Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 and the Paris Convention Treaty, this application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201110243315.5 filed Aug. 23, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a connecting device, and more particularly to a pipe connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
To make a high quality of connection between two or more pipes, the firmness and sealing quality of the connection between a pipe and a pipe connector should be ensured. The firmness and the quality of sealing are determined by the connection mode between a pipe and a pipe connector. If components used for connection do not fit each other, or some incorrect components are involved, the connection may become loosen or even cause separation of a pipe from a pipe connector once the pipe gets pressurized (for example, the pipe is injected with water).
In the prior art, to improve the firmness and the sealing quality between a pipe and a pipe connector, a transforming pipe connector for gas tube has been introduced. The transforming pipe connector for gas tube includes a connector body and a locking cap. One end of the connector body connects with a metallic pipe, and the other end thereof is connected to the internal wall of a plastic pipe. The locking cap is mounted on the external wall of the plastic pipe, and a screw thread is disposed on the internal wall of the locking cap for forming a threaded connection with the external wall of the connector body. A conical surface is disposed on the internal wall of the other end of the locking cap. A plurality of teeth is circularly disposed on the external wall of the end of the connector body for connecting with a plastic pipe. Furthermore, a compression ring is disposed between the external wall of the plastic pipe and the locking cap for forming a compression on the external wall of the plastic pipe. The compression ring is preferably a C-shaped ring. When the locking cap is screwed in the direction of pipe insertion, the conical surface may provide a gradually increasing compression on the C-shaped ring with the reducing of the internal diameter of the contacting position, thereby compressing the C-shaped ring on the external wall of the plastic pipe.
As the component for compressing the external wall of the pipe is a C-shaped ring, and the C-shaped ring is designed separately with the connector body, it may cause incorrect assembly when some components with similar size are manufactured but do not actually fit each other. The incorrect assembly is not easily found during the process of assembling. Thus, the pipe may be loosen in the pipe connector and thus cause a serious sealing problem, or get separated from the pipe connector to cause connection failure when the pipe is injected with water and get pressurized. Furthermore, additional components used for assembly may make the assembling complicated and increases the use of raw material and the cost of production.
In view of the above-described problems, it is one objective of the invention to provide a pipe connector that can effectively avoid the incorrect assembly, and have a firm connection.
To achieve the above objective, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a pipe connector comprising:
In a class of this embodiment, the pipe connector further comprises an O-shaped sealing ring disposed in the passage of the connector body for forming a sealed connection with the external wall of the pipe and with the internal wall of the passage, respectively.
In a class of this embodiment, the pipe connector further comprises a positioning member for preventing the exit of the O-shaped sealing ring from the connector body.
In a class of this embodiment, the flexible pieces are tapers integrally cast with the connector body; the radial thickness of the tapers increases in the direction of pipe insertion; and a plurality of teeth are disposed on the internal wall of the taper for contacting with the pipe.
In a class of this embodiment, the first stopping member is a convex member circumferentially disposed on the external wall of the connector body or the flexible pieces, the second stopping member is a first bulge circumferentially disposed on the internal wall of the locking cap, and the first convex member coordinates with the first bulge to prevent the separation of the locking cap from the connector body.
In a class of this embodiment, the first stopping member is a first screw thread circumferentially disposed on the external wall of the connector body or the flexible pieces, the second stopping member is a second screw thread circumferentially disposed on the conical surface of the locking cap, and the first screw thread coordinates with the second screw thread.
In a class of this embodiment, the tapers have a flat circumferential external wall.
In a class of this embodiment, the tapers comprises a flexible connection segment and a griping segment; the flexible connection segment is located at one end of each of the tapers for connecting with the connector body; the gripping segment is located at the other end of each of the tapers and opposite to the flexible connection segment, with a thickness thereof exceeding that of the flexible connection segment; and the convex member is disposed at the joint between the flexible connection segment and the griping segment.
In a class of this embodiment, the pipe connector further comprises a pipe fixing member disposed on the internal wall of one end of the locking cap for preliminarily fixing the pipe inserted into the locking cap.
In a class of this embodiment, the fixing member is a second bulge disposed on the internal wall of the locking cap.
In a class of this embodiment, both the first bulge and the second bulge are a circular structure, the internal diameter of the circular structure formed by the second bulge is smaller than or equal to the external diameter of the pipe, and the internal diameter formed by the second bulge is smaller than the internal diameter of any segment of the conical surface of the locking cap.
In a class of this embodiment, the internal diameter of the passage formed by the tapers at a releasing state is larger than the external diameter of the pipe, and the internal diameter of the passage formed by the tapers at a compression state is smaller than or equal to the external diameter of the pipe.
In a class of this embodiment, the tapers comprises a flexible connection segment and a griping segment; the flexible connection is located at one end of each of the tapers for connecting the tapers with the connector body; the griping segment is located at the other end of each of the tapers, with a thickness thereof exceeding that of the flexible connection segment; and the first screw thread is disposed on the gripping segment.
In a class of this embodiment, the pipe connector further comprises a pipe fixing member disposed on the second end of the locking cap for preliminarily fixing the pipe inserted into the locking cap.
In a class of this embodiment, the pipe fixing member is a third bulge disposed on the internal wall of the locking cap.
In a class of this embodiment, the third bulge is a circular structure, the internal diameter of the circular structure formed by the third bulge is smaller than or equal to the external diameter of the pipe, and the internal diameter formed by the third bulge is smaller than the internal diameter of any segment of the conical surface of the locking cap.
In a class of this embodiment, the internal diameter of the passage formed by the tapers at a releasing state is larger than the external diameter of the pipe, and the internal diameter of the passage formed by the tapers at a compression state is smaller than or equal to the external diameter of the pipe.
Advantages of the invention are summarized below:
Detailed description will be given below in conjunction with accompanying drawings:
In the drawings, the following reference numbers are used: 1—Pipe connector; 2—passage; 3—flexible piece, 4—locking cap; 5—conical surface; 6—second stopping member; 7—first stopping member; 8—positioning member; 9—flexible connection segment; 10—teeth; 11—O-shaped sealing ring; 12—second bulge; 13—pipe; 14—pipe stopping member; 15—gripping segment; E-direction of pipe insertion.
As shown in
The pipe connector further comprises a locking cap 4. The locking cap 4 has a first end close to the connector body and a second end opposite to the first end. A conical surface 5 is formed on the internal wall of the second end. The internal diameter of the conical surface 5 increases in the direction of pipe insertion E, and the conical surface 5 coordinates with the external wall of the flexible pieces 3 to lock the pipe.
The pipe connector further comprises a first stopping member 7. The first stopping member 7 is disposed on the external wall of the connector body 1 or the flexible pieces 3. In this embodiment, preferably, the first stopping member 7 is a first convex member circumferentially disposed on the external wall of the flexible pieces 3, and located at the connection point of the flexible connection segment and the gripping segment.
The pipe connector further comprises a second stopping member 6. The second stopping member 6 is disposed on the internal wall of the first end of the locking cap 4 for coordinating with the first stopping member 7 to prevent the separation of the locking cap 4 from the connector body 1. In this embodiment, preferably, the second stopping member 6 is a first bulge circumferentially disposed on the internal wall of the locking cap 4, and the first convex member coordinates with the first bulge to prevent the separation of the locking cap 4 from the connector body 1. Preferably, the first bulge is a circular structure.
The pipe connector further comprises a pipe fixing member 12. The pipe fixing member 12 is a second bulge disposed on the internal wall of one end of the locking cap, which is opposite to the first bulge for preliminarily fixing the pipe inserted into the locking cap 4. In this embodiment, the second bulge is preferably a circular structure. The internal diameter of the entrance formed by the second bulge is smaller than the internal diameter of any segment of the conical surface 5 of the locking cap 4, and the internal diameter of the circular structure formed by the second bulge is smaller than or equal to the external diameter of the pipe.
The pipe connector further comprises a positioning member 8. The positioning member 8 is disposed in the passage 2 of the connector body 1. In this embodiment, preferably, the position member 8 is a notch disposed on the internal wall of the connector body 1; and an O-Shaped sealing ring 11 is located in the notch for respectively forming a sealed connection with the external wall of the pipe, and a seal connection with the internal wall of the passage 2. The notch is designed for preventing the exit of the O-shaped sealing ring 11 from the connector body 1.
The pipe connector further comprises a pipe stopping member 14. The pipe stopping member 14 is disposed on the internal wall of the connector body 1 for preventing the pipe from being further inserted. Preferably, the pipe stopping member 14 is a second convex member disposed on the internal wall of the connector body 1. Preferably, the positioning member 8 is disposed between the pipe stopping member 14 and the flexible pieces 3.
Preferably, the internal diameter of the passage formed by the tapers at a releasing state is larger than the external diameter of the pipe, and the internal diameter of the passage formed by the tapers at a compression state is smaller than or equal to the external diameter of the pipe.
As shown in
As shown in
The pipe connector described in this embodiment is adapted to a metallic pipe or a soft pipe.
As shown in
The pipe connector further comprises a locking cap 4. The locking cap 4 has a first end close to the connector body and a second end opposite to the first end. A conical surface 5 is formed on the internal wall of the second end. As shown in
The pipe connector further comprises a first stopping member 7. The first stopping member 7 is disposed on the external wall of the connector body 1 or the flexible pieces 3. In this embodiment, preferably, the first stopping member is a first screw thread circumferentially disposed on the external wall of the flexible pieces 3.
The pipe connector further comprises a second stopping member 6. The second stopping member 6 is disposed on the internal wall of the first end of the locking cap 4 for coordinating with the first stopping member 7 to prevent the separation of the locking cap 4 from the connector body 1 or the flexible pieces 3. In this embodiment, preferably, the second stopping member 6 is a second screw thread circumferentially disposed on the conical surface of the locking cap 4, and coordinates with the first screw thread.
The pipe connector further comprises a pipe fixing member 12. The pipe fixing member 12 is disposed on the internal wall of one end of the locking cap 4, which is opposite to the end of the locking cap 4 connected with the first screw thread for preliminarily fixing the pipe inserted into the locking cap 4. In this embodiment, preferably, the pipe fixing member 12 is a third bulge disposed on the internal wall of the locking cap 4. The third bulge is a circular structure. The internal diameter of the circular structure formed by the third bulge is smaller than or equal to the external diameter of the pipe, and the internal diameter of the circular structure formed by the third bulge is smaller than the internal diameter of any segment of the conical surface 5 of the locking cap 4.
The pipe connector further comprises a positioning member 8. The positioning member 8 is disposed in the passage 2 of the connector body 1. In this embodiment, preferably, the position member 8 is a notch disposed on the internal wall of the connector body 1; and an O-Shaped sealing ring 11 is located in the notch for respectively forming a sealed connection with the external wall of the pipe, and a seal connection with the internal wall of the passage 2. The notch is designed for preventing the exit of the O-shaped sealing ring 11 from the connector body 1.
The pipe connector further comprises a pipe stopping member 14. The pipe stopping member 14 is disposed on the internal wall of the connector body 1 for preventing the pipe from being further inserted. Preferably, the pipe stopping member 14 is a second convex member disposed on the internal wall of the connector body 1. Preferably, the positioning member 8 is disposed between the pipe stopping member 14 and the flexible pieces 3.
The internal diameter of the passage formed by the tapers at a releasing state is larger than the external diameter of the pipe, and the internal diameter of the passage formed by the tapers at a compression state is smaller than or equal to the external diameter of the pipe.
As shown in
As shown in
The pipe connector described in this embodiment is adapted to a metallic pipe or a soft pipe.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201110243315.5 | Aug 2011 | CN | national |