JP2013002576A - Small coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coupler having a compact structure while facilitating connection and disconnection.SOLUTION: One connector includes a connection cylinder part 31 whose front end is opened, a housing 32 in which a hollow is formed, a piston valve 33 reciprocative along the axis in the opening and closing direction, and an elastic body for thrusting the piston valve in the closing direction. The piston valve 33 is held by a ring-shaped protrusion 33d which contacts the housing to seal it and a substantially ring-shaped protrusion 33e which contacts the housing without sealing it to form a vertical groove flow path, to form a flow path between the outer periphery side of the piston valve 33 and the inner wall of the housing 32. The flow path is sealed by the ring-shaped protrusion 33d and communicated with a flow path hole opened to the outside of the housing.

Description

  The present invention relates to a coupler configured to connect a supply side and a reception side connector so that a valve seat provided in at least one of the connectors is opened and communicates a flow path of each connector. The present invention relates to a coupler provided between a fuel cell cartridge container and a fuel cell main body.

  Conventionally, in equipment using liquid fuel as an energy source, it is often necessary to replenish liquid such as fuel that decreases with the operation and use of the equipment, and a cartridge container is connected to a container provided on the equipment body side. Liquids such as fuel are supplied by being transferred, or fuel or the like is supplied by replacing a container on the apparatus main body side with another container. In order to simplify the connection between containers and the replacement of containers, various detachable couplers are used.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a valve body is provided in each of a socket and a plug, and these valve bodies are pressed against a valve seat by a spring disposed on the rear side in the axial direction thereof, and A coupling device including a projecting portion such as an operation portion projecting to the distal end side from a portion contacting the valve seat is disclosed.

JP 2007-050707 A

  However, in the coupling device described in Patent Document 1, since the flow path of methanol or the like is formed from the inner side of the upper seal portion of the piston valve to the inner surface side of the piston valve, from the substantially middle portion of the piston valve. It is difficult to reduce the diameter of the piston valve because the lower part is hollow and a wall is required on the circumference, and the mold shape for manufacturing is also complicated, so the piston valve can be further reduced in size. It was very difficult.

  Moreover, since the metal coil spring is formed outside the seal portion, the inner diameter of the socket body and the inner diameter of the housing are increased, and the socket body and the housing are connected via the flange portion, so that the socket There is a problem that the outer diameter of the fuel cell inevitably increases and the fuel cell main body cannot be thinned.

  In addition, since the seal part of the piston valve is divided into two parts, the housing and the socket body, it is difficult to take the concentricity of the three parts, the piston valve does not move smoothly, or the sealing performance is inconvenient, etc. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a coupler having a small structure while being easily connected and released.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the invention according to claim 1 is a supply-side flow formed in the supply-side connector by opening the supply-side connector and the receiving-side connector by fitting each other. In a small-sized coupler that connects a passage and a receiving-side flow path formed in the receiving-side connector, at least one of the supply-side connector and the receiving-side connector is fitted to the other connector. A connecting cylindrical portion formed and opened at the distal end portion, a hollow housing formed integrally and continuously on the rear side of the connecting cylindrical portion and communicated with the connecting cylindrical portion, and an interior of the housing A piston valve that is axially retractable and seals between the piston valve and the inner peripheral surface of the housing in a liquid-tight state. The piston valve is guided so as to slide along the inner peripheral surface of the housing, and a seal portion is provided on the rear end side of the piston valve, and the piston valve is disposed on the tip side of the seal portion. A sliding support portion provided to slide on the inner surface of the housing, and formed between the piston valve and the inner surface of the housing on the tip end side of the seal portion and opened toward the outside of the housing A flow path, an elastic body that is accommodated in the housing on the rear end side of the seal portion and presses the piston valve toward the front end side, and is pressed by the elastic body so that the piston valve is on the front end side. And a valve seat portion that closes at least a part of the piston valve in a state of being located at a position and blocks communication between the flow path and the connecting cylindrical portion. It is a small coupler that.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the elastic body is a metal coil spring, and a plurality of the elastic bodies are provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect, one of the connecting cylindrical portions is formed to have a smaller diameter than the other connecting cylindrical portion, and the one connecting cylinder. A convex portion is provided on the outer periphery of the connecting portion for fitting and sealing with the other connecting cylindrical portion, and the material of the one connecting cylindrical portion is softer than the material of the other connecting cylindrical portion. It is a small-sized coupler characterized by.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration according to any one of the first to third aspects, at least one of the seal portion and the sliding support portion is a convex portion formed integrally with the piston valve. And the housing and the piston valve of each connector are made of a thermoplastic resin material, and the piston valve is made of a thermoplastic resin material softer than the material of the housing. .

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in addition to the structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the connector is configured to connect a methanol fuel cell main body and a fuel methanol container. It is a small coupler.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the flow path formed between the outer peripheral side of the piston valve and the inner surface of the housing communicates with the opening that communicates toward the outside of the housing. It becomes possible to make a structure, and in conjunction with this, the housing becomes smaller, so that a connector with a small outer shape can be manufactured. Furthermore, since the sealing is performed at the seal portion where the piston valve and the housing are in contact with each other, it is possible to prevent inadequate sliding operation, to prevent contamination, and to reduce the outer shape of the housing. Production is possible.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of metal coil springs serving as piston valve actuating means are provided and the elastic force for pressing the piston valve is strengthened, the sliding failure of the connector is prevented. The sealing property between the piston valve and the valve seat in the valve-closed state can be improved. In addition, the seal between the housing and the piston valve can be strengthened, and the reliability of the seal portion can be improved.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reinforce the fitting between the connecting cylindrical portions when fitting and connecting, and to improve the reliability of sealing the connecting cylindrical portions. it can.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the contact and contact manners of the fitting connection portion between the supply side connector and the reception side connector are closely contacted with each other between the connecting cylindrical portions formed of the thermoplastic resin material. Can be prevented from being mixed into a liquid such as methanol. Furthermore, since the material of the connecting cylinder on the receiving side is harder than the material of the small connecting cylinder on the supply side, it can withstand long-term use without wear of the connecting cylinder on the receiving side during fitting connection. it can.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, since the small coupler is provided between the methanol fuel cell main body and the fuel methanol container, the structure of the small coupler can be provided with versatility.

(A) is the small coupler in one Embodiment of this invention, and is AA longitudinal cross-sectional view of the supply side connector of Fig.2 (a). (B) is the small coupler in one Embodiment of this invention, and is BB longitudinal cross-sectional view of the receiving side connector of FIG.2 (b). (A) is a bottom view of the supply-side connector. (B) is a top view of the receiving connector. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in the connection state of the small coupler in one Embodiment of this invention.

  The present invention will be described based on specific examples. A small coupler 1 according to the present invention includes a supply-side connector 30 attached to a cartridge container 10 such as a methanol container, and a receiving-side connector 40 attached to a methanol fuel cell main body 20 that is fitted and connected to the supply-side connector 30. And.

  The main constituent members of the small coupler 1 are made of a non-metallic constituent member such as a thermoplastic resin material. For example, constituent members other than the metal coil springs 37a, 37b, 47a, 47b, which will be described in detail later, are made of a thermoplastic resin material or the like. Examples of this thermoplastic resin material include polypropylene (PP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyacetal (POM), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN). Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC) and the like.

  The supply-side connector 30 is provided with a mounting large diameter cylindrical portion 32d and a mounting small diameter cylindrical portion 32e. The mounting large diameter cylindrical portion 32d is mounted in the first mounting hole 11a of the cartridge container 10, and the cartridge container. The mounting small diameter cylindrical portion 32 e is mounted in the second mounting hole 11 b of the 10 and the supply side connector 30 is connected to the cartridge container 10. In the following description, the supply-side connector 30 will be described as a plug 30. Further, the front-rear direction of the plug 30 in the axial direction will be described with the upper direction in the drawing illustrated in FIG. 1A being the rear side or the rear end side and the lower direction being the front side or the front end side.

  In the small coupler 1 according to the present invention, when the plug 30 and the socket 40 are not fitted and connected, the plug 30 and the socket 40 are in the closed state, and the cartridge container 10 and the methanol fuel cell main body 20 are respectively connected. It is sealed. Each of the plug 30 and the socket 40 has an opening on the tip end side, and the plug 30 is provided with a supply port, and the socket 40 is provided with a receiving port.

  The plug 30 to be inserted into the socket 40 includes a small-diameter connecting cylindrical portion 31 formed at the distal end portion of the plug 30 so as to be fitted into the connecting cylindrical portion 41 opened in the socket 40. The small-diameter connecting cylindrical portion 31 is a fitting connecting portion having an open end and inserted into and removed from the connecting cylindrical portion 41, and has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the connecting cylindrical portion 41 of the socket 40. A protrusion 31a and a protrusion 31b are formed at the tip portion, and a protrusion that seals with the inner wall 41c of the connecting cylinder 41 by being inserted into the connecting cylinder 41 of the opened socket 40. The convex ring portion 31e is provided on the outer peripheral portion. The convex portion 31 b is provided with an inner surface protruding portion 31 c that contacts the tip of the piston valve 33. The material of the small-diameter connecting cylinder 31 is softer than the material of the connecting cylinder 41.

  In addition, a seal | sticker is making it contact so that a structural member may be contacted and a liquid may not leak from a contact location. In other words, it is to maintain a liquid-tight state in which the liquid is sealed in one space, and a state in which the liquid is not allowed to enter the other space, with the contacted and sealed portion as a boundary. That is, it is said that sealing is performed by bringing the component members into contact with each other so as not to leak. Therefore, when the flow path is sealed, the space forming the flow path is kept in a liquid-tight state, and the liquid cannot enter the space where the flow path is not formed with the sealed portion as a boundary. .

  As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the concave portion 31a is formed in a substantially semicircular shape, and the convex portion 31b is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in the diameter portion so as to be sandwiched between the concave portions 31a, and the central portion is the concave portion 31a. And the convex portion 31b form a supply port having a communication hole of the small diameter connecting cylindrical portion 31 opened at the tip.

  A hollow housing 32 is provided which is continuously and integrally formed on the rear side of the small diameter connecting cylindrical portion 31 and communicated with the small diameter connecting cylindrical portion 31. The housing 32 is formed integrally with the small diameter connecting cylindrical portion 31, and a cylindrical inner wall 32 b that holds the piston valve 33 inside is formed on the inner surface, and a flow path hole that opens toward the outside of the housing 32. A mounting large-diameter cylindrical portion 32d provided with 32c and a mounting small-diameter cylindrical portion 32e are formed on the outside. The mounting large diameter cylindrical portion 32d is provided on the distal end side of the housing 32 in the axial direction, and a mounting small diameter cylindrical portion 32e is provided on the rear end side in the axial direction from the mounting large diameter cylindrical portion 32d. The housing 32 is made of a material harder than the material of the piston valve 33.

  The inner wall 32b may not be formed in a cylindrical shape in the entire axial direction, but may be formed in such a shape that the piston valve 33 is slidably moved back and forth in the axial direction with the piston valve 33 held and sealed. That's fine. For example, the inner surface of the housing 32 has a cylindrical shape in the axial direction of the inner wall 32b where the piston valve 33 is sealed and slid, and the axis of the inner wall 32b where the piston valve 33 is not sealed and slid. A portion of the direction may not be limited to a cylindrical shape. In other words, the inner wall 32b only needs to be formed in a cylindrical shape so that the ring-shaped convex portion 33d, which will be described in detail later, slides forward and backward, and the range in which the ring-shaped convex portion 33e slides forward and backward is cylindrical. The shape is not limited.

  The housing 32 and the small diameter connecting cylindrical portion 31 are integrally formed through a partition portion 32a. Further, the hollow interior of the housing 32 communicates with the communication hole of the small diameter connecting cylindrical portion 31 by a partition portion 32a that forms a step on the tip end side. Accordingly, the housing 32 and the small-diameter connecting cylinder 31 are integrally formed so that the hollow interior communicated in series is smaller in inner diameter of the small-diameter connecting cylinder 31 than the inner diameter of the housing 32.

  The partition portion 32a receives a piston valve 33 that is pressed by the metal coil springs 37a and 37b to advance in the axial direction, and closes the flow path in close contact with the piston valve 33 that is the valve body. A packing ring 35 serving as a seat is fixed. Further, a flow path through which a liquid such as fuel flows in a liquid-tight state is formed between the inner surface of the housing 32 and the outer surface of the piston valve 33, and the valve is opened and closed based on contact or separation between the piston valve 33 and the packing ring 35. Thus, the supply-side flow path is communicated with the reception-side flow path formed in the socket 40.

  The housing 32 is provided with a piston valve 33 that is stored in the housing 32 and is a valve element that is stored in the housing 32 so as to be able to move back and forth in the axial direction. The piston valve 33, which is the valve body, is supported by the inner wall 32b of the housing 32 and slides, and the body part 33a is integrated from the front end portion of the body part 33a so as to protrude forward and the minimum diameter of the body part 33a. A first projecting portion 33b having a smaller diameter than the first projecting portion 33b, and a second projecting portion 33c that is integrated with the body portion 33a and projects rearward and has a smaller diameter than the maximum diameter of the body portion 33a. . The piston valve 33 is made of a material softer than the material of the housing 32.

  Further, a housing lid 34 fixed to the housing 32 for receiving and stopping the piston valve 33 at the time of retraction is provided. Further, it is an elastic body that is accommodated in the housing 32 and presses the piston valve 33 toward the tip, and is located between the piston valve 33 and the housing lid 34 in the axial direction and in the direction orthogonal to the axial line. Metal coil springs 37a and 37b accommodated between the inner surface of the housing 32 are provided. The plug 30 is made of a thermoplastic resin material except for the metal coil springs 37a and 37b.

  The body portion 33a is provided on the outer peripheral surface portion on the rear end side in the axial direction and seals in contact with the inner wall 32b and guides the piston valve 33 to slide along the inner wall 32b. A ring-shaped convex portion 33d, and a general ring that is a sliding support portion that is provided on the tip side of the ring-shaped convex portion 33d and contacts the inner wall 32b without sealing and slides the piston valve 33 on the inner wall 32b. And a convex portion 33e.

  Further, the outer peripheral surface portion of the body portion 33a that does not come into contact with the inner wall 32b is formed in a tapered shape that gradually decreases in diameter from the ring-shaped convex portion 33d toward the distal end portion side. Therefore, the body portion 33a has the minimum diameter at the tip portion, while the maximum diameter at the rear end portion. As a result, a flow path is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the piston valve 32 and the inner wall 32b of the housing 33 on the tip end side of the ring-shaped convex portion 33d, and the flow path side is liquid-tight by the ring-shaped convex portion 33d. Is sealed. The entire outer peripheral surface portion may be a tapered surface, and the ring-shaped convex portion 33d and the approximate ring-shaped convex portion 33e may be provided on the tapered surface.

  The ring-shaped convex portion 33e and the inner wall 32b are in contact with each other without being sealed, and the ring-shaped convex portion 33e is formed so that the flow path is not blocked by this contact.

  For example, when the approximate ring-shaped convex portion 33e is continuously in contact with the inner wall 32b, the approximate ring-shaped convex portion 33e is provided with several vertical grooves 33f serving as a liquid flow path. Or when the substantially ring-shaped convex part 33e is formed in the shape which contacts the inner wall 32b discontinuously, the non-contact location forms the longitudinal groove flow path used as the flow path of a liquid. Accordingly, the supply-side flow path is sealed in a liquid-tight state by the ring-shaped convex portion 33d and communicates with the flow path hole 32c that opens toward the outside of the housing 32 through the vertical groove 33f or the vertical groove flow path. And communicated with the flow path hole 12 of the cartridge container 10.

  Further, in the valve closed state, the piston valve 33 is most advanced to the tip end side in the axial direction. Even in this valve-closed state, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the ring-shaped convex portion 33d and the flow-path hole are arranged so that the flow-path hole 32c is positioned on the tip side from the ring-shaped convex portion 33d. 32c.

  The front end portion of the body portion 33a is a surface that faces the packing ring 35 that is a valve seat, and a first projecting portion 33b that is integrated with the body portion 33a and extends forward in the axial direction. An opening / closing contact portion 33g that is pressed by the elastic body and contacts the end surface 35a of the packing ring 35, and a ring-shaped protrusion 33h that protrudes forward in the axial direction are provided on the opening / closing contact portion 33g. Therefore, the piston valve 33 moved by being pressed toward the tip by the metal coil springs 37a and 37b is brought into a closed state when the ring-shaped protrusion 33h and the opening / closing contact portion 33g come into contact with the end surface 35a of the packing ring 35. In the valve closing state illustrated in FIG. 1A, the opening / closing contact portion 33 g that is a part of the valve body abuts against and presses the packing ring 35 that is the valve seat, and the ring-shaped protrusion 33 h that is the protrusion is the packing ring 35. The valve body and the valve seat are brought into close contact with each other. Accordingly, the supply-side flow path is closed by the close contact between the valve body and the valve seat, the supply port and the flow path hole 12 are disconnected, and the cartridge container 10 is sealed by the plug 30.

  The first projecting portion 33 b extends from the housing 32 into the small diameter connecting cylindrical portion 31, and the outer peripheral portion thereof is disposed so as not to contact any of the constituent members of the plug 30. The diameter of the first projecting portion 33b is smaller than the minimum diameter of the body portion 33a. In addition, an operation portion 33 i that operates the piston valve 33 so as to open the plug 30 by being pressed by the socket 40 is provided at the distal end portion of the first projecting portion 33 b. The operating portion 33i contacts the inner surface protruding portion 31c of the small diameter connecting cylindrical portion 31 when the plug 30 is closed, and is separated from the inner surface protruding portion 31c when the valve 30 is opened. Therefore, when the plug 30 is in the closed state, the piston valve 33 is brought into contact with the inner surface protruding portion 31 c to restrict the throttle valve 33.

  On the other hand, at the rear end portion of the body portion 33a, a second projecting portion 33c that is integrated with the body portion 33a and extends rearward in the axial direction, and a surface that faces the housing lid 34d and an elastic body. The metal coil springs 37a and 37b are provided with pressed parts that are urged by the elastic force toward the distal end side. A stopper portion 33j is provided at the rear end of the second projecting portion 33c so as to face the housing lid 34 and to contact the housing lid 34 when the piston valve 33 is retracted. The diameter of the second projecting portion 33c is smaller than the maximum diameter of the body portion 33a.

  In addition, metal coil springs 37a and 37b, which are elastic bodies that press the piston valve 33 toward the tip end side, are in the housing 32, and are formed between the outer peripheral surface of the second projecting portion 33c and the inner surface of the housing 32 in the radial direction. And is accommodated in a position between the pressed portion on the rear end side of the piston valve 33 and the housing lid 34 in the axial direction. The space in which the metal coil springs 37a and 37b are accommodated is a liquid-tight supply side by the seal between the outer peripheral surface of the piston valve 33 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing 32 by the ring-shaped convex portion 33d which is a seal material. It is completely isolated from the flow path. Therefore, in any state of the valve open state or the valve closed state, the constituent members are arranged so that the liquid such as the fuel flowing through the flow path does not contact the metal coil springs 37a and 37b.

  The receiving connector 40 is provided with a mounting large diameter cylindrical portion 42d and a mounting small diameter cylindrical portion 42e. The mounting large diameter cylindrical portion 42d is mounted in the first mounting hole 21a of the methanol fuel cell body 20, and methanol fuel is provided. A mounting small diameter cylindrical portion 42 e is mounted in the second mounting hole 21 b of the battery body 20, and the receiving connector 40 is connected to the methanol fuel cell body 20. In the following description, the receiving connector 40 will be described as a socket 40. Further, the front-rear direction of the socket 40 in the axial direction will be described with the upper direction in the figure illustrated in FIG. 1B as the front side or the front end side and the lower direction as the rear side or the rear end side.

  The socket 40 into which the plug 30 is inserted is provided with a connecting cylinder portion 41 formed at the tip of the socket 40 into which the small diameter connecting cylinder portion 31 of the plug 30 is inserted. The connecting cylinder portion 41 is a fitting connection portion that opens at the tip and center and inserts and removes the small diameter connecting cylinder portion 31, and the tip portion is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open end. An inner wall 41c for inserting and locking the small diameter connecting cylindrical portion 31 from the opening end into the opening is formed in the axial direction, and a concave portion 41a and a convex portion 41b are provided at a predetermined depth on the bottom portion. Yes. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the inner wall 41c is formed in a tapered shape having a reduced diameter from the opening end toward the bottom, and the concave portion 41a and the convex portion 41b are formed from the partition portion 42a to the opening end. Are formed to have different lengths in the axial direction and different depths from the opening end. Further, the material of the connecting cylinder portion 41 is harder than the material of the small diameter connecting cylinder portion 31.

  In addition, the bottom portion is formed by a concave portion 41a and a convex portion 41b extending in the radial direction from the inner wall 41c, and a receiving port having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the opening end is formed. Like the tip portion of the receiving connector 40 illustrated in FIG. 2B, the convex portion 41b is formed in a substantially semicircular shape, and the concave portion 41a is substantially rectangular in the diameter portion so as to be sandwiched between the convex portions 41b. In the center of the circle, a receiving port which is a communication hole of the connecting cylindrical portion 41 is formed by the concave portion 41a and the convex portion 41b. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the receiving port is formed by an inner tapered portion 42f formed in a tapered shape by the concave portion 41a and the convex portion 41b. Accordingly, the receiving port is formed so as to gradually become smaller in diameter from the aperture formed by the partition portion 42a on the rear end side toward the opening on the front end side.

  A hollow housing 42 is formed continuously and integrally on the rear side of the connecting cylindrical portion 41 and communicated with the connecting cylindrical portion 41. The housing 42 is formed integrally with the connecting cylindrical portion 41, and a cylindrical inner wall 42 b that holds the piston valve 43 inside is formed on the inner surface, and a flow path hole that opens toward the outside of the housing 42. A mounting large-diameter cylindrical portion 42d provided with 42c and a mounting small-diameter columnar portion 42e are formed on the outside. The mounting large diameter cylindrical portion 42d is provided on the distal end side of the housing 42 in the axial direction, and a mounting small diameter cylindrical portion 42e is provided on the rear end side in the axial direction from the mounting large diameter cylindrical portion 42d. The material of the housing 42 is harder than the material of the piston valve 43.

  The inner wall 42b may not be formed in a cylindrical shape in the entire axial direction, but may be formed in a shape that allows the piston valve 43 to slide back and forth in the axial direction while holding and sealing. That's fine. For example, the inner surface of the housing 42 has a cylindrical shape in the axial direction of the inner wall 42b where the piston valve 43 is sealed and slid, and the axis of the inner wall 42b is not sealed and slid with the piston valve 43. A portion of the direction may not be limited to a cylindrical shape.

  The housing 42 and the connecting cylindrical portion 41 are integrally formed via a partition portion 42a. Further, the inside of the housing 42 continues to a communication hole that communicates with the connecting cylindrical portion 41 formed by a partition portion 42a that forms a step on the tip end side, and the inner diameter of the communication hole is the inner diameter of the housing 42 and for connection. It is integrally formed so as to be smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 41.

  The partition 42a receives a piston valve 43 that is pressed by the metal coil springs 47a and 47b and advances in the axial direction, and closes the flow path by closely contacting the piston valve 43 that is the valve body. A packing ring 45 serving as a seat is fixed. In addition, a flow path in which a liquid such as fuel flows in a liquid-tight state is formed between the inner surface of the housing 42 and the outer surface of the piston valve 43, and the valve is opened and closed based on contact or separation between the piston valve 43 and the packing ring 45. Thus, the receiving side flow path is communicated with the supply side flow path formed in the plug 30.

  The housing 42 is provided with a piston valve 43 that is stored in the housing 42 and is a valve body that is stored so as to be able to move back and forth in order to open and close in the axial direction. The piston valve 43 is supported by the inner wall 42b of the housing 42 and slides, and the body 43a is integrated from the front end of the body 43a and protrudes forward and has a diameter smaller than the minimum diameter of the body 43a. The first protrusion 43b is formed, and a second protrusion 43c that is integrated with the body 43a and protrudes rearward and has a smaller diameter than the maximum diameter of the body 43a. The piston valve 43 is made of a material softer than the material of the housing 42.

  Further, a housing cover 44 fixed to the housing 42 for receiving and stopping the piston valve 43 in the axial direction in the backward direction is provided. It is an elastic body that is accommodated inside the housing 42 and presses the piston valve 43 toward the tip, and is located between the piston valve 43 and the housing lid 44 in the axial direction and in a direction orthogonal to the axial line. Metal coil springs 47a and 47b accommodated between the inner surface and the inner surface. The socket 40 is made of a thermoplastic resin material except for the metal coil springs 47a and 47b.

  The body portion 43a is a seal portion that is provided on the outer peripheral surface portion on the rear end side in the axial direction and seals in contact with the inner wall 42b and guides the piston valve 43 to slide along the inner wall 42b. A ring-shaped convex portion 43d and a generally ring-shaped portion that is a sliding support portion that is provided on the distal end side of the ring-shaped convex portion 43d and contacts the inner wall 42b without sealing and slides the piston valve 43 on the inner wall 42b. And a convex portion 43e.

  Further, the outer peripheral surface portion of the body portion 43a that does not come into contact with the inner wall 42b is formed in a tapered shape that gradually decreases in diameter from the ring-shaped convex portion 43d toward the tip end side. Therefore, the body portion 43a has the minimum diameter at the tip portion, while the maximum diameter at the rear end portion. With this configuration, a flow path is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the piston valve 43 and the inner wall 42b of the housing 42 on the tip end side of the ring-shaped convex portion 43d, and is sealed in a liquid-tight state by the ring-shaped convex portion 43d. Has been. The entire outer peripheral surface portion may be a tapered surface, and the ring-shaped convex portion 43d and the approximate ring-shaped convex portion 43e may be provided on the tapered surface.

  The general ring-shaped convex portion 43e and the inner wall 42b are in contact with each other without sealing, and the general ring-shaped convex portion 43e is formed so that the flow path is not blocked by this contact. For example, when the approximate ring-shaped convex portion 43e is in continuous contact with the inner wall 42b, the approximate ring-shaped convex portion 43e is provided with several vertical grooves 43f serving as liquid flow paths. Or when the substantially ring-shaped convex part 43e is formed in the shape which contacts the inner wall 42b discontinuously, the non-contact location forms the vertical groove flow path used as the liquid flow path. Therefore, the receiving-side flow path is sealed in a liquid-tight state by the ring-shaped convex portion 43d and communicates with the flow path hole 42c that opens toward the outside of the housing 42 through the vertical groove 43f or the vertical groove flow path. And communicated with the channel hole 22 of the methanol fuel cell main body 20.

  Further, in the valve closed state, the piston valve 43 is most advanced to the tip end side in the axial direction. Even in this valve-closed state, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the ring-shaped convex portion 43d and the flow-path hole are arranged so that the flow-path hole 42c is positioned on the tip side from the ring-shaped convex portion 43d. 42c.

  The front end portion of the body portion 43a is a surface that faces the packing ring 45 that is a valve seat, and a first protrusion 43b that is integrated with the body portion 43a and extends forward in the axial direction, and is elastic. An opening / closing contact portion 43g where the piston valve 43 pressed by the body contacts the packing ring 45, and a ring-shaped protrusion 43h protruding forward in the axial direction are provided on the opening / closing contact portion 43g. Therefore, the piston valve 43 that has been moved by being pressed toward the tip by the metal coil springs 47a and 47b is brought into a closed state when the ring-shaped protrusion 43h and the opening / closing contact portion 43g contact the packing ring 45. In the valve closing state illustrated in FIG. 1B, the opening / closing contact portion 43g, which is a part of the valve body, contacts and presses the packing ring 45, which is a valve seat, and the ring-shaped protrusion 43h, which is a protrusion, is the packing ring 45. The valve body and the valve seat are brought into close contact with each other. Accordingly, the receiving-side flow path is closed by the close contact between the valve body and the valve seat, the receiving port and the flow path hole 22 are disconnected, and the methanol fuel cell main body 20 is sealed with the socket 40.

  The first projecting portion 43b extends from the housing 42 into the connecting cylindrical portion 41 in a substantially columnar shape, and an operation portion 43i is provided at the front end portion. A tapered portion 43k having a tapered shape with a small diameter toward the tip is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the operation portion 43i. The tapered portion 43k is in contact with the inner tapered portion 42f of the connecting cylindrical portion 41 when the socket 40 is in the closed state, and is separated from the inner tapered portion 42f in the opened state. Therefore, when closing the flow path in the socket 40, the taper portion 43k is applied to the inner surface tapered portion 42f, thereby restricting the stroke of the piston valve 43.

  In addition, the distal end portion of the first projecting portion 43b is a portion into which the small diameter connecting cylindrical portion 31 of the plug 30 is inserted in a state of fitting and coupling, and the portion into which the small diameter connecting cylindrical portion 31 is inserted is a column. It is formed into a shape. In other words, at least a portion of the first protruding portion 43b that protrudes from the convex portion 41b in the axial direction is formed in a cylindrical shape having a diameter that does not contact the inner tapered portion 42f.

  On the other hand, a rear end portion of the body portion 43a is a surface that faces the housing lid 44 and a second projecting portion 43c that is integrated with the body portion 43a and extends rearward in the axial direction. The metal coil springs 47a and 47b are provided with pressed parts that are urged by the elastic force toward the tip side. A stopper 43j is provided at the rear end of the second protrusion 43c so as to face the housing lid 44 and to contact the housing lid 44 when the piston valve 43 is retracted. The diameter of the second projecting portion 43c is smaller than the diameter of the body portion 43a.

  In addition, metal coil springs 47a and 47b, which are elastic bodies that press the piston valve 43 toward the distal end side, are located in the housing 42, and are radially formed between the outer peripheral surface of the second protrusion 43c and the inner surface of the housing 42. And is accommodated in a position between the pressed portion on the rear end side of the piston valve 43 and the housing lid 44 in the axial direction. The space in which the metal coil springs 47a and 47b are accommodated is a liquid-tight receiving side by the seal between the outer peripheral surface of the piston valve 43 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing 42 by the ring-shaped convex portion 43d as a seal material. It is completely isolated from the flow path. Therefore, in any state of the valve open state or the valve closed state, the constituent members are arranged so that the liquid such as the fuel flowing through the flow path does not contact the metal coil springs 47a and 47b.

  Next, the connected state, that is, the plug 30 and the socket 40 that are fitted and connected will be described. The small coupler 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 is in a connected state in which the plug 30 and the socket 40 are fitted and connected. The small coupler 1 in this connected state is opened by pushing the plug 30 into the socket 40 and fitting and connecting each other, that is, the supply-side flow path and the reception-side flow path are communicated with each other from the cartridge container 10. Fuel is supplied to the methanol fuel cell body 20 side.

  The small diameter connecting cylindrical portion 31 of the plug 30 is fitted and connected in the connecting cylindrical portion 41 of the socket 40, and the concave portion 31a and the convex portion 31b of the plug 30 are respectively connected to the convex portion 41b and the concave portion 41a of the socket 40. The convex ring portion 31e and the inner wall 41c are locked to seal the fitting connection portion between the plug 30 and the socket 40.

  In the state of the fitting connection, the operation portion 33i and the operation portion 43i come into contact with each other and press each other, and the piston valves 33 and 43 are urged by the metal coil springs 37a, 37b, 47a and 47b. They are moved backward against the elastic force, and the valve body and the valve seat are separated from each other to open the valve. When the piston valves 33 and 43 are opened, the plug 30 and the socket 40 are opened. In this valve open state, the supply port and the receiving port are in communication.

  In the plug 30, the piston valve 33 is retracted based on the force received by the operating portion 33 i from the operating portion 43 i of the socket 40, and the metal coil springs 37 a and 37 b are compressed by the piston valve 33. The protrusion 33h is separated from the end face 35a of the packing ring 35 and is opened, and a supply-side flow path 36 is formed between the separated members. By forming the flow path 36, the flow path hole 12 of the cartridge container 10 and the supply port of the plug 30 communicate with each other through the vertical groove 33f or the vertical groove flow path. Therefore, when the opening / closing contact portion 33g of the piston valve 33 is opened and closed, the flow path 36 is opened or closed, and the flow path hole 12 and the supply port are communicated or blocked.

  Further, in the socket 40, the piston valve 43 is retracted based on the force received by the operating portion 43i from the operating portion 33i of the plug 30, and the metal coil springs 47a and 47b are compressed by the piston valve 43, and the open / close contact portion 43g. The ring-shaped protrusion 43h is opened from the end face 45a of the packing ring 45, and the flow path 46 is formed while the ring-shaped protrusion 43h is separated. By forming the flow path 46, the flow path hole 22 of the methanol fuel cell main body 20 and the receiving port of the socket 40 are communicated with each other through the vertical groove 43f or the vertical groove flow path. Therefore, when the opening / closing contact portion 43g of the piston valve 43 is opened and closed, the flow path 46 is opened or closed, and the flow path hole 22 and the receiving port are communicated or blocked.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the small coupler according to the present invention described in detail, it is possible to manufacture a small coupler as a coupler provided between the methanol fuel cell main body and the fuel methanol container.

  Further, since the ring-shaped protrusion presses the packing ring against the housing, the supply-side connector can maintain the sealing performance of the cartridge container, so that there is no possibility that the packing ring is worn. Furthermore, when the flow path is closed in the supply side connector, the piston valve can be restricted from sloshing by contacting the piston valve against the inner surface protruding portion of the small diameter connecting cylindrical portion.

  Furthermore, the receiving side connector of this small coupler has a connecting cylindrical part with a concave part and a convex part at the bottom part and an inner wall formed in a tapered shape, so that it is possible to prevent inadequate fitting with the supply connector. Can do.

  Even during the transition from the closed state to the open state, the metal coil spring is always completely isolated from the liquid flowing in the supply side connector or the reception side connector. Without touching, it is possible to completely prevent the metal ions of the metal coil spring from being eluted and mixed in this liquid. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the metal ions of the metal coil spring from eluting into a liquid such as methanol, thereby reducing the reaction rate and the performance of the fuel cell.

  Further, since the ring-shaped protrusions press the packing ring against the housing, the receiving-side connector can maintain the sealing performance of the fuel cell main body, so that there is no possibility that the packing ring is worn. When closing the receiving side flow path, the taper portion of the piston valve is brought into contact with the inner surface taper portion of the partition portion, whereby the throttle valve of the piston valve can be regulated.

  Since the flow path is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the piston valve and the inner wall surface of the housing, the internal structure of the piston valve can be simplified, and the size of the coupler can be reduced. Conventionally, a ring seal is used as the seal member. However, according to the seal portion in the present embodiment, the radial outer shape can be reduced, and the coupler can be further reduced in size.

  According to the seal part made of thermoplastic resin that seals the housing and the piston valve, it is possible to prevent the sliding failure of the reciprocating motion compared to the case where a rubber ring seal or the like is used for the seal member, and the seal part due to wear is prevented. The loss can be prevented and contamination can be prevented, and the durability can be improved. Furthermore, the sealing portion that seals the supply-side connector and the receiving-side connector can also prevent the incomplete operation of the fitting connection, prevent contamination due to the seal portion being lost, and improve the durability.

  Further, since the material of the small-diameter connecting cylindrical portion of the supply-side connector is softer than the material of the receiving-side connector connecting cylindrical portion, durability against wear can be improved.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the specific example mentioned above, You may change a part of structure of each part mentioned above. For example, the target liquid may be a liquid other than methanol, and the device body is not limited to a fuel cell. Further, the elastic body is changed to something other than a coil spring, and the number of sealing materials and O-rings is changed. Design changes such as changes may be made.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Coupler, 10 ... Cartridge container, 20 ... Main body of methanol fuel cell, 12, 22 ... Flow path hole, 30 ... Supply side connector (plug), 40 ... Receiving side connector (socket), 31, 41 ... Connection cylinder 32, 42 ... housing, 32c, 42c ... flow path hole, 33, 43 ... piston valve, 33d, 43d ... ring-like convex part, 33e, 43e ... roughly ring-like convex part, 33j, 43j ... stopper part, 35 , 45 ... packing rings, 36, 46 ... flow paths, 37a, 37b, 47a, 47b ... metal coil springs.

Claims (5)

Small size that opens the valve by fitting the supply-side connector and the reception-side connector to each other so that the supply-side flow path formed in the supply-side connector communicates with the reception-side flow path formed in the reception-side connector In the coupler,
At least one of the supply-side connector and the receiving-side connector is a connecting cylindrical portion that is formed and opened at the tip so as to be fitted to the other connector,
A hollow housing formed integrally and continuously on the rear side of the connecting cylindrical portion and communicated with the connecting cylindrical portion;
A piston valve stored in the housing so as to be movable back and forth in the axial direction;
Between the piston valve and the inner peripheral surface of the housing is sealed in a liquid-tight state, and the piston valve is guided to slide along the inner peripheral surface of the housing and provided on the rear end side of the piston valve. A seal part,
A sliding support provided to slide the piston valve on the inner surface of the housing on the tip side of the seal part;
A flow path formed between the piston valve and the inner surface of the housing on the tip side of the seal portion and opened toward the outside of the housing;
An elastic body that is housed inside the housing on the rear end side from the seal portion and presses the piston valve toward the front end side;
A valve seat that is pressed by the elastic body so that at least a part of the piston valve is in close contact with the piston valve being positioned on the tip end side to block communication between the flow path and the connecting cylindrical portion; A small-sized coupler characterized by comprising. 2. The small coupler according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is a metal coil spring, and a plurality of the elastic bodies are provided. One connecting cylindrical portion is formed to have a smaller diameter than the other connecting cylindrical portion, and the outer periphery of the one connecting cylindrical portion is fitted and connected to the other connecting cylindrical portion to be sealed. The small coupler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a convex portion is provided, and a material of the one connecting cylindrical portion is softer than a material of the other connecting cylindrical portion. At least one of the seal part and the sliding support part is constituted by a convex part formed integrally with the piston valve, and the housing and the piston valve of each connector are made of a thermoplastic resin material, 4. The small coupler according to claim 1, wherein a material of the piston valve is made of a thermoplastic resin material softer than a material of the housing. 5. The small coupler according to claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to connect a methanol fuel cell main body and a fuel methanol container. 6.

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