JPH09112777A - Coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sufficiently prevent liquid leakage without providing an extra liquid leakage preventing mechanism, by rotating a plate when a second coupler is connected to a first coupler through a guide groove, and matching the flow opening of the first coupler and the flow opening of the plate to each other for the first time when the plate is rotated so that flowing body can flow. SOLUTION: A projected guide 12 is inserted to the insert part 7a of a guide groove 7, and moved to the bent part of the guide groove 7. Hereupon, a ball stopper 13 is slid along a recessed part 6 formed around the whole circumference of a projected coupler 1, and a vertical wall 10 fixed to the recessed coupler 2 is also slid, therefore, these slides are made to be a torque by which the recessed coupler 2 is rotated. Rotation is transmitted also to a coupler plug 9 to which a plug supporting part 10a is inserted, by the rotation of the vertical wall 10, and the rotation of a coupler plug 3 to be engaged is transmitted to the plug supporting part 4a, therefore, a rotational torque is finally transmitted to a plate 4. Opening positions of a flow opening 17 and a channel opening 5 are matched to each other when the plate 4 is rotated so as to form a channel for fluid, therefore, the projected and recessed couplers 1, 2 are completely connected to each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coupler, and more particularly to a coupler for connecting pipes in a system requiring high reliability such as a water cooling device for a large computer.

Various printed circuit board units mounted on a large-scale electronic computer have been in a situation where they cannot be sufficiently cooled by the conventional cooling technique by air cooling due to improvement of processing capacity and accompanying high density mounting of electronic parts. For this reason, the cooling medium is replaced with a liquid such as water from the conventional cold air to perform cooling by water cooling.

In a general water cooling device, a cooling plate is brought into contact with a unitized printed board unit of a large-scale computer to be cooled, and various control systems such as heat are supplied from the cooling plate through pipes. It consists of a heat exchanger that removes the heat of the liquid that has warmed up by deprivation, a pump that circulates the liquid in the water cooling device, and a tank that stores the liquid. Then, in order to connect the control systems, a connecting part called a coupler is provided at the joint of the pipes.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional coupler is shown in FIG. Reference numeral 100 denotes a convex coupler, and the convex coupler 100 has a flow passage port 102 through which liquid flows, a coupler plug 103 biased by a spring 106 to pass the liquid to the concave coupler side, which will be described later, and a concave coupler 101. A recess 105 into which the ball stopper 108 is inserted is formed. When the concave coupler 101 is not coupled to the convex coupler 100, the housing 106 of the convex coupler 100 and the coupler plug 103 are brought into close contact with each other by the urging force of the spring 106, so that liquid leakage does not occur.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a concave coupler, and the concave coupler 101 has a flow path port 110 through which a liquid flows, and a ball stopper 10 inserted into a concave portion 105 of the convex coupler 100.
8. Movable housing 109 that moves to press the ball stopper 108 when the ball stopper 108 is inserted into the concave portion 105, a return spring 112 that restores the movable housing 109, and liquid from the convex coupler 100 to the concave coupler 101. For this reason, the coupler plug 107 that is biased by the spring 111 is formed. When the convex coupler 100 is not coupled to the concave coupler 101, the housing of the concave coupler 101 and the coupler plug 107 are brought into close contact with each other by the urging force of the spring 111, so that liquid leakage does not occur.

Conventionally, the convex coupler 100 and the concave coupler 1
FIG. 13 shows a state in which 01 is combined. By moving the movable housing 109 of the concave coupler 101 manually, the concave coupler 1
The ball stopper 108 of 01 is inserted into the concave portion 105 of the convex coupler by press fitting. Then, the tip 103a of the coupler plug 103 of the convex coupler 100 and the coupler plug 10 of the concave coupler 101
The tip 107a of 7 collides. These coupler plugs 103,
Due to the collision force of 107 and its reaction force, both coupler plugs 10
Gaps 104 and 108 are generated between the blades 3 and 107 and the housing which has been in the close contact state, and the liquid flows into the gaps. As a result, the flow passage port 102 of the convex coupler 100 and the flow passage port 110 of the concave coupler 101 are separated by the gap 104,
Liquid will flow through the coupler through 108.

[0007]

However, in the conventional coupler, before the ball stopper of the concave coupler is completely inserted into the concave portion of the convex coupler, the point is that the coupler plug of the convex coupler and the coupler of the concave coupler are in a semi-coupling state. The stopper may collide with each other and a gap may be generated between the coupler stopper and the housing, resulting in liquid leakage.

Therefore, a countermeasure such as providing a seal ring or providing a drain pan outside the coupler for preventing liquid leakage can be considered, but in the former case, the degree of liquid leakage is determined depending on the diameter of the seal ring. Undesired,
Further, in the latter case, there are problems in space and it is necessary to perform periodical drainage, which causes a problem in terms of maintenance cost.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coupler capable of sufficiently preventing liquid leakage without providing a mechanism for preventing further liquid leakage outside the coupler.

[0010]

The above object is to provide a first flow path port through which a fluid flows, a rotatable plate having a flow port through which the fluid flows, and a key-shaped guide groove. A first coupler that has, a second flow path through which the fluid flows, and a convex guide that is guided along the guide groove,
A second coupler to be coupled with the first coupler; and an opening position of the first flow path opening according to the movement of the convex guide when coupling the second coupler to the first coupler. And a means for rotating the plate so as to match the opening positions of the circulation ports.

That is, in the coupler of the present invention, the plate is rotated when the second coupler is coupled to the first coupler through the guide groove, and the first plate is rotated only when the plate is rotated. When the flow path opening of the coupler and the flow opening of the plate coincide with each other, the fluid flows. For this reason, when the flow port of the plate and the flow port of the first coupler do not coincide with each other, that is, when the first coupler and the second coupler are not coupled to each other, at that time, the fluid flows between the couplers. Does not flow, and liquid leakage does not occur.

Further, the first coupler has a coupler plug which is in close contact with its own housing when it is not coupled with the second coupler. That is, this makes it possible to prevent liquid leakage from the first coupler.

Further, the second coupler has a coupler plug which is in close contact with its own housing when it is not coupled with the first coupler. That is, this makes it possible to prevent liquid leakage from the second coupler.

Further, the rotational torque generated when the second coupler is coupled to the first coupler such that the convex guide is guided by the guide groove is applied to the first coupler. By engaging the coupler stopper and the coupler stopper of the second coupler and transmitting to the plate,
It is characterized in that the plate is rotated.

That is, since the guide groove has a key shape, a rotational torque is generated when the second coupler is coupled to the first coupler, and the rotational torque is related to the coupler plugs provided on both couplers. By combining them, it is possible to mechanically transmit to the plate, so that the plate can be rotated corresponding to the coupling between the first coupler and the second coupler.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The coupler of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 11, the same reference numerals denote the same objects, respectively.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a convex coupler (corresponding to a first coupler), and the convex coupler 1 is urged by a spring 8 to pass a liquid flow port 5 through which liquid such as cooling water flows and a concave coupler. The concave portion 6 into which the ball stopper 13 of the coupler plug 3 and the concave coupler 2 (corresponding to the second coupler) is inserted is formed. The concave portions 6 are formed circumferentially along the outer circumference of the convex coupler 1, and a plurality of ball stoppers 13 of the concave coupler 2 are provided corresponding to the positions where the concave portions 6 are formed. When the concave coupler 2 is not coupled to the convex coupler 1, the housing 8 of the convex coupler 1 and the coupler plug 3 are brought into close contact with each other by the biasing force of the spring 8 so that liquid leakage does not occur.

A guide groove 7 is formed on the outer surface of the convex coupler 1 to guide the insertion of the convex guide 12 of the concave coupler 2. The guide groove 7 has a key shape, specifically, an L shape, and the concave coupler 2 is abutted against the convex coupler 1 and inserted for a predetermined distance, and then the insertion direction is switched to the vertical direction. The concave coupler 2 will be inserted.

Although it has been described that the flow passage port 5 through which a plurality of liquids flow is formed inside the convex coupler 1, a more specific description will be made. The vertical wall 1a is formed inside the convex coupler 1. As shown in FIG. 4, four flow passage ports 5 are formed in the circumferential direction with respect to the central axis of the vertical wall 1a in this embodiment. In FIG. 4, the vertical wall 1a is shown as an elliptical shape, but there is no problem if it has a perfect circular shape depending on the cross section of the pipe.

A recess 1b for mounting the plate 4 is formed on the surface of the vertical wall 1a on the coupler plug 3 side, and the projection of the plate 4 is fitted into the recess 1b for mounting. As shown in FIG. 5, the plate 4 is provided with a plurality of flow ports 17 in the circumferential direction with respect to the central axis of the plate 4 in this example, as in the case of the above-described flow channel port, and along the central axis. Is provided with a plug support portion 4a protruding toward the coupler plug 3 side, and the tip end portion of the plug support portion 4a bites into a part of the coupler plug 3. In FIG. 5, 18 is a return spring for returning the plate 4 to the original position, and 4b is a stopper for limiting the rotation of the plate 4 more than necessary. FIG.
In, the plate is shown as an elliptical shape, but there is no problem if this is a perfect circular shape depending on the cross section of the pipe.

As is apparent from the view showing the flow passage port in the convex coupler of FIG. 4 and the view showing the plate of FIG. 5, when the convex coupler 1 and the concave coupler 2 are not coupled, the opening position of the flow passage port 5 is formed. In this example, the opening positions of and and the flow port 17 are shifted from each other by 45 °, that is, the opening positions are not aligned with each other.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the coupler plug 3 and the plug support portion 4a.
The cross-sectional shape 4a 'of the plug supporting portion 4a is a quadrangle, and the shape of the portion of the coupler plug 3 that bites into the plug supporting portion 4a is also a quadrangle. As a result, when the coupler stopper 3 rotates, the torque is directly applied to the stopper support portion 4
will be transmitted to a.

A space of a certain length is provided between the tip of the plug support portion 4a and the bottom of the portion of the coupler stopper 3 where the plug support portion is bitten, and this space is a convex coupler 1 and a concave coupler. It corresponds to the distance of the coupler plug 3 which moves when 2 and 2 are connected.

The tip 3b of the coupler plug 3 has a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 2, and the tip of the tip has a shape 3b 'which is partially cut away in the drawing. With this special shape, the coupler plug 9 of the concave coupler 2 and the tip 9a are directionally engaged.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a concave coupler, and the concave coupler 2 has a flow path port 11 through which a liquid flows, a ball stopper 13 inserted into the concave portion 6 of the convex coupler 1, and a ball stopper 1.
3 is inserted into the recess 6 to move so that the ball stopper 13
Movable housing 14 for pressing the movable housing 14 with its tip 14a, return spring 15 for returning the movable housing 14, convex coupler 1
A coupler plug 9 is formed which is biased by a spring 16 to pass liquid from the to the concave coupler 2. When the convex coupler 1 is not coupled to the concave coupler 2, the biasing force of the spring 16 brings the housing of the concave coupler 2 into close contact with the coupler plug 9 to prevent liquid leakage.

A convex guide 12 is formed on the inner surface of the concave coupler 2 so as to be inserted into the guide groove 7 formed on the outer surface of the convex coupler 1. Although it has been described that the flow path port 11 through which a plurality of liquids flow is formed inside the concave coupler 2, the concave coupler 2 will be described more specifically.
A vertical wall 10 is formed inside the vertical wall 1.
A plurality of flow passage ports 11 are formed in the circumferential direction with respect to the center axis of 0. The edge of the vertical wall 10 is fixed to the inner surface of the concave coupler 2. The formation position of the flow path port 11 in the concave coupler 2 has the same positional relationship as that of the convex coupler 1 as shown in FIG. Further, the vertical wall 10 is also intended to have an elliptical shape like the vertical wall 1a of the convex coupler 1 and the plate 4, but there is no problem even if the vertical wall 10 has a perfect circular shape depending on the cross section of the pipe.

On the surface of the vertical wall 10 on the coupler stopper 9 side, a stopper support portion 10a is provided so as to protrude toward the coupler stopper 9 side along the central axis, and the tip end portion of the stopper support portion 10a is a part of the coupler stopper 9. It is cutting into.

The relationship between the coupler stopper 9 and the stopper support portion 10a is shown in FIG. 3, and the sectional shape 10a 'of the stopper support portion 10a is a quadrangle, and the portion of the coupler stopper 9 that is cut into the stopper support portion 4a is shown. The shape is also square. This allows
When the plug support portion 10a rotates, the torque is directly transmitted to the coupler plug 9.

It should be noted that the leading edge of the plug support portion 10a and the coupler plug 9
A space of constant length is provided between the stopper support and the bottom of the portion where the plug support is bitten.
Corresponds to the distance of the coupler plug 9 that moves when the concave coupler 2 and the concave coupler 2 are coupled.

The tip 9a of the coupler plug 9 has a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 2, and the tip of the end has a shape 9a 'which is partially notched in the upper direction in the drawing. With this special shape, the tip 3b of the convex coupler 1 and the coupler plug 3 are directionally engaged.

Next, the coupling operation of the coupler of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 shows a state before the convex coupler 1 and the concave coupler 2 are coupled. As shown in FIG. 6A, the insertion portion 7a of the guide groove 7 provided in the convex coupler 1
Before the convex guide 12 of the concave coupler 2 is inserted into the concave coupler 2, the concave coupler 2 is inserted into the convex coupler 1 shown in FIG. 6B when the convex guide 12 is in contact with the tip wall surface of the convex coupler 1. I can't.

Since it is not possible to connect the concave coupler 2 to the convex coupler 1, the coupler plug 3 provided on the convex coupler 1 comes into close contact with the housing of the convex coupler 1 itself so that liquid leakage does not occur. Similarly, the coupler plug 9 provided on the concave coupler 2 also comes into close contact with the housing of the concave coupler 2 itself so that liquid leakage does not occur.

Further, since it is not possible to connect the concave coupler 2 to the convex coupler 1, as shown in FIG. 7 viewed from the arrow A of FIG. 6B, the opening position of the flow port 17 of the plate 4 (dotted line) And the opening position (shown by the solid line) of the flow path port 5 of the vertical wall 1a are deviated at intervals of 45 °, so that liquid leakage does not occur.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the convex coupler 1 and the concave coupler 2 are imperfectly coupled. As shown in FIG. 8A, the convex guide 12 of the concave coupler 2 is inserted into the insertion portion 7a of the guide groove 7 provided in the convex coupler 1, but the convex guide 12 is also extended to the bent portion 7b of the guide groove 7. In the state where 12 has not reached, the concave coupler 2 is inserted into the concave 6 of the convex coupler 1 as shown in FIG.
The ball stopper 13 is inserted, and the position of the ball stopper 13 is held by pressing it on the back surface of the movable housing 14.

By inserting the concave portion 6 of the convex coupler 1 and the ball stopper 13 of the concave coupler 2 by press fitting, the convex coupler 1
The tip 3b of the coupler plug 3 and the tip 9a of the coupler plug 9 of the concave coupler 2 are directionally engaged. Then, the springs 8 and 16 are pushed in the contracting direction by the collision force caused by the collision of the coupler plug 3 with the coupler plug 9 and the reaction force thereof, and a gap 3a is formed between the housing of the convex coupler 1 and the coupler plug 3. A gap 9b is formed between the housing of the concave coupler 2 and the coupler plug 9.

A gap is formed between the coupler plug 3 and the convex coupler 1,
Further, since the gap is generated between the coupler plug 9 and the concave coupler 2, the convex coupler 1 and the concave coupler 2 are temporarily connected to each other, but the concave coupler is formed in the bent portion 7b of the guide groove 7 of the convex coupler 1. Since the convex guide 12 of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9 viewed from the arrow A ′ of (b), the opening position of the flow port 17 of the plate 4 (shown by a dotted line) and the opening position of the flow path port 5 of the vertical wall 1a (shown by a solid line) are shown. As in the case of FIG. 7, since there is a deviation of 45 °, liquid leakage does not occur.

In this way, in the state where the convex coupler 1 and the concave coupler 2 are semi-coupled so that the convex guide 12 does not reach the bent portion 7b of the guide groove 7, the coupler plug and the housing of the coupler itself are separated. Although the structure is such that a gap is generated between them and liquid leakage occurs, in the convex coupler 1, the vertical wall 1a is formed.
Since a double liquid leakage prevention measure is taken due to the deviation between the opening position of the flow path port 5 and the opening position of the circulation port 17 of the plate 4, liquid leakage does not occur.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which the convex coupler 1 and the concave coupler 2 are completely coupled. With the convex guide 12 inserted in the insertion portion 7a of the guide groove 7, the ball stopper 13 of the concave coupler 2 is inserted into the concave portion 6 of the convex coupler 1, and the convex coupler 1 is inserted.
Due to the collision of the coupler plug 3 with the coupler plug 9 of the concave coupler 2, a gap is formed between the coupler plug 3 and the housing of the convex coupler 1 itself, and a gap is formed between the coupler plug 9 and the housing of the concave coupler 2 itself. The occurrence is similar to that in FIG.

In FIG. 10A, the bent portion 7b of the guide groove 7 is shown.
The convex guide 12 is moved up to. Then, convex coupler 1
Along the concave portion 6 formed on the entire circumference of the ball stopper 13
The vertical wall 10 on which the concave coupler 2 and the concave coupler 2 are fixed.
Will also slide together. This slippage becomes a torque for rotating the concave coupler 2. Incidentally, by moving the convex guide 12 to the bent portion 7b, it is possible to perform locking so as to avoid an accidental pull-out state or a pull-out state.

The vertical wall 10 will rotate and the vertical wall 1
The plug support portion 10a provided at 0 also rotates from the back in the figure toward the front. As shown in FIG. 3, the plug support portion 10a has a quadrangular cross section, and the insertion portion of the coupler plug 9 into which the plug support portion 10a is inserted is also quadrangular. Will be transmitted.

Since the coupler plug 9 and the coupler plug 3 are directionally engaged with each other, the coupler plug 9 and the coupler plug 3 rotate in the front direction from the back even between the coupler plugs. The insertion portion of the coupler stopper 3 into which the stopper support portion 4a is inserted also has a rectangular cross section, and the stopper support portion 4a
Also, since the cross section is quadrangular, the rotation torque of the coupler plug 3 rotating is also transmitted to the plug support portion 4a. Since the plug support portion 4a is formed on the plate 4, this rotational torque is finally transmitted to the plate 4. When the rotation torque is transmitted to the plate 4, the plate 4
Rotate 5 °.

When the plate 4 is rotated by 45 °, the opening positions of the flow port 17 and the flow path port 5 coincide with each other as shown in FIG. 11, and a liquid flow path is formed. In this state, the convex coupler 1 and the concave coupler 2 are completely coupled to each other for the first time, and liquid is leaked from the convex coupler 1 to the concave coupler 2 without causing liquid leakage.
Can be flowed to.

The coupling procedure of the coupler until the convex coupler 1 and the concave coupler 2 are completely coupled is as described above. However, when removing the convex coupler 1 and the concave coupler 2, the procedure is completely opposite to the above description. Done.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The double structure prevents liquid leakage between the coupler stopper and the housing of the coupler itself and between the coupler and the plate, so that liquid leakage does not occur.

Also from the coupling procedure, first, the liquid leakage structure by the coupler plug is released to mechanically couple the couplers to each other, and then, the flow port of the plate and the flow channel port of the coupler are aligned to allow the liquid to flow. Therefore, liquid leakage does not occur when the coupler is coupled.

Further, even when the coupler is removed, the liquid flow is first cut by the relationship between the flow port of the plate and the flow port of the coupler while the couplers are mechanically coupled to each other. Then, since the mechanical connection is released this time, some liquid leakage may occur when the coupler is removed, but the amount of liquid that leaks can be reduced by stopping the liquid flow.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a coupler plug and a plug support portion in a convex coupler.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a coupler stopper and a stopper support portion in a concave coupler.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow path port in a convex coupler.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a plate.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a convex coupler and a concave coupler before being coupled.

7 is a diagram showing a relationship between a flow port and a flow port in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an incompletely coupled state of a convex coupler and a concave coupler.

9 is a diagram showing a relationship between a flow port and a flow port in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a complete coupling state of a convex coupler and a concave coupler.

11 is a diagram showing a relationship between a flow port and a flow port in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

13 is a diagram showing a combined state of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 convex coupler, 2 concave coupler, 3 coupler plug, 4 plate, 5 flow path port, 6 concave part, 7 guide groove, 9 coupler plug, 11 flow path port, 12 convex guide, 13 ball stopper, 14 movable housing, 17 flow port ，

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first flow path port through which a fluid flows, a rotatable plate having a flow port through which the fluid flows, and a first coupler having a key-shaped guide groove, A second coupler having a second flow path through which the fluid flows, a convex guide guided along the guide groove, and coupled to the first coupler; and a second coupler connected to the second coupler. A means for rotating the plate so that the opening position of the first flow passage opening and the opening position of the circulation opening are aligned with each other in accordance with the movement of the convex guide when coupling to the first coupler. Is a coupler. 2. The coupler according to claim 1, wherein the first coupler has a coupler plug that is in close contact with its own housing when the first coupler is not coupled to the second coupler. 3. The coupler according to claim 2, wherein the second coupler has a coupler plug that is in close contact with its own housing when the second coupler is not coupled to the first coupler. 4. The rotating torque generated when the second coupler is coupled to the first coupler such that the convex guide is guided by the guide groove is generated by the first coupler. The coupler according to claim 3, wherein the plate is rotated by engaging the coupler plug and the coupler plug of the second coupler and transmitting the engagement to the plate.