DE-102025128391-A1 - GAS SUPPLY SYSTEM

Abstract

A gas supply system comprises a gas tank with a self-closing valve, a gas supply pipe connecting the gas tank to a gas-consuming device, a seal, and a check valve located in the gas supply pipe. A push rod is attached to the gas supply pipe and forces open the self-closing valve. The seal closes a connecting space enclosing the self-closing valve and the distal end of the gas supply pipe when the distance between the self-closing valve and the push rod is equal to or less than a threshold distance. A control device moves the gas tank forward until the self-closing valve opens and then backward to a position where the self-closing valve closes while the connecting space remains sealed. The control device determines that a gas leak is present when the pressure upstream of the check valve is lower than downstream.

Inventors

• Yoshikatsu FUJIMURA
• Naoki Tomi
• Tetsuya TONOSAKO

Assignees

• TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20250718

Priority Date

20241112

Claims (2)

1. Gas supply system comprising: a gas tank having a self-closing valve that opens when a pushrod is pushed in and closes when the pushrod is withdrawn; a gas supply pipe to which the gas tank is connected, with the pushrod located at its distal end, and which carries gas from the gas tank to a gas-consuming device; an actuator that moves the gas tank forward and backward relative to the gas supply pipe; a seal that seals a connecting space comprising an opening of the self-closing valve and the distal end of the gas supply pipe when the distance between the self-closing valve and the pushrod is less than a predetermined threshold distance; a check valve provided in the gas supply pipe that prevents backflow of gas; a first pressure sensor that measures pressure in the gas supply pipe upstream of the check valve; a second pressure sensor that measures pressure in the gas supply pipe downstream of the check valve; and a control device, wherein the control device controls the actuator to move the gas tank forward until the self-closing valve is forced open, and subsequently to move the gas tank backward to a position where the self-closing valve is closed while the connection chamber is held in a sealed state, and if a reading from the first pressure sensor is equal to or greater than a reading from the second pressure sensor after a predetermined time has elapsed, causes the gas tank to move forward such that the self-closing valve reopens, and if the reading from the first pressure sensor is less than the reading from the second pressure sensor, outputs a signal indicating that a gas leak is occurring.
2. Gas supply system according to Claim 1 , wherein: the gas supply pipe is divided into a plurality of branch paths; each of the branch paths is equipped with the first pressure sensor, the check valve and the push rod; and the gas tank is connected to each of the branch paths.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention The technology disclosed in this description relates to a gas supply system that delivers gas from a gas tank to a gas consuming device. 2. Description of the related prior art The unexamined Japanese patent application disclosure no. 2024-89965 ( JP 2024-89965 A ) discloses a gas supply system comprising a plurality of gas tanks and supplying gas from the gas tanks to a gas-consuming device. The gas supply system according to JP 2024-89965 A The system performs a gas leak check before replacing the gas tanks if the residual gas level in all tanks becomes low. When the residual gas level in all tanks becomes low, a control unit closes the open/close valves of all tanks and shuts off the gas-consuming device after the gas in a gas supply pipe has been consumed. The control unit then disconnects the tanks from the system after determining that the gas pressure in the gas supply pipe has not increased. If the gas pressure in the gas supply pipe increases, this indicates a gas leak at the open/close valves. In this case, disconnecting the tanks from the system will cause the gas in the tanks to escape into the environment. If the gas pressure in the gas supply pipe increases, the control unit stops shutting off the tanks. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the gas supply system according to JP 2024-89965 A The presence of a gas leak is detected by whether the gas pressure in the gas supply pipe is increased. Accordingly, it is necessary to temporarily interrupt the gas supply to the gas-consuming appliance to perform a gas leak test. This specification provides a technology that makes it possible to perform a gas leak test without interrupting the gas supply to a gas-consuming appliance. A gas supply system disclosed in this specification comprises a gas tank, a gas supply pipe, an actuator, a seal, a check valve, a first and a second pressure sensor, and a control device. The gas tank contains a self-closing valve that opens when a push rod is pushed in and closes when the push rod is withdrawn. The gas supply pipe is connected to the gas tank. The push rod is located at a distal end of the gas supply pipe, and the gas supply pipe carries gas from the gas tank to a gas-consuming device. The actuator moves the gas tank forward and backward relative to the gas supply pipe. The seal closes a connecting space comprising an opening of the self-closing valve and the distal end of the gas supply pipe when the distance between the self-closing valve and the push rod is less than a predetermined threshold distance. The check valve is located in the gas supply pipe and prevents backflow of gas. The first pressure sensor measures a pressure in the gas supply pipe upstream of the check valve. The second pressure sensor measures pressure in the gas supply pipe downstream of the check valve. The control device directs the actuator to move the gas tank forward until the self-closing valve is forced open, and then to move the gas tank backward to a position where the self-closing valve is closed, while the connection chamber is held in a sealed state. Furthermore, if, after a predetermined time, a reading from the first pressure sensor is equal to or greater than a reading from the second pressure sensor, the control device causes the gas tank to move forward so that the self-closing valve reopens. If the reading from the first pressure sensor is lower than the reading from the second pressure sensor, the control device outputs a signal indicating that a gas leak is occurring. When the self-closing valve of the gas tank is opened, the gas supply to the gas-consuming appliance is initiated. In the gas supply system described here, a gas leak test is performed on the upstream side of the check valve when the gas supply pipe downstream of the check valve is filled with gas. While the gas tank is moved backward, the self-closing valve is closed, and a gas leak test is being performed, high-pressure gas that has accumulated in the gas supply pipe downstream of the check valve continues to be supplied to the gas-consuming appliance. The gas supply system described here can perform a gas leak test without interrupting the gas supply to the gas-consuming appliance. In the gas supply system disclosed in the present specification, the gas supply pipe can be divided into a plurality of branch paths. Each branch path can be equipped with the first pressure sensor, the check valve, and the pushrod. A gas tank is connected to each branch path. The actuator is preferably capable of moving the gas tanks relative to the pushrod on the respective branch paths. One gas tank can be replaced while the gas-consuming device is supplied with gas from the other gas tank. Details of the technology disclosed in this specification and further improvements are described in the “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS” below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Features, advantages and technical and industria