HYDROGEN REMAINING SENSOR

• US 20100050734A1
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Steel Works Limited
• Original Assignee: Japan Steel Works Limited
• Inventors: Iwamoto, Takashi, Hayashi, Yoshihiko, Owaki, Yasushi, Kawaharazaki, Yoshinori, Fujita, Yasuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,011,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/19.10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/005 H2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage

Abstract

In the hydrogen remaining sensor of the present invention, the hydrogen remaining sensor is arranged in a space in which the hydrogen is absorbed/released by the main hydrogen storage alloy, and is equipped with the vessel-like sensor main body in which the sensor hydrogen storage alloy is filled and through which the hydrogen is moved. Also, the easy-to-deform portion in which the strain is caused easily due to the hydrogen absorption/release of the sensor hydrogen storage alloy is provided to a part of the sensor main body, and the strain gauge for measuring the strain of the easy-to-deform portion is provided. As a result, according to the hydrogen remaining sensor of the present invention can contribute to sense precisely a remaining amount of hydrogen in the main hydrogen storage alloy.

Claims

1. A hydrogen remaining sensor provided in a space in which hydrogen is absorbed/released by a main hydrogen storage alloy, comprising:

a vessel-like sensor main body in which a sensor hydrogen storage alloy is filled and through which the hydrogen is moved,

wherein an easy-to-deform portion in which a strain is caused easily due to a hydrogen absorption/release of the sensor hydrogen storage alloy is provided to a part of the sensor main body, and a strain gauge for measuring a strain of the easy-to-deform portion is provided to the sensor main body.

2. The hydrogen remaining sensor according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor hydrogen storage alloy is molded at a high density and filled in the sensor main body.

3. The hydrogen remaining sensor according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor main body has a cylinder shape and has a notched portion in a cylinder wall to extend over a full length in an axis direction, and a cylinder wall opposing to the notched portion configures the easy-to-deform portion.

4. The hydrogen remaining sensor according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor main body has a thin wall portion whose wall thickness is thin partially, and the thin wall portion configures the easy-to-deform portion.

5. The hydrogen remaining sensor according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor main body has a weak wall portion whose strength is weak partially, and the weak wall portion configures the easy-to-deform portion.

6. The hydrogen remaining sensor according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor main body has an Invar material as a constituent material.

7. The hydrogen remaining sensor according to claim 1,

wherein a thermal conduction extending portion that extends to an outside is provided to the sensor main body, and the thermal conduction extending portion is arranged to contact a hydrogen storage alloy side.

8. The hydrogen remaining sensor according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor main body is fixed to an attached member of a hydrogen storage vessel that contains the main hydrogen storage alloy therein, and an output line of the strain gauge is provided toward an outer portion of the hydrogen storage vessel through a conduit port that is provided in the attached member.