JPH04175598A - Quick connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid deformation of an engaging pawl member, and to secure steady connection of a male member with a female member by constituting a connector so as to have an energizing member inside a first socket of a female member for enforcing a pawl of the engaging pawl member in the engaging direction with the engaging portion of the male member. CONSTITUTION:A male member 1 has a ring-shaped projection 11 formed projectedly as an engaging portion on an external periphery of an inserting end portion 10. A female member 2 has a cylindrical first socket portion 20, a second socket portion 22 and a bush 27 as a fixing portion. An engaging pawl member 3 is made of resin and has a ring-shaped base portion 30, an arm portion 31 and a pawl portion 32 elongated at its tip. Because the spring force of a spring 4 acts along the axial direction of the inserting end portion, a tapered surface 32b of the pawl portion 32 is pressed against a constraint internal peripheral surface 25 of the first socket portion 20. With such a press, the pawl portion 32 is enforced strongly in the direction of contracting its diameter, that is, in the direction of the arrow C1 (see the figure). As the result, the engagement of the ring-shaped projection 11 of the male member 1 and the pawl portion 32 of the engaging pawl member 3 becomes strong and secure.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a quick connector for piping for connecting hoses, pipes, etc. for transferring fluids such as gasoline, oil, water, and air.

[Prior Art] A connector for piping as shown in FIG. 9 is known (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 41794/1983).

This piping connector includes a cylindrical female member 103 and a ring-shaped O-ring 10 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the female member 103.
5, a bush 107 that presses the O-ring 105, a holding member 106 that is inserted into the female member 103 and holds the O-ring 105, and a male member 104. Here, the holding member 106 includes a cylindrical portion 161 having an inner circumferential diameter substantially equal to the outer circumferential diameter of the male member 104, and a plurality of leg portions 162 extending from the rear end of the cylindrical portion 161 and bent outward.
It is made of flexible material.

The holding member 106 has a concave groove 162a on the outside and an annular groove 1 on the inside.
61a.

In use, the O-ring 10 is inserted into the female member 103.
5. Insert the holding member 106 into the female member 103 with the bushing 107 fitted. As a result, the groove 162a is engaged with the annular projecting portion 103a of the female member 103. Thereafter, the male member 104 is inserted into the female member 103, and the annular groove 161a and the ring-shaped protrusion 104a of the male member 104 are engaged, thereby connecting the male member 104 and the female member 103.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] In the conventional connector described above, O
There is a risk that the ring 105 and bush 107 may be displaced in the axial direction. In this case, the sealing performance of the O-ring 105 may deteriorate, which is disadvantageous in terms of ensuring pressure resistance.

For example, high hydraulic pressure F from the hole 103f side of the female member 103
When the
Hydraulic pressure acts on the O-ring 105 through the O-ring 10.
5 may be displaced, and the sealing performance and pressure resistance of the O-ring 105 may deteriorate.

Also, the internal pressure acting on the O-ring 105 is the bush 107,
Since the stress is also transmitted to the holding member 106, the holding member 106 is affected by the internal pressure, and bending stress acts on the holding member 106. Therefore, the locking force between the groove 162a of the holding member 106 and the annular projecting portion 103a of the female member 103 may be weakened, and the connecting force between the male member 104 and the female member 103 may also be weakened.

In addition, as described above, the O-ring 105 is
Since the internal pressure acting on the bushing 107 and the holding member 106 are also transmitted to the bushing 107 and the holding member 106, depending on the material of the holding member 106, the wall surface of the groove 162a of the holding member 106 may be excessively pressed against the annular protrusion 103a of the female member 103. There is also a risk that the wall surface of the groove 1628 may be damaged. Therefore, this connector is disadvantageous in ensuring the reliability of the locking force.

The present invention was made in view of these actual circumstances, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide a quick connector whose purpose is to maintain good sealing performance and improve pressure resistance by restricting displacement in the axial direction of a ring seal portion such as a ring. Further, the present invention prevents the displacement of the ring seal portion from being transmitted to the locking pawl member by restricting the displacement in the axial direction of the ring seal portion, thereby avoiding deformation of the locking pawl member, It is an object of the present invention to provide a quick connector that can secure a locking force by the claw portion of a locking claw member and thereby ensure the degree of connection between a male member and a female member.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A quick connector of the present invention includes: a cylindrical male member having a ring-shaped locking portion and an insertion end extending beyond the locking portion; and a male member. a cylindrical first clamping surface having a receiving opening into which the insertion end and the locking part are inserted, a first inner circumferential surface surrounding the locking part, and a ring-shaped first clamping surface on the side opposite to the receiving opening; a ring-shaped second clamping surface that is removably connected to the first socket part and faces the first clamping surface from the end side; The second inner circumferential surface of the ring-shaped seal with a large inner circumferential diameter and the second inner circumferential surface surrounding the tip of the insertion end are fitted almost coaxially to the inner circumferential surface of the seal, and the outer circumferential surface of the insertion end and the inside of the seal are fitted almost coaxially. a cylindrical second socket portion having a ring seal portion for sealing between the first and second socket portions;
A ring-shaped central hole which is held between the first holding surface of the socket part and the second holding surface of the second socket part and into which the insertion end is inserted, and which faces the ring seal part and restricts displacement of the ring seal part in the axial direction. a female member having a fixing portion having a regulating surface; a locking pawl member having a pawl portion that is disposed in the first socket portion of the female member and that locks with the locking portion of the male member; and a first socket of the female member. The present invention is characterized by comprising a biasing member which is disposed in the male member and urges the claw portion of the locking claw member in a direction to be locked with the locking portion of the male member.

In the quick connector of the present invention, the female member has a first socket portion and a second socket portion. It consists of a socket part and a fixed part.

The first socket portion has a cylindrical shape and has a receiving opening, a first inner circumferential surface, and a first clamping surface. The insertion end of the male member and the locking portion are inserted into the receiving opening.

The first inner circumferential surface surrounds the locking portion of the male member. The first clamping surface is formed on the side opposite to the receiving opening and has a ring shape.

The second socket part has a cylindrical shape and is detachably connected to the first socket part. The connection structure can be selected as appropriate. The second socket part has a second clamping surface, a seal inner peripheral surface, and a second inner peripheral surface from the end side facing the first socket part. The second clamping surface has a ring shape and faces the first clamping surface. The inner circumferential surface of the seal is ring-shaped, coaxially adjacent to the second clamping surface, and has an inner circumferential diameter larger than the outer circumferential diameter of the insertion end. The second inner circumferential surface surrounds the tip of the insertion end. The ring seal portion is fitted substantially coaxially to the inner circumferential surface of the seal, and seals between the outer circumferential surface of the insertion end and the inner circumferential surface of the seal. The fixing part is clamped and fixed between a first clamping surface of the first socket part and a second clamping surface of the second socket part. When the first socket part and the second socket part are separated, the fixing part can be removed.

The fixing part has a central hole into which the insertion end is inserted and a regulating surface facing the ring seal part. The material of the fixing part can be selected as appropriate.

The locking pawl member has a pawl portion that locks with the locking portion of the male member.

Various springs such as coil springs and plate springs can be used as the biasing member.

[Function] The function of the quick connector of the present invention will be explained together with its usage method. First, the first socket part and the second socket part are connected with the ring seal part fitted to the seal inner peripheral surface of the second socket part of the female member. As a result, the fixed part
It is clamped and fixed between the first clamping surface of the socket part and the second clamping surface of the second socket part. In this state, the ring seal portion faces the restriction surface of the fixed portion, so that displacement of the ring seal portion in the axial direction is regulated by the restriction surface of the fixed portion.

Further, to connect the female member and the male member, the insertion end of the male member is inserted into the first socket portion of the female member through the receiving opening of the first socket portion. Then, the tip of the insertion end portion is surrounded by the second inner circumferential surface of the second socket portion of the female member. When the insertion is completed in this manner, the claw portion of the locking claw member locks with the locking portion of the male member through the biasing force of the biasing member, thereby connecting the male member and the female member. . In this connected state, the ring seal part faces the regulating surface of the fixing part as described above, so that displacement of the ring seal part in the axial direction is regulated by the regulating surface of the fixing part.

Embodiment] An embodiment of the tight connector of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

1 to 4 show diagrams of the connection process of the quick connector of this embodiment. The quick connector of this embodiment has a male member 1
It is composed of a female member 2, a locking claw member 3, and a spring 4 as a biasing member.

As shown in FIG. 1, the male member 1 has an insertion end 10 made of a metal pipe, and a ring-shaped protrusion 11 as a locking part that projects from the outer peripheral surface of the insertion end 10 in the centrifugal direction. . A tapered surface 11a is formed on the ring-shaped protrusion 11, and the rear of the tapered surface 11a is a substantially vertical locking surface 11b. Note that a guide portion 10a is formed at the distal end of the insertion end portion 10 to facilitate insertion.

The female member 2 is shown in FIG. The female member 2 includes a cylindrical first socket part 20 having a threaded part 20e, and a threaded part 2.
It is provided with a cylindrical second socket part 22 having a diameter 2e and a bushing 27 as a fixing part. And the screw part 22e
The first socket part 20 and the second socket part 22 are removably connected by screwing together the screw part 20e. First socket part 20. is shown in FIG. The first socket portion 20 has a first inner peripheral surface 23 that defines a cylindrical receiving hole 23a. A receiving opening 24 having a circular shape is formed at one end of the first socket part 20.
A tapered regulating inner circumferential surface 25 is formed in a ring shape on the receiving opening 24 side of the inner circumferential surface of the socket portion 20 so as to go around the inner circumferential surface of the first socket portion 20 once. The regulating inner circumferential surface 25 has a tapered shape in which the inner circumferential diameter gradually decreases toward the receiving opening 24 . Further, a ring-shaped first clamping surface 20b is formed on the opposite side of the first socket portion 20 from the receiving opening 24.

The second socket portion 22 is also shown in FIG. Second
A ring-shaped second clamping surface 22b, a seal inner circumferential surface 22f, and a second inner circumferential surface 22C are coaxially formed in the socket portion 22 from its end side. The second clamping surface 22b faces the first clamping surface 20b.

The inner circumferential diameter of the seal inner circumferential surface 22f is set larger than the outer circumferential diameter of the insertion end 10. The second inner circumferential surface 22q surrounds the tip of the insertion end 10.

Rubber O-rings 28a and 28b as ring seal portions and a rubber ring-shaped collar 29 are coaxially fitted into the space defined by the seal inner peripheral surface 22f.

Note that the second socket portion 22 has a bamboo shoot-shaped seal groove 22.
1 is formed.

The bushing 27 is made of resin, and includes a small diameter ring portion 27a,
It consists of seven large-diameter flange portions 27b extending radially outward. The ring portion 27a has a central hole 2 into which the insertion end portion 10 is inserted.
Has 7e. The ring-shaped end surface of the flange portion 27b serves as a spring seat surface 27C. The other end surface of the bushing 27 is a ring-shaped regulating surface 27d. Here, the outer circumferential diameter of the regulating surface 27d of the bush 27 is set larger than the inner circumferential diameter of the second inner circumferential surface 22f of the second socket portion 22.

In addition, the inner circumferential diameter of the regulating surface 27d of the bushing 27 is 0-ring 2.
It is set smaller than the outer circumferential diameter of 8a and 28b.

The locking claw member 3 is made of resin, and includes a ring-shaped base 30,
It has elastically deformable arm portions 31 and claw portions 32 extending from the tips of each arm portion 31. The base portion 30 has a spring seat surface 30a, is installed in the receiving hole 23a of the first socket portion 20, and is movable along the axis of the first socket portion 20. The arm portion 31 extends from the axial end surface of the ring-shaped base portion 30 to the first
Two of them extend in a bifurcated manner substantially along the axis of the first socket part 20 toward the receiving opening 24 of the socket part 20 .

The claw portion 32 has a locking surface 32a and tapered surfaces 32b and 32C that are inclined with respect to the axis.

The spring 4 is a compression coil spring made of metal, and is located in the receiving hole 23a of the first socket part 20, and is interposed between the spring seat surface 27c of the bush 27 and the spring seat surface 30a of the base 30 of the locking claw member 3. equipped. As shown in FIG. 1, before the male member 1 and the female member 2 are connected, the spring 4 moves the locking pawl member 3 along the axial direction of the first socket portion 20 into the receiving opening 2.
4 to press the claw portion 32 of the locking claw member 3 against the regulating inner circumferential surface 25.

Now, the case where the quick connector of this embodiment is used will be explained. First, the case of assembling the female member 2 will be explained. Seal inner peripheral surface 22f of second socket portion 22 of female member 2
k: With the O-rings 28a, 28b and collar 29 fitted, the threaded parts 20e and 22e are screwed together to complete the first socket part 2.
0 and the second socket part 22 are connected. At this time, as shown in FIG.
The clamping surface 20b and the second clamping surface 22b of the second socket part 22
It is clamped and fixed. In this state, the O-ring parts 28a, 28b and the collar 29 are connected to the regulating surface 2 of the bushing 27.
Facing 7d.

Next, the case where the female member 2 and the male member are connected will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the insertion end 10 of the male member 1 is brought close to the first socket portion 20 of the female member 2, and inserted into the receiving hole 23a through the receiving opening 24.

Then, as the insertion end 10 is inserted deeper, the tapered surface 11a of the ring-shaped protrusion 11 pushes up the claw 32, and the arm 31 bends radially outward, as shown in FIG. At this time, the spring 4 is compressed in the axial direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the ring-shaped protrusion 11 passes over the claw portion 32, the arm portion 31 and the claw portion 32 are restored in the radially inward direction. At this time, spring 4
Since the spring acts along the axial direction of the insertion end portion 10, the base portion 30 of the locking pawl member 3 is pressed along the axis of the first socket portion 20. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the tapered surface 32b of the claw portion 32 of the locking claw member 3 is pressed against the regulating inner peripheral surface 25 of the first socket portion 20.

With such pressing, the claw portion 32 is strongly urged in the radial inward direction, that is, in the direction of arrow C1 (see FIG. 4), and therefore, the ring-shaped protrusion 11 of the male member 1 and the claw portion of the locking claw member 3 The locking with 32 is strong and reliable.

Incidentally, when releasing the connection between the male member 1 and the female member 2, a claw release tool 5 shown in FIG. 8 is used. The claw release tool 5 is made of resin and includes an insertion hole 50 to be inserted into the male member 1, a cylindrical portion 52 having a tapered surface 51 at the tip, and a flange portion 53 extending on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 52. Consisting of As can be understood from FIGS. 4 and 8, the cylindrical portion 5 of the claw release tool 5
2 into the receiving opening 24 of the second socket portion 22, and press the tapered surface 51 of the tip of the claw release tool 5 against the tapered surface 32C of the claw portion 32 of the locking claw member 3. Then, the arm portion 31 of the locking claw member 3 is bent and the claw portion 32 is pushed up in the radially outward direction, and the locking surface 32a of the claw portion 32 is pressed against the ring-shaped protrusion 1.
Move away from 1. If the insertion end 10 of the male member 1 and the female member 2 are separated in the axial direction in this separated state, the male member 1
and female member 2 can be easily and quickly separated.

As explained above, in this embodiment, the insertion end 1 of the male member 1
0 into the second socket part 22 of the female member 2,
The claw portion 32 of the locking claw member 3 can be automatically locked, and therefore the male member 1 and the female member 2 can be firmly connected easily and in a short time.

Further, in this embodiment, the bushing 27 is arranged between the first clamping surface 20b of the first socket part 20 and the second clamping surface 20b of the second socket part 22.
2b and fixed. Therefore, O-ring 2
8a and 28b face the restriction surface 27d of the bush 27, and the displacement of the O-rings 28a and 28b in the axial direction is restricted.

Therefore, it is advantageous in terms of ensuring pressure resistance. Further, as can be understood from FIG. 4 showing the state of use, hydraulic pressure is applied to the O-ring 28a, 28b,
Even if it acts on the collar 29, the O ring 28a
, 28b, and the hydraulic pressure acting on the collar 29 can be prevented from being transmitted to the spring 4 and the locking claw member 3. Therefore, deformation of the locking pawl member 3 due to hydraulic pressure transmission through the minute gap m is avoided, and a decrease in the degree of locking between the pawl portion 32 and the ring-shaped protrusion 11 is avoided. In addition, as described above, since the hydraulic pressure can be prevented from being transmitted to the locking pawl member 3, the locking pawl member 3 is not affected by the hydraulic pressure. Therefore, the locking claw member 3
It is possible to prevent the claw portion 32 from being excessively pressed against the regulating inner circumferential surface 25 by hydraulic pressure.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the male member 1 and the female member 2 are connected, the locking claw member 3 is moved by the spring force of the spring 4 as described above.
The claw portion 32 is pressed against the regulating inner circumferential surface 25 and urged in the radial inward direction, that is, in the direction of arrow C1 (see FIG. 4), so the claw portion 32 tightens the male member 1 radially inward. Therefore, a strong engagement force is obtained in the direction perpendicular to the axis, and rattling between the male member 1 and the female member 2 in the direction perpendicular to the axis is suppressed.

If a strong engagement force is obtained in the direction perpendicular to the axis in this way, looseness between the male member 1 and the female member 2 in the axial direction can also be avoided.

Further, in this embodiment, when in use, the hydraulic pressure acts in the direction of pushing the insertion end 10, that is, in the direction of arrow D1, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the locking surface 11b of the ring-shaped protrusion 11 of the insertion end 10 comes into close contact with the locking surface 32a of the claw 32, and the locking by the claw 32 is reliable.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, even if the O-rings 28a, 28b are deteriorated, the first socket part 20 and the second socket part 22 can be separated by removing the screw parts 20e, 22e.
Therefore, the O-rings 28a, 28b can also be replaced.

Next, a further embodiment of the quick connector of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 10 to 13. The quick connector of this embodiment basically has the same structure as the previous embodiment, so parts that perform the same functions will be described with the same reference numerals. However, in this embodiment, a ring-shaped groove 13 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion end 10 of the male member 1 as a locking portion.

When the male member 1 and the female member 2 are connected, the claw portion 32 of the locking claw member 3 is locked in the ring-shaped groove portion 13 as shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, the same effects as in the previous embodiment can be obtained, and the O-rings 28a and 28b face the regulating surface 27d of the bushing 27, and the O-ring 28a
, 28b in the axial direction is restricted, and pressure resistance can be improved.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the quick connector of the present invention, the fixing part having the regulating surface regulating the ring seal part is sandwiched between the first clamping surface of the first socket part and the second clamping surface of the second socket part. Fixed. Therefore, displacement of the ring seal portion in the axial direction is restricted.

Therefore, when the connector is used, the ring seal portion is prevented from shifting in the axial direction, the sealing performance of the ring seal portion is maintained well, and the pressure resistance is improved.

Further, according to the quick connector of the present invention, when internal pressure such as hydraulic pressure acts on the ring seal portion from the minute gap between the second inner circumferential surface of the second socket portion and the outer circumferential surface of the insertion end of the male member, Also, the displacement of the ring seal portion in the axial direction is regulated by the regulating surface of the fixed portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the internal pressure acting on the ring seal portion from being transmitted to the locking claw member.

Therefore, deformation of the locking pawl member due to internal pressure transmission can be avoided. Therefore, it is possible to avoid lowering of the locking portion between the claw portion of the locking claw member and the locking portion of the male member.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 8 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 1 to 4 are side views partially showing the process of connecting the male member to the female member, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the upper half of the female member in cross section, FIG. 6 is a side view showing the upper half of the second socket part in cross section, and FIG. 7 is a side view showing the upper half of the first socket part in cross section. , FIG. 8 is a side view showing the upper half of the claw release tool in cross section. FIG. 9 is a side view showing a cross section of the upper half of a conventional connector. 10 to 13 show other embodiments of the present invention, and the first
FIG. 0 is a side view showing the upper half of the male member and female member connected in cross section, and FIGS. 11 to 13 are side views partially showing the connecting process in cross section. In the figure, 1 is a male member, 10 is an insertion end, 11 is a ring-shaped protrusion (locking part), 2 is a female member, 20 is a first socket part, 2
2 is a second socket part, 24 is a receiving opening, 25 is a regulating inner peripheral surface, 27 is a bushing (fixing part), 27d is a regulating surface, 28
a, 28b are O-rings (ring seal parts), 3 is a locking claw member, 32 is a claw part, 4 is a spring, and 5 is a claw release tool. Patent applicant Tokai Rubber Industries Co., Ltd. Agent
Patent attorney Hiroshi Okawa

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A cylindrical male member having a locking part extending in a ring shape and an insertion end extending beyond the locking part, and the insertion end of the male member and the locking part being inserted. a cylindrical first having a receiving opening, a first inner circumferential surface surrounding the locking portion, and a ring-shaped first clamping surface formed on the opposite side of the receiving opening;
a ring-shaped second clamping surface that is removably connected to the first socket part and has one end facing the first clamping surface; and a ring-shaped second clamping surface that is coaxially adjacent to the second clamping surface and of the insertion end. a ring-shaped seal inner circumferential surface having an inner circumferential diameter larger than the outer circumferential diameter; a second inner circumferential surface surrounding the tip of the insertion end portion; and the insertion end portion fitted approximately coaxially with the seal inner circumferential surface. a cylindrical second socket part having a ring seal part installed between the outer circumferential surface of the first socket part and the inner circumferential surface of the seal; A female having a central hole into which the insertion end sandwiched between the clamping surfaces is inserted, and a fixing section having a ring-shaped regulating surface facing the ring seal section and regulating displacement of the ring seal section in the axial direction. a member, a locking pawl member disposed in the first socket portion of the female member and having a pawl portion that locks with the locking portion of the male member; A quick connector comprising: a biasing member that biases a claw portion of the member in a direction to be locked in a locking portion of the male member.