JP2020008060A - Pipe joint - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attach a flexible pipe to a nipple of a joint main body in close contact with the nipple only by tightening with a clamp, and to connect the flexible pipe to the nipple in a detachable manner. SOLUTION: A joint main body 10 having a nipple 11 provided along an insertion space of an elastically deformable flexible pipe B, a first flange 12, and an insertion space of the nipple and the flexible pipe are sandwiched in the radial direction. An annular shape that is elastically deformable in the radial direction provided between the tubular ferrule 20 provided so as to face each other, the second flange 21, and the outer surface and the ferrule of the flexible pipe inserted into the insertion space. The holding member 30 and the clamp 40 for tightening the first flange and the second flange are provided, and the ferrule is the outer surface B2 of the flexible pipe inserted into the insertion space with the first flange and the second flange tightened. It has a pressing surface 22 formed so as to push the pressing member toward the surface, and the pressing member enters the outer surface of the flexible pipe by the pressing surface so that the inner surface B1 of the flexible pipe is in pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface of the nipple. It has a reduced diameter portion 31 formed in. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to a pipe joint used to connect an elastically deformable flexible pipe such as a hose or a tube to a production line pursuing sanitary properties such as food, beverage, medicine, cosmetics, dairy, and chemistry.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a pipe joint called a ferrule joint, a ferrule joint, a sanitary joint, or the like, in which flanges formed at connection ends of the joint are fastened and fixed by a clamp.

Conventionally, as this type of pipe joint, a tubular joint body has a nipple and a connection part, a nipple is inserted into a connection end of a pipe body such as a hose or a tube, and a sleeve (caulking pipe) provided outside thereof. ) Is deformed by a caulking machine to reduce the diameter of the connection end of the tubular body so that the tube can be connected without being displaced in the axial direction (for example, see Patent Document 1).
The connection part of the joint body is a grooved flange formed at the connection end of the joint body as a ferrule joint or the like, and is joined by sandwiching a gasket (packing) such as an O-ring between the flanges and tightening with a clamp. Fixed.
Ferrule joints tightened with clamps can be easily connected and disassembled by hand without the need for tools such as wrenches and spanners, and can be easily connected and disassembled by hand. It is widely used in the cosmetics, dairy, and chemical industries.

JP 2013-241954 A

By the way, in a production line for foods and beverages, every time the fluid passing through the tube is changed, the tube needs to be replaced for reasons such as flavoring, taste, discoloration and the like from the fluid.
Further, a ferrule joint or the like generally has a structure in which non-deformable pipes are connected to each other in a pipe body, and cannot be easily installed when a production line is complicatedly bent, and thus is not suitable.
On the other hand, there is also a pipe joint to which an elastically deformable flexible pipe such as a hose or a tube can be connected as a pipe body as in Patent Document 1.
However, according to Patent Document 1, it is necessary to reduce the diameter of the pipe and the swaged pipe by a caulking machine and integrate the pipe and the nipple of the joint body. Therefore, at the installation site of the production line, every time the fluid passing through the pipe is changed. It was difficult to easily replace tubes such as hoses and tubes.
For this reason, in order to easily replace the pipe, it is necessary to prepare a spare pipe that is connected to the ferrule joint with a reduced diameter by a caulking machine, and a large number of pipes are connected. On the site, there is a problem that a large number of spare pipes are required and their management becomes troublesome.

  In order to solve such a problem, a pipe joint according to the present invention includes a joint body having a nipple provided along an insertion space of an elastically deformable flexible tube, and a radially outer side of the nipple and the joint body. A first flange formed so as to protrude radially at an axial end of the joint body, and a cylindrical ferrule provided so as to face radially across the insertion space of the nipple and the flexible tube. A second flange formed at an axial end of the ferrule in a radial direction so as to face the first flange in the axial direction, and an outer surface of the flexible tube inserted into the insertion space. An annular pressing member provided between the ferrule and elastically deformable in the radial direction, and a clamp provided so as to approach and tighten in the opposite direction over the first flange and the second flange. Prepared, The pressing rule is formed by pressing the holding member toward the outer surface of the flexible tube inserted into the insertion space in a state where the first flange and the second flange are tightened by the clamp. A pressure reducing member formed into the outer surface of the flexible tube by the pressing surface so that an inner surface of the flexible tube is pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the nipple. It is characterized by having.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of the pipe joint which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) is a longitudinal front view at the time of disassembly, (b) is a longitudinal front view at the time of connection. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the pipe joint which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) is a longitudinal front view at the time of disassembly, (b) is a longitudinal front view at the time of connection. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the pipe joint which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) is a longitudinal front view at the time of disassembly, (b) is a longitudinal front view at the time of connection.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The pipe joint A according to the embodiment of the present invention has a grooved flange 1 formed at a connection end of a joint body 10 as shown in FIGS. This fluid coupling is joined to a grooved flange 1 ′ by sandwiching a gasket 2 such as an O-ring, and is fastened and fixed by a ferrule clamp 3. This type of pipe joint A is called, for example, a ferrule joint, a ferrule joint, a sanitary joint, etc., and is a fluid joint used for connecting an elastically deformable flexible pipe B as a pipe body.
More specifically, the pipe joint A according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with a joint body 10 having a nipple 11 provided along the insertion space S of the flexible tube B, so as to face the nipple 11 in the radial direction. And a clamp 40 provided to tighten the joint body 10 and the ferrule 20 by approaching them in the axial direction. I have.
The insertion space S of the flexible tube B is formed between the nipple 11 of the joint body 10, the ferrule 20 and the holding member 30.
1A and 1B show a first pipe joint A1 as a specific example of the pipe joint A. As a modification of the pipe joint A, FIGS. 2A and 2B show a second pipe joint A2, and FIGS. 3A and 3B show a third pipe joint A3.

The flexible tube B is formed of a flexible synthetic material such as a soft synthetic resin such as vinyl chloride or silicone rubber or other rubber, and can be cut to a predetermined length by a cutting tool (not shown) such as scissors. For example, a hose or a tube is used.
The flexible tube B preferably has a flat inner surface B1 and an outer surface B2, and a cut surface B3 of which is cut at a substantially vertical or nearly vertical angle.
As shown in FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3A, a connection end Ba having a predetermined length is inserted from a cut surface B3 of the flexible tube B into the insertion space S. It is.
In the example shown as a specific example of the flexible tube B, a hose having a single-layer structure is used, and the connection end portion Ba is slightly expanded and deformed from other portions to the nipple 11 of the joint body 10 described later. Are fitted along.
As another example, although not shown, a hose or a tube having a multi-layer structure is used, or the connection end Ba of the flexible tube B is fitted to the nipple 11 without being deformed from the other portion. Such changes can be made.

The joint body 10 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape from a rigid material such as a metal such as brass or stainless steel or a hard synthetic resin, and has a grooved flange 1 at one axial end thereof.
The other end of the joint body 10 in the axial direction has a nipple 11 and a first flange 12.
The nipple 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the flexible tube B (connection end portion Ba) or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the flexible tube B (connection end portion Ba). Has an outer peripheral surface 11a radially opposed to the inner surface B1 of the flexible tube B inserted into the outer tube 11a. It is preferable to form an uneven portion 11b on the outer peripheral surface 11a of the nipple 11 to prevent the nipple 11 from coming off in the axial direction.
The first flange 12 is formed at the other end in the axial direction of the joint main body 10 radially outside the outer peripheral surface 11a of the nipple 11 so as to protrude in a ring shape in the radial direction.
Further, in an insertion space S formed outside the nipple 11, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a), 2 (a), and 3 (a), a flexible tube B has an inner surface B1 on its inner surface B1. Are inserted so as to face each other along the outer peripheral surface 11a.

In the case of the first fitting A1 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and the second fitting A2 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B as examples of the fitting body 10, the nipple 11 and the flexible pipe are used. The first flange 12 is formed so as to protrude axially in a double cylindrical shape with the insertion space S of B interposed therebetween.
Further, in the example of the first pipe joint A1 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an annular concave groove 12b is formed on an inner peripheral edge of the first flange 12 facing the pressing member 30 in the axial direction on the facing surface 12a. Is formed.
In the example of the second pipe joint A2 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a first chamfered portion 12c is formed on an inner peripheral edge of the opposing surface 12a of the first flange 12 that opposes a pressing member 30 described later in the axial direction. are doing.
In the case of a third fitting A3 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B as another example of the fitting main body 10, the first fitting without inserting the flexible pipe B insertion space S at the base end of the nipple 11 is performed. The facing surface 12a of the flange 12 is formed smoothly.
Although not illustrated as other modified examples of the joint body 10, the first flange 12 can be changed to a shape other than the illustrated example.

The ferrule 20 is formed of a rigid material such as a metal such as brass or stainless steel or a hard synthetic resin, and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the flexible tube B (connection end Ba). A second flange 21 is provided at one end in the axial direction, and a pressing surface 22 is provided at the inner periphery.
The second flange 21 is formed to protrude annularly in the radial direction so as to be joined to and opposed to the first flange 12 of the joint body 10 in the axial direction.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a), 2 (a) and 3 (a), the ferrule 20 is disposed outside the flexible tube B by inserting the flexible tube B into its inner space. Is done. After the insertion of the flexible tube B into the insertion space S, the pressing member 30 and the ferrule 20 are moved in the axial direction toward the joint body 10 so that the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 are moved closer to each other. 20 are arranged.
As shown in FIGS. 1B, 2B, and 3B, the pressing surface 22 tightens the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 by approaching the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 in the axial direction by a clamp 40 described later. In this state, the pressing member 30 described below is pressed toward the outer surface B2 of the inserted flexible tube B.
The pressing surface 22 is preferably formed as a tapered surface that is gradually reduced in diameter as it is separated from the second flange 21 in the axial direction.
Further, it is preferable that the ferrule 20 has a convex portion 23 on an outer surface separated from the second flange 21 in the axial direction.

In the case of the first fitting A1 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and the second fitting A2 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B as examples of the ferrule 20, the second flange 21 is opposed to the first fitting A1. A second chamfered portion 21b is formed between an inner peripheral edge of the surface 21a facing the pressing member 30 described later in the axial direction and an end edge of the tapered pressing surface 22.
In the case of the third pipe joint A3 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B as another example of the ferrule 20, an annular concave and convex inner surface is provided at one end of the large diameter of the tapered pressing surface 22. 22a.
In the case of the first fitting A1, the second fitting A2, and the third fitting A3, the projection 23 is formed in a flange shape.
Although not shown as other modified examples of the ferrule 20, it is also possible to change the pressing surface 22 and the convex portion 23 to shapes other than those shown in the drawings.

The holding member 30 is made of a soft material such as rubber or soft synthetic resin, or a hard material such as metal or hard synthetic resin, and has an inner diameter that is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the flexible tube B (connection end Ba). It is formed in an annular shape that can be elastically deformed at least in the radial direction.
In the case where the pressing member 30 is made of a hard material, for example, by forming a slit file in a part of the circumferential direction and separating the holding member 30 like a C-shaped ring, elastic deformation in the radial direction becomes possible.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a), 2 (a) and 3 (a), the holding member 30 is inserted outside the flexible tube B by passing the flexible tube B through its inner hole 30a. Be placed. After the flexible tube B is inserted into the insertion space S, the pressing member 30 and the ferrule 20 are moved in the axial direction toward the joint main body 10 to thereby move the outer surface B2 of the flexible tube B and the pressing surface 22 of the ferrule 20. Are arranged so as to sandwich the holding member 30 in the radial direction.
As shown in FIGS. 1B, 2B, and 3B, the holding member 30 holds the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 in a state where the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 are clamped by a clamp 40 described later. The reduced diameter portion 31 formed so that a part of the outer surface B2 of the flexible tube B enters a part of the outer surface B2 of the flexible tube B by the pressing surface 22 of 20 and a part of the inner surface B1 of the flexible tube B is pressed against the outer peripheral surface 11a of the nipple 11. have.
In other words, when the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 are fastened in the axial direction by the clamp 40 described later, the pressing member 30 becomes the outer surface B2 of the flexible tube B after being inserted by the pressing surface 22 of the ferrule 20. Pressed toward, it is elastically reduced in diameter. Accordingly, a part of the outer surface B2 of the flexible tube B is radially compressed and deformed by the reduced diameter portion 31 serving as the inner peripheral surface of the pressing member 30, and the reduced diameter portion 31 is moved outside the flexible tube B. It digs into a part of the surface B2. Thereby, a part of the inner surface B1 radially opposed to a part of the outer surface B2 radially compressed and deformed in the flexible tube B is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface 11a of the nipple 11 by pressing.

In the case shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 as a specific example of the pressing member 30, the entire pressing member 30 is formed of a soft material such as rubber, and the reduced diameter portion 31 serving as the inner peripheral surface is formed outside the flexible tube B. It is formed on a smooth surface substantially parallel to the surface B2.
Further, in the case of the first pipe joint A1 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a first inclined surface 32 that is opposed to the pressing surface 22 of the ferrule 20 substantially parallel to the one end side outer surface of the pressing member 30 is provided. Has formed. On the other end side of the pressing member 30, an annular projection 33 is formed to fit in an axial direction with an annular concave groove 12b formed on an inner peripheral edge of the facing surface 12a of the first flange 12.
In the case of the second fitting A2 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in addition to the first inclined surface 32 formed on the outer surface on one end side of the holding member 30, the outer surface on the other end side of the holding member 30 is provided. A second inclined surface 34 is formed substantially in parallel with the first chamfered portion 12c formed on the inner peripheral edge of the facing surface 12a of the first flange 12 in the axial direction.
Further, in the case of the third pipe joint A3 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the concave and convex portions radially opposed to the annular concave and convex inner surface 22a formed at one end of the large diameter of the tapered pressing surface 22. The outer surface 35 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the holding member 30. At one end in the axial direction of the pressing member 30, a flange 36 is formed which is sandwiched between the facing surface 12 a of the first flange 12 and the facing surface 21 a of the second flange 21.
Although not shown as other modified examples of the pressing member 30, in order to reduce the frictional resistance between the pressing surface 22 of the ferrule 20 and the first inclined surface 32, an uneven portion is formed. It is also possible to change the shape to a shape other than the illustrated example, such as forming the pressing member 30 by arranging a plurality of the pressing members.
In particular, when a hose or tube having a multi-layer structure is used as the flexible tube B, a plurality of concave grooves can be formed in the inner or outer peripheral surface of the holding member 30 in the axial direction. Thus, it is possible to prevent a trouble that the fluid that has entered from the nipple 11 intrudes between the layers of the hose or the tube having the multilayer structure.

The clamp 40 is a tool having a conventionally well-known structure used for a ferrule joint or the like for fastening an annular body 42 in which an annular groove 41 continuous in the circumferential direction is formed inside with a fastener (not shown). For example, it is called a ferrule clamp, a clamp band, a sanitary clamp, or the like.
Among the clamps 40, it is preferable that the annular body 42 is divided into a plurality in the circumferential direction, and that the fastener is manually operable such as a wing nut. The clamp 40 may be the same type as the ferrule clamp 3 for fastening the grooved flanges 1 to each other, or may be the same as the ferrule clamp 3 if the sizes match.
As a specific example of the clamp 40, various types of structures such as a split (split) structure and a split (split) structure described in JP-A-2006-226345 can be used.
As shown in FIGS. 1 (b), 2 (b) and 3 (b), after the flexible tube B is inserted into the insertion space S, the clamp 40 12 and the clamp 40 is set over the second flange 21 of the ferrule 20 so that the annular groove 41 is fitted to the outer peripheral ends of the first flange 12 and the second flange 21. The flange 12 and the second flange 21 are moved close to each other in the axial direction, and are fastened and fixed.

In addition, in the first flange 12 of the joint body 10 and the second flange 21 of the ferrule 20, the outer peripheral ends radially opposed to the annular groove 41 of the clamp 40 may have tapered portions 12t and 21t, respectively. preferable.
The tapered portions 12t and 21t are formed by reducing the outer peripheral end widths of the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 by, for example, chamfering a surface of the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 opposite to the opposing surfaces 12a and 21a. The clamp 40 is formed to be thinner than the opening width of the annular groove 41.

According to such a pipe joint A (first pipe joint A1, second pipe joint A2, and third pipe joint A3) according to the embodiment of the present invention, after the flexible pipe B is inserted into the insertion space S, the joint body 10 By pressing the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 of the ferrule 20 close to each other in the axial direction with the clamp 40 and tightening, the pressing member 30 is elastically reduced in diameter by the pressing surface 22 of the ferrule 20, The reduced diameter portion 31 is pushed into a part of the outer surface B2 of the flexible tube B.
Along with this, a part of the outer surface B2 of the flexible tube B is radially compressed and deformed by the reduced diameter portion 31 of the pressing member 30, and a part of the inner surface B1 of the flexible tube B is changed to the outer peripheral surface of the nipple 11. 11a.
Accordingly, the flexible tube B can be brought into close contact with the nipple 11 of the joint body 10 and can be detachably connected thereto only by tightening with the clamp 40.
As a result, the flexible pipe B can be easily installed on site even without a special tool such as a caulking machine, compared to the conventional one that requires integration with the nipple of the joint body by reducing the diameter of the pipe and caulking pipe by the caulking machine. Can be replaced. In addition, the replacement operation of the flexible tube B can be performed by a person who does not have specialized knowledge and is convenient.
Furthermore, even if the flexible tube B needs to be replaced every time the fluid passing through the flexible tube B is changed due to flavoring, taste, discoloration, etc., the flexible tube is required for each fluid at the installation site of the production line. B can be easily replaced. For this reason, not only is the workability better, but also the management is better than the conventional one which requires preparing a plurality of types of spare pipes which are reduced in diameter and connected to the ferrule joint by a caulking machine.

In particular, the pressing surface 22 of the ferrule 20 radially opposed to the outer surface (the first inclined surface 32) of the pressing member 30 is tapered so that its diameter gradually decreases as it is separated from the second flange 21 in the axial direction. It is preferably a surface.
In this case, the outer surface (first inclined surface 32) of the holding member 30 is tightened by moving the second flange 21 of the ferrule 20 closer to the first flange 12 of the joint body 10 in the axial direction with the clamp 40 and tightening. The tapered surface serving as the pressing surface 22 slides smoothly along.
Therefore, the outer surface (first inclined surface 32) of the holding member 30 is gradually reduced in diameter by the tapered surface serving as the pressing surface 22, and the reduced diameter portion 31 is formed on a part of the outer surface B <b> 2 of the flexible tube B. It is pushed in gradually.
Therefore, the approach movement of the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 by the clamp 40 can be performed smoothly, and a part of the inner surface B1 of the flexible tube B can be securely adhered to the outer peripheral surface 11a of the nipple 11.
As a result, even when the holding member 30 is made of an elastic material having a high frictional resistance such as rubber or the like and having poor sliding property with the pressing surface 22 of the ferrule 20, the first flange 12 and the second The two flanges 21 can be surely moved closer to each other, so that the workability is more excellent.

Further, it is preferable that the first flange 12 of the joint body 10 and the second flange 21 of the ferrule 20 have tapered portions 12t and 21t at outer peripheral ends radially opposed to the annular groove 41 of the clamp 40.
In this case, by setting the clamp 40 over the first flange 12 of the joint body 10 and the second flange 21 of the ferrule 20, the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 are slightly separated in the axial direction. Also, the tapered portion 12t of the first flange 12 and the tapered portion 21t of the second flange 21 fit into the annular groove 41 of the clamp 40, respectively.
Therefore, even when the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 are slightly separated from each other in the axial direction, the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 can be moved closer by the tightening operation of the clamp 40.
Therefore, the clamping operation of the clamp 40 can be performed without being affected by the gap between the first flange 12 and the second flange 21.
As a result, the pressing member 30 is made of an elastic material such as rubber which has a large frictional resistance and is inferior in slidability with the pressing surface 22 of the ferrule 20, so that the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 are separated. Even in this case, the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 can be surely moved toward and away from each other by the clamp 40, and the workability is further improved.

Further, it is preferable that the ferrule 20 has a convex portion 23 on an outer surface separated from the second flange 21 in the axial direction.
In this case, at the time of disassembling the pipe joint A, a clamp 40 or a finger is hooked on the convex portion 23 of the ferrule 20 and pulled in a direction in which the first flange 12 and the second flange 21 are separated from each other. The pressing surface 22 of 20 is separated from the pressing member 30 and can be moved apart.
Therefore, the pipe joint A can be quickly disassembled.
As a result, even when the pressing member 30 has a large frictional resistance, such as rubber, and is in close contact with the pressing surface 22 of the ferrule 20, the pressing member 30 can be disassembled in a short time, and the workability is further improved.

  In the illustrated embodiment, only the pressing member 30 made of a soft material has been described in the illustrated embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of the pressing member 30 made of a soft material, the holding member 30 made of a hard material such as a C-shaped ring is used. The holding member 30 may be used.

A pipe joint 10 joint body 11 nipple 11a outer peripheral surface 12 first flange 12t tapered portion 20 ferrule 21 second flange 21t tapered portion 22 pressing surface 23 convex portion 30 holding member 31 reduced diameter portion 32 outer surface (first inclined surface)
40 Clamp 41 Annular groove B Flexible tube B1 Inner surface B2 Outer surface S Insertion space

Claims (4)

A joint body having a nipple provided along the insertion space of the elastically deformable flexible tube;
A first flange formed radially outside the nipple and radially projecting at an axial end of the joint body,
A cylindrical ferrule provided so as to radially oppose the insertion space of the flexible tube and the nipple,
A second flange formed to project radially so as to face the first flange and the axial direction at an axial end of the ferrule,
An annular pressing member elastically deformable in the radial direction provided between the outer surface of the flexible tube inserted into the insertion space and the ferrule,
A clamp provided so as to approach and tighten in a direction opposite to each other over the first flange and the second flange,
The ferrule is configured to press the holding member toward the outer surface of the flexible tube inserted into the insertion space in a state where the first flange and the second flange are tightened by the clamp. Surface
The pressing member has a reduced diameter portion formed so as to enter the outer surface of the flexible tube by the pressing surface and press the inner surface of the flexible tube against the outer peripheral surface of the nipple. Pipe fittings.   The pressing surface of the ferrule, which is radially opposed to the outer surface of the pressing member, is a tapered surface that is gradually reduced in diameter as it is separated from the second flange in the axial direction. Item 7. The pipe joint according to Item 1.   3. The tube according to claim 1, wherein the first flange of the joint body and the second flange of the ferrule have a taper at an outer peripheral end radially opposed to an annular groove of the clamp. Fittings.   4. The pipe joint according to claim 1, wherein the ferrule has a protrusion on an outer surface axially separated from the second flange. 5.

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