Filling nozzle

Abstract

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

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Regarding the operation of filling hydrogen into an FCV or the like using such a filling nozzle, referring to FIG. 1 for explanation, the grip 15 of the filling nozzle 10 is grasped, and the nozzle barrel portion 11 is pressed toward the receptacle (not shown in FIG. 1) side to connect the filling nozzle tip portion 13 to the receptacle. At that time, the dispenser-side end portion 11A of the nozzle barrel portion 11 moves toward the receptacle side (the left side in FIG. 1). As a result, the dispenser-side end portion 11A does not surround the lever operation display portion 14, and the lever operation display portion 14 is exposed. On the other hand, the filling nozzle 10 is moved in a direction away from the receptacle to disconnect the connection. At that time, the nozzle barrel portion 11 moves toward the dispenser side (the right side in FIG. 1). Therefore, whether the filling nozzle 10 is connected to or disconnected from the receptacle can be determined based on whether the lever operation display portion 14 can be visually recognized.

[0003] However, when rainwater adheres to the lever operation display portion 14, the adhering rainwater freezes due to the low temperature of the hydrogen to be filled, and ice is generated on the lever operation display portion 14. Then, due to the ice, the dispenser-side end portion 11A of the nozzle barrel portion 11 cannot move in a direction away from the receptacle, and the filling nozzle 10 cannot be removed from the receptacle. In addition, the rainwater adhering to the lever operation display portion 14 penetrates into the nozzle barrel portion 11 and freezes inside, preventing the dispenser-side end portion 11A from moving to the position of the lever operation display portion 14. For example, if the canopy of the hydrogen refueling device (dispenser) is small or there is no canopy, rainwater may adhere to the refueling nozzle 10, causing the lever operation indicator 14 to freeze, making it impossible to remove the refueling nozzle 10 from the receptacle, and thus worsening the operability of the refueling nozzle.

[0004] Other prior arts include a technique proposed by the applicant to prevent deterioration of the seal structure and reduce the possibility of hydrogen gas leakage (see Patent Document 1). While the technology described above (Patent Document 1) is useful, it does not take into account the deterioration of the operability of the filling nozzle due to the freezing of the lever operation indicator unit 14 mentioned above. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6516207 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] This invention was proposed in view of the problems of the prior art described above, and aims to provide a filling device that can prevent, for example, rainwater from adhering to and freezing on the filling nozzle, which can impair the operability of the filling nozzle. [Means for solving the problem]

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

[0008] Furthermore, in the filling nozzle (10-2, 10-3) of the present invention, the area encompassing the lever operation indicator (14) of the nozzle cylinder body (11), and extending from the receptacle-side end (15A) of the grip (15) to the nozzle tip (13), is surrounded by covers (32, 33). The covers (32, 33) are hollow cylindrical in shape and have bellows (32A, 33A) that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction (of the filling nozzles 10-2, 10-3). The grip (15) is characterized by being tightened at the receptacle-side end (15A) and / or nozzle tip (13) by the elastic contraction force of an elastic body (32B, 33B: e.g., a rubber band). Here, the bellows (32A) may be formed along the entire length of the cover (32) in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the bellows (33A) can be formed on a portion of the cover (33) in the longitudinal direction.

[0009] Furthermore, in the filling nozzle (10-4) of the present invention, the area encompassing the lever operation indicator (14) of the nozzle cylinder body (11), and extending from the receptacle-side end (15A) of the grip (15) to the nozzle tip (13), is surrounded by a cover (34). The cover (34) is hollow cylindrical in shape, with an elastic portion (34A) formed in a part of its longitudinal direction, and the parts other than the elastic portion (34A) are not elastic. The grip (15) is characterized by being tightened at the receptacle-side end (15A) and / or the nozzle tip (13) by the elastic contraction force of the elastic material.

[0010] The filling nozzle (10-5) of the present invention has a region of the nozzle cylinder body (11) that includes the lever operation indicator (14), but does not include the nozzle tip (13), which is surrounded by a cover (35). The cover (35) is hollow cylindrical in shape and is made of a flexible material (e.g., rubber), or has a bellows that expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction (of the filling nozzle 10-5). The grip (15) is characterized by being tightened at the receptacle-side end (15A) and / or the nozzle cylinder body (11) by the elastic contraction force of an elastic body (e.g., a rubber band). [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention having the above configuration, since the filling nozzles (10-1 to 10-5) are covered by covers (31 to 35), rainwater does not adhere to the lever operation indicator (14) of the filling nozzles (10-1 to 10-5) and condensation is prevented. Therefore, even when a low-temperature fluid (for example, hydrogen) is supplied to an FCV or the like using the filling nozzles (10-1 to 10-5) of the present invention, the lever operation indicator (14) and the inside of the nozzle cylinder (11) do not freeze, and when disconnecting the filling nozzles (10-1 to 10-5) from the receptacle, the nozzle cylinder (11) can be smoothly moved to a position that surrounds the lever operation indicator (14).

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

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

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments, hydrogen is exemplified as the cryogenic fluid to be filled with the filling nozzle of the present invention. To facilitate understanding of the filling nozzle according to the illustrated embodiment, first, the existing filling nozzle 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, a filling nozzle 10 in a state of being connected to a receptacle (on the left side of FIG. 1) not shown is shown. In FIG. 1, the filling nozzle 10 has a nozzle cylinder body 11, a tip portion 13, a lever operation display portion 14, and a grip 15. Although not clearly shown, the lever operation display portion 14 is provided with a colored painted portion.

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

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

[0017] If rainwater adheres to the lever operation indicator 14 and freezes during hydrogen refueling, the refueling nozzle 10 will become impossible to remove from the receptacle. Specifically, when the filling nozzle 10 and the receptacle are connected and the lever operation indicator 14 is exposed, if rainwater adheres to the lever operation indicator 14, the low temperature of the supplied hydrogen causes the attached rainwater to freeze into an icicle. This icicle prevents the nozzle cylinder 11 from moving in the direction of arrow A1 (to the right in Figure 1), making it impossible to disconnect the filling nozzle 10 and the receptacle. Furthermore, rainwater adhering to the lever operation indicator 14 may seep into the nozzle cylinder 11 and freeze inside, preventing the dispenser-side end 11A from moving to the position of the lever operation indicator 14, thus preventing the connection between the filling nozzle 10 and the receptacle from being released. In particular, if the canopy (the roof of the gas station) is small and the dispenser's filling nozzle is exposed to the rain, the grip may get wet with rainwater, making it impossible to disconnect the filling nozzle from the receptacle, as described above.

[0018] In response to these problems, the filling nozzle 10-1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 2 can prevent freezing in the nozzle cylinder 11 even when it gets wet with rainwater, thereby maintaining good operability. The filling nozzle 10-1 of the first embodiment shown in Figure 2 is equipped with a cover 31 that covers the filling nozzle body, but apart from the presence of the cover 31, it is the same as the filling nozzle 10 described with reference to Figure 1. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used for components of the filling nozzle 10-1 that are the same as those of the filling nozzle 10 to avoid redundant explanations. In Figure 2, the area extending from the receptacle-side (left side in Figure 2) end 15A of the grip 15 of the filling nozzle 10-1 to the nozzle tip 13, and including the lever operation indicator 14, is covered (surrounded) by the cover 31. In order to make the colored painted portion of the lever operation indicator 14 visible, the cover 31 is made of a transparent material (transparent enough to allow the color of the painted portion to be discernible), although it is not clearly shown in the illustration. As will be explained in more detail later, the cover 31 is hollow cylindrical in shape and made of a flexible material (such as rubber).

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

[0020] By providing a cover 31 on the filling nozzle 10-1, rainwater is prevented from adhering to the lever operation indicator 14. Therefore, the nozzle cylinder 11 or the lever operation indicator 14 do not freeze during hydrogen filling, the nozzle cylinder 11 moves in the direction of arrow A2 (dispenser side), and the filling nozzle 10-1 can be disconnected from the receptacle. Furthermore, since the cover 31 is made of a transparent material, it is possible to determine whether the filling nozzle 10-1 is connected to or disconnected from the receptacle by whether or not the colored painted part of the lever operation indicator 14 is visible. In this case, if the cover 31 is attached, the user will operate the nozzle cylinder 11 through the cover 31. In order to maintain the operability of the nozzle cylinder 11, the cover 31 is required to be flexible at least in the longitudinal direction of the filling nozzle. Therefore, in the filling nozzle 10-1 shown in Figure 2, the cover 31 is made of a flexible material (for example, rubber), and as a result, the user can smoothly operate the nozzle cylinder 11 through the cover 31, thus maintaining the operability of the filling nozzle 10-1.

[0021] In Figure 2, although not explicitly shown, the longitudinal end 31E of the cover 31, the side away from the receptacle (right side in Figure 2), is attached to the receptacle-side end 15A of the grip 15 (left side in Figure 2). Attaching the cover 31 to the end 31E is accomplished by tightening the end 31E radially inward using the elastic contraction force of an elastic material (e.g., a rubber band, not shown). Here, the receptacle-side end 31F of the cover 31 (left side in Figure 2) may be attached to the nozzle tip 13 by tightening it with the elastic contraction force of an elastic material (e.g., a rubber band: not shown). Alternatively, the receptacle-side end 31F of the cover 31 may not be attached to the nozzle tip 13. In other words, the cover 31 can be attached to both the end 31E on the side away from the receptacle (right side in Figure 2) and the end 31F on the receptacle side (left side in Figure 2), or it can be attached to only one of them.

[0022] In the first embodiment shown in Figure 2, the cover 31 extends beyond the receptacle-side end 11B of the nozzle body 11 to a portion extending by a dimension L toward the nozzle tip 13 from the boundary BD between the nozzle body 11 and the nozzle tip 13. This dimension L is equal to the distance the nozzle body 11 moves when connecting and disconnecting the filling nozzle and the receptacle. This prevents rainwater from adhering to and freezing between the nozzle tip 13 and the nozzle body 11, thereby restricting the movement of the nozzle body 11 and preventing the filling nozzle 10-1 from being disconnected from the receptacle.

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

[0024] As described above, the cover 31 has its end on the side away from the receptacle (right side in Figure 2) and / or its end on the receptacle side (left side in Figure 2) attached to the filling nozzle 10-1, and can be constructed separately from the filling nozzle 10-1. Therefore, outside of the rainy season, the cover 31 can be removed from the filling nozzle 10-1, and the user can directly grasp the nozzle cylinder 11 without the cover 31, thus improving operability.

[0025] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 3. Instead of constructing the cover 31 from an elastic material, a bellows-type cover 32 can be provided, as shown in the second embodiment of Figure 3. Even with a bellows-type cover, the flexibility of the filling nozzle 10-2 in the longitudinal direction can be ensured, maintaining the operability necessary for hydrogen filling. In Figure 3, the filling nozzle 10-2 according to the second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment in Figure 2, has a region extending from the receptacle-side (left side in Figure 3) end 15A of the grip 15 to the nozzle tip 13, and the region encompassing the lever operation indicator 14 is surrounded by the cover 32. The cover 32 of the second embodiment is also hollow cylindrical in shape, and unlike the first embodiment, it is provided with a flexible bellows 32A that extends over its entire length (left-right direction in Figure 3). Having the bellows 32A eliminates the need to provide a length equal to the amount of movement (dimension L) of the nozzle cylinder body 11.

[0026] In Figure 3, the cover 32 is attached to the filling nozzle 10-2 by tightening it using the elastic contraction force of the elastic rubber band 32B. The end 32E of the cover 32 that is separated from the receptacle (right side in Figure 3: dispenser side) can be attached to the receptacle-side end 15A of the grip 15, and the end 32F of the cover 32 that is on the receptacle side (left side in Figure 3) can be attached to the nozzle tip 13. Alternatively, only one of the ends can be attached. The other configurations and effects in the second embodiment shown in Figure 3 are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in Figure 2.

[0027] A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 4. In the second embodiment shown in Figure 3, the bellows 32A is formed over the entire length of the cover 32 (left-right direction in Figure 3), but in the filling nozzle 10-3 according to the third embodiment shown in Figure 4, the bellows 33A is formed over a portion of the length of the cover 33 (left-right direction in Figure 4). In Figure 4, the position, proportion, and specifications of the bellows 33A are set such that the cover 33 surrounds the lever operation indicator 14 and can absorb the distance the nozzle cylinder body 11 moves. Furthermore, in Figure 4, the cover 33 having the bellows 33A is attached to the nozzle tip 13 by tightening it radially inward due to the elastic contraction force of the elastic rubber band 33B. The receptacle-side end 33F of the cover 33 (left side in Figure 4) can be attached to the nozzle tip 13 beyond the receptacle-side end 11B of the nozzle body 11, and the end 33E of the cover 33 that is separated from the receptacle (right side in Figure 4) can be attached to the receptacle-side end 15A of the grip 15 (both ends can be attached). Alternatively, only one of the ends 33F or 33E can be attached to the filling nozzle 10-3. The other configurations and effects in the third embodiment shown in Figure 4 are the same as those in the embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0028] A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 5. In the fourth embodiment shown in Figure 5, a method other than a bellows is used to absorb the amount of movement of the nozzle cylinder 11. In the filling nozzle 10-4 according to the fourth embodiment shown in Figure 5, the area from the receptacle side (left side in Figure 5) end 15A of the grip 15 to the nozzle tip 13 is surrounded by the cover 34. In Figure 5, an elastic portion 34A is formed on a part of the hollow cylindrical cover 34 in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in Figure 5), and the parts other than the elastic portion 34A do not need to be elastic. In other words, most of the cover 34 in the longitudinal direction is not made of an elastic material, but only the elastic portion 34A is made of an elastic material. The position of the elastic portion 34A in the longitudinal dimension of the cover 34, the proportion it occupies in the longitudinal dimension, and its specifications are set so that the cover 34 surrounds the lever operation indicator 14 and absorbs the amount of movement of the nozzle cylinder 11. In Figure 5, the longitudinal ends of the cover 34 having the elastic portion 34A (the end 34E on the side away from the receptacle and / or the end 34F on the receptacle side) are tightened by the elastic contraction force of an elastic body (e.g., a rubber band) at the nozzle tip 13, which extends beyond the receptacle side end 15A of the grip 15 and / or the receptacle side end 11B of the nozzle cylinder body 11. The other configurations and effects in the fourth embodiment shown in Figure 5 are the same as those in the embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 4.

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

[0030] A filling nozzle suitable for applying the illustrated embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 7 to 11. The refueling nozzle 10, which is simplified and outlined in Figures 7 and 8, is installed at the end of a refueling hose in a fuel refueling system that refuels a hydrogen refueling tank of an FCV, for example, and has a pipe fitting body 1, which is connected to a receptacle 20 (Figure 8) during refueling. An internal pipe joint passage 1A is formed inside the pipe joint body 1, and a rod 2 is slidably disposed in the internal pipe joint passage 1A, forming a valve seat 1H. A valve body 2A is provided at one end of the rod 2, and the valve body 2A is seated on the valve seat 1H. An elastic material 3 is provided in the internal pipe joint passage 1A to bias the valve body 2A against the valve seat 1H. The filling nozzle 10 and the receptacle 20 are connected by a clutch mechanism 12, which includes a clutch 4 that engages with a member on the receptacle 20 side. Although not clearly shown, the clutch 4 extends in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle, and a groove (not shown) is formed in or near the center of the clutch 4 in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle. An elastic body (e.g., a spring; not shown) is placed in the groove, and this elastic body biases the clutch 4 radially inward of the filling nozzle 10.

[0031] As shown in Figure 8, when the pipe fitting body 1 and the receptacle 20 are connected, even if hydrogen gas flows through the pipe fitting internal flow path 1A and the rod internal flow path 2B, and does not flow through the rod internal flow path 2B from the opening 2E of the rod 2, but instead flows through the gap δ1 between the outer surface of the large-diameter portion 2D of the rod and the inner surface of the pipe fitting internal flow path 1A, this hydrogen gas reaches the bottom 20C of the fitting recess of the receptacle 20, flows into the receptacle internal flow path 20B, and does not leak out of the pipe fitting body 1. Here, a receptacle-side O-ring 21 is provided on the inner circumferential surface 20D of the fitting recess of the receptacle 20 at a location that contacts the outer circumference of the central projection 1E of the pipe joint. As a result, even if hydrogen gas is present in the gap ε1, it is sealed by the receptacle-side O-ring 21 and will not leak outside the pipe fitting body 1.

[0032] As shown in Figure 9, in the filling nozzle 10, the dispenser-side end 4E of the clutch 4 (right end in Figure 9) engages with the annular recess 1D of the pipe fitting body 1. Note that Figures 9 to 11 are displayed in reverse order compared to Figures 7 and 8. At the dispenser-side end 4E, the radially outward flat surface 4ED is movable relative to the pipe fitting body 1 by the length indicated by arrow A, the outermost end 4EA by the length indicated by arrow B, and the radially inward end 4EB by the length indicated by arrow C. As described above, a spring (not shown) is placed in a groove formed in or near the longitudinal center of the clutch 4 in the nozzle, and the elastic rebound force of the spring biases the clutch 4 radially inward of the filling nozzle 10. The clutch 4, on which this elastic rebound force acts, is not supported anywhere on the receptacle side (arrow AR side in Figure 9), and the dispenser end 4E is movable by the lengths indicated by arrows A, B, and C as described above. The configuration in which the dispenser-side end 4E of the clutch 4 engages with the annular groove 1D is not limited to that shown in Figure 9. For example, the configuration described in Patent Document 1 is also possible.

[0033] In Figure 10, a drainage channel 7W is connected to the annular recess 1D in which the dispenser-side end 4E of the clutch 4 formed on the pipe fitting body 1 of the filling nozzle 10 engages. The drain channel 7W passes through the pipe fitting body 1 and, although not explicitly shown, is configured to communicate with a drain port (not shown) provided at the boundary between the grip of the filling nozzle 10 and the filling hose, and to drain water to the outside of the filling nozzle 10 from that boundary. However, it is possible to form the drain port at a location other than the boundary between the grip of the filling nozzle 10 and the filling hose. In Figure 10, the water accumulated in the annular recess 1D is discharged to the outside of the filling nozzle 10 via the drainage channel 7W, thus preventing the water accumulated in the annular recess 1D from freezing. As a result, the clutch 4 can move radially inward due to the elastic rebound force of a spring (not shown) located at or near the center of the clutch 4 in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle, and the projection 4B of the clutch 4 (see Figures 7 and 8) becomes disengaged from the fitting groove 20A of the receptacle 20 (see Figure 8), thereby disconnecting the filling nozzle 10 from the receptacle 20.

[0034] As shown in Figure 11, the filling nozzle 10 has a ring-shaped elastic spacer 17 fitted into the engagement portion (annular recess 1D of the pipe fitting body 1) where the dispenser-side end 4E (right end in Figure 11) of the clutch 4 engages with the pipe fitting body 1. The elastic rebound force of the elastic spacer 17 acts on the end 4E of the clutch 4, as indicated by the arrow β. The shape of this elastic spacer 17 is roughly complementary to the radially inward region of the recess 1D (the lower region of the recess 1D in Figure 11). No moisture or foreign matter can penetrate the area filled by the elastic spacer 17. Furthermore, the filling nozzle 10 in Figure 11, like the filling nozzle in Figure 10, has a drainage channel 7W connected to the annular recess 1D. Therefore, water that accumulates radially outward (upward in Figure 11) of the elastic spacer 17 is discharged to the outside of the filling nozzle 10 via the drainage channel 7W.

[0035] As described above, the elastic rebound force β of the elastic spacer 17 acts on the end portion 4E of the clutch 4. Here, the end portion 4E of the clutch 4 is in contact with the pipe fitting body 1 at the contact portion 4EE on the filling nozzle side (arrow AR side: left side in Figure 11) of the recess 1D. Therefore, the elastic rebound force β of the elastic spacer 17 generates a rotational force indicated by arrow CCW with the contact portion 4EE as the center of rotation. This rotational force moves the receptacle side portion 4R of the clutch 4 radially inward. It is also possible to generate a rotational force with the corner indicated by reference numeral 4EF in Figure 9 as the center of rotation. This force causes the clutch 4 to move radially inward, and the projection 4B of the clutch 4 (see Figures 7 and 8) becomes disengaged from the fitting groove 20A of the receptacle 20 (see Figure 8), thus disconnecting the filling nozzle 10 from the receptacle 20. In other words, the elastic spacer 17 is configured to bias the clutch 4 radially inward relative to the refueling nozzle 10. In the filling nozzle 10 shown in Figure 11, the elastic spacer 17 generates a force that moves the receptacle-side portion 4R of the clutch 4 radially inward, so the spring (not shown) located at or near the center of the clutch 4 in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle can be omitted. Of course, a spring can also be provided, and the clutch 4 can be biased radially inward by both the elastic rebound force of the elastic spacer 17 and the elastic rebound force of the spring.

[0036] The illustrated embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention. For example, although the illustrated embodiment illustrates a hydrogen filling nozzle, the filling nozzle of the present invention can also be applied to filling low-temperature fluids other than hydrogen. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 10, 10-1~10-5...filling nozzle 11. Nozzle cylinder body 13. Nozzle tip 14. Lever operation indicator 15. Grip 15A... (Grip) Receptacle-side end 31-35...cover 32A, 33A... bellows 32B, 33B... Elastic material (e.g., rubber band) 34A...Elastic part

Claims

[Claim 1] The area encompassing the lever operation indicator on the nozzle barrel is surrounded by a cover, extending from the receptacle end of the grip to the nozzle tip. The cover is hollow and cylindrical in shape, with an elastic portion formed in a part of its longitudinal direction, while the rest of the cover is not elastic. A filling nozzle characterized by being tightened at the receptacle-side end of the grip and / or the nozzle tip by the elastic contraction force of an elastic body.

Images