Essef Corporation

Pentair Pool Products, Inc.

Paragon Aquatics, a Division of Pentair Pool Products, Inc.

James C Murphy

Erik Coeckelbergs

Gerald S Boyce

Kevin Goodge

Jim Hlebovy

Douglas M Horner

Thomas G Carter

Robert John Pristas

Robert L Zimmerman

Charles T Molina, Jr

Nicholas Herald, Jr

A through-flange for attaching a pipe to the curved sidewall of a vessel. A flange portion of the through-flange is contoured to match the curvature of the sidewall and thus can be glued directly to the sidewall. A retaining ring also being contoured to match the sidewall is inserted over a tubular portion of the through-flange.

Through flange

An improved container is formed by attaching plates to outer side surface areas on opposite end portions of a liner with adhesive. The liner is supported for rotation about an axis which extends through the end portions of the liner and through the plates. The liner is rotated under the influence of torque transmitted to the liner through at least one of the plates and the adhesive attaching the one plate to the liner. Flexible material, which may be strands of continuous glass fibers impregnated with a thermosetting resin, is wound around the liner. As the flexible material is wound around the liner, the flexible material is wound over the plates at the opposite end portions of the liner. The surface areas, to which the plates are attached at opposite ends of the liner, are free of openings to the interior of the liner.

Container and method of forming the container

A process, and the product thereof, for making a composite vessel having at least one closed end, the process including the steps of: fabricating a thermoplastic liner for the vessel; overlaying onto the liner a layer of commingled fiber and thermoplastic material to obtain a composite intermediate structure; pressing and heating the composite intermediate structure to effect at least partial consolidation in apparatus which includes upper and lower silicon rubber bags, the bags having dimensions such that, during operation, their facing peripheral regions abut to encompass the composite intermediate structure; then placing the composite intermediate structure in a mold; heating the composite intermediate structure in the mold while applying a force, such as internal gas pressure, tending to urge the composite intermediate structure against and into the shape of the interior walls of the mold until the thermoplastic liner and the overlaid layer fully consolidate; cooling the mold and composite vessel until the composite vessel is solidified; and removing the formed composite vessel from the mold. The commingled fiber and thermoplastic material may either be wound onto the liner or laid on the liner in the form of fabric woven from the fiber and threads of the thermoplastic material.

Method for fabricating composite pressure vessels and products fabricated by the method

A process of making a composite vessel with superior mechanical and aesthetic characteristics includes the steps of: A) preforming a composite thermoplastic shell (e.g., by winding a commingled roving of fiberglass and a thermoplastic material onto a thermoplastic liner) having an opening for access to the interior; B) placing the shell (which may optionally be preheated) into a mold (which itself may optionally be preheated); C) introducing an inflatable bag containing a heater into the shell through the opening; D) heating the inflatable bag to a temperature which is sufficient to render the shell fluid while pressurizing the interior of the inflatable bag; E) continuing step D) until the shell forms against the interior walls of the mold; F) allowing the formed composite vessel to cool; G) removing the inflatable bag; and H) removing the formed composite vessel from the mold. Prior to step C), an insert having an opening may be juxtaposed in alignment with the opening in the shell such that, during step C), the inflatable bag is inserted through the opening in the insert. If desired for the intended purpose of the composite vessel, a portion of the exterior surface of the insert may be threaded such that threads are formed in the opening of the shell whereby the insert can be unscrewed leaving a threaded port into the vessel.

Method for making thermoplastic composite pressure vessels

A process for fabricating a composite vessel includes the steps of: A) preforming (e.g., by winding fiber and at least one thermoplastic substance onto a thermoplastic liner) a thermoplastic shell which has at least one opening for access to the interior; B) extruding a circular cross section of a fluid parison of thermoplastic material (which preferably is chosen to have a melting point lower than that of the thermoplastic shell) into the interior of the thermoplastic shell through the opening; C) in a mold, applying at least one force (such as gas under pressure) which tends to urge the fluid parison toward the interior walls of the thermoplastic shell (which may be preheated prior to introduction into the mold) such that the fluid parison imparts heat to the thermoplastic shell; D) continuing step C) until the thermoplastic shell and the fluid parison consolidate to form a composite vessel; E) cooling the vessel until it is solidified; and F) removing the vessel from the mold. For some composite vessels, prior to step C), an insert may be introduced into the interior of the parison and positioned in alignment with the opening in the thermoplastic shell such that the insert is rendered integral with the composite vessel during step D). Suitable thermoplastic materials include polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate. The resulting composite vessel exhibits superior mechanical and aesthetic properties.

Method for fabricating composite pressure vessels

A molded plastic vessel is provided with a fitting or other attachment after molding and before winding of the vessel. The fitting is provided with a plastic insert. The insert and a wall of the vessel are heated and welded together to hold the fitting on the vessel. The tank is filament wound for reinforcement, and the filaments capture the fitting to hold the fitting on the wall. The wall is opened to provide a passage through the fitting into the vessel. An apparatus is provided that carries and moves the fitting, insert, and a heater to install the fitting on the vessel.

Fitting installation process and apparatus for a molded plastic vessel

A hydropneumatic pressure vessel comprising a tank wall having wall portions defining a closed cavity. A flexible elastomeric diaphragm separates the cavity into first and second fluid pressure chambers. An edge of the diaphragm is clamped between annular portions of the wall positions and other radially and axially off-set portions of the wall portions are fused to each other.

Sealing technique for hydropneumatic pressure vessel

Fitting installation process

A filament-wound pressure vessel having a pressure vessel liner and a continuous filament polar wound over the surface of the liner in an isotensoid pattern. The liner has a geodesic dome surface extending between a diameter of the liner and a polar opening. The dome surface is defined by oppositely curving surfaces of revolution of a meridia joined by an inflection point. The first surface of revolution curves from the liner diameter to a first point just unto but not at said inflection point. The second surface of revolution curves from the polar opening to a second point just unto but not at said inflection point in a direction opposite the curvature of the first surface of revolution. The first and second surfaces are joined, and the inflection point is traversed by a straight line third surface of revolution closely approximating geodesic curvature through the inflection point.

Filament-wound isotensoid pressure vessels having geodesic domes

A hydropneumatic filament-wound pressure vessel is disclosed. The vessel has first and second cup-shaped tank liners having circular open mouths which are provided with a seal and diaphragm assembly. The seal assembly includes a pocket formed by an inner wall and shelf associated with the first liner and a ledge associated with the second liner. The shelf, ledge and cylindrical wall cooperate with an inner surface of the second liner to provide an O-ring pocket. An O-ring is provided in the pocket and the O-ring defines the periphery of a flexible diaphragm which divides the interior of the liners into separate pressure chambers. A continuous filament is wound over the surface of the liners in an isotensoid pattern. Each liner has a geodesic dome surface extending between a diameter of the liner and a polar opening. The dome surface is defined by oppositely curving surfaces of revolution of a meridia joined by an inflection point. The first surface of revolution curves from the liner diameter to a first point just unto but not at said inflection point. The second surface of revolution curves from the polar opening to a second point just unto but not at said inflection point in a direction opposite the curvature of the first surface of revolution. The first and second surfaces are joined, and the inflection point is traversed by a straight line third surface of revolution closely approximating geodesic curvature through the inflection point.

Hydropneumatic filament-wound pressure vessel

A diffuser is attached to a flexible inner cell inside an outer vessel. The outer vessel contains a first fluid and the inner cell contains a second fluid. The diffuser has a flange which is sandwiched between a flanged port and a flanged neck of the outer vessel. The diffuser is contained substantially within the neck of the outer vessel. A generally circular surface of the diffuser deflects fluid entering the outer vessel through the port. A side wall of the diffuser is provide with apertures to permit passage of the fluid therethrough.

Flanged diffuser and air cell retainer for pressure vessel

A hydropneumatic filament-wound pressure vessel is disclosed. The vessel includes a split tank closure and diaphragm assembly comprising a pari of cup-shaped plastic tank liners having cylindrical sidewall portions terminating in circular open mouth portions. A cylindrical ring is interposed between the open mouths of the liners and is sealed to the liners by a fusion welding operation. A cup-shaped elastomeric diaphragm is sealed to the cylindrical ring and separates the interior of the vessel into a pair of pressure chambers. The outer surface of the tank is helically wound with a resin-impregnated continuous filament.

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Chardon, OH, United States of America

James C Murphy