Hybrid tanks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10995908-B2
Application number	US-201916659861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2019
Priority date	Dec 2, 2016
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

Abstract

A commercial hybrid tank includes a metal liner with an upper wall and a lower wall. The upper wall and the lower wall define a cavity therebetween. A weld joint joins the upper and lower walls together. A fiber winding layer is wrapped around an outer surface of the metal liner. A method for manufacturing a commercial hybrid tank includes overlapping surfaces of an upper wall and a lower wall to form a metal liner defining a cavity. The method includes joining the surface of the upper wall and the surface of the lower wall together by welding to form a weld joint between the upper wall and the lower wall. The method includes wrapping the metal liner with a fiber winding layer around an outer surface of the metal liner to form a hybrid tank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tank, comprising:
a metal liner that is cylindrical in shape which includes an upper wall having an upper dome wherein the upper wall is coupled by a weld joint to a lower wall having a lower dome, the upper wall and the lower wall defining a cavity therebetween, and the lower wall including a radially inwardly extending hoop groove;
a diaphragm positioned within the cavity connected to an inner diameter surface of the lower wall, the diaphragm separating the cavity into an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is for a gas and the lower portion is for a liquid;
an inner hoop ring that mates with the radially inwardly extending hoop groove to secure the diaphragm in place against the lower wall;
a plastic liner that is disposed radially between the diaphragm and the lower wall, wherein the plastic liner corresponds in shape to the lower wall and is secured by the inner hoop ring to form a corrosion resistant volume in the lower portion for the liquid for a potable water application; and
a fiber winding layer wrapped around an outer surface of the metal liner.

2. The tank of claim 1 , the upper wall further comprising:
an opening with a connector positioned therein;
the connector includes a collar that defines a longitudinal axis and an axial passage to allow the air to enter the cavity.

3. The tank of claim 2 , further comprising A support plate positioned within the opening axially below the central collar, wherein the support plate includes a hole.

4. The tank of claim 3 , further comprising an air stem extending through the axial passage of the collar and configured to allow air to enter the cavity.

5. The tank of claim 2 , further comprising a water connector defined in the lower wall to allow water to enter the cavity.

6. The tank of claim 1 , further comprising a water connector defined in the lower wall to allow water to enter the cavity.

7. The tank of claim 1 , further comprising the metal liner having a longitudinal liner axis, wherein the fiber winding layer includes fibers helically or circumferentially wound around the outer surf ace of the liner with respect to the longitudinal liner axis.

8. The tank of claim 1 , wherein the weld joint includes a weld bead, wherein the weld bead extends radially outward from the outer surface of the metal liner no more than approximately 0.125 inches.

9. The tank of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a dome extension or a cylindrical extension.

10. The tank of claim 9 , further comprising a second weld joint defined between the upper dome and at least one of the dome extension or the cylindrical extension.

11. The tank of claim 1 , wherein the metal liner has an outer diameter, at least one of the upper wall or the lower wall have a thickness ranging from 11 to 26 inches.

12. The tank of claim 1 , further comprising a ratio of a wall thickness of the metal liner to an outer diameter of at least one of the upper wall or lower wall that results in a pressure rating of up to 300 psi at 240° F.

13. The tank of claim 1 , further comprising a ratio of a wall thickness of the metal liner to an outer diameter of at least one of the upper wall or lower wall that results in withstanding a hydrostatic pressure test of five times its pressure rating at 240° F.

14. A tank, comprising:
a metal liner that is cylindrical in shape which includes an upper wall having an upper dome wherein the upper wall is coupled by a weld joint to a lower wall having a lower dome, the upper wall and the lower wall defining a cavity therebetween, and the lower wall including a radially inwardly extending hoop groove;
a diaphragm positioned within the cavity connected to an inner diameter surface of the lower wall, the diaphragm separating the cavity into an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is for a gas and the lower portion is for a liquid;
an inner hoop ring that mates with the radially inwardly extending hoop groove to secure the diaphragm in place against the lower wall;
a plastic liner that is disposed radially between the diaphragm and the lower wall, wherein the plastic liner corresponds in shape to the lower wall and is secured by the inner hoop ring to form a corrosion resistant volume in the lower portion for the liquid for a potable water application; and
a fiber winding layer wrapped around an outer surface of the metal liner;
the metal liner having a longitudinal liner axis, wherein the fiber winding layer includes fibers helically or circumferentially wound around the outer surf ace of the liner with respect to the longitudinal liner axis; and
a ratio of a wall thickness of the metal liner to an outer diameter of at least one of the upper wall or lower wall that results in a pressure rating of up to 300 psi at 240° F.

Assignees

• Amtrol Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Kampf Christopher
• Van Haaren Christopher A

Classifications

• Y02A20/00

  Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use · CPC title

• F24D3/1016 Primary

  Tanks having a bladder · CPC title

• F17C2203/0619

  with two layers · CPC title

• F17C2209/2154

  Winding · CPC title

• F17C2203/0663

  in form of fibers or filaments · CPC title