Abstract:
A rapid coupling device couples a hydrogen storage canister and a fuel cell. The rapid coupling device includes first and second coupling assemblies. The first coupling assembly includes a base, and a communicating member coupled to the fuel cell, and carrying a first ejector, a separating member embracing the base, a moving member reciprocating longitudinally inside the base, and elastic members therebetween. The base is provided with abutting members which, depending on the respective positions of the moving member and the separating member control interconnection between the first and second coupling assemblies. The second coupling assembly includes a body carrying a second ejector and lockable inside the base for connection of the first and second ejectors.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 10/428,466, filed on May 2, 2003 now abandoned entitled “Rapid Coupling Device for Hydrogen Storage Canister”. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a connecting device for a hydrogen storage canister and a rapid coupling device therein; in particular, to a connecting device that can conveniently detach the hydrogen storage canister. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
   Recently, air pollution is more severe, and most of it comes from exhaust gas generated by gasoline engines. Thus, the pollution generated by the gasoline engine is worthy of consideration. To improve environmental quality, it is important to replace polluting gasoline engines with non-polluting fuel cells. 
   The structure and types of fuel cells are less relevant with this invention, their detailed description is omitted. Currently, fuel cells can be applied in many areas including the aerospace and military, power generation, and transportation areas. It is noted that fuel cells operate by combining oxygen and hydrogen, wherein oxygen is directly provided by the environment, and hydrogen is usually supplied by a hydrogen storage canister containing pure hydrogen. 
   Since fuel cells and their peripheral equipment are still undergoing research, the technology is immature. For example, when a fuel cell is placed in an engine module of an electric scooter, the hydrogen storage canister must communicate with the fuel cell via a connecting device. Conventionally, a commercial quick connection device is used. Commercial quick connection devices, however, have the following disadvantages. The large size of a commercial quick connection device requires the fuel cell to occupy more space. The operation of a commercial quick connection device requires two steps, it is difficult to detach. Additionally, the commercial quick connection device is detached by rotation, and the device therein is easily damaged. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of this, the invention provides a rapid coupling connecting device for a hydrogen storage canister that conveniently detaches from the hydrogen storage canister. 
   Accordingly, the invention provides a rapid coupling device for a hydrogen storage canister. The rapid coupling device communicates the hydrogen storage canister and a fuel cell. The hydrogen storage canister includes a connecting assembly. The rapid coupling device includes a base and a communicating member. The communicating member communicates with the fuel cell, and is connected to the base. When the hydrogen storage canister is coupled to the fuel cell via the connecting assembly, the communicating member is abutted by the connecting assembly so that hydrogen in the hydrogen storage canister flows to the fuel cell through the connecting assembly and the communicating member. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the rapid coupling device further includes a moving member, an abutting member, and a separating member. The moving member is disposed in the base in a manner such that the moving member moves between a first position and a second position. The abutting member is moveably disposed on the base. When the moving member is located at the first position, the abutting member is abutted by the moving member. When the moving member is located at the second position, the abutting member is abutted by the connecting assembly. The separating member is disposed on the base in a manner such that the separating member moves between a third position and a fourth position. When the separating member is located at the third position, the abutting member is abutted by the connecting assembly. When the separating member is located at the fourth position, the abutting member is not abutted by the connecting assembly. 
   Furthermore, the abutting member is a steel ball, and the base is formed with a through hole in which the abutting member is disposed. 
   The rapid coupling device further includes an extension member, a rod, a first elastic member, and a second elastic member. The extension member is connected to the separating member, and the rod is connected to the extension member. The first elastic member, surrounding the base, is abutted by the separating member and the communicating member respectively so as to move the separating member between the third position and the fourth position. The second elastic member, surrounding the communicating member, is abutted by the moving member and the communicating member respectively so as to move the moving member between the first position and the second position. 
   In another preferred embodiment, the communicating member includes a groove, and the rapid coupling device further includes a first seal member disposed in the groove. 
   In another preferred embodiment, the communicating member is formed with a hollow portion communicating with the fuel cell, and includes an ejector member, a third elastic member, and a second seal member. The ejector member is moveably disposed in the hollow portion of the communicating member to control the communication between the outside and the hollow portion of the communicating member. The third elastic member is disposed in the hollow portion in a manner such that the third elastic member is abutted by the ejector member, and maintains the ejector member at a predetermined position. The second seal member is disposed on the ejector member to seal the ejector member and the hollow portion. 
   In this invention, a connecting device for communicating a hydrogen storage canister and a fuel cell is provided. The connecting device includes a first connecting assembly and a second connecting assembly. The first connecting assembly communicates with the fuel cell, and includes a base and a communicating member connected to the base. The second connecting assembly includes a first ejector member, and is disposed in the hydrogen storage canister and connected to the first connecting assembly in a detachable manner. When the second connecting assembly is connected to the first connecting assembly, the communicating member is abutted by the first ejector member so that hydrogen in the hydrogen storage canister flows to the fuel cell through the second connecting assembly and the first connecting assembly. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the second connecting assembly further includes a body, a valve, and a seal member. The body includes a concave portion, and is disposed in the hydrogen storage canister. The valve is disposed in the body, and the first ejector member is moveably disposed in the valve. The seal member is disposed in the concave portion. 
   In this invention, another rapid coupling device for a hydrogen storage canister including a connecting assembly is provided. The rapid coupling device includes a base and a communicating member. The communicating member is connected to the base. When the hydrogen storage canister is coupled to the rapid coupling device via the connecting assembly, the communicating member is abutted by the connecting assembly so that hydrogen in the hydrogen storage canister flows to the rapid coupling device through the connecting assembly and the communicating member. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1   a  is an exploded view of a connecting device for a hydrogen storage canister as disclosed in this invention; 
       FIG. 1   b  is a top view of the connecting device as shown in  FIG. 1   a;    
       FIG. 2   a  is a cross section of the connecting device in  FIG. 1   a , wherein a first connecting assembly is not connected to a second connecting assembly; 
       FIG. 2   b  is a cross section of the connecting device in  FIG. 1   a , wherein the first connecting assembly is connected to the second connecting assembly; 
       FIG. 2   c  is a cross section of the connecting device in  FIG. 1   a , wherein a separating member is moved to a fourth position; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the connecting device assembled on a hydrogen storage canister; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the second connecting assembly as disclosed in this invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the stopper shown in  FIG. 1   a ; and 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view showing the end member is screwed on a threaded distal end of the first ejector member. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 2   a , a connecting device  1  as disclosed in this invention is provided, and is used for communicating a hydrogen storage canister  400  and a fuel cell  300 . The connecting device  1  includes a first connecting assembly  100  and a second connecting assembly  200 . The first connecting assembly  100  is used as a rapid coupling device for the hydrogen storage canister  400  as disclosed in this invention. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 2   a , the first connecting assembly  100  communicates with the fuel cell  300 , and includes a base  110 , a communicating member  120 , a moving member  130 , a plurality of abutting members  140 , a separating member  150 , an extension member  160 , a rod  170 , a first elastic member  180 , a second elastic member  190 , and two first seal members  195 . It is noted that only one abutting member  140  is shown in  FIG. 1   a.    
   The base  110  is used as a body of the first connecting assembly  100 , and is formed with a plurality of fixed holes  112  so as to be fixed. In addition, the base  110  is formed with a plurality of transverse through-holes  111  in which the abutting members  140  are disposed. It is noted that only one through hole  111  is shown in  FIG. 1   a . The base  110  is formed with a longitudinally extending interior chamber  113  therein. 
   The communicating member  120  is coaxially received in the interior chamber  113  of the base  110 , and is formed with two grooves  121  in which the first seal members  195  are disposed. The communicating member  120  is formed with a hollow portion  122  as shown in  FIG. 2   a , and includes a first ejector member  123 , a third elastic member  124 , and a second seal member  126 . The hollow portion  122  communicates with the fuel cell  300 . 
   The first ejector member  123  is moveably disposed in the hollow portion  122  of the communicating member  120  to control the communication between the outside and the hollow portion  122  of the communicating member  120 . The third elastic member  124  is disposed in the hollow portion  122  and between a stopper  127  and the first ejector member  123  in a manner such that the third elastic member  124  is abutted by the first ejector member  123 , and maintains the first ejector member  123  at a predetermined position. It is understood that the third elastic member  124  may be a compression spring. 
   A central communication hole  127   a  is formed in the stopper  127  for providing a communication channel between the outside and the hollow portion  122  of the communicating member  120 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . Preferably, a crosscut slot  127   b  is formed on a top surface of the stopper  127  for facilitating rotation by screwdriver. 
   With reference to  FIG. 6 , a disk member  125  with an inner threaded central bore is screwed on a threaded distal end  123   a  of the first ejector member  123 . The disk member  125  is formed with at least one longitudinal communication channel  125   a.    
   The second seal members  126  are disposed on the first ejector member  123  to seal the first ejector member  123  and the hollow portion  122 . Thus, the communicating member  120  may be used as a channel communicating the outside and the first connecting assembly  100 . 
   The moving member  130  is coaxially received in the interior chamber  113  of the base  110  and one end of the moving member  130  is projected from the communicating member  120 . The moving member  130  is formed therein a longitudinally extending bore  131 . A distal end of the communicating member  120  is coaxially received in the bore  131  of the moving member  130 . 
   When the second connecting assembly  200  is not connected to the first connecting assembly  100 , the moving member  130  is located at a position as shown in  FIG. 2   a  (hereinafter referred to as a first position) so as maintain the abutting member  140  at a predetermined position. When the second connecting assembly  200  is connected to the first connecting assembly  100 , the moving member  130  is located at a position as shown in  FIG. 2   b  (hereinafter referred to as a second position) so that the abutting member  140  is away from the predetermined position and may move in a predetermined range. 
   Each of the abutting members  140  is disposed in the through-hole  111  of the base  110  in a manner such that it is moved in a predetermined range. When the first connecting assembly  100  is inserted by the second connecting assembly  200 , the second connecting assembly  200  is fixed in the first connecting assembly  100  by the abutting members  140 . It is understood that each of the abutting members  140  may be a steel ball as shown in  FIG. 1   a . Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 2   a , when the moving member  130  is located at the first position, the abutting member  140  is abutted between the moving member  130  and a circumferential groove  151  formed on an interior surface of the separating member  150 . When the moving member  130  is located at the second position, the abutting member  140  is abutted by the second concave portion  222  of the body  220  of the second connecting assembly  200 . 
   The separating member  150  is coaxially disposed on an exterior of the base  110 , and separates the second connecting assembly  200  from the first connecting assembly  100 . 
   When the second connecting assembly  200  is connected to the first connecting assembly  100 , the separating member  150  is biased at a position as shown in  FIG. 2   b  (hereinafter referred to as a third position) so as to be abutted by the abutting members  140 . Thus, the abutting members  140  are abutted by the second connecting assembly  200  so that the second connecting assembly  200  is kept in the first connecting assembly  100 . When the second connecting assembly  200  is separated from the first connecting assembly  100 , the separating member  150  is longitudinally displaceable on the base  110  to a position, as shown in  FIG. 2   c  (hereinafter referred to as a fourth position). At this time, since the separating member  150  is moved upward, the abutting members  140  are moved outward. Thus, the second connecting assembly  200  cannot be abutted by the abutting members  140  so that the second connecting assembly  200  cannot be kept in the first connecting assembly  100 . As a result, the second connecting assembly  200  can be separated from the first connecting assembly  100 . 
   The extension member  160  is connected to the separating member  150 , and the rod  170  is connected to the extension member  160 . By means of the extension member  160  and the rod  170 , the separating member  150  can be easily operated by the user. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2   b  and  FIG. 2   c , the first elastic member  180  surrounds the base  110 . The first elastic member  180  is abutted by the separating member  150  and the communicating member  120  respectively so as to move the separating member  150  between the third position and the fourth position. It is noted that the first elastic member  180  may be a compression spring. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 2   b , the second elastic member  190  surrounds the communicating member  120 , and is abutted by the moving member  130  and the communicating member  120  respectively so that the moving member  130  is biased in a first position and longitudinally displaceable in the base  110  to a second position. It is noted that the second elastic member  190  may be a compression spring. 
   The first seal members  195  are disposed in the grooves  121  of the communicating member  120 , and prevent air from entering through a gap between the communicating member  120  and the moving member  130 . Each of the first seal members  195  may be an O-ring. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 2   a , the second connecting assembly  200  is disposed in the hydrogen storage canister  400  and communicates with the hydrogen storage canister  400 , and is connected to the first connecting assembly  100  in a detachable manner. The second connecting assembly  200  includes a body  220 , a valve  230 , a second ejector member  210 , a third seal member  240 , and a filter member  250 . 
   The body  220  is used as a main component of the second connecting assembly  200 , and is formed with an interior chamber  223  and a first concave portion  221  in which the third seal member  240  is disposed. The valve  230  is disposed in the body  220 , and the second ejector member  210  is moveably disposed in the valve  230 . The third seal member  240  is disposed in the first concave portion  221  of the body  220  so as to seal the second connecting assembly  200  and the hydrogen storage canister  400 . The body  220  is further formed with a second concave portion  222  adjacent to a top end thereof. The filter member  250  is disposed in the body  220 , and filters hydrogen passing through the second connecting assembly  200 . 
   It is noted that the second ejector member  210  is moveably kept in the valve  230  by an elastic member  212  which may be a compression spring. 
   A forth seal member  211  is disposed on the second ejector member  210  to seal the second ejector member  210  and the valve  230 . The forth seal member  211  may be an O-ring. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the second connecting assembly  200  is mounted on of the hydrogen storage canister  400 , and the first connecting assembly  100  is connected to the second connecting assembly  200 . The hydrogen storage canister  400  may be contained in a container  500 , and the first connecting assembly  100  may be further firmly secured to the container  500  by means of the extension member  160  and the rod  170 . 
   Furthermore, referring to  FIG. 4 , the connecting device  1  further includes a cover  260 . When the second connecting assembly  200  is not connected to the first connecting assembly  100 , the cover  260  is disposed on the second connecting assembly  200  so as to protect the second connecting assembly  200  on the hydrogen storage canister  400 . In addition, since the cover  260  may be made of plastic that is lighter material, it can detect whether hydrogen in the hydrogen storage canister  400  has improperly leaked out. Specifically, when the hydrogen storage canister  400  is subjected to improper treatment so that received hydrogen leaks out, the cover  260  will be separated from the second connecting assembly  200 . Thus, an abnormal situation may be easily observed by the user. 
   The structure of the connecting device  1  is described above, and its operation is described as follows referring to  FIGS. 2   a - 2   c.    
   To connect the second connecting assembly  200  and the first connecting assembly  100 , the top end of the body  220  is first abutted by the moving member  130  as shown in  FIG. 2   a  while the second ejector member  210  is not abutted by the first ejector member  123 . Then, the body  220  is moved upward to press the second elastic spring  190  via the moving member  130  until the second ejector member  210  is abutted by the first ejector member  123  of the communicating member  120  as shown in  FIG. 2   b . At this time, since the second ejector member  210  is abutted by the first ejector member  123 , a gap is formed between the second ejector member  210  and the valve  230 . Also, the first ejector member  123  is moved upward by the second ejector member  210  and thereby the second seal member  126  is separated from the inner wall of the communicating member  120 . Thus, hydrogen in the hydrogen storage canister  400  can pass through the gap between the valve  230  and the second ejector member  210  and flow to the fuel cell  300  through the communication channel  125   a  of the disk member  125 , the central communication hole  127   a  of the stopper  127 , and the hollow portion  122  of the communicating member  120 . Finally, the abutting members  140  are moved inward so as to be abutted by the second concave portion  222  of the body  220 , and the second connecting assembly  200  is kept in the first connecting assembly  100 . 
   To separate the second connecting assembly  200  from the first connecting assembly  100 , the separating member  150  is moved upward to press the first elastic member  180  as shown in  FIG. 2   c . At this time, the abutting members  140  can be moved outward due to the movement of the separating member  150 , and it is separated from the body  220 . Thus, the second connecting assembly  200  can be separated from the first connecting assembly  100 . It is noted that the first ejector member  123  can be pressed back to a fixed position by the third elastic member  124  at this time, and the second seal member  126  can be abutted by the inner wall of the communicating member  120  again. Thus, ambient air can be prevented from entering the communicating member  120 . 
   When the first ejector member  123  is moved along the hollow portion  122  of the communicating member  120 , the disk member  125  is moved along the interior surface of the interior chamber  223  of the body  220 , so that the first ejector member  123  is moved smoothly and the second seal members  126  is tightly seal the first ejector member  123  and the hollow portion  122  when the moving member  130  is located at the first position. 
   The connecting device of this invention has the following advantages. Since the connecting device of this invention is designed for a hydrogen storage canister and fuel cell, its size can be minimized. Thus, the space required by the fuel cell can be minimized. Since the hydrogen storage canister can be separated from the fuel cell by simply moving the separating member, it is conveniently detached. Since the detachment is performed in a linear manner without rotation, the device therein avoids damage. 
   It is understood that the fuel cell is used as an object that the hydrogen storage canister supplies in this description. However, in practice, it is not limited to this; that is the connecting device of this invention can be applied to other equipment that requires a hydrogen storage canister to supply hydrogen. 
   While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.