Hydrogen Safety Joint With Instant Socket Shutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe joints for emergency releasing of hydrogen gas filling apparatuses allow outgas during the initial stage of disconnection, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to lost parts and the need for new components.
Innovation Solution
A safety joint with a cylindrical nozzle side member and a filling apparatus side member featuring a flow path blocking mechanism, including a valve body, elastic member, and support member, which instantly shuts off the flow path when the nozzle side member disconnects, utilizing a rotational shape member with a folded-back portion to prevent outgas and ensure part reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the plug is disconnected from the socket, then the emergency releasing function is activated, but high-pressure hydrogen gas flows out as outgas at the initial stage
Solution Approach 1:
The socket side shutoff valve is designed to close automatically at the initial stage of disconnection before the plug fully separates. The valve stem is positioned to contact the valve seat immediately when disconnection begins, preemptively blocking the flow path to prevent outgas before it can occur
Solution Approach 2:
The socket side shutoff valve acts as an intermediary mechanism between the plug and socket connection. It mediates the transition from connected to disconnected state by controlling the flow path, ensuring that gas flow is interrupted during the transition period when the plug is being pulled out
2Productivity
If the plug and socket are connected, then the flow paths are communicated for gas filling, but the socket side valve stem may contact the plug side valve stem causing operational issues
Solution Approach 1:
The central axes of the plug flow path and socket flow path are intentionally offset to form different straight lines. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that the socket side valve stem and plug side valve stem operate in different spatial planes, preventing unwanted contact while maintaining effective flow path communication during connection
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The safety joint effectively prevents outgas at the initial stage of disconnection, reduces part loss, and allows for the reuse of all components, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs by maintaining the integrity of the hydrogen gas filling process.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member (23: socket side spring) on the filling device side that urges the valve body (25)
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problems] To provide a safety joint that can immediately shut off a hydrogen gas flow path at the initial stage when a plug (nozzle side member) comes out of a socket (fueling apparatus side member) to prevent release of outgas. [Means of solving the problems] A safety joint (100, 100-1) of the present invention includes: a plug (10) with a flow path (1A) formed inside, a shutoff valve (5) of the plug (10) opens when connected to a socket (20); and the socket (20), a flow path (21A) in communication with the flow path (1A) is formed when connected to the plug (10); and when the plug (10) is disconnected from the socket (20), the flow paths (1A, 21A) of the plug (10) and the socket (20) are shut off, wherein the socket has an opening (21C) that communicates with the flow path (21A) and extends orthogonally to the flow path (21A); when the plug and the socket are connected, a protruding portion (3) of the plug is inserted into the opening; and a socket flow path blocking mechanism (30, 31) is provided to instantly close the flow path (21A) at an initial stage when the plug is disconnected from the socket.