High Pressure Vessel

Abstract

A high-pressure container includes a cylinder composed of plastic, at least one half-shell composed of plastic, a substantially rotationally symmetrical insert as a boss member, and a sleeve. The cylinder is to serve as a centre member, while the at least one half-shell is at an axial end of the cylinder. The insert as a boss member, the insert having a foot member at an end thereof facing the container interior. The foot member is embedded in the plastic of the half-shell to substantially form a hollow cone or hollow cylinder. The sleeve is pressed into the inner circumference of the foot member at least in a pressing portion of the sleeve. The plastic of the half-shell is arranged between the sleeve and an inner circumference of the foot member so that in a pressing portion, a thin plastic layer of the plastic of the half-shell is pressed between the sleeve and the inner circumference of the foot member.

Claims

1. A high-pressure container, comprising: a cylinder, composed of plastic, to serve as a centre member; at least one half-shell, composed of plastic, at an axial end of the cylinder, wherein the half-shell is made of the plastic; a substantially rotationally symmetrical insert as a boss member, the insert having a foot member at an end thereof facing the container interior, the foot member being embedded in the plastic of the half-shell to substantially form a hollow cone or hollow cylinder; and a sleeve pressed into the inner circumference of the foot member at least in a pressing portion of the sleeve, wherein the plastic of the half-shell is arranged between the sleeve and an inner circumference of the foot member so that in a pressing portion, a thin plastic layer of the plastic of the half-shell is pressed between the sleeve and the inner circumference of the foot member.

2. The high-pressure container of claim 1, wherein the thin plastic layer of the plastic of the half-shell which is pressed between the sleeve and the inner circumference of the foot member extends over the entire pressing portion.

3. The high-pressure container of claim 1, wherein the plastic of the half-shell fills the entire space between the sleeve and the inner circumference of the foot member.

4. The high-pressure container of claim 1, wherein the plastic is a multilayer composite plastic which comprises a barrier layer.

5. The high-pressure container of claim 1, wherein a first groove or depression, filled with the multilayer composite plastic of the half-shell, extends around at least in portions on the inner circumference of the foot member at a level of the sleeve.

6. The high-pressure container of claim 1, wherein the multilayer composite plastic of the half-shell is arranged axially on both sides of the foot member.

7. The high-pressure container of claim 1, wherein the foot member has at least one second groove which is filled with the multilayer composite plastic of the half-shell.

8. The high-pressure container of claim 7, wherein proximate to the inner circumference of the foot member, the second groove extends around at least in portions on the base of the foot member facing the container interior.

9. The high-pressure container of claim 1, wherein the foot member has at least one third groove which is filled with the multilayer composite plastic of the half-shell.

10. The high-pressure container of claim 9, wherein the third groove extends around at least in portions on the cover face of the foot member facing the container exterior.

11. The high-pressure container of claim 1, wherein the foot member has at least one fourth groove which is filled with the multilayer composite plastic of the half-shell.

12. The high-pressure container of claim 11, wherein proximate to the outer circumference of the foot member, the fourth groove extends around at least in portions on the base of the foot member facing the container interior.

13. The high-pressure container of claim 1, wherein the cylinder and the at least one half-shell is wrapped with a fibre material comprising a composite material having carbon fibres, and/or glass fibres, and/or epoxy resin.

14. The high-pressure container of claim 1, further comprising a valve which is received in the boss member.

15. The high-pressure container of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a shaft portion received in the sleeve.

16. The high-pressure container of claim 15, further comprising a sealing element to form a seal between the shaft portion of the valve and the sleeve.

17. The high-pressure container of claim 15, further comprising a sealing element to form a seal between the shaft portion of the valve and the boss member.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0051] One or more embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description hereinbelow.

[0052] FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrate sectional views depicting process blocks of a method for producing a half-shell for a high-pressure container, in accordance with a first embodiment.

[0053] FIG. 7 illustrates a detail depiction of FIG. 3 in the region around the undercut of the insert member.

[0054] FIG. 8 illustrates a detail depiction of FIG. 4 in the region around the undercut of the insert member.

[0055] FIGS. 9 through 14 illustrate sectional views depicting process blocks of a method for producing a half-shell for a high-pressure container in accordance with a second embodiment.

[0056] FIG. 15 illustrates a sectional view of a high-pressure container, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0057] FIG. 16 illustrates a sectional view of a half-shell of a high-pressure container in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0058] FIG. 17 illustrates a sectional view of a half-shell of a high-pressure container with an inserted sleeve in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0059] FIG. 18 illustrates a sectional view of a half-shell of a high-pressure container with an inserted valve in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0060] FIG. 19 illustrates a sectional view of detail A of the half-shell of FIG. 18.

[0061] FIG. 20 illustrates a sectional view of detail A of FIG. 19, but without a valve and a sealing element, with potential leakage path.

[0062] FIG. 21 illustrates a sectional view of a half-shell of a high-pressure container, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0063] FIG. 22 illustrates a sectional view of detail B of the half-shell of FIG. 21.

DESCRIPTION

[0064] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, a method for production of a half-shell for a high-pressure container is provided in accordance with one or more embodiments. A tool comprising a first tool half 2 which forms a die, and a second tool half 5 which forms a punch. The tool thus comprises two tool halves, in which an insert member is positioned on a movable receiver 7 in the first tool half 2 which serves as the lower tool half. The second tool half 5, which serves as the upper tool half, acts as a punch in order to apply a pressure at the end of the process. In addition, the second tool half 5 may also be provided with a second insert member. Using sliders 4 provided in the tool and/or a vacuum, the plastic is brought to the points required for the form-fit connection. For this, a preheated first plastic sheet 3 is laid on the first tool half 2, and the first plastic sheet 3 is drawn or pressed onto the first tool half 2 via vacuum pressure force. Then the insert member 1, i.e., the boss member, is positioned such that plastic from the first plastic sheet 3 is arranged in regions behind an undercut, laterally spaced from the insert member 1. Alternatively, the movement of the insert member 1 may also be omitted, so that the plastic is drawn directly onto a correctly positioned insert member 1, corresponding to FIG. 3.

[0065] Then, via a slider 4, or a vacuum, or a pressure force, the plastic of the first plastic sheet 3 is pressed or drawn onto the insert member 1, behind the undercut from laterally spaced from the insert member 1, so that a space behind the undercut of the insert member 1 is filled with the plastic.

[0066] Finally, the second tool half 5 is moved onto the first tool half 2 in order to form the inner contour of the half-shell.

[0067] In detail, the single-sheet method depicted in FIGS. 1 through 6 comprises the following process blocks.

[0068] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in the first process block, the one tool half, namely the first tool half 2, is provided with the insert member 1, namely a boss member, and a preheated plastic sheet 3. The insert member 1 is in the starting position. Optionally, at this point, the second tool half 5 may be provided with a second insert member, and particularly, with the sleeve 20 which will be discussed later (FIGS. 17 to 21).

[0069] The plastic sheet 3 is drawn via vacuum into the first tool half 2 which constitutes the outer component geometry. In order to fill with plastic the space necessary for the form-fit connection behind the undercut of the insert member 1, the insert member 1 is positioned on a movable receiver 7 in the first tool half 2. By raising the component and for example simultaneous use of a vacuum and/or sliders 4, the space behind the undercut of the component is filled (See FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0070] As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the next process block, the second tool half 5 is lowered onto the first tool half 2 with a defined closing force, forming the inner contour of the component. During this process block, the insert member 1 may in some cases be returned to the starting position. In this way, the plastic is additionally pressed behind the undercuts, and the form-fit connection between the insert member 1 and the plastic of the first plastic sheet 3 is enhanced.

[0071] An alternative embodiment of the production method is illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 14, namely a twin-sheet method for production of a half-shell.

[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 9, in the first process block of the twin-sheet method, both tool halves 2, 5 are provided with a preheated plastic sheet 3, 6. Optionally, at this point also the second tool half 5 may be provided with an insert member.

[0073] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the plastic sheets 3, 6 are drawn into or onto the respective tool halves 2, 5, forming the outer and inner component geometry respectively, via vacuum.

[0074] As illustrated in FIG. 11, in the next process block, the insert member 1 to be surrounded is laid in the first tool half 2.

[0075] As illustrated in FIG. 12, via a vacuum and/or sliders 4, the space behind the undercut of the insert member 1 necessary for the form-fit connection is filled with plastic.

[0076] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the surplus material is cut off behind the undercut by the cutting edges introduced into the tool. These cutters, as illustrated in FIG. 3, may also be contained in the sliders 4.

[0077] As illustrated in FIG. 14, a finished formed component is provided in which the surplus plastic below the undercut and the slider 4 has been cut away. A sleeve 20 may also be later introduced, and particularly, pressed, into the boss member and/or the plastic inside the boss member.

[0078] A high-pressure container in accordance with one or more embodiments is illustrated in FIG. 15. The high-pressure container comprises a cylinder 10 as a centre member. The cylinder 10 comprises of a multilayer composite plastic 11 which comprises a barrier layer 12. The high-pressure container furthermore comprises at least one half-shell 13 at an axial end of the cylinder 10, the half-shell 13 comprising a multilayer composite plastic 11 comprising a barrier layer 12. The half-shell 13 furthermore comprises a substantially rotationally symmetrical insert member 1, namely a boss member. The insert member 1 comprises an undercut with respect to a protrusion in the direction of the longitudinal centre axis of the insert member 1, the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half-shell 13 being arranged axially on both sides of the undercut of the insert member 1.

[0079] The undercut is formed by a foot member 14 on the end of the insert member 1 facing the container interior, and has a greater diameter than a centre member of the insert member 1. The multilayer composite plastic 11 is axially arranged on both sides of the foot member 14.

[0080] The foot member 14 has several grooves 15 which are filled with the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half-shell 13. The insert member 1 has substantially the shape of a hollow cylinder. The foot member 14 has substantially the shape of a hollow cone. A groove 15, filled with the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half-shell 13, extends around the inner circumference of the foot member 14. The multilayer composite plastic 11 of the cylinder 10 transforms into the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half-shell 13.

[0081] The multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half-shell 13 and also of the cylinder 10 comprises a layer of HDPE as the outermost layer and a barrier layer 12 of EVOH. The HDPE may be present as HDPE-S (Schwarz), followed by a regranulate layer, an adhesion-promoting agent, the EVOH layer, optionally a further adhesion-promoting agent and optionally also a further HDPE layer as the innermost layer.

[0082] The high-pressure container comprises two half-shells 13 at the axial ends of the cylinder 10, wherein the two half-shells 13 are configured as described above, i.e., they have a boss member 1 which is embedded in the multilayer composite plastic 11. The cylinder 10 and the two half-shells 13 are wrapped with a fibre material 16, such as a composite material comprising carbon fibres and/or glass fibres and/or epoxy resin.

[0083] Overall, thus a high-pressure container is produced which may serve for storage of gases under high pressure. It is produced as a lightweight structure and has a multipiece, multilayer plastic liner consisting of two dome caps 13 and a cylinder 10, which ensures the gas-tightness and contains a permeation barrier 12.

[0084] Insert parts 1, namely boss parts, more precisely a “headstock” and a “tailstock”, are integrated in the two dome caps 13. The permeation properties are provided by a blocking or barrier layer 12 which is contained in the layer structure of the liner, both in the dome caps 13 and also in the cylinder tube 10. The high-pressure container obtains its mechanical strength from a fibre-reinforced composite 16 which is applied to the plastic liner in the winding process and then hardened.

[0085] FIG. 16 illustrates a half-shell 13 of a high-pressure container in accordance with one or more embodiments before insertion of the sleeve 20. The half-shell 13 comprises a multilayer composite plastic 11 which comprises a barrier layer 12. The half-shell 13 furthermore comprises a substantially rotationally symmetrical insert member 1, namely a boss member. The insert member 1 has a foot member 14 at the end of the insert member 1 facing the container interior and having a greater diameter than the centre member of the insert member 1. The foot member 14 substantially forms a hollow cone.

[0086] A first groove 15 filled with the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half-shell 13 extends around the inner circumference of the foot member 14. The multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half-shell 13 is arranged axially on both sides of the foot member 14.

[0087] The foot member 14 has a second groove 17 which is filled with the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half-shell 13. Proximate to the inner circumference of the foot member 14, the second groove 17 extends around on the base of the foot member 14 facing the container interior.

[0088] The foot member 14 has a third groove 18 which is filled with the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half-shell 13, the third groove 18 extending around on the cover face of the foot member 14 facing the container exterior.

[0089] The foot member 14 has a fourth groove 19 which is filled with the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half-shell 13. Proximate to the outer circumference of the foot member 14, the fourth groove 19 extends around on the base of the foot member 14 facing the container interior.

[0090] As illustrated in FIG. 17, after production of the half-shell, a sleeve 20 is arranged radially inside the first groove 15, inside the inner circumference of the foot member 14. The multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half-shell 13 is pressed by the sleeve 20 against the inner circumference of the foot member 14 and into the first groove 15.

[0091] FIG. 18 illustrates a half-shell in accordance with one or more embodiments with a tightly seated valve 21 introduced therein. A sleeve 20 is pressed into the inner circumference of the foot member 14, wherein the plastic 11 of the half-shell 13 is arranged between the sleeve 20 and the inner circumference of the foot member 14. The high-pressure container comprises a valve 21 which is received in the boss member. A shaft portion of the valve 21 is received in the sleeve 20. A sealing element 22, namely a ring seal, seals between the shaft portion of the valve 21 and the sleeve 20.

[0092] FIG. 19 illustrates detail A of FIG. 18 more precisely. The sleeve 20 is pressed axially into the inner circumference of the foot member 14, axially in a pressing portion 23 of the sleeve 20, wherein in the region of the pressing, i.e., in the pressing portion 23, a thin plastic layer of the plastic 11 remains, i.e., is pressed, between the sleeve 20 and the inner circumference of the foot member 14. The plastic 11 of the half-shell 13 fills the entire space between the sleeve 20 and the inner circumference of the foot member 14. Because of the effect of the sealing element 22 between the valve 21 and the sleeve 20, only the tightness in the region of the plastic 11 outside the sleeve 20 must be ensured. The thin plastic layer between the sleeve 20 and the inner circumference of the insert member 1, after the sleeve 20 has been pressed in, creates a high tightness in the region of the thin plastic layer and hence in the region of the leakage path, which is illustrated in FIG. 20 by an arrow. Because of the small thickness of the plastic film, the thermal expansion in operation and the shrinkage during the production process in this region are negligibly small and a good seal is guaranteed.

[0093] As illustrated in FIG. 20, the container may also be used without sealing element or ring seal in the region of the sleeve 20. A sealing element, in particular a ring seal, may in particular be arranged at the top i.e., on the outlet side of the sleeve 20, between a valve and the insert member 1.

[0094] As illustrated in FIG. 21, and in the detail extract of detail B in FIG. 22, a sealing element may be arranged on the base of the grooves, in particular, the first groove 15 and the second groove 17. The primary sealing effect is achieved by the pressing of the plastic into the circularly running grooves 15, 17 on the metal lower member or in the core hole bore of the foot member of the boss member 1. Two further grooves 18, 19 on the plate exterior or plate surface serve above all for form-fit connection and stabilisation of the plastic-metal connection. Because of the sleeve 20 inserted in the core hole bore during the production process, the pressure on the sealing plastic material in the first groove 15 is increased. In an option, one or both sealing grooves 15, 17, as illustrated in FIG. 19, are provided with an additional sealing element in order to increase the sealing effect in this region.

[0095] The terms “coupled,” “attached,” or “connected” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

[0096] Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0097] 1 Insert member, boss member

[0098] 2 First tool half

[0099] 3 First plastic plate

[0100] 4 Slider

[0101] 5 Second tool half

[0102] 6 Second plastic plate

[0103] 7 Receiver

[0104] 10 Cylinder

[0105] 11 Multilayer composite plastic

[0106] 12 Barrier layer

[0107] 13 Half-shell

[0108] 14 Foot member

[0109] 15 First groove

[0110] 16 Fibre material

[0111] 17 Second groove

[0112] 18 Third groove

[0113] 19 Fourth groove

[0114] 20 Sleeve

[0115] 21 Valve

[0116] 22 Sealing element

[0117] 23 Pressing portion