Patent Publication Number: US-2007108761-A1

Title: Quick pipe connector

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a pipe connector, and more particularly to a pipe connector that can be installed securely and quickly.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      There are many ways of connecting a pipeline traditionally, and different connecting methods are adopted for different requirements. A general way of connecting a pipeline is to use the principle of thermal expansion and contraction by warming a pipe connector with fire, such that the connecting section of a pipe can be softened by a high temperature, and the expanded connecting section is inserted into another pipe wrapped with a leakage-resistant tape in a quick and secured fashion. The pipe can be fixed after the pipe is cooled. However, such method still has the following shortcomings. It requires skillful installation personnel to control the fire for the warming, or else the connecting section will be melted or cannot be inserted. Furthermore, if a pipeline is inserted improperly or it is necessary to replace the old pipeline, then it is necessary to cut the old pipeline and reinstall a new pipe or connector. Such arrangement not only wastes materials, but also delays construction time.  
      Since the connection of the foregoing pipeline does not require skillful technicians for the installation or warming by fire during the construction that results a long construction time, a high risk, and a high material cost, therefore some manufacturers have developed a quick connector as disclosed in R.O.C. Pat. No. M255,362 entitled “Improved structure of a quick water pipe connector”. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  for such quick water pipe connector, the quick water pipe connector comprises a rotary lid  10 , a reinforcing ring  11 , an engaging plate  12 , and a water pipe connector  13 , wherein the rotary lid  10  is an n-shaped hollow body having a screw thread on an internal side connected to another thread  130  at one end of the water pipe connector  13 . The reinforced ring  11  is a ring body having a blocking wall  110  with a slanting protrusion, and the engaging plate  12  is an elastic ring body and having a plurality of splinters  120  in an agnail shape. The pipe connector  13  is a hollow body and another screw thread  130  can be secured to the screw thread on the rotary lid  10 , and the splinters  120  on the engaging plate  12  are embedded into the pipe, and the blocking wall of the reinforced ring  11  also blocks the splinters  120  from being separated or deformed, so as to achieve the effect of securing the pipe and preventing the pipe from being pulled out.  
      If it is necessary to install the pipe, the pipe is inserted into the pipe connector  13  from the rotary lid  10  and then pulled back slightly, such that the splinter  120  of the engaging plate  12  is embedded into the pipe, and the blocking wall of the reinforced wall  11  also blocks the splinters  120  from being fallen out or deformed, so as to achieve the effect of securing the pipe and preventing the pipe from being pulled out. If it is necessary to change the pipe, the rotary lid  10  is turned to pull out the pipe, and then the rotary lid  10  is turned to reinstall a new water pipe into the pipe connector  13  and pull the water pipe back slightly to complete the replacement of pipes. Such arrangement does not require special skills and general users can install or replace the pipe by themselves.  
      However, the prior art quick pipe connector still has the existing shortcomings. When the pipe connector  13  is removed, the master switch of the pipeline must be shut first, otherwise a large quantity of water will be sprayed out when the pipe connector  13  is removed. However, it is generally not easy to find the location of the master switch of the related pipeline, and thus causing a delay of the construction. Further, when the pipe connector  13  is separated from the pipe, the water in the water pipe at the position close to the opening of the pipe still leaks out even though the master switch of the related pipeline is shut, and thus causing a mess and a poor quality of the construction. Therefore, finding a way of improving the foregoing shortcomings becomes an important issue.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In view of the foregoing shortcomings of the prior art quick pipe connector, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience to conduct extensive researches and experiments to improve the prior art, and finally invented an improved quick pipe connector in accordance with the present invention.  
      Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a quick pipe connector comprising a connector body, a separating section fixed onto an internal wall between both ends of the connector body, a piston section movably coupled in the separating section, and a first connecting section and a second connecting section disposed on both ends of the connector body respectively, and the first connecting section and the connector body are interconnected, so that liquid can pass through the connector body. If the piston section is moved towards the first connecting section, then the separating section is interconnected. If the piston section is moved towards the second connecting section, then the separating section is shut to prevent liquid from flowing out continuously.  
      The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a prior art quick pipe connector;  
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a prior art quick pipe connector;  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a quick pipe connector of the invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a quick pipe connector of the invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a separating section of the invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of quick pipe connectors being connected with each other according to the invention; and  
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of quick pipe connectors being connected with each other according to the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to FIGS.  3  to  5  for the quick pipe connector in accordance with the present invention, the quick pipe connector comprises a connector body  2 , and the connector body  2  comprises a first connecting section  20 , a second connecting section  22 , a separating section  24 , and a piston section  26 , wherein the first connecting section  20  is installed at an end of the connector body  2  and interconnected with the connector body  2 , and the second connecting section  22  is installed at another end of the connector body  2  and interconnected with the connector body  2 , and the separating section  24  is fixed between both ends of the connector body  2  for liquid flowing into the connector body  2  to flow towards another end of the connector body  2 , and the piston section  26  is movably disposed in the separating section  24 . If the piston section is moved towards the first connecting section  20 , the separating section  24  will be in an interconnected status, such that the liquid can pass through the separating section  24  and flow towards another end of the connector body  2 . If the piston section  26  is moved towards the second connecting section  22 , the separating section  24  will be in a closed status, such that the liquids cannot pass through the separating section  24  to flow towards another end of the connector body  2 . Such arrangement can connect a pipeline quickly and prevent the liquid from flowing out continuously.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3  to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first connecting section  20  includes a cover ring  200  being coupled to an internal wall at an end of the connector body  2 , and the cover ring  200  includes a connecting pipe  202  disposed on a distal surface of the connector body  2  and inserted into a pipe body, such the pipe body can be fixed onto the first connecting section  20 , and the cover ring  200  includes a protrusion  204  disposed proximate to a position with its back facing an end of the periphery of the connector body  2 , and the protrusion  204  presses against an end of the connector body  2 , such that the first connecting section  20  is fixed onto the connector body  2  and will not be slid.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5  for the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the separating section  24  comprises an external ring  240 , a plurality of ribs  242 , and an internal ring  244 , wherein said external ring  240  is fixed onto an internal wall of the connector body  2 , and an end of the rib  242  is coupled to an internal wall of the external ring  240 , and the other end is coupled to an external wall of the internal ring  244 , and the piston section  26  is contained by the internal wall of the internal ring  244  and moved at the internal wall of the internal ring  244 , and a plurality of openings  246  is formed among the external ring  240 , the ribs  242 , and the internal ring  244 , and the openings  246  are provided for passing the liquid. If the piston section  26  is moved towards the second connecting section  22 , the opening  246  will be in a closed status.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5  for the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the piston section  26  comprises a link rod  260 , a bushing  262 , and a resilient member  265 , wherein the piston section  26  includes a piston  261  disposed at an end of the link rod  260  facing the connector body. If the link rod  260  is moved towards the second connecting section  22 , the piston  261  will press precisely on the openings  246 , and the openings  246  will be in a closed status, such that the liquid cannot pass through the openings  246 . The bushing  262  is coupled to another end of the link rod  260 , and an end of the bushing  262  is extended to another end of the link rod  260 , and another end of the bushing  262  is extended between both ends of the link rod  260 , and the resilient member  265  is coupled onto the link rod  260 , and both ends of the resilient member  265  press against the position between the ribs  242  and another end of the bushing  262 .  
      By the resilience of the resilient member  265 , the link rod  260  is pushed towards another end of the connector body  2 , such that the piston  261  presses onto the openings  246 , so that the liquid cannot pass through. Therefore, if the quick pipe connector is installed, the liquid can be prevented from flowing out. Another connector body  2  with identical structure and shape is inserted into the second connecting section  22 , and another end of the link rod  260  is pushed by another end of another connector body  2 , such that the piston  261  is moved away from the openings  246 , and the liquid can pass through the connector body  2 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3  for the preferred embodiment of the present invention, another end of the bushing  262  includes another plurality of ribs  263  and another external ring  264 , wherein an end of these ribs  263  is disposed on another end of the bushing  262 , and another end of these ribs  263  is coupled to an internal wall of another external ring, such that another plurality of openings are formed among another end of another bushing  262 , other ribs  263  and another external ring  264  for passing the liquid through the connector body  2 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4  for the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the piston  261  includes a washer  267  disposed on a side facing the openings  246 , and if the piston  261  presses against the openings  246 , the washer  267  will be able to prevent the liquid from flowing out from the space between the piston  261  and the openings  246 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  for the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second connecting section  22  includes a hollow connecting bushing  220 , and an end of the connecting bushing  220  is fixed in the second connecting section  22 , and another end is extended out of the second connecting section  22  to a specific distance. A groove  221  is disposed at another end of the connecting bushing  220  and around the connecting bushing  220 , and the groove  221  includes another washer  222 , such that when the two connector bodies  2  with identical structure and shape are coupled, the connecting bushing  220  and another washer  222  can prevent the liquid from flowing out from the seam of the connector bodies  2 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7  for the quick pipe connector module in accordance with the present invention, the quick pipe connector module includes a plurality of quick pipe connectors  4  and a plurality of other quick pipe connectors  5 , wherein the quick pipe connectors  4  are connected adjacent to each other, and the other quick pipe connectors  5  are also connected adjacent with each other and coupled to the plurality of quick pipe connectors  4  respectively. At least one latching section  6  is disposed at the connecting position between the quick pipe connectors  4  and the other quick pipe connectors  5 . An end of the latching section  6  is disposed at the quick pipe connector  4  and proximate to an end connected to the other quick pipe connector  5 , and another end of the latching section  6  is disposed at another quick pipe connector  5  and proximate to an end connected to the quick pipe connector  4 . The latching section  6  is connected to a latch  7 , and a portion of the latch  7  is contained in one end of the latching section  6 , and another portion of the latch  7  is contained in another end of the latching section  6 , so as to quickly complete the connection of a large number of pipelines, and securely integrate the quick pipe connectors  4 ,  5  as a whole.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7  for the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the quick pipe connectors  4  and the other quick pipe connectors  5  have identical structure and shape, and comprises a connector body  2 , and the latching section  6  is disposed at the connecting position of the connector bodies  2 , and the latch  7  comprises a hook  70  and a sliding member  71 , wherein the hook  70  is installed at an end of the latch  7 , and the hook  70  can latch a hook member  62  disposed on another end of the latching section  6 . If another end of the latch  7  approaches the connector body  2 , then the hook  70  will be separated from the hook member  62 , and the sliding member  7  is installed between both ends of the latch  7 , and the sliding member  7  is contained in a containing groove  61  disposed at an end of the latching section  6 , so as to securely integrate the quick pipe connectors  4 ,  5  as a whole.  
      While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.