Hydrogen refueling device for detachable hydrogen tanks

Abstract

To provide a hydrogen filling device for a detachable hydrogen tank (hydrogen cartridge) capable of preventing unintended release of hydrogen.SOLUTION: A device for filling a detachable hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen includes a connecting part which is connected to the hydrogen cartridge to fill the hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen, and a lock mechanism for regulating separation of the hydrogen cartridge from the device. The lock mechanism is connected to the hydrogen cartridge with the usage of pressure of the hydrogen and locks the hydrogen cartridge when filling the hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a device for filling a detachable hydrogen tank of a device using hydrogen with hydrogen.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a system for filling a hydrogen tank in a vehicle with hydrogen.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A hydrogen tank that supplies hydrogen for power generation to a device equipped with a fuel cell (hydrogen-consuming device), and when filling a detachable hydrogen tank (portable hydrogen cartridge, hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "hydrogen cartridge") with hydrogen for the hydrogen-consuming device, it is conceivable to use a device for filling the hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "hydrogen filling device"). That is, the hydrogen cartridge that has consumed hydrogen in the hydrogen-consuming device is attached to the hydrogen filling device to fill the hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen, and the hydrogen cartridge filled with hydrogen is detached from the hydrogen filling device and attached to the hydrogen-consuming device again.

[0005] In filling hydrogen into a hydrogen cartridge by such a hydrogen filling device, it is desired to prevent hydrogen from being released due to the hydrogen cartridge coming off from the hydrogen filling device or accidentally detaching the hydrogen cartridge during hydrogen filling.

[0006] Therefore, the objective of this disclosure is to provide a hydrogen filling device for a detachable hydrogen tank (hydrogen cartridge) that can prevent unintended hydrogen release. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention discloses a hydrogen filling device for filling a detachable hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen, comprising a connection part that connects to the hydrogen cartridge and fills the hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen, and a locking mechanism that restricts the detachment of the hydrogen cartridge from the device, wherein the locking mechanism connects to the hydrogen cartridge using hydrogen pressure when filling the hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen, thereby locking the hydrogen cartridge.

[0008] The locking mechanism may include a cylinder and a pin, into which hydrogen branched from a hydrogen-carrying pipe flows. The pressure of the incoming hydrogen pushes and moves the pin, and the pushed pin engages with the hydrogen cartridge, resulting in a locked state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the hydrogen refueling device of this disclosure, when hydrogen is being refueled into the hydrogen cartridge, a locking mechanism prevents the hydrogen refueling device and the hydrogen cartridge from being detached. During hydrogen refueling, this detachable state is maintained, preventing the hydrogen cartridge from coming off the hydrogen refueling device during refueling, thus preventing unintended release of hydrogen. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the hydrogen cartridge 10. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows the external appearance of the hydrogen refueling device 50. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the hydrogen refueling device 50. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view focusing on one storage compartment 51, showing the hydrogen cartridge 10 installed inside. [Figure 5]Figure 5 illustrates the locking mechanism 57. [Figure 6] Figure 6 illustrates the arrangement of the locking mechanism 57 in another embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] 1. Hydrogen tank First, we will describe an example of the form of a hydrogen cartridge that is filled with hydrogen by the hydrogen filling device of this disclosure. The hydrogen cartridge 10 is a container for storing the supplied gas (hydrogen in this embodiment) in a liquid or gaseous state. A diagram for explanation is shown in Figure 1. Figure 1(a) is an external view of the hydrogen cartridge 10 (the enclosed tank 11 is shown by a dotted line), and Figure 1(b) is a cross-sectional view of the hydrogen cartridge 10 along the axis O. As can be seen from these figures, in this embodiment the hydrogen cartridge 10 has a tank 11 and a case 17. Furthermore, the tank 11 comprises a liner 12, a reinforcing layer 13, and a protective layer 14 that constitute the container body, and a nozzle 15 and an on / off valve 16 are arranged on the container body.

[0012] 1.1. Raina The liner 12 is one of the components that make up the container body of the tank 11, and is a hollow component that partitions the internal space. In this embodiment, it is cylindrical. The liner 12 has a body portion 12a with a diameter that is approximately constant, and the openings at both ends are narrowed by dome-shaped side ends 12b, with the nozzle 15 positioned in the narrowed opening 12c. The liner 12 only needs to be made of a material that can hold the contents (e.g., hydrogen) contained in its internal space without leakage, and any known material can be used. Specifically, it can be made of nylon resin, polyethylene-based synthetic resin, stainless steel, aluminum, or other metals. Among these, from the viewpoint of reducing the weight of the tank, the material constituting the liner is preferably synthetic resin. The thickness of the liner 12 is not particularly limited, but it is preferably between 0.5 mm and 3.0 mm.

[0013] 1.2. Reinforcement Layer The reinforcement layer 13 is one of the members constituting the container body. Fibers are laminated over multiple layers, and the fibers are impregnated with a cured resin. The layer formed by the fibers is obtained by winding fiber bundles around the outer periphery of the liner 12 over multiple layers to a predetermined thickness. The thickness of the reinforcement layer 13 and the number of windings of the fiber bundles are not particularly limited as they are determined by the required strength, but are about 10 mm to 30 mm.

[0014] <Fiber Bundle> For example, carbon fibers are used for the fiber bundles of the reinforcement layer 13. The fiber bundles are in a band shape in which carbon fibers are bundled and have a predetermined cross-sectional shape (for example, a rectangular cross-section). Specifically, although not particularly limited, the cross-sectional shape may be a rectangle with a width of 6 mm to 20 mm and a thickness of about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. The amount of carbon fibers contained in the fiber bundles is not particularly limited either, but for example, it may be composed of about 36,000 carbon fibers.

[0015] <Impregnated Resin> The resin impregnated and cured in the fibers (fiber bundles) in the reinforcement layer 13 is not particularly limited as long as it can enhance the strength of the fibers. Examples of this include thermosetting resins that cure by heat. Specifically, there are epoxy resins containing amine-based or anhydride-based curing accelerators and rubber-based reinforcing agents, unsaturated polyester resins, etc. In addition, resin compositions that cure by mixing a curing agent with an epoxy resin as the main component can also be mentioned. According to this, by allowing the resin composition, which is this mixture, to reach and penetrate the fiber layer between mixing the main component and the curing agent until curing, it cures automatically.

[0016] 1.3. Protection Layer If necessary, a protection layer 14 may be arranged on the outer periphery of the reinforcement layer 13 as one of the members constituting the container body. When provided, for example, glass fibers are wound and impregnated with resin here. The resin to be impregnated can be considered in the same way as the reinforcement layer 13. This can impart impact resistance to the tank 11. The thickness of the protective layer 14 is not particularly limited, but can be about 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0017] 1.4. Base The base 15 is a member attached to each of the two openings 12c of the liner 12, and is disposed at each of both ends in the direction of the axis O of the liner 12. The base 15 on one end side functions as an opening that communicates the inside and outside of the container body, and an opening and closing valve 16 is disposed therein. The base 15 on the other end side is closed. The members constituting the base 15 are not particularly limited as long as they have the necessary strength, and examples include stainless steel and aluminum.

[0018] 1.5. Opening and Closing Valve The opening and closing valve 16 is closed when the hydrogen cartridge 10 is not attached to the hydrogen filling device 50, and is opened by being pressed by a push rod 55a when the hydrogen cartridge 10 is attached to the hydrogen filling device 50 as described later. At the tip of the opening and closing valve 16, on the side connected to the hydrogen filling device 50, there is a connection part 16a connected to the hydrogen filling device 50. The connection part 16a is a part where the connection and disconnection between the connection part 16a and the connected part 55b of the hydrogen filling device 50 are possible. The specific mode thereof is not limited, but in this embodiment, a mechanical connection (mechanical interface) can be cited, and among them, a mount such as connecting a photographing lens to the main body in a camera can be applied, and more specifically, a C mount can be used. Therefore, in this embodiment, while rotating the hydrogen cartridge 10 around the axis O, the connection part 16a is connected to the connected part 55b of the hydrogen filling device 50.

[0019] 1.6. Case The case 17 is a member that encloses the tank 11 and forms the outer shell of the hydrogen cartridge 10, and has a housing 18 and a handle 19. The housing 18 is a cylindrical component and is configured to house the tank 11 inside. Furthermore, the housing 18 has a hole 18a at a position opposite the on-off valve 16 of the housed tank 11, allowing access to the on-off valve 16 from the outside. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the housing 18 has a locking mechanism engagement portion 18b on the surface where the hole 18a is provided, which is a recess when viewed from the outside. As will be described later, the locking member 57 of the hydrogen filling device 50 engages with this locking mechanism engagement portion 18b.

[0020] The handle 19 is an arch-shaped member located at the end of the housing 18 opposite to the side where the tank 11's on-off valve 16 is located. The user can use this handle 19 to carry the hydrogen cartridge 10 and to attach and detach the hydrogen cartridge 10 to the hydrogen filling device 50.

[0021] 1.7. Others While there are no particular limitations on the allowable pressure of tank 11, tanks capable of storing hydrogen at an allowable pressure between 20 MPa and 70 MPa are recommended from the perspective of being relatively easy to transport and being able to store a larger amount of hydrogen. When applying the hydrogen filling device of this disclosure to such tanks with high internal pressure, preventing unintended hydrogen release becomes even more important.

[0022] 2. Structure of the hydrogen refueling device The configuration of one type of hydrogen refueling device 50 is described below. Figure 2 is an external perspective view of the hydrogen refueling device 50, and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the hydrogen refueling device 50 (the upper of the two storage compartments 51 in Figure 2). The hydrogen refueling device 50 is a device for filling hydrogen cartridges 10 with hydrogen. That is, it is configured to allow the hydrogen cartridge 10 that has consumed hydrogen to be attached, and to be detached after the hydrogen cartridge 10 has been filled with hydrogen. Therefore, the hydrogen filling device 50 includes a storage section 51, a hydrogen supply section 52, a main pipe 53, a hydrogen supply branch pipe 54, a connecting device 55, a branch pipe for the locking mechanism 56, a locking mechanism 57, a valve 70, and a hydrogen discharge section 71. I will explain in detail below.

[0023] 2.1. Storage Section The storage section 51 is the part where the hydrogen cartridge 10 is stored when it is connected to the hydrogen filling device 50. Figure 2 schematically shows a scene in which a hydrogen cartridge 10 is about to be stored in one storage section 51. Figure 3 shows a scene in which hydrogen cartridges 10 are installed in all of the multiple storage sections 51 arranged in a row. Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of one storage section 51 with a hydrogen cartridge 10 stored in it (refer to Figure 1(b) for the reference numerals of the parts of the hydrogen cartridge 10 shown in Figure 4). As can be seen from these figures, the storage section 51 is the space in which the hydrogen cartridge 10 is placed, and is a space enclosed by an inner wall 51b having an opening 51a from which the hydrogen cartridge 10 can be inserted and removed. The connection device 55 and the locking mechanism 57 are located at the bottom 51c of the storage section 51, which is on the opposite side from the opening 51a. In this configuration, the storage section 51 is arranged in two tiers, upper and lower, with six storage sections 51 in each tier; however, the number of storage sections 51 is not particularly limited.

[0024] 2.2. Hydrogen Supply Section The hydrogen supply unit 52 is a supply port that supplies hydrogen to be filled into the hydrogen cartridge 10 to the hydrogen filling device 50. Therefore, a connecting member (sometimes called a nozzle) of a hydrogen supply pipe extending from a hydrogen supply device such as a hydrogen station is connected to the hydrogen supply unit 51. A typical form of the hydrogen supply unit 51 is a receptacle.

[0025] 2.3. Main Piping The main pipe 53 is a pipe through which hydrogen flows, connecting the hydrogen supply section 52 to the hydrogen discharge section 71. From this main pipe 53, the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 and the locking mechanism branch pipe 56 branch off. The main pipe 53 is equipped with a pressure gauge 53a, which allows the internal pressure to be determined.

[0026] 2.4. Hydrogen supply branch pipes and connection devices The hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 is a pipe that branches off from the main pipe 53 and extends toward each storage section 51. The hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 is the pipe through which the hydrogen to be filled into the hydrogen cartridge 10 flows, and supplies hydrogen to the connection device 55. A check valve is installed in the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54, allowing the flow of hydrogen from the main pipe 53 to the hydrogen cartridge 10, but restricting the flow of hydrogen from the hydrogen cartridge 10 to the main pipe 53.

[0027] The connecting device 55 is located at the bottom 51c of the storage section 51, at the connection point of the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 to the tank 11 of the hydrogen cartridge 10, and is connected to the on-off valve 16 of the tank 11, and operates the on-off valve 16 of the tank 11 to allow hydrogen to flow into the tank 11. In this configuration, as can be seen in Figure 4, the connection device 55 has a rod-shaped push rod 55a located in the storage section 51. When the hydrogen cartridge 50 is stored in the storage section 51, the push rod 55a presses against the valve body of the on-off valve 16, thereby opening the on-off valve 16 and allowing hydrogen from the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 to flow into the tank 11. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connecting device 55 has a connected portion 55b that engages with the connecting portion 16a provided at the tip of the on-off valve 16. The shape of the connected portion 55 is such that it matches the shape of the connecting portion 16a.

[0028] 2.5. Branch pipes and locking mechanisms for locking mechanisms The locking mechanism branch pipe 56 is a pipe that branches off from the main pipe 53 and extends toward each storage section 51. The locking mechanism branch pipe 56 is a pipe through which pressurized hydrogen flows in order to operate the locking mechanism 57, and supplies hydrogen to the locking mechanism 57.

[0029] The locking mechanism 57 is located at the bottom 51c of the storage compartment 51 and switches between prohibiting and allowing the attachment and detachment of the hydrogen cartridge 10 to and from the storage compartment 51. Figure 5 shows the configuration of the locking mechanism 57 in one form. Figure 5 is a view of Figure 4 focusing on the locking mechanism 57 and its surroundings, with Figure 5(a) showing the locked state by the locking mechanism 57 and Figure 5(b) showing the unlocked state of the locking mechanism 57.

[0030] In this embodiment, the locking mechanism 57 has a cylindrical cylinder 58, and a piston 59 that is movable in the axial direction of the cylinder 58 is arranged inside the cylinder 58. A rod-shaped pin 60 is connected to the piston 59, and the pin 60 is provided to extend along the axial direction of the cylinder 58 to the outside of the cylinder 58. On the other hand, a branch pipe 56 for the locking mechanism is connected to the cylinder 58 on the side opposite to the direction in which the pin 60 extends. Also, an elastic body 61 (such as a spring) is arranged inside the cylinder 58 to bias the piston 59 toward the branch pipe 56 for the locking mechanism.

[0031] With this locking mechanism 57, when hydrogen flows into the cylinder 59 from the locking mechanism branch pipe 56, the pressure of the hydrogen presses the piston 59 against the biasing force of the elastic body 61, causing the pin 60 connected to the piston 59 to move so as to protrude into the housing 51. More specifically, at this time the pin 60 enters the locking mechanism engagement portion 18b, which is a recess in the hydrogen cartridge 10 located in the housing 51. As a result, as long as there is pressure from the hydrogen, the hydrogen cartridge 10 cannot be detached from the housing 51 (in this embodiment, it cannot be rotated around axis O). On the other hand, when the pressure from hydrogen is released from the branch pipe 56 for the locking mechanism (i.e., when the hydrogen in the main pipe 53 is also discharged and the pressure decreases), the pin 60 connected to the piston 59 moves outward from the housing 51 due to the biasing force of the elastic body 61. More specifically, at this time the pin 60 disengages from the locking mechanism engagement portion 18b, which is a recess in the hydrogen cartridge 10 located in the housing 51. As a result, the hydrogen cartridge 10 can be detached from the housing 51 only after the pressure from hydrogen has been released (in this embodiment, the hydrogen cartridge 10 can be rotated around axis O).

[0032] In the above configuration, the hydrogen cartridge 10 is detached from the storage section 51 by rotating it around the axis O, so the locking mechanism 57 and the locking mechanism engaging part 18 are positioned to restrict this rotation. In contrast, if the configuration is such that the hydrogen cartridge 10 only needs to be moved in the direction of axis O to be detached from the storage section 51, then, for example, as shown in Figure 6, the locking mechanism 57 can be provided on the inner wall 51b of the storage section 51, and the locking mechanism engaging part 18b can be provided opposite it.

[0033] 2.6. Valves, hydrogen discharge section Valve 70 is a switching valve, and by opening valve 70, hydrogen can be discharged to the outside from the hydrogen discharge section 71. On the other hand, when valve 70 is closed, the discharge of hydrogen to the outside from the hydrogen discharge section 71 is restricted. As a result, as will be described later, when the hydrogen cartridge 10 is detached into the storage section 51, valve 70 can be opened to discharge any hydrogen remaining in the main piping 53, etc., from the hydrogen discharge section 71, thereby reducing the internal pressure of the main piping 53 and the branch pipe 56 for the locking mechanism. Valve 70 may be a valve that can be opened and closed manually, or it may be a valve that is opened and closed by an electrical signal.

[0034] 3. Effect etc. The hydrogen filling device 50 described above is used to fill the hydrogen cartridge 10 with hydrogen, for example, as follows. With valve 70 closed, the hydrogen cartridge 10 to be filled with hydrogen is inserted into the storage section 51 of the hydrogen filling device 50 and installed. At this time, as described above, the on / off valve 16 of the hydrogen cartridge 10 is connected to the connection device 55 of the hydrogen filling device 50, and the on / off valve 16 is opened, creating communication between the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 and the tank 11 of the hydrogen cartridge 10. In this embodiment, when installing, the hydrogen cartridge 10 is rotated around axis O, causing the connection part 16a of the hydrogen cartridge 10 to engage with the connected part 55b provided on the connection device 55 of the hydrogen filling device 50.

[0035] With the hydrogen cartridge 10 installed in the storage section 51 of the hydrogen filling device 50, the nozzle of the external hydrogen supply device is connected to the hydrogen supply section 52 of the hydrogen filling device 50. As a result, hydrogen flows into the main pipe 53, and then into the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 and the locking mechanism branch pipe 56, causing the pressure in each pipe to rise. The hydrogen that flows through the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54 enters the tank 11 and is filled into the hydrogen cartridge 10. The hydrogen that flows into the branch pipe 56 for the locking mechanism enters the cylinder 58 of the locking mechanism 57, and, as described above with reference to Figure 5(a), the pin 60 protrudes and engages with the locking mechanism engagement portion 18b, thereby locking it in place. In other words, in this embodiment, even if one tries to rotate the hydrogen cartridge 10 around the axis O in order to detach it from the storage portion 51, the hydrogen cartridge 10 cannot rotate due to the pin 60 and therefore cannot be detached.

[0036] Once filling is complete, valve 70 is opened to discharge hydrogen from hydrogen discharge section 71. This discharges hydrogen from the main pipe 53, hydrogen supply branch pipe 54, and locking mechanism branch pipe 56, reducing the internal pressure in the piping. As described above, a check valve is installed in the hydrogen supply branch pipe 54, so the hydrogen filled in the hydrogen cartridge 10 is maintained without backflow. The hydrogen in the cylinder 58 of the locking mechanism 57 is discharged, and as described above with reference to Figure 5(b), the pin 60 disengages from the locking mechanism engagement portion 18b, resulting in an unlocked state. This allows the hydrogen cartridge 10 to be rotated around axis O in an attempt to detach it from the storage portion 51, making it possible to detach the hydrogen cartridge 10 from the storage portion 51.

[0037] As described above, with the hydrogen filling device 50, when hydrogen is being filled into the hydrogen cartridge 10, the locking mechanism 57 prevents the hydrogen filling device 50 from separating from the hydrogen cartridge tank 10. This prohibited state is maintained during hydrogen filling, so the hydrogen cartridge 10 does not come off during hydrogen filling (it cannot be removed even if one tries to remove it intentionally), thus preventing the release of hydrogen gas due to unintended separation. Furthermore, by providing a mechanical structure in which the pin 60 of the locking mechanism 57 is pushed out toward the hydrogen cartridge 10 by the pressure of hydrogen in the piping, a locking mechanism that operates reliably with a simple structure can be created.

[0038] In the above configuration, the locking mechanism 57 is configured to include a cylinder 58, a piston 59, a pin 60, and an elastic body 61 in each of the storage compartments 51. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and while the pin 60 must be placed in each storage compartment 51, the other components may be configured to be provided one per multiple pins 60 so that multiple pins 60 can be operated simultaneously. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 10...Hydrogen cartridge, 11...Tank, 12...Liner, 13...Reinforcement layer, 14...Protective layer, 15...Flute, 16...On / off valve, 17...Case, 18...Housing, 50...Hydrogen filling device, 51...Storage section, 52...Hydrogen supply section, 53...Main piping, 54...Hydrogen supply branch pipe, 55...Connection device, 56...Branch pipe for locking mechanism, 57...Locking mechanism, 70...Valve, 71...Hydrogen discharge section

Claims

1. A device for filling multiple detachable hydrogen cartridges with hydrogen, For each of the multiple hydrogen cartridges, A connection part that connects to the hydrogen cartridge and fills the hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen, The device includes a locking mechanism that restricts the hydrogen cartridge from being detached from the device, It comprises a common main pipe for supplying hydrogen to multiple connection points and multiple locking mechanisms, The locking mechanism is connected to the hydrogen cartridge using the hydrogen pressure from the main pipe when filling the hydrogen cartridge with hydrogen, and locks multiple hydrogen cartridges together. Hydrogen refueling device.

2. The locking mechanism has a cylinder and a pin, Hydrogen branched from the main pipe flows into the cylinder, and the pressure of the incoming hydrogen pushes and moves the pin, causing the pushed pin to engage with the hydrogen cartridge and lock into place. The hydrogen filling apparatus according to claim 1.

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