HIGH-PRESSURE VESSEL

Abstract

A high-pressure container that includes a cylinder and at least one half-shell. The cylinder forms a middle region of the high-pressure container, and includes a multilayer composite plastic as a first barrier layer. The at least one half-shell is formed at an axial end of the cylinder, and includes a multilayer composite plastic as a second barrier layer, and a substantially rotationally symmetrical boss member having an undercut with respect to a protrusion in a direction of a longitudinal centre axis of the boss member. The multilayer composite plastic of the half-shell is arranged axially on both sides of the undercut of the boss member.

Claims

1. A high-pressure container, comprising: a cylinder, forming a middle region of the high-pressure container, comprising a multilayer composite plastic as a first barrier layer; and at least one half-shell, at an axial end of the cylinder, comprising a multilayer composite plastic as a second barrier layer, and a substantially rotationally symmetrical boss member having an undercut with respect to a protrusion in a direction of a longitudinal centre axis of the boss member, wherein the multilayer composite plastic of the half-shell is arranged axially on both sides of the undercut of the boss member.

2. The high-pressure container of claim 1, wherein the undercut is formed by a foot member on the end of the boss member which faces the container interior, the foot member having a diameter greater than a diameter of a middle region of the boss member.

3. The high-pressure container of claim 2, wherein the foot member has at least one groove which is filled with the multilayer composite plastic of the half-shell.

4. The high-pressure container of claim 3, wherein the foot member has a plurality of grooves which are filled with the multilayer composite plastic of the half-shell.

5. The high-pressure container of claim 2, wherein the foot member substantially forms a hollow cone or hollow cylinder, and has at least one groove which is filled with the multilayer composite plastic of the half-shell, and extends around an inner circumference of the foot member.

6. The high-pressure container of claim 1, wherein the multilayer composite plastic of the cylinder transforms into the multilayer composite plastic of the half-shell.

7. The high-pressure container of claim 1, wherein the multilayer composite plastic of the half-shell comprises at least one layer of HDPE and a third barrier layer comprising EVOH.

8. The high-pressure container of claim 7, wherein the multilayer composite plastic of the half-shell comprises one or more of a regranulate, a second HDPE layer, and at least one adhesion-promoting layer.

9. The high-pressure container of claim 1, further comprising two half-shells at the axial ends of the cylinder.

10. The high-pressure container of claim 9, wherein the cylinder and the two half-shells are encapsulated with a fibre material comprising a composite material having one or more of carbon fibres, glass fibres, and epoxy resin.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0043] One or more embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description hereinbelow.

[0044] FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrate sectional views of a method for producing a half-shell for a high-pressure container, in a first embodiment.

[0045] FIG. 7 illustrates a detail depiction of FIG. 3 in the region around the undercut of the insert member.

[0046] FIG. 8 illustrates a detail depiction of FIG. 4 in the region around the undercut of the insert member.

[0047] FIGS. 9 through 14 illustrate sectional views of a method for producing a half-shell for a high-pressure container, in a second embodiment.

[0048] FIG. 15 illustrates a sectional view of a high-pressure container in accordance with one or more embodiments.

DESCRIPTION

[0049] The illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 6 represent a method for production of a half-shell for a high-pressure container, in a first embodiment. A tool is used with a first tool half 2 which forms a die, and with a second tool half 5 which forms a punch. The tool thus comprises two tool halves, wherein the insert member is positioned on a movable receiver 7 in the first tool half 2, preferably the lower tool half. The second tool half 5, preferably 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 the sliders 4 provided in the tool and/or a vacuum, the plastic is brought to the points required for the form-fit connection.

[0050] 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 or pressure. 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.

[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 3, 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. Then via a slider 4 or a vacuum or a pressure, 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. 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.

[0052] In detail, the single-sheet method of FIGS. 1 through 6 comprises the following steps.

[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in an initial step of the single-sheet method, 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 further insert member. The plastic sheet 3 is drawn into the first tool half 2, forming the outer component geometry, via vacuum.

[0054] 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.

[0055] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, 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.

[0056] As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the next step, 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 step, 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 improved.

[0057] The illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 9 through 14 represent an alternative embodiment of the production method, namely a twin-sheet method for production of a half-shell.

[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 9, in an initial step 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 11, in the next step, the insert member 1 to be surrounded is laid in the first tool half 2.

[0061] 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.

[0062] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the surplus material is cut off behind the undercut by the cutting edges introduced into the tool. These cutters may, as in FIG. 3, also be contained in the sliders 4.

[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 14, the finished component is represented, wherein the surplus plastic below the undercut and the slider 4 has been cut away.

[0064] As illustrated in FIG. 15, a high-pressure container is represented in accordance with one or more embodiments. The high-pressure container comprises a cylinder 10 as a middle region, wherein the cylinder 10 comprises a multilayer composite plastic 11 which comprises a barrier layer 12, wherein the high-pressure container furthermore comprises at least one half-shell 13 at an axial end of the cylinder 10, wherein the half-shell 13 comprises a multilayer composite plastic 11 comprising a barrier layer 12, wherein the half-shell 13 furthermore comprises a substantially rotationally symmetrical insert member 1, namely a boss member, wherein 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, wherein the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half-shell 13 is arranged axially on both sides of the undercut of the insert member 1.

[0065] 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 middle region of the insert member 1. The multilayer composite plastic 11 is axially arranged on both sides of the foot member 14. The foot member 14 has several grooves 15 which are filled with the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half-shell 13.

[0066] The insert member 1 has substantially the shape of a hollow cylinder. The foot member 14 has substantially the shape of a hollow cone.

[0067] 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.

[0068] 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.

[0069] 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

[0070] The cylinder 10 and the two half-shells 13 are wrapped with a fibre material 16, preferably a composite material comprising carbon fibres and/or glass fibres and/or epoxy resin.

[0071] 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.

[0072] Boss members 1, namely 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.

[0073] 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.

[0074] 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

[0075] 1 Insert member, boss member [0076] 2 First tool half [0077] 3 First plastic sheet [0078] 4 Slider [0079] 5 Second tool half [0080] 6 Second plastic sheet [0081] 7 Receiver [0082] 10 Cylinder [0083] 11 Multilayer composite plastic [0084] 12 Barrier layer [0085] 13 Half-shell [0086] 14 Foot member [0087] 15 Groove [0088] 16 Fibre material