JP5415312B2 - Clip-on connector cap - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a clip-type connector cap that is attached to a connector that connects two pipes and prevents relative rotation between the pipe and the connector.

  For example, in the fuel piping of an automobile engine, a downstream pipe that is integrated with the engine, that is, a piping pipe on the engine side, and a piping pipe on the vehicle body side that is pre-assembled on the vehicle body side are connected to the engine in the vehicle assembly line. After mounting on the vehicle body, it is structured to be easily connected via a connector. In order to prevent relative rotation between the connector previously attached to one piping pipe and the other piping pipe (this causes wear and damage of the seal portion), it is disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 and the like. Such a structure is generally employed in which a clip-type connector cap is attached to the connector, the connector and the other piping pipe are held, and the relative rotation of both is restricted.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-269088 JP 2003-227581 A

  In Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, a clip portion having a C-shape or U-shape is provided only at one position in the longitudinal direction of a connector cap formed of synthetic resin or the like, and this is pushed into a cylindrical portion of the connector. The connector cap is attached to the connector by fitting with each other. However, if the connector cap is held at only one place as described above, sufficient holding is not always obtained. On the other hand, if clip portions are provided at a plurality of locations on the connector cap, it is natural that the insertion force required when the connector cap is attached to the connector increases, and the assembly workability by the operator deteriorates.

  Therefore, in the present invention, a plurality of clip portions are provided, and the insertion of other clip portions is assisted by utilizing the elastic reaction force of one clip portion (the force that the clip portion attempts to close).

That is, the present invention provides a pipe connection structure in which a first pipe having a connector at an end and a second pipe are connected via the connector, and the connector is connected to the connector so as to prevent relative rotation between the two. A clip-type connector cap that is attached by being pushed in from the side,
The connector cap is provided with a plurality of clip portions including at least a first clip portion and a second clip portion arranged in the axial direction, and the clip portions are respectively fitted portions of the connectors. A pair of locking pieces that are elastically fitted from both sides,
The positions of the respective locking pieces are set so that when the connector is pushed from the side, the first clip part is expanded and deformed in advance while the second clip part is in a free state. It is characterized by being.

  In the above configuration, the first clip portion expands and deforms before the second clip portion during the mounting operation, and the second clip portion begins to expand and deform later than this. The reaction force in the insertion direction acting on the operator's finger or the like is generally the largest at the moment when the stationary clip portion starts to expand and deform, so that the timing at which the first clip portion starts to expand and the second The required maximum insertion force of the entire connector cap is suppressed because the timing at which the clip portion begins to expand and deform slightly differs.

  Then, in the second half of the insertion process of the first clip portion, the first clip portion is drawn to the mating portion of the connector cap by the force of the locking pieces to close each other, that is, the connector cap is inserted. A pulling force is generated along the direction. In other words, in the process in which the second clip portion is inserted later than the first clip portion, a negative insertion force is generated by the first clip portion, and the insertion force of the entire connector cap is reduced.

  According to the present invention, the connector cap is provided with a plurality of clip portions, so that the connector cap is firmly held and the dropout and loosening of the connector cap are more reliably prevented, while the increase in insertion force required during assembly work is small. , Deterioration of workability can be avoided.

Explanatory drawing which shows the usage condition of the connector cap which concerns on this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows this connector cap with a connector. The front view of the connector to which a connector cap is applied. The top view of this connector. Sectional drawing along the AA line of FIG. Similarly, a side view of a single connector. The front view in the connector cap simple substance. Similarly side view. Sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. Bottom view of connector cap alone. Sectional drawing similar to FIG. 9 which shows the state which the connector fitted to the 2nd clip part. Explanatory drawing of the insertion force of the connector cap provided with the 1st, 2nd clip part.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a clip-type connector cap 1 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, an engine-side fuel pipe 2 that is integrated in advance with an automobile engine is connected to a connector 3 at the tip. The vehicle body side fuel pipe 4 is connected to the connector 3 afterwards, and the connector cap 1 is attached to the connector 3 so as to cover the connecting portion.

  In the following, the present invention will be described in accordance with an embodiment for a fuel pipe of an automobile engine. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any application can be used as long as it is a similar pipe connection portion. Even if it exists, this invention is applicable.

  FIG. 2 shows the connector cap 1 as a cross section and shows the overall positional relationship between the engine side fuel pipe 2, the connector 3 and the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4. The engine-side fuel pipe 2 is made of a metal tube covered with rubber or the like, and extends relatively downward. A connector 3 is attached to the tip of the engine-side fuel pipe 2 so as to be bent in a substantially L shape by 90 °. . The vehicle body-side fuel pipe 4 is similarly formed of a metal tube covered with rubber or the like, and conversely extends upward from the vehicle body side, and its distal end is inserted into the connector 3 in the axial direction as will be described later. It is connected to the connector 3. The vehicle body side fuel pipe 4 is bent in a substantially L shape by 90 °, and the connector cap 1 has a substantially L shape as a whole along the L shaped bent portion 4a of the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4. . In the connector 3, relative rotation around the central axis M is not restricted between the connector 3 itself and the tip of the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4 (connecting portion with the connector 3). Rotation is allowed. However, when the connector cap 1 is attached, the connector 3 is fitted to the connector cap 1 in a non-rotatable state by a deformed portion 23 described later, while the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4 is bent to the L-shaped bend. Since the connector cap 1 is positioned along the outside of the portion 4a, the posture with respect to the connector cap 1 is restricted. As a result, relative rotation of the pipes 2 and 4 around the central axis M is prevented. . Accordingly, when viewed from the right (or left) of FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower end of the engine side fuel pipe 2 and the upper end of the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4 are aligned in a straight line.

  3 to 6 show the details of the connector 3 together with the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4. FIG. 6 is a diagram of the connector 3 alone to which the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4 is not attached.

  The connector 3 is formed from a high-strength hard synthetic resin such as glass fiber reinforced polyamide, for example, and includes a small-diameter portion 11 serving as a first fitted portion and a second fitted portion. The large-diameter portion 12 is formed coaxially and continuously in the axial direction, and a pipe connection pipe 13 is continuously formed integrally with the end portion of the small-diameter portion 11. The pipe connection pipe 13 is bent 90 ° with respect to the central axis M of the small diameter portion 11 and the large diameter portion 12, and the tip of the engine side fuel pipe 2 described above is inserted therein.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the small-diameter portion 11 is configured to receive the tip of the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4 inside, and in order to seal between the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4, a pair of O-rings 15 is provided. 15 are inserted together with the spacer 16. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of annular ribs 17 and 18 are formed in advance at the tip of the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4 inserted into the connector 3.

  The large-diameter portion 12 has a skeleton shape having a rectangular opening 20 on a side surface, and a retainer 21 that holds the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4 is provided in the opening 20. The retainer 21 is made of a hard synthetic resin similar to the connector 3 itself, and is configured to be drawn out in a direction orthogonal to the central axis M. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the retainer 21 is pulled out (a state in which the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4 is not locked), but a state in which the retainer 21 is combined with the large diameter portion 12 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Then, the retainer 21 is engaged between the annular ribs 17 and 18 to prevent the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4 from coming off.

  The retainer 21 is prevented from falling off from the large-diameter portion 12 by the claw portion 21a shown in FIG. 6 (disengagement in a direction perpendicular to the central axis M). By covering from the outside, the retainer 21 is prevented from falling off twice.

  Here, the small-diameter portion 11 has a complete cylindrical surface whose outer peripheral surface is centered on the central axis M. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 12 has a cylindrical surface centered on the central axis M as a basic shape, and has a trapezoidal cross section on the outer peripheral side in two upper and lower positions. A bulging deformed portion 23 is provided. The deformed portion 23 defines the rotational posture of the connector 3 with respect to the connector cap 1, and as shown in FIG. 6, the pipe connecting tube 13 extends in two directions that are opposite to the direction 180 °. Are provided symmetrically.

  7 to 10 show the connector cap 1 attached to the connector 3 as a single unit. The connector cap 1 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin material such as polyamide having appropriate elasticity and rigidity, and a main body portion 31 that forms a main portion extending along the central axis M. Has a basic shape with a substantially U-shaped cross-section (see FIG. 9) in which a pair of wall portions 32 are connected by a top portion 33, and after connecting the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4 and the connector 3, It is adapted to be pushed in along the direction orthogonal to the axis M. An extension portion 35 extends at one end of the main body portion 31 so as to form a substantially L shape corresponding to the L-shaped bent portion 4a of the vehicle body side fuel pipe 4, and the vehicle body side fuel pipe is provided at the tip portion thereof. 4 is provided with a pipe holding portion 34 that can be press-fitted relatively loosely. As is apparent from FIG. 10, the pipe holding portion 34 has a U-shaped cross section in which the inner peripheral side (the left side in FIG. 7 or FIG. 10) of the L-shaped bent portion 4a is opened, like the main body portion 31. However, as is apparent from FIG. 2, the intermediate portion of the extension 35 connecting the main body portion 31 and the pipe holding portion 34 is the outer peripheral side of the L-shaped bent portion 4a (in FIG. 7 or FIG. 2). The right side of the figure is also open, that is, it is composed only of a pair of wall portions separated from each other.

  In addition, in order to ensure the required rigidity of the basic shape opened in the U shape while leaving appropriate elasticity, the outer surface and the inner surface of the connector cap 1 are aligned along the periphery and the direction perpendicular to the central axis M. Several ribs 36 are appropriately provided.

  A first clip portion 42 is formed at the end of the main body portion 31 opposite to the extension portion 35 so as to be separated by the slit 41. The slit 41 separates the first clip portion 42 from the main body portion 31 except for the top thick portion 44 that is continuous with the top portion 33 of the main body portion 31. The top thick portion 44 has sufficient rigidity. Therefore, the first clip portion 42 is firmly connected to the main body portion 31 by the top thick portion 44.

  As is apparent from FIG. 8, the first clip portion 42 is composed of a pair of symmetrical locking pieces 45, 45 extending from the top thick portion 44 in an arc shape. Accordingly, the first clip portion 42 is generally C-shaped as a whole, and the opening 46 is provided with a tip tapered portion 45a that provides an outwardly opening tapered surface. A substantially parallel straight line portion 45b serving as a substantial opening exists between the tapered surface of the tip tapered portion 45a and the circular inner peripheral surface of the first clip portion 42.

  The first clip portion 42 is formed corresponding to the small diameter portion 11 so as to closely fit the small diameter portion 11 of the connector 3, and an inner peripheral surface thereof is centered on the central axis M. The inner diameter in a free state is set to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the small diameter portion 11. Therefore, in a state where the small diameter portion 11 is fitted, a state in which the small diameter portion 11 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 11 can be obtained without looseness. In addition, a rib 47 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the locking piece portion 45 along the circumferential direction in order to make the rigidity and elasticity appropriate.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, a part in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 31 of the connector cap 1, specifically, a portion adjacent to the first clip portion 42 is a second clip portion 51 corresponding to the large diameter portion 12 of the connector 3. It is configured. The portion of the second clip portion 51 and the remaining portion of the main body portion 31 are separated by a rib 36A on the inner side of the connector cap 1 shown in FIG. 2, and the remaining portion is the unevenness of the top portion 33 and the wall portion 32. While having relatively high rigidity depending on the shape, the portion of the second clip portion 51 has relatively low rigidity. That is, when the pair of U-shaped wall portions 32 are pulled or compressed in the left-right direction in FIGS. 8 to 9, the portion to be the second clip portion 51 is relatively easily elastically deformed. If necessary, similarly to the first clip portion 42, the second clip portion 51 may be separated from the remaining portion of the main body portion 31 through a slit so as to be an independent locking piece portion. Also good.

  The second clip 51 extends as a pair of locking pieces, as described above, to the pair of wall portions 32 that can be elastically deformed in the left-right direction in FIG. 9 and the axial direction projecting from each inner wall surface. And an elongated protrusion 52. The inner peripheral surfaces of the pair of wall portions 32 extend substantially in parallel with each other, and the protrusions 52 are provided symmetrically at positions corresponding to each other inside thereof. As shown in FIG. 9, the protrusion 52 basically protrudes so as to form a rectangular cross section, but the side toward the opening of the U-shaped second clip 51 is tapered along the insertion direction. A surface 52a is formed.

  Further, a trapezoidal concave section 53 corresponding to the deformed section 23 of the large diameter section 12 of the connector 3 is formed on the inner periphery of the top of the second clip section 51 having a U-shape.

  FIG. 11 shows a state in which the large-diameter portion 12 of the connector 3 is fitted in the second clip portion 51 configured as shown in FIG. The opening width of the wall portion 32 of the U-shaped second clip portion 51 is substantially equal to the diameter of the cylindrical surface of the large diameter portion 12, and the interval between the protrusions 52 is the cylindrical surface of the large diameter portion 12. Smaller than the diameter. In a state where the large diameter portion 12 is fitted into the second clip portion 51 over the protruding portion 52, the large diameter portion 12 is held without looseness by the U-shaped inner wall surface and the protruding portion 52. At this time, one deformed portion 23 of the large-diameter portion 12 is fitted into the recessed portion 53 of the second clip portion 51, thereby defining the rotational posture of the connector 3 relative to the connector cap 1.

  In addition, the opening part 54 for avoiding interference with the nail | claw part 21a (refer FIG. 6) of the retainer 21 mentioned above is provided in the U-shaped curved part of the said 2nd clip part 51 symmetrically (FIG. 9).

  The connector cap 1 having the first clip portion 42 and the second clip portion 51 configured as described above is connected to the connector cap 1 with the fingers after the connection work of the pipes 2 and 4 by the connector 3 and the retainer 21 is completed. However, in the present invention, when the second clip portion 51 is still in a free state, the first clip portion 42 is expanded and deformed particularly when the second clip portion 51 is pushed into the connector 3. Each positional relationship, in particular, the position and size (projection height) of the protrusion 52 that becomes the second clip portion 51 is set so as to occur in advance. Thereby, the insertion force required for insertion as the whole connector cap 1 becomes small.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing this, and the horizontal axis shows the progress of the insertion process (in other words, the insertion stroke), and (a) in the uppermost stage shows the progress of the insertion process. Four representative stages are illustrated. In the column (a), the small-diameter portion 11 and the large-diameter portion 12 are shown in a simple cylindrical shape, and the second clip portion 51 is also shown in a simplified C shape similar to the first clip portion 42. It is. In the (b) column, the dotted line indicates the insertion force of the first clip portion 42 alone, and the alternate long and short dash line indicates the insertion force of the second clip portion 51 alone, and (c) column indicates the insertion of the connector cap 1 as a whole. The force is indicated by a dotted line. Note that the solid line in the column (c) represents the insertion force when it is assumed that the two first clip portions 42 are provided as a reference example.

  As shown in the figure, in the above embodiment, when the connector cap 1 is pushed downward in FIG. 12, the opening end of the first clip portion 42 first contacts the small diameter portion 11 and expands and deforms left and right. start. The necessary insertion force greatly increases at this moment, but once the first clip portion 42 starts to expand, the insertion force gradually decreases thereafter. Then, the displacement of both the locking pieces 45 of the first clip portion 42 is the maximum expansion deformation state (the state when the diameter portion of the small diameter portion 11 passes through the opening 46 of the first clip portion 42) in the contraction direction. When reversed (the moment when the diameter portion of the small diameter portion 11 has passed through the straight portion 45b in the opening portion 46), the insertion force of the first clip portion 42 becomes negative due to the elastic reaction force that the first clip portion 42 tends to contract. Become. That is, the connector cap 1 is pulled toward the small diameter portion 11.

  Almost corresponding to such timing, the protrusion 52 of the second clip 51 (the opening end of the second clip 51 drawn in a C shape in the schematic diagram of FIG. 12 corresponds to the protrusion 52) is large. The second clip portion 51 begins to expand and deform left and right while coming into contact with the diameter portion 12. At this time, in the second clip portion 51 alone, the necessary insertion force increases as indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in column (b). However, as described above, the negative insertion force is generated by the first clip portion 42. The insertion force required as a whole of the cap 1 becomes very small, and depending on the setting of each reaction force, it can be a negative insertion force as a whole as shown in the column (c). When the diameter portion of the large-diameter portion 12 has passed between the protrusions 52 of the second clip portion 51, the displacement of the second clip portion 51 is also reversed in the contraction direction and inserted as the second clip portion 51 alone. Since the force becomes negative, the insertion force of the connector cap 1 as a whole becomes negative, and both the first clip part 42 and the second clip part 51 are quickly inserted to the final complete fitting position.

  Therefore, as is clear from the comparison with the reference example in the column (c), the insertion force required for the operation is reduced and the workability is improved as compared with the case where the same two clip portions are provided.

  In the explanatory view of FIG. 12, the deformation of the second clip portion 51 starts corresponding to the timing when the insertion force of the first clip portion 42 becomes negative. If the part of the period in which the insertion force of the second clip part 51 alone is positive overlaps with the period in which the insertion force of the first clip part 42 is negative, the insertion force of the connector cap 1 as a whole is set. Is obtained. And it is desirable that the deformation start time of the second clip part 51 where the insertion force of the second clip part 51 alone is the maximum is included in the period during which the insertion force of the first clip part 42 is negative.

  As mentioned above, although one Example of this invention was described in detail, this invention is not limited to this Example, A various change is possible. For example, in the said Example, although the 1st clip part 42 and the 2nd clip part 51 are provided one each, there may exist these, for example, a 1st clip part is provided in the front and back both sides of the 2nd clip part 51, for example. A configuration in which 42 is arranged is also possible. In the above embodiment, the small diameter portion 11 corresponding to the first clip portion 42 and the large diameter portion 12 corresponding to the second clip portion 51 have different diameters. The invention is applicable. Further, the fitted portion is not necessarily limited to the cylindrical surface, and may be a polygonal shape or an appropriate curved surface, and can be appropriately set in consideration of the characteristic that the insertion force is negative. Further, the rotation restriction of the connector cap with respect to the connector is not limited to the engagement of the deformed portion 23 as described above, and various structures such as engagement at other portions are possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Connector cap 2 ... Engine side fuel pipe 3 ... Connector 4 ... Vehicle body side fuel pipe 11 ... Small diameter part 12 ... Large diameter part 42 ... 1st clip part 51 ... 2nd clip part

Claims (5)

In a pipe connection structure in which a first pipe having a connector at an end and a second pipe are connected via the connector, the first pipe and the second pipe are attached by being pushed into the connector from the side so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween. A clip-type connector cap,
The connector cap is provided with a plurality of clip portions including at least a first clip portion and a second clip portion arranged in the axial direction, and the clip portions are respectively fitted portions of the connectors. A pair of locking pieces that are elastically fitted from both sides,
The positions of the respective locking pieces are set so that when the connector is pushed from the side, the first clip part is expanded and deformed in advance while the second clip part is in a free state. A clip-type connector cap.   When the both locking pieces of the first clip part are turned from the maximum expansion deformation state to the contraction direction when pushed into the connector from the side, the expansion deformation of the locking piece part of the second clip part is performed. The clip-type connector cap according to claim 1, wherein the operation starts.   The first fitted portion corresponding to the first clip portion has a cylindrical surface, and each locking piece portion of the first clip portion has an arc shape to be fitted to the cylindrical surface. The clip-type connector cap according to claim 1 or 2.   The locking piece portion of the second clip portion is composed of a substantially U-shaped wall portion that constitutes a part of the main body portion of the connector cap, and a protruding portion that protrudes from the inside of the wall portion. The clip-type connector cap according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   An extension portion for holding the L-shaped bent portion of the second pipe is provided, and the second clip portion is non-rotatably fitted to the deformed portion of the second fitted portion corresponding to the second clip portion. The clip-type connector cap according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first and second pipes are prevented from rotating relative to each other.

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