# US 8,464,884 B2 · Burst pressure support rib > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,884 B2 - Document ID: US8464884B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/379,416 - Filed: 2006-04-20 - Published: 2007-10-25 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2006-04-20 - Assignees: BASF SE - Applicants: Douglas M. Shearin - Inventors: Douglas M. Shearin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464884B2 ## CPC - F17C 1/02: involving reinforcing arrangements {(F17C1/14, F17C1/16 take precedence)} - F17C 2201/0119: with flat end-piece - F17C 2201/0128: spherical or elliptical - F17C 2201/0157: Polygonal - F17C 2203/012: on or in the wall, e.g. ribs - F17C 2203/0617: with one layer - F17C 2203/0636: Metals - F17C 2203/0639: Steels - F17C 2203/0646: Aluminium - F17C 2203/066: Plastics - F17C 2205/0323: Valves - F17C 2209/221: Welding - F17C 2209/232: of walls - 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 2260/011: Improving strength - 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) ## Abstract A container assembly having a tank with first and second sides for storing materials under pressure. A plurality of hoop stringers surround each half of the tank and cross one another to define joints. The hoop stringers extend radially outward at various points, including the crossing of the hoop stringers, to increase a cross sectional area of the hoop stringers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A container assembly comprising: a tank formed of a polymeric material with said tank having a first half and a second half for storing materials under pressure with said first half having a first inner surface and a first outer surface terminating at a first open edge and said second half having a second inner surface and a second outer surface terminating at a second open edge with said edges facing each other when said halves form said tank, said first and second inner surfaces being substantially smooth between said edges, a first longitudinal hoop stringer formed of a polymeric material and mounted to said first outer surface of said first half adjacent said first edge, a second longitudinal hoop stringer formed of a polymeric material and mounted to said second outer surface of said second half adjacent said second edge with said first and second longitudinal hoop stringers facing each other when said halves form said tank, at least one first radial hoop stringer formed of a polymeric material and mounted on said first outer surface and intersecting said first longitudinal hoop stringer to define a first joint there between, and at least one second radial hoop stringer formed of a polymeric material and mounted on said second outer surface and intersecting said second longitudinal hoop stringer to define a second joint there between with said first and second joints aligning with each other, wherein a portion of each of said hoop stringers at said first and second joints extends radially outward beyond a height of each respective hoop stringer with said portions of said hoop stringers including an inclined surface extending from said height of each of said respective hoop stringer to an apex of said joints to increase a cross sectional area of said hoop stringers at said joints for retaining the pressurized materials in said tank. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second longitudinal hoop stringers disposed about said first and second edges, respectively, are fused together when said halves form said tank. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second longitudinal hoop stringers disposed about said first and second edges, respectively, are welded together when said halves form said tank. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hoop stringers are integrally formed with said tank. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said polymeric material is further defined as nylon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said portions of said hoop stringers define a cruciform shape having four corners at each joint. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each hoop stringer has a polygonal configuration extending outwardly from said tank when viewed in cross section transverse to said hoop stringer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said halves include a cylindrical outer surface terminating at flat ends. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An assembly as set forth in claim 8 further including an end hoop stringer extending about each flat end of said halves along an edge of each flat end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said end hoop stringer is integral with said flat ends. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first and second longitudinal hoop stringers are integral with said first and second edges, respectively, and extend along a length of each of said halves of said tank. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first and second radial hoop stringers are integral with said cylindrical outer surface of said first and second halves, respectively, and extend around each of said halves of said tank. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each hoop stringer has a polygonal configuration extending outwardly from said tank when viewed in a cross section transverse to said hoop stringer to a first height with said portions extending outwardly beyond said first height to a second height that is greater than said first height. ### Claim 14 A container assembly comprising: a tank having a first half and a second half for storing materials under pressure with said first half having a first outer surface terminating at a first open edge and said second half having a second outer surface terminating at a second open edge with said edges facing each other when said halves form said tank, a first longitudinal hoop stringer mounted to said first half adjacent said first edge, a second longitudinal hoop stringer mounted to said second half adjacent said second edge with said first and second longitudinal hoop stringers facing each other when said halves form said tank, at least one first radial hoop stringer mounted on said first outer surface and intersecting said first longitudinal hoop stringer to define a first joint there between, and at least one second radial hoop stringer mounted on said second outer surface and intersecting said second longitudinal hoop stringer to define a second joint there between with said first and second joints aligning with each other, wherein a portion of each of said hoop stringers at said first and second joints extends radially outward beyond a height of each respective hoop stringer with said portions of said hoop stringers including an inclined surface extending from said height of each of said respective hoop stringer to an apex of said joints to form a cruciform shape and to increase a cross sectional area of said hoop stringers at said joints for retaining the pressurized materials in said tank. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said tank and said hoop stringers are formed of a polymeric material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first and second longitudinal hoop stringers are integral with said first and second edges, respectively, and extend along a length of each of said halves of said tank. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first and second radial hoop stringers are integral with said first and second outer surfaces, respectively, and extend around each of said halves of said tank. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein each hoop stringer has a polygonal configuration extending outwardly from said tank when viewed in a cross section transverse to said hoop stringer to a first height with said portions extending outwardly beyond said first height to a second height that is greater than said first height. ### Claim 19 A container assembly comprising: a tank having a first half and a second half for storing materials under pressure with said first half having a first outer surface terminating at a first open edge and said second half having a second outer surface terminating at a second open edge with said edges facing each other when said halves form said tank, a first longitudinal hoop stringer mounted to said first half adjacent said first edge, a second longitudinal hoop stringer mounted to said second half adjacent said second edge with said first and second longitudinal hoop stringers facing each other when said halves form said tank, at least one first radial hoop stringer mounted on said first outer surface and intersecting said first longitudinal hoop stringer to define a first joint there between, and at least one second radial hoop stringer mounted on said second outer surface and intersecting said second longitudinal hoop stringer to define a second joint there between with said first and second joints aligning with each other, wherein a portion of each of said hoop stringers at only said first and second joints extends radially outward beyond a height of each respective hoop stringer with said portions of said hoop stringers including an inclined surface extending from said height of each of said respective hoop stringer to an apex of said joints to increase a cross sectional area of said hoop stringers at only said joints for retaining the pressurized materials in said tank. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said tank and said hoop stringers are formed of a polymeric material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) An assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said portions of said hoop stringers define a cruciform shape having four corners at each joint.