Pressure vessel and also apparatus and process for producing a pressure vessel blank comprising at least one connection element
AssigneeKautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsRolf Deindorfer, Dieter Langen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present embodiments provide an apparatus for producing a pressure vessel blank, comprising at least one connection element, a multi-part blow-moulding tool, and at least one blowing pin. The present embodiments further provide a pressure vessel comprising at least one connection element, a pressure vessel blank, and a supporting shell connected to and supporting the pressure vessel blank. An aspect of the present embodiments provides a process for producing a pressure vessel blank using an apparatus comprising at least one connection element that enables a shortened time for producing a pressure vessel blank with increased stability under pressure.
Claims22
An apparatus for producing a pressure vessel blank (2) comprising
- (a) at least one connection element (7) comprising a through-passage (7a);
- (b) a multi-part blow-moulding tool comprising at least two blow-mould portions (10), wherein each blow-mould portion (10) defines a partial cavity (11) configured to receive a thermoplastic tubular preform (9);
- and
- (c) at least one blowing pin (20) comprising an end portion (21) having a gas outlet opening (22), configured to discharge a gas, and a holding device (26) for releasably holding the connection element (7), wherein the end portion (21) is configured for insertion into the through-passage (7a) of the connection element (7);
- wherein the blow-mould portions (10) are configured to move reversibly between an open position in which the blow-mould portions (10) are apart from one another, and a closed position in which the blow-mould portions (10) contact one another such that the partial cavities (11) of each blow-mould portion (10) form a mould impression in which the thermoplastic preform (9) can be moulded under differential pressure to form the pressure vessel blank (2);
- wherein the blowing pin (20) is configured for placement between the blow-mould portions (10) so that in the closed position the thermoplastic preform (9) disposed therebetween can be moulded in the mould impression while being brought to bear against the connection element (7) by application of gas pressure discharged from the gas outlet opening (22);
- wherein the end portion of the blowing pin (20) further comprises a fluid outlet (23), configured to release a cooling fluid, and a fluid inlet (24) configured to receive the cooling fluid;
- and
- wherein the fluid outlet (23) and the fluid inlet (24) are configured for fluidic connection with one another, so that, in use, the through-passage (7a) of the connection element (7) held by the blowing pin (20) can be brought directly into contact with the cooling fluid and a cooling fluid circulation can be produced in the through-passage (7a) of the connection element (7).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.