Anti-rollback threaded connector

Abstract

The invention relates to an anti-rollback threaded connector which comprises a spline shell and a connecting nut which are connected in a tensile mode, a groove extending in the radial direction is further formed in the periphery of the spline shell, a locking column is located in the groove, and the head of the locking column can stretch out of the groove and enter a locking groove in the inner circumference of the connecting nut under the supporting of an elastic reset piece. One side of the locking groove is provided with a vertical side wall extending in the radial direction of the coupling nut, the other side of the locking groove is an inclined side wall, and when the coupling nut is rotationally locked, the inclined side wall guides the locking column to compress the elastic reset piece to retract into the groove; when the connecting nut rotates to unlock, the vertical side wall is attached to the locking plane of the head of the locking column for stopping. A sleeve is further arranged on the periphery of the spline shell in the circumferential direction in a rotation stopping mode, the sleeve can slide in the axial direction of the spline shell, and an unlocking position for pressing the locking column back into the groove through an unlocking piece of the sleeve and a locking position for enabling the head of the locking column to enter the locking groove under the action of an elastic reset piece are arranged in the sliding stroke of the sleeve. According to the invention, the coupling nut does not return.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of connectors, and in particular to an anti-backoff threaded connector. Background Art

[0002] The existing plugs and sockets that are connected by threads generally use a threaded anti-loosening structure designed in the plug to achieve the anti-loosening function after the plug and the socket are installed in place.

[0003] Existing anti-loosening structures such as Figure 1 As shown, the plug contains a steel ball anti-loosening structure. The spring is installed in the steel ball groove of the spline housing, and then the steel ball is installed, and finally the spline housing is installed in the connecting nut. Ratchet grooves are evenly distributed on the inner circumference of the connecting nut. When the plug and the socket are threaded, the connecting nut is turned clockwise, and the steel ball falls into the ratchet groove and comes out of the ratchet groove under the action of the spring elastic force and the rotation of the connecting nut... After the plug and the socket are connected in place, the steel ball falls into the ratchet groove. When the plug and the socket are separated, the connecting nut is turned counterclockwise, and the inclined surface of the ratchet groove of the connecting nut pushes the steel ball to overcome the spring force, and the steel ball comes out of the ratchet groove. The left and right surfaces of the ratchet groove have different angles with the horizontal plane. When the plug and the socket are threaded, the steel ball is easy to slide into the ratchet groove; when the plug and the socket are threaded, the steel ball is not easy to come out of the ratchet groove.

[0004] The above-mentioned anti-loosening structure is not stable and reliable enough. When the connecting nut is subjected to an external force equivalent to the unlocking force, the steel ball will still fall out of the ratchet groove, allowing the connecting nut to rotate to release the thread lock with the socket end. That is, the existing anti-loosening structure can only achieve vibration anti-loosening in a limited environment, and cannot achieve complete anti-loosening. In addition, the existing anti-loosening structure also has the problem of difficult processing. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides a novel structure of an anti-backoff threaded connector, which enables a radially floating locking column to be arranged between a spline housing and a connecting nut so that the locking column can radially retract when the connecting nut is locked, and when the connecting nut is unlocked, reliable blocking and anti-loosening can be achieved through a blocking limit between planes. The connecting nut can be unlocked only when a sleeve is moved, thereby ensuring that the connecting nut is completely prevented from loosening.

[0006] The purpose of the present invention and the technical problem to be solved are achieved by adopting the following technical solutions. According to an anti-backward threaded connector proposed by the present invention, it includes a spline shell 3 and a connecting nut 1 with a tensile connection. The outer periphery of the spline shell 3 is also provided with at least one groove 301 extending radially. The locking column 5 is located in the groove 301 and can extend its head out of the groove 301 under the support of the elastic reset member 4 and enter the locking groove 101 on the inner periphery of the connecting nut 1. The locking groove 101 has a vertical side wall 1011 extending radially along the connecting nut 1 on one side of the connecting nut 1 and an inclined side wall 1012 on the other side. When the connecting nut 1 is rotated and locked, the inclined side wall 1012 contacts one side of the head of the locking column 5 and guides the locking column 5 to compress. The elastic reset member 4 radially retracts into the groove 301; when the connecting nut 1 is rotated to unlock, the vertical side wall 1011 fits with the locking plane 501 on the other side of the head of the locking column 5 to stop; the outer periphery of the spline housing 3 is also provided with a sleeve 9 for circumferential rotation stop, and the sleeve 9 can slide axially along the spline housing 3, and within its sliding stroke, it can press the locking column 5 back to the unlocking position in the groove 301 through its front end unlocking piece 901, and move away from the locking column 5 so that the locking column 5 can enter the locking position in the locking groove 101 under the action of the elastic reset member 4; the outer periphery of the spline housing 3 is also provided with a limit member for limiting the axial backward sliding stroke of the sleeve 9.

[0007] The purpose of the present invention and the solution to its technical problems can be further achieved by adopting the following technical measures.

[0008] In the aforementioned anti-backward threaded connector, an elastic member is further provided between the spline housing 3 and the sleeve 9 for moving the sleeve 9 from the unlocking position to the locking position.

[0009] The aforementioned anti-backoff threaded connector has a locking cap 10 screwed onto the outer thread of the spline housing 3, and the locking cap 10 is located between the sleeve 9 and the limit member 11. The locking cap 10 can push the sleeve 9 from the locking position to the unlocking position by rotating forward along the axial direction of the spline housing 3.

[0010] In the aforementioned anti-backoff threaded connector, the sleeve 9 realizes circumferential anti-rotation cooperation with the spline housing 3 through the second gasket 6, and the second gasket 6 and the spline housing 3 realize circumferential anti-rotation through the cooperation of the concave-convex structure, and the sleeve 9 realizes circumferential anti-rotation through the cooperation of its front end unlocking piece 901 and the outer peripheral avoidance groove 602 of the second gasket 6.

[0011] In the aforementioned anti-backward threaded connector, the surface where the locking column 5 and the inclined side wall 1012 are adapted to contact each other is an arc surface or an inclined surface having a guiding function.

[0012] In the aforementioned anti-backward threaded connector, the surface where the locking column 5 and the unlocking piece 901 are adapted to contact each other is an arc surface or an inclined surface having a guiding function.

[0013] The aforementioned anti-back-off threaded connector, the surface of the front end of the unlocking piece 901 in contact with the locking column 5 is an inclined surface with a guiding function.

[0014] The aforementioned anti-back-off threaded connector, an annular platform 304 is provided on the outer periphery of the spline housing 3, the second gasket 6 is pressed against the rear end face of the annular platform 304 by an elastic member, and the connecting nut 7 in the connecting nut 1 abuts and limits the position of the rear end face of the second gasket 6.

[0015] The aforementioned anti-back-off threaded connector, there is at least one groove 301, and the grooves 301 are distributed on the annular platform 304.

[0016] The aforementioned anti-back-off threaded connector, within its floating stroke, the locking column 5 realizes circumferential anti-rotation through the cooperation of two opposite planes on the outer periphery of its lower end and the corresponding planes in the groove 301.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has obvious advantages and beneficial effects. By means of the above technical solutions, the present invention can achieve quite remarkable technical progressiveness and practicality, and has wide utilization value in the industry. It has at least the following advantages:

[0018] The present invention can achieve cyclic unlocking and locking. When unlocking, the plug and the socket can be normally connected and separated. When locking, the threaded connection part between the plug and the socket does not back off.

[0019] When the connector of the present invention is locked by the connecting nut, the locking column can be automatically retracted by the side wall of the locking groove of the connecting nut. When unlocking is required, the plane of the locking column perpendicular to the spline housing and the plane of the locking groove extending radially along the connecting nut are in a parallel state and fit together. No matter how much force is applied, the connecting nut cannot be rotated in the unlocking direction. Only when the sleeve with the unlocking piece moves forward axially, can the locking column be radially compressed so that it retracts into the spline housing, enabling the connecting nut to be rotated in the unlocking direction.

[0020] The structure of the present invention is simple, and both the locking and unlocking operations are very simple and labor-saving. Moreover, unlocking can only be carried out under the action of an axial force through a specific structural mechanism, and the connecting nut can be completely vibration-proof and anti-back-off. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the anti-loosening structure of the existing connector;

[0022] Figure 2 Cross-sectional view of the anti-back-off threaded connector of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the locked state of the anti-back-off threaded connector of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4Schematic diagram of the unlocking state of the anti-back-off thread connector of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 Exploded view of the anti-back-off thread connector of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the spline housing structure of the anti-back-off thread connector of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the second gasket of the anti-back-off thread connector of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the sleeve structure of the anti-back-off thread connector of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the locking post structure of the anti-back-off thread connector of the present invention.

[0030]

Description of main component symbols

[0031] 1 - Connecting nut

[0032] 101 - Locking groove

[0033] 1011 - Vertical side wall

[0034] 2 - First gasket

[0035] 3 - Spline housing

[0036] 301 - Groove

[0037] 302 - Ring groove

[0038] 303 - Keyway

[0039] 304 - Ring platform

[0040] 4 - Elastic reset member

[0041] 5 - Locking post

[0042] 501 - Locking plane

[0043] 502 - Head

[0044] 503 - Shaft portion

[0045] 5031 - Guide plane

[0046] 504 - Arc-shaped guiding surface

[0047] 6 - Second gasket

[0048] 601 - Convex key

[0049] 602 - Avoidance groove

[0050] 7 - Circlip

[0051] 8 - Corrugated spring

[0052] 9 - Sleeve

[0053] 901 - Unlocking piece

[0054] 10 - Lock cap

[0055] 11 - Retaining ring Specific implementation manner

[0056] To further elaborate on the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the predetermined invention purpose, the following, in combination with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, details the specific implementation manner, structure, features and effects of the anti - back - off thread connector proposed according to the present invention as follows.

[0057] Please refer to Figure 2-9 , which is a schematic diagram of the structures of various parts of the anti - back - off thread connector of the present invention. The connector includes a spline housing 3 and a connecting nut 1. The connecting nut 1 is rotatably arranged on the outer periphery of the front end of the spline housing 3 and is connected to the spline housing 3 in a tensile manner. At least one groove 301 extending radially is further provided on the outer periphery of the spline housing 3. A locking column 5 is located in the groove 301, and the length of the locking column 5 is not greater than the depth of the groove 301 extending along the radial direction of the spline housing 3. An elastic reset member 4 is further provided between the locking column 5 and the groove 301. The elastic reset member 4 is a spring. Under the support of the spring, the head of the locking column 5 extends out of the groove 301 and enters the locking groove 101 on the inner periphery of the connecting nut 1, and contacts the vertical side wall 1011 extending along the radial direction of the connecting nut 1 through the locking plane 501 on one side of it, so as to realize the rotational limit of the connecting nut 1 when it rotates in the thread unlocking direction. Since the stopping surfaces for preventing the connecting nut 1 from rotating and unlocking are two parallel planes extending perpendicular to the rotation direction, no matter how large an unlocking force is applied to the connecting nut 1, the unlocking force extends along the direction perpendicular to the stopping surface and cannot be decomposed into a radial force that separates the stopping surfaces from each other. Therefore, the locking column 5 of the present invention can achieve complete anti - back - off of the connecting nut 1 in any environment after locking.

[0058] The wall body of the locking groove 101 opposite to the vertical side wall 1011 is an inclined side wall 1012 with a guiding function. The inclined side wall 1012 can guide the locking column 5 to radially retract inward when the connecting nut 1 rotates and locks, so as to release the circumferential limit between the connecting nut 1 and the locking column 5. In this embodiment, the surface of the locking column 5 adapted to the inclined side wall 1012 is an arc - shaped guiding surface 504. Through the cooperation of the arc - shaped guiding surface 504 and the inclined side wall 1012, the automatic unlocking of the locking column 5 is realized when the connecting nut 1 locks. In other embodiments of the present invention, the surface of the locking column 5 adapted to the inclined side wall 1012 for guiding is an inclined surface.

[0059] A sleeve 9 is also provided on the outer periphery of the spline housing 3. The sleeve 9 is circumferentially non-rotatably engaged with the spline housing 3 and can slide axially along the spline housing 3. Within the sliding stroke of the sleeve 9, there is an unlocking position where the locking column 5 is pressed back into the groove 301 on the spline housing 3 by the unlocking piece 901 at the front end thereof, releasing the circumferential locking of the locking column 5 on the connecting nut 1, and a locking position where it is away from the locking column 5, enabling the head of the locking column 5 to enter the locking groove 101 in the connecting nut 1 under the support of the spring.

[0060] In this embodiment, the unlocking piece 901 extends axially forward from the front end of the sleeve 9, and the surface of the front end of the unlocking piece 901 in contact with the locking column 5 is a guiding surface extending along the axial direction of the sleeve 9 with a guiding function. The surface of the head of the locking column 5 in contact with the locking piece 901 is also a guiding surface extending along the axial direction of the sleeve 9 with a guiding function. Thus, when the sleeve 9 is axially pushed forward, the unlocking piece 901 at its front end first contacts the lower side of the head of the locking column 5, and under the guiding action of the guiding surface, the head of the locking column 5 gradually moves downward until the locking column 5 is completely located below the unlocking piece 901. At this time, the locking column 5 retracts into the groove 301 of the spline housing 3, the unlocking piece 901 is located between the connecting nut 1 and the spline housing 3, and the connecting nut 1 can rotate circumferentially.

[0061] In the embodiment of the present invention, the guiding surface of the front end of the unlocking piece 901 in contact with the locking column 5 is an inclined surface, which trends downward gradually from front to back. The surface of the locking column 5 in contact and cooperating with the unlocking piece 901 is an arc surface or an inclined surface. Thus, when the unlocking piece 901 moves circumferentially forward and contacts the locking column 5, the force borne by the surfaces in contact with each other between the two can be decomposed into an axially forward force and a radially downward force, so that the locking column 5 can be pressed back into the groove 301 by the unlocking piece 901, releasing its circumferential limit on the connecting nut 1.

[0062] In the embodiment of the present invention, the groove 301 is a stepped groove that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom. The lower end of the spring presses on the stepped surface formed at the junction of the large groove at the upper end and the small groove at the lower end of the stepped groove due to the change in their radial dimensions, and the upper end presses on the stepped surface formed between the head 502 of the locking column 5 with a larger radial dimension and the cylindrical rod portion 503 with a smaller radial dimension. In the embodiment of the present invention, within the radial floating stroke of the locking column 5, the small groove at the lower end of the groove 301 always maintains a guiding fit with the rod portion 503 to prevent the locking column 5 from tilting during the floating process. Preferably, the rod portion 503 realizes circumferential non-rotation through the arrangement of two oppositely disposed and axially extending guiding planes 5031 on its outer periphery and the inner plane side walls of the small groove at the lower end of the groove 301.

[0063] In an embodiment of the present invention, an elastic member is further provided between the spline housing 3 and the sleeve 9 for moving the sleeve 9 from the unlocked position to the locked position. Preferably, the elastic member is a corrugated spring 8. A lock cap 10 is further provided on the outer periphery of the spline housing 3. The lock cap 10 is located at the rear end of the sleeve 9 and is used to limit the axial backward movement of the sleeve 9. Preferably, the lock cap 10 is screwed onto the spline housing 3 and can axially move forward relative to the spline housing 3 by rotation, thereby driving the sleeve 9 to move from the locked position to the unlocked position. A limiting member for axially blocking the lock cap 10 backward is detachably provided on the outer periphery of the spline housing 3. By this limiting member, the axial backward displacement of the lock cap 10 is restricted, so as to realize the reminder when the lock cap 10 returns to its place after unlocking is completed, prevent it from moving backward excessively, or the moving distance is insufficient to affect the next locking of the connecting nut. In other embodiments of the present invention, the lock cap 10 is slidably arranged on the spline housing 3, or the lock cap is directly removed, and the axial backward movement of the sleeve 9 is limited by the limiting member. When unlocking is required, the lock cap 10 or the sleeve 9 is directly pushed to move axially forward.

[0064] In an embodiment of the present invention, the limiting member is a retaining ring 11, and the retaining ring 11 is assembled in the annular groove 302 on the outer periphery of the spline housing 3.

[0065] In an embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve 9 is rotatably arranged on the outer periphery of the spline housing 3 and is in circumferential anti-rotation cooperation with the second gasket 6 on the outer periphery of the spline housing 3. The second gasket 6 is located between the sleeve 9 and the locking column 5 and is in circumferential anti-rotation cooperation with the spline housing 3, thereby realizing the positioning of the unlocking piece at the front end of the sleeve 9 in the circumferential position of the spline housing 3. At this time, the corrugated spring 8 is located between the sleeve 9 and the second gasket 6. Specifically, the circumferential anti-rotation between the second gasket 6 and the spline housing 3 is realized by the cooperation of a convex key and a key groove. In this embodiment, at least one convex key 601 is provided on the inner circumference of the second gasket 6, and a matching key groove 303 is provided on the outer periphery of the spline housing 3. In other embodiments of the present invention, a key groove is provided on the inner circumference of the second gasket 6, and a matching convex key is provided on the outer periphery of the spline housing 3.

[0066] An avoidance groove 602 for the unlocking piece 901 to pass through is provided on the outer circumference of the second gasket 6, and the setting of the avoidance groove 602 also realizes the positioning of the unlocking piece 901 in the circumferential position of the spline housing 3, so that the unlocking piece 901 and the locking column 5 to be unlocked are located on the same axis, thereby enabling the smooth unlocking of the locking column 5. Preferably, within the axial sliding stroke of the sleeve 9, the unlocking piece 901 is always located in the avoidance groove 602. Preferably, the avoidance groove 602 is a U-shaped groove with an open upper end.

[0067] The groove 301 is located on the annular platform 304 on the outer periphery of the spline housing 3, and the second gasket 6 is axially stopped and limited with the rear end face of the annular platform. A circlip 7 is also installed in the annular groove on the inner periphery of the connecting nut 1. The inner ring of the circlip 7 extends out of the annular groove and is axially stopped and limited with the rear end face of the second gasket 6, realizing the axial tensile connection between the connecting nut 1 and the spline housing 3. In this embodiment, the outer periphery of the second gasket 6 is in the shape of a stepped shaft with a larger front diameter and a smaller rear diameter. The front end face of the large-diameter section at the front end is completely axially stopped and limited with the connecting nut 1, and the small-diameter section at the rear end is located inside the circlip 7 to prevent the circlip 7 from detaching from the connecting nut 1.

[0068] In the embodiment of the present invention, only one locking post 5 is provided. However, in other embodiments of the present invention, two or more locking posts 5 can also be provided. At this time, corresponding unlocking pieces are provided on the sleeve 9.

[0069] In the embodiment of the present invention, the elastic resetting member 4 is a spring sleeved on the locking post 5. However, in other embodiments of the present invention, the elastic resetting member 4 can also be a rubber elastic pad. The rubber elastic pad is arranged between the tail end of the locking post 5 and the small groove at the lower end of the groove 301 to provide a force for the locking post 5 to extend out of the groove. At this time, the rubber elastic pad is entirely placed inside the small groove at the lower end of the groove 301.

[0070] On the outer periphery of the front end of the spline housing 3 of the present invention, several long keys 305 extending axially are also provided. The long keys 305 can realize the insertion guiding and orientation between spline housings and the circumferential anti-rotation after the insertion is in place when the connector of the present invention is connected to the mating end.

[0071] In other embodiments of the present invention, the corrugated spring 8 and the lock nut 10 can be cancelled. When unlocking, the sleeve 9 is directly pushed to move axially forward, and when locking, the sleeve 9 is pulled back.

[0072] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not impose any form of limitation on the present invention. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with the preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some changes or modifications to the equivalent embodiments by using the above-disclosed technical content within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention. However, as long as the content does not depart from the technical solution of the present invention, any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention still fall within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. An anti-backward threaded connector, comprising a spline housing and a connecting nut for tensile connection, characterized in that: The outer circumference of the spline housing is also provided with at least one groove extending in the radial direction, and the locking column is located in the groove and can, under the support of the elastic reset member, make its head extend out of the groove and enter the locking groove on the inner circumference of the connecting nut 1, one side of the locking groove has a vertical side wall extending in the radial direction of the connecting nut, and the other side is an inclined side wall, when the connecting nut is rotated to lock, the inclined side wall contacts one side of the locking column head and guides the locking column to compress the elastic reset member and radially retract into the groove; when the connecting nut is rotated to unlock, the vertical side wall is in contact with the locking plane on the other side of the locking column head to stop; the outer circumference of the spline housing is also provided with a sleeve for circumferential rotation prevention, the sleeve can slide axially along the spline housing, and within its sliding stroke, has an unlocking position in which the locking column is pressed back into the groove by its front end unlocking piece, and a locking position away from the locking column, so that the locking column can enter the locking groove with its head under the action of the elastic reset member; the outer circumference of the spline housing is also provided with a limiting member for limiting the axial backward sliding stroke of the sleeve 2. The anti-backoff threaded connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: An elastic member is also provided between the spline housing and the sleeve for moving the sleeve from an unlocking position to a locking position.

3. The anti-backoff threaded connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The outer peripheral thread of the spline housing is screwed with a locking cap, which is located between the sleeve and the limiting member. The locking cap can push the sleeve from the locking position to the unlocking position by rotating forward along the axial direction of the spline housing.

4. The anti-backoff threaded connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: The sleeve realizes circumferential anti-rotation cooperation with the spline housing through the second gasket, and the second gasket and the spline housing realize circumferential anti-rotation cooperation through the concave-convex structure, and the sleeve realizes circumferential anti-rotation cooperation through the front end unlocking piece of the sleeve and the outer peripheral avoidance groove of the second gasket.

5. The anti-backoff threaded connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The surface where the locking column contacts the inclined side wall is an arc surface or an inclined surface having a guiding function.

6. The anti-backoff threaded connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The surface where the locking column and the unlocking piece are adapted to contact each other is an arc surface or an inclined surface having a guiding function.

7. The anti-backoff threaded connector according to claim 6, characterized in that: The surface where the front end of the unlocking piece contacts the locking column is an inclined surface with a guiding function.

8. The anti-backoff threaded connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: A ring platform is arranged on the outer periphery of the spline housing, the second gasket is pressed against the rear end surface of the ring platform by an elastic member, and the connecting nut in the connecting nut is stopped and limited by the rear end surface of the second gasket.

9. The anti-backoff threaded connector according to claim 8, characterized in that: There is at least one groove, which is distributed on the ring platform.

10. The anti-backoff threaded connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The locking column is within its floating stroke, and circumferential rotation is prevented by the cooperation of two oppositely arranged planes on the outer periphery of the lower end and corresponding planes in the groove.

Images