Pressurized Fluid Tank and Method and Apparatus for Producing One Such Tank

• US 20110056960A1
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA), Societe De Technologie Michelin (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Essinger, Olivier, Blanc, Claude, Stacchi, Cesare
• Granted Patent: US 8,313,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/588
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/602 for tubular articles having closed or nearly closed ends, e.g. vessels, tanks, containers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/24 using threads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/086 and with one or more layers of pure plastics material, e.g. foam layers applying a non-preformed coating, e.g. a gel-coat, B29C37/0025; with foam blocks B29C70/86
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/32 on a rotating mould, former or core
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/86 Incorporated in coherent impregnated reinforcing layers, e.g. by winding
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7156 Pressure vessels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/06 built-up from wound-on bands or filamentary material, e.g. wires
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/16 constructed of plastics materials shaping of plastics B29C
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0104 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/056 Small (<1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0604 Liners
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0607 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0617 with one layer
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0621 with three layers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/066 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0663 in form of fibers or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0673 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0305 Bosses, e.g. boss collars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0397 on both sides of the pressure vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/2154 Winding
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/2163 : with a mandrel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/224 : Press-fitting; Shrink-fitting
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/232 : of walls
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 : Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 : gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 : Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0178 : Cars
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage

Abstract

A tank (1) for storing fluid under high pressure, of cylindrical overall shape and round cross section comprising at each of its ends along its axis (2), a metal end piece (3, 4), a liner (6) enveloping the said end pieces, and a structural layer (7) of fibre impregnated with thermosetting resin enveloping the said liner.

Claims

1. A tank for storing fluid under high pressure, of cylindrical overall shape and round cross section comprising at each of its ends along its axis, a metal end piece, a liner enveloping said end pieces, a structural layer of fibre impregnated with thermosetting resin enveloping said liner, each end piece comprising an external bearing surface that bears against the liner, the said bearing surface comprising a non-cylindrical part, the internal pressure of the tank acting to clamp said end pieces against the liner.

2. The tank according to claim 1, wherein each end piece further comprises an elastomer seal placed in an annular groove of the non-cylindrical part of the exterior surface of the said end piece, the internal pressure of the tank acting to clamp the end piece against the liner, compressing the seal.

3. The tank according to claim 2, wherein the seal is an O-ring.

4. The tank according to claim 1, the structural layer being a layer of carbon fibre.

5. The tank according to claim 1, further comprising an exterior protective layer of glass fibre enveloping the structural layer.

6. The tank according to claim 1, wherein the structural layer and, where appropriate, the protective layer (8) consists of a tape of fibres (15) wound around the liner.

7. The tank according to claim 1, wherein the liner is made of polyamide with a thickness less than or equal to 3 mm.

8. The tank according to claim 1, wherein, for each end, a shell ring external to the structural layer and secured to the end piece holds it axially in place.

9. The tank according to claim 1, wherein, for each end, hooping keeps each end of the liner radially clamped against the end piece.

10. The tank according to claim 1, wherein the outside diameter of the end pieces corresponds substantially to the inside diameter of the tank.

11. A method of manufacturing a tank of cylindrical overall shape of round cross section for the storage of high-pressure fluid, the tank comprising, about an axis, a liner and a structural layer, the method comprising steps successively involving:

placing metal end pieces inside a tube intended to form the liner;

shaping the ends of the tube to the exterior shape of the end pieces by locally reducing the diameter of the tube; and

winding at least one tape of fibre impregnated with thermosetting resin around the liner to form the structural layer of the tank.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising placing elastomer seals in annular grooves of the radially exterior surface of the end pieces facing the tube intended to form the liner.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising placing hooping around the ends of the tube which are formed over the end pieces.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising winding a second tape of fibre impregnated with thermosetting resin around the structural layer to form a protective outer layer of the tank.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the second tape of fibres is married up with the first tape of fibres.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein an internal pressure is maintained in the volume of the preform consisting of the liner and of the end pieces while the tape is being wound.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein axial traction is maintained on the preform consisting of the liner and of the end pieces while the tape is being wound.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein two tapes are simultaneously wound substantially symmetrically with respect to the axis of the preform consisting of the liner and of the end pieces.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein, in order to preform the winding, the preform consisting of the liner and of the end pieces is rotated about its axis, the preform being held by the end pieces, the tapes being guided by a mobile means able to move parallel to the axis of the preform.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the axis of the preform is kept substantially horizontal during winding.

21. An apparatus for winding a tape of fibres around a preform of cylindrical overall shape of round cross section comprising:

a rotary support able to hold the preform by its ends;

means of rotating the rotary support about the axis of the preform;

a feed device for feeding resin-impregnated fibre tape; and

means for moving the feed device parallel to the axis of the preform.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the fibre tape feed device comprises a device for impregnating the tape with liquid resin.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the impregnation device uses at least one cascade of liquid resin arranged such that the tape passes through it.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the impregnation device uses several cascades arranged in such a way that the tape passes through them in turn.

25. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the tape emerges from the impregnation device via an eyelet able to guide the tape for winding around the preform.

26. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the rotary support allows axial tension to be applied to the preform.

27. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the rotary support allows a gas pressure to be maintained inside the preform.

28. The apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a second device for feeding fibre tape.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the second tape feed device is arranged symmetrically to the first feed device in relation to the axis of the preform.