Pipe joints or couplings – With indicator – alarm or inspection means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-14
2001-12-11
Dayoan, B. (Department: 3627)
Pipe joints or couplings
With indicator, alarm or inspection means
C285S004000, C285S120100, C285S148130, C285S305000, C285S325000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328344
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a pipe fitting for connecting a metal pipe or a resin tube, each having a relatively small diameter and used in automobiles, for example, and more particularly to such a pipe fitting provided with a checking member for checking normal fitting of the pipe or tube.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-18117 discloses a pipe fitting of the above-described type. The disclosed pipe fitting comprises a main body having an inner insertion hole and a checking member for checking that a pipe has been inserted into the body to thereby reach a normal depth. Whether the pipe has normally been fitted depends upon whether the checking member, which usually not allowed to be pulled out, is allowed to be pulled out as the result of the normal insertion of the pipe.
More specifically, the main body of the pipe fitting has an opening formed in a circumferential wall thereof. The checking member, having bifurcated legs, is inserted into the opening so that a projecting portion thereof confronts the interior of the insertion hole. When the pipe is inserted into the insertion hole to reach the normal depth, a flange-like bulging portion formed on an outer circumference of the pipe pushes the projecting portion of the checking member radially so that the legs of the checking member spread, whereby the checking member is released from the engagement with the main body.
In the above-described construction, however, the projecting portion of the checking member confronts the interior
5
of the insertion hole through the opening of the pipe fitting. Accordingly, the opening is exposed to the outside after the checking member is pulled out of it. Foreign matter such as dust easily enters the main body of the pipe fitting through the opening. This poses a problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pipe fitting which can effectively prevent foreign matter from entering the main body of the pipe fitting.
The present invention provides a pipe fitting into which a pipe, having a falling-off preventing flange bulging along an outer circumference near one end thereof, is inserted, thereby connecting the pipe. The pipe fitting comprises a main body having an insertion hole into which the pipe is inserted and a circumferential wall formed with a window communicating with the insertion hole. A pipe retainer is attached to the main body so as to be elastically deformable. The pipe retainer includes a falling-off preventing protrusion protruding through the window of the main body into the insertion hole. The falling-off preventing protrusion is pushed by the falling-off preventing flange of the pipe radially outward with respect to the main body during insertion of the pipe into the insertion hole so that the falling-off preventing flange is allowed to pass the falling-off preventing protrusion. The falling-off preventing protrusion is returned, by elasticity of the pipe retainer, to a position where the protrusion protrudes into the insertion hole, after the falling-off preventing flange has passed the falling-off preventing protrusion, thereby limiting movement of the falling-off preventing flange in a falling-off direction. A slider is provided in the insertion hole of the main body so as to be moved axially with respect to the main body. The slider includes a pressed portion which the falling-off preventing flange abuts so that the slider is axially thrust inward when the pipe is inserted into the insertion hole of the main body. A fitting checker includes a pair of spreadable legs having respective claws. The fitting checker is detachably attached to the main body so that the legs thereof hold the main body. The claws engage the body and/or the slider so that the fitting checker is not allowed to be detached from the body when the legs are closed. The legs are spread to release the claws from engagement with the body and/or the slider so that the fitting checker is allowed to be detached from the body. A plurality of releasing protrusions are formed to protrude from respective inside portions of the legs of the fitting checker. The releasing protrusions are pressed so that the legs are elastically deformed in respective spreading directions. A pressing portion is provided on the slider to press the releasing protrusions of the fitting checker to thereby spread the legs of the fitting checker when the pipe is inserted into the insertion hole to assume a normal fitting position so that the slider is displaced to a normal thrust position.
Before the pipe is inserted into the insertion hole of the main body, the pipe retainer is attached to the main body of the pipe so that the falling-off preventing protrusion protrudes through the window of the main body, confronting the interior of the main body. The slider is assembled into the main body with the pressed portion thereof inserted in the insertion hole. The fitting checker is attached to the main body and/or the slider with the legs thereof holding the main body. When the pipe is inserted into the insertion hole of the main body, the falling-off preventing flange presses the falling-off preventing protrusion outward so that the pipe retainer spreads. On the other hand, the pipe presses the pressed portion of the slider so that the overall slider is pushed into the insertion hole of the main body. When the pipe is further inserted into the main body to reach a normal depth, the falling-off preventing flange passes the falling-off preventing protrusion, so that the overall pipe retainer elastically returns to its former state. Consequently, the falling-off preventing flange engages the falling-off preventing protrusion such that the pipe is held so as to be prevented from falling off. Further, when the pipe reaches the normal depth, the pressing portion of the slider presses the disengaging protrusions of the fitting checker so that the legs of the latter spread. With the spreading of the legs, the fitting checker is released from the engagement with the main body such that it can be pulled out radially.
When the pipe is incompletely inserted into the insertion hole such that it does not reach the normal depth, the slider is also pushed into the insertion hole incompletely. As a result, the pressing portion of the slider cannot sufficiently spread the legs of the fitting checker, so that the fitting checker maintains the engaging state. Since the fitting checker cannot be pulled out of the main body, a workman understands that the pipe has been incompletely inserted into the main body.
Thus, whether the pipe has normally been inserted can be understood by determining whether the fitting checker can be pulled out. The fitting checker is attached to the main body of the pipe fitting from the outside without provision of the conventional opening. Consequently, a large opening is not left in the main body after confirmation of the normal insertion of the pipe and accordingly foreign matter such as dust can effectively be prevented from entering the main body of the pipe fitting.
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patent: 6-18117 (199
Harada Masatoshi
Tozaki Kenji
Dayoan B.
Lugo Carlos
Togo Seisakusyo Corporation
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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