DE102007013128B4 - Flexible inner tank for the tanks of a tanker - Google Patents

Abstract

flexible Inner tank for the tanks of a tanker, in particular a product tanker with an inserted, designed as an inner tank foldable film, the slide targets for Having force pulses and wherein the inner tank by at least one acting on the points of attack force pulse for folding in previously determined Form can be initiated.

Description

tankers are common only loaded on one way and can therefore only half of their potential Take advantage of load. To exploit their capacities on both routes they have to be able to to undergo an expensive cleaning. This changes by going inside the tanks for two or several different liquids each constructed a flexible tank. Be flexible tanks already for the transport of fluids in containers, as motor sport tanks and used in other extreme applications. Tankers could with equipped with flexible tanks be, so z. For example, oil and fresh water at the same time or on return trip to transport in a steel tank construction. Also a retrofit of existing ones Tanker would be possible.

fluids can stored in this way either in the rigid or flexible tank become. In the construction of the installed flexible tank is make sure that it is close to the structure at maximum filling level leaning on the rigid tank so as to maximize the available storage space to be able to. On the other hand, the flexible tank should be empty and when not in use to a minimum, so a very small storage space, fold to let.

From the DE 10 2004 014 507 A1 an inner tank for a tanker is known, which is referred to as a membrane, can be provided within the tank with a variety of auxiliary, steering and guiding devices that are to hold and guide him in each ship segment, while the inner tank filled or in the usual way it represent the figures, should be emptied.

The WO 95/29091 A1 describes the emptying and filling of an inner tank by entering and sucking its contents.

The DE 2 052 113 A shows an inner tank in accordion form, which opens when filling and folds when emptied again.

Of Further, in the prior art flexible tanks with floats known.

When folding, by floating the float 1 Through the medium in the rigid tank (Figures 2 and 3) of a previously outwardly arched body (foil tank), it may happen that the flexible body coincides more outwards (away from the body interior) than inside (towards the inside of the body). As a result, the outer skin of the body can be damaged by grinding / friction on the steel tank wall. In addition, a loss of volume in the second tank would be expected in this case, since this is not folded to a minimum storage volume. In addition, there are more technical problems. These are as follows:
The outer skin is relatively thin (about 5 mm) and therefore can not be exposed to large pressure forces. When filled, the outer skin therefore describes the contour of the rigid tank, but does not itself have a shaping structure.

At the Floating grinds / rubs the outer skin on the steel tank wall and wears it off.

At the Folding the process is the random principle. Kink kick not at previously defined points on the surface of the flexible tanks on, but hang from the random Initial position of the tank surface off and can such a cheap Make folding to a minimum stowage volume impossible. (See picture 2 and 3)

Of the Sense and the object of the invention is now the folding process a nearly structureless body from the outset the best possible to shape so the desired Cause effect as often as you like to be able to.

in the Case of a "multi-purpose tanker" this would be z. B. the "after inside "wrinkles" flexible tanks. A damage by friction would be as opposed to a "after Outside Folds "excluded, because the steel tank wall does not touch becomes. Also let so fold the flexible tank when not in use compact.

Farther Constrictions in previously defined are known in the art intervals, which allow the folding in the desired manner. (Accordion principle) Nachtei le are the complex production of the flexible body (the vulcanization between the individual sections), the vulnerability the constrictions on cracking and no adaptation of the flexible body to a rigid shell. This means Naturally Loss of transport volume, especially in our case. At big flexible Tanks can in certain circumstances also strength problems play a role.

The Invention has the object to the disadvantages of the prior art avoid. This is achieved according to the invention according to claim 1 by a Impulse, on the surface the flexible tank acts. It is a short-term, if possible perpendicular to the surface Directional force, which dictates such a kinking direction from the outset. This force can be both a pressure, as well as a tensile force.

When Power sources can Ropes, pistons and liquid or serve gas jets.

Brief description of a preferred embodiment:

Impulse by means of rope (mechanical):

train from the inside to predefined draw points (attachment points usually in the center of gravity of the area) on the flexible inner wall. For corner bodies (eg prism) these must also lie in the corner edges.

One around the body attached rope shortens and thus reduces the cross section at a predefined location.

Further explanation:

Impulse by means of plunger (mechanical):

print from the outside inside to the flexible body wall usually in the center of gravity of the flexible tank wall outer surface.

Impulse by means of a liquid or a gas (such as air):

Ejection from the body wall directed liquid jets or gas emissions at previously defined Digits that are used as the starting point of the "kink" for chosen a folding become. The beam thus works like a plunger.

The tank to be folded 2 . 7 is prepared so that points are applied to its centroids and the vertical edges of the surfaces to be folded. At these points will be ropes 8th attached, which converge in the middle of the tank to a node. Perpendicular to this, another rope is attached to the junction. If you pull now during the floating (through the medium 3 in the rigid tank 4 and the float 1 ) on the vertical rope (eg with winch and motor), this influences the position of the node 9 , All ropes connected to the tank stretch and shorten their horizontal distance. The surfaces of the tank thus bulge inward jerky. If this relative movement is so strong that the entire shell of the tank after the pulse within an imaginary volume 11 Located between the outermost breakpoints of the flexible tank, so the tank can be folded without the risk that he could fold to the outside. It should be noted that the train on the vertical rope does not have to be maintained throughout the folding process. It is sufficient to the outer skin beyond the previously specified limit 11 to draw.

With Help of flexible ropes (eg bungee cord) becomes more flexible Body, like the foil tank, brought to collapse. The ropes, which around the flexible tank are stretched in tubes of the same material as incorporated the film tank.

The prestressed rubber cord generates a pulse due to its restoring force inside, as soon as the film by pumping out the fluid inside the tank can relax. This leaves the foil controls falling inwards.

As soon as one uses the foil tank again and filled, the hydrostatic ensures Pressure of the fluid for a renewed expansion of the tank and rope. The rope serves as energy storage the restoring force, which later the already mentioned Achieved effect.

There are the special advantages:

Free Adaptation of the flexible body to a rigid shell, without the shape of the body to describe beforehand as in the Zieharmonikaprinzip.

Space-saving Folding opposite uncontrolled folding. No wear and damage to the flexible structure of the inner tank.

1

float

2

baggy Folientank after pumping a fluid from its interior

3

tank capacity

4

Ship hull with conventional rigid tank wall

5

Rope loop - by As she narrows her radius, she impulses the momentum Tank

6

pump takes the tank out of air - it creates a negative pressure, which collapses the tank -

7

foil tank

8th

rope

9

Hub, where the individual wires come together

10

attachment point of the wire rope on the tank wall

11

imaginary volume

Claims (4)

Flexible inner tank for the tanks of a tanker, in particular a product tanker with an inserted, as an inner tank formed foldable film, wherein the film has attack points for force pulses and wherein the inner tank through at least one of the attack points acting force impulse to fold in predetermined form be made can. Flexible inner tank according to claim 1, characterized characterized in that it is the force pulse is a mechanical impulse, z. B. a pulse that is exerted by ropes. Flexible inner tank according to claim 1, characterized that the force pulse is an externally acting hydraulic or pneumatic impulse, that of gases or liquids, z. B. in beam form, exercised becomes. Flexible inner tank after one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that the formed as an inner tank film attack points for power impulses which is so over are distributed to the tank, that at impulse triggering a simple power network arises.