The invention relates to a container produced from a spiral-shaped, curved sheet strip, which may be used, for example, as storage container for liquid or solid agricultural produce or waste, or as biogas reactor.
The production of containers of this kind is known from DE 2 250 239 A. In this method, a sheet strip is used to form a spiral with a diameter that corresponds to that of the container diameter. The associated, spiral-shaped sheet strip edges are folded out and then connected to each other on the outside of the container by means of a seam. This manufacturing method, known as the LIPP double-seam system, provides for a quick and simple manufacture of containers of different diameters and different heights. By using mobile sheet folding and assembly facilities the container may be manufactured directly at the desired erection site.
From the document DE 199 39 180 A1 a container made from a spiral-shaped, curved sheet strip is known, in which a first edge section is folded towards the outside, thus forming a spiral-shaped fold-out edge. The second edge section of the sheet strip is also folded to the outside and connected to the first edge section by an outside seam. In the vicinity of the butt joint of the folded edge sections the sheet strip is welded on the inside of the container for sealing purposes.
For common applications such as, for example, the storage of bulk material from the agricultural or forestry sectors, or of bio waste, the manufactured containers seal very well, are structurally stable and are media resistant. Further applications such as, for example, the storage of plant-based oils, require a greater container volume and thus a significantly increased mechanical rigidity of the containers to be economically viable, which can so far only be achieved with manufacturing methods that involve a significantly greater investment in terms of time and cost.
The invention is based on the object of providing a container that is produced from a spiral-shaped sheet strip, which further increases the application spectrum of containers of this kind, in particular a large storage volume and/or an increased mechanical rigidity, but that is still simple and quick to produce.
The object is met by the container as specified in claim 1. Particular embodiments of the invention are specified in the sub-claims.
In one embodiment of the invention the container is produced from a spiral-shaped, curved sheet strip, wherein the sheet strip comprises a first spiral-shaped edge section that is folded to the inside or to the outside of the container and thus forms a spiral-shaped fold-out edge, and in which the sheet strip features a second edge section which, with regard to the longitudinal direction of the sheet strip, is disposed opposite the first edge section and which also extends spiral-shaped. The second edge section of the sheet strip overlaps a third section of the sheet strip which, with regard to the fold-out edge, is disposed opposite the first edge section and adjoins the fold-out edge. The second edge section and the third section of the sheet strip are welded together in the vicinity of the overlap, where the welding seam extends at least partially into the area between the second edge section and the third section of the sheet strip.
As a result of the spread of the welding seam up to at least the edge region of the overlap between the second edge section and the third section, where said edge region adjoins the fold-out edge, a break-proof, mechanical connection of the sheet strip edges is achieved, which provides sufficient mechanical rigidity even in large-volume containers for the storage of liquid media. The welding seam is in this instance located preferably in the region of the fold-out edge, and the fold-out edge may in particular be partially or even fully covered by the welding seam. The overlap of the third section by the second edge section is preferably a multiple of the thickness of the sheet strip, in particular more than two times and preferably more than three times the sheet thickness. The overlapping of the third section by the second edge section is in vertical direction. The first edge section and the second edge section each show the longitudinal edge of the sheet strip.
In one embodiment the height of the welding seam is more than 100%, in particular more than 120% and preferably more than 150% of the thickness of the sheet strip, in particular the thickness of the sheet strip in the vicinity of the fold-out edge. The sheet strip has preferably a constant thickness over its entire extension in longitudinal and transverse direction. The height of the welding seam ensures that the welding seam does not constitute a bottleneck for the flow of force so that it is made certain that the effective forces that extend from the third section via the welding seam into the second edge section are reliably transferred without the occurrence of force peaks and thus stress peaks in the vicinity of the welding seam.
In one embodiment the height of that part of the welding seam that extends in the vicinity between the edge section and the third section of the sheet strip is more than 20%, in particular more than 25% and preferably more than 30% of the thickness of the sheet strip, in particular of the thickness of the sheet strip in the vicinity of the welding seam. This causes the forces to be transferred via the welding seam also into that area of the sheet strip, in particular into that area of the third section of the sheet strip which remained mechanically essentially without load due to being folded out and the formation of the fold-out edge. This leads to a significantly increased rigidity of the welding connection.
In one embodiment welding is performed at least partially also in the vicinity of the fold-out edge; for example, the fold-out edge may be covered partially or even fully by the welding seam. This further increases the mechanical rigidity of the welding seam since in particular the areas of the sheet strip that are close to the surface that have been stressed through folding out, are melted by the welding process in the vicinity of the fold-out edge and become a part of the welding seam after solidifying.
In one embodiment the welding seam extends into that area in which the second edge section and the third section extend parallel to each other. The second edge section and the third section of the sheet strip may, in the vicinity of the overlap, extend parallel and in particular concentric to each other in the direction of the circumference, and may have a constant distance to each other or they may be in contact with each other already. Both have a favorable effect on the rigidity of the welding connection.
In one embodiment the second edge section overlaps the third section of the sheet strip on the inside of the container. In this instance the first edge section may be folded outwards so that the fold-out edge is accessible from the outside and the welding process in particular can take place from the outside of the container to be manufactured. This significantly simplifies the manufacturing process, in particular because the welding device does not have to be moved from the inside of the container to the outside after completion of the manufacturing process.
In one embodiment the second edge section is welded with its spiral-shaped end edge to the third section of the sheet strip. This welding connection may be implemented as an alternative to or in addition to the welding connection in the vicinity of the fold-out edge. Provided that the second edge section overlaps the third section on the inside of the container, the container is also fluid-tight on the inside and the occurrence of germ pockets is reliably prevented, which is particularly important for the storage of foodstuffs.
In one embodiment an end edge of the second edge section forms preferably on the inside of the container a step that extends oblique or transverse to the vertical longitudinal axis of the container. This simplifies the welding process because the welding seam can be formed reliably at the butt joint of the two sheet sections at the area of the step that extends oblique or transverse in particular.
In one embodiment the fold-out edge is formed by the first edge section that is folded towards the outside of the container, where said first edge section is disposed above the opposite second edge section in relation to the longitudinal direction of the sheet strip. The fold-out is performed essentially at right angles, and the length of the folded out section is in one embodiment more than two times, in particular more than three times and preferably more than five times the thickness of the sheet strip. This increases the mechanical rigidity of the container. As a result of the sill-like, radially outward protruding, first edge section it is, moreover, possible to apply the externally located welding seam in a very simple manner; in particular, the welding plant may be guided at an acute angle of preferably more than 20° and less than 70° with respect to the horizontal at the butt joint of the second edge section and the fold-out edge, which permits the simple production of a sufficiently deep welding seam and thus a sufficiently rigid welding connection.
In one embodiment the third section of the sheet strip, which adjoins the fold-out edge in the direction of the second edge section, is folded out as an offset with respect to a fourth section of the sheet strip, which adjoins the offset in the direction of the second edge section, and is in particular folded towards the outside of the container. This allows the matching edge sections of the sheet strip to be laid alongside each other without, or with only reduced, mechanical tension. If the offset is of sufficient size, a self-adjustment of the matching edges of the sheet strips to each other occurs; in particular the second edge section is able to brace itself on the offset disposed between the third section and the fourth section, which on the one hand further simplifies the manufacturing process and increases the rigidity and on the other hand ensures an accurately fitting connection.
In one embodiment the radial displacement of the second edge section compared to the fourth section of the sheet strip, caused by the offset, is less than 95% of the thickness of the sheet strip, in particular less than 90% and preferably less than 85%. This causes the two matching edge sections to be slightly elastically deformed during manufacture, and through that they lay alongside each other in a pre-stressed state. This leads to a further stiffening of the container.
In one embodiment the second edge section is, through a further offset, folded preferably into the inside of the container with respect to a fifth section, which continues on from the offset in the direction of the first edge section. This offset may be disposed in the vicinity of the radially outside located fold-out edge of the first edge section. The radial displacement of the second edge section with respect to the fifth section, caused by the offset, may be less than 95% of the sheet strip thickness, in particular less than 90% and preferably less than 85%.
In one embodiment the container is surrounded by a stabilizing device, which extends upwards from the support surface of the container, and which is at least sectionally and/or at discrete positions positively connected to the container, in particular positively connected in radial direction so as to at least partially absorb the forces acting upon the container. In this instance the stabilizing device may extend to at least part of the height of the container, in particular more than 20% and preferably more than 30%. The positive connections may be made at discrete locations around the circumference and/or in vertical direction, for example through welding the radially outwards folded, first edge section to the stabilizing device. The stabilizing device may be formed, for example, through several stabilizing elements, for example U-shaped elements or elements of triangular shape in lateral elevation, which are erected preferably equidistant around the circumference of the container, anchored in the foundation and extending vertically.
In one embodiment the stabilizing device is formed by an outer container, and the annular space in between the container and the outer container may at least sectionally and/or at least partially be filled with a material that provides a positive connection between the container and the outer container. For example, the space in between may be filled with concrete. In this instance the container and the outer container may be disposed concentrically on a foundation slab of the container.
Further advantages, characteristics and details of the invention become apparent from the sub-claims as well as from the following description, in which several exemplary embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawing. The characteristics mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention, individually or in any combination.
The container 10 is on its outside and its inside essentially cylindrical, in particular circular-cylindrical, with a vertically extending, longitudinal axis 12. The container 10 rests on a foundation 1 that may, for example, be a concrete slab, and which, like the base area of the container 10 in plan view, may be circular or, as shown in the exemplary embodiment, may be a polygon. The cylindrical section of container 10 is covered at the top by a conical or a truncated cone-shaped roof 2.
The container 10 is manufactured by using a spiral-shaped, curved sheet strip 20, preferably directly at the erection site of the container 10. The diameter 14 of the container 10 may, for example, be between 4 m and 20 m or more. The height 16 of the container 10 may be between 2 m and 20 m or more. The filling capacity of the container 10 may, for example, be between 15 m3 and 8000 m3. The preferably homogenous thickness 26 (
A third section 28 of the sheet strip 20 which, in relation to the fold-out edge 24, is disposed opposite the first edge section 22 and adjoins the fold-out edge 24, is overlapped on the inside of the container 10 by a second edge section 32 of the sheet strip 20, where in the area of the overlap 30 the second edge section 32 and the third section 28 extend essentially parallel to each other and also extend in a curved manner particularly concentrically in relation to the longitudinal axis 12, and may have a constant distance from each other or may even lay alongside each other. The overlap 30 extends in vertical direction by more than two times, in particular more than three times and preferably more than five times, in the exemplary embodiment approximately seven times, the thickness 26 of the sheet strip 20. The overlap 30 may in particular be more than 50% and less than 200% of the radial extension of the folded-out, first edge section 22, in particular more than 80% and less than 125% and preferably more than 90% and less than 110%.
The third section 28 is shifted in particular radially to the outside by an offset 34 with respect to a fourth section 36 of the sheet strip 20 that adjoins the offset 34 in the direction towards the second edge section 32. In this instance the internal diameter of the container 10 is essentially the same in the vicinity of the fourth section 36 as in the vicinity of the second edge section 32, so that the second edge section 32 is able to rest on the inside of container 10 against the offset 34, or that the second edge section 32 and the fourth section 36 are at least flush on the inside of the container 10. The radial displacement of the third section 28 radially outwards compared to the fourth section 36 may correspond essentially to that of the thickness 26 of the sheet strip 20, or may even be slightly smaller, so that the third section 28 is retained alongside the second edge section 32 in particular by an elastic deformation of the sheet strip 20 in the vicinity of the offset 34.
On the outside of the container 10, in the vicinity of the fold-out edge 24, a welding seam 40 is provided to connect the second edge section 32 to the adjoining section of the sheet strip 20, in particular in the vicinity of the fold-out edge 24. In this instance the welding seam 40 extends at least partially into the area between the second edge section 32 and the third section 28. The height 42 of the welding seam 40 in the exemplary embodiment is more than 250% of the thickness 26 of the sheet strip 20 in the vicinity of the fold-out edge 24 and thus provides a reliable, stable flow of force between the edge sections of the sheet strip 20 that adjoin each other in vertical direction, and gives the container 10 therefore a particularly high level of rigidity. The width 44 of the welding seam in the exemplary embodiment is more than 150% of the thickness 26 of the sheet strip 20, which also contributes to the increase in rigidity of the welding connection and thus to that of container 10.
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The height 46 of the first part of the welding seam 40, which extends in the area between the second edge section 32 and the third section 28 of the sheet strip 20, is in the exemplary embodiment more than the thickness 26 of the sheet strip 20. Even the second part 48 of the welding seam 40, which extends into the area between the second edge section 32 and the third section 28 that adjoins the fold-out edge 24, shows in the exemplary embodiment a thickness that is more than 30% of the thickness 26 of the sheet strip 20. If necessary, the welding seam 40 may extend even further into the area between the second edge section 32 and the third section 28 for the purpose of further increasing the mechanical strength of the welding connection and thus that of the container 10. Through the second part 48 of the height of the welding seam 40, which extends in that area where the second edge section 32 and the third section 28 extend parallel to each other, the connection is made also in a section of the sheet strip 20 that was not stressed, or not significantly stressed, through the folding out of the first edge section 22, which increases the mechanical strength of the connection.
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The stabilizing device 150, made from the spiral-shaped, curved sheet strip 120, may be made in the same manner as described in relation with container 10, in particular concerning the arrangement and formation of the welding seam 141, which may be formed in the same way as the above described welding seam 40 of container 10. The space 56 between the container 110 and the stabilizing device 150 is filled with concrete as a positive connecting material 60; in particular, by using the container 110 and the stabilizing device 150 as formwork, the material 60 may be filled into the space 56.
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Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2013 020 340.6 | Nov 2013 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2014/002872 | 10/24/2014 | WO | 00 |