Connector and socket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10118813-B2
Application number	US-201715630541-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2017
Priority date	Jun 23, 2016
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

Provided is a connector including a plug and a socket. The socket includes: a socket body in which a second liquid outflow passage and a second liquid inflow passage are formed; a ball lock mechanism that is attached to the socket body and fixes the socket body to a key ring; and a switching mechanism that switches an open state and a closed state of a rotary valve. The switching mechanism includes an opening/closing arm that regulates releasing of the fixation of the socket body to the key ring by the ball lock mechanism in the open state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A connector to be attached to an opening of a liquid storing container, the connector comprising:
a plug to be attached to the opening; and
a socket to be detachably attached to the plug, wherein the plug includes:
a plug body in which a first liquid outflow passage through which a liquid contained in the liquid storing container is drawn out and a first liquid inflow passage for guiding the liquid flowing in from an outside of the liquid storing container into the liquid storing container are formed,

the socket includes:
a socket body in which a second liquid outflow passage through which the liquid drawn out from the first liquid outflow passage flows to the outside and a second liquid inflow passage for guiding the liquid flowing in from the outside of the liquid storing container to the first liquid inflow passage are formed;
a lock mechanism that is attached to the socket body and fixes the socket body to the opening; and
a switching mechanism that switches an open state and a closed state, the open state being a state in which the first liquid outflow passage and the second liquid outflow passage communicate with each other and the first liquid inflow passage and the second liquid inflow passage communicate with each other, and the closed state being a state in which the first liquid outflow passage and the second liquid outflow passage do not communicate with each other and the first liquid inflow passage and the second liquid inflow passage do not communicate with each other, and

the switching mechanism includes a regulating member that regulates releasing of the fixation of the socket body to the opening by the lock mechanism in the open state.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the socket includes a regulating mechanism that regulates switching from the closed state to the open state by the switching mechanism.

3. The connector according to claim 2 , wherein the switching mechanism includes a releasing mechanism that accepts an operation by an operator and releases a regulated state in which switching from the closed state to the open state by the regulating mechanism is regulated.

4. The connector according to claim 3 , wherein
the opening is formed into a cylindrical shape about a first axial line,
the socket body has a cylindrical insertion hole formed along a second axial line intersecting with the first axial line so as to penetrate through each of the second liquid outflow passage and the second liquid inflow passage,
the socket includes a columnar rotary valve including an outflow through-hole formed at a position where the second liquid outflow passage is disposed on the second axial line and an inflow through-hole formed at a position where the second liquid inflow passage is disposed on the second axial line, the rotary valve being inserted into the insertion hole,
the regulating mechanism includes a shaft-like member extending along the first axial line, and an urging member that urges the shaft-like member against the switching mechanism,
the switching mechanism switches the open state and the closed state by rotating the rotary valve about the second axial line and includes an accommodation hole that accommodates the shaft member and regulates the rotation of the rotary valve in the closed state, and
the releasing mechanism releases the regulated state by urging the shaft-like member accommodated in the accommodation hole in a direction opposing an urging force generated by the urging member.

5. The connector according to claim 4 , wherein the switching mechanism includes a concave portion that accommodates a leading end of the shaft-like member without regulating the rotation of the rotary valve in the open state.

6. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein
the opening is formed into a cylindrical shape about a first axial line and an engagement groove is formed in an outer peripheral surface along a circumferential direction about the first axial line, and
the lock mechanism includes:
a plurality of lock balls to be engaged with the engagement groove;
a first cylindrical member formed into a cylindrical shape about the first axial line and including a plurality of opening holes having a diameter smaller than an outer diameter of each of the lock balls;

a second cylindrical member formed into a cylindrical shape about the first axial line and including a regulating portion that is disposed on an outer periphery of the first cylindrical member, the regulating portion being configured to regulate the lock balls accommodated in the opening holes to be in a state where the lock balls are engaged with the engagement groove; and
an urging force generation portion having one end along the first axial line that is fixed to the first cylindrical member, and having another end along the first axial line that is fixed to the second cylindrical member, the urging force generation portion being configured to urge the second cylindrical member against a position where the regulating portion is in contact with the lock balls.

7. A socket to be detachably attached to a plug to be attached to an opening of a liquid storing container, the plug including a plug body in which a first liquid outflow passage through which a liquid contained in the liquid storing container is drawn out and a first liquid inflow passage for guiding the liquid flowing in from an outside of the liquid storing container into the liquid storing container are formed, the socket comprising:
a socket body in which a second liquid outflow passage through which the liquid is drawn out from the first liquid outflow passage flows to the outside and a second liquid inflow passage for guiding the liquid flowing in from the outside of the liquid storing container into the first liquid inflow passage are formed;
a lock mechanism that is attached to the socket body and fixes the socket body to the opening; and
a switching mechanism that switches an open state and a closed state, the open state being a state in which the first liquid outflow passage and the second liquid outflow passage communicate with each other and the first liquid inflow passage and the second liquid inflow passage communicate with each other, and the closed state being a state in which the first liquid outflow passage and the second liquid outflow passage do not communicate with each other and the first liquid inflow passage and the second liquid inflow passage do not communicate with each other,
wherein the switching mechanism includes a regulating member that regulates releasing of the fixation of the socket body to the opening by the lock mechanism in the open state.

Assignees

• Surpass Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kobayashi Masamichi
• Hasunuma Masahiro

Classifications

• B67D7/0294 Primary

  Combined with valves · CPC title

• F16K1/304

  Shut-off valves with additional means · CPC title

• F16K31/602

  Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided (F16K31/605 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K11/0856

  having all the connecting conduits situated in more than one plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug · CPC title

• F16K35/02

  to be locked or disconnected by means of a pushing or pulling action · CPC title