JPH10252990A - Method and device for automatically filling high pressure gas - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the workability and productivity in filling the high pressure gas by positioning a filling nozzle with a filling port part of a cylinder as a reference to surely agree the direction and height of the filling nozzle with those of the filling port part. SOLUTION: A balance weight provided in a stay 13 is connected to an elevating/lowering bracket 15 on a filling machine 11 side through a chain 19, etc., and the whole filling machine 11 is lowered by an air cylinder, etc., against the balance weight. A valve opening/closing head in a head casing 21 is engaged with an upper part of a valve handle 6, an air cylinder 46 of a back-up mechanism 37 is operated in this condition, and each holding arm 42 is turned so as to be brought close to each other. A part of a cylinder 1 on the back side of a valve body 3 to the lower outer circumferential side of a filling port part 4 is held between each holding arm 42, and a filling nozzle 36 is positioned with the filling port part 4 of the cylinder 1 as the reference.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for automatically filling a high-pressure gas suitable for filling a cylinder with a high-pressure gas such as liquefied propane gas.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a cylinder provided with a valve for opening and closing a filling port at an upper end side for filling a high-pressure liquefied gas serving as fuel for household or business use, and the cylinder is directed toward a filling station. A carry-in conveyor for carrying in, a plurality of carry-out machines provided on a rotary table of a filling station, and a filling machine for filling each cylinder brought in by the carry-in conveyor with liquefied gas, and a support frame of each filling machine are provided respectively. A plurality of direction correcting mechanisms for rotating the cylinder on the rotary table to orient the filling port of the cylinder at the position of the filling nozzle of each filling machine, and each cylinder filled with liquefied gas by each of the filling machines. A high-pressure gas filling apparatus including an unloading conveyor and the like unloaded from the filling station is known, for example, from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-201095 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-99238). There.

In this type of prior art, when an empty cylinder (actually there is residual gas) is carried into a filling station by a carry-in conveyor, first, a filling port of the cylinder is filled with a filling nozzle of the filling machine. The cylinder is rotated on the rotary table by the direction correcting mechanism so as to be in a position corresponding to the above, and the filling port of the cylinder is oriented toward the position of the filling nozzle of the filling machine. Next, in this state, the filling nozzle of the filling machine is fitted to the filling port of the cylinder, and the valve of the cylinder is opened and closed via a valve handle or the like, so that the filling nozzle is inserted into the cylinder via the filling nozzle. A high-pressure liquefied gas is charged, and each filled cylinder is carried out to a shipping yard or the like by a carry-out conveyor.

[0004]

In the prior art described above, a plurality of filling machines are provided on a rotary table of a filling station, and a plurality of direction correcting mechanisms are provided corresponding to each of these filling machines. When the cylinder is carried into the rotary table of the station, the cylinder itself is rotated on the rotary table by the direction correcting mechanism so that the filling port of the cylinder is in the direction coincident with the filling nozzle of the filling machine, A direction detector for detecting the direction of the cylinder, and a roller forcibly rotating the cylinder with a roller or the like while clamping the outer peripheral side of the cylinder based on a detection signal from the direction detector. It is composed of an attached clamp and the like.

Therefore, in the prior art, the configuration of the direction correcting mechanism is complicated by a direction detector and a clamp with a roller, and the clamp with a roller forcibly presses the cylinder while clamping the outer peripheral side of the cylinder. Since it is configured to rotate, there is a problem that the entire equipment becomes large.

As another conventional technique, a clamping mechanism is provided on the filling nozzle side of the filling machine or the like, and the outer periphery of the cylinder valve is clamped from both the left and right sides by the clamping mechanism, so that the entire filling machine is mounted on the cylinder. There is also known an apparatus which is rotated in a valve direction so that a filling port of a cylinder and a filling nozzle of a filling machine coincide with each other.

However, in this case, a wrench hooking portion or the like provided on the outer peripheral side of the valve of the cylinder is clamped by the clamp mechanism. Therefore, the cylinder is rotated by rotating the entire filling machine with the operation of the clamp mechanism. Although it is possible to correct the direction of the filling nozzle with respect to the filling port, the distance between the spanner hook and the filling port may differ depending on the valve manufacturer. In this case, the height between the filling nozzle and the filling port is high. The position is inconsistent.

For this reason, when the filling nozzle of the filling machine is fitted to the filling port with reference to the wrench on the cylinder side, it is necessary to replace the clamp mechanism itself according to the shape and type of the valve. In a filling factory where cylinders from different manufacturers are mixed in, extra labor and time are required to replace the clamping mechanism according to the shape and type of each cylinder. There is a problem that the property becomes worse.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and the present invention adjusts the position of the filling nozzle with respect to the filling port by positioning the filling nozzle with reference to the filling port of the cylinder. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a high-pressure gas automatic filling method and an apparatus therefor, which can surely match the pressure and high-pressure gas filling workability and productivity.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention is a valve opening / closing head which is disposed above a filling cylinder so as to be able to move up and down and opens and closes a valve handle of the cylinder. And a filling nozzle which is provided so as to be able to approach and separate from the head casing via a support arm and which is fitted to a filling port of the cylinder below the valve opening / closing head. The present invention is applied to a high-pressure gas automatic filling method in which a high-pressure gas is automatically filled in the cylinder using a gas filling machine.

The filling method adopted in the first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the head opening and closing head in the head casing is engaged with the valve handle of the cylinder so that the head casing is directed toward the valve handle of the cylinder. Filling the filling nozzle by lowering the head casing from above and rotating the head casing relative to the cylinder with the valve opening / closing head engaged with the valve handle with reference to the outer periphery of the filling port; A positioning step of positioning the filling nozzle with respect to the mouth, and, in a state where the filling nozzle is positioned with respect to the filling port of the cylinder, by moving the support arm toward the head casing side so that the filling nozzle is positioned at the filling port of the cylinder. A nozzle fitting step of fitting to the portion, and in a state where the filling nozzle is fitted to the filling port of the cylinder, A valve handle of the cylinder by serial valve opening and closing the head opening, and a closes valve opening and closing process.

According to the filling method described above, after the valve opening / closing head is engaged with the valve handle in the lowering step of lowering the head casing from above toward the valve handle of the cylinder, the head casing including the head casing is then placed in this state. By rotating the entire filling machine relative to the cylinder with reference to the outer periphery of the filling port, the filling nozzle can be automatically positioned with respect to the filling port. Then, in the next nozzle fitting step, the support arm is moved closer to the head casing side with the filling nozzle positioned at the filling port of the cylinder, and the filling nozzle is automatically fitted to the filling port of the cylinder. In addition, in the next valve opening / closing step, the valve handle of the cylinder can be automatically opened and closed by rotating the valve opening / closing head.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2, in the positioning step, a lower outer peripheral side of the filling port portion is clamped between a pair of clamping arms provided on the head casing side, thereby forming the filling machine. After the whole is relatively rotated with respect to the cylinder, an upward force is applied to the filling machine in order to press each of the holding arms against the outer peripheral side of the lower portion of the filling port.

Thus, in the positioning step, when the pair of holding arms provided on the head casing side are operated, the lower outer peripheral side of the filling port can be held between the holding arms. The filling nozzle of the filling machine can be automatically oriented in the direction of the filling port while the whole filling machine is relatively rotated with respect to the cylinder by the clamping force. Then, by applying an upward force to the filling machine in a state where the directions of the filling nozzle and the filling port are matched, each of the holding arms can be pressed against the lower outer peripheral side of the filling port, The height position and the direction of the filling nozzle can be matched with the filling port with reference to the outer peripheral side of the filling port.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head casing provided with a valve opening / closing head which is disposed above a filling cylinder so as to be able to move up and down and opens and closes a valve handle of the cylinder. A support arm attached to the head casing so as to approach and separate therefrom, and extending radially outward of the head casing downward along the head casing; provided at a lower end side of the support arm; A filling nozzle fitted on the filling port of the cylinder on the lower side, and disposed between the head casing and the support arm for fitting the filling nozzle to the filling port of the cylinder; An actuator for moving the support arm toward and away from the head casing,
The filling nozzle is provided on the head casing at a position opposite to the filling nozzle, and the filling nozzle is positioned with respect to the filling port by sandwiching the outer peripheral side of the filling port from the valve back side of the cylinder. And a positioning means.

According to the above construction, the valve opening / closing head can be automatically engaged with the valve handle by lowering the head casing together with the filling nozzle and the like toward the valve handle of the cylinder. By operating the aligning means and clamping the outer peripheral side of the filling port from the back side of the cylinder valve, the filling nozzle is rotated relative to the cylinder with respect to the cylinder with respect to the outer periphery of the filling port with the head casing, and the filling nozzle is filled with the filling port. It can be automatically aligned with the part. Then, by operating the actuator in this state and bringing the support arm close to the head casing side together with the filling nozzle, the filling nozzle can be automatically fitted to the filling port of the cylinder. Next, by rotating the valve opening / closing head in this state, the cylinder can be automatically filled with high-pressure gas from the filling nozzle side through the filling port while the valve handle of the cylinder is automatically opened.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head casing provided with a valve opening / closing head which is disposed above and below a filling cylinder so as to be able to open and close a valve handle of the cylinder. A support arm that is attached so as to be able to approach and separate, and extends downward along the head casing radially outside the head casing; and a cylinder provided at a lower end side of the support arm and below the valve opening / closing head. A filling nozzle fitted to the filling port, a balance weight for constantly lifting the head casing upward together with the filling nozzle, and the head casing against the balance weight when fluid pressure is supplied from the outside. A cylinder mechanism for lowering the pressure with the filling nozzle, and a cylinder mechanism disposed between the cylinder mechanism and the pressure source. A control valve for controlling the supply and discharge of fluid pressure, and a control valve disposed between the head casing and a support arm for fitting the filling nozzle to a filling port of a cylinder. An actuator for approaching / separating the filling nozzle, and provided on the head casing at a position opposite to the filling nozzle, and by sandwiching a lower outer peripheral side of the filling port from a valve back side of the cylinder, the filling port And a positioning means for positioning the filling nozzle.

According to the above construction, when fluid pressure is supplied to and discharged from the cylinder mechanism by the control valve, the cylinder mechanism is operated, thereby lowering the head casing together with the filling nozzle against the balance weight, thereby opening the valve opening / closing head. Automatically engages the valve handle. By operating the positioning means in this state, the lower outer peripheral side of the filling port can be clamped from the valve back side of the cylinder, and the head casing is rotated with the filling nozzle relative to the cylinder by the clamping force at this time. While filling, the filling nozzle can be automatically oriented in the direction of the filling port. If the control valve is returned to the neutral position with the direction of the filling nozzle and the filling port aligned, and the cylinder mechanism is set in a free state, an upward force is applied to the head casing and the like by the balance weight. In the state where the positioning means is pressed against the lower outer peripheral side of the filling port, the height position and direction of the filling nozzle can be made coincident with the filling port with reference to the outer peripheral side of the filling port. it can. Thus, similarly to the third aspect of the invention, the high-pressure gas can be automatically filled into the cylinder from the filling nozzle side through the filling port.

Further, in the invention according to claim 5, the positioning means is provided in a pair on the outer side of the head casing at a side opposite to the support arm so as to be rotatable and extending downward along the head casing. And a pair of clamping arms whose base end is fixed to the lower end of each of the rotating shafts and whose distal end is in contact with the filling port, and which is located at the upper end of each of the rotating shafts. A rotary actuator attached to the outer peripheral side of the head casing and configured to rotate the rotary shafts to move the contact portions of the holding arms toward and away from each other.

With this arrangement, when the filling nozzle is positioned with respect to the filling port of the cylinder, when each of the rotating shafts is rotated by the rotating actuator, the abutting portions of the holding arms are driven in directions approaching each other. The lower outer peripheral side of the filling port is sandwiched, and the filling nozzle and the like are relatively rotated with respect to the cylinder by the clamping force at this time, and the direction of the filling nozzle can be aligned with the direction of the filling port. it can.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Here, FIGS. 1 to 12 show an example in which a high-pressure liquefied gas is filled by an automatic high-pressure gas filling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a cylinder for charging a liquefied gas called a siphon tube (hereinafter referred to as a cylinder 1).
As shown in FIG. 2, the cylinder 1 includes a cylinder main body 2 formed of a high-strength metal material as a cylindrical hermetic container, and a filling valve provided at a central portion on the upper end side of the cylinder main body 2. It is roughly composed of a valve body 3 and a take-out valve body (not shown).

The valve body 3 of the cylinder 1
In order to fill the cylinder body 2 with the liquefied gas, a filling port 4 projecting outward in the radial direction and opening to the outside, and movable in the valve body 3 to open and close the filling port 4 with respect to the inside of the cylinder body 2. (Not shown) as a valve disposed in the valve
And a valve handle 6 connected to the valve body via a valve shaft 5 to open and close the valve body.

Further, on the outer peripheral side of the valve body 3, near the filling port 4, a wrench hooking section 3A described in the prior art is integrally formed at a position lower than the filling port 4. Further, a cap 7 is attached to the valve body 3 on the back side of the filling port 4, and the cap 7 constitutes a safety valve that is detached from the back side of the filling port 4 when the pressure in the cylinder 1 becomes excessively high. doing.

Reference numeral 8 denotes the valve body 3 when the cylinder 1 falls down or the like.
And a protector for protecting the valve handle 6.
The protector 8 is formed as an annular ring having a diameter of, for example, about 25 to 30 cm by bending a metal pipe into a ring shape. The protector 8 is attached to the upper end side of the cylinder body 2 via a support plate 9 curved in an arc shape, and surrounds the periphery of the valve body 3 together with the support plate 9 at a position higher than the valve handle 6 by a predetermined dimension. .

An opening 9A is formed in the support plate 9 at a position corresponding to the filling port 4. On the opening 9A side, the protector 8 is arranged such that the distance from the filling port 4 is as shown in FIG. Dimension L is set. When the filling valve 34 of the filling machine 11 to be described later is moved back and forth to the filling port 4 side of the cylinder 1 as shown in FIG. 1, the filling valve 34 moves up and down to the filling port 4 side through an interval of dimension L. Is what is done.

Next, reference numeral 10 denotes a filling device for filling the cylinder 1 with a high-pressure liquefied gas. The filling device 10 is fixed on a rotary table (not shown) provided at a filling station of a filling factory. A plurality of filling machines 1 arranged at intervals
1 (only one is shown), an elevating mechanism 12 described below for elevating and lowering each filling machine 11 toward the liquefied gas filling cylinder 1, and each cylinder disposed below the elevating mechanism 12 1
And a positioning mechanism (not shown) for positioning the center position at a predetermined position in a centering state. Each of the filling machines 11 includes a head casing 2 described later.
1, consisting of a support arm 27 and a filling valve 34,
Each of the cylinders 1 carried on the rotary table of the filling station is filled with a liquefied gas via a filling valve 34 or the like.

Numeral 12 denotes an elevating mechanism for raising and lowering the filling machine 11 up and down. As shown in FIG. 3, the elevating mechanism 12 has a pair of columns formed in a hollow rectangular tube shape and standing upright on the rotary table. 13, 13 and each of the columns 13
A pair of guide rods 1 extending vertically along 3
, 4 and a pair of lifting brackets 15, 1 slidably provided on each of the guide rods 14 and raised and lowered.
5, a pair of connecting arms 16, 16 whose base ends are pin-connected to the respective lifting brackets 15, and whose distal ends are pin-connected to a support 23 described later, and a balance weight 18 described below.
And an air cylinder 20 and the like.

Numerals 17 and 17 denote a pair of sprockets provided on the upper end side of each column 13, and 18 denotes a balance weight (only one is shown) housed in each column 13 so as to be able to move up and down. The weight 18 is connected to each lifting bracket 15 via each chain 19, and each chain 1
9 is wound around each sprocket 17 in the middle. Each of the balance weights 18 is formed so that the total weight thereof is slightly larger than that of the filling machine 11 (including each of the lifting brackets 15 and the like), and when the air cylinder 20 is set in a free state, the filling machine 11 is turned off. It is configured to be automatically lifted to the highest position via each chain 19.

Numeral 20 denotes an air cylinder as a cylinder mechanism attached to the column 13, and the air cylinder 20 is provided in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a tube 20A, a piston 20D which is slidably inserted into the tube 20A and defines upper and lower air chambers 20B and 20C inside the tube 20A, and one end side is fixed to the piston 20D. And the other end is tube 2
A so-called rodless cylinder is constituted by a rod 20E and the like protruding outside 0A.

As shown in FIG. 3, a retaining plate 20F is attached to the distal end of the rod 20E, and the retaining plate 20F is in contact with or is engaged with the upper surface of the lifting bracket 15. Then, the air cylinder 20 displaces the rod 20E upward and downward by supplying and discharging air pressure from the compressed air source 52 into the air chambers 20B and 20C, and the rod 20E displaces downward with respect to the tube 20A. At times, the entire filling machine 11 together with the lifting brackets 15 and the like is lowered against the balance weights 18.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a head casing of the filling machine 11 which is disposed above the cylinder 1 so as to be able to move up and down. As shown in FIG. 4, the head casing 21 has a large-diameter reduction gear case 21A.
And an upper head portion 21B and a lower head portion 21C provided above and below the speed reducer case 21A. A cylindrical holder is provided between the speed reducer case 21A and the lower head portion 21C. A portion 21D is provided. And
The lower head portion 21C of the head casing 21 is screwed and attached to the holder portion 21D, and a valve opening / closing head 22 that engages with the valve handle 6 is rotated forward and backward on the inner periphery at the lower end of the lower head portion 21C. It is provided as possible.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a bearing attached to the upper end of the upper head portion 21B. As shown in FIG. 3, the bearing 23 has left and right arms 23B, 23B extending from a central mounting ring 23A.
The arm portion 23B is extended in the shape of a
Are connected to the respective connecting arms 16 by pins. Further, the upper head portion 21B of the head casing 21 is rotatably mounted on the mounting ring 23A of the support body 23, whereby the entire filling machine 11 is appropriately rotated around the central axis OO in FIG. It is configured to be. And head casing 2
The entire filling machine 11 including 1 is connected to the elevating mechanism 12 via a bearing 23 so as to be raised and lowered by the balance weight 18 and the air cylinder 20 of the elevating mechanism 12.

An air motor 24 is provided on the reduction gear case 21A of the head casing 21 and serves as a rotation source. The air motor 24 is a valve via a power transmission mechanism (not shown) provided in the reduction gear case 21A or the like. The valve opening / closing head 22 is connected to the opening / closing head 22 to rotate the valve opening / closing head 22 in forward and reverse directions.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a rotating shaft rotatably disposed in the head casing 21. The rotating shaft 25 extends vertically along a central axis OO as shown in FIG. It is integrally connected to the valve opening / closing head 22. Further, a cam 26 for confirming valve rotation is provided on the upper end side of the rotating shaft 25 projecting upward from the upper head portion 21B of the head casing 21, and the cam 26 rotates integrally with the valve opening / closing head 22. In the vicinity of the cam 26, a rotation sensor 48 and the like, which will be described later, are provided. The rotation sensor 48 controls the rotation of the valve opening / closing head 22 when the valve handle 6 of the cylinder 1 is opened / closed by the valve opening / closing head 22. , For example, before and after the liquefied gas filling operation, it can be confirmed whether the valve handle 6 is fully opened or fully closed.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a support arm as a support arm extending vertically outside the radial direction of the head casing 21.
As shown in FIG. 5, the support arm 27 is provided with a pair of left and right mounting portions 27A, 27A on the upper end side (base end side).
Air cylinders 29 to be described later are mounted on the mounting portions 27A between the head casing 21 and the mounting portions 27A. And
The carrying arm 27 is moved toward and away from the head casing 21 in directions indicated by arrows A and B in FIG.

The lower end side (tip side) of the support arm 27
Is an arm head 27B, and a filling valve 34 is provided integrally with the arm head 27B. further,
An operation valve 3 to be described later is provided at a longitudinally intermediate portion of the carrying arm 27.
1 is fixed, and a supporting arm 27C is provided.
Inside 7, a liquefied gas filling pipe 28 is attached so as to extend toward the filling valve 34 side.

Reference numerals 29, 29 denote a pair of left and right air cylinders as actuators disposed between the head casing 21 and the support arm 27. Each of the air cylinders 29 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the holder 21D of the head casing 21. The mounting portion 27 of the holder portion 21D and the holding arm 27
A and extends substantially horizontally. Each air cylinder 29 expands and contracts the rod 29A in the directions indicated by arrows A and B in FIG. 6 by supplying and discharging air pressure from the outside, and directs a filling nozzle 36 to be described later toward the filling port 4 of the cylinder 1. To advance and retreat.

Reference numerals 30 and 30 denote each mounting portion 2 of the carrying arm 27.
7A and a pair of springs disposed between the rod-side end of each air cylinder 29. Each of the springs 30 constantly urges the carrying arm 27 in the direction of arrow B via each mounting portion 27A. When the rod 29A of the air cylinder 29 contracts, the carrying arm 27 is allowed to move in the direction of arrow B. When the carrying arm 27 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow A, the filling nozzle 36 is firmly fitted into the filling port 4 of the cylinder 1 by the air cylinder 29.

Reference numeral 31 denotes an operation valve provided on the pedestal portion 27C of the support arm 27. The operation valve 31 slides the spool 32 in the axial direction via the knob 32A or the like.
The air pressure from a later-described pressure source 52 or the like is applied to each air cylinder 29.
To make the respective air cylinders 29 extend and contract. Reference numeral 33 denotes a substantially L-shaped handle provided integrally with the operation valve 31.

Reference numeral 34 denotes an arm head 27 of the supporting arm 27.
A filling valve for filling liquefied gas provided at the tip of B. The filling valve 34 is constituted by a valve casing 35 and a filling nozzle 36 as shown in FIG. 4, and the filling nozzle 36 is separated from the valve casing 35 by a valve spring (see FIG. 4). (Not shown), the filling valve 34 is connected to the valve casing 35.
A valve body (not shown) inside is opened and closed.

Here, the filling valve 34 is disposed below the lower head portion 21C of the head casing 21 so as to fit the filling nozzle 36 into the filling port 4 of the cylinder 1 at the time of filling the liquefied gas. The filling nozzle 36 is connected to the valve casing 35
Project from the mounting arm 27 substantially in parallel with the mounting portions 27A. When the liquefied gas is filled, as shown in FIG. 4, the filling nozzle 36 is fitted into the filling port 4 of the cylinder 1 so as to be reduced into the valve casing 35 against the valve spring, and the valve is closed. The valve body inside the casing 35 is forcibly opened.

Reference numeral 37 denotes a backup mechanism as a positioning means for positioning the filling nozzle 36 with respect to the filling port 4 of the cylinder 1. The backup mechanism 37 is a speed reducer for the head casing 21 as shown in FIGS. A bracket body 38 extending downward from the case 21A along the lower head portion 21C and having a pair of shaft insertion holes 38A, 38A spaced apart left and right as shown in FIG.
A pair of rotating shafts 39, 39 rotatably inserted into the respective shaft insertion holes 38A of the bracket body 38 and extending with a predetermined length in the vertical direction; And so on.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a guide block provided at the lower end of each of the rotating shafts 39.
The lower end side of each rotation shaft 39 is rotatably supported via the like,
Each of the holding arms 42 together with each of the rotating shafts 39 is indicated by an arrow C in FIG.
The rotation of the bracket body 38 is allowed between the bracket body 38 and the lower end side. The guide block 40 is opposed to the cap 7 of the valve body 3 on the back side with a gap, and this facing surface is formed as a concave curved surface so as to be able to contact the back side of the cap 7 when the liquefied gas is charged. I have. When the filling nozzle 36 is fitted into the filling port 4 of the valve body 3, the guide block 40 of the backup mechanism 37 comes into contact with the cap 7 from the back side of the valve body 3, and the valve body is in contact with the filling nozzle 36. By holding the filling nozzle 3, it is ensured that the filling nozzle 36 is firmly fitted to the filling port 4 of the valve body 3.

Reference numerals 42, 42 denote holding arms which are rotatably disposed on the lower end side of the bracket body 38 via respective rotation shafts 39. Each of the holding arms 42 is, as shown in FIGS. Side is connected to each rotating shaft 39 via a key or the like so as to rotate integrally with each other, and an arm portion 42A whose distal end side is bent downward in a substantially L-shape, and from the lower end side of the arm portion 42A to the filling nozzle 36 side. An extending portion 42B extending horizontally toward the front, and integrally formed on the distal end side of the extending portion 42B;
And an abutting portion 42C extending in an L-shape toward the outer peripheral side of the lower portion of the filling port 4.

Here, the contact portion 42C of each holding arm 42
Is formed with an arc surface 42D corresponding to the outer diameter of the filling port 4, and each of the arc surfaces 42D abuts on the lower outer peripheral surface of the filling port 4 in a surface contact state as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. Has become. The extending portion 42B of each of the holding arms 42 has a length substantially corresponding to the valve body 3 of the cylinder 1 and is formed to be able to abut on the outer peripheral side of the lower portion of the valve body 3.

Even when the cylinder 1 is deflected together with the valve body 3 and the like by the angle α shown in FIG. The extension portion 42B and the contact portion 42C are connected to the valve body 3
By being pressed against the outer peripheral side of the (filling port 4), the entire filling machine 11 is relatively rotated around the central axis O by an angle α. As a result, the filling nozzle 36 rotates relative to the head casing 21 and the like following the direction of the valve body 3 and is oriented in the same direction so as to face the filling port 4.

Reference numerals 43, 43 denote a pair of gears fixed to the upper end side of each rotating shaft 39. The gears 43 mesh with each other and are rotated in opposite directions by being driven by an air cylinder 46 described later. Things.

Reference numeral 44 denotes a movable frame provided on the upper end side of the bracket body 38. The movable frame 44 has a U-shape as shown in FIG. 9, and a pair of arms sandwiches each gear 43 from both the left and right sides. The parts 44A, 44A are formed integrally. And
Racks 45, 45 are fixed to the respective arm portions 44A, and the respective racks 45 mesh with the respective gears 43 from both the left and right sides.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a small air cylinder mounted on the upper end side of the bracket body 38 on the side opposite to the movable frame 44.
The air cylinder 46 constitutes a rotary actuator together with the movable frame 44 and the gears 43 and the like, and expands and contracts the rod 46A by air pressure from the outside to move the movable frame 44 in FIG.
Each gear 43 is rotated via each rack 45 while being driven in the directions indicated by arrows E and F (horizontal directions) in the middle. Thereby, each rotation shaft 39 of the backup mechanism 37 is rotated integrally with each gear 43, and each holding arm 42 is rotated in the direction of arrow C, C or in the direction of arrow D, D in FIG.

Reference numeral 47 denotes a detection switch mounted on the upper side of the bracket body 38. The detection switch 47 is disposed near the arm 44A of the movable frame 44 as shown in FIG. When driven by a certain dimension in the direction indicated by E, the arm 44A of the movable frame 44 presses the arm 44A to output a switching signal to a control valve 53 described later. That is, the detection switch 47 outputs the switching signal when the valve body 3 is strongly clamped from both the left and right sides between the clamping arms 42 of the backup mechanism 37 as shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 48 denotes a rotation sensor for detecting the opening and closing of the valve handle 6. The rotation sensor 48 is mounted on the support body 23 of the head casing 21 via a bracket plate 49 as shown in FIGS. And is disposed so as to contact the outer peripheral surface of the cam 26. When the valve opening / closing head 22 opens and closes the valve handle 6 of the cylinder 1, the rotation sensor 48 detects the rotation of the valve opening / closing head 22 via the cam 26, for example, before and after the liquefied gas charging operation. 6 can be confirmed whether it is fully opened or fully closed.

Reference numeral 50 denotes another detection switch mounted on the support body 23 via the bracket plate 51 on the opposite side to the rotation sensor 48. The detection switch 50 is located on the upper surface of the cam 26 as shown in FIG. It is arranged to be able to abut. Then, the entire filling machine 11 is lowered by the air cylinder 20 shown in FIGS. 3 and 12 against each balance weight 18, and when the valve opening / closing head 22 is engaged with the valve handle 6, the rotating shaft 25 is moved together with the cam 26. As shown in FIG. 5, the detection switch 50 is depressed on the upper surface side of the cam 26 by being displaced upward relative to the head casing 21.

Thus, the detection switch 50 detects that the entire filling machine 11 has been lowered to the lowered position where the valve opening / closing head 22 is engaged with the valve handle 6, and outputs a detection signal to a control device (not shown) of the filling factory. ) Etc. Then, the control device operates the air cylinder 46 of the backup mechanism 37 based on the detection signal from the detection switch 50, and pushes each of the holding arms 42 to hold the valve body 3 between the holding arms 42, as shown in FIG. It is rotated in directions C and C shown in FIG.

Further, 52 shown in FIG. 12 is a compressed air source as a pressure source composed of a compressor, an air tank, and the like.
The compressed air source 52 includes a control valve 53 and a pair of air lines 54.
A, 54B, the air chamber 20B of the air cylinder 20,
20C or the like. Further, the control valve 53 is constituted by a pilot pressure type directional switching valve or the like, and the pilot pressure is supplied to the pair of pilot portions 53A, 53B so that the switching position (b), (c) from the neutral position (a).
Is switched to

Here, when the control valve 53 is at the neutral position (a), the air chambers 20B and 20C of the air cylinder 20 communicate with each other through the air pipes 54A and 54B, for example, as shown in FIG. 18 allows the rod 20E of the air cylinder 20 to be gradually displaced upward. When the control valve 53 is switched from the neutral position (a) to the switching position (b), the air pressure from the compressed air source 52 is supplied to the air chamber 20B, so that the rod 20E of the air cylinder 20 is displaced downward. When the switching to the switching position (C) is performed, the air pressure from the compressed air source 52 is supplied to the air chamber 20C, and the rod 20E of the air cylinder 20 is displaced upward.

The liquefied gas filling apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has the above-described configuration. Next, an automatic liquefied gas filling method by the liquefied gas will be described.

First, when the cylinder 1 is conveyed onto the rotary table of the filling station, the positioning mechanism of the filling device 10 is operated to position the cylinder 1 at a predetermined filling position in a centering state. Then, in this state, the control valve 53 shown in FIG. 12 is switched from the neutral position (A) to the switching position (B), and the rod 20E of the air cylinder 20 is displaced downward. Done.

That is, in this lowering step, the entire filling machine 11 is moved from the raised position shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the valve opening / closing head 22 of the head casing 21 is engaged with the valve handle 6 of the valve body 3, and the filling nozzle of the filling valve 34 provided at the lower end of the support arm 27. 36 is disposed close to the filling port 4 of the valve body 3.

Then, the filling machine 1 is operated by the air cylinder 20.
1 is lowered against each balance weight 18, and the valve opening / closing head 22 is moved to the valve handle 6 as shown in FIG.
, The rotary shaft 25 is displaced upwardly with respect to the head casing 21 together with the cam 26,
6, the detection switch 50 is pressed (see FIG. 5). At this time, the detection switch 50 detects that the entire filling machine 11 has been lowered to the lowered position where the valve opening / closing head 22 is engaged with the valve handle 6. To detect.

Next, the control device of the filling factory operates the air cylinder 46 of the backup mechanism 37 based on the detection signal from the detection switch 50 to drive the movable frame 44 in the direction indicated by the arrow E in FIG. By rotating each of the holding arms 42 in the directions indicated by arrows C and C in FIG.
Is performed with respect to the filling port 4 of the cylinder 1.

That is, in this positioning step, even if the cylinder 1 is deflected from the normal direction by an angle α (for example, about 15 degrees) together with the valve body 3 as shown in FIG. By rotating 42 in the directions indicated by arrows C and C, the extended portions 42B and the contact portions 42C are strongly pressed against the outer peripheral side of the valve body 3 (filling port portion 4). Is automatically rotated relative to the center axis O by the angle α by the reaction force at this time.

As a result, the filling nozzle 36 rotates relative to the head casing 21 and the like in the direction of the valve body 3, and is oriented in the same direction so as to face the filling port 4. During this time, the valve opening / closing head 22 of the filling machine 11 and the like are pressed onto the valve handle 6 by the air cylinder 20, so that the contact portions 4
The arc surface 42D and the like formed in 2C are slightly separated from the outer peripheral side of the lower portion of the filling port 4 in a downward direction.

When the movable frame 44 is driven by the air cylinder 46 in the direction indicated by the arrow E by a predetermined distance, the detection switch 47 shown in FIG.
4A, the control valve 53 is returned to the neutral position (A) from the switching position (B) shown in FIG. An air line 54A is provided between the chambers 20B and 20C.
They are communicated with each other via 54B.

Thus, the rod 2 of the air cylinder 20
An upward force from the balance weight 18 shown in FIG. 3 acts on 0E, and the rod 20E of the air cylinder 20 tends to be displaced upward slowly, so that the filling machine 11 is lifted up together with the respective clamping arms 42. Then, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the arcuate surface 42D of each of the holding arms 42 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion of the filling port 4 in a surface contact state, whereby the upward displacement of the filling machine 11 is regulated, and each holding arm 42 is restricted. In a state in which the circular arc surface 42D of 42 is pressed against the outer peripheral side of the lower portion of the filling port 4, the height position and direction of the filling nozzle 36 can be matched with the filling port with reference to the outer peripheral side of the filling port 4. .

Next, a nozzle fitting step is performed in this state, and the rod 29A of the air cylinder 29 is reduced to move the carrying arm 27 horizontally toward the head casing 21 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Then, the filling valve 34 is driven toward the filling port 4 side of the cylinder 1, and the filling nozzle 36 is fitted into the filling port 4 as shown in FIG. Then, when the tip of the filling nozzle 36 abuts on the back side of the filling port 4, the reaction force at this time causes the filling nozzle 36
Is pushed into the valve casing 35, and the valve body of the filling valve 34 is opened.

When the filling nozzle 36 is fitted to the filling port 4 of the valve body 3, the backup mechanism 3
As shown in FIG. 4, the guide block 40 abuts on the cap 7 from the back side of the valve body 3 and clamps the valve body 3 between the valve body 3 and the filling nozzle 36. It compensates for the tight fit in the part 4.

Next, a valve opening / closing step is performed in this state, and the valve body in the valve body 3 is opened via the valve handle 6 by driving the air motor 24 to rotate the valve opening / closing head 22 in the forward direction. Let it go. Then, the bracket plate 49 is mounted on the support body 23 of the head casing 21.
The rotation sensor 48 attached via the cam 26 detects through the cam 26 that the valve opening / closing head 22 rotates the valve handle 6 of the cylinder 1 in the valve opening direction with the valve opening / closing head 22. Based on the detection signal at this time, Valve handle 6
Is fully opened, the driving of the air motor 24 is stopped, and the filling valve 34 fills the cylinder 1 with liquefied gas.

On the other hand, when the filling of the liquefied gas is completed, before the tip of the filling nozzle 36 is separated from the filling port 4,
The valve body in the valve body 3 is closed via the valve handle 6 by driving the air motor 24 again to rotate the valve opening / closing head 22 in the reverse direction. In this state, the air cylinder 29 is extended in the direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 4, and the support arm 27 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow B together with the filling valve 34 via the spring 30. 36 is the filling port 4 of the cylinder 1
Let go.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the pressure source 52
Is supplied to and discharged from the air cylinder 20 through the control valve 53, and the entire filling machine 11 is lowered by the air cylinder 20 against the balance weight 18, so that the valve opening / closing head 22 is moved above the valve handle 6. In this state, the air cylinder 46 of the backup mechanism 37 is operated, and the holding arms 42 are rotated so as to approach each other. Since the lower outer peripheral side of the portion 4 is sandwiched between the clamping arms 42, the entire filling machine 11 can be rotated relative to the cylinder 1 together with the filling nozzle 36 by the clamping force at this time. Can be automatically oriented in the direction of the filling port 4.

Further, the control valve 53 is returned to the neutral position (a) and the air cylinder 20 is set in a free state in a state where the direction of the filling nozzle 36 and the direction of the filling port 4 are made to coincide with each other. , Balance weight 18 to filling machine 1
1 is configured to apply an upward force to the entirety, so that the contact portion 42C of each of the holding arms 42 can be automatically pressed to the lower outer peripheral side of the filling port 4 via the arcuate surface 42D. The height position and direction of the filling nozzle 36 can be made to coincide with the filling port 4 with reference to the outer peripheral side of the portion 4.

As a result, as described in the prior art, there is no need to position the filling nozzle 36 with reference to the spanner holder 3A of the cylinder 1 or the like, and the shape of the valve body 3 is changed according to the type of the cylinder 1 and the like. In the case where the filling nozzle 4 is different, the filling nozzle 36 is
Can be faced with high accuracy, and when the filling nozzle 36 is fitted to the filling port 4 thereafter, it is possible to eliminate such a problem that the filling nozzle 36 comes off from the filling port 4.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the filling nozzle 36 of the filling machine 11 is aligned with the filling port 4 with reference to the outer peripheral side of the filling port 4 on the cylinder 1 side. Even in a filling factory where mixed materials are carried in, there is no need to replace each of the holding arms 42 and the like according to the shape and type of the valve body 3, and the direction and height of the filling nozzle 36 with respect to the filling opening 4 can be reduced. They can be surely matched, and workability and productivity during high-pressure gas filling can be greatly improved.

In the above embodiment, the filling valve 34 is moved to the cylinder 1 by moving the carrying arm 27 provided with the filling valve 34 at the lower end side in the horizontal direction with respect to the head casing 21 by an air cylinder 29 or the like. Although the case of moving back and forth toward the filling port 4 has been described as an example, the present invention is not limited to this.
As proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. -50496, etc., a filling valve may be provided at the lower end side of a support arm that is swingably attached to a head casing via a hanger or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the cylinder 1 called a siphon tube has been described as an example of the cylinder for charging the liquefied gas. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a case where a liquefied gas is automatically filled into cylinders of various shapes such as a cylinder.

[0077]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the valve opening / closing head is engaged with the valve handle in the lowering step of lowering the head casing from above toward the valve handle of the cylinder as described in claim 1. Then, in this state, the entire filling machine including the head casing is relatively rotated with respect to the cylinder with reference to the outer periphery of the filling port, so that the filling nozzle is automatically positioned with respect to the filling port. The filling nozzle is aligned with the filling port of the cylinder as a reference, and the direction and height of the filling nozzle with respect to the filling port can be reliably matched. However, the filling nozzle can stably face the filling port. In the next nozzle fitting process, the filling nozzle can be automatically fitted to the filling port of the cylinder, and in the subsequent valve opening / closing process, the valve handle of the cylinder is automatically opened by rotating the valve opening / closing head. , Can be closed, and the workability and productivity during high-pressure gas filling can be greatly improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the positioning step, the entire outer periphery of the filling machine is held in a cylinder by sandwiching the lower outer peripheral side of the filling port between a pair of holding arms provided on the head casing side. After being rotated relative to each other, an upward force is applied to the filling machine in order to press each of the holding arms against the lower outer peripheral side of the filling opening, so that the lower outer periphery of the filling opening is provided between each holding arm. By the clamping force when the side is clamped, the filling nozzle of the filling machine can be automatically oriented toward the filling port while rotating the entire filling machine relative to the cylinder, and in this state, the filling machine is By applying an upward force, each of the holding arms can be pressed against the lower outer peripheral side of the filling port, and the height position and direction of the filling nozzle are determined with respect to the outer peripheral side of the filling port. Stable It can be matched Te.

On the other hand, in the third aspect of the present invention, the head opening and closing head can be automatically engaged with the valve handle by lowering the head casing together with the filling nozzle and the like toward the valve handle of the cylinder. By operating the aligning means and clamping the outer peripheral side of the filling port from the back side of the cylinder valve, the filling nozzle is rotated relative to the cylinder with respect to the cylinder with respect to the outer periphery of the filling port with the head casing, and the filling nozzle is filled with the filling port. Automatically aligns to parts. In this state, the actuator is operated, and the support arm is moved closer to the head casing side together with the filling nozzle, whereby the filling nozzle can be automatically fitted to the filling port of the cylinder, and the valve opening / closing head is rotated in this state. By automatically opening the valve handle of the cylinder, the cylinder can be automatically filled with high-pressure gas from the filling nozzle side through the filling port, greatly improving workability and productivity during high-pressure gas filling. Can be done.

Further, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the head casing is lowered together with the filling nozzle against the balance weight by operating the cylinder mechanism by supplying and discharging fluid pressure to and from the cylinder mechanism by the control valve. The opening / closing head can be automatically engaged with the valve handle, and by operating the positioning means in this state, the lower peripheral side of the filling port can be clamped from the back side of the valve of the cylinder. The filling nozzle can be automatically oriented toward the filling port while rotating the head casing relative to the cylinder together with the filling nozzle. Then, when the control valve is returned to the neutral position in a state where the directions of the filling nozzle and the filling port are matched, and when the cylinder mechanism is set in a free state, an upward force is applied to the head casing and the like by the balance weight. In a state where the positioning means is pressed against the lower outer peripheral side of the filling port,
The height position and the direction of the filling nozzle can be matched with the filling port with reference to the outer peripheral side of the filling port.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when positioning the filling nozzle with respect to the filling port of the cylinder,
By rotating each rotation shaft by the rotation actuator, each holding arm can be driven in a direction in which the contact portions approach each other, and the lower outer peripheral side of the filling port portion can be reliably held between these contact portions, and The filling nozzle and the like can be rotated relative to the cylinder by the holding force at this time, and the direction of the filling nozzle can be stably made to coincide with the direction of the filling port.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially broken front view showing a state before a liquefied gas filling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is assembled to a cylinder.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view showing a liquefied gas filling cylinder.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an elevating mechanism and the like in FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner.

4 is a partially broken front view showing a state where the filling machine in FIG. 1 is assembled to a cylinder.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of FIG. 4 showing a filling machine and the like.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of FIG. 5 showing a filling machine and the like.

FIG. 7 is a right side view showing a state where the backup mechanism in FIG. 4 is detached from a head casing.

8 is a cross-sectional view of the backup mechanism as viewed from the direction of arrows VIII-VIII in FIG.

9 is an enlarged sectional view of the backup mechanism and the like as viewed from the direction of arrows IX-IX in FIG. 7;

10 is a cross-sectional view of the block body of the backup mechanism, each rotating shaft, and the like, as viewed from the direction of arrows XX in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 7 showing each holding arm and the like.

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing the air cylinder in FIG. 3 together with a pressure air source, a control valve, and the like.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Filling cylinder 3 Valve body (valve) 4 Filling port 6 Valve handle 10 Filling device 11 Filling machine 12 Elevating mechanism 13 Support column 18 Balance weight 19 Chain 20 Air cylinder (cylinder mechanism) 21 Head casing 22 Valve opening / closing head 27 Carrying arm (Support Arm) 29 Air Cylinder (Actuator) 34 Filling Valve 36 Filling Nozzle 37 Backup Mechanism (Positioning Means) 38 Bracket Body 39 Rotating Shaft 42 Holding Arm 42C Contact Section 42D Arc Surface 43 Gear 46 Air Cylinder (Rotating Actuator) ) 52 Pressure source (pressure source) 53 Control valve

Claims (5)

[Claims] A head casing provided with a valve opening / closing head for opening and closing a valve handle of the cylinder so as to be able to ascend and descend above a filling cylinder, and approaching and separating from the head casing via a support arm. A high-pressure gas automatic filling means for automatically filling the cylinder with high-pressure gas using a high-pressure gas filling machine comprising a filling nozzle which is provided below the valve opening / closing head and is fitted to a filling port of the cylinder. A filling method, wherein a valve opening / closing head in the head casing is engaged with a valve handle of the cylinder, and a lowering step of lowering the head casing from above toward a valve handle of the cylinder; and With the head casing engaged with the valve handle, the head casing is rotated relative to the cylinder with reference to the outer periphery of the filling port. A positioning step of positioning the filling nozzle with respect to the filling port, and by bringing the support arm closer to the head casing side with the filling nozzle positioned with the filling port of the cylinder. A nozzle fitting step of fitting the filling nozzle to the filling port of the cylinder; and, in a state where the filling nozzle is fitted to the filling port of the cylinder,
A valve opening and closing step of opening and closing a valve handle of the cylinder by the valve opening and closing head. 2. In the positioning step, the entire filling machine is relatively rotated with respect to a cylinder by clamping a lower outer peripheral side of the filling port between a pair of clamping arms provided on the head casing side. 2. The high-pressure gas automatic filling method according to claim 1, wherein an upward force is applied to the filling machine to press each of the holding arms against the outer peripheral side of the lower portion of the filling port. 3. A head casing provided above the filling cylinder so as to be able to move up and down, and provided with a valve opening / closing head for opening and closing a valve handle of the cylinder, and being attached to the head casing so as to be able to approach and separate therefrom. A support arm extending radially outwardly of the head casing along the head casing, and provided at a lower end side of the support arm, and fitted to a filling port of the cylinder below the valve opening / closing head. A filling nozzle to be fitted, and an actuator disposed between the head casing and a support arm for fitting the filling nozzle to a filling port of the cylinder, and moving the support arm toward and away from the head casing. Provided in the head casing at a position opposite to the filling nozzle, and outside the filling port from the valve back side of the cylinder. By sandwiching the side, high-pressure gas automatic filling device comprising consist of the alignment means for aligning said filling nozzle with respect to the filling opening. 4. A head casing provided above and below the filling cylinder so as to be able to move up and down, and provided with a valve opening / closing head for opening and closing a valve handle of the cylinder; A support arm extending radially outwardly of the head casing along the head casing, and provided at a lower end side of the support arm, and fitted to a filling port of the cylinder below the valve opening / closing head. A filling nozzle, a balance weight that constantly lifts the head casing together with the filling nozzle, and a cylinder that lowers the head casing together with the filling nozzle against the balance weight when fluid pressure is supplied from the outside. And a mechanism disposed between the cylinder mechanism and the pressure source to control supply and discharge of fluid pressure to and from the cylinder mechanism. A control valve that is disposed between said head casing and the support arm in order to fit the filling nozzle in the filling port of the cylinder,
An actuator for moving the support arm toward and away from the head casing; and an actuator provided on the head casing at a position opposite to the filling nozzle, and sandwiching a lower outer peripheral side of the filling port from a valve back side of the cylinder. And a positioning means for positioning the filling nozzle with respect to the filling port. 5. A pair of rotating shafts, which are rotatably provided on an outer peripheral side of the head casing on a side opposite to the support arm and extend downward along the head casing. A pair of holding arms, the end sides of which are fixed to the lower ends of the respective rotating shafts and the leading ends of which are abutting portions with respect to the filling ports, and which are mounted on the outer peripheral side of the head casing located at the upper end side of each of the rotating shafts; The high-pressure gas automatic filling device according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a rotating actuator configured to rotate the rotating shafts so that the contact portions of the holding arms approach and separate from each other.