Gas supply device

Abstract

To provide a technology preventing contamination of impurities when connecting a connector to a main stop valve of a gas cartridge related to a gas supply device enabling attachment / detachment of the gas cartridge.SOLUTION: A gas supply device includes: a cover blocking a main stop valve of a gas cartridge and the periphery of a connector from outer air; and a removal device removing impurities from an inside space of the cover while the connector and the main stop valve are not connected. A controller of the gas supply device connects the main stop valve and the connector when the impurities are removed from the inside space by the removal device, and opens the main stop valve. The gas supply device blocks the periphery of the main stop valve and connector from outer air and removes the impurities from the periphery of the main stop valve. As a result, the contamination of the impurities into the gas supply device can be prevented.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a gas supply device that can be fitted with a gas cartridge storing hydrogen and that supplies the hydrogen in the gas cartridge to a hydrogen-utilizing device. [Background technology]

[0002] A technology has been proposed in which hydrogen is stored in a gas cartridge and attached to a hydrogen-utilizing device (for example, Patent Document 1). An example of a hydrogen-utilizing device is a fuel cell. Patent Document 1 discloses a gas cartridge that can be attached to and detached from a hydrogen-utilizing device. When the cartridge is attached to the hydrogen-utilizing device, the main stop valve of the gas cartridge is connected to a connector on the hydrogen-utilizing 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 there are impurities around the connector, the impurities may be mixed into the hydrogen-utilizing device along with the hydrogen. This specification provides a technology for preventing impurities from being mixed in when connecting a connector to the main stop valve. Impurities can include not only solids but also liquids and gases. When the hydrogen-utilizing device is a fuel cell, oxygen in the air can also be an impurity. This is because if the mixed oxygen and hydrogen react directly on the anode catalyst, the catalyst will deteriorate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The gas supply device disclosed in this specification has a connector to which a gas cartridge in which hydrogen is stored and which is equipped with a main stop valve that seals the hydrogen can be attached, and supplies hydrogen to a hydrogen-utilizing device through a gas flow path connected to the connector. The gas supply device includes a cover that isolates the area around the main stop valve and connector of the attached gas cartridge from the outside air, and a removal device that removes impurities from the inner space of the cover when the connector and main stop valve are not connected. The controller of the gas supply device connects the main stop valve to the connector and opens the main stop valve after the removal device has removed the impurities from the inner space. Note that the removal device does not need to remove all impurities from the inner space; it is sufficient to remove impurities to the extent that their impact on the hydrogen-utilizing device is minimal. The gas supply device disclosed in this specification isolates the area around the main stop valve and connector from the outside air and removes impurities from the area around the main stop valve before connecting the connector. This prevents impurities from entering the hydrogen-utilizing 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. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a gas supply device 300 according to a second embodiment. 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 stored in a gas cartridge 500 to a fuel cell 900. The fuel cell 900 corresponds to an example of a hydrogen-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 is rotated in the cartridge accommodating space 111, the flange 511 is locked to the cartridge holder 120.

[0010] The structure for locking gas cartridge 500 to cartridge holder 120 is not limited to a locking mechanism that uses rotation, but may be a structure that locks using frictional force during linear insertion. Alternatively, the gas cartridge 500 may be manually pushed in without using an actuator, and locked using the force of the thrust. A detailed description of the mechanism for locking flange 511 (i.e., gas cartridge 500) will be omitted.

[0011] 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.

[0012] 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 with reference to FIG. 2.

[0013] 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 detailed description of the actuator 121 will be omitted. The actuator 121 may move 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 structure for locking the gas cartridge 500 to the cartridge holder 120 is not limited to a locking mechanism that uses rotation, and may be a structure that locks using frictional force during linear insertion. Alternatively, the gas cartridge 500 may be manually pushed in without using an actuator, and the momentum may be used to lock it. The gas supply device 100 is provided with a controller 150, which controls the actuator 121 and the auxiliary valve 140.

[0014] 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the periphery of connector 130. Connector 130 is provided with cover 132 and push rod 135. Main stop valve 520 is provided inside mouthpiece 510 of gas cartridge 500. As described above, actuator 121 moves gas cartridge 500 so that mouthpiece 510 approaches connector 130.

[0015] The movement from when the nozzle 510 approaches the connector 130 until the main stop valve 520 is opened will be outlined below. FIG. 2(A) shows the state before the nozzle 510 of the gas cartridge 500 comes into contact with the cover 132. As the gas cartridge 500 approaches the connector 130, the cover 132 abuts against the nozzle 510. FIG. 2(B) shows the state in which the cover 132 comes into contact with the nozzle 510. As the gas cartridge 500 approaches further to the connector 130, the push rod 135 of the connector 130 pushes the valve element 521 of the main stop valve 520 into the inside of the gas cartridge 500, and the main stop valve 520 opens. FIG. 2(C) shows the state in which the main stop valve 520 is open.

[0016] The operation up to the opening of main stop valve 520 will be described in detail. First, the structure of gas cartridge 500 will be described. 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 inside gas cartridge 500 is ejected to the outside through opening 512.

[0017] Main stop valve 520 includes valve element 521 that closes opening 512 from inside gas cartridge 500, and spring 522 that presses valve element 521 against opening 512. The rear end of spring 522 abuts against stopper 523 provided inside gas cartridge 500. Spring 522 presses valve element 521 against opening 512, thereby closing opening 512. When valve element 521 is pressed into gas cartridge 500 from outside, main stop valve 520 opens and hydrogen sprays out.

[0018] The structure of connector 130 of gas supply device 100 will be described. Connector 130 includes push rod 135, cover 132, pressure sensor 138, and aspirator 141, which are fixed to connector base 131. The inside of push rod 135 forms gas flow path 136. Push piece 137 is provided at the tip of push rod 135. Push piece 137 pushes valve body 521. Note that push piece 137 does not block gas flow path 136 of push rod 135, and when main stop valve 520 opens, hydrogen passes beside push piece 137 and flows into gas flow path 136.

[0019] The cover 132 is attached to the connector base 131 so as to be able to move forward and backward. The cover 132 is biased toward the base 510 by a spring 133. The tip of the cover 132 is located closer to the base 510 than the tip of the push rod 135 (push piece 137). FIG. 2(A) shows a state in which the base 510 and the cover 132 are separated. In this state, the connector 130 (push rod 135 and gas flow path 136) inside the cover 132 is exposed to the outside air. More specifically, the opening of the connector 130 (the opening at the tip of the gas flow path 136) is located inside the cover 132, and in the state shown in FIG. 2(A), the opening of the connector 130 is exposed to the outside air.

[0020] The actuator 121 described above brings the gas cartridge 500 closer to the connector 130. The X-axis in the figure indicates the movement direction of the mouthpiece 510. Position Xr means a reference position fixed to the connector base 131. In FIG. 2(A), the tip of the mouthpiece 510 is located at X0.

[0021] When actuator 121 moves gas cartridge 500 even closer to the connector, cover 132 comes into contact with base 510 (FIG. 2(B)). The tip of base 510 is located at X1, which is closer to connector 130 than X0.

[0022] Cover 132 has a cylindrical shape that surrounds valve element 521 of main stop valve 520. When the tip of cover 132 abuts against base 510, the part of main stop valve 520 exposed to the outside (i.e., valve element 521) and the opening of connector 130 (the tip of gas flow path 136) are blocked from the outside air. Note that cover 132 is pressed against base 510 by spring 133, so hydrogen does not leak from the boundary between cover 132 and base 510.

[0023] The suction port of the suction device 141 opens to the inside of the cover 132. When the cover 132 blocks the openings of the main stop valve 520 and the connector 130 from the outside air, the controller 150 (see FIG. 1) activates the suction device 141 to exhaust air from the inner space 139 of the cover 132. The connector 130 is provided with a pressure sensor 138, which measures the pressure in the inner space 139 of the cover 132. In FIG. 2(B), the inner space 139 of the cover 132 refers to the space between the auxiliary valve 140 and the main stop valve 520 when the valves are closed. As another example, if another on-off valve is provided downstream of the auxiliary valve 140 (on the fuel cell side), the space may extend from this on-off valve to the upstream (on the gas cartridge side).

[0024] When the pressure in the internal space 139 falls below a predetermined threshold pressure, the controller 150 stops the aspirator 141 and moves the gas cartridge 500 closer to the connector 130. The threshold pressure is set to a value lower than the external atmospheric pressure.

[0025] When the tip of the nozzle 510 approaches the connector 130 further than position X1, the push piece 137 attached to the tip of the push rod 135 pushes the valve element 521 of the main stop valve 520 into the gas cartridge 500. The load from the push piece 137 compresses the spring 522, causing the valve element 521 to retract into the gas cartridge 500, opening the main stop valve 520. Hydrogen in the gas cartridge 500 passes through the opening 512 and flows into the gas flow path 136 inside the push rod 135. FIG. 2(C) shows a state in which the nozzle 510 is positioned at X2, which is even closer to the connector 130 than X1, and shows a state in which the push piece 137 pushes open the main stop valve 520 (valve element 521). As mentioned above, the gas flow path 136 is connected to the fuel cell 900, and hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell 900 when the auxiliary valve 140 in FIG. 1 is opened. The thick arrows in FIG. 2(C) indicate the flow of hydrogen.

[0026] 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 .

[0027] When the cover 132 contacts the base 510, the cover 132 blocks the main stop valve 520 and the connector 130 (the opening of the connector 130) from the outside air. At this time, the main stop valve 520 and the connector 130 are in a disconnected state. When the controller 150 activates the aspirator 141 in this state, some of the air in the inner space 139 of the cover 132 is removed. When oxygen contained in the air is sent to the anode of the fuel cell 900 together with hydrogen, the oxygen and hydrogen react at the anode, damaging the anode catalyst. In other words, the air (oxygen) corresponds to impurities that reduce the performance of the fuel cell for the anode of the fuel cell 900. When the aspirator 141 has removed the impurities from the inner space 139 while the connector 130 and the main stop valve 520 are in a disconnected state, the controller 150 of the gas supply device 100 connects the connector 130 to the main stop valve 520 and opens the main stop valve 520. The gas supply device 100 isolates the main stop valve 520 and the connector 130 from the outside air and removes impurities (oxygen) from around the main stop valve 520 before connecting the connector 130. This prevents impurities from entering the fuel cell 900. The impurities include not only oxygen but also substances (such as dust and moisture) that affect the operation of the main stop valve 520 and the operation of the fuel cell 900. These substances are also removed from around the main stop valve 520 by the operation of the aspirator 141.

[0028] It is not necessary for the suction device 141 to remove 100% of all impurities in the inner space 139, but it is sufficient if it can remove impurities to the extent that the influence on the main stop valve 520 and the fuel cell 900 is small.

[0029] (Modification) A modification 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 an inert gas supplier 142 that supplies nitrogen, which is an inert gas, to the inner space 139.

[0030] 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)).

[0031] When actuator 121 brings gas cartridge 600 closer to connector 230, cover 132 comes into contact with base 510 (FIG. 3(B)). The tip of base 510 is located at X1, which is closer to connector 130 than X0.

[0032] When the tip of the cover 132 abuts against the base 510, the opening of the connector 130 (the tip of the gas flow path 136) and the exposed portion of the main stop valve 620 are blocked from the outside air. The opening of the connector 130 (the tip of the gas flow path 136) and the exposed portion of the main stop valve 620 are blocked from the outside air by an inner space 139 of the cover 132. Note that the cover 132 is pressed against the base 610 by a spring 133, so hydrogen does not leak from the boundary between the cover 132 and the base 610. In FIG. 3(b), the inner space 139 refers to the space between the auxiliary valve 140 and the main stop valve 520.

[0033] When the cover 132 blocks the connector 130 and the main stop valve 620 from the outside air, the controller 150 activates the suction device 141 to remove air from the inner space 139 of the cover 132. A pressure sensor (not shown) is attached to the cover 132, and the pressure sensor measures the pressure in the inner space 139.

[0034] When the pressure in the internal space 139 falls below a predetermined threshold pressure, the controller 150 stops the aspirator 141 and activates the inert gas supplier 142. Nitrogen is filled into the internal space 139 from the inert gas supplier 142. Note that the nitrogen does not affect the anode of the fuel cell 900. When the pressure in the internal space 139 becomes equal to the pressure of the outside air, the controller 150 stops the supply of nitrogen and moves the gas cartridge 600 further toward the connector 230. When the tip of the mouthpiece 610 approaches the connector 230 further than position X1, 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(C) ). Hydrogen in the gas cartridge 600 passes through the opening 612 and flows into the gas flow path 136 inside the push rod 235. Figure 3(C) shows a state in which the base 610 is positioned at X2, which is closer to the connector 130 than X1, and the tip of the push rod 235 pushes open the main stop valve 620 (valve body 621). The gas flow path 136 is connected to the fuel cell 900, and when the auxiliary valve 140 in Figure 1 is opened, hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell 900. The thick arrows in Figure 3(C) represent the flow of hydrogen.

[0035] The gas supply device having the modified connector 230 also has the same advantages as the gas supply device 100 of the first embodiment.

[0036] (Second Embodiment) Figure 4 shows a gas supply device 300 of a second embodiment. A housing 310 of the gas supply device 300 has a cover 312 that closes a cartridge accommodating space 311. The gas supply device 300 has a connector 330 similar to the connector 130 of the gas supply device 100 of the first embodiment. The connector 330 does not have the cover 132 and spring 133 shown in Figure 2. Except for the cover 132 and spring 133, the connector 330 has the same structure as the connector 130.

[0037] In the gas supply device 300, when the gas cartridge 500 is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating space 311 and the flange 511 of the mouthpiece 510 is fixed to the cartridge holder 120, the controller 350 closes the cover 312. The cover 312 seals the cartridge accommodating space 311. That is, when the cover 312 is closed, the cartridge accommodating space 311, including the main stop valve 520 and the connector 330, is isolated from the outside air. The entire gas cartridge 500 is isolated from the outside air.

[0038] Next, the controller 350 operates the aspirator 141 (see FIG. 2) to exhaust air from the cartridge accommodating space 311. Once a predetermined amount of air has been removed from the cartridge accommodating space 311, the controller 350 stops the aspirator 141 and operates the actuator 121 to move the main stop valve 520 closer to the connector 330. As in the description of FIG. 2, the push piece 137 of the push rod 135 pushes in the valve body 521 of the main stop valve 520, and the main stop valve 520 opens.

[0039] Similar to the gas supply device 100 of the first embodiment, the gas supply device 300 of the second embodiment removes impurities from around the main stop valve 520 and the connector 130, then connects the connector 330 to the main stop valve 520 and opens the main stop valve 520. This makes it possible to prevent impurities from entering the fuel cell 900.

[0040] Some features of the gas supply device described in the embodiment are listed below. The gas supply device 100 (300) includes a cover 132 (312), a removal device (aspirator 141), a connector 130 (330), and a controller 150 (350). A gas flow path 136 is connected to the connector 130 (330), and hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell 900 through the connector 130 (330). The fuel cell 900 is an example of a gas-utilizing device.

[0041] The connector 130 (330) is disposed inside the cover 132 (312). More precisely, the opening of the connector 130 (the opening at the tip of the gas flow path 136) is disposed inside the cover 132. The cover 132 (312) blocks the main stop valve 520 of the attached gas cartridge 500 and the opening of the connector 130 (330) from the outside air. More specifically, the cover 132 (312) blocks the opening 512 of the attached gas cartridge 500 and the opening of the connector 130 (330) from the outside air.

[0042] The removal device (suction device 141) removes impurities from the inner space 139 of the cover when the connector 130 (330) and the main stop valve 520 (620) are in a disconnected state. Here, impurities refer to substances that affect the fuel cell 900 (hydrogen utilization device). The impurities may be solids, gases, or fluids. The removal device may be a suction device or an exhaust fan. Note that the expression "when the connector and the main stop valve are in a disconnected state" may be alternatively expressed as "when the connector and the main stop valve are separated from each other." Furthermore, the expression "when the connector and the main stop valve are in a disconnected state" may be alternatively expressed as "when the connector and the main stop valve are in a non-contact state."

[0043] When a predetermined amount of impurities has been removed from the inner space of the cover, the controller 150 (350) connects the connector 130 (330) to the main stop valve 520 and opens the main stop valve 520. When the main stop valve 520 is opened, hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell 900 through the connector 130 (330). The removal device does not need to remove all of the impurities from the inner space, and the controller opens the main stop valve when a certain amount of impurities that will not affect the hydrogen-utilization device has been removed from the inner space.

[0044] The gas supply devices 100 and 300 include an actuator 121 that moves one of the gas cartridge 500 and the connector 130 (330) closer to the other. In the gas supply device 100, when the actuator 121 moves the gas cartridge 500 closer to the connector 130 (330) to the first position X1, the cover 132 tightly contacts the gas cartridge 500, and the main stop valve 520 (opening 512) of the gas cartridge 500 and the opening of the connector 130 are shut off from the outside air.

[0045] When the actuator 121 moves the gas cartridge 500 closer to the connector 130 to a second position X2 that is closer to the connector than the first position X1, the push rod 135 of the connector 130 abuts against the valve body 521 of the main stop valve 520, opening the main stop valve 520. When the main stop valve 520 opens, hydrogen in the gas cartridge 500 is supplied to the fuel cell 900.

[0046] In the gas supply device 300 of the second embodiment, the cover 312 seals the cartridge accommodating space 311, isolating the entire gas cartridge 500 from the outside air. The gas supply device 300 further includes an inert gas supplier 142 that supplies an inert gas to the internal space (the sealed cartridge accommodating space 311). The inert gas refers to a gas (e.g., nitrogen) that does not affect the hydrogen-utilizing device (fuel cell 900).

[0047] The main stop valve 520 (620) includes a valve element 521 (621) that blocks the opening 512 (612) of the gas cartridge from the inside, and a spring 522 (622) that presses the valve element against the opening. The connector 130 (230) includes a push rod 135 (235) that pushes open the valve element from the outside of the gas cartridge. After impurities are removed from the internal space 139, the push rod 135 (235) pushes open the valve element. The main stop valve 520 (620) is connected to the connector 130 (230), and the main stop valve 520 (620) and the connector 130 (230) communicate with each other.

[0048] The gas supply devices 100 and 300 of the embodiments can prevent impurities from entering when connecting the main stop valve 520 of the gas cartridge 500 and the connector 130 (330).

[0049] Here are some points to note regarding the technology described in the embodiments. The fuel cell 900 is an example of a hydrogen-utilizing device. The technology disclosed in this specification can also be applied to other hydrogen-utilizing devices, such as hydrogen engines that burn hydrogen and hydrogen-combustion burners for kitchens.

[0050] Conventional gas supply devices have the following issues. Due to the structure of the detachable cartridge tank, the valve disc and opening (also called the valve seat) of the main stop valve on the tank side, as well as the push rod on the connector side, are exposed to the atmosphere when separated. This not only traps oxygen, but also causes solid foreign matter (e.g., dust, sand) and liquids such as moisture to adhere to or become trapped near the opening and on the surface of the push rod. Leaving this foreign matter (solid, liquid, or gas) present and opening the main stop valve to supply hydrogen from the tank to the fuel cell can cause fuel cell malfunctions, or solid foreign matter can adhere to the valve disc and opening, causing valve opening and closing malfunctions the next time the valve is opened or closed. Furthermore, if the hydrogen-utilizing device is a hydrogen engine, oxygen is mixed in during startup, resulting in poor combustion during startup.

[0051] In the gas supply device of the embodiment, before the main stop valve 520 and the connector 130 are connected and supplied (the state of Figure 2(B)), i.e., in the state of Figure 2(C), the main stop valve 520 and the connector 130 are enclosed and various foreign matter is removed by suction, and then hydrogen is supplied, thereby preventing foreign matter from entering the fuel cell and valve abnormalities in each valve.

[0052] Furthermore, before carrying out suction, a step of forcibly removing foreign matter may be added, such as by blowing air, replacing with nitrogen as in the second embodiment, or cleaning with a liquid on the surfaces and surrounding areas of main stop valve 520 and connector 130, to which foreign matter is likely to adhere. By carrying out the suction step after this forcible removal step, the reduction of foreign matter (solid, liquid, gas) around main stop valve 520 and connector 130 can be improved.

[0053] 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]

[0054] 100, 300: Gas supply device 110, 310: Housing 111, 311: Cartridge accommodating space 120: Cartridge holder 121: Actuator 130, 230, 330: Connector 131: Connector base 132, 312: Cover 133, 522, 622: Spring 135, 235: Push rod 136: Gas flow path 137: Push piece 138: Pressure sensor 139: Inner space 140: Auxiliary valve 141: Aspirator 142: Inert gas supplier 150, 350: Controller 500, 500a, 600: Gas cartridge 510, 610: Cap 511: Flange 512, 612: Opening 513: Gasket 520, 620: Main stop valve 521, 621: Valve body 900: Fuel cell

Claims

1. a gas supply device having a connector to which a gas cartridge in which hydrogen is stored and which has a main stop valve that seals the hydrogen can be attached, and supplying hydrogen to a hydrogen utilization device through a gas flow path connected to the connector; a cover that isolates the main stop valve of the attached gas cartridge and the periphery of the connector from the outside air; a removal device that removes impurities from the inner space of the cover when the connector and the main stop valve are in a disconnected state; a controller that connects the main stop valve and the connector and opens the main stop valve when the impurities have been removed from the inner space by the removal device; A gas supply device comprising:

2. an actuator for moving one of the gas cartridge and the connector closer to the other; When the actuator brings the gas cartridge close to the connector to a first position, the cover tightly contacts the gas cartridge, and when the actuator brings the gas cartridge close to the connector to a second position that is closer to the connector than the first position, a push rod of the connector abuts against the main stop valve to open the main stop valve. The gas supply device according to claim 1 .

3. The gas supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the cover completely shields the gas cartridge from outside air.

4. The gas supply device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising an inert gas supplier that supplies an inert gas to the inner space.

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