# US 6,719,165 B2 · Apparatus and method for reinforcing a pressure vessel

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- Number: US 6,719,165 B2
- Document ID: US6719165B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 09/938,327
- Filed: 2001-08-22
- Published: 2003-01-30
- Granted: 2004-04-13
- Earliest claimed: 2000-08-22
- Assignees: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
- Inventors: Roger D. Wright; Marcus A. Darais; James A. Yorgason; Alan J. Loveless; Darrel G. Turner; David R. Nelson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6719165B2

## CPC

- B29C 63/0021: {with coherent impregnated reinforcing layers}
- B29C 70/32: on a rotating mould, former or core
- F17C 1/06: built-up from wound-on bands or filamentary material, e.g. wires
- B29L 2025/00: Frameless domes {(igloos B29L2031/106)}
- B29L 2031/7156: {Pressure vessels}
- F17C 2201/0109: with exteriorly curved end-piece
- F17C 2201/0128: spherical or elliptical
- F17C 2201/056: Small (<1 m3)
- F17C 2203/0621: with three layers
- F17C 2203/067: helically wound
- F17C 2203/0673: Polymers
- F17C 2209/227: by adhesive means
- F17C 2209/232: of walls
- F17C 2223/0123: gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
- F17C 2260/011: Improving strength
- F17C 2265/07: Generating electrical power as side effect
- F17C 2270/0197: Rockets
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

Pressure vessel end dome reinforcements are placed upon resin-impregnated fiber-wound pressure vessels to improve the strength-to-weight ratio of high performance pressure vessels, such as those that are used as rocket motors, gas generators, and the like. The reinforcement structures are assembled from gore pieces to form gore bodies over dome regions of the pressure vessels.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vessel comprising:
a vessel body having at least one surface which is curved about both a vessel body axis and a second axis; and
a reinforcing structure disposed at the at least one surface of the vessel body and about the vessel body axis, the reinforcing structure comprising a plurality of gore pieces disposed on the vessel body at the at least one surface of the vessel body to form a gore body, each gore piece comprising a composite sheet having a shape that conforms to the at least one surface of the vessel body, the gore pieces being disposed on the at least one surface of the vessel body in overlapping relation, wherein the gore body comprises:
a first layer of gore pieces substantially abutting one another around the at least one surface of the vessel body; and
and a second layer of gore pieces disposed over the first layer of gore pieces and around the at least one surface of the vessel body so that each of the gore pieces of the second layer overlaps at least two of the gore pieces of the first layer.

### Claim 2

A method for reinforcing a vessel having a vessel body with at least one surface which is curved about both a vessel body longitudinal axis and a second axis, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of gore pieces, each of the gore pieces comprising a composite sheet; and
disposing the plurality of gore pieces on the vessel body at the at least one surface of the vessel body and about the longitudinal axis to form a gore body, including shaping each gore piece to conform to the at least one surface of the vessel body in an overlapping relation, wherein disposing the plurality of gore pieces further includes disposing the gore pieces on the at least one surface of the vessel body in first and second layers so that the first layer of gore pieces substantially abut one another around the at least one surface of the vessel body and the second layer of gore pieces is disposed over the first layer of gore pieces and around the at least one surface of the vessel body so that each gore piece of the second layer overlaps at least two gore pieces of the first layer.

### Claim 3

A vessel comprising:
a vessel body having at least one surface which is curved about both a vessel body axis and a second axis; and
a reinforcing structure comprising a plurality of gore pieces, each gore piece comprising a sheet of composite material including a first surface, a second opposing surface and a plurality of fibers extending substantially parallel to the first surface, each gore piece exhibiting a first width at a first longitudinal location along a length of each gore piece and a second lesser width at a second longitudinal location along the length of each gore piece, wherein the first longitudinal location of each gore piece is disposed at a first radial distance from the vessel body axis, the second longitudinal location of each gore piece is disposed at a second lesser distance from the vessel body axis, and wherein at least a portion of the first surface of each gore piece is disposed over and conforms to at least a portion of the at least one surface of the vessel body and wherein the plurality of gore pieces is configured as a first layer of gore pieces substantially abutting one another around the at least one surface of the vessel body, and a second layer of gore pieces disposed over the first layer of gore pieces and around the at least one surface of the vessel body so that each of the gore pieces of the second layer overlaps at least two of the gore pieces of the first layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vessel as set forth in claim 3, wherein each gore piece includes a meridional edge, and wherein each gore piece of the first layer abuts an adjacent gore piece of the first layer along their respective meridional edges.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The vessel as recited in claim 3, wherein each gore piece of the second layer overlaps the at least two gore pieces of the first layer by about 40 to 60%.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The vessel as set forth in claim 3, wherein each gore piece of the second layer overlaps the at least two gore pieces of the first layer by about 50%.

### Claim 7

A method for reinforcing a vessel having a vessel body with at least one surface which is curved about both a vessel body and a second axis, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of gore pieces, each gore piece comprising a sheet of composite material having a first surface, a second opposing surface and a plurality of fibers extending substantially parallel to the first surface, each gore piece exhibiting a first width at a first longitudinal location along a length of each gore piece and a second lesser width at a second longitudinal location along the length of each gore piece, wherein providing a plurality of gore pieces further includes:
forming a first layer of gore pieces which substantially abut one another around the at least one surface of the vessel body; and
forming a second layer of gore pieces disposed over the first layer of gore pieces so that each gore piece of the second layer overlaps at least two gore pieces of the first layer;
forming a gore body including disposing the plurality of gore pieces on the vessel body at the at least one surface of the vessel body such that the first longitudinal location of each gore piece is disposed at a first distance from the vessel body axis and the second longitudinal location of each gore piece is disposed at a lesser second distance from the vessel body axis and such that at least a portion of the first surface of each gore piece is configured to be disposed upon and conform to at least a portion of the at least one surface of the vessel body; and
overlapping a portion of at least one of the plurality of gore pieces with a portion of at least one other of the plurality of gore pieces.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein each gore piece includes a meridional edge and wherein forming a first layer of gore pieces includes abutting adjacent gore pieces of the first layer to one another along their respective meridional edges.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method as recited in claim 7, wherein forming the second layer of gore pieces includes positioning each gore piece of the second layer to overlap each of the at least two gore pieces of the first layer by about 40 to 60%.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method as recited in claim 7, wherein forming the second layer of gore pieces includes positioning each gore piece of the second layer to overlap each of the at least two gore pieces of the first layer by about 50%.