An Automatic Service Station Facility (ASSF) for replenishing various motivational energy sources onboard different types of AUV, Drones, and Remotely Controlled (RC) or robotic vehicles is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the automatic service station facility includes a rack, replaceable fuel tanks, a service module, and an electronic computer control system. The replaceable fuel tanks are stocked on the rack and substantially filled with various fluids which are utile as motivational energy sources within fuel-operated vehicles. The service module is mounted on the rack, and the electronic computer control system is connected in electrical communication with the service module. In this configuration, the service module is controllably operable to receive a depleted replaceable fuel tank from a fuel-operated vehicle and also selectively deliver one of the filled replaceable fuel tanks onboard the vehicle. In another embodiment, the service station facility may also stock replaceable batteries for selective delivery onboard battery-operated vehicles. In another embodiment, the ASSF is self-propelled, remotely controlled, and solar powered, being able to move long distances to remote locations which may be hazardous to humans, such as disaster zones or battle fields, where the ASSF can service AUV, Drones, and Remotely Controlled (RC) or robotic vehicles needed for the particular applications. Alternatively, the solar powered ASSF can be made to move continuously and service vehicles continuously for long duration operations like herding cattle for example.

A fuel delivery and storage method is provided. A further aspect employs a remote central controller and/or software instructions which receive sensor data from stationary and bulk fuel storage tanks, portable distribution tanks, and end use tanks. Another aspect of the present system senses and transmits tank or hydrogen fuel characteristics including temperature, pressure, filled volume, contaminants, refilling cycle life and environmental hazards. Still another aspect includes a group of hydrogen fuel tanks which is pre-assembled with sensor, valve, microprocessor and transmitter components, at least some of which are within an insulator.

Method and apparatus for storing cryogenic liquids. A cryogenic tank comprising an inner storage volume within a first wall and a plurality of chambers defined by a plurality of chamber walls within the inner storage volume. The chamber walls extending the length of the inner storage volume, and the chambers disposed along the first wall and that at least one of the chambers of the plurality of chambers is defined by a plurality of chamber walls and a portion of the first wall.

A pressure vessel assembly includes a pressure vessel including a cylinder, a first side dome provided at one end of the cylinder, and a second side dome provided at the other end of the cylinder, a first protector that surrounds an outer surface of the first side dome, a second protector that surrounds an outer surface of the second side dome, and a connector that connects the first protector and the second protector such that the pressure vessel is interposed between the first protector and the second protector. The pressure vessel assembly can help to prevent damage and breakage of the pressure vessel caused by external impact and improve safety and reliability of the pressure vessel.

A fuel delivery and storage method is provided. A further aspect employs a remote central controller and/or software instructions which receive sensor data from stationary and bulk fuel storage tanks, portable distribution tanks, and end use tanks. Another aspect of the present system senses and transmits tank or hydrogen fuel characteristics including temperature, pressure, filled volume, contaminants, refilling cycle life and environmental hazards. Still another aspect includes a group of hydrogen fuel tanks which is pre-assembled with sensor, valve, microprocessor and transmitter components, at least some of which are within an insulator.

Systems and methods are provided herein for gas storage and the safe release of gas using cascading burst discs. A vessel for storing gas is in pneumatic communication with a first flow path. A first burst disc is disposed in the first flow path such that gas flow is prevented when the disc is intact. A second flow path is in pneumatic communication with the first flow path and configured to receive gas flow when the first burst disc is ruptured. A second burst disc is disposed in the second flow path and configured to prevent a gas flow while the second burst disc is intact. At an operating pressure, the first burst disc may be punctured by an operator allowing normal use of the system. In the event of a gas overpressure, the first and second burst discs will rupture permitting safe release of the gas.

A method of forming a thick wall section on a specific region of a thin wall spinformed metallic tank shell includes forming a thin wall metallic tank shell blank by spinforming a metal sheet over a mandrel and removing the tank shell blank from the mandrel. The method further includes mounting the blank in an additive manufacturing system and adding metallic structural features to the tank shell according to a 3D model stored in memory in the additive manufacturing system.

A pressure vessel assembly includes a pressure vessel including a cylinder, a first side dome provided at one end of the cylinder, and a second side dome provided at the other end of the cylinder, a first protector that surrounds an outer surface of the first side dome, a second protector that surrounds an outer surface of the second side dome, and a connector that connects the first protector and the second protector such that the pressure vessel is interposed between the first protector and the second protector. The pressure vessel assembly can help to prevent damage and breakage of the pressure vessel caused by external impact and improve safety and reliability of the pressure vessel.

A removable closure for a cryogenic tank, wherein the cryogenic tank comprises a tank interior for storing a cryogenic medium, and an access opening in a multiple tank wall which includes a tank wall vacuum insulation space between inner and outer tank wall skins. The removable closure has an outer closure wall and an inner closure wall, and a closure vacuum insulation volume between the inner and outer closure walls. The removable closure is configured for the installation of equipment that is required for operating the cryogenic tank in the closure vacuum insulation volume formed in the interior of the removable closure. Also, a cryogenic tank and an aircraft.

A pressure cylinder made of thin-walled welded stainless steel vessel fitted with a composite shell and a neck with an external and/or internal thread, where the neck is attached to the thin-walled vessel by a circular welded seam with a hermetic seal and containing a flange which is fitted circumferentially with a pair of tapered grooves on its outer surface whose adjacent sides meet on an annular ridge on which there are locking teeth in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the neck and composite fibers are placed in inter-tooth spaces. The method of producing a pressure cylinder includes the welding of a neck to the thin-walled vessel with a hermetic seal, whereupon composite fibers with stress less than the total force acting on the fiber bundle are wound into additional grooves between the teeth and further winding of the fiber around the neck is carried out while simultaneously moving bilaterally along the axis of the shell to position the fiber between the teeth, whereupon fibers with a nominal stress value are wound and final winding of the reinforced composite shell is carried out.