US 11,873,947 B2
High pressure composite pressure vessel method of manufacture and product
David Edgar Hauber, Troy, NY (US)
Assigned to Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Germany GmbH, Stuttgart (DE)
Filed by Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Germany GmbH, Stuttgart (DE)
Filed on May 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/664,283.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/193,426, filed on May 26, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0381401 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 70/14 (2006.01); F17C 1/06 (2006.01); B29C 70/32 (2006.01); B29K 307/04 (2006.01); B29K 105/14 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC F17C 1/06 (2013.01) [B29C 70/14 (2013.01); B29C 70/32 (2013.01); B29K 2105/14 (2013.01); B29K 2307/04 (2013.01); B29L 2031/7156 (2013.01); F17C 2201/0109 (2013.01); F17C 2201/0128 (2013.01); F17C 2201/0138 (2013.01); F17C 2201/0152 (2013.01); F17C 2203/0621 (2013.01); F17C 2203/0673 (2013.01); F17C 2209/2109 (2013.01); F17C 2209/2163 (2013.01); F17C 2209/232 (2013.01); F17C 2221/012 (2013.01); F17C 2221/033 (2013.01); F17C 2223/036 (2013.01); F17C 2270/0171 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing a high-pressure composite pressure vessel configured to contain a gas and/or liquid, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an expandable core vessel defining a hoop section between end domes;
providing an aligned discontinuous fiber composite material, the aligned discontinuous fiber composite material comprising fibers that are at least 5 mm in length and up to 100 mm in length, wherein the fibers are aligned in a prepreg tape;
wrapping the expandable core vessel with an aligned discontinuous fiber-reinforced composite, wherein the aligned discontinuous fiber-reinforced composite is wrapped aligning with a plurality of load paths present in the expandable core vessel being over the hoop section and end domes;
wrapping the expandable core vessel with a continuous fiber-reinforced composite, wherein the continuous fiber-reinforced composite is wrapped over the aligned discontinuous fiber-reinforced composite and wherein the continuous fiber-reinforced composite is wrapped along the hoop section and not wrapped along the end domes;
pressurizing the expandable core vessel, wherein the expandable core vessel is configured to expand applying pressure to the aligned discontinuous fiber-reinforced composite and the continuous fiber-reinforced composite;
heating the expandable core vessel and consolidating the composite overwrap; and
cooling the expandable core vessel under pressure resulting in the high-pressure composite pressure vessel.