JP3491798B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for connecting a hose, a pipe, or the like for piping, and more specifically, to confirm a connection state between a male member and a female member. A connector that can [0002] As a connector for connecting a hose or the like,
The one shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is known. This connector is a substantially cylindrical member having a pipe-shaped male member 80 provided with a ring-shaped projection 80a projecting in a centrifugal direction at a position separated from a tip by a predetermined distance, and an insertion opening end 81a into which the male member 80 is inserted. A female member 82 having a housing 81 in the shape of
A locking member 83 inserted into and held at the end of the housing 81 on the side of the insertion opening end 81a to connect the male member 80 inserted into the housing 81 to the female member 82; And the female member 8
And a confirmation member 84 for confirming that the male member 81 is connected to the second member 2. [0003] A pair of windows 81b penetrating in the radial direction and disposed circumferentially opposite each other is provided at the end of the housing 81 on the side of the insertion opening end 81a, and the locking member 83 is elastically deformed in the radial direction. It has a pair of claws 83a which are possible and are arranged at positions corresponding to the windows 81b. As shown in FIG. 13, the confirmation member 84 has a substantially C-shape that can be expanded by elastic deformation, and is externally held on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 81 from a direction perpendicular to the axis. Before the male member 80 is joined to the female member 82, the check member 84 is locked with the edge of the window 81b, and the check member 84 is detached from the housing 81 in a direction perpendicular to the axis. A pair of locking recesses 84a,
It has a pair of distal end contact portions 84b with which the outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped protrusion 80a contacts when 0 is inserted. In this connector, the male member 80 is connected to the female member 8.
In a state before being coupled to the housing 2, the checking member 84 is externally held on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 81 from a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the locking recess 84 a of the checking member 84 is
In addition to being locked to the edge of 1b, the tip contact portion 84b of the checking member 84 is inserted into the window 81b at a position axially inward of the claw portion 83a of the locking member 80. When the male member 80 is inserted into the housing 81 of the female member 82 in this state, the ring-shaped protrusion 80a of the male member 80 causes the claw portion 83a of the locking member 83 to move radially outward against its elasticity. Pushes out and passes through the claw portion 83a. Thereby, the tip of the claw portion 83a and the ring-shaped protrusion 80a are locked, and the male member 80 and the female member 82 are connected. In this coupled state (the state of FIGS. 12 and 13), the ring-shaped projection 80a of the male member 80 is
Push radially outward. Then, the distal end contact portion 84b of the check member 84 comes off the window 81b, and the elasticity causes the check member 84 to come off in the direction perpendicular to the axis (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 13). Thereby, it can be confirmed that the male member 80 is coupled to the female member 82. However, the above-mentioned conventional connector has a configuration in which the ring-shaped projection 80a of the male member 80 directly expands the distal end contact portion 84b of the check member 84 outward in the radial direction. Therefore, when the male member 80 is inserted into the female member 82, there is a problem that the confirmation member 84 does not easily come off. That is, in this connector, in order to remove the confirmation member 84 from the housing 81 and confirm that the male member 80 is coupled to the female member 82, the outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped protrusion 80a of the male member 80 must be confirmed by the confirmation member 84. It is necessary to slide the distal end abutting portion 84b radially outward by the ring-shaped protrusion 80a by sliding the inner surface of the distal end abutting portion 84b into the outer surface of the ring-shaped protrusion 80a. Since it is not always easy to slide the check member 84 into the inner surface of the front end contact portion 84b, there is a problem that the confirmation member 84 is hard to be detached from the housing 81. Therefore, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-17115, the checking member 8 is provided so that the checking member 84 is easily detached.
4, an intermediate member is separately arranged on the inner surface side of the front end contact portion 84,
There is disclosed a technique in which the distal end contact portion 84b of the check member 84 is pushed radially outward by a ring-shaped protrusion 80a via the intermediate member. However, in this method, it is necessary to separately provide an intermediate member, which leads to an increase in the number of parts. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and ensures that the confirmation member comes off when the connection between the female member and the male member is completed without increasing the number of parts, so that the female member and the male member are removed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector capable of reliably confirming connection with a connector. A connector according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems has an insertion end provided with a ring-shaped projection protruding in a centrifugal direction at a position separated from a tip by a predetermined distance. It has a substantially cylindrical housing having a cylindrical male member and an insertion opening end into which the insertion end is inserted, and an axially regulated portion and a radial direction at an end on the insertion opening end side of the housing. A female member having a pair of windows penetrating therethrough and circumferentially opposed to each other, and a pair of claws inserted and held in the housing, elastically deformable in a radial direction, and disposed at positions corresponding to the windows; Having a portion, the claw portion is inclined inward in the radial direction from the insertion opening end toward the inner side in the axial direction, the inclined inner surface against which the ring-shaped protrusion is pressed and slid when the male member is inserted,
A locking member, which has a locking portion that locks with the ring-shaped protrusion when the male member and the female member are joined to prevent the male member from coming off, and a direction perpendicular to the outer peripheral surface of the housing. And an axial direction restricting portion that holds the axial direction restricted portion and restricts relative movement in the axial direction with respect to the housing, and a C-shaped portion that can be expanded by elastic deformation. The character-shaped portion is a pair of locking recesses for locking the male member with the edge of the window portion in a state before being coupled to the female member to prevent the male member from coming off the housing in a direction perpendicular to the axis, Before the male member is coupled to the female member, the male member is located on the outer surface on the radially outward side of the claw portion, and is elastically deformed radially outward by the ring-shaped protrusion when the male member is inserted. The outer surface of the claw part is pressed against the radial direction And a pair of tip contact portions for moving the C-shaped portion to increase the diameter of the C-shaped portion, and contacting the edge of the window portion when the insertion of the male member is completed, in a state where the C-shaped portion is expanded in diameter. It is characterized by comprising a confirmation member having a pair of enlarged diameter holding portions for holding. In this connector, before the male member is joined to the female member, the check member is externally held on the outer peripheral surface of the housing from a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the locking recess of the check member is formed at the edge of the window of the housing. The restraining of the checking member in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the housing by the locking of the checking member and the locking of the checking member in the axial direction by the locking of the checking member in the axial direction restricts the checking member. The relative movement in the axial direction with respect to the housing is restricted.
In this state, the tip abutting portion of the checking member is located on the outer surface of the claw portion of the locking member on the radially outer side in the window portion.
In this state, when the insertion end portion of the male member is inserted into the housing of the female member from the insertion opening end, the ring-shaped projection of the male member presses and slides on the inclined inner surface of the claw portion of the locking member, so that the claw is formed. Push the part radially outward against its elasticity,
Passes through the claws. Thereby, the claw portion elastically returns inward in the radial direction, and the locking portion of the claw portion and the ring-shaped protrusion are locked,
The male member and the female member are connected via a locking member. When the male member is inserted, the claw portion of the locking member is elastically deformed radially outward by the ring-shaped protrusion, so that the tip located on the outer surface of the claw portion on the radially outer side is provided. The abutting portion is abutted and pressed by the claw portion elastically deformed outward in the radial direction and moves outward in the radial direction, whereby the C-shaped portion of the checking member is expanded in diameter. If the locking member can move relative to the housing in the axial direction,
When the pressing force in the insertion direction of the male member (in the axial direction of the housing) acts on the confirmation member from the ring-shaped protrusion via the locking member, the confirmation member attempts to move in the insertion direction of the male member. Since the check member is locked in the axial direction of the housing, the check member moves in the insertion direction of the male member, and the leading end contact portion of the C-shaped portion is engaged with the lock member. It does not come off from the claws. When the diameter of the C-shaped portion of the checking member is increased in this manner, the enlarged diameter holding portion of the C-shaped portion comes into contact with the edge of the window of the housing.
Even after the ring-shaped projection has passed through the claw and the claw has elastically returned radially inward, that is, even when the insertion of the male member is completed and the male and female members are joined, The character-shaped portion is held in an expanded state. Therefore, after the insertion of the male member is completed, the coupling between the male member and the female member can be confirmed by removing the confirmation member from the housing in the direction perpendicular to the axis. As described above, in the connector of the present invention, the diameter of the C-shaped portion of the checking member is expanded by utilizing the fact that the claw portion of the locking member is elastically deformed radially outward by the ring-shaped projection. Since the diameter of the C-shaped portion is reliably expanded when the male member is inserted, the confirmation member can be reliably detached from the housing when the connection between the female member and the male member is completed. . Therefore, according to the connector of the present invention, it is possible to reliably confirm the connection between the female member and the male member without increasing the number of components. Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. The connector according to the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 has a cylindrical male member 1, a substantially cylindrical female member 3 to which one end of a rubber hose (or a hose such as a resin tube) 2 is fixed, and a female member 3. The locking member 4 for connecting the male member 1 inserted into the female member 3 to the female member 3 and the outer member mounted on the female member 3 and the male member 1 being coupled to the female member 3 And a confirmation member 5 for confirmation. The male member 1 is made of a metal pipe, and as shown in FIG. 7, is provided with a ring-shaped protrusion 1a which is provided at a predetermined distance from the distal end so as to protrude in the centrifugal direction.
A tip 1b located on the tip side from the ring-shaped protrusion 1a
And an insertion end 1c having the following. The female member 3 is made of resin (nylon), and has a housing 31 provided at one end in the axial direction (the left side of FIGS. 1, 8 and 10; the same applies hereinafter) as shown in FIGS. And a hose connection end 32 provided coaxially with the housing 31 on the other axial side (the right side in FIGS. 1, 8 and 10; the same applies hereinafter). The housing 31 includes a coaxial large-diameter portion 31a, a middle-diameter portion 31b, and a small-diameter portion 31c provided in this order from one end in the axial direction, and an insertion opening into which the insertion end 1c of the male member 1 is inserted. An end 31d is provided at an end on one axial side. Further, the hose connection end 32 has a shaft hole 32a on the inner peripheral surface, and the outer peripheral surface of the hose connection end 32 has an annular groove 32b and two steps 32c for restricting the rubber hose 2 from coming off. Provided, annular groove 3
A ring-shaped sealing member 33 for sealing the inner peripheral surface of the rubber hose 2 is provided at 2b. The rubber hose 2 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the hose connection end 32. An end (the large diameter portion 31a) on the insertion opening end 31a side of the housing 31 is provided with an axially regulated portion 3
4 and a pair of windows 35, 35 penetrating in the radial direction and disposed in opposition in the circumferential direction. The axially-regulated portion 34 is formed by a step portion in which the outer peripheral surface of the housing 34 partially projects outward in the radial direction. A long cylindrical collar member 36 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the middle diameter portion 31b, and a ring-shaped sealing member 3 for sealing the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion 1b of the insertion end portion 1c inserted into the housing 31.
7, a short cylindrical collar member 38 and the tip 1
A ring-shaped sealing member 37 for sealing the outer peripheral surface of the member b is disposed in order from one end in the axial direction. The inner peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 31c is a ring-shaped fitting inner peripheral surface that fits with the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion 1b of the insertion end 1c inserted into the housing 31. The locking member 4 is made of an elastically deformable resin (nylon) member, and is inserted and held in the large diameter portion 31a of the housing 31. As shown in FIG. 6, the locking member 4 includes an annular collar portion 41, a pair of approximately U-shaped portions 42, 42 protruding from the annular collar portion 41 so as to face each other, and each approximately U-shaped portion. Each of the claws 43, 43 protrudes from the portions 42, 42 so as to be inclined inward in the radial direction with respect to the axis, and is elastically deformable in the radial direction. And the claw part 43 is provided with the locking member 4.
In a state where the male member 1 is inserted and held in the housing 31, the male member 1 is inclined inward in the radial direction from the insertion opening end 31 d toward the axial depth, and the ring-shaped member 1 a is pressed and slidably contacted when the male member 1 is inserted; When the male member 1 and the female member 3 are joined together, the locking portion 43b that locks with the ring-shaped protrusion 1a to prevent the male member 1 from coming off, and engages with the edge of the window portion 35 of the housing 1 to lock. Locking step 43c for restricting detachment of stop member 4
And The locking member 4 is connected to the housing 31
It is held so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction with respect to the housing 31 in consideration of ease of insertion into the inside. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the confirmation member 5 is engaged with an axially regulated portion 34 of the housing 31 to regulate an axial relative movement with respect to the housing 31. It has a C-shaped portion 52 whose diameter can be expanded by elastic deformation, and a ring-shaped handle portion 53 for hanging a finger or the like when the confirmation member 5 is detached from the housing 31, and has an axial direction regulating portion 51 and a C-shaped portion. The handle 52 and the handle 53 are formed integrally. The axial direction restricting portion 51 includes the C-shaped portion 5.
2 comprises a pair of linear portions 51a, 51a extending linearly from both sides from the center of the pair 2 and a pair of bent portions 51b, 51b provided at the end of each linear portion 51a. By being fitted to the outer side surface of the axially regulated portion 34, the relative movement of the confirmation member 5 in the axial direction with respect to the housing 31 is regulated. In addition, the C-shaped portion 52 locks with the edge of the window portion 35 before the male member 1 is joined to the female member 3 and restricts the confirmation member 5 from coming off the housing 31 in the direction perpendicular to the axis. The pair of locking recesses 52a, 52a and the male member 1
Before being connected to the claw portion 43, the claw portion 43 is located on the outer surface side on the radially outward side and elastically deformed radially outward by the ring-shaped protrusion 1a when the male member 1 is inserted. A pair of distal end contact portions 52b which move radially outward by the outer surface of the claw portion 43 to be pressed against and expand the diameter of the C-shaped portion 52;
52b, and a pair of enlarged diameter holding portions 52c, 52c that abut on the edge of the window portion 35 when the insertion of the male member 1 is completed to hold the C-shaped portion 52 in an expanded state. In the present embodiment, the distal end contact portion 52b is an inclined surface along the outer surface of the claw portion 43, but may be a horizontal surface extending in the axial direction. Further, the enlarged diameter holding section 52c is
An inclined surface is provided so that the confirmation member 5 can be easily removed from the housing 31 from a state in which the confirmation member 5 is held in contact with the window portion 35 of the housing 31 (see FIG. 2). In this connector, before the male member 1 is joined to the female member 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the confirmation member 5 is externally held on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 31 from a direction perpendicular to the axis. The locking recess 52a of the confirmation member 5 is locked to the edge of the window 35 of the housing 31,
The detachment of the confirmation member 5 in the direction perpendicular to the axis with respect to the housing 31 is restricted, and the axial restriction portion 51 of the confirmation member 5 is
Is locked to the axially restricted portion 34 of the housing 31, whereby the relative movement of the confirmation member 5 in the axial direction with respect to the housing 31 is restricted. In this state, the distal end contact portion 52b of the confirmation member 5 is located on the outer surface of the claw portion 43 of the locking member 4 on the radially outward side in the window portion 35, and
It is in contact with the outer surface of the claw portion 43. In this state, the male member 1
When the insertion end 1c of the male member 1 is inserted into the housing 31 of the female member 3 from the insertion opening end 31d, the ring-shaped protrusion 1a of the male member 1 By pressing the inclined inner surface 43 a of the 43, the claw portion 43 is pushed outward in the radial direction against its elasticity and passes through the claw portion 43. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the claw portion 43 elastically returns inward in the radial direction, and the claw portion 4
3, the locking portion 43b and the ring-shaped protrusion 1a are locked, and the male member 1 and the female member 3 are connected via the locking member 4. [0018] At the time of inserting the male member 1, since the claw portion 43 of the locking member 4 is elastically deformed radially outward by a ring-shaped protrusion 1a, radially outward of the claw portion 43
The distal end contact portion 52b of the confirmation member 5 located on the outer surface of the confirmation member 5 is pressed and moved radially outward by the claw portion 43 elastically deformed radially outward, thereby moving the confirmation member 5 in a C-shape. The portion 52 is expanded in diameter (see FIGS. 8 and 9). In addition,
In the present embodiment, since the locking member 4 can move relative to the housing 31 in the axial direction, the pressing force in the insertion direction of the male member 1 (the depth of the housing 31 in the axial direction) is reduced by the ring-shaped protrusion 1a. Act on the check member 5 via the locking member 4 from the first direction, the check member 5 attempts to move in the insertion direction of the male member 1. Since the check member 5 is locked in the restricting portion 34, the confirmation member 5 moves in the insertion direction of the male member 1, and the leading end contact portion 52 b of the C-shaped portion 52 comes off the claw portion 43 of the lock member 4. There is no. Thus, C of the confirmation member 5
When the diameter of the C-shaped portion 52 is increased, the enlarged diameter holding portion 52c of the C-shaped portion 52 comes into contact with the edge of the window 35 of the housing 31. After the portion 43 has elastically returned radially inward, ie, the male member 1
Even when the insertion of the male member 1 and the female member 3 is completed after the insertion of the C-shaped portion 52, the C-shaped portion 52 is held in an expanded state (see FIGS. 10 and 11). Therefore, male member 1
After completion of the insertion, the connection between the male member 1 and the female member 3 can be confirmed by removing the confirmation member 5 from the housing 31 in the direction perpendicular to the axis. As described above, the connector according to the present embodiment utilizes the fact that the claw 43 of the locking member 4 is elastically deformed radially outward by the ring-shaped protrusion 1a, and thus the C-shaped check member 5 is used. Since the diameter of the portion 52 is increased, C
By reliably expanding the character-shaped portion 52 when the male member 1 is inserted, the confirmation member 5 can be reliably detached from the housing 31 when the coupling between the female member 3 and the male member 1 is completed. Therefore, according to the connector of the present embodiment, it is possible to reliably confirm the connection between the female member 3 and the male member 1 without increasing the number of components. Further, in the connector of this embodiment, the diameter of the C-shaped portion 52 can be reliably expanded when the male member 1 is inserted, regardless of the shape of the ring-shaped projection 1a of the male member 1. That is, in the conventional connector shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the distal end contact portion 84b of the checking member 84 is directly pushed outward in the radial direction by the ring-shaped protrusion 80a. If the shape does not have an R surface or an inclined surface, the ring-shaped projection 80a is
Cannot be slid into the inner surface of the front end contact portion 84b, so that the diameter of the check member 84 cannot be increased. However, in the connector according to the present embodiment, the C-shaped portion 52 of the checking member 5 is enlarged in diameter via the claw portion 43 of the locking member 4, so that the outer surface shape of the ring-shaped protrusion 1a of the male member 1 is not limited. Even if it does not have an R surface or an inclined surface, the C-shaped portion 52 can be reliably expanded in diameter by utilizing the elastic deformation of the claw portion 43. As described above in detail, in the connector of the present invention, utilizing the fact that the claw portion of the locking member is elastically deformed outward in the radial direction by the ring-shaped protrusion, the connector of the confirmation member is used. Since the diameter of the C-shaped portion is increased, the diameter of the C-shaped portion is surely expanded when the male member is inserted,
When the coupling between the female member and the male member is completed, the confirmation member can be reliably detached from the housing. Therefore, according to the connector of the present embodiment, it is possible to reliably confirm the connection between the female member and the male member without increasing the number of components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3 showing a female member before a male member is inserted into a female member according to the connector of the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the embodiment, taken along line AA of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a side view of the female member according to the connector of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a front view of a confirmation member according to the connector of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a side view of a confirmation member according to the connector of the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a locking member according to the connector of the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a side view of the male member according to the connector of the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the female member during insertion of the male member according to the connector of the embodiment. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the connector according to the embodiment, taken along line CC in FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the female member when the insertion of the male member is completed according to the connector of the embodiment. FIG. 11 relates to the connector of the embodiment,
FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a female member when insertion of a male member is completed according to a conventional connector. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. 12 of the conventional connector. [Description of References] 1: Male member, 1a: Ring-shaped protrusion, 1c: Insertion end,
3: female member, 31: housing, 34: axially regulated portion, 35: window, 4: locking member, 43: claw, 43a:
Inclined inner surface, 43b: locking portion, 5: confirmation member 51: axial direction restricting portion, 52: C-shaped portion, 52a: locking concave portion, 52
b: Tip contact part, 52c: Large diameter holding part

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] A cylindrical male member having an insertion end provided with a ring-shaped projection protruding in a centrifugal direction at a position separated from a tip by a predetermined distance; A substantially cylindrical housing having an insertion opening end into which an end is inserted is provided. The housing is provided at an end on the insertion opening end side of the housing so as to penetrate in the axially regulated portion and in the radial direction, and to be circumferentially opposed to each other. A female member having a pair of windows, and a pair of claws inserted and held in the housing, elastically deformable in a radial direction, and disposed at positions corresponding to the windows. Inclining inward in the radial direction from the insertion opening end toward the back in the axial direction, the inclined inner surface against which the ring-shaped protrusion presses and slides when the male member is inserted, and when the male member and the female member are joined. Locking portion that locks with the ring-shaped protrusion and restricts removal of the male member. With,
A locking member, an axially-restricted portion that is externally held on the outer peripheral surface of the housing from a direction perpendicular to the axis, locks with the axially-regulated portion, and restricts relative movement in the axial direction with respect to the housing, and elastic deformation. An expandable C-shaped portion, the C-shaped portion engaging with an edge of the window portion before the male member is coupled to the female member so as to be perpendicular to the axis from the housing; radius side of the claw portion in a state before the pair of engaging recesses to regulate the deviating direction, the male member is coupled to the female member
When the male member is inserted, the outer surface of the claw portion elastically deformed radially outward by the ring-shaped protrusion when the male member is inserted is moved radially outward by abutting and pressing. And a pair of tip contact portions for expanding the diameter of the C-shaped portion, and a pair of contacts for holding the C-shaped portion in an expanded state by contacting the edge of the window portion when the insertion of the male member is completed. A connector comprising: a confirmation member having a large-diameter holding portion.