Patent Publication Number: US-9404621-B2

Title: Fuel tank valve

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a fuel tank valve provided at a fuel tank. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, a fuel tank is provided with a fuel tank valve that is a master valve type directly attached to the tank such that a fuel gas can be filled in the tank and can be output when the gas is used. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing this type of fuel tank. Typically, a fuel tank  100  is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and has a dual structure constituted by: a tank inner member  101  made of metal or the like and having high airtightness; and a tank outer member  102  made of a high tension material that is light in weight. A valve  103  is provided at one end of the tank  100 , and the other end of the tank  100  is closed by a plug  104 . 
     According to the structure shown in  FIG. 6 , in a case where a high-pressure fuel gas G is filled in the fuel tank  100  through the valve  103  attached to the tank  100 , the temperature in the vicinity of a tank rear end that is directly hit by the jet flow of the fuel gas G increases. At the time of a high-pressure filling operation, the fuel tank  100  distorts by heat expansion caused by a partial temperature increase. 
     Here, as this type of conventional art, the fuel tank  100  shown in  FIG. 7  is configured such that when filling the fuel tank  100  with the fuel gas G, the fuel gas G is diffused at an angle α through an ejection port  116  of an ejection port unit  115  provided at a valve  113 , so that the distortion of the fuel tank  100  by the partial heat expansion is prevented (see PTL 1, for example). 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1: Japanese Patent No. 3864815 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     There is an increasing demand for a configuration in which to prevent an abnormal temperature increase of the fuel tank at the time of the filling operation, the temperature of the gas in the fuel tank is measured and monitored when filling the fuel tank with the high-pressure fuel gas. 
     Here, the present inventors have though of a configuration in which a temperature sensor is incorporated in a valve directly attached to a fuel tank. In addition, the present inventors have also thought of a configuration in which when filling the tank with the high-pressure fuel gas, the temperature sensor incorporated in the valve is prevented from being damaged by the fuel gas. 
     PTL 1 does not describe that a temperature sensor is provided at a valve in a tank structure. Therefore, according to the tank structure of PTL 1, it is difficult to precisely measure and monitor the temperature of the high-pressure gas, and the temperature sensor may be damaged by the high-pressure fuel gas. 
     Solution to Problem 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel tank valve capable of precisely measuring and monitoring the temperature of the fuel gas when filling the fuel tank with the fuel gas. 
     To achieve the above object, the present invention is a fuel tank valve including: a valve main body including a filling port through which a fuel gas is filled in a tank and an output port through which the fuel gas in the tank is output; and a jet flow deflection piece through which the fuel gas to be filled through the filling port is ejected at a predetermined angle relative to an axial direction of the tank, wherein the jet flow deflection piece includes: a fuel ejecting portion including an ejection port through which the fuel gas is ejected into the tank; and a temperature measuring portion in which a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the fuel gas to be filled in the tank is provided. In the present description and claims, the “fuel gas” denotes a high-pressure “hydrogen gas”, “natural gas”, or the like. With this configuration, the fuel gas to be filled in the tank through the filling port of the valve main body can be ejected at a predetermined angle relative to the axial direction of the tank by the ejection port of the jet flow deflection piece, and the temperature of the fuel gas to be filled can be precisely measured and monitored. 
     The jet flow deflection piece may include an introducing passage through which a part of the fuel gas to be filled through the fuel ejecting portion is introduced into the temperature measuring portion. With this configuration, the temperature of the fuel gas to be filled can be more precisely measured and monitored. 
     The jet flow deflection piece may include a bulkhead portion formed between the temperature measuring portion and the fuel ejecting portion, and the introducing passage may be provided at such a position that the fuel gas to be filled through the fuel ejecting portion does not directly hit the temperature sensor. With this configuration, the fuel gas at the time of the high-pressure filling operation can be prevented from directly hitting the temperature sensor by the bulkhead portion, and the temperature of the fuel gas can be precisely measured and monitored while preventing the temperature sensor from being, for example, damaged by the fuel gas. 
     The jet flow deflection piece may include the ejection port formed on a side surface of the jet flow deflection piece such that the fuel gas is ejected along an inner surface of the tank. With this configuration, since the fuel gas is ejected to be filled through the ejection port of the jet flow deflection piece along the inner surface of the tank, the local temperature increase of the tank can be suppressed. 
     The ejection port may be formed such that the fuel gas is ejected in a direction rotated about a filling hole from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the tank by a predetermined angle in a circumferential direction, the filling hole communicating with the filling port. With this configuration, since the fuel gas ejected through the ejection port of the jet flow deflection piece along the inner surface of the tank is filled in the tank so as to spirally flow at a predetermined angle, the local temperature increase of the tank can be further suppressed. 
     The jet flow deflection piece may include: an output hole that communicates with the output port; and a filter configured to remove foreign matters in the fuel gas to be output through the output hole to the output port. With this configuration, the filter can be easily replaced by replacing the jet flow deflection piece. 
     The valve main body may include a filter configured to remove foreign matters in the fuel gas to be output to the output port, the filter being provided on a surface of the valve main body, the surface being joined to the jet flow deflection piece. With this configuration, by detaching the jet flow deflection piece, the filter can be easily detected from the valve main body to be replaced. 
     The valve main body may include a valve attaching portion to which an on-off valve provided inside the tank is attached, and the jet flow deflection piece may include an opening portion that externally fits the on-off valve attached to the valve attaching portion. With this configuration, in the fuel tank valve configured such that the on-off valve is provided inside the tank, the fuel gas can be filled so as to be ejected at a predetermined angle relative to the axial direction of the tank by the ejection port of the jet flow deflection piece, and the temperature of the fuel gas to be filled can be more precisely measured and monitored by the temperature sensor. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present invention, the temperature increase of the fuel tank at the time of the filling operation can be suppressed, and the temperature of the fuel gas can be precisely measured and monitored at the time of the filling operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view showing a valve portion of a fuel tank according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram taken along line II-II of the valve portion of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing the valve portion of the fuel tank according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing the valve portion of the fuel tank according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing the valve portion of the fuel tank according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional fuel tank. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing a valve portion of a conventional fuel tank. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. In the following embodiment, a fuel tank valve will be explained based on enlarged cross-sectional views. As with the fuel tank  100  shown in  FIG. 6  described above, a fuel tank  100  is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and will be explained using the same reference sign. The fuel gas G to be filled is shown by a solid arrow, and the fuel gas G to be output is shown by a dashed arrow. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a fuel tank valve  1  of Embodiment 1 is attached to one end of the fuel tank  100  so as to be threaded into a threaded portion  2  and sealed by a seal ring  3 . A valve main body  5  of the fuel tank valve  1  is provided with a filling port  6  at an upper portion thereof in  FIG. 1  and an output port  7  at a lower portion thereof. A filling hole  8  communicating with the filling port  6  and an output hole  9  communicating with the output port  7  are formed so as to communicate with an inside of the tank  100 . The output hole  9  is formed at a center of the valve main body  5 , and the filling hole  8  is formed off-center. 
     In the present embodiment, a temperature sensor  20  and the filling hole  8  are provided symmetrically with respect to the center of the valve main body  5 . The temperature sensor  20  is fixed to the valve main body  5 , and a probe  21  that is a temperature sensing portion projects toward the inside of the tank  100 . In  FIG. 1 , a dotted line shows an electric wire, and the electric wire is connected to a controller (not shown) configured to measure and monitor the temperature detected by the temperature sensor  20 . 
     Further, a jet flow deflection piece  10  is provided at a tank inside portion of the valve main body  5 . The jet flow deflection piece  10  includes a fuel ejecting portion  17 , and the fuel ejecting portion  17  includes an ejection port  11  through which the fuel gas G to be filled in the tank  100  through the filling hole  8  is ejected at a predetermined angle relative to an axial direction of the tank  100 . The jet flow deflection piece  10  is provided with an output hole  12  that communicates with the output hole  9  of the valve main body  5 . The jet flow deflection piece  10  of the present embodiment is attached to the valve main body  5  by bolts  14 . 
     As also shown in  FIG. 2 , the ejection port  11  provided at the jet flow deflection piece  10  is formed on a side surface of the jet flow deflection piece  10 , and the fuel gas G to be filled through the filling hole  8  is ejected through the ejection port  11  so as to be significantly inclined relative to the axial direction and therefore flow along a curved line of an inner surface of the tank  100 . With this, the fuel gas G to be filled in the tank  100  flows along the tank inner surface and then diffuses in a tank rear end direction to be filled in the tank  100 . 
     In the state shown in  FIG. 2 , the ejection port  11  is formed such that the fuel gas G is ejected in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the tank  100 . However, the ejection port  11  may be formed such that the fuel gas G is ejected in a direction rotated about the filling hole  8  from the direction perpendicular to the axial direction by a predetermined angle β (a dashed line in  FIG. 2 ) in a circumferential direction. The angle β is an inclination angle relative to a straight line connecting an axial center of the jet flow deflection piece  10  and the filling hole. By forming the ejection port  11  as above, the fuel gas G to be ejected through the ejection port  11  along the inner surface of the tank  100  can flow spirally at a predetermined angle. Thus, the local temperature increase of the tank  100  can be further suppressed. 
     In the jet flow deflection piece  10 , a bulkhead portion  16  is formed between the fuel ejecting portion  17  and a temperature measuring portion  13  that is a predetermined space in which the temperature sensor  20  is provided. 
     As above, the jet flow deflection piece  10  includes the bulkhead formed between the fuel ejecting portion  17  configured to diffuse the fuel gas G to be filled and the temperature measuring portion  13  to which the temperature sensor  20  is attached. With this, the jet flow of the fuel gas G is prevented from directly hitting the probe  21  of the temperature sensor  20 . 
     In the present embodiment, the fuel ejecting portion  17  and the temperature measuring portion  13  are provided symmetrically, that is, displaced from each other by 180°, so that the temperature change of the jet flow deflection piece  10  by the fuel gas G does not significantly influence the temperature change of the temperature measuring portion  13 . As long as the fuel gas G does not directly hit the temperature sensor  20 , the fuel ejecting portion  17  and the temperature measuring portion  13  may be provided so as to be displaced from each other by 90° or the other angle. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, the jet flow deflection piece  10  is provided with an introducing passage  15  through which a part of the fuel gas G to be filled in the tank through the fuel ejecting portion  17  is introduced into the temperature measuring portion  13  in which the temperature sensor  20  is provided. The introducing passage  15  is provided such that the fuel gas G introduced from the fuel ejecting portion  17  does not directly hit the probe  21  of the temperature sensor  20 . To be specific, the introducing passage  15  is designed such that the probe  21  is not located on an extended line of the introducing passage  15 . The introducing passage  15  may be formed in any shape as long as the fuel gas G does not directly hit the temperature sensor  20 . Examples of the shape of the introducing passage  15  include a straight shape shown by a solid line in  FIG. 2  and a circular-arc shape shown by a chain double-dashed line in FIG.  2 . 
     The introducing passage  15  is provided on a surface of the jet flow deflection piece  10 , the surface contacting the valve main body  5 . The introducing passage  15  having a groove shape is formed by fixing the jet flow deflection piece  10  to the valve main body  5 . 
     According to the fuel tank valve  1  configured as above, the fuel gas G to be filled in the tank  100  through the filling port  6 , the filling hole  8 , and the ejection port  11  is filled along the inner surface of the tank  100 . Therefore, the fuel gas G can be stably filled in the tank  100  while suppressing the local temperature increase of the fuel tank  100  by the high-pressure fuel gas G. 
     The temperature of the fuel gas G to be filled can be precisely measured by the temperature sensor  20  provided at the valve main body  5 . Therefore, a stable fuel gas filling operation can be performed while monitoring the temperature of the fuel gas G to be filled. In addition, in the present embodiment, the fuel gas G is introduced from the ejection port  11  through the introducing passage  15  to the temperature measuring portion  13  in which the temperature sensor  20  is provided. Therefore, the temperature of the fuel gas G in the vicinity of the valve main body  5  at the time of the filling operation can be more precisely measured and monitored. 
     Further, the fuel gas G to be filled does not directly hit the temperature sensor  20 . Therefore, the temperature sensor  20  can be prevented from being damaged by the fuel gas G even at the time of a high-pressure fuel gas filling operation. 
       FIG. 3  shows an example in which the jet flow deflection piece  10  is provided with a filter  30  configured to remove foreign matters in the fuel gas to be output through the output hole  9  to the output port  7 . The components other than the filter  30  are the same as those of the fuel tank valve  1  described above. Therefore, the same reference signs are used for the same components, and explanations thereof are omitted. 
     In this example, a filter arranging portion  31  is formed at a tank inside portion of the output hole  12  of the jet flow deflection piece  10 , and the filter  30  is arranged at the filter arranging portion  31  to be fixed by a C ring  32 . 
     With this, even if the filter  30  provided at the jet flow deflection piece  10  as above clogs, breaks, or the like, the filter  30  can be easily replaced by replacing the jet flow deflection piece  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a filter  35  may be attached in such a manner that: a filter arranging portion  36  is formed at a portion of the output hole  9 , the portion being located on a surface of the valve main body  5 , the surface contacting the jet flow deflection piece  10 ; the filter  35  and a filter holder  37  (an elastic member, such as rubber) are arranged at the filter arranging portion  36 ; and the filter  35  and the filter holder  37  are pressed against the valve main body  5  by the jet flow deflection piece  10 . In a case where the filter  35  is attached as above, the filter  35  can be easily replaced by detaching the jet flow deflection piece  10 . 
     As above, an additional component, such as the filter  30  or  35  for an output line, may be attached to a portion where the jet flow deflection piece  10  that is formed separately from the valve main body  5  is provided. With this, unlike a case where the additional component, such as the filter  30  or  35 , is directly fixed to the valve main body  5 , the additional component can be easily replaced by replacing the jet flow deflection piece  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a fuel tank valve  40  of Embodiment 2 is provided with an on-off valve  60  located inside the tank  100  and configured to open and close the output hole  9 . The same reference signs are used for the same components as in the fuel tank valve  1  of Embodiment 1, and explanations thereof are omitted. 
     A valve attaching portion  46  to which the on-off valve  60  is attached is provided at a tank inside portion of a valve main body  45  of the present embodiment. The valve attaching portion  46  is formed depending on the type of the on-off valve  60  and the like. In this example, a threaded portion  47  to which a fixed member  61  of the on-off valve  60  is fixed is provided. 
     A jet flow deflection piece  50  is provided with an opening portion  51  that externally fits the on-off valve  60  attached to the valve attaching portion  46 . A substantially cylindrical projection, not shown, is formed at the jet flow deflection piece  50  so as to project toward the valve main body  45 . By inserting the projection into a hole formed on the valve main body  45 , the jet flow deflection piece  50  is positioned at an axial center position of the valve main body  45 . The jet flow deflection piece  50  is also provided with a bulkhead portion  52  formed between the ejection port  11  and the opening portion  51 . 
     Further, in the on-off valve  60 , an exciting coil  63  is provided at an outer periphery of a tubular guide  62  provided at the fixed member  61 , and a fixed magnetic pole  64  and a movable core  65  are provided inside the exciting coil  63 . In a case where the movable core  65  is moved in the axial direction by exciting the exciting coil  63 , a seat portion  68  provided at a tip end of a tip end member  67  coupled to the movable core  65  by a rod  66  is separated from the valve main body  45 . 
     The fixed member  61  of the on-off valve  60  is fixed to the valve attaching portion  46  of the valve main body  45 , and the opening portion  51  is placed at the position of the fixed member  61  while the projection provided on a surface, located at the valve main body  45  side, of the jet flow deflection piece  50  is inserted into the hole of the valve main body  45 . With this, the jet flow deflection piece  50  is arranged at the center of the valve main body  45 . Then, the jet flow deflection piece  50  is sandwiched between the exciting coil  63  of the on-off valve  60  and the valve main body  45 . By fixing the exciting coil  63  by a nut  69 , the jet flow deflection piece  50  is fixed between the exciting coil  63  and the valve main body  45 . 
     The jet flow deflection piece  50  of the present embodiment is also provided with the ejection port  11  for the fuel gas G to be filled and the temperature measuring portion  13  in which the temperature sensor  20  configured to measure the temperature of the fuel gas G is provided. In the present embodiment, the large on-off valve  60  is provided at the tank inside portion of the valve main body  45 . Therefore, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in  FIG. 2 , the introducing passage  15  through which a part of the fuel gas G is introduced from the ejection port  11  to the temperature measuring portion  13  is provided outside the opening portion  51  so as to be formed in a circular-arc shape. 
     The fuel tank valve  40  configured as above has an in-tank configuration in which the on-off valve  60  is provided inside the tank  100 , and the fuel gas G to be filled in the tank is filled along the inner surface of the tank  100 . Therefore, the tank  100  can be stably filled with the fuel gas G at high pressure while suppressing the local temperature increase of the fuel tank  100  by the high-pressure fuel gas G. 
     In addition, in the present embodiment, since a part of the fuel gas G is introduced from the ejection port  11  through the introducing passage  15  to the temperature measuring portion  13 , the temperature of the fuel gas G in the vicinity of the valve main body  45  at the time of the filling operation can be precisely measured by the temperature sensor  20  provided at the valve main body  45 . With this, the stable fuel gas filling operation can be performed while monitoring the temperature and velocity of the fuel gas G to be filled. 
     The temperature sensor  20  and the introducing passage  15  of the above embodiments are just examples. The introducing passage  15  may be suitably provided depending on the type of the temperature sensor  20  and the like, and these components are not limited to the above embodiments. 
     In the above embodiments, each of the jet flow deflection pieces  10  and  50  is formed as a column body having a predetermined height. However, each of the jet flow deflection pieces  10  and  50  may be formed as a polygonal column body or the other body. The shape of each of the jet flow deflection pieces  10  and  50  is not limited to the above embodiments as long as each of the jet flow deflection pieces  10  and  50  includes the ejection port  11 , the temperature measuring portion  13 , and the introducing passage  15 . 
     Further, the above embodiments are just examples, and various modifications may be made within the spirit of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The fuel tank valve according to the present invention can be utilized as a valve for a fuel tank that is filled with a high-pressure gas. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               1  fuel tank valve 
               5  valve main body 
               6  filling port 
               7  output port 
               8  filling hole 
               9  output hole 
               10  jet flow deflection piece 
               11  ejection port 
               12  output hole 
               13  temperature measuring portion 
               14  bolt 
               15  introducing passage 
               16  bulkhead portion 
               17  fuel ejecting portion 
               20  temperature sensor 
               21  probe 
               30  filter 
               31  filter arranging portion 
               35  filter 
               36  filter arranging portion 
               40  fuel tank valve 
               45  valve main body 
               46  valve attaching portion 
               50  jet flow deflection piece 
               51  opening portion 
               52  bulkhead portion 
               60  on-off valve 
               61  fixed member 
               100  fuel tank 
             G fuel gas