Pipe joints or couplings – Essential catch – With manipulator
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-22
2003-05-06
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3679)
Pipe joints or couplings
Essential catch
With manipulator
C285S319000, C285S307000, C251S149600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06557904
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tube joint. Specifically, the present invention relates to a tube joint functioning as protecting a joining portion of the tube joint from an external force.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in
FIG. 6
, a conventional tube joint generally comprises a tubular first tube joint member
300
, a tubular second tube joint member
302
which is joined to the first tube joint member
300
, a sleeve
304
which is attached to a joining portion of the first and second tube joint members
300
,
302
and which functions to join and release the first and second tube joint members
300
,
302
, a compressive coil spring
306
which urges the sleeve
304
in the direction to join the first and second tube joint members
300
,
302
to one another, and a plurality of ball members
308
which function to engage the first and second tube joint members
300
,
302
with each other.
The first tube joint member
300
comprises a cylindrical member
312
which has its front to be inserted into the sleeve
304
and its rear formed with a female thread
310
, and a cylindrical joining member
314
to be screwed into the female thread
310
of the cylindrical member
312
. An accommodating space
318
for accommodating a valve plug
316
is formed at a front of the joining member
314
. A closing plate
324
having a slit
322
for inserting a part of the valve plug
316
therethrough is installed between the cylindrical member
312
and the joining member
314
. A compressive coil spring
328
is inserted into the accommodating space
318
in order that the valve plug
316
is constantly urged in the direction toward the closing plate
324
to close the slit
322
with a flange
326
of the valve plug
316
.
The sleeve
304
is installed so that its end surface
304
a
can be flushed with an end surface
312
a
of the cylindrical member
312
of the first tube joint member
300
. The sleeve
304
is always resiliently urged by the compressive coil spring
306
in the direction to make separation from the first tube joint member
300
toward the second tube joint member
302
. However, the sleeve
304
is prevented from disengaging from the first tube joint member
300
by a ring-shaped stopper member
330
installed near the end surface
312
a
of the cylindrical member
312
.
The cylindrical member
312
of the first tube joint member
300
has a plurality of holes
332
which are formed at positions of equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical member
312
at a front end of the cylindrical member
312
(portion to overlap the second tube joint member
302
). Each of the holes
332
has a diameter which is gradually reduced in the direction toward the central axis of the cylindrical member
312
, and each of the ball members
308
is inserted into each of the holes
332
. A part of the ball member
308
is inserted into and engaged with an annular groove
334
formed on the surface of the second tube joint member
302
when the second tube joint member
302
is inserted into the hollow of the cylindrical member
312
.
FIG. 6
shows only two of the holes
332
and the ball members
308
respectively.
Usually, the ball members
308
are pressed by the sleeve
304
in the direction toward the central axis of the cylindrical member
312
. However, the ball members
308
are released from the pressing action of the sleeve
304
when an external force is applied to the sleeve
304
to move the sleeve
304
toward the joining member
314
in the axial direction of the tube joint member
300
. At this time, the flange
326
of the valve plug
316
abuts against the closing plate
324
by being urged by the compressive coil spring
328
to close the slit
322
. The valve plug
316
is thus closed.
Thereafter, when the second tube joint member
302
is inserted into the hollow of the cylindrical member
312
of the first tube joint member
300
, the valve plug
316
is moved rearwardly against the urging action of the compressive coil spring
328
by the end surface of the second tube joint member
302
. The valve plug
316
is thus opened.
When the external force having been applied to the sleeve
304
is eliminated, the sleeve
304
is resiliently urged by the resilient restoration of the compressive coil spring
306
, and the sleeve
304
is restored to the position where the end surface
304
a
of the sleeve
304
is flushed with the end surface
312
a
of the cylindrical member
312
.
Then, the ball members
308
are pressed again by the sleeve
304
in the direction toward the central axis of the cylindrical member
312
. As a result, the ball members
308
are engaged with the annular groove
334
provided on the second tube joint member
302
.
As a result of the engagement of the ball members
308
, it is impossible for the second tube joint member
302
to disengage from the first tube joint member
300
. The first and second tube joint members
300
,
302
are firmly joined to one another.
The sleeve
304
may be deformed if an impact force is applied to the sleeve
304
of the above tube joint. Specifically, the sleeve
304
tends to be deformed if it has a thin-walled structure.
If the sleeve
304
is thus deformed, it is impossible for the sleeve
304
to move in the axial direction of the first tube joint member
300
. It is consequently impossible to join or disengage from the second tube joint member
302
.
Specifically, the sleeve
304
has a thin-walled structure to reduce the weight of the conventional tube joint in some cases. The thin-walled sleeve
304
may be deformed if it receives the external impact force. For example, the portion near the end surface
304
a
of the sleeve
304
and the other end section
304
b
thereof may highly possibly receive the impact force.
The impact force referred to herein is an excessive force which is not caused insofar as the sleeve
304
is usually handled. The impact force is different from the external force to move the sleeve
304
as described above. Specifically, it is possible to assume the impact force caused if the sleeve
304
is struck by a tool or the like or caused if the sleeve
304
falls to the ground or the floor.
If the sleeve
304
is deformed by the impact force, it is impossible for the sleeve
304
to move in the axial direction of the first tube joint member
300
. It is further impossible for the ball members
308
to engage with or to be inserted into the groove
334
. Not only the sleeve
304
but also the ball members
308
and the compressive coil spring
306
may be deformed.
Accordingly, the first tube joint member
300
and the second tube joint member
302
cannot be correctly joined to or disengaged from each other.
The sleeve
304
may have a thick-walled structure to prevent the above problem from occurring. However, in this case, it is not preferable that the weight of the entire tube joint may increase.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tube joint which has a light weight and which is not broken and deformed even by an impact force caused if the tube joint falls to the ground or the floor.
The present invention provides a tube joint comprising a first tube joint member; a second tube joint member joined to the first tube joint member; a sleeve member attached to a joining portion of the first and second tube joint members, for joining and releasing the first and second tube joint members; a resilient member for urging the sleeve member in the direction to join the first and second tube joint members to one another; and a protecting member for protecting at least the sleeve member.
According to the present invention, it is possible to protect the sleeve member from the impact force caused if the tube joint member falls to the ground or the floor.
Stated otherwise, according to the tube joint of the present invention, it is possible to protect the joining portion of the tube joint from the impact force by the first and second protecting members and
Browne Lynne H.
Collins Giovanni
Guss Paul A.
SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
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