METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PRESSURE CONTAINER AND PRESSURE CONTAINER

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a pressure vessel and to a corresponding pressure vessel. The invention proposes a manufacturing method for a pressure vessel where first a pressure vessel blank having at least one liner type 4 and a cylindrical pipe operatively connected to it is manufactured and subsequently, for instance, a fibre composite material is wrapped onto the pressure vessel blank.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a fibre-reinforced pressure vessel, characterized by the following steps: 1) Manufacturing of a pressure vessel blank including at least one liner type 4 made of plastic, a cylindrical pipe operatively connected to it, a pole cap reinforcement and a boss, 2) Overwrapping of the pressure vessel blank.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein; the cylindrical pipe is manufactured separately.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein; the cylindrical pipe is wound from fibre composite material.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein; the cylindrical pipe is wound on a metallic winding core.

5. The method according to claim 2 wherein; the cylindrical pipe is cut to length from a cylindrical semi-finished pipe.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein; the cylindrical pipe is wound to its final dimension.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein; the cylindrical pipe is at most partially cured.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein; the cylindrical pipe is extruded.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein; the cylindrical pipe is pultruded.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein; the liner has an outer geometry for receiving the cylindrical pipe such that the cylindrical pipe positively engages with the liner type 4.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein; a boss is in direct contact with the cylindrical pipe.

12. The method according to claim 2 wherein; before overwrapping of the pressure vessel blank, a pole cap reinforcement is applied on at least one pole region of the liner type 4.

13. The method according to claim 2, wherein; the cylindrical pipe is pressed onto the liner type 4.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein; the cylindrical pipe is thermally joined with the liner type 4.

15. The method according to claim 2, wherein; the cylindrical pipe is adhesively bonded to the liner type 4.

16. The method according to claim 2, wherein; the cylindrical pipe is at least partially processed, at least on its inner circumference, before it is operatively connected to the liner type 4.

17. A pressure vessel, wherein; it is manufactured by a method according to claim 1.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030] These and other aspects of the invention are shown in detail in the figures as follows.

[0031] FIG. 1: lateral section through a portion of a pressure vessel according to the invention

[0032] FIG. 2: lateral section through a portion of another pressure vessel according to the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a lateral section through a portion of a pressure vessel according to the invention. In particular, the Figure shows a section through the wall of a pressure vessel according to the invention. On its exterior, the pressure vessel wall has a winding 1 consisting of a fibre composite material. The winding 1 is applied on a pressure vessel blank, comprising a cylindrical pipe 2 and a liner as the inner layer. The cylindrical pipe 2 is located in the area of the cylindrical central portion 6 of the pressure vessel. The liner 3 has an outer geometry for receiving the cylindrical pipe 2 so that the cylindrical pipe 2 positively engages with the liner 3. This positive engagement is located at the transition from the cylindrical central portion 6 of the pressure vessel to the pole cap region 7. The outer geometry of the liner 3 has a recess the cylindrical pipe 2 rests against. The positive engagement can be such as to act in the axial and/or in the radial direction.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a lateral section through a portion of a different pressure vessel according to the invention. The pressure vessel has a pole cap reinforcement 4 in the pole cap region 7 which is applied on the pole cap region 7 before the winding is applied on the pressure vessel blank. Like the pressure vessel blank, the pole cap reinforcement 4 can also be manufactured separately, facilitating production of the pole cap reinforcement 4 and allowing production of the pole cap reinforcement 4 such that an optimum reinforcing effect is achieved. A connection piece 5, also called boss, is inserted in the pole cap reinforcement 4 and the winding 1, which connection piece is used for filling the pressure vessel and for removing the content, for instance a gas. The boss 5 is inserted in the pressure vessel in such a way that the liner wraps around it. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the liner 2 has no special outer geometry for receiving the cylindrical pipe 2, but is a standard liner with cylindrical outer geometry without any undercuts.

[0035] The embodiments shown here are only examples of the present invention and are therefore not to be understood as limiting. Alternative embodiments considered by the person skilled in the art are equally comprised by the scope of protection of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0036] winding [0037] cylindrical pipe [0038] liner type 4 [0039] pole cap reinforcement [0040] boss [0041] cylindrical central portion [0042] pole cap region