WO2014053376A1

WO2014053376A1 - Compressed gas cylinder bundle

Info

Publication number: WO2014053376A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/069991
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander Kriese
Original assignee: Messer Gaspack Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-10-06
Filing date: 2013-09-25
Publication date: 2014-04-10
Also published as: DE102012019702A1; EP2904307B1; ES2689438T3; EP2904307A1

Abstract

In compressed gas cylinder bundles according to the prior art, the mechanical energy arising in the event of impacts or falls must be absorbed elastically by the frame elements of the bundle frame in order to protect compressed gas cylinders, pipes and fittings against damage. The bundle frames are built correspondingly solidly, have a high weight and are difficult to handle. According to the invention, the bundle frame of a compressed gas cylinder bundle is fitted with safety elements which deform plastically in the event of an impact or fall and in this way absorb at least a part of the forces arising. In this way, the bundle frame can be designed to be lighter, maintaining the same level of safety. Loops, collars or horns are provided as the elastically deformable elements.

Description

Compressed gas cylinders bundle

The invention relates to a compressed gas cylinder bundle, with a plurality of

piped together compressed gas cylinders, which within a

Frame structure of a bundle rack are added.

For storing pressurized gases and liquids are compressed gas cylinders

used, which are usually made of steel, aluminum or a composite material. In order to cover a larger gas demand of a customer, more and more bundles of cylinders are used. These are arrangements in which several, for example 4, 6, 8, 12, 18 or 28

Gas cylinders standing or lying inside a bundle rack

summarized and fluidly connected by means of a piping. For gas extraction, the cylinder bundle is equipped with one or more extraction valves. Gas cylinder bundles of this type are described for example in DE 3 805 497 C1 or EP 0 230 904 A2.

For bundles of cylinders, the bundle rack is usually designed for safety reasons such that all compressed gas cylinders of the bundle, the piping and the removal valve (s) are completely accommodated within a frame construction of the bundle rack. High safety requirements are placed on such gas cylinder bundles, since the individual gas cylinders must not shift or twist under the conditions occurring during transport or operation, which could lead to leakage or damage to their valves and / or connecting pipes or hoses.

In particular, according to the standard EN 13769 - Transportable gas cylinders - Bottle bundles - it is necessary that in a drop test from 1.20 m height the gas cylinders remain securely supported in their frame and the connecting lines between the gas cylinders and the connection fittings do not leak the compressed gas cylinder bundles used so far will this

Safety requirement fulfilled by the fact that the supporting elements of the frame structure are designed such that they absorb the forces occurring in the case elastic; The bundle rack should therefore be low in the case visible deformations carry off, which is to ensure that the gas cylinders received in the bundle rack in fall no direct contact with the ground or other objects experienced, the connecting pipes are not torn off or leaking, or generally the required security against falling is guaranteed. However, this leads to the requirement of a very rigid construction and a correspondingly stable and massive design of the supporting parts of the bundle rack, which in turn leads to the

Bundle racks are quite heavy, correspondingly difficult to handle and expensive to produce.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a compressed gas cylinder bundle, the reliable against the recorded therein gas cylinders

Damage against falls or falling of the bottle bundle secures, but is simpler and cheaper in construction than the known from the prior art compressed gas cylinder bundle.

This object is achieved with a compressed gas cylinder bundle having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are claimed in the subclaims.

The pressurized gas cylinder bundle according to the invention comprises, in the usual way, a bundle frame constructed, for example, of metallic hollow profiles, which comprises a usually cuboid frame construction, within which a plurality of pressurized gas cylinders together with piping and connection fittings are accommodated. In contrast to compressed gas cylinder bundles according to the prior art, in which the falling down of the bundle occur

mechanical forces must be absorbed by the frame structure of the bundle rack largely elastic, is the invention

Compressed gas cylinder bundles equipped with securing elements mounted on the frame structure of the bundle rack, which can be combined with a strong

mechanical stress, especially when the fall of the

Compressed gas cylinder bundle, plastically deform. When converting the kinetic energy from the case into deformation energy, the fuse elements form a Deformation zone which extends the range of energy conversion and reduces the applied acceleration insofar as it relieves the load bearing elements of the bundle with respect to the applied forces. The invention therefore transfers the principle of the "crumple zone" known from motor vehicle technology to the securing of pressurized gas cylinder bundles, since the frame construction of the bundle frame according to the invention no longer needs to be designed in such a way that, in addition to its load-bearing function, the forces occurring in the case are completely eliminated has to absorb elastic, it can be constructed a whole lighter, which compared to compressed gas cylinder bundles according to the prior art, a weight saving and a price advantage in the production is achieved.

The securing elements are preferably made of a material which plastically deforms in the event of a shock. Due to the deformation of the

Securing elements reduces the acceleration occurring during impact or impact and absorbs a large part of the impact energy and not passed on to the bundle rack or gas cylinders. As a preferred material is in particular a sheet or a plastically deformable plastic into consideration. The deformability can be supported by the geometry of the securing element, for example, the securing elements can be constructed of profiles that buckle at predetermined points in the load case, recede to full or partial breakage, or be deformed in any other way.

Conveniently, the securing elements are on the outside of the

Frame structure of the bundle rack arranged, for example, mounted on this and project from the surface thereof. The securing elements should be arranged so that the bundle frame strikes the fall as possible with the above securing elements on the ground, which are plastically deformed. The frame itself receiving the compressed gas cylinders should in case of shock in this embodiment, no or only one

undergo insignificant deformation, so that the recorded in her

Compressed gas cylinders should not be damaged. The securing elements comprise, for example, a securing bow, which, in the manner of a roll bar, has the shape of an elongate bow fastened to the frame construction, projecting from outside of at least one side face or edge of the frame construction. Such a circlip may also extend over a plurality of side surfaces of the frame structure while being spaced apart from the frame structure, being connected to the frame structure at one or more locations, such as by welding, bolting or by suitable means

Fasteners, incidentally, in turn, at least limited plastic

can be formed deformable.

In another embodiment, the securing elements comprise a

Securing portion in the form of at least at the outer edges of a

Side surface of the bundle frame projecting collar, which preferably completely encloses the respective outer surface. In this case, the corresponding outer surface is thus provided with a frame made of a plastically deformable material which at least largely absorbs the impact energy in the event of impacts against this outer surface and in this way accommodates the impact force in the frame

Gas cylinders protects.

Yet another embodiment of the invention provides that the

Securing elements on at least one outer surface of the bundle frame

comprising projecting impact body, which may be formed, for example, cylindrical, conical or spherical. Of course, a plurality of differently configured securing elements of the aforementioned or other types may be provided in combination.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the frame construction of

Bundle frame itself constructively designed so that it contains defined sections, points or zones, which are also designed for plastic deformation under impact load, but at the same time protects the bottles and connecting pipes from undue damage. In this case, the plastic elements are an integral part of the frame construction. These Otherwise, the design may be provided instead of or in addition to the aforementioned securing elements mounted on the frame construction.

Reference to the drawings, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below. In schematic views show:

Fig. 1: An inventive compressed gas cylinder bundle in a first

Embodiment in a side view,

Fig. 2a: The bundle frame of a compressed gas cylinder bundle according to the invention in a second embodiment in an oblique view.

Fig. 2b: The bundle frame of a compressed gas cylinder bundle according to the invention in a third embodiment, again in an oblique view.

The compressed gas cylinder bundle 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a number of

Compressed gas cylinders 2, 2 ', 2 ", in a conventional manner within a

Bundle rack 3 are added. The compressed gas cylinders 2, 2 ', 2 "are fluidly connected to each other by a piping 5, to which, in a manner known per se, a pressure indicator 6 and a removal valve 7 with handwheel 8 and removal connection 9 are arranged According to the invention, one or more additional bleed valves are possible, at which the removal of gas at the same pressure as at the bleed valve 9 or - with the interposition of a pressure reducer on the respective bleed valve - to reduced pressures is possible.

The bundle frame 3 comprises an outer, in the exemplary embodiment, substantially cuboidal frame construction 1 1 of, for example, interconnected by welding metal profiles, for example hollow sections made of steel. The frame construction 1 1 is dimensioned so that all gas cylinders 2, 2 ', 2 ", the

Piping 5 and the removal valve 7 within the outer edges of the

Frame structure 1 1 are arranged. Furthermore, the

Frame construction 1 1 side frame sections 12, 13, in particular to serve to prevent a lateral sliding out of the compressed gas cylinders 2, 2 ', 2 "In order to facilitate the transport of the compressed gas cylinder bundle 1, the

Frame construction 1 1 further comprises a pallet-like bottom portion 14. The upper part of the frame structure 11 and the frame profile 12 delimit an access opening 16, through which the removal valve 7 is accessible and a gas connection line, not shown here, can be mounted on the removal connection 9.

The bundle rack 3 is also equipped with securing elements which are intended to protect the compressed gas cylinders 2, 2 ', 2 ", which are received in the frame construction 11, against shock, in particular when the compressed gas cylinder bundle falls plastically deformable material which are fixed to the profiles of the frame structure 1 1 and spaced on the outside at least some of the outer surfaces of the

Frame structure 1 1 of the bundle rack 3 are arranged. That is how it is

Circlip 18 mounted on the upper side of the frame structure 1 1 and is also on both sides of the frame structure 1 1 before. The securing brackets 18 'and 18 ", which can be seen only in a lateral plan view in FIG. 1, protrude therefrom in the region of a lower edge of the frame construction 11 , Another, not visible in the picture circlip is provided on the not visible here back of the frame structure 1 1. Due to the arrangement of the securing bracket 18, 18 ', 18 ", 18"' on the frame structure 1 1 of the

Bundle rack 3 ensures that with a lateral overturning of the

Compressed gas cylinder bundle 1, in which direction, or at one

Turning over the compressed gas cylinder bundle 1, the bundle always comes into contact with one or more of the securing bracket 18, 18 ', 18 ", 18"' with the bottom on which the compressed gas cylinder bundle 1 hits. Since the circlips 18, 18 ', 18 ", 18"' are formed plastically deformable, at least part of the fall or impact energy is received by the respective securing element 18, 18 ', 18 ", 18"' and not to the frame structure 1 1 of the bundle rack 3 and / or the pressurized gas cylinders 2, 2 ', 2 ", in this way the safety of the compressed gas cylinders 2, 2', 2" is substantially improved without the Frame construction 1 1 this must be equipped with specially reinforced frame profiles, by means of which the impact energy is to be absorbed elastically.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the compressed gas cylinders accommodated in the respective bundle racks, together with their piping, are not shown for the sake of greater clarity, nevertheless being present.

The bundling frame 20 shown in Fig. 2a comprises one substantially

cuboid frame construction 21 of steel profiles, within the im

intended installation state several - not shown here - compressed gas cylinders are added. To protect the compressed gas cylinders from falling out, similar to the bundle frame 3 of FIG. 1, lateral

Frame profiles 22 provided. In order to improve the safety of compressed gas cylinders, in the embodiment according to FIG. 2a, on the one hand, two mutually parallel securing clips 24, 24 'are provided which are spaced apart from the outside by two side surfaces and the top surface 23 of FIG

Frame structure 21 are arranged and connected with suitable fastening means to the frame structure 21. At the side of the frame structure 21, not covered by the securing brackets 24, 24 ', namely the front surface 26 and the rear side (not visible here), securing brackets 25, 25' which are also arranged parallel to one another are also provided. The circlips 24, 24 'and 25, 25' can be connected to each other for the purpose of additional stabilization in each case by cross bracing. Instead of mutually parallel securing bracket 24, 24 '; 25, 25 'can, moreover, also

be provided network-like structures made of plastically deformable profiles, or grids, each covering at least a large part of the respective side surface and / or edge of the bundle rack 20. Furthermore, the frame structure 21 of the bundle rack 20 with securing portions 27, 27 ', ie equipped with sections of a plastically deformable material, which - in contrast to the other parts of the frame structure 21 - easily plastically deform in the event of a fall or shock and thus can absorb some of the energy. Such securing sections need not necessarily - as in Embodiment shown in Fig. 2a - may be arranged in the corners of a frame construction of a bundle rack, but they can basically be formed at all points and in different types and sizes, but it must be ensured that in the deformation of such securing sections, the frame construction not in the total Way is deformed, that in the

Bundled rack compressed gas cylinders or their piping damaged.

The fuse elements of the shown in Fig. 2b, also with an im

Substantially cuboidal frame structure 28 equipped bundled frame 29, comprise a securing collar 30 which is disposed on the upper side side surface of the bundle frame 29, and protrudes from all edges of this side surface. The securing collar 30 is produced, for example, from a sheet of a plastically deformable material and is suitable for absorbing at least part of the impact or impact energy as deformation energy in the event of a shock or impact against the side edges secured by it. In the region of the bottom, the bundle frame 29 shows alternative securing elements in the form of securing buffers 31. The securing buffers 31 are made of a plastically deformable material and intended, in the event of a shock, to convert at least part of the energy occurring during the impact into deformation energy and thus to absorb it.

Of course, the fuse elements 24, 24 'shown here; 25, 25 '; 27, 27 ', 30; 31 may also be provided on other side surfaces of a bundle basket or in addition to each other. Incidentally, the present invention is not limited to the fuse elements shown in the embodiments, but extends to any type of fuse element in which at least part of the energy introduced in the impact or fall is absorbed by the plastic deformation of the fuse elements in the manner described above. whereby the forces acting on the frame or the bottles and the tubes acceleration forces are reduced. LIST OF REFERENCES:

1 compressed gas cylinder bundle

2, 2 ', 2 "compressed gas cylinders

3 bundle rack

Λ

5 piping

6 pressure gauge

7 extraction valve

8 hand wheel

9 extraction connection

10 -

1 1 frame construction

12 Side frame profile

13 Side frame profile

14 floor section

15 -

16 access opening

17 -

18, 18 ', 18 ", 18"' backup book

19 -

20 bundle rack

21 frame construction

22 Side frame profile

23 Upper surface

24, 24 'circlips

25, 25 'securing bracket

26 front surface

27, 27 'securing sections

28 frame construction

29 bundle rack

30 locking collar

31 Backup buffers

Claims

claims

1 . Compressed gas cylinder bundles, with a plurality of cased together

Compressed gas cylinders (2, 2 '2 ") which are accommodated within a frame construction (1 1, 21, 28) of a bundle rack (3, 20, 29),

characterized,

in that plastically deformable securing elements (18, 18 ', 18 ", 18"', 24, 24 ', 25 ", 25', 27, 27) on the frame construction (11, 21, 27) of the bundle frame (3, 20, 28) are provided '; 30; 31) are provided.

2. compressed gas cylinder bundle according to claim 1, characterized in that the securing elements (18, 18 ', 18 ", 18"', 24, 24 '; 25, 25'; 27, 27 '; 30; 31) on the outside of the frame construction ( 1 1, 21, 28) of the bundle frame (3, 20, 29) and are projecting from the surface thereof.

3. compressed gas cylinder bundle according to claim 2, characterized in that the securing elements (18, 18 ', 18 ", 18"', 24, 24 '; 25, 25'; 27, 27 '; 30; 31) a securing bracket (18, 18 ', 18 ", 18"', 24, 24 ', 25, 25').

4. compressed gas cylinder bundle according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the securing elements (18, 18 ', 18 ", 18"', 24, 24 '; 25, 25'; 27, 27 '; an outer edge of the frame structure (1 1, 21, 28) of the

Bundling frame (3, 20, 29) projecting, the outer surface enclosing collar (29) made of a plastically deformable material.

5. compressed gas cylinder bundle according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized

characterized in that the securing elements (18, 18 ', 18 ", 18"', 24, 24 '; 25, 25'; 27, 27 '; 30, 31) at least on an outer surface of the frame construction (1 1, 21, 28 ), projecting, cylindrical or conical impact body (30) of a plastically deformable material.

6. compressed gas cylinder bundle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the securing elements (18, 18 ', 18 ", 18"', 24, 24 '; 25, 25'; 27, 27 '; 30; 31) plastically deformable sections (27, 27 ') of the frame structure (1 1, 21, 28).