Hydrogen filling device for detachable hydrogen tank

Abstract

To provide a hydrogen filling device for a detachable hydrogen tank (hydrogen cartridge) capable of preventing unintended release of hydrogen.SOLUTION: A device for filling a detachable hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen includes a connecting part which is connected to the hydrogen cartridge to fill the hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen, and a lock mechanism for regulating separation of the hydrogen cartridge from the device. The lock mechanism is connected to the hydrogen cartridge with the usage of pressure of the hydrogen and locks the hydrogen cartridge when filling the hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for filling a removable hydrogen tank with hydrogen for use in a device that utilizes hydrogen. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a system for filling a hydrogen tank in a vehicle with hydrogen. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-021651 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A hydrogen tank supplies hydrogen for generating electricity to a device (hydrogen consuming device) equipped with a fuel cell, and when filling a hydrogen tank (portable hydrogen cartridge, hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a "hydrogen cartridge") that is detachable from the hydrogen consuming device with hydrogen, it is possible to use a device for filling hydrogen cartridges (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "hydrogen filling device") In other words, the hydrogen cartridge that has consumed hydrogen in the hydrogen consuming device is attached to the hydrogen filling device and the hydrogen cartridge is filled with hydrogen, and the hydrogen cartridge filled with hydrogen is removed from the hydrogen filling device and attached again to the hydrogen consuming device.

[0005] When filling a hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen using such a hydrogen filling device, it is desirable to prevent the hydrogen cartridge from becoming detached from the hydrogen filling device during filling or from being accidentally removed, which would result in the release of hydrogen.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a hydrogen filling device for a detachable hydrogen tank (hydrogen cartridge) that can prevent unintended release of hydrogen. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present application discloses a hydrogen filling device that fills a removable hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen, the device comprising a connection part that connects to the hydrogen cartridge and fills the hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen, and a locking mechanism that prevents the hydrogen cartridge from being removed from the device, the locking mechanism being connected to the hydrogen cartridge using hydrogen pressure when filling the hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen, and locking the hydrogen cartridge.

[0008] The locking mechanism may have a cylinder and a pin, and hydrogen branched off from the piping through which hydrogen flows flows into the cylinder, causing the pin to be pressed and moved by the pressure of the flowing hydrogen, and the pressed pin may engage with the hydrogen cartridge to enter a locked state. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the hydrogen filling device of the present disclosure, when hydrogen is filled into the hydrogen cartridge, a locking mechanism prevents the hydrogen filling device and the hydrogen cartridge from being detached, and this non-detachable state is maintained during hydrogen filling, so that the hydrogen cartridge does not come off the hydrogen filling device during hydrogen filling, preventing unintended release of hydrogen. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hydrogen cartridge 10. As shown in FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows the external appearance of the hydrogen filling device 50. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the hydrogen filling device 50. As shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one of the storage compartments 51 with the hydrogen cartridge 10 attached thereto. [Diagram 5]FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the lock mechanism 57. As shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of a lock mechanism 57 in another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] 1. Hydrogen tank First, a hydrogen cartridge to be filled with hydrogen by the hydrogen filling device of the present disclosure will be described with reference to an example embodiment. The hydrogen cartridge 10 is a container that stores the gas to be supplied (hydrogen in this embodiment) in a liquid or gaseous state. An explanatory diagram is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1(a) is an external view of the hydrogen cartridge 10 (the tank 11 contained therein is shown by a dotted line), and FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the direction of the axis O of the hydrogen cartridge 10. As can be seen from these figures, in this embodiment, the hydrogen cartridge 10 has the tank 11 and a case 17. The tank 11 also includes a liner 12, a reinforcing layer 13, and a protective layer 14 that constitute the container body, and a cap 15 and an on-off valve 16 are disposed on the container body.

[0012] 1.1. Raina The liner 12 is one of the members constituting the container body of the tank 11, is a hollow member that defines the internal space, and is cylindrical in this embodiment. The liner 12 has a body portion 12a with a roughly constant diameter, and openings at both ends of the body portion 12a are narrowed by dome-shaped side ends 12b, and a nozzle 15 is disposed in the narrowed opening 12c. The liner 12 may be made of any material capable of holding what is contained in its internal space (e.g., hydrogen) without leakage, and any known material may be used. Specifically, the liner may be made of, for example, nylon resin, polyethylene-based synthetic resin, or metal such as stainless steel or aluminum. Among these, from the viewpoint of reducing the weight of the tank, it is preferable that the material constituting the liner is synthetic resin. The thickness of the liner 12 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm.

[0013] 1.2. Reinforcement layer The reinforcing layer 13 is one of the components that constitute the container body, and is made of multiple layers of laminated fibers that are impregnated with hardened resin. The fiber layers are formed by wrapping fiber bundles around the outer periphery of the liner 12 in multiple layers to a predetermined thickness. The thickness of the reinforcing layer 13 and the number of turns of the fiber bundle are determined by the required strength and are not particularly limited, but are about 10 mm to 30 mm.

[0014] <Fiber bundle> The fiber bundles of the reinforcing layer 13 are made of carbon fibers, for example, and the fiber bundles are in the form of bands of carbon fibers bundled together and having a predetermined cross-sectional shape (for example, a rectangular cross-section). Although there is no particular limitation on the specific cross-sectional shape, an example of the cross-sectional shape is a rectangle with a width of about 6 mm to 20 mm and a thickness of about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. The amount of carbon fibers contained in the fiber bundle is also not particularly limited, but an example of the fiber bundle is about 36,000 carbon fibers.

[0015] <Impregnating resin> The resin impregnated and cured in the fibers (fiber bundles) in the reinforcing layer 13 is not particularly limited as long as it can increase the strength of the fibers. Examples of such resins include thermosetting resins that are cured by heat, specifically epoxy resins and unsaturated polyester resins that contain amine- or anhydride-based curing accelerators and rubber-based reinforcing agents. Other examples include resin compositions that use epoxy resin as a base agent and are cured by mixing a curing agent into it. In this case, the resin composition, which is a mixture of the base agent and the curing agent, reaches and penetrates the fiber layer between the time of mixing and curing, and the time of curing, and automatically cures.

[0016] 1.3.Protective layer If necessary, a protective layer 14 may be disposed on the outer periphery of the reinforcing layer 13 as one of the members constituting the container body. When provided, for example, glass fiber is wound and impregnated with resin. The impregnated resin can be considered to be the same as the reinforcing layer 13. This can provide impact resistance to the tank 11. The thickness of the protective layer 14 is not particularly limited, but may be about 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0017] 1.4. Base The nozzles 15 are members attached to each of the two openings 12c of the liner 12, and are disposed on both ends of the liner 12 in the direction of the axis O. The nozzle 15 on one end side functions as an opening that communicates between the inside and outside of the container body, and has an opening / closing valve 16 disposed therein. The nozzle 15 on the other end side is closed. The material constituting the base 15 is not particularly limited as long as it has the necessary strength, and examples of the material include stainless steel and aluminum.

[0018] 1.5.Shut-off valve The on-off valve 16 is closed when the hydrogen cartridge 10 is not attached to the hydrogen filling device 50, and is opened by being pressed by a push rod 55a when the hydrogen cartridge 10 is attached to the hydrogen filling device 50, as described below. The tip of the on-off valve 16 has a connection part 16a connected to the hydrogen filling device 50 on the side connected to the hydrogen filling device 50. The connection part 16a is a part that can be engaged and disengaged with the connection part 55b of the hydrogen filling device 50. The specific form is not limited, but in this embodiment, a mechanical connection (mechanical interface) can be used, and among them, a mount such as that used to connect a photographing lens to a body of a camera can be applied, and more specifically, a C mount can be used. Therefore, in this embodiment, the connection part 16a is connected to the connection part 55b of the hydrogen filling device 50 while rotating the hydrogen cartridge 10 around the axis O.

[0019] 1.6.Case The case 17 is a member that encloses the tank 11 and forms the outer shell of the hydrogen cartridge 10 , and has a housing 18 and a handle 19 . The housing 18 is a cylindrical member, and is configured so that the tank 11 can be stored therein. The housing 18 is also provided with a hole 18a at a position facing the on-off valve 16 of the stored tank 11, and is configured so that the on-off valve 16 can be accessed from the outside. In this embodiment, the surface of the housing 18 on which the hole 18a is provided has a lock mechanism engagement portion 18b which is a recess when viewed from the outside. As will be described later, a lock member 57 of the hydrogen filling device 50 engages with the lock mechanism engagement portion 18b.

[0020] The handle 19 is an arch-shaped member located at the end of the housing 18 opposite the side on which the opening and closing valve 16 of the tank 11 is located, and the user can hold this handle 19 to carry the hydrogen cartridge 10 or to attach and detach the hydrogen cartridge 10 to the hydrogen filling device 50.

[0021] 1.7.Other Although there are no particular limitations on the allowable pressure of the tank 11, from the viewpoint of being relatively easy to carry and being able to store a larger amount of hydrogen, a tank capable of storing hydrogen at an allowable pressure of more than 20 MPa and not more than 70 MPa can be used. When the hydrogen filling device of the present disclosure is applied to such a tank with a high internal pressure, it becomes even more important to prevent unintentional hydrogen release.

[0022] 2. Structure of hydrogen filling device The configuration of one embodiment of the hydrogen filling device 50 is described below. Fig. 2 is an external perspective view of the hydrogen filling device 50, and Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the internal configuration of the hydrogen filling device 50 (the upper stage of the upper and lower two-stage storage section 51 in Fig. 2). The hydrogen filling device 50 is a device that fills hydrogen into a hydrogen cartridge 10. That is, it is configured so that a hydrogen cartridge 10 that has consumed hydrogen can be attached and removed after hydrogen has been filled into the hydrogen cartridge 10. To this end, the hydrogen filling device 50 includes a storage section 51 , a hydrogen supply section 52 , a main pipe 53 , a hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 , a connection device 55 , a locking mechanism branch pipe 56 , a locking mechanism 57 , a valve 70 , and a hydrogen discharge section 71 . The details are explained below.

[0023] 2.1.Storage section The storage section 51 is the portion in which the hydrogen cartridge 10 is stored when the hydrogen cartridge 10 is connected to the hydrogen filling device 50. Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a hydrogen cartridge 10 being stored in one storage section 51. Figure 3 shows a scene in which hydrogen cartridges 10 have been installed in all of the multiple storage sections 51 arranged in a row. Figure 4 focuses on one storage section 51 and shows in cross section a scene in which the hydrogen cartridge 10 has been stored (see Figure 1(b) for the reference symbols for the various parts of the hydrogen cartridge 10 shown in Figure 4). As can be seen from these figures, storage section 51 is a space in which hydrogen cartridge 10 is placed, and is a space surrounded by inner wall 51b having opening 51a through which hydrogen cartridge 10 can be inserted and removed. A connection device 55 and a locking mechanism 57 are disposed on bottom 51c of storage section 51, which is the opposite side to opening 51a. In this embodiment, the storage sections 51 are provided in two upper and lower stages, with six storage sections 51 provided on each stage, but the number of storage sections 51 is not particularly limited.

[0024] 2.2.Hydrogen supply unit Hydrogen supply unit 52 is a supply port that supplies hydrogen to be filled into hydrogen cartridge 10 to hydrogen filling device 50. Therefore, a connection member (sometimes called a nozzle) of a hydrogen supply pipe extending from a hydrogen supply device such as a hydrogen station is connected to hydrogen supply unit 51. A typical form of hydrogen supply unit 51 is a receptacle.

[0025] 2.3.Main piping The main pipe 53 is a pipe through which hydrogen flows, connecting the hydrogen supply unit 52 to the hydrogen discharge unit 71, and a hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 and a lock mechanism branch pipe 56 branch off from the main pipe 53. The main pipe 53 is provided with a pressure gauge 53a so that the internal pressure can be measured.

[0026] 2.4. Hydrogen supply branch pipe and connection device The hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 is a pipe that branches off from the main pipe 53 and extends towards each storage unit 51. The hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 is a pipe through which hydrogen to be filled into the hydrogen cartridge 10 flows, and supplies hydrogen to the connection device 55. A check valve is disposed in the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54, which allows hydrogen to flow from the main pipe 53 to the hydrogen cartridge 10 but restricts the reverse flow of hydrogen from the hydrogen cartridge 10 to the main pipe 53.

[0027] The connection device 55 is disposed at the bottom 51c of the storage section 51 at the connection portion of the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 with the tank 11 of the hydrogen cartridge 10, and is connected to the on-off valve 16 of the tank 11 described above, and operates the opening and closing of the on-off valve 16 of the tank 11 to allow hydrogen to flow into the tank 11. In this embodiment, as can be seen from FIG. 4, the connection device 55 has a rod-shaped push rod 55a arranged in the storage section 51, and when the hydrogen cartridge 50 is stored in the storage section 51, the push rod 55a presses the valve body of the on-off valve 16, thereby opening the on-off valve 16 and allowing hydrogen to flow from the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 into the tank 11. In this embodiment, the connecting device 55 has a connected portion 55b that engages with the connecting portion 16a provided at the tip of the on-off valve 16. The shape of the connected portion 55 is adapted to the shape of the connecting portion 16a.

[0028] 2.5.Branch pipe for locking mechanism / locking mechanism The locking mechanism branch pipe 56 is a pipe that branches off from the main pipe 53 and extends toward each storage unit 51. The locking mechanism branch pipe 56 is a pipe through which pressurized hydrogen for operating the locking mechanism 57 flows, and supplies hydrogen to the locking mechanism 57.

[0029] The locking mechanism 57 is disposed at the bottom 51c of the storage section 51, and switches between prohibiting and allowing the insertion and removal of the hydrogen cartridge 10 from the storage section 51. The configuration of the locking mechanism 57 according to one embodiment is shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 is a diagram of Figure 4 focusing on the locking mechanism 57 and its surroundings, with Figure 5(a) showing the locked state by the locking mechanism 57 and Figure 5(b) showing the released state of the locking mechanism 57.

[0030] In this embodiment, the locking mechanism 57 has a cylindrical cylinder 58, and a piston 59 movable in the axial direction of the cylinder 58 is disposed inside the cylinder 58. A rod-shaped pin 60 is connected to the piston 59, and the pin 60 is provided so as to extend along the axial direction of the cylinder 58 to the outside of the cylinder 58. Meanwhile, the locking mechanism branch pipe 56 is connected to the cylinder 58 on the side opposite to the direction in which the pin 60 extends. Also, an elastic body 61 (such as a spring) that biases the piston 59 toward the locking mechanism branch pipe 56 is disposed inside the cylinder 58.

[0031] With this type of locking mechanism 57, when hydrogen flows into the inside of cylinder 59 from locking mechanism branch pipe 56, the pressure of the hydrogen presses piston 59 against the biasing force of elastic body 61, and pin 60 connected to piston 59 moves so as to protrude into the inside of storage section 51. More specifically, at this time pin 60 enters locking mechanism engaging portion 18b, which is a recess in hydrogen cartridge 10 placed in storage section 51. As a result, as long as hydrogen pressure is applied, hydrogen cartridge 10 cannot be removed from storage section 51 (in this embodiment, it cannot be rotated around axis O). On the other hand, when the pressure due to hydrogen is released from locking mechanism branch pipe 56 (i.e., when the hydrogen in main pipe 53 is also discharged and the pressure drops), pin 60 connected to piston 59 moves towards the outside of storage section 51 due to the biasing force of elastic body 61. More specifically, at this time pin 60 disengages from locking mechanism engagement portion 18b, which is a recess in hydrogen cartridge 10 placed in storage section 51. As a result, it is only when the pressure due to hydrogen has been released that hydrogen cartridge 10 can be removed from storage section 51 (in this embodiment, hydrogen cartridge 10 can be rotated around axis O).

[0032] In the above embodiment, the hydrogen cartridge 10 is removed from the storage unit 51 by rotating the hydrogen cartridge 10 about the axis O, so the locking mechanism 57 and the locking mechanism engagement portion 18 are positioned in a position that can restrict this rotation. In contrast, if the hydrogen cartridge 10 only needs to be moved in the direction of the axis O to be removed from the storage unit 51, then the locking mechanism 57 may be provided on the inner wall 51b of the storage unit 51, as shown in Figure 6, and the locking mechanism engagement portion 18b may be provided in a position opposite to the locking mechanism 57.

[0033] 2.6. Valve, Hydrogen Discharge Section Valve 70 is a switching valve, and by opening valve 70, hydrogen can be discharged to the outside from hydrogen discharge portion 71. On the other hand, when valve 70 is closed, the discharge of hydrogen to the outside from hydrogen discharge portion 71 is restricted. As a result, as will be described later, when removing hydrogen cartridge 10 from storage portion 51, valve 70 can be opened to discharge hydrogen remaining in main pipe 53, etc. from hydrogen discharge portion 71, thereby reducing the internal pressure of main pipe 53 and lock mechanism branch pipe 56. The valve 70 may be a valve that can be opened and closed manually, or may be a valve that is opened and closed by an electrical signal.

[0034] 3. Effect etc. Using the hydrogen filling device 50 described above, hydrogen is filled into the hydrogen cartridge 10, for example, as follows. With the valve 70 closed, the hydrogen cartridge 10 to be filled with hydrogen is inserted into the storage section 51 of the hydrogen filling device 50 and attached. At this time, as described above, the on-off valve 16 of the hydrogen cartridge 10 is connected to the connection device 55 of the hydrogen filling device 50 and the on-off valve 16 is opened, so that the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 and the tank 11 of the hydrogen cartridge 10 are in communication with each other. In this embodiment, the hydrogen cartridge 10 is rotated about the axis O during the attachment so that the connection part 16a of the hydrogen cartridge 10 and the connected part 55b provided on the connection device 55 of the hydrogen filling device 50 engage with each other.

[0035] With the hydrogen cartridge 10 thus attached to the storage section 51 of the hydrogen filling device 50, the nozzle of an external hydrogen supply device is connected to the hydrogen supply section 52 of the hydrogen filling device 50. This causes hydrogen to flow into the main pipe 53, and then into the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 and the lock mechanism branch pipe 56, causing the pressure in each pipe to rise. The hydrogen that flows into the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 enters the tank 11 and is filled into the hydrogen cartridge 10 . Hydrogen that flows into locking mechanism branch pipe 56 enters cylinder 58 of locking mechanism 57, and as explained above with reference to Figure 5(a), pin 60 is caused to protrude and engage with locking mechanism engagement portion 18b to establish a locked state. That is, in this embodiment, even if an attempt is made to rotate hydrogen cartridge 10 about axis O in order to remove it from storage portion 51 in this state, hydrogen cartridge 10 is prevented from rotating by pin 60, and therefore removal is not possible.

[0036] Once filling is complete, valve 70 is opened to discharge hydrogen from hydrogen discharge section 71. This causes hydrogen to be discharged from main pipe 53, hydrogen supply branch pipe 54, and lock mechanism branch pipe 56, and the internal pressure in the pipes drops. Since the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 is provided with a check valve as described above, the hydrogen filled in the hydrogen cartridge 10 is maintained without backflow. The hydrogen inside cylinder 58 of lock mechanism 57 is discharged, and pin 60 disengages from lock mechanism engagement portion 18b, entering an unlocked state, as described above with reference to Figure 5(b). This makes it possible to rotate hydrogen cartridge 10 about axis O in an attempt to remove it from storage portion 51, thereby making it possible to remove hydrogen cartridge 10 from storage portion 51.

[0037] As described above, with the hydrogen filling device 50, when hydrogen is being filled into the hydrogen cartridge 10, the locking mechanism 57 prevents the hydrogen filling device 50 from being separated from the hydrogen cartridge tank 10. This prohibited state is maintained during hydrogen filling, so the hydrogen cartridge 10 will not come off during hydrogen filling (even if you try to remove it intentionally), preventing the release of hydrogen gas due to unintentional separation. Furthermore, by using a mechanical structure in which pin 60 of locking mechanism 57 is pushed toward hydrogen cartridge 10 by the hydrogen pressure in the piping, it is possible to provide a locking mechanism that has a simple structure and operates reliably.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the locking mechanism 57 is configured to include a cylinder 58, a piston 59, a pin 60, and an elastic body 61 for each storage section 51, but this is not limited to the above. The pin 60 needs to be placed in each storage section 51, but the components other than the pin 60 may be configured to be provided one for each of the pins 60 so that the multiple pins 60 are operated simultaneously. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10...hydrogen cartridge, 11...tank, 12...liner, 13...reinforcing layer, 14...protective layer, 15...mouthpiece, 16...on-off valve, 17...case, 18...housing, 50...hydrogen filling device, 51...storage section, 52...hydrogen supply section, 53...main piping, 54...hydrogen supply branch pipe, 55...connection device, 56...branch pipe for locking mechanism, 57...locking mechanism, 70...valve, 71...hydrogen discharge section

Claims

1. An apparatus for filling a removable hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen, comprising: A connection part that connects to the hydrogen cartridge and fills the hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen; a locking mechanism that prevents the hydrogen cartridge from being removed from the device; The locking mechanism is connected to the hydrogen cartridge by using the hydrogen pressure when filling the hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen, and locks the hydrogen cartridge. Hydrogen filling equipment.

2. The lock mechanism includes a cylinder and a pin. Hydrogen branched from the piping through which the hydrogen flows flows into the cylinder, and the pin is pressed and moved by the pressure of the flowing hydrogen, and the pressed pin engages with the hydrogen cartridge to enter the locked state. The hydrogen filling device according to claim 1.

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