pressure vessel

Abstract

Because the pressure vessel was cylindrical, it was difficult to say that the volume for storing the fluid was efficiently secured. [Solution] The pressure vessel capable of storing fluid comprises a plurality of main body sections that form a space inside, and connecting sections to which one end of each of the plurality of main body sections is connected, thereby connecting the plurality of main body sections to each other, and the cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main body section is substantially rectangular. The main body section has reinforcing members that connect a pair of opposing surfaces within the space.

Description

Technical Field

[0007]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to pressure vessels.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a tank unit disposed in a transport vehicle. This tank unit has a plurality of cylindrical tanks for storing fuel gas and a connecting portion for connecting the plurality of tanks.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] This embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Each figure is for illustrative purposes only, and this embodiment is not limited to what is shown. Also, since each figure is illustrative, some parts may be omitted.

[0009] Figure 1 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of a pressure vessel 10 according to this embodiment. The pressure vessel 10 is capable of storing fluid. The fluid is, for example, a fuel gas such as hydrogen. In each figure, the X and Y directions are shown as appropriate for ease of explanation. The X and Y directions are orthogonal. The pressure vessel 10 comprises a plurality of main body sections 20 that form a space inside, and connecting sections 30 to which one end of each of the plurality of main body sections 20 is connected, thereby connecting the plurality of main body sections 20 to each other. The connecting sections 30 are passages for the flow of fluid. The plurality of main body sections 20 are connected via the connecting sections 30. In addition, the fluid stored in each of the plurality of main body sections 20 is supplied to the outside of the pressure vessel 10 via the connecting sections 30. In Figure 1, the main body section 20 is shown in cross-section.

[0010] According to Figure 1, the main body 20 is elongated in the Y direction, and both ends in the Y direction are openings 23. According to Figure 1, the Y direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the main body 20. Each of the multiple main body 20s has one end opening 23 in the Y direction connected to the connecting part 30 in the same way. According to Figure 1, the multiple main body 20s are arranged side by side along the X direction (one direction). Also, the multiple main body 20s are positioned at approximately the same location in the Y direction. However, the lengths of the multiple main body 20s in the Y direction may be different from each other, for example.

[0011] The main body 20 comprises a body portion 21 having a substantially constant cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and tapered portions 22 that are at both ends of the body portion 21 in the longitudinal direction. The tapered portions 22 gradually or stepwise narrow the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the longitudinal direction from the body portion 21 toward the opening 23. Hereinafter, the cross-section of the main body 20 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction will be referred to as the "first cross-section".

[0012] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the shape of the first cross-section of the main body 20. As shown in Figure 2, the first cross-section is approximately rectangular. An approximately rectangular shape refers to a shape that has two pairs of opposing planes (the pair of planes 25a and 25b, and the pair of planes 26a and 26b) and four corners connecting these four planes. The four corners of the first cross-section are more accurately described as curved rather than being right angles between planes. Furthermore, the opposing planes forming the first cross-section do not need to be strictly parallel, and each plane may be slightly curved.

[0013] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 1. The main body portion 20 has a reinforcing member 24 that connects a pair of opposing surfaces within the space of the main body portion 20. In Figure 3, a wire 24a is shown that connects a pair of opposing surfaces 25a and surface 25b of the main body portion 20 in a wave-like manner. The wire 24a is made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), which is a composite material of carbon fiber and resin. In other words, the reinforcing member 24 comprises one or more wires 24a that extend in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 20 while stitching together the pair of surfaces.

[0014] In Figure 3, the multiple black dots within the main body 20 each represent a cross-section of a wire 24a. Similarly, in Figure 2, the multiple lines drawn in a grid pattern within the main body 20 each represent a wire 24a. In other words, within the space of the main body 20, the spaces between pairs of surfaces 25a, 25b, and between other opposing pairs of surfaces 26a, 26b, are stitched together by multiple wires 24a. The reinforcing member 24 comprises such multiple wires 24a. In Figure 1, the reinforcing member 24 is omitted.

[0015] A brief explanation of a manufacturing method for the pressure vessel 10 is provided. Multiple liners are prepared as hollow bodies that will serve as the base material for the main body 20. The liners are made of a resin such as nylon. The liners are hollow bodies having a shape corresponding to the main body 20. Wire is wrapped around the outer surface of such liners using a winding machine, for example, in a mesh or spiral pattern. The winding machine is also called a braiding machine or braider. The wire wrapped around the liners is also CFRP, which is carbon fiber impregnated with resin. By winding the wire using the winding machine, a CFRP fiber layer 27 is formed to cover the outer surface of the liner.

[0016] Simultaneously and in parallel with the winding of the wire by the winding machine, the sewing of the wire 24a by the sewing machine to the liner is carried out. The sewing method of the wire 24a by the sewing machine is various, such as, for example, wave sewing or so-called machine sewing that connects the upper thread (wire 24a) and the lower thread (wire 24a). By sewing the wire 24a by the sewing machine, the space inside the liner is penetrated by the wire 24a, and a reinforcing member 24 as shown in FIG. 3, for example, is provided.

[0017] The liner, the winding machine, and the sewing machine move relative to each other along the longitudinal direction of the liner. For example, the positions of the winding machine and the sewing machine are fixed, and the liner moves along its longitudinal direction with respect to them. Along with this movement, the sewing of the wire 24a by the sewing machine and the winding of the wire by the winding machine are carried out in parallel. Thereby, the main body part 20 can be efficiently manufactured while storing the parts of the wire 24a other than the part penetrating the space inside the main body part 20 in the layer of the fiber layer 27 as shown in FIG. 3. A plurality of main body parts 20 manufactured in this way are then connected to the connecting part 30 at one end thereof, respectively, to form a pressure vessel 10 having the shape shown in FIG. 1.

[0018] Thus, according to this embodiment, the pressure vessel 10 has a substantially rectangular first cross section. Therefore, compared with the conventional configuration in which the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel is circular, a larger volume for storing fluid can be ensured.

[0019] Also, from the viewpoint of ensuring strength against the pressure of the fluid, it can be said that the conventional circular cross section is superior to the substantially rectangular first cross section. However, in this embodiment, the main body part 20 is configured to have a reinforcing member 24 that connects the opposing surfaces. Thereby, the main body part 20 can ensure strength against the pressure of the fluid while the first cross section is substantially rectangular.

[0020] In the pressure vessel 10, a base 40 is provided at one end of the main body 20. In FIG. 1, as shown by the dashed two-dot line, bases 40 are attached to one end and the other end of each main body 20 in the Y direction. FIG. 4 shows, in an enlarged cross-sectional view, the vicinity of one end of the main body 20 to which the base 40 is attached. According to FIG. 4, the main body 20 has a liner 50 as an inner layer and a fiber layer 27 as an outer layer. Note that the liner 50 is not described in a simplified manner in each figure except FIG. 4. At one end of the main body 20, for example, a predetermined range (vicinity of the opening range) close to the opening 23 of the tapered portion 22 is a tube having substantially the same diameter as the opening 23, and the base 40 is attached from the outside to the vicinity of the opening range. The base 40 is, for example, made of metal and is formed in an annular shape.

[0021] On the outer peripheral surface of the base 40, a thread groove 41 for screwing a fastening portion 60 described later is formed. On the other hand, a plurality of locking claws 42 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the base 40. When the base 40 is caulked onto the vicinity of the opening of the main body 20, the plurality of locking claws 42 bite into the outer peripheral surface of the fiber layer 27, whereby the base 40 is locked to the main body 20.

[0022] The fastening portion 60 is fastened to the base 40 from the outside. That is, the female thread portion formed inside the fastening portion 60 and the thread groove 41 of the base 40 are screwed together, whereby the fastening portion 60 is fastened to the base 40. In the example of FIG. 4, a part of the fastening portion 60 enters inside the opening 23 and seals the opening 23. The fastening portion 60 may have a structure that allows the opening 23 to communicate with another flow path, for example, the connecting portion 30.

[0023] As described above, the reinforcing member 24 includes a wire 24a that extends in the longitudinal direction of the main body 20 while sewing together opposing surfaces of the main body 20. In this embodiment, one end of the wire 24a may be fixed at a position away from the mouthpiece 40 at one end of the main body 20 to which the mouthpiece 40 is provided. In Figure 4, the wire 24a is shown as a solid line within the fiber layer 27. The end of the wire 24a is embedded within the fiber layer 27 at a position where the locking claw 42 of the mouthpiece 40 cannot reach. In other words, when sewing the wire 24a with a sewing machine and winding the wire with a winding machine are performed in parallel as described above, one end of the wire 24a is embedded at a predetermined position within the fiber layer 27 where the locking claw 42 cannot reach at one end of the main body 20 to which the mouthpiece 40 will be attached later. With this configuration, contact between the locking claw 42 and the wire 24a within the fiber layer 27 is avoided. Therefore, the locking claws 42 do not bite into the fiber layer 27, and the jaws 40 are firmly locked to the main body 20.

[0024] The pressure vessel 10 is housed, for example, in the space under the floor of a vehicle. The vehicle referred to here is a fuel cell vehicle or a hydrogen engine vehicle that uses hydrogen stored in the pressure vessel 10 as fuel to generate electricity or power. Figure 6 shows a conventional pressure vessel 1 housed in the underfloor space A of a vehicle. The pressure vessel 1 is a typical cylindrical hydrogen tank with a circular cross-section perpendicular to its longitudinal direction. Part of the underfloor space A is defined by a body member 70 that separates the above and below the floor of the vehicle.

[0025] The body member 70 has a protrusion 71 that projects downward at a predetermined position. The body member 70 and the protrusion 71 are part of the vehicle body. The protrusion 71 is, for example, a floor cross member for improving the rigidity of the vehicle body. As shown in Figure 6, conventionally, the presence of the protrusion 71 created a dead space B between the body member 70 and the pressure vessel 1. Also, the pressure vessel 1 was miniaturized so that it could be housed in the underfloor space A at a position below the protrusion 71.

[0026] In view of this situation, as a modification of this embodiment, the main body portion 20 may have an uneven shape that conforms to the shape of the vehicle body, defining at least a part of the space in which the pressure vessel 10 is housed. Figure 5 shows the pressure vessel 10 according to the modification, housed in the underfloor space A of the vehicle. In Figure 5, only the main body portion 20 of the pressure vessel 10 is shown in cross-section from the same viewpoint as in Figure 3.

[0027] As shown in Figure 5, a recess 28 is formed on the upper surface of the main body 20, that is, on the surface facing the body member 70, at a position corresponding to the protrusion 71, in order to avoid contact with the protrusion 71. The recess 28 is formed in the body portion 21. As can be seen from the above explanation, since the outer surface of the body portion 21 is flat, it is easier to form the recess 28 compared to the conventional pressure vessel 1 which has a cylindrical shape. Naturally, the area of ​​the body portion 21 in which the recess 28 is formed has a narrower first cross-section than the area of ​​the body portion 21 in which the recess 28 is not formed.

[0028] The fact that the main body portion 20 has a recess 28 means that, relative to the recess 28, the main body portion 20 also has a protruding portion. Therefore, the shape of the recess 28 and its surrounding area is a concrete example of a concave and convex shape that conforms to the shape of the vehicle body. In such an example, by avoiding contact with the convex portion 71 using the recess 28, the pressure vessel 10 can be housed using space B of the underfloor space A. In other words, the pressure vessel 10 can be made larger and its volume increased while effectively utilizing the limited underfloor space A of the vehicle. In Figure 5, only one main body portion 20 is shown, but it can be understood that multiple main body portions 20 arranged in the X direction have recesses 28, each corresponding to the length of the convex portion 71 in the X direction. Since the multiple main body portions 20 are manufactured individually before being connected to the connecting portion 30, a concave and convex shape that conforms to the shape of the vehicle body can be easily provided for each main body portion 20.

[0029] In the pressure vessel 10 of this embodiment, the presence of a liner is not essential. The pressure vessel 10 may, for example, have a configuration without a liner, at least in its post-manufacturing form. Furthermore, the pressure vessel 10 may be manufactured using a method that does not use a liner.

[0030] The specific examples of the technologies disclosed herein have been described in detail above, but these are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technologies described in the claims include various modifications and changes to the specific examples described above. Furthermore, the technical elements described herein or in the drawings exhibit technical usefulness individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technologies illustrated herein or in the drawings achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving even one of these objectives constitutes technical usefulness in itself. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 10: Pressure vessel, 20: Main body, 21: Body, 22: Tapered section, 23: Opening, 24: Reinforcement member, 24a: Wire, 25a, 25b, 26a, 26b: Surface, 27: Fiber layer, 28: Recess, 30: Connecting section, 40: Nozzle, 41: Screw groove, 42: Locking claw, 50: Liner, 60: Fastening section, 70: Body member, 71: Protrusion

Claims

1. A pressure vessel capable of storing fluids, Multiple main body parts that form a space inside, Each of the multiple main body sections is connected to a connecting section that allows the multiple main body sections to communicate with one another, A pressure vessel in which the cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main body is approximately rectangular in shape.

2. The pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion has a reinforcing member that connects a pair of opposing surfaces within the space.

3. The reinforcing member comprises one or more wires extending in the longitudinal direction while stitching together the pair of surfaces, A nozzle is provided at one end of the main body, The pressure vessel according to claim 2, wherein one end of the wire is fixed at the one end of the main body portion on which the nozzle is provided, at a position away from the nozzle.

4. The pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the main body has an uneven shape that conforms to the shape of the vehicle body, defining at least a portion of the space in which the pressure vessel is housed.

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