JPH09166293A - Gas charger - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a novel gas charger wherein leakage of gas can be automatically inspected during charging of gas. SOLUTION: When a charge nozzle 104 is insertion-fitted to a charge port B4 of a gas vessel B, a gas leakage detector 121 is positioned in the vicinity of a tip end part of the charge port B4, charge nozzle 104 and a nozzle main unit 105. By use for a long period, a packing 113 or the like of the charge nozzle 104 is worn, a clearance is generated between the charge port B4 and the charge nozzle 104 and between the charge nozzle 104 and the tip end of the nozzle main unit 105, and in the case of generating of a very small amount of gas leakage, it is detected by the gas leakage detector 121, to be informed by a suitable report means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas filling device for filling a gas container with LP gas or the like, and more particularly to a gas filling device capable of inspecting a gas leak from a filling nozzle during gas filling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been used a gas filling device for inserting a filling nozzle into a filling port of a gas container so as to fill the gas container with LP gas or the like. Typical examples of this kind of gas filling device are Jikkei 3-51600 and Jikkei 3-7.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 1598, etc., an instrument body 102 provided with a clamp 101 so that it can be opened and closed, and a piston in the instrument body 102.
When the piston 103 is driven to move the nozzle body 105 forward together with the rod 106, the filling nozzle 104 moves forward when the piston 103 is driven. When the filling nozzle 104 is retracted in this state, the conduit portion 108 is inserted while the clamp 101 is closed and the opening / closing valve B2 is attached.
Gas introduced from the passage 109-passage hole 107-nozzle hole 11
It is known that the gas container B is configured to be filled via 0 (see FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6 to 7).

On the other hand, in recent years, various proposals have been made for automating the work of filling a gas container with LP gas or the like. For example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-61560, a carry-in port and a carry-in port are provided at fixed positions on a turntable. An outlet is provided, and a carry-in path and a carry-out path for transporting a gas container are continuously provided at each opening. A plurality of container mounting parts (filling stations) are arranged on the turntable at predetermined intervals on the circumference of the upper surface, and each mounting part is arranged. Each part is equipped with a gas filling device, and the filling nozzle of the gas filling device is connected to the filling port of the gas container that is carried by the loading path and placed on the container mounting part through the loading port, and the gas container is unloaded. There is disclosed a rotary gas filling device which fills a predetermined amount of LP gas or the like while being transferred to the gas tank. Furthermore, the applicant of the present application proposed a gas filling device that automates the work of connecting the filling nozzle to the filling port of the gas container and the opening / closing work of the filling port, thereby promoting rationalization of gas filling work and reduction of the number of workers. (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-190298, Japanese Patent Application No. 7-28)
5659).

[0004]

The prior art described above is
It mentions automation of gas filling work, but does not mention gas leak inspection during gas filling. However, a more detailed examination of the conventional gas filling device mounted on each of the above devices leaves room for improvement in the following points. That is, in the conventional gas filler, in order to prevent gas leakage from the tip of the filling nozzle 104 or the tip of the nozzle body 105 during gas filling, packing 113, 114 is provided on the outer circumference of the leading end and the outer circumference of the rear end of the filling nozzle 104, respectively. . However, if the packing 113, 114 wears due to long-term use, the tip of the filling nozzle 104 or the nozzle body may be damaged during gas filling.
105 A small amount of gas may leak from the tip (Fig. 2
reference).

If such a gas leak occurs, there is a possibility that an error may occur in the amount of gas filled in the gas container or an unexpected accident may occur. In order to prevent such a problem, it is necessary for a dedicated operator to perform an inspection method such as bringing a gas detector near the filling nozzle during gas filling and detecting a gas leak with a buzzer or the like. However, there is a problem that it is inefficient and lacks certainty. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and an object thereof is to automatically perform a gas leak inspection from a filling nozzle or a nozzle body during gas filling, and An object of the present invention is to provide a new gas filling device that can perform gas filling work reliably and accurately and can facilitate rationalization and reduction of the number of people in the gas filling work.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a gas filling device of the present invention is characterized by comprising a gas leak detecting means arranged near a filling nozzle. As the gas leak detecting means, it is conceivable to employ a gas leak detector including a well-known temperature sensor or a minute pressure sensor. When a temperature sensor is used, the temperature change around the filling nozzle due to gas leakage from the filling nozzle (a temperature drop in LP gas based on the outside air temperature) is detected as a gas leak, and when a pressure sensor is used, filling is performed. The pressure change around the filling nozzle due to the gas leak from the nozzle (the pressure change based on the external atmospheric pressure) is detected as the gas leak. Further, the gas leak detector is preferably provided at an intermediate position between the tip of the filling nozzle and the tip of the nozzle body in consideration of accurately detecting gas leaks from both the tip of the filling nozzle and the tip of the nozzle body.

According to the above construction, when the filling nozzle is fitted into the filling port of the gas container, the gas leak detection means is located near the filling port, the filling nozzle and the tip of the nozzle body. Then, when the packing of the filling nozzle is worn due to long-term use and a gap is generated between the filling port and the filling nozzle or between the filling nozzle and the tip of the nozzle body, a small amount of gas leakage occurs. The gas leak detection means detects a small amount of gas leak and notifies it by an appropriate notification means. Therefore, the wear of the packing can be recognized, and by replacing the packing, the gas leakage can be prevented and the gas filling operation can be performed safely, reliably and accurately.

In the embodiment described later, a gas filling device equipped with the gas filling device of the present invention will be described in detail, but this gas filling device also includes means for inspecting gas leakage from the gas container after completion of gas filling. The outline is described here. Valve direction detection means for detecting the position of the filling port by surrounding the opening / closing valve of the gas container installed in the filling station with the cover body, and the valve direction detection means When the position is detected, the filling nozzle and the filling port are aligned with each other, and the gas filling device is arranged so as to move forward and backward so that the filling nozzle comes into contact with and separates from the filling port, and a valve opening / closing means for opening and closing the filling port. The opening / closing valve is surrounded by a cover body to detect the position of the filling port, and then the cover body rises and the gas filler is advanced to connect the filling nozzle to the filling port, and then the valve is opened. In the gas filling device configured to open the filling port to fill the gas with the filling nozzle, and to close the filling port with the valve opening / closing means after the fixed amount filling and retract the gas filling device to separate the filling nozzle from the filling port, A first gas leak detection means is provided in the vicinity of the filling nozzle, and a second gas leak detection means is provided in the cover body so that the first gas leakage detection means leaks gas while the filling nozzle is connected to the filling port. While conducting the inspection,
After the filling nozzle is separated from the filling port, the cover body is lowered again to surround the on-off valve to perform the gas leak inspection by the second gas leak detecting means.

Thus, in the gas filling device having the above-mentioned structure, after the opening / closing valve of the gas container installed at the filling station is surrounded by the cover body to detect the position of the filling port, the cover body is raised and the gas is increased. The filling device advances to connect the filling nozzle to the filling port, and then the valve opening / closing means opens the filling port to fill the gas with the filling nozzle. Check for gas leaks. After the fixed amount filling, the valve opening / closing means closes the filling opening, the gas filling device retreats and the filling nozzle separates from the filling opening, then the cover body descends again to surround the opening / closing valve, and the second gas leakage detection means is used. Check for gas leaks from the filling port. Therefore, in addition to automating the gas filling operation, a gas leak inspection from the filling valve during gas filling can be automatically performed, and a gas leak inspection from the filling port after completion of the gas filling can be continued to the filling work. Can be done automatically.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 will be described. In the figure, A is a gas filling device according to the present invention,
B indicates a gas container, and the gas container B is a well-known LP gas cylinder having an opening / closing valve B2 on the top of a container body B1.
Usually, there are several kinds with a capacity of about 50 kg to about 10 kg. The opening / closing valve B2 is provided with a filling port B4 and a safety valve B5 protruding rearwardly on the front side and the back side of the circumferential surface of a substantially cylindrical valve body B3, and the filling port is provided at the upper end of the valve body B3. A manual open / close handle B6 for opening / closing B4 is screwed so as to be able to move back and forth. The valve body B3 and the opening / closing handle B6 are arranged coaxially with the axis B'of the gas container B.

The gas filling device A has the same basic structure as that of a conventionally known gas filling device, and more specifically, a container 102 to which a clamp 101 is attached so as to be openable and closable, and a piston inside the container 102.
When the piston 103 is driven by the piston body 103 and the nozzle body 105 moves forward together with the rod 106, the filling nozzle 104 moves forward. Clamp 10 together with
1 is closed to hold the on-off valve B2, and in this state the filling nozzle 104 is retracted to open the through hole 107, and at the same time, the gas introduced from the conduit portion 108 of the nozzle body 105 is passed through the passage 109-. The gas container B is configured to be filled through the hole 107 and the nozzle hole 110. Further, this gas filling device A is movably suspended on the ceiling or the like of the work place by using a wire, and is constructed such that the worker manually connects to the filling port B4, or JP-A-7-190.
No. 298, Japanese Patent Application No. 7-285659, etc., the work for connecting to the filling port B4 is automatically performed by rotatably and advancingly reciprocatingly supported by an appropriate support frame and drive mechanism. Configure.

The nozzle body 105 is formed in a tubular shape and is integrally provided with a conduit portion 108 so that LP gas can be introduced from the conduit portion 108. The rear end of the nozzle body 105 is fitted and fixed to the locking fitting portion 106a in the substantially central portion of the piston rod 106 to form a closed shape, and the filling nozzle 104 projects elastically slidably at the tip portion thereof. It is set up. Filling nozzle
104 is fitted and inserted into the tip end opening 105a of the nozzle body 105, and the fitting portion 104a at the rear is inserted into a valve seat 105b projecting around the nozzle body 105 and projected to the rear side of the valve seat 105b. The cap nut 111 is screwed to the threaded portion 104b at the rear end of the fitted portion 104a. A pressing spring 112 is fitted on the tip of the piston rod 106, and the tip of the pressing spring 112 is brought into contact with the rear surface of the cap nut 111 so that the flange portion 111a on the front of the cap nut is constantly pressed against the rear surface of the valve seat 105b. And filling nozzle
The tip end 104 of the nozzle 104 is elastically slidably supported in a state of protruding from the nozzle body 105. Further, the filling nozzle 104 is provided with several through holes 107 on the peripheral surface of the fitting portion 104a.
When 104 is elastically slid backwards, the through hole 107
After moving to the rear surface side of 105, the LP gas from the conduit portion 108 flows out to the nozzle hole 110.

A ring-shaped packing 113 is fitted around the tip of the filling nozzle 104, and when the filling nozzle 104 is inserted into the filling port B4 of the gas container B, the filling nozzle 104 comes into close contact with the inner surface of the filling port B4, It is constructed so that no gas leaks from the filling port B4 during filling. A ring-shaped packing 114 is also fitted around the rear end portion of the filling nozzle 104, so that the filling nozzle 10
The nozzle 4 is slidably adhered to the inner surface of the tip opening 105a of the nozzle body 105 so that no gas leaks from the charging port nozzle 104 during gas charging. It should be noted that pressing pins 115, 115 are provided on both sides of the rear portion of the nozzle body 105 so as to project.

The clamp 101 has its tip bent inward, and the rear inner surface of the clamp 101 abuts against the pressing pin 115.
And is pivotally attached to mounting pieces 116 provided on both sides of the tip of the body 102 so as to be openable and closable. The clamp 101 is configured to be constantly elastically actuated in the closing direction by a butterfly spring (not shown), and the operation in the closing direction is restricted with the contact surface portion 101a abuttingly engaging the pressing pin 115. To do.

A nozzle guide 117 for guiding the filling nozzle 104 to the filling port B4 of the gas container B is attached to the lower portion of the filling nozzle 104. In the nozzle guide 117, a U-shaped fitting portion 117b is formed at the tip of a long plate-shaped mounting portion 117a, and the fitting portion 117b is projected in both left and right directions to form a front opening-shaped fitting recess 117c. Form. The width of the fitting recess 117c is substantially the same as the lateral width of the rectangular peripheral surface B7 below the filling port B4 of the opening / closing valve B2 of the gas container B.
The front end of 117b is open-ended.

In the vicinity of the filling nozzle 104 of the gas filling device A constructed as described above, a gas leak detecting means 120 is arranged. The gas leak detector 120 is a gas leak detector 12 disposed between the tip of the filling nozzle 104 and the tip of the nozzle body 105.
1, the gas leak detector 121 is installed on the tip side of the mounting portion 117a of the nozzle guide 117, and when the filling nozzle 104 is fitted into the filling port B4, the filling port B4 and the nozzle body 105 are inserted. Gas leak detector located just below the tip
If 121 is present and gas leakage has occurred from the filling port B4 or the tip end opening portion 105a of the nozzle body 105, this is detected, and the detection signal is sent to a control unit (not shown) and gas leakage is performed by an appropriate notifying means. Is configured to be notified.

The gas leak detector 121 comprises a well-known temperature sensor or a minute pressure sensor as shown in FIG. 4. When a temperature sensor is used, the gas leak detector 121 is filled with gas leak from the filling port B4 and the nozzle body tip opening 105a. A temperature change around the nozzle 104 (a temperature drop in the LP gas with respect to the outside air temperature) is detected as a gas leak, and when a pressure sensor is adopted, the gas leaks from the filling port B4 and the nozzle body tip opening 105a. A change in pressure around the filling nozzle 104 (a change in pressure with reference to the external pressure) is detected as a gas leak. When a pressure sensor is used, as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to connect to the notification means such as the buzzer 123 and the pilot lamp 124 via 2 and to notify by the notification means when a gas leak is detected.

The operation of the gas filler A having the above structure will be described below. When the gas filler A is suspended by a wire so as to be freely movable, an operator manually rotates the gas filler A by an appropriate supporting frame and a driving mechanism. When it is supported so as to be movable and movable back and forth, the tip of the filling nozzle 104 is automatically attached to the gas container B.
Work to connect to the filling port B4 of. At this time, the front part of the fitting recess 117c of the nozzle guide 117 is fitted to the rectangular peripheral surface B7 below the filling port B4 of the opening / closing valve B2, and the filling nozzle is closed.
104 Guide the tip to the filling port B4 and insert it. Then, the piston 103 is operated and the nozzle body 105 interlocked with the piston rod 106 advances to insert the filling nozzle 104 into the filling port B4. The nozzle body 105 slides forward following the filling nozzle 104, and at the same time when the through hole 107 is opened, the pressing pins 115 on both sides of the nozzle body 105 advance and the clamps 101, 101 are opened.
Closes. Then, the clamps 101, 101 that are closed hold the rear portion of the on-off valve B2. In this state, the LP gas introduced from the conduit portion 108 of the nozzle body 105 passes through the passage.
109-through hole 107-guided to the filling port B4 through the nozzle hole 110. Before and after the closing of the clamp 101, the opening / closing handle B6 of the opening / closing valve B2 is manually or automatically rotated in the opening direction by using the valve opening / closing means as shown in the drawing to open the filling port B4. Guide the gas into the gas container B. After the fixed amount filling, the opening / closing handle B6 is rotated in the closing direction to close the filling port B4, and then the gas filler A is separated from the opening / closing valve B2.

When the filling nozzle 104 is inserted into the filling port B4, the gas leak detector 121 is located directly below the filling nozzle 104 between the filling port B4 and the nozzle body 105. Then, with long-term use, packing 113 or
When 114 is worn and a gap is formed between the filling port B4 and the filling nozzle 104 and a small amount of gas is leaked, or a gap is formed between the tip opening portion 105a of the nozzle body 105 and the filling nozzle 104, and a small amount is generated. If the gas leak occurs, the gas leak detector 121 detects these minute gas leaks and sends the detection signal to a control unit (not shown) to notify the gas leak by an appropriate notifying means. Therefore, the worker must use the packing
Worn out packing 113
By replacing 3 or 114, the above-mentioned gas leakage can be prevented, and the gas filling work can be performed safely, reliably and accurately.

Further, since the fitting portion 117b of the nozzle guide 117 provided at the lower portion of the filling nozzle 104 is formed in a projecting shape in front of and on the left and right sides of the filling nozzle 104, the filling nozzle 104 can be used for the gas filling operation. B and open / close valve B
The filling nozzle 104 can be protected without being hit by the 2 and damaged.

Next, an example in which the gas filler A having the above-mentioned gas leakage detection means 120 is mounted on the gas filler C installed in the rotary gas filler will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 12. To do. The gas filling machine C is a gas filling device installed in each of a plurality of container mounting portions (filling stations D) arranged on the circumference of the upper surface of the turntable in the rotary gas filling device, and is a carry-in path constituted by a chain conveyor or the like. The gas container B carried in by the filling station D is held upright at the station D, and the gas container B is automatically filled with LP gas or the like, and the filling nozzle 104 during the filling operation is performed. The gas leak from the tank and the gas leak from the filling port B4 after the fixed amount filling are automatically detected.

The gas filling machine C holds the gas container B installed in the filling station D in an upright state with the axis B'of the container aligned with the reference core L set in the station D. Centering means a, a valve direction detecting means b for detecting the position of the filling port B4 by surrounding the opening / closing valve B2 of the gas container B with the cover body 20, and the valve direction detecting means b detecting the position of the filling port B4. Sometimes filling nozzle 10
4 and the filling port B4 are aligned, and the filling port B4
A gas filling device A that is installed so as to move toward and away from the filling nozzle 104, a gas leak detecting means (first gas leak detecting means) 120 provided in the gas filling device A, and a valve direction detecting means. The cover body 20 is driven based on the detection signal of b.
And a rotation driving means c for rotating the gas filling device A with respect to the opening / closing valve B2 to align the filling nozzle 104 with the filling port B4, and a valve opening / closing means d for opening / closing the filling port B4.
An elevating drive means e for integrally elevating and lowering the valve direction detecting means b, the gas filling device A, the valve opening / closing means d, etc. according to the height of the gas container B, an elevating drive part f for elevating and lowering the cover body 20, and a gas. In the cover body 20, an advancing / retreating drive unit g for advancing / retreating the filling device A to move the filling nozzle 104 to / from the filling port B4, a head driving unit h for vertically moving and rotating the valve opening / closing head 25 of the valve opening / closing means d are provided. It is provided with the provided gas leak detection means (second gas leak detection means) i, and the respective constituent parts a to i, A and 120 are mounted in the machine frame j.

The respective constituent parts a to i, A and 120 are electrically connected to a control unit (not shown) to control their operation,
After holding the gas container B carried into the filling station D by the centering means a, the opening / closing valve B2 of the gas container B is held.
Is surrounded by a cover body 20, the position of the filling port B4 is detected, the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4 are aligned, and then the cover body 20 is raised and the gas filling device A is advanced to fill the filling nozzle 104. After connecting to the port B4, the valve opening / closing means d opens the filling port B4 to perform the gas filling by the gas filling device A, and the first gas leak detection means 120 performs the gas leak inspection during the filling work, and after the fixed amount filling, the valve is opened. When the opening / closing means d closes the filling port B4, the gas filling device A retracts, the filling nozzle 104 separates from the filling port B4, and then the cover body 20 descends again to surround the opening / closing valve B2.
The gas leak detecting means i is configured to automatically perform the work up to the gas leak inspection after filling.

The machine frame j is erected on the rear side of the filling station D, and the elevating drive means e is installed immovably on the upper edge portion thereof, while the guide rails 2a and 2b are vertically provided on the surface directly facing the filling station D. The rotary drive means c is supported so as to be vertically slidable. The rotation drive means c is supported by the up-and-down drive means e so as to be able to move up and down above the machine frame j. A supporting substrate 3 is supported on the lower surface side of the rotation driving means c, and the supporting substrate 3
A gas filler A, a valve direction detecting means b, a valve opening / closing means d, an elevating drive part f, a forward / backward drive part g, and a head drive part h are provided on the lower surface side of the. Centering means a is arranged below the machine frame j.

The elevating and lowering drive means e is provided with a plurality of pulleys 4 which rotate in forward and reverse directions by driving a motor (not shown), and the amount of the chain 5 wound around each pulley 4 is adjusted appropriately by driving the motors. As a result, the rotation driving means c and the upper clamp 7 to be described later move up and down, and the gas filling device A,
The valve direction detecting means b, the valve opening / closing means d, and the upper clamp 7 are supported at predetermined positions corresponding to the height of the gas container B.

The centering means a is provided with a pair of arms 9a and 9b which approach each other by driving a driving unit 8 such as a cylinder and sandwich the outer peripheral surface of the gas container B from both sides.
7, the lower clamp 6 is fixed to the lower end of the machine frame j, and the upper clamp 7 is moved up and down according to the height of the gas container B by the drive of the elevating drive means e. Then, the gas container B installed in the filling station D is attached to the arms 9a and 9b.
It is configured to be clamped by, and to be held upright with the axis B ′ of the container aligned with the reference axis L set in the station D.

The rotation drive means c has a rotation shaft 11 which rotates around a reference core L and a motor 12 which rotates the rotation shaft 11 on the lower surface of the casing 10 which is moved up and down by the drive of the elevation drive means e. The support substrate 3 is fixed to the lower end of the rotating shaft 11, and the rotating shaft 11 and the supporting substrate 3 are rotated about the reference core L in the range of 360 ° or more by the driving of the motor 12. 20 is configured to rotate concentrically with the reference core L, and the gas filler A (support frame 16) is configured to rotate integrally with the cover body 20 about the reference core L. Further, the rotation driving means c is driven when the valve direction detecting means b does not detect the proper direction, and the cover body 20 and the gas filling device A are driven.
The (support frame 16) is rotated as described above, and the drive is stopped when the proper direction is detected, and the drive is controlled so that the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4 are aligned. Further, the rotation drive means c is configured such that the rotation of the gas filling device A (support frame 16) is in a neutral state when the drive is stopped.

A support shaft 13 is provided on one end side of the support substrate 3 in the longitudinal direction.
The supporting frame 16 is swingably supported by the supporting frame 16 and the gas filling device A is installed at the lower end of the supporting frame 16 so that the gas filling device A is rotated by the drive of the rotation driving means c as described above and is supported. As the frame 16 swings, the gas filler A moves back and forth,
The filling nozzle 104 is connected to and disconnected from the filling port B4. An upper mounting plate 14 is supported below the support substrate 3, and an advancing / retreating drive unit g is installed on the mounting plate 14. A lower mounting plate 15 is supported below the upper mounting plate 14, and an elevating and lowering drive unit f for elevating and lowering the valve direction detection means b and a head for vertically and rotationally driving the valve opening / closing head 25 are mounted on the lower mounting plate 15. The drive unit h is installed.

The valve direction detecting means b is an open / close valve B2.
First and second optical sensors 21 and 2 arranged so as to project both sides of the on-off valve B2 in a cover body 20 surrounding the
2 and a third optical sensor 23 arranged so as to project in a direction traversing the open / close valve B2. One of the first and second optical sensors 21 and 22 and the third optical sensor 2 are provided.
When 3 and 3 are in the detection state, the normal direction is defined, while when the normal direction is not detected, it is defined as the illegal direction. When the normal direction is detected, the cover 20 is driven by the rotation driving means c. And the gas filling device A (support frame 16) are integrally rotated, and the drive of the rotation drive means c is stopped when the normal direction is detected.

The cover body 20 is formed of a cylindrical body which can surround the side circumference of the on-off valve B2 and has an open upper and lower surface. The rod 24a of the drive cylinder 24 constituting the lifting drive section f is fixed to the upper edge of the cylindrical body. At the position directly above the opening / closing valve B2 of the gas container B held by the centering means a, the drive cylinder 24 supports the axis of the opening / closing valve B2 so that its axis coincides with the reference core L. It is designed to be surrounded. Further, the cover body 20 is the drive cylinder 2
4, the lower mounting plate 15 and the upper mounting plate 14 are supported by the supporting substrate 3, and are driven and rotated concentrically with the reference core L in the range of 360 ° or more by the rotation driving means c. There is.

Each of the optical sensors 21, 22 and 23 is a well-known optical type sensor provided with light projecting portions 21a, 22a and 23a and light receiving portions 21b, 22b and 23b, which are installed to face each other. The first and second optical sensors 21 and 22 are
Both sides of the on-off valve B2 are projected in parallel, and the charging port B4 and the safety valve B5 are arranged in parallel at such a height that the projection is blocked. In addition, the first and second optical sensors 21 and 22 include
A state in which the projection from 22a is received by the light receiving portions 21b and 22b without being blocked by the filling port B4 or the safety valve B5 is set as a detection state, and it is detected that the opening / closing valve B2 is positioned substantially parallel to the filling nozzle 104. The first and second optical sensors 21,
When both 22 are in the detection state at the same time, one of the detection signals is prioritized. Third optical sensor 2
Numeral 3 projects in a direction intersecting the optical axes of the first and second optical sensors 21 and 22 substantially at right angles and across the on-off valve B2, and the safety valve B5 cannot block the projection, but the filling port B4 blocks the projection. Arrange at a height Also, the third optical sensor 23
Is a detection state when the projection from the light projecting section 23a is blocked by the filling port B4 and the light receiving section 23b does not receive light.
It is detected that 4 is on the filling nozzle 104 side. Further, the valve direction detecting means b is provided with the first and second optical sensors 2
One of the first and second and the third optical sensor 23 is in the normal state when it is in the detection state, while the normal direction is not detected when the normal direction is not detected. When the direction is detected, the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4 are aligned with each other.

The gas filling device A has the above-described structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and is provided with a gas leak detecting means 120 arranged near the filling nozzle 104. Further, the gas filling device A includes a support frame 1 supported by the support shaft 13 so as to be swingable back and forth.
The filling nozzle 104 is installed at the lower end of 6 so as to face the reference core L direction. The support frame 16 rotatably connects the tip of the rod 17 of the advancing / retreating drive unit (driving cylinder in this example) g to the middle and high portion thereof, and swings backward by the extension of the advancing / retreating drive unit g so that the gas filler A is moved. There are a retracted position where the filling nozzle 104 is retracted from the filling port B4, and an advancing position where the gas filling device A is moved forward and the filling nozzle 104 is connected to the filling port B4 by rocking forward due to the contraction of the advancing / retreating drive part g. It is configured to move forward and backward (swing back and forth).

The gas filling device A includes the clamp 101,
101, and the filling port B4 has a taper surface B4-1 on the inner circumference of the rim, and the rotation driving means c further rotates the rotation shaft of the gas filling device A (support frame 16) to be in a neutral state when the driving is stopped. Allow 11 to rotate freely.
Thus, even if the alignment between the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4 is slightly deviated when the valve direction detecting means b detects the normal direction (see FIG. 10), the gas filling device With the advance of A, the clamp 104 is closed to embrace the rear part of the on-off valve B2, and the taper surface 122-1 is used as a guide so that the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4 substantially face each other. Is rotated so as to absorb the above-mentioned deviation, and the connection of the filling nozzle 104 to the filling port B4 is not hindered.

The filling nozzle 104 is substantially parallel to the optical axes of the first and second optical sensors 21 and 22 and is located between the optical axes of both the sensors 21 and 22. Arranged so as to be located on the side where the sensor 23 is provided,
It goes without saying that the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4 are aligned with each other when the valve direction detecting means b detects the normal direction.

The valve opening / closing means d is a cover-shaped valve opening / closing head 25 which is engageable with the opening / closing handle B6 from above.
And a head drive section h for vertically moving and rotating the opening / closing head 25 so that the axis of the head coincides with the reference axis L at a position directly above the opening / closing valve B2 of the gas container B held by the centering means a. Lifting / lowering drive mechanism 26 of drive unit h
The valve opening / closing head 25 is supported to be movable up and down, and the opening / closing head 25 is engaged with the opening / closing handle B6 in the lowered position. Further, the valve opening / closing head 25 is driven and rotated in the forward and reverse directions about the reference core L by the rotation drive mechanism 27 of the head drive section h, and the opening / closing handle B6 is rotated in the opening / closing direction.

The second gas leakage detecting means i is the inner peripheral surface portion of the cover body 20 facing the filling port B4 when the valve direction detecting means b detects the normal direction, in other words, the first and second optical sensors 21. , 22 and on the inner peripheral surface portion of the cover body 20 on the side where the third optical sensor 23 is provided, a gas leakage detector 30
When the valve direction detecting means b detects a normal direction, the gas leak detector 30 faces the filling port B4, and if a gas leak occurs from the filling port B4, it is detected, and The detection signal is sent to a control unit (not shown) so that an appropriate notification unit can notify the gas leak. Like the gas leak detector 121 described above, the gas leak detector 30 is composed of a well-known temperature sensor or a minute pressure sensor. When a temperature sensor is adopted, the temperature change around the filling port B4 due to the gas leak from the filling port B4 ( In the case of LP gas, a temperature decrease based on the outside air temperature is detected as a gas leak. When a pressure sensor is used, the pressure change around the filling port B4 due to the gas leak from the filling port B4 (based on the outside atmospheric pressure) The pressure change) is detected as a gas leak.

The control section includes the centering means a, the valve direction detecting means b, the rotation driving means c, the head driving section h of the valve opening / closing means d, the lifting driving means e, the lifting driving section f, the forward / backward driving section g, The second gas leak detection means i, the gas filling device A, the first gas leak detection means 120, etc. are electrically connected to automatically fill a predetermined amount of gas into the gas container B carried into the filling station D. At the same time, the drive is controlled in a timely manner so that the gas leakage inspection from the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4 during the gas filling is performed, and the gas leakage inspection from the filling port B4 is performed after the fixed amount filling. Hereinafter, the gas filling machine C of this example
The operation will be described in detail together with the control by the control unit. Gas container B
Is carried to the filling station D, the centering means a is operated to hold the gas container B in an upright state and to make the container axis B ′ coincide with the reference core L, after which the lifting drive part f is operated. The cover body 20 descends to open and close the valve B2.
(See FIG. 12A), the position of the filling port B4 is detected and the position of the filling nozzle 104 with respect to the filling port B4 is performed as follows.

That is, the cover body 20 is the opening / closing valve B2.
Even if the container axis B'is aligned with the reference axis L or the cover body 20 is displaced within the range in which the on-off valve B2 can be surrounded when the on-off valve B2 is surrounded, One of the optical sensors 21 and 22 and the third optical sensor 23 are present at a position where they are in a detection state. If the proper direction is detected when the cover body 20 surrounds the open / close valve B2, the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4 are detected at this point.
Are aligned with each other (see FIGS. 10 and 11), and the rotation driving means c is not driven. From this state, the cover body 20 is lifted by the operation of the elevating / lowering drive section f, and then the support frame 16 is swung forward by the operation of the advancing / retreating drive section g to advance the gas filler A, and the filling nozzle 104 is moved to the filling port B4. (See FIG. 12B). As shown in FIG. 10, when the container axis B ′ does not match the reference axis L and the deviation S thereof is relatively large, when the normal direction is detected,
Although there is a slight misalignment between the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4, this misalignment causes the opening / closing valve B2 to be held by the clamps 18 and 18 simultaneously with the advance of the filling nozzle 104, and the tapered surface of the filling port B4. The gas filling device A so that the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4 substantially face each other with B4-1 as a guide.
Can be absorbed by rotating.

On the other hand, when the cover body 20 surrounds the on-off valve B2, an incorrect direction is detected, that is,
If the opening / closing valve B2 exists at a position where neither the second optical sensor 21 or 22 nor the third optical sensor 23 is in the detection state, the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4 are not aligned, and at this time, The cover 20 and the gas filling device A are integrally rotated by the operation of the rotation driving means c, and stopped when the proper direction is detected, and the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4 are aligned. From this state, the cover body 20 rises, and then the gas filling device A is advanced to connect the filling nozzle 104 to the filling port B4. In addition, cover body 2
When 0 is rotated to detect the filling port position, both the first and second optical sensors 21 and 22 are in the detection state even if the container axis B ′ coincides with the reference axis L (the filling port Shaft core B
4'and the axis 104 'of the filling nozzle 104 coincide with each other) Since the normal direction is detected at the front position, a slight deviation occurs in the alignment between the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4. Similarly, the operation of the clamps 18 and 18, the tapered surface B
It can be absorbed by rotating the gas filler A with 4-1 as a guide.

When the filling nozzle 104 is connected to the filling port B4, the lifting / lowering drive mechanism 26 operates to open the valve opening / closing head 2.
5 moves down and engages with the open / close handle B6, and then the rotation drive mechanism 27 operates to rotate the valve open / close head 25 in a predetermined direction to open the filling port B4. The container B is filled with gas. Further, when the filling nozzle 104 is fitted (connected) to the filling port B4, the first gas leak detection means 120 causes the filling port B4 and the nozzle body 10 to be connected.
It is located immediately below the filling nozzle 104 between 5 and 5. Then, the packing 113 or 114 will be worn due to long-term use, and a gap will be created between the filling port B4 and the filling nozzle 104, or between the tip opening 105a of the nozzle body 105 and the filling nozzle 104, and a slight amount of gas leakage will occur. If the gas leak has occurred, the gas leak detector 121 detects these minute gas leaks and sends the detection signal to a control unit (not shown) to notify the gas leak by an appropriate notifying means. Therefore, the operator is
The wear of the packing 113 or 114 can be recognized, and the above-mentioned gas leakage can be prevented by replacing the worn packing 113 or 114, and the gas filling work can be performed safely, reliably and accurately.

When it is detected that a predetermined amount of gas has been filled, the gas filling is completed, the valve opening / closing head 25 is inverted by the operation of the rotary drive mechanism 27 and the filling port B4 is closed, and the same operation is performed by the operation of the elevating drive mechanism 26. After the head 25 moves up, the advancing / retreating drive part g operates to move the gas filler A backward to move the filling nozzle 10
4 comes off the filling port B4.

Next, the cover body 20 is lowered again by the operation of the elevating / lowering drive part f to surround the on-off valve B2, and the gas leak inspection by the second gas leak detection means i is performed (FIG. 12).
(C)). That is, at the time when the position of the filling port B4 is detected (when the valve direction detecting means b detects the normal direction), the gas leak detector 30 is at the position facing the filling port B4, and therefore the cover body 20 is re-installed. When the valve is lowered to surround the on-off valve B2, the gas leak detector 30 faces the filling port B4 again. At this time, if a slight amount of gas leaks from the filling port B4, the gas leak detector 30 detects a temperature decrease or pressure change around the filling port B4 due to this.
The detection signal is sent to the control unit to notify the gas leak from the filling port B4. After a predetermined time has elapsed since the cover body 20 was lowered again, the cover body 20 was raised again by the operation of the elevating / lowering drive section f, the gas leak inspection was completed, and the clamping by the centering means a was released.

The work from the loading of the gas container B to the filling station D to the end of the gas leak inspection is performed by rotating the turntable of the rotary gas filling device until the gas container B reaches the exit of the turntable. Between the
When the gas container B reaches the carry-out port, a carry-out device (not shown) is activated to push the gas container B into the carry-out path and carry it to the next step. Further, the gas container B in which the gas leak is detected by the second gas leak detection means i is sent to the reinspection step.

As described above, the gas filling machine C of this example
Is a centering means a for holding the gas container B installed in the filling station D in an upright state, and an opening / closing valve B2 of the gas container B held by the centering means a surrounded by a cover body 20 to position the filling port B4. Direction detecting means b for detecting the temperature, and an elevating / lowering drive part f for elevating / lowering the cover body 20.
When the valve direction detecting means b detects the position of the filling port B4, the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4 are aligned with each other, and the filling nozzle 104 is provided so as to move forward and backward so as to come into contact with and separate from the filling port B4. Device A, a first gas leak detection means 120 arranged near the filling nozzle 104, an advancing / retreating drive part g for advancing / retreating the gas filling device A, and a valve direction detecting means b.
Rotation drive means c for driving the cover body 20 and the gas filling device A relative to the opening / closing valve B2 to align the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4 by driving based on the detection signal of
A valve opening / closing means d for opening / closing the filling port B4; a second gas leak detecting means i provided in the cover body 20; and a control section for timely controlling the operation of each element. After the gas container B is held by the centering means a, the opening / closing valve B2 is surrounded by the cover body 20 to detect the position of the filling port B4 and the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4.
After that, the cover body 20 is lifted and the gas filler A is moved forward to move the filling nozzle 104 to the filling port B.
4 and then the valve opening / closing means d opens the filling port B4 to fill the gas with the filling nozzle 104 and
The gas leak detection means 120 inspects the gas leak from the filling nozzle 104 during the filling work, and after the fixed quantity filling, the valve opening / closing means d closes the filling port B4 and the gas filling device A retreats to cause the filling nozzle 104 to fill the filling port B4. The main feature is that the cover body 20 is lowered again to surround the on-off valve B2 and the second gas leak detection means i is used to inspect the gas leak from the filling port B4 after being separated from.

Therefore, the gas filling operation and the gas leakage inspection from the filling nozzle 104 during the gas filling are automatically performed, and the gas leakage inspection from the filling port B4 after the gas filling is automatically performed continuously to the gas filling operation. The gas leak inspection can be performed more reliably and efficiently than the conventional means in which a dedicated operator manually performs the gas leak inspection. Furthermore, we automate the gas filling work, gas leak inspection during filling, and gas leak inspection after filling,
It has the advantage of being extremely useful in facilitating the reduction of the number of workers and the unattended operation of gas filling.

Further, the gas filling machine C of this example adopts the above-mentioned valve direction detecting means b, so that the position of the filling port B4 can be adjusted even if some error occurs in the centering of the gas container B installed in the filling station D. Accurately, and the operator does not have to manually correct the position of the gas container B, and the filling nozzle 104 is automatically connected to the filling port B4 to quickly supply LP gas or the like to the gas container B. Can be filled.
Further, as described above, the valve direction detecting means b is connected to the filling port B.
4 When the position is detected, the second gas leakage detecting means i is arranged on the inner peripheral surface portion of the cover body 20 facing the filling port B4, so that when the valve direction detecting means b detects the position of the filling port B4. The gas leak detector 30 faces the filling port B4, and after the gas filling is completed, the cover body is lowered again to open / close the valve B2.
If the gas leak detector 30 is surrounded by the gas leak detector 30, the gas leak detector 30 is located at a position facing the filling port B4, and a minute amount of gas leak from the filling port B4 can be accurately detected. Therefore, it is possible to make more effective the promotion of unmanned and unmanned gas filling work.

As described above, in this example, the case where the gas filling device A according to the present invention is mounted on the gas filling device C installed in the container mounting portion arranged on the turntable of the rotary gas filling device has been described. For example, it can be installed on a side of a filling station D provided in the middle of the conveying path and mounted on a gas filling machine C of a type for filling a fixed amount of gas into a gas container B conveyed to the filling station D. In this case, the centering means a of the gas filling machine C is constructed so as not to support the transportation of the gas container B, and the gas container B is appropriately lifted by the elevating means to temporarily move the gas container B regardless of the movement of the transportation path. It goes without saying that the conveying path is stopped or the conveying path is stopped. Further, the gas filling machine C is not limited to the one for a gas container which is carried in a carry-in path, a carrying path, etc. formed by various conveyors, and for example, a filling station (filling station) can be set at any place on the work floor.
It is also possible to support a gas filling machine of the type installed adjacent to the filling station. In this case, it goes without saying that the operator manually transports the gas container and sets it up at the filling station.

The structure for filling the gas in the gas filling machine C is not limited to that described above, and the filling nozzle 104 is moved toward and away from the filling port B4 by moving the gas filling device A in the horizontal direction. Type, fixed cover body 20
And a gas container B for the gas filling device A (filling nozzle 104)
Of the type which is rotated on the filling station D, the gas filling device A is manually advanced and retracted to open the filling nozzle 104 and the filling port B4.
It is possible to support various configurations such as a semi-automatic type that connects and disconnects with. Further, the valve direction detecting means b is not limited to the one described above, and it goes without saying that a known means for detecting the position of the filling port B4 by providing an appropriate number of optical sensors in the cover body 20 can be adopted.

Further, the basic structure of the gas filling device according to the present invention is not limited to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6 to 7, and the clamp is closed when the filling nozzle is inserted into the filling port of the gas container. It is possible to correspond to a well-known or well-known gas filling device that holds the gas container at least and fills the gas container with a predetermined amount of gas in this state through the filling nozzle.

[0050]

As described above, in the gas filler according to the present invention, when the filling nozzle is fitted into the filling port of the gas container, the gas leak located near the filling port, the filling nozzle and the tip of the nozzle body. Since it has a new structure with a detection means, the packing of the filling nozzle is worn over a long period of use, and a gap is created between the filling port and the filling nozzle or between the filling nozzle and the tip of the nozzle body, causing a small amount of gas leakage. If the gas leak occurs, the gas leak detection unit can detect these minute gas leaks and can be notified by an appropriate notification unit. Therefore, as compared with the conventional method in which a dedicated operator manually inspects, the gas leak inspection can be performed more accurately and efficiently, and the work of filling the gas container with LP gas or the like can be reduced in number. We were able to provide a gas filler that is extremely useful for unmanned operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of a gas filling device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the plan view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a gas leak detector.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a corresponding example in which a gas leak detector including a pressure sensor is connected to the leak detector for use.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a usage state of the gas filler shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a gas filling device equipped with a gas filling device according to the present invention.

9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional plan view of FIG. 9, showing a state where the axis center of the gas container and the reference center are displaced.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional plan view of FIG. 9 showing a state where the axis center of the gas container and the reference core are aligned.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part for explaining the operations of the gas filling work and the gas leak detecting work, and (a) shows a state in which the filling port position is detected by the valve direction detecting means and the filling nozzle is aligned with the filling port. , (B) shows a state in which the filling nozzle is connected to the filling port to perform the gas filling and the gas leakage inspection after the alignment is completed, and (c) shows a state in which the gas leakage inspection is performed after the gas filling is completed.

[Explanation of symbols]

A: Gas filling device 101: Clamp 10
4: Filling nozzle 105: Nozzle body 113, 114: Packing 12
0: Gas leak detection means 121: Gas leak detector B: Gas container B
2: Open / close valve B4: Filling port C: Gas filling machine
a: centering means b: valve direction detecting means c: rotation driving means
d: valve opening / closing means e: lifting drive means f: lifting drive section
g: forward / backward drive unit h: head drive unit i: second gas leak detection means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A clamp having an openable and closable movement, and a nozzle main body having a tip end protruding from a filling nozzle so as to be elastically slidable, and when the filling nozzle is fitted into a filling port of a gas container, In a gas filling device that closes the clamp to hold the gas container and fills the gas container with a predetermined amount of gas in this state through the filling nozzle, a gas leakage detection means disposed near the filling nozzle. A gas filling device characterized by being provided.