Boss for a filament wound pressure vessel

A boss system for a pressure vessel having a filament wound outer shell and a non-metallic internal liner, the system comprising:

• a boss having a tubular neck projecting outwardly through an opening in the outer shell;
• an annular support flange extending radially from an end of the neck within the vessel, the annular flange having an outer surface for reinforcing the perimeter of the opening in the shell and an inner surface opposite the outer surface;
• an attachment flange extending radially from the support flange and having an outer surface spaced inwardly of the outer shell;
• a first generally dovetail-shaped locking groove in the outer surface of the attachment flange;
• a second generally dovetail-shaped locking groove in the inner surface of the annular support flange;
• the liner being split at the attachment flange with an outside portion outside the attachment flange and an inside portion inside the attachment flange and the support flange;
• a first generally dovetail-shaped tab on the outside portion of the liner for locking in the first locking groove in the outside surface of the attachment flange;
• and
• a second generally dovetail-shaped flange on the inside portion of the liner for locking in the second locking groove in the inside surface of the annular support flange.

A boss for a pressure vessel having a filament wound outer shell and a non-metallic internal liner, the shell having a circular section and defining a rounded vessel end, the boss comprising:

• a tubular neck projecting outwardly through an opening in the rounded vessel end;
• an annular flange extending radially from an end of the neck within the vessel, the annular flange having an outer surface for reinforcing the perimeter of the opening in the rounded vessel end;
• and
• a shear stress relieving layer at said rounded end and interposed between the inner surface of the outer shell and the internal liner to accommodate relative slip therebetween during pressurization of the vessel.

A pressure vessel comprising:

• a filament wound outer shell;
• a non-metallic internal liner disposed within the shell;
• a boss having a tubular neck projecting outwardly through an opening in the outer shell and an annular flange extending radially from an end of the neck within the vessel, the annular flange having an outer surface for reinforcing the perimeter of the opening the shell;
• complementary inter-engaging locking means between the annular flange and the liner;
• and
• a shear stress relieving layer interposed between an outer surface of the annular flange and an inner surface of the outer shell to accommodate relative slip therebetween during pressurization of the vessel.

A boss for a pressure vessel having a filament wound outer shell and a non-metallic internal liner, the boss comprising:

• a tubular neck projecting axially through an opening in the outer shell;
• an annular flange extending radially from the neck within the vessel, the annular flange having an outer surface for reinforcing the perimeter of the opening in the shell and an inner surface for mounting the liner;
• an interface member interposed between the liner and the inner surface of the annular flange and defining a site for attachment of the liner;
• and
• means for securing the interface member to at least one of the annular flange and the neck.

A boss for a pressure vessel having a filament wound outer shell and a non-metallic internal liner, the boss comprising:

• a tubular neck projecting axially through an opening in the outer shell, said neck defining a pressurization port through which fluid is communicated with the vessel interior;
• an annular flange extending radially from the neck within the vessel, the annular flange having a sloped outer surface for reinforcing the perimeter of the opening in the shell and an inner surface sloped oppositely said outer surface for mounting the liner;
• interface means for connecting the liner to the annular flange;
• and
• a unitary shear stress relieving member having a first layer interposed between said flange outer surface and said shell and a second layer interposed between said flange inner surface and the liner to accommodate relative slip therebetween during pressurization of the vessel.

A boss for a pressure vessel having a filament wound outer shell and a non-metallic internal liner, the boss comprising:

• a tubular neck projecting outwardly through an opening in the outer shell;
• an annular flange extending radially from an end of the neck within the vessel, the annular flange having an outer surface for reinforcing the perimeter of the opening in the shell;
• a locking groove in the annular flange engaged with a complementary tab on the liner;
• and
• a shear stress relieving layer interposed between the outer surface of the annular flange and the inner surface of the outer shell to accommodate relative slip therebetween during pressurization of the vessel.