Space conformable pressurized gas storage system

1 . A pressurized-gas storage system ( 300 ) for containing a plurality of vessels ( 100 ), the system comprising:

plurality of cylindrical vessels, each cylindrical vessel comprising; a liner defining a chamber therein, the chamber being configured to receive a gas;

a first wrapping surrounding the liner; and

a first unitary end cap at a first end of the plurality of vessels;

a second unitary end cap at a second end of the plurality of vessels; wherein each of said unitary end caps is a single piece which connects to

said first end or said second end of said plurality of vessels;

each end cap has a curved region ( 122 ) extending into a clear zone ( 124 );

a plurality of channels ( 150 ) in said first and second end caps, each channel being configured to receive one of a plurality of second wrappings;

wherein the plurality of channels and second wrappings are configured to be narrower than said end caps wherein the curved regions extend beyond the second wrappings;

at least one passage in at least one of the first and second end caps in fluid communication with all of said plurality of vessels; and,

wherein each one of the plurality of second wrappings extends around the unitary end caps below the clear zone.

2 . The pressurized-gas storage system of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the first and second end caps comprises a flush surface when the second wrapping is in a channel of the plurality of channels; and,

wherein said flush surface eliminates exposed edges of the unitary end caps adjacent to the channel.

3 . The pressurized-gas storage system of claim 1 , further comprising a port fluidly connected to said at least one passage and in fluid communication with the chamber of one of the plurality of vessels, the port being openable to atmosphere.

4 . The pressurized-gas storage system of claim 1 , wherein the liner includes one of steel, aluminum, plastic, and a composite of metal and plastic.

5 . The pressurized-gas storage system of claim 1 , wherein the first wrapping includes between 30 and 150 total plies.

6 . The pressurized-gas storage system of claim 1 , wherein the first wrapping includes hoop style and helical style wrappings, the hoop style wrapping comprising more than 50% of the first wrapping.

7 . The pressurized-gas storage system ( 300 ) of claim 1 , wherein the first wrapping includes hoop style and helical style wrappings, the hoop style wrapping comprising more than 90% of the first wrapping.

8 . The pressurized-gas storage system of claim 1 , wherein the first wrapping includes hoop style wrappings and is devoid of helical style wrappings.

9 . The pressurized-gas storage system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second wrapping and each end cap are configured to distribute the applied forces from the second wrapping throughout each end cap.

10 . The pressurized-gas storage system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one projection with a head ( 313 ) extending from each of the first and second end caps opposite each other configured to receive the second wrapping.

11 . The pressurized gas storage system of claim 10 , wherein the projections distribute the applied force of the second wrapping throughout each end cap.