IP Library Granted Patent US 12,492,783
Granted Patent B2
US 12,492,783 · App. 18/206,777 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

Tank and method of recycling reinforcing fiber

Inventors: Yusuke Numata (Toyota, JP); Takuya Sukeda (Toyota, JP); Daisuke Sakuma (Toyota, JP); Hiroyuki Ishii (Toyota, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
F17C1/06F17C2203/0604F17C2203/0624F17C2203/067F17C2203/0673F17C2209/2154
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,492,783
App. No.
18/206,777
Granted
Dec 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present embodiment is a tank having a liner and a first protective layer disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the liner and configured such that a resin-impregnated fiber bundle including a reinforcing fiber bundle and a first matrix resin is wound around the liner, wherein the resin-impregnated fiber bundle has a folded portion fixed in a bent state at a winding end portion of the resin-impregnated fiber bundle.

Claims (21)

1 . A tank comprising a liner and a first protective layer, the first protective layer being disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the liner and configured such that a resin-impregnated fiber bundle containing a reinforcing fiber bundle and a first matrix resin is wound around the liner, wherein a folded portion that is fixed in a state where the resin-impregnated fiber bundle is folded is provided at a winding end of the resin-impregnated fiber bundle.

2 . The tank according to claim 1 , wherein the folded portion spans both longitudinal sides of the resin-impregnated fiber bundle.

3 . The tank according to claim 1 , wherein the resin-impregnated fiber bundle is folded such that a folding direction differs from a winding direction.

4 . The tank according to claim 3 , wherein when the folded portion is viewed in a radial direction from an outside of the tank, a folding angle between a longitudinal direction of a portion of the resin-impregnated fiber bundle forward of the folded portion and a longitudinal direction of a portion of the resin-impregnated fiber bundle rearward of the folded portion is more than 1 degree and less than 180 degrees.

5 . The tank according to claim 4 , wherein the folding angle is 1 degree or more and 150 degrees or less.

6 . The tank according to claim 1 , wherein the resin-impregnated fiber bundle is folded such that a folding direction is consistent with a winding direction.

7 . The tank according to claim 6 , wherein when the folded portion is viewed in a radial direction from an outside of the tank, a folding angle between a longitudinal direction of a portion of the resin-impregnated fiber bundle forward of the folded portion and a longitudinal direction of a portion of the resin-impregnated fiber bundle rearward of the folded portion is less than 1 degree.

8 . The tank according to claim 1 , wherein a different material from the resin-impregnated fiber bundle is disposed and interposed between a portion of the resin-impregnated fiber bundle forward of the folded portion and a portion of the resin-impregnated fiber bundle rearward of the folded portion.

9 . The tank according to claim 8 , wherein the different material is ring-shaped or plate-shaped.

10 . The tank according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing fiber bundle is a glass fiber bundle or a carbon fiber bundle.

11 . The tank according to claim 10 , wherein the reinforcing fiber bundle is the glass fiber bundle.

12 . The tank according to claim 11 , further comprising a reinforcing layer, wherein:

the first protective layer is configured such that a resin-impregnated glass fiber bundle containing the glass fiber bundle and the first matrix resin is wound around the liner;

the reinforcing layer is disposed between the first protective layer and the liner; and

the reinforcing layer is configured such that a resin-impregnated carbon fiber bundle containing the carbon fiber bundle and a second matrix resin is wound around the liner.

13 . The tank according to claim 12 , wherein a folded portion that is fixed in a state where the resin-impregnated carbon fiber bundle is folded is provided at a winding end of the resin-impregnated carbon fiber bundle.

14 . The tank according to claim 1 , further comprising a second protective layer that is provided on the first protective layer and composed of the first matrix resin.

15 . A method being a method of recycling a reinforcing fiber, the method comprising:

preparing the tank according to claim 1 ;

peeling off the folded portion at the winding end from a surface of the tank; and

pulling the winding end that is peeled and drawing the resin-impregnated fiber bundle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2023
From: NUMATA, YUSUKE; SUKEDA, TAKUYA; SAKUMA, DAISUKE; ISHII, HIROYUKI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 063880/0362 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-126054 · Aug 8, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240044451A1 · Feb 8, 2024
References Cited (17)
US 5657594A · Morita · 1997 [cited by examiner]
US 8727174B2 · Otsubo · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20170157801A1 · Yang · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20200079918A1 · Toyoshima · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20220371226A1 · Numata · 2022 [cited by examiner]
CN 101980857A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
CN 107022108A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005255835A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017104847A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 202037638A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
JP 2020037978A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
JP 202045407A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
JP 202050704A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
JP 2022179883A · 2022 [cited by applicant]
WO 2009121368A1 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018212016A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 18/325,703, filed May 30, 2023 in the name of Yusuke Numata et al. [cited by applicant]