GAS TANK

Abstract

The gas tank disclosed herein includes a tank body, a first neck, a neck mount, a mount plate, and a plate bolt. The first neck extends from one end of the tank body along its axis and is provided with external threads on its outer periphery. The neck mount is a component for fixing the tank body to the apparatus, and has a first female screw hole that is screwed into the male screw of the first neck. The mount plate has a second female screw hole screwed into the male screw and faces the neck mount. The plate bolt presses the mount plate against the neck mount along the axis.

Claims

1. A gas tank comprising: a tank body; a first neck extending along an axis of the tank body from one end of the tank body and including an external thread on an outer periphery; a neck mount for fixing the tank body to an apparatus, the neck mount having a first internal thread hole engaged with the external thread; a mount plate having a second internal thread hole engaged with the external thread and facing the neck mount; and a plate bolt for pressing the mount plate against the neck mount parallel to the axis.

2. The gas tank according to claim 1, further comprising: a second neck provided at the other end of the tank body and extending along the axis; a neck block for supporting the tank body on the apparatus, the neck block having a recess and having, at a bottom of the recess, a hole through which the second neck passes; a slide collar fitted to an outer periphery of the second neck and disposed in the recess; a cover plate that covers the recess; and a cover bolt for fixing the cover plate to the neck block, the cover bolt being fastened to the neck block along the axis.

3. The gas tank according to claim 2, wherein the cover plate is bisected in a plane passing through the axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like signs denote like elements, and wherein:

[0020] FIG. 1 is an overall plan view of a gas tank 100 of an embodiment;

[0021] FIG. 2 is an overall side view of the gas tank 100 of the embodiment;

[0022] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the periphery of the first neck 110;

[0023] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the periphery of the second neck 120; and

[0024] FIG. 5 is a side view of a gas tank 100a according to a modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0025] A gas tank 100 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall plan view of the gas tank 100, and FIG. 2 shows an overall side view of the gas tank 100. The gas tank 100 stores hydrogen gas and is mounted on the fuel cell 900. The fuel cell 900 is an example of a device for fixing the gas tank 100. Only a portion of the fuel cell 900 is shown in the figure.

[0026] The main body (tank body 101) of the gas tank 100 is an elongated cylindrical shape. The direction of the X-axis of the coordinate system in the drawing coincides with the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the tank body 101. One axial end of the tank body 101 is provided with a first neck 110, and the other end is provided with a second neck 120. The first neck 110 and the second neck 120 are both cylindrical (or cylindrical) and extend along the axis of the tank body 101 and are provided with external threads on the outer periphery thereof. At least one of the first neck 110 and the second neck 120 also serves as a base, and a main stop valve is provided inside the base.

[0027] A neck mount 112 is attached to the first neck 110, and the neck mount 112 is fixed to the fuel cell 900 by a bolt 142. The neck mount 112 is secured to the first neck 110 by a mount plate 115 and plate bolts 141.

[0028] A neck block 122 is attached to the second neck 120, and the neck block 122 is fixed to the fuel cell 900 by a bolt 152. The neck block 122 is attached to the second neck 120 by a cover plate 125 and a cover bolt 151. The second neck 120 is not secured to the neck block 122 and the second neck 120 can move slightly relative to the neck block 122. That is, the neck block 122 may absorb movement of the second neck 120 due to expansion or contraction of the tank body 101.

[0029] One end of the gas tank 100 in the axial direction is fixed to the fuel cell 900 via the neck mount 112, and the other end is supported by the fuel cell 900 via the neck block 122. The neck block 122 allows axial movement of the other end of the tank body 101.

[0030] Structures of the first neck 110, the neck mount 112, and the mount plate 115 will be described. FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the first neck 110 and its surrounding components. A neck mount 112 and a mount plate 115 are attached to the first neck 110.

[0031] The neck mount 112 is plate-shaped and has a first female screw hole 113 and four small holes 112a. Each of the first female screw hole 113 and the four small holes 112a extends along the axial line of the tank body 101. The first neck 110 is inserted into the first female screw hole 113. A female screw into which a male screw of the first neck 110 is screwed is provided inside the first female screw hole 113. A female screw is also provided inside each of the four small holes 112a.

[0032] A flange 112b is provided in a lower portion of the neck mount 112, and a hole is also provided in the flange 112b. Bolts 142 are passed through the holes in the flange 112b and secured to the fuel cell 900. Bolt 142 secures neck mount 112 to fuel cell 900. When the neck mount 112 is fixed to the fuel cell 900, one end of the tank body 101 is fixed to the fuel cell 900. The neck mount 112 is a component for fixing the tank body 101 to the fuel cell 900.

[0033] The mount plate 115 has a plate shape, and is provided with a second female screw hole 116 and four small holes 115a. The first neck 110 is inserted into the second female screw hole 116. A female screw into which a male screw of the first neck 110 is screwed is provided inside the second female screw hole 116.

[0034] After the neck mount 112 is attached to the first neck 110, the mount plate 115 is attached to the first neck 110. When the mount plate 115 is rotated, the mount plate 115 approaches the neck mount 112. The mount plate 115 faces the neck mount 112.

[0035] When the mount plate 115 approaches the neck mount 112, the mount plate 115 is rotated so that the small hole 112a of the neck mount 112 and the small hole 115a of the mount plate 115 overlap each other. The small hole 115a has an inner diameter to which the plate bolt 141 can be loosely fitted. Plate bolts 141 are passed through the respective small holes 115a and the plate bolts 141 are fastened to the small holes 112a of the neck mount 112. The plate bolts 141 press the mount plate 115 against the neck mount 112 parallel to the axis of the tank body 101.

[0036] When the plate bolts 141 are further tightened, the distance between the first female screw hole 113 of the neck mount 112 and the second female screw hole 116 of the mount plate 115 deviates from an integer multiple of the pitch of the male screw of the first neck 110. When the distance between the first and second female screw holes deviates from an integral multiple of the pitch of the male screws, the thread grooves of the first and second female screw holes firmly adhere to the male screws of the first neck 110 in the pitch direction. As a result, the neck mount 112 and the mount plate 115 are fixed to the first neck 110. When the plate bolts 141 are loosened, each of the neck mount 112 and the mount plate 115 can be easily rotated, and the neck mount 112 can be easily removed from the first neck 110 (the tank body 101).

[0037] The structure of the second neck 120, the neck block 122, and the cover plate 125 will be described. FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the second neck 120 and its surrounding components. A neck block 122, a cover plate 125, and a slide collar 129 are attached to the second neck 120.

[0038] The neck block 122 is provided with a neck hole 123 and four small holes 122a. The inner side of the neck hole 123 has two stages, and a portion having a smaller diameter is referred to as a small-diameter portion 123a, and a portion having a larger diameter is referred to as a recess 123b. A small-diameter portion 123a is provided at the bottom of the recess 123b.

[0039] The second neck 120 is inserted through the neck hole 123. The diameter of the neck hole 123 (the diameter of the small-diameter portion 123a) is large enough for the second neck 120 to be loosely fitted. A female screw is also provided inside each of the four small holes 122a.

[0040] A slide collar 129 is disposed in the recess 123b of the neck hole 123. The slide collar 129 is cylindrical and internally provided with an internal thread into which the external thread of the second neck 120 is screwed. The outer diameter of the slide collar 129 is smaller than the inner diameter of the recess 123b, and the thickness (axial thickness) of the slide collar 129 is shorter than the depth of the recess 123b. Therefore, the slide collar 129 fits completely in the recess 123b. A gap (margin) is secured between the inner surface of the recess 123b and the outer surface of the slide collar 129. Also in the axial direction of the second neck 120, a gap (margin) is secured between the slide collar 129 and the bottom of the recess 123b.

[0041] A flange 122b is provided in a lower portion of the neck block 122, and a hole is also provided in the flange 122b. Bolts 152 are passed through the holes in the flange 122b and secured to the fuel cell 900. That is, the neck block 122 is fixed to the fuel cell 900.

[0042] The cover plate 125 has a plate shape, and is provided with a center hole 126 and four small holes 125a. The second neck 120 is inserted into the center hole 126. The diameter of the center hole 126 is sized to allow the second neck 120 to loosely fit. Further, since the diameter of the center hole 126 is smaller than the outer diameter of the slide collar 129, the slide collar 129 cannot pass through the cover plate 125. The cover plate 125 is vertically divided into two parts. In other words, the cover plate 125 is cut into two portions in a plane passing through the axis.

[0043] After the second neck 120 is inserted through the neck block 122 and the neck block 122 is fixed to the fuel cell 900, the slide collar 129 is attached to the second neck 120. The slide collar 129 is advanced to a position that fits within the recess 123b of the neck block 122.

[0044] After the slide collar 129 is attached to the second neck 120, the cover plate 125 is attached to the neck block 122. The cover plate 125 is fixed to the neck block 122 by four cover bolts 151. Each cover bolt 151 is threaded through the small hole 125a of the cover plate 125 and then screwed into the small hole 122a of the neck block 122. Each cover bolt 151 is fastened to the neck block 122 along the axis of the tank body 101.

[0045] As described above, the neck hole 123 (small diameter portion 123a) and the center hole 126 are loosely fitted to the second neck 120. The outer diameter of the slide collar 129 fixed to the second neck 120 is smaller than the inner diameter of the recess 123b. Further, the thickness of the slide collar 129 is shorter than the depth of the recess 123b. Therefore, the second neck 120 to which the slide collar 129 is fixed has room to move in the axial direction (the direction of the X-axis of the coordinate system in the drawing).

[0046] In the tank body 101, the first neck 110 is fixed to the fuel cell 900 via the neck mount 112, and the second neck 120 is supported by the fuel cell 900 via the neck block 122. The second neck 120 has room for axial movement. The tank body 101 expands/contracts in response to the internal pressure. Since the first neck 110 is fixed to the fuel cell 900, the second neck 120 may move relative to the fuel cell 900. The neck block 122 absorbs axial movement of the second neck 120 due to expansion/contraction of the tank body 101 due to the aforementioned room. When the tank body 101 expands or contracts, no significant stress is generated in the second neck 120.

Modification

[0047] FIG. 5 is a side view of a gas tank 100a according to a modification. In the gas tank 100a, the orientation of the plate bolts 141 differs from that of the gas tank 100 of the embodiment. In the gas tank 100a, the direction of the cover bolt 151 differs from that of the gas tank 100 of the embodiment.

[0048] In the gas tank 100a, the heads of the plate bolts 141 are located between the neck mount 112 and the tank body 101. Therefore, the gas tank 100a can effectively utilize the space outside the neck mount 112 (opposite the tank body 101).

[0049] In the gas tank 100a, the head of the cover bolt 151 is located between the neck block 122 and the tank body 101. Therefore, the gas tank 100a can effectively utilize the space outside the neck block 122 (opposite the tank body 101).

[0050] The points to be noted regarding the technique described in the embodiment will be described. The neck mount 112 is a component for fixing one end (first neck 110) of the tank body 101 to the device (fuel cell 900). The flange 112b of the neck mount 112 corresponds to a fixing portion for fixing the neck mount 112 to the device (fuel cell 900). The neck block 122 is a component for supporting the other end (the second neck 120) of the tank body 101 to the device (the fuel cell 900). The flange 122b of the neck block 122 corresponds to a fixing portion for fixing the neck block 122 to the device (fuel cell 900).

[0051] One of the first neck 110 and the second neck 120 also serves as a base, and includes a main stop valve therein. Both the first neck 110 and the second neck 120 may also serve as a base, and a main stop valve may be provided inside each base.

[0052] The slide collar 129 may be cut into two portions in a plane passing through the axis.

[0053] The gas tank disclosed in the present specification can also be applied to a device other than the fuel cell 900. The gas stored in the tank body 101 may be any gas.

[0054] Although specific examples of the disclosure have been described in detail above, the examples are merely examples and do not limit the scope of claims. The technique described in the claims includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples exemplified above. The technical elements described in the present specification or in the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing the application. In addition, the technique exemplified in the present specification or drawings can achieve a plurality of purposes at the same time, and achieving one of the purposes itself has technical usefulness.