JP2000170999A - Sealing material for filling port of pressure vessel, affixing method for the same and device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce unit price, to improve fitting property for a filling port of a cylinder and to prevent sticking of dust to the filling port by forming a sealing material for filling port of a pressure vessel by using a plastic material such as aluminum foil. SOLUTION: A sealing material 8 to be affixed on a filling port part 4 of a cylinder 1 is formed into a thin sheet shape from a plastic material such as aluminum foil. By plastic ally deforming the sealing material 8 along an external shape of the filling port part 4, the filling port part 4 is covered from the outside by using the sealing material 8 and the sealing material 8 can be held in a falling preventing state from the filling port part 4. After the sealing material 8 is affixed, a protective cap 7 is provided on a valve body 3 side of the cylinder 1 so as to be attachable/detachable to/from an upper side and the valve body 3 is protected from an external obstacle by the protective cap 7 when the cylinder 1 is carried.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for determining whether or not a high-pressure gas filled in a pressure vessel such as a cylinder is unused. The present invention relates to a sealing material for a filling port of a pressure vessel suitably used for sealing, a method for mounting the sealing material, and an apparatus therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a cylinder as a pressure vessel filled with a high-pressure liquefied gas which is used as fuel for home and business use includes:
A valve for opening and closing the filling port is provided on the upper end side.

[0003] A cap made of resin (hereinafter referred to as a P cap) is attached to the filling port of the cylinder after filling with the liquefied gas, and the P cap prevents rainwater, dust and the like from entering the valve. In addition, the screw portion on the inner peripheral side of the filling port is protected so that the liquefied gas after filling can be identified as unused.

Here, a liquefied gas filling factory or the like is provided with a filling device, and the filling device is provided with a carry-in conveyor for carrying a cylinder toward a filling station, and a plurality of filling devices on a rotary table of the filling station. It is composed of a filling machine that fills each cylinder brought in by the carry-in conveyor with liquefied gas, and a carry-out conveyor that carries out each cylinder filled with liquefied gas by each filling machine from a filling station (for example, And JP-A-6-201095).

In this type of conventional filling apparatus, when an empty cylinder (actually, there is residual gas) is carried into the filling station by the carry-in conveyor, the filling nozzle of the filling machine is set to the filling port of the cylinder. And the valve of the cylinder is opened via a valve handle or the like.
By closing, the cylinder is filled with a high-pressure liquefied gas through a filling nozzle.

In this case, each filled cylinder is carried out to a shipping yard or the like by a carry-out conveyor, and a P-cap mounting device is provided in the middle of the carry-out conveyor.
The P cap mounting device automatically mounts the resin P cap on the filled cylinder conveyed by the unloading conveyor.

[0007]

In the above-mentioned prior art, a resin-made P cap is used as a sealing material to identify that the liquefied gas filled in the cylinder is unused, and the P cap is used for the cylinder. It is configured to prevent external rainwater, dust and the like from entering the valve by being mounted on the filling port.

However, in the prior art, it is necessary to prepare a mold for forming a P cap in advance, and to mold a P cap having a shape corresponding to a filling port of a cylinder from a resin material.
It takes time and effort to manufacture the P-cap, complicates the manufacturing process, and has a problem that the unit price of the resin material is high and it is difficult to reduce the cost.

As another prior art, there is also known a configuration in which a filling port of a cylinder is sealed using a label made of a paper material or the like. However, in this case, a sticky glue or the like is applied in advance to the back side of the label, and the label is stuck to the filling port with the glue. Therefore, the following problem occurs.

That is, when the high-pressure gas in the cylinder is used, the label is peeled off from the filling port, but at this time, a part of the glue may remain attached to the filling port.
For this reason, the surrounding dust and the like easily adhere as dust to the area around the filling port, not only giving the user discomfort, but also, in some cases, the attached dust may be left inside the cylinder at the time of the next filling operation. There are problems such as intrusion.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the unit price by using a plastic material such as aluminum foil.
While being able to improve the mounting properties for filling ports such as cylinders,
An object of the present invention is to provide a sealing material for a filling port of a pressure vessel, which is capable of preventing dust and the like from adhering to the filling port, is reusable and is effective for environmental measures, a mounting device for the sealing material, and an apparatus therefor. I have.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a method of filling a pressure vessel used to identify that a high-pressure gas filled in the pressure vessel is unused. A mouth sealing material, which is formed in a thin sheet from a plastic material and is plastically deformable along the outer shape of the filling port so as to cover the filling port of the pressure vessel from the outside. Seal material is used.

[0013] With this configuration, the filling port sealing material formed into a thin sheet from a plastic material can be used.
A plastic deformation can be performed along the outer shape of the filling port, and the filling port can be encapsulated from outside using the sealing material.
The sealing material can be held in the filling port in a retaining state.

In the invention of claim 2, the sealing material for the filling port of the pressure vessel is formed of a soft aluminum foil. Thereby, the sealing material for the filling port can be plastically deformed in a state of conforming to the outer shape of the filling port, and the filling port can be satisfactorily encapsulated from the outside using the sealing material, and can be reused. it can.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, the sealing material has a large number of concave and convex grooves on the front side and the back side. With this, even if the diameter of the filling port varies depending on the type or size of the pressure vessel, the sealing material can be given a deformation allowance with a large number of concave and convex grooves, and the sealing material is formed into an outer shape of the filling port. In addition to being able to be plastically deformed in a state where it is always adapted, the filling port can be covered well from the outside by using the sealing material.

[0016] On the other hand, the method of mounting the sealing material adopted in the invention of claim 4 is a method of transferring a sealing material made of a plastic material and having a size corresponding to the filling port of the pressure vessel toward the filling port of the pressure vessel. And a plastic working step of pressing the transferred sealing material against the filling port of the pressure vessel from outside and plastically deforming the sealing material along the outer shape of the filling port.

Thus, the sealing material having a size corresponding to the filling port of the pressure vessel can be pressed against the filling port from the outside and plastically deformed along the outer shape of the filling port. The mounting operation can be performed efficiently, and the sealing material can be plastically deformed in a state conforming to the outer shape of the filling port, and the filling port can be satisfactorily encapsulated from the outside using the sealing material.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of mounting a sealing material, wherein a plurality of uneven grooves are formed on a front side and a back side of a thin sheet-like sealing material made of a plastic material. A cutting step of cutting the seal material having the large number of concave and convex grooves into a size corresponding to a filling port of the pressure vessel, and transferring the cut seal material toward the filling port of the pressure vessel. And a plastic working step of pressing the transferred sealing material against the filling port of the pressure vessel from outside and plastically deforming the sealing material along the outer shape of the filling port.

In this case, since a large number of uneven grooves are formed on the front side and the back side of the sealing material before cutting the sealing material, the uneven groove forming step is smoothly performed on the sealing material before cutting. can do. In addition, since the sealing material having a large number of concave and convex grooves is pressed against the filling port of the pressure vessel from the outside and plastically deforms along the outer shape of the filling port, it is possible to give a deformation allowance to the sealing material with the large number of concave and convex grooves. It is possible to efficiently perform the work of mounting the sealing material, and also plastically deform the sealing material in a state adapted to the outer shape of the filling port, and satisfactorily encapsulate the filling port from the outside using the sealing material. be able to.

On the other hand, the structure adopted by the sealing material mounting apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is such that a sealing material made of a plastic material and having a size corresponding to the filling port of the pressure vessel is transferred toward the filling port of the pressure vessel. Transfer means, pressing the sealing material transferred by the transfer means against the filling port of the pressure vessel from the outside,
Plastic working means for plastically deforming the sealing material along the outer shape of the filling port.

With this configuration, it is possible to automate the operation of attaching the sealing material to the filling port of the pressure vessel, and to plastically deform the sealing material in a state conforming to the outer shape of the filling port. , The filling port can be satisfactorily encapsulated from the outside.

Further, the seal material mounting apparatus according to the present invention employs a configuration in which a plurality of concave and convex grooves are formed on the front side and the back side of a thin sheet-like seal material made of a plastic material. Groove forming means, transfer means for transferring the sealing material having the plurality of uneven grooves toward a filling port of the pressure vessel, and pressing the sealing material transferred by the transferring means against the filling port of the pressure vessel from outside. Plastic working means for plastically deforming the sealing material along the outer shape of the filling port.

With such a configuration, even when the diameter of the filling port varies depending on the type and size of the pressure vessel, deformation allowance can be given to the sealing material by the large number of concave and convex grooves. It is possible to automate the work of attaching the sealing material to the filling port of the container, and to plastically deform the sealing material in a state conforming to the outer shape of the filling port, and to satisfactorily encapsulate the filling port from the outside using the sealing material. can do.

Further, according to the invention of claim 8, the transfer means comprises:
The suction head includes a suction head for sucking the sealing material, and a transfer arm member that supports the suction head on the distal end side and transfers the suction head together with the sealing material to the filling port of the pressure vessel.

With this arrangement, the sealing material can be sucked by the suction head provided on the tip side of the transfer arm member. In this state, the transfer arm member is moved to the filling port side of the pressure vessel, so that the sealing member is moved to the filling port of the pressure vessel. The sealant can be transferred together with the suction head to the position where the sealant faces.

Further, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the plastic working means is provided with a cylindrical pusher slidably provided on the outer peripheral side of the suction head and advanced and retracted along the outer circumference of the filling port, and the cylindrical pusher is suctioned. A primary pressing means for pressing the head together with the head toward the filling port, and a second pressing means for axially moving the cylindrical pusher from the outer peripheral side of the suction head to bend the outer peripheral side of the sealing material along the outer peripheral surface of the filling port. And a second pressurizing means.

In this case, the primary pressurizing means is operated while the suction head is transferred together with the sealing material toward the filling port of the pressure vessel, so that the sealing material sucked by the suction head is removed from the pressure vessel. It can be pressed against the filling port, and by operating the secondary pressurizing means in this state, the cylindrical pusher is advanced axially from the outer peripheral side of the suction head, and the filling port is covered with the sealing material from the outside. As described above, the outer peripheral side of the sealing material can be plastically deformed (bently deformed) along the outer peripheral surface of the filling port.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A sealing material for a filling port of a pressure vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for mounting the sealing material and an apparatus therefor will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a cylinder for filling a liquefied gas which constitutes a pressure vessel. The cylinder 1 is a cylinder body 2 formed as a cylindrical closed vessel made of a high-strength metal material.
And a valve body 3 and the like as a filling valve provided at a central portion on the upper end side of the cylinder main body 2.

The valve body 3 of the cylinder 1
In order to fill the cylinder body 2 with a liquefied gas as a high-pressure gas, a filling port 4 which projects radially and serves as a filling port opened to the outside, and the filling port 4 is opened and closed with respect to the inside of the cylinder body 2. A valve body (not shown) as a valve movably disposed in the valve body 3 and a valve handle 6 connected to an upper end side of a valve shaft 5 for opening and closing the valve body are provided. I have.

The cylinder 1 has a protective cap 7 for covering the valve body 3 from the outside as shown by a virtual line in FIG.
The protective cap 7 protects the valve body 3 from external obstacles when the cylinder 1 is carried or the like.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a sealing material for the filling port mounted on the filling port 4 of the valve body 3. The sealing material 8 is a thin sheet-like strip made of a plastic material such as a soft aluminum foil as shown in FIG. It is formed by the body 9. That is, the strip 9
Is cut at a predetermined length as described later, whereby the sealing material 8 is formed as a thin sheet having a rectangular or square shape, for example. And the sealing material 8
Is plastically deformed so as to conform to the outer shape of the filling port 4 when it is attached to the filling port 4 of the cylinder 1.
From the outside.

Here, the band-like body 9 serving as the material of the sealing material 8
As shown in FIG. 2, is composed of a hoop material wound in advance on the outer peripheral side of the bobbin 10, and is delivered to a liquefied gas filling factory in the state of the hoop material. And the strip 9
Are formed with a width corresponding to the filling port 4 (at least a width larger than the diameter of the filling port 4), and a large number of irregularities are formed on the upper and lower surfaces (the front side and the back side) by the knurl roller 12 described later. The groove 11 is formed by pressure molding.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a knurl roller as a pressing roller serving as a concave and convex groove forming means, and 13 denotes the knurl roller 1.
2, a rubber roller serving as a receiving roller which constitutes an uneven groove forming means. The rubber roller 13 sandwiches the band 9 with the knurl roller 12 as shown in FIG. It has the function of sending out at a constant pitch toward.

Then, the knurl roller 1 is
For example, by performing a knurling process in a lattice shape in accordance with the surface shape of the belt 2, a number of uneven grooves 11 are formed as shown in FIG. It is molded over the whole.

Numeral 14 denotes a cutter as cutting means provided downstream of the knurl roller 12.
Is to form a sealing material 8 having a size corresponding to the filling port 4 by cutting the band-like body 9 having the concave and convex grooves 11 at predetermined lengths. That is, the sealing material 8 is cut by the cutter 14 into a size suitable for sealing the filling port 4 from the outside, and thereafter is transferred toward the filling port 4 of the cylinder 1 by the transfer device 15 described later. Things.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a transfer device which constitutes a transfer means for the sealing material 8, and the transfer device 15 is provided on the axis OO of the cylinder 1 so as to be able to move up and down as shown in FIGS. A shaft 16, a swivel arm 17 attached to the elevating shaft 16 so as to be able to swivel in a horizontal direction, and a swivel connected to the swivel arm 17 so as to be able to turn up and down about a connecting pin 18. The arm 19 includes a head support arm 22 and a suction head 24, which will be described later.

Here, the turning arm 17 is connected to the turning arm 19.
And a transfer arm member together with the head support arm 22 and the like. In addition, a bracket 17A is provided on the upper side of the revolving arm 17, and a rotary cylinder 20 composed of an air cylinder is pin-connected to the bracket 17A.

The rotating cylinder 20 is a rod 20A.
Is reduced, the rotating arm 19 is moved upward together with the head supporting arm 22 as shown in FIG. 3, and when the rod 20A is extended, the rotating arm 19 is moved to the head supporting arm 22 as shown in FIG. At the same time, the sealing material 8 is moved downward (in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 3) to transfer the sealing material 8 to the filling port 4 together with the suction head 24 and the like described later.

The rotating arm 19 is formed as a substantially L-shaped short arm, and its upper end is pin-connected to the tip of the rod 20A of the rotating cylinder 20 using a connecting pin 21. A rod 23A of an extruding cylinder 23, which will be described later, is fixed to the lower end of the rotating arm 19 using a screwing means or the like. Are combined.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a head support arm that supports the suction head 24. The head support arm 22 is formed as a crank-shaped arm.
To the lower end of the rotating arm 19. When the seal material 8 is transferred toward the filling port 4 as shown in FIG. 3, the distal end side of the head support arm 22 is lowered (rotated) in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Movement).

As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of elongated guide grooves 22A (only one is shown) are formed at the tip end of the head support arm 22, and a guide plate 31 described later is formed in each of the guide grooves 22A. The support arm 22 is slidably mounted in the length direction.

Reference numeral 23 denotes an extruding cylinder as a primary pressurizing means provided on the base end side of the head supporting arm 22. The extruding cylinder 23 is composed of a short air cylinder or the like. It is fixed to the lower end side. Then, when the rod 23 </ b> A extends, the pushing cylinder 23 separates the base end side of the head support arm 22 from the lower end side of the rotating arm 19 as shown in FIG. 3.

When the rod 23A is contracted, the pushing cylinder 23 is relatively moved in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3 so that the base end of the head support arm 22 approaches the lower end of the rotating arm 19. 4 and 5, the tip side of the suction head 24 is pushed into the filling port 4 of the cylinder 1.

Numeral 24 denotes a suction head provided on the tip end side of the head support arm 22. The suction head 24 has an outer diameter corresponding to the filling port 4 (actually, as shown in FIG. 5). Is formed as a stepped cylindrical body having an outer diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter).
0 sliding surface. A cylindrical fitting projection 24A is formed at the tip end of the suction head 24. The fitting projection 24A is located on the inner peripheral side of the filling port 4 and the center of the sealing material 8 is shown in FIG. That is, they are fitted together.

A stepped cylindrical spring receiver 25 is fixed to the inner peripheral side of the suction head 24 by a nut 26 or the like, and a vacuum pad 27 serving as a suction tool is slidable on the inner peripheral side of the spring receiver 25. It is provided in. A buffer spring 28 is provided between the vacuum pad 27 and the spring receiver 25, and the buffer spring 28 constantly urges the vacuum pad 27 in a direction in which the vacuum pad 27 protrudes from the distal end side of the suction head 24.

Here, a suction passage 27A composed of a plurality of small-diameter holes is bored in the vacuum pad 27 in the axial direction, and each suction passage 27A communicates with the distal end side of the vacuum hose 29 through a passage in the spring receiver 25. ing. And the vacuum hose 29
Is connected to a negative pressure source (not shown) such as a vacuum pump, which is connected to each suction passage 2 through a vacuum hose 29.
The vacuum pressure (negative pressure) is generated on the tip (front end face) side of the vacuum pad 27 by sucking the air on the 7A side.

When the vacuum pad 27 sucks the sealing material 8 by vacuum pressure, it retreats (relatively moves) toward the spring receiver 25 against the buffer spring 28, and in this state, the suction head 24 is fitted. The sealing material 8 is configured to be adsorbed to the end face of the projection 24A. For this reason, the buffer spring 28 is made of a weak spring and gives a cushion effect to the movement of the vacuum pad 27 in the suction head 24.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a cylindrical pusher which is slidably fitted on the outer peripheral side of the suction head 24 and constitutes a part of a plastic working means. The cylindrical pusher 30 is a circular cylindrical member made of a hard metal material. A pair of cam protrusions 30A (only one is shown) is provided on the outer peripheral side in the radial direction.
Each of the cam projections 30A slidably engages with a guide hole 31A of a guide plate 31, which will be described later, and moves the cylindrical pusher 30 in the axial direction from the outer peripheral side of the suction head 24 following the elevating operation of the guide plate 31. It is configured to advance and retreat.

The inner peripheral side of the tip of the cylindrical pusher 30 is
The outer peripheral portion of the sealing material 8 has a rounded bent surface 30 </ b> B for bending and deforming along the outer shape of the filling port 4. Then, when the cylindrical pusher 30 is advanced (pressurized drive) in the direction of arrow C as shown in FIG. 7, the bending surface 30 </ b> B moves the outer peripheral side portion of the sealing material 8 with the outer peripheral surface of the filling port 4. 7, plastic deformation is performed as shown in FIG.
Is attached (wrapped) to the filling port 4 from the outside.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a guide plate slidably mounted on the distal end side of the head support arm 22.
Is formed by bending a metal plate or the like into a substantially U-shape,
The cylindrical pusher 30 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical pusher 30 so as to be sandwiched from both the left and right sides. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, oblong guide holes 31A extending obliquely are respectively formed in both left and right portions of the guide plate 31, and each of the cylindrical pushers 30 is provided in each of the guide holes 31A. The cam projection 30A is inserted.

When the guide plate 31 is moved up and down in the directions indicated by arrows D1 and D2 in FIG. 6 by an elevating cylinder 32 described later, the cam projection 30A of the cylindrical pusher 30 is driven along the guide hole 31A. Thereby, the cylindrical pusher 30
Is moved back and forth in the axial direction from the outer peripheral side of the suction head 24 as shown in FIG.

Projections (not shown) for engaging with the guide grooves 22A of the head support arm 22 are formed on both left and right sides of the guide plate 31.
Is configured to move (slide) relative to the head support arm 22 along the guide groove 22A.

Reference numeral 32 denotes an elevating cylinder as a secondary working means attached to the head support arm 22 via a bracket 33. The elevating cylinder 32 is composed of a short air cylinder or the like. It is fixed to the side. The elevating cylinder 32, together with the extrusion cylinder 23, the cylindrical pusher 30, and the like, constitutes a plastic working means for the sealing material 8.

That is, the lifting cylinder 32 holds the cylindrical pusher 30 at the retracted position shown in FIG. 5 by raising the guide plate 31 in the direction indicated by the arrow D1 shown in FIG. 4 when the rod 32A is contracted. When the rod 32A is extended downward, the elevating cylinder 32 lowers the guide plate 31 in the direction indicated by arrow D2 in FIG. 6 to move the cylindrical pusher 30 to the filling port of the cylinder 1 as shown in FIG. Advance toward the part 4 side. Thus, the cylindrical pusher 30 performs plastic working so that the sealing material 8 is bent along the outer peripheral side of the filling port 4 on the bending surface 30B.

The sealing material 8 for the filling port and the mounting device for the sealing material 8 according to the present embodiment have the above-described configuration. Next, a method for mounting the sealing material 8 to the filling port 4 of the cylinder 1 will be described. I do.

First, when unwinding the band-like body 9 such as aluminum foil as the material of the sealing material 8 from the bobbin 10,
Either the knurl roller 12 or the rubber roller 13 is driven to rotate by an actuator (not shown) such as a motor, and the leading end side of the belt-shaped body 9 is downstream from the knurl roller 12 and the rubber roller 13 by a predetermined length. Send out.
At this time, the belt-shaped body 9 made of a plastic material such as an aluminum foil is subjected to knurling by a knurling roller 12, and a large number of uneven grooves 1 are formed on the front side and the back side of the band-shaped body 9.
1 is formed (an uneven groove forming step).

Next, in the cutting step, the knurl roller 1
The tip end of the belt-shaped body 9 sent to the downstream side from between the rubber roller 2 and the rubber roller 13 is cut by the cutter 14 and the filling port 4 is cut.
Is formed in a size corresponding to the size of the sealing material 8. Thus, the sealing material 8 is cut into a size suitable for sealing the filling port 4 from the outside, and is formed as, for example, a square rectangular sheet.

Next, in the step of transferring the sealing material 8 by the transfer device 15, first, the turning arm 17 is moved in the horizontal direction (about the elevating shaft 16, which can be moved up and down on the axis O-O of the cylinder 1). The suction head 2 is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow E in FIG.
4 is oriented. Then, in this state, the elevating shaft 16
At the same time, the turning arm 17 and the head support arm 22 are lowered downward, thereby bringing the suction head 24 close to the front surface side of the sealing material 8 in the direction of arrow F.

At this time, air is sucked from the front side of the suction head 24 by the vacuum hose 29 to
The sealing material 8 is adsorbed to the front end surface of the vacuum pad 27 shown in FIG. After the suction of the sealing material 8, the suction head 24 is lifted upward (in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow F) together with the head support arm 22 and the like, and in this state, the lifting shaft 1 is moved.
The swivel arm 17 is swiveled in the horizontal direction (for example, in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow E) around the center 6 to orient the suction head 24 on the same vertical plane as the filling port 4 as shown in FIG.

Next, in this state, the rod 20A of the rotary cylinder 20 shown in FIG.
The suction head 24 is moved in the direction of the arrow A together with the sealing material 8 by rotating the lower surface 9 around the connecting pin 18, and the sealing material 8 is brought into contact with the front side of the filling port 4.
At this stage, the step of transferring the sealing material 8 is completed. At this time, the rod 23A of the extrusion cylinder 23 is reduced, and the head support arm 22 is moved closer to the rotating arm 19 in the direction of arrow B.

As a result, the primary pressurizing step of the plastic working step is executed, and as shown in FIGS.
Of the suction head 24 by pressing the
The fitting projection 24A is fitted to the inner peripheral side of the filling port 4 together with the center of the sealing material 8. At this time, the sealing material 8 is primarily pressurized in the direction of arrow B as shown in FIG. 5, and is plastically deformed between the filling port 4 and the fitting projection 24A so as to follow the shape of both.

Next, in this state, the rod 32A of the lifting cylinder 32 is extended downward as shown in FIGS.
By lowering the guide plate 31 in the direction of arrow D2,
By driving the cam projection 30A of the cylindrical pusher 30 along the guide hole 31A, the cylindrical pusher 30 is advanced in the direction of arrow C from the outer peripheral side of the suction head 24 as shown in FIG.

As a result, the secondary pressurizing step of the plastic working step is performed, and the cylindrical pusher 30 is advanced in the direction of arrow C (pressurized driving), so that the outer periphery of the sealing material 8 is bent at the bent surface 30B. The side part is plastically deformed so as to bend between the outer peripheral surface of the filling port 4 and the sealing material 8
Is attached (wrapped) from the outside.

After the sealing material 8 is attached to the filling port 4, the rod 32A of the elevating cylinder 32 is contracted, the cylindrical pusher 30 is retracted from the filling port 4, and the rod 23A of the extruding cylinder 23 is connected. Then, the suction head 24 is retracted from the inside of the filling port 4. Then, by moving the head support arm 22 in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow A in this state, the transfer device 15 is returned to the position shown in FIGS. Be prepared.

Further, for the filled cylinder 1 in which the sealing material 8 is attached to the filling port 4, in the subsequent cap attaching step (not shown), the protection for the valve body 3 as shown in FIG. The cap 7 is attached from above, and the cylinder 1 is shipped to the user in this state.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the sealing material 8 attached to the filling port 4 of the cylinder 1 is formed into a thin sheet from a plastic material such as aluminum foil, and the sealing material 8 is filled with the filling port. Since it is configured to be plastically deformed along the outer shape of the part 4, the filling port 4 can be covered from the outside as shown in FIG. It can be kept in a retaining state.

The thread provided on the inner peripheral side of the filling port 4 can be protected by the sealing material 8.
It is possible to prevent rainwater, dust, and the like from entering the inside of the vehicle. Also,
For a user or the like using the liquefied gas in the cylinder 1,
By confirming that the sealing material 8 is attached to the filling port 4, it is possible to easily identify that the liquefied gas filled in the cylinder 1 is unused. The reliability of the used cylinder 1 can be improved.

Further, by forming the sealing material 8 with a soft aluminum foil or the like, the sealing material 8 can be plastically deformed in a state adapted to the outer shape of the filling port 4. The part 4 can be well encapsulated from the outside,
Repeated use may also be possible.

Further, since a large number of concave and convex grooves 11 are formed in the sealing material 8 on the front side and the back side in advance, the diameter of the filling port 4 varies depending on the type and size of the cylinder 1. Even when there is, the deformation allowance can be given to the sealing material 8 by the large number of uneven grooves 11, the sealing material 8 can be plastically deformed while always conforming to the outer shape of the filling port 4, and the sealing material 8 can be deformed. The filling port 4 can be satisfactorily encapsulated from the outside by using this.

On the other hand, when the sealing material 8 is mounted on the filling port 4, a large number of concave and convex grooves 11 are formed on the front surface side and the back surface side of the sealing material 8 using a knurl roller 12 or the like, and thereafter, the transfer is performed. The sealing material 8 is applied to the cylinder 1 by the device 15.
The suction head 24 is transported toward the filling port 4 of the suction head 24.
And filling the sealing material 8 with the cylindrical pusher 30 or the like.
And the sealing material 8 is plastically deformed along the outer shape of the filling port 4.

As a result, the sealing material 8 in which a large number of uneven grooves 11 are formed can be pressed against the filling port 4 of the cylinder 1 from the outside, and can be plastically deformed along the outer shape of the filling port 4. The work of mounting the member 8 can be performed efficiently. Then, the sealing material 8 can be plastically deformed so as to be bent into a shape conforming to the outer shape of the filling port 4, and the filling port 4 can be stably covered from outside using the sealing material 8.

After the step of forming the concave and convex grooves on the strip 9 is performed, the strip 9 is removed by the cutter 14 into the filling opening 4.
Since the sealing material 8 is formed by cutting the sealing material 8 into a size corresponding to the size of the sealing material 8, the uneven groove forming step can be smoothly performed on the sealing material 8 before cutting, and the entire operation can be made more efficient. Then, the work of attaching the sealing material 8 to the filling port 4 of the cylinder 1 can be automated, and the workability can be improved.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the unit price of the sealing material 8 can be greatly reduced by using a plastic material such as aluminum foil, and the mounting property of the cylinder 1 to the filling port 4 can be improved. Further, compared with the conventional technique using a label or the like, the periphery of the filling port 4 is not sticky with glue or the like, and it is possible to prevent dust or the like from adhering to the filling port 4 satisfactorily. .

The sealing material 8 made of aluminum foil or the like is reusable and can be used repeatedly, is effective for environmental measures, does not cause discomfort to the user, and is not filled with gas. Work and the like can be performed smoothly.

In the above embodiment, the sealing material 8 is formed of aluminum foil. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a laminated film of aluminum foil and a resin film sheet may be used. In short, it is only necessary that the sealing material be made plastically deformable using a relatively flexible plastic material.

[0077]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the seal for the filling port of the pressure vessel used to identify that the high-pressure gas filled in the pressure vessel is unused. By forming the material into a thin sheet from a plastic material, the sealing material can be plastically deformed along the outer shape of the filling port, and the filling port can be encapsulated from outside using the sealing material, The sealing material can be held in the filling port in a retaining state. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the unit price of the sealing material, to improve the mountability of the filling port such as a cylinder, to prevent dust or the like from adhering to the filling port, to enable reuse, and to be effective for environmental measures. it can.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the sealing material is formed of a soft aluminum foil, the sealing material for the filling port can be plastically deformed in a state adapted to the outer shape of the filling port. Using the sealing material, the filling port can be satisfactorily encapsulated from the outside, and can be reused.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, since a large number of concave and convex grooves are provided on the front side and the back side of the sealing material, the diameter of the filling port depends on the type and size of the pressure vessel. Even when there is variation, the seal material can be given a deformation allowance by a large number of concave and convex grooves, and the seal material can be plastically deformed while always conforming to the outer shape of the filling port, and filling is performed using the seal material. The mouth can be well encapsulated from the outside.

On the other hand, in the invention according to the fourth aspect, since the method of mounting the seal material is carried out by the step of transferring the seal material and the plastic working process, the work of mounting the seal material can be performed efficiently. At the same time, the sealing material is plastically deformed in a state conforming to the outer shape of the filling port, and the filling port can be satisfactorily encapsulated from the outside using the sealing material.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the method of mounting the sealing material is carried out from the step of forming the concave and convex grooves, the cutting step, the transferring step and the plastic working step, the sealing material is cut before the sealing material is cut. A large number of uneven grooves can be formed on the front surface side and the back surface side, and the uneven groove forming step can be smoothly performed on the sealing material before cutting. In addition to being able to efficiently perform the entire mounting work of the sealing material, the sealing material is plastically deformed in a state conforming to the outer shape of the filling port, and the filling port is satisfactorily encapsulated from outside using the sealing material. can do.

On the other hand, in the invention according to the sixth aspect, since the sealing material mounting device is constituted by the sealing material transferring means and the plastic working means, the mounting operation of the sealing material to the filling port of the pressure vessel is automated. The filling port can be satisfactorily encapsulated from the outside by using a sealing material.

Further, in the invention according to the seventh aspect, since the mounting device of the sealing material is constituted by the uneven groove forming means, the transferring means and the plastic working means, the mounting operation of the sealing material to the filling port of the pressure vessel is performed. In addition to being able to be automated, the sealing material can be plastically deformed in a state conforming to the outer shape of the filling port, and the filling port can be satisfactorily encapsulated from the outside using the sealing material.

In the invention according to the eighth aspect, since the transfer means is constituted by the suction head and the transfer arm member, the sealing material can be suctioned by the suction head provided on the tip side of the transfer arm member. By moving the transfer arm member to the filling port side of the pressure vessel in this state, the sealing material can be accurately transferred together with the suction head to a position facing the filling port of the pressure vessel.

Further, in the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the plastic working means is constituted by the cylindrical pusher, the primary pressurizing means and the secondary pressurizing means, the suction head together with the sealing material is provided in the pressure vessel. By operating the primary pressurizing means in the state of being transferred to the filling port, the sealing material sucked by the suction head can be pressed against the filling port of the pressure vessel. Then, by operating the secondary pressurizing means in this state, the cylindrical pusher is advanced in the axial direction from the outer peripheral side of the suction head, and the outer peripheral side of the sealing material is covered with the sealing material so as to cover the filling port from the outside. Can be bent in a plastically deformed state along the outer peripheral surface of the filling port, whereby the sealing material can be mounted so as to cover the filling port from the outside. Also,
Even when the cylindrical pusher is retracted to the suction head side by the secondary pressurizing means, the sealing material can be kept in a plastically deformed state. The inside of the filling port can be kept protected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially broken front view showing a valve side of a cylinder provided with a sealing material according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially broken configuration diagram showing a cutter and a transfer device of a sealing material;

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view showing the transfer device in a state where a sealing material is suctioned by a suction head.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state in which the sealing material transferred by the transfer device is pressed against a filling port of the cylinder.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part in FIG. 4, showing a state in which a sealing material is pressed against a filling port by a suction head.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state in which a cylindrical pusher is advanced toward a filling port by an elevating cylinder.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part in FIG. 6, showing a state in which a sealing material is bent to the outer peripheral side of a filling port by a cylindrical pusher.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 cylinder (pressure vessel) 3 valve body (valve) 4 filling port (filling port) 6 valve handle 8 sealing material 9 band 11 uneven groove 12 knurl roller (irregular groove forming means) 14 cutter (cutting means) 15 transfer device (Transfer means) 17 Revolving arm (Transfer arm member) 19 Rotating arm (Transfer arm member) 22 Head support arm (Transfer arm member) 23 Extrusion cylinder (Primary pressurizing means) 24 Suction head 30 Cylindrical pusher (Plastic processing means) ) 32 lifting cylinder (secondary pressurizing means)

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Michihiro Suzuki 3rd floor of the 3rd east building main building at 3 Kanda Neribu-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 3E072 AA01 DA01 GA26

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A sealing material for a filling port of a pressure vessel used for identifying that the high-pressure gas filled in the pressure vessel is unused, wherein the sealing material is formed of a plastic material into a thin sheet, A sealing material for a filling port of a pressure vessel, which is plastically deformable along the outer shape of the filling port so as to cover the filling port of the container from the outside. 2. The sealing material for a filling port of a pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material is made of a soft aluminum foil. 3. The sealing material for a filling port of a pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material has a large number of concave and convex grooves on the front side and the back side. 4. A transfer step of transferring a sealing material made of a plastic material and having a size corresponding to the filling port of the pressure vessel toward the filling port of the pressure vessel, and transferring the transferred sealing material to the filling port of the pressure vessel. A plastic working step of pressing the sealing material from the outside and plastically deforming the sealing material along the outer shape of the filling port. 5. An uneven groove forming step of forming a large number of uneven grooves on the front side and the back side of a thin sheet-like seal material made of a plastic material; A cutting step of cutting into a size corresponding to a filling port of the pressure vessel, a transferring step of transferring the cut sealing material toward the filling port of the pressure vessel, and filling the transferred sealing material into the pressure vessel. A plastic working step of pressing against the mouth from outside and plastically deforming the sealing material along the outer shape of the filling port. 6. A transfer means for transferring a sealing material made of a plastic material and having a size corresponding to the filling port of the pressure vessel toward the filling port of the pressure vessel, and transferring the sealing material transferred by the transferring means to the pressure vessel. And a plastic working means for pressing the sealing material from outside on the filling port to plastically deform the sealing material along the outer shape of the filling port. 7. An uneven groove forming means for forming a large number of uneven grooves on the front side and the back side of a thin sheet-like seal material made of a plastic material, and a seal material on which the large number of uneven grooves are formed. Transfer means for transferring the material toward the filling port of the pressure vessel; and a plastic material for pressing the sealing material transferred by the transferring means against the filling port of the pressure vessel from outside and plastically deforming the sealing material along the outer shape of the filling port. A sealing material mounting device comprising processing means. 8. The transfer means includes a suction head for sucking the seal material, and a transfer arm member for supporting the suction head on a tip end side and transferring the suction head together with the seal material toward a filling port of the pressure vessel. The sealing material mounting device according to claim 6, which comprises: 9. The plastic working means includes a cylindrical pusher slidably provided on an outer peripheral side of the suction head and advanced and retracted along an outer periphery of the filling port. Primary pressurizing means for pressing against the mouth,
The secondary pressurizing means according to claim 8, further comprising secondary pressurizing means for causing the cylindrical pusher to advance in the axial direction from the outer peripheral side of the suction head and bending the outer peripheral side of the sealing material along the outer peripheral surface of the filling port. Sealing material mounting device.