Seal structure and pipe joint

Abstract

The objective of the present invention is to provide: a seal structure that can improve operability by suppressing sliding resistance when an insertion component is being pushed in, and improve durability as compared to conventional structures; and a pipe joint having the seal structure. As a solution, this pipe joint (1) comprises: a housing (2); an operation part (6) that is attached to the housing (2) and can move in a thrust direction; and an annular elastic body (4) that is sandwiched between the operation part (6) and a receiving part (3) and can move together with the operation part (6).

Description

Sealing structure and pipe joint

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealing structure and a pipe joint.

[0002] For connecting a tube to a pipe or a tube to a device, connecting devices such as pipe joints and valves are used.

[0003] Conventionally, techniques related to a sealing structure using a sealing material are known (Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-202227, Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-287659).

[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-202227, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-28765,

[0005] The conventional technology has problems that the sliding resistance associated with the contact pressure between the inserted part and the sealing material affects the operability adversely, and that the durability is affected adversely by the repeated contact between the inserted part and the sealing material. [[ID=十七]]

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a sealing structure capable of suppressing the sliding resistance when pushing in an inserted part to improve the operability and improving the durability more than the conventional structure, and a pipe joint having the sealing structure.

[0007] As one embodiment, the above problems are solved by the solutions disclosed below.

[0008] The sealing structure according to the present invention includes a housing in which a first step corresponding to the abutting portion of the inserted part is formed, an operation part attached to the housing and movable in the thrust direction, a receiving part built in the housing, and an annular elastic body sandwiched between the operation part and the receiving part and movable together with the operation part. The gap between the outer side of the inserted part and the inner side of the housing is sealed by the annular elastic body in a deformed state by moving the operation part in the thrust direction and deforming the annular elastic body in the radial direction.

[0009] According to this configuration, the sliding resistance when pushing in the inserted part can be suppressed to improve the operability. And the durability can be improved more than the conventional structure.

[0010] As an example, the insertable component is a tube, and the annular elastic body is an X-ring. This ensures that a uniform external force is applied to the annular elastic body during both tube installation and removal, facilitating highly reproducible installation and removal operations. Therefore, the operating life can be extended.

[0011] As an example, the device includes a rotating part housed in the housing and having a stopper portion, the insertable part being a tube, the annular elastic body maintaining a state where it does not press against the tube when the rotating part has not reached the first step, and the annular elastic body sealing the gap when the operating part is locked with the tube having reached the stopper portion. With this configuration, sliding resistance between the tube and the housing can be suppressed until the tube reaches the stopper portion. Furthermore, when the operating part is locked, it can be easily understood that the gap between the tube and the housing is sealed by the annular elastic body.

[0012] According to the present invention, a seal structure can be realized that suppresses sliding resistance when inserting components, thereby improving operability, and also improving durability compared to conventional structures. As a result, a pipe joint with excellent operability and durability can be realized.

[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a pipe joint according to this embodiment, viewed from diagonally above. Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the pipe joint shown in Figure 1, viewed from diagonally below. Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the pipe joint shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a schematic front view of the pipe joint shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 is a schematic unfolded view of the pipe joint shown in Figure 1. Figure 6 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the pipe joint shown in Figure 1. Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state in which the tube inserted into the pipe joint shown in Figure 1 is in contact with the rotating part. Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the arrangement configuration of the annular elastic body in the state shown in Figure 7. Figure 9 is a structural diagram showing the cross-section of the state shown in Figure 7 viewed at an angle. Figure 10 shows the state in which the rotating part is rotated by the pressure of the tube, following the state shown in Figure 7. Figure 11 shows the state in which the operating part is locked, following the state shown in Figure 10. Figure 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the arrangement configuration of the annular elastic body in the state shown in Figure 11.

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is a pipe joint 1 with a configuration suitable for connecting piping in semiconductor-related equipment and various facilities in clean rooms. In all the drawings used to explain the embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for members having the same function, and repeated descriptions of such members may be omitted.

[0015] Figures 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views showing an example of a pipe fitting 1 according to this embodiment. The housing 2 is an integral structure having a bottom portion 2d, a hexagonal portion 2e, and a housing portion 2f. The bottom portion 2d has a male screw formed thereon that can be connected to equipment. The hexagonal portion 2e is hexagonal in shape that can be supported by a tool such as a spanner or wrench. As an example, when connecting piping in various manufacturing equipment or equipment, the bottom portion 2d of the pipe fitting 1 is attached to the input side of the device and used.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the pipe fitting 1 includes a cylindrical housing 2 through which fluid passes. The housing 2 includes a receiving portion 3, an annular elastic body 4 and a C-ring 8 assembled to the receiving portion 3 and movable along the axis P1, and a gripping portion 5, an operating portion 6, and a rotating portion 7 that are movable along the axis P1 together with the receiving portion 3. Here, in order to make it easier to explain the positional relationship of each part of the pipe fitting 1, the directions are indicated by X, Y, and Z arrows in the figures. When actually using the pipe fitting 1, it is not limited to these directions and can be used in any direction without any problems.

[0017] The annular elastic body 4 is made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), elastic rubber, or a composite material thereof. The annular elastic body 4 is an annular squeeze packing and an X-ring. The annular elastic body 4 preferably has four lips, but is not limited to this, and can also have two or three lips. In addition, the annular elastic body 4 may have through holes formed at positions parallel to the axis P1.

[0018] The C-ring 8 is a metal spring made of stainless steel, a copper alloy, or steel. There may be one or more C-rings 8.

[0019] The housing 2, receiving part 3, rotating part 7, gripping part 5, and operating part 6 are made of various resin materials. This configuration suppresses the generation of metal powder and allows for weight reduction. These components can also be made of metal materials depending on the application.

[0020] Tube T1 is an insertable component inserted from the outside, through which fluid passes. Housing 2 has a through-hole 11a through which fluid passes in the direction of axis P1 via tube T1. Housing 2 also has a pair of windows 2c formed at rotationally symmetrical positions with respect to axis P1. For example, the windows 2c are cross-shaped. However, the windows 2c can also be square-shaped or T-shaped.

[0021] The housing 2 has a first step 11 and a second step 12 formed inside. The rotating part 7 has a stopper portion 7d formed inside. The stopper portion 7d is the part where the end of the tube T1 makes contact. The first step 11 is formed at a position corresponding to the stopper portion 7d of the tube T1. In other words, the first step 11 corresponds to the tube end S1 of the rotating part 7, which is the position where the tube T1 is pushed in and sealed when it abuts against the stopper portion 7d. The second step 12 corresponds to the initial position Q1 of the rotating part 7.

[0022] The operating section 6 has a pair of guide sections 6a and a pair of movable handles 6b. The pair of guide sections 6a and the pair of movable handles 6b are arranged to surround the tube T1 inserted from the outside. The operating section 6 also has a base 6c on which the pair of guide sections 6a and the pair of movable handles 6b are arranged, and a projection 6e that protrudes from the base 6c in a direction toward the annular elastic body 4 along the axis P1. The projection 6e has a tapered shape on the inside.

[0023] The annular elastic body 4 has a shape with lips protruding in four directions and is an X-ring. When the tube T1 is pushed in, the operating part 6 moves in the thrust direction and the protruding part 6e comes into contact with the lips of the annular elastic body 4. When the tube T1 is pushed in further, the annular elastic body 4 deforms in the radial direction. As the annular elastic body 4 deforms in the radial direction, the gap between the outside of the tube T1 and the inside of the housing is sealed.

[0024] The gripping section 5 has a base 5a and a plurality of arm sections 5b erected on the base 5a at predetermined pitches around the axis P1. Each arm section 5b has a claw 5c protruding toward the axis P1. The number of arm sections 5b is between 4 and 12, preferably between 6 and 8. The arm sections 5b surround the outer circumference of the tube T1 at multiple points and act as a cantilever. When the operating section 6 is pulled up, the pressing state of the annular elastic body 4 is released. In other words, the locking state of the claws 5c is released by the restoring force of the arm sections 5b, and the annular elastic body 4 returns to a state where it does not press against the tube T1.

[0025] The gripping portion 5 has a pair of first projections 5d formed in a position that is rotationally symmetric with respect to the axis P1. The first projections 5d are movable along the axis P1 and can engage with the window portion 2c. The movable handle 6b has a pair of second projections 6d formed in a position that is rotationally symmetric with respect to the axis P1. When the tube T1 reaches the tube end S1 while abutting against the abutment portion 7d, the tube T1 is locked in place. In this locked state, pushing the operating portion 6 further causes the second projections 6d to engage with the window portion 2c, locking the operating portion 6. The user can easily understand that the tube T1 is locked and that the gap between the outside of the tube T1 and the inside of the housing 2 is sealed by the annular elastic body 4.

[0026] The movable handle 6b is positioned so that its end on the entrance side moves toward the axis P1. For example, when a user grasps the movable handle 6b and moves it toward the axis P1, the second projection 6d detaches from the window portion 2c. With the second projection 6d detached from the window portion 2c, the operating section 6 can be pulled out from the housing 2.

[0027] Figure 5 is a schematic unfolded view of the pipe joint 1. The pipe joint 1 has multiple components housed in a housing 2, with a rotating part 7, a C-ring 8, a receiving part 3, an annular elastic body 4, a gripping part 5, and an operating part 6 attached to the housing 2. The rotating part 7 has an axially symmetrical ring part 7c. The receiving part 3 has a pair of first inclined parts 3b formed thereon. The ring part 7c has second inclined parts 7b formed thereon, each corresponding to the first inclined parts 3b.

[0028] Figure 6 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the pipe fitting 1. The area enclosed by the dashed line in the figure indicates the seal structure 10. When the tube T1, which is an insertable component, is not inserted, the bottom surface of the rotating part 7 is in the initial position Q1. The operating part 6 is attached to the housing 2 and is movable in the thrust direction within a predetermined range. The annular elastic body 4 is sandwiched between the operating part 6 and the receiving part 3 and moves together with the operating part 6.

[0029] Next, the installation procedure for attaching tube T1 to pipe fitting 1 will be explained below using the examples shown in Figures 7 to 12.

[0030] Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state in which the tube T1 is inserted into the pipe fitting 1 and in contact with the rotating part 7. Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the seal structure 10 in the state shown in Figure 7. Figure 9 is a structural view of the cross-section in the state shown in Figure 7, viewed at an angle.

[0031] As shown in Figure 8, the tube T1 is inserted into the pipe fitting 1 and in contact with the rotating part 7. However, when the tube T1 is not locked, there is a gap between the inside of the housing 2 and the annular elastic body 4, and a gap between the outside of the tube T1 and the annular elastic body 4.

[0032] As shown in Figure 9, a protrusion 2a is formed on the first step 11 of the housing 2 at a position parallel to the axis P1. A recess 7a is formed on the lower side of the rotating part 7 at a position that can engage with the protrusion 2a. The rotating part 7 is movable in the direction of the axis P1 together with the receiving part 3.

[0033] As shown in Figure 10, the tube T1 is pushed into the rotating part 7 and the rotating part 7 is rotated, causing the protrusion 2a to be inserted into the recess 7a, and the tube T1 is locked in place by pushing the tube T1 while the protrusion 2a is inserted into the recess 7a. In this example, the rotating part 7 rotates around the axis P1 by pushing the tube T1 against the restoring force of the C-ring 8 and sliding the second inclined part 7b against the first inclined part 3b. In other words, by pushing the tube T1 and sliding the second inclined part 7b against the first inclined part 3b, the C-ring 8 contracts radially and the rotating part 7 rotates in the positive direction.

[0034] As shown in Figure 11, when the tube T1 reaches the abutment 7d and then the tube end S1, the claw 5c locks onto the tube T1. Also, when the tube T1 reaches the tube end S1, pressing the operating part 6 locks the operating part 6, maintaining the locked state of the tube T1.

[0035] According to this embodiment, a pipe joint 1 having a seal structure 10 that improves operability and durability compared to conventional structures can be realized.

[0036] In the above-described pipe fitting 1, the configuration in which the bottom 2d of the housing 2 is attached to the input side of the device was used as an example, but the invention is not limited to this example. This embodiment can be configured to allow branching of the main piping. This embodiment can also be applied to valves.

Claims

1. A sealing structure comprising a housing having a first step formed thereon corresponding to the abutment portion of an insertable component, an operating portion attached to the housing and movable in the thrust direction, a receiving portion built into the housing, and an annular elastic body sandwiched between the operating portion and the receiving portion and movable together with the operating portion, wherein the gap between the outside of the insertable component and the inside of the housing is sealed by the deformed annular elastic body when the operating portion is moved in the thrust direction and the annular elastic body is deformed in the radial direction.

2. The seal structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the insert component is a tube and the annular elastic body is an X-ring.

3. The seal structure according to claim 1, comprising a rotating part built into the housing and having the abutment portion, wherein the insertion part is a tube, the annular elastic body maintains a state in which it does not press against the tube when the rotating part has not reached the first step, and the annular elastic body seals the gap when the operating part is locked with the tube having reached the abutment portion.

4. A pipe fitting having the sealing structure described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

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