US 11,892,109 B2
Quick connector
Ryousuke Kanegae, Aichi (JP); Yorihiro Takimoto, Aichi (JP); and Yoshitsugu Imanishi, Aichi (JP)
Assigned to Sumitomo Riko Company Limited, Aichi (JP)
Filed by Sumitomo Riko Company Limited, Aichi (JP)
Filed on Oct. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/496,792.
Application 17/496,792 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/021514, filed on Jun. 1, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-112545 (JP), filed on Jun. 18, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0026003 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. F16L 37/12 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 37/1225 (2013.01) 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A quick connector comprising:
a connector main body into which a pipe with an annular protrusion is able to be inserted, wherein the pipe is inserted into the quick connector along an axial direction of the pipe; and
a retainer which is formed separately from the connector main body, is disposed in the connector main body by being inserted into the connector main body in a prescribed direction intersecting the axial direction of the pipe and to be movable from a standard position in the prescribed direction intersecting the axial direction of the pipe, and prevents the pipe from being removed by locking the pipe in the axial direction of the pipe with respect to the annular protrusion in a state in which the pipe is inserted at a normal position of the connector main body, wherein the standard position is a position at which the retainer is mounted in the connector main body and the pipe is not inserted, and the normal position is a position at which the pipe is inserted and locked to the annular protrusion in the axial direction of the pipe while the retainer is located at the standard position,
wherein the retainer includes a base part, and a pair of first leg parts which is provided on the base part to be expandable and deformable so that the annular protrusion is allowed to pass therethrough in an expanded and deformed state, and is locked to the annular protrusion in the axial direction of the pipe in a state in which the retainer is located at the standard position and does not expand,
the first leg part further includes a tapered surface which is formed on a surface on which the pipe is inserted and is allowed to come into contact with the annular protrusion when the pipe is inserted into the connector main body, and a locking surface which is formed on a surface opposite to a side on which the pipe is inserted and is locked to the annular protrusion,
the connector main body further includes a first guide which is allowed to come into contact with the first leg part and expands and deforms the first leg part by moving the retainer further inward into the connector main body,
when the pipe is inserted into the connector main body, the first leg part is expanded and deformed by a pressing force on the tapered surface in the axial direction of the pipe by the annular protrusion, and the annular protrusion of the pipe is allowed to pass through the first leg part in an insertion direction by expansion and deformation of the first leg part, and
when the pipe is released from the normal position of the connector main body, the first leg part comes into contact with the first guide to be expanded and deformed by operating the retainer to move from the standard position further inward into the connector main body, and the annular protrusion of the pipe is allowed to pass through the first leg part in a release direction by expansion and deformation of the first leg part.