FR2837476A1 - Supple container, for liquids such as drinking water or hydrocarbons, comprises an outer layer of coated fabric and an inner polymer liner in the form of a bladder - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (1), especially for liquids, consists of an outer supple layer (2) made from a fabric coated with a polymer, elastomer or plastomer material, and an inner polymer liner (4) in the form of a bladder. The container (1), especially for liquids, consists of an outer supple layer (2) made from a fabric coated with a polymer, elastomer or plastomer material, and an inner polymer liner (4) in the form of a bladder between 0.1 and 5 mm thick with an adhesive surface for attaching it to the inner surface of the outer layer. The liner has a collar (7) that overlaps the outer layer round its opening (3) and is sealed to its outer surface. The liner is inserted into the outer layer, and developed inside it to make contact with its inner surface before the assembly is heated to stick the components together.

Description

isotherm (2) according to one of claims 1 to 16.

  The present invention relates to a reservoir, in particular for

  liquid, as well as a process for manufacturing such a tank.

  However, although more particularly intended for such applications, said reservoir may also be used for the storage of non-liquid product and in particular semi-liquid or pasty product. We already know tanks for storing liquids. Among these, there are known flexible tanks intended in particular to contain drinking water, hydrocarbons, etc. These flexible tanks are generally produced from an envelope made of rubber coated fabrics, said envelope being formed from a cut in a sheet which is folded back on itself according to a pattern so as to

form a three-dimensional space.

  These flexible tanks have various drawbacks, among which we can cite the problem of compatibility between fabrics.

  rubber coatings constituting the envelope and the contents of the tank.

  To overcome these drawbacks, it has been proposed to add an internal lining to the envelope. Said lining is in the form of a sheet which is superimposed on the sheet of coated fabric and which is cut and then folded with the latter so as to form said three-dimensional space. However, in this type of tank equipped with a lining, the seal formed by the lining is not complete by construction and in particular the liquid in the tank can be in contact with the envelope at

level of the folds of said reservoir.

  It is also found in this type of flexible tank with lining that there is no seal at the opening in the tank. Indeed, the parts of the envelope are not at this location covered with lining and the container is in direct contact with the fabric coated with the envelope. To avoid this, it is known to cover the edges of

  Opening with more or less homogeneous gum.

  The object of the invention is to provide a reservoir, in particular for liquid, which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and makes it possible to propose an inner lining constituting a tight wall between the contents of the reservoir

and the envelope.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a reservoir, in particular for liquid, having an opening whose edges

  are totally protected from the content.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a reservoir, in particular for liquid, which is easy to

  to implement, and whose structure facilitates its manufacture.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a reservoir, in particular for liquid, the lining of which can be chosen during the

  manufacturing according to the destination of the tank.

  Other objects and advantages of the present invention

  will appear during the description which follows, which is given only as a

  indicative and which is not intended to limit it.

  The reservoir, in particular for liquid, comprises at least one flexible envelope in which is formed an opening, and a lining,. ntereure. According to the invention, said lining is produced in the form of a bladder secured on the internal face of said envelope and opening out at the level of said opening, so as to constitute a sealed wall and

  homogeneous between the contents of the tank and the envelope.

  The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a reservoir as mentioned above, according to which one carries out: - the introduction of at least one part of the bladder into the envelope, - the development of said bladder in the envelope so that the bladder matches the interior shapes of the envelope, - cooking the envelope and the bladder so that

  said bladder is secured to the envelope.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description

  following, accompanied by the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 illustrates, in a schematic sectional view, a first embodiment of the reservoir according to the invention, - Figure 2 illustrates, in a schematic sectional view, a second embodiment of the reservoir according to the invention, - Figure 3 illustrates, in a schematic section, a view

  general of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 above.

  The present invention relates to a tank 1, in particular

for liquid.

  As shown in Figures 1 to 3, said tank 1 comprises at least one flexible envelope 2, in which is formed a

opening 3.

  Said reservoir 1 also includes an inner lining 4. Said lining 4 is produced in the form of a bladder 5 secured on the inner face 6 of said envelope 2 and opening at said opening 3. Said bladder 5 thus constitutes a tight wall and homogeneous

  between the contents of the tank 1 and the envelope 2.

  Said bladder 5 is preferably obtained by molding. However, it can also be carried out by any other process known to those skilled in the art and in particular by welding, dipping or bonding. The bladder undergoes demanding checks to verify and validate its perfect seal. Indeed, this allows to separate the functions of sealing and resistance

tank mechanics.

  To facilitate the securing of said bladder 5 on the internal face 6 of the envelope 2, said bladder 5 is associated with an adhesive so as to improve the adhesion of said bladder 5 with the envelope 2. However, in a another embodiment, one will choose for the bladder a material having sufficient adhesion so as not to require

additional adhesive.

  Said bladder 5 can be made of different materials depending on the desired compatibility. Thus, it is possible in particular to use a PVC bladder for tanks intended to contain drinking water, a polyurethane / polyester bladder for hydrocarbon tanks, and a

  polyethylene bladder for acid tanks.

  However, this is a non-limiting list, other materials could have been envisaged to form said bladder in the aforementioned or other applications and in particular for example polyurethane / polyeter,

  polyurethane / polyester or other plastomers.

  The flexible envelope 2 is in turn made up from a fabric coated with a polymer, with a thickness of between

  0.1 mm and 1 cm or possibly a rubber.

  Furthermore, it should be noted that advantageously, the thickness of said bladder 5 is between 0.1 and 5 mm. The use of a thin bladder thus does not significantly increase the weight

of the tank.

  Once made, we can plan to test and control

  said bladder 5 which seals the reservoir 1 before its introduction.

  The flexible envelope 2 can also be controlled, this ensuring a

  significant part of the mechanical strength of the tank.

  It should also be noted that the reservoir thus formed is

  much more resistant than a tank using only the coated fabric.

  However, referring again to Figures 1 to 3, we see that said bladder 5 has a flange 7 at the opening 3 covering the edges 8 of the opening 3 and a portion of the outer face 9

  of the casing 2 so as to constitute a seal.

  Said flange 7 can advantageously be made in one piece in the form of a crown outside the bladder at its opening. Referring to Figure 1, the reservoir has a counter flange 10 which is arranged in the vicinity of said opening 3, between the bladder 5

  and the internal face 6 of the envelope 2.

  Said counter-flange 10 makes it possible, in cooperation with a flange 12, to hold said flange 7 against the external face 9 and to close off the reservoir. Said bladder 5 is therefore pinched during tightening of the flange on the counter flange and the content cannot therefore come into contact with the edges 8

of envelope 2.

  In this exemplary embodiment, it should be noted that the counter flange 10 is also not in direct contact with the contents of the reservoir.

  Thus, only said bladder 5 and the flange 12 are in contact with the contents.

  However, in a second embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, said bladder 5 has at the flange 7 an internal splitting 11 of the bladder. Between this duplication 11 and the bladder 5, a

counter flange 10 'is removed.

  Again, said counter flange 10 'allows in conjunction with the

  flange 12 to enclose the collar 7.

  Said doubling 11 of the bladder 5 can be advantageously carried out by welding inside the bladder 5 a piece in the form of a crown. This part makes it easier to insert said flange 10 ′ by allowing it to be positioned and maintained before it is tightened with the flange 12. However, the method of manufacturing a tank 1 according to the

  above-mentioned structural characteristics is as follows.

  We introduce from an envelope 2 the introduction of at least

  part of the bladder 5 in the envelope 2, via said opening 3.

  In a second step, the development of said bladder 5 in the envelope 2 is caused so that said bladder 5 marries

  the interior shapes of the envelope 2.

  The method finally consists in ensuring the cooking of the envelope 2 and of the bladder 5 so that said bladder 5 is subject to

envelope 2.

  During the introduction, a portion of said bladder 5 is preferably reserved outside of the envelope 2, so as on the one hand to ensure a grip on said bladder 5 and on the other hand to constitute the part of the

  flange 7 covering part of the external face 9 of the envelope 2.

  The development of said bladder 5 is preferably made from pressurizing means and in particular blowing means

  not shown in Figures 1 to 3 attached.

  To this end, it is advisable to use a bladder 5 whose shape coincides overall with the envelope 2, and having a high coefficient of elongation so that said bladder 5 can match

  complex reliefs on the inside of said tank 1.

  The envelope 2 is then multichanneled with the bladder 5 so that, on the one hand, the envelope 2 has its final shape and also to ensure the adhesion of said bladder 5 on the internal face 6 of said

envelope 2.

  Furthermore, in addition to ensuring a sealing function, it has been found that said bladder 5 also makes it possible to compact said said

envelope 2 during cooking.

  It is also important to point out at this level that one can also see the counter-flange 10, 10'10rs that the latter is

  consisting in particular of composite folds and embedded metal inserts.

  However, other embodiments within the reach of ordinary skill in the art could have been envisaged without departing from the scope

of this application.

  Thus, it is entirely possible to envisage adding, externally, to the reservoir 1, consisting of the envelope 2 and said bladder 5, a rigid box, not shown, in particular made of composite or aluminum, so as to form a rigid reservoir. The final aspect of

  tanks may therefore be in volume.

Claims (10)

  1. Reservoir (1), in particular for liquid, comprising at least one flexible envelope (2), in which an opening (3) is provided, and an interior lining (4), characterized in that said lining (4) is produced in the form of a bladder (5) secured on the internal face (6) of said envelope (2) and opening at said opening (3), so as to constitute a tight and homogeneous wall between the contents of the tank and casing (2).   2. Tank according to claim 1, wherein said bladder (5) has a flange (7) at the opening (3) covering the edges (8) of the opening (3) and part of the external face (9) of   the envelope (2) so as to constitute a seal.   3. Tank according to claim 2, wherein there is provided a counter flange (10) is disposed, in the vicinity of said opening (3), between   the bladder (5) and the internal face (6) of the envelope (2).   4. Tank according to claim 2, wherein the bladder (5) has at the flange (7) an internal splitting (11) of the   bladder between which a counter flange (10 ') is disposed.   5. Tank according to any one of the claims   above, wherein said bladders (5) are made of PVC or polyurethane / polyeter, polyurethane / polyester or polyethylene or other plastomers.   6. Tank according to any one of the claims   previous, wherein the thickness of said bladder (5) is between 0, 1 and 5 mm.   7. Tank according to any one of the claims   previous, wherein said bladder (5) is associated with an adhesive of   so as to improve the adhesion of said bladder (5) with the envelope (2).   8. Tank according to any one of claims   above, wherein said bladder (5) is obtained by molding, welding, soaking or sticking.   9. Tank according to any one of the claims   above, in which the flexible envelope (2) is formed from a   fabric coated with a polymer / elastomer or plastomer.   10. Method for manufacturing a tank (1) according to one   any of the preceding claims, wherein from a   envelope (2), we carry out: - the introduction of at least part of the bladder (5) into the envelope (2), - the development of said bladder (5) in the envelope (2) so the bladder (5) conforms to the interior shapes of the envelope (2), - the cooking of the envelope (2) and the bladder (5) so as to