pressure vessel

Abstract

This invention provides a technology that can increase the amount of fluid that can be filled into a pressure vessel. [Solution] The pressure vessel for fluid comprises a plurality of main bodies, each having a cylindrical shape extending along a first direction and arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and one or more bent sections, each having a cylindrical shape and extending between two adjacent ends of the plurality of main bodies, connecting the plurality of main bodies in series. The cross-sectional shape of the bent section perpendicular to the direction of extension is such that the dimensions in the third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions are greater than the dimensions in the fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a pressure vessel for a fluid. This pressure vessel has a cylindrical shape each extending along a first direction, and a plurality of main body parts arranged along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and each having a cylindrical shape, and one or more bent parts extending between two adjacent ends of the plurality of main body parts and connecting the plurality of main body parts in series. The cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the extending direction of the main body part and the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the extending direction of the bent part have a circular shape.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the pressure vessel of Patent Document 1, a bent part is formed by bending a linear cylindrical part. Therefore, in order to facilitate the formation of the bent part, the area of the cross-section perpendicular to the extending direction of the bent part is smaller than the area of the cross-section perpendicular to the extending direction of the main body part. In a pressure vessel having a bent part, it is desired to increase the amount of fluid that can be filled in the pressure vessel.

[0005] This specification provides a technology that can increase the amount of fluid that can be filled in a pressure vessel.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In a first aspect disclosed herein, a pressure vessel for a fluid is disclosed. The pressure vessel may comprise a plurality of main bodies, each having a cylindrical shape extending along a first direction and arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and one or more bends, each having a cylindrical shape and extending between two adjacent ends of the plurality of main bodies, connecting the plurality of main bodies in series. The cross-sectional shape of the bends perpendicular to the direction of extension may have dimensions in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions that are greater than the dimensions in a fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction.

[0007] The above configuration allows for a larger cross-sectional area of ​​the bent portion compared to a configuration in which the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the extension direction of the bent portion is circular, and the diameter of the circle is the same as the dimension of the cross-sectional shape of the bent portion in the third direction. Therefore, the amount of fluid that can be filled into the pressure vessel can be increased. Hereinafter, a circle whose diameter is the same as the dimension of the cross-sectional shape of the bent portion in the third direction will be referred to as a "specific circle".

[0008] In a second embodiment, in the first embodiment, the cross-sectional shape may be oval or elliptical.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the amount of fluid that can be filled into the pressure vessel can be increased compared to a configuration in which the cross-sectional shape of the bent portion is a specific circle.

[0010] In a third embodiment, the cross-sectional shape may be rectangular in the first embodiment described above.

[0011] According to the above configuration, the amount of fluid that can be filled into the pressure vessel can be increased compared to a configuration in which the cross-sectional shape of the bent portion is a specific circle.

[0012] In a fourth embodiment, another pressure vessel for a fluid is disclosed. The pressure vessel may comprise a plurality of main bodies, each having a cylindrical shape extending along a first direction and arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and one or more bends, each having a cylindrical shape and extending between two adjacent ends of the plurality of main bodies, connecting the plurality of main bodies in series. The cross-sectional shape of the bends perpendicular to the direction of extension may be square in which the dimensions in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions are equal to the dimensions in a fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction.

[0013] According to the above configuration, the cross-sectional area of ​​the bent portion can be increased compared to a configuration in which the cross-sectional shape of the bent portion is a specific circle. Therefore, the amount of fluid that can be filled into the pressure vessel can be increased. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a top view of pressure vessel 2. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of the bent portion 12. [Figure 3] This figure shows the pressure vessel before the bent portion 12 is formed. [Figure 4] This is a diagram comparing cross-sectional areas. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view of the bent portion 212 of the pressure vessel 2 according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view of the bent portion 312 of the pressure vessel 2 according to the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] (First embodiment) Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the pressure vessel 2 for fluids will be described. For example, the pressure vessel 2 is installed in a fuel cell vehicle (not shown). The pressure vessel 2 is filled with high-pressure hydrogen gas used for power generation in the fuel cell vehicle.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the pressure vessel 2 includes a plurality of main body portions 10 and a plurality of bent portions 12. In the following, for convenience, the direction in which the plurality of main body portions 10 are arranged side by side is described as the "left - right direction", and the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 10, that is, the direction orthogonal to the left - right direction is described as the "front - rear direction".

[0017] The plurality of main body portions 10 each extend along the front - rear direction. The plurality of main body portions 10 each have a cylindrical shape. The main body portion 10 includes a cylindrical portion 20, a first tapered portion 22, and a second tapered portion 24. The cylindrical portion 20 extends parallel to the front - rear direction. The cylindrical portion 20 has a cylindrical shape. The first tapered portion 22 is connected to the front - side end portion of the cylindrical portion 20. The first tapered portion 22 is inclined such that the dimension in the left - right direction decreases toward the front side. The dimension of the first tapered portion 22 in the up - down direction is constant in the front - rear direction. The second tapered portion 24 is connected to the rear - side end portion of the cylindrical portion 20. The second tapered portion 24 is inclined such that the dimension in the left - right direction decreases toward the rear side. The dimension of the second tapered portion 24 in the up - down direction is constant in the front - rear direction.

[0018] The plurality of bent portions 12 each have a cylindrical shape. Among the plurality of bent portions 12, the plurality of bent portions 12 arranged on the front side of the pressure vessel 2 extend between the front - side end portions of two adjacent main body portions 10 among the plurality of main body portions 10. For example, the bent portion 12 on the front side and the right - most side of the pressure vessel 2 extends forward from the front - side end portion of the right - most main body portion 10, then bends to the left and extends, and further bends to extend to the front - side end portion of the adjacent main body portion 10.

[0019] Also, among the plurality of bent portions 12, the plurality of bent portions 12 arranged on the rear side of the pressure vessel 2 extend between the rear - side end portions of two adjacent main body portions 10 among the plurality of main body portions 10. For example, the bent portion 12 on the rear side and the right - most side of the pressure vessel 2 extends rearward from the rear - side end portion of the second - right - most main body portion 10, then bends to the left and extends, and further bends to extend to the rear - side end portion of the adjacent main body portion 10. The flow path axis of the bent portion 12 in FIG. 1 has a semi - circular arc shape.

[0020] The bent portions 12 are connected to the front end portions of the main body portion 10 arranged on the far right side and the front end portions of the main body portion 10 arranged on the far left side, and the bent portions 12 are connected to both the front and rear end portions of the other main body portion 10. Thus, the plurality of main body portions 10 are connected in series by the plurality of bent portions 12.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the extending direction of the bent portion 12 is an elliptical shape. Hereinafter, the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the extending direction and the cross-section will be simply described as the "cross-sectional shape" and the "cross-section", respectively. The major axis direction of the elliptical shape is parallel to the vertical direction. The minor axis direction of the elliptical shape is the vertical direction and the direction orthogonal to the circular direction of the bent portion 12 (hereinafter referred to as the "flow path width direction"). That is, in the cross-sectional shape of the bent portion 12, the dimension L1 in the vertical direction is larger than the dimension L2 in the flow path width direction. The dimension L1 in the vertical direction is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 20 of the main body portion 10.

[0022] (Method for manufacturing the pressure vessel 2) Referring to FIG. 3, the method for manufacturing the pressure vessel 2 will be described.

[0023] First, as shown in FIG. 3, a cylindrical member 102 is formed along the axis A direction. Although it is an example, the cylindrical member 102 is integrally formed by extrusion molding. The cylindrical member 102 includes a plurality of main body portions 10 and a plurality of cylindrical portions 112. The cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical portion 112 is the same as the cross-sectional shape (refer to FIG. 2) of the bent portion 12 (refer to FIG. 1). That is, the cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical portion 112 is an elliptical shape.

[0024] Next, a plurality of bent portions 12 (refer to FIG. 1) are formed by bending the plurality of cylindrical portions 112. In this way, the pressure vessel 2 shown in FIG. 1 is manufactured.

[0025] As described above, the bent portion 12 (see Figure 1) is formed by bending the cylindrical portion 112. However, if the cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical portion 112 is the same specific circular shape as the cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical portion 20 of the main body 10, a relatively large force will be required to bend the cylindrical portion 112. For this reason, it is desirable that the cylindrical portion 112 has a cross-sectional shape that is easy to bend. Therefore, the dimension L2 in the flow path width direction of the cylindrical portion 112 is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 20. As a result, the cylindrical portion 112 can be bent more easily compared to the case where the cross-sectional shape of the cylindrical portion 112 is a specific circular shape.

[0026] (Effects of this embodiment) As described above, the pressure vessel 2 comprises a plurality of main body sections 10, each having a cylindrical shape extending along the front-to-back direction (an example of the "first direction") and arranged along the left-to-right direction (an example of the "second direction"), and a plurality of bent sections 12, each having a cylindrical shape and extending between two adjacent ends of the plurality of main body sections 10, connecting the plurality of main body sections 10 in series. The cross-sectional shape of the plurality of bent sections 12 perpendicular to the direction of extension is such that the dimension L1 in the vertical direction (an example of the "third direction") is larger than the dimension L2 in the flow path width direction (an example of the "fourth direction"). In particular, in this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape is elliptical.

[0027] With the above configuration, as shown in Figure 4, the cross-sectional area of ​​the multiple bent portions 12 can be increased compared to a configuration in which the cross-sectional shape of the multiple bent portions 12 is a specific circle (comparative example in Figure 4). Therefore, the amount of fluid that can be filled into the pressure vessel 2 can be increased.

[0028] Furthermore, compared to a configuration where the cross-sectional shape of the multiple bent portions 12 is a specific circular shape, it is possible to suppress the decrease in fluid velocity in the multiple bent portions 12.

[0029] (Second example) The pressure vessel of the second embodiment will now be described. In the pressure vessel of the second embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the bent portion 212 in Figure 4 is different from the cross-sectional shape of the bent portion 12 in the first embodiment.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the cross-sectional shape of the bent portion 212 is rectangular. The longitudinal direction of the rectangle is parallel to the vertical direction. The short direction of the rectangle is parallel to the flow path width direction of the bent portion 212. That is, in the cross-sectional shape, the vertical dimension L3 is larger than the flow path width dimension L2. The vertical dimension L3 is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 20 of the main body 10.

[0031] The above configuration can also achieve the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0032] (Third embodiment) A pressure vessel of the third embodiment will now be described. In the pressure vessel of the third embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the bent portion 312 in Figure 5 is different from the cross-sectional shape of the bent portion 12 in the first embodiment.

[0033] As shown in Figure 5, the cross-sectional shape of the bent portion 312 perpendicular to its extension direction is square. The dimension L2 of one side of the square is smaller than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 20 of the main body 10.

[0034] With the above configuration, the cross-sectional area of ​​the bent portion 312 can be increased compared to a configuration in which the cross-sectional shape of the bent portion 312 is a specific circle. Therefore, the amount of fluid that can be filled into the pressure vessel 2 can be increased.

[0035] Although embodiments have been described in detail above, these are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes to the specific examples illustrated above.

[0036] (First modified example) The number of main body parts 10 arranged in the left-right direction may be 2 to 5, or 7 or more.

[0037] (Second modified example) The cross-sectional shape of the main body 10 is not limited to a circular shape, but may also be square or elliptical.

[0038] (Third modified example) The outer edges of the bent portions 12, 212, and 312 may have a bellows shape.

[0039] The technical elements described herein or in the drawings demonstrate technical usefulness individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technologies illustrated herein or in the drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving even one of these objectives constitutes technical usefulness in itself. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 2: Pressure vessel, 10: Main body, 12: Bent section, 20: Cylindrical section, 22: First tapered section, 24: Second tapered section, 102: Cylindrical member, 110: Cylindrical section, 212: Bent section, 312: Bent section

Claims

1. A pressure vessel for fluids, Each has a cylindrical shape extending along a first direction, and a plurality of main body parts are arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, Each has a cylindrical shape and extends between two adjacent ends of the plurality of main body parts, comprising one or more bent parts that connect the plurality of main body parts in series, The cross-sectional shape of the bent portion perpendicular to the extending direction is such that the dimension in the third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions is greater than the dimension in the fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction. Pressure vessel.

2. The pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape is oval or elliptical.

3. The pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape is rectangular.

4. A pressure vessel for fluids, Each has a cylindrical shape extending along a first direction, and a plurality of main body parts are arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, Each has a cylindrical shape and extends between two adjacent ends of the plurality of main body parts, comprising one or more bent parts that connect the plurality of main body parts in series, The cross-sectional shape of the bent portion perpendicular to the extending direction is a square shape in which the dimensions in the third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions are equal to the dimensions in the fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction. Pressure vessel.

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