Manufacture of a conformable pressure vessel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10816138-B2
Application number	US-201715706117-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2017
Priority date	Sep 15, 2017
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a high-pressure fluid vessel includes forming a first portion of a high-pressure fluid vessel with a molding process. The high-pressure fluid vessel includes a stack of capsules. Each capsule includes a first domed end, a second domed end, and a semicylindrical portion extending between and connecting the first domed end to the second domed end. The method further includes forming a second portion of a high-pressure fluid vessel with the molding process. The second portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel is positioned adjacent to the first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel. The second portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel is welded to the first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a high-pressure fluid vessel, the method comprising:
forming a first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel with a molding process, wherein the high-pressure fluid vessel includes a stack of capsules, wherein each capsule includes a first domed end, a second domed end, and a semicylindrical portion extending between and connecting the first domed end to the second domed end;
forming a second portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel with the molding process;
forming a plurality of internal supports with the molding process;
positioning the plurality of internal supports in the first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel;
welding the plurality of internal supports to the first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel;
positioning the second portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel adjacent to the first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel and around the plurality of internal supports; and
welding the plurality of internal supports to the second portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel; and
welding the second portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel to the first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel;
wherein positioning the plurality of internal supports in the first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel includes positioning each of the plurality of internal supports between adjacent capsules.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel includes a first half of each of the capsules of the high-pressure fluid vessel including the first domed ends and half of the semicylindrical portions, and wherein the second portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel includes a second half of each of the capsules of the high-pressure fluid vessel including the second domed ends and half of the semicylindrical portions.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molding process is selected from the group consisting of injection molding, compression molding, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein welding the second portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel to the first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel includes friction stir welding the second portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel to the first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the second portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel around the plurality of internal supports includes positioning each of the plurality of internal supports between adjacent capsules.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein welding the plurality of internal supports to the first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel includes friction stir welding the plurality of internal supports to the first portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein welding the plurality of internal supports to the second portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel includes friction stir welding the plurality of internal supports to the second portion of the high-pressure fluid vessel.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Zhao Wenping
• Sun Ellen Y

Classifications

• B23K20/122 Primary

  using a non-consumable tool, e.g. friction stir welding · CPC title

• B23K2101/12

  Vessels · CPC title

• B23K2103/00

  Materials to be soldered, welded or cut · CPC title

• B23K20/129

  specially adapted for particular articles or work · CPC title

• B23K2103/42

  Plastics other than composite materials · CPC title