JP2022021576A - Tank fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a tank fixing device that suppresses movement of a metal band even when a tank expands and extends along an axial direction, and can suppress cracks or wear of a band cover.SOLUTION: A tank fixing device 100 for fixing a tank 20 by fastening a band 11 disposed along an outer periphery of the tank to a support member includes the band including a metal band 41 and a rubber cover 61 or resin cover for covering the metal band. A gap is provided on an opposite side to an extension direction of the tank inside the rubber cover or resin cover. The metal band can slide on an inside of the rubber cover or resin cover.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a tank fixing device.

When the high-pressure gas tank is filled with gas, the tank axial direction expands as the tank internal pressure rises. In recent years, the pressure has been increased and the tank pressure wall has become thinner, and the tank expansion ratio to the gas pressure has increased. On the other hand, the band restraint method is the mainstream for fixing the tank regardless of whether it is for stationary / vehicle use.

In Patent Document 1, a rigid frame (support member) having a three-dimensional cross section is placed on one side of the outer periphery of the tank, the tank is attached to the frame, and a substantially flat plate (low rigidity) metal band is placed on the other side. Disclosed is a tank fixing device for holding a tank by applying tension to the frame while fixing the frame to a rigid frame and pressing the other end with a coil spring. It is said that a rubber sheet may be interposed between the tank and the band.
Patent Document 2 discloses a vehicle equipped with a gas tank, comprising a bracket for fixing the vehicle body to the tank base portion and a band surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the tank and fixing the vehicle body to the vehicle body.

FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of band rattling when the tank 20 in the conventional tank fixing device 102 expands, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of a band 15 conventionally used. In FIG. 5A, the dotted line portion represents the state before the tank expansion and the solid line portion represents the state after the tank expansion, and the arrow indicates the direction in which the tank extends. In the conventional tank fixing device, as shown in FIG. 5B, the metal band is in contact with the tank via the band cover from the viewpoint of preventing damage to the tank and ensuring gripping friction force in the tank axial direction. When the tank extends along the tank axial direction, the band is also dragged in the tank extension direction together with the band cover by the static friction force at the high surface pressure portion near the center of the band length. As a result, problems such as the band being slanted, overcompression of the spring in the urging mechanism, cracking of the band cover, sliding between the band cover and the tank surface, and wear of the band cover occur. Can be done. In particular, in tanks that support one-sided neck mounts, long tanks, thin-walled tanks, etc., the amount of tank elongation is remarkable, so the above problems are likely to occur. The "tank elongation amount" represents an amount in which the tank extends along the tank axial direction from the position where the band is attached to the tank due to high-pressure gas filling or the like.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-070467 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-185843

The main object of the present disclosure is to provide a tank fixing device capable of suppressing the movement of a metal band even when the tank expands and extends along the tank axial direction, and suppresses the occurrence of cracks and wear of the band cover. And.

The present disclosure is a tank fixing device for fixing a tank by fastening a band arranged along the outer periphery of the tank to a support member as one means for solving the above problems, and the band is a metal band. A rubber cover or a resin cover for covering the metal band is provided, and a gap is provided inside the rubber cover or the resin cover on the side opposite to the extension direction of the tank, and the metal band is inside the rubber cover or the resin cover. Disclose a tank fixing device characterized by being slidable.

In the tank fixing device of the present disclosure, even if the tank expands and extends along the tank axial direction, the band cover is dragged and moved by the tank, the movement of the metal band is suppressed, and cracks and wear of the band cover occur. Can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a tank in which the tank fixing device 100 is arranged. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, further illustrating a slide amount depending on a band assembling portion. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing one aspect of the band. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing another aspect of the band. 5 (a) is an explanatory view of rattling of the band when the tank in the conventional tank fixing device 102 expands, and FIG. 5 (b) is a cross-sectional view of the band conventionally used.

[Tank fixing device]
1 and 2 are diagrams schematically showing a state in which the tank 20 is fixed to the tank fixing device 100. FIG. 1 is a side view of the tank fixing device 100, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 to explain the amount of slide of the band by the band assembling portion. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tank 20 is arranged in a recess of a support member 51 having a rigid frame (lower frame) having a hat-shaped cross section so that the tank axial direction is horizontal. The band 11 and the band 12 arranged along the outer circumference of the tank 20 are fastened by the urging mechanism portion 48, and the bands 11 and 12 and the flange portion of the support member 51 are fastened by the fixing mechanism portions 44 and 45, respectively. And the tank 20 is fixed. The tank 20 is a cylindrical tank that stores a high-pressure gas such as hydrogen, which is a fuel for a fuel cell vehicle. A metal valve 70 is provided on one end side of the tank 20, a pipe (not shown) for supplying gas is connected to the valve 70, and the valve 70 side is supported by a neck mount member 71. Hereinafter, each configuration will be described.

<Band A>
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing one aspect of the band. As shown in FIG. 3, the bands 11 and 12 are band-shaped members. The band 11 includes a metal band 41 and a band cover 61 that covers the metal band, and a slider plate 81 is interposed between the bottom surface of the metal band 41 and the inner surface of the bottom wall of the band cover 61. The band 12 includes a metal band 42 and a band cover 62 that covers the metal band, and a slider plate 82 is interposed between the bottom surface of the metal band 42 and the inner surface of the bottom wall of the band cover 62. Further, inside the band covers 61 and 62, a gap 30 is provided on the side opposite to the tank extending direction. The surfaces of the bands 11 and 12 formed by the width direction corresponding to the tank axial direction and the length direction perpendicular to the width direction are arranged along the outer circumference of the tank 20, and the thickness direction thereof is the radial direction of the tank. Become.

Band cover The band covers 61 and 62 cover the metal bands 41 and 42, and are arranged so that the outer surfaces of the bottom walls 61b and 62b of the band cover are in contact with the outer periphery of the tank 20. Inside the band covers 61 and 62, a gap 30 is provided on the side opposite to the extending direction of the tank 20 for the metal bands 41 and 42 to slide on the slider plates 81 and 82. By arranging the metal bands 41 and 42 in this way, when the tank expands and moves in the tank extension direction, the metal bands 41 and 42 move on the slider plates 81 and 82 in the direction opposite to the tank extension direction. You can slip.

The length B of the gap 30 in the width direction is not particularly limited as long as the metal band can slide on the side opposite to the tank elongation direction, but a length of about 70% or more of the tank elongation is preferable. A length of 90% or more of the tank elongation is more preferable, and a length of 90% or more of the tank elongation is further preferable. Since the amount of expansion of the tank varies depending on the change in the gas pressure of the tank, the type and size of the tank, and the like, the length B of the gap 30 can be set without limitation according to the characteristics of the tank.
For example, in a carbon fiber reinforced (CFRP) tank with a wall thickness that maintains sufficient strength under pressure, compressed natural gas (CNG) or hydrogen is filled and the internal pressure is reduced from 0 to maximum (20 MPa for CNG, hydrogen). Then, when it is set to 70 MPa), the elongation rate in the tank axial direction becomes about 0.5% to 1.0%, and when the wall thickness is further reduced, the elongation rate approaches 1.5%. Further, the pitch P, which is the length from the fixed position of the neck mount of the tank to the band, is long, about 1.5 m for automobiles, and about 5 m for railways, ships, and heavy trucks.

The inner dimensions of the band covers 61 and 62 in the thickness direction may be about the same as the combined thickness of the metal bands 41 and 42 and the slider plates 81 and 82. The thickness of the metal plate may be such that it can move smoothly in the band cover, and the metal bands 41 and 42 may have a margin of, for example, about 0.5 mm to 2 mm due to the slipperiness of the metal bands 41 and 42.

The band covers 61 and 62 have eaves 61a and 62a so that the gap 30 is not exposed even if the metal bands 41 and 42 move to either end in the tank axial direction. That is, the length of the eaves 61a and 62a in the width direction is longer than the length B of the gap 30 in the width direction. The eaves 61a and 62a have a mudguard effect and prevent the metal bands 41 and 42 from coming off the band covers 61 and 62. Further, the entire width direction of the metal bands 41 and 42 may be covered by the eaves 61a and 62a. 3 (a), 3 (b), and 3 (c) are also examples showing the cross-sectional shape of the band cover. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, the cross-sectional shape of the band covers 61 and 62 is made of metal with eaves 61a and 62a in order to ensure ease of manufacturing and easy assembly with the metal bands 41 and 42. A shape that does not cover the entire bands 41 and 42 and that a part of the cross section of the band covers 61 and 62 is open is preferable. Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), a cross-sectional shape having only a cut between the eaves and no open dimension may be used, or as shown in FIG. 3 (c), a cylindrical cross-sectional shape without a cut may be used. When there is a break between the eaves, the position is not particularly limited. In the case of a continuous tubular cross-sectional shape, the metal bands 41 and 42 can be inserted and arranged from the ends of the band covers 61 and 62.

As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2, when the tank extends along the tank axial direction, the slide amount of the band varies depending on the band portion, and the band covers 61 and 62 are in the tank at the high surface pressure portion near the center of the band length. The amount of dragging of 20 in the extending direction is large (20 mm is used in the example of FIG. 2, but the numerical value is not limited), and gradually approaches 0 from the center of the band length toward the fixing mechanism portions 44 and 45 described later.
The band covers 61 and 62 may be used as a part of the band length as long as they cover the surface where the contact between the bands 11 and 12 and the tank 20 is highly pressed. "Adopted as a part" means that a gap 30 is partially provided in a portion where the contact between the bands 11 and 12 and the tank 20 is highly pressed, or as shown in FIG. 2, the band cover reaches the middle of the metal band. (In the example of FIG. 2, it is provided so as to cover from the vicinity of the center of the band length to the intersection of the straight line ED and the band). The point E represents the center of the tank 20.
The portion where both the slide amount of the band and the band surface pressure toward the center of the tank 20 are small, that is, the portion where the band floats from the tank 20, need not be covered by the band covers 61 and 62.

As the material for forming the band covers 61 and 62, known rubber materials can be used without limitation, and for example, natural rubber, urethane rubber, fluororubber, silicon rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, and ethylene propylene rubber can be used. , Isoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber and the like. Further, known resin materials softer than CFRP resin can be used without limitation, and examples thereof include resins such as nylon. The material and thickness may be any material and thickness having strength to suppress the occurrence of cracks and wear of the band cover. For example, the thickness of the band cover may be about 0.5 mm to 5 mm. The thickness thereof may be different in the radial directions of the bottom walls 61b and 62b of the band cover, the eaves 61a and 62a, and the band cover.

-Slider plate In order to reduce the frictional resistance between the band cover and the metal band and prevent wear, metal or resin slider plates 81 and 82 are provided between the two. The slider plate can be omitted when, for example, a rubber, a resin material, or the like having low frictional resistance and high wear resistance is used as the band cover, as in the band B described later.

As the material for forming the slider plates 81 and 82, a known metal material or resin material can be used without limitation, but a sliding material having a low friction coefficient is preferable, and for example, if it is a metal material, a rolled steel plate or plating is used. If the steel plate, stainless steel plate, or the like is a resin material, examples thereof include polyacetal (POM), polyamide (PA), fluororesin (PTFE), and polyethylene (PE). The slider plates 81 and 82 have a width similar to the width inside the band cover, and the thickness is not particularly limited.

<Metal band>
The material for forming the metal bands 41 and 42 is not particularly limited, but the metal band is preferably a material that is advantageous in strength and elastic deformation, and is, for example, a rolled steel plate, a plated steel plate, a stainless steel plate, or the like. Can be mentioned. In addition, the material and thickness can be changed to obtain appropriate elasticity. The thickness of the metal band is not limited, and examples thereof include rolled steel plates, plated steel plates, and stainless steel plates having a thickness of about 0.5 mm to 2 mm. Further, the width can be changed in order to obtain appropriate tensile strength and seating stability on the tank surface, and the width of the metal band is not limited, but for example, those of about 10 mm to 150 mm are mentioned. Can be done.

As shown in FIG. 1, the base end portions 41a and 42a of the metal band are fixed to the support member 51 by the fixing mechanism portions 44 and 45, and the tip portions 41b and 42b of the metal band are fastened to each other by the urging mechanism portion 48. There is.

<Fixing mechanism>
The fixing mechanism portions 44 and 45 are located on opposite sides of each other via the tank 20, and have the same shape, size, and function. For the fixing mechanism portions 44 and 45, a known method of partially fixing the metal bands 41 and 42 to the support member 51 is used without limitation. For example, the base end portions 41a and 42a of the metal band are used by bolts and nuts. It may be fixed by screwing it into a through hole formed in, or it may be fixed by welding or other methods. However, the fixing method shall be such that the metal band can slide in the band cover without limitation in the width direction.

<Bending mechanism>
The urging mechanism portion 48 uses a known method of partially urging the metal bands 41 and 42 with respect to each other without limitation, and includes, for example, a bolt, a receiving member, an elastic body 48a, and a nut, and the tip portion 41b of the metal band. , 42b includes a mechanism that is screwed into and urged through the through hole. However, the urging method shall be such that the metal band can slide in the band cover without limitation.
The elastic body 48a is more specifically a coil-shaped spring, but the shape and the like are not limited, and the elastic body 48a is also referred to as a spring. By fastening the tip portions 41b and 42b of the metal band to each other by the urging mechanism portion 48, the tank 20 is fixed to the support member 51 by absorbing variations in external dimensions due to the molding accuracy of the tank 20 and expansion and contraction. Can be done.

<Band B>
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing another aspect of the band. As shown in FIG. 4, the bands 13 and 14 are band-shaped members. The band 13 includes a metal band 41 and a band cover 63 that covers the metal band, and the band 14 includes a metal band 42 and a band cover 64 that covers the metal band. Further, inside the band covers 63 and 64, a gap 30 is provided on the side opposite to the tank extending direction. The surfaces of the bands 13 and 14 formed in the length direction and the width direction are arranged along the outer periphery of the tank 20, and the thickness direction thereof is the radial direction of the tank.
Since the metal bands 41, 42, the gap 30, and other configurations are the same as those of the tank fixing device 100, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof will be omitted.

Band cover The band covers 63 and 64 cover the metal bands 41 and 42, and are arranged so that the outer surfaces of the bottom walls 63b and 64b of the band cover are in contact with the outer periphery of the tank 20. Inside the band covers 63 and 64, a gap 30 is provided on the side opposite to the extending direction of the tank 20 for the metal bands 41 and 42 to slide on the band covers 63 and 64. By arranging the metal bands 41 and 42 in this way, when the tank expands and extends along the tank axial direction, the metal bands 41 and 42 are placed in the band cover 63 in the direction opposite to the tank axial direction. You can slide on 64.

The length B of the gap 30 in the width direction is not particularly limited as long as the metal band can slide on the side opposite to the tank elongation direction, but a length of about 70% or more of the tank elongation is preferable. A length of 90% or more of the tank elongation is more preferable, and a length of 90% or more of the tank elongation is further preferable. Since the amount of expansion of the tank varies depending on the change in the gas pressure of the tank, the type and size of the tank, and the like, the length B of the gap 30 can be set without limitation according to the characteristics of the tank.
For example, in a carbon fiber reinforced (CFRP) tank with a wall thickness that maintains sufficient strength under pressure, compressed natural gas (CNG) or hydrogen is filled and the internal pressure is reduced from 0 to maximum (20 MPa for CNG, hydrogen). Then, when it is set to 70 MPa), the elongation rate in the tank axial direction becomes about 0.5% to 1.0%, and when the wall thickness is further reduced, the elongation rate approaches 1.5%. Further, the pitch P, which is the length from the fixed position of the neck mount of the tank to the band, is long, about 1.5 m for automobiles, and about 5 m for railways, ships, and heavy trucks.

The band covers 63 and 64 have eaves 63a and 64a so that the gap 30 is not exposed even if the metal bands 41 and 42 move to either end in the tank axial direction. That is, the length of the eaves 63a and 64a in the width direction is longer than the length B of the gap 30 in the width direction. The eaves 63a and 64a have a mudguard effect and prevent the metal bands 41 and 42 from coming off the band covers 63 and 64. Further, the entire width direction of the metal bands 41 and 42 may be covered by the eaves 63a and 64a. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the cross-sectional shape of the band covers 63, 64 is such that the metal bands 41, with the eaves 63a, 64a, for ease of manufacturing and assembling with the metal bands 41, 42. It is preferable that the band covers 63 and 64 do not cover the entire 42 and a part of the cross section of the band covers 63 and 64 is open. Further, a cross-sectional shape having only a cut between the eaves and no open dimension may be used, or a tubular cross-sectional shape without a cut may be used. When there is a break between the eaves, the position is not particularly limited. In the case of a continuous tubular cross-sectional shape, the metal bands 41 and 42 can be inserted and arranged from the ends of the band covers 63 and 64.

When the tank extends along the tank axial direction, the amount of slide of the band differs depending on the part of the band, and the amount of the band covers 63 and 64 being dragged in the extension direction of the tank 20 in the high surface pressure portion near the center of the band length is In many cases, it gradually approaches 0 from the center of the band length toward the fixing mechanism portions 44 and 45, which will be described later.
The band covers 63 and 64 may cover a surface where the contact between the bands 13 and 14 and the tank 20 is highly pressed, and may be adopted as a part of the band length as described above.
The portion where both the slide amount of the band and the band surface pressure toward the center of the tank 20 are small, that is, the portion where the band floats from the tank 20, need not be covered by the band covers 63 and 64.

As the material for forming the band covers 63 and 64, known resin materials can be used without limitation, but sliding materials having a low coefficient of friction are preferable, for example, polyacetal (POM), polyamide (PA), and fluororesin. (PTFE), polyethylene (PE) and the like can be mentioned. Further, as long as it is a sliding material having a low coefficient of friction, a known rubber material or the like can be used without limitation. The material and thickness can be changed to obtain an appropriate sliding effect and strength to suppress the occurrence of cracks and wear. The thickness of the band covers 63 and 64 is not limited, but may be, for example, about 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

In the tank fixing device of the present disclosure, even if the tank extends along the tank axial direction due to high-pressure gas filling or the like from the position where the band is attached to the tank, the band cover is dragged by the tank and moves to the inside of the band cover. The located metal band slides inside the band cover in the direction opposite to the tank extension direction and does not follow the movement of the band cover. This is because the static friction force between the metal band and the slider plate or, when the slider plate is omitted, the static friction force between the metal band and the band cover is lower than the static friction force between the tank surface and the band cover. be. Therefore, it suppresses problems such as the band being slanted, overcompression of the spring in the urging mechanism, cracking of the band cover, sliding between the band cover and the tank surface, and wear of the band cover. can do.

In the step of assembling the band to the tank, it is preferable to arrange the metal band with the gap 30 close to the side opposite to the extension direction of the tank, but it is sufficient if the gap 30 is on the side opposite to the extension direction of the tank. It is not necessary to place the metal band close to the gap 30. Further, in the step of assembling the band to the tank (for example, fixing the tank to the vehicle), the tank internal pressure is not particularly limited, but for example, the band is attached to the tank in a state of 1 MPa or less. Next, when filled with high-pressure gas, the tank extends axially. After that, when the contents of the tank are used up and the vehicle cools, the tank shrinks slightly compared to when it is assembled, but since the (temperature) line expansion coefficient of CFRP is almost 0, the shrinkage of the car body is larger than the shrinkage of the tank, and the band It does not tilt to the opposite side of the tank's extension direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the tank fixing device of the present disclosure, the tank of the one-side neck mount support on the valve side is held by only one outer circumference by using two band members per outer circumference, but a single tank is held. The band for holding the tank may have two or more outer circumferences, and the number of band members per outer circumference may be one or more. Further, the position of the urging mechanism with respect to the tank and the support member is not limited. For example, the base end portion of the band member of one band is fastened to the support member by the fixing mechanism portion, the tip end portion thereof is fastened to the support member by the urging mechanism portion, and the fixing mechanism portion and the urging mechanism portion are on the opposite side of the tank. The tank fixing device arranged in is mentioned.
The tank may be a tank that expands and contracts along the tank axial direction at high pressure. The type of the tank is not limited to the tank supported on one side of the neck mount, and may be, for example, a long tank, a thin-walled tank, or the like, or a resin tank, a metal tank, or the like. The shape of the tank is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be another shape such as a prismatic shape or a polygonal columnar shape. It can also be used for stationary tanks, both outdoors and indoors.

Although the examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific examples, and various modifications and variations are made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. It can be changed.

11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Band 20 Tank 30 Void 41, 42 Metal band 41a, 42a Metal band base end 41b, 42b Metal band tip 61, 62, 63, 64 Band cover 61a, 62a, 63a , 64a Eaves 61b, 62b, 63b, 64b Band cover bottom wall 48 urging mechanism part 48a elastic body 44, 45 fixing mechanism part 51 support member 70 valve 71 neck mount member 81, 82 slider plate 100, 102 fixing device

Claims (1)

A tank fixing device that fixes the tank by fastening a band arranged along the outer circumference of the tank to the support member.
The band comprises a metal band and a rubber or resin cover covering the metal band.
Inside the rubber cover or the resin cover, a gap is provided on the side opposite to the extension direction of the tank.
The tank fixing device, wherein the metal band is slidable inside the rubber cover or the resin cover.

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