Female Coupling Valve with Visual State Indicator for High-Pressure Hydrogen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe coupling systems for high-pressure hydrogen gas do not provide visual feedback to operators regarding the supply status, making it difficult to ensure safe handling and connection.
Innovation Solution
A female coupling member with a valve open-closed state indicating mechanism, locking members, and visible indicators allows users to visually confirm the connection and supply status through windows, ensuring safe handling and connection of high-pressure fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a female coupling member is designed with safety features to prevent accidental disconnection during high-pressure hydrogen gas supply, then the reliability of the connection is improved, but the operator cannot visually determine whether hydrogen gas is being supplied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-coded indicating parts that change visibility based on valve position. When the valve member is in the open position, a first indicating part becomes visible; when closed, a second indicating part becomes visible. This allows operators to visually determine supply status without compromising connection reliability features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements visual feedback through indicating parts that provide real-time information about the valve state and connection status. The holding member's position relative to the indicating parts creates a feedback mechanism that informs operators whether hydrogen gas is being supplied, enabling informed operational decisions while maintaining safety features.
2Reliability
If the holding member covers the indicating part when in standby position, then the device prevents unauthorized operation, but the operator cannot see the indicating part
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic positioning of the holding member that moves between standby and holding positions. In standby position, the holding member covers the indicating part to prevent unauthorized operation. When properly connected and activated, the holding member moves to expose the indicating part, providing visibility only when operation is authorized and safe.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent requires preliminary connection actions before the indicating part becomes visible. The holding member is positioned to cover the indicating part during connection setup, and only after proper connection is established does the holding member move to expose the indicating part. This ensures that visibility is provided only after safe operational conditions are met.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a female coupling member which includes a housing having a fluid passage extending therethrough, a valve member selectively opening and closing the fluid passage, and a valve open-closed state indicating member. The valve open-closed state indicating member has a valve open state indicating part and a valve closed state indicating part and is displaced in response to the displacement of the valve member. When a male coupling member is connected to the female coupling member, and when the valve member is in an open position, the valve open state indicating part is visible from the outside of the housing through a window of the housing, whereas, when the valve member is in a closed position, the valve closed state indicating part is visible from the outside of the housing through the window.