Depressurizer

• US 10,641,425 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tatsuno Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tatsuno Corporation
• Inventors: Takezawa, Masahiro, Terasoma, Yuki, Kimura, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelly, Timothy P.
• Application Number:
  US15/835,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20180163928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3218 relating to emergency shut-off means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/04 with a cut-off member rigid with the spindle, e.g. main valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/385 contacting in the closed position, over a substantial axial length, a seat surface having the same inclination
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 24/04 for venting only F16K24/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/16 the branch pipe comprising fluid cut-off means
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/005 Devices restraining ruptured tubes from whipping
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/07 Arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating or draining apparatus for draining F16T
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1007 Couplings closed automatically when broken
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1015 Couplings closed automatically when disengaging force exceeds preselected value F16L55/1007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1108 fixed by screwing or by means of a screw-threaded ring
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/00 Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge pressurised apparatus for purposes other than storage, see the relevant subclasses such as A62C, B05B; associated with vehicles, see the appropriate subclass of classes B60 - B64; pressure vessels in general F16J12/00 ; autoclaves B01J3/04; tank vehicles B60P3/22; railway tank wagons for carrying fluent materials B61D5/00; accumulators for supplying fluid under pressure F15B1/04; liquefied gas stoves F24C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/002 for vessels under pressure F17C13/008 and F17C13/02 - F17C13/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/12 Arrangements or mounting of devices for preventing or minimising the effect of explosion flame traps A62C4/00 ; Other safety measures
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0332 Safety valves or pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0364 flexible or articulated, e.g. a hose
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/037 Quick connecting means, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0382 Constructional details of valves, regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/065 : for refuelling vehicle fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0139 : Fuel stations
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0178 : Cars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/007 : for individual gas tanks or containers, e.g. in vehicles filling with liquid fuel not under pressure, B60S5/02, B67D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/06 : for filling with compressed gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage

Abstract

To provide a depressurizer with a function of depressurizing a filling hose separated from a filling device when a safety device (safety joint) operates (separates). A depressurizers (10, 11) according to the present invention are mounted to a filling hose (21) for filling hydrogen from a hydrogen filling apparatus (100) to a vehicle. In the present invention, it is preferable that on a main body portion (1) of the depressurizers (10, 11) is formed a depressurizing communication hole (1B) communicating with a hydrogen gas passage (1A); a plug (2) that can be inserted into the depressurizing communication hole (1B) is mounted; and on the depressurizing communication hole (1B) and the plug (2) are formed tapered portions (a pin tapered portion 2B of the plug 2 and a tapered portion 1BB of the depressurizing communication hole 1B) with complementary shapes.

Claims

1. A depressurizer mountable to a filling hose for filling hydrogen from a hydrogen filling apparatus to a vehicle, the depressurizer comprising:

a main body portion in which a hydrogen gas passage is formed, said main body portion made of metal and including a relief circuit and a tapered depressurizing communication hole formed therein, said tapered depressurizing communication hole communicating with the hydrogen gas passage and having a tapered wall extending between the hydrogen gas passage and the relief circuit; and

a plug capable of being inserted into the depressurizing communication hole, said plug made of metal and being tapered and complementary in shape to the tapered depressurizing communication hole.

2. The depressurizer as claimed in claim 1, the relief circuit having an outlet at a position apart from a spanner insertion hole of the plug.

3. The depressurizer as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a rotation stopping pin insertion hole formed in the main body portion, said rotation stopping pin insertion hole locating around the plug.

4. The depressurizer as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a rotation stopping pin insertion hole formed in the main body portion, said rotation stopping pin insertion hole locating around the plug.

5. The depressurizer as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a rotation stopping pin insertable within the rotation stopping pin insertion hole.

6. The depressurizer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the relief circuit is offset from the depressurizing communication hole.

7. The depressurizer as claimed in claim 6, wherein the depressurizing communication hole extends along a first axis and the relief circuit extends along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

8. The depressurizer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug includes a pin end portion that is of a cylindrical configuration, and a tapered portion extending from the pin end portion.

9. The depressurizer as recited in claim 8, wherein the plug further includes a shoulder extending outwardly between the pin end portion and the tapered portion.