Abstract: A filament-wound vessel for containing corrosive and pressurized fluids is disclosed. The vessel comprises a thermoplastic resin inner liner having a cylindrical sidewall and integral oblate, ellipsoidal end sections, and axially aligned access openings at each end of the vessel. One of the openings has a relatively wide diameter compared to the other opening, and a tank fitting is mounted in the wide diameter opening. The tank fitting comprises a fiber-reinforced plastic female member having a cylindrical end projecting into the wide diameter opening of the inner liner and a cylindrical neck portion projecting from the opening. An annular boss is provided between the cylindrical end and the cylindrical neck and rests on an exteriorly facing annular portion of the end section. A sealing ribbon, which comprises a substantially uniform mixture of a thermoplastic material and ferromagnetic particles, seals the boss to the annular portion upon the application of electromagnetic energy.

Abstract: A filament-wound plastic pressure vessel and technique for fabricating such vessel are disclosed. The pressure vessel includes a monolithic plastic liner having a cylindrical side wall portion and domed end portions. A multiplicity of resin-impregnated reinforcing filaments are wound about at least the cylindrical side wall portion of the liner in a predetermined winding pattern. A non-axial access opening to the interior of the tank is cut through the liner and through the filaments, resulting in discontinuous filament ends at the periphery of the opening. A reinforcement is provided for the filament ends to redistribute stress transmission paths around the opening. The reinforcement includes at least one randomly oriented fibrous mat pad sandwiched between a pair of woven cloth pads having a basket weave configuration.

Abstract: A split tank closure and diaphragm assembly for a hydropneumatic filament wound pressure vessel is disclosed. The assembly includes first and second cup shaped plastic tank liners having oblate ellipsoidal end portions and cylindrical sidewall portions terminating in cylindrical open mouth portions. A ring is provided for joining and sealing the open mouth portions together to form a sealed container and to mount a diaphragm within the tank to divide the interior of the tank into variable volume chambers. The ring has a cylindrical outer surface corresponding to the outside diameter of the cylindrical sidewall portions of the liners. The liners form a dovetail joint with the ring and respectively trap an O-ring and a bulbous portion of the diaphragm between recessed portions of the liner and a surface of the ring to seal the interior of the tank. The assembly is wound with a resin impregnated continuous roving to reinforce the tank and resist internal pressures.