AU2007216823A1 - Compressed fluid storage apparatus - Google Patents

Description

COMPRESSED FLUID STORAGE APPARATUS FIELD OF INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to compressed fluid storage apparatus. The invention has C/ particular application to the storage of compressed natural gas (CNG). The invention is also has 00 5 application to the storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen and blends of hydrogen and compressed natural gas (HCNG). However, the invention is not limited to this field of use. The Sinvention has more general application to the storage of compressed gases and/or pressurised 00 liquids, such as fuels.

C- BACKGROUND ART Use of compressed gases such as CNG and similar fuels in vehicles has been limited IC because the relatively low energy density of such fuels requires large storage volume to provide a viable operating range for such vehicles. For example, it is normally not practical to substitute a CNG tank for a typical fuel tank on a vehicle. Although a suitable location on prime movers, for example, for a plurality of fuel tanks is behind the cab above the chassis, for any location on or in a vehicle, an arrangement of compressed gas tanks would be required to meet both regulatory requirements for the safe transport of dangerous goods and engineering specifications.

In this specification, terms such as horizontal, vertical, upper and lower refer to the invention in its normal orientation, and are not to be taken as limiting the storage apparatus of the invention to any particular orientation.

The present invention aims to provide compressed fluid transport storage apparatus which substantially meets at least one of the aforementioned requirements and/or specifications.

Other aims and advantages of the invention may become apparent from the following description.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in compressed fluid storage apparatus for storage of compressed fluid in a plurality of containers including:two or more frames; two or more connecting members connecting to and extending between the frames such that the frames are held in substantially parallel relationship with respect to one another; container mounting means operatively associated with at least one frame and/or at least one connecting member for mounting a container to the storage apparatus, one or more of the zL container mounting means being arranged to provide triangulation between a connecting member and the frame to which it is connected.

The storage containers are typically compressed gas bottles, cylinders or tanks, for 00 example, having a substantially cylindrical body of circular cross section and appropriately shaped end caps, such as hemispherical or torispherical caps integrally formed with or onto the Mcylindrical body to provide a three dimensional obround shape. Preferably, the frames are two in 00 IN number and there are at least four connecting members connecting the frames. Preferably, the N container mounting means are provided in pairs for mounting the containers in substantially horizontally spaced, substantially parallel relationship to form a carrying frame. Preferably, the N 10 fluid storage apparatus further includes or is provided with vehicle mounting means for mounting the fluid storage apparatus to a vehicle. Preferably, the vehicle mounting means is operatively associated with one or both of the frames.

In another aspect, the present invention resides broadly in storage apparatus including: a carrying frame for supporting a plurality of storage containers in a predetermined array; mounting means for mounting the carrying frame to support means, said mounting means being configured to minimise loads applied to the storage containers by movement of the support means; and attachment means for attaching said carrying frame to a supporting base.

Preferably, the carrying frame is arranged as two or more frames and connecting members as hereinbefore described. The predetermined array may be a triangular grid or radially symmetrical assembly. Preferably, however, the predetermined array conforms to a square grid such that the central axes of the containers are in spaced parallel relationship and occupy orthogonally intersecting planes.

Preferably, the connection of the connecting members to the frames is braced by bracing means formed to circumscribe at least part of the space to be occupied by a container. In one example, the bracing means may be formed as a bracing strut arranged at an oblique angle with respect to both the frame and the connection member to which the frame is connected, the bracing strut being connected to both the frame and the connection member remote from their connection. In such form, the bracing strut is preferably arranged to maximise the bracing of the connection between the connecting member and the frame to which it is connected by forming a hypotenuse passing as close as is practicable to a container when supported in the carrying frame.

Oj It will thus be seen that by maximising the bracing of the connection, there will be a minimisation of loads applied to the storage containers movement, such as deformation, of the d support means.

00 In another example, the bracing means may be formed as a bracing plate forming a quarter, half, three-quarter or full circle having a diameter commensurate with the outer diameter CK, of the container (or at least the widest of them) and formed to connect along at least some of the 00 Nlength of the connecting member and frame. Preferably, the bracing plate is a substantially square plate dimensioned to be wider than the normal diameter of the cylinders to be supported in the 0 carrying frame and having a substantially circular penetration of diameter sufficient to accommodate a container (or the widest of them).

Preferably, container securing means are provided forming part of and/or in operative association with the carrying frame for securing the containers thereto or therein. Preferably, the securing means are formed as straps each so formed as to circumscribe a container. More preferably, the straps are provided in pairs, each member of the pair being spaced from the other so that each container may be secured by two straps in spaced relationship each to the other along the axis of the container. In such form, the straps preferably include means for tightening the strap around the outer circumference of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:- Fig. 1 is a pictorial view of storage apparatus with compressed gas tanks according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a detail view of part of the storage apparatus of Fig. 1 showing attachment of a tank to the carrying frame; Fig. 3 is a side view of the storage apparatus of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a front view of the storage apparatus of Figs. 1 and 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The storage apparatus 10 shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is described using reference numerals common referring consistently to each element even though each element and its corresponding reference numeral may not appear or be designated in each drawing. The storage apparatus includes a frame assembly 11 into which eight tanks of circular section and shown typically at 12 are inserted. The tanks are arranged in four bays stacked one above the other, two tanks to each bay. The frame assembly includes two back stile members 13 joined by three back transverse 00 members 14 and two X-shaped members 15 interposed between the three back transverse members to provide stiffness of the connection between the back stile members and the back a transverse members. The frame assembly further includes two front stile members 26 which 00 correspond to the back stile members 13. The stile members are spaced from one another to Smatch at least approximately the spacing of vehicle chassis member (not shown) to which the storage apparatus may be mounted. In the embodiment shown, the tanks extend beyond the spacing of the stile members.

Two extended upper transverse members 16 are provided, one each across the upper ends of the front and back stile members. Two diagonal members 29 are provided, one each extending from the vicinity of the intersection of the uppermost of the back transverse members to its corresponding back stile member to the vicinity of the end of the upper transverse member which extends across the upper ends of the back stile members. Two extended lower transverse members 20 are provided, one each across the lower ends of the front and back stile members.

The stile members and transverse members are connected substantially at right angles to provide a frame of substantially rectangular configuration. The ends of the upper and lower transverse members are connected by four longitudinal members 21, again substantially at right angles, the upper and lower transverse members being provided in a length sufficient to extend beyond the ends of the tanks. Four intermediate frame extensions 18 are provided, one each extending from each end of the lower two of the front and back transverse members and are configured substantially the same as the corresponding extended portions of the extended upper and lower transverse members and their corresponding longitudinal members. Ten intermediate longitudinal members 19 extend between the front and back stiles substantially from the intersection thereof with the respective front and back transverse members.

A pair of front mounts 22 are attached to the front stile members and a front transverse extension member 17 (forming part of the front transverse member) for attaching to complementary mounts, brackets or the like on the vehicle to which the frame may be mounted.

A single rear mount 24 is attached to the centre of the lower transverse member connecting across the lower ends of the back stile members. Two diagonal brace members 25 extend from the rear mount (or at least in the vicinity thereof) one each to the intersection of one of the back stile members to the lowermost of the back transverse members.

OO Each tank is held in place (substantially centrally of the storage apparatus in the direction of its axis) by a pair of straps 37 including tensioning assemblies 30. The straps each include a lug assembly 31 attached to the frame or remainder thereof in the vicinity of the C, intersection of the stiles and the transverse members and intermediate longitudinal members. For 00 IND the strap closer to one end of each tank, the lug assemblies are fixed to brackets 32 attached to the frame assembly. For the other strap, the lug assemblies are attached to floating brackets 33 attached to the frame assembly by way of slotted apertures for receiving bolts therethrough such that the floating brackets are able to move in an axial direction with respect to the tanks in order to accommodate expansion and contraction of the tanks.

The stiles and intermediate longitudinal members are reinforced against loads in the direction of travel of a vehicle to which the storage apparatus may be mounted by diagonal brackets 34 in the corners between the intermediate longitudinal members and the stiles of the upper two bays of tanks. The lower two bays are reinforced by pairs of plate stiffeners 35, two pairs for each of the tanks in the lower two bays. The plate stiffener pairs have a substantially square external periphery commensurate with the dimensions of the bays between adjacent intermediate longitudinal members, portions of the stile members and another plate stiffener (there being two adjoining one another across each bay). The plate stiffeners also have a circular inner periphery dimensioned to provide a clearance fit for the tanks to be inserted therethrough.

Each plate of the pair is spaced slightly from the other about the same distance as the thickness of the intermediate transverse members and/or stile members. The circular inner periphery of each plate stiffened is provided with a hoop member 36 to close gap between the plates of each pair.

In use, the storage apparatus of the present invention may be used to store a plurality of pressurised fuel tanks to accommodate the constraints of storage capacity of tanks, calorific value of stored fuel and the consequential limitations of operational range of the vehicle together with the configuration constraints of the vehicle itself. In the embodiment shown, the storage containers, tanks or the like are stacked into and supported by the frame and/or straps holding them in the storage apparatus. Of course, piping and/or fuel lines are provided to connect the tanks to a fuel delivery system, or alternatively, successive tanks may be removed and replaced from an active tank or tanks position.

Operational loads are accommodated by the stiffening provided by the diagonal brackets and/or stiffening plates which provide the bracing means formed to circumscribe at least part of the space to be occupied by a container. The straps forming the securing means are arranged to 00 accommodate expansion and contraction expected to occur with changes in pressure and/or temperature of the gas stored in the container. This is especially the case with tanks formed from carbo composite material.

00 IND The lower bays of the storage apparatus are provided with greater stiffening that the plate stiffeners provide, while the upper bays are still provided with bracing means by the Sdiagonal brackets. Loads transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle are accommodated by ,I 10 the X-shaped members which triangulate the stiles and transverse members.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific example, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art the invention may be embodied in other forms within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (7)

1. Storage apparatus for storage of compressed fluid in a plurality of containers including:- 00 _two or more frames; two or more connecting members connecting to and extending between the frames such e¢ that the frames are held in substantially parallel relationship with respect to one another; 00 container mounting means operatively associated with at least one frame and/or at least INO one connecting member for mounting a container to the storage apparatus, one or more of the container mounting means being arranged to provide triangulation between a connecting member and the frame to which it is connected.

2. Storage apparatus including: a carrying frame for supporting a plurality of storage containers in a predetermined array; mounting means for mounting the carrying frame to support means, said mounting means being configured to minimise loads applied to the storage containers by movement of the support means; and attachment means for attaching said carrying frame to a supporting base.

3. Storage apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the carrying frame is arranged as two or more frames and connecting members according to Claim 1.

4. Storage apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 3, wherein the connection of the connecting members to the frames is braced by bracing means formed to circumscribe at least part of the space to be occupied by a container.

Storage apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the bracing means is formed as a bracing strut arranged at an oblique angle with respect to both the frame and the connection member to which the frame is connected, the bracing strut being connected to both the frame and the connection member remote from their connection.

6. Storage apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the bracing means is formed as a bracing plate forming a quarter, half, three-quarter or full circle having a diameter commensurate 8 O with the outer diameter of a container and formed to connect along at least some of the length of S the connecting member and frame. 0 0

7. Storage apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. CO Dated this 18 h day of September 2007. 00 EDL GROUP OPERATIONS PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys AHEARN FOX