Joint for connecting extrudable segments

A joint in a body portion of a multi-cell pressure vessel, the body portion having a substantially uniform cross section and comprising a plurality of arcuate outer wall segments connected with at least one internal web segment, the joint attaching adjacent ends of two of the arcuate outer wall segments and an end of the internal web segment, the outer wall segments and the internal web segment formed by extrusion, the joint having a cross section comprising:

• tabs respectively configured at the adjacent ends of the arcuate outer wall segments, the tabs of the adjacent ends being symmetrical to each other, forming an exposed seam, and being configured for contiguous engagement to form a boss having a proximate neck portion and a distal body portion, the neck portion of the boss having a width smaller than the width of the body portion of the boss, the boss having a perimeter which is configured in a curvilinear shape;
• a retaining member configured at the end of the internal web segment, the retaining member configured to capture the boss formed at the adjacent ends of the two arcuate outer wall segments;
• and
• a sealing weld attaching the adjacent tabs at the exposed seam.

A joint in a body portion of a multi-cell pressure vessel, the body portion having a substantially uniform cross section and comprising first and second segments connected to each other, the joint being constructed and arranged for bearing a tensile load applied to the segments along a load axis and the joint having a cross section comprising:

• a retaining member configured at an end of the first segment, the retaining member having a first and a second pair of inwardly projecting lobes each having a load bearing surface positioned at an angle with respect to the normal to the load axis, the angle of the load bearing surfaces of the first pair of lobes with respect to the normal to the load axis being opposite to the angle of the load bearing surfaces of the second pair of lobes with respect to the normal of the load axis;
• and
• a boss configured at an end of the second segment, the boss having a proximate neck portion and a distal body portion, the neck portion of the boss having a width smaller than the width of the body portion of the boss, the body portion having a first and a second pair of outwardly projecting lips each having a load bearing surface, the retaining member configured to capture the boss thereby placing the load bearing surfaces of the first pair of lips in engagement with the respective load bearing surfaces of the first pair of lobes of the retaining member and placing the load bearing surfaces of the second pair of lips in engagement with the respective load bearing surfaces of the second pair of lobes of the retaining member.

A joint in a body portion of a multi-cell pressure vessel, the body portion having a substantially uniform cross section and comprising a plurality of arcuate outer wall segments connected with at least one internal web segment, the joint attaching adjacent ends of two of the arcuate outer wall segments and an end of the internal web segment, the joint being constructed and arranged for bearing a tensile load applied to the segments along a load axis and the joint having a cross section comprising:

• tabs respectively configured at the adjacent ends of the arcuate outer wall segments, the tabs of the adjacent ends configured for contiguous engagement to form a boss having a proximate neck portion and a distal body portion, the neck portion of the boss having a width smaller than the width of the body portion of the boss, the body portion having a first and a second pair of outwardly projecting lips each having a load bearing surface,
• a retaining member configured at the end of the internal web segment, the retaining member having a first and a second pair of inwardly projecting lobes each having a load bearing surface positioned at an angle with respect to the normal to the load axis, the angle of the load bearing surfaces of the first pair of lobes with respect to the normal to the load axis being opposite to the angle of the load bearing surfaces of the second pair of lobes with respect to the normal of the load axis,
• wherein the retaining member is configured to capture the boss formed at the adjacent ends of the two arcuate outer wall segments, thereby placing the load bearing surfaces of the first pair of lips in engagement with the respective load bearing surfaces of the first pair of lobes of the retaining member and placing the load bearing surfaces of the second pair of lips in engagement with the respective load bearing surfaces of the second pair of lobes of the retaining member.