Composite valve apparatus

Abstract

A composite valve apparatus (15) comprises a sleeve (81) that has a first accommodation part (81c) that opens toward the bottom face (24a) of an attachment hole of a body, and that is accommodated in the attachment hole. A first valve device (15a) and a flow path member (301) are accommodated in the first accommodation part. The flow path member (301) has: a second accommodation part (311) that opens toward the bottom face (24a); and a shaft-like part (305) that includes a press-fitting portion (305a) that is press-fitted into the first accommodation part. A second valve device (15b) has a valve body (88) that is accommodated in the second accommodation part. The press-fitting portion is provided in a region between a first position and a second position defined between the first valve device and the bottom face. The first position is closer to the first valve device than a position farthest from the bottom face, in a section where the valve body and the inner circumferential face of the second accommodation part come into contact with each other in a valve closed state of the valve body. The second position is a position of a screw part farthest from the first valve device.

Description

Combined valve device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a combined valve device.

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a valve assembly including a plurality of valve devices including a combined valve device attached to a mounting hole provided in a body. The combined valve device has a sleeve inserted into the mounting hole. An electromagnetic valve device is accommodated in the sleeve, and a plug having a gas flow path is press-fitted axially. A check valve device is arranged on the side opposite to the electromagnetic valve device in the axial direction of the plug. The check valve device adjusts the flow of gas by sliding a check valve body axially inside the plug.

[0003] International Publication No. 2023 / 084585

[0004] In the check valve device, in a state of being attached to the mounting hole, it is required to realize a configuration that makes it difficult to prevent the sliding of the check valve body inside the plug in order to adjust the flow of gas.

[0005] A composite valve device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is mounted on a body. The composite valve device includes a sleeve that is housed in the mounting hole and attached to the mounting hole via a threaded portion, having a first housing portion that opens toward the bottom surface of a mounting hole provided in the body; a first valve device housed in the first housing portion; an internal flow path through which the flow of gas is controlled by the first valve device; a flow path member housed in the first housing portion between the first valve device and the bottom surface, having a second housing portion that opens toward the bottom surface and a axial portion including a press-fit portion that is press-fitted into the first housing portion; and a second valve device that has a valve body housed in the second housing portion and is positioned relative to the flow path member between the threaded portion and the bottom surface. The valve body is displaceable in the axial direction of the flow path member by sliding with the inner circumferential surface of the second housing portion, so as to transition between an open valve position in which a valve port connecting the internal flow path to the second housing portion is open and a closed valve position in which the valve port is closed. The press-fit portion is provided in a region between a first position and a second position defined in the axial direction between the first valve device and the bottom surface. The first position is closer to the bottom surface than the second position, and is closer to the first valve device than the position furthest from the bottom surface among the parts in which the valve body and the inner circumferential surface of the second housing come into contact in the closed valve position. The second position is the position furthest from the first valve device among the threaded portion.

[0006] This figure shows the schematic configuration of a valve assembly according to an embodiment. This is an enlarged view of the composite valve device in the valve assembly of Figure 1. This is an enlarged view of the solenoid valve device and check valve device portion of the composite valve device of Figure 2. This is a perspective view of the plug before press-fitting in Figure 3. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in Figure 4. This is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve before press-fitting in Figure 3.

[0007] Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this specification, "ring-shaped" means that the whole can be considered ring-shaped, and includes ring-shaped structures formed by combining multiple parts or sections, as well as structures with a cutout or the like in a C-shape. The shape of a "ring-shaped" structure includes, but is not limited to, circular, elliptical, and polygonal shapes with sharp or rounded corners when viewed from the axial direction. In this specification, "cylindrical" means that the whole can be considered cylindrical, and includes cylindrical structures formed by combining multiple parts or sections, as well as structures with a cutout or the like in a C-shape. The shape of a "cylindrical" structure includes, but is not limited to, circular, elliptical, and polygonal shapes with sharp or rounded corners when viewed from the axial direction. The same applies to "columnar" in this specification.

[0008] <Overall Configuration> The valve assembly 1 shown in Figure 1 is installed, for example, in the gas tank 2 of a fuel cell vehicle. The gas tank 2 stores hydrogen gas at a high pressure of, for example, about 72.5 MPa. The valve assembly 1 is selectively connected to one of a plurality of external devices 3. The plurality of external devices 3 include a hydrogen gas supply source 4 for filling the gas tank 2, and a consumption device 5 for consuming the hydrogen gas delivered from the gas tank 2. The supply source 4 is, for example, a hydrogen station and is connected to the valve assembly 1 via piping 6. The consumption device 5 is, for example, a fuel cell mounted on a vehicle and is connected to the valve assembly 1 via piping 7. The valve assembly 1 controls the flow of hydrogen gas being filled into the gas tank 2 and hydrogen gas being delivered from the gas tank 2.

[0009] The valve assembly 1 comprises a body 11 having a gas passage and a plurality of valve devices attached to the body 11. The body 11 is a so-called manifold block, in which the plurality of valve devices are connected by gas passages formed in the body 11. The gas passage includes a first passage 12 connected to a gas tank 2 and a second passage 13 connected to an external device 3. The plurality of valve devices include, for example, a manual valve device 14, a combined valve device 15, a safety valve device 16, a check valve device 17, and an overflow prevention valve device 18. The plurality of valve devices may include any valve devices in addition to or instead of these valve devices. The valve assembly 1 also includes a fitting 19 for connecting piping 6 or piping 7.

[0010] <Body> As shown in Figure 1, the body 11 is made of a metal material, for example. The metal material of the body 11 is aluminum, for example. The body 11 is a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a part of it protruding. The body 11 of this embodiment is a continuous, one-piece piece without any breaks. The outer surface of the body 11 includes a first side surface 11a, a second side surface 11b, a third side surface 11c, and a fourth side surface 11d. The first side surface 11a and the third side surface 11c are, for example, end faces parallel to each other. The second side surface 11b and the fourth side surface 11d are, for example, end faces parallel to each other. The first side surface 11a and the third side surface 11c are perpendicular to each other, for example, the second side surface 11b and the fourth side surface 11d.

[0011] The body 11 has a plurality of mounting holes corresponding to the members to be attached to the body 11. The plurality of mounting holes include, for example, a mounting hole 21 for a joint, a mounting hole 22 for a manual valve, an integrated mounting hole 23, and a mounting hole 24 for a composite valve. The mounting hole 21 for a joint is a mounting hole for attaching a joint 19. The mounting hole 22 for a manual valve is a mounting hole for attaching a manual valve device 14. The integrated mounting hole 23 is a mounting hole for attaching a safety valve device 16 and a check valve device 17. The mounting hole 24 for a composite valve is a mounting hole for attaching a composite valve device 15.

[0012] The mounting hole 21 for the joint is, for example, a round hole and opens on the first side surface 11a. The bottom surface of the mounting hole 21 for the joint is, for example, a plane parallel to the first side surface 11a. The mounting hole 22 for the manual valve is, for example, a round hole and opens on the second side surface 11b. The bottom surface of the mounting hole 22 for the manual valve is, for example, a plane parallel to the second side surface 11b. The integrated mounting hole 23 is, for example, a round hole and opens on the third side surface 11c. The mounting hole 24 for the composite valve is, for example, a round hole and opens on the fourth side surface 11d. The bottom surface 24a of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve is a plane parallel to the fourth side surface 11d. Details of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve will be described later.

[0013] The first flow path 12 includes a filling section 31 that connects the integrated mounting hole 23 to the gas tank 2, and a discharge section 32 that connects the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve to the gas tank 2. The filling section 31 opens to the inner circumferential surface of the integrated mounting hole 23. As a result, the safety valve device 16 and the check valve device 17 are connected to the gas tank 2 via the filling section 31. The discharge section 32 opens to, for example, the inner circumferential surface of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve. As a result, the composite valve device 15 is connected to the gas tank 2 via the discharge section 32.

[0014] The second flow path 13 includes a first portion 33, a second portion 34, a third portion 35, and a fourth portion 36. The first portion 33 opens to the bottom surface of the fitting mounting hole 21. Thus, the first portion 33 is connected to the supply source 4 or the consumption device 5 via the fitting 19. In other words, the open end of the first portion 33 is used as a common port 37, which is both the inlet for hydrogen gas supplied from the supply source 4 and the outlet for hydrogen gas sent to the consumption device 5. Therefore, the second flow path 13 includes the common port 37. The first portion 33 extends linearly from the bottom surface of the fitting mounting hole 21 in a direction perpendicular to the first side surface 11a.

[0015] The second portion 34 opens to the bottom surface of the manual valve mounting hole 22. The second portion 34 extends linearly from the bottom surface of the manual valve mounting hole 22 in a direction perpendicular to the second side surface 11b and intersects with the first portion 33. Therefore, the second portion 34 is perpendicular to the first portion 33. The inner diameter of the portion of the second portion 34 that is behind the intersection with the first portion 33 is smaller than the inner diameter of the portion that is in front of the intersection. In other words, the second portion 34 has a step.

[0016] The third portion 35 opens to the bottom surface of the integrated mounting hole 23. The third portion 35 extends linearly from the bottom surface of the integrated mounting hole 23 in a direction perpendicular to the third side surface 11c and intersects with the second portion 34. Therefore, the third portion 35 is perpendicular to the second portion 34. The third portion 35 communicates the second portion 34 with the integrated mounting hole 23. The third portion 35 is perpendicular to, for example, the small diameter portion of the second portion 34.

[0017] The fourth portion 36 opens into the bottom surface 24a of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve. The fourth portion 36 extends linearly from the bottom surface 24a of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve in a direction perpendicular to the fourth side surface 11d. In other words, the fourth portion 36 extends linearly in a direction parallel to the second portion 34. The fourth portion 36 is connected to the tip of the second portion 34. The fourth portion 36 connects the second portion 34 to the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve. In this embodiment, the fourth portion 36 is provided, for example, coaxially with the second portion 34. For example, the third portion 35 may be perpendicular to the large-diameter portion of the second portion 34 so as to be arranged coaxially with the first portion 33.

[0018] The fitting 19 is made of, for example, a metal material. The fitting 19 is, for example, cylindrical. The fitting 19 has a fitting channel 38. The fitting channel 38 extends linearly along the axial direction of the fitting 19 and opens to both end faces of the fitting 19. The fitting 19 is fixed to the fitting mounting hole 21 by any fixing method such as screw fastening or press-fitting. As a result, the fitting channel 38 communicates with the first section 33. One of the pipes 6 or 7 is connected to the fitting 19. As a result, the supply source 4 or the consumption device 5 is connected to the second channel 13 via the fitting channel 38.

[0019] <Multiple Valve Devices> As shown in Figure 1, the manual valve device 14 is fixed to the manual valve mounting hole 22 by any fixing method such as screw fastening or press-fitting. The manual valve device 14 is configured to be able to close the second portion 34 of the second flow path 13 by user operation.

[0020] The combined valve device 15 includes a solenoid valve device 15a that functions as a solenoid valve and a check valve device 15b that functions as a check valve. The combined valve device 15 controls the flow of hydrogen gas between the discharge portion 32 of the first flow path 12 and the fourth portion 36 of the second flow path 13 through opening and closing by the solenoid valve device 15a. The check valve device 15b allows the flow of hydrogen gas from the discharge portion 32 to the fourth portion 36 and restricts the flow of hydrogen gas from the fourth portion 36 to the discharge portion 32. This suppresses the effect of high-pressure hydrogen gas on the solenoid valve device 15a when filling the gas tank 2 with hydrogen gas from the supply source 4. Details of the combined valve device 15 will be described later.

[0021] The safety valve device 16 has an inlet 16a. When the temperature of the safety valve device 16 is below the threshold temperature, the safety valve device 16 is in a closed state, not releasing hydrogen gas flowing into the inlet 16a to the outside. When the temperature of the safety valve device 16 exceeds the threshold temperature, the safety valve device 16 irreversibly changes from the closed state to the open state. In the open state, the safety valve device 16 releases hydrogen gas flowing into the inlet 16a to the outside. The threshold temperature is set in advance to prevent the pressure of hydrogen gas in the gas tank 2 from becoming too high and damaging the gas tank 2.

[0022] The check valve device 17 is configured to prevent backflow of the gas filled in the gas tank 2. Specifically, the check valve device 17 restricts the flow of hydrogen gas from the filled portion 31 of the first flow path 12 to the third portion 35 of the second flow path 13, while allowing the flow of hydrogen gas from the third portion 35 to the filled portion 31.

[0023] The overflow prevention valve device 18 is installed in the joint flow path 38. The overflow prevention valve device 18 is configured to restrict the flow of hydrogen gas when the flow rate of hydrogen gas flowing in a predetermined direction in the joint flow path 38 (second flow path 13) exceeds a predetermined amount. The predetermined direction is, for example, the direction in which hydrogen gas is sent from the gas tank 2 to the consumer equipment 5. The overflow prevention valve device 18 does not restrict the flow rate of hydrogen gas in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction, that is, the direction in which hydrogen gas is supplied from the supply source 4 to the gas tank 2.

[0024] <About the combined valve device> As shown in Figure 2, the combined valve device 15 includes a solenoid valve device 15a having a solenoid valve body 85 and a check valve device 15b having a check valve body 88. The solenoid valve device 15a and the check valve body 88 are integrally mounted in a mounting hole 24 for the combined valve provided in the body 11. In the combined valve device 15, the check valve device 15b, the plug 301, and the solenoid valve device 15a are arranged in order from the bottom surface 24a of the mounting hole 24 for the combined valve. The check valve device 15b, the plug 301, and the solenoid valve device 15a are arranged on a coaxial line which is axis L. Inside the plug 301, an internal passage 71, which is a through-hole through which gas flows, is formed. The internal passage 71 includes a first valve port 73 that opens toward the solenoid valve body 85 and a second valve port 74 that opens toward the check valve body 88. The first valve port 73 is opened and closed by the solenoid valve body 85. In other words, the periphery of the first valve port 73 is the valve seat of the solenoid valve body 85. The second valve port 74 is opened and closed by the check valve body 88. In other words, the periphery of the second valve port 74 is the valve seat of the check valve body 88. In this embodiment, the solenoid valve device 15a is an example of the first valve device, and the check valve device 15b is an example of the second valve device. Also, the plug 301 is an example of a flow path member.

[0025] In the following explanation, the direction along axis L in Figures 2 to 6 will be referred to as the "axial direction." In Figures 2 and 3, the upper part of the paper will be referred to as the "upper side," and the lower part of the paper will be referred to as the "lower side."

[0026] <About the Solenoid Valve Device> As shown in Figure 2, the solenoid valve device 15a has a housing 51, an excitation unit 61, a spacer 201, and a sleeve 81.

[0027] The housing 51 is made of, for example, a resin material. The housing 51 is, for example, a bottomed cylindrical shape. The housing 51 is molded by resin molding so as to cover the excitation unit 61 and the spacer 201. The housing 51 is attached to the fourth side surface 11d of the body 11 via the spacer 201.

[0028] The excitation unit 61 constitutes a so-called solenoid. The excitation unit 61 has a solenoid case 62, a bobbin 63, a coil winding 64, and a yoke 65. The solenoid case 62 is made of, for example, a metal material. The solenoid case 62 forms the outer casing of the excitation unit 61 and is, for example, a bottomed cylindrical shape. The solenoid case 62 is arranged along the inner circumferential surface of the housing 51. The solenoid case 62 houses the bobbin 63, the coil winding 64, and the yoke 65. The bobbin 63 is made of, for example, a resin material. The bobbin 63 is, for example, a cylindrical shape with flanges at both ends in the axial direction. The coil winding 64 is, for example, a conductive copper wire. The coil winding 64 is wound multiple times around the outer circumferential surface of the bobbin 63. The yoke 65 is made of, for example, a metal material. The yoke 65 is, for example, a cylindrical shape with flanges at both ends in the axial direction. The yoke 65 is provided on the axial upper and lower sides and radially inward sides of the bobbin 63. A portion of the lower surface of the yoke 65 abuts against the spacer 201 within the housing 51.

[0029] The sleeve 81 is made of, for example, a metal material. The metal material of the sleeve 81 is, for example, a copper alloy. The sleeve 81 is, for example, a bottomed cylindrical shape. The sleeve 81 has a sleeve peripheral wall portion 81a and a sleeve end wall portion 81b. The sleeve peripheral wall portion 81a is, for example, cylindrical. The sleeve end wall portion 81b closes the axial upper side of the sleeve peripheral wall portion 81a. The outer diameter of the sleeve peripheral wall portion 81a changes in steps from the top to the bottom.

[0030] More specifically, the sleeve peripheral wall portion 81a is provided with a first cylindrical portion 81aa, a large-diameter portion 81ab, a medium-diameter portion 81ac, and a tip portion 81ad, in that order from top to bottom. The first cylindrical portion 81aa has the smallest outer diameter of the sleeve peripheral wall portion 81a. A portion of the upper side of the first cylindrical portion 81aa is inserted and fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the yoke 65, for example, by a clearance fit. The large-diameter portion 81ab has the largest outer diameter of the sleeve peripheral wall portion 81a. The outer diameter of the medium-diameter portion 81ac is smaller than the outer diameter of the large-diameter portion 81ab and larger than the outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion 81aa. The outer diameter of the tip portion 81ad is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion 81aa. The axial end face 81ada of the tip portion 81ad has a sleeve opening 81d that opens toward the bottom surface 24a of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve. Inside the sleeve 81, there is a solenoid valve housing portion 81c which has a sleeve opening 81d and is surrounded by the inner circumferential surfaces of the sleeve peripheral wall portion 81a and the sleeve end wall portion 81b.

[0031] A male threaded portion 48a is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the large-diameter portion 81ab. The male threaded portion 48a extends along the entire axial direction of the large-diameter portion 81ab. When the composite valve device 15 is mounted in the composite valve mounting hole 24, a female threaded portion 48b, which is a screw groove, is provided on the inner wall 11e, which is the inner circumferential surface of the composite valve mounting hole 24, at a position corresponding to the male threaded portion 48a. The male threaded portion 48a and the female threaded portion 48b constitute a threaded portion 48 that can be screwed together. The sleeve 81 is attached to the composite valve mounting hole 24 via the threaded portion 48.

[0032] A mounting groove 49 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the middle diameter portion 81ac. The mounting groove 49 is located below the male thread portion 48a. The mounting groove 49 is an annular groove that extends around the entire circumference of the middle diameter portion 81ac. A sealing member 39a is fitted into the mounting groove 49. The sealing member 39a is made of, for example, rubber or resin material. The sealing member 39a is, for example, an annular shape. The sealing member 39a is compressed between the inner wall 11e of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve and the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve 81, or more specifically, between the inner wall 11e of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve and the bottom surface of the mounting groove 49. The sealing member 39a seals the space between the sleeve 81 and the body 11.

[0033] The portion of the solenoid valve housing 81c corresponding to the first cylindrical portion 81aa houses the fixed core 83, the movable core 84, the solenoid valve body 85, the biasing member for the solenoid valve 86, and the plug 301. The fixed core 83, the movable core 84, the solenoid valve body 85, and the biasing member for the solenoid valve 86 constitute the solenoid valve device 15a. In this embodiment, the portion of the solenoid valve housing 81c corresponding to the first cylindrical portion 81aa is an example of the first housing.

[0034] The fixed core 83 is made of, for example, a magnetic material. The fixed core 83 is, for example, cylindrical. The fixed core 83 is positioned closest to the sleeve end wall 81b within the solenoid valve housing 81c. The fixed core 83 is excited by the current flowing through the coil winding 64. The movable core 84 is made of, for example, a magnetic material. The movable core 84 is, for example, cylindrical. The movable core 84 is positioned axially adjacent to the fixed core 83 within the solenoid valve housing 81c. The movable core 84 is displaced axially through sliding with the inner circumferential surface of the solenoid valve housing 81c in accordance with the excitation state of the fixed core 83.

[0035] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the solenoid valve body 85 of the solenoid valve device 15a is made of, for example, a resin material. However, the solenoid valve body 85 may be made of a metal material. The solenoid valve body 85 has a tapered portion that narrows towards the bottom. The solenoid valve body 85 is inserted into the solenoid valve body housing 81c such that the tapered portion faces the first valve opening 73. Within the solenoid valve body housing 81c, the solenoid valve body 85 is positioned adjacent to the movable core 84 in the axial direction and is positioned above the portion corresponding to the large diameter portion 81ab. The solenoid valve body 85 is displaceable in the axial direction through sliding with the inner circumferential surface of the solenoid valve body housing 81c in conjunction with the movable core 84. The movable core 84 and the solenoid valve body 85 constitute, for example, a well-known pilot valve mechanism.

[0036] The biasing member 86 for the solenoid valve is, for example, a compression coil spring. The biasing member 86 for the solenoid valve is housed inside the movable core 84, with its upper end fixed to the fixed core 83 and its lower end fixed to the movable core 84. The biasing member 86 for the solenoid valve constantly biases the movable core 84 downward.

[0037] <About the check valve device> As shown in Figure 3, the check valve body 88 of the check valve device 15b is made of, for example, a resin material. The check valve body 88 may also be made of a metal material. In the check valve body 88, the head 91, the inclined portion 92, the body portion 93, and the support portion 94 are provided in order from the top. The head 91 and the inclined portion 92 are tapered, becoming narrower towards the top. Inside the check valve body 88, there is a check valve internal passage 96. The head 91 closes the check valve internal passage 96 from the top of the check valve body 88. The inclined portion 92 has through holes 95 that connect the inside and outside of the inclined portion 92. For example, four through holes 95 are provided at equal angular intervals of 90 degrees in the circumferential direction of the check valve body 88. The check valve internal passage 96 connects the opening 96a provided on the end face of the support portion 94 with the through holes 95. The outer diameter of the support portion 94 is smaller than the outer diameter of the body portion 93. The check valve body 88 is housed in the check valve body housing portion 311 of the plug 301, which will be described later, by being inserted axially into the check valve body housing portion 311 with the head portion 91 facing the second valve port 74. The check valve body 88 can be displaced in the axial position by sliding with the inner circumferential surface inside the check valve body housing portion 311 in accordance with the flow of hydrogen gas.

[0038] The check valve biasing member 89 is, for example, a compression coil spring. The check valve biasing member 89 is fitted onto the support portion 94, with its upper end fixed to the body portion 93 and its lower end fixed to the bottom surface 24a of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve. The check valve biasing member 89 constantly biases the check valve body 88 upward. In this embodiment, the check valve body 88 is an example of a "valve body" in the claims. The second valve opening 74 is also an example of a "valve opening" in the claims.

[0039] In the composite valve device 15 having the above configuration, when the coil winding 64 is not energized, the biasing force of the biasing member 86 for the solenoid valve causes the solenoid valve body 85 to slide downward within the solenoid valve body housing 81c. The solenoid valve body 85 moves to a closed position that closes the first valve opening 73 by seating on the first valve opening 73. As the solenoid valve body 85 moves to the closed position, the solenoid valve device 15a becomes closed. In this state, the biasing force of the biasing member 89 for the check valve causes the check valve body 88 to slide upward within the check valve body housing 311. The check valve body 88 moves to a closed position that closes the second valve opening 74 by seating on the second valve opening 74. As the check valve body 88 moves to the closed position, the check valve device 15b becomes closed.

[0040] On the other hand, when the coil winding 64 is energized, the solenoid valve body 85 slides upward within the solenoid valve body housing 81c by being attracted to the fixed core 83 together with the movable core 84. The solenoid valve body 85 moves away from the first valve port 73, transitioning to the open position where the first valve port 73 is opened. As the solenoid valve body 85 moves to the open position, the solenoid valve device 15a becomes open. In this state, the pressure of the hydrogen gas flowing into the internal passage 71 of the plug 301 causes the check valve body 88 to slide downward within the check valve body housing 311. The check valve body 88 moves away from the second valve port 74, transitioning to the open position where the second valve port 74 is opened. As the check valve body 88 moves to the open position, the check valve device 15b becomes open.

[0041] <About the plug> Next, the structure of the plug 301 will be explained using Figures 3 to 5. Figure 3 shows the plug 301 inserted into the solenoid valve housing 81c and with the check valve body 88 housed inside. Figures 4 and 5 show the plug 301 before it is inserted into the solenoid valve housing 81c and before the check valve body 88 is housed inside.

[0042] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the plug 301 is made of, for example, a metal material. The metal material is, for example, brass. The plug 301 has a shaft portion 302 and a base portion 303. The shaft portion 302 is, for example, cylindrical. The shaft portion 302 has a rectangular tip portion 304, a straight portion 305, and a connecting portion 306. The straight portion 305 is the base end of the shaft portion 302 and is connected to the base portion 303. The rectangular tip portion 304 is the tip of the shaft portion 302 and is connected to the straight portion 305 via the connecting portion 306. The rectangular tip portion 304 has a part of its outer circumferential surface formed into a roughly rectangular prism shape, for example, by cutting. The outer diameter of the straight portion 305 is uniform along the axial direction. The outer diameter of the straight portion 305 is larger than the outer diameter of the circumscribed circles of the four corners of the rectangular tip portion 304. The straight section 305 has a press-fit section 305a and an insertion section 305b. The press-fit section 305a is a predetermined range of the straight section 305, extending from the part adjacent to the connecting section 306 toward the base section 303. The predetermined range is, for example, a range smaller than half the axial length of the straight section 305. The predetermined range is, for example, 10 mm. The press-fit section 305a is the part that is press-fitted and fixed into the solenoid valve housing section 81c. The remaining part of the straight section 305, other than the press-fit section 305a, is the insertion section 305b. The connecting section 306 connects the rectangular tip section 304 and the straight section 305 and includes a section that tapers toward the rectangular tip section 304, for example, from the straight section 305.

[0043] The base portion 303 has a receiving portion 307 and a pedestal portion 308. The receiving portion 307 and the pedestal portion 308 are, for example, cylindrical. The outer diameter of the receiving portion 307 is, for example, larger than the outer diameter of the pedestal portion 308. In this case, the base portion 303 is a stepped cylindrical shape. A stepped portion 309 is provided between the receiving portion 307 and the pedestal portion 308, which appears due to the difference in outer diameters between the receiving portion 307 and the pedestal portion 308. The receiving portion 307 is connected to the straight portion 305. In other words, the pedestal portion 308 is connected to the straight portion 305 via the receiving portion 307.

[0044] On the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 302, a plurality of outer peripheral grooves 107 extending along the axial direction are provided. For example, four outer peripheral grooves 107 are provided at equal angular intervals of 90 degrees in the circumferential direction of the shaft portion 302. The outer peripheral grooves 107 extend axially along the straight portion 305 from the connecting portion 306 and reach the receiving portion 307 within the shaft portion 302. The end of the outer peripheral groove 107 reaching the receiving portion 307 extends radially along the receiving portion 307. That is, the outer peripheral groove 107 is L-shaped.

[0045] Inside the plug 301, that is, inside the shaft portion 302 and the base portion 303, an internal flow path 71 and a check valve body accommodating portion 311 are provided. The internal flow path 71 communicates the first valve port 73, which is an opening provided on the end face of the angular tip portion 304, with the check valve body accommodating portion 311. The internal flow path 71 communicates with the check valve body accommodating portion 311 via a second valve port 74, which is an opening provided on the side opposite to the first valve port 73. The check valve body accommodating portion 311 communicates the opening 311a provided on the end face of the pedestal portion 308 of the base portion 303 with the internal flow path 71. By communicating with the internal flow path 71, the check valve body accommodating portion 311 forms a through hole extending along the axis L. The first valve port 73 has a tapered shape corresponding to the tapered portion of the solenoid valve body 85. The second valve port 74 has a tapered shape corresponding to the inclined portion 92 of the check valve body 88.

[0046] The check valve housing portion 311 has depth in the axial direction. More specifically, the check valve housing portion 311 extends from the opening 311a of the base portion 308 to partway up the insertion portion 305b. That is, the check valve housing portion 311 does not reach the press-fit portion 305a. The check valve housing portion 311 has a main hole portion 312 and an enlarged diameter hole portion 313. The enlarged diameter hole portion 313 extends from the opening 311a of the base portion 308 to partway up the base portion 308. The enlarged diameter hole portion 313 is, for example, cylindrical and is surrounded by the inner circumference portion 313a of the enlarged diameter hole, which is the inner circumference of the corresponding portion of the base portion 308. The main hole portion 312 extends from partway up the base portion 308 to partway up the straight portion 305. The main hole portion 312 is, for example, cylindrical and surrounded by the main hole inner circumferential portion 312a, which is the inner circumferential surface of the corresponding parts of the base portion 308, the receiving portion 307, and the straight portion 305. Of the main hole portion 312, the surface on which the second valve opening 74 is provided is the main hole end face portion 312b. The inner diameter of the enlarged hole portion 313 is larger than the inner diameter of the main hole portion 312. In this embodiment, the check valve body housing portion 311 is an example of a second housing portion. Also, the main hole end face portion 312b is an example of the end face of the second housing portion.

[0047] The plug 301 is inserted axially into the solenoid valve housing 81c from its rectangular tip 304. The check valve device 15b is attached to the check valve housing 311 of the plug 301 by inserting the check valve body 88 axially together with the check valve biasing member 89. In this way, the solenoid valve device 15a and the check valve device 15b are functionally integrated. In this case, the press-fit portion 305a, which is part of the straight portion 305 of the plug 301, is press-fitted and fixed against the inner circumferential surface of the solenoid valve housing 81c. On the other hand, the insertion portion 305b, which is part of the straight portion 305 of the plug 301, is inserted with a gap against the inner circumferential surface of the solenoid valve housing 81c. The plug 301, the solenoid valve device 15a, and the check valve device 15b, i.e., the combined valve device 15, are integrally attached to the mounting hole 24 for the combined valve via the threaded portion 48.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, the check valve device 15b, that is, the plug 301, is attached to the composite valve mounting hole 24 via the sleeve 81. In this case, the sleeve 81 is attached to the composite valve mounting hole 24 via the male screw portion 48a of the large-diameter portion 81ab and the female screw portion 48b of the composite valve mounting hole 24, that is, the screw portion 48. The check valve body accommodating portion 311 of the plug 301, that is, the opening portion 311a of the pedestal portion 308, opens toward the bottom surface 24a of the composite valve mounting hole 24. The check valve body accommodating portion 311 communicates with the second flow path 13 via the opening portion 311a.

[0049] In the state where the plug 301 is attached to the composite valve mounting hole 24, a filter 105 and a seal member 106 are provided between the step portion 309 and the step portion 81ae appearing due to the outer diameter difference between the tip portion 81ad and the middle diameter portion 81ac of the sleeve 81 in the axial direction. The filter 105 is, for example, a mesh member. The filter 105 is, for example, cylindrical. The filter 105 captures foreign matter contained in the hydrogen gas flowing between the first flow path 12 and the second flow path 13. The seal member 106 is made of, for example, a rubber material or a resin material. The seal member 106 is, for example, annular. The seal member 106 seals between the filter 105, the sleeve 81, and the plug 301. A flow path S1 for hydrogen gas flowing between the first flow path 12 and the second flow path 13 is formed between the portion including the base portion 303, the filter 105, and the seal member 106 and the inner wall 11e of the composite valve mounting hole 24. A flow path S2 for hydrogen gas flowing between the first flow path 12 and the second flow path 13 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the square tip portion 304 and the connecting portion 306 and the inner peripheral surface of the solenoid valve accommodating portion 81c. The outer peripheral groove 107 of the plug 301 communicates the flow path S1 and the flow path S2.

[0050] In the state where the plug 301 is attached to the composite valve mounting hole 24, a seal member 39b is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter hole portion 313. The seal member 39b is made of, for example, a rubber material or a resin material. The seal member 39b is, for example, annular. The inner diameter of the seal member 39b is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the main hole portion 312. The seal member 39b seals between the bottom surface 24a of the composite valve mounting hole 24 and the pedestal portion 308 of the plug 301.

[0051] <Assembly of the plug into the solenoid valve housing> As shown in Figure 6, the solenoid valve housing 81c of the sleeve 81 has a press-fit portion 81ca. The press-fit portion 81ca is located at a distance of length D1 in the axial direction from the sleeve opening 81d. The length D1 is designed so that when the plug 301 is inserted into the solenoid valve housing 81c, the press-fit portion 305a of the plug 301 and the press-fit portion 81ca of the solenoid valve housing 81c coincide. That is, the press-fit portion 81ca is a predetermined range in the solenoid valve housing 81c from the portion corresponding to the male thread portion 48a toward the sleeve opening 81d. The predetermined range is, for example, the same size as the press-fit portion 305a of the plug 301. The predetermined range is, for example, 10 mm. In this embodiment, the length D1 is such that the press-fit portion 81ca does not reach the male thread portion 48a of the sleeve 81. The inner diameter C1 of the press-fit portion 81ca is slightly smaller than the inner diameter C2 of the solenoid valve housing portion 81c, i.e., the diameter R2 of the sleeve opening 81d. The inner diameter C1 is made slightly smaller than the inner diameter C2 by, for example, setting a positive tolerance relative to the inner diameter C2.

[0052] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the outer diameter P1 of the connecting portion 306 on the side closer to the square tip portion 304 is smaller than the inner diameter C2. The outer diameter P2 of the straight portion 305 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter C2. The outer diameter P2 is made slightly smaller than the inner diameter C2, for example by setting a negative tolerance relative to the inner diameter C2. The outer diameter P3 of the base portion 308 and the outer diameter P4 of the receiving portion 307 are larger than the inner diameter C2. Therefore, when inserting the plug 301 into the solenoid valve housing portion 81c, the insertion operation of the plug 301 is guided by the inner circumferential surface of the solenoid valve housing portion 81c via the straight portion 305. As a result, the connecting portion 306 passes through the press-fit corresponding portion 81ca, and the press-fit portion 305a reaches the press-fit corresponding portion 81ca. Consequently, the plug 301 is press-fitted and fixed into the sleeve 81 via the press-fit portion 305a and the press-fit corresponding portion 81ca. In this way, the plug 301 is assembled to the solenoid valve housing 81c.

[0053] Returning to the explanation of Figure 3, when the plug 301 is assembled to the solenoid valve housing 81c, the receiving portion 307 and the base portion 308 face the tip portion 81ad of the sleeve 81 in the axial direction outside the solenoid valve housing 81c. The rectangular tip portion 304 and the connecting portion 306 have a gap with respect to the solenoid valve housing 81c. The straight portion 305 is press-fitted and fixed to the solenoid valve housing 81c at the press-fit portion 305a. When the plug 301 is assembled to the solenoid valve housing 81c, the press-fit portion 305a is positioned above the axial position Y1 of the main hole end face portion 312b, that is, closer to the solenoid valve device 15a, so that its axial position does not overlap with the main hole portion 312. In other words, when the check valve device 15b is in the closed state, the press-fit portion 305a is positioned above the position furthest from the bottom surface 24a of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve among the parts where the check valve body 88 and the inner circumference 312a of the main hole come into contact. Furthermore, the press-fit portion 305a is positioned below the axial position Y2 furthest from the solenoid valve device 15a among the threaded portion 48, that is, closer to the bottom surface 24a of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve than the threaded portion 48.

[0054] Therefore, the press-fit portion 305a is located in the region between axial position Y1 and axial position Y2. In particular, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 3, if the intermediate axial position Y3 is defined as a position where the axial distance from both axial position Y1 and axial position Y2 is equal, the press-fit portion 305a is located in the region between axial position Y2 and intermediate axial position Y3. In this case, the upper second end portion 305ab of the press-fit portion 305a coincides with axial position Y2. That is, the upper second end portion 305ab is located closer to the bottom surface 24a of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve than the threaded portion 48. Also, the lower first end portion 305aa of the press-fit portion 305a is located in the region closer to axial position Y2 than to intermediate axial position Y3. That is, the lower first end portion 305aa is located closer to axial position Y2 than to axial position Y1.

[0055] When the composite valve device 15 is mounted in the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve, the filter 105 is positioned below the main hole end face 312b, that is, in the region between the main hole end face 312b and the bottom surface 24a of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve. In this embodiment, the axial position Y1 is an example of a first position and includes the main hole end face 312b. The axial position Y2 is an example of a second position. The intermediate axial position Y3 is an example of a third position.

[0056] <Operation and Effects of This Embodiment> As shown in Figure 3, the composite valve device 15 is attached to the composite valve mounting hole 24 via the threaded portion 48 with the plug 301 press-fitted into the solenoid valve body housing 81c at the press-fit portion 305a. When the composite valve device 15 is attached to the composite valve mounting hole 24, a first force F1 is generated at the press-fit portion 305a, which is the force with which the solenoid valve body housing 81c presses the outer circumferential surface of the plug 301 radially inward. In addition, a second force F2 is generated at the press-fit portion 305a, which is the force with which the plug 301 presses the inner circumferential surface of the solenoid valve body housing 81c radially outward. Therefore, for example, if the axial position of the press-fit portion 305a coincides with the check valve body housing 311, the first force F1 acts on the check valve body housing 311. As a result, the check valve housing 311 may be deformed, which could hinder the axial sliding of the check valve body 88 housed in the check valve housing 311.

[0057] Furthermore, when the composite valve device 15 is installed in the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve, the portion of the check valve body housing 311 corresponding to the male threaded portion 48a expands in diameter due to the influence of the second force F2. The force that expands the diameter of the portion corresponding to the male threaded portion 48a acts on the inner wall 11e of the body 11 via the threaded portion 48. The force acting on the inner wall 11e becomes a third force F3, which is a force that presses the outer circumferential surface of the plug 301 radially inward from the threaded portion 48, and acts on the press-fit portion 305a. Therefore, for example, if the axial position of the press-fit portion 305a coincides with the threaded portion 48, the third force F3 from the threaded portion 48 acts on the check valve body housing 311. As a result, the check valve body housing 311 is deformed, which may hinder the axial sliding of the check valve body 88 housed in the check valve body housing 311.

[0058] In view of the above, this embodiment positions the press-fit portion 305a in the region between the first position and the second position in the axial direction, specifically in the region between axial position Y1 and axial position Y2. That is, the press-fit portion 305a is located in a position that does not overlap in the axial direction with respect to the respective sliding ranges of the threaded portion 48 and the check valve body 88.

[0059] Therefore, even if a first force F1 is generated while the composite valve device 15 is mounted in the composite valve mounting hole 24, it is possible to suppress the first force F1 from acting on the check valve body housing 311. Furthermore, while the composite valve device 15 is mounted in the composite valve mounting hole 24, it is possible to suppress the third force F3 from acting on the check valve body housing 311. As a result, deformation of the check valve body housing 311 due to the acting of the first force F1 and the second force F2 can be suppressed. Thus, a composite valve device 15 can be realized in which the axial sliding of the check valve body 88 is not easily hindered.

[0060] As described above, the following further effects can be obtained. (1-1) In the axial direction, the press-fit portion 305a is positioned in the region between the main hole end face portion 312b of the check valve housing portion 311 and the axial position Y2. That is, the axial positions of the press-fit portion 305a and the check valve housing portion 311 do not overlap. This is effective in suppressing deformation of the check valve housing portion 311 due to the influence of the first force F1 and the second force F2.

[0061] (1-2) In the axial direction, the filter 105 is positioned in the region between the main hole end face 312b and the bottom surface 24a of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve. That is, the axial positions of the filter 105 and the press-fit portion 305a do not overlap. This is effective in suppressing deformation of the filter 105 due to the influence of the first force F1 and the second force F2.

[0062] (1-3) The plug 301 and the sleeve 81 are integrated through press-fitting at the press-fitting portion 305a and the press-fitting corresponding portion 81ca. This makes it easy to ensure coaxiality between the plug 301 and the sleeve 81.

[0063] (1-4) With regard to the configuration for achieving press-fitting in the press-fitting section 305a and the press-fitting corresponding section 81ca, it is only necessary to control the dimensions of the solenoid valve housing section 81c. Therefore, dimensional control when manufacturing the configuration for achieving press-fitting in the press-fitting section 305a and the press-fitting corresponding section 81ca becomes easier.

[0064] (1-5) Generally, when the plug 301 is inserted into the solenoid valve housing 81c, a force acts on the plug 301 that reduces the diameter of the press-fit portion 305a. The effect of this force is greater in areas closer to the press-fit portion 305a.

[0065] In light of this, the press-fit portion 305a is positioned in the region between axial position Y1 and axial position Y2, in a region closer to axial position Y2 than to the intermediate axial position Y3. In this case, the upper second end portion 305ab coincides with the axial position Y2, which is closer to the bottom surface 24a of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve than to the threaded portion 48. Also, the lower first end portion 305aa is positioned closer to axial position Y2 than to axial position Y1. In other words, the press-fit portion 305a is positioned as far away as possible in the axial direction from the check valve body housing portion 311. This is effective in suppressing deformation of the check valve body housing portion 311.

[0066] <Other Embodiments> The above embodiments may be modified as follows. Furthermore, the following other embodiments can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict the technical standards.

[0067] - The first valve device does not necessarily have to be a solenoid valve device; for example, it may be a valve device with a different operating principle. - The male threaded portion 48a may be a part of the large diameter portion 81ab; for example, it may be only the portion of the large diameter portion 81ab above the center. In this case, the portion of the mounting hole 24 for the composite valve where the female threaded portion 48b is provided may be modified to correspond to the male threaded portion 48a in the other embodiments described herein. In the other embodiments described herein, the axial position Y2 will be changed to the upper side compared to the above embodiment.

[0068] - The axial position Y2 may also be defined below the threaded portion 48, within a range that does not exceed the axial position Y1 in the axial direction. For example, the press-fit portion 305a may be positioned below the above embodiment, within a range that does not exceed the axial position Y1.

[0069] - The first end portion 305aa of the press-fit portion 305a may be positioned below the intermediate axial position Y3, within a range that does not exceed the axial position Y1 in the axial direction. For example, the predetermined range of the press-fit portion 305a in the straight portion 305 may be larger than that of the above embodiment.

[0070] - The axial position Y1 can also be defined below the main hole end face 312b, within a range that does not exceed the position furthest from the bottom surface 24a of the composite valve mounting hole 24, in the area where the check valve body 88 and the inner circumference 312a of the main hole come into contact when the check valve device 15b is in the closed valve state. For example, the press-fit portion 305a may be positioned below the above embodiment, within a range that does not exceed the position furthest from the bottom surface 24a of the composite valve mounting hole 24, in the area where the check valve body 88 and the inner circumference 312a of the main hole come into contact when the check valve device 15b is in the closed valve state.

[0071] - The press-fit portion 305a was pressed into the press-fit portion 81ca by adjusting the tolerance of the inner diameter of the press-fit portion 81ca of the sleeve 81 and the tolerance of the outer diameter of the press-fit portion 305a of the plug 301, but this is not limited to this method. For example, the press-fit portion 305a may be pressed into the press-fit portion 81ca by adjusting the surface roughness of the inner diameter of the press-fit portion 81ca and the surface roughness of the outer diameter of the press-fit portion 305a.

[0072] - The composite valve device 15 does not need to have a filter 105. - The axial position of the filter 105 in the composite valve device 15 may be changed. If deformation of the filter 105 due to the force generated in the press-fit portion 305a is acceptable, for example, the filter 105 may be positioned in a position that overlaps with the press-fit portion 305a in the axial direction.

[0073] - The press-fitting of the press-fitting portion 305a into the press-fitting corresponding portion 81ca may be achieved by swapping the configuration related to the press-fitting of the press-fitting portion 305a and the press-fitting corresponding portion 81ca. - The valve assembly 1 controls the flow of high-pressure hydrogen gas, but it is not limited to this, and may also control the flow of gases other than hydrogen gas.

Claims

1. A composite valve device to be attached to a body, the composite valve device includes: a sleeve having a first housing portion that opens toward the bottom surface of a mounting hole provided in the body and is housed in the mounting hole and attached to the mounting hole via a threaded portion; a first valve device housed in the first housing portion; an internal flow path through which the flow of gas is controlled by the first valve device; a second housing portion that opens toward the bottom surface; a axial portion including a press-fit portion that is press-fitted into the first housing portion; a flow path member housed in the first housing portion between the first valve device and the bottom surface; and a second valve device having a valve body housed in the second housing portion and positioned relative to the flow path member so as to be located between the threaded portion and the bottom surface, wherein the valve body is displaceable in the axial direction of the flow path member by sliding with the inner circumferential surface of the second housing portion, so as to transition between an open valve position in which a valve port connecting the internal flow path to the second housing portion is open and a closed valve position in which the valve port is closed. The press-fit portion is provided in a region between a first position and a second position defined in the axial direction between the first valve device and the bottom surface, wherein the first position is closer to the bottom surface than the second position and is closer to the first valve device than the position furthest from the bottom surface among the parts in which the valve body and the inner circumferential surface of the second housing contact in the closed valve position, and the second position is the position furthest from the first valve device among the threaded portion, a composite valve device.

2. The composite valve device according to claim 1, wherein the second housing portion has a second housing portion end face on which the valve opening is provided, and the first position is the position of the second housing portion end face.

3. The composite valve device according to claim 2, further comprising a filter, wherein the filter is provided at the tip of the first housing and is arranged in the region between the first position and the bottom surface in the axial direction.

4. The composite valve device according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the portion of the first housing that corresponds to the press-fit portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the press-fit portion and smaller than the inner diameter of other parts of the first housing.

5. The composite valve device according to claim 4, wherein the press-fit portion is provided on the side closer to the second position in the region between the first position and the second position.

6. The composite valve device according to claim 5, wherein the press-fit portion is arranged in the region between the first position and the second position, and within the region between the second position and a third position which is a position where the axial distance from both the first position and the second position is equal.

7. The composite valve device according to claim 6, wherein the end of the press-fit portion closest to the first valve device is located closest to the second position.

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