Gas Filling Nozzle Support Arm for Rainwater-Resistant Wire Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas filling devices for hydrogen vehicles face issues with complex structures that allow rainwater infiltration and increased labor due to heavy filling nozzles, leading to malfunction and operational burdens.
Innovation Solution
A gas filling device with a support arm mechanism featuring a mechanical winding device, reeling and holding rollers, and a guide member that restricts wire movement to prevent rainwater ingress and simplify assembly, while supporting the filling nozzle with a rotatable arm mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If guide rollers 36 and 39 are used to guide the wire, then the wire movement is controlled, but the structure becomes complicated and assembly labor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex guide roller system (rollers 36 and 39 with guide members) from the support arm mechanism. Instead, it uses a simplified wire routing configuration where the wire is guided through openings in the upper and lower covers, reducing structural complexity while maintaining wire movement control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the wire guidance function into separate openings in the upper cover (6A) and lower cover (6B), allowing the wire to be routed through these discrete openings rather than through a complex integrated guide roller system. This segmentation simplifies the overall structure while maintaining functional effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If the opening 6BC extends to the tip of the support arm mechanism, then wire movement is facilitated, but rainwater enters the mechanism causing malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement by positioning the opening 6BC on the bottom surface of the lower cover rather than extending it to the tip. The wire is routed through this opening in a different spatial location, allowing wire movement while preventing rainwater from entering the mechanism through the opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the opening 6BC as an intermediary structure that allows the wire to pass through while blocking rainwater. By strategically positioning this opening on the bottom surface and routing the wire through it, the opening serves as a mediator that enables wire movement while preventing harmful water infiltration.
3Reliability
If the filling nozzle is made sturdy to withstand high pressure, then gas filling reliability is improved, but the work of removing and connecting becomes heavy and laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support arm mechanism (6) with a mechanical winding device (9) that provides mechanical assistance to counterbalance the weight of the filling nozzle (4). The support arm rotates to position the filling nozzle, reducing the physical effort required by workers to remove and connect the heavy nozzle while maintaining the nozzle's structural integrity for high-pressure gas filling.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arm mechanism (6) provides self-service by automatically positioning the filling nozzle (4) through rotation, eliminating the need for manual lifting and positioning by workers. The mechanical winding device (9) assists in managing the wire (5A, 5B) to maintain the support arm's rotational capability, making the system self-sufficient in handling the heavy nozzle.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a gas filling device that can effectively prevent the infiltration of rainwater with a simple structure. A gas filling device 1 of the present invention including: a filling mechanism for transporting gas from a gas supply source through a gas pipe; a main body housing 2 having the filling mechanism therein; a filling hose 3 connected to an outlet of the gas pipe of the filling mechanism; and a support arm mechanism 6 for supporting, via a wire 5, a filling nozzle 4 provided at a tip of the filling hose 3, a mechanical winding device 9 provided at an end of the support arm mechanism 6; and a guide provided at another end of the support arm mechanism 6 for guiding a wire 5A led out from the mechanical winding device 9 to an opening 6BC formed in a lower cover 6B of the support arm mechanism 6. It is preferable that the guide is provided with a reeling roller 11A that sends the wire 5A from the mechanical winding device 9 to an opening 6BC, and a holding roller 11B that restricts the wire 5A from moving upward, and the wire 5A is sandwiched between the reeling roller 11A and the holding roller 11B.