JP3620747B2 - Flexible connector - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a flexible connector, for example, in an exhaust pipe of an automobile or a tube for conveying a granular material by pneumatic feeding, and is connected to the system path.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type of connector, for example, the side edges of the width of the machined metal strip having a Z-shaped cross section are folded to provide flange edges, and the adjacent flange edges are mutually wound by spiral winding. It was comprised by the tubular body engaged in meshing form.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of such a flexible connector according to the prior art, there are few degrees of freedom for displacement in the bending and expansion / contraction directions, etc., so there are often forced restrictions on the arrangement, and in the twisting direction. Due to lack of a flexible function and displacement due to excessive relative movement caused by friction in the state of engagement between the heel edges, there is generally a problem that damage is easily caused and durability is poor.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and in particular, by forming a tubular body by braiding a metal ring body and a metal strip material, a flexible function associated with the braiding. This makes it possible to displace not only in the bending and expansion / contraction directions but also in the torsion direction, making the flexibility effective, and providing a flexible connector with a long life without fear of breakage. It is for the purpose.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of thin metal rings formed in a substantially gear shape in which concave and convex portions having a certain width and height are alternately repeated on the peripheral wall portion. In a state in which the concave portion and the convex portion of the ring body are aligned and arranged, a thin metal strip having a width less than the predetermined width is inserted and braided between the adjacent concave portion and convex portion. And a flexible connector constructed as a tubular body, and further, a coating layer or a lining layer of a heat-shrinkable or heat-expandable resin tube is provided on at least one of the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the tubular body. The tubular body is polymerized with a plurality of the tubular bodies, and the tubular body is formed with the phases shifted from each other in the circumferential direction and the axial direction. Alternatively, the concave and convex portions of the metal ring body are tubular. Against the central axis of the body On the other hand, it is formed obliquely in the turning direction, while being braided and formed in contact with the concave portion and the side wall of the convex portion forming the side end surface of the metal strip material, and the height of the concave portion and convex portion. Is configured to be at least the thickness of the metal strip material.
[0006]
[Action]
Since the present invention is configured in this way, the braided structure of the metal ring body and the metal strip material allows twisting directions as well as bending and expansion / contraction directions due to a flexible function when disposed in the exhaust pipe. It can be displaced with respect to the surface and can effectively exhibit flexibility, and at the same time, with the sufficient allowable displacement amount, it can be used for a long time without fear of breakage, and the concave portion and the convex portion. When the braid is braided with a width slightly larger than the width of the metal strip material, the degree of freedom with respect to the twist is further improved.
[0007]
【Example】
1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a flexible connector of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of another embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of the cutout showing the braided structure on line AA of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 of another embodiment, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an arrangement state of metal ring bodies, FIG. Is an explanatory view showing a state at the time of braiding in the metal ring body by the metal strip material, FIG. 7 is a perspective view by a notch of a part of the metal ring body according to still another embodiment, (1) is a tubular body, which is made of, for example, a material SUS304, SUS410, C1700, C5210, and has a width of about 3 m / m to 10 m / m and a wall thickness of about 0.03 m / m to 0.5 m / m. A substantially gear-shaped gold in which concave portions (2 ') and convex portions (2 ") having a constant width and height are alternately repeated. A plurality of ring bodies (2) are arranged adjacent to each other in a state (FIG. 5) in which the portions of the concave portions (2 ′) and the convex portions (2 ″) formed by the adjacent ring bodies are aligned. Braided by the same material across the concave and convex portions, with the width of the concave portion (2 ′) and convex portion (2 ″) being less than a certain width, and being inserted by a thin metal strip material (3) It is what constitutes.
[0008]
The height of the concave portion (2 ′) and the convex portion (2 ″) is equal to or greater than the thickness of the metal strip material (3), and the width of the metal strip material (3) is larger than the width of the concave portion and the convex portion. Slightly increasing the degree of freedom of twisting in particular.
[0009]
In addition, (4) shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 is a coating layer on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular body (1), and (4 ′) is a lining layer on the inner peripheral surface thereof. The tubular body is formed with a heat-shrinkable or heat-expandable resin tube on at least one of the inner and outer peripheral surfaces, thereby eliminating the fear of leakage from the inside.
[0010]
In addition, as a recessed part (2 ') and convex part (2 ") of the said metal ring body (2), it is diagonal (twisting direction) with respect to the central axis (O) which a tubular body (1) makes as needed. 7), and the braided and formed side wall of the metal strip material (3) may be in contact with the slanted concave and convex side walls, and the tubular body (1) may be formed. A plurality of these are formed by polymerization (FIG. 4), and the phase of the concave portion (2 ′) and the convex portion (2 ″) of the metal ring (2) is shifted in the layers adjacent to each other, thereby preventing leakage from the inside. Can be reduced.
[0011]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, since the flexible connector according to the present invention is constructed by forming a tubular body (1) by braiding each other with the metal ring body (2) and the metal strip material (3). The flexible function makes it possible to displace not only in the bending and expansion / contraction directions but also in the torsional direction, effectively exhibiting flexibility, and at the same time, worrying about damage over a long period due to sufficient allowable displacement It is a very useful flexible connector that can be used without any damage.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a flexible connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of another embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of the cutout showing the braided structure on the line AA in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 of still another embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an arrangement state of metal ring bodies.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state at the time of braiding of the metal ring by the metal strip material in a perspective view.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the metal ring body according to still another embodiment, with a part cut away.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tubular body 2 Metal ring body 2 'Concave part 2 "Convex part 3 Metal strip material 4 Coating layer 4' Lining layer O Center axis

Claims (5)

A plurality of thin metal rings (2) formed in a substantially gear shape in which concave portions (2 ') and convex portions (2 ") having a constant width and height are alternately repeated on the peripheral wall portion are adjacent to each other. A thin metal having a width less than the predetermined width over the adjacent concave and convex portions in a state where the concave portions (2 ') and convex portions (2 ") of the ring body are aligned and aligned. A flexible connector comprising a strip (3) inserted and braided into a tubular body (1). The tubular body (1) has a coating layer (4) or a lining layer (4 ') made of a heat-shrinkable or heat-expandable resin tube on at least one of the inner and outer peripheral surfaces. The flexible connector according to claim 1. The flexible connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tubular body (1) is formed by superposing a plurality of the tubular bodies (1) and shifted in phase in the circumferential direction and the axial direction. The concave portion (2 ′) and the convex portion (2 ″) of the metal ring (2) are formed obliquely in the twisting direction with respect to the central axis (O) formed by the tubular body (1), while the metal strip The flexible connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is braided and formed in contact with the concave portion and the side wall of the convex portion that form the side end surface of the piece (3) obliquely. The height of the said recessed part (2 ') and convex part (2 ") is more than the thickness of a metal strip material (3) at least, The flexible * of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. connector.

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