Abstract:
A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel is formed as a series of closely packed tubes fitted into a pair of opposing end caps. The end caps have individual receptacles sized and shaped to receive the tube ends that are secured with adhesive or radio frequency welding. At least one end cap has a passageway for connection of the vessel. The vessel may be formed in a variety of useful shapes and the tubes may have various internal and external cross-sections. The end caps may be filled with sintactic foam with canals leading to the passageway. Microtubes through the syntactic foam may connect the tubes to the passageway. The vessel is further strengthened by overwrapping with high-strength braiding material, hoop winding or by overlayment with high-strength fabric. The vessel is further strengthened by coating with plastic resin. Apparatus and methods for forming the cellular reservoir flexible vessels are described.
Abstract:
A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel is formed as a series of closely packed tubes fitted into a pair of opposing end caps. The end caps have individual receptacles sized and shaped to receive the tube ends that are secured with adhesive or radio frequency welding. At least one end cap has a passageway for connection of the vessel. The flexible pressure vessel has a pressure relief device comprising a reduction in thickness of one end cap at a predetermined location. When subjected to overpressure it fails at the predetermined location. Other pressure relief devices include: a projecting member on the vessel surface, a weakened section of the passageway, a weakening or an absence of braiding material or hoop winding at a predetermined location on the vessel surface or along the passageway, a weakening or spreading of fibers in either the reinforcing panels or the flexible blankets covering the vessel.
Abstract:
A pressure regulated structure includes a first layer, a second layer, a non-metallic honeycomb assembly, and a vent. The honeycomb assembly is between the first layer and the second layer and includes a plurality of walls forming cells, at least some of the walls including laser-formed apertures to allow fluid communication between cells. The vent is fluidly coupled to the honeycomb assembly, wherein fluid in the cells of the honeycomb assembly may be removed through the vent to decrease pressure in the structure.
Abstract:
A nested tank construction for pressurized materials comprises first and second cylindrical tanks connected together so that they are axially aligned. The first tank comprises a dome end which is inverted so that it extends inwardly into the first tank and is under compression loading when exposed to pressure within the first tank. The second tank comprises a dome end which extends outwardly from the second tank and is under tension loading when exposed to pressure within the second tank. The first and second tank dome ends have a matching geometry so that the second tank dome end is nested into the first tank dome end. The first tank dome end is a honeycomb sandwich structure comprising an aluminum membrane, a honeycomb core adhered to the concave face of the aluminum membrane, and a fiber composite face sheet adhered to the concave face of the honeycomb core. The honeycomb sandwich structure is co-cured under heat and pressure. A gap is provided between the face sheet of the composite sandwich structure and the second tank dome end. The tank construction is particularly useful for gaseous or liquid materials which are hypergolic when mixed, or which are maintained at cryogenic temperatures.