Fibre-reinforced pressure vessel and method of manufacturing fibre-reinforced pressure vessel

1. A fibre-reinforced pressure vessel comprising one of a gas- or fluid-tight body overwound with fibre filaments, the fibre-reinforced pressure vessel having no matrix material preventing movement of the fibre filaments with respect to one another and the fibre filaments being wound such that when the pressure vessel is under internal pressure, the fibre filaments are loaded exactly in their longitudinal direction and the body does not substantially contribute to the absorption of mechanical stresses resulting from the internal pressure.

2. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1 further comprising the pressure vessel having an isotensoid shape.

3. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1 further comprising the pressure vessel having a cylindrical shape.

4. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1 , further comprising the pressure vessel being provided with a coating.

5. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 4 , whereby the coating comprises synthetic rubber.

6. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according claim 1 further comprising the body being made of high-density polyethene (HDPE) and the fibre filaments are carbon fibres.

7. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1 further comprising the body being made of high-density polyethene (HDPE) and the fibre filaments being glass fibres.

8. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1 further comprising the pressure vessel being configured to withstand a working pressure in the range of 0–5 bar.

9. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1 further comprising the pressure vessel being configured to withstand a working pressure in the range of 0–10 bar.

10. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1 further comprising the pressure vessel being configured to withstand a working pressure in the range of 0–35 bar.

11. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1 further comprising the pressure vessel being configured to withstand a working pressure in the range of 0–100 bar.

12. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1 further comprising the pressure vessel being configured to withstand a working pressure in the range of 0–300 bar.

13. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1 further comprising the pressure vessel being configured to withstand a working pressure in the range of 0–600 bar.

14. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 8 , further comprising the pressure vessel being suitable for use as a gas flask for propane or butane or a mixture thereof for household uses.

15. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 11 further comprising the pressure vessel being suitable as a fuel tank for LPG for use in motor vehicles.

16. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 12 further comprising the pressure vessel being suitable as a fuel tank for CNG or compressed air.

17. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 13 further comprising the pressure vessel being suitable for use as a cryogenic gas system in space technology applications.

18. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1 further comprising the pressure vessel being provided with an appendage, for example at least one of a closure member or a pressure valve.

19. A method of manufacturing a fibre-reinforced pressure vessel comprising one of a gas- or fluid-tight body overwound with fibre filaments, whereby the method comprises the steps of:

a) providing one of a gas- or fluid-tight body and fibre filaments;

b) overwinding the body with the fibre filaments such that the fibre filaments are wound such that when the pressure vessel is under internal pressure the fibre filaments are loaded exactly in their longitudinal direction and the body does not substantially contribute to the absorption of mechanical stresses resulting from the internal pressure; and

whereby no matrix material preventing movement of the fibre filaments relative to one another is provided or at least a portion of the pressure vessel.

20. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure vessel includes opposite end portions with isotensoid-shaped continuous surfaces and a cylindrical portion connecting said isotensoid end portions, said fibre filaments being wound circumferentially on said cylindrical portion and longitudinally on said end portions.

21. The method of manufacturing according to claim 19 , comprising forming the body with end portions constituted by reinforcing members with isotensoid surfaces of unidirectional curvature.

22. The fibre-reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the body has exclusively a positive curvature.

23. A fibre-reinforced pressure vessel comprising:

one of a gas- or fluid-tight body; and

fibre filaments overwinding the body, the fibre-reinforced pressure vessel having no matrix material preventing movement of the fibre filaments with respect to one another, the fibre filaments being arranged over the body such that when the pressure vessel is under internal pressure the fibre filaments support substantially all mechanical stresses resulting from the internal pressure.

24. The fibre reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 1 , further comprising a protective layer on top of the fibre filaments.

25. The fibre reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 24 , wherein the protective layer comprises elastic material.

26. The fibre reinforced pressure vessel according to claim 25 , wherein the elastic material comprises synthetic rubber.