JP2008256040A - Method and device for assembling member with o-ring - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for assembling a member with an O-ring suppressed in cutting, torsion or the like caused by the biting of the O-ring by easily inserting a mounting target member with the O-ring when it is assembled to a fitted member. <P>SOLUTION: The O-ring 25 is provided in a groove 24 formed at the periphery of the fitting portion 23 of an assembling target member 13 fitted to the fitting hole 21 of the fitted member 12. The fitting portion 23 of the assembling target member 13 with the O-ring is surrounded by a case body 31 having a retaining hole 32 having substantially the same diameter as the fitting hole 21 of the fitted member 12. Liquid is filled into the groove 24. After the liquid is frozen, the case body 31 is removed, and the fitting portion 23 is assembled into the fitting hole 21 of the fitted member 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for assembling an O-ring member.

In high-pressure gas tanks such as hydrogen tanks, it is important to ensure gas tightness, and an O-ring is used as one of sealing devices for this purpose (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). In addition, when a metal gasket is used, there is a technique of mounting the metal gasket on the mouth of the container by shrink fitting or cold fitting (for example, see Patent Document 3).
For example, an O-ring made of a resin such as rubber is often used in a state where it is fitted in a groove on the outer periphery of a member to be assembled (for example, a valve) to be fitted to a member to be fitted (for example, a cap portion of a tank).
JP-A-9-242990 JP 2001-208292 A JP 2004-124989 A

  However, when an attachment target member (so-called a member with an O-ring) in which the O-ring is fitted in the groove is assembled to the fitted member, it is bitten by the influence of friction with the inner peripheral surface of the fitted member. Cutting of the O-ring due to insertion, twisting of the O-ring due to resistance during insertion may occur. In this case, the original performance of the O-ring may not be sufficiently exhibited.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. When an attachment target member with an O-ring is assembled to a fitted member, the O-ring can be inserted without difficulty, and cutting or twisting due to the biting of the O-ring is possible. It is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly method for an O-ring member and an apparatus therefor that suppress the occurrence.

  In order to achieve the above object, the method for assembling a member with an O-ring according to the present invention provides a groove portion formed on the outer periphery of the fitting portion of the member to be assembled that fits into the fitting hole of the fitted member. A ring is provided, and the fitting portion of the assembly target member with the O-ring is surrounded by a case body having a holding hole having substantially the same diameter as the fitting hole of the fitted member, and liquid is injected into the groove portion. The case body is removed after the liquid is frozen, and the fitting portion is assembled to the fitting hole of the member to be fitted.

  Further, the present invention provides an O-ring in a groove formed on the outer periphery of the fitting portion of the assembly target member, and an O for assembling the assembly target member with the O-ring into the fitting hole of the fitted member. An assembly apparatus for a member with a ring, which has a holding hole having a diameter substantially the same as a fitting hole of the fitted member, and surrounds the fitting portion of the attachment target member, and the case body A liquid injecting device for injecting a liquid into the groove portion surrounded by the above, and a cooling device for freezing the liquid injected into the groove portion by the liquid injecting device.

In general, in order to ensure hydrogen sealing performance in a high pressure region, an O-ring having a large compression allowance is employed. In this case, the insertion resistance of a mounting target member (for example, a valve) at the time of assembly is used. Is big. Further, when the member to be fitted (for example, a gas tank) is made of resin, there is a variation in contractibility, which may be a cause of a large compression allowance.
On the other hand, in the present invention, by surrounding the fitting portion with the case body, the O-ring is compressed to the extent of the compression allowance, and in this state, the O-ring is frozen and maintained in this compressed state. It can be so. As a result, during assembly, the assembly target member with the O-ring can be inserted into the fitting hole of the mated member without difficulty, and cutting, twisting, scratches, etc. due to the biting of the O-ring occur. Can be suppressed. Further, when the fitting part of the assembly target member is inserted and assembled, other jigs for preventing biting are not required.

  In the present invention, for example, the fitted member is a cap member of a gas tank, and the assembly target member with the O-ring is a valve.

  According to the present invention, when an attachment target member with an O-ring is assembled to a member to be fitted, it can be inserted without difficulty, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of cutting, twisting, scratches, and the like due to the biting of the O-ring. It becomes.

  Hereinafter, a method and an apparatus for assembling a member with an O-ring according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the vicinity of the upper part of the gas tank.
As shown in FIG. 1, the gas tank 1 has a liner 11 and a base member 12 which are components for filling and storing a high-pressure gas (for example, hydrogen gas) therein. ) 12 is mounted with a valve (member to be assembled) 13.

  The base member 12 is attached to a mouth portion 14 formed on one side of the liner 11 in the axial direction. Although not shown, the gas tank 1 having the liner 11 and the base member 12 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin. The outside of the liner 11 is reinforced with a fiber reinforced resin layer.

  The base member 12 has a fitting hole 21 in which the inner side of the gas tank 1 is a small diameter hole 21a and the outer side of the gas tank 1 is a large diameter hole 21b, at the boundary between the small diameter hole 21a and the large diameter hole 21b. A step 21c is formed.

  The valve 13 has a flow path for gas extraction (not shown). A flange portion 22 is formed on one end side in the axial direction, and a substantially cylindrical fitting portion 23 is formed on the other end side in the axial direction. Yes. The fitting portion 23 of the valve 13 is a large diameter portion 23a and a small diameter portion 23b in this order from the flange portion 22 side, and a step portion 23c is formed at the boundary between the large diameter portion 23a and the small diameter portion 23b. .

  The valve 13 is configured such that the flange portion 22 contacts the base member 12 and the fitting portion 23 is fitted to the base member 12 until the step portion 23 c of the fitting portion 23 contacts the step 21 c of the fitting hole 21. The base member 12 is mounted by being pushed into the hole 21 and fitted.

In the present embodiment, the cylindrical fitting portion 23 has a groove portion 24 extending in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral side of the small diameter portion 23b. The groove portion 24 is fitted with an O-ring 25 made of rubber such as EPDM and having a circular cross section.
The O-ring 25 seals between the base member 12 and the valve 13 attached to the base member 12.

Next, the case where the valve 13 provided with the O-ring 25 is assembled to the base member 12 of the gas tank 1 will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 2, the O-ring 25 is fitted into the groove portion 24 formed in the small diameter portion 23 b of the fitting portion 23 of the valve 13.
In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, a liquid enclosure case (case body) 31 is attached to the small diameter portion 23 b of the fitting portion 23 of the valve 13.

The liquid sealing case 31 has a holding hole 32 having substantially the same diameter as the small diameter hole 21 a of the cap member 12, and the holding hole 32 allows the small diameter portion 23 b of the fitting portion 23 of the valve 13 to be inserted into the groove portion 24. Surrounding with the ring 25 attached.
As a result, the O-ring 25 is pressed toward the inner peripheral side by the inner peripheral surface of the holding hole 32 of the liquid sealing case 31 attached to the small diameter portion 23 b of the fitting portion 23, and is compressed between the bottom surface of the groove portion 24. And elastically deforms.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, liquid such as water is supplied from an injection hole (not shown) formed in the liquid enclosure case 31 into the groove portion 24 to which the O-ring 25 is attached using a liquid injection device 40. The liquid injected is further cooled by the cooling device 50, and the liquid injected into the groove 24 is frozen.
Then, after the liquid is frozen, the liquid enclosure case 31 is removed from the small diameter portion 23 b of the valve 13.

If it does in this way, as shown in FIG. 5, the O-ring 25 fitted to the groove part 24 will be maintained in the state elastically deformed by the frozen liquid.
In this state, the flange portion 22 of the valve 13 is in contact with the base member 12, and the fitting portion 23 is moved to the base member 12 until the step portion 23 c of the fitting portion 23 contacts the step 21 c of the fitting hole 21. The fitting member 12 is attached by being pushed into the fitting hole 21 and fitted.

  At this time, since the O-ring 25 fitted in the groove 24 is pressed and elastically deformed by the frozen liquid, the small-diameter hole 21a of the fitting hole 21 of the base member 12 is maintained. It does not receive a large frictional force from the inner peripheral surface.

  As described above, after the valve 13 is mounted on the base member 12, the frozen liquid is naturally thawed, so that the O-ring 25 that has been elastically deformed by being pressed toward the inner peripheral side is restored. The close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the small diameter hole 21a of the fitting hole 21 ensures a good sealing state between the base member 12 and the valve 13.

  According to the present embodiment described above, the liquid injected into the groove portion 24 by surrounding the small diameter portion 23b of the fitting portion 23 with the holding hole 32 having substantially the same diameter as the small diameter hole 21a of the fitting hole 21 is frozen. Therefore, the O-ring 25 in the groove 24 can be compressed to the inner peripheral side and maintained in an elastically deformed state.

Thereby, when it takes out from the holding hole 32 and it fits into the fitting hole 21 of the nozzle | cap | die member 12 which is a to-be-fitted member, the big friction from the internal peripheral surface of the small diameter hole 21a of the fitting hole 21 of the nozzle | cap | die member 12 is carried out. Application of force can be suppressed. Further, the O-ring 25 can be protected by a frozen liquid (for example, a freezing agent).
Therefore, when the O-ring 25 having a large compression allowance is used, such as in the case of a high-pressure tank such as a hydrogen tank or in the case where there is a variation in accuracy in a member to be fitted formed of resin or the like, the O-ring 25 is also used. Even when there is variation in the compression allowance, the O-ring 25 can be fitted to the base member 12 with a small insertion resistance without causing twisting, damage, scratches, or the like.
According to this, the sealing performance of the O-ring 25 is maintained, and a good airtight state by the O-ring 25 can be secured.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the fitting portion 23 of the valve 13 is assembled in the fitting hole 21 of the base member 12 of the gas tank has been described as an example. For example, the liner (member to be fitted) 11 of the gas tank 1 is described. The present invention can be applied to the assembly of an O-ring to various other members, such as the assembly of an O-ring to a base member (assembly target member) 12 that is fitted to the mouth portion 14, and is similar to the above in any case. An effect is obtained.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of the upper part vicinity of a gas tank. It is a figure explaining the process of the assembly | attachment method which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the process of an assembly | attachment method, and shows the state which enclosed the fitting part of the valve | bulb with the liquid enclosure case. It is a figure explaining the process of an assembly | attachment method, and shows the state made to inject | pour a liquid. It is a figure explaining the process of an assembly | attachment method, and shows the state which removed the liquid enclosure case after liquid freezing.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Gas tank, 12 ... Cap member (member to be fitted), 13 ... Valve (member to be assembled or member with O-ring), 21 ... Fitting hole, 23 ... Fitting portion, 24 ... Groove portion, 25 ... O Ring, 31 ... Liquid enclosure case (case body), 32 ... Holding hole, 40 ... Liquid injection device, 50 ... Cooling device.

Claims (4)

  An O-ring is provided in a groove formed on the outer periphery of the fitting portion of the assembly target member that fits into the fitting hole of the member to be fitted, and a holding hole having substantially the same diameter as the fitting hole of the member to be fitted is provided. The case body having the O-ring attached assembly member surrounds the fitting portion, liquid is injected into the groove portion, the liquid is frozen, the case body is removed, and the fitting portion is removed from the fitting portion. A method for assembling a member with an O-ring to be assembled into the fitting hole of the fitting member.   The method for assembling the member with an O-ring according to claim 1, wherein the fitted member is a base member of a gas tank, and the assembly target member with the O-ring is a valve. Assembly of a member with an O-ring for providing an O-ring in a groove formed on the outer periphery of the fitting portion of the member to be assembled, and assembling the member to be assembled with the O-ring into the fitting hole of the member to be fitted A device,
A case body that has a holding hole of substantially the same diameter as the fitting hole of the fitted member, and surrounds the fitting portion of the attachment target member;
A liquid injection device for injecting a liquid into the groove surrounded by the case body;
A cooling device for freezing the liquid injected into the groove by the liquid injection device;
A device for assembling a member with an O-ring.   4. The assembly apparatus for a member with an O-ring according to claim 3, wherein the fitted member is a base member of a gas tank, and the assembly target member with the O-ring is a valve.

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