Blind boss fitting with redundant seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10753474-B2
Application number	US-201816156425-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 10, 2018
Priority date	Nov 7, 2017
Publication date	Aug 25, 2020
Grant date	Aug 25, 2020

Abstract

A boss assembly for a pressure vessel includes a boss, a fitting, a first seal and a second seal. The boss includes a bore with an inner surface and a first stop feature. The fitting is configured for at least partial insertion into the boss to prevent fluid communication between an interior and an exterior of the pressure vessel, the fitting including an outer surface and a second stop feature. Each of the first and second seals is positioned along the outer surface. The fitting is movable between first and second positions. In the first position, the first seal is sealingly engaged between the inner and outer surfaces and the second seal is not sealingly engaged therebetween. In the second position, the first seal is not sealingly engaged between the inner and outer surfaces, the second seal is sealingly engaged, and the first and second stop features mutually contact.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A boss assembly for a pressure vessel, the boss assembly including:
a boss including a bore with an inner surface and a first stop feature adjacent the inner surface;
a fitting configured for at least partial insertion into the boss to prevent fluid communication between an interior of the pressure vessel and an exterior of the pressure vessel, the fitting including an outer surface and a second stop feature adjacent the outer surface;
a first seal positioned along the outer surface; and
a second seal positioned along the outer surface;
wherein the fitting is movable between first and second positions relative to the boss, wherein:
in the first position, the first seal is sealingly engaged between the inner and outer surfaces, the second seal is not sealingly engaged between the inner and outer surfaces, and there is no mutual contact between the first and second stop features; and
in the second position, the first seal is not sealingly engaged between the inner and outer surfaces, the second seal is sealingly engaged between the inner and outer surfaces, and the first stop feature contacts the second stop feature.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first stop feature is a shoulder extending outward from the inner surface and the second stop feature is a face extending outward from the outer surface.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the boss includes an internally threaded surface, and the fitting includes an externally threaded surface configured to engage the internally threaded surface.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fitting includes a first groove configured to hold the first seal or second seal.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the fitting includes a second groove.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , further including a retainer configured for at least partial insertion into the second groove.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the retainer is positioned outside of the boss in the second position.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the retainer contacts an exterior surface of the boss in the second position.

9. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the retainer is positioned within the bore in the first position.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fitting includes a non-circular recess on an exterior surface thereof.

11. A method of using a boss assembly with a pressure vessel, the boss assembly including:
a boss including a bore with an inner surface and a first stop feature adjacent the inner surface; and
a fitting configured for insertion into the boss to prevent fluid communication between an interior of the pressure vessel and an exterior of the pressure vessel, the fitting including an outer surface and a second stop feature adjacent the outer surface;

the method including:
inserting the fitting into the bore of the boss to a first position so that a first seal is engaged between the inner and outer surfaces, a second seal is not engaged between the inner and outer surfaces, and there is no mutual contact between the first and second stop features.

12. The method of claim 11 further including positioning the first seal into a first groove along the outer surface of the fitting.

13. The method of claim 12 further including positioning the second seal into a second groove along the outer surface of the fitting.

14. The method of claim 12 further including positioning a retainer at least partially into a second groove along the outer surface of the fitting.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein positioning the retainer includes positioning the retainer outside of the boss.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein positioning the retainer includes contacting the retainer to an exterior surface of the boss.

17. The method of claim 11 further including moving the fitting relative to the bore of the boss to a second position so that the first seal is positioned outside of the boss, the second seal is engaged between the inner and outer surfaces, and the first stop feature contacts the second stop feature.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein moving the fitting relative to the bore of the boss includes rotating the fitting to engage an internally threaded surface of the boss and an externally threaded surface of the fitting.

19. The method of claim 18 including engaging a non-circular recess on an exterior surface of the fitting to rotate the fitting.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein moving the fitting relative to the bore of the boss includes moving a retainer positioned on the fitting within the bore.

Assignees

• Hexagon Technology As

Inventors

• Moutray Brad James
• Eihusen John Allen
• Yeggy Brian Christopher

Classifications

• Y02E60/32

  Hydrogen storage · CPC title

• F17C2205/0311

  Closure means · CPC title

• F17C13/06 Primary

  Closures, e.g. cap, breakable member ({for autoclaves B01J3/03}; closures for {large} containers in general B65D {B65D90/54}; {for pressure vessels in general F16J13/00}) · CPC title

• F16J15/061

  with positioning means (F16J15/0831 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F17C1/06

  built-up from wound-on bands or filamentary material, e.g. wires · CPC title