Lock spring for fixing quick connector and quick connector to which lock spring is fastened

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lock spring for fixing a quick connector, comprising: a handle (10) positioned at the upper portion of the lock spring; elastic bridges (14) positioned on the left and right sides of the lock spring; fastening legs (16) positioned on the outer sides of the elastic bridges (14), wherein the elastic bridges (14) and the handle (10) are integrated into one body by a fastening wall (12), and the fastening wall (12) has a shielding wall slot (12b) formed therein so as to guide the lock spring in a direction in which the lock spring is fastened to the quick connector.

Description

Lock spring for fixing the quick connector and the quick connector to which the lock spring is attached

[0001] The present invention relates to a lock spring and a quick connector to which the lock spring is fastened, and more particularly, to an invention in which both the structure in which the lock spring is fastened to the quick connector and the final fastening structure according to the end piece connection can be monitored.

[0002] Coupling devices applied to fluid pipelines must maintain internal sealing performance in a fluid flow state, the assembly state between the coupling connector and the connection plug must be clearly recognizable by the worker, and separation or detachment due to strong tensile force applied by an external force in the assembled state must be reliably prevented.

[0003] When a coupling device is used in a vehicle's high-pressure fuel line or a fuel cell vehicle's hydrogen / oxygen supply line, it must be able to reliably guarantee the performance of maintaining internal sealing, recognizing the connector assembly status, and maintaining the connector connection status, and the structure must be formed so that it is clearly recognized externally whether it is connected or not. However, technology development is being carried out for the connection structure itself, or attention is being paid only to whether the lock spring can be attached or detached.

[0004] Accordingly, taking the above points into consideration, the present invention relates to a structure capable of monitoring both the structure in which a lock spring is pre-fastened to a quick connector and the final fastening structure according to the end piece combination.

[0005] One embodiment of the present invention is a lock spring for fixing a quick connector, comprising: a handle (10) positioned on the upper portion of the lock spring; elastic bridges (14) positioned on the left and right of the lock spring; a fastening leg (16) positioned on the outer side of the elastic bridge (14); the elastic bridge (14) and the handle (10) are integrally formed by a fastening wall (12); and a shielding wall slot (12b) is formed in the fastening wall (12) so as to guide the lock spring in a direction in which it is fastened to the quick connector.

[0006] In addition, the first shielding wall protrusion (12a) and the second shielding wall protrusion (12c) are formed to be stepped from each other on the left and right of the shielding wall slot (12b).

[0007] In addition, the lower surfaces of the shielding wall slot (12b), the shielding wall first protrusion (12a), and the shielding wall second protrusion (12c) form an arc surface with respect to the axis center.

[0008] In addition, the fastening leg (14) is formed with a fastening leg rear slot (14b) from the fastening wall so that elastic deformation is possible left and right.

[0009] In addition, a wedge-shaped fastening leg fixing protrusion (14a) is formed on the fastening leg.

[0010] In addition, an elastic bridge front projection (16a) is formed in the front direction at the bottom of the elastic bridge, an elastic bridge catch projection (16b) is formed in the lower direction, and a carbon-like elastic bridge fixing projection (16c) is formed in the direction in which the elastic bridges (16) located on both sides face each other.

[0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, in a quick connector to which a lock spring is fastened, a handle mounting portion (10-1) for receiving the handle (10), a shielding wall first slot (12a-1), a shielding wall second slot (12c-1), and a shielding wall guide (12b-1) for guiding the elastic bridge (14) are formed, and the shielding wall guide (12b-1) is located between the shielding wall first slot (12a-1) and the shielding wall second slot (12c-1).

[0012] In addition, a fastening leg confirmation window (14a-1) is formed on the left and right of the quick connector, and the position of the fastening leg fixing projection (14a) of the lock spring can be confirmed through the fastening leg confirmation window (14a-1).

[0013] In addition, when the lock spring is fastened to the quick connector, the elastic bridge front projection (16a) passes through the elastic bridge front projection first slot (16a-1) of the quick connector and is positioned in the elastic bridge front projection first slot (16a-1) of the quick connector.

[0014] In addition, when the end piece is connected to the quick connector, the elastic bridge front projection (16a) of the lock spring passes through the elastic bridge front projection first slot (16a-1) of the quick connector and is located between the elastic bridge front projection first slot (16a-1) of the quick connector and the elastic bridge catch (16b-1).

[0015] In addition, when the lock spring is fastened to the quick connector, the elastic bridge catch (16b) of the lock spring is located on the elastic bridge catch (16b-1) of the quick connector.

[0016] In addition, when the end piece is connected to the quick connector, the elastic bridge catch (16c) of the lock spring is located on the elastic bridge fixing jaw (16c-1) of the quick connector.

[0017] Fig. 1 is a drawing of a lock spring (100) and a quick connector (100-1) to which the lock spring (100) is connected in an up-down direction. Fig. 2 is a front view of one side of the lock spring positioned toward the exit of the quick connector, Fig. 3 is a rear view of the other side of the lock spring facing the inlet of the quick connector, Fig. 4 is a side view of one of the two identical sides of the lock spring, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the internal structure of the quick connector into which the lock springs of Figs. 2 to 4 are inserted and seated.

[0018] Fig. 1 is a drawing of a lock spring (100) and a quick connector (100-1) to which the lock spring (100) is connected in an up-and-down direction. O-rings (2a, 2b), a spacer (4), and a retainer (6) are inserted into the inlet of the quick connector and seated inside the quick connector. The O-rings are positioned in front and behind the spacer as an inner O-ring (2a) and an outer O-ring (2b), and their positions are fixed inside the quick connector by the retainer (6). Thereafter, the lock spring (100) is first connected before the end piece is inserted into the inlet of the quick connector. The lock spring (100) is inserted downward from the top of the quick connector and is temporarily fastened to the cross section of the quick connector, and when the end piece is inserted into the inlet of the quick connector, the annular protrusion (8) of the end piece elastically expands temporarily while passing through the lock spring, and after the annular protrusion (8) passes through the lock spring, it elastically restores and fixes the end piece. After passing through the lock spring (100), the annular protrusion (8) of the end piece is located between the retainer (6) of the quick connector and the lock spring (100).

[0019] FIG. 2 is a front view of one side of a lock spring positioned toward the exit of a quick connector, FIG. 3 is a rear view of the other side of the lock spring positioned toward the entrance of the quick connector, FIG. 4 is a side view of one of the two identical sides of the lock spring, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the internal structure of a quick connector into which the lock springs of FIGS. 2 to 4 are inserted and seated.

[0020] The lock spring of FIGS. 2 and 3 has a handle (10) at the top, elastic bridges (16) positioned on the left and right to penetrate the quick connector vertically, a fastening leg (14) on the outside of the elastic bridge, and a shielding wall (12) positioned between the handle (10) and the elastic bridge (16). The shielding wall (14) and the elastic bridge (16) form an arc shape inward to entirely surround an end piece introduced from the outside within the quick connector, and the arc can be based on the imaginary axial center of the end piece or the quick connector.

[0021] Referring to Fig. 1, the lock spring is structured to be fastened downward from the top of the quick connector. Accordingly, a handle (10) for holding the lock spring is located on the top of the lock spring. In Figs. 2 and 3, the handle has an arc shape so as to form a certain angle with respect to the center of the axis to the left and right. In addition, the left and right side surfaces of the handle also form a taper angle so as to form a certain angle with respect to the center of the axis, and to match this, the handle mounting portion (10-1) of the quick connector of Fig. 5 also forms a taper angle.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 4, the handle of the lock spring is formed with a certain width in the front-back direction of the inlet and outlet of the quick connector, and also forms a taper angle that becomes narrower as it goes toward the bottom of the handle (10), and to match this, the handle mounting portion (10-1) of the quick connector of Fig. 5 also forms a taper angle.

[0023] The upper part of the lock spring forms an arc of the same curvature along the arc of the quick connector, including the handle (10), and elastic bridges (16) are positioned on each of the left and right sides. The lock spring includes a shape for guiding the up and down movement within the quick connector so that the elastic bridges (16) are accurately seated in the quick connector.

[0024] In FIGS. 2 and 3, a shielding wall (12) is positioned between the handle (10) of the lock spring and the elastic bridge (16). The shielding wall (12) secures the lock spring, blocks the forward and backward movement of the lock spring after the end piece is fixed within the quick connector, and shields the space between the handle (10) and the end piece except for the section where the end piece communicates with the lock spring.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 2, the shield wall (12) is formed with a first shield wall protrusion (12a), a shield wall slot (12b), and a second shield wall protrusion (12c). The first shield wall protrusion (12a) is located in the first shield wall slot (12a-1) inside the quick connector of Fig. 5, and the shield wall slot (12b) and the second shield wall protrusion (12c) are located in the shield wall guide (12b-1) and the second shield wall slot (12c-1) inside the connector of Fig. 5, respectively.

[0026] A step is formed so that the first slot (12a-1) of the shield wall is positioned lower than the second slot (12c-1) of the shield wall based on the inlet surface of the kick connector, and a shield wall guide (12b-1) is positioned protruding between the first slot (12a-1) of the shield wall and the second slot (12c-1) of the shield wall.

[0027] When the lock spring is inserted into the quick connector, the shield wall slot (12b) of the lock spring slides along the shield wall guide (12b-1) of the quick connector, the shield wall first protrusion (12a) of the lock spring slides along the shield wall first slot (12a-1) of the quick connector, and the shield wall second protrusion (12c) of the lock spring slides along the shield wall second slot (12 c-1) of the quick connector. The shield wall first slot (12a-1), the shield wall second slot (12c-1), and the shield wall guide (12b-1) are formed in the upper and lower direction of the lock spring.

[0028] The fastening leg (14) of Fig. 2 is configured to monitor the process of mounting the lock spring on the quick connector. A fastening leg fixing projection (14a) is formed radially on each of the left and right fastening legs (14) of the lock spring. A fastening leg rear slot (14b) and a fastening leg side slot (14c) are formed so that the fastening leg fixing projection (14a) is guided to the fastening leg confirmation window (16-1). In particular, the fastening leg side slot (14c) is guided along the fastening leg side guide (14b-1) of the quick connector.

[0029] The upper and lower positions of the lock spring can be determined from the positions of the fastening leg fixing protrusions (14a). If the fastening leg fixing protrusions (14a) are located above the fastening leg confirmation window (14a-1), this is the position before the end piece is inserted and the elastic bridge has not yet expanded in the radial direction. If the end piece is inserted, the elastic bridge is expanded, and the end piece is secured, the fastening leg fixing protrusions (14a) are located below the fastening leg confirmation window (14a-1).

[0030] The fastening leg (14) is formed with a fastening leg rear slot (14b) from the fastening wall so that it can be elastically deformed left and right, and the fastening leg fixing projection (14a) is in a wedge shape and is inclined at a certain angle in the direction of movement in which the lock spring is mounted on the quick connector so that it can be easily inserted into the fastening leg confirmation window (14a-1), and the end of the fastening leg confirmation window acts as a catch so that it is difficult to detach in the opposite direction from the fastening leg confirmation window (14a-1).

[0031] An elastic bridge one-sided projection (16a), an elastic bridge catch projection (16b), and an elastic bridge fixing projection (16c) are formed on the elastic bridge (16) located on the left and right of the lock spring. First, in the process of fastening the lock spring, the elastic bridge one-sided projection (16a) moves downward along the elastic bridge front projection first slot (16a-1). Based on the quick connector inlet surface, the elastic bridge front projection second slot (16a-2) forms a deeper slot toward the outlet of the quick connector than the elastic bridge front projection first slot (16a-1). Accordingly, when the elastic bridge front projection (16a) passes through the elastic bridge front projection first slot (16a-1) to a certain depth, the elastic bridge (16) is elastically bent and inserted toward the quick connector entrance face, and in the elastic bridge front projection second slot (1a-2), the elastic bridge (16) that was elastically bent and inserted is elastically restored.

[0032] Meanwhile, the elastic bridge catch (16b) and the elastic bridge fixing protrusion (16c) are related to the position of the fastening leg fixing protrusion (14a) of the fastening leg (14) within the fastening leg confirmation window (14a-1). That is, when the fastening leg fixing protrusion (14a) is located above the fastening leg confirmation window (14a-1), the lock spring is in a pre-fastened state, and the end piece has not yet reached the lock spring, and the elastic bridge catch (16b) is only in contact with the elastic bridge fixing jaw (16c-1). If the end piece is inserted, the elastic bridge is expanded, and the end piece is settled, the fastening leg fixing projection (14a) is located at the bottom of the fastening leg confirmation window (14a-1), the elastic bridge fixing projection (16c) is elastically fastened to the outside of the elastic bridge fixing jaw (16c-1), and the elastic bridge catch (16b) remains in contact with the end of the elastic bridge fixing jaw (16c-1). That is, after the end piece is inserted and the elastic bridge is expanded, the elastic bridge fixing projection (16c) is settled on the elastic bridge fixing jaw (16c-1).

Claims

1. For the lock spring for fixing the quick connector, A handle (10) located on the upper part of the above lock spring; Elastic bridges (14) located on the left and right of the above lock spring; A fastening leg (16) located on the outside of the above elastic bridge (14); The above elastic bridge (14) and the above handle (10) are integrated by the fastening wall (12). A lock spring for fixing a quick connector is formed with a shield wall slot (12b) on the above-mentioned fastening wall (12) so that the lock spring is guided in the direction in which it is fastened to the quick connector.

2. In paragraph 1, A lock spring for fixing a quick connector formed so that the first projection (12a) and the second projection (12c) of the shield wall are stepped from each other on the left and right of the above shield wall slot (12b).

3. In paragraph 2, The lower surface of the shield wall slot (12b), the first shield wall protrusion (12a) and the second shield wall protrusion (12c) forms an arc surface with respect to the axis center, which is a lock spring for fixing the quick connector.

4. In paragraph 1, The above fastening leg (14) is a lock spring for fixing a quick connector with a fastening leg rear slot (14b) formed from the fastening wall so that elastic deformation is possible left and right.

5. In paragraph 4, The above fastening leg has a lock spring for fixing a quick connector with a wedge-shaped fastening leg fixing projection (14a) formed thereon.

6. In paragraph 1, A lock spring for fixing a quick connector in which an elastic bridge front projection (16a) is formed in the front direction at the lower part of the elastic bridge, an elastic bridge catch projection (16b) is formed in the lower direction, and a carbon-like elastic bridge fixing projection (16c) is formed in the direction in which the elastic bridges (16) located on both sides face each other.

7. In the quick connector to which the quick connector fixing lock spring of clause 1 is attached, A handle mounting portion (10-1) that accommodates the above handle (10); A shielding wall first slot (12a-1), a shielding wall second slot (12c-1) and a shielding wall guide (12b-1) are formed to guide the elastic bridge (14). The above shield wall guide (12b-1) is a quick connector to which a lock spring is fastened, located between the first shield wall slot (12a-1) and the second shield wall slot (12c-1).

8. In paragraph 7, A quick connector in which a lock spring is fastened, in which a fastening leg confirmation window (14a-1) is formed on the left and right sides of the above quick connector, and in which the position of the fastening leg fixing projection (14a) of the lock spring can be confirmed through the fastening leg confirmation window (14a-1).

9. In paragraph 7, When the above lock spring is fastened to the quick connector, the elastic bridge front projection (16a) passes through the elastic bridge front projection first slot (16a-1) of the quick connector, and the lock spring located in the elastic bridge front projection first slot (16a-1) of the quick connector is fastened.

10. In paragraph 9, When the end piece is connected to the quick connector, the elastic bridge front projection (16a) of the lock spring passes through the elastic bridge front projection first slot (16a-1) of the quick connector, and the lock spring is connected between the elastic bridge front projection first slot (16a-1) of the quick connector and the elastic bridge catch (16b-1).

11. In paragraph 7, A quick connector in which the lock spring is fastened so that the elastic bridge catch (16b) of the lock spring is positioned on the elastic bridge catch (16b-1) of the quick connector when the lock spring is fastened to the quick connector.

12. In paragraph 11, A quick connector in which the lock spring is connected, when the end piece is connected to the quick connector, the elastic bridge catch (16c) of the lock spring is located on the elastic bridge fixing jaw (16c-1) of the quick connector.

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