Pressure vessel for storing fluid media

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pressure vessel (1) for storing a fluid medium, particularly hydrogen. The pressure vessel (1) comprises an insert (2) having a fluid-tight, particularly permeable, storage space (4) for storing the fluid medium, a support shell (6) for supporting and housing the insert (2) in a containment space (8), and a connecting element (14). The support shell (6) has a supply hole (10) opening into the containment space (8). The insert (2) is coaxial with the supply hole (10) of the support shell (6) and has a storage opening (12) opening into the storage space (4). The connecting element (14) extends coaxially with the supply hole (10) and the storage opening (12) and has a connecting hole (16) including a connecting geometry (18) for connecting to a connecting fitting. The connecting element (14) is arranged so that its annular neck portion (20) abuts radially against the supply hole (10) along its circumference, and its flange portion (22) adjacent to the neck portion (20) protrudes into the housing space (8) of the support shell (6), thereby causing the flange portion (22) to abut against the inner wall of the support shell (6) in the edge region of the supply hole (10), and further, the insert (2) is fluidly tightly connected to the flange portion (22) in the edge region of the storage opening (12). The connection geometry (18) is located on the flange portion (22) of the connecting element (14).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressure vessel for storing a fluid medium, particularly hydrogen. The pressure vessel comprises an insert having a fluid-tight storage space for storing the fluid medium. Further, the pressure vessel comprises a support shell for supporting and accommodating the insert in an accommodation space, and a connecting element. The support shell has a supply hole opening into the accommodation space. The insert is arranged coaxially with the supply hole of the support shell and has a storage opening opening into the storage space. The connecting element extends coaxially with the supply hole and has a connecting hole including a connecting geometry for connecting to a connecting fitting. Further, the connecting element is arranged such that it abuts radially against the supply hole along the circumference by an annular neck portion and projects into the accommodation space of the support shell by a flange portion adjacent to the neck portion, whereby the flange portion abuts against the inner wall of the support shell in the edge region of the supply hole. In this case, the insert is fluid-tightly connected to the flange portion in the edge region of the storage opening.

Background Art

[0002] From International Publication No. WO 2008 / 107049, a pressure vessel is known in which a connecting element for accommodating a connecting fitting is formed as a cylindrical metal body. In this case, this comprises an edge region of the support shell such that a flange portion of the metal body is arranged in the accommodation space of the support shell. Further, a plastic core vessel for storing a fluid is intended to be sealed against a connecting fitting which can be screwed to the plastic core vessel by a flap portion forming a storage opening in sealing abutment against the inner wall of the connecting hole of the metal body. For this purpose, the flap portion of the plastic core vessel projects into the connecting hole in the region of the flange portion of the metal body, whereas the metal body has a connecting geometry formed for screwing the connecting fitting above the flange portion in an annular neck portion. In this case, the neck portion abuts radially against the supply hole of the support shell opening into the accommodation space along the circumference.

[0003] In the context of the present invention, the connecting fitting is purposefully formed to serve as a valve capable of guiding fluid into and / or from a pressure vessel, particularly into an insert.

[0004] For hydrogen-based propulsion concepts to succeed in the market, an economical pressure storage system for supplying gaseous fuel is necessary. Known pressure vessels, particularly fiber-wrapped pressure vessels (Type IV), have heavy metal connecting elements for screwing into connecting fittings. This is based on the fact that screwing of connecting fittings in connecting elements known from the prior art takes place at the neck of the connecting element, and therefore the connecting geometry is usually formed in the form of an internal thread in the connecting hole of the neck of the connecting element. Thus, this embodiment requires that the neck of the connecting element be formed very heavily, thereby preventing tearing forces from large mechanical forces or very high pressures during assembly from damaging the connecting element and / or connecting fitting. Furthermore, a very strong, in particular, one-piece connection between the neck and flange is required, thereby preventing tearing. Thus, connecting elements known from the prior art are formed as one-piece structures, are heavy, and have high production costs.

[0005] In addition, the heavy neck portion required for the connection geometry has a very large outer diameter, and correspondingly the supply holes for accommodating the connection elements are also formed to be relatively large, which unfavorably affects the force absorption capacity of the support shell. Therefore, it is known from the prior art that in order to maintain the force absorption capacity at the required level, the support shell should be made more heavy, at least in the area of ​​the supply holes, and / or, in the case of support shells made from fiber-reinforced plastic, the proportion of fibers should be increased at least partially.

[0006] Therefore, known defects of conventional pressure vessels include, in particular, high material costs due to unsuitable winding of the support shell fibers, and large overall weight and bulky connecting elements. Furthermore, in known types of pressure vessels, it has been found that the use of structural space is inefficient due to tall connecting fittings protruding from the connecting holes. In known pressure vessels, the connecting fittings are screwed into the neck of the connecting element, causing the fittings to protrude from the connecting holes and making defects likely. In addition, because the functional area is correspondingly large as a result of the large screw diameter, the large axial and shear forces at the neck of the connecting element generated during assembly place a load on the material or fibers of the support shell. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2008 / 107049 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] This invention overcomes the drawbacks known from the prior art and, in particular, addresses the challenge of providing a pressure vessel with lower weight and higher material and / or manufacturing cost efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The above problems are solved by the features of claim 1 of the present invention. By arranging the connection geometry in the flange portion of the connecting element, the flow of force in the connecting element changes, and the introduction of force for the connection fitting into the connecting element occurs in the flange portion of the connecting element. Therefore, the load on the neck portion of the connecting element is reduced, thereby lowering the mechanical load requirements imposed on the neck portion. As a result, the wall thickness of the neck portion of the connecting element can be made smaller, and the outer diameter can be significantly reduced. By reducing the outer diameter, in addition to saving material in the neck portion of the connecting element, it becomes possible to wrap the support shell using fibers, thereby saving material in the support shell as well, and the load on the support shell is reduced in particular in the area of ​​the supply hole. In order to optimally utilize the potential for weight reduction of the pressure vessel, a geometry that enables a load distribution suited to the fibers of the connecting element, especially in the neck portion, is used for purpose. "Suitable for fibers" for purpose means that each fiber is subjected to a constant tension at any point. In particular, the tension state or tension distribution is isotensoid (an isotonic surface). Therefore, the connecting element allows for an isotensoidal tension distribution throughout the entire curvature of the connecting element, particularly at the neck.

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention enable reductions in weight and production costs. In particular, when this pressure vessel is used as a hydrogen tank for automobiles, the increased weight density of the fuel storage device extends the vehicle's driving range, and the cost reduction contributes to the faster adoption of hydrogen-based technologies across the industry.

[0011] Purposefully, the connection geometry is formed as a female thread to accommodate a connection fitting formed to correspond to a male thread. Advantageously, the connection geometry, in particular the female thread, is formed so that known standardized connection fittings, such as valves, can be screwed onto a pressure vessel.

[0012] Embodiments of the present invention enable a special embodiment in which the neck portion and flange portion of a connecting element are formed as two separately manufactured parts, and these are connected to constitute the connecting element, thereby reducing the load on the connecting element at the neck portion. In particular, the modular system allows the connecting element to be quickly adapted to special specifications. The material properties of the connecting element at the neck portion and flange portion can also be adapted by separate processing or manufacturing methods, thereby improving overall efficiency.

[0013] In another development, the neck portion of the connecting element is made of a first material, and the flange portion of the connecting element is made of a second material. In this case, it is purposeful for the first material of the neck portion and the second material of the flange portion to be of different types and / or material compositions. In particular, the neck portion cannot withstand as much load as the flange portion, but it can be manufactured from a lighter material.

[0014] A favorable material combination is intended to be one in which the first material of the connecting element forming the neck is plastic, and the second material of the connecting element forming the flange is metal, particularly steel. Forming the neck from plastic is particularly advantageous for reducing the weight of the connecting element or pressure vessel, and this embodiment is made possible by transferring the connection geometry to the flange according to the present invention.

[0015] The modular design of the connection elements, particularly the separation of the neck from the flange, enables other purposeful adjustments, which are possible in localized optimizations, especially in areas such as resistance to aggressive fluids, corrosion protection, impact and fracture resistance, and many other areas.

[0016] Purposefully, the connecting element is formed as an assembly by connecting the flange portion and the neck portion to each other materially, in particular by bonding, and / or by shape bonding and / or by force, in particular by pressurization. Additionally or alternatively, in special embodiments, the flange portion and the neck portion may be connected to each other by pins positioned axially with respect to the connecting holes.

[0017] In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the connecting element is formed such that a flange extends between the edge region of the supply hole of the support shell and the edge region of the storage opening of the insert. In this case, the flange of the connecting element is purposefully in contact with the inner wall of the support shell and the outer surface of the insert. In particular, this allows the insert to be fluid-tightly positioned in direct contact with the connecting element. Purposefully, the overlap between the flange of the connecting element and the outer surface of the insert is sized to be large enough that under operating pressure, the fluid stored in the pressure vessel, and especially in the insert, cannot leak out of the storage space through the contact area of ​​the insert with the connecting element.

[0018] According to advantageous modified embodiments, it has become clear that, in order to avoid leakage, it is particularly advantageous that the insert is integrally injection-molded or integrally vulcanized with the flange portion of the connecting element.

[0019] In any modified form of the present invention, it has been found to be advantageous, for practical purposes, for the support shell to be made of fiber-reinforced plastic. In particular, this allows the support shell to have high deformation resistance.

[0020] Purposefully, the connecting element is connected to the support shell at least by shape coupling. In this case, it has been found to be particularly advantageous that the support shell is connected at least by shape coupling to the neck portion of the connecting element, preferably at least in the region of the supply hole. Therefore, in a further developed embodiment of the present invention, the outer circumferential surface of the connecting element at the neck portion has at least one radially convex retaining contour that is connected at least by shape coupling to the support shell.

[0021] In particular, the retaining contour may be intended to be incorporated into the material of the support shell during the direct manufacturing process of the support shell. Purposefully, the retaining contour may be enclosed or wrapped by injection molding of plastic, especially fiber-reinforced plastic. Advantageously, the type of structure of the retaining contour allows for adjustment of the axial and / or rotational degrees of freedom of motion of the connecting element relative to the support shell. It is particularly advantageous that the neck portion of the connecting element can be manufactured from a material that allows for easy fabrication of the retaining contour during deformation and / or post-processing.

[0022] Purposefully, to limit the axial displacement of the connecting element in the supply hole, the retaining contour can be formed as at least one bead projecting radially outward from the circumferential surface. In addition to, or instead of, the retaining contour may also be formed as at least one groove recessed radially inward from the circumferential surface. In this case, it is advantageous if the groove and / or bead are formed in an annular shape that completely encloses the neck portion, thereby ensuring the shape-coupled fixation of the connecting element in the supply hole only axially relative to the supply hole, while theoretically allowing rotation of the connecting element in the supply hole.

[0023] To limit the axial displacement and theoretical rotation of the connecting element in the supply hole, the retaining contour may be intended to have at least two notches recessed radially inward from the circumferential surface and / or bulges projecting outward from the circumferential surface, distributed along the circumference of the neck. It may also be purposeful if only one notch or bulge is formed on the circumferential surface, in which case the notch or bulge has at least one interruption in its extension along the circumference around the neck, which is filled with the material of the support shell, thereby preventing theoretical rotation of the connecting element in the supply hole by a shape-bonding block at the location of the interruption of the notch or bulge.

[0024] Another expedient deformation of the retaining contour for restricting the axial displacement of the connecting element at the supply hole may be that the retaining contour is formed by a radially outwardly directed concave structure extending in the circumferential direction of the circumferential surface. In this case, the retaining contour is provided by the circumferential surface itself, which has a particularly positive effect on the manufacturing effort.

[0025] In particular, in a special deformation of the present invention, the neck portion has a lip formed so as to project into the edge region of the flange portion facing the support shell so that at least a partial separation between the support shell and the edge region of the flange portion can be obtained.

[0026] Other advantageous embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the drawings and the dependent claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] [Figure 1] It is a cross-sectional view of a partial region of a pressure vessel. [Figure 2] It is a side view of a first deformation of the neck portion of a modular connecting element. [Figure 3] It is a side view of the flange portion of a modular connecting element. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view of the neck portion and the flange portion of a deformation of a modular connecting element. [Figure 5] It is a side view of another deformation of the neck portion of a modular connecting element having a different retaining contour. [Figure 6] It is a side view of another deformation of the neck portion of a modular connecting element having a different retaining contour. [Figure 7] It is a side view of another deformation of the neck portion of a modular connecting element having a different retaining contour. [Figure 8] It is a side view of another deformation of the neck portion of a modular connecting element having a different retaining contour. [Figure 9] It is a side view of another deformation of the neck portion of a modular connecting element having a different retaining contour. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0028] In different drawings, the same part is always assigned the same reference number.

[0029] It is required that the present invention is not limited to exemplary embodiments, and in doing so, not limited to all or some of the features of the combination of features described, but rather that each of the exemplary embodiments / each of the partial features is important to the subject matter of the present invention, either on its own, separate from all other partial features described in relation to it, or in combination with any feature of another exemplary embodiment.

[0030] Figure 1 shows a pressure vessel 1 for storing a fluid medium. In particular, the pressure vessel 1 is suitable for storing hydrogen. As shown in the figure, the pressure vessel 1 includes an insert 2 having a fluid-tight storage space 4 for storing a fluid medium such as hydrogen. In particular, it is clearly purposeful that the insert 2 is designed to be permeable to the stored medium.

[0031] As illustrated in Figure 1, the pressure vessel 1 comprises a support shell 6, particularly a fiber-reinforced one. In this case, the insert 2 is housed in a housing space 8 of the support shell 6 such that the support shell 6 provides support to the insert 2 and limits its expansion, at least when a pressure load is applied, for example, as a result of storing a fluid.

[0032] Therefore, the insert 2 is preferably fluid-impermeable and flexible, and the insert 2 is made of a non-metallic material, advantageously an elastomer, or another material having elastic properties.

[0033] In particular, due to its advantageous elastic properties, the insert 2 abuts flat against the inner surface of the support shell 6 so that the support shell 6 is fluid-tightly protected from the fluid stored within the insert 2. For this purpose, it is appropriate that the insert 2 be made of a polymer, especially plastic. Advantageously, the insert 2 is formed by pressure molding, blow molding, or injection molding.

[0034] Furthermore, Figure 1 shows that the support shell 6 has a supply hole 10 that opens into the storage space 8. In this case, the insert 2 is positioned or formed coaxially with the supply hole 10 of the support shell 6 and has a storage opening 12 that opens into the storage space 4.

[0035] Furthermore, the pressure vessel 1 has a connecting element 14, which is illustrated particularly in Figures 1 and 4. The connecting element 14 extends coaxially with the supply hole 10 and has a connecting hole 16 that includes a connecting geometry 18 for connecting to a connecting fitting. The connectable connecting fitting is not shown. For practical purposes, the connecting fitting is a valve or a connecting line.

[0036] The connection geometry 18 is advantageously formed as a female thread 18 for screwing in the male thread formed in the corresponding connection fitting.

[0037] The connecting element 14 has an annular neck portion 20, which causes the connecting element 14 to radially contact the supply hole 10 along its circumference, as shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, the connecting element 14 is positioned to protrude into the housing space 8 of the support shell 6 by a flange portion 22 adjacent to the neck portion 20, so that the flange portion 22 contacts the inner wall of the support shell 6 in the edge region of the supply hole 10.

[0038] The connecting element 14 and the insert 2 are formed and positioned such that the insert 2 is fluid-tightly connected to the flange portion 22 at the edge region of the storage opening 12. This allows fluid to pass through the connecting hole 16, or through the connecting fitting located in the connecting hole 16, and through the coaxially arranged storage opening 12 to be introduced into and stored in the storage space 4 of the insert 2.

[0039] According to the present invention, the connection geometry 18, in particular, the internal thread 18 formed in the connection hole 16, is intended to be located on the flange portion 22 of the connection element 14. Specifically, the connection element 14 has a flange portion 22 with an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the neck portion 20, thereby allowing the connection element 14 to be supported by the support shell 6 by the flange portion 22. As a result of this enlarged outer diameter, the support structure at the flange portion 22 already has a higher load-bearing capacity. Embodiments of the present invention utilize this structural design of the connection element 14, in which the enlarged flange portion 22, necessary for support by this structural configuration, is also used to hold the connection fitting. The resulting synergistic effect allows for a reduction in the load at the neck portion 20 of the connection element 14, thereby avoiding material fatigue at the neck portion 20.

[0040] In particular, Figures 1 and 4 show a special embodiment of the connecting element 14, in which the neck portion 20 and flange portion 22 of the connecting element 14 are formed as two separately manufactured parts that constitute the connecting element 14 when connected. To clarify the modular structure of the connecting element 14, Figures 1 and 4 show a separation line 24 that divides the first part formed as the neck portion 20 and the second part formed as the flange portion 22 from each other.

[0041] In an advantageous modification of the present invention, the neck portion 20 of the connecting element 14 shown in Figures 2 and 5-9 is intended to be made of a first material, and the flange portion 22 of the connecting element 14 shown in Figure 3 is intended to be made of a second material. In particular, the first material of the neck portion 20 and the second material of the flange portion 22 may be intended to be different in type and / or material composition from each other. This allows the connecting element 14 to be adjusted as needed to suit the requirements imposed on the material, particularly the load capacity and weight.

[0042] A favorable material combination for the connecting element 14 is intended to be that the first material of the connecting element 14 forming the neck portion 20 is plastic, and the second material of the connecting element 14 forming the flange portion 22 is metal, particularly steel. Preferably, the neck portion 20 is formed from at least an injection-molded plastic. Advantageously, the neck portion 20 is formed from at least a machinable plastic. Purposefully, the neck portion 20 is formed from at least a pressurizable plastic.

[0043] In particular, preferably, in the modular connecting element 14, the flange portion 22 and the neck portion 20 are connected to each other by material bonding and / or shape bonding and / or force bonding.

[0044] In particular, a purposeful material bonding connection may be achieved by bonding or welding the flange portion 22 to the neck portion 20. Especially when the flange portion 22 is formed from plastic, it can be advantageously welded to the neck portion 20.

[0045] Advantageous shape-bonding and / or force-bonding connections may be provided by the neck portion 20 and / or flange portion 22 having, for example, retaining contours and / or locking contours such as locking arms on the neck portion 20 and / or flange portion 22, which engage with corresponding grooves formed on the neck portion 20 and / or flange portion 22 to be connected. The neck portion 20 may also be connected to the flange portion 22 by a thread lock (Schraubgewinde) or bayonet lock. In an advantageous embodiment, the neck portion 20 is pressure-molded together with the flange portion 22.

[0046] Another preferred shape-coupled and / or force-coupled connection between the neck portion 20 and the flange portion 22 may be one in which the flange portion 22 and the neck portion 20 are connected with the assistance of at least one connecting element 26. In particular, Figure 4 shows such an advantageous connection in which at least one pin 26 axially positioned relative to the connection hole 16 is formed as the connecting element 26, and this pin 26 connects the neck portion 20 and the flange portion 22 to each other. In this case, the pins 26 engage with the holes 28 in the flange portion 22 and the holes 28 in the neck portion 20, at least shape-coupled, and especially force-coupled. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 4, four connecting elements 26 formed as pins 26 are advantageously used, and these connecting elements 26 are distributed around the circumference of the connection hole 16, particularly evenly, and particularly at angles of 90° each, so that only two pins 26 are recognizable in the cross-sectional view of Figure 4.

[0047] Figure 1 shows a particularly advantageous exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which the contact is optimized by the fact that the connecting element 14 extends, in particular, by a flange portion 22, between the edge region of the supply hole 10 of the support shell 6 and the edge region of the storage opening 12 of the insert 2. In this case, it is intended that the flange portion 22 of the connecting element 14 is designed to abut the inner wall of the support shell 6 and the outer surface of the insert 2. In particular, this directly seals the insert 2 to the connecting element 14, thereby reducing the load on the sealing function of the support shell 6. This protects the support shell 6, in particular, from the fluid medium being stored, so that the support shell 6 itself does not require any resistance to the potential aggressiveness of the fluid medium.

[0048] However, the tightness and defect resistance are improved by the modified form in which the insert 2 is integrally injection-molded or integrally vulcanized with the flange portion 22 of the connecting element 14.

[0049] In particular, the support shell 6 is made from a laminate of glass fiber threads or various types of other synthetic fibers that are bonded together by a thermosetting resin or thermoplastic resin.

[0050] For practical purposes, the support shell 6 is formed from a composite material made primarily from rigid materials with high mechanical load capacity. Preferably, the composite material is a fiber-reinforced composite material, particularly based on resin or plastic. In particular, the support shell 6 is manufactured by a winding process. For practical purposes, the support shell 6 is made of fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0051] Preferably, glass fibers, carbon fibers, or aramid fibers are used as reinforcing fibers, but are not limited to these. Examples of resin or plastic substrates include, but are not limited to, epoxy resins, polyesters, vinyl esters, or thermoplastics. In this case, the type of fiber and the resin or plastic substrate can be selected according to the application, thereby adapting the pressure vessel 1 to the application. Furthermore, by arranging the connection geometry 18 in the connection hole 16 of the connection element 14 in the flange portion 22, and by reducing the outer diameter of the neck portion 20, or as a result reducing the inner diameter of the supply hole 10 of the support shell 6, the number of materials available for the support shell 6 increases, thereby allowing the use of atypical materials, fiber types, and / or resin or plastic substrates for the support shell 6.

[0052] In a particularly advantageous modified embodiment, to position the connecting element 14 in the supply hole 10 of the support shell 6, the outer circumferential surface 30 of the connecting element 14 in the neck portion 20 is intended to have at least one radially extending retaining contour 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 that is at least shape-coupled to the support shell 6. Different embodiments of the neck portion 20 having the retaining contours 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 are shown in particular in Figures 5 to 9.

[0053] Figures 5 and 6 show preferred variations of the retaining contours 32 and 34. In particular, the retaining contour 32 is formed as at least one bead 32 projecting radially outward from the circumferential surface 30. This embodiment is shown, for example, in Figure 5. For practical purposes, the retaining contour 34 is alternatively or additionally formed as at least one groove 34 recessed radially inward in the circumferential surface 30, as shown in Figure 6. In this case, it is advantageous that the groove 34 and / or bead 32 be formed in an annular shape that completely encloses the periphery of the neck portion 20. Thus, in both Figures 5 and 6, the retaining contours 32 and 34 extend in an annular shape around the periphery of the neck portion 20, which is advantageous in this respect.

[0054] Another preferred embodiment of the retaining contours 36, 38 is shown in Figures 7 and 8. According to one embodiment, the retaining contour 36 is formed as at least two notches 36 distributed along the circumference of the neck portion 20 and recessed radially inward in the circumferential surface 30. An embodiment of the retaining contour 36 as radial notches 36 is shown in Figure 7. Alternatively or additionally, in an arbitrary modification, as shown in Figure 8, the retaining contour 38 is formed as at least two bulges 38 projecting outward from the circumferential surface 30 along the circumference. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiments shown in Figures 7 and 8, a particularly advantageous modification is shown in which the retaining contours 36, 38 are each formed from four notches 36 or bulges 38 distributed around the circumferential surface 30, in particular at 90° with respect to the connection hole 16. The notches 36 or bulges 38 can advantageously guide axial and tangential forces to the support shell 6.

[0055] According to another preferred embodiment of the retaining contour 40, the retaining contour 40 is formed by a radially outward-facing concave structure extending circumferentially on the circumferential surface 30 of the neck portion 20. This variant of the neck portion 20 is illustrated in Figure 9. In other advantageous embodiments of the retaining contour not shown, the circumferential surface 30 of the neck portion 20 may be formed to extend radially outward in a convex, corrugated, or wavy manner, but is not limited thereto.

[0056] In particular, the modified forms of the retaining contours 32, 34, and 40 shown in Figures 5, 6, and 9 are purposefully formed so that only axial force is transmitted, primarily from the neck portion 20 to the support shell 6. Advantageously, the concave geometry of the retaining contour 40 allows for unobstructed fiber attachment, especially fiber-fitted winding, in a favorable winding process for manufacturing the support shell 6, as shown in Figure 9.

[0057] Preferably, the neck portion 20 is formed as an injection-molded part. By manufacturing the neck portion 20 by injection molding, the corners and surface transitions are rounded, which makes it particularly economical to mount the fibers around the neck portion 20 with a uniform radius during the winding process for manufacturing the support shell 6. Furthermore, rounding the corners prevents damage caused by sharp edges.

[0058] The present invention is not limited to the illustrated and described exemplary embodiments, but also includes all embodiments having the same effect in the sense of the present invention. It is clearly emphasized that the exemplary embodiments are not limited to all combinations of features, and rather, individual partial features can have inventive significance on their own, separated from all other partial features. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the combinations of features defined in Claim 1 so far, but can also be defined by any other combination of all the individual features disclosed as a whole. This essentially means that the individual features of Claim 1 can be effectively omitted or replaced by at least one single feature disclosed elsewhere in this application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1. Pressure vessel 2 Inserts 4 Storage space 6. Support shell 8. Containment space 10 Supply hole 12 Storage opening 14 connection elements 16 connection holes 18 Connection Geometry - Female Thread 20 Neck section 22 Flange section 24 Separation line 26 Connection Elements - Pins 28 holes 30 Circumferential surface 32 Retaining contour - bead 34 Retaining contour-groove 36 Retaining contour - notch 38 Retention contour - bulge 40 Retaining contour - concave circumferential surface

Claims

1. A pressure vessel (1) for storing a fluid medium, particularly hydrogen, An insert (2) having a fluid-tight, particularly permeable, storage space (4) for storing the fluid medium, A support shell (6) that supports and houses the insert (2) within the housing space (8), The system comprises a connecting element (14) The support shell (6) has a supply hole (10) that opens into the housing space (8), The insert (2) is arranged coaxially with the supply hole (10) of the support shell (6) and has a storage opening (12) that opens into the storage space (4). The connecting element (14) extends coaxially with the supply hole (10) and the storage opening (12) and has a connecting hole (16) including a connecting geometry (18) for connecting to a connecting fitting. The connecting element (14) is arranged such that its annular neck portion (20) abuts radially against the supply hole (10) along its circumference, and its flange portion (22) adjacent to the neck portion (20) protrudes into the housing space (8) of the support shell (6), thereby causing the flange portion (22) to abut against the inner wall of the support shell (6) in the edge region of the supply hole (10), and further, the insert (2) is fluidly tightly connected to the flange portion (22) in the edge region of the storage opening (12). The pressure vessel (1) is characterized in that the connection geometry (18) is arranged on the flange portion (22) of the connection element (14).

2. The pressure vessel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connection geometry (18) is formed as a female thread (18) to accommodate a connection fitting formed to correspond to a male thread.

3. The pressure vessel (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the neck portion (20) and the flange portion (22) of the connecting element (14) are connected to each other and formed as two separately manufactured parts constituting the connecting element (14).

4. The neck portion (20) of the connecting element (14) is made of the first material. The flange portion (22) of the connecting element (14) is made of a second material. The pressure vessel (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first material of the neck portion and the second material of the flange portion are of different types and / or material compositions.

5. The first material of the connecting element (14) that forms the neck portion (20) is plastic. The pressure vessel (1) according to claim 4, wherein the second material of the connecting element (14) forming the flange portion (22) is a metal, in particular steel.

6. The pressure vessel (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the flange portion (22) and the neck portion (20) are connected to each other by material bonding, in particular by adhesion, and / or by shape bonding, and / or by force bonding, in particular by pressurization.

7. The flange portion (22) and the neck portion (20) are connected to each other by a pin axially positioned with respect to the connection hole (16), according to any one of claims 3 to 6.

8. The pressure vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the connecting element (14) extends by the flange portion (22) between the edge region of the supply hole (10) of the support shell (6) and the edge region of the storage opening (12) of the insert (2), and thereby the flange portion (22) of the connecting element (14) is configured to contact the inner wall of the support shell (6) and the outer surface of the insert (2).

9. The pressure vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the insert (2) is integrally injection molded or integrally vulcanized on the flange portion (22) of the connecting element (14).

10. The support shell (6) is made of fiber-reinforced plastic, according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The pressure vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the outer circumferential surface (30) of the connecting element (14) in the neck portion (20) is provided to extend radially and has at least one retaining contour (32, 34, 36, 38, 40) that is at least shape-coupled to the support shell (6).

12. The retaining contours (32, 34) are formed as at least one bead (32) projecting radially outward from the circumferential surface (30), and / or as at least one groove (34) recessed radially inward in the circumferential surface (30). The pressure vessel (1) according to claim 11, wherein the groove (34) and / or the bead (32) are formed in an annular shape that completely surrounds the neck portion (20).

13. The retaining contours (36, 38) are dispersed along the circumference of the neck portion (20) and formed as at least two notches (36) recessed radially inward in the circumferential surface (30), and / or as bulges (38) projecting outward from the circumferential surface (30), according to claim 11 or 12, the pressure vessel (1).

14. The pressure vessel (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the retaining contour (40) is formed by a concave structure that extends in the circumferential direction of the circumferential surface (30) and faces radially outward.

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