阅读说明：本技术 高压容器 (High pressure vessel ) 是由 D.庞蒂加姆 A.普雷特勒 R.普赫莱特纳 于 2021-05-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种高压容器,包括圆柱体(10)作为中央部分,其中该圆柱体(10)由塑料(11)制成,其中高压容器在圆柱体(10)的轴向端部还包括至少一个半壳(13),其中半壳(13)由塑料(11)制成,其中半壳(13)还包括基本旋转对称的插入件(1),即凸台部分,其中插入件(1)在插入件(1)的面向容器内部的端部具有足部(14),其中插入件(1)的足部(14)嵌入半壳(13)的塑料(11)中,其中足部(14)基本上形成空心圆锥体或空心圆柱体,其中在足部(14)的内周内部布置有套筒(20),其中在套筒(20)和足部(14)的内周之间布置有半壳(13)的塑料(11),其中高压容器包括容纳在凸台部分中的阀(21),其中阀(21)的杆部容纳在套筒(20)中,其中密封元件(22)在阀的杆部和套筒(20)之间密封。(High-pressure vessel comprising a cylinder (10) as a central part, wherein the cylinder (10) is made of plastic (11), wherein the high-pressure vessel further comprises at least one half-shell (13) at an axial end of the cylinder (10), wherein the half-shell (13) is made of plastic (11), wherein the half-shell (13) further comprises a substantially rotationally symmetrical insert (1), i.e. a boss part, wherein the insert (1) has a foot (14) at an end of the insert (1) facing the vessel interior, wherein the foot (14) of the insert (1) is embedded in the plastic (11) of the half-shell (13), wherein the foot (14) substantially forms a hollow cone or a hollow cylinder, wherein a sleeve (20) is arranged inside an inner circumference of the foot (14), wherein the plastic (11) of the half-shell (13) is arranged between the sleeve (20) and the inner circumference of the foot (14), wherein the high pressure vessel comprises a valve (21) received in the boss portion, wherein a stem portion of the valve (21) is received in the sleeve (20), wherein a sealing element (22) seals between the stem portion of the valve and the sleeve (20).)

1. High pressure vessel comprising a cylinder (10) as a central part, wherein the cylinder (10) is made of plastic (11), wherein the high pressure vessel further comprises at least one half shell (13) at an axial end of the cylinder (10), wherein the half shell (13) is made of plastic (11), wherein the half shell (13) further comprises a substantially rotationally symmetrical insert (1), i.e. a boss part, wherein the insert (1) has a foot part (14) at the end of the insert (1) facing the vessel interior, wherein the foot part (14) of the insert (1) is embedded in the plastic (11) of the half shell (13), wherein the foot part (14) substantially forms a hollow cone or a hollow cylinder, wherein a sleeve (20) is arranged within the inner circumference of the foot part (14), wherein the plastic (11) of the half shell (13) is arranged between the sleeve (20) and the inner circumference of the foot part (14), wherein the high pressure vessel comprises a valve (21) accommodated in the boss portion, wherein a stem of the valve (21) is accommodated in the sleeve (20), wherein a sealing element (22), in particular an annular seal, seals between the stem of the valve (21) and the sleeve (20).

2. The high-pressure vessel as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that the sleeve (20) is press-fitted in the inner periphery of the foot (14), wherein a thin plastic layer is compressed between the sleeve (20) and the inner periphery of the foot (14) in the press-fitting region.

3. The high-pressure vessel as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that the plastic (11) of the half-shell (13) fills the entire space between the sleeve (20) and the inner periphery of the foot (14).

4. The high-pressure vessel as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that the plastic (11) is a multilayer composite plastic comprising a barrier layer (12).

5. The high-pressure vessel as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that a first groove (15) or depression of the multilayer composite plastic (11) filled with the half shell (13) extends around the inner circumference of the foot (14) at least in some part or parts at the level of the sleeve (20).

6. The high-pressure vessel as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that the layers of composite plastic (11) of the half-shells (13) are arranged axially on both sides of the foot (14).

7. The high-pressure vessel as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that the foot (14) has at least one second groove (17), the second groove (17) being filled with the multilayer composite plastic (11) of the half shell (13), wherein the second groove (17) extends at least on the bottom of the foot (14) in a portion or portions near the inner periphery of the foot (14), the bottom facing the container interior.

8. The high-pressure vessel as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that the foot (14) has at least one third groove (18), the third groove (18) being filled with the multilayer composite plastic (11) of the half-shell (13), wherein the third groove (18) extends at least in a portion or portions on the top surface of the foot (14), the top surface facing the outside of the container.

9. The high-pressure vessel as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that the foot (14) has at least one fourth groove (19), the fourth groove (19) being filled with the multilayer composite plastic (11) of the half shell (13), wherein the fourth groove (19) extends at least on the bottom of the foot (14) in a portion or portions near the periphery of the foot (14), the bottom facing the container interior.

10. The high-pressure vessel as claimed in claim 1,

characterized in that the cylinder (10) and the two half-shells (13) are wrapped with a fibrous material (16), preferably a composite material comprising carbon fibers and/or glass fibers and/or epoxy resin.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a high-pressure container, in particular for storing fuel for motor vehicles.

Background

It is well known that high pressure vessels, such as those used for storing hydrogen as fuel for motor vehicles, may be constructed from an inner layer known as a "liner" and a winding of fibrous material around the liner.

The use of blow molding and thermoforming techniques in the production of containers is known. Production then takes place on the basis of the shaping of the tubular or sheet-like semifinished product. They are given their final shape by vacuum and/or overpressure. For example, two half shells may be produced, which are joined together to form the container.

For gas-tight liners for type IV containers for pressurized gas storage, there are two common production methods. On the one hand the blow moulding of the entire liner and on the other hand the method of producing sections of the container by injection moulding and extrusion and subsequently joining these parts by a joining method.

The materials used in this process are generally based on HDPE (high density polyethylene) or polyamide.

Important distinguishing features of the lining material are the mechanical low temperature properties and the emission properties. Single layer materials (e.g. polyamide) have good barrier properties against gases but do not have optimal low temperature properties. On the other hand, HDPE does not have a suitable barrier effect, but has very good low temperature properties.

Thus, polyamide is currently used mainly in the field of hydrogen. However, this places limitations on the size of the components, particularly for blow molding techniques. Moreover, due to the wide use of additives, the appropriate grade available is expensive and problematic when used at low temperatures.

High pressure vessels for gases are subject to large temperature fluctuations during their operation (filling, storage and evacuation). This places high demands on the material, in particular on the lining.

With regard to the use of lightweight structures and composite materials, challenges are posed in connecting different materials to one another in a gastight manner at a joint.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to improve a high-pressure container in this respect and in particular to provide a high-pressure container which, even in the region of the transition to the lug portion, meets the requirements with regard to tightness and permeability and can be produced in a simple and cost-effective manner.

This object is achieved by a high-pressure vessel comprising a cylindrical body as a central part, wherein the cylinder is made of plastic, wherein the high-pressure vessel further comprises at least one half-shell at one axial end of the cylinder, wherein the half-shell is made of plastic, wherein the half-shell further comprises a substantially rotationally symmetrical insert, i.e., a boss portion, wherein the insert has a foot at the end of the insert facing the interior of the container, wherein the foot portion of the insert is embedded in the plastic of the half shell, wherein the foot portion substantially forms a hollow cone or a hollow cylinder, wherein a sleeve is arranged within the inner circumference of the foot, wherein a half-shell of plastic is arranged between the sleeve and the inner circumference of the foot, wherein the high pressure vessel comprises a valve received in the boss portion, wherein the stem portion of the valve is received in the sleeve, wherein the sealing element seals between the stem portion of the valve and the sleeve.

According to the invention, plastic, in particular a multilayer composite plastic, is used as material for the lining in the central part formed by the cylinder and in at least one and preferably both axial end regions of the container. The plastic, in particular the multilayer plastic preferably also comprising the barrier layer, can be formed in a simple manner into a half-shell by blow molding or deep drawing or vacuum molding. It is also possible, for example, for the cylinder in the central part to be blow-molded or, for example, extruded. According to the invention, use is made of a boss part with a foot, wherein the foot essentially forms a hollow cone or a hollow cylinder. The foot of the insert is embedded in the plastic of the half shell. The plastic thus surrounds the boss portion at least on two sides. The foot portion preferably has a larger diameter than the adjacent central portion of the boss portion. Thus, preferably, the foot forms an undercut with respect to the plastic of the liner, which is introduced from the side of the foot or the centre of the container. Preferably, the plastic is arranged axially on both sides of the foot, that is to say on both sides of the undercut, that is to say on the surface of the lug portion facing the center of the container and on the surface of the lug portion facing away from the center of the container.

Nevertheless, the half shell with the embedded boss portion and the entire high-pressure container can be produced in an inexpensive manner, as will be described in more detail below, since the plastic can be introduced by blow molding or vacuum deep drawing despite the undercuts at the foot of the boss portion.

The interior of the foot is hollow in the region of its longitudinal center axis and thus forms essentially a hollow cone or a hollow cylinder.

According to the invention, the sleeve is introduced into the inner periphery of the foot. In this case, the plastic of the half shell is arranged in a part or parts of the intermediate space between the sleeve and the inner periphery of the foot. The high-pressure container further comprises a valve, in particular for drawing off a medium in the high-pressure container, which valve is accommodated in the boss portion, wherein a preferably cylindrical stem portion of the valve is accommodated in the sleeve. Thus, one section of the stem of the valve is preferably inserted directly into the boss portion and one section is inserted into the sleeve in the boss portion.

According to the invention, in such a high-pressure container, a sealing element, in particular an annular seal, is arranged between the stem of the valve and the sleeve in order to form a seal between the valve and the sleeve. The sealing element preferably extends around the entire stem of the valve and may have a circular shape, but may also have a rectangular or conical cross-section, for example. The sealing element is preferably a separate, discrete component. In an alternative embodiment, the sealing element may also be formed on the stem of the valve.

Thus, the seal is used in the deeper regions of the valve, i.e. only in the foot regions of the stem and boss portions of the valve. The sleeve preferably extends at least to the axial end of the boss portion facing the centre of the container, particularly preferably the sleeve extends beyond this end of the boss portion.

The seal seals the valve relative to the sleeve. Radially outside the sleeve, in the intermediate space facing the boss portion, plastic is arranged, which may be very thin in a certain region or regions, in particular in the region in which the sleeve is press-fitted into the boss portion. By the arrangement of the sealing element and the sealing of said sealing element with respect to the sleeve, a reliable sealing effect can be achieved.

Preferably, there is also a sufficiently high tightness in the plastic region radially outside the sleeve, in particular due to the formation of thin plastic in the region or regions between the sleeve and the boss portion. Additional seals can thus be dispensed with at a greater height above the sleeve.

The sleeve is preferably made of metal.

The sleeve is preferably press-fitted in the inner periphery of the foot, wherein the thin plastic layer is preferably compressed between the sleeve and the inner periphery of the foot in the press-fit region.

The plastic of the half-shell preferably fills the entire space between the sleeve and the inner periphery of the foot.

The plastic of the lining, i.e. of the central part and of the half shells, preferably of the two half shells, is preferably a multilayer composite plastic comprising a barrier layer.

Preferably, the first recess or depression filled with plastic of the half shell extends around the inner circumference of the foot at least in one or more parts over the height of the sleeve, that is to say for example in a single section of a hollow cylinder or hollow cone or around the entire inner circumference.

The grooves or recesses are filled with the plastic of the half shells. The "recess" can be designed in a manner similar to a groove and in any case has at least one edge which serves as an undercut for the plastic situated behind, so that the plastic is held reliably behind the edge in the inner peripheral region.

The plastic of the half shell is preferably pressed by the sleeve against the inner circumference of the foot and into the first recess. Thus, the plastic is reliably retained in the first groove, and the sealing effect is further enhanced.

The foot preferably has at least one second recess, which is filled with the plastic of the half shell, wherein the second recess extends at least on the bottom of the foot in a portion or portions near the inner periphery of the foot, said bottom facing the interior of the container. The groove also serves primarily to increase the seal between the liner and the boss portion.

The foot preferably has at least one third recess, which is filled with the plastic of the half shell, wherein the third recess extends at least in a part or parts on the top surface of the foot, which top surface faces the outside of the container. In addition to increasing the seal, the third groove also prevents the plastic from escaping from the boss portion on the top surface of the foot.

The foot preferably has at least one fourth groove, which is filled with the plastic of the half shell, wherein the fourth groove extends at least on the bottom of the foot, which bottom faces the interior of the container, in a certain part or parts near the periphery of the foot. The groove also prevents the plastic from escaping from the boss portion.

The first and/or second and/or third and/or fourth grooves may have a trapezoidal shape which becomes larger towards the bottom of the groove, thereby improving the form-fit of the plastic in the groove.

In each groove, in particular in the first and/or second groove, an additional sealing element may be arranged on the bottom of the groove.

Preferably, the plastic of the cylinder is fused into the plastic of the half-shells. The barrier layer preferably extends as continuously as possible in the plastic at the transition between the cylinder and the half shell.

The plastic is preferably a multi-layer composite plastic. The multilayer composite plastic of the half-shells, and preferably of the cylindrical body, preferably comprises at least one of HDPE and a barrier layer, in particular EVOH, preferably also a regranulated, i.e. regrind, layer, and/or a second HDPE layer and/or at least one adhesion-promoting layer.

Preferably, the high-pressure vessel comprises two half-shells at the axial ends of the cylinder, wherein preferably both half-shells are designed as described above for the first half-shell.

The cylinder and the two half-shells are preferably wrapped with a fibrous material, preferably a composite material comprising carbon fibers and/or glass fibers and/or epoxy resin.

The production of the high-pressure container according to the invention can preferably be carried out by means of a mould having a first mould half forming a female mould and comprising the following steps:

-placing a preheated first plastic sheet on a first mold half,

-sucking or pressing a first plastic sheet onto a first mold half by vacuum or pressure,

whereby the plastic of the first plastic sheet is arranged laterally behind the undercut of the insert, i.e. the boss portion, in a certain area or areas at a distance from the insert, or after the first plastic sheet is sucked or pressed against the first half mould, the insert is positioned such that the plastic of the first plastic sheet is arranged laterally behind the undercut of the insert, in a certain area or areas at a distance from the insert,

after this, the plastic of the first plastic sheet is pressed or sucked onto the insert behind the undercut from a position laterally spaced from the insert by means of a slide or vacuum or pressure, thereby ensuring that the space behind the undercut of the insert is filled with plastic.

Preferably, therefore, the projection is inserted as an insert into the mould during the blow-moulding or deep-drawing process and is closed with a plastic sheet, in particular a penetration-sealed multilayer composite, so as to ensure that the plastic also enters the region behind the undercut. For this purpose, the plastic sheet is first sucked or pressed against the first mold half by means of vacuum or pressure. In this case, the insert has been positioned such that, as a result of the plastic being sucked or pressed against the first mold half, the plastic of the first plastic sheet is arranged behind the undercut of the insert, in a certain area or areas at a lateral distance from the insert.

Alternatively, the insert is positioned only after the plastic is sucked or pressed against the first mold half, so that the plastic of the first plastic sheet is arranged behind the undercut at a distance laterally from the insert, for example, moving the insert or only introducing the insert into the first mold half.

After this, the plastic of the first plastic sheet is pressed or sucked onto the insert from the side of the insert by sliding, vacuum or pressure, thus ensuring that the space behind the undercut of the insert is filled with the plastic previously located at the side and a reliable engagement is produced.

Thus, despite the ease of production by blow moulding or vacuum forming, the plastic enters the region behind the insert and the sealing effect of the plastic, in particular the multilayer composite, is improved with respect to the insert, in particular with respect to the metal boss portion. To achieve the closure in plastic, slides and/or vacuum or compressed air are used.

"laterally spaced" here means essentially spaced from the longitudinal center axis of the insert, which preferably also coincides with the longitudinal center axis of the pressure vessel. The plastic may first of all be substantially parallel to the longitudinal centre axis of the insert and preferably also to the surrounding container wall. The plastic is then sucked, blown or pushed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of the insert, in particular radially inwards on all sides, towards the insert.

It is also possible to carry out the suction or pressing of the plastic against the insert at a later time with respect to the positioning of the insert in a continuous process (as a result of which the plastic is arranged laterally at a distance from the insert in a region or regions), so that the insert will in each case be moved further and positioned and in the process new plastic will continue to be sucked in or pressed in, respectively, with the result that the positioning of the insert and the suction or pressing of the plastic behind the undercut take place virtually simultaneously.

The sleeve is press-fitted into the inner periphery of the foot of the insert, wherein a thin plastic layer is preferably formed between the sleeve and the inner periphery of the foot in the press-fitting region.

The resulting half shell can be connected to a second half shell or an extruded or blow-molded multilayer cylinder in a further process step. This forms the core and thus becomes the basis for a further winding process in which the container can gain its mechanical strength by means of a composite material consisting of carbon and/or glass and epoxy resin.

Preferably, the mould comprises a second half-mould forming a punch, which is placed on the first half-mould to configure the internal profile of the half-shell. For this purpose, the second mold half can shape the first plastic sheet inside the half shell. Alternatively, it is also possible to mount a second plastic sheet forming the inner contour of the half-shell on the second mold half.

After the first plastic sheet is sucked or pressed against the first mold half, the insert is preferably lifted relative to the first mold half in order to position the insert such that the plastic of the first plastic sheet is disposed behind the undercut, laterally spaced from the insert. The lifting may be performed by means of a movable mounting for the insert. In this case, the insert can be arranged on the first plastic sheet outside the container and can therefore be lifted along the longitudinal center axis of the insert and preferably also along the longitudinal center axis of the high-pressure container, in particular in the direction of the subsequent container center.

After filling the space behind the undercut of the insert with plastic, the insert is preferably lowered again relative to the first half-mould. It is particularly preferred that the lowering of the insert takes place simultaneously with the movement of the second mold half onto the first mold half.

According to another embodiment, the insert is placed on the first plastic sheet only after the first plastic sheet is sucked or pressed against the first half mould in order to position the insert such that the plastic of the first plastic sheet is arranged behind the undercut, laterally spaced apart from the insert. Thus, the insert may be arranged against the first plastic sheet inside the container. The second plastic sheet, in turn, may be disposed inside the container, relative to the insert.

The plastic of the first plastic sheet can be cut off axially behind the plastic-filled space behind the undercut, thereby ensuring that no plastic remains behind the undercut, in particular outside the container relative to the undercut.

Preferably, a preheated second plastic sheet is placed on the second mold half, then the second plastic sheet is sucked or pressed against the second mold half by vacuum or pressure, and the second mold half with the second plastic sheet is moved onto the first mold half to form the inner contour of the half shell.

Preferably, the first plastic sheet is a multilayer composite, wherein the multilayer composite preferably comprises a HDPE (high density polyethylene) layer and a barrier layer, in particular EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer). Particularly preferably, the multilayer composite further comprises a regrind material or regranulation and/or one or more adhesion promoting layers. The HDPE preferably forms the outermost layer of the multilayer composite, and may additionally form the innermost layer.

The method for manufacturing a high-pressure container preferably comprises manufacturing a half-shell by a method as described above, wherein the half-shell is connected to another half-shell, which may for example also comprise an insert and be manufactured in the same way as described above, or to at least one cylinder, which is preferably extruded or blow-moulded, and an end cap, to form a closed container.

The closed container is preferably wrapped with a fibrous material, preferably a composite material comprising carbon fibers and/or glass fibers and/or epoxy resin.

Drawings

In the following, the invention is described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 to 6 are cross-sectional views illustrating steps of a method for manufacturing a half-shell for a high-pressure vessel according to the present invention in a first embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a detailed illustration of fig. 3 in the region around the undercut of the insert 1.

Fig. 8 is a detailed illustration of fig. 4 in the area around the undercut of the insert 1.

Fig. 9 to 14 are cross-sectional views illustrating steps of a method for manufacturing a half shell for a high-pressure vessel according to the present invention in a second embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a high-pressure vessel according to the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a half shell of a high-pressure vessel according to the present invention.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of another half shell of the high-pressure container according to the present invention, which has a sleeve inserted.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view of another half shell of the high-pressure container according to the present invention, which has a sleeve inserted.

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view of detail a of the half shell shown in fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of detail a shown in fig. 19 with possible leakage paths.

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of another half shell of the high-pressure vessel according to the present invention.

Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view of detail B of the half shell shown in fig. 21.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 6 show a possible manufacturing method of a half-shell for a high-pressure vessel according to the invention.

A mold is used having a first mold half 2 forming a female mold and a second mold half 5 forming a punch.

The mould thus consists of two mould halves, wherein the insert is located on a movable mounting 7 in the first mould half 2, preferably the lower mould half. The second mold half 5, preferably the upper mold half, acts as a punch to apply pressure at the end of the process. In addition, it is also possible to mount a second insert on the second mold half 5. The plastic is brought to the point where it is form-engaged by means of slides 4 and/or vacuum provided in the mould.

For this purpose, a preheated first plastic sheet 3 is placed on the first mold half 2 and the first plastic sheet 3 is sucked or pressed against the first mold half 2 by means of vacuum or pressure. After this, the insert 1 (i.e. the boss portion) is positioned such that the plastic of the first plastic sheet 3 is arranged in a certain region or regions behind the undercut, laterally at a distance from the insert 1. Alternatively, the displacement of the insert 1 can also be omitted, so that the plastic is sucked directly onto the correctly positioned insert 1, as shown in fig. 3.

By means of the slide 4 or vacuum or pressure, the plastic of the first plastic sheet 3 is sucked or pressed behind the undercut from being laterally spaced from the insert 1, thereby ensuring that the space behind the undercut of the insert 1 is filled with plastic.

Finally, the second half-mould 5 is moved onto the first half-mould 2 to form the inner contour of the half-shell.

In detail, the monolithic method shown in fig. 1-6 has the following steps:

in the first step of the single-piece process (fig. 1), the insert 1 (i.e. the boss portion) and the preheated plastic sheet 3 are mounted on one mold half, the first mold half 2. The insert 1 is in the initial position.

Optionally, the second mold half 5 can also be provided with further inserts, in particular a sleeve 20, at this time, as will be discussed later (fig. 17 to 21).

The plastic sheet 3 is sucked into the first mold half 2 by means of vacuum, the first mold half 2 representing the geometry of the outer part.

In order to fill the space behind the undercut of the insert 1 with plastic (necessary for the positive engagement), the insert 1 is positioned on the movable mounting 7 in the first half-mould 2. The space behind the undercut of the component can be filled by lifting the component, for example, while using vacuum and/or a slide 4-fig. 3 and 4.

In a next step (fig. 5), the second mold half 5 is lowered onto the first mold half 2 with a defined closing force and reproduces the inner contour of the part. Optionally, during this step, the insert 1 may be brought back to the initial position. Thereby, the plastic is additionally compressed behind the undercut and the form-fit between the insert 1 and the plastic of the first plastic sheet 3 is enhanced.

Another embodiment of the manufacturing method is shown in fig. 9 to 14, a two-piece method for manufacturing half shells.

In the first step of the two-sheet process, a preheated plastic sheet 3, 6 is mounted on each mold half 2, 5 (fig. 9). Alternatively, the insert can also be mounted on the second mold half 5 at this time. The plastic sheets 3, 6 are sucked or pressed by means of vacuum into the respective mold halves 2, 5, the mold halves 2, 5 reproducing the geometry of the outer and inner parts, respectively (fig. 10).

In a next step, the insert 1 to be encapsulated is inserted into the first mold half 2 (fig. 11).

The space behind the undercut of the insert 1, which is necessary for the positive engagement, is filled with plastic by means of vacuum and/or the slider 4 (fig. 12). Excess material is cut off behind the undercut by the cutting edge introduced into the die (fig. 13). These cutting edges may also be included in the slide 4, as shown in fig. 13. Fig. 14 shows the fully moulded part with excess plastic cut away under the undercut and the slide 4. It is also possible to introduce the sleeve 20 at a later point in time, in particular press-fitted into the boss part and/or into the plastic in the boss part.

A high pressure vessel according to the present invention is shown in fig. 15. The high-pressure vessel comprises a cylinder 10 as a central part, wherein the cylinder 10 consists of a plurality of layers of composite plastic 11, the plurality of layers of composite plastic 11 comprising a barrier layer 12, wherein the high-pressure vessel further comprises at least one half shell 13 at an axial end of the cylinder 10, wherein the half shell 13 consists of the plurality of layers of composite plastic 11 comprising the barrier layer 12, wherein the half shell 13 further comprises a substantially rotationally symmetrical insert 1, i.e. a boss part, wherein the insert 1 comprises an undercut which is demolded in relation to the direction of the longitudinal center axis of the insert 1, wherein the plurality of layers of composite plastic 11 of the half shell 13 are arranged axially on both sides of the undercut of the insert 1.

The undercut is formed by a foot 14 on the end of the insert 1 facing the inside of the container, the diameter of said foot being greater than the diameter of the central portion of the insert 1. The layers of composite plastic 11 are arranged axially on both sides of the foot 14.

The foot 14 has a plurality of recesses 15, the recesses 15 being filled with the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half shell 13.

The insert 1 has substantially the shape of a hollow cylinder. The foot 14 has substantially the shape of a hollow cone.

A groove 15 of the multi-layer composite plastic 11 filled with the half shells 13 extends around the inner circumference of the foot 14.

The layers of composite plastic 11 of the cylinder 10 are fused into the layers of composite plastic 11 of the half shells 13.

The half-shells 13 and the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the cylinder 10 comprise as outermost layers a HDPE layer and a barrier layer 12 of EVOH. The HDPE may be in the form of HDPE-S (black), which may be followed by a regranulation layer, an adhesion promoter, an EVOH layer, optionally again an adhesion promoter, and optionally again a HDPE layer as the innermost layer.

The high-pressure vessel comprises two half-shells 13 at the axial ends of the cylinder 10, wherein the two half-shells 13 are designed as described above, i.e. they have a boss portion 1 embedded in the multilayer composite plastic 11.

The cylinder 10 and the two half-shells 13 are preferably wrapped with a fibrous material 16, preferably a composite material comprising carbon fibers and/or glass fibers and/or epoxy resin.

In general, high-pressure vessels are thus produced which can be used for storing gas under high pressure. The container is of lightweight construction and has a multi-piece multi-layer plastic liner consisting of two domes 13 and a cylinder 10, which ensures gas tightness and contains a permeation barrier 12.

The insert 1, i.e. the boss portion, more precisely the "headstock" and the "tailstock", is integrated into the two domes 13.

In both dome caps 13 and cylindrical tubes 10, permeability is provided by a sealing or barrier layer 12 contained within the layered structure of the liner.

The high pressure vessel obtains its mechanical strength from a fibre reinforced composite material 16 which is applied to the plastic liner during the winding process and then hardened.

Fig. 16 shows the half-shell 13 of the high-pressure container according to the invention before the insertion of the sleeve 20. The half shell 13 consists of a multilayer composite plastic 11 comprising a barrier layer 12, wherein the half shell 13 further comprises a substantially rotationally symmetrical insert 1, i.e. a boss portion. The insert 1 has a foot 14 at the end of the insert 1 facing the interior of the container, the foot having a diameter greater than the diameter of the central portion of the insert 1. The foot 14 substantially forms a hollow cone. A first groove 15 of the multi-layer composite plastic 11 filled with the half shell 13 extends around the inner circumference of the foot 14.

The layers of composite plastic 11 of the half-shell 13 are arranged axially on both sides of the foot 14.

The foot 14 has a second recess 17, the second recess 17 being filled with the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half shell 13, wherein the second recess 17 extends on the bottom of the foot 14, which bottom faces the interior of the container, near the inner periphery of the foot 14.

The foot 14 has a third recess 18, the third recess 18 being filled with the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half shell 13, wherein the third recess 18 extends over the top surface of the foot 14, which top surface faces the outside of the container.

The foot 14 has a fourth groove 19, the fourth groove 19 being filled with the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half shell 13, wherein the fourth groove 19 extends on the bottom of the foot 14, which bottom faces the interior of the container, near the outer periphery of the foot 14.

As shown in fig. 17, after the half shell is completed, a sleeve 20 is arranged radially on the inner periphery of the foot 14 inside the first groove 15, wherein the multilayer composite plastic 11 of the half shell 13 is pressed by the sleeve 20 against the inner periphery of the foot 14 and into the first groove 15.

Fig. 18 shows a complete half-shell according to the invention with inserted, tightly seated valve 21.

Sleeve 20 is arranged in the inner periphery of foot 14, wherein plastic 11 of half shell 13 is arranged between sleeve 20 and the inner periphery of foot 14. The high pressure vessel comprises a valve 21 accommodated in the boss portion, wherein a stem portion of the valve 21 is accommodated in the sleeve 20. An annular seal as a sealing element 22 seals between the stem of the valve 21 and the sleeve 20.

Figure 19 shows detail a of figure 18 more precisely.

Sleeve 20 is press-fitted into the inner periphery of foot 14, wherein a thin plastic layer of plastic 11 remains between sleeve 20 and the inner periphery of foot 14 in the press-fitting region.

The plastic 11 of the half-shell 13 fills the entire space between the sleeve 20 and the inner periphery of the foot 14.

By means of the action of the sealing element 22 between the valve 21 and the sleeve 20, it is all that is necessary to ensure tightness in the region of the plastic 11 outside the sleeve 20. Due to the thin plastic layer between the sleeve 20 and the inner periphery of the insert 1, there is a high level of tightness in the region of the leakage path (as indicated by the arrows in fig. 20) after press fitting of the sleeve 20. Due to the small thickness of the plastic film, the thermal expansion during operation and the shrinkage during production are negligible in this area and good tightness is ensured.

As can be seen from fig. 21 and its detail part in detail B in fig. 22, the sealing element can be arranged on the bottom of the groove, in particular on the bottom of the first groove 15 and the second groove 17.

The primary sealing action is achieved by compression of the plastic material in the annular grooves 15 and 17 of the metal lower part and in the core hole of the foot of the boss part 1. The other two grooves 18, 19 on the outer side of the disc or on the upper surface of the disc are mainly used for a reliable and stable plastic-metal joint.

By pushing the sleeve 20 into the core hole during manufacture, the pressure on the sealing plastic in the first groove 15 is increased.

In an alternative, as shown in fig. 19, one or both sealing grooves 15, 17 are provided with additional sealing elements to increase the sealing action in this region.

Reference numerals

1 insert, boss portion

2 first half mould

3 first plastic sheet

4 sliding part

5 second mold half

6 second plastic sheet

7 mounting part

10 cylinder

11 multilayer composite plastic

12 barrier layer

13 half shell

14 feet

15 first groove

16-fiber material

17 second groove

18 third groove

19 fourth groove

20 sleeve

21 valve

22 sealing the element.