JP2769763B2 - Quick connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a quick connector having a male member and a female member for connecting a hose or a pipe for transferring fluids such as gasoline, oil, water and air, and more particularly to a locking member. The present invention relates to a quick connector having a simple structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a quick connector, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a receiving cylinder portion 103 having a receiving hole 101 and holding holes 102 and 105 (two pairs each) opened in a wall portion is provided in an axial direction. A female member 100 at one end and a ring-shaped projection 20 projecting in the centrifugal direction and having a tapered surface 201
2 and a male member 200 having a fitting cylindrical portion 203 and a U-shaped locking member 300 bent at a central portion 302 such that both end portions 301 face each other. 58-225290).

When using the above-described quick connector, both ends 301 of the locking member 300 are held in the holding opening 10.
2 and 105, the fitting member 203 of the male member 200 is inserted into the receiving hole 101 with the locking member 300 held by the female member 100. The male member 200 includes the ring-shaped protrusion 20.
Both ends 301 of the locking member 300 are pushed and spread by elastic deformation by the second tapered surface 201 to enter. Then, when the ring-shaped protrusion 202 of the male member 200 exceeds the locking member 300, both ends 301 of the elastically recovered locking member 300 and the locking protrusion 202 are locked. Thus, the female member 100
And the male member 200 are connected.

However, as shown in FIG. 12, the conventional quick connector has a central part 3 of a locking member 300 in which the female member 100 and the male member 200 are connected.
02 protrudes outward from the holding port 102 and the locking member 3
The end portions 301 a of the both end portions 301 of the “00” project outward from the holding port 105. Therefore, when used, the locking member 3
00 at the center 302 and at the ends 301a at both ends 301
Interferes and collides with another member, and the impact causes the locking member 3
00 may come off.

Therefore, the present applicant has developed a quick connector of a type in which a C-ring-shaped locking member is housed in a female member, and filed an application earlier (Japanese Patent Application No. 2-109419). As shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, the quick connector has an opening flange 401 having a receiving opening 401c at one end in the axial direction.
Cylindrical female member 40 provided with a ring-shaped recess 402
0, a cylindrical male member 500 having a ring-shaped protrusion 501 protruding in the centrifugal direction and a fitting cylindrical portion 502;
00 and a C-ring-shaped engaging member 600 held in the receiving cylinder portion 402 of the second embodiment.

The locking member 600 is made of an elastic thin plate spring member, and as shown in FIGS.
The diameter becomes smaller toward the back of
07, a pair of arc-shaped tapered walls 603 and 604 which can be expanded in the ring-shaped concave portion 402 and have a cross section substantially C-shaped. The large-diameter end 605 of the locking member 600 faces the inner end surface of the opening flange 401 with an inner diameter (D1) larger than the inner diameter of the opening flange 401 of the female member 400. The small-diameter end 606 of the diameter member 600 has an inner diameter (D2) smaller than the outer diameter of the ring-shaped protrusion 501 of the male member 500, and is engaged with the ring-shaped protrusion 501. In addition, the locking member 600 has engagement protrusions 601 and 6 on free ends of the arc-shaped tapered walls 603 and 604, respectively.
02 is formed. And this locking member 600,
The engagement protrusions 601 and 602 are brought closer to each other to reduce the diameter, and the engagement protrusions 601 and 602 are passed through one notch 401 a formed in the opening flange 401 of the female member 400, and the other notch formed in the opening flange 401. By passing the engagement protrusion 607 through the 401b, the female member 400 is inserted into the ring-shaped recess 402. Thereby, the locking member 60
0 is restored to its original diameter in the ring-shaped concave portion 402 by its own elastic force, and is mounted substantially coaxially.

In this connector, when the fitting cylinder portion 502 of the male member 500 is inserted into the female member 400 with the locking member 600 housed in the ring-shaped concave portion 402 of the female member 400, the ring of the male member 500 The protrusion 501 is the locking member 60
0 tapered walls 603 and 604 are expanded by elastic deformation,
Further, the user gets over the locking member 600. As a result, the large-diameter end 605 of the elastically restored locking member 600 is
While facing the inner end surface of the opening flange 401 of
The other end 606 on the small diameter side is the ring-shaped projection 50 of the male member 500.
1 and the female member 400 and the male member 500 are connected.

[0008]

In the quick connector disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-109419, the engaging projections 601, 602, 607 of the locking member 600 are suitably formed on the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped recess 402. , The concentricity between the locking member 600 and the ring-shaped recess 402 is enhanced. Accordingly, when the male member 500 is inserted, the ring-shaped protrusion 501 is fixed to the tapered wall 60 of the locking member 600.
3 and 604 so that the locking member 600
And the workability of inserting the male member 500 into the female member 400 is enhanced.

However, since the engaging projections 601, 602, and 607 of the locking member 600 protrude outward from the outer periphery of the C-shaped large-diameter end portion 605, the effect of substantially reducing the diameter is small. When the diameter of the member 600 is reduced, the engagement protrusions 601, 602, and 607 still protrude outward. Therefore, as is apparent from FIG. 14, in order to insert the locking member 600 from the opening flange 401 of the female member 400, the notches 401a and 401b for passing the engagement protrusions 601, 602, and 607 are provided. It is necessary to form the opening flange 401 at 400. Therefore,
When the locking member 600 is inserted from the opening flange 401 of the female member 400, the engagement protrusion 601 of the locking member 600,
It is necessary to align 602 and 607 with these notches 401a and 401b, and the work becomes troublesome. In addition, it leads to an increase in manufacturing cost.

Further, the engaging projection 60 of the locking member 600
1, 602, 607 and ring-shaped recess 40 of female member 400
There is still a gap between the inner peripheral surface of No. 2 and
The concentricity between the female member 400 and the locking member 600 is reduced accordingly. For this reason, the locking member 600 shifts in the radial direction when the diameter is expanded by the ring-shaped protrusion 501 of the male member 500, and the workability of inserting the male member 500 into the female member 400 can be sufficiently satisfied. I couldn't say.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is needless to say that the problem of disengagement of the locking member can be solved and the workability of inserting the male member into the female member can be sufficiently improved. By increasing the diameter-reducing effect of the locking member, the female member can be freely inserted from the opening flange by reducing the diameter of the locking member without making a notch in the opening flange of the female member, and the manufacturing cost is reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a quick connector that can be used.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A quick connector according to the present invention includes an opening flange extending in a centripetal direction at one axial end;
A cylindrical female member having a ring-shaped recess having an inner diameter larger than the opening diameter of the opening flange provided adjacent to the opening flange inside the opening flange; and a centrifugal direction at a predetermined distance from the tip. A cylindrical male member having a protruding ring-shaped protrusion and inserted into the ring-shaped recess from the opening flange; and a cylindrical member held in the ring-shaped recess of the female member and inserted into the ring-shaped recess. A locking member having spring elasticity for connecting the male member to the female member, wherein the locking member faces an inner surface of the opening flange of the female member and is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped recess. A C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the opening flange and being substantially equal to the inner diameter of the ring-shaped concave portion; The C-ring-shaped large-diameter end moves toward The male member has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the ring-shaped protrusion of the male member, and has a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the ring-shaped protrusion. And the ring-shaped recess extending substantially parallel to the axis from the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end toward the small-diameter end, and having substantially the same outer diameter as the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end. A top wall portion at least both circumferential ends of which abut against the inner peripheral surface of the
A pair of connecting wall portions that are bent from both circumferential ends of the top wall portion and extend substantially parallel to each other, and are connected to one circumferential edge of each of the tapered wall portions; At least one connecting portion extending from the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion to the end on the smaller-diameter side of the tapered wall portion and connecting each of the tapered wall portions; Extending from both ends in the direction toward the small-diameter end of the tapered wall, and coupled to the circumferential edge of the tapered wall, from the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end to the small-diameter side. Extends parallel to the axis towards the end,
The C-shaped large-diameter end portion has a pair of end wall portions having an edge contact portion that is in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped concave portion having substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the large-diameter end portion. Things.

[0013]

The locking member according to the quick connector of the present invention comprises:
Since there is no engaging projection that protrudes outward in the circumferential direction unlike the above-described C-shaped locking member of the conventional quick connector, a substantial diameter reduction effect is increased. For this reason, even if the opening flange of the female member is not notched, the female member can be freely inserted from the opening flange by reducing the diameter of the locking member.

Further, other functions of the quick connector of the present invention will be described together with a method of using the quick connector. First, with the locking member housed and held in the ring-shaped recess of the female member, the male member is relatively inserted into the ring-shaped recess from the opening flange of the female member, and the ring-shaped projection of the male member is engaged. The stopper member is pressed against the inner surface of the tapered wall portion, and is elastically deformed so that the small-diameter side end of the tapered wall portion is warped radially outward. At this time, the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion of the locking member, at least both ends in the circumferential direction of the top wall portion of the connecting portion, and the edge contact portions of the pair of tip wall portions are the inner periphery of the ring-shaped concave portion of the female member. The locking member is securely held concentrically in the ring-shaped recess of the female member. Therefore, when the tapered wall portion of the locking member is elastically deformed by the ring-shaped projection of the male member, the locking member does not shift in the radial direction, and the workability of inserting the male member into the female member is extremely good. It becomes something.

Then, when the male member is further inserted, the ring-shaped projection of the male member exceeds the locking member, is inserted inwardly of the locking member, and the tapered wall portion elastically deformed in the radially outward direction is formed by itself. It is restored by the elastic force of. Thus, the ring-shaped protrusion of the male member and the small-diameter end of the tapered wall of the locking member are engaged, and the inner surface of the opening flange of the female member and the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped recess are engaged. The C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion of the stop member is locked, and at least both circumferential end portions of the top wall portion of the connecting portion of the locking member and the edge contact portions of the pair of tip wall portions are ring-shaped concave portions. The male member is connected to the female member.

When the female member and the male member are connected to each other, a locking member for connecting the female member and the male member is housed in the ring-shaped recess of the female member. Therefore, the locking member does not collide with or interfere with another member. Further, the relative movement of the female member and the male member in the axial direction is such that the small-diameter end of the tapered wall portion of the locking member and the ring-shaped projection of the male member are engaged, and the C ring of the locking member is engaged. The large-diameter end portion and the inner surface of the opening flange of the female member are locked, so that it is reliably regulated. In addition, at the small-diameter end of the tapered wall portion of the locking member, the small-diameter end of the tapered wall portion is connected to the connection wall of the connecting portion regulated by the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped recess of the female member. Portion and the end wall portion in the direction perpendicular to the axis. Therefore, even if a large axial force is applied between the female member and the male member in a direction in which the female member and the male member are separated from each other, the locking member is provided at the small-diameter end of the tapered wall portion with the ring-shaped projection of the male member. Can sufficiently receive the force acting in the axial direction, and does not buckle.

Further, a C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion of the locking member,
At least both ends in the circumferential direction of the top wall portion of the connecting portion and the edge contact portions of the pair of tip wall portions are in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped concave portion of the female member, and each tapered wall portion is formed as described above. As described above, since the connection wall portion and the end wall portion of the connecting portion are regulated in the direction perpendicular to the axis, the locking member may float or rattle in the direction perpendicular to the axis in the ring-shaped concave portion of the female member. Absent.

Therefore, the female member and the male member can be firmly connected and held via the locking member.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) A quick connector according to the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 has a female female member 1 in a cylindrical shape, a male male member 2 in a cylindrical shape, and a female member 2. And a locking member 3 made of spring steel.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the female member 1 has an opening flange 10 extending axially at one end in the axial direction, and an opening flange 10 provided inside the opening flange 10 adjacent to the opening flange 10. A cylindrical portion 11 having a ring-shaped concave portion 11a having an inner diameter larger than the opening diameter of the cylindrical portion 11 and a shaft portion 12 formed integrally with the cylindrical portion 11; Cylinder section 11
Is formed by expanding the diameter of one end of the female member 1 in the axial direction. The ring-shaped recess 11a of the receiving cylinder 11
Is formed as a step surface 11b. The shaft 12 has a ring groove 12a, a sealing surface 12b, a first step surface 12c, a ring-shaped fitting surface 12d, and a second step surface 12e. The bush 14 is held in the ring groove 12a, and the seal ring 15 is
And the collar 16 are held.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the male member 2 has a ring-shaped projection 20 projecting in a centrifugal direction at a predetermined distance from one end in the axial direction. And a cylindrical portion 21. The outer diameter of the fitting cylindrical portion 21 of the male member 2 corresponds to the inner diameter of the fitting surface 12 d of the female member 1.
In addition, a hose is connected to the end of the male member 2 on the opposite side of the fitting cylinder 21.

The locking member 3 is, as shown in FIGS.
It has a C-ring overall shape and is formed by cutting and bending a thin stainless steel leaf spring. Locking member 3
Is a C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion 31, a pair of arc-shaped tapered wall portions 32, 32 arranged symmetrically facing each other, and a connecting portion 3.
3 and a pair of tip wall portions 34, 34.

The C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion 31 of the locking member 3 is
It has an outer diameter larger than the opening diameter of the opening flange 10 of the female member 1 and substantially equal to the inner diameter of the ring-shaped recess 11a. Then, the locking member 3 is the ring-shaped recess 1 of the female member 1.
When housed in the inside 1a, the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion 31 of the locking member 3 is in contact with the inner surface of the opening flange 10 and the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped recess 11a.

A pair of arc-shaped tapered wall portions 32 of the locking member 3,
The large-diameter side 32 is formed integrally with the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end 31, and the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end goes from the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end 31 toward the inside of the female member 1. It has a small diameter coaxially with the portion 31. A pair of arc-shaped tapered wall portions 32,
32 has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the ring-shaped projection 20 of the male member 2 and substantially equal to the outer diameter of the fitting tube 21 of the male member 2. When the male member 2 is connected to the female member 1, the pair of arc-shaped tapered wall portions 3
The ends of the small diameter sides of the male member 2 and the ring-shaped protrusion 2
0 and is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the male member 2.

The connecting portion 33 of the locking member 3 extends from the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion 31 to the small-diameter end portion of the arc-shaped tapered wall portion 32 to connect the pair of arc-shaped tapered wall portions 32, 32. I have. The connecting portion 33 includes an arc-shaped top wall portion 33a that contacts the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped concave portion 11a having substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion 31, and both ends in the circumferential direction of the arc-shaped top wall portion 33a. A pair of substantially triangular plate-shaped connection walls 33b, 3b, which are bent from the portions and extend substantially parallel to each other, and are coupled to one circumferential edge of each of the pair of arc-shaped tapered wall portions 32, 32.
3b. And the locking member 3 is the female member 1
In this state, the arc-shaped top wall portion 33a is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped recess 11a of the female member 1.

A pair of tip walls 34, 34 of the locking member 3
Extends from both ends in the circumferential direction of the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion 31 to ends on the small-diameter side of the arc-shaped tapered wall portion 32, and each of the pair of arc-shaped tapered wall portions 32, 32 in the other circumferential direction. Side edge. The distal end wall portion 34 has a substantially triangular shape, and extends symmetrically in parallel with the connection wall portion 33b. Then, a pair of tip wall portions 34, 34
Has a pair of edge contact portions 34a, 34a that contact the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped recess 11a in a state where the locking member 3 is housed in the ring-shaped recess 11a of the female member 1.

The large-diameter end 3 of the C-ring of the locking member 3
When the locking member 3 is in a natural state before being fitted into the female member 1, the outer diameter of the female member 1 is equal to the ring-shaped recess 11 a of the female member 1.
Is set slightly larger than the inner diameter of. The locking member 3 is inserted into the ring-shaped recess 11a from the opening flange 10 while the diameter of the pair of distal end walls 34, 34 is reduced by elastic deformation in a direction approaching each other, so that the elasticity of the locking member 3 itself is increased. It is almost restored to the original diameter by the force, the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion 31, the arc-shaped top wall portion 33a, and the pair of edge contact portions 3
The outer peripheral surfaces of 4a and 34a are fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped recess 11a while being pressed.

Hereinafter, the operation of the quick connector according to the present embodiment will be described together with its method of use. For the female member 1 holding the locking member 3 as described above, first, the fitting cylindrical portion 21 of the male member 2 is inserted from the opening flange 11 into the ring-shaped concave portion 11a of the female member 1, and The ring-shaped protrusion 20 is pressed against the inner surfaces of the pair of arc-shaped tapered walls 32, 32 of the locking member 3, and the small-diameter side ends of the pair of arc-shaped tapered walls 32, 32 are elastically warped radially outward. Deforms (state of FIG. 2).
At this time, the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion 31 of the locking member 3, the arc-shaped top wall portion 33a of the connecting portion 33, and a pair of tip end wall portions 34,
The edge contact portions 34a, 34a of the female member 1 are in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped concave portion 11a of the female member 1, and the locking member 3 is surely concentrically in the ring-shaped concave portion 11a of the female member 1. Is held. The inward movement of the female member 1 of the locking member 3 is regulated by the ends of the connecting portion 33 and the distal end wall portion 34 abutting on the step surface 11b of the ring-shaped concave portion 11a. For this reason, the pair of arc-shaped tapered wall portions 3 of the locking member 3
When the ring members 2 and 32 are elastically deformed by the ring-shaped projections 20 of the male member 2, the locking member 3 does not shift in the radial direction or the axial direction, so that the workability of inserting the male member 2 into the female member 1 is extremely high. It will be good.

Then, when the male member 2 is further inserted, the ring-shaped protrusion 20 of the male member 2 exceeds the locking member 3 and is inserted deeper than the locking member 3, and a pair of elastically deformed radially outward. The arc-shaped tapered wall portions 32, 32 are restored by their own elastic force (the state of FIG. 3). Thereby, the pair of arc-shaped tapered wall portions 32, 32 of the ring-shaped projection 20 of the male member 2 and the locking member 3 are formed.
And the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion 31 of the locking member 3 is locked to the inner surface of the opening flange 10 of the female member 1 and the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped recess 11a. And
Further, the arc-shaped top wall wall 33a of the connecting portion 33 of the locking member 3 and the edge contact portions 34a, 34 of the pair of tip end wall portions 34, 34.
a is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped recess 11a, whereby the male member 2 is connected to the female member 1.

When the female member 1 and the male member 2 are connected to each other, the locking member 3 for connecting the two is housed in the ring-shaped recess 11a of the female member 1. For this reason, the locking member 3
Does not collide with or interfere with other members. The relative movement of the female member 1 and the male member 2 in the axial direction is controlled by the small-diameter end portions of the pair of arc-shaped tapered wall portions 32 of the locking member 3 and the male member 2.
And the C-shaped large-diameter end 31 of the locking member 3 and the inner surface of the opening flange 10 of the female member 1 are securely locked. Is done. Moreover, at the small-diameter end of the arc-shaped tapered wall portion 32 of the locking member 3, the small-diameter end of the arc-shaped tapered wall portion 32 is regulated by the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped recess 11 a of the female member 1. The connecting wall 33 is sandwiched in the direction perpendicular to the axis by the connecting wall 33b and the end wall 34. For this reason,
Even if a large axial force is applied between the female member 1 and the male member 2 in a direction in which the female member 1 and the male member 2 are separated from each other, the locking member 3 is formed by the ring of the male member 2 at the small-diameter end of the arc-shaped tapered wall portion 32. The force acting in the axial direction from the protruding portion 20 can be sufficiently received, and buckling does not occur.

Further, the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion 31 of the locking member 3, the arc-shaped top wall portion 33a of the connecting portion 33, and the edge contact portions 34a, 34a of the pair of tip end walls 34, 34 are female members. The inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped concave portion 11a is in contact with each other, and each arc-shaped tapered wall portion 32 is regulated in the direction perpendicular to the axis by the connecting wall portion 33b and the distal end wall portion 34 of the connecting portion 33 as described above. Therefore, the locking member 3 does not move or rattle in the direction perpendicular to the axis in the ring-shaped concave portion 11a of the female member 1.

Therefore, in the quick connector of the present embodiment, the female member 1 and the male member 2 can be firmly connected and held via the locking member 3. In addition, the locking member 3 of the quick connector of the present embodiment has the engagement protrusions 601, 60 like the quick connector of the prior application shown in FIGS.
2 and 607, the engagement protrusions 601, 6
It is not necessary to form notches 401 a and 401 b for passing the holes 02 and 607 in the receiving opening 401 of the female member 400. For this reason, even if the opening flange 10 of the female member 1 is not notched, it is possible to freely insert the opening member 10 from the opening flange 10 by reducing the diameter of the locking member 3, and the mounting workability of the locking member 3 is improved. . Further, the shape of the opening flange 10 of the female member 1 according to this embodiment can be a simple circular shape (see FIG. 4), and the manufacturing cost of the female member 1 is reduced.

When the male member 2 and the female member 1 are separated from each other, the release member 4 is moved to the back of the female member 1 as shown in FIG. Are pressed against the inner surfaces of the arc-shaped tapered wall portions 32, 32 to be elastically deformed, the engagement between the ring-shaped projection 20 and each of the arc-shaped tapered wall portions 32 is released, and the male member 2 and the female member 1 Should be relatively separated.

In the quick connector in which the male member 2 and the female member 1 are connected to each other, as shown in FIG. The fluid is transferred via the male member 2 and the cylindrical female member 1. (Embodiment 2) The quick connector according to the present embodiment has the same structure as that of Embodiment 1 except that the shape of the locking member is changed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the locking member 3 '
In the locking member 3 of the first embodiment, the arc-shaped tapered wall 3
The number of 2 is three and the number of connecting parts 33 is two, and the other configuration is the same as the locking member 3 of the first embodiment. The quick connector according to the present embodiment also has the same operation and effect as the first embodiment. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a groove 33c extending in the axial direction from the small-diameter end of the arc-shaped tapered wall portion 32 is formed in the arc-shaped top wall portion 33a of each connecting portion 33 of the locking member 3 '. Can also. Thereby, the diameter of the entire locking member 3 ′ can be increased, and the mounting workability when mounting the locking member 3 ′ from the opening flange 10 of the female member 1 into the ring-shaped recess 11 a can be further improved. .

In the above-described embodiment, the top wall of the connecting portion according to the connector of the present invention is the arc-shaped top wall 33a, but is not limited to the arc. For example, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the top wall portion is a straight surface, and both ends in the circumferential direction are in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped concave portion 11a. In addition, the female member 1 can be formed using a resin such as nylon or polypropylene, and the locking members 3 and 3 'can also be formed using a resin having spring elasticity such as nylon.

[0037]

As described in detail above, the quick connector of the present invention can be used before connecting the female member and the male member.
Since the locking member housed in the female member is securely held concentrically in the ring-shaped recess of the female member, the workability when inserting the male member into the female member is extremely good.

When the female member and the male member are connected to each other, the locking member for connecting the female member and the male member is housed in the ring-shaped concave portion of the female member. The inconvenience can be solved without fail. further,
With the female member and the male member connected, the locking member connecting the two members does not rattle in the axial direction and the radial direction. In addition, on the side of the small diameter side of the tapered wall portion, the edge contact portions of the top wall portion and the distal end wall portion of the connecting portion abut against the ring-shaped concave portion of the female member, and the connecting wall portion and the distal end of the connecting portion. Since the wall extends in the direction perpendicular to the axis, the locking member is strong against external forces in the axial direction and the direction perpendicular to the axis, and does not buckle. Therefore, in the quick connector of the present invention, the female member and the male member can be firmly connected and held by the locking member.

Further, the locking member of the quick connector according to the present invention does not need to form a notch for passing the engaging projection in the opening flange of the female member, and the opening flange can be formed in a simple circular shape. It is possible to improve the mounting workability of the locking member and reduce the manufacturing cost of the female member.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a female member according to a quick connector of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view when the male member is inserted into the female member according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment in which a female member and a male member are connected.

FIG. 4 is a view on arrow X in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a locking member according to the first embodiment.

6 is a front view of the locking member, and is a view as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the locking member taken along line BB of FIG. 6;

8 is a cross-sectional view of the locking member taken along line CC of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another aspect of the locking member according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another aspect of the locking member according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional quick connector.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the conventional quick connector.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of another conventional quick connector.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the other conventional quick connector.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a locking member of another conventional quick connector.

FIG. 16 is a front view of a locking member of another conventional quick connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a female member, 10 is an opening flange, 11a is a ring-shaped concave portion, 2 is a male member, 20 is a ring-shaped projection, 3 and 3 'are locking members, 31 is a C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion, and 32 is an arc-shaped portion. A tapered wall portion, 33 is a connecting portion, 33a is an arc-shaped top wall portion, 33b is a connecting wall portion, 34 is a front end wall portion, and 34a is an edge contact portion.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Kato 3600, Gezu, Kita-gaiyama, Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture Tokai Rubber Industries Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-8589 (JP, A) (58) ) Surveyed field (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F16L 37/12

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An opening flange extending in a centripetal direction at one axial end, and a ring-shaped recess having an inner diameter larger than the opening diameter of the opening flange provided adjacent to the opening flange inside the opening flange. A cylindrical female member, a cylindrical male member having a ring-shaped protrusion protruding in a centrifugal direction at a predetermined distance from a distal end, and being inserted into the ring-shaped recess from the opening flange; A locking member having spring elasticity for connecting the male member inserted into the ring-shaped concave portion to the female member, the locking member being held in the ring-shaped concave portion, and the locking member is provided in the opening of the female member. A C-ring-shaped large-diameter end that faces the inner surface of the flange and abuts the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped recess, and has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the opening flange and substantially equal to the inner diameter of the ring-shaped recess. Part and the C-ring shaped large The diameter decreases coaxially with the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end from the end toward the inside of the female member, and the end on the small-diameter side is smaller than the outer diameter of the ring-shaped protrusion of the male member. A plurality of tapered wall portions having an inner diameter and arranged in the circumferential direction to be engaged with the ring-shaped protrusions, and from the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end to the small-diameter side end in parallel with the axis. A top wall portion extending at least both ends in the circumferential direction abutting on the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped concave portion having substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion, and both circumferential ends of the top wall portion; And a pair of connecting walls connected to one peripheral edge of each of the tapered wall portions extending in substantially parallel with each other from the C-shaped large-diameter end portion. At least one connecting portion extending toward an end on the small diameter side of the tapered wall portion and connecting each of the tapered wall portions; The C-ring-shaped large-diameter end extends from both circumferential ends of the large-diameter end toward the small-diameter end of the tapered wall and is coupled to the circumferential end of the tapered wall. An edge contact portion extending parallel to the axis from the portion toward the small-diameter side end portion and abutting against the inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped concave portion having substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the C-ring-shaped large-diameter end portion. A quick connector, comprising: a pair of end wall portions.