A grid stiffened structure which includes a wall which extends in a direction transverse relative to a plane and an elongated rib connected along an elongated dimension of the rib to the wall such that the elongated rib extends along the wall and forms an angle with an axis which extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane. The elongated rib defines a free sidewall which extends from the wall positioned on a first side of the elongated rib and extends in a direction about the elongated rib and transverse to the elongated dimension to the wall positioned on a second side of the elongated rib. The wall and the elongated rib are constructed of a plurality of layers of material which extend in a direction transverse to the axis.

A method for surface-finishing one or more metal liners is provided, the method comprising chemical milling to remove wrinkled textures generated during the plastic deformation of the metal liners.

A method of forming a polymer concrete CNG tank by forming an inflatable liner member composed of high density polymer impermeable to CNG; providing column forms as part of the liner member, the column forms having open tops and open bottoms and extending completely through the liner member; providing an outer form; positioning the liner member within the outer form with the column forms vertically oriented, the liner member being positioned to provide a gap between the liner member and the outer form; inflating the liner member; pouring polymer concrete about the liner member and through the column forms; and allowing the polymer concrete to cure. Reinforcement members may be positioned around the liner member and within the column forms prior to the step of pouring the polymer concrete.

The invention relates to a transport container for helium, comprising an inner container for receiving the helium, an insulation element that is provided on the exterior of the inner container, a coolant container for receiving a cryogenic liquid, an outer container in which the inner container and the coolant container are received, and a thermal shield which can be actively cooled with the aid of the cryogenic liquid and in which the inner container is received, wherein a peripheral gap is provided between the insulation element and the thermal shield, and said insulation element comprises an electrodeposited copper layer that faces the thermal shield.

Collapsible containers are an attractive alternative to surface-tension propellant management devices (PMDs) for handling cryogenic liquids, as the collapsible container comparatively may 1) allow higher expulsion flow rates than vanes and sponges, 2) significantly reduce operational complexity, and 3) thermally insulate the propellant from environmental heat leaks. Furthermore, while historical cryogenic collapsible containers suffered from the low ductility of polymer films at cryogenic temperatures, the technology disclosed herein shows that the incorporation of folded patterns into the collapsible container substantially increases the reusability of the cryogenic PMD.

A novel tank cryogenic-compatible composite pressure vessel that beneficially utilizes Vapor Cooled Shielding (VCS) is introduced to minimize thermal gradients along support structures and reduces heat loads on cryogenic systems. In particular, the configurations and mechanisms to be utilized herein include: providing for a desired number of passageways and a given thickness of the VCS, reducing the thermal conductivity of the VCS material, and increasing the cooling capacitance of the hydrogen vapors.

Disclosed are a processing apparatus, a corrugated plate, and a storage container. The processing apparatus includes a pair of slide plates, a pair of press plates, a shaping block, and a driving mechanism. The driving mechanism includes a slide plate driving portion linked to a shaping block driving portion, allowing the slide plate driving portion drives the pair of slide plates to approach each other at a first predetermined speed, the shaping block driving portion moves the shaping block downward at a second predetermined speed, and the first and second predetermined speed are specifically correlated with respect to a predetermined forming profile of an intersection portion. The processing apparatus of the present disclosure causes running speeds of various portions that move in different directions to extrude a blank plate to be specifically associated, so that the formation process is particularly applicable to a corrugated plate having the predetermined corrugated shape.

A structural component with at least two side members has a support structure that includes a partition with multiple curved portions forming cells. The partition connects to the side members and extends between the side members at least partially along straight lines. The partition may extend along one or more straight lines from one side member to the other. One structural component is a container with a wall about the internal support structure. The container cells may be formed with a core structure. The core can include a permeable storage material and may be retained after formation, or may be removed. In some cases the container wall has generally planar surfaces, which may include surface undulations. Core structures are also provided for forming structural components. Formation can include casting a material about a core structure within a mold to form a partition extending between two or more sides.

A Venturi filling system having a first filling coupler configured to be coupled to a first set of fittings disposed at a first tank end of a tank; a second filling coupler configured to be coupled to a second set of fittings disposed at a second tank end of the tank; and a Venturi assembly that includes: a Venturi mixing chamber, the Venturi mixing chamber communicating with the first filling coupler; a Venturi nozzle configured to introduce a first flow of fluid from a fluid source to the Venturi mixing chamber of the Venturi assembly; and an suction inlet communicating with the second filling coupler and coupled with the Venturi chamber and configured to receive a second flow of fluid originates from the second filling coupler such that the second flow of fluid flows into the Venturi chamber and mixes with the first fluid flow within the Venturi mixing chamber.

A thin wall spinformed metallic tank shell includes a first region with a first thickness and at least one second region with a second thickness greater than the first thickness including structural features formed by an additive manufacturing process, where the features are added outside and inside of the metallic tank shell and can include: polar bosses added to one or both external polar regions of a spherical section of the tank; mounting tabs on a circumferential skirt of the tank; mounting rings containing threaded holes attached to the interior or exterior surface of the tank; mounting trunnions attached to the external surface of the tank; propellant management devices attached to the interior surface of the tank; structural reinforcement vanes and ribs attached to the inside surface of the tank; and brackets and/or shelves attached to the inside surface of the tank.