US20100186836A1 - Coupler - Google Patents

Coupler Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100186836A1
US20100186836A1 US12/452,677 US45267708A US2010186836A1 US 20100186836 A1 US20100186836 A1 US 20100186836A1 US 45267708 A US45267708 A US 45267708A US 2010186836 A1 US2010186836 A1 US 2010186836A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
valve
coupler
seal member
main body
holder
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
Application number
US12/452,677
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kenji Yoshihiro
Yorihisa Hamada
Kenichi Takahashi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toshiba Corp
Toyo Seikan Group Holdings Ltd
Original Assignee
Toshiba Corp
Toyo Seikan Kaisha Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Toshiba Corp, Toyo Seikan Kaisha Ltd filed Critical Toshiba Corp
Assigned to TOYO SEIKAN KAISHA, LTD., KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, LTD. reassignment TOYO SEIKAN KAISHA, LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: TAKAHASHI, KENICHI, HAMADA, YORIHISA, YOSHIHIRO, KENJI
Publication of US20100186836A1 publication Critical patent/US20100186836A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04201Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01MPROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/10Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
    • H01M8/1009Fuel cells with solid electrolytes with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged
    • H01M8/1011Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50Fuel cells
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02PCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T137/00Fluid handling
    • Y10T137/8593Systems
    • Y10T137/87917Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
    • Y10T137/87925Separable flow path section, valve or closure in each
    • Y10T137/87965Valve- or closure-operated by coupling motion

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a coupler comprising a pair of a socket and a plug which are detachably fitted and coupled to each other and used for pouring liquid or the like from a container main body such as a bottle on a cartridge side to a container main body such as a tank on a device side or exchanging a container main body. More particularly, the invention relates to a coupler of this type in which the number of seal members can be reduced and which is particularly useful as a coupler between a cartridge type container for a methanol fuel cell and a main body of the fuel cell.
  • a fuel cartridge housing methanol which is liquid fuel is coupled to a fuel tank provided on the side of the fuel cell to directly supply methanol and thereby obviate a pump for supplying fuel and enable a further compact design.
  • a coupler comprising a pair of a socket and a plug is provided which socket and plug are provided in the fuel cell main body and the fuel cartridge main body housing methanol and respectively comprise a valve mechanism having a valve and a spring which energizes the valve in a closing direction.
  • This coupler is coupled to communicate the respective valve mechanisms to each other in a sealed state to supply liquid fuel and, in a detached state, the respective valve mechanisms are closed to a sealed state.
  • a flange portion 2 a of a valve holder 2 is placed above the upper end of a neck portion N of a soft type bottle 1 which constitutes a container main body, a valve 4 is housed via an energizing means 3 in the valve holder 2 , and the valve holder 2 and the valve 4 are covered by a plug main body 5 having a flow path which is opened and closed by the valve 4 .
  • a plug main body 5 having a flow path which is opened and closed by the valve 4 .
  • a flange portion 2 a of a valve holder 2 is placed below the lower end portion of a neck portion N of a fuel tank 1 which constitutes a container main body, a valve 4 is housed via an energizing means 3 in the valve holder 2 , and the valve holder 2 and the valve 4 are covered by a socket main body 5 having a flow path which is opened and closed by the valve 4 .
  • a container seal member 6 is provided between the upper end of the neck portion N of the soft type bottle 1 and the lower surface (inside surface) of the flange portion 2 a of the valve holder 2
  • a holder seal member 7 is provided between the upper surface (outside surface) of the flange portion 2 a of the valve hodler 2 and the plug main body 5 to secure a seal in a state in which the coupler is mounted on the soft type bottle 1
  • a valve seal member 8 is provided in a flow path which is opened and closed between the valve 4 and the plug main body 5 to secure a seal in opening and closing of the valve 4 .
  • the socket of such coupler is the case with the socket of such coupler.
  • seal members corresponding to the number of seal sections are required resulting in requirement for a large number of seal members and also a large number of processes for assembling. It is therefore desired to improve the seal mechanism so that the number of seal member can be reduced and the processes for assembling can be simplified.
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above described problems and desires regarding the prior art and it is an object of the invention to provide a coupler in which the number of seal members is reduced and energizing force for energizing the valve can be maintained constant.
  • a coupler comprising a pair of a socket and a plug, said socket and plug respectively comprising a coupler main body mounted on a container main body to form a flow path, a valve for opening and closing the flow path of the coupler main body, a valve holder housing the valve and being mounted on the container main body in sealed state, and energizing means provided in the valve holder for energizing the valve in a closing direction, the coupler main bodies of the socket and plug being capable of being detachably fitted and coupled to each other to open the valves and thereby to enable the coupler main bodies to communicate with each other in the fitted and coupled state, characterized in that at least one of the socket and the plug comprises: a container seal member for forming a seal between the container main body and the valve holder; and a double-purpose seal member which is used as both a holder seal member for forming a seal between the coupler main body and a f
  • At least one of the socket and the plug comprises a container seal member for forming a seal between the container main body and the valve holder and a double-purpose seal member which is used as both a holder seal member for forming a seal between the coupler main body and the valve holder and a valve seal member provided in a flow path between the valve and the coupler main body which can be opened and closed, the number of the seal members is reduced and the number of processes for assembling is also reduced whereby the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
  • valve seal member is fixed independently from the valve by the holder seal member, the flow path can be closed accurately by the valve.
  • the double-purpose seal member is made of a flat packing having a generally flat plate shape.
  • the double-purpose seal member is made of a flat packing having a generally flat plate shape, the seal member can be made less expensively than an O-ring seal member.
  • a coupler comprising a pair of a socket and a plug, said socket and plug respectively comprising a coupler main body mounted on a container main body to form a flow path, a valve for opening and closing the flow path of the coupler main body, a valve holder housing the valve and being mounted on the container main body in sealed state, and energizing means provided in the valve holder for energizing the valve in a closing direction, the coupler main bodies of the socket and plug being capable of being detachably fitted and coupled to each other to open the valves and thereby to enable the coupler main bodies to communicate with each other in the fitted and coupled state, characterized in that at least one of the socket and the plug comprises a valve seal member provided in a flow path between the valve and the coupler main body which can be opened and closed, and a container-inside-outside seal member which is used as both a container seal member for forming a seal between the container main body and a flange portion provided in the
  • the socket and the plug comprises a valve seal member provided in a flow path between the valve and the coupler main body which can be opened and closed, and a container-inside-outside seal member which is used as both a container seal member for forming a seal between the container main body and a flange portion provided in the valve holder and a holder seal member for forming a seal between the coupler main body and the valve holder, the number of the seal members is reduced and the number of the processes for assembling is also reduced whereby the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
  • the container-inside-outside seal member is made of an O-ring.
  • the container-inside - outside seal member is made of an O-ring, the seal member can be assembled for sealing in a simple manner.
  • a coupler comprising a pair of a socket and a plug, said socket and plug respectively comprising a coupler main body mounted on a container main body to form a flow path, a valve for opening and closing the flow path of the coupler main body, a valve holder housing the valve and being mounted on the container main body in sealed state, and energizing means provided in the valve holder for energizing the valve in a closing direction, the coupler main bodies of the socket and plug being capable of being detachably fitted and coupled to each other to open the valves and thereby to enable the coupler main bodies to communicate with each other in the fitted and coupled state, characterized in that at least one of the socket and the plug comprises a valve seal member provided in a flow path between the valve and the coupler main body which can be opened and closed, a container seal member for forming a seal between the container main body and a flange portion provided in the valve holder, and a holder seal member for forming a seal
  • At least one of the socket and the plug comprises a valve seal member, a container seal member and a holder seal member for forming a seal between the coupler main body and the valve holder which seal all necessary seal sections, and these seal members are formed integrally around the outer periphery of the flange portion of the valve holder, the number of the seal members is reduced and the manufacturing cost is reduced.
  • a coupler wherein, in addition to the structure of the fifth aspect, the valve seal member, the container seal member and the holder seal member are formed integrally through a communicating section formed in the flange portion of the valve holder.
  • valve seal member since the valve seal member, the container seal member and the holder seal member which seal all necessary seal sections are formed integrally through a communicating section formed in the flange portion of the valve holder, the seal members are fixed to the flange portion of the valve holder whereby the seal members can be assembled in a stable manner without causing torsion or the like to the seal members during assembling.
  • a coupler wherein, in addition to the structure of the fifth or sixth aspect, a lip portion is formed in at least one of the valve seal member, the container seal member and the holder seal member.
  • the seal surface pressure can be increased by the lip portion and the sealing property thereby can be improved.
  • a coupler comprising, in addition to the structure of the first to the fourth, sixth and seventh aspects, further a mounting position control section for controlling mounting position of the valve holder which is mounted in a sealed state in such a manner that the valve holder can be sealed and the energizing force by the energizing means can be maintained constant.
  • the coupler comprises a mounting position control section for controlling mounting position of the valve holder which is mounted in a sealed state in such a manner that the valve holder can be sealed and the energizing force by the energizing means can be maintained constant, the mounting position of the valve holder to the container main body becomes constant by the mounting position control section regardless of a fastening state of the seal member whereby valve opening and seal state of the coupler can be maintained accurately.
  • the mounting position control section is provided in at least one of the valve holder and the coupler main body.
  • the mounting position control section is provided in at least one of the valve holder and the coupler main body, the mounting control section can be provided in a simple manner.
  • a coupler comprising, in addition to the structure of the eighth or ninth aspect, the mounting position control section, a valve seal member provided in a flow path between the valve and the coupler main body which can be opened and closed, a container seal member for forming a seal between the container main body and a flange portion provided in the valve holder, and a holder seal member for forming a seal between the coupler main body and the valve holder
  • the mounting position control section since the mounting position control section, a valve seal member provided in a flow path between the valve and the coupler main body which can be opened and closed, a container seal member for forming a seal between the container main body and a flange portion provided in the valve holder, and a holder seal member for forming a seal between the coupler main body and the valve holder, the mounting position becomes constant by the mounting position control section regardless of a fastening state of the seal member whereby valve opening and seal state of the coupler can be maintained accurately and, further, the seal state can be further accurately by the three seal members.
  • FIG. 1A shows a vertical section of a socket and a plug constituting a coupler of the invention in a case where the coupler is applied to a fuel cell in which the socket is separated from the plug and
  • FIG. 1B shows a bottom view of the socket.
  • FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a plug and a socket of an embodiment of the coupler of the invention schematically showing a seal portion only, omitting a part such as a flow path.
  • FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a plug of another embodiment of the coupler of the invention schematically showing a seal portion only, omitting a part such as a flow path.
  • FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the plug and socket of an embodiment of the coupler of the invention schematically showing a seal portion only, omitting a part such as a flow path.
  • FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a plug of another embodiment of the coupler of the invention schematically showing a seal portion only, omitting a part such as a flow path.
  • FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a plug of another embodiment of the coupler of the invention schematically showing a seal portion only, omitting a part such as a flow path.
  • FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a plug of another embodiment of the coupler of the invention schematically showing a seal portion only, omitting a part such as a flow path.
  • FIGS. 8A , 8 B and 8 C are explanatory views of plugs of another embodiment of the coupler of the invention schematically showing a seal portion only, omitting a part such as a flow path.
  • FIG. 9 is an explanatory sectional views of a prior art coupler schematically showing a seal portion only, omitting a part such as a flow path.
  • FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a plug of another embodiment of the coupler of the invention schematically showing a seal portion only, omitting a part such as a flow path.
  • FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of a plug of another embodiment of the coupler of the invention schematically showing a seal portion only, omitting a part such as a flow path.
  • FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of a plug of still another embodiment of the coupler of the invention schematically showing a seal portion only, omitting a part such as a flow path.
  • FIG. 1A shows a vertical section of a socket and a plug constituting a coupler of the invention in a case where the coupler is applied to a fuel cell in which the socket is separated from the plug and
  • FIG. 1B shows a bottom view of the socket.
  • This coupler 10 for a fuel cell (hereinafter simply referred to as “coupler”) is made of a socket S 10 and a plug P 10 which is fitted and coupled with this socket S 10 .
  • the socket S 10 is provided, for example, in a fuel tank which constitutes a container main body of a methanol fuel cell and the plug P 10 is provided in a bottle which constitutes a container main body of a cartridge main body used as a methanol container.
  • the coupler is used for supplying fuel from the cartridge main body to the fuel cell, or exchanging the cartridge.
  • the container main bodies include the tank of the fuel cell and the bottle of the cartridge.
  • this socket S 10 except for a part of components such as a spring is used a non-metal material such, for example, as polypropyrene (PP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polystyrene (PS) and also super engineering plastics having methanol-proof property including polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP) and general use engineering plastics including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyacetal (POM).
  • PP polypropyrene
  • PPS polyphenylene sulfide
  • HDPE high density polyethylene
  • PS polystyrene
  • PEEK polyether ether ketone
  • LCP liquid crystal polymer
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • PBT polybutylene terephthalate
  • POM polyacetal
  • NBR nitrile rubber
  • SBR styrene-butadiene rubber
  • FKM fluorine-contained rubber
  • CR chloroprene rubber
  • EPT ethylene propyrene rubber
  • VMQ silicone rubber
  • a generally cylindrical socket member 11 having a valve chamber inside is mounted in and fixed to a recessed mounting opening which communicates with the fuel tank which constitutes the container main body formed in the fuel cell.
  • a valve seat member 12 is connected to an opening in the lower portion of the socket member 11 .
  • the conical surface formed in the upper surface side of the valve seat member 12 constitutes a valve seat 12 a and a cylindrical valve guide section 12 b extending downwardly is integrally formed in the central portion of the valve seat member 12 .
  • a valve 13 is mounted above the valve seat member 12 in a valve chamber of the socket member 11 .
  • a central valve head 13 a of a generally large cylindrical shape, a valve stem 13 b of a generally small cylindrical shape extending from the lower central portion of the valve head 13 a and a guide portion 13 c extending from the upper central portion of the valve head 13 are formed integrally.
  • the valve stem 13 b is mounted in the valve guide portion 12 b to reciprocate therein.
  • An O-ring groove 13 d is formed in the lower end portion of the valve head 13 a and an O-ring 14 is mounted in the O-ring groove 13 d.
  • valve stem 13 b and the guide portion 13 c extending from the central lower and upper end are formed respectively with a plurality of grooves which constitutes flow paths 15 .
  • the valve chamber positioned in the valve 13 communicates with the fuel cell positioned above and the valve chamber communicates with a plug connecting portion provided below for connection with the plug respectively through the flow paths 15 .
  • a compression coil spring 16 On the outside of the valve head 13 a is mounted a compression coil spring 16 which abuts in its lower end against the valve head 13 and is held in its upper end by a spring press member 16 a fixed to the upper end portion of the socket member 11 .
  • a spring press member 16 a In a central opening formed in the spring press member 16 a, the guide portion 13 c is mounted.
  • the compression coil spring 16 is exposed to liquid fuel and, therefore, should preferably be made of a material having anti-corrosion property such, for example, as a metal spring applied with non-conduction treatment or gold coating.
  • valve 13 is constantly energized downwardly and the valve is closed by pressing the O-ring 14 mounted in the O-ring groove 13 d of the valve head 13 a against the valve seat 12 a for sealing whereas the valve is opened by moving the O-ring 14 away from the valve seat 12 a against the force of the compression coil spring 16 .
  • a rubber holder 17 in the form of an elastic holder is provided below the valve seat member 12 in a manner to cover the valve stem 13 b which reciprocates through the valve guide portion 12 b .
  • the upper flange portion of the rubber holder 17 is in abutting engagement with the valve seat member 12 and the central opening portion thereof is in abutting engagement with the outer periphery of the valve guide portion 12 b and the inside of the central opening portion constitutes a flow path.
  • the rubber holder 17 is formed with a bellows portion extending downwardly from the central opening portion and a lower end seal portion 17 a which constitutes a seal surface A with the plug. By the bellows configuration and elastic property of the rubber holder, the rubber holder 17 can stretch and contract vertically to secure an inside flow path 18 in a sealed state.
  • a cylindrical housing 19 which forms a plug connection space for connection with the plug P 10 is provided outside of the rubber holder 17 and below the socket member 11 .
  • the socket member 11 , the rubber holder 17 and the housing 19 are integrally connected together by means of a connecting cylinder 20 which is fitted from the outside of the end portion of the housing 19 to the outer periphery of the housing 19 and the socket member 11 .
  • a tight connection of these members is achieved by, for example, inserting an unillustrated engaging projection of an unillustrated recess of the connecting cylinder 20 and inserting a projecting portion formed by bending a part of the connecting cylinder 20 in U-shape into an engaging recess formed in the housing 19 and thereby holding the flange portion of the rubber holder 17 .
  • the valve can be automatically opened and closed by operation of the valve stem 13 b of the valve 13 accompanying coupling with the plug P 10 .
  • a non-metal material such, for example, as polypropyrene (PP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polystyrene (PS) and also super engineering plastics having methanol-proof property including polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and liquid crystal polymer (LCP) and general use engineering plastics including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyacetal (POM).
  • PP polypropyrene
  • PPS polyphenylene sulfide
  • HDPE high density polyethylene
  • PS polystyrene
  • PEEK polyether ether ketone
  • LCP liquid crystal polymer
  • general use engineering plastics including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyacetal (POM).
  • NBR nitrile rubber
  • SBR styrene-butadiene rubber
  • FKM fluorine-contained rubber
  • CR chloroprene rubber
  • EPT ethylene propyrene rubber
  • VMQ silicone rubber
  • This plug P 10 is mounted, as shown in FIG. 1 , on the outer periphery of the upper end portion of a nozzle N of an inner container which constitutes a container main body housing methanol constituting fuel of the fuel cell.
  • the plug P 10 has a plug main body 31 of a generally three-stage configuration which is held by a cap C which is screwed onto an outer container covering the inner container.
  • An upper portion 31 a has the smallest diameter and a lower portion 31 c which continues to a middle portion 31 b has the largest diameter.
  • the plug main body 31 is formed with a projecting connecting portion 32 having a smaller diameter and a generally cylindrical configuration and this projecting connecting portion 32 is mounted in the connecting cylinder 20 forming the plug connection space of the socket S 10 .
  • the projecting connecting portion 32 is formed in its tip end portion with a seal recess 32 a which forms the contact seal surface A when the lower end seal portion 17 a of the rubber holder 17 of the socket S 10 is inserted in the seal recess 32 a.
  • the central opening of the plug main body 31 has a size which is sufficient for inserting the valve stem 13 b of the socket S 10 .
  • This seal recess 32 a is formed in a tapered recess which has a large diameter in its upper end opening portion and a small diameter in its base portion so that the rubber holder 17 of the socket S 10 will be guided to the center of the seal recess 32 a by this tapered surface. Besides, since this seal recess 32 a is provided in such a manner that the tip end portion of the plug P 10 is recessed, even if a liquid fuel remains on the tip end portion of the plug P 10 when the plug P 10 is detached from the socket S 10 , the remaining liquid fuel can be received in the seal recess 32 a whereby contact with the remaining liquid fuel can be avoided.
  • seal recess 32 a may be formed in other shape such, for example, as a cylindrical recess in which seal is made in the bottom surface so that remaining liquid fuel can be received therein.
  • the middle portion 31 b of the plug main body 31 is formed with a conical surface in the inside thereof to provide a valve seal 33 .
  • the nozzle N of the inner container is inserted via an O-ring 34 .
  • the holding cap C which is screwed onto the nozzle of the outer container in which the inner container is housed, the plug main body 31 can be attached to the container.
  • the valve 35 On the inner side of the plug main body 31 is mounted a valve 35 .
  • the valve 35 has a valve head 35 a in the form of a middle large diameter plate, a small diameter valve stem 35 b extending upwardly from the upper central portion of the valve 35 and a large diameter guide portion 35 c extending from the lower central portion of the valve 35 .
  • the valve stem 35 b and the valve guide portion 35 c are formed integrally with the valve head 35 a.
  • the valve stem 35 b extending upwardly from the upper central portion is reciprocably located in the projecting connecting portion 32 .
  • an O-ring groove 35 d opposite to the valve seat 33 and an O-ring 36 is mounted in the O-ring groove 35 d.
  • valve stem 35 b and the guide portion 35 c extending respectively upwardly and downwardly from the central portion of the valve head 35 a are formed in their side surfaces with a plurality of grooves which constitute flow paths 37 .
  • These flow paths 37 communicate with the inside of the inner container via the lower guide portion 35 c and the socket S 10 to be fitted and coupled via the upper valve stem 35 b.
  • a valve holder 38 having a generally cylindrical shape is provided in a manner to surround the guide portion 35 c.
  • a middle flange portion of the valve holder 38 is in abutting engagement with an end surface of the middle portion 31 b of the plug main body 31 below the valve seat 33 and the lower surface of the flange portion is in abutting engagement with the O-ring 34 of the inner container.
  • the valve holder 38 is screwed into a screw portion provided in the inner periphery of the middle portion 31 b.
  • a compression coil spring 39 is mounted on the outer periphery of the guide portion 35 c of the valve 35 .
  • the upper end of the spring 39 is in abutting engagement with the valve head 35 a and the lower end of the spring 39 is held by a projecting portion in the middle of the valve holder 38 .
  • the compression coil spring 39 is exposed to liquid fuel, it should preferably be made of a material which has a good anti-corrosion property, e.g., a metal spring applied with a non-conduction treatment or gold coating.
  • valve 35 is constantly urged upwardly to press the O-ring 36 mounted in the O-ring groove 35 d of the valve head 35 a to the valve seat 33 and thereby close the valve and, by causing the valve to space away against the force of the compression coil spring 39 , the valve can be opened.
  • the valve holder 38 is formed in its lower side wall portion with a flow path opening 38 a for communication with the inner container.
  • the valve can be opened and closed automatically by operation of the valve stem 35 b of the valve 35 accompanying coupling of the plug P 10 with the socket S 10 .
  • a key and a key groove are provided as discrimination means.
  • the key is provided in one of the socket S 10 and the plug P 10 and the key groove is provided in the other.
  • the socket S 10 and the plug P 10 which cannot be coupled can be discriminated but, when force is applied between the socket S 10 and the plug P 10 for rotating the socket S 10 and the plug P 10 for relative rotation about their central axes, the rotation is restricted by the key and the key groove and, as a result, either one of the socket S 10 and the plug P 10 may be damaged when large force is applied.
  • the key is made to rotate about the central axis for preventing damage due to excessive rotational force.
  • the projecting connecting portion 32 of the plug main body 31 of the plug P 10 is formed in its outside peripheral surface with a key groove 51 extending in a direction of fitting and this key groove 51 constitutes discrimination means 50 .
  • key grooves 51 are formed in diametrically opposite positions (only one key groove is shown in FIG. 1A ) in a depth corresponding to the distance of fitting of the plug P 10 .
  • a key 52 which engages in the key groove 51 is formed integrally with an annular key ring 53 on the inside thereof in a position corresponding to the key groove 51 .
  • the key ring 53 is provided at the lower end of the housing 19 of the socket S 10 and is held by a caulked portion 20 a of the connecting cylinder 20 and is rotatable about the central axis of the plug P 10 .
  • sockets and plugs can be discriminated by not only the above described structure in which the key grooves 51 and the keys 52 are provided at diametrically opposite positions but also by other structure such as varying width and depth of the key groove and the key to prevent combination of a large width and depth with a small width and depth.
  • connection maintaining means 60 is provided to maintain the coupled state of the socket S 10 and the plug P 10 .
  • an engaging portion 61 constitutes one side of the connection maintaining means 60 and an elastic engaging member 62 constitutes the other side of the connection maintaining means 60 .
  • the engaging member 62 can engage in the engaging portion 61 for maintaining the coupling state securely and the coupling state can be released by flexing and moving the elastic engaging member 62 out of the engaging portion 61 .
  • an annular engaging recess is formed horizontally in the outer periphery of the upper portion of the projecting connecting portion 32 of the plug main body 31 and the tip end portion of the projecting connecting portion 32 is formed in an accurately curved surface.
  • the elastic engaging member 62 provided in the socket S 10 is provided as a snap ring which is made by forming a spring in U-shape with its opposite ends approaching each other and, as shown in FIG. 1B , a snap ring mounting groove 63 is formed integrally with the end portion of the housing 19 .
  • the snap ring 62 is mounted in the snap ring mounting groove 63 with the two end portions and the middle portion of the U-shaped snap ring 62 being held by the snap ring mounting groove 63 in such a manner that the two end portions are elastically widened and narrowed.
  • connection maintaining means 60 By providing the connection maintaining means 60 , when the plug P 10 is inserted into the socket S 10 , the tip end portion of the projecting connecting portion 32 is pushed into the socket S 10 , widening the snap ring which constitutes the elastic engaging member 62 and, as the tip end portion of the projecting connecting portion 32 is inserted into the engaging portion 61 , the snap ring is narrowed and engages in the engaging groove and thereafter the fitted and coupled state of between the socket S 10 and the plug P 10 is maintained.
  • the snap ring constituting the elastic engaging member 62 When it is attempted to pull off the plug P 10 from the fitted and coupled state, the snap ring constituting the elastic engaging member 62 is deformed in a manner to be widened and is disengaged from the engaging groove constituting the engaging portion 61 of the plug P 10 whereby the plug P 10 can be separated from the socket S 10 .
  • a cam is provided in the plug main body and a cam follower is provided in the key ring 53 to form a cam mechanism so that axial force is produced by the rotation of the key ring and the fitted and coupled state can be automatically released.
  • this cam mechanism when excessive rotational force exceeding a range of normal use is applied, axial force is produced in addition to rotation of the key ring 53 for preventing damage, whereby the coupled state can be released automatically and the plug P 10 can be disengaged from the socket S 10 safely and automatically without damaging the device of the main body.
  • the socket S 10 and the plug P 10 can be discriminated by the key groove 51 and the key 52 and, when excessive force exceeding a range of normal use is applied, action by such excessive force can be prevented by rotation of the annular member 53 .
  • connection maintaining means 60 is formed by the engaging portion 61 provided in one of the socket S 10 and the plug P 10 and the elastic engaging member 62 to be engaged in the engaging portion 61 provided in the other and, therefore, by only pushing in the engaging portion 61 by utilizing elastic deformation of the elastic engaging member 62 , coupling between the socket S 10 and the plug P 10 can be maintained and, when the coupling state should be released, it can be realized simply by pulling off of the engaging portion 61 .
  • the key groove 51 and the key 52 are used as the discrimination means 50 for discriminating the plug P 10 and the socket S 10 and, therefore, the plug P 10 and the socket S 10 can be discriminated easily by changing configuration (e.g., combination of width and depth), disposition, number etc. of the key groove 51 and the key 52 .
  • a projecting portion and a recessed portion may be provided between the key ring 53 which is an annular member and the housing 19 by which the key ring 53 is rotatably supported.
  • Such projecting portion and a recessed portion constitute rotation resisting means for resisting rotation when the key ring 53 is pressingly supported and enabling rotation when excessive force is applied.
  • FIG. 2 Another embodiment of the coupler of the invention in which the invention is applied to a plug will be described with reference to FIG. 2 .
  • the seal of the plug P 10 and the seal structure for seal of inside and outside of the nozzle N which constitutes a container main body accompanying mounting of the plug P 10 are improved for reducing the number of seal members and, similarly, the seal structure of the socket S 10 also is improved for reducing the number of seal members.
  • an O-ring 36 is provided as a valve seal member 71 in a flow path which is opened and closed between a valve 35 and a plug main body 31 to seal the plug P 10 .
  • the lower surface of a flange portion of a valve holder 38 is formed in a conical surface 72 which has a large diameter on the outside of the upper portion of a container and has a small diameter on the inside of the upper portion of the container.
  • An O-ring 34 is provided as a container-inside-outside seal member 73 between the conical surface 72 and the upper end surface of the nozzle N. The outside of the container can be sealed by the outer peripheral surface of the O-ring 34 and the inside of the container can be sealed by the bottom surface of the O-ring 34 .
  • the seal members 71 and 73 can be constructed of two O-rings 34 and 36 and, therefore, the number of the seal members is reduced and processes for assembling is also simplified by the reduction of the seal members.
  • the upper surface of the flange portion of the valve holder 38 which constitutes a mounting position control section 74 is in abutting engagement with the lower surface of the plug main body 31 and, by this arrangement, relative positions of the valve holder 38 and the valve 35 can be controlled to constant positions and energizing force of a compression coil spring 39 constituting energizing means against the valve 35 can be maintained at a constant value.
  • valve opening pressure of the plug P 10 can be made constant by the mounting position control section whereby the valve can be opened accurately and seal can be accurately made in the valve closed state.
  • an O-ring 14 is provided as a valve seal member 71 in a flow path which is opened and closed between a valve 13 and a socket member 11 having an integrally formed valve seat member 12 to seal the socket S 10 itself.
  • the upper surface of a flange portion of a valve holder 13 a is formed as a conical surface 72 which has a large diameter on the outside of the lower portion of a nozzle N and has a small diameter on the inside of the lower portion of the nozzle N.
  • An O-ring 73 is provided as an inside and outside seal member for the nozzle N constituting a container main body between the conical surface 72 and the lower surface of the nozzle N.
  • the outside of the nozzle N constituting the container main body can be sealed by the outer periphery surface of the O-ring 73 and the inside of the nozzle N can be sealed by the upper surface of the O-ring 73 .
  • the seal members 71 and 73 can be constructed of two O-rings 14 and 73 and, therefore, the number of the seal members is reduced and processes for assembling is also simplified by the reduction of the seal members.
  • the lower surface of the flange portion of the valve holder 13 a which constitutes a mounting position control section 74 is in abutting engagement with the upper surface of the valve seal member 12 which is integrally formed with the socket member 11 and, by this arrangement, relative positions of the valve holder 13 a and the valve 13 can be controlled to constant positions and energizing force of a compression coil spring 16 constituting energizing means against the valve 13 can be maintained at a constant value.
  • valve opening pressure of the socket S 10 can be made constant by the mounting position control section whereby the valve can be opened accurately and seal can be accurately made in the valve closed state.
  • FIG. 3 Another embodiment of the invention in which the invention is applied to a plug will be described with reference to FIG. 3 .
  • a flat packing having a generally flat plate shape is provided as a container seal member 75 on the upper surface of a nozzle N which constitutes a container main body for providing a seal between the nozzle N and a valve holder 38 (i.e., the lower surface of a flange portion of the valve holder 38 ).
  • a double-purpose seal member 76 made of a flat packing in the form of a disk is provided in a manner to be held between a plug main body 31 and the valve holder 38 and to be projecting toward a valve 35 .
  • the double-purpose seal member 76 is used both as a holder seal member 76 a which provides a seal between the plug main body 31 and the valve holder 38 (i.e., the upper surface of the flange portion of the valve holder 38 ) and as a valve seal member 76 b which is provided in a flow path which is opened and closed for providing a seal between the valve 35 and the plug main body 31 constituting a coupler main body.
  • the valve 35 is formed with an annular projection 77 which opposes and contacts the lower surface of the double-purpose seal member 76 for achieving an accurate sealing.
  • this double-purpose seal member 76 is held between the plug main body 31 and the valve holder 38 , it does not move with the valve 35 as in a case where a valve seal member is formed by mounting an 0 -ring on the outer periphery of the valve 35 but is accurately opened and closed accompanying reciprocating movement of the valve 35 .
  • energizing force by a compression coil spring 39 can be made constant by constructing a coupler. More specifically, in couplers 10 B and 10 C, mounting position of the valve holder 38 is made constant by forming a mounting position control section 78 in the plug main body 31 or by forming a mounting position control section 79 in the valve holder 38 whereby relative positions of the valve main body 31 and the valve holder 38 become constant and energizing force by the compression coil spring 39 can be made constant and, further, one seal member can be saved in comparison with the prior art plug by using the double-purpose seal member 76 .
  • the seal structure 70 of this coupler can be applied similarly to the socket.
  • a flat packing having a generally flat plate shape is provided as a container seal member 75 on the lower surface of a nozzle N which constitutes a container main body for providing a seal between the nozzle N and a valve holder 13 a (i.e., the upper surface of a flange portion of the valve holder 13 a ).
  • a double-purpose seal member 76 made of a flat packing in the form of a disk is provided in a manner to be held between a socket member 11 and the valve holder 13 a and to be projecting toward a valve 13 .
  • the double-purpose seal member 76 is used both as a holder seal member 76 a which provides a seal between the socket member 11 and the valve holder 13 a (i.e., the lower surface of the flange portion of the valve holder 13 a ) and as a valve seal member 76 b which is provided in a flow path which is opened and closed for providing a seal between the valve 13 and the socket member 11 constituting a coupler main body.
  • the valve 13 is formed with an annular projection 77 which opposes and contacts the upper surface of the double-purpose seal member 76 for achieving an accurate sealing.
  • this double-purpose seal member 76 is held between the socket member 11 and the valve holder 13 a, it does not move with the valve 13 as in a case where a valve seal member is formed by mounting an O-ring on the outer periphery of the valve 13 but is accurately opened and closed accompanying reciprocating movement of the valve 13 .
  • a mounting position control section 80 may be formed in a valve holder 38 so that relative positions of a valve 35 and the valve holder 38 can be made constant and energizing force by a compression coil spring 39 can be made constant.
  • a mounting position control section 78 may be formed in a plug main body 31 .
  • FIGS. 8A , 8 B and 8 C Another embodiment of the invention in which the invention is applied to the plug will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A , 8 B and 8 C.
  • couplers 10 E, 10 F and 10 G as in FIG. 6 schematically showing the seal portion only, omitting a part of component such as a flow path, the above described seal of the plug itself in the couplers 10 and 10 A to 10 D and the seal structure for providing a seal in the inside and outside of the nozzle N which is a container main body accompanying coupling of the couplers are modified in such a manner that seal members in these three portions are integrally formed as a single seal member.
  • seal members in these three portions are formed integrally as a single seal member 85 .
  • This seal member 85 has a container seal member 85 a which provides a seal between the nozzle N which is a container main body and a valve holder 38 (i.e., the lower surface of a flange portion of the valve holder 38 ).
  • the container seal member 85 a is made of a flat packing having a shape of a disk and is provided on the upper surface of the nozzle N.
  • the seal member 85 comprises a holder seal member 85 b which provides a seal between the plug main body 31 which is a coupler main body and the valve holder 39 (i.e., the upper outside portion of the flange portion of the valve holder 38 ) and a valve seal member 85 c which is provided for sealing in the flow path between the valve 35 and the plug main body 31 for opening and closing.
  • These two seal members are integrally formed by the flat packing having a shape of a disk in a manner to be held between the plug main body 31 and the valve holder 38 and project toward the valve 35 .
  • the container seal member 85 a is formed integrally with the holder seal member 85 b and the valve seal member 85 c via a connecting portion 85 d surrounding the outer periphery of the flange portion of the valve holder 38 .
  • the seal member 85 of the coupler of the present invention may be formed as shown in a coupler 10 F shown in FIG. 8B , i.e., by forming a plurality of apertures 38 a which vertically penetrate a flange portion of a valve holder 38 and disposing a connecting portion 85 d through these apertures 38 a to integrally form the seal member 85 .
  • the seal member 85 of the coupler of the present invention may be formed as shown in a coupler 10 G shown in FIG. 8C , i.e., by forming a plurality of apertures 38 a which vertically penetrate a flange portion of a valve holder 38 , disposing a connecting portion 85 d through these apertures 38 a to integrally form the seal member 85 , and providing two annular lip portions 85 e integrally with the seal member 85 in such a manner that these lip portions 85 e project from the seal surfaces of the seal member 85
  • the connecting portion 85 d is disposed in the apertures 38 a of the flange portion of the valve holder 38 and the two annular lip portions 85 e are provided on the seal surfaces, seal surface pressure can be increased by the lip portions 85 e of the seal member 85 and the sealing property can thereby be further improved.
  • the lip portions 85 e are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the seal member 85 , a single lip portion may be provided on either surface or plurality of lip portions may be provided on each of the upper and lower surfaces.
  • the lip portions 85 e may be provided in the seal member 85 of the coupler 10 E which has been described with reference to FIG, 8 A. In that case, a similar advantageous effect will be achieved.
  • the mounting position control section ( 78 , 79 ) may be provided between the flange portion of the valve holder 38 and the plug main body 31 of the couplers 10 F and 10 G so that energizing force by the compression coil spring 39 will be made constant.
  • the seal member is composed of the two seal members, i.e., the container seal member 75 providing a seal between the container main body and the valve holder (the inner flange portion of the valve holder) and the double-purpose seal member 76 which is used both as the holder seal member 76 a for providing a seal between the coupler main body and the valve holder (the outer flange portion of the valve holder) and the valve seal member 76 b which is provided for sealing in the flow path between the valve and the coupler main body for opening and closing, the number of the seal member can be saved and processes for assembling can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be saved. Besides, the valve seal member 76 b is fixed by the holder seal member 76 a independently from the valve whereby the flow path can be opened and closed accurately by the valve.
  • the double-purpose seal member 76 is made of a flat packing having a generally flat plate shape, the seal member can be made less expensively than in the case where the seal member is made of an O-ring.
  • the seal member is composed of two seal members, i.e., the valve seal member 71 which is provided for sealing in the flow path between the valve and coupler main body for opening and closing, and the container-inside-outside seal member 73 which is used both as the container seal member for providing a seal between the container main body and the valve holder (the inner flange portion of the valve holder) and the holder seal member for providing a seal between the coupler main body and the valve holder (the outer flange portion of the valve holder), the number of the seal member can be saved, processes for assembling can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be saved.
  • the container-inside-outside seal member 73 is made of an O-ring, it can be assembled in a simple manner.
  • the seal member 85 which seals all necessary portions of the coupler is formed integrally in such a manner that the valve seal member 85 c , the container seal member 85 a and the holder seal member 85 b are formed integrally with the connecting portion 85 d around the periphery of the flange portion of the valve holder 38 , the number of the components can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
  • the seal member 85 which seals all necessary portions of the coupler is formed integrally in such a manner that the valve seal member 85 c , the container seal member 85 a and the holder seal member 85 b are formed integrally with the connecting portion 85 d disposed in the apertures 38 e formed in the flange portion of the valve holder 38 , the seal member 85 can be fixed to the flange portion of the valve holder whereby the coupler can be assembled in a stable manner without causing distortion to the seal member.
  • the lip portions 85 e are formed integrally with the seal member 85 in at least one portion of the seal member 85 , the seal surface pressure can be increased and the sealing property thereby can be improved.
  • the mounting position control sections 74 , 78 and 79 for controlling the mounting position of the valve holder which is mounted to the container main body in a sealed state in a manner to enable accurate sealing and maintain energizing force by the energizing means constant since there are provided the mounting position control sections 74 , 78 and 79 for controlling the mounting position of the valve holder which is mounted to the container main body in a sealed state in a manner to enable accurate sealing and maintain energizing force by the energizing means constant, the mounting position of the valve holder to the valve can be made constant regardless of the state of fastening of the seal member whereby the opening of the coupler can be accurately made and the sealed state can be maintained accurately.
  • the mounting position control sections 74 , 78 and 79 are provided in at least one of the valve holder and the coupler main body, the mounting position control sections can be provided in a simple manner.
  • this coupler 10 D comprises the mounting position control section 80 , the valve seal member provided in the flow path between the valve and the coupler main body which can be opened and closed, the container seal member for forming a seal between the container main body and the valve holder (the inner flange portion of the valve holder), and the holder seal member for forming a seal between the coupler main body and the valve holder, the energizing force to the valve is made constant at the mounting position regardless of fastening state of the seal member and opening of the valve can be made accurately and the sealed state can be maintained constant and, moreover, the sealed state can be secured by the three seal members.
  • FIGS. 10-12 the same components as those shown in FIG. 2 will be designated by the same reference characters and description thereof will be omitted.
  • the O-ring 36 as the valve seal member is pressed by the compression coil spring 39 to a state in which stress of the O-ring 36 is in balance with compression force of the compression coil spring 39 .
  • this state lasts for a long period of time, permanent strain due to compression is produced in the O-ring 36 and, as a result, the tip end position of the valve stem from the base of the plug advances from the initial position.
  • the rubber holder 17 in FIG. 1 ) comes out and the valve stem of the plug and the valve stem of the socket abut each other before sealing thereby to open the valve, resulting in leakage of the liquid.
  • the upward portion (in the drawing) from a stepped portion 90 of the valve stem is formed with a smaller diameter than the downward portion from the stepped portion 90 while the upward portion from a stepped portion 92 of the inner periphery of the plug main body 31 is formed with a smaller diameter than the downward portion from the stepped portion 92 of the inner periphery of the plug main body 31 .
  • Positions of the stepped portions 90 and 92 are determined in correspondence to an initial position of the O-ring 36 at which the O-ring 36 is compressed by 20%-30% within a range of a proper use.
  • the seal position control means is formed by a projection 94 which extends from the upper surface of the valve head of the valve 35 in a radially outward position from the O-ring 36 .
  • the projection 94 may be formed annually over the entire circumference of the valve head or, alternatively, may be formed at plural positions in the circumferential direction with a proper interval.
  • the height of the projection 94 from the upper surface of the valve head is determined in correspondence to an initial position of the O-ring 36 at which the O-ring 36 is compressed by 20%-30% within a range of a proper use in such a manner that, the tip end of the projection 94 abuts against the lower surface of the middle portion of the plug main body 31 at a radially outward position from the valve seat.
  • the seal position control means is formed by a projection 96 which extends from the lower surface of the middle portion of the plug main body 31 in a radially outward position from the valve seat with which the O-ring 36 is in abutting engagement.
  • the projection 96 may be formed annually over the entire circumference of the lower surface of the middle portion of the plug main body or, alternatively, may be formed at plural positions in the circumferential direction with a proper interval.
  • the height of the projection 96 from the lower surface of the middle portion of the plug main body is determined in correspondence to an initial position of the O-ring 36 at which the O-ring is compressed by 20%-30% within a range of a proper use in such a manner that, the tip end of the projection 96 abuts against the upper surface of the valve head. Accordingly, by the abutting of the projection 96 with the upper surface of the valve head, further upward advance of the valve stem which is pressed upwardly by the compression coil spring 39 is prevented and excessive pressing of the O-ring 36 is also prevented.
  • the projections 94 and 96 may be formed integrally with the valve head and the plug main body or may be provided as separate parts.
  • the coupler of the invention comprises a pair of a socket and a plug which are detachably fitted and coupled to each other and used for pouring liquid or the like from a container main body such as a bottle on a cartridge side to a container main body such as a tank on a device side or exchanging a container main body.
  • a container main body such as a bottle on a cartridge side
  • a container main body such as a tank on a device side or exchanging a container main body.
  • the number of seal members can be reduced and the coupler is particularly useful when it is used as a coupler between a cartridge type container for a methanol fuel cell and a main body of the fuel cell.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
US12/452,677 2007-07-26 2008-07-25 Coupler Abandoned US20100186836A1 (en)

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JP2007-194432 2007-07-26
JP2007194432 2007-07-26
PCT/JP2008/063815 WO2009014265A1 (ja) 2007-07-26 2008-07-25 カップラー

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CN101801803A (zh) 2010-08-11
WO2009014265A1 (ja) 2009-01-29
EP2177444A4 (en) 2012-08-15
EP2177444A1 (en) 2010-04-21
TW200925478A (en) 2009-06-16
KR20100055404A (ko) 2010-05-26
JPWO2009014265A1 (ja) 2010-10-07

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