JP2756086B2 - Pipe fittings - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pipe joint for connecting a flow path of a high-purity chemical or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a pipe joint for connecting pipe lines, a pipe joint which connects respective flow paths by connecting a plug to a socket has been used. That is, in a state where the plug is connected to the socket, for example, a fluid can be supplied from the pipe side of the plug to the socket side.

[0003]

By the way, there are cases where plugs of different types of fluid are inserted into the socket side of this type of pipe joint and used. In this case, the plug of the fluid corresponding to the purpose of use is surely inserted. It is necessary to connect, but in the case of conventional joints, plugs for various fluids can be connected to the same socket, so there is no risk of accidentally inserting a fluid plug that is not the intended purpose and flowing the fluid And did not.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and identifies a plurality of types of plugs provided for each type of fluid, connects the socket to a socket, and is capable of using a target fluid. It is intended to provide.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of plugs provided for each type of fluid are connected to one of the plugs. A socket, a valve driving unit that opens and closes respective valves of the plug and the socket connected to the socket to open and close the flow path of the plug and the flow path of the socket; An identification unit provided in accordance with the type, a detection unit provided in the socket and detecting the identification unit of the connected plug, and driving of the valve driving unit based on a detection signal of the detection unit. And a control unit that controls

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the pipe joint as set forth in the first aspect, further comprising a setting unit for setting a type of fluid, wherein the control unit controls a signal from the setting unit and the detection unit. Are compared with the detection signal from, when the fluid type of the connected plug and the fluid type set by the setting unit match, the valve drive unit and the flow path of the plug and the It is characterized in that it communicates with the flow path of the socket. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the pipe joint according to the first or second aspect, the identification portion of the plug includes a groove formed according to a type of fluid, and the detecting portion of the socket includes an optical detector. And a light receiving element that receives the light from the light emitting element, detects the groove, and outputs a detection signal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the pipe joint according to the third aspect, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged in the axial direction near the outer peripheral side of the holding hole of the socket into which the plug is inserted. The groove is formed so as to face each other in a direction orthogonal to the groove, and the groove is formed along the circumferential direction on a flange portion of the plug fitted into the holding hole. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the pipe joint of the third aspect, the plug is provided with a guide plate, and the socket has a guide groove for supporting the guide plate of the plug slidably in the insertion direction. The formed supporting portion is provided, and the light emitting element and the light receiving element are
The support portion is disposed so as to face each other in a direction orthogonal to the plug insertion direction with the guide groove interposed therebetween, and the groove portion is formed in the guide plate in a direction orthogonal to the plug insertion direction. It is characterized by:

[0008]

[0009]

According to the pipe joint of the first aspect, when the plug is inserted into the socket, the detection section of the socket detects the identification section of the plug and outputs a detection signal. And
The type of plug inserted into the socket is identified by the control unit based on a detection signal from the detection unit, and the opening and closing of the flow path by the valve driving unit is controlled. According to the pipe joint of the second aspect, the type identified based on the detection signal from the detection unit and the type set by the setting unit are compared by the control unit, and the type of the plug is set to the set type. If they match, the valve drive opens the flow path. According to the pipe joint according to the third aspect, the groove of the plug is detected by the light receiving element that receives the light emitted from the light emitting element, and the control unit identifies the type of the plug based on the detection signal from the light receiving element. Is done.

According to the pipe joint of the present invention, the groove formed along the circumferential direction of the flange portion of the plug is detected by the light receiving element for receiving the light emitted from the light emitting element, and the light receiving element detects the groove. The type of plug is identified by the control unit based on the detection signal. According to the pipe joint of the fifth aspect, the groove formed in the guide plate provided on the plug is detected by the light receiving element that receives the light emitted from the light emitting element, and based on the detection signal from the light receiving element. Then, the type of plug is identified by the control unit.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A pipe joint according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a socket,
Reference numeral 2 is a plug. The socket 1 is provided with a socket part 3 slidably provided therein, and is slid by a valve driving part 32 described later. The socket portion 3 has a socket portion main body 4, a valve 5 slidably provided inside the socket portion main body 4, and a spring 6 provided on the rear side of the valve 5. The valve 5 is biased toward the distal end by a spring 6, and the outer peripheral side of the distal end is brought into close contact with a valve seat 7 formed in the socket body 4.

At the end of the socket 1, a plug holding hole (holding hole) 8 and a plug insertion hole 9 are formed in order, and these plug holding hole 8 and plug insertion hole 9 are formed.
The plug 2 is inserted into the connector. Then, in a state where the plug 2 is inserted into the plug holding hole 8 and the plug insertion hole 9 of the socket 1, the locking mechanism (not shown) provided at the end of the socket 1 allows the plug 2 to be inserted.
Are kept connected to the socket 1. The plug 2 includes a plug main body 11 and a flange portion 12 formed on the rear end side of the plug main body 11, and the inside of the plug main body 11 is urged to the front end side by a spring 13. A valve 14 is slidably provided. The distal end of the valve 14 is in close contact with a valve seat 15 formed in the plug body 11. Note that reference numeral 16 in the drawing denotes a pipe connected to the plug 2.

When the socket part 3 is slid in the direction of the plug 2 by the valve driving part 32 in a state where the socket 1 and the plug 2 having the above configuration are connected, the valves 5 and 14 of the socket 1 and the plug 2 The tips contact each other and move against the biasing forces of the springs 6 and 13, respectively, so that the flow path R1 of the socket 1 and the flow path R2 of the plug 2
Valve channel 5 formed in each valve 5, 14
a, 14a. Further, a plurality of grooves 21 are formed in the flange portion 12 of the plug 2 in the circumferential direction, and the outer periphery of the plug holding hole 8 is formed in the plug holding hole 8 of the socket 1 as shown in FIG. A light emitting element 22 that emits light at a position of a groove 21 formed in the flange portion 12 of the inserted plug 2 and a light receiving element 23 that receives light from the light emitting element 22 and outputs a detection signal in the vicinity of the side. A detection unit 24 is provided. The light-emitting element 22 and the light-receiving element 23 constituting the detection unit 24 are arranged at opposing positions, and light emitted from the light-emitting element 22 passes through a space defined by the groove 21 of the flange 12, The light reaches the light receiving element 23.

Next, a control system for controlling the pipe joint will be described. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 31 denotes a control unit, and the control unit 31 includes the light receiving element 2 of the detection unit 24.
When the control unit 31 receives the detection signal, the control unit 31 drives the socket unit 3 of the socket 1 on the basis of the detection signal, and the valve 5 of the socket 1 and the plug 2 , 14 to output a control signal to a valve driver 32 for opening and closing the flow path.

The control unit 31 is provided with a setting unit 33, and the setting unit 33 can set the type of fluid. That is, when the type of the fluid to be used is set by the setting unit 33, a setting signal is output from the setting unit 33, and the control unit 31 compares the setting signal with the detection signal, and It is determined whether or not the fluid of the type set in step 1 and the type of the plug 2 connected to the socket 1 match, and a drive control signal is output to the valve drive unit 32 only when they match. It has become.

When a drive control signal is output from the control unit 31 to the valve driving unit 32, the valve driving unit 32
As a result, the socket portion 3 of the socket 1 is slid in the direction of the plug 2, the valves 5 and 14 of the socket 1 and the plug 2 abut against each other, and the respective valves 5 and 14 are opposed to the urging forces of the springs 6 and 13. When pressed and slid, the portions closed by the valves 5 and 14 and the valve seats 7 and 15 are opened, and the channels R1 and R2 communicate with each other via the valve channels 5a and 14a. It has become.

Next, an example of how the control unit 31 identifies the plug 2 will be described. Here, the fluid types are A, B,
The case where there are four types of C and D will be described. In addition, the flange portion 12 of the plug 2 corresponding to each of the fluids A, B, C, and D has the following shape. (A) As shown in FIG.
The groove portion 21 is not formed on the outer periphery of the flange portion 12. (B) As shown in FIG.
One groove 21 is formed on the rear end side of the outer periphery of the flange 12. (C) The plug 2C dedicated to the fluid C is, as shown in FIG.
Grooves 21 are formed on the rear end side and the center of the outer periphery of the flange 12 respectively. (D) The plug 2D dedicated to the fluid D is, as shown in FIG.
Grooves 21 are formed on the rear end side, the center, and the front end side of the outer periphery of the flange portion 12, respectively.

Then, the control section 31 performs the following based on the detection signal from the light receiving element 23 of the detection section 24 as follows.
The type of fluid used for the plug 2 connected to the socket 1 is identified. (1) When there is no detection signal from any of the light receiving elements 23 of the detection unit 24, it is determined that the plug 2 connected to the socket 1 is dedicated to the fluid A. (2) When the detection signal is output only from the light receiving element 23a of the detection unit 24, it is determined that the plug 2 connected to the socket 1 is dedicated to the fluid B. (3) When the detection signals are output from the light receiving elements 23a and 23b of the detection unit 24, it is determined that the plug 2 connected to the socket 1 is dedicated to the fluid C. (4) When a detection signal is output from the light receiving elements 23a, 23b, and 23c of the detection unit 24, the plug 2 connected to the socket 1 is identified as dedicated to the fluid D.

The control unit 31 performs the operations (1) to (3)
A drive control signal is output to the valve drive unit 32 only when the type of the plug 2 is set, as compared with the set signal from the set unit 33, as identified in (4),
The socket portion 3 is slid in the direction of the valve 2 so that the respective flow paths R1 and R2 communicate with each other.

As described above, according to the pipe joint of the above embodiment, just by inserting the plug 2 into the socket 1, the type of the plug 2 inserted into the socket 1 can be identified very easily, and Correctness can be confirmed. Therefore, erroneous connection of the plug 2 to the socket 1 can be reliably prevented, and safety can be greatly improved.

In the pipe joint shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a guide plate 41 is provided at the rear end of the plug 2.
Is slidably supported in a guide groove 43 of a support portion 42 formed in the socket 1.
By sliding the plug 2 toward the socket 1 while supporting the plug 1, the plug 2 is inserted into the socket 1. And in this fitting,
The identification function is added to the guide plate 41 and the guide groove 43. That is, the support part 42 is provided with the detecting part 24 including the light emitting element 22 and the light receiving element 23 at a position facing each other via the guide groove 43, and the guide plate 41 is orthogonal to the sliding direction. A groove 44 is formed in the direction according to the type.

Also in this pipe joint, similarly to the above-mentioned pipe joint, the guide plate 41 is connected to the guide groove 43 of the indicator 42.
Just plug the plug 2 into the socket 1
It is very easy to identify the type of plug 2 inserted in the socket 1 and to confirm the correctness of the fluid to be used, and to prevent the plug 2 from being erroneously connected to the socket 1 without fail. Performance can be greatly improved.
It should be noted that also in this pipe joint, a plug in which the groove portion 44 is not formed in the guide plate 41 is used as the plug 2A dedicated to the fluid A. In the above-described embodiment, the type of the plug 2 is identified by the number of the groove portions 21 and 44 and the formation position. However, the width dimensions of the groove portions 21 and 44 are different for each type so that the groove portions 21 and 44 are different. The type of the plug 2 may be identified based on the difference in the width dimension of the plug 2.

A reference example related to the above embodiment is
Therefore, a pipe joint having a structure that merely prevents misconnection is shown in FIG.
0 and FIG. In this pipe joint, a ridge 45 is formed in the guide groove 43 along the sliding direction of the plug 2, and the plug 2
A groove 46 is formed in the guide plate 41 at a position corresponding to the ridge 45 so that only the guide plate 41 of the specific plug 2 can be fitted in the guide groove 43 . The specific structure and the like near the valve of the pipe joint described in the above embodiment are not limited to the embodiment.

[0024]

As described above, according to the pipe joint of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. According to the pipe joint of the first aspect, just by inserting the plug into the socket, the type of the plug inserted into the socket can be identified very easily, and the correctness of the fluid to be used can be confirmed. Therefore, erroneous connection of the plug to the socket can be reliably prevented, and safety can be greatly improved.

According to the pipe joint of the second aspect, the control unit compares the type identified based on the detection signal from the detection unit with the type set by the setting unit, and determines the type of the plug. If the setting is the same as the setting, the flow path is opened by the valve drive unit, so even if a different type of plug is inserted, communication of the flow path can be reliably prevented, further improving safety. Can be planned. According to the pipe joint according to claim 3, since the groove of the plug is detected by the light receiving element that receives light from the light emitting element, and the type of the plug is identified based on the detection result,
Extremely accurate identification can be easily performed.

According to the pipe joint of the fourth aspect, the type of the plug is detected by detecting the groove formed in the flange portion of the plug along the circumferential direction. The groove can be detected regardless of the direction of insertion. According to the pipe joint of the fifth aspect, in the state where the guide plate of the plug is supported by the guide groove of the support portion of the socket, the plug can be very easily inserted only by sliding the plug toward the socket. Can be identified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a pipe joint illustrating a configuration and a structure of the pipe joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a rear end side of the socket for explaining an installation state of a light emitting element and a light receiving element constituting a detection unit provided in the socket of the pipe joint according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a control system of the pipe joint according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a plug illustrating a different plug shape for each type of pipe joint according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the plug illustrating a different plug shape for each type of the pipe joint according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the plug illustrating a different plug shape for each type of pipe joint according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the plug for explaining a different plug shape for each type of the pipe joint according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pipe joint illustrating a configuration and a structure of a pipe joint according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration and a structure of a pipe joint according to another embodiment of the present invention, on a plug insertion side of the pipe joint.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pipe joint illustrating a configuration and a structure of a pipe joint of a reference example according to the present invention .

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view on the plug insertion side of the pipe joint illustrating the configuration and structure of the pipe joint of the reference example according to the present invention .

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Socket 2 Plug 5, 14 Valve 8 Plug holding hole (holding hole) 12 Flange part 21, 44 Groove part 22 Light emitting element 23 Light receiving element 24 Detecting part 31 Control part 32 Valve driving part 33 Setting part 41 Guide plate 42 Support part 43 Guide Groove R1, R2 Channel

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of plugs provided for each type of fluid, a socket to which one of the plugs is connected, and a valve of each of the plug and the socket connected to the socket are opened and closed, A valve drive unit for communicating / blocking the flow path of the plug and the flow path of the socket, an identification unit provided for the plug in accordance with a type of fluid, and a connection unit provided and connected to the socket. A pipe joint comprising: a detection unit that detects the identification unit of the plug; and a control unit that controls driving of the valve driving unit based on a detection signal of the detection unit. 2. A setting unit for setting a type of fluid is provided, wherein the control unit compares a signal from the setting unit with a detection signal from the detection unit, and determines a fluid of the connected plug. The flow path of the plug and the flow path of the socket are communicated by the valve drive unit when the type matches the type of fluid set by the setting unit. The described pipe fitting. 3. The identification part of the plug includes a groove formed according to a type of fluid, and the detection part of the socket includes a light emitting element that emits light, and a light receiving element that receives light from the light emitting element. The pipe joint according to claim 1, further comprising: a light receiving element that detects the groove and outputs a detection signal. 4. The light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are arranged near the outer peripheral side of the holding hole of the socket into which the plug is inserted, facing each other in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction thereof, and the groove is The pipe joint according to claim 3, wherein a flange is formed along a circumferential direction on a flange portion of the plug that fits into the holding hole. 5. The plug is provided with a guide plate, and the socket is provided with a support portion formed with a guide groove for slidably supporting the guide plate of the plug in an insertion direction, The light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged on the support portion so as to face each other in a direction orthogonal to a plug insertion direction with the guide groove interposed therebetween, and the groove portion is provided in the guide plate in a plug insertion direction. The pipe joint according to claim 3, wherein the pipe joint is formed in a direction orthogonal to the pipe joint.