WO2012096143A1

WO2012096143A1 - Pipe connector

Info

Publication number: WO2012096143A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/000022
Authority: WO
Inventors: 剛岡崎
Original assignee: 株式会社ニフコ
Priority date: 2011-01-13
Filing date: 2012-01-05
Publication date: 2012-07-19
Also published as: JP2012145185A

Abstract

[Problem] To design a compact pipe connector. [Solution] A pipe connector is configured so that, when contact sections (68) formed on a lock member (60) are directly pressed against the outer periphery (104A) of a pipe end (100), the pair of legs (62) of the lock member (60) are elastically deformed in the direction in which the pair of legs (62) are separated from each other.

Description

Pipe connector

The present invention relates to a pipe connector, and more particularly to a toolless type pipe connector used for connecting pipes and connecting pipes to equipment.

As a toolless type pipe connector that detachably connects a pipe to a connection object without using a tool, a connector main body having a pipe insertion hole into which a pipe end portion can be inserted and removed is inserted, and a pipe is inserted into the connector main body. And a locking member (cage) provided so as to be movable in the radial direction of the hole, and the pipe end portion in which the locking member is inserted into the pipe insertion hole by the radial movement is removably retained in the connector body. What is locked is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

In this pipe connector, a pipe end inserted into a pipe insertion hole by a pair of leg pieces formed on a lock member is sandwiched from both sides in the radial direction to prevent the pipe end from coming off and locked to the connector body. When the inclined portion formed on the member is pressed against the wall portion of the connector main body, the pair of leg piece portions are elastically deformed in a direction away from each other, thereby releasing the retaining lock.

Japanese Patent Office Patent No. 3760251 (B)

In the conventional toolless type pipe connector, since the wall portion with which the inclined portion formed on the lock member abuts is provided in the connector body in order to elastically deform the pair of leg pieces in the direction away from each other, the corresponding amount is provided. The connector body scales up. This is a factor that hinders the miniaturization design of the pipe connector.

In addition, if a large pulling force acts on the pipe end that is locked to the connector body, the pair of leg pieces are elastically deformed in the direction away from each other by the pulling force, and the latch locking may be released. There is. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to increase the retaining engagement allowance of the leg piece portion with respect to the pipe end portion, and this also becomes a factor that hinders the downsizing design of the pipe connector.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to enable the pipe connector to be miniaturized, and even if a large pulling force acts on the pipe end that is locked to the connector body, the locking is prevented. Is to ensure a highly reliable locked state without being released.

A pipe connector according to the present invention includes a connector main body (12) having a pipe insertion hole (14) into which a pipe end (100) is removably inserted, and a lock member (12) attached to the connector main body (12). 60), and the lock member (60) connects the pair of leg pieces (62) facing the pipe insertion hole (14) and one end of the pair of leg pieces (62). It has a gate shape including a connecting portion (64) and a contact portion (68) provided near the one end of the pair of leg piece portions (62) and facing the pipe insertion hole (14). The lock member (60) is formed by sandwiching the pipe end (100) inserted into the pipe insertion hole (14) from both sides in the radial direction with the pair of leg pieces (62). 100) to the connector body (1 ) And a locking position for retaining the locking portion, and the connecting portion (64) is pushed toward the pipe insertion hole (14) so that the abutting portion (68) becomes the outer peripheral portion of the pipe end portion (100). The pair of leg pieces (62) are elastically deformed in a direction away from each other by the pressing, and the pair of leg pieces (62) are separated from the pipe end (100) and come off. It is provided so as to be displaceable between the lock release position for releasing the locking.

According to this configuration, the wall portion on which the abutting portion (68) formed on the locking member (60) abuts in order to elastically deform the pair of leg pieces (62) away from each other is provided on the connector main body (12). The connector body (12) can be reduced in size accordingly. Thereby, the freedom degree of the miniaturization design of a pipe connector (10) becomes high.

In the pipe connector according to the present invention, preferably, the lock member (60) is provided so as to be displaceable by a predetermined amount with respect to the connector body (12) in the same direction as the insertion / removal direction of the pipe end (100). The lock member (60) and the connector main body (12) are pulled out from the pipe insertion hole (14) of the pipe end (100) when the lock member (60) is in the lock position. The lock release preventing portion (the lock release preventing portion (blocking release by preventing the lock release by elastically deforming the pair of leg pieces (62) away from each other) due to being positioned at the offset position displaced in the same direction as the direction. 62D, 16A).

According to this configuration, even if a large pulling force acts on the pipe end (100) that is locked to the connector main body (12), the locking is not released, and the reliability is improved. A high locked state can be secured.

In the pipe connector according to the present invention, preferably, the lock member (60) and the connector main body (12) are in contact with each other when the lock member (60) is located at the offset position, When the connecting portion (64) is pushed toward the pipe insertion hole (14), the lock member (60) is displaced in the direction opposite to the direction in which the pipe end portion (100) is extracted from the pipe insertion hole. The cam-shaped part (74, 40) to be made is provided.

この According to this configuration, the unlocking is performed only by pushing the connecting portion (64) toward the pipe insertion hole (14), and the operability is excellent.

In the pipe connector according to the present invention, preferably, the pair of leg pieces (62) is provided with a thrust surface (102A) on the rear side in the insertion direction of a flange portion (102) formed to protrude from the outer periphery of the pipe end (100). ), And when the lock member (60) is in the locked position, the pipe ends are sandwiched from both sides in the radial direction with the thrust surfaces coming into contact with each other. Lock the stopper. In this case, the contact portion (68) may be configured to contact the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion (102).

According to this configuration, the pipe end portion (100) is prevented from coming off and locked with high strength by hitting the thrust surface.

In the pipe connector according to the present invention, preferably, the pair of leg piece portions (62) abuts against a thrust surface (102B) on the front side in the insertion direction of the flange portion (102), and the pipe end portion (100) is As it is inserted into the pipe insertion hole (14), it has an inclined surface (62A) over which the flange portion (102) gets over by being elastically deformed in a direction away from each other.

According to this configuration, the pipe end (100) can be connected to the pipe connector (10) with a single touch and with good operability.

In the pipe connector according to the present invention, there is no need to provide the connector body with a wall portion against which the contact portion formed on the lock member contacts in order to elastically deform the pair of leg pieces in the direction away from each other. Thereby, a connector main body can be reduced in size and the freedom degree of the miniaturization design of a pipe connector becomes high.

The perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the pipe connector by this invention. The disassembled perspective view of the pipe connector by this embodiment. The top view of the pipe connector by this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional perspective view in the elastic deformation prevention state of the pipe connector by this embodiment, (B) is a flat cross-sectional perspective view similarly. (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional perspective view in the elastic deformation allowable state of the pipe connector by this embodiment, (B) is a flat cross-sectional perspective view similarly. (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional perspective view in the lock release state of the pipe connector by this embodiment, (B) is a front cross-sectional perspective view similarly. (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional perspective view in the pipe extraction state of the pipe connector by this embodiment, (B) is a front cross-sectional perspective view similarly.

One embodiment of a pipe connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Each component of the pipe connector is an injection-molded product made of polyamide or the like unless otherwise specified. Further, in the following description, as indicated by arrows in each figure, vertical, horizontal, front and rear are defined.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the pipe connector is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The pipe connector 10 has a connector body 12. The connector body 12 is of an elbow type, defines a pipe connection cylinder portion 16 having a pipe insertion hole 14 into which the pipe end portion 100 is inserted and removed, and a passage 18 to connect a pipe such as a fuel tank. And a port connection cylinder portion 20 to be inserted into a connection port (not shown) formed in the device to be processed. The pipe insertion hole 14 and the passage 18 communicate with each other in the connector body 12. An O-ring 22 made of a rubber-like elastic material is attached to the outer periphery on the front end side of the port connection cylinder portion 20.

Here, the pipe end 100 will be described. The pipe end portion 100 forms a male connector with the pipe connector 10 as a female connector, and has an annular flange portion (bulge portion) 102 that protrudes from the outer periphery at an intermediate portion in the axial direction. The pipe end portion 100 is an insertion pipe portion 104 that is inserted into the pipe insertion hole 14 in front of the flange portion 102. A rear side of the flange portion 102 is a connection portion 106 to which a pipe for piping and a hose (not shown) are connected. In addition, the pipe end part 100 in this embodiment is a cylindrical pipe having a circular cross-sectional shape.

Returning to the description of the pipe connector 10, in the pipe insertion hole 14, a first O-ring 24 made of rubber-like elastic material, a distance ring 26, a second O-ring 28 made of rubber-like elastic material, and a cylindrical bush 30 are provided. And are inserted in order. The bush 30 is fixed to the connector main body 12 by an uneven engagement portion 32 (see FIG. 4). As a result, the first O ring 24, the distance ring 26, and the second O ring 28 are attached to the connector main body 12 while being sandwiched between the stepped portion 34 (see FIG. 4) at the back of the pipe insertion hole 14 and the bush 30.

The pipe connection cylinder portion 16 includes a side enlarged portion 36 formed by radially expanding both the left and right sides on the inlet side of the pipe insertion hole 14, and the left and right sides on the inlet side of the pipe insertion hole 14. Upper storage recesses 38 communicating with the left and right side enlarged portions 36 are formed.

A lock member 60 is attached to the left and right side enlarged portions 36 and the upper storage recess 38 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The lock member 60 is provided in the vicinity of one end (near the upper end) of the pair of left and right leg pieces 62, a connecting portion 64 that connects one end (upper end) of the left and right leg piece 62, and the left and right leg pieces 62. The left and right abutting portions 68 are included to form a portal shape.

In other words, the left and right leg pieces 62 each have a spring piece shape having a free end at the lower end and elastically deformable in the left-right direction. Each of the left and right contact portions 68 has a bottom surface having a triangular shape with an inclined surface 68A (see FIGS. 7B and 8B), and the flange portion 102 of the pipe end portion 100 has the inclined surface 68A. The outer peripheral surface 102C is slidably contacted.

The connecting portion 64 is housed in the upper housing recess 38 so as to be movable up and down. The left and right leg piece parts 62 and the contact part 68 are disposed in the left and right side enlarged parts 36 and face the pipe insertion hole 14. The locking member 60 has an inclined surface 14A (FIGS. 7B and 8B) in which an inclined surface 62B at the tip of the leg piece 62 is formed in the pipe insertion hole 14 by the restoring force of the elastic deformation of the leg piece 62. )), The projection 70 formed on the contact portion 68 is formed on the inlet upper edge 14B of the pipe insertion hole 14 (see FIGS. 7A and 8A). The highest position is determined by contact.

The lock member 60 sandwiches the pipe end portion 100A by sandwiching the outer peripheral portion 104A of the insertion pipe portion 104 of the pipe end portion 100 inserted into the pipe insertion hole 14 from both sides in the radial direction (right and left sides) by the left and right leg pieces 62. As shown in FIG. 7B, the lock position (rising position) for retaining and locking the connector main body 12 and the left and right leg pieces 62 are elastically deformed in the direction away from each other (left and right outer sides). The leg piece portions 62 are spaced from the outer peripheral portion 104A of the insertion pipe portion 104 and are displaceable between a lock release position (lowering position) where the retaining stopper is released.

The elastic deformation of the left and right leg pieces 62 in the direction away from each other is that the locking member 60 is pushed down toward the pipe insertion hole 14 by the connecting portion 64, whereby the inclined surface 68 </ b> A of the contact portion 68 is moved to the pipe end portion 100. The flange portion 102 is directly pressed against the outer peripheral surface 102C, and by this pressing, the inclined surface 68A of the contact portion 68 is displaced so as to slide downward on the outer peripheral surface 102C, so that the left and right leg piece portions 62 are expanded. Is done.

With this structure, it is not necessary to provide the connector body 12 with a wall portion with which the contact portion 68 formed on the lock member 60 contacts in order to elastically deform the pair of leg pieces 62 in the direction away from each other. The main body 12 can be reduced in size. Thereby, the freedom degree of the miniaturization design of the pipe connector 10 becomes high.

More specifically, the left and right leg pieces 62 are locked to prevent the pipe end 100 from coming off. More specifically, the left and right leg pieces 62 are opposed to the thrust surface 102A on the rear side in the insertion direction of the flange portion 102 of the pipe end 100. Including the thrust surface 62C (see FIGS. 5B and 6B), the insertion pipe portion 104 is disposed on both radial sides (left and right sides) with the thrust surface 62C in contact with the thrust surface 102A of the flange portion 102. ).

In the left and right leg pieces 62, the surface located on the inlet side of the pipe insertion hole 14 is an inclined surface 62A. The left and right leg piece parts 62 come into contact with the thrust surface 102B on the front side in the insertion direction of the flange part 102, so that the insertion pipe part 104 is inserted into the pipe insertion hole 14 to move away from each other. Elastically deforms. Thereby, the flange part 102 of the pipe end part 100 gets over the left and right leg piece parts 62. By overcoming this, the thrust surface 62C of the leg piece 62 comes into contact with the thrust surface 102A of the flange portion 102.

The lock member 60 is provided so as to be displaceable by a predetermined amount with respect to the connector main body 12 in the same direction as the insertion / removal direction of the pipe end 100, that is, in the front-rear direction. This displacement is limited by the connection portion 64 coming into contact with the front and

rear wall portions

42 and 44 of the upper storage recess 38.

The lock member 60 and the pipe connecting cylinder portion 16 are offset positions where the lock member 60 is in the lock position and displaced in the same direction (backward) as the extraction direction from the pipe insertion hole 14 of the pipe end 100 (see FIG. 5). By being located, the lock

release preventing portions

62D and 16A (see FIGS. 5B and 6B) that are in contact with each other are formed. The lock release preventing portion 62D of the lock member 60 and the lock release preventing portion 16A of the pipe connecting cylinder portion 16 abut on each other in the left-right direction, whereby the left and right leg piece portions 62 are elastically deformed in a direction away from each other. The lock release by is prevented.

As shown in FIG. 6, the lock member 60 is located at the normal position displaced forward from the offset position, so that the lock release preventing portion 62 </ b> D of the lock member 60 is unlocked from the pipe connection cylinder portion 16. It is separated from the contact with the blocking portion 16A, and the left and right leg piece portions 62 are freely allowed to elastically deform in a direction away from each other.

When the lock member 60 is positioned at the above-described offset position, the lock member 60 and the pipe connecting cylinder portion 16 are in contact with each other, and the connecting portion 64 is pushed down toward the pipe insertion hole 14, whereby the lock member 60 Cam-shaped

portions

74 and 40 are formed to displace 60 in the direction opposite to the extraction direction from the pipe insertion hole 14 of the pipe end portion 100 (forward) with respect to the pipe connection cylinder portion 16.

The cam-shaped portion 74 of the lock member 60 is formed at the bottom of the front edge of the connecting portion 64, and the cam-shaped portion 40 of the pipe connecting cylinder portion 16 is formed in a rib shape extending vertically on the wall portion 42 of the upper storage recess 38. ing. The mutual contact surfaces of the cam-shaped

portions

74 and 40 are preferably arcuate surfaces or inclined surfaces so as to convert the downward movement of the connecting portion 64 into forward movement.

The connection of the pipe end portion 100 to the pipe connector 10 is performed by inserting the insertion pipe portion 104 of the pipe end portion 100 into the pipe insertion hole 14 in the state shown in FIG. In this insertion process, the thrust surface 102B of the flange portion 102 of the pipe end portion 100 comes into contact with the inclined surface 62A of the left and right leg piece portions 62, whereby the left and right leg piece portions 62 are elastically deformed in a direction away from each other. Under the elastic deformation, the flange portion 102 of the pipe end portion 100 gets over the left and right leg pieces 62.

When this overcoming is completed, as shown in FIG. 6, the elastic deformation of the left and right leg pieces 62 is released and restored, and the thrust surface 62C of the leg pieces 62 faces the thrust surface 102A of the flange portion 102. Will do. Thereby, the connection of the pipe end portion 100 to the pipe connector 10 is performed with a single touch and good operability and with a high retaining strength.

The removal of the pipe end 100 from the pipe connector 10 is performed by pushing down the connecting portion 64 of the lock member 60. When the connecting portion 64 is pushed down, the inclined surface 68A of the abutting portion 68 of the lock member 60 is directly pressed against the outer peripheral surface 102C of the flange portion 102 of the pipe end portion 100, and the inclined surface 68A of the abutting portion 68 is pressed by this pressing. By displacing the outer peripheral surface 102C so as to slide downward, as shown in FIG. 7, the left and right leg pieces 62 are expanded and elastically deformed in directions away from each other. The parts 62 are separated from the outer peripheral part 104 </ b> A of the insertion pipe part 104. Thereby, the retaining lock is released, and the insertion pipe portion 104 of the pipe end portion 100 can be extracted from the pipe insertion hole 14.

When the extraction from the pipe insertion hole 14 of the insertion pipe part 104 is completed, the elastic deformation of the left and right leg piece parts 62 has been restored, and the elastic deformation of the leg piece parts 62 is restored as shown in FIG. When the inclined surface 62B at the tip end of the leg piece 62 abuts against the inclined surface 14A formed in the pipe insertion hole 14 by force, the lock member 60 returns to the upper original position.

When a force in the extraction direction is applied to the pipe end portion 100 in a state in which the pipe connector 10 is prevented from coming off, as shown in FIG. 5, the extraction direction from the pipe insertion hole 14 of the pipe end portion 100 is shown. As a result, the lock member 60 is displaced in the same direction and the lock member 60 is positioned at the offset position. When the lock member 60 is located at the offset position, the lock release preventing portion 62D of the lock member 60 and the lock release preventing portion 16A of the pipe connecting tube portion 16 come into contact with each other. The abutment prevents the left and right leg pieces 62 from being elastically deformed in a direction away from each other, thereby preventing the unlocking.

As a result, even when a large pulling force is applied to the pipe end portion 100 that is locked to the connector main body 12, the locking prevention is not released, and a highly reliable locked state is ensured. .

In this offset state, the pipe end 100 is also removed from the pipe connector 10 by pushing down the connecting portion 64 of the lock member 60. When the connecting portion 64 is pushed down, first, the cam-shaped portion 74 of the lock member 60 comes into contact with the cam-shaped portion 40 of the connector main body 12, so that the lock member 60 is connected to the pipe as shown in FIG. With respect to the cylinder part 16, it will displace to the reverse direction from the extraction direction from the pipe insertion hole 14 of the pipe end part 100, and will be located in a normal position. As a result, the lock release preventing portion 62D of the lock member 60 is separated from the contact with the lock release preventing portion 16A of the pipe connecting cylinder portion 16, and the left and right leg piece portions 62 are elastically deformed in a direction away from each other. I will forgive you freely. Subsequently, when the connecting portion 64 is pushed down, the retaining lock is released as described above, and the insertion pipe portion 104 of the pipe end portion 100 can be extracted from the pipe insertion hole 14.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments so that those skilled in the art can easily understand, and departs from the spirit of the present invention. It is possible to change appropriately within the range not to be. For example, the flange portion 102 of the pipe end portion 100 is formed and the thrust surface 62C of the leg piece portion 62 is in contact with the thrust surface 102A of the flange portion 102. A groove may be formed so that the leg piece of the lock member fits into the circumferential groove. Further, the configuration of the locking

release preventing portions

16A and 62D is not limited to that of the illustrated embodiment, and the left and right leg pieces 62 are separated from each other by the contact between the leg pieces 62 and the connector body 12. What is necessary is just to prevent elastic deformation. In addition, all the components shown in the above embodiment are not necessarily essential, and can be appropriately selected without departing from the gist of the present invention.

The disclosure content of the Japanese patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-5060 filed on Jan. 13, 2011), which is the basis of priority based on the Paris Convention of the present application, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. . The entire contents of the priority application based on the Paris Convention of the present application and the prior art cited in the present application are incorporated herein by reference.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pipe connector 12 Connector main body 14 Pipe insertion hole 16 Pipe connection cylinder part 16A Unlocking prevention part 36 Side part enlarged part 38 Upper storage recessed part 40 Cam-shaped part 60 Lock member 62 Leg piece part 62A Inclined surface 62C Thrust surface 62D Locking Release preventing portion 64 Connecting portion 68 Abutting portion 74 Cam shape portion 100 Pipe end portion 102

Flange portion

102A, 102B Thrust surface

Claims

A connector main body formed with a pipe insertion hole into which an end of the pipe is removably inserted;
A locking member attached to the connector body,
The lock member is provided in the vicinity of the one end of the pair of leg pieces, a pair of leg pieces facing the pipe insertion hole, a connecting part for connecting one end of the pair of leg pieces to each other, and It has a gate shape including a contact part facing the pipe insertion hole,
The lock member includes a lock position where the pipe end portion is inserted into the pipe insertion hole and held between the pair of leg pieces from both sides in the radial direction to prevent the pipe end portion from coming off and locked to the connector body, The contact portion is pressed against the outer peripheral portion of the pipe end by being pushed toward the pipe insertion hole with the connecting portion, and the pair of leg pieces are elastically deformed in a direction away from each other by the pressing, and A pipe connector provided so as to be displaceable between a pair of leg pieces spaced apart from the pipe end portion and an unlocking position where the retaining locking is released.
The locking member is provided so as to be displaceable by a predetermined amount in the same direction as the insertion / removal direction of the pipe end with respect to the connector body,
The lock member and the connector body are in contact with each other by being positioned at an offset position in which the lock member is in the lock position and displaced in the same direction as the pipe insertion hole from the pipe insertion hole. The pipe connector according to claim 1, further comprising: a lock release preventing portion that prevents lock release due to elastic deformation of the pair of leg pieces in a direction away from each other.
When the lock member is positioned at the offset position, the lock member and the connector main body abut against each other, and the connecting portion is pushed toward the pipe insertion hole, so that the lock member is The pipe connector according to claim 2, further comprising a cam-shaped portion that is displaced in a direction opposite to a direction in which the pipe end portion is extracted from the pipe insertion hole.
The pair of leg pieces includes a thrust surface facing a thrust surface on the rear side in the insertion direction of a flange portion formed to protrude from the outer periphery of the pipe end portion, and the thrust surface when the lock member is in the lock position The pipe connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pipe end portion is sandwiched from both sides in a radial direction with mutual contact, and the pipe end portion is prevented from coming off.
The pipe connector according to claim 4, wherein the abutting portion abuts on an outer peripheral portion of the flange portion.
The pair of leg pieces abuts against a thrust surface on the front side in the insertion direction of the flange portion and elastically deforms in a direction away from each other as the pipe end portion is inserted into the pipe insertion hole. The pipe connector according to claim 4, wherein the pipe connector has an inclined surface that can be overcome.