Valve structure for hydrogen tank
The valve structure of the hydrogen tank includes a valve body mounted on a base of the hydrogen tank and having a first communication passage communicating with the inside of the hydrogen tank, and a fusible plug valve mounted on the valve body via a spacer. The spacer has a second communication passage communicating with the first communication passage and a discharge port provided on an outer wall of the spacer. The second communication passage and the discharge port are shut off by the valve body when the fusible plug valve is closed, and communicate with each other when the fusible plug valve is opened. The discharge port is provided on an outer wall of the spacer other than an outer wall that contacts the valve body and an outer wall that contacts the fusible plug valve.
1 . A valve structure for a hydrogen tank, comprising:
a valve body mounted to a metal fitting of the hydrogen tank and having a first communication passage communicating with an interior of the hydrogen tank; and
a fusible plug valve attached to the valve body via a spacer having a block shape, wherein:
the spacer has a second communication passage communicating with the first communication passage, and a discharge port provided in a first outer wall of the spacer;
the first outer wall is different from (i) a second outer wall of the spacer that is in contact with the valve body and (ii) a third outer wall of the spacer that is in contact with the fusible plug valve;
the fusible plug valve includes
a valve element,
a pressing member configured to press the valve element in a valve closing direction, the pressing member having an axial direction that is transverse to a movement direction of the valve element between a blocking position and a communicating position of the valve element,
a valve housing accommodating the pressing member and having an open end, and
a fusible member disposed at the open end to close the open end;
in a state where the fusible plug valve is closed, the pressing member presses the valve element to hold the valve element at the blocking position such that the valve element blocks communication between the second communication passage and the discharge port; and
in a case where the fusible plug valve is opened in response to melting the fusible member and moving the pressing member toward the open end in the axial direction, the valve element is moved to the communicating position such that the second communication passage communicates with the discharge port.
2 . The valve structure according to claim 1 , wherein:
the discharge port is disposed on a side opposite to the fusible member when viewed in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the pressing member and the fusible member are juxtaposed.
3 . The valve structure according to claim 1 , wherein the second communication passage includes:
a first portion extending in a radial direction of the hydrogen tank to communicate with the first communication passage; and
a second portion extending in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the first portion extends, to communicate the first portion with the discharge port.
4 . The valve structure according to claim 3 , wherein the second portion has a diameter that increases toward the discharge port.
5 . The valve structure according to claim 1 , wherein the valve body includes:
an insertion portion inserted into the metal fitting of the hydrogen tank; and
a protruding portion integrally formed with the insertion portion and protruding in a radial direction of the hydrogen tank.