Patent Description:
In a vehicle A (for example, a fuel cell vehicle, FCV) that runs on hydrogen as a fuel, as shown in <FIG>, a hydrogen tank <NUM> mounted on a vehicle A is filled with hydrogen gas by connecting a filling nozzle <NUM> provided at a tip of a filling hose <NUM> and a vehicle side filling port <NUM> in a hydrogen filling facility. Although it is an extremely rare case, there is a case where the vehicle A starts moving for some reason without an operator's awareness of the hydrogen filling operation. Similarly, although it is an extremely rare case, there is a case where another vehicle collides with the vehicle A, which is being filled with hydrogen, and the vehicle A moves in a state where the operator is not aware of it. If the vehicle A during hydrogen filling starts or moves without the operator's awareness, the filling hose <NUM> will be pulled, the filling device <NUM> will overturn and break, and a flammable hydrogen gas will spout out, resulting in a dangerous situation. In order to avoid such a situation, a safety joint <NUM> for emergency release is provided in a region between the filling device <NUM> and the filling hose <NUM>, and the safety joint <NUM> is separated when a tensile load of a predetermined level or over acts on the filling hose <NUM>. Thus, the filling device <NUM> is prevented from overturning and being damaged. Separation of the safety joint <NUM> is an extremely rare event and does not occur on a daily basis.

Even if the filling hose <NUM> is not subjected to a tensile load of a certain level or above, when the filling hose <NUM> swings, the moment due to the swinging is applied to a filling hose mounting portion of a vehicle-side member (plug) of the safety joint <NUM>. There is a risk that the mounting portion will be damaged and a hydrogen gas will leak from the damaged portion. In response to this, the applicant has proposed a measure to prevent the plug of the safety joint <NUM> from being damaged by the moment caused by the swinging motion of the filling hose <NUM> (see <CIT> gazette).

In <FIG>, the safety joint <NUM> described above (indicated only by the dashed lead line in <FIG>) is built in a casing <NUM> of the filling device <NUM>. Reference numeral <NUM> indicates a portion of the casing of the hydrogen filling device. Here, the safety joint <NUM> includes a plug (a member on the FCV side of the safety joint: not shown in <FIG>) connected to the filling hose <NUM>, and a socket (not shown in <FIG>) that is a member on the hydrogen filling device side, and the plug separates from the socket (the safety joint <NUM> separates) when a tensile load greater than or equal to a predetermined value acts. In the above-described prior art, when the safety joint <NUM> is separated, the filling hose <NUM> and the plug coupled thereto pass a hollow portion of a guide member (built into the casing <NUM> but not shown in <FIG>) and escape from a lower opening 320A of the casing <NUM>. When the FCV unexpectedly starts or moves, however, the force pulling on the filling hose acts horizontally (laterally) rather than vertically, which may cause the vehicle-side member (plug) to be caught (locked) in the lower opening 320A. Then, when the FCV unexpectedly starts and the safety joint <NUM> is separated, if the plug locks in the lower opening 320A, the force of the FCV pulling the filling hose <NUM> will be transmitted to the hydrogen filling device via the locking point between the plug and the lower opening 320A of the casing <NUM>, which may cause the hydrogen filling device to overturn.

In addition, since a spring, an infrared fiber, a mesh, etc. are arranged around an outer periphery of the filling hose <NUM>, and a cover of the filling hose <NUM> is also present, the filling hose <NUM> more likely to lock (get caught) with the casing lower opening 320A. That is, in addition to the plug at the tip of the filling hose <NUM> being locked to the lower opening 320A, there is a possibility that the filling hose <NUM> will be locked to the casing lower opening 320A. For this reason, even if the safety joint <NUM> is separated when the FCV unexpectedly starts or moves, the filling hose <NUM> is locked to the hydrogen filling device, the FCV pulls the filling hose <NUM> and the hydrogen filling device, and the hydrogen filling device may fall over and be damaged. The conventional technology described above is not intended to deal with such a situation.

<CIT> describes a gas filling station comprising a gas source, a circuit having and upstream end and a downstream end, the latter connected to a hose, which is connected to a tank. The station comprises an automatic shut-off breakaway coupling arranged in a dispenser housing comprising a guide member for guiding a zone of the hose. The guide member comprises deflector walls, which may be configured as rollers rotating about horizontal axes in order to transfer horizontal tensile forces to the breakaway coupling.

<CIT> describes a fuel unit comprising a cabinet including a wall with an opening, a receptacle at the opening, a door mounted to the wall, one or more fuel tanks positioned in an interior space, a conduit connected to the fuel tank(s), a dispenser, a pump and a control unit. A mounting frame extending across the opening to position the dispenser when not in use may include a series of opposing rollers to facilitate extending and retracting the conduit from the interior space.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and the object thereof is to provide a safety joint housing device for preventing the plug of the safety joint or the filling hose from being locked in the lower opening of the casing when the safety joint is separated, thereby preventing the filling device from falling over and being damaged.

A safety joint housing device <NUM>, for housing a safety joint <NUM> according to independent claims <NUM> and <NUM> including a plug <NUM> connected to a filling hose <NUM> and a socket <NUM> provided in a filling device, the safety joint separating when a tensile load of a predetermined level or over is applied, according to the present invention is characterized by including: a casing for housing the plug <NUM> and the socket <NUM> in a connected state; a front roller <NUM> disposed on a front side of the casing at a lower opening from which the filling hose <NUM> is led out from the casing so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis; and two side rollers <NUM> adjacent to the front roller <NUM> and rotatably arranged about horizontal axes orthogonal to the axis of the front roller <NUM>; wherein the filling hose <NUM> passes through the casing side of a U-shaped portion formed by the front roller <NUM> and the two side rollers <NUM>.

In the safety joint housing device according to the present invention, within a casing <NUM> can be a hose guide <NUM> having a hollow portion through which the filling hose <NUM> and the associated plug <NUM> move when the safety joint <NUM> separates.

The safety joint housing device according to independent claim <NUM> further includes a mounting frame <NUM> having side plates <NUM> extending parallel to the side rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, a front plate <NUM> extending parallel to the front roller <NUM>-<NUM>, and a filling device side plate <NUM> extending parallel to the front plate <NUM>, wherein a protruding portion 81A protruding toward the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> can be formed on an end portion, on the front roller side, of each side plate <NUM>; a central shaft <NUM>-<NUM> of the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> can be rotatably supported by the protruding portions 81A of the side plates <NUM>; and central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> of the two side rollers <NUM>-<NUM> can be rotatably supported on both longitudinal ends of the front plate <NUM> and on both longitudinal ends of the filling device side plate <NUM>.

Further, in the safety joint housing device according to independent claim <NUM>, a non-rotating part <NUM>-<NUM> with a central shaft supporting portion <NUM>-<NUM> is interposed between an end of the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> and an end of the side roller <NUM>-<NUM> adjacent to the front roller side; another non-rotating part <NUM>-<NUM> with a central shaft supporting portion <NUM>-<NUM> may be interposed between the other end of the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> and an end of the other side roller <NUM>-<NUM> adjacent to the front roller side; the non-rotating parts <NUM>-<NUM> rotatably support the central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM> of the rollers <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM> on which they <NUM>-<NUM> are provided; and the central shaft supporting portions <NUM>-<NUM> rotatably support the central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM> of the rollers <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM> on which they <NUM>-<NUM> are provided.

According to the present invention with the above-described construction, since the plug <NUM> and the socket <NUM> have the function of separating when a tensile load of a predetermined value or over acts, for example, even if a fuel cell vehicle starts moving during filling operation, the plug <NUM> and the socket <NUM> will separate, and a tensile force of the filling hose <NUM> does not act on a body of the filling device. The front roller <NUM> and the two side rollers <NUM> are rotatably arranged at the lower opening of the casing, even if the filling hose <NUM> or the plug <NUM> at a tip of the filling hose <NUM> comes into contact with the rollers <NUM>, <NUM>, it slides on the surfaces of the rollers <NUM>, <NUM>, so that it does not engage with the rollers <NUM>, <NUM>. Alternatively, since the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> rotate, the filling hose <NUM> or the plug <NUM> is prevented from locking with the rollers <NUM>, <NUM>. As a result, the filling hose <NUM> or the plug <NUM> at the tip thereof smoothly comes out of the casing due to the tensile force acting on the filling hose <NUM>. According to the present invention, the rotation of the front roller <NUM> and/or the side rollers <NUM> prevents the filling hose <NUM> or the plug <NUM> from locking (hooking) in the lower opening of the casing, thereby the filling device is prevented from being pulled.

In the present invention, since the rollers <NUM> and <NUM> are provided at the opening of the casing, it is possible to prevent the filling device from being pulled by the filling hose <NUM> of the FCV to be filled with regardless of the relative position of the FCV with respect to the filling device unless the FCV is parked on the back side (the side where the filling hose <NUM> is not arranged) of the filling device and the filling operation is performed (an abnormal filling operation that is not performed in daily life is performed). Then, if a hose guide <NUM> having a hollow portion through which the filling hose <NUM> and the plug <NUM> connected thereto move when the safety joint <NUM> is separated, the hose guide <NUM> restrains the swaying of the filling hose <NUM>. With this, the plug <NUM> is prevented from being damaged due to the shaking of the filling hose <NUM> or the like.

In addition, in the present invention, connecting the central shaft <NUM> of the front roller <NUM> and the central shafts <NUM> of the side rollers <NUM>, and arranging the hollow rotating body <NUM> of the front roller <NUM> rotatable around the central shaft <NUM> without being connected thereto and the hollow rotating bodies <NUM> of the side rollers <NUM> rotatable around the central shafts <NUM> without being connected thereto allow (the rotating body <NUM>) of the front roller <NUM> and (the rotating bodies <NUM>) of the side rollers <NUM> to be rotatable even though they extend perpendicular to each other.

Alternatively, the safety joint housing device according to the present invention may further include the mounting frame <NUM> having side plates <NUM> extending parallel to the side rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, the front plate <NUM> extending parallel to the front roller <NUM>-<NUM>, and the filling device side plate <NUM> extending parallel to the front plate <NUM>, wherein the protruding portion 81A protruding toward the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> can be formed on an end portion, on the front roller side, of each side plate <NUM>; the central shaft <NUM>-<NUM> of the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> can be rotatably supported by the protruding portions 81A of the side plates <NUM>; and the central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> of the two side rollers <NUM>-<NUM> can be rotatably supported on both longitudinal ends of the front plate <NUM> and on both longitudinal ends of the filling device side plate <NUM>. With this construction, attaching the mounting frame <NUM> to an inner wall surface of a lower portion of the casing, the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> and the side rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, which are adjacent to each other and whose central axes are perpendicular to each other, can be rotatably fixed to the lower opening of the casing.

Further, in the safety joint housing device according to the present invention, the non-rotating part <NUM>-<NUM> with the central shaft supporting portion <NUM>-<NUM> may be interposed between an end of the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> or an end of the side roller <NUM>-<NUM> adjacent to the front roller side; another non-rotating part <NUM>-<NUM> with a central shaft supporting portion <NUM>-<NUM> may be interposed between the other end of the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> or an end of the other side roller <NUM>-<NUM> adjacent to the front roller side; the non-rotating parts <NUM>-<NUM> rotatably support the central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM> of the rollers <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM> on which they <NUM>-<NUM> are provided; and the central shaft supporting portions <NUM>-<NUM> rotatably support the central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM> of the rollers <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM> on which they <NUM>-<NUM> are provided. With this construction, since the central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM> of the adjacent rollers <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM> are rotatably supported by the non-rotating portion <NUM>-<NUM>, and the central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM> of the rollers <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM> are rotatably supported by the central shaft supporting portions <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM>, the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> and the side roller <NUM>-<NUM> perpendicular to each other can be rotatably attached to the lower opening of the casing.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. <FIG> show the first example. A safety joint housing device according to the first example is generally designated as a reference numeral <NUM>. In <FIG>, a safety joint <NUM> composed of a plug <NUM> (a vehicle-side member of the safety joint <NUM>) and a socket <NUM> (a filling device-side member of the safety joint <NUM>), and a hollow hose guide <NUM> of the safety joint housing device <NUM> are shown. A casing is not shown in <FIG>, but is shown in <FIG>. In <FIG>, a lead line of the plug <NUM> coupled to the socket <NUM> is shown as a dashed line because the plug <NUM> is covered by a plug accommodating portion of the socket <NUM> and is not exposed in <FIG>. On the other hand, in <FIG> and <FIG>, the plug <NUM> separated from the socket <NUM> is exposed, and is indicated by a solid lead line. In <FIG>, the hose guide <NUM> is a hollow cylindrical member and has a cylindrical hollow portion. The plug <NUM> and a filling hose <NUM> separated from the socket <NUM> move through the hollow portion in the hose guide <NUM>.

In <FIG>, a base <NUM> is provided for attaching the safety joint <NUM> consisting of the plug <NUM> and the socket <NUM> together with a casing <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) to a filling device <NUM> (shown in <FIG> and <FIG>). In <FIG>, the hose guide <NUM> is fixed to the base <NUM> via a mounting member <NUM>. Although not shown in <FIG>, the safety joint housing device <NUM> has the casing <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) in which the plug <NUM>, the socket <NUM> and the hose guide <NUM> are housed. In order to prevent illustration from being complicated, in <FIG>, illustration of a casing body (a rectangular casing body, excluding the filling device <NUM> side) in the safety joint housing device is omitted. Three rotatably supported rollers (a front roller <NUM> and two side rollers <NUM>) are arranged in a lower opening of the casing <NUM> (in <FIG>). The space enclosed by the three rollers <NUM>, <NUM> and the base <NUM> constitutes the lower opening of the casing <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>).

In <FIG>, the safety joint <NUM> has a function of separating the plug <NUM> from the socket <NUM> (the safety joint <NUM> separates) when a tensile load of a predetermined value or more acts on the filling hose <NUM>. When the safety joint <NUM> separates, the filling hose <NUM> and the plug <NUM> move through the hollow portion of the guide member <NUM> and exit through the lower opening of the casing. The guide member <NUM> limits the movable range of the filling hose <NUM> to within the cross-sectional area of the guide member <NUM>, and the pivoting of the filling hose <NUM> to protect the plug <NUM> and also regulates the angle of the filling hose <NUM> pulled by the FCV with respect to the vertical to allow the safety coupling <NUM> to separate at the prescribed tensile load. Hydrogen gas is supplied from a filling device (not shown in <FIG>) to the socket <NUM> through a gas pipe <NUM>, and then passes through the plug <NUM> and the filling hose <NUM> to a filling nozzle (reference numeral <NUM> in <FIG>) in a tank of an FCV. As described above, the front roller <NUM> and the two side rollers <NUM> are rotatably arranged in the lower opening of the casing <NUM>. The front roller <NUM> and the two side rollers <NUM> adjacent to the front roller <NUM> are each rotatable. A support structure of the adjacent rollers <NUM>, <NUM> will be described later with reference to <FIG>.

In the state shown in <FIG>, the plug <NUM> and socket <NUM> are coupled and not separated. A state in which the plug <NUM> is separated from the socket <NUM> is shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. When the plug <NUM> separates from the socket <NUM>, the plug <NUM> or the filling hose <NUM> contacts the front roller <NUM> or the side roller <NUM>, causing the front roller <NUM> or the side roller <NUM> to rotate. <FIG> shows a case where the filling hose <NUM> is pulled toward the front side of the filling device (the side of the arrow F in <FIG>), and shows an initial stage in which the plug <NUM> has fallen out of the socket <NUM>. In the state shown in <FIG>, the filling hose <NUM> is in contact with the front roller <NUM>, the plug <NUM> has just exited the hose guide <NUM> and is not in contact with the rollers <NUM>, <NUM>. <FIG> shows a state in which a tensile force of the filling hose <NUM> acts on a side of the filling device (in a direction of the arrow S), and the plug <NUM> coming out of the hose guide <NUM> is in contact with the side roller <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the plug <NUM> or the filling hose <NUM> contacts the front roller <NUM>, the front roller <NUM> rotates in the direction of the arrow R2 so that the plug <NUM> or the filling hose <NUM> is not engaged with (got stuck on) an edge of the casing opening or the rollers <NUM> and <NUM>, and the tensile force acting on the filling hose <NUM> separates it from the filling device and moves in the direction of the arrow F, which is the front direction of the filling device. Even if the plug <NUM> engages with the front roller <NUM>, the rotation of the front roller <NUM> causes the plug <NUM> to come off the front roller <NUM> and move in the direction in which the filling hose <NUM> is pulled (in the direction of the arrow F). Alternatively, when the plug <NUM> or the filling hose <NUM> contacts the rollers <NUM>, <NUM>, it slides on smooth surfaces of the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> and is not locked on the rollers <NUM>, <NUM>. On the other hand, in the state shown in <FIG>, even if the side roller <NUM> comes into contact with the plug <NUM> or the filling hose <NUM>, the side roller <NUM> rotates in the direction of the arrow R3, which allows the plug <NUM> or the filling hose <NUM> to move in a pulled direction (the direction of the arrow S) without being locked on the side roller <NUM>.

In this way, even if the filling hose <NUM> or the plug <NUM> contacts the front roller <NUM> or the side rollers <NUM>, the front roller <NUM> or the side rollers <NUM> rotate and do not engage (get caught) with the filling hose <NUM> or the plug <NUM>. The plug <NUM> and the filling hose <NUM> therefore smoothly come out of the casing and move easily in the direction in which the tensile force acts, so that the filling device <NUM> is not overturned and damaged.

It is also conceivable to make the cross-sectional area of the opening of the casing <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) is not provided with the front roller <NUM> and the side rollers <NUM>, and the cross-sectional area of the opening is increased so that the filling hose <NUM> or the plug <NUM> does not get caught in the lower opening. There is a desire, however, to make the casing <NUM> (<FIG>) basically smaller. If the casing is too large, the angle of the filling hose <NUM> pulled by the vehicle A will be large with respect to the casing central shaft (vertical axis). This increases the horizontal force acting on the safety joint <NUM> (<FIG>) and may prevent the plug from separating from the socket under a given tensile load. It is desirable therefore that the casing be as small as possible, and the lower opening of the casing cannot be enlarged.

Here, even if the opening of the casing <NUM> (<FIG>) is smoothly rounded, it is not possible to sufficiently prevent the filling hose <NUM> (<FIG>) from being caught in the opening of the casing. As described above, the filling hose <NUM> (<FIG>) is provided with a spring, an infrared fiber, a mesh, etc. on its outer periphery, so that the surface of the filling hose <NUM> is uneven. In addition, since the plate forming the casing is thin, the curvature cannot be reduced. Unless the opening of the casing moves relatively due to the tensile force acting on the filling hose <NUM>, the filling hose <NUM> will consequently lock at the opening of the casing. Even if the opening is rounded, it is not possible to effectively prevent the plug or filling hose <NUM> from being locked in the casing opening.

In <FIG>, adjacent front roller <NUM> and side rollers <NUM> have their central shafts perpendicular to each other. If the central shaft of the front roller <NUM> and the central shafts of the side rollers <NUM> are directly connected, the central shaft of each of the rollers <NUM> and <NUM> cannot rotate, and the front roller <NUM> and the side rollers <NUM> cannot be rotated. With the roller support structure shown in <FIG>, both of the adjacent rollers <NUM> and <NUM> can rotate. The front roller <NUM> has a central shaft <NUM> and a hollow rotating body <NUM>. The central shaft <NUM> passes through the hollow portion of the hollow rotating body <NUM>, but the hollow rotating body <NUM> is not fixed (unbonded) to the central shaft <NUM>. As a result, even if the central shaft <NUM> is fixed, the hollow rotating body <NUM> can freely rotate around the central shaft <NUM>. Similarly, the side roller <NUM> also has a central shaft <NUM> and a hollow rotating body <NUM>, and the central shaft <NUM> passes through the hollow portion of the hollow rotating body <NUM>, but the hollow rotating body <NUM> is not connected (coupled) to the central shaft <NUM>. Even if the central shaft <NUM> is fixed, the hollow rotating body <NUM> can freely rotate around the central shaft <NUM>. In <FIG> and <FIG>, the central shaft <NUM> of the front roller <NUM> and the central shafts <NUM> of the side rollers <NUM> are represented by solid lines, and the hollow rotating body <NUM> of the front roller <NUM> and the hollow rotating bodies <NUM> of the side rollers <NUM> are represented by dashed lines. In <FIG>, the central shaft <NUM> of the front roller <NUM> is schematically shown in half, and in <FIG>, the central shaft <NUM> of one side roller <NUM> (lower roller <NUM> in <FIG>) is also shown schematically in a half-split state. In <FIG>, collar portions 32A and 42A are provided at both ends of the hollow rotating body <NUM> and the hollow rotating bodies <NUM> for restricting relative movement with respect to the central shafts <NUM> and <NUM>. In <FIG> and <FIG>, illustration of the flange portions 32A and 42A is omitted in order to avoid complication of the drawings.

In <FIG>, the central shaft <NUM> of the front roller <NUM> and the central shafts <NUM> of the side rollers <NUM> are arranged to extend perpendicularly to each other. The central shafts <NUM> of the two side rollers <NUM> are connected to the ends (both ends) of the front roller <NUM> with fastening members <NUM> at the end on the front roller <NUM> side (the right end in <FIG>). In <FIG>, ends, of the central shafts <NUM> of the two side rollers <NUM>, on the side of the filling device (left end) are connected via fastening members <NUM> to a side roller mounting base <NUM> disposed on the base <NUM>. The central shaft <NUM> of the front roller <NUM> and the central shafts <NUM> of the side rollers <NUM> are connected and both do not rotate. However, since the hollow rotating body <NUM> of the front roller <NUM> is rotatable around the central shaft <NUM> of the front roller <NUM>, and the hollow rotating bodies <NUM> of the side rollers <NUM> rotate around the central shafts <NUM> of the side rollers <NUM>, the hollow rotating body <NUM> of the front roller <NUM> and the hollow rotating bodies <NUM> of the side rollers <NUM> are each rotatable.

Adopting the roller support structure described in <FIG> allows the hollow rotating bodies <NUM> and <NUM> of the front roller <NUM> and the side rollers <NUM> whose central axes are perpendicular to each other to rotate freely with respect to the central shafts <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. With this structure, when the socket <NUM> and the plug <NUM> of the safety joint <NUM> (<FIG>) are separated, and the filling hose <NUM> or the plug <NUM> at the tip thereof contacts with the front roller <NUM> or the side rollers <NUM> placed in the opening of the casing (reference numeral <NUM> in <FIG>), the hollow rotating bodies <NUM>, <NUM> of the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> rotate so that the filling hose <NUM> or the plug <NUM> does not engage with the hollow rotating bodies <NUM>, <NUM> of the rollers <NUM>, <NUM>. Then, when a tensile force of the filling hose <NUM> acts, the filling hose <NUM> or the plug <NUM> comes out of the casing <NUM> (<FIG>). It is possible consequently to prevent the filling device from being pulled by the tensile force acting on the filling hose <NUM> and overturning.

The second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to <FIG>. The second embodiment shown in <FIG> is substantially the same as the first example shown in <FIG>, but differs in the support structure for the central shaft (rotating shaft) of the front roller and the central shafts of the side rollers. As shown in <FIG>, in the support structure of the second embodiment, the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> and the two side rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are supported by a mounting frame <NUM>. <FIG> shows a portion of the support structure, and only one side roller <NUM>-<NUM> is shown. The mounting frame <NUM> includes a side plate <NUM> extending parallel to the side roller <NUM>-<NUM> outside the side roller <NUM>-<NUM> (on the right side in <FIG>), a front plate <NUM> extending parallel to the front roller <NUM>-<NUM>, and a filling device side plate <NUM> extending parallel to the front plate <NUM>. Although not clearly shown, one end of the side plate <NUM> opposite to the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> is fixed on the mounting base <NUM> arranged on the base <NUM> (<FIG>). A filling device side plate <NUM> is also arranged on the mounting base <NUM>. A side plate of the frame (not shown) extends parallel to the side roller (not shown) and is fixed to the mounting board <NUM>. The vertical positions (vertical direction in <FIG>) of the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> and the side rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are different. Since the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> and the side rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are not connected at their central shafts, they are independently rotatable. The positions and dimensions of the side plates <NUM> and the front plate <NUM> are set such that, when the socket <NUM> and the plug <NUM> are separated, the filling hose <NUM> or the plug <NUM> smoothly exits, due to rotations of the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> and the side roller <NUM>-<NUM>, from the casing <NUM> (<FIG>).

In <FIG>, a projecting portion 81A projecting toward the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> is formed at an end of the side plate <NUM> on the front roller side. A support portion 81B for the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> is provided on the projecting portion 81A, and the central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> (rotating shaft) of the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> is rotatably supported by the support portion 81B. Support portions 82A for the side rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are provided at both ends of the front plate <NUM> in the longitudinal direction. Although not shown, support portions are also provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the filling device side plate <NUM>. The central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> of the side rollers <NUM>-<NUM> are rotatably supported by both support portions 82A and support portions (not shown) (support portions at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the filling device side plate <NUM>). Unlike the front roller <NUM> and the side rollers <NUM> of the first example, a roller portion and the central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> of the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> are configured to be integrally rotatable, and a roller portion and the central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> of the side roller <NUM>-<NUM> are configured to be integrally rotatable.

Although not shown, it is also possible to fix the central shaft <NUM>-<NUM> and the central shaft <NUM>-<NUM> to a frame without rotating, and arrange hollow cylinders rotatable about the central shaft <NUM>-<NUM> and the central shaft <NUM>-<NUM>. Other configurations and effects of the second embodiment shown in <FIG> are the same as those of the first example shown in <FIG>.

The third embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to <FIG>. Like the second embodiment shown in <FIG>, the safety joint housing device according to the third embodiment is constructed in substantially the same manner as the first example shown in <FIG> except for the support structure. In <FIG>, which shows an enlarged view of the portion indicated by the arrow A8 in <FIG>, a non-rotating portion <NUM>-<NUM> and a center bearing <NUM>-<NUM> are provided at both ends of the front roller <NUM>-<NUM>. The side roller <NUM>-<NUM> and its central shaft <NUM>-<NUM> extend in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface toward the back side of the paper surface (the side away from a viewer). The side roller <NUM>-<NUM> is shown with a dashed line only at its lead line. The non-rotating portion <NUM>-<NUM> does not rotate itself, but rotatably supports the central shaft <NUM>-<NUM> of the adjacent side roller <NUM>-<NUM> by a supporting portion 33A-<NUM>. Further, the central shaft supporting portion <NUM>-<NUM> rotatably (in a direction of the arrow R8) supports the central shaft <NUM>-<NUM> of the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> on which the central shaft supporting portion <NUM>-<NUM> is provided. The front roller <NUM>-<NUM> is configured to rotate integrally with the central shafts <NUM>-<NUM>. The roller portion of the side roller <NUM>-<NUM> and the central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> are also configured to rotate integrally. The non-rotating portion <NUM>-<NUM> and the central shaft supporting portion <NUM>-<NUM> are arranged on the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> side. However, although not shown, it is possible to arrange the non-rotating portion and the central shaft supporting portion on the side roller <NUM>-<NUM> side and not on the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> side. Alternatively, structures similar to the non-rotating portion <NUM>-<NUM> and the central shaft supporting portion <NUM>-<NUM> can be provided not only on the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> but also on the side roller <NUM>-<NUM> side.

As described above, providing the non-rotating portion <NUM>-<NUM> and the center bearing portion <NUM>-<NUM> at both ends of the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> allows the central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> of the side roller <NUM>-<NUM> to be rotatably supported by the support portion 33A-<NUM> of the non-rotating portion <NUM>-<NUM>, and allows the central shafts <NUM>-<NUM> of the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> to be rotatably supported by the center bearing portion <NUM>-<NUM>. In this way, the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> and the side rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, which are perpendicular to each other, can be rotatably attached to the lower opening of the casing. Even if the socket <NUM> and the plug <NUM> are separated and the filling hose <NUM> or the plug <NUM> at the tip thereof comes into contact with the front roller <NUM>-<NUM> or the side rollers <NUM>-<NUM> arranged in the opening of the casing, the rollers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> rotates, so that the filling hose <NUM> or the plug <NUM> can be smoothly removed from the casing without being caught by the rollers <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. Other configurations and effects of the third embodiment are the same as those of the embodiment shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a modification of the plug <NUM> of the illustrated embodiment, and the plug <NUM> in <FIG> has a body portion 10A, an intermediate portion 10B and a tapered portion 10C. The tapered portion 10C gradually decreases in diameter from the intermediate portion 10B toward the lower end, and the filling hose <NUM> is connected to the lower end of the tapered portion 10C. Forming the filling hose side of the plug <NUM> with the tapered portion 10C eliminates a stepped portion between the plug <NUM> and the filling hose <NUM>. With this, even if the socket <NUM> and the plug <NUM> are separated and the plug <NUM> comes into contact with the front roller <NUM> and/or the side rollers <NUM> arranged in the opening of the casing, the tapered portion 10C smoothly contacts the rollers <NUM> and <NUM>, which causes the plug <NUM> to be more easily pulled out of the casing.

Claim 1:
A safety joint housing device (<NUM>) for housing a safety joint (<NUM>) including a plug (<NUM>) connected to a filling hose (<NUM>) and a socket (<NUM>) provided in a filling device, said safety joint (<NUM>) separating when a tensile load exceeding a predetermined level is applied, said safety joint housing device (<NUM>) comprising:
a casing (<NUM>) for housing the plug (<NUM>) and the socket (<NUM>) in a connected state;
a front roller (<NUM>-<NUM>) disposed on a front side of the casing at a lower opening from which the filling hose (<NUM>) is led out from the casing so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis; and
two side rollers (<NUM>-<NUM>) adjacent to the front roller and rotatably arranged about horizontal axes orthogonal to the axis of the front roller;
wherein the filling hose (<NUM>) passes through the casing side of a U-shaped portion formed by the front roller (<NUM>-<NUM>) and the two side rollers (<NUM>-<NUM>),
further comprising a mounting frame (<NUM>) having side plates (<NUM>) extending parallel to the side rollers (<NUM>-<NUM>), a front plate (<NUM>) extending parallel to the front roller (<NUM>-<NUM>), and a filling device side plate (<NUM>) extending parallel to the front plate (<NUM>),
wherein a protruding portion (81A) protruding toward the front roller (<NUM>-<NUM>) is formed on an end portion, on the front roller side, of each side plate (<NUM>);
a central shaft (<NUM>-<NUM>) of the front roller (<NUM>-<NUM>) is rotatably supported by the protruding portions (81A) of the side plates (<NUM>); and
central shafts (<NUM>-<NUM>) of the two side rollers (<NUM>-<NUM>) are rotatably supported on both longitudinal ends of the front plate (<NUM>) and on both longitudinal ends of the filling device side plate (<NUM>).