A tube joint

Abstract: In the tube joint of the present invention, an inner section (36) of a collet (34) is divided into a plurality of engage pieces (38), each of which has a nail section (46) capable of biting the tube (42). An inner tapered face section (40) is formed on an inner wall of a joint proper (10). Diameter of the inner tapered face section (40) is made greater toward an inner part. The inner tapered face section (40) is capable of reducing diameter of the engage pieces (38) when the collet (34) is pulled outward. An elastic ring (64) is capable of moving outward with rising fluid pressure in the joint proper (10). A tapered ring (54) is capable of bending the engage pieces (38) radially outward when the collet (34) is pushed axially inward and bending the same radially inward when the collet (34) is pulled axially outward.

Description: The present invention relates to a tube joint, more precisely relates to a tube joint comprising a joint proper, a collet having engage pieces, each of which has a nail section capable of biting a tube, and an elastic ring capable of sealing a space between the joint proper and the tube. Many types of tube joints for connecting tubes have been provided. One of conventional tube joints is shown in Fig. 6. A joint proper 80 has a connecting mouth into which a tube 42 will be inserted. A ring collet 82 is inserted in the connecting mouth of the joint proper 80. The collet 82 is capable of moving in the axial direction. The collet 82 is basically formed into a cylindrical shape into which the tube 42 can be inserted. An inner part of the collet 82 is divided into a plurality of engage pieces 86 in the circumferential direction. There is provided a nail section 84 on an inner face of each engage piece 86. The collet 82 has a tapered face 88 whose diameter is made greater toward an inner part. The tapered face 88 is capable of contacting an inner wall of the joint proper 80. With the tapered face 88, when the collet 82 is pulled axially outward or toward the connecting mouth of the joint proper 10, front end sections of the engage pieces 86 are bent radially inward with the movement of the collet 82, so that the nail sections 84 bite an outer circumferential face of the tube 42, which has been inserted in the collet 82 and the joint proper 80. There are bored through-holes 90, which correspond to the front ends of the engage pieces 86 and which are made long in the axial direction of the collet 82, in the joint proper 80. There are formed projected sections 94 on each engage piece 86. Each projected section 94 is fitted in each through-hole 90. When the collet 82 is pushed axially inward so as to make the nail sections 84 release the tube 42 and to pull out the tube 42 from the joint proper 80, the projected sections 94 are bent radially outward by inner projected sections 92 of the through-holes 90, so that the engage pieces 86 are also bent radially outward. Engage steps 96 are also formed in each engage piece 86. The engaging steps 96 are capable of engaging with each inner face 90a of the through-hole 90, so that the movement of the collet 82 can be limited. By limiting the movement of the collet 82, the collet 82 can be kept in the joint proper 80. Note that, a screw section 98 is formed on the left side of the joint proper 80 so as to connect the joint proper 80 with an external unit, e.g., a pressurizing unit. An elastic ring 99 is made of rubber. The elastic ring 99 is tightly fitted the outer circumferential face of the tube 42 and the inner face of the joint proper 80 so as to prevent a fluid leakage from a space therebetween. In the conventional tube joint, the tube 42 is held in the joint proper 80 by the steps of: inserting the tube 42 into the joint proper 80; and pulling the tube 42 axially outw ard together with the collet 82. By pulling the tube 42 outward, the nail sections 84 bite the outer face of the tube 42, so that the tube 42 is held in the joint proper 80. Note that, when fluid pressure in the joint proper 80 is increased, the elastic ring 99 is pushed axially outward by the fluid pressure, so that the elastic ring 99 too pushes the collet 82 axially outward. On the other hand, the engage pieces 86 can be bent radially outward by pushing the collet 82 axially inward, so that the tube can be released from the nail sections 84 and it can be pulled out from the joint proper 80. However, in the conventional tube joint, structures of the joint proper 80 and the collet 82 are complex. Thus, in the case of making the tube joint by resin molding, structures of dies for molding must be complex, and it is difficult to make the dies. Further, with the complex structures, drawing and cutting metal material, e.g., stainless steel, to make the tube joint is substantially impossible. The axial movement of the collet 82 outward is limited by engaging the engage steps 96 with the inner faces 90a of the through-holes 90, but the engage pieces 86 are free, so that the nail sections 84 bite the tube 42 too much in some cases. If the nail sections 84 deeply bite the tube 42, the tube 42 is deformed axially inward, so that fluid leakage is caused and flow resistance in the tube 42 is increased. Further, if the tube 42 is deformed too much, the tube 42 drew easily together with the collet 82. US specification No. 2,458,874 discloses a tube joint which includes a collet having a tapered outer surface which co-operates with a correspondingly-tapered surface on a nut to grip a tube when the tube is pulled outwardly of the joint, the collet further co-operating with a tapered surface on a fixed camming ring within the joint whereby, on movement of the collet inwardly of the joint, the gripping effect on the tube is released. It would be desirable to be able to provide a tube joint which is capable of properly limiting the degree of biting a tube. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tube joint comprising a joint proper into which a tube can be inserted, a substantially cylindrical collet one end section of which is inserted into said joint proper as an inner section, said collet being movable axially of the joint, the inner section of said collet being divided into a plurality of circumferentially-spaced engage pieces, each engage piece having a nail section capable of biting an outer face of said tube when said tube is inserted through said collet, and a resilient sealing ring within said joint proper, said ring being capable of sealing a space between an inner face of said joint proper and the outer face of said tube when said tube is inserted in said joint proper, said ring being capable of moving axially outwardly of the joint proper with rising fluid pressure in said joint proper, an inner tapered face section being formed on an inner wall of said joint proper, the diameter of said inner tapered face section increasing in a direction inwardly of the joint proper, said inner tapered face section being engaged by the engage pieces to reduce the diameter of the inner section of the collet when said collet is pulled axially outwards relative to the joint proper, and a tapered ring through which said tube is inserted, said tapered ring being provided between said collet and said ring in said joint proper, said tapered ring having an outer tapered face section facing said inner tapered face section and whose diameter increases in a direction inwardly of the joint proper and whose angle of taper relative to the longitudinal axis of the joint is greater than that of said inner tapered face section, whereby said tapered ring bends the engage pieces radially outwardly by contacting front ends thereof when said collet is pushed axially inwards, characterised in that said tapered ring bends the engage pieces radially inwardly by pinching the engage pieces between the inner tapered face section and the outer tapered face section when said collet is pulled axially outwards, the tapered ring being movable axially of the joint, and having an inner stopper section formed on an inner edge of the outer tapered face section, said inner stopper section being located for engagement by the engage pieces so as to limit inward bending of the engage pieces. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a tube joint comprising a joint proper into which a tube can be inserted, a substantially cylindrical collet one end section of which is inserted into said joint proper as an inner section, said collet being movable axially of the joint, the inner section of said collet being divided into a plurality of circumferentially-spaced engage pieces, each engage piece having a nail section capable of biting an outer face of said tube when said tube is inserted though said collet, and a resilient sealing ring within said joint proper, said ring being capable of sealing a space between an inner face of said joint proper and the outer face of said tube when said tube is inserted in said joint proper, said ring being capable of moving axially outwardly of the joint proper with rising fluid pressure in said joint proper, an inner tapered face section being formed on an inner wall of said joint proper, the diameter of said inner tapered face section increasing in a direction inwardly of the joint proper, said inner tapered face section being engaged by the engage pieces to reduce the diameter of the inner section of the collet when said collet is pulled axially outwards relative to the joint proper, and a tapered ring through which said tube is inserted, said tapered ring being provided between said collet and said ring in said joint proper, said tapered ring having an outer tapered face section facing said inner tapered face section and whose diameter increases in a direction inwardly of the joint proper and whose angle of taper relative to the longitudinal axis of the joint is greater than that of said inner tapered face section, whereby said tapered ring bends the engage pieces radially outwardly by contacting front ends thereof when said collet is pushed axially inwards, characterised in that said tapered ring bends the engage pieces radially inwardly by pinching the engage pieces between the inner tapered face section and the outer tapered face section when said collet is pulled axially outwards, the tapered ring being movable axially of the joint, an engage section being formed on the inner wall of said joint proper, said engage section being located for engagement by an outer edge of said tapered ring, whereby axial movement of said collet caused by said resilient sealing ring, and consequently inward bending of the engage pieces, is limited. In the tube joint of the further aspect of the invention, the tapered ring may have an inner stopper section formed on an inner edge of the outer tapered face section, said inner stopper section being located for engagement by the engage pieces so as to limit inward bending of the engage pieces. The tapered ring may be made by drawing a metal material to form a section which extends axially outwards from an outer circumferential edge of the ring, said extended section being capable of contacting said engage section. In the tube joint, the joint proper may comprise a first cylindrical section having a screw section capable of connecting with an external member, and a second cylindrical section having the inner tapered face section. The first cylindrical section may have a sleeve section extending axially from one end, the sleeve section being provided on the opposite end to the screw section, the second cylindrical section being connected with the first cylindrical section by covering the sleeve section with the second cylindrical section, wherein the tapered ring, which is capable of moving in the axial direction, is provided between an end face of the sleeve section and the inner wall of the second cylindrical section, and wherein the elastic ring is provided in a large diameter section of the first cylindrical section, which is formed on the open end side. In the tube joint, the first cylindrical section and the second cylindrical section may be made of metal materials, and wherein the first cylindrical section and the second cylindrical section are connected by covering the first cylindrical section with the second cylindrical section. In the tube joint, the joint proper may be capable of connecting with an external member by covering the external member. In the tube joint, the second cylindrical section may be made by drawing a metal material. In the tube joint of the present invention, the collet has nail sections capable of biting the outer face of the tube, the joint proper bends the nail sections to bite the tube, the elastic ring is capable of sealing the tube and moving in the axial direction, and the tapered ring has the outer tapered face section for releasing the tube from the nail sections. As described above, the functions for attaching and detaching the tube are properly assigned to some members, so that the structures of the members can be simpler. With the simpler structures, the tube joint can be made easily, and a metal material, which is formed by drawing, can be used. And, since the tapered ring has the inner stopper section, the radially-inward movement of the nail sections can be properly limited without a complex structure. By limiting the movement of the nail sections, the deformation of the tube can be prevented. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples and with reference to be accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the tube joint of First Embodiment; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tube joint shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an explanation view showing the action of the collet; Fig. 4 is an sectional view of the tube joint of Second Embodiment; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the tube joint shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the conventional tube joint. (First Embodiment) Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the tube joint of the First Embodiment, in which the upper side of a center line shows a state of inserting no tube; the lower side of the center line shows a state of inserting a tube. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tube joint shown in Fig. 1. A joint proper 10 comprises a first cylindrical section 12 and a second cylindrical section 14. A fluid path 16 is axially formed from one end to the other end of the joint proper 10. In Fig. 1, there is formed a screw section (a male screw section) 18 for connecting the joint proper 10 to an external unit, e.g., a pressurizing unit, on an outer circumferential face of a left end section of the first cylindrical section 12. And there is formed a sleeve section 20 in a right end section of the first cylindrical section 12. There is formed a circumferential groove 22 on an outer circumferential face of the sleeve section 20. Note that, a part between the screw section 18 and the sleeve section 20 is a hexagonal bolt head 24. Diameter of the fluid path 16 is changed in three parts; there is formed a first step face 26 and a second step face 28 in the fluid path 16. In the present embodiment, the first cylindrical section 12 is made of a metal material, which has been machined by cutting. Brass, which can be easily cut, and stainless steel, which has corrosion resistance, etc. may be employed as the metal material. Further, plastics having enough strength may be used, too. There is formed a cover section 30, which is capable of covering over the sleeve section 20, in the left end section of the second cylindrical section 14. There is formed a circumferential projection 32, which is capable of fitting in the circumferential groove 22 of the first cylindrical section 12, on an inner circumferential face of the cover section 30. In the present embodiment, the circumferential groove 22 and the circumferential projection 32 are continuously formed on the circumferential faces, but they may be partially formed in the circumferential direction. The first cylindrical section 12 and the second cylindrical section 14 are connected by press fitting the sleeve section 20 of the first cylindrical section 12 in the cover section 30 of the second cylindrical section 14. There is formed an inner tapered face section 40 on the inner face of the second cylindrical section 14. Diameter of the inner tapered section 40 is made greater toward an inner part (leftward in Fig. 1). When a collet34, which will be described later, is pulled axially outward (rightward in Fig. 1), the inner tapered face section 40 contacts an inner section 36 of the collet 34 and reduce diameter of the inner section 36. On the other hand, the inner tapered face section 40 allows the inner section 36 to extend its diameter when the collet 34 is pushed axially inward (leftward in Fig. 1). In the present embodiment, the second cylindrical section is made of a metal material, e.g., stainless steel, which has been machined by drawing. As shown in Fig. 1, inner diameter of the second cylindrical section 14 is made greater leftward. With this shape, it can be easily made by press-drawing, so that manufacturing cost can be reduced. The collet 34 has a substantially cylindrical shape through which a tube 42 can be inserted. The inner section 36 of the collet 34 is inserted in the joint proper 10. The collet 34, which has fitted in the joint proper 10, is capable of moving in the axial direction. The inner section 36 is divided into a plurality of engage pieces 38 in the circumferential direction. Each engage piece 38 has a nail section 46, which is capable of biting the outer face of the tube 42, on its inner face. The nail sections 46 hold the tube 42 in the joint proper 10 by biting the outer face. As shown in Fig. 2, the nail sections 46 are formed into arc shapes along the outer face of the tube 42, and their front chips are made sharp. End sections 48 of the engage pieces 38 are extended radially outward with respect to rear sections 50 thereof. Rear faces of the end sections 48 are formed into slopes 52, which face the inner tapered face section 40. End faces 48a of the end sections 48 are extended axially inward from the nail sections 46. Further there is formed a contact face 58 (see Fig. 3), which is capable of contacting an outer tapered face section 56 of a tapered ring 54 (described later), in each end section 48. The collet 34 is fitted in the joint proper 10 by inserting the inner section 36 thereinto. The collet 34 is held in the joint proper 10 by the elasticity of the engage pieces 38. Namely, the inner section 36 can be inserted into the second cylindrical section 14 when the engage sections 38 are bent radially inward by an opening section 60 of the second cylindrical section 14. And the collet 34 is fitted in the joint proper 10 when the end sections 48 correspond to the inner tapered face section 40 and the engage sections 38 are moved radially outward by their own elasticity. Note that, in the present embodiment, the inner section 36 is equally divided into six engage pieces 38 in the circumferential direction. And an outer end section of the collet 34 is formed into a flange 62. The engage pieces 38, the flange 62, etc. of the collet 34 are integrally formed in one body, so the collet 34 may be integrally made of plastics or metal materials. In the case of plastic material, fiber-reinforced plastics having enough strength and durability, which are capable of properly biting the tube 42 so as to hold the tube 42, can be employed. Further, the nail sections 48 made of a metal material may be molded in the plastic collet 34. As shown in Fig. 2, the structure of the collet 34 is simpler than that of the conventional collet, so that the collet 34 can be easily made of metal materials. Note that, the first cylindrical section 12 and the second cylindrical section 14 too may be integrally made of plastics as well as the collet 34. Further, the first cylindrical section 12 and the second cylindrical section 14 may be made integrally. An elastic ring 64 is made of synthetic rubber, etc. and fitted in the joint proper 10 so as to seal a space between the inner face of the joint proper 10 and the outer face of the tube 42. When fluid pressure in the joint proper 10 is increased, the elastic ring 64 is biased and moved axially outward (rightward in Fig. 1). The elastic ring 64 is assembled in the joint proper 10 when the first cylindrical section 12 and the second cylindrical section 14 are connected. In the present embodiment, the elastic ring 64 is fitted in a large diameter section 66 of the first cylindrical section 12. The tapered ring 54 is provided between the collet 34 and the elastic ring 64. The tapered ring 54 is capable of moving in the axial direction, and the tube 42 is inserted therethrough. The tapered ring 54 has the outer tapered face section 56, which faces the inner tapered face section 40 and whose outer diameter is made greater toward an inner part (leftward in Fig. 1) with tapered angle with respect to the center line of Fig. 1 wider than that of the inner tapered face section 40. The outer tapered face section 56 is capable of contacting the end sections 48 of the engage pieces 38 and bending the engage pieces 38 radially outward when the collet 34 is pushed axially inward. On the other hand, the outer tapered face section 56 is capable of pinching the end sections 48 of the engage pieces 38 with the inner tapered face section 40 and bending the engage pieces 38 radially inward when the collet 34 is moved axially outward by the elastic ring 64. To limit the inward-bend of the engage pieces 38, the tapered ring 54 has an inner stopper section 68, which is formed on an inner edge of the outer tapered face section 56. The inner stopper section 68 is capable of contacting the engage pieces 38, which have been bent inward with prescribed bending length. The inner stopper section 68 is axially extended rightward in Fig. 1. Outer diameter of the inner stopper section 68 is designed to coincide with the minimum diameter of the engage sections 38, and it is preferably designed considering an allowable error of the tube size. In the present embodiment, the tapered ring 54 is made of a metal plate, which has been machined by press-drawing, it can be made easily. Note that, the tapered ring 54 may be made of plastics having enough strength and durability. Successively, functions of the tube joint will be explained. The tube 42 is inserted into the joint proper 10 from the collet 34 side. The tube 42 elastically bends the engage pieces 38 of the collet 34 radially outward. The tube 42 is inserted into the joint proper 10 until a front end of the tube 42 reaches the first step face 26 of the first cylindrical section 12, then the tube 42 is slightly pulled backward so as to hold the tube 42 in the joint proper 10. Namely, upon pulling the tube 42 backward, the collet 34 is moved axially outward (backward) together with the tube 42, so that the end sections 48 of the collet 34 are guided by the inner tapered face section 40 and the engage pieces 38 are bent radially inward. By bending the the engage pieces 38 inward, the nail sections 46 bite the outer face of the tube 42, so that the tube 42 is held in the tube joint. With rising fluid pressure in the joint proper 10, the elastic ring 64 is biased and moved axially outward (rightward in Fig. 1), so that the elastic ring 64 pushes and moves the tapered ring 54 in the same direction. By moving the tapered ring 54 in said direction, the end sections 48 of the engage pieces 38 are pinched between the outer tapered face section 56 and the inner tapered face section 40. Force working to the end sections 48 is shown by vector arrows in Fig. 3, so that the end sections 48 are slid to bend radially inward. Namely, counter force working to the end sections 48, which have been pinched between the inner tapered face section 40 and the outer tapered face section 56, is shown by counter force F1 working to the outer tapered face section 56 and counter force F2 working to the inner tapered face section 40. The force F1 is equal to the force F2. Force F4, which is divided force of the force F2 and which is parallel to the inner tapered face section 40, is greater than force F3, which is divided force of the force F1 and which is parallel to the outer tapered face section 56. Force F5, which is divided force of the force F4 and which is parallel to the force F3, is obviously greater than the force F3. Therefore, the engage pieces 38 are moved axially outward along the inner tapered face section 40 and simultaneously bent radially inward when the elastic ring 64 is moved axially outward, so that the nail sections 46 of the engage pieces 38 bite the outer face of the tube 42 to hold the tube 42 in the joint proper 10. The above described function is caused by: working the force F1 and F2 in the axial direction; and designing that the diameter of the outer tapered face section 56 is made greater toward the inner part with the tapered angle wider than that of the inner tapered face section 40. The end sections 48 of the engage pieces 38, which are bent inward, contact the inner stopper section 68, which is extended axially outward (rightward in Fig. 1) from the inner edge of the outer tapered face section 56, so that the inward-bend of the engage pieces 38 is limited. By limiting the inward-bend of the engage pieces 38, the deformation of the tube 42 can be limited in prescribed amount, so that leaking the fluid and increasing the fluid resistance in the tube 42 can be prevented. Further, by limiting the inward-bend of the engage pieces 38, too much diameter reduction of the engage pieces 38 and too much biting the tube 42 by the nail sections 46 can be prevented, so that detaching the tube 42 and the collet 34 from the joint proper 10 can be prevented. To release the tube 42 from the joint proper 10, the collet 34 is pushed into the joint proper 10. By pushing the collet 34, the contact faces 58 of the end sections 48 of the engage pieces 38 contact the outer tapered face section 56 of the tapered ring 54, so that the engage pieces 38 are bent radially outward. By bending the engage pieces 38 outward, the nail sections 46 release the outer face of the tube 42, so that the tube 42 can be solely pulled out from the joint proper 10. (Second Embodiment) Second Embodiment will be explained with reference to Figs. 4 and 5. Note that, the members explained in the First Embodiment are assigned the same numerals and the explanation will be omitted. In the Second Embodiment, an engage section 72 in a second cylindrical section 70 and a shape of the tapered ring 74 are different from the First Embodiment. The engage section 72 is formed like a step on an inner wall of the second cylindrical section 70 of the joint proper 10. When an outer edge 76 of a tapered ring 54 contacts the engage section 72, the movement of the tapered ring 54 in the direction of pulling the tube 42 (rightward in Fig. 4) can be limited. With this structure, even if the tapered ring 74 is pushed by the movement of the elastic ring 64 and the collet 34 is pushed by the tapered ring 74, the movement of the collet 34 is limited. By limiting the movement of the collet 34, too much inward-bend of the engage pieces 38 can be prevented. In the present embodiment, the tapered ring 74 is made of a metal material, which is machined by drawing. The outer edge 76 of the tapered ring 74 is extended in the direction of pulling the tube 42 (rightward in Fig. 4) as an extended section. By forming the extended section, deformation of the tapered ring 74 can be prevented, and the axial movement of the tapered ring 74 in the direction of pulling the tube 42 can be securely limited. Note that, there is formed a step section 78 in a right end section of the second cylindrical section 70, so that detaching the collet 34 from the joint proper 10 can be prevented. Two embodiments, each of which has unique structures for limiting the inward-bend of the engage pieces, have been described above. The tube joint may have the structures of the both embodiments. The tube joints of the embodiments have the screw sections 18 for connecting with external unit, e.g., a pressurizing unit, but the present invention may be used for various tube joints for tube-to-tube connecting, e.g., an elbow type, a T-type, a Y-type. Size, shapes, number of the engage pieces or the nail sections, etc. may be optionally changed on the basis of usage of the tube joint. The second cylindrical section 14 or 70, the collet 34, the tapered ring 54 or 74, and the elastic ring 64 may be assembled in one set. In this case, the set can be connected with an external sleeve like member by press fit, caulking, etc. as the tube joint of the present invention.

Claims: A tube joint comprising a joint proper (10) into which a tube (42) can be inserted, a substantially cylindrical collet (34) one end section (36) of which is inserted into said joint proper (10) as an inner section, said collet (34) being movable axially of the joint, the inner section (36) of said collet (34) being divided into a plurality of circumferentially-spaced engage pieces (38), each engage piece (38) having a nail section (46) capable of biting an outer face of said tube (42) when said tube (42) is inserted through said collet (34), and a resilient sealing ring (64) within said joint proper (10), said ring (64) being capable of sealing a space between an inner face of said joint proper (10) and the outer face of said tube (42) when said tube (42) is inserted in said joint proper (10), said ring (64) being capable of moving axially outwardly of the joint proper (10) with rising fluid pressure in said joint proper (10), an inner tapered face section (40) being formed on an inner wall of said joint proper (10), the diameter of said inner tapered face section (40) increasing in a direction inwardly of the joint proper (10), said inner tapered face section (40) being engaged by the engage pieces (38) to reduce the diameter of the inner section (36) of the collet (34) when said collet (34) is pulled axially outwards relative to the joint proper (10), and a tapered ring (54) through which said tube (42) is inserted, said tapered ring (54) being provided between said collet (34) and said ring (64) in said joint proper (10), said tapered ring (54) having an outer tapered face section (56) facing said inner tapered face section (40) and whose diameter increases in a direction inwardly of the joint proper (10) and whose angle of taper relative to the longitudinal axis of the joint is greater than that of said inner tapered face section (40), whereby said tapered ring (54) bends the engage pieces (38) radially outwardly by contacting front ends (48) thereof when said collet (34) is pushed axially inwards, characterised in that said tapered ring (54) bends the engage pieces (38) radially inwardly by pinching the engage pieces (38) between the inner tapered face section (40) and the outer tapered face section (56) when said collet (34) is pulled axially outwards, the tapered ring (54) being movable axially of the joint and having an inner stopper section (68) formed on an inner edge of the outer tapered face section (56), said inner stopper section (68) being located for engagement by the engage pieces (38) so as to limit inward bending of the engage pieces (38) . A tube joint comprising a joint proper (10) into which a tube (42) can be inserted, a substantially cylindrical collet (34) one end section (36) of which is inserted into said joint proper (10) as an inner section, said collet (34) being movable axially of the joint, the inner section (36) of said collet (34) being divided into a plurality of circumferentially-spaced engage pieces (38), each engage piece (38) having a nail section (46) capable of biting an outer face of said tube (42) when said tube (42) is inserted through said collet (34), and a resilient sealing ring (64) within said joint proper (10), said ring (64) being capable of sealing a space between an inner face of said joint proper (10) and the outer face of said tube (42) when said tube (42) is inserted in said joint proper (10), said ring (64) being capable of moving axially outwardly of the joint proper (10) with rising fluid pressure in said joint proper (10), an inner tapered face section (40) being formed on an inner wall of said joint proper (10), the diameter of said inner tapered face section (40) increasing in a direction inwardly of the joint proper (10), said inner tapered face section (40) being engaged by the engage pieces (38) to reduce the diameter of the inner section (36) of the collet (34) when said collet (34) is pulled axially outwards relative to the joint proper (10), and a tapered ring (74) through which said tube (42) is inserted, said tapered ring (74) being provided between said collet (34) and said ring (64) in said joint proper (10), said tapered ring (74) having an outer tapered face section (56) facing said inner tapered face section (40) and whose diameter increases in a direction inwardly of the joint proper (10) and whose angle of taper relative to the longitudinal axis of the joint is greater than that of said inner tapered face section (40), whereby said tapered ring (74) bends the engage pieces (38) radially outwardly by contacting front ends (48) thereof when said collet (34) is pushed axially inwards, characterised in that said tapered ring (74) bends the engage pieces (38) radially inwardly by pinching the engage pieces (38) between the inner tapered face section (40) and the outer tapered face section (56) when said collet (34) is pulled axially outwards, the tapered ring (74) being movable axially of the joint, an engage section (72) being formed on the inner wall of said joint proper (10), said engage section (72) being located for engagement by an outer edge (76) of said tapered ring (74) so as to limit movement of said tapered ring (74), whereby axial movement of said collet (34) caused by said resilient sealing ring (64), and consequently inward bending of the engage pieces (38), is limited. A tube joint as claimed in claim 2 in which said tapered ring (54) has an inner stopper section (68) formed on an inner edge of the outer tapered face section (56), said inner stopper section (68) being located for engagement by the engage pieces (38) so as to limited inward bending of the engage pieces (38). A tube joint as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the tapered ring (74) is made by drawing a metal material to form a section (76) which extends axially outwards from an outer circumferential edge of the ring (74), said extended section (76) being capable of contacting said engage section (72). A tube joint as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which said joint proper (10) comprises a first cylindrical section (12) having a screw section (18) capable of connection with an external member, and a second cylindrical section (14) on which is formed said inner tapered face section (40). A tube joint as claimed in claim 5 in which said first cylindrical section (12) has a sleeve section (20) extending axially from one end thereof, the sleeve section (20) being provided on the opposite end to the screw section (18), said second cylindrical section (14) being connected with said first cylindrical section (12) by covering the sleeve section (20) with said second cylindrical section (14), the tapered ring (54) being provided between an end face of the sleeve section (20) and the inner wall of said second cylindrical section (14), the resilient sealing ring (64) being located in an increased diameter section of said first cylindrical section (12) formed in the open end thereof. A tube joint as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 in which said first cylindrical section (12) and said second cylindrical section (14) are made of metal, and in which said first cylindrical section (12) and said second cylindrical section (14) are connected by covering said first cylindrical section (12) with said second cylindrical section (14). A tube joint as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which said joint proper (10) is capable of connection with an external member by covering the external member. A tube joint as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 in which said second cylindrical section (14) is made by drawing a metal material.

Inventors: HAMA TOMIO, YAMAZAKI KIYOYASU, HAMA, TOMIO, YAMAZAKI, KIYOYASU
Applicants: NIPPON PISCO KK, KABUSHIKI KAISHA NIHON PISCO
Application year: 1995
Main classification: F16L37
IPC codes: F16L37, F16L33