US20050008504A1 - Coupling for cryogenic media - Google Patents
Coupling for cryogenic media Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20050008504A1 US20050008504A1 US10/847,477 US84747704A US2005008504A1 US 20050008504 A1 US20050008504 A1 US 20050008504A1 US 84747704 A US84747704 A US 84747704A US 2005008504 A1 US2005008504 A1 US 2005008504A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- coupling
- plug
- socket
- rotating ring
- assigned
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
- F16L37/28—Couplings of the quick-acting type with fluid cut-off means
- F16L37/30—Couplings of the quick-acting type with fluid cut-off means with fluid cut-off means in each of two pipe-end fittings
- F16L37/373—Couplings of the quick-acting type with fluid cut-off means with fluid cut-off means in each of two pipe-end fittings with two taps or cocks
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L59/00—Thermal insulation in general
- F16L59/14—Arrangements for the insulation of pipes or pipe systems
- F16L59/16—Arrangements specially adapted to local requirements at flanges, junctions, valves or the like
- F16L59/18—Arrangements specially adapted to local requirements at flanges, junctions, valves or the like adapted for joints
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Taps Or Cocks (AREA)
- Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
- Supporting Of Heads In Record-Carrier Devices (AREA)
- Thermal Insulation (AREA)
- Joints Allowing Movement (AREA)
- Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
- Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)
- Compositions Of Oxide Ceramics (AREA)
Abstract
A coupling for handling fluid media, preferably for cryogenic media or liquefied natural gas. The coupling has a single core or multicore coupling connector plug and a coupling socket, with associated ball valves. Rotating rings associated with the coupling connector plug and the coupling socket allow for opening and closing of the ball valves to permit transfer of fluids via a conduit that can extend into the coupling socket past the plane of separation.
Description
- This application claims the priority of DE 101567405, filed Nov. 19, 2001, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
- The invention relates to a coupling, particularly for cryogenic media and liquefied natural gas, having
-
- a single-core or multicore coupling plug and a coupling socket. When coupled, a conduit of the coupling plug, which is constructed to be movable with respect to the coupling plug in the axial direction, extends or can extend beyond the plane of separation into the coupling socket.
- The invention also comprises
-
- a plug-side ball valve,
- a socket-side ball valve,
- the ball valves being constructed for the leading-through of the conduit, and
- devices for opening and closing the ball valves.
- The invention also relates to the use of such a coupling.
- In the following, the designations of special cryogenic medium will be preceded corresponding to their state of aggregation by the letters “G” for “gaseous” and “L” for “liquid”; thus, for example, GH2 or LH2 for gaseous or liquid hydrogen respectively. Furthermore, the terms “CNG” and “LNG” are used for compressed or liquefied natural gas.
- Hydrogen and natural gas are currently becoming more and more significant as energy carriers because of the rising demand for energy and increased environmental awareness. Thus, trucks, buses, passenger cars and railroad engines are already driven by means of natural-gas or hydrogen-operated engines. Furthermore, first attempts are being made to power airplanes by means of the above-mentioned media.
- The storage of the hydrogen or natural gas “on board” the above-mentioned means of transport makes the most sense in liquid form. For this purpose, the hydrogen and LNG have to be cooled to approximately 25 K. and 112 K. respectively and have to be maintained at this temperature, which can be implemented only by corresponding insulating measures at the storage containers or tanks. However, because of the low density of GH2 and CNG, storage in the gaseous state in the above-mentioned means of transport, as a rule, is less advantageous because the storage has to take place in large-volume, heavy storage tanks at high pressures.
- German Patent Document DE-A 41 04 711 describes a conventional coupling of the above-mentioned type. The principle of such a coupling is based on a system in which two ball valves—one on the plug side and one of the socket side—are flanged to one another. Subsequently, a vacuum-insulated fill pipe moves through the passage bores of the ball valves from the plug side, through which fill pipe the (cryogenic) medium flows to the socket side of the coupling. After the filling operation, the plug moves back, and the ball valves are closed again. Subsequently, the mutual flanging of the ball valves is separated. A refueling coupling of this type permits an overfilling of (cryogenic) liquids, while, on the outside, a cooling of the visible components cannot be detected.
- When applying the above-described principle, it is necessary to open or close the plug-side ball valve and the socket-side ball valve by a 90°-rotation of the balls. Conventionally, this actuating operation has been carried out by a manual lever which—as normally used for ball valves—opens or closes the ball by a 90°-rotation. By means of a gearwheel drive, which engages when the coupling halves are connected, the socket-side ball valve is simultaneously opened or closed.
- For automatic applications, for example, such as refueling by means of a so-called refueling robot, it becomes possible to actuate the plug-side ball valve by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic drive. The socket-side ball valve is opened in the same manner as during the manual operation by way of a gearwheel, which engages during the linking-up of the coupling flanges.
- However, based on the geometrical situations, the gearwheels in the aforementioned conventional coupling have to engage before the flanges contact one another. An exact mutual engagement of the teeth during the link-up operation requires a very good axial guidance of the plug side relative to the socket side. Because of the extremely limited space conditions, a guidance, such as a cone-type guidance, cannot be used in the required form. A successful link-up operation therefore depends on the skill of the operating personnel or on the sensor system and precise control of the refueling robot.
- Furthermore, during the link-up operation, the torsional axes of the ball valves have to be situated in a plane, so that the teeth of the gearwheel drive also engage in a plane.
- In addition, it has to be ensured that during the link-up, the tooth tip of one side engages in a tooth base of the opposite side. If two tooth tips butt in front of one another, the flanges cannot be connected.
- Also, as a result of their exposed arrangement, the gearwheels are exposed to considerable dirt contamination due to weather influences. Because of the narrow tolerances, which exist in the case of a toothing, any dirt contamination may lead to jamming of the gearwheels and to increased wear.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling of the above-mentioned type, particularly for cryogenic media and liquefied natural gas, which avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages.
- This and other objects and advantages are achieved according to one or more embodiments of the invention by a coupling valve where:
-
- the devices for opening and closing the ball valves are constructed as 1) a rotating ring which is assigned to the coupling plug and can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the coupling plug, and 2) as a rotating ring which is assigned to the coupling socket and is in an operative connection with the socket-side ball valve; wherein
- the rotating rings can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the coupling plug and the coupling socket;
- the rotating rings have devices for the force-locking and/or form-locking mutual connection; and
- the rotating ring assigned to the coupling plug is in an operative connection with the plug-side ball valve and/or an arbitrary driving device is assigned to the plug-side ball valve.
- According to an embodiment of the invention, the two ball valves are not immediately connected with one another or moved into an operative connection with one another during the connecting of the coupling plug and the coupling socket, but rather when the actual connection operation between the coupling plug and the coupling socket has already been concluded. Thus, the coupling flanges can first be connected with one another in the conventional manner, but without the possibility of an occurrence of previous restrictions by an inexact axial guidance and mutual engagement of the pairs of gearwheels.
- It is not necessary for the rotating ring assigned to the coupling plug to be constructed as a complete ring. On the contrary, it is sufficient for this ring to consist of partial rings or partial ring bodies.
- The coupling according to the invention as well as further developments of the latter will be explained in detail in relation to the embodiment illustrated in the figure. The figure shows a perspective partial representation of a possible embodiment of the coupling according to the invention.
- The coupling has a plug-
side flange 9 and a socket-side flange 10 which are form-lockingly connected with one another by means of a clamping 8. The actual coupling operation between the coupling plug and the coupling socket will be concluded when the clamping-together 8 of the twoflanges - According to the invention, the coupling has a plug-side rotating
ring 3 as well as a socket-side rotatingring 4. The two rotatingrings ring 3 can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the coupling plug (illustrated by the narrow arrow). While the plug-side rotatingring 3 is in an operative connection with the plug-side ball valve 1, the socket-side rotatingring 4 is in an operative connection with the socket-side ball valve 2. - However, the rotating
ring 3 assigned to the coupling plug does not have to be in an operative connection with the plug-side ball valve 1. In an alternative embodiment, the plug-side ball valve 1 can be moved by an arbitrary driving device—such as, for example, another rotating ring which is independent of the rotatingring 3 assigned to the coupling plug, a hydraulic or pneumatic piston drive, or an electric-motor drive. In still another embodiment, the plugside ball valve 1 can be operatively connected to both the rotatingring 3 and an arbitrary driving device. - In an embodiment, if the coupling plug and the coupling socket or their
flanges ball valves ring 3 is displaced by means of a defined advancing force in the direction of the socket-side rotatingring 4. Preferably, the two rotatingrings ring 3 engage with the notches of the socket-side rotatingring 4. - Now the plug-side
rotating ring 3 is rotated about its longitudinal axis by the customer, the operating personnel and/or automatically. The defined advancing force is preferably maintained in this case. Here, the displacing and/or rotating movement of the plug-siderotating ring 3 can take place by means of a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric drive. - If the two
rotating rings rotating ring 4 is immediately rotated along as a result of the form-locking and force-locking. If no engagement exists yet between the tworotating rings rotating ring 4, if the defined advancing force of the plug-siderotating ring 3 was maintained. The angle difference resulting from the above-described slight rotation—compared with the immediate engagement of the tworotating rings - The two
rotating rings drive shafts ball valves - A defined angular rotation of the
rotating rings ball valves - In the embodiment of the coupling according to the invention illustrated in the figure, the two
ball valves side ball valve 1 is moved by means of a driving device other than the above-described driving device, this plug-side ball valve 1 can be opened or closed also in an asynchronous manner with respect to the socket-side ball valve 2. - As soon as the
ball valves fill pipe 14 moves through the passage bores of theball valves fill pipe 14 is withdrawn and theball valves rotating ring 3 has moved back again, theclamping connection 8 of thecoupling flanges - As an alternative to the above-described notches, the rotating
rings rotating rings ball valves rotating ring 3. - The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
Claims (9)
1. A coupling, comprising
a single-core or multicore coupling plug having a conduit constructed to be movable with respect to the coupling plug in an axial direction;
a coupling socket, wherein when the coupling socket is coupled with the coupling plug, the conduit of the coupling plug is capable of extending into the coupling socket beyond the plane of separation between the coupling plug and coupling socket;
a plug-side ball valve and a socket-side ball valve, the ball valves being constructed for the leading-through of the conduit;
a rotating ring assigned to the coupling plug, said coupling plug ring capable of being displaced in a longitudinal direction of the coupling plug; and
a rotating ring assigned to the coupling socket, said coupling socket ring being in operative connecting with the socket-side ball valve,
wherein the rotating rings can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the coupling plug and the coupling socket, said rotating rings further comprising devices for forming force-locking or form-locking mutual connections, and
wherein said coupling plug ring is in operative connection with the plug-side ball valve or an arbitrary is assigned to the plug-side ball valve.
2. A coupling according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling is a coupling for passage of cryogenic media or liquefied natural gas.
3. A coupling for cryogenic media according to claim 1 , wherein the rotating ring assigned to the coupling plug comprises partial rings or partial ring bodies.
4. A coupling for cryogenic media according to claim 1 ,
wherein at least one of the rotating ring assigned to the coupling plug and the rotating ring (4) assigned to the coupling socket are in an operative connection with the drive shafts of the ball valves by way of ring gears or pinion gears.
5. A coupling for cryogenic media according to claim 1 ,
wherein a force can be applied to the rotating ring assigned to the coupling plug.
6. A coupling for cryogenic media according to claim 5 , wherein the force applied to the rotating ring assigned to the coupling plug is in the direction of the rotating ring assigned to the coupling socket.
7. A method of refueling a motor vehicle, comprising:
forming a coupling connection using a coupling according to claim 1; and dispensing a refueling media.
8. A method of refueling a motor vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein the refueling media is a cryogenic media.
9. A method of refueling a motor vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein the refueling media is liquid hydrogen or liquefied natural gas.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE10156740A DE10156740A1 (en) | 2001-11-19 | 2001-11-19 | Pipe coupling for use with cryogenic media and liquid natural gas comprises socket, into which pipe fits, two ball valves being mounted in socket operated by rotating rings and being connected together |
DE10156740.5 | 2001-11-19 | ||
PCT/EP2002/012348 WO2003044417A1 (en) | 2001-11-19 | 2002-11-05 | Coupling for cryogenic media |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2002/012348 Continuation WO2003044417A1 (en) | 2001-11-19 | 2002-11-05 | Coupling for cryogenic media |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20050008504A1 true US20050008504A1 (en) | 2005-01-13 |
Family
ID=7706234
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/847,477 Abandoned US20050008504A1 (en) | 2001-11-19 | 2004-05-18 | Coupling for cryogenic media |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20050008504A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1446606B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4176641B2 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE434149T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2002361955A1 (en) |
DE (2) | DE10156740A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2003044417A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070277874A1 (en) * | 2006-05-31 | 2007-12-06 | David Francis Dawson-Elli | Thin film photovoltaic structure |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR101996909B1 (en) * | 2017-12-29 | 2019-07-05 | 레드원테크놀러지 주식회사 | Gas Coupling Device |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4523740A (en) * | 1981-10-01 | 1985-06-18 | Hayward Industries | Rotatable unitary ball valve |
US6079446A (en) * | 1997-06-30 | 2000-06-27 | Messer Griesheim Gmbh & Co. | Coupling for connecting vacuum-insulated line ends |
US6220290B1 (en) * | 1997-12-09 | 2001-04-24 | Alco Hi-Tek Ltd. | Double block and bleed ball valves including retainer components |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE4104711C2 (en) * | 1991-02-15 | 1995-08-24 | Linde Ag | Coupling for vacuum-insulated pipe or hose lines and use of such a coupling |
DE4219912A1 (en) * | 1992-06-17 | 1993-12-23 | Linde Ag | Coupling for vacuum-insulated pipe or hose lines and method for cold-running a storage tank using this coupling |
DE10001207A1 (en) * | 2000-01-14 | 2001-07-19 | Linde Gas Ag | Fluted coupling for vacuum-insulated pipe or hose lines, with input line connected or able to be connected at side to coupling plug |
-
2001
- 2001-11-19 DE DE10156740A patent/DE10156740A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2002
- 2002-11-05 JP JP2003546011A patent/JP4176641B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2002-11-05 WO PCT/EP2002/012348 patent/WO2003044417A1/en active Application Filing
- 2002-11-05 AT AT02796542T patent/ATE434149T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2002-11-05 AU AU2002361955A patent/AU2002361955A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2002-11-05 EP EP02796542A patent/EP1446606B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-11-05 DE DE50213622T patent/DE50213622D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2004
- 2004-05-18 US US10/847,477 patent/US20050008504A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4523740A (en) * | 1981-10-01 | 1985-06-18 | Hayward Industries | Rotatable unitary ball valve |
US6079446A (en) * | 1997-06-30 | 2000-06-27 | Messer Griesheim Gmbh & Co. | Coupling for connecting vacuum-insulated line ends |
US6220290B1 (en) * | 1997-12-09 | 2001-04-24 | Alco Hi-Tek Ltd. | Double block and bleed ball valves including retainer components |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070277874A1 (en) * | 2006-05-31 | 2007-12-06 | David Francis Dawson-Elli | Thin film photovoltaic structure |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1446606A1 (en) | 2004-08-18 |
ATE434149T1 (en) | 2009-07-15 |
WO2003044417A1 (en) | 2003-05-30 |
JP4176641B2 (en) | 2008-11-05 |
AU2002361955A1 (en) | 2003-06-10 |
DE10156740A1 (en) | 2003-05-28 |
JP2005509825A (en) | 2005-04-14 |
EP1446606B1 (en) | 2009-06-17 |
DE50213622D1 (en) | 2009-07-30 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, GERMANY Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:REESE, WILFRIED-HENNING;REEL/FRAME:015796/0766 Effective date: 20040527 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO PAY ISSUE FEE |