Composite connector and composite connector structure

Abstract

To provide a composite connector in which a plurality of body parts are integrated with each other an a connection operation between the body parts and mating parts can be performed easily, and to provide a composite connector structure.SOLUTION: A composite connector structure includes a plurality of connector structure parts each including a cylindrical body part 2, a mating part 3 connected to the body part 2, and an annular seal member 4 interposed therebetween, wherein the body parts 2 are integrated with each other to form a composite connector 15, the body part 2 and the mating part 3 are connected by inserting a body part connection part 21 into a mating part connection part 31, or inserting the mating part connection part 31 into the body part connection part 21, and one first connector structure part of the connector structure parts, and the other second connector structure part of the connector structure parts are different in timing when a radial compression quantity of the annular seal member 4 becomes maximum at the time of a connection operation between the body part 2 and the mating part 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a composite connector in which a plurality of main body parts are integrated, and a composite connector structure including a plurality of counterpart parts and a plurality of annular seal members in addition to the composite connector.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a composite connector structure including a plurality of connector structures each including a cylindrical main body part, a counterpart part connected to the main body part, and an annular seal member interposed between the main body part and the counterpart part. In this type of composite connector structure, each main body part is integrated with each other to form a composite connector (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By integrating each main body part with each other, there are advantages such as the composite connector structure can be miniaturized and the connection between the main body part and the counterpart part can be performed in one operation.

[0003] In this type of composite connector structure, the main body part and the counterpart part are connected by inserting the main body connection part of the main body part into the counterpart connection part of the counterpart part or inserting the counterpart connection part into the main body connection part. And the annular seal member is disposed between the main body connection part and the counterpart connection part in a state compressed in the radial direction when the main body part and the counterpart part are connected. This is to highly seal the inside of the cylinder in the composite connector structure from the outside world.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, in the above-described composite connector structure, when connecting the main body part and the mating part, the main body connection part of the main body part is inserted into the mating connection part of the mating part while compressing the annular seal member from its natural state, or the mating connection part is inserted into the main body connection part while compressing the annular seal member from its natural state. And, for the purpose of highly sealing the inside of the cylinder in the composite connector structure from the outside world, a relatively large load is required to compress the annular seal member.

[0006] This type of composite connector structure includes a plurality of connector structure parts including a main body part, a mating part, and an annular seal member. And, in this composite connector structure, since each main body part is integrated with each other, the connection between the main body part and the mating part is performed in one operation. In such a composite connector structure, the connection operation load when connecting the main body part and the mating part mainly originates from the compression of the annular seal member, and if the number of annular seal members increases, the connection operation load may become excessive.

[0007] Therefore, it is difficult to say that the connection operation in this type of composite connector structure is easy, and there is a need for a connector structure having the above-described composite connector that can easily perform the connection operation between the main body part and the mating part.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object to be solved is to provide a composite connector and a composite connector structure capable of easily performing the connection operation between the main body part and the mating part, although it has a composite connector in which a plurality of main body parts are integrated with each other.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The composite connector structure of the present invention for solving the above problems is comprising a plurality of connector structure parts including a cylindrical main body part, a mating part connected to the main body part, and an annular seal member interposed between the main body part and the mating part, each of the main body parts is integrated with each other to form a composite connector, The main body part and the counterpart part are connected by inserting the main body connection part of the main body part into the counterpart connection part of the counterpart part or inserting the counterpart connection part into the main body connection part. The annular seal member is disposed between the main body connection part and the counterpart connection part in a state of being compressed in the radial direction when the main body part and the counterpart part are connected. At the timing when the radial compression amount of the annular seal member becomes maximum during the connection operation between the main body part and the counterpart part, the timings are different between a first connector structure part which is one of the connector structure parts and a second connector structure part which is the other of the connector structure parts, and it is a composite connector structure body.

[0010] The composite connector structure body of the present invention particularly preferably satisfies any one of the following requirements (a) to (d). (a) The main body connection part has a main body seal mounting part on which the annular seal member is pre-mounted. The main body seal mounting part in the first main body part which is one of the main body parts and included in the first connector structure part and the main body seal mounting part in the second main body part which is the other of the main body parts and included in the second connector structure part are at different positions in the relative insertion direction between the main body connection part and the counterpart connection part. (b) The counterpart connection part has a counterpart seal mounting part on which the annular seal member is pre-mounted. The counterpart seal mounting part in the first counterpart part which is one of the counterpart parts and included in the first connector structure part and the counterpart seal mounting part in the second counterpart part which is the other of the counterpart parts and included in the second connector structure part are at different positions in the relative insertion direction between the main body connection part and the counterpart connection part. (c) The main body connection part has a main body seal mounting part on which the annular seal member is pre-mounted. The tip of the mating connection part in the first mating part, which is one of the mating parts and included in the first connector structure part, and the tip of the mating connection part in the second mating part, which is the other one of the mating parts and included in the second connector structure part, are at different positions from each other in the relative insertion direction of the main body connection part and the mating connection part. (d) The mating connection part has a mating seal mounting part on which the annular seal member is pre-mounted. The tip of the main body connection part in the first main body part, which is one of the main body parts and included in the first connector structure part, and the tip of the main body connection part in the second main body part, which is the other one of the main body parts and included in the second connector structure part, are at different positions from each other in the relative insertion direction of the main body connection part and the mating connection part.

[0011] The composite connector of the present invention for solving the above problems is a composite connector in which a plurality of cylindrical main body parts are integrated, the main body part has a main body connection part that is inserted into a mating connection part of a mating part or into which the mating connection part is inserted, a composite connector that satisfies the following requirement (e) or (f). (e) The main body connection part has a main body seal mounting part on which the annular seal member is pre-mounted, the main body seal mounting part in the first main body part, which is one of the main body parts, and the main body seal mounting part in the second main body part, which is the other one of the main body parts, are at different positions from each other in the relative insertion direction of the main body connection part and the mating connection part. (f) The main body connection part does not have a main body seal mounting part on which the annular seal member is pre-mounted, the tip of the main body connection part in the first main body part, which is one of the main body parts, and the tip of the main body connection part in the second main body part, which is the other one of the main body parts, are at different positions from each other in the relative insertion direction of the main body connection part and the mating connection part.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the composite connector structure of the present invention and the composite connector of the present invention, although it has a composite connector in which a plurality of main body parts are integrated with each other, it is possible to easily perform a connection operation between the main body part and the mating part.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, the composite connector and the composite connector structure of the present invention will be described with specific examples.

[0015] The composite connector of the present invention is one aspect of the composite connector in the composite connector structure of the present invention. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, the descriptions of the main body portion and the main body connection portion in the following description of the composite connector structure of the present invention can be read as descriptions of the main body portion and the main body connection portion in the composite connector of the present invention as appropriate.

[0016] Unless otherwise specified, the numerical range "x to y" described in this specification includes the lower limit x and the upper limit y within that range. And by arbitrarily combining these upper limit values, lower limit values, and the numerical values listed in the embodiments, a numerical range can be constituted. Furthermore, any numerical value selected from within the numerical range can be used as the upper limit and lower limit numerical values.

[0017] The composite connector structure of the present invention includes a plurality of connector structures each including a cylindrical main body portion, a mating portion connected to the main body portion, and an annular seal member interposed between the main body portion and the mating portion.

[0018] Also, in the composite connector structure of the present invention, each of the main body portions is integrated with each other to form a composite connector, and the main body portion and the mating portion are connected by inserting the main body connection portion of the main body portion into the mating connection portion of the mating portion or inserting the mating connection portion into the main body connection portion. And the annular seal member is disposed between the main body connection portion and the mating connection portion in a state compressed in the radial direction when the main body portion and the mating portion are connected.

[0019] Here, in the composite connector structure of the present invention, at the time of the connection operation between the main body portion and the mating portion, the timing at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member becomes maximum is different between the first connector structure portion, which is one of the connector structure portions, and the second connector structure portion, which is the other one of the connector structure portions.

[0020] In other words, in the composite connector structure of the present invention, at the time of the above connection operation, the annular seal member included in the first connector structure portion and the annular seal member included in the second connector connection portion are compressed at different timings.

[0021] By doing so, the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the annular seal member included in the first connector structure portion and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the annular seal member included in the second connector connection portion are shifted in time. As a result, as the overall connection operation load for connecting the main body portion and the mating portion, it is leveled to some extent along with the passage of time from the start to the end of the connection operation, and a sharp and significant increase in the connection operation load is suppressed.

[0022] Accordingly, according to the composite connector structure of the present invention, even though it has a composite connector in which a plurality of main body portions are integrated with each other, it is possible to easily perform the connection operation between the main body portion and the mating portion. Similarly, for the composite connector of the present invention, even though it is a composite connector in which a plurality of main body portions are integrated with each other, it is possible to easily perform the connection operation between the main body portion and the mating portion.

[0023] Hereinafter, as necessary, the annular seal member included in the first connector structure portion is referred to as the first annular seal member, and the annular seal member included in the second connector structure portion is referred to as the second annular seal member. Also, the main body portion included in the first connector structure portion is referred to as the first main body portion, and the main body portion included in the second connector structure portion is referred to as the second main body portion. Further, the mating portion included in the first connector structure portion is referred to as the first mating portion, and the mating portion included in the second connector structure portion is referred to as the second mating portion.

[0024] Hereinafter, the composite connector and the composite connector structure of the present invention will be described for each of its components.

[0025] The composite connector structure of the present invention includes a plurality of connector structures including a cylindrical main body portion, a mating portion, and an annular seal member.

[0026] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, it is assumed that the main body portion is cylindrical, but the mating portion may or may not be cylindrical.

[0027] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the inside of the cylinder is configured at least inside the main body portion. The inside of the cylinder can be used, for example, as a flow path for fluids such as liquids and gases, or can also be used as a housing for accommodating articles such as cables and separating them from the outside. That is, the use of the composite connector structure of the present invention is not particularly limited, and it is preferably used, for example, as a flow path member constituting a flow path for fluids or as a housing for accommodating articles.

[0028] The main body portion only needs to be cylindrical as a whole, and its shape and material are not particularly limited. For example, the main body portion may be a bottomless cylindrical shape with both ends in the axial direction open, or may be a bottomed cylindrical shape with one or both ends in the axial direction closed.

[0029] Regarding the mating portion, its shape and material are not particularly limited. For example, the mating portion may be a bottomless cylindrical shape or a bottomed cylindrical shape. When the mating portion is not cylindrical, the mating portion may be, for example, a plug for shielding the inside of the cylinder of the main body portion from the outside.

[0030] The main body connection portion of the main body portion is particularly preferably straight tubular for the convenience of being inserted into the mating connection portion of the mating portion or for the mating connection portion to be inserted. When the main body connection portion is inserted into the mating connection portion, the mating connection portion needs to be cylindrical. In this case, the mating connection portion is also particularly preferably straight tubular.

[0031] When the main body connection part is inserted into the mating connection part, the outer diameter of the main body connection part is preferably smaller than the inner diameter of the mating connection part. When the mating connection part is inserted into the main body connection part, the outer diameter of the mating connection part is preferably smaller than the inner diameter of the main body connection part.

[0032] Hereinafter, as necessary, the part of the main body other than the main body connection part in the main body part is referred to as the general main body part, and the part of the mating part other than the mating connection part is referred to as the general mating part.

[0033] As described above, the main body connection part is preferably straight tubular, but the general main body part may be straight tubular or curved tubular. Alternatively, the general main body part may be an irregular diameter tubular shape such as a bellows shape, in which the radial length varies for each part along the axial direction. Similarly, the general mating part may be straight tubular, curved tubular, or an irregular diameter tubular shape such as a bellows shape. Furthermore, the general mating part does not have to be tubular.

[0034] The main body part may be a non-deformable rigid body or a deformable flexible body. The mating part may also be a rigid body or a flexible body.

[0035] The main body part may be composed of one member, or may be an assembly of two or more members integrated together. Similarly, the mating part may be composed of one member, or may be an assembly of two or more members integrated together.

[0036] The annular seal member is disposed between the main body connection part and the mating connection part in a state compressed in the radial direction during connection.

[0037] In other words, at the time of connection, the main body connection part, the mating connection part, and the annular seal member are arranged in the order of main body connection part - mating connection part - annular seal member in the thickness direction of the connector structure part. The annular seal member is positioned at that position in a state compressed in its radial direction, that is, in the thickness direction of the connector structure part. And at that position, it seals between the main body connection part and the mating connection part.

[0038] Such an annular seal member only needs to be made of an elastic material and have an annular shape, and its material, size, etc. are not particularly limited. Basically, it is preferable to select a material according to the uses of the main body part and the mating part.

[0039] For example, when a fluid such as gas or liquid flows inside the cylinder, it is preferable to select a material that hardly reacts with the fluid according to the type of the fluid and can suppress the fluid from passing through the annular seal member and leaking to the outside.

[0040] The annular seal member needs to have a shape that can be compressed between the main body connection part and the mating connection part at the time of connection between the main body part and the mating part. Considering sealing between the main body connection part and the mating connection part with high sealing performance, it is preferable to select a material with excellent elastic restoring force as the material of the annular seal member.

[0041] The composite connector structure of the present invention has a plurality of main body parts, and each main body part is integrated with each other to form a composite connector. The method of integrating the main body parts is not particularly limited. For example, a plurality of separate main body parts may be connected and integrated by a connecting member separate from the main body parts, or a plurality of main body parts may be integrally formed. The main body parts may be integrated so as not to change their positions relative to each other, or may be integrated so that a certain amount of position change is allowed. However, in order to stably perform the connection operation between the main body part and the mating part, it is more preferable that the main body parts are integrated so as not to change their positions relative to each other. In addition, each mating part may or may not be integrated with each other, and may be appropriately set according to the use of the mating part.

[0042] As described above, when the main body part and the mating part are connected, the annular seal member is located between the main body connection part and the mating connection part, contacts the main body connection part and the mating connection part, and is in a compressed state.

[0043] Before the main body part and the mating part are connected, naturally, the amount of compression in the radial direction of the annular seal member is either non-existent or very small. And the compression in the radial direction of the annular seal member progresses after the connection operation between the main body part and the mating part starts. The amount of compression in the radial direction of the annular seal member increases as the connection operation between the main body part and the mating part progresses, and the compression load due to the annular seal member being compressed also increases.

[0044] Here, in a composite connector structure having a plurality of connector structure parts, when the sum of the compression loads of each annular seal member rapidly increases, the connection operation load when connecting the main body part and the mating part also rapidly increases. When the connection operation load becomes excessive, it becomes difficult to easily perform the connection operation between the main body part and the mating part. Hereinafter, if necessary, the connection operation load when connecting the main body part and the mating part may be simply referred to as the connection operation load.

[0045] In order to solve the problem that the above-described connection operation load becomes excessive, the inventor of the present invention focused on the timing when the radial compression amount of the annular seal member becomes maximum.

[0046] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the above-described timing is different between the first connector structure part which is one of the connector structure parts and the second connector structure part which is another one of the connector structure parts.

[0047] As will be described in detail in the column of the embodiments described later, the connection operation load rapidly increases after the relative insertion between the main body connection part and the mating connection part starts until the main body connection part and the mating connection part are arranged at a predetermined connection position and the radial compression amount of the annular seal member becomes maximum.

[0048] The relative insertion of the main body connection part and the mating connection part as mentioned here is a concept that includes both the insertion of the main body connection part into the mating connection part and the insertion of the mating connection part into the main body connection part. Hereinafter, as necessary, the relative insertion of the main body connection part and the mating connection part as described above may be referred to as connection insertion, and the relative insertion direction of the main body connection part and the mating connection part may be simply referred to as the insertion direction.

[0049] The inventor of the present invention found that when the connection insertion is further advanced after the radial compression amount of the annular seal member reaches the maximum, the connection operation load that has once increased decreases to a certain extent.

[0050] The inventor obtained the idea of starting the connection insertion of the second connector structure while further advancing the connection insertion of the first connector structure when the radial compression amount of the first annular seal member reaches the maximum in the first connector structure part. By further developing this idea, the inventor arrived at making the timing at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member reaches the maximum different between the first connector structure part and the second connector structure part.

[0051] In order to make the timing at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member reaches the maximum different between the first connector structure part and the second connector structure part, for example, it is effective to make the connection positions of the main body connection part and the mating connection part where the radial compression amount of the annular seal member reaches the maximum different from each other in the insertion direction between the first connector structure part and the second connector structure part.

[0052] More specifically, it is advisable to adjust the connection positions of the main body connection part and the mating connection part where the radial compression amount of the annular seal member reaches the maximum in the first connector structure part and the connection positions of the main body connection part and the mating connection part where the radial compression amount of the annular seal member reaches the maximum in the second connector structure part so that the connection insertion in the first connector structure part starts first during the connection operation, and after the radial compression amount of the first annular seal member reaches the maximum in the first connector structure part, the connection insertion of the second connector structure starts.

[0053] Hereinafter, the connection positions of the main body connection part and the mating connection part where the radial compression amount of the annular seal member becomes maximum may be simply referred to as connection positions as necessary.

[0054] As described later, by adjusting the connection position in the first connector structure part and the connection position in the second connector structure part as described above, actually, the maximum value of the connection operation load is reduced, and the connection operation between the main body part and the mating part becomes easy.

[0055] In order to make the timings at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member becomes maximum different between the first connector structure part and the second connector structure part as described above, as a specific aspect of making the connection position in the first connector structure part and the connection position in the second connector structure part different from each other in the insertion direction, it is possible to give an aspect that satisfies any one of the following requirements (a) to (d). However, in the composite connector structure of the present invention, the specific aspect of making the connection position in the first connector structure part and the connection position in the second connector structure part different from each other in the insertion direction is not limited to this.

[0056] (a) The main body connection part has a main body seal mounting part on which the annular seal member is pre-mounted. The main body seal mounting part in the first main body part and the main body seal mounting part in the second main body part are in different positions in the insertion direction. (b) The mating connection part has a mating seal mounting part on which the annular seal member is pre-mounted. The mating seal mounting part in the first mating part and the mating seal mounting part in the second mating part are in different positions in the insertion direction. (c) The main body connection part has a main body seal mounting part. The tip parts of the mating connection parts in the first mating part and the second mating part are in different positions in the insertion direction. (d) The mating connection part has a mating seal mounting part. The tip of the main body connection part in the first main body part and the tip of the main body connection part in the second main body part are at different positions from each other in the insertion direction.

[0057] In order to connect the main body part and the mating part to obtain a connector structure part including the main body part, the mating part, and the annular seal member, it is essential to pre - mount the annular seal member on the main body connection part or the mating connection part. When pre - mounting the annular seal member on the main body connection part, it is advisable to provide a main body seal mounting part for mounting the annular seal member on the main body connection part. Also, when pre - mounting the annular seal member on the mating connection part, it is advisable to provide a mating seal mounting part for mounting the annular seal member on the mating connection part.

[0058] Hereinafter, as necessary, the main body connection part in the first main body part is referred to as the first main body connection part, the main body connection part in the second main body part is referred to as the second main body connection part, the mating connection part in the first mating part is referred to as the first mating connection part, and the mating connection part in the second mating part is referred to as the second mating connection part. Also, as necessary, the main body seal mounting part in the first main body connection part is referred to as the first main body seal mounting part, the main body seal mounting part in the second main body connection part is referred to as the first main body seal mounting part, the mating seal mounting part in the first mating connection part is referred to as the first mating seal mounting part, and the mating seal mounting part in the second mating connection part is referred to as the first mating seal mounting part.

[0059] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, when performing a connection insertion in which the main body connection part and the mating connection part are relatively inserted during the connection operation, first, the first main body connection part and the first mating connection part are arranged at the connection position, and then, the second main body connection part and the second mating connection part are arranged at the connection position. Or, first, the second main body connection part and the second mating connection part are arranged at the connection position, and then, the first main body connection part and the first mating connection part are arranged at the connection position.

[0060] When an annular seal member is attached to the main body connection part, that is, when the main body connection part has a main body seal attachment part, it is preferable that the main body seal attachment part in the first main body part and the main body seal attachment part in the second main body part are at different positions from each other in the insertion direction [requirement (a)]. In this case, the first main body connection part and the second main body connection part can be at different positions from each other in the insertion direction, and the connection position in the first connector structure part and the connection position in the second connector structure part can be at different positions from each other in the insertion direction.

[0061] In this case, for the mating connection part of the other party, the tip part thereof, that is, the end part on the main body part side, may be at the same position as each other in the insertion direction, or may be at different positions from each other. In addition, when the tip side part of the mating connection part, that is, the part on the main body part side, is chamfered and the chamfered tip side part does not contact the annular seal member attached to the main body connection part, the tip part of the mating connection part described above means the tip part in the mating connection part excluding the chamfered tip side part.

[0062] In any case, it is a premise that "at the time of the connection operation between the main body part and the mating part, the timing at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member becomes maximum is different between the first connector structure part and the second connector structure part". Therefore, even when the tip parts of the mating connection parts in the mating part are at different positions from each other in the insertion direction as described above, the positions of the tip parts of the mating connection parts are at different positions from each other within a range that satisfies the above premise. The above premise is the same also in the composite connector structure of the present invention that satisfies any one of requirements (b) to (d) described later.

[0063] When the main body connection part has the main body seal mounting part in the same manner as the above requirement (a), it is also good to make the tip part of the mating connection part in the first mating part and the tip part of the mating connection part in the second mating part be in different positions from each other in the insertion direction [requirement (c)]. Also in this case, the first mating connection part and the second mating connection part can be in different positions from each other in the insertion direction, and the connection position in the first connector structure part and the connection position in the second connector structure part can be in different positions from each other in the insertion direction.

[0064] In this case, for the main body connection part of the main body part, the tip parts thereof, that is, the end parts on the mating part side, may be in the same position as each other in the insertion direction, or may be in different positions from each other within the range satisfying the above-mentioned premise. When the tip side part of the main body connection part is chamfered and the chamfered tip side part does not contact the annular seal member mounted on the mating connection part, the tip part of the main body connection part means the tip part in the main body connection part excluding the chamfered tip side part.

[0065] On the other hand, when an annular seal member is mounted on the mating connection part, that is, when the mating connection part has a mating seal mounting part, it is good to make the mating seal mounting part in the first mating part and the mating seal mounting part in the second mating part be in different positions from each other in the insertion direction [requirement (b)]. Also in this case, the first mating connection part and the second mating connection part can be in different positions from each other in the insertion direction, and the connection position in the first connector structure part and the connection position in the second connector structure part can be in different positions from each other in the insertion direction.

[0066] In this case, for the main body connection part of the main body part, the tip parts thereof may be in the same position as each other in the insertion direction, or may be in different positions from each other within the range satisfying the above-mentioned premise.

[0067] When the mating connection part has a mating seal mounting part in the same manner as the above requirement (b), it is also possible to position the tip of the main body connection part in the first main body part and the tip of the main body connection part in the second main body part at different positions from each other in the insertion direction [requirement (d)]. Also in this case, the first main body connection part and the second main body connection part can be positioned at different positions from each other in the insertion direction, and the connection position in the first connector structure part and the connection position in the second connector structure part can be positioned at different positions from each other in the insertion direction.

[0068] In this case, regarding the mating connection part of the mating part, the tips thereof may be at the same position as each other in the insertion direction, or may be at different positions from each other within the range satisfying the above-mentioned premise.

[0069] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, by positioning the connection position in the first connector structure part and the connection position in the second connector structure part at different positions from each other in the insertion direction, it is possible to shift in time the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the first annular seal member and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the second annular seal member. Therefore, in the composite connector structure of the present invention, the distance in the insertion direction between the connection position in the first connector structure part and the connection position in the second connector structure part is not particularly limited.

[0070] However, in order to sufficiently reduce the connection operation load generated in the composite connector structure of the present invention, for example, it is preferable that the first main body connection part and the first mating connection part are arranged at the connection position, and after the connection operation load due to the first annular seal member has decreased to a certain extent, the second main body connection part and the second mating connection part are arranged at the connection position. Alternatively, first, it is preferable that the second main body connection part and the second mating connection part are arranged at the connection position, and after the connection operation load due to the second annular seal member has decreased to a certain extent, the first main body connection part and the first mating connection part are arranged at the connection position.

[0071] In order to generate a connection operation load at such a timing, it can be said that it is preferable to set the distance in the insertion direction between the connection position in the first connector structure part and the connection position in the second connector structure part so that the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the first annular seal member and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the second annular seal member occur with a certain interval.

[0072] Specifically, in the composite connector structure of the present invention, the distance in the insertion direction between the connection position in the first connector structure part and the connection position in the second connector structure part is preferably 1 / 2 or more, more than 1 / 2, 2 / 3 or more, or 3 / 4 or more of the axial length of the annular seal member in the natural state. This is due to the following reasons.

[0073] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the connection operation load rises after the start of connection insertion until the main body connection part and the mating connection part are arranged at the connection position and the radial compression amount of the annular seal member becomes maximum, and then decreases. When using a general annular seal member, when the 1 / 2 position of the axial length in the annular seal member contacts the main body connection part and the mating connection part, the radial compression amount of the annular seal member becomes maximum.

[0074] Therefore, by setting the distance in the insertion direction between the connection position in the first connector structure part and the connection position in the second connector structure part to be 1 / 2 or more of the axial length of the annular seal member, the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the first annular seal member and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the second annular seal member can be separated to a certain extent. And thereby, it is possible to further reduce the connection operation load in the composite connector structure of the present invention.

[0075] Incidentally, when the composite connector structure of the present invention satisfies requirement (a), the distance in the insertion direction between the connection position in the first connector structure portion and the connection position in the second connector structure portion can be rephrased as the distance in the insertion direction between the first main body seal mounting portion and the second main body seal mounting portion. Similarly, when the composite connector structure of the present invention satisfies requirement (b), it can be rephrased as the distance in the insertion direction between the first mating seal mounting portion and the second mating seal mounting portion. Similarly, when the composite connector structure of the present invention satisfies requirement (c), it can be rephrased as the distance in the insertion direction between the tip of the first mating connection portion and the tip of the second mating connection portion. Similarly, when the composite connector structure of the present invention satisfies requirement (d), it can be rephrased as the distance in the insertion direction between the tip of the first main body connection portion and the tip of the second main body connection portion.

[0076] Incidentally, the axial length of the annular seal member changes when it is mounted on or compressed by the main body seal mounting portion. Therefore, in this specification, the axial length of the annular seal member in the natural state is adopted as the reference.

[0077] The composite connector structure of the present invention includes a plurality of connector structure portions including a main body portion, a mating portion, and an annular seal member. One of the plurality of connector structure portions is the first connector structure portion, and the other one of the plurality of connector structure portions is the second connector structure portion. Only one of the plurality of connector structure portions in the composite connector structure of the present invention may be the first connector structure portion, or a plurality of them may be the first connector structure portion.

[0078] Stated from a different angle, the composite connector structure of the present invention includes a plurality of main body parts. One of the plurality of main body parts is the first main body part, and the other one of the plurality of main body parts is the second main body part. Only one of the plurality of main body parts in the composite connector structure of the present invention may be the first main body part, or a plurality of them may be the first main body part. Also, the composite connector structure of the present invention includes a plurality of mating parts. One of the plurality of mating parts is the first mating part, and the other one of the plurality of mating parts is the second mating part. Only one of the plurality of mating parts in the composite connector structure of the present invention may be the first mating part, or a plurality of them may be the first mating part.

[0079] In addition, in the composite connector structure of the present invention, when connecting the main body part and the mating part, the timing at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member becomes maximum is different between the first connector structure part and the second connector structure part. Therefore, a connector structure part that is not the first connector structure part among the plurality of connector structure parts can be referred to as the second connector structure part. Similarly, a main body part that is not the first main body part among the plurality of main body parts can be referred to as the second main body part, and a mating part that is not the first mating part among the plurality of mating parts can be referred to as the second mating part.

[0080] By the way, in the composite connector structure of the present invention, in order to suppress a sudden and excessive increase in the connection operation load, it is essential to suppress the bias of the connection operation load. For this reason, when the composite connector structure of the present invention has a plurality of first main body parts and / or second main body parts, it is preferable that the main body part adjacent to the first main body part is the second main body part. When the first main body parts are adjacent to each other, the connection operation load locally increases at the adjacent part, and this is for the purpose of dispersing it. In order to further disperse the connection operation load, it is more preferable that the main body part adjacent to the second main body part is the first main body part.

[0081] The composite connector of the present invention satisfies the following requirement (e) or (f). (e) The main body connection part has a main body seal mounting part, The body seal mounting portion in the first body portion and the body seal mounting portion in the second body portion are at different positions from each other in the insertion direction. (f) The body connection portion does not have a body seal mounting portion. The tip portions of the body connection portions in the first body portion and the second body portion are at different positions from each other in the insertion direction.

[0082] Regarding the above requirement (e), it is the same as the aforementioned requirement (a). The composite connector of the present invention that satisfies requirement (a) can also be referred to as the composite connector in the composite connector structure of the present invention that satisfies requirement (a).

[0083] Regarding the above requirement (f), it is the same as the aforementioned requirement (d). It is assumed that the body connection portion does not have a body seal mounting portion and the mating connection portion has a mating seal mounting portion. The composite connector of the present invention that satisfies requirement (f) can also be referred to as the composite connector in the composite connector structure of the present invention that satisfies requirement (d).

[0084] Regarding the composite connector in the composite connector structure of the present invention that satisfies requirement (b) or requirement (c), since the structural features are not specified, it is omitted here.

[0085] In the composite connector of the present invention that satisfies requirement (e), similar to the composite connector in the composite connector structure of the present invention that satisfies requirement (a), the distance in the insertion direction between the first body seal mounting portion and the second body seal mounting portion is preferably 1 / 2 or more, more than 1 / 2, 2 / 3 or more, or 3 / 4 or more of the axial length of the annular seal member in the natural state. Similarly, in the composite connector of the present invention that satisfies requirement (f), similar to the composite connector in the composite connector structure of the present invention that satisfies requirement (d), the distance in the insertion direction between the tip portion of the first body connection portion and the tip portion of the second body connection portion is preferably 1 / 2 or more, more than 1 / 2, 2 / 3 or more, or 3 / 4 or more of the axial length of the annular seal member in the natural state.

[0086] Furthermore, in the composite connector of the present invention, similar to the composite connector in the composite connector structure of the present invention, it is preferable that the main body part adjacent to the first main body part is the second main body part, and in addition to this, it is preferable that the main body part adjacent to the second main body part is the first main body part.

[0087] Hereinafter, the composite connector and the composite connector structure of the present invention will be described with specific examples.

[0088] (Example 1) The composite connector structure of Example 1 satisfies requirement (a) among the composite connector structures of the present invention. Also, the composite connector of Example 1 satisfies requirement (e) among the composite connector structures of the present invention.

[0089] FIG. 1 shows an explanatory diagram schematically explaining the state of disassembling the composite connector in the composite connector structure of Example 1. FIGS. 2 and 4 to 5 show explanatory diagrams schematically explaining the composite connector structure of Example 1 during the connection operation. FIG. 3 shows an explanatory diagram schematically explaining the distance in the insertion direction between the first main body seal mounting part and the second main body seal mounting part.

[0090] Note that FIG. 2 shows a state where the first main body part and the first mating part are not connected and the second main body part and the second mating part are also not connected during the connection operation. FIG. 4 shows a state where the first main body part and the first mating part are connected and the second main body part and the second mating part are not connected during the connection operation. FIG. 5 shows a state where the first main body part and the first mating part are connected and the second main body part and the second mating part are connected during the connection operation.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 2, the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1 includes two connector structures 10 each including a main body part 2, a mating part 3, and an annular seal member 4. One of the connector structures 10 is referred to as the first connector structure 10F, and the other is referred to as the second connector structure 10S.

[0092] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, the main body portion 2 and the mating portion 3 are connected by inserting the mating portion 3 into the main body portion 2 along the axial direction of the main body portion 2.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 1, the main body portion 2 in each connector structure portion 10 is each substantially L-shaped cylindrical. One end side portion of each main body portion 2 is a main body connection portion 21 into which the mating portion 3 is inserted, and the other end side portion is a hose joint connected to a hose (not shown) which is another mating portion.

[0094] Each main body connection portion 21 has a main body seal mounting portion 22 on one end side thereof. The main body seal mounting portion 22 is an annular groove that opens to the inner peripheral surface of the main body portion 2.

[0095] More specifically, the first main body portion 2F which is the main body portion 2 of the first connector structure portion 10F and the second main body portion 2S which is the main body portion 2 of the second connector structure portion 10S are each substantially cylindrical, and their axial directions are arranged parallel to each other. The first main body portion 2F and the second main body portion 2S are adjacent to each other. The first main body portion 2F and the second main body portion 2S are integrated by a connecting portion 25 from the outside in the radial direction. Thereby, the first main body portion 2F and the second main body portion 2S form a composite connector 15.

[0096] The first bush 13F which is the front side portion in the first main body connection portion 21, that is, the portion on the mating portion 3 side, is short cylindrical and is separate from the remaining first base portion 14F. The first bush 13F and the first base portion 14F are arranged along the axial direction of the main body portion 2. A gap is formed between the first bush 13F and the first base portion 14F in the axial direction of the main body portion 2. The gap extends over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the first main body portion 2F and forms an annular groove. The gap communicates with the inside of the cylinder of the first main body portion 2F on the inner side in the radial direction and is covered by the connecting portion 25 on the outer side in the radial direction. The gap corresponds to the main body seal mounting portion 22 in the first main body portion 2F, that is, the first main body seal mounting portion 22F.

[0097] The second main body part 2S has a second bush 13S that is longer in the axial direction than the first bush 13F, and a second base part 14S that is the remaining part. The second main body seal mounting part 22S, that is, the main body seal mounting part 22 in the second main body part 2S, is at a different position in the axial direction of the main body part 2, that is, the insertion direction between the main body part 2 and the mating part 3, with respect to the first main body seal mounting part 22F. More specifically, the first main body seal mounting part 22F is on the front side in the main body part 2, that is, on the side of the mating part 3, with respect to the second main body seal mounting part 22S. Except for this, the second main body part 2S is substantially the same as the first main body part 2F.

[0098] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connecting part 25 has a connecting base part 26 and a second connecting mounting part 28 that are integrally formed with the first main body part 2F and the second main body part 2S, and a first connecting mounting part 27 that has a substantially frame shape and is mounted on the connecting base part 26 and the second connecting mounting part 28. The first connecting mounting part 27 is directly or indirectly mounted on the connecting base part 26 and the second connecting mounting part 28, and is arranged on the side of the mating part 3 with respect to the first main body seal mounting part 22F and the second main body seal mounting part 22S.

[0099] The first connecting mounting part 27 functions as a fixture that fixes the first mating connection part 31F in the first main body part 2F to the first base part 14F, and fixes the second mating connection part 31S in the second main body part 2S to the second base part 14S.

[0100] The second connecting mounting part 28 has two claw-shaped main body side lock parts 80. One of the two main body side lock parts 80 protrudes radially inward of the first main body part 2F on the side of the mating part 3 with respect to the first main body seal mounting part 22F. The other of the two main body side lock parts 80 protrudes radially inward of the second main body part 2S.

[0101] As shown in FIG. 2, the first mating part 3F belonging to the first connector structure part 10F is inserted into the first main body part 2F belonging to the first connector structure part 10F. The second mating part 3S belonging to the second connector structure part 10S is inserted into the second main body part 2S belonging to the second connector structure part 10S.

[0102] The first-phase hand part 3F has a substantially identical straight cylindrical and cylindrical shape. The front-side portion of the first-phase hand part 3F, that is, the portion on the side of the first main body part 2F in the first-phase hand part 3F, is chamfered. On the rear-side portion of the first-phase hand part 3F, that is, the portion on the side opposite to the first main body part 2F in the first-phase hand part 3F, a mating-side lock part 81 that bulges radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the first-phase hand part 3F is provided. At the time of connection shown in Fig. 5, the mating-side lock part 81 and the main-body-side lock part 80 engage with each other to lock the main body part 2 and the hand part 3 in a connected state. In the first-phase hand part 3F, the portion located on the front side of the mating-side lock part 81 is the mating connection part 31 (the first mating connection part 31F).

[0103] The second-phase hand part 3S has substantially the same shape as the first-phase hand part 3F and has a mating-side lock part 81 and a mating connection part 31 (the second mating connection part 31S) similar to those of the first-phase hand part 3F.

[0104] One annular seal member 4 is mounted on each of the first main body seal mounting part 22F and the second main body seal mounting part 22S.

[0105] The annular seal member 4 is a so-called O-ring made of nitrile rubber and having an annular shape. For each annular seal member 4, most of it is inside the corresponding main body seal mounting part 22, and a part of it is exposed from the main body seal mounting part 22 into the inside of the cylinder of the main body part 2. The inner diameter of the annular seal member 4 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the corresponding mating connection part 31, and the outer diameter of the annular seal member 4 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the corresponding main body connection part 21.

[0106] As shown in Fig. 3, the distance in the insertion direction between the first main body seal mounting part 22F and the second main body seal mounting part 22S is about 5 / 2 of the axial length L0 of the annular seal member 4 in the natural state.

[0107] In addition, in this specification, the distance L1 in the insertion direction between the first main body seal mounting portion 22F and the second main body seal mounting portion 22S means the distance in the insertion direction between the center portion of the first main body seal mounting portion 22F in the insertion direction and the center portion of the second main body seal mounting portion 22S also in the insertion direction, as shown in FIG. 3. The insertion direction coincides with the axial direction of the main body connection portion 21 and the mating connection portion 31.

[0108] In the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, the composite connector 15 is attached to a driving device (not shown). The main body portion 2 and the mating portion 3 are connected by a positional change of the composite connector 15 attached to the driving device in the insertion direction toward the mating portion 3 in a fixed state.

[0109] At the time of the connection operation for connecting the main body portion 2 and the mating portion 3, first, as shown in FIG. 2, the composite connector 15 is arranged such that the first main body connection portion 21F of the first main body portion 2F faces the first mating connection portion 31F of the first mating portion 3F, and the second main body connection portion 21S of the second main body portion 2S faces the second mating connection portion 31S of the second mating portion 3S. At this time, the first main body portion 2F and the first mating portion 3F are not connected, and the second main body portion 2S and the second mating portion 3S are also not connected.

[0110] The composite connector 15 is positionally changed in the insertion direction toward the mating portion 3 by a driving device (not shown), and the mating connection portion 31 is inserted into the main body connection portion 21. As described above, since the first main body seal mounting portion 22F is on the front side, that is, the mating portion 3 side, with respect to the second main body seal mounting portion 22S, the first annular seal member 4F mounted on the first main body seal mounting portion 22F is on the front side of the second annular seal member 4S mounted on the second main body seal mounting portion 22S (see FIG. 2).

[0111] The first annular seal member 4F and the second annular seal member 4S are compressed in the radial direction during the connection operation, and their radial compression amounts are maximized during connection. Therefore, the position of the first annular seal member 4F and the position of the first main body seal mounting portion 22F on which the first annular seal member 4F is mounted substantially become the connection positions of the first main body connection portion 21F and the first mating connection portion 31F. Similarly, the position of the second annular seal member 4S and the position of the second main body seal mounting portion 22S on which the second annular seal member 4S is mounted substantially become the connection positions of the second main body connection portion 21S and the second mating connection portion 31S. Therefore, it can be said that the connection position of the first main body connection portion 21F and the first mating connection portion 31F is on the front side, that is, on the mating part 3 side, of the connection positions of the second main body connection portion 21S and the second mating connection portion 31S.

[0112] During the connection operation, as shown in FIG. 4, first, the first main body part 2F and the first mating part 3F are connected, and the radial compression amount of the first annular seal member 4F intervening between the first main body connection portion 21F and the first mating connection portion 31F becomes maximum. Then, when the connection operation is continued with the first main body part 2F and the first mating part 3F being connected, as shown in FIG. 5, the second main body part 2S and the second mating part 3S are connected, and the radial compression amount of the second annular seal member 4S intervening between the second main body connection portion 21S and the second mating connection portion 31S becomes maximum.

[0113] As shown in FIG. 5, when the first main body part 2F and the first mating part 3F are connected and the second main body part 2S and the second mating part 3S are connected, the main body side lock portion 80 overrides the mating side lock portion 81, and the mating side lock portion 81 and the main body side lock portion 80 engage with each other. Thereby, the main body part 2 and the mating part 3 are locked in the connected state.

[0114] The composite connector structure 1 of Example 1 has a composite connector 15 in which a first main body part 2F and a second main body part 2S are integrated. However, the first main body seal mounting part 22F and the second main body seal mounting part 22S are at different positions from each other in the insertion direction. As a result, the connection positions of the first main body connection part 21F and the first mating connection part 31F and the connection positions of the second main body connection part 21S and the second mating connection part 31S are different from each other in the insertion direction.

[0115] In such a composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, during the connection operation, the first annular seal member 4F and the second annular seal member 4S are compressed at different timings, and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the first annular seal member 4F and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the second annular seal member 4S are shifted in time. Thereby, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, a rapid and significant increase in the overall connection operation load for connecting the main body part 2 and the mating part 3 is suppressed.

[0116] As a result, according to the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, although it is possible to perform the connection operation between the main body part 2 and the mating part 3 with a single operation having the composite connector 15, the connection operation between the main body part 2 and the mating part 3 can be easily performed.

[0117] (Comparative Example) The composite connector structure of the comparative example is substantially the same as the composite connector structure of Example 1 except that the connection position of the first connector structure part and the connection position of the second connector structure part during the connection operation between the main body part and the mating part are at the same position in the insertion direction. Explanation diagrams schematically explaining the composite connector structure of the comparative example during the connection operation are shown in FIGS. 6 to 8.

[0118] Note that FIG. 6 shows a state where the first main body part and the first mating part are not connected and the second main body part and the second mating part are not connected during the connection operation. FIG. 7 shows a state immediately before the first main body part and the first mating part are connected and the second main body part and the second mating part are connected during the connection operation. FIG. 8 shows a state where the first main body part and the first mating part are connected and the second main body part and the second mating part are connected during the connection operation. Hereinafter, the composite connector structure of the comparative example will be described centering on the differences from the composite connector structure of the first embodiment.

[0119] In the composite connector structure 1 of the comparative example, the first main body connection part 21F and the second main body connection part 21S each have a main body seal mounting part 22 (the first main body seal mounting part 22F, the second main body seal mounting part 22S), and an annular seal member 4 (the first annular seal member 4F, the second annular seal member 4S) is mounted on each of the first main body seal mounting part 22F and the second main body seal mounting part 22S. Therefore, the first main body seal mounting part 22F and the second main body seal mounting part 22S are at the same position in the insertion direction. On the other hand, the first mating part 3F and the second mating part 3S have the same shape as each other.

[0120] Therefore, in the composite connector structure 1 of the comparative example, the connection positions of the first main body connection part 21F and the first mating connection part 31F and the connection positions of the second main body connection part 21S and the second mating connection part 31S are at the same position in the insertion direction.

[0121] Therefore, during the connection operation, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first main body part 2F and the first mating part 3F are connected at the same time as the second main body part 2S and the second mating part 3S are connected. For this reason, when the radial compression amount of the first annular seal member 4F intervening between the first main body connection part 21F and the first mating connection part 31F becomes maximum, at the same time, the radial compression amount of the second annular seal member 4S intervening between the second main body connection part 21S and the second mating connection part 31S becomes maximum.

[0122] Therefore, in the composite connector structure 1 of the comparative example, the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the first annular seal member 4F and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the second annular seal member 4S overlap, and it can be said that the overall connection operation load rises sharply and significantly.

[0123] (Evaluation Test) Regarding the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1 and the composite connector structure 1 of the comparative example, the change in the connection operation load during the connection operation was evaluated. The connection operation of the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1 and the connection operation of the composite connector structure 1 of the comparative example were performed under the same conditions using the same driving device, and the amount of position change of the composite connector 15 in each composite connector structure 1 toward the mating part 3 and the accompanying connection operation load were measured. The results are shown in FIG. 9. In addition, the horizontal axis in FIG. 9 indicates the amount of position change of the composite connector 15 in each composite connector structure 1 toward the mating part 3. The vertical axis indicates the connection operation load generated by the position change of the composite connector 15.

[0124] In the composite connector structure 1 of the comparative example, near the position change amount 1 in FIG. 9, the first main body part 2F and the first mating part 3F are connected and the second main body part 2S and the second mating part 3S are connected. Therefore, the connection operation load at this time rises sharply and shows a large value.

[0125] On the other hand, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, near the position change amount 1 in FIG. 9, first the first main body part 2F and the first mating part 3F are connected, and then near the position change amount 5, the second main body part 2S and the second mating part 3S are connected. Therefore, the connection operation load generated near the position change amount 1 in FIG. 9 in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1 is sufficiently low, less than half of the connection operation load generated near the position change amount 1 in FIG. 9 in the composite connector structure 1 of the comparative example.

[0126] Regarding the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, the connection operation load rises again near the position change amount 5 in FIG. 9. However, the connection operation load at this time is also a sufficiently low value compared to the connection operation load that occurs near the position change amount 1 in FIG. 9 in the composite connector structure 1 of the comparative example.

[0127] From this result, it is confirmed that according to the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1 in which the first main body seal mounting portion 22F and the second main body seal mounting portion 22S are at different positions from each other in the insertion direction, a rapid and significant increase in the connection operation load can be suppressed. In other words, from this result, the connection positions of the first main body connection portion 21F and the first mating connection portion 31F, and the connection positions of the second main body connection portion 21S and the second mating connection portion 31S are different from each other in the insertion direction, and at the time of connecting the main body portion 2 and the mating portion 3, the timing at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member 4 becomes maximum is different between the first connector structure portion 10F and the second connector structure portion 10S. According to the composite connector structure 1 of the present invention, it is confirmed that a rapid and significant increase in the connection operation load can be suppressed.

[0128] (Example 2) The composite connector structure of Example 2 satisfies requirement (b) among the composite connector structures of the present invention.

[0129] The composite connector structure of Example 2 is substantially the same as the composite connector structure of Example 1 except that the first main body portion and the second main body portion have substantially the same shape, the mating connection portion of the mating portion has a mating seal mounting portion, and the first mating seal mounting portion and the second mating seal mounting portion are at different positions in the insertion direction.

[0130] Explanation diagrams schematically explaining the composite connector structure of Example 2 during the connection operation are shown in FIGS. 10 to 12. Note that FIG. 10 shows a state where the first main body part and the first mating part are not connected and the second main body part and the second mating part are not connected during the connection operation. FIG. 11 shows a state where the first main body part and the first mating part are connected and the second main body part and the second mating part are not connected during the connection operation. FIG. 12 shows a state where the first main body part and the first mating part are connected and the second main body part and the second mating part are connected during the connection operation. Hereinafter, the composite connector structure of Example 2 will be described, centering on the differences from the composite connector structure of Example 1.

[0131] As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 2, the same-shaped first main body part 2F and second main body part 2S are arranged parallel to each other and integrated by the connecting part 25, thereby forming the composite connector 15.

[0132] The first mating part 3F and the second mating part 3S are straight cylindrical and cylindrical. The axial length in the insertion direction of the first mating connection part 31F in the first mating part 3F, that is, the length in the insertion direction, is slightly longer than the axial length in the insertion direction of the second mating connection part 31S in the second mating part 3S, that is, the length in the insertion direction.

[0133] An annular groove that opens radially outward of the mating connection part 31 is provided over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the mating connection part 31 at the front side portion of the first mating connection part 31F. The annular groove is the first mating seal mounting part 32F in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 2. A second mating seal mounting part 32S similar to the first mating seal mounting part 32F is also provided at the front side portion of the second mating connection part 31S.

[0134] The first mating part 3F and the second mating part 3S are aligned at their rear side portions, and the front side portion of the first mating part 3F is ahead of the front side portion of the second mating part 3S. In the composite connector structure 1 of Example 2, the first mating seal mounting part 32F and the second mating seal mounting part 32S are at different positions from each other in the insertion direction.

[0135] Also in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 2, the composite connector 15 attached to a drive device (not shown) changes its position in the insertion direction toward the mating part 3 in a fixed state, whereby the main body part 2 and the mating part 3 are connected.

[0136] At the time of the connection operation for connecting the main body part 2 and the mating part 3, first, as shown in FIG. 10, the first main body connection part 21F of the first main body part 2F faces the first mating connection part 31F of the first mating part 3F, and the second main body connection part 21S of the second main body part 2S faces the second mating connection part 31S of the second mating part 3S, and the composite connector 15 is arranged. At this time, the first main body part 2F and the first mating part 3F are not connected, and the second main body part 2S and the second mating part 3S are also not connected.

[0137] The position of the composite connector 15 is changed in the insertion direction toward the mating part 3 by a drive device (not shown). Then, as shown in FIG. 11, first, the first main body part 2F and the first mating part 3F are connected, and the radial compression amount of the first annular seal member 4F intervening between the first main body connection part 21F and the first mating connection part 31F becomes maximum. Then, when the connection operation is continued in the state where the first main body part 2F and the first mating part 3F are connected, as shown in FIG. 12, the second main body part 2S and the second mating part 3S are connected, and the radial compression amount of the second annular seal member 4S intervening between the second main body connection part 21S and the second mating connection part 31S becomes maximum.

[0138] Therefore, also in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 2, the position of the first annular seal member 4F and the position of the first mating seal mounting part 32F on which the first annular seal member 4F is mounted are substantially the connection positions of the first main body connection part 21F and the first mating connection part 31F. Similarly, the position of the second annular seal member 4S and the position of the second mating seal mounting part 32S on which the second annular seal member 4S is mounted are substantially the connection positions of the second main body connection part 21S and the second mating connection part 31S. As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 2, the first mating seal mounting portion 32F is on the front side in the insertion direction with respect to the second mating seal mounting portion 32S, and it can be said that the connection positions of the first main body connection portion 21F and the first mating connection portion 31F are on the front side of the connection positions of the second main body connection portion 21S and the second mating connection portion 31S.

[0139] Therefore, also in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 2, during the connection operation, the first annular seal member 4F and the second annular seal member 4S are compressed at different timings, and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the first annular seal member 4F and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the second annular seal member 4S are shifted in time. As a result, also in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 2, a rapid and significant increase in the connection operation load is suppressed.

[0140] (Example 3) The composite connector structure of Example 3 satisfies requirement (c) among the composite connector structures of the present invention.

[0141] The composite connector structure of Example 3 is substantially the same as the composite connector structure of Example 1 except that the first main body portion and the second main body portion have substantially the same shape, and the tip portions of the first mating connection portion and the second mating connection portion are at different positions from each other in the insertion direction.

[0142] FIG. 13 shows an explanatory diagram schematically explaining the composite connector structure of Example 3 during the connection operation. Note that FIG. 13 shows a state where the first main body portion and the first mating portion are connected and the second main body portion and the second mating portion are not connected during the connection operation. Hereinafter, the composite connector structure of Example 3 will be described centering on the differences from the composite connector structure of Example 1.

[0143] As shown in FIG. 13, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 3, the same-shaped first main body portion 2F and second main body portion 2S are arranged parallel to each other and integrated by the connecting portion 25, thereby forming the composite connector 15.

[0144] In the composite connector structure 1 of Example 3, the first main body connection part 21F has the first main body seal mounting part 22F, and the second main body connection part 21S has the second main body seal mounting part 22S. The first main body seal mounting part 22F and the second main body seal mounting part 22S are at the same position in the insertion direction.

[0145] The first mating part 3F and the second mating part 3S are straight cylindrical and cylindrical. The axial length of the first mating connection part 31F in the first mating part 3F, that is, the length in the insertion direction, is slightly longer than the axial length of the second mating connection part 31S in the second mating part 3S, that is, the length in the insertion direction. However, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 3, the first mating connection part 31F does not have the first mating seal mounting part 32F, and the second mating connection part 31S does not have the second mating seal mounting part 32S.

[0146] The first mating part 3F and the second mating part 3S are aligned at their rear sides, and the front side part of the first mating part 3F is ahead of the front side part of the second mating part 3S. Therefore, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 3, the tip parts of the first mating connection part 31F and the second mating connection part 31S are at different positions in the insertion direction.

[0147] By the way, as shown in FIG. 13, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 3, the front side part of the mating connection part 31 is chamfered and a part of the chamfered front side part does not contact the annular seal member 4 mounted on the main body connection part 21. Therefore, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 3, the tip part of the mating connection part 31 means the tip part of the mating connection part 31 excluding the front side part that is chamfered and does not contact the annular seal member 4.

[0148] Also in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 3, the composite connector 15 attached to the drive device (not shown) changes its position in the insertion direction toward the fixed mating part 3, so that the main body part 2 and the mating part 3 are connected.

[0149] During a connection operation for connecting the main body 2 and the mating part 3, first, the composite connector 15 is positioned so that the first main body connection part 21F of the first main body part 2F faces the first mating connection part 31F of the first mating part 3F, and the second main body connection part 21S of the second main body part 2S faces the second mating connection part 31S of the second mating part 3S. At this time, the first main body part 2F and the first mating part 3F are not connected, and the second main body part 2S and the second mating part 3S are also not connected.

[0150] The position of the composite connector 15 is changed in the insertion direction toward the mating part 3 by a drive device (not shown), and the mating connection part 31 is inserted into the main body connection part 21. Then, as shown in Fig. 13, the first main body part 2F and the first mating part 3F are first connected, and the radial compression amount of the first annular seal member 4F interposed between the first main body connection part 21F and the first mating connection part 31F becomes maximum. At this time, the second main body part 2S and the second mating part 3S are not connected.

[0151] If the connecting operation is continued while the first main body portion 2F and the first mating portion 3F are connected, the second main body portion 2S and the second mating portion 3S are connected, and the radial compression amount of the second annular sealing member 4S interposed between the second main body connection portion 21S and the second mating connection portion 31S becomes maximum.

[0152] Thus, in the composite connector structure 1 of the third embodiment, the position of the tip of the first mating connection portion 31F that abuts against the first annular seal member 4F is substantially the connection position of the first main body connection portion 21F and the first mating connection portion 31F. Similarly, the position of the tip of the second mating connection portion 31S that abuts against the second annular seal member 4S is substantially the connection position of the second main body connection portion 21S and the second mating connection portion 31S.

[0153] As described above, the tip of the first mating connection portion 31F and the tip of the second mating connection portion 31S are located at different positions in the insertion direction. Therefore, in the composite connector structure 1 of the third embodiment, the connection position of the first main body connection portion 21F and the first mating connection portion 31F and the connection position of the second main body connection portion 21S and the second mating connection portion 31S are also different from each other in the insertion direction.

[0154] In the composite connector structure 1 of the third embodiment, the first annular seal member 4F and the second annular seal member 4S are compressed at different times during the connection operation, and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the first annular seal member 4F and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the second annular seal member 4S are shifted in time. As a result, the composite connector structure 1 of the third embodiment also suppresses a sudden and large increase in the connection operation load.

[0155] Example 4 The composite connector structure of Example 4 satisfies requirement (d) of the composite connector structures of the present invention.

[0156] The composite connector structure of Example 4 is roughly the same as the composite connector structure of Example 1, except that the mating connection portion of the mating part has a mating seal mounting portion, and the tip end of the first main body connection portion and the tip end of the second main body connection portion are at different positions from each other in the insertion direction.

[0157] Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram for typically explaining the composite connector structure of Example 4 during a connecting operation. Note that Fig. 14 shows a state in which the first main body portion and the first mating portion are connected and the second main body portion and the second mating portion are not connected during a connecting operation. The composite connector structure of the fourth embodiment will be described below, focusing on the differences from the composite connector structure of the first embodiment.

[0158] 14, in the composite connector structure 1 of the fourth embodiment, the tip of the first body connecting portion 21F and the tip of the second body connecting portion 21S are located at different positions in the insertion direction. More specifically, the tip of the first body connecting portion 21F is located further forward in the insertion direction, in other words, closer to the mating portion 3, than the tip of the second body connecting portion 21S.

[0159] In the composite connector structure 1 of Example 4, the tip portion of the main body connection portion 21 is chamfered, and a part of the chamfered tip portion does not contact the annular seal member 4 attached to the mating connection portion 31 as shown in Fig. 14. Therefore, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 4, the tip portion of the main body connection portion 21 means the tip portion of the main body connection portion 21 excluding the tip portion that is chamfered and does not contact the annular seal member 4.

[0160] The first mating part 3F and the second mating part 3S have substantially the same shape, the first mating connection part 31F is provided with a first mating seal mounting part 32F, and the second mating connection part 31S is provided with a second mating seal mounting part 32S. The first mating seal mounting part 32F and the second mating seal mounting part 32S are at the same position in the insertion direction.

[0161] In the composite connector structure 1 of Example 4, the composite connector 15 attached to a driving device (not shown) changes position in the insertion direction toward the mating part 3 which is in a fixed state, thereby connecting the main body part 2 and the mating part 3.

[0162] During a connection operation for connecting the main body 2 and the mating part 3, first, the composite connector 15 is positioned so that the first main body connection part 21F of the first main body part 2F faces the first mating connection part 31F of the first mating part 3F, and the second main body connection part 21S of the second main body part 2S faces the second mating connection part 31S of the second mating part 3S. At this time, the first main body part 2F and the first mating part 3F are not connected, and the second main body part 2S and the second mating part 3S are also not connected.

[0163] The composite connector 15 is moved in the insertion direction toward the mating part 3 by a drive device (not shown), and the mating connection part 31 is inserted into the main body connection part 21. Then, as shown in Fig. 14, the first main body part 2F and the first mating part 3F are first connected, and the radial compression amount of the first annular seal member 4F interposed between the first main body connection part 21F and the first mating connection part 31F becomes maximum. At this time, the second main body part 2S and the second mating part 3S are not connected.

[0164] If the connecting operation is continued while the first main body portion 2F and the first mating portion 3F are connected, the second main body portion 2S and the second mating portion 3S are connected, and the radial compression amount of the second annular sealing member 4S interposed between the second main body connection portion 21S and the second mating connection portion 31S becomes maximum.

[0165] Thus, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 4, the position of the tip of the first main body connecting portion 21F that abuts against the first annular seal member 4F is substantially the connection position of the first main body connecting portion 21F and the first mating connecting portion 31F. Similarly, the position of the tip of the second main body connecting portion 21S that abuts against the second annular seal member 4S is substantially the connection position of the second main body connecting portion 21S and the second mating connecting portion 31S.

[0166] As described above, the tip of the first main body connecting portion 21F and the tip of the second main body connecting portion 21S are located at different positions in the insertion direction. Therefore, in the composite connector structure 1 of the fourth embodiment, the connection position of the first main body connecting portion 21F and the first mating connecting portion 31F and the connection position of the second main body connecting portion 21S and the second mating connecting portion 31S are also different from each other in the insertion direction.

[0167] In the composite connector structure 1 of Example 4, the first annular seal member 4F and the second annular seal member 4S are compressed at different times during the connection operation, and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the first annular seal member 4F and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the second annular seal member 4S are shifted in time. As a result, the composite connector structure 1 of Example 4 also suppresses a sudden and large increase in the connection operation load.

[0168] Although the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is possible to implement the present invention by appropriately extracting and combining elements described in the embodiments, and to make various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the specification of the present invention discloses not only the citation relationships of each claim at the time of the initial application, but also a technical idea that appropriately combines the matters described in each claim. [Explanation of symbols]

[0169] 1: Composite connector structure 10: Connector structure 10F: First connector structure 10S: Second connector structure 15: Composite connector 2: Main body 2F: First main body part 2S: 2nd main body part 21: Main unit connection part 22: Main body seal attachment part 3: Counterpart 3F: First mating part 3S: Second counter part 31: Mating connection part 32:Mating seal attachment part 4: Annular seal member

Claims

1. A plurality of connector structure parts are provided, each including a cylindrical main body part, a mating part connected to the main body part, and an annular seal member interposed between the main body part and the mating part. Each of the main body parts is integrated with each other to form a composite connector. The main body part and the mating part are connected by inserting the main body connection part of the main body part into the mating connection part of the mating part or inserting the mating connection part into the main body connection part. The annular seal member is disposed between the main body connection part and the mating connection part in a radially compressed state when the main body part and the mating part are connected. A composite connector structure, in which the timing at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member becomes maximum during the connection operation between the main body part and the mating part is different between a first connector structure part which is one of the connector structure parts and a second connector structure part which is another one of the connector structure parts.

2. The composite connector structure according to Claim 1, satisfying any one of the following requirements (a) to (d). (a) The main body connection part has a main body seal mounting part on which the annular seal member is pre-mounted. The main body seal mounting part in the first main body part which is one of the main body parts and included in the first connector structure part, and the main body seal mounting part in the second main body part which is another one of the main body parts and included in the second connector structure part are at different positions in the relative insertion direction between the main body connection part and the mating connection part. (b) The mating connection part has a mating seal mounting part on which the annular seal member is pre-mounted. The mating seal mounting part in the first mating part which is one of the mating parts and included in the first connector structure part, and the mating seal mounting part in the second mating part which is another one of the mating parts and included in the second connector structure part are at different positions in the relative insertion direction between the main body connection part and the mating connection part. (c) The main body connection part has a main body seal mounting part on which the annular seal member is pre-mounted. The tip of the mating connection part in the first mating part which is one of the mating parts and included in the first connector structure part, and the tip of the mating connection part in the second mating part which is another one of the mating parts and included in the second connector structure part are at different positions in the relative insertion direction between the main body connection part and the mating connection part. (d) The mating connection part has a mating seal mounting part on which the annular seal member is pre-mounted. The tip of the body connection part in the first body part which is one of the body parts and included in the first connector structure part, and the tip of the body connection part in the second body part which is another one of the body parts and included in the second connector structure part are at different positions from each other in the relative insertion direction of the body connection part and the mating connection part. **Claim 3** A composite connector in which a plurality of cylindrical body parts are integrated, wherein the body part has a body connection part to be inserted into a mating connection part of a mating part or into which the mating connection part is inserted, A composite connector satisfying the following requirement (e) or (f). (e) The body connection part has a body seal mounting part on which the annular seal member is pre-mounted, The body seal mounting part in the first body part which is one of the body parts and the body seal mounting part in the second body part which is another one of the body parts are at different positions from each other in the relative insertion direction of the body connection part and the mating connection part. (f) The body connection part does not have a body seal mounting part on which the annular seal member is pre-mounted, The tip of the body connection part in the first body part which is one of the body parts and the tip of the body connection part in the second body part which is another one of the body parts are at different positions from each other in the relative insertion direction of the body connection part and the mating connection part. **Claim 4** Satisfying the requirement (a), The distance in the insertion direction between the body seal mounting part in the first body part and the body seal mounting part in the second body part is 1 / 2 or more of the axial length of the annular seal member in the natural state. The composite connector structure according to claim 2. **Claim 5** Satisfying the requirement (b), The distance in the insertion direction between the mating seal mounting part in the first mating part and the mating seal mounting part in the second mating part is 1 / 2 or more of the axial length of the annular seal member in the natural state. The composite connector structure according to claim 2. **Claim 6** Satisfying the requirement (c), The distance in the insertion direction between the tip of the mating connection part in the first mating part and the tip of the mating connection part in the second mating part is 1 / 2 or more of the axial length of the annular seal member in the natural state. The composite connector structure according to claim 2. **Claim 7** Satisfying the requirement (d), The distance in the insertion direction between the tip of the main body connection part in the first main body part and the tip of the main body connection part in the second main body part is 1 / 2 or more of the axial length of the annular seal member in the natural state. The composite connector structure according to claim 2.

8. Satisfying the requirement (e), The distance in the insertion direction between the main body seal mounting part of the first main body part and the main body seal mounting part of the second main body part is 1 / 2 or more of the axial length of the annular seal member in the natural state. The composite connector according to claim 3.

9. Satisfying the requirement (f), The distance in the insertion direction between the tip of the main body connection part in the first main body part and the tip of the main body connection part in the second main body part is 1 / 2 or more of the axial length of the annular seal member in the natural state. The composite connector according to claim 3.

10. The main body part adjacent to the first main body part is the second main body part. The composite connector structure according to any one of claims 2, 4, and 7 that satisfies (a) or (d).

11. The main body part adjacent to the first main body part is the second main body part. The composite connector according to any one of claims 3, 8, and 9.

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