JP2002188795A - Filling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the filling accuracy in a filling device provided with a filling nozzle connected to a filling port of a container to fill the container with a fluid from a fluid supply source and formed to shut off a flow of the fluid before the predetermined quantity of the fluid is filled. SOLUTION: A filling valve device 34 formed freely to be switched to a first opening condition for running a required quantity of the fluid, a second opening condition for running a fine quantity of the fluid smaller than the required quantity, and the shut-off condition for shutting off the flow of the fluid is interposed in a fluid flow passage formed from the fluid supply source 94 to the filling nozzle 31. This filling valve device is formed to start to fill the fluid into the container in a first opening condition, and switched from the first opening condition to a second opening condition when stopping supply of the fluid, and thereafter, switched to the shut-off condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to, for example, a method of automatically carrying cylinders sequentially into a gas filling apparatus, and loading the introduced cylinders with gas such as LPG by a filling machine provided in a rotary table type gas filling apparatus. The present invention relates to a filling machine employed in a high-pressure gas filling system configured to automatically carry out a cylinder from a gas filling device after automatically filling the gas.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a high-pressure gas filling system for sequentially and automatically filling a large number of cylinders with a gas such as LPG. In this high-pressure gas filling system, an empty cylinder brought into the platform is transported by a receiving conveyor to a carry-in conveyor, and is further transported by the carry-in conveyor to a carry-in device in front of the gas filling device. The cylinder is carried into the gas filling device by the device.

[0003] The gas filling apparatus includes a rotary table that rotates around a vertical axis, and a plurality of filling machines that are circumferentially arranged at equal intervals on the outer peripheral side of the rotary table. The cylinders are carried one by one into each filling machine while the filling machine is moving in the rotation direction of the rotary table.
A valve is provided at the center of the upper surface of the cylinder, and a filling port and a safety valve are provided on the valve so as to protrude outward in the radial direction of the cylinder. In this high-pressure gas filling system, when the cylinder is carried into the filling machine, the filling nozzle of the filling machine is connected to the filling port of the valve above the cylinder, and the gas supply source and the filling nozzle are connected. The on-off valve provided in the gas flow passage is opened to supply gas to the cylinder, and the cylinder is filled with a predetermined amount of gas.

[0004]

In the conventional filling machine, when the cylinder is filled with a predetermined amount of gas, the on-off valve is closed to shut off the gas flow. Even after closing the gas, the gas in the gas flow path from the on-off valve to the filling nozzle is supplied, or there is a response delay of the on-off valve, the gas is supplied to the container in excess of a predetermined filling amount. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the on-off valve is closed just before the cylinder is filled with a predetermined amount of gas (50 kg in FIG. 9) (point D in FIG. 9), for example, 1 kg before the predetermined amount of gas. By shutting off the gas flow, the cylinder is filled with a predetermined amount of gas.
Variations occur in the filling amount due to various factors such as flow rate, air temperature (inner pressure of the cylinder), and differential pressure (for example, ± 0.5K).
g), the filling accuracy was not sufficient.

When the gas is charged into the cylinder, if the gas flow rate is reduced, the filling accuracy is increased.
Since the filling time becomes longer and the efficiency becomes worse, the gas flow rate cannot be reduced. In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a filling machine designed to improve filling accuracy.

[0006]

The technical solution taken by the present invention to solve the technical problem is a filling nozzle connected to a filling port of a container for filling the container with a fluid from a fluid supply source. In the filling machine, wherein the flow of the fluid is interrupted before the container is filled with the predetermined amount of the fluid, a first open state in which the required flow rate of the fluid is supplied, and a minute flow rate smaller than the required flow rate A filling valve device configured to be switchable between a second open state for flowing the fluid and a shutoff state for shutting off the flow of the fluid is interposed in the fluid flow passage from the fluid supply source to the filling nozzle, and the first open state is provided. In this state, when filling the container with the fluid is started in the state and the supply of the fluid is stopped, the state is switched from the first open state to the second open state and then switched to the cutoff state.

Further, the filling valve device has a first opening / closing valve for opening a first opening state and a second opening / closing valve for opening a second opening state. The valve is opened so that a small amount of fluid can be supplied to the container. When the fluid is shut off, the first on-off valve is closed and the first on-off valve is closed. The flow of the fluid may be cut off by closing the second on-off valve with a delay. In addition, the filling valve device is configured such that an outlet port through which a fluid flows to the filling nozzle side is openably and closably closed to open and shut off, and the valve body is fixed and movable in the opening and closing direction of the valve body. A first movable body that is moved from the shut-off state to the opening direction of the valve body to be in the first open state; A second moving body that moves and pushes the first moving body to be in a second open state, and when the first moving body is moved from the first open state to the closing direction of the valve body, Since the two moving bodies are moving in the opening direction of the valve body, the movement of the first moving body in the closing direction is restricted to the second open state, and then the second moving body is moved in the closing direction of the valve body. It is preferable to configure so as to be in the cut-off state by causing it to be turned off.

It is preferable that the position of the second moving body in the opening and closing direction of the valve body can be adjusted. Also, the first moving body is
In addition to operating with the diaphragm, the second moving body may be configured to operate with the second diaphragm.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 2 shows gas (fluid) such as LPG
Is a high-pressure gas filling system 1 that automatically fills a large number of cylinders (containers) 2 with a gas filling device 3 that fills a cylinder 2 with a gas, and an empty cylinder 2 that fills the gas filling device 3. And an unloading unit 5 for unloading the gas-filled cylinder 2 from the gas filling device 3.

[0010] The cylinder 2 is a normal pressure-resistant container, and its upper and lower ends are formed in a closed cylindrical shape. As shown in FIG. 8, a valve 20 is provided at the center of the upper surface. 20 is provided with a filling port (gas outlet) 21 and a safety valve 22 projecting radially outward of the cylinder 2 from a valve body 20A having a valve body for opening and closing the valve 20 therein, and an upper end of the valve body 20A. On the side, filling port 2
A handle 23 for opening and closing the valve 20 (operating the valve body) so as to cover the safety valve 22 and the safety valve 22 is provided so as to be freely rotatable about a vertical axis.

The carry-in section 4 is provided with a carry-in conveyor for carrying the empty cylinder 2 carried in from the carry-in entrance 6 in the carry-in transfer direction A and transferring the cylinder 2 to the gas filling device 3 side. Orienteering code reader 7
And the weighing unit 8 and the carry-in device 9 are arranged in order from the rear in the carry-in and transfer direction A to the front. The empty cylinder 2 automatically or manually loaded into the loading port 6 is transported by the loading conveyor in the loading and transporting direction A, and first reaches the orienteering code reading section 7 where the upper portion of the cylinder 2 is placed. The cylinder 2 is positioned (the position is corrected) so that the filling port 21 of the provided valve 20 is oriented in a predetermined direction, and a bar code (or a number or symbol, etc.) attached to the upper part of the cylinder 2 is provided. ID code) is read.

The code read from this bar code is
The size of the cylinder 2 (for example, a 20 kg cylinder, 3
The empty weight (empty capacity) of the cylinder 2 (0 kg cylinder or 50 kg cylinder) or the like is read. If a cap is attached to the valve of the cylinder 2, the cap is removed before reaching the orienteering code reader 7. Next, the cylinder 2 is transferred to the measuring section 8, where the current weight of the cylinder 2 is measured, and the remaining gas is calculated by comparing the measured weight with the empty weight.

The gas filling device 3 has a central axis X in the vertical direction.
The rotary table 12 includes a rotary table 12 that rotates around in the direction of arrow B, and a plurality of filling machines 13 that are arranged in a circumferential direction on the outer peripheral side of the rotary table 12. Each filling machine 13 is installed so that the front faces outward in the radial direction of the rotary table 12.
Can be received, and the loading device 9 is provided to the filling machine 13 while the filling machine 13 is moving in the B direction.
(The transporting direction in which the cylinder 2 is loaded into the filling machine 13 by the loading device 9 coincides with the transporting direction A). , Loading direction A in horizontal plane
To the filling machine 13 moving in the direction intersecting
Is configured to be carried in).

The unloading section 5 is provided with an unloading conveyor for transferring the cylinder 2 from the gas filling device 3 to the unloading port 14 in the unloading and transferring direction C (the direction opposite to the loading and transferring direction A). , Unloading device 15, gas filling amount checking unit 16, gas leak checking unit 17, and seal cap device 1.
8 are arranged in order from the rear in the unloading transfer direction C to the front. When the gas is filled into the cylinder 2 by the filling machine 13, when the filling machine 13 comes to a position substantially facing the unloading device 15, the cylinder 2 is taken out by the unloading device 15 in the unloading transfer direction C (is unloaded). The taken-out cylinder 2 is transferred by the unloading conveyor in the unloading transfer direction C, and the gas filling amount checking unit 16 checks the gas filling amount for excess or deficiency.
It is checked at 7 whether or not gas is leaking or not. If the filling amount is good and if there is no gas leaking, the seal cap device 18 places a seal cap on the filling port 11 of the valve 10 of the cylinder 2. A cap is attached to the valve 20 of the 50 kg cylinder 2 by a cap attaching device, and the valve 20 is discharged from the carry-out port 14.

If the filling amount is insufficient or gas is leaking, it is appropriately excluded. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the filling machine 13 includes an installation table 24 for installation on the rotary table 12, and a back side of the installation table 24 (a radially inner side of the rotary table 12). A box 25 accommodating a control device and the like is provided upright, and a weighing device 26 for measuring the weight of the cylinder 2 is provided on the installation table 24. Also, on the back side of the weighing device 26 and the box 25
A support frame 27 is erected on the front side (radially outward side of the rotary table 12), and on the weighing device 26 and on the front side of the support frame 27, a mounting portion composed of a plurality of rollers is provided. 10 is provided, and the cylinder 2 carried into the filling machine 13 by the carrying-in device 9 is placed on the receiver 10, and the weight of the cylinder 2 of the receiver 10 can be measured by the weighing device 26. It is configured.

When the cylinder 2 is loaded onto the mounting portion 10, the cylinder 2 mounted on the mounting portion 10 is weighed by a weighing device, and the weight (in accordance with the standard or the like of the cylinder 2) is measured. The gas is filled up to a predetermined filling amount). The support frame 27 is provided with a pair of left and right guide rods 28 in the vertical direction. The guide rods 28 support vertically movable frames 29 which are vertically movable. The vertically movable frames 29 are vertically driven by actuators such as air cylinders. The unit 30 can be moved up and down.

The elevating frame 29 is provided with a filling nozzle 31 for injecting gas into the cylinder 2 and a positioning body 32 for determining the position of the filling nozzle 31 in the vertical direction with respect to the cylinder 2. Also, the filling nozzle 31
Is a connection position shown in FIG. 3 which can be connected to the filling port 21 of the cylinder 2 on the mounting portion 10, and a retreat position which retreats from this connection position to the front side (the direction indicated by the arrow E in FIG. 3). It is supported so that its position can be changed. The filling nozzle 31 is provided so as to face inward in the radial direction of the rotary table 12 at the connection position. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the filling of the valve 10 of the cylinder 2 in the orienteering code reading unit 7 is performed. The direction of the opening 21 is the carrying direction A
To face backward (to face the filling nozzle 31)
Be changed.

When the cylinder 2 is carried in, the elevating frame 29 includes a positioning body 32 and a filling nozzle 31.
Is located at the ascending position located above the cylinder 2 on the mounting portion 10, and the filling nozzle 31 is located at the retracted position. When the cylinder 2 is loaded on the mounting portion 10, the lifting frame 29 is lowered, and when the positioning body 32 contacts the handle 23 of the valve 20 of the cylinder 2, the lowering is stopped. 31 is located at the connection position and connected to the filling port 21 of the cylinder 2.

The filling machine 13 is provided with a pair of left and right gripping arms 11 which can be opened and closed left and right for gripping the cylinder 2, and the lower left and right gripping arms 11 are supported by the support frame 2.
7, and holds the lower portion of the cylinder 2 on the mounting portion 10. Also, the upper left and right gripping arms 11
Is supported by a guide rod 28 so as to be vertically movable and can be fixed in position, and can be adjusted vertically in accordance with the size of the cylinder 2. In addition, the lower part of the support frame 27 detects that the cylinder 2 is located at a regular carry-in position on the mounting portion 10 (a position where the filling nozzle 31 can be connected to the filling port 21 of the cylinder 2 satisfactorily). The sensor 33 is provided. When the detection sensor 33 detects that the cylinder 2 has been carried into the mounting section 10, the cylinder 2 is gripped and positioned by the gripping arm 11.

A rotary table 1 is provided on the filling nozzle 31.
2 gas supply source 94 such as a gas tank installed outside (FIG. 1
The gas supply path from the gas supply source 94 to the filling nozzle 31 has a filling valve device 34 for supplying gas to the cylinder 2 or shutting off the gas flow. Is interposed. In the present embodiment, the filling valve device 34 is provided in the filling machine 13 and is housed in the box 25. The box 25 is provided with a pipe connection port 35 for connecting a pipe from the gas supply source 94 side.
From the box 25 via a pipe or the like, reaches the filling valve device 34 via a pipe or the like, passes through the filling valve device 34, and is filled in the box 2 via a pipe or the like.
5 is taken out from the front side, further reaches the filling nozzle 31 via the hose 36 and the pipe 37, and is ejected from the filling nozzle 31.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the filling valve device 34 includes a first on-off valve 3 inside a valve body 38.
9 and a second opening / closing valve 40. The valve body 38 includes a main body 41, a first flange 42 connected to the upper surface of the main body 41, a second flange 43 connected to the upper surface of the first flange 42, and a second flange 43. And a joint member 45 connected to a lower portion of the main body 41. At the center of the main body 41, a through hole is formed, which penetrates in the up-down direction and has a stepped shape whose lower side is larger than the upper side.

A joint member 45 is screwed and connected to the lower part of the through hole from below, and a gas flow chamber 49 is formed above the joint member 45 below the through hole. A valve seat 52 is provided on the upper end side of the joint member 45. The valve seat 52 has a gas flow chamber 49 and a joint member 45.
Up and down gas flow path 51 communicating with the gas flow path 50
Is formed, and the upper end opening of the gas flow path 51 is a gas outlet port 53. Also, the valve body 3
A gas inlet port 54 is formed on the lower outer surface of the main body 41 of FIG. 8, and the gas inlet port 54 communicates with the gas flow chamber 49 via a gas flow path 55 formed in the main body 41.

The gas from the gas supply source 94 flows from the gas inlet port 54 through the gas passage 55 to the gas flow chamber 4.
9 and the gas flow path 5 through the gas outlet port 53.
1, 50, and is discharged to the filling nozzle 31 side. A pipe is connected to the joint member 45, and gas is taken out of the box 25 through the pipe. The upper part of the through hole formed in the main body part 41 of the valve body 38 has a spool insertion part 5 through which the spool 56 is inserted so as to be slidable in the axial direction (movable up and down).
7 is set.

At the lower end of the spool 56, there is provided an engaging portion 58 which protrudes radially outward.
By engaging (contacting) with a step portion (engaged portion) 59 in the middle of the through hole, the upward movement of the spool 56 is regulated. An insertion hole 60 penetrating in the vertical direction is formed at the center of the spool 56, and the valve shaft 61 is freely movable in the axial direction (movable up and down) in the insertion hole 60.
A valve body 62 is provided at the lower end of the valve shaft 61 to abut on the valve seat 52 to close and open the gas outlet port 53 in an openable and closable manner.

The spool 56 and the valve shaft 61 are movable in the same direction and relatively movable, and the valve shaft 61 is a first movable body and the spool 56 is a second movable body. . Also, the cover body 44
A first space portion 63 is formed between the first flange 42 and the second flange 43, and a second space portion communicating with the spool insertion portion 57 of the main body portion 41 is provided between the first flange 42 and the second flange 43. 64 are formed, and the first space 6
3 is formed, and a communication hole 69 communicating the first space 63 and the second space 64 is formed at the center of the second flange 43.

The first space 63 has a first diaphragm 6
The second diaphragm 6 is housed in the second space 64.
7 is housed, and a return spring 68 made of a coil spring or the like is housed in the spring housing section 65. The outer peripheral edge side of the first diaphragm 66 is sandwiched and fixed between the second flange 43 and the cover body 44, and the second diaphragm 67
Is sandwiched and fixed between the first flange 42 and the second flange 43. The upper portion of the spool 56 projects into the second space portion 64 to protrude into the second diaphragm 67.
And the upper part of the valve shaft 61 is
, Projecting into the first space 63 through the communication hole 69, and a small diameter mounting shaft 70 penetrating the first diaphragm 66 is integrally provided at the upper part of the valve shaft 61. Have been.

A first diaphragm washer 71 located below the first diaphragm 66 is externally fitted to the mounting shaft 70, and a first diaphragm guard 72 located above the first diaphragm 66 is externally fitted to the mounting shaft 70. I have. Also,
A male screw is formed on the upper part of the mounting shaft 70, and a nut 73 is screwed into the male screw from above via a washer, so that the first diaphragm washer 71 and the first diaphragm 66 are attached to the mounting shaft 70. And a first diaphragm guard 72.

The return spring 68 is interposed between the first diaphragm guard 72 and the upper wall 44a of the spring housing 65 in a compressed state, and the spring force (biasing force) of the return spring 68 is provided. The first diaphragm guard 7
2, the valve shaft 61 is urged downward via the first diaphragm 66 and the first diaphragm washer 71, and the valve body 62 contacts the valve seat 52 so as to close the gas outlet port 54. ing. The first diaphragm guard 72 also serves as a spring receiver.

The second flange 43 is provided with a first air inlet port 74 to which air is supplied from an air supply source 95 such as a compressor or a pump via a control valve 96 or the like. Reference numeral 74 communicates with a first air filling chamber 87 below the first diaphragm 66 in the first space 63 by an air flow path 75 formed in the second flange 43. The first valve body 62, valve shaft 61, first diaphragm washer 71, first diaphragm 66, first diaphragm guard 72, etc.
An on-off valve 39 is configured.

As shown in FIG. 1, when air is not supplied to the first air inlet port 74, the valve shaft 61 is urged downward by the spring force of the return spring 68, and the valve body 62 is When the gas outlet port 53 is closed and compressed air is supplied from the air supply source 95 to the first air inlet port 74, the air flows into the first air charging chamber 87 through the air flow path 75, As shown in FIG. 5, the first diaphragm 66 and the first diaphragm guard 72 are pushed up by air against the spring force of the return spring 68, and the valve shaft 61 is raised (moves in the opening direction of the valve body 62). At the same time, the valve body 62 moves upward, the gas outlet port 54 is opened (the first on-off valve 39 is opened), and the gas from the gas supply source 94 is discharged. Gas inlet port 54, gas passage 55, gas distribution chamber 49, the gas outlet port 5
3. The gas can be circulated to the gas flow paths 50 and 51, and a gas at a required flow rate can be supplied from the filling nozzle 31 into the cylinder 2 through the filling port 21.

When the supply of air to the first air inlet port 74 is stopped, the valve shaft 61 is pushed down by the spring force of the return spring 68 (moves in the closing direction of the valve body 62), and the valve body is moved. 62 moves downward to close the gas outlet port 53 (the first on-off valve 39 operates to close), and the flow of gas is shut off. At the upper part of the spool 56, there is provided a mounting part 56a which is formed in a stepwise smaller diameter than the lower part and penetrates the second diaphragm 67, and the mounting part 56a is provided at the lower side of the second diaphragm 67. , A second diaphragm washer 76 is externally fitted, and a second diaphragm guard 77 located above the second diaphragm 67 is externally fitted.

A male screw is formed on the upper portion of the mounting portion 56a of the spool 56, and a spacer 78 is screwed onto the male screw from above, so that a second diaphragm washer 76 is formed on the upper portion of the spool 56. , A second diaphragm 67 and a second diaphragm guard 77 are attached. The spacer 78 is provided above the valve shaft 61.
The first diaphragm washer 71 is externally fitted to the lower side of the first diaphragm washer 71 so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction.
And is inserted through the communication hole 69 so as to be movable in the axial direction.

The spool 56 is connected to the valve shaft 61
May be configured so as to directly contact. A second air inlet port 79 to which air is supplied from an air supply source 95 such as a compressor or a pump via a control valve 96 or the like is formed in the main body 41 of the valve body 38. 79 communicates with a second air filling chamber 88 below the second diaphragm 67 in the second space 64 by an air flow passage 80 formed in the main body 41.

The valve 62, valve shaft 61, spool 56, second diaphragm washer 76, second diaphragm 67, second diaphragm guard 77 and the like constitute the second on-off valve 40. As shown in FIG.
In a state where air is not supplied to the second air inlet port 79, the valve shaft 61 is urged downward by the spring force of the return spring 68, and the valve body 62 closes the gas outlet port 53. When the valve body 62 closes the gas outlet port 53, the engaging portion 58 of the spool 56 is separated downward from the engaged portion 59, and the second air inlet port 7 is supplied from the air supply source 95.
9 is supplied to the second air filling chamber 88 through the air passage 80, and the compressed air is supplied to the second diaphragm 67 and the second diaphragm 67, as shown in FIG.
The diaphragm 56 is pushed up against the spring force of the return spring 68, and the spool 56 is pushed up (moves in the opening direction of the valve body 62) until the engaging portion 58 contacts the engaged portion 59. , The spacer 78 pushes up the first diaphragm washer 71 and the valve shaft 61
Is pushed up, the valve body 62 moves upward, and the gas outlet port 54 is opened (the second on-off valve 40
Is opened), and the gas from the gas supply source 94 flows into the gas inlet port 54, the gas flow path 55,
9, gas outlet port 53, gas flow paths 50, 51
And gas can be supplied from the filling nozzle 31 into the cylinder 2 via the filling port 21.

At this time, the valve element 62 by the second on-off valve 40
Is set to be smaller than the upward movement amount (valve opening amount) of the valve body 62 by the first opening / closing valve 39, and only the second opening / closing valve 40 is opened. When operated, the gas flows at a small flow rate smaller than the flow rate when the first on-off valve 39 is opened and operated. When the supply of air to the second air inlet port 79 is stopped, the spool 5
6 and the valve shaft 61 are pushed down (the valve body 62
), The valve body 62 moves downward to close the gas outlet port 53 (the second on-off valve 40 closes), and the gas flow is shut off.

The second diaphragm washer 76
An adjustment shim 82 is interposed between the spool 56 and the stepped portion 81 on the lower end side of the mounting portion 56a of the spool 56. The adjustment shim 82 allows the vertical position of the spool 56 (position in the opening and closing direction of the valve body 62). That is, the distance L between the engaging portion 58 and the engaged portion 59 is adjustable, and by adjusting the distance L between the engaging portion 58 and the engaged portion 59, the closing of the valve body 62 is prevented. The amount of upward movement from the position is determined, whereby the flow rate of gas flowing through the gas outlet port 54 when the second on-off valve 40 is opened is adjusted.

In the above configuration, the first opening / closing valve 39 is opened to flow gas at a required flow rate in the first state.
A state in which the first on-off valve 39 is closed and the second on-off valve 40 is opened to flow gas at a small flow rate is in a second open state, and the first on-off valve 39 and the second on-off valve are opened. A state in which both the valves 40 are closed and the valve body 62 blocks the gas outlet port 53 is a cutoff state in which the gas flow is cut off, and the filling valve device 34 is in a first open state,
The state can be switched between a second open state and a cutoff state.

An upper opening-shaped recess 83 is formed in the upper part of the cover body 44, and a first pilot 84 is housed in the recess 83 so as to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction.
An upper opening-shaped recess 85 is also formed in the upper part of the pilot 84, and a second pilot 86 is housed in the recess 85 so as to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction. First pilot 84
From the spring storage portion 65, the spring storage portion 65 and the concave portion 83
(The upper wall 44a of the spring housing 65)
Is fixed by being screwed into an upper portion of a cylindrical first pilot shaft 89 that penetrates the first pilot shaft movably.
The second pilot 86 is fixed by being screwed into an upper portion of a second pilot shaft 90 that is inserted into the first pilot shaft 89 so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

At the lower end side of the first pilot shaft 89, a large-diameter portion 89 whose inner and outer diameters are larger than the upper side.
a first pilot spring 91 composed of a coil spring or the like externally fitted to the first pilot shaft 89 is interposed between the large diameter portion 89a and the upper surface wall 44a of the spring housing portion 65 in a compressed state. The first pilot shaft 89 is urged downward by the spring force of the first pilot spring 91. A large-diameter portion 90a is provided on the lower side of the second pilot shaft 90 and has a diameter larger than that of the upper portion and is fitted inside the large-diameter portion 89a of the first pilot shaft 89 so as to be vertically movable. The large diameter portion 90a and the large diameter portion 8 of the first pilot shaft 89
9a between the second pilot shaft 90 and the upper wall.
A second pilot spring 92 composed of a coil spring or the like externally fitted to the second pilot spring 92 is interposed in a compressed manner, and the second pilot shaft 90 is urged downward by the spring force of the second pilot spring 92, so that the second pilot spring The shaft 90 is the nut 73 (or the upper end of the mounting shaft 70).
Is contactable so that it can come and go.

When the valve shaft 61 is pushed up to the first open state, the valve shaft 61 is moved to the first and second pilot springs 91 and 9 as shown in FIG.
2 and the first and second pilot shafts 8
9, 90, and the first and second pilots 84, 86
Project upward from the recesses 83 and 85, respectively, and it can be visually recognized that the first open state is established. Also, the valve shaft 61
Is pushed up to the second open state, as shown in FIG. 6, the valve shaft 61 pushes up only the second pilot shaft 89 against the spring force of the second pilot spring 92, and the second pilot 86 It protrudes upward from 85 and can be visually recognized as being in the second open state.

At this time, the first pilot 84 is held in a state of being immersed in the recess 83 by the spring force of the first pilot spring 91. In the filling valve device 34 having the above configuration, when the cylinder 2 is carried into the filling machine 13 and the filling nozzle 31 is connected to the filling port 21 of the cylinder 2, first, the first air filling chamber 87 and the second air Air is supplied to the filling chamber 88 and the filling valve device 34 is set to the first open state shown in FIG.
In the example shown in FIG. 7, the gas is supplied into the cylinder 2 at an amount of 50 kg in 150 seconds.

Next, before the gas in the cylinder 2 reaches a predetermined filling amount corresponding to the capacity of the cylinder 2, for example, 1 kg before reaching a predetermined filling amount of 50 kg (point D in FIG. 7), the first The supply of air to the air filling chamber 87 is stopped. Then, the valve shaft 61 is pushed downward by the spring force of the return spring 68 and the first on-off valve 39 is closed, but the second on-off valve 40 is opened and the spool 5
6 is in the raised position (moves in the opening direction of the valve body 62), the first diaphragm washer 71 comes into contact with the spacer 78, whereby the downward movement of the valve shaft 61 is regulated, and the filling valve device is 34 is set to the second open state shown in FIG. 6, and the gas is supplied to the cylinder 2 at a very small flow rate.

Then, before reaching a predetermined filling amount (F in FIG. 7).
At point), the supply of air to the second air charging chamber 88 is stopped. Then, the valve shaft 61 is pushed down together with the spool 56 by the spring force of the return spring 68,
The valve body 62 contacts the valve seat 52, and the filling valve device 34
1 is turned off, and the supply of gas to the cylinder 2 is stopped. Thereafter, a small amount of gas is injected into the cylinder 2, and the gas in the cylinder 2 is set to a predetermined filling amount (or in the vicinity thereof).

The operation of the filling valve device 34 described above is automatically controlled by the control device housed in the box 25. In this embodiment, the predetermined filling amount is ± 0.
The gas can be filled into the cylinder 2 with a filling accuracy of 1 kg, and the filling accuracy is improved as compared with the conventional case. The gas flow rate after the filling valve device 34 is set to the first open state until the filling valve apparatus 34 is set to the second open state may be the same as the conventional flow rate. Therefore, by setting the flow rate of the gas from the first open state to the second open state at a larger flow rate than the conventional gas filling flow rate, the gas filling time into the cylinder 2 is shortened. You can also.

When adjusting the flow rate of the gas flowing through the gas outlet port 54 in the second open state in which only the second on-off valve 40 is opened, the filling accuracy is improved if the flow rate is too small. If the filling time is long and the flow rate is too large, the filling time will be short, but the filling accuracy will be poor, so that an appropriate flow rate is adjusted based on this. In the present embodiment, the filling valve device 34 sets the moving direction of the spool 56 and the valve shaft 61 and the like in the vertical direction, but is not limited to this, and the moving direction of the spool 56 and the valve shaft 61 and the like is changed. The direction may be the front-back direction, the left-right direction, or another direction.

The filling valve device 34 may be constituted by a rotary spool type or direct acting spool type three-position switching valve. Note that the present invention is not limited to the high-pressure gas filling apparatus in the above-described embodiment, but may be applied to other fluid filling systems for filling a container with a fluid. In the filling valve device 34 having the above-described configuration, the first opening / closing valve 39 and the second opening / closing valve 40 are provided in one valve body 38.
Can be made compact.

The first on-off valve 39 and the second on-off valve 40 may be formed separately, and may be interposed in parallel in the fluid flow passage from the fluid supply source to the filling nozzle.

[0048]

According to the present invention, a filling nozzle is connected to a filling port of a container for filling a container with a predetermined amount of fluid by a filling machine, and then a fluid flow from a fluid supply source to the filling nozzle is provided. The filling valve device interposed in the passage is set to a first open state in which a required amount of fluid flows, and the filling of the container with the fluid is started. Thereafter, before the container is filled with the predetermined amount of the fluid, the fluid is filled. When the flow is interrupted, the flow is switched from the first open state to a second open state in which a small amount of fluid smaller than the required flow rate is passed, and then to a shutoff state in which the fluid flow is interrupted. Immediately before shutting off, the fluid is supplied to the container at a very small flow rate, so that the filling accuracy can be improved.

In the conventional apparatus, if the supply flow rate is reduced to improve the filling accuracy, there is a problem that the filling time is significantly increased. However, in the present invention, the second filling is started after the filling of the container is started. Until the container is opened, the fluid is supplied at a required flow rate. Therefore, when the filling accuracy is improved, the time required for filling the container with the predetermined amount of the fluid does not significantly increase. Also, the filling valve device
A valve body for opening and closing an outlet port for allowing fluid to flow to the filling nozzle side to open and close, and a valve body fixed to the valve body and movable in the opening and closing direction of the valve body; A first moving body that is moved in the opening direction to be in a first open state; and a first moving body that is relatively movable in the same direction as the first moving body and moves from the closed state in the opening direction of the valve body. And a second movable body that is brought into a second open state by pushing the second movable body when the first movable body is moved in the closing direction of the valve body from the first open state. By moving in the opening direction, the movement of the first moving body in the closing direction is regulated to be in the second open state, and then the second moving body is moved in the closing direction of the valve body to be in the shutoff state. With this configuration, two valve functions can be built into one valve body. Can be can be configured compactly filling valve device.

Further, by making the position of the second movable body in the opening / closing direction of the valve body adjustable, it is possible to increase or decrease the fluid flow rate in the second open state, and to reduce the filling time and the filling accuracy. The balance can be adjusted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a filling valve device.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a high-pressure gas filling device.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a filling machine.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a filling machine.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the filling valve device in a first open state.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the filling valve device in a second open state.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a relationship between a time and a filling amount when filling a cylinder with a predetermined filling amount of gas.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the upper part of the cylinder.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing a relationship between time and a filling amount when filling a cylinder with a predetermined filling amount of gas.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 cylinder (container) 21 filling port 31 filling nozzle 34 filling valve device 39 first on-off valve 40 second on-off valve 54 outlet port 56 spool (second moving body) 62 valve body 61 valve shaft (first moving body) 66th 1 diaphragm 67 second diaphragm 94 gas supply source (fluid supply source)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A filling nozzle connected to a filling port of a container for filling a container with fluid from a fluid supply source, wherein a flow of the fluid is shut off before the container is filled with a predetermined amount of fluid. The filling machine is configured to switch between a first open state in which a required flow rate of fluid flows, a second open state in which a small flow rate of fluid smaller than the required flow rate flows, and a shutoff state in which the flow of fluid is shut off. When the filling valve device configured in the above is interposed in the fluid flow passage from the fluid supply source to the filling nozzle and starts filling the container with the fluid in the first open state and stops the supply of the fluid, A filling machine configured to switch from a first open state to a second open state and then to a cutoff state. 2. The filling valve device has a first opening / closing valve in a first open state and a second opening / closing valve in a second open state. The valve is configured to be opened so that a small amount of fluid can be supplied to the container.
2. The filling according to claim 1, wherein the on-off valve is closed and the second on-off valve is closed after the first on-off valve to shut off the flow of fluid. Machine. 3. A filling valve device comprising: a valve element for opening and closing an outlet port through which a fluid flows to a filling nozzle so as to be in a shut-off state; and the valve element is fixed and moves in the opening and closing direction of the valve element. A first moving body that is made freely and moves to a first open state by moving in the opening direction of the valve body from the shut-off state; and a first moving body that is relatively movable in the same direction as the first moving body and moves from the shut-off state to the valve body. A second moving body that moves in the opening direction and pushes the first moving body to be in a second open state;
When the first moving body is moved in the closing direction of the valve body from the first open state, the movement of the first moving body in the closing direction is caused by the movement of the second moving body in the opening direction of the valve body. 3. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the second movable body is regulated to be in a closed state by moving the second movable body in a closing direction of the valve body. The filling machine as described. 4. The filling machine according to claim 3, wherein the position of the second movable body in the opening and closing direction of the valve body is adjustable. 5. The filling machine according to claim 3, wherein the first moving body is operated by the first diaphragm and the second moving body is operated by the second diaphragm.