Calibration device

Abstract

To provide a calibration device which can reliably establish communicative charging without the need of large man-hours when charging gas fuel (e.g., hydrogen) into an apparatus (e.g., an FCV hydrogen tank) into which gas fuel is charged from a charging device (e.g., a hydrogen charging device) via the calibration device.SOLUTION: A calibration device (10) of the present invention includes: a flow meter (1); a charging nozzle (2) having a communication input unit for receiving information on a (hydrogen) charged side (an FCV 30) as an optical signal; and a receptacle (3) having a vehicle communication output unit (3A: a light emitting part) for outputting the received signal to a charge nozzle (21) side of a hydrogen charge device (20). The vehicle communication output unit (3A) is constituted of an annular member (3B) provided at the receptacle (3). The annular member (3B) has a region for generating optical signals in a prescribed range (e.g., a range with a circumferential angle being 100° or larger) in a circumferential direction of the annular member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a calibration device used to calibrate a flow meter of a filling device that fills a gaseous fuel such as hydrogen into a fuel cell vehicle (FCV), and relates to a calibration device having a flow meter (master meter: Coriolis flow meter, etc.). [Background technology]

[0002] In Fig. 14 showing a conventional calibration device, calibration device 40 (see, for example, Patent Document 1) has a flowmeter 41 (master meter: Coriolis flowmeter, etc.), a filling nozzle 42, and a receptacle 43. The filling nozzle 42 is connectable to a receptacle 31 of FCV 30 (FCV). The receptacle 43 is connectable to a filling nozzle 21 of a hydrogen filling device 20. By connecting the filling nozzle 42 to the receptacle 31 of FCV 30 and connecting the filling nozzle 21 of hydrogen filling device 20 to the receptacle 43 (of calibration device 40), calibration device 40 can perform calibration work of hydrogen filling device 20 (for example, hydrogen filling device) while filling FCV 30 with gaseous fuel such as hydrogen through fuel pipes 44A, 44B (for example, hydrogen pipes) with flowmeter 41 interposed therebetween. Here, the filling pressure into the fuel tank (hydrogen tank: not shown) of the FCV 30 is lower in the case of non-communication filling (70 MPa) compared to the case of communication filling (82 MPa). Therefore, in the case of non-communication filling, the filling amount is limited by the outside air temperature, and it may not be possible to fully fill the hydrogen tank of the FCV 30. Therefore, it is desirable that communication filling is established even when hydrogen is filled from the hydrogen filling device 20 to the FCV 30 via the calibration device 40. In order to achieve communicative filling, the optical signal related to information on the FCV side is obtained from the filling nozzle 42 of the calibration device 40 via the optical fiber cable 45, and the optical signal is irradiated from an light-emitting unit (e.g., the end of an optical fiber, not shown) provided in the receptacle 43 of the calibration device 40.The optical signal must be configured so that it can be reliably received by a light-receiving element (not shown) provided in the filling nozzle 21 of the hydrogen filling device 20.

[0003] However, the position of the light receiving element in the radial and circumferential directions of the filling nozzle 21 of the hydrogen filling device 20 varies depending on the manufacturer, and even when the filling nozzle 21 of the hydrogen filling device 20 is connected to the receptacle 43 of the calibration device 40, there are cases where the light signal emitted (irradiated) from the light emitting part of the receptacle 43 of the calibration device 40 cannot be received by the light receiving element of the filling nozzle 21 of the hydrogen filling device 20. It is possible to provide a jig on the receptacle 43 side for adjusting the position of a light emitting unit (e.g., an end of an optical communication cable) that irradiates an optical signal so that the optical signal irradiated from the receptacle 43 side is reliably received by a light receiving element on the filling nozzle 21 side. However, there is a problem in that a different jig must be provided on the receptacle 43 for each filling nozzle manufacturer, and high-precision work must be performed to adjust the position of the jig, which requires a great deal of effort for the entire calibration work. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6611026 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been proposed in consideration of the problems with the prior art described above, and aims to provide a calibration device that can reliably establish communication filling without requiring a great deal of effort when filling a gaseous fuel (e.g., hydrogen) from a filling device (e.g., a hydrogen filling device) into a device to be filled (e.g., an FCV) via the calibration device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The calibration device (10) of the present invention comprises: A communication input unit that receives information from a flow meter (1: master meter: Coriolis flow meter, etc.) and the side being filled (with hydrogen) (30: for example, the on-board tank side of an FCV) as an optical signal. (2A) A filling nozzle (2: filling nozzle of the calibration device) having The optical signal is received via an optical fiber cable (5) which is a signal transmission member. a receptacle (3: receptacle for calibration device) having a vehicle communication output unit (3A: light emitting unit) that outputs (transmits) to a filling nozzle (21) side of the hydrogen filling device (20); the vehicle communication output unit (3A) is composed of an annular member (3B) provided in a receptacle (3) of a calibration device (10); The above The annular member (3B) is 、 A specified range in the circumferential direction The range where the inscribed angle is 100° or more A region for generating optical signals is provided in And, In the annular member (3B), the optical fiber on the filling nozzle (21) side is located radially inward and the optical fiber on the receptacle (3) side is located radially outward so that the optical signal emitted from the region generating the optical signal is emitted radially inward, The annular member (3B) is attached to the receptacle (3) by a mounting member (3C) so as to be movable in the central axis direction of the mounting member (3C). It is characterized by the following.

[0007] In the present invention, the communication input unit (2A) is constituted by a light receiving unit (2A), The light receiving unit (2A) is It is preferable that the sensor be provided in a position where it can always receive an optical signal that is irradiated (output) from a light-emitting element (31AA) provided in a receptacle (31) on the side being filled (30: for example, a hydrogen tank of an FCV) and that includes information on the side being filled (for example, including information on the pressure and temperature inside the vehicle tank).

[0008] and, In the communication input section (2A), it is preferable that a signal line (5: optical fiber) that is connected to the light receiving section (2A) and transmits the received optical signal forms a bundle.

[0009] In the calibration device of the present invention, a notification means for indicating that communicative filling has been established (in the filling nozzle or display of the calibration device) can be provided.

[0010] In addition, the hydrogen filling device of the present invention is The hydrogen filling device (20) and the calibration device (10) are provided. The calibration device (10) includes a flowmeter (1), a filling nozzle (2) having an optical communication input section (2A) that receives information from the side (30) to be filled as an optical signal, The optical signal is received via an optical fiber cable (5) which is a signal transmission member. a receptor (3) having a vehicle communication output section (3A) that outputs to a filling nozzle (21) of a hydrogen filling device (20); the vehicle communication output unit (3A) is composed of an annular member (3B) provided in a receptacle of the calibration device (10); The above The annular member (3B) is 、 A specified range in the circumferential direction The range where the inscribed angle is 100° or more a region for generating an optical signal is provided in the In the annular member (3B), the optical fiber on the filling nozzle (21) side is located radially inward and the optical fiber on the receptacle (3) side is located radially outward so that the optical signal emitted from the region generating the optical signal is emitted radially inward, The annular member (3B) is attached to the receptacle (3) by a mounting member (3C) so as to be movable in the central axis direction of the mounting member (3C), By connecting the filling nozzle (2) of the calibration device (10) to the receptacle (31) of the side to be filled (30) and connecting the filling nozzle (21) of the hydrogen filling device (20) to the receptacle (3) of the calibration device (10), it has the function of calibrating the hydrogen filling device (20) while filling it with gas fuel (e.g., hydrogen), and is characterized in that communicative filling is performed by transmitting an optical signal from the side to be filled (30) to the communication input section of the filling nozzle (21) on the hydrogen filling device (20) side via a signal transmission means.

[0011] Here, the calibration device (10) in the hydrogen filling device (100) of the present invention (including the calibration device 10) is 1 ~ 4 The calibration device may be configured as any one of the above. In addition, the hydrogen filling apparatus (100) of the present invention can be provided (in the rear facility) with a notification means for indicating that communication filling has been established. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, the annular member (3B) has an area (3A) for generating an optical signal in a predetermined range in its circumferential direction (a range where the circumferential angle is 100° or more). Therefore, regardless of the position at which the light-receiving element (21A) of the filling nozzle (21) on the hydrogen filling device (20) is attached, the optical signal irradiated from the annular member (3B) is reliably received by the light-receiving element (21A) in the circumferential direction of the filling nozzle (21) on the hydrogen filling device (20). As a result, an optical signal containing information from the side (30) being filled with hydrogen, such as an FCV (e.g., information on the pressure and temperature inside the on-board tank), is irradiated from the annular member (3B) and is reliably received by the light-receiving element (21A) of the filling nozzle (21) on the hydrogen filling device (20) side, thereby establishing communicative filling.

[0013] In the present invention, the annular member (3B) is attached to the receptacle (3) by a mounting member (3C) and is configured to be movable in the central axis direction of the mounting member (3C) by an adjustment member (3D). If the irradiation angle (with respect to the central axis of the mounting member 3C of the annular member 3B) of the optical signal irradiated from the vehicle communication output unit (3A) is constant, if the distance to the end face of the filling nozzle (21) on the hydrogen filling device (20) side changes, the radial position of the irradiation position of the optical signal on the end face also changes (see FIG. 4). Since the position of the connected filling nozzle (21) is fixed, by adjusting the central axial position of the mounting member (3C) of the annular member (3B), the distance between the annular member (3B) and the end face of the filling nozzle (21) is also adjusted, making it possible to align the irradiation position of the optical signal with the radial position of the light receiving element (21A) of the filling nozzle (21). Therefore, regardless of the radial position of the photodetector (21A), which varies depending on the manufacturer of the filling nozzle (21) on the hydrogen filling equipment (20) side, an optical signal containing information from the side (30) being filled with hydrogen, such as an FCV (e.g., information on the pressure and temperature inside the vehicle tank), is irradiated from the vehicle communication output unit (3A) and reliably received by the photodetector (21A) of the filling nozzle (21) on the hydrogen filling equipment (20) side, thereby establishing communicative filling. In other words, according to the present invention, an optical signal containing information about the side being filled (30) can be reliably irradiated to the light receiving element (21A) in the filling nozzle (21) on the hydrogen filling device (20) side, whose circumferential position and / or radial position differ depending on the manufacturer, and the information can be reliably transmitted to the hydrogen filling device (20) side.

[0014] In the present invention, if the light receiving unit (2A) provided on the filling nozzle (2) of the calibration device (10) is in a position where it can receive an optical signal irradiated (output) from the light emitting element (31AA) provided on the receptacle (31) on the side to be filled (30: for example, an FCV), communicative filling is established. In this way, according to the present invention, when gas fuel is filled from the hydrogen filling device (20) to the filling side (30) via the calibration device (10), communication filling can be easily and reliably achieved without the need for special tools or adjustment work. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the flow-type calibration device according to the illustrated embodiment is in use. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a calibration device in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an end view of the annular member of the calibration device. [Figure 4] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating the action of an annular member. [Diagram 5] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams illustrating examples of the arrangement of light-emitting parts in the circumferential direction of an annular member. [Figure 6] 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement of light-emitting parts on an annular member other than that shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement of light-emitting parts on an annular member other than those shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is an exploded explanatory view for explaining the relative positional relationship between the annular member and the optical fiber. [Figure 9] 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between a filling nozzle of a hydrogen filling device and an annular member. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a cover for preventing disturbance light. [Figure 11] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the light-emitting portion of a receptacle on the FCV side. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a filling nozzle and a light receiving unit of the calibration device. [Figure 13] 13 is an explanatory diagram of an optical fiber connecting a light receiving portion in the filling nozzle of the calibration device and a light emitting portion of the annular member. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional flow rate type calibration device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The illustrated embodiment shows a case where hydrogen (gaseous fuel) is filled into an FCV 30 (having a hydrogen tank, which is the device to be filled with hydrogen) from a hydrogen filling device 20 (filling device) via a calibration device 10. In this case, the calibration device 10 is separate from the hydrogen filling device 20. On the other hand, when the "hydrogen filling device 20" includes the "calibration device 10", it is written as "hydrogen filling device 100". In Figure 1, which shows the calibration device 10 in use, the calibration device 10 has a flow meter 1 (master meter: Coriolis flow meter, etc.), a filling nozzle 2 arranged on the FCV 30 side (the side of the on-board tank where hydrogen is filled), a receptacle 3 arranged on the hydrogen filling device 20 side, hydrogen piping 4A, 4B connecting the filling nozzle 2 and receptacle 3 via the flow meter 1, a light receiving unit 2A of the filling nozzle 2, a light emitting unit 3A (vehicle communication output unit) of the receptacle 3, and an optical fiber cable 5 that connects the light receiving unit 2A and the light emitting unit 3A to form a signal transmission system for optical signals. The filling nozzle 2 of the calibration device 10 is connectable to and detachable from a receptacle 31 on the FCV 30 side, and the receptacle 3 of the calibration device 10 is configured to be connectable to and detachable from a filling nozzle 21 of the hydrogen filling device 20.

[0017] The light receiving unit 2A of the filling nozzle 2 of the calibration device 10 constitutes a communication input unit that receives information on the FCV 30 side (e.g., pressure and temperature inside the vehicle tank) as an optical signal from the receptacle 31. The exchange of optical signals between the light receiving unit 2A (light receiving element 2AA: FIG. 12) of the filling nozzle 2 of the calibration device 10 and the light emitting element 31AA (FIG. 11) of the light emitting unit 31A (FIG. 11) provided in the receptacle 31 on the FCV 30 side will be described later with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. The light emitting unit 3A of the receptacle 3 of the calibration device 10 constitutes a vehicle communication output unit that outputs (transmits) optical signals (e.g., signals related to the pressure and temperature inside the vehicle tank) received by the filling nozzle 2 of the calibration device 10 to the filling nozzle 21 of the hydrogen filling device 20. The exchange of optical signals between the light emitting unit 3A of the receptacle 3 of the calibration device 10 and the light receiving element 21A (FIG. 4) of the filling nozzle 21 on the hydrogen filling device 20 side will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0018] 1, when calibration is performed using calibration device 10, hydrogen is filled from hydrogen filling device 20 through filling hose 22, filling nozzle 21, receptacle 3 on the calibration device 10 side (mounting member 3C described below that constitutes receptacle 3), hydrogen piping 4B, flowmeter 1, hydrogen piping 4A, filling nozzle 2 on the calibration device 10 side, and receptacle 31 on the FCV 30 side into the on-board tank (hydrogen tank: not shown) of FCV 30. Flowmeter 1 accurately measures the amount of hydrogen filled. This makes it possible to evaluate the accuracy of the flowmeter (not shown) that measures hydrogen in hydrogen filling device 20. At that time, information (pressure, temperature) inside the on-board tank of the FCV 30 is detected by a sensor not shown and transmitted from the light-emitting element 31AA (Fig. 11) of the light-emitting unit 31A (Fig. 11) provided in the receptacle 31 on the FCV 30 side to the hydrogen filling device 20 via the light-receiving unit 2A (light-receiving element 2AA, Fig. 12) of the filling nozzle 2 of the calibration device 10, the optical fiber cable 5, the light-emitting unit 3A (Fig. 4) of the receptacle 3 of the calibration device 10, and the light-receiving element 21A (Fig. 4) of the filling nozzle 21 of the hydrogen filling device 20. Thus, communicative filling is established.

[0019] As described above, the circumferential position and / or radial position of the light receiving element 21A in the filling nozzle 21 of the hydrogen filling device 20 varies depending on the manufacturer. In contrast, in the illustrated embodiment, in order to reliably irradiate an optical signal from the light-emitting unit 3A (vehicle communication output unit) of the receptacle 3 of the calibration device 10, the annular member 3B is configured to be movable in the central axis direction of the mounting member 3C by an adjustment member 3D (see Figure 3). The functions and actions of the annular member 3B, the mounting member 3C, and the adjustment member 3D, as well as the transmission and reception of optical signals between the light-emitting unit 3A on the calibration device 10 side and the light-receiving element 21A on the filling nozzle 21 side, will be described later with reference to Figures 3 and 4, etc. Although not clearly shown, a notification means for indicating that communication filling has been established can be provided in the filling nozzle 2 or a display (not shown) of the calibration device 10, or in a rear facility. This allows the operator to reliably confirm that communication filling has been established, the filling pressure is increased, and full filling is reliably achieved. In the explanation with reference to Figure 1, the term "hydrogen filling device 20" is used in a sense that does not include "calibration device 10." On the other hand, when "hydrogen filling device" includes "calibration device 10," it is written as "hydrogen filling device 100."

[0020] In FIG. 2, which shows in detail the calibration device 10 according to the illustrated embodiment, components other than the calibration device 10, that is, the filling nozzle 21 of the hydrogen filling device 20 and the receptacle 31 of the FCV 30, are each indicated by dashed lines. A light emitting portion 3A of a receptacle 3 of the calibration device 10 is provided on an annular member 3B, and the annular member 3B is attached to the receptacle 3 by a mounting member 3C. In FIG. 2, arrow A2 indicates the direction of the optical signal emitted from light emitting unit 3A. Light receiving unit 2A of filling nozzle 2 of calibration device 10 is fixed to filling nozzle 2 by support member 2B. Light receiving element 2AA of light receiving unit 2A is disposed near the end of FCV 30 on the receptacle 31 side.

[0021] Next, the annular member 3B provided in the receptacle 3 of the calibration device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 3 shows the annular member 3B as seen from the filling nozzle side of a hydrogen filling device. A light emitting section 3A is shown in an annular shape in a region radially inward from the outer periphery of the annular member 3B. In Figure 3, the annular member 3B has a plurality of adjustment bolts 3D (adjustment means: three in Figure 3) arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on its outer periphery. By tightening the adjustment bolts 3D and moving them radially inward, the annular member 3B can be fixed and held relative to the mounting member 3C. By loosening the adjustment bolt 3D, the annular member 3B becomes movable in the direction of the central axis of the mounting member 3C. The mounting member 3C is hollow, and the internal space thereof constitutes a hydrogen flow path.

[0022] In Fig. 4, which shows the function of the annular member 3B, the two types of filling nozzles 21-1 and 21-2 have different radial positions of their respective light receiving elements 21A-1 and 21A-2. Fig. 4 shows the relative positions of the two types of filling nozzles 21-1 and 21-2 and the annular member 3B. The filling nozzle 21-1 and its light receiving element 21A-1 are shown in solid lines, and the filling nozzle 21-2 and its light receiving element 21A-2 are shown in dashed lines. In FIG. 4, optical fiber cable 5 (see FIG. 13), which constitutes a bundle of numerous optical fibers that are a signal transmission member for optical signals, is arranged within a predetermined circumferential range (a range where the circumferential angle is 100° or more) as individual optical fibers 5A (indicated by the symbol 5A) within annular member 3B, and constitutes optical signal light-emitting portion 3A in receptacle 3.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 4, optical fiber 5A is arranged within annular member 3B such that the filling nozzle 21 side (left side in Fig. 4) is located radially inward and the side away from filling nozzle 21 (right side in Fig. 4) is located radially outward. Therefore, the optical signal irradiated from light emitting unit 3A of annular member 3B is irradiated radially inward as it approaches filling nozzle 21 side (left side in Fig. 4) as shown by arrow A4 in Fig. 4. And because the optical signal irradiated radially inward has strong directionality, by making appropriate adjustments, it is reliably irradiated to light receiving element 21A in filling nozzle 21 of hydrogen filling device 20. The position of the filling nozzle 21 on the hydrogen filling device 20 side when connected to the receptacle 3 of the calibration device 10 is fixed, so by adjusting the position of the mounting member 3C of the annular member 3B in the direction of the central axis 3CC (arrow A5), the distance in the direction of the central axis 3CC between the annular member 3B and the end face of the filling nozzle 21 can also be adjusted. As described above, the direction in which the optical signal is irradiated is constant, so by appropriately adjusting the distance in the direction of the central axis 3CC between the annular member 3B and the end face of the filling nozzle 21, the radial position of the optical signal irradiated from the light emitting part 3A of the annular member 3B can be moved. As a result, even if the position of the light receiving element 21A in the circumferential and / or radial directions of the filling nozzle 21 on the hydrogen filling device 20 side differs depending on the manufacturer, the optical signal emitted from the annular member 3B (e.g. an optical signal containing information on the pressure and temperature inside the vehicle tank) is reliably received by the light receiving element 21A (at a circumferential and / or radial position that varies depending on the manufacturer) of the filling nozzle 21 on the hydrogen filling device 20 side, and communicative filling is established from the hydrogen filling device 20 to the FCV 30. No special tools or complicated tool adjustment work is required for this adjustment, and communicative filling can be performed easily.

[0024] As described above, by moving the annular member 3B in the direction of the central axis 3CC of the mounting member 3C (arrow A5) and adjusting the position of the annular member 3B, the radial position at which the optical signal emitted from the light-emitting unit 3A is emitted becomes equal to the radial position of either of the light-receiving elements 21A-1, 21A-2 of the filling nozzles 21-1, 21-2. For example, if the relative positions of the filling nozzle 21-1 and the annular member 3B in the direction of the central axis 3CC are as shown by the solid lines in Fig. 4, the optical signal emitted from the light-emitting unit 3A of the annular member 3B is also irradiated to the radial position of the light-receiving element 21A-1 of the filling nozzle 21-1. On the other hand, if the relative positions of the light-receiving element 21A-2 of the filling nozzle 21-2 and the light-emitting unit 3A of the annular member 3B in the direction of the central axis 3CC are as shown by the solid lines and dashed lines in Fig. 4, the optical signal emitted from the light-emitting unit 3A of the annular member 3B is also irradiated to the radial position of the light-receiving element 21A-2 of the filling nozzle 21-2.

[0025] The light emitting portion 3A in the annular member 3B, ie, the end of the optical fiber 5A does not need to be disposed over the entire circumferential area of ​​the end face on the filling nozzle 21 side (left side in FIG. 4) of the annular member 3B. As a result of experiments by the inventors, it was found that, in the circumferential direction of the end face of the annular member 3B on the filling nozzle 21 side (the left side in FIG. 4), so long as the light-emitting unit 3A is arranged in an area with a central angle of 100° or over an area of ​​1 / 3 or more of the entire circumferential direction, the light-receiving element 21A will reliably receive the optical signal irradiated from the light-emitting unit 3A regardless of the circumferential position. In other words, even if the circumferential position of the light-receiving element 21A on the filling nozzle 21 side differs depending on the manufacturer, so long as the light-emitting unit 3A on the calibration device 10 side is arranged so that the circumferential angle is 100° or more, communicative filling will be established.

[0026] Fig. 5 illustrates an example of the arrangement of light-emitting units 3A on the end face of annular member 3B. As shown in Fig. 5(A), light-emitting units 3A may be arranged continuously over a central angle θ (θ≧100°), but as shown in Fig. 5(B), if light-emitting units 3A are arranged intermittently and the sum of the central angles θ of intermittently arranged light-emitting units 3A(1), 3A(2), 3A(3), and 3A(4) is 100° or more, information transmitted from FCV 30 (pressure and temperature in the on-board tank) is reliably transmitted to hydrogen filling device 20, and communication filling is established.

[0027] Similarly, the light emitting portion 3A on the end face of the annular member 3B can be arranged parallel to the concentric circle C6 (shown by a dashed line in FIG. 6) of any of the annular members 3B. However, instead of being arranged parallel, the light emitting portion 3A may be arranged at an angle to the concentric circle C6 as shown in FIG. 6. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7(A), the light emitting portion 3A may be arranged so that the radial position of the light emitting portion 3A on the end face of the annular member 3B gradually increases, or the light emitting portion 3A gradually moves radially outward, forming a so-called "spiral shape." In addition, as shown in FIG. 7B, it is possible to arrange the light emitting portion 3A so that the radial position of the light emitting portion 3A on the end face of the annular member 3B can be arbitrarily changed.

[0028] The arrangement of optical fibers 5A (individual optical fibers constituting the optical fiber cable) within the annular member 3B will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in Fig. 8, the annular member 3B is composed of an outer member 3B1 and an inner member 3B2, and the inner peripheral surface of the outer member 3B1 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner member 3B2 are set to have complementary dimensions and shapes. As shown in Fig. 4, the inner peripheral surface of the outer member 3B1 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner member 3B2 are set so that the radial dimensions become smaller as they approach the filling nozzle 21 side (as they approach the bottom in Fig. 8). This defines the irradiation direction of the optical signal described in Fig. 4. When arranging the optical fibers 5A, the inner member 3B2 is inserted into the internal space of the outer member 3B1 with the optical fibers 5A positioned between the inner peripheral surface of the outer member 3B1 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner member 3B2. This allows each optical fiber 5A to be arranged on the end surface (on the filling nozzle 21 side of the hydrogen filling device 20) of the annular member 3B.

[0029] 9, when the receptacle 3 of the calibration device 10 is connected to the filling nozzle 21 on the hydrogen filling device 20 side, a gap CL is formed in the direction of the central axis 3CC of the mounting member 3C between the annular member 3B and the filling nozzle 21. From this gap CL, there is a risk that disturbance factors such as sunlight that affect the optical signal (arrow A9) transmitted from the light emitting unit 3A to the light receiving element 21A of the filling nozzle 21 may enter. In contrast, in the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Fig. 10, a cover 3E having a generally truncated cone shape is provided so as to cover the gap CL. The shape of the cover 3E is set so as to efficiently prevent sunlight and the like from entering through the gap CL. Although not explicitly shown, the cover 3E is attached to the mounting member 3C by a conventionally known method. By providing the cover 3E, it is possible to prevent disturbances of the optical signal caused by external disturbances such as sunlight entering through the gap CL. Additionally, when connecting the filling nozzle 21 to the receptacle 3, the cover 3E can act as a marker or a guide member.

[0030] Next, referring to Figures 11 and 12, a mechanism for reliably receiving an optical signal containing information on the pressure and temperature inside the on-board tank of the FCV 30 from the receptacle 31 on the FCV 30 side to the filling nozzle 2 of the calibration device 10 will be described. In Fig. 11, a sector-shaped or broken ring-shaped light-emitting unit 31A is provided in the receptacle 31 on the FCV 30 side, and a plurality of (four in the embodiment) light-emitting elements 31AA are provided in the light-emitting unit 31A. In Fig. 11, the joint (in the receptacle 31) with the filling nozzle 2 on the calibration device 10 side is indicated by reference symbol 31B. During communication filling, an optical signal including information on the FCV 30 side (pressure and temperature inside the on-board tank) is transmitted from the light-emitting element 31AA of the receptacle 31 to the light-receiving element 2AA of the filling nozzle 2 on the calibration device 10 side. As shown in Fig. 12, a light-receiving unit 2A is attached via a support unit 2B to the filling nozzle 2 on the calibration device 10 side. The light-receiving unit 2A constitutes a communication input unit. The light receiving section 2A supports an optical fiber cable 5, and a light receiving element 2AA is disposed at an end of the optical fiber cable 5 (the end on the receptacle 31 side of the FCV 30: the right end in FIG. 12). In FIG. 12, the joint portion of the filling nozzle 2 with the receptacle 31 is indicated by the reference symbol 2C.

[0031] Here, in Figures 11 and 12, the shape and dimensions of the light-receiving portion 2A and the support portion 2B, and the arrangement of the light-receiving element 2AA of the light-receiving portion 2A are set so that the position of the light-receiving element 2AA is a position (a position that is at least partially aligned with the light-emitting element 31AA) where an optical signal (information on the FCV 30 side, pressure and temperature of the on-board tank) emitted from any of the (four) light-emitting elements 31AA of the receptacle 31 on the FCV 30 side can always be received. Therefore, the optical signal including the information of the FCV 30 is reliably received by the light receiving portion 2A of the filling nozzle 2 of the calibration device 10.

[0032] In order to ensure that the light receiving element 2AA can always receive the optical signal (information on the FCV 30 side, on-board tank pressure, temperature) emitted from any of the (four) light emitting elements 31AA of the receptacle 31 on the FCV 30 side, the light receiving element 2AA must be arranged in accordance with the hydrogen filling standard (SAE J2799

[2014] ). More specifically, it is necessary to satisfy the contents of 4.2.1.1 to 4.2.1.6 and 4.2.2.1 to 4.2.2.5 of SAE J2799

[2014] .

[0033] Next, the optical fiber cable 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 13, the optical fiber cable 5 is composed of a bundle of many optical fibers, and the bundle is supported by a support portion 2B of the filling nozzle 2 on the side of the calibration device 10. In order to explain the optical fiber cable 5, the optical fibers 5A and the optical fiber cable 5 are shown larger than the filling nozzle 2 and the support portion 2B in FIG. The end of the optical fiber cable 5 on the filling nozzle 2 side (the right end in FIG. 13: the end on the receptacle 31 side of the FCV 30) constitutes the light receiving section 2A, in which a light receiving element 2AA is disposed. The end of the optical fiber cable 5 opposite the filling nozzle 2 (the left end in FIG. 13: the filling nozzle 21 side of the hydrogen filling device 20) is connected to annular member 3B (not shown in FIG. 13) of the calibration device 10. On the end face of the annular member 3B facing the filling nozzle 21, the individual optical fibers 5A are arranged in the circumferential direction of the annular member 3B to form light-emitting section 23A (FIG. 4).

[0034] It should be noted that the illustrated embodiment is merely an example and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, an FCV is used as the device to be filled, a hydrogen filling device is used as the filling device, and hydrogen is used as the gaseous fuel, but the device to be filled is not limited to an FCV, and the gas to be filled is not limited to hydrogen. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a filling device that has a function of supplying other gaseous fuels. Furthermore, in this specification, the hydrogen filling device may be configured separately from the calibration device 10, as in the case where it is written as "hydrogen filling device 20," or it may include the calibration device 10, as in the case where it is written as "hydrogen filling device 100." [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1. Flow meter (master meter: Coriolis flow meter, etc.) 2. Filling nozzle of the calibration device 2A···Light receiving section (communication input section) 2AA···Photodetector 3. Calibration equipment receptacle 3A···Light emitting unit (vehicle communication output unit) 3B: Circular member 3C...Mounting material 3D...adjustment parts 4. Hydrogen piping 5. Fiber optic cable 10...Calibration device 20 Hydrogen filling device (not including calibration device 10, etc.) 21...Filling nozzle 21A: Light receiving element of filling nozzle 30...Fuel cell vehicle (FCV) 31···Receptacle 31A···Receptacle light emitting part Light emitting element of 31AA··· receptacle 100 Hydrogen filling device (including calibration device 10, etc.)

Claims

1. a flow meter, a filling nozzle having a communication input unit that receives information from the side to be filled as an optical signal, and a receptacle having a vehicle communication output unit that receives the optical signal via an optical fiber cable which is a signal transmission member and outputs it to the filling nozzle side of the hydrogen filling device, the vehicle communication output unit is configured with an annular member provided in a receptacle of a calibration device; the annular member has a region for generating an optical signal within a predetermined range in a circumferential direction thereof, the range being a circumferential angle of 100° or more; In the annular member, the optical fiber on the filling nozzle side is located inward in the radial direction and the optical fiber on the receptacle side is located outward in the radial direction so that the optical signal emitted from the region generating the optical signal is emitted inward in the radial direction, A calibration device according to claim 1, wherein the annular member is attached to a receptacle by a mounting member so as to be movable in a central axial direction of the mounting member.

2. the communication input unit has a light receiving unit, The light receiving unit includes:

2. The calibration device according to claim 1, which is provided at a position where it can always receive an optical signal irradiated from a light emitting element provided in a receptacle on the side to be filled and containing information on the side to be filled.

3. 3. The calibration device according to claim 2, wherein said communication input section includes a bundle of signal lines connected to said light receiving section for transmitting received optical signals.

4. 4. The calibration device according to claim 1, further comprising a notification means for indicating that communication filling has been established.

5. Equipped with a filling device body and a calibration device, The calibration device includes a flowmeter, a filling nozzle having an optical communication input unit that receives information from the side to be filled as an optical signal, and a receptacle having a vehicle communication output unit that receives the optical signal via an optical fiber cable that is a signal transmission member and outputs it to the filling nozzle side of the filling device main body, the vehicle communication output unit is configured with an annular member provided in a receptacle of the calibration device, the annular member having a region for generating an optical signal within a predetermined range in a circumferential direction thereof, the range having a circumferential angle of 100° or more; In the annular member, the optical fiber on the filling nozzle side is located inward in the radial direction and the optical fiber on the receptacle side is located outward in the radial direction so that the optical signal emitted from the region generating the optical signal is emitted inward in the radial direction, the annular member is attached to the receptacle by a mounting member so as to be movable in a central axis direction of the mounting member; This hydrogen filling device has the function of performing calibration work on the hydrogen filling device while filling gas fuel by connecting the filling nozzle of the calibration device to a receptacle on the side to be filled and connecting the filling nozzle of the hydrogen filling device main body to the receptacle of the calibration device, and is characterized in that it performs communication filling by transmitting an optical signal from the side to be filled to the communication input part of the filling nozzle on the hydrogen filling device main body side via a signal transmission means.

6. 6. The hydrogen filling device according to claim 5, further comprising an informing means for indicating that communication filling has been established.

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