Plug-in self-locking pipe fitting and using method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a plug-in self-locking pipe fitting and a using method, and relates to the technical field of pipeline connection. The pipe fitting comprises a male end, a female end and a locking device, a convex block of the male end and a groove of the female end form radial locking, a clamping block of the locking device is inserted into a clamping groove to achieve axial locking, and double fixing is completed through rotation of the rotating ring. A plurality of locking parts in a circumferential array ensure uniform stress, and the design of locking marks and locking holes improves the operation precision. The pipe fitting does not need to be welded or fastened through bolts, is convenient to mount and dismount, high in connection strength and suitable for various industrial pipelines, and particularly solves the problem of connection in narrow spaces and high-pressure scenes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of pipe connection, and in particular to a plug-in self-locking pipe fitting and a use method thereof. Background Art

[0002] In today's industrial pipeline connection field, fast, reliable and convenient connection methods are an important technical issue. Especially in the connection of steel pipes, traditional connection technology has many limitations and shortcomings.

[0003] Threaded connections: Threaded connections are a common method of connecting pipes, but they can be difficult to disassemble after torque has been applied. Disassembly requires significant force due to the compression of the threads. Torque forces often cause the ends of the threads to break due to concentrated force. For large-diameter pipes, threaded connections are complex and time-consuming to operate, resulting in high maintenance and replacement costs. Flange connections offer excellent tensile and compressive strength, but they require multiple bolts for fastening, making installation and removal complex and requiring high operator skill. They also take up a lot of space, and their bulk can severely hinder installation and maintenance, particularly in space-constrained environments. The metal-to-metal contact surfaces in flange connections create significant friction against the hole walls, easily leading to irregularities and even collapse. Flange connections also suffer from inefficient aperture utilization, meaning the ratio between occupied space and flow capacity is suboptimal.

[0004] Welded connections: While welding provides a strong connection, it is permanent and cannot be disassembled once completed, which makes maintenance and possible component replacement inconvenient. The welding process requires professional operators and poses safety risks in high-risk or flammable environments.

[0005] Mechanical quick connectors: Mechanical quick connectors can provide the convenience of quick connection and disassembly, but they are often not safe enough when subjected to large pressure and tension, and the stability and durability of the connection need to be improved. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art and provides a plug-in self-locking pipe fitting and a method of using the same.

[0007] The technical solution adopted in the present invention is as follows: A plug-in self-locking pipe fitting, comprising: a male end, a female end and a locking device, wherein the male end and the female end are respectively arranged at two pipe openings to be connected, and the outer diameter and shape of the male end match the inner diameter and shape of the female end, and the male end is plugged into the female end when in use; The front end of the male end interface is provided with a plurality of protrusions, and the rear end forms a rotating part for setting a locking device. The female end plug-in surface is provided with grooves matching the protrusions, and after insertion, the male end and the female end are radially locked; The locking device includes a rotating ring and a locking part. The locking part is arranged on the inner side of the rotating ring. The locking part includes a card block arranged at its end. The female end is provided with a card slot matching the card block, and the card slot is connected to the female end groove. When the male end is inserted into the female end, the locking device rotates and the card block is inserted into the card slot, forming axial locking of the male end and the female end.

[0008] Furthermore, the protrusions, grooves and locking portions include a plurality of protrusions, grooves and locking portions, which are arranged in a circular array and have matching numbers.

[0009] Furthermore, after the multiple locking parts are connected to the rotating ring, the inner diameter thereof matches the rotating part.

[0010] Furthermore, the thickness of the locking portion is smaller than the thickness of the protrusion.

[0011] Furthermore, the outer diameter of the rotating ring matches the outer diameter of the female end.

[0012] Furthermore, the rotating ring and the male end are provided with corresponding locking holes for locking the rotating ring after the card block is inserted into the card slot.

[0013] Furthermore, the width of the locking portion is smaller than the width between the protrusions.

[0014] Furthermore, a method for using a plug-in self-locking pipe fitting includes the following steps: S1: Slip the locking device into the male end; S2: Rotate the locking device by rotating the ring so that the locking part rotates to match the position of the male end protrusion and leave the female end socket track; S3: Align the groove of the female end with the protrusion of the male end, and sleeve the female end onto the male end; S4: After the female end is sleeved in place, the locking device is rotated by rotating the ring so that the locking block is inserted into the female end slot; S5: Screw the screw into the locking hole to lock the device.

[0015] Furthermore, before step S1, lubricating oil is applied to the male end, the female end and the locking device.

[0016] Furthermore, in step S4, after the rotating ring and the locking mark of the female end are aligned, it means that the card block is inserted into place and the locking holes are aligned.

[0017] In summary, due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: This plug-in self-locking pipe fitting offers significant advantages over traditional connection methods: First, installation efficiency is significantly improved. The radial positioning of the protrusion and groove, combined with the axial locking of the locking portion, eliminates the need for bolting or welding, allowing a single person to complete the connection, saving over 60% of the labor hours required for flange connections. Second, the connection is more stable. The dual-locking structure not only limits radial rotation (protrusion-groove fit) but also prevents axial disengagement through the wedge-shaped clamping block and clamping groove. Its pressure and tension resistance surpasses that of mechanical quick connectors, making it suitable for high-pressure fluid transmission scenarios. Third, operational convenience is significantly improved. The locking marks on the rotating ring and the female end enhance the alignment accuracy of the clamping block. Combined with lubricant pretreatment, plug-in resistance is reduced, solving the problem of jamming in traditional threaded connections. Fourth, maintenance costs are reduced. The detachable design avoids permanent defects in welding. The pipe can be separated by loosening the screws, and the cost of replacing a single component is only 1 / 5 of that of a flange connection. Fifth, it has better spatial adaptability. The outer diameter of the rotating ring is consistent with that of the female end, and the overall structure is compact, which takes up less space than a flange connection and is suitable for confined working environments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the present invention when locked; Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the male end structure of the present invention; Figure 3 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the locking device of the present invention after being sleeved onto the male end; Figure 4 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the locking device of the present invention after being sleeved onto the male end and rotated.

[0019] Markings in the figure: 1-male end, 2-female end, 3-locking device, 4-bump, 5-rotating part, 6-groove, 7-rotating ring, 8-locking part, 9-block, 10-slot, 11-locking hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0022] Example 1 In this embodiment, if Figure 1 、 2As shown, a plug-in self-locking pipe fitting includes: a male end, a female end and a locking device. The male end and the female end are respectively arranged at two pipe openings to be connected. The outer diameter and shape of the male end match the inner diameter and shape of the female end. When in use, the male end is plugged into the female end. The front end of the male end interface is provided with a plurality of protrusions, and the rear end forms a rotating part for setting a locking device. The female end plug-in surface is provided with grooves matching the protrusions, and after insertion, the male end and the female end are radially locked; The locking device includes a rotating ring and a locking part. The locking part is arranged on the inner side of the rotating ring. The locking part includes a card block arranged at its end. The female end is provided with a card slot matching the card block, and the card slot is connected to the female end groove. When the male end is inserted into the female end, the locking device rotates and the card block is inserted into the card slot, forming axial locking of the male end and the female end.

[0023] The plug-in self-locking pipe fitting in this embodiment includes a male end, a female end, and a locking device. The male end is fixedly mounted on the end of one pipe opening to be connected, while the female end is fixedly mounted on the end of the other pipe opening to be connected. The outer diameter of the male end precisely matches the inner diameter of the female end, and both have circular cross-sections, ensuring that the male end can be smoothly inserted into the female end. The front end of the male end's mating surface is evenly distributed along the circumference, with four protrusions. The protrusions are rectangular in structure, with a height of 5mm, a width of 10mm, and a thickness of 8mm. The rear end of the male end forms a cylindrical rotating portion for installing a locking device. The inner side of the female end's mating surface is provided with four grooves along the circumference that match the protrusions. The depth, width, and length of the grooves are consistent with the height, width, and thickness of the protrusions, respectively. When the male end is plugged into the female end, the protrusions can be accurately embedded in the grooves. The cooperation between the protrusions and the grooves limits the relative rotation of the male and female ends in the radial direction, forming a reliable radial lock. The locking device consists of a rotating ring and a locking portion. The rotating ring is a circular ring with four locking portions welded to its inner side. The locking portion is L-shaped, with the protruding portion of the L-shaped block being the retaining block. The inner wall of the female end is provided with four slots that match the retaining blocks. The slots are shaped like the retaining blocks and are connected to the grooves of the female end. When the male end is plugged into the female end, the rotating ring is rotated, and the locking portion rotates with the rotating ring, gradually inserting the retaining blocks into the slots. The structure of the retaining blocks and slots creates an axial lock between the male and female ends, preventing relative displacement in the axial direction. This design achieves a secure connection between the male and female ends through both radial and axial locking. The radial locking prevents relative rotation, while the axial locking prevents relative movement. Compared to traditional connection methods, this design offers greater reliability and ease of operation.

[0024] Example 2 Furthermore, the protrusions, grooves and locking portions include a plurality of protrusions, grooves and locking portions, which are arranged in a circular array and have matching numbers.

[0025] In this embodiment, the number of the protrusions, grooves and locking portions is 6, and they are arranged in an array at equal angular intervals along the circumferential direction. The reason for this arrangement is that the multiple, circularly arranged bumps, grooves, and locking features ensure more even force distribution between the male and female ends. When a pipeline transports a medium, the fittings are subject to the pressure and impact of the medium. If the force is concentrated at a few points, it can easily lead to localized wear or damage. However, the six evenly distributed components distribute the force across the entire circumference, improving the stability and service life of the pipe connection. Furthermore, the matching number of components ensures that each bump corresponds to a groove and each locking feature corresponds to a slot, ensuring accurate and reliable connections.

[0026] Furthermore, after the multiple locking parts are connected to the rotating ring, the inner diameter thereof matches the rotating part.

[0027] The inner ends of the six locking parts are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the rotating ring by welding. After the connection is completed, the inner diameter of the circular structure formed by the inner ends of the six locking parts is equal to the outer diameter of the male end rotating part. The principle behind this design is to ensure a moderate clearance between the locking mechanism and the rotating portion, allowing the locking mechanism to rotate flexibly on the rotating portion without excessive wobbling. If the inner diameter of the inner end of the locking mechanism is larger than the outer diameter of the rotating portion, the locking mechanism will shift during rotation, preventing the locking block from accurately inserting into the slot. If the inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the rotating portion, the locking mechanism will be unable to rotate on the rotating portion, losing its locking function. This precise matching ensures stable and reliable operation of the locking mechanism.

[0028] Furthermore, the thickness of the locking portion is smaller than the thickness of the protrusion.

[0029] In this embodiment, the thickness of the locking portion is set to 5 mm, and the thickness of the protrusion is set to 8 mm, that is, the thickness of the locking portion is smaller than the thickness of the protrusion. The reason for this arrangement is that when the male end is inserted into the female end, the protrusion first engages with the groove to form a radial lock. At this time, the protrusion needs to withstand a large radial force. The thicker protrusion ensures that it has sufficient strength to resist this radial force. The locking portion, on the other hand, mainly performs an axial locking function and withstands relatively less force. The thinner thickness reduces the space occupied by the locking portion and prevents interference with the protrusion during rotation, ensuring that the locking portion can rotate smoothly and the block can be inserted into the slot.

[0030] Furthermore, the outer diameter of the rotating ring matches the outer diameter of the female end.

[0031] In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the rotating ring is the same as the outer diameter of the female end. The principle behind this design is to create a neater and more aesthetically pleasing appearance for the entire pipe after connection, reducing unnecessary protrusions. During pipeline installation, this neat appearance facilitates pipe arrangement within a limited space, preventing collision or interference with other objects caused by the excessive outer diameter of the rotating ring. It also facilitates maintenance and repair of the pipe.

[0032] Furthermore, the rotating ring and the male end are provided with corresponding locking holes for locking the rotating ring after the card block is inserted into the card slot.

[0033] A locking hole is provided on the side wall of the rotating ring in the radial direction, and a locking hole with the same diameter is also provided at a corresponding position on the side wall of the male end rotating part. When the clamp is inserted into the slot, the locking hole on the rotating ring aligns with the locking hole on the male end's rotating part. A screw screwed into the locking hole secures the rotating ring and male end together, preventing the rotating ring from accidentally rotating due to vibration or other factors during use. This ensures that the clamp is always in the slot, ensuring the reliability of the axial locking. This arrangement further enhances the stability of the pipe connection.

[0034] Furthermore, the width of the locking portion is smaller than the width between the protrusions.

[0035] In this embodiment, the width of the locking portion (ie, the width of the L-shaped component) is 19 mm, and the width between two adjacent protrusions is 20 mm, that is, the width of the locking portion is smaller than the width between the protrusions. This design leaves enough space for the locking device to enter the male end. When removing or inserting the locking device into the male end, the locking portion can move freely in and out of the gap between the protrusions without contact or interference with the protrusions, ensuring smooth operation. If the locking portion is wider than the width between the protrusions, it will collide with the protrusions during installation, resulting in improper operation.

[0036] Furthermore, a method for using a plug-in self-locking pipe fitting is provided. The method of using the above-mentioned plug-in self-locking pipe fittings is as follows: S1: If Figure 3 As shown, the locking device is inserted into the male end from the end of the male end so that the locking device is located on the rotating portion of the male end. This step is to install the locking device in the appropriate position and prepare for the subsequent locking operation. S2: If Figure 4 As shown, hold the rotating ring with your hand and rotate the locking device to rotate the locking part to the same angular position as the male end protrusion. At this time, the locking part and the protrusion are aligned in the circumferential direction, leaving a track for the female end to be connected, preventing the locking part from obstructing the insertion of the female end. S3: Align the groove of the female end with the protrusion of the male end, and then sleeve the female end onto the male end along the axial direction of the male end until the end of the female end contacts the step surface of the male end. At this time, the protrusion is completely embedded in the groove to achieve radial locking. S4: After the female end is sleeved in place, rotate the rotating ring again to make the locking part rotate with the rotating ring. When the locking part rotates to the position corresponding to the female end slot, the card block at the end of the locking part is inserted into the slot to achieve axial locking of the male and female ends. S5: Screw the screw into the locking hole to securely connect the rotating ring to the male end to prevent accidental rotation of the rotating ring, thus completing the connection of the entire pipe fitting. The principle of this method of use is to install the locking device in steps, then achieve radial locking, and finally achieve axial locking and fixation, ensuring that the connection process is carried out in an orderly manner, the operation is simple and quick, and the efficiency of pipeline connection is improved.

[0037] Furthermore, before step S1, lubricating oil is applied to the male end, the female end and the locking device.

[0038] Before executing step S1 , lubricating oil is evenly applied to the outer surface of the male end, the inner surface of the female end, the locking portion of the locking device, and the inner side of the rotating ring. The principle of lubricating oil is to reduce friction between components. During the insertion of the male end into the female end and the rotation of the locking mechanism, the lubricant reduces friction between the male and female ends, and between the locking mechanism and the rotating part, making the insertion and rotation operations more effortless and smooth. It also reduces wear between components and extends the service life of the fitting.

[0039] Furthermore, in step S4, after the rotating ring and the locking mark of the female end are aligned, it means that the card block is inserted into place and the locking holes are aligned.

[0040] A red locking mark line is set on the outer surface of the rotating ring, and a red locking mark line is also set at the corresponding position on the outer surface of the female end. In step S4, the locking block is inserted into the female end's slot by rotating the rotating ring. When the locking marking line on the rotating ring aligns with the locking marking line on the female end, the block is fully inserted into the slot and the locking holes on the rotating ring and male end are aligned. This design utilizes intuitive markings to quickly determine if the block is properly inserted and the locking holes are aligned, improving accuracy and efficiency while preventing connection reliability from being compromised by an incompletely positioned block.

[0041] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the invention should be included in the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. A plug-in self-locking pipe fitting, characterized in that: include: A male end, a female end, and a locking device. The male end and the female end are respectively arranged at the two pipe openings to be connected. The outer diameter and shape of the male end match the inner diameter and shape of the female end. When in use, the male end is inserted into the female end. The front end of the male end interface plug-in surface is provided with a plurality of protrusions, and the rear end forms a rotating portion for setting a locking device. The female end plug-in surface is provided with grooves matching the protrusions, and after insertion, the male end and the female end are radially locked; The locking device includes a rotating ring and a locking part, the locking part is arranged on the inner side of the rotating ring, the locking part includes a clamping block arranged at its end, the female end is provided with a clamping groove matching the clamping block, and the clamping groove is connected to the female end groove. When the male end is plugged into the female end, the locking device rotates and the clamping block is inserted into the clamping groove, forming axial locking of the male end and the female end.

2. A plug-in self-locking pipe fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that: The protrusions, grooves and locking parts include a plurality of protrusions, grooves and locking parts, which are arranged in a circular array and have matching numbers.

3. The plug-in self-locking pipe fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that: After the locking parts are connected to the rotating ring, the inner diameter thereof matches the rotating part.

4. The plug-in self-locking pipe fitting according to claim 3, characterized in that: The thickness of the locking portion is smaller than the thickness of the protrusion.

5. The plug-in self-locking pipe fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer diameter of the rotating ring matches the outer diameter of the female end.

6. The plug-in self-locking pipe fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotating ring and the male end are provided with corresponding locking holes for locking the rotating ring after the clamping block is inserted into the clamping slot.

7. The plug-in self-locking pipe fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking portion has a width smaller than a width between the protrusions.

8. A method for using a plug-in self-locking pipe fitting, applied to a plug-in self-locking pipe fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1: Slip the locking device into the male end; S2: Rotate the locking device by rotating the ring so that the locking part rotates to match the position of the male end protrusion and leave the female end socket track; S3: Align the groove of the female end with the protrusion of the male end, and sleeve the female end onto the male end; S4: After the female end is sleeved in place, the locking device is rotated by rotating the ring so that the locking block is inserted into the female end slot; S5: Screw the screw into the locking hole to lock the device.

9. A method for using a plug-in self-locking pipe fitting according to claim 8, characterized in that: Before step S1, lubricating oil is applied to the male end, the female end and the locking device.

10. A method for using a plug-in self-locking pipe fitting according to claim 8, characterized in that: In the step, locking marks are set at corresponding positions of the rotating ring and the female end. In the step S4, after the rotating ring and the female end locking marks are aligned, it means that the card block is inserted into place and the locking holes are aligned.

Images