JP2002154410A - Compressed gas filling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To confirm that a connecting hose for filling compressed gas is certainly connected. SOLUTION: This compressed gas filling device 10 comprises a nitrogen separating film module 16 for separating gaseous nitrogen from compressed air, a reserving tank 19 for reserving gaseous nitrogen, and a connecting hose 24 connected to a filling port 22 of a tire 21 for a large track. A CPU 58 of a control panel 52 executes a control program for discriminating existence of leakage from the connecting hose 24 in a connecting state of the connecting hose 24 to the filling port 22 of the tire 21. The CPU 58 executes a control program of supplying the gaseous nitrogen to the tire 21 for a predetermined time before gas filling in the connecting state of the connecting hose 24 to the filling port 22 of the tire 21 and of monitoring pressure variation of the connecting hose 24, and a control program of detecting the existence of the leakage from the connecting hose 24 based on the pressure variation of the connecting hose 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a compressed gas filling apparatus, and more particularly to a compressed gas filling apparatus configured to fill a container with a compressed gas.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a nitrogen generator as a gas separating device for separating and extracting nitrogen contained in air is used for a compressed gas filling device for filling a large load-applied tire such as a large truck with a nitrogen gas. Application is being considered. Since nitrogen gas has a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion than air, it has a characteristic that even if the temperature of the tire during running rises, pressure fluctuation of the tire can be suppressed. Therefore, tires that run while supporting a large load, such as large trucks, are filled with pressurized nitrogen gas.

Here, a description will be given of an operation procedure when replacing a tire mounted on a large vehicle with a new tire. Work procedure 1: Remove the old tires from the body of the heavy truck with the wheels. Work procedure 2: Remove the old tire from the wheel. Work procedure 3: Assemble new tires to wheels. Work procedure 4: Paste the contact surface between the new tire and the wheel. Work procedure 5: Nitrogen gas compressed into a new tire replaced by a compressed gas filling device is compressed to a predetermined pressure (for example, 900 kPa).
). Work procedure 6: Attach wheels with new tires to the body of heavy truck. Work procedure 7: Remove other tires from the vehicle body while filling with nitrogen gas (work procedure 5). Work procedure 8: The above work procedures 1 to 6 are repeated by the number of tires (for example, in the case of a large truck, 10 tires). As described above, in order to replace all the tires of one heavy truck, one or two workers repeat the above-described operation steps 1 to 6 about ten times, so that the time required to replace all the tires is considerably long. Had become.

[0004]

The compressed gas filling apparatus for filling nitrogen gas in the above procedure 5 is a nitrogen generating apparatus using a membrane separation method for separating a hollow fiber into oxygen which easily permeates and nitrogen which hardly permeates. Is stored in a tank by compressing the nitrogen gas generated by the method described above, and the tire is filled with the nitrogen gas in the tank by connecting a filling hose to a filling port of the tire.

When a tire of a large truck is filled with a compressed gas, the filling pressure is higher than that of a normal vehicle. Therefore, a quick coupler (built-in check valve) provided at the tip of a filling hose is completely inserted into a tire filling port. It is important that you are connected. However, if the quick coupler (with a built-in check valve) provided at the tip of the filling hose is incompletely connected to the filling port of the tire, the tire may be blown off by the pressure of the compressed gas.

Therefore, in the conventional compressed gas filling apparatus,
While filling the tire with the compressed gas, the operator had to monitor the state of filling of the tire. By this, conventionally,
There has been a problem that the work efficiency of the tire replacement work is reduced, and it takes a considerable amount of time to replace all the tires of the heavy truck. Then, an object of the present invention is to provide a compressed gas filling device which has solved the above-mentioned problems.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following features.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a judging means for judging the presence or absence of leakage from the filling path in a state where the filling path is connected to the container to be filled, and detecting the presence or absence of leakage of the compressed gas. This can warn that the filling path is incompletely connected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, before the gas is filled, the compressed gas is supplied to the filling path for a predetermined time while the filling path is connected to the container to be filled, and at this time, a pressure change in the filling path is monitored. Pressure monitoring means, and leak detection means for detecting the presence or absence of leakage from the filling path based on the pressure change detected by the pressure monitoring means, and based on the pressure change of the compressed gas supplied to the filling path. Thus, it is possible to detect that the filling path is incompletely connected.

In a third aspect of the present invention, when a check valve is mounted at an end of a filling path connected to a container to be filled, the filling path is increased when the pressure of the filling path rises to a predetermined pressure. Is determined to be defective, it is possible to detect that the filling path is incompletely connected based on the pressure change of the compressed gas supplied to the filling path.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a case where a check valve is not mounted at an end of a filling path connected to a container to be filled, filling is performed when the pressure of the filling path does not rise to a predetermined pressure. Since it is determined that the connection of the path is defective, it is possible to detect that the filling path is incompletely connected based on a change in the pressure of the compressed gas supplied to the filling path.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a compressed gas filling apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the compressed gas filling apparatus 10 generally includes an air supply pipe 14 to which compressed air as raw material air is supplied from an air compressor 12, and an air supply pipe 14. A nitrogen separation membrane module 16 for separating nitrogen gas (product gas) from the supplied compressed air, a product gas supply line 18 connected to a product gas outlet of the nitrogen separation membrane module 16, and a product gas supply line 18 Storage tank 19 connected to the storage tank for storing product gas, and storage tank 19
And a connection hose (filling path) 24 connected to the product gas supply pipe 20 and connected to the filling port 22 of the large truck tire (filled container) 21. At the tip of the connection hose 24,
Quick coupler 2 coupled to filling port 22 of tire 21
4a is provided. And quick coupler 24a
Is provided with a coupling mechanism (not shown) that is coupled to the filling port 22 when completely connected to the filling port 22 of the tire 21, and a check valve that is opened by being pressed by the filling port 22. .

The nitrogen separation membrane module 16 is composed of a membrane module filled with a large number of hollow fibers. When compressed air is supplied to the membrane module, the nitrogen separation membrane module turns into oxygen that easily permeates the inner wall of the hollow fibers and nitrogen that hardly permeates. To separate. Therefore, oxygen contained in the compressed air is discharged to the outside from the exhaust port 25 of the nitrogen separation membrane module 16. Further, the nitrogen contained in the compressed air passes through the fine internal passage of the hollow fiber and is then supplied to the product gas supply line 18.

The air supply line 14 has a first pressure sensor 26 for detecting the supply pressure of compressed air supplied from the air compressor 12 to the nitrogen separation membrane module 16, and the air supply line 14 is opened or closed. And a filter 30 for removing foreign matter in the compressed air. The product gas supply pipe 18 is provided with a check valve 32 for preventing backflow of nitrogen gas and a restrictor 34 for adjusting the flow rate of the product gas to a specified amount.

The product gas supply line 20 has a second pressure sensor 36 for detecting a supply pressure (tire filling pressure) of nitrogen gas supplied from the storage tank 19 to the tire 21.
, A throttle 38, an electromagnetic valve 40, and a third pressure sensor 42 for detecting the pressure of the connection hose 24.
Further, the exhaust pipe 4 branched from the product gas supply pipe 20
4 is provided with an exhaust electromagnetic valve 46 and a silencer 48.

A branch line 49 is branched near the upstream end of the air supply line 14 to which the air compressor 12 is connected. The branch pipe 49 is, for example, the tire 2
It is connected to an air driver 50 for tightening one nut. Accordingly, the air compressor 12 supplies compressed air to the nitrogen separation membrane module 16 for filling the tire 21 with nitrogen gas and the air driver 50 for tightening a nut (not shown) for fixing the tire 21 to the vehicle. And supplies compressed air to a plurality of locations.

Reference numeral 52 denotes a control panel, which is an operation start switch button 53 for the air compressor 12, a filling start switch button 54 operated when filling the tire 21 with nitrogen gas, and a pressure of the tire 21 reaches a predetermined pressure. And a filling stop switch button 56 that is operated at the time. Further, a CPU 58 for controlling the air compressor 12 and the solenoid valves 28, 40, 46 is provided inside the control panel 52. This CPU 58
The connection hose 24 is connected to the filling port 2 of the tire 21 in the memory of
A control program (judgment means) for judging the presence / absence of leakage from the connection hose 24 while being connected to the storage hose 2 is stored.

Before the gas is charged, the memory of the CPU 58 supplies nitrogen gas to the tire 21 for a predetermined time in a state where the connection hose 24 is connected to the filling port 22 of the tire 21. And a control program (leakage detection means) for detecting the presence or absence of leakage from the connection hose 24 based on a change in the pressure of the connection hose 24. As will be described later, the CPU 58 of the control panel 42 determines whether there is a leak from the connection hose 24 and detects a leak of the compressed gas to warn that the filling path is incompletely connected. it can. Therefore, the worker does not need to monitor the state during the filling, and the work efficiency of the tire replacement work can be improved.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a pre-test filling control process before gas filling executed by the CPU 58 of the control panel 42.

As shown in FIG. 2, in step S11 (hereinafter, "step" is omitted), the CPU 58 checks whether or not the filling start switch 54 is turned on. After connecting the quick coupler 24 a of the connection hose 24 to the filling port 22 of the tire 21,
The filling start switch 54 is turned on. Therefore, S1
When the charging start switch 54 is turned on in step S1, the flow goes to S1.
Proceeding to 2, the exhaust solenoid valve 46 is opened.

In the next step S13, the closing timer of the exhaust electromagnetic valve 46 is set to a predetermined time t1 (for example, t1 = t1).
7 seconds) has elapsed. In S13, when the predetermined time t1 has elapsed, the process proceeds to S14, and the exhaust electromagnetic valve 46 is closed. Thereby, the tire 21
The pressure remaining inside the tire is released to the atmosphere and the tire 2
1 can be at atmospheric pressure.

In the next step S15, a predetermined time t2 for stabilizing the internal pressure of the connection hose 24 (for example, t2 =
Check if 3 seconds have elapsed. In S15, when the time t2 has elapsed, the process proceeds to S16, where the pressure P1 before filling is read from the third pressure sensor 42 that detects the pressure of the connection hose 24. Subsequently, in S17, the discharge filling electromagnetic valve 40 is opened. Now, storage tank 1
The connection hose 24 is filled with the nitrogen gas stored in 9.

In S18, it is checked whether or not a predetermined filling time t3 (for example, t3 = 5 seconds) has elapsed.
In S18, when the filling time t3 has elapsed, the process proceeds to S19, in which the discharge filling electromagnetic valve 40 is closed. with this,
The connection hose 24 has a filling time t3 (for example, t3 = 5).
) Until nitrogen gas has elapsed. When the quick coupler 24a of the connection hose 24 is completely connected to the filling port 22 of the tire 21, the check valve built in the quick coupler 24a is open, so that the nitrogen gas is also supplied to the tire 21. Is supplied.

In the next S20, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time t4 (for example, t4 = 3 seconds) elapses until the pressure of the connection hose 24 is stabilized. In S20, when the filling time t4 has elapsed, the process proceeds to S21, where the connection hose 2
The pressure P2 after the preliminary filling is read from the third pressure sensor 42 which detects the pressure of No. 4.

Subsequently, in S22, the pressure P1 before filling and the pressure P2 after prefilling are compared. In S22,
If P1 ≧ P2-α (α is a pressure value that decreases when nitrogen gas is supplied to the tire 21), the process proceeds to S23, and the nitrogen gas pressure filled in the connection hose 24 for a predetermined time t3 is equal to the tire pressure. It is determined that the pressure has also been supplied to 21 and the pressure has decreased by α, and it can be confirmed that the quick coupler 24 a of the connection hose 24 has been completely connected to the filling port 22 of the tire 21. Then, in step S24, a process of filling the tire 21 with nitrogen gas is performed. That is, when the worker starts the filling start switch 54 after completing the preliminary test filling before the gas filling, the normal gas filling processing is executed.

In S22, P1 <P2-
When α, the nitrogen gas pressure filled in the connection hose 24 for the predetermined time t3 is not supplied to the tire 21 and the pressure in the hose increases, so that the quick coupler 2
It is determined that 4a is not completely connected to the filling port 22 of the tire 21. Then, the process proceeds to S25 to notify that the connection of the connection hose 24 is incomplete. This allows the operator to operate the quick coupler 24a of the connection hose 24.
Can be reliably connected to the filling port 22 of the tire 21.

As described above, by detecting the presence or absence of leakage of the nitrogen gas, it is possible to warn that the connection hose 24 is incompletely connected. Therefore, the worker does not need to monitor the state during the filling, and the work efficiency of the tire replacement work can be improved.

Next, a modified example will be described. When the quick coupler 24a of the connection hose 24 does not have a built-in check valve, the pressure change is different from that of the above embodiment. That is, when the quick coupler 24a of the connection hose 24 is completely connected to the filling port 22 of the tire 21, the pressure detected by the third pressure sensor 42 becomes P1−P2> 0, and the quick coupler 24 When the connection 24a is incompletely connected to the filling port 22 of the tire 21, the connection hose 24
, P1-P2 = 0.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining a first modification of the preliminary test filling control process before the gas filling executed by the CPU 58 of the control panel 42. In FIG. 3, S2
Except for 2a, since it is the same as the control processing of FIG. 2 described above, the description thereof is omitted.

In S22a, the pressure P1 before filling and the pressure P2 after pre-filling are compared. In S22a,
When P1-P2 = 0 is not satisfied, the process proceeds to S23, in which the nitrogen gas pressure filled in the connection hose 24 for the predetermined time t3 is equal to the tire 2 pressure.
It is determined that the pressure P2 has also been supplied to the tire 1 and the pressure P2 has dropped, and the quick coupler 24a of the connection hose 24 is completely
It can be confirmed that the connection is made to the first filling port 22. Then, in step S24, a process of filling the tire 21 with nitrogen gas is performed.
That is, when the worker starts the filling start switch 54 after completing the preliminary test filling before the gas filling, the normal gas filling processing is executed.

In S22a, P1-P2
When = 0, the nitrogen gas pressure filled in the connection hose 24 for the predetermined time t3 is released to the atmosphere without being supplied to the tire 21, and the pressure in the hose decreases. Therefore, it is determined that the quick coupler 24 a of the connection hose 24 is not completely connected to the filling port 22 of the tire 21. Then, the process proceeds to S25 to notify that the connection of the connection hose 24 is incomplete. Thereby, the worker can securely connect the quick coupler 24a of the connection hose 24 to the tire 2.
One filling port 22 can be connected.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the tire 21 is filled with nitrogen gas has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other types of containers may be filled with compressed gas other than nitrogen gas. It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to any of them.

[0035]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the filling path is connected to the container to be filled, the judging means for judging the presence or absence of leakage from the filling path is provided. By detecting a gas leak, it is possible to warn that the filling path is incompletely connected. Therefore, the worker does not need to monitor the state during the filling, and the work efficiency can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, before the gas is filled, the compressed gas is supplied to the filling path for a predetermined time in a state where the filling path is connected to the container to be filled. Pressure monitoring means for monitoring, and leak detection means for detecting the presence or absence of leakage from the filling path based on the pressure change detected by the pressure monitoring means, so that the pressure change of the compressed gas supplied to the filling path It is possible to detect that the charging path is incompletely connected based on.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the check valve is mounted at the end of the filling path connected to the container to be filled, the pressure in the filling path rises to a predetermined pressure. Since it is determined that the connection of the filling path is defective, it is possible to detect that the filling path is incompletely connected based on the pressure change of the compressed gas supplied to the filling path.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the check valve is not attached to the end of the filling path connected to the container to be filled, the pressure of the filling path does not rise to the predetermined pressure. At this time, since it is determined that the connection of the filling path is defective, it is possible to detect that the filling path is incompletely connected based on a change in the pressure of the compressed gas supplied to the filling path.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a compressed gas filling apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for describing a pre-test filling control process before gas filling executed by a CPU 58 of a control panel 42;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a modification of a pre-test filling control process before gas filling executed by a CPU 58 of a control panel 42;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Compressed gas filling apparatus 12 Air compressor 14 Air supply line 16 Nitrogen separation membrane module 18 Product gas supply line 21 Tire 22 Filling port 24 Connection hose 24a Quick coupler 26 First pressure sensor 28 Solenoid valve 30 Filter 32 Check Valve 34 Throttle 36 Second pressure sensor 42 Third pressure sensor 44 Exhaust line 52 Control panel 54 Fill start switch 56 Fill stop switch 58 CPU

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3D026 DA05 DA07 DA09 DA10 3J071 AA02 BB14 CC11 EE18 EE24 EE37 FF15

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A compressed gas filling apparatus having a compressor for supplying a compressed gas and a filling path for filling the container with the compressed gas supplied from the compressor, wherein the filling path is a container to be filled. A compressed gas filling apparatus, further comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not there is a leak from the charging path in a state where the compressed gas is connected to the apparatus. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining means supplies a compressed gas to the filling path for a predetermined time in a state where the filling path is connected to the container to be filled before gas filling, and monitors a pressure change in the filling path at this time. The compressed gas according to claim 1, further comprising: pressure monitoring means; and leak detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a leak from the filling path based on a pressure change detected by the pressure monitoring means. Filling device. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the leak detecting unit is configured such that when a check valve is mounted at an end of the filling path connected to the container to be filled, the pressure of the filling path increases to a predetermined pressure. The compressed gas filling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein it is determined that the connection of the filling path is defective. 4. When the pressure of the filling path does not rise to a predetermined pressure in a case where a check valve is not attached to an end of the filling path connected to the container to be filled, the leak detecting means is provided. The compressed gas filling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein it is determined that the connection of the filling path is defective.