JP2010284299A - Conduit line switching operation valve for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conduit line switching operation valve for endoscope which can improve operability by reducing sliding resistance during operation while using an O-ring as a seal member, can inexpensively and easily be manufactured, and is excellent in durability. <P>SOLUTION: The O-ring 26 for sealing a fitting part between a cylindrical member 21 and a piston shape member 22 is attached to the outer peripheral part of the piston shape member 22, concerning the conduit line switching operation valve for an endoscope. A helical groove 30 with a very small depth is formed in an area on the inner peripheral surface 21x of the cylindrical member 21, with which the O-ring 26 is in tight contact. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pipe line switching operation valve for an endoscope.

  In general, a pipe switching operation valve of an endoscope is configured such that a piston-like member that can be advanced and retracted in an axial direction is fitted and disposed in a cylinder-like member connected to a plurality of pipes, and the cylinder-like member and the piston-like member are arranged. A seal member for sealing the fitting portion is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the piston-like member, and the connection state of the plurality of pipes is switched by operating the piston-like member in the axial direction ( For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP-A-5-228103 JP-A-9-1222069

  In the endoscope channel switching operation valve described in Patent Document 1 or the like, an O-ring as a seal member is attached to a circumferential groove formed on the outer periphery of a piston-like member. And the fitting part of a cylinder-shaped member and a piston-shaped member is sealed when the O-ring is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder-shaped member and is slightly crushed.

  In general, an O-ring is excellent in sealing performance and durability, and has excellent characteristics that can provide stable quality as a sealing member. However, when the piston-like member is advanced and retracted, a considerably large sliding resistance is generated by the O-ring that is crushed and closely contacts the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder-like member. For this reason, an endoscope line switching operation valve in which an O-ring is used as a seal member requires a large amount of force for operation and is not easy to operate.

  Therefore, in the endoscope channel switching operation valve described in Patent Document 2 and the like, the sliding contact portion that is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder-shaped member is the insertion direction of the piston-shaped member with respect to the cylinder-shaped member. An annular seal member formed in a thin shape that deforms to the opposite side is used.

  Thus, by forming the sliding contact portion of the seal member thin, sliding resistance can be reduced and operability can be improved. However, if the sliding contact portion of the seal member with respect to the cylindrical member is formed thin, the thin portion is easily worn or damaged by short-term use, and there is a problem in that durability is significantly reduced.

  Therefore, if surface treatment such as lubricity coating is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member, even if an O-ring is used as the seal member, the sliding resistance can be reduced to some extent and the operability can be improved. There is a possibility that new problems such as a rise in the temperature and durability of the coating may occur.

  The present invention can improve operability by reducing sliding resistance during operation while using an O-ring as a seal member, and can be easily manufactured at low cost and has excellent durability. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope line switching valve.

  In order to achieve the above object, the pipe switching operation valve of the endoscope of the present invention has a piston-like member that can be moved back and forth in the axial direction inserted into a cylinder-like member to which a plurality of pipes are connected. In addition, an O-ring for sealing the fitting portion between the cylinder-shaped member and the piston-shaped member is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the piston-shaped member, and a plurality of pipes are connected by operating the piston-shaped member in the axial direction. In the endoscope channel switching operation valve configured to be switched, a spiral groove having a minute depth is formed in a region where the O-ring on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member is in close contact.

  The groove depth of the spiral groove may be in the range of 0.005 to 0.01 mm, the groove pitch may be in the range of 0.3 to 2 mm, and the groove width is 0.001 to 0.01 mm. It may be in the range.

  Further, an umbrella-shaped check valve made of a resilient member for preventing the backflow of fluid in the cylinder-shaped member is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the piston-shaped member, and the umbrella-shaped reverse valve is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder-shaped member. A spiral groove may not be formed in the region where the stop valve contacts.

  According to the present invention, a spiral groove having a minute depth is formed in a region where the O-ring on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member is in close contact, so that the sliding resistance during operation can be achieved while using the O-ring as the seal member. In addition, the operability can be improved, and it can be easily manufactured at a low cost, and excellent durability can be obtained.

It is a partial expanded sectional view of the pipe line switching operation valve of the endoscope concerning the 1st example of the present invention. It is a piping schematic diagram of an endoscope to which the present invention is applied. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the pipe line switching operation valve of the endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cylindrical member used for the pipe line switching operation valve of the endoscope which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is a partial expanded longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cylindrical member used for the pipe line switching operation valve of the endoscope which concerns on 1st Example of this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 schematically shows the overall configuration of the piping built in the endoscope. 1 is a flexible insertion portion, 2 is a distal end body connected to the distal end of the insertion portion 1 with an observation window (not shown) and the like, 3 is an operation connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion 1 Part.

  An air supply nozzle 4 and a water supply nozzle 5 are respectively arranged on the distal end surface of the distal end main body 2 toward the surface of the observation window, and a suction port / treatment device projecting port 6 is opened toward the front. . Note that the air supply nozzle 4 and the water supply nozzle 5 may be combined into one.

  In the insertion portion 1, there are an air supply pipe 7 that communicates with the air supply nozzle 4, a water supply pipe 8 that communicates with the water supply nozzle 5, and a treatment instrument insertion channel 9 that communicates with the suction port / treatment instrument protrusion 6. Is also formed of a tetrafluoroethylene resin tube or the like and is inserted and arranged in parallel. Reference numeral 19 denotes a treatment instrument insertion port for inserting a treatment instrument into the treatment instrument insertion channel 9.

  The operation unit 3 includes a suction operation valve 10 for performing a suction operation through the treatment instrument insertion channel 9, and an air supply / water supply operation valve for performing an air supply operation and a water supply operation through the air supply nozzle 4 and the water supply nozzle 5. 20 are arranged side by side. Reference numerals 11 and 12 denote an air supply pipe and a water supply pipe connected to the air / water supply operation valve 20, and 13 denotes a suction pipe connected to the suction operation valve 10.

  FIG. 3 shows the air / water supply operation valve 20. The air / water supply operation valve 20 is configured such that a piston-like member 22 is fitted and arranged in a cylinder-like member 21 fixedly arranged in the operation portion 3 so as to be movable forward and backward in the axial direction. It is possible to switch between the standby state, the air supply state, and the water supply state by pushing in from outside the unit 3.

  The cylinder-shaped member 21 is fixed by a fixing nut 23 so as to open to the outer surface of the operation portion 3, and an operation button 24 is attached to the protruding end portion of the piston-shaped member 22. Reference numeral 25 denotes a coil spring that urges the piston-like member 22 in a direction to project outward.

  A plurality of pipes, that is, an air supply pipe 11, a water supply pipe 12, an air supply pipe 7, and a water supply pipe 8 are open-connected to the side surface portion of the cylindrical member 21 at different positions in the axial direction. Reference numeral 50 denotes an external water supply tank whose inside is pressurized by an air supply pump 51 built in the light source device or the like. The base end of the water supply pipe 12 is opened in the water, and the base end of the air supply pipe 11 is in the upper space. It is open. All such configurations are known.

  A plurality of O-rings 26 for sealing between the connection openings of the air supply pipe 11, the water supply pipe 12, the air supply pipe 7, and the water supply pipe 8 are attached to the outer peripheral portion of the piston-like member 22. Reference numeral 27 denotes a water channel groove formed in the outer peripheral portion of the piston-like member 22.

  28 is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the piston-like member 22 so that the air does not flow back into the cylindrical member 21 from the air supply pipe 7 side in the cylinder-like member 21, and the outer edge portion is the inner peripheral surface 21 x of the cylinder-like member 21. It is an umbrella-shaped check valve that is in close contact with.

  The umbrella-shaped check valve 28 is formed in an umbrella shape with a material such as elastic rubber or silicone rubber having elasticity, and has a maximum outer diameter portion slightly larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical member 21, The diameter portion is elastically deformed so as to be in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 21 over the entire circumference.

  The umbrella-shaped check valve 28 is attached to the piston-shaped member 22 so that the connection opening of the air supply pipe 7 is positioned at a position below the umbrella (upward position in FIG. 3). As a result, when the pressure in the cylinder-shaped member 21 is higher than that in the air supply pipe 7, the umbrella-shaped check valve 28 is pushed away from the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder-shaped member 21 and pushed from the inside of the cylinder-shaped member 21. Air is supplied into the air supply pipe 7.

  On the contrary, when the pressure in the air supply pipe 7 is higher than that in the cylinder-shaped member 21, the umbrella-shaped check valve 28 is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder-shaped member 21, and the portion is sealed in the cylinder-shaped member 21. Will be in the non-return state.

  The piston-like member 22 is formed with a through hole 29 in a straight line at the axial position including the operation button 24 attached to the protruding end, and the outside air and the inside of the cylinder-like member 21 are communicated through the vent hole 29. Are communicating.

  With such a configuration, in the standby state illustrated in the left half part of FIG. 3, the water supply pipe 12 is sealed by the O-ring 26, and the air fed from the air supply pipe 11 into the cylindrical member 21 passes therethrough. It is discharged to the outside air through the pores 29.

  In that state, since the umbrella-shaped check valve 28 is elastically pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder-shaped member 21, air is not supplied from the inside of the cylinder-shaped member 21 to the air supply pipe 7. The check function of the umbrella check valve 28 described above prevents air from flowing back into the cylindrical member 21 from the air supply pipe 7 side.

  Then, when the fingertip is applied to the operation button 24 to close the vent hole 29, the air that has lost its escape in the cylindrical member 21 pushes the umbrella-shaped check valve 28 and opens into the air supply pipe 7. Thus, air is ejected from the air supply nozzle 4.

  Further, as shown in the right half of FIG. 3, when the operation button 24 is pushed in and the piston-like member 22 is pushed into the cylinder-like member 21 (the air hole 29 is blocked by a fingertip), water supply The pipe 12 and the water supply pipe 8 communicate with each other so that water is supplied into the water supply pipe 8, and water is ejected from the water supply nozzle 5. The supply pipe 11 is closed with an O-ring 26 and a fingertip.

  Then, when the finger is released from the operation button 24, the standby state shown in the left half of FIG. 3 is restored. Thus, by operating the piston-like member 22 in the axial direction, the connection state of the plurality of pipes 7, 8, 11, 12 is switched, and the air / water supply operation can be arbitrarily performed.

  FIG. 4 shows the cylinder-shaped member 21 in an empty state after the piston-shaped member 22 and the like are removed outward, and a small depth is formed on the inner peripheral surface 21x of the cylinder-shaped member 21. A spiral groove 30 is formed.

  As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 5, the spiral groove 30 is formed in a circular arc shape in which the cross-sectional shape of the inner wall surface is smooth, the groove depth t is t = 0.005 to 0.01 mm, and the groove pitch P is P = 0.3-2 mm and the groove width W is in the range of W = 0.001-0.01 mm.

  In order to form such a spiral groove 30, it is not necessary to perform special processing. When the inner peripheral surface 21 x of the cylindrical member 21 is cut with a lathe, the cutting edge slightly protrudes corresponding to the groove shape. By simply using the formed cutter, the spiral groove 30 can be easily and accurately formed at low cost.

  The spiral groove 30 is formed not in the entire area of the inner peripheral surface 21x of the cylindrical member 21 but in an area where the O-ring 26 attached to the piston-shaped member 22 contacts. As a result, when the piston-like member 22 moves back and forth in the axial direction within the cylinder-like member 21, the sliding resistance generated at the contact portion between the inner peripheral surface 21x of the cylinder-like member 21 and the O-ring 26 is reduced. Thus, the operability when the piston-like member 22 is advanced / retracted can be improved.

  For example, the groove depth t of the spiral groove 30 is 0.01 mm, the groove pitch P is 1.0 mm, the groove width W is 0.01 mm, and the O-ring 26 having a wire diameter of about 2 mm is crushed by about 0.2 mm. In the case where the spiral groove 30 is not formed, the magnitude of the sliding resistance with respect to the movement operation in the axial direction is 1.4 kg when the spiral groove 30 is not formed, whereas the spiral groove 30 is formed. Improved to 1.2 kg.

  Thus, the sliding resistance is reduced because the O-ring 26 is unlikely to be attracted to the inner peripheral surface 21x of the cylinder-shaped member 21, and the O-ring with respect to the inner peripheral surface 21x of the cylinder-shaped member 21 is reduced. This is probably because the contact area of the ring 26 is reduced.

  1, the depth t of the spiral groove 30 is extremely small. Therefore, when the O-ring 26 is pressed against the spiral groove 30 portion, the spiral groove 30 is elastically crushed by the O-ring 26. The inside is completely filled, and seal leakage from the spiral groove 30 portion does not occur at all. In order to do so, the groove width W of the spiral groove 30 is preferably at least twice as large as the groove depth t (ie, W ≧ 2t).

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to perform a surface treatment or the like on the inner peripheral surface 21x of the cylinder-shaped member 21 in order to reduce the sliding resistance of the piston-shaped member 22. There is an excellent effect on the above.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the spiral groove 30 having such an action is not formed in the entire area of the inner peripheral surface 21 x of the cylindrical member 21 but is in an area where the umbrella check valve 28 contacts. 21x 'is not formed. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the umbrella-shaped check valve 28 having a thin outer edge sliding portion and less durable than the O-ring 26 from being damaged by contact with the spiral groove 30.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, For example, this invention can also be applied to the suction operation valve 10 grade | etc.,.

7 Air supply pipe (pipe)
8 Water pipe (pipe)
10 Suction operation valve 11 Air supply pipe (pipe)
12 Water supply pipe (pipe)
20 Air / water operation valve 21 Cylinder-shaped member 21x Inner peripheral surface 22 Piston-shaped member 26 O-ring 28 Umbrella check valve 30 Spiral groove t Groove depth P Groove pitch W Groove width

Claims (5)

In a cylinder-like member connected to a plurality of pipes, a piston-like member that can be moved back and forth in the axial direction is fitted and arranged, and an O for sealing a fitting portion between the cylinder-like member and the piston-like member. Endoscope pipe switching operation valve configured to switch a connection state of the plurality of pipes by attaching a ring to the outer peripheral portion of the piston-like member and moving the piston-like member forward and backward in the axial direction. In
A pipe switching operation valve for an endoscope, wherein a spiral groove having a minute depth is formed in a region where the O-ring is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member.   2. The endoscope channel switching valve according to claim 1, wherein a depth of the spiral groove is in a range of 0.005 to 0.01 mm.   The pipe line switching valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a groove pitch of the spiral groove is in a range of 0.3 to 2 mm.   4. The endoscope channel switching valve according to claim 1, wherein the spiral groove has a groove width in a range of 0.001 to 0.01 mm.   An umbrella-shaped check valve made of a resilient member for preventing a back flow of fluid in the cylinder-shaped member is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the piston-shaped member, and the umbrella is included in the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder-shaped member. The endoscope channel switching operation valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spiral groove is not formed in a region in contact with the check valve.

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