Pressure vessel protectors and pressure vessel units

Abstract

To provide a protector for a pressure container which is light-weight and yet achieves excellent impact resistance and handleability, and to provide a pressure container unit.SOLUTION: A protector for a pressure container of the invention comprises: a cover A which is disposed at a position of one end as seen in a longitudinal direction of the pressure container and covers an outer peripheral portion and one end portion of the pressure container; a cover B which is disposed at another position and covers the outer peripheral portion of the pressure container; and a rigid member which connects the cover A with the cover B. The rigid member is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the pressure container at the outer side relative to an outer periphery of the pressure container, and at least one end of the rigid member is located at the outer side of an attachment tool on an extension line as seen in the longitudinal direction of the pressure container. Further, it is preferable to form the pressure container by a resin or a fiber-reinforced resin and it is preferable to form the cover A or the cover B by a synthetic resin. A pressure container unit of another part of the invention comprises: the pressure container; and the protector which protects the outer periphery of the pressure container.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressure vessel protector suitable for a pressure vessel that contains high pressure gas or the like, and to a pressure vessel unit consisting of the protector and the pressure vessel. [Background technology]

[0002] There are many different types of containers for filling high-pressure gases, ranging from those made of steel to those with metal or plastic liners wrapped around resin-impregnated carbon fiber.

[0003] Conventionally, for such high-pressure filled gas containers, highly robust containers made of steel have been used for applications involving frequent movement and transportation, such as carrying them around or loading them onto vehicles. However, even small steel containers are heavy, and they are often transported using auxiliary equipment such as carriers or unic trucks, so improvements were required in terms of the workload and safety during handling (Patent Document 1).

[0004] On the other hand, high-pressure composite containers, which have a metal or plastic liner wrapped with resin-impregnated carbon fiber, are very light compared to steel containers of the same size, and have become widespread due to their good handling properties (Patent Documents 2 and 3). For example, steel containers were once used as pressure containers for air breathing apparatus worn by firefighters during firefighting work, but now lightweight composite pressure containers are used in almost all fire stations across the country in order to reduce the workload during firefighting activities in harsh work sites.

[0005] However, on the other hand, in order to ensure the soundness of composite pressure vessels, there are regulations stipulating that they should not be roughly handled, and that the level of damage to the outer surface of the vessel during handling, i.e., the allowable depth of damage to the resin-impregnated carbon fiber layer on the outer surface, is stipulated. Although there are strict regulations to prevent damage to the vessel due to such rough handling, in recent years, opportunities for general use of vessels other than professional traders have been increasing, and vessels that are more resistant to damage are required. For example, a vessel that is lightweight and resistant to damage is required for applications such as transporting fuel during disasters or outdoor activities such as camping, and carrying high-pressure oxygen for medical use. However, compared to conventional steel pressure vessels, lightweight composite pressure vessels have the problem of being more easily damaged.

[0006] Therefore, in order to expand the use of lightweight, highly functional composite pressure vessels as high-pressure gas containers for use in applications that require frequent transportation, such as carrying them around or loading them onto vehicles, it is necessary to develop products that do not simply rely on user care in handling, but that actively prevent damage and reduce the workload.

[0007] The present invention has been made in light of the current state of industrial use of high-pressure gas containers, with the aim of improving the situation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3107715 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1-113227 [Patent Document 3] JP 2019-7557 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pressure vessel protector and a pressure vessel unit which are lightweight yet have excellent impact resistance and ease of handling. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The pressure vessel protector of the present invention comprises: The pressure vessel is made of resin or fiber-reinforced resin, and the pressure vessel protector is A cover A is arranged at one end of the pressure vessel in the longitudinal direction and covers the outer periphery and one end of the pressure vessel, and a cover B is arranged at another position and covers the outer periphery of the pressure vessel. This protects the outer periphery and the shoulder of the pressure vessel. Cover B, which connects Cover A and Cover B, Multiple It is made of a rigid member, The cover A and the cover B are made of synthetic resin, and the rigid member is made of metal. the rigid member is disposed outside the outer periphery of the pressure vessel along the longitudinal axis of the pressure vessel; The rigid member connecting the cover A and the cover B is located away from the side of the pressure vessel, And the end of at least one rigid member is located outside the mounting fixture on the extension line of the longitudinal axis of the pressure vessel. At least two of them are connected and joined in a U-shape to protect the nozzle of the pressure vessel. It is characterized by:

[0012] A further pressure vessel unit of the present invention is a pressure vessel unit having a pressure vessel and a protector for protecting the outer periphery of the pressure vessel, The pressure vessel protector of the present invention It is characterized by: Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pressure vessel protector and a pressure vessel unit which are lightweight yet have excellent impact resistance and ease of handling. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a high-pressure gas filling container and an attached valve and protector showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a high-pressure gas filling container, an attached valve, and a protector, showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2A is a plan view of a cover A of a protector showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a front view thereof. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are a plan view and a front view, respectively, of a protector cover B according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the rotation prevention effect of the protector according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view of the entire container placed horizontally. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the protective function of the protector for the attached valve according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view of the entire container when it is placed sideways. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the transport action of the protector according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating the fall prevention effect of the protector according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] The pressure vessel protector of the present invention is for protecting a pressure vessel, and comprises a cover A which covers the outer periphery and one end of the pressure vessel, and a cover B which covers the outer periphery of the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel is made up of a cover A, a cover B which is connected to the cover A, and a rigid member which connects the cover A and the cover B. The rigid members are arranged outside the outer periphery of the pressure vessel along the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel, and at least one end of the rigid member is located outside the mounting fixture on an extension line of the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel. Furthermore, the cover A is arranged at one end position in the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel, and the other cover B is arranged at a different position from the cover A.

[0016] Here, the pressure vessel protected by the protector of the present invention refers mainly to a vessel for storing high pressure gas of 1 MPa or more.

[0017] The pressure vessel protected by the protector of the present invention is preferably made of resin or fiber-reinforced resin. Here, "made of resin or fiber-reinforced resin" means that at least a part, or even most of the pressure vessel, is made of resin or fiber-reinforced resin. Furthermore, it is preferably a so-called composite vessel (composite material vessel) that is made of a lightweight metal liner such as aluminum or a resin liner layer made of synthetic resin, and a reinforcing layer made of FRP or the like that covers this liner layer. In particular, the protector of the present invention is optimal when a lightweight resin liner is used.

[0018] The reinforcing layer is preferably a fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), and various high-strength fibers such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, and aramid fiber can be used as the reinforcing fiber. Of these, it is preferable to use carbon fiber as the reinforcing fiber. Although the impact strength of such reinforcing fibers is not so high compared to their tensile strength, by using the pressure vessel protector of the present invention, it is possible to ensure higher impact resistance.

[0019] The contents of the pressure vessel may include liquefied fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or medical or industrial gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, or hydrogen.

[0020] Cover A, which covers the outer periphery and one end of the pressure vessel, and cover B, which covers the outer periphery of the pressure vessel, may be made of a lightweight metal such as aluminum, but is preferably made of a synthetic resin, which provides higher impact resistance than metal. Examples of synthetic resins include thermoplastic resins such as polyethylene (PE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyamide, polyketone, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), nylon, and fluororesin, and it is preferable that the synthetic resins are thermoplastic resins to which a flame retardant is added. It is also preferable to use a thermosetting resin.

[0021] Also, cover A covers one end of the pressure vessel, and by placing cover A underneath, it is possible to reduce the impact on the pressure vessel when it is finished moving. Furthermore, it is preferable that cover B protects the shoulder of the pressure vessel together with the outer periphery. Covers A and B cover the outer periphery of the pressure vessel, and can effectively reduce impact even when the pressure vessel is laid down on its side.

[0022] Moreover, it is preferable that the cover A covering one end portion of the pressure vessel has a through hole in part thereof, so that rainwater and the like can be effectively drained when the pressure vessel is installed outdoors.

[0023] The rigid member used in the present invention is a member that connects the above-mentioned cover A and cover B. Furthermore, this rigid member is disposed outside the outer periphery of the pressure vessel along the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel, and this rigid member can serve as a handle when the pressure vessel unit is turned over and moved. Furthermore, by having at least a portion of the rigid member that connects cover A and cover B located away from the side of the pressure vessel, it is possible to further improve impact resistance and make the unit easier to hold and handle.

[0024] Furthermore, at least one end of the rigid member is located on the extension line of the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel, and the rigid member is located outside the mounting fixture of the pressure vessel (which also serves as the inlet and outlet for the contents), thereby making it possible to protect the mounting fixture of the pressure vessel. Note that the mounting fixture specifically refers to an attached valve regulator, etc. Furthermore, by having two or more rigid members and joining the rigid members so as to cover the outside of the mounting part, it becomes possible to more safely protect the mounting fixture and the nozzle part. It is more preferable that the shape of the joint is U-shaped, as this is less susceptible to impact and easier to absorb impact.

[0025] Such a rigid member is preferably made of metal, more preferably a lightweight metal, particularly aluminum, and can be made even lighter by adopting a rod-like or hollow pipe-like shape.

[0026] Another pressure vessel unit of the present invention comprises a pressure vessel as described above and a protector for protecting the outer periphery of the pressure vessel. Here, it is preferable that the protector is composed of at least cover A, cover B and one or more rigid members, cover A is disposed at one end of the pressure vessel in the longitudinal direction and cover B is disposed at the other position, covers A and B are connected by a rigid member, and an end of at least one rigid member is disposed outside the mounting fixture of the pressure vessel.

[0027] Further, preferred embodiments of the pressure vessel protector of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the following, the pressure vessel protector of the present invention will be referred to as the "protector", and the pressure vessel used in the present invention will be referred to as the "high-pressure gas-filled vessel body".

[0028] First, with reference to Figures 1 to 4, a preferred configuration of a protector for the high pressure gas filled container body 3, which is a pressure container, and the attached valve 4 will be described. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, this protector is composed of two separate upper and lower covers, a cover A provided in the lower head section 5 area and a cover B provided in the upper head section 7 area on the attached valve mounting side, so as to protect the outer periphery of the high pressure gas filled container body 3 and the attached valve 4, and is made of a rigid member C that connects covers A and B, extends along the longitudinal direction of the high pressure gas filled container 3, and is connected outside the attached valve 4 (hereinafter, for convenience, the high pressure gas filled container body 3, which is a pressure container, will be simply referred to as the container body 3).

[0029] The vessel body 3 is a high-pressure composite vessel made of a plastic or aluminum liner wrapped with resin-impregnated carbon fiber, and has a total length of about 500 mm, an outer diameter of about 200 mm, and a wall thickness of about 10 mm, a cylindrical body 6, dome-shaped mirror sections 5 and 7 at both ends, and a gas outlet mouthpiece (port) section 8 at only one end of the vessel. The vessel body 3 can be designed and manufactured as desired within the scope of applicable laws and regulations according to the application and customer requests, but in the present invention, the total length is preferably in the range of 150 to 1,000 mm, the outer diameter is 90 to 300 mm, and particularly preferably in the range of 300 to 600 mm, and the outer diameter is 120 to 250 mm.

[0030] As another embodiment of the present container body 3, it is also preferable to provide a configuration in which the gas outlet nozzle (port) 8 is provided on both ends. In this case, a safety valve may be attached to the gas outlet nozzle (port) on the end opposite to the end to which the gas outlet valve 4 is attached, and there is no limitation on the configuration of the gas outlet nozzle (port) in the container of the present invention.

[0031] The cover A constituting the protector is usually placed under the main body 3 of the container when the main body 3 of the container is placed vertically as shown in FIG. 1, and covers the lower mirror portion 5 of the main body 3 and the body 6 of the main body 3 of the container. It is configured to protect a part of the lower region of the container body 3. As shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that the cover A has a spacer structure in which a plurality of ribs 10 are provided radially at equal intervals on the inner surface 9 of the cover A with respect to the shape of the mirror part 5 at the bottom of the container body 3, so that a certain gap is provided between the side surface of the container body 3 and the inner diameter of the cover A. Generally, a manufacturing error of about several mm occurs in the outer diameter of a composite material container, so that the manufacturing error is absorbed, the container body 3 is completely contained in the cover A, and a gap is provided between the container body 3 and the inner diameter of the cover A. The gap is preferably 0 to 10 mm. This gap is also effective in absorbing shocks applied from the outside.

[0032] 3, at both left and right ends of the outer circumferential surface of the cover A, there are drilled boss structures 11 for inserting and loosely fitting a rigid member C having the function of connecting the cover B, and screw holes 12 for fixing the rigid member C after loose fitting, drilled in multiple places on the side surface of the boss structure 11. By forming a convex portion on the cover in this manner, it is also possible to prevent the cylindrical pressure vessel from rolling.

[0033] In addition, holes are provided on the bottom surface of the inner surface 9 of this cover A, and it is preferable that water drainage sections 14 (drainage outlets) are provided in multiple locations so that rainwater, etc. that has entered through the gap between the container body 3 and the inner diameter of this cover A can be drained when used outdoors.

[0034] This cover A is made of a thermoplastic resin to which a flame retardant has been added, and has a thickness of about 2 mm, a height of about 150 mm, and an inner diameter of about the outer diameter of the container plus 10 mm. The dimensions of this cover A are an example of an embodiment according to the present invention, and the thickness, height, inner diameter, etc. can be freely changed depending on the specifications of the size, weight, operating conditions, etc. of the container body 3, but in the present invention, the thickness is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 10 mm, the height is preferably in the range of 30 to 250 mm, and particularly preferably in the range of 1 to 6 mm, and the height is preferably in the range of 80 to 200 mm. The inner diameter is preferably in the range of the outer diameter of the container plus 0 to 10 mm.

[0035] As another embodiment of the cover A, a metal material such as steel or lightweight aluminum may be used depending on the application and operating conditions, and a combination of materials different from the material of the cover B may also be selected.

[0036] Here, by using a resin cover as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to give a three-dimensional complex shape freedom and ensure light weight. Furthermore, a resin cover is preferable because molding methods such as injection molding and stamping, which have excellent productivity and cost benefits, can be adopted. Furthermore, by using a resin cover, additional functions such as coloring can be implemented in one step at the molding stage, and costs can be reduced by eliminating the painting process after molding, as is done with steel containers. In particular, high-density polyethylene and the like are preferably used.

[0037] In addition, it is preferable that cover B is positioned on the upper side of container body 3 when container body 3 is placed vertically as shown in Figure 1, and is configured to protect upper mirror portion 7 of container body 3 and part of the upper region of trunk portion 6 of container body 3.

[0038] As shown in Figure 4, like cover A, it is preferable that cover B has a spacer structure in which multiple ribs 16 are arranged radially at equal intervals on the inner surface 15 of cover B relative to the shape of the upper mirror portion 7 of the container body 3, so that a certain gap is provided between the side surface of the trunk portion 6 of the container body 3 and the inner diameter of cover B.

[0039] Furthermore, as shown in the exploded view of FIG. 2, it is preferable that the cover B is provided with a cushioning material D that constitutes a protector that acts as an interference member between the cover B and the container body 3 to improve adhesion when the container is housed. By disposing this cushioning material D, the outer diameter of the container body 3 is reduced. In order to absorb manufacturing errors, covers A and B have a loose fitting structure, and are structured to allow for a tight installation when they are finally fixed to the container body 3. The interference member is preferably an elastic body such as rubber, and particularly preferably silicone rubber.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 4, at both left and right ends of the outer peripheral surface of cover B, similar to cover A, a fully drilled boss structure 17 for inserting and loosely fitting a rigid member C that connects both covers A and B, and screw holes 18 for fixing the rigid member C after loose fitting are drilled in multiple places in the side portion of the boss structure 17.

[0041] In addition, the upper surface of this cover B is provided with an opening 20 of a fixed diameter to facilitate operation of the attached valve and connection of pipes, hoses, etc., and is structured so that the entire attached valve 4 can be exposed.

[0042] This cover B is made of a thermoplastic resin to which a flame retardant has been added, and has a thickness of about 2 mm, a height of about 120 mm, and an inner diameter of about the outer diameter of the container plus 10 mm. The dimensions of this cover B are an example of an embodiment according to the present invention, and like cover A, the shape, material, etc. can be freely changed depending on the specifications of the container body 3, such as the size, weight, and operating conditions, and may be combined with the cover A specifications in a different form or the same form. The preferred shape is in the range of 0.5 to 10 mm in thickness and 30 to 250 mm in height, and particularly preferably in the range of 1 to 6 mm in thickness and 80 to 180 mm in height. The inner diameter is preferably in the range of 0 to 10 mm in addition to the outer diameter of the container.

[0043] In FIG. 1, cover B is a resin (high-density polyethylene) cover that takes advantage of the characteristics of cover A, such as design freedom, additional functions, productivity, and cost benefits.

[0044] 1, the rigid member C is made of a hollow aluminum pipe, has a diameter of about 25 mm, and a length of about 600 mm starting from the side boss structure 11 of the cover A along the longitudinal direction of the container body 3, and is bent into a U-shape so as to be horizontal above the attached valve 4. The shape is preferably in the range of a diameter of 10 to 50 mm and a length of 400 to 700 mm.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 1, rigid member C is a connecting member that connects cover A and cover B and also has a gripping function during transportation. This rigid member C is inserted into the fully drilled boss structure 17 of cover B, and then positioned and fixed in the drilled portion of the drilled boss structure 11 of cover A, thereby connecting and fixing cover A and cover B.

[0046] In addition, the rigid member C may be a single structure formed by bending a commercially available hollow steel pipe in order to reduce manufacturing costs. At this time, since the dimensional error during processing is generally larger than that of injection molded products or stamping molded products, the drilling hole diameters 13, 19 of the side drilling boss structures 11, 17 of the covers A and B are designed to be larger than the diameter of the rigid member C, and the rigid member C is structured so that it can be loosely fitted into the drilling boss structures 11, 17 of the covers A and B. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the rigid member C is provided with a hole 25 for passing a screw, and each cover and the rigid member C are fixed using a bolt or the like through the screw holes 12, 18 drilled on the side of the boss structures 11, 17 of each cover A and B. The screws and bolts are preferably rust-proofed, for example, trivalent white-treated steel.

[0047] As another embodiment for constructing the rigid member C, a commercially available aluminum steel pipe material may be divided and joined by a screw-in type or the like, or a pipe material made of resin may be used. Also, the vertical member along the longitudinal direction of the container body 3 may be made of metal, and the horizontal member located above the attached valve 4 may be made of resin molded product, and these may be used in an appropriate combination. Various materials are used for construction and their combination.

[0048] Next, the function of the protector with respect to the container body 3 and the attached valve 4 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described.

[0049] The container unit 1 of the container body 3 and the attached valve 4 is excellent in terms of portability and mobility due to its compact dimensions and light weight, and can be used not only for industrial purposes but also for equipment that uses gas as an energy source in emergencies, outdoor leisure activities, etc. Therefore, in order for the container unit 1 to function safely and soundly, it is necessary to reliably protect the container unit 1 from operational obstacles and accidents such as transportation and movement, and the protector of the present invention is effective in this regard.

[0050] This container unit 1 is intended to be moved to any location or transported by a means of transportation. For example, the container may be loaded onto the bed of a vehicle that transports the container, and there is a possibility that the container unit 1 may be dropped during loading and unloading. However, the protector of the present invention, which includes the cover A and the cover B and the rigid member C that connects and fixes them, can maintain its integrity even when dropped from a height of 3 m without damaging the container body 3 and the attached valve 4. In vertical, horizontal, and angle drop tests from a height of 3 m using the illustrated container unit 1, the pressure resistance and burst test of the container 3 used in the test satisfied the performance requirements of the conformity standard (General Composite Container Rule: KHKS-0121), confirming the effectiveness of the protector.

[0051] Since various forms of movement occur in the transportation of this container unit 1, such as carrying it from a storage location to a vehicle, loading it onto the vehicle, unloading it at the destination, and further transportation from a storage location to a filling location, the light weight of the container unit 1 is an important factor in terms of work efficiency and safety. In addition to the container body 3 being a composite material container, the container unit 1 of the present invention has a lightweight container unit 1 achieved by making the protective protector itself out of resin and by making it divisible.

[0052] Conventionally, steel containers have been widely used as high-pressure gas-filled containers that are transported or moved, and their protective protectors have also been made of steel like the containers, making the container unit itself very heavy and creating problems in terms of the workload and safety involved in transporting it. Preferably, the container unit 1 according to the present invention is made of resin, aluminum, or the like, and the container body 3, attached valve 4, and protector together weigh 15 kg or less. In particular, it is preferable that the weight is in the range of 5 to 10 kg. For products of this size of container unit, it is preferable to achieve a reduction in weight for transporting and carrying it around.

[0053] The container unit 1 of the present invention as described above can be transported in an upright position by holding the rigid member C as a handle when placed vertically, and can also be transported horizontally by holding the rigid member C at the part connecting cover A and cover B.

[0054] The bottom of the cover A constituting the protector of the present invention is preferably flat, and the use of this protector allows the container unit 1 to be placed vertically. Normally, when storing only the container body 3 alone, the mirror part of the container body 3 is dome-shaped and cannot be placed vertically, so it is often necessary to store it horizontally or to manufacture a rack specifically for vertical storage and store the container in the rack, but by using the protector of the present invention, in addition to protecting the container during storage, it is possible to store it vertically, which improves the efficiency of container inspection work and storage efficiency.

[0055] In addition, when filling high-pressure gas, the high-pressure gas filling hose is connected to the filling port of the valve, The high pressure filling container is prone to tipping over due to the load being applied in the direction of the filling port connection. Furthermore, there is a risk of the valve loosening and gas leaking. However, by using a protector suitable for the high pressure filling container of the present invention, the stability of the high pressure gas filling container when placed vertically is increased, making it possible to prevent tipping over and loosening of the valve during high pressure gas filling.

[0056] Even in the unlikely event that the high-pressure gas container body falls over, the use of the protector of the present invention makes it possible to prevent damage to the high-pressure gas container body and accessories.

[0057] Furthermore, it is preferable that the cover A and cover B of the protector of the present invention have boss structures 11, 17 for inserting the rigid member C. As shown in Fig. 5, even if the container unit 1 needs to be placed horizontally, it can be stored, placed, and used stably without turning it more than half a turn. Conventionally, the container has been placed horizontally when filling the container body 3 with gas, piping to the attached valve 4, connecting a hose, etc., and there have been problems with the container rotating during work, such as damage caused by falling off the workbench and scratches on the outer surface, which reduces the value of the product. However, by using this protector, stable and efficient work can be performed even in a horizontal state.

[0058] The protector's covers A and B are preferably of a split type, and furthermore, by configuring them to have the minimum necessary size, the outer surface of the body 6 of the container body 3 can be directly visually confirmed. For the composite pressure container applied to the present invention, it is usually stipulated that a label 26 indicating specified matters is attached to the outer surface of the body 6 of the container as shown in FIG. 2 (Container Safety Regulations, Chapter 4, Article 10, Paragraph 2 stipulates that the names of gases that can be filled and owner information, etc. must be clearly indicated), and it is necessary to make it possible to check it during operation such as filling. For example, in the case of a protector that covers the entire composite container, the display label needs to be affixed to the surface of the protector, which is the outer case, and as a result, the protector itself is also subject to the regulations, which requires associated management work such as regular statutory inspection, and there are problems such as the difficulty of easily changing the structure and specifications.

[0059] On the other hand, the protector of the present invention can adopt a shape that does not cover the entire container, can suppress damage when the container falls over, and at the same time allows the operator to easily check the container display label 26. As stipulated in Chapter 4, Article 10, paragraph 1 of the Container Safety Regulations, the protector of the present invention can be configured so that 50% or more of the total area of ​​the side surface of the barrel 6 of the container body 3 can be visually confirmed, and the only items that need to be subject to container approval are the container body 3 and the attached valve 4, which makes it possible to expand the management and operation aspects and the design freedom for the protector.

[0060] Furthermore, it is preferable that the pressure vessel body suitable for filling high-pressure gas using the present invention can be rotated inside the cover surrounding it. By doing so, the orientation of the filling port of the valve for filling high-pressure gas can be changed, making it easy to handle. In addition, it is easy to avoid interference between the handle part made of a rigid material and the high-pressure gas filling hose or filling piping.

[0061] In addition, the color of the container body of the high-pressure gas containers generally available on the market is regulated by the High Pressure Gas Safety Law according to the type of gas. As described above, it is preferable that the protector of the present invention has a structure in which at least half of the container body is visible, which makes it easier to distinguish the color of the pressure container and to understand the type of gas. It is also preferable that the protector itself is colored. By coloring, the visibility of multiple gas types can be improved.

[0062] The protector of the present invention can protect the accessories such as the container body 3, the attached valve 4, and the regulator from damage. Conventionally, the attached valve 4 is often smaller than the outer diameter of the body of the container body 3, but as shown in FIG. 6, depending on the specifications of the container body 3 and the attached valve 4, the outer diameter of the attached valve 21 may be larger than the outer diameter of the container body 3. In such a specification configuration, if the protector is not used, the attached valve 21 may be damaged when the container body 3 falls over or when it comes into contact with an obstacle during transportation. However, such a problem can be avoided by designing the outer diameter size of the cover B constituting the protector of the present invention so that the outer diameter of the attached valve 21 fits within its inner area. It is also preferable to provide a protrusion 22 or the like on a part of the outer periphery of the cover B as shown in FIG. 6.

[0063] As described above, the protector of the present invention is preferably composed of separate members, cover A, cover B, rigid member C, and cushioning member D, which allows the protector to be easily attached and detached. As shown in Fig. 2, by removing the bolts that finally fasten cover A, cover B, and rigid member C together, and removing rigid member C from the fitting portions of boss structures 11 and 17 of covers A and B, and then removing cover B and cushioning member D, the container body 3 can be easily removed and replaced.

[0064] Conventional protectors are often welded to the upper and lower heads of steel vessels, and the vessel itself cannot be used or operated during the period when the cover damaged by transportation work is repaired. In addition, if the protector is severely damaged, repair by rewelding, repainting, etc. are required, which reduces the operational efficiency of the vessel and increases the repair costs. In addition, in the case of protecting the entire surface of a composite material high pressure vessel with a resin protector, if the protector is damaged, even though it is a divided structure, the resin cover has a fairly large area, so there is a large loss of material when replacing the protector, and there are problems in terms of cost as well as repair workability. The protector of the present invention is divided into upper and lower parts and has the minimum necessary size, so that only the parts that need repair need to be replaced, making repair work easy, and the vessel unit 1 itself can be continuously operated, which is advantageous in terms of repair costs and business costs related to vessel operation.

[0065] The present invention is also effective for users of pressure vessels, as it makes it easier to reduce the operational costs involved in operating the vessel. When the protector of the present invention is used, as described above, the function of protecting the entire vessel is maintained, and the hose and piping can be easily connected to the attached valve 4 and the valve can be operated without removing the protector. Another advantage is that the ease of connecting the piping to the attached valve 4 and operating the valve reduces the workload of the operator, which leads to more reliable work and safety.

[0066] As described above, it is preferable to provide a drain hole 14 for draining water on the inner surface 9 of the cover A constituting the protector of the present invention. This structure prevents rainwater, etc. from staying inside the cover for a long period of time, and can prevent corrosion of the container body 3 even when used outdoors.

[0067] In another embodiment of the protector of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, wheels 23 can be attached to the cover A of the container unit 1 as a support portion, making it easier to carry.

[0068] In this case, it is preferable to directly install wheels 23 on a part of the lower end of cover A, or a separate carrying unit may be attached to the underside of cover A. When using this protector with wheels 23 attached to the lower end, manual towing is the main method of use, and therefore it is necessary to maintain a constant distance between container unit 1 and the worker, and therefore it is necessary to adjust the tilt angle of container unit 1. However, when adjusting the tilt angle of container unit 1, it is preferable to double the vertical member of rigid member C to give it a sliding structure, and it is also possible to freely adjust the distance between the handle and container unit 1.

[0069] The container unit 1 of the present invention is ideal for applications that frequently involve carrying, transporting by vehicle, and moving, and is a container that can be used both outdoors and indoors. In particular, when the container unit 1 is loaded onto the bed of a vehicle and moved, as described above, the container unit 1 is structured to be vertically placed, so that it can be transported vertically on the bed. Furthermore, since there is a risk of the container unit 1 tipping over during movement depending on the loading space of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 8, tipping can be prevented by passing a string or wire 24 through the rigid member C and fastening it to the bed. As a fastening method, a single string may be used through the rigid member C, and it is also preferable to fasten multiple strings together.

[0070] As described above, the protector of the present invention has a structure that allows it to be easily held using the horizontal part of the rigid member C as a handle, and therefore allows it to be easily transported by hand. Conventional resin protectors, for example, have a ring-shaped handle or a notch on the top of the protector, which is held to tilt the entire container and move it by rolling it around the bottom end of the container as a fulcrum, but in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the horizontal part of the U-shaped rigid member C serves as the handle, making it even easier to hold by hand and allowing it to be transported safely and easily.

[0071] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] A Cover A (lower part) that constitutes the protector B Cover B (upper part) that constitutes the protector C Rigid material that constitutes the protector D Cushioning material that constitutes the protector 1 Container unit 2. Protector 3 High pressure gas container body 4. Attached valve 5. Lower head of high pressure gas container 6. Body of high pressure gas container 7. Upper head of high pressure gas vessel 8 Gas outlet nozzle of high pressure gas container 9 Inside of cover A 10 Rib structure of cover A 11 Boss structure with holes in cover A 12 Screw holes on the side of the boss structure of cover A 13 Boss structure hole of cover A 14 Drain hole provided in the bottom of cover A 15 Inside of cover B 16 Rib structure of cover B 17 Boss structure with holes in cover B 18 Screw hole on the side of the boss structure of cover B 19 Boss structure hole of cover B 20 Opening provided on the top surface of cover B 21 Attached valve larger than the outer diameter of the container body 22 Container unit anti-rolling projection 23 Wheels attached to cover A at the bottom of the container unit 24 Cord or chain to prevent container unit from falling over 25 Screw hole drilled in rigid member C 26 Labeling of high pressure gas container body

Claims

1. A protector for a pressure vessel, the pressure vessel being made of resin or fiber-reinforced resin, the pressure vessel protector comprising: a cover A, which is placed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel and covers the outer periphery and one end portion of the pressure vessel; a cover B, which is placed at another position and covers the outer periphery and one end portion of the pressure vessel; and a plurality of rigid members connecting cover A and cover B, wherein cover A and cover B are made of synthetic resin and the rigid members are made of metal, the rigid members are placed outside the outer periphery of the pressure vessel along the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel, the rigid members connecting cover A and cover B are located at a position away from the side of the pressure vessel, and an end of at least one rigid member is located outside the mounting device on an extension line in the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel, and at least two rigid members are connected and joined in a U-shape to protect the nozzle of the pressure vessel.

2. A pressure vessel protector as described in claim 1, wherein cover A and cover B have boss structures for inserting rigid members.

3. A protector for a pressure vessel as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover B has a cushioning material made of an elastic material.

4. A protector for a pressure vessel described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inner surface of cover A or cover B has a spacer structure consisting of a plurality of ribs.

5. 5. The pressure vessel protector according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic resin constituting the cover A or the cover B is a thermoplastic resin.

6. 6. The pressure vessel protector according to claim 1, wherein the rigid member is made of aluminum.

7. A pressure vessel unit having a pressure vessel and a protector for protecting the outer periphery of the pressure vessel, wherein the protector is a pressure vessel protector according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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