JP2005165667A - Regulator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a regulator having a high pressure regulation property as well as preventing a leakage of hydrogen gas. <P>SOLUTION: A regulator 1 has a diaphragm 3 separating inside a housing 2 into a pressure regulation chamber 9 and a pressure reduction chamber 10 and also detaching a valve plug 17 from a valve sheet 18 by elastic deformation resulted from the pressure difference between a pressure regulation face 3a on the side of the chamber 9 and a pressure receiving face 3b on the side of the chamber 10. The diaphragm 3 is layered of a metallic diaphragm 7 and a rubber diaphragm 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a regulator.

  In hydrogen tanks used in fuel cell vehicles, etc., the pressure is increased to increase the storage capacity, and the gas pressure (secondary pressure) on the outlet side is adjusted to the gas pressure on the inlet side supplied from the high-pressure hydrogen tank. A regulator that regulates a pressure lower than (primary pressure) is also required to have high pressure regulation characteristics.

Generally, such a regulator includes a piston type that uses a piston as a pressure adjusting unit and a diaphragm type that uses a diaphragm like the regulator described in Patent Document 1, for example. However, when the piston regulator is used for high pressure gas, the sliding resistance of the sliding seal is increased, and the response of the piston is deteriorated, so that the pressure regulation accuracy is lowered. Therefore, the diaphragm regulator is more suitable for the fuel cell vehicle or the like that requires high pressure regulation accuracy. And since hydrogen gas permeate | transmits in a rubber diaphragm, the metal diaphragm is conventionally employ | adopted for the regulator for hydrogen gas.
JP 2002-14731 A

  However, if the hydrogen tank is further increased in pressure and the pressure reduction ratio is increased, the conventional metal diaphragm may not have sufficient pressure receiving area and deformation amount to satisfy the required pressure regulation accuracy due to insufficient strength. There is a problem that there is.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a regulator having high pressure regulation characteristics while preventing leakage of hydrogen gas.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 divides the inside of the housing into a pressure regulation chamber and a decompression chamber, and also includes a pressure regulation surface on the pressure regulation chamber side and a pressure receiving surface on the decompression chamber side. A hydrogen gas regulator having a diaphragm for moving the valve body to and from the valve seat by elastic deformation accompanying a pressure difference between the rubber layer and the rubber layer, and a metal layer on at least one surface of the rubber layer The gist of the present invention is that it has a laminated structure.

The gist of the invention described in claim 2 is that the diaphragm is formed by laminating a metal diaphragm and a rubber diaphragm.
The gist of the invention described in claim 3 is that the metal diaphragm is formed of any one of SUS316, SUS316L, SUS304, and SUS304L.

The gist of the invention described in claim 4 is that the rubber diaphragm is formed of rubber with a base fabric.
The gist of the invention described in claim 5 is that the metal layer is formed by vapor deposition.

The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the metal layer is formed on at least the pressure receiving surface.
(Function)
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the pressure receiving area and the amount of deformation necessary for satisfying the pressure regulation accuracy required by ensuring sufficient strength in the rubber layer are secured, and the decompression chamber side is secured by the metal layer. It is possible to prevent the permeation of hydrogen gas from the pressure control chamber side. Therefore, leakage of hydrogen gas can be prevented and high pressure regulation characteristics can be secured.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, while ensuring a sufficient pressure-receiving area and a deformation amount required for satisfying the pressure regulation accuracy required by securing a sufficient strength with the rubber diaphragm, the metal diaphragm It becomes possible to prevent permeation of hydrogen gas from the decompression chamber side to the pressure regulation chamber side. Furthermore, even if the metal diaphragm is broken, the rubber diaphragm can prevent hydrogen gas from suddenly leaking.

According to the invention described in claim 3, it is possible to prevent hydrogen embrittlement of the metal diaphragm along with permeation of hydrogen gas. Furthermore, high strength and corrosion resistance can be ensured.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to secure a sufficient pressure receiving area and deformation amount necessary to ensure sufficient strength and satisfy the required pressure regulation accuracy.

According to the invention described in claim 5, it is possible to manufacture a diaphragm that can prevent hydrogen gas permeation and ensure high pressure regulation characteristics at a low cost.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the hydrogen gas that has passed through the rubber layer from being filled between the metal layer and the rubber layer.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a regulator that prevents leakage of hydrogen gas and has high pressure regulation characteristics.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a regulator for hydrogen gas will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the regulator 1 includes a housing 2 and a diaphragm 3. In the present embodiment, the housing 2 includes a housing body 5 having a recess 5a on one side surface and a bonnet 6 formed in a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape. The housing body 5 and the bonnet 6 are fixed so that the recess 5a of the housing body 5 and the opening 6a of the bonnet 6 are aligned.

  The diaphragm 3 is disposed between the housing body 5 and the bonnet 6, and the peripheral edge thereof is sandwiched between the housing body 5 and the opening end 6 b of the bonnet 6. As shown in FIG. 1B, in the present embodiment, the diaphragm 3 is formed by laminating a metal diaphragm 7 as a metal layer and a rubber diaphragm 8 as a rubber layer. As shown in FIG. 1A, the diaphragm 3 is disposed so that the metal diaphragm 7 faces the concave portion 5a of the housing body 5 and the rubber diaphragm 8 faces the bonnet 6 side. An O-ring 11 is disposed between the metal diaphragm 7 and the housing body 5. In this embodiment, the metal diaphragm 7 is formed of SUS316L, and the rubber diaphragm 8 is formed of rubber with a base fabric reinforced with fibers.

  In this embodiment, the pressure adjustment chamber 9 is formed by the internal space of the bonnet 6 closed by the diaphragm 3, and the decompression chamber 10 is formed by the recess 5 a partitioned from the internal space of the bonnet 6 by the diaphragm 3. Yes. The recess 5a is formed with a discharge hole 13 that allows the decompression chamber 10 and the secondary port 12 to communicate with each other.

  The housing body 5 includes a valve chamber 15 that communicates with the primary port 14, and a communication hole 16 that communicates the decompression chamber 10 with the valve chamber 15 is formed in the recess 5 a. A valve body 17 is disposed in the valve chamber 15, and a valve seat 18 is formed at the end of the communication hole 16 on the valve chamber 15 side. The valve element 17 is urged by a valve spring 19 in a direction to be seated on the valve seat 18. The valve body 17 includes a valve stem 21 inserted through the communication hole 16. The valve stem 21 is abutted against a spring receiver 22 formed at the center of the diaphragm 3 by being biased by a valve spring 19.

  On the other hand, one end of the adjustment spring 23 is fixed to the surface 22 a of the spring receiver 22 on the pressure adjustment chamber 9 side, and the second spring receiver 24 is fixed to the other end of the adjustment spring 23. The tip of an adjustment screw 25 penetrating in the center of the bottom of the bonnet 6 is in contact with the second spring receiver 24.

  In the regulator 1 of the present embodiment, the pressure adjustment chamber 9 communicates with the outside through a through hole 26 formed in the bonnet 6, and the pressure adjustment chamber of the diaphragm 3 is in a state where the adjustment spring 23 is not compressed. The pressure applied to the 9 side surface, that is, the pressure adjusting surface 3a is atmospheric pressure. The valve body 17 is set to be seated on the valve seat 18 by the elastic force of the valve spring 19 when the adjustment spring 23 is not compressed.

  When the regulator 1 is used, the pressure applied to the pressure adjustment surface 3 a is set by operating the adjustment screw 25 and compressing the adjustment spring 23. Then, the diaphragm 3 is elastically deformed so as to protrude toward the decompression chamber 10 by the elastic force of the adjustment spring 23. Then, when the valve body 17 is pushed down via the valve stem 21 and separated from the valve seat 18, the gas (hydrogen) supplied from the primary side port 14 flows into the decompression chamber 10.

  Further, when the pressure in the decompression chamber 10 increases and the pressure on the decompression chamber 10 side of the diaphragm 3, i.e., the pressure applied to the pressure receiving surface 3b and the pressure applied to the pressure adjustment surface 3a are balanced, the diaphragm 3 adjusts the pressure. When the valve body 17 is seated on the valve seat 18 by elastic deformation to the chamber 9 side, the valve is closed. Then, when the gas in the decompression chamber 10 flows out from the secondary port 12 and the pressure in the decompression chamber 10 decreases, the valve body 17 is separated from the valve seat 18 again and opened as described above. Then, the regulator 1 is driven by the diaphragm 3 as described above, and the valve body 17 is separated from the valve seat 18 to reduce the pressure of the gas supplied from the primary side port 14, thereby reducing the secondary side port. 12 is discharged.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following features can be obtained.
(1) The regulator 1 divides the inside of the housing 2 into a pressure regulation chamber 9 and a decompression chamber 10 and is elastic due to a pressure difference between the pressure regulation surface 3a on the pressure regulation chamber 9 side and the pressure receiving surface 3b on the decompression chamber 10 side. A diaphragm 3 is provided to deform the valve body 17 with respect to the valve seat 18 by deformation, and the diaphragm 3 is formed by laminating a metal diaphragm 7 and a rubber diaphragm 8.

  With such a configuration, the rubber diaphragm 8 secures sufficient strength to secure the pressure receiving area and the amount of deformation necessary for satisfying the pressure regulation accuracy required, and the metal diaphragm 7 reduces the pressure. Permeation of hydrogen gas from the chamber 10 side to the pressure regulation chamber 9 side can be prevented. Thereby, it is applicable also to the regulator for high pressure hydrogen gas of 25 Mpa or more. Furthermore, even if the metal diaphragm 7 is broken, since the rubber diaphragm 8 is present, it is possible to prevent hydrogen gas from leaking suddenly.

  (2) The diaphragm 3 is disposed so that the metal diaphragm 7 faces the decompression chamber 10 side and the rubber diaphragm 8 faces the pressure regulation chamber 9 side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the hydrogen gas that has passed through the rubber diaphragm 8 from being filled between the metal diaphragm 7 and the rubber diaphragm 8.

  (3) The metal diaphragm 7 is formed of SUS316L. Thereby, hydrogen embrittlement of the metal diaphragm 7 can be prevented together with the permeation of hydrogen gas. Furthermore, high strength and corrosion resistance can be ensured.

  (4) The rubber diaphragm 8 is formed of rubber with a base fabric reinforced with fibers. As a result, it is possible to secure a sufficient pressure receiving area and deformation amount necessary to ensure sufficient strength and satisfy the required pressure regulation accuracy.

In addition, you may change each said embodiment as follows.
In the present embodiment, the diaphragm 3 is formed by laminating a metal diaphragm 7 and a rubber diaphragm 8. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the diaphragm 3 may be one in which a metal layer is formed on the surface of the rubber diaphragm by vapor deposition. The metal to be deposited may be a non-hydrogen permeable metal such as gold or aluminum.

  In the present embodiment, the metal diaphragm 7 is formed of SUS316L. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the metal diaphragm 7 may be formed of austenitic stainless steel that is resistant to hydrogen embrittlement, such as SUS316, SUS304, and SUS304L.

-In this embodiment, although it was formed with the rubber | gum with a base fabric, you may form with the rubber raw material which a base fabric does not enter.
-In this embodiment, the diaphragm 3 is arrange | positioned so that the metal diaphragm 7 may face the decompression chamber 10 side, and the rubber diaphragm 8 may face the pressure regulation chamber 9 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the rubber diaphragm 8 may be disposed on the decompression chamber 10 side. A laminated structure in which the rubber diaphragm 8 is sandwiched between two metal diaphragms may be used.

  In addition, when the metal layer is formed on the surface of the rubber diaphragm 8 by vapor deposition as in the above-described another example, it is preferable to form the metal layer on the surface of the rubber diaphragm 8 on the decompression chamber 10 side, A metal layer may be formed on one surface of the rubber diaphragm 8. Therefore, a metal layer may be formed on both sides of the rubber diaphragm.

(A) Sectional drawing of the regulator of this embodiment, (b) The expanded sectional view of a diaphragm.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Regulator, 2 ... Housing, 3 ... Diaphragm, 3a ... Pressure adjusting surface, 3b ... Pressure receiving surface, 7 ... Metal diaphragm, 8 ... Rubber diaphragm, 9 ... Pressure adjusting chamber, 10 ... Pressure-reducing chamber, 17 ... Valve body , 18 ... Valve seat.

Claims (6)

The inside of the housing is divided into a pressure adjusting chamber and a pressure reducing chamber, and the valve element is separated from the valve seat by elastic deformation accompanying a pressure difference between the pressure adjusting surface on the pressure adjusting chamber side and the pressure receiving surface on the pressure reducing chamber side. A regulator for hydrogen gas equipped with a diaphragm,
The said diaphragm is a laminated structure which has a metal layer in at least one surface of a rubber layer and this rubber layer, The regulator characterized by the above-mentioned. The regulator according to claim 1,
The regulator is characterized in that the diaphragm is formed by laminating a metallic diaphragm and a rubber diaphragm. The regulator according to claim 2,
The regulator characterized in that the metallic diaphragm is formed of any one of SUS316, SUS316L, SUS304, and SUS304L. The regulator according to claim 2 or claim 3,
The rubber diaphragm is formed of rubber with a base fabric;
Regulator characterized by. The regulator according to claim 1,
The regulator is characterized in that the metal layer is formed by vapor deposition. The regulator according to claim 1,
The metal layer is formed on at least the pressure-receiving surface;
Regulator characterized by.

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