JP6139126B2 - Pipe connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pipe connector used for connecting a fluid pipe, and more particularly to a pipe connector capable of quickly and reliably connecting an in-vehicle battery cooling pipe such as an electric vehicle.

In general, a pipe connector used for connection of fluid piping is configured such that a connector housing (connector body) and a male member (pipe member) can be engaged and released by operating a coupling member (lock member). Further, the sealing between the connector housing (connector body) and the male member (pipe member) is realized by an O-ring disposed inside the connector housing and a bush holding the O-ring.
For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a pipe connector is provided with a step portion having a diameter changed on the inner periphery of the connector body, and an O-ring which is a seal member is disposed in the vicinity of the step portion and fixed to the insertion side of the pipe member. A bush is arranged (Patent Document 1). The bush fixes the O-ring and also serves as a stopper on the side of the pipe member that is inserted, and serves as a protective member for the O-ring.

JP 2012-145185 A

However, in the pipe connector of Patent Document 1, since the inserted pipe member has a structure that is finally received by the connector body via the bush, a flat portion that receives the flange portion of the pipe is provided at the end of the bush. It was provided, and the force was appropriately received at this plane portion to prevent the O-ring from being crushed (collapsed).
However, there is a problem that the freedom of designing the product is limited because the layout of the bush itself is limited when the plane portion is provided.

  The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-described inconveniences, and is a pipe connector to which a pipe body having an annular flange on the outer periphery is connected, where a pipe end is mounted at one end and a hose at the other end A connector housing to which a body is connected, and a lock member capable of engaging and releasing the connector housing and the pipe body, and the connector housing advances the pipe body to an inner periphery into which the pipe body is inserted. Since the blocking rib member is provided, it is not necessary to bring the bush and the pipe body into contact with each other at the plane portion, so that the connector housing can be reduced in size. Further, the inclined surface of the bush acts as a guide when the pipe body is inserted, and the pipe body can be smoothly connected. Furthermore, the present invention provides a pipe connector with improved design freedom.

The present invention has the following contents.
(1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a pipe connector to which a pipe body having an annular flange on the outer periphery is connected, wherein the pipe end is attached to one end and the hose body is connected to the other end. A housing, and a lock member capable of engaging and releasing the connector housing and the pipe body, wherein the connector housing is provided with a rib member for preventing the pipe body from moving forward on an inner periphery into which the pipe body is inserted. It is characterized by that.
(2) Further, the rib member is composed of a plurality of protrusions extending radially from the inner periphery of the connector housing.
(3) The rib members are arranged at equal intervals on the inner periphery of the connector housing.
(4) The rib member is a rod-like member extending in the diameter direction and formed on the inner periphery of the connector housing.
(5) The tip of the rib member has a rectangular cross section.
(6) The tip of the rib member has a semicircular cross section.

  According to the present invention, a pipe connector to which a pipe body having an annular flange on the outer periphery is connected, wherein a pipe end is attached to one end and a hose body is connected to the other end, the connector housing, A lock member capable of engaging and releasing the pipe body, and the connector housing is provided with a rib member for preventing the pipe body from moving forward on the inner periphery into which the pipe body is inserted. Therefore, the connector housing can be reduced in size. Further, the inclined surface of the bush acts as a guide when the pipe body is inserted, and the pipe body can be smoothly connected. Furthermore, the degree of freedom in design can be improved.

  Further, since the rib member is composed of a plurality of protrusions extending in the radial direction from the inner periphery of the connector housing, the connector housing directly receives the inserted pipe body, and there is a risk of damaging the bush or the O-ring. Absent.

  Further, since the rib members are arranged at equal intervals on the inner periphery of the connector housing, the force from the inserted pipe body can be evenly received, and damage due to stress concentration can be prevented.

  Further, since the rib member is a rod-shaped member formed in the diametrical direction formed on the inner periphery of the connector housing, the connector housing directly receives the inserted pipe body, and there is a possibility that the bush or the O-ring may be damaged. Absent.

  Moreover, since the cross section of the tip of the rib member is rectangular, the connector housing directly receives the inserted pipe body, and there is no possibility of damaging the bush or the O-ring.

  Further, since the tip of the rib member has a semicircular cross section, the passage diameter can be secured and pressure loss can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pipe connector showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a separated state of the pipe connector. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a separated state of the pipe connector. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a coupling state of the pipe connector. FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing the connector housing. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged explanatory view showing another embodiment of the rib member. FIG. 8 is an enlarged explanatory view showing another embodiment of the rib member. FIG. 9 is an enlarged explanatory view showing another embodiment of the rib member. FIG. 10 is a side view showing a separated state of a pipe connector showing another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a temporarily assembled state of the connector housing and the lock member. FIG. 12 is a front view showing a temporarily assembled state of the connector housing and the lock member. FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a coupling state of the pipe connector. FIG. 14 is a front view showing the connector housing.

  A pipe connector according to the present invention is connected to a pipe body having an annular flange on the outer periphery, a connector housing having a pipe end attached to one end and a hose body connected to the other end, and the connector housing A lock member that can be engaged with and released from the pipe body, and the connector housing is provided with a rib member that prevents the pipe body from advancing on the inner periphery into which the pipe body is inserted. It is intended to provide a pipe connector in which the body is directly received by the connector housing and there is no possibility of damaging the bush and the O-ring.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating an embodiment. 1 is a perspective view of a pipe connector showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view showing a separated state of the pipe connector of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a separated state of the pipe connector of the present invention. is there. Here, the pipe connector 10 is connected to a pipe body 12 having an annular flange 11 on the outer periphery, a connector housing 14 having a pipe end attached to one end and a hose body 13 connected to the other end, A lock member 15 capable of engaging and releasing the connector housing 14 and the pipe body 12 is provided, and the connector housing 14 is a rib for preventing the pipe body 12 from advancing to the inner periphery into which the pipe body 12 is inserted. The member 16 is provided.

  The pipe body 12 has a cylindrical shape made of, for example, metal or synthetic resin as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and the like, and a tip end 12a is formed in a frustoconical shape. A mating annular flange 11 is formed. In the present embodiment, the annular flange 11 is formed in two strips with a predetermined interval.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 to 6, the connector housing 14 is provided with a connecting portion 17 to which a lock member 15 is movably mounted on one end side and to which the pipe body 12 is connected. An insertion portion 18 into which the hose body 13 is inserted is provided.

  A tapered portion 19 is formed on the distal end side of the insertion portion 18 of the connector housing 14, and the distal end of the tapered portion 19 is smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the hose body 13, so that the hose body 13 can be easily inserted. . Further, an annular protrusion 19 a and a taper protrusion 19 b are provided at the rear end of the taper part 19. The maximum outer diameters of the annular protrusion 19a and the taper protrusion 19b are formed larger than the inner diameter of the hose body 13, and it is necessary to press-fit when the hose body 13 is inserted into the insertion portion 18.

  A large-diameter portion 20 having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the insertion portion 18 is provided between the insertion portion 18 and the connecting portion 17, and the tip surface of the hose body 13 abuts against the end surface of the large-diameter portion 20. The contact of the hose body 13 is restricted. In this state, the hose body 13 is fixed by a clamp or the like not shown.

  On the other hand, the outer shape of the connecting portion 17 on the opening end side has a substantially square shape, and the other end is connected to the large diameter portion 20. A step portion 22 for fixing the O-ring 21 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 20. An O-ring 21 is fitted into the stepped portion 22, and an annular bush 23 is fitted from behind. The inner diameter dimension of the bush 23 is substantially the same as the outer diameter dimension of the pipe body 12, and is made of, for example, a synthetic resin. Further, a projection (not shown) is formed on the outer periphery of the bush 23 and is fitted into a recess (not shown) formed on the inner periphery of the connector housing 14. Furthermore, an inclined surface 23a is formed on the side of the bush 23 where the pipe body 12 is inserted. Therefore, when the pipe body 12 is inserted into the connecting portion 17, the inclined surface 23 a can serve as a guide portion. Further, the bush 23 and the O-ring 21 can be sealed by filling a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 20 and the outer peripheral surface of the pipe body 12.

  Further, a rib member 16 that prevents the pipe body 12 from moving forward is formed at a position where the tip of the pipe body 12 is inserted (inner circumference of the insertion portion 18) further behind the step portion 22. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the rib member 16 includes a plurality of protrusions extending in the radial direction from the inner periphery of the connector housing 14 and is formed at equal intervals of 120 degrees. The tip cross section of the protrusion is formed in a rectangular shape.

  The rib member 16 may be disposed opposite to the inner periphery of the insertion portion 18 at an interval of 180 degrees as shown in FIG. Further, the rib member 16a may be a rod-like member that connects the inner circumference of the insertion portion 18 in the diametrical direction as shown in FIG. Furthermore, the rib members 16b may be formed at equal intervals of 90 degrees on the inner periphery of the insertion portion 18 as shown in FIG. The dimension from the inner peripheral surface of the insertion part of the rib members 16 and 16b shown to FIG. 7, 9 is comprised shorter than the inner peripheral surface of the front-end | tip 12a of the pipe body 12 inserted. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the rib member 16a shown in FIG. 8 may be circular, elliptical, or streamlined.

  Further, the connecting portion 17 is provided with a lock portion 24 and a mounting portion 25 along the axial direction of the connector housing 14, and the lock portion 24 is disposed on the large diameter portion 20 side (back end). . A lock member 15 to be described later can be mounted on the mounting portion 25, and the lock member 15 mounted on the lock portion 24 is locked at a predetermined position.

  The lock member 15 is configured to be attachable from above the connecting portion 17. A pair of stoppers 27 hang from the inner surface of the base portion 15 </ b> A located at the center of the lock member 15 corresponding to the through hole 26 formed in the mounting portion 25.

  When the lock member 15 is mounted from above the connecting portion 17, the stoppers 27 and 27 are inserted into the through holes 26 and 26, respectively. Thus, by dividing the stoppers 27, 27, it becomes easy to elastically deform in a direction (radial direction) in which both ends of the lock member 15 are separated. Further, the lower surface of the base portion 15 </ b> A of the lock member 15 has substantially the same curvature as the top portion of the connecting portion 17, and the lower surface of the base portion 15 </ b> A of the lock member 15 is in contact with the lock member 15 in a coupled state.

  An elastic piece 28 and a locking piece 29 are suspended from both longitudinal ends of the base portion 15A of the lock member 15, respectively. The locking piece 29 is provided corresponding to the lock portion 24, and the elastic piece 28 is provided corresponding to the mounting portion 25. A groove 30 is provided between the elastic piece 28 and the locking piece 29 so that the locking piece 29 and the elastic piece 28 can be elastically deformed.

  Both ends of the elastic piece 28 are bent toward the directions close to each other (inner side), pass through a through hole 31 formed in the side wall of the mounting portion 25, and project toward the inner diameter side of the bush 23. A protrusion (not shown) is provided at the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the elastic piece 28, and the elastic piece 28 penetrates the through hole 31, and the lock member 15 is attached to the attachment portion 25, so It abuts and restricts the upward movement of the lock member 15.

  In addition, a contact portion 33 that bends in a direction close to each other along a substantially horizontal direction is provided at the tip of the elastic piece 28. The end surface on the opening 34 side extends from the contact portion 33 to the central portion in the extending direction of the elastic piece 28 and is tapered to guide the pipe 12 to the back of the connecting portion 17.

  The operation of the pipe connector 10 configured as described above will be described. First, after attaching the O-ring 21 to the step portion 22 formed on the inner periphery of the connector housing 14, the bush 23 is further inserted and fixed. Further, the lock member 15 is temporarily assembled to the connecting portion 17 from above (see FIG. 1). Thereafter, the pipe body 12 is inserted from the opening 34 of the connector housing. Then, the front end 12a of the pipe body 12 abuts on the rib member 16 to prevent further advancement (see FIGS. 2 to 4). At the same time, the lock member 15 temporarily assembled to the connecting portion 17 is lowered by releasing the engagement between the locking piece 29 and the lock portion 24 by the elastic piece 28 being pushed and expanded by the annular flange 11. The returned elastic piece 28 locks between the annular flanges 11 of the pipe body 12, and the pipe body 12 cannot be removed.

  Furthermore, when removing the pipe body 12 from the connector housing 14, a minus driver or the like is inserted into the lower end of the protruding portion 15b provided at the rear end of the central top portion of the lock member 15, and the lock member 15 is lifted upward. As a result, the contact portion 33 is pushed outward along the outer peripheral surface of the pipe body 12, the elastic piece 28 is pushed outward through the contact portion 33, and the locking piece 29 is also pushed outward. Is released. The locked state is released, and the lock member 15 is kept lifted upward, and the pipe body 12 can be removed.

  In the pipe connector 10 of the present invention, the bushing 23 is not directly pushed by the insertion of the pipe body 12, and is stopped by the rib member 16 provided on the inner periphery of the connector housing 14, so that there is no possibility that the O-ring 21 is crushed. Sufficient sealing performance can be ensured. Further, the degree of freedom in designing the product can be increased. Further, the rib member does not interfere with the fluid flowing in the pipe, and there is no possibility of causing an increase in pressure loss.

  FIG. 10 is a side view showing a separated state of a pipe connector showing another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a temporarily assembled state of a connector housing and a lock member showing another embodiment, and FIG. It is a front view which shows the temporary assembly state of the connector housing and lock member which show other embodiment. Here, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 17, the large diameter portion 20, the O-ring 21, the step portion 22, and the bush 23 of the connector housing 35 are the same as those in the first embodiment, but the portion into which the tip 12 a of the pipe body 12 is inserted. The tip portion is different, and the insertion portion 36 into which the hose body 13 is inserted is bent at a substantially right angle.

Further, three rib members 37 formed on the inner periphery of the connector housing 35 are also provided as shown in FIG. In the three arrangements, for example, two are arranged opposite to the horizontal diameter position on the inner periphery of the connector housing 35, and one is arranged on the top.
The arrangement of the rib members 37 is not limited to this and may be other arrangements.

  Also when comprised as mentioned above, since the front-end | tip 12a of the pipe body 12 is directly received by the rib member 37, there exists no possibility that the O-ring 21 may be crushed and sufficient sealing performance can be ensured (refer FIG. 13).

  The operation of mounting and removing the pipe body 12 on the connector housing 14 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  Thus, the pipe connector of the present invention can be used as a fluid piping connector for cooling piping for in-vehicle batteries, water piping for hot and cold water supply, and air piping such as gas and compressed air.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pipe connector 11 Annular flange 12 Pipe body 12a Tip 13 Hose body 14 Connector housing 15 Lock member 15A Base
15b Protruding part 16 Rib member 17 Connecting part 18 Inserting part 19 Tapered part 19a Annular projecting part 19b Tapered protrusion 20 Large diameter part 21 O-ring 22 Step part 23 Bushing 23a Inclined surface 24 Locking part 25 Mounting part 26 Through hole 27 Stopper 28 Elasticity Piece 29 Locking piece 30 Groove 31 Through-hole 32 Construction part
33 Contact part 34 Opening part 35 Connector housing 36 Insertion part 37 Rib member

Claims (6)

A pipe connector to which a pipe body having an annular flange on the outer periphery is connected,
A connector housing having a pipe end attached to one end and a hose body connected to the other end;
A locking member capable of engaging and releasing the connector housing and the pipe body ;
A bush attached to the inside of the connector housing ,
The connector housing is provided with a rib member for preventing the pipe body from moving forward on an inner periphery into which the pipe body is inserted, and the bush is separated from the flange in a state where the pipe body is in contact with the rib member. Features pipe connector.   The pipe connector according to claim 1, wherein the rib member includes a plurality of protrusions extending in a radial direction from an inner periphery of the connector housing.   The pipe connector according to claim 1, wherein the rib members are arranged at equal intervals on the inner periphery of the connector housing.   2. The pipe connector according to claim 1, wherein the rib member is a rod-shaped member formed in an inner periphery of the connector housing and extending in a diameter direction.   The pipe connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a tip of the rib member has a rectangular cross section.   The pipe connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a tip of the rib member has a semicircular cross section.

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