JP4255274B2

JP4255274B2 - Pipe fitting

Info

Publication number: JP4255274B2
Application number: JP2002367705A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 喜幸岸田; 克己山本
Original assignee: 東亜高級継手バルブ製造株式会社
Priority date: 2002-12-19
Filing date: 2002-12-19
Publication date: 2009-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 2022-12-19
Also published as: JP2004197855A

Description

【０００１】
【発明が属する技術分野】
本発明は、継手本体と管の間にスリーブ及びこれに保持させる抜け止め玉を配置し、スリーブを軸方向外側へ移動させることによって、継手本体の内面に形成した奥側が大径となるテーパ面で抜け止め玉を管外面に押し付け、管の抜け出しを防止する抜け止め機構を備えた管継手に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来の抜け止め機構は、抜け止め玉として硬質のボールを用い、このボールを、スリーブに周方向に等間隔に形成された外面側の開口径が大径となるテーパ状の貫通孔に外面側からはめ込み保持させ、スリーブを、この奥側に配置されたコイルバネ、板バネ、ゴム弾性体等の弾性部材で軸方向外側へ押し出すようにしていた。（例えば、特許文献１参照。）。
【０００３】
また、抜け止め玉として外表面にローレット加工を施し、かつ、中心に孔あけ加工を施して軸孔を形成した樽形状で硬質のコマを用い、このコマをリング状のワイヤに複数挿通させた状態で、このワイヤをスリーブにはめ込み、各コマを、スリーブに周方向に等間隔に形成された貫通孔に保持させ、スリーブを上記と同様の弾性部材で軸方向外側へ押し出すものもあった（例えば、特許文献２参照。）。
【０００４】
さらに、スリーブの一端部を継手本体の端部から外側に突出させ、この突出端部に半径方向外側へ突出するフランジを形成し、このフランジに螺着させて端部を継手本体の端面に当接させる引き出しボルトによって、スリーブを軸方向外側に引き出すものもあった（例えば、特許文献３参照。）。
【０００５】
【特許文献１】
特開平６−２７２７９５号公報
【特許文献２】
特開２０００−１７９７６９号公報
【特許文献３】
特開２００２−９８２７６号公報
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記のような抜け止め機構を備えた管継手の場合、継手本体にスリーブを介して管を受けるようになり、管が直接スリーブに接触するため、管の自重及び曲げ荷重がスリーブにかかり、スリーブの軸方向の移動荷重が非常に大きくなり、作業性が悪いばかりでなく、スリーブの動作不良の可能性があり、所定の抜け止め作用を確実に安定して得難いという問題があった。
【０００７】
そこで、本発明の目的は、スリーブが管の自重及び曲げ荷重を受けることなく軸方向に容易に移動でき、作業性が良く、また所定の抜け止め作用を確実に安定して得ることができる管継手を提供することにある。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記の目的を達成するための本発明の管継手は、継手本体と管の間にスリーブ及びこれに保持させる抜け止め玉を配置し、スリーブを軸方向外側へ移動させることによって、継手本体の内面に形成した奥側が大径となるテーパ面で抜け止め玉を管外面に押し付け、管の抜け出しを防止する抜け止め機構を備えた管継手において、継手本体の開口端部に突出量がスリーブ内径以上で管外径以下の突起を周方向に所定間隔おきに形成し、スリーブにこの一端から継手本体の各突起をはめ込む所定深さの切り込みを形成したことを特徴とする。
【０００９】
上記の構成を採用することによって、継手本体の各突起にて管の自重及び曲げ荷重を受けるから、スリーブは、管の自重及び曲げ荷重を受けることなく軸方向に容易に移動できるようになり、作業性が良くなり、また所定の抜け止め作用を確実に安定して得ることができるようになる。
【００１０】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の一実施例を図面に基づいて詳述する。図１乃至図１４は本発明に係る管継手の一実施例を示し、図中１はソケット形の金属製の継手本体で、接続すべき金属製の管Ｐの端部を挿入する継手受け口部２を左右対称に一体形成してなり、この各継手受け口部２はこれに挿入される管（以下、「挿入管」という。）Ｐの端部を気密に連結するための構造を有し、この構造を以下に説明する。
【００１１】
図１乃至図７に示す如く、継手受け口部２の内面には、この開口端（外側端）より所定寸法奥側へ入った軸方向位置から奥側に、奥側へ向かうに従って直径を拡径する（軸方向外側へ向かうに従って直径を縮径する）テーパ溝３を形成し、そのテーパ溝３の最奥端から奥側に、テーパ溝３の最大直径と同じ直径を溝幅全長にわたって有する玉収容溝４を連続形成し、その玉収容溝４の奥側に溝隔壁５を挟んでパッキン装着溝６を形成し、そのパッキン装着溝６よりさらに所定寸法奥側に半径方向内側に突出する継手受け口底壁７を形成し、パッキン装着溝６に環状のゴムパッキン８をはめ込んでいる。またパッキン装着溝６と継手受け口底壁７の間の内径を挿入管Ｐの外径より僅か大径に形成し、継手受け口底壁７部の内径を挿入管Ｐの内径とほぼ同径に形成し、継手受け口底壁７によって挿入管Ｐの挿入長さを規定している。さらに継手受け口部２の開口端からテーパ溝３までの内径と溝隔壁５部の内径を、挿入管Ｐの外径より僅か大径の内径を有して内周に挿入管Ｐを挿通可能な樹脂製のスリーブ９の外径より僅か大径に形成し、継手受け口部２のパッキン装着溝６より軸方向外側の内周にスリーブ９を軸方向に移動自在に挿入している。
【００１２】
図１乃至図５、図８乃至図１１に示す如く、スリーブ９は、この継手受け口部２に対する挿入端側寄りの部位に、内外周に貫通する貫通孔１０を複数個（本実施例では６個）周方向に等間隔に開口形成し、各貫通孔１０に１個ずつ金属製の抜け止め玉１１をはめ込み保持している。抜け止め玉１１は、継手受け口部２の玉収容溝４部の内面と挿入管Ｐの外面の間に形成される周方向の隙間より小径で、かつ、スリーブ９の厚みより大径の最大直径を有する中実構造の樽形状に形成し、外表面にはローレット加工を施して軸方向に平行なローレット１１ａを形成している。また各貫通孔１０は、軸方向断面が台形状となる四角形状のテーパ孔に形成するもので、周方向の孔幅を深さ全長にわたって抜け止め玉１１の軸方向長さより僅か長く形成し、周方向で対向する孔周壁面を平行に形成する一方、スリーブ９の外面側の軸方向孔幅が抜け止め玉１１の最大直径より僅か長く、かつ、スリーブ９の内面側の軸方向孔幅が抜け止め玉１１の最大直径より僅か短くなるように、軸方向で対向する孔周壁面を傾斜させてテーパ面１０ａに形成している。抜け止め玉１１は、貫通孔１０にスリーブ９の外面側からはまり込み、軸方向及び周方向の移動が規制され、かつ、対向するテーパ面１０ａにて受け止められてスリーブ９の内周側への脱落が規制され、抜け止め玉１１の一部がスリーブ９の内外面に突出した状態で保持され、これによって、抜け止め玉１１が継手受け口部２の玉収容溝４内に６個周方向に等間隔に収容保持され、かつ、全ての抜け止め玉１１がスリーブ９と一体的に軸方向へ移動できるようにしてある。
【００１３】
図１０に示す如く、貫通孔１０は、この中にはめ込まれる抜け止め玉１１に対してスリーブ９の外面側から内面側への押し込み力が働かない状態において、スリーブ９の内面からの抜け止め玉１１の突出量が最も少なくなり（スリーブ９の外面からの抜け止め玉１１の突出量が最も多くなり）、スリーブ９の内面からの各抜け止め玉１１の突出端を結ぶ円の直径が挿入管Ｐの外径とほぼ同径になる最も浅い深さ位置（図１０のイ位置）に、抜け止め玉１１を対向するテーパ面１０ａにて受け止める一方、抜け止め玉１１に対して押し込み力が働いたときには、対向するテーパ面１０ａを僅かに凹み変形させながら、抜け止め玉１１を最も浅い深さ位置からさらに深い深さ位置に受け入れ、スリーブ９の内面からの抜け止め玉１１の突出量を増大させ（スリーブ９の外面からの抜け止め玉１１の突出量を減少させ）、スリーブ９の内面からの各抜け止め玉１１の突出端を結ぶ円の直径が挿入管Ｐの外径以下になる深さ位置（図１０のロ位置）を越え、抜け止め玉１１の中心を貫通孔１０の中に残す状態で、抜け止め玉１１の半分近くをスリーブ９の内面側に突出させ、スリーブ９の外面からの抜け止め玉１１の突出量が最も少なくなり（スリーブ９の内面からの抜け止め玉１１の突出量が最も多くなり）、スリーブ９の外面からの各抜け止め玉１１の突出端を結ぶ円の直径が継手受け口部２の開口端部の内径以下になる最も深い深さ位置（図１０のハ位置）まで受け入れることができ、かつ、最も浅い深さ位置と最も深い深さ位置の間の深さ位置に抜け止め玉１１を受け入れているとき、この抜け止め玉１１を対向するテーパ面１０ａの間で挟持し、各抜け止め玉１１をスリーブ９に保持できるようになっている。
【００１４】
そして、図１、図３、図４に示す如く、スリーブ９を軸方向外側へ移動させることによって、各抜け止め玉１１を玉収容溝４内からこの軸方向外側に連続形成されたテーパ溝３内に移動させ、テーパ溝３の周壁面であるテーパ面３ａに各抜け止め玉１１のスリーブ９の外面側に突出する外表面を押し付け、各抜け止め玉１１に対してこれを半径方向内側へ押し込む力を付与し、各抜け止め玉１１を貫通孔１０の内方に強制的に押し込み、スリーブ９の内面からの抜け止め玉１１の突出量を増大させ（スリーブ９の外面からの抜け止め玉１１の突出量を減少させ）、挿入管Ｐの外面に各抜け止め玉１１のスリーブ９の内面側に突出する外表面を押し付け、継手受け口部２からの挿入管Ｐの抜け出しを防止する抜け止めを行う一方、この抜け止め状態からスリーブ９を奥側へ移動させることによって、各抜け止め玉１１をテーパ溝３内からこの奥側に連続形成された玉収容溝４内に移動させ、各抜け止め玉１１をテーパ面３ａから離反させ、挿入管Ｐの外面に対する各抜け止め玉１１の押し付けを解除し（抜け止めを解除し）、挿入管Ｐの端部を継手受け口部２に対して自由に抜き挿しできるようにしてある。即ち、継手本体１の継手受け口部２と挿入管Ｐの間にスリーブ９及びこれに保持させる抜け止め玉１１を配置し、スリーブ９を軸方向外側へ移動させることによって、継手受け口部２の内面に形成した奥側が大径となるテーパ面３ａで抜け止め玉１１を挿入管Ｐの外面に押し付け、挿入管Ｐの抜け出しを防止する抜け止め機構１２を備えている。
【００１５】
図１乃至図５、図１２乃至図１４に示す如く、継手受け口部２の開口端部外周には金属製の外リング１３をはめている。この外リング１３の内径を継手受け口部２の開口端部外径より僅か大径に形成すると共に、継手受け口部２の外面から半径方向外側へ突出する係合ピン１４と外リング１３の周壁に形成するガイド溝１５のはめ合いによって、外リング１３が継手受け口部２に対して所定の範囲内で周方向に回転及び軸方向に移動できるようにしてある。また外リング１３の一端部（継手受け口部２に対するはめ込み側端と反対側の一端部）を継手受け口部２の開口端より軸方向外側へ突出させ、この突出端に半径方向内側へ突出するフランジ１６を形成すると共に、スリーブ９の一端部（継手受け口部２に対する挿入端側と反対側の一端部）を継手受け口部２の開口端より軸方向外側へ突出させ、この突出端に半径方向外側へ突出するフランジ１７を形成し、スリーブ９のフランジ１７を外リング１３のフランジ１６にこの軸方向外側にて重ね合わせ（係合させ）、継手受け口部２の端面とこの端面に対向する外リング１３のフランジ１６の間に配置する弾性部材であるコイルバネ１８によって外リング１３及びスリーブ９を一体的に軸方向外側へ付勢し、抜け止め機構１２を作動状態で保持できるようにしてある。
【００１６】
ガイド溝１５は、軸方向に形成する縦溝部１５ａとこの縦溝部１５ａの一端部に連通させて周方向へ形成する横溝部１５ｂを有する鉤形に形成し、縦溝部１５ａ内に係合ピン１４を位置させることによって、外リング１３を縦溝部１５ａの範囲内で軸方向へ移動可能とし、その外リング１３の軸方向への移動範囲内で、スリーブ９を、抜け止め機構１２が作動状態となる軸方向位置（押し出し位置）と抜け止め機構１２が非作動状態となる軸方向位置（押し込み位置）へ移動できるようにしてあると共に、外リング１３を継手受け口部２に対して最も押し込んだ軸方向位置から一方向に回転させることによって、係合ピン１４が縦溝部１５ａの一端部から横溝部１５ｂに係入でき、横溝部１５ｂ内に係合ピン１４を位置させることによって、外リング１３を継手受け口部２に対して最も押し込んだ軸方向位置にて位置保持し、スリーブ９に対するバネ付勢を解除し、スリーブ９を、抜け止め機構１２が非作動状態となる軸方向位置（押し込み位置）にて手放し状態で位置保持できるようにしてある。一般に、挿入管Ｐの外径には１パーセント程度のバラツキがあり、このバラツキによって抜け止め機構１２が作動状態と非作動状態に切り換わるのに必要なスリーブ９の軸方向の移動ストロークも僅か変化するため、この変化を吸収できるように縦溝部１５ａの長さが設定されている。またガイド溝１５は、横溝部１５ｂと反対側の縦溝部１５ａの一側に、外リング１３の継手受け口部２に対するはめ込み側端に一端を開放するピン導入溝部１５ｃを有し、このピン導入溝部１５ｃの他端を横溝部１５ｂと反対側の縦溝部１５ａの中間部一側縁に連通接続し、係合ピン１４をピン導入溝部１５ｃを介して外リング１３の継手受け口部２に対するはめ込み側端から縦溝部１５ａの中間部に導入できるようにしてある。さらに継手受け口部２の外面には、係合ピン１４が複数本（本実施例では２本）等間隔に設けられ、これに対応して外リング１３の周壁には、ガイド溝１５が係合ピン１４と同数だけ周方向に等間隔に設けられ、１本の係合ピン１４と１個のガイド溝１５を１組として２組設け、継手受け口部２に対する外リング１３の周方向の回転案内及び軸方向の移動案内及び最押し込み位置での位置保持及び抜け止め等を複数箇所（本実施例では１８０度対称位置の２箇所）で適正に行えるようにしてある。
【００１７】
外リング１３のフランジ１６部の内径を、スリーブ９のフランジ１７以外の胴部外径より僅か大径に形成し、このフランジ１６の軸方向外面の端縁部に、スリーブ９のフランジ１７部の外径より僅か大径の直径を有し、かつ、スリーブ９のフランジ１７部の肉厚と同じ深さを有する環状の段差溝１６ａを形成し、この段差溝１６ａ部にスリーブ９のフランジ１７を軸方向外側からはめ込み、スリーブ９のフランジ１７の軸方向外面と外リング１３のフランジ１６の軸方向外面が面一になるようにしてある。また外リング１３の２個のガイド溝１５の間の外面には、軸方向に平行な滑り止め用の突条１３ａを周方向に等間隔に形成している。
【００１８】
図１乃至図４、図６及び図７に示す如く、コイルバネ１８は、継手受け口部２の端面と外リング１３のフランジ１６の間に複数個（本実施例では６個）周方向に等間隔に配置し、外リング１３及びスリーブ９に均等にバネ力を付勢し、これらを傾けることなく軸方向外側へ押し出し移動できるようにしてある。また継手受け口部２の端面には、円形の軸孔１９をコイルバネ１８と同数周方向に等間隔に形成し、各軸孔１９に１個ずつコイルバネ１８の一端をはめ込み、各コイルバネ１８の位置決めを行うと共に、各軸孔１９は、外リング１３を継手受け口部２に対して最も押し込んだ軸方向位置にて位置保持したときの圧縮状態のコイルバネ１８を内装可能な直径と深さに形成し、外リング１３をこのフランジ１６が継手受け口部２の開口端面に当接又は可及的に接近する軸方向位置まで継手受け口部２に対して押し込み可能とし、抜け止め機構１２が作動状態にあるときの継手受け口部２の開口端部から軸方向外側への外リング１３及びスリーブ９の張り出し長さを最小限に押さえ、継手受け口部２の長さがあまり長くならないようにしてある。
【００１９】
ところで、図１乃至図９に示す如く、継手受け口部２の開口端部には、挿入管Ｐの自重及び曲げ荷重を受けるために、スリーブ９の内径以上で挿入管Ｐの外径以下の突起２０を抜け止め玉１１と同数（本実施例では６個）だけ周方向に等間隔に形成している。各突起２０は、この先端面を結ぶ円の直径がスリーブ９の内径以上で挿入管Ｐの外径以下になるように、継手受け口部２の開口端からテーパ溝３までの内面から半径方向内側へ突出形成している。一方、スリーブ９には、継手受け口部２に対する挿入端から各突起２０をはめ込む所定深さの切り込み２１を、突起２０と同数（本実施例では６本）だけ周方向に等間隔に形成し、この各切り込み２１の間のスリーブ９となる６本のスリーブ片９ａが継手受け口部２のパッキン装着溝６の直前まで挿入でき、かつ、継手受け口部２より軸方向外側の内周で軸方向に移動自在に挿入できるようにしてある。これによって、継手受け口部２の各突起２０が、スリーブ９の各切り込み２１部からスリーブ９の内面と挿入管Ｐの外面の間に形成される周方向の隙間（クリアランス）内に突出し、挿入管Ｐの自重及び曲げ荷重を受けるから、スリーブ９は、挿入管Ｐの自重及び曲げ荷重を受けることなく軸方向に容易に移動できるようになっている。
【００２０】
切り込み２１は、抜け止め玉１１を１個ずつはめ込み保持するための６個の貫通孔１０の間に１本ずつ形成し、各切り込み２１の間のスリーブ９となる６本のスリーブ片９ａの継手受け口部２に対する挿入端側部で周方向中央部に１個ずつ貫通孔１０を開口形成し、６本の切り込み２１と６本のスリーブ片９ａを周方向に交互に形成している。また切り込み２１は、この周方向の切り込み幅を、突起２０の周方向の幅より長く、かつ、各スリーブ片９ａの周方向の幅が継手受け口部２の開口端部における各突起２０の間の谷部の周方向の幅より若干短くなる幅に形成すると共に、継手受け口部２に対する挿入側端からの軸方向の切り込み深さを、スリーブ９の他端に達しない深さで、かつ、継手受け口部２の開口端からパッキン装着溝６までの軸方向長さとほぼ同じ長さに形成している。
【００２１】
次に、継手受け口部２の組み立てについて説明すると、先ず、抜け止め玉１１をスリーブ９に対してセットしておくもので、抜け止め玉１１を、スリーブ９の各貫通孔１０に対して外面側から少し力を加えて強制的に最も深い深さ位置に押し込み、各貫通孔１０の対向するテーパ面１０ａの間で挟持させ、各貫通孔１０内にはめ込み保持させる。このように、各貫通孔１０に対する抜け止め玉１１のはめ込み保持をワイヤを用いることなく行うから、スリーブ９に対する抜け止め玉１１のセットが容易に行えると共に、ステンレス等の硬い金属材料からなる小さな抜け止め玉１１にワイヤを通す軸孔を加工形成する必要もなく、抜け止め玉１１を廉価に得ることができる。
【００２２】
続いて、ゴムパッキン８を継手受け口部２のパッキン装着溝６にはめ込み、自由状態のコイルバネ１８を継手受け口部２の各軸孔１９にはめ込んだ後、継手受け口部２の外周に外リング１３をはめるもので、外リング１３のフランジ１６で各コイルバネ１８を圧縮しながら、この外リング１３のフランジ１６と反対側の端部を継手受け口部２の開口端部外周に少しだけはめ、この状態で外リング１３を一方向に回転させ、継手受け口部２側の２本の係合ピン１４に、外リング１３側の２個のガイド溝１５のピン導入溝部１５ｃの開放端部を合わせ、この回転位置で外リング１３を継手受け口部２に対してさらに押し込み、係合ピン１４をピン導入溝部１５ｃ内にはめ込む。この後はピン導入部１５ｃに沿って外リング１３を継手受け口部２に対して押し込み、また一方向に回転させ、係合ピン１４を縦溝部１５ａ内にはめ込む。ここで、外リング１３から手を離すと、外リング１３が、各コイルバネ１８による軸方向外側への付勢と、係合ピン１４と縦溝部１５ａの一端の係合による抜け止めによって、継手受け口部２の外周の最押し出し位置にはめ合い保持されるが、さらに縦溝部１５ａ及び横溝部１５ｂに沿って外リング１３を継手受け口部２に対して押し込み、また一方向に回転させ、係合ピン１４を横溝部１５ｂ内にはめ込む。これによって、外リング１３が、各コイルバネ１８による軸方向外側への付勢に抗して、係合ピン１４と横溝部１５ｂの係合によって、継手受け口部２の外周の最押し込み位置にはめ合い保持される。
【００２３】
続いて、抜け止め玉１１をセットしたスリーブ９を、ゴムパッキン８及び各コイルバネ１８及び外リング１３を装着した継手受け口部２に対して挿入するもので、スリーブ９を、このフランジ１７と反対側の端部側で、抜け止め玉１１を保持した端部側から外リング１３のフランジ１６の内周から継手受け口部２の開口端部まで挿入し、この状態でスリーブ９を一方向に回転させ、スリーブ９の各切り込み２１を継手受け口部２の各突起２０に合わせる（スリーブ９の各スリーブ片９ａを継手受け口部２の各突起２０の間の谷部に合わせる）。この回転位置でスリーブ９を、このフランジ１７が最押し込み位置の外リング１３のフランジ１６の段差溝１６ａ部にはまり込む軸方向位置まで、継手受け口部２の内周に挿入する。これによって、各突起２０が各切り込み２１内にこの開口端部から奥側にはまり込みながら、先端部分に貫通孔１０を介して抜け止め玉１１を保持している各スリーブ片９ａが、各突起２０の間の谷部から継手受け口部２の内周奥側にはめ込まれ、抜け止め玉１１が継手受け口部２の玉収容溝４の内周側まで挿入され、この各スリーブ片９ａの間の切り込み１４から継手受け口部２の開口端部の各突起２０がスリーブ９の内面側に突出される。
【００２４】
最後に、継手受け口部２に装着したスリーブ９の各貫通孔１０に、最も深い深さ位置に押し込まれて対向するテーパ面１０ａの間に挟持されている抜け止め玉１１を、スリーブ９の内面側から外面側に押し出す。これによって、抜け止め玉１１は、各貫通孔１０にスリーブ９の外面側からはまり込み、軸方向及び周方向の移動が規制され、かつ、対向するテーパ面１０ａにて受け止められてスリーブ９の内周側への脱落が規制され、最も浅い深さ位置にてはめ込み保持され、抜け止め玉１１が継手受け口部２の玉収容溝４内に６個周方向に等間隔に収容保持される。
【００２５】
以上で継手受け口部２は、抜け止め機構１２が作動する前の非作動状態に組み立てられる。そして、この組み立て状態の継手受け口部２に対して挿入管Ｐの端部を、スリーブ９及びゴムパッキン８の内周に挿通させた状態で挿入することにより、継手受け口部２に挿入管Ｐの端部が気密に連結されるもので、ゴムパッキン８が、継手受け口部２の内面と挿入管Ｐの外面の間に形成される周方向の隙間の奥部に軸方向の移動が規制された状態で配置され、このゴムパッキン８の外面が継手受け口部２の内面に密着し、かつ、ゴムパッキン８の内面が挿入管Ｐの外面に密着し、継手受け口部２の内面と挿入管Ｐの外面の間に形成される周方向の隙間を塞ぐことによって、継手受け口部２と挿入管Ｐの間で気密を保持できる。
【００２６】
また、継手受け口部２の内面と挿入管Ｐの外面の間に形成される周方向の隙間でゴムパッキン８より軸方向外側には、抜け止め玉１１を継手受け口部２に対する挿入端側寄りの部位に６個周方向に等間隔に保持させたスリーブ９、即ち６本のスリーブ片９ａが軸方向に移動自在に配置されており、このスリーブ９に対してこれを軸方向外側へ押し出し移動させるバネ力を付勢し、抜け止め機構１２を作動させることによって、継手受け口部２に対して挿入管Ｐの端部を連結することができる。図１の左側の継手受け口部２、図４に示す非作動状態の抜け止め機構１２を作動させるには、継手受け口部２外周の最押し込み位置にはめ合い保持されている外リング１３を、組み立て時と逆方向に回転させ、係合ピン１４を横溝部１５ｂから縦溝部１５ａに移動させた状態で、外リング１３から手を離すことによって、外リング１３が各コイルバネ１８によって自動的に軸方向外側へ押し出される。この押し出しに伴って、外リング１３のフランジ１６に軸方向外側から重ね合わされているフランジ１７を有するスリーブ９も軸方向外側に押し出され、このスリーブ９の軸方向外側への移動によって、各スリーブ片９ａの貫通孔１０にはめ込み保持されて継手受け口部２の玉収容部４内に周方向に等間隔に配置されている６個の抜け止め玉１１が、スリーブ９と一体的に軸方向外側へ移動し、玉収容溝４内からテーパ溝３内へと移動することによって、このテーパ溝３の周壁面であるテーパ面３ａに各抜け止め玉１１のスリーブ９の外面側に突出する外表面を押し付け、各抜け止め玉１１に対してこれを半径方向内側へ押し込む力を付与し、各抜け止め玉１１を貫通孔１０の内方に強制的に押し込み、スリーブ９の内面からの抜け止め玉１１の突出量を増大させ（スリーブ９の外面からの抜け止め玉１１の突出量を減少させ）、挿入管Ｐの外面に各抜け止め玉１１のスリーブ９の内面側に突出する外表面を押し付け、継手受け口部２からの挿入管Ｐの抜け出しを防止する抜け止めを行う。図１の右側の継手受け口部２及び図３に示すように、抜け止め機構１２が作動作動状態になると、抜け止め玉１１が継手受け口部２のテーパ面３ａと挿入管Ｐの外面の間に噛み込んだ状態となり、この時点でスリーブ９の軸方向外側への移動が規制され、これに伴って外リング１３もこの最押し出し位置の少し手前で軸方向外側への移動も規制される。ここで、外リング１３を回転させるだけで、抜け止め機構１２を非作動状態から作動状態になすことができ、またガイド溝１５と係合ピン１４がインジケータの役目を果たし、抜け止め機構１２が作動したか否かを目視で確認できる。
【００２７】
継手受け口部２から挿入管Ｐを引き出す場合は、外リング１３を、縦溝部１５ａ及び横溝部１５ｂに沿って継手受け口部２に対して押し込み、また一方向に回転させ、係合ピン１４を横溝部１５ｂ内にはめ込み、各コイルバネ１８による軸方向外側への付勢に抗して、係合ピン１４と横溝部１５ｂの係合によって、継手受け口部２の外周の最押し込み位置にはめ合い保持させた後、スリーブ９を、このフランジ１７が最押し込み位置の外リング１３のフランジ１６の段差溝１６ａ部にはまり込む軸方向位置まで、継手受け口部２の内周に挿入し、抜け止め玉１１を継手受け口部２のテーパ溝３の内周側から玉収容溝４の内周側に移動させ、抜け止め機構１２を非作動状態とすることによって、挿入管Ｐの外面に対する各抜け止め玉１１の押し付けを解除し、継手受け口部２に対する挿入管Ｐの端部の抜き挿しを可能とする。
【００２８】
上記のように抜け止め機構１２は、スリーブ９の軸方向の移動によって、作動状態と非作動状態に切り換えるもので、この場合、挿入管Ｐの自重及び曲げ荷重は、スリーブ９ではなく、このスリーブ９の内面と挿入管Ｐの外面の間の周方向の隙間に突出させた継手受け口部２の各突起２０によって受けるから、スリーブ９は、挿入管Ｐの自重及び曲げ荷重をうけることなく軸方向へ容易に移動でき、作業性が良くなり、また所定の抜け止め作用を確実に安定して得ることができるようになっている。
【００２９】
図１５はスリーブの押し出し手段の変形例を示し、この変形例は、スリーブ９のフランジ１７を、外リング１３のフランジ１６の軸方向内側に重ね合わせ、継手受け口部２とこの端面に対向するスリーブ９のフランジ１７の間にコイルバネ１８を設け、スリーブ９のフランジ１７に直接バネ力を付勢できるようにしてある。これによって、スリーブが外リング１３の軸方向外側及び軸方向内側への移動に連動して移動することができるようになる。
【００３０】
尚、コイルバネ１８に代えてリング状の板バネを継手受け口部２の端面とこの端面に対向する外リング１３のフランジ１６の間に配置してもよく、リング状の板バネは、軸方向外側に膨出して外面をフランジ１６の内面に当接させる膨出部を周方向に等間隔に設けたものである。
【００３１】
【発明の効果】
以上実施例から明らかなように本発明は、継手本体１と管Ｐの間にスリーブ９及びこれに保持させる抜け止め玉１１を配置し、スリーブ９を軸方向外側へ移動させることによって、継手本体１の内面に形成した奥側が大径となるテーパ面３ａで抜け止め玉１１を管Ｐ外面に押し付け、管Ｐの抜け出しを防止する抜け止め機構１２を備えた管継手において、継手本体１の開口端部にスリーブ９内径以上で管Ｐ外径以下の突起２０を周方向に所定間隔おきに形成し、スリーブ９にこの一端から継手本体１の各突起２０をはめ込む所定深さの切り込み２１を形成したもので、この構成を採用することによって、継手本体１の各突起２０にて管Ｐの自重及び曲げ荷重を受けるから、スリーブ９は、管Ｐの自重及び曲げ荷重を受けることなく軸方向に容易に移動できるようになり、作業性が良くなり、また所定の抜け止め作用を確実に安定して得ることができる等の顕著な効果を奏する。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係る管継手の一実施例を示す全体断面図
【図２】全体正面図
【図３】抜け止め機構の作動状態を示す継手受け口部の部分拡大断面図
【図４】抜け止め機構の非作動状態を示す継手受け口部の部分拡大断面図
【図５】本発明の主要部を示す継手受け口部の部分拡大断面図
【図６】継手受け口部の断面図
【図７】継手受け口部の正面図
【図８】スリーブの断面図
【図９】スリーブの底面図
【図１０】スリーブの部分拡大断面図
【図１１】抜け止め玉の拡大正面図
【図１２】外リングの半断面図
【図１３】外リングの正面図
【図１４】外リングのガイド溝部の部分側面図
【図１５】スリーブ押し出し手段の変形例を示す部分拡大断面図
【符号の説明】
Ｐ管
１継手本体
２継手受け口部
３ａテーパ面
９スリーブ
１１抜け止め玉
１２抜け止め機構
２０突起
２１切り込み[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
In the present invention, a sleeve and a retaining ball to be held by the sleeve are arranged between the joint main body and the pipe, and the sleeve is moved outward in the axial direction. The present invention relates to a pipe joint provided with a retaining mechanism that presses a retaining ball against the outer surface of the pipe to prevent the pipe from coming out.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The conventional retaining mechanism uses a hard ball as a retaining ball, and this ball is formed on the sleeve through a tapered through hole formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction with a large opening diameter on the outer surface side. The sleeve is fitted and held, and the sleeve is pushed outward in the axial direction by an elastic member such as a coil spring, a leaf spring, or a rubber elastic body disposed on the back side. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0003]
Also, as a retaining ball, knurled on the outer surface and drilled at the center to form a shaft hole, using a hard piece with a barrel shape, a plurality of these pieces were inserted through a ring-shaped wire In this state, the wire was fitted into the sleeve, each piece was held in a through hole formed in the sleeve at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the sleeve was pushed outward in the axial direction by the same elastic member as above ( For example, see Patent Document 2.)
[0004]
Furthermore, one end of the sleeve is projected outward from the end of the joint body, a flange projecting radially outward is formed at the projected end, and the end is brought into contact with the end face of the joint body by being screwed to the flange. Some pull-out bolts that come into contact with each other pull out the sleeve outward in the axial direction (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-272895
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-179769 A
[Patent Document 3]
JP 2002-98276 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the case of a pipe joint equipped with a retaining mechanism as described above, the pipe body receives the pipe through the sleeve, and the pipe directly contacts the sleeve. Therefore, the weight of the pipe and the bending load are applied to the sleeve, and the sleeve The moving load in the axial direction becomes very large, and not only the workability is poor, but also there is a possibility that the sleeve may malfunction, and there is a problem that it is difficult to reliably obtain a predetermined retaining action.
[0007]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tube in which the sleeve can be easily moved in the axial direction without receiving its own weight and bending load, has good workability, and can reliably obtain a predetermined retaining action. It is to provide a joint.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a pipe joint of the present invention is arranged such that a sleeve and a retaining ball held by the sleeve are arranged between the joint body and the pipe, and the sleeve is moved outward in the axial direction to thereby move the inner surface of the joint body. In a pipe joint with a retaining mechanism that prevents the pipe from coming out by pressing the retaining ball against the outer surface of the pipe with a tapered surface with a large diameter on the back side, it is attached to the opening end of the joint body. The amount of protrusion is Protrusions that are greater than the inner diameter of the sleeve and less than the outer diameter of the pipe are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, and a notch with a predetermined depth is formed in the sleeve so as to fit each protrusion of the joint body from one end thereof.
[0009]
By adopting the above configuration, since the tube receives its own weight and bending load at each projection of the joint body, the sleeve can easily move in the axial direction without receiving the tube's own weight and bending load. Workability is improved, and a predetermined retaining action can be reliably and stably obtained.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 14 show an embodiment of a pipe joint according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a socket-shaped metal joint main body, and a joint socket for inserting an end of a metal pipe P to be connected. 2 are integrally formed symmetrically, and each joint receiving portion 2 has a structure for hermetically connecting ends of pipes (hereinafter referred to as “insertion pipes”) P inserted therein. This structure will be described below.
[0011]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the diameter of the inner surface of the joint receiving portion 2 is increased from the axial position that enters the inner side of the predetermined dimension from the opening end (outer end) toward the inner side, and the diameter increases toward the inner side. The taper groove 3 is formed (the diameter of the taper groove 3 is reduced toward the outer side in the axial direction), and the ball having the same diameter as the maximum diameter of the taper groove 3 over the entire groove width from the innermost end of the taper groove 3 to the inner side. A coupling groove 4 is formed continuously, a packing mounting groove 6 is formed on the back side of the ball housing groove 4 with a groove partition wall 5 interposed therebetween, and a joint that protrudes radially inward further to the packing mounting groove 6 by a predetermined dimension. A receptacle bottom wall 7 is formed, and an annular rubber packing 8 is fitted in the packing mounting groove 6. Further, the inner diameter between the packing mounting groove 6 and the joint receiving bottom wall 7 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the insertion pipe P, and the inner diameter of the joint receiving bottom wall 7 is formed to be substantially the same as the inner diameter of the insertion pipe P. The insertion length of the insertion pipe P is defined by the joint receiving bottom wall 7. Further, the inner diameter from the opening end of the joint receiving portion 2 to the tapered groove 3 and the inner diameter of the groove partition wall 5 have an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the insertion pipe P, and the insertion pipe P can be inserted into the inner circumference. The sleeve 9 is formed so as to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the resin sleeve 9, and the sleeve 9 is inserted into the inner periphery of the joint receiving port 2 outside the packing mounting groove 6 in the axial direction so as to be movable in the axial direction.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 and FIG. 8 to FIG. 11, the sleeve 9 has a plurality of through holes 10 (6 in this embodiment) penetrating the inner and outer peripheries in a portion closer to the insertion end side with respect to the joint receiving portion 2. 1) Openings are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and one metal retaining ball 11 is fitted and held in each through hole 10. The retaining ball 11 has a maximum diameter that is smaller than the circumferential clearance formed between the inner surface of the ball receiving groove 4 of the joint receiving portion 2 and the outer surface of the insertion tube P and larger than the thickness of the sleeve 9. The outer surface is knurled on the outer surface to form a knurl 11a parallel to the axial direction. Each through-hole 10 is formed in a rectangular taper hole whose axial cross section is trapezoidal, and the circumferential hole width is formed slightly longer than the axial length of the retaining ball 11 over the entire length, While the circumferential wall surfaces of the holes facing each other in the circumferential direction are formed in parallel, the axial hole width on the outer surface side of the sleeve 9 is slightly longer than the maximum diameter of the retaining ball 11 and the axial hole width on the inner surface side of the sleeve 9 is The hole peripheral wall surfaces facing each other in the axial direction are inclined and formed on the tapered surface 10 a so as to be slightly shorter than the maximum diameter of the retaining ball 11. The retaining ball 11 is fitted into the through-hole 10 from the outer surface side of the sleeve 9, the movement in the axial direction and the circumferential direction is restricted, and the retaining ball 11 is received by the opposing tapered surface 10 a and is moved toward the inner peripheral side of the sleeve 9. Drop-off is restricted, and a part of the retaining balls 11 is held in a state protruding from the inner and outer surfaces of the sleeve 9, whereby six retaining balls 11 are placed in the ball receiving groove 4 of the joint receiving portion 2 in the circumferential direction. All the retaining balls 11 are accommodated and held at equal intervals and can be moved in the axial direction integrally with the sleeve 9.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 10, the through-hole 10 has a retaining ball from the inner surface of the sleeve 9 in a state where the pushing force from the outer surface side of the sleeve 9 to the inner surface side does not act on the retaining ball 11 fitted therein. 11 is the smallest (the projection of the retaining ball 11 from the outer surface of the sleeve 9 is the largest), and the diameter of the circle connecting the projecting ends of the retaining balls 11 from the inner surface of the sleeve 9 is the insertion tube. While the retaining ball 11 is received by the opposing tapered surface 10a at the shallowest depth position (a position in FIG. 10) that is substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of P, a pushing force acts on the retaining ball 11 In this case, the stopper ball 11 is received from the shallowest depth position to a deeper depth position while the opposing tapered surface 10a is slightly recessed and deformed to increase the amount of protrusion of the stopper ball 11 from the inner surface of the sleeve 9. (The amount of protrusion of the retaining ball 11 from the outer surface of the sleeve 9 is reduced) and the diameter of the circle connecting the projecting ends of the retaining balls 11 from the inner surface of the sleeve 9 is equal to or less than the outer diameter of the insertion tube P. In the state where the center of the retaining ball 11 is left in the through hole 10 beyond the position (b) in FIG. 10, nearly half of the retaining ball 11 is projected to the inner surface side of the sleeve 9, and the outer surface of the sleeve 9 is The amount of protrusion of the retaining ball 11 from the sleeve 9 is the smallest (the amount of protrusion of the retaining ball 11 from the inner surface of the sleeve 9 is the largest), and the circle connecting the protruding ends of the retaining balls 11 from the outer surface of the sleeve 9 Can be received up to the deepest depth position (C position in FIG. 10) that is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the opening end of the joint receiving portion 2, and between the shallowest depth position and the deepest depth position. When the retaining ball 11 is received in the depth position , Sandwiched between the tapered surface 10a facing the retaining ball 11 and each stopper ball 11 can be held in the sleeve 9.
[0014]
As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, by moving the sleeve 9 outward in the axial direction, each retaining ball 11 is continuously formed from the ball receiving groove 4 to the outer side in the axial direction. The outer surface of the taper groove 3 that is the peripheral wall surface of the taper groove 3 is pressed against the outer surface of the sleeve 9 of the retainer ball 11 so that the retainer ball 11 is radially inward. A pushing force is applied, and each retaining ball 11 is forcibly pushed inward of the through-hole 10 to increase the protruding amount of the retaining ball 11 from the inner surface of the sleeve 9 (a retaining ball from the outer surface of the sleeve 9). 11, and the outer surface of each retaining ball 11 that protrudes toward the inner surface of the sleeve 9 is pressed against the outer surface of the insertion tube P to prevent the insertion tube P from coming out of the joint receiving port 2. While doing this this retaining By moving the sleeve 9 to the back side from the state, each retaining ball 11 is moved from the inside of the tapered groove 3 into the ball housing groove 4 continuously formed on the far side, and each retaining ball 11 is moved to the tapered surface 3a. So that the retaining balls 11 are not pressed against the outer surface of the insertion tube P (the retaining member is released) so that the end of the insertion tube P can be freely inserted into and removed from the joint receiving port 2. is there. That is, the sleeve 9 and the retaining ball 11 held by the sleeve 9 are disposed between the joint receiving portion 2 of the joint main body 1 and the insertion pipe P, and the sleeve 9 is moved outward in the axial direction. A retaining mechanism 12 is provided to prevent the insertion tube P from coming out by pressing the retaining ball 11 against the outer surface of the insertion tube P with a tapered surface 3a having a large diameter on the back side.
[0015]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and FIGS. 12 to 14, a metal outer ring 13 is fitted on the outer periphery of the opening end of the joint receiving port 2. The inner diameter of the outer ring 13 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the opening end portion of the joint receiving portion 2, and the engagement pin 14 projecting radially outward from the outer surface of the joint receiving portion 2 and the peripheral wall of the outer ring 13 By fitting the guide grooves 15 to be formed, the outer ring 13 can rotate in the circumferential direction and move in the axial direction within a predetermined range with respect to the joint receiving port 2. Also, one end of the outer ring 13 (one end opposite to the fitting side end with respect to the joint receiving port 2) protrudes axially outward from the opening end of the joint receiving port 2, and a flange protrudes radially inward from the protruding end. 16, and one end portion of the sleeve 9 (one end portion on the side opposite to the insertion end side with respect to the joint receiving port portion 2) protrudes outward in the axial direction from the opening end of the joint receiving port portion 2. And the flange 17 of the sleeve 9 is overlapped (engaged) with the flange 16 of the outer ring 13 on the outer side in the axial direction, and the end face of the joint receiving portion 2 and the outer ring facing the end face The outer ring 13 and the sleeve 9 are integrally biased outward in the axial direction by a coil spring 18 that is an elastic member disposed between the flanges 16 of the 13 and holds the retaining mechanism 12 in an operating state. It is Kill way.
[0016]
The guide groove 15 is formed in a bowl shape having a longitudinal groove portion 15a formed in the axial direction and a lateral groove portion 15b formed in the circumferential direction in communication with one end portion of the longitudinal groove portion 15a, and the engagement pin 14 is formed in the longitudinal groove portion 15a. , The outer ring 13 can be moved in the axial direction within the range of the longitudinal groove portion 15a, and the sleeve 9 and the retaining mechanism 12 are in the operating state within the movement range of the outer ring 13 in the axial direction. The axial position (push-out position) to be moved and the axial position (push-down position) at which the retaining mechanism 12 is inactivated are moved, and the outer ring 13 is pushed most into the joint receiving portion 2. By rotating in one direction from the directional position, the engagement pin 14 can be engaged with the lateral groove portion 15b from one end of the longitudinal groove portion 15a, and by positioning the engagement pin 14 within the lateral groove portion 15b, The ring 13 is held in the axial position where the ring 13 is pushed most into the joint receiving portion 2, the spring bias to the sleeve 9 is released, and the sleeve 9 is moved to the axial position where the retaining mechanism 12 is in an inoperative state ( The position can be held in the released state at the push-in position). In general, the outer diameter of the insertion tube P has a variation of about 1%, and the variation in the axial movement stroke of the sleeve 9 required for the retaining mechanism 12 to switch between the operating state and the non-operating state is slightly changed due to the variation. Therefore, the length of the longitudinal groove portion 15a is set so that this change can be absorbed. The guide groove 15 has a pin introduction groove 15c that opens one end at one end of the outer ring 13 that engages with the joint receiving port 2 on one side of the vertical groove 15a opposite to the lateral groove 15b. The other end of 15c is connected in communication with one side edge of the intermediate portion of the vertical groove portion 15a opposite to the lateral groove portion 15b, and the engagement pin 14 is fitted to the joint receiving portion 2 of the outer ring 13 via the pin introduction groove portion 15c. To the intermediate portion of the longitudinal groove portion 15a. Further, a plurality of engagement pins 14 (two in the present embodiment) are provided at equal intervals on the outer surface of the joint receiving portion 2, and correspondingly, guide grooves 15 are engaged with the peripheral wall of the outer ring 13. The same number of pins 14 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and two sets of one engagement pin 14 and one guide groove 15 are provided as one set, and the rotation guide of the outer ring 13 in the circumferential direction with respect to the joint receiving port 2 In addition, it is possible to appropriately perform movement guidance in the axial direction, position holding at the most pushed-in position, retaining prevention, and the like at a plurality of positions (in this embodiment, two positions at a 180-degree symmetry).
[0017]
The inner diameter of the flange 16 portion of the outer ring 13 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the body portion other than the flange 17 of the sleeve 9, and the flange 17 portion of the sleeve 9 is formed at the edge of the axially outer surface of the flange 16. An annular step groove 16a having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter and having the same depth as the thickness of the flange 17 portion of the sleeve 9 is formed, and the flange 17 of the sleeve 9 is formed in the step groove 16a portion. It is fitted from the outside in the axial direction so that the axial outer surface of the flange 17 of the sleeve 9 and the axial outer surface of the flange 16 of the outer ring 13 are flush with each other. Further, on the outer surface between the two guide grooves 15 of the outer ring 13, anti-slip ridges 13a parallel to the axial direction are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, 6 and 7, a plurality of coil springs 18 (six in this embodiment) are equally spaced in the circumferential direction between the end face of the joint receiving portion 2 and the flange 16 of the outer ring 13. The spring force is uniformly applied to the outer ring 13 and the sleeve 9 so that they can be pushed and moved outward in the axial direction without being inclined. Further, circular shaft holes 19 are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction in the same circumferential direction as the coil springs 18 on the end face of the joint receiving portion 2, and one end of each coil spring 18 is fitted into each shaft hole 19 to position each coil spring 18. In addition, each shaft hole 19 is formed to have a diameter and a depth at which the coil spring 18 in a compressed state when the outer ring 13 is held at the axial position where the outer ring 13 is most pushed into the joint receiving portion 2 can be installed, When the outer ring 13 can be pushed into the joint receiving port 2 to the axial position where the flange 16 abuts or approaches the opening end surface of the joint receiving port 2 as much as possible, and the retaining mechanism 12 is in an operating state. The extension length of the outer ring 13 and the sleeve 9 from the opening end of the joint receiving port 2 to the axially outer side is minimized, so that the length of the joint receiving port 2 is not so long.
[0019]
By the way, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, at the opening end portion of the joint receiving port portion 2, in order to receive the weight and bending load of the insertion tube P, a projection that is larger than the inner diameter of the sleeve 9 and smaller than the outer diameter of the insertion tube P. As many as 20 retaining balls 11 (six in this embodiment) are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Each protrusion 20 is radially inward from the inner surface from the opening end of the joint receiving portion 2 to the tapered groove 3 so that the diameter of the circle connecting the tip surfaces is equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the sleeve 9 and smaller than the outer diameter of the insertion tube P. It protrudes to the back. On the other hand, the sleeve 9 is formed with notches 21 having a predetermined depth for fitting the protrusions 20 from the insertion ends with respect to the joint receiving portion 2 by the same number as the protrusions 20 (six in this embodiment) at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Six sleeve pieces 9a serving as the sleeves 9 between the respective notches 21 can be inserted up to just before the packing mounting groove 6 of the joint receiving port 2, and in the axial direction on the inner periphery outside the joint receiving port 2 in the axial direction. It can be inserted freely. As a result, each projection 20 of the joint receiving port 2 protrudes from each notch 21 portion of the sleeve 9 into a circumferential gap (clearance) formed between the inner surface of the sleeve 9 and the outer surface of the insertion tube P, and the insertion tube Since it receives the weight and bending load of P, the sleeve 9 can easily move in the axial direction without receiving the weight and bending load of the insertion tube P.
[0020]
The notches 21 are formed one by one between the six through holes 10 for holding the retaining balls 11 one by one, and the joints of the six sleeve pieces 9 a that become the sleeves 9 between the notches 21. One through hole 10 is formed in the central portion in the circumferential direction at the insertion end side with respect to the receiving port portion 2, and six cuts 21 and six sleeve pieces 9a are alternately formed in the circumferential direction. In addition, the notch 21 has a circumferential notch width longer than the circumferential width of the projection 20, and the circumferential width of each sleeve piece 9 a is between the projections 20 at the opening end of the joint receiving portion 2. The groove is formed to have a width slightly shorter than the circumferential width of the valley, and the axial depth of cut from the insertion-side end with respect to the joint receiving port 2 is a depth that does not reach the other end of the sleeve 9 and the joint The length from the opening end of the receiving port 2 to the packing mounting groove 6 is substantially the same as the axial length.
[0021]
Next, the assembly of the joint receiving portion 2 will be described. First, the retaining ball 11 is set on the sleeve 9, and the retaining ball 11 is placed on the outer surface side with respect to each through hole 10 of the sleeve 9. Then, a force is applied forcibly to the deepest depth position so as to be sandwiched between the opposing tapered surfaces 10 a of each through hole 10 and held in each through hole 10. As described above, since the retaining balls 11 are held in place in the through holes 10 without using wires, the retaining balls 11 can be easily set on the sleeve 9 and can be easily removed from a hard metal material such as stainless steel. There is no need to form and form a shaft hole through which the wire passes through the stop ball 11, and the stop ball 11 can be obtained at a low cost.
[0022]
Subsequently, after the rubber packing 8 is fitted into the packing mounting groove 6 of the joint receiving portion 2 and the free coil spring 18 is fitted into each shaft hole 19 of the joint receiving portion 2, the outer ring 13 is attached to the outer periphery of the joint receiving portion 2. While the coil springs 18 are compressed by the flange 16 of the outer ring 13, the end opposite to the flange 16 of the outer ring 13 is slightly fitted to the outer periphery of the opening end of the joint receiving port 2. The outer ring 13 is rotated in one direction, and the open end portions of the pin introduction groove portions 15c of the two guide grooves 15 on the outer ring 13 side are aligned with the two engagement pins 14 on the joint receiving port portion 2 side. The outer ring 13 is further pushed into the joint receiving port 2 at the position, and the engaging pin 14 is fitted into the pin introduction groove 15c. Thereafter, the outer ring 13 is pushed into the joint receiving port portion 2 along the pin introducing portion 15c, and is rotated in one direction, so that the engaging pin 14 is fitted into the vertical groove portion 15a. Here, when the hand is released from the outer ring 13, the outer ring 13 is urged outward in the axial direction by the coil springs 18, and is prevented from coming off by engagement between the engagement pin 14 and one end of the longitudinal groove portion 15 a. The outer ring 13 is pushed into the joint receiving port 2 along the longitudinal groove portion 15a and the lateral groove portion 15b, and is rotated in one direction to engage with the engagement pin. 14 is fitted into the lateral groove 15b. As a result, the outer ring 13 is engaged with the outermost pushing position of the outer periphery of the joint receiving port portion 2 by the engagement of the engaging pin 14 and the lateral groove portion 15b against the outward biasing of each coil spring 18 in the axial direction. Retained.
[0023]
Subsequently, the sleeve 9 on which the retaining ball 11 is set is inserted into the joint receiving portion 2 to which the rubber packing 8 and the coil springs 18 and the outer ring 13 are attached. The sleeve 9 is opposite to the flange 17. The end 9 of the outer ring 13 is inserted from the end side holding the retaining ball 11 to the opening end of the joint receiving port 2 from the end of the flange 16 of the outer ring 13, and the sleeve 9 is rotated in one direction in this state. Then, the notches 21 of the sleeve 9 are aligned with the protrusions 20 of the joint receptacle 2 (the sleeve pieces 9a of the sleeve 9 are aligned with the valleys between the protrusions 20 of the joint receptacle 2). In this rotational position, the sleeve 9 is inserted into the inner periphery of the joint receiving port 2 until the axial position where the flange 17 fits into the stepped groove 16a of the flange 16 of the outer ring 13 in the most depressed position. Thus, each sleeve piece 9a holding the retaining ball 11 at the tip portion through the through hole 10 while each projection 20 fits into each notch 21 from the opening end portion to the back side becomes each projection. 20 is inserted into the inner peripheral back side of the joint receiving port 2 from the valley between 20 and the retaining ball 11 is inserted to the inner peripheral side of the ball receiving groove 4 of the joint receiving port 2, and between the sleeve pieces 9a. Each protrusion 20 at the opening end of the joint receiving port 2 protrudes from the notch 14 to the inner surface side of the sleeve 9.
[0024]
Finally, the retaining ball 11 that is pressed into the deepest depth position into each through hole 10 of the sleeve 9 attached to the joint receiving port 2 and sandwiched between the opposing tapered surfaces 10 a is attached to the inner surface of the sleeve 9. Extrude from side to outside. As a result, the retaining ball 11 fits into each through-hole 10 from the outer surface side of the sleeve 9, the movement in the axial direction and the circumferential direction is restricted, and is received by the opposing tapered surface 10 a and Dropping to the circumferential side is restricted, and it is fitted and held at the shallowest depth position, and six retaining balls 11 are housed and held at equal intervals in the circumferential direction in the ball housing groove 4 of the joint receptacle 2.
[0025]
As described above, the joint receiving port 2 is assembled in a non-operating state before the retaining mechanism 12 is operated. Then, the end of the insertion pipe P is inserted into the joint receptacle 2 in the assembled state in a state where the end of the insertion pipe P is inserted through the inner periphery of the sleeve 9 and the rubber packing 8. The end portions are hermetically connected, and the rubber packing 8 is restricted from moving in the axial direction at the back of the circumferential gap formed between the inner surface of the joint receiving port 2 and the outer surface of the insertion tube P. The outer surface of the rubber packing 8 is in close contact with the inner surface of the joint receiving port 2, and the inner surface of the rubber packing 8 is in close contact with the outer surface of the insertion tube P. By closing the circumferential gap formed between the outer surfaces, airtightness can be maintained between the joint receiving port 2 and the insertion pipe P.
[0026]
Further, a retaining ball 11 is located closer to the joint receiving end 2 near the insertion end than the rubber packing 8 in the circumferential gap formed between the inner surface of the joint receiving portion 2 and the outer surface of the insertion tube P. Six sleeves 9 that are held at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, that is, six sleeve pieces 9a are arranged so as to be movable in the axial direction. The sleeves 9 are pushed and moved outward in the axial direction. By energizing the spring force and operating the retaining mechanism 12, the end of the insertion tube P can be connected to the joint receiving port 2. To operate the joint receiving port 2 on the left side of FIG. 1 and the non-operating retaining mechanism 12 shown in FIG. 4, an outer ring 13 fitted and held in the most pushed position on the outer periphery of the joint receiving port 2 is assembled. The outer ring 13 is automatically axially moved by the coil springs 18 when the hand is released from the outer ring 13 while the engaging pin 14 is moved from the lateral groove 15b to the vertical groove 15a while rotating in the opposite direction. Pushed outward. With this extrusion, the sleeve 9 having the flange 17 superimposed on the flange 16 of the outer ring 13 from the outside in the axial direction is also pushed out in the axial direction, and each sleeve piece is moved by the movement of the sleeve 9 outward in the axial direction. The six retaining balls 11 that are fitted and held in the through holes 10 of 9 a and are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction in the ball receiving portion 4 of the joint receiving portion 2 are integrally axially outward with the sleeve 9. The outer surface protruding from the outer surface side of the sleeve 9 of each retaining ball 11 to the tapered surface 3a which is the peripheral wall surface of the tapered groove 3 by moving and moving from the ball receiving groove 4 into the tapered groove 3 A pressing force is applied to each retaining ball 11 to push it inward in the radial direction, and each retaining ball 11 is forcibly pushed inward of the through hole 10 to prevent the retaining ball 1 from the inner surface of the sleeve 9. (The amount of protrusion of the retaining ball 11 from the outer surface of the sleeve 9 is decreased), and the outer surface of the retaining ball 11 projecting to the inner surface side of the sleeve 9 is pressed against the outer surface of the insertion tube P. The stopper which prevents the insertion pipe P from coming out of the joint receiving port 2 is performed. As shown in the right side joint receiving part 2 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, when the retaining mechanism 12 is activated, the retaining ball 11 is interposed between the tapered surface 3 a of the joint receiving part 2 and the outer surface of the insertion pipe P. At this point, the sleeve 9 is restricted from moving outward in the axial direction, and accordingly, the outer ring 13 is also restricted from moving outward in the axial direction slightly before the maximum pushing position. Here, by simply rotating the outer ring 13, the retaining mechanism 12 can be changed from the inoperative state to the activated state, and the guide groove 15 and the engaging pin 14 serve as an indicator. It can be visually confirmed whether or not it has been activated.
[0027]
When the insertion pipe P is pulled out from the joint receiving port 2, the outer ring 13 is pushed into the joint receiving port 2 along the vertical groove 15a and the horizontal groove 15b and is rotated in one direction so that the engaging pin 14 is moved into the horizontal groove. It fits into the portion 15b and is engaged and held at the outermost pushing position of the outer periphery of the joint receiving port portion 2 by the engagement of the engagement pin 14 and the lateral groove portion 15b against the urging of each coil spring 18 in the axial direction. After that, the sleeve 9 is inserted into the inner periphery of the joint receiving port 2 to the axial position where the flange 17 fits into the step groove 16a portion of the flange 16 of the outer ring 13 in the most pushed position, and the retaining ball 11 is inserted. By moving from the inner peripheral side of the taper groove 3 of the joint receiving portion 2 to the inner peripheral side of the ball receiving groove 4 and disengaging the retaining mechanism 12, each retaining ball 11 with respect to the outer surface of the insertion pipe P is placed. Push Release the only allows disconnect and reconnect the end of the insertion tube P for joint socket portion 2.
[0028]
As described above, the retaining mechanism 12 is switched between an operating state and a non-operating state by the movement of the sleeve 9 in the axial direction. In this case, the weight and bending load of the insertion tube P are not the sleeve 9 but the sleeve 9. 9 is received by the projections 20 of the joint receiving portion 2 that protrudes into the circumferential gap between the inner surface of the insertion tube P and the outer surface of the insertion tube P, so that the sleeve 9 is axially moved without receiving the weight and bending load of the insertion tube P. Therefore, the workability is improved, and a predetermined retaining action can be reliably and stably obtained.
[0029]
FIG. 15 shows a modified example of the pushing means for the sleeve. In this modified example, the flange 17 of the sleeve 9 is overlapped with the inner side of the flange 16 of the outer ring 13 in the axial direction, and the sleeve is opposed to the joint receiving port 2 and this end face. A coil spring 18 is provided between the 9 flanges 17 so that the spring force can be directly applied to the flange 17 of the sleeve 9. Thus, the sleeve can move in conjunction with the movement of the outer ring 13 in the axially outer side and the axially inner side.
[0030]
Instead of the coil spring 18, a ring-shaped leaf spring may be disposed between the end face of the joint receiving portion 2 and the flange 16 of the outer ring 13 opposed to the end face. The bulging part which bulges out and makes the outer surface contact the inner surface of the flange 16 is provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above embodiments, the present invention provides the joint body by disposing the sleeve 9 and the retaining ball 11 held by the sleeve 9 between the joint body 1 and the pipe P and moving the sleeve 9 outward in the axial direction. 1 is a pipe joint provided with a retaining mechanism 12 for preventing the pipe P from coming out by pressing the retaining ball 11 against the outer surface of the pipe P with a tapered surface 3a having a large diameter on the inner side of the pipe 1. Protrusions 20 that are not less than the inner diameter of the sleeve 9 and less than the outer diameter of the pipe P are formed at the ends at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, and notches 21 having a predetermined depth are formed in the sleeve 9 from the one ends. Therefore, by adopting this configuration, each projection 20 of the joint body 1 receives the weight and bending load of the pipe P at the projection 20, so that the sleeve 9 can be axially moved without receiving the weight and bending load of the pipe P. Yong Will be able to move in, workability is improved, also a marked effect of such can be obtained reliably and stably a predetermined retaining action.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view showing an embodiment of a pipe joint according to the present invention.
[Fig. 2] Overall front view
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a joint receiving portion showing an operating state of a retaining mechanism.
FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a joint receiving portion showing a non-operating state of a retaining mechanism.
FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a joint receiving port showing the main part of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the joint receptacle
[Fig. 7] Front view of the joint socket
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a sleeve.
[Figure 9] Bottom view of sleeve
FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged sectional view of a sleeve.
FIG. 11 is an enlarged front view of a retaining ball.
FIG. 12 is a half sectional view of the outer ring.
FIG. 13 is a front view of the outer ring.
FIG. 14 is a partial side view of the guide groove portion of the outer ring.
FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a modified example of the sleeve push-out means.
[Explanation of symbols]
P tube
1 Fitting body
2 Joint receiving part
3a Tapered surface
9 Sleeve
11 Retaining ball
12 Retaining mechanism
20 protrusions
21 notches

Claims

A sleeve and a retaining ball to be held by the sleeve are arranged between the joint main body and the pipe, and the sleeve is moved outward in the axial direction, whereby the rear surface formed on the inner surface of the joint main body has a tapered surface with a large diameter. In a pipe joint equipped with a retaining mechanism that prevents the pipe from coming out by pressing against the outer surface of the pipe, protrusions with a protruding amount not less than the sleeve inner diameter and not more than the pipe outer diameter are provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction at the opening end of the joint body. A pipe joint formed by forming a notch of a predetermined depth into the sleeve so as to fit each projection of the joint main body from one end of the sleeve.