JP2014015949A - Cover for coupler, and coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cover for a coupler capable of restraining dispersion of liquid.SOLUTION: A cover 10 for a coupler comprises: a tubular member 20 having an inner space 20a penetrating through one end and the other end, in which a socket section 100A of a coupler 100 connecting tube bodies 110A, 110B for circulating the liquid is inserted in the inner space from one end side, and a plug section 100B of the coupler is inserted in the inner space from the other end side; an elastic member 12 provided to partition the inner space of the tubular member, opened/closed according to insertion and detachment of the plug section in and from the tubular member, and allowing connection of the plug section and the socket section in the inner space; and a liquid absorbing sheet 14A provided on the other end side of the elastic member and absorbing the liquid.

Description

  This case relates to a coupler cover and a coupler.

  Conventionally, as a coupler (connector) used when connecting a pipe (hose) through which a liquid flows, a coupler having a mechanism for suppressing liquid leakage and dripping when the connection is released has been studied.

  For example, recently, a mechanism has been proposed in which when a socket and a plug constituting a coupler are removed, a valve provided at each liquid inlet / outlet is closed to prevent outflow of liquid (conventional example 1 and To do).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a connector that can reliably connect a pipe body and a connector (coupler), and that prevents liquid leakage when the pipe body is connected or after the pipe body is removed from the connector (conventional example). 2).

JP 2001-82647 A

  Depending on the environment in which the coupler is used, there may be cases where no single liquid leakage is allowed. For example, there is a case where a bare electric board exists around the coupler in the water-cooled server, or a case where dangerous liquid flows in a tube (hose) connected by the coupler.

  However, in the above conventional example 1, when the socket and the plug are fitted, the valves provided in the sockets are pressed against each other, and the liquid flows through the gap formed by the pressing. There is a risk that liquid existing between the valves may leak outside when the socket and plug are removed.

  Moreover, in the said prior art example 2, when the pipe body is removed from the connector, the leakage of the liquid from the connector side is suppressed, but the liquid remaining in the pipe body may leak to the outside.

  In one aspect, an object of the present invention is to provide a cover for a coupler that can suppress scattering of liquid from the coupler and a coupler that can suppress scattering of liquid.

  The coupler cover described in this specification has an internal space that penetrates one end and the other end, and a socket portion of a coupler that connects a pipe through which a liquid flows is inserted into the internal space from the one end side. A tubular member into which the plug portion of the coupler is inserted into the internal space from the other end side, and a state in which the internal space of the tubular member is partitioned, and the plug portion is inserted into and removed from the tubular member. And an elastic member that opens and closes in response and allows the connection between the plug portion and the socket portion in the internal space, and a liquid absorbing member that is provided on the other end surface of the elastic member and absorbs the liquid And.

  The coupler described in the present specification includes a socket portion to which the coupler cover described in the present specification is connected, and a plug portion connected to the socket portion in the internal space of the coupler cover. .

  The cover for couplers described in the present embodiment has an effect that the scattering of liquid from the coupler can be suppressed. In addition, the coupler described in the present embodiment has an effect that the scattering of the liquid can be suppressed.

It is a figure showing typically the state where the cover for couplers concerning one embodiment was attached to the coupler. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the coupler cover, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the valve body is viewed from the −X side. FIGS. 3A and 3B are views (No. 1) for explaining a method of using the coupler cover. FIGS. 4A and 4B are views (No. 2) for explaining a method of using the coupler cover. FIGS. 5A and 5B are views (No. 3) for explaining a method of using the coupler cover. Fig.6 (a)-FIG.6 (c) are figures (the 1) which show a modification. Fig.7 (a) and FIG.7 (b) are figures (the 2) which show a modification.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 schematically shows a state where a coupler cover 10 according to an embodiment is attached to a coupler 100.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the coupler cover 10 is provided in a state of covering the coupler 100 provided at the ends of pipes (hoses) 110A and 110B through which a liquid (for example, water) flows. Here, the coupler 100 includes a female socket portion 100A and a male plug portion 100B. As an example of the coupler 100, a coupler in which each of the socket portion 100A and the plug portion 100B has a valve and the leakage of liquid to the outside is suppressed is used. In the coupler 100, when the socket portion 100A and the plug portion 100B are connected, the valves provided in the socket portion are pressed against each other, and the liquid flows through the gap formed by the pressing.

  FIG. 2A shows a cross-sectional view of the coupler cover 10. As shown in FIG. 2A, the coupler cover 10 is a valve provided in a state of partitioning the tubular member 20 having an internal space 20a penetrating from one end to the other end, and the internal space 20a of the tubular member 20. The body 16 includes a stopper 22 and a liquid absorbing member 18 as maintenance members provided on the inner peripheral wall of the tubular member 20.

  The tubular member 20 is made of plastic or metal such as SUS or brass. The inner diameter of the tubular member 20 is set slightly larger than the maximum outer diameter of the socket portion 100A. In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the tubular member 20 is described as the X-axis direction, and the direction perpendicular to the X-axis (the vertical direction in FIG. 2A) is described as the Y-axis direction.

  The valve body 16 includes an elastic member 12 having a circular cross section, and liquid absorbing sheets 14A and 14B as liquid absorbing members attached to the −X side surface and the + X side surface of the elastic member 12. The elastic member 12 is made of a phosphor bronze leaf spring, rubber, or the like. Further, the liquid absorbent sheets 14A and 14B are sheets containing a highly water absorbent (liquid absorbent) polymer such as sodium polyacrylate. FIG. 2B shows a state in which the valve body 16 is viewed from the −X side. As shown in FIG. 2 (b), the valve body 16 has a plurality of (in FIG. 2 (b), at a predetermined angle (45 ° in FIG. 2 (b)) from the center position toward the outer periphery. , 8) notches 30 are formed.

  The stopper 22 is for maintaining the non-contact state between the valve body 16 and the socket part 100A by preventing the socket part 100A from being inserted more than specified (on the −X side from the state of FIG. 3A). It is a member. The stopper 22 may be a ring-shaped member or a plurality of protruding members. Here, it is assumed that the distance (interval) A between the + X end of the stopper 22 and the + X end of the valve body 16 is set longer than the radius B of the valve body 16.

  The liquid absorbing member 18 is a polymer-based sheet, similar to the liquid absorbing sheets 14A and 14B, and is affixed to substantially the entire + X side of the valve body 16 on the inner peripheral wall of the tubular member 20.

  Next, a method for using the coupler cover 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3A shows a state in which the socket portion 100A is inserted into the internal space 20a of the coupler cover 10 from the + X side. In this state, a part of the outer peripheral surface of the socket portion 100A (the portion with the maximum outer diameter) and the liquid absorbing member 18 are in close contact with each other. For this reason, the position shift with respect to the socket part 100A with respect to the coupler cover 10 hardly occurs. Further, the socket portion 100 </ b> A is in a state in which movement in the −X direction is more restricted than in the state of FIG.

  In order to connect the plug portion 100B to the socket portion 100A from the state of FIG. 3A, when the plug portion 100B is inserted into the internal space 20a of the coupler cover 10 from the −X side, the + X end of the plug portion 100B As shown in FIG. 3B, the portion contacts the valve body 16 (liquid absorption sheet 14A).

  Further, when the plug portion 100B is further pushed in from the state of FIG. 3B, as shown in FIG. 4A, the valve body 16 expands the notch 30 according to the movement of the plug portion 100B. The plug part 100B is allowed to move.

  When the plug portion 100B is further pushed in from the state of FIG. 4A, the plug portion 100B is connected to the socket portion 100A as shown in FIG. 4B. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, since the interval A is set larger than the radius B of the valve body 16, the valve body 16 is not caught between the socket portion 100A and the plug portion 100B, and the plug portion 100B. It will be in the state which contacted the outer peripheral surface. The valve body 16 is configured to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the plug portion 100B by the elastic force of the elastic member 12.

  In the state of FIG. 4B, the liquid can be circulated through the coupler 100. In this case, even if liquid leakage slightly occurs from the connection portion between the socket portion 100A and the plug portion 100B, the liquid absorbing member 18 and the liquid absorbing sheet 14B absorb the liquid. It can be said that the scattering of is suppressed.

  On the other hand, when the plug portion 100B is pulled out (removed) from the socket portion 100A with the liquid flow stopped, the plug portion 100B moves in the −X direction, so that the valve body 16 is in the state shown in FIG. To be deformed as shown in FIG. When the plug portion 100B moves to the position shown in FIG. 5B, the valve element 16 (at the + X end portion (liquid circulation port) of the plug portion 100B is caused by the elastic force (original position restoring force) of the elastic member 12. The liquid absorbent sheet 14A) comes into contact.

  In this case, even if a small amount of liquid remains in the vicinity of the flow port of the plug portion 100B, the liquid is absorbed (wiped off) by the liquid absorbent sheet 14A. Thereby, as shown in FIG.5 (c), when the plug part 100B leaves | separates from the valve body 16, the scattering (liquid leak) of the liquid from the distribution port (+ X edge part) of the plug part 100B is suppressed. be able to.

  In the state of FIG. 5 (c), there is a possibility that the liquid that remains slightly in the socket part 100A flows out of the socket part 100A. However, even in this case, since the liquid absorbing member 18 and the liquid absorbing sheet 14B absorb the liquid flowing out, the scattering of the liquid to the outside of the coupler cover 10 can be suppressed.

  As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the tubular member 20 has the internal space 20a that penetrates the end on the + X side and the end on the −X side. Further, the elastic member 12 provided in a state of partitioning the internal space 20a opens and closes according to the insertion and removal of the plug portion 100B, thereby allowing the connection between the plug portion 100B and the socket portion 100A in the internal space 20a. A liquid absorbing sheet 14 </ b> A that absorbs liquid is provided on the surface of the elastic member 12 on the −X side (the surface on which the plug portion 100 </ b> B is inserted). Thereby, in this embodiment, when the plug part 100B is pulled out from the socket part 100A and the plug part 100B is taken out from the internal space 20a, the distal end ( The liquid absorbing sheet 14A comes into contact with the liquid distribution port (FIG. 5B). Therefore, even when the liquid remains in the vicinity of the flow port of the plug portion 100B, the liquid is absorbed by the liquid absorbent sheet 14A, so that it is possible to suppress the scattering of the liquid from the plug portion 100B to the outside.

  In addition, by using the coupler cover 10 of the present embodiment, a dangerous liquid flows in an environment (for example, a water-cooled server or a pipe (hose) in which no single liquid leakage is allowed to the surroundings). In this case, the coupler 100 can be installed.

  In the present embodiment, the liquid absorbent sheet 14 </ b> B is provided on the surface on the + X side of the elastic member 12, and the liquid absorbent member 18 is provided on the inner peripheral wall of the tubular member 20. Thereby, even if the liquid leaks slightly in a state where the socket part 100A and the plug part 100B are connected, the liquid absorbing sheet 14B and the liquid absorbing member 18 absorb the liquid, and thus the scattering of the liquid to the outside is suppressed. be able to. Further, even when the liquid is scattered near the circulation port of the socket part 100A after the plug part 100B is removed, the liquid is absorbed by the liquid absorbent sheet 14B or the liquid absorbent member 18 so that the liquid to the outside is absorbed. Scattering can be suppressed.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid absorbing sheet 14A is provided on the −X side of the elastic member 12, the liquid absorbing sheet 14B is provided on the + X side of the elastic member 12, and the liquid absorbing member 18 is provided on the inner peripheral wall of the tubular member 20. The case of providing is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that at least the liquid absorbent sheet 14A is provided. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, a liquid absorbent sheet 14A and a liquid absorbent member 18 may be provided, or as shown in FIG. 6B, the liquid absorbent sheet 14A and the liquid absorbent sheet 14B. It is good also as providing. Moreover, as shown in FIG.6 (c), it is good also as providing only the liquid absorption sheet 14A.

  In addition, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the notch 30 was provided with respect to the valve body 16 by 45 degree space | interval, it is not restricted to this. For example, the angle interval and the number of the notches 30 can be variously selected. Further, the shape of the notch 30 is a shape that opens and closes according to the insertion and removal of the plug portion 100B and allows the connection in the internal space 20a between the plug portion 100B and the socket portion 100A. The shape does not matter.

  In addition, in the said embodiment, in addition to the valve body 16 opened and closed according to insertion / extraction of the plug part 100B, the valve body (it has a liquid absorption sheet in the surface at least + X side) opened / closed according to insertion / extraction of the socket part 100A. It is good also as providing in the internal space 20a.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the stopper 22 is provided in the tubular member 20 in order to restrict the movement of the socket portion 100A in the −X direction has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the socket portion 100A is fixed to the tubular member 20 with a screw 50, thereby restricting the movement of the socket portion 100A in the −X direction (the distance from the valve body 16 is reduced). It may be kept constant).

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the socket portion 100A and the coupler cover 10 are configured separately has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, the coupler cover 10 may be integrally formed with the socket portion 100A.

  In order to facilitate the connection between the socket part 100A and the plug part 100B, for example, the tubular member 20 or the like may be made of a transparent member to improve the visibility at the time of connection.

  The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In addition, the following additional notes are disclosed regarding the above description.
(Supplementary Note 1) A socket portion of a coupler having an internal space penetrating one end and the other end and connecting a pipe through which a liquid flows is inserted into the internal space from the one end side, and the plug portion of the coupler A tubular member inserted into the internal space from the other end side;
An elastic member that is provided in a state of partitioning the internal space of the tubular member, opens and closes in response to insertion and removal of the plug portion with respect to the tubular member, and allows connection between the plug portion and the socket portion in the internal space When,
A coupler cover, comprising: a liquid absorbing member that is provided on a surface on the other end side of the elastic member and absorbs the liquid.
(Additional remark 2) The said liquid absorption member is provided also in the surface of the said one end side of the said elastic member, The cover for couplers of Additional remark 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.
(Supplementary note 3) The coupler cover according to supplementary note 1 or 2, wherein the liquid absorbing member is also provided on an inner surface of the tubular member.
(Additional remark 4) The cover for couplers in any one of additional remarks 1-3 further provided with the maintenance member which is provided in the said tubular member and maintains the non-contact state of the said elastic member and the said socket part.
(Additional remark 5) The socket part to which the cover for couplers as described in any one of additional remarks 1-4 was connected,
A coupler comprising: a plug portion connected to the socket portion within an inner space of the coupler cover.

10 Coupler Cover 12 Elastic Member 14A Liquid Absorbing Sheet (Liquid Absorbing Member)
20 Tubular member 20a Internal space 22 Stopper (maintenance member)
100 coupler 100A socket part 100B plug part 110A, 110B tube

Claims (4)

A socket portion of a coupler having an internal space penetrating the one end and the other end and connecting a pipe through which a liquid flows is inserted into the internal space from the one end side, and the plug portion of the coupler is the other end A tubular member inserted into the internal space from the side;
An elastic member that is provided in a state of partitioning the internal space of the tubular member, opens and closes in response to insertion and removal of the plug portion with respect to the tubular member, and allows connection between the plug portion and the socket portion in the internal space When,
A coupler cover, comprising: a liquid absorbing member that is provided on a surface on the other end side of the elastic member and absorbs the liquid.   The coupler cover according to claim 1, wherein the liquid absorbing member is also provided on a surface of the elastic member on the one end side.   The coupler cover according to claim 1, wherein the liquid absorbing member is also provided on an inner surface of the tubular member. A socket part to which the cover for a coupler according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is connected;
A coupler comprising: a plug portion connected to the socket portion within an inner space of the coupler cover.

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