Pressure Vessel Comprising a Load Ring, Motor Vehicle, and Method for Manufacturing a Pressure Vessel

Abstract

A pressure vessel for storing fuel is provided. The pressure vessel includes a liner for storing fuel, a fiber-reinforced layer which surrounds the liner at least in regions, and at least one load ring. Connecting pins project from the surface of the load ring, and the connecting pins protrude out of the fiber-reinforced layer. A motor vehicle including such a pressure vessel and a production method for the pressure vessel are also provided.

Claims

1. A pressure vessel for storing fuel, comprising: a liner for storing fuel; a fiber-reinforced layer which surrounds the liner at least in regions; and at least one load ring which encloses the liner, wherein connecting pins project from a surface of the load ring, and the connecting pins protrude out of the fiber-reinforced layer.

2. The pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the load ring comprises bolts which project from the surface of the load ring.

3. The pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the load ring comprises at least one laminate layer, and fibers of at least one ply of the laminate layer is oriented in a circumferential direction.

4. The pressure vessel according to claim 2, wherein the load ring comprises at least one laminate layer, and fibers of at least one ply of the laminate layer is oriented in a circumferential direction.

5. The pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the load ring bears directly or indirectly at least in regions against a boss and/or against a port, and/or the load ring is configured in one piece with the boss and/or the port of the pressure vessel.

6. The pressure vessel according to claim 4, wherein the load ring bears directly or indirectly at least in regions against a boss and/or against a port, and/or the load ring is configured in one piece with the boss and/or the port of the pressure vessel.

7. The pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the load ring is arranged in a cut-out region of the liner.

8. The pressure vessel according to claim 6, wherein the load ring is arranged in a cut-out region of the liner.

9. The pressure vessel according to claim 7, wherein the cut-out region is a groove or an annular seat.

10. The pressure vessel according to claim 8, wherein the cut-out region is a groove or an annular seat.

11. The pressure vessel according to claim 9, wherein the load ring and the supporting face and/or the annular seat are/is designed in such a way that the load ring is pushable on laterally from one end of the liner.

12. The pressure vessel according to claim 10, wherein the load ring and the supporting face and/or the annular seat are/is designed in such a way that the load ring is pushable on laterally from one end of the liner.

13. The pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the load ring is arranged in a transition region of the pressure vessel, and the load ring extends into a region of a pole cap.

14. The pressure vessel according to claim 12, wherein the load ring is arranged in a transition region of the pressure vessel, and the load ring extends into a region of a pole cap.

15. The pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the load ring is arranged adjacently in an axial direction with respect to a circumferential ply region of the fiber-reinforced layer, in which at least one fiber ply runs in a circumferential direction.

16. The pressure vessel according to claim 14, wherein the load ring is arranged adjacently in an axial direction with respect to a circumferential ply region of the fiber-reinforced layer, in which at least one fiber ply runs in the circumferential direction.

17. A motor vehicle, comprising: at least one pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the connecting pins of the pressure vessel are coupled to vehicle body attaching elements of the motor vehicle in such a way that forces and/or torques are transmittable from a vehicle body into the pressure vessel.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 17, wherein two load rings are provided on the at least one pressure vessel.

19. A method for producing a pressure vessel, the method comprising the acts of: providing a liner for storing fuel; providing at least one load ring and configuring the load ring to enclose the liner; and applying a fiber-reinforced layer such that the fiber-reinforced layer covers the load ring at least partially, and connects pins of the load ring protruding out of the fiber-reinforced layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure vessel.

[0036] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the detail A in accordance with FIG. 1.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a further enlarged cross-sectional view of the detail A in accordance with FIG. 1.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a further enlarged cross-sectional view of the detail A in accordance with FIG. 1.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line B-B of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a partial cross-section of a pressure vessel with a liner 110 and a fiber-reinforced layer 120. The liner 110 configures a storage volume 1 for the fuel. An outlet or an opening O for the stored fuel is provided at the front end P.sub.1. Said opening O and the boss 140 are not to be considered to be a connecting pin 132. The connecting pins 132 project from the surface 138 (cf. FIG. 5) of the load ring 130. The connecting pins 132 can have a support reinforcement (not shown) at the base of the connecting pins 132. Here, the connecting pins 132 are configured in one piece with the load ring 130 which bears directly against the liner 110 here. Here, the load ring 130 protrudes into the shell region M of the pressure vessel or the liner 110. Here, the load ring 130 is covered completely by the fiber-reinforced layer 120. Merely the connecting pins 132 protrude out of the fiber-reinforced layer 120. The protruding part of the connecting pins 132 advantageously serves to couple the pressure vessel to the vehicle body. The boss 140 has a neck 142, in which a further connector element 170 is inserted here. Adjacently with respect to the connecting pins 132, bolts 134 can likewise be arranged spaced apart radially from the boss (not shown here; cf. FIG. 5). If forces and torques are then transmitted by the vehicle body (not shown) to the connecting pins 132, said forces and torques are partially introduced directly into the fiber-reinforced layer 120. The load ring section 137 (not shown here; cf. FIG. 5) between the respective connecting pins 132 and bolts 134 can also transmit said forces and torques at least partially to the bolts 134. The bolts 134 then introduce the forces and/or torques into the fiber-reinforced layer 120 in a non-positive manner. Furthermore, the load ring section 137 introduces a part of the forces and torques into the fiber-reinforced layer 120 in an integrally joined manner. The forces and torques which are transmitted by the vehicle body are therefore introduced partially by way of the connecting pins 132 and bolts 134, in each case in a positively locking manner, and by way of the surface of the load ring section 137, in an integrally joined manner, into the fiber-reinforced layer 120. The forces and torques are therefore introduced comparatively extensively into the fiber-reinforced layer 120. Punctiform loads are reduced. Comparatively high forces and torques can therefore be transmitted overall with a low pressure vessel weight at the same time. Furthermore, the construction which is disclosed herein can be produced comparatively simply and therefore inexpensively. The load ring 130 itself additionally reinforces the vessel with regard to forces which result from the vessel interior pressure. If, for example, a load ring 130 made from a fiber-reinforced plastic is used, the fibers in the laminate can advantageously be arranged in the circumferential direction U (cf. FIG. 5). A blind boss is provided at the second end P.sub.2. Here, the load ring 130 bears predominantly against the liner 110. Otherwise, the load ring 130 corresponds substantially to the load ring 130. Here, the load rings 130, 130 can also be produced, for example, from aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows the detail A from FIG. 1. Circumferential plies (=hoop layers) 122 are provided in the circumferential ply region 126 in the fiber-reinforced layer 120, in the shell region M, which circumferential plies 122 run in the circumferential direction U, that is to say perpendicularly out of the plane of the drawing (that is to say, perpendicularly with respect to the axial and radial direction). On account of the additional circumferential plies 122, the circumferential ply region 126 has a greater thickness than an adjacent fiber region 128. The adjacent fiber region 128 is arranged directly next to the circumferential ply region 126 in the axial direction of the pressure vessel, and so as to adjoin said circumferential ply region 126. Here, said transition from the circumferential ply region 126 to the adjacent fiber region 128 makes up the transition region . The load ring 130 includes a plurality of connecting pins 132, of which only one is shown here. The connecting pins 132 project perpendicularly to the outside from the surface 138 of the load ring 130. Furthermore, the load ring 130 has bolts 134 which are arranged offset in the circumferential direction here (not shown here; cf. FIG. 5). The load ring 130 itself has at least one laminate layer 133, the fibers of which run in the circumferential direction U. Therefore, the load ring 130 is capable, in a similar manner to the circumferential plies 122 in the circumferential ply region 126, of absorbing forces which are caused by the pressure vessel interior pressure.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a further refinement of the detail A. In the following text, only the differences in comparison with the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 2 will be described. All other features are substantially identical. The pressure vessel which is shown here has a load ring 130 which is embedded in a cut-out region 112 (an annular groove here). Here, the surface 138 (cf. FIG. 5) of the load ring is configured so as to be flush with the adjacent surfaces of the liner 110. Furthermore, the connecting pins 132 and the bolts 134 do not protrude beyond the external diameter D.sub.a of the pressure vessel. Here, the bolts 134 and the connecting pins 132 are arranged offset in the axial direction with respect to one another. Here, furthermore, two rows of bolts are shown which, moreover, protrude out of the fiber-reinforced layer; these do not both have to be the case, however. Here, the load ring is of wider configuration than in the refinement in accordance with FIG. 2. Here, the load ring 130 is formed from an aluminum sheet. Other materials can likewise be used, however. 100% of the bolts can be concealed in the fiber-reinforced layer 120. The connecting pins 132 expediently project out of the fiber-reinforced layer, in order to make a connection to the vehicle body possible.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a further refinement of the detail A. In the following text, only the differences in comparison with the embodiments in accordance with FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described. Here, the load ring 130 is not arranged completely in the shell region M, but rather likewise extends into the pole cap P.sub.1. In the pole cap region, in particular, it is difficult to deposit reinforcing fibers in the circumferential direction U. The load ring 130 can be manufactured separately. It can be easier to provide circumferential plies in the load ring 130, which circumferential plies then avoid stress peaks in the installed position in the pressure tank. The supporting face of the load ring 130 is shaped in a corresponding manner with respect to an annular seat of the liner 110. In particular, the supporting face and the annular seat are designed in such a way that the load ring 130 can be pushed onto the annular seat laterally from one end of the liner. The load ring can therefore be mounted and/or positioned easily before the application of the fiber-reinforced layer 120. The surface 138 of the load ring 130 terminates flush with the adjacent surface sections of the liner 110.

[0044] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view along the line B-B from FIG. 2. Here, the pressure tank is configured with a circular cross section. Here, the load ring 130 lies directly on the liner 110. Here, connecting pins 132 and bolts 134 project in the radial direction from the surface 138 of the load ring 130. Here, the adjacent bolts 134 and connecting pins 132 are arranged in each case spaced apart in the circumferential direction from one another. If a force FA or a torque is then received via a connecting pin 132, the connecting pin 132 transmits a part of said load directly to the fiber-reinforced layer 120 (arrow F132). The other part of said load is introduced into the load ring 130. The load ring 130 or the load ring sections 137 transmits/transmit said other part to the bolts 134 which in turn distribute the load into the fiber-reinforced layer 120. The integrally joined introduction of load from the load ring section 137 into the fiber-reinforced layer 120 on the surface 138 of the respective load ring section 137 is not shown in further detail. The load ring can likewise also be attached to some fiber plies. It does not necessarily have to be fixed on the liner.

[0045] FIGS. 1 to 5 show an elongate pressure vessel which has a cylindrical region M and correspondingly curved ends P.sub.1, P.sub.2. Other pressure vessel shapes are also contemplated, however, and are also included by the technology which is disclosed herein. For example, the pressure vessel can have an elliptical basic shape. The cylindrical region M can also be of more bulbous configuration. The diameter might then vary in the cylindrical region M. The pressure vessel might also not be of rotationally symmetrical configuration.

[0046] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

TABLE-US-00001 List of Designations Liner 110 Groove 112 Fiber-reinforced layer 120 Circumferential plies 122 Circumferential ply region 126 Adjacent fiber region 128 Load ring 130 Connecting pins 132 Laminate layer 133 Bolt 134 Cap opening 136 Load ring section 137 Surface 138 Boss 140 Neck 142 Connecting section 144 Connector element 170 Opening O Pressure vessel longitudinal axis A-A Circumferential direction U Shell region M End, pole cap region P1, P2 Transition region U Liner diameter D1