Quick Connector
A quick connector includes a socket-shaped main body, and penetrating containing holes formed around the periphery of the main body for containing a first latch element for fixing an external tool connector. The first latch element is controlled by a first control element to fix or loosen the external tool connector. The main body includes aslant penetrating U-shaped slide grooves formed above the containing holes, and each slide groove includes a second latch element pushed by a spring that is sheathed on the periphery of the main body to displace the second latch element in the slide groove and in an axial direction of the main body. The second control element is disposed above the first control element, and the first and second control elements control the latch elements respectively to execute two-stage actions of removing the connector and prevent accidents caused by a possible shootout of the connector.
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The present invention relates to a quick connector, in particular to the two-stage quick connector that facilitates individual controls.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWith reference to
When it is necessary to remove the connector 6, the connector 6 may shoot out to cause accidents since high-pressure gas has not been released but still remains in the socket 5. Therefore, the conventional device generally has an insert slot 52 and an insert rod 53 disposed on the socket 5 and at positions above the ball 51, and the insert rod 53 can be driven to slide along the insert slot 52 when the control element 54 is operated to remove the connector 6. After the ball 51 leaves the circular groove 61 of the connector 6 during the process of removing the connector 6 from the socket 5 as shown in
Although the conventional structure involves the two-stage action including the actions for releasing the pressure first and then removing the connector 6, there is only one control element 54 provided for controlling the two-stage action, so that the two-stage actions do not have a clear cut point. In other words, even if the user presses the control element 54 without controlling the pressing force such as pressing the control element 54 without paying attention to the control of the force of pressing at a busy work, then the second-stage removal action may take place without completing the first-stage pressure releasing action. Now, there is still a risk of shooting out the connector 6 by the high-pressure gas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTherefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a quick connector having two control elements for controlling two actions of releasing the pressure and removing the connector respectively to achieve a safe operation.
To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention provides a quick connector, comprising:
a socket-shaped main body, with both ends having an opening formed thereon separately, and the opening at one of the ends being disposed on a side corresponding to an air inlet component for supplying a gas, and the other end opening being provided for connecting an external tool connector, and the main body having a plurality of penetrating containing holes formed around the periphery of the main body, and each containing hole containing a first latch element for fixing an external tool connector, and a portion of each first latch element being exposed from each respective containing hole; the main body having a plurality of aslant penetrating U-shaped slide grooves formed on the periphery of the opening and at positions closer to the external tool connector than each of the containing holes, and each slide groove having a second latch element passed into the slide groove, and each second latch element being pushed by a spring sheathed on the periphery of the main body to slide in the slide groove to produce a displacement along an axial direction of the main body;
a first control element, being in a socket form, and sheathed on the first latch element corresponding to the periphery of the main body, and the first control element having an inner peripheral surface, and a middle section of the inner peripheral surface forming an abutting surface normally abutting the first latch element, and the inner peripheral surface having formed a circular groove on the top of the abutting surface, such that when the first control element is moved downward, the first latch element is released from the abutting force of the abutting surface to enter into the circular groove; and
a second control element, being in a socket form, and sheathed on the second latch element corresponding to the periphery of the main body, and the second control element being disposed above the first control element, and having a pressing portion formed at the top of the second control element and abutted against the second latch element, such that when the second control element is pressed, the pressing portion controls the second latch element to displace in the slide groove along an axial direction of the main body.
With reference to
The main body 1 has a plurality of penetrating containing holes 14 formed around the periphery of the main body 1, and each containing hole 14 contains a first latch element 15 therein for fixing an external tool connector 4, and a portion of each first latch element 15 is protruded out of the containing hole 14 as shown in
With reference to
In
In addition, the main body 1 has a socket-shaped second control element 3 sheathed on the periphery of the main body 1 and corresponding to the position of the second latch element 17, wherein the second control element 3 is disposed above the first control element 2, and the second control element and the first control element 2 are separate control elements. The second control element 3 has a pressing portion 31 formed at the top of the second control element 3 and abutted at the second latch element 17, so that when the second control element 3 is pressed, the pressing portion 31 pushes the second latch element 17 to displace in the slide groove 16 and in an axial direction of the main body 1. Similarly, after the second latch element 17 is controlled and displaced by the second control element 3, the spring 18 pushes the second latch element 17 to restore its original position. In addition, the main body 1 has a stop portion 10 extended outwardly in an axial direction and corresponding to an end of the second control element 3, so that the second control element 3 can abut its pressing portion 31 against the stop portion 10 to prevent the second latch element 17 from falling out from the main body 1.
When the present invention with the aforementioned components is used as shown in
Claims
1. A quick connector, comprising:
- a socket-shaped main body, with both ends having an opening formed thereon separately, and the opening at one of the ends being disposed on a side corresponding to an air inlet component for supplying a gas, and the opening at the other end being provided for connecting an external tool connector, and the main body having a plurality of penetrating containing holes formed around the periphery of the main body, and each containing hole containing a first latch element for fixing an external tool connector, and a portion of each first latch element being exposed from each respective containing hole; the main body having a plurality of aslant penetrating U-shaped slide grooves formed on the periphery of the opening and at positions closer to the external tool connector than each of the containing holes, and each slide groove having a second latch element passed into the slide groove, and each second latch element being pushed by a spring sheathed on the periphery of the main body to slide in the slide groove to produce a displacement along an axial direction of the main body;
- a first control element, being in a socket form, and sheathed on the first latch element corresponding to the periphery of the main body, and the first control element having an inner peripheral surface, and a middle section of the inner peripheral surface forming an abutting surface normally abutting the first latch element, and the inner peripheral surface having formed a circular groove on the top of the abutting surface, such that when the first control element is moved downward, the first latch element is released from the abutting force of the abutting surface to enter into the circular groove; and
- a second control element, being in a socket form, and sheathed on the second latch element corresponding to the periphery of the main body, and the second control element being disposed above the first control element, and having a pressing portion formed at the top of the second control element and abutted against the second latch element, such that when the second control element is pressed, the pressing portion controls the second latch element to displace in the slide groove along an axial direction of the main body.
2. The quick connector of claim 1, wherein the main body includes a position restoring spring installed on the periphery of the main body and sheathed on the bottom of the first control element for resuming the first control element to its original position.
3. The quick connector of claim 2, wherein the main body includes a flange formed around the periphery of the main body and between the containing hole and the slide groove, and the flange having a containing groove concavely formed on a surface of the flange for containing a spring that abuts the second latch element, and the bottom of the flange having an inclination, and the bottom of the circular groove of the first control element corresponding to the inclination of the bottom of the flange, so that the first control element is abutted by the position restoring spring to press the bottom of the circular groove against the bottom of the flange, and the main body having a stop portion extended axially outward with respect to an end of the second control element for pressing the pressing portion of the second control element against the stop portion to prevent the second control element from being separated from the main body.
4. The quick connector of claim 1, wherein the slide groove includes a stop member formed on the main body and at a position of the opening.
5. The quick connector of claim 1, wherein the containing hole has a long axis perpendicular to an axial direction of the main body, and a long elliptic hole formed parallel to the axial direction of the main body, and the first latch element has a long ellipsoid matched with the containing hole.
6. The quick connector of claim 1, wherein the air inlet component includes an air inlet body fixed to the main body, and a valve module installed in the main body and the air inlet body.
7. The quick connector of claim 6, wherein the valve module includes a valve ring, a valve plug, a propping ring and a propping spring, and the valve ring is fixed between the main body and the air inlet body, and the valve plug is passed into the valve ring, and the valve plug has an O-ring installed at a position proximate to an end of the air inlet body and pressed against the valve ring to selectively open and close the valve ring, and the other end of the valve plug is pressed against an inner wall of the main body and has a plurality of guide holes, and the propping spring is installed between the valve ring and the valve plug, and the propping ring presses against the containing hole of the main body, so that when the propping ring is pressed and moved to press against the valve plug, the valve ring is open to let air flow through the guide hole.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 8, 2012
Publication Date: Feb 13, 2014
Applicant: SU BEI GUANG CORPORATION (Taichung City)
Inventor: Jen-Chih Chang (Taichung City)
Application Number: 13/569,579
International Classification: F16K 51/00 (20060101); F16L 37/08 (20060101);