Hydrogen Safety Joint With Early Shutoff During Nozzle Disconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe joints for hydrogen gas filling systems do not effectively prevent the release of high-pressure hydrogen gas when the filling nozzle is disconnected, leading to safety hazards due to outgassing.
Innovation Solution
A safety joint design with orthogonally arranged central axes, a protruding portion with a through hole, and a closing member held by an elastic member, which immediately shuts off the hydrogen gas flow path when the nozzle is disconnected, using a closing member holding mechanism and a decompression mechanism to prevent gas leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the plug is disconnected from the socket, then the filling operation can be stopped, but high-pressure hydrogen gas flows out as outgas causing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The socket side shutoff valve closes automatically before the plug is completely disconnected from the socket. The valve stem is configured to contact the locking member and close the valve during the disconnection process, preventing outgas flow that would otherwise occur at the initial stage of separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body (spring) is positioned to urge the valve element away from the valve seat during connection, but when disconnection occurs, the locking member restricts the valve stem movement, allowing the elastic body to push the valve closed in advance, cushioning against the harmful outgas effect.
2Reliability
If the central axes of the flow paths are arranged orthogonally, then the closing member can be held at a separated position during connection, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flow paths of the plug and socket are arranged orthogonally to each other. The closing member is disposed in the extension portion and can be held at a position separated from the protruding portion during connection by the closing member holding mechanism, utilizing the orthogonal spatial arrangement to achieve reliable sealing while managing structural complexity.
3Reliability
If the closing member is disposed in the extension portion, then the flow path can be sealed during disconnection, but the device length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closing member is disposed in the extension portion of the socket, which extends in a direction orthogonal to the flow path. The closing member can slide within this extension portion and be held at a separated position during connection, allowing the flow path to be sealed during disconnection while minimizing the overall device length through compact nesting.
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 significantly reduces the flow rate of high-pressure gas discharge during nozzle disconnection, ensuring safety by preventing hydrogen gas from escaping and maintaining a sealed state.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member (9) that urges the closing member (8) in a direction in which the protruding portion (12) is disconnected
Implementation Method 2
when the plug (10) is disconnected from the socket (20), the shutoff valve (V10) of the nozzle side member (10) closes and the flow path (R20) of the filling apparatus side member (20) closes
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a safety joint that can immediately shut off a hydrogen gas flow path at the initial stage when a plug, which is a nozzle side member, comes out of a socket, which is a filling apparatus side member, to prevent release of outgas. A safety joint including: a cylindrical nozzle side member with a flow path formed inside, a shutoff valve of the nozzle side member opens when the nozzle side member is connected to a filling apparatus side member; and the filling apparatus side member with a cylindrical shape and a flow path formed inside, the filling apparatus side member can be connected to the nozzle side member.