FASTENING SYSTEM FOR PRESSURE VESSELS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fastening system for pressure vessels, comprising a first support element on which at least one first holder for a first end of the pressure vessel is arranged, and comprising a second support element on which at least one second holder for a second end of the pressure vessel is arranged, wherein the first holder has an inner ring in which the first end of the pressure vessel is received in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0002] Pressure vessels for holding gas such as hydrogen or liquefied petroleum gas are frequently constructed as composite pressure vessels (see, for example, US Pat. No. 2,761,397 A) with a liner made of plastic or metal, e.g., aluminum, and two metal neck pieces arranged in the neck area, as well as a winding of a fiber composite material reinforcing the liner. Such pressure vessels are known, for example, from the publication WO 99 / 27293 A2. The neck pieces are also referred to as end bosses and are used to attach a filling and dispensing valve. Such valves can be provided at both ends of the pressure vessel. Alternatively, one end of the pressure vessel can be closed. The neck pieces are also used to attach the pressure vessels to fastening systems with which several pressure vessels can be attached, for example, to a vehicle.

[0003] One fastening system is known, for example, from the publication CA 2 384 915 C. Bearing blocks are provided at both ends, which firmly clamp the neck piece. One problem with such fastening systems is the risk that forces acting on the fastening system are transmitted into the pressure vessels. This impairs the strength of the pressure vessels and, due to the filling of the pressure vessels with flammable media, can also pose a safety risk. In CA 2 384 915 C, the bearings have a certain degree of bendability in the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessels, which prevents excessive forces from being transmitted into the pressure vessels. The publications US 2004 / 9056164 A1 and US 2017 / 0370527 A1 describe fastening systems for pressure vessels in which the end bosses are connected to the holding elements of the fastening system via balls. This prevents torsional and bending forces from being transmitted to the end bosses.Fastening systems for pressure vessels according to the preamble of claim 1 are disclosed in the documents US 2017 / 0 370 527 A1 and US 6 986 490 82.

[0004] The object of the invention is to optimize the fastening for the neck pieces of the pressure vessels.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention in that the inner ring is pivotably mounted about a first pivot axis in an outer ring, which in turn is pivotably mounted in the holder about a second pivot axis running at right angles to the first pivot axis.

[0006] In other words, it is proposed to provide a gimbal mount for at least one neck piece of the pressure vessel. The neck piece itself is held in a rotationally fixed manner in this gimbal mount. This prevents damage to attachments attached to the neck piece, in particular lines for the supply and removal of compressed gas via a valve. The design of this mount is simple to implement, has the required strength, and is easy to assemble and disassemble.

[0007] In practice, the inner ring can consist of two inner ring halves that are divided along a diametrically running first parting plane. This has the advantage that these inner ring halves can be easily assembled around the neck piece. The inner ring can be rotatably attached to the outer ring via two first pivot pins. A pivot hole into which one of the pivot pins projects can be arranged in each inner ring half. The inner ring can have an inwardly open annular groove into which a collar can be inserted at the first end of the pressure vessel, in particular at the neck piece. The two inner ring halves can be easily pushed over the collar until their end faces abut one another in the first parting plane. The inner ring can further have at least one retaining element that cooperates in a form-fitting manner with a complementary retaining element at the first end of the pressure vessel.The retaining element and the complementary retaining element can be designed so that they engage when the inner ring halves are pushed together. Two diametrically opposed material projections can be provided as the retaining element. These projections protrude inward from the base of the groove and are each arranged on one of the inner ring halves. The collar then has complementary regions that deviate from the round cross-section and interact positively with the material projections when the inner ring is assembled. The first pivot pins can protrude into pivot holes that are arranged diametrically opposite one another in the region of the material projections.In particular, if the material projections are designed as flattened portions of the groove or as projections within the groove, which are accommodated in complementarily shaped receptacles or flattened portions of the collar, the material thickness of the inner ring is maximum in the area of ​​the material projections and the strength of the receptacle for the pivot pin is high.

[0008] In practice, the outer ring can consist of two outer ring halves that are divided along a diametrically running second parting plane. The outer ring therefore has a similar structure to the inner ring. In the area of ​​the second parting plane, two diametrically opposed recesses can be arranged to accommodate the two first pivot pins. The first pivot pin, which projects into the pivot holes of the inner ring, can then be enclosed on both sides by the two recesses, each located on one of the two outer ring halves. In this way, the inner ring is held in the outer ring so that it can pivot about the first pivot pins. Each outer ring half can have a pivot hole in the central area to accommodate a second pivot pin. The second pivot pins are held on a fastening ring that is attached to a bearing block. The second pivot pins hold the outer ring so that it can pivot about a second pivot axis. The bearing block forms the holder for the neck piece.

[0009] The second division plane can run perpendicular to the first division plane, so that the second pivot axis runs perpendicular to the first pivot axis. In this way, the inner and outer rings can be easily assembled. In practice, the outer ring can be fastened in a bearing block consisting of two bearing halves that are divided along a diametrically opposed third division plane. The bearing block can have an annular receiving groove into which the fastening ring is inserted. The fastening ring is divided into two fastening ring halves along a fourth division plane running at right angles to the third division plane. In the area of ​​the fourth division plane, the fastening ring can have two diametrically opposed receiving holes, each for receiving one of the second pivot pins. This design again makes the bearing for the neck piece easy to assemble and disassemble.The retaining ring can be held in the annular receiving groove with slight play. For this purpose, the two bearing halves can be screwed to the mounting system using fastening screws that extend through aligned holes in the area of ​​the vertical edges of the bearing halves. These fastening screws secure the retaining ring in the receiving groove of the bearing block and fix all rings to one another and the collar of the neck piece in the inner ring. The retaining ring can be rotated in the receiving groove so that its rotational position can be aligned with the mounting position of the neck piece with the valve attached to it. The retaining ring can be locked in this rotational position using a grub screw that is screwed against the retaining ring in a threaded hole in one bearing half.

[0010] In practice, the second end of the pressure vessel can be movably attached to the second holder in the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel. For this purpose, the second holder can have a cylindrical bore surrounding a cylindrical portion of the second neck piece (end boss) of the pressure vessel. The second holder can be designed substantially similarly to the first holder, with axial displaceability being provided. For example, the fastening ring can be displaceable in the receiving groove of the bearing block. Or the neck piece can have a cylindrical portion that is held axially displaceably in the inner ring.

[0011] Further practical embodiments and advantages of the invention are described below in conjunction with the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a three-dimensional view of a carrier from the front, to which four pressure vessels are attached via four holders; Fig. 2 a three-dimensional view of a holder of the carrier from Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3one of the Fig. 2 corresponding view of the holder with adjusted mounting for the neck piece of the pressure vessel; Fig. 4 a three-dimensional exploded view of the holder from the Fig. 2 and 3 ; Fig. 5 a horizontally sectioned view of the holder with the neck piece of a pressure vessel inserted therein; Fig. 6 one of the Fig. 5 corresponding illustration with the pressure vessel pivoted towards the holder; Fig. 7 an enlarged view of the neck piece from the Figures 5 and 6 ; Fig. 8a front view of the neck piece from Fig. 7 ; Fig. 9 a three-dimensional view of the carrier with pressure vessels from Fig. 1 from behind.

[0012] In the Fig. 1A support for four pressure vessels 1 can be seen, which is designed as a closed frame with two longitudinal profiles 2 and two transverse profiles 3. In the Fig. 1 only the front cross-section 3 can be seen. The rear cross-section in the drawing plane can be identical, as described below in connection with Fig. 9 described. However, it can also deviate from the front cross-section 3, because the rear end of the pressure vessel 1 can also deviate from the front end shown in the drawing. Pressure vessels 1 are known that have identical neck pieces 4 at the front and rear (cf. Fig. 5 to 8 ). However, pressure vessels 1 are also known which have different neck pieces at the rear end, e.g. closed neck pieces.

[0013] The pressure vessels 1 can be used in particular to hold gaseous fuel for vehicles, for example liquefied petroleum gas or hydrogen. Fig. 5 to 8The visible neck pieces 4 of the pressure vessels 1 have through-holes through which the pressure vessels 1 can be filled with fuel and emptied again. On the neck pieces 4 of the pressure vessels, the Fig. 1 recognizable extraction valves 5 are arranged, which control the flow of gas when filling and emptying the pressure vessels 1.

[0014] On the front cross section 3 are Fig. 1 four holders 6 can be seen, which are described in more detail in the following figures. The valves 5 and the holders 6 cover the neck pieces 4 in Fig. 1 . The holders 6 have the task of Figs. 5 and 6visible neck pieces 4 of the pressure vessels 1, while ensuring a certain degree of mobility. In particular, the pressure vessels 1 should not absorb any forces or moments acting on the support. These forces and moments should largely be absorbed by the profiles 2, 3 of the support frame. However, deformations of the frame as well as deformations of the pressure vessels 1 depending on temperature and internal pressure make it necessary for the neck pieces 4 of the pressure vessels 1 to be held movable. On the other hand, the aim should be to accommodate the neck pieces 4 in the holder 6 in a rotationally fixed manner. Twisting of the neck pieces 4 could damage the extraction valves 5 attached to them or lead to leaks.

[0015] The Fig. 2-4show details of the holders 6 for the neck pieces 4. It can be seen that each holder is formed by a bearing block 6, which consists of two bearing halves 7, 8. Both bearing halves 7, 8 have mutually aligned through holes 9, 10, through which fastening screws (not shown) penetrate and can thus be fastened to the front cross profile 3 of the frame.

[0016] As particularly in the Figures 2 and 3 As can be seen, each bearing block 6 has an inner ring 11 and an outer ring 12, which together form a cardanic suspension. As can be seen in particular in Fig. 3 As can be seen, the inner ring 11 can pivot about a horizontal axis and the outer ring 12 about a vertical axis. However, the orientation of the axes can vary because the inner ring 11 and outer ring 12 are rotatably mounted in the bearing block 6, as explained below.

[0017] The structural design of the bearing block 6 is particularly Figure 4Here, the individual parts of bearing block 6 are shown in an exploded view.

[0018] In the bearing halves 7, 8 of the bearing block 6, half groove sections 17, 18 are arranged, which together form an annular receiving groove. A fastening ring 13 is rotatably received in the annular receiving groove. The fastening ring 13 is in Fig. 3can be seen. It is used for the rotatable arrangement of inner ring 11 and outer ring 12 in the bearing block 6. As explained below, a neck piece 4 of a pressure vessel 1 is fixed in the inner ring 11. So that the neck piece 4 can be received in the bearing block 6 in the correct orientation, the fastening ring 13 is rotatable. It can be turned into the correct rotational position and clamped there with grub screws 14. Two threaded holes 15, 16 are arranged in the two bearing halves 7, 8 for screwing in the grub screws 14, which, after assembly of the entire fastening system with pressure vessels 1, fix the fastening ring 13 in the correct rotational position of the neck piece 4 on the bearing block 6. If one of the grub screws 14 is sufficient to generate a sufficient clamping force, the second grub screw 14 can be omitted.

[0019] The fastening ring 13 consists of two fastening ring halves 19,20 ( Fig. 4), which are divided in a vertical plane. In the area of ​​the dividing plane of the fastening ring 13, semicircular recesses 21 are arranged on the end faces of the fastening ring halves 19, 20. Two recesses 21 on each of two mutually adjacent end faces of the fastening ring halves 19, 20 together form a receiving hole for a radially outer head section of a pivot pin 22, with which the outer ring 12 is connected to the fastening ring 13 so as to be rotatable about a vertical pivot axis. For this purpose, the outer ring 12 has two pivot holes 23, 24 into which the inwardly projecting neck sections of the pivot pins 22, which have a reduced diameter, can be inserted. Each pivot hole 23, 24 is arranged in a central region of an outer ring half 25, 26.

[0020] The outer ring 12, in turn, consists of two outer ring halves 25, 26, which also have semicircular recesses 27 on their end surfaces. Again, two semicircular recesses on mutually abutting end surfaces of the outer ring halves 25, 26 together form a receiving hole, in each of which a head section of a pivot pin 28 can be received. Again, the head section, i.e., the large-diameter portion of the pivot pin 28 located on the outside in the radial direction of the outer ring 12, is inserted into the receiving holes. Since the outer ring 12 is divided in a horizontal plane, the two pivot pins 28 form a horizontal pivot axis for the inner ring 11.

[0021] The inner ring 11 also consists of two inner ring halves 29, 30. The two inner ring halves 29 and 30 each also have a pin hole 31 and 32, respectively, which each accommodate a radially inner neck section of a pivot pin 28. The inner ring 11 is again divided in a vertical plane. The inner ring 11 has an annular groove 33 open toward its center. Material projections 34 are provided in the lateral areas of the open annular groove 33, projecting from the base of the annular groove 33, so that the depth of the annular groove 33 is reduced at the sides.

[0022] In order to explain the interaction of the annular groove 33 in the inner ring 11 with the neck piece 4, first of all the Figures 7 and 8 in which the neck piece 4 is shown in isolation in longitudinal section and in front view, and to the Figures 5 and 6 , which show the neck piece 4 and the adjacent area of ​​the pressure vessel 1.

[0023] In the Figs. 5 and 6It can be seen that the pressure vessel 1 has a liner 35 that tightly lines the pressure vessel. The liner 35 can be made of plastic or metal, e.g., aluminum. The liner 35 is surrounded on the outside by an outer layer 36, which is generally formed from a fiber composite material. The neck piece 4 has a through hole for gas extraction from the interior of the pressure vessel 1 and for refueling. A neck section 37 of the liner 35 is screwed into the neck piece 4.

[0024] The neck piece 4 is also referred to in practice as the end boss. The neck piece 4 is usually made of metal and in this case has a conical collar 38, which lies between the liner 35 and the outer layer 36 of the pressure vessel 1. The neck piece 4 has further radially outwardly projecting collars 39, 40, which ensure a firm connection to the outer layer 36. The final collar 41, which is closest to the front end of the neck piece 4, serves for the connection to the holder 6. This collar 41 is in the Figures 7 and 8 It has flattened portions 42, 43 on both sides, which interact with the material projections 34 in the side areas of the groove 33. Of course, any other interlocking fastening elements can also be provided to connect the neck piece 4 to the inner ring 11 in a rotationally fixed manner. Screw or clamping elements can also be used to ensure anti-rotation.

[0025] The front collar 41 of the neck piece 4 is inserted into the annular groove 33 of the inner ring 11. Due to manufacturing tolerances, there may be deviations in the rotational position of the neck piece 4 relative to the rest of the pressure vessel 1. For this reason, the fastening ring 13 is rotatably held in the bearing block 6 and is only secured by means of the grub screws 14 after the neck piece 4 of the pressure vessel 1 has been correctly mounted on the bearing block 6. The collar 41 is then held in a rotationally fixed manner in the bearing block 6 by the material projections 34 and the flattened portions 42, 43. The bearing block 6 forms a fixed bearing that determines the position of the neck piece 4 relative to the front cross-section 3. The neck piece 4, as mentioned above, is held in a gimbal manner and can pivot in any direction about the two orthogonal axes formed by the pivot pins 22 and 28.The slight movements of the bearing blocks 6 during the deformation of the frame or the pressure vessel 1 attached to it therefore do not generate any forces acting on the structure of the pressure vessel 1.

[0026] The rear ones, in Fig. 1 invisible ends of the pressure vessels 1 are in the Fig. 9 For cost reasons, the rear cross-section 3 shown here can be identical to the front cross-section 3 ( Fig. 1 ). The bearing blocks 6' for the neck pieces at the rear ends of the pressure vessels 1 can also be similar to the front bearing blocks 6. The rear bearing blocks 6' can form floating bearings for the neck pieces, in which the neck pieces of the pressure vessels 1 are accommodated so as to be displaceable in the axial direction. The pressure vessels 1 can elongate by up to 8 mm depending on the outside temperature and internal pressure. For this reason, the Fig. 9visible, rear end of each pressure vessel 1 relative to the rear cross-section 3. For this purpose, the rear holders or bearing blocks 6' can be provided with an axial degree of freedom. This can be achieved, for example, by the fastening ring 13 not being held in a groove, but resting and displaceable on a flat annular or cylindrical surface. This then results in a cardanic fastening for the rear neck pieces of the pressure vessels 1, but with longitudinal displaceability of the bearing point, so that longitudinal stresses acting on the pressure vessels 1 are avoided.

[0027] The invention is not limited to the described embodiments. It may be varied within the scope of the claims and taking into account the knowledge of the person skilled in the art. List of reference symbols

[0028] 1Pressure vessel 2Longitudinal profile 3Cross-section, support element 4Neck piece 5Extraction valve 6Front holder, bearing block 6Rear holder, bearing block 7Lower bearing half 8Upper bearing half 9Through hole 10Through hole 11Inner ring 12Outer ring 13Fastening ring 14Set screw 15Threaded hole 16Threaded hole 17Groove section 18Groove section 19Fastening ring half 20Fastening ring half 21Recess 22Pivot pin 23Pivot hole 24Pivot hole 25Outer ring half 26Outer ring half 27Recess 28Pivot pin 29Inner ring half 30Inner ring half 31Pivot hole 32Pivot hole 33Ring groove 34Material projection 35Liner 36Outer layer 37Neck section 38Conical collar 39Collar 40Collar 41Collar 42Flattening 43Flattening

Claims

1. A mounting system for pressure vessels (1), having a first supporting member (3) on which at least one first mount (6) for a first end of the pressure vessel (1) is arranged, and having a second supporting member (3) on which at least one second mount (6') for a second end of the pressure vessel (1) is arranged, the first mount (6) having an inner ring (11) in which the first end of the pressure vessel (1) is accommodated in a rotationally fixed manner, characterized in that the inner ring (11) is fastened pivotably about a first pivot axis in an outer ring (12) which in turn is fastened pivotably in the mount (6) about a second pivot axis extending at right angles to the first pivot axis.

2. The mounting system according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner ring (11) comprises at least one of the following features: • it consists of two inner ring halves (29, 30) divided along a first parting plane extending diametrically; • it is rotatably mounted to the outer ring (12) via two first pivots (28); • it has an inwardly open annular groove (33), a collar (41) at the first end of the pressure vessel (1) being insertable into said annular groove (33); • it has at least one retaining element (34) which interacts in a form-fitting manner with a complementary retaining element at the first end of the pressure vessel (1); • two diametrically opposed material projections (34) are provided as retaining elements, which project radially inwards from the bottom of the groove (33) and are each arranged on one of the inner ring halves (29, 30); • the first pivots (28) project into pivot holes (31, 32) which are arranged diametrically opposite one another in the region of the material projections (34).

3. The mounting system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outer ring (12) comprises at least one of the following features: • it consists of two outer ring halves (25, 26) which are divided along a second parting plane extending diametrically; • two diametrically opposed receiving holes for receiving the two first pivots (28) are arranged in the region of the second parting plane; • each outer ring half (25, 26) has a pivot hole (23, 24) in the central region for receiving a second pivot.

4. The mounting system according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the second parting plane extends perpendicularly to the first parting plane.

5. The mounting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer ring (12) is fastened in a mounting block (6) consisting of two mounting halves (7, 8) divided along a diametrically extending third parting plane.

6. The mounting system according to claim 4 and 5, characterized in that the mounting block has an annular receiving groove (17, 18) into which a mounting ring (13) is inserted which is divided into two mounting ring halves (19, 20) along a fourth parting plane extending at right angles to the third parting plane.

7. The mounting system according to claim 6, characterized in that the mounting ring (13) has, in the region of the fourth parting plane, two diametrically opposite receiving holes for receiving a second pivot (22) in each case.

8. The mounting system according to claim 7, characterized in that the mounting ring (13) is held rotatably and lockably in the annular receiving groove (17, 18).

9. The mounting system according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one mounting half (7, 8) has a threaded hole (15, 16) which opens into the receiving groove (17, 18) and receives a grub screw (14) for locking the mounting ring (13).

10. The mounting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second end of the pressure vessel (1) is movably fastened to the second mount (6') in the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel (1).