WO2002075201A1

WO2002075201A1 - Hose connector

Info

Publication number: WO2002075201A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/001073
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jung Keun Yoo
Original assignee: Jung Keun Yoo
Priority date: 2001-02-01
Filing date: 2001-06-22
Publication date: 2002-09-26
Also published as: TW495599B

Abstract

Disclosed is a hose connector including a fastening nut adapted to be fastened to a connector body, thereby depressing a packing installed between a hose and a fitting hole defined in the connector body to radially expand the packing. Thus, the hose connector provides an improved sealing effect between the connector body and the hose. As the fastening nut is fastened to the connector body, a separation preventing member adapted to prevent the hose from being separated from the hose connector is urged against the outer surface of the hose. Also, an inclined surface is formed at an outer surface portion of the separation preventing member coming into contact with the outer end of the fastening nut or at an inner surface portion of the packing depressing member coming into contact with the inner end of the separation preventing member. As a result, the hose is more firmly held in the hose connector. Accordingly, it is possible to surely prevent the hose from being separated from the hose connector. Also, the separation of the hose from the hose connector can be easily achieved by simply unfastening the fastening nut from the connector body.

Description

HOSE CONNECTOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connector for connecting two tubes, and more particularly to a connector for plastic tubes having a small diameter and a small length, for example, hoses used in water purifiers.

Background Art

Typically, hoses used in water purifiers have structural features in that they have a small diameter and a small length. Where such hoses having a small diameter and a small length are required to be connected together in a water purifier, a difficult connecting process is involved because the internal space of the water purifier is very narrow and small.

In order to easily achieve the hose connecting process, various hose connectors have been proposed. For example, a hose connector has been proposed, which is configured to have fitting holes for simply receiving hoses to be connected together, thereby achieving an easy connection of those hoses.

Fig. 1 illustrates such a conventional hose connector. As shown in Fig. 1, the hose connector includes an elbow- shaped hollow connector body 1 respectively having fitting holes at both ends thereof. A valve seat 11, on which a packing is to be seated, is formed in the connector body 1 near an inner end of each fitting hole. A separation preventing member 3, which has a holding protrusion 31 at an inner end thereof, is fitted in each fitting hole. By virtue of such a configuration of the hose connector, hoses

5 can be simply connected together in accordance with a process of simply inserting those hoses 5 into the fitting holes of the hose connector.

Where a person pulls one of the hoses 5 forcibly fitted in the fitting holes of the hose connector as mentioned above, in order to separate that hose 5 from the hose connector, the hose 5 is slightly moved together with the separation preventing member 3. During the movement of the hose 5, the inner end of the separation preventing member 3 comes into contact with an inclined inner surface of the associated fitting hole, so that the inner diameter of the separation preventing member 3 at the inner end thereof is gradually reduced, thereby causing the holding protrusion 31 to strongly hold the hose 5. Thus, it is possible to prevent the house 5 from being separated from the hose connector.

However, the conventional hose connector having the above mentioned configuration has a drawback in that an insufficient sealing effect is obtained because the packing 2 installed in each fitting hole is simply fitted around the associated hose 5. For this reason, there may be a leakage of fluid flowing through the hoses. Where it is desired to separate one hose 5 from the connector body 1, it is necessary to pull the hose 5 by one hand while holding the separation preventing member 3 by the other hand in order to prevent the separation preventing member 3 from being moved along with the hose 5. However, this process is very inconvenient because it should be conducted in a narrow. The same problem is involved in the process for connecting the hoses using the hose connector.

Disclosure of the Invention

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above mentioned problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a hose connector having a configuration capable of depressing a packing, installed between a hose and a fitting hole defined in the hose connector, to radially expand the packing, thereby achieving an improvement in sealability, while including a separation preventing member adapted to maintain the hose in position and provided with a movement control means for eliminating an inconvenience resulting from a requirement for depressing the separation preventing member by one hand during a process in which the hose is pulled out by the other hand, the separation preventing member being also provided with a depressing means for firmly connecting the hose to the hose connector.

In accordance with the present invention, this object is accomplished by providing A hose connector comprising a hollow connector body respectively having fitting holes at both ends thereof, a valve seat formed in the connector body near an inner end of each fitting hole, a ring-shaped packing seated on the valve seat, and a separation preventing member arranged at each end of the connector body and provided with a holding protrusion at an inner end thereof facing an associated one of the fitting holes, further comprising: a fastening nut threadedly coupled to each end of the connector body and engaged with the separation preventing member at an outer end thereof spaced away from the associated end of the connector body; a packing depressing member arranged in the fastening nut between the valve seat and the outer end of the fastening nut, the packing depressing member being axially moved along a hose, to be coupled to the connector body, in accordance with a fastening operation of the fastening nut, thereby axially depressing the packing to radially expand the packing/ and depressing means for radially depressing the inner end of the separation preventing member against the hose, thereby allowing the holding protrusion of the separation preventing member to firmly hold the hose.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional hose connector;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a hose connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a hose connector according to another embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a hose connector according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, with reference to the annexed drawings .

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a hose connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 2, respective elements corresponding to those in Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in Fig. 2, the hose connector includes an elbow-shaped hollow connector body 1 respectively having fitting holes at both ends thereof. A valve seat 11, on which a ring-shaped packing 2 is to be seated, is formed in the connector body 1 near an inner end of each fitting hole. In association with each fitting hole, a separation preventing member 3 is also provided, which has a holding protrusion 31 at an inner end thereof. These configurations are similar to those in Fig. 1. A fastening nut 6 is threadedly coupled to each end of the hose connector. The fastening nut 6 has threads at a portion thereof extending from one end thereof by a desired length. The fastening nut 6 is also provided with an annular inner rim at_. the other end thereof. The inner rim of the fastening nut 6 is engaged in an annular groove formed at the outer surface of the separation preventing member 3, so that the separation preventing member 3 is maintained in a state engaged with the fastening nut 6. The separation preventing member 3 has an annular holding protrusion 31 at an inner end thereof. The separation preventing member 3 is also provided with an inclined surface 33 at a portion coming into contact with the inner end portion of the inner rim formed at the fastening nut 6. A packing depressing member 4 is arranged in the fastening nut 6 between each valve seat 11 and the inner rim of the fastening nut 6. The packing 2 is interposed between the valve seat 11 and the depressing member 4. The packing depressing member 4 is axially moved along a hose 5, to be coupled to the hose connector, toward the valve seat 11 when the fastening nut 6 is fastened to the hose connector, so that the packing 2 is axially depressed. In accordance with such a depression, the packing 2 is radially expanded, thereby providing an improved sealing effect.

The inclined surface 33 of the separation preventing member 3 serves as a depressing means 7 for the separation preventing member 3. That is, as the fastening nut 6 is fastened to the hose connector, its inner rim comes into contact with the inclined surface 33 of the separation preventing member 3, that is, the depressing means 7, thereby causing the inner end of the separation preventing member 3 to be reduced in inner diameter. Accordingly, the separation preventing member 3 comes into tight contact with the outer surface of the hose 5 at the inner end thereof. In accordance with such an operation of the separation preventing member 3, the hose 5 is firmly held by the separation preventing member 3.

As shown in Fig. 3, the depressing means for the separation preventing member 3 may be constituted by an inclined surface 40 formed at an inner surface portion of the packing depressing member 4 arranged toward the inner end of the separation preventing member 3. As the fastening nut 6 is fastened to the hose connector, it pushes the separation preventing member 3 toward the packing depressing member 4. As a result, the inner end of the separation preventing member 3 comes into contact with the inclined surface 40 of the packing depressing member 4, that is, the depressing means 7, thereby causing the inner end of the separation preventing member 3 to be reduced in inner diameter. Accordingly, the separation preventing member 3 comes into tight contact with the outer surface of the hose 5 at the inner end thereof. In accordance with such an operation of the separation preventing member 3, the hose 5 is firmly held by the separation preventing member 3.

In accordance with the above mentioned configuration, the separation preventing member 3 is urged against the packing depressing member 4 when the fastening nut 6 is fastened to the hose connector, so that the packing depressing member 4 is urged against the packing 2, thereby causing the packing 2 to be axially expanded. In accordance with such a depression, the packing 2 is radially expanded, thereby securing a desired sealing effect between the connector body 1 and the hose 5.

As the fastening nut 6 is further fastened to the hose connector, the inner end of the packing depressing member 4 comes into contact with the end of the connector body 1 facing the inner end of the packing depressing member 4 while more strongly depressing the packing 2. As a result, the packing depressing member 4 resists against the fastening force of the fastening nut 6. In the case of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, accordingly, the fastening nut 6 depresses the inclined surface 33 of the separation preventing member 3 as it is further fastened. As a result, the inner diameter of the separation preventing member 3 is reduced. In the case of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the inner end of the separation preventing member 3 is depressed against the inclined surface of the packing depressing member 4. As a result, the inner diameter of the separation preventing member 3 is reduced. Thus, the separation preventing member 3 firmly holds the hose 5, thereby causing the hose 5 to be firmly coupled to the . hose connector. The separation of the hose 5 from the hose connector can be easily carried out by simply unfastening the fastening nut 6, thereby releasing the effect of the separation preventing member 3 firmly holding the hose 5 at the inner end thereof.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a hose connector according to another embodiment of the present invention. The hose connector of Fig. 4 has a configuration similar to those of Figs. 2 and 3, except that it includes a nut 15 formed at each end of the connector body 1, and a fastening bolt 60 adapted to be fastened to the nut 15, thereby axially moving the packing depressing member 4 while reducing the inner diameter of the separation preventing member 3. This hose connector has the same function and effect as those of the above mentioned embodiments .

Industrial Applicability

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a hose connector including a fastening nut adapted to be fastened to a connector body, thereby depressing a packing installed between a hose and a fitting hole defined in the connector body to radially expand the packing. Thus, the hose connector provides an improved sealing effect between the connector body and the hose. As the fastening nut is fastened to the connector body, a separation preventing member adapted to prevent the hose from being separated from the hose connector is urged against the outer surface of the hose. As a result, the hose is firmly held in the hose connector. Accordingly, it is possible to surely prevent the hose from being separated from the hose connector. Also, the separation of the hose from the hose connector can be easily achieved by simply unfastening the fastening nut from the connector body.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A hose connector comprising a hollow connector body respectively having fitting holes at both ends thereof, a valve seat formed in the connector body near an inner end of each, fitting hole, a ring-shaped packing seated on the valve seat, and a separation preventing member arranged at each end of the connector body and provided with a holding protrusion at an inner end thereof facing an associated one of the fitting holes, further comprising: a fastening nut threadedly coupled to each end of the connector body and engaged with the separation preventing member at an outer end thereof spaced away from the associated end of the connector body; a packing depressing member arranged in the fastening nut between the valve seat and the outer end of the fastening nut, the packing depressing member being axially moved along a hose, to be coupled to the connector body, in accordance with a fastening operation of the fastening nut, thereby axially depressing the packing to radially expand the packing; and depressing means for radially depressing the inner end of the separation preventing member against the hose, thereby allowing the holding protrusion of the separation preventing member to firmly hold the hose.

2. The hose connector according to claim 1, wherein the depressing means comprises an inclined surface formed at an outer surface portion of the separation preventing member coming into contact with the outer end of the fastening nut.

3. the hose connector according to claim 1, wherein the depressing means comprises an inclined surface formed at an inner surface portion of the packing depressing member coming into contact with the inner end of the separation preventing member.