Gas supply apparatus

• US 7,337,798 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Inoue, Shozo
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox; John
• Application Number:
  US10/569,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20070012363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 137/38, 137/351, 123/529
• US Class Current: 137/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/013 of gas conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/07 of gas tanks
• 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 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0119 with flat end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/035 with substantially horizontal main axis
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/056 Small (<1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/013 Two or more vessels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0382 Constructional details of valves, regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0394 in direct contact with the pressure vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/035 High pressure (>10 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/036 Avoiding leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/042 Reducing risk of explosion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/04 using an independent energy source, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0184 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0753 : Control by change of position or inertia of system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6881 : Automotive

Abstract

A gas line (120) for supplying hydrogen gas and a harness (110) for supplying power to an electromagnetic valve are connected to an electromagnetic valve mechanism (200). The length of the harness (110) from a connecting member (111) to a fastener (160) is denoted by the letter “n” and the length of the gas line (120) from a connecting member (121) to a fastener (170) is denoted by the letter “m” (n<m). During a vehicle collision, a hydrogen gas tank (100) moves, placing tension on the harness (110) and the gas line (120). The tension causes both the harness (110) and the gas line (120) to stretch. The limit value of the stretch amount of the harness (110), which is shorter between the connecting member and the fastener, is low such that the harness (110) will break before the gas line (120) is damaged. As a result, power to the electromagnetic valve mechanism (200) is cut off and the electromagnetic valve closes before the gas line (120) is damaged, thus preventing a gas leak.

Claims

1. A gas supply apparatus, comprising:

a gas line that supplies a gas;

an electromagnetic valve which is provided in the gas line and which opens when energized; and

a power supply line for supplying power to energize the electromagnetic valve, wherein

the tensile strength of the power supply line against tension applied thereto is less than the tensile strength of the gas line against tension applied thereto;

the gas line and the power supply line are connected to the electromagnetic valve; and

the power supply line breaks before the gas line is damaged as the electromagnetic valve moves.

2. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a connector which becomes disconnected under a tension that is less than a tension that damages the gas line, the connector being provided in at least one portion of the power supply line.

3. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a breakage facilitating portion which has a low tensile strength, the breakage facilitating portion being provided in at least one portion of the power supply line.

4. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas supply apparatus is mounted in a vehicle.

5. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the tension is a force generated by an impact of a predetermined amount or greater generated during a vehicle collision.

6. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a gas storage container, wherein the electromagnetic valve is provided between the gas storage container and the gas line, wherein the power supply line has a tensile strength being less than the tensile strength of the gas line when a tension is applied thereto which is generated based on the amount of movement of the gas storage container.

7. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fastener that fixes the power supply line to a portion other than the gas storage container such that tension is applied to the power supply line with a smaller amount of movement of the gas storage container than the amount of movement of the gas storage container required to damage the gas line.

8. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a fastener that fixes the gas storage container, wherein the fastener determines the direction of movement of the gas storage container.

9. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the gas supply apparatus is mounted in a vehicle.

10. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tension is force generated by an impact of a predetermined amount or greater generated during a vehicle collision.

11. A gas supply apparatus, comprising:

a gas line that supplies a gas;

an electromagnetic valve which is provided in the gas line and which opens when energized;

a power supply line that supplies power to energize the electromagnetic valve;

an adjusting mechanism that adjusts the timing at which tension starts to be applied to the power supply line; and

a gas storage container, wherein

the gas line supplies gas from the gas storage container;

the electromagnetic valve is arranged between the gas storage container and the gas line;

the tension that acts on the power supply line is generated based on the amount of movement of the gas storage container; and

the adjusting mechanism in the gas supply apparatus is a fastener that fixes the power supply line to a portion other than the gas storage container such that tension is applied to the power supply line with a smaller amount of movement of the gas storage container than the amount of movement of the gas storage container required to damage the gas line.

13. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

a length of the gas line between the electromagnetic valve and the second fastener is designed based on a stretch ratio of the power supply line.

14. The gas supply apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

a length of the gas line between the electromagnetic valve and the second fastener is longer than a length of the power supply line between the electromagnetic valve and the first fastener so that the power supply line breaks before the gas line is damaged.

12. A gas supply apparatus, comprising:

a gas storage container;

a gas line connected to the gas storage container;

an electromagnetic valve which is provided between the gas storage container and the gas line and which opens when energized;

a power supply line that supplies power to energize the electromagnetic valve;

a first fastener that fixes the power supply line to a portion other than the gas storage container; and

a second fastener that fixes the gas line to the portion other than the gas storage container, wherein

an amount of bend in the gas line between the electromagnetic valve and the second fastener when the gas storage container moves is longer than a length of the power supply line between the electromagnetic valve and the first fastener.

15. A gas supply apparatus, comprising:

a gas storage container;

a gas line connected to the gas storage container;

an electromagnetic valve which is provided between the gas storage container and the gas line and which opens when energized;

a power supply line that supplies power to energize the electromagnetic valve;

a first fastener that fixes the power supply line to a portion other than the gas storage container; and

a second fastener that fixes the gas line to the portion other than the gas storage container, wherein

a length of the gas line between the electromagnetic valve and the second fastener is set so that the power supply line breaks before the gas line is damaged when the gas storage container moves.