Pressure vessel with an improved sidewall structure

A pressure vessel for containing fluids, said pressure vessel comprising:

• a thin thermoplastic inner liner forming a container which is impervious to said fluids, said container having a substantially cylindrical middle portion, first and second end portions, said end portions being connected with said cylindrical middle portion, a segment of said thin inner liner disposed inward to define at least one recess in said container, said recess having a depth which extends from the outer surface of said container to the bottom of said recess and which is at its maximum greater than the wall thickness of said cylindrical middle portion of said thin inner liner;
• an insert means positioned within and substantially filling said recess and adhered to the walls of said recess for forming a thickened section, said thickened section being an integral part of said thin inner liner and having a maximum thickness greater than the wall thickness of said cylindrical middle portion of said thin inner liner;
• an outer layer bound to and covering a substantial portion of said inner liner and covering said insert means for providing added strength and forming a rigid, integral vessel with said inner liner and insert means;
• a port extending through a segment of said outer layer and said insert means and a segment of said inner liner for providing access to the interior of said vessel;
• said insert means having a main body member through which said port extends and a collar means positioned in said port;
• compression means positioned between said collar means and a portion of said main body member for forming a seal;
• said collar means connected to said main body member for maintaining said seal and restraining said portion of said main body member from expanding away from said compression means due to increasing temperature.

A pressure vessel for containing fluids, said pressure vessel comprising:

• a thin thermoplastic inner liner providing an impervious barrier to said fluids and having first and second end portions and a substantially cylindrical middle portion having at least one aperture and being connected to said first and second end portions;
• an insert means secured to said inner liner forming an integral part thereof, said insert means substantially filling said aperture and forming a substantially smooth curved surface with the outer surface of said inner liner;
• an outer layer substantially covering said insert means and said inner liner and having an aperture substantially coincident with said aperture of said inner liner, said insert comprising:
• a main body member having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and having an aperture, said main body aperture being substantially coincident with said aperture in said inner liner and said aperture in said outer layer and forming a port into the interior of said vessel;
• collar means having a second coefficient of thermal expansion and positioned in said aperture of said main body member forming a seal therebetween and connected to said main body member for restraining said main body member from expanding away from said collar means due to increasing temperature and the difference between said first and second coefficients of thermal expansion, said first coefficient of thermal expansion being different from said second coefficient of thermal expansion.