Socket and pipe connector having same
The present invention provides a socket compatible with multiple types of plugs having front end portions varying in length and a pipe connector having this socket. The socket 10 of the present invention mainly includes a base portion 18 , first steel balls 22 and second steel balls 24 housed in housing holes of the base portion 18 , an outer support portion 26 supporting the first steel balls 22 and the like from the outer side, and an inner support portion 25 supporting the first steel balls 22 and the like from the inner side. The socket 10 includes first housing holes 50 in which the first steel balls 22 are housed and second housing holes 52 in which the second steel balls 24 are housed and which are longer than the first housing holes 50 in an axial direction.
1. A socket comprising:
a base portion having a substantially cylindrical shape;
a valve element housed in the base portion;
a plurality of first steel balls housed in first housing holes which are provided to penetrate the base portion;
a second steel ball housed in a second housing hole which penetrates the base portion and which is formed to be longer than the first housing holes in an axial direction;
a ring-shaped inner support portion supporting the first steel balls and the second steel ball from an inner side and being movable in the axial direction;
a ring-shaped outer support portion supporting the first steel balls and the second steel ball from an outer side and being movable in the axial direction and a turning direction;
a first biasing unit configured to apply biasing force to the valve element in the axial direction;
a second biasing unit configured to apply biasing force to the inner support portion in the axial direction;
a third biasing unit configured to apply biasing force to the outer support portion in the axial direction and the turning direction, wherein
the socket is capable of being set to an inserted state in which a plug is inserted in an airtight state, a semi-inserted state in which the plug is inserted in a non-airtight state, and a non-inserted state in which the plug is pulled out,
the socket allows insertion of a first plug in which an increased-diameter portion is formed in an intermediate portion thereof and a second plug in which a length of a front end portion protruding forward from the increased-diameter portion is longer than that in the first plug, as the plug,
in the inserted state, the increased-diameter portion of the plug is engaged with the first steel balls coming into contact with first grooves provided on an inner surface of the outer support portion and thereby being arranged at inner positions in a radial direction, and the second steel ball is movable in the axial direction in the second housing hole,
in the semi-inserted state, as a result of moving the outer support portion in the turning direction, the first steel balls are housed in second grooves, being deeper than the first grooves and provided on the inner surface of the outer support portion, and thus are arranged at outer positions in the radial direction, and the increased-diameter portion of the plug is disengaged from the first steel balls and engaged with the second steel ball, and
in the non-inserted state, as a result of moving the outer support portion in the axial direction, the first steel balls and the second steel ball are arranged at outer positions in the radial direction, and the increased-diameter portion of the plug is disengaged from the second steel ball,
the socket includes an 0 -ring provided inside the inner support portion, and
the O-ring
comes into contact with a front end surface of the first plug when the first plug is inserted, and
comes into contact with an outer side surface of the second plug when the second plug is inserted.
2. The socket according to claim 1 , wherein
the O-ring includes a first protruding portion protruding toward an inner side in the radial direction and a second protruding portion protruding toward the inner side more than the first protruding portion,
an outer side surface of the first plug comes into contact with the first protruding portion when the first plug is inserted, and
the outer side surface of the second plug comes into contact with the second protruding portion when the second plug is inserted.
3. The socket according to claim 1 , wherein in the inserted state, the increased-diameter portion of the plug is engaged with the first steel balls and an outer end portion of the inner support portion comes into contact with the first steel balls.
4. A pipe connector comprising:
the socket according to claim 1 ; and
a plug configured to be inserted into the socket.