DESCRIPTION "Tank with a flange"

[0001] The present invention relates to a tank for containing a pressurised fluid, usually a fluid at the liquid state. [0002] In particular, the object of the present invention is a composite tank, comprising a side wall of plastic material and a flange of metal material, connected to one another so as to prevent fluid leaks between the side wall and the flange.

[0003] As is known, composite tanks of the above type have recently undergone a considerable development, since they allow combining the advantages of the use of a plastic material while achieving very high pressures for fluid storage.

[0004] However, some parts of such tanks must be made of metal material, as they are subject to tensions that cannot be withstood by a plastic material or subject to easy wear, for example due to continuous screwing and unscrewing of a cap.

[0005] In particular, it is advisable to make a composite tank provided with a flange, wherein the access opening to the tank space, of metal material, is made.

[0006] The flange is partly buried in the plastic material that makes the side wall; however, continuous fluid leaks occur between the side wall of plastic material and the flange of metal material.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to make a composite tank which should meet the above needs and overcome the disadvantages mentioned with reference to the prior art.

[0008] Such object is achieved by a tank made according to the following claim 1.

The dependent claims describe embodiment variations.

[0009] The features and advantages of the tank according to the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description, made by way of an indicative

and non-limiting example with reference to the following figures, wherein: [0010] - figure 1 shows a cross section of a portion of a tank according to an embodiment variation of the present invention;

[0011] - figure 2 shows a cross section of a portion of a tank according to a further embodiment variation of the present invention; and

[0012] - figure 3 shows a cross section of a portion of a tank according to an even further embodiment variation of the present invention.

[0013] A tank according to the present invention comprises a side wall 1 , preferably of plastic material, and a bottom, for example in a single piece with the side wall 1. [0014] Moreover, the tank comprises a flange 2 that extends along a flange axis X- X between an inner end 2a, facing inwards of tank, and an outer end 2b, facing outwards.

[0015] The flange is preferably made as a single piece, for example of a metal material, preferably aluminium or alloys thereof, and exhibits a through inside duct for the communication between the external environment and the interior of the tank [0016] According to a preferred embodiment, flange 2 comprises, proceeding from the inner end 2a towards the outer end 2b, an enlarged portion 4, consisting of two volumes of truncated-cone shape facing the greater base, a neck 6, substantially cylindrical relative to axis X-X, and an inlet 8, substantially cylindrical as well, but of smaller diameter than the diameter of neck 6.

[0017] Preferably, flange 2 comprises a stopping ring 10, protruding externally from neck 6, for example radially relative to axis X-X, provided with at least one levelling 12, useful for preventing the rotation of the flange. [0018] According to a further embodiment, flange 2 comprises an abutment ring 14, protruding externally from neck 6, for example radially, axially spaced from the

stopping ring 10 and proximal to the outer end 2b relative to the stopping ring 10. [0019] Generally, the stopping ring 14 exhibits a maximum external diameter greater than the maximum external diameter of the stopping ring 10. [0020] Preferably, moreover, inlet 8 that extends beyond the abutment ring 14 exhibits an externally threaded end portion 16.

[0021] The annular side wall 1 that annularly delimits the interior of the tank comprises an annular coupling wall 20 arranged around flange 2. [0022] The coupling wall 20 preferably follows the pattern of the shape of the outer surface of the flange, as it is made by moulding or blowing of plastic material directly on flange 2.

[0023] In particular, the coupling wall 20 comprises an active portion 22, for example folded around the abutment ring 14. For example, the abutment ring 14 exhibits a top surface facing the outer end of the flange and the active portion 22 rests on said top surface of the abutment ring. [0024] According to a further embodiment, the coupling wall 20 comprises an axial portion 24, jointed to the active portion 22, having axial extension and resting on the outer surface of the portion of inlet 8 close to the abutment ring 14 (figure 3). [0025] Moreover, the tank comprises an insert 30, for example of plastic material, connectable to flange 2 so as to influence the active portion 22 of the coupling wall 20, pushing said active portion 22 towards the outer surface of flange 2, thus moving said active portion 22 at least partly to adhere to the outer surface of the flange, for preventing leaks between the side wall 1 and flange 2. [0026] In particular, insert 30 operates on the active portion 22 pushing it against the top surface of the abutment ring 14, squashing it so that it adheres enough to prevent leaks.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, insert 30 comprises a substantially cylindrical insert body 32, screwable on the threaded end portion 16 of inlet 8 of flange 2, and an insert foot 34, arranged in contact with the active portion 22 of the coupling wall 20, generally having a maximum diameter greater than the diameter of the insert body 32 and thus protruding externally therefrom.

[0028] Preferably, moreover, insert 30 comprises a delimiting projection 36, externally protruding from the insert body 32, axially spaced from the insert foot 34. [0029] Preferably, on the outer surface of the insert body 32, between the insert body 34 and projection 36, a gripping surface is made, for example hexagonal, suitable for coupling the insert with a mounting tool, for example an adjustable wrench.

[0030] According to a variation, inlet 8 of flange 2 exhibits a further gripping surface 52, for example hexagonal, accessible by a technician by a mounting tool; the gripping surface 52 is an end surface of the inlet, which surrounds the duct opening. [0031] Advantageously, using two wrenches to mount the insert, the first wrench operates on insert 30 and the second on surface 52, so as to oppose the action of the insert on the flange that could lead to a forcing of the flange in the coupling wall 20 that would impair the shape coupling thereinbetween. [0032] Preferably, insert 30 exhibits an annular slot 40, made in the insert foot 34. [0033] According to an embodiment, slot 40 is delimited by the active portion 22 of the coupling wall 20 and is radially spaced from flange 2, in particular from the outer surface of inlet 8 thereof (figure 1 ).

[0034] According to a further embodiment, slot 40 is delimited by the active portion 22 and by flange 2, in particular by inlet 8 thereof (figure 2). [0035] According to an even further embodiment, slot 40 is delimited by the axial

portion 24 of the coupling wall 20 and is axially spaced from the active portion 22

(figure 3).

[00356] According to an even further embodiment, slot 40 is delimited by the axial portion 24 of the coupling wall 20 and by the active portion 22 (not shown). [0037] Preferably, the tank comprises at least one sealing ring 60, seated in slot 40 of insert 30.

[0038] It should be noted that according to the different variations illustrated, the sealing ring 60 is in compression between insert 30 and the active portion 22 (figure

1 ) or between inlet 8 of flange 2, the active portion 22 and insert 30 (figure 2), or between insert 30 and the axial portion 24 (figure 3) or between insert 30, the axial portion 24 and the active portion 22.

[0039] Preferably, moreover, the tank comprises a cover 70 that covers the side wall 1 and flange 2.

[0040] Preferably, cover 70 is made of a winding of a fibre bundle, for example selected from the group of glass, carbon fibres, composite and the like, preferably buried in a synthetic matrix.

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment, cover 70 externally covers also insert

30.

[0042] Innovatively, the tank according to the present invention allows preventing fluid leaks, in particular liquid, between the side wall and the flange, since a portion of the side wall is made to sufficiently adhere to the flange.

[0043] Moreover, for greater safety, the sealing ring prevents such leaks.

[0044] Advantageously, moreover, the insert is screwable on the flange, preventing enlargements between the flange and the coupling wall, suitably using the mounting tools.

[0045] It is clear that a man skilled in the art can make several changes and variations to the tank described above in order to meet specific and incidental needs.

[0046] For example, the insert may be made of a metal material, for example aluminium or alloys thereof.

[0047] For example, the flange may be made of a plastic material. [0048] According to an embodiment variation, the end portion of the flange inlet, which surrounds the opening of the duct, is internally threaded, whereas externally it is shaped as a polygonal surface, for example hexagonal, for the mounting tool. [0049] Also such variations are comprised within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.