Cartridge tank

Abstract

To provide a cartridge tank that can be arranged on an outer periphery of a tank without necessarily using an adhesive, and is equipped with a heat insulating material layer capable of accommodating variation in dimensions of the tank.SOLUTION: A heat insulating material layer is provided on an external surface of a tank body. The heat insulating material layer has a sheet material made of a heat insulating material. The sheet material is formed into a cylindrical shape. The sheet material has a plurality of small pieces arranged in a circumferential direction by forming a plurality of cuts extending in a cylindrical axial direction at an axial end part of the tank body, and the end parts of adjacent small pieces overlap to narrow a cylindrical opening.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cartridge tank. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a tank for storing gas, in which a heat storage material layer is provided on the outer surface of the tank body, and an impact recording layer is provided on the outer surface of the heat storage material layer. This impact recording layer is provided on the outermost layer of the tank, and is made of a heat insulating material layer having a heat insulating function capable of retaining and recording deformation due to impact. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-291906 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, particularly in the case of relatively small tanks, it is necessary to place the insulation material around the entire circumference of the tank. When attaching the insulation material to the entire circumference of the tank, attaching it with adhesive can make the work easier, and it can be difficult to attach the insulation material properly due to variations in the overall length and outer diameter dimensions of the tank.

[0005] In consideration of the above problems, the present disclosure provides a cartridge tank having an insulating layer that can be placed around the outer periphery of the tank without necessarily using adhesive and can accommodate variations in tank dimensions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present application discloses a cartridge tank that is detachable from an apparatus, the cartridge tank having an insulating layer on the outer surface of the tank body, the insulating layer having a sheet material made of insulating material, the sheet material being formed into a cylindrical shape, the sheet material having a plurality of small pieces arranged in the circumferential direction at the axial end of the tank body, the small pieces extending in the axial direction of the cylinder and having a plurality of cuts arranged in the circumferential direction, and the ends of adjacent small pieces overlap to narrow the cylindrical opening.

[0007] When three small pieces arranged adjacent to each other in one circumferential direction are designated as a first small piece, a second small piece, and a third small piece, the second small piece can be configured to be arranged so as to overlap the first small piece so as to fit under the first small piece, and so as to overlap the third small piece so as to fit over the third small piece.

[0008] The small pieces may have holes, and the small pieces may be fastened together by passing a string-like fastening material through the holes in the small pieces. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, by overlapping the ends of multiple small pieces formed by the cutouts, it is possible to accommodate variations in the outer diameter of the tank body, and it is possible to fix the insulation material to the tank without necessarily using adhesive, improving workability. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a cartridge tank 10. As shown in FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the periphery of a portion of the tank body 11 that corresponds to the side end portion 12b. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the sheet material 15. As shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] 1. Cartridge tank The cartridge tank 10 is a member equipped with a container for storing a fluid that will become a fuel (hydrogen in this embodiment) in a liquid or gas state. An explanatory diagram is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1(a) is an external view of the cartridge tank 10 (the tank body 11 contained therein is shown by a dotted line), and FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge tank 10 taken along the axis O of the tank body 11. As can be seen from these figures, in this embodiment, the cartridge tank 10 has the tank body 11 and a case 20. The tank body 11 also includes a liner 12, a reinforcing layer 13, and a heat insulating layer 14 that constitute the container portion, and further includes a nozzle 17, an opening / closing valve 18, and a fusible plug 19.

[0012] 1.1. Raina The liner 12 is a hollow member that partitions the internal space of the container portion of the tank body 11, and is cylindrical in this embodiment. The liner 12 has a body portion 12a with a roughly constant diameter, and openings at both ends of the body portion 12a are narrowed by dome-shaped side ends 12b, and a nozzle 17 is disposed in the narrowed opening 12c. The liner 12 may be made of any material capable of holding what is contained in its internal space (e.g., hydrogen) without leakage, and any known material may be used. Specifically, the liner may be made of, for example, nylon resin, polyethylene-based synthetic resin, or metal such as stainless steel or aluminum. Among these, from the viewpoint of reducing the weight of the tank, it is preferable that the material constituting the liner is synthetic resin. The thickness of the liner 12 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm.

[0013] 1.2. Reinforcement layer The reinforcing layer 13 is one of the components that make up the container, and is made of multiple layers of fibers laminated around the outer periphery of the liner 12, and the fibers are impregnated with hardened resin. The reinforcing layer 13 ensures the strength of the liner 12 against the internal pressure and improves the fire resistance. The fiber layer is formed by winding fiber bundles around the outer periphery of the liner 12 in multiple layers to a predetermined thickness. The thickness of the reinforcing layer 13 and the number of turns of the fiber bundle are not particularly limited because they are determined by the required strength, but are about 10 mm to 30 mm. In particular, portable cartridge tanks (cartridge tanks intended to be carried) have a smaller outer diameter than fixed hydrogen tanks mounted on automobiles, so there is a tendency for the number of layers of the reinforcing layer to be reduced (i.e., the reinforcing layer is thinner) from the viewpoint of ensuring strength, but on the other hand, this also tends to reduce fire resistance. Therefore, in particular for portable cartridge tanks, the fire resistance can be effectively improved by arranging a heat insulating layer around the entire outer periphery of the container portion as described below.

[0014] <Fiber bundle> The fiber bundles of the reinforcing layer 13 are made of carbon fibers, for example, and the fiber bundles are in the form of bands of carbon fibers bundled together and having a predetermined cross-sectional shape (for example, a rectangular cross-section). Although there is no particular limitation on the specific cross-sectional shape, an example of the cross-sectional shape is a rectangle with a width of about 6 mm to 20 mm and a thickness of about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. The amount of carbon fibers contained in the fiber bundle is also not particularly limited, but an example of the fiber bundle is about 36,000 carbon fibers.

[0015] <Impregnating resin> The resin impregnated and cured in the fibers (fiber bundles) in the reinforcing layer 13 is not particularly limited as long as it can increase the strength of the fibers. Examples of such resins include thermosetting resins that are cured by heat, specifically epoxy resins and unsaturated polyester resins that contain amine- or anhydride-based curing accelerators and rubber-based reinforcing agents. Other examples include resin compositions that use epoxy resin as a base agent and are cured by mixing a curing agent into it. In this case, the resin composition, which is a mixture of the base agent and the curing agent, reaches and penetrates the fiber layer between the time of mixing and curing, and the time of curing, and automatically cures.

[0016] 1.3.Insulation layer The heat insulating layer 14 is disposed so as to cover the outer periphery of the reinforcing layer 13, and is disposed so as to form the outermost layer of the container portion of the tank body 11. The heat insulating layer 14 is a member comprising a sheet-like heat insulating material, and is provided so as to be wrapped around the reinforcing layer 13. This enhances the fire resistance of the tank body 11. There is no particular limitation on the material constituting the heat insulating material as long as it has heat insulating properties, and an example of this is expanded graphite. Expanded graphite expands when it reaches a certain temperature or higher, thereby providing sufficient fire resistance.

[0017] As described above, the heat insulating layer 14 is arranged so as to cover the outer periphery of the reinforcing layer 13, but the heat insulating layer 14 is arranged by being continuously wound (with one sheet-like heat insulating material) not only on the outside of the body part 12a but also on the outside of the side end part 12b where the diameter gradually decreases. Therefore, in this embodiment, the part of the heat insulating layer 14 arranged on the outside of the side end part 12b is in the form described below. Figs. 2 and 3 are diagrams for explanation. Fig. 2 is a diagram of the tank body 11 as viewed from the direction of the arrow II in Fig. 1(a) and is a diagram of the tank body 11 as viewed from the outside of one side end part 12b. The outside of the other side end part 12b can be considered in the same manner. Fig. 3 is a diagram for further explaining the heat insulating layer 14, and Fig. 3(a) shows a schematic state of the sheet material 15 constituting the heat insulating layer 14 being spread out, and Fig. 3(b) shows a schematic state of the sheet material 15 being cylindrical. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the insulation layer 14 is composed of a sheet material 15 and a fastening material 16.

[0018] <Form of sheet material / fastening material> The sheet material 15 is a sheet-like member made of a heat insulating material such as expanded graphite as described above. As can be seen from Fig. 3(a), the sheet material 15 is a rectangular sheet when unfolded, and has a plurality of cuts 15a extending in a direction along the sides on two of the four sides that are opposite to each other (in Figs. 2 and 3, the reference numerals of the cuts 15a are attached only to some of the cuts for ease of viewing. The same applies to other portions below). As a result, a plurality of small pieces 15b cut on either side of the cuts 15a are arranged in a direction along the sides. The depth of the cut 15a indicated by D in Fig. 3(a) is not limited, but is preferably approximately the same as the length (path) along the curve in the cross section of the reinforcing layer 13 arranged at the side end 12b indicated by L in Fig. 1(b). This makes it easier to appropriately arrange the sheet material 15 on the outside of the side end 12b.

[0019] Furthermore, holes 15c are provided in each of the small pieces 15b of the sheet material 15. As described below, a string-like fastening material 16 is passed through the holes 15c and tightened, thereby stably holding the sheet material 15 on the outer periphery of the reinforcing layer 13. As the fastening material 16, for example, a metal wire such as an insulation lock can be used.

[0020] <Layout and form of sheet material> More specifically, the sheet material 15 is arranged around the outer periphery of the reinforcing layer 13 and held as the heat insulating layer 14 in the following manner, for example. The sheet material 15, which is spread as shown in Fig. 3(a), is formed into a cylindrical shape by overlapping the ends of the sides on which the notches 15a are not provided as shown in Fig. 3(b). The overlapped ends are fixed with a staple, adhesive, or the like to maintain the cylindrical shape. Therefore, at both axial ends of the tube, the notches 15a and the small pieces 15b (including the holes 15c) are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. The diameter of the tube is approximately the same as (or slightly larger than) the diameter of the outer periphery of the reinforcing layer 13 arranged in the body portion 12a. Then, the liner 12 with the reinforcing layer 13 arranged thereon is inserted inside (inside) the tube formed by the sheet material 15 (the mouthpiece 17 is already arranged on the liner 12). At this time, the part where the notch 15a and the small piece 15b are formed is arranged so as to be in roughly the same position as the outside of the side end portion 12b.

[0021] A cut 15a and a small piece 15b are formed in the portion of the sheet material 15 arranged outside the side end 12b. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the ends of adjacent small pieces 15b are overlapped in order to narrow the opening of the tube formed by the sheet material 15, so that the sheet material 15 is arranged on the outer periphery of the reinforcing layer 13 along the shape of the side end 12b. Then, the shape is maintained by passing a string-like fastening material 16 through the hole 15c and fastening it.

[0022] Although there is no particular limitation on the way in which the ends of adjacent small pieces 15b overlap, they can be arranged so that adjacent small pieces 15b overlap one another in one circumferential direction of the tube made of sheet material 15. That is, when considering a first small piece, a second small piece, and a third small piece that are three small pieces 15a lined up in one circumferential direction, the second small piece overlaps the first small piece so as to enter the underside (reinforcing layer side) of the first small piece, and the second small piece overlaps the upper side (opposite the reinforcing layer side) of the third small piece to form a drawstring bag shape.

[0023] <Effects, etc.> By configuring the insulation layer 14 in this manner, the degree of overlap of the small pieces 15b on the outside of the side end portion 12b can be adjusted to absorb variations in the outer diameter and overall length of the tank body 11, and the insulation layer 14 can be appropriately positioned. Furthermore, according to the heat insulating material layer 14 of this embodiment, the heat insulating material (sheet material 15) can be fixed along the reinforcing layer 13 without using adhesive, which makes it possible to improve workability. However, fixing using adhesive is not necessarily excluded, and it is also possible to use adhesive in combination, which has the advantage of being able to reduce the amount of adhesive used and the area where it is used. Furthermore, in the portion of the insulating material layer 14 arranged outside the side end portion 12b, the ends of the small pieces 15b overlap each other, making it difficult for gaps to form, preventing direct flame penetration and improving fire resistance. Although there is a possibility that some gaps may form between the small pieces 15b of the sheet material 15 in the direction indicated by A in Fig. 2, the insulating material forming the sheet material generally has the property of expanding when exposed to heat, and therefore any small gaps that may have existed are filled by this expansion, more reliably preventing direct flame penetration. In particular, the effect is remarkable when expanded graphite is used for the sheet material 15.

[0024] 1.4. Caps, on-off valves, fusible plugs The nozzles 17 are members attached to each of the two openings 12c of the liner 12, and are arranged at both ends of the liner 12 in the direction of the axis O. They function as openings that communicate between the inside and the outside of the container portion, and have valves arranged therein. An on-off valve 18 is arranged in one nozzle 17, and a fusible plug 19 is arranged in the other nozzle 17. The material constituting the base 17 is not particularly limited as long as it has the necessary strength, and examples of the material include stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and iron.

[0025] The on-off valve 18 is a so-called check valve, an on-off valve, which is closed when the cartridge tank 10 is not attached to the device in which it is used, and is opened by being pressed, for example, by a push rod when the cartridge tank 10 is attached to the device.

[0026] The fusible plug 19 is also called a fusible alloy safety valve, and is a safety valve that opens when a predetermined temperature is reached to release the gas (hydrogen) in the tank. The specific embodiment of the fusible plug 19 is not particularly limited, and any known type can be used.

[0027] In this embodiment, the on-off valve 18 and the fusible plug 19 are each arranged in different nozzles 17, and are arranged on opposite sides of one end and the other end of the tank body 11, but this is not necessarily limited to this form, and it is also possible for both valves to be arranged in the same nozzle.

[0028] 1.5.Case The case 20 is a member that encloses the tank body 11 and forms the outer shell of the cartridge tank 10 , and has a housing 21 and a handle 22 . The housing 21 is a cylindrical member configured so that the tank body 11 can be stored inside it. The housing 21 is also provided with holes 21a and 21b at positions facing the on-off valve 18 and fusible plug 19 of the stored tank body 11, respectively, so that the on-off valve 18 can be accessed from the outside and hydrogen ejected from the fusible plug 19 can be discharged to the outside. The handle 22 is an arch-shaped member located at the end of the housing 21 opposite the opening / closing valve 18, and the user can hold this handle 22 to carry the cartridge tank 10 or to attach and detach the cartridge tank 10 to an apparatus in which the cartridge tank 10 is used.

[0029] 1.6.Other The allowable pressure of tank 51 is not particularly limited, but from the perspective of being able to supply more hydrogen, a tank that can store hydrogen at an allowable pressure of more than 20 MPa and not more than 70 MPa can be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 10: cartridge tank, 11: tank body, 12: liner, 13: reinforcing layer, 14: heat insulating layer, 15: sheet material, 15b: small piece, 17: nozzle, 18: on-off valve, 19: fusible plug, 20: case

Claims

1. A cartridge tank that is detachable from the device, The outer surface of the tank body is provided with a layer of heat insulation material. The heat insulating layer has a sheet material made of a heat insulating material, and the sheet material is formed into a cylindrical shape, The sheet material is provided with a plurality of small pieces arranged in the circumferential direction by forming a plurality of cuts extending in the axial direction of the cylindrical shape and arranged in the circumferential direction at an end portion of the axial direction of the tank body, The ends of the adjacent small pieces overlap with each other to narrow the cylindrical opening. Cartridge tank.

2. The cartridge tank of claim 1, wherein when the three small pieces arranged adjacent to each other in one circumferential direction are a first small piece, a second small piece, and a third small piece, the second small piece is arranged so as to overlap the first small piece so as to fit into the lower side of the first small piece, and so as to overlap the third small piece so as to fit into the upper side of the third small piece.

3. 3. The cartridge tank according to claim 1, wherein the small pieces have holes, and the small pieces are fastened together by passing a string-like fastening material through the holes of the small pieces.

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