NL2011521C2

NL2011521C2 - Refillable gas tank with modular housing.

Info

Publication number: NL2011521C2
Application number: NL2011521A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Jan Jacobus Matthijs Koppert
Original assignee: Advanced Lightweight Engineering B V
Priority date: 2013-09-30
Filing date: 2013-09-30
Publication date: 2015-04-01

Description

Title: Refillable gas tank with modular housing

The disclosure relates to an innovative refill able fibre reinforced gas tank. Such fibre reinforced gas tanks, especially dry wound composite gas tanks, can offer the advantage of a light-weight construction. These types of gas tanks are often advantageously used as pressure vessels, for instance as pressure vessel or tank for gaseous fluids of pressures of for example up to 700 bar.

The current disclosure aims to provide for a new and innovative refillable fibre reinforced gas tank.

Thereto the disclosure includes a refillable fibre reinforced gas tank with a modular housing, wherein an upper side of the gas tank is provided with a mount for mounting appendages to the tank, wherein the modular housing comprises a substantially plastic bottom member forming a tank support for supporting the tank, a substantially plastic top member for at least partly covering a top portion of said tank, and multiple substantially plastic interconnecting elements for interconnecting the bottom member and the top member, wherein the top member is positioned at a top of a first distal end the tank, the bottom member is positioned at a second distal end of the tank, and the interconnecting elements are interconnecting the bottom member and the top member, thereby extending substantially along a lateral side of the tank, wherein the top member comprises an opening providing for a passage for the mount of the tank, and comprises one or multiple protruding portions that at least partly surround the mount. By making the bottom and top member and the interconnecting elements substantially of plastic, the housing can be relatively light-weight. Further, by making the housing modular, different parts the housing may be replaced by replacement parts relatively easily. Hence, there is no longer a need to replace an entire housing when only one part, e.g. an interconnecting element, is damaged and/or worn out. Alternatively or additionally, the modular design of the housing can enable that some modules, e.g. a top member and a bottom member can be used for different sizes of tanks, and that for instance only interconnecting elements of a customized length are needed for a differently sized gas tank. Consequently, relatively few different parts need to be produced, which for instance may limit the costs for moulds, and relatively few different parts can be kept in stock. Moreover, a modular design may enable reusing the housing when the accommodated gas tank is worn. Actually, parts of the housing, such as a top and/or bottom member, may even be reused for housing a gas tank of a different size than the gas tank housed previously by said housing.

Advantageously, at least one and preferably each interconnecting element can be connectable to and/or connected with the top or bottom member along an edge being substantially longer than an average width of said interconnecting element. As a result, loads or forces to be transferred between the interconnecting element and the respective top or bottom member can be distributed over a relatively large transferring area, thereby counteracting relatively large local loads in the connection between said interconnecting element and the respective member.

Preferably, the interconnecting element is releasably connectable to the respective top or bottom member, such that parts of the modular housing can be replaced relatively easily.

In embodiments, at least one and preferably each interconnecting element can comprise a shoulder portion for at least partly overlying a shoulder portion of the tank to be housed. As a result, tensile forces applied to the interconnecting element can be transferred partly from the shoulder portion of the interconnecting element to the shoulder portion of the tank to be housed, thereby partly relieving the connection between said interconnecting element and the respective one of a top and bottom member.

Advantageous embodiments of the disclosure are described below and in the appended claims.

By way of non-limiting examples only, embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to accompanying Figure 1, which shows a schematic view of a gas tank according to an aspect of the disclosure.

The embodiments disclosed herein are shown and described as examples only and should by no means be understood as limiting the scope of the claimed disclosure in any way. In this description, the same or similar elements have the same or similar reference signs.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a refill able fibre reinforced gas tank 1 with a modular housing 2. The reinforced tank 1 can be a composite tank. In embodiments, the tank 1 can comprise a substantially gas-tight and/or fluid-tight liner, e.g. a HDPE finer, overwound with a layer of fibre material. In embodiments, the layer of fibre material may be not completely embedded, but may be coated, e.g. by a rubber material such as a polyurethane, in order to protect the fibres. Advantageously, the tank is arranged to be used as a pressure vessel, for instance as a pressure vessel for gaseous fluids of pressures of for example up to 700 bar. It is noted that the tank 1 can be a dry wound tank, such as for instance known from WO 01 5/7429. The dry wound tank may comprise a number of fibre filaments of which at least a part can move freely with respect to one another, and wherein at least a part and preferably all of the fibre filaments are wound such that when the gas tank 1 or pressure vessel is under internal pressure the respective fibre filaments are loaded exactly in their longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the tank 1 may be another type tank of tank, preferably a fibre reinforce tank 1, such as a tank 1 having fibres imbedded in a matrix material.

An upper side of the tank 1 is provided with a mount 4 for mounting appendages to the tank 1. Advantageously, the mount 4 can be rotatably connected to the rest of the tank 1, especially in a way such as for instance described in WO 2012/074373. For example, the mount 4 may comprise a substantially cylindrical neck portion with a radially outwardly extending base flange, wherein the base flange is axially fixedly but rotationally free held between the liner and the layer of fibre material.

In embodiments, the mount 4 may be provided with an appendage, for instance a coupler or a distribution valve provided with a coupler for coupling to a gas line.

It is noted that the tank 1 can be a gas tank and may contain a gas, for instance natural gas, propane gas, and/or butane gas. The tank 1 and/or the gas contained by the tank 1 can for instance be intended for home use, such as in areas with no or no sufficient gas pipeline network, but may be intended for other use as well, such as for instance for roofing or for use at a camping, in a camper van, and/or in a forklift, truck. For example, the gas may be used for cooking, heating and/or driving domestic appliances such as clothes dryers or gas-powered refrigerators.

The modular housing 2 comprises a substantially plastic bottom member 5 forming a tank support 5 for supporting a tank 1 to be housed. Here, the bottom member 5 is substantially ring shaped. The bottom member 5 can have a substantially flat base surface 8 for placing the gas tank 1 at a floor or for stacking it on top of another gas tank 1. For example, the support member 5 can be provided with support ribs which can have lower edges for at least partly defining the base surface 8 and/or upper edges, preferably concave upper edges, 10 for at least partly defining a support surface for supporting a bottom surface of the tank 1, preferably a convex bottom surface. In embodiments, openings or channels may be formed between the support ribs, such that accumulation of condensate dripped from the tank can be counteracted.

The modular housing 2 also comprises a substantially plastic top member 6 for at least partly covering a top portion of said tank 1 to be housed. In embodiments, the top member may be substantially ring shaped, however, it may comprise any other suitable shape. The top member 6 comprises a recess or an opening 12 providing for a passage for the mount 4 of the tank 1 and/or for an appendage mounted thereto.

Further, the top member 6 can comprise a cover portion 13 for at least partly covering the top portion of said tank 1. The recess or opening 12 can extend from a bottom side of the cover portion 13 to an upper side of said cover portion 13. Preferably, said recess or opening 12 is positioned substantially centrally in the top member 6 and/or in its cover portion 13.

The top member 6 comprises one or multiple protruding portions 14 that at least partly surround the mount 4. Preferably, the one or more protruding portions 14 protrude in an upward direction away from the cover portion 13. The at least one protruding portion 14 can for instance be formed as a wall or wall part at least partly surrounding the mount 4 and/or may be arranged for protecting the mount 4 from being hit accidently. For instance, said wall or wall part can be substantially C-shaped. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one protruding portions 14 may form or may comprise a handle for handling the gas tank 1 and/or may be connected and/or connectable to a handle or so-called handle portion 15. For example, the modular housing 2 can comprise a handle for handling the gas tank, wherein the handle is attached to at least one and preferably each of the at least one protruding portions 14.

In embodiments, the handle can be substantially formed as a ring, especially a C-shaped ring. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1, the protruding portions 14 are connected to a C-shaped ring 15 forming said handle portion 15. Preferably, a first distal end 15a of the C-shaped ring 15 is attached to a first protruding portion 14a and a second distal end 15b of the C-shaped ring 15 is attached to a second protruding portion 14b, thereby keeping a free a recess 30, for instance for enabling to attach or to detach a gas hne relatively easily to or from the mount 4 or an appendage mounted thereto.

It is noted that a top surface 17 of the housing 2 of the gas tank 1 may be defined by a top surface of the handle portion 15 which may be part of the substantially plastic top member 6 and/or may be defined by said top member 6. Preferably, said top surface 17 of the housing 2 can be arranged for supporting a base surface 8 of a housing of a further tank to be stacked on the tank 1.

In embodiments, the top member 6 can further comprise one or more shoulder portions 18 for at least partly overlying a shoulder portion of the tank 1 to be housed. As a result, the tank 1 may be seized by the top member 6 relatively well.

Further, the modular housing 2 comprises multiple substantially plastic interconnecting elements 7 for interconnecting the bottom member 5 and the top member 6. The top member 6 is positioned at a top of a first distal end the tank 1, the bottom member 5 is positioned at a second distal end of the tank 1, and the interconnecting elements 7 are interconnecting the bottom member 5 and the top member 6, thereby extending substantially along a lateral side of the tank 1.

Although the housing 2 comprises three interconnecting elements 7 in the embodiment shown, alternative embodiments of he housing 2 may comprise another number of interconnecting elements 7, such as for instance two, four, five or six interconnecting elements 7. Preferably, for instance in the case of a dry wound tank 1, the gas tank 1 can have a substantially cylindrical shape, wherein the distal ends of said tank 1 may have a substantially isotensoid shape, that is, a shape whereby when the tank 1 is under internal pressure the mechanical stresses are distributed equally among the fibres wound over the respective distal end.

At least one and preferably each substantially plastic interconnecting element 7 can be tightened between the bottom member 5 and the top member 6 such as to pull the bottom member 5 and the top member 6 towards each other. The interconnecting element 7 may thus be substantially loaded in tension during use, so as to absorb forces or loads exerted by internal gas pressure of the tank 1, e.g. an expandable gas tank. The interconnecting element 7 may enable secure clamping of the tank 1 between the top member 6 and the bottom member.

In embodiments, at least one and preferably each substantially plastic interconnecting element 7 can be substantially strip shaped. Advantageously, the interconnecting element 7 can be formed as a strap and/or is substantially flexible, especially at least in one direction, preferably such as to bend or roll in a direction substantially transverse its longitudinal direction.

It is noted that although the interconnecting element 7 and the top and bottom members 6, 5 are each substantially made of plastic, one or more of them may comprise other materials. For instance, they can comprise reinforcement fibres, e.g. glass or carbon fibres, such as fibres extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the interconnecting element 7.

In embodiments, at least one and preferably each interconnecting element 7 can be connectable or connected to one of the top and bottom member 6, 5, preferably at or near a first distal end of said interconnecting element 7, and can be arranged to be connectable to the other of the top and bottom member 6, 5, preferably at or near a second distal end of said interconnecting element 7.

Here, the interconnecting element 7 is releasably connectable to the top member 6, and releasably connectable to the bottom member 5. Alternatively, the interconnecting element 7 can be fixedly connectable and/or fixedly connected to one or both of the top and bottom member 6, 5.

It is noted that the housing 2 may be provided with first coupling means for coupling the interconnecting element 7, preferably a distal end part thereof, to the bottom member 5 and/or second coupling means for coupling the interconnecting element 7, preferably a distal end part thereof, to the top member 6. For example, the coupling means may comprise snap means for forming a snap connection and/or fastening means for forming a screw connection. The respective coupling means may be provided at one of the top member 6 and the bottom member 5 or at the interconnecting element 7. Alternatively, a first part of said respective coupling means may be provided at one of the top member 6 and the bottom member 5 and a corresponding second part for cooperation with said first part may be provided at the interconnecting element 7. Alternatively or additionally, the interconnecting element 7 can be connected to the bottom member 5 and/or to the top member 6 by any other suitable connection means, such as for instance by means of gluing, welding, and/or riveting .

As can be seen in Figure 1, each interconnecting element 7 can comprise a shoulder portion 23 for at least partly overlying a shoulder portion of the tank 1. Preferably, the shoulder portion 23 of the interconnecting element 7 extends at least partly inwardly with respect to a longitudinal portion 24 of the interconnecting element 7 extending substantially in longitudinal direction of said element 7 and/or the tank 1. An at least partly inwardly reaching shoulder portion 23 of the interconnecting element 7 can thus rest at least partly on a shoulder portion of the tank 1. As a result, loads or forces, e.g. resulting from a tank 1 tending to push the top and bottom member 6, 5 away from each other, can thus be absorbed partly by the interconnecting element 7, thereby relieving the connection between said element 7 and the respective one of the top and bottom member 6, 5.

Additionally or alternatively, at least one and preferably each interconnecting element 7 can be connectable to and/or connected with the top or bottom member 6, 5 along an edge 25 being substantially longer than an average width of said interconnecting element 7 and/or a width 26 of the longitudinal portion 24 of the interconnecting element 7. Hence, loads or forces to be transferred between the interconnecting element and the respective top or bottom member may be distributed over a relatively large transferring area, thereby counteracting relatively large local loads in the connection between said interconnecting element and the respective member. Additionally or alternatively, the edge 25 can form a curve, thereby providing for a relatively large contact area.

The disclosure is not restricted to the embodiments described above. It will be understood that many variants are possible.

For example, the top member 6 may be provided with an opening 27 or recess for allowing a tool to reach through in order to engage a rotationally free held mount 4 so as to temporarily fix said mount 4 in rotational direction. For instance to counteract tampering, a cover 28 may be provided for covering said opening 27 or recess. In embodiments, said cover 28 may be integrated with a serial plate, nameplate, or the like.

These and other embodiments will be apparent to the person skilled in the art and are considered to lie within the scope as defined by the following claims.

Claims

A refillable fiber-reinforced gas tank with a modular housing, wherein a top of the gas tank is provided with a mounting piece for attaching attachments to the tank, the modular housing forming a substantially plastic bottom part that forms a tank support for supporting the tank, a substantially plastic upper part for at least partially covering an upper part of said tank, and comprising a plurality of substantially plastic connecting elements for mutually connecting the bottom part and the upper part, the upper part being positioned on an upper side of a first distal end of the tank, the bottom part is positioned at a second distal end of the tank, and the connecting elements interconnect the bottom part and the top part, thereby extending substantially along a side of the tank, the top part comprising a recess or opening provides a passage v for the attachment part of the tank and / or for an extension piece attached thereto, and comprising one or more protruding parts which at least partially surround the attachment piece.

2. Gas tank according to claim 1, wherein the at least one protruding part forms a handle for handling the gas tank.

The gas tank of claim 1, further comprising a handle for handling the gas tank, wherein the handle is attached to the at least one protruding part.

Gas tank according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the handle is substantially shaped as a ring.

The gas tank of claim 4, wherein the handle is substantially shaped as a C-shaped ring.

Gas tank according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one and preferably each connecting element is substantially strip-shaped.

Gas tank according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one and preferably each connecting element is connectable or connected to one of the upper and bottom parts, preferably at or near a first distal end of said connecting element, and is arranged to be connectable to the other of the upper and bottom part, preferably at or near a second distal end of said connecting element.

A gas tank according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one and preferably each connecting element comprises a shoulder portion for lying at least partially over a shoulder portion of the tank.

A gas tank according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one and preferably each connecting element is connectable and / or connected to the upper or bottom part along an edge that is substantially longer than an average width of said connecting element.