Closure assembly for lined tanks, and vehicles equipped with the same

A pressurized-gas storage assembly comprising:

• a pressure vessel having an inner surface and a gas storage chamber and comprising a neck region providing an access opening in fluid communication with said gas storage chamber;
• a liner covering said inner surface and comprising a nipple portion extending into said neck region and terminating at an annular rim, said nipple portion having a screw-threaded radially inner surface region
• a fitting body comprising a head portion, an extension extending from an end of said head portion and having a screw-threaded radially outer surface region that is complementary to and constructed and arranged to permit mechanical engagement with said screw-threaded radially inner surface region of said nipple portion, and an annular shoulder provided at said end of said head portion and having an inner periphery defined by said extension, said annular shoulder having an annular recess formed therein, said extension being receivable in said nipple portion both to position said annular shoulder in opposing relationship with said annular rim and to permit mechanically engagement of said screw-threaded radially outer surface region of said extension with said screw-threaded radially inner surface region of said nipple portion by relative rotation therebetween;
• and
• an O-ring receivable in said annular recess and compressible between a non-compressed state, in which said O-ring has a sufficient thickness to extend beyond said annular recess, and a compressed state,
• wherein positioning of said screw-threaded radially outer surface region of said extension into mechanical engagement with said screw-threaded radially inner surface region of said nipple portion compresses said O-ring between said annular rim and said annular shoulder into the compressed state and establishes a hermetic seal between said inner liner and said fitting body.

A vehicle comprising a pressurized-gas storage assembly, said pressurized-gas storage assembly comprising:

• a pressure vessel having an inner surface and a gas storage chamber and comprising a neck region providing an access opening in fluid communication with said gas storage chamber;
• a liner covering said inner surface and comprising a nipple portion extending into said neck region and terminating at an annular rim;
• a fitting body comprising a head portion, an extension extending from an end of said head portion, and an annular shoulder provided at said end of said head portion and having an inner periphery defined by said extension, said annular shoulder having an annular recess formed therein, said extension being receivable in said nipple portion both to position said annular shoulder in opposing relationship with said annular rim and to permit mechanically engagement of said extension with said nipple portion;
• and
• an O-ring receivable in said annular recess and compressible between a non-compressed state, in which said O-ring has a sufficient thickness to extend beyond said annular recess, and a compressed state,
• wherein positioning of said extension into mechanical engagement with said nipple portion compresses said O-ring between said annular rim and said annular shoulder into the compressed state and establishes a hermetic seal between said inner liner and said fitting body.