70. A rubber-like elastic O-ring 76 is fitted into the circumferential groove 74 as a sealing member.

  At the center of the valve port demarcating portion 68, a frustoconical centering recess 80 is formed which is open to the distal end surface 78 and into which the centering protrusion 42 can be fitted. The distal end surface 78 of the valve port defining portion 68 is a plane parallel to a virtual plane orthogonal to the central axis of the female connector main body 52, and has the same dimensions as the distal end surface 40 of the male connector 10. 40.

  In the female connector main body 52, a female valve body 82 forming a female cutoff valve is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction (vertical direction). The female valve body 82 is configured by a cylindrical body having an outer peripheral surface that is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54, and a cylindrical body that has an inner peripheral surface in which the distal end side is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve port defining portion 68. It is the shape valve part 84. The distal end face 86 of the cylindrical valve portion 84 is a plane parallel to a virtual plane orthogonal to the central axis of the female side valve element 82. An annular circumferential groove 88 is formed on the outer peripheral portion on the distal end side of the female valve body 82. An O-ring 90 made of a rubber-like elastic body that slidably contacts the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 to form a sealing means is fitted in and attached to the circumferential groove 88.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the female valve body 82 has a cylindrical valve portion 84 fitted to the female valve port 72 to close the female valve port 74, and the proximal side of the female valve body 82. FIG. 4 shows the valve closing position (most lowered position) of the distal end side 52A in which the flange portion 92 abuts on the stepped portion 94 at the boundary portion between the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 and the proximal end side cylindrical portion 56. As described above, the cylindrical valve portion 84 is pulled out upward from the female valve port 72 by displacing from the valve closing position to the base end side 52B of the female connector body 52 by a predetermined stroke (opening / closing stroke) or more. The valve port 72 can be moved between a valve opening position on the base end side 52B where the valve port 72 is opened. The opening / closing stroke of the female valve body 82 may be equal to the opening / closing stroke of the male valve body 30.

  In the valve closing position, the distal end surface 86 of the female side valve element 82 is located at the same axial position as the distal end surface 78 of the column member 64, and the distal end surface 86 of the female side valve element 82 and the distal end surface 78 of the column member 64 are positioned. Is substantially flush (see FIG. 1).

  In a state where the female side valve body 82 is in the valve closing position, the air tight shut-off of the female side valve port 72 is ensured by the surface of the O-ring 76 being in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical valve portion 84.

  The inner cylinder portion 52C is provided with a female valve closing spring 96 by a compression coil spring. The female side valve closing spring 96 is attached between the flange portion 66 of the column member 64 and the rear surface portion of the female side valve body 82, and urges the female side valve body 82 toward the valve closing position.

  In this fluid connector, the outer surface of the O-ring 90 attached to the outer peripheral portion of the female valve body 82 abuts (contacts) with the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54, and the male connector main body 12 is female. The outer surface of the O-ring 22 that is inserted into the inner side of the side connector main body 52 and attached to the outer peripheral portion of the male connector main body 22 abuts (contacts) with the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 (see FIG. 3), the male connector main body 12 and the female connector main body 52 are hermetically connected to each other.

  What is important in the fluid connector of the present embodiment is that the outer surface of the O-ring 22 of the male connector body 22 contacts the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 and seals, as shown in FIG. Axial direction position at which the action starts (boundary position between the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 and the guiding guide portion 62), the distal end surface 78 of the column member 64, and the axial direction of the distal end surface 86 of the female side valve element 82 at the valve closing position. The axial stroke A with respect to the position corresponds to the axial position of the O-ring 22 of the male connector main body 22 (the position of the 1/2 width in the axial direction of the O-ring 22 (vertical direction in FIG. 1)) and the male connector main body. 12 is shorter than the axial stroke B (A <B) between the 12 annular end surfaces 18 and the axial position of the distal end surface 40 of the male valve body 30 at the valve closing position. The opening / closing stroke of the male valve body 30 and the opening / closing stroke of the female valve body 82 are set longer than the axial stroke B.

This is because the outer surface of the O-ring 22 of the male connector main body 22 is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 in the process of inserting the male connector main body 12 into the female connector main body 52 and performing connector connection. Prior to starting the sealing action upon contact, the annular front end surface 18 of the male connector body 12 and the front end surface 40 of the male valve body 30 at the valve closing position are connected to the front end surface 78 of the column member 64 and the closing end. After contacting the distal end face 86 of the female valve body 82 in the valve position, the outer surface of the O-ring 22 of the male connector body 12 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 and starts sealing action. It means that the male side valve body 30 and the female side valve body 82 are opened.

  Next, the connection process of the fluid connector according to the first embodiment will be described.

  The connector is connected by inserting the male connector body 12 into the female connector body 52 from the connector separation state shown in FIG.

  When the male connector main body 12 is inserted into the female connector main body 52, first, with the axial stroke A, as shown in FIG. The front end surface 40 of the male valve body 30 at the position abuts on the front end surface 78 of the column member 64 and the front end surface 86 of the female side valve body 82 at the valve closing position. This is referred to as a first touch (contact start) state.

  At this time, the centering convex portion 42 of the male side valve body 30 is fitted into the centering concave portion 80 of the column member 64, and the male side valve body 30 is centered (strict diameter relative to the female side connector body 52 and the column member 64. Directional positioning). Further, the insertion of the male connector main body 12 into the female connector main body 52 is easily performed by being guided by the guide guide portion 62.

  Thus, the annular front end surface 18 of the male connector main body 12 and the front end surface 40 of the male side valve body 30 in the valve closing position are the front end surface 78 of the column member 64 and the female side valve body 82 in the valve closing position. By abutting on the distal end surface 86 of the male connector body 12, between the annular distal end surface 18 of the male connector body 12 and the distal end surface 86 of the female valve body 82 and in the male side, There is no gap between the distal end surface 40 of the valve body 30 and the distal end surface 78 of the column member 64 so as to reduce the volume.

  Further, when the male connector body 12 is inserted into the female connector body 52 by the axial stroke (B-A), the O-ring 22 of the male connector body 22 is shown in FIG. The outer surface of the inner surface contacts the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 to ensure airtightness. This is called an airtight state.

  Further, when the male connector body 12 is inserted into the female connector body 52, the male valve body 30 resists the spring force of the male valve closing spring 48, as shown in FIG. When the cylinder-shaped valve part 32 is pushed down from the male side valve port 24 to the side of the general inner cylinder part 28 by being pushed down to the base end side 12B of the male side connector main body 12 for a predetermined stroke or more from the valve closing position. The valve port 24 is opened and the valve is opened. Further, the female valve body 82 is pushed up to the proximal end 52B of the female connector body 52 from the valve closing position by a predetermined stroke or more against the spring force of the female valve closing spring 96, and the cylindrical valve portion 84 is pushed. As a result, the female valve port 72 is opened and the valve is opened. Thereby, a communication flow path is established between the male connector 12 and the female connector main body 52 in a state where airtightness is ensured. This is called a connector connection completion state.

  As described above, when the male connector main body 12 is inserted into the female connector main body 52 when the connector is connected, the male connector main body 12 contacts the female valve body 82, and the column member 64 is the male valve. After contact with the body 30 and while the male valve body 30 and the female valve body 82 are closed, that is, the male valve body 30 and the female valve body 82 are opened. Previously, the male connector body 12 and the female connector body 52 are hermetically connected to each other.

  As a result, the amount of air trapped between the male connector main body 12 and the female connector main body 52 when the connector is connected becomes a very small amount, and accordingly, the communication flow between the male connector 12 and the female connector main body 52 When the path is established, the amount of air mixed into the communication channel becomes a very small amount. For example, in use in a refrigerant circuit, air mixing into the refrigerant circuit is suppressed as much as possible, and a decrease in cooling performance due to air mixing can be minimized.

  Further, the air trapped between the male connector main body 12 and the female connector main body 52 is not strongly compressed, and no abnormal noise is generated. Since the male side valve body 30 and the female side valve body 82 are in an airtight state before the valve is opened, the male side connector body 12 and the female side connector body 52 are hermetically connected to each other. Sometimes no fluid leaks.

  The connector separation is performed by the reverse operation of the connector connection described above, and the amount of air trapped between the male connector body 12 and the female connector body 52 is very small. When the airtight space formed between the connector body 52 and the female connector main body 52 is expanded, the portion does not become a large negative pressure, and the force required for connector separation can be reduced. In addition, the generation of abnormal noise when the connector is separated is also avoided.

  Next, a fluid connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, portions corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4, and description thereof is omitted.

  The fluid connector according to the second embodiment is different from the fluid connector according to the first embodiment in that the column member 64 is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction by a predetermined amount with respect to the female connector main body 52, and a biasing spring. 98 is biased toward the distal end side 52A of the female connector main body 52, the centering convex portion 42 and the centering concave portion 80 are omitted, and the distal end surface 78 of the column member 64 is the column member 64. This is provided by a tip member 65 attached to the tip portion of the first embodiment, and is otherwise substantially the same as the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the column member 64 has a maximum axial movement amount with respect to the female connector main body 52 by the flange portion 66 contacting the stepped portion 57 of the female connector main body 52 and the inner end wall 61 of the hose ripple 60. (Stroke) is set.

  The biasing spring 98 is provided between the flange portion 66 and the hose nipple 60. The spring load of the urging spring 98 is set to a value smaller than the total spring load of the male side valve closing spring 48 and the female side valve closing spring 96 and larger than the sliding load of the O-ring 90. It should be noted that the front end surface 78 of the column member 64 is at the same position as the front end surface 86 of the female valve body 82 in the valve-closed position in a free state by spring bias (when the connector is separated as shown in FIG. 1). Located in the axial position.

  Next, a connection process of the fluid connector according to the second embodiment will be described.

  Also in this embodiment, the connector is connected by inserting the male connector body 12 into the female connector body 52 from the connector separated state shown in FIG.

  When the male connector main body 12 is inserted inside the female connector main body 52, first, with the axial stroke A, as shown in FIG. The front end surface 40 of the male valve body 30 at the position abuts on the front end surface 78 of the column member 64 and the front end surface 86 of the female side valve body 82 at the valve closing position.

  Thus, the annular front end surface 18 of the male connector main body 12 and the front end surface 40 of the male side valve body 30 in the valve closing position are the front end surface 78 of the column member 64 and the female side valve body 82 in the valve closing position. By abutting on the distal end surface 86 of the male connector body 12, between the annular distal end surface 18 of the male connector body 12 and the distal end surface 86 of the female valve body 82 and in the male side, There is no gap between the distal end surface 40 of the valve body 30 and the distal end surface 78 of the column member 64 so as to reduce the volume.

  Further, when the male connector body 12 is inserted into the female connector body 52 by the axial stroke (B-A), as shown in FIG. 7, the column member 64 and the female valve body 82 are used. Are pushed by the male connector body 12 and the male valve body 30, respectively, and against the spring force of the biasing spring 96 and the female valve closing spring 96, the base end side 52B of the male connector body 12 is provided. Move together. This movement is performed until the flange 66 abuts against the inner end wall 61 of the hose ripple 60, and during this movement, the outer surface of the O-ring 22 of the male connector body 22 is moved to the inner side of the distal end cylindrical part 54. Airtightness is ensured by contacting the peripheral surface.

  Further, when the male connector body 12 is inserted into the female connector body 52, the male valve body 30 resists the spring force of the male valve closing spring 48, as shown in FIG. When the cylinder-shaped valve part 32 is pushed down from the male side valve port 24 to the side of the general inner cylinder part 28 by being pushed down to the base end side 12B of the male side connector main body 12 for a predetermined stroke or more from the valve closing position. The valve port 24 is opened and the valve is opened. Further, the female valve body 82 is pushed up to the proximal end 52B of the female connector body 52 from the valve closing position by a predetermined stroke or more against the spring force of the female valve closing spring 96, and the cylindrical valve portion 84 is pushed. As a result, the female valve port 72 is opened and the valve is opened. Thereby, a communication flow path is established between the male connector 12 and the connector main body 52 in a state in which airtightness is ensured.

  As described above, also in the second embodiment, when the male connector main body 12 is inserted into the female connector main body 52 when the connector is connected, the male connector main body 12 abuts on the female valve body 82, and the column member. 64 is in contact with the male valve body 30 and while the male valve body 30 and the female valve body 82 are closed, that is, the male valve body 30 and the female valve body 82. Before the valve is opened, the male connector body 12 and the female connector body 52 are hermetically connected to each other.

  Thereby, at the time of connector connection, the air confined between the male connector body 12 and the female connector body 52 is not compressed, and no abnormal noise is generated. And before the male side valve body 30 and the female side valve body 82 open, since the male side connector main body 12 and the female side connector main body 52 are airtightly connected with each other, fluid leakage occurs when the connector is connected. There is no.

  Since the connector separation is performed by the reverse operation of the connector connection described above, fluid leakage does not occur even when the connector is separated, and no abnormal noise is generated.

  In the second embodiment, the column member 64 is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction by a predetermined amount with respect to the female-side connector main body 52 and is spring-biased. Therefore, the outer surface of the O-ring 22 of the male-side connector main body 22 is Prior to the opening of the male side valve body 30 and the female side valve body 82, the state in which the inner side surface of the front end side cylindrical portion 54 is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface to ensure airtightness is reliably obtained for the axial stroke of the column member 64. This eliminates the need to set the opening / closing stroke of the male valve body 30 and the opening / closing stroke of the female valve body 82 to be longer than the axial stroke B.

  The O-ring 46 may be attached to the inner peripheral portion of the male valve port 24 or may be attached to the inner peripheral portion of the O-ring 76 female valve body 82.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Male connector 12 Male connector main body 18 Circular front end surface 22 O-ring 24 Male side valve port 30 Male side valve body 40 Front end surface 48 Male side valve closing spring 50 Female side connector 52 Female side connector main body 64 Column member 72 Female Side valve port 78 End face 82 Female side valve element 86 End face 90 O-ring 96 Female side valve closing spring 98 Energizing spring

  The present invention relates to a fluid connector, and more particularly to a fluid connector in which a pair of connectors each incorporate a cutoff valve.

  In order to avoid fluid leakage from the connector when the connector is separated, the connector for fluid that connects the fluids in a separable manner has a built-in lift valve type cut-off valve in each of the male and female connectors. Is known (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  A male connector of a fluid connector with a built-in shutoff valve of this type includes a cylindrical male connector body defining a male valve port therein, and the male connector along the axial direction within the male connector body. A male valve body that is movably provided between a valve closing position on the distal end side and a valve opening position on the proximal end side of the main body, and that opens and closes the male valve port; and And a male valve closing spring biased toward the

  The female connector of the fluid connector includes a cylindrical female connector main body, an axial female port body extending in the axial direction within the female connector main body, and defining an annular female valve port in cooperation with the female connector main body. The female side connector main body and the female side connector main body provided in the female side main body so as to be movable between a valve closing position on the distal end side and a valve opening position on the proximal end side along the axial direction. A cylindrical female valve body that opens and closes the valve port, and a female valve closing spring that biases the female valve body toward the valve closing position.

  Furthermore, in order to prevent the fluid flowing through the connector from leaking to the outside when the connector is connected, the fluid connector is inserted into the female connector main body so that the two are sealed from each other. It is provided with sealing means such as an O-ring connected to.

  In such a fluid connector, by inserting the male connector main body into the female connector main body, the female valve body is inserted into the female valve closing spring after the male connector main body comes into contact with the female valve body. Both valve bodies are opened and moved against the spring force, and the male side valve body is moved against the spring force of the male side valve spring after the female connector body contacts the male side valve body. The communication flow path between the two connector bodies is established by opening the valve.

Japanese National Patent Publication No. 11-500517 Japanese Patent No. 3529562

  In the conventional fluid connector as described above, first, the male connector body and the female connector body are hermetically connected by the sealing means, and the male connector body is further inserted into the female connector body from this state, Until the female valve port and the male valve port are opened, an airtight sealed space is formed between the opposing surfaces of the male connector body and the female connector body. The sealed space is reduced as the male connector body is inserted into the female connector body, and the air in the sealed space is compressed.

  The sealed space is opened inside the connector by opening the female valve port and the male valve port, and the compressed air confined in the sealed space is discharged into the connector from both valve ports. This discharge of compressed air into the connector causes air (heterogeneous fluid) to be mixed into the fluid circuit in a fluid circuit other than the pneumatic circuit such as a refrigerant circuit, thereby degrading the performance of the fluid circuit, such as a decrease in cooling performance. Cause.

  At the time of connector separation, an airtight space formed between the male connector main body and the female connector main body is enlarged, and this portion becomes negative pressure, so that force is required for connector separation.

  Also, when compressed air is released into the connector when the connector is connected, or when the air in the airtight space where the internal pressure is reduced is released to the atmosphere when the connector is separated, the abnormal noise of compressed air release such as “pong” is released. This will cause the operator to feel uncomfortable.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fluid connector of the built-in shut-off valve, when coupling and separation of the connector, on which guarantees that it will not cause fluid leakage of the fluid circuit, the air incorporation into the fluid circuit It is to suppress the occurrence of abnormal noise.

  The fluid connector according to the present invention includes a cylindrical male connector body (12) defining a male valve port (24) therein, and a distal end side along the axial direction in the male connector body (12). A male valve body (30) which is provided movably between a valve closing position and a proximal valve opening position and opens and closes the male valve port (24); and the male valve body (30). A male connector (10) having a male valve closing spring (48) biasing toward the valve closing position, a cylindrical female connector body (52), and the female connector body (52) A column member (64) extending in the axial direction and defining an annular female valve port (72) in cooperation with the female connector body (52); and in the female connector body (52) The female valve position is provided so as to be movable between a valve closing position on the distal end side and a valve opening position on the proximal end side along the axial direction. A female female valve body (82) that opens and closes the female valve body (72), and a female valve closing spring (96) that biases the female valve body (82) toward the closed position. A side connector (50) and a sealing means (O-ring 22) for hermetically connecting the male connector body (12) to each other by being inserted into the female connector body (52); The male connector main body (12) is inserted into the female connector main body (54) so that the male connector main body (12) comes into contact with the female valve body (82). By displacing the female valve body (82) with a stroke, the female valve body (82) is opened against the spring force of the female valve closing spring (96), and the column member ( 64) after contacting the male valve body (30), By displacing the male valve body (30) with a troke, the male valve body (30) is opened against the spring force of the male valve closing spring (48), and between the two connector main bodies. A fluid connector that establishes a communication flow path to the male connector body (12) when the male connector body (12) is inserted into the female connector body (52). After contact with the valve body (82) and after the pillar member (64) has contacted the male valve body (30), both valve bodies (30, 82) are closed. The position of the sealing means (O-ring 22) is determined so that the sealing means (O-ring 22) establishes airtightness therebetween.

According to this configuration , when the male connector main body (12) is inserted into the female connector main body (52), the male connector main body (12) contacts the female valve body (82), and the column member Since the sealing means (O-ring 22) establishes hermeticity while (64) abuts on the male valve body 30) and both valve bodies are closed, connector connection / separation Sometimes, the amount of air mixed into the fluid circuit connected by the fluid connector is reduced without causing fluid leakage, and the generation of abnormal noise is avoided.

  In the fluid connector according to the present invention, preferably, the sealing means includes an annular seal member (22) attached to an outer periphery of the male connector body (12) and in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the female connector body (52). And an annular seal member (90) attached to the outer periphery of the female valve body (82) and in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the female connector body (52).

According to this configuration, an O-ring or the like can be used as the annular seal member (22, 90), and the airtightness of the sliding portion can be obtained easily and reliably.

  In the fluid connector according to the present invention, preferably, the male valve port (24) and the female valve port (72) are each configured as a straight hole having the same inner diameter over a predetermined axial length. Any one of the outer periphery of the male valve body (30) and the inner periphery of the male valve port (24), the outer periphery of the column member (64), and the inner periphery of the female valve body (82) An annular seal member (46, 76) is attached to any one of the parts.

According to this configuration, a stroke necessary for opening and closing the male valve body (30) and the female valve body (82) is obtained, and the male valve body (30) and the female valve body (82) are opened. Prior to this, a state in which the sealing means (O-ring 22) ensures airtightness can be obtained with certainty.

In the fluid connector according to the present invention, preferably, the column member (65) is fixed to the female connector body (52) .

  According to this configuration, the structure is not complicated.

  In the fluid connector according to the present invention, preferably, the column member (64) is provided on the female connector main body (52) so as to be movable in the axial direction by a predetermined amount, and the female connector main body is provided by a spring (98). It is urged toward the tip end side of (82).

  According to this configuration, the state in which the sealing means (O-ring 22) secures airtightness is the same as the opening of the male valve body (30) and the female valve body (82) by the stroke in the axial direction of the column member (64). You can definitely get ahead of the valve.

  In the fluid connector according to the present invention, when the male connector main body is inserted into the female connector main body by setting the position of the sealing means, the male connector main body abuts on the female valve body, and the column member is on the male side. After contact with the valve body, the sealing means establishes airtightness while both valve bodies are closed, so there is no fluid leakage when connecting / disconnecting the connector. Air mixing in the fluid circuit to be connected is reduced, and generation of abnormal noise is avoided.

Sectional drawing which shows the connector isolation | separation state of Embodiment 1 of the connector for fluids by this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the first touch (contact start) state of Embodiment 1. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the airtight establishment state of the Embodiment 1. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the connector connection completion state of Embodiment 1. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the connector isolation | separation state of Embodiment 2 of the connector for fluids by this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the first touch (contact start) state of Embodiment 2. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the airtight establishment state of the Embodiment 2. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the connector connection completion state of the same Embodiment 2. FIG.

  Embodiment 1 of a fluid connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This fluid connector is used, for example, for connection of a refrigerant circuit through which a refrigerant flows.

  The fluid connector of the present embodiment includes a male connector 10 and a female connector 50 that form a pair.

The male connector 10 has a male connector body 12. The male connector body 12 is formed of a cylindrical body having the same outer diameter over a predetermined axial length. Here, a male side connector body 12 comes close to the female connector 50 of the connection partner opposite side (upper side) of the distal end 12A, referred to as the opposite side (lower side) of the base end 1 2 B.

  A hose nipple 16 is airtightly attached to the base end side 12B of the male connector main body 12 with a seal member 14 interposed therebetween. An annular circumferential groove 20 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the distal end side 12 </ b> A of the male connector main body 12. A rubber-like elastic O-ring 22 is fitted into the circumferential groove 20 as a sealing member.

The male connector main body 12 defines a male valve port 24 in the distal end side 12A by a straight through hole having the same inner diameter over a predetermined axial length. Accordingly, an annular front end surface 18 extending around the male valve port 24 exists on the front end side 12 </ b> A of the male connector body 12. The annular front end surface 18 is radially outward from the front end opening end of the male valve port 24 and is a plane parallel to a virtual plane orthogonal to the central axis of the male connector body 12. Lower male valve port 24 (the same side as the base end 12 B) is expanded by the tapered portion 26 is continuous to the straight common inner cylindrical portion 12 C of the male connector body 12. The general inner cylinder portion 12 </ b> C communicates with the internal passage 16 </ b > A of the hose nipple 16.

In the male connector main body 12, a male valve body 30 forming a male cutoff valve is disposed concentrically so as to be movable in the axial direction (vertical direction). Male valve body 30 includes a fittable cylindrical valve portion 32 on the male side valve port 24, a tapered annular shoulder portion 34 continuous with the base end of the cylindrical valve portion 32, an annular shoulder A cylindrical guide portion 36 having an outer peripheral surface that is continuous to the proximal end side (large diameter side) 34 and is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the general inner cylindrical portion 28; and a slit-like shape that is formed through the cylindrical guide portion 36. It includes a plurality of communication passages 38 and a prefix cone-shaped centering convex portion 42 formed to project from the central portion of the tip surface 40 of the cylindrical valve portion 32. The front end surface 40 of the cylindrical valve portion 32 is a plane parallel to a virtual plane orthogonal to the central axis of the male valve body 30. An annular circumferential groove 44 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical valve portion 32. A rubber-like elastic O-ring 46 is fitted into the circumferential groove 44 and attached.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the male valve body 30 has a cylindrical valve portion 32 fitted to the male valve port 24 to close the male valve port 24, and an annular shoulder portion 34 having a tapered portion 26. The valve closing position (maximum ascending position) of the distal end side 12A that is in contact with the base end side of the male connector body 12 more than a predetermined stroke (opening / closing stroke) from the valve closing position as shown in FIG. By displacing to 12B, the cylindrical valve portion 32 can move between the valve opening position on the base end side 12B where the male valve port 24 comes out to the side of the general inner cylinder portion 28 and opens the male valve port 24. It has become.

In the valve closing position, the distal end surface 40 of the male valve body 30 is located at the same axial position as the annular distal end surface 18 of the male connector body 12, and the distal end surface 40 of the male valve body 30 and the male connector It is substantially flush with the annular tip surface 18 of the main body 12 (see FIG. 1). In the state where the male side valve body 30 is in the valve closing position, the air tight shut-off of the male side valve port 24 is ensured by the surface of the O-ring 46 being in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the male side valve port 24. The

  In the valve open position, the annular shoulder 34 is separated from the tapered portion 26, and the communication between the male valve port 24 and the internal passage 16 </ b> A of the hose nipple 16 is established by the communication passage 38 of the male valve body 30.

  The general inner cylinder portion 28 of the male connector body 12 is provided with a male valve closing spring 48 by a compression coil spring. The male side valve closing spring 48 is attached between the end surface portion of the hose nipple 16 and the back surface portion of the male side valve body 30 and biases the male side valve body 30 toward the valve closing position.

  The female connector 50 has a female connector main body 52. Here, the side (lower side) where the female-side connector body 52 approaches and opposes the male connector 10 to be connected is referred to as a distal end side 52A, and the opposite side (upper side) is referred to as a proximal end side 52B.

  The female connector main body 52 has a distal end cylindrical portion 54 having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the male connector main body 12 and a proximal end cylindrical portion 56 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the distal end cylindrical portion 54 on the same axis. Each has a predetermined axial length continuously. A hose nipple 60 is hermetically attached to the base end side (base end side cylindrical portion 56 side) of the female connector main body 52 with a seal member 58 interposed therebetween. Further, a conical guide guide 62 having a divergent shape whose inner diameter increases toward the bottom is continuously formed on the tip (bottom end) of the tip side cylindrical portion 54 on one axis.

  A column member 64 is provided at the center of the female connector main body 52. The column member 64 is fixed to the female connector main body 52 so that a flange portion 66 formed on the same side as the base end side 52B is sandwiched between the female connector main body 52 and the hose nipple 60. It extends in the axial direction. The flange portion 66 is formed with a communication passage 68 that allows the inner cylinder portion 52C of the female connector body 52 and the internal passage 60A of the hose nipple 60 to communicate with each other.

The column member 64 has a valve port defining portion 70 having an enlarged diameter shape on the distal end side. The outer diameter of the valve port defining portion 70 is equal to the outer diameter of the male valve body 30. Valve port defining portion 70 defines a female valve port 7 2 annular in cooperation with the leading end side cylinder portion 54 of the female connector body 5 2. In other words, the female valve port 7 2, between the tip-side cylinder portion 54 and the valve port defining portion 70 is configured as annular space. An annular circumferential groove 74 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the valve port defining portion 70. A rubber-like elastic O-ring 76 is fitted into the circumferential groove 74 as a sealing member.

At the center of the valve port demarcating portion 70 is formed a frustoconical centering concave portion 80 which is open to the tip surface 78 and into which the centering convex portion 42 can be fitted. The distal end surface 78 of the valve port defining portion 70 is a plane parallel to a virtual plane orthogonal to the central axis of the female connector main body 52 and has the same dimensions as the distal end surface 40 of the male connector 10. 40.

  In the female connector main body 52, a female valve body 82 forming a female cutoff valve is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction (vertical direction). The female side valve body 82 is constituted by a cylindrical body having an outer peripheral surface that is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54, and the distal end side is provided with an inner peripheral surface that is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve port defining portion 68. A cylindrical valve portion 84 is provided. The distal end face 86 of the cylindrical valve portion 84 is a plane parallel to a virtual plane orthogonal to the central axis of the female side valve element 82. An annular circumferential groove 88 is formed on the outer peripheral portion on the distal end side of the female valve body 82. An O-ring 90 made of a rubber-like elastic body that slidably contacts the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 to form a sealing means is fitted in and attached to the circumferential groove 88.

Female side valve body 82, as shown in Figure 1, closing the female valve port 7 2 cylindrical valve portion 84 is fitted into the female valve port 72, the proximal end of the female-side valve body 82 FIG. 4 shows the valve closing position (most lowered position) of the distal end side 52A in which the side flange portion 92 is in contact with the stepped portion 94 at the boundary between the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 and the proximal end side cylindrical portion 56. As described above, the cylindrical valve portion 84 is displaced upward from the female valve port 72 by being displaced from the valve closing position to the base end side 52B of the female connector body 52 by a predetermined stroke (opening / closing stroke) or more. It is possible to move between the open position of the base end side 52B that opens the side valve port 72. The opening / closing stroke of the female valve body 82 may be equal to the opening / closing stroke of the male valve body 30.

  In the valve closing position, the distal end surface 86 of the female side valve element 82 is located at the same axial position as the distal end surface 78 of the column member 64, and the distal end surface 86 of the female side valve element 82 and the distal end surface 78 of the column member 64 are positioned. Is substantially flush (see FIG. 1).

  In a state where the female side valve body 82 is in the valve closing position, the air tight shut-off of the female side valve port 72 is ensured by the surface of the O-ring 76 being in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical valve portion 84.

  The inner cylinder portion 52C is provided with a female valve closing spring 96 by a compression coil spring. The female side valve closing spring 96 is attached between the flange portion 66 of the column member 64 and the rear surface portion of the female side valve body 82, and urges the female side valve body 82 toward the valve closing position.

In this fluid connector, the outer surface of the O-ring 90 attached to the outer peripheral portion of the female valve body 82 abuts (contacts) with the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54, and the male connector main body 12 is female. The outer surface of the O-ring 22 that is inserted into the inner side of the side connector main body 52 and attached to the outer peripheral portion of the male connector main body 12 abuts (contacts) with the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 ( 3), the male connector body 12 and the female connector body 52 are hermetically connected to each other.

What is important in the fluid connector of the present embodiment is that the outer surface of the O-ring 22 of the male connector body 22 contacts the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 and seals, as shown in FIG. Axial direction position at which the action starts (boundary position between the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 and the guiding guide portion 62), the distal end surface 78 of the column member 64, and the axial direction of the distal end surface 86 of the female side valve element 82 at the valve closing position. The axial stroke A with respect to the position corresponds to the axial position of the O-ring 22 of the male-side connector body 12 (1 / 2-width position in the axial direction of the O-ring 22 (vertical direction in FIG. 1)) and the male-side connector. This is shorter than the axial stroke B (A <B) between the annular front end surface 18 of the main body 12 and the axial position of the front end surface 40 of the male valve body 30 at the valve closing position. The opening / closing stroke of the male valve body 30 and the opening / closing stroke of the female valve body 82 are set longer than the axial stroke B.

This insert the male connector body 12 to the inside of the female connector body 52, in the course of performing a connector connecting the inner circumferential surface the outer surface of the male-side connector main body 1 2 O-ring 22 is of the distal cylindrical portion 54 Before the sealing action is started by contacting the annular tip surface 18 of the male connector body 12, the distal end surface 40 of the male valve body 30 at the valve closing position is connected to the distal end surface 78 of the column member 64 and After contact with the distal end face 86 of the female valve body 82 in the valve closing position, the outer surface of the O-ring 22 of the male connector body 12 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 and starts a sealing action. It means that the male side valve body 30 and the female side valve body 82 are opened.

  Next, the connection process of the fluid connector according to the first embodiment will be described.

  The connector is connected by inserting the male connector body 12 into the female connector body 52 from the connector separation state shown in FIG.

  When the male connector main body 12 is inserted into the female connector main body 52, first, with the axial stroke A, as shown in FIG. The front end surface 40 of the male valve body 30 at the position abuts on the front end surface 78 of the column member 64 and the front end surface 86 of the female side valve body 82 at the valve closing position. This is referred to as a first touch (contact start) state.

  At this time, the centering convex portion 42 of the male side valve body 30 is fitted into the centering concave portion 80 of the column member 64, and the male side valve body 30 is centered (strict diameter relative to the female side connector body 52 and the column member 64. Directional positioning). Further, the insertion of the male connector main body 12 into the female connector main body 52 is easily performed by being guided by the guide guide portion 62.

  Thus, the annular front end surface 18 of the male connector main body 12 and the front end surface 40 of the male side valve body 30 in the valve closing position are the front end surface 78 of the column member 64 and the female side valve body 82 in the valve closing position. By abutting on the distal end surface 86 of the male connector body 12, between the annular distal end surface 18 of the male connector body 12 and the distal end surface 86 of the female valve body 82 and in the male side, There is no gap between the distal end surface 40 of the valve body 30 and the distal end surface 78 of the column member 64 so as to reduce the volume.

Further than this, the male-side connector body 12 is inserted into only the inside of the female connector body 52 axially stroke (B-A), as shown in FIG. 3, the male connector body 1 2 O-ring The outer surface of 22 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the front end side cylindrical portion 54 to ensure airtightness. This is called an airtight state.

Further, when the male connector body 12 is inserted into the female connector body 52, the male valve body 30 resists the spring force of the male valve closing spring 48, as shown in FIG. When the cylinder-shaped valve part 32 is pushed down from the male side valve port 24 to the side of the general inner cylinder part 28 by being pushed down to the base end side 12B of the male side connector main body 12 for a predetermined stroke or more from the valve closing position. The valve port 24 is opened and the valve is opened. Further, the female valve body 82 is pushed up to the proximal end 52B of the female connector body 52 from the valve closing position by a predetermined stroke or more against the spring force of the female valve closing spring 96, and the cylindrical valve portion 84 is pushed. As a result, the female valve port 72 is opened and the valve is opened. As a result, a communication channel is established between the male connector body 12 and the female connector body 52 in a state where airtightness is ensured. This is called a connector connection completion state.

  As described above, when the male connector main body 12 is inserted into the female connector main body 52 when the connector is connected, the male connector main body 12 contacts the female valve body 82, and the column member 64 is the male valve. After contact with the body 30 and while the male valve body 30 and the female valve body 82 are closed, that is, the male valve body 30 and the female valve body 82 are opened. Previously, the male connector body 12 and the female connector body 52 are hermetically connected to each other.

Thereby, when the connector is connected, the amount of air trapped between the male connector body 12 and the female connector body 52 is very small, and accordingly, the communication between the male connector body 12 and the female connector body 52 is communicated. When the flow path is established, the amount of air mixed into the communication flow path is very small. For example, in use in a refrigerant circuit, air mixing into the refrigerant circuit is suppressed as much as possible, and a decrease in cooling performance due to air mixing can be minimized.

  Further, the air trapped between the male connector main body 12 and the female connector main body 52 is not strongly compressed, and no abnormal noise is generated. Since the male side valve body 30 and the female side valve body 82 are in an airtight state before the valve is opened, the male side connector body 12 and the female side connector body 52 are hermetically connected to each other. Sometimes no fluid leaks.

  The connector separation is performed by the reverse operation of the connector connection described above, and the amount of air trapped between the male connector body 12 and the female connector body 52 is very small. When the airtight space formed between the connector body 52 and the female connector main body 52 is expanded, the portion does not become a large negative pressure, and the force required for connector separation can be reduced. In addition, the generation of abnormal noise when the connector is separated is also avoided.

  Next, a fluid connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, portions corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 4, and description thereof is omitted.

  The fluid connector according to the second embodiment is different from the fluid connector according to the first embodiment in that the column member 64 is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction by a predetermined amount with respect to the female connector main body 52, and a biasing spring. 98 is biased toward the distal end side 52A of the female connector main body 52, the centering convex portion 42 and the centering concave portion 80 are omitted, and the distal end surface 78 of the column member 64 is the column member 64. This is provided by a tip member 65 attached to the tip portion of the first embodiment, and is otherwise substantially the same as the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the pillar member 64, by the flange portion 66 abuts the inner end wall 61 of the step portion 57 and the hose nipple 60 of the female connector body 52, the maximum axial displacement relative to the female connector body 52 The amount (stroke) is set.

  The biasing spring 98 is provided between the flange portion 66 and the hose nipple 60. The spring load of the urging spring 98 is set to a value smaller than the total spring load of the male side valve closing spring 48 and the female side valve closing spring 96 and larger than the sliding load of the O-ring 90. It should be noted that the front end surface 78 of the column member 64 is at the same position as the front end surface 86 of the female valve body 82 in the valve-closed position in a free state by spring bias (when the connector is separated as shown in FIG. 1). Located in the axial position.

  Next, a connection process of the fluid connector according to the second embodiment will be described.

  Also in this embodiment, the connector is connected by inserting the male connector body 12 into the female connector body 52 from the connector separated state shown in FIG.

  When the male connector main body 12 is inserted inside the female connector main body 52, first, with the axial stroke A, as shown in FIG. The front end surface 40 of the male valve body 30 at the position abuts on the front end surface 78 of the column member 64 and the front end surface 86 of the female side valve body 82 at the valve closing position.

  Thus, the annular front end surface 18 of the male connector main body 12 and the front end surface 40 of the male side valve body 30 in the valve closing position are the front end surface 78 of the column member 64 and the female side valve body 82 in the valve closing position. By abutting on the distal end surface 86 of the male connector body 12, between the annular distal end surface 18 of the male connector body 12 and the distal end surface 86 of the female valve body 82 and in the male side, There is no gap between the distal end surface 40 of the valve body 30 and the distal end surface 78 of the column member 64 so as to reduce the volume.

Further, when the male connector body 12 is inserted into the female connector body 52 by the axial stroke (B-A), as shown in FIG. 7, the column member 64 and the female valve body 82 are used. Are pushed by the male connector body 12 and the male valve body 30, respectively, and against the spring force of the biasing spring 96 and the female valve closing spring 96, the base end side 52B of the male connector body 12 is provided. Move together. This movement, the flange portion 66 is performed until it abuts the inner end wall 61 of the hose nipple 60, during which, the outer surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion of the O-ring 22 of the male connector body 1 2 during this movement Airtightness is ensured by contacting the inner peripheral surface of 54.

Further, when the male connector body 12 is inserted into the female connector body 52, the male valve body 30 resists the spring force of the male valve closing spring 48, as shown in FIG. When the cylinder-shaped valve part 32 is pushed down from the male side valve port 24 to the side of the general inner cylinder part 28 by being pushed down to the base end side 12B of the male side connector main body 12 for a predetermined stroke or more from the valve closing position. The valve port 24 is opened and the valve is opened. Further, the female valve body 82 is pushed up to the proximal end 52B of the female connector body 52 from the valve closing position by a predetermined stroke or more against the spring force of the female valve closing spring 96, and the cylindrical valve portion 84 is pushed. As a result, the female valve port 72 is opened and the valve is opened. As a result, a communication channel is established between the male connector body 12 and the female connector body 52 in a state where airtightness is ensured.

  As described above, also in the second embodiment, when the male connector main body 12 is inserted into the female connector main body 52 when the connector is connected, the male connector main body 12 abuts on the female valve body 82, and the column member. 64 is in contact with the male valve body 30 and while the male valve body 30 and the female valve body 82 are closed, that is, the male valve body 30 and the female valve body 82. Before the valve is opened, the male connector body 12 and the female connector body 52 are hermetically connected to each other.

  Thereby, at the time of connector connection, the air confined between the male connector body 12 and the female connector body 52 is not compressed, and no abnormal noise is generated. And before the male side valve body 30 and the female side valve body 82 open, since the male side connector main body 12 and the female side connector main body 52 are airtightly connected with each other, fluid leakage occurs when the connector is connected. There is no.

  Since the connector separation is performed by the reverse operation of the connector connection described above, fluid leakage does not occur even when the connector is separated, and no abnormal noise is generated.

In the second embodiment, since the column member 64 is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction by a predetermined amount with respect to the female connector main body 52 and is spring-biased, the outer surface of the O-ring 22 of the male connector main body 12 is provided. Is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the distal end side cylindrical portion 54 to ensure the airtightness before the valve opening of the male side valve element 30 and the female side valve element 82 for the axial stroke of the column member 64. Therefore, the opening / closing stroke of the male valve body 30 and the opening / closing stroke of the female valve body 82 need not be set longer than the axial stroke B.

Incidentally, O-ring 46 may be attached to the inner peripheral portion of Yugawaben port 24, O-ring 76 may be attached to the inner peripheral portion of the female-side valve body 82.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Male connector 12 Male connector main body 18 Circular front end surface 22 O-ring 24 Male side valve port 30 Male side valve body 40 Front end surface 48 Male side valve closing spring 50 Female side connector 52 Female side connector main body 64 Column member 72 Female Side valve port 78 End face 82 Female side valve element 86 End face 90 O-ring 96 Female side valve closing spring 98 Energizing spring

Claims (5)

A cylindrical male connector body defining a male valve port inside, and movable between a valve closing position on the distal end side and a valve opening position on the proximal end side along the axial direction within the male connector body A male side connector having a male side valve body that opens and closes the male side valve port, and a male side valve closing spring that biases the male side valve body toward the closed position;
A cylindrical female connector main body, a column member extending in the axial direction in the female connector main body and defining an annular female valve port in cooperation with the female connector main body, and the female connector A cylindrical female valve body which is provided in the main body so as to be movable between a valve closing position on the distal end side and a valve opening position on the proximal end side along the axial direction, and opens and closes the female valve port; A female connector having a female valve closing spring that biases the female valve element toward the closed position;
The male connector body includes sealing means for airtightly connecting the two by inserting the female connector body inside the female connector body;
By inserting the male connector body into the female connector body, the male connector body is displaced with a predetermined stroke after the male connector body comes into contact with the female valve body. The male side valve element is opened with a predetermined stroke after the female side valve element is opened against the spring force of the female side valve closing spring, and the column member comes into contact with the male side valve element. Is a fluid connector that opens the male valve body against the spring force of the male valve closing spring and establishes a communication flow path between the two connector bodies,
When the male connector body is inserted into the female connector body, the male connector body comes into contact with the female valve body and the column member comes into contact with the male valve body. The position of the sealing means is determined so that the sealing means establishes airtightness while the both valve bodies are closed.   The seal means is attached to the outer periphery of the male connector main body and is slidably in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the female connector main body, and is attached to the outer periphery of the female side valve body to attach the female connector main body. The fluid connector according to claim 1, further comprising an annular seal member that is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface.   The male valve port and the female valve port are each configured as a straight through hole having the same inner diameter over a predetermined axial length, and an outer periphery of the male valve body and an inner periphery of the male valve port 3. The fluid connector according to claim 1, wherein an annular seal member is attached to any one of the first portion, one of the outer peripheral portion of the column member and the inner peripheral portion of the female valve body.   The fluid connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the column member is fixed to the male connector body.   The column member is provided on the female connector main body so as to be movable in the axial direction by a predetermined amount, and is urged toward the distal end side of the female connector main body by a spring. The fluid connector according to item.

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