US 8,757,423 B2Granted

Composite pressure vessel and method of assembling the same

AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC

InventorsRichard M. Kleber, John E. Carsley, Hamid G. Kia, Chen-Shih Wang, Ce Sun, Elisabeth J. Berger, Stephan Fell, Valentin Schultheis

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Abstract

A composite pressure vessel assembly method includes fitting an end portion of a tubular member into an annular slot formed in an end cap. Sealant may be in the annular slot. The end cap includes an annular groove in an exterior surface of the end cap body portion. A first material layer is formed on an exterior surface of the tubular member. The first material layer includes a first composite material including fibers oriented circumferentially to the tubular member. A second material layer is formed on the first material layer with a portion of the second material layer being disposed into the annular groove, and includes a second composite material including fibers oriented axially to the tubular member. A third material layer is formed adjacent the second material layer and in the annular groove, and includes a third composite material including fibers having an orientation circumferential to the tubular member.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method for assembling a composite pressure vessel, comprising:

fitting an end portion of a tubular member into an annular slot formed in a rim of a body portion of an end cap, the annular slot having a sealant disposed therein, the end cap further including an annular groove formed in an exterior surface of the body portion, the annular groove being opposed to the rim;
forming a first material layer on an annular exterior surface of the tubular member, the layer including a first composite material including fibers having an orientation circumferential to the tubular member;
forming a second material layer on the first material layer, the second material layer including a second composite material including fibers having an orientation axial to the tubular member;
cutting slits in a border of a sheet of fibers of the second material layer to form fringe tabs;
gathering the fringe tabs of the sheet of fibers substantially smoothly into the annular groove;
and
forming a third material layer adjacent the second material layer and in the annular groove, the third material layer including a third composite material including fibers having an orientation circumferential to the tubular member.

4 more elements

A composite pressure vessel, comprising:

an end cap, including:
a body portion having a rim;
a longitudinally opening annular slot formed in the rim;
and
an annular groove formed in an exterior surface of the body portion, the annular groove being opposed to the rim;
a tubular member including an end portion press fit into the annular slot of the end cap, wherein:
the body portion defines an outer wall of the annular slot;
the body portion defines an inner wall of the annular slot parallel to the outer wall;
and
the body portion defines an end wall of the slot at an end of the annular slot opposite to an opening of the slot in the rim;
a first material layer formed on a cylindrical exterior surface of the tubular member, the layer including a first composite material including fibers having a circumferential orientation with respect to the cylindrical surface;
a second material layer formed on the first material layer and in the annular groove, the second material layer including a second composite material including fibers having an orientation axial to the tubular member;
fringe tabs defined by slits cut in a border of a sheet of fibers of the second material layer, wherein the fringe tabs are substantially smoothly gathered into the annular groove;
and
a third material layer formed adjacent to the second material layer in the annular groove, the third material layer including a third composite material including fibers having an orientation circumferential to the tubular member.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.