JP4158074B2 - Quick connector for fuel piping equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a quick connector (referred to as a quick connector for fuel piping equipment in this specification) provided in a tank or a regulator in a fuel piping path.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 7, the fuel tank of an automobile is usually provided with an L-shaped tube connecting pipe 9 on the outer surface of the tank body T, and the fuel is passed through the tube connected to the tube connecting pipe 9. It is intended to be transferred to other equipment.
[0003]
However, since the conventional tube connection tube 9 is integrated with the tank body T as shown in FIG. 7, there is a problem that the tube connection direction cannot be changed.
[0004]
In order to solve the above problem, a quick connector has been developed in which a connecting pipe portion to which a tube is connected can be freely rotated (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-42090).
[0005]
As shown in FIG. 8, the tube connection pipe 81 is detachably attached to the tank body T via a stopper 80, and the tube connection pipe is freely attached to the tank body T. It can be rotated.
[0006]
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the connecting pipe 81 is formed in an L shape comprising a horizontal pipe 81a and a vertical pipe 81b, and a flange 81c is provided in the middle of the vertical pipe 81b.
[0007]
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the tank body T includes a circular pipe 82 that is suspended from the inner surface of the tank and communicates the inside and outside of the tank, support portions 83 and 83 provided on the outer surface of the tank, A seal ring 84 provided on the inner surface of the upper end is provided.
[0008]
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the retainer 80 includes a C-shaped portion 80a that holds down the flange 81c of the vertical tube 81b, arm portions 80b and 80b that are positioned and held by the support portions 83 and 83, and an extraction operation. Part 80c and formed integrally with an elastic member.
[0009]
In this quick connector, when the tube connection pipe 81 is assembled to the tank body T, the vertical pipe 81b is inserted into the circular pipe 82 until the flange 81c contacts the outer surface of the tank. In this state, the C-shaped portion 80a is connected to the vertical pipe 81b. Until the arm portions 80b and 80b are supported by the support portions 83 and 83, the retainer 80 is pushed in until it is extrapolated. On the other hand, when the tube connection pipe 81 is removed from the tank body T, the stopper 80 is removed from the tube connection pipe 81 and the support parts 83 and 83 using the pull-out operation part 80c, and then the tube connection pipe 81 is removed from the circular pipe 82. Pull out.
[0010]
However, with this quick connector, two operations are required for assembling and removing the tube connecting tube 81 with respect to the tank body T, and it is difficult to attach and remove the stopper 80, which is very troublesome. . There is also a problem that the stopper 80 is lost when the tube connection pipe 81 is removed from the tank body T.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, in the present invention, (1) the tube connecting pipe can be rotated or rotated in the forward and reverse directions, (2) the tube connecting pipe can be easily attached to and detached from the fuel piping equipment, and (3) the tube connection to the fuel piping equipment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a quick connector for a fuel piping device in which parts are not lost during pipe attachment / detachment work.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(Invention of Claim 1)
In the quick connector for a fuel pipe device according to the present invention, the tube connection pipe is formed in an L shape, is integrated with a gap provided on the outer surface of the fuel pipe device, and the inner peripheral surface is formed in a circular shape. A stop ring, a support pipe provided on the inner surface of the fuel pipe device and communicating between the inside and the outside of the fuel pipe device, a tube connection pipe inserted into the support pipe so as to be able to rotate forward and backward or turn, and the tube connection pipe A plurality of elastic arms provided on an outer wall surface of the vertical pipe and capable of being pushed inwardly, and a locking claw provided on an outer surface of a free end side of the elastic arm, and a hole portion of the locking annular body In a state where a predetermined amount of the vertical tube of the tube connecting tube is inserted into the support tube, the locking claw that has passed through the locking annular body and the lower surface of the locking annular body are locked, and the size of the gap is large. Set the height slightly higher than the height of the locking claw. That.
(Invention of Claim 2)
The quick connector for a fuel piping device according to the present invention relates to the invention described in claim 1, and is provided with a sealing for ensuring fluid tightness between the support tube and the vertical tube of the tube connecting tube.
(Invention of Claim 3)
The quick connector for a fuel piping device according to the present invention relates to the invention according to claim 1, and has a U-shaped one in which a support tube is integrated with an inner surface of the fuel piping device.
(Invention of Claim 4)
The quick connector for a fuel pipe device according to the present invention relates to the invention described in claim 3 above, and the support pipe is composed of an outer circular pipe, an inner circular pipe, and a lower end connecting portion that connects them.
[0013]
In addition, the function of the quick connector for fuel piping equipment of the above-described invention will be described in the section of the embodiment of the invention below.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings shown as embodiments.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a quick connector for a fuel pipe device, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the quick connector in a half cross section.
[Overall configuration of quick connector for fuel piping equipment]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the fuel pipe device quick connector is integrated with the locking annular body 3 integrated with the gap G on the outer surface of the fuel pipe device NK and the inner surface of the fuel pipe device NK. Support tube 4 that communicates with the inside and outside of the fuel piping device NK, a tube connection tube 1 that is rotatably inserted into the support tube 4, and a tube connection tube 1 that is provided in the tube connection tube 1 and can be pushed inwardly. A pair of elastic arms 2 and a locking claw 20 provided on the outer surface of the elastic arm 2 on the free end side.
[Configuration of main components of quick connector for fuel piping equipment]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tube connecting pipe 1 is formed by connecting a vertical pipe 1b to a horizontal pipe 1a, and is formed in an L shape as a whole. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal tube 1a has a so-called “bamboo shoot” shape on its outer surface so that the connected tube is not inadvertently detached, and the vertical tube 1b is formed as shown in FIG. The inner surface of the lower region is formed by a cylindrical tube having a seal ring SL attached thereto.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the elastic arm 2 is suspended from the overhangs provided at the upper end of the vertical tube 1b at intervals of 180 °, and a locking claw 20 is provided on the outer surface of the free end. is there. As shown in FIG. 3, the height of the locking claw 20 is slightly smaller than the size of the gap G, and the outer wall 20a is inclined inward toward the fuel piping device NK. It is set as follows.
[0016]
Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, an arc-shaped through-hole 21 is provided in a portion corresponding to the elastic arm 2 in the overhanging rod. This is because it can be easily bent inward by picking it with the thumb and index finger.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the locking annular body 3 includes a circular ring 30 having a quadrangular cross section and a pair of legs 31, 31 provided on the lower surface of the ring 30. The legs 31, 31 are integrated with the outer surface of the fuel piping device NK. Therefore, the above-mentioned gap G is formed between the lower surface of the ring 30 and the outer surface of the fuel piping device NK by the legs 31, 31.
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the support pipe 4 has a U-shaped cross section (double structure) integrated with the inner surface of the fuel piping device NK, and serves to communicate the inside and outside of the fuel piping device NK. And a role of supporting the vertical pipe 1b of the tube connecting pipe 1 inserted therein. In detail, the support tube 4 of this embodiment is composed of an outer circular tube 40, an inner circular tube 41, and a lower end connecting portion 42 that connects them, and there is a gap between the outer tube 40 and the inner tube 41. This is the portion into which the vertical pipe 1b of the tube connecting pipe 1 is inserted.
[ Assembly and removal of tube connection pipe 1 to and from fuel piping equipment NK ]
(1) When the vertical tube 1b of the tube connecting tube 1 is inserted into the support tube 4 through the hole of the assembled locking annular body 3, the outer wall surface 20a of the locking claw 20 contacts the locking annular body 3. In contact therewith, the elastic arm 2 is elastically deformed inward, and the locking claw 20 passes through the locking annular body 3.
[0019]
When the locking claw 20 passes through the locking annular body 3, at that time, the elastic arm 2 spreads due to the elastic restoring force, and the locking claw 20 is in contact with the lower surface of the locking annular body 3 as shown in FIG. Become. In this state, the fluid tightness between the outer surface of the inner pipe 41 and the vertical pipe 1b is ensured by the presence of the seal ring SL, and fuel does not leak to the outside.
[0020]
In the quick connector of this embodiment, the tube connecting tube 1 can be rotated forward and backward within a range in which the locking claw 20 can move between the leg portions 31 and 31.
(2) When the removable elastic arms 2 and 2 are sandwiched between the thumb and forefinger and bent inward, the locking of the locking claw 20 and the locking annular body 3 is released. If the tube connecting pipe 1 is pulled in the direction of pulling away from the fuel piping device NK while maintaining this state, the tube connecting tube 1 is detached from the fuel piping device NK.
(3) Common to assembly and removal As shown in (1) and (2) above, the tube connection pipe 1 can be assembled to the fuel piping device NK with one hand and with one operation, and from the fuel piping device NK. The tube connection pipe 1 can be removed.
[0021]
That is, it is very easy to attach and detach the tube connecting pipe 1 to / from the fuel piping device NK.
(4) Other than the tube connection pipe 1, there is no member that can be removed from the fuel piping equipment NK. Therefore, unlike the prior art, parts are not lost during assembly / removal work. Further, the cost can be reduced because the number of parts is small.
(Other embodiments)
(1). The quick connector shown in FIG. 4 has substantially the same structure as that of the first embodiment, but the support tube 4 is composed of a single circular tube, and a seal ring mounted on the inner surface of the support tube 4. The fluid tightness between the support tube 4 and the vertical tube 1b is ensured by SL.
(2). 5 and 6 show the locking annular body 3 for allowing the tube connecting tube 1 to rotate 360 °. In these locking annular bodies 3, the leg portions 31 are not positioned on the movement trajectory of the locking claw 20 when the tube connecting tube 1 is rotated.
(3). The support tube 4 can be integrally formed or retrofitted to the fuel piping device NK.
(4). In the said embodiment, although the tube connection pipe | tube 1 is made into the L-shaped thing, it can also be used as a straight pipe | tube.
(5). Examples of the fuel piping device NK include a tank and a regulator.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.
[0023]
As is apparent from the column of the embodiment of the invention, (1) the tube connection pipe can be rotated or rotated in the forward and reverse directions, (2) the tube connection pipe can be easily attached to and detached from the fuel piping equipment, and (3) We were able to provide a quick connector for fuel piping equipment that does not lose parts when attaching and detaching tube connection pipes to and from fuel piping equipment.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a quick connector for a fuel piping device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a tube connecting tube is removed from a locking annular body in the quick connector.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the quick connector in half section.
FIG. 4 is a front view of a half-section of a quick connector for a fuel pipe device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a locking annular body according to another embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a locking annular body according to another embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a tank having a tube connecting pipe.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a quick connector for a fuel piping device according to the prior art.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a prior art quick connector.
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a retainer used in a prior art quick connector.
[Explanation of symbols]
NK Fuel piping equipment G Gap
SL Seal ring 1 Tube connection pipe
1a Horizontal pipe
1b Longitudinal tube 2 Elastic arm 3 Locking ring 4 Support tube
20 Locking claw

Claims (4)

The tube connecting pipe is formed in an L-shape, and is provided with a gap on the outer surface of the fuel piping device and integrated with a circular inner peripheral surface, and on the inner surface of the fuel piping device. A support pipe that is provided and communicates between the inside and outside of the fuel pipe device, a tube connection pipe that is inserted into the support pipe so as to rotate in the forward and reverse directions, and is rotatable. A plurality of elastic arms that can be pushed in, and a locking claw provided on the outer surface of the free end of the elastic arm, and supports the vertical tube of the tube connecting tube through the hole of the locking annular body In a state where a predetermined amount is inserted into the tube, the locking claw that has passed through the locking annular body and the lower surface of the locking annular body are in a locked state, and the size of the gap is larger than the height of the locking claw. slightly larger quick fuel piping components, characterized in that is set Connector. Quick connector for fuel pipe device請Motomeko 1, wherein a which had been provided with a sealing to ensure the fluid-tightness between the vertical tube of the support tube and the tube connecting pipe. 2. The quick connector for a fuel pipe device according to claim 1 , wherein the support pipe is U-shaped integrated with the inner surface of the fuel pipe device. 4. The quick connector for a fuel piping device according to claim 3, wherein the support pipe is composed of an outer circular pipe, an inner circular pipe, and a lower end connecting portion that connects these .

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