FIBER-REINFORCED PRESSURE VESSEL

DE502017016882D1Active Publication Date: 2025-07-03NPROXX BV
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Patent Information

Application Number
DE502017016882
Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2017-04-03
Publication Date
2025-07-03
Estimated Expiration
2037-04-03

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Current fiber-reinforced pressure vessels have weak points in compressive strength due to the fiber end, which can detach during vessel expansion and lead to bursting before reaching the bursting pressure.

Method used

The pressure vessel design secures the fiber end by guiding it out to an area with negligible elongation, such as a valve connection or spigot, and fixing it there using multiple wraps of the fiber composite material or an external fastening means.

Benefits of technology

This approach eliminates the weak point caused by the fiber end, enhancing the compressive strength and stability of the pressure vessel, allowing it to withstand higher pressures without bursting.

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Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel with a securely fixed fiber end and to a corresponding method. State of the art

[0002] The market for pressure vessels reinforced with fiber composite materials is growing continuously. The increasing production of natural gas and fracking gas necessitates storage in pressure vessels, especially in countries without a corresponding pipeline network. In addition, the automotive sector is working hard on the development of fuel cell vehicles, in which the fuel is to be stored in the form of gaseous hydrogen under high pressure in pressure vessels. Lightweight pressure vessels are required for transporting pressure vessels because transporting heavy pressure vessels consumes unnecessary amounts of energy and therefore results in excessive transport costs.

[0003] Currently used cylindrical pressure vessels have a reinforcement layer made of fiber composite material consisting of fibers embedded in a matrix material, which is wound as an outer layer onto an inner container (the so-called liner) of the pressure vessel, which acts as the winding core. A winding process is the preferred process for the time- and cost-effective production of fiber composite layers (for example, in contrast to the use of pre-impregnated fiber sections, so-called prepregs). While the inner container, for example, guarantees the gas-tightness of the pressure vessel, the reinforcement layer made of fiber composite material gives the pressure vessel the necessary mechanical stability. Type 3 pressure vessels use a mechanical inner container (metallic liner), e.g. made of aluminum or steel; Type 4 pressure vessels have an inner container (liner) made of plastic.The outer layer comprises both circumferential layers and so-called helical layers to provide compressive strength in the radial and axial directions. In the circumferential layers, the fibers have a tangential fiber direction to provide compressive strength in the circumferential direction in the cylindrical part of the pressure vessel. As the last layer of such an outer layer, for example, a circumferential layer is wound onto the cylindrical area of ​​the pressure vessel. This serves to cover any underlying helical layers with small fiber angles, which also cover the pole caps, and thus gives the pressure vessel its final stability. The winding process thus ends on the circumference of the cylindrical area, where the continuous fiber is cut after the outer layer is completed.For subsequent curing in a suitable oven, the loose fiber end is typically secured with tape, although this does not contribute to the subsequent mechanical stability of the outer layer made of fiber composite material. US 2015 / 0165703 A1 discloses an alternative method for securing the fiber end within the fiber composite by temporarily inserting a loop with a tape into the wound fiber composite and wrapping it over the last fiber layer. The cut fiber end is then threaded through the loop protruding from the fiber composite, and the loop with the threaded fiber end is pulled out laterally on the fiber composite. In this case, the fiber end slips out of the loop after a certain distance, but part of it is pulled into the fiber composite and thus covered by the last layer of fiber material.This eliminates the need for the previously described fixation of the fiber end with a tape for subsequent curing while rotating the outer layer in a curing oven. Document JP 2009174554 also discloses a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel from the prior art.

[0004] This resulting fiber end nevertheless continues to represent a critical point for the pressure resistance of the pressure vessel. Burst tests can show that the fiber end placed on the center section of the vessel detaches from the layer of fiber composite material due to vessel expansion even before the bursting pressure is reached and begins to unwind abruptly. This is usually the point at which the pressure vessel bursts.

[0005] It would therefore be desirable to have a pressure vessel with a fiber-reinforced outer layer that can be manufactured in a time- and cost-effective manner and in which weak points in compressive strength implied by the application process can be avoided. Summary of the invention

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a pressure vessel with a fiber-reinforced outer layer which can be manufactured in a time- and cost-effective manner and which has fewer weak points for the compressive strength implied by the application process.

[0007] This object is achieved by a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1.

[0008] Pressure vessels within the meaning of the invention are all suitable containers for storing fluids or gases at a higher pressure than the pressure vessel's surroundings, which comprise an inner container made of plastic or metal and a reinforcement made of fiber composite material. These pressure vessels are generally cylindrical with outwardly curved ends on both sides of the cylindrical central section. These connections are referred to as pole caps and serve to pressure-tightly seal the central section. The inside of the pole cap is part of the inner wall of the pressure vessel facing the filling (fluid or gas) of the pressure vessel. Accordingly, the outside is the opposite side of the pole cap. To reinforce the pressure vessel, this outer side is wrapped with an outer layer of fiber composite material, which can also form the outside of the pressure vessel.The inner container can be manufactured using various techniques, such as welding, injection molding, or blow molding. The pole caps can also be subsequently attached to the center section, for example, by welding. The separate pole caps can be manufactured using injection molding, for example.

[0009] Pressure vessels with a plastic inner container are, on the one hand, very lightweight, which is important for applications in means of transport, for example. On the other hand, fillings such as hydrogen can be stored under high pressure with minimal loss, since suitable plastics have sufficiently low hydrogen permeability and the required strength is provided by the outer layer of fiber composite material. The pole caps are preferably dome-shaped pole caps with a shape that deviates from a hemisphere. In the lid edge area adjacent to the cylindrical middle section of the inner container, the pole caps have a greater curvature than a hemispherical surface, while the central region of the pole caps has a lesser curvature than a hemispherical surface.This dome-shaped pole cap allows the stiffness and load changes and the resulting stress ratio between the circumferential direction (center section) and the axial direction (pole cap surfaces) to be particularly well absorbed by the first fibers arranged axially on the central area of ​​the pole cap. Such a particularly suitable dome-shaped pole cap is also referred to as an isotensoid.

[0010] A fiber composite material generally consists of two main components: fibers embedded in a matrix material that creates a strong bond between the fibers. The fiber composite material can be wound from a single fiber or from multiple fibers, with the fiber(s) wound closely next to one another in contact with one another. In this case, the wound fibers are already impregnated with matrix material. This creates a fiber layer onto which the fibers are wound in further fiber layers until the fiber composite material has the desired thickness and represents a corresponding fiber layer of this thickness. The outer layer is wound in multiple layers of fiber composite material, with different layers having fibers at different fiber angles to the cylinder axis of the pressure vessel.In one embodiment, the fiber layers made of first and / or further fibers, for example second fibers, each comprise multiple layers of fibers. The composite gives the fiber composite material superior properties, such as greater strength than either of the two individual components could provide. The reinforcing effect of the fibers in the fiber direction occurs when the elastic modulus of the fiber in the longitudinal direction is greater than the elastic modulus of the matrix material, when the elongation at break of the matrix material is greater than the elongation at break of the fibers, and when the breaking strength of the fibers is greater than the breaking strength of the matrix material. Fibers of all types can be used, for example glass fibers, carbon fibers, ceramic fibers, steel fibers, natural fibers, or synthetic fibers. Matrix materials that can be used include, for example, thermosets, elastomers, or thermoplastics.The material properties of the fibers and matrix materials are known to the person skilled in the art, so that the person skilled in the art can select a suitable combination of fibers and matrix materials for producing the fiber composite material for the respective application. Individual fiber layers in the fiber composite area can comprise a single fiber or several identical or different fibers.

[0011] In the outer layer, some of the fibers are wound in the circumferential direction (tangential direction on the cylinder shell of the pressure vessel with a first fiber angle to the cylinder axis), the circumferential layers, to absorb circumferential stresses, and another part of the fibers, the helical layers, are wound in the axial direction with respective second, smaller fiber angles to the cylinder axis towards the cylindrical part of the pressure vessel to absorb axial stresses acting on the cover surfaces of the cylindrical pressure vessel. Different helical layers can each have the same or different average second fiber angles per helical layer. As a rule, the average second fiber angles of the different helical layers are different for the individual helical layers.The fibers for axial reinforcement of the lid surfaces run across the cylindrical surface of the pressure vessel at angles typically less than 60 degrees, sometimes almost 0 degrees, to the cylinder axis of the pressure vessel. The circumferential and helical layers of the outer layer can have a sequence adapted to the respective application. The term "average first / second fiber angle" refers to a fiber direction averaged across all windings in the respective layer relative to the cylinder axis, which spans a corresponding fiber angle between the fiber and the cylinder axis. For example, the first layer can consist of a circumferential layer over the central section, covered, for example, by a helical layer over the entire inner vessel, in turn overwound by a circumferential layer over the central section, and so on. The sequence of layers can also start with a helical layer on the inner vessel, covered by another helical layer or a circumferential layer, and so on.The thicknesses of the individual layers can be the same or different depending on the design.

[0012] The loading in the load-bearing outer layer of the pressure vessel varies locally, with areas of higher loading and areas of lower loading, for example a valve connection or a spigot on one of the pole caps.

[0013] Each outer layer has a final wound layer, be it a circumferential layer or a helical layer. Both layers cover at least the central section of the pressure vessel. At the end of the winding process, after the last layer has been completed, the fiber is cut. The fiber from the last wound layer is guided out of the central section to an area of ​​the pressure vessel that, when subjected to pressure, exhibits at most negligible elongation compared to the central section. At least the fiber end is then fixed in this area, since this area, with its lower elongation compared to the other areas, generates the least, preferably no, stress in the fiber composite material around the fiber end, preventing the fiber end from becoming detached from the fiber composite or from another substrate where it is fixed. The fiber end therefore no longer represents a weak point in the compressive strength of the outer layer.

[0014] This provides a pressure vessel with a fiber-reinforced outer layer that can be manufactured in a time- and cost-effective manner and that has fewer weak points in compressive strength implied by the application process, since the previous weak point caused by the thread end is eliminated.

[0015] The area that shows at most negligible expansion compared to the central section under pressure load is a valve connection arranged on one of the pole caps or a central pin arranged on one of the pole caps. The pin serves to suspend the inner container on the pin side during the winding process. One of the pole caps comprises a valve connection, regardless of the presence of the pin on the other pole cap. This pin can be made of plastic or metal. A pin placed from the outside onto the inner container of the pressure vessel shows no pressure-induced expansion effects and can therefore be made of any material. Preferably, the valve connection comprises a valve section made of metal.The valve connection represents an area with little or no expansion when the pressure vessel is subjected to pressure, which is particularly true if the valve connection is made of metal, a material with very low expansion capacity, at least in one valve section.

[0016] The final section is therefore fixed with the fiber end on the valve connection or spigot, preferably on the valve section of the metal valve closure. This area has the lowest risk of the fiber end becoming detached due to pressure loading from the pressure vessel.

[0017] The final section of the fiber, used to secure the fiber end, wraps around the valve connection or spigot several times. This multiple wrapping ensures particularly secure fixation of the subsequently cured fiber composite material, including the fiber end.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the last section forms a fixation layer of fiber composite material around the valve connection or the pin. This fixation layer additionally binds the fiber end to this area, which stretches only slightly or not at all, and secures it particularly well. The fixation layer is the layer formed by wrapping the last section of the fiber with the fiber end multiple times around the valve connection or pin, running side by side and / or one above the other.

[0019] Alternatively, but not encompassed by the invention, at least the fiber end is fixed to the valve connection or the spigot by means of a fastening means placed externally on the fiber end and the valve connection or the spigot. The fastening means thus additionally secures the fit of the fiber end and the final section from the outside. The fastening means can, for example, be a clamp, a clip, or an expandable or snap-in ring, optionally with an expansion gap.

[0020] The fastener can be made of a material that is temperature-stable up to a temperature corresponding to the curing temperature of the pressure vessel and can be reversibly attached to the fiber end for removal after a curing step of the outer layer. The applicable curing temperature depends on the respective matrix material and can therefore vary considerably. A specialist is able to select materials for the fastener that are suitable for the respective curing temperature. This allows the fastener to stably undergo the curing process without forming a further bond with the covered fibers.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the last wound layer on the central part is a circumferential layer or a helical layer, whereby the helical layer is wound with a second fiber angle that results in the fibers either tangent to the area of ​​the pressure vessel with negligible stretching or not tangent to it. A final outer circumferential layer firmly fixes the underlying sequence of layers, in particular the helical layers, to the inner vessel and provides the pressure vessel with additional tangential stability. For example, the last circumferential layer can be wound significantly thicker than the previous layers. Typical thicknesses of the outer layer are between 0.2 and 5 mm, although this also depends on the dimensions of the vessel and therefore the thickness can be significantly thicker for correspondingly large pressure vessels. In another embodiment, the last wound layer on the central part is instead a helical layer that does not tangent to the valve connection.In another embodiment, the last wound layer on the middle part is a helical layer that touches the valve connection.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the last section of the fiber is guided out of the last layer with the fiber end on a non-geodesic path, wherein the change in the fiber angle from the first fiber angle in the direction of the cylinder axis occurs so slowly that the adhesive effect of the fiber or matrix material is sufficient to hold the fiber in its non-geodesic path. This allows the last section of the fiber to be guided even from a circumferential layer into the region of the polar cap to the region with negligible stretch without the risk of subsequent slipping. The fibers in the individual layers are usually laid along a geodesic path so that they cannot slip on the surface of the pressure vessel. The geodesic path corresponds to the shortest line between two points on a curved surface.A fiber path deviation from the geodetic path allows the fiber to slip, as this path is not the shortest length for directly connecting two points along the fiber path. To prevent slippage, the fiber path is changed from the geodetic path so slowly that the matrix material, due to its adhesive effect, sufficiently secures the fiber along the wound path to prevent slippage.

[0023] The invention further relates to a method according to claim 5 for producing a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel according to the invention, comprising the steps as set out in claim 5.

[0024] The outer layer produced in this way can now be cured (crosslinked) in a curing process. The specialist is able to select the appropriate curing parameters for the respective matrix used and carry out the curing process. Typically, the pressure vessel is rotated during this process to prevent the matrix of the initially uncrosslinked outer layer from running and locally accumulating or dripping.

[0025] The area that exhibits at most negligible expansion compared to the central section under pressure load is a valve connection arranged on one of the pole caps or a central pin arranged on one of the pole caps, wherein the fixing is carried out at least with the fiber end on the valve connection. No or only slight tensile stresses act on the valve connection or the pin, so that a fiber end fixed in this area will not come loose even in pressurized pressure vessels. In one embodiment, the valve connection comprises a valve section made of metal, wherein the fixing is carried out on the valve section of the valve closure made of metal. A metal component exhibits only very low extensibility, so that a fiber end fixed in this area is fixed particularly securely against detachment.

[0026] The method includes the additional step of repeatedly wrapping the last section of the fiber around the valve connection or the spigot to subsequently secure the fiber end. This multiple wrapping ensures particularly secure fixation of the subsequently cured fiber composite material. In one embodiment, the wrapping creates a fixation layer of fiber composite material around the valve connection or the spigot, which additionally binds and secures the fiber end particularly well in this area that does not stretch or only stretches negligibly.

[0027] The method may include the additional step of reversibly applying a fastener from the outside, at least to the fiber end on the valve connector or the pin. The fastener additionally secures the fit of the fiber end and the final section from the outside. The fastener may be made of a temperature-stable material. This allows it to undergo the curing process stably without forming a further bond with the covered fibers. The fastener can be removed again after the outer layer has cured. The fastener may, for example, be a clamp, a clip, or an expandable or snap-in ring, optionally with an expansion gap.

[0028] In one embodiment of the method, in the step of leading out the last section of the fiber, the fiber end is led out of the last layer on a non-geodesic path, wherein the change in the fiber angle from the first fiber angle in the direction of the cylinder axis occurs so slowly that an adhesive effect of the matrix material is sufficient to hold the fiber in its non-geodesic path. Thus, the last section of the fiber itself can be led from a circumferential layer as the last layer into the region of the polar cap without the risk of subsequent slippage. Short description of the illustrations

[0029] These and other aspects of the present invention are shown in detail in the drawings as follows. Fig. 1: an embodiment of the pressure vessel according to the invention in perspective view. Fig. 2: schematic representation of the fiber paths in different layers with (a) a circumferential layer 31 and (b) a helical layer as the last layer on the pressure vessel according to the invention. Fig. 3: an embodiment of the pressure vessel according to the invention in a lateral section in the region of the valve connection with the last section of the fiber wrapping around the fiber end. Fig. 4: another embodiment of the pressure vessel according to the invention in a lateral section in the region of the valve connection with a fastening means around the fiber end. Fig. 5: an embodiment of the method according to the invention. Detailed description of implementation examples

[0030] Fig. 1shows an embodiment of the pressure vessel 1 according to the invention in a perspective view, comprising an inner container 2 (under the layer 3, not visible here) with a cylindrical central part 21 with a cylinder axis ZA and two pole caps 22 closing the cylindrical central part 21, and an outer layer 3 made of fiber composite material FVM, wound onto the inner container 2 for reinforcement thereof, and consisting of several superimposed layers L1, L2, L3 of fibers F embedded in a matrix material. The outer layer 3 can comprise the layers as any desired sequence of one or more circumferential layers 31 (here only shown as outer layer L3) with fibers F having a mean first fiber angle FW1 of more than 80 degrees and one or more helical layers 32 (here visible above the pole caps 22) with respective mean second fiber angles FW2 smaller than the mean first fiber angle FW1.In this embodiment, a circumferential layer 31 is wound on the central part 21 as the last wound layer L3, which covers the helical layer L1, L2 located underneath up to the area of ​​the pole caps 22. The pole cap 22 visible here on the left comprises a valve connection 23 for the inlet and outlet of gas into / out of the pressure vessel. Alternatively, this pole cap 22 can also comprise a pin 24 for suspending the inner vessel 2 (not visible here) for the winding process. In this case, the valve connection 23 would be arranged on the other pole cap 22 not visible here. In this illustration, the fibers F of the helical layer 32 appear to run through the valve connection 23 or the pin 24. In reality, the fibers run laterally around the valve connection 23 or the pin 24 and can be tangent to it.While the pressure in a filled pressure vessel acts both in the radial direction (on the central part 21) and in the axial direction along the cylinder axis ZA (on the pole caps 22) and thus stretches them more or less depending on the internal pressure, the valve connection 23 or the pin 24 itself shows a negligible stretch, for example compared to the central part 21. For the fiber F led out of the last layer L3, let . Fig.2 referred to.

[0031] Fig.2 shows a schematic representation of the fiber courses in different layers with (a) a circumferential layer 31 as the last layer and (b) a helical layer 32 as the last layer on the pressure vessel 1 according to the invention, where the description of Fig.1accordingly also applies. For better clarity, the fiber paths are shown schematically here for circumferential layers 31 and helical layers 32 around the inner container 2 shown here. In a circumferential layer 31, the fibers F run with a mean first fiber angle FW1 of approximately 85 degrees over the central part 21, which extends between the two pole caps 22 along the cylinder axis ZA. Due to the strength of the fibers, the central part 21 is reinforced in the tangential direction with this fiber path. The helical layer 32, on the other hand, extends with a mean second fiber angle FW2 to the cylinder axis ZA, which is significantly smaller than the mean first fiber angle FW1, over the inner container 2 of the pressure vessel 1, here for example approximately 30 degrees.Here, the fiber F is guided from the last wound layer L3 out of the central part 21 in the direction of a region 33 of the pressure vessel 1, which, under pressure load, shows at most a negligible elongation compared to the central part 21. There, at least the fiber end FE of the last section FL of the fiber F that has been guided out is fixed. In this case, in . Fig.2a the last wound layer L3 on the middle part 21 a circumferential layer 31, while in Fig.2bthe last wound layer L3 is a helical layer 32. The last section FL of the fiber F with the fiber end FE (shown here as a loose fiber end FE before its fixation) is led out of the respective last layer L3 in a transition region 35 on the middle part 21 or above the pole cap 22 on a non-geodetic path 34, wherein the change of the fiber angle from the first fiber angle FW1 or second fiber angle FW2 in the direction of the cylinder axis ZA takes place so slowly that the adhesive effect of the impregnated fiber is sufficient to hold the fiber F in its non-geodetic path 34. The curvature of the fiber path in the transition region 35 is in Fig.2This is shown in a highly exaggerated manner to exemplify the fiber's exit toward the valve connection 23. In fact, multiple circuits over the pole caps are often required, which would have significantly complicated the illustration. Here, the exit of fiber F ends at the valve connection 23. Alternatively, the exit of fiber F could also end at the pin 24, for which the above applies equally.

[0032] Fig.3shows an embodiment of the pressure vessel 1 according to the invention in a lateral section in the region of the valve connection 23 of the pole cap 22 with wrapping through the last section FL of the fiber F with fiber end FE. A valve 5 is arranged in the valve connection 23. The valve connection 23 has a negligible expansion compared to the central part 21 and is thus the region 33 of the pressure vessel 1 with negligible expansion and thus the preferred end point of the fiber F with fiber end FE. In this embodiment, the valve connection 23 has a valve section 23M made of metal on the entire outer side.In order to utilize the low extensibility of the metal for fixing the fiber end FE, the last section FL with the fiber end FE is fixed here on the valve section 23M of the valve closure 23 by the last section FL of the fiber F circulating the valve connection 23 several times and thus forming a fixing layer L4 of fiber composite material FVM around the valve connection 23, which is only indicated here with the bold solid and dashed lines for reasons of clarity.

[0033] Fig.4 shows a further embodiment of the pressure vessel 1 according to the invention in a lateral section in the region of the valve connection 23 with a fastening means 4 around the fiber end FE. A valve 5 is arranged in the valve connection 23. Here, in contrast to Fig.3the fiber end FE is additionally fixed to the valve connection 23 by means of a fastening means 4 placed from the outside onto the fiber end FE and the valve connection 23. The fastening means 4 can, for example, be a snap ring that is held onto the valve connection 23 by means of a press fit. In another embodiment, the fastening means 4 can be made of an expandable material that is slipped from above over the valve 5 and valve connection 23 down to fix the fiber end FE. If the fastening means 4 is made of a temperature-stable material, it can remain on the valve connection 23 for the curing process and can be reversibly removed again after the curing step of the outer layer 3. Reversible removal here refers to residue-free removal, without the fastening means forming a bond with the substrate.

[0034] Fig.5shows an embodiment of the method 100 according to the invention for producing a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel 1 according to the invention, comprising the steps of providing 110 an inner container with a cylindrical central part 21 with a cylinder axis ZA and two pole caps 22 enclosing the cylindrical central part 21, wrapping 120 the inner container with a fiber composite material made of several superimposed layers of fibers F embedded in a matrix material to produce a reinforcing outer layer 3 of the pressure vessel 1, wherein the outer layer 3 comprises the layers L1, L2, L3 as any sequence of one or more circumferential layers 31 with fibers F having a mean first fiber angle FW1 of more than 80 degrees and one or more helical layers 32 with respective mean second fiber angles FW2 smaller than the mean first fiber angle FW1,followed by the fiber being led out 130 from a last wound layer L3 from the central part 21 to a region 33 of the pressure vessel 1, which exhibits at most a negligible elongation compared to the central part 21 under pressure load. Here, the last section FL of the fiber F, comprising the fiber end FE, can be led out 130 on a non-geodetic path 34 from the peripheral layer 31, wherein the change in the fiber angle from the first fiber angle FW1 in the direction of the cylinder axis ZA occurs so slowly that an adhesive effect of the matrix material is sufficient to hold the fiber F in its non-geodetic path 34. Subsequently, the fixing 140 of a last section FL of the fiber F is carried out with at least one fiber end FE in this region. In a pressure vessel where the region 33, which exhibits at most a negligible elongation compared to the central part 21 under pressure load,a valve connection 23 arranged on one of the pole caps 22 or a central pin 24 arranged on one of the pole caps 22, the fixing 140 is carried out at least with the fiber end FE on the valve connection 23 or the pin 24. If the valve connection 23 comprises a valve section 23M made of metal, the fiber end can preferably be fixed thereon. Before fixing, the last section FL of the fiber F can be wrapped 150 several times around the valve connection 23 or the pin 24; preferably, the wrapping 150 forms a fixing layer L4 of fiber composite material FVM around the valve connection 23 or the pin 24. Thereafter, a reversible placement 160 of a fastening means 4 from the outside can take place at least onto the fiber end FE on the valve connection 23 or the pin 24. The outer layer 3 can now be cured in a curing process 170 and thus cross-linked,to provide a resilient outer layer 3. If the fastening means 4 is made of a temperature-stable material, it can be removed without problems after the curing step 170 of the outer layer 3 180.

[0035] The embodiments shown here are merely examples of the present invention and should therefore not be construed as limiting. Alternative embodiments contemplated by those skilled in the art are equally within the scope of the present invention. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0036] 1 Pressure vessel according to the invention 2 Inner vessel 21 Cylindrical middle section of the inner vessel 22 Pole caps on the cylindrical middle section 23 Valve connection to at least one of the pole caps 23 Metal valve section 24 Pin 3 Outer layer made of fiber composite material 31 Circumferential layers of the outer layer 32 Helical layers of the outer layer 33 Region of the pressure vessel with at least negligible expansion under pressure load 34 Non-geodetic path of the fiber exit from the middle section 35 Transition region of the fiber angle on the middle section deviating from the middle first or middle second fiber angle 4 Fastening means placed on the fiber end on the valve connection or the pin 5 Valve 100 Method for producing the pressure vessel according to the invention 110 Providing an inner container of the pressure vessel 120 Wrapping the inner container with a fiber composite material made up of several layers arranged one above the other 130 Leading the fiber out of a last wound layer 140 Fixing a last section of the fiber with a fiber end 150 Multiple wrapping of the last section of the fiber around the valve connection or the pin 160 Reversible placement of a fastening means from the outside at least onto the fiber end 170 Curing step of the outer layer 180 Removing the fastening means after the curing step FFibers of the fiber composite material FEFiber end at the end of the winding process FLlast section of the fiber with fiber end FVMFiber composite material FW1 Average first fiber angle in the circumferential layer FW2 Respective average second fiber angle in the respective helical layers L1 - L3 Different layers in the outer layer L4 Fixing layer ZAZylinder axis of thecylindrical middle part

Claims

1. A fiber-reinforced pressure vessel (1) comprising an inner vessel (2) with a cylindrical central part (21) with a cylinder axis (ZA) and two pole caps (22) closing the cylindrical central part (21), and an outer layer (3) wound onto the inner vessel (2) for the reinforcement thereof, said outer layer (3) being made of fiber composite material (FVM) of several layers (L1, L2 and L3) of fibers (F) arranged one on top of the other embedded in a matrix material, wherein the layers of the outer layer (3) comprises any sequence of one or several circumferential layers (31) with fibers (F) with an average first fiber angle (FW1) of more than 80 degrees and of one or several helical layers (32) with respective average second fiber angles (FW2) smaller than the average first fiber angle (FW1), wherein the fiber (F) from the last wound layer (L3) is guided out of the central part (21) to an area (33) on a pole cap (22) of the pressure vessel (1), wherein the pole caps (22), under compressive load, exhibit at most a negligible extension with respect to the central part (21), and a last section (FL) of the fiber (F) is fixed in said area at least with one fiber end (FE), wherein the area (33) is a valve connection (23) arranged on one of the pole caps (22) or a pin (24) arranged in the center one of the pole caps (22), characterized in that the last section (FL) is fixed with the fiber end (FE) to the valve connection (23) or the pin (24), preferably to the valve section (23M) of the valve connection (23) made of metal, wherein the last section (FL) of the fiber (F) runs several times around the valve connection (23) or the pin (24)for fixing of the fiber end (FE).

2. The pressure vessel (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the area (33) is a valve connection (23) arranged on one of the pole caps (22), wherein the valve connection (23) comprises a valve section (23M), which is made of metal.

3. The pressure vessel (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the last section (FL) forms a fixing layer (L4) of fiber composite material (FVM) around the valve connection (23) or the pin (24).

4. The pressure vessel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the last wound layer (L3) on the central part (21) is a circumferential layer (31) or a helical layer (32), wherein the helical layer (32) is wound with a second fiber angle (FW2), which results in the fibers (F) touching or not touching the area (33) of the pressure vessel (1).

5. A method (100) for producing a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel (1) according to claim 1 comprising the steps of: providing (110) an inner vessel with a cylindrical central part (21) with a cylinder axis (ZA) and two pole caps (22) closing the cylindrical central part (21); wrapping (120) the inner vessel with a fiber composite material comprising of several layers of fibers (F) arranged one on top of the other embedded in a matrix material for the production of a reinforcing outer layer (3) of the pressure vessel (1), wherein the outer layer (3) comprises the layers (L1, L2, L3) as any sequence of one or several circumferential layers (31) with fibers (F) with an average first fiber angle (FW1) of more than 80 degrees and of one or several helical layers (32) with respective average second fiber angles (FW2) smaller than the average first fiber angle (FW1); guiding (130) the fiber from a last wound layer (L3) out of the central part (21) to a area (33) on a pole cap (22) of the pressure vessel (1), wherein the pole caps (22), under compressive load, exhibit at most a negligible extension with respect to the central part (21), and fixing (140) a last section (FL) of the fiber (F) in said area with at least one fiber end (FE), wherein the area (33) is a valve connection (23) arranged on one of the pole caps (22) or a pin (24) arranged in the center of one of the pole caps (22), wherein the fixing (140) is carried out with at least the fiber end (FE) on the valve connection (23) or the pin (24), preferably on the valve section (23M) of the valve connection (23) made of metal, wherein the fixing (140) takes place by repeatedly wrapping (150) the last section (FL) of the fiber (F) around the valve connection (23) or the pin (24).

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein a fixing layer (L4) of fiber composite material (FVM) is formed around the valve connection (23) or the pin (24) during the wrapping (150).

7. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 6, wherein the step of guiding (130) the last section (FL) of the fiber (F) comprising the fiber end (FE) out of the last layer (L3) takes place on a non-geodetic path (34), wherein the change of the fiber angle from the first fiber angle (FW1) in the direction of the cylinder axis (ZA) takes place so slowly that an adhesive effect of the matrix material is sufficient to hold the fiber (F) in its non-geodetic path (34).