Protective member for high-pressure tank

Abstract

To provide a protective member for a high-pressure tank capable of being attached to a high-pressure tank simply and shortening a cycle time.SOLUTION: A protection member 10 for a high-pressure tank is attached to a high-pressure tank 1 having a liner 2 and mouthpieces 3, 4, and has a body part 11, and an elastic part 12 with spring properties. The elastic part 12 is configured to be fixed to the liner 2 and the mouthpieces 3, 4 by elastic force generated from each of the mouthpieces 3 and 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a protective member for a high-pressure tank attached to a high-pressure tank having a liner and a base.

Background Art

[0002] As this type of protective member for a high-pressure tank, there is disclosed one provided at both axial ends of a high-pressure tank having a liner, a base, and a reinforcing layer (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The protective member for a high-pressure tank described in Patent Document 1 is composed of a shock-absorbing resin having a porous structure such as urethane rubber. This protective member for a high-pressure tank is joined to a reinforcing layer formed at both axial ends of the high-pressure tank by a joining means such as an adhesive. At the time of joining, in order to ensure the adhesive strength, an adhesive process or a pressing process such as pressing the protective member for a high-pressure tank against the reinforcing layer for a relatively long time occurs. In these processes, in order to bring the protective member for a high-pressure tank formed in a similar spherical shape into close contact with the high-pressure tank having both ends formed in a substantially spherical shape, alignment of their axes is required and the equipment therefor is required. In addition, jigs and equipment for pressing the protective member for a high-pressure tank against both ends of the high-pressure tank for a long time are required. The protective member for a high-pressure tank described in Patent Document 1 requires a relatively long time in the adhesive process and the pressing process, so-called in-process handholding occurs, and there is a problem that the cycle time, which represents the actual time required for one cycle from the start to the completion of the process of one product, becomes long.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a protective member for a high-pressure tank that can be easily attached to the high-pressure tank and can shorten the cycle time.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The protective member for a high-pressure tank according to the present invention is a protective member for a high-pressure tank that is attached to a high-pressure tank having a liner and a base, and has an elastic portion imparted with springiness, and the elastic portion is fixed to the liner and the base by an elastic force generated starting from the base.

[0007] The protective member for a high-pressure tank according to the present invention has an elastic portion imparted with springiness, and the elastic portion is fixed to the liner and the base by an elastic force generated starting from the base. Therefore, the protective member for a high-pressure tank can be easily attached to the high-pressure tank. As a result, the cycle time of the protective member for a high-pressure tank is shortened.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the protective member for a high-pressure tank of the present invention, it is possible to provide a protective member for a high-pressure tank that can be easily attached to the high-pressure tank and can shorten the cycle time.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] The protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank according to an embodiment to which the protective member for a high-pressure tank according to the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] The protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank according to the present embodiment is attached to both axial ends of the high-pressure tank 1 as shown in Figs. 1(a), 1(b), and 2, and has a function of absorbing the impact acting on the high-pressure tank 1 and protecting the high-pressure tank 1 from the impact. The high-pressure tank 1 includes a liner 2, bases 3 and 4, a reinforcing layer 5, and the protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank. The high-pressure tank 1 has a property of being difficult to permeate gas, so-called gas barrier property, and is configured to be filled with a high-pressure gas such as hydrogen inside.

[0012] The liner 2 is formed of a cylindrical hollow container and is composed of a cylinder portion 2a and a pair of dome portions 2b, and is integrally formed of an engineering plastic having high mechanical strength such as polyamide resin (PA).

[0013] The cylinder part 2a is formed in a cylindrical shape and is integrally formed with each dome part 2b at both ends. Each dome part 2b is hollow and in a substantially hemispherical shape, and a base fitting part 2c having a recess with a predetermined depth centered on the axis of the liner 2 is formed at the longitudinal end along the axis of the liner 2.

[0014] Also, a through hole 2d centered on the axis of the liner 2 is formed in the central portion of each base fitting part 2c, and a base 3 is inserted into each through hole 2d, and the liner 2 and the base 3 are configured to fit together. The axis of this through hole 2d coincides with the axis of the liner 2, and the through hole 2d functions as a positioning hole when the base 3 is attached to the dome part 2b.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the base 3 has a mounting part 3a mounted on the base mounting part 2c of the liner 2, a base body part 3b protruding outward in the axial direction of the dome part 2b from the mounting part 3a, and a flange part 3c protruding radially outward at the end of the base body part 3b with the same axis. The base 3 is formed of a metal material. The mounting part 3a is formed in a frustum of a cone shape and is configured to abut against the base mounting part 2c when the liner 2 and the base 3 are fitted together.

[0016] A valve connection hole 3d having an axis coinciding with the axis of the base 3 penetrates through the base body part 3b. The base body part 3b is configured to be connected to a valve. High-pressure gas is configured to flow between the inside and the outside of the high-pressure tank 1 through this valve connection hole 3d. The mounting part 3a is mounted on the base mounting part 2c of the dome part 2b.

[0017] The base 4 is formed in the same manner as the base 3, except that only the valve connection hole 3d of the base 3 is different. The base 4, like the base 3, has a mounting part mounted on the base mounting part 2c of the liner 2, a base body part protruding outward from the dome part 2b from the mounting part, and a flange part protruding radially outward of the base body part with the same axis. The base 4 is also formed of a metal material in the same manner as the base 3.

[0018] Unlike the base body of the base 3, the base body of the base 4 has a bottomed hole having an axis that coincides with the axis of the base 4, and the through hole 2d of the liner 2 is blocked by the bottomed hole of the base body. The base body is configured to be screwed to a pipe. Similar to the base 3, the base body functions as a rotation support portion that supports a rotation axis that rotates the liner 2 in cooperation with the base body when the liner 2 rotates about the axis.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1(a), 1(b) and 2, the reinforcing layer 5 is composed of a layer that covers the outer peripheral surface of the liner 2, and is formed by laminating a fiber-reinforced resin on the outer peripheral surface of the liner 2.

[0020] The fiber-reinforced resin is made of a plastic such as an epoxy resin, and is made of a composite material such as CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics) in which fibers are contained inside to improve mechanical strength. Examples of the fibers include carbon fiber, glass fiber, and aromatic polyamide fiber. The reinforcing layer 5 is formed, for example, by an FW device that continuously winds a fiber bundle around the outer peripheral surface of the liner 2, and a curing process is performed after the winding of the fiber bundle.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 3(a), 3(b) and 4, the protection member 10 for a high-pressure tank is composed of a main body portion 11 and an elastic portion 12. The protection member 10 for a high-pressure tank absorbs an impact acting on the high-pressure tank 1 and is integrally formed of a material such as a resin having an elastic force.

[0022] The main body portion 11 has a curved portion 21 and a conical portion 22. The inner side of the curved portion 21 is formed with the same curved surface as the substantially hemispherical curved surface formed on the outer peripheral surface of the dome portion 2b of the liner 2. When the high-pressure tank protection member 10 is attached to the high-pressure tank 1, the curved surface inside the curved portion 21 and the curved surface of the dome portion 2b are configured to be in close contact with each other. The curved portion 21 has a predetermined thickness, and the outer peripheral surface is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape similar to the dome portion 2b. Therefore, the high-pressure tank protection member 10 protrudes radially from the dome portion 2b when attached to the high-pressure tank 1.

[0023] The conical portion 22 is integrally formed with the curved portion 21 in a conical shape, and has a recessed portion 22a that is recessed from the curved surface inside the curved portion 21 toward the outer peripheral surface of the high-pressure tank protection member 10. Therefore, when the high-pressure tank protection member 10 is attached to the high-pressure tank 1, as shown in FIG. 2, it is separated from the dome portion 2b, and a space is formed between the recessed portion 22a of the high-pressure tank protection member 10 and the dome portion 2b.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, the elastic portion 12 is composed of a base end portion 31 integrated with the conical portion 22 of the high-pressure tank protection member 10, an inclined portion 32, a contact portion 33, and a bent portion 34. As shown in FIG. 3(b), it protrudes in the axial direction of the high-pressure tank protection member 10 from the conical portion 22 of the main body portion 11 with a predetermined width and thickness, and is formed at four locations at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The elastic portion 12 has a function of fixing the high-pressure tank protection member 10 to the dome portion 2b of the liner 2. The predetermined width and thickness of the elastic portion 12 are appropriately selected based on data such as the specifications and experimental values of the size, structure, and material of the high-pressure tank 1 and the high-pressure tank protection member 10.

[0025] The elastic part 12 is provided with spring properties and generates a pressing force by an elastic force that can be restored to its original shape even when deformed by the action of an external force, and is configured to fix the high-pressure tank protection member 10 to the dome part 2b of the liner 2. The elastic part 12 may be formed of the same material as the main body part 11 of the high-pressure tank protection member 10, or may be formed of a material different from the main body part 11. In the present embodiment, the elastic parts 12 are formed at four locations, but may be formed at two or more locations.

[0026] The elastic part 12 is formed such that the inner wall surface of the contact part 33 facing the axis of the high-pressure tank protection member 10 is curved so that the radius of curvature of the inner wall surface of the contact part 33 is slightly smaller than the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the base body part 3b formed in a cylindrical shape of the base 3, so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the base body part 3b of the base 3. The center of the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the base body part 3b and the center of the radius of curvature of the inner wall surface of the contact part 33 are the same. Therefore, by slightly reducing the radius of curvature of the inner wall surface of the contact part 33, when the high-pressure tank protection member 10 is attached to the liner 2, the contact part 33 is deformed so as to be expanded in the radial direction, and the high-pressure tank protection member 10 is pressed and fixed in the radial direction of the liner 2 by the restoring force that tries to return to its original state.

[0027] The elastic part 12 presses and fixes the high-pressure tank protection member 10 in the radial direction by the inner wall surface of the contact part 33 coming into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the base body part 3b of the base 3. Further, the elastic part 12 presses and fixes the high-pressure tank protection member 10 in the axial direction of the liner 2 by the base end portion of the bent part 34 coming into contact with the inner wall surface of the flange part 3c of the base 3 on the side of the base body part 3b.

[0028] Next, the attachment operation of attaching the high-pressure tank protection member 10 to the liner 2 will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 5(a), first, the opening of the curved portion 21 of the protection member 10 for the high-pressure tank is moved in the axial direction of the high-pressure tank 1 indicated by the arrow toward the high-pressure tank 1. Then, as shown in Fig. 5(b), when each inclined portion 32 of the elastic portion 12 is brought into contact with the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 3c of the base 3 and the protection member 10 for the high-pressure tank is pushed toward the high-pressure tank 1, each inclined portion 32 of the elastic portion 12 spreads radially outward.

[0029] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 5(c), when each inclined portion 32 of the elastic portion 12 is brought into contact with the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 3c of the base 3 and the protection member 10 for the high-pressure tank is pushed in the arrow direction toward the high-pressure tank 1, each inclined portion 32 of the elastic portion 12 spreads further radially outward and the contact portion 33 comes into contact with the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 3c of the base 3.

[0030] Then, when the protection member 10 for the high-pressure tank is further pushed toward the high-pressure tank 1, as shown in Fig. 5(d), the contact portion 33 of the elastic portion 12 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the base body portion 3b of the base 3, and the contact portion 33 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the base body portion 3b by the elastic force. At the same time, the proximal end portion of the bent portion 34 comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the flange portion 3c of the base 3 on the side of the base body portion 3b, and the protection member 10 for the high-pressure tank is fixed in the axial direction of the liner 2. The protection member 10 for the high-pressure tank generates a pressing force due to the elastic force generated starting from the base 3 and is press-fixed to the liner 2 and the bases 3 and 4. That is, the protection member 10 for the high-pressure tank can be easily attached to the liner 2 and the bases 3 and 4 by elastic fitting.

[0031] The effects of the protection member 10 for the high-pressure tank according to the embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings. The protection member 10 for the high-pressure tank according to the present embodiment is attached to the high-pressure tank 1 having the liner 2 and the bases 3 and 4, and has a main body portion 11 and an elastic portion 12 imparted with spring properties. The elastic portion 12 is configured to be fixed to the liner 2 and the bases 3 and 4 by the elastic force generated starting from the bases 3 and 4, respectively.

[0032] Conventionally, a protective member for a high-pressure tank has been joined to a reinforcing layer of the high-pressure tank by joining means such as an adhesive, and work processes such as an adhesion process and a pressing process have occurred. In the adhesion process, in order to increase the adhesion strength, jigs and equipment for pressing the protective member for the high-pressure tank against both ends of the high-pressure tank for a relatively long time have been required. Further, both ends of the high-pressure tank are formed in a substantially spherical shape, and the protective member for the high-pressure tank is also formed in a similar spherical shape in order to closely adhere to the spherical shape. As a result, alignment for aligning the axes of the high-pressure tank and the protective member for the high-pressure tank has been necessary, and such equipment has been required. Conventionally, in the protective member for the high-pressure tank, a relatively long time has been required in the adhesion process and the pressing process, and there has been a problem that the cycle time becomes long.

[0033] The protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank according to the present embodiment has an elastic portion 12 imparted with spring properties, and the elastic portion 12 is pressed and fixed to the liner 2 and the caps 3 and 4 by an elastic force generated from the cap 3. Therefore, the protective member 10 for the high-pressure tank can be easily attached to the high-pressure tank 1. As a result, the problems of the conventional adhesion process and pressing process are solved, and an effect that the cycle time of the protective member for the high-pressure tank is shortened can be obtained.

[0034] Furthermore, in the protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank according to the present embodiment, in a high-temperature environment, the elastic portion 12 of the protective member 10 for the high-pressure tank is burned out or the like at an early stage. As a result, the pressing and fixing of the protective member 10 for the high-pressure tank to the liner 2 and the caps 3 and 4 by the elastic portion 12 is released. Therefore, in a high-temperature environment, the protective member 10 for the high-pressure tank is detached from the high-pressure tank at an early stage, and the heat source is removed from the high-pressure tank. Therefore, an effect that the occurrence of heat damage to the reinforcing layer can be suppressed can be obtained.

[0035] The case where the protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank according to the present embodiment is configured in an integral structure in which the main body portion 11 and the elastic portion 12 are integrated has been described. However, the protective member for the high-pressure tank according to the present invention may be configured in a structure other than such an integral structure.

[0036] Next, a protective member 10A for a high-pressure tank according to a modified example of the present embodiment configured with another structure will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 6(a), the protective member 10A for a high-pressure tank is composed of a main body portion 11A and an elastic portion 12A, similar to the protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank according to the present embodiment. The main body portion 11A has a curved portion 21A, a conical portion 22A, and an insert portion 23. The inner side of the curved portion 21A is formed with the same curved surface as the substantially hemispherical curved surface formed on the outer peripheral surface of the dome portion 2b of the liner 2. When the protective member 10A for a high-pressure tank is attached to the high-pressure tank 1, the curved surface on the inner side of the curved portion 21A and the curved surface of the dome portion 2b are configured to be in close contact. The curved portion 21A has a predetermined thickness, and the outer peripheral surface is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape similar to the dome portion 2b. Therefore, the protective member 10A for a high-pressure tank protrudes radially from the dome portion 2b when attached to the high-pressure tank 1.

[0037] Similar to the protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank according to the present embodiment, the conical portion 22A is integrally formed with the curved portion 21A in a conical shape, and has a recessed portion 22a that is recessed from the inner curved surface of the curved portion 21A toward the outer peripheral surface of the protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank. Therefore, when the protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank is attached to the high-pressure tank 1, it is separated from the dome portion 2b, and a space is formed between the recessed portion 22a of the protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank and the dome portion 2b. The insert portion 23 is provided at the radially inner edge portion of the conical portion 22A, and the insert portion 41a of the elastic portion 12A is configured to be integrally formed with the conical portion 22A when the protective member 10A for a high-pressure tank is molded.

[0038] The elastic part 12A is formed separately from the main body part 11A using a resin material or a metal material such as spring steel that has high mechanical strength and elastic force. The elastic part 12A is composed of a base end part 41 that is insert-molded into the insert part 23 of the main body part 11A, an inclined part 42 similar to the elastic part 12 according to the embodiment, a contact part 43, and a bent part 44. The elastic part 12A has a predetermined width and thickness and protrudes from the conical part 22A of the main body part 11A in the axial direction of the high-pressure tank protection member 10A at four locations, and is attached to the conical part 22A by insert molding at equal intervals on the circumference.

[0039] Similar to the elastic part 12 according to the embodiment, the elastic part 12A generates a pressing force due to the elastic force that can be restored to its original shape even when deformed by the action of an external force, and is configured to press and fix the high-pressure tank protection member 10A to the dome part 2b of the liner 2.

[0040] Similar to the elastic part 12 according to the embodiment, the inner wall surface of the contact part 43 of the elastic part 12A facing the axis of the high-pressure tank protection member 10A is curved so that the radius of curvature of the inner wall surface of the contact part 43 is slightly smaller than the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the base body part 3b of the base 3 so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the base body part 3b of the base 3. The center of the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the base body part 3b and the center of the radius of curvature of the inner wall surface of the contact part 33 are the same. Therefore, by slightly reducing the radius of curvature of the inner wall surface of the contact part 43, when the high-pressure tank protection member 10A is attached to the liner 2, the contact part 43 is deformed so as to expand in the radial direction, and the high-pressure tank protection member 10A is pressed and fixed in the radial direction of the liner 2 by the restoring force that tries to return to its original state.

[0041] Similar to the elastic part 12 according to the embodiment, the elastic part 12A presses and fixes the high-pressure tank protection member 10 in the radial direction by the inner wall surface of the contact part 43 coming into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the base body part 3b of the base 3. Also, the elastic part 12A presses and fixes the high-pressure tank protection member 10 in the axial direction of the liner 2 by the base end portion of the bent part 44 coming into contact with the inner wall surface of the flange part 3c of the base 3 on the side of the base body part 3b.

[0042] The protective member 10A for a high-pressure tank according to a modified example of the present embodiment can obtain the same effects as the elastic portion 12 according to the embodiment. That is, it has an elastic portion 12A imparted with spring properties, and the elastic portion 12A is fixed to the liner 2, the base 3, and 4 by the elastic force generated starting from the base 3. Therefore, the protective member 10A for a high-pressure tank can be easily attached to the high-pressure tank 1. As a result, the problems of the conventional adhesion process and pressing process are solved, and the effect that the cycle time of the protective member for a high-pressure tank is shortened can be obtained.

[0043] Further, when the elastic portion 12A of the protective member 10A for a high-pressure tank according to a modified example of the present embodiment is formed of a metal material, for example, by being composed of a low melting point metal or a bimetal, the same effects as when it is composed of a resin material can be obtained. That is, in a high-temperature environment, due to early melting or deformation of the elastic portion 12 of the protective member 10A for a high-pressure tank, the pressing and fixing of the protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank to the liner 2, the base 3, and 4 by the elastic portion 12 can be released. As a result, in a high-temperature environment, the protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank can be detached from the high-pressure tank early and the heat source can be separated from the high-pressure tank, so that the effect of suppressing the occurrence of thermal damage to the reinforcing layer can be obtained.

[0044] The protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank according to the present embodiment is configured such that the contact portion 33 of the elastic portion 12 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the base body portion 3b of the base 3, and the contact portion 33 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the base body portion 3b by the elastic force. Further, the protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank according to the present embodiment has been described for the case where the proximal end portion of the bent portion 34 contacts the inner wall surface on the base body portion 3b side of the flange portion 3c of the base 3, and the protective member 10 for a high-pressure tank is configured to be fixed in the axial direction of the liner 2. However, the protective member for a high-pressure tank according to the present invention may be configured with other structures other than such a fixing structure.

[0045] For example, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the base body portion 3b of the base 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape without a flange, and a groove 52 for mounting the C-ring 51 is formed in the cylindrical portion. Then, the elastic portion 12 of the high-pressure tank protection member 10 is inserted into the cylindrical portion of the base body portion 3b, and the high-pressure tank protection member 10 is fixed to the cylindrical portion by the pressing force of the contact portion 33 of the elastic portion 12. Thereafter, the C-ring 51 is fitted into the groove 52 to prevent the high-pressure tank protection member 10 from coming off in the axial direction and to fix it. Also in this configuration, the same effect as that of the high-pressure tank protection member 10 according to the present embodiment, that is, the effect that the cycle time of the high-pressure tank protection member is shortened can be obtained.

[0046] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention described in the claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0047] 1 ··· High-pressure tank, 2 ··· Liner, 2a ··· Cylinder portion, 2b ··· Dome portion, 2c ··· Base mounting portion, 2d ··· Through hole, 3, 3A, 4 ··· Base, 3a ··· Mounting portion, 3b, 3e ··· Base body portion, 3c ··· Flange portion, 3d ··· Valve connection hole, 5 ··· Reinforcing layer, 10, 10A ··· High-pressure tank protection member, 11, 11A ··· Main body portion, 12, 12A ··· Elastic portion, 21, 21A ··· Curved portion, 22, 22A ··· Conical portion, 22a ··· Recessed portion, 23 ··· Insert portion, 31, 41 ··· Base end portion, 32, 42 ··· Inclined portion, 33, 43 ··· Contact portion, 34, 44 ··· Bent portion, 41a ··· Insert portion, 51 ··· C-ring, 52 ··· Groove

Claims

【Claim 1】 A protective member for a high-pressure tank attached to a high-pressure tank having a liner and a base, having an elastic portion imparted with spring properties, The protective member for a high-pressure tank is characterized in that the elastic portion is fixed to the liner and the base by an elastic force generated starting from the base.

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