JP7419162B2 - Hose connector and plug members that make up the hose connector - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hose connector comprising a socket member and a plug member, and a plug member constituting the hose connector.

Hose connectors are sometimes used to easily and reliably connect hoses to equipment. For example, the hose connector shown in Patent Document 1 consists of a socket-shaped fixing member and a plug-shaped coupling member, and the hose is attached to a press-fitting part provided at the tip of the coupling member, and the coupling member is inserted into the fixing member. Accordingly, the joint member and the fixed member are connected with each other with the hose being held between the joint member and the fixed member. The coupling member and the fixing member are connected by engagement between an engagement claw portion protruding radially outward on the outer circumferential surface of the fixing member and an engagement spring portion of the coupling member. In this hose connector, it is possible to easily connect and disconnect the joint member and the fixing member.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-199592

However, in the above-mentioned conventional hose connector, in the connected state, the engaging claw portion and the engaging spring portion for fixing the joint member and the fixing member are exposed to the outside. Therefore, when another member collides with that part, there is a risk that the connection may be erroneously released, or that the engagement claw portion or the engagement spring portion may be damaged, and proper fixation may not be possible. Further, the engagement spring portion has a long, planar shape in order to obtain the necessary amount of displacement, which makes it difficult to downsize the hose connector as a whole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a hose connector that is composed of a socket member and a plug member, in which the fixing portion between the socket member and the plug member is not exposed to the outside, and the structure can be easily miniaturized. purpose.

That is, the present invention
A hose connector comprising a socket member and a plug member inserted and connected to the socket member,
The plug member is
a plug main body portion having a front end, a rear end, and a fluid passage extending from the front end to the rear end, and a hose holding portion press-fitted into the hose to hold the hose at the front end;
An inner portion extending forward from the outer surface of the plug body, a folded portion extending radially outward from the inner portion, and a folded portion extending rearward from the folded portion at a rear end portion. a terminating outer portion, the inner portion being spaced radially outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the plug body, and the outer portion being spaced radially outwardly from the inner portion. a locking portion having flexibility in the radial direction;
Equipped with
The socket member has a front end, a rear end, and an insertion passage extending from the front end to the rear end and receiving the plug member from the side of the rear end, and the insertion passage is connected to the hose of the plug body. A hose receiving surface that engages with the outer circumferential surface of the hose held by the holding part and clamps the hose between the hose holding part, and a rear locking receiver that faces forward at a position rearward from the hose receiving surface. and a sliding inner circumferential surface provided at a position radially inward and rearward of the rear locking receiving surface,
When the plug member is inserted into the insertion passage of the socket member, the outer portion of the locking portion slides into engagement with the sliding inner peripheral surface, and the locking portion is deflected radially inward. When the rear end portion of the locking portion passes through the sliding inner circumferential surface, the locking portion elastically restores radially outward, and the rear end portion of the plug body portion contacts the rear locking receiving surface. The plug member is connected to the socket member at opposing positions in the longitudinal axis direction, and in the connected state, the rear end engages with the rear locking surface, so that the plug member is separated from the socket member. To provide a hose connector which is prevented from coming off backwards.

In the hose connector, in the connected state, the locking part of the plug member engages with the rear locking receiving surface in the insertion passage of the socket member, so that the connected state is maintained, and the plug member and The locking portion and the rear locking receiving surface, which are the fixing points to the socket member, are not exposed to the outside. Therefore, there is no risk that the connection will be unexpectedly released or the locking part will be damaged due to other members hitting the locking part. Further, since the locking portion has a folded shape, the size in the longitudinal axis direction can be suppressed while ensuring the required amount of displacement at the rear end. This allows the entire hose connector to be made smaller.

At least a portion of the inner portion of the locking portion is located radially inward than the hose receiving surface, and the folded portion is folded back radially outward at a position rearward of the hose receiving surface. can do.

With such a configuration, the locking portion can be disposed further inside without being affected by the size of the hose receiving surface, and the size of the plug member in the radial direction can be kept small. This also makes it possible to downsize the entire hose connector.

The insertion passage has a front locking receiving surface facing rearward and facing the folded portion of the locking portion in the longitudinal axis direction, and the plug member is pushed forward with respect to the socket member. When the plug member is turned, the folded portion engages with the front locking surface, thereby restricting forward displacement of the plug member relative to the socket member.

The insertion passage has a circumferential locking surface facing in the circumferential direction at a position between the hose receiving surface and the rear locking surface in the longitudinal axis direction, and the side surface of the locking portion is By engaging the circumferential locking surface in the circumferential direction, rotation of the plug member relative to the socket member in the circumferential direction can be restricted.

The socket member has a tool insertion passage extending in the longitudinal axis direction from the front end to the rear locking receiving surface, and the locking portion is bent radially inward by inserting a tool into the tool insertion passage. The plug member can be removed from the socket member by adjusting the plug member.

The insertion passage of the socket member has a locking groove extending forward from the rear end of the socket member, and the plug member has a locking groove extending forward from the outer peripheral surface of the plug body at the rear end of the plug body. It has a locking projection that projects outward in the direction and extends forward, and when the plug member is inserted and connected to the socket member, the locking projection is located in the locking groove, and the locking projection is located in the locking groove. By engaging in the locking groove in the circumferential direction, the plug member can be prevented from rotating in the circumferential direction with respect to the socket member.

The present invention further includes:
A plug member that is inserted into and connected to a cylindrical socket member and forms a hose connector together with the socket member,
a plug main body portion having a front end, a rear end, and a fluid passage extending from the front end to the rear end, and a hose holding portion press-fitted into the hose to hold the hose at the front end;
An inner portion extending forward from the outer surface of the plug body, a folded portion extending radially outward from the inner portion, and a folded portion extending rearward from the folded portion at a rear end portion. a terminating outer portion, the inner portion being spaced radially outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the plug body, and the outer portion being spaced radially outwardly from the inner portion. a locking portion having flexibility in the radial direction;
Equipped with
When the plug member is inserted into the insertion passage of the socket member, the outer portion of the locking portion is slidably engaged with the sliding inner peripheral surface of the insertion passage, and the locking portion is radially inward. When the rear end portion of the locking portion passes through the sliding inner circumferential surface, the locking portion elastically restores radially outward, and the rear end portion radially moves away from the sliding inner circumferential surface. The plug member is connected to the socket member at a position facing the lock receiving surface extending outward in the longitudinal axis direction of the plug body, and in the connected state, the rear end portion is connected to the lock receiving surface. To provide a plug member which is prevented from coming off backward from the socket member by engagement.

At this time, the folded portion of the locking portion may be folded back radially outward at a position rearward of the hose holding portion.

With this configuration, the locking part can be placed further inside without being affected by the radial size of the hose holding part or the hose attached to the hose holding part, and the plug member can be particularly It becomes possible to reduce the size in the radial direction. This also allows the socket member into which the plug member is inserted and connected to be made smaller.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a hose connector according to the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the hose connector in a connected state according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the hose connector of FIG. 1 in a separated state. FIG. 2 is a first diagram showing a connection process of the hose connector of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a second diagram showing a connection process of the hose connector of FIG. 1; It is a figure which shows the connection release operation using a special tool. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a hose connector in a connected state according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a hose connector 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a socket member 10 and a plug member 12 inserted and connected to the socket member 10. A hose H is sandwiched and connected between the socket member 10 and the plug member 12.

The plug member 12 includes a plug body portion 14 having a fluid passage 16 extending from a front end 14a to a rear end 14b, and a pair of locking portions 18 provided at diametrically opposed positions on an outer surface 14c of the plug body portion 14. Equipped with. The plug body portion 14 consists of a front portion 20 with a small diameter and a rear portion 22 with a large diameter. A hose holding portion 24 is formed at the front end 14a of the plug main body portion 14. The hose holding portion 24 is expanded in diameter from the outer circumferential surface 20a of the front portion 20 and has a zigzag shape in longitudinal section. By press-fitting this hose holding portion 24 into the hose H, the hose H is held by the plug member 12. The locking portions 18 each include an inner portion 26 and an inner portion that extend toward the front (to the left in the figure) from a position between the front portion 20 and the rear portion 22 on the outer surface 14c of the plug body portion 14. It consists of a folded portion 28 that folds back and extends radially outward from the plug body portion 14 from 26, and an outer portion 30 that extends rearward (to the right in the figure) from the folded portion 28 and terminates at a rear end portion 32. The folded portion 28 is folded back at the rear of the hose holding portion 24, and the entire locking portion 18 is located at the rear of the hose holding portion 24. The inner portion 26 is spaced radially outward from the outer circumferential surface 20a of the front portion 20 of the plug body 14. The outer portion 30 is also spaced radially outwardly from the inner portion 26 . The locking portion 18 has flexibility in the radial direction, and is configured to bend inward in the radial direction as a whole from the illustrated state.

The socket member 10 is a cylindrical member having an insertion passage 34 extending from the front end 10a to the rear end 10b. The insertion passage 34 includes a hose receiving surface 36 that engages with the outer peripheral surface of the hose H held by the hose holding section 24 of the plug body 14, and a rear locking receiver provided at a position rearward of the hose receiving surface 36. The sliding inner circumferential surface 40 is provided at a position radially inward and rearward of the rear locking receiving surface 38. The hose receiving surface 36 is a tapered surface whose diameter decreases toward the front, and holds the hose H between it and the hose holding section 24. The sliding inner circumferential surface 40 extends forward from the rear end 10b of the socket member 10 and holds the outer circumferential surface 22a of the rear portion 22 of the plug member 12 in the radial direction. The rear locking receiving surface 38 is formed to extend radially outward from the sliding inner circumferential surface 40 and facing forward, and is connected to the rear end 32 of the locking portion 18 of the plug member 12 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L. They are located opposite each other. The insertion passage 34 is further formed with a front locking receiving surface 42 that extends radially outward from the hose receiving surface 36 and faces rearward. The front locking receiving surface 42 is located at a position opposite to the folded portion 28 of the locking portion 18 of the plug member 12 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the insertion passage 34 of the socket member 10 according to this embodiment includes a small diameter portion 34a extending rearward from the front end 10a and defining a hose receiving surface 36, and a small diameter portion 34a extending rearward from the rear end 10b. A large diameter portion 34b that extends to the hose receiving surface 36 while forming the sliding inner circumferential surface 40, and a large diameter portion 34b that extends rearward from the front end 10a of the socket member 10 and communicates with the large diameter portion 34b at a rear position of the hose receiving surface 36. and an axial hole 34c. A pair of axial holes 34c are provided at positions facing each other in the diametrical direction so as to correspond to the pair of locking portions 18. The rear locking receiving surface 38 is formed by the rear end surface of the axial hole 34c. Further, the front locking receiving surface 42 is formed by the front end surface of the large diameter portion 34b.

When connecting the hose H to the hose connector 1, as shown in FIG. through the plug member 12 and attach it to the hose holding portion 24 of the plug member 12. Next, the plug member 12 is inserted into the insertion passage 34 of the socket member 10 from the rear end 10b side. When the plug member 12 is inserted into the insertion passage 34 as shown in FIG. is bent radially inward as a whole. At this time, a portion of the locking portion 18 is located at the rear of the hose holding portion 24 and radially inward from the maximum outer diameter portion of the hose holding portion 24. When the rear end portion 32 of the locking portion 18 passes through the sliding inner circumferential surface 40, the locking portion 18 is elastically restored radially outward, and the hose connector 1 enters the connected state shown in FIG. 1. In this connected state, as described above, the hose H is held between the hose holding portion 24 and the hose receiving surface 36, and is firmly held by the hose connector 1. Further, the rear end portion 32 of the locking portion 18 that has been elastically restored is in a position facing the rear locking receiving surface 38 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L. As a result, when the plug member 12 is displaced rearward with respect to the socket member 10, the rear end portion 32 of the locking portion 18 engages with the rear locking receiving surface 38, and the plug member 12 is moved backward from the socket member 10. is prevented from exiting. When the plug member 12 is pushed forward with respect to the socket member 10, the hose holding portion 24 of the plug member 12 normally engages with the hose receiving surface 36 via the hose H, so that the plug member 12 is pushed forward against the socket member 10. forward displacement is prevented. However, for example, if the wall thickness of the hose H is thin or if the hose H is made of a soft and easily crushed material, the plug member 12 may be displaced further forward than the illustrated position, causing the locking portion 18 to fold back. By engaging the front locking receiving surface 42 of the socket member 10, forward displacement of the plug member 12 with respect to the socket member 10 is restricted.

The insertion passage 34 further includes a circumferential locking surface 44 extending forward from the rear locking surface 38 and facing in the circumferential direction. The circumferential locking receiving surface 44 is formed by the inner surface of the axial hole 34c of the insertion passage 34. By circumferentially engaging the side surface of the outer portion 30 of the locking portion 18 with this circumferential locking receiving surface 44, rotation of the plug member 12 relative to the socket member 10 in the circumferential direction is also restricted. ing.

In the hose connector 1, in the connected state, the locking portion 18 of the plug member 12 is located within the insertion passage 34, is covered by the socket member 10, and is not exposed to the outside. Therefore, there is no possibility that the locking portion 18 will be displaced or damaged due to collision with other members. Furthermore, since the locking portion 18 has a shape that is folded back in the direction of the longitudinal axis L, the amount of displacement in the radial direction of the rear end portion 32 can be increased while suppressing the size in the direction of the longitudinal axis L. becomes possible. Furthermore, since the folded portion 28 of the locking portion 18 is formed to be folded back radially outward at a position rearward of the hose holding portion 24 and the hose receiving surface 36, the portion 28 of the locking portion 18 is folded back in the radial direction. The position is not limited by the size of the hose holding portion 24 or the hose receiving surface 36 in the radial direction. Unlike the present invention, if the locking part is shaped to extend straight in the direction of the longitudinal axis L and a locking pawl is provided at the tip thereof facing outward in the radial direction, the amount of displacement in the radial direction at the tip In order to obtain a sufficient value, the shape must be longer in the direction of the longitudinal axis L than the locking portion 18 of the present invention. In that case, the hose holding part 24 may be placed further forward so that it does not overlap with the long locking part, or the long locking part may be placed outside the hose holding part 24 with a sufficient distance in the radial direction from the hose holding part 24. It should be placed more radially outward so that it passes through. In such a case, the plug member has a larger shape in the direction of the longitudinal axis L or in the radial direction. In the present invention, since the locking portion 18 has the above-mentioned folded shape, the locking portion 18 can be placed more radially inward without placing the hose holding portion 24 in a far forward position. I can do it. This allows the plug member 12 to have a small shape in the direction of the longitudinal axis L and in the radial direction.

In the hose connector 1, since the locking portion 18 is covered by the socket member 10 in the connected state, the operator cannot manually push the locking portion 18 inward in the radial direction. Furthermore, since the rear locking receiving surface 38 extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L, and the end surface of the rear end portion 32 of the locking portion 18 also extends in a right angle direction, the plug member 12 can be displaced rearward. Even if the rear end portion 32 of the locking portion 18 is pressed against the rear locking receiving surface 38, the locking portion 18 does not bend inward in the radial direction. Therefore, once the hose connector 1 is in the connected state, the connection cannot be released by normal operation, so that the connection will not be accidentally released. However, there may be cases where it is desired to disconnect the plug member 12 and the socket member 10 during maintenance or when replacing a hose. In that case, as shown in FIG. 5, an elongated dedicated tool is inserted into the tool insertion passage 46 formed by the axial hole 34c extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis L from the front end 10a of the socket member 10 to the rear locking receiving surface 38. Insert 48. Then, the special tool 48 hits the outer portion 30 of the locking portion 18, and the locking portion 18 can be bent radially inward. By bending the locking portion 18 in this manner, the rear end portion 32 of the locking portion 18 is in a position where it does not engage with the rear locking receiving surface 38, and the plug member 12 can be removed from the socket member 10. Become.

In the hose connector 101 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, a locking groove 150 extending forward from the rear end 110b is formed in the insertion passage 134 of the socket member 110. The plug member 112 also has a locking protrusion 152 that projects radially outward from the outer peripheral surface 114c at the rear end 114b of the plug body 114 and extends forward. By aligning the locking protrusion 152 and the locking groove 150 when inserting the plug member 112 into the socket member 110, the rotational direction positions of the plug member 112 and the socket member 110 can be adjusted to appropriate positions. . Furthermore, in the connected state, the locking protrusion 152 engages with the locking groove 150 in the circumferential direction, thereby preventing the plug member 112 from rotating relative to the socket member 110. When the plug member 112 is displaced forward with respect to the socket member 110, the locking protrusion 152 engages with the front end surface 150a of the locking groove 150, so that the forward displacement of the plug member 112 is restricted. It has also become. Note that the rotation and forward displacement of the plug member 112 may be restricted by the locking portion 118 engaging with each part of the insertion passage 134 as in the first embodiment, or by the locking portion 118 being engaged with each part of the insertion passage 134. This may be done by both the portion 118 and the locking protrusion 152.

1 Hose connector 10 Socket member 10a Front end 10b Rear end 12 Plug member 14 Plug body portion 14a Front end 14b Rear end 14c Outer surface 16 Fluid passage 18 Locking portion 20 Front portion 20a Outer peripheral surface 22 Rear portion 22a Outer peripheral surface 24 Hose holding portion 26 Inner part 28 Folded part 30 Outer part 32 Rear end part 34 Insertion passage 34a Small diameter part 34b Large diameter part 34c Axial hole 36 Hose receiving surface 38 Rear locking receiving surface 40 Sliding inner peripheral surface 42 Front locking receiving surface 44 Circumference Directional lock receiving surface 46 Tool insertion passage 48 Special tool 101 Hose connector 110 Socket member 110b Rear end 112 Plug member 114 Plug main body 114b Rear end 114c Outer peripheral surface 118 Locking part 134 Insertion passage 150 Locking groove 150a Front end surface 152 Engagement Stop protrusion H Hose L Longitudinal axis

Claims (8)

A hose connector comprising a socket member and a plug member inserted and connected to the socket member,
The plug member is
a plug main body portion having a front end, a rear end, and a fluid passage extending from the front end to the rear end, and a hose holding portion press-fitted into the hose to hold the hose at the front end;
An inner portion extending forward from the outer surface of the plug body, a folded portion extending radially outward from the inner portion, and a folded portion extending rearward from the folded portion at a rear end portion. a terminating outer portion, the inner portion being spaced radially outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the plug body, and the outer portion being spaced radially outwardly from the inner portion. a locking portion having flexibility in the radial direction;
Equipped with
The socket member has a front end, a rear end, and an insertion passage extending from the front end to the rear end and receiving the plug member from the side of the rear end, and the insertion passage is connected to the hose of the plug body. A hose receiving surface that engages with the outer circumferential surface of the hose held by the holding part and clamps the hose between the hose holding part, and a rear locking receiver that faces forward at a position rearward from the hose receiving surface. and a sliding inner circumferential surface provided at a position radially inward and rearward of the rear locking receiving surface,
When the plug member is inserted into the insertion passage of the socket member, the outer portion of the locking portion slides into engagement with the sliding inner peripheral surface, and the locking portion is deflected radially inward. When the rear end portion of the locking portion passes through the sliding inner circumferential surface, the locking portion elastically restores radially outward, and the rear end portion of the plug body portion contacts the rear locking receiving surface. The plug member is connected to the socket member at opposing positions in the longitudinal axis direction, and in the connected state, the rear end engages with the rear locking surface, so that the plug member is separated from the socket member. A hose connector that is prevented from coming out backwards. At least a portion of the inner portion of the locking portion is located radially inward than the hose receiving surface, and the folded portion is folded back radially outward at a position rearward of the hose receiving surface. The hose connector according to claim 1. The insertion passage has a front locking receiving surface facing rearward and facing the folded portion of the locking portion in the longitudinal axis direction, and the plug member is pushed forward with respect to the socket member. 3. The hose connector according to claim 1, wherein the folded portion engages with the front locking surface, thereby restricting forward displacement of the plug member relative to the socket member. . The insertion passage has a circumferential locking surface facing in the circumferential direction at a position between the hose receiving surface and the rear locking surface in the longitudinal axis direction, and the side surface of the locking portion is 4. The plug member according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the plug member relative to the socket member in the circumferential direction is restricted by engaging the circumferential locking surface in the circumferential direction. Hose connectors listed. The socket member has a tool insertion passage extending in the longitudinal axis direction from the front end to the rear locking receiving surface, and the locking portion is bent radially inward by inserting a tool into the tool insertion passage. 5. A hose connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plug member can be removed from the socket member by adjusting the length of the plug member. The insertion passage of the socket member has a locking groove extending forward from the rear end of the socket member, and the plug member has a locking groove extending forward from the outer peripheral surface of the plug body at the rear end of the plug body. It has a locking projection that projects outward in the direction and extends forward, and when the plug member is inserted and connected to the socket member, the locking projection is located in the locking groove, and the locking projection is located in the locking groove. 6. According to any one of claims 1 to 5, the plug member is prevented from rotating in the circumferential direction relative to the socket member by circumferentially engaging the locking groove. Hose connectors listed. A plug member that is inserted into and connected to a cylindrical socket member and forms a hose connector together with the socket member,
a plug main body portion having a front end, a rear end, and a fluid passage extending from the front end to the rear end, and a hose holding portion press-fitted into the hose to hold the hose at the front end;
An inner portion extending forward from the outer surface of the plug body, a folded portion extending radially outward from the inner portion, and a folded portion extending rearward from the folded portion at a rear end portion. a terminating outer portion, the inner portion being spaced radially outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the plug body, and the outer portion being spaced radially outwardly from the inner portion. a locking portion having flexibility in the radial direction;
Equipped with
When the plug member is inserted into the insertion passage of the socket member, the outer portion of the locking portion slides into engagement with the sliding inner circumferential surface of the insertion passage, and the locking portion moves radially inward. When the rear end portion of the locking portion passes through the sliding inner circumferential surface, the locking portion elastically restores radially outward, and the rear end portion radially moves away from the sliding inner circumferential surface. The plug member is connected to the socket member at a position facing the lock receiving surface extending outward in the longitudinal axis direction of the plug body, and in the connected state, the rear end portion is connected to the lock receiving surface. A plug member configured to prevent the plug member from coming out of the socket member rearwardly by engagement. The plug member according to claim 7, wherein the folded portion of the locking portion is folded back radially outward at a position rearward of the hose holding portion.

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