Gas supply device

Abstract

To provide a technique for preventing entry of dust and the like when connecting a connector to a main stop valve of a gas cartridge in connection with a gas supply device that allows a gas cartridge to be detached and attached.SOLUTION: A gas supply device disclosed herein includes: a connector attached to and detached from a main stop valve of a gas cartridge; an actuator; and a gas ejector. The actuator moves the connector relatively closer to the main stop valve of the attached gas cartridge. The gas is ejected against a tip of the connector before being connected to the main stop valve. The disclosed gas supply device ejects gas against the tip of the connector before the connector is connected to the main stop valve to remove dust and the like attached to the connector. This can prevent entry of dust and the like into the gas supply device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a gas supply device that has a detachable gas cartridge storing fuel gas and supplies the fuel gas in the gas cartridge to a gas-using device. [Background technology]

[0002] A technology has been proposed in which fuel gas is stored in a gas cartridge and attached to a gas-using device (for example, Patent Document 1). An example of a gas-using device is a fuel cell. Patent Document 1 discloses a gas cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the gas-using device. When the cartridge is attached to the gas-using device, the main stop valve of the gas cartridge is connected to a connector on the gas-using device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-56952 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When connecting a connector to the main stop valve of a gas cartridge, if dust or the like adheres to the connector, the dust or the like may be mixed into the gas-using device along with the fuel gas. This specification provides a technology for preventing dust or the like from being mixed in when connecting the connector to the main stop valve. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The gas supply device disclosed in this specification includes a connector that is attached to and detached from the main stop valve of the gas cartridge, an actuator, and a gas discharger. The actuator brings the connector relatively close to the main stop valve of the attached gas cartridge. The gas discharger sprays gas onto the tip of the connector before it is connected to the main stop valve. The gas supply device disclosed in this specification sprays gas onto the tip of the connector before connecting the connector to the main stop valve, removing dust and other particles adhering to the connector. This prevents dust and other particles from entering the gas supply device.

[0006] Details and further improvements of the technology disclosed in this specification are described in the following "Description of Embodiments of the Invention." [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the gas supply device 100. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of a connector according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A gas supply device 100 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the gas supply device 100. The gas supply device 100 supplies hydrogen gas (fuel gas) stored in a gas cartridge 500 to a fuel cell 900. The fuel cell 900 corresponds to an example of a gas-utilizing device.

[0009] The gas cartridge 500 is detachably attached to the gas supply device 100. Reference numeral 500a in FIG. 1 indicates the gas cartridge before it is attached to the gas supply device 100. The gas cartridge 500a is inserted by a user into the cartridge accommodating space 111 of the housing 110 of the gas supply device 100. A flange 511 is provided on a mouthpiece 510 of the gas cartridge 500. The user inserts the gas cartridge 500 into the cartridge accommodating space 111 and rotates the gas cartridge 500. A cartridge holder 120 is provided in the cartridge accommodating space 111. When the gas cartridge 500 rotates in the cartridge accommodating space 111, the flange 511 is locked to the cartridge holder 120. A detailed description of the mechanism for locking the flange 511 (i.e., the gas cartridge 500) will be omitted.

[0010] A connector 130 is disposed within the cartridge accommodating space 111. A main stop valve 520 is provided on a mouthpiece 510 of the gas cartridge 500. One end of a gas flow path 136 is connected to the connector 130, and the other end of the gas flow path 136 is connected to the fuel cell 900. An auxiliary valve 140 is attached to the gas flow path 136. When the connector 130 is connected to the main stop valve 520 and the main stop valve 520 and the auxiliary valve 140 are opened, hydrogen gas in the gas cartridge 500 is supplied to the fuel cell 900 through the gas flow path 136.

[0011] When gas cartridge 500 is fixed to cartridge holder 120, mouthpiece 510 faces connector 130. Cartridge holder 120 is provided with actuator 121, and when actuator 121 is activated, mouthpiece 510 (gas cartridge 500) is pulled toward connector 130. Connector 130 is provided with a push rod, which will be described later, and when mouthpiece 510 approaches connector 130, the push rod pushes open main stop valve 520. The structure of connector 130 will be described later.

[0012] The actuator 121 is configured, for example, with a ball screw and a stepping motor. When the stepping motor rotates the ball screw, the jig holding the flange 511 moves toward the connector 130. That is, the gas cartridge 500 approaches the connector 130. A known structure may be employed for the actuator 121, and therefore a description of the specific structure of the actuator 121 will be omitted. The actuator 121 may also be a mechanism that moves the connector 130 toward the nozzle 510. The actuator 121 may be a mechanism that moves one of the gas cartridge 500 and the connector 130 toward the other. The gas supply device 100 is provided with a controller 150, which controls the actuator 121 and the auxiliary valve 140.

[0013] 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the connector 130. In FIG. 2, the cartridge holder 120 and the actuator 121 are omitted from the illustration.

[0014] First, we will explain the structure of gas cartridge 500. Gas cartridge 500 is provided with main stop valve 520 in mouthpiece 510. Main stop valve 520 closes opening 512 provided in mouthpiece 510. When main stop valve 520 opens, hydrogen gas (fuel gas) inside gas cartridge 500 is ejected to the outside through opening 512.

[0015] The main stop valve 520 includes a valve element 521 and a spring 522. The valve element 521 closes the opening 512 from inside the gas cartridge 500. The spring 522 presses the valve element 521 against the edge of the opening 512 from inside the gas cartridge 500. The rear end of the spring 522 abuts against a stopper 523 provided inside the gas cartridge 500. The spring 522 presses the valve element 521 against the edge of the opening 512, thereby closing the opening 512. When the valve element 521 is pressed into the gas cartridge 500 from outside, the main stop valve 520 opens and hydrogen gas is released.

[0016] Connector 130 of gas supply device 100 includes push rod 135 and blower 132 fixed to connector base 131. The inside of push rod 135 forms gas flow path 136. Push rod 135 also has push piece 137 at its tip. Push piece 137 pushes valve element 521. Although push piece 137 is fixed to the tip of push rod 135, it does not block gas flow path 136 of push rod 135, and when main stop valve 520 opens, hydrogen gas passes beside push piece 137 and flows into gas flow path 136.

[0017] The blower 132 discharges air. The discharge port of the blower 132 faces the tip of the push rod 135. FIG. 2(A) shows the state before the nozzle 510 of the gas cartridge 500 comes into contact with the connector 130. When the gas cartridge 500 is fixed to the cartridge holder 120 and the connector 130 faces the nozzle 510, the controller 150 activates the blower 132. The blower 132 forcefully blows air onto the tip of the connector 130 (the tip of the push rod 135). At this time, the main stop valve 520 is still closed.

[0018] Next, the controller 150 stops the blower 132 and activates the actuator 121 to move the nozzle 510 closer to the connector 130. As described above, when the main stop valve 520 of the nozzle 510 approaches the connector 130, the push piece 137 at the tip of the push rod 135 pushes the valve element 521 into the gas cartridge 500. The valve element 521 moves away from the opening 512, and the main stop valve 520 opens. When the main stop valve 520 opens, hydrogen gas flows past the push piece 137 into the gas flow path 136. Figure 2(B) shows the main stop valve 520 opening, and hydrogen gas inside the gas cartridge 500 flows into the gas flow path 136. The thick arrows in Figure 2(B) indicate the flow of hydrogen gas. As described above, the gas flow path 136 is connected to the fuel cell 900, and when the auxiliary valve 140 in Figure 1 is opened, hydrogen gas is supplied to the fuel cell 900.

[0019] The gap between the outer periphery of the push rod 135 approaching the main stop valve 520 and the mouthpiece 510 is sealed by a gasket 513 .

[0020] In the gas supply device 100 of this embodiment, the blower 132 blows air onto the tip of the connector 130 (the outer surface of the tip of the push rod 135) before the push rod 135 opens the main stop valve 520. This removes dust and other particles that have adhered to the outer surface of the tip of the push rod 135. This prevents dust and other particles from getting mixed in when hydrogen gas is supplied to the fuel cell 900 through the gas flow path 136. The blower 132 is an example of a gas discharger that discharges air onto the tip of the push rod 135.

[0021] (Modification) Modifications of the main stop valve and connector will be described. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the periphery of a modified main stop valve 620 and a modified connector 230. The modified gas supply device includes a gas discharger 232. The gas discharger 232 sprays nitrogen gas from a nitrogen tank 233 onto the tip of the connector 230 (the tip of the push rod 235). Nitrogen gas is a typical inert gas that does not significantly affect the operation of the fuel cell 900 even if it is mixed into the fuel cell 900.

[0022] Main stop valve 620 has two valve bodies 621. Two valve bodies 621 are positioned inside opening 612 of gas cartridge 600. Two valve bodies 621 are pressed against each other by spring 622, and close opening 612 of base 610 (FIG. 3(A)).

[0023] FIG. 3(A) shows the state before the nozzle 610 of the gas cartridge 600 comes into contact with the connector 230. Note that FIG. 3 does not show the flange of the nozzle 610, and the cartridge holder and actuator of the gas supply device. When the gas cartridge 600 is fixed to the cartridge holder and the connector 230 faces the nozzle 610, the controller of the gas supply device activates the gas discharger 232. The gas discharger 232 sprays nitrogen gas onto the tip of the connector 230 (the tip of the push rod 235). At this time, the main stop valve 620 is still closed.

[0024] The controller stops the gas discharger 232 and activates the actuator to move the nozzle 610 closer to the connector 230. When the tip of the nozzle 610 approaches the connector 230, the tip of the push rod 235 pushes open the two valve bodies 621 of the main stop valve 620, and the main stop valve 620 opens (FIG. 3(B)). Hydrogen gas in the gas cartridge 600 passes through the opening 612 and flows into the gas flow path 136 inside the push rod 235. The gas flow path 136 is connected to the fuel cell 900, and when the auxiliary valve 140 in FIG. 1 is opened, hydrogen gas is supplied to the fuel cell 900. The thick arrows in FIG. 3(B) indicate the flow of hydrogen gas. Note that a gasket 613 seals the gap between the nozzle 610 and the outer periphery of the push rod 235 approaching the main stop valve 620.

[0025] The gas supply device having the modified connector 230 also has the same advantages as the gas supply device 100 of the first embodiment.

[0026] Some features of the gas supply device described in the embodiments are listed below. The gas supply device includes a gas discharger that sprays gas onto the tip of the connector (tip of the push rod). The gas supply device of the first embodiment includes a blower 132 that sprays air onto the tip of the connector. The blower 132 is an example of a gas discharger. The controller of the gas supply device operates the blower 132 before connecting the connector to the main stop valve of the gas cartridge. The gas discharged by the blower 132 removes dust and other particles from the tip of the connector (tip of the push rod). This prevents the dust and other particles from entering the fuel cell 900. The controller stops the blower and controls the actuator to move the connector 130 (230) further toward the main stop valve 520 (620). When the connector 130 (230) is connected to the main stop valve 520 (620) and the main stop valve 520 (620) is opened, hydrogen gas is supplied to the fuel cell 900 through the connector.

[0027] The main stop valve includes a valve body that closes the opening of the gas cartridge from inside the gas cartridge and a spring that presses the valve body against the opening. The connector includes a push rod that pushes the valve body open from outside the gas cartridge. When the connector abuts against the main stop valve and moves further toward the main stop valve, the tip of the push rod pushes the valve body open, opening the main stop valve. The gas dispenser sprays gas onto the outer surface of the push rod. The gas may be air or an inert gas such as nitrogen.

[0028] A gasket 513 (613) is arranged around the opening of the nozzle. The push rod is inserted into the gasket just before the push rod pushes open the main stop valve. The gasket seals the gap between the outer periphery of the push rod and the nozzle.

[0029] The fuel cell 900 is an example of a gas-utilizing device. The gas-utilizing device may be a device other than a fuel cell. The gas supply apparatus of the embodiment may be incorporated into the gas-utilizing device.

[0030] Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples exemplified above. The technical elements described in this specification or drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technology exemplified in this specification or drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of these objectives alone is technically useful. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 100: Gas supply device 110: Housing 111: Cartridge storage space 120: Cartridge holder 121: Actuator 130, 230: Connector 131: Connector base 132: Blower 135, 235 Push rod 136: Gas flow path 137: Push piece 140: Auxiliary valve 150: Controller 232: Gas discharger 233: Nitrogen tank 500, 600: Gas cartridge 510, 610: Cap 511: Flange 512, 612: Opening 513, 613: Gasket 520, 620: Main stop valve 521, 621: Valve element 522, 622: Spring 523: Stopper 900: Fuel cell

Claims

[Claim 1] A gas supply device capable of receiving a gas cartridge in which fuel gas is stored and which has a main stop valve that seals the fuel gas, and which supplies the fuel gas in the gas cartridge to a gas-using device, comprising: a connector that is attached to and detached from the main stop valve; an actuator that moves the connector relatively closer to the main stop valve of the attached gas cartridge; a gas dispenser that sprays gas onto the tip of the connector before it is connected to the main stop valve; A gas supply device comprising:

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