JP3092882B2 - Flexible 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 flexible pipe joint for connecting a bellows-shaped flexible pipe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a joint for connecting a flexible pipe formed in a bellows shape, for example, a joint shown in FIG.
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 73785. This is provided with a retaining ring that can be expanded in the joint body, inserts a flexible tube through the retaining ring while expanding the diameter of the retaining ring, and stops the tightening member whose tip is enlarged in a trumpet shape by screwing it into the joint body. This is a joint in which the retaining ring is pushed in while preventing the ring from expanding, and the flexible pipe in front of the retaining ring is crushed and connected to the joint body. A configuration substantially equivalent to this is disclosed in JP-A-3-48094.
This is also disclosed in the official gazette.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional joint for a flexible pipe, firstly, the flexible pipe has to be inserted into the cable so that the retaining ring is expanded and passed through, that is, the flexible pipe is inserted. However, there is a problem that a considerable amount of insertion force is required. Second, the connection is not completed only by inserting the flexible tube, and then the fastening member needs to be screwed into the joint body, which requires a wrench or the like, and the fastening work is troublesome. There is. Third, since the flexible pipe in front of the retaining ring is crushed by the tightening of the fastening member, a considerable force is required for the tightening operation. Further, unless the flexible pipe co-rotates, the fastening member and the retaining ring are inevitably connected to each other. Between them, or between the retaining ring and the flexible pipe, there is a problem that the tightening operation requires more force because the tightening is performed while generating friction. Fourth, the completion of the tightening operation is not clear. If the tightening is too loose, the retaining ring may be pushed out when the pulling force is applied to the flexible tube and the flexible tube may come out. There is a problem that the front flexible pipe may be excessively crushed and damaged.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a joint for a flexible pipe which can complete the main connection simply by pushing in the flexible pipe, does not crush the flexible pipe, generates rotational friction in the circumferential direction, and can easily judge whether the flexible pipe is inserted properly or not. The purpose is to provide.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a large-diameter hole, a medium-diameter hole and a small-diameter hole are provided in order from the inlet side, and a large-diameter step surface is formed between the large-diameter hole and the medium-diameter hole. And a main body having a small-diameter stepped surface formed between the medium-diameter hole and the small-diameter hole, and slidably mounted in the medium-diameter hole of the main body, and the inlet side extends to the large-diameter hole of the main body, and is connected. A sleeve engaged with the distal end portion of the flexible tube to be attempted, a spring interposed between the sleeve and the small-diameter stepped surface of the main body, and a ring-shaped elastically expanding / contracting member; A ring spring fitted into the outer periphery of the valley portion of the flexible pipe, expanded in diameter, and attached to the outer surface on the inlet side of the sleeve; Is smaller than the outer diameter of the ring spring when A flexible having a formed collar, a packing juxtaposed to the collar, sealing between the outer surface of the flexible tube and the main body, and a nut screwed on the inlet side of the main body so as to be capable of being slightly tightened. The above object has been achieved by a pipe joint.

[0006]

The ring spring is mounted on the outer surface on the inlet side of the sleeve with its diameter increased, that is, the outer surface on the inlet side of the sleeve holds the ring spring while preventing the diameter from being reduced by the elastic force of the ring spring. In this state, when the flexible tube is inserted from the inlet side of the main body through the nut, the tip of the flexible tube engages with the sleeve,
When the flexible tube is further pushed in against the pressing force of the spring, the sleeve moves to the back side of the main body while compressing the spring, and the ring spring attached to the outer surface on the inlet side of the sleeve also moves to the back together with the sleeve at first. . However, since the movement of the ring spring to the back side is blocked by the large-diameter step surface of the main body, after the ring spring comes into contact with the large-diameter step surface of the main body, only the sleeve moves to the back side while compressing the spring. As a result, the ring spring is left behind, and the holding of the ring spring by the sleeve is finally released, and the ring spring snaps and snaps into a valley portion of the flexible pipe by its own elastic force. Then, when the flexible tube is released, the spring tries to push the sleeve back to the inlet side. Pushed back,
At the entrance side of the main body, a collar formed with a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the ring spring in the fitted state is attached, so that the movement of the ring spring toward the entrance side is blocked by the collar, and therefore, in the drawing direction of the flexible tube. Is also blocked. On the other hand, the packing seals between the outer surface of the flexible tube and the main body. Further tightening the nut by hand tightening further compresses the packing, making the seal more complete over time. From the above, the flexible tube is eventually connected to the main body with sealing properties.

[0007]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. This flexible pipe joint comprises a main body 1, a nut 2, a sleeve 3, a ring spring 4, a spring 5, a packing 6, a collar 7,
And a watertight packing 8. On the other hand, the distal end portion of the flexible pipe 9 to be connected usually has a cut portion 9a, a first peak portion 9b, a first valley portion 9c, and a second valley portion 9c, as shown in FIG. Mountain part 9d, second valley part 9e, ...
…… is formed, and the outer surface is a protective tube made of synthetic resin.
Coated with 10. First, the main body 1 is formed with a large-diameter hole 1a, a medium-diameter hole 1b, and a small-diameter hole 1c in this order from the inlet side (left side in the drawing) (right side in the drawing), and thus the large-diameter hole 1a and the medium-diameter hole 1b. A large-diameter step surface 1d is formed between the holes, and a small-diameter step surface 1e is formed between the medium-diameter hole 1b and the small-diameter hole 1c. A sleeve 3 is axially slidably mounted in the medium-diameter hole 1b of the main body, and the inlet-side end of the sleeve 3 extends to the large-diameter hole 1a of the main body. Sleeve 3
As shown in FIG. 2, the inner surface of the sloping surface 3a which increases in diameter toward the inlet side (left side in the drawing) so as to guide the distal end of the flexible tube and engages with the first peak portion 9b of the flexible tube.
Is formed. The sleeve 3 and the flexible tube 9
The sleeve 3 can be formed so as to engage with the cut surface of the distal end of the flexible tube 9. However, although the tip of the flexible tube 9 is usually cut at a valley, its position is not necessarily constant. Therefore, the engagement state between the sleeve 3 and the flexible pipe 9 is formed in such a manner as to be engaged with the first peak portion 9b of the flexible pipe as in this embodiment, rather than being engaged with the cut end face of the flexible pipe 9. It is preferable because the mutual positional relationship in the axial direction is accurate.

The inlet-side end of the sleeve 3 is a large-diameter hole 1 of the main body.
The ring spring 4 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 3 at this portion. The ring spring 4 is formed in a ring shape having a shape in which a steel wire is wound around the outer periphery of a donut.
The winding diameter is a diameter that fits into the valley of the flexible pipe 9,
The overall diameter in the free state also forms a diameter that fits into the valley of the flexible tube 9. Therefore, when the ring spring 4 is mounted on the outer surface on the inlet side of the sleeve 3, the diameter of the ring spring 4 is larger than in the free state. A collar 7 is mounted next to the ring spring 4. The inner peripheral surface of the collar 7 is formed to have a slightly larger diameter than the outer diameter of the ridge of the flexible pipe 9, and the entire diameter of the ring spring 4 when the ring spring 4 is fitted into the valley of the flexible pipe 9. It is formed with a smaller diameter than that. Further, in the present embodiment, the inner diameter on the ring spring side is formed on a tapered surface 7a whose diameter increases toward the back. On the other hand, the outer peripheral surface is formed in a bulged portion 7b wider than the inner peripheral side so that even if a force is applied from the entrance side of the main body, it is devised so that it does not fall down inadvertently. Color 7
A packing 6 having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ridge of the flexible tube 9 is mounted next to the box. An internal thread is cut into the large-diameter hole 1a of the main body, and an external thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the nut 2 (right side in the drawing) is screwed to the internal thread. A watertight packing groove is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the nut 2, and a watertight packing 8 having an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the protective tube 10 is mounted in the watertight packing groove.

[0009] As shown in FIG .
When the sleeve 3 is pushed by the
The ring spring 4 supported on the outer peripheral surface of the leave 3
Flexi that has been removed from the sleeve 3
It fits into the valley of the bull tube 9. Here, tighten nut 2
Then, the packing 6 and the collar 7 are pushed as shown in FIG.
Sliding inside the diameter hole 1a, the tapered surface 7a of the collar 7 and the three
The ring spring 4 is clamped by the inclined surface 3a of the valve 3.
In the figure, the coil spring 4 is the first valley of the flexible tube 9
The flexible tube 9 is fitted into , for example, the second valley portion 9e .
The position of the inclined surface 3a that engages with the kibble tube 9 can be arranged further deeper (right side in the drawing). Between the sleeve 3 and the body of the small-diameter stepped surface 1e, the spring 5 is interposed in a compressed state, it is moved to the inlet side of the sleeve 3 nuts
Abuts on the end face of the collar 7 supported by the screwing of
Has been blocked. The spring 5 prevents the sleeve 3 from sliding freely, and when the ring spring 4 is fitted into the first valley 9c of the flexible tube, the ring spring 4
It is preferable to mount in a compressed state as in the present embodiment so that is strongly pressed against the tapered surface 7a of the collar.

This embodiment is configured as described above.
First, the procedure for assembling each member will be described.
The ring spring 4 is mounted on the nut 2 with its diameter increased, and the watertight packing 8 is mounted on the inner surface of the nut 2. Next, the spring 5, the sleeve 3, the collar 7, and the packing 6 are sequentially inserted into the main body 1, and the nut 2 is screwed to the main body 1 to complete the assembly with a margin for a further tightening. As shown in FIG. 1, the extra tightening allowance in the assembled state means that the space between the nut 2 and the large-diameter step surface 1d is restrained by the ring spring 4, the collar 7, and the packing 6, and the nut 2 There is no room for additional tightening. However, after connecting the flexible tube,
As shown in the figure, there is a degree of freedom to move to the back of the main unit.
The nut 2 can be lightly re-tightened by a human hand for about one to two turns. It should be noted that the assembly is performed so that the basic performance such as the sealing property after connection and the pull-out preventing force can be sufficiently satisfied even in the nut tightened state. The ring spring 4 is mounted on the outer surface on the inlet side of the sleeve 3 with its diameter increased, that is, the outer surface on the inlet side of the sleeve 3 holds the ring spring 4 while preventing the diameter of the ring spring 4 from being reduced by the elastic force. I have.

Next, a method of using the joint for a flexible pipe will be described. First, cut off the protective tube 10 to a certain length and cut the nut 2
When the flexible pipe 9 is inserted from the inlet side (left side in the drawing), the first ridge 9b of the flexible pipe rides over the packing 6 and further engages with the inclined surface 3a of the sleeve as shown in FIG. When the flexible tube 9 is further pushed in against the pressure, the sleeve 3 moves to the far side (the right side in the drawing) of the main body 1 while compressing the spring 5, and the sleeve 3
The ring spring 4 mounted on the outer surface on the inlet side of the first member also moves to the back side together with the sleeve 3 initially. However, at this time, the collar 7 does not move to the rear side because the friction of the outer diameter surface of the bulging portion is larger. However, since the movement of the ring spring 4 to the far side is blocked by the large-diameter step surface 1d of the main body, only the sleeve 3 compresses the spring 5 after the ring spring 4 comes into contact with the large-diameter step surface 1d of the main body. The ring spring 4 is left behind while moving backward. As a result, when the distance from the large-diameter step surface 1d of the main body to the inlet-side end surface of the sleeve 3 becomes half of the winding diameter of the ring spring 4, that is, when the distance becomes equal to the winding radius of the ring spring 4. The ring spring 4 starts reducing the diameter by the elastic force, so that the ring spring 4 moves toward the inner end face of the nut 2 and comes into contact with the end face. Still further, when the flexible tube 9 is pushed in, the ring spring 4 gradually falls into the gap between the end face of the collar 7 and the inlet end face of the sleeve 3, and when the gap becomes equal to the winding diameter of the ring spring 4, The holding of the ring spring 4 by the sleeve 3 is completely released, and the ring spring 4 is reduced in diameter at a stretch by its own elastic force, and fits into the first valley portion 9c of the flexible pipe as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the holding of the ring spring 4 by the sleeve 3 is released, a clicking sound is emitted.

When the pushing of the flexible tube 9 is released thereafter, the spring 5 tries to push the sleeve 3 back to the inlet side, so that the flexible tube 9 engaged with the inclined surface 3a of the sleeve is also pushed back to the inlet side, and the flexible tube 9 is pushed back. The ring spring 4 fitted in the first valley portion 9c is also pushed back to the inlet side, but a collar 7 having a smaller diameter than the entire diameter of the fitted ring spring 4 is mounted on the inlet side of the main body 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the movement of the ring spring 4 toward the inlet side is prevented by the tapered surface 7b formed on the collar 7, and the ring spring 4 is further subjected to the diameter reducing action by the tapered surface 7b so that the ring spring 4 Firmly fit into the valley. In addition, since the outer diameter of the ring spring 4 is larger than the gap between the rear end surface of the collar 7 and the distal end surface of the sleeve 3, the ring spring is also prevented from escaping in the outer diameter direction. Therefore, the movement of the flexible tube 9 in the drawing direction (left direction in the drawing) is completely prevented.

If the nut 2 is tightened thereafter, the packing 6 is further compressed between the outer surface of the ridge of the flexible tube 9 and the large-diameter hole 1a of the main body, so that a safer seal can be achieved for a long time. Since the watertight packing 8 prevents foreign matters such as water from entering the main joint from outside, the flexible pipe 9 is connected to the main body with a sealing property. If the nut 2 cannot be tightened even if it cannot be tightened as described above, it means that the ring spring 4 could not be normally inserted into the valley of the flexible pipe, or that the connection state is abnormal. . That is, it is possible to confirm whether or not the flexible pipe has been normally connected based on whether or not the nut can be retightened.

As a countermeasure against a fire, a fireproof O-ring (not shown) is mounted between the main body 1 and the nut 2, and a fireproof packing (same front) is mounted together with the packing 6 either before or after the same. You can also.

[0015]

According to the joint for a flexible pipe of the present invention, the connection is completed only by pushing in the flexible pipe, and the connection work is greatly simplified since no wrench or the like is required. Further, there is no rotational friction in the circumferential direction, and the flexible tube is not crushed, so that there is no danger of damaging the flexible tube. Further, when the connection is completed, a snapping sound is emitted, and the completion of the connection work can be easily determined based on whether or not the nut can be further tightened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an upper half sectional lower half front view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an upper half sectional view showing a state where the flexible tube of the embodiment is inserted.

FIG. 3 is an upper half sectional view showing a state in which the flexible tube of the embodiment is pushed in.

FIG. 4 is an upper half sectional view showing connection completion of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible pipe joint showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Body 1a ... Large diameter hole 1b ... Medium diameter hole 1c ... Small diameter hole 1d ... Large diameter step surface 1e ... Small diameter step surface 2 ... Nut 3 ... Sleeve 3a ... Inclined surface 4 ... Ring spring 5 ... Spring 6 ... Packing 7 ... Collar 7a ... Inner end inner peripheral surface 7b ... Tapered surface 8 ... Watertight packing 9 ... Flexible pipe 9a ... Cutting part 9b ... First crest 9c ... First trough 9d ... Second crest 9e ... Second trough 10 ... Protection tube

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-73785 (JP, U) JP-A-3-91592 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F16L 33/00 F16L 33/26 F16L 37/00-37/28

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A large-diameter hole, a medium-diameter hole, and a small-diameter hole in order from an inlet side, a large-diameter step surface between the large-diameter hole and the medium-diameter hole, and a medium-diameter hole and a small-diameter hole. A main body having a small-diameter stepped surface between the main body and a tip end portion of a flexible pipe which is slidably mounted in the medium-diameter hole of the main body, and whose inlet side extends to the large-diameter hole of the main body and is to be connected. A spring interposed between the sleeve and the small-diameter stepped surface of the main body; formed in a ring shape and elastically expanded and contracted, and fitted into the outer periphery of the valley portion of the flexible tube in a free state. and, diameter to the ring spring mounted on the inlet side outer surface of the sleeve, the ring spring of the inlet side arranged to slide on the large-diameter hole
Circumferential plane kinematic freely mounted is a color that is a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the ring spring when the ring spring is fitted to the valley portion outer periphery of the flexible tube, juxtaposed to the inlet side of the collar, the A joint for a flexible pipe, comprising: a packing for sealing between an outer surface of a flexible pipe and the main body; and a nut screwed into the inlet side of the main body so as to be capable of being slightly retightened.