Method and tool for molding a composite pressure vessel liner to a boss

Abstract

A method for molding a composite pressure vessel liner to secure a boss to the liner is described. The method comprises providing a moldable liner having an end section with a neck and a port. A boss is positioned around the neck of the liner and the liner is heated and pressure is applied to mold the liner to form to the shape of the boss. The angle of the molded liner secures the boss in place around the liner and it is able to withstand high pressures. A tool for molding the liner and a method for using the tool is also described. The tool comprises a tool body and a pipe having external threads. The tool body abuts the liner and the boss. Winding the pipe exerts pressure on the liner, which when heated, forces the liner to mold to the shape of the boss.

Claims

1. A method for molding and securing a moldable liner to a single-piece boss for a composite pressure vessel, the moldable liner having a liner body having a longitudinal liner axis and an end section having a liner neck substantially parallel to the longitudinal liner axis and defining a liner port allowing fluid communication between an interior and exterior of the liner, and a liner end wall adjacent the liner neck, the method comprising the steps of: positioning the single-piece boss over and around the liner neck, the single-piece boss having a boss flange for abutting the liner end wall, a boss neck with a boss neck inner surface forming a boss port, the boss neck having a boss inner end and a boss outer end, wherein the boss neck inner surface is frustoconical and forms an outward angle extending completely from the boss inner end to the boss outer end relative to the longitudinal liner axis; molding the end section of the liner by applying heat and pressure, which includes applying radial pressure to the liner neck to mold the liner neck to the boss neck inner surface such that the liner neck forms the same outward angle as the boss neck inner surface and is no longer substantially parallel to the longitudinal liner axis; allowing the end section to cool; and removing the pressure to the end section, after which the liner is secured to the boss by the outward angle of the liner neck.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the outward angle is 3 to 10 degrees from the longitudinal liner axis.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein prior to molding, a moldable disc is positioned against an end surface of the boss neck and the liner neck, and wherein during molding, heat and pressure is applied to the moldable disc to connect the disc to the liner neck to form a continuous piece with the liner neck.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the boss outer end includes a plurality of fastening channels around the boss outer end and the moldable disc has disc holes corresponding to the fastening channels and the method includes aligning the disc holes with the fastening channels prior to molding.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to molding, there is a first gap between the liner neck and the boss neck inner surface, and after molding, there is no first gap.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein during molding, the liner end wall molds to the boss flange.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to molding there is a second gap between the liner end wall and the boss flange, and after molding, there is no second gap.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the end section is dome-shaped.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the liner is made of a thermoplastic material.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the liner is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the liner is made of nylon, polyfluorotetraethlyene or polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD).

12. The method of claim 1 wherein when the boss is positioned over and around the liner neck, a boss flange inner surface has an outward angle from a boss flange inner end to a boss flange outer end with respect to a lateral axis of the liner body.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein when the boss is positioned over and around the neck liner, a boss flange inner surface has an inward angle from a boss flange inner end to a boss flange outer end with respect to a lateral axis of the liner body.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the liner neck extends across the entire boss neck inner surface.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the outward angle of the liner neck after molding extends completely from an inner end of the liner neck to an outer end of the liner neck.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Various objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of various embodiments of the invention. Similar reference numerals indicate similar components.

(2) FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a composite pressure vessel liner having a boss molded into each end of the liner.

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the composite pressure vessel liner of FIG. 1 taken along line A-A.

(4) FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of area B in FIG. 2 illustrating the boss molded into the composite pressure vessel liner.

(5) FIG. 4 is a front end view of the composite pressure vessel liner and boss of FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a composite pressure vessel liner having a boss inserted into each end of the liner but not yet secured within the liner.

(7) FIG. 6 is a front end view of the composite pressure vessel liner and boss of FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the composite pressure vessel liner and bosses of FIGS. 5 and 6, taken along line C-C of FIG. 6, wherein the bosses are inserted into the ends of the liner but not yet secured in place.

(9) FIG. 8 is a partial side elevational view of a composite pressure vessel liner and boss being molded into the liner using a molding tool.

(10) FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the composite pressure vessel liner, boss and molding tool of FIG. 8 taken along line D-D.

(11) FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of area E of FIG. 9.

(12) FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of a tool body of a molding tool with heaters.

(13) FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the tool body of FIG. 11.

(14) FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the tool body of FIGS. 11 and 12 taken along line F-F.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(15) Various aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures. For the purposes of illustration, components depicted in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed on highlighting the various contributions of the components to the functionality of various aspects of the invention. A number of possible alternative features are introduced during the course of this description. It is to be understood that, according to the knowledge and judgment of persons skilled in the art, such alternative features may be substituted in various combinations to arrive at different embodiments of the present invention.

(16) With reference to the figures, a composite pressure vessel liner and a method for incorporating a boss into a composite pressure vessel liner is described.

(17) FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a composite pressure vessel liner 12 having a boss 20 incorporated into each end of the liner. The liner has a body 12c with end sections 12d. In the illustrated embodiments, the body is cylindrical shaped and the end sections are dome-shaped, however other suitable shapes may be used. The end sections 12d have a neck 12e through which a port 14 is defined that allows fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the liner, and an end wall 12f adjacent the neck 12e. The liner is made of a moldable polymer material and is preferably rotomolded in one piece. The liner may be a thermoplastic such as high-density polyethylene (HPDE). Other suitable liner materials include but are not limited to nylon, Teflon, and polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD).

(18) As can best be seen in FIG. 3, the boss 20 has a neck 20a and a flange 20b, the flange extending radially from the neck 20a. The boss neck 20a has an inner surface 20h that abuts the liner neck 12e. The boss flange 20b has an inner surface 20c that abuts the liner end wall 12f. The boss neck 20a and liner neck 12e angle outwardly from an inner end 14a to an outer end 14b of the port 14, shown by angle θ in FIG. 3. The angle is preferably 3 to 10 degrees, however it may be any number greater than zero that allows the boss 20 to be held in place against the liner and still have an opening for the port 14. The diameter of the boss and the pressure vessel will influence what the outward angle may be.

(19) Referring to FIG. 3, the liner end wall 12f abuts against the boss flange inner surface 20c and has the same geometry as the boss flange inner surface. This geometry depends on the geometry of the pressure vessel and is calculated based on the optimal geometry for eliminating any abrupt contour changes in the pressure vessel which would cause stress concentrations. The boss flange inner surface 20c may angle outwardly from a boss flange inner end 20d to a boss flange outer end 20g with respect to a lateral axis 40 of the liner body 12c, as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the boss flange inner surface 20c may include an inward angle from the boss flange inner end 20d to the boss flange outer end 20g with respect to the lateral axis 40 of the liner body, as shown in FIG. 7.

(20) To secure the boss 20 to the liner end section 12d, the boss is positioned around the liner neck 12e and the liner is molded to hold the boss in place. FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate the boss 20 placed around the liner neck prior to molding. As can be seen in FIG. 7, prior to molding, the angle of the liner neck 12a does not match the outward angle θ of the boss neck inner surface 20h. Instead, the liner neck 12a is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis 22 of the liner which allows the boss neck to be placed around the liner neck. The difference in the angle of the liner neck and boss neck inner surface creates a first gap 24 between the outer end of the boss neck 20a and liner neck 12e. The angle θ of the boss neck inner surface 20h is the desired angle that the liner neck 12e will form after molding is complete. After molding, there will be no first gap 24 since the liner neck 12e will form to the angle of the boss neck inner surface 20h, as shown in FIG. 10.

(21) Prior to molding the liner, the geometry of the liner end wall 12f may not match the geometry of the boss flange inner surface 20c, as shown in FIG. 7. This discrepancy may create a second gap 26 between the boss flange inner surface and the liner end wall. The geometry of the boss flange inner surface 20c is the desired geometry that the liner end wall 12f will form after molding is complete. After molding, there will be no second gap 26 since the liner end wall 12f will form to the geometry of the boss flange inner surface 20c.

(22) As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a disc 28 may be placed against an end surface 20e of the boss neck 20a. The disc 28 includes an inner opening 28a that aligns with the port 14. The disc is preferably made of the same material as the liner, i.e. HDPE or another suitable thermoplastic, and can be molded to the liner neck 12e to prevent the boss from rotating or moving axially with respect to the liner while applying the composite material overwrap. Prior to molding, the disc 28 may be secured to the outer surface of the boss neck 20a using fastening members such as screws or pins that extend through holes 28b in the disc and holes 20f in the boss neck, shown in FIGS. 5-7.

(23) During molding, pressure and heat molds the disc 28 to the liner neck 12e, as shown in FIG. 10 where the disc 28 is shown as molded to the liner neck to form one continuous piece with the liner neck. While FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate the disc 28 being fastened to the liner neck using bolts or screws prior to molding, in FIG. 10 the disc 28 has simply been molded to the liner neck without requiring bolts or screws. The disc may also include lips that hook around the outside of the boss neck 20a (not shown).

(24) Molding Tool

(25) To mold the liner end section 12d, including the liner neck 12e and end wall 12f, to form to the boss 20, a molding tool 30 is used, as illustrated in FIGS. 8-10. The tool 30 preferably comprises a pipe 32 and a tool body 34 surrounding a section of the pipe. Referring to FIGS. 11-13, the tool body 34 comprises a tool body neck 34a having an internal surface 34b that is sealingly engaged with the pipe 32, and a tool body flange 34c that projects radially from the tool body neck 34a and has an inner surface 34d. As shown in FIGS. 8-10, an outer surface 34e of the tool body neck contacts a liner neck internal surface 12g. The tool body flange inner surface 34d contacts the boss neck end surface 20e and/or the disc 28 if a disc is being used. The angle of the tool body neck outer surface 34e preferably corresponds to the outward angle θ of the boss neck inner surface 20h.

(26) To sealingly engage the tool body neck 34a to the pipe 32, various sealing mechanisms can be used. The location, type and number of seals may vary. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, there are two seals 38 and 42. The first seal 38 is disposed between the outer surface 32a of the pipe and the tool body neck internal surface 34b. The second seal 42 is disposed between the tool flange inner surface 34d and the disc 28, when a disc is being used.

(27) The tool body 34 of the molding tool 30 may also include fastener holes 46 for receiving fastening devices 36, such as bolts or screws, for fastening the tool body 34 to the boss 20.

(28) The tool 30 may include one or more heaters for heating the liner end section 12d and/or disc 28. The heaters may be inserted into the tool body 34. FIGS. 11 to 13 illustrate an end surface 34f of the tool body flange 34c having heating fixture holes 44 for receiving heaters. The heating fixture holes may be positioned in a ring formation as shown in FIG. 12, however other formations may also be used. The tool body flange 34c may also include fastener holes 46 in a ring formation for receiving the fastening devices 36 for attaching the tool body 34 to the boss 20.

(29) The pipe 32 has an outer surface 32a with tapered threads 32b such that the pipe can be wound in either direction with respect to the tool body 34. Winding the pipe towards the tool body exerts pressure on the tool body, which then exerts pressure on the liner 12 and/or disc 28 for molding purposes.

(30) Method for Using the Molding Tool

(31) To use the molding tool to mold the liner 12, the tool pipe 32 is inserted into the port 14 such that the tool body 34 contacts the liner neck 12e and the boss 20, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10. The tool body 34 is fastened to the boss 20 using the fastening devices 36. The liner end is heated using a heating device, which may be heaters that are located within the tool body, for example cartridge heaters. The tool pipe 32 is wound towards the liner 12, applying inward pressure to the tool body 34 which forces the liner neck 12e to mold to the shape of the boss neck inner surface. This creates the desired outward angle θ of the liner neck as described above. The pressure also causes the liner end wall 12f to mold to the shape of the boss flange inner surface 20c. If a moldable disc 38 is present between the disc neck end surface 20e and the tool body flange inner surface 34d, the heat and pressure will mold the disc to the liner neck 12e such that the disc forms a continuous piece with the liner neck.

(32) After the liner is sufficiently molded, the liner is allowed to cool with the tool in place to set the shape of the liner. After cooling, the tool is removed by unwinding the pipe to release the pressure and detaching the fastening devices 36. The boss is now secure in place around the liner neck 12e and axial movement of the boss with respect to the liner is prevented due to the angle of the liner neck, even when very high pressures are applied to the interface from pressurized fluid stored in the vessel. The liner is then wrapped with a composite material to finish the vessel, as would be known to a person skilled in the art.

(33) Alternatively, to mold the liner, pressure can be applied hydraulically or pneumatically, and automated equipment may be used.

(34) This method for molding the boss to the liner in a composite pressure vessel can be used on a variety of sizes of vessels that can withstand a variety of operating pressures, including high pressures of 10,000 or more psi.

(35) The boss may be made of metal or non-metal materials, including but not limited to alloys of aluminum, steel, nickel or titanium, and composite materials.

(36) The boss and method for attaching the boss to a composite pressure vessel can be used with various shaped composite pressure vessels, including but not limited to spherical, oblate spheroid and toroidal vessels.

(37) Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to preferred embodiments and preferred uses thereof, it is not to be so limited since modifications and changes can be made therein which are within the full, intended scope of the invention as understood by those skilled in the art.