Metallic liner with metal end caps for a fiber wrapped gas tank
AssigneeVinjamuri Innovations, LLC
InventorGopala Krishna Vinjamuri
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A metallic liner for a composite reinforced high pressure gas cylinder is composed of a seamless metal tube contoured with a top dome and bottom dome. The liner is further composed of a seamless top metal end cap having a mating shape of the top dome and a seamless bottom metal end cap having a mating shape of the bottom dome. Alternatively, an extruded cup is shaped to a dome at the open end and one or two seamless metal end caps are used. In the method of manufacturing, the top and bottom ends of the metal tube are contoured, the end caps are produced, and one or two end caps are attached to the ends of the tube.
Claims17
A liner for a composite reinforced high pressure gas tank comprising:
- a metal tube that is seamless and integrally formed as a single unitary base piece, comprising:
- a cylindrical sidewall having a substantially constant diameter;
- a top end comprising:
- a top transition zone contoured to seamlessly transition between the cylindrical sidewall and the extended cylindrical neck,
- an extended cylindrical neck with an opening, and
- a substantially variable diameter narrowing along said top transition zone from the cylindrical sidewall to the extended cylindrical neck;
- and,
- a bottom end having a bottom transition zone contoured to seamlessly transition from said cylindrical sidewall to a distal end;
- a seamless top metal end cap integrally formed as a first single unitary overlay piece, said top metal end cap comprising an inner surface and an outer surface with solid metal therebetween, wherein the entire inner surface is in direct contact with the top end, wherein the top metal end cap overlays the top transition zone and a top portion of said cylindrical sidewall;
- and,
- a seamless bottom metal end cap integrally formed as a second single unitary overlay piece, said bottom metal end cap overlays the bottom end and a bottom portion of said cylindrical sidewall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.