JP2579514Y2 - Dust intrusion prevention mechanism in coupler - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a socket body having a fitting cylindrical portion provided with a front regulating portion and a rear regulating portion projecting radially outward and spaced apart in the axial direction. A plurality of engaging members supported so as to be able to move between an inner locking position and an outer unlocking position along the radial direction thereof, each engagement being restricted by a front restriction portion. Enables axial movement between a forward position where the member is fixed at the locking position and a retracted position where each engaging member is allowed to move from the locked position to the unlocked position while being restricted by the rear restricting portion. A socket provided with a cylindrical operating member surrounding the fitting tubular portion, and a spring interposed between the operating member and the fitting tubular portion to exert a spring force for urging the operating member toward the forward position; It is possible to perform fluid-tight fitting in the fitting cylinder while the member is in the retracted position. The monitor outer periphery and the plug having a engagement groove of the annular engaging the engagement member in a locked position; relates coupler comprises a.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, such couplers are generally used with the surface of the socket exposed.

[0003]

However, there is a gap between the fitting cylindrical portion of the socket and the cylindrical operating member surrounding the fitting cylindrical portion. Is in the forward position, the front regulating portion of the fitting cylinder portion and the operating member are in contact with each other and the front end of the gap is closed, but the operating member and the rear regulating portion are separated from each other. Therefore, if the surface of the socket is left bare as in the prior art, the rear end of the gap remains open, and when the coupler is used in an environment where dust is likely to occur, such as a polishing machine, Dust such as polishing scum may enter the gap and become clogged, making it difficult to remove and attach the socket and plug.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has a dust intrusion prevention mechanism of a coupler which prevents intrusion of dust between a fitting cylindrical portion of a socket and an operation member and facilitates a demounting operation. The purpose is to provide.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the socket is provided with a cover for covering the rear regulating portion of the fitting tube portion and the operating member in close contact with each other. The cover is formed of a flexible material that allows the operating member to flex as the operating member moves between the advanced position and the retracted position.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a use state of a polishing machine.
2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coupler in a disconnected state, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coupler in a connected state, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG.

First, in FIG. 1, in this polishing machine, a work 2 to be polished by a grindstone 1 driven to rotate about a vertical axis is detachably fixed on a base 3 and compressed by the polishing machine. A hose 4 for supplying a fluid such as air,
A hose 5 connected to a compressed air source (not shown) is connected via a coupler 6 so as to be connectable and disconnectable.

The coupler 6 has a plug 7 fixed to a support member 9 fixed to the base 3 so as to have a vertical axis.
And a socket 8 detachably connected to the plug 7 from above. A hose 5 is connected to the plug 7 via a joint 10, and the hose 4 is connected to the socket 8 via a joint 11. Connected.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the socket 8 has a socket body 12 formed in a cylindrical shape, and a support which allows the socket body 12 to move within a restricted range along the radial direction. Steel balls 13 as a plurality of engaging members, and a cylindrical operating member 14 mounted on the socket body 12 so as to be movable in a range restricted in the axial direction.
And a spring 15 contracted between the socket body 12 and the operation member 14, and the on-off valve 1 is provided in the socket body 12.
6 is built-in.

The socket body 12 has a fitting cylindrical portion 17, a neck portion 18, and a connecting portion 19 which are coaxially connected in order from the axial front end (the lower end in FIGS. 2 and 3). The fitting cylindrical portion 17 includes a small-diameter cylindrical portion 17a on the front end side in the axial direction.
And a large-diameter cylindrical portion 17b having an outer diameter larger than that of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 17a. A retaining ring 20 as a front regulating portion protruding outward in the radial direction is fitted to a front end of the cylindrical portion 17a, and a rear regulating portion 21 is provided at a rear end of the fitting cylindrical portion 17, that is, at a rear end of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 17b. Are integrally provided so as to protrude outward in the radial direction. Also neck 18
The first cylindrical portion 18a, which has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter cylindrical portion 17b of the fitting cylindrical portion 17 and is coaxially connected to the rear end of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 17b with a step, and has a smaller diameter toward the rear side in the axial direction. It has a frusto-conical portion 18b having an outer surface that is coaxial with the first cylindrical portion 18a, and a second cylindrical portion 18c coaxially with the small-diameter end of the frusto-conical portion 18b. Further, the connecting portion 19 is formed with an outer diameter larger than that of the second cylindrical portion 18c, and is not shown when connecting and disconnecting the joint 11 of the hose 4 as shown in FIG. A pair of flat surfaces 19a, 19a parallel to each other are provided on the outer surface of the connecting portion 19 to enable fixing with a spanner or the like.

The socket body 12 has a fitting cylinder 17
A fitting hole 23 whose front end side is opened at a position corresponding to the above, and a valve hole 25 having a smaller diameter than the fitting hole 23 sandwich a step portion 24 facing the front side between the fitting holes 23, 25. Drilled coaxially. A screw hole 2 for screwing the joint 11 (see FIG. 1) is provided at a position corresponding to the connection portion 19 of the socket body 12.
6 is provided coaxially with the valve hole 25, and a valve chamber 27 is formed in the socket body 12 between the screw hole 26 and the valve hole 25. On the inner surface of the fitting hole 23, an annular seal member 28 is fitted behind the opening position of each support hole 22.

Near the front end of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 17a in the fitting cylindrical portion 17, a plurality of support holes 22 having a smaller diameter as going inward in the radial direction are radially formed at circumferentially spaced positions. The steel balls 13 are inserted into the respective support holes 22 from the outside. Thus each steel ball 1
3 are a locking position which is pushed inward in the radial direction of the fitting cylindrical portion 17 to protrude inward from the inner surface of the fitting hole 23 as shown in FIGS. The fitting tube portion 17 is supported by the fitting tube portion 17 by moving outward in the radial direction of the fitting tube portion 17 so as to be able to move to and from a lock release position that does not protrude from the inner surface of the fitting hole 23.

The on-off valve 16 has a tapered valve seat 29 provided in the socket body 12 facing the valve chamber 27 while opening a valve hole 25 at the center, and a valve chamber 27 which can be seated on the valve seat 29. And a valve spring 3 that exerts a spring force in a direction in which the valve body 30 is seated on the valve seat 29.
1 is provided.

A retaining ring 32 is fitted in the screw hole 26 on the inner surface of the valve chamber 27, and the retainer 33, which is prevented from moving toward the screw hole 26 by the retaining ring 32, is housed in the valve chamber 27. Have been. A valve shaft 30a is integrally connected to the valve body 30, and the valve shaft 30a is inserted into the retainer 33 so as to be movable in the axial direction. Further, the valve spring 31 is contracted between the valve body 30 and the retainer 33. In addition, the valve element 30 has a shape protruding from the valve hole 25 toward the fitting hole 23 when seated on the valve seat 29.

Such an on-off valve 16 is in a closed state when no force for pressing the valve body 30 against the spring force of the valve spring 31 is applied. When the valve body 30 is pressed, the valve body 30 separates from the valve seat 29 and opens.

The operating member 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the fitting cylindrical portion 17 of the socket body 12, and the operating member 14 has a shape corresponding to the outer surface of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 17a of the fitting cylindrical portion 17. Small-diameter hole 34 having an inner diameter
7, a large-diameter hole 35 having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer surface of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 17b.
Are provided coaxially with a step. At the front end side of the small-diameter hole 34, a regulating step portion 36 that contacts the retaining ring 20 fitted to the fitting cylindrical portion 17 to regulate the advance position of the operating member 14.
Is provided. Further, the rear end of the operating member 14 is
7 can be brought into contact with a rear regulating portion 21 provided at the rear end of the operating member 1.
4 is restricted. Moreover, the axial length of the small-diameter hole 34 is such that when the operating member 14 is in the forward position, the steel balls 13 are pushed radially inward of the fitting cylindrical portion 17 on the inner surface of the small-diameter hole 14 so that the steel balls 13. Is fixed to the locking position, and the axial length of the operating member 14 is such that when the operating member 14 is in the retracted position, the front end of the operating member 14 is located rearward of the steel balls 13. In this state, the steel balls 13 can move in the support holes 22 from the locked position to the unlocked position.

The spring 15 is formed in a coil shape surrounding the small-diameter cylindrical portion 17a of the fitting cylindrical portion 17, and
7 and a step between the small-diameter hole 34 and the large-diameter hole 35 of the operating member 14. Therefore, the operating member 14 is urged toward the forward position by the spring force of the spring 15.

The plug 7 is formed in a cylindrical shape.
An on-off valve 38 is built in the plug 7.

The plug 7 has a connection portion 40 having a screw hole 39 into which the joint 10 (see FIG. 1) can be screwed, and a fitting portion 41 which can be fitted into the fitting hole 23 of the fitting cylindrical portion 17 in the socket 8. Are coaxially connected to each other.
1 is fitted in the fitting hole 23 until its end comes into contact with the step portion 24, and an annular engaging groove 42 is formed on the outer surface of the fitting portion 41 so that the steel balls 13 can be engaged. Can be Moreover, the seal member 28 is in close contact with the outer surface of the fitting portion 41 over the entire circumference in a state of being fitted in the fitting hole 23.

At the end of the fitting portion 41 on the socket 8 side, a valve hole 43 having the same diameter as the valve hole 25 of the opening / closing valve 16 is formed, and between the valve hole 43 and the screw hole 39. Thus, a valve chamber 44 is formed in the plug 7.

The on-off valve 38 has basically the same configuration as the on-off valve 16 on the socket 8 side.
A taper-shaped valve seat 45 provided in the plug 7 so as to face the valve chamber 44 while opening the valve 3 in the center, a valve body 46 that can be seated on the valve seat 45 and is housed in the valve chamber 44; A valve spring 47 that exerts a spring force in a direction in which the valve body 46 is seated on the valve seat 45.

A retaining ring 48 is fitted in the screw hole 39 on the inner surface of the valve chamber 44, and a retainer 49, which is prevented from moving toward the screw hole 39 by the retaining ring 48, is housed in the valve chamber 44. Have been. A valve shaft 46a is integrally connected to the valve body 46, and the valve shaft 46a is inserted into the retainer 49 so as to be movable in the axial direction. Further, the valve spring 47 is contracted between the valve body 46 and the retainer 49. In addition, the valve body 46 has a shape protruding from the valve hole 43 when seated on the valve seat 45.

In such a coupler 6, a cover 50 is mounted on the socket 8 according to the present invention. The cover 50 is made of a flexible material, for example, urethane resin, and is formed of the rear regulating portion 21 of the fitting cylinder 17 and the operating member 1.
4 is formed so as to cover the same closely.

The cover 50 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom having an insertion hole 51 at the closed end which is in close contact with the outer surface of the second cylindrical portion 18c of the neck portion 18 of the socket body 8, and has an opening. The inner surface on the end side is the operation member 14 in the advanced position.
To the outer surface of the Moreover, the thickness of the cover 50 is set to have sufficient flexibility so as to allow the operating member 14 to be driven in the axial direction by operating the operating member 14 in the axial direction together with the cover 50.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the plug 7 and the socket 8 are separated from each other, the on-off valve 38 on the plug 7 and the on-off valve 16 on the socket 7 are connected together as shown in FIG. In the valve closed state,
The compressed air from the compressed air source is prevented from being released from the plug 7 and the hose 4 connected to the socket 8 is prevented.
It is possible to prevent dust from entering the inside from outside.

When the socket 8 is connected to the plug 7, the operating member 14 of the socket 8 is operated together with the cover 50, and the fitting portion 41 of the plug 7 is moved while the operating member 14 is held at the retracted position. 12 fitting holes 23
Fit inside. At this time, the plurality of steel balls 13 supported by the socket body 12 are movable from the locking position to the unlocking position.
.. Are moved to the unlocked position by being pushed outward in the axial direction, and the fitting portion 41 can be fitted into the fitting hole 23 until the end thereof abuts the step portion 24.

When the operating member 14 is released in this state,
The operating member 14 is moved to the forward position by the spring force of the spring 15, and the steel balls 13 are pushed by the inner surface of the small-diameter hole 34 of the operating member 14 to engage with the engaging grooves 42 of the fitting portion 41. The matching state is maintained. In this state, the two on-off valves 1
The valve bodies 6 and 38 are opened as shown in FIG. 3 by the valve bodies 30 and 46 abutting on each other, and the hoses 5 and 4 are connected.

When the connection between the plug 7 and the socket 8 is released, the operating member 14 of the socket 8 is operated together with the cover 50, and the operating member 14 is held at the retracted position. 41 is pulled out from the fitting hole 23 of the socket body 12. Then, the plurality of steel balls 13 supported by the socket body 12 are in a state where they can be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position. The fitting portion 41 can be moved to the unlocked position by being pushed outward, and can be detached from the fitting hole 23.

In the socket 8 of the coupler 6 described above, the regulating step 36 at the front end of the operating member 14 contacts the retaining ring 20 over substantially the entire circumference except when the connection and disconnection of the plug 7 is performed. Operating member 1
4 and the front end of the gap between the fitting cylindrical portion 17 are substantially closed, while the rear end of the operating member 14 is separated from the rear regulating portion 21. Is open to the outside. For this reason, if the outer surface of the socket 8 is left exposed as in the related art, there is a possibility that dust such as polishing residue generated from the polishing machine may enter the gap between the operation member 14 and the fitting cylinder 17. However, according to the present invention, the rear regulating portion 21 and the operating member 14 of the fitting tube portion 17 are covered with the cover 50 which is in close contact with them, so that dust can be reliably prevented from entering the gap, and It is possible to reliably prevent the operation of the operation member 14 from becoming difficult and the operation of the spring 15 from becoming malfunctioning due to the intrusion of the air.

Further, the cover 50 can bend as the operating member 14 moves between the forward position and the retracted position, so that the operation of the operating member 14 does not become complicated and dust is generated. Even when the coupler 6 is used in an environment that is easy to operate, the operation of attaching and detaching the plug 7 and the socket 8 can always be easily performed.

The cover 50 may be colored, and the piping system can be easily identified.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various designs can be made without departing from the present invention described in the claims for utility model registration. Changes can be made.

For example, the plugs 7 and the sockets 8 do not have to include the on-off valves 16 and 38.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the socket is provided with the cover which closely covers the rear regulating portion of the fitting cylinder and the operating member, and the cover is provided with the operating member in the forward position. And it is made of a flexible material so as to be able to bend as it moves between the retracted positions, so that it is possible to reliably prevent dust from entering between the operating member and the fitting cylinder. The operation of the operating member can be facilitated, and the attaching / detaching operation can be performed smoothly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state of use in a polishing machine.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coupler in a disconnected state.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coupler in a connected state.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 6 coupler 7 plug 8 socket 12 socket body 13 steel ball as engaging member 14 operating member 15 spring 17 fitting cylindrical portion 20 retaining ring as front restricting portion 21 rear restricting portion 42 engaging groove 50 cover

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A front restricting portion (2) protruding radially outward.
0) and a socket body (1) having a fitting cylindrical portion (17) in which a rear regulating portion (21) is provided at intervals in the axial direction.
2) a plurality of engaging members supported on the fitting cylinder portion (17) so as to be movable between an inner locking position and an outer locking release position along a radial direction thereof; (13) The engagement between the engaging member (13) regulated by the forward regulating portion (20) and the forward regulating position for fixing each engaging member (13) at the locking position and the rear regulating portion (21). A cylindrical operating member (1) that allows axial movement between a stop position and a retracted position that allows movement from the lock release position to surround the fitting cylinder (17).
4) and the operating member (14) and the fitting cylinder (1)
7) a socket (8) provided with a spring (15) interposed therebetween to exert a spring force for urging the operating member (14) toward the forward position; and the operating member (14) is in the retracted position. The engaging member (13) which can be fluid-tightly fitted into the fitting cylindrical portion (17) in the state and is at the locking position on the outer periphery.
And a plug (7) having an annular engagement groove (42) for engaging the rear end of the socket (8) with the rear regulating portion (21) of the fitting cylinder portion (17) and the operating member. A cover (50) that covers the (14) in close contact is mounted, and the cover (50) is flexible by allowing the operating member (14) to flex as it moves between the forward position and the retracted position. A dust intrusion prevention mechanism in the coupler, wherein the mechanism is formed of a conductive material.