cryogenic tank container

Abstract

The present invention provides a cryogenic tank container comprising an inner tank, an outer shell surrounding the inner tank, two end support units supporting the inner tank and the outer shell at both axial ends, two side support units supporting the inner tank and the outer shell at both lateral ends, a first end frame supporting one end of the outer shell, a gooseneck assembly connected to the first end frame, and a plurality of reinforcement rings arranged on the outer surface of the outer shell; the gooseneck assembly comprises two gooseneck beams extending axially along the outer shell, the two gooseneck beams being connected to the bottom of the outer shell at intervals, one end of each gooseneck beam being connected to the first end frame, and a gooseneck groove being formed between the two gooseneck beams; each reinforcement ring extending circumferentially along the outer shell; the plurality of reinforcement rings comprising two first reinforcement rings and at least one second reinforcement ring; the two first reinforcement rings being adjacently arranged axially along the outer shell and respectively located on both sides of the side support units; and the second reinforcement ring being connected and fixed to the gooseneck beams. The cryogenic tank container of the present invention can have a relatively large volume.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of storage and transportation equipment, and in particular to a low-temperature tank container. Background Art

[0002] Cryogenic tank containers (often referred to as "cryogenic tanks") are used for the storage and transportation of cryogenic media and are suitable for land, sea, and combined land and sea transport. They are widely used in the market. Common large-capacity cryogenic tank container sizes include 40-foot and 45-foot.

[0003] A cryogenic tank container mainly consists of a frame and a tank body made of the frame. The external dimensions of the frame are subject to standard requirements. The larger the internal volume of the tank body, the more media can be transported in a single trip, which improves transportation efficiency and reduces transportation costs. The tank body of a cryogenic tank container is usually a double-layer structure, and an insulation layer is provided in the interlayer. This requires a certain distance between the inner and outer layers of the tank body. At the same time, in order to ensure the strength of the tank body, a reinforcement ring is usually provided on the inner wall of the tank body, which will occupy a part of the interlayer space. In addition, in order to adapt to a semi-trailer with a gooseneck structure, a corresponding gooseneck groove needs to be provided at the bottom of the cryogenic tank container, and the provision of the gooseneck groove will also affect the structure of the tank body. These factors will limit the size of the tank body and thus limit the internal volume of the tank body. How to increase the volume of the tank body under the constraints of many conditions is a difficult problem and development goal for the industry. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a low-temperature tank container which is conducive to increasing the internal volume.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a cryogenic tank container, comprising:

[0007] The inner tank is placed horizontally;

[0008] an outer shell surrounding the inner tank;

[0009] Two end support units are arranged at both ends of the outer shell in the axial direction, and each end support unit is respectively connected to the inner tank and the outer shell;

[0010] Two side support units are respectively located on both sides of the outer shell in the transverse direction and in the middle of the outer shell in the axial direction of the outer shell; each side support unit is respectively connected to the inner tank and the outer shell;

[0011] a first end frame, located at one end of the housing, supporting the housing;

[0012] A gooseneck assembly includes two gooseneck beams extending axially along the housing, the two gooseneck beams being connected to the bottom of the housing at intervals, one end of each gooseneck beam being connected to the first end frame, and a gooseneck slot being formed between the two gooseneck beams;

[0013] A plurality of reinforcement rings are arranged on the outer surface of the shell at intervals along the axial direction of the shell, and each reinforcement ring extends along the circumference of the shell; the plurality of reinforcement rings include two first reinforcement rings and at least one second reinforcement ring; the two first reinforcement rings are arranged adjacent to each other along the axial direction of the shell and are respectively located on both sides of the side support unit; the second reinforcement ring is connected and fixed to the gooseneck beam.

[0014] Optionally, an opening is provided on the outer shell; the side support unit has an outer support member correspondingly passed through the opening and an outer sealing plate covering the outer support member; the outer support member protrudes outward from the outer shell; the outer sealing plate is located outside the outer shell and is fixed to the first reinforcement ring.

[0015] Optionally, both the upper edge and the lower edge of the outer sealing plate extend beyond the outer support member.

[0016] Optionally, the outer support member includes an outer reinforcing plate arranged along the edge of the opening and an outer support plate arranged upright; one surface of the outer reinforcing plate is connected and fixed to the edge of the opening, and the end of the outer reinforcing plate extends outward from the outer shell; the edge of the outer support plate is fixed to the other surface of the outer reinforcing plate, and there is a gap between the outer support plate and the outer sealing plate.

[0017] Optionally, the outer reinforcing plate is enclosed along the periphery of the opening to form a closed ring, and the periphery of the outer sealing plate exceeds the outer reinforcing plate.

[0018] Optionally, the opening is connected to the first reinforcement ring, and the outer reinforcement plate is connected and fixed to the first reinforcement ring.

[0019] Optionally, a through hole is provided in the center of the outer support plate; the side support unit has an inner support member connected and fixed to the inner tank, the inner support member extends into the through hole and has a gap with the inner wall of the through hole.

[0020] Optionally, the outer surface of the shell is further provided with at least one reinforcement member extending along the circumference of the shell, and the end of the reinforcement member is connected and fixed to the outer reinforcement plate.

[0021] Optionally, the cryogenic tank container further comprises a plurality of saddles arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the shell, each of the saddles supporting the bottom of the shell; and the other end of the gooseneck beam is connected to a saddle adjacent to the first end frame.

[0022] Optionally, a reinforcing rib plate is further connected between the gooseneck beam and the second reinforcing ring, the reinforcing rib plate is perpendicular to the axial direction of the shell, and the reinforcing rib plate connects the gooseneck beam and the second reinforcing ring respectively.

[0023] Optionally, the reinforcing rib plate has a first connecting edge adapted to be connected to the outer surface of the second reinforcing ring, a second connecting edge adapted to be connected to the outer side surface of the gooseneck beam, and an outer edge facing away from the outer shell; the outer edge is arranged to be inclined outward from bottom to top.

[0024] Optionally, the second reinforcement ring has a reinforcement section located between the two gooseneck beams, the end of the reinforcement section is connected and fixed to the gooseneck beam, and the bottom surface of the reinforcement section is not lower than the top surface of the gooseneck groove.

[0025] Optionally, the gooseneck beam has an upright connecting section and a bearing section connected to the lower end of the connecting section and extending horizontally; the upper end of the connecting section is connected to the outer surface of the outer shell, and the bearing section constitutes the top wall of the gooseneck groove; the second reinforcement ring is connected and fixed to the connecting section.

[0026] Optionally, a reinforcement tube is further connected between the gooseneck beam and the first end frame, one end of the reinforcement tube is connected to the outer side surface of the gooseneck beam, and the other end is connected to the bottom corner of the first end frame.

[0027] Optionally, the reinforcement ring has a cutout segment, the cross-section of which is smaller than the cross-section of the reinforcement ring at a position adjacent to the cutout segment; the inner surface of the outer shell is provided with an inner reinforcement plate corresponding to the cutout segment, the inner reinforcement plate is attached to the inner surface of the outer shell, and the inner reinforcement plate is opposite to the cutout segment along the radial direction of the outer shell.

[0028] Optionally, a disconnection opening is provided in the middle of the cut section, so that the cut section is divided into two spaced parts, and the inner reinforcing plate covers the area where the disconnection opening is located.

[0029] As can be seen from the above technical solution, the present invention has at least the following advantages and positive effects: In the cryogenic tank container of the present invention, the reinforcement ring is arranged on the outer surface of the outer shell to improve the strength and rigidity of the outer shell. The reinforcement ring does not occupy the interlayer space between the outer shell and the inner tank, which is conducive to reducing the interlayer distance between the outer shell and the inner tank, and correspondingly facilitates the increase of the inner tank size and increases the volume of the inner tank; the outer shell and the inner tank form a four-point support through two end support units and two side support units, ensuring that the outer shell effectively supports the inner tank with low heat leakage. At the same time, the fewer support points can reduce the requirements for the interlayer space; the two first reinforcement rings arranged on both sides of the side support unit can be used to strengthen the position where the side support unit is located, further improving the support strength; the gooseneck beam at the bottom of the outer shell is connected to the first end frame at the end and the second reinforcement ring extending circumferentially to form an integral structure, which improves the overall structural strength. At the same time, it serves as a load transfer area to effectively transfer the load and share the tank body load, which can ensure that the overall structure of the tank container is stable and reliable while the inner tank has a large volume. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 4 is a front view of a cryogenic tank container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Bottom view of .

[0032] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Longitudinal section of the tank.

[0033] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the cross section of the tank at AA.

[0034] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 A partial enlarged view of point C in the middle.

[0035] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a variant implementation scheme.

[0036] Figure 7 yes Figure 4 A partial enlarged view of point D in the middle.

[0037] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Left view of the device, with the outer cover removed.

[0038] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 A schematic diagram of a modified embodiment of FIG.

[0039] Figure 10 yes Figure 8A schematic diagram of another variant embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 11 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the first end frame in .

[0041] Figure 12 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the cross section at BB in the middle.

[0042] Figure 13 yes Figure 12 A partial enlarged view of point E in the middle.

[0043] Figure 14 yes Figure 12 A partial enlarged view of point F in the middle.

[0044] Figure 15 yes Figure 14 A schematic diagram of a deformation method.

[0045] The following are the descriptions of the reference numerals:

[0046] 1. Tank body; 11. Inner tank; 111. Inner cylinder; 112. Inner head; 12. Outer shell; 121. Outer cylinder; 1211. Opening; 122. Outer head; 123. Inner reinforcement plate;

[0047] 13. End support unit; 131. Inner support tube; 132. Outer support tube; 133. Insulation ring; 134. Fixing ring; 135. Support pad; 136. Support reinforcement rib;

[0048] 14. Side support unit; 141. Inner support member; 142. Outer support member; 1421. Outer reinforcement plate; 1422. Outer support plate; 14221. Through hole; 1423. Fixing seat; 143. Heat insulation member; 144. Outer sealing plate;

[0049] 2. First end frame; 21. Corner fittings; 22. Columns; 23. Upper end beam; 24. Lower end beam; 25. Diagonal brace; 26. Support;

[0050] 3. Second end frame; 38. Bottom support box; 39. Bottom support member;

[0051] 4. Gooseneck assembly; 41. Gooseneck beam; 410. Gooseneck groove; 411. Connecting section; 412. Load-bearing section; 413. Gooseneck main section; 415. Backing plate; 42. Reinforcement tube; 43. Reinforcement box; 45. Reinforcement rib plate; 451. First connecting edge; 452. Second connecting edge; 453. Outer edge;

[0052] 5. Reinforcement ring; 5a. First reinforcement ring; 5b. Second reinforcement ring; 51. Reinforcement section; 52. Cut section; 521. Disconnection section; 53. Closing plate;

[0053] 6. Saddle;

[0054] 7. Valve box;

[0055] 8. Reinforcement. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] Typical embodiments embodying the features and advantages of the present invention are described in detail in the following description. It should be understood that the present invention is capable of various variations in different embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention, and that the descriptions and illustrations herein are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting.

[0057] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present application. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the said features. In the description of the present application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0058] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 This embodiment provides a cryogenic tank container, which primarily includes a tank body 1, a first end frame 2 supporting the front end of the tank body 1, a second end frame 3 supporting the rear end of the tank body 1, a gooseneck assembly 4 disposed at the bottom of the front end of the tank body 1, multiple reinforcement rings 5 ​​disposed on the outer surface of the tank body 1, and multiple saddles 6 supporting the bottom of the tank body 1. In addition, a valve box 7 is mounted on the outer side of the tank body 1 near the rear end.

[0059] In this cryogenic tank container, the tank body 1 is a horizontal double-layer tank with heat preservation and insulation functions to facilitate the loading of cryogenic media. A plurality of reinforcement rings 5 ​​are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the tank body 1, and each reinforcement ring 5 extends along the circumference of the tank body 1. The reinforcement rings 5 ​​reinforce the tank body 1 and do not occupy the interlayer space inside the tank body 1. The first end frame 2 and the second end frame 3 can be connected and fixed to the transport vehicle to realize load transfer, and can also realize functions such as lifting and stacking. The gooseneck assembly 4 can be adapted to a semi-trailer with a gooseneck. The saddle 6 can be located on the semi-trailer to increase the load transfer path between the tank body 1 and the semi-trailer, further improving the support strength of the tank body 1.

[0060] Combine Figures 1 to 4 The tank body 1 mainly includes an inner tank 11, an outer shell 12 surrounding the inner tank 11, two end support units 13 supporting the front and rear ends of the inner tank 11 and the outer shell 12, and two side support units 14 supporting the two sides of the inner tank 11 and the outer shell 12. The tank body 1 of this embodiment is a horizontal tank, and accordingly the inner tank 11 and the outer shell 12 are both placed horizontally. There is an interlayer space between the inner tank 11 and the outer shell 12, and an insulation layer is provided in the interlayer space. The material and setting method of the insulation layer can refer to the relevant technology. The two end support units 13 and the two side support units 14 form a four-point support, which effectively supports the inner tank 11 inside the outer shell 12.

[0061] like Figure 3 As shown, the inner tank 11 is used to contain cryogenic medium, and its structure mainly includes an inner cylinder 111 and an inner head 112 connected to both ends of the inner cylinder 111. The volume of the inner tank 11 limits the storage and transportation volume of the cryogenic tank container. When conditions permit, the inner tank 11 has as large a size as possible to increase the volume. Accordingly, the more cryogenic medium the inner tank 11 contains, the greater the load of the tank body 1. The inner tank 11 is equipped with a corresponding piping system to realize the filling and unloading of the cryogenic medium. The interface between the piping system and the outside world is preferably centrally arranged in the valve box 7. The schematic diagram of the piping system is omitted in the figure.

[0062] The outer shell 12 surrounds the outer side of the inner tank 11, and the outer shell 12 mainly includes an outer cylinder 121 and an outer head 122 connected to both ends of the outer cylinder 121. The outer cylinder 121 and the inner cylinder 111 are preferably coaxially arranged.

[0063] Two end support units 13 are arranged at both ends of the outer shell 12 in the axial direction to support the inner tank 11 from both ends of the axial direction. Each end support unit 13 is respectively connected to the outer head 122 of the outer shell 12 and the inner head 112 of the inner tank 11. The axes of the two end support units 13 are all aligned with the axes of the outer shell 12 and the inner tank 11.

[0064] See Figure 5In this embodiment, the end support unit 13 mainly includes an inner support tube 131 , an outer support tube 132 , an insulation ring 133 and a fixing ring 134 .

[0065] The inner support tube 131 is in a hollow cylindrical shape, one end of which is fixedly connected to the outer surface of the inner head 112 , and the other end of which faces the outer head 122 but is spaced apart from the outer head 122 .

[0066] The outer support tube 132 is also hollow and cylindrical, and its inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the inner support tube 131. One end of the outer support tube 132 is fixedly connected to the inner surface of the outer head 122, and the other end surrounds the inner support tube 131. There is a gap between the end of the outer support tube 132 and the inner head 112.

[0067] The annular thermal insulation ring 133 is fixed within the outer support tube 132 and secured by a step on the inner wall of the outer support tube 132 and a retaining ring 134 fixed therein. The thermal insulation ring 133 slidably fits over the outer circumference of the inner support tube 131, allowing a certain amount of relative axial displacement between the inner and outer support tubes 131, 132 to compensate for minor changes in the length of the inner tank 11 due to thermal expansion and contraction. The thermal insulation ring 133 is made of a non-metallic material with a low thermal conductivity and a certain degree of hardness, such as fiberglass.

[0068] Figure 5 In the structure shown, a support pad 135 is also provided on the outer surface of the inner head 112. In addition, a support reinforcement rib 136 is selectively provided on the inner surface of the outer head 122 according to the load strength.

[0069] See also Figure 6 In another variant embodiment, the end support unit 13 can also be installed upside down, that is, the outer support tube 132 is connected to the outer surface of the inner head 112, and the inner support tube 131 is connected to the inner surface of the outer head 122.

[0070] It should be noted that the structure of the end support unit 13 is not limited to the structure shown in the figure. The structural form of the inner support tube 131, the outer support tube 132, and the insulation ring 133 can be flexibly adjusted according to actual conditions. In addition, some reinforcement structures can be selectively configured according to the load conditions.

[0071] Combine Figure 1 and Figure 4 In the axial direction of the housing 12, the two side support units 14 are located in the middle of the housing 12. It should be noted that the "middle of the housing 12" mentioned here does not specifically refer to the middle of the housing 12, but rather refers to an area extending along the axial direction including the middle. For example, the side support units 14 can be located within a range of 1 / 3 to 2 / 3 of the axial length of the housing 12.

[0072] The two side support units 14 are located between two adjacent reinforcement rings 5 ​​arranged axially front and rear along the outer shell 12. For ease of description, these two reinforcement rings 5 ​​are referred to as first reinforcement rings 5a. The two first reinforcement rings 5a support the outer shell 12 at the front and rear sides of the side support units 14, respectively, and enhance the strength of the area where the side support units 14 are located.

[0073] from Figure 4 In the cross-section shown, the two side support units 14 are located on either side of the outer shell 12, facing each other radially along the outer shell 12, and supporting the inner tank 11 from both sides in the center of the outer shell 12. Each side support unit 14 connects the outer cylinder 121 of the outer shell 12 and the inner cylinder 111 of the inner tank 11. The two side support units 14 are located at approximately the same level as the two end support units 13, that is, the axes of the two side support units 14 and the axes of the two end support units 13 are substantially in the same horizontal plane.

[0074] See Figure 7 In this embodiment, the side support unit 14 mainly includes an inner support member 141, an outer support member 142, a heat insulating member 143, and an outer sealing plate 144. The inner support member 141 is fixedly connected to the inner cylinder 111, the outer support member 142 is fixedly connected to the outer cylinder 121 and surrounds the inner support member 141, the heat insulating member 143 is connected between the inner support member 141 and the outer support member 142, and the outer sealing plate 144 covers the outer support member 142 and is fixed to the first reinforcement ring 5a.

[0075] The inner support member 141 is in a hollow cylindrical shape, and one end thereof is fixedly connected to the outer surface of the inner cylinder 111 .

[0076] The outer support member 142 is disposed on the outer cylinder 121. The outer cylinder 121 has a corresponding opening 1211, and the outer support member 142 is securely fastened to the edge of the opening 1211. The main structure of the outer support member 142 is located within the outer cylinder 121 and surrounds the inner support member 141. A portion of the outer support member 142 extends outward from the outer cylinder 121. Specifically, in this embodiment, the portion where the outer support member 142 connects to the opening 1211 extends outward from the outer cylinder 121.

[0077] This structural coordination between the outer support member 142 and the outer cylinder 121 reduces the need for interlayer space between the inner cylinder 111 and the outer cylinder 121, thereby reducing the interlayer spacing between the inner cylinder 111 and the outer cylinder 121. While maintaining the dimensions of the outer cylinder 121, the diameter of the inner cylinder 111 can be increased. Since the inner cylinder 111 forms the main body of the inner tank 11, increasing the diameter of the inner cylinder 111 significantly increases the volume of the inner tank 11. Furthermore, since there are only two side support units 14, heat leakage is minimized.

[0078] In this embodiment, the outer support member 142 includes an outer reinforcement plate 1421, an outer support plate 1422, and a fixing seat 1423. The outer support plate 1422 is welded to the outer reinforcement plate 1421 and the fixing seat 1423. In other embodiments, the outer reinforcement plate 1421, the outer support plate 1422, and the fixing seat 1423 may be integrally formed, or any two of them may be formed into a single integral structure.

[0079] The outer reinforcing plate 1421 is positioned along the edge of the opening 1211. One surface of the outer reinforcing plate 1421 is fixedly connected to the edge of the opening 1211. The outer end of the outer reinforcing plate 1421 extends outward from the outer cylinder 121, while the inner end is located inside the outer cylinder 121. This mating arrangement of the outer reinforcing plate 1421 and the opening 1211 provides a high connection strength between the outer reinforcing plate 1421 and the outer cylinder 121, thereby providing good support for the outer support plate 1422.

[0080] The structure of the outer reinforcement plate 1421 can be adaptively adjusted according to the shape of the opening 1211. Figure 8 In some embodiments, the projection of the opening 1211 is circular, and the aperture of the opening 1211 is smaller than the distance between the two first reinforcement rings 5a. In this embodiment, the outer reinforcement plate 1421 accordingly forms a closed ring along the periphery of the opening 1211. In this structure, the outer reinforcement plate 1421 can provide support for the entire periphery of the outer support plate 1422. It is understood that the projection of the opening 1211 can also be other closed shapes, such as square, rectangular, elliptical, etc., and the outer reinforcement plate 1421 accordingly forms a closed ring along the periphery of the opening 1211.

[0081] See also Figure 9 In other embodiments, the projection of the opening 1211 is rectangular, and the end of the opening 1211 is connected to the first reinforcement ring 5a, wherein one end of the opening 1211 may be connected to one of the first reinforcement rings 5a, or both ends of the opening 1211 may be connected to two corresponding first reinforcement rings 5a. It should be noted that Figure 9 Only a portion of the opening 1211 is shown, and the first reinforcement ring 5a is not shown. For the structure and related position relationship of the first reinforcement ring 5a, please refer to Figure 1 . Figure 9In the illustrated structure, outer reinforcing plates 1421 are positioned along the upper and lower edges of opening 1211. They extend axially along outer cylinder 121 and are fixedly connected to first reinforcing ring 5a. Depending on the positional relationship between opening 1211 and first reinforcing ring 5a, outer reinforcing plate 1421 may be fixedly connected to only one first reinforcing ring 5a or to both. In this embodiment, outer reinforcing plate 1421 and first reinforcing ring 5a are integrally connected, further enhancing structural strength.

[0082] See Figure 10 In some other embodiments, a reinforcement member 8 extending circumferentially along the outer surface of the outer shell 12 can be provided, and the end of the reinforcement member 8 is connected and fixed to the outer reinforcing plate 1421, so that the outer support member 142 is reinforced by the reinforcement member 8. Figure 10 In the structure shown, a reinforcement member 8 is provided on the upper and lower sides of the outer reinforcement plate 1421, and the two reinforcement members 8 are located on the same circumference. Each reinforcement member 8 can extend approximately half the circumference of the outer shell 12, that is, the two ends of each reinforcement member 8 are respectively connected and fixed to the outer reinforcement plates 1421 of the two side support units 14. However, separate reinforcement members 8 can also be provided for each side support unit 14. In addition, for each outer reinforcement plate 1421, multiple reinforcement members 8 can be provided at intervals along the axial direction of the outer shell 12 to connect to the outer reinforcement plate 1421, for example, Figure 10 On the basis of the reinforcement 8, a reinforcement 8 is provided on both sides of the front and rear of the reinforcement 8. Figure 10 In the structure shown, the projection of the outer reinforcing plate 1421 is annular, and the extension line of the reinforcing member 8 passes through the center of the outer reinforcing plate 1421. However, it is understandable that the reinforcing member 8 can be adjusted according to actual conditions within the axial extension range of the outer reinforcing plate 1421 along the shell 12. The arrangement of the reinforcing member 8 has no restrictions on the shape of the outer reinforcing plate 1421. For example, when the outer reinforcing plate 1421 is arranged in accordance with Figure 9 When arranged in the manner shown, the reinforcement member 8 can also be provided.

[0083] Refer back Figure 7 The outer support plate 1422 is set upright, and the edge of the outer support plate 1422 is fixed to the surface of the outer reinforcement plate 1421 away from the hole 1211, thereby being connected and fixed to the outer cylinder 121 as a whole through the outer reinforcement plate 1421. The shape of the outer support plate 1422 matches the structure of the outer reinforcement plate 1421. Figure 8 and Figure 10 As shown in the structure, the outer support plate 1422 is circular in shape. Figure 9In the structure shown, the outer support plate 1422 is correspondingly rectangular in shape. At this time, the front and rear ends of the outer support plate 1422 can be connected to the first reinforcement ring 5a, or can be connected to a structure similar to the outer reinforcement plate 1421 that is additionally arranged at the first reinforcement ring 5a.

[0084] The inner surface of the outer support plate 1422 is substantially flush with the inner end surface of the outer reinforcement plate 1421 , and the outer surface of the outer support plate 1422 is closer to the inner cylinder 111 than the outer end surface of the outer reinforcement plate 1421 .

[0085] Combine Figures 7 to 10 A through hole 14221 is centrally located on the outer support plate 1422. This through hole 14221 has a stepped structure, with a larger diameter on the side closest to the inner cylinder 111 and a smaller diameter on the side facing outward. The minimum diameter of this through hole 14221 is larger than the outer diameter of the inner support member 141. The inner support member 141 extends into the through hole 14221 and is spaced apart from the inner wall of the through hole 14221. This prevents direct contact between the outer support plate 1422 and the inner support member 141, reducing heat conduction between them.

[0086] Continue reading Figure 7 The fixing seat 1423 is annular and fixed to the inner surface of the outer support plate 1422, surrounding the through hole 14221. The fixing seat 1423 cooperates with the outer support plate 1422 to fix the thermal insulation member 143. The fixing seat 1423 is mainly used to fix the thermal insulation member 143 and can be flexibly configured according to actual conditions.

[0087] Thermal insulator 143 is annular and secured within mounting base 1423, with a portion secured within through-hole 14221 of outer support plate 1422. Thermal insulator 143 is sleeved around the outer periphery of inner support 141, thereby connecting inner support 141 to outer support 142. Thermal insulator 143 provides thermal insulation and is made of a material with a low thermal conductivity and a certain degree of hardness, such as fiberglass reinforced plastic.

[0088] Main references Figure 7 And also refer to Figure 1 In this embodiment, the outer sealing plate 144 is a vertical flat plate. It covers the outer end of the outer reinforcing plate 1421. The outer sealing plate 144 and the outer reinforcing plate 1421 can be fixedly connected to enhance structural strength, or they can be loosely connected to reduce heat conduction. The specific configuration can be determined based on actual conditions. A gap is provided between the outer sealing plate 144 and the outer support plate 1422 to reduce heat conduction.

[0089] The upper edge of the outer sealing plate 144 extends upward beyond the upper edge of the outer reinforcing plate 1421, and the lower edge of the outer sealing plate 144 extends downward beyond the lower edge of the outer reinforcing plate 1421. The front and rear ends of the outer sealing plate 144 are fixed to the two first reinforcing rings 5a respectively. Figures 8 to 10 In the different arrangement modes of the outer reinforcing plate 1421 shown in FIG, in the axial direction of the housing 12, the outer sealing plate 144 extends beyond the outer reinforcing plate 1421 in the front-to-back direction (e.g., Figure 8 and Figure 10 structure shown) or is roughly aligned with the outer reinforcement plate 1421 (such as Figure 9 structure shown).

[0090] The outer sealing plate 144 completely covers the opening 1211 of the outer cylinder 121 to reduce heat leakage, and the outer sealing plate 144 is connected to the first reinforcement ring 5a, connecting the two first reinforcement rings 5a into one, increasing the structural strength of the outer shell 12 between the two first reinforcement rings 5a, so that the outer shell 12 can better support the outer support member 142.

[0091] See next Figure 11 The first end frame 2 mainly includes four corner pieces 21 arranged in a rectangular shape at the four corners, a column 22 connected between two upper and lower opposite corner pieces 21, an upper end beam 23 connected between the two upper corner pieces 21, and a lower end beam 24 connected between the lower ends of the two columns 22. In addition, diagonal braces 25 are provided between the columns 22 and the upper end beam 23 and the lower end beam 24.

[0092] The arrangement of the four corner fittings 21 of the first end frame 2 meets regulatory requirements and can be used for bolting or lifting cryogenic tank containers. The structure of the columns 22, upper end beams 23, lower end beams 24, and diagonal braces 25 can be adjusted based on actual conditions and is not limited to the illustrated structure. The first end frame 2 can be supported by the outer shell 12 by, for example, welding the four diagonal braces 25 to the outer shell 12. However, it should be noted that this embodiment does not limit the structure of the first end frame 2 or its connection to the outer shell 12; as long as the first end frame 2 can be secured to and support the outer shell 12, it is sufficient.

[0093] In this embodiment, the lower end beam 24 is slightly higher than the corner piece 21 below. Two spaced supports 26 are connected to the bottom surface of the lower end beam 24. The supports 26 can be formed by bending a plate to form a cross-sectional shape with an internal cavity, and the ends of the supports 26 can be closed by a sealing plate.

[0094] Combine Figure 1 and Figure 2 The structure of the second end frame 3 is similar to that of the first end frame 2, and is also composed of four corner pieces and multiple beams connecting the corner pieces. The difference between the second end frame 3 and the first end frame 2 is that the second end frame 3 does not need to be provided with a support 26.

[0095] The connection method between the second end frame 3 and the housing 12 can refer to the connection method between the first end frame 2 and the housing 12. Figure 2 A bottom support box 38 may be provided at the bottom of the housing 12 near the second end frame 3, and a bottom support member 39 is connected between the second end frame 3 and the bottom support box 38, thereby further improving the support strength.

[0096] Likewise, the connection method between the second end frame 3 and the housing 12 is not limited to the structure shown in the figure.

[0097] Still see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, two saddles 6 are arranged, close to the first end frame 2 and the second end frame 3 respectively.

[0098] The saddle 6 extends laterally along the outer cylinder 121 of the outer shell 12. The saddle 6 has a supporting surface that matches the cross-sectional shape of the outer cylinder 121. For example, for an outer cylinder 121 with a circular cross-section, the supporting surface of the saddle 6 can be a corresponding arc shape. Through the support of the outer shell 12 by the saddle 6, the load of the tank body 1 can be shared by the saddle 6, increasing the load transfer path in the axial direction of the tank body 1, reducing the force on the first end frame 2 and the second end frame 3, making the overall force on the tank body 1 more uniform, and more conducive to the realization of a large-volume tank body 1. In some embodiments, the number of saddles 6 can be increased as needed. The specific structure of the saddle 6 can be flexibly set according to actual conditions.

[0099] Continue reading Figure 1 and Figure 2 The gooseneck assembly 4 includes two gooseneck beams 41 extending axially along the outer shell 12. The two gooseneck beams 41 are spaced apart and connected to the bottom of the outer shell 12. The front end of the gooseneck beam 41 is connected to the support 26 of the first end frame 2, and the rear end is connected to the saddle 6. As a result, the first end frame 2, the gooseneck beam 41, and the saddle 6 are connected to form an integral structure, which improves the overall structural strength. The range where the gooseneck beam 41 extends forms a load transfer area. This integral structural arrangement ensures that the load transfer area has sufficient strength and rigidity, effectively transferring and sharing the load of the tank body 1, which is particularly beneficial for large-volume tank bodies 1.

[0100] Preferably, a reinforcing tube 42 is connected between the gooseneck beam 41 and the first end frame 2. One end of the reinforcing tube 42 is connected to the outer side surface of the gooseneck beam 41, and the other end is connected to the bottom corner of the first end frame 2. The reinforcing tube 42 can further strengthen the connection between the gooseneck beam 41 and the first end frame 2, thereby enhancing the strength of the overall end structure. The reinforcing tube 42 can be, for example, a square tube, a round tube, etc. The end of the reinforcing tube 42 can be adaptively processed to ensure a snug connection with the gooseneck beam 41 and the first end frame 2. The connection point between the reinforcing tube 42 and the first end frame 2 is preferably the lower corner piece 21 of the first end frame 2. In some embodiments, it can also be connected to the lower end beam 24.

[0101] Furthermore, a reinforcement box 43 is provided between the outer side surface of the gooseneck beam 41 and the reinforcement tube 42. The reinforcement box 43 fills the angle space between the outer side surface of the gooseneck beam 41 and the end of the reinforcement tube 42, playing a further reinforcement role and dispersing the stress at the connection between the gooseneck beam 41 and the reinforcement tube 42, thereby improving the strength of the gooseneck beam 41.

[0102] Next see Figure 12 and Figure 13 A gooseneck trough 410 is formed between the two gooseneck beams 41. The shape of the inner side surfaces of the two gooseneck beams 41 facing the gooseneck trough 410 can be designed according to the requirements of the gooseneck trough 410. Since the gooseneck trough 410 is formed by the two spaced gooseneck beams 41, the structure is relatively lightweight and has good processing flexibility. The gooseneck beams 41 can be formed by bending a sheet, for example.

[0103] In this embodiment, the gooseneck beam 41 includes a connecting section 411 , a bearing section 412 that bends outward and extends horizontally from the lower end of the connecting section 411 , and a gooseneck main section 413 that bends downward from the outer end of the bearing section 412 .

[0104] The upper end of the connecting section 411 is connected to the outer surface of the housing 12 . In the figure, the upper end of the connecting section 411 is connected to the housing 12 via a pad 415 attached to the outer surface of the housing 12 .

[0105] The load-bearing sections 412 of the two gooseneck beams 41 are aligned, and the gooseneck main sections 413 face each other, thereby enclosing the load-bearing sections 412 and the gooseneck main sections 413 of the two gooseneck beams 41 to form a gooseneck slot 410. The load-bearing sections 412 form the top wall of the gooseneck slot 410. The shape of the gooseneck main section 413 is designed based on the required shape of the gooseneck slot 410.

[0106] Combine Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the axial range of the gooseneck beam 41, the housing 12 is provided with a plurality of reinforcing rings 5. For the sake of convenience, these reinforcing rings 5 ​​are referred to as second reinforcing rings 5b. Each second reinforcing ring 5b is connected to the gooseneck beam 41. Figure 12 As shown, these second reinforcement rings 5b are connected and fixed to the outer surface of the outer cylinder 121 of the outer shell 12, and are connected to the gooseneck beam 41 as a whole, thereby strengthening the connection between the gooseneck beam 41 and the outer shell 12 and improving the overall strength.

[0107] In this embodiment, a reinforcing rib 45 is connected between the gooseneck beam 41 and the second reinforcement ring 5b. The rib 45 is perpendicular to the axial direction of the housing 12 and connects the gooseneck beam 41 and the second reinforcement ring 5b, respectively, strengthening the connection between the gooseneck beam 41 and the second reinforcement ring 5b. The rib 45 has a first connecting edge 451 that adapts to the outer surface of the second reinforcement ring 5b, a second connecting edge 452 that adapts to the outer side of the gooseneck beam 41, and an outer edge 453 facing away from the housing 12. The outer edge 453 is tilted upward and outward from the bottom. The shape of the rib 45 ensures a longer contact length with both the second reinforcement ring 5b and the gooseneck beam 41, ensuring a more secure connection. It also conforms to the load transfer path and facilitates load transfer. In other embodiments, the rib 45 may also be disposed between the gooseneck beam 41 and the outer surface of the housing 12.

[0108] The second reinforcement ring 5b also includes a reinforcement section 51 located between the two gooseneck beams 41. The end of the reinforcement section 51 is fixedly connected to the connecting section 411 of the gooseneck beams 41. The bottom surface of the reinforcement section 51 is higher than the bearing section 412 of the gooseneck beams 41. In this embodiment, the reinforcement sections 51 connected to the two gooseneck beams 41 are disconnected, and the bottom surface of the reinforcement section 51 is configured as a flat plate. This reinforcement section 51 strengthens the bottom of the housing 12 while preventing interference with the gooseneck slots 410 below.

[0109] In some embodiments, a notch for the second reinforcement ring 5b to pass through can be provided in the connecting section 411 of the gooseneck beam 41, so that the portion of the second reinforcement ring 5b that passes through the connecting section 411 constitutes the reinforcement section 51. In other embodiments, the reinforcement section 51 can also be an independent small section that is separated from the portion of the second reinforcement ring 5b located outside the gooseneck beam 41.

[0110] See Figure 12 and Figure 14 In this embodiment, the second reinforcement ring 5b is provided with a cutout section 52 at its outermost portion, corresponding to the transverse direction of the outer shell 12. The cross-section of the cutout section 52 is smaller than the cross-section of the second reinforcement ring 5b adjacent to the cutout section 52. The cutout section 52 can be formed by cutting the entire second reinforcement ring 5b. For example, the illustrated structure can be understood as cutting away a portion of the second reinforcement ring 5b that originally extends along the circumference of the outer shell 12 in the vertical direction. A sealing plate 53 can be provided at the cutout section 52 to seal it.

[0111] A break 521 is provided in the middle of the cutout section 52, dividing it into two spaced-apart sections. This structure of the cutout section 52 exposes the outer surface of the housing 12 at the break 521. An inner reinforcing plate 123 is provided on the inner surface of the outer cylinder 121 of the housing 12, corresponding to the cutout section 52. The inner reinforcing plate 123 is attached to the inner surface of the outer cylinder 121 and faces the cutout section 52 radially. The inner reinforcing plate 123 covers the area where the break 521 is located. In other words, the two sections of the cutout section 52 separated by the break 521 both face the same inner reinforcing plate 123.

[0112] See Figure 15 In another variation, the cutout section 52 can be a single, unbroken structure without the cutout 521. The sealing plate 53 seals the cutout section 52 and covers the outer surface of the housing 12. In this case, the housing 12 is provided with an inner reinforcement plate 123 on the inner surface of the outer cylinder 121, facing the cutout section 52, thereby enhancing strength. In this embodiment, it can be considered as a complete second reinforcement ring 5b having a small portion removed, the removed portion being smaller than the cross-sectional dimensions of the second reinforcement ring 5b.

[0113] Combine Figure 1 In this embodiment, it is preferred that the aforementioned cutout sections 52 are provided on each reinforcement ring 5, and the cutout sections 52 on each reinforcement ring 5 are aligned. The provision of the cutout sections 52 facilitates ensuring that the tank body 1 and the reinforcement ring 5 are located within the circumferential range limited by the first end frame 2 and the second end frame 3, thereby meeting regulatory requirements. The inner reinforcement plate 123 provided on the inner surface of the outer shell 12 can reinforce the cutout sections 52, thereby increasing the strength and rigidity of the outer shell 12. This structural approach not only ensures the strength of the outer shell 12 but also allows the outer shell 12 to have a larger circumferential dimension, thereby facilitating an increase in the volume of the tank body 1. In some embodiments, a cutout section 52 can also be provided on the reinforcement ring 5 at a position corresponding to the top of the outer shell 12.

[0114] If the dimensions allow, the reinforcement ring 5 may also extend continuously along the circumference of the outer shell 12 as a full circle. Specifically, the second reinforcement ring 5b at the gooseneck beam 41 may extend continuously along the circumference of the outer shell 12 between the outer sides of the two gooseneck beams 41, with the bottom of the second reinforcement ring 5b being disconnected and provided as a reinforcement segment 51.

[0115] In the axial direction of the outer shell 12, the spacing between any two adjacent reinforcement rings 5 ​​can be the same or different, and can be set according to actual conditions. The reinforcement rings 5 ​​can be flexibly designed based on the position of the reinforcement rings 5. The cross-section of each reinforcement ring 5 can be any one of a groove type, a T-type, an L-type, an arc shape, and a straight shape. Accordingly, the reinforcement ring 5 can be formed using any one of channel steel, T-shaped steel, angle steel, trapezoidal steel, arc steel, and flat steel. Among them, in the case where the cross-section of the corresponding reinforcement ring 5 has an opening, the cross-section preferably opens toward the outer shell 12, forming a closed chamber between the reinforcement ring 5 and the outer shell 12.

[0116] Based on the above introduction, in the low-temperature tank container of the present invention, the reinforcement ring 5 is arranged on the outer surface of the outer shell 12 to improve the strength and rigidity of the outer shell 12. The reinforcement ring 5 does not occupy the interlayer space between the outer shell 12 and the inner tank 11, which is conducive to reducing the interlayer spacing between the outer shell 12 and the inner tank 11, and correspondingly helps to increase the size of the inner tank 11 and increase the volume of the inner tank 11; the outer shell 12 and the inner tank 11 form a four-point support through two end support units 13 and two side support units 14, which ensures that the outer shell 12 effectively supports the inner tank 11 and has little heat leakage, while at the same time The fewer support points can reduce the requirements for the mezzanine space; the two first reinforcement rings 5a arranged on both sides of the side support unit 14 can be used to strengthen the position of the side support unit 14, further improving the support strength; the gooseneck beam 41 at the bottom of the outer shell 12 is connected to the first end frame 2 at the end and the second reinforcement ring 5b extending circumferentially to form an integral structure, thereby improving the overall structural strength. At the same time, it serves as a load transfer area to effectively transfer the load and share the tank load, thereby ensuring that the overall structure of the tank box is stable and reliable while the inner tank 11 has a large volume.

[0117] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an internal volume of 52.6 cubic meters can be achieved in a 40-foot tank container. Compared with a conventional 40-foot tank container with a volume of 46 cubic meters, the internal volume of the embodiment of the present invention can be increased by 14%.

[0118] While the present invention has been described with reference to several exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the terms used are intended to be illustrative and exemplary rather than restrictive. Since the present invention can be embodied in many forms without departing from the spirit or essence of the invention, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited to any of the foregoing details, but should be interpreted broadly within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. All changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the claims or their equivalents are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cryogenic tank container, characterized in that: include: The inner tank is placed horizontally; an outer shell surrounding the inner tank; Two end support units are arranged at both ends of the outer shell in the axial direction, and each end support unit is respectively connected to the inner tank and the outer shell; Two side support units are respectively located on both sides of the outer shell in the transverse direction and in the middle of the outer shell in the axial direction of the outer shell; each side support unit is respectively connected to the inner tank and the outer shell; a first end frame, located at one end of the housing, supporting the housing; A gooseneck assembly includes two gooseneck beams extending axially along the housing, the two gooseneck beams being connected to the bottom of the housing at intervals, one end of each gooseneck beam being connected to the first end frame, and a gooseneck slot being formed between the two gooseneck beams; a plurality of reinforcement rings arranged on the outer surface of the shell at intervals along the axial direction of the shell, each reinforcement ring extending along the circumference of the shell; the plurality of reinforcement rings include two first reinforcement rings and at least one second reinforcement ring; the two first reinforcement rings are arranged adjacent to each other along the axial direction of the shell and are respectively located on both sides of the side support unit; the second reinforcement ring is connected and fixed to the gooseneck beam; The shell is provided with an opening; the side support unit comprises an outer support member correspondingly arranged in the opening and an outer sealing plate covering the outer support member.

2. The cryogenic tank container according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer support member protrudes outward from the outer shell; the outer sealing plate is located outside the outer shell and is fixed to the first reinforcement ring.

3. The cryogenic tank container according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper edge and the lower edge of the outer sealing plate both extend beyond the outer support member.

4. The cryogenic tank container according to claim 2, characterized in that: The outer support member includes an outer reinforcing plate arranged along the edge of the opening and an outer support plate arranged upright; one surface of the outer reinforcing plate is connected and fixed to the edge of the opening, and the end of the outer reinforcing plate extends outward from the outer shell; the edge of the outer support plate is fixed to the other surface of the outer reinforcing plate, and there is a gap between the outer support plate and the outer sealing plate.

5. The cryogenic tank container according to claim 4, characterized in that: The outer reinforcing plate is enclosed along the periphery of the opening to form a closed ring, and the periphery of the outer sealing plate exceeds the outer reinforcing plate.

6. The cryogenic tank container according to claim 4, characterized in that: The opening is connected to the first reinforcement ring, and the outer reinforcement plate is connected and fixed to the first reinforcement ring.

7. The cryogenic tank container according to claim 4, characterized in that: A through hole is provided in the center of the outer support plate; the side support unit has an inner support member connected and fixed to the inner tank, the inner support member extends into the through hole and has a gap with the inner wall of the through hole.

8. The cryogenic tank container according to claim 4, characterized in that: The outer surface of the shell is further provided with at least one reinforcement member extending along the circumference of the shell, and the end portion of the reinforcement member is connected and fixed to the outer reinforcement plate.

9. The cryogenic tank container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The cryogenic tank container further includes a plurality of saddles spaced apart along the axial direction of the shell, each of the saddles supporting the bottom of the shell; the other end of the gooseneck beam is connected to a saddle adjacent to the first end frame.

10. The cryogenic tank container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: A reinforcing rib plate is further connected between the gooseneck beam and the second reinforcing ring. The reinforcing rib plate is perpendicular to the axial direction of the shell and is respectively connected to the gooseneck beam and the second reinforcing ring.

11. The cryogenic tank container according to claim 10, characterized in that: The reinforcing rib plate has a first connecting edge adapted to be connected to the outer surface of the second reinforcing ring, a second connecting edge adapted to be connected to the outer side surface of the gooseneck beam, and an outer side edge facing away from the outer shell; the outer side edge is arranged to be inclined outward from bottom to top.

12. The cryogenic tank container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The second reinforcement ring has a reinforcement section located between the two gooseneck beams, the end of the reinforcement section is connected and fixed to the gooseneck beam, and the bottom surface of the reinforcement section is not lower than the top surface of the gooseneck groove.

13. The cryogenic tank container according to claim 12, characterized in that: The gooseneck beam has an upright connecting section and a bearing section connected to the lower end of the connecting section and extending horizontally; the upper end of the connecting section is connected to the outer surface of the outer shell, and the bearing section constitutes the top wall of the gooseneck groove; the second reinforcement ring is connected and fixed to the connecting section.

14. The cryogenic tank container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: A reinforcement tube is further connected between the gooseneck beam and the first end frame. One end of the reinforcement tube is connected to the outer side surface of the gooseneck beam, and the other end is connected to the bottom corner of the first end frame.

15. The cryogenic tank container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The reinforcement ring has a cutout section, the cross-section of which is smaller than the cross-section of the reinforcement ring at a position adjacent to the cutout section; the inner surface of the outer shell is provided with an inner reinforcement plate corresponding to the cutout section, the inner reinforcement plate is attached to the inner surface of the outer shell, and the inner reinforcement plate and the cutout section are opposite to each other along the radial direction of the outer shell.

16. The cryogenic tank container according to claim 15, characterized in that: A disconnection opening is provided in the middle of the cut section, so that the cut section is divided into two spaced parts, and the inner reinforcing plate covers the area where the disconnection opening is located.

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