Fuel cartridge

Abstract

In a fuel cartridge, fuel is supplied appropriately even if the orientation changes during use. [Solution] A fuel cartridge comprising a fuel container having a cylindrical outer wall and an opening on its central axis, and a fuel outlet pipe extending from the opening into the fuel container and being rotatably supported at the opening with respect to the fuel container about its central axis. The fuel outlet pipe comprises a first pipe extending from the opening along the central axis into the fuel container, a second pipe having a fuel inlet at a position radially offset from the central axis and extending from the first pipe to the fuel inlet, and a weight positioned radially offset from the central axis and fixed to the first pipe.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in the present specification relates to a fuel cartridge.

Background Art

[0002] The fuel cartridge disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a fuel container and a fuel take-out pipe. Liquid fuel and gaseous fuel obtained by vaporizing the liquid fuel are stored in the fuel container. The fuel take-out pipe extends from a discharge port of the fuel container to the inside of the fuel container. The fuel take-out pipe has a first portion extending horizontally from the discharge port, and a second portion extending downward from the first portion. A fuel suction port is provided at the lower end of the second portion. The fuel take-out pipe sucks the liquid fuel from the fuel suction port, and supplies the sucked liquid fuel to the outside of the fuel container. Since the fuel suction port is provided at the lower part in the fuel container, the fuel take-out pipe can appropriately suck the liquid fuel. Further, in this fuel cartridge, the fuel take-out pipe can be rotated by operating a lever to move the fuel suction port to the upper part in the fuel container. In this state, the fuel take-out pipe sucks the gaseous fuel from the fuel suction port.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] During use, the orientation of a fuel cartridge may change. When the orientation of the fuel cartridge changes, the relative position of the fuel inlet and the fuel changes, which may prevent the fuel inlet from properly drawing in fuel. For example, when liquid fuel needs to be drawn in, if the fuel inlet is positioned above the liquid level of the liquid fuel, the fuel outlet will not be able to properly draw in the liquid fuel. Also, when gaseous fuel needs to be drawn in, if the fuel inlet is positioned below the liquid level of the liquid fuel, the fuel outlet will not be able to properly draw in the gaseous fuel. Therefore, this specification provides a fuel cartridge structure that can properly supply fuel even when its orientation changes during use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In a first aspect of this technology, the fuel cartridge comprises a fuel container and a fuel outlet pipe. The fuel container has a cylindrical outer wall, is used with the central axis of the outer wall intersecting the vertical direction, and has an opening on the central axis. The fuel outlet pipe extends from the opening into the interior of the fuel container and is rotatably supported at the opening with respect to the fuel container about the central axis. The fuel outlet pipe comprises a first pipe extending from the opening along the central axis into the interior of the fuel container, a second pipe having a fuel inlet at a position radially offset with respect to the central axis and extending from the first pipe to the fuel inlet, and a weight positioned radially offset with respect to the central axis and fixed to the first pipe.

[0006] The weight portion can be any solid object with mass. Alternatively, the second tube itself may serve as the weight portion.

[0007] With this configuration, if the orientation of the fuel cartridge changes during use, the fuel outlet pipe rotates around the central axis so that the weight portion is positioned at the bottom within the fuel container. Therefore, even if the orientation of the fuel cartridge changes, the relative positional relationship between the liquid fuel level and the second pipe (i.e., the fuel inlet) can be maintained. Consequently, this fuel cartridge can properly supply fuel even if its orientation changes during use.

[0008] In a second embodiment, the weight portion may be composed of the second tube in the first embodiment described above.

[0009] With this configuration, the second pipe (i.e., the fuel inlet) is located at the bottom of the fuel container, allowing the fuel cartridge to be supplied with liquid fuel. Furthermore, since the second pipe also serves as a weight, the structure of the fuel cartridge can be simplified.

[0010] In a third embodiment, in the first embodiment, the weight portion may be positioned on the opposite side of the second tube with respect to the central axis.

[0011] In this configuration, the weight is located at the bottom of the fuel container, so the second pipe (i.e., the fuel inlet) is located at the top of the fuel container. Therefore, the fuel cartridge can be supplied with gaseous fuel.

[0012] In the fourth embodiment, the fuel container may further have a gripping portion provided on its outer surface, as in any of the first to third embodiments described above. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] A cross-sectional view along the central axis of the fuel cartridge in Example 1. [Figure 2] A cross-sectional view perpendicular to the central axis of the fuel cartridge in Example 1. [Figure 3] A cross-sectional view along the central axis of the fuel cartridge in Example 2. [Figure 4] A cross-sectional view along the central axis of the fuel cartridge of a modified example of Example 1. [Figure 5] A cross-sectional view along the central axis of the fuel cartridge of a modified example of Example 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] (Example 1) The fuel cartridge 10 of Example 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, the fuel cartridge 10 has a sealed cylindrical fuel container 20. The fuel container 20 has an outer perimeter wall 20a, an end wall 20b, and an end wall 20c. The outer perimeter wall 20a has a cylindrical shape centered on a central axis C1. The end wall 20b closes one end of the outer perimeter wall 20a. The end wall 20c closes the other end of the outer perimeter wall 20a. The fuel container 20 is used when the central axis C1 is horizontal (i.e., the central axis C1 intersects the vertical direction at a 90-degree angle). An opening 20d is provided in the end wall 20c at a position on the central axis C1. The fuel container 20 contains liquid fuel 80 (for example, liquid ammonia). In addition, in the space inside the fuel container 20 above the liquid level of the liquid fuel 80, there is a high-pressure gaseous fuel 82 which is the vaporized liquid fuel 80.

[0015] The fuel cartridge 10 has a fuel outlet pipe 30 and a swivel joint 40. The swivel joint 40 is provided at the opening 20d of the fuel container 20. The fuel outlet pipe 30 extends from the opening 20d into the fuel container 20. The fuel outlet pipe 30 is supported by the swivel joint 40. The fuel outlet pipe 30 is supported by the swivel joint 40 in a manner that allows it to rotate about a central axis C1.

[0016] The fuel outlet pipe 30 has an L-shape. The fuel outlet pipe 30 has a first pipe 30a that extends from the opening 20d into the fuel container 20 along the central axis C1, and a second pipe 30b that extends radially from the first pipe 30a (i.e., radially in the direction of a circle centered on the central axis C1). A fuel discharge port 34 is provided at the end of the first pipe 30a on the opening 20d side. A fuel intake port 36 is provided at the radially outer end of the second pipe 30b. The fuel intake port 36 is positioned radially offset from the central axis C1. As described above, the fuel outlet pipe 30 can rotate around the central axis C1. When the fuel cartridge 10 is stationary, the second pipe 30b has weight, so the fuel outlet pipe 30 is stationary in a position where the second pipe 30b is located directly below the central axis C1. In this state, the fuel intake port 36 is located near the bottom of the fuel container 20.

[0017] The fuel cartridge 10 has a fuel supply pipe 50. The fuel supply pipe 50 is connected to the fuel outlet 34 of the first pipe 30a from outside the fuel container 20. The first pipe 30a and the fuel supply pipe 50 are connected by a swivel joint 40. Therefore, the first pipe 30a is rotatable relative to the fuel supply pipe 50 while the connection between the first pipe 30a and the fuel supply pipe 50 is sealed. The other end of the fuel supply pipe 50 is connected to a fuel-using device (not shown).

[0018] When the fuel cartridge 10 is in use, the pressure inside the fuel container 20 causes the liquid fuel 80 to flow from the fuel inlet 36 into the fuel outlet pipe 30. The liquid fuel is supplied to the fuel-using equipment via the fuel outlet pipe 30 and the fuel supply pipe 50.

[0019] When the fuel cartridge 10 is in use, the posture of the fuel cartridge 10 may change. For example, when the fuel cartridge 10 is mounted on a moving body (e.g., a vehicle, a drone, etc.), the inclination angle of the fuel cartridge 10 may change as the moving body tilts. Further, when the fuel cartridge 10 is mounted on a handheld machine, the inclination angle of the fuel cartridge 10 may change as a user operates the machine. Figure 2 shows a cross section of the fuel cartridge 10 orthogonal to the central axis C1. When the fuel cartridge 10 tilts as indicated by arrow 90, the second pipe 30b tends to tilt in the same direction as arrow 90, as indicated by the broken line in Figure 2. However, due to the weight of the second pipe 30b, the fuel take-out pipe 30 rotates relative to the fuel container 20 around the central axis C1 as indicated by arrow 92, and the position of the second pipe 30b is maintained at a position directly below the central axis C1. Therefore, the position of the fuel suction port 36 is maintained at a position near the bottom of the fuel container 20. In this way, even if the posture of the fuel cartridge 10 changes, the fuel suction port 36 is prevented from moving above the liquid surface of the liquid fuel 80. Accordingly, the liquid fuel 80 can be favorably sucked through the fuel suction port 36. As described above, the fuel cartridge 10 of Example 1 can appropriately supply the liquid fuel 80 even when the posture changes.

[0020] Note that in Example 1, making the second pipe 30b as long as possible increases the weight of the second pipe 30b, so that the fuel take-out pipe 30 can be rotated more smoothly. In addition, when the second pipe 30b is long, the liquid fuel can be sucked through the fuel suction port 36 even when the remaining amount of the liquid fuel is small.

[0021] (Example 2) The fuel cartridge 11 of Example 2 shown in Figure 3 supplies gaseous fuel 82 to the outside. Further, in the fuel cartridge 11, the fuel take-out pipe 30 has a weight portion 38. The other configurations of the fuel cartridge 11 of Example 2 are the same as those of Example 1.

[0022] The weight portion 38 is fixed to the first pipe 30a within the fuel container 20. The weight portion 38 is located on the opposite side of the second pipe 30b, with the central axis C1 in between. The mass of the weight portion 38 is greater than the mass of the second pipe 30b. Therefore, the weight portion 38 is located directly below the central axis C1, and the second pipe 30b is located directly above the central axis C1. For this reason, the fuel inlet 36 is located near the ceiling of the fuel container 20. The fuel inlet 36 is located above the liquid level of the liquid fuel 80. Therefore, in Embodiment 2, the gaseous fuel 82 flows into the fuel outlet pipe 30 from the fuel inlet 36. That is, the fuel cartridge 11 of Embodiment 2 supplies the gaseous fuel 82 to an external fuel-using device.

[0023] In Example 2, the orientation of the fuel cartridge 11 may change during use. In Example 2, when the fuel cartridge 11 tilts around the central axis C1, the weight of the weight portion 38 causes the fuel outlet pipe 30 to rotate around the central axis C1 relative to the fuel container 20 so that the weight portion 38 is positioned on the lower side. Therefore, the position of the weight portion 38 is maintained directly below the central axis C1, and the position of the second pipe 30b is maintained directly above the central axis C1. As a result, the position of the fuel inlet 36 is maintained near the top of the fuel container 20. In this way, even if the orientation of the fuel cartridge 11 changes, the fuel inlet 36 is prevented from moving below the liquid level of the liquid fuel 80. Therefore, the gaseous fuel 82 can be suitably drawn in at the fuel inlet 36. Thus, the fuel cartridge 11 of Example 2 can properly supply gaseous fuel 82 even when its orientation changes.

[0024] As shown in Figure 4, the fuel container 20 may be provided with a gripping portion 60 (i.e., a handle) in the above-described embodiment 1. Also, as shown in Figure 5, the fuel container 20 may be provided with a gripping portion 60 in the above-described embodiment 2. The configurations in Figures 4 and 5 make it easy to attach and detach the fuel cartridge to the fuel-using equipment. In Figures 4 and 5, the gripping portion 60 protrudes upward from the fuel container 20, but the fuel container 20 may be provided with a recess or the like as a gripping portion.

[0025] Furthermore, in Examples 1 and 2, the fuel cartridge was used with its central axis horizontal, but the fuel cartridge may also be used with its central axis tilted. The technology disclosed herein can be applied to any fuel cartridge used with its central axis intersecting the vertical direction (i.e., with its central axis not parallel to the vertical direction).

[0026] Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technologies described in the claims include various modifications and changes to the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in this specification or drawings exhibit technical usefulness individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technologies illustrated in this specification or drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving even one of these objectives itself constitutes technical usefulness. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 10: Fuel cartridge, 20: Fuel container, 20d: Opening, 30: Fuel outlet pipe, 30a: First pipe, 30b: Second pipe, 40: Rotary joint, C1: Central shaft

Claims

1. A fuel container having a cylindrical outer wall, used with the central axis of the outer wall intersecting the vertical direction, and having an opening on the central axis, A fuel outlet pipe extending from the opening into the interior of the fuel container and supported in the opening so as to be rotatable relative to the fuel container about the central axis, It has, The aforementioned fuel take-off pipe, A first pipe extending from the opening along the central axis into the fuel container, A second pipe having a fuel intake port at a position radially offset with respect to the central axis, extending from the first pipe to the fuel intake port, A weight portion is positioned radially offset from the central axis and fixed to the first tube. Having, Fuel cartridge.

2. A fuel cartridge according to claim 1, A fuel cartridge in which the weight portion is formed by the second tube.

3. A fuel cartridge according to claim 1, A fuel cartridge in which the weight portion is positioned on the opposite side of the second tube, with respect to the central axis.

4. A fuel cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A fuel cartridge further having a gripping portion provided on the outer surface of the fuel container.

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