JP2022003263A - Valve device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a valve device capable of suppressing the lowering of workability in work involving the manual operation of a manual valve.SOLUTION: A gas flow path 30 of a valve device 10 includes a first flow path A1 including a valve side opening part 31b, and a second flow path A2 including a tank side opening part 33b. The gas flow path 30 further includes an intersection part A where a first center axis L1 of the first flow path A1 and a second center axis L2 of the second flow path A2 intersect with each other. A center axis N of a solenoid valve 40 corresponds onto the extension line of the first center axis L1, and a center axis J of a manual valve 70 corresponds to the extension line of the second center axis L2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a valve device.

Conventionally, a valve device is attached to the base of a tank that accommodates high-pressure gas. The valve device controls the supply and discharge of gas to the tank. The valve device integrally includes a body having a gas flow path through which gas flows, and various valves mounted on the body.

For example, the valve device of Patent Document 1 includes a main body as a body, a gas flow path provided in the main body, and a plurality of valves for opening and closing the gas flow path. The first check valve as a valve is provided on one side in the lateral direction of the main body, and a closing member is provided on the other side in the lateral direction of the main body. Further, the on-off valve as a valve and the second check valve are provided on one side in the vertical direction of the main body, and the solenoid valve as a valve is provided on the other side in the vertical direction of the main body. A supply pipe for supplying fuel gas is connected to the connector portion of the first check valve of the valve device, and a fuel gas supply pipe for supplying fuel gas to the fuel cell is connected to the connector portion of the second check valve. Is connected.

In the valve device of Patent Document 1, for example, the filling of the fuel gas into the vehicle-mounted gas tank is performed by manually operating the on-off valve to open and close the valve and opening and closing the solenoid valve. Further, the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell from the vehicle-mounted gas tank by opening and closing the solenoid valve.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-087516

However, in the valve device of Patent Document 1, for example, when the valve device is maintained, the on-off valve is manually operated by a tool, but at this time, the tool interferes with peripheral devices such as a fuel gas supply pipe and workability is achieved. May decrease.

An object of the present invention is to provide a valve device capable of suppressing a decrease in workability of work involving manual operation of a manual valve.

The valve device for solving the above problems includes a body having a gas flow path communicating with a tank-side opening that opens toward the inside of the tank and a valve-side opening that opens toward the outside, and the body. A valve device having a solenoid valve mounted on the body to open and close the gas flow path and a manual valve mounted on the body and opened and closed by manual operation, wherein the gas flow path is the valve. It has a first flow path including a side opening and a second flow path including the tank side opening, and at the first central axis line which is the central axis of the first flow path and the central axis of the second flow path. It has an intersection that intersects with a second central axis, the central axis of the solenoid valve coincides with an extension of the first central axis, and the central axis of the manual valve is the second center. The gist is that it matches the extension of the axis.

According to this, the gas flow path has an intersection, so that the first flow path and the second flow path intersect. Then, the central axis of the solenoid valve coincides with the extension of the first central axis of the first flow path, and the central axis of the manual valve coincides with the extension of the second central axis of the second flow path. The central axis of the valve and the central axis of the manual valve intersect. As a result, in the axial view of the valve device along the central axis of the manual valve, the solenoid valve and the valve side opening are not located on the surface of the body to which the manual valve is attached. Therefore, when the manual valve is manually operated by the tool, the tool does not interfere with the solenoid valve or the connecting member to the valve side opening, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in workability of the work accompanied by the manual operation of the manual valve.

Further, with respect to the valve device, a pipe through which the gas flows may be connected to the valve side opening in common when the tank is filled with gas and when the gas is supplied from the tank.

According to this, for example, unlike the case where the pipe for filling gas to the tank and the pipe for supplying gas from the tank are separately connected to the valve side opening, they are connected to the valve side opening. It is possible to reduce the number of connecting members, and it is possible to reduce the number of connecting members that hinder the manual operation of the manual valve by the tool.

Further, regarding the valve device, in the gas flow path, the first flow path is on the upstream side of the second flow path when the tank is filled with gas, and the solenoid valve uses the gas flow path when the gas is filled. At the same time as opening, the gas flow path is closed at the end of filling the gas, and the valve seat to which the valve body of the solenoid valve comes into contact with and separates is arranged in the first flow path on the anti-second flow path side of the intersection. May be.

According to this, the intersection is located closer to the inside of the tank than the valve seat among the portions located between the inside of the tank and the valve seat in the gas flow path. Therefore, it is always the pressure in the tank that acts on the intersection, and the change in pressure acting on the intersection is small. Therefore, each time the gas is filled and the gas is supplied, the load due to the pressure fluctuation generated at the intersection of the first flow path and the second flow path can be suppressed to a small value, and the pressure resistance fatigue life on the gas flow path is adversely affected. It is suppressed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in workability of work that involves manual operation of a manual valve.

A schematic diagram showing a gas tank, a valve device, and a fuel cell of a fuel cell vehicle. Sectional drawing which shows the valve device. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the valve chamber of the gas flow path. Sectional drawing which shows the state which the opening on a tank side was closed by a manual valve. Sectional drawing which shows the state which the solenoid valve is positioned at the valve opening position. The figure which shows another example of a valve device schematically.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the valve device is embodied will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.
As shown in FIG. 1, the valve device 10 of the present embodiment is mounted on the fuel cell vehicle V. The fuel cell vehicle V is a vehicle that travels on the electric power generated by the fuel cell 12. The fuel cell vehicle V is equipped with a fuel cell 12, a gas tank 11 as a tank for storing fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell 12, and a valve device 10 attached to the gas tank 11. In the present embodiment, high-pressure hydrogen gas is stored as fuel gas in the storage chamber in the gas tank 11.

The gas tank 11, the fuel cell 12, and the valve device 10 are mounted under the floor panel at the rear of the fuel cell vehicle V. However, the mounting location of the gas tank 11, the fuel cell 12, and the valve device 10 is not limited to under the floor panel at the rear of the fuel cell vehicle V, and may be appropriately changed. For example, the front of the fuel cell vehicle V or the trunk room may be changed. It may be below. Further, in the present embodiment, the valve device 10 is mounted with the lower surface side of the valve device 10 exposed from below the vehicle body F so that maintenance can be performed from below the vehicle body F of the fuel cell vehicle V.

As shown in FIG. 2, the valve device 10 controls the filling of the fuel gas from the gas station 13 to the gas tank 11 and the supply of the fuel gas from the gas tank 11 to the fuel cell 12. The valve device 10 includes a body 20, a solenoid valve 40 that opens and closes the gas flow path 30 included in the body 20, and a manual valve 70 that opens and closes the gas flow path 30 by manual operation. In the present embodiment, the first direction of the body 20 is the vehicle front-rear direction X, the second direction orthogonal to the first direction is the vehicle left-right direction Y, and the third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction is the vehicle up / down direction. Direction Z.

The body 20 is, for example, a block made of an aluminum alloy. The body 20 has a first mounting hole 21 in the front end surface 20a as the first end surface in the first direction, and a second mounting hole 22 in the rear end surface 20b as the second end surface in the first direction. Further, the body 20 has a third mounting hole 23 on the lower end surface 20c.

In the valve device 10, the solenoid valve 40 is mounted on the body 20 by being mounted on the first mounting hole 21. Further, the manual valve 70 is mounted on the body 20 by being mounted on the third mounting hole 23. A joint 24 is attached to the second mounting hole 22. A pipe 28 is connected to the joint 24. The filling pipe 29a and the supply pipe 29b are branched from the pipe 28. A gas station 13 can be connected to the filling pipe 29a, and a fuel cell 12 is connected to the supply pipe 29b via a pressure reducing valve 14. Further, the body 20 has a tank-side opening 33b, which will be described later, on the right end surface as an end surface in the second direction, and the tank-side opening 33b opens toward the gas tank 11.

As shown in FIG. 2 or 3, the first mounting hole 21 is a stepped hole. The first mounting hole 21 has a large-diameter hole 21b that opens in the front end surface 20a of the body 20 and a small-diameter hole 21a that is located closer to the rear end surface 20b of the body 20 than the large-diameter hole 21b. It has a smaller diameter than the large diameter hole 21b. The small diameter hole 21a and the large diameter hole 21b are located coaxially.

At the inner bottom surface 21c of the small diameter hole 21a, the first end of the first connection flow path 31 in the axial direction, which is closer to the small diameter hole 21a, is opened as a valve hole 31a. Further, of both ends in the axial direction of the first connection flow path 31, the second end, which is the end opposite to the valve hole 31a, is opened as the valve side opening 31b in the inner bottom surface 22a of the second mounting hole 22. There is. The first connection flow path 31 is a flow path that extends linearly in the vehicle front-rear direction X. Therefore, the central axis V1 of the first connection flow path 31 extends linearly in the vehicle front-rear direction X. A valve seat 26 is provided at the bottom of the small diameter hole 21a. The valve seat 26 is configured by forming the inner peripheral surface of the valve hole 31a into a shape that expands in diameter toward the inner bottom surface 21c of the small diameter hole 21a.

A female screw is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter hole 21b. That is, it can be said that the large-diameter hole 21b is a female screw hole, and the first mounting hole 21 having the large-diameter hole 21b is a female screw hole having a female screw on a part of the inner peripheral surface. A mounting member 38 for attaching the solenoid valve 40 to the body 20 is screwed into the large-diameter hole 21b, and the solenoid valve 40 is attached to the body 20 by the mounting member 38.

Here, the solenoid valve 40 will be described. The solenoid valve 40 includes a sleeve 41, a fixed iron core 47 fixed in the sleeve 41, a movable iron core 49 sliding in the sleeve 41, a valve body 51 moved by the operation of the movable iron core 49, and a movable iron core 49. It has a solenoid 55 to drive and an urging member 50 to urge the movable iron core 49.

The sleeve 41 has a cylindrical shape. The extending direction of the central axis N of the sleeve 41 is defined as the axial direction of the sleeve 41. The central axis N of the sleeve 41 is also the central axis of the solenoid valve 40. In the present embodiment, the central axis N of the sleeve 41 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction X, and the axis direction of the sleeve 41 coincides with the vehicle front-rear direction X. Of both ends of the sleeve 41 in the axial direction, the end closer to the first mounting hole 21 is the first end 41b, and the end opposite to the first end 41b is the second end 41c. The sleeve 41 opens at the first end 41b and the second end 41c in the axial direction. The sleeve 41 is internally provided with a sliding hole 41a extending in the axial direction.

The sleeve 41 includes an insertion portion 42 including a first end 41b, a disk-shaped sleeve-side regulating portion 43 located on the second end 41c side of the insertion portion 42, and a second end 41c of the sleeve-side regulating portion 43. It has a tubular sleeve body 44 located on the side. The second end 41c of the sleeve 41 is composed of an annular lid portion 45. The inner diameter of the sleeve 41 is constant in the axial direction except for the lid portion 45, and the outer diameter of the sleeve 41 varies depending on the portion.

Specifically, the outer diameter of the insertion portion 42 is smaller than the outer diameter of the sleeve-side regulating portion 43 and larger than the outer diameter of the sleeve main body 44. In the present embodiment, the outer diameter of the insertion portion 42 is made larger than the outer diameter of the sleeve main body 44, but the outer diameter of the insertion portion 42 is not limited to this, and may be the same as or smaller than the outer diameter of the sleeve main body 44. good.

The outer diameter of the insertion portion 42 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the small diameter hole 21a, and the insertion portion 42 is inserted into the small diameter hole 21a via the large diameter hole 21b. A seal member 46 such as an O-ring is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 42. The sealing member 46 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 42 and the inner peripheral surface of the small diameter hole 21a, and airtightly seals between the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 42 and the inner peripheral surface of the small diameter hole 21a.

The first end 41b of the sleeve 41 and the inner bottom surface 21c of the small diameter hole 21a are separated from each other in the axial direction of the sleeve 41. In the space surrounded by the first end 41b of the sleeve 41, the inner peripheral surface of the small diameter hole 21a, and the inner bottom surface 21c of the small diameter hole 21a, a valve chamber S in which the valve body 51 described later is housed is provided. It is imaged. A valve hole 31a can communicate with the valve chamber S, and a valve seat 26 faces the valve chamber S.

The sleeve-side regulating portion 43 has a disk shape that protrudes radially outward from the insertion portion 42 and the sleeve main body 44. The outer diameter of the sleeve-side regulating portion 43 is larger than the inner diameter of the small diameter hole 21a and smaller than the inner diameter of the large diameter hole 21b. The sleeve-side regulating portion 43 is not inserted into the small-diameter hole 21a, but is located in the large-diameter hole 21b. A part of the sleeve body 44 is located in the large diameter hole 21b, and the other part protrudes to the outside of the body 20.

The fixed iron core 47 is fixed in the sleeve 41. The fixed iron core 47 has a columnar press-fitting portion 47a that is press-fitted into a portion of the sliding hole 41a located at the sleeve main body 44, and a shaft portion 47b that penetrates the lid portion 45. In the press-fitting portion 47a, the end surface closer to the shaft portion 47b contacts the inner surface of the lid portion 45, and this contact prevents the fixed iron core 47 from coming out of the sleeve 41.

A sealing member 48 such as an O-ring is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the press-fitting portion 47a. The sealing member 48 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the press-fitting portion 47a and the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve 41, and airtightly seals between the outer peripheral surface of the press-fitting portion 47a and the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve 41. The shaft portion 47b has a male screw on the outer peripheral surface. The shaft portion 47b penetrates the lid portion 45 and protrudes outside the sleeve 41 from the second end 41c of the sleeve 41. A nut 63 is screwed into the shaft portion 47b.

Here, a mounting member 38 for mounting the solenoid valve 40 on the body 20 will be described. The mounting member 38 is an annular shape into which the sleeve body 44 is inserted. The mounting member 38 is a nut having a male screw on the outer peripheral surface. The sleeve 41 is attached to the body 20 by screwing the male thread of the mounting member 38 into the female thread of the large diameter hole 21b.

The mounting member 38 has a nut-side regulating portion 38a on the inner peripheral portion. The direction in which the central axis R of the mounting member 38 extends is defined as the axial direction of the mounting member 38. The nut-side restricting portion 38a is formed so as to be annularly recessed from an end surface located in the first mounting hole 21 in the axial direction of the mounting member 38. The inner diameter of the mounting member 38 on the inner peripheral surface of the nut side regulating portion 38a is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sleeve side regulating portion 43. The sleeve-side regulating portion 43 is arranged inside the nut-side regulating portion 38a. The inner bottom surface of the nut-side restricting portion 38a is an annular surface extending flatly in the radial direction of the mounting member 38. Then, the inner bottom surface of the nut-side regulating portion 38a comes into contact with the annular surface of the sleeve-side regulating portion 43 near the second end 41c.

The mounting member 38 has a flange 39 on the outside of the body 20 in the axial direction. The outer diameter of the mounting member 38 at the flange 39 is larger than the outer diameter of the mounting member 38 with the male screw and larger than the inner diameter of the large diameter hole 21b. The mounting member 38 is screwed into the large diameter hole 21b until the flange 39 comes into contact with the front end surface 20a of the body 20.

The sleeve 41 is attached to the body 20 and the solenoid valve 40 is attached to the body 20 by screwing the attachment member 38 into the large diameter hole 21b until the flange 39 comes into contact with the front end surface 20a of the body 20. Further, the inner bottom surface of the nut-side regulating portion 38a contacts the annular surface of the sleeve-side regulating portion 43, and this contact prevents the sleeve 41 from coming off from the mounting member 38.

A movable iron core 49 is housed in the sliding hole 41a of the sleeve 41 so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the sleeve 41. The movable iron core 49 is columnar. The outer diameter of the movable iron core 49 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 41. The movable iron core 49 has an accommodating portion 49a formed so as to be recessed in a columnar shape from the end surface facing the fixed iron core 47. The urging member 50 is housed in the housing portion 49a. Examples of the urging member 50 include coil springs, but leaf springs and rubber may also be used. In short, if the movable iron core 49 can be urged toward the valve seat 26, the configuration of the urging member 50 may be appropriately changed.

The first end of the urging member 50 is in contact with the inner bottom surface of the accommodating portion 49a, and the second end of the urging member 50 is in contact with the press-fitting portion 47a of the fixed iron core 47. The urging member 50 is arranged between the movable iron core 49 and the fixed iron core 47 in the compressed state, and urges the movable iron core 49 toward the valve seat 26 by using the returning force from the compressed state as an urging force. In the present embodiment, the urging force of the urging member 50 is set to be smaller than the load due to the supply pressure of the fuel gas from the gas station 13.

A part of the valve body 51 attached to the movable iron core 49 is fitted into the sliding hole 41a of the sleeve 41. The valve body 51 is attached to both ends of the movable iron core 49 in the axial direction on the opposite side to the end provided with the accommodating portion 49a. The valve body 51 has a cylindrical main body portion 52 and a seal portion 53 protruding from the main body portion 52 toward the valve seat 26 in a conical shape.

The outer diameter of the main body 52 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 41. Inside the main body 52, a connecting portion 49b protruding from the movable iron core 49 toward the valve body 51 is inserted. The connecting portion 49b and the main body portion 52 are connected by a support pin 64. A support pin 64 is loosely inserted into the main body 52, and a valve body 51 is attached to a movable iron core 49. The valve body 51 is configured to be movable by the operation of the movable iron core 49.

The seal portion 53 is brought into contact with and separated from the valve seat 26 by the operation of the movable iron core 49. The diameter of the seal portion 53 is reduced from the main body portion 52 toward the tip of the seal portion 53 along the axial direction of the sleeve 41. The outer peripheral surface of the seal portion 53 is a conical seal surface. The diameter at the tip of the seal portion 53 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the valve hole 31a, and the tip of the seal portion 53 is inserted into the valve hole 31a. When the tip of the seal portion 53 is inserted into the valve hole 31a and the seal surface comes into contact with the valve seat 26, the valve hole 31a is closed and the communication between the valve side opening 31b and the valve chamber S is cut off. In the solenoid valve 40, the position where the seal portion 53 is seated on the valve seat 26 by the urging force of the urging member 50 and the valve hole 31a is closed by the valve body 51 is defined as the valve closing position K1.

On the other hand, when power is supplied to the solenoid 55, which will be described later, and as shown in FIG. 5, the movable iron core 49 moves against the urging force of the urging member 50 until it comes into contact with the fixed core 47, the valve body together with the movable iron core 49. 51 separates from the valve seat 26. Then, the seal portion 53 is separated from the valve seat 26, and the valve hole 31a is opened. In the solenoid valve 40, the position where the seal portion 53 is separated from the valve seat 26 and the valve hole 31a is opened is set as the valve opening position K2. At the valve opening position K2, the valve side opening 31b and the valve chamber S communicate with each other. That is, the solenoid valve 40 opens and closes the valve hole 31a.

The solenoid 55 is supplied with electric power to generate power for driving the movable iron core 49. The solenoid 55 has a cylindrical bobbin 56 arranged on the outer peripheral side of the sleeve body 44, and a winding 57 provided on the outer periphery of the bobbin 56.

The solenoid valve 40 has a cover 58 that covers the sleeve body 44 including the solenoid 55. Of both ends of the cover 58 in the axial direction, the end away from the body 20 is the first end, and the end closer to the body 20 is the second end. The cover 58 forms a double tubular structure inside the outer peripheral wall 59, the tubular outer peripheral wall 59, the top plate 60 provided at the first end of the outer peripheral wall 59, and the second end of the outer peripheral wall 59. It has a continuous inner peripheral wall 61.

The cover 58 has a cylindrical shape that opens at the second end of the outer peripheral wall 59. The cover 58 has a through hole 60a in the central portion of the top plate 60. Further, a bobbin 56 around which the winding 57 is wound is integrated on the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 61 of the cover 58. Therefore, the solenoid 55 is integrated with the cover 58.

The shaft portion 47b of the fixed iron core 47 penetrating the lid portion 45 of the sleeve 41 penetrates through the through hole 60a of the cover 58. A nut 63 is screwed into the male screw of the shaft portion 47b penetrating the cover 58 as described above. The cover 58 is attached to the solenoid valve 40 by screwing the nut 63 to the shaft portion 47b, and the solenoid 55 is covered by the cover 58.

In the body 20, the second mounting hole 22 is a female screw hole in which a female screw is formed on the inner peripheral surface. A joint 24 is screwed into the second mounting hole 22. The joint 24 has a connection portion 24a having a male screw screwed into the second mounting hole 22 on the outer peripheral surface, and a connector portion 24b protruding from the connection portion 24a toward the outside of the body 20. Further, the joint 24 has an in-joint flow path 24c extending along the central axis L of the joint 24. Of both ends of the flow path 24c in the joint in the axial direction, the end closer to the body 20 is the first end, and the end opposite to the first end is the second end. The first end of the inner flow path 24c in the joint communicates with the valve-side opening 31b of the first connection flow path 31, and the second end of the inner flow path 24c in the joint opens outward from the end face of the connector portion 24b. ing. Therefore, it can be said that the valve-side opening 31b is open to the outside. A pipe 28 shared by an inlet and an outlet is connected to the connector portion 24b, and the inside of the pipe 28 communicates with the flow path 24c in the joint.

In the body 20, the third mounting hole 23 is a stepped hole. The third mounting hole 23 has a fastening hole 23b that opens in the lower end surface 20c of the body 20, and a guide hole 23a that is located behind the fastening hole 23b. The fastening hole 23b has a larger diameter than the guide hole 23a. The guide hole 23a and the fastening hole 23b are provided coaxially. The guide hole 23a is a hole for guiding the movement of the manual valve 70. A tank-side opening 33b is opened in a part of the inner peripheral surface of the guide hole 23a in the circumferential direction.

The fastening hole 23b is a female screw hole in which a female screw is formed on the inner peripheral surface. A fastening member 80 for attaching the manual valve 70 to the body 20 is screwed into the fastening hole 23b, and the manual valve 70 is attached to the body 20 by the fastening member 80.

The manual valve 70 includes a guide portion 71 inserted into the guide hole 23a, a valve portion 72 protruding from the first end of the guide portion 71 in the axial direction in which the central axis J extends, and a guide portion 72. It has screw portions 73 protruding from the second end opposite to the first end among both ends in the axial direction of the portion 71. Further, the manual valve 70 has an operation portion 74 protruding from the screw portion 73 to the side opposite to the guide portion 71.

The guide portion 71 has a columnar shape. The guide portion 71 slides in the guide hole 23a. The valve portion 72 opens and closes the second end 32b of the second connecting flow path 32 communicating with the valve chamber S. The second connection flow path 32 connects the small diameter hole 21a of the first mounting hole 21 and the guide hole 23a of the third mounting hole 23. Of both ends of the second connection flow path 32 in the axial direction, the end closer to the small diameter hole 21a is referred to as the first end 32a, and the end closer to the guide hole 23a is referred to as the second end 32b. The first end 32a is open to the inner peripheral surface of the small diameter hole 21a, and the second end 32b is open to the inner bottom surface 23c of the third mounting hole 23. The second connection flow path 32 is a flow path that extends linearly in the vehicle vertical direction Z. Therefore, the central axis V2 of the second connection flow path 32 extends linearly in the vehicle vertical direction Z.

The screw portion 73 has a male screw on the outer peripheral surface. The outer diameter of the screw portion 73 is larger than that of the guide portion 71. The operation unit 74 has a smaller diameter than the screw portion 73 and has a hexagonal columnar shape. The operation unit 74 is a portion manually operated by a spanner as a tool. The shape of the operation unit 74 may be changed as appropriate, and the shape of the tool for manually operating the operation unit 74 is also changed according to the shape of the operation unit 74.

The fastening member 80 is annular. The fastening member 80 is a nut having a female screw hole on the inner peripheral surface and a male screw on the outer peripheral surface. The fastening member 80 is fastened to the fastening hole 23b. A screw portion 73 of the manual valve 70 is screwed to the inside of the fastening member 80.

Then, by manually operating the operation portion 74 to screw or retract the screw portion 73 with respect to the fastening member 80, the guide portion 71 is slid in the guide hole 23a and the valve portion 72 is connected to the second connection flow path. It can be brought into contact with and separated from the second end 32b of 32. Then, the second end 32b of the second connection flow path 32 can be opened and closed by the valve portion 72 to communicate or shut off the second connection flow path 32 and the inside of the gas tank 11 via the tank side opening 33b. That is, the tank side opening 33b can be opened and closed by the manual operation of the operation unit 74.

The gas flow path 30 in the body 20 is a flow path that communicates the valve-side opening 31b and the tank-side opening 33b. The gas flow path 30 has a first flow path A1 including a first connection flow path 31 and a valve chamber S, and a second flow path A2 including a valve chamber S, a second connection flow path 32, and a guide hole 23a. .. Since the first connection flow path 31 has a valve-side opening 31b, the first flow path A1 includes a valve-side opening 31b. Further, since the guide hole 23a has the tank side opening 33b, the second flow path A2 includes the tank side opening 33b.

Assuming that the central axis of the first flow path A1 is the first central axis L1, the first central axis L1 coincides with the central axis V1 of the first connection flow path 31. It can be said that a part of the valve chamber S at a position where the first central axis L1 is extended to the side opposite to the valve side opening 31b is included in the first connection flow path 31. Further, assuming that the central axis of the second flow path A2 is the second central axis L2, the second central axis L2 coincides with the central axis V2 of the second connection flow path 32. It can be said that a part of the valve chamber S at a position where the second central axis L2 is extended to the side opposite to the guide hole 23a is included in the second connection flow path 32.

The gas flow path 30 has an intersection A where the first central axis L1 of the first flow path A1 and the second central axis L2 of the second flow path A2 intersect each other. In this embodiment, the intersection A is located in the valve chamber S. The valve seat 26 to which the valve body 51 of the solenoid valve 40 comes into contact with and separates is arranged in the first flow path A1 which is on the anti-second flow path A2 side of the intersection A.

Further, the extension line extending the first central axis L1 of the first flow path A1 to the side opposite to the valve side opening 31b coincides with the central axis N of the sleeve 41 which is the central axis of the solenoid valve 40. That is, the solenoid valve 40 is located at a position where the first central axis L1 of the first flow path A1 is extended in the vehicle front-rear direction X. On the other hand, the extension line of the second central axis L2 of the second flow path A2 coincides with the central axis J of the guide portion 71 which is the central axis of the manual valve 70. That is, the manual valve 70 is located at a position where the second central axis L2 of the second flow path A2 is extended in the vertical direction Z of the vehicle. The solenoid valve 40 and the manual valve 70 are arranged in the order of the solenoid valve 40 and the manual valve 70 from the valve side opening 31b side on the gas flow path 30.

As described above, the first flow path A1 and the second flow path A2 intersect at the valve chamber S, and the solenoid valve 40 is located on the extension line of the first central axis L1 of the first flow path A1. Since the manual valve 70 is located on the extension line of the second central axis L2 of the two flow paths A2, the solenoid valve 40 and the manual valve 70 do not exist on the same surface of the body 20. That is, the solenoid valve 40 and the manual valve 70 are arranged on different surfaces of the body 20. Specifically, the solenoid valve 40 is arranged on the front end surface 20a of the body 20, and the manual valve 70 is arranged on the lower end surface 20c of the body 20. Further, the operation unit 74 of the manual valve 70 is exposed from the lower surface of the vehicle body F in the fuel cell vehicle V, and can be operated by a tool from below the vehicle body F.

Further, the joint 24 is arranged on the rear end surface 20b of the body 20. The joint 24, the solenoid valve 40, and the manual valve 70 do not exist on one surface of the body 20. That is, the joint 24, the solenoid valve 40, and the manual valve 70 are arranged on different surfaces of the body 20.

The gas flow path 30 functions as a filling flow path when the gas station 13 fills the gas tank 11 with fuel gas, and functions as a supply flow path when the fuel gas is supplied from the gas tank 11 to the fuel cell 12.

Here, the pressure of the first flow path A1 is defined as the pressure P1. Further, the pressure in the storage chamber of the gas tank 11 is the tank pressure P2, and the pressure in the valve chamber S is the valve chamber pressure P3.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the solenoid valve 40 is in the valve closing position K1 and the tank side opening 33b and the second flow path A2 communicate with each other by the manual valve 70, the pressure P1 is smaller than the tank pressure P2 ( P1 <P2). At this time, since the valve chamber S communicates with the storage chamber of the gas tank 11 via the second connection flow path 32, the guide hole 23a, and the tank side opening 33b, the valve chamber pressure P3 becomes equal to the tank pressure P2. (P3 = P2).

When the gas tank 11 is filled with fuel gas, when the fuel gas is supplied from the gas station 13 in a state where the tank side opening 33b is communicated with the second connection flow path 32 by the manual valve 70, the first flow path The pressure P1 of A1 becomes the supply pressure of the fuel gas, and the seal portion 53 of the valve body 51 separates from the valve seat 26 against the urging force of the urging member 50. That is, the solenoid valve 40 takes the valve opening position K2, and the valve hole 31a is opened.

Then, the fuel gas flows through the second connection flow path 32, the guide hole 23a, and the tank side opening 33b via the valve chamber S, and is stored in the storage chamber of the gas tank 11. Therefore, when the gas tank 11 is filled with the fuel gas, the first flow path A1 is on the upstream side of the second flow path A2.

When the filling of the fuel gas is completed and the supply of the fuel gas is stopped, the pressure P1 of the first flow path A1 drops, and the urging force of the urging member 50 causes the seal portion 53 of the valve body 51 to valve. Sit on the seat 26. That is, the solenoid valve 40 takes the valve closing position K1. That is, the solenoid valve 40 opens the gas flow path 30 when the gas tank 11 is filled with the fuel gas, and closes the gas flow path 30 when the filling of the fuel gas is completed.

When the fuel gas in the storage chamber of the gas tank 11 is supplied to the fuel cell 12, the solenoid 55 of the solenoid valve 40 is excited with the tank side opening 33b communicated with the second connection flow path 32 by the manual valve 70. By this excitation, the movable core 49 is attracted to the fixed core 47 against the urging force of the urging member 50, and the movable core 49 comes into contact with the fixed core 47. Then, the valve body 51 attached to the movable iron core 49 is separated from the valve seat 26, and the seal portion 53 is separated from the valve seat 26. That is, the solenoid valve 40 takes the valve opening position K2, and the valve hole 31a is opened.

Then, the fuel gas in the storage chamber of the gas tank 11 flows through the tank side opening 33b, the guide hole 23a, and the second connection flow path 32, and flows to the first connection flow path 31 via the valve chamber S. Then, the fuel gas is depressurized by the pressure reducing valve 14 via the in-joint flow path 24c, the pipe 28, and the supply pipe 29b, and then supplied to the fuel cell 12. When the solenoid 55 is degaussed, the seal portion 53 of the valve body 51 is seated on the valve seat 26 due to the urging force of the urging member 50 or the like. That is, the solenoid valve 40 takes the valve closing position K1.

Next, the operation of the valve device 10 will be described.
When the valve device 10 is mounted on the fuel cell vehicle V, the pipe 28 is connected to the joint 24. After that, when the airtightness inspection of the pipe 28 is performed, the manual valve 70 is manually operated. The manual valve 70 of the valve device 10 is accessed from below the vehicle body F of the fuel cell vehicle V, and the operation unit 74 is operated by a manual tool. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation unit 74 is manually operated, and the valve unit 72 closes the second end 32b of the second connection flow path 32. Further, the solenoid valve 40 is positioned at the valve closing position K1. Then, the airtightness inspection is performed with both the solenoid valve 40 and the manual valve 70 in the closed state. After the airtightness inspection is completed, the operation unit 74 is manually operated, and the second end 32b of the second connection flow path 32 is opened by the valve unit 72.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the valve device 10, the first flow path A1 and the second flow path A2 intersect at the valve chamber S, and the extension of the first central axis L1 of the first flow path A1 and the center of the solenoid valve 40. The axis N coincides, and the extension line of the second central axis L2 of the second flow path A2 coincides with the central axis J of the manual valve 70. That is, the solenoid valve 40 is arranged on the front end surface 20a of the body 20, and the manual valve 70 is arranged on the lower end surface 20c of the body 20. Therefore, when the valve device 10 is viewed from below along the central axis J of the manual valve 70, peripheral devices such as a connecting member such as a solenoid valve 40 and a pipe 28 are not located on the lower end surface 20c. Therefore, when the manual valve 70 is manually operated by the tool, the tool does not interfere with the solenoid valve 40 and the pipe 28, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in workability of the work accompanied by the manual operation of the manual valve 70.

(2) The pipe 28 is connected to the valve side opening 31b via the joint 24. The pipe 28 is a common pipe through which the fuel gas flows in common when the gas tank 11 is filled with the fuel gas and when the fuel gas is supplied from the gas tank 11. For example, unlike the case where the pipe for filling the gas tank 11 and the pipe for supplying gas from the gas tank 11 are separately connected to the valve side opening 31b, the pipe is connected to the valve side opening 31b. The number of pipes can be reduced, and the number of connecting members that hinder the manual operation of the manual valve 70 by the tool can be reduced.

(3) The intersection A of the first flow path A1 and the second flow path A2 is located in the gas tank 11 rather than in the valve seat 26 among the portions located between the gas tank 11 and the valve seat 26 in the gas flow path 30. Located closer. Therefore, it is always the pressure in the gas tank 11 that acts on the intersection A, and the change in the pressure acting on the intersection A is small. Therefore, each time the gas is filled and the gas is supplied, the load due to the pressure fluctuation generated at the intersection A can be suppressed to a small value, and the adverse effect of the pressure resistant fatigue life on the gas flow path 30 is suppressed.

This embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. The present embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.
-As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of gas tanks 11 may be arranged side by side in the body 20. In this case, the body 20 is provided with a common flow path through which the tank-side opening 33b of each gas tank 11 communicates, and this common flow path is opened and closed by the manual valve 70.

The valve device 10 may appropriately change the mounting direction on the vehicle body F as long as the operation unit 74 of the manual valve 70 can be manually operated.
A safety valve or other piping may be connected to the front end surface 20a or the rear end surface 20b of the body 20.

A plurality of pipes may be connected to the valve side opening 31b via a branch joint.
The valve device 10 may be mounted on the fuel cell vehicle V so that the first direction of the body 20 is the vehicle left-right direction and the second direction is the vehicle front-rear direction.

The valve device 10 may be mounted on the fuel cell vehicle V so that the solenoid valve 40 is mounted on the rear end surface 20b of the body 20 and the joint 24 is mounted on the front end surface 20a of the body 20.

The valve body 51 may be formed on a part of the movable iron core 49.
-Although hydrogen gas is described as the gas, it may be a gas other than hydrogen (for example, methane, propane, LPG) or a natural gas.

A ... Intersection A1 ... 1st flow path A2 ... 2nd flow path L1 ... 1st central axis L2 ... 2nd central axis N, J ... Central axis 11 ... Gas tank as a tank 10 ... Valve device 20 ... Body 26 ... Valve Seat 28 ... Piping 30 ... Gas flow path 31b ... Valve side opening 33b ... Tank side opening 40 ... Solenoid valve 51 ... Valve body 70 ... Manual valve

Claims (3)

A body having a gas flow path that communicates a tank-side opening that opens toward the inside of the tank and a valve-side opening that opens toward the outside.
A solenoid valve mounted on the body to open and close the gas flow path,
A valve device mounted on the body and having a manual valve that opens and closes the gas flow path by manual operation.
The gas flow path has a first flow path including the valve-side opening and a second flow path including the tank-side opening.
It has an intersection where the first central axis, which is the central axis of the first flow path, and the second central axis, which is the central axis of the second flow path, intersect.
A valve device characterized in that the central axis of the solenoid valve coincides with an extension of the first central axis, and the central axis of the manual valve coincides with an extension of the second central axis. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein a pipe through which the gas flows is connected to the valve-side opening in common when the tank is filled with gas and when the gas is supplied from the tank. In the gas flow path, the first flow path is on the upstream side of the second flow path when the tank is filled with gas, and the solenoid valve opens the gas flow path when the gas is filled and the gas is filled. Claim 1 or claim 1 or the valve seat in which the gas flow path is closed at the end of filling and the valve body of the solenoid valve is brought into contact with and separated from the valve body is arranged in the first flow path on the side opposite to the second flow path from the intersection. The valve device according to claim 2.

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