Composite connector and composite connector structure

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of performing connection operation between a main body part and a mating part while allowing deviations between relative positions of respective parts.SOLUTION: A composite connector structure 1 includes a plurality of main body parts 2 which has main body connection parts 21, a plurality of mating parts 3 which has a mating connection part 31 on the main body connection parts 21 or has mating connection parts to which the main body connection parts 21 are inserted, and a plurality of annular seal members 4 which is compressed in a radial direction at the time of connection of the main body part 2 and the mating part 3, and is interposed between the main body connection part 21 and the mating connection part 31. Therein, the plurality of main body parts 2 and the plurality of mating parts 3 are integrated to each other, the main body connection part 21 has a main body assembling part which integrates the top side split body 21FR located on the top side in the relative insertion direction with respect to the mating connection part 31, the rear side split body 21RE located on the rear side in the relative insertion direction with respect to the mating connection parts 31, and a main body assembling part which integrates the top side split body 21FR and the rear side split body 21RE. The main body assembling part permits a relative position change in the radial direction between the top side split body 21FR and the rear side split body 21RE of the main body connection part 21 and regulates the relative position change in an axial direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a composite connector in which a plurality of main body portions are integrated, and a composite connector structure that includes the composite connector, a plurality of mating portions, and a plurality of annular sealing members. [Background technology]

[0002] A composite connector structure is known that includes a plurality of connector structures, each of which includes a cylindrical main body and a mating part connected to the main body. In this type of composite connector structure, the main body and the mating part are generally connected by inserting the main body connecting part of the main body into the mating connecting part of the mating part, or by inserting the mating connecting part into the main body connecting part.

[0003] In such a composite connector structure, each main body portion is integrated with each other to form a composite connector (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Integrating each main body portion with each other has the advantages of making it possible to reduce the size of the composite connector structure and to connect the main body portion and the mating portion with a single operation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-101380 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-9317 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Since the main bodies in the composite connector structure described above are integrated with each other, their relative positions are unlikely to change. If the main bodies are unlikely to change their positions relative to each other, for example, if the relative positions of the main body connecting parts are misaligned, or if the relative positions of a main body connecting part and its mating connecting part are misaligned, it is difficult to absorb the misalignment during the connection operation between the main body and its mating part. This can lead to problems such as the connection operation being difficult to perform or being complicated.

[0006] In particular, in a composite connector structure in which the main bodies are integrated as described above, if the mating parts are also difficult to change their positions relative to each other, it may not be possible to allow for misalignment of the relative positions of the main body connecting parts or the main body connecting part and the mating connecting part during the above-mentioned connection operation. In this case, the connection operation between the main body and the mating part becomes even more difficult, and in some cases, there is a risk of the main body or the mating part being damaged during the connection operation.

[0007] A composite connector structure is an integrated assembly of multiple components, including multiple main bodies, and slight errors in the shape and dimensions of each part of the composite connector structure may occur during molding or assembly. Even if the errors in each part of the composite connector structure are small, these small errors can accumulate in the composite connector structure, causing deviations in the relative positions of the main body connecting parts and the relative positions of the main body connecting parts and the mating connecting parts, which may affect the connection operation between the main body parts and the mating parts.

[0008] Therefore, in a composite connector structure in which the main body parts are integrated with each other as described above, it was necessary to mold both the main body part and the mating part with high molding precision, and to precisely control the relative positions of each part, specifically, the relative positions of the main body connecting parts with each other, the relative positions of the main body connecting parts with the mating connecting parts connected to them, and the relative positions of the mating connecting parts with each other.

[0009] For example, as in the composite connector structure introduced in Patent Document 2, if multiple mating parts can be made to be able to change their positions separately and the mating connection parts can be connected to the main body connection part one by one, even if the relative positions of the parts are misaligned, the misalignment can be absorbed when connecting the main body connection part and the mating connection part, and it is thought that the connection operation between the main body part and the mating part can be performed relatively easily.

[0010] However, in a composite connector structure in which the main bodies are integrated with each other, if multiple mating parts are formed so that their positions can be changed relative to each other, the mating parts may become bulky. This may result in an excessively large overall outer shape of the composite connector structure, making it difficult to install the composite connector structure in a desired location or causing problems in integrating the composite connector structure with other devices. Furthermore, the bulkiness of the mating parts may make the composite connector structure difficult to handle. Furthermore, depending on the application and installation location of the composite connector structure, even if the positions of the multiple mating parts are changeable relative to each other, the positional change of the mating parts may be hindered.

[0011] Therefore, in a composite connector structure, it is difficult to say that it is generally desirable for the positions of the multiple mating parts to be changeable relative to each other.

[0012] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a composite connector structure in which multiple main body parts are integrated with each other and multiple mating parts are integrated with each other, and a composite connector included in the composite connector structure, with a technology that enables connection operations between the main body parts and the mating parts while allowing for deviation in the relative positions of each part. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The composite connector structure of the present invention that solves the above problems comprises: a plurality of main bodies each having a cylindrical main body connection portion; a plurality of mating parts each having a mating connection part inserted into the main body connection part or into which the main body connection part is inserted; a plurality of annular seal members interposed between the main body connecting portion and the mating connecting portion in a state compressed in the radial direction when the main body portion and the mating portion are connected; the plurality of main body portions are integrated with one another, and the plurality of mating portions are integrated with one another; the main body connecting portion has a front split body that is tubular and located at the front side in the insertion direction relative to the mating connecting portion, a rear split body that is tubular and located at the rear side in the insertion direction relative to the mating connecting portion, and a main body assembling portion that integrates the front split body and the rear split body, For each of the main body connection parts, the main body assembly part is a composite connector structure that allows relative positional change between the front section and the rear section in the radial direction of the main body connection part, and regulates relative positional change between the front section and the rear section in the axial direction of the main body connection part.

[0014] Furthermore, the composite connector of the present invention that solves the above problems comprises: A composite connector in which a plurality of main bodies each having a cylindrical main body connection portion are integrated, the main body portion has a main body connecting portion that is inserted into a mating connecting portion of a mating portion or into which the mating connecting portion is inserted, the main body connecting portion has a front split body that is tubular and located at the front side in the insertion direction relative to the mating connecting portion, a rear split body that is tubular and located at the rear side in the insertion direction relative to the mating connecting portion, and a main body assembling portion that integrates the front split body and the rear split body, For each of the main body connection parts, the main body assembly part is a composite connector that allows relative positional change between the front section and the rear section in the radial direction of the main body connection part, and regulates relative positional change between the front section and the rear section in the axial direction of the main body connection part. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The composite connector and composite connector structure of the present invention are a composite connector structure in which a plurality of main body parts are integrated with each other and a plurality of mating parts are integrated with each other, and a composite connector included in the composite connector structure, and can perform connection operations between the main body parts and the mating parts while allowing for deviation in the relative positions of each part. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams for schematically explaining the composite connector structure of Example 1. FIG. [Figure 2] 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating the composite connector structure of the first embodiment cut along the X plane in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating the composite connector structure of the first embodiment cut along the Y plane in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating the composite connector structure of the first embodiment cut along the X plane in FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The composite connector and composite connector structure of the present invention will be described below with reference to specific examples.

[0018] The composite connector of the present invention is a part of the composite connector structure of the present invention, in which a plurality of main bodies are integrated. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, the description of the main bodies and the components of the main bodies in the following description of the composite connector structure of the present invention can be appropriately read as the description of the main bodies and the components of the composite connector of the present invention.

[0019] Unless otherwise specified, the numerical ranges "x to y" described in this specification include the lower limit x and the upper limit y. These upper and lower limit values, as well as the numerical values ​​listed in the embodiments, can be arbitrarily combined to form a numerical range. Furthermore, the upper and lower limit values ​​can be arbitrarily selected from within the numerical range.

[0020] The composite connector structure of the present invention comprises a plurality of corresponding main body portions, mating portions, and annular sealing members, and the interior of the composite connector structure of the present invention, i.e., the interior of the main body portion and the interior of the mating portion connected thereto, are separated from the outside world and sealed by the annular sealing members.

[0021] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the plurality of main body portions are integrated with one another, and the plurality of mating portions are also integrated with one another. That is, in the composite connector structure of the present invention, the main body portions are unlikely to change position relative to each other, and the mating portions are also unlikely to change position relative to each other.

[0022] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the main body portion has a main body connecting portion, and the mating portion has a mating connecting portion that is connected to the main body connecting portion. The main body connecting portion has a cylindrical front split body that is located at the front side in the insertion direction relative to the mating connecting portion, a cylindrical rear split body that is located at the rear opposite side in the insertion direction relative to the mating connecting portion, and a main body assembly portion that integrates the front split body and the rear split body. It can also be said that the main body connecting portion is divided into the front split body and the rear split body, and the front split body and the rear split body are integrated with each other by the main body assembly portion.

[0023] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the main body assembly portion regulates the relative positional change between the front and rear sections in the axial direction of the main body connection portion, thereby reliably integrating the front and rear sections and ultimately reliably maintaining the shape of the main body portion.

[0024] Furthermore, the main body assembly section allows the front and rear split sections to change their relative positions in the radial direction of the main body connecting section. That is, in the composite connector structure of the present invention, when connecting the main body section and the mating section, the front and rear split sections belonging to the same main body connecting section can change their relative positions in the radial direction of the main body connecting section.

[0025] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the relative positions of the front and rear split bodies change in the radial direction of the main body connecting portion during the connecting operation, thereby allowing for misalignment of the relative positions of the multiple main body portions, the multiple mating portions, and the main body portion and the mating portion. As a result, the composite connector structure of the present invention makes it possible to connect the main body portion and the mating portion while allowing for misalignment of the relative positions of each portion.

[0026] The composite connector and composite connector structure of the present invention will be described below in detail with respect to each of their constituent elements.

[0027] The composite connector structure of the present invention comprises a plurality of body portions, a plurality of mating portions, and a plurality of annular sealing members.

[0028] The main body portion has a cylindrical main body connecting portion, and the main body portion has a cylindrical shape as a whole due to the inclusion of the main body connecting portion. The mating part has a mating connection part that is inserted into the main body connection part of the main body part or into which the main body connection part is inserted.

[0029] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the main body portion is assumed to be cylindrical, but the mating portion may or may not be cylindrical.

[0030] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the interior of the tube is formed at least within the main body. The interior of the tube can be used, for example, as a flow path for fluids such as liquids and gases, or as a housing for housing an item such as a cable and isolating it from the outside world. In other words, the use of the composite connector structure of the present invention is not particularly limited, and it can be suitably used, for example, as a flow path member for forming a fluid flow path or a housing for housing an item.

[0031] The main body may be cylindrical as a whole, and its shape and material are not particularly limited. For example, the main body may be cylindrical with no bottom and both axial ends open, or may be cylindrical with one or both axial ends closed and a bottom.

[0032] The shape and material of the mating part are not particularly limited either. The mating part may be cylindrical and may form the cylindrical interior together with the main body part. For example, the mating part may be a cylindrical part without a bottom or a cylindrical part with a bottom. If the mating part is not cylindrical, the mating part may be, for example, a plug or the like for shielding the inside of the tube of the main body part from the outside world.

[0033] The main body connecting portion of the main body is preferably a straight pipe, since it is inserted into the mating connecting portion of the mating portion, or the mating connecting portion is inserted into it. The mating connection part is also preferably straight, and when the main body connection part is inserted into the mating connection part, the mating connection part needs to be tubular. In this case, it is particularly preferable that the mating connection part is also straight tubular.

[0034] When the main body connection part is inserted into the mating connection part, it is preferable that the outer diameter of the main body connection part is smaller than the inner diameter of the mating connection part, and when the mating connection part is inserted into the main body connection part, it is preferable that the outer diameter of the mating connection part is smaller than the inner diameter of the main body connection part.

[0035] Hereinafter, as necessary, the portion of the main body part other than the main body connecting part will be referred to as the main body general part, and the portion of the mating part other than the mating connecting part will be referred to as the mating general part.

[0036] As described above, the main body connecting portion is preferably a straight pipe, but the main body portion may be a straight pipe, a curved pipe, or a non-uniform diameter cylinder whose radial length varies along the axial direction, such as a bellows shape. Similarly, the mating general part may be a straight pipe, a curved pipe, or a cylindrical part of variable diameter such as a bellows-like shape. Furthermore, the mating general part does not have to be cylindrical.

[0037] The main body may be a rigid body that is not deformable, or a flexible body that is deformable, and the mating part may also be a rigid body or a flexible body.

[0038] The composite connector structure of the present invention has a plurality of main bodies and a plurality of mating parts. The number of main bodies and mating parts is not particularly limited, but since the main bodies are cylindrical, it is preferable that the number of mating parts be equal to or greater than the number of main bodies.

[0039] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the plurality of main body portions are integrated with one another, and the plurality of mating portions are integrated with one another. It should be noted that, among these, a plurality of main bodies are integrated with one another to form a composite connector.

[0040] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the method for integrating the main body and the mating parts is not particularly limited. For example, multiple separate main body parts may be connected and integrated by separate members, or multiple main body parts may be integrally molded. Similarly, multiple separate mating parts may be connected and integrated by separate members, or multiple mating parts may be integrally molded.

[0041] The main body parts may be integrated so that their positions do not change, or so that some positional change is permitted. The mating parts may also be integrated so that their positions do not change, or so that some positional change is permitted.

[0042] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the portions integrating multiple main bodies or the portions integrating multiple mating parts may be, for example, highly rigid and non-deformable. In this case, the relative positions of the multiple main bodies or the multiple mating parts cannot be changed. Alternatively, the portions integrating multiple main bodies or the multiple mating parts may be low in rigidity or soft and deformable. In this case, the relative positions of the multiple main bodies or the multiple mating parts are difficult to change, but some positional change is possible.

[0043] As described above, the composite connector structure of the present invention includes a plurality of connector structural parts, each of which includes a main body part and a mating part. A composite connector structure of the present invention having a plurality of main body parts and a plurality of mating parts can also be said to include a plurality of connector structural parts.

[0044] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the multiple main bodies are integrated with each other, and the multiple mating parts are integrated with each other. Therefore, if the position of one main body changes, the other main bodies may change position accordingly. For example, even if a certain connector structure allows for a deviation in the relative positions between the main body and the mating parts, another connector structure may not allow for a deviation in the relative positions between the main body and the mating parts.

[0045] However, in the composite connector structure of the present invention, the assembly main body allows relative positional change between the front and rear split bodies in the radial direction of each main body connecting portion. That is, the assembly main body allows relative positional change between the front and rear split bodies in the radial direction of the main body connecting portion independently for multiple connector assemblies. Therefore, in the composite connector structure of the present invention, even if a deviation in the relative position between the main body and the mating part is allowed in one connector structure, a problem in which a deviation in the relative position between the main body and the mating part is not allowed in other connector structures is eliminated or suppressed.

[0046] The assembly main body only needs to allow the relative positional change between the front and rear split bodies in the radial direction of the main body connecting portion for at least one connector structure, independently of the other connector structures. It is also preferable that the assembly main body allows the relative positional change between the front and rear split bodies in the radial direction of the main body connecting portion for two adjacent connector structures, independently of each other. It is particularly preferable that the assembly main body allows the relative positional change between the front and rear split bodies in the radial direction of the main body connecting portion, independently of each other, for all connector structures.

[0047] Similarly, the assembly main body portion in the composite connector structure of the present invention restricts relative positional changes between the front and rear split bodies in the axial direction of each main body connecting portion. The assembly main body only needs to regulate the relative positional change between the front and rear split bodies in the axial direction of the main body connecting part for at least one connector structure, independently of the other connector structures. It is also preferable that the assembly main body regulates the relative positional change between the front and rear split bodies in the axial direction of the main body connecting part for two adjacent connector structures, independently of each other. It is particularly preferable that the assembly main body regulates the relative positional change between the front and rear split bodies in the axial direction of the main body connecting part, independently of each other, for all connector structures.

[0048] The plurality of main body portions may be integrated with each other at any position, and the plurality of mating portions may also be integrated with each other at any position.

[0049] However, in order to reliably position the main body connecting portions of the multiple main body portions relative to their corresponding mating connecting portions, it is preferable to integrate the mating portion-side portions of the main body connecting portions, i.e., the front split body. Therefore, it is preferable to integrate the multiple main body portions together at the front split body.

[0050] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the main body connecting portion of the main body is divided into a cylindrical front split portion located at the front end in the insertion direction relative to the mating connecting portion, and a cylindrical rear split portion located at the rear end in the insertion direction relative to the mating connecting portion. The front split portion and the rear split portion are integrated with each other by the main body assembly portion. The front split portion may also be referred to as the portion of the main body connecting portion located on the mating portion side. The rear split portion may also be referred to as the portion of the main body connecting portion located on the opposite side of the mating portion.

[0051] When connecting the main body part and the mating part, the main body connecting part is inserted into the mating connecting part, or the mating connecting part is inserted into the main body connecting part. In either case, the main body connecting part and the mating connecting part move closer to each other during the connecting operation. Therefore, it can be said that the front split part of the main body connecting part is closer to the mating part during the connecting operation than the rear split part.

[0052] The front and rear separated parts may each have a cylindrical shape as a whole, and may be joined together by the main body assembly part to form a cylindrical main body connecting part.

[0053] The main body assembly part must integrate the front and rear split parts and allow relative positional change between the front and rear split parts in the radial direction of the main body connecting part and restrict it in the axial direction of the main body connecting part. As long as these conditions are met, there are no particular restrictions on the shape of the main body assembly part, the mechanism that allows relative positional change between the front and rear split parts in the radial direction of the main body connecting part, and the mechanism that restricts relative positional change between the front and rear split parts in the axial direction of the main body connecting part. The main body attachment portion may be a part of the front split body and / or the rear split body, or may be a separate body from the front split body and the rear split body.

[0054] For example, the main body assembly part may have a front main body assembly part that is part of the front division part and is located at the end of the front division part on the rear division part side, and a rear main body assembly part that is part of the rear division part and is located at the end of the rear division part on the front division part side.

[0055] When the main body assembly part has the front main body assembly part and the rear main body assembly part, [x] The front body assembly portion may be formed as a recessed groove that opens toward the rear section and extends in the circumferential direction of the front section. Furthermore, the rear body assembly portion may be formed as a standing wall that protrudes toward the front section and extends in the circumferential direction of the rear section. When the front and rear sections are integrated, the rear body assembly portion may be inserted into the groove of the front body assembly portion. In addition, it is preferable that the groove width of the front main body assembly portion, which is in the form of a recessed groove, is greater than the thickness of the rear main body assembly portion, which is in the form of an upright wall.

[0056] In the case of [x] above, the groove width of the front main body assembly portion, which is in the shape of a concave groove, is greater than the thickness of the rear main body assembly portion, which is in the shape of an upright wall. Therefore, even when the front and rear separated parts are integrated, the relative positions of the front and rear separated parts in the radial direction of the main body connection part are allowed to change.

[0057] Also, in the case of [x] above, [x-1] It is preferable that the main body assembly portion has a restricting structure that can restrict relative positional change in the direction in which the front and rear division parts approach each other in the axial direction of the main body connection portion when the front and rear division parts are integrated.

[0058] The restricting structure [x-1] can be, for example, a front body assembly portion and a rear body assembly portion. For example, when the front and rear separated parts are integrated, the protruding end of the rear body assembly portion preferably faces the groove bottom of the front body assembly portion. By doing so, if the front and rear separated parts become too close when integrated, the protruding end of the rear body assembly portion will come into contact with the groove bottom of the front body assembly portion and interfere with each other. This restricts the relative positional change of the front and rear separated parts in the direction of approaching each other.

[0059] Also, in the case of [x] above, [x-2] In addition to the front and rear main body assembly parts, the main body assembly part preferably has a restricting structure that restricts relative positional change in the direction in which the front and rear division parts move away from each other in the axial direction of the main body connecting part when the front and rear division parts are integrated.

[0060] As the restricting structure of [x-2] above, for example, a front engaging portion that is part of the front split body and a rear engaging portion that is part of the rear split body and engages with the front engaging portion may be provided on the main body assembly portion. In this case, the front engaging portion is preferably located at the end of the front split body on the rear split body side. Also, the rear engaging portion is preferably located at the end of the rear split body on the front split body side. The front engaging portion and the rear engaging portion should approach each other and engage when the front split body and the rear split body are integrated, restricting relative positional change in the direction in which the front split body and the rear split body move away from each other.

[0061] In the case of the above [x], the main body assembly part may have only one of the restricting structure [x-1] and the restricting structure [x-2], but it is preferable to have both.

[0062] Furthermore, when the main body assembly part has the front main body assembly part and the rear main body assembly part, [y] The rear body assembly portion may be formed as a recessed groove that opens toward the front section and extends in the circumferential direction of the rear section. Furthermore, the front body assembly portion may be formed as a standing wall that protrudes toward the rear section and extends in the circumferential direction of the front section. When the front section and the rear section are integrated, the front body assembly portion may be inserted into the groove of the rear body assembly portion. In addition, it is preferable that the groove width of the rear main body assembly portion, which is in the form of a recessed groove, is greater than the thickness of the front main body assembly portion, which is in the form of a standing wall.

[0063] In the case of [y] above, the groove width of the recessed groove-shaped rear main body assembly portion is greater than the thickness of the upright wall-shaped front main body assembly portion, so even when the front and rear split parts are integrated, relative positional change between the front and rear split parts in the radial direction of the main body connection portion is permitted.

[0064] Also, in the case of [y] above, [y-1] It is preferable that the main body assembly portion has a restricting structure that, when the front and rear division parts are integrated, restricts the relative positional change of the front and rear division parts in the direction in which they approach each other in the axial direction of the main body connection part.

[0065] The restricting structure (y-1) can be, for example, a front body assembly portion and a rear body assembly portion. In this case, when the front and rear separated parts are integrated, the protruding end of the front body assembly portion preferably faces the groove bottom of the rear body assembly portion. By doing so, if the front and rear separated parts approach each other too much when integrated, the protruding end of the front body assembly portion and the groove bottom of the rear body assembly portion will come into contact and interfere with each other. This restricts the relative positional change of the front and rear separated parts in the direction of approaching each other.

[0066] Also, in the case of [y] above, [y-2] In addition to the front and rear main body assembly parts, the main body assembly part preferably has a restricting structure that restricts relative positional change in the direction in which the front and rear division parts move apart in the axial direction of the main body connection part when the front and rear division parts are integrated.

[0067] As the restricting structure of [y-2] above, for example, a front engaging portion that is part of the front divided body and a rear engaging portion that is part of the rear divided body and engages with the front engaging portion may be provided on the main body assembly portion. In this case, the front engaging portion is preferably located at the end of the front divided body that faces the rear divided body. Also, the rear engaging portion is preferably located at the end of the rear divided body that faces the front divided body. The front engaging portion and the rear engaging portion should approach each other and engage when the front divided body and the rear divided body are integrated, restricting relative positional change in the direction in which the front divided body and the rear divided body move apart.

[0068] In the case of [y] above, the main body assembly part may have only one of the restricting structure [y-1] and the restricting structure [y-2], but it is preferable to have both.

[0069] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the main body portion may be composed of a single member, or may be an integrated unit made up of two or more members assembled together.Similarly, the mating connection portion and the mating general portion may be composed of a single member, or may be an integrated unit made up of two or more members assembled together.

[0070] When connected, the annular seal member is radially compressed and interposed between the main body connecting portion of the main body portion and the mating connecting portion of the mating portion connected to the main body portion. Hereinafter, as necessary, the combination of one main body portion, one mating portion connected to the main body portion, and one annular seal member interposed between the main body portion and the mating portion may be referred to as a connector structure. The composite connector structure of the present invention comprises multiple connector structures.

[0071] When connected, the main body connecting portion, mating connecting portion, and annular sealing member of each connector structure are arranged in the order of main body connecting portion-annular sealing member-mating connecting portion in the thickness direction of the connector structure. The annular sealing member is positioned in this state while being compressed in its radial direction, i.e., in the thickness direction of the connector structure. At this position, it seals between the main body connecting portion and the mating connecting portion.

[0072] Such an annular seal member may be made of an elastic material and have an annular shape, and there are no particular limitations on the material, size, etc. Basically, it is best to select a material for the annular seal member depending on the intended use of the main body and the mating part.

[0073] For example, when a fluid such as gas or liquid flows inside the cylinder, it is preferable to select a material that is unlikely to react with the fluid and that can prevent the fluid from passing through the annular sealing member and leaking into the outside world, depending on the type of fluid.

[0074] The annular seal member must have a shape that allows it to be compressed between the main body connecting portion and the mating connecting portion when the main body portion and the mating portion are connected. In order to achieve a high level of sealing between the main body connecting portion and the mating connecting portion, it is preferable to select a material with excellent elastic restoring force as the material for the annular seal member.

[0075] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, the main body part and the mating part are connected by the main body connecting part and the mating connecting part, and the front and rear split parts included in the main body connecting part are integrated by the main body assembling part. Therefore, it is preferable to seal the gap between the front and rear split parts.

[0076] Specifically, in the composite connector structure of the present invention, it is preferable to interpose an annular sealing member between the main body connection portion and the mating connection portion, and also to interpose the same annular sealing member between the front split body and the rear split body.

[0077] The annular sealing member interposed between the main body connection portion and the mating connection portion and the annular sealing member interposed between the front split body and the rear split body may be separate, but in order to reduce the number of parts in the composite connector structure of the present invention, it is preferable that they are the same. In other words, in the composite connector structure of the present invention, the annular seal member is preferably interposed between the main body connecting portion and the mating connecting portion between the front split body and the rear split body.

[0078] The annular seal member in the composite connector structure is disposed between the main body connecting portion and the mating connecting portion in a radially compressed state when the main body portion and the mating portion are connected, in order to provide a high level of sealing between the inside of the tube in the composite connector structure and the outside world.

[0079] When connecting the main body and the mating part of the composite connector structure, it is necessary to compress the annular seal member from its natural state while inserting the main body connecting part of the main body into the mating connecting part of the mating part, or to compress the annular seal member from its natural state while inserting the mating connecting part into the main body connecting part. In order to isolate the inside of the tube in the composite connector structure from the outside with a high degree of sealing, a relatively large load is required to compress the annular seal member.

[0080] Furthermore, the composite connector structure includes a plurality of connector structures each including a main body, a mating part, and an annular seal member. Since the main bodies of the composite connector structure are integrated with each other, the main body and the mating part can be connected in a single operation.

[0081] Therefore, the connection operation load when connecting the main body part and the mating part in the composite connector structure is mainly due to the compression of the annular sealing member, and if the number of annular sealing members is large, there is a risk that the connection operation load will become excessive. In other words, the composite connector structure of the present invention has a problem in that the operation of connecting the main body and the mating part is not easy.

[0082] In the composite connector structure of the present invention, during the connection operation between the main body portion and the mating portion, the timing at which the radial compression amount of the annular sealing member reaches its maximum can be different between the first connector structure portion, which is one of the connector structures, and the second connector structure portion, which is the other of the connector structures.

[0083] This reduces the load required for the connection operation in the composite connector structure of the present invention, and in turn makes it possible to easily perform the operation of connecting the main body part and the mating part. Hereinafter, the composite connector structure of the present invention in this embodiment may be referred to as a sequential insertion type composite connector structure, as needed.

[0084] In the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention, during the connection operation, the annular seal member included in the first connector structure portion and the annular seal member included in the second connector connecting portion are compressed at different times.

[0085] In this way, the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the annular sealing member included in the first connector structure and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the annular sealing member included in the second connector connection portion are time-shifted, and as a result, the overall connection operation load connecting the main body portion and the mating portion is leveled out to a certain extent over time from the start of the connection operation to the end of the connection operation, preventing a sudden and significant increase in the connection operation load.

[0086] As a result, according to the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention, even though it has a composite connector in which multiple main body parts are integrated with each other, it is possible to easily perform the connection operation between the main body part and the mating part.

[0087] Hereinafter, as necessary, the annular seal member included in the first connector structure will be referred to as the first annular seal member, and the annular seal member included in the second connector structure will be referred to as the second annular seal member. Furthermore, the main body portion included in the first connector structure will be referred to as the first main body portion, and the main body portion included in the second connector structure will be referred to as the second main body portion. Furthermore, the mating portion included in the first connector structure will be referred to as the first mating portion, and the mating portion included in the second connector structure will be referred to as the second mating portion.

[0088] In order to make the timing at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member reaches its maximum different between the first connector structural portion and the second connector structural portion, it is effective, for example, to make the connection positions of the main body connecting portion and the mating connecting portion at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member reaches its maximum different between the first connector structural portion and the second connector structural portion in the relative insertion direction of the main body connecting portion and the mating connecting portion. Note that, since the main body connecting portion is cylindrical, the relative insertion direction of the main body connecting portion and the mating connecting portion can be rephrased as the axial direction of the main body connecting portion.

[0089] More specifically, during the connecting operation, it is preferable that the connection insertion of the first connector structure starts first, and then the connection insertion of the second connector structure starts after the radial compression amount of the first annular seal member in the first connector structure reaches a maximum in the first connector structure. To achieve this, the connection position of the main body connection part and the mating connection part at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member in the first connector structure is maximized, and the connection position of the main body connection part and the mating connection part at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member in the second connector structure is maximized may be appropriately adjusted in the relative insertion direction of the main body connection part and the mating connection part.

[0090] Hereinafter, as necessary, the connection position of the main body connection part and the mating connection part at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member is greatest may be simply referred to as the “connection position.” Also, the relative insertion direction of the main body connection part and the mating connection part may be simply referred to as the “insertion direction.”

[0091] As described above, specific modes for making the connection positions of the first connector structural portion and the second connector structural portion different from each other in the insertion direction so that the timing at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member reaches its maximum is different between the first connector structural portion and the second connector structural portion can be modes that satisfy any one of the following requirements (a) to (d): However, in the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention, the specific mode for making the connection positions of the first connector structural portion and the connection positions of the second connector structural portion different from each other in the insertion direction is not limited to this.

[0092] (a) the main body connection portion has a main body seal mounting portion to which an annular seal member is previously mounted; The body seal mounting portion of the first body portion and the body seal mounting portion of the second body portion are located at different positions in the insertion direction. (b) the mating connection portion has a mating seal mounting portion to which an annular seal member is previously mounted, The mating seal mounting portion of the first mating part and the mating seal mounting portion of the second mating part are located at different positions in the insertion direction. (c) The main body connection portion has a main body seal mounting portion, a tip end of the mating connection portion of the first mating part and a tip end of the mating connection portion of the second mating part are located at different positions in the insertion direction; (d) The mating connection portion has a mating seal mounting portion, The tip of the main body connecting portion of the first main body portion and the tip of the main body connecting portion of the second main body portion are located at different positions in the insertion direction.

[0093] In order to connect the main body portion and the mating portion to obtain a connector structure comprising the main body portion, the mating portion, and the annular sealing member, it is essential to attach the annular sealing member to the main body connecting portion or the mating connecting portion in advance. When the annular seal member is pre-attached to the main body connection part, it is preferable to provide the main body connection part with a main body seal attachment part for attaching the annular seal member. When the annular seal member is pre-attached to the mating connection part, it is preferable to provide the mating connection part with a mating seal attachment part for attaching the annular seal member.

[0094] Hereinafter, as necessary, the main body connecting portion in the first main body portion will be referred to as the first main body connecting portion, the main body connecting portion in the second main body portion will be referred to as the second main body connecting portion, the mating connecting portion in the first mating portion will be referred to as the first mating connecting portion, and the mating connecting portion in the second mating portion will be referred to as the second mating connecting portion. Also, as necessary, the main body seal mounting portion in the first main body connecting portion will be referred to as the first main body seal mounting portion, the main body seal mounting portion in the second main body connecting portion will be referred to as the first main body seal mounting portion, the mating seal mounting portion in the first mating connecting portion will be referred to as the first mating seal mounting portion, and the mating seal mounting portion in the second mating connecting portion will be referred to as the first mating seal mounting portion.

[0095] In the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention, when the main body connection part and the mating connection part are inserted relative to each other during the connection operation, the first main body connection part and the first mating connection part are first arranged in the connection position, and then the second main body connection part and the second mating connection part are arranged in the connection position. Alternatively, the second main body connection part and the second mating connection part are first arranged in the connection position, and then the first main body connection part and the first mating connection part are arranged in the connection position.

[0096] When an annular seal member is attached to the main body connecting portion, i.e., when the main body connecting portion has a main body seal attachment portion, it is preferable that the main body seal attachment portion of the first main body portion and the main body seal attachment portion of the second main body portion are positioned differently from each other in the insertion direction [requirement (a)]. In this case, the first main body connecting portion and the second main body connecting portion are positioned differently from each other in the insertion direction, and the connection position of the first connector structure portion and the connection position of the second connector structure portion can be positioned differently from each other in the insertion direction.

[0097] In this case, the tip ends, that is, the ends on the main body side, of the mating connection portions of the mating parts may be at the same position in the insertion direction, or may be at different positions. In addition, when the tip portion of the mating connection part, i.e., the part on the main body side, is chamfered and the chamfered tip portion does not come into contact with the annular seal member attached to the main body connection part, the tip portion of the mating connection part mentioned above means the tip portion of the mating connection part excluding the chamfered tip portion.

[0098] In either case, the premise is that "during the connecting operation between the main body part and the mating part, the timing at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member reaches its maximum differs between the first connector structure part and the second connector structure part." Therefore, even if the tip ends of the mating connecting parts of the mating parts are at different positions in the insertion direction as described above, the positions of the tip ends of the mating connecting parts are at different positions within a range that satisfies the premise. The above premise also applies to the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention that satisfies any one of the requirements (b) to (d) described below.

[0099] If the main body connecting portion has a main body seal mounting portion, as in requirement (a) above, it is also acceptable for the tip end of the mating connecting portion in the first mating portion and the tip end of the mating connecting portion in the second mating portion to be positioned differently from each other in the insertion direction [requirement (c)]. In this case as well, the first mating connecting portion and the second mating connecting portion can be positioned differently from each other in the insertion direction, and the connection position in the first connector structure portion and the connection position in the second connector structure portion can be positioned differently from each other in the insertion direction.

[0100] In this case, the tip ends, i.e., the ends on the mating side, of the main body connection portions of the main body portions may be at the same position in the insertion direction, or may be at different positions as long as the above-mentioned premise is satisfied. When the leading end portion of the main body connection portion is chamfered and the chamfered leading end portion does not come into contact with the annular sealing member attached to the mating connection portion, the leading end portion of the main body connection portion means the leading end portion of the main body connection portion excluding the chamfered leading end portion.

[0101] On the other hand, when an annular seal member is attached to the mating connection part, i.e., when the mating connection part has a mating seal attachment part, it is preferable that the mating seal attachment part of the first mating part and the mating seal attachment part of the second mating part be positioned differently from each other in the insertion direction [requirement (b)]. In this case as well, the first mating connection part and the second mating connection part can be positioned differently from each other in the insertion direction, and the connection position of the first connector structure part and the connection position of the second connector structure part can be positioned differently from each other in the insertion direction.

[0102] In this case, the tip ends of the main body connecting portions of the main body portions may be at the same position in the insertion direction, or may be at different positions as long as the above-mentioned premise is satisfied.

[0103] If the mating connection portion has a mating seal mounting portion, as in requirement (b) above, the tip of the main body connection portion of the first main body portion and the tip of the main body connection portion of the second main body portion may be positioned differently from each other in the insertion direction [requirement (d)]. In this case, too, the first main body connection portion and the second main body connection portion can be positioned differently from each other in the insertion direction, and the connection position of the first connector structure portion and the connection position of the second connector structure portion can be positioned differently from each other in the insertion direction.

[0104] In this case, the leading ends of the mating connection portions of the mating parts may be at the same position in the insertion direction, or may be at different positions as long as the above-mentioned premise is satisfied.

[0105] In the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention, by making the connection position of the first connector structure and the connection position of the second connector structure different from each other in the insertion direction, it is possible to shift in time the peak of the connection operation load caused by compression of the first annular seal member and the peak of the connection operation load caused by compression of the second annular seal member. Therefore, in the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention, the distance in the insertion direction between the connection position of the first connector structure and the connection position of the second connector structure is not particularly limited.

[0106] However, in order to sufficiently reduce the connection operation load generated in the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention, it is preferable that, for example, the first main body connection portion and the first mating connection portion are arranged in the connection position, and after the connection operation load caused by the first annular seal member has decreased to a certain extent, the second main body connection portion and the second mating connection portion are arranged in the connection position. Alternatively, it is preferable that the second main body connection portion and the second mating connection portion are first arranged in the connection position, and after the connection operation load caused by the second annular seal member has decreased to a certain extent, the first main body connection portion and the first mating connection portion are arranged in the connection position.

[0107] In order to generate the connection operation load at such timing, it is preferable to set the distance in the insertion direction between the connection position in the first connector structure and the connection position in the second connector structure so that the peak of the connection operation load generated by compression of the first annular sealing member and the peak of the connection operation load generated by compression of the second annular sealing member occur at a certain interval.

[0108] Specifically, in the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention, the distance in the insertion direction between the connection position of the first connector structure and the connection position of the second connector structure is preferably at least 1 / 2, more than 1 / 2, at least 2 / 3, or at least 3 / 4 of the axial length of the annular seal member in its natural state, for the following reasons.

[0109] In the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention, the connection operation load increases after the start of connection insertion until the main connection portion and the mating connection portion are positioned in the connection position and the radial compression amount of the annular seal member reaches its maximum, and then decreases. When a typical annular seal member is used, the radial compression of the annular seal member reaches its maximum when the half position of the axial length of the annular seal member contacts the main body connecting portion and the mating connecting portion.

[0110] Therefore, by making the distance in the insertion direction between the connection position of the first connector structure and the connection position of the second connector structure at least half the axial length of the annular seal member, the peak connection operation load caused by compression of the first annular seal member and the peak connection operation load caused by compression of the second annular seal member can be separated to some extent, thereby making it possible to further reduce the connection operation load in the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention.

[0111] The distance in the insertion direction between the connection position of the first connector structure and the connection position of the second connector structure 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 when the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention satisfies requirement (a). Similarly, when the sequential insertion type 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 sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention satisfies requirement (c), it can be rephrased as the distance in the insertion direction between the tip end of the first mating connection portion and the tip end of the second mating connection portion. Similarly, when the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention satisfies requirement (d), it can be rephrased as the distance in the insertion direction between the tip end of the first main body connection portion and the tip end of the second main body connection portion.

[0112] The axial length of the annular seal member changes when it is attached to the main body seal attachment portion and compressed, so in this specification, the axial length of the annular seal member in its natural state is used as the reference.

[0113] The sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention includes a plurality of connector structures each including a main body portion, a mating portion, and an annular sealing member, wherein one of the plurality of connector structures is a first connector structure and another of the plurality of connector structures is a second connector structure. Only one of the plurality of connector structural portions in the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention may be the first connector structural portion, or a plurality of connector structural portions may be the first connector structural portion.

[0114] Stated from a different angle, the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention comprises a plurality of main bodies. One of the plurality of main bodies is a first main body, and another of the plurality of main bodies is a second main body. Only one of the plurality of main bodies in the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention may be the first main body, or multiple of them may be the first main body. Also, the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention comprises a plurality of mating parts. One of the multiple mating parts is a first mating part, and another of the multiple mating parts is a second mating part. Only one of the multiple mating parts in the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention may be the first mating part, or multiple of them may be the first mating part.

[0115] In the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention, the timing at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member reaches its maximum during the connection operation between the main body portion and the mating portion differs between the first connector structure and the second connector structure. Therefore, any connector structure among the multiple connector structures that is not the first connector structure can be referred to as the second connector structure. Similarly, any main body portion among the multiple main body portions that is not the first main body portion can be referred to as the second main body portion, and any mating portion among the multiple mating portions that is not the first mating portion can be referred to as the second mating portion.

[0116] In the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention, in order to prevent a sudden and excessive increase in the connection operation load, it is essential to prevent the connection operation load from becoming uneven. For this reason, when the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention has a plurality of first body portions and / or second body portions, it is preferable to designate the body portion adjacent to the first body portion as the second body portion, in order to distribute the load applied during connection operation, which increases locally in the adjacent portions when the first body portions are adjacent to each other. In order to further distribute the load of the connection operation, it is more preferable that the main body portion adjacent to the second main body portion be the first main body portion.

[0117] The composite connector of the present invention preferably satisfies the following requirement (e) or (f): The composite connector of this aspect can be called a sequential insertion type composite connector. (e) The main body connection portion has a main body seal mounting portion, The body seal mounting portion of the first body portion and the body seal mounting portion of the second body portion are located at different positions in the insertion direction. (f) The main body connection part does not have a main body seal attachment part, The tip of the main body connecting portion of the first main body portion and the tip of the main body connecting portion of the second main body portion are located at different positions in the insertion direction.

[0118] The above requirement (e) is the same as the requirement (a) described above, and the composite connector of the present invention that satisfies requirement (a) can also be called a composite connector in the composite connector structure of the present invention that satisfies requirement (a).

[0119] The above requirement (f) is the same as the requirement (d) already mentioned, and assumes a configuration in which the main body connection part does not have a main body seal mounting part and the mating connection part has a mating seal mounting part. The composite connector of the present invention that satisfies requirement (f) can also be called a composite connector in the composite connector structure of the present invention that satisfies requirement (d).

[0120] It should be noted that the composite connector in the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention that satisfies requirement (b) or (c) does not have specific structural features, and therefore is not described here.

[0121] In the sequential insertion type composite connector of the present invention that satisfies requirement (e), as with the composite connector in the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention that satisfies requirement (a), it is preferable that the distance in the insertion direction between the first main body seal mounting portion and the second main body seal mounting portion be at least 1 / 2, more than 1 / 2, at least 2 / 3, or at least 3 / 4 of the axial length of the annular seal member in its natural state. Similarly, in a sequential insertion type composite connector of the present invention that satisfies requirement (f), as with a composite connector in a sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention that satisfies requirement (d), it is preferable that the distance in the insertion direction between the tip of the first main body connecting portion and the tip of the second main body connecting portion be at least 1 / 2, more than 1 / 2, at least 2 / 3, or at least 3 / 4 of the axial length of the annular sealing member in its natural state.

[0122] Furthermore, in the sequential insertion type composite connector of the present invention, as with the composite connector in the sequential insertion type composite connector structure of the present invention, it is preferable that the body portion adjacent to the first body portion is the second body portion, and in addition, it is preferable that the body portion adjacent to the second body portion is the first body portion.

[0123] The composite connector and composite connector structure of the present invention will be described below with reference to specific examples.

[0124] Example 1 The composite connector structure of Example 1 has a fluid flow path inside the tube, that is, the composite connector structure of Example 1 can be said to be a flow path member that constitutes the fluid flow path. The composite connector structure of Example 1 is a sequential insertion type composite connector structure that satisfies requirement (a), and the composite connector of Example 1 is a sequential insertion type composite connector that satisfies requirement (e).

[0125] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram that schematically illustrates the composite connector structure of Example 1. FIGS. 2 and 4 are explanatory diagrams that schematically show the composite connector structure of Example 1 cut along the X plane in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram that schematically shows the composite connector structure of Example 1 cut along the Y plane in FIG. 1. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the composite connector structure of Example 1 after the connection operation has been completed, and FIG. 4 shows the composite connector structure of Example 1 during the connection operation.

[0126] 2, the composite connector structure 1 of the first embodiment includes two connector structures 10, each including a main body 2, a mating portion 3, and an annular sealing member 4. One of the two connector structures 10 is referred to as a first connector structure 10F, and the other is referred to as a second connector structure 10S.

[0127] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, 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 connection portion 31 of the mating portion 3 into the main body connection portion 21 of the main body portion 2 along the axial direction of the main body connection portion 21 described later.

[0128] 1, each main body 2 of each connector structure 10 has a generally L-shaped cylindrical shape as a whole. One end of each main body 2 is a main body connecting portion 21 into which a mating part 3 is inserted, and the other end is a hose joint that is connected to another mating part 3, a hose (not shown).

[0129] 2, the main body connecting portion 21 is divided into a short cylindrical front split piece 21FR and a short cylindrical rear split piece 21RE. The front split piece 21FR and the rear split piece 21RE are arranged coaxially and are integrated with each other by the main body assembling portion 26 to form the cylindrical main body connecting portion 21. The front split piece 21FR is located at the front side in the relative insertion direction of the main body connecting portion 21 with respect to the mating connecting portion 31, and the rear split piece 21RE is located at the rear side in the relative insertion direction of the main body connecting portion 21 with respect to the mating connecting portion 31. It can also be said that the front split piece 21FR is located on the mating portion 3 side and the rear split piece 21RE is located on the opposite side from the mating portion 3.

[0130] The front split piece 21FR and the rear split piece 21RE are arranged along the axial direction of the main body connecting part 21, or they are arranged along the axial direction of the main body part 2.

[0131] The front split body 21FR and the rear split body 21RE are integrated with each other by a main body assembly part 26. The main body assembly part 26 is made up of a front main body assembly part 26FR, which is a part of the front split body 21FR, and a rear main body assembly part 26RE, which is a part of the rear split body 21RE.

[0132] Of these, the front body assembly portion 26FR is located at the end of the front split piece 21FR on the rear split piece 21RE side, i.e., the end opposite the mating part 3. The front body assembly portion 26FR is a recessed groove that opens to the rear split piece 21RE side and extends in the circumferential direction around the entire circumferential circumference of the front split piece 21FR. It can also be said that the front body assembly portion 26FR extends in the circumferential direction of the main body connecting portion 21.

[0133] The rear main body assembly portion 26RE is located at the end of the rear split piece 21RE on the front split piece 21FR side, i.e., the end on the mating part 3 side. The rear main body assembly portion 26RE protrudes toward the front split piece 21FR and forms a standing wall extending in the circumferential direction around the entire circumferential circumference of the rear split piece 21RE. It can also be said that the rear main body assembly portion 26RE extends in the circumferential direction of the main body connecting portion 21.

[0134] The rear body assembly part 26RE is inserted into the groove of the front body assembly part 26FR, whereby the front split part 21FR and the rear split part 21RE are integrated together to form the body connecting part 21.

[0135] When the front split body 21FR and the rear split body 21RE are integrated, the protruding end of the rear body assembly part 26RE faces the groove bottom of the front body assembly part 26FR and comes into contact with the groove bottom. Therefore, the front body assembly part 26FR and the rear body assembly part 26RE cannot change their positions toward each other in the axial direction of the body connecting part 21. Furthermore, the front split body 21FR having the front body assembly part 26FR and the rear split body 21RE having the rear body assembly part 26RE also cannot change their positions toward each other in the axial direction of the body connecting part 21. This restricts the relative positional change of the front split body 21FR and the rear split body 21RE in the direction of moving toward each other.

[0136] Furthermore, the groove width of the front body assembly part 26FR is greater than the thickness of the rear body assembly part 26RE. Therefore, the position of the rear body assembly part 26RE can be changed in the radial direction of the body connecting part 21 within the recessed groove of the front body assembly part 26FR, and the position of the rear split part 21RE having the rear body assembly part 26RE can also be changed in the radial direction of the body connecting part 21 relative to the front split part 21FR having the front body assembly part 26FR. This allows the relative positions of the front split part 21FR and the rear split part 21RE to be changed in the radial direction of the body connecting part 21.

[0137] In the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, the difference in length between the groove width of the front body assembly portion 26FR and the thickness of the rear body assembly portion 26RE is approximately 0.5 mm. This value is less than the length that constitutes the very coarse class and greater than the length that constitutes the medium class when the general tolerance specified in JIS B 0405:1991 / JIS is applied to the distance between the center line of the cylindrical front split body 21FR and the center line of the cylindrical rear split body 21RE.

[0138] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the main body assembly portion 26 in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1 has a front engaging portion 27FR that is part of the front split body 21FR and a rear engaging portion 27RE that is part of the rear split body 21RE. The main body assembly portion 26 in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1 has two front engaging portions 27FR and two rear engaging portions 27RE. The two front engaging portions 27FR are arranged in positions facing each other. The two rear engaging portions 27RE are also arranged in positions facing each other. The front engaging portions 27FR and the rear engaging portions 27RE face each other.

[0139] As shown in FIG. 3, the front engaging portion 27FR is a part of a groove wall that defines a front main body mounting portion 26FR having a recessed groove shape in the front split body 21FR.

[0140] Specifically, the recessed groove-shaped front body assembly portion 26FR is partitioned by two groove walls arranged coaxially in a double configuration. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the radially outer one of the two groove walls has a substantially U-shaped slit S, and the front engagement portion 27FR is formed by a cantilever-shaped portion located inside the substantially U-shaped slit S. As shown in Figure 3, the front engagement portion 27FR can elastically swing radially outward from the main body connection portion 21 around the portion connected to the groove wall, and can also swing radially inward due to an elastic restoring force.

[0141] The front engaging portion 27FR protrudes from the rear split piece 21RE side of the groove wall 21W toward the opposite side from the rear split piece 21RE. In other words, the front engaging portion 27FR protrudes from the opposite side from the mating part 3 toward the mating part 3 side. A hook-shaped portion 27C is formed at the protruding end of the front engaging portion 27FR, protruding radially inward of the main body connecting portion 21, in other words, toward the inside of the recessed groove of the front main body mounting portion 26FR.

[0142] 3, the rear engaging portion 27RE is generally plate-shaped and protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the rear main body assembly portion 26RE radially outward from the rear main body assembly portion 26RE, in other words, radially outward from the main body connecting portion 21. When the front split piece 21FR and the rear split piece 21RE are integrated to form the main body connecting portion 21, the rear engaging portion 27RE and the front engaging portion 27FR approach each other in the axial direction of the main body connecting portion 21.

[0143] At this time, the rear engagement portion 27RE presses the front engagement portion 27FR radially outward from the main body connecting portion 21, and the front engagement portion 27FR pressed by the rear engagement portion 27RE swings in the direction B in Fig. 3 toward the radially outward side of the main body connecting portion 21. When the rear engagement portion 27RE enters the slit of the front body assembly portion 26FR, the pressure by the rear engagement portion 27RE is released, and the front engagement portion 27FR swings in the direction A in Fig. 3 toward the radially inward side of the main body connecting portion 21 due to its elastic restoring force, and the hook-shaped portion 27C of the front engagement portion 27FR engages with the rear engagement portion 27RE.

[0144] This makes it difficult for the front engaging portion 27FR and the rear engaging portion 27RE to change position away from each other in the axial direction of the main body connecting portion 21. The front split body 21FR having the front engaging portion 27FR and the rear split body 21RE having the rear engaging portion 27RE also make it difficult for the front split body 21FR having the front engaging portion 27FR and the rear split body 21RE having the rear engaging portion 27RE to change position away from each other in the axial direction of the main body connecting portion 21.

[0145] The main body assembly portion 26 in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1 allows the relative positional change between the front split body 21FR and the rear split body 21RE in the radial direction of the main body connecting portion 21, independently of each other, for the first connector structural portion 10F and the second connector structural portion 10S, and regulates the relative positional change between the front split body 21FR and the rear split body 21RE in the radial direction of the main body connecting portion 21.

[0146] In the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, the main body assembling portion 26 restricts relative positional change between the front split piece 21FR and the rear split piece 21RE in the axial direction of the main body connecting portion 21. As a result, according to the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, the front split piece 21FR and the rear split piece 21RE can be reliably integrated, and the shapes of the main body connecting portion 21 and the main body portion 2 can be reliably maintained.

[0147] Furthermore, the main body assembly portion 26 allows the relative positional change of the front split piece 21FR and the rear split piece 21RE in the radial direction of the main body connecting portion 21. As a result, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, the relative positions of the front split piece 21FR and the rear split piece 21RE can be changed in the radial direction of the main body connecting portion 21 during the connecting operation between the main body portion 2 and the mating portion 3.

[0148] In the composite connector structure 1 of the present invention in Example 1, as with the conventional composite connector structure 1, there may be a shift in the relative positions between multiple main body parts 2, a shift in the relative positions between multiple mating parts 3, or a shift in the relative positions between the main body part 2 and the mating part 3.

[0149] However, in the composite connector structure 1 of the present invention according to the first embodiment, the relative positions of the front split piece 21FR, the rear split piece 21RE, and the main body connecting portion 21 can be changed in the radial direction. Therefore, even if the above-mentioned misalignment of the various parts occurs, the relative positions of the front split piece 21FR and the rear split piece 21RE can be changed during the connecting operation between the main body portion 2 and the mating portion 3, thereby absorbing and allowing for the misalignment of the various parts. As a result, the composite connector structure 1 of the first embodiment makes it possible to easily connect the main body portion 2 and the mating portion 3 while allowing for misalignment of the various parts relative to each other.

[0150] 2, the multiple main body portions 2 in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1 are integrated in a front split piece 21FR. The front split piece 21FR is the portion of the main body connecting portion 21 that is located on the mating portion 3 side, and is the portion of the main body connecting portion 21 that can be reliably positioned relative to the mating portion 3. Therefore, with the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, the main body connecting portions 21 of the multiple main body portions 2 can be reliably positioned relative to the corresponding mating connecting portions 31 of the mating portion 3, and the main body portions 2 and the mating portion 3 can be integrated easily and accurately.

[0151] In the composite connector structure 1 of the first embodiment, each main body connecting portion 21 has at one end thereof a main body seal mounting portion 22. The main body seal mounting portion 22 is an annular groove that opens into the inner peripheral surface of the main body portion 2.

[0152] More specifically, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, a recessed groove extending in the circumferential direction of the main body connecting portion 21 is formed between the front split body 21FR and the rear split body 21RE of each main body connecting portion 21. This recessed groove is the main body seal mounting portion 22. The annular seal member 4 is housed in the main body seal mounting portion 22. Therefore, it can be said that the annular seal member 4 is interposed between the main body connecting portion 21 and the mating connecting portion 31, between the front split body 21FR and the rear split body 21RE.

[0153] As shown in FIG. 2, in the composite connector structure 1 of the first embodiment, the first body portion 2F, which is the body portion 2 of the first connector structural portion 10F, and the second body portion 2S, which is the body portion 2 of the second connector structural portion 10S, are each substantially cylindrical and are arranged with their axes parallel to each other. The first body portion 2F and the second body portion 2S are adjacent to each other. As described above, the first body portion 2F and the second body portion 2S are integrated at the front split portion 21FR. As a result, the first body portion 2F and the second body portion 2S form the composite connector 15.

[0154] 2, a first mating portion 3F belonging to the first connector structure 10F is inserted into a first main body portion 2F belonging to the first connector structure 10F, and a second mating portion 3S belonging to the second connector structure 10S is inserted into a second main body portion 2S belonging to the second connector structure 10S. The first mating part 3F and the second mating part 3S have substantially the same straight cylindrical shape.

[0155] Of the body seal mounting portions 22, the one belonging to the first connector structure 10F is referred to as a first body seal mounting portion 22F, and the one belonging to the second connector structure 10S is referred to as a second body seal mounting portion 22S.

[0156] The first body seal mounting portion 22F and the second body seal mounting portion 22S are each fitted with an annular seal member 4. Hereinafter, as necessary, the annular seal member 4 fitted to the first body seal mounting portion 22F will be referred to as the first annular seal member 4F, and the annular seal member 4 fitted to the second body seal mounting portion 22S will be referred to as the second annular seal member 4S.

[0157] The annular seal members 4 are so-called O-rings made of nitrile rubber and have an annular shape. Most of each annular seal member 4 is located inside the corresponding main body seal mounting portion 22, and a portion of it is exposed from the main body seal mounting portion 22 to the inside of the tube of the main body 2. The inner diameter of the annular seal member 4 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the corresponding mating connection portion 31 , and the outer diameter of the annular seal member 4 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the corresponding main body connection portion 21 .

[0158] In the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, the first body seal mounting portion 22F is located further forward in the insertion direction (i.e., the axial direction of the main body connecting portion 21) than the second body seal mounting portion 22S, in other words, on the side of the mating portion 3. The distance in the insertion direction between the first body seal mounting portion 22F and the second body seal mounting portion 22S is approximately 5 / 2 of the axial length of the annular seal member 4 in its natural state.

[0159] In this specification, the distance in the insertion direction between the first body seal mounting portion 22F and the second body seal mounting portion 22S means the distance in the insertion direction between the center of the first body seal mounting portion 22F in the insertion direction and the center of the second body seal mounting portion 22S in the same insertion direction. The insertion direction coincides with the axial direction of the body connecting portion 21 and also coincides with the axial direction of the mating connecting portion 31.

[0160] In the composite connector structure 1 of the first embodiment, the composite connector 15 is attached to a drive unit (not shown). The composite connector 15 attached to the drive unit 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.

[0161] When performing the connection operation to connect the main body part 2 and the mating part 3, first, as shown in Figure 4, the composite connector 15 is positioned so that the main body connection part 21 of the first main body part 2F faces the mating connection part 31 of the first mating part 3F, and the main body connection part 21 of the second main body part 2S faces the mating connection part 31 of the second mating part 3S. At this time, the first main body portion 2F and the first mating portion 3F are not connected to each other, and the second main body portion 2S and the second mating portion 3S are also not connected to each other.

[0162] Next, 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 connecting part 31 is inserted into the main body connecting part 21. As described above, the first body seal mounting portion 22F is located further forward than the second body seal mounting portion 22S, i.e., closer to the mating portion 3. Therefore, the first annular seal member 4F mounted on the first body seal mounting portion 22F is located further forward in the insertion direction than the second annular seal member 4S mounted on the second body seal mounting portion 22S.

[0163] The first annular seal member 4F and the second annular seal member 4S are compressed in the radial direction during the connecting operation, and the amount of radial compression is maximum for each at the time of connection.

[0164] Therefore, in the composite connector structure of Example 1, the position of the first annular sealing member 4F and the position of the first main body seal mounting portion 22F to which the first annular sealing member 4F is mounted are essentially the connection positions of the main body connecting portion 21 in the first main body portion 2F and the mating connecting portion 31 in the first mating portion 3F.

[0165] Similarly, the position of the second annular sealing member 4S and the position of the second main body seal mounting portion 22S to which the second annular sealing member 4S is mounted are essentially the connection positions of the main body connecting portion 21 in the second main body portion 2S and the mating connecting portion 31 in the second mating portion 3S.

[0166] Therefore, it can be said that the connection position of the main body connection portion 21 in the first main body portion 2F and the mating connection portion 31 in the first mating portion 3F is further forward in the insertion direction, i.e., closer to the mating portion 3, than the connection position of the main body connection portion 21 in the second main body portion 2S and the mating connection portion 31 in the second mating portion 3S.

[0167] During the connection operation, as shown in Figure 4, the first main body portion 2F and the first mating portion 3F are first connected, and the radial compression amount of the first annular sealing member 4F interposed between the main body connection portion 21 of the first main body portion 2F and the mating connection portion 31 of the first mating portion 3F becomes maximum. Then, when 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, as shown in Figure 2, and the radial compression amount of the second annular sealing member 4S interposed between the main body connection portion 21 of the second main body portion 2S and the mating connection portion 31 of the second mating portion 3S becomes maximum.

[0168] The composite connector structure 1 of Example 1 has a composite connector 15 in which a first body portion 2F and a second body portion 2S are integrated. However, the first body seal mounting portion 22F and the second body seal mounting portion 22S are located at different positions in the insertion direction, and as a result, the connection position of the body connecting portion 21 in the first body portion 2F and the mating connecting portion 31 in the first mating portion 3F is different from the connection position of the body connecting portion 21 in the second body portion 2S and the mating connecting portion 31 in the second mating portion 3S in the insertion direction.

[0169] In the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, during the connection operation, the first annular sealing member 4F and the second annular sealing member 4S are compressed at different times, and there is a time lag between the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the first annular sealing member 4F and the peak of the connection operation load caused by the compression of the second annular sealing member 4S.

[0170] In other words, in the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, during a connecting operation, first, the main body connecting portion 21 (first main body connecting portion) of the first main body portion 2F and the mating connecting portion 31 (first mating connecting portion) of the first mating portion 3F are arranged in the connecting position. Next, the main body connecting portion 21 (second main body connecting portion) of the second main body portion 2S and the mating connecting portion 31 (second mating connecting portion) of the second mating portion 3S are arranged in the connecting position. Therefore, the timing at which the radial compression amount of the annular seal member 4 reaches its maximum differs between the first connector structural portion 10F and the second connector structural portion 10S.

[0171] As a result, in the composite connector structure 1 of the first embodiment, a sudden and significant increase in the overall connection operation load for connecting the main body portion 2 and the mating portion 3 is suppressed.

[0172] As a result, according to the composite connector structure 1 of Example 1, even though it has a composite connector 15 and the connection operation between the main body part 2 and the mating part 3 can be performed in a single operation, the connection operation between the main body part 2 and the mating part 3 can be easily performed.

[0173] Although the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, etc., and it is possible to implement the present invention by appropriately extracting and combining elements described in the embodiments, etc., and to make various modifications within the scope that does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the specification of the present invention discloses not only the citation relationships of the claims at the time of filing but also the technical idea of ​​appropriately combining the matters described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0174] 1: Composite connector structure 15: Composite connector 2: Main body 21: Main unit connection part 21FR: Distal segment 21RE: Posterior segment 26: Main body assembly section 26FR: Front body assembly part 26RE: Rear body assembly part 3: Counterpart 31: Mating connection part 4: Annular seal member

Claims

1. a plurality of main bodies each having a cylindrical main body connection portion; a plurality of mating parts each having a mating connection part inserted into the main body connection part or into which the main body connection part is inserted; a plurality of annular seal members interposed between the main body connecting portion and the mating connecting portion in a state compressed in the radial direction when the main body portion and the mating portion are connected; the plurality of main body portions are integrated with one another, and the plurality of mating portions are integrated with one another; the main body connecting portion has a front split body that is tubular and located at the front side in the insertion direction relative to the mating connecting portion, a rear split body that is tubular and located at the rear side in the insertion direction relative to the mating connecting portion, and a main body assembling portion that integrates the front split body and the rear split body, For each of the main body connection parts, the main body assembly part allows relative positional change between the front split body and the rear split body in the radial direction of the main body connection part, and regulates relative positional change between the front split body and the rear split body in the axial direction of the main body connection part.

2. 2. The composite connector structure according to claim 1, wherein the annular seal member is interposed between the front split body and the rear split body, and between the main body connecting portion and the mating connecting portion.

3. 3. The composite connector structure according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of main body portions are integrated into one body at the front split body.

4. the main body assembly portion has a front main body assembly portion located at an end of the front split body on the rear split body side, and a rear main body assembly portion located at an end of the rear split body on the front split body side, the front-side main body assembly portion has a recessed groove shape that opens toward the rear-side division body and extends in the circumferential direction of the front-side division body, and the rear-side main body assembly portion has a standing wall shape that protrudes toward the front-side division body and extends in the circumferential direction of the rear-side division body, the groove width of the front body assembly portion is greater than the thickness of the rear body assembly portion; When the front split body and the rear split body are integrated, A composite connector structure as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the rear body assembly portion is inserted into the groove of the front body assembly portion, and the protruding end of the rear body assembly portion faces the bottom of the groove of the front body assembly portion.

5. the main body assembly portion has a front main body assembly portion located at an end of the front split body on the rear split body side, and a rear main body assembly portion located at an end of the rear split body on the front split body side, the rear main body assembly portion has a recessed groove shape that opens toward the front split body and extends in the circumferential direction of the rear split body, and the front main body assembly portion has a standing wall shape that protrudes toward the rear split body and extends in the circumferential direction of the front split body, the groove width of the rear body assembly portion is greater than the thickness of the front body assembly portion; When the front split body and the rear split body are integrated, A composite connector structure as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the front body assembly portion is inserted into the groove of the rear body assembly portion, and the protruding end of the front body assembly portion faces the bottom of the groove of the rear body assembly portion.

6. a plurality of connector structures each including the main body portion, the mating portion connected to the main body portion, and the annular seal member interposed between the main body portion and the mating portion; 3. A composite connector structure as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, during the connection operation between the main body portion and the mating portion, the timing at which the radial compression amount of the annular sealing member reaches its maximum is different between a first connector structure portion, which is one of the connector structures, and a second connector structure portion, which is another of the connector structures.

7. A composite connector in which a plurality of main bodies each having a cylindrical main body connection portion are integrated, the main body portion has a main body connecting portion that is inserted into a mating connecting portion of a mating portion or into which the mating connecting portion is inserted, the main body connecting portion has a front split body that is tubular and located at the front side in the insertion direction relative to the mating connecting portion, a rear split body that is tubular and located at the rear side in the insertion direction relative to the mating connecting portion, and a main body assembling portion that integrates the front split body and the rear split body, For each of the main body connection portions, the main body assembly portion allows relative positional change between the front split body and the rear split body in the radial direction of the main body connection portion, and restricts relative positional change between the front split body and the rear split body in the axial direction of the main body connection portion.

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