Distributor of a fluid supply system, and valve unit

Abstract

A distributor (V) of a fluid supply system, in particular of a hydrogen filling station, has lines (10-16) for connecting storage containers (B1-B8) to stations (CP, Z1-Z4), and valve units (6, 7) for selectively opening and closing the connection between the storage containers (B1-B8) and the stations (CP, Z1-Z4). The lines (10-16) are arranged in a matrix formation in a line module (1). The valve units (6, 7) are releasably secured in a matrix formation on the line module (1). The distributor permits a compact and space-saving arrangement of valve units, which can also be easily exchanged. Each valve unit preferably comprises a main valve, a pilot valve and a check valve.

Description

[0001] TITLE

[0002] DISTRIBUTOR OF A FLUID SUPPLY SYSTEM AND VALVE UNIT

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The present invention relates to a distributor of a fluid supply system, in particular a hydrogen filling station, and to a valve unit, in particular for use in a distributor of a fluid supply system.

[0005] STATE OF THE ART

[0006] Fluid supply systems, particularly hydrogen refueling facilities and, more specifically, hydrogen filling stations, contain one or more high-pressure storage vessels containing liquid or compressed gaseous hydrogen for filling containers or refueling motor vehicles or railways. The high-pressure storage vessels are also referred to in this text as storage vessels, pressure tanks, banks, or storage banks.

[0007] In order to fully refuel a vehicle as quickly as possible, the hydrogen is drawn sequentially from several storage tanks. The further the vehicle is filled, the higher the pressure in the storage tanks must be. The pressures in the individual storage tanks therefore vary; they are usually 350 bar, 500 bar, 700 bar and 1000 bar. However, storage tanks with other pressure levels are also possible. If pilot-operated valves are used to open and close the lines, dead times when switching to other storage tanks can be minimized. However, since the pilot-operated valves often open faster than they close, check valves are also necessary to prevent backflow into the storage tank with the lower pressure that is no longer in use.

[0008] Fluid supply systems typically include more than one fueling station. For example, a gas station typically has more than one fuel pump. Distributing the fluid flows from the storage tanks to the fueling stations therefore requires a multitude of pipelines, pilot-operated valves, and check valves.

[0009] The various pipes, valves, and check valves are arranged in so-called "flow panels" or "valve panels." These arrangements have numerous connection points that must be sealed. The multitude of connection points increases the risk of leakage. If a leak does occur, it is often difficult to access and therefore difficult to repair.

[0010] Replacing worn valves and check valves also takes time, as they are often difficult to access, and the subsequent resealing of the connection points is laborious. This causes long downtimes of the system, i.e., the fluid supply system, and high maintenance costs.

[0011] The initial installation of the flow panels is also time-consuming and requires specialist expertise. This is because, due to their size and weight, they are usually assembled on-site. The initial operational check can therefore also only be performed on-site. Typical installation times are 5 to 7 days.

[0012] Another disadvantage of the well-known "flow panels" is that they are relatively large and heavy. They often require their own cabinet and thus take up additional space. They are difficult to install in a shared container with other components. However, floor space is expensive, especially at gas stations, so the "flow panels" increase the rental costs or purchase price for the site where the system is located.

[0013] A flow panel for eight storage tanks and four dispensers typically measures approximately 2 x 2 x 1 m and weighs more than 600 kg. It also features approximately 288 cone and thread connections, all of which must be sealed (CT connection = cone and thread).

[0014] US 8,707,977 B2 discloses a distributor for a fluid supply system in which a smaller container is filled in a cascade from several high-pressure containers. The distributor comprises a solid body with mounting holes for check valves and mounting holes for pressure sequence valves. A check valve and a pressure sequence valve are connected to form a unit via an external line. They can be inserted into the holes in the distributor body as a common cartridge. A sensor line leads from the smaller container to be filled to the pressure sequence valves, which open or close depending on the pressure in the smaller container. A separate hole allows the high-pressure containers to be refilled. This distributor is suitable for filling a single container, but not for a system with controlled valves supplying multiple consumer stations, for example, because control of the individual valves is not possible.

[0015] PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] It is an object of the invention to provide a distributor for a fluid supply system, in particular a hydrogen filling station, which eliminates the above-mentioned problems of the known flow panels.

[0017] This problem is solved by a distributor having the features of claim 1.

[0018] The distributor according to the invention comprises lines for connecting storage tanks to stations and valve units for selectively opening and closing the connection between the storage tanks and the stations. The lines are arranged in a matrix in a line module, and the valve units are detachably mounted on the line module in a matrix.

[0019] The use of a line module to which the valves are attached simplifies initial installation. Installation time is significantly reduced. Depending on the design, it can be considerably less than a day.

[0020] The inventive arrangement of the lines and valve units allows easy access to all valve units. They can thus be easily replaced without having to remove lines or loosen additional seals. Maintenance times and costs, as well as downtime at the gas station, are thus minimized.

[0021] Preferably, all valve units are arranged on the same side of the line module. This allows all valve units to be accessible from the same side. If the manifold is installed in a cabinet, this side can be the front and thus the most accessible side. This also simplifies and shortens maintenance. Furthermore, the matrix arrangement allows for scaling of the manifold. This means that the same arrangement can be used for different quantities of storage vessels and stations. This simplifies the planning and design of such manifolds.

[0022] The stations are at least one, preferably several, consumer stations and / or at least one cryopump station. The consumer stations are preferably fuel pumps or other filling devices. The cryopump station serves to fill the storage containers. Depending on the embodiment, only consumer stations are present. In other embodiments, at least one consumer station, preferably several consumer stations, and a single cryopump station are present.

[0023] Thanks to the matrix-shaped arrangement, the distributor can also be designed to be more compact and therefore lighter.

[0024] The line module preferably consists of at least one solid component, with the lines being bores in the at least one solid component. The component is preferably made of a metal, in particular steel. As a result, the distributor itself has no pipes. The connection points and thus the potential leakage points can be significantly reduced.

[0025] The cables, which are drilled into a solid component, are extremely space-saving. The cable module can be made relatively small and is correspondingly lightweight.

[0026] A manifold with a solid component and holes, designed for eight high-pressure storage tanks and four dispensers, weighs approximately 200 kg including the valves and requires approximately 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.2 m of floor space. Furthermore, it requires only thirteen connection points if refilling via a cryogenic pump is also enabled in the manifold.

[0027] In one embodiment, the line module consists of a single, solid component. The holes can be arranged relatively close to one another. The line module is designed to be optimally sealed. The line module, and thus the distributor, are extremely compact. In another embodiment, the line module has several cuboid-shaped, elongated components, each component establishing the connection to a storage tank or station, and several such components can be joined together to form common lines. This modular variant enables easy expansion or reduction of an existing system to include more or fewer storage tanks and / or dispensers. Furthermore, production costs for the line module can be optimized because the manufactured components can be combined according to customer requirements.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, each valve unit comprises a main valve, a pilot valve for controlling the main valve, and a check valve, forming a common module. This module can be attached to and detached from the line module as a unit.

[0029] The valve unit is preferably designed such that a flow path of the fluid through the valve unit from an inlet to an outlet of the valve unit is U-shaped or V-shaped. As a result, the inlet and outlet are arranged on the same side and the valve unit itself is designed compactly. By arranging the inlet and outlet on the same side, with a U-shaped, V-shaped or alternative design of the flow path, the valve units and thus also the manifold can be designed very compactly. The valve units can be attached from the opposite side. Maintenance is easier. The outlet and the inlet preferably run approximately parallel to one another.

[0030] The main valve piston preferably moves in an approximately perpendicular direction to the direction of movement of the check valve piston. The pilot valve for piloting the main valve is preferably located in the extension of the check valve. The direction of movement of the pilot valve piston is preferably parallel to the direction of movement of the check valve piston and perpendicular to the main valve piston. The three pistons preferably open into a common valve chamber that forms part of the fluid path through the valve unit. Preferably, the main valve outlet, the pilot valve outlet, and the check valve inlet open into the common valve chamber.

[0031] Preferably, at least the main valve and the check valve are arranged in a common housing. The pilot valve is preferably also integrated into this housing or screwed onto it. This results in a very compact design of the valve unit. The multiple valve units can thus be arranged on the line module in a very space-saving manner.

[0032] In preferred embodiments, some of the lines of the line module are storage tank lines, with each storage tank line connecting a storage tank to a first subset of the valve units. Another part of the lines of the line module in this embodiment are station lines, with each station line connecting a second subset of the valve units to a respective consumer station. This arrangement enables a preferred embodiment in which the first subset and the second subset are not identical, but exactly one valve unit of the distributor is present in the first and second subsets.

[0033] In preferred embodiments, the storage container lines extend in a first direction of a matrix and the station lines extend in a second direction of the matrix perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the storage container lines extend at a distance from the station lines.

[0034] These arrangements allow the valve units to be assigned to a unique combination of a storage unit and a station.

[0035] In preferred embodiments, first valve lines are provided, which extend at an angle to the storage tank lines from the storage tank lines to the valve units, and second valve lines are provided, which extend at an angle to the station lines from the station lines to the valve units. In this way, the valve units can be arranged on the line module. No recesses are necessary to insert the valve units into the block of the line module. The line module can be designed to be relatively narrow and thus lightweight.

[0036] Preferably, there is exactly one storage tank line per storage container and exactly one station line per station, wherein the storage tank line and the station line run uninterrupted and in a straight line in the line module. This in turn reduces the size of the line module and minimizes the connection points that need to be sealed. The station is preferably a consumer station, in particular a fuel pump. However, it can also be a cryopump station that serves to fill the storage containers. In one embodiment, at least one station is a consumer station and at least one further station is a cryopump station. The valve units assigned to the at least one consumer station differ at least in their arrangement from the valve units assigned to the cryopump station.

[0037] Depending on the embodiment, the valve units assigned to the cryopump station are designed identically to the previously mentioned valve units, but arranged in reverse. However, other types of valve units are used in other embodiments.

[0038] The valve unit according to the invention comprises a main valve, a pilot valve for controlling the main valve, and a check valve, which form a common module that can be assembled and removed as a unit. The main valve, the pilot valve, and the check valve are arranged in such a way that a U-shaped or V-shaped flow path for a fluid flow is formed from an inlet into the valve unit to an outlet from the valve unit. The valve unit is extremely compact and space-saving. Thanks to the U-shaped or V-shaped flow path, it can be used in a variety of ways, since the inlet and outlet are located on the same side. The valve unit and the alternatives and variants already mentioned above can be used in particular, but not exclusively, in a distributor according to the invention described in this text.In particular, the flow path may have a different shape, especially if the inlet and outlet are located on the same side. A parallel flow path in the area of ​​the inlet and outlet is preferred.

[0039] Further embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0040] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be interpreted as limiting. The drawings show: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a hydrogen filling station with a distributor according to the invention;

[0042] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the distributor according to the invention with

[0043] Line module and valve units in a first embodiment;

[0044] Figure 3 shows part of the distributor according to Figure 2;

[0045] Figure 4 shows the line module of the distributor according to Figure 2 with a mounted valve unit according to the invention;

[0046] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the line module according to Figure 4 from below without valve units;

[0047] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the line module according to Figure 5 from the front;

[0048] Figure ? the perspective view of the line module according to Figure 6 with a transparent representation of an upper area of ​​the distributor;

[0049] Figure 8 shows the perspective view of the line module according to Figure 6 with a transparent representation of the distributor and with a representation of only one

[0050] Part of the drilling;

[0051] Figure 9 shows the exploded view of the line module according to Figure 6 with a mounted valve unit according to the invention;

[0052] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the valve unit according to the invention;

[0053] Figure 11 is a schematic representation of the arrangement of the three valves of the valve unit;

[0054] Figure 12 shows a longitudinal section through the valve unit according to Figure 10;

[0055] Figure 13 is a perspective view of the line module according to the invention in a second embodiment, and Figure 14 is a further perspective view of the line module according to Figure 13 with some valve units mounted.

[0056] DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0057] Figure 1 schematically shows a gas station. It has several, in this case eight, storage tanks B1-B8 in which a fluid is stored under high pressure. In this example, the fluid is hydrogen. The high-pressure storage tanks B1-B8 have different pressures, although two or more storage banks B1-B8 can have the same pressure. The pressures are preferably 350 bar, 500 bar, 700 bar, and 1000 bar.

[0058] First lines BL lead from each storage tank B1-B8 to a distributor V, also called a manifold. A cryopump station CP with a cryopump is connected to the distributor V via a second line CL.

[0059] Several, here four, fuel pumps Z1-Z4 are connected to the distributor V via third lines ZL.

[0060] The cryopump station CP and the pumps Z1-Z4 are collectively referred to as stations in this text.

[0061] To fill the storage tanks B1-B8, the hydrogen is usually fed from a tank truck T through the cryopump station CP, the second line CL, the distributor V and the first lines BL into the individual storage tanks B1-B8.

[0062] For refueling vehicles not shown here, the hydrogen is fed from the storage tanks B1-B8 via the first lines BL, the distributor V, and the third lines ZL to the individual fuel pumps Z1-Z4. During refueling, depending on the fill level of the vehicle tank, the tank changes from a low-pressure storage tank B1-B8 to a higher-pressure storage tank B1-B8. The changeover occurs via the distributor V, which has pilot-operated valves controlled by an electronic controller. The controller is not shown here. Such control systems for valves for filling vehicle tanks at filling stations are known. Figures 2 to 12 show a first embodiment of the distributor according to the invention.

[0063] It comprises several line module elements 100 that are combined to form a common line module 1. The line module elements 100 are cuboid-shaped, elongated, and solid components with multiple holes. They are preferably made of metal, more preferably of steel. The holes are created by drilling, EDM, laser drilling, or some other method.

[0064] Several line module elements 100 are stacked one above the other. A first, here lower, end is formed by a first end beam 2. A second, here upper, end is formed by a second end beam 3. The line module elements 100 are screwed together to the first and second end beams 2, 3. The long connecting screws 4 and their nuts 40 are clearly visible in Figures 2 and 9. The line module elements 100 have corresponding through-holes 17, as can be clearly seen in Figures 3 and 9. The second end beam 3 also has through-holes 31 for this purpose, which are labeled in Figure 9. Corresponding threaded openings 21 are present in the first end beam 2. This can be seen in Figure 5.

[0065] In this example, eight line module elements 100 are stacked on top of each other. One line module element 100 is used for each of the eight storage tanks B1-B8 in this example. If more or fewer storage tanks B1-B8 are available, the number of line module elements 100 is selected accordingly. Thanks to the modular design, the same components can be used for different applications.

[0066] Several valve units 6, 7 are arranged on each line module element 100. In this example, there are five valve units. Four of these serve to connect one of the eight storage tanks B1-B8 and the four fuel pumps Z1-Z4. This means that each of the valve units in this strip is assigned to the same storage tank B1-B8, but to a different fuel pump Z1-Z4. In this text, they are referred to as the first valve units 6 or fuel pump valves. The fifth valve unit, here called the second valve unit 7 or cryopump valve, is used to fill the storage tanks B1-B8 via the cryopump station CP. If the distributor V is to be used for more than four fuel pumps, the line module element 100 is manufactured with more holes and a greater length. For fewer than four fuel pumps, individual holes can be tightly closed. Alternatively, the line module element 100 can be made correspondingly shorter.

[0067] As can be clearly seen in Figures 2 and 3, all first valve units 6 are aligned identically. The second valve units 7 are aligned differently than the first valve units 6, but are also all aligned identically. This forms, as can be seen in Figure 2, a very dense and space-saving package on the line module 1. Nevertheless, the individual first and second valve units 6, 7 are easily accessible and can be replaced individually. This facilitates maintenance.

[0068] The individual valve units 6, 7 are screwed to the line module element 100 using screws 68. The screws 68 are clearly visible in Figure 3. There are usually four of them. The corresponding threaded holes 18 in the line module element 100 can be seen in Figures 4 and 9.

[0069] The assembled distributor V is easy to transport. For this purpose, eyelets 5 are attached to the second beam 3, as shown in Figures 2 and 9. This facilitates assembly and maintenance. Another advantage is that the distributor can be fully assembled and tested at the factory. Mounting holes 20, 30 (see Figure 4) allow the distributor V to be attached to a fixture or profile.

[0070] Each line module element 100 is constructed identically. It has a bore in the longitudinal direction of the line module element 100, which forms a storage tank line 10. This is clearly visible in Figures 3 and 7. In Figure 7, only some of the lines are visible. However, the remaining line module elements 100 are constructed identically.

[0071] The bore can be a through-hole or a blind bore. If it is a through-hole, one end is sealed. One or both ends of the storage tank line 10 have an extension 101 to enable a sealed connection to one of the first lines BL. This connection is typically a CT connection.

[0072] Furthermore, each line module element 100 has transverse bores running perpendicular to and at a distance from the storage tank line 10 and perpendicular to the threaded holes 18. These transverse bores run parallel to the through-bores 17. They form parts of lines to the stations, i.e. to the fuel pumps Z1-Z4 and the cryopump station CP. In this example, there are four lines for the four fuel pumps Z1-Z4, here called fuel pump lines 15, and one line for the cryopump station CP, here called cryopump line 16. They are clearly visible in Figures 3, 7 and 8. Only some of the lines 15, 16 are shown in Figures 7 and 8. However, they extend over all of the line module elements 100. Furthermore, only one line 15 is shown in each case. However, three further such lines 15 extend parallel to this, as can be seen from the holes in Figures 3 and 5.Lines 15 and 16 run separately from the storage tank lines 10. They do not penetrate each other. The storage tank lines 10 also run separately and at a distance from each other. The same applies to lines 15 and 16.

[0073] Figure 5 also shows that the first end beam 2 also has corresponding holes for the lines 15, 16. The holes in the first end beam 2 preferably have extensions 201 to enable a tight connection to one of the third lines ZL. These connections are typically CT connections.

[0074] The second end bar 3 preferably does not have such bores, but rather seals the corresponding ends of the bores of the lines 15, 16 of the uppermost line module element 100. In some embodiments, O-rings are provided as sealing elements for this purpose. In other embodiments, other known sealing elements are used for this purpose.

[0075] The bores for the lines 15, 16 in the individual line module elements 100 are sealed from one another using suitable sealing elements. In some embodiments, O-rings and support rings are used for this purpose, which are inserted into the grooves surrounding the lines 15, 16. The grooves are clearly visible in Figure 3. On the opposite side of each line module element 100, and thus on the side facing the adjacent line module element 100, a corresponding mirror surface is present. Alternatively, other sealing elements with and without O-rings can also be used. In the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the line module elements 100 and perpendicular to the bores for the lines 15, 16, further bores are present in the line module elements 100. They are arranged in pairs, corresponding to the inlet and outlet openings of the valve units 6, 7.In Figures 4 to 8, they are designated by reference numerals 11, 12, 13, and 14 and are referred to here as valve lines. For clarity, only a portion of the interior of the line module 1 is shown in Figures 6 to 8. This portion extends identically over the remaining area of ​​the line module elements 100.

[0076] The first valve lines 11 extend from the outer surface of the line module elements 100 to one of the storage tank lines 10. This is clearly visible in Figures 6 to 8. They open into the storage tank lines 10. The second valve lines 12 also extend adjacent thereto from the outer surface of the line module elements 100 to one of the fuel pump lines 15. They open into the fuel pump lines 15.

[0077] The third valve lines 13 are the counterpart to the second valve lines 12. They extend from the outer surface of the line module elements 100 to the cryopump line 16 and they open into the cryopump line 16. The fourth valve lines 14 are the counterpart to the first valve lines 11. They extend from the outer surface of the line module elements 100 to one of the storage container lines 10 and open into them.

[0078] The first valve lines 11 are each connected to an inlet 63 of one of the first valve units

[0079] 6 are tightly connected. The adjacent second valve lines 12 are connected to an outlet 64 of the corresponding first valve unit 6. This allows the hydrogen to flow from the corresponding storage tank B1-B8 to the corresponding fuel pump Z1-Z4 when the first valve unit 6 is open. A check valve 62 located in the first valve unit 6 prevents backflow.

[0080] The third valve lines 13 are each connected to an inlet of one of the second valve units

[0081] 7 are tightly connected. The fourth valve lines 14 arranged adjacent thereto are connected to an outlet of the corresponding second valve unit 7. As a result, when the second valve unit 7 is open, the hydrogen can flow from the cryopump station CP into the corresponding storage container B1-B8. Thanks to a check valve arranged in the second valve unit 7, backflow is prevented. Preferably, the line module 1 is provided with a uniform grid of bores that are used as valve lines. This means that the third valve lines 13 are identical to the second valve lines 12 and the fourth valve lines 14 are identical to the first valve lines 11. This facilitates production.

[0082] The first and second valve units 6, 7 can be designed differently. However, if they are identical, as in the example shown, a reversed arrangement of the second valve units 7 is sufficient to swap the inlets and outlets. This is clearly visible in Figures 2 and 3.

[0083] As already mentioned, the first and second valve units 6, 7 are screwed onto the line module. Sealing is ensured by O-rings or other suitable sealing elements, which are preferably arranged in grooves around the valve lines 11, 12, 13, 14. The O-rings are not shown. The grooves can be seen in Figure 7.

[0084] The first and second valve units 6, 7 can be designed differently. They preferably have a pilot-operated switching valve and a check valve. Preferably, each of the valve units comprises a main valve 60, a pilot valve 61, and a check valve 62. The pilot valve 61 is also called a control valve or pilot valve. It is typically a solenoid valve. It controls the self-medium-piloted main valve 60.

[0085] Figures 10 to 12 show a preferred embodiment of a first valve unit 6. Preferably, the second valve units 7 are identically constructed.

[0086] A feature of this valve unit 6 is that the main valve 60, pilot valve 61, and check valve 62 are in fluid communication via a common valve chamber 65. This is schematically illustrated in Figure 11. For this purpose, an output of the main valve 60, an output of the pilot valve 61, and an inlet of the check valve 62 open toward the common valve chamber 65.

[0087] Figure 12 shows the valve unit 6 in more detail. The main valve 60 is arranged together with the check valve 62 in a valve housing 67. The pilot valve 61, with its armature guide 611, its armature 612, and its stationary nozzle 610, projects into the valve housing 67. A static seal of the nozzle 610 with respect to the valve housing 67 is provided with the reference numeral 614. A solenoid housing 615 projecting beyond the valve housing 67 has a solenoid coil for actuating the armature 612. An electrical connection 617 establishes the connection to a control system.

[0088] An annular pressure chamber 613 surrounds the nozzle 610 of the pilot valve 61. A control line 66 leads from the pressure chamber 613 to the control chamber 602 of the main valve 60.

[0089] The main valve 60 has a movable piston 600 connected to a cover 601 via a spring 603. A bore 605 connects a tapered extension of the inlet 63 to the control chamber 602. The cover 601 is fixed to the valve housing 67. The movable piston 600 is provided with a dynamic seal 604.

[0090] The inlet 63 leads from one side of the cuboid valve housing 67 to the movable piston 600 of the main valve 60 and, when the piston 600 is in the open position, to the valve chamber 65. In this example, the flow is around the piston 600. The piston 600 has corresponding recesses or ribs on its circumference for this purpose, which are not visible in Figure 12. In alternative embodiments, the piston 600 has through-openings for this purpose.

[0091] The check valve 62 is arranged on the same side of the valve body 67 as the inlet 63. It is located in the outlet 64. The movable piston 620 of the check valve 62 is directed toward the valve chamber 65. A valve body 621 is arranged outwardly. It has a static seal 624. A spring 623 is present between the piston 620 and the valve body 621. A backflowing fluid flows through or around the valve body 621 and closes the piston 620 of the check valve 62. In the current embodiment, the piston 620 is flowed around. The corresponding recesses or ribs are not visible in Figure 12.

[0092] A fluid flowing through the main valve 60 into the valve chamber 65 flows out through the check valve 62. The fluid path from the inlet 63 to the outlet 64 is thus U-shaped.

[0093] The main valve 60 is pilot-controlled by its own medium via the pilot valve 61. When the main valve 60 and the pilot valve 61 are closed, the connection between the inlet 63, the bore 605, and the control chamber 602 is open. When the pilot valve 61 is opened by the solenoid coil, the armature 612 is pulled upward, and the central channel 616 in the nozzle 610 creates a connection from the valve chamber 65, the pressure chamber 613 of the pilot valve 61, and the control line 66 to the control chamber 602 of the main valve 60. When the check valve 62 is open, the connection from the valve chamber 65 to the outlet 64 is also open. Opening the pilot valve 61 thus results in a pressure drop in the control chamber 602 compared to the pressure in the bore 605, which opens the main valve 60.

[0094] When the pilot valve 61 closes, the connection between the valve chamber 65 and the control chamber 602 is interrupted. The pressure in the bore 605 and the control chamber 602 is the same; the pressure in the valve chamber 65 is lower due to the open check valve 62. The piston 600 closes thanks to the spring 603, i.e., the piston 600 moves to the left in Figure 12.

[0095] However, other main valves, pilot valves, and check valves can also be used in the U-shaped arrangement according to the invention. The example shown here is merely a variant, and some or all of the valves can be replaced by known valves.

[0096] The surface of the valve housing 67 is preferably flat in the area of ​​the inlet 63 and the outlet 64. This facilitates installation on the line module 1.

[0097] Figures 13 and 14 show a second embodiment of the line module 1 according to the invention. It can be used with the same first and second valve units 6, 7 as the first embodiment. The bores and lines are also the same. The above statements therefore apply. The difference from the first embodiment is that the line module 1 consists of a single, solid component. It is a thick plate, in particular made of metal, for example steel, which is provided with bores to create the lines and fixing options for the valve units 6, 7 described above. The two end beams 2, 3 are not necessary.

[0098] As can be seen in Figure 13, the fuel pump lines 15 and the cryopump line 16 penetrate the upper end face 120 of the line module 1. The opposite lower end face 130 is closed, as can be seen in Figure 14. This is to be understood merely as an example. This line module 1, like the line module according to the first embodiment, can be used in any spatial position.

[0099] Figure 14 shows several valve units 6, 7 in their assembled position. In this embodiment, the line module 1 can also be fully equipped, as shown in Figure 2 for the first embodiment. The distributor according to the invention enables a compact and space-saving arrangement of valve units, which can also be easily replaced. Each valve unit preferably comprises a main valve, a pilot valve, and a check valve.

[0100] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0101] Line module 602 Control chamber accumulator line 603 Spring extension 604 Dynamic seal first valve line 605 Bore second valve line 61 Pilot valve third valve line 610 Armature fourth valve line 611 Armature guide dispenser line 612 Armature cryopump line 613 Pressure chamber through-hole 614 Static seal threaded holes 615 Solenoid housing line module element 616 Central channel first end face 617 Electrical connection second end face 62 Check valve

[0102] 620 Piston first end beam 621 Valve body mounting holes 623 Spring threaded opening 624 Static seal extension 63 Inlet

[0103] 64 Outlet second end bar 65 Valve chamber mounting holes 66 Control line through hole 67 Valve body

[0104] 68 screw

[0105] Connecting screws nut 7 valve unit of the

[0106] Cryopump station

[0107] eyelet

[0108] B1 first storage tank

[0109] Valve unit of the B2 second storage tank consumer station B3 third storage tank main valve B4 fourth storage tank piston B5 fifth storage tank cover B6 sixth storage tank B7 seventh storage tank consumer station

[0110] B8 eighth storage tank Z2 second pump / second

[0111] BL first line consumer station

[0112] CP cryopump station Z3 third pump / third

[0113] CL second line consumer station

[0114] T tanker Z4 fourth pump / fourth

[0115] V Distributor consumer station

[0116] Z1 first pump / first ZL third line

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1 . Distributor of a fluid supply system, in particular a hydrogen filling station, with lines (10-16) for connecting storage containers (B1-B8) to stations (CP, Z1-Z4), with valve units (6, 7) for selectively opening and closing the connection between the storage containers (B1-B8) and the stations (CP, Z1-Z4), characterized in that the lines (10-16) are arranged in a matrix in a line module (1) and that the valve units (6, 7) are detachably fastened in a matrix on the line module (1).

2. Distributor according to claim 1, wherein the line module (1) consists of at least one solid component and wherein the lines (10-16) are bores in the at least one solid component.

3. Distributor according to claim 2, wherein the line module (1) consists of a single solid component.

4. Distributor according to claim 2, wherein the line module (1) comprises a plurality of cuboid-shaped, elongated components (100), each component establishing the connection to a storage container (B1-B8) or a station (CP, Z1-Z4), and wherein a plurality of such components can be joined together to form common lines (10-16).

5. Distributor according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each valve unit (6, 7) comprises a main valve (60), a pilot valve (61) for controlling the main valve (60) and a check valve (62), which form a common module which can be attached as a unit to the line module (1) and detachable from the line module (1).

6. Distributor according to claim 5, wherein a flow path of the fluid through the valve unit (6, 7) from an inlet (63) to an outlet (64) of the valve unit (6, 7) is U-shaped.

7. Distributor according to one of claims 5 or 6, wherein at least the main valve (60) and the check valve (62) are arranged in a common valve housing (67).

8. Distributor according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the valve unit (6, 7) has a valve chamber (65) to which the outlet of the main valve (60), the outlet of the pilot valve (61) and the inlet of the check valve (62) open.

9. Distributor according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein some of the lines of the line module (1) are storage tank lines (10), each storage tank line (10) connecting a storage tank (B1-B8) to a first subset of the valve units (6, 7) and wherein another part of the lines of the line module (1) are station lines (15, 16), each station line (15, 16) connecting a second subset of the valve units (6, 7) to a station (CP, Z1-Z4).

10. Distributor according to claim 9, wherein the first subset and the second subset are not identical and wherein exactly one valve unit (6, 7) of the distributor is present in the first and the second subset.

11. Distributor according to one of claims 9 or 10, wherein the storage container lines (10) extend in a first direction of a matrix and the station lines (15, 16) extend in a second direction of the matrix perpendicular to the first direction, the storage container lines (10) being spaced from the station lines (15, 16).

12. Distributor according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein first valve lines (11) are provided which extend, at an angle to the storage tank lines (10), from the storage tank lines (10) to the valve units (6, 7), and wherein second valve lines (12) are provided which extend, at an angle to the station lines (15, 16), from the station lines (15, 16) to the valve units (6, 7).

13. Distributor according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein there is exactly one storage container line (10) per storage container (B1-B8) and exactly one station line (16, 15) per station (CP, Z1-Z4), wherein the storage container line (10) and the station line (16, 15) are arranged in the line module (1) without interruption and in a straight line get lost.

14. Distributor according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein at least one station is a consumer station, in particular a fuel pump (Z1-Z4), and wherein at least one further station is a cryopump station (CP) for filling the storage containers (BIBS), wherein the valve units (6) assigned to the at least one consumer station differ at least in their arrangement from the valve units (7) assigned to the cryopump station (CP).

15. Valve unit, in particular for use in a distributor according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein it comprises a main valve (60), a pilot valve (61) for controlling the main valve (60) and a check valve (62), wherein they form a common module which can be mounted and removed as a unit, wherein the main valve (60), the pilot valve (61) and the check valve (62) are arranged relative to one another in such a way that a U-shaped or a V-shaped flow path for a flow of a fluid is formed from an inlet (63) into the valve unit (6) to an outlet (64) from the valve unit (6).

16. Valve unit, in particular for use in a distributor according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein it comprises a main valve (60), a pilot valve (61) for controlling the main valve (60) and a check valve (62), wherein they form a common module which can be mounted and removed as a unit, wherein the main valve (60), the pilot valve (61) and the check valve (62) are arranged relative to one another in such a way that a flow path for a flow of a fluid is formed from an inlet (63) into the valve unit (6) to an outlet (64) from the valve unit (6), wherein the inlet (63) and the outlet (64) are arranged on the same side of the module.

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