Anti-loosening locking sleeve and locking joint

Abstract

The utility model provides an anti-loosening locking sleeve which is of a hollow cylindrical structure, a wing part is formed on the side wall of the locking sleeve, and a locking protrusion is arranged on the upper portion of the inner surface of the wing part. The utility model further provides a locking connector. According to the anti-loosening locking sleeve, the convex connector and the concave connector of the locking connector can be prevented from rotating relatively.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of medical device technology, and more specifically, to an anti-loosening locking sleeve for a sample processing instrument such as a flow cytometer / analyzer and a locking connector having such an anti-loosening locking sleeve. Background Technology

[0002] The content in this section provides only background information relevant to this disclosure and does not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0003] Sample processing instruments (e.g., flow cytometers) are typically used to analyze and / or sort fluid samples containing particles (e.g., biological particles, non-biological particles) or cells. Existing sample processing instruments often employ torsion lock couplings for quick connection between two fluid-carrying tubing lines. Torsion lock couplings consist of a male and female connector, which are locked together by twisting them at an angle. However, sometimes the tubing connected to the torsion lock coupling may twist due to vibration or other factors. This twisting causes the connected male / female connector to rotate, resulting in relative rotation in the opposite direction to the locking direction, thus loosening the coupling. Once the coupling loosens, the reliability of the connection between the male and female connectors decreases, potentially leading to fluid leakage.

[0004] In existing technology, to check whether a locking joint is loose, the common method is to draw a straight line perpendicular to the connection surfaces of the male and female joints on the completed locking joint. Then, visual inspection is conducted to check whether the portions of the line on the male and female joint surfaces are still aligned, in order to determine whether the male and female joints have rotated relative to each other. This inspection method is not only labor-intensive, but also does not prevent the relative rotation of the male and female joints beforehand. Utility Model Content

[0005] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, rather than a full disclosure of the entire scope or all features of the disclosure.

[0006] In view of the above-mentioned problems of existing locking connectors, one object of this disclosure is to provide an anti-loosening locking sleeve and locking connector to prevent relative rotation of the convex and concave parts of the locking connector.

[0007] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, an anti-loosening locking sleeve is provided, the locking sleeve having a hollow cylindrical structure, the sidewall of the locking sleeve having a wing, and the upper part of the inner surface of the wing having a locking protrusion.

[0008] In some embodiments according to this disclosure, the wing portion is provided in two parts, and the two wing portions are arranged symmetrically about the central axis of the locking sleeve.

[0009] In some embodiments according to this disclosure, the sidewall of the locking sleeve further includes a side plate, the outer surface of which is on the same circumference as the outer surface of the wing, and the wing is not connected to the side plate.

[0010] In some embodiments according to this disclosure, the thickness of the wing is less than the thickness of the side plate.

[0011] In some embodiments according to this disclosure, the height of the wing is greater than the height of the side plate, and the wing includes an extension extending above the side plate, with a guide groove formed between the lower end of the extension and the upper end of the side plate.

[0012] In some embodiments according to this disclosure, a base plate is also included, on which the wing and the side plate are disposed, and a through hole is provided at the center of the base plate, thereby forming a hollow portion at the center of the locking sleeve.

[0013] In some embodiments according to this disclosure, the side plate includes a first side plate and a second side plate separated by two wings, wherein the second side plate includes a first half and a second half that are separated from each other, and a through groove is provided between the first half and the second half.

[0014] In some embodiments according to this disclosure, the through groove extends radially to the hollow portion and extends axially through the base plate.

[0015] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a locking connector is provided, the locking connector comprising a male connector, a female connector, and a locking sleeve according to the above-described technical solution.

[0016] In some embodiments according to this disclosure, the concave connector is provided with a first snap-fit ​​portion in the circumferential direction, one side of the first snap-fit ​​portion in the circumferential direction is a smooth first side surface, and the other side is provided with a first snap-fit ​​protrusion extending in the circumferential direction. The convex connector is provided with a second snap-fit ​​portion in the circumferential direction, one side of the second snap-fit ​​portion in the circumferential direction is a smooth second side surface, and the other side is provided with a second snap-fit ​​protrusion extending in the circumferential direction. When the convex connector and the concave connector are connected, the first snap-fit ​​protrusion and the second snap-fit ​​protrusion snap into each other. The first side surface and the second side surface form two opposite sides of a groove. The locking sleeve is sleeved on the outside of the convex connector and the concave connector, and the locking protrusion of the locking sleeve snaps into the groove.

[0017] According to the anti-loosening locking sleeve and locking connector disclosed herein, at least the following beneficial effects can be achieved:

[0018] The anti-loosening locking sleeve disclosed herein can prevent relative rotation of the convex and concave parts of the locking joint without requiring visual inspection of whether the convex and concave parts are rotating relative to each other. This improves work efficiency and prevents relative rotation of the convex and concave parts in advance, avoiding leakage. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The foregoing and other features and characteristics of this application will become clearer from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative and not necessarily drawn to scale. The same reference numerals are used in the drawings to indicate the same parts, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 A perspective view of a locking sleeve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0021] Figure 2 Another perspective view of the locking sleeve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0022] Figure 3 A side view of a locking sleeve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0023] Figure 4 A top view of a locking sleeve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0024] Figure 5 An exploded view of a locking connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown (excluding the locking sleeve);

[0025] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the locking connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure after the convex and concave connectors are connected is shown.

[0026] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a locking connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0027] Figure 8 It shows Figure 7 AA section view in the image. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings through exemplary embodiments. In several drawings, similar reference numerals denote similar parts and components. The following detailed description of the present disclosure is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the present disclosure or its application or use. The embodiments described in this specification are not exhaustive, but merely some of many possible embodiments. Exemplary embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. In some exemplary embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques may not be described in detail.

[0029] The following will refer to Figures 1 to 4 To describe an anti-loosening locking sleeve (hereinafter referred to as "locking sleeve") according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 1 A perspective view of a locking sleeve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 2 A perspective view of the locking sleeve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown from another direction; Figure 3 A side view of the locking sleeve is shown; Figure 4 A top view of the locking sleeve is shown.

[0031] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the locking sleeve 10 is generally a hollow cylindrical structure. The upper end of the locking sleeve 10 is open, and the lower end is provided with a base plate 12 having a through hole 121 in the center. The sidewalls of the locking sleeve 10 are connected to the base plate 12. The sidewalls of the locking sleeve 10 include circumferentially distributed and non-connected wings 11 and side plates 13. The bottom of the wings 11 is integrally formed with the base plate 12 of the locking sleeve 10.

[0032] In this embodiment, the wing 11 is not connected to the side plate 13 of the locking sleeve 10, allowing the wing 11 to move toward / away from the central axis of the locking sleeve 10 under the action of an external force. A locking protrusion 111 is provided on the upper part of the inner surface of the wing 11, which can be inserted into the groove 40 formed after the convex connector 20 and the concave connector 30 of the locking connector are connected. The structure of the convex connector 20 and the concave connector 30 will be described in further detail below.

[0033] In this embodiment, there are two wings 11, and the two wings 11 are arranged symmetrically about the central axis of the locking sleeve 10.

[0034] like Figure 4 As shown, the base plate 12 has a through hole 121 at its center, making the locking sleeve 10 a hollow structure with a hollow part 14 formed at its center. The wing 11 is provided on the base plate 12 and the bottom of the wing 11 is connected to the base plate 12.

[0035] like Figure 4As shown, in order to avoid stress concentration at the connection part between the wing part 11 and the bottom plate 12, which may cause the wing part 11 to break when moving towards / away from the central axis of the locking sleeve 10 under the action of an external force and / or cracks to occur at the connection between the wing part 11 and the bottom plate 12, there is a smooth transition part 122 between the wing part 11 and the bottom plate 12.

[0036] In this embodiment, the side plate 13 is provided on the bottom plate 12, and the outer side surface of the side plate 13 and the outer side surface of the wing part 11 are on the same circumference. The side plate 13 and the bottom plate 12 extend towards the center of the locking sleeve 10 to the same extent and more than the wing part 11 extends towards the center. That is to say, the inner side surfaces of the side plate 13 and the bottom plate 12 are on the same first circumference 15, while the diameter of the second circumference 16 where the inner side surface of the wing part 11 is located is larger than the diameter of the first circumference 15 (as Figure 4 shown). In other words, the thickness of the wing part 11 is less than the thickness of the side plate 13, enabling the wing part 11 to have a certain elasticity so that it can move towards / away from the central axis of the locking sleeve 10 under the action of an external force. And due to the larger thickness of the side plate 13, the main structure of the locking sleeve 10 is more stable.

[0037] Furthermore, as Figures 1 to 3 shown, the height of the wing part 11 is greater than the height of the side plate 13, and the locking protrusion 111 is provided at a position where the wing part 11 is higher than the side plate 13. This further increases the deformation ability of the upper end of the wing part 11 provided with the locking protrusion 111, such that when the locking sleeve 10 of this embodiment is in use, the upper end of the wing part 11 provided with the locking protrusion 111 can move away from the central axis of the locking sleeve 10 under the action of an external force, increasing the distance between the two locking protrusions 111, enabling the locking protrusions 111 to be engaged into the grooves 40 of the locking joint. Subsequently, the wing part 11 can then return to the vertical state under the action of the elastic restoring force.

[0038] Furthermore, the upper end of the wing part 11 also has an extension part 112 extending in the circumferential direction. The extension part 112 is provided on one side of the wing part main body 113 extending in the axial direction, and the upper end of the extension part 112 is flush with the upper end of the wing part main body 113. The extension part 112 extends above the side plate 13 and the lower end of the extension part 112 is higher than the upper end of the side plate 13, such that the extension part 112, the wing part main body 113 connected to the extension part 112, and the side plate 13 together enclose a "C"-shaped guiding groove 114. As will be described in detail below, when the locking sleeve 10 is installed onto the connected male joint 20 and female joint 30, the convex rib 24 on the male joint 20 can be engaged into the guiding groove 114.

[0039] In this embodiment, the side plate 13 is divided into a first side plate 131 and a second side plate 132 by two centrally symmetrically arranged wings 11. The second side plate 132 includes a first half 1321 and a second half 1322 that are separated from each other. A through groove 133 is provided between the first half 1321 and the second half 1322. The through groove 133 extends radially to the hollow portion 14 in the middle of the locking sleeve 10 and extends axially through the bottom plate 12, so that the locking sleeve 10 is formed as a non-closed structure with the through groove 133 on the side plate 13.

[0040] This disclosure also relates to a locking connector, which includes a male connector 20, a female connector 30, and the aforementioned anti-loosening locking sleeve 10. The female connector 30 is connected to a device such as a degassing device, and one end of the male connector 20 is connected to a pipeline (not shown in the figure), and the other end can be plugged into the female connector 30 to connect the pipeline to a device such as a degassing device.

[0041] The following will refer to Figures 5 to 8 To describe a locking connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 5 An exploded view of the locking connector (excluding the locking sleeve) is shown; Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the connection between the male connector 20 and the female connector 30 is shown. Figure 7 A schematic diagram is shown after the locking sleeve 10 is connected to the convex joint 20 and the concave joint 30; Figure 8 for Figure 7 AA sectional view.

[0043] like Figure 5 As shown, the concave connector 30 has two first snap-fit ​​portions 31 along the circumferential direction. The first snap-fit ​​portions 31 are arc-shaped plates and the two first snap-fit ​​portions 31 are formed on the side of the same cylinder. One side of the first snap-fit ​​portion 31 in the circumferential direction is a smooth first side surface 32, and the other side is provided with a first snap-fit ​​protrusion 33 extending in the circumferential direction.

[0044] The convex connector 20 has two second snap-fit ​​portions 21 along the circumferential direction. The second snap-fit ​​portion 21 is an arc-shaped plate, and the diameter of the circumference of the outer side of the arc-shaped plate is the same as the diameter of the circumference of the outer side of the arc-shaped plate of the first snap-fit ​​portion 31, and slightly smaller than the diameter of the circumference of the inner side of the wing portion 11 (second circumference 16). For example, the difference between the two is less than 1 mm. One side of the second snap-fit ​​portion 21 in the circumferential direction is a smooth second side surface 22, and the other side is provided with a second snap-fit ​​protrusion 23 extending in the circumferential direction.

[0045] Furthermore, such as Figure 5As shown, the convex connector 20 is also provided with a connecting tube 25 on the inner side of the second snap-fit ​​portion 21. After the concave connector 30 and the convex connector 20 are connected, the connecting tube 25 is inserted into the concave connector 30 (e.g., Figure 8 (As shown) and sealed by a seal (not shown) inside the concave joint 30, thereby achieving the connection between the pipe or equipment (not shown) connected to the convex joint 20 and the pipe or equipment (not shown) connected to the concave joint 30.

[0046] Furthermore, the male connector 20 is provided with a protruding rib 24 on the circumference of the outer side of the second engaging portion 21. The female connector 30 is provided with a nut 34 above the first engaging portion 31 in the axial direction. One function of the protruding rib 24 and the nut 34 is to facilitate the application of force to the male connector 20 and the female connector 30 to make them rotate and engage.

[0047] When connecting the male connector 20 and the female connector 30, the male connector 20 and the female connector 30 are first connected by relative axial movement, with the first side 32 of the first snap-fit ​​portion 31 and the second side 22 of the second snap-fit ​​portion 21 fitting together. After the male connector 20 is fully inserted into the female connector 30, the male connector 20 and the female connector 30 are rotated relative to each other, causing the first snap-fit ​​protrusion 33 and the second snap-fit ​​protrusion 23 to snap together. At this time, the first side 32 and the second side 22 are separated from each other, so that two grooves 40 are formed between the two first side 32 and the two second side 22, and each first side 32 and each second side 22 respectively form two opposite sides of each groove 40.

[0048] In this embodiment, the connection between the convex connector 20 and the concave connector 30 is locked by fitting the locking sleeve 10 onto the outside of the connected convex connector 20 and concave connector 30, preventing loosening. Specifically, during installation of the locking sleeve 10, the pipe (not shown in the figure) connected to the convex connector 20 is first inserted through the through groove 133 of the locking sleeve 10 into the hollow portion 14 of the locking sleeve 10, and then the locking sleeve 10 is moved axially toward the concave connector 30. Since the diameter of the circumference of the outer surface of the first locking portion 31 / second locking portion 21 is greater than the distance between the inner surfaces of the two locking protrusions 111 facing the center of the locking sleeve 10, during this process, the upper ends of the two wings 11 are separated from each other in a direction away from the central axis of the locking sleeve 10, so that the locking protrusions 111 of the wings 11 can slide axially along the outer surface of the first locking portion 31 / second locking portion 21.

[0049] After the locking sleeve 10 is axially moved into place, for example, after the top surface of the wing 11 contacts the nut 34 of the recessed joint 30, the locking sleeve 10 is rotated so that the locking protrusion 111 moves circumferentially along the outer side of the first engaging portion 31 / second engaging portion 21 until the locking protrusion 111 engages in the groove 40. At this time, due to the elastic restoring force, the locking protrusion 111 enters the groove 40, and since the diameter of the circumference of the inner side of the wing 11 is basically the same as the diameter of the circumference of the outer side of the first engaging portion 31 / second engaging portion 21, the locking protrusion cannot be dislodged from the groove 40 without sufficient radial external force, thereby preventing relative rotation of the convex joint 20 and the recessed joint 30.

[0050] In this embodiment, during the rotation of the locking sleeve 10, the protruding ridge 24 of the protruding connector 20 slides along the guide groove 114, so that the protruding ridge 24 will not interfere with the locking sleeve 10 during the installation of the locking sleeve 10.

[0051] Compared to existing technologies that rely on visual inspection to determine whether the convex joint 20 and concave joint 30 of the locking connector are rotating relative to each other, the locking protrusion 111 of the anti-loosening locking sleeve 10 provided in this embodiment can engage with the groove 40 formed after the convex joint 20 and concave joint 30 are connected, preventing relative rotation of the convex joint 20 and concave joint 30 of the locking connector without requiring visual inspection. This improves work efficiency and prevents relative rotation of the convex joint 20 and concave joint 30 in advance, avoiding leakage.

[0052] Preferred embodiments according to this disclosure have been described above with reference to specific implementation details. It is understood that the above description is exemplary and not restrictive, and various modifications and variations will arise in those skilled in the art from the above description without departing from the scope of this disclosure. These modifications and variations are also included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A locking sleeve for preventing loosening, characterized in that, The locking sleeve (10) has a hollow cylindrical structure. The sidewall of the locking sleeve (10) has a wing (11), and the upper part of the inner surface of the wing (11) is provided with a locking protrusion (111).

2. The locking sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wing (11) is provided in two parts, and the two wing parts (11) are arranged symmetrically about the central axis of the locking sleeve (10).

3. The locking sleeve according to claim 2, characterized in that, The sidewall of the locking sleeve also includes a side plate (13), the outer side of the side plate (13) and the outer side of the wing (11) are on the same circumference, and the wing (11) is not connected to the side plate (13).

4. The locking sleeve according to claim 3, characterized in that, The thickness of the wing (11) is less than the thickness of the side plate (13).

5. The locking sleeve according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The height of the wing (11) is greater than the height of the side plate (13). The wing (11) includes an extension (112) extending above the side plate (13). A guide groove (114) is formed between the lower end of the extension (112) and the upper end of the side plate (13).

6. The locking sleeve according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, It also includes a base plate (12), the wing (11) and the side plate (13) are provided on the base plate (12), and the center of the base plate (12) is provided with a through hole (121) so that a hollow part (14) is formed in the center of the locking sleeve (10).

7. The locking sleeve according to claim 6, characterized in that, The side plate (13) includes a first side plate (131) and a second side plate (132) separated by two wings (11), wherein the second side plate (132) includes a first half (1321) and a second half (1322) that are separated from each other, and a through groove (133) is provided between the first half (1321) and the second half (1322).

8. The locking sleeve according to claim 7, characterized in that, The through groove (133) extends radially to the hollow portion (14) and axially through the base plate (12).

9. A locking connector, characterized in that, The locking connector includes a convex connector (20), a concave connector (30), and a locking sleeve (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The locking connector according to claim 9, characterized in that, The concave connector (30) is provided with a first snap-fit ​​portion (31) along the circumferential direction. One side of the first snap-fit ​​portion (31) in the circumferential direction is a smooth first side surface (32), and the other side is provided with a first snap-fit ​​protrusion (33) extending in the circumferential direction. The convex connector (20) is provided with a second snap-fit ​​portion (21) along the circumferential direction. One side of the second snap-fit ​​portion (21) in the circumferential direction is a smooth second side surface (22), and the other side is provided with a second snap-fit ​​protrusion (23) extending in the circumferential direction. When the convex connector (20) and the concave connector (30) are connected, the first snap-fit ​​protrusion (33) and the second snap-fit ​​protrusion (23) snap into each other. A groove (40) is formed between the first side surface (32) and the second side surface (22). The locking sleeve (10) is sleeved on the outside of the convex connector (20) and the concave connector (30), and the locking protrusion (111) of the locking sleeve (10) snaps into the groove (40).

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