Sequential Container Wall Structure Provides Plural Pressure Differentials Patents (Class 220/585)
  • Patent number: 11448367
    Abstract: A pressure vessel for storing hydrogen is described. The pressure vessel includes at least one chamber to store hydrogen atoms. The pressure vessel also includes a mycelium structure within the at least one chamber. The mycelium structure has a surface area of at least 800 m2/m3. At least some of the hydrogen atoms are attached to the mycelium structure at a pressure greater than ambient pressure. Methods of storing hydrogen and methods of constructing a hydrogen storage tank are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Stephenson, Jeffrey M. Hansen
  • Patent number: 11143362
    Abstract: A storage tank for pressurized gas includes a liner defining an interior cavity for storing the pressurized gas. The storage tank further includes a nanoporous carbon shell formed from at least one pyrolyzed polymer. The liner is disposed at an inner side of the nanoporous carbon shell. The storage tank further includes a carbon fiber reinforced polymer layer disposed on an outer side of the nanoporous carbon shell opposite from the liner. The nanoporous carbon shell has an exposed surface at an exterior of the storage tank and is configured to permit gas permeated through the liner from the interior cavity to diffuse through the nanoporous carbon shell to the exposed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Beckner
  • Patent number: 9476546
    Abstract: A high-pressure vessel is provided. The high-pressure vessel may comprise a first chamber defined at least partially by a first wall, and a second chamber defined at least partially by the first wall. The first chamber and the second chamber may form a curved contour of the high-pressure vessel. A modular tank assembly is also provided, and may comprise a first mid tube having a convex geometry. The first mid tube may be defined by a first inner wall, a curved wall extending from the first inner wall, and a second inner wall extending from the curved wall. The first inner wall may be disposed at an angle relative to the second inner wall. The first mid tube may further be defined by a short curved wall opposite the curved wall and extending from the second inner wall to the first inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Paul F. Croteau, Andrzej E. Kuczek, Wenping Zhao
  • Patent number: 9057483
    Abstract: An insert for a cryogenic capable pressure vessel for storage of hydrogen or other cryogenic gases at high pressure. The insert provides the interface between a tank and internal and external components of the tank system. The insert can be used with tanks with any or all combinations of cryogenic, high pressure, and highly diffusive fluids. The insert can be threaded into the neck of a tank with an inner liner. The threads withstand the majority of the stress when the fluid inside the tank that is under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Francisco Espinosa-Loza, Timothy O. Ross, Vernon A. Switzer, Salvador M. Aceves, Nicholas J. Killingsworth, Elias Ledesma-Orozco
  • Patent number: 8701926
    Abstract: A tank and associated fabrication method are provided which may limit the damage otherwise occasioned by the impact of a ballistic projectile. The tank may include a wall assembly defined between outer and inner walls and a plurality of restraining elements that extend between the walls. The restraining elements may be formed to have a plurality of layers of material that form not only the restraining element, but also portions of the inner and/or outer walls. For example, the tank may include a plurality of cells positioned adjacent to one another with each cell forming portions of two adjacent restraining elements and portions of the inner and/or outer walls. A corresponding method for fabricating a tank including a wall assembly having a plurality of restraining elements is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James J. Childress, Dan Perron
  • Patent number: 8608014
    Abstract: Cylindrical pressure vessel with an internal body enclosed by an external body, with a cylindrical section closed by end caps and with the internal body and external body kept separate from each other to avoid a transfer of shear forces, wherein at least one end cap is connected only with the external body and contacts, with an overlap section intruding into the internal body, the inside surface of the internal body, with a seal arranged in the overlap section that contacts an interior circumferential surface of the internal body, and with at least one recess serving as a defined leakage path in case of an expansion of the external body relative to the internal body being arranged on the side of the seal facing away from the interior chamber, in the interior circumferential surface of the internal body that encloses the overlap section of the end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Germany GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Carsten Mueller, Mark James Fahey
  • Patent number: 8579143
    Abstract: Disclosed is a reserve tank comprising a tank main body that has a plurality of chambers partitioned by partition walls, an inflow port that allows coolant to flow into the tank main body, and an outflow port that allows the coolant to flow out of the tank main body, the plurality of chambers including a first chamber and a second chamber partitioned by the partition walls, and a third chamber that accumulates the coolant that should flow from the inflow port into the first chamber, the first chamber having a first communicating portion formed to allow the coolant to flow into the second chamber, the third chamber having a second communicating portion formed to allow the accumulated coolant to flow into the first chamber, the flow rate of the coolant passing through the second communicating portion being set smaller than the flow rate of the coolant passing through the first communicating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Koshino
  • Patent number: 8568532
    Abstract: Materials of a nitride single crystal of a metal belonging to III group and a flux are contained in a crucible, which is contained in a reaction container, the reaction container is contained in an outer container, the outer container is contained in a pressure container, and nitrogen-containing atmosphere is supplied into the outer container and melt is generated in the crucible to grow a nitride single crystal of a metal belonging to III group. The reaction container includes a main body containing the crucible and a lid. The main body includes a side wall having a fitting face and a groove opening at the fitting face and a bottom wall. The lid has an upper plate part including a contact face for the fitting face of the main body and a flange part extending from the upper plate part and surrounding an outer side of said side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Iwai, Shuhei Higashihara, Yusuke Mori, Yasuo Kitaoka, Naoya Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 8322557
    Abstract: A prismatic tank has outer and inner walls and internal horizontal stays. The walls include a plurality of horizontal beam sections. Each beam section has two parallel flanges interconnected by a web and a pair of opposing end faces. The beam sections are stacked one on top of the other and joined together along adjoining longitudinal edges of respective flanges and at end faces of respective beam sections such that a joint is formed between a first end face of a first beam section and a second, abutting end face of a second, abutting beam section. The web of the first beam section is recessed at the first end face and the web of the second beam section is recessed at the second end face so as to leave a first opening in the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Aker Engineering & Technology AS
    Inventors: Arne Sele, Kare Bakken
  • Publication number: 20120132656
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for storing gas under pressure comprising an inner cylindrical pressure vessel (1), the pressure vessel (1) comprising pipe connection (7). According to the present invention, the device is characterized in that the inner cylindrical pressure vessel (1) is arranged inside an outer vessel (3), whereby a substantially annular space (2) is formed between the inner pressure vessel (1) and the outer vessel (3), wherein the annular space (2) between the inner pressure vessel (1) and the outer vessel (3) is filled with a fluid, the outer vessel (3) further comprising venting means (5) at or in the vicinity of the highest point (4, 6) of the outer vessel (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: NEL Hydrogen AS
    Inventors: Torgeir Nakken, Jan Schelling, Leif Kåre Grønstad, Sandra Nilsen, Odd Ståle Tveit, Bjømar Werswick
  • Patent number: 7886940
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for improving the efficiency of fuel cells. The storage system includes an outer shell and at least one bladder positioned inside the outer shell. A primary chamber is defined between the outer shell and the bladder, and a secondary chamber is defined interior to the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Charles K. Lavan
  • Patent number: 7870971
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vessel and a method of forming the vessel including an inner shell, an outer shell, and a diffusion layer disposed therebetween, wherein the diffusion layer facilitates the venting of a fluid from between the inner shell and the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Harald Schlag
  • Publication number: 20090200317
    Abstract: An end fitting for a cylindrical high pressure vessel made from components all having thin walls, thereby tripling the practical diameter of such pressure vessels. The end fitting includes a toroidal shell defining a hole; centrally disposed piece for closing the hole comprising a pipe and a center end fitting and structural members. In a first embodiment, the structural members comprise slices of an end of the pipe welded to the outer cylindrical wall of the vessel. In a second embodiment, the structural members are plates connecting the pipe to the outer cylindrical walls. In the third embodiment, the plates connect an extension of the outer cylindrical wall beyond the toroidal shell to an extension of the outer cylindrical wall of the pressure vessel. The center end fitting may be hemispheric or ellipsoidal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventor: Jens Korsgaard
  • Publication number: 20090032272
    Abstract: In one arrangement there is provided a method of charging a fluid vessel (10). The vessel (10) comprises a rigid outer container, an expandable bladder (8) within the outer container in fluid communication with a release valve (9) of the fluid vessel (10). A cavity separates the rigid outer container and the bladder and the method comprises the steps of providing a first fluid (5a) to the cavity, for providing external pressure to the expandable bladder (8), and subsequently providing a second fluid (5) to the bladder (8) prior to use of the fluid vessel (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventor: William James Duncan
  • Patent number: 7032628
    Abstract: A mobile prepressurized fluid storage tank is disclosed where the compressed air, completely separated from the fluid by a flexible diaphragm, dispenses the fluid under pressure, e.g., into an engine. The prepressurized diaphragm-type fluid storage tank is initially charged with a gas on one side of the diaphragm. A connector on the other end of the tank is connected to the fluid pumping system. Fluid is pumped into the tank until a predetermined pressure is reached and then the fill valve is shut off. A second connection attached to a bottom system connection has a hose. At the end of the hose there is a fluid shut off valve. Dispensing of the fluid takes place through the fluid shut off valve. The prepressurized fluid storage tank is mounted on a frame that contains wheels for mobility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Amtrol, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry T. Guillemette, Joseph A. Lane
  • Patent number: 6547092
    Abstract: A pressure vessel for containing a fluid at elevated pressure features an unstressed corrugated metallic liner forming part of a hermetic seal. The liner has corrugations extending parallel to a first direction to accommodate deformation in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Around the liner is a filler layer of elastic material forming a contiguous layer adjacent to the external surface of the liner and filling the corrugations. An external primary load-bearing container has at least one wall made of fiber-reinforced composite material adjacent to the filler layer. The shape of the primary container, the reinforcing directions of the fiber-reinforced composite material, and the mechanical properties of the filler layer are configured such that, under a given change in the pressure of the contained fluid, a strain caused in the liner parallel to the first direction is at least one order of magnitude less than a corresponding strain in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Solomon Chervatsky
  • Patent number: 6412801
    Abstract: A wheeled personal transport device, for example, a wheelchair, includes a pressure vessel for providing a portable supply of medicinal gas for a user of the transport device. The pressure vessel is formed from a plurality of polymeric hollow chamber having either en ellipsoidal or spherical shape and interconnected by a plurality of relatively narrow conduit sections disposed between consecutive ones of the chambers. The pressure vessel includes a reinforcing filament wrapped around the interconnected chambers and interconnecting conduit sections to limit radial expansion of the chambers and conduit sections when filled with a fluid under pressure. The container system further includes a fluid transfer control system attached to the pressure vessel for controlling fluid flow into and out of the pressure vessel and a gas delivery mechanism for delivering gas from the pressure vessel to a user in a breathable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Mallinckrodt Inc.
    Inventors: John I. Izuchukwu, Stan A. Sanders
  • Patent number: 6145692
    Abstract: A pressure vessel for containing a fluid at elevated pressure features an unstressed corrugated metallic liner forming part of a hermetic seal. The liner has corrugations extending parallel to a first direction to accommodate deformation in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Around the liner is a filler layer of elastic material forming a contiguous layer adjacent to the external surface of the liner and filling the corrugations. An external primary load-bearing container has at least one wall made of fiber-reinforced composite material adjacent to the filler layer. The shape of the primary container, the reinforcing directions of the fiber-reinforced composite material, and the mechanical properties of the filler layer are configured such that, under a given change in the pressure of the contained fluid, a strain caused in the liner parallel to the first direction is at least one order of magnitude less than a corresponding strain in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventor: Solomon Cherevatsky
  • Patent number: 5725896
    Abstract: A beverage container assembly (28) comprising a container body defining a beverage chamber for containing a beverage, and a gas reservoir unit (1) adapted to be housed substantially within the container body (22). The gas reservoir unit (1) is adapted to be charged with a gas under super-atmospheric pressure whilst the reservoir unit (1) is outside of the container (22), and to retain the gas prior to insertion of the unit into the container body. A gas reservoir unit containing one or more chambers is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: CPB Innovative Technology Limited
    Inventor: Anthony J. Banks
  • Patent number: 5667758
    Abstract: A processing vessel in which a temperature control element defining a helical flow passage, disposed on an outer surface of an inner barrel within the processing vessel. The barrel contains a processing liquid and a heating or cooling temperature control medium is caused to flow through the flow passage. The inner barrel and temperature control element are disposed in a vessel body to define a chamber between the temperature control element and an inner surface of the vessel body. The chamber defined between the vessel body and the temperature control element is a closed chamber. Preferably, a system for generally equalizing the pressures in the inner barrel and the closed chamber is provided. The temperature control element can be assembled in the vessel body after being manufactured outside the vessel body. Therefore, the processing vessel can be manufactured with improved efficiency and can be serviced by ordinary in-vessel maintenance operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Matsugi, Haruyuki Nishimi
  • Patent number: 5518140
    Abstract: A liquified gas tank overfill protection system for use in a tank having a hermetically sealed chamber. The overfill protection system includes a shroud mounted in the chamber in a spaced relationship to the interior side of the chamber. The shroud divides the chamber into a plurality of spatially normally communicating portions. Preferably, the shroud has a generally elongated concave downward shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Cryenco, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Lenz, Richard J. Jaeger, Glen E. McIntosh
  • Patent number: 5465280
    Abstract: Pressure vessel apparatus includes upper and lower pressure vessel housings maintained together under pressure by tendons. Bellows are connected to the pressure vessel housings in order to provide leaktight barriers, and to permit motion of the pressure vessel housings. The tendons are divided into two sets, with the tendons of each set of tendons being stressed differently than the tendons of the other set of tendons. The apparatus when utilized as a nuclear reactor pressure vessel includes a core catcher with flotation pool connected to and disposed below the pressure vessel housings and defining a core catcher interior in communication with the pressure vessel interior for receiving core material from the pressure vessel interior resulting from reactor melt-down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Inventor: Bendt W. Wedellsborg
  • Patent number: 5343908
    Abstract: A vaporless liquid containment system for storing volatile and other liquids while preventing the formation and escape of vapors. The vessel includes a base and a first membrane, the first membrane defines a fluid containment space for containing stored liquid. A fluid-tight gas containment space is located above the first membrane. The gas containment space is adapted to house a gas under pressure. As liquid to be stored is supplied to and withdrawn from the fluid containment space, the gas housed in the gas containment space supplies fluid pressure to the first membrane so that the pressure on the first membrane is maintained above the vapor pressure of the stored liquid. This prevents the formation of vapor caused by the evaporation of the stored liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Envirex Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Furstenberg
  • Patent number: 5255722
    Abstract: A vaporless liquid containment system for storing volatile and other liquids while preventing the formation and escape of vapors. The vessel includes a base and a first membrane, the first membrane defines a fluid containment space for containing stored liquid. A fluid-tight gas containment space is located above the first membrane. The gas containment space is adapted to house a gas under pressure. As liquid to be stored is supplied to and withdrawn from the fluid containment space, the gas housed in the gas containment space supplies fluid pressure to the first membrane so that the pressure on the first membrane is maintained above the vapor pressure of the stored liquid. This prevents the formation of vapor caused by the evaporation of the stored liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Envirex Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Furstenberg
  • Patent number: 5119959
    Abstract: A high pressure vessel assembly includes a central pivot tank and coaxial or concentrically disposed tanks for liquid or gas storage with or without gaseous phase cooling. The pivot tank comprises a cylindrically shaped wall having torus-shaped ends and is surrounded by an annularly shaped internal tank having internal and external walls with the former being joined to the pivot tank by bands adjacent the tank ends to provide an intermediate chamber. A larger diameter external tank likewise of annular configuration, surrounds the internal tank and is also joined thereto in a manner providing an intermediate chamber. A fitting projecting from the ends of all three tanks at one end of the assembly permits filling or emptying of the respective tanks while a separate discharge pipe projecting from the internal and external tank ends communicates with the two chambers to carry away any fluid leaking from the juxtaposed peripheral walls of the tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Inventor: Lazarevic Bogdan