US 5,494,188 AGranted

Fluid pressure vessel boss-liner attachment system with liner/exterior mechanism direct coupling

AssigneeEdo Canada Ltd.

InventorSadanandan N. Sirosh

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Abstract

A fluid pressure vessel includes an exterior composite structural shell formed with a cylindrical sidewall and first and second dome-shaped end sections with two axially aligned openings in the end sections. An interior fluid impermeable liner is disposed in the shell to fit against the inside surface thereof, and includes two openings, each aligned with and adjacent to a respective one of the openings in the shell. A pair of end bosses are each disposed in respective adjacent openings of the shell and liner. The improvement of the invention involves forming the bosses so that each includes a cylindrical neck portion, an annular collar extending radially outwardly from the neck portion, a central hollow or bore extending axially through the neck portion, and an annular groove formed in the bore to include downwardly and inwardly sloping shoulders on one side of the groove. The perimeters of the openings in the liner are each formed with a first radially inwardly projecting section for overlying the top of the collar of a respective boss, and a second section projecting from an underside of the first section radially inwardly, for underlying the bottom of the collar of a respective boss, and upwardly into the bore, over the shoulder, to the groove.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A pressure vessel for holding fluids comprising

an outer shell made of a substantially rigid, mechanically strong material, and having at least one oblate end section with an opening therein,
boss means having a neck portion for fitting in the opening in the outer shell and a flange portion extending outwardly from one end of the neck portion and having an upper surface, and a lower, radially convex surface, the boss means having a generally cylindrical hollow substantially aligned with the opening in the outer shell, for receiving an attachment mechanism and including a groove formed therein extending circumferentially about the hollow, above the flange portion, said groove including a radially inwardly, downwardly sloping shoulder,
an inner, generally fluid impervious liner disposed within the outer shell against the inside surface thereof, and having at least one end section with an opening aligned with the opening of the outer shell, said inner liner being formed with a dual-layer lip circumscribing the opening in the liner, the dual-layer lip having an upper lip segment and a lower lip segment longer than said upper lip segment which terminates in an annular bead, with an annular recess therebetween for receiving and holding therein the flange portion of the boss means, the upper lip segment being held between the inside surface of the outer shell and the upper surface of the flange portion of the boss means, and the lower lip segment extending radially inwardly under the lower surface of the flange portion of the boss means and then upwardly into the hollow of the boss means, along the interior wall of said hollow, until the annular bead fits in the groove of the hollow, and
wherein said hollow includes a first portion having a first diameter for receiving the lower lip segment, and an inlet portion having a diameter greater than the first diameter for receiving an attachment mechanism, and wherein said groove is formed in the hollow between the first portion and the inlet portion such that when the bead is fitted into the groove, an attachment mechanism received in the inlet portion contacts the lower lip segment at the bead to pin the lower segment against the sloping shoulder of the groove.

1 more element

A pressure vessel having an exterior composite structural shell with an inside surface, formed with a cylindrical sidewall and first and second dome-shaped end sections with two axially aligned openings in the end sections, an interior fluid impermeable liner shaped to fit against the inside surface of the shell and having two openings, each aligned with and adjacent to a respective one of the openings in the shell and having a perimeter, and a pair of end bosses each disposed in respective adjacent openings of the shell and liner, characterized in that

the bosses are each formed with a cylindrical neck portion, a hollow formed in the neck portion, and an annular flange portion extending radially outwardly from the neck portion, and having a bottom surface,
the perimeters of the openings in the liner are each formed with a first radially inwardly projecting section for overlying the top of the flange portion of its respective boss to define a first opening which circumscribes the neck portion of the respective boss, and a second section projecting from an underside of the first section radially inwardly, for underlying the bottom of the flange portion of its respective boss, and upwardly to a location distal to the first opening into the hollow of the respective neck portion, along a sidewall of the hollow to terminate in a second opening, said first and second sections defining an annular recess therebetween for receiving and encapsulating the respective flange portion in the annular recess such that the first section is held between the boss and the shell when the boss is installed in the shell,
the hollow of a respective neck portion of at least one of the bosses is formed with an annular groove disposed above the flange portion and within the hollow, so as to receive a portion of the respective second section, a lower side of which includes a downwardly and inwardly sloping shoulder on which the respective second section and second opening rests,
one end of the hollow of at least one of the bosses is adapted for receiving thereinto an attachment which extends to the annular groove to contact said second section of the opening perimeter in which said at least one boss is disposed, to secure said second section against the sloping shoulder, and
wherein said one end of the hollow of said at least one of the bosses has a first diameter, and wherein the other end of the hollow has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, said groove being formed between the one end and the other end of the hollow to define said shoulder against which said at least one second section is forced by the attachment when the attachment is received into the one end of the hollow.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/364,842Filed 22 Dec 1994 · continuation
Priority: 28 Jan 1992
Granted: 27 Feb 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

F17C 13/002
Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels: for vessels under pressure
F17C 1/16
Pressure vessels, e.g. gas cylinder, gas tank, replaceable cartridge: constructed of plastics materials
F17C 2201/0109
Cylindrical: with exteriorly curved end-piece
F17C 2203/0604
Wall structures; Special features thereof: liners

Family

Serial827,226Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 28 Jan 1992
Serial43,571Parent of this continuation · filed 7 Apr 1993
Serial245,238Parent of this continuation · filed 17 May 1994
US 5,253,778 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,494,188 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.