JP6130656B2 - Connector structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector structure for connecting two members.

  Conventionally, as a connector structure, for example, a pipe connecting device described in Patent Document 1 below is provided, and is used for connecting pipes in an outdoor water heater or the like. The pipe connecting device includes a male pipe having a base-side annular groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the opening, a female pipe having a female pipe joint formed in the opening, and a pipe coupling member for fixing them. It is composed of According to this pipe connecting apparatus, after the male side pipe is connected to the female side pipe, the proximal end side annular groove and the female side pipe joint are elastically held by the pipe coupling member.

JP 2010-223301 A

  However, in the pipe connecting device described above, since the male side pipe is connected to the female side pipe, the proximal end-side annular groove and the female side pipe joint are elastically held by the pipe coupling member. Two types of work different from clamping are required, and workability is inferior.

  In addition, the pipe connection device needs to secure a work space for the operator, and a piping layout considering the work space hinders a compact design.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of the above circumstances. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector structure in which two members can be connected in one operation, and thereby a piping layout can be designed compactly.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the connector structure according to the present invention, a male member and a female member are inserted into a female side mouth portion formed in the female member, and a male side mouth portion formed in the male member is inserted. In the connector structure connected to each other, a window portion is opened in a peripheral surface of the female side mouth portion, and a locking member in which a locking piece is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the male member is provided, and the male side mouth portion Is inserted into the female side mouth portion, the locking member is rotated around the male member by contacting the female side mouth portion, and the locking piece is locked to the window portion. It is characterized by that.

  In the connector structure according to the present invention, a guided rib is formed on the locking member, a guide rib is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the female side mouth portion, and the locking piece is locked on the window portion. When the guided rib comes into contact with the guide rib, the locking member is rotated about the male member, and the locking piece is guided to the window portion.

  In the connector structure according to the present invention, a positioning projection is formed at the opening end of the male side mouth portion, and a positioning groove portion is formed at the back end of the female side mouth portion to fit the positioning projection portion. It is characterized by.

  In the connector structure according to the present invention, guided protrusions are formed on the locking pieces, and linear guides are provided in the axial direction toward the opening end of the female side mouth portion on the inner peripheral surface of the female side mouth portion. When the groove portion is formed and the locking piece is removed from the window portion and the locking is released, the locking member rotates around the male member, and the guided protrusion becomes the guide groove portion. It is characterized by being fitted.

  The connector structure according to the present invention is characterized in that an attachment / detachment path for attaching / detaching to / from the outer peripheral surface of the male member is opened in a part of the locking member.

  In the connector structure according to the present invention, the male member and the female member connected to each other are engaged with each other while the locking member rotates about the male member and the locking piece is removed from the window portion. It is characterized by being released.

  The connector structure according to the present invention has the above-described configuration. According to this configuration, when the male side mouth of the male member is inserted into the female side mouth of the female member, the locking member rotates around the male member in conjunction with this and is locked to the female member. The Therefore, it is possible to connect the female member and the male member simply by inserting the male side mouth portion into the female side mouth portion, thereby making it possible to design the piping layout compactly.

  Further, in the connector structure, a guided rib is formed on the locking member, a guide rib is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the female side mouth portion, and when the locking piece is locked to the window portion, the guided rib is By contacting the guide rib, the locking member is rotated about the male member, and the locking piece is guided to the window portion. With this configuration, the locking piece is guided and locked to the window portion by the guide rib and the guided rib. Therefore, the male member and the female member can be connected in one operation without the operator's visual observation, and thereby the piping layout can be designed compactly.

  Further, in the connector structure, a positioning projection is formed at the opening end of the male side mouth portion, and a positioning groove portion into which the positioning projection portion is fitted is formed at the back end of the female side mouth portion. With this configuration, when the male side mouth portion is inserted into the female side mouth portion, the positioning protrusion is fitted into the positioning groove portion. Therefore, when connecting a male member to a female member, positioning is easy. Further, after the connection, the male member and the female member do not shift in the circumferential direction.

  Further, in the connector structure, a guided projection is formed on the locking piece, and a linear guide groove is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the female side mouth portion in the axial direction toward the opening end of the female side mouth portion. When the locking piece is removed from the window and the locking is released, the locking member rotates around the male member, and the guided protrusion is fitted into the guide groove. With this configuration, the locking piece is detached from the window portion by rotating the locking member around the male member, and the guided protrusion is fitted into the guide groove portion. Accordingly, the locking member can be rotated to a position suitable when the male side mouth portion is removed from the female side mouth portion. Further, a click feeling can be obtained when the guided protrusion is fitted in the guide groove, and a suitable position can be confirmed by a click feeling when the male side mouth is removed from the female side mouth.

  In the connector structure, an attachment / detachment path for attaching / detaching to / from the outer peripheral surface of the male member is opened in a part of the locking member. With this configuration, the locking member is attached to and detached from the male member through the attachment / detachment path. Therefore, molding is simplified by molding the locking member separately from the male member. Further, the locking member can be easily replaced.

  Further, in the connector structure, the connected male member and female member are rotated by the locking member about the male member, and the locking piece is removed from the window portion to be unlocked. With this configuration, the locking claw portion locked to the window portion is released by rotating the locking member around the male member. Therefore, the connection between the male member and the female member can be easily released.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the external appearance of the connector structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and shows the state before the connection of a male member and a female member. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the external appearance of the connector structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and shows the state after the connection of a male member and a female member. It is the section perspective view showing the section of the female member of the connector structure concerning the embodiment of the present invention. The external appearance of the female member of the connector structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) (c) is a side view, (d) is side surface AA sectional drawing, (e) is a bottom face A perspective view, (f) is a bottom view, and (g) is a side cross-sectional view taken along the line BB. It is the section perspective view showing the section of the male member of the connector structure concerning the embodiment of the present invention. The external appearance of the male member of the connector structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) (c) (d) is a side view, (e) is a bottom perspective view, (f) is a bottom view The figure and (g) are side GG sectional views. It is the external appearance perspective view which showed the external appearance of the latching member of the connector structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The external appearance of the locking member of the connector structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is an enlarged view of a locking piece, (c) is plane EE sectional drawing, (d) Is a side view, (e) is a front transparent view, (f) is a side DD sectional view, (g) is a front CC sectional view, and (h) is a rear view. The external appearance of the modification of the locking member of the connector structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is an external appearance perspective view, (b) is an enlarged view of a locking piece. The external appearance of the modification of the locking member of the connector structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a side view, (d) is a rear view, e) is a bottom view, and (f) is a front EE cross-sectional view. Sectional drawing of the connector structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is sectional drawing which showed the state before the connection of a male member and a female member, (b) is sectional drawing which showed the effect | action of the locking member. And (c) is a cross-sectional view showing a state after connection between the male member and the female member. Sectional drawing of the connector structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is sectional drawing which showed the state after the connection of a male member and a female member, (b) F- which showed the effect | action of the locking member F sectional drawing and (c) are FF sectional views which showed the latch release state of the locking member.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show the external appearance of the connector structure 1 according to the present embodiment, FIGS. 3 and 4 show the external appearance of the female member 20, FIGS. 5 and 6 show the external appearance of the male member 10, and FIGS. FIG. 8 shows the appearance of the locking member 30.

  1 and 2, the connector structure 1 according to this embodiment includes a male member 10, a female member 20 into which the male member 10 is inserted, and a female member that is attached to the outer periphery of the male member 10 and into which the male member 10 is inserted. It is comprised from the latching member 30 latched by 20. FIG.

  3 and 4, the female member 20 is a cylindrical pipe composed of a female member main body 21 and a female side mouth portion 22, and the female side mouth portion 22 is opened at the tip of the female member main body 21. Yes. The female side mouth portion 22 has a larger diameter than the female member main body 21. The opening side of the female side opening 22 is a female side opening end 23, and the boundary side with the female member main body 21 is a female side rear end 24.

  A plurality of window portions 25 are opened on the peripheral surface of the female side mouth portion 22. The window portions 25 are close to the female opening end 23 and are formed at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Guide ribs 26 are formed between the window portions 25 inside the female side mouth portion 22. The guide rib 26 is a flat and substantially triangular shape whose apex side is aligned with the edge of the female-side opening end 23, and the slope is connected to the edge of the window portion 25 along the inner peripheral surface. A guide groove 27 is formed in the guide rib 26. The guide groove 27 is formed from the female opening end 23 toward the female back end 24 through the apex of the guide rib 26. A positioning groove 28 is formed at the female back end 24. The positioning groove 28 has a substantially triangular shape with the apex in the depth direction, and the bottom surface is formed at the female back end 24.

  5 and 6, the male member 10 is a cylindrical pipe composed of a male member main body 11 and a male side mouth portion 12, and the male side mouth portion 12 is opened at the tip of the male member main body 11. Yes. The opening side of the male side mouth portion 12 is a male side opening end 14. The male member main body 11 has a locking member mounting groove 16 to which the locking member 30 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of the boundary with the male side mouth portion 12. On the outer peripheral surface of the male side mouth portion 12, an O-ring attachment groove portion 13 to which an O-ring is attached is formed. The male side opening end 14 is formed with a positioning projection 15. The positioned projection 15 is a substantially triangular shape with the apex side protruding in the axial direction, and the bottom side is connected to the opening tip 14. The positioned projection 15 is approximately the same size as the positioning groove 28 of the female member 20.

  7 and 8, the locking member 30 is formed in a substantially C shape with an attachment / detachment path 31 opened in a part of an annular shape, and the locking member mounting groove portion formed in the male member main body 11 of the male member 10. 16 is attached. The locking member 30 includes a C-shaped inner peripheral portion 34 that is an inner peripheral side, an outer peripheral portion 35 that is an outer peripheral side, and a substantially C-shaped C-shaped groove portion 32 that is formed by the inner peripheral portion 34 and the outer peripheral portion 35. , And a locking piece 33 disposed inside the C-shaped groove 32. In the axial direction of the locking member 30, the locking member 30 has a closed end 36 and an inner peripheral portion closed by connecting the end of the inner peripheral portion 34 and the end of the outer peripheral portion 35. An open end 37 is a side (bottom side) opened by 34 and the outer peripheral portion 35.

  The locking piece 33 is a pair of substantially plate-like pieces formed near the attachment / detachment path 31 in the C-shape. The locking piece 33 is formed from the open end 37 side toward the closed end 36, and is disposed on the inner side of the C-shaped groove portion 32 so as to face each of the inner peripheral portion 34 and the outer peripheral portion 35 (FIG. 8 ( g)). The locking piece 33 includes a locking base portion 39 that is continuous to the open end 37 side, and a locking claw portion 40 that is continuous from the locking base portion 39 to the closing end 36 side.

  The locking base 39 is formed with guided ribs 41 (see FIG. 8D). The guided rib 41 is a flat and substantially triangular shape with the apex side aligned with the edge of the open end 37, and the bottom side is connected to the locking base 39. The locking claw portion 40 is substantially trapezoidal, with the upper bottom side facing the outer peripheral portion 35 and the lower bottom side facing the inner peripheral portion 34. A guided protrusion 42 is formed on the upper bottom side (see FIG. 8B).

  The outer peripheral portion 35 has a knob 38 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the portion facing the locking piece 33. The knob 38 protrudes laterally from the outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral portion 35.

  The connector structure 1 according to this embodiment is configured as described above.

  Next, a modified example of the locking member 30 will be described based on the drawings. 9 and 10 show a locking member 130 which is a modification of the locking member 30. FIG. In the following, only the configuration different from the above-described locking member 30 is described, and the description regarding the same configuration is omitted.

  9 and 10, the locking piece 133 is a part of the inner peripheral portion 134. That is, a gap 143 is formed through the inner peripheral portion 134 in the axial direction of the locking member 130, and a locking piece 133 is formed on the C-shaped groove 32 side of the inner peripheral portion 134 by the gap 143.

  The locking piece 133 includes a locking base portion 139 that is connected to the inner peripheral portion 134 in the circumferential direction, a locking claw portion 140 that protrudes from the locking base portion 139 toward the outer peripheral portion 135 toward the C-shaped groove 32, and a locking claw The guide rib 141 is connected to the portion 140.

  The locking base 139 is substantially plate-shaped and can be bent toward the gap 143. The degree of bending of the locking base 139 is adjusted by appropriately changing the thickness thereof. The locking claw 140 and the guided rib 141 are substantially triangular pyramid protrusions that are connected to each other. The locking claw portion 140 is a flat and substantially triangular shape with the apex side facing the outer peripheral portion 135, and the bottom surface side is connected to the locking base portion 139. The locking claw 140 is a substantially triangular pyramid, the bottom side is connected to the locking base 139, and the vertex on the bottom side is aligned with the edge of the open end 137.

  The locking member 130 is formed only in a portion where the outer peripheral portion 135 faces the locking piece 133.

  Next, a connection method using the connector structure 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 11 shows a state in which the male member 10 and the female member 20 are connected and locked by the locking member 30.

  1 and 2, the connector structure 1 has a locking member 30 attached to the locking member mounting groove 16 of the male member 10 through the attachment / detachment path side 31 so that the male side mouth 12 and the female side mouth 22 face each other. The male member 10 and the female member 20 are coaxially arranged. The locking member 30 can rotate in the rotation direction c about the male member 10.

  In FIG. 11, the male side mouth portion 12 of the male member 10 is inserted into the female side mouth portion 22 of the female member 20 (insertion direction a (see FIG. 1)), and the locking piece 33 formed on the locking member 30 is The guided rib 41 and the guide rib 26 formed on the female member 20 come into contact with each other. Since the inclined surface of the guided rib 41 is displaced in the circumferential direction along the inclined surface of the guide rib 26, the linear motion is converted into the rotational motion, and the locking member 30 is rotated in the circumferential direction (rotation direction c) about the male member 10. Rotate. The locking member 30 rotates until the guided rib 41 faces the window portion 25 between the guide ribs 26.

  The locking member 30 stops rotating, and the female-side opening 22 is inserted into the C-shaped groove 32 of the locking member 30. The locking piece 33 passes through the window portion 25 from the guided rib 41 side while bending with the locking base portion 39 as a base point, and the locking claw portion 40 is guided to the window portion 25. When the female side mouth portion 22 reaches the closed end 36 and the locking claw portion 40 is accommodated in the window portion 25, the restoring force of the locking piece 33 suppressed by bending is released, and the locking claw portion 40 is released. Is locked to the window portion 25. At the same time, the positioning protrusion 15 protruding from the male opening end 14 of the male mouth 12 is guided and fitted into the positioning groove 28 formed at the female back end 24 of the female mouth 22.

  As described above, in the connector structure 1 according to this embodiment, the female member 20 into which the male member 10 is inserted is locked by the locking member 30 and the connection is completed.

  Next, a method for releasing the connection of the connector structure 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 12 shows a state in which the locking of the locking member 30 is released.

  In FIG. 12, the knob 38 of the locking member 30 is picked and the locking member 30 is rotated around the male member 10. The slope of the locking claw portion 40 of the locking piece 33 contacts the edge of the window portion 25 of the female side mouth portion 22, the locking piece 33 bends with the locking base 39 as a base point, and the locking claw portion 40 opens the window. The latch is released from the portion 25. The locking claw portion 40 moves in the circumferential direction along the inner side of the female side mouth portion 22, and the guided protrusion 42 formed on the locking claw portion 40 is formed on the inner side of the female side mouth portion 22. 27. By removing the male side mouth part 12 from the female side mouth part 22 (extraction direction b (see FIG. 2)), the female side mouth part 22 is removed from the C-shaped groove part 32 and the locking piece 33 is moved by the restoring force. Return to the original position.

  As described above, in the connector structure 1 according to the present embodiment, the male side mouth portion 12 is removed from the female side mouth portion 22 from which the locking of the locking member 30 is released, and the connection is released.

  As another embodiment of the present invention, when the male member and the female member are connected by inserting the male side opening of the locking member into the female side opening of the female member, the locking member becomes the male member. The structure which is being fixed and a female member can be rotated centering on a male member may be sufficient.

  Next, the effect of this embodiment will be described.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of window portions 25 are opened on the peripheral surface of the female side mouth portion 22. Guide ribs 26 are formed between the window portions 25 inside the female side mouth portion 22. The guide rib 26 is a flat and substantially triangular shape whose apex side is aligned with the edge of the female-side opening end 23, and the slope is connected to the edge of the window portion 25 along the inner peripheral surface. On the other hand, a guided rib 41 is formed on the locking base 39 of the locking piece 33. The guided rib 41 is a flat and substantially triangular shape with the apex side aligned with the edge of the open end 37, and the bottom side is connected to the locking base 39.

  According to this configuration, the male side mouth portion 12 of the male member 10 is inserted into the female side mouth portion 22 of the female member 20, the guided rib 41 of the locking piece 33 formed on the locking member 30, and the female member 20 is in contact with the guide rib 26. Since the inclined surface of the guided rib 41 is displaced in the circumferential direction along the inclined surface of the guide rib 26, the linear motion is converted into the rotational motion, and the locking member 30 is rotated in the circumferential direction (rotation direction c) about the male member 10. Rotate.

  Therefore, it is possible to connect the female member 20 and the male member 10 simply by inserting the male side mouth portion 12 into the female side mouth portion 22, thereby making it possible to design the piping layout compactly. Moreover, the male member 10 and the female member 20 can be connected by one operation | work, without an operator visually checking.

  According to the present embodiment, the positioning groove 28 is formed at the female back end 24 formed at the female side opening 22 of the female member 20. The positioning groove 28 has a substantially triangular shape with the apex in the depth direction, and the bottom surface is formed at the female back end 24. On the other hand, a positioning projection 15 is formed on the male opening end 14 formed in the male mouth 12 of the male member 10. The positioned projection 15 is a substantially triangular shape with the apex side protruding in the axial direction, and the bottom side is connected to the opening tip 14. The positioned projection 15 is approximately the same size as the positioning groove 28 of the female member 20.

  With this configuration, when the male side mouth portion 12 is inserted into the female side mouth portion 22, the positioning projection 15 protruding from the male side opening end 14 of the male side mouth portion 12 It is guided and fitted in the positioning groove 28 formed at the end 24. Therefore, positioning of the male member 10 to the female member 20 is easy. Further, after the connection, the male member 10 and the female member 20 do not shift in the circumferential direction.

  According to this embodiment, when the connection of the connector structure 1 is released, the knob 38 of the locking member 30 is picked and the locking member 30 is rotated around the male member 10. The slope of the locking claw portion 40 of the locking piece 33 contacts the edge of the window portion 25 of the female side mouth portion 22, the locking piece 33 bends with the locking base 39 as a base point, and the locking claw portion 40 opens the window. The latch is released from the portion 25. Therefore, the connection between the male member 10 and the female member 20 can be easily released.

  According to the present embodiment, the guide rib 26 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the female side opening 22 of the female member 20. The guide groove 27 is formed from the female opening end 23 toward the female back end 24 through the apex of the guide rib 26. On the other hand, the locking claw portion 40 is substantially trapezoidal, with the upper bottom side facing the outer peripheral portion 35 and the lower bottom side facing the inner peripheral portion 35. A guided protrusion 42 is formed on the upper bottom side.

  With this configuration, when the connection of the connector structure 1 is released, the locking claw portion 40 moves in the circumferential direction along the inner side of the female side mouth portion 22, and the guided protrusion 42 formed on the locking claw portion 40. Fits into the guide groove 27 formed inside the female side mouth portion 22. Therefore, the locking member 30 can be rotated to a position suitable when the male side mouth portion 12 is removed from the female side mouth portion 22. Further, a click feeling can be obtained when the guided protrusion 42 is fitted in the guide groove 27, and a suitable position can be confirmed by a click feeling when the male side mouth portion 12 is removed from the female side mouth portion 22. it can.

  According to the present embodiment, the locking member 30 is formed in a substantially C shape with the attachment / detachment path 31 being opened in an annular part. With this configuration, the locking member 30 is attached to and detached from the locking member attachment groove 16 of the male member 10 through the attachment / detachment path side 31. Therefore, molding is simplified by molding the locking member 30 separately from the male member 10. In addition, the locking member 30 can be easily replaced.

  According to the present embodiment, the locking member 130 penetrates the inner peripheral portion 134 in the axial direction of the locking member 130, and the gap 143 is formed, and the gap 143 causes the inner peripheral portion 134 to move toward the C-shaped groove 32. A locking piece 133 is formed. With this configuration, the degree of bending of the locking base 139 is adjusted by appropriately changing the thickness thereof. Therefore, the resistance when the female side opening 22 of the female member 20 is inserted into the C-shaped groove 32 can be adjusted.

  According to the present embodiment, the locking base portion 139 is connected to the inner peripheral portion 134 of the locking piece 133 in the circumferential direction. That is, both ends of the locking base portion 129 are connected to the inner peripheral portion 134. With this configuration, the locking piece 133 is difficult to buckle, and the female member 20 into which the male member 10 is inserted has a stronger force to be locked by the locking member 130. Therefore, the reliability of the connector structure can be increased.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. The present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Connector structure 10 Male member 11 Male member main body 12 Male side opening part 13 O-ring attachment groove part 14 Male side opening end 15 Protrusion part 16 Locking member attachment groove part 20 Female member 21 Female member main body 22 Female side opening part 23 Female side opening End 24 Female side rear end 25 Window portion 26 Guide rib 27 Guide groove portion 28 Positioning groove portion 30, 130 Locking member 31 Detachment path 32 C-shaped groove portion 33, 133 Locking piece 34, 134 Inner peripheral portion 35, 135 Outer peripheral portion 36 Closed end 37, 137 Open end 38 Knob 39, 139 Locking base 40, 140 Locking claw 41, 141 Guided rib 42 Guided protrusion 143 Gap a Insertion direction b Removal direction c Rotation direction

Claims (5)

In the connector structure in which the male member and the female member are inserted and connected to the female side mouth portion formed in the female member, the male side mouth portion formed in the male member,
A window is opened on the peripheral surface of the female side mouth,
A locking member having a locking piece formed on the outer peripheral surface of the male member is provided,
The male side mouth portion is inserted into the female side mouth portion, and the locking member is rotated around the male member by contacting the female side mouth portion, and the locking piece is the window portion. and engaging in,
The connected male member and female member are
The locking member rotates about the male member and the locking piece is removed from the window portion, and the locking is released.
A connector structure characterized by that. A guided rib is formed on the locking member,
A guide rib is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the female side mouth,
When the locking piece is locked to the window portion, the guided rib comes into contact with the guide rib so that the locking member is rotated about the male member, and the locking piece is the window. Guided to the department,
The connector structure according to claim 1. A positioning protrusion is formed at the opening end of the male side mouth,
A positioning groove part into which the positioning projection part is fitted is formed at the back end of the female side mouth part.
The connector structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein A guided protrusion is formed on the locking piece,
On the inner peripheral surface of the female side mouth portion, a linear guide groove portion is formed in the axial direction toward the opening end of the female side mouth portion,
When the locking piece is removed from the window portion and the locking is released, the locking member rotates around the male member, and the guided protrusion is fitted into the guide groove portion.
The connector structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: An attachment / detachment path for attaching / detaching to the outer peripheral surface of the male member is opened in a part of the locking member,
The connector structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:

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