Coupler

Abstract

A coupler 10 comprises a socket S 10 comprising a valve 16 and a metal helical spring 17 for energizing the valve in a closing direction and a plug comprising a valve 24 and a metal helical spring 25 for energizing the valve in a closing direction and being capable of being detachably fitted and coupled to the socket and being capable of opening the two valves to communicate the socket and the plug to each other in a fitted and coupled state. Elastic member holders 18 and 26 are mounted at an base end portion of the valves 16 and 25 in a sealable manner and in such a manner that the valves can reciprocate in closing and opening directions, said elastic member holders housing the energizing means for energizing the valves and flow paths being formed outside of the elastic member holders. By this arrangement, by housing the metal helical springs in the elastic member holders, contact between the metal helical springs and liquid can be prevented.

1 . A coupler comprising a socket comprising a valve and energizing means for energizing the valve in a closing direction and a plug comprising a valve and energizing means for energizing the valve in a closing direction and being capable of being detachably fitted and coupled to the socket and being capable of opening the two valves to communicate the socket and the plug to each other in a fitted and coupled state,  
     CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said coupler comprises an elastic member holder mounted at an base end portion of the valve of at least either one of the socket and the plug in a sealable manner and in such a manner that the valve can reciprocate in closing and opening directions, said elastic member holder housing an elastic member constituting the energizing means for energizing the valve and a flow path being formed outside of the elastic member holder.  
   
   
       2 . A coupler comprising a socket comprising a valve and energizing means for energizing the valve in a closing direction and a plug comprising a valve and energizing means for energizing the valve in a closing direction and being capable of being detachably fitted and coupled to the socket and being capable of opening the two valves to communicate the socket and the plug to each other in a fitted and coupled state,  
     CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said energizing means for energizing the valve of at least either one of the socket and the plug in a closing and opening directions is made of a non-metallic material.  
   
   
       3 . A coupler comprising a socket comprising a valve and energizing means for energizing the valve in a closing direction and a plug comprising a valve and energizing means for energizing the valve in a closing direction and being capable of being detachably fitted and coupled to the socket and being capable of opening the two valves to communicate the socket and the plug to each other in a fitted and coupled state,  
     CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said coupler comprises an elastic member holder mounted at an base end portion of the valve of at least either one of the socket and the plug in a sealable manner and in such a manner that the valve can reciprocate in closing and opening directions, said elastic member holder housing an elastic member constituting the energizing means for energizing the valve and a flow path being formed outside of the elastic member holder, and said energizing means for energizing the valve of at least the other of the socket and the plug in closing and opening directions is made of a non-metallic material.  
   
   
       4 . A coupler as defined in  claim 1  wherein said elastic member constituting the energizing means is made of either a metal helical spring, a non-metallic helical spring or a non-metallic elastic material.  
   
   
       5 . A coupler as defined in  claim 1  wherein a valve seat member to and from which the valve reciprocates is provided in a main body of the socket or in a main body of the plug, and a seal portion for sealing with an outer peripheral surface of a foremost end portion of the valve and a slit portion adjacent to the seal portion and constituting a flow path are provided on the valve seat member.  
   
   
       6 . A coupler as defined in  claim 1  wherein an operating section for opening the two valves to a communicating state is provided in at least either the socket or the plug.  
   
   
       7 . A coupler as defined in  claim 1  wherein the valve provided in the plug is made of synthetic resin and is formed in a substantially hollow inverted conical shape and an inner peripheral surface of the central opening of a foremost end portion of the valve is made a seal portion and the plug is provided with a valve seat member comprising a valve seat which contacts the seal portion and is made in a columnar shape.  
   
   
       8 . A coupler as defined in  claim 1  wherein the base end portion of the valve provided in the plug which valve is made of synthetic resin is formed in a manner to project from a foremost end surface of the plug in such a manner that the base end portion of the plug can be pushed against a ceiling portion of a cap fitted on the plug to form a seal.  
   
   
       9 . A coupler as defined in  claim 1  wherein coupling holding means for maintaining the fitted and coupled state between the socket and the plug is provided between the socket and the plug.  
   
   
       10 . A coupler as defined in  claim 1  wherein after a communication path between the socket and the plug is sealed from the outside, the valve of the socket and the valve of the plug can communicate with each other.  
   
   
       11 . A coupler comprising a socket comprising a valve and energizing means for energizing the valve in a closing direction and a plug comprising a valve and energizing means for energizing the valve in a closing direction and being capable of being detachably fitted and coupled to the socket and being capable of opening the two valves to communicate the socket and the plug to each other in a coupled state,  
     CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said coupler comprises a housing provided on the outside of a base end portion of the valve of at least either one of the socket and the plug and housing the valve in such a manner that the valve can reciprocate in closing and opening directions and sealing can be made by end portions of the valve, an elastic member for energizing the valve provided on the outside of the valve in the housing, and a flow path formed inside of the valve.  
   
   
       12 . A coupler as defined in  claim 11  wherein change in pressure can be prevented in space outside of the valve in the housing wherein the elastic member is provided.  
   
   
       13 . A coupler as defined in  claim 11  wherein a seal member for sealing the fitted and coupled state between the socket and the plug is mounted on the plug.  
   
   
       14 . A coupler as defined in  claim 11  wherein coupling holding means for maintaining the fitted and coupled state between the socket and the plug is provided between the socket and the plug.  
   
   
       15 . A coupler as defined in  claim 11  wherein after a communication path between the socket and the plug is sealed from the outside, the valve of the socket and the valve of the plug can communicate with each other.  
   
   
       16 . A coupler as defined in  claim 1  wherein said coupler is provided between a main body of a methanol fuel cell and a container containing methanol used as a fuel.