JP2024126168A - Flexible Pipe Fittings - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a joint for a flexible pipe which may inhibit increase of an outer diameter and a length and enables reduction of difficulty in connection to a flexible pipe.SOLUTION: A joint 10 for a flexible pipe includes: a joint body 20; a retainer 24; and a push ring 26. The retainer 24 has a hook part 94 and a fixing part 96. The hook part 94 hooks on an outer peripheral surface of a flexible pipe 300. The hook part 94 is fixed to the fixing part 96. The fixing part 96 has a cylinder part 110 and a cylinder connection part 112. The hook part 94 is stored in the cylinder part 110. The cylinder connection part 112 connects the hook part 94 to the cylinder part 110. The cylinder part 110 has a cylinder body part 120 and a lubrication material containing part 122. The lubrication material containing part 122 is disposed at a portion stated below of an outer periphery of the cylinder body part 120. The portion is a portion where the retainer 24 may contact with the joint body 20 when the retainer 24 moves into the joint body 20 and is stored therein. The lubrication material containing part 122 contains a lubrication material.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a flexible pipe joint.

Patent Document 1 discloses a flexible pipe joint. This flexible pipe joint includes a joint body and an elastically deformable sealing material. The sealing material is accommodated in the joint body. A flexible pipe is inserted into the joint body. On the outer periphery of the flexible pipe, peaks and valleys extending in the entire circumferential direction are arranged alternately in the pipe axial direction. A pipe insertion hole is formed in the center of the sealing material. The flexible pipe is inserted into the pipe insertion hole. The sealing material seals between the outer periphery of the flexible pipe inserted into the pipe insertion hole and the inner periphery of the joint body. The joint body has an insertion port, a first housing portion, a sealing material diameter reduction guide portion, and a second housing portion. The flexible pipe is inserted into the insertion port. The first housing portion is formed at the back of the insertion port and is connected to the insertion port. The sealing material diameter reduction guide portion is formed on the opposite side of the insertion port of the first housing portion. The sealing material diameter reduction guide portion narrows as it moves away from the first housing portion. The second housing portion is formed at the back of the seal material diameter reduction guide portion. The second housing portion accommodates the tip of the flexible pipe and the seal material on the outer periphery of the tip of the flexible pipe. The seal material has a body portion and a sealing action portion. The body portion is pushed into the second housing portion by the tip of the flexible pipe accommodated in the joint body. The sealing action portion is drawn into the second housing portion by pushing the body portion into the inner periphery of the second housing portion. When the sealing action portion is drawn into the second housing portion, it engages with the valley portion of the flexible pipe by the seal material diameter reduction guide portion. After being drawn into the second housing portion, the sealing action portion seals between the inner periphery of the second housing portion and the outer periphery of the flexible pipe. The flexible pipe joint disclosed in Patent Document 1 can easily connect flexible pipes.

Patent Document 2 discloses a flexible pipe joint. This flexible pipe joint includes a joint body, a retainer, and a push ring. The retainer is housed in the joint body. The push ring enters the joint body. The joint body has an inlet for the flexible pipe and an inlet path for the flexible pipe. A retainer is disposed in the inlet path. The inlet path is connected to the outside of the joint body via the inlet. The retainer surrounds a through space through which the flexible pipe passes. When the flexible pipe passes through the through space, the retainer prevents the flexible pipe from retreating and falling out of the through space. The push ring prevents the retainer from falling out of the joint body together with the flexible pipe. The retainer has multiple hook portions and a fixing portion. The hook portions are hooked onto the outer peripheral surface of the flexible pipe. The fixing portion has multiple hook portions fixed thereto. The flexible pipe joint disclosed in Patent Document 2 can facilitate connection to a flexible pipe provided in a narrow space.

JP 2010-43706 A International Publication WO2013/132585 Brochure

The flexible pipe joint disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the problem that the outer diameter tends to become large and the length tends to become long. The flexible pipe joint disclosed in Patent Document 2 solves this problem. However, the flexible pipe joint disclosed in Patent Document 2 has the problem that it is not as easy to connect to a flexible pipe installed in a space that is not narrow as the flexible pipe joint disclosed in Patent Document 1.

The present invention was made to solve this problem. Its purpose is to provide a flexible pipe joint that can reduce the outer diameter and length and also reduce the difficulty of connecting to a flexible pipe.

The flexible pipe joint of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. The use of the symbols in the drawings in this section is intended to aid in understanding the contents of the invention. The use of the symbols in the drawings in this section is not intended to limit the contents of the invention to the scope shown in the drawings.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of the present invention, the flexible pipe joint 10 comprises a joint body 20, a retainer 24, and a push ring 26. The retainer 24 enters and is housed in the joint body 20. The push ring 26 enters the joint body 20. The flexible pipe joint 10 further comprises a flexible pipe sealant 22 and a stopper 28. When the flexible pipe 300 enters the joint body 20, the flexible pipe sealant 22 seals between the joint body 20 and the outer periphery 310, 312 of the flexible pipe 300 that has entered the joint body 20. The stopper 28 prevents the push ring 26 from falling out of the joint body 20 when the push ring 26 enters the joint body 20. The joint body 20 has an entrance 54 for the flexible pipe 300 and an entrance path 56 for the flexible pipe 300. The retainer 24 is disposed in the entrance passage 56. The entrance passage 56 communicates with the outside of the joint body 20 via the entrance opening 54. The retainer 24 surrounds the through space 200 through which the flexible pipe 300 passes. When the flexible pipe 300 passes through the through space 200, the retainer 24 prevents the flexible pipe 300 from retreating from the through space 200 and falling out. The push ring 26 prevents the retainer 24 from falling out of the joint body 20 together with the flexible pipe 300. The retainer 24 has a hook portion 94 and a fixing portion 96. The hook portion 94 surrounds the through space 200. When the flexible pipe 300 passes through the through space 200, the hook portion 94 hooks onto the outer periphery 310, 312 of the flexible pipe 300. The fixing portion 96 fixes the hook portion 94. The fixing part 96 has a tube part 110 and a tube connecting part 112. The tube part 110 houses the hook part 94. The tube connecting part 112 connects the hook part 94 to the tube part 110. The entry path 56 of the joint body 20 has a seal material retraction tapered part 74 and a seal material contact part 76. The seal material retraction tapered part 74 narrows as it moves away from the entry opening 54. The seal material contact part 76 is disposed so as to be connected to the seal material retraction tapered part 74 at the back of the seal material retraction tapered part 74 when viewed from the outside of the joint body 20. The seal material contact part 76 houses the flexible pipe seal material 22 when the flexible pipe seal material 22 fitted to the outer periphery 310, 312 of the flexible pipe 300 enters together with the flexible pipe 300. The tube portion 110 has a tube main body portion 120 that is connected to the tube connection portion 112, and a lubricant-containing portion 122. The lubricant-containing portion 122 is disposed on the outer periphery of the tube main body portion 120 at a location described below. This location is a location that can come into contact with the inside of the joint body 20 when the retainer 24 enters and is housed in the joint body 20. The lubricant-containing portion 122 contains a lubricant.

Before the flexible pipe 300 is connected to the flexible pipe joint 10 according to one aspect of the present invention, the flexible pipe 300 is passed through the through space 200 surrounded by the retainer 24. Next, the flexible pipe sealant 22 seals the outer periphery 310, 312 of the flexible pipe 300. After that, the retainer 24 enters and is housed in the joint body 20 together with the flexible pipe 300. This eliminates the need for the sealant to be drawn somewhere in the joint body 20 to seal the outer periphery 310, 312 of the flexible pipe 300. Since this is no longer necessary, there is no need to use a sealant with a large outer diameter. There is no need to lengthen the joint body 20 so that the sealant can engage with the valley portion 312 of the flexible pipe 300 as it is drawn in. As a result, a flexible pipe joint 10 is provided that can reduce the outer diameter and length. As described above, the flexible pipe sealant 22 seals the outer periphery 310, 312 of the flexible pipe 300 prior to connection to the flexible pipe joint 10. As a result, as the retainer 24 enters and is accommodated in the joint body 20 together with the flexible pipe 300, the flexible pipe sealant 22 also enters and is accommodated in the joint body 20. Meanwhile, the entry path 56 of the joint body 20 has a sealant retraction taper portion 74 and a sealant contact portion 76. The sealant retraction taper portion 74 narrows as it moves away from the entry opening 54. The sealant contact portion 76 is disposed so as to be connected to the sealant retraction taper portion 74 at the back of the sealant retraction taper portion 74 as viewed from the outside of the joint body 20. The sealant contact portion 76 accommodates the flexible pipe sealant 22 when the flexible pipe sealant 22 fitted to the outer periphery 310, 312 of the flexible pipe 300 enters together with the flexible pipe 300. As a result, a seal is realized between the joint body 20 and the outer periphery 310, 312 of the flexible pipe 300 that has entered the joint body 20 as the flexible pipe 300 enters the joint body 20. When the flexible pipe sealant 22 is accommodated, it passes through the sealant retraction taper portion 74. Since the flexible pipe sealant 22 passes through the sealant retraction taper portion 74 that narrows as it moves away from the entrance 54, the flexible pipe sealant 22 smoothly enters the sealant contact portion 76. Since the flexible pipe sealant 22 smoothly enters, the difficulty of connecting to the flexible pipe 300 is further reduced. Moreover, the retainer 24 has a lubricant-containing portion 122. The lubricant-containing portion 122 is disposed at a position where the retainer 24 can come into contact with the inside of the joint body 20 when it enters and is accommodated in the joint body 20. The lubricant-containing portion 122 contains a lubricant. This allows the retainer 24 to move smoothly through the fitting body 20 when it enters and is housed within the fitting body 20. This movement reduces the difficulty of connecting to the flexible pipe 300. As a result, a flexible pipe fitting 10 is provided that can reduce the difficulty of connecting to the flexible pipe 300.

It is also desirable that the lubricating material described above is a solid lubricant. This reduces the likelihood of the lubricating material being washed away over time, compared to when the lubricating material is a liquid. This reduces the likelihood that the retainer 24 will have difficulty moving smoothly through the fitting body 20 as a result of the lubricating material being washed away. As a result, a flexible pipe fitting 10 is provided that is unlikely to become difficult to connect to the flexible pipe 300 over time.

It is also preferable that the solid lubricant described above is expanded graphite. With this, when the flexible pipe 300 is connected to the flexible pipe fitting 10 according to one aspect of the present invention and heated, the expanded graphite expands. When the expanded graphite expands, the gap between the fitting body 20 and the flexible pipe 300 is sealed. As a result, the risk of fluid leaking through the gap between the fitting body 20 and the flexible pipe 300 during heating can be reduced.

The present invention provides a flexible pipe joint that can reduce the outer diameter and length and reduce the difficulty of connecting to a flexible pipe.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a flexible pipe joint according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a joint body according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a retainer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which two hook portions according to an embodiment of the present invention face each other; FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of a fixing portion according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a press ring according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The flexible pipe joint according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, identical parts are given the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

[Structural description]
Fig. 1 is a diagram of a flexible pipe joint 10 according to this embodiment. A part of the flexible pipe joint 10 is cut away in Fig. 1. The configuration of the flexible pipe joint 10 of this embodiment will be described based on Fig. 1.

The flexible pipe joint 10 according to this embodiment is connected to a flexible pipe 300. The flexible pipe 300 has a peak portion 310 and a valley portion 312. The surface of the peak portion 310 and the surface of the valley portion 312 form the outer periphery of the flexible pipe 300. The outer periphery of the flexible pipe 300 according to this embodiment is covered with a coating layer 314.

As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible pipe joint 10 includes a joint body 20, a flexible pipe sealant 22, a retainer 24, a pressure ring 26, a retaining body 28, a peripheral sealant 30, and a waterproof packing 32.

The tip of the flexible pipe 300 is inserted into the joint body 20. A connected object is connected to the joint body 20. An example of the connected object is a socket. In the following description, the connected object is not illustrated.

In this embodiment, the flexible pipe sealant 22 has an annular shape. The flexible pipe sealant 22 has a circular cross section. The flexible pipe sealant 22 is made of rubber. When the flexible pipe 300 is connected to the flexible pipe joint 10 of this embodiment, the flexible pipe sealant 22 is housed in the joint body 20. When the flexible pipe 300 enters the joint body 20, the flexible pipe sealant 22 seals between the joint body 20 and the outer periphery of the flexible pipe 300. Due to this sealing, the cross-sectional shape of the flexible pipe sealant 22 is deformed, for example, into a shape as shown in FIG. 1.

The retainer 24 enters and is housed within the fitting body 20. The retainer 24 prevents the flexible pipe 300 from coming out of the fitting body 20.

One end of the pressure ring 26 enters the joint body 20. The pressure ring 26 prevents the retainer 24 from coming out of the joint body 20 together with the flexible pipe 300.

The removal prevention body 28 prevents the pressure ring 26 from falling out of the joint body 20 when the pressure ring 26 enters the joint body 20. In this embodiment, the removal prevention body 28 is a metal ring with a portion that is not connected. As a result, the shape of the removal prevention body 28 in this embodiment is a "C" shape. As is clear from Figure 1, the cross-sectional shape of the removal prevention body 28 in this embodiment is a circle with a portion cut out in a sector shape.

In this embodiment, the shape of the peripheral sealant 30 is annular. The cross section of the peripheral sealant 30 is circular. The peripheral sealant 30 is made of rubber. When the flexible pipe 300 is connected to the flexible pipe joint 10 of this embodiment, the peripheral sealant 30 is housed within the joint body 20. The peripheral sealant 30 seals between the joint body 20 and the outer periphery of the pressure ring 26. As a result of this sealing, the cross-sectional shape of the peripheral sealant 30 is deformed, for example, into a shape as shown in FIG. 1.

In this embodiment, the waterproof packing 32 is made of EPDM or the like. The cross section of the waterproof packing 32 is T-shaped. The waterproof packing 32 is placed inside the pressing ring 26 in advance. The waterproof packing 32 seals between the inner circumference of the pressing ring 26 and the outer circumference of the coating layer 314. Selectively permeable members are embedded in several locations in the circumferential direction of the waterproof packing 32. The selectively permeable members are pin-shaped. The selectively permeable members are permeable to gas but not to solids and liquids. This makes it possible to perform gas leak inspections. The selectively permeable members are, for example, members including a continuous porous membrane, or porous bodies having continuous pores. The former continuous porous membrane is obtained by molding tetrafluoroethylene resin powder. The latter porous bodies are obtained by molding thermoplastic resin powder such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polymethyl acrylate.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the joint body 20 of this embodiment. The configuration of the joint body 20 of this embodiment is explained based on Figures 1 and 2.

The joint body 20 is cylindrical in shape. As shown in FIG. 1, a nut-shaped portion 50 is provided on the outer surface of the joint body 20. A tool such as a wrench holds the nut-shaped portion 50. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a connection portion 52 is provided on one end of the joint body 20. The above-mentioned connected body is connected to the connection portion 52. In this embodiment, the connection portion 52 is a male thread.

As shown in FIG. 2, the other end of the fitting body 20 is provided with an inlet 54 for the flexible pipe 300. The fitting body 20 has an inlet passage 56 and a fluid passage 58 inside. The inlet passage 56 is connected to the outside of the fitting body 20 via the inlet 54. A retainer 24 is disposed in the inlet passage 56. The fluid passage 58 is disposed at the back of the inlet passage 56 when viewed from the inlet 54. The inner diameter of the fluid passage 58 is smaller than the outer diameter of the flexible pipe 300. The fluid passage 58 is connected to the outside of the fitting body 20 via one end of the fitting body 20.

The entry path 56 has a push ring housing section 70, a retainer housing section 72, a sealant retraction tapered section 74, a sealant contact section 76, and a flexible pipe tip housing section 78.

The pressure ring housing 70 is located at the rear of the inlet 54 when viewed from the outside of the joint body 20. In this embodiment, the pressure ring housing 70 has a mouth side pressure ring housing 84, a retaining body fitting groove forming portion 86, and a rear side pressure ring housing 88.

The mouth side push wheel housing 84 is directly connected to the entrance 54. The mouth side push wheel housing 84 houses a portion of the base end side of the push wheel 26.

The retaining body fitting groove forming portion 86 is provided at the back of the mouth side press wheel housing portion 84 when viewed from the outside of the joint body 20. The retaining body fitting groove forming portion 86 forms a groove into which the retaining body 28 fits.

The rear pressure ring housing 88 is located at the rear of the retaining body fitting groove forming portion 86 when viewed from the outside of the joint body 20. The rear pressure ring housing 88 houses a portion of the tip side of the pressure ring 26.

The retainer housing 72 is located at the rear of the rear pressure wheel housing 88 when viewed from the outside of the joint body 20. The retainer housing 72 houses the retainer 24.

The sealing material retraction tapered portion 74 is located at the back of the retainer housing portion 72 when viewed from the outside of the joint body 20. The sealing material retraction tapered portion 74 narrows as it moves away from the retainer housing portion 72.

The seal material contact portion 76 is provided so as to be connected to the back of the seal material retraction tapered portion 74 when viewed from the outside of the joint body 20. The seal material contact portion 76 accommodates the flexible pipe 300 and the flexible pipe seal material 22 through which it passes.

The flexible pipe tip accommodating portion 78 is provided at the back of the seal material contact portion 76 when viewed from the outside of the joint body 20. The fluid path 58 is connected to the back of the flexible pipe tip accommodating portion 78 when viewed from the outside of the joint body 20. The flexible pipe tip accommodating portion 78 accommodates the tip of the flexible pipe 300.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the retainer 24 according to this embodiment. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the state in which the two hook portions 94 according to this embodiment face each other. Figure 5 is a side view of the fixing portion 96 according to this embodiment. In Figure 5, a portion of the fixing portion 96 is cut away. The configuration of the retainer 24 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5.

As is clear from FIG. 3, the outer shape of the retainer 24 is substantially cylindrical. The retainer 24 is accommodated in the retainer accommodating portion 72 of the entry passage 56 of the joint body 20. The retainer 24 has two hook portions 94 and a fixing portion 96.

In this embodiment, the hook portion 94 is made of metal. The hook portion 94 in this embodiment has a base portion 100, two claw portions 102, and an engagement portion 104. The base portion 100 has a shape like a cylinder split in half. The claw portion 102 is provided so as to protrude from the concave side of the base portion 100. The two claw portions 102 are arranged so as to be aligned along the central axis 250 of the base portion 100. The engagement portion 104 is provided so as to protrude from the convex side of the base portion 100. In this embodiment, the base portion 100, the two claw portions 102, and the engagement portion 104 are integral with each other.

The fixing portion 96 has a tube portion 110 and a tube connection portion 112. The tube portion 110 and the tube connection portion 112 are more easily elastically deformed than the hook portion 94. To facilitate elastic deformation, the material of the fixing portion 96 is preferably a synthetic resin. In this embodiment, the material of the fixing portion 96 is polyethylene containing expanded graphite. The tube portion 110 accommodates all the hook portions 94. The tube connection portion 112 is disposed on the inner periphery side of the tube portion 110. As a result, the tube connection portion 112 is disposed on the back side of the base portion 100 of the hook portion 94 when viewed from the through space 200. In this embodiment, a groove is formed in the tube connection portion 112. The engagement portion 104 of the hook portion 94 fits into the groove. As a result, the tube connection portion 112 connects the tube portion 110 and the engagement portion 104 of the hook portion 94.

In this embodiment, the tube portion 110 is separated from one end to the other end in the direction of the central axis 252 of the tube portion 110 at one location described below. This location is a location facing adjacent hook portions 94. This location may be facing any of the multiple hook portions 94. A location of the tube connection portion 112 is also separated from one end to the other end in the direction of the central axis 252 of the tube portion 110. This location is the same location as the separated location of the tube portion 110. When force is applied to the separated location between the tube portion 110 and the tube connection portion 112, this location opens. This is because the tube portion 110 is elastically deformed. When force is no longer applied to this location, this location closes to its original state. This location is the separation location 114 referred to in this embodiment.

The tube portion 110 has a tube main body portion 120 and a lubricant-containing portion 122. The tube main body portion 120 is the base of the tube connection portion 112 and the lubricant-containing portion 122. In this embodiment, the tube connection portion 112 is connected to the tube main body portion 120 of the tube portion 110. The lubricant-containing portion 122 is disposed at a location corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the tube portion 110 as viewed from the tube main body portion 120. As is clear from the fact that the retainer 24 is accommodated in the retainer accommodating portion 72, the lubricant-containing portion 122 can come into contact with the inside of the joint main body 20 when the retainer 24 enters and is accommodated in the joint main body 20. As described above, in this embodiment, the material of the fixing portion 96 is polyethylene containing expanded graphite. As a result, the lubricant-containing portion 122 contains expanded graphite. Since expanded graphite is a type of graphite, it is also a solid lubricant. As a result, the lubricant-containing portion 122 contains a solid lubricant.

As is clear from Figures 3 and 4, in this embodiment, the two hook portions 94 of the retainer 24 are arranged so that the recessed sides of their base portions 100 face each other. The two hook portions 94 are arranged to surround the through space 200. The flexible pipe 300 passes through this through space 200. In this embodiment, the claw portions 102 of the hook portions 94 fit into the valley portions 312 of the flexible pipe 300, respectively. This causes the hook portions 94 to hook onto the outer peripheral surface of the flexible pipe 300. The hook portions 94 are fixed to the fixing portion 96. With this structure, the retainer 24 surrounds the through space 200.

Figure 6 is a side view of the pressing ring 26 according to this embodiment. In Figure 6, a part of the pressing ring 26 is cut out. The configuration of the pressing ring 26 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 6. A flexible pipe 300 can pass through the pressing ring 26. The pressing ring 26 has an annular portion 140, a stopper body accommodating groove forming portion 142, a pressing ring side seal material accommodating groove forming portion 144, and a base end seal material accommodating groove forming portion 146. The annular portion 140 is covered by the tubular portion 110 of the retainer 24 within the fitting body 20. The stopper body accommodating groove forming portion 142 forms a groove. The stopper body 28 fits into the groove. The pressing ring side seal material accommodating groove forming portion 144 also forms a groove. The peripheral seal material 30 fits into the groove. The base end seal material accommodating groove forming portion 146 also forms a groove. The groove is formed to surround the flexible tube 300 when the tip of the flexible tube 300 passes through the pressure ring 26. A waterproof packing 32 fits into the groove.

[Connection method explanation]
Next, a method for connecting a flexible pipe 300 to the flexible pipe joint 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

The stopper body 28 is fitted in advance into the groove formed by the stopper body fitting groove forming portion 86 of the fitting body 20. At this time, the stopper body 28 is fitted into the groove so that its cut-out portion is positioned on the fluid path 58 side. In this state, the worker fits the waterproof packing 32 into the groove formed by the base end seal material accommodation groove forming portion 146 of the pressure ring 26.

Once the retaining body 28 and waterproof packing 32 are fitted, the worker removes the coating layer 314 equivalent to several peaks 310 (e.g., five peaks) from the tip of the flexible pipe 300. Once removal of the coating layer 314 is complete, the worker passes the pressure ring 26 through the flexible pipe 300. As a result, in this embodiment, three peaks 310 and three valleys 312 at the tip of the flexible pipe 300 protrude from the annular portion 140 of the pressure ring 26.

Then, the worker widens the separation area 114 of the fixed part 96 of the retainer 24. Once the separation area 114 has been widened, the worker fits the claws 102 of the retainer 24 into the second and third valleys 312 from the tip of the flexible pipe 300. When the claws 102 of the retainer 24 fit into the valleys 312 of the flexible pipe 300, the tube part 110 of the fixed part 96 naturally covers the annular part 140 of the pressure ring 26. In this way, the retainer 24 is attached to the flexible pipe 300. At this time, the tip of the flexible pipe 300 also protrudes from the retainer 24.

Then, the worker fits the flexible pipe sealant 22 into the valley portion 312 at the tip of the flexible pipe 300. Once the flexible pipe sealant 22 is fitted, the worker inserts the flexible pipe 300 together with the retainer 24 and the pressing ring 26 into the entry passage 56 of the fitting body 20. As a result, when the retainer body accommodation groove forming portion 142 of the pressing ring 26 reaches the position where the retainer body fitting groove forming portion 86 is present, the retainer body 28 fitted into the groove formed by the retainer body fitting groove forming portion 86 also fits into the groove formed by the retainer body accommodation groove forming portion 142. This completes the connection of the flexible pipe 300 to the flexible pipe fitting 10 according to this embodiment.

[Effects of the flexible pipe joint according to the present embodiment]
As is clear from the above description, before the flexible pipe 300 is connected to the flexible pipe joint 10 according to this embodiment, the flexible pipe 300 is passed through the through space 200. Since the flexible pipe 300 is passed through in this manner, it is no longer necessary for the sealant to be drawn somewhere within the joint body 20 in order to seal the outer periphery of the flexible pipe 300. Since this is no longer necessary, it is no longer necessary to use a sealant with a large outer diameter. It is no longer necessary to lengthen the joint body 20 so that the sealant can engage with the valley portion 312 of the flexible pipe 300 as it is drawn in.

In addition, when the flexible pipe sealant 22 enters the flexible pipe joint 10 according to this embodiment, the flexible pipe sealant 22 passes through the sealant retraction taper section 74. Because the flexible pipe sealant 22 passes through the sealant retraction taper section 74, which narrows as it moves away from the entrance 54, the flexible pipe sealant 22 smoothly enters the sealant contact section 76. Because the flexible pipe sealant 22 smoothly enters, the difficulty of connecting to the flexible pipe 300 is further reduced.

Moreover, the retainer 24 according to this embodiment has a lubricant-containing portion 122. The lubricant-containing portion 122 can contact the inside of the joint body 20 when the retainer 24 enters and is housed in the joint body 20. The lubricant-containing portion 122 contains a lubricant. This allows the retainer 24 to move smoothly through the joint body 20 when the retainer 24 enters and is housed in the joint body 20. Since the retainer 24 can move smoothly, the difficulty of connecting to the flexible pipe 300 is reduced. In particular, when the flexible pipe 300 enters the joint body 20 so that the direction in which the entry path 56 extends and the direction in which the flexible pipe 300 extends intersect obliquely, the entry of the retainer 24 in the joint body 20 allows the retainer 24 to move smoothly through the joint body 20. As a result, with the flexible pipe joint 10 according to this embodiment, even if the flexible pipe 300 enters the joint body 20 so that the direction in which the entry path 56 extends and the direction in which the flexible pipe 300 extends intersect obliquely, the difficulty of connecting to the flexible pipe 300 is reduced. In addition to the case in which the flexible pipe 300 enters in this way, the retainer 24 can move smoothly through the joint body 20 in the following case. This case is when the retainer 24 is fitted into a flexible pipe 300 that is somewhat crushed, and the fixing portion 96 of the retainer 24 is deformed. As a result, even if the flexible pipe 300 that is somewhat crushed enters the joint body 20, the difficulty of connecting to the flexible pipe 300 is reduced.

In addition, the lubricant-containing portion 122 according to this embodiment contains expanded graphite as a lubricant. As a result, when the flexible pipe 300 is connected to the flexible pipe joint 10 according to this embodiment and is heated due to a fire or other reasons, the expanded graphite expands. When the expanded graphite expands, the gap between the joint body 20 and the flexible pipe 300 is blocked. As a result, the risk of fluid passing through the gap between the joint body 20 and the flexible pipe 300 in the event of a fire or other event can be reduced. Furthermore, since expanded graphite is contained as a lubricant, the possibility of the lubricant being lost over time is reduced compared to when the lubricant is a liquid. When this possibility is reduced, the possibility that the retainer 24 will not be able to move smoothly through the joint body 20 due to the loss of the lubricant is also reduced. As a result, a flexible pipe joint 10 that is less likely to become difficult to connect to the flexible pipe 300 over time is provided.

<Description of Modifications>
The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, the lubricant contained in the lubricant-containing portion 122 described above is not limited to expanded graphite. The lubricant may be expanded graphite or a solid lubricant such as polytetrafluoroethylene or molybdenum disulfide. The lubricant may be a liquid lubricant such as a microencapsulated oil or fat. An example of such an oil or fat is grease.

Furthermore, the specific manner in which the lubricant-containing portion 122 contains the lubricant is not particularly limited. Therefore, for example, the lubricant-containing portion 122 may be made of a layer of the lubricant.

The number of claws 102 that the hook portion 94 has is not particularly limited. For example, the number may be three or more. The cross-sectional shape of the flexible pipe seal material 22 and the outer peripheral seal material 30 is not limited to a circle. The specific aspects of the retainer 24 and the press ring 26 are also not particularly limited. Thus, for example, the fixing portion 96 may have a cylindrical portion with a small outer diameter that is connected to the tube portion 110. The cylindrical portion with a small outer diameter may have an outer diameter that can enter the seal material contact portion 76. For example, the press ring 26 may not have an annular portion 140. If the press ring 26 does not have an annular portion 140, a part of the press ring 26 may not enter the retainer 24.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10...Flexible pipe joint 20...Joint body 22...Flexible pipe sealant 24...Retainer 26...Press ring 28...Slip-out prevention body 30...Peripheral sealant 32...Waterproof packing 50...Nut-shaped portion 52...Connection portion 54...Entry port 56...Entry path 58...Fluid path 70...Press ring accommodating portion 72...Retainer accommodating portion 74...Sealant retraction tapered portion 76...Sealant contact portion 78...Flexible pipe tip accommodating portion 84...Mouth side press ring accommodating portion 86...Slip-out prevention body fitting groove forming portion 88... Rear side pressure ring accommodating portion 94...hook portion 96...fixing portion 100...base portion 102...claw portion 104...engagement portion 110...tubular portion 112...tubular connection portion 114...separation portion 120...tubular main body portion 122...lubricant-containing portion 140...annular portion 142...prevention body accommodating groove forming portion 144...pressure ring side seal material accommodating groove forming portion 146...base end seal material accommodating groove forming portion 200...through space 250, 252...central shaft 300...flexible tube 310...ridge portion 312...valley portion 314...coating layer

Claims (3)

The joint body includes a retainer that is inserted into and accommodated in the joint body, and a press ring that is inserted into the joint body.
a flexible pipe sealant that seals between the joint body and an outer periphery of the flexible pipe when the flexible pipe enters the joint body;
and a stopper that prevents the press ring from falling out of the joint body when the press ring enters the joint body.
The joint body is
an inlet of the flexible pipe;
an inlet passage for the flexible pipe in which the retainer is disposed and which communicates with the outside of the joint body through the inlet;
the retainer surrounds a through space through which the flexible pipe passes, and prevents the flexible pipe from retracting and falling out of the through space when the flexible pipe passes through the through space;
The press ring prevents the retainer from falling out of the joint body together with the flexible pipe,
The retainer is
a hook portion that surrounds the through space and hooks onto an outer periphery of the flexible pipe when the flexible pipe passes through the through space;
a fixing portion to which the hook portion is fixed,
The fixing portion is
A cylindrical portion in which the hook portion is housed;
a tube connecting portion that connects the hook portion to the tube portion,
The access path of the joint body is
a sealing material retraction tapered portion that narrows as it moves away from the inlet;
a seal material contact portion that is disposed so as to be connected to the seal material inlet taper portion at the back of the seal material inlet taper portion when viewed from the outside of the joint body, and that accommodates the flexible pipe seal material when the flexible pipe seal material fitted onto the outer periphery of the flexible pipe advances together with the flexible pipe,
The cylindrical portion is
a tube main body portion connected to the tube connecting portion;
A flexible pipe joint, characterized in that it has a lubricant-containing portion that contains a lubricant and is located on the outer periphery of the tubular main body portion at a location that can come into contact with the joint body when the retainer enters and is accommodated in the joint body. The flexible pipe joint according to claim 1, characterized in that the lubricating material is a solid lubricant. The flexible pipe joint according to claim 2, characterized in that the solid lubricant is expanded graphite.

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