Apparatus and method for manufacturing hydrogen tank

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a hydrogen tank, the apparatus comprising: a molding device configured to form a hollow cylindrical initial resin material body by curing a liquid resin material; a winding device disposed on a downstream side of the molding device and configured to form an intermediate material by winding carbon fibers around an outer surface of the initial resin material body formed by the molding device; a rotating device disposed on a downstream side of the winding device and configured to impregnate the initial resin material body and the carbon fibers with an epoxy resin by rotating the intermediate material formed by the winding device; and a drawing device disposed on a downstream side of the rotating device and configured to draw the intermediate material that has passed through the rotating device in a lengthwise direction.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefits of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0150872 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on November 3, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a device and a method for manufacturing a hydrogen tank. Background Art

[0004] Recently, as environmental pollution has become a major issue, electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and hybrid vehicles, which are environmentally friendly vehicles that do not use fossil fuels, have been actively developed.

[0005] Hydrogen-powered vehicles use hydrogen as vehicle fuel. The advantage of hydrogen is that combustion produces only a very small amount of nitrogen oxides and no other harmful substances. In addition, hydrogen can be an unlimited energy source that will not be exhausted because hydrogen is made from an unlimited amount of water that exists on the earth and is recycled into water after use. Therefore, hydrogen has attracted much attention as a fuel for environmentally friendly vehicles.

[0006] Since hydrogen-powered vehicles use hydrogen as fuel, the main component of exhaust gas is water, and apart from a small amount of nitrogen oxides, very few harmful substances are emitted.

[0007] A hydrogen storage tank (or hydrogen tank) is used to store hydrogen in a vehicle, and various complicated processes are required to manufacture the hydrogen tank. The complicated processes required to manufacture the hydrogen tank cause problems such as an increase in the cost required to manufacture the vehicle.

[0008] The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is known, available or in use. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present invention relates to a device and a method for manufacturing a hydrogen tank, and more particularly to a device and a method for manufacturing a cylindrical hydrogen tank.

[0010] Some embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method for manufacturing a hydrogen tank, which can manufacture the hydrogen tank by using a simple process to reduce the cost required to manufacture a vehicle.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for manufacturing a hydrogen tank may include: a molding device, configured to form a hollow cylindrical initial resin material body by solidifying a liquid resin material; a winding device, arranged on the downstream side of the molding device, and configured to form an intermediate material by winding carbon fiber around the outer surface of the initial resin material body formed by the molding device; a rotating device, arranged on the downstream side of the winding device, and configured to impregnate the initial resin material body and the carbon fiber with epoxy resin by rotating the intermediate material formed by the winding device; and a pulling device, arranged on the downstream side of the rotating device, and configured to stretch the intermediate material that has passed the rotating device in the longitudinal direction.

[0012] In some embodiments, the molding device includes: a molding body, which includes: a resin inlet for introducing a resin material, a molding outlet for discharging an initial resin material body, and a molding hole located in the molding body and corresponding to the outer surface of the hydrogen tank; and a mandrel, which is arranged in the molding hole of the molding body and has a shape corresponding to the inner surface of the hydrogen tank.

[0013] In some embodiments, the forming body further includes: a first forming body having a first forming groove; and a second forming body disposed below the first forming body and having a second forming groove, wherein the first forming groove and the second forming groove jointly define a forming hole.

[0014] In some embodiments, the resin inlet may be formed at an upper portion of the first molded body.

[0015] In some embodiments, the resin inlets may be formed in the first molded body and the second molded body, respectively.

[0016] In several embodiments, the pressure of the resin material introduced through the resin inlet in the second molded body may be greater than the pressure of the resin material introduced through the resin inlet in the first molded body.

[0017] In some embodiments, the winding device includes: a winding body having a winding hole therein; a winding inlet formed in the winding body and configured to enable an initial resin material body to be introduced through the winding inlet; a winding outlet formed in the winding body and configured to enable an intermediate material to be discharged through the winding outlet; and a carbon fiber inlet formed in the winding body and configured to enable carbon fiber and epoxy resin to be introduced through the carbon fiber inlet.

[0018] In some embodiments, the winding body may include: a first winding body having a first winding groove; and a second winding body having a second winding groove, wherein the first winding groove and the second winding groove jointly define a winding hole.

[0019] In some embodiments, the rotating device may include: a rotating body having a rotating hole inside; a rotating inlet, located in the rotating body and configured to enable intermediate materials discharged from a winding device to be introduced through the rotating inlet; a rotating outlet, located in the rotating body and configured to enable intermediate materials passing through the rotating body to be discharged through the rotating outlet; a plurality of inlet rollers, arranged in the rotating inlet and configured to guide the intermediate materials in a circumferential direction; and a plurality of outlet rollers, arranged in the rotating outlet and configured to guide the intermediate materials in a circumferential direction.

[0020] In some embodiments, the rotating body may include: a first rotating body having a first rotation groove; and a second rotating body having a second rotation groove, wherein the first rotation groove and the second rotation groove jointly define a rotation hole.

[0021] In several embodiments, the entrance roller and the exit roller are configured to rotate while applying a predetermined pressure in a radial direction of the intermediate material.

[0022] In some embodiments, the drawing device may include: a drawing body having a drawing hole inside, the drawing body having: a drawing inlet for introducing the intermediate material discharged from the rotating device, and a drawing outlet for discharging the intermediate material from the drawing body; and a plurality of drawing rollers arranged in the drawing body and configured along the longitudinal direction of the intermediate material passing through the rotating device.

[0023] In several embodiments, the pulling rollers are configured to rotate while applying a selected pressure to the intermediate material passing through the drawing aperture.

[0024] In several embodiments, the winding device and the forming device are arranged adjacent to each other.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a hydrogen tank may include the following steps: forming a hollow cylindrical initial resin material body by solidifying a liquid resin material through a molding device; forming an intermediate material by winding carbon fiber around the outer surface of the initial resin material body through a winding device; impregnating the initial resin material body and the carbon fiber with epoxy resin by rotating the intermediate material through a rotating device; and stretching the intermediate material along the longitudinal direction through a drawing device.

[0026] In some embodiments, in the step of forming the intermediate material, the carbon fiber and the epoxy resin are introduced through a carbon fiber inlet in the winding device.

[0027] According to some embodiments, the molding process of forming an initial resin material body (liner) for manufacturing a hydrogen tank, the winding process of winding carbon fibers around the initial resin material body, the rotating process of impregnating the initial resin material body and the carbon fibers with epoxy material, and the drawing process of stretching the intermediate material can be achieved by a single continuous process.

[0028] Other advantages that can be obtained or expected by some embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed directly or implicitly in the detailed description of the present invention. That is, various advantages expected by some embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed in the detailed description to be described below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to describe exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and thus the technical spirit of the present invention should not be interpreted as necessarily being limited to the accompanying drawings, and wherein:

[0030] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a hydrogen tank according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a molding device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a molding device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 4 According to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 The cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

[0034] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a winding device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a winding device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 7 According to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 The cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

[0037] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a rotating device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a rotating device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Fig.10 According to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 8 A cross-sectional view taken along the CC line in FIG.

[0040] Fig.11 is a perspective view showing the construction of a pulling device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Fig.12 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a pulling device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Fig.13 According to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig.11 A cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 1 ; and

[0043] Fig.14 Detailed description is a flow chart showing a method for manufacturing a hydrogen tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] The accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but rather provide somewhat simplified representations of various preferred features that illustrate the principles of the present invention. For example, the specific design features of embodiments of the present invention, including specific size, orientation, location, and shape, may be determined in part by the specific intended application and use environment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The terms used herein may be used only to describe example embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Unless the context clearly provides otherwise, singular expressions used herein may include plural expressions. It is understood that the terms "include" and / or "comprises" used in this specification refer to the presence of features, integers, steps, operations, constituent elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of other features, integers, steps, operations, constituent elements, components, one or more, and / or their collections. The term "and / or" used herein includes any or all combinations of the listed related items.

[0046] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the embodiments. However, the present invention can be implemented in various different ways and is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.

[0047] In order to clearly describe the present invention, parts irrelevant to the description may be omitted, and the same or similar constituent elements may be denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the specification.

[0048] In addition, for the convenience of description, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In order to clearly describe several parts and regions, their thicknesses are exaggerated.

[0049] In the following description, suffixes such as “module,” “unit,” “component” and / or “portion” used to describe constituent elements may be used together or interchangeably for convenience of description, but the suffixes themselves do not have distinguishable meanings or functions.

[0050] Furthermore, in the description of the disclosed exemplary embodiments, the detailed description of well-known related arts may be omitted when it is determined that the detailed description may obscure the subject matter of the embodiments disclosed in this specification.

[0051] In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are provided to enable those skilled in the art to easily understand the example embodiments disclosed in this specification, and that the technical spirit disclosed in this specification is not necessarily limited to the drawings, and may include all changes, equivalent forms, and alternatives included in the spirit and technical scope of the invention.

[0052] Terms including ordinal numbers such as "first", "second", etc. may be used to describe various constituent elements, but the constituent elements are not necessarily limited by such terms. Such terms may be used only to distinguish one constituent element from another constituent element.

[0053] In the following description, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the singular expression "a", "an" or "one" may be construed as a singular or plural expression.

[0054] In the flowcharts described with reference to the drawings, the sequence of operations may be changed, a plurality of operations may be combined, any operation may be separated, and a specific operation may not be performed.

[0055] Hereinafter, an apparatus for manufacturing a hydrogen tank according to example embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0056] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a hydrogen tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] like Figure 1 As shown, the apparatus for manufacturing a hydrogen tank according to an embodiment may include a molding device 100, a winding device 200, a rotating device 300, and a drawing device 400 arranged in sequence, any combination or all of which may be plural, and may also include plural components thereof. The molding device 100 and the winding device 200 may be arranged adjacent to each other.

[0058] The molding device 100 can form a hollow cylindrical initial resin material body by introducing a liquid resin material and curing the liquid resin material. The resin material can be, for example, glass fiber reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6). In an embodiment, the liquid resin material introduced into the molding device 100 and cured is referred to as the initial resin material or the initial resin material body. The initial resin material is also referred to as a liner and can be used as a structure having an outer surface on which carbon fibers can be wound.

[0059] The winding device 200 may be disposed at the downstream side of the molding device 100, and may be capable of forming an intermediate material by winding carbon fiber (CF) on the outer surface of the initial resin material formed by the molding device 100. In one embodiment, in the winding device 200, the initial resin material on the outer surface of which the carbon fiber is wound may be referred to as an intermediate material.

[0060] The rotating device 300 can be disposed on the downstream side of the winding device 200 , and can embed the carbon fibers in the initial resin material by rotating the intermediate material formed by the winding device 200 .

[0061] The drawing device 400 can be disposed on the downstream side of the rotating device 300, and can stretch the intermediate material having passed through the rotating device 300 in the longitudinal direction.

[0062] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a molding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 : is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a molding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 According to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 A cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

[0063] refer to Figures 2 to 4 The molding device 100 may include: a molding body 110 , and a mandrel 140 disposed in the molding body 110 .

[0064] The molded body 110 may include a resin inlet capable of introducing a liquid resin material, a molded outlet 112 capable of discharging an initial resin material formed by curing the resin material, and a cylindrical mold hole 111 configured to correspond to an outer surface of the hydrogen tank.

[0065] The molded body 110 may include a first molded body 120 and a second molded body 130 disposed under the first molded body 120 .

[0066] The first molding body 120 may be provided in the form of an approximately rectangular block, and a first molding groove 121 having a semicircular cross section may be formed at a lower portion of the first molding body 120. The second molding body 130 may be provided in the form of an approximately rectangular block, and a second molding groove 131 having a semicircular cross section may be formed at an upper portion of the second molding body 130. The first molding groove 121 and the second molding groove 131 may jointly define a cylindrical molding hole 111. The molding outlet 112 may be formed at a downstream side end portion of the molding hole 111.

[0067] A resin inlet (referred to as a "first resin inlet 122" as needed) may be formed at an upper portion of the first molded body 120 and communicate with the molded hole 111. Another resin inlet (referred to as a "second resin inlet 132" as needed) may be formed at a lower portion of the second molded body 130 and communicate with the molded hole 111. A support groove 123 may be formed at an upper portion of the upstream side of the first molded body 120. The support groove 123 communicates with the molded hole 111.

[0068] The mandrel 140 may be disposed in the molding hole 111 of the molded body 110 and include a seating portion seated in the support groove 123 of the first molded body 120 and an extending portion 142 extending from the seating portion and formed in a cylindrical shape corresponding to the inner surface of the hydrogen tank.

[0069] The seating portion may be located in the supporting groove 123 of the molded body 110 , so that the extension portion 142 may be supported in the molded hole 111 along the longitudinal direction.

[0070] A hollow space may be formed between the outer surface of the extension portion 142 of the mandrel 140 and the inner surface of the molding hole 111 , and an initial resin material may be formed because the hollow space can be filled with the resin material introduced through the resin inlet.

[0071] Since the extension portion 142 of the mandrel 140 may be formed in a cylindrical shape with a large length, the end of the extension portion 142 may be bent in the gravity direction due to its weight. When the end of the extension portion 142 is bent, eccentricity may occur at the center of the hydrogen tank, and the thickness of the hydrogen tank may be uneven.

[0072] To solve this problem, the injection pressure (first injection pressure) of the resin material introduced through the second resin inlet 132 may be set to be greater than the injection pressure (second injection pressure) of the resin material introduced through the first resin inlet 122. For example, the second injection pressure may be set to about 10% of the first injection pressure so that the mandrel 140 can be pushed upward in the opposite direction to the gravity direction. Therefore, the extension 142 of the mandrel 140 can be prevented from bending in the gravity direction. Therefore, the initial resin material can be formed into a standard cylindrical shape with a constant thickness.

[0073] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a winding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 : is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the winding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 According to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 Cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

[0074] refer to Figures 5 to 7 The winding device 200 may include: a winding body 210; a winding inlet 212, formed in the winding body 210 and configured to enable the initial resin material to be introduced through the winding inlet 212; a winding outlet 213, formed in the winding body 210 and configured to enable the intermediate material to be discharged through the winding outlet 213; and a carbon fiber inlet 214, formed in the winding body 210 and configured to enable the carbon fiber to be introduced through the carbon fiber inlet 214.

[0075] The wound body 210 may be provided in the form of an approximately rectangular block, and a cylindrical winding hole 211 through which the initial resin material can move may be formed in the wound body 210 .

[0076] The wound body 210 may include a first wound body 220 , and a second wound body 230 disposed below the first wound body 220 .

[0077] The first winding body 220 may be provided in the form of an approximately rectangular block, and a first winding groove 221 having a semicircular cross section may be formed at a lower portion of the first winding body 220. The second winding body 230 may be provided in the form of an approximately rectangular block, and a second winding groove 231 having a semicircular cross section may be formed at an upper portion of the second winding body 230. The first winding groove 221 and the second winding groove 231 may jointly define a cylindrical winding hole 211. The diameter of the winding hole 211 may be greater than the outer diameter of the initial resin material. The winding inlet 212 may be formed on the upstream side of the winding hole 211, and the winding outlet 213 may be formed on the downstream side of the winding hole 211.

[0078] The carbon fiber inlet 214 may be located at an upper portion of the winding body 210 .

[0079] The winding inlet 212 of the winding device 200 may be arranged to face the molding outlet 112 of the molding device 100. The molding device 100 and the winding device 200 may be arranged adjacent to each other. For example, the molding device 100 and the winding device 200 may be arranged to be in close contact with each other. Therefore, the molding outlet 112 of the molding device 100 and the winding inlet 212 of the winding device 200 may be arranged to be in close contact with each other.

[0080] Carbon fiber and epoxy resin as an adhesive may be introduced into the winding hole 211 through the carbon fiber inlet 214. A gap may be formed between the inner surface of the winding hole 211 and the outer surface of the initial resin material. The carbon fiber introduced between the winding hole 211 and the outer surface of the initial resin material may surround the outer surface of the initial resin material, thereby forming an intermediate material.

[0081] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a rotating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a rotating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig.10 According to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 8 Cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.

[0082] refer to Figures 8 to 10The rotating device 300 may include: a rotating body 310; a rotating inlet 312 formed in the rotating body 310; a rotating outlet 313 formed in the rotating body 310; an inlet roller 314 disposed in the rotating inlet 312; and an outlet roller 315 disposed in the rotating outlet 313.

[0083] The rotating body 310 may be provided in the form of an approximately rectangular block, and a cylindrical rotating hole 311 in which the intermediate material can move may be formed in the rotating body 310 .

[0084] The rotating body 310 may include a first rotating body 320 , and a second rotating body 330 disposed below the first rotating body 320 .

[0085] The first rotating body 320 may be provided in the form of an approximately rectangular block, and a first rotating portion having a semicircular cross section may be formed at a lower portion of the first rotating body 320. The second rotating body 330 may be provided in the form of an approximately rectangular block, and a second rotating portion having a semicircular cross section may be formed at an upper portion of the second rotating body 330. The first rotating portion and the second rotating portion may jointly define a cylindrical rotating hole 311. A rotating inlet 312 may be formed at an upstream side of the rotating hole 311, and a rotating outlet 313 may be formed at a downstream side of the rotating hole 311.

[0086] The inlet rollers 314 may be provided as a plurality of inlet rollers 314 located in the circumferential direction of the rotating inlet 312. The inlet rollers 314 may press the intermediate material introduced into the rotating inlet 312 in the circumferential direction at a predetermined pressure, so that the carbon fiber wound on the outer surface of the cured initial resin material can be bonded to the outer surface of the initial resin material, thereby impregnating the resin initial material and the carbon fiber with epoxy resin.

[0087] Fig.11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a pulling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig.12 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a pulling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig.13 According to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig.11 Cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG.

[0088] refer to Figures 11 to 13 The drawing device 400 may include a drawing body 410 , a drawing inlet 412 formed in the drawing body, a drawing outlet 413 formed in the drawing body 410 , and a drawing roller 440 disposed in the drawing body 410 .

[0089] The drawing body 410 may be provided in the form of an approximately rectangular block, and a drawing hole 411 through which the intermediate material may move may be formed in the drawing body 410 .

[0090] The pulling body 410 may include a first pulling body 420 , and a second pulling body 430 disposed below the first pulling body 420 .

[0091] The first drawing body 420 may be provided in the form of an approximately rectangular block, and a first drawing portion having a semicircular cross section may be formed at a lower portion of the first drawing body 420. The second drawing body 430 may be provided in the form of an approximately rectangular block, and a second drawing portion having a semicircular cross section may be formed at an upper portion of the second drawing body 430. The first drawing portion and the second drawing portion may jointly define a cylindrical drawing hole 411. A drawing inlet 412 through which an intermediate material can be introduced may be formed on an upstream side of the drawing hole 411, and a drawing outlet 413 through which the intermediate material can be discharged may be formed on a downstream side of the drawing hole 411.

[0092] The pulling roller 440 may be provided as a plurality of pulling rollers 440 located in the pulling body 410. For example, the plurality of pulling rollers 440 may be provided in the lengthwise direction of the intermediate material and in the circumferential direction of the intermediate material.

[0093] The drawing roller 440 can rotate while applying a set, selected or predetermined pressure to the intermediate material passing through the drawing hole 411. That is, the intermediate material introduced into the drawing inlet 412 can receive a set, selected or predetermined pressure from the drawing roller 440 in the circumferential direction and the radial direction while passing through the drawing hole 411, so that the intermediate material can be stretched in the longitudinal direction. The intermediate material with increased length can be discharged through the drawing outlet 413.

[0094] refer to Figure 1 The rotation support device 500 may be disposed between the winding device 200 and the rotating device 300 and / or between the rotating device 300 and the pulling device 400, and is capable of supporting the intermediate material discharged from the winding device 200 so that the intermediate material can rotate. The rotation support device 500 may include a rotation support body; and a rotation bearing (or a rotation roller) disposed in the rotation support body and configured to support the outer surface of the intermediate material so that the intermediate material can rotate.

[0095] In addition, a driving member 600 may be disposed in the rotation support device 500, and the driving member 600 may circumferentially rotate the intermediate material that can be discharged from the winding device 200. The driving member 600 may be, for example, a motor.

[0096] Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a hydrogen tank according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0097] Fig.14 Detailed description is a flow chart showing a method for manufacturing a hydrogen tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0098] refer to Figures 1 to 14 , a hollow cylindrical starting material may be formed by solidifying the liquid resin material, and the starting material may be discharged through the molding outlet 112 of the molding body 110 (operation S10 ).

[0099] Specifically, when liquid resin material is introduced through the material inlet of the molding device 100, the resin material can be inserted into the gap defined by the outer surface of the cylindrical mandrel 140 and the inner surface of the molding hole 111 of the molding body 110, and the liquid resin material can be solidified so that a cylindrical initial material can be formed.

[0100] In the case where the resin inlet may be provided as a plurality of resin inlets, the injection pressure (second resin injection pressure) of the resin material injected through the second resin inlet 132 formed at the lower portion of the molded body 110 may be greater than the injection pressure (first resin injection pressure) of the resin material injected through the first resin inlet 122 formed at the upper portion of the molded body 110. As described above, since the second resin injection pressure may be greater than the first resin injection pressure, the cylindrical portion of the mandrel 140 may be prevented from being bent in the gravity direction due to its weight, and an initial resin material having a uniform thickness may be formed.

[0101] The winding device 200 may form an intermediate material by winding carbon fibers around an outer surface of an initial resin material (operation S20 ).

[0102] Specifically, the initial material discharged through the molding outlet 112 can be introduced into the winding hole 211 through the winding inlet 212 of the winding body 210. The carbon fiber introduced through the carbon fiber inlet 214 of the winding body 210 surrounds the outer surface of the initial resin material so that the intermediate material can be formed. The intermediate material can be discharged through the winding outlet 213 of the winding body 210. Carbon fiber and epoxy resin can be introduced through the carbon fiber inlet 214.

[0103] The rotating device 300 may rotate the intermediate material to impregnate the initial resin material and the carbon fiber with epoxy resin (operation S30 ).

[0104] Specifically, the intermediate material introduced through the rotating inlet 312 of the rotating device 300 may be rotated while being pressurized in the radial direction by a plurality of inlet rollers 314 located in the rotating inlet 312. In addition, the intermediate material discharged through the rotating outlet 313 of the rotating device 300 may be rotated while being pressurized by a plurality of outlet rollers 315 located in the rotating outlet 313. That is, the inlet rollers 314 and the outlet rollers 315 may be rotated while applying a predetermined pressure to the intermediate material in the radial direction.

[0105] As described above, the outer surface of the intermediate material may be rotated while being pressurized by the inlet roller 314 and the outlet roller 315 , so that the epoxy resin may stably impregnate the initial resin material and the carbon fiber.

[0106] The drawing device 400 may stretch the intermediate material, which has passed through the rotating device 300, in a lengthwise direction (operation S40).

[0107] Specifically, the intermediate material can be introduced into the drawing hole 411 through the drawing inlet 412 of the drawing device 400. The plurality of drawing rollers 440 can rotate while applying a set, selected or predetermined pressure to the outer surface of the intermediate material so that the intermediate material can be stretched in the longitudinal direction. The intermediate material with increased length can be discharged through the drawing outlet 413.

[0108] The intermediate material discharged through the drawing device 400 may be cut into an appropriate size by a separate cutting device, and the hydrogen tank opened at the upper and lower sides thereof may be sealed by a separate process (operation S50).

[0109] The initial resin material and the intermediate material can be continuously rotated by the driving member 600 disposed between the winding device 200 and the rotating device 300. Therefore, the resin initial material passing through the molding device 100, the intermediate material passing through the winding device 200, the intermediate material passing through the rotating device 300, and the intermediate material passing through the drawing device 400 can be respectively subjected to various processes during continuous rotation by the driving member 600.

[0110] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a molding process for forming an initial resin material (liner) for manufacturing a hydrogen tank, a winding process for winding carbon fiber around the initial resin material, a rotating process for impregnating the initial resin material and the carbon fiber with an epoxy material, and a drawing process for stretching the intermediate material can be achieved through a single continuous process.

[0111] Therefore, by using the embodiments of the present invention, the cost required for manufacturing hydrogen tanks can be reduced and the quality of hydrogen tanks can be ensured.

[0112] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications may be made and performed within the scope of the claims, the detailed description of the invention, and the drawings, and also fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for manufacturing a hydrogen tank, the device comprising: a molding device configured to form a hollow cylindrical initial resin material body by solidifying a liquid resin material; a winding device disposed on a downstream side of the molding device and configured to form an intermediate material by winding carbon fibers around an outer surface of the initial resin material body formed by the molding device; a rotating device disposed on a downstream side of the winding device and configured to impregnate the initial resin material body and the carbon fiber with epoxy resin by rotating the intermediate material formed by the winding device; as well as A drawing device is provided on a downstream side of the rotating device and is configured to stretch the intermediate material having passed through the rotating device in a longitudinal direction.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The forming device comprises: a molded body including: at least one resin inlet for introducing the resin material, a molded outlet for discharging the initial resin material body, and a molded hole located in the molded body and corresponding to the initial tank outer surface of the hydrogen tank; and A mandrel is disposed in the molding hole of the molded body and has a shape corresponding to the inner surface of the hydrogen tank.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein: The molded body further comprises: A first molded body having a first molded groove; and A second molding body is disposed below the first molding body, wherein the second molding body has a second molding groove, and Wherein, the first molding groove and the second molding groove jointly define the molding hole.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein: The first resin inlet is located at an upper portion of the first molded body.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein: The second resin inlet is located at a lower portion of the second molded body.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein: A second pressure of the resin material introduced through the second resin inlet in the second molded body is greater than a first pressure of the resin material introduced through the first resin inlet in the first molded body.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The winding device comprises: A winding body having a winding hole therein; a winding inlet located in the winding body and configured to enable the initial resin material body to be introduced through the winding inlet; a winding outlet located in the winding body and configured to enable the intermediate material to be discharged through the winding outlet; and A carbon fiber inlet is located in the winding body and is configured to allow the carbon fiber and the epoxy resin to be introduced through the carbon fiber inlet.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein: The winding body also includes: A first winding body having a first winding groove; and The second winding body has a second winding groove, and The first winding groove and the second winding groove jointly define the winding hole.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The rotating device comprises: A rotating body having a rotating hole therein; a rotary inlet located in the rotary body and configured to enable the intermediate material discharged from the winding device to be introduced through the rotary inlet; a rotating outlet located in the rotating body and configured to enable the intermediate material passing through the rotating body to be discharged through the rotating outlet; a plurality of inlet rollers disposed in the rotating inlet and configured to guide the intermediate material in a circumferential direction; and A plurality of outlet rollers are disposed in the rotating outlet and are configured to guide the intermediate material in a circumferential direction.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein: The rotating body also includes: A first rotating body having a first rotating groove; and The second rotating body has a second rotating groove, and Wherein, the first rotation groove and the second rotation groove jointly define the rotation hole.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein: The entrance roller and the exit roller are configured to rotate while applying a predetermined pressure in a radial direction of the intermediate material.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The pulling device comprises: a drawing body having a drawing hole therein, the drawing body having: a drawing inlet for introducing the intermediate material discharged from the rotating device, and a drawing outlet for discharging the intermediate material from the drawing body; and A plurality of pulling rollers are provided in the pulling body and arranged along the longitudinal direction of the intermediate material passing through the rotating device.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein: The pulling roller is configured to rotate while applying a selected pressure to the intermediate material passing through the pulling hole.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The winding device and the forming device are arranged adjacent to each other.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein: The winding device and the forming device are in contact with each other.

16. A method for manufacturing a hydrogen tank, the method comprising the following steps: forming a hollow cylindrical initial resin material body by solidifying the liquid resin material in a molding device; forming an intermediate material by winding carbon fibers around an outer surface of the initial resin material body in a winding device; impregnating the initial resin material body and the carbon fibers with epoxy resin by rotating the intermediate material in a rotating device; as well as The intermediate material is stretched in a longitudinal direction using a drawing device.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein: In the step of forming the intermediate material, the carbon fiber and the epoxy resin are introduced through a carbon fiber inlet in the winding device.

18. A method for manufacturing a hydrogen tank, the method comprising the following steps: forming a hollow cylindrical initial resin material body by solidifying the liquid resin material in a molding device; conveying the initial resin material body from the forming device to a winding device, wherein the winding device is located downstream of the forming device and adjacent to the forming device; introducing carbon fiber and epoxy resin through a carbon fiber inlet in the winding device; forming an intermediate material by winding the carbon fibers around an outer surface of the initial resin material body in the winding device; conveying the intermediate material from the winding device to a rotating device, wherein the rotating device is located downstream of the winding device; impregnating the initial resin material body and the carbon fibers with the epoxy resin by rotating the intermediate material in the rotating device; conveying the intermediate material from the rotating device to a drawing device, wherein the drawing device is located downstream of the rotating device; and The intermediate material is stretched in a longitudinal direction by the drawing device.

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