US20100186836A1 - Coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

A couple10 includes a valve seal member71 (36) provided in a flow path between a valve35 and a coupler main body31 which can be opened and closed, and a container-inside-outside seal member (73) which is used as both a container seal member (73) for forming a seal between the container main body31 and a valve holder38 and a holder seal member (73) for forming a seal between the coupler main body31 and the valve holder38. By this arrangement, the number of the seal members can be reduced, processes for assembling can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be saved. Mounting position of the holder38 can be controlled by a mounting position control section74 to enable sealing for maintaining energizing force by energizing means39 constant and ensuring opening of the coupler as well as for securing the sealed state accurately.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
• 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.
BACKGROUND ART
• Various liquid type fuel cells which can generate electricity directly from a liquid fuel have recently been developed. Attention has been paid to using a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) using methanol as a fuel as a power source of portable type electronic devices because it does not require a reformer and hence it can be made in a compact design.
• Particularly, in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) which is called a passive type fuel cell, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2005-71713, 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.
• For supplying methanol in such direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), 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.
• For mounting a plug of such coupler to, e.g., a fuel cartridge main body, as schematically shown in the lower portion ofFIG. 9, aflange portion2aof avalve holder2 is placed above the upper end of a neck portion N of asoft type bottle1 which constitutes a container main body, avalve4 is housed via anenergizing means3 in thevalve holder2, and thevalve holder2 and thevalve4 are covered by a plugmain body5 having a flow path which is opened and closed by thevalve4. Similarly, for mounting a socket to a fuel cell main body, as shown in the upper portion ofFIG. 9, aflange portion2aof avalve holder2 is placed below the lower end portion of a neck portion N of afuel tank1 which constitutes a container main body, avalve4 is housed via anenergizing means3 in thevalve holder2, and thevalve holder2 and thevalve4 are covered by a socketmain body5 having a flow path which is opened and closed by thevalve4.
• In the plug of such coupler, there are three seal sections and a seal member needs to be provided in each of these seal sections. More specifically, acontainer seal member6 is provided between the upper end of the neck portion N of thesoft type bottle1 and the lower surface (inside surface) of theflange portion2aof thevalve holder2, aholder seal member7 is provided between the upper surface (outside surface) of theflange portion2aof thevalve hodler2 and the plugmain body5 to secure a seal in a state in which the coupler is mounted on thesoft type bottle1, and avalve seal member8 is provided in a flow path which is opened and closed between thevalve4 and the plugmain body5 to secure a seal in opening and closing of thevalve4. The same is the case with the socket of such coupler.
• In this type of 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.
• There is another problem in this type of coupler. That is, the relative position between the valve and the valve holder changes depending upon state of fastening of the holder seal member provided between the valve holder and the plug main body and, as a result, energizing force for energizing the valve also changes.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
• 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.
• For solving the above described problems of the prior art, in the first aspect of the invention, there is provided 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 flange portion provided in 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.
• According to this coupler, since 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.
• Moreover, since the valve seal member is fixed independently from the valve by the holder seal member, the flow path can be closed accurately by the valve.
• In the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a coupler wherein, in addition to the structure of the first aspect, the double-purpose seal member is made of a flat packing having a generally flat plate shape.
• According to this coupler, since 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.
• In the third aspect of the invention, there is provided 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 valve holder and a holder seal member for forming a seal between the coupler main body and the valve holder.
• According to this coupler, since 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 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.
• In the fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a coupler wherein, in addition to the structure of the third aspect, the container-inside-outside seal member is made of an O-ring.
• According to this coupler, since the container-inside^-outside seal member is made of an O-ring, the seal member can be assembled for sealing in a simple manner.
• In the fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided 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 between the coupler main body and the valve holder, and the valve seal member, the container seal member and the holder seal member are formed integrally around the outer periphery of the flange portion of the valve holder.
• According to this coupler, since 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.
• In the sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided 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.
• According to this coupler, 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.
• In the seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided 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.
• According to this coupler, since 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.
• In the eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided 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.
• According to this coupler, since 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.
• In the ninth aspect of the invention, there is provided a coupler wherein, in addition to the structure of the eighth aspect, the mounting position control section is provided in at least one of the valve holder and the coupler main body.
• According to this coupler, since there is provided a coupler wherein, in addition to the structure of the eighth aspect, 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.
• In the tenth aspect of the invention, there is provided 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
• According to this coupler, 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• 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 andFIG. 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,8B and8C 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.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• Description will be made about embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
• Description will be first made about the entire construction of the coupler of the invention taking, by way of example, a case where the coupler is applied for coupling a fuel cell main body and a cartridge main body for supplying fuel.
• 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 andFIG. 1B shows a bottom view of the socket.
• Thiscoupler10 for a fuel cell (hereinafter simply referred to as “coupler”) is made of a socket S10 and a plug P10 which is fitted and coupled with this socket S10. The socket S10 is provided, for example, in a fuel tank which constitutes a container main body of a methanol fuel cell and the plug P10 is provided in a bottle which constitutes a container main body of a cartridge main body used as a methanol container. By causing the socket S10 to communicate with the plug P10, the coupler is used for supplying fuel from the cartridge main body to the fuel cell, or exchanging the cartridge. In the coupler of this invention, the container main bodies include the tank of the fuel cell and the bottle of the cartridge.
• As the main portion of this socket S10 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).
• As for rubber, for example, nitrile rubber (NBR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), fluorine-contained rubber (FKM), chloroprene rubber (CR), ethylene propyrene rubber (EPT, EPDM) and silicone rubber (VMQ) may be used as a proper material.
• In the following description, explanation will be made on the basis of directions shown in the drawings. This explanation however in no way restricts fitting and coupling directions in which the coupler will be actually used. The coupler may be coupled in any direction.
• In the socket S10 of thiscoupler10, a generallycylindrical socket member11 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.
• Avalve seat member12 is connected to an opening in the lower portion of thesocket member11. The conical surface formed in the upper surface side of thevalve seat member12 constitutes avalve seat12aand a cylindricalvalve guide section12bextending downwardly is integrally formed in the central portion of thevalve seat member12.
• Avalve13 is mounted above thevalve seat member12 in a valve chamber of thesocket member11. In thevalve13, acentral valve head13aof a generally large cylindrical shape, avalve stem13bof a generally small cylindrical shape extending from the lower central portion of thevalve head13aand aguide portion13cextending from the upper central portion of thevalve head13 are formed integrally. The valve stem13bis mounted in thevalve guide portion12bto reciprocate therein. An O-ring groove13dis formed in the lower end portion of thevalve head13aand an O-ring14 is mounted in the O-ring groove13d.The valve stem13band theguide portion13cextending from the central lower and upper end are formed respectively with a plurality of grooves which constitutesflow paths15. The valve chamber positioned in thevalve13 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 theflow paths15.
• On the outside of thevalve head13ais mounted acompression coil spring16 which abuts in its lower end against thevalve head13 and is held in its upper end by aspring press member16afixed to the upper end portion of thesocket member11. In a central opening formed in thespring press member16a,theguide portion13cis mounted. Thecompression coil spring16 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.
• By this arrangement, thevalve13 is constantly energized downwardly and the valve is closed by pressing the O-ring14 mounted in the O-ring groove13dof thevalve head13aagainst thevalve seat12afor sealing whereas the valve is opened by moving the O-ring14 away from thevalve seat12aagainst the force of thecompression coil spring16.
• Arubber holder17 in the form of an elastic holder is provided below thevalve seat member12 in a manner to cover thevalve stem13bwhich reciprocates through thevalve guide portion12b. The upper flange portion of therubber holder17 is in abutting engagement with thevalve seat member12 and the central opening portion thereof is in abutting engagement with the outer periphery of thevalve guide portion12band the inside of the central opening portion constitutes a flow path. Therubber holder17 is formed with a bellows portion extending downwardly from the central opening portion and a lowerend seal portion17awhich constitutes a seal surface A with the plug. By the bellows configuration and elastic property of the rubber holder, therubber holder17 can stretch and contract vertically to secure aninside flow path18 in a sealed state.
• Acylindrical housing19 which forms a plug connection space for connection with the plug P10 is provided outside of therubber holder17 and below thesocket member11. Thesocket member11, therubber holder17 and thehousing19 are integrally connected together by means of a connectingcylinder20 which is fitted from the outside of the end portion of thehousing19 to the outer periphery of thehousing19 and thesocket member11. A tight connection of these members is achieved by, for example, inserting an unillustrated engaging projection of an unillustrated recess of the connectingcylinder20 and inserting a projecting portion formed by bending a part of the connectingcylinder20 in U-shape into an engaging recess formed in thehousing19 and thereby holding the flange portion of therubber holder17.
• In the socket S10 having the above described structure, the valve can be automatically opened and closed by operation of thevalve stem13bof thevalve13 accompanying coupling with the plug P10.
• As the main portion of the plug P10 which is fitted and coupled to the socket S10 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).
• As for rubber, for example, nitrile rubber (NBR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), fluorine-contained rubber (FKM), chloroprene rubber (CR), ethylene propyrene rubber (EPT, EPDM) and silicone rubber (VMQ) may be used as a proper material.
• This plug P10 is mounted, as shown inFIG. 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 P10 has a plugmain body31 of a generally three-stage configuration which is held by a cap C which is screwed onto an outer container covering the inner container. Anupper portion31ahas the smallest diameter and alower portion31cwhich continues to amiddle portion31bhas the largest diameter.
• The plugmain body31 is formed with a projecting connectingportion32 having a smaller diameter and a generally cylindrical configuration and this projecting connectingportion32 is mounted in the connectingcylinder20 forming the plug connection space of the socket S10. The projecting connectingportion32 is formed in its tip end portion with aseal recess32awhich forms the contact seal surface A when the lowerend seal portion17aof therubber holder17 of the socket S10 is inserted in theseal recess32a.The central opening of the plugmain body31 has a size which is sufficient for inserting thevalve stem13bof the socket S10.
• Thisseal recess32ais 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 therubber holder17 of the socket S10 will be guided to the center of theseal recess32aby this tapered surface. Besides, since thisseal recess32ais provided in such a manner that the tip end portion of the plug P10 is recessed, even if a liquid fuel remains on the tip end portion of the plug P10 when the plug P10 is detached from the socket S10, the remaining liquid fuel can be received in theseal recess32awhereby contact with the remaining liquid fuel can be avoided.
• Instead of forming theseal recess32ain the tapered recess, it 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.
• Themiddle portion31bof the plugmain body31 is formed with a conical surface in the inside thereof to provide avalve seal33.
• In the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion having the largest diameter of thelower portion31cof the plugmain body31, the nozzle N of the inner container is inserted via an O-ring34. By holding a stepped portion between themiddle portion31band thelower portion31cof the plugmain body31 with the holding cap C which is screwed onto the nozzle of the outer container in which the inner container is housed, the plugmain body31 can be attached to the container.
• On the inner side of the plugmain body31 is mounted avalve35. Thevalve35 has avalve head35ain the form of a middle large diameter plate, a small diameter valve stem35bextending upwardly from the upper central portion of thevalve35 and a largediameter guide portion35cextending from the lower central portion of thevalve35. The valve stem35band thevalve guide portion35care formed integrally with thevalve head35a.The valve stem35bextending upwardly from the upper central portion is reciprocably located in the projecting connectingportion32.
• In the upper end portion of thevalve head35aof thevalve35 is formed an O-ring groove35dopposite to thevalve seat33 and an O-ring36 is mounted in the O-ring groove35d.
• The valve stem35band theguide portion35cextending respectively upwardly and downwardly from the central portion of thevalve head35aare formed in their side surfaces with a plurality of grooves which constituteflow paths37. Theseflow paths37 communicate with the inside of the inner container via thelower guide portion35cand the socket S10 to be fitted and coupled via the upper valve stem35b.
• For guiding reciprocating movement of thevalve35, avalve holder38 having a generally cylindrical shape is provided in a manner to surround theguide portion35c.A middle flange portion of thevalve holder38 is in abutting engagement with an end surface of themiddle portion31bof the plugmain body31 below thevalve seat33 and the lower surface of the flange portion is in abutting engagement with the O-ring34 of the inner container. Thevalve holder38 is screwed into a screw portion provided in the inner periphery of themiddle portion31b.
• Acompression coil spring39 is mounted on the outer periphery of theguide portion35cof thevalve35. The upper end of thespring39 is in abutting engagement with thevalve head35aand the lower end of thespring39 is held by a projecting portion in the middle of thevalve holder38. Since thecompression coil spring39 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.
• By this arrangement, thevalve35 is constantly urged upwardly to press the O-ring36 mounted in the O-ring groove35dof thevalve head35ato thevalve seat33 and thereby close the valve and, by causing the valve to space away against the force of thecompression coil spring39, the valve can be opened.
• Thevalve holder38 is formed in its lower side wall portion with a flow path opening38afor communication with the inner container.
• In the plug P10 having the above described construction, the valve can be opened and closed automatically by operation of thevalve stem35bof thevalve35 accompanying coupling of the plug P10 with the socket S10.
• In thiscoupler10, for discriminating the socket S10 and the plug P10 in order to, for example, enable fitting and coupling between only the socket S10 and the plug P10 for a specific fuel concentration, a key and a key groove are provided as discrimination means. The key is provided in one of the socket S10 and the plug P10 and the key groove is provided in the other.
• By providing the key and key groove, the socket S10 and the plug P10 which cannot be coupled can be discriminated but, when force is applied between the socket S10 and the plug P10 for rotating the socket S10 and the plug P10 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 S10 and the plug P10 may be damaged when large force is applied.
• Therefore, in thiscoupler10, the key is made to rotate about the central axis for preventing damage due to excessive rotational force.
• In thiscoupler10, as shown inFIG. 1, the projecting connectingportion32 of the plugmain body31 of the plug P10 is formed in its outside peripheral surface with akey groove51 extending in a direction of fitting and thiskey groove51 constitutes discrimination means50. For example,key grooves51 are formed in diametrically opposite positions (only one key groove is shown inFIG. 1A) in a depth corresponding to the distance of fitting of the plug P10.
• On the other hand, a key52 which engages in thekey groove51 is formed integrally with an annularkey ring53 on the inside thereof in a position corresponding to thekey groove51. Thekey ring53 is provided at the lower end of thehousing19 of the socket S10 and is held by a caulkedportion20aof the connectingcylinder20 and is rotatable about the central axis of the plug P10.
• By fitting engagement of the key52 formed on thekey ring53 mounted on the socket S10 with thekey groove51 formed in the plug P10, the socket S10 and the plug P10 can be discriminated.
• Many kinds of sockets and plugs can be discriminated by not only the above described structure in which thekey grooves51 and thekeys52 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.
• When excessive relative rotational force is applied about the central axis between the socket S10 and the plug P10 which are coupled to each other, thekey ring53 is rotated to prevent application of the excessive force to the socket S10 or the plug P10 and thereby prevent damage to them while the coupled state is maintained.
• Further, in thiscoupler10,connection maintaining means60 is provided to maintain the coupled state of the socket S10 and the plug P10. By way of example, an engagingportion61 constitutes one side of theconnection maintaining means60 and an elastic engagingmember62 constitutes the other side of theconnection maintaining means60. By flexing and moving the elastic engagingmember62, the engagingmember62 can engage in the engagingportion61 for maintaining the coupling state securely and the coupling state can be released by flexing and moving the elastic engagingmember62 out of the engagingportion61.
• In thiscoupler10, as the engagingportion61, an annular engaging recess is formed horizontally in the outer periphery of the upper portion of the projecting connectingportion32 of the plugmain body31 and the tip end portion of the projecting connectingportion32 is formed in an accurately curved surface.
• On the other hand, the elastic engagingmember62 provided in the socket S10 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 inFIG. 1B, a snapring mounting groove63 is formed integrally with the end portion of thehousing19. Thesnap ring62 is mounted in the snapring mounting groove63 with the two end portions and the middle portion of theU-shaped snap ring62 being held by the snapring mounting groove63 in such a manner that the two end portions are elastically widened and narrowed.
• By providing theconnection maintaining means60, when the plug P10 is inserted into the socket S10, the tip end portion of the projecting connectingportion32 is pushed into the socket S10, widening the snap ring which constitutes the elastic engagingmember62 and, as the tip end portion of the projecting connectingportion32 is inserted into the engagingportion61, the snap ring is narrowed and engages in the engaging groove and thereafter the fitted and coupled state of between the socket S10 and the plug P10 is maintained.
• When it is attempted to pull off the plug P10 from the fitted and coupled state, the snap ring constituting the elastic engagingmember62 is deformed in a manner to be widened and is disengaged from the engaging groove constituting the engagingportion61 of the plug P10 whereby the plug P10 can be separated from the socket S10.
• Although illustration has been omitted, it is desirable that, when excessive rotational force is applied, in addition to rotation of thekey ring53 for preventing damage, a cam is provided in the plug main body and a cam follower is provided in thekey ring53 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.
• Accordingly, by the provision of this cam mechanism, when excessive rotational force exceeding a range of normal use is applied, axial force is produced in addition to rotation of thekey ring53 for preventing damage, whereby the coupled state can be released automatically and the plug P10 can be disengaged from the socket S10 safely and automatically without damaging the device of the main body.
• According tosuch coupler10, by providing thekey groove51 in one of the socket S10 and the plug P10 and providing the key52 in theannular member53 of the other for engaging in thekey groove51, the socket S10 and the plug P10 can be discriminated by thekey groove51 and the key52 and, when excessive force exceeding a range of normal use is applied, action by such excessive force can be prevented by rotation of theannular member53.
• By this arrangement, in a case where methanol in a container is supplied to a fuel cell or a container itself is exchanged, correct ones can be accurately selected and coupled and, besides, damage due to excessive force can be prevented.
• According to thiscoupler10, theconnection maintaining means60 is formed by the engagingportion61 provided in one of the socket S10 and the plug P10 and the elastic engagingmember62 to be engaged in the engagingportion61 provided in the other and, therefore, by only pushing in the engagingportion61 by utilizing elastic deformation of the elastic engagingmember62, coupling between the socket S10 and the plug P10 can be maintained and, when the coupling state should be released, it can be realized simply by pulling off of the engagingportion61.
• According to thiscoupler10, thekey groove51 and the key52 are used as the discrimination means50 for discriminating the plug P10 and the socket S10 and, therefore, the plug P10 and the socket S10 can be discriminated easily by changing configuration (e.g., combination of width and depth), disposition, number etc. of thekey groove51 and the key52.
• A projecting portion and a recessed portion may be provided between thekey ring53 which is an annular member and thehousing19 by which thekey ring53 is rotatably supported. Such projecting portion and a recessed portion constitute rotation resisting means for resisting rotation when thekey ring53 is pressingly supported and enabling rotation when excessive force is applied. By provision of such rotation resisting means, when the socket S10 is coupled with the plug P10, rotation of thekey ring53 is prevented by engagement of the projecting portion with the recessed portion and connection of thekey groove51 and the key52 can be made easily in substantially stationary state whereas when excessive force is applied, thekey ring53 is rotated overriding the projecting and recessed portions whereby damage can be prevented.
• Another embodiment of the coupler of the invention in which the invention is applied to a plug will be described with reference toFIG. 2.
• In thiscoupler10, as shown inFIG. 2 which schematically show a seal portion only omitting a portion such as a flow path, the seal of the plug P10 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 P10 are improved for reducing the number of seal members and, similarly, the seal structure of the socket S10 also is improved for reducing the number of seal members.
• In aseal structure70 of thecoupler10, an O-ring36 is provided as avalve seal member71 in a flow path which is opened and closed between avalve35 and a plugmain body31 to seal the plug P10. The lower surface of a flange portion of avalve holder38 is formed in aconical surface72 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-ring34 is provided as a container-inside-outside seal member73 between theconical surface72 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-ring34 and the inside of the container can be sealed by the bottom surface of the O-ring34.
• Therefore, compared with the prior art plug shown inFIG. 9 in which oneseal member8 is used for sealing the plug itself and twoseal members6 and7 are used for sealing the inside and outside of the container, in thiscoupler10, theseal members71 and73 can be constructed of two O-rings34 and36 and, therefore, the number of the seal members is reduced and processes for assembling is also simplified by the reduction of the seal members.
• In the plug P10 of thiscoupler10, the upper surface of the flange portion of thevalve holder38 which constitutes a mountingposition control section74 is in abutting engagement with the lower surface of the plugmain body31 and, by this arrangement, relative positions of thevalve holder38 and thevalve35 can be controlled to constant positions and energizing force of acompression coil spring39 constituting energizing means against thevalve35 can be maintained at a constant value.
• Accordingly, valve opening pressure of the plug P10 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.
• In theseal structure70 of thiscoupler10, similarly in the socket S10, an O-ring14 is provided as avalve seal member71 in a flow path which is opened and closed between avalve13 and asocket member11 having an integrally formedvalve seat member12 to seal the socket S10 itself. The upper surface of a flange portion of avalve holder13ais formed as aconical surface72 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-ring73 is provided as an inside and outside seal member for the nozzle N constituting a container main body between theconical surface72 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-ring73 and the inside of the nozzle N can be sealed by the upper surface of the O-ring73.
• Therefore, compared with the prior art plug shown inFIG. 9 in which oneseal member8 is used for sealing the plug itself and twoseal members6 and7 are used for sealing the inside and outside of the container, in thiscoupler10, theseal members71 and73 can be constructed of two O-rings14 and73 and, therefore, the number of the seal members is reduced and processes for assembling is also simplified by the reduction of the seal members.
• In the socket S10 of thiscoupler10, the lower surface of the flange portion of thevalve holder13awhich constitutes a mountingposition control section74 is in abutting engagement with the upper surface of thevalve seal member12 which is integrally formed with thesocket member11 and, by this arrangement, relative positions of thevalve holder13aand thevalve13 can be controlled to constant positions and energizing force of acompression coil spring16 constituting energizing means against thevalve13 can be maintained at a constant value.
• Accordingly, valve opening pressure of the socket S10 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.
• Another embodiment of the invention in which the invention is applied to a plug will be described with reference toFIG. 3.
• In a plug P10A of thiscoupler10A, a flat packing having a generally flat plate shape is provided as acontainer seal member75 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 holder38 (i.e., the lower surface of a flange portion of the valve holder38). A double-purpose seal member76 made of a flat packing in the form of a disk is provided in a manner to be held between a plugmain body31 and thevalve holder38 and to be projecting toward avalve35. The double-purpose seal member76 is used both as aholder seal member76awhich provides a seal between the plugmain body31 and the valve holder38 (i.e., the upper surface of the flange portion of the valve holder38) and as avalve seal member76bwhich is provided in a flow path which is opened and closed for providing a seal between thevalve35 and the plugmain body31 constituting a coupler main body.
• Thevalve35 is formed with anannular projection77 which opposes and contacts the lower surface of the double-purpose seal member76 for achieving an accurate sealing.
• According to thiscoupler10A, by using the double-purpose seal member76 which is used both as theholder seal member76aand thevalve seal member76b,one seal member can be saved.
• Since this double-purpose seal member76 is held between the plugmain body31 and thevalve holder38, it does not move with thevalve35 as in a case where a valve seal member is formed by mounting an0-ring on the outer periphery of thevalve35 but is accurately opened and closed accompanying reciprocating movement of thevalve35.
• As theseal structure70 of the coupler of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 4 orFIG. 5, energizing force by acompression coil spring39 can be made constant by constructing a coupler. More specifically, incouplers10B and10C, mounting position of thevalve holder38 is made constant by forming a mountingposition control section78 in the plugmain body31 or by forming a mountingposition control section79 in thevalve holder38 whereby relative positions of the valvemain body31 and thevalve holder38 become constant and energizing force by thecompression coil spring39 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 member76.
• As shown inFIG. 4, theseal structure70 of this coupler can be applied similarly to the socket. In a socket S10B of thiscoupler10B, a flat packing having a generally flat plate shape is provided as acontainer seal member75 on the lower surface of a nozzle N which constitutes a container main body for providing a seal between the nozzle N and avalve holder13a(i.e., the upper surface of a flange portion of thevalve holder13a). A double-purpose seal member76 made of a flat packing in the form of a disk is provided in a manner to be held between asocket member11 and thevalve holder13aand to be projecting toward avalve13. The double-purpose seal member76 is used both as aholder seal member76awhich provides a seal between thesocket member11 and thevalve holder13a(i.e., the lower surface of the flange portion of thevalve holder13a) and as avalve seal member76bwhich is provided in a flow path which is opened and closed for providing a seal between thevalve13 and thesocket member11 constituting a coupler main body.
• Thevalve13 is formed with anannular projection77 which opposes and contacts the upper surface of the double-purpose seal member76 for achieving an accurate sealing.
• According to thiscoupler10B, by using the double-purpose seal member76 which is used both as theholder seal member76aand thevalve seal member76b,one seal member can be saved.
• Since this double-purpose seal member76 is held between thesocket member11 and thevalve holder13a,it does not move with thevalve13 as in a case where a valve seal member is formed by mounting an O-ring on the outer periphery of thevalve13 but is accurately opened and closed accompanying reciprocating movement of thevalve13.
• Further, in the socket S10B of thecoupler10B of the invention, since the mountingposition control section78 is formed in thesocket member11, relative positions of thesocket member11 and thevalve holder13acan be made constant and energizing force by thecompression coil spring16 can be made constant.
• In the coupler of the invention, for making the valve opening pressure of the coupler constant, as shown in acoupler10D ofFIG. 6, a mountingposition control section80 may be formed in avalve holder38 so that relative positions of avalve35 and thevalve holder38 can be made constant and energizing force by acompression coil spring39 can be made constant. In this case also, as shown in acoupler10B ofFIG. 7, a mountingposition control section78 may be formed in a plugmain body31.
• Another embodiment of the invention in which the invention is applied to the plug will be described with reference toFIGS. 8A,8B and8C.
• Incouplers10E,10F and10G, as inFIG. 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 thecouplers10 and10A to10D 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.
• In thecoupler10E, seal members in these three portions are formed integrally as asingle seal member85. Thisseal member85 has acontainer seal member85awhich provides a seal between the nozzle N which is a container main body and a valve holder38 (i.e., the lower surface of a flange portion of the valve holder38). Thecontainer seal member85ais made of a flat packing having a shape of a disk and is provided on the upper surface of the nozzle N.
• Further, as the seal members for sealing the remaining two portions of theseal member85, theseal member85 comprises aholder seal member85bwhich provides a seal between the plugmain body31 which is a coupler main body and the valve holder39 (i.e., the upper outside portion of the flange portion of the valve holder38) and avalve seal member85cwhich is provided for sealing in the flow path between thevalve35 and the plugmain body31 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 plugmain body31 and thevalve holder38 and project toward thevalve35.
• Thus, as theseal member85, thecontainer seal member85ais formed integrally with theholder seal member85band thevalve seal member85cvia a connectingportion85dsurrounding the outer periphery of the flange portion of thevalve holder38.
• Since other structure of thecoupler10E is the same as the one of thecoupler10A, description will be omitted for avoiding duplication.
• According to thiscoupler10E, by using theseal member85 in which thecontainer seal member85a,theholder seal member85band thevalve seal member85care formed integrally via the connectingportion85d,one seal member can be saved and processes for forming and assembling will be reduced and the manufacturing cost thereby can be saved.
• Theseal member85 of the coupler of the present invention may be formed as shown in acoupler10F shown inFIG. 8B, i.e., by forming a plurality ofapertures38awhich vertically penetrate a flange portion of avalve holder38 and disposing a connectingportion85dthrough theseapertures38ato integrally form theseal member85.
• Since other structure of thecoupler10F is the same as the one of thecoupler10E described above, description will be omitted for avoiding duplication.
• According to thiscoupler10F, since the connectingportion85dis disposed in theapertures38aof the flange portion of thevalve holder38, theseal member85 is fixed to thevalve holder38 whereby thecoupler10F can be assembled in a stable manner without causing distortion to theseal member85.
• Theseal member85 of the coupler of the present invention may be formed as shown in acoupler10G shown inFIG. 8C, i.e., by forming a plurality ofapertures38awhich vertically penetrate a flange portion of avalve holder38, disposing a connectingportion85dthrough theseapertures38ato integrally form theseal member85, and providing twoannular lip portions85eintegrally with theseal member85 in such a manner that theselip portions85eproject from the seal surfaces of theseal member85
• Since other structure of thecoupler10G is the same as the one of thecoupler10F described above, description will be omitted for avoiding duplication.
• According to thiscoupler10G, the connectingportion85dis disposed in theapertures38aof the flange portion of thevalve holder38 and the twoannular lip portions85eare provided on the seal surfaces, seal surface pressure can be increased by thelip portions85eof theseal member85 and the sealing property can thereby be further improved.
• In this embodiment, though thelip portions85eare provided on the upper and lower surfaces of theseal member85, 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.
• Thelip portions85emay be provided in theseal member85 of thecoupler10E which has been described with reference to FIG,8A. In that case, a similar advantageous effect will be achieved.
• Further, although illustration has been omitted, the mounting position control section (78,79) may be provided between the flange portion of thevalve holder38 and the plugmain body31 of thecouplers10F and10G so that energizing force by thecompression coil spring39 will be made constant.
• According to he coupler10A of the invention, since the seal member is composed of the two seal members, i.e., thecontainer seal member75 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 member76 which is used both as theholder seal member76afor providing a seal between the coupler main body and the valve holder (the outer flange portion of the valve holder) and thevalve seal member76bwhich 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, thevalve seal member76bis fixed by theholder seal member76aindependently from the valve whereby the flow path can be opened and closed accurately by the valve.
• According to thecoupler10A, since the double-purpose seal member76 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.
• According to thecoupler10 of the invention, since the seal member is composed of two seal members, i.e., thevalve seal member71 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 member73 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.
• Further, according to thecoupler10, since the container-inside-outside seal member73 is made of an O-ring, it can be assembled in a simple manner.
• According to thecoupler10E of the invention, since theseal member85 which seals all necessary portions of the coupler is formed integrally in such a manner that thevalve seal member85c, thecontainer seal member85aand theholder seal member85bare formed integrally with the connectingportion85daround the periphery of the flange portion of thevalve holder38, the number of the components can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
• According to thecoupler10F of the invention, since theseal member85 which seals all necessary portions of the coupler is formed integrally in such a manner that thevalve seal member85c, thecontainer seal member85aand theholder seal member85bare formed integrally with the connectingportion85ddisposed in the apertures38eformed in the flange portion of thevalve holder38, theseal member85 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.
• According to thecoupler10G of the invention, since thelip portions85eare formed integrally with theseal member85 in at least one portion of theseal member85, the seal surface pressure can be increased and the sealing property thereby can be improved.
• According to thecouplers10,10A,10B and10C of the invention, since there are provided the mountingposition control sections74,78 and79 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.
• According to thecouplers10,10A,10B and10C (10F,10G) of the invention, since the mountingposition control sections74,78 and79 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.
• Further, according to thecoupler10D of the invention, since thiscoupler10D comprises the mountingposition control section80, 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.
• Other embodiments of the coupler of the invention in which the invention is applied to the plug will be described with reference toFIG. 10 toFIG. 12.
• In the embodiment ofFIGS. 10-12, the same components as those shown inFIG. 2 will be designated by the same reference characters and description thereof will be omitted.
• In the embodiment ofFIG. 2, the O-ring36 as the valve seal member is pressed by thecompression coil spring39 to a state in which stress of the O-ring36 is in balance with compression force of thecompression coil spring39. When this state lasts for a long period of time, permanent strain due to compression is produced in the O-ring36 and, as a result, the tip end position of the valve stem from the base of the plug advances from the initial position. As a result, in coupling the plug and the socket together, the rubber holder (17 inFIG. 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.
• As an amount of compression of the O-ring36 by thecompression coil spring39, 20% to 30% of a non-compressed state is allowed as a range within a proper use. In the embodiments shown inFIG. 10 toFIG. 12, therefore, means for controlling the seal position is provided so that the valve stem will not be pushed out exceeding a position at which the O-ring36 is compressed by 20% to 30% by thecompression coil spring39. More specifically, the upward portion (in the drawing) from a steppedportion90 of the valve stem is formed with a smaller diameter than the downward portion from the steppedportion90 while the upward portion from a steppedportion92 of the inner periphery of the plugmain body31 is formed with a smaller diameter than the downward portion from the steppedportion92 of the inner periphery of the plugmain body31. Positions of the steppedportions90 and92 are determined in correspondence to an initial position of the O-ring36 at which the O-ring36 is compressed by 20%-30% within a range of a proper use. Accordingly, by abutting engagement of the steppedportion90 of the valve stem with the steppedportion92 of the plugmain body31, the valve stem which is pressed upwardly (in the drawing) by thecompression coil spring39 comes in engagement with the steppedportion92 of the plugmain body31 and further upward advance of the valve stem is prevented and excessive compression of the O-ring36 is also prevented.
• In an embodiment ofFIG. 11, the seal position control means is formed by a projection94 which extends from the upper surface of the valve head of thevalve35 in a radially outward position from the O-ring36. The projection94 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 projection94 from the upper surface of the valve head is determined in correspondence to an initial position of the O-ring36 at which the O-ring36 is compressed by 20%-30% within a range of a proper use in such a manner that, the tip end of the projection94 abuts against the lower surface of the middle portion of the plugmain body31 at a radially outward position from the valve seat. Accordingly, by the abutting of the projection94 with the lower surface of the middle portion of the plugmain body31, further upward advance of the valve system which is pressed upwardly by thecompression coil spring39 is prevented and excessive pressing of the O-ring36 is also prevented.
• In an embodiment ofFIG. 12, the seal position control means is formed by a projection96 which extends from the lower surface of the middle portion of the plugmain body31 in a radially outward position from the valve seat with which the O-ring36 is in abutting engagement. The projection96 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 projection96 from the lower surface of the middle portion of the plug main body is determined in correspondence to an initial position of the O-ring36 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 projection96 abuts against the upper surface of the valve head. Accordingly, by the abutting of the projection96 with the upper surface of the valve head, further upward advance of the valve stem which is pressed upwardly by thecompression coil spring39 is prevented and excessive pressing of the O-ring36 is also prevented.
• In the embodiments ofFIG. 11 andFIG. 12, the projections94 and96 may be formed integrally with the valve head and the plug main body or may be provided as separate parts.
INDUSTRIAL UTILITY
• 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. In this coupler, 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.

Claims (10)

1: 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 arid 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 flange portion provided in 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.

2. A coupler as defined inclaim 1 wherein the double-purpose seal member is made of a flat packing having a generally flat plate shape.

3. 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 valve holder and a holder seal member for forming a seal between the coupler main body and the valve holder.

4. A coupler as defined inclaim 3 wherein the container-inside-outside seal member is made of an O-ring.

5. 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 between the coupler main body and the valve holder,

and the valve seal member, the container seal member and the holder seal member are formed integrally around the outer periphery of the flange portion of the valve holder.

6. A coupler as defined inclaim 5 wherein 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.

7. A coupler as defined inclaim 5 or6 wherein a lip portion is formed in at least one of the valve seal member, the container seal member and the holder seal member.

8. A coupler as defined in any ofclaims 1-4, and6 comprising 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.

9. A coupler as defined inclaim 8 wherein the mounting position control section is provided in at least one of the valve holder and the coupler main body.

10. A coupler as defined inclaim 8 comprising 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.

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