JP2003269670A - Flexible pipe joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve adhesion between a pipe joint and a flexible pipe when the flexible pipe is inserted into the pipe joint in a single operation and to simplify the structure of a pipe joint member for closely fixing the flexible pipe with the pipe joint. <P>SOLUTION: This flexible pipe joint is so formed that a cylindrical seal packing having its inside diameter closely contacting with the outer circumference of the flexible pipe and abutting on a wall surface of a space end part is provided in the flexible pipe insertion space of a joint body, a lock ring is slidably provided with the seal packing positioned in the other side of a lock ring bearing, and means reducing the inside diameter of the lock ring as moving the lock ring are provided in the outer circumferential edge of the lock ring whose maximum value of the inside diameter is larger than the maximum diameter of the flexible pipe and whose diameter can be contracted, and in the internal circumference of the flexible pipe insertion space. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flexible pipe joint for connecting a flexible pipe for guiding a fluid such as a gas liquid with one touch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An engaging ring having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of a flexible pipe and engaging engagement projections protruding toward the inner peripheral surface with respective annular portions of the flexible pipe when the inner diameter is reduced. In the pipe joint, when the flexible pipe is inserted into the pipe joint, the spring compressed by the movement of the internal member of the pipe joint pressed by the flexible pipe is released, and the engaging ring is formed based on the elastic force. Although a flexible pipe joint that reduces its diameter has been developed, when a flexible pipe is inserted into the pipe joint, the flexible motion that reduces the diameter of the engagement ring is transmitted by transmitting the movement inside the joint pressed by the flexible pipe. The inner member of the pipe joint
The number of parts including the spring is large, and the structure of the part is complicated.

Further, in order to have flexibility, the flexible pipe has a shape in which large diameter portions and short diameter portions are alternately continuous and the peripheral surface of the pipe has a wavy continuous shape. There was a problem that the sealing property with the inner peripheral surface was not satisfactory.

[0004]

In view of the above points, the present invention is capable of enhancing the adhesion between the pipe joint and the flexible pipe when the flexible pipe is inserted into the pipe joint by a one-touch method. An object of the present invention is to simplify the structure of a pipe joint member for closely fixing a flexible pipe and a pipe joint.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flexible pipe joint having a cylindrical shape having an inner diameter in the flexible pipe insertion space of the joint body, the inner diameter being in close contact with an outer periphery of the flexible pipe, and being in contact with a space end wall surface. A lock ring that is slidable with a seal ring sandwiched between the seal packing and the seal packing so that the maximum inner diameter is larger than the maximum diameter of the flexible pipe and the diameter can be reduced. A means for reducing the inner diameter of the lock ring as the lock ring moves is provided on the outer peripheral edge and the inner circumference of the flexible tube insertion space. In the flexible pipe joint according to claim 2, the means for reducing the inner diameter of the lock ring is a tapered surface provided in the flexible pipe insertion space of the joint body, and an inclined outer peripheral edge of the lock ring that matches the tapered surface. The inner diameter is reduced by moving the lock ring with the outer peripheral edge of the lock ring in contact with the tapered surface. In the flexible pipe joint of the third aspect, the end face of the seal packing is used as a fluid pressure receiving surface, and the seal packing is pressed against the lock ring by fluid pressure to strengthen the pressure contact between the lock ring and the joint body. The flexible pipe joint according to claim 4,
The lock ring is made up of a flat annular body and its inner diameter can be expanded.It is provided in the joint body in a non-expanded state, and the flexible tube is inserted by the flexible tube only when it faces the large diameter section. , Increase the inner diameter.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a flexible pipe joint 1 of the present invention. The main body of the flexible pipe joint 1 is composed of a first main body 2 and a second main body 3 each having a tubular shape.
The main body 2 and the second main body 3 are integrally connected by a screwing portion 4 provided at each end. Conduit 5 in the first body 2
A screwing portion 6 for screwing is provided.

The first body 2 has a first body 2 and a second body 3 on the second body 3 side.
A cylindrical enlarged inner diameter portion 7 extending in the axis C direction of the main bodies 2 and 3 is configured, and the innermost portion thereof is an end wall surface 8 of the enlarged inner diameter portion 7. A seal packing 9 is slidably inserted into the enlarged inner diameter portion 7. The seal packing 9 has a tubular shape with a U-shaped cross section passing through the axis C of the flexible pipe joint 1.
At the center of 0, a through hole 11 through which a fluid passes is provided.
Then, a protruding portion 12 including a part of the end face 10 is formed from the main body portion of the seal packing 9 forming the tubular body toward the conduction hole 11. The seal packing 9 is preferably made of a material having elasticity, and for example, a material made of ethylene propylene trimer (EPDM) is suitable.

The second main body 3 which is screwed with the first main body 2 is also formed of a tubular body, and has a screwing portion 4 which is integrally screwed with the first main body 2 at an end portion of the second main body. An enlarged inner diameter portion 13 and an inclined inner diameter portion 14 having a smaller diameter than the enlarged inner diameter portion 13 are provided adjacent to each other inside the joint portion 4. The inclined inner diameter portion 14 has a maximum inner diameter in a portion in contact with the enlarged inner diameter portion 13, and the inner diameter is gradually shortened as the distance from the maximum inner diameter increases, and a tapered surface 15 is provided between the maximum inner diameter and the minimum inner diameter.
Is formed. Reference numeral 16 denotes an end wall surface of the inclined inner diameter portion 14. The central portions of the enlarged inner diameter portions 7 and 13 and the inclined inner diameter portion 14 of the first and second main bodies 2 and 3 coincide with the flexible tube insertion space 17.

A lock ring 18 is provided in the enlarged inner diameter portion 13.
And the lock ring bridge 19 is arranged. Lock ring 18
Is a C-shaped flat annular body partially having a cutout portion 20,
Due to the presence of the cut portion 20, its outer diameter is enlarged or the cut portion 2
The outer circumference of the lock ring 18 can be reduced by providing a plurality of notches 22 (8 locations in the illustrated example) on the inner peripheral edge 21 so as to reduce the distance to 0. It is easy to expand and reduce the diameter. The outer peripheral edge 23 of the annular lock ring 18 is inclined by 15 ° with respect to the axis C. This angle matches the inclination angle of the tapered surface 15 of the inclined inner diameter portion 14 of the second main body 3 of the flexible pipe joint 1 described above. Also, the lock ring 1
The lock ring side surface 24 following the outer peripheral edge 23 of
The imaginary plane including 4 is orthogonal to the axis C, and when the outer diameter of the lock ring 18 is reduced, the outer peripheral edge 23 and the tapered surface 15 are in close contact with each other, and the lock ring side surface 24 and the end of the inclined inner diameter portion 14 are The wall surface 16 is configured to abut.

Next, the fixing action of the flexible tube F will be described. First, the flexible tube F is inserted into the flexible tube insertion space 17 of the second main body 3 as shown in FIG. 1A, and the tip portion 25 of the flexible tube F is passed through the annular lock ring 18. The flexible pipe F has large diameter portions 26 and small diameter portions 27 alternately arranged. At this time, the flexible pipe F has the tip portion 25 of a small diameter, so that the lock ring 18 is provided.
When the diameter of the flexible pipe F gradually increases, the inner periphery of the lock ring 18 is pushed by the flexible pipe F so that the notch 22 is widened.
Pass through. Next, the outer diameter of the flexible pipe F gradually decreases, the lock ring 18 contacts the small diameter portion 27, and the diameter of the outer peripheral edge 23 also becomes the minimum. When this is repeated and the flexible pipe F is inserted into the flexible pipe insertion space 17, the flexible pipe F contacts the shield packing 9. The outer diameter of the shield packing 9 is the large diameter portion 2 of the flexible pipe F.
Although it is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of 6, because it is a material with elasticity,
Both adhere to each other and enhance the shielding property. The tip of the flexible pipe F has a protruding portion 12 of the shield packing 9.
The shield packing 9 and the flexible pipe joint 1
It is pressed against the end wall surface 8 of the first main body.

The tip 25 of the flexible pipe F comes into contact with the protruding portion 12 of the shield packing 9, and the shield packing 9 is attached to the end wall surface 8 of the first main body 2 of the flexible pipe joint 1.
When pressed against the lock ring 18 as shown in FIG. 1B.
The inner peripheral edge 21 is configured to engage with the small diameter portion 27 of the flexible tube F. In the illustrated example, the flexible tube F passes through the three large-diameter portions 26 from the tip 25 and then the next small-diameter portion 2
7 and the lock ring 18 come into contact with each other, but if it is determined in advance how many large diameter portions 26 will be the predetermined insertion length, the predetermined length can be determined by the answer when the large diameter portion 26 passes through the lock ring 18. It is possible to judge whether or not the insertion was successful. When the inner peripheral edge 21 of the lock ring 18 and the small diameter portion 27 of the flexible pipe F are engaged, the outer peripheral edge 23 of the lock ring 18 is contracted as shown in FIG. 1B. The outer peripheral edge 23 can face the tapered surface 15 of the second body 3. When the flexible tube F is pulled slightly to the right in FIG. 1, the outer peripheral edge 23 of the lock ring 18 comes into close contact with the tapered surface 15 and the tapered surface 15 further reduces the diameter of the lock ring 18. The inner peripheral edge 2 of the lock ring 18
1 is in contact with the small diameter portion 27 of the flexible tube F and firmly holds the flexible tube F in a wedge shape from the outer periphery thereof.

Further, by pulling the flexible pipe F in the right direction in FIG. 1 as described above, the end face 1 of the seal packing 9 is
A gap 28 is formed between 0 and the end wall surface 8 of the first main body 2 (see FIG. 1C). When the fluid is sent to the flexible pipe joint 1 through the conduit 5 or the flexible pipe F in this state, the pressure of the fluid in the enlarged inner diameter 7 pushes the end face 10 of the seal packing 9, and the pressing force of the seal packing 9 is Lock ring 1 via lock ring bridge 19
8, the side surface 24 of the lock ring 18 and the end wall surface 16 of the inclined inner diameter portion 14 of the second main body 3 are pressure-bonded to each other. At this time, at the same time, the flexible tube F whose tip is inserted into the seal packing 9 also receives a biasing force in the right direction via the protruding portion 12 of the seal packing 9, and the large diameter portion 26 of the flexible tube F is further The close contact force with the seal packing 9 is enhanced and the sealing property is enhanced.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the invention, as a means for fixing the flexible pipe, a seal packing and a lock ring are provided in the flexible pipe insertion space of the joint body to reduce the inner diameter of the lock ring. Since the diameter of the lock ring is reduced by using it, and the flexible pipe is gripped and fixed by the lock ring, there is an effect that the number of required constituent members is extremely small.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the diameter reduction operation of the lock ring is performed by contact between the outer peripheral edge of the lock ring and the tapered surface of the joint body, the shaft of the joint body of the lock ring is made. There is an effect that the flexible tube can be firmly gripped only by moving in the direction.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the lock ring is moved in the axial direction of the joint body, fluid water pressure is applied to the end surface of the seal packing that abuts on the lock ring via the lock ring receiver. More pressure is applied to the abutment between the lock ring and the tapered surface of the joint body, and since this pressure is always applied by the fluid pressure, the lock once engaged with the small diameter part of the flexible pipe. The ring will not come off the part.

According to the invention of claim 4, the lock ring can be enlarged in its inner diameter, but since the lock ring is normally set with its inner diameter shortened, when the flexible pipe is inserted into the joint body. When the large diameter part of the flexible pipe passes through the lock ring, you can feel the resistance. Therefore, it is possible to know how long the flexible pipe is inserted in the number of large diameter parts before the lock ring when inserting it into the joint body of the flexible pipe, and a sensor that detects the insertion length. Eliminating the need to install.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a vertical side surface of a flexible pipe joint of the present invention,
A shows a state in which the inner diameter of the lock ring is enlarged by inserting the flexible tube, B shows a state in which the flexible tube is inserted all the way in, and C shows a fixed state in which the flexible tube is pulled back slightly. B and C are cut in half in the axial direction.

2 is a front view of the lock ring, B is B of FIG.
-B line cut end view.

FIG. 3 shows a seal packing, where A is a front view and B is a view A.
BB line sectional drawing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Flexible pipe fitting 2 first body 3 second body 4 screwing part 5 conduits 6 screw part 7 Enlarged inner diameter 8,16 Edge wall surface 9 Seal packing 10 end face 11 Conduction hole 12 Projection 13 Enlarged inner diameter 14 Inclined inner diameter 15 Tapered surface 17 Flexible tube insertion space 18 lock ring 19 Lock ring receiver 20 excision part 21 Inner periphery 22 notches 23 Outer edge 24 sides 25 Flexible tube tip 26 Large diameter part 27 Small diameter part 28 Gap C axis F flexible pipe

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Nodaka             1-1 Rocket-bottle, Kitajinritsu-cho, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki             Inside Illa Industry Co. (72) Inventor Hironori Otani             4-3-19 Nunoichi-cho, Higashiosaka-shi Co., Ltd.             Within Koyo (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Kashiwagi             4-3-19 Nunoichi-cho, Higashiosaka-shi Co., Ltd.             Within Koyo F-term (reference) 3H017 CA03                 3J106 AA01 AA02 AB01 AB09 BA01                       BB01 BC04 BD01 BE13 CA01                       CA11 EA03 EB05 EC01 EC07                       ED04 ED05 ED12 EE14 EE15

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical seal packing having an inner diameter in close contact with the outer circumference of the flexible pipe and a cylindrical seal packing abutting against the wall surface of the space in the flexible pipe insertion space of the joint body, and a lock ring receiver. The lock ring is slidably sandwiched, the maximum inner diameter is larger than the maximum diameter of the flexible pipe, and the outer periphery of the lock ring that can reduce the diameter and the inner periphery of the flexible pipe insertion space are A flexible pipe joint comprising means for reducing the inner diameter of the lock ring as the lock ring moves. 2. The means for reducing the inner diameter of the lock ring comprises:
The joint body comprises a tapered surface provided in the flexible tube insertion space and an inclined outer peripheral edge of the lock ring that matches the tapered surface. The lock ring moves with the outer peripheral edge of the lock ring in contact with the tapered surface. The flexible pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter is reduced thereby. 3. An end face of the seal packing is used as a fluid pressure receiving surface, and the seal packing is pressed against the lock ring by fluid pressure to strengthen the pressure contact between the lock ring and the joint body. Flexible pipe fittings. 4. The lock ring is made of a flat annular body and is capable of enlarging the inner diameter length thereof. The lock ring is provided in the joint body in a non-expanded state, and the flexible pipe is inserted to face the large diameter portion. The flexible pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter is enlarged by the flexible pipe only when.