Lined pressure vessel and connector therefor
View Patent ↗A pressure vessel is disclosed which includes a lower metallic dome having a lower rim portion, and an upper metallic dome having an upper rim portion, a plastic liner disposed within the upper and lower metallic domes, a metallic band disposed between the plastic liner and the upper and lower metallic domes proximate the respective rim portions thereof, and an insulating material disposed between the metallic band and the plastic liner, the metallic band and insulating material protecting the plastic liner from elevated temperatures when the upper and lower rim portions of the metallic domes are welded together. A method of fabricating the pressure vessel and a connector for assembling the pressure vessel are also disclosed.
1. A pressure vessel comprising:
a) a lower metallic dome having a lower rim portion;
b) an upper metallic dome having an upper rim portion, wherein the upper metallic dome includes a central orifice;
c) a plastic liner disposed within the upper and lower metallic domes, wherein the plastic liner includes a cylindrical neck portion that extends through the central orifice in the upper metallic dome;
d) an annular mounting flange secured to the upper metallic dome and dimensioned to surround the cylindrical neck portion of the plastic liner, the annular mounting flange having an upper planar surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart bolt holes formed therein;
e) an annular connector flange having a radially inner annular portion defining a central bore for communicating with the central orifice in the upper metallic dome and a radially outer annular portion for fastening to the annular mounting flange, wherein an annular groove is formed between the radially inner and radially outer annular portions of the annular connector flange for accommodating the cylindrical neck portion of the plastic liner;
f) a metallic band disposed between the plastic liner and the upper and lower metallic domes proximate the respective rim portions thereof; and
g) an insulating material disposed between the metallic band and the plastic liner, the metallic band and insulating material protecting the plastic liner from elevated temperatures when the upper and lower rim portions of the metallic domes are welded together.
2. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plastic liner has a circumferential recess for accommodating the insulating material and the metallic band.
3. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the insulating material comprises fiber insulation.
4. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the upper rim portion of the upper metallic dome forms a circumferential flange that surrounds the lower rim portion of the lower metallic dome.
5. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the upper metallic dome includes a central orifice and the plastic liner includes a cylindrical neck portion that extends through the central orifice in the upper metallic dome.
6. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the radially inner annular portion of the connector flange has an axial thickness that is greater than an axial thickness of the radially outer annular portion of the connector flange.
7. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 6 , wherein the radially outer annular portion of the connector flange has a lower planar surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart bolt holes are formed therein which correspond to the plurality of circumferentially spaced apart bolt holes formed in the upper planar surface of the annular mounting flange.
8. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 7 , further comprising a planar sealing gasket disposed between the upper planar surface of the mounting flange and the lower planar surface of the radially outer annular portion of the connector flange.
9. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 1 , wherein a radially inner edge of the radially outer annular portion of the connector flange is truncated to accommodate an O-ring seal positioned about the periphery of the cylindrical neck portion of the plastic liner.
10. A pressure vessel comprising:
a) an upper metallic dome having a central orifice formed therein and an upper rim portion;
b) a lower metallic dome having a lower rim portion secured to the upper rim portion of the upper metallic dome;
c) a plastic liner disposed within the upper and lower metallic domes and including a cylindrical neck portion dimensioned and configured to extend through the central orifice of the upper metallic dome;
d) a mounting flange secured to the upper metallic dome and surrounding the cylindrical neck portion of the plastic liner; and
e) an annular connector flange having a radially inner annular portion defining a central bore for communicating with the central orifice of the upper metallic dome, a radially outer annular portion for fastening to the annular mounting flange, and an annular groove formed between the radially inner and radially outer annular portions of the connector flange for receiving the cylindrical neck portion of the plastic liner.
11. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 10 , wherein the annular mounting flange has an upper planar surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart bolt holes are formed therein.
12. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 10 , wherein the radially inner annular portion of the connector flange has an axial thickness that is greater than an axial thickness of the radially outer annular portion of the connector flange.
13. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 11 , wherein the radially outer annular portion of the connector flange has a lower planar surface and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart bolt holes are formed therein corresponding to the plurality of circumferentially spaced apart bolt holes formed in the upper annular surface of the mounting flange.
14. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 13 , further comprising a planar sealing gasket disposed between the upper planar surface of the mounting flange and the lower planar surface of the radially outer annular portion of the connector flange.
15. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 11 , wherein a radially inner edge of the radially outer annular portion of the connector flange is truncated to accommodate an O-ring seal positioned about the periphery of the cylindrical neck portion of the plastic liner.
16. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a metallic band disposed between the plastic liner and the upper and lower metallic domes proximate the respective rim portions thereof.
17. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 16 , further comprising an insulating material disposed between the metallic band and the plastic liner, the metallic band and insulating material protecting the plastic liner from elevated temperatures when the upper and lower rim portions of the metallic domes are secured together by welding.
18. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 17 , wherein the plastic liner has a circumferential recess for accommodating the insulating material and the metallic band.
19. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 17 , wherein the insulating material comprises fiber insulation.
20. A pressure vessel as recited in claim 10 , wherein the upper rim portion of the upper metallic dome forms a circumferential flange that surrounds the lower rim portion of the lower metallic dome.
21. A method of fabricating a pressure vessel comprising the steps of:
a) providing a plastic tank liner;
b) circumscribing the tank liner with a layer of insulation;
c) surrounding the insulation with a metallic band;
d) enclosing the tank liner within upper and lower metallic domes;
e) forming a joint between the domes proximate the band; and
f) welding the domes to one another at the joint.
22. A method according to claim 21 , wherein the step of forming a joint between the domes comprises forming a lap joint between an upper rim portion of the upper metallic dome and a lower rim portion of the lower metallic dome.
23. A method according to claim 21 , wherein the step of forming a joint between the domes comprises forming a lap joint with a circumferential flange defined by the upper rim portion of the upper metallic dome surrounding the lower rim portion of the lower metallic dome.