JP4087095B2 - Piping connection structure - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pipe connection structure for connecting an inner pipe such as a filler pipe on the side of an automobile fuel tank and an outer pipe such as a filler tube installed on the vehicle body side.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type of pipe connection structure, for example, when an inner pipe is fitted and connected to an outer pipe, a pair of ring-shaped projections juxtaposed on the axis are formed on the outer circumference of the inner pipe, and a pair of ring-like structures are formed. The tip of the outer tube is brought into contact with the ring-shaped projection on the center side of the inner tube, and the outer tube is elastically expanded and engaged by the ring-shaped projection on the tip side. The outer tube and the inner tube are fastened to the outer periphery of the outer tube with a hose clamp to prevent the outer tube and the inner tube from coming off.
[0003]
However, when connecting the inner and outer pipes using the hose clamp in this way, the hose clamp is tightened with the other hand while holding the connected inner and outer pipes with one hand. It is difficult to say that it is good.
[0004]
Therefore, a pipe connector of one-touch type as shown in FIG. 7 has been known (see actual Unexamined 1 -168094 JP).
[0005]
According to FIG. 7 , the filler tube a which is an outer tube and the filler pipe b which is an inner tube are connected by a connector c for pipe connection.
[0006]
That is, the pipe connection connector c is composed of a connector body d and a retainer e.
[0007]
The connector body d is composed of a small-diameter portion f and a large-diameter portion g that are integrally formed with each other. The small-diameter portion f has a plurality of annular protrusions h formed on the outer periphery thereof, and the annular protrusions h are filled with a filler. The tube a is elastically expanded and fitted.
[0008]
The large-diameter portion g of the connector body d is provided with two O-rings i and i in the inner hole with a spacer k interposed.
[0009]
The retainer e has a through hole m formed in the middle abdomen, and a pair of nail walls n facing each other is formed with one end side as a free end and a fixed end so as to project into the through hole m Has been.
[0010]
The free end side of the claw wall n extends to the connector body d side, and the claw wall n engages and clamps an annular protrusion p formed on the outer periphery of the filler pipe b together with the wall portion of the through hole m. The filler pipe b is prevented from coming off from the connector body d.
[0011]
An annular recess r is formed on the base end q side of the retainer e, and the distal end engaging portion s of the large-diameter portion g is engaged with the annular recess r so that the connector body d and the retainer e are prevented from coming off from each other. Has been.
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the related art configured as described above, for example, a filler pipe b to which a retainer e is coupled is installed in advance on the fuel tank side, and an operator holds the connector body d to which the filler tube a is coupled with one hand. It can be said that the filler tube a and the filler pipe b can be connected simply by connecting to the retainer e, and it can be said that the connection work can be performed with one touch of one hand, but the filler tube a and the filler pipe b are connected. In this case, since the separate connector main body d and retainer e having a complicated configuration are used, the structure is complicated and the axial length tends to be long. Will be limited.
[0013]
Therefore, the present invention has been devised in view of such a point, and when connecting an inner pipe such as a filler pipe on the fuel tank side and an outer pipe such as a filler tube installed on the vehicle body side, the structure is simplified. It aims at providing the pipe connection structure which can set the axial direction length short.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pipe connection structure for connecting an inner pipe such as a filler pipe attached to the fuel tank side and an outer pipe such as a filler tube attached to the vehicle body side. A ring-shaped engagement protrusion having a mountain-shaped cross section is formed on the inner periphery of the annular seal part, and a ring-shaped engagement recess that engages with the ring-shaped engagement protrusion is formed on the inner periphery of the annular seal part. The seal part fitting part is formed by expanding the tip part of the outer tube, and the annular fitting groove part having a triangular cross section is formed by the seal part fitting part and the tip part of the annular seal part, Furthermore, a ring-shaped retainer is fitted to the tip of the annular seal part of the outer tube so as to be able to rotate and slide on the axis of the outer tube, and is inserted into the fitting groove at one end of the ring-shaped retainer. Combined taper connection A pair of generally trapezoidal stopper pieces in side view are formed on the end surface of the other end of the ring-shaped retainer so as to face each other, and project outward to face each other on the outer periphery of the inner tube. A pair of stopper projections are formed, and an inclined surface portion inclined to the outer tube side is formed on the side wall of the stopper projection portion so as to face one inclined surface of the stopper piece portion, and is continuous with the inclined surface portion. A flat base is formed on the surface of the stopper projection facing the outer tube, and a pair of stopper projections are formed on both ends of the flat base on the circumference to rotate the ring retainer. As the one inclined surface of the stopper piece slides while sliding, the ring-shaped retainer is slid to the annular seal part side, the stopper piece is moved to the flat base portion of the stopper projection, and the taper coupling portion is moved. The ring-shaped retainer is fitted into the insertion groove, and the annular seal part is tightened to the inner tube side to prevent the inner tube and the outer tube from coming off, and the flat base is engaged between the pair of stopper projections. This is characterized in that the inner and outer circumferences of the annular seal component are in close contact with the outer circumference of the inner pipe and the inner circumference of the outer pipe, respectively.
[0015]
According to the present invention, while the ring-shaped retainer is rotated, one inclined surface of the stopper piece formed on the inner tube side slides, whereby the ring-shaped retainer is slid to the annular seal part side, and the stopper protrusion The stopper part on the ring retainer side is moved to the flat base part of the ring, and the taper coupling part formed on the ring retainer is inserted into the fitting groove formed by the seal part fitting part and the tip part of the annular seal part. By tightening the annular seal part to the inner tube side, the inner tube and the outer tube are connected to prevent them from coming off, and the flat base portion is engaged between a pair of stopper protrusions formed on the stopper piece portion to The rotation is stopped.
[0016]
As a result, according to the present invention, at least the conventional connector body d can be eliminated, the structure can be simplified correspondingly, the axial length can be shortened, and the degree of freedom in layout can be increased.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
First, a joining structure of a filler pipe on the fuel tank side and a filler tube on the vehicle body side of an automobile to which the embodiment according to the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.
[0019]
That is, FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a joining structure of a filler pipe on the fuel tank side of an automobile and a filler tube on the vehicle body side.
[0020]
According to FIG. 1, the pipe connection structure according to the present invention is configured to connect a filler pipe 20 mounted on the fuel tank 10 side and a filler tube 40 installed in a fuel filler port 30 a on the vehicle body 30 side. Yes.
[0021]
Next, a pipe connection structure employing the embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0022]
2 is a perspective view depicting a state before connection of a filler pipe mounted on the fuel tank side and a filler tube mounted on the vehicle body side according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a partially broken side view depicting the state before the connection, FIG. 4 is also a partially broken side view depicting the initial connection state between the filler pipe and the filler tube, and FIG. 5 is also a connection between the filler pipe and the filler tube. FIG. 6 is a partially broken side view in which the connection completion state between the filler pipe and the filler tube is similarly drawn.
[0023]
According to FIGS. 2 to 6, when connecting the filler pipe 20 which is an inner pipe mounted on the fuel tank 10 side and the filler tube 40 which is an outer pipe mounted on the vehicle body 30 side, the filler pipe 20 is The mounting hole 10a formed in the side wall of the fuel tank 10 is fitted and attached to the fuel tank 10 until an annular flange portion 21 having one end provided on the outer periphery comes into contact therewith.
[0024]
A pair of stopper protrusions 23 are formed on the annular flange portion 21 so as to face each other so as to protrude in the axial direction of the filler pipe 20.
[0025]
An inclined surface 23 a is formed on one side wall of the stopper protrusion 23, and a surface of the stopper protrusion 23 that faces the filler tube 40 is formed on the flat base portion 23 b.
[0026]
A pair of stopper convex portions 23c and 23d are formed at both ends on the circumference of the flat base portion 23b, and the stopper convex portion 23d on the opposite side of the stopper convex portion 23c on the inclined surface 23a side is on the axis. And formed high.
[0027]
A ring-shaped engagement protrusion 22 having a mountain-shaped cross section is formed on the outer periphery of the filler pipe 20 on the other end side. The ring-shaped engagement protrusion 22 is formed on the vertical surface 22a on the annular flange portion 21 side, and is formed on the inclined surface 22b on the opposite side.
[0028]
A ring-shaped engagement recess 51 that engages with the ring-shaped engagement protrusion 22 is formed on the inner periphery of the annular seal component 50 that hermetically and liquid-tightly seals between the filler pipe 20 and a filler tube 40 described later. Thus, the tongue piece 52 is formed at the tip. Further, an annular seal protrusion 53 is formed on the inner periphery of the annular seal component 50 so that the annular seal component 50 is in airtight and liquid tight contact with the outer periphery of the filler pipe 20. In addition, an annular seal protrusion 54 is formed on the inner periphery of a seal component fitting portion 41 (described later) in the filler tube 40 for airtight and liquid tight contact.
[0029]
The distal end portion of the filler tube 40 is expanded in diameter to form a seal component fitting portion 41 that fits the outer periphery of the annular seal component 50.
[0030]
The filler tube 40 is fitted to one end of the ring-shaped retainer 60 so as to be able to rotate and slide on the axis of the filler tube 40 in the seal part fitting part 41 at the tip of the annular seal part 50 of the filler tube 40. A portion 61 is formed, and a filler tube 40 side tip of the filler tube fitting portion 61 is formed on an inclined surface 61b that expands toward the end. An engaging recess 61a is formed at a substantially central portion of the filler tube fitting portion 61 to engage with a bent portion 41b formed by bending the distal end portion of the seal component fitting portion 41.
[0031]
A knurled portion 62 is formed on the outer periphery of the other end portion of the ring-shaped retainer 60, and a pair of stopper pieces 63 each having a substantially trapezoidal shape when viewed from the side are formed on the end surface.
[0032]
In the second embodiment configured as described above, as in the first embodiment, the filler pipe 20 is previously provided until the side wall of the fuel tank 10 comes into contact with the mounting hole 10a of the fuel tank 10. The annular flange portion 21 is fitted and then attached to the fuel tank 10 by welding or the like.
[0033]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the annular seal component 50 is fitted and assembled in advance to a seal component fitting portion 41 formed on one end side of the filler tube 40. At this time, an annular insertion groove 43 having a triangular cross-section is formed by the gap formed between the distal end side of the seal component fitting portion 41 and the tongue piece.
[0034]
Next, the filler tube fitting part 61 of the ring-shaped retainer 60 is fitted to the seal part fitting part 41, and then the tip of the seal part fitting part 41 is bent, and the bent part formed thereby. 41b is engaged with the engagement recessed part 61a, and the ring-shaped retainer 60 is prevented from coming off from the filler tube 40 (state shown in FIG. 4).
[0035]
Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the ring-shaped retainer 60 is fitted into the filler pipe 20 so that one side inclined surface portion 63 a of the stopper piece 63 abuts and faces the inclined surface 23 a of the stopper projection 23. Further, when the ring-shaped retainer 60 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the side inclined surface portion 63a of the stopper piece 63 slides on the inclined surface 23a of the stopper projection 23 as shown in FIG. 60 moves to the filler tube 40 side along the axis of the filler tube 40. Finally, as shown in FIG. 6, the stopper piece 63 jumps over the stopper convex portion 23c and reaches the flat base portion 23b. The stopper piece 63 engages between the stopper convex portions 23c and 23d on the flat base portion 23b to prevent the ring retainer 60 from rotating. The reason why the stopper protrusion 23d is formed higher than the stopper protrusion 23c is that the rotation stopping effect is set higher.
[0036]
At this time, the ring-shaped engagement projections 22 formed on the filler pipe 20 side are engaged with the ring-shaped engagement recesses 51 on the annular seal component 50 side, thereby tightening the annular seal component 50 and fitting the filler tube. The part 61 enters between the inner wall of the seal part fitting part 41 and the outer periphery of the tongue piece part 52 and fills the fitting groove part 43.
[0037]
Therefore, when the filler tube fitting portion 61 is fitted into the annular fitting groove portion 43 having a substantially triangular cross section, the inclined surface 61b of the filler tube fitting portion 61 forms a tapered coupling portion.
[0038]
Then, in a state where the ring-shaped retainer 60 is stopped on the filler pipe 20, the tongue piece 52 is caught by the ring-shaped engagement protrusion 22 and the filler tube fitting portion 61, and the filler pipe 20, the filler tube 40, and the like. It will be connected in a state that keeps it from coming off.
[0039]
At this time, the annular seal protrusions 53 and 54 are crushed in close contact with the outer periphery of the filler pipe 20 and the inner periphery of the filler tube 40 to connect the filler pipe 20 and the filler tube 40 in an airtight and liquidtight manner. .
[0040]
Thereafter, the other end of the filler tube 40 is attached to the fuel filler 30a on the vehicle body 30 side.
[0041]
According to the above-described embodiment, in a state where the ring-shaped retainer 60 is rotationally stopped on the filler pipe 20, the tongue piece portion 52 is caught by the ring-shaped engagement protrusion 22 and the filler tube fitting portion 61, and the filler pipe 20 and the filler tube 40 in a state where the filler pipe 20 and the filler tube 40 are connected to each other and configured as a connection structure with a retaining structure, so that it is a one-touch connector type pipe connection structure, The conventional connector main body d can be eliminated at least, and the structure can be simplified correspondingly, the axial length can be shortened, and the degree of freedom in layout can be increased.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, when one of the inclined surfaces of the stopper piece formed on the inner tube side slides while rotating the ring retainer, the ring retainer is slid to the annular seal part side, and the stopper protrusion The stopper part on the ring-like retainer side is moved to the flat base part, and the taper coupling part formed on the ring-like retainer is inserted into the fitting groove part formed by the seal part fitting part and the tip part of the annular seal part. By tightening the annular seal part to the inner tube side, the inner tube and the outer tube are connected to prevent them from coming off, and the flat base portion is engaged between a pair of stopper protrusions formed on the stopper piece portion to As a result, at least the conventional connector body d can be abolished, the structure can be simplified correspondingly, and the axial length can be reduced. The made short, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in layout.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a joining structure of a filler pipe on a fuel tank side and a filler tube on a vehicle body side of an automobile.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view depicting a state before connection of a filler pipe mounted on a fuel tank side and a filler tube mounted on a vehicle body side according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partially broken side view in which a state before the connection between the filler pipe and the filler tube is similarly drawn.
FIG. 4 is a partially broken side view that similarly depicts the initial state of connection between the filler pipe and the filler tube.
FIG. 5 is a partially broken side view depicting a state in the middle of connection, further proceeding from the initial connection of the filler pipe and the filler tube.
FIG. 6 is a partially broken side view in which a connection completion state between the filler pipe and the filler tube is similarly depicted.
FIG. 7 is a partially broken side view showing a conventional pipe connection structure.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Fuel tank 20 Filler pipe (inner pipe)
22 Ring-shaped engaging projection 23 Stopper projection 23a Inclined surface 23b Flat base portion 23c, 23d Stopper convex portion 30 Vehicle body 40 Filler tube (outer tube)
41 Seal part fitting part 43 Insertion groove part 50 Annular seal part 51 Ring-shaped engagement recessed part 60 Ring-shaped retainer 61 Filler tube fitting part (taper coupling part)
61a Engaging recess 61b Inclined surface 63 Stopper piece 63a Side inclined surface portion

Claims (1)

A pipe connection structure for connecting an inner pipe such as a filler pipe attached to the fuel tank side and an outer pipe such as a filler tube attached to the vehicle body side,
A ring-shaped engagement protrusion having a mountain-shaped cross section is formed on the outer periphery of the inner tube, and a ring-shaped engagement recess that engages with the ring-shaped engagement protrusion is formed on the inner periphery of the annular seal component. A seal part fitting part that fits the outer periphery of the part is formed by expanding the distal end part of the outer tube, and a cross-sectional triangle is formed by the seal part fitting part and the tip part of the annular seal part An annular insertion groove is formed,
Further, a ring-shaped retainer is fitted to the tip of the annular seal part of the outer tube so as to be rotatable and slidable on the axis of the outer tube, and the fitting groove is formed at one end of the ring-shaped retainer. Forming a taper coupling portion that is fitted into a taper and is coupled to the other end of the ring-shaped retainer, and a pair of substantially trapezoidal stopper pieces in a side view are formed so as to face each other.
In addition, a pair of stopper projections projecting outward are formed on the outer periphery of the inner pipe so as to face each other, and the outer sides of the stopper projections are respectively opposed to one inclined surface of the stopper piece. An inclined surface portion inclined to the tube side is formed, and a flat base portion is formed on a surface of the stopper projection facing the outer tube so as to be continuous with the inclined surface portion, and both end portions on the circumference of the flat base portion Forming a pair of stopper protrusions with which the stopper piece portion engages,
While the ring-shaped retainer is rotated, one of the inclined surfaces of the stopper piece slides to slide the ring-shaped retainer toward the annular seal part, and the stopper piece reaches the flat base portion of the stopper projection. The inner pipe and the outer pipe are prevented from coming off by connecting the taper coupling part into the fitting groove part and tightening the annular seal part to the inner pipe side, and the plane base The ring-shaped retainer is prevented from rotating by engaging a portion between the pair of stopper projections, and the inner and outer circumferences of the annular seal component are respectively set to the outer circumference of the inner pipe and the inner circumference of the outer pipe. A pipe connection structure characterized by being configured to be in close contact with each other.

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