Cylindrical gasket components, manufacturing methods thereof, and pressure vessels

Abstract

In the main body 20 of the cylindrical gasket component 2, a pressing rib 25 is provided on the side closer to the center in the axial direction than the welded ends 21 at both ends in the axial direction. Between the two pressing ribs 25, there is an annular disc gate mark 28 that protrudes in the radial direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a resin-made cylindrical gasket component for use in pressure vessels for filling various pressurized substances, a method for manufacturing the cylindrical gasket component, and a pressure vessel having the cylindrical gasket component. Background Technology

[0002] Examples of pressurized substances that can be filled in a pressure vessel include high-pressure hydrogen, various compressed gases such as CNG (compressed natural gas), liquid hydrogen, LNG (liquefied natural gas), LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), and various liquefied gases.

[0003] As a pressure vessel for filling the various pressurized substances described above, a structure is used in which a metal connector is installed at one or both ends of a hollow resin liner along its axial direction, and a valve is installed at at least one of these connectors. In such a pressure vessel, the outer peripheral surface of the resin liner is typically covered by a reinforcing section made of high-strength resin (FRP; Fiber Reinforced Plastic, etc.).

[0004] Such pressure vessels require strength to withstand pressure even when filled with high-pressure gas. Additionally, the resin liner that forms part of the pressure vessel also requires sufficient strength.

[0005] It is generally accepted that minimizing weld seams formed during molding is more effective in obtaining resin gaskets with superior strength. Weld seams are generally considered to occur when the flow path of the fluid resin material branches during molding and then rejoins. In this specification, fluid resin material refers to a resin material that has melted or softened into a fluid state.

[0006] If the flow path of the fluid resin material branches, the flow rate and temperature of the fluid resin material are more likely to differ in each branch path. In this case, the fluid resin materials that converge again are not easily mixed uniformly. Therefore, it can be considered that, regarding the resin gasket with weld lines, the resin regions adjacent to each other with the weld lines as boundaries are in a state of fusion, resulting in poor strength of the resin gasket.

[0007] Here, the resin gasket, which is part of the pressure vessel, is a part for mounting a joint, which is another part of the pressure vessel, and has a complex shape for mounting the joint. Moreover, as a method for manufacturing such a complex-shaped resin gasket, it is generally adopted that the resin gasket is formed into multiple segments along its axial direction, and the multiple segments are fused together to form a single unit.

[0008] As a method for manufacturing resin molded articles with complex shapes, multi-gate injection molding is commonly used. Specifically, multi-gate injection molding refers to setting multiple gates along the circumference of the resin liner in the molding die, and injecting fluid resin material into the cavity of the molding die through each gate as an injection port.

[0009] On the other hand, as mentioned above, when manufacturing a resin gasket by welding multiple segments together, in order to sufficiently improve the weld strength of the resin gasket, it is necessary to ensure that the shape of the joint portion of each segment is consistent with each other. In order to ensure that the shape of the joint portion of each segment is consistent with each other, each segment needs to be molded with high molding precision.

[0010] However, according to the multi-gate injection molding method described above, the weld lines during molding easily form segmented parts, and since fluid resin material is injected into the mold cavity from multiple gates, multiple gate marks form segmented parts, making it difficult to obtain segmented parts with large diameters and high roundness. In this respect, it is difficult to say that the multi-gate injection molding method is suitable for molding segmented parts of resin products requiring large diameters and high strength, such as resin gaskets for pressure vessels.

[0011] Patent Document 1 describes a technique in which, when manufacturing a segmented body that divides a resin liner into two parts along its axial direction, a gate, such as an injection port, is provided in the molding die at a position corresponding to the dome of the resin liner, i.e., the end face of the segmented body along its axial direction, so that the fluid resin material flows in one direction along the axial direction of the resin liner. Regarding the injection molding method described in Patent Document 1, it can be considered that the number and position of the gates differ from those in multi-point gate injection molding methods, thus enabling the molding of segmented bodies with higher sphericity. Furthermore, it is less likely to form the aforementioned weld lines.

[0012] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-240667 Summary of the Invention

[0013] Here, regarding the resin pad segment of the manufacturing method described in Patent Document 1, the resin pad is divided into two parts along its axial direction, resulting in a relatively large size. Furthermore, there is a problem that the axial length of the resin pad is limited by the size of the mold that the molding machine can open.

[0014] In view of the above problems, in order to manufacture resin pads with a long axial length, the inventors of the present invention desire to form the resin pad into three or more segments along its axial direction. Specifically, it is desirable to form the resin pad into two end-side segments with a dome at one end, and three or more segments for connecting the end-side segments. By manufacturing the resin pad by integrating three or more segments, it is possible to manufacture resin pads with a longer axial length than current resin pads. However, when the resin pad is formed into three or more segments, it is particularly difficult to mold the cylindrical pad component, which is the central part of the resin pad, with high molding accuracy using the method of Patent Document 1. The reasons are as follows.

[0015] Regarding the cylindrical gasket component, in the case of constituting the central portion of the resin gasket, each of its two ends in the axial direction has a welded portion, which is a portion that is fused with other segments. This welded portion has a relatively complex shape. Therefore, for example, if a gate is provided on the end face in the axial direction of the cylindrical gasket component, during molding, the flow of fluid resin material may become turbulent near the welded portion directly below the gate, potentially causing air entrapment. The resulting cylindrical gasket component suffers from a lack of superior strength.

[0016] Therefore, it is desirable to develop technologies that can improve the formability of cylindrical gasket components.

[0017] The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a technique that can improve the formability of cylindrical gasket components.

[0018] The cylindrical gasket component of the present invention, which solves the above-mentioned problems, has a cylindrical main body and a central portion in the axial direction constituting the resin gasket of the pressure vessel.

[0019] It has: welded ends, which respectively constitute both ends of the main body in the axial direction;

[0020] Pressing ribs are respectively disposed at both ends of the main body in the axial direction, and are arranged circumferentially along the main body at the central portion side closer to the axial direction than the welded ends, and protrude radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the main body; and

[0021] The annular disc-shaped gate mark is positioned between the two pressing ribs and protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the main body.

[0022] Furthermore, the method for manufacturing the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention, which solves the above-mentioned problems, is a method for manufacturing the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention described above.

[0023] It has the following processes:

[0024] In the molding process, for an intermediate body having the main body and the pressing ribs, and a plate-shaped disc-shaped gate portion disposed between the two pressing ribs and integrated with the inner circumferential surface of the main body, the intermediate body is injection molded such that the disc-shaped gate portion serves as an injection port for fluid resin material into the main body and the pressing ribs; and

[0025] The shaping process involves cutting away the disc-shaped gate portion to form the disc-shaped gate mark.

[0026] The effects of the invention

[0027] The method for manufacturing the cylindrical gasket component according to the present invention can improve the formability of the cylindrical gasket component. Furthermore, it can also manufacture a cylindrical gasket component with excellent strength due to the suppression of weld formation. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the pressure vessel of Embodiment 1.

[0029] Figure 2 This is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the cylindrical gasket component of Embodiment 1.

[0030] Figure 3 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the manufacturing method of the cylindrical gasket component of Embodiment 1.

[0031] Figure 4 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the manufacturing method of the cylindrical gasket component of Embodiment 1.

[0032] Figure 5 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the manufacturing method of the cylindrical gasket component of Embodiment 1. Detailed Implementation

[0033] As described above, the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention is part of a pressure vessel filled with various compressed gases, various liquefied gases, and other pressurized substances. This cylindrical gasket component forms the central portion of the resin gasket of the pressure vessel in the axial direction, has a main body portion formed in a cylindrical shape, and is also integrally formed in a cylindrical shape.

[0034] Furthermore, in this specification, unless otherwise specified, the axial direction refers to the axial direction of the resin pad, and the axial direction of the main body is consistent with the axial direction of the resin pad.

[0035] This cylindrical gasket component of the present invention has a welded end and a pressing rib. These portions are the welded parts of the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention.

[0036] The welded ends of the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention are part of a cylindrical main body, respectively constituting both ends of the main body in the axial direction. Furthermore, pressing ribs are integrally provided at both ends of the main body in the axial direction, configured to be closer to the central portion in the axial direction than the welded ends. These pressing ribs are arranged circumferentially along the main body and protrude radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the main body.

[0037] Here, when molding a cylindrical pad member having the aforementioned welded end and pressing rib in the welded section, based on the technology described in Patent Document 1, if a gate is provided at a position corresponding to the end face of the molding die in the axial direction of the cylindrical pad member, it can be considered that the flow of fluid resin material in the cavity of the molding die is turbulent near the pressing rib. The reason is as follows.

[0038] The pressing ribs of the cylindrical gasket component protrude radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the main body. Therefore, if a gate is provided at the aforementioned location, the area forming the pressing ribs in the cavity of the molding die for the cylindrical gasket component is located directly below the gate and extends in a direction intersecting the radial direction, i.e., the axial direction. Consequently, it can be considered that the flow of fluid resin material flowing along the axial direction within the cavity is turbulent near the pressing ribs.

[0039] It is conceivable that if the flow of the fluid resin material is turbulent directly below the gate, problems such as air entrapment will occur as described above, resulting in poor molding of the cylindrical gasket component.

[0040] Below, the area in the cavity of the molding die for the cylindrical padding component that forms the pressing rib is sometimes referred to as the pressing rib forming area, depending on the requirements.

[0041] In contrast, the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention has a disc gate mark between the two pressing ribs. The disc gate mark is a ring-shaped mark that protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the main body and is the mark of the disc gate portion of the resin molded article obtained by a disc gate injection molding method.

[0042] The current molding method for molding cylindrical resin molded products is the disc-gate injection molding method.

[0043] In this molding method, fluid resin material is injected into the mold cavity through a plate-shaped gate called a disc gate. In the case of manufacturing the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention, a disc gate is provided in the molding die at a position corresponding to the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical main body.

[0044] The disc gate is connected to the entire circumference of the area in the cavity where the main body is molded. Therefore, fluid resin material is injected approximately uniformly throughout the entire circumference of this area via the disc gate, and flows along the axial direction.

[0045] According to the method for manufacturing the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention, by employing the disc-type injection molding method, it is possible to suppress the generation of weld seams and form a main body with high roundness, even when the main body is cylindrical.

[0046] Here, regarding the manufacturing method of the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention, in the intermediate body of the cylindrical gasket component obtained by the disc gate injection molding method, the above-mentioned disc gate portion is disposed between two pressing ribs.

[0047] In other words, regarding the manufacturing method of the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention, a disc-shaped gate of the molding die is positioned between the two regions forming the pressing ribs in the cavity. Furthermore, fluid resin material is injected into the cavity to form both the main body region and the pressing rib forming region using this disc-shaped gate as an injection port.

[0048] As a result, the fluid resin material injected from the disc gate into the cavity of the molding die splits in two directions, flowing toward the two ends of the cylindrical liner component in the axial direction.

[0049] Below, the area in the cavity that forms the main body is sometimes referred to as the main body forming area, depending on the needs.

[0050] Here, as described above, the pressing rib forming area of ​​the cavity extends in a direction intersecting the axial direction, so the flow of fluid resin material is easily disturbed in this area.

[0051] However, the pressing ribs of the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention are located together with the welding end at both ends of the cylindrical gasket component (more specifically the main body) in the axial direction, and the disc gate mark as a disc gate mark is arranged between the two pressing ribs.

[0052] Therefore, the pressing rib forming area is located on the downstream side of the flow direction of the fluid resin material injected from the disc gate within the cavity. The pressing rib forming area is adjacent to the end portion of the molding die cavity, so even if air is entrained due to turbulent flow of the fluid resin material, the entrained air is immediately expelled. Therefore, air will not remain in the cylindrical gasket component.

[0053] Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of the cylindrical gasket component of the invention, it can be said that the cylindrical gasket component can be formed with high dimensional accuracy and molding defects of the cylindrical gasket component can be suppressed. Furthermore, it can be said that the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention has a structure with high dimensional accuracy and fewer molding defects. That is, according to the present invention, the formability of the cylindrical gasket component can be improved.

[0054] The following describes each component of the cylindrical gasket component and its manufacturing method, as well as the pressure vessel of the present invention.

[0055] The cylindrical gasket component of the present invention is a component located at the central portion of the resin gasket in the axial direction of a pressure vessel. As described above, the pressure vessel having the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention is a container for filling various pressurized substances. Therefore, for the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention, which forms part of the pressure vessel, gas barrier properties corresponding to the type of pressurized substance filled into the pressure vessel are required. Furthermore, when integrally formed by welding with other segments constituting the resin gasket, a thermoplastic resin is used as the material for the cylindrical gasket component.

[0056] Specifically, examples of such resin materials include thermoplastic resins with excellent gas barrier properties such as ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polyamide resins (nylon 6, nylon 66), but the invention is not limited to these. As the resin material for the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention, one or more of such thermoplastic resin materials may be appropriately selected according to the application of the pressure vessel using the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention.

[0057] The cylindrical gasket component of the present invention has a main body and pressing ribs. The main body is cylindrical, with welded ends forming both ends along the axial direction of the main body. The pressing ribs are respectively provided at both ends along the axial direction of the main body and are positioned closer to the center than the welded ends.

[0058] The main body can be cylindrical, and its axial length and radial cross-section are arbitrary, but in particular, the radial cross-section is preferably a shape that can withstand higher internal pressure.

[0059] Specifically, the radial cross-section of the main body is preferably a perfect circle or a regular polygon with a hexagonal shape or larger. The top of this regular polygon can be a flat shape such as a truncated polyhedron or a curved shape.

[0060] Furthermore, if high internal pressure tolerance is taken into account, it is preferable that the thickness of the main body is constant or approximately constant.

[0061] Specifically, regarding the main body portion excluding the welded end, the thinnest portion is designated as the thinnest part, and the thickest portion is designated as the thickest part. When the thickness of the thickest part is set to 100%, it is preferable that the thickness of the thinnest part is greater than or equal to 80%, greater than or equal to 85%, or greater than or equal to 90%.

[0062] The welded end is the portion of the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention that is welded to other segments constituting the resin gasket. Additionally, the pressing rib functions as a pressing end during welding to bring the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention into close contact with other segments.

[0063] Therefore, the pressing rib is disposed together with the welded end on the end side of the cylindrical gasket component in the axial direction. In other words, the pressing rib is located near the welded end, slightly closer to the center in the axial direction than the welded end.

[0064] The distance between the pressing rib and the welded end is not particularly limited, and can be exemplified as being within the range of 5mm to 10mm.

[0065] Furthermore, the distance between the pressing rib and the welded end mentioned here refers to the distance between the front end of the welded end in the axial direction and the front end of the pressing rib in the axial direction. The distance between the pressing rib and the welded end can essentially be described as the length of the welded end that can be melted or softened during welding, plus the distance of the weld burr receiving portion that contains the weld burrs generated during welding.

[0066] The pressing ribs are located at both ends of the main body in the axial direction. The two ends refer to the area on the end side of the entire length of the main body in the axial direction.

[0067] The pressing rib protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the main body. As described above, the pressing rib functions as a pressing end during welding; more specifically, the pressing rib is the portion of the cylindrical gasket member of the present invention that abuts against the clamp during welding and is subjected to force from the clamp. Therefore, the protrusion height of the pressing rib only needs to be sufficient to ensure a sufficient contact area relative to the clamp.

[0068] The height of the pressing rib can be appropriately set according to the shape of the clamp, and its height is not particularly limited. However, if the height of the pressing rib is too high, the possibility of air entrapment increases. Taking this into account, a preferred range for the height of the pressing rib is, for example, 2mm to 5mm.

[0069] However, when the welded end is the part of the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention that is welded to other segments, it is necessary to provide it continuously around the entire circumference of the main body. Furthermore, it is preferable that the pressing ribs are also continuously arranged along the circumference of the main body.

[0070] For example, the pressing ribs may be arranged intermittently along the circumference of the main body or in a localized manner, but in order to ensure that sufficient force is applied to the welding end during welding, it is preferable that the pressing ribs are arranged uniformly or substantially uniformly around the circumference of the main body, or continuously around the circumference of the main body.

[0071] The cylindrical gasket component of the present invention has a disc gate mark disposed between two pressing ribs. As described later, the disc gate mark is the mark left after the disc gate has been removed. Specifically, the disc gate mark is annular, protruding radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the main body.

[0072] Details regarding the disc gate marks will be explained in detail in the section on the manufacturing method of the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention, which will be described later.

[0073] The method for manufacturing the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention includes a molding process and a shaping process.

[0074] In the molding process, an intermediate body is formed having the aforementioned main body, pressing ribs, and a plate-shaped disc gate portion. The main body and pressing ribs of the intermediate body are identical to those of the main body and pressing ribs of the cylindrical gasket member of the present invention. Therefore, it can be said that this intermediate body is a structure of the cylindrical gasket member of the present invention with the portion of the disc gate portion excluding the disc gate mark.

[0075] The disc gate section is a plate-shaped part located between two pressing ribs. It can be described as the part where the fluid resin material remaining in the disc gate of the molding die cools and solidifies during the molding process.

[0076] As described above, the disc gate is the injection port for fluid resin material into the mold cavity, and therefore the disc gate section becomes the injection port during molding.

[0077] That is, the manufacturing method of the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention is a disc-gate injection molding method that uses a molding die having the disc gate for injection molding.

[0078] The disc gate is positioned between the two pressing rib forming areas in the mold cavity. Therefore, the fluid resin material injected into the mold cavity through the disc gate flows towards both ends in the axial direction and flows along the axial direction in the main body forming area.

[0079] The fluid resin material, which is divided into two parts, is further divided into two parts near the pressing rib forming area. One part flows into the pressing rib forming area, and the other part flows into the area forming the weld end in the main body forming area.

[0080] Here, the pressing rib forming area is located at the downstream end of the flow direction of the fluid resin material within the cavity, so the flow of the fluid resin material is less prone to turbulence when it is diverted in the pressing rib forming area. Furthermore, even if the flow of the fluid resin material is somewhat turbulent near the pressing rib forming area, the impact on the flow of the fluid resin material is smaller in the main body forming area, which is located further upstream. Therefore, the method for manufacturing the cylindrical gasket component according to the present invention can suppress molding defects and produce cylindrical gasket components with high molding accuracy.

[0081] Furthermore, regarding the pressing ribs, they are unrelated to the function of the resin liner in the pressure vessel; as mentioned above, they only need to function as pressing ends during welding. Therefore, slight variations in the shape of the pressing ribs are acceptable.

[0082] The shaping process is the process of removing the disc gate portion from the intermediate obtained in the molding process. The portion of the disc gate portion that is not completely removed at this time becomes the disc gate mark. Therefore, it can be said that the shaping process is the process of removing the disc gate portion except for the disc gate mark from the intermediate obtained in the molding process.

[0083] In the shaping process, the disc gate portion can be removed manually or automatically using conventional devices and tools such as cutting tools. The cylindrical gasket component of the present invention can be obtained through the molding and shaping processes.

[0084] Furthermore, the inner circumferential surface of the disc gate mark of the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention may not be the cutting surface formed in the above-mentioned shaping process, but it is preferably the cutting surface.

[0085] For example, the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention can also be manufactured by forming a cutting line on the radially outer portion of the disc gate using a mold during molding, and then manually removing the disc gate along this cutting line formed in the intermediate body. However, in this case, excessive external force applied to the cylindrical gasket component during manual removal of the disc gate may cause damage such as dents. In this case, stress concentration in the recessed area when filling the pressure vessel with pressurized material may also make it difficult to improve the durability of the resin gasket. Therefore, it is preferable to remove the disc gate through a shaping process.

[0086] However, if the flow of the fluid resin material in the cavity is to be adjusted, it is preferable to allow the fluid resin material to flow smoothly from the disc gate into the cavity.

[0087] Therefore, it is preferable that the disc gate is smoothly connected to the cavity at the part connected to the cavity, and the disc gate part is also preferably in a shape that is smoothly connected to the main body at the boundary part with the main body.

[0088] In other words, the disc gating section and the main body extend in directions that intersect each other, but preferably the boundary portion of the disc gating section with the main body is curved in a manner along the axial direction of the main body.

[0089] Furthermore, in other words, the thickness of the disc gate portion in the axial direction preferably increases gradually from the radial inside to the outer side at the boundary with the main body portion. In addition, the thickness of the disc gate mark in the axial direction also preferably increases gradually from the radial inside to the outer side.

[0090] In addition, the pressing rib forming area in the cavity extends in a direction that intersects with the main body forming area.

[0091] Therefore, if the flow of the fluid resin material in the pressing rib forming area is to be adjusted, it is preferable to allow the fluid resin material to flow smoothly from the main body forming area of ​​the cavity into the pressing rib forming area.

[0092] Therefore, the portion of the main body forming area of ​​the preferred cavity that is connected to the pressing rib forming area is smoothly connected to the pressing rib forming area, and the thickness of the portion of the main body that is connected to the pressing rib is preferably to gradually increase towards the pressing rib.

[0093] Furthermore, the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the main body connected to the pressing rib is preferably an inclined or curved surface that is smoothly continuous with the surface of the central part of the pressing rib.

[0094] The disc gate can be positioned in the center of the two pressing rib forming areas, or it can be offset to either pressing rib forming area.

[0095] When the disc gate is offset to either side of the two pressing rib forming areas, the intermediate material tends to remain in the mold on a constant side of the mold after the molding process, more specifically, on the opposite side of the mold with a sprue connected to the disc gate. This has the advantage of improving manufacturing efficiency.

[0096] Regarding the cylindrical gasket component of the present invention, it is preferable that the disc-shaped gate mark is offset relative to the main body at one end in the axial direction.

[0097] The pressure vessel of the present invention may have: a hollow resin liner; a reinforcing portion covering the resin liner; a joint portion installed on the resin liner; and a valve installed on the joint portion.

[0098] The resin liner includes the tubular liner component of the present invention. Based on the tubular liner component, the resin liner has dome-shaped liner components integrated at both ends in the axial direction of the tubular liner component. The tubular liner component is as described above.

[0099] The connector is installed on at least one of the dome-shaped gasket components. The connector can be installed on a pre-formed dome-shaped gasket component, or it can be integrated with the dome-shaped gasket component during molding by methods such as insert molding.

[0100] When the connector is installed on the molded dome-shaped gasket component, it is preferable to provide a sealing mechanism such as an O-ring and a spare O-ring in the gap between the dome-shaped gasket component and the connector. The valve is installed on the connector. Furthermore, it is also preferable to provide a sealing mechanism such as an O-ring and a spare O-ring in the gap between the connector and the valve.

[0101] As for the dome-shaped gasket component, connector, and valve, any known structure can be used. Furthermore, the reinforcement can be achieved by covering the outer periphery of the resin gasket with a known material such as FRP using a known method.

[0102] The following describes the cylindrical gasket component, its manufacturing method, and the pressure vessel of the present invention by way of specific examples.

[0103] (Example 1)

[0104] The pressure vessel of Example 1 is a fuel tank for a vehicle, having the cylindrical gasket component of Example 1. Figure 1 The diagram shows an illustration of a pressure vessel schematically representing Embodiment 1. Figure 2 The diagram shows an illustration of the cylindrical gasket component of Embodiment 1. Figures 3-5 The diagram illustrates a method for manufacturing the cylindrical gasket component of Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, the axial direction refers to... Figure 1 The axis direction is shown.

[0105] like Figure 1 As shown, the pressure vessel 1 of Embodiment 1 has a resin liner 10, a reinforcing part 80 (shown by dashed lines in the figure), and two connectors 81.

[0106] The resin liner 10 is a structure in which a dome-shaped liner component 15 disposed at both ends in the axial direction and a cylindrical liner component 2 of Embodiment 1 disposed in the center are fused together and integrated.

[0107] Metal connectors 81 are mounted on each of the two dome-shaped gasket components 15. One connector 81 is closed, and the other connector 81 has an opening 81o for mounting a valve (not shown). Sealing mechanisms (not shown) are respectively arranged between each dome-shaped gasket component 15 and the connector 81, and between the connector 81 and the valve (not shown).

[0108] The reinforcing part 80 is made of FRP, specifically consisting of carbon fibers (not shown) wound around the outer periphery of the resin pad 10 and thermosetting resin (not shown) impregnated in the carbon fibers.

[0109] like Figure 2 As shown, the cylindrical gasket component 2 constituting the central part of the resin gasket 10 has a main body 20, a pressing rib 25, and a disc gate mark 28 in its state before being welded to the two dome-shaped gasket components 15. One end and the other end of the cylindrical gasket component 2 in the axial direction are symmetrical to each other.

[0110] The main body 20 is a cylindrical shape with an approximately circular cross-section. The two ends of the main body 20 along the axial direction are welded ends 21, which are slightly thicker than the other parts of the main body 20. Each welded end 21 is a short cylindrical shape extending along the axial direction.

[0111] On the outer periphery of the main body 20, pressing ribs 25 are provided at positions slightly closer to the center in the axial direction than each welded end 21. Each pressing rib 25 is approximately annular, winding around the outer peripheral surface 20op of the main body 20 in a circumferential direction, covering a portion of the axial direction. Furthermore, the pressing rib 25 is integrally formed with the outer peripheral surface 20op of the main body 20 and protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface 20op.

[0112] The cylindrical gasket component 2 has a welded portion consisting of a welded end 21 and a pressing rib 25 at each of its two ends in the axial direction.

[0113] The main body 20 has a connecting portion 22, which is located on the central side of the pressing rib 25 and connected to the pressing rib 25 in a direction closer to the axis. The inner and outer diameters of the connecting portion 22 gradually increase towards the axial end, that is, towards the pressing rib 25. The outer peripheral surface 22op of the connecting portion 22 is an inclined surface that is smoothly continuous with the pressing rib 25, and it is inclined from the radially inner side to the radially outer side.

[0114] A disc-shaped gate mark 28 is formed on the inner circumferential side of the main body 20. The disc-shaped gate mark 28 is disposed between the two pressing ribs 25 in the axial direction and is offset at one end relative to the main body 20 in the axial direction. The disc-shaped gate mark 28 is approximately annular, which is wrapped around the inner circumferential surface 20ip of the main body 20 in a circumferential direction for a portion of the axial direction. In addition, the disc-shaped gate mark 28 is integrally formed with the inner circumferential surface 20ip of the main body 20 and protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface.

[0115] The inner circumferential surface 28ip of the disc gate mark 28 is a cutting surface, formed through a shaping process described later. Furthermore, the thickness of the disc gate mark 28 gradually increases from the radially inward side to the radially outward side. In other words, the thickness of the disc gate mark 28 is greater at the boundary with the main body 20 than at other parts, and the two end faces of the disc gate mark 28 in the axial direction are smoothly continuous with the inner circumferential surface 20ip of the main body 20.

[0116] Furthermore, regarding the cylindrical gasket component 2 of Embodiment 1, the thickness of the main body 20, excluding the welded end 21, is approximately constant.

[0117] Specifically, regarding the portion of the main body 20 other than the welded end 21, when the thickness of the thickest part, which is the thickest part, is set to 100%, the thickness of the thinnest part, which is the thinnest part, is greater than or equal to 90%.

[0118] In addition, the distance between the pressing rib 25 and the welding end 21, that is, the distance between the front end of the welding end 21 in the axial direction and the front end of the pressing rib 25 in the axial direction, is 7mm, and the protrusion height of the pressing rib 25 facing the radially outward is 3mm.

[0119] Furthermore, the ratio between the center of one pressing rib 25 and the center of the disc gate mark 28 and the center of the other pressing rib 25 and the center of the disc gate mark 28 is 1:21, and the disc gate mark 28 is offset at one end relative to the main body 20 in the axial direction.

[0120] The manufacturing method of the cylindrical gasket component 2 of Example 1 will now be described.

[0121] [Molding Process]

[0122] like Figure 3 As shown, the molding die 4 for manufacturing the cylindrical gasket component 2 of Embodiment 1 has a fixed die 40 and a movable die 45. The fixed die 40 is provided with a sprue 41 connected to a disc gate 50. The nozzle of the injection molding machine (not shown) is mounted on this sprue 41. The movable die 45 consists of a sliding core 46, a core die 47, and a conventional die 48. The cavity 6 is formed by the die surface of the fixed die 40, the die surface of the sliding core 46 of the movable die 45, and the die surface of the core die 47. The sliding core 46 can change position together with the core die 47 and the conventional die 48, and can also change position itself in both the divided and integrated directions.

[0123] The core mold 47 is integrated with the conventional mold 48 and is approximately cylindrical, protruding toward the fixed mold 40. The fixed mold 40 has a short cylindrical mold portion 40p, protruding toward the movable mold 45. The protruding end face 40pe of the cylindrical mold portion 40p faces the protruding end face 47e of the core mold 47. A disc gate 50 is formed by the protruding end face 47e of the core mold 47 of the movable mold 45 and the protruding end face 40pe of the cylindrical mold portion 40p of the fixed mold 40. Furthermore, the disc gate 50 is composed of a disc body 50d, which is approximately disc-shaped, and a gate 50g located on the outer edge of the disc body 50d. The sprue 41 is connected to approximately the center of the disc body 50d. The gate 50g is connected to the cavity 6.

[0124] The sliding core 46 is approximately cylindrical, divided into two parts along its axial direction, and covers the central core mold 47 from the outside. The outer peripheral surface 47op of the central core mold 47 and the inner peripheral surface 46ip of the sliding core 46 divide the main body forming region 60 in the cavity 6 for forming the main body 20 of the cylindrical liner member 2.

[0125] On both end faces of the sliding core 46 in the axial direction, there are shallow, approximately annular recesses 42 that are recessed in the axial direction. The inner surface 42i of the shallow recess 42 is opposite to the base end face 40be of the columnar mold portion 40p in the fixed mold 40. The inner surface 42i of the shallow recess 42 and the base end face 40be of the fixed mold 40 divide and form the pressing rib forming region 61 in the cavity 6 for forming the pressing rib 25.

[0126] Furthermore, a nearly annular deep recess 43 is formed in the base 40b of the columnar mold portion 40p in the fixed mold 40 and in the radially inner portion of the normal mold 48 in the movable mold 45. The inner surface 43i of the deep recess 43 divides the forming cavity 6 into a welding end forming region 62 for forming the welding end 21.

[0127] In the molding process, injection molding is performed using fluid resin material 85 and the aforementioned molding die 4.

[0128] First, the resin material is heated to form a fluid resin material 85, which is then injected into the molding die 4 through the nozzle of an injection molding machine (not shown). The fluid resin material 85 flows through the sprue 41 into the disc 50d of the disc gate 50, and then through the gate 50g into the cavity 6.

[0129] The disc gate 50 is positioned between the two pressing rib forming areas 61 in the cavity 6.

[0130] Therefore, as Figure 4 As shown, the fluid resin material 85 flowing from the sprue 41 through the disc gate 50 into the cavity 6 first flows into the main body forming area 60 and then splits in two directions along the axial direction.

[0131] Here, the thickness of the disc gate 50 gradually increases from the radial inner side to the outer side, and the mold surface in the molding die 4 that divides the disc gate 50 and the mold surface that divides the main body forming area 60 are smoothly continuous.

[0132] Therefore, one of the two parts of the fluid resin material 85 flows smoothly into the main body forming region 60 of the cavity 6 and flows smoothly in one direction toward the axial direction in the main body forming region 60.

[0133] In addition, the other part of the fluid resin material 85, which is divided into two parts, flows smoothly into the main body forming region 60 and flows smoothly in the other direction toward the axial direction in the main body forming region 60.

[0134] The fluid resin material 85 flowing in the main body forming region 60 reaches the connecting region forming region 63 in the main body forming region 60 for forming the connecting part 22.

[0135] The downstream side of the connecting portion forming region 63 of the cavity 6 is divided into two parts: the weld end forming region 62 and the pressing rib forming region 61. The weld end forming region 62 is approximately continuous with the connecting portion forming region 63 in a straight line. Therefore, the fluid resin material 85 flowing in the connecting portion forming region 63 flows smoothly into the weld end forming region 62.

[0136] On the other hand, the pressing rib forming region 61 extends radially outward from the main body forming region 60. Therefore, the flow of the fluid resin material 85 is easily disrupted when it flows from the main body forming region 60 to the pressing rib forming region 61.

[0137] However, as described above, the outer peripheral surface 22op of the connecting portion 22 is an inclined surface that is smoothly continuous with the pressing rib 25, and it is inclined from the radially inner side to the radially outer side. Therefore, the connecting portion forming region 63 is smoothly connected to the pressing rib forming region 61.

[0138] Therefore, the fluid resin material 85 flowing into the connecting portion forming region 63 also flows smoothly into the pressing rib forming region 61. Thus, according to the manufacturing method of Example 1, the cylindrical pad component 2 can be manufactured with high molding accuracy.

[0139] After the fluid resin material 85 injected into the cavity 6 of the molding mold 4 cools and solidifies, the position of the movable mold 45 relative to the fixed mold 40 is changed, and its position is changed to the direction that divides the sliding core 46 into two parts, and the molding mold 4 is opened. As a result, the intermediate body 86 having the main body 20, the pressing rib 25 and the disc gate 26 can be removed from the molding mold 4.

[0140] [Plastic Surgery Procedure]

[0141] In the shaping process, a tool (not shown in the diagram) is used... Figure 5 At position A on the outer periphery, the disc gate portion 26 of the intermediate body 86 obtained through the above molding process is cut off along the circumferential direction. This forms an annular disc gate mark 28 that protrudes radially inward from the inner peripheral surface 20ip of the main body portion 20 (see reference). Figure 2 Thus, the cylindrical gasket component 2 of Example 1 is obtained.

[0142] In the manufacturing method of the cylindrical gasket component 2 in Example 1, after the molding process, the cylindrical gasket component 2 is subjected to an annealing treatment by heating.

[0143] In addition, two dome-shaped pad components 15 are formed, and the joint portion 81 is pressed into the structure that has been annealed in the same way.

[0144] Then, the dome-shaped padding component 15 is fused to both ends of the cylindrical padding component 2 in the axial direction.

[0145] Specifically, both the axial end of the dome-shaped padding component 15 and the welding end 21 of the cylindrical padding component 2 are heated with infrared radiation, and both are pressed together for alignment and welding.

[0146] At this time, the clamp (not shown) with an annular pressing surface is brought into contact with the pressing rib 25, and the welded end 21 of the cylindrical pad member 2 is pressed against the end of the dome-shaped pad member 15 in the axial direction.

[0147] Thus, the dome-shaped padding component 15 and the cylindrical padding component 2 are firmly fused together as one unit.

[0148] Then, the reinforcing part 80 is formed, and the valve (not shown) is installed on the connector part 81, thereby obtaining the pressure vessel 1 of Embodiment 1.

[0149] This invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the structural elements shown in this specification, including the embodiments, can be arbitrarily extracted and combined.

[0150] Explanation of the label

[0151] 1: Pressure vessel; 10: Resin gasket

[0152] 2: Cylindrical gasket component 20: Main body

[0153] 20op: Outer peripheral surface of the main body; 21: Welded end

[0154] 20ip: Inner circumferential surface of the main body; 25: Pressing rib.

[0155] 26: Disc gate section 28: Disc gate marks

[0156] 28ip: Inner circumferential surface of the disc gate mark

[0157] 85: Fluid resin materials 86: Intermediates

Claims

1. A cylindrical gasket component having a cylindrical main body portion and a central portion in the axial direction of a resin gasket constituting a pressure vessel including the dome-shaped gasket component, wherein, The cylindrical gasket component has: The welded ends respectively constitute the two ends of the main body in the axial direction, that is, the two ends that are welded to other gasket components; The pressing ribs, which are used to abut against the annular pressing surfaces of the clamps used when integrated with the dome-shaped padding component, are respectively provided at both ends of the main body in the axial direction, and are arranged circumferentially along the main body on the central part side closer to the axial direction than the welding end, and protrude radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the main body. as well as The annular, disc-shaped gate mark, positioned between the two pressing ribs, protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the main body. The disc gate mark is offset at one end relative to the main body in the axial direction, and the thickness of the disc gate mark in the axial direction gradually increases from the radially inner side to the radially outer side.

2. The cylindrical gasket component according to claim 1, wherein, The inner circumferential surface of the disc-shaped gate mark is a cutting surface.

3. A pressure vessel, wherein, The pressure vessel has the cylindrical gasket component as described in claim 1 or 2.

4. A method for manufacturing a cylindrical gasket component, which is a method for manufacturing the cylindrical gasket component according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The manufacturing method of the cylindrical gasket component includes the following steps: In the molding process, for an intermediate body having the main body and the pressing ribs, and a plate-shaped disc gate portion disposed between the two pressing ribs and integrated with the inner peripheral surface of the main body, the intermediate body is injection molded in such a way that the disc gate portion becomes an injection port for fluid resin material into the main body and the pressing ribs. as well as The shaping process involves cutting away the disc-shaped gate portion to form the disc-shaped gate mark.

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