# US 7,407,062 B2 · Filament-reinforced composite thermoplastic pressure vessel fitting assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,407,062 B2 - Document ID: US7407062B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/458,802 - Filed: 2006-07-20 - Published: 2006-12-28 - Granted: 2008-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2003-07-08 - Assignees: Enpress LLC - Inventors: Thomas G. Carter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407062B2 ## CPC - B29C 70/86: Incorporated in coherent impregnated reinforcing layers, {e.g. by winding} - B29C 70/086: {and with one or more layers of pure plastics material, e.g. foam layers (applying a non-preformed coating, e.g. a gel-coat, B29C37/0025; with foam blocks B29C70/86)} - F17C 1/06: built-up from wound-on bands or filamentary material, e.g. wires - F17C 1/16: constructed of plastics materials {(shaping of plastics B29C)} - B29C 41/04: Rotational or centrifugal casting, i.e. coating the inside of a mould by rotating the mould - B29C 70/72: Encapsulating inserts having non-encapsulated projections, e.g. extremities or terminal portions of electrical components {(B29C70/742 takes precedence)} - B29L 2031/7156: {Pressure vessels} - B29L 2031/7172: {Fuel tanks, jerry cans} - F17C 2201/0109: with exteriorly curved end-piece - F17C 2201/035: with substantially horizontal main axis - F17C 2201/054: medium (>1 m3) - F17C 2201/056: Small (<1 m3) - F17C 2203/0604: Liners - F17C 2203/0619: with two layers - F17C 2203/066: Plastics - F17C 2203/0665: radially wound - F17C 2203/067: helically wound - F17C 2203/0673: Polymers - F17C 2205/0305: Bosses, e.g. boss collars - F17C 2205/0397: on both sides of the pressure vessel - F17C 2209/2109: Moulding - F17C 2209/2118: by injection - F17C 2209/2127: by blowing - F17C 2209/2145: by rotation - F17C 2209/2154: Winding - F17C 2209/221: Welding - F17C 2209/222: by friction - F17C 2223/0123: gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC - F17C 2223/0153: Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL - F17C 2223/035: High pressure (>10 bar) - F17C 2223/036: Very high pressure (>80 bar) - F17C 2260/011: Improving strength - F17C 2260/012: Reducing weight - F17C 2260/013: Reducing manufacturing time or effort - Y10T 29/49801: Shaping fiber or fibered material - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - Y10T 29/49895: Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"] - 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 - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method of forming a fitting assembly in a filament-reinforced pressure vessel, and a pressure vessel having a fitting assembly secured therein. In the method, a first fitting portion is bonded to an inner surface of a thermoplastic liner in a fluid tight manner. A layer of commingled reinforcing filaments and plastic material is applied to an outer surface of the thermoplastic liner to form a vessel wall. A portion of the vessel wall adjacent to the opening bounded by the fluid-tight seal between the first fitting portion and the inner surface of the thermoplastic liner is removed. Then, a second fitting portion is bonded to the first fitting portion so as to define a port for access into the interior of the vessel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A filament-reinforced pressure vessel comprising: a fluid-containment cavity defined by a substantially continuous vessel wall, the vessel wall comprising: a thermoplastic liner having an inner surface and an outer surface; and an outer layer comprising reinforcing filaments and a plastic material, said outer layer being bonded to the outer surface of the thermoplastic liner; and at least one unitary thermoplastic fitting assembly formed in the vessel wall, the unitary thermoplastic fitting assembly comprising: a first thermoplastic fitting portion bonded to the inner surface of the thermoplastic liner so as to form a fluid-tight seal around an opening of a passageway through the first thermoplastic fitting portion and the inner surface of the thermoplastic liner; and a second thermoplastic fitting portion extending through the outer layer and the liner and being permanently bonded to the first fitting portion so as to form the unitary thermoplastic fitting assembly, said first and second fitting portions defining a port between the fluid-containment cavity and an exterior of the vessel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the plastic material is a thermoplastic and wherein the second fitting portion is also bonded to the outer layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pressure vessel according to claim 2, wherein the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are formed of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The pressure vessel according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing filaments are selected from a group consisting of glass filaments, aramid filaments and carbon filaments. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The pressure vessel according to claim 2, wherein the first fitting portion further comprises a peripheral seat section adjacent to the opening, and the second fitting portion is configured to contact and be bonded to the seat section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The pressure vessel according to claim 2, wherein the passageway through the first fitting portion comprises a tapered section and the second fitting portion is configured to frictionally engage the tapered section prior to being bonded to the first fitting portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pressure vessel according to claim 6, wherein the tapered section of the passageway through the first filling portion further comprises an alignment slot and the second filling portion is configured with a rib that slides into the alignment slot to ensure that the second fitting portion is properly aligned relative to the first filling portion prior to being bonded to the first fitting portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The pressure vessel according to claim 2, wherein said plastic material is a thermoset plastic material.