# US 12,181,102 B2 · Tank device with a valve device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,102 B2 - Document ID: US12181102B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/245,318 - Filed: 2021-08-16 - Published: 2024-01-18 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-09-23 - Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH - Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH - Inventors: Udo Schaich - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181102B2 ## CPC - F17C 13/04: Arrangement or mounting of valves (valves per se F16K {; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00}) - F16K 1/306: {with a valve member, e.g. stem or shaft, passing through the seat} - F16K 31/363: the fluid acting on a piston (F16K31/38 takes precedence) - F16K 31/42: by means of electrically-actuated members in the supply or discharge conduits of the fluid motor (F16K31/40 takes precedence) - H01M 8/04089: of gaseous reactants - F17C 2221/012: Hydrogen - Y02E 60/32: Hydrogen storage - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A tank device for storing a gaseous medium includes a valve device and a tank, the valve device includes a valve housing with a pilot valve element movable by a solenoid coil. The pilot valve element interacts with a first seal seat. A main valve element is arranged in the valve housing and, in order to open and close a through-opening, interacts with a second seal seat formed as a conical shoulder on the valve housing. A throttle channel is formed between the valve housing and an integrally molded shaping of the main valve element, which integrally molded shaping interacts with a second seal seat to open and close the through-opening, and said throttle channel has a conical widening against a direction of the second seal seat, whereby a throttle effect is provided, the valve device being openable in a direction of the tank when the solenoid coil is energized. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tank device (1) for storing a gaseous medium comprising a valve device (100) and a tank (200), wherein the valve device (100) comprises a valve housing (102), in which valve housing (102) a pilot valve element (24), which can be moved along a longitudinal axis (101) of the valve device (100), is arranged, which pilot valve element (24) interacts with a first seal seat (18) for opening and closing a first through-opening (20) and thus forms a pilot valve (240), wherein the valve device (100) comprises a solenoid coil (32) operable to move the pilot valve element (24) along the longitudinal axis (101), wherein a main valve element (12) is arranged in the valve housing (102), which main valve element (12) interacts with a second seal seat (6) for opening and closing a second through-opening (8) and thus forms a main valve (120), wherein the second seal seat (6) is configured as a conical shoulder (36) on the valve housing (102), wherein between the valve housing (102) and an integrally molded shaping (37) of the main valve element (12), which integrally molded shaping (37) interacts with the second seal seat (6) to open and close the second through-opening (8), a throttle channel (38) is formed, which throttle channel (38) comprises a conical widening towards the second through-opening (8), as a result of which a throttling effect is formed, wherein the valve device (100) can be opened in a direction of the tank (200) when the solenoid coil (32) is energized. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tank device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second through-opening (8) in the valve housing (102) is formed at a level of the throttle channel (38) and opens into the throttle channel (38). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tank device (1) according to claim 2, wherein a chamber (35) is formed in the valve housing (102), which chamber (35) is connected to the throttle channel (38) by the second through-opening (8). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tank device (1) according to the claim 3, wherein the valve device (100) is arranged in a neck region (203) of the tank device (1) and is pressed against a tank floor (140) within the neck region (203). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tank device (1) according to claim 4, wherein a discharge opening (14) is formed in the tank floor (140), which discharge opening fluidically connects a tank interior (201) and the chamber (35) to one another. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tank device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pilot valve element (24) comprises a shoulder (43), on which shoulder (43) a spring (16) is supported and the pilot valve element (24) is subjected to a force in a direction of one end (42) of the pilot valve element (24). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tank device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first seal seat (18) is formed on the main valve element (12). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tank device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the main valve element (12) is subjected to a force in a direction of a tank interior (201) by a spring (22), as a result of which the main valve element (12) is subjected to a force in a direction of the first seal seat (18) and counter to a direction of the second seal seat (6). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tank device (1) according to claim 1, wherein an interior (45) is formed in the valve housing (102), which interior (45) is divided by the main valve element (12) into a first partial interior (450) and a second partial interior (451). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tank device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the first partial interior (450) is connected to a supply line (40) by a discharge channel (2) formed in the valve housing (102), which supply line (40) can be connected to a supply region of a consumer system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tank device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the supply region of the consumer system is an anode region of a fuel cell system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The tank device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the first partial interior (450) and the second partial interior (451) can be fluidically connected by the first seal seat (18) and/or the second seal seat (6). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A fuel cell system with a tank device (1) for storing hydrogen for operating a fuel cell according to claim 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A fuel-cell-powered vehicle with a tank device (1) for storing hydrogen for operating a fuel cell according to claim 1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The tank device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the gaseous medium is hydrogen. ### Claim 16 A tank device (1) for storing a gaseous medium comprising a valve device (100) and a tank (200), wherein the valve device (100) comprises a valve housing (102), in which valve housing (102) a pilot valve element (24), which can be moved along a longitudinal axis (101) of the valve device (100), is arranged, which pilot valve element (24) interacts with a first seal seat (18) for opening and closing a first through-opening (20) and thus forms a pilot valve (240), wherein the valve device (100) comprises a solenoid coil (32) operable to move the pilot valve element (24) along the longitudinal axis (101), wherein a main valve element (12) is arranged in the valve housing (102), which main valve element (12) interacts with a second seal seat (6) for opening and closing a second through-opening (8) and thus forms a main valve (120), wherein the second seal seat (6) is configured as a conical shoulder (36) on the valve housing (102), wherein between the valve housing (102) and an integrally molded shaping (37) of the main valve element (12), which integrally molded shaping (37) interacts with the second seal seat (6) to open and close the second through-opening (8), a throttle channel (38) is formed, which throttle channel (38) comprises a conical widening towards the second through-opening (8), as a result of which a throttling effect is formed, wherein the valve device (100) can be opened in a direction of the tank (200) when the solenoid coil (32) is energized, and wherein the valve device (100) is arranged in a neck region (203) of the tank device (1) and is pressed against a tank floor (140) within the neck region (203). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The tank device (1) according to claim 16, wherein a discharge opening (14) is formed in the tank floor (140), which discharge opening fluidically connects a tank interior (201) and a chamber (35) to one another.