pressure vessel

Abstract

To provide a pressure vessel capable of effectively preventing a fluid from flowing out through a site of bonding between a nozzle and a liner by a sealing nut putting a pressure on a sealing pad made of an elastic material.SOLUTION: The pressure vessel includes: a liner formed to be hollow to enable its inside to be filled with the fluid; a nozzle combined with one side of the liner, or each end portion of both sides, so as to enable a cylindrical coupling part to be located in the inside of the liner; a ring-shaped sealing pad configured to enable the coupling part to pass through its center, formed of an elastic material, and having an inclined sealing part inclined to enable a longitudinal section to face downward in a central direction of the nozzle; and a sealing nut coupled to the coupling part at a lower portion of the sealing pad.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressure vessel for storing high-pressure fluid, and more particularly to a pressure vessel capable of effectively preventing fluid from flowing out from the joint portion of a nozzle and a liner by pressing a sealing pad made of an elastic material with a sealing nut.

Background Art

[0002] Pressure vessels are used for storing various fluids such as oxygen, natural gas, and nitrogen, and in recent years, they are used as containers for storing hydrogen, which is a fuel for environmentally friendly hydrogen electric vehicles.

[0003] Conventionally, nozzles and liners were manufactured from metallic materials, and carbon fibers or glass fibers were wound or laminated outside the nozzles and liners. However, pressure vessels manufactured as conventional metallic liners have problems such as being heavy due to the properties of metals, being very vulnerable to corrosion, and having high manufacturing costs.

[0004] To solve this problem, plastic liners using synthetic resins have been manufactured, and due to the properties of plastics, the weight can be reduced and the corrosion resistance can be improved compared to metallic materials.

[0005] Conventionally improved pressure vessels form a liner made of a plastic material. The liner is cylindrical with a hollow interior, and dome-shaped shoulder portions with curved end faces are provided on both sides.

[0006] Also, carbon fibers and glass fibers are laminated on the outer peripheral surface of the liner, and a nozzle for gas discharge is attached. The nozzle is formed with a flange portion joined to the liner.

[0007] Also, a reinforcing portion for reinforcing the strength of the shoulder portion, which is brittle to pressure, is provided.

[0008] In particular, to improve the fire resistance of the pressure vessel, the shoulder portion is coated with a fire-resistant material 50. The fire-resistant material is applied to the surface of the shoulder portion, which is the most vulnerable to pressure when the pressure vessel is exposed to fire.

[0009] Typically, the aforementioned fire-resistant material uses epoxy resin as a binder. The epoxy resin has excellent weather resistance and reduces the risk of explosion when the pressure vessel is exposed to fire.

[0010] Figure 1 shows a state in which a metal nozzle 60 is attached to a plastic liner 10. After attaching the metal nozzle 60, the liner 10 is injection molded with the nozzle 60 still attached to the mold for injecting the liner 10, thereby attaching the nozzle 60 to the liner 10.

[0011] However, the plastic liner 10 and the metal nozzle 60 have a problem with joining due to the properties of their materials. In other words, when the pressure vessel is repeatedly exposed to high and low temperatures, the liner and nozzle separate at the joint, causing the fluid filled inside the liner to leak out. Such a problem could lead to a major accident if the leaked fluid explodes. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0012] The present invention was devised to solve the aforementioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a pressure vessel that can effectively prevent fluid leakage from the joint between the nozzle and the liner by compressing an elastic sealing pad with a sealing nut. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] To solve the aforementioned technical problems, the pressure vessel according to the present invention includes a liner that is hollow so as to be filled with fluid inside; a nozzle that is coupled to one or both ends of the liner such that a cylindrical fastening portion is located inside the liner; a ring-shaped sealing pad formed of an elastic material with the fastening portion penetrating its center and having an inclined sealing portion formed such that its longitudinal cross-section is inclined downward toward the center of the nozzle; and a sealing nut that is fastened to the fastening portion at the lower part of the sealing pad.

[0014] Furthermore, it is preferable that the sealing plate further includes a ring-shaped sealing plate provided between the sealing pad and the sealing nut, the fastening portion of which penetrates the center, and which is made of a harder material than the sealing pad, and that the sealing plate has an inclined support portion formed such that its vertical cross-section is inclined downward toward the center of the nozzle so as to be in close contact with the inclined sealing portion.

[0015] Furthermore, it is preferable that the sealing pad includes a first horizontal sealing portion that extends inward from the inclined sealing portion and is formed horizontally, and a second horizontal sealing portion that extends horizontally outward from the inclined sealing portion.

[0016] Furthermore, it is preferable that the inclined sealing portion is formed to be thicker than the thickness of the first horizontal sealing portion and the second horizontal sealing portion.

[0017] Furthermore, it is preferable that the sealing plate includes a first horizontal support portion that extends inward from the inclined support portion and is formed horizontally to support the first horizontal sealing portion, and a second horizontal support portion that extends outward from the inclined support portion and is formed horizontally to support the second horizontal sealing portion.

[0018] Furthermore, it is preferable that the inner diameter of the sealing pad is larger than the inner diameter of the sealing plate.

[0019] Furthermore, it is preferable that the outer diameter of the sealing pad is smaller than the outer diameter of the sealing plate.

[0020] In addition, a flange portion having a diameter larger than that of the fastening portion is formed above the fastening portion of the nozzle, an extending portion extending from the side wall of the liner is formed below the flange portion, the first horizontal sealing portion is in close contact with the nozzle, and the second horizontal sealing portion is preferably in close contact with the lower portion of the extending portion.

[0021] On the other hand, it is preferable that a locking claw for strengthening the bonding force with the nozzle is formed at the end of the extending portion.

[0022] In addition, it is preferable that the upper surface of the sealing nut has an inclined surface with a longitudinal section downward in the central direction of the nozzle.

[0023] In addition, it is preferable that the sealing nut is formed with a through hole so that the pressure of the fluid stored inside the liner is transmitted to the sealing pad or the sealing plate.

Advantages of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent the fluid from flowing out from the joint portion between the nozzle and the liner by pressing the sealing pad made of an elastic material with the sealing nut.

[0025] In addition, a sealing plate can be provided between the sealing pad and the sealing nut to uniformly pressurize the sealing pad.

[0026] In particular, by forming the longitudinal section of the sealing pad to be downward as it goes in the central direction of the nozzle, it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of fluid leakage at the joint portion between the nozzle and the liner.

[0027] Furthermore, the sealing pad is formed with a larger inner diameter than the sealing plate and a smaller outer diameter, and by providing a space in which the length can be extended by pressing the sealing pad in the thickness direction by fastening the sealing nut, effective sealing can be achieved.

[0028] In addition, by forming a through-hole in the sealing nut, the pressure of the fluid can compress the sealing plate, causing the sealing pad to adhere tightly to the joint between the nozzle and the liner with strong pressure, thereby enabling sealing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of a conventional pressure vessel. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall state of an embodiment according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram shown for explaining the main configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram shown for explaining the main configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram shown for explaining the main configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram shown for explaining the operation of an embodiment according to the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment according to the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0030] Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of an embodiment according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the pressure vessel 100 according to the present invention includes a liner 110 made of a synthetic resin material or an elastic polymer material. The liner 110 is formed with a hollow cylindrical portion 111 and dome-shaped shoulder portions 112 having curved end faces formed on both sides of the cylindrical portion 111. The liner 100 is formed hollow so that fluid can be filled therein.

[0032] A nozzle 150 through which fluid enters and exits is coupled to the liner. The nozzle 150 is typically made of a metal such as aluminum, brass, steel, or nickel alloy, but may be made of a non-metallic material if applicable. The nozzle 150 has a cylindrical through-hole 151 for fluid to enter and exit, and a flange portion 152 that is enlarged in diameter for joining with the liner 110, and the lower part of the flange portion 152 includes a fastening portion 153 with threads formed on its outer surface.

[0033] The fastening portion 153 is positioned inside the liner 110, and the liner 110 is joined to the upper and lower parts of the flange portion 152.

[0034] Specifically, the nozzle 150 can be integrally formed by insert molding into the mold when the synthetic resin liner 110 is injection molded. The nozzle 150 can be provided at one end or both ends of the liner 110.

[0035] In particular, the side wall of the liner 110 is integrally injection-molded onto the upper part of the flange portion 152. To widen the contact surface, grooves are formed in the flange portion 152 to allow resin for molding the liner 110 to flow into.

[0036] Furthermore, the liner 110 has an extended portion 113 formed on its side wall that extends linearly horizontally or nearly horizontally to the lower part of the flange portion 152, and a locking claw 114 is formed at the end of the extended portion 113. Therefore, when the inside of the pressure vessel is filled with high-pressure fluid and the internal pressure increases, the liner may expand and separate from the nozzle, but the locking claw 114 prevents the nozzle 150 and the liner 110 from separating.

[0037] Furthermore, threads are formed on the inner surface of the through-hole 151, which are for fastening piping (not shown) for supplying or discharging fluid.

[0038] Furthermore, it is preferable to form a protective layer (not shown) by winding and laminating a composite material such as carbon fiber or glass fiber onto the outer surface of the liner 110.

[0039] Referring to Figures 3 and 6, the pressure vessel 100 according to the present invention has a configuration for preventing fluid leakage at the joint between the nozzle 150 and the liner 110, particularly at the joint between the flange portion 152 and the extended portion 113, and includes a sealing pad 120 surrounding the fastening portion 153, a sealing plate 130, and a sealing nut 140.

[0040] More specifically, the sealing pad 120 is made of an elastic material so as to be able to tightly seal the joint between the nozzle 150 and the extended portion 113, and the fastening portion 153 is formed in a ring shape so as to pass through its center. In other words, the sealing pad 120 is positioned to surround the fastening portion 153.

[0041] The sealing pad 120 is generally formed in a ring shape, but is bent to have an inclined surface so that it can closely adhere to the connection portion between the nozzle 150 and the extended portion 113. More specifically, it is preferable that the sealing pad 120 includes a first horizontal sealing portion 123, one end 122 of which adheres closely to the fastening portion 153 or the upper part of the fastening portion and whose upper surface adheres closely to the protruding portion 154 of the nozzle; an inclined sealing portion 124 formed to incline upward as it extends outward from the first horizontal sealing portion 123 and adheres closely to the joint between the protruding portion 154 and the extended portion 113; and a second horizontal sealing portion 125 that extends horizontally outward from the inclined sealing portion 124 and adheres closely to the lower part of the extended portion 113.

[0042] Furthermore, the protruding portion 154 is formed to protrude outward from the upper part of the fastening portion 153 so as to be in close contact with the first horizontal sealing portion 123 and the inclined sealing portion 124, respectively.

[0043] Furthermore, it can be seen that the thickness of the inclined sealing portion 124 ("d2" in Figure 6) is formed to be thicker than the thickness of the first horizontal sealing portion 123 and the second horizontal sealing portion 125. The reason for forming the inclined sealing portion 124 to be thicker is that when the sealing pad 120 is pressed upward and comes into close contact with the protruding portion 154 and the extended portion 113, the first horizontal sealing portion 123 and the second horizontal sealing portion 125, which are the ends on both sides, come into close contact upward, but the inclined sealing portion 124 interposed between them may lift up. Thus, the inclined sealing portion 124, which is in the middle of the sealing pad 120, is formed to be thicker so that it does not lift up and comes into firm contact with the connecting portion of the protruding portion 154 and the extended portion 113.

[0044] The sealing plate 130 supports the sealing pad 120 from below and is intended to uniformly transmit the pressing force when the sealing pad 120 is compressed by tightening the sealing nut 140.

[0045] The sealing plate 130 is made of a material harder than the sealing pad, such as metal, and is formed in a ring shape with an open center. The sealing plate 130 is formed in a ring shape so that the fastening portion 153 penetrates the center, and preferably includes a first horizontal support portion 133 whose one end 132 is in contact with or close to the fastening portion 153, an inclined support portion 134 that slopes upward outward from the first horizontal support portion 133, and a second horizontal support portion 135 that extends horizontally outward from the inclined support portion 134.

[0046] In other words, the sealing plate 130 includes the first horizontal sealing portion 123, the inclined sealing portion 124, the first horizontal support portion 133, the inclined support portion 134, and the second horizontal support portion 135, which support the second horizontal sealing portion 125, respectively.

[0047] Unlike the sealing pad 120, the sealing plate 130 is formed so that the first horizontal support portion 133, the inclined support portion 134, and the second horizontal support portion 135 are all the same thickness. That is, it is formed by bending a metal plate of the same thickness twice.

[0048] The sealing pad 120 and sealing plate 130 have straight sections 120a and 130a formed on their circular inner diameter surfaces. Correspondingly, the fastening portion 153 of the nozzle also has a straight section (not shown) formed on its outer diameter surface. Therefore, when attaching the sealing pad 120 and sealing plate 130 to the fastening portion 153, they must be attached in alignment with the straight sections 120a and 130a. When the sealing nut 140 is rotated and fastened in this attached state, the straight sections 120a and 130a prevent the sealing pad 120 and sealing plate 130 from rotating.

[0049] The sealing nut 140 is a component that has threads 141 formed on its inner circumferential surface and is screwed into a fastening portion 153 which has threads formed on its outer circumferential surface.

[0050] As the sealing nut 140 moves upward while being fastened to the fastening portion 153, it compresses the sealing plate 130 and the sealing pad 120 in an upward direction.

[0051] Therefore, by tightening the sealing nut 140, the sealing pad 120 is compressed upward, and the fastening portion 153 is brought into close contact with the joint between the protruding portion 154 and the extended portion 113 of the nozzle 150, thereby sealing and preventing fluid leakage.

[0052] The sealing nut 140 may have a through hole 142 formed therein. Therefore, when the inside of the liner 110 is filled with high-pressure fluid, the fluid flows into the through hole 142 and presses the sealing plate 130 with the pressure of the fluid, causing the sealing pad 120 to adhere tightly to the fastening portion 153 and the joint between the protruding portion 154 and the extended portion 113, thereby sealing it.

[0053] Furthermore, the first horizontal support portion 133 protrudes further inward than the first horizontal sealing portion 123 (see Figures 3 and 6(a) and (b)). In other words, it is preferable that the inner diameter of the sealing pad 120 is larger than the inner diameter of the sealing plate 130.

[0054] As a result, inside the liner 110, before the sealing pad 120 and sealing plate 130 are attached to the fastening portion 153 and pressed with the sealing nut 140, one end 132 of the sealing plate will be in contact with or close to the fastening portion 153, but a minute gap will be formed between one end 122 of the sealing pad and the fastening portion 153.

[0055] As the sealing nut 140 is fastened to the fastening portion 153 and moves upward, the elastic sealing pad 120 is compressed, and the thickness of the first horizontal sealing portion 123 decreases while its length increases. A margin of space is provided so that the length of the sealing pad 120 can be extended in this way. As a result, a gap is formed between the fastening portion 153 and one end 122 of the sealing pad 120 before the sealing nut 140 is compressed, but when the sealing nut 140 is fastened to the fastening portion 153 and compresses the sealing pad 120, the gap is filled, and the one end 122 of the sealing pad comes into close contact with the fastening portion 153, filling the gap and sealing it. Therefore, during the manufacturing stage of the parts, the inner diameter of the sealing pad 120 is formed to be larger than the inner diameter of the sealing plate 130. However, in the finished pressure vessel 100, with the sealing nut 140 fastened, the inner diameter surface of the sealing pad 120 is in close contact with the fastening portion 153. As a result, one end 122 of the sealing pad is either on the same vertical line as one end 132 of the sealing plate, or located further back than one end 132 of the sealing plate (see Figure 6(c)).

[0056] Furthermore, the second horizontal support portion 135 protrudes further outward than the second horizontal sealing portion 125 (see "d1" in Figure 6). That is, it is preferable that the outer diameter of the sealing pad 120 is smaller than the outer diameter of the sealing plate 130 (see Figures 6(a) and (b)).

[0057] When the sealing nut 140 compresses the sealing pad 120, the second horizontal sealing portion 125 made of elastic material also stretches, causing the other end 121 of the sealing pad 120 to stretch to a length equal to or approximately equal to the other end 131 of the sealing plate (see Figure 6(c)).

[0058] In the finished product, it is preferable that even when the sealing nut 140 is fastened and compresses the sealing pad 120, the other end 121 of the sealing pad does not protrude beyond the other end 131 of the sealing plate.

[0059] If the outer diameters of the sealing pad 120 and the sealing plate 130 are made the same, the other end 121 of the sealing pad and the other end 131 of the sealing plate will be located on the same vertical line. However, in this state, the sealing nut 140 compresses and stretches the sealing pad 120, causing the other end 121 of the sealing pad to be located further out than the other end 131 of the sealing plate (see Figure 6(d)).

[0060] When the other end 121 of the sealing pad is located outside the other end 131 of the sealing plate, the other end 121 of the sealing pad is not supported from below, and the upward pressing force is not transmitted. As a result, the other end 121 of the sealing pad cannot be supported by the sealing plate, which may cause slight sagging, and a problem arises in which fluid flows out into the space between the sagging area and the extended portion 113.

[0061] In conclusion, in order to create a spatial margin so that the other end 121 of the sealing pad does not come outward from the other end 131 of the sealing plate even when the sealing nut 140 is tightened and the sealing pad 120 is compressed, it is preferable that the outer diameter of the sealing pad 120 be smaller than the outer diameter of the sealing plate 130.

[0062] Thus, the pressure vessel 100 according to the present invention has a double seal structure in which the sealing pad 120 made of an elastic material is sealed by physically pressing it with the sealing nut 140 fastened to the fastening part 153, and after filling the liner 110 with fluid, the sealing pad 120 is sealed by pressing it with the flow pressure through the through hole 142 formed in the sealing nut 140.

[0063] Unlike the embodiments described above, the pressure vessel 100 of the present invention may also be configured in which no through-hole 142 is formed in the sealing nut.

[0064] Furthermore, the present invention also allows for embodiments in which the sealing plate 130 is eliminated. Specifically, this embodiment consists of a sealing pad 120 attached to the fastening portion 153 and a sealing nut 140 screwed onto the fastening portion 153 at the lower part of the sealing pad 120. In this case, the sealing nut 140 directly presses against the sealing pad 120 made of an elastic material, causing the sealing pad 120 to adhere tightly to the extended portion 113 and the fastening portion 153 to seal it. In this case as well, if a through hole 142 is formed in the sealing nut 140, the fluid flowing into the through hole 142 directly causes the sealing pad 120 to adhere tightly to the extended portion 113 and the fastening portion 153 at high pressure, preventing the fluid from flowing out.

[0065] Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the ends of the first horizontal sealing portion 123 and the second horizontal sealing portion 125 of the sealing pad 120 are formed thicker. With this formation, when the sealing nut 140 presses the sealing pad 120 upward, the first horizontal sealing portion 123 is compressed further and adheres more tightly to the fastening portion 153 compared to the embodiment shown in Figure 6.

[0066] Similarly, when the sealing nut 140 compresses the sealing pad 120 upward, the second horizontal sealing portion 125 is further compressed and becomes more closely attached to the extended portion 113 compared to the embodiment shown in Figure 6. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0067] 100 Pressure Vessels 110 Liner 120 sealing pads 130 sealing plate 140 sealing nuts 150 nozzles

Claims

1. A liner that is hollowed out so that fluid is filled inside, A nozzle is coupled to one or both ends of the liner such that a cylindrical fastening portion is located inside the liner, The fastening portion is a ring-shaped sealing pad made of an elastic material that penetrates the center, A sealing nut fastened to the fastening portion at the lower part of the sealing pad, It includes a ring-shaped sealing plate provided between the sealing pad and the sealing nut, the fastening portion of which penetrates the center and is formed to be harder than the sealing pad, The outer diameter of the sealing pad is formed to be smaller than the outer diameter of the sealing plate, A pressure vessel characterized in that even when the sealing nut is fastened to the fastening portion and the sealing pad is pressed, causing its length to be extended, the other end of the sealing pad does not protrude beyond the other end of the sealing plate.

2. The aforementioned sealing pad is The pressure vessel according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes an inclined sealing portion whose vertical cross-section is inclined downward toward the center of the nozzle, a first horizontal sealing portion that extends inward from the inclined sealing portion and is formed horizontally, and a second horizontal sealing portion that extends horizontally outward from the inclined sealing portion.

3. The pressure vessel according to claim 2, characterized in that the inclined sealing portion is formed to be thicker than the thickness of the first horizontal sealing portion and the second horizontal sealing portion.

4. The pressure vessel according to claim 2, characterized in that the sealing plate includes an inclined support portion whose vertical cross-section is inclined downward toward the center of the nozzle so as to be in close contact with the inclined sealing portion, a first horizontal support portion that extends inward from the inclined support portion and is formed horizontally to support the first horizontal sealing portion, and a second horizontal support portion that extends outward from the inclined support portion and is formed horizontally to support the second horizontal sealing portion.

5. The pressure vessel according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner diameter of the sealing pad is larger than the inner diameter of the sealing plate.

6. The nozzle has an enlarged flange portion formed on the upper part of the fastening portion. An extended portion is formed at the lower part of the flange portion, extending from the side wall of the liner. The pressure vessel according to claim 2, characterized in that the first horizontal sealing portion is in close contact with the nozzle and the second horizontal sealing portion is in close contact with the lower part of the extended portion.

7. The pressure vessel according to claim 6, characterized in that a locking claw is formed at the end of the extended portion to strengthen the coupling force with the nozzle.

8. The pressure vessel according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper surface of the sealing nut has a vertical cross-section that is inclined downward toward the center of the nozzle.

9. The pressure vessel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealing nut has a through hole formed therein so that the pressure of the fluid stored inside the liner is transmitted to the sealing pad or sealing plate.

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