US 10,851,925 B2 · Fittings for compressed gas storage vessels

Abstract

A set of fittings for a fuel tank including an elongated stem and a ferrule. The stem includes an elongated coupling body at one end configured to couple within a cavity defined by an end of a fuel tank liner. The ferrule includes a ferrule body having a first ferrule end and a second ferrule end; a lip defining a coupling orifice at the first ferrule end with the stem being operable to extend though the coupling orifice and engaging the lip, and a ferrule cavity defined by the ferrule body that extends between the first and second ferrule ends and opening to the coupling orifice at the first ferrule end and a ferrule opening at the second ferrule end, the ferrule cavity configured to surround the end of the fuel tank liner.

Drawings

Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO

Drawings

Claims17

Dependent claims

A fittings assembly comprising:

a hollow liner defining a liner cavity and having one or more layers of braiding extending over an exterior of the liner, the liner including:
a plurality of separate elongated rigid tubing portions having a first diameter,
a plurality of separate connector portions having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter,
taper portions disposed between and coupling successive separate tubing portions and connector portions, the liner folded to define a folded tank body having a first and second tank body end, with the elongated rigid tubing portions extending in parallel between the first and second tank body ends, with a first set of connector portions disposed at the first tank body end and a second set of connector portions disposed at the first tank body end;
and
an opening at an end portion of the liner at a connector portion, having the second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, that communicates with the liner cavity, the end portion of the liner disposed at the first tank body end;
and
a fitting comprising:
a stem including an elongated coupling body disposed within the liner cavity and engaging an internal portion of the liner at the end portion of the liner at the connector portion, having the second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter;
and
a ferrule including:
a ferrule body having a first and second end;
a lip defining a coupling orifice at the first end with the stem extending though the coupling orifice and engaging the lip, and
a ferrule cavity defined by the ferrule body that extends between the first and second ends and opening to the coupling orifice at the first end and a ferrule opening at the second end, the opening at the end of the liner being disposed within the ferrule cavity with the ferrule surrounding the end portion of the liner and an end portion of one or more braid layers such that the liner end portion of the liner and the end portion of the one or more braid layers are coupled between the ferrule body and the coupling body of the stem.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description12,008 words

Summary806 words

#FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate side views of a bare liner comprising a body having connector portions, taper portions and tubing portions.

#FIG. 1c illustrates a close-up side view of corrugations of connector portions of a bare liner.

#FIG. 1d illustrates a close-up side view of corrugations of tubing portions of a bare liner.

Detailed description11,202 words

#Turning to FIGS. 1a-d, a bare liner 100A is shown as comprising a body 105 having connector portions 110, taper portions 125 and tubing portions 130. The connector portion 110 can be corrugated, which can allow the connector portion 110 to be flexible such that the liner 100 can be folded into a housing 300 as illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b. Non-corrugated portions 120 can be rigid in various embodiments.

#In various embodiments, the connector portion 110 can have a diameter that is smaller than the tubing portions 130, with the taper portion 125 providing a transition between the diameter of the connector portion 110 and the tubing portion 130. However, further embodiments can comprise a liner 100 with portions having one or more suitable diameter, and in further embodiments, a liner 100 can have portions that are non-cylindrical, which can include various suitable shapes. The connector portion 110 can comprise connector corrugations 111, which can allow the connector portion 110 to be flexible (e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b) such that the liner 100 can be folded into a housing 300 as illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b.

#Additionally, as illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a and 20 the connector portion 110 can comprise a cuff portion 115 defined by a non-corrugated portion 120 or rigid portion of the connector portion 110 between the corrugations 111 of the connector portion 110 and the taper portion 125. In further embodiments, the cuff portion 115 can be various sizes as illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a and 20. More specifically, FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate a cuff portion 115 being smaller compared to the cuff portion 115 illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 20. In some embodiments, the cuff portion 115 can have a length that is less than, equal to, or greater than the length of the taper portion 125. In some embodiments, the taper portion 125 can have a length that is less than, equal to, or greater than the length of the cuff portion 115 or twice the length of the cuff portion 115.

Facts

Application

15/792,090Filed 24 Oct 2017 · us provisional application

Priority

24 Oct 2016

Published

US 2018/0111475 A126 Apr 2018

Granted

1 Dec 2020

Term ends

6 Sep 2038

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 317 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification41 codes

F16L 33/2076
Directly connected to the rigid member: by plastic deformation
B60K 15/01
Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or…:…
B60K 15/013
Arrangement of fuel conduits: of gas conduits
B60K 15/03006
Fuel tanks: gas tanks

Timeline

24 Oct 2016Priority claimedParent application 62/412,044
24 Oct 2017Application filedUS 15/792,090
30 Nov 2017Assigned to Other Lab, LLCassignment of assignor's interest
26 Apr 2018PublishedUS 2018/0111475 A1
1 Dec 2020GrantedUS 10,851,925 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
6 Sep 2038Term endsEstimated, includes 317 days of adjustment

Fittings for compressed gas storage vessels

Life of this patent

Fittings for compressed gas storage vessels

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims17

Description12,008 words

Drawings

Classification41 codes

Life of this patent

Description12,008 words