HYDROGEN SUPPLY APPARATUS AND SEALING DEVICE USED FOR SAME

A hydrogen supply apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a first connecting member having a first flow path through which hydrogen is supplied and a second connecting member connected to the first connecting member and having a second flow path that communicates with the first flow path. A back-up ring has a first packing portion abutting an inner surface of the first connecting member, a second packing portion abutting an outer surface of the second connecting member, and a connecting portion connecting ends of the first packing portion and the second packing portion. An elastic member is elastically compressible and expandable between the first and second packing portions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0025779 filed on Mar. 2, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a hydrogen supply apparatus and a sealing device used for the same, and more particularly, to a hydrogen supply apparatus capable of improving a sealing performance and improving safety and reliability, and to a sealing device used for the same.

BACKGROUND

A fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) produces electrical energy from an electrochemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen in a fuel cell stack and uses the electrical energy as a power source. The fuel cell electric vehicle may continuously generate electricity by being supplied with fuel and air from the outside regardless of a capacity of a battery, and thus has high efficiency, and emits almost no contaminant. By virtue of these advantages, continuous research and development is being conducted on the fuel cell electric vehicle.

A plurality of hydrogen tanks are mounted within the fuel cell electric vehicle, and hydrogen is stored in the hydrogen tanks along a hydrogen charging line of a hydrogen storage system. The hydrogen stored in the hydrogen tanks is depressurized by a regulator, supplied to the fuel cell stack along a hydrogen supply line, and then used to produce electrical energy.

Meanwhile, a sealing performance of connecting parts (e.g., a regulator, a hydrogen shut-off valve, a hydrogen supply valve, and fitting parts for pipes) in the hydrogen supply line for supplying the hydrogen in the fuel cell electric vehicle is one of the most important performances related to safety of a hydrogen supply system, and particularly, safety of the entire fuel cell system.

In particular, since secondary damage such as a fire may occur when the hydrogen leaks from the connecting parts in the hydrogen supply line, leakproof sealability needs to be ensured at the connecting parts in the hydrogen supply line. In general, an O-ring made of rubber is mounted in the connecting part in the hydrogen supply line and, the leakproof sealability is maintained by the O-ring. However, in a fuel cell system in which the hydrogen is supplied at a high pressure (e.g., about 350 bar or higher), the sealing performance and the leakproof sealability are unable to be sufficiently ensured only by the O-ring.

In other words, hydrogen molecules having very small sizes may leak while penetrating (e.g., permeating) into the O-ring made of rubber under a condition in which the hydrogen is supplied at a high pressure, and damage, such as a crack, occurs to the O-ring due to the O-ring repeatedly expanding and contracting when the O-ring is repeatedly pressurized and depressurized by the hydrogen. As a result, the leakproof sealability made by the O-ring may deteriorate.

Therefore, recently, various studies are conducted to minimize a leak of hydrogen from the connecting part in the hydrogen supply line through which the hydrogen is supplied at a high pressure, and to improve stability and reliability, but the research result is still insufficient. Accordingly, there is a need for development of a hydrogen supply apparatus capable of minimizing a leak of hydrogen and improving stability and reliability.

SUMMARY

An object of an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a hydrogen supply apparatus capable of improving a sealing performance and improving safety and reliability, and a sealing device used for the same. In particular, another object of the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is to improve an effect of sealing a connecting part in a hydrogen supply line through which hydrogen is supplied at a high pressure and to minimize a leak of hydrogen.

In addition, still another object of the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is to improve a sealing performance without changing a structure of a hydrogen supply line. In addition, yet another object of the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is to reduce a risk of a leak of hydrogen, improve durability, and extend a lifespan. The object to be achieved by the exemplary embodiment is not limited to the above-mentioned objects, but also includes objects or effects that may be recognized from the solutions or the exemplary embodiments described below.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects of the present disclosure, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a hydrogen supply apparatus that may include: a first connecting member having a first flow path through which hydrogen is supplied; a second connecting member connected to the first connecting member and having a second flow path that communicates with the first flow path; a back-up ring having a first packing portion being in close contact with an inner surface of the first connecting member, a second packing portion being in close contact with an outer surface of the second connecting member, and a connecting portion that connects one end of the first packing portion and one end of the second packing portion; and an elastic member provided to be elastically compressible and expandable between the first packing portion and the second packing portion.

Accordingly, a sealing performance and safety and reliability may be improved. In other words, in the related art, an O-ring made of rubber is mounted in a connecting part in a hydrogen supply line to maintain leakproof sealability. However, in a fuel cell system in which hydrogen is supplied at a high pressure (e.g., 350 bar or higher), the sealing performance and the leakproof sealability are unable to be sufficiently ensured only by the O-ring.

In contrast, in the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the elastic member, which is provided to elastically expand between the first packing portion and the second packing portion, brings the first packing portion into close or abutting contact with the inner surface of the first connecting member and brings the second packing portion into close or abutting contact with the outer surface of the second connecting member, and as a result, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of increasing a sealing performance and improving leakproof sealability.

Above all, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect of reducing a risk of a leak of hydrogen from a connecting part in a hydrogen supply line through which hydrogen is supplied at a high pressure, improving durability, and improving safety and reliability. According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an inner surface of the first packing portion, an inner surface of the second packing portion, and an inner surface of the connecting portion may cooperatively define a receiving groove, and the elastic member may be received in the receiving groove to be disposed between the first packing portion and the second packing portion.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first packing portion may be provided to be elastically movable relative to the connecting portion, and the elastic member may elastically compress and expand in accordance with the movement of the first packing portion. In particular, the first packing portion may be inclined with respect to the inner surface of the first connecting member, and the first packing portion may compress the elastic member while elastically moving relative to the connecting portion when the first packing portion is pressed by the inner surface of the first connecting member.

As described above, the first packing portion may be inclined with respect to the inner surface of the first connecting member, and thus, when the second connecting member is inserted into the first connecting member, the first packing portion is pressed by the inner surface of the first connecting member to compress the elastic member. As a result, in the state in which the back-up ring is disposed in the gap between the first connecting member and the second connecting member, both restoring force (e.g., force for restoring the first packing portion to an initial state in which the first packing portion is not pressed) of the first packing portion and restoring force (e.g., force for restoring the elastic member to an initial state before the elastic member is compressed) of the elastic member may be applied to the first packing portion, such that the first packing portion may be brought more effectively into close contact with the inner surface of the first connecting member.

Therefore, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect of improving a sealing effect and a sealing performance implemented by the back-up ring and more effectively inhibiting hydrogen from leaking through the gap between the first connecting member and the second connecting member. In addition, when the pressure of the hydrogen supplied along the first connecting member and the second connecting member increases to a predetermined pressure or higher when the back-up ring is disposed in the gap between the first connecting member and the second connecting member, expansive force of the elastic member, together with the restoring force of the first packing portion and the restoring force of the elastic member, may also be applied to the first packing portion. As a result, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect maximizing the sealing performance implemented by the back-up ring and improving safety and reliability.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the second packing portion may be formed in parallel with the outer surface of the second connecting member. Since the second packing portion may be formed in parallel with the outer surface of the second connecting member as described above, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect of more easily performing a process of disposing the back-up ring on the outer surface of the second connecting member, and to obtain an advantageous effect of stably maintaining the state in which the back-up ring is disposed with respect to the second connecting member. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the second packing portion may be inclined with respect to the outer surface of the second connecting member.

The elastic member may selectively expand based on a pressure of the hydrogen supplied along the first connecting member and the second connecting member. In particular, the back-up ring and the elastic member may be made of different materials. As an example, the elastic member may be made of an elastomer and the back-up ring may be made of plastic resin. The sealing device may include a sealing member that seals a gap between the first connecting member and the second connecting member.

Additionally, the gap between the first connecting member and the second connecting member may be sealed by the dual sealing structure implemented by the sealing member and the back-up ring, and as a result, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect of effectively inhibiting hydrogen from leaking through the gap between the first connecting member and the second connecting member. Furthermore, the sealing performance implemented by the back-up ring may be maintained even though damage, such as a crack, occurs to the sealing member when the sealing member repeatedly expands and contracts. As a result, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect of reducing a risk of a leak of hydrogen and improving safety and reliability.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a seating groove may be formed in the outer surface of the second connecting member, and the back-up ring and the sealing member may be received in the seating groove. As described above, since the recessed seating groove may be formed in the outer surface of the second connecting member and the back-up ring and the sealing member may be received in the seating groove, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect of inhibiting the withdrawal of the back-up ring and the sealing member and maintaining the stable arranged state of the back-up ring and the sealing member.

The seating groove may be formed to have various structures in accordance with required conditions and design specifications. As an example, the seating groove may include: a bottom portion being in close or abutting contact with the second packing portion; a first vertical wall portion formed at a first end of the bottom portion; and a second vertical wall portion formed at a second end of the bottom portion.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a sealing device configured to seal a gap between a first connecting member and a second connecting member connected to the first connecting member, the sealing device may include: a back-up ring having a first packing portion in abutting contact with an inner surface of the first connecting member, a second packing portion in abutting contact with an outer surface of the second connecting member, and a connecting portion configured to connect one end of the first packing portion and one end of the second packing portion; and an elastic member provided to be elastically compressible and expandable between the first packing portion and the second packing portion.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an inner surface of the first packing portion, an inner surface of the second packing portion, and an inner surface of the connecting portion may cooperatively define a receiving groove, and the elastic member may be received in the receiving groove. According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first packing portion may be provided to be elastically movable relative to the connecting portion, and the elastic member may elastically compress and expand in accordance with the movement of the first packing portion.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first packing portion may be inclined with respect to the inner surface of the first connecting member, and the first packing portion may compress the elastic member while elastically moving relative to the connecting portion when the first packing portion is pressed by the inner surface of the first connecting member. The second packing portion may be formed in parallel with the outer surface of the second connecting member. Additionally, the elastic member may selectively expand based on a pressure of the hydrogen supplied along the first connecting member and the second connecting member.

Further, the back-up ring may be made of plastic resin, and the elastic member may be made of an elastomer. According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the sealing device may include a sealing member that seals a gap between the first connecting member and the second connecting member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited to some exemplary embodiments described herein but may be implemented in various different forms. One or more of the constituent elements in the exemplary embodiments may be selectively combined and substituted within the scope of the technical spirit of the present disclosure.

In addition, unless otherwise specifically and explicitly defined and stated, the terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may be construed as the meaning which may be commonly understood by the person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. The meanings of the commonly used terms such as the terms defined in dictionaries may be interpreted in consideration of the contextual meanings of the related technology.

In addition, the terms used in the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure are for explaining the exemplary embodiments, not for limiting the present disclosure. Unless particularly stated otherwise in the present specification, a singular form also includes a plural form. The explanation “at least one (or one or more) of A, B, and C” described herein may include one or more of all combinations that can be made by combining A, B, and C. In addition, the terms first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used to describe constituent elements of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

These terms are used only for the purpose of discriminating one constituent element from another constituent element, and the nature, the sequences, or the orders of the constituent elements are not limited by the terms. Further, the explanation “one constituent element is described as being ‘connected’, ‘coupled’, or ‘attached’ to another constituent element”, may include not only a case in which one constituent element can be connected, coupled, or attached directly to another constituent element, but also a case in which one constituent element and another constituent element can be ‘connected’, ‘coupled’, or ‘attached’ by an additional constituent element intervening between one constituent element and another constituent element.

In addition, the explanation “one constituent element is formed or disposed above (on) or below (under) another constituent element” includes not only a case in which the two constituent elements are in direct contact with each other, but also a case in which one or more additional constituent elements are formed or disposed between the two constituent elements. In addition, the expression “up (above) or down (below)” may include a meaning of a downward direction as well as an upward direction based on one constituent element.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 7, a hydrogen supply apparatus10according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a first connecting member100having a first flow path110through which hydrogen is supplied; a second connecting member200connected to the first connecting member100and having a second flow path210that communicates with the first flow path110; and a sealing device300that seals a gap between the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200connected to the first connecting member100. The sealing device300may include a back-up ring310having a first packing portion312in close or abutting contact with an inner surface of the first connecting member100, a second packing portion314in close or abutting contact with an outer surface of the second connecting member200, and a connecting portion316that connects one end of the first packing portion312and one end of the second packing portion314; and an elastic member320provided to be elastically compressible and expandable between the first packing portion312and the second packing portion314.

For reference, the hydrogen supply apparatus10according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be used to supply hydrogen in a fuel cell electric vehicle or other devices or facilities. The present disclosure is not restricted or limited by types and structures of subjects to be mounted in the hydrogen supply apparatus10. As an example, the hydrogen supply apparatus10according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be provided to define a hydrogen supply line in a fuel cell electric vehicle.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the fuel cell electric vehicle (not illustrated) includes a hydrogen tank (not illustrated) that stores hydrogen, and the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200may be provided to supply a fuel cell stack (not illustrated) with the hydrogen stored in the hydrogen tank. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200may be used to supply the hydrogen tank with the hydrogen provided by a receptacle.

Particularly, the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200may be components such as a regulator, a hydrogen shut-off valve, a hydrogen supply valve, and pipes that form a hydrogen supply line (e.g., a hydrogen supply line in a fuel cell electric vehicle) through which hydrogen is supplied. The present disclosure is not restricted or limited by types, structures, and arrangement structures of the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200. As an example, the first connecting member100may be a hydrogen valve configured to adjust a supply of high-pressure hydrogen, and the second connecting member200may be a pipe (or a pipe connecting member316) connected to the first connecting member100.

The first connecting member100has the first flow path110through which the hydrogen is supplied. A connecting aperture (not illustrated), which communicates with the first flow path110, may be formed at one side of the first connecting member100. The second connecting member200has the second flow path210through which the hydrogen is supplied, and one end of the second connecting member200may be received in the connecting aperture formed in the first connecting member100. The first flow path110and the second flow path210communicate with each other in the state in which one end of the second connecting member200is received in the connecting aperture formed in the first connecting member100.

The first flow path110and the second flow path210may be connected to each other in a straight or curved shape, but the present disclosure is not restricted or limited by a connection structure between the first flow path110and the second flow path210. For reference, the fuel cell stack may be formed to have various structures capable of producing electricity by an oxidation-reduction reaction between fuel (e.g., hydrogen) and an oxidant (e.g., air).

As an example, the fuel cell stack may include: a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (not illustrated) having catalyst electrode layers, in which electrochemical reactions occur, at both sides of an electrolyte membrane through which hydrogen ions move; a gas diffusion layer (GDL) (not illustrated) configured to uniformly distribute reactant gases and transfer generated electrical energy; a gasket (not illustrated) and a fastener (not illustrated) configured to maintain leakproof sealability for the reactant gases and a coolant and maintain an appropriate fastening pressure; and a separator (bipolar plate) (not illustrated) configured to move the reactant gases and the coolant.

More specifically, in the fuel cell stack, hydrogen, which is fuel, and air (oxygen), which is an oxidant, are supplied to an anode and a cathode of the membrane electrode assembly, respectively, through flow paths in the separator, such that the hydrogen is supplied to the anode, and the air is supplied to the cathode. The hydrogen supplied to the anode is decomposed into hydrogen ions (protons) and electrons by catalysts in the electrode layers provided at both sides of the electrolyte membrane. Only the hydrogen ions are selectively delivered to the cathode through the electrolyte membrane which is a positive ion exchange membrane, and at the same time, the electrons are delivered to the cathode through the gas diffusion layer and the separator which are conductors.

At the cathode, the hydrogen ions supplied through the electrolyte membrane and the electrons delivered through the separator meet oxygen in the air supplied to the cathode by an air supply device to create a reaction of producing water. Due to the movement of the hydrogen ions, the electrons flow through external conductive wires, and an electric current is produced due to the flow of the electrons.

Referring toFIGS. 2 to 7, the sealing device300is provided to seal a gap between the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200connected to the first connecting member100. More specifically, the sealing device300may include a back-up ring310having the first packing portion312in abutting contact with the inner surface (e.g., an inner circumferential surface) of the first connecting member100, the second packing portion314in abutting contact with the outer surface (e.g., an outer circumferential surface) of the second connecting member200, and a connecting portion316that connects one end of the first packing portion312and one end of the second packing portion314. The sealing device300may further include an elastic member320provided to be elastically compressible and expandable between the first packing portion312and the second packing portion314.

The back-up ring310may be disposed in the gap between the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200received in the first connecting member100(e.g., a connecting part). The back-up ring310may be formed in the form of a ring continuously connected in a circumferential direction of the first connecting member100(or the second connecting member) and may seal the gap between the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200.

More specifically, the back-up ring310may be formed to have an approximately “U”-shaped cross-section and may include the first packing portion312in abutting contact with the inner surface of the first connecting member100, the second packing portion314in abutting contact with the outer surface of the second connecting member200, and the connecting portion316that integrally connects one end of the first packing portion312and one end of the second packing portion314.

The first packing portion312may include a first outer surface in abutting contact with the inner surface of the first connecting member100, and a first inner surface facing the outer surface of the second connecting member200. The second packing portion314may include a second outer surface in abutting contact with the outer surface of the second connecting member200, and a second inner surface facing the outer surface of the first connecting member100.

The back-up ring310may be made of various materials so that the back-up ring310may be in abutting contact with the inner surface of the first connecting member100and the outer surface of the second connecting member200. The present disclosure is not restricted or limited by a material of the back-up ring310. The back-up ring310may be made of a non-gas-permeable material unable transmit gas (hydrogen). As an example, the back-up ring310may be made of plastic resin that cannot transmit hydrogen.

The elastic member320is made of a different material from the back-up ring310and provided to be elastically compressible and expandable between the first packing portion312and the second packing portion314. The elastic member320, together with the back-up ring310, may be formed by dual-injection molding or may be joined to the back-up ring310by a separate bonding layer. A method of joining the elastic member320and the back-up ring310may be variously changed based on required conditions and design specifications.

An inner surface of the first packing portion312, an inner surface of the second packing portion314, and an inner surface of the connecting portion316may cooperatively define a receiving groove310a, and the elastic member320is received in the receiving groove310ato be disposed between the first packing portion312and the second packing portion314. The receiving groove310amay have various forms and structures capable of receiving the elastic member320, and the present disclosure is not restricted or limited by forms and structures of the receiving groove310a. As an example, the receiving groove310amay be formed in the form of a ring having an approximately trapezoidal cross section, and the elastic member320may be formed in the form of a ring having a trapezoidal cross section corresponding to the receiving groove310a.

An opening portion of the receiving groove310amay be disposed to be directed in a direction in which high-pressure hydrogen H is supplied. Since the opening portion of the receiving groove310ais directed in the direction in which the high-pressure hydrogen is supplied, as described above, the elastic member320received in the receiving groove310amay be exposed to the high-pressure hydrogen through the opening portion of the receiving groove310a. The elastic member320may be made of various materials that may compress and expand based on a pressure of the hydrogen supplied along the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200. The present disclosure is not restricted or limited by materials and types of the elastic member320.

As an example, the elastic member320may be made of an elastomer (EPDM) (e.g., rubber) into which hydrogen molecules may penetrate. When the pressure of the hydrogen supplied along the first connecting member100increases to a predetermined pressure or higher, the hydrogen molecules penetrate into the elastic member320, and thus, the elastic member320may expand. When the elastic member320expands as described above, the first packing portion312and the second packing portion314are moved away from each other by expansive force (F3inFIG. 7) of the elastic member320(e.g., the first packing portion312is moved upward and the second packing portion314is moved downward based onFIG. 2), and thus, the first packing portion312may be in closer contact with the inner surface of the first connecting member100, and the second packing portion314may be in closer contact with the outer surface of the second connecting member200.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure as described above, the elastic member320may be disposed between the first packing portion312and the second packing portion314, and the elastic member320expands as the hydrogen molecules penetrate into the elastic member320when the pressure of the hydrogen supplied along the first connecting member100increases to a predetermined pressure or higher, and thus, the expansive force (F3inFIG. 7) of the elastic member320may bring the first packing portion312into closer contact with the inner surface of the first connecting member100and bring the second packing portion314into closer contact with the outer surface of the second connecting member200. As a result, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect of improving the sealing performance implemented by the back-up ring310and more effectively inhibiting the hydrogen from being exposed to the gap between the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200.

In particular, the first packing portion312may be elastically movable relative to the connecting portion316, and the elastic member320may elastically compress and expand based on the movement of the first packing portion312. The configuration in which the first packing portion312elastically moves relative to the connecting portion316indicates that based on a first end of the first packing portion312connected to the connecting portion316, a second end of the first packing portion312elastically moves toward or away from the second packing portion314.

When the second end of the first packing portion312moves toward the second packing portion314based on the first end of the first packing portion312connected to the connecting portion316, the elastic member320may be compressed. On the contrary, when the second end of the first packing portion312moves away from the second packing portion314based on the first end of the first packing portion312connected to the connecting portion316, the elastic member320may expand.

In particular, referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, the first packing portion312may be inclined at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the inner surface of the first connecting member100, and the first packing portion312may compress the elastic member320while elastically moving relative to the connecting portion316when the first packing portion312is pressed by the inner surface of the first connecting member100.

As described above, the first packing portion312may be inclined with respect to the inner surface of the first connecting member100(e.g., a left end of the first packing portion further protrudes upward than a right end of the first packing portion based onFIG. 5), such that when the second connecting member200is inserted into the first connecting member100, the first packing portion312is pressed (P) by the inner surface of the first connecting member100to compress the elastic member320. As a result, when the back-up ring310is disposed in the gap between the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200, both restoring force (e.g., force for restoring the first packing portion to an initial state in which the first packing portion is not pressed) F1of the first packing portion312and restoring force (e.g., force for restoring the elastic member to an initial state before the elastic member is compressed) F2of the elastic member320may be applied to the first packing portion312, such that the first packing portion312may be more effectively in close contact with the inner surface of the first connecting member100.

Therefore, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect of improving a sealing effect and a sealing performance implemented by the back-up ring310and more effectively inhibiting hydrogen from leaking through the gap between the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200.

In addition, as illustrated inFIG. 7, when the pressure of the hydrogen supplied along the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200increases to a predetermined pressure or higher in the state in which the back-up ring310is disposed in the gap between the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200, expansive force F3of the elastic member320, together with the restoring force F1of the first packing portion312and the restoring force F2of the elastic member320, may also be applied (F) to the first packing portion312. As a result, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect of maximizing the sealing performance implemented by the back-up ring310and improving safety and reliability.

In contrast, the second packing portion314may be formed in parallel with the outer surface of the second connecting member200. Since the second packing portion314may be formed in parallel with the outer surface of the second connecting member200as described above, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect of easily performing a process of disposing the back-up ring310on the outer surface of the second connecting member200, and to obtain an advantageous effect of stably maintaining the state in which the back-up ring310is disposed with respect to the second connecting member200. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the second packing portion314may be inclined with respect to the outer surface of the second connecting member200, similar to the first packing portion312.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the sealing device300may include a sealing member500that seals the gap between the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200. In particular, the sealing member500may be disposed adjacent to a lateral portion of the back-up ring310and may form a dual sealing structure together with the back-up ring310. An O-ring made of an elastomer (EPDM) such as rubber may be used as the sealing member500, but the present disclosure is not restricted or limited by materials and structures of the sealing member500.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure as described above, the gap between the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200may be sealed by the dual sealing structure implemented by the sealing member500and the back-up ring310, and as a result, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect of effectively inhibiting hydrogen from leaking through the gap between the first connecting member100and the second connecting member200.

Furthermore, the sealing performance implemented by the back-up ring310may be maintained even though there occurs damage to the sealing member500such as a crack when the sealing member500repeatedly expands and shrinks. As a result, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect of reducing a risk of a leak of hydrogen and improving safety and reliability.

Meanwhile, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a seating groove202may be formed in the outer surface of the second connecting member200, and the back-up ring310and the sealing member500may be received in the seating groove202. Since the recessed seating groove202is formed in the outer surface of the second connecting member200and the back-up ring310and the sealing member500are received in the seating groove202, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect of inhibiting the withdrawal of the back-up ring310and the sealing member500and stably maintaining the arranged state of the back-up ring310and the sealing member500.

The seating groove202may be formed to have various structures in accordance with required conditions and design specifications. As an example, the seating groove202may be formed in the form of a quadrangular groove including a bottom portion202ain abutting contact with the second packing portion314, a first vertical wall portion202bformed at a first end of the bottom portion202a, and a second vertical wall portion202cformed at a second end of the bottom portion202a.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure as described above, it may be possible to ensure the sealing performance implemented by the back-up ring310without changing the existing structure of the seating groove202(e.g., without inclining the wall portion of the seating groove202which comes into contact with the back-up ring310to be in abutting contact with the back-up ring310), and as a result, it may be possible to obtain an advantageous effect of simplifying a structure and a manufacturing process.

Meanwhile, in the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure described above and illustrated in the drawings, the configuration in which the receiving groove310ais formed in the form of a ring having an approximately trapezoidal cross section and the elastic member320is formed in the form of a ring having a trapezoidal cross section corresponding to the receiving groove310ais described as an example. However, the receiving groove and the elastic member may be formed in other forms as long as the first packing portion (or the second packing portion) may elastically move relative to the connecting portion.

As an example, referring toFIG. 8, a receiving groove310a′ may be formed in the form of a ring having an approximately triangular cross section, and an elastic member320′ may be formed in the form of a ring having a triangular cross section corresponding to the receiving groove310a′. As another example, as illustrated inFIG. 9, a receiving groove310a″ may be formed in the form of a ring having an approximately semicircular cross section, and an elastic member320″ may be formed in the form of a ring having a semicircular cross section corresponding to the receiving groove310a″.

While the exemplary embodiments have been described above, but the exemplary embodiments are just illustrative and not intended to limit the present disclosure. It can be appreciated that various modifications and alterations, which are not described above, may be made to the present exemplary embodiment by those skilled in the art without departing from the intrinsic features of the present exemplary embodiment. For example, the respective constituent elements specifically described in the exemplary embodiments may be modified and then carried out. Further, it should be interpreted that the differences related to the modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure defined by the appended claims.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure as described above, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of improving the sealing performance and improving safety and reliability. In particular, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of improving an effect of sealing the connecting part in the hydrogen supply line through which the hydrogen is supplied, and to obtain an advantageous effect of minimizing a leak of hydrogen.

In addition, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of improving the sealing performance without changing the structure of the hydrogen supply line. In addition, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of reducing a risk of a leak of hydrogen, improving durability, and extending a lifespan.