JP6047361B2 - Pipe fitting - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pipe joint used for connecting tubular bodies.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a pipe joint having an indicator used for preventing connection failure when connecting tubular bodies such as pipes and hoses is known. For example, the pipe joint which concerns on patent document 1 by the present applicant is mentioned.

  The pipe joint described in Patent Document 1 includes an indicator having a flexible visual piece. This indicator is configured so that a visual piece can be inserted through a window hole provided in the main body of the pipe joint. And according to the insertion state to the pipe joint of a tubular body, an operator can confirm the insertion condition of a tubular body by a visual piece protruding from a window hole. Thereby, the connection failure of a tubular body can be prevented.

JP 2000-46272 A

  The pipe joint described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that the insertion state of the tubular body can be confirmed only by the operator's visual recognition. However, the site where the tubular bodies are connected is not limited to a place where the pipe joint is easily visible, and may be a place where visibility is difficult such as a dark place or a narrow place. In such a place, it is difficult to confirm the insertion state of the tubular body with the pipe joint described in Patent Document 1.

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide the pipe joint which an operator can confirm easily the insertion condition of a tubular body also when connecting a tubular body in the place where visual recognition is difficult.

The present invention is used to connect tubular bodies, and includes a housing having a display window portion and an indicator that is movable in the axial direction in the housing. The housing has an inner surface and the indicator in the axial direction. the indicator was moved to the axially inner side along the guide groove and the guide groove for allowing moved has a pressing portion for pressing the indicator tube engaging portion and the elastic deformation portion and indicator portion The indicator portion is adjacent to the axially back side of the elastic deformation portion and protrudes radially outward from the elastic deformation portion, and the diameter dimension of the bottom surface of the guide groove is an axis. It is larger than the indicator portion on the front side in the direction, the tube engaging portion engages with a tubular body inserted into the housing, and the indicator moves to move the tubular body toward the back side in the axial direction. To do Moves in the axial direction inner side I, the elastically deforming part, due to that the indicator moves axially inner side, and elastically deformed in the radially inward direction by the pressing of the indicator portion of the indicator by the pressing portion of the housing When the indicator is further moved in the axial direction, the elastic deformation by the pressing portion is released and the housing collides with the housing while generating a collision sound, and the indicator portion is against the housing of the elastic deformation portion. It becomes a state where it coincides with the display window portion together with the collision, and the display window portion is a pipe joint formed so as to be visible from the outside of the housing as to whether or not the indicator portion coincides.

  The “matched state” is not limited to a state in which the display window portion and the indicator portion are completely overlapped, but also includes a state in which a part is overlapped.

Further, the display window, said a recess formed on the inner surface of the housing, the front Symbol indicator unit, it is the display state has entered the window portion when the elastic deformation of the elastic deformation portion is released, the The elastic deformation portion may collide with the inner surface of the housing when the indicator portion enters the display window portion.

  According to each said structure, an elastic deformation part collides, making a collision sound with respect to a housing. In addition, the display window portion is formed so that it can be visually recognized from the outside of the housing whether or not the indicator portion is in a matched state. Thus, the operator can confirm the insertion state of the tubular body from hearing and vision.

  The display window portion is a through-hole penetrating the housing in the radial direction, and the indicator portion partially protrudes from the display window portion when entering the display window portion. And can.

  According to the said structure, when an indicator part enters into a display window part, a part protrudes from a display window part outside a housing. For this reason, the operator can confirm the insertion state of the tubular body by tactile sense in addition to the hearing and vision.

  The indicator portion may have a color different from that of the housing. According to this configuration, the visibility can be further improved.

  Further, the tube engaging portion, the elastically deforming portion, and the indicator portion can be integrally formed. According to this configuration, the structure of the pipe joint can be simplified.

  According to the present invention, the operator can confirm the insertion state of the tubular body by hearing and vision. For this reason, also when connecting a tubular body in the place where visual recognition is difficult, an operator can confirm the insertion condition of a tubular body easily.

The pipe joint which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is shown, (A) is a half sectional view of planar view, (B) is a half sectional view of front view, (C) is a left side view, (D) is a right side view. (E) is AA arrow sectional drawing of (B). It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the same pipe joint. The shape change of the indicator at the time of inserting a tubular body in the same pipe joint is shown, (A) shows the time of insertion start, (B) during insertion, and (C) shows the time of insertion completion. The shape change of the indicator at the time of inserting a tubular body in the pipe joint which concerns on the reference example of this invention is shown, (A) is the time of an insertion start, (B) is during insertion, (C) shows the time of completion of insertion.

  First, the present invention will be described by taking up one embodiment. The axial direction is referred to as “front side” or “back side” with reference to the insertion direction of the tubular body into the pipe joint. The left side in FIGS. 1A and 1B and FIGS. 3A to 3C corresponds to the near side, and the right side corresponds to the back side.

  Note that FIG. 1A is a half-sectional view in plan view, but has a symmetrical shape with a dashed-dotted line as a boundary. Further, FIG. 1B is a half sectional view in a front view, but has a symmetrical shape with respect to a dashed line. The plan view shape and the bottom view shape are symmetric, and the front view shape and the back view shape are symmetric.

  The pipe joint J of this embodiment is used to connect a tubular body P for fluid, for example, a pipe / hose for water supply or hot water supply. As shown in FIG. 1, the pipe joint J includes a housing 1 having a display window portion 111 and an indicator 2 that can move in the housing 1 in the axial direction. In addition to the above, the pipe joint J includes a pipe connection portion 3, a retaining ring 4, and a cap 5.

  The housing 1 is made of resin and has a white color. The housing 1 is a substantially cylindrical body that is open at both ends in the axial direction and narrowed at the back in the axial direction. More specifically, the axially front portion of the housing 1 is a large-diameter portion 1a having a large outer diameter, and the back-side portion is a small-diameter portion 1b having a small outer diameter. A step is formed between 1a and the small diameter portion 1b.

  On the inner periphery of the housing 1, two guide grooves 11, 11 are formed facing each other in the radial direction. The guide groove 11 is formed along the axial direction. The width of the guide groove 11 is slightly larger than the width of the elastic deformation portion 22 and the indicator portion 23 of the indicator 2. Further, the diameter dimension of the bottom surface 112 of the guide groove 11 is slightly larger than the indicator portion 23 of the indicator 2 on the near side in the axial direction. For this reason, the indicator 2 can be moved in the axial direction inside the housing 1 without rotating in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 1B, the diameter dimension of the guide groove 11 on the bottom surface 112 is reduced at the axial back side portion 112a, and the axial back side portion 112a acts as a pressing portion. That is, as the indicator 2 moves to the back side in the axial direction, as shown in FIG. 3 (B), the indicator portion 23 is pressed inwardly by the back side portion 112a in the axial direction. And the display window part 111 is formed adjacent to the axial direction back | inner side part 112a of the ditch | groove 11 for guides. The display window 111 is a through hole that penetrates the axially front side portion of the small diameter portion 1 b of the housing 1 in the radial direction. The display window 111 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view and bottom view.

  The pipe connection portion 3 is made of a copper alloy in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3C, the one end side of the pipe connection portion 3 includes a connection cylinder portion 31 to which the tubular body P inserted into the pipe joint J is connected. O-rings 32 and 32 are provided. And the other end side of the pipe connection part 3 is provided with the screw cylinder part 33, and although not shown in figure, the pipe, elbow, etc. which cut the screw are connected. The pipe connection portion 3 is coupled to the housing 1 by screwing. Between the connection cylinder part 31 and the screw cylinder part 33, the tool engaging part 34 used in the case of screwing is provided.

  The retaining ring 4 is an annular body made of a stainless steel plate and includes a plurality of retaining claws 41 on the inner periphery. The locking claw 41 is formed so as to be inclined toward the back side in the axial direction. For this reason, when the tubular body P is pulled out from the pipe joint J toward the front side in the axial direction, the locking claws 41 bite into the outer peripheral surface of the tubular body P, so that the tubular body P can be prevented from coming off from the pipe joint J. The cap 5 is screwed into the axially front end of the housing 1 and coupled. The cap 5 includes a through hole 51 through which the tubular body P passes.

  Next, the indicator 2 will be described. The indicator 2 is a substantially cylindrical body made of resin, and the color is black. As shown in FIG. 2, the indicator 2 integrally includes a sliding cylinder portion 21, an elastic deformation portion 22, and an indicator portion 23. For this reason, the pipe joint J can be configured with a small number of components.

  The sliding cylinder portion 21 is a portion whose outer peripheral surface slides with respect to the inner surface of the housing 1. At the rear end portion in the axial direction of the sliding cylinder portion 21, four tube engaging portions 211 having a claw shape protruding inward in the radial direction are provided so as to jump off in the circumferential direction. The tube engaging portion 211 is brought into contact with and engaged with the end portion of the tubular body P inserted into the housing 1. Thereby, the indicator 2 is pushed by the insertion of the tubular body P, and the indicator 2 can be moved to the back side in the axial direction inside the housing 1.

  The elastic deformation part 22 is a part located adjacent to the circumferential direction of the sliding cylinder part 21. The indicator portion 23 is a portion that is adjacent to the back side in the axial direction of the elastic deformation portion 22 and is formed so as to protrude outward in the radial direction from the elastic deformation portion 22. For this reason, there is a step between the elastic deformation portion 22 and the indicator portion 23 by the amount protruding in the radially outward direction. In the present embodiment, the index portion 23 functions as a pressed portion that is pressed against the axially back side portion 112 a of the housing 1. However, the pressed portion is not limited to the indicator portion 23 but may be another portion of the indicator 2.

  A curved surface is formed in the corner portion 231 which is nearer to the back side in the axial direction of the index portion 23 (see FIG. 3C), and the bottom surface 112 of the guide groove 11 as the indicator 2 moves. Can be smoothly received. Further, when the operator confirms the insertion state of the tubular body P by touch, the operator's finger is not easily caught on the corner portion 231 having the curved surface, and smooth confirmation can be performed. The sliding cylinder portion 21 and the elastic deformation portion 22 are separated by a slit 24 formed along the axial direction except for a portion on the front side in the axial direction. Further, the inner diameter size of the sliding cylinder portion 21 and the elastic deformation portion 22 is larger than the outer diameter size of the tubular body P.

  As the indicator 2 moves in the housing 1 toward the back side in the axial direction by the insertion of the tubular body P, as shown in FIG. 3B, the back side portion in the axial direction on the bottom surface 112 of the guide groove 11 The indicator portion 23 is pressed by 112a. Thereby, the elastic deformation part 22 curves in the radial direction (elastically deforms). Then, when the indicator 2 further moves further in the axial direction, the indicator portion 23 and the bottom surface 112 of the guide groove 11 do not come into contact with each other, and as shown in FIG. Part 23 matches. That is, the indicator part 23 enters the display window part 111. When the indicator portion 23 enters, the bending (elastic deformation) in the radial direction of the elastic deformation portion 22 is released, and the elastic deformation portion 22 returns to the state before elastic deformation so as to be repelled. As a result, the elastic deformation portion 22 moves in the radially outward direction by the level difference between the elastic deformation portion 22 and the indicator portion 23. At this time, the elastic deformation portion 22 is moved to the housing 1 (specifically, the display window portion). For example, a collision sound is generated with a clicking sound. With this collision sound, even in a place where it is difficult to visually recognize such as a dark place or a narrow place, the operator can surely grasp the insertion state of the tubular body P by hearing. Thereby, the connection failure of the tubular body P can be prevented even in a place where visual recognition is difficult.

  When the indicator portion 23 enters the display window portion 111 as described above, a part of the indicator portion 23 protrudes outside from the display window portion 111 that is a through hole as shown in FIG. In this way, a part of the indicator portion 23 pops out, so that the operator touches the indicator portion 23 that protrudes and inserts the tubular body P by tactile sense even in a place where visibility is difficult such as a dark place or a narrow place. The situation can be grasped reliably. Thereby, the connection failure of the tubular body P can be prevented even in a place where visual recognition is difficult.

  The indicator 23 is black and has a different color from the housing (white). For this reason, since the indicator portion 23 stands out in a state of protruding from the display window portion 111, the visibility is good, and the operator can easily grasp the insertion state of the tubular body P visually.

  When the indicator portion 23 protrudes from the display window portion 111, as shown in FIG. 3C, the indicator portion 23 protrudes higher in the radial direction than the small diameter portion 1b of the housing 1 and lower than the large diameter portion 1a. . Thus, even if the indicator portion 23 protrudes, it does not protrude in the radial direction from the large-diameter portion 1a, so that the operator can surely confirm the insertion state of the tubular body P by touch, and the indicator portion 23 is not in the other direction. It does not interfere with the piping work because it does not interfere with piping or building walls.

  The pipe joint J of the present embodiment configured as described above has visual (by the indicator portion 23 coinciding with the display window portion 111), tactile sense (by jumping out of the indicator portion 23 from the display window portion 111), and auditory sense. The operator can be informed of the insertion state of the tubular body P by three different perceptions (due to the elastic collision of the elastic deformation portion 22). For this reason, even when connecting the tubular body in a place where visibility is difficult such as a dark place or a narrow place, the operator can easily confirm the insertion state of the tubular body.

  Further, this pipe joint J does not have a large number of components, and it is easy to disassemble the pipe joint J and dispose it according to the material at the time of disposal. At the time of disposal, the indicator 2 can be easily separated from the housing 1 by pushing the indicator portion 23 into the display window portion 111. Further, the parts that are connected by screwing can be easily separated by loosening the tightened screws. This makes it easy to recycle the component parts.

  Since the pipe joint J can be easily disassembled as described above, it is easy to redo the connection work of the tubular body P in the field, so when changing the length of the tubular body P to be connected, etc. Good re-installability.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above by way of examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, the housing 1 may be formed so that it can be visually recognized from the outside whether or not the indicator portion 23 of the indicator 2 matches the display window portion 111. For this reason, the display window 111 is not limited to the through hole as in the above embodiment, and may be a bottomed hole (a recess formed in the inner surface of the housing 1). However, when the bottomed hole is formed in this way, it is possible to visually confirm whether or not the indicator portion 23 is in a state of being coincident with the display window portion 111 because at least the bottom portion of the concave portion is made transparent or translucent. Must be configured. Furthermore, the display window 111 may be a simple transparent window or a semi-transparent window that does not include a recess. In these cases, since the index part 23 does not protrude from the display window part 111, insertion confirmation by tactile sense cannot be performed. For this reason, it is possible to notify the operator of the insertion state of the tubular body P by two different perceptions of vision and hearing. The entire housing 1 may be formed to be transparent or translucent.

  In addition, the pipe engaging portion 211 is not limited to the one provided in the circumferential direction as in the above embodiment, but may be provided in an annular shape that is continuous in the circumferential direction. In addition, the pipe engaging portion 211 is engaged with the tubular body P so that the indicator 2 moves to the inner side of the housing 1 in the axial direction as the tubular body P is inserted. Form may be sufficient.

  Further, the elastic deformation portion 22 may be configured to elastically deform in the radially outward direction as the indicator 2 moves inside the housing 1 by the insertion of the tubular body P.

  In addition, the index part is not limited to the form of popping out like the index part 23 of the above embodiment, but may be a retracted form. That is, it may be configured such that it is not in a state where it enters the display window 111 before and after the collision of the elastically deformable portion 22 with the housing.

Reference examples relating to this configuration are shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C (the same parts as those in the above-described embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals). In the present embodiment, the indicator 6 includes a first member 61 and a second member 62 that are separate bodies. The first member 61 engages with the tubular body P inserted into the housing 1, and moves in the axially inner side as the tubular body P moves in the axially inner side, and the sliding cylinder portion 611. And an elastic deformation portion 612 are integrally provided. Functionally, the sliding cylinder portion 611 of the present embodiment corresponds to the sliding cylinder portion 21 in the indicator 2 of the embodiment. The elastic deformation portion 612 of this embodiment corresponds to the elastic deformation portion 22. The elastic deformation portion 612 of the present embodiment has a protruding portion 612a that protrudes in the radially outward direction. The second member 62 is, for example, a “C” -shaped member configured to be deformable in the radial direction. Functionally, the second member 62 corresponds to the indicator portion 23 in the indicator 2 of the embodiment. On the other hand, a concave portion 12 capable of accommodating the protruding portion 612a is formed on the inner peripheral portion of the housing 1. Further, an escape portion 13 is formed inside the housing 1 on the back side in the axial direction, and the second member 62 can move to the escape portion 13.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the first member 61 and the second member 62 are initially separated from each other in the axial direction, and the second member 62 enters the display window 111.

  As the first member 61 moves inside the housing 1 toward the back side in the axial direction by inserting the tubular body P, as shown in FIG. 4B, the back side in the axial direction on the bottom surface 112 of the guide groove 11 is shown. The protruding portion 612a is pressed by the side portion 112a. Thereby, the elastic deformation part 612 is curved in the radial direction (elastically deformed). Then, the elastic deformation portion 612 of the first member 61 comes into contact with the second member 62. Then, when the first member 61 is further moved to the back side in the axial direction, the second member 62 is also moved to the back side in the axial direction, and the second member 62 is displayed on the display window 111 as shown in FIG. And move to the escape portion 13.

  Further, as the first member 61 moves toward the back side in the axial direction, the protruding portion 612a and the bottom surface 112 of the guide groove 11 do not come into contact with each other, and as shown in FIG. 612a enters. When the projecting portion 612a enters, the bending (elastic deformation) of the elastic deformation portion 612 in the radial direction is released, and the elastic deformation portion 612 returns to the state before elastic deformation so as to be repelled. As a result, the elastically deforming portion 612 collides with the housing 1 while generating, for example, a “click” collision sound.

  As described above, the second member 62 corresponding to the index portion 23 of the embodiment is retracted from the display window 111, so that the operator can be notified of the insertion state of the tubular body P by vision and touch. Furthermore, it is possible to inform the operator of the insertion state of the tubular body P by hearing from the collision of the elastic deformation portion 612 against the housing 1.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 111 Display window part 112a The axial direction back side part of the bottom face of a press part and a guide groove 2 Indicator 211 Pipe engaging part 22 Elastic deformation part 23 Indicator part J Pipe joint P Tubular body

Claims (5)

Used to connect tubular bodies,
A housing having a display window, and an indicator movable in the axial direction within the housing;
The housing on an inner surface, has a pressing portion for pressing the indicator has moved to the axially inner side along the guide groove and the guide groove for moving the indicator in the axial direction,
The indicator includes a tube engaging portion, an elastic deformation portion, and an indicator portion,
The indicator portion is adjacent to the axially rear side of the elastic deformation portion, and is formed so as to protrude in a radially outward direction from the elastic deformation portion,
The diameter dimension of the bottom surface of the guide groove is larger than the indicator portion on the front side in the axial direction,
The tube engaging portion engages with a tubular body inserted into the housing, and the indicator moves to the axially inner side as the tubular body moves to the axially inner side due to the engagement,
The elastically deforming portion is elastically deformed radially inward by pressing the indicator portion of the indicator by the pressing portion of the housing as the indicator moves to the back side in the axial direction. The elastic deformation by the pressing part is released by moving and colliding while generating a collision sound against the housing,
The indicator portion coincides with the display window portion together with the collision of the elastically deforming portion with the housing ,
The display window portion is a pipe joint formed so that whether or not the indicator portion is in agreement is visible from the outside of the housing. The display window is a recess formed in the inner surface of the housing ;
Before Symbol indicator portion becomes a state that has entered into the display window when the elastic deformation of the elastic deformation portion is released,
The pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein the elastically deforming portion collides with an inner surface of the housing when the indicator portion enters the display window portion. The display window is a through hole that penetrates the housing in a radial direction,
3. The pipe joint according to claim 2, wherein when the indicator portion enters the display window portion, a part of the indicator portion protrudes from the display window portion to the outside of the housing.   The pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein the indicator portion has a color different from that of the housing.   The pipe joint according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pipe engaging portion, the elastic deformation portion, and the indicator portion are integrally formed.

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