A gas pipeline anti-falling quick connector

Abstract

This application discloses a quick-connect fitting for gas pipelines to prevent detachment, comprising a housing, a pipeline connection assembly, a fitting assembly, a fixing assembly, and an elastic assembly. The fitting assembly is inserted into the housing from one end to form a sealed connection with the pipeline connection assembly; the fixing assembly, driven by the elastic assembly, locks the fitting assembly in the radial direction. The fixing assembly adopts a symmetrically arranged double retaining ring structure, with the retaining teeth on the inner ring side engaging with the annular retaining groove of the fitting ring cylinder under the action of the elastic assembly, forming a reliable mechanical lock. The sealing system adopts a dual design: the main seal is a self-tightening seal formed by the interference fit between the fitting ring cylinder and the double sealing ring cylinder; the secondary seal is an elastic seal contact between the end sealing plate and the stepped groove. The matching disassembly tool, through the wedge-shaped part cooperating with the wedge-shaped groove on the retaining ring, enables quick and non-destructive disassembly. This utility model has the advantages of excellent anti-detachment performance, reliable sealing, and convenient disassembly and assembly, and is particularly suitable for gas pipeline connection applications.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of pipeline connection technology, and in particular relates to a quick-connect fitting for gas pipelines to prevent detachment. Background Technology

[0002] In gas transmission systems, the reliability of pipeline connections is crucial. Traditional pipeline connection methods, such as threaded connections and flange connections, while providing secure connections, suffer from drawbacks such as cumbersome installation, inconvenient disassembly, and the need for specialized tools. To facilitate installation and maintenance, quick-connect couplings have been widely used in the gas pipeline industry.

[0003] Existing quick-connect couplings typically employ a snap-fit ​​or snap-ring structure for automatic locking upon insertion into the pipeline. However, during prolonged use, especially under conditions of vibration, pressure fluctuations, or accidental pulling, the locking mechanism of these couplings may loosen, leading to decreased connection sealing or even pipe detachment and potentially causing serious safety incidents. Furthermore, many existing quick-connect couplings are not easy to disassemble, often making it difficult to achieve quick and non-destructive separation without damaging the coupling structure.

[0004] Some connectors that rely on a single retaining ring and spring for locking have limited locking force and are prone to failure under unidirectional force. Other connectors, although designed with anti-loosening structures, have complex disassembly processes that require pressing multiple unlocking points simultaneously or applying force at a specific angle, making them inconvenient to operate in confined spaces.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field for a new type of quick-connect fitting for gas pipelines that can provide reliable protection against detachment under various working conditions, and can also enable quick and convenient installation and disassembly operations, thereby better meeting the dual requirements of gas transmission systems for safety and convenience. Utility Model Content

[0006] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a quick-connect fitting for gas pipelines to prevent detachment, thereby solving the problems mentioned in the background art. To achieve the above objective, the following technical solution is provided: a quick-connect fitting for gas pipelines to prevent detachment, comprising a housing, wherein the housing has an axially extending connecting cavity, and a pipeline connection component is provided at one end of the connecting cavity; It also includes a connector assembly and a fixing assembly; the connector assembly can be inserted from the other end of the communicating cavity and is axially and sealingly connected to the pipe connection assembly; the fixing assembly is disposed inside the housing and is driven by an elastic component to lock the connector assembly in the radial direction.

[0007] Furthermore, axial grooves are provided on opposite sides of the inner wall of the connecting cavity, and a first retaining ring and a second retaining ring are slidably disposed in the grooves. The inner ring sides of the first retaining ring and the second retaining ring are respectively fixedly provided with retaining teeth; and the side wall of the groove is provided with an operation port communicating with the outside.

[0008] Furthermore, wedge-shaped grooves are respectively provided on the opposite sides of the first and second retaining rings.

[0009] Furthermore, guide blocks are provided at both ends of the first retaining ring, and the second retaining ring is slidably disposed on the guide blocks.

[0010] Furthermore, the elastic component includes a slider fixedly disposed in the middle of the first retaining ring and the second retaining ring, a mounting groove is provided at the end wall of the communicating cavity, and a retaining spring is disposed between the mounting groove and the slider.

[0011] Furthermore, the connector assembly includes a connector ring cylinder, and an annular locking groove is provided on the outer ring wall of the connector ring cylinder. When the connector assembly is inserted into place, the locking teeth are driven by the elastic component to lock into the locking groove.

[0012] Furthermore, the pipe connection assembly includes a first sealing ring cylinder, which is threadedly connected to one end of the communicating cavity; the inner end of the first sealing ring cylinder is coaxially connected to a second sealing ring cylinder through a fixing block, and an annular cavity is formed between the first sealing ring cylinder and the second sealing ring cylinder, with the end of the connector ring cylinder being interference-fitted into the annular cavity.

[0013] Furthermore, a stepped groove is provided inside the connecting cavity, and a sealing plate is fixed to the end of the connector assembly. When the connector assembly is inserted into place, the sealing plate forms an elastic sealing contact with the end face of the stepped groove.

[0014] Furthermore, it also includes a disassembly tool, one end of which has a wedge-shaped portion; when disassembly is required, the wedge-shaped portion of the disassembly tool is inserted horizontally into the wedge groove from the operating port to pry open the first retaining ring and the second retaining ring, thereby separating the fixing component from the connector connection component.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this utility model are: This invention achieves instantaneous and automatic engagement and locking of the locking teeth and annular locking groove after the connector ring cylinder is inserted by setting a symmetrical fixing component driven radially by an elastic component, which plays a strong role in preventing loosening and ensures that the connector maintains extremely high connection reliability under vibration, pressure fluctuation and accidental pulling.

[0016] By using a combination of first and second sealing rings, the annular chamber formed by the two rings is interference-fitted to the end of the joint ring, achieving dual independent sealing of the main and auxiliary rings. This provides a dual effect of "self-tightening" sealing and flexible compensation, greatly improving the safety redundancy of the sealing system and its stability in long-term use.

[0017] By setting the disassembly tool to cooperate with the wedge groove on the fixing component, the simple radial insertion action is transformed into a labor-saving operation that overcomes the spring force of the retaining ring and simultaneously opens the double retaining rings. This achieves the effect of quick and non-destructive disassembly of the joint, which is especially suitable for narrow spaces and ensures the long service life of the product for reusability. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the appearance of this utility model; Figure 2 This is an installation diagram of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the fixed and flexible components; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the first and second retaining rings; Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the disassembly tool being inserted into the wedge groove.

[0019] The attached figures are labeled as follows: 10. Shell; 11. Communicating cavity; 12. Stepped groove; 13. Sliding groove; 20. Fixing component; 21. First retaining ring; 22. Second retaining ring; 23. Retaining tooth; 24. Guide block; 25. Wedge groove; 30. Elastic component; 31. Slider; 32. Snap ring; 33. Mounting slot; 40. Pipe connection assembly; 41. First sealing ring cylinder; 42. Second sealing ring cylinder; 43. Fixing block; 50. Connector assembly; 51. Connector ring; 52. Locking groove; 53. Sealing plate; 60. Disassembly tools. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0021] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to this application. For ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Techniques, methods, and devices known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and devices should be considered part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following drawings denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it need not be further discussed in subsequent drawings. Example 1

[0022] See Figures 1 to 5 This embodiment provides a specific structure and connection process for a quick-connect fitting for preventing detachment of gas pipelines.

[0023] This utility model discloses a quick-connect fitting for preventing the gas pipeline from detaching. Its basic structure includes a housing 10 serving as the main support structure. The housing 10 has a through-cavity 11 machined inside, running along its axis. This through-cavity 11 is the fluid passageway within the entire fitting and also serves as the mounting base for the various functional components. At one end of the through-cavity 11, a pipeline connection assembly 40 is provided for connecting to a fixed gas pipeline.

[0024] The pipe connection assembly 40 specifically includes a first sealing ring cylinder 41 that is screwed onto the housing 10 via threads. A second sealing ring cylinder 42 is coaxially welded to the inner end of the first sealing ring cylinder 41, i.e., the end facing the interior of the communicating cavity, via several circumferentially evenly distributed fixing blocks 43. An annular sealed chamber is formed between the first sealing ring cylinder 41 and the second sealing ring cylinder 42, thus constituting the first sealing connection interface.

[0025] The pipe connection assembly 40 is secured by a threaded connection, ensuring a robust connection to the downstream pipe. The annular chamber formed by the first sealing ring cylinder 41 and the second sealing ring cylinder 42 provides a precise insertion space with guiding and preliminary sealing functions for subsequently inserted components, avoiding the problems of poor alignment and uneven sealing pressure that may occur with single-wall connections.

[0026] Corresponding to the pipe connection assembly 40 is the connector connection assembly 50, which serves as the "male" part of the quick-connect fitting. This assembly mainly includes a connector ring cylinder 51, the outer diameter of which matches the inner diameter of the connecting cavity 11, allowing for smooth insertion. The end of the connector ring cylinder 51 is inserted into the annular cavity formed by the first and second sealing ring cylinders with an interference fit.

[0027] The end of the connector ring cylinder 51 is inserted into the annular cavity by an interference fit. The interference fit itself provides connection rigidity and pull-out resistance, forming the first line of defense against mechanical detachment. Secondly, the double-walled insertion structure forms a sealing path with inner and outer sections, enhancing the reliability of the pipeline seal.

[0028] When the gas pressure is applied, the pressure will cause the second sealing ring cylinder 42 to undergo slight outward elastic deformation to press the joint ring cylinder 51, and at the same time force the outer side of the joint ring cylinder 51 to press against the first sealing ring cylinder 41, thereby forming a "self-tightening" sealing effect. This achieves the effect that the greater the pipeline pressure, the tighter the seal, solving the problem of the sealing performance of traditional quick-connect couplings decreasing under pressure fluctuations.

[0029] Furthermore, to achieve rapid connection and locking, this invention incorporates a key fixing component 20 and an elastic component 30 within the housing 10. The core of the fixing component 20 consists of two symmetrically arranged first retaining rings 21 and second retaining rings 22. Both are housed in grooves 13 on opposite sides of the inner wall of the communicating cavity 11 and can slide radially along the grooves 13. On the inner ring side of the first retaining rings 21 and 22 facing the axis, retaining teeth 23 are fixedly installed. To enable the two retaining rings to move collaboratively on the same horizontal plane without interfering with each other, guide blocks 24 are provided at both ends of the first retaining ring 21, and the two ends of the second retaining ring 22 are correspondingly slidably fitted onto the guide blocks 24.

[0030] The technical effects of this solution are as follows: The fixed component 20 adopts a split, symmetrically arranged double-ring structure that is slidably connected by guide blocks 24, which ensures the synchronicity and stability of the movement of the two rings when they close and open, and avoids jamming or skewing of a single ring due to uneven force.

[0031] At the same time, the symmetrical radial force can be applied evenly to the joint connection assembly 50, eliminating the bending of the joint ring cylinder 51 caused by unilateral locking, thereby ensuring the alignment of the sealing surface and extending the service life of the seal.

[0032] Furthermore, the power driving the centripetal movement of the fixing assembly 20 originates from the elastic assembly 30. The elastic assembly 30 includes a slider 31 fixedly mounted on the outer side of the middle portion of the first retaining ring 21 and the second retaining ring 22. A mounting groove 33 is correspondingly formed at the end of the end wall of the communicating cavity 11 opposite to the pipe connection assembly 40. A retaining spring 32 (or butterfly spring or leaf spring) is installed between the mounting groove 33 and the slider 31. The retaining spring 32 is always in a compressed or pre-tightened state, thereby continuously applying a radial force pointing towards the connector axis to the slider 31. This force is ultimately transmitted to the retaining teeth 23 through the retaining rings.

[0033] In this technical solution, a retaining ring 32 is selected as the elastic element and is disposed between the slider 31 and the mounting groove 33. Compared with common coil springs, the retaining ring 32 can provide greater elastic force and faster response speed within a limited axial space, ensuring the immediacy of locking. Secondly, the point of application of the elastic force is set in the middle of the retaining ring, so that the torque applied to the retaining ring is most balanced, which further promotes the smoothness of the retaining ring movement, prevents asynchronous jamming at both ends, and ensures that the retaining teeth 23 can always perform the locking task stably and accurately.

[0034] An annular locking groove 52 is machined in the middle of the outer wall of the connector ring cylinder 51 of the connector assembly 50. When the user inserts the connector assembly 50 into the communicating cavity 11, the end of the connector ring cylinder 51 first pushes open the closed locking teeth 23. Under the guidance of the guide block 24, the locking ring overcomes the elastic force of the retaining spring 32 and retracts into the sliding grooves 13 on both sides. When the connector ring cylinder 51 is inserted until its end is fully engaged with the annular cavity of the pipe connection assembly 40, the locking groove 52 moves to the position corresponding to the locking teeth 23. At this time, driven by the strong restoring force of the retaining spring 32, the slider 31 drives the first locking ring 21 and the second locking ring 22 to retract towards the center, so that the locking teeth 23 are instantly embedded in the locking groove 52.

[0035] This solution employs a "insertion-push-position-lock" linkage locking mechanism, achieving true "one-click" quick connection. Users only need to apply axial insertion force to complete all locking and sealing steps, greatly improving installation efficiency. The locking teeth 23, embedded in the annular locking groove 52, form a second layer of mechanical anti-disengagement, providing strong axial pull-out resistance. Once locked in, the connector assembly 50 is completely locked axially, preventing it from disengaging under vibration or accidental pulling. The annular locking groove 52 ensures that regardless of how the connector rotates, the locking teeth 23 provide a uniform locking force throughout the entire circumference, solving the defect of insufficient locking force in a specific direction in asymmetric snap-fit ​​structures.

[0036] Meanwhile, within the connecting cavity 11, near the insertion port, a stepped groove 12 is provided. Correspondingly, a sealing plate 53 is fixedly installed at the end of the connector ring 51 of the connector assembly 50. This sealing plate 53 is typically made of elastic and flame-retardant rubber or silicone material. When the connector assembly 50 is inserted into place, the sealing plate 53 fits tightly against the end face of the stepped groove 12 in the axial position, forming an elastic sealing contact, ensuring that the connector assembly 50 has a horizontal force in its pull-out direction to prevent the connection from loosening.

[0037] It should be noted in this application that the connector assembly 50 and the pipe connection assembly 40 in this device are respectively connected to the ends of the gas pipeline during application to achieve rapid splicing between multiple gas pipelines. The connection method between the connector assembly 50 and the pipe connection assembly 40 and the pipeline can be welding or threaded connection, etc., and this application does not make specific limitations on this, and other connection methods are also considered to fall within the protection scope of this patent. Example 2

[0038] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 This paper elaborates on the anti-detachment mechanism of this invention under external loads. When the connector assembly 50 is locked, if it is subjected to an axial tensile force F that causes it to disengage, this force will be transmitted to the locking tooth 23 through the side of the locking groove 52. Since the locking tooth 23 is fixed on the first 21 and the second retaining ring 21, and the retaining ring is confined within the radial sliding groove 13, the greater the tensile force F, the greater the normal pressure between the locking tooth 23 and the locking groove 52.

[0039] To further enhance the reliability of the locking mechanism, the meshing surfaces of the locking teeth 23 and the locking groove 52 can be designed as bevels with a specific angle. For example, the locking groove 52 can be designed as an inclined surface near the insertion side to facilitate the smooth pushing of the locking teeth 23 during insertion, while the other side can be designed as a negative angle barb. When the connecting assembly 50 is subjected to tension, it converts part of the axial tension into a larger radial pressure on the locking teeth 23, preventing the retaining ring from being pried open. At the same time, the meshing between the locking teeth 23 and the locking groove 52 is tighter, increasing the difficulty of disengagement. Example 3

[0040] See Figure 4 and Figure 6 This utility model is equipped with a dedicated disassembly tool 60. One end of the disassembly tool 60 is machined into a wedge shape. Corresponding to the disassembly tool 60, wedge-shaped grooves 25 are respectively machined on the outer sides of the first retaining ring 21 and the second retaining ring 22, which are opposite to each other. In addition, the sliding groove 13 on the housing 10 has an operating port communicating with the outside on its side wall, and the operating port is directly opposite the position of the wedge-shaped groove 25.

[0041] When it is necessary to disassemble the joint, the operator only needs to insert the wedge-shaped part of the disassembly tool 60 into the corresponding wedge groove 25 in the horizontal direction, i.e., radially, from the operating port on the side wall of the slide groove 13. As the disassembly tool 60 goes deeper, its wedge-shaped part will simultaneously contact the inclined surface of the wedge groove 25 on the first retaining ring 21 and the second retaining ring 22, and generate a radial component force that causes the two retaining rings to move away from each other.

[0042] When the disassembly tool 60 is fully inserted until the root of its wedge-shaped portion abuts against the edge of the operating port, the first retaining ring 21 and the second retaining ring 22 have been extended to their maximum stroke. At this point, the retaining tooth 23 is completely disengaged from the retaining groove 52, and the mechanical lock between the fixing assembly 20 and the connector connection assembly 50 is completely released. The operator can then easily pull the connector connection assembly 50 out of the communicating cavity 11 of the housing 10, completing the disassembly.

[0043] In this technical solution, the principle of inclined planes is utilized to convert the horizontal insertion of the disassembly tool 60 into a radial movement that causes the two retaining rings to move away from each other through the cooperation of the wedge-shaped part and the wedge-shaped groove 25. The inclined plane structure allows the spring force of the retaining ring 32 to be overcome with minimal operating force, easily opening the fixing component 20, making the unlocking process very effortless.

[0044] By applying the tool to both retaining rings simultaneously, the synchronous and smooth movement of the retaining rings during disassembly is ensured, avoiding wear on the retaining teeth 23 or retaining groove 52 caused by one side disengaging first. The entire operation is performed radially on the joint, eliminating the need for axial pressing space, making this joint ideal for use in situations with limited installation space.

[0045] Meanwhile, the insertion depth of the disassembly tool 60 is naturally limited by its structure, ensuring that the locking teeth 23 can completely and reliably disengage from the locking groove 52 each time it is disassembled, avoiding disassembly difficulties or component damage caused by incomplete disengagement. The entire disassembly process is safe, controllable, and efficient, and causes zero damage to the connector itself, ensuring that the connector can undergo repeated disassembly and assembly without performance degradation, greatly improving the product's service life and economy.

[0046] The embodiments of this application have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The specific embodiments described above are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can make many other forms under the guidance of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and all of these forms are within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A quick-connect fitting for preventing detachment of gas pipelines, comprising a housing (10), wherein the housing (10) has an axially extending connecting cavity (11) inside, and a pipeline connection assembly (40) is provided at one end of the connecting cavity (11), characterized in that: It also includes a connector assembly (50) and a fixing assembly (20); the connector assembly (50) can be inserted from the other end of the communicating cavity (11) and is axially sealed to the pipe connection assembly (40); the fixing assembly (20) is disposed inside the housing (10) and is driven by an elastic component (30) to lock the connector assembly (50) in the radial direction.

2. The quick-connect fitting for preventing detachment of gas pipelines according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner walls of the connecting cavity (11) are provided with axial grooves (13) on opposite sides. A first retaining ring (21) and a second retaining ring (22) are slidably arranged in the grooves (13). The inner ring sides of the first retaining ring (21) and the second retaining ring (22) are respectively fixedly provided with retaining teeth (23); and the side walls of the grooves (13) are provided with operating ports that communicate with the outside.

3. A quick-connect fitting for preventing detachment of gas pipelines according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first retaining ring (21) and the second retaining ring (22) are respectively provided with wedge-shaped grooves (25) on their opposite sides.

4. A quick-connect fitting for preventing detachment of gas pipelines according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first retaining ring (21) has guide blocks (24) at both ends, and the second retaining ring (22) is slidably disposed on the guide blocks (24).

5. A quick-connect fitting for preventing detachment of gas pipelines according to claim 2, characterized in that, The elastic component (30) includes a slider (31) fixedly disposed in the middle of the first retaining ring (21) and the second retaining ring (22), and an installation groove (33) is provided at the end wall of the communicating cavity (11), and a retaining spring (32) is provided between the installation groove (33) and the slider (31).

6. A quick-connect fitting for preventing detachment of gas pipelines according to claim 2, characterized in that, The connector assembly (50) includes a connector ring cylinder (51), and an annular locking groove (52) is provided on the outer ring wall of the connector ring cylinder (51). When the connector assembly (50) is inserted into place, the locking teeth (23) are driven by the elastic component (30) and locked into the locking groove (52).

7. A quick-connect fitting for preventing detachment of gas pipelines according to claim 6, characterized in that, The pipe connection assembly (40) includes a first sealing ring cylinder (41), which is threaded to one end of the communicating cavity (11); the inner end of the first sealing ring cylinder (41) is coaxially connected to a second sealing ring cylinder (42) through a fixing block (43), and an annular cavity is formed between the first sealing ring cylinder (41) and the second sealing ring cylinder (42), and the end of the connector ring cylinder (51) is interference-fitted into the annular cavity.

8. A quick-connect fitting for preventing detachment of gas pipelines according to claim 7, characterized in that, The connecting cavity (11) is also provided with a stepped groove (12), and the end of the connector assembly (50) is also fixed with a sealing plate (53). When the connector assembly (50) is inserted into place, the sealing plate (53) and the end face of the stepped groove (12) form an elastic sealing contact.

9. A quick-connect fitting for preventing detachment of gas pipelines according to claim 3, characterized in that, It also includes a disassembly tool (60), one end of which has a wedge-shaped portion; when disassembly is required, the wedge-shaped portion of the disassembly tool (60) is inserted into the wedge groove (25) in the horizontal direction from the operating port to open the first retaining ring (21) and the second retaining ring (22), so that the fixing component (20) is separated from the connector connection component (50).

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