High-pressure tank apparatus

• US 6,675,831 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HyPerComp Engineering Inc., Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Samtech International, Inc. (SAMTECH Co., Ltd.), Samtech Corporation
• Original Assignee: HyPerComp Engineering Inc., Kabushiki Kaisha Kawasaki Precision Machinery, Samtech International, Inc. (SAMTECH Co., Ltd.), Samtech Corporation
• Inventors: Sakaguchi, Yoshiki, Hogan, Shaun C., Saeki, Takehiko, Ishii, Seiji, Nomichi, Kaoru, Sakaguchi, Teppei
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US10/246,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 137/613, 137/505.25
• US Class Current: 137/613
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/06 built-up from wound-on bands or filamentary material, e.g. wires
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/14 constructed of aluminium; constructed of non-magnetic steel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/04 Arrangement or mounting of valves valves per se F16K ; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/056 Small (<1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0619 with two layers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0646 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0648 Alloys or compositions of metals
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0663 in form of fibers or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0305 Bosses, e.g. boss collars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0332 Safety valves or pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0335 Check-valves or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0382 Constructional details of valves, regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0385 in blocks or units
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0391 inside the pressure vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0397 on both sides of the pressure vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/011 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 : Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/031 : Air
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 : Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 : gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/035 : High pressure (>10 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 : Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/0123 : gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/035 : High pressure, i.e. between 10 and 80 bars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/012 : Reducing weight
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/018 : Adapting dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0168 : by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/05 : for industrial use
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/07 : for household use
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7808 : Apertured reactor surface surrounds flow line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87917 : Flow path with serial valves and/or closures

Abstract

To downsize a high-pressure tank apparatus comprising: a high-pressure tank in which high-pressure gas is charged; and a valve mechanism including a regulator valve for reducing the gas pressure in the tank, to prevent damage to the valve mechanism, and to facilitate the handling of the valve mechanism and the like, the valve mechanism is provided at a gas outlet of the high-pressure tank to locate inside of the tank. The valve mechanism includes a capsule fixedly attached to the gas outlet in a gas-tight manner to face the inside of the high-pressure tank. Within the capsule, a shut-off valve for providing and interrupting communication between the inside and outside of the tank by its opening and closing, respectively, and a regulator valve for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure gas in the tank are disposed.

Claims

1. A high-pressure tank apparatus comprising:

a high-pressure tank in which high-pressure gas is charged; and

a valve mechanism provided at a gas outlet of the high-pressure tank to locate inside of the tank,

the valve mechanism comprising

a shut-off valve for providing and interrupting communication between the inside and outside of the tank by its opening and closing, respectively, and

a reducing valve connected to the shut-off valve in series for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure gas in the tank.

2. The high-pressure tank apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism includes a capsule fixedly attached to the gas outlet in a gas-tight manner to face the inside of the high-pressure tank, and the shut-off valve and the reducing valve are placed within the capsule.

3. The high-pressure tank apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the high-pressure tank includes a tank body made of aluminium or resin, and a covering member for covering the outer periphery of the tank body for reinforcement.

4. The high-pressure tank apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the gas pressure in the high-pressure tank is set at 7 MPa to 75 MPa.

5. The high-pressure tank apparatus of claim 3, wherein the gas pressure in the high-pressure tank is set at 7 MPa to 75 MPa.

6. The high-pressure tank apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the gas is hydrogen gas.

7. The high-pressure tank apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the gas is natural gas.