Socket and plug attachment mechanism for tube joint

• US 6,681,803 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Naito, Keiichirou, Taneya, Yoshimoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US10/115,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20020148514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 137/614.03, 137/614.04, 137/614.05, 251/149.6
• US Class Current: 137/614.03
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/23 by means of balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/34 at least one of the lift valves being of the sleeve type, i.e. a sleeve is telescoped over an inner cylindrical wall
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87949 Linear motion of flow path sections operates both

Abstract

An O-ring is disposed on a front end surface of an abutted collar to prevent a fluid from leaking out of a flow passage when a socket and a plug of a tube joint is coupled to one another. A check valve of each of the socket and the plug, which prevents an outflow of the fluid when the socket and the plug are disengaged from each other, comprises the cylindrical collar (plug body) and a valve element. The valve element is disposed toward an inner diameter of the collar. The valve element has an O-ring disposed on the outer circumference of a columnar section coaxial with the collar.

Claims

1. A tube joint for a fluid, comprising a socket and a plug which is connected to and disengaged from said socket, wherein said socket comprises:

an outflow-preventive valve for closing a passage for said fluid with a cylindrical valve body which is coaxial with said socket and a valve element which is disposed in said valve body when said socket and said plug are disengaged from each other, said valve body being displaceable with respect to said socket,

wherein a first seal is provided for sealing said socket and said plug before said valve body and said valve element are relatively moved when said socket and said plug are connected with each other, and

wherein said valve body of said socket comprises an inner circumferential surface and a tapered surface having a gradually increasing diameter in a direction away from said inner circumferential surface, and wherein said first seal is disposed on one of an inner circumferential annular groove formed in said inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential annular groove formed on a valve body of said plug.

2. The tube joint according to claim 1, wherein a valve body of said plug and said valve body of said socket contact each other, and a valve element of said plug and said valve element of said socket contact each other, thereby preventing said fluid from externally leaking when said socket and said plug are disengaged from each other and said outflow-preventive valve closes said passage for said fluid.

3. The tube joint according to claim 1, wherein one of said socket and said plug includes a detachable mechanism for said socket and said plug to be coupled to and disengaged from each other.

4. The tube joint according to claim 1,

wherein said valve element has a second seal on an outer circumference of a front end columnar section thereof, and

wherein said second seal is interposed by an inner circumferential surface of said valve body and an outer circumferential surface of said valve element, thereby preventing said fluid from externally flowing when said socket and said plug are not coupled to one another.

5. The tube joint according to claim 1, wherein said valve element has one of a projection and a recess, for adjusting an axial center of said socket with respect to said plug, being formed on an end surface of said valve element, said end surface being coupled to said plug.

6. The tube joint according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cylindrical groove which is open rearward between an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface of said valve body,

wherein one end of an elastic member for urging said valve body in an axial direction of said socket or said plug is inserted into said cylindrical groove.

7. The tube joint according to claim 1,

wherein each of said socket and said plug has a rear end joint section at each rear end thereof, said rear end joint section being connected with another tube joint, and

wherein a first connecting section for connecting a main body of said socket to said rear end joint section has the same shape as the shape of a second connecting section for connecting a main body of said plug to said rear end joint section.

8. The tube joint according to claim 1,

wherein each of said socket and said plug has a rear end joint section at each rear end thereof, said rear end joint section being connected with another tube joint, and

wherein said rear end joint section has a hexagonal cross section which is perpendicular to an axial center.