US 12,270,498 B2
Tube coupling
Shigeyoshi Matsui, Osaka (JP); and Toshihiko Matsuda, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd., Osaka (JP)
Filed by Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd., Osaka (JP)
Filed on Nov. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/981,810.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-182621 (JP), filed on Nov. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0141879 A1, May 11, 2023
Int. Cl. F16L 37/084 (2006.01); F16L 37/24 (2006.01); F16L 37/248 (2006.01); F16L 37/34 (2006.01); F16L 37/36 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 37/0841 (2013.01) [F16L 37/248 (2013.01); F16L 37/34 (2013.01); F16L 37/24 (2013.01); F16L 37/36 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tube coupling configured to connect and couple two tubes that are configured to cause a fluid to flow inside the two tubes, the tube coupling comprising:
a male connector including a first pipe configured to cause the fluid to flow inside the first pipe, and an insertion part having a protruding shape, the insertion part protruding in an axial direction that is an insertion direction; and
a female connector including a second pipe configured to cause the fluid to flow inside the second pipe, and an insertion receiving part having a recessed shape, the insertion receiving part being recessed in the axial direction, the insertion receiving part being coupled to the insertion part when the insertion part is inserted into the insertion receiving part in the insertion direction, wherein
the insertion part includes:
a first spring,
a first pressing member having a protruding shape, the first pressing member protruding in the axial direction, the first pressing member being biased in the axial direction by the first spring when the male connector is not inserted into the female connector,
a first seal member having an annular shape, the first seal member being disposed around the first pressing member, and
a first outer peripheral member supporting the first spring in the axial direction, the first outer peripheral member being spaced from the first pressing member and surrounding the first pressing member,
when the first pressing member is biased by the first spring, the first outer peripheral member is caused to abut on the first seal member, and a flow path between the first pipe and the second pipe is closed, and
when the first spring is compressed, the first outer peripheral member is separated from the first seal member, and the flow path is opened,
the insertion receiving part includes:
a second spring,
a second outer peripheral member,
a second pressing member having a protruding shape, the second pressing member protruding in the axial direction, the second outer peripheral member being biased outward in the axial direction by the second spring when the male connector is not inserted into the female connector, the second pressing member being caused to abut on the first pressing member when the male connector is inserted into the female connector, and
a second seal member having an annular shape, the second seal member being disposed around the second pressing member, wherein
when the second outer peripheral member is biased by the second spring, the second outer peripheral member is caused to abut on the second seal member, and the flow path is closed,
when the second outer peripheral member is not biased by the second spring, the second outer peripheral member is separated from the second seal member, and the flow path is opened,
when the first spring biases the first pressing member and the second spring biases the second outer peripheral member, the first outer peripheral member is caused to abut on the first seal member and the second outer peripheral member is caused to abut on the second seal member, and the flow path is brought into a closed state,
when the male connector is inserted into the female connector and the first spring and the second spring are compressed, the first outer peripheral member is separated from the first seal member and the second outer peripheral member is separated from the second seal member, and the flow path is brought into an open state,
the second seal member has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the first seal member,
the first outer peripheral member has a first taper in which an inner diameter of the first outer peripheral member tapers in the insertion direction,
the first outer peripheral member has a second taper in which an inner diameter of the first outer peripheral member tapers in the insertion direction, the second taper being inward of the first taper with respect to the insertion direction,
the second taper abuts on the first seal member in the closed state, and
the second taper is tapered at a greater angle relative to the insertion direction than the first taper.