JP3432885B2 - 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 pipes for automobiles, construction machines and machine tools, and more particularly to a pipe joint suitable for connecting and disconnecting pipes in a narrow space where tools are difficult to use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among conventional pipe joints, there is a ball lock type pipe joint in which a connecting member is formed of steel balls, and a male body (nose) 5 connected to a pipe 51 as shown in FIG.
2 are inserted into the female body (body) 53, and are joined by the steel balls 58 inserted between the respective facing concave portions and O
-The structure is sealed by the ring 55.

The steel ball 58 is locked by contacting the lower surface of the collar 54 inserted by compressing the color spring 56, and the collar 54 is locked by the female body 53 by a stop ring 57. However, since the collar 54 always compresses the collar spring 56 and moves along the outer periphery of the female body 3, the steel body 58 can be removed, that is, the pipe joint can be unintentionally removed, which is not safe and Furthermore, there is a drawback that the collar 54 is easily detached by vibration or careless external force applied to the collar 54. In some cases, it is difficult to remove in a narrow space, and when it is used outdoors such as construction equipment, there is also a problem that it becomes difficult to remove due to clogging with mud and dust.

[0004]

However, the present inventor has already made a number of proposals to improve the drawbacks of the prior art. For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-88026 discloses a tube having a new structure. Proposing fittings. Such a pipe joint has features that the fitting can be surely continued and can be easily attached and detached. The present invention is Japanese Patent Application No. 4-880.
No. 26 relates to a further improvement of the pipe joint proposed in No. 26, and even if an external force is applied to the annular pressing piece in the axial direction, the male body is never pulled out from the female body. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a pipe joint in which safety is particularly emphasized, because abrasion resistance is improved by preventing sliding in the axial direction.

[0005]

The present invention adopts the following constitution in order to achieve the above object. That is, a tubular male body and a female body both connected from a tubular body, the male body is fitted into the female body, and the annular coupling is provided in the space secured by the circumferential grooves formed on the opposing surfaces of both bodies. A member is fitted in to integrate the two bodies, and the annular coupling member is a coupling member made of an elastic material whose diameter can be expanded or reduced when viewed from the tubular body. An annular pressing piece is provided from the front of the body so as to be slidable between the male body and the female body in the axial direction of the pipe body, and the tip end of the annular pressing piece presses the annular coupling member to expand or contract the diameter. Is a pipe joint for accommodating the annular coupling member in the groove, and a spring is fitted and inserted into a step portion formed on the outer periphery of the female body, and two annular covers A and B are fitted and inserted so as to cover the spring. , And annular cover A,
B overlaps each other, and the annular cover on the rear side of the female body
A is fixed to the female body, and the protrusion formed on the inner side of the annular cover B on the front side of the female body is fitted to the rear side of the protrusion formed on the outer periphery of the distal end of the female body to axially rearward of the female body. It is not possible to elastically slide with the spring toward the annular cover.
B and the annular pressing piece are connected to each other, and a notch and a protrusion which are fitted to each other are formed in the overlapping portions of the annular cover A and the annular cover B, and the annular cover is fitted to each other. A pipe joint characterized in that B is provided with a slide space.

Speaking of the space into which the annular coupling member is inserted, one is that the groove on the male side has a trapezoidal shape with a wide mouth in an axial cross section, and the groove on the female side has a small diameter on the front side of inserting the male body and the rear side. The other side is a large-diameter step groove, and the other side is a female-side groove section with a wide mouth trapezoid in an axial cross section.The male-side groove section has a large-diameter step groove on the front side and a small-diameter step groove on the rear side. It is a pipe joint. In particular, the large-diameter portion of the step groove has a sufficient space for accommodating the expanded or reduced diameter annular coupling member.

Further, in the above-mentioned annular pressing piece, the tip end is inserted between the male body and the female body, and the diameter of the connecting member is expanded or reduced only by pressing this in the axial direction of the pipe. It facilitates the separation of the two bodies. Such an annular pressing piece,
Usually, it has an annular cover portion that covers the outer circumference of the female body, and is elastically attached to the female body in the axial direction of the tube by a spring provided in the annular cover.

An annular cover for elastically attaching the annular pressing piece
Is composed of annular covers A and B divided into two parts, both of which have a length in which a part of them is overlapped,
Here, a notch and a protrusion which are fitted to each other are provided. In particular, the annular cover A is formed with an L-shaped or T-shaped notch, while the annular cover B is L-shaped or T-shaped so that the annular cover A can be mounted in the notch. The projection is formed. Further, preferably, an annular recessed groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the annular cover B toward the front end side so as to facilitate the attachment / detachment.

[0009]

The operation of the present invention will be described with reference to its concrete example. A wide-mouthed trapezoidal groove having a taper surface is formed on the outer peripheral surface of a male body, and the male body is fitted into a female body to slide. By moving, the connecting member made of an elastic body, which was mounted on the large-diameter groove side of the stepped groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the female body, expands in diameter, and reaches the trapezoidal groove to reduce the diameter. Combined and integrated. Then, due to the increase in pressure, a force is exerted on the male body to shift it in the opposite fitting direction, the coupling member is locked to the small diameter side of the stepped groove, and in this state, the coupling during pressurization (when in use) is maintained.

On the other hand, at the time of separation, the male body is pushed beyond the position before pressurization. As a result, the connecting member is pushed by the taper of the trapezoidal groove formed in the male body and retracts to move from the small diameter portion of the step groove to the large diameter portion. Further, the connecting member rides over the trapezoidal groove, expands to the outer peripheral surface of the male body in the large-diameter portion of the step groove, and rides up.

In this state, the annular pressing piece abutted against the flange of the male body is pressed in the pushing direction of the male body, and the tip of the annular pressing piece is inserted inside the annular coupling member to form the annular coupling. The diameter of the member is prevented from being reduced, and the male body is pulled out in this state. When pulling out (separating) this male body,
It suffices to keep the annular cover part that pushes the annular pressing piece on the female body side against the spring by sliding it, and after the male body is pulled out, the original spring is provided by the spring inside the annular cover. Then, the annular connecting member also returns to its original diameter.

A further characteristic feature of the present invention is that the annular cover is divided into left and right parts with a spring in between, and a cover A fixed to the rear side of the female body and a distal end side of the female body. It is divided into a circular cover B which is to be used. And the overlapped portion is provided with a notch and a protrusion that are fitted to each other,
In particular, by sliding the annular cover B in the axial direction, the annular pressing piece is used to prevent the diameter reduction of the annular combined body.

However, when the male body is pulled out, that is, when the male body is separated from the male body, the annular cover B is slid toward the rear of the female body together with the annular pressing piece. Although it is necessary to secure the slide space, the slide space is not produced until the notch and the projection are fitted together.

Except for the time of separation, the annular covers are mutually provided.
The slide space is not provided without rotating A and B in the circumferential direction of the female body so that they do not coincide with each other. That is, after the male body is inserted into the female body, for example, the protrusion formed on the annular cover B is circumferentially rotated to a position other than the cutout portion of the annular cover A so as to rotate the annular cover.
The sliding of B in the axial direction is completely prevented, so that the unexpected removal of the male body does not occur at all, and the performance is improved by preventing abrasion.

The notches and the protrusions formed on the annular covers A and B are respectively formed into L-shaped or T-shaped strips so that they are fitted together and rotated in the circumferential direction of the female body. Completely, so that the annular cover B cannot be restored. This prevents the annular pressing piece from returning to its original position, and thus the state in which the diameter reduction of the annular coupling body is prevented is continued, which facilitates the withdrawal of the male body from the female body. This fitting can be released by rotating the annular cover B in the opposite direction. Especially when the male body is pulled out from the female body, the male body is pulled out in this state by inserting the tip of the driver into the annular groove provided on the outer periphery of the annular cover B, which is difficult to work. Even in a narrow space, the two can be easily separated.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A specific example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this example. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the first embodiment of the pipe joint 1 of the present invention, and FIG.
2 is a partially cutaway side view showing only the male body 2 in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is likewise a partially cutaway side view of the female body 3.

In FIG. 2, a male body 2 connected by a tube body (not shown) is fitted in a similar female body 3, and a taper-4 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tip of this male body 2. It has a tapered tip. On the other hand, a groove 5 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the female body 3, and an O-ring 6 and a backup ring 6 ₁ made of a rubber-like elastic body are mounted in the groove 5 so that both bodies 2, 3
We are sealing between. Grooves 7 and 8 are formed on the opposing surfaces of the two bodies 2 and 3, respectively, and an annular coupling member 9 made of an elastic body is fitted in the space formed by the both grooves.

The groove 7 provided in the male body 2 is a groove having a trapezoidal cross section, and tapers 10 and 11 are formed in the front and rear thereof. The taper 10 is for moving the annular connecting member 9 at the time of separation, and the one taper 11 is a surface for supporting the annular connecting member 9 during use under high pressure.

On the other hand, a groove 8 is formed on the female body 3 side, that is, a stepped groove 12 having a small diameter and a large diameter. In this example, the small diameter groove 13 is located closer to the tip side than the large diameter groove 14. Particularly, tapers 15 and 16 are formed at the ends of the small-diameter groove 13 and in the middle of the small-diameter groove 13 and the large-diameter groove 14, respectively. This taper 15 serves to sandwich and support the annular connecting member 9 with the taper 10, while the taper 16 is provided.
Is the movement between the small diameter groove 13 and the large diameter groove 14 of the annular coupling member 9,
That is, this is for smoothing the expansion and contraction of the annular connecting member 9.

An annular pressing piece 17 is inserted into the gap between the male body 2 and the female body 3 from the front of the female body 3, and a tip 18 thereof faces the annular coupling member 9. Then, this annular pressing piece 17
The rear end 19 has a flange shape and is engaged with an inner step portion 41 of the annular cover B.

A step portion 42 is formed on the outer circumference of the female body 3 and the spring 21 is fitted therein. The two spring-shaped covers A and B overlap each other to cover the spring 21. Then, the annular cover A on the rear side is fixed by fitting the circumferential groove 43 formed on the inner surface thereof and the ridge 44 formed on the outer surface of the female body 3. On the other hand, annular cover B
Is mounted on the inner side of the ridge 45 formed on the inner surface of the female body 3 over the ridge 46 formed on the tip of the female body 3 and prevents the spring 21 from coming into contact with the ridge 45. The elastic force is always applied toward the front of the female body 3. That is, the annular covers A and B overlap each other (in this example, the annular cover B is on the inside and overlap), and the annular cover A does not move at least in the axial direction of the female body. However, the annular cover B is always elastically pushed toward the tip side of the female body 3 by the spring 21. Therefore, the annular cover B can be slid axially rearward of the female body 3, and the annular pressing piece 17 is also axially moved together with the sliding.

On the other hand, in the weighted portions of the annular covers A and B, the notches 47 and the protrusions 48 which are fitted to each other are formed, and in this example, the notches 47 are formed in the annular cover A.
Are formed on the annular cover B, respectively. That is, when the both 47, 48 are matched, a stroke in which the annular cover B can slide is secured, but when they are not matched, for example, the annular cover B is rotated in the circumferential direction of the female body 3. As shown in the figure, the protrusion 48 is provided with a notch 47.
When it is moved from the position, the annular cover B slides almost completely. Therefore, in this case, no matter how much external force is applied to the annular cover B, the male body does not slide in the axial direction, so that the male body does not slip out and prematurely wear.
The ring-shaped covers A and B are made of resin.

Next, the connection and separation of the two bodies will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. First, when joining the two bodies,
FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a state in which the male body 2 is slightly fitted into the female body 3.

By inserting the male body 2 in the F direction, the taper-4 formed at the tip of the male body 2 is attached to the annular connecting member 9.
Is inserted in a state where the diameter is expanded from the inside. The annular coupling member 9 is an elastic ring with a part cut away, and is gradually expanded in the large-diameter groove 14 to have the initial diameter in the groove 7 having a trapezoidal cross section formed on the outer surface of the male body 2. The diameter will be reduced and it will be stored.

The state in use is as shown in FIG. 2 described above. When this pipe joint is used, high pressure is applied, so that the male body 2 and the female body 3 receive forces in opposite directions, respectively, so that they are in opposite directions. It will be slightly shifted to. That is, the male body 2 shifts in the direction opposite to the F direction, and the female body 3 shifts in the F direction. Thus, in use, the annular coupling member 9 has the small-diameter groove 1 forming the trapezoidal groove 7 and the step groove 12.
It is fitted between the taper 15 and the taper 3 and is sandwiched by the taper 15 and the taper 11 to hold the connection between the both when the pressure is applied. The male body 2 can be easily pressed against the female body 3 in the F direction only when there is no load, but when pressure is applied, a large load is applied in the direction opposite to the pressing direction, so that it cannot be pressed manually. Unnecessary separation during pressurization cannot be performed and safety is maintained.

Further, when the male body 2 and the female body 3 are fitted together, the annular covers A and B cover the periphery thereof to prevent the intrusion of dust and the like, and at the time of use, the annular cover A. , B, it is necessary to shift the positional relationship between the notch 47 and the protrusion 48 (dotted line). This is because the male body 2 and the female body 3 are subject to vibration, pulsation or even if a large external force is applied.
This means that the male body 2 can be completely prevented from slipping out without being moved by these vibrations and the like.

Next, at the time of separation, first, the annular cover A,
B is rotated in the circumferential direction so that the notch 47 and the protrusion 48 are aligned with each other, then the pressure inside the pipe joint 1 is lowered, and then the male body 2 is pushed in the F direction. Then, the annular connecting member 9 is pushed by the taper 10 formed in the trapezoidal groove 7, and the small diameter groove 13 is formed.
It is pushed into the large-diameter groove 14 from the inside and comes out. Then, the diameter of the annular connecting member 9 is further expanded, comes out of the taper 10 of the trapezoidal groove 7, and rides on the outer peripheral surface of the male body 2.

When the male body 2 is further pushed in the F direction after reaching such a state, the annular cover B is pushed together with the male body 2 against the force of the spring 21, and the engagement is integrated. The annular pressing piece 17 that is being pressed is also pressed in the F direction. Then, the tip end 18 of the annular pressing piece 17 interrupts between the annular coupling member 9 and the male body 2, and holds the annular coupling member 9 in the large-diameter groove 14 in a state where the diameter is expanded. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing this state.

In this state, the male body 2 is pressed while pressing the annular cover B with a finger, that is, while the tip end 18 of the annular pressing piece 17 is kept interrupted between the annular connecting member 9 and the male body 2. Both can be easily separated by pulling them out in the direction G opposite to F. When the work space is narrow when holding down the annular cover B, it becomes difficult for a finger or the like to press the annular cover. Therefore, preferably, the elongated tip of the driver 50 or the like is inserted into the recessed groove 51 provided on the outer circumference of the annular cover B from the pulling direction of the male body 2, and the male body 2 may be pulled out in this state. Becomes In the figure, reference numeral 52 is a rib for forming the recessed groove 51.

Of course, from this state, by releasing the force of the finger pressing the annular cover B or the force applied to the driver, the elasticity of the spring 21 causes the annular pressing piece 17 to return to the initial position. In order to return, the relationship between the annular connecting member 9 and the tip 18 of the annular pressing piece 17 is broken, and the diameter is easily returned to the initial diameter by the reducing force of the annular connecting member 9.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the pipe joint 1 of the present invention. In this example, a groove having a trapezoidal cross section as shown in FIG. 24, corresponding to which a stepped groove 27 composed of a small diameter groove 25 and a large diameter groove 26 is formed in the male body 2, and the small diameter groove 25 is arranged on the tip side of the male body 2. is there.

In this example, the annular coupling member 9 is once expanded in diameter and mounted in the step groove 27. The annular connecting member 9 returns to the initial diameter in the large-diameter groove 26.
The outer diameter of the large-diameter groove 2 is selected to be larger than the outer diameter of the male body 2, and when the annular coupling member 9 is reduced in diameter.
The size and shape that fits within 6 are selected. When used under a high pressure, the annular connecting member 9 causes the small-diameter groove 2 to
5, the taper 28 of the trapezoidal groove 24 and the small diameter groove 25.
It is sandwiched between the taper 29 and the taper 29, and the two bodies are connected and never come off.

On the other hand, at the time of separation, the male body 2 is pushed in the F direction. Then, the ring-shaped connecting member 9 is prevented from moving by the taper 30 on the other side of the trapezoidal groove 24 and is reduced in diameter, which is further reduced in diameter and accommodated in the large-diameter groove 26 and the inner peripheral surface of the female body 3. Get stuck. After this state, the male body 2 is further F
When pushed in the direction, the tip 18 of the annular pressing piece 17 integral with the annular cover B (not shown) interrupts between the annular connecting member 9 and the female body 3 and reduces the diameter of the annular connecting member 9. .
Then, in this state, the male body 2 is pulled out.

Of course, from this state, by releasing the force of the finger pressing the annular cover B or the force applied to the driver, the elasticity of the spring 21 returns the annular pressing piece 17 to the initial position. Therefore, the relationship between the annular connecting member 9 and the tip 18 of the annular pressing piece 17 is broken, and the diameter is easily returned to the initial diameter by the expanding force of the annular connecting member 9.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing another example of the annular covers A and B. The annular cover A is formed with an L-shaped notch 47, and the annular cover B has a corresponding L. V-shaped protrusion 48
Is formed. In this example, the protrusion 48 and the notch 47 are aligned with each other to ensure the sliding length of the annular cover B. Further, in this example,
By rotating any one of the annular covers in the circumferential direction, the L-shaped tip 48 ₁ of the protrusion 48 enters into the L-shaped tip 47 _{1 of the} cutout 47 (one-dot chain line) to provide a fit. Therefore, in this case, when separating the male body 2, it is not necessary to press the annular cover B with a finger or the like.

In this example, the annular cover A has a notch 47.
Although the protrusions 48 are formed on the annular cover B, it goes without saying that they may be formed in reverse. Also, annular covers A and B
The superposition of may be reversed.

Further, when the annular covers A and B are overlapped with each other, the space therebetween is widest in the separated state, and the space is narrowed in the connected state. Therefore, if a mark such as a line (line 49 in FIG. 2) is attached to the surface of the cover which is the inner side when overlapping, this mark 49
By checking the above, it is possible to surely judge whether or not the connection is completed. That is, if the mark 49 is hidden by the annular cover A as shown in FIG. 1, it can be seen at a glance that the two are completely fitted together.

[0038]

According to the present invention, not only the coupling as a pipe joint but also the separation is easy, and the coupling and separation of the pipe joint can be easily performed even in a narrow working space, and the shape of the pipe joint is simplified. It has the effect of reducing the cost. or,
By attaching a two-part special annular cover that holds the gap between the male body and the female body, unexpected disconnection and wear of the male body can be completely prevented, which contributes to the industry. Is big.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway sectional view of a conventional ball lock type pipe joint.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the first embodiment of the pipe joint of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view showing only the male body in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view in which a female body is likewise taken out.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a state in which a male body is slightly fitted in a female body.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state when a male body is separated from a female body.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a second embodiment of the pipe joint of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing another example of the annular covers A and B.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Pipe fittings, 2 Male 3 ... Female body, 5 ... Female internal circumferential groove, 6 ... O-ring, 7 ... Grooves provided on the male body, 8 Grooves provided in the female body, 9 ... Ring connecting member, 10, 11, 28, 30 ... (trapezoidal) groove taper, 12, 27 ... Step groove, 13, 25 ... small groove, 14, 26 ... Large diameter groove, 15, 16, 29 ..... Taper in step groove, 17 ... Annular pressing piece, 18 ... Tip of the annular pressing piece 17, 19, the other end of the annular pressing piece 17, 20 ... A flange provided on the outer circumference of the female body, 21 ... Spring, 22 ... Collar part provided on the outer circumference of the male body, 23 ... Inner peripheral end of main body of annular pressing piece, 24 .. Female groove, 31 ... Elastic ring, 32 ... A taper formed on the outer periphery of the female body, 33 ... A stepped portion formed on the annular cover. 41 ... Inner step of the annular cover B, 42 ... the outer peripheral step of the female body, 43 ... Circumferential groove of annular cover A, 44 ... A ridge on the outer peripheral surface of the female body, 45 ... Ridge of annular cover B, 46 ... A ridge at the tip of the female body, 47 ... Notch 48 ... 49 ... Marker line, 50 ... driver 51 ... Recessed groove, 52 ... Rib.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Masamichi Shiozaki 1-1-1, Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Bridgestone Flowtec Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP 5-256390 (JP, A) Flat 3-93686 (JP, U) Actual Open Sho 61-206192 (JP, U) Actual Open Sho 63-15391 (JP, U) Actual Open Sho 48-59415 (JP, U) Actual Open Flat 5-54891 (JP , U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F16L 37/22

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tubular male body and a female body both connected from a tubular body, wherein the male body is fitted into a female body, and a sealing material such as an O-ring is attached to the opposing surface of the female body. The annular coupling member is inserted into the space secured by the circumferential grooves formed on the opposing surfaces of the two bodies to integrate the two bodies. A connecting member made of an elastic material whose diameter can be expanded or reduced when viewed, and an annular pressing piece slides in the axial direction of the tubular body between the male body and the female body from the front of the female body with respect to the annular coupling member. A pipe joint that is movably provided and presses the annular coupling member by the tip of the annular pressing piece to increase or decrease the diameter to accommodate the annular coupling member in the groove, and the outer periphery of the female body. A spring is fitted into the step portion formed in, and the two annular covers A are covered to cover the spring.
B is inserted and the annular covers A and B are overlapped with each other, the annular cover A on the rear end side of the female body is fixed to the female body, and the rear of the projection formed on the outer periphery of the distal end of the female body On the side,
The projection formed on the inside of the annular cover B on the front side of the female body is fitted to the female body so that it can be elastically slid toward the axially rearward direction of the female body by the spring, and the annular cover B and the annular pressing piece. And the annular cover A and the annular cover B are overlapped with each other to form a notch and a protrusion which are fitted to each other, and by fitting these, a slide space is attached to the annular cover B. A pipe joint characterized by being added. 2. A stepped groove having a small groove on the male body side and a wide mouth trapezoid in an axial cross-section, and a groove portion on the female body side having a small diameter on the front side for inserting the male body and a large diameter on the rear side in the space into which the annular coupling member is fitted. The pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein 3. The stepped groove in which the annular coupling member is fitted in has a trapezoid with a wide groove in the female body side in the axial section and a large groove in the male body on the front side for fitting the male body and a small diameter on the rear side. The pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein 4. The pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein the large-diameter portion of the step groove has a sufficient space for accommodating the expanded or reduced annular coupling member. 5. The annular pressing piece includes an annular cover portion that covers an outer circumference of the female body, and a spring provided in the annular cover elastically moves the annular pressing piece in the axial direction of the pipe with the female body. The pipe joint according to claim 1, which is worn. 6. The pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein the annular covers A and B are provided with L-shaped or T-shaped notches and protrusions. 7. A notch is formed at the tip of the annular cover A,
The pipe joint according to claim 1 or 6, wherein a protrusion is formed on the annular cover B. 8. The removable pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein an annular groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the annular cover B toward the front end side.