Fuel tank
The fuel tank design with curved portions and reinforcement addresses the issue of dead space in irregular installations, ensuring efficient use of space and structural stability.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024090533
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-04
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing fuel tanks with spherical or cubic shapes create significant dead space when installed in irregularly shaped spaces.
A fuel tank design featuring a pair of side wall portions connected by a peripheral wall with multiple curved portions of varying curvatures, allowing it to conform to irregularly shaped spaces without creating large dead spaces, and reinforced regions to manage pressure and stress.
Enables installation in non-spherical spaces without excess space waste and maintains structural integrity under pressure.
Smart Images
Figure 2025182853000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel tank. [Background technology]
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a non-spherical tank for storing liquefied gas. This tank is composed of a plurality of curved spherical shell portions each made up of a portion of a sphere. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6342358 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] The tank has a small difference in vertical and horizontal dimensions when viewed from any three-dimensional direction. In other words, it has a shape that is close to a sphere or a cube as a whole. Therefore, if the tank is used in a space with an irregular shape other than a sphere or a cube, a large amount of dead space may be created within the installation space.
[0005] The present invention was developed in light of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a fuel tank that can be installed in an irregularly shaped space without creating a large dead space. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] The present disclosure provides: A pair of side wall portions arranged to face each other; a peripheral wall portion connecting outer peripheral edges of the pair of side wall portions, a storage space for storing fuel is formed by the pair of side wall portions and the peripheral wall portion, The outer periphery of the side wall portion is a first curved portion consisting of only curves; a second curved portion consisting of only curves; a third curved portion that connects the start end of the first curved portion and the start end of the second curved portion and is made up of only curves with a smaller curvature than the first curved portion and the second curved portion; a fourth curved portion that connects the end of the first curved portion and the end of the second curved portion and that is made up of only curves with a smaller curvature than the first curved portion and the second curved portion. [Effects of the Invention]
[0007] The fuel tank of the present disclosure can be installed in odd-shaped spaces without creating significant dead space. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel tank according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the fuel tank of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fuel tank according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fuel tank according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. Any combination of the following embodiments without causing any contradiction is also included in the embodiments for carrying out the invention. The fuel tank of the present disclosure comprises: (1) The fuel tank includes a pair of side wall portions arranged to face each other and a peripheral wall portion connecting the outer peripheral edges of the pair of side wall portions. The pair of side wall portions and the peripheral wall portion form a storage space for storing fuel. The outer peripheral edges of the side wall portions are configured with a first curved portion consisting entirely of curves, a second curved portion also consisting entirely of curves, a third curved portion connecting the starting end of the first curved portion with the starting end of the second curved portion and consisting entirely of curves with a curvature smaller than that of the first curved portion and the second curved portion, and a fourth curved portion connecting the ending end of the first curved portion with the ending end of the second curved portion and consisting entirely of curves with a curvature smaller than that of the first curved portion and the second curved portion. The fuel tank of the present disclosure has a shape in which a pair of side wall portions arranged to face each other are connected by a peripheral wall portion, and the outer peripheral edges of the side wall portions are configured with multiple curved portions with different curvatures. Therefore, the fuel tank of the present disclosure can be installed in an irregularly shaped space without creating a large dead space by setting the curvature of each curved portion to match the shape of the irregularly shaped space.
[0010] (2) It is preferable that at least one of the first curved portion, the second curved portion, the third curved portion, and the fourth curved portion is formed solely of an arc having a constant curvature. With this configuration, stress concentration in the region of the peripheral wall having a constant curvature can be avoided when the pressure in the storage space increases.
[0011] (3) In (2), it is preferable that the first curved portion, the second curved portion, the third curved portion, and the fourth curved portion are all formed of arcs with a constant curvature. With this configuration, stress concentration on the peripheral wall portion can be avoided when the pressure in the storage space increases.
[0012] (4) In (1) to (3), it is preferable that a reinforcing portion is provided in at least one of the third circumferential wall region connecting the third curved portions of the circumferential wall portion and the fourth circumferential wall region connecting the fourth curved portions of the circumferential wall portion. The third circumferential wall region and the fourth circumferential wall region have a smaller curvature and therefore lower rigidity than the first circumferential wall region connecting the first curved portions of the circumferential wall portion and the second circumferential wall region connecting the second curved portions of the circumferential wall portion. In view of this, the rigidity of at least one of the third circumferential wall region and the fourth circumferential wall region is increased by the reinforcing portion, thereby preventing stress from concentrating in the third circumferential wall region or the fourth circumferential wall region when the internal pressure of the tank increases.
[0013] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Example 1 A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 and 2. A fuel tank A of this first embodiment is used to store high-pressure fuel such as liquid hydrogen. The fuel tank A is made of a metal material and has a tank body 10, a pair of reinforcing parts 25, a filling port 28 provided in the tank body 10, and a sub-tank 29 provided in the tank body 10. The interior of the tank body 10 functions as a storage space 11 for storing fuel.
[0014] The tank body 10 is composed of a pair of symmetrical side walls 12 and a peripheral wall 20 provided along the outer periphery 12E of each of the side walls 12. In a side view of the fuel tank A, the side walls 12 are oval in shape as a whole. Next, the detailed shape of the outer periphery 12E of the side walls 12 will be described. The outer periphery 12E of the side walls 12 is composed of one first curved portion 14, one second curved portion 15, one third curved portion 16, and one fourth curved portion 17.
[0015] The first curved portion 14 is a minor arc. That is, the curvature of the first curved portion 14 is constant over the entire length from the starting point 14S (upper end) to the terminal end 14E (lower end) of the first curved portion 14. The first curved portion 14 is curved so as to convex obliquely upward and forward. The second curved portion 15 is a major arc. That is, the curvature of the second curved portion 15 is constant over the entire length from the starting point 15S (upper end) to the terminal end 15E (lower end) of the second curved portion 15. The curvature of the second curved portion 15 is smaller than the curvature of the first curved portion 14. The second curved portion 15 is curved so as to convex obliquely downward and backward.
[0016] The third curved portion 16 is a minor arc. That is, the curvature of the third curved portion 16 is constant over the entire length from the front end 16F to the rear end 16R of the third curved portion 16. The curvature of the third curved portion 16 is smaller than the curvature of the second curved portion 15. The front end 16F of the third curved portion 16 smoothly connects to the starting end 14S of the first curved portion 14. A tangent (not shown) to the front end 16F of the third curved portion 16 and a tangent (not shown) to the starting end 14S of the first curved portion 14 coincide with each other. The rear end 16R of the third curved portion 16 smoothly connects to the starting end 15S of the second curved portion 15. A tangent (not shown) to the rear end 16R of the third curved portion 16 coincides with a tangent (not shown) to the starting end 15S of the second curved portion 15.
[0017] The fourth curved portion 17 is a minor arc. That is, the curvature of the fourth curved portion 17 is constant over the entire length from the front end 17F to the rear end 17R of the fourth curved portion 17. The curvature of the fourth curved portion 17 is smaller than the curvature of the second curved portion 15 and is the same as the curvature of the third curved portion 16. The third curved portion 16 and the fourth curved portion 17 are symmetrical in shape. The front end 17F of the fourth curved portion 17 smoothly connects to the end 14E of the first curved portion 14. A tangent (not shown) to the front end 17F of the fourth curved portion 17 and a tangent (not shown) to the end 14E of the first curved portion 14 coincide with each other. The rear end 17R of the fourth curved portion 17 smoothly connects to the end 15E of the second curved portion 15. A tangent (not shown) to a rear end 17R of the fourth curved portion 17 and a tangent (not shown) to a terminal end 15E of the second curved portion 15 coincide with each other.
[0018] The peripheral wall portion 20 is composed of a first peripheral wall region 21, a second peripheral wall region 22, a third peripheral wall region 23, and a fourth peripheral wall region 24. The first peripheral wall region 21 is a curved portion connecting the first curved portions 14 of the outer circumferential edges 12E of the pair of side wall portions 12. The curvature of the first peripheral wall region 21 is the same as that of the first curved portion 14. The second peripheral wall region 22 is a curved portion connecting the second curved portions 15 of the outer circumferential edges 12E of the pair of side wall portions 12. The curvature of the second peripheral wall region 22 is the same as that of the second curved portion 15 and is smaller than that of the first peripheral wall region 21. The third peripheral wall region 23 is a curved portion connecting the third curved portions 16 of the outer circumferential edges 12E of the pair of side wall portions 12. The curvature of the third peripheral wall region 23 is the same as that of the third curved portion 16 and is smaller than that of the second peripheral wall region 22. The fourth circumferential wall region 24 is a curved surface portion that connects the fourth curved portions 17 of the outer circumferential edges 12E of the pair of side wall portions 12. The curvature of the fourth circumferential wall region 24 is the same as that of the fourth curved portions 17 and the third circumferential wall region 23, and is smaller than that of the second circumferential wall region 22.
[0019] The pair of reinforcing portions 25 are formed as single components separate from the tank body 10 and are disposed on the outer surfaces of the third circumferential wall region 23 and the fourth circumferential wall region 24. The reinforcing portion 25 has a cross shape in which one straight rod portion 26 and one curved rod portion 27 intersect at a right angle at the center of both portions. The straight rod portion 26 is a portion that extends in a straight line. The straight rod portion 26 is disposed in the circumferential center position of the third circumferential wall region 23 and the fourth circumferential wall region 24, parallel to the opposing direction of the pair of side wall portions 12. The curved rod portion 27 is a portion that is curved with the same curvature as the third circumferential wall region 23 and the fourth circumferential wall region 24. The curved rod portion 27 is disposed in the middle position of the pair of side wall portions 12, parallel to the third curved portion 16 and the fourth curved portion 17. The reinforcing portion 25 is firmly fixed to the third circumferential wall region 23 and the fourth circumferential wall region 24 so as not to peel off. The reinforcing portion 25 increases the rigidity and strength of the third circumferential wall region 23 and the fourth circumferential wall region 24.
[0020] The filling port 28 is formed to protrude upward from the outer surface of the third circumferential wall region 23. The filling port 28 is a port for filling fuel into the storage space 11. The sub-tank 29 is a portion that protrudes downward from the fourth circumferential wall region 24. The upper end of the sub-tank 29 is connected to the lowermost end of the storage space 11. Even if the fuel tank A vibrates or sways back and forth and side to side when there is little fuel in the storage space 11, fuel is reliably stored in the sub-tank 29.
[0021] The fuel tank A of the first embodiment includes a pair of side walls 12 arranged to face each other, and a peripheral wall 20 connecting the outer peripheries 12E of the pair of side walls 12. The pair of side walls 12 and the peripheral wall 20 form a storage space 11 for storing fuel. The outer periphery 12E of the side walls 12 is configured with a first curved portion 14, a second curved portion 15, a third curved portion 16, and a fourth curved portion 17. The first curved portion 14 and the second curved portion 15 are made up of curves only. The third curved portion 16 connects a starting end 14S of the first curved portion 14 and a starting end 15S of the second curved portion 15, and is made up of only a curve with a smaller curvature than the first curved portion 14 and the second curved portion 15. The fourth curved portion 17 connects the end 14E of the first curved portion 14 and the end 15E of the second curved portion 15, and is made up of only a curve with a smaller curvature than the first curved portion 14 and the second curved portion 15.
[0022] The fuel tank A of the first embodiment has a shape in which a pair of side walls 12 arranged to face each other are connected by a peripheral wall 20, and the outer periphery 12E of the side walls 12 is formed by a plurality of curved portions 14, 15, 16, and 17 with different curvatures. Therefore, the fuel tank A of the first embodiment can be installed in an irregularly shaped space without creating a large dead space by setting the curvature of each of the curved portions 14, 15, 16, and 17 to match the shape of the irregularly shaped space. In the first embodiment, an irregularly shaped space is defined as a space that is not spherical or cubic. Specifically, it is a space in which the dimension in one of the front-to-rear, width, and height directions is larger than the dimensions in the other two directions.
[0023] The first curved portion 14, the second curved portion 15, the third curved portion 16, and the fourth curved portion 17 are all made up of arcs with a constant curvature. With this configuration, when the pressure in the storage space 11 increases, stress concentration in the region of the peripheral wall portion 20 with a constant curvature can be avoided.
[0024] The third circumferential wall region 23 connecting the third curved portions 16 of the circumferential wall portion 20 and the fourth circumferential wall region 24 connecting the fourth curved portions 17 of the circumferential wall portion 20 have smaller curvatures and therefore lower rigidity than the first circumferential wall region 21 connecting the first curved portions 14 of the circumferential wall portion 20 and the second circumferential wall region 22 connecting the second curved portions 15 of the circumferential wall portion 20. In consideration of this point, the third circumferential wall region 23 and the fourth circumferential wall region 24 are provided with reinforcing portions 25. Because the rigidity of the third circumferential wall region 23 and the fourth circumferential wall region 24 is increased by the reinforcing portions 25, it is possible to avoid stress concentration in the third circumferential wall region 23 or the fourth circumferential wall region 24 when the internal pressure of the storage space 11 increases.
[0025] <Example 2> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 3. A fuel tank B of this second embodiment has reinforcing portions 30, 33 configured differently from those of the first embodiment. Since the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description of the structure, operation, and effects will be omitted.
[0026] The fuel tank B of this second embodiment has one first reinforcing part 30 and one second reinforcing part 33. The first reinforcing part 30 and the second reinforcing part 33 are formed as a single component separate from the tank body 10. The first reinforcing part 30 is disposed on the outer surface of the third peripheral wall region 23, and the second reinforcing part 33 is disposed on the outer surface of the fourth peripheral wall region 24.
[0027] The first reinforcing portion 30 has a shape in which two first curved rod-shaped portions 31 cross at a right angle. The crossing position of the two first curved rod-shaped portions 31 is a position rearward of the center of the first curved rod-shaped portions 31 in the longitudinal direction. The first reinforcing portion 30 is arranged in the center of the third circumferential wall region 23. The two first curved rod-shaped portions 31 are arranged in a diagonal direction with respect to both the opposing direction of the pair of side wall portions 12 and the circumferential direction of the third circumferential wall region 23. In other words, the two first curved rod-shaped portions 31 are arranged in a diagonal direction with respect to the third curved portion 16. In other words, the two first curved rod-shaped portions 31 are arranged along the diagonal line of the third circumferential wall region 23. The length of each first curved rod-shaped portion 31 is shorter than the length connecting the start end 14S of the first curved portion 14 on the right side and the start end 15S of the second curved portion 15 on the left side, and is also shorter than the length connecting the start end 14S of the first curved portion 14 on the left side and the start end 15S of the second curved portion 15 on the right side. The first reinforcing portion 30 is firmly fixed to the outer surface of the third circumferential wall region 23 so as not to peel off. The first reinforcing portion 30 increases the rigidity and strength of the third circumferential wall region 23.
[0028] The second reinforcing portion 33 has a shape in which two second curved rod-shaped portions 34 cross at a right angle. The intersection position of the two second curved rod-shaped portions 34 is the center of each second curved rod-shaped portion 34 in the longitudinal direction. The second reinforcing portion 33 is arranged in the fourth circumferential wall region 24. The two second curved rod-shaped portions 34 are arranged in a diagonal direction with respect to both the opposing direction of the pair of side wall portions 12 and the circumferential direction of the fourth circumferential wall region 24. In other words, the two second curved rod-shaped portions 34 are arranged in a diagonal direction with respect to the fourth curved portion 17. In other words, the two second curved rod-shaped portions 34 are arranged along the diagonal line of the fourth circumferential wall region 24. The length of each second curved rod-shaped portion 34 is approximately the same as the length connecting the end 14E of the first curved portion 14 on the right side and the end 15E of the second curved portion 15 on the left side, and is approximately the same as the length connecting the end 14E of the first curved portion 14 on the left side and the end 15E of the second curved portion 15 on the right side. The second reinforcing portion 33 is firmly fixed to the outer surface of the fourth circumferential wall region 24 so as not to peel off. The second reinforcing portion 33 increases the rigidity and strength of the fourth circumferential wall region 24.
[0029] The third circumferential wall region 23 connecting the third curved portions 16 of the circumferential wall portion 20 and the fourth circumferential wall region 24 connecting the fourth curved portions 17 of the circumferential wall portion 20 have smaller curvatures and therefore lower rigidity than the first circumferential wall region 21 connecting the first curved portions 14 of the circumferential wall portion 20 and the second circumferential wall region 22 connecting the second curved portions 15 of the circumferential wall portion 20. In consideration of this point, in this second embodiment, a first reinforcing portion 30 is provided in the third circumferential wall region 23 and a second reinforcing portion 33 is provided in the fourth circumferential wall region 24. Since the rigidity of the third circumferential wall region 23 and the fourth circumferential wall region 24 is increased by the first reinforcing portion 30 and the second reinforcing portion 33, it is possible to avoid stress concentration in the third circumferential wall region 23 and the fourth circumferential wall region 24 when the internal pressure of the storage space 11 increases.
[0030] Example 3 Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 4. In the fuel tank C of this third embodiment, the reinforcing portions 35, 36, and 37 have a different configuration from those of the first and second embodiments. Since the other configurations are the same as those of the first and second embodiments, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description of the structure, operation, and effects will be omitted.
[0031] The fuel tank C of the third embodiment has one first reinforcing portion 35, a pair of left-right symmetrical second reinforcing portions 36, and a pair of left-right symmetrical third reinforcing portions 37. The first reinforcing portion 35, the second reinforcing portion 36, and the third reinforcing portion 37 are formed as a single component separate from the tank body 10. The first reinforcing portion 35 is disposed on the outer surface of the peripheral wall portion 20 at a midpoint between the left and right side wall portions 12. The first reinforcing portion 35 has a shape that is continuous around the entire circumference of the peripheral wall portion 20. The inner surface of the first reinforcing portion 35 is firmly fixed to the outer surface of the peripheral wall portion 20 around its entire circumference so as not to peel off. The first reinforcing portion 35 increases the rigidity and strength of the peripheral wall portion 20.
[0032] The second reinforcing portion 36 is arranged along the upper end of the first curved portion 14, the entire area of the third curved portion 16, and the upper end of the second curved portion 15. The second reinforcing portion 36 is firmly fixed to the outer surface of the side wall portion 12 so as not to peel off. One third reinforcing portion 37 is arranged along the lower end of the first curved portion 14, the entire area of the fourth curved portion 17, and the lower end of the second curved portion 15. The third reinforcing portion 37 is firmly fixed to the outer surface of the side wall portion 12 so as not to peel off. The rigidity and strength of both the left and right side wall portions 12 are increased by the second reinforcing portion 36 and the third reinforcing portion 37.
[0033] <Other Examples> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and the following embodiments are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. In the first to third embodiments, the first curved portion may be a curve whose curvature changes in the length direction. In the first to third embodiments, the second curved portion may be a curve whose curvature changes in the length direction. In the first to third embodiments, the third curved portion may be a curve whose curvature changes in the length direction. In the first to third embodiments, the fourth curved portion may be a curve whose curvature changes in the length direction. In the first to third embodiments, the curvature of the arc of the third curved portion and the curvature of the arc of the fourth curved portion may be different. In Examples 1 to 3, the curvature of the first curved surface portion (first curved portion) and the curvature of the second curved surface portion (second curved portion) may be the same. In the first and second embodiments, the second reinforcing portion and the third reinforcing portion of the third embodiment may be added.
[0034] In the first embodiment, the reinforcing portion may be provided in only one of the third and fourth peripheral wall regions. In the first embodiment, a part or the whole of the reinforcing portion may be disposed in the first peripheral wall region or the second peripheral wall region. In the second embodiment, the first reinforcing portion and the second reinforcing portion may be provided in only one of the third and fourth circumferential wall regions. In the second embodiment, a part or the whole of the first reinforcing portion may be disposed in the first peripheral wall region or the second peripheral wall region. In the second embodiment, a part or the whole of the second reinforcing portion may be disposed in the first peripheral wall region or the second peripheral wall region. In the third embodiment, only the first reinforcing portion and the second reinforcing portion may be provided, only the first reinforcing portion and the third reinforcing portion may be provided, or only the second reinforcing portion and the third reinforcing portion may be provided. In the third embodiment, the formation range of the second reinforcing portion may be a region that follows only the first curved portion and the third curved portion, or may be a region that follows only the second curved portion and the third curved portion. In the third embodiment, the formation range of the third reinforcing portion may be a region that follows only the first curved portion and the fourth curved portion, or may be a region that follows only the second curved portion and the fourth curved portion. [Explanation of symbols]
[0035] A, B, C...Fuel tanks 11...Storage space 12...Side wall 12E...Outer edge of peripheral wall 14...First curved section 14S...Start of the first curved section 14E...End of the first curved section 15…Second curved part 15S...Start of the second curved section 15E...End of the third curved section 16…Third curved part 17…4th curved part 20...Peripheral wall part 23…Third peripheral wall area 24...Fourth peripheral wall area 25...Reinforcement 30...First reinforcing part (reinforcing part) 33...Second reinforcement part (reinforcement part) 34...First reinforcing part (reinforcing part) 35...Second reinforcement part (reinforcement part) 36...Third reinforcement part (reinforcement part)
Claims
1. A pair of side wall portions arranged to face each other; a peripheral wall portion connecting outer peripheral edges of the pair of side wall portions, a storage space for storing fuel is formed by the pair of side wall portions and the peripheral wall portion, The outer periphery of the side wall portion is a first curved portion consisting of only curves; a second curved portion consisting of only a curve; a third curved portion that connects a starting end of the first curved portion and a starting end of the second curved portion and is made up of only curves having a smaller curvature than the first curved portion and the second curved portion; a fourth curved portion connecting an end of the first curved portion and an end of the second curved portion, the fourth curved portion consisting only of curves with a smaller curvature than the first curved portion and the second curved portion.
2. 2. The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first curved portion, the second curved portion, the third curved portion, and the fourth curved portion is formed solely of a circular arc with a constant curvature.
3. 3. The fuel tank according to claim 2, wherein all of the first curved portion, the second curved portion, the third curved portion, and the fourth curved portion are formed solely from arcs of constant curvature.
4. 4. The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing portion is provided in at least one of a third circumferential wall region of the circumferential wall portion that connects the third curved portions and a fourth circumferential wall region of the circumferential wall portion that connects the fourth curved portions.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Stainless steel pipe for hot-water supply or water supply and its manufacture
JP1988042358A