Connector connection structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12385587-B2
Application number	US-202318329580-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2023
Priority date	Jun 28, 2022
Publication date	Aug 12, 2025
Grant date	Aug 12, 2025

Abstract

The first connector includes a main body, a first connecting surface, a rotating ring, and a restricting pin for prohibiting the rotation of the rotating ring relative to the first connecting surface, the rotating ring, when taking a predetermined rotational phase with respect to the second connector, the second connector to the abutting position, can be drawn in the axial direction, further, the second connector is engaged with a portion of the second connector by rotating relative to the first connecting surface in a state of being retracted to the abutting position to maintain a connection state, the restricting pin, when the second connector is retracted to the abutting position, the rotation of the rotating ring from the restricting position to allow the rotation of the allowable position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector connection structure comprising:
a first connector for connection to one of a supply source and a reservoir of liquid hydrogen; and
a second connector for connection to the other of the supply source and the reservoir, wherein:
the first connector includes comprises:
a main body,
a first connecting surface that is fixed to the main body and abuts a second connecting surface of the second connector,
a rotating ring that surrounds the first connecting surface and is rotatable with respect to the first connecting surface, and
a restricting pin that prohibits a rotation of the rotating ring with respect to the first connecting surface;

when the rotating ring takes a predetermined rotational phase with respect to the second connector, the rotating ring is able to pull in the second connector in an axial direction to an abutting position at which the second connecting surface abuts the first connecting surface, and further, rotates with respect to the first connecting surface in a state where the second connector is pulled in to the abutting position and partially engages with the second connector so as to maintain a connection state; and
when the second connector is pulled in to the abutting position, the restricting pin moves from a restricting position at which the rotation of the rotating ring is prohibited to an allowable position at which the rotation of the rotating ring is allowed, wherein:
when the first connector and the second connector are connected to each other, the rotating ring takes a predetermined connection rotational phase with respect to the first connecting surface; and
the first connector further includes
a first valve that opens and closes a flow path of the liquid hydrogen, and
an interlocking member that prohibits opening of the first valve when the rotating ring does not take the connection rotational phase, and prohibits a rotation of the rotating ring from the connection rotational phase when the first valve is opened, wherein the interlocking member is non-circular and physically connected to the first valve.

2. The connector connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein:
the interlocking member is positioned at a closed position at which the interlocking member does not interfere with the rotating ring when the first valve is closed, and moves with the first valve so as to be positioned at an open position when the first valve is opened;
the rotating ring is provided with a receiving recess in a portion in a circumferential direction;
when the rotating ring does not take the connection rotational phase, the rotating ring interferes with the interlocking member in a process of moving from the closed position to the open position;
when the rotating ring takes the connection rotational phase, the rotating ring receives at least part of the interlocking member positioned at the open position in the receiving recess; and
when the interlocking member is partially received in the receiving recess, the rotation of the rotating ring with respect to the first connecting surface is restricted.

3. The connector connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first connector further includes
an opening-closing lever that is mechanically connected to the first valve and opens and closes the first valve by being operated, and
a first gear that rotates with the opening-closing lever;

the second connector further includes:
a second valve that opens and closes the flow path of the liquid hydrogen, and
a second gear that rotates with the second valve and meshes with the first gear when the first connector is connected to the second connector; and

when the first gear and the second gear mesh with each other, the first valve and the second valve are opened and closed in synchronization with each other.

4. A connector connection structure comprising:
a first connector for connection to one of a supply source and a reservoir of liquid hydrogen; and
a second connector for connection to the other of the supply source and the reservoir, wherein:
the first connector comprises:
a main body,
a first connecting surface that is fixed to the main body and abuts a second connecting surface of the second connector,
a rotating ring that surrounds the first connecting surface and is rotatable with respect to the first connecting surface, and
a restricting pin that prohibits a rotation of the rotating ring with respect to the first connecting surface;

when the rotating ring takes a predetermined rotational phase with respect to the second connector, the rotating ring is able to pull in the second connector in an axial direction to an abutting position at which the second connecting surface abuts the first connecting surface, and further, rotates with respect to the first connecting surface in a state where the second connector is pulled in to the abutting position and partially engages with the second connector so as to maintain a connection state; and
when the second connector is pulled in to the abutting position, the restricting pin moves from a restricting position at which the rotation of the rotating ring is prohibited to an allowable position at which the rotation of the rotating ring is allowed, wherein:
the main body is provided with a flange portion that protrudes in a radial direction;
the first connector further includes
a rotating body that surrounds the main body and is rotatable together with the rotating ring with respect to the main body,
a pin hole that extends in the axial direction so as to extend across the rotating body and the flange portion and into which the restricting pin is inserted, and
a pressing pin of which a first part protrudes from the first connecting surface and a second part is inserted into the pin hole;

the restricting position is a position at which the restricting pin extends in both of the flange portion and the rotating body, and the allowable position is a position at which the restricting pin is completely separated from the flange portion; and
when the pressing pin is pressed in the axial direction by the second connecting surface, the pressing pin and the restricting pin are moved back in the axial direction in a chain manner, and the restricting pin moves from the restricting position to the allowable position.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ohara Yukihiro

Classifications

• Y02E60/32

  Hydrogen storage · CPC title

• F16L37/113

  the male part having lugs on its periphery penetrating into the corresponding slots provided in the female part · CPC title

• F16L37/47

  with a tap or cock · CPC title

• F16L37/373 Primary

  with two taps or cocks · CPC title

• F16L37/44 Primary

  with one lift valve being actuated to initiate the flow through the coupling after the two coupling parts are locked against withdrawal · CPC title