JPH0121396B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a connector for multiple pipes, and more specifically, for connecting multiple pipes each having a plurality of fluid passages formed to input ports and output ports of pneumatic equipment such as solenoid valves and cylinders. Concerning multiple pipe connectors.

Drive the container using a fluid, such as air,
Alternatively, various devices for performing control have been widely used. In this case, the various devices described above usually include an input port for introducing air and an output port for removing air. Therefore,
Pipe lines are connected to the input port and the output port, respectively.

Conventionally, in order to minimize the installation space for these pipelines and to facilitate their maintenance and management, fluid introduction and discharge pipelines have been arranged as close together as possible. A specific example thereof is shown in FIG.

That is, an input (output) port 4 and an output (input) port 6 are formed in the device 2, and conduits 8 and 10 are connected to these ports 4 and 6, respectively. A first connector 12 is interposed between the conduit 8 and the port 4, while a first connector 12 is interposed between the port 6 and the conduit 1.
A second connector 14 is interposed between the connector 0 and the connector 0. In fact, the first connector 12 and the second connector 14 are threaded into the ports 4 and 6, respectively, and are connected to the conduit 8.
The conduit 10 is fitted and connected to engaging conduits 16 and 18 integrally formed in the first connector 12 and the second connector 14, respectively.

Therefore, in such a configuration, pipe line 8 and pipe line 1
0 is bundled with strings 20 or bands, etc., in an effort to reduce the installation space as much as possible and to facilitate maintenance and management. However, in this prior art, for example, in a device with many output ports such as a manifold type solenoid valve, the pipes 8 and 10 are
The number of tubes that make up the system increases, and the configuration itself becomes more complex. Furthermore, as described above, since the conduit itself must be secured at several locations with strings 20, bands, etc., a considerable number of man-hours are required for the tightening. Furthermore, the number of piping steps increases in proportion to the number of tubes, and as a result, there is a considerable risk of erroneous connections between ports, so-called erroneous piping. Furthermore, if a plurality of tubes are tightened with strings or bands, the piping pitch becomes narrower in the prior art as described above. Therefore, even if a connector is to be used, it is not easy to insert the tube itself into the connector due to the narrow piping pitch. Moreover, the number of connectors increases, which inconveniently increases the number of piping steps.

Therefore, as a result of intensive studies and efforts, the present inventor focused on a multi-tube in which multiple fluid passages are defined concentrically within one tube, and the inventors focused on a multi-tube in which a plurality of fluid passages are defined concentrically within one tube, and the inventors focused on a multi-tube in which a plurality of fluid passages are defined concentrically within one tube. A connector having a fluid passage is prepared, and the fluid passage of each of the multiple pipes is connected to the fluid passage of the connector, and the ends of the multiple pipe are firmly engaged with a locking member constituting the connector. If configured so that the pipes are connected to each other, there is no need to use strings, bands, etc. to tighten the pipe members for introducing and discharging the fluid, and there is less possibility of incorrect piping.Furthermore, it is simple and easy to use without considering the piping pitch. It has been found that a connector for multiple tubes that can reliably connect multiple tubes to a device can be obtained, and the various problems mentioned above can be eliminated. Moreover, if the connector is configured to define a passage for changing the flow path between one tube body and the other tube body constituting the multiple tube, for example, the flow direction of the fluid through the connector is It was also found that the range of applications of various devices using the fluid will be expanded all at once.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the installation space as much as possible, avoid incorrect piping, and greatly reduce the number of piping steps. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a connector for multiple pipes that can be easily changed.

To achieve the above object, the present invention includes a body and a plug member, the body forming a tube insertion hole for receiving multiple tubes defining a plurality of fluid passages and communicating with the tube insertion hole. to define a number of fluid passages corresponding to the plurality of fluid passages, and the plug member is integrally provided on a cylindrical body that locks the inner tube of the multiple tube and a peripheral wall of this cylindrical body, and the plug member is integrally provided with a peripheral wall of the cylindrical body and A plug member is fitted into the tube insertion hole, and a locking member is engaged with the outer tube of the multiple tube to seat the multiple tube. It is characterized by being configured to be airtightly connected to the body.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a first tube insertion hole for receiving one multiple tube having at least two fluid passages through a first plug member at one end of the body, and a first tube insertion hole at the other end for receiving one multiple tube having at least two fluid passages. a second tube insertion hole for receiving the other multiple tube having at least two fluid passages through the second plug member; One end of the one communication passage is connected to one fluid passage of one of the multiple tubes received in the first tube insertion hole, and the other end is connected to the fluid passage of the other multiple tube. It communicates with the other fluid passage, one end of said other communicating passage is connected to one fluid passage of the other multiple tube received in the second tube insertion hole, and the other end is connected to the other fluid passage of the other multiple tube received in the second tube insertion hole. It is characterized in that it is configured to communicate with the fluid passage of.

Next, preferred embodiments of the multi-pipe connector according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 and 3, reference numeral 30 indicates a multi-pipe connector according to the present invention. This connector 30 includes a body 32 made of a cylindrical body made of synthetic resin or the like. The body 32 has a hole 34 that opens widely at its end.
A first passage 38 extending in the axial direction of the body 32 is formed in a bottom portion 36 at which the body 32 terminates;
A second passage 40 extending parallel to the first passage 38 is formed at a side end of the bottom portion 36 . 1st
One end of the passage 38 widens to form an annular groove 42, while the bottom portion 36 has seats 44 formed with inclined surfaces extending in the axial direction of the body 32 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Multiple units are installed.

In the above configuration, the plug member 50 fits into the body 32. The plug member 50 includes a cylindrical body like the body 32, and a passage 52 is formed in the center thereof to pass through the plug member 50 in the axial direction. The passage 52 has a bulging part 54 formed with a curved surface at its lower end, and a stopper 56 with a slightly enlarged diameter is radially provided at the upper part of the bulging part 54, which becomes a locking part for multiple pipes, which will be described later. to form. The upper part of the stopper 56 is a spacer 57 that is integral with the stopper 56 and the plug member 5.
A locking portion 58 for pressing an inner tube of a multiplex tube, which will be described later, is formed inside the tube.

Next, the ring-shaped seal member 60 seated on the seat 44 will be described. The sealing member 60 has a circular cross section to increase the sealing effect, and has grooves 62a and 6 circumferentially formed at its upper and lower ends.
2b is engraved. In view of its function, the sealing member 60 is preferably made of an elastic material such as natural rubber or synthetic rubber.

Furthermore, the chuck member 64 is preferably used in the present invention. The chuck member 64 is generally a ring-shaped flat plate made of metal with high elasticity, and a main body 66 thereof has a plurality of slits 68 defined at equal intervals. Then, one end portion of the main body 66 is bent inward to form a claw portion 70. Claw part 7
As can be easily understood from the figure, the tip of 0 is
It is preferable to sharpen it.

Collet 72 fits over chuck member 64. This collector 72 is also preferably made of a flexible member such as synthetic resin, and like the chuck member, slits 76 are formed at equal intervals in a ring-shaped main body 74.
Multiple lines are formed. A bulge 78 is formed at one end of the main body 74 and becomes thicker toward the outside.
Further, a ring-shaped flange 80 is formed at the other end. It will be appreciated that the presence of the slits 76 allows the body 74 to be easily bent inwardly or outwardly.

Next, in the present invention, a guide member 82 that fits on the outside of the collet 72 is provided. The guide member 82 has an inwardly extending flange 84 at its upper end, as can be readily seen in FIG.
On the other hand, an inclined surface 86 is formed at the lower end thereof, and extends around the circumference and has a predetermined angle inward. Furthermore, an annular protrusion 88 is formed on the ring-shaped guide member 82 above the inclined surface 86 .

On the other hand, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 90 indicates a release button. The release bush 90 has a cylindrical shape and has an outwardly extending flange 92 formed at its upper end. Further, an edge 94 having a gentler inclination angle than the claw portion 70 of the chuck member 64 is formed at the lower end of the release bush 90. release button 90
The edge 94 extends from the middle of the cylindrical body.
A plurality of slits 96 are formed that are oriented toward the flange 92, and a stepped portion 98 is defined between the slits 96 and the flange 92 by reducing the wall thickness of the release button 90.

The connector 30 for multiple pipes according to the present invention is basically constructed as described above, and the assembly configuration when connecting multiple pipes using this connector will be described below.

First, the multiple tube 100 basically includes an outer tube 102 and an inner tube 104 disposed concentrically therein. For this reason, the outer tube 1
A fluid passage 106 is defined between the inner tube 104 and the inner tube 104, while a passage 108 is defined in the inner tube 104.
is defined. The multi-tube 100 having the above-mentioned configuration has its lower end displaced by 90 degrees with respect to the axial direction using a common cutter knife or the like, that is,
Cut it at right angles. Therefore, this multi-tube 100
Inside, the inner tube 104 is inserted into the passage 52 provided in the plug member 50 and the inner tube 104 is inserted into the passage 52 provided in the plug member 50.
It penetrates into the center of the area. As a result, the inner tube 1
04 is flexible, so that it is slightly bent inward by the locking portion 58 and is firmly held. On the other hand, the outer tube 102 is fitted on the outside of the plug member 50 and is locked by the shoulder of the stopper 56 protruding from the plug member 50. As a result, the outer tube 102 is inserted into the plug member 50 while ensuring a predetermined gap by the spacer 57 extending above the stopper 56.
is attached to. In this case, the passage 5 of this plug member 50 is at the same height as the upper end surface of the stopper 56.
It is preferable to form a stepped portion 103 in the inner tube 2 so that the inner tubes 104 of the multiple tubes 100 cut to the same length can be easily engaged.

After going through the preparation stages as described above, the seal member 60, the chuck member 64, and the collector 7 are attached to the body 32.
2. Guide member 82 and release button 90
is assembled. That is, the seal member 60 fits into the upper end portion of the seat 44. in this way,
The seal member 60 is placed and fixed, and then the collet 72 is fitted onto the chuck member 64. As a result, the flange 80 of the collet 72 abuts the circumferential upper end of the chuck member 64. In this manner, chuck member 64 and collet 72 engage the upper end of seal member 60 secured to seat 44 in an integral configuration. That is, the inwardly sloping pawls 70 engage the curved inner ends of the seal member 60. Therefore, the guide member 82 is engaged with the hole 34 of the annular body 32. That is, the metal guide member 82 is introduced into the hole 34, and the annular protrusion 88 engages with the body 32 while the body 32 is bent. In this way, the guide member 82 is assembled into the body 32.

The release bush 90 is then inserted into the guide member 82 . As described above, the release button 90 has an edge 94 that forms a gentler inclination angle than the claw portion 70, so that the release button 90 can be inserted into the chuck member 64 via the guide member 82. Then, the tip of the edge 94 contacts the claw portion 70.

The preparation step is completed in this assembled state, and then the multiple tube 100 integrally assembled with the plug member 50 is introduced into the release bush 90. The multiple tube 100 is pushed together with the plug member 50 through a hole penetrating the center of the release bush 90 until the bulge 54 of the plug member 50 reaches the inside of the annular groove 42 . At this time, the bulging portion 54 deforms while being slightly pressed by the wall portion of the body 32 defining the annular groove 42, and comes into close contact with the inner wall thereof (see FIG. 3).

In this way, the internal passage 10 of the multi-tube 100
8 ensures communication with the first passage 38. on the other hand,
The external passage 106 of the multiple tube 100 communicates with a passage defined between spacers 57, 57 integrally formed on the top of the stopper 56 and a second passage 40 formed on the bottom 36. Therefore, the multiple pipe 100
When compressed air is introduced into the chuck member 6, the multiple pipe 100 is slightly pulled upward in the figure.
The tip of the claw portion 70 of 4 is connected to the outer tube 1 made of a flexible member.
02 and firmly hold this multi-tube 100. In this way, the multiple tube 100
and the connector 30 hermetically connect the fluid passage.

Next, the operation when removing the multiplex tube 100 once assembled as described above from the connector 30 will be explained.

In this case, the release button 90 is first pressed downward in the figure. As a result, the tip of the edge 94 presses against the claw 70, causing the highly flexible claw 70 to bend outward. For this reason, the claw portion 70 disengages from the outer tube 102. Therefore, by pulling out the multiple pipe 100, it becomes possible to separate it from the plug member 50 integrally.
That is, although the bulging portion 54 of the plug member 50 engages with the annular groove 42 with some frictional force,
Since the frictional force of the locking portion 58 that presses the inner tube 104 is excellent, the multiple tube 100 can be pulled out together with the plug member 50.

Therefore, as can be easily understood from this embodiment, according to the apparatus of the present invention, the multiple pipe 100 and the connector 30 can be connected and disconnected with a single touch operation.

Next, FIG. 5 shows another example of the structure of the multi-tube connector according to the present invention. In this case, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 2 to 4 indicate the same components, and therefore, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, in particular, the inventor attempts to improve the body 32. That is, in this embodiment, the body 32 constituting the connector 30 has holes 34, 34 symmetrically defined at the upper end and the lower end, respectively, and the plug member 50 and the seal described above are inserted into the holes 34, 34. The member 60, the chuck member 64, the collet 72, the guide member 82, and the release bush 90 are fitted to fix and position the multiple tube 100, respectively. At this time, the body 32 is provided with a bending passage so that the passages of the inner tube and the outer tube with the multiple tubes 100, 100 are displaced relative to each other. That is, the first passage 38 is bent at an intermediate portion of the body 32 and led out near the peripheral edge of the cylindrical body 32. On the other hand, the second passage 40 is bent inward from the peripheral edge of the body 32 at its center. As a result, one of the multiplex tubes 1
The inner passageway 108 of the connector 30 communicates via the first passageway 38 of the connector 30 to the second passageway 40 of the connector 30 and to the passageway 106 defined by the outer tube 102 of the other multiplex tube 100. On the other hand, the outer passage 106 passes through the second passage 40 and reaches the first passage 38 , which is connected to the inner passage 1 of the multiple pipe 100 .
Connects with 08. That is, the fluid introduced through the passage 108 is forced to change its passage by the body portion 32 of the connector 30, and as a result is led out to the outer tube 102 side of the corresponding multiple tube. 100 passages 106
is conducted through passages 40 and 38 into passage 108 defined by inner tube 104 of corresponding multi-tube 100. Since the passage can be changed in this manner, the range of applications of various fluid devices to which the multiple pipe 100 is installed can be expanded at once.

According to the present invention, as described above, it is possible to connect multiple tubes with an extremely simple configuration, and when the multiple tubes are attached to a connector, they are simply cut at right angles to the axial direction. Just that is enough. This has the effect of not only making it easier to install multiple tubes, but also simplifying their handling. Furthermore, since the plug member defines the bulge, airtightness against the body is increased, and on the other hand, there is no need for special processing to ensure the locking effect, and as a result, Significantly reduce production costs. Furthermore, in order to install the multiple tube, it is only necessary to assemble the multiple tube and the plug member integrally and then fit it into the body.On the other hand, the multiple tube and the plug member can be removed integrally by simply pushing out the bushing. I can do it. Therefore, a practical effect can also be obtained in that assembly, disassembly, and maintenance management are extremely facilitated.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various improvements and changes in design can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a multiple tube and its connector according to the prior art, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a multiple tube connector and a multiple tube according to the present invention, and FIG. A partially omitted longitudinal cross-sectional view of the plug member attached to the connector, Fig. 5 is a partially omitted longitudinal cross-sectional view of the multi-pipe connector that allows the fluid passage to be changed by the connector. It is a front view. 30...Connector, 32...Body, 34...
...hole, 36...bottom, 38...first passage, 40
... second passage, 42 ... annular groove, 44 ... catch seat,
50...Plug member, 52...Passway, 54...Bulging portion, 56...Stopper, 57...Spacer, 5
8... Locking part, 60... Seal member, 62a, 6
2b...Groove, 64...Chuck member, 66...Body, 68...Slit, 70...Claw portion, 72...
Collection, 74...Body, 76...Slit, 7
8...Bulge, 80...Flange, 82...Guide member, 84...Flange, 86...Slope, 8
8... Annular protrusion, 90... Release button, 9
2...Flange, 94...Edge, 96...Slit, 98...Step, 100...Multiple pipe, 102
...Outer pipe, 103...Step part, 104...Inner pipe, 1
06,108...Aisle.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. The body includes a body and a plug member, the body forming a tube insertion hole for receiving multiple tubes defining a plurality of fluid passages, and communicating with the tube insertion hole for receiving the multiple tubes defining a plurality of fluid passages. A number of fluid passages corresponding to the number of fluid passages are defined, and the plug member is integrally provided with a cylindrical body that locks the inner tube of the multiple tube and a peripheral wall of this cylindrical body and seats the outer tube of the multiple tube. A plug member is fitted into the tube insertion hole, and a locking member is engaged with the outer tube of the multiple tube to airtightly connect the multiple tube to the body. A connector for multiple pipes, characterized in that it is configured to do so. 2. In the connector according to claim 1, the cylindrical body of the plug member has an internal passage for receiving the inner tube constituting the multiple tube, and the projecting piece of the plug member engages the outer tube of the multiple tube. The inner tube of the multiple tube and the plug member are stopped by defining a predetermined gap and fitting one end of the plug member into an annular groove provided at the bottom of the tube insertion hole and communicating with one fluid passage. The internal passage and the one fluid passage of the body are communicated with each other, and the outer pipe of the multi-tube and the other fluid passage provided at the bottom of the tube insertion hole are connected to each other through a gap defined by the projecting piece. A connector for multiple pipes that communicates with fluid passages. 3 A first tube insertion hole for receiving one multi-tube having at least two fluid passages is formed at one end of the body through a first plug member, and a second plug member is formed at the other end. forming a second tube insertion hole for receiving the other multiple tube having at least two fluid passages therethrough, and communicating the first tube insertion hole and the second tube insertion hole through the at least two passages; and one end of the one communication passage is connected to the first
It is connected to one fluid passage of one of the multiple tubes received in the tube insertion hole, and the other end communicates with the other fluid passage of the other multiple tube, and one end of the other communication passage is connected to the second tube. A connector for multiple tubes, characterized in that the connector is connected to one fluid passage of another multiple tube received in an insertion hole, and the other end is configured to communicate with the other fluid passage of one multiple tube.