JP4621195B2 - Check valve - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a check valve mounted on a high-pressure vessel that stores a high-pressure fluid such as hydrogen gas, and particularly relates to a check valve having excellent sealing performance.

  Conventionally, for example, when storing hydrogen gas or the like used in a fuel cell electric vehicle, a high-pressure vessel has been used. Hydrogen used in fuel cell electric vehicles is in a gaseous state because it is easier to handle than liquids, and the gas filling port of the high-pressure vessel has a check function that prevents hydrogen gas from flowing back. A valve is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  By the way, in a general conventional check valve, when hydrogen gas is filled from the filling port, the valve body biased in the valve closing direction is pushed open in the valve opening direction by the gas pressure of the hydrogen gas. The valve body is separated from the valve seat, and hydrogen gas flows in through the gap. The inflowing hydrogen gas reaches the outflow port from the valve body, and flows out from the outflow port into the high-pressure vessel.

When the filling of the hydrogen gas is completed, the valve body is urged and moved in the valve closing direction, and the valve body is seated on the valve seat to block the hydrogen gas from moving toward the inlet. Thus, the check valve allows hydrogen gas to flow only in one direction in which hydrogen gas is filled.
JP 2006-144841 A

By the way, in the check valve used for the conventional high-pressure vessel, further improvement in sealing performance has been desired so that stored high-pressure fluid such as hydrogen gas does not flow backward.
In addition, it has been desired to improve the sealing performance by adopting a simple structure without complicating the structure.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a check valve that has a simple structure and can exhibit excellent sealing performance.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a check valve that is mounted on a high-pressure vessel and is filled with a high-pressure fluid into the high-pressure vessel, and is provided upstream. The seat is provided downstream of the valve seat, is seated on the valve seat when the high-pressure fluid is not filled, and is separated by the pressure of the high-pressure fluid filled when the high-pressure fluid is filled. And the downstream end of the contact surface between the valve body that flows and the valve seat and the valve body, and seals the downstream end when not filled with high-pressure fluid, and when filling with high-pressure fluid An annular seal member having elasticity that can be expanded to the side away from the downstream end by the pressure of the high-pressure fluid to be filled, and a side that is provided on the periphery of the downstream end and that is away from the downstream end The seal member is expanded while being filled with the high-pressure fluid. And a high-pressure fluid introduction passage that communicates with the high-pressure vessel and introduces a high-pressure fluid filled in the high-pressure vessel, and the seal member accommodation portion has one end of the high-pressure fluid introduction passage. Is characterized by opening.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the annular seal member having elasticity is fitted on the downstream end of the contact surface between the valve seat and the valve body, and this seal member is not filled with the high-pressure fluid. Since the downstream end can be sealed and the diameter of the high pressure fluid can be expanded to the side away from the downstream end by the pressure of the high pressure fluid filled when filling the high pressure fluid, the backflow prevention and the high pressure fluid can be prevented when the high pressure fluid is not filled. Smooth filling at the time of filling can be realized.

  In addition, while the high-pressure fluid is filled, the expanded seal member is accommodated in the seal member accommodating portion provided in the peripheral portion of the downstream end portion, so that the seal member is the high-pressure fluid. The flow of high-pressure fluid is ensured without interfering with the inflow of water. Moreover, since the expanded seal member is accommodated in the seal member accommodating portion, the shape retention of the seal member can be achieved. Therefore, the seal member is hardly deformed, and the seal performance is maintained for a long period.

In addition, since one end of the high-pressure fluid introduction path for introducing the high-pressure fluid filled in the high-pressure vessel is opened in the seal member housing portion, the expanded seal member is introduced through the opening after filling with the high-pressure fluid. The high-pressure fluid is satisfactorily separated from the seal member accommodating portion, is reduced in diameter and returned to the downstream end portion, and the downstream end portion is sealed.
Therefore, for example, a situation in which the low fluid pressure before filling the high-pressure fluid remains between the expanded seal member and the seal member housing portion, and the seal member is not separated from the seal member housing portion. Even if this occurs, the sealing member is satisfactorily separated from the sealing member housing portion by the high-pressure fluid introduced through the opening, and the sealing member is reliably returned to the downstream end portion.
As a result, a check valve excellent in sealing performance can be obtained.

  In addition, since the seal member can be reliably returned to the downstream end only by providing one end of the high-pressure fluid introduction path in the seal member accommodating portion, there is an advantage that the configuration is simple and the cost is low. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the check valve according to the first aspect, the seal member accommodating portion includes an annular peripheral wall portion and a bottom portion continuing to the peripheral wall portion, and the high-pressure fluid introduction path is provided. The opening is formed in a portion extending from the peripheral wall portion to the bottom portion.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the seal member accommodating portion includes an annular peripheral wall portion and a bottom portion continuing to the peripheral wall portion, and the opening of the high-pressure fluid introduction path is formed at a portion extending from the peripheral wall portion to the bottom portion. As described above, even if the low fluid pressure before filling the high-pressure fluid remains in the corners extending from the peripheral wall portion to the bottom portion as described above, the sealing member is sealed by the high-pressure fluid introduced through the opening. Is satisfactorily separated from the seal member housing portion, and the seal member is reliably returned to the downstream end.
As a result, a check valve excellent in sealing performance can be obtained.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the check valve according to the first or second aspect, the space formed by including the valve seat, the valve body, and the seal member accommodating portion includes One end of another high-pressure fluid introduction path that communicates with the inside of the high-pressure vessel and introduces the high-pressure fluid filled in the high-pressure vessel is characterized by being open.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the high-pressure fluid filled in the high-pressure vessel is introduced into the space formed by including the valve seat, the valve body, and the seal member accommodating portion. Since one end of the other high-pressure fluid introduction path is open, the seal member is satisfactorily returned to the downstream end by the high-pressure fluid introduced into the space through the other high-pressure fluid introduction path after filling with the high-pressure fluid. At the same time, the downstream end is well sealed. As a result, a check valve excellent in sealing performance can be obtained.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the check valve according to any one of the first to third aspects, the seal member is an O-ring.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the downstream end can be easily sealed with the O-ring, and excellent sealing performance can be realized reliably and inexpensively.

  According to the present invention, a check valve having a simple structure and capable of exhibiting excellent sealing performance can be obtained.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a check valve according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are enlarged sectional views of main parts. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the present invention is applied to a hydrogen gas high-pressure vessel mounted on a fuel cell electric vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applicable to other high-pressure fluid high-pressure vessels. be able to. In the following, “left and right” and “up and down” are based on the state in which the check valve is attached to the high pressure vessel.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the check valve 1 is mounted on a high-pressure vessel 50 and is used to fill the high-pressure vessel 50 with hydrogen gas as a high-pressure fluid. 10, a stepped cylindrical upstream member 20 mounted in the upper interior space, and a downstream member 30 mounted in the lower interior space of the casing 10, and the upstream member 20 in the casing 10. And the downstream member 30, the valve body 15 disposed in the inner space, the sliding member 16 holding the valve body 15, the O-ring 17 as an annular seal member, and the sliding member 16 upstream. And a spring 18 that is biased toward the side member 20.

  In the casing 10, a screw portion 10 </ b> A to which the upstream member 20 is attached is formed on the upper inner wall, and a screw portion 10 </ b> B to which the downstream member 30 is attached is formed on the lower inner wall. On the peripheral wall of the casing 10, another high-pressure gas introduction path (high-pressure fluid introduction path) H <b> 1 that leads to the space portion S where the O-ring 17 is disposed, and a high pressure that leads to the O-ring housing portion S <b> 1 described later on the space portion S. A gas introduction path (high-pressure fluid introduction path) H2 is formed. Detailed descriptions of these other high-pressure gas introduction paths H1 and H2 will be described later.

  The upstream member 20 includes an upper portion 21 formed in a small diameter cylindrical shape and a lower portion 22 formed in a large diameter cylindrical shape, and gas inflow passages 20A and 20B are formed along the axis. The upper part 21 is formed with an inlet 21a serving as an opening of the gas inflow passage 20A at the upper end, and a threaded part 21c to which a filling nozzle from a hydrogen gas filling device (not shown) is attached is formed on the peripheral wall. A seal portion (not shown) is formed in the vicinity of the inlet 21a of the upper portion 21. The lower portion 22 is formed with a fixing screw portion 22a that is screwed into the check valve mounting hole 51 of the high-pressure vessel 50, and a screw portion 22A that is screwed into the screw portion 10A of the casing 10. . A valve seat 23 is formed at the lower end of the inner wall 24 of the lower portion 22 and expands in a tapered shape toward the downstream side. Further, a top portion 22b (see FIG. 2A) constituting the space portion S to be described later and a side portion 22c (see FIG. 2A) constituting the space portion S are formed at the lower end of the lower portion 22. Has been.

  The downstream member 30 is formed with a gas outflow passage 30 along the axis, and is formed with a screw portion 32 </ b> B that is screwed into the screw portion 10 </ b> B of the casing 10. A protrusion 31 into which the spring 18 is fitted is formed at the upper end of the downstream member 30.

  The valve body 15 includes a distal end portion 15 a having an inclined portion 15 b that is seated on the valve seat 23, and a rod-shaped insertion portion 15 e that is inserted into the sliding member 16. The tip portion 15 a has a streamlined shape, and the upper side is arranged in the gas inflow path 20 </ b> B formed in the lower portion 22 of the upstream member 20. As shown in FIG. 2A, an O-ring 17 is externally fitted to the downstream end 15c of the contact surface between the valve body 15 and the valve seat 23.

  Here, the O-ring 17 is made of a member having elasticity such as rubber, and as described above, the O-ring 17 is externally fitted to the downstream end portion 15c of the contact surface between the valve body 15 and the valve seat 23, so that hydrogen gas The downstream end 15c is sealed at the time of non-filling, and the diameter can be expanded to the side away from the downstream end 15c by the pressure of the hydrogen gas filled at the time of hydrogen gas filling (see FIG. 2B). ).

  The space S in which such an O-ring 17 is arranged is formed around the downstream end 15c so as to have an annular shape, and the top portion 22b, the side portion 22c, and the shoulder portion of the valve body 15 described above. 15d, the surrounding wall part 10a formed in the casing 10, and the bottom part 10b continuing to this surrounding wall part 10a are enclosed. In the present embodiment, a space (a part of the space portion S) surrounded by the peripheral wall portion 10a and the bottom portion 10b of the casing 10 constituting the space portion S is defined as an O-ring housing portion S1 as a seal member housing portion. As shown in FIG. 2B, the O-ring accommodating portion S1 accommodates an O-ring 17 that has been expanded in diameter when filled with hydrogen gas.

The O-ring accommodating portion S1 is filled in the high-pressure vessel 50 in communication with the high-pressure vessel 50 around a portion extending from the peripheral wall portion 10a to the bottom portion 10b, that is, around a corner where the peripheral wall portion 10a and the bottom portion 10b intersect. A high pressure gas introduction path H2 for introducing hydrogen gas is opened.
Further, another high-pressure gas introduction path H1 that communicates with the high-pressure vessel 50 and introduces the hydrogen gas filled in the high-pressure vessel 50 is opened above the O-ring housing portion S1. In the present embodiment, the other high-pressure gas introduction path H1 is formed wider (larger diameter) than the high-pressure gas introduction path H2.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, the sliding member 16 includes a holding hole 16a into which the rod-shaped insertion portion 15e of the valve body 15 is inserted and held, and is a spring that is fitted into the protrusion 16c at the lower end. The valve body 15 is urged toward the valve seat 23 by the urging force of 18. In addition, when the hydrogen gas pressure applied to the valve body 15 exceeds the urging force of the spring 18 at the time of filling the hydrogen gas, the spring 18 is slid in the direction of compression and the valve body 15 is separated from the valve seat 23. It has become.
The sliding member 16 is provided with a communication groove 16b (shown by a broken line in the drawing) that guides the hydrogen gas that flows in at the time of filling to the gas outflow passage 30A of the downstream member 30.

Next, the effect | action at the time of filling hydrogen gas is demonstrated with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3A, when the hydrogen gas is not filled, the valve body 15 is seated on the valve seat 23 and the O-ring 17 seals the downstream end 15c. In this case, as indicated by an arrow in the figure, the O-ring 17 has a pressure of hydrogen gas in the high-pressure vessel 50 introduced into the space S through the other high-pressure gas introduction path H1 and the high-pressure gas introduction path H2, or As shown in FIG. 1, the pressure of the hydrogen gas in the high-pressure vessel 50 that flows back into the space S through the outlet 31a, the gas outflow passage 30A, and the communication groove 16b of the sliding member 16 is respectively applied. As shown in FIG. 3A, the downstream end 15 c is well sealed with the O-ring 17.

  From this state, when hydrogen gas is filled into the gas inflow passages 20A and 20B from a nozzle of a hydrogen gas filling device (not shown) through the inlet 21a of the upstream member 20 shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. The pressure acts on the valve body 15, and the valve body 15 is separated from the valve seat 23. Then, hydrogen gas flows through the gap between the valve body 15 and the valve seat 23 toward the downstream side as indicated by a thick arrow in the figure. At the same time, the O-ring 17 that has sealed the downstream end 15c is expanded in the space S by the pressure of the hydrogen gas that has flowed in, away from the downstream end 15c, and the O-ring accommodating portion. Housed in S1. At this time, the filled hydrogen gas flows from the space portion S to the other high-pressure gas introduction path H1, and the O-ring 17 is smoothly expanded in diameter toward the O-ring accommodating portion S1 and accommodated therein. Accordingly, the O-ring 17 does not hinder the flow of the incoming hydrogen gas, and despite the structure in which the downstream end 15c is sealed by the O-ring 17, a good inflow of hydrogen gas can be achieved. This is realized and the time required for filling is shortened.

  Next, when the filling of hydrogen gas is completed, the valve body 15 is pushed up by the urging force of the spring 18 (see FIG. 1), and the inclined portion 15b of the valve body 15 is moved to the valve seat 23 as shown in FIG. And the pressure of the hydrogen gas in the high-pressure vessel 50 is introduced into the space S through the other high-pressure gas introduction path H1 and the high-pressure gas introduction path H2. As a result, the O-ring 17 is suitably separated from the O-ring housing portion S1, and the diameter is reduced so as to seal the downstream end 15c (see FIG. 3A). Here, since the O-ring accommodating portion S1 is composed of the peripheral wall portion 10a and the bottom portion 10b, the diameter is expanded to a corner portion formed between the peripheral wall portion 10a and the bottom portion 10b immediately after the filling of the hydrogen gas. The O-ring 17 may come into close contact (the state of the O-ring shown in FIG. 3C). At this time, even if a low gas pressure before filling with hydrogen gas remains between the corner and the O-ring 17, high-pressure gas is introduced into this portion through the high-pressure gas introduction path H2. Therefore, the O-ring 17 is satisfactorily separated from the O-ring housing portion S1, and the O-ring 17 is reliably returned to the downstream end 15c.

  That is, the state of the O-ring 17 shown in FIG. 3C is not maintained, and the pressure equalization between the space portion S and the O-ring housing portion S1 is achieved by the high-pressure gas introduction path H2, and the O-ring 17 Is reduced, the state easily shifts to the state of the O-ring 17 shown in FIG. 3A, and the downstream end 15c is sealed.

  According to the embodiment described above, the O-ring 17 is fitted on the downstream end 15c, and the O-ring 17 seals the downstream end 15c when not filled with the high-pressure gas and is filled with the high-pressure gas. Since the diameter of the high pressure gas that is sometimes filled can increase the diameter away from the downstream end 15c, it is possible to prevent backflow when the high pressure gas is not filled and smooth filling when the high pressure gas is filled. .

  Moreover, while the hydrogen gas is being filled, the O-ring 17 expands in diameter and is accommodated in the O-ring accommodating portion S1 provided at the peripheral portion of the downstream end portion 15c. 17 does not obstruct the inflow of hydrogen gas, and hydrogen gas flow is ensured. Further, the expanded O-ring 17 is held in the O-ring housing portion S1 and has shape retention. Therefore, the O-ring 17 is difficult to deform, and the sealing performance is maintained for a long time.

In addition, since one end of the high-pressure gas introduction path H2 for introducing the hydrogen gas filled in the high-pressure vessel 50 is opened in the O-ring housing part S1, the expanded O-ring 17 is filled with hydrogen gas, The hydrogen gas introduced through the opening is satisfactorily separated from the O-ring housing portion S1, and is reduced in diameter to the downstream end portion 15c to be sealed.
Therefore, for example, a low gas pressure before filling with hydrogen gas (residual pressure in the high-pressure vessel 50) remains between the expanded O-ring 17 and the O-ring housing part S1, for example. Even if a situation occurs in which the O-ring 17 is not separated from the O-ring accommodating portion S1, the O-ring 17 is satisfactorily separated from the O-ring accommodating portion S1 by the high-pressure hydrogen gas introduced through the opening. It will surely be returned to the end 15c.
Thereby, the check valve 1 excellent in sealing performance is obtained.

  In addition, the O-ring 17 is surely returned to the downstream end 15c only by providing one end of the high-pressure gas introduction path H2 in the O-ring housing part S1, so that the configuration is simple and the cost is low. Benefits are gained.

Since the opening of the high-pressure gas introduction path H2 is formed in a portion extending from the peripheral wall portion 10a to the bottom portion 10b of the O-ring housing portion S1, a low gas pressure before filling with hydrogen gas extends from the peripheral wall portion 10a to the bottom portion 10b. Even if it remains in the corner or the like, the O-ring 17 is satisfactorily separated from the O-ring housing portion S1 by the high-pressure hydrogen gas introduced through the opening, so that the O-ring 17 is securely attached to the downstream end 15c. It will be returned to.
Thereby, the check valve 1 excellent in sealing performance is obtained.

  In addition, since one end of the other high-pressure gas introduction path H1 is opened in the space S formed including the valve body 15, the valve seat 23, and the O-ring housing portion S1, another high-pressure gas is filled after filling with hydrogen gas. The O-ring 17 is satisfactorily returned to the downstream end 15c by the high-pressure gas introduced into the space S through the gas introduction path H1, and the downstream end 15c is well sealed. Accordingly, the check valve 1 having excellent sealing performance can be obtained.

  Moreover, the downstream end 15c can be easily sealed by the O-ring 17, and excellent sealing performance can be realized reliably and inexpensively.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment which concerns on this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to these, The appropriate change implementation according to the main point of invention is possible. For example, the shapes of the valve body 15 and the valve seat 23 can be arbitrarily set. In addition, the formation positions and the number of the other high-pressure gas introduction paths H1 and H2 can be arbitrarily selected and set.

It is sectional drawing which shows the non-return valve which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. (A) (b) is an expanded sectional view of the principal part. It is a figure which shows the state of an O-ring, (a) is sectional drawing which shows the time of non-filling of high pressure gas, (b) is sectional drawing which shows the time of filling high pressure gas, (c) shows immediately after filling with high pressure gas. It is sectional drawing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Check valve 10 Casing 10a Perimeter wall part 10b Bottom part 15 Valve body 15c Downstream side edge part 17 O-ring (seal member)
20 upstream member 23 valve seat 30 downstream member 50 high pressure vessel 51 check valve mounting hole H1 high pressure gas introduction path (high pressure fluid introduction path)
H2 High-pressure gas introduction path (High-pressure fluid introduction path)
S space part S1 O ring accommodation part (seal member accommodation part)

Claims (4)

A check valve mounted on a high-pressure vessel to fill the high-pressure vessel with a high-pressure fluid,
A valve seat provided on the upstream side;
A valve body that is provided on the downstream side of the valve seat, is seated on the valve seat when the high-pressure fluid is not filled, and is separated by the pressure of the high-pressure fluid that is filled when the high-pressure fluid is filled;
The high pressure fluid is fitted on the downstream end of the contact surface between the valve seat and the valve body, seals the downstream end when not filled with high pressure fluid, and is filled when filled with high pressure fluid. An annular sealing member having elasticity capable of expanding the diameter to the side away from the downstream end by pressure;
A seal member accommodating portion that is provided in a peripheral portion of the downstream end portion and accommodates the seal member having a diameter expanded to a side away from the downstream end portion while being filled with a high-pressure fluid;
A high-pressure fluid introduction path that communicates with the high-pressure vessel and introduces a high-pressure fluid filled in the high-pressure vessel, and
One end of the high-pressure fluid introduction path is opened in the seal member accommodating portion.   The seal member accommodating portion includes an annular peripheral wall portion and a bottom portion continuing to the peripheral wall portion, and the opening of the high-pressure fluid introduction path is formed in a portion extending from the peripheral wall portion to the bottom portion. The check valve according to claim 1, wherein   Another high-pressure fluid that communicates with the high-pressure vessel and introduces a high-pressure fluid filled in the high-pressure vessel into the space formed including the valve seat, the valve body, and the seal member accommodating portion The check valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one end of the introduction path is open.   The check valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the seal member is an O-ring.

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