Pressurized fluid container

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pressurized fluid container comprising a body and at least one end piece (1), the body having a cylindrical shape and a central part (2) connected at its longitudinal ends to two body ends, the at least one end piece being attached to a first body end (3) by means of at least one pin (4), the pin (4) being: at least one first part (4a) accommodated in a body opening (5) passing at least partially through a side wall of said first body; and at least one second portion (4b) accommodated in an end piece opening (6) that at least partially penetrates the side wall of the end piece (1). The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing the container according to the invention.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of pressurized fluid storage, more particularly to a pressurized fluid container. [Background technology]

[0002] Pressurized gas is usually stored in a part-cylindrical container closed by a stopper. To limit the force exerted on the stopper, the container often has a constriction near the stopper so that the stopper does not have to cover the entire width of the container. The problem with this constriction is that it increases the cost of manufacturing the container. In addition, the narrowing makes it impossible to insert a heat exchanger into the container through the opening closed by the stopper, or it significantly limits the size of such a heat exchanger and therefore its efficiency.

[0003] To solve this problem, there are stoppers in which a flange is made that covers the entire width of the container. Such a flange is fixed by means of screws. To withstand the force exerted by the pressurized fluid, it is necessary to use a large number of screws, which increases the cost of the container. Moreover, the flange often occupies a much larger diameter than the rest of the container, which increases the overall dimensions of the container.

[0004] There are also two-part stoppers. A first part is inserted into one end of the container body and contains a hermetic seal. A second part is inserted after the first part and is screwed into the container body. When the second part is tightened onto the container body, it presses against the first part and seals the container. This solution is made up of complex components, which makes it expensive and also reduces the thickness of the container in the vicinity of the stopper, thus reducing its resistance to pressure.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a container having end pieces that limit the size of the container while maintaining sufficient resistance to pressure.

[0006] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container having an end piece that is easy, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a container that can easily assume different shapes, hold different fluids, and accommodate different pressures. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to at least partially meet the above-mentioned objectives by proposing a container comprising an end piece held in place by a transverse pin. To this end, a pressurized fluid container is provided, comprising a body and at least one end piece fixed to said body by at least one pin, said pin being: at least one first portion received in a body opening at least partially penetrating a side wall of the body; at least one second part accommodated in an end piece opening that at least partially penetrates the side wall of the end piece.

[0009] Such a configuration allows the end pieces to cover the entire width of the interior vessel over a wide range of pressures, including high pressure levels, without the need to modify the vessel wall thickness and with a minimal vessel footprint.

[0010] Further features include: the body opening and the end piece opening can be aligned in a direction perpendicular to the force induced by the fluid pressure tending to separate the end piece from the body, allowing optimal retention of the end piece under this force; - the container may be equipped with at least four pins, which is a simple and robust way of implementing the invention, making it possible to distribute the forces around the circumference of the container; the cross section of said at least one pin may have a dimension which is greater in the direction of the force induced by the fluid pressure tending to separate the end piece from the body than in the direction perpendicular to said force, making it possible to use the container over higher pressure values ​​without having to increase the thickness of the container wall in the region of the end piece; the end piece may include a seal, preferably an O-ring seal, housed between the body shoulder and the end piece shoulder, one of said at least one pin having a smaller cross section at the end of the end piece opening facing the inside of the container than its cross section at the end of the body opening facing the outside of the container, said at least one pin including clamping means, such as a screw, configured to exert a driving force on said pin at the body and the end piece opening, thus ensuring good sealing of the container for the particular application by a simple and robust means of obtaining a compression means of the seal, the body may comprise a central part having a cylindrical shape and connected at its longitudinal ends to the two body ends, the pin may fix the at least one end piece at the first body end, the body opening may penetrate the side wall of the body at the first body end, this being a particularly efficient type of container for storing pressurized fluid, the external shape of the first body end may extend the cylinder formed by the central part, at least a part of the end piece may be arranged inside the first body end, thereby avoiding any enlargement of the container at the end piece and making the manufacture of the container particularly easy and cheap, the container may further comprise a heat exchanger, the main part of which is located in the central part, the maximum dimension of which, measured in a section of the cylinder formed by the central part of the container, may be, for example, 50-100% of the surface area of ​​said section, this making it possible to efficiently heat or cool the fluid contained in the container, the cylinder formed by said central portion may be a circular cylinder, which is a simple and robust implementation of the invention and also optimizes the stress distribution.

[0011] The present invention also relates to a process for manufacturing a container according to the invention, comprising the following steps: - manufacturing a body including a cylindrical central portion and two body ends; - drilling at least one body opening in a wall of said first body end and at least one end piece opening in a wall of said end piece; - disposing an end piece on or around said first body end; - disposing said at least one pin at least partially through said at least one body opening and said at least one end piece opening.

[0012] The result is a vessel that can hold end pieces in place at high pressure levels, covering the entire width of the vessel interior, without the need to modify the vessel wall thickness, and with a minimal vessel footprint. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of one end of a container according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one end of a container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of one end of a container according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The container according to the invention, an embodiment of which is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, is suitable for containing a pressurized fluid. The fluid is preferably a gas such as dihydrogen, oxygen or nitrogen. The pressure of the fluid is, for example, between 1.015 and 1500 bar.

[0015] The container comprises a body and at least one end piece (1).

[0016] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the container may be a fluid storage tank and the end piece is, for example, a stopper 1.

[0017] The container can also be part of a machine, for example a chamber-forming part of a fluid compressor, and the end piece is for example a stopper 1.

[0018] The vessel may also be a pipe containing pressurized fluid, with the tube of the pipe attached to the connector. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, the body may be a pipe and the end piece may be a connector, or vice versa, the body may be a connector and the end piece may be a pipe. In some embodiments, it is preferred that the end piece is a connector and the body is a pipe. This is because the modifications made to a standard connector or tube to produce an end piece according to the invention are more complex than the modifications made to produce a body according to the invention. Since fittings are usually more complex parts to manufacture than pipes, it is advantageous to keep the most complex manufacturing operations to the fittings.

[0019] The body may include a central portion 2 shaped like a cylinder, a first body end 3 connected to the central portion 2 at a first longitudinal end of the cylinder formed by the central portion 2, and a second body end 3 connected to the central portion 2 at a second longitudinal end of the cylinder formed by the central portion 2. Thus, most of the fluid is contained within the cylinder. Such a configuration is particularly suitable when the container is a fluid reservoir.

[0020] The cylinder is preferably circular, which has the advantage that it is easier to manufacture and can better withstand the pressure of the fluid stored therein, but other cylinders, for example with a square, oval or rectangular cross section, are also possible.

[0021] Alternatively, the body may not have a cylindrical central portion, this is especially true if the vessel is for example a chamber of a fluid compressor and if the chamber is at least partially formed by, for example, a concave surface present in the end piece and / or the body.

[0022] The end piece 1 is attached to the first body end 3 by at least one pin 4. The at least one pin 4 is located on a side wall of the body and of the end piece 1. By "side wall" we mean a wall that extends in substantially the same direction as the force induced by the fluid pressure tending to separate the end piece 1 from the body. This may be in the same direction or in a slightly different direction, e.g. by 1-5°.

[0023] In the case where the body has a cylindrical central portion 2 and a first body end 3, at least one pin 4 is located in a side wall of the first body end 3. In the case where the first body end 3 extends a cylinder, the side wall may be an extension of the cylinder wall. In other cases, the side wall may be an extension that is slightly offset towards the inside or outside of the cylinder.

[0024] The side walls may be flat or curved.

[0025] In some embodiments, the container may comprise a single end piece 1 located at the end 3 of the first body. In other embodiments, the container may comprise two end pieces 1 located on either side of the body.

[0026] The side wall of the body is at least partially pierced by a body aperture 5 and the side wall of the end piece 1 is at least partially pierced by an end piece aperture 6 to allow the pin 4 to pass therethrough.

[0027] The pin 4 includes a first portion 4 a received in a body opening 5 and a second portion 4 b received in an end piece opening 6 .

[0028] Several configurations are possible.

[0029] If the body opening 5 passes completely through the side wall of the body and the end piece opening 6 passes completely through the side wall of the end piece 1, the pin 4 may, in addition to its first and second parts 4a, 4b, comprise two other parts which open on either side of the openings 5, 6, with a head and a retaining means such as a nut, or with one nut on each side.

[0030] If the body opening 5 only partially penetrates the body side wall, the pin 4 may only have one penetration on the side of the end piece opening 6. In this case, the pin may be inserted into the openings 5, 6 and may penetrate the end piece opening 6 first.

[0031] If the end piece opening 6 is only partially through the side wall of the end piece 1, the pin 4 may only have one open end on the side of the body opening 5. In this case, the pin may be inserted into the openings 5, 6 and first pass through the body opening 5.

[0032] Preferably, each pin 4, body opening 5 and end piece opening 6 is aligned in a direction perpendicular to the force induced by the fluid pressure tending to separate the end piece 1 from the body. This force direction may, for example, coincide with the axis of the longitudinal cylinder formed by the central part 2 of the container body, if applicable. If the cylinder is circular, the openings 5, 6 are preferably aligned along a straight line passing through the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. In this way, the pin 4 is optimally positioned to prevent the end piece 1 from moving relative to the container body in the direction of the force induced by the fluid pressure tending to separate the end piece 1 from the body. Thus, the body opening 5 and the end piece opening 6 preferably adjoin the side wall of the end piece 1, and the body is in contact with each other in the vicinity of those openings 5, 6. The pins 4 and the openings 5, 6 may preferably be distributed over the entire circumference of the end piece 1 around the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. In this way, when the pin 4 is in place, any movement of the end piece 1 relative to the body is not possible.

[0033] In the particular embodiment illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the outer shape of the first body end 3 can extend the cylindrical outer shape of the central part 2. The end piece 1 can thus be arranged at least partially in the first body end 3. In this way, the size of the container is limited and the container according to the invention is particularly simple to manufacture.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, the container comprises a number of pins 4, for example four pins, evenly distributed around the circumference of the end piece 1. The number of pins 4 is easily determined by the skilled artisan as a function, inter alia, of the dimensions of the container, the pressure of the fluid stored therein, and the shape and dimensions of the pins 4. It is possible for one or more rows of pins 4 to be arranged around the circumference of the end piece and the side wall of the body.

[0035] The pin 4 may be cylindrical in shape, and thus the cross section of the pin 4 may be circular, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Alternatively, the cross section may be square, which provides greater shear strength for a similar cross-sectional dimension.

[0036] In a particular embodiment, the cross section of the pin 4 is larger in the direction of the force induced by the fluid pressure tending to separate the end piece 1 from the body than in the direction perpendicular to this force. For example, the pin may have an elliptical or even rectangular cross section, offering the same advantages over the elliptical cross section as the square cross section over the circular cross section mentioned above. This increases the resistance of the pin to the pressure inside the container, making it possible to store fluids at very high pressures, for example 1200 bar.

[0037] The vessel may include a heat exchanger suitable for cooling or heating the contained fluid. The heat exchanger preferably includes elements in which a heat transfer fluid circulates, distributed as far apart as possible inside the vessel body, for example along the entire longitudinal axis of the cylinder formed by the central part 2 and over the entire cross section, in order to achieve the most efficient heat exchange possible between the heat transfer fluid and the fluid stored in the vessel. The maximum overall dimension of the part of the heat exchanger located in the central part, measured over the section of the cylinder formed by the central part 2 of the vessel, is for example 50-100% of the surface area of ​​said section. The overall dimension is defined as the smallest convex surface area completely covering the section of the heat exchanger. The vessel has at least two holes 7 in which the heat transfer fluid transport means can be arranged, one hole 7a for inflow into the vessel and one hole 7b for outflow. The two holes 7 may for example be located in the same end piece 1 or, if the vessel comprises two end pieces 1, one hole 7 may for example be located one in each end piece.

[0038] The end piece 1 preferably has an end wall which closes the body, so that the hole 7 can be located in this end wall.

[0039] To seal the container, the end piece 1 preferably comprises at least one seal 8, e.g. an O-ring 8, arranged at the longitudinal support means between the end piece 1 and the first body end 3. The seal 8 may also be, for example, a four-lobe seal having four lobes in cross section, or a flat seal.

[0040] In the particular embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the longitudinal support means comprises a body shoulder 9 and an end piece shoulder 10, between which the O-ring 8 is housed. Other shapes than shoulders can be implemented to obtain the longitudinal support means. For example, the longitudinal support means can comprise a body tapered surface 11 and an end piece tapered surface 12.

[0041] The container may include means for compressing the seal 8, which in some applications is necessary to ensure a good seal. In other embodiments, the seal 8 is not compressed. In yet other embodiments, the container comprises multiple seals 8. Thus, the seals 8 may all be compressed, or one or more of them may be compressed, or none of them may be compressed.

[0042] In a body design including a cylindrical central portion 2 and a first body end 3, the means for compressing the O-ring 8 can be achieved, for example, by a specific shape of one or more pins 4. For example, the pin 4 can have a smaller cross section at the end of the end piece aperture 6 inside the container than its cross section at the end of the body aperture 5 outside the container. The pin 4 can thus include a clamping means, such as a screw, configured to exert a force for pressing the pin 4 into the body opening 5 and the end piece opening 6. In this case, the end piece opening 6, the body opening 5, respectively, cannot penetrate the side wall of the end piece 1, so that the screw can engage a portion of the side wall of the end piece 1, the body, respectively, and remain at the bottom of the end piece opening 6, the body opening 5, respectively. In this way, the compression level of the O-ring 8 can be adjusted to the level at which the clamping means is tightened. The clamping means also prevents the pin 4 from being pushed out or into the container.

[0043] In another embodiment, sealing is achieved without a seal 8. As in the previous embodiment, the pin 4 may have a smaller cross section at the end of the end piece aperture 6 facing the inside of the container than its cross section at the end of the body aperture 5 facing the outside of the container. Thus, the pin 4 may include a clamping means, such as a screw, configured to exert a force to press the pin 4 against the body opening 5 and the end piece opening 6. The shape of the longitudinal support means ensures a sufficient seal when the clamping means is applied. The longitudinal support means may include a body shoulder 9 and an end piece shoulder 10, or may include a body tapered surface 11 and an end piece tapered surface 12, as shown in FIG. 4, or may include any other shape suitable for the present invention.

[0044] If at least one pin 4 is cylindrical, means can be provided to prevent it from moving along its axis, to ensure that it does not fall into or out of the container. Several solutions are thus possible, so that, moreover, there is no specific force in this direction that the pin 4 must resist, other than its own weight, depending on the position of the container. If the pin 4 has a circular cross section, the end of the pin can be provided with a thread onto which a nut can be screwed. In all cases, a crossbar or plate can be fitted to the end of the pin 4, by abutting, if necessary, against the side walls of the body and / or the end piece 1, to prevent any longitudinal movement of the pin 4. In figures 1 and 2 an example is shown in which a disk is attached to the pin end by a screw inserted into a threaded hole in the end of the pin 4. Nevertheless, other solutions are possible and within the scope of the skilled person.

[0045] In a particular container configuration, if the container comprises several pins 4, the pins 4 can be designed as elastic pins, i.e. they reduce in cross section when a force is applied to them. They can be hollow slotted pins of the "mechanindus" type. If one or more pins 4 have a smaller cross section than the others due to manufacturing tolerances, or are located in larger openings 5, 6, or if the body opening 5 and the end piece opening 6 are not exactly opposite each other, one pin 4 can be the only one that receives the force exerted by the pressurized fluid stored in the container. In this case, this pin 4 can break under a stress greater than expected, which can be transmitted to the next pin 4, causing it to break as well, and so on. The use of elastic pins prevents the other pins 4 from breaking by allowing their cross section to shrink until the first group of pins 4 contribute to the retention force of the end piece 1. In this way, manufacturing tolerances prevent the force exerted by the pressurized gas from being exerted on only one of the pins, rather than on all of the pins.

[0046] In other container configurations, the inherent elasticity of the pin 4 may be sufficient to compensate for tolerance deviations and reduce them to a sufficiently small value.

[0047] The container may be provided with means for positioning the end piece, which may for example be a groove located in the container body, cooperating with a rib located in the end piece 1. This means ensures alignment between the body 5 and the pin 6 opening when the end piece 1 is installed in the container.

[0048] Working Example: the body comprises a cylinder formed by a central portion 2, said cylinder being a circular cylinder having a diameter of 180-220 mm and a length of 1 meter; - the end piece 1 has four circular cylindrical pins with a diameter in the range of 40-60 mm, -The fluid in the vessel is at a pressure of 400-500 bar.

[0049] The container according to the present invention is prepared by the following steps: - manufacturing a body comprising a cylindrical central portion 2, two body ends 3 and an end piece 1, - drilling at least one body opening 5 in the wall of said first body end 3 and at least one end piece opening 6 in the wall of said end piece 1, - placing an end piece 1 on or around said first body end 3, - disposing said at least one pin 4 through said at least one body opening 5 and said at least one end piece opening 6.

[0050] Although the above description is based on specific embodiments, this in no way limits the scope of the invention, which may be modified, in particular by the substitution of technical equivalents or by different combinations of all or part of the features developed above.

Claims

1. A pressurized fluid container comprising a main body and at least one end part (1) attached to the main body (3) by at least one pin (4), wherein the pin (4) - At least one first part (4a) housed in a main body opening (5) that at least partially penetrates the side wall of the main body, - Includes at least one second portion (4b) housed in an end part opening (6) that at least partially penetrates the side wall of the end part (1), A pressurized fluid container wherein the cross-section of at least one pin (4) has dimensions greater in the direction of a force induced by fluid pressure that tends to separate the end component (1) from the main body (2) than in the direction perpendicular to the force.

2. The container according to claim 1, further comprising longitudinal support means, wherein one of the at least one pin (4) has a cross-section at the end of the end component opening (6) located inside the container, which is smaller than the cross-section at the end of the main body opening (5) facing the outside of the container, and the at least one pin (4) is configured to exert a force to press the pin (4) against the main body opening (5) and the end component opening (6), and includes clamping means such as a screw.

3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal support means includes a main body shoulder portion (9) and an end part shoulder portion (10), and the end part (1) preferably includes a seal (8), such as an O-ring, housed between the main body shoulder portion (9) and the end part shoulder portion (10).

4. The container according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal support means includes a main body tapered surface (11) and an end part tapered surface (12).

5. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the main body opening (5) and the end part opening (6) are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the force induced by the fluid pressure that tends to separate the end part (1) from the main body.

6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising at least four pins (4).

7. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the end part (1) is a stopper.

8. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the main body has a cylindrical shape and comprises a central portion (2) connected at its longitudinal end to two main body ends, the pin fixes the at least one end component at the first main body end (3), and the main body opening (5) penetrates the side wall of the main body at the first main body end (3).

9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the external shape of the first body end (3) extends the cylinder formed by the central portion (2), and at least a portion of the end component (1) is disposed inside the first body end (3).

10. The container according to claim 8, further comprising a heat exchanger, the main part of which is located in the central part (2), and the maximum overall dimensions of the main part, as measured in the section of the cylinder formed by the central part (2) of the container, are, for example, 50 to 100% of the surface area of ​​the section.

11. The container according to claim 8, wherein the cylinder formed by the central portion (2) is a circular cylinder.

12. A process for manufacturing the container described in claim 8, comprising the following steps: - Manufacturing of the main body comprising a cylindrical central portion (2) and two main body ends, - To drill at least one main body opening (5) in the wall of the first main body end (3), and to drill at least one end part opening (6) in the wall of the end part (1), - Arrange the end component (1) on or around the first end of the main body (3), - A process comprising arranging the at least one pin (4) so ​​as to at least partially penetrate the at least one body opening (5) and the at least one end component opening (6).

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