Lightweight surface tension tank

Abstract

The present invention provides a lightweight surface tension tank, comprising a tank shell, a propellant management device, a liquid nozzle, and an air nozzle. The liquid nozzle is disposed at the bottom end of the tank shell, and the air nozzle is disposed at the top end of the tank shell. The propellant management device is disposed within the tank shell and is in communication with the liquid nozzle and the air nozzle at both ends. The tank shell comprises an aluminum alloy shell liner and a carbon fiber composite wound layer covering the liner. The propellant management device comprises an assembly comprising two layers of aluminum alloy porous structural members fastened together, and a stainless steel dense mesh between the two layers of aluminum alloy porous structural members. The stainless steel dense mesh is fastened to one of the aluminum alloy porous structural members by hot-melt bonding. The present invention utilizes an aluminum alloy liner and carbon fiber composite wound molding method for the tank shell, while the dense mesh and porous structural member of the propellant management device are formed by hot-melt bonding, resulting in advantages such as lightweight and low cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of aerospace technology, and in particular to a lightweight surface tension tank. Background Art

[0002] Surface tension tanks can be used to manage liquids in aerospace fields such as satellites, spacecraft, and space stations, such as for storage and transportation.

[0003] The existing Chinese patent publication number CN103133862A discloses a load-bearing surface tension tank, including a connected shell and a propellant management device. The shell includes an upper shell 4, a lower shell 7, an upper flange 1, and a lower flange 10; the propellant management device includes an air port 2, a liquid passage 3 with a tube, a load-bearing cylinder 5, a guide tube 6, a pressure ring 8, a mesh 9, a liquid port 11, an air trap shell 12, an air trap cover 13 and a liquid passage 14. The liquid port 11, air trap shell 12, air trap cover 13, mesh 9 and pressure ring 8 constitute a bubble trap device arranged at the bottom of the lower shell 7.

[0004] At present, the main materials of surface tension tanks at home and abroad are titanium alloy and stainless steel. Titanium alloy refers to the tank structural parts, and stainless steel refers to the porous dense mesh. Since the melting points of the above two materials are similar, it is relatively easy to achieve welding of the two metals, which has become a mature manufacturing process in the current surface tension tanks.

[0005] In recent years, with the rapid development of applications in aerospace fields such as satellites, ships, and instruments, there is a demand for the development of lighter and lower-cost surface tension tanks.

[0006] In response to this demand, the development of aluminum alloy surface tension tanks has become an effective way to achieve the goal. However, compared with titanium alloy surface tension tanks, the melting points of aluminum alloy and stainless steel are quite different, making it difficult to directly weld the two dissimilar metals like titanium alloy and stainless steel. This has become the biggest technical obstacle in the research and development of aluminum alloy surface tension tanks, resulting in slow progress in the development of aluminum alloy surface tension tanks.

[0007] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a lightweight, low-cost surface tension storage tank. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of the defects in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight surface tension storage tank.

[0009] According to the present invention, a lightweight surface tension tank is provided, comprising: a tank shell, a propellant management device, a liquid nozzle, and an air nozzle, wherein the liquid nozzle is arranged at the bottom end of the tank shell, the air nozzle is arranged at the top end of the tank shell, and the propellant management device is arranged in the tank shell, with its two ends respectively connected to the liquid nozzle and the air nozzle; the tank shell comprises an aluminum alloy shell liner and a carbon fiber composite material winding layer covering the liner; the propellant management device comprises an assembly, wherein the assembly comprises two layers of aluminum alloy porous structural members fastened together and a stainless steel dense mesh between the two layers of the aluminum alloy porous structural members, the stainless steel dense mesh being fastened to one of the layers of the aluminum alloy porous structural members by hot melt bonding.

[0010] Preferably, the aluminum alloy lined shell includes a hemispherical upper shell and a lower shell, and the wall thickness of the upper shell and the lower shell is 0.6-1.0 mm.

[0011] Preferably, the propellant management device includes a liquid nozzle frame, a liquid port, a cylinder receiving assembly and an air nozzle frame arranged in sequence from bottom to top, and a plurality of annular channel assemblies are connected between the liquid port and the air nozzle frame.

[0012] Preferably, the liquid nozzle skeleton is connected to the liquid nozzle, and the gas nozzle skeleton is connected to the gas nozzle.

[0013] Preferably, the tube collection assembly includes a tube collection inner tube, a tube collection side net and a tube collection outer tube, the tube collection side net is arranged between the tube collection inner tube and the tube collection outer tube, the tube collection inner tube and the tube collection side net are fastened together by hot melt bonding, the tube collection inner tube and the tube collection outer tube are fastened together by circumferential welding, and the three cooperate to form a first assembly.

[0014] Preferably, the fitting clearance between the inner tube and the outer tube is 0.02 to 0.05 mm.

[0015] Preferably, the tube collection assembly also includes a tube collection upper pressure plate, a tube collection top net and a tube collection lower pressure plate. The tube collection top net is arranged between the tube collection upper pressure plate and the tube collection lower pressure plate. The tube collection top net and the tube collection upper pressure plate are fastened together by hot melt bonding. The tube collection upper pressure plate and the tube collection lower pressure plate are fastened together by circumferential welding. The three cooperate to form a second assembly.

[0016] Preferably, the second assembly is fastened to the top end of the first assembly by welding, and the weld penetration of the two is greater than the wall thickness of the outer cylinder.

[0017] Preferably, the tube receiving assembly and the liquid port are fastened together by circumferential welding, and the weld penetration of the two is greater than the wall thickness of the outer tube of the tube receiving assembly.

[0018] Preferably, the connection structure at the end of the channel assembly includes a channel pressure plate, a channel mesh, and a channel frame. The channel mesh is arranged between the channel pressure plate and the channel frame. The channel mesh and the channel pressure plate are fastened together by hot melt bonding. The channel pressure plate and the channel frame are fastened together by circumferential welding. The three cooperate to form a connection structure assembly.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0020] 1. The present invention adopts an aluminum alloy lining and carbon fiber composite material winding molding method for the tank shell, and adopts a hot melt bonding process molding method for the dense mesh and porous structural parts in the propellant management device. It has the advantages of lightweight and low cost. It can be used as a surface tension tank in aerospace products such as satellites, spacecraft, and space stations.

[0021] 2. The present invention adopts an aluminum alloy lining and carbon fiber composite material winding for the tank shell. The density of aluminum alloy and carbon fiber composite material is lower, and the weight is lighter under the same wall thickness. In addition, the unit price of aluminum alloy material is low, and the carbon fiber composite material is used for winding molding and the amount used is small, which can meet the low cost requirement.

[0022] 3. The present invention adopts an extremely thin stainless steel dense mesh material, and the remaining structural parts are all made of aluminum alloy. It avoids the fixed connection method in which dissimilar metals must be melted together when welding. The stainless steel mesh with a higher melting point is bonded to the aluminum alloy surface through the solution generated by the heating of the low-melting-point aluminum alloy, which can meet the needs of lightweight applications. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the following drawings:

[0024] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a lightweight surface tension storage tank embodying the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is an appearance diagram of the lightweight surface tension storage tank mainly embodied in the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view of a propellant management device that mainly embodies the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the main embodiment of the drum receiving assembly of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the connection structure of the channel assembly mainly embodied in the present invention.

[0029] As shown in the figure:

[0030] Upper shell 1 Lower shell 2 Composite material winding layer 3

[0031] Propellant management device 4 Liquid nozzle 5 Gas nozzle 6

[0032] Cylinder receiving assembly 41 Liquid port 42 Liquid nozzle frame 43

[0033] Channel assembly 44, valve frame 45, cylinder retracting inner cylinder 411

[0034] Tube collection side net 412 Tube collection outer tube 413 Tube collection upper pressure plate 414

[0035] Tube top net 415 Tube bottom pressure plate 416 Channel pressure plate 441

[0036] Channel mesh 442 Channel skeleton 443 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. The following examples will help those skilled in the art to further understand the present invention, but are not intended to limit the present invention in any form. It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, several changes and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. These all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0038] like Figure 1 and 2 As shown, a lightweight surface tension tank provided according to the present invention includes: a tank shell, a propellant management device 4, a liquid nozzle 5 and an air nozzle 6. The liquid nozzle 5 is arranged at the bottom end of the tank shell, and the air nozzle 6 is arranged at the top end of the tank shell. The propellant management device 4 is arranged in the tank shell, and its two ends are connected to the liquid nozzle 5 and the air nozzle 6 respectively; the tank shell includes an aluminum alloy liner shell and a carbon fiber composite material winding layer 3 covering it; the propellant management device 4 includes an assembly, which includes two layers of aluminum alloy porous structural members fastened together and a stainless steel dense mesh between the two layers of aluminum alloy porous structural members, and the stainless steel dense mesh is fastened to one of the aluminum alloy porous structural members by hot melt bonding.

[0039] The surface tension tank primarily consists of a tank shell and an internal propellant management device 4. The tank shell primarily stores and maintains pressure on the propellant, while the propellant management device 4 manages the propellant within the shell in a microgravity environment, including storage and transportation. When the tank begins operation, pressurized gas upstream of the tank enters the tank through a gas nozzle 6. At this point, regardless of the propellant's position within the tank in microgravity, driven by the upstream gas, the propellant is discharged downstream through the propellant management device, free of air. This discharged propellant must be free of air, as this would malfunction the downstream engine. The propellant discharge port is a liquid nozzle 5.

[0040] The aluminum alloy shell liner consists of a hemispherical upper shell 1 and a lower shell 2, both with wall thicknesses of 0.6 to 1.0 mm. During assembly, the propellant management system 4 is first welded to the lower shell 2, followed by the upper shell 1. The liquid nozzle 5 and gas nozzle 6 are then welded separately. Finally, the tank shell is wrapped with composite material to form the composite wrap layer 3.

[0041] like Figure 3 As shown, the propellant management device 4 comprises, from bottom to top, a liquid nozzle frame 43, a liquid port 42, a tube receiving assembly 41, and a gas nozzle frame 45. Multiple annular channel assemblies 44 are connected between the liquid port 42 and the gas nozzle frame 45. During assembly, the liquid nozzle frame 43 and the liquid port 42 are first welded together, followed by the tube receiving assembly 41. The four channel assemblies 44 are then welded together at their ends to the gas nozzle frame 45 and the liquid port 42, respectively. The liquid nozzle frame 43 is connected to the liquid nozzle 5, and the gas nozzle frame 45 is connected to the gas nozzle 6.

[0042] like Figure 4 As shown, the tube collection assembly 41 includes an inner tube collection cylinder 411, a side net 412, and an outer tube collection cylinder 413. The side net 412 is disposed between the inner tube collection cylinder 411 and the outer tube collection cylinder 413. The inner tube collection cylinder 411 and the side net 412 are fastened together by hot melt bonding. The inner tube collection cylinder 411 and the outer tube collection cylinder 413 are fastened together by circumferential welding. The three components cooperate to form a first assembly. The clearance between the inner tube collection cylinder 411 and the outer tube collection cylinder 413 is 0.02 to 0.05 mm.

[0043] The inner and outer tubes 411 and 413 are porous aluminum alloy structures, while the side nets 412 are stainless steel dense mesh. During production, the side nets 412 and inner tube 411 are clamped together using a fixture. The circumferential ends and longitudinal non-porous areas of the side nets 412 and inner tube 411 where they contact are then heated and pressurized using relevant equipment. The heated molten metal in the inner tube 411 bonds the side nets 412 to the inner tube 411. The outer tube 413 is then welded to the assembly. During this connection and molding process, the main body of the side nets 412 remains intact and unmelted.

[0044] The tube collection assembly 41 also includes a tube collection upper pressure plate 414, a tube collection top net 415 and a tube collection lower pressure plate 416. The tube collection top net 415 is arranged between the tube collection upper pressure plate 414 and the tube collection lower pressure plate 416. The tube collection top net 415 and the tube collection upper pressure plate 414 are fastened together by hot melt bonding. The tube collection upper pressure plate 414 and the tube collection lower pressure plate 416 are fastened together by circumferential welding. The three cooperate to form a second assembly.

[0045] The upper and lower pressure plates 414 and 416 are constructed of porous aluminum alloy, while the top mesh 415 is a stainless steel dense mesh. During fabrication, the mesh 415 is first bonded to the upper pressure plate 414 using the melt generated by the heat from the upper pressure plate 414. It is then circumferentially welded to the lower pressure plate 416 to achieve a seal. Although 415 is located in the middle, it is secured to only one of the upper and lower pressure plates. The upper and lower pressure plates are then welded together in a single circle to complete the welded assembly and achieve the desired function.

[0046] After the first assembly and the second assembly are respectively manufactured, they are circumferentially welded to fix them. The second assembly is fastened to the top of the first assembly by welding, and the weld penetration of the two is greater than the wall thickness of the outer tube 413.

[0047] The bottom of the tube receiving assembly 41 and the top of the liquid port 42 are fastened together by circumferential welding, and the weld penetration of the two is greater than the wall thickness of the tube receiving outer tube 413 .

[0048] like Figure 5 As shown, the connection structure at the end of the channel assembly 44 includes a channel pressure plate 441, a channel mesh 442, and a channel frame 443. The channel mesh 442 is disposed between the channel pressure plate 441 and the channel frame 443. The channel mesh 442 and the channel pressure plate 441 are fastened together by hot melt bonding, and the channel pressure plate 441 and the channel frame 443 are fastened together by circumferential welding. The three cooperate to form a connection structure assembly. During production, the channel mesh 442 is first bonded to one channel pressure plate 441, and then the other channel pressure plate 441 and the channel frame 443 are assembled together and fixed by circumferential welding.

[0049] In the present application, the tube-collecting side net 412, the tube-collecting top net 415, and the channel mesh 442 are made of stainless steel, the composite material winding layer 3 is made of carbon fiber material, and the remaining parts are made of aluminum alloy material.

[0050] The tank shell is formed by winding an aluminum alloy liner with a carbon fiber composite material. Compared to materials like titanium alloy and stainless steel, aluminum alloy and carbon fiber composite materials have lower density, resulting in lighter weight for the same wall thickness. Aluminum alloy is over ten times cheaper per unit than metals like titanium alloy. Carbon fiber composite materials are wound in a relatively small amount, thus achieving low costs.

[0051] In the propellant management device 4, the dense mesh and the porous structural parts are formed by a hot melt bonding process. The extremely thin dense mesh is made of stainless steel, and the remaining structural parts are all made of aluminum alloy. This avoids the fixed connection method in which dissimilar metals must be melted together for welding. The stainless steel mesh with a higher melting point is bonded to the aluminum alloy surface through the solution generated by the heating of the low-melting-point aluminum alloy, which effectively solves the problem that the aluminum alloy structure and the stainless steel mesh cannot be welded, and can meet the needs of lightweight applications in specific environments. Further, it can meet the needs of low cost.

[0052] This application has the advantages of being lightweight and low cost, and can be used as a surface tension tank in aerospace products such as satellites, spacecraft, and space stations.

[0053] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this 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 a limitation on this application.

[0054] The above describes specific embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and those skilled in the art may make various changes or modifications within the scope of the claims, which do not affect the essence of the present invention. The embodiments of this application and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other in any manner unless there is a conflict.

Claims

1. A lightweight surface tension tank, characterized in that: include: A tank shell, a propellant management device (4), a liquid nozzle (5), and an air nozzle (6), wherein the liquid nozzle (5) is arranged at the bottom end of the tank shell, and the air nozzle (6) is arranged at the top end of the tank shell. The propellant management device (4) is arranged in the tank shell, and its two ends are respectively connected to the liquid nozzle (5) and the air nozzle (6); The tank shell comprises an aluminum alloy shell lining and a carbon fiber composite material winding layer (3) covering the aluminum alloy shell lining; The propellant management device (4) comprises an assembly, wherein the assembly comprises two layers of aluminum alloy porous structural members that are fastened together and a stainless steel dense mesh sheet between the two layers of the aluminum alloy porous structural members, wherein the stainless steel dense mesh sheet is fastened to one of the layers of the aluminum alloy porous structural members by hot melt bonding; The propellant management device (4) comprises a liquid nozzle frame (43), a liquid port (42), a cylinder receiving assembly (41) and an air nozzle frame (45) arranged in sequence from bottom to top, and a plurality of annular channel assemblies (44) are connected between the liquid port (42) and the air nozzle frame (45); The liquid nozzle skeleton (43) is connected to the liquid nozzle (5), and the gas nozzle skeleton (45) is connected to the gas nozzle (6); The connection structure at the end of the channel assembly (44) includes a channel pressure plate (441), a channel mesh (442), and a channel skeleton (443). The channel mesh (442) is arranged between the channel pressure plate (441) and the channel skeleton (443). The channel mesh (442) and the channel pressure plate (441) are fastened together by hot melt bonding. The channel pressure plate (441) and the channel skeleton (443) are fastened together by circumferential welding. The three cooperate to form a connection structure assembly.

2. The lightweight surface tension tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The aluminum alloy lined shell comprises a hemispherical upper shell (1) and a lower shell (2), both having a wall thickness of 0.6 to 1.0 mm.

3. The lightweight surface tension tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tube collection assembly (41) comprises a tube collection inner tube (411), a tube collection side net (412) and a tube collection outer tube (413); the tube collection side net (412) is arranged between the tube collection inner tube (411) and the tube collection outer tube (413); the tube collection inner tube (411) and the tube collection side net (412) are fastened together by hot melt bonding; the tube collection inner tube (411) and the tube collection outer tube (413) are fastened together by circumferential welding; and the three cooperate to form a first assembly.

4. The lightweight surface tension tank according to claim 3, characterized in that: The fitting clearance between the inner tube (411) and the outer tube (413) is 0.02 to 0.05 mm.

5. The lightweight surface tension tank according to claim 4, characterized in that: The cylinder collection assembly (41) also includes a cylinder collection upper pressure plate (414), a cylinder collection top net (415) and a cylinder collection lower pressure plate (416), wherein the cylinder collection top net (415) is arranged between the cylinder collection upper pressure plate (414) and the cylinder collection lower pressure plate (416), the cylinder collection top net (415) and the cylinder collection upper pressure plate (414) are fastened together by hot melt bonding, and the cylinder collection upper pressure plate (414) and the cylinder collection lower pressure plate (416) are fastened together by circumferential welding, and the three cooperate to form a second assembly.

6. The lightweight surface tension tank according to claim 5, characterized in that: The second assembly is fastened to the top end of the first assembly by welding, and the weld penetration of the two is greater than the wall thickness of the outer cylinder (413).

7. The lightweight surface tension tank according to claim 3, characterized in that: The tube receiving assembly (41) and the liquid port (42) are tightly connected by circumferential welding, and the weld penetration of the two is greater than the wall thickness of the tube receiving outer tube (413).

Images