JP2006300111A - Piping joint - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a piping joint facilitating work for extracting piping by releasing the lock of the piping. <P>SOLUTION: The piping 20 is locked by the biting action of a claw 74 in the piping joint 10. A release button 48 to apply the operation force for the lock release is provided to the outer peripheral face of an outer cylinder part 26 so as to be radially and internally pressed in. A tapered face 84, which converts the radial and internal pressing-in movement of the release button 48 to the axial forward movement of a lock release part 46, is provided. The locking by a lock ring 40 can be released by radially and internally applying the operation force to the release button 48 on the outer peripheral face of the outer cylinder part 26. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pipe joint provided with a lock ring that locks a pipe in a retaining state, and more particularly, to a pipe joint having a feature in technical means for releasing lock by the lock ring.

  Conventionally, (a) an outer cylinder part that forms an insertion space for piping inside, and (b) a plurality of claws that project diagonally inward in the radial direction toward the insertion direction of the piping along the circumferential direction. A lock ring that locks the pipe in a locked state by biting a claw into the outer surface of the pipe inserted into the space, and (c) It is provided so that it can move forward and backward in the axial direction. A pipe joint including a lock release unit that releases a lock by a ring and (d) a release operation unit that applies an operation force for unlocking is known.

FIG. 9 shows an example (disclosed in Patent Document 1 below).
In the figure, reference numeral 200 denotes a pipe joint, an outer cylinder portion 204 that forms a pipe insertion space 202 on the inside, and a lock ring that locks the pipe in a non-removed state by clawing the outer surface of the pipe inserted into the insertion space 202. 206, the lock claw of the lock ring 206 is expanded by the forward movement in the axial direction to release the biting into the outer surface of the pipe, and the unlocking portion 208 for releasing the lock by the lock ring 206, and the operation force for unlocking And a release operation unit 210 to be added.

Here, the unlocking portion 208 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a shaft end protrudes outward in the axial direction from the outer cylindrical portion 204, and a flange-shaped releasing operation portion extending radially outward at the protruding end portion. 210 is integrally formed.
Here, a gap is formed between the flange-shaped release operation section 210 and the outer cylinder section 204, specifically between the cylindrical holding member 212, for moving the release operation section 210 forward and backward by a predetermined stroke in the axial direction. Has been.
In this pipe joint 200, when the pipe is inserted into the insertion space 202 inside the outer cylinder portion 204, the claw of the lock ring 206 bites into the outer surface of the pipe and locks the pipe in the unblocked state.

On the other hand, when the piping is extracted, a pushing force toward the left in the figure is applied to the release operation unit 210.
Then, the cylindrical lock release portion 208 moves forward in the left direction in the drawing to widen the claw of the lock ring 206 and release the claw from biting into the outer surface of the pipe.
Here, the piping can be extracted, and when a pulling force is applied to the right in the drawing, the piping is extracted from the insertion space 202 to the right in the drawing.

However, in the case of this pipe joint, when pulling out the pipe from the pipe joint 200, the flange-like release operation part 210 is pushed in the axial direction on the axial end side of the outer cylinder part 204, and the same axial end side is maintained while maintaining the state. The pulling force must be applied to the pipe in the same axial direction and in the direction opposite to the direction of the operating force applied to the release operation unit 210, and the work for releasing the lock by the lock ring 206 and extracting the pipe is performed. There were problems such as pain and poor workability.
Further, in the case of this pipe joint 200, the release operation part 210 is in a state of protruding outward in the axial direction, so that it is easy to receive an unexpected external force. Therefore, when such an unexpected external force is applied, the pipe is not intended. There was also a problem that the pipe joint 200 may come off.

JP 2000-320768 A

The present invention has been made for the purpose of providing a pipe joint that can easily perform the operation of releasing the lock by the lock ring and extracting the pipe against the background as described above.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pipe joint that can solve the problem that the lock by the lock ring is released by an unexpected external force and the pipe comes out of the pipe joint.

  Thus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided (a) an outer cylindrical portion that forms a pipe insertion space on the inner side, and (b) a claw projecting obliquely inward in the radial direction toward the pipe insertion direction. A lock ring that has a plurality along the direction, bites the claws into the outer surface of the pipe inserted into the insertion space, and locks the pipe in a removal state, and (c) is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction. In a pipe joint comprising: a lock release portion that expands the claw of the lock ring by forward movement to release the lock by the lock ring; and (d) a release operation portion that applies an operation force for unlocking. The release operation portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion and can be pushed inward in the radial direction, and the radially inward push movement of the release operation portion can be performed in the axial direction of the lock release portion. It is characterized by providing a motion conversion unit that converts forward movement.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the release operation portion is provided at a position retracted radially inward from the position of the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion.

Effects and effects of the invention

As described above, according to the present invention, the release operation portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion and can be pushed inward in the radial direction, and the push-in movement in the radial direction of the release operation portion can be performed on the lock release portion. It is provided with a motion conversion part that converts it into an axial forward movement. In the pipe joint of the present invention, a lock ring is locked by applying a radially inward operation force to the release operation part on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder part. In this state, the pipe can be pulled out by applying an axial pulling force to the pipe.
Therefore, according to the pipe joint of the present invention, the pipe can be easily extracted.

In this case, the release operation part can be provided at a position drawn inward in the radial direction from the position of the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder part (Claim 2).
In this way, it is possible to eliminate the possibility that the release operation part is pushed inward in the radial direction by an unexpected external force, and the lock by the lock ring is released unintentionally and the pipe is disconnected.
Here, the release operation unit and the lock release unit may be configured integrally, but may be configured separately.
Thus, when the release operation part and the lock release part are configured separately, the release operation part and the lock release part are brought into contact with a tapered surface provided as a motion conversion part, and the release operation is performed by the cam action of the taper surface. The pushing movement inward in the radial direction of the portion can be converted into the forward movement in the axial direction of the unlocking portion.

A recess for accommodating the release operation portion can be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion.
Moreover, this recess can be made into the shape opened by the axial direction end surface of the outer cylinder part.
It is possible to make such a recess as a recess whose outer periphery is closed in an annular shape, and to install the release operation part in the recessed state, but in this case, a general-purpose tool such as a plier is used. If an attempt is made to push the release operation part radially inward, the tool may hit the outer cylinder and the release operation part may not be pushed smoothly.
Accordingly, if the concave portion is opened at the axial end of the outer cylindrical portion, that is, if it is an open concave portion, it is possible to easily avoid interference with the outer cylindrical portion using a general-purpose tool such as a pliers. On the other hand, it is possible to easily push the release operation portion inward in the radial direction, and therefore, there is an advantage that the lock release by the lock ring and the piping drawing operation can be performed more easily.

In the present invention, the release operation parts are provided at two positions 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder part, and they are connected by a connecting part having elasticity extending in the circumferential direction, and the release operation part and the connection part are connected. It can be made as an integrally molded product of resin.
In this way, since it is only necessary to apply a radially inward operating force to the two release operation parts spaced apart by 180 ° in the circumferential direction, the advantage that the release operation is facilitated can be obtained.
The pair of release operation parts are connected by an elastic connection part, and the whole is an integral molded product, so the number of required parts can be reduced, and the release operation parts pushed in opposite directions to each other When returning to, the advantage that the elastic restoring force of the connecting portion can be used as the force for returning is also obtained.
Further, since the pair of release operation parts are connected by the connection part to form an integral structure, the assembly workability when the release operation part is assembled to the outer cylinder part is also improved.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2, 10 is a metal pipe joint, 12 is a joint body, and has a flange-shaped large-diameter tool hanging portion 14, and a male screw is provided on the outer peripheral surface on the right side of the tool hanging portion 14 in the drawing. 16.
Further, a cylindrical inner cylinder portion 18 is integrally provided on the left side in the drawing opposite to the male screw 16.
A resin pipe 20 is extrapolated from the axial direction to the inner cylinder portion 18 in an externally fitted state, and is connected to the inner cylinder portion 18.
Here, a pair of O-ring grooves (holding grooves) 22-1 and 22-2 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 18 with an interval in the axial direction, and an annular seal member having elasticity therein. O-rings 24-1 and 24-2 are held.

Reference numeral 26 denotes an outer cylinder part provided in the pipe joint 10, which is composed of an outer sleeve 28 and an inner sleeve 30. An insertion space 32 for the pipe 20 is formed between the inner sleeve 30 and the inner cylinder part 18. Yes.
The outer sleeve 28 has a female thread 34 at the right end in the figure, and the female thread 34 is screwed and fixed to a male thread 36 of the joint body 12.
The outer sleeve 28 is formed with a stepped first sandwiching portion 38, and the first sandwiching portion 38 is made of a metal dish together with a second sandwiching portion 39 constituted by the end of the inner sleeve 30. A ring base 72 (see FIG. 3) of the spring-like lock ring 40 is held in the axial direction.
As shown in FIG. 3, the lock ring 40 has a flat ring base 72 having an annular shape that is continuous in the circumferential direction, and a configuration in which the lock ring 40 obliquely protrudes radially inward from the ring base 72 toward the insertion direction of the pipe 20. Thus, it has a plurality of claws 74 formed side by side in the circumferential direction along the ring base 72, and the pipes 20 are prevented from being pulled out by biting the claws 74 into the outer surface of the pipe 20 inserted into the insertion space 32. Locked in.

2 and 3, reference numeral 54 denotes a metal coil spring fitted to the inner cylinder portion 18 on the outer peripheral side of the O-rings 24-1, 24-2.
As shown in FIG. 3, the coil spring 54 has a tightly wound portion 58 formed by tightly winding without causing a gap between adjacent coils 56 and 56, and a gap between the coils 56 and 56. And the sparsely wound portion 60 which is sparsely wound in a state of forming the sparsely wound portion 60, and the densely wound portion 58 is disposed on the side of the distal end surface 20A (see FIG. 2) of the pipe 20 before insertion and the sparsely wound portion 60. Is fitted on the outer peripheral side of the O-rings 24-1 and 24-2.

When the distal end surface 20A of the pipe 20 is cut obliquely, the coil spring 54 is inserted into the insertion space 32 so that the pipe 20 is fitted to the inner cylindrical portion 18 in an externally fitted state. At this time, the O-rings 24-1 and 24-2 are provided to prevent the O-rings 24-1 and 24-2 from being lifted from the O-ring grooves 22-1 and 22-2 at the oblique tip surface 20 </ b> A.
Specifically, the O-rings 24-1 and 24-2 are covered with the O-rings 24-1 and 24-2 from the outside at the densely wound portion 58 when the pipe 20 is inserted. Lifts up from 2 and prevents it from protruding.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer cylindrical portion 26 in the pipe joint 10, specifically, the inner peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 30, has a large diameter portion 62 on the right inner side of the insertion space 32 in the drawing. In addition, the insertion side on the left side in the figure is a small diameter portion 64, and a stepped portion 66 is formed between them.

On the other hand, the coil spring 54 also has a large diameter portion 68 on the right side and a small diameter portion 70 on the left side as shown in FIG.
As a result of the configuration of the coil spring 54, the large diameter portion 68 hits the stepped portion 66 of the inner sleeve 30 while being fitted to the pipe joint 10, thereby preventing the coil spring 54 from falling off the pipe joint 10. .

1 to 4, reference numeral 46 denotes a lock release portion that also serves as a backup ring for the lock ring 40, and has a cylindrical shape, and advances and retracts in the axial direction along the inner cylinder 26, specifically, the inner peripheral surface of the outer sleeve 28. It is provided as possible.
This unlocking portion 46 functions to expand the claw 74 of the lock ring 40 by the forward movement in the axial direction, specifically the right direction in the figure, and release the claw 74 from biting into the outer surface of the pipe 20. That is, it functions to release the lock of the pipe 20 by the lock ring 40.
A taper surface 84 as a motion converting portion is formed at the shaft end on the left side of the unlocking portion 46 in the drawing.

A pair of release buttons 48 serving as release operation portions for applying an operation force for unlocking by the lock ring 40 is pushed inward in the radial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft end portion on the left side of the outer cylinder portion 26 in the drawing. It is provided as possible.
The pair of release buttons 48 are provided at two locations separated by 180 ° in the circumferential direction.
The pair of release buttons 48 are connected by a connecting portion 53 having thin elasticity as shown in detail in FIG.

In the present embodiment, the pair of release buttons 48 and the connecting portion 53 are formed of an integrally molded product of resin.
Each of the pair of release buttons 48 has an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface each having an arc shape, and extension portions 52A and 52B having an arc shape are formed at each end in the circumferential direction.
Each of the pair of release buttons 48 is prevented from being detached from the outer sleeve 28 by the extension portions 52 </ b> A and 52 </ b> B coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer sleeve 28.

  As shown in FIG. 6, each of the pair of release buttons 48 includes a pushing portion 50 that protrudes radially inward at the center portion in the circumferential direction, and these pushing portions 50 correspond to the lock releasing portion 46. It is opposed to the tapered surface 84 in the radial direction.

In this embodiment, when the pair of release buttons 48 are pushed inward in the radial direction, the pushing portions 50 provided on the respective buttons abut against the tapered surface 84 of the unlocking portion 46 so that the pushing force acts on the unlocking portion 46. .
Then, the cylindrical lock release portion 46 is moved forward in the axial direction, that is, rightward in the drawing by the cam action of the tapered surface 84, and the lock by the lock ring 40 is released.

In the shaft end on the left side of the outer cylinder portion 26 in the drawing, recesses 42 are formed at two locations spaced 180 ° in the circumferential direction, and a release button 48 is fitted in each of the recesses 42.
Here, the release buttons 48 are fitted in the recesses 42 so that the respective outer peripheral surfaces are drawn inward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 26.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the pair of recesses 42 has a shape opened at the shaft end of the outer cylinder portion 26. That is, each recess 42 has an open shape that is continuous with the outer cylindrical portion 26, specifically, the shaft end surface of the outer sleeve 28.
The release button 48 accommodated in the recess 42 is also configured to extend to the axial end of the outer sleeve 28.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the release button 48 is pushed and moved by applying an operating force radially inward and in opposite directions to the two release buttons 48 that are separated by 180 ° in the circumferential direction, the pushing portion 50 of the release button 48 is pushed. Abuts against the taper surface 84 at the end of the lock release portion 46, and the cam action of the taper surface 84 causes the lock release portion 46 to move forward in the axial direction, expanding the claw 74 of the lock ring 40, and piping. The biting of the nail 74 with respect to the outer surface of 20 is released.

Here, the piping 20 can be extracted, and when a pulling force is applied to the piping 20 leftward in the figure, the piping 20 is extracted from the insertion space 32 leftward in the drawing.
Thereafter, when the operating force applied to the release button 48 is removed, the release button 48 is restored to its original position by the resilient force of the lock ring 40 and further by the restoring force of the connecting portion 53 that is elastically deformed when the release button 48 is pushed. Return to.

In the present embodiment as described above, the lock by the lock ring 40 can be released by pushing the release button 48 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 26 inward in the radial direction, and the pipe 20 is connected in this state. It can be pulled out in the axial direction.
Therefore, according to the pipe joint 10 of the present embodiment, the pipe 20 can be easily extracted from the pipe joint 10.

  Further, since the release button 48 is provided in a state of being drawn inward in the radial direction from the position of the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 26, the release button 48 is pushed inward in the radial direction by an unexpected external force, and is not intended. There is no problem that the lock by the lock ring 40 is released and the pipe 20 is pulled out.

  Further, since the recess 42 for accommodating the release button 48 has an open shape opened at the shaft end of the outer cylinder portion 26, interference with the outer cylinder portion 26 can be performed using a general-purpose tool such as a plier with one hand. The pair of release buttons 48 are sandwiched while the lock ring 40 is unlocked while the pipe 20 is pulled out with the other free hand.

  In the present embodiment, a pair of release buttons 48 are provided at two locations 180 degrees apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder portion 26, and they are connected by a connecting portion 53 having elasticity extending in the circumferential direction. Since the connecting portion 53 is an integrally molded product of resin, the release operation can be easily performed by applying the radially inward operation forces opposite to each other to two release buttons 48 spaced 180 ° in the circumferential direction. It can be carried out.

Further, since the pair of release buttons 48 and the connecting portion 53 form an integral molded product, the number of required parts can be reduced, and the release buttons 48 pushed in opposite directions with the help of the elastic restoring force of the connecting portion 53. It can be easily returned to the original position.
Further, since the pair of release buttons 48 are connected by the connecting portion 53 to form an integral structure, the assembly workability when the release button 48 is assembled to the outer cylinder portion 26 is also improved.

  In this embodiment, the taper surface 84 is provided on the lock release portion 46 side. However, it is also possible to provide a taper surface on the push portion 50 side of the release button 48, or to provide a taper surface on both sides. .

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
In the illustrated example, the release button 90 and the lock release portion 92 are connected by a flexible arm 98 and are integrally configured. The outer sleeve 94 is provided with a taper surface (motion converting portion) 96 for converting the radially inward pushing movement of the release button 90 into the forward movement of the lock releasing portion 92 in the axial direction.
In the case of this example, when the release button 90 is pushed inward in the radial direction, the lock release portion 92 moves forward in the axial direction by the action of the tapered surface 96 and the lock by the lock ring 40 is released.
In this embodiment, since the release button 90 and the lock release unit 92 are integrally formed, the number of required parts can be reduced.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, this is merely an example, and the present invention can be configured in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a figure which partially cuts and shows the piping joint of one Embodiment of this invention in a piping connection state. It is a figure which shows the piping joint of the embodiment in the state before piping connection. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the piping joint in the same embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state by which the release button was mounted | worn with the same piping joint. It is the perspective view which showed the edge part shape of the outer cylinder part of the same piping joint. It is the figure which showed the shape of the release button and lock release part of the same pipe joint. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of lock release in the same piping joint. It is a figure which shows other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the conventional piping joint.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Piping joint 20 Piping 26 Outer cylinder part 32 Insertion space 40 Lock ring 46 Lock release part 48 Release button (release operation part)
74 Claw 80 Tapered surface (motion conversion part)

Claims (2)

(a) an outer cylinder part that forms an insertion space for pipes on the inner side, and (b) a plurality of claws that project obliquely inward in the radial direction toward the insertion direction of the pipes along the circumferential direction. A lock ring that bites the claw into the outer surface of the pipe inserted into the space and locks the pipe in a retaining state; and (c) provided so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction. In a pipe joint comprising: an unlocking unit that opens and unlocks the lock ring; and (d) a release operation unit that applies an operation force for unlocking.
The release operation portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion and can be pushed inward in the radial direction, and the radially inward push movement of the release operation portion can be performed in the axial direction of the lock release portion. A pipe joint comprising a motion conversion portion for converting forward movement.   2. The pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein the release operation portion is provided at a position drawn inward in the radial direction from the position of the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion.

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