JP6154703B2 - Coupler - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to a coupler for connecting a refrigerant supply source of an air conditioner or the like of an automobile (hereinafter referred to as a heating / cooling device) and the heating / cooling device.

Generally, the heating / cooling device is provided with an inlet connection portion. The inlet connecting portion is an inlet for injecting the refrigerant into the heating / cooling device, and is also an outlet for extracting the refrigerant.
The refrigerant charging and collecting source includes a charging and collecting hose for connecting to the heating and cooling device. The coupler is attached to the tip of the filling / recovering hose. By connecting the coupler and the inlet connecting portion, the heating / cooling device and the charging / recovering source are connected, and the heating / cooling device can be evacuated and charged or recovered with the refrigerant.
Moreover, it is necessary to avoid mixing different types of refrigerants from the standpoint of effects on heating / cooling devices and effects on flammability. For this reason, in order to make the shape of the connection port incompatible with the type of the refrigerant, a standard for the connection port according to the type of the refrigerant is provided to distinguish the refrigerant to be used.

  By the way, the present applicant eliminates the risk of explosion due to leakage of the flammable refrigerant, and provides a coupler that can ensure sufficient safety even when using the flammable refrigerant. A coupler for connecting the inlet connecting portion of the heating / cooling device and the hose of the refrigerant charging / recovering source corresponding to the inlet connecting portion having a body and having a locking groove on the outer peripheral surface, And a cylindrical connection chamber member that holds the lock member corresponding to the locking groove portion so as to be movable forward and backward in the radial direction of the connection chamber, and is erected on the side surface of the connection chamber member. A hose connecting member having a lateral passage communicating with the central passage, a sleeve provided on an outer periphery on the front end side of the connecting chamber member, and locking the inlet connecting portion by locking with the locking member, and the connecting chamber The main axis placed at the center axis position of the member and the front A main shaft operating part that is attached to the rear end side of the main shaft and advances and retracts the main shaft, a valve main body that opens and closes the central passage together with the main shaft in the connection chamber member, and an elastic member that biases the valve main body forward The sleeve includes a notch that covers a rear end of the connection chamber member and prevents interference with the hose connection member, and the sleeve is engaged with the lock member and the sleeve. A coupler has been developed in which the rear end and the front end of the main spindle operating portion abut or approach each other, and the rotation of the main shaft operating portion is regulated by the rear end of the sleeve (for example, (See Patent Document 1).

International Publication No. 2012/0665888

  According to the coupler according to Patent Document 1, when removing the inlet connecting portion from the coupler, the main shaft operating portion can be moved only by rotating the main shaft operating portion. By this operation, both the valve main body of the coupler and the inlet connecting portion are closed, and the main shaft and the connecting portion side valve body can be reliably detached, and the coupler and the inlet connecting portion can be detached. For this reason, when removing the inlet connecting part from the coupler, the valve main body of the coupler and the connecting part side valve body of the inlet connecting part can always be kept closed.

  Therefore, the leakage of a large amount of refrigerant due to an error in the conventional operation procedure does not occur, the risk of explosion due to the leakage of the flammable refrigerant is eliminated, and sufficient safety can be ensured even when the flammable refrigerant is used. Excellent in terms.

  However, as described above, the connection port of HFO-1234yf, which is a flammable gas, for example, has a very large configuration in order to prevent compatibility of the shape of the connection port.

  As a result, according to the configuration of the present invention, the effect of the present invention can be obtained if the connection port has a certain size. However, if the connection port is greatly enlarged by the standard, the connection port is If the shape for securing is set, there is a problem that the refrigerant gas remains in the valve stem in a high pressure state. Since the refrigerant gas remains in the valve stem in a high pressure state, the valve main body is pressed by the high pressure gas, so that the lock member cannot move into the connection chamber member, the sleeve cannot move, and the connection coupler can be used. There was a defect that disappeared.

  For this reason, the configuration of Patent Document 1 is problematic in that the size of the connection port is limited. And in order to eliminate this fault, it must change from the basic composition of the above-mentioned patent documents 1, and cannot be realized in the range of simple design change.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and there is no particular limitation on the size of the connection port, so that the lock member can be moved into the connection chamber member even if the standard is compatible with various refrigerants. The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an excellent coupler having a highly safe configuration without the disadvantage that the sleeve cannot be moved, the sleeve cannot be moved, and the connecting coupler cannot be used.

  In the present invention, the inlet connecting portion of the heating / cooling device corresponding to the inlet connecting portion having the connecting portion side valve body and having the locking groove portion on the outer peripheral surface is connected to the refrigerant charging / recovery source hose. A connection chamber member having a substantially cylindrical shape, a hose connection member standing on a side surface of the connection chamber member, and a sleeve provided on the outer periphery of the front end side of the connection chamber member, The chamber member includes a connection chamber therein, holds the lock member corresponding to the locking groove portion so as to be movable forward and backward in the radial direction of the connection chamber, and is provided with a main shaft guide portion at a center axis position, and the main shaft guide portion has a main shaft. The main shaft operating part for moving the main shaft forward and backward is provided on the rear end side of the main shaft, and the hose connection member is provided with a lateral passage standing on the side surface of the connection chamber member and communicating to the inside of the connection chamber member. The sleeve is engaged with the lock member to thereby enter the inlet. In the coupler capable of fixing the connection portion, the main shaft includes an enlarged valve portion, the main shaft guide portion of the connection chamber member includes a step portion, and the valve mechanism is configured by the enlarged valve portion and the step portion. A connection chamber guide member and a lock control member are sequentially provided in front of the diameter-enlarged valve portion, and the connection chamber guide member and the lock control member each have a ventilation portion that passes through the front and back surfaces. A coupler provided with an elastic member between the lock control members is used as a means for solving the problem.

  Further, according to the present invention, on the premise of the configuration of the above invention, a space formed between the inlet coupling portion and the lock control member and a space formed between the lock control member and the connection chamber guide member are locked. A coupler comprising a continuous structure through a ventilation through hole formed in the control member is a means for solving the problem.

  According to the present invention, the main shaft includes a diameter expansion valve portion, the main shaft guide portion of the connection chamber member includes a step portion, and the diameter expansion valve portion and the step portion constitute an on-off valve, and the main shaft diameter expansion valve portion A connection chamber guide member and a lock control member are sequentially provided in front of the connection chamber guide member and the lock control member, each of which has a ventilation portion passing through the front and back surfaces, and between the connection chamber guide member and the lock control member. Since the elastic portion is provided on the lock control member, the lock control member has a ventilation portion with the open / close valve configured by the diameter-enlarged valve portion and the stepped portion, so that the lock control member is connected to the lock member. The refrigerant gas does not remain in a high pressure state only between the chamber guide member. For this reason, the movement of the lock control member is not hindered by the remaining high-pressure refrigerant, and a smooth operation can be ensured.

  As a result, it is possible to cope with a new standard in which the connection port of the refrigerant becomes very large. For this reason, even when a flammable gas such as HFO-1234yf is used, the inlet connection portion from the coupler is used. When removing the sleeve, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the sleeve cannot be moved unless the rotation operation of the spindle operating portion is performed. In addition, a large amount of HFO-1234yf due to an error in the conventional operation procedure does not occur, the risk of explosion due to the leakage of the flammable refrigerant is eliminated, and sufficient safety is ensured when using the flammable refrigerant. Has the advantage of being able to.

  Further, according to the present invention, in the configuration of the above invention, the space formed between the inlet coupling portion and the lock control member and the space formed between the lock control member and the connection chamber guide member are locked. By providing a continuous structure through the ventilation through hole formed in the control member, the effect of the invention can be obtained, and the internal pressure of the coupler can be reduced by the two spaces, and the coupler and the inlet can be reduced. The detachment operation of the connecting portion 9 can be further smoothed, and sufficient safety can be ensured when using a flammable refrigerant.

It is (a) front view and (b) top view of the coupler which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory drawing which shows the state before the connection of the coupler which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory drawing which shows the state which inserted the entrance connection part in the coupler which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory drawing which shows the state which connected the coupler which concerns on the Example of this invention, and an inlet_port | entrance coupling part, and opened the air flow path. It is longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory drawing which shows the state which connected the coupler which concerns on the Example of this invention, and an entrance coupling part, and the refrigerant | coolant remained in the ventilation path. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory drawing which shows the state which retracted the main axis | shaft in the state which the refrigerant | coolant remained in the coupler which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory drawing which shows the state which isolate | separated the coupler and inlet connection part which concern on the Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, this invention is not limited to an Example below.

  1 and 2, the coupler 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a coupler body 2, a main shaft 4, a main shaft operating portion 5, a lock control member 6, a lock member 7 as a fixing means, a connection chamber. A guide member 8, a first spring member 30 that is an elastic body, and a second spring member 31 are provided.

The inlet connecting portion 9 attached to the coupler 1 of the present invention has a cylindrical shape in which a locking groove portion 91 corresponding to the locking member 7 of the coupler 1 is formed on the outer surface circumference. Inside the inlet connecting portion 9, a connecting portion side valve body 90 which is a so-called insect valve is provided.
When the connecting portion side valve body 90 is pressed against the main shaft 4 in the coupler 1, the connecting portion side valve body 90 of the inlet connecting portion 9 is opened, and the inlet connecting portion side passage which is a flow path in the inlet connecting portion 9. R3 is opened.

  The coupler body 2 includes a sleeve 20, a connection chamber member 21, and a hose connection member 22.

The connection chamber member 21 includes a main shaft guide portion 23 for passing the main shaft 4 therein, and a connection chamber 25 in front of the main shaft guide portion 23. The main shaft guide 23 opens on the rear surface of the connection chamber member 21, and the connection chamber 25 opens on the front surface of the connection chamber member 21. Further, a connection chamber side lateral passage 26 serving as a lateral passage of the present invention is opened on the side surface of the connection chamber member 21.
A female screw portion 260 is formed at a predetermined depth from the opening in the connection chamber side lateral passage 26.

  A diameter-expanded step portion 230 is formed at a position on the front side of the connecting chamber side lateral passage 26 in the main shaft guide portion 23. Further, on the front side surface of the connection chamber member 21, there is provided a lock member hole 27 through which the spherical lock member 7 can be projected and retracted.

  Further, a reduced diameter step portion 212 (step portion in the present invention) for reducing the thickness of the connection chamber member 21 is formed slightly forward from the center portion of the outer peripheral surface.

  The hose connection member 22 is for attachment to the tip of a hose not shown. A male screw part 221 is provided at the tip of the hose connection member 22, and the male screw 221 is screwed into a female screw 260 formed in the connection chamber side lateral passage 26, thereby being fixed to the connection chamber member 21.

  The fluid passage 220 provided at the axial center of the hose connection member 22 and the connection chamber side lateral passage 26 of the connection chamber member 21 are connected via a shaft hole 28 that is a fluid passage in the internal space of the connection chamber member 21. Yes.

The sleeve 20 is provided in contact with the outer surface of the connection chamber member 21. The sleeve 20 is for maintaining the engagement between the lock member 7 and the inlet connecting portion 9 and for releasing the engagement.
The inner edge of the front end of the sleeve 20 has a tapered portion 201 that guides the lock member 7 that is a sphere, and a sleeve step portion 202 is provided on the inner surface of the sleeve 20. In addition, the sleeve 20 includes a notch 200 that opens to the rear end side in order to prevent interference with the hose connecting member 22 when moving in the front-rear direction.

A space is formed between the connection chamber member 21 and the sleeve 20 by the sleeve step portion 202 of the sleeve 20 and the reduced diameter step portion 212 of the connection chamber member 21. The first spring member 30 (coil spring) that biases the sleeve 20 forward is stored in the space.
The sleeve rear end 203 abuts on the front end of the main shaft operating unit 5 to prevent the main shaft operating unit 5 from moving forward and prohibit the operation of the main shaft operating unit 5.

The main shaft 4 includes a valve body pressing portion 41 at the distal end portion that presses the connecting portion side valve body 90 of the inlet connecting portion 9 that is connected to the coupler 1, the lock connecting member 6, the second spring member 31 (coil spring), and a connection. The front end side body portion 42 that communicates with the chamber guide member 8, the diameter-enlarged valve body 40 that becomes the diameter-enlarged valve portion that constitutes the valve mechanism together with the diameter-reduced step portion 212, and the spindle operation that protrudes rearward from the connection chamber member 21 A spindle connecting portion 43 connected to the portion 5. The diameter-enlarged valve body 40 forms a groove over the entire circumference of its side surface, and an O-ring that is a first seal member s1 is fitted therein. In the diameter-enlarged valve body 40 provided with the first seal member s1, the first seal member s1 contacts the inner peripheral surface of the connection chamber member 21 between the diameter-reduced step portion 212 and the diameter-expanded step portion 230. The valve mechanism is held in a closed state by contact or close contact.
Similarly, a second seal member s2 for preventing the refrigerant from leaking rearward from the connection chamber member 21 is provided at a position slightly rearward of the center of the main shaft 4.

  The main shaft operating portion 5 is a cylindrical member attached to the main shaft 4, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the connection chamber member 21, and the front end edge 50 of the main shaft operating portion 5 is It is formed so as to be able to contact the sleeve rear end 203.

  The connection chamber guide member 8 includes a cylindrical main shaft penetrating portion at the center of the circular substrate, and a second circumferential holding frame portion for holding the O-ring as the third seal member s3 at the peripheral portion and the O-ring. 80, and the circular substrate is provided with a second ventilation through hole 81 as a ventilation portion passing through the front and back surfaces thereof. The main shaft 4 is fixed to the base end side of the front end side body portion 42, that is, a position close to the front end of the enlarged diameter valve body 40. It is possible to move back and forth along with the main shaft 4 along the inner wall of the connection chamber 25.

  The lock control member 6 is provided with a peripheral edge of the circular plate standing forward on the cylindrical wall, an inner groove is formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical wall, and a fourth seal member s4 is fitted therein. It is the structure which formed the 1st circumferential holding frame part 60 which hold | maintains the 5th seal member s5 back from a center position. The circular plate has a first ventilation through hole 61 as a ventilation portion passing through the front and back surfaces thereof. A front end edge portion of the cylindrical wall is formed as a tapered surface 62 inclined to the inner surface side. The cylindrical wall can block the lock member hole 27 that opens in the connection chamber 25, thereby moving the lock member 7 outward and fixing the sleeve 20.

  The inner surface of the cylindrical wall guides the second spring member 31. The second spring member 31 is arranged around the same axis as the main shaft 4, and the front end abuts on the lock control member 6 and the rear end abuts on the connection chamber guide member 8.

  The inner surface 82 of the rising wall of the second circumferential holding frame 80 in the connection chamber guide member 8 and the fifth seal member s5 held by the first circumferential holding frame 60 in the lock control member 6 can contact each other. It is arranged.

  The operation when using the coupler 1 according to the embodiment having the above configuration will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the coupler 1 is in a completely closed state and a hose (not shown) is connected to the hose connecting member 22, the tip 92 of the inlet connecting portion 9 is connected to the coupler according to the embodiment. 1 into the connection chamber 25.

  The lock control member 6 in the connection chamber 25 abuts on the tip 92 of the inlet connecting portion 9 and moves rearward against the spring elastic force of the second spring member 31 as the inlet connecting portion 9 advances. .

By the retraction of the lock control member 6, the lock member 7 that has fixed the sleeve 20 in the connection chamber member 21 moves into the connection chamber member 21 and enters the locking groove portion 91 of the inlet coupling portion 9. As a result, the sleeve 20 is unlocked.
The unlocked sleeve 20 moves forward by the elastic force of the first spring member 30 (see FIG. 3). At this stage, the main shaft 4 has not moved and the flow path is closed.

  Next, the spindle operating section 5 is rotated rightward with respect to the spindle 4 to move the spindle operating section 5 and the spindle 4 forward. Since the sleeve 20 moves forward, the spindle 4 is moved forward until the spindle operating portion 5 comes into contact with the sleeve rear end 203. At this time, the connection chamber guide member 8 is also driven together with the main shaft 4.

As the main shaft 4 moves forward, a gap is formed between the diameter-enlarged valve body 40 of the main shaft 4 and the reduced diameter step portion 212 of the connection chamber member 21 as shown in FIG. As a result, the valve mechanism of the coupler 1 is opened.
Further, the main shaft 4 simultaneously presses the connecting portion side valve body 90 in the inlet connecting portion 9, and the inlet connecting portion side passage R3 is opened.
As described above, the refrigerant flow path F shown in FIG. 4 is formed, and it is possible to collect, charge, and the like of the refrigerant from the heating and cooling device.

  In addition, the third seal member s3 at the peripheral edge of the connection chamber guide member 8 maintains a contact state with the inner wall of the connection chamber member 21, and the second circumferential holding frame portion 80 of the connection chamber guide member 8 rises. The inner surface 82 of the wall and the fifth seal member s5 held by the first circumferential holding frame 60 in the lock control member 6 come into contact with each other. Accordingly, the refrigerant gas can be controlled so as not to leak to other than the flow path formed by the opening / closing valve and the ventilation portion formed by the first ventilation through hole 61 and the second ventilation through hole 81. In addition to ensuring the operation, sufficient safety can be ensured when using the flammable refrigerant, and the refrigerant can be recovered and charged in the refrigerant recovery and charging apparatus.

  Further, in order to close the valve mechanism of the coupler 1, the reverse procedure is similarly performed as follows.

  From the state shown in FIG. 5 in which the refrigerant remains in the coupler 1 due to the recovery and filling operation of the refrigerant, the spindle operating unit 5 is rotated leftward with respect to the spindle 4 as shown in FIG. The main shaft 4 moves backward, and the connection chamber guide member 8 is driven by the spring elasticity of the second spring member 31 to return to the initial position. A gap necessary for moving the sleeve 20 rearward is formed between the sleeve rear end 203 and the front end of the spindle operating portion 5. As the main shaft 4 moves backward, the connecting portion side valve element 90 of the inlet connecting portion 9 is restored, and the inlet connecting portion side passage R3 is closed.

  At this time, since the connection chamber guide member 8 has the second ventilation through hole 81 and the lock control member 6 has the first ventilation through hole 61 as the ventilation portion, Since the gas does not accumulate inside in a high pressure state and the gap is formed, the sleeve 20 is not intentionally locked as shown in FIG. be able to.

  In addition to this, a space formed between the inlet connecting portion 9 and the lock control member 6 (including the space of the inlet connecting portion side passage R. Hereinafter, the first inner chamber), the lock control member 6 and the connection chamber. A space R <b> 2 (hereinafter referred to as a second inner chamber) formed between the guide members 8 is formed through the first ventilation through hole 61, so that the original internal pressure in the case of only the first inner chamber is obtained. As a result, the overall internal pressure can be reduced, and the detachment operation between the coupler 1 and the inlet connecting portion 9 according to this embodiment can be further smoothed.

  Then, by moving the sleeve 20 rearward, the lock member 7 can be moved to the outside of the connection chamber 25, and the inlet coupling portion 9 can be detached from the connection chamber 25 as shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the novel configuration prevents the refrigerant gas from remaining in a high pressure state. For this reason, the lock control member 6 does not hinder the movement of the lock control member 6 due to the remaining high-pressure refrigerant, and a smooth operation can be ensured.

  Moreover, each structural member in the present invention is not limited to the shape, position, size, etc. shown in the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made to the embodiments as long as their functions are not hindered.

  Furthermore, according to the configuration of the present invention, the size of the connection port corresponding to various refrigerant standards can be adopted, so that it can be used for the conventional refrigerant R134a, as well as other flammable refrigerants and non-combustible refrigerants. Even if it is a refrigeration refrigerant, it can be used as a highly safe coupler even if it is a refrigerant whose release to the atmosphere is prohibited or other high-pressure refrigerant (for example, carbon dioxide).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coupler 2 Coupler main body 20 Sleeve 200 Notch part 201 Taper part 202 Sleeve step part 203 Sleeve rear end 21 Connection chamber member 212 Reduction diameter step part 22 Hose connection member 220 Fluid passage 221 Male screw part 23 Main shaft guide part 230 Expansion diameter step part 25 Connection chamber 250 Connection chamber peripheral surface 26 Connection chamber side lateral passage 260 Female screw portion 27 Lock member hole portion 28 Shaft hole 30 First spring member 31 Second spring member 4 Main shaft 40 Expanded valve body 41 Valve body pressing portion 42 Front end side body portion 43 Main shaft connecting portion 5 Main shaft operating portion 50 Front end edge portion 6 Lock control member 60 First circumferential holding frame portion 61 First ventilation through hole 62 Tapered surface 7 Lock member 8 Connection chamber guide member 80 Second circumference Shape holding frame
81 Second through-hole for ventilation 9 Inlet connecting part 90 Connecting part side valve element (insect valve)
91 Locking groove portion 92 Tip F Refrigerant flow path G Residual refrigerant s1 First seal member s2 Second seal member s3 Third seal member s4 Fourth seal member s5 Fifth seal member R Inlet connection portion side passage R2 Space

Claims (2)

A coupler for connecting the inlet connecting portion of the heating / cooling device corresponding to the inlet connecting portion having the connecting portion side valve body and having the locking groove portion on the outer peripheral surface, and the refrigerant charging / recovering source hose. A substantially cylindrical connection chamber member, a hose connection member standing on the side surface of the connection chamber member, and a sleeve provided on the outer periphery of the front end side of the connection chamber member, An internal connection chamber is provided, the lock member corresponding to the locking groove is held so as to be movable forward and backward in the radial direction of the connection chamber, a main shaft guide portion is provided at the center axis position, and the main shaft is disposed in the main shaft guide portion, A main shaft operating part for moving the main shaft forward and backward is provided on the rear end side of the main shaft, the hose connection member is provided with a lateral passage standing on the side surface of the connection chamber member and communicating to the inside of the connection chamber member, The inlet connection portion is fixed by engaging with the lock member. In the coupler that allows,
The main shaft is provided with an enlarged valve portion, the main shaft guide portion of the connection chamber member is provided with a step portion, an open / close valve is constituted by the enlarged diameter valve portion and the step portion, and the connection chamber guide is provided in front of the main shaft enlarged valve portion. The connection chamber guide member and the lock control member each have a ventilation portion that passes through the front and back surfaces, and an elastic member is provided between the connection chamber guide member and the lock control member. A coupler characterized by that. A space formed between the inlet coupling portion and the lock control member and a space formed between the lock control member and the connection chamber guide member are continuously connected through a ventilation through hole formed in the lock control member. The coupler according to claim 1, further comprising:

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