Port/liner assembly for pressure vessel
A pressure vessel includes a polymeric liner defining a fluid containment cavity and having an opening defining a port aperture extending between an inner surface and an outer surface of the polymeric liner and a rigid ring element is embedded within the polymeric liner and surrounding the port aperture. A metallic port element is disposed on the outer surface of the polymeric liner and fixed to the rigid ring element. A fiber composite material is disposed about the outer surface of the polymeric liner.
1. A pressure vessel, comprising:
a polymeric liner defining a fluid containment cavity and having an opening defining a port aperture extending between an inner surface and an outer surface of the polymeric liner;
a rigid ring element completely embedded within the polymeric liner and surrounding the port aperture;
a metallic port element disposed on the outer surface of the polymeric liner and removably fixed to the rigid ring element; and
a fiber composite material disposed about the outer surface of the polymeric liner.
2. The pressure vessel of claim 1 , wherein the rigid ring is a planar ring element.
3. The pressure vessel of claim 1 , wherein the rigid ring element is between the inner and outer surface of the polymeric liner.
4. The pressure vessel of claim 1 , wherein the rigid ring element is fixed to the metallic port element with a plurality of fasteners.
5. The pressure vessel of claim 4 , further comprising a constant force element disposed on the plurality of fasteners.
6. The pressure vessel of claim 4 , wherein the fasteners comprise a plurality of bolts extending through the metallic port element.
7. The pressure vessel of claim 1 , further comprising an o-ring between the metallic port element and the outer surface of the polymeric liner.
8. The pressure vessel of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric liner is seamless.
9. The pressure vessel of claim 1 , wherein the rigid ring element is aluminum.
10. The pressure vessel of claim 1 , wherein the rigid ring element is embedded within the polymeric liner about an equal distance from the outer surface and the inner surface.
11. The pressure vessel of claim 1 , wherein the rigid ring element is concentric with the port aperture.
12. The pressure vessel of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of bolts extend through the rigid ring element.
13. A pressure vessel, comprising:
a polymeric liner defining a fluid containment cavity and having an opening defining a port aperture extending between an inner surface and an outer surface of the polymeric liner;
a rigid ring element embedded within the polymeric liner and surrounding the port aperture and the rigid ring element is covered on all sides by the polymeric liner;
a metallic port element disposed on the outer surface of the polymeric liner and removably fixed to the rigid ring element by a fastener extending from the rigid ring element and through the polymeric liner; and
a fiber composite material disposed about the outer surface of the polymeric liner.
14. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , wherein the rigid ring is a planar ring element.
15. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , wherein the rigid ring element is fixed to the metallic port element with a plurality of fasteners.
16. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , further comprising a constant force element disposed on the fastener.
17. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , wherein the fasteners comprise a plurality of bolts extending through the metallic port element.
18. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , wherein the polymeric liner is seamless.
19. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , wherein the rigid ring element is aluminum.
20. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , wherein the rigid ring element is embedded within the polymeric liner about an equal distance from the outer surface and the inner surface.
21. The pressure vessel of claim 13 , wherein the rigid ring element is concentric with the port aperture.