DE202005018579U1 - Pressure tank used in commercial vehicle, comprises of two casings set in one-story arrangement, and front walls and perimeter wall provided with two sections - Google Patents

Abstract

The pressure tank (1) comprises of two adjacent casings (4) set in one-story arrangement for supplying gaseous medium at predetermined pressure. The pressure tank has front walls (3) and a perimeter wall (2) provided with two sections (2a,2b). The front walls are locked at the open ends of the casings. A sealing material (5) is applied at the connected ends of the casings.

Description

The The invention relates to a pressure vessel for supplying vehicles, in particular commercial vehicles, with a pressurized gaseous medium.

A generic pressure vessel is from the DE 200 23 422 U1 known.

Pressure vessel, in particular Compressed air tank, be used in vehicles, especially in commercial vehicles and passenger cars, used to supply a variety of consumers. in this connection These may be, for example, compressed air brake systems, air suspensions, Rescue systems (such as airbags) or systems that reduce tire pressure of commercial vehicles, act. pressure vessel not only in the field of commercial vehicles and passenger cars, rather. also with other vehicles, for example rail vehicles, used.

Known Pressure vessel, so also from the generic font known pressure vessel, wise a tubular Peripheral wall, whose open end faces are closed with corresponding lids, usually welded, become. This creates a cavity for storing the intended Gas. The tube, which is closed at the ends in each case with a cover can be connected via connections and / or unloaded.

Such pressure vessels are known from the prior art in various embodiments and must withstand the mechanical stresses caused by internal or external pressure and the other mechanical, physical (temperature) and chemical stresses. A common material for the production of appropriate pressure vessels is steel. Steel containers basically have the advantage of a high mechanical strength and thus a high pressure resistance and also a good temperature resistance. In contrast, the chemical resistance of steel to corrosive substances is rather poor. Steel containers are also relatively susceptible to external weather influences, so that as a rule an additional external and possibly inner coating or coating is provided. Finally, steel containers have a relatively high weight and the manufacture by welding together of covers and cylindrical body is relatively expensive. Instead of steel, the use of aluminum is known, which has a better corrosion resistance and a lower weight, but is more expensive to manufacture. From the generic document, the DE 200 23 422 U1 , A pressure vessel made of a tube is known, which is made of fiber-reinforced, thermoplastic material and which is provided with lids which close the open end faces of the tube. The thermoplastic material of which the tube is made consists of more than 10% by volume of fibers with an average fiber length of more than 50 mm. The lids themselves are made of a fiber-reinforced plastic, the lid material containing fibers whose average length is in the range between 1 and 30 mm.

all known pressure vessels is common that their production, in particular with regard to on a cost-effective High volume production, expensive and time consuming is. This results partly from the material used and the resulting process steps for the preparation of the pressure vessel and partly because of the time-consuming and complicated joining processes necessary.

Furthermore have the known pressure vessel usually a heavy weight up. A reduction in material costs by reducing the wall thickness of the pressure vessel to guarantee the high security requirements are not possible.

Of the The present invention is therefore based on the object, a pressure vessel for Supply of vehicles, in particular commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles, to create that cost-effective can be produced, has a high strength and high safety requirements enough and still one possible low weight.

These The object is achieved by claim 1 solved.

The one-piece sleeve-shaped design of an end wall with at least a portion of the peripheral wall increases the stability of the entire pressure vessel such that the wall thicknesses can be made thinner than before. In addition, eliminating the training as a sleeve, the previously required weld between the end wall and the peripheral wall. To produce the sleeve, a tool for deep drawing of surfaces according to the DE 41 31 603 C2 proved to be particularly suitable. Alternatively, however, the sleeve can also be produced by means of other forming methods which, inter alia, lead to work hardening. The integral formation of an end wall with at least part of the peripheral wall is to be understood that a not insignificant part of the peripheral wall is formed integrally with the end wall. The term "sleeve" is therefore not a mere shell-like shape of the end wall or a previously known To understand covers. In general, it is provided that the axial length of the sleeve, ie the part of the peripheral wall, which is formed by the sleeve, 0.5 to 3 times, preferably 1.5 to 3 times, the diameter of the Sleeve is.

By the one-piece design of the end wall with an adjacent Part of the peripheral wall of a sleeve results, as the inventor found in experiments, a particularly high moment of resistance of the material against a side impact. This is special for commercial vehicle pressure vessels, the often on the outside of the Vehicle mounted, particularly advantageous. By the reduction the necessary welds for the pressure vessel results a particularly cost-effective and time-saving production. In addition, possible sources of error (e.g. Leakage points).

In a constructive embodiment of the invention may be a closing element be provided, which forms the second end wall and the open End of the sleeve closes.

The closing element can be welded to the open end of the sleeve in a simple manner, for example by means of an orbital circumferential externally applied weld. It can be provided that the sleeve and the end element of the same material, such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy, steel, a steel alloy, stainless steel or plastic is formed. In experiments, a hybrid construction of the pressure vessel, in which the sleeve is made of steel, a steel alloy or stainless steel, and the closing element is made of plastic, has proven to be particularly suitable. The closing element can, for example, from a plastic with a high degree of fiber filling or a plastic such as this in the DE 200 23 422 U1 or the DE 20 2004 005 680 U1 is described, be formed. The necessary access openings or connection openings can be integrated in an advantageous manner in the closing element.

From It is an advantage if the closure element designed as a second end wall on its outer circumference provided with a directed to the other end wall support shoulder is, wherein the peripheral wall of the adjacent sleeve with the support shoulder is tightly connected. It can be provided that the wall starts the adjacent sleeve with the inside of its peripheral wall on the support shoulder rests.

As has been found in experiments, this allows a stable and secure connection of the peripheral wall with the closing element. It is advantageous if, from the outside with a sealing agent, z. B. with an orbital welding or bonding (if necessary with an appropriate bandaging / wrapping), a connection between made the final element or its support shoulder and the peripheral wall becomes. At the joint can also brackets that provide the necessary strength of the interface support / supplement become.

The Reduction of the outer circumference of the end element in the area of the support shoulder, so that the inner peripheral wall of the adjacent sleeve can rest thereon, let yourself by known technical measures to reach.

In a constructive and very advantageous embodiment of the invention can also be provided that the second end wall also formed integrally with a part of the peripheral wall of a sleeve is.

In simple way thus results in a pressure vessel consisting of two sleeves and thus has a particularly high stability. Be provided may be that the two open, facing away from the end walls Ends of the sleeves with each other are connected. The connection can thereby by means of a circulating Weld or by gluing done. Was in the previously known pressure vessels a longitudinal seam for welding the tubular Circumferential wall and two orbital seams for attaching the end walls necessary at the open end faces of the tubular peripheral wall. Now, the invention is merely an orbital seam for connecting the two open ends of the two sleeves necessary. this leads to to a considerable saving of production costs and allows beyond a lower weight, which among other things improved fuel consumption of the vehicle, such as a commercial vehicle results.

Optionally, it may be provided in a structural embodiment of the invention that between the two open ends of the sleeves, a tubular extension element is arranged. Due to the extension element, it is possible in a simple manner to produce larger pressure vessels, which would no longer be produced inexpensively due to their ratio height / width to depth by forming processes or thermoforming processes. The tubular extension element is inserted between the two open ends of the sleeve and welded by means of one orbital seam. The tubular extension element can be formed in a known manner from a sheet metal accordingly and provided with a longitudinal seam. As emerged in experiments has also results in a cost savings even with such large pressure vessels, due to the shorter longitudinal weld and due to the ability to produce the pressure vessel with lower wall thicknesses.

According to the invention, it is provided that the axial length the sleeves 0.5 to 3 times, preferably 1.5 to 3 times, the diameter of the sleeves.

When Advantageously, it has also been found when the axial lengths of the at least two pods nearly are the same. On the one hand, this results in production advantages, On the other hand, this has beneficial effects on the stability of the pressure vessel.

From It is advantageous if the open end of a sleeve with one on the other sleeve aligned support shoulder is provided, which designed in such a way is that this at least partially in the open front of the other sleeve can be introduced. It can be provided that the adjacent Sleeve with the Inside its peripheral wall rests on the support shoulder.

Thereby, that the open end of a sleeve with a support shoulder is provided, which has an outer diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of the open Front side of the other sleeve, let yourself provided with the support shoulder sleeve in a simple manner in the open end of the other sleeve bring in or insert. It is particularly advantageous when the height from the support shoulder to the upper edge of the peripheral wall at least nearly the thickness of the peripheral wall corresponds. This will achieve that after connecting the sleeves a peripheral wall is formed, the at least approximately one throughout having the same outer diameter.

A Support shoulder leaves can be easily formed by the fact that the end wall tapered starting from the peripheral wall.

From It is advantageous if the support shoulder of a sleeve with the inner peripheral wall of the other sleeve over a shape and contour closure connected or prefixed. Preferably, the positive connection be designed so that this a subsequent joining process supported.

In a development of the invention may also be provided that the two open ends of the sleeves, which are assembled together to be, a deadlock in the form of plug-in elements to produce a plug connection. The connector elements, formed, for example, as leading elements and corresponding counterparts could be, enable on the one hand a support a joining process or increase the stability while the use of the pressure vessel, On the other hand, it is conceivable that the connector completely or essentially alone the connection between the sleeve-like Produces modules. In this case, the connector only supplemented by a sealant become.

According to the invention may further be provided that a sealing means on the outside between each the ends of the peripheral wall of the sleeves or one end of a Peripheral wall of a sleeve and the closing element is applied.

The Sealant leaves thus apply in a simple manner, preferably orbitally circumferential. The sealing means may be, for example, a weld, a Bonding or another joining agent act.

The both sleeves and optionally a partition may be both plastic be formed as well as metal. In one embodiment Metal has a configuration of steel, a steel alloy, Stainless steel, aluminum or an aluminum alloy as special suitable exposed.

A very high stability, both for the sleeves as well as for the closing element and possibly a partition, may be derive from this that a material mix of metal and Plastic are made. For this purpose, it can be provided that metal inserts are covered / encapsulated by a plastic with a high degree of fiber filling. In Experiments have shown that this high support forces and dynamic forces are absorbed can.

advantageous Refinements and developments of the invention will become apparent the further subclaims. The following is an embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing shown in principle.

It shows:

1 a perspective view of a pressure vessel according to the invention of two sleeves;

2 an end view of a pressure vessel according to 1 ;

3 a section along the line III-III of 2 ;

4 a perspective view of a pressure vessel according to the invention in an embodiment with a sleeve and a closing element;

5 an end view of a pressure vessel according to 4 ; and

6 a section along the line VI-VI of 5 ,

Pressure vessels are well known from the general state of the art, including, for example, the DE 200 23 422 U1 Reference will therefore be made below to the features essential to the invention.

Of the Pressure vessel according to the invention is suitable for storing different gaseous media, such as Air, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, propane, natural gas, hydrogen or other technical gases. The invention is not special Limited type of storage gases, although the invention in a special way for storage of air to supply vehicles.

Of the Pressure vessel according to the invention in the embodiment as a compressed air tank for commercial vehicles educated.

Like from the 1 to 3 it can be seen has the pressure vessel 1 a peripheral wall 2 and two end walls 3 on. Each is an end wall 3 with a part 2a . 2 B the peripheral wall 2 in one piece as a sleeve 4 educated. The pressure vessel 1 thus consists of two sleeves 4 by means of an orbital circumferential weld 5 at their open ends 4a welded together.

The peripheral wall 2 is how out 1 and 2 can be seen completely through the two sleeves 4 educated. A substantially mirror-image structure of the two sleeves 4 has proved to be particularly suitable for this. The axial length of the sleeves 4 is in the embodiment according to the in the 1 to 3 illustrated embodiment, 1.5 to 3 times the diameter of the sleeves 4 ,

The pods 4 form both the outside and the inside of the pressure vessel 1 ,

How out 3 is apparent, is the open end 4a a sleeve 4 with a support shoulder 6 provided, which on the other sleeve 4 is aligned. The shoulder shoulder 6 is designed such that these in the open end 4a the other sleeve 4 can be introduced, wherein the inside of the peripheral wall 2a the other sleeve 4 on the support shoulder 6 rests. It is envisaged that between the support shoulder 6 and the peripheral wall 2a the sleeve 4 , which on the support shoulder 6 is postponed, an orbital circumferential gap for receiving the orbital seam / weld 5 remains. The weld 5 is on the outside between the two ends of the Umfangswandungsteile 2a . 2 B and the shoulder 6 applied.

Like from the 1 to 3 it can be seen have the end walls 3 the two sleeves 4 one fastener each 7 on which, for attachment of the pressure vessel 1 is provided on a commercial vehicle. The fastener 7 can work in any way with the end walls 3 be connected, preferably by welding.

As further from the 1 to 3 gives, is an end wall 3 a sleeve 4 with connection openings 8th Mistake. The connection openings 8th are designed as connection sleeves, which are tightly welded.

In the 4 to 6 is a second embodiment of the pressure vessel 1 shown. It is envisaged that an end wall 3 with the peripheral wall 2 in one piece from a sleeve 4 is trained. Unlike in the 1 to 3 embodiment shown in the 4 to 6 illustrated embodiment thus only a sleeve 4 on. This sleeve 4 forms at least approximately the entire peripheral wall 2 out. An end element is provided 9 which is the second end wall 3 forms and the open end of the sleeve 4 closes. The final element 9 or the end cover is formed in the embodiment of plastic, this may be, for. B. be a fiber reinforced plastic.

The final element 9 has a support shoulder 6 on, which is similar to the support shoulder 6 according to the in 1 to 3 described embodiment is formed. On the support shoulder 6 is the inner circumferential wall of the adjacent sleeve 4 on. The final element 9 is by means of an orbital circumferential weld 5 with the open front side 4a the sleeve 4 welded. This is between the conclusion element 9 and the open front 4a the sleeve 4 or between the open front side 4a the sleeve 4 and the shoulder 6 a gap for receiving the circumferential weld 5 intended.

The shoulder shoulder 6 can in a known manner from the plastic end member formed 9 be formed, preferably such that the circumference training 2 the sleeve 4 after this on the support shoulder 6 is pushed, at least approximately the outer diameter of the end element 9 corresponds (see 6 ).

Like from the 4 to 6 it can be seen that points through the closing element 9 formed end wall 3 two connection openings 8th on. The connection openings 8th are designed as connection sleeves and in the final element 9 integrated. In addition to this is in the final element 9 a fastener 7 for mounting the pressure vessel 1 integrated on a commercial vehicle. Another fastener 7 is at the through the sleeve 4 trained end wall 3 , in this case by welding, attached.

The in the 1 to 6 illustrated sleeves 4 are formed in the embodiment of steel or a steel alloy.

In a manner not shown, the pressure vessel 1 Also be provided with one or more partitions through which in the pressure vessel 1 several independent interiors are formed. These can be designed for receiving gaseous as well as for receiving liquid media. Preferably, a partition wall is provided, which in the pressure vessel 1 two separate interiors forms. Preferably, both interior spaces can be designed to receive a gaseous medium (possibly with different pressures). However, it may also be advantageous to form an interior for filling with gas and an interior for filling with a liquid medium.

The Partition can be arranged at any point. Regarding arrangement and fixing the partition is based on the state of the art Fuel tanks referenced by commercial vehicles.

According to the in 3 illustrated embodiment can advantageously the partition between the two sleeves 4 be arranged. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the at least one partition wall can have an at least approximately annular head part at its two end walls 3 the sleeves 4 directed sides support shoulders 6 are arranged, wherein the at least two peripheral wall parts of the open ends 4a the sleeves 4 each tight with one of the two support shoulders 6 are connected. The connection with the support shoulders 6 can be done in the manner already described above. The head part of the partition wall preferably has an outside diameter which corresponds to the outside diameter of the peripheral wall 2 of the pressure vessel 1 equivalent.

Every interior of the pressure vessel 1 can have its own connection openings 8th and the like.

Claims (18)

Pressure vessel for the supply of vehicles, in particular commercial vehicles, with a pressurized gaseous medium, with a peripheral wall and two end walls characterized in that at least one end wall ( 3 ) with at least one part ( 2a . 2 B ) of the peripheral wall ( 2 ) in one piece from a sleeve ( 4 ) is formed. Pressure vessel according to claim 1, characterized in that a closure element ( 9 ) is provided, which the second end wall ( 3 ) and the open end ( 4a ) of the sleeve ( 4 ) closes. Pressure vessel according to claim 2, characterized in that the closing element ( 9 ) is made of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, steel, a steel alloy, stainless steel or plastic. Pressure vessel according to claim 3, characterized in that the closing element ( 9 ) is formed from a plastic with a high degree of fiber filling. Pressure vessel according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the second end wall ( 3 ) graduated element ( 9 ) on its outer circumference with one to the other end wall ( 3 ) directed support shoulder ( 6 ), wherein the peripheral wall ( 2 ) of the adjacent sleeve ( 4 ) with the support shoulder ( 6 ) is tightly connected. Pressure vessel according to claim 5, characterized in that the peripheral wall ( 2 ) of the adjacent sleeve ( 4 ) with the inside of its peripheral wall ( 2 ) on the support shoulder ( 6 ) rests. Pressure vessel according to claim 1, characterized in that the second end wall ( 3 ) also with a part ( 2 B ) of the peripheral wall ( 2 ) in one piece from a sleeve ( 4 ) is formed. Pressure vessel according to claim 7, characterized in that the two open, the end walls ( 3 ) opposite ends ( 4a ) of the sleeves ( 4 ) are interconnected. Pressure vessel according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the axial length of the sleeves ( 4 ) is 0.5 to 3 times, preferably 1.5 to 3 times, of the tube diameter. Pressure vessel according to claim 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that the axial length of the two sleeves ( 4 ) is at least approximately equal. Pressure vessel according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the open end face ( 4a ) of a sleeve ( 4 ) with one on the other sleeve ( 4 ) aligned shoulder ( 6 ), which is designed such that it at least partially in the open end face ( 4a ) of the other sleeve ( 4 ) can be introduced. Pressure vessel according to claim 11, characterized in that the adjacent sleeve ( 4 ) with the inside of its peripheral wall ( 2a ) on the support shoulder ( 6 ) rests. Pressure vessel according to claim 12, characterized in that the support shoulder ( 6 ) with the inside of the peripheral wall ( 2a ) of the adjacent sleeve ( 4 ) is connected or prefixed via a form and contour closure. pressure vessel according to claim 13, characterized in that the positive connection in such a way is designed to support a subsequent joining process. Pressure vessel according to one of claims 2 to 14, characterized in that a sealing means ( 5 ) on the outside between the end ( 4a ) of the peripheral wall ( 2 ) of the sleeves ( 4 ) or one end ( 4a ) a peripheral wall ( 2 ) of a sleeve ( 4 ) and the final element ( 9 ) is applied. Pressure vessel according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that at least one end wall ( 3 ) with connection openings ( 8th ) is provided. Pressure vessel according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the two end walls ( 3 ) with fastening elements ( 7 ) for fastening the pressure vessel ( 1 ) are provided on a vehicle. Pressure vessel according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the sleeves ( 4 ) are made of plastic, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, steel, a steel alloy or stainless steel.