Filling nozzle

Abstract

To provide a filling device capable of preventing the operationality of a filling nozzle from being worsened because rainwater is attached to the filling nozzle and frozen.SOLUTION: A filling nozzle (10-1) according to this invention has an area including a lever operation display part (14) of a nozzle cylindrical trunk part (11) and ranging from a receptacle side end (15A) of a grip (15) to a nozzle front end (13), enclosed by a cover (31). The cover (31) is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape and of a flexible material (for example, rubber). The receptacle side end (15A) of the grip (15) and / or the nozzle front end (13) is fastened by the elastic contraction force of an elastic body (for example, a rubber band).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a filling nozzle used to fill a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) or the like with high-pressure, low-temperature gaseous fuel, such as hydrogen. [Background technology]

[0002] The operation of filling hydrogen into an FCV or the like using such a filling nozzle will be described with reference to Figure 1. Grip 15 of filling nozzle 10 is grasped and nozzle cylindrical body 11 is pressed toward a receptacle (not shown in Figure 1) to connect filling nozzle tip 13 with the receptacle. At this time, dispenser side end 11A of nozzle cylindrical body 11 moves toward the receptacle (left side in Figure 1). As a result, dispenser side end 11A no longer surrounds lever operation indicator 14, exposing lever operation indicator 14. On the other hand, the filling nozzle 10 is moved away from the receptacle to disconnect it from the receptacle, and at that time, the nozzle cylindrical body 11 moves toward the dispenser (to the right in FIG. 1). Therefore, whether the filling nozzle 10 is connected to or disconnected from the receptacle can be determined depending on whether the lever operation indicator 14 is visible or not.

[0003] However, if rainwater adheres to lever operation indicator 14, the rainwater freezes due to the low temperature of the hydrogen being filled, forming ice on lever operation indicator 14. This ice prevents dispenser side end 11A of nozzle cylindrical body 11 from moving in a direction away from the receptacle, making it impossible to remove filling nozzle 10 from the receptacle. Furthermore, rainwater adhering to the lever operation indicator 14 penetrates into the nozzle cylinder body 11 and freezes inside, preventing the dispenser side end 11A from moving to the position of the lever operation indicator 14. For example, if the canopy of the hydrogen filling device (dispenser) is small or not provided at all, rainwater will adhere to the filling nozzle 10, causing the lever operation indicator 14 to freeze, making it impossible to remove the filling nozzle 10 from the receptacle and reducing the operability of the filling nozzle.

[0004] As another prior art, the applicant has proposed a technology for preventing deterioration of the seal structure and reducing the possibility of hydrogen gas leakage (see Patent Document 1). Although this technology (Patent Document 1) is useful, it does not take into consideration the deterioration of the operability of the filling nozzle due to the above-mentioned freezing of the lever operation indicator 14. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6516207 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been proposed in consideration of the problems of the prior art described above, and aims to provide a filling device that can prevent, for example, rainwater from adhering to the filling nozzle and freezing, which would make the filling nozzle difficult to operate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The filling nozzle (10-1) of the present invention has a nozzle cylindrical body (11) in an area including the lever operation indicator (14), the area extending from the receptacle side end (15A) of the grip (15) to the nozzle tip (13) being surrounded by a cover (31); The cover (31) has a hollow cylindrical shape and is made of a flexible material (e.g., rubber, etc.). The receptacle side end (15A) of the grip (15) and / or the nozzle tip (13) are fastened by the elastic contraction force of elastic bodies (32B, 33B: for example, rubber bands).

[0008] In addition, the filling nozzles (10-2, 10-3) of the present invention are configured such that the area including the lever operation indicator (14) of the nozzle cylindrical body (11), which extends from the receptacle side end (15A) of the grip (15) to the nozzle tip (13), is surrounded by covers (32, 33), The covers (32, 33) are hollow cylindrical and have bellows (32A, 33A) that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction (of the filling nozzles 10-2, 10-3), The receptacle side end (15A) of the grip (15) and / or the nozzle tip (13) are fastened by the elastic contraction force of elastic bodies (32B, 33B: for example, rubber bands). Here, the bellows (32A) may be formed over the entire length of the cover (32) in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the bellows (33A) can be formed on a part of the cover (33) in the longitudinal direction.

[0009] Furthermore, the filling nozzle (10-4) of the present invention has a cover (34) surrounding an area of ​​the nozzle cylindrical body (11) that includes the lever operation indicator (14) and extends from the receptacle side end (15A) of the grip (15) to the nozzle tip (13), The cover (34) has a hollow cylindrical shape, and an elastic portion (34A) having elasticity is formed in a portion in the longitudinal direction, and the other portions than the elastic portion (34A) have no elasticity, The receptacle side end (15A) of the grip (15) and / or the nozzle tip (13) are fastened by the elastic contraction force of the elastic body.

[0010] The filling nozzle (10-5) of the present invention has a nozzle cylindrical body (11) in a region including the lever operation indicator (14) but not including the nozzle tip (13), which is surrounded by a cover (35); The cover (35) has a hollow cylindrical shape and is made of a flexible material (e.g., rubber, etc.) or has bellows that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction (of the filling nozzle 10-5). The receptacle-side end (15A) of the grip (15) and / or the nozzle barrel (11) are fastened by the elastic contraction force of an elastic body (for example, a rubber band). [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, the filling nozzles (10-1 to 10-5) are covered with the covers (31 to 35), which prevents rainwater from adhering to the lever operation indicators (14) of the filling nozzles (10-1 to 10-5) and prevents condensation from forming on the lever operation indicators (14). Therefore, even when a low-temperature fluid (e.g., hydrogen) is supplied to an FCV or the like using the filling nozzles (10-1 to 10-5) of the present invention, the lever operation indicators (14) and the inside of the nozzle cylindrical barrel (11) do not freeze, and when disconnecting the filling nozzles (10-1 to 10-5) from the receptacles, the nozzle cylindrical barrel (11) can be smoothly moved to a position that surrounds the lever operation indicators (14).

[0012] In the present invention, the covers (31 to 35) are made of a flexible material or are made of bellows, so that the user can easily operate the nozzle cylindrical body (11) through the cover, and the operability of the filling nozzles (10-1 to 10-5) is maintained. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a filling nozzle according to the prior art. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a filling nozzle according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a filling nozzle according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a filling nozzle according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a filling nozzle according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a filling nozzle according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a filling nozzle to which the present invention can be applied, and is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a pipe joint body of the filling nozzle. FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a filling nozzle to which the present invention can be applied, and is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state in which a pipe fitting and a receptacle are connected. [Figure 9] 9 is a diagram showing an engaging portion between the clutch and the pipe joint of the filling nozzle shown in FIG. 8, and is an explanatory enlarged view showing a state in which an elastic spacer is not fitted. FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is a partially enlarged explanatory cross-sectional view showing an engaging portion of a filling nozzle to which the present invention can be applied. [Figure 11] 10 is a partially enlarged explanatory cross-sectional view showing an engaging portion of a modified example of a filling nozzle to which the present invention can be applied. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments, hydrogen is taken as an example of a cryogenic fluid to be filled by the filling nozzle of the present invention. To facilitate understanding of the filling nozzle according to the illustrated embodiment, an existing filling nozzle 10 will first be described with reference to FIG. Fig. 1 shows a filling nozzle 10 connected to a receptacle (not shown) (on the left side of Fig. 1). In Fig. 1, the filling nozzle 10 has a nozzle cylindrical body 11, a tip 13, a lever operation indicator 14, and a grip 15. Although not clearly shown, the lever operation indicator 14 is provided with a colored painted portion.

[0015] When connecting the filling nozzle 10 to a receptacle (not shown), the user grasps the grip 15 and moves the nozzle barrel 11 toward the receptacle (left side in FIG. 1). When the filling nozzle 10 is not connected to the receptacle, the lever operation indicator 14 is surrounded by the dispenser end 11A and is not visible to the user (hidden). When the filling nozzle 10 is connected to the receptacle, as shown in FIG. 1, the dispenser end 11A no longer surrounds the lever operation indicator 14, exposing the lever operation indicator 14.

[0016] On the other hand, when the filling nozzle 10 is to be disconnected (disconnected) from the receptacle (not shown), the user grasps the grip 15 and moves the nozzle barrel 11 toward the dispenser (in the direction of arrow A1 in Figure 1) to the position of the lever operation indicator 14. As a result, the colored painted portion of the lever operation indicator 14 cannot be seen from the outside. Therefore, the user can determine whether the filling nozzle 10 is connected to or disconnected from the receptacle depending on whether the colored painted portion of the lever operation indicator 14 is visible or not.

[0017] If rainwater adheres to the lever operation indicator 14 during hydrogen filling and freezes, the filling nozzle 10 cannot be removed from the receptacle. Specifically, when the filling nozzle 10 and the receptacle are connected and the lever operation indicator 14 is exposed, if rainwater adheres to the lever operation indicator 14, the low temperature of the supplied hydrogen will cause the adhering rainwater to freeze into icicles. The icicles prevent the nozzle barrel 11 from moving in the direction of arrow A1 (to the right in Figure 1), making it impossible to disconnect the filling nozzle 10 from the receptacle. In addition, rainwater adhering to the lever operation indicator 14 penetrates into the nozzle barrel 11 and freezes inside, preventing the dispenser side end 11A from moving to the position of the lever operation indicator 14, making it impossible to disconnect the filling nozzle 10 from the receptacle. In particular, if the canopy (roof of the gas station) is small and the dispenser's filling nozzle is exposed to the rain, the grip may become wet with rainwater, making it impossible to disconnect the filling nozzle from the receptacle as described above.

[0018] In response to this problem, the filling nozzle 10-1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 2 can prevent freezing on the nozzle cylindrical body 11 and maintain good operability even when the nozzle is wet with rainwater. The stuffing nozzle 10-1 of the first embodiment shown in Figure 2 is provided with a cover 31 that covers the stuffing nozzle body, but apart from the inclusion of the cover 31, it is similar to the stuffing nozzle 10 described with reference to Figure 1. Therefore, the same components of the stuffing nozzle 10-1 as those of the stuffing nozzle 10 will be designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be avoided. In Figure 2, the area extending from the receptacle side (left side in Figure 2) end 15A of the grip 15 of the filling nozzle 10-1 to the nozzle tip 13, which includes the lever operation indicator 14, is covered (surrounded) by a cover 31. In order to make the colored painted portion of the lever operation indicator 14 visible, although not clearly shown, the cover 31 is made of a transparent material (transparent enough to allow the color of the painted portion to be distinguished). Although details will be described later, the cover 31 has a hollow cylindrical shape and is made of a flexible material (such as rubber).

[0019] The inner diameter of the receptacle-side (left side in FIG. 2) end of cover 31 is set to be larger than the outer diameter of nozzle tip 13 by the thickness of cover 31 (e.g., 2 mm), i.e., to have a certain margin. The outer diameter of the receptacle-side end of cover 31 is, for example, less than 80 mm, and preferably less than 76 mm. Then, to allow the user to grasp the grip 15 and move the nozzle barrel 11, the longitudinal dimension of the cover 31 (the left-right dimension in FIG. 2) is provided with an appropriate margin to accommodate movement of the nozzle barrel 11. Note that the appropriate margin is set taking into consideration the specifications of the cover 31, which are determined by the material, shape, etc. Furthermore, the margin is set so as not to adversely affect the operability of the filling nozzle 10-1.

[0020] By providing a cover 31 on the filling nozzle 10-1, rainwater is prevented from adhering to the lever operation indicator 14. Therefore, the nozzle cylindrical body 11 or the lever operation indicator 14 do not freeze when hydrogen is being filled, and the nozzle cylindrical body 11 moves in the direction of arrow A2 (towards the dispenser), allowing the filling nozzle 10-1 to be disconnected from the receptacle. Furthermore, since the cover 31 is made of a transparent material, it is possible to determine whether the filling nozzle 10-1 is connected to or disconnected from the receptacle depending on whether the colored painted portion of the lever operation indicator 14 is visible. Here, when the cover 31 is attached, the user will operate the nozzle cylindrical barrel 11 through the cover 31. In this case, in order to maintain the operability of the nozzle cylindrical barrel 11, the cover 31 is required to be flexible at least in the longitudinal direction of the filling nozzle. Therefore, in the filling nozzle 10-1 of Figure 2, the cover 31 is made of a flexible material (e.g., rubber), and as a result, the user can smoothly operate the nozzle barrel 11 through the cover 31, thereby maintaining the operability of the filling nozzle 10-1.

[0021] Although not clearly shown in Fig. 2, end 31E of cover 31 in the longitudinal direction, which is on the side away from the receptacle (right side in Fig. 2), is attached to end 15A on the receptacle side (left side in Fig. 2) of grip 15. Cover 31 is attached to end 31E by tightening end 31E radially inward using the elastic contraction force of an elastic body (e.g., a rubber band, not shown). Here, end 31F of cover 31 on the receptacle side (left side in FIG. 2) may be attached to nozzle tip 13 by tightening it with the elastic contraction force of an elastic body (e.g., a rubber band; not shown). It is also possible not to attach receptacle side end 31F of cover 31 to nozzle tip 13. In other words, the cover 31 can be attached to both the end 31E on the side away from the receptacle (right side in Figure 2) and the end 31F on the receptacle side (left side in Figure 2), or it can be attached to only one of them.

[0022] In the first embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the cover 31 extends beyond the receptacle-side end 11B of the nozzle barrel 11 to a portion extending from the boundary BD between the nozzle barrel 11 and the nozzle tip 13 toward the nozzle tip 13 by a dimension L. This dimension L is equal to the distance that the nozzle barrel 11 moves when connecting and disconnecting the filling nozzle to the receptacle. This prevents a situation in which rainwater adheres and freezes between the nozzle tip 13 and the nozzle barrel 11, restricting the movement of the nozzle barrel 11 and making it impossible to disconnect the filling nozzle 10-1 from the receptacle.

[0023] In Figure 2, when attaching the cover 31 to the stuffing nozzle 10-1, in addition to the method using a rubber band as described above, it is also possible to construct the entire cover 31 from an elastic body and attach it to the stuffing nozzle 10-1 using the elastic contraction force of the elastic body. In this case, the inner diameter of the end 31E of the cover 31 on the side away from the receptacle (right side in Figure 2) is set to be equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the grip 15 of the stuffing nozzle 10-1, resulting in a so-called "tight fit." Furthermore, the inner diameter of the end 31F of the cover 31 on the receptacle side (left side in Figure 2) is set to be equal to or smaller than the outer diameter of the nozzle tip 13, resulting in a so-called "tight fit." Furthermore, as a mode for attaching the cover 31 to the stuffing nozzle 10-1, the cover 31 may be configured, for example, in a half-split shape.

[0024] As described above, the cover 31 has its end facing away from the receptacle (right side in Figure 2) and / or its end facing the receptacle (left side in Figure 2) attached to the filling nozzle 10-1, and can be configured as a separate entity from the filling nozzle 10-1. Therefore, outside the rainy season, the cover 31 can be removed from the filling nozzle 10-1, and the user can directly grip the nozzle cylindrical body 11 without the cover 31, thereby improving operability.

[0025] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Instead of constructing the cover 31 from an elastic material, a bellows-type cover 32 can be provided as shown in the second embodiment of Fig. 3. Even with a bellows-type cover, flexibility in the longitudinal direction of the filling nozzle 10-2 can be ensured, maintaining the operability required for hydrogen filling. In Figure 3, the filling nozzle 10-2 of the second embodiment, like the first embodiment of Figure 2, has a cover 32 surrounding the area extending from the receptacle side (left side in Figure 3) end 15A of the grip 15 to the nozzle tip 13, which includes the lever operation indicator 14. The cover 32 of the second embodiment also has a hollow cylindrical shape, and unlike the first embodiment, an elastic bellows 32A is provided over the entire length of the cover 32 (the left-right direction in FIG. 3). The provision of the bellows 32A eliminates the need to provide a length corresponding to the movement amount (the aforementioned dimension L) of the nozzle cylindrical body 11.

[0026] In FIG. 3, the cover 32 is attached to the stuffing nozzle 10-2 by fastening it with the elastic contraction force of a rubber band 32B, which is an elastic body. It is also possible to attach end 32E of cover 32 on the side away from the receptacle (right side in FIG. 3: dispenser side) to receptacle side end 15A of grip 15, and to attach end 32F of cover 32 on the receptacle side (left side in FIG. 3) to nozzle tip 13. Alternatively, it is also possible to attach only one of the ends. Other configurations and effects of the second embodiment in FIG. 3 are the same as those of the first embodiment in FIG.

[0027] A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment of Figure 3, the bellows 32A is formed over the entire longitudinal direction of the cover 32 (left and right direction in Figure 3), but in the filling nozzle 10-3 of the third embodiment shown in Figure 4, the bellows 33A is formed over only a portion of the longitudinal direction of the cover 33 (left and right direction in Figure 4). In FIG. 4, the position, occupancy rate, and specifications of the bellows 33A are set so that the cover 33 surrounds the lever operation indicator 14 and can absorb the distance that the nozzle cylindrical body 11 moves. In addition, in FIG. 4, cover 33 having bellows 33A is attached to nozzle tip 13 by being tightened radially inward by the elastic contraction force of rubber band 33B, which is an elastic body. The end 33F on the receptacle side (left side in FIG. 4) of the cover 33 can be attached to the nozzle tip 13 beyond the receptacle side end 11B of the nozzle cylindrical body 11, and the end 33E on the side of the cover 33 away from the receptacle (right side in FIG. 4) can be attached to the receptacle side end 15A of the grip 15 (both ends are attached). Alternatively, only one of the ends 33F, 33E can be attached to the filling nozzle 10-3. Other configurations and effects of the third embodiment in FIG. 4 are similar to those of the embodiments in FIGS.

[0028] A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5 uses a method other than bellows to absorb the amount of movement of the nozzle cylindrical body 11. In the filling nozzle 10-4 according to the fourth embodiment of Fig. 5, the area extending from the end 15A of the grip 15 on the receptacle side (left side in Fig. 5) to the nozzle tip 13 is also surrounded by a cover 34. 5, elastic portion 34A having elasticity is formed in a portion in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in FIG. 5) of hollow cylindrical cover 34, and portions other than elastic portion 34A do not need to have elasticity. In other words, most of cover 34 in the longitudinal direction is not made of an elastic material, but only elastic portion 34A is made of an elastic material. The position of the elastic portion 34A in the longitudinal dimension of the cover 34, the proportion of the longitudinal dimension that it occupies, and the specifications are set so that the cover 34 surrounds the lever operation indicator portion 14 and absorbs the amount of movement of the nozzle cylindrical body portion 11. In Figure 5, the longitudinal ends of cover 34 having elastic portion 34A (end 34E away from the receptacle and / or end 34F on the receptacle side) are tightened by the elastic contraction force of an elastic body (e.g., a rubber band) at nozzle tip 13 beyond receptacle side end 15A of grip 15 and / or receptacle side end 11B of nozzle cylindrical body 11. Other configurations and effects of the fourth embodiment in FIG. 5 are the same as those of the embodiment in FIGS.

[0029] Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the fifth embodiment of Figure 6, the longitudinal dimension (left-right direction in Figure 6) of the cover 35 is smaller than that of each of the embodiments of Figures 2 to 5, and only the area of ​​the cover 35 that includes the lever operation indicator 14 and does not include the nozzle tip 13 is surrounded by the hollow cylindrical cover 35. The cover 35 is made entirely of a flexible material (such as rubber), but although not clearly shown, it may also be configured to have bellows that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction of the filling nozzle 10-5 (the left-right direction in FIG. 6). Here, the longitudinal dimension of the cover 35 is set so as to absorb the amount of movement of the nozzle cylindrical body 11. Also, although not clearly shown in Figure 6, the longitudinal ends of cover 35 (end 35E away from the receptacle and / or end 35F on the receptacle side) are tightened radially inward by the elastic contraction force of an elastic body (e.g., a rubber band) at receptacle side end 15A of grip 15 and / or nozzle cylindrical body 11. Other configurations and effects of the fifth embodiment in FIG. 6 are the same as those of the embodiments in FIGS.

[0030] A filling nozzle suitable for application of the illustrated embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. The filling nozzle 10, shown in simplified outline in Figures 7 and 8, is provided at the tip of a filling hose in a fuel filling system that fills hydrogen into the hydrogen filling tank of an FCV, for example, and has a pipe joint body 1, which is connected to a receptacle 20 (Figure 8) during filling. A pipe fitting internal flow path 1A is formed inside the pipe fitting main body 1, and a rod 2 is slidably disposed in the pipe fitting internal flow path 1A, and a valve seat 1H is formed in the pipe fitting internal flow path 1A. A valve disc 2A is provided at one end of the rod 2, and the valve disc 2A is seated on the valve seat 1H. An elastic member 3 is disposed in the pipe fitting internal flow path 1A to bias the valve disc 2A toward the valve seat 1H. The filling nozzle 10 is provided with a clutch mechanism 12 that maintains the connected state of the filling nozzle 10 and the receptacle 20, and the clutch mechanism 12 is provided with a clutch 4 that engages with a member on the receptacle 20 side. Although not clearly shown, the clutch 4 extends in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle, and a groove (not shown) is formed in the center of the clutch 4 in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle or in its vicinity, with an elastic body (e.g., a spring: not shown) disposed in the groove, and the elastic body urges the clutch 4 radially inward of the filling nozzle 10.

[0031] When the pipe fitting main body 1 and receptacle 20 are connected as shown in Figure 8, as hydrogen gas flows through the pipe fitting internal flow path 1A and the rod internal flow path 2B, even if there is hydrogen gas that does not flow from the opening 2E of the rod 2 through the rod internal flow path 2B but flows through the gap δ1 between the outer surface of the rod large diameter portion 2D and the inner surface of the pipe fitting internal flow path 1A, the hydrogen gas reaches the bottom 20C of the mating recess of the receptacle 20 and flows into the receptacle internal flow path 20B, and does not leak out of the pipe fitting main body 1. Here, a receptacle-side O-ring 21 is provided on inner peripheral surface 20D of the fitting recess of receptacle 20 at a location that comes into contact with the outer periphery of pipe joint central projection 1E. As a result, even if hydrogen gas is present flowing through the gap ε 1 , it is sealed by the receptacle side O-ring 21 and will not leak out of the pipe fitting body 1 .

[0032] As shown in Figure 9, in the filling nozzle 10, the dispenser side end 4E (the right end in Figure 9) of the clutch 4 is engaged with the annular recess 1D of the pipe fitting body 1. Note that Figures 9 to 11 are displayed left to right reversed from Figures 7 and 8. At the dispenser side end 4E, the flat surface 4ED of the radially outer end face can move by the length indicated by arrow A, the extreme end 4EA can move by the length indicated by arrow B, and the radially inner end face 4EB can move by the length indicated by arrow C relative to the pipe fitting body 1. As described above, a spring (not shown) is disposed in a groove formed in the center of the clutch 4 in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle or in the vicinity thereof, and the elastic repulsive force of the spring urges the clutch 4 radially inward of the filling nozzle 10. The clutch 4, on which this elastic repulsive force acts, is not supported anywhere on the receptacle side (the side indicated by arrow AR in FIG. 9), and the end 4E on the dispenser side can move by the lengths indicated by arrows A, B, and C as described above. The configuration in which the dispenser side end 4E of the clutch 4 engages with the annular groove 1D is not limited to that shown in Fig. 9. For example, the configuration described in Patent Document 1 may also be used.

[0033] In FIG. 10, a drainage channel 7W communicates with an annular recess 1D that is formed in the pipe joint body 1 of the filling nozzle 10 and that engages with a dispenser side end 4E of the clutch 4. The drainage channel 7W passes through the pipe fitting body 1 and, although not explicitly shown, is connected to a drainage port (not shown) provided at the boundary between the grip of the filling nozzle 10 and the filling hose, and is configured to drain water from that boundary to the outside of the filling nozzle 10. However, it is possible to form the drainage port at a location other than the boundary between the grip of the filling nozzle 10 and the filling hose. 10, moisture accumulated in the annular recess 1D is discharged to the outside of the filling nozzle 10 via the drainage channel 7W, preventing the water accumulated in the annular recess 1D from freezing. Therefore, the elastic repulsive force of a spring (not shown) arranged in the center of the clutch 4 in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle or in its vicinity allows the clutch 4 to move radially inward, and the protrusion 4B (see FIGS. 7 and 8) of the clutch 4 becomes capable of being disengaged from the fitting groove 20A (see FIG. 8) of the receptacle 20, thereby disconnecting the filling nozzle 10 from the receptacle 20.

[0034] 11, the filling nozzle 10 has an elastic spacer 17 that is ring-shaped as a whole fitted into the engagement portion (annular recess 1D of the pipe fitting body 1) where the dispenser side end 4E of the clutch 4 (the right end in FIG. 11) engages with the pipe fitting body 1. The elastic repulsive force of the elastic spacer 17 acts on the end 4E of the clutch 4 as shown by arrow β. The shape of this elastic spacer 17 is approximately complementary to the shape of the radially inner region of the gap of the recess 1D (the region below the recess 1D in FIG. 11). Moisture and foreign matter do not penetrate into the area filled with the elastic spacer 17. 10, the stuffing nozzle 10 of Fig. 11 has a drainage channel 7W communicating with the annular recess 1D. Therefore, water that accumulates radially outward (upward in Fig. 11) of the elastic spacer 17 is discharged to the outside of the stuffing nozzle 10 via the drainage channel 7W.

[0035] As described above, the elastic repulsive force β of the elastic spacer 17 acts on the end 4 E of the clutch 4 . Here, the end 4E of the clutch 4 abuts against the pipe fitting main body 1 at an abutment portion 4EE at the end of the recess 1D on the filling nozzle side (the side indicated by the arrow AR: left side in FIG. 11). Therefore, the elastic repulsive force β of the elastic spacer 17 generates a rotational force as indicated by the arrow CCW, with the abutment portion 4EE as the rotation center. This rotational force moves the receptacle side portion 4R of the clutch 4 radially inward. It is also possible to generate a rotational force with the corner indicated by the symbol 4EF in FIG. 9 as the rotation center. Such force causes the clutch 4 to move radially inward, allowing the protrusion 4B (see Figures 7 and 8) of the clutch 4 to be disengaged from the fitting groove 20A (see Figure 8) of the receptacle 20, and the filling nozzle 10 to be disconnected from the receptacle 20. In other words, the elastic spacer 17 is configured to bias the clutch 4 radially inward of the fuel filling nozzle 10. 11, the spring (not shown) arranged at or near the center of the clutch 4 in the nozzle longitudinal direction can be omitted because the elastic spacer 17 generates a force that moves the receptacle side portion 4R of the clutch 4 radially inward. Of course, a spring can be provided so that the clutch 4 is urged radially inward by both the elastic repulsive force of the elastic spacer 17 and the elastic repulsive force of the spring.

[0036] It should be noted that the illustrated embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention. For example, although the illustrated embodiment illustrates a hydrogen filling nozzle, the filling nozzle of the present invention can also be applied to filling cryogenic fluids other than hydrogen. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 10, 10-1 to 10-5... Filling nozzle 11 Nozzle cylindrical body 13 Nozzle tip 14 Lever operation indicator 15 Grip 15A···Receptacle end (of grip) 31~35···Cover 32A, 33A... bellows 32B, 33B: Elastic body (e.g., rubber band) 34A Elastic part

Claims

1. The nozzle barrel has a region including the lever operation indicator, the region extending from the receptacle end of the grip to the nozzle tip, and is surrounded by a cover; the cover has a hollow cylindrical shape and is made of a flexible material; A filling nozzle characterized in that the receptacle side end of the grip and / or the nozzle tip are tightened by the elastic contraction force of an elastic body.

2. The nozzle barrel has a region including the lever operation indicator, the region extending from the receptacle end of the grip to the nozzle tip, and is surrounded by a cover; The cover has a hollow cylindrical shape and has bellows that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction, A filling nozzle characterized in that the receptacle side end of the grip and / or the nozzle tip are tightened by the elastic contraction force of an elastic body.

3. The nozzle barrel has a region including the lever operation indicator, the region extending from the receptacle end of the grip to the nozzle tip, and is surrounded by a cover; The cover has a hollow cylindrical shape, and an elastic portion having elasticity is formed in a portion in the longitudinal direction, and the other portions do not have elasticity, A filling nozzle characterized in that the receptacle side end of the grip and / or the nozzle tip are tightened by the elastic contraction force of an elastic body.

4. an area of ​​the nozzle barrel including the lever operation indicator but not including the nozzle tip is surrounded by a cover; the cover has a hollow cylindrical shape and is made of a flexible material or has bellows that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction; A filling nozzle characterized in that the receptacle side end of the grip and / or the nozzle barrel are fastened by the elastic contraction force of an elastic body.

Images