JP2000334853A - Continuous production system for fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by braider - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a continuous production system for a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel under which the vessel is continuously produced using a braider device. SOLUTION: This continuous production system for a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel using a braider BR comprises a liner supply part 1 which supplies a liner LA for the pressure vessel, a braiding process part 2 which braids a reinforcing fiber layer FL on the liner LA, a resin impregnating process part 3 which impregnates the reinforcing fiber layer with a resin, a curing/molding part for curing the impregnation resin and a finish processing part for cutting an unnecessary part during each of the processes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a continuous production system for producing a fiber reinforced pressure vessel using a blader device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, liquefied petroleum gas (Liquefied
Petroleum Gas: Hereafter simply referred to as LPG. As a so-called LPG container for accommodating a compressed state, a metal container is generally provided for the purpose of ensuring pressure resistance and impact resistance. However, since the metal container is heavy, it requires a great deal of labor for transportation and handling, and has an economical problem of high cost.

[0003] In order to solve the difficulties and problems found in this type of pressure vessel, glass fiber, carbon fiber,
Alternatively, fiberglass reinforced plastics (hereinafter, FR) coated with a resin liner with a braided structure made of high-strength yarn such as nylon fiber
It is called P. There is an attempt to create a pressure vessel in). This F
The pressure vessel by RP can reduce weight and cost,
This is extremely advantageous in that it can be easily transported and handled and can be provided at low cost.

Conventionally, in order to manufacture a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by a blader, a reinforcing fiber layer is braided on a resin liner for a pressure vessel by a blader, and then the liner is transported to a resin-impregnated portion by a transport carriage or the like. After the resin impregnation process, each of them was individually processed such as being conveyed to a drying furnace provided at another place. Accordingly, the above-described conventional method has low production efficiency and is liable to cause variation in finished products, and has a serious problem in terms of a floor area occupied by the entire apparatus.

[0005] In other words, the conventional method relies on an operator for handling the pressure vessel since the production is performed on an individual basis. For example, an operator loads a pressure vessel between chucks disposed before and after the blader to perform a braiding operation, and when the reinforcing fiber layer is formed, stops driving the blader and connects the pressure vessel and the blader. The operator cut the thread and removed the pressure vessel. As described above, the pressure vessel on which the reinforcing fiber layer is formed is transported by an operator to each processing step using a transport trolley or the like. For this reason, there is a problem that it takes time to exchange and transport the pressure vessel with respect to the blader, and the production efficiency is low.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention
It is intended to reduce the weight and cost of the pressure vessel containing LPG etc., and to continuously produce fiber-reinforced pressure vessels by a braider that continuously produces fiber-reinforced pressure vessels along a series of processes. A production system is provided.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention specifically provides a liner supply section for supplying a liner for a pressure vessel, and a braiding section for assembling a reinforcing fiber layer on the liner. And a resin-impregnated section for impregnating the reinforcing fiber layer with a resin, a cured molding section for curing the impregnated resin, and a finishing section for cutting unnecessary portions and the like during each processing. Of the continuous production system.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to perform braiding while passing the liner at an entrance and an exit of the braiding section, the braiding section is provided between the liner supply section and the braiding section. A continuous production system of a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by a braider provided with a liner clamping means for clamping and transferring the liner between the section and the resin impregnated processing section or the cured molding section.

Further, in the present invention, the resin impregnated processing section and the cured molding section are provided with a liner moving means for moving the liner while rotating, and the liner moving means is provided with a relative liner moving means. It has a pair of upper and lower conveyors with different moving speeds at the top and bottom, and also constitutes a continuous production system of a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by a braider that sandwiches and transports the liner after braiding between the pair of upper and lower conveyors. is there.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a continuous production system of a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by a braider according to the present invention will be described.
This will be described in detail based on a specific embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall outline of a continuous production system of a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by a blader according to the present invention.
It is a schematic side view which shows the example of a specific structure of a liner supply part and a braiding part. FIG. 2 shows an overall outline of a continuous production system of a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by a blader according to the present invention. In the downstream configuration of the system, a resin-impregnated portion, a hardened molding portion, and a finishing process. It is a schematic side view which shows the specific structural example of a part. The arrow A in FIG. 1 is combined so as to be continuous with the arrow A in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing an example of the blader, and FIG. 4 is a schematic side sectional view of the blader shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the axial direction of the hollow container showing the configuration near the fiber bundle path from the bobbin carrier to the fiber bundle composition point in the blader of FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the axial direction of the hollow container showing another configuration near the fiber bundle path from the bobbin carrier to the composition point of the fiber bundle in the blader of FIG. 4, and FIG. It is a perspective view showing composition of an example of the 2nd guide. FIG. 8 is a schematic side sectional view showing a configuration example of a blader having a mold clamping mechanism.

First, an example of the configuration of a blader will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the blader BR includes a blader body Bb and an articulated robot hand device RH.

The blader body Bb includes a curved upper plate U having a predetermined radius of curvature R disposed in a substantially cylindrical machine base Fb having a horizontal axis and an opening e on one side. A bobbin carrier C that travels along a track that is bored in the circumferential direction, a driving device D that causes the bobbin carrier C to travel along the track, a yarn guide device G, and a bobbin support device for a middle thread or reinforcement. I.

[0014] Then, it is placed on the bobbin carrier C.
The yarn Y pulled out from the bobbin in the axial direction of the bobbin
Gather at the center of the plate U, and the robot hand device R
Liner L for pressure vessel handled in H_A Position of
Is the pressure vessel liner L _A Of the braid formed above
Assembling point P is located at the center of upper plate U
You. The robot hand device RH is a liner L for a pressure vessel.
_A Position control in one, two or three dimensions.
Can be.

[0015] Thus, with the bobbin carriers C are caused to travel along the track by a drive D, the position of the pressure vessel liner L _A is controlled by a robot hand device RH, As a result, a large number of yarns Y are interlaced Further, if necessary, the yarn y for the middle yarn is wound from the bobbin carrier C running substantially along the track from the bobbin carrier C disposed substantially horizontally on the frame Fb ′ of the machine base Fb. By being entangled with the article Y, braiding is performed, and the pressure vessel liner L
_A braid is assembled on _A.

After completion of the braid production by braiding, the yarns Y and y are cut by a cutting device 9 described later, and the pressure vessel liner L _A having the completed braid is provided.
The liner moving means 14 of the resin impregnated part 3 described later is carried out by carrying out and reversing operation by the robot hand device RH.
Passed to.

Next, the above-mentioned blader body Bb
A continuous production system for a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel including a hollow liner will be described in detail using a braider BR configured with a robot hand device RH.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 schematically show an entire configuration of a continuous production system of a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by a braider according to the present invention. The continuous production system of a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by a blader according to the present invention is basically a system in which a production process which has conventionally been divided into individual steps is systematized on one line. a liner supply unit 1 supplies _a, a braiding process unit 2 for assembling the reinforcing fiber layer FL on the pressure vessel liner L _a, a resin impregnation unit 3 which is impregnated with resin to the reinforcing fiber layer FL, the impregnation It comprises a cured molding section 4 for curing the resin, and a finishing section 5 for cutting unnecessary portions and the like during each of the above-mentioned processes.

[0019] The liner supply unit 1 includes a first liner clamping means 7 constituted by the reciprocating movable robot hand in the direction of arrow X ₁ in the machine body foundation 6 is provided. Said first liner clamping means 7, a portion La of the liner being supplied to the supply portion 1 come pressure vessel liner L _A while held by the chuck 8, the braiding process the pressure vessel liner L _A It is configured to feed into the entrance side of the braider BR in the section 2.

[0020] with respect to the braiding process unit 2 to fed the pressure vessel liner L _A from the liner supply unit 1, on the outer peripheral surface thereof is configured to reinforcing fiber layer FL is assembled by the braider BR . The basic configuration of the braider BR in the braiding section 2 is effectively applied as a configuration as shown in FIGS.

[0021] In one example, the outlet of the braiding process unit 2, be on the machine body foundation 6 is reciprocally moved in the direction of arrow X _2, and along the arrow X 'direction,
A reciprocating cutter mechanism 9 is provided. It said cutter mechanism 9 is intended for cutting machining terminal side of the reinforcing fiber layer FL with respect to the braider BR liner for pressure vessels due to braiding processing by L _B.

At the exit of the braiding part 2,
On the machine body foundation 6, the second liner clamping means 10 are provided constituted by a robot hand device RH articulated reciprocally movable in an arrow X ₃ direction. Said second liner clamping means 10, a portion Lb of the braiding process unit 2 braiding processed by the liners L _B while held by the chuck 11, the braiding process the treated pressure vessel liner L _B can be transported to the processing section in the next step.

[0023] by the clamping been braiding machining treated pressure vessel liner L _B by the second liner clamping means 10, the second liner clamping means 10,
The direction is appropriately changed (in the specific embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the direction is changed from the state in which the axial direction of the liner matches the feed direction to the state in which the axial direction of the liner is orthogonal to the feed direction. 2), the resin-impregnated section 3 and the cured molding section 4 which are downstream components in the system as shown in FIG.
And it is carried into the finishing part 5.

In the present invention, the resin impregnated part 3 is provided with the pressure vessel liner L _B having been subjected to the braiding treatment in the present invention.
Is provided with a resin storage tank 13 for storing the resin 12 to be impregnated in the reinforcing fiber layer FL.

[0025] In the present invention, rotating the resin-impregnated part 3 with respect to the cured molding unit 4 and the finishing unit 5, braiding machining treated pressure vessel liner L _B introduced by the second liner clamping means 10 Liner moving means 14 for moving while moving is combined.

The liner moving means 14 according to the specific embodiment shown in FIG. 2 comprises a first liner moving means 14A combined with the resin impregnated section 3 and a second liner moving means 14 combined with the cured molding section 4 and the finishing section 5. And the liner moving means 14B.

In one example, the liner moving means 14 includes an upper conveyor mechanism 15 and a lower conveyor mechanism 16.
Has become from those containing bets, by said pair of upper and lower conveyor mechanism 15, to form a conveyor transport path 17 for transporting braiding machining treated pressure vessel liner L _B end La, sandwich the Lb .

The upper conveyor mechanism 15 and the lower conveyor mechanism 16 of the liner moving means 14 are provided with separate driving sources 18 and 19, respectively, so that the upper conveyor mechanism 15 and the lower conveyor mechanism 16 Can be driven at relatively different speeds.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the upper conveyor mechanism 15 of the liner moving means 14 is configured to be driven to rotate in the direction of arrow a (clockwise in the figure). 14, the lower conveyor mechanism 16 is in the direction of arrow b (counterclockwise in the figure).
Be configured so as to rotationally drive towards, when conveying the liner L _B after braiding to sandwich the conveyor transport path 17 formed by the pair of upper and lower conveyors, the braiding process the treated pressure vessel the use liner L _B can be rotated conveyed.

In the present invention, the cured molding section 4 comprises:
The resin-impregnated liner L _C in the curing molding section 4 is constituted by a continuous curing furnace or a plurality of curing furnaces.
Is conveyed in a rotating state by the liner moving means 14 composed of the upper conveyor mechanism 15 and the lower conveyor mechanism 16, and the impregnated resin is cured in the process of being rotationally conveyed in the cured molding section 4. it can be a cured processed liner L _D.

On the other hand, wherein the finishing unit 5, Yes and the cutter mechanism 20 is provided, the cutter mechanism 20, fiber reinforced of interest by cutting a part of the unnecessary in the impregnating resin curing processed liner L _D Finish into a pressure vessel.

According to the present invention, it is also possible to apply a blade that is configured to impregnate a resin between the carrier and the composition point of the blade, and in this case, the resin impregnated portion 3 is used. is not necessary to provide the portion indicated in FIG. 2, the second liner clamping means 10 braiding machining treated pressure vessel liner L _B being nipped by is carried directly to the cured molding section 4 .

Further, braider of the present invention may be a structure having a diaphragm device and a mold clamping device for close contact with the surface of the pressure vessel liner L _A reinforcing fiber layer FL, with these devices The blader can be effectively applied as a blader in the continuous system of the fiber-reinforced pressure vessel according to the present invention. A brief description will be given below in order.

First, as shown in FIG.
_A pair of annular guides 22a, 22b positioned forward of the turning surface of the fiber bundle 21 in the composition direction (forward and reverse directions) of the braiding layer 26 and capable of being passed by the pressure vessel liner LA. Are arranged at intervals and fixed to the frame of the braider BR by a suitable member (not shown). Annular guides 22a, 22b
Guides the fiber bundle 21 fed from the bobbin carrier C to the composition point, is for realizing a stable composition of braiding layer 26 on the pressure vessel liner L _A.

A resin impregnating ring 23 having a larger diameter than the annular guides 22a and 22b is disposed between the pair of annular guides 22a and 22b in the blader BR, and is fixed to the frame of the blader BR by a suitable member (not shown). ing. The inside of the resin impregnation ring 23 is hollow, and a large number of minute holes are uniformly provided on the outer wall. Then, inside the resin impregnating ring 23,
The resin is constantly supplied by a suitable supply means (not shown), and the resin exudes from a hole in the outer wall of the resin impregnating ring 23. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the fiber bundle 21 traveling from the bobbin carrier C to the annular guide 22a (22b) always comes into contact with the outer wall of the resin impregnating ring 23 on the way.

Bobbin carrier C and ring 2 for resin impregnation
3 between the bobbin carrier C and the annular guide 22a.
A resin injection device 24 for spraying the resin onto the fiber bundle 21 toward (22b) is disposed, and a resin collecting tray 25 having a drain 24 is provided at a position facing the resin injection device 24 with the resin bundle 19 interposed therebetween. Are located. The resin injection device 24 and the resin collecting tray 25 are fixed to the frame of the blader BR by appropriate members (not shown).

As can be seen from FIG. 5, when the braiding is performed, the fiber bundle 21 traveling from the bobbin carrier C to the annular guide 22a (22b) is sprayed with resin by the resin injection device 24 in the middle thereof. Further, the resin is impregnated by coming into contact with the resin impregnating ring 23.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
The cavity is located in front of the turning section of the fiber bundle 21 in the composition direction of the braiding layers (axial direction of the pressure vessel liner L _A), and a pair that may be passed by a pressure vessel liner L _A cyclic Guides 22a, 22b are spaced apart and secured to the braider BR by suitable means (not shown). A pair of annular guides 22
The fiber bundles 21 a and 22 b are designed so that the size of the opening can be changed, and the fiber bundles 21 fed from the bobbin carrier C
Guides the up composition point, realizes a stable composition of braiding layer 26 on the pressure vessel liner L _A.

As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of annular guides 22
a, on the outside of the 22b, the second guide 27a between the annular guide 22a, 22b and the pressure vessel liner L _A, 2
7b is fixed to the blader BR by a suitable means (not shown). The second guide 27a,
27b is, and are configured to be in close contact with the fiber bundle 21 into the pressure vessel liner L _A by changing the size of the aperture according to the shape of the pressure vessel liner L _A.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of the second guides 27a and 27b. The second guide 27a,
27b have the same configuration,
Shows only one second guide 27b. As shown in FIG. 7, the second guide 27b includes a pair of wire winding / feeding-out rollers 28a, 28 which are arranged at intervals.
and a wire 30 stretched between the rollers 28a and 28b and forming a loop 29 in the middle. In this case, the roller 28a, 28b is supported by the braider BR by suitable members (not shown), are arranged to the motion of the pressure vessel liner L _A, and do not interfere with the movement of the annular guide 22b position when braiding. In this example, the opening of the loop 29 forms the opening of the second guide 27b.

The second guide 27b further includes a loop 29
Is arranged at an intersection of the wire 30 to form the, while maintaining a cross state of the wire 30 may be reciprocated in the radial direction of the pressure vessel liner L _A when the diameter of the loop 29 is changed (arrows in Fig. 7 C) Loop holding / moving member 31
have. The loop holding / moving member 31 is also a roller 2
8a, as with 28b, attached to the frame of the braider BR by suitable members (not shown) so as not to interfere with the movement of the moving and annular guide 22b of the pressure vessel liner L _A at the time of braiding.

[0042] As apparent from FIG. 6, the dome portion d of the pressure vessel liner L _A, diameter decreases sharply in the pressure vessel liner for L _A in the axial direction of the pressure vessel liner L _A. The opening of the annular guide 22b and the opening of the loop 29 of the second guide 27b gradually become smaller as the braiding is performed toward the center of the dome portion d. At this time, the annular guide 22b forms a composition point, and the fiber bundle 21 is precisely controlled in composition by changing the size of the opening of the annular guide 22b. the loop 29 of the second guide 27b which is arranged close to or in contact with the 26 surface of the brought into close contact with the pressure vessel liners L _a.

That is, according to the braider BR,
The annular guides 22a, 22a, 2b correspond to changes in the shape of the liner.
2b and the openings of the second guides 27a and 27b are changed, so that the fiber bundle 21 to be braided is changed.
Is a pressure vessel liner L while controlling its angle.
_A close contact with _A. As a result, the liner for a pressure vessel along the fiber bundle 21 is in the shape of a pressure vessel liner L _A L _A
Braiding layer 26 is a composition in close contact with the, there is no gap between the pressure vessel liner L _A and braiding layer 26.

Next, based on FIG. 8, for example, provided outside the first composition position stabilizing guide member 32 and outside the second composition position stabilizing guide member 33 near the composition point P, immediately after the composition or immediately before the composition. The mold clamping device 50 that presses the braid from the outer periphery will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, in the mold clamping device 50, a base plate 51 formed in a ring shape has a plurality of guide rollers 63 rotatably attached to a frame 59 of the mold clamping device 50.
・ ・ It is rotatably supported by The base plate 5
1 is formed in a gear shape, and a frame 59 is formed.
61 that is driven to rotate by a motor 62 fixed to the
The base plate 51 is configured to be rotatable by a motor 62.

A plurality of roller members 52 are mounted on the base plate 51 via an arm 53 on the same circumference. One end of the arm 53 is rotatable about a pivot point 55. A roller member 52 is rotatably attached to the other end of the arm 53.
A spring 57 is interposed between the arm 53 and the base plate 51, and the spring 57
Is urged inward of the base plate 51.

The thus configured mold clamping device 50 is
Outside of one composition position stabilizing guide member 32 and second composition position
By attaching it to the outside of the positioning stability guide member 33,
8, immediately after or after the braid is composed
Liner L for pressure vessel just before _A Is the mold clamping device 50
Pass through, pressure vessel liner L_A Roller member on the outer periphery of
52 will be located. In this case, the mold clamping device 50
Of the pressure vessel liner L_A Composed into
Press against the braid immediately after being braided or immediately before being formed
The radial position of the braid is adjusted
It is pressed and crushed by the rubber member 52. And
The base plate 51 of the mold clamping device 50 is
The liner L for pressure vessel_A Is passing by the motor 62
Since the roller member 52 is driven to rotate, the roller member 52 is used for a pressure vessel.
Liner L_A While revolving around the periphery of
Press the braid.

As described above, the roller member 52 is moved by the urging force and the position of the spring 57 to adjust the pressure vessel liner L.
By pressure contact with the outer peripheral portion of the _A, by pressing the braid just before it is or the composition after being composition pressure vessel liner L _A, Ya yarns Y cross section constituting the braid is formed in a substantially circular shape The mold can be clamped so that the fiber bundle is crushed and flattened. Thereby, it is possible to increase the density of the assembled braid and to form the braid thinly.

[0048]

According to the continuous production system of the fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by the braider of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure,
It can be said that systematizing the conventional production process for each process on a single line has a very effective effect in that the production efficiency of the fiber-reinforced pressure vessel can be improved.

Further, the continuous production system of the fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by the braider according to the present invention eliminates the problem of high weight, which is the biggest difficulty observed in the conventional metal pressure vessel.
By using a pressure vessel made of braiding,
This can be said to be extremely effective in reducing the weight of the pressure vessel.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an overall outline of a continuous production system of a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by a braider according to the present invention. In the upstream configuration of the system, a liner supply section and a braiding are shown. It is a schematic side view which shows the example of a specific structure of a process part.

FIG. 2 shows an overall outline of a continuous production system of a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by a braider according to the present invention. It is a schematic side view which shows the specific structural example of a part and a finishing part. The arrow A in FIG. 1 is combined so as to be continuous with the arrow A in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing an example of a braider applied to a continuous production system of a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by a braider according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side sectional view of the blader shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the axial direction of a hollow container showing a configuration near a fiber bundle path from a bobbin carrier to a fiber bundle composition point in a blader.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the axial direction of the hollow container showing another configuration near the fiber bundle path from the bobbin carrier to the fiber bundle composition point in the blader.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an example of a second guide.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side sectional view showing a configuration example of a blader having a mold clamping mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 liner supply section 2 braiding section 3 resin impregnated section 4 hardening section 5 finishing section L _A pressure vessel liner L _B braided pressure vessel liner L _C resin impregnated liner L _D impregnated resin curing Treated liner La One end of liner Lb The other end of liner FL Reinforcement fiber layer 6 Airframe foundation 7 First liner clamping means 8 Chuck 9 Cutter mechanism BR Blader RH Robot hand device 10 Second liner clamping means 11 Chuck 12 Resin 13 Resin storage tank 14 Liner moving means 14A First liner moving means 14B Second liner moving means 15 Upper conveyor mechanism 16 Lower conveyor mechanism 17 Conveyor paths 18, 19 Drive source 20 Cutter mechanism

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E072 AA10 BA04 CA01 GA30 3J046 AA14 BA03 CA04 EA02 4F205 AA36 AD16 AE10 AG07 AH55 AM21 HA14 HA23 HA33 HA37 HA40 HA44 HB01 HC02 HF01 HF23 HF25 HG03 HG04 HK02 HK03 HK03 HK03

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A liner supply section for supplying a pressure vessel liner, a braiding section for assembling a reinforcing fiber layer on the liner, a resin impregnating section for impregnating the reinforcing fiber layer with a resin, A continuous production system for a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel using a blader, comprising a cured molding section for curing, and a finishing section for cutting unnecessary portions and the like during each processing. 2. In order to perform braiding while delivering the liner at an entrance and an exit of the braiding part, the braiding part is provided between the liner supply part and the braiding part. The continuous production system for a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by a blader according to claim 1, further comprising a liner clamping means for clamping and transferring the liner between the impregnated portion and the cured molding portion. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a liner moving means for moving the liner while rotating the resin impregnated part and the cured molding part, wherein the liner moving means has a relative moving speed of up and down. The continuous production of a fiber-reinforced pressure vessel by a blader according to claim 1, comprising a pair of upper and lower conveyors different from each other, wherein the liner after braiding is conveyed between the pair of upper and lower conveyors. system.