# US 12,215,824 B2 · Gas cylinder with reduced permeability

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- Number: US 12,215,824 B2
- Document ID: US12215824B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/156,634
- Filed: 2023-01-19
- Published: 2023-11-09
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-02
- Assignees: Agility Fuel Systems LLC
- Applicants: Agility Fuel Systems LLC
- Inventors: Michael Gregory Volkmer; Dustin Joseph John; Chad Alvin Cederberg; David Neil Morgan; John David Makinson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12215824B2

## CPC

- F17C 13/002: {for vessels under pressure (F17C13/008 and F17C13/02 - F17C13/12 take precedence)}
- B32B 1/08: Tubular products
- B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
- B32B 15/082: comprising vinyl resins; comprising acrylic resins
- B32B 15/20: comprising aluminium or copper {(B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence)}
- B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin
- B32B 27/304: {comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF}
- B32B 27/306: {comprising vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol (co)polymers}
- B32B 27/32: comprising polyolefins {(comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30)}
- B60K 15/03006: {Gas tanks (B60K15/07 takes precedence)}
- B62D 21/02: comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members
- B62D 33/0617: {for tractors or off-the-road vehicles (protective devices for drivers in case of overturning of tractors B60R21/131)}
- F02M 21/0221: {Fuel storage reservoirs, e.g. cryogenic tanks}
- F17C 1/04: Protecting sheathings
- F17D 1/00: Pipe-line systems (conveying articles or materials through a pipe- line by means of a fluid carrier B65G51/00, B65G53/00; liquids B67D; special devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers into vehicles or boats or vice versa, e.g. loading or unloading vehicles or portable containers B67D7/00; conveying material which has been excavated by a dredger or soil shifter through a pipe-line E02F7/10; sewer pipe-line systems E03F3/00; thermal insulation of pipe-lines F16L59/00; central heating systems F24D)
- B32B 2307/7265: Non-permeable
- B32B 2597/00: Tubular articles, e.g. hoses, pipes
- B32B 2605/08: Cars
- F17C 2201/0109: with exteriorly curved end-piece
- F17C 2201/0119: with flat end-piece
- F17C 2201/0128: spherical or elliptical
- F17C 2201/056: Small (<1 m3)
- F17C 2201/058: portable (<30 l)
- F17C 2203/012: on or in the wall, e.g. ribs
- F17C 2203/0604: Liners
- F17C 2203/0607: Coatings
- F17C 2203/0609: Straps, bands or ribbons
- F17C 2203/0619: with two layers
- F17C 2203/0621: with three layers
- F17C 2203/0624: with four or more layers
- F17C 2203/0646: Aluminium
- F17C 2203/066: Plastics
- F17C 2203/0663: in form of fibers or filaments
- F17C 2203/0673: Polymers
- F17C 2203/068: Special properties of materials for vessel walls
- F17C 2209/221: Welding
- F17C 2209/232: of walls
- F17C 2221/012: Hydrogen
- F17C 2221/033: Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
- F17C 2223/0123: gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
- F17C 2223/036: Very high pressure (>80 bar)
- F17C 2260/036: Avoiding leaks
- F17C 2265/066: for feeding engines for propulsion
- F17C 2270/0105: Ships
- F17C 2270/011: Barges
- F17C 2270/0168: by vehicles
- F17C 2270/0171: Trucks
- F17C 2270/0173: Railways
- F17C 2270/0176: Buses
- F17C 2270/0178: Cars
- F17C 2270/0184: Fuel cells
- F17C 2270/0189: Planes
- Y02E 60/32: Hydrogen storage
- F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F17D: PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES (pumps or compressors F04; fluid dynamics F15D; valves or the like F16K; pipes, laying pipes, supports, joints, branches, repairing, work on the entire line, accessories F16L; steam traps or the like F16T; fluid-pressure electric cables H01B9/06)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A system for powering a vehicle is provided. The system can include an engine or power generation system to be powered by a fuel and a housing. The housing can be configured to couple to one or more frame rails of the vehicle, receive and protect a cylinder configured to store the fuel to be used by the engine or power generation system. The housing can have one or more access panels allowing access to an interior of the housing. The cylinder can include a first end portion, a second end portion, a central body forming an enclosed cavity for storing pressurized gas, a reinforcement structure disposed over the central body, and a metal foil interposed between the reinforcement structure and central body. The metal foil can be configured to reduce permeation of contents of the cylinder.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for storing pressurized gas, the apparatus comprising:
an enclosure comprising:
a first end portion;
a second end portion;
a first neck located in the first end portion, the first neck configured to provide an inlet and/or outlet for the pressurized gas;
a central body having a first end coupled with the first end portion and a second end coupled with the second end portion, the central body further having an outer surface and an inner surface disposed between the first end and the second end,
the first end portion, the second end portion, and the central body forming an enclosed cavity for storing the pressurized gas wherein the inner surface of the central body forms at least a portion of an innermost surface of the enclosure;
a reinforcement structure disposed over the central body; and
a barrier structure interposed between the reinforcement structure and the outer surface of the central body, the barrier structure configured to reduce permeation of contents of the enclosure,
wherein the barrier structure comprises a multilayer tape wound circumferentially about the outer surface of the central body, the multilayer tape comprising a first polymer layer having an inner surface and an outer surface, a metal foil layer, a second polymer layer having an inner surface and an outer surface, and an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer securing a portion of the inner surface of the second polymer layer to the outer surface of the central body, and the metal foil layer being disposed between the inner surface of the first polymer layer and the outer surface of the second polymer layer,
wherein the multilayer tape comprises one or more elongate strips each comprising a first elongate lateral edge and a second elongate lateral edge, wherein the first polymer layer, the metal foil layer, the second polymer layer, and the adhesive layer each extend from the first elongate lateral edge to the second elongate lateral edge, and
wherein each of the one or more elongate strips are wound circumferentially about the outer surface of the central body in an overlapping configuration that positions the first elongate lateral edge of a first winding longitudinally between the first and second elongate lateral edges of a neighboring winding, with the adhesive layer securing a portion of the inner surface of the second polymer layer of the first winding to the outer surface of the first polymer layer of the neighboring winding.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central body comprises a cylindrical body and the first end portion comprises a hemispherical member coupled with one end of the cylindrical body, wherein the barrier structure is disposed over the cylindrical body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central body comprises a cylindrical body and the first end portion comprises a hemispherical member coupled with one end of the cylindrical body, wherein the barrier structure has a circumferential end spaced apart from the hemispherical member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal foil layer comprises an aluminum foil having a thickness in a range between 0.0005 in and 0.05 inches.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressurized gas is compressed natural gas.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal foil layer is a homogeneous layer of metal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement structure comprises a fiber-reinforced composite material applied directly to the barrier structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central body between the inner surface and the outer surface is a continuous expanse of a homogenous material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second neck located in the second end portion.