U.S. patent application number 12/809973 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-13 for coupling, particularly for lng.
Invention is credited to Erwin Weh, Wolfgang Weh.
Application Number | 20110005639 12/809973 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40418492 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110005639 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weh; Erwin ; et al. |
January 13, 2011 |
COUPLING, PARTICULARLY FOR LNG
Abstract
In order to provide an operationally secure coupling for
connecting a coupling housing (11) to a nipple, which are provided
for feeding a cryogenic medium, particularly LNG, to a vehicle
tank, a hand lever (15) is arranged in a pivotable way on the
coupling housing (11) for the connection thereof. According to the
invention, on the coupling housing (11) adjacent to the hand lever
(15) a control block (20) having at least one locking element (21)
is provided, which locks the hand lever (15) in the connecting
position.
Inventors: |
Weh; Erwin; (Illertissen,
DE) ; Weh; Wolfgang; (Illertissen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET, FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
40418492 |
Appl. No.: |
12/809973 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
December 17, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2008/010734 |
371 Date: |
September 24, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/311R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F17C 2205/037 20130101;
F16L 37/121 20130101; F16L 37/44 20130101; F16L 37/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/311.R |
International
Class: |
B65B 1/04 20060101
B65B001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 22, 2007 |
DE |
20 2007 018 142.6 |
Claims
1. A coupling for connecting a coupling housing to a nipple, which
are provided for feeding a cryogenic medium, in particular LNG to a
vehicle tank, wherein a hand lever is pivotably arranged at the
coupling housing for connecting, wherein a control block is
arranged at the coupling housing adjacent to the hand lever and
includes at least one locking element, which locks the hand lever
in connecting position.
2. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein the locking element
is formed as a check piston being extensible in transverse
direction to the pivoting plane of the hand lever.
3. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein the control block
includes two locking elements aligned in opposite directions.
4. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein the control block is
fitted onto the coupling housing.
5. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein a control bar having
a front seal is arranged in the coupling housing in a slidable
manner and directed to the nipple.
6. The coupling according to claim 5, wherein the control bar is
surrounded by a compression spring.
7. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein the coupling housing
includes several, in particular six collets.
8. The coupling according to claim 7, wherein the collets are
surrounded by a lock sleeve, which supports one end of the hand
lever.
9. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein a spreading lever is
hinged at the hand lever close to its pivot axis and connected to
the coupling housing with the other end.
10. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein the control block
includes an operation knob, which is forced by the hand lever in
connecting position.
11. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein the control bar is
forced by a bellow, preferably metal bellow, which is connected to
a control line.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a coupling for connecting a
coupling housing to a nipple, which are provided for feeding a
cryogenic medium, in particular LNG to a vehicle tank, wherein a
hand lever is pivotably arranged at the coupling housing for
connecting.
[0002] There are known couplings for cryogenic mediums, which show
several disadvantages concerning their connecting mechanics. DE 195
16 029 C1 or DE 4041337 A1 disclose couplings for cryogenic
mediums, wherein the coupling plug is inserted into the quick
coupling socket, such that the outside coupling housings overlap
and a connecting element at the quick coupling socket engages with
a counterpart arranged at the coupling plug, The connection is
usually completed by time-consuming screwing of the coupling plug
and the quick coupling socket. During this insertion of the
coupling plug into the quick coupling socket, the coupling is first
sealed against the environment and then the line end locks are
opened.
[0003] Beyond that DE 41 04 711 A1 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,747 A1
show sealing against the environment by separate opening/closing of
two ball valves. The connection of the coupling plug to the quick
coupling socket is made by mechanical elements in the separating
plane. The two ball valves must be separately opened or closed.
[0004] Further, the known couplings require high assembly
expenditures. The plugging/pushing connection of the coupling
housings needs high surface finish and form accuracy as well as
high purity of the connecting surfaces, in order to connect with
small forces. Likewise the plugging/pushing connection is not
satisfactory as to safety, if the quick coupling socket (nipple) is
a refuelling mechanism (tank lid) at the vehicle and the coupling
plug is arranged at a fuel station, since the plugging connection
can lead to heavy damages at the gas station and/or the vehicle
when driving away in connected state. In addition, if refuelling of
cryo-fuel containers of vehicles is made by laymen, operation of
the coupling requires a simple and safe formation of the coupling,
so that the operator does not come into contact with the deep-cold
cryo-fuel. Thus, couplings for cryogenic mediums would be
desirable, which avoid the disadvantages known from prior art.
[0005] The invention has the object to create a coupling for
cryogenic mediums, in particular LNG, in order to improve operating
safety over known couplings.
[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention with a
coupling having the features of the claim 1. Favourable embodiments
of the invention are stated in the sub-claims.
[0007] The handling and safety of the suggested coupling is
substantially improved, since a locking element is actuated by the
pivotal movement of the hand lever on connection to the nipple,
preferably via collets, thus locking the hand lever in the
connecting position. Any unintentional loosening of the coupling
can thus be excluded in a safe manner.
[0008] By the operation of the coupling according to the invention
also the control of the flow path of the cryogenic medium to the
nipple is achieved in type of a safe sequencing. The latch of the
coupling takes place in a separate step before. The same applies to
uncoupling, so that it is ensured that the operator of the coupling
does not come into contact with the cryogenic medium, which is
reliably shut-off before unlocking of the hand lever by the control
block and the control bar coupled thereto.
[0009] The simple structured control bar includes in particular a
metal bellow, whose interior is connected to a control line. The
control line can be opened or closed via a control signal, as
described in EP 0 889 273 A1.
[0010] An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing shown
and described in the following in detail. Here show:
[0011] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a coupling;
[0012] FIG. 2 a side view on the coupling housing;
[0013] FIG. 3 a longitudinal section of coupling shown in FIG. 2 in
horizontal plane; and
[0014] FIG. 4 a longitudinal section of a control block in
horizontal plane.
[0015] The coupling 1 shown in perspective view in FIG. 1 includes
a coupling housing 11 for connecting two line ends. The connection
of the coupling housing 11 to a coupling nipple (here not
represented) is made by several locking elements in the form of
collets 30. For this purpose a hand lever 15 is provided at the
coupling housing 11, which is pivotally mounted at an axis 16 and a
relatively short spreading lever 17 is pivotally mounted adjacent
to the axis 21. On moving the hand lever 15 the required mechanical
force is provided, which pulls the coupling housing 11 against the
coupling-flat of the nipple provided with seals, wherein the
spreading lever 17 achieves a power amplification in type of a
toggle joint. Thus, a relative small hand strength is sufficient in
order to establish the coupling connection.
[0016] When swivelling the hand lever 15 (cf. arrow in FIG. 2),
first, a lock sleeve 31 is shifted over the collets 30, here to the
left, to lock these in a positive manner, as described in several
patents of the Applicants (e. g. EP 1 483 524 B1; internal Ref.: S
0041-P-EP). On the other hand, when swivelling the hand lever 15 to
a control block 20, which is fitted onto the coupling housing 11 or
integrally formed with this, a laterally projecting operation knob
22 is actuated. This operates a valve in the control block 20 (cf.
FIG. 4), so that an input pressure at a pressure line P, e. g.
compressed air at 5 bar, pushes at least a locking element 21 in
the control block 20 outwards, thus preventing movement of the hand
lever 15 in this connection position. The locking element 21 is
preferably arranged at both sides of the control block 20 in the
form of symmetrically extensible check pistons 21a (cf. FIG. 4).
FIG. 1 further shows a main line 47 for feeding of the medium,
likewise in FIG. 2 in side view, also indicating the section planes
for. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 with A and B.
[0017] As apparent from the longitudinal section in FIG. 3 (in
horizontal central plane) a generally tubular coupling housing 11
forms an insulation chamber to prevent evaporation of deep-cold
mediums, like LNG in the line ends. The line ends lead to the
parting plane of the coupling nipple (that is preferably connected
to a fuel tank) and of the coupling housing 11, which surrounds the
main line 47 at least partially. At each line end opposite valves
are arranged to open or close the line ends adjacent to the
respective front surfaces thereof, e.g. in the coupling housing 11
at least one seal 38 is formed of PTFE.
[0018] In order to open or close the supply at the coupling housing
11 a control bar 36 is provided, which preferably also carries a
seal from PTFE. The control bar 36 is urged to a sealing surface
via a compression spring 41 and also by a metal bellow 44 connected
thereto. The metal bellow 44 includes an interior chamber 45, which
is connected to a pressure generator (not represented) via a
control line 46. Pressurized control fluid (e. g. compressed air at
10 bar) is supplied to the interior 45 via the control line 46, so
that the metal bellow 44 is extended in axial direction to open the
medium or fluid inlet by the control bar 36.
[0019] On swivelling the hand lever 15 to the control block 20 and
the force amplification mechanism of the spreading lever 17 the
coupling nipple and the coupling housing 11 are pressed to each
other and solidly locked in a positive manner by the collets 30. In
this tight position flow of the cryogenic medium is not possible,
yet. Only by switching the actuating pressure via the control line
46 the interior 45 of the bellow 44 is supplied with pressure.
Then, the bellow moves the control bar 36 holding the seal 38
towards the nipple side. Thus, the coupling housing 11 and the
coupling nipple are in open positions. The two line ends are now
connected with each other and the cryogenic medium can flow.
[0020] Releasing of the actuating pressure at the control line 46
(and thus the subsequent release of the fluid flow in the main line
47) is preferably made by a return line R at the control block 20,
as shown in FIG. 4, i. e. only after the locking element 21 or the
check pistons 21a have "blocked" the hand lever 15 in the
connecting position. Thus, a particularly high connection security
is achieved.
[0021] After completion of the medium flow (f. i. a certain filling
amount of the fuel tank is achieved via the nipple) the interior 45
is balanced by means of the control line 46. Thus, the compression
spring 41 pushes the control bar 36 and the metal bellow 44 into
the closed position of the coupling. This is supported by the
pressure in both line ends, since effective bellow and sealing
surfaces cause additional closing forces. At the same time or with
a small time delay the pressure at the pressure line P is also
switched off, so that the check pistons 21 a retract towards the
interior of the control block 20 and thus the hand lever 15 can be
tilted up into its home position. Then, the lock sleeve 31 is
simultaneously withdrawn and the coupling is separated, again.
[0022] For confirming or acknowledgement of the flow disconnection
a signal can be transmitted via the return line R on switching-off
the pressure P at the control block 20, whereby the safety standard
is further increased. This can be in form of a visual indication
for the operator (e.g. "You can pay now/start") or a release
("green light") for the gas station personnel or an acoustic signal
or an electronic unblocking (e.g. open a gate at the gas
station).
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