JP4488635B2 - Flexible tube fittings and retainers for the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a joint for a flexible tube and a retainer for the joint, and more particularly to a joint for a flexible tube and a retainer for the joint for a flexible tube constituted by a corrugate pipe used for gas piping or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a joint as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-27473 has been known as a joint that allows a joint and a tube to be joined with a single touch only by inserting a flexible tube into the joint.
[0003]
This flexible tube joint includes a cylindrical main body and a push ring whose tip is screwed into the cylindrical main body, and the flexible tube has a corrugate pipe from the end of the push ring to the push ring and the cylindrical shape. It is possible to insert into the inside of the main body, and a tapered surface is formed on the inner periphery of the press wheel to expand toward the tip side of the press wheel, and an annular retainer is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the tapered surface. The retainer has an outer peripheral surface that can come into contact with the tapered surface, and a protruding portion that protrudes inward in the radial direction, and the retainer has an axial notch formed from the protruding portion side. By being provided at a plurality of positions in the direction, when the flexible tube is inserted, the protrusion is pushed and expanded by the outer peripheral peak of the corrugate tube, and this peak is allowed to pass. Let through Are those wherein the projection is deformable to each other relates to the valleys of the outer periphery of Korugeito tube by.
[0004]
In such a flexible tube joint, the flexible tube and the joint are in a sealed state without any other operations such as screwing of the member with a one-touch operation of simply inserting the flexible tube into the joint. So that they are securely joined to each other.
[0005]
In addition, when a pull-out force from the joint acts on the flexible tube, the outer peripheral surface of the retainer is pressed against the inner tapered surface of the pusher wheel, and the reaction force causes a radially inward force on the protrusion. Since this action causes a diameter reducing force to act on the retainer, the projecting portion is strongly engaged with the trough portion of the corrugate tube, and has the effect of preventing its withdrawal.
[0006]
By the way, in order for the retainer to exert its pull-out preventing force with certainty, it is a condition that the retainer's diameter reducing force acts on the corgate pipe reliably.
In order to satisfy such a condition, it has been proposed to arrange a spring on the outer periphery of the retainer and obtain a diameter reducing force by the elastic force of the spring.
[0007]
However, in this configuration, there is a problem in that a work is required to expand and fit a spring from the outer periphery into a retainer having a small shape and a precise and complicated structure, which is troublesome to manufacture and expensive.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, the present invention solves such a problem, and when the joint and the tube are joined by one touch only by inserting the flexible tube, the retainer that plays an important role in preventing the withdrawal is surely exerted the tightening elastic force. And it was made as a subject to make manufacture easy.
[0010]
The first aspect of the present invention includes a cylindrical main body and a push ring whose tip is screwed into the cylindrical main body, and a taper surface whose diameter increases toward the tip side of the push ring on the inner periphery of the push ring. An annular retainer is formed on the inner peripheral side of the tapered surface, and the retainer has a metal outer peripheral surface that can contact the tapered surface, and a metal protrusion that protrudes inward in the radial direction, In the retainer, axial notches formed from the projecting side are provided at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction, and the peripheral edges of the respective metal block-like portions partitioned by the notches are in the axial direction. It is integrally surrounded by a link-like elastic synthetic resin connected in the circumferential direction at the bottom of the cut, and when the flexible tube is inserted from the end of the pusher wheel, it is made of metal by a crest on the outer periphery of the corgate tube. Before the surface of the protrusion touches the mountain It is expanded against the elasticity of the synthetic resin body, allows passage of the peak, and allows the surface of the metal protrusion to engage with the valley on the outer periphery of the corrugate tube by allowing the peak to pass. It is characterized by being able to be restored and deformed by the elasticity of the synthetic resin body.
[0011]
The operation of expanding and reducing the diameter of the retainer is performed by the elasticity of the synthetic resin body, so that an elastic urging member such as a spring is not required, and the manufacture is facilitated.
The invention of claim 2 relates to the retainer for a flexible tube joint described in claim 1 , wherein an annular metal retainer member having an outer peripheral surface in contact with the tapered surface of the press ring and an inner surface in contact with the outer surface of the corrugate pipe, This synthetic resin is divided in the circumferential direction by an axial cut, and the peripheral edges of the divided block-like parts and the ring-like part on the axial cut end side are surrounded by an elastic synthetic resin molding. The expanding operation of the block-like portion is elastically suppressed by the molded body.
[0012]
Therefore, the metal part of the metal retainer contacts the taper surface of the push ring and the outer surface of the corrugated tube, so that the retainer itself has high strength, and the elasticity of the synthetic resin causes the metal part to expand and contract. Retainer with excellent reliability.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a side view of a flexible tube joint, and the upper half is a cross-sectional view.
[0016]
The flexible tube joint in this embodiment includes at least a cylindrical main body 11, an annular retainer 44, and a push ring 25 screwed into the cylindrical main body. In FIG. The thin-walled stainless steel corrugate tube 2 and a resin tube-like covering 3 covering the outer periphery of the corrugate tube 2 are configured. In the corgate pipe 2, 4 is a peak and 5 is a valley. The flexible tube 1 is connected to the joint in a state in which the covering 3 is removed for several piles at the tip of the corrugate tube 2.
[0017]
In this joint, the cylindrical main body 11 is formed of a metal such as brass, and an external thread portion 12 is formed at one end thereof so that it can be connected to a connected body such as a gas pipe. Yes. A hexagonal portion 13 is used for screwing the outer screw portion 12.
[0018]
On the inner circumference on the other end side of the cylindrical main body 11, an inner screw portion 15, an inner circumferential surface 16, an annular seal material accommodation portion 17, and a corrugate tube accommodation portion 18 are provided in this order from the opening side. ing. The corrugate tube accommodating portion 18 is formed to have a diameter smaller than that of the seal material accommodating portion 17 and the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the corgate tube 2, so that the peak portion 4 at the tip of the corgate tube 2 can be accommodated without a large gap. It is configured. An annular rubber sealing material 21 is accommodated in the sealing material accommodating portion 17 in a loose press-fit state. The sealing material 21 is configured by a cylindrical body in which a ring-shaped fireproof portion 22 and a general rubber portion 23 are integrated in the axial direction, and the fireproof portion 22 is disposed on the back side of the tubular main body 11. Has been.
[0019]
The press ring 25 is formed in a cylindrical shape from a metal such as brass, and has an external thread portion 26 that can be screwed into the internal thread portion 15 of the tubular main body 11 on one end side thereof. An outer peripheral surface 27 is formed on the outer periphery on the other end side of the press wheel 25. The outer peripheral surface 27 is formed to have a larger diameter than the outer screw portion 26.
[0020]
A hole 33 through which the flexible tube 1 is inserted is formed in the pusher wheel 25 in a penetrating state. A packing 34 is accommodated on the inner periphery adjacent to the hole 33. A tapered surface 37 is formed on the inner periphery of one end portion of the pusher wheel 25 with respect to the hole 33 so as to increase in diameter toward one end side of the pusher wheel 25. The tapered surface 37 is formed to have substantially the same diameter as the packing accommodating portion 17 of the cylindrical main body 11 on one end side, that is, the opening side of the pusher wheel 25.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, in a state where the presser wheel 25 is screwed into the cylindrical main body 11, the inner peripheral surface 16 of the presser wheel 25, the inner peripheral surface 16 of the cylindrical main body 11, and the end surface of the sealing material 21 are surrounded. A space 39 is formed. An annular retainer 44 is disposed in the space 39.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the retainer 44 has a peripheral edge corner portion of the block-shaped body 51 of the metal retainer member 50 having a block-shaped body 51... 51 having a body portion made of a metal material such as brass. 52 is formed so as to be integrally surrounded by a synthetic resin molded body 60 having elasticity, and the metal surface of the metal retainer member 50 is in contact with the press ring 25 and the corrugate tube 2 exclusively.
[0023]
Hereinafter, the retainer 44 will be described in detail. On one end side of the retainer 44, that is, on the opening side of the push wheel 25, a radially inward protruding portion 45 made of a metal material is formed as shown in FIGS.
[0024]
The protrusion 45 is formed so that the inner diameter thereof is smaller than the outer diameter of the peak portion 4 of the corrugate tube 2 and can enter the valley portion 5.
Similarly, the thickness of the protrusion 45 along the axial direction is smaller than the width of the valley 5 of the corrugate tube 2 along the axial direction. A tapered surface 46 that gradually increases in diameter toward the push wheel 25 side is formed on the inner circumference of the inner side of the protrusion 45 on the inner side of the push wheel 25. Further, an outer peripheral tapered surface 47 made of a metal material having an inclination in the same direction as the tapered surface 37 of the push wheel 25 is formed on the outer periphery on the other end side of the retainer 44. However, the angles of the two tapered surfaces 37 and 47 may be equal or may be different to some extent.
[0025]
In the retainer 44, as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, notches 48 in the axial direction are formed at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction from one end side having the protrusion 45 to the other end side. ing. The notch 48 reaches a position just before the other end of the retainer 44, and the retainer 44 is configured to be continuous in the circumferential direction only at the other end where the notch 48 is not formed. And this continuous part of the circumferential direction is formed as the thin part 49 by which the outer peripheral part was scraped off compared with the taper surface 47, as shown in FIG.
[0026]
A frame-shaped molded body 60 made of a synthetic resin having elasticity is integrally attached to the edge portion 52 of the block-shaped body 51 having the protrusion 45 and the tapered surface 46 and the thin-walled portion 49 in the continuous portion in the circumferential direction. It has been.
[0027]
As shown in an exploded view in FIG. 4, the synthetic resin molded body 60 includes an annular portion 61 that is fitted into the thin portion 49, and a metal block-like body that forms a protrusion 45 and a tapered surface 46 from the annular portion 61. The edge portion 52 of the block-like body 51 is provided with a cutout portion 53 into which the thin frame portion 62 of the molded body 60 is fitted. Yes.
[0028]
Therefore, the surface of the retainer 44 is a uniform continuous surface with no step between the surface of the metal retainer member 50 made of the block-like body 51 and the surface of the synthetic resin molded body 60.
[0029]
The retainer 44 is formed integrally by inserting a metal retainer member 50 having a protrusion 45 or a tapered surface 46 into a mold and press-fitting a synthetic resin therein.
In such a thing, when comprising a coupling, the sealing material 21 is first inserted in the accommodating part 17 of the cylindrical main body 11 first. In a state in which the retainer 44 is accommodated on the inner peripheral side of the tapered surface 37 of the pusher wheel 25, the pusher wheel 25 is screwed into the cylindrical main body 11. Then, the state shown in FIG. 5 is obtained, and the retainer 44 is accommodated in the space 39.
[0030]
When joining the joint and the flexible tube 1 in this state, the tube 3 is cut at the valley portion 5 of the corrugate tube 2 in FIG. 1 and the covering 3 is removed for several peaks at the tip of the corgate tube 2. The flexible tube 1 is inserted into the hole 33 from the end of the pusher wheel 25 as shown in FIG. 1 from the state shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the crest 4 at the tip of the corrugate tube 2 hits the surface of the protrusion 45 made of metal of the retainer 44 and moves the retainer 44 in a direction approaching the sealing material 21. Then, the outer peripheral tapered surface 47 of the retainer 44 is separated from the tapered surface 37 of the pusher wheel 25.
[0031]
When the flexible tube 1 is further inserted in this state, the retainer 44 comes into contact with the end face of the sealing material 21, and this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the peak portion 4 of the corrugate tube 2 made of the retainer 44 made of metal is tapered. Acting on the surface 46, the retainer 44 is pushed and expanded against the elasticity of the synthetic resin molded body 60 and passes through the inner periphery of the protrusion 45. At this time, the retainer 44 is formed with a plurality of incisions 48 in the circumferential direction, and the retainer 44 is formed with a thin portion 49. Therefore, the retainer 44 can be easily expanded. In addition, since the metal protrusion 45 and the tapered surface 46 are in contact with the flexible tube 1, there is no possibility that the retainer 44 is damaged. In particular, there is no fear that the synthetic resin molded body 60 exhibiting elasticity is damaged.
[0032]
In this way, the flexible tube 1 and the joint can be securely connected to each other in a sealed state by only one-touch operation of inserting the flexible tube 1 into the joint without any other operation such as screwing of the member. Can be joined.
[0033]
When a pulling-out force from the joint is applied to the flexible tube 1, the metal outer peripheral taper surface 47 of the retainer 44 in which the protrusion 45 is engaged with one valley portion 5 of the corrugate tube 2 is a taper of the pusher wheel 25. The retainer 44 receives the reaction force radially inward from the pusher wheel 25 when it hits the surface 37. Then, the protrusion 45 of the retainer 44 presses the outer periphery of one trough portion 5 of the corrugate pipe 2 over the entire circumference, and the engagement between the retainer 44 and the corgate pipe 2 is ensured. The flexible tube 1 is prevented from coming off from the joint.
[0034]
As the above-described embodiment, the case where the retainer is formed by integrally forming a plurality of block-like parts on a metal ring is shown. However, as shown in an exploded state in FIG. It is good also as a structure which 51 was integrally embedded in the state arrange | positioned circularly in the circumferential direction in the synthetic resin molding 60 which has elasticity.
[0035]
In this embodiment, the structure is the same as the retainer 44 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 except that the metal block 51 is independent. The detailed explanation is omitted.
[0036]
In this case, the retainer 44 is formed by arranging metal block bodies 51... 51 in a mold (not shown) in a ring shape with a gap between them and press-fitting an elastic resin into the mold.
[0037]
Since the retainer 44 does not need to be integrally formed with a thin annular body as a portion corresponding to the metal retainer member 50, the structure is simplified and the retainer can be manufactured at a lower cost.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the flexible tube joint of the first aspect, the flexible tube can be inserted into the joint by a one-touch operation without any other operation such as screwing of the member. And the joint can be securely joined to each other in a sealed state. In addition, when a pull-out force from the joint is applied to the flexible tube, the outer peripheral surface of the retainer is pressed against the tapered surface of the inner periphery of the pusher wheel, and the reaction force causes a radially inward force on the protrusion. It acts, and the diameter reducing force acts on the retainer, and the projecting portion is strongly engaged with the valley portion of the corrugate tube, so that it can be reliably prevented from coming out.
[0039]
Furthermore, the elasticity of the synthetic resin ensures that when the protrusion of the retainer is pushed and expanded by the crest of the outer periphery of the corrugate tube when the flexible tube is inserted, the diameter of the protrusion is reliably reduced to the valley by the elastic synthetic resin. It is possible to engage with the valley on the outer periphery of the corgate tube.
[0040]
The retainer of the flexible tube joint according to claim 2 exhibits strength because the portion of the retainer that contacts the tapered surface of the push ring is made of metal, while the elastic member that biases the reduced diameter is integrated with the retainer. Since it is a synthetic resin molded body having built-in elasticity, it can be manufactured without requiring a fitting operation such as a spring as a separate member, and the manufacture of the retainer is facilitated, and the operation is also ensured.
[0041]
In addition to the above-described effects, the retainer for a flexible tube joint according to claim 3 does not need to form a thin annular body out of a metal molded body, so that it can be manufactured more easily and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. It has an effect that can be done.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a flexible tube joint according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the retainer in FIG.
FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the retainer.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing an exploded state of the retainer.
5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before a flexible tube is inserted into the joint of FIG.
6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing the next stage of FIG. 5. FIG.
FIG. 7 is an exploded side view showing another configuration example of the retainer.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flexible tube 2 Corrugate pipe | tube 3 Tubular covering 4 Mountain part 5 Valley part 11 Cylindrical main body 12 External thread part 17 Seal material accommodating part 18 Colgate pipe accommodating part 21 Seal material 25 Push ring 33 Hole part 34 Packing 37 Tapered surface 39 Space 44 Annular retainer 45 Projection 46 inward in the radial direction Tapered surface 48 Notch 50 in the axial direction Metal retainer member 51 Block-shaped body 52 Peripheral edge corner 60 Synthetic resin molding 61 Annular part 62 Thin frame part

Claims (2)

A cylindrical main body, and a push ring whose tip is screwed into the cylindrical main body;
On the inner periphery of the press wheel, a tapered surface is formed that expands toward the tip side of the press wheel,
An annular retainer is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the tapered surface,
The retainer has a metal outer peripheral surface that can contact the tapered surface, and a metal protrusion that protrudes inward in the radial direction,
In the retainer, axial notches formed from the projecting side are provided at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction, and the peripheral edges of the respective metal block-like portions partitioned by the notches are in the axial direction. Surrounded integrally by a ring-shaped elastic synthetic resin connected in the circumferential direction at the bottom of the cut,
When the flexible tube is inserted from the end of the push ring, the surface of the metal protrusion is in contact with the peak by the peak of the outer periphery of the corrugate tube and is expanded against the elasticity of the synthetic resin body. The elastic deformation of the synthetic resin body allows the surface of the metal protrusion to be engaged with the valley of the outer periphery of the corrugate tube by allowing the mountain to pass and allowing the mountain to pass. A flexible tube joint characterized by being made possible. 2. The retainer in the flexible tube joint according to claim 1, wherein an annular metal retainer member having an outer peripheral surface in contact with a tapered surface of a press ring and an inner surface in contact with an outer peripheral surface of a corgate pipe is circumferentially cut by an axial cut. And the ring-shaped part on the axial cut end side is surrounded by a synthetic resin molded body having elasticity, and the block-shaped section is formed by the synthetic resin molded body. The retainer of the joint for flexible tubes in which the expansion operation of a part is suppressed elastically.

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