A filling apparatus capable of suppressing radial movement of a connecting pin of a nozzle, and preventing damages and deformations (recesses and so on) from generating on an outer peripheral surface of the connecting pin, and making the filling nozzle compact. The filling apparatus (100) according to the present invention includes: a storage tank for storing hydrogen fuel; a filling nozzle (10) for filling hydrogen from the storage tank through a fuel filling system to an in-vehicle hydrogen filling tank mounted on a vehicle; a rod-shaped member (2: connecting pin) and a main body portion (1) mounted on the filling nozzle (10); a sealing member (3: laminated sealing member) arranged on (a radially outer peripheral portion of the rod-shaped member of) the main body portion (1); a sealing member holding member (4: pressing member) mounted on an end side (on a receptacle 20 side) of the rod-shaped member (2); and a mechanism for protecting an outer peripheral surface of the rod-shaped member (2) from slide on the sealing member holding member (4).

A nozzle device includes: a charging nozzle configured to supply a charging fluid and provided to be connected to a receptacle provided in a subject; a cover member to surround the charging nozzle and the receptacle; and a fluid supply unit to supply an interior of the cover member with an anti-freezing fluid for inhibiting freezing between the charging nozzle and the receptacle, thereby obtaining an advantageous effect of preventing freezing of the receptacle and improving safety and reliability. In addition, the nozzle device may include a hydrophobic coating layer for inhibiting freezing.

A fluid charging system includes: a charging nozzle to supply a charging fluid; a receptacle provided in a subject and connected to the charging nozzle; a cover member to surround the charging nozzle and the receptacle; and a fluid supply unit to supply an interior of the cover member with an anti-freezing fluid for inhibiting freezing between the charging nozzle and the receptacle, thereby obtaining an advantageous effect of preventing freezing of the receptacle and improving safety and reliability.

A method for calculating the remaining usage time of a gas cylinder equipped with a pressure reducer, the method comprising the following steps: (a) measuring the pressure of the gas in the cylin-der; (b) calculating the variation of pressure of the gas in the cylinder over time while gas is out-putted; (c) calculating a remaining usage time Tr based on the measured pressure in the cylinder and the calculated variation of pressure. Step (c) takes into account characteristics of the pressure reducer relative to variations of its nominal flow rate along the decrease of its inlet pressure while emptying the cylinder.

To provide a safety joint housing device for preventing a plug or a filling hose from being locked in a lower opening of a casing when the safety joint is separated, thereby preventing a filling device from falling over and being damaged.

A system and a method for sensing hydrogen charge state of a fuel cell electric vehicle are provided. The system includes an infrared transmission unit that transmits a fuel door sensing infrared signal for sensing a fuel door opened while charging hydrogen and a nozzle sensing infrared signal for sensing a charging station-side hydrogen charging nozzle connected to a hydrogen charging inlet of a vehicle. An infrared reception unit receives the fuel door sensing infrared signal and thereafter, reflected on a fuel door and the nozzle sensing infrared signal transmitted from the infrared transmission unit and thereafter, reflected on the hydrogen charging nozzle. A controller determines that the vehicle is being charged with hydrogen when sensing an open state of the fuel door and a hydrogen charging inlet connection state of the hydrogen charging nozzle.

A filling apparatus capable of suppressing radial movement of a connecting pin of a nozzle, and preventing damages and deformations (recesses and so on) from generating on an outer peripheral surface of the connecting pin, and making the filling nozzle compact. The filling apparatus (100) according to the present invention includes: a storage tank for storing hydrogen fuel; a filling nozzle (10) for filling hydrogen from the storage tank through a fuel filling system to an in-vehicle hydrogen filling tank mounted on a vehicle; a rod-shaped member (2: connecting pin) and a main body portion (1) mounted on the filling nozzle (10); a sealing member (3: laminated sealing member) arranged on (a radially outer peripheral portion of the rod-shaped member of) the main body portion (1); a sealing member holding member (4: pressing member) mounted on an end side (on a receptacle 20 side) of the rod-shaped member (2); and a mechanism for protecting an outer peripheral surface of the rod-shaped member (2) from slide on the sealing member holding member (4).

A vehicle including: a tank configured to be filled with fuel gas; a receptacle configured to be connected to a nozzle included in a fuel gas filling apparatus; a filling passage configured to provide communication between the receptacle and the tank; a heating unit configured to heat the receptacle; a determination unit configured to determine whether or not a parameter value, correlated with a filling speed of the fuel gas filled into the tank from the fuel gas filling apparatus, indicates decrease in the filling speed during filling of the fuel gas into the tank; and a control unit configured to, when the determination unit determines that the parameter value indicates decrease in the filling speed during filling of the fuel gas into the tank, to cause the heating unit to start heating of the receptacle during filling of the fuel gas into the tank.

A coupling device for a cryogenic refueling arrangement, having a main valve; a venting valve which is connected parallel to the main valve and which serves for venting a volume, which is provided downstream of the main valve and the venting valve, in order to prepare the coupling device for a refueling operation; a housing which encloses a further volume in which the main valve and the venting valve are arranged; and a shut-off valve which is provided on the housing and by means of which the volume enclosed by the housing is accessible.

A method for operating a cryogenic refueling arrangement comprising a coupling device and a receiver socket, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) coupling the coupling device to the receiver socket such that the coupling device and the receiver socket are locked to one another in a first position, b) applying a negative pressure to the coupling device and/or the receiver socket, c) unlocking the coupling device and the receiver socket so that the negative pressure causes the coupling device to move, in a direction toward the receiver socket, from the first position into a second position, which is different from the first position, d) locking the coupling device and the receiver socket in the second position, and e) starting a refueling process.