Valve structure group for gas tank and gas tank
By adopting a two-position three-way valve structure group in the gas tank system, replacing the traditional check valve and flow limit valve, the problems of uncontrolled gas leakage and water freezing blockage are solved, and higher stability and filling efficiency are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411414082.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-10-13
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-11
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-15
AI Technical Summary
In the existing gas tank system, the design of check valves and flow limit valves has problems such as uncontrolled gas leakage, water freezing blockage and increased flow resistance of flow limit valves, which affect the stability and efficiency of the system.
A valve structure group is adopted, which includes a two-position three-way valve, which replaces the traditional check valve and flow limit valve. Through the axial displacement and pneumatic pressure control of the valve parts, it ensures that the gas does not enter the stop valve during the filling and extraction process, avoids water freezing blockage, and eliminates the design of the flow limit valve.
Effectively prevent uncontrolled gas leakage and water freezing blockage, reducing the complexity and cost of the structure, while improving the stability and filling efficiency of the gas tank system.
Smart Images
Figure CN119825952A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to a valve assembly for a gas tank. In addition, the invention relates to a gas tank having a valve assembly according to the invention. The gas can be hydrogen or natural gas, in particular, which is stored under high pressure in the gas tank.
[0002] Preferred areas of application of the invention are fuel cell vehicles and / or gas vehicles which are powered by gas. Background Art
[0003] Mobile gas tank systems with at least one gas tank are known, which are used to store gas, such as hydrogen or natural gas. In this case, the gas tanks are usually designed as high-pressure tanks. Tank valves are usually screwed onto these tanks, via which not only the filling of the gas but also the extraction of the gas is controlled. Therefore, two gas paths are constructed in the tank valve, namely a filling path and an extraction path. For the two paths, the tank valve has its own high-pressure attachment end or a common high-pressure attachment end. In the latter case, the two paths are interconnected so that the filling path or the extraction path is connected to the high-pressure attachment end.
[0004] In order to prevent the fuel from leaking out of the gas tank in an uncontrolled manner, the filling path is usually locked by means of a non-return valve arranged therein. If the withdrawal path and the filling path are interconnected, a second non-return valve is usually integrated into the withdrawal path, more precisely in the filling direction upstream of a controllable stop valve integrated into the withdrawal path, which is used to withdraw gas. The non-return valve arranged in the withdrawal path should prevent: the stop valve from accidentally opening during filling and the gas flowing through the stop valve against the withdrawal direction. Because the inevitable water content may enter the stop valve, freeze there and thus block the stop valve. If a spring-loaded non-return valve is used, it is necessary to overcome the spring force to open the non-return valve when withdrawing gas, which can lead to an unstable opening state, especially high-frequency vibration of the non-return valve, especially in the case of small withdrawal amounts. Therefore, disturbing noises and increased wear may occur in the seat area and / or guide area of the non-return valve.
[0005] In addition to the non-return valve, a flow limiting valve is usually additionally integrated into the filling path, which should prevent the gas tank from being suddenly emptied in the event of a fault, such as a line break and / or a check valve arranged in the filling path being jammed. However, the flow limiting valve induces an additional flow resistance in the filling direction, as a result of which the filling time and / or the tank filling level can be impaired. Summary of the invention
[0006] The invention is based on the object of developing a valve assembly for a gas cylinder in such a way that the above-mentioned disadvantages do not occur or are at least reduced.
[0007] In order to achieve the above object, a valve assembly is proposed. In addition, a gas cylinder having the valve assembly according to the invention is provided.
[0008] The proposed valve assembly for a gas tank has a valve block in which a withdrawal path for withdrawing gas from the gas tank and a filling path for filling the gas tank with gas are formed, wherein an actuable shut-off valve is integrated into the withdrawal path and a further valve is integrated into the withdrawal path downstream of the shut-off valve in the withdrawal direction. According to the invention, the further valve is designed as a 3 / 2-way valve, via which the withdrawal path or the filling path is connected to an attachment path formed in the valve block, depending on the axial position of a valve element that can be axially displaced between two end positions.
[0009] In the proposed valve assembly, the extraction path and the filling path are interconnected so that the valve assembly only requires a high-pressure attachment end or only an attachment path leading to the high-pressure attachment end. Here, a further valve implemented as a 2 / 3-way valve ensures that the extraction path or the filling path is connected to the attachment path or to the high-pressure attachment end. In this way, the further valve prevents gas and therefore water from entering the stop valve when filling the gas tank with gas. Therefore, the further valve usually replaces the non-return valve integrated into the extraction path for this purpose. In addition, the filling path can be blocked by means of a further valve, so that the flow limiting valve usually arranged in the filling path can also be omitted.
[0010] Thus, the additional valve, which is designed as a 3 / 2-way valve, replaces both valves. This not only saves construction space and costs, but also eliminates the disadvantages mentioned at the beginning in connection with the valve. This applies in particular when the additional valve is designed so that it can be controlled solely by the applied pneumatic pressure conditions. Thus, a spring can be omitted and no throttling of the withdrawal amount occurs when the stop valve is open. The omission of a flow limiting valve helps to avoid long filling times and poor tank filling levels.
[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first end position defines the rest position of the valve member, which occupies the rest position in the absence of pneumatic pressure loading in the filling direction in a gravity-driven manner and / or by means of a spring prestress in the direction of the first end position. If the valve member is to occupy the rest position only by gravity, this is based on a certain installation position of the valve structure group. If the installation position changes later, for example due to an accident, in which the vehicle overturns, the valve member can leave the rest position, thereby canceling the additional shut-off function integrated into the valve. In order to reliably prevent this, the valve member can be pre-tensioned in the direction of the first end position by means of the spring force of the spring. Since the spring force acts in the extraction direction in this case, the spring force does not cause throttling of the extraction amount. That is, the valve member occupies the first end position not only in the rest position, but also when extracting gas from the gas tank, so that the valve member-unlike a conventional check valve-does not need to overcome the spring force of the spring to open.
[0012] It is also proposed that the first end position is predetermined by a shoulder of the valve block. A stepped bore can be constructed in the valve block, for example, in which a further valve implemented as a 3 / 2-way valve is accommodated. The step then forms a shoulder defining the first end position.
[0013] In the first terminal position, the extraction path is connected to the attachment path, wherein the connection is established by at least one flow channel constructed in the valve member, which is in the form of a longitudinal hole, a longitudinal groove and / or a flattened portion. If the longitudinal groove and / or the flattened portion construct the at least one flow channel, the valve member acts together with the valve block in this case, in which the valve member is not only accommodated in an axially displaceable manner, but also additionally guided. Then, the flow channel constructed as a longitudinal groove or a flattened portion is delimited radially outside by the valve block. The longitudinal groove or the flattened portion on the peripheral side can usually be manufactured more simply than the longitudinal hole. However, the longitudinal hole does not limit the guide surface of the valve member on the peripheral side. If a plurality of flow channels are constructed in the valve member, these flow channels are preferably arranged at the same angular spacing between each other so that the valve member is evenly loaded by the flow force.
[0014] When gas is drawn from the gas tank, ie, when the shut-off valve is open, the pressure present in the gas tank acts on the valve element, which causes a pneumatic pressure that holds the valve element in the first end position.
[0015] Preferably, the second end position is predetermined by a sealing surface in which the outlet of the shut-off valve is formed, which outlet can be closed by the valve element. The sealing surface can be formed, for example, on a housing element of the shut-off valve. Thus, the shut-off valve and the further valve are arranged directly one after the other or in series. In this way, a very compact arrangement is achieved, especially in the axial direction.
[0016] In the case of filling, i.e. with a closed shutoff valve and increased pressure in the attachment path, the valve element rests in the second end position. Since this increased pressure causes a pneumatic pressure, this pneumatic pressure moves the valve element from the first end position into the second end position, so that the filling path is opened and connected to the attachment path. The pneumatic pressure presses the valve element against the sealing surface formed on the shutoff valve, so that no gas can enter the shutoff valve.
[0017] In order to avoid tilting of the valve element when switching from the first end position to the second end position or vice versa, it is provided in a further development of the invention that the valve element is guided at least in sections on the outer circumference. In order to seal the guide gap, at least one piston sealing ring can be arranged on the valve element. Alternatively or in addition, it is proposed that the guide gap is used at least in sections as a bypass path, which enables a defined leakage from the filling path into the attachment path when the valve element is in the first end position. The defined leakage then replaces the flow limitation that is otherwise achieved by means of a flow limiting valve integrated into the filling path.
[0018] In the second end position, the connection of the filling path to the attachment path can be established directly or indirectly via at least one further flow channel formed in the valve element. Both are possible when the filling path branches off from the attachment path. Then, at least one flow channel can also be angled or have an arc-shaped course. If this is the case, the angular position of the valve element is important in the second end position. Because only in the correct angular position can the at least one flow channel coincide with the branching filling path.
[0019] As a further development it is therefore provided that the valve part is secured against rotation in the guide by at least one geometry of the valve part on the outer circumference and / or by a geometry of the guide on the inner circumference.
[0020] In addition, the filling path is preferably connected to the attachment path via a bypass throttle. In the event of a fault, for example a jammed nonreturn valve in the filling path, the bypass throttle allows the gas to be discharged from the gas tank in a controlled manner. In other cases, this function is achieved by a flow limiting valve arranged in the filling path. If the flow limiting valve is replaced by a further valve in the form of a 2 / 3-way valve, the same effect can be achieved by the bypass throttle.
[0021] The bypass throttle can be arranged in a separate bypass path or—as described above—can be realized by means of a correspondingly defined guide gap between the valve element and the valve block.
[0022] Since a preferred field of application of the valve assembly according to the invention is gas cylinders, a gas cylinder having the valve assembly according to the invention is furthermore proposed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings show:
[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a gas tank having a first valve structure group according to the present invention,
[0025] Figure 2 A schematic longitudinal section of a second valve assembly according to the invention is shown during gas extraction,
[0026] Figure 3 Shown when filling Figure 2 A schematic longitudinal section of a valve structure assembly,
[0027] Figure 4 A schematic longitudinal section of the third valve assembly according to the invention is shown during gas extraction,
[0028] Figure 5 Shown when filling Figure 4 A schematic longitudinal section of a valve structure assembly,
[0029] Figure 6 A schematic longitudinal section showing the fourth valve assembly according to the invention during gas extraction, and
[0030] Figure 7 Shown when filling Figure 6 Schematic longitudinal section of a valve structure group. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] from Figure 1 The valve assembly 1 according to the invention can be seen in the figure, which is connected to the gas tank 2. The valve assembly 1 has a valve block 3, in which an extraction path 4 for extracting gas and a filling path 5 for filling the gas tank 2 with gas are constructed. For this purpose, a controllable shut-off valve 6 is arranged in the extraction path 4. A check valve 16 is integrated into the filling path 5, which should prevent the uncontrolled escape of gas from the gas tank 2. The extraction path 4 and the filling path 5 can be selectively connected to the common attachment path 9 via a further valve 7, which is implemented as a 3 / 2-way valve (3 / 2-way valve). In addition, a plurality of further components, in particular a valve 17 and a filter 18, are integrated into the valve assembly 1.
[0032] Figure 1The valve assembly 1 shown does not have a non-return valve integrated into the withdrawal path 4 and a flow limiting valve integrated into the filling path 5. This is because their functions are assumed by the further valve 7 designed as a 3 / 2-way valve. Even in the event of a fault, the gas can be blown out in a controlled manner because the bypass throttle 15 is integrated into the valve block 3. Instead of the bypass throttle 15 shown, the same effect can be achieved by a guide clearance of the further valve 7, which is explained in more detail below based on further exemplary embodiments.
[0033] from Figure 2 and 3 The second valve assembly 1 according to the invention can be seen in each of the sections. The section shows essentially a further valve 7 designed as a 3 / 2-way valve and a stop valve 6 in a cross-sectional view. The further valve 7 has a valve member 8, which is accommodated and guided in the valve block 3 in an axially displaceable manner and is penetrated by a longitudinal hole for forming a flow channel 11. When the stop valve 6 is open, gas flows from a gas tank (not shown) in the direction of the valve member 8. The valve member is therefore pressed against a shoulder 10 by the applied pneumatic pressure, which shoulder defines the first end position of the valve member 8. At the same time, the installation position of the valve assembly 1 ensures that the valve member 8 also occupies this first end position when the stop valve 6 is closed, so that no pneumatic pressure acts on the valve member 8 in the direction of the shoulder 10. The valve member 8 then occupies the first end position only by gravity.
[0034] In the first end position, the removal path 4 is connected to the attachment path 9 via the flow channel 11 formed in the valve element 8 , while the filling path 5 is blocked by the valve element 8 .
[0035] exist Figure 3 . In this case, the shut-off valve 6 is closed. The gas reaches the valve member 8 of the valve 7 via the attachment path 9, so that a pneumatic pressure acts on the valve member 8, which moves the valve member from the first end position into the second end position. In the present case, the second end position is defined by the sealing surface 12, which surrounds the outlet opening 13 of the shut-off valve 6. When resting on the sealing surface 12, the valve member 8 covers the outlet opening 13, so that no gas and no water can enter the shut-off valve 6. In addition, the guide gap in the guide part 14 is selected to be narrow enough so that no gas flows around the valve member 8. If the valve member 8 rests on the sealing surface 12, it releases the filling path 5 and the gas tank (not shown) can be filled with gas.
[0036] from Figure 4 and 5 A preferred third embodiment of the valve structure group 1 according to the present invention can be obtained from FIG. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The embodiment of the device differs in the design of the valve element 8. The valve element 8 has a greater axial extension, so that it does not release the branched filling path 5 in either of the two end positions. Instead, a further flow channel 11 'is formed in the valve element 8, which can overlap with the filling path 5 in the second end position (see Figure 5 ), so that the connection of the attachment path 9 to the filling path 5 can be established. For this purpose, the further flow channel 11 'has an arc-shaped course. In order to make the further flow channel 11 ' coincide with the filling path 5, the angular position of the valve element 8 in the valve block 3 is important. Therefore, the valve element 8 is prevented from twisting in the area of the guide 14 by at least one geometric structure on the outer circumference (not shown) and / or by at least one geometric structure on the inner circumference (not shown).
[0037] In the first end position (see Figure 4 ), the filling path 5 is blocked by the valve element 8. In order to still allow a defined leakage between the filling path 5 and the attachment path 9 when necessary, the guide portion 14 can be constructed with a correspondingly large guide gap (not shown). Then, the leakage via the guide gap can replace Figure 1 The bypass throttle 15 is shown.
[0038] from Figure 6 and 7 A preferred fourth embodiment of the valve structure group 1 according to the invention can be derived from it. In this case, the valve member 8 is not cylindrical over its entire axial extension, but is conical or tapered in sections. In addition, guidance is achieved by means of the cylindrical section. When the valve member 8 is in the first end position, the cylindrical section simultaneously covers the filling path 5. In the first end position, with the shut-off valve 6 open, the gas flows from the gas tank (not shown) via the outlet 13 and the flow channel 11 constructed in the valve member 8 into the attachment path 9. During filling, i.e. with the shut-off valve (see Figure 7 ), the valve element 8 assumes a second end position in which it rests on the sealing surface 12 and covers the outlet opening 13. At the same time, the valve element 8 releases the filling path 5 in this end position. The pneumatic pressure acting on the valve element 8 presses it against the sealing surface 12, so that no gas and therefore no water enters the stop valve 6 from the attachment path 9.
Claims
1. A valve assembly (1) for a gas tank (2), the valve assembly comprising a valve block (3), in which an extraction path (4) for extracting gas from the gas tank (2) and a filling path (5) for filling the gas tank (2) with gas are constructed, wherein: A controllable shut-off valve (6) is integrated into the withdrawal path (4) and a further valve (7) is integrated into the withdrawal path downstream of the shut-off valve (6) in the withdrawal direction, Characterized in that the further valve (7) is implemented as a 3 / 2-way valve, via which the withdrawal path (4) or the filling path (5) is connected to an attachment path (9) constructed in the valve block (3) depending on the axial position of a valve element (8) which can be axially displaced between two end positions.
2. The valve structure assembly (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The first end position defines a rest position of the valve element (8), which the valve element (8) adopts in the absence of pneumatic pressure loading in the filling direction in a gravity-driven manner and / or by means of a spring prestress in the direction of the first end position.
3. The valve structure assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The first end position is predetermined by a shoulder (10) of the valve block (3).
4. The valve assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that In the first end position, the withdrawal path (4) is connected to the attachment path (9), wherein the connection is established via at least one flow channel (11) constructed in the valve element (8) in the form of a longitudinal hole, a longitudinal groove and / or a flattened portion.
5. The valve assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The second end position is predetermined by a sealing surface (12), in which an outlet opening (13) of the shut-off valve (6) is formed, which outlet opening can be closed by the valve element (8).
6. The valve assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The valve element (8) is guided at least in sections on the outer circumference.
7. The valve assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The valve element (8) is secured against rotation in the guide (14) by at least one geometry of the valve element (8) on the outer circumference and / or by a geometry of the guide (14) on the inner circumference.
8. The valve assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The filling path (5) is connected to the attachment path (9) via a bypass throttle (15).
9. A gas cylinder (2) having a valve assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.