Method of making a composite tank having joint with softening strip

US9453293B2 · US · B2

Patent metadata
FieldValue
Publication numberUS-9453293-B2
Application numberUS-201213541560-A
CountryUS
Kind codeB2
Filing dateJul 3, 2012
Priority dateJul 18, 2008
Publication dateSep 27, 2016
Grant dateSep 27, 2016

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  1. Title

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  2. Abstract

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  3. Assignees and inventors

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  4. Key dates

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  5. First independent claim

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  6. CPC / IPC classifications

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  7. Citations and related patents

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Abstract

Official abstract text for this publication.

A composite resin tank includes a wall joined to a dome along a joint. A softening strip is located in the joint.

First claim

Opening claim text (preview).

What is claimed is: 1. A method of making a tank subjected to cryogenic temperatures, comprising: laying up a composite resin wall and at least one composite resin dome; bonding the wall to the dome along a joint; fabricating a softening strip; and reducing peak stresses in the joint by placing the softening strip in the joint between the wall and the dome. 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein fabricating the softening strip includes: providing a three dimensional fabric having flexible fibers, and coating the flexible fibers with a thermoplastic binder that is flexible at cryogenic temperatures. 3. The method of claim 1 , wherein coating the fibers is performed by: immersing the fabric in an aqueous solution containing a thermoplastic binder, and drying the fabric. 4. The method of claim 3 , wherein coating the fibers further includes removing air bubbles from the aqueous solution. 5. The method of claim 4 , wherein removing the air bubbles is performed by subjecting the immersed fabric to a vacuum. 6. The method of claim 3 , wherein coating the fibers further includes melting the thermoplastic binder. 7. The method of claim 2 , wherein fabricating the softening strip further includes mechanically working the coated fabric to loosen the fibers. 8. The method of claim 7 , wherein mechanically working the coated fabric is performed by a cold working process. 9. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing the softening strip in the joint includes bonding the softening strip to the composite resin wall and to the composite resin dome. 10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: co-bonding the composite resin wall, the composite resin dome and the softening strip.

Assignees

Inventors

Classifications

  • D04H13/002Primary

    characterised by the disposition or nature of their elements · CPC title

  • Rockets · CPC title

  • Vessels not under pressure · CPC title

  • Coatings · CPC title

  • Arrangements or adaptations of apparatus or instruments, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

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Frequently asked questions

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What does patent US9453293B2 cover?
A composite resin tank includes a wall joined to a dome along a joint. A softening strip is located in the joint.
Who is the assignee on this patent?
Robinson Michael J, Hand Michael Leslie, Blevins Creed Ernest, and 1 more
What technology area does this patent fall under?
Primary CPC classification D04H13/002. Mapped technology areas include Textiles & Paper.
When was this patent published?
Publication date Tue Sep 27 2016 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
What related patents are in patentsdb?
We list 1 related publication on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).