Tank

Abstract

To provide technique for fixing a protector of a tank to a doom portion of the tank.SOLUTION: The tank comprises a main body portion, doom portions provided at both ends of the main body portion, and a protector fixed to the doom portions, and for protecting the boom portions, the protector comprises: a shell portion forming a shell for the protector; a joint portion located on the doom portion side further than the shell portion and having a joint surface contacting the doom portions; and a cut portion forming a space between the shell portion and the joint portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a tank.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a tank including a cylindrical main body and spherical dome portions provided at both ends of the main body, a technique is known in which a protector is fixed to the outer surface of the dome portion to protect the dome portion (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When fixing the protector to the dome portion of the tank, the shape of the protector may not match the shape of the dome portion, and it may become difficult to fix the protector to the dome portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms.

[0006] (1) According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, a tank is provided. The tank includes a main body portion, dome portions provided at both ends of the main body portion, and a protector fixed to the dome portions to protect the dome portions. The protector includes an outer shell portion forming an outer shell of the protector, a joint portion located closer to the dome portion side than the outer shell portion and having a joint surface in contact with the dome portion, and a cutout portion forming a space between the outer shell portion and the joint portion. According to this aspect, since the cutout portion is formed in the protector to form a space between the outer shell portion and the joint portion located closer to the dome portion side than the outer shell portion, the rigidity of the joint portion can be made lower than in the case where the cutout portion is not formed. Thereby, when the protector is fixed to the dome portion of the tank, the joint portion can be deformed to follow the shape of the dome portion, so that the shape of the joint portion can be made closer to the shape of the dome portion. Therefore, the possibility of making it difficult to fix the protector to the dome portion can be reduced. (2) In the above aspect, the protector may further include a connecting portion, the outer shell portion and the joint portion may be connected by the connecting portion, and the cutout portion may be formed along an extending direction from the top of the dome portion toward the main body portion among the outer shape directions along the outer shape of the dome portion. According to this aspect, the cutout portion is formed along the extending direction. Thereby, the rigidity of the joint portion can be made even lower. (3) In the above aspect, the connecting portion may be formed at a base end portion which is one end portion in the extending direction of the protector. According to this aspect, the connecting portion is formed at the base end portion which is one end portion in the extending direction of the protector. Thereby, the rigidity of the joint portion can be made even lower on the tip end portion side located on the opposite side to the base end portion side. (4) In the above-described form, the connecting portion may be formed in a central portion located between the base end portion, which is one end portion in the extending direction among the protectors, and the tip end portion, which is the other end portion. According to this form, the connecting portion is formed in the central portion located between the base end portion, which is one end portion in the extending direction among the protectors, and the tip end portion, which is the other end portion. Thereby, the rigidity of the joint portion can be further reduced on both end portions sides of the base end portion side and the tip end portion side of the protector. (5) In the above-described form, the cut portion may be formed so as to be surrounded by the outer shell portion and the joint portion. According to this form, the cut portion is formed so as to be surrounded by the outer shell portion and the joint portion. Thereby, the rigidity of the joint portion in both the extending direction and the circumferential direction can be further reduced as compared with the case where the cut portion is not formed. (6) In the above-described form, the cut portions may be formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction centered on the central axis of the tank. According to this form, the cut portions are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. Thereby, the rigidity of the joint portion in the circumferential direction can be further reduced. The present disclosure can be realized in various forms other than the above-described tank. For example, it can be realized in the form of a method for manufacturing a tank or the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] A. First Embodiment: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view showing the schematic configuration of the tank 100 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a state in which the tank 100 is viewed in cross-section along the central axis O is shown. Hereinafter, the direction along the central axis O of the tank 100 is referred to as the axial direction. Also, in the circumferential direction CD centered on the central axis O of the tank 100, the side approaching the central axis O is the inner side, and the side away from the central axis O is the outer side. The tank 100 is mounted on, for example, a fuel cell vehicle and is used to store hydrogen gas supplied to the fuel cell. The tank 100 includes a liner 10, a reinforcing layer 20, a valve-side base 30, an end-side base 40, a valve-side protector 51, and an end-side protector 52.

[0009] The liner 10 is a hollow container that forms an internal space 10p for storing hydrogen gas or the like. The liner 10 is formed of a resin having gas barrier properties, such as polyamide resin, for example. The central axis of the liner 10 is the same as the central axis O of the tank 100.

[0010] The reinforcing layer 20 is a layer for reinforcing the liner 10. The reinforcing layer 20 covers the outer periphery of the liner 10. The material forming the reinforcing layer 20 is, for example, a fiber-reinforced resin such as CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics). The reinforcing layer 20 is formed, for example, by the FW (Filament Winding) method. Specifically, carbon fibers impregnated with a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin are wound around the liner 10 to form a plurality of layers in the circumferential direction CD. Thereafter, the thermosetting resin is thermoset by heating, thereby forming the reinforcing layer 20. Note that the types of fiber material and thermosetting resin as the material forming the reinforcing layer 20 are not limited to this. The fiber material used to form the reinforcing layer 20 may be, for example, glass fiber.

[0011] The container body 90 of the tank 100 is composed of the liner 10 and the reinforcing layer 20. The container body 90 has a main body portion 910, a first dome portion 930, and a second dome portion 950. The main body portion 910 is formed by a part of the liner 10 and the reinforcing layer 20. The shape of the main body portion 910 is a cylindrical shape. That is, the main body portion 910 is the portion of the container body 90 where the cross-sectional shape is a straight line. The direction of this straight line coincides with the axial direction.

[0012] Each of the first dome portion 930 and the second dome portion 950 is a portion of the container body 90 other than the main body portion 910, and is provided at both ends of the main body portion 910. Specifically, the first dome portion 930 is continuously provided at one end portion 30r in the axial direction of the main body portion 910. The shape of the first dome portion 930 is a dome shape (spherical shape) protruding from one end portion 30r of the main body portion 910 toward the valve-side base 30. The diameter of the first dome portion 930 decreases as it moves away from the main body portion 910. The tip portion 10r of the liner 10 in the first dome portion 930 is curved so as to enter the internal space 10p side. The first opening 10d is formed by the curved tip portion 10r of the liner 10. The portion of the first dome portion 930 farthest from the main body portion 910 is the top portion 930p. In the following, the side where the top portion 930p of the first dome portion 930 is located is also referred to as the upper side.

[0013] The second dome portion 950 is provided continuously at the other end portion 40s of the main body portion 910, which is the end opposite to the one end portion 30r. The shape of the second dome portion 950 is a dome shape (spherical shape) protruding from the other end portion 40s of the main body portion 910 toward the end-side base 40. The diameter of the second dome portion 950 decreases as it moves away from the main body portion 910. The tip portion 10s of the liner 10 in the second dome portion 950 is curved so as to enter the internal space 10p side. The second opening 10e is formed by the curved tip portion 10s of the liner 10. The portion of the second dome portion 950 that is farthest from the main body portion 910 is the top portion 950p. In the following, the side where the top portion 950p of the second dome portion 950 is located is also referred to as the lower side.

[0014] The valve-side base 30 is attached to the first opening 10d. That is, the valve-side base 30 is attached to the top portion 930p of the first dome portion 930. The shape of the valve-side base 30 is generally cylindrical in order to communicate the internal space 10p of the liner 10 with the outside. The valve-side base 30 has a first flange portion 310. The first flange portion 310 is formed so as to protrude in the circumferential direction CD from the outer peripheral surface of the valve-side base 30. Thereby, the valve-side base 30 is fixed in the first dome portion 930 by sandwiching the first flange portion 310 between the liner 10 and the reinforcing layer 20. The inner peripheral surface of the valve-side base 30 functions as an entrance and exit for stored substances such as hydrogen gas stored in the internal space 10p (hereinafter, stored substances). The valve 50 is a member for opening and closing the entrance and exit of the stored substances by the valve-side base 30. Female threads (not shown) are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the valve-side base 30, and male threads (not shown) are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the valve-side base 30. By tightening these threads, the inside of the liner 10 is sealed.

[0015] The end-side base 40 is attached to the second opening 10e. That is, the end-side base 40 is attached to the top 950p of the second dome portion 950. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the end-side base 40 is provided on the second dome portion 950 so as to be exposed to both the inside and the outside of the tank 100. The shape of the end-side base 40 is a shape in which a part of a cylindrical shape is closed in order to close the internal space 10p of the liner 10. The end-side base 40 has a second flange portion 410. The second flange portion 410 is formed so as to project in the circumferential direction CD from the outer peripheral surface of the end-side base 40. Thereby, the end-side base 40 is fixed in the second dome portion 950 by sandwiching the second flange portion 410 between the liner 10 and the reinforcing layer 20. Both bases 30 and 40 are formed of, for example, metal.

[0016] The valve-side protector 51 is a member for protecting the first dome portion 930 from impacts and the like. The valve-side protector 51 is, for example, a pre-shaped molded product. The valve-side protector 51 is formed of, for example, a foamed resin. The valve-side protector 51 is fixed to the first dome portion 930 on the outer surface 930d side of the reinforcing layer 20. In the present embodiment, the valve-side protector 51 is fixed to the first dome portion 930 by adhering the valve-side protector 51 to the first dome portion 930 using a double-sided tape. Hereinafter, the valve-side protector 51 in the present embodiment is also referred to as the first valve-side protector 51.

[0017] The end-side protector 52 is a member for protecting the second dome portion 950 from impacts and the like. The end-side protector 52 is fixed to the second dome portion 950 on the outer surface 950d side of the second dome portion 950. Note that the materials forming the protectors 51 and 52 are not limited to those described above. The protectors 51 and 52 may be rubber molded products formed of synthetic rubber such as urethane or silicone, for example. Also, the shape of the end-side protector 52, the material forming the end-side protector 52, and the fixing mode to the second dome portion 950 are the same as those of the first valve-side protector 51. Hereinafter, the details of the protectors 51 and 52 will be described by taking the first valve-side protector 51 as an example.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the first valve-side protector 51. The first valve-side protector 51 is formed across the circumferential direction CD. Specifically, the first valve-side protector 51 includes a through hole 51a for inserting the valve-side base 30 and the valve 50 shown in FIG. 1. The shape of the through hole 51a is a circular shape. The valve-side protector 51 has a shape that extends along the shape of the first dome portion 930 (FIG. 1) having a dome shape (spherical shape) from around the through hole 51a, and covers the first dome portion 930 from the outer surface 930d side. Regarding the outer diameter of the first valve-side protector 51, the top portion 930p side is smaller than the main body portion 910 side. Hereinafter, in the first valve-side protector 51, the top portion 930p side is defined as the small-diameter side S, and the main body portion 910 side is defined as the large-diameter side B. The same shall apply to the subsequent figures.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the first valve-side protector 51. In FIG. 3, a state in which a part of the first dome portion 930 to which the first valve-side protector 51 is fixed and a part of the main body portion 910 in the tank 100 are viewed in cross section along the central axis O is schematically shown. The first valve-side protector 51 has an outer shell portion 515, a connecting portion 512, a joining portion 510, and a cut portion 517. The outer shell portion 515, the connecting portion 512, and the joining portion 510 are integrally formed of the same material. Note that the outer shell portion 515, the connecting portion 512, and the joining portion 510 may be formed of different materials.

[0020] The outer shell portion 515 forms the outer shell of the first valve side protector 51. When the tank 100 drops, for example, the outer shell portion 515 protects the tank 100 from the impact of contacting other objects such as the ground. The outer shell portion 515 has a thickness L1. The thickness L1 of the outer shell portion 515 referred to here is, for example, the length from the first boundary surface 515r that forms the boundary between the outer shell portion 515 and the cut portion 517 to the outer surface 515s of the outer shell portion 515. In the present embodiment, the shape of the outer shell portion 515 is generally trapezoidal in a cross-sectional view, but it is not limited to this.

[0021] The connecting portion 512 connects the outer shell portion 515 and the joint portion 510. In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 512 is formed at the base end portion 510s, which is one end portion, in the extending direction SD from the top portion 930p toward the main body portion 910 among the outer shape directions along the shape of the first dome portion 930. In the present embodiment, the base end portion 510s is located on the large diameter side B. Note that the base end portion 510s may be located on the small diameter side S.

[0022] The joint portion 510 is located closer to the first dome portion 930 side than the outer shell portion 515 and has a joint surface 510a. The joint portion 510 has a thickness L2. The thickness L2 of the joint portion 510 referred to here is, for example, the length from the joint surface 510a to the second boundary surface 510t that forms the boundary between the joint portion 510 and the cut portion 517.

[0023] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the tip portion 510r of the first valve side protector 51. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the portion hatched with diagonal lines in FIG. 2 is cut out. The tip portion 510r is the other end portion in the extending direction SD (FIG. 3) of the first valve side protector 51 and is located on the small diameter side S opposite to the base end portion 510s. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the joint portion 510 has a shape that is curved generally along the shape of the first dome portion 930 with the connecting portion 512 (FIG. 3) as a reference point.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a view of the first valve-side protector 51 as seen from the side of the joint surface 510a. In the present embodiment, there are a plurality of joints 510. The plurality of joints 510 are each formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction CD. That is, the adjacent first joint 510f and second joint 510g are separated from each other in the circumferential direction CD. Thereby, in the circumferential direction CD, the joint 510 of the first valve-side protector 51 is easily deformed. Therefore, in the circumferential direction CD, the joint 510 of the first valve-side protector 51 can be deformed so as to follow the shape of the first dome portion 930.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, the joint surface 510a is in contact with the first dome portion 930. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the shape of the joint surface 510a is a shape with one direction open, and in the present embodiment, it is a U-shape. The joint surface 510a has two end faces 514a and 514b arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction CD, and a bridging surface 513 connecting the two end faces 514a and 514b. The two end faces 514a and 514b (hereinafter, the first end face 514a and the second end face 514b) are formed so as to extend along the extending direction SD. The bridging surface 513 is formed so as to extend along the circumferential direction CD and connects the first end face 514a and the second end face 514b on the small-diameter side S. Among the joints 510, the first shaft portion 514m having the first end face 514a and the second shaft portion 514n having the second end face 514b are separated from each other in the circumferential direction CD. Thereby, in the circumferential direction CD, the joint 510 of the first valve-side protector 51 is easily deformed. Therefore, in the circumferential direction CD, the joint 510 of the first valve-side protector 51 can be deformed so as to follow the shape of the first dome portion 930 (FIG. 3).

[0026] On the joint surface 510a, a double-sided tape for fixing the first valve-side protector 51 to the first dome portion 930 (Fig. 3) is attached. In Fig. 5, cross-hatching is applied to the portion of the joint surface 510a where the double-sided tape is attached. By pressing the joint surface 510a with the double-sided tape attached against the outer surface 930d (Fig. 3) of the first dome portion 930, the first valve-side protector 51 is fixed to the first dome portion 930. Note that the shape of the joint portion 510 and the shape of the joint surface 510a are not limited to this. For example, one joint portion 510 may be formed over the circumferential direction CD. Also, the shape of the joint surface 510a may be, for example, a generally trapezoidal shape with the large-diameter side B as the lower base and the small-diameter side S as the upper base.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the cut portion 517 forms a space between the outer shell portion 515 and the joint portion 510. Thereby, the cut portion 517 reduces the rigidity of the joint portion 510 as compared with the case where the cut portion 517 is not provided. Specifically, the cut portion 517 has such a low rigidity that it can be deformed following the shape of the first dome portion 930 when the valve-side protector 51 is fixed to the first dome portion 930. In the present embodiment, the cut portion 517 is formed along the extending direction SD. That is, the cut portion 517 is formed by cutting in the extending direction SD from the tip portion 510r to the connecting portion 512 from the small-diameter side S to the large-diameter side B of the first valve-side protector 51. Further, in the present embodiment, the cut portion 517 is formed such that the thickness L2 of the joint portion 510 is thinner than the thickness L1 of the outer shell portion 515. Thus, by making the thickness L2 of the joint portion 510 thinner than the thickness L1 of the outer shell portion 515, the rigidity of the joint portion 510 can be reduced as compared with the case where the cut portion 517 is not formed. In the present embodiment, in both the extending direction SD and the circumferential direction CD, the rigidity of the joint portion 510 is lower than the rigidity of the outer shell portion 515. Since the rigidity of the joint portion 510 is low, the joint portion 510 is more easily deformed. Therefore, the joint portion 510 can be deformed so as to follow the shape of the first dome portion 930. Note that, in the present embodiment, the cut portion 517 is formed during molding, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The cut portion 517 may be formed by removing a part of the formed member.

[0028] According to the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 1, the tank 100 includes a main body portion 910, dome portions 930 and 950 provided at both ends of the main body portion 910, and protectors 51 and 52 fixed to the dome portions 930 and 950 to protect the dome portions 930 and 950. As shown in FIG. 3, the protectors 51 and 52 include an outer shell portion 515, a joint portion 510, and a cut portion 517. The outer shell portion 515 forms the outer shell of the protectors 51 and 52. The joint portion 510 is located closer to the dome portions 930 and 950 than the outer shell portion 515 and has a joint surface 510a that contacts the dome portions 930 and 950. The cut portion 517 forms a space between the outer shell portion 515 and the joint portion 510. By doing so, as shown in FIG. 3, in the protectors 51 and 52, the thickness L2 of the joint portion 510 can be made thinner compared to the case where the cut portion 517 is not formed. Thereby, the rigidity of the joint portion 510 can be reduced. That is, the joint portion 510 can be made more deformable. Therefore, by deforming the joint portion 510 so as to bend and making the shape of the joint portion 510 follow the shape of the dome portions 930 and 950, the shape of the joint portion 510 can be made closer to the shape of the dome portions 930 and 950. Thus, the possibility of making it difficult to fix the protectors 51 and 52 to the dome portions 930 and 950 can be reduced.

[0029] Also, according to the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 3, the cut portion 517 is formed between the outer shell portion 515 and the joint portion 510 such that the thickness L2 of the joint portion 510 is thinner than the thickness L1 of the outer shell portion 515. In this way, by forming the thickness L2 of the joint portion 510 to be thinner than the thickness L1 of the outer shell portion 515, the rigidity of the joint portion 510 can be made lower than the rigidity of the outer shell portion 515 in both the extending direction SD and the circumferential direction CD.

[0030] Also, according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the protectors 51 and 52 include a connecting portion 512. The outer shell portion 515 and the joint portion 510 are connected by the connecting portion 512. And the cut portion 517 is formed along the extending direction SD from the top portion 930p toward the main body portion 910 among the outer shape directions along the outer shapes of the dome portions 930 and 950. By doing so, the cut portion 517 can be formed along the extending direction SD. Thereby, the rigidity of the joint portion 510 can be further reduced.

[0031] Also, according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the connecting portion 512 is formed at the base end portion 510s which is one end portion in the extending direction SD among the protectors 51 and 52. In the first embodiment, the connecting portion 512 is formed on the large diameter side B located on the main body portion 910 side. By doing so, the rigidity of the tip end portion 510r side which is the other end portion in the extending direction SD can be further reduced.

[0032] Also, according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of joint portions 510 exist inside the protectors 51 and 52 and are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction CD. That is, the adjacent first joint portion 510f and the second joint portion 510g are separated from each other. Thereby, in the extending direction SD, the shape of the joint portion 510 can be made into a state where it is easier to deform.

[0033] Also, according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the shape of the joint surface 510a is a shape with one direction open. The joint surface 510a has two end surfaces 514a and 514b arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction CD, and a bridging surface 513 connecting the two end surfaces 514a and 514b. The two end surfaces 514a and 514b are formed to extend along the extending direction SD. The bridging surface 513 is formed to extend along the circumferential direction CD and connects the two end surfaces 514a and 514b on the small-diameter side S. The first shaft portion 514m having the first end surface 514a and the second shaft portion 514n having the second end surface 514b are separated in the circumferential direction CD. Thereby, in the circumferential direction CD, the shapes of the protectors 51 and 52 can be made more easily deformable.

[0034] Also, according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the protectors 51 and 52 are fixed to the dome portions 930 and 950 by double-sided tapes attached to the joint surface 510a. By doing so, the protectors 51 and 52 can be easily attached to the dome portions 930 and 950. Thereby, the time required to fix the protectors 51 and 52 to the dome portions 930 and 950 can be shortened. Therefore, the productivity of the tank 100 can be improved.

[0035] Also, according to the first embodiment, the protectors 51 and 52 are molded products. At this time, according to the first embodiment, by making the rigidity of the joint portion 510 lower than the rigidity of the outer shell portion 515, when fixing the protectors 51 and 52 to the dome portions 930 and 950, the shape of the joint portion 510 can be made closer to the shape of the dome portions 930 and 950. Thereby, the shapes of the protectors 51 and 52 and the shape of the dome portion 930 can be made closer without modifying the manufacturing mold for molding the protectors 51 and 52. Therefore, the time and cost required for modifying the manufacturing mold can be reduced.

[0036] B. Second Embodiment: In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the connecting portion 512 was formed at the base end portion 510s which is one end portion located on the large-diameter side B in the extending direction SD. And the cut portion 517 was formed so as to cut in the extending direction SD from the small-diameter side S toward the large-diameter side B until reaching the connecting portion 512. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the formation position of the connecting portion 552, the formation modes of the cut portions 557a and 557b, and the shape of the joint portion 550 are different from those in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the valve-side protector 55 in the present embodiment is also referred to as the second valve-side protector 55. Note that the shape of the protector fixed to the second dome portion 950, the material forming the protector, and the fixing mode to the second dome portion 950 are the same as those of the second valve-side protector 55. Also, other components and the fixing method of the protector 55 to the dome portions 930 and 950 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the second valve-side protector 55. The second valve-side protector 55 is formed over the circumferential direction CD. Specifically, the second valve-side protector 55 has a shape extending along the shape of the first dome portion 930 (FIG. 3) from around the through hole 51a, and covers the first dome portion 930 from the outer surface 930d side. Regarding the outer diameter of the second valve-side protector 55, the top 930p side is smaller than the main body portion 910 side.

[0038] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the second valve-side protector 55. In FIG. 7, a state in which a part of the first dome portion 930 and the main body portion 910 to which the second valve-side protector 55 is fixed in the tank 100 is schematically shown in a cross-sectional view along the central axis O. The second valve-side protector 55 has an outer shell portion 555, a joint portion 550, a connecting portion 552, a first cut portion 557a, and a second cut portion 557b. The outer shell portion 555, the joint portion 550, and the connecting portion 552 are integrally formed of the same material. Note that the outer shell portion 555, the joint portion 550, and the connecting portion 552 may be formed of different materials.

[0039] The outer shell portion 555 forms the outer shell of the second valve side protector 55. The outer shell portion 555 has a thickness L3. The thickness L3 of the outer shell portion 555 here refers to, for example, the length from the first boundary surface 555r that forms the boundary between the outer shell portion 555 and the cut portions 557a, 557b to the outer surface 555s of the outer shell portion 555. In this embodiment, the shape of the outer shell portion 555 is generally trapezoidal in a cross-sectional view, but it is not limited to this. Also, the thickness L3 of the outer shell portion 555 in this embodiment may be the same as or different from the thickness L1 (FIG. 3) of the outer shell portion 515 in the first embodiment.

[0040] The connecting portion 552 connects the outer shell portion 555 and the joint portion 550. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 552 is formed across the circumferential direction CD at the central portion 550u located between the base end portion 550s, which is one end in the extending direction SD, and the tip end portion 550r, which is the other end. Therefore, the connecting portion 552 connects the central portion of the joint portion 550 in the extending direction SD and the central portion of the outer shell portion 555 in the extending direction SD.

[0041] The joint portion 550 is located closer to the first dome portion 930 side than the outer shell portion 555 and has a joint surface 550a that contacts the first dome portion 930. In this embodiment, the joint portion 550 is formed across the circumferential direction CD. The joint portion 550 has a thickness L4. The thickness L4 of the joint portion 550 here refers to, for example, the length from the joint surface 550a to the second boundary surface 550t that forms the boundary between the joint portion 550 and the cut portions 557a, 557b. Note that the thickness L4 of the joint portion 550 in this embodiment may be the same as or different from the thickness L2 (FIG. 3) of the joint portion 510 in the first embodiment.

[0042] FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the tip end portion 550r and the base end portion 550s of the second valve side protector 55. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the portion hatched with oblique lines in FIG. 6 is cut out. In this embodiment, the joint portion 550 has a shape that is curved generally along the shape of the first dome portion 930 (FIG. 7) with the connecting portion 552 as the base point.

[0043] FIG. 9 is a view of the second valve side protector 55 as seen from the joint surface 550a side. In the present embodiment, there are a plurality of joints 550. The plurality of joints 550 are each formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction CD. That is, the adjacent first joint 550f and second joint 550g are separated in the circumferential direction CD. Thereby, in the circumferential direction CD, the joint 550 of the second valve side protector 55 is likely to deform. Therefore, in the circumferential direction CD, the joint 550 of the second valve side protector 55 can deform so as to follow the shape of the first dome portion 930 (FIG. 7).

[0044] As shown in FIG. 7, the joint surface 550a is in contact with the first dome portion 930. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the shape of the joint surface 550a is generally trapezoidal with the large-diameter side B as the lower base and the small-diameter side S as the upper base.

[0045] Also in the present embodiment, a double-sided tape for fixing the second valve side protector 55 to the first dome portion 930 is attached to the joint surface 550a. In FIG. 9, the portion of the joint surface 550a to which the double-sided tape is attached is hatched. The method of fixing the second valve side protector 55 to the first dome portion 930 is the same as that of the first embodiment. Note that the shape of the joint 550 and the shape of the joint surface 550a are not limited to this. The shape of the joint surface 550a may be, for example, an X shape that intersects at the central portion 550u located between the tip portion 550r and the base end portion 550s in the extending direction SD, that is, the portion where the connecting portion 552 is located.

[0046] The two cut portions 557a and 557b each form a space between the outer shell portion 555 and the joint portion 550. Thereby, the two cut portions 557a and 557b reduce the rigidity of the joint portion 550 as compared with the case where the cut portion 517 is not provided. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the two cut portions 557a and 557b are each formed along the extending direction SD. Specifically, the first cut portion 557a is formed by cutting in the extending direction SD from the tip portion 550r to the connecting portion 552 toward the large-diameter side B from the small-diameter side S of the second valve-side protector 55. Further, the second cut portion 557b is formed by cutting in a direction opposite to the extending direction SD from the base end portion 550s to the connecting portion 552 toward the small-diameter side S from the large-diameter side B.

[0047] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the two cut portions 557a and 557b are formed such that the thickness L4 of the joint portion 550 is thinner than the thickness L3 of the outer shell portion 555. Thus, by making the thickness L4 of the joint portion 550 thinner than the thickness L3 of the outer shell portion 555, the rigidity of the joint portion 550 can be reduced as compared with the case where the cut portions 557a and 557b are not formed. In the present embodiment, in both the extending direction SD and the circumferential direction CD, the rigidity of the joint portion 550 is lower than the rigidity of the outer shell portion 555. Since the rigidity of the joint portion 550 is low, the joint portion 550 is more easily deformed. Therefore, since the joint portion 550 can be deformed to follow the shape of the first dome portion 930, the shape of the joint portion 550 can be made closer to the shape of the first dome portion 930.

[0048] According to the second embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 7, the two cut portions 557a and 557b form a space between the outer shell portion 555 and the joint portion 550. The first cut portion 557a is formed by cutting in the extending direction SD from the tip portion 550r to the connecting portion 552, from the small-diameter side S to the large-diameter side B of the second valve-side protector 55. The second cut portion 557b is formed by cutting in the direction opposite to the extending direction SD from the base end portion 550s to the connecting portion 552, from the large-diameter side B to the small-diameter side S. By doing so, in the second valve-side protector 55, the thickness L4 of the joint portion 550 can be made thinner than when the cut portions 557a and 557b are not formed. Thereby, the rigidity of the joint portion 550 can be reduced compared to the case where the cut portions 557a and 557b are not formed. That is, the joint portion 550 can be made easier to deform. Therefore, by deforming the joint portion 550 so as to bend and making the shape of the joint portion 550 follow the shapes of the dome portions 930 and 950, the shape of the joint portion 550 can be made closer to the shapes of the dome portions 930 and 950. Thus, the possibility of making it difficult to fix the protector 55 to the dome portions 930 and 950 can be reduced.

[0049] Further, according to the second embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 7, the cut portions 557a and 557b are formed such that the thickness L4 of the joint portion 550 is thinner than the thickness L3 of the outer shell portion 555 between the outer shell portion 555 and the joint portion 550. In this way, by forming the thickness L4 of the joint portion 550 to be thinner than the thickness L3 of the outer shell portion 555, the rigidity of the joint portion 550 can be made lower than the rigidity of the outer shell portion 555 in both the extending direction SD and the circumferential direction CD.

[0050] Further, according to the second embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 8, the connecting portion 552 is formed in the central portion 550u located between the base end portion 550s, which is one end in the extending direction SD of the second valve-side protector 55, and the tip portion 550r, which is the other end. Thereby, the rigidity of both end portions 550r and 550s in the extending direction SD of the second valve-side protector 55 can be made even lower.

[0051] Further, according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of joint portions 550 exist inside the second valve-side protector 55, and are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction CD. That is, the adjacent first joint portion 550f and the second joint portion 550g are separated from each other. Thereby, in the extending direction SD, the shape of the joint portion 550 can be made more easily deformable.

[0052] C. Third Embodiment: In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the outer shell portions 515, 555 and the joint portions 510, 550 were connected by the connecting portions 512, 552. And the cut portions 517, 557a, 557b were formed along the extending direction SD. In contrast, in this embodiment, the configuration of the valve-side protector 57 is different from that of the above embodiment. Hereinafter, the valve-side protector 57 in this embodiment is also referred to as the third valve-side protector 57. Note that the shape of the protector fixed to the second dome portion 950, the material forming the protector, and the fixing mode to the second dome portion 950 are the same as those of the third valve-side protector 57. Also, for the configurations identical to those of the above embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

[0053] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the third valve side protector 57. FIG. 11 is a view of the third valve side protector 57 as seen from the top 930p (FIG. 12 described later) side. The third valve side protector 57 is formed by a plurality of protector units 57t. The plurality of protector units 57t are arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction CD. The third valve side protector 57 includes a through hole 57a for inserting the valve side base 30 and the valve 50 shown in FIG. 1. The shape of the through hole 57a is generally circular. In the present embodiment, the through hole 57a is formed by the tip portion 570r which is the end portion on the top 930p (FIG. 12 described later) side of the plurality of protector units 57t arranged in the circumferential direction CD. The third valve side protector 57 has a shape that extends along the shape of the first dome portion 930 having a dome shape (spherical shape) from around the through hole 57a, and covers the first dome portion 930 from the outer surface 930d side. Regarding the outer diameter of the third valve side protector 57, the top 930p side is smaller than the diameter on the main body portion 910 side.

[0054] The first unit 570f and the second unit 570g as adjacent protector units are joined by a joining portion 578. In the present embodiment, the joining portion 578 is formed at the base end portion 570s which is one end portion in the extending direction SD. In the present embodiment, the base end portion 570s is located on the large diameter side B. Note that the base end portion 570s may be located on the small diameter side S.

[0055] In the examples shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the case where there are 11 protector units 57t and joining portions 578 respectively is illustrated. Note that the formation position of the joining portion 578 and the number of protector units 57t included in the third valve side protector 57 are not limited to this. The joining portion 578 may be formed, for example, at the central portion 550u in the extending direction SD. Also, the number of protector units 57t included in the third valve side protector 57 may be less than 11, or may be 12 or more.

[0056] Between the adjacent first unit 570f and second unit 570g, an inter-unit cut portion 579 as a cut portion is formed. That is, the inter-unit cut portion 579 forms a space between the adjacent first unit 570f and second unit 570g. In the present embodiment, the inter-unit cut portion 579 is formed along the extending direction SD. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the inter-unit cut portion 579 is formed by cutting in the extending direction SD from the tip portion 570r, which is the other end portion located on the small-diameter side S, to the coupling portion 578 toward the large-diameter side B. In this way, by making it possible to adjust the distance in the circumferential direction CD between the first unit 570f and the second unit 570g, the rigidity of the third valve-side protector 57 in the circumferential direction CD can be made lower than in the case where the inter-unit cut portion 579 is not formed. Note that the formation position of the inter-unit cut portion 579 is not limited to this.

[0057] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the protector unit 57t. In FIG. 12, a state in which a part of the first dome portion 930 and the main body portion 910, in which the third valve-side protector 57 is fixed, of the tank 100 is viewed in cross section along the central axis O is schematically shown. The protector unit 57t includes an outer shell portion 575, a third joint portion 571, a fourth joint portion 572, and an intra-unit cut portion 577 as a cut portion. The outer shell portion 575 and the two joint portions 571, 572 are integrally formed of the same material. Note that the outer shell portion 575 and the two joint portions 571, 572 may be formed of different materials, respectively.

[0058] The outer shell portion 575 forms the outer shell of the protector unit 57t. That is, the outer shell of the third valve-side protector 57 is formed by the outer shell portions 575 in the plurality of protector units 57t. The outer shell portion 575 has a width L5. The width L5 of the outer shell portion 575 referred to here is the length from the tip portion 570r to the base end portion 570s in the outer shell portion 575. In the present embodiment, the outer shell portion 575 is generally trapezoidal in cross-sectional view, but is not limited to this.

[0059] The two joints 571 and 572 are each located closer to the first dome portion 930 than the outer shell portion 575. The third joint 571 is formed to extend along the circumferential direction CD on the small-diameter side S. The fourth joint 572 is formed to extend along the circumferential direction CD on the large-diameter side B. The two joints 571 and 572 each have a width L6. The width L6 of the third joint 571 here is, for example, the length from the tip portion 570r to the third boundary surface 570m that forms the boundary between the first joint 571 and the unit cut-in portion 577. Also, the width L6 of the fourth joint 572 is, for example, the length from the fourth boundary surface 570n that forms the boundary between the second joint 572 and the unit cut-in portion 577 to the base end portion 570s.

[0060] FIG. 13 is a view of the third valve-side protector 57 as seen from the joint surface 571a, 572a side. The third joint 571 has a first joint surface 571a that contacts the first dome portion 930 (FIG. 12). The shape of the first joint surface 571a is a strip extending along the circumferential direction CD. The fourth joint 572 has a second joint surface 572a that contacts the first dome portion 930 (FIG. 12). The shape of the second joint surface 572a is a strip extending along the circumferential direction CD. Double-sided tapes for fixing the third valve-side protector 57 to the first dome portion 930 are attached to the two joint surfaces 571a, 572a, respectively. In FIG. 13, of the two joint surfaces 571a, 572a, the portions where the double-sided tapes are attached are hatched. The method of fixing the third valve-side protector 57 to the first dome portion 930 is the same as in the first embodiment. Note that the shapes of the joints 571, 572 and the joint surfaces 571a, 572a are not limited to this.

[0061] The unit cut-in portion 577 forms a space between the outer shell portion 515 and the two joint portions 571, 572. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the unit cut-in portion 577 is formed so as to be surrounded by the first boundary surface 575r of the outer shell portion 575 and the joint portions 571, 572. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 12, compared with the width L8 when the unit cut-in portion 577 is not formed, the width L6 of the joint portions 571, 572 can be shortened by the width L7 of the unit cut-in portion 577. As a result, the unit cut-in portion 577 can reduce the rigidity of the two joint portions 571, 572 compared with the case where the cut-in portion 577 is not formed. In the present embodiment, in both the extending direction SD and the circumferential direction CD, the rigidity of the joint portions 571, 572 is lower than the rigidity of the outer shell portion 575. Since the rigidity of the joint portions 571, 572 is low, the two joint portions 571, 572 are more easily deformed respectively. Therefore, the shapes of the two joint portions 571, 572 are likely to follow the shape of the first dome portion 930.

[0062] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the unit cut-in portion 577 is formed such that the width L6 of the joint portions 571, 572 is shorter than the width L5 of the outer shell portion 575. In this way, by making the width L6 of the joint portions 571, 572 shorter than the width L5 of the outer shell portion 575, the unit cut-in portion 577 can reduce the rigidity of the joint portions 571, 572 in both the extending direction SD and the circumferential direction CD. In the present embodiment, since the rigidity of the two joint portions 571, 572 is lower than the rigidity of the outer shell portion 575 respectively, the two joint portions 571, 572 are easily deformed. Therefore, the shapes of the two joint portions 571, 572 are in a state of being even more likely to follow the shape of the first dome portion 930.

[0063] According to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the unit internal cut-in portion 577 forms a space between the outer shell portion 575 and the two joint portions 571 and 572. The unit internal cut-in portion 577 is formed so as to be surrounded by the outer shell portion 575 and the joint portions 571 and 572. By doing so, in the third valve-side protector 57, the width L6 of the joint portions 571 and 572 can be made shorter than in the case where the unit internal cut-in portion 577 is not formed. Thus, by forming the unit internal cut-in portions 577 and 572 so as to be surrounded by the outer shell portion 575 and the joint portions 571 and 572, the rigidity of the joint portions 571 and 572 can be made lower than in the case where the unit internal cut-in portion 577 is not formed. Therefore, by deforming the joint portions 571 and 572 so as to bend and making the shape of the joint portions 571 and 572 follow the shape of the dome portions 930 and 950, the shape of the joint portions 571 and 572 can be made closer to the shape of the dome portions 930 and 950. Thus, the possibility of making it difficult to fix the protector 57 to the dome portions 930 and 950 can be reduced.

[0064] Also, according to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the unit internal cut-in portion 577 is formed between the outer shell portion 575 and the joint portions 571 and 572 such that the width L6 of the joint portions 571 and 572 is shorter than the width L5 of the outer shell portion 575. Thus, by forming the width L6 of the joint portions 571 and 572 to be thinner than the width L5 of the outer shell portion 575, the rigidity of each of the two joint portions 571 and 572 in both the extending direction SD and the circumferential direction CD can be made lower than the rigidity of the outer shell portion 575.

[0065] Also, according to the above-described third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the third valve-side protector 57 is formed by a plurality of protector units 57t. These plurality of protector units 57t are arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction CD. The first unit 570f and the second unit 570g as adjacent protector units are joined by a joining portion 578 formed at a base end portion 570s which is an end portion on the large-diameter side B in the extending direction SD. And, an inter-unit cutout portion 579 for forming a space is provided between the adjacent first unit 570f and second unit 570g. This inter-unit cutout portion 579 is formed along the extending direction SD. By doing so, by making it possible to adjust the distance between the first unit 570f and the second unit 570g, the rigidity of the third valve-side protector 57 in the circumferential direction CD can be made even lower.

[0066] D. Other Embodiments: D-1. Other Embodiment 1: In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5, 9, and 13, the protectors 51, 52, 55, 57 were fixed to the dome portions 930, 950 by double-sided tapes attached to the joining surfaces 510a, 550a, 570a. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. The protectors 51, 52, 55, 57 may be fixed to the dome portions 930, 950 using, for example, an adhesive. When fixing using an adhesive, the adhesive is applied to either one of the dome portions 930, 950 and the joining surfaces 510a, 550a, 570a. Then, the applied adhesive is solidified by holding the protectors 51, 52, 55, 57 in a state of being pressed against the dome portions 930, 950. Even in such a form, the protectors 51, 52, 55, 57 can be fixed to the dome portions 930, 950.

[0067] Also, when the shapes of the protectors 51, 52, 55, 57 do not match the shapes of the dome parts 930, 950, for example, by applying a thick layer of adhesive, it may be possible to correct the shape deviation and ensure a sufficient bonding area. When correcting the shape deviation by increasing the amount of adhesive applied, the time required for the adhesive to solidify becomes longer. Furthermore, the cost increases due to the increased amount of adhesive used. In contrast, in the present embodiment, by deforming the joint part 510 so as to bend it and making the shape of the joint part 510 follow the shapes of the dome parts 930, 950, the shape of the joint part 510 can be brought closer to the shapes of the dome parts 930, 950. As a result, when the shapes of the protectors 51, 52, 55, 57 do not match the shapes of the dome parts 930, 950, it is not necessary to correct the shape deviation by adjusting the amount of adhesive applied. Therefore, the amount of adhesive applied can be reduced. Furthermore, the time required to fix the protectors 51, 52, 55, 57 to the dome parts 930, 950 can be shortened. Thus, the productivity of the tank 100 can be improved.

[0068] D-2. Other Embodiment 2: In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5, 9, and 13, the protectors 51, 52, 55, 57 were fixed to the dome parts 930, 950 by double-sided tapes attached to the joint surfaces 510a, 550a, 570a. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. The protectors 51, 52, 55, 57 may be fixed to the dome parts 930, 950 using fixing members such as screws, for example. Even in such a form, the protectors 51, 52, 55, 57 can be fixed to the dome parts 930, 950 in a state where the shapes of the joint parts 510, 550, 571, 572 are brought closer to the shapes of the dome parts 930, 950.

[0069] D-3. Other Embodiment 3: In the above-described first and second embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, there are a plurality of joints 510 and 550 of the protectors 51, 52, and 55, which are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction CD. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. The joints 510 and 550 may be formed across the circumferential direction CD and may be in a strip shape extending along the shapes of the dome portions 930 and 950. Even in such a form, the protectors 51, 52, and 55 can be fixed to the dome portions 930 and 950 in a state where the shapes of the joints 510 and 550 are close to the shapes of the dome portions 930 and 950.

[0070] D-4. Other Embodiment 4: In the above-described third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the protector 57 was formed by a plurality of protector units 57t arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction CD. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. The protector 57 may have cut portions 577 formed so as to be surrounded by joint portions 571 and 572 formed across the circumferential direction CD and extending along the shapes of the dome portions 930 and 950 and an outer shell portion 575. Even in such a form, the protector 57 can be fixed to the dome portions 930 and 950 in a state where the shapes of the joint portions 571 and 572 are close to the shapes of the dome portions 930 and 950.

[0071] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the technical features of the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each form described in the summary of the invention can be appropriately replaced or combined in order to solve some or all of the above-described problems, or to achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Further, if the technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0072] 10... liner, 10d... first opening, 10e... second opening, 10p... internal space, 10r, 10s... tip portions of the liner, 20... reinforcing layer, 30... valve-side base, 30r... one end portion, 40... end-side base, 40s... other end portion, 50... valve, 51... first valve-side protector, 51a, 57a... through holes, 52... end-side protector, 55... second valve-side protector, 57... third valve-side protector, 57t... protector unit, 90... container body, 100... tank, 310... first flange portion, 410... second flange portion, 510, 550... joint portions, 510a, 550a, 571a, 572a... joint surfaces, 510f, 550f... first joint portions, 510g, 550g... second joint portions, 571... third joint portion, 572... fourth joint portion, 510r, 550r... tip portions of the joint portions, 510t, 550t... second boundary surfaces, 570m... third boundary surface, 570n... fourth boundary surface, 512, 552... connecting portions, 513... bridging surface, 514a... first end surface, 514b... second end surface, 514m... first shaft portion, 514n... second shaft portion, 515, 555, 575... outer shell portions, 517, 557a, 557b, 577, 579... cut portions, 510s, 550s, 570s... base end portions, 515r, 555r, 575r... first boundary surfaces, 515s, 555s... outer surfaces of the outer shell portions, 550u... central portion, 570f... first unit, 570g... second unit, 570r... tip portion of the protector unit, 578... coupling portion, 910... main body portion, 930... first dome portion, 930d... outer surface of the first dome portion, 950d... outer surface of the second dome portion, 930p, 950p... top portions, 950... second dome portion, B... large-diameter side, CD... circumferential direction, L1, L2, L3, L4... thicknesses, L5, L6, L7, L8... widths, O... central axis, S... small-diameter side, SD... extending direction

Claims

【Claim 1】 A tank, comprising: a main body portion; dome portions provided at both ends of the main body portion; a protector fixed to the dome portions and protecting the dome portions; the protector comprising: an outer shell portion forming an outer shell of the protector; a joint portion located closer to the dome portions than the outer shell portion and having a joint surface in contact with the dome portions; a cut portion forming a space between the outer shell portion and the joint portion; a connecting portion; the outer shell portion and the joint portion being connected by the connecting portion; the cut portion being formed along an extending direction from a top portion of the dome portions toward the main body portion among outer shape directions along an outer shape of the dome portions; the connecting portion being formed at a central portion located between a base end portion which is one end portion and a tip end portion which is the other end portion in the extending direction of the protector.

Images