Steelhead Composites, LLC

Composite Technology Development, Inc.

John Cronin

Kaushik Mallick

Andrew Coors

Michael W Stewart

Annalisa Padget-Shields

Jacob Schrader

Mark S Lake

Naseem A Munshi

Carl Chapel

Anna Padget-Shields

Mark Warner

The present invention provides lightweight high-pressure accumulators that avoids diaphragm failure observed in conventional diaphragm accumulators. Lightweight high-pressure composite overwrapped accumulators of the invention are made from a plurality of hollow casings that are mated to form an accumulator housing. The accumulator housing is overwrapped with a composite material to provide additional mechanical strength and structural integrity. More significantly, the accumulators of the invention includes a plurality of annular grooves and a plurality of bulb on the flexible diaphragm such that the plurality of bulbs on the flexible diaphragm are placed in the plurality of annular grooves that are formed between the first and the second hollow casing. In this manner, diaphragm failure is significantly reduced or even completely eliminated during repeated high pressure charge/discharge cycle of the accumulator.

Lightweight composite overwrapped accumulators

The present invention provides a lightweight high pressure vessels that are made from a liner or a liner housing that is overwrapped with a composite material. Unlike conventional high pressure vessels, the lightweight high pressure vessel of the invention includes a liner that comprises a plurality of liner sections without using welding or crimping. In particular, the lightweight high pressure vessels of the invention include a plurality of elements that are combined to form a liner housing and a composite overwrap that provides structural and mechanical strength to maintain integrity of the high pressure vessel. In one particular embodiment, the high pressure vessel of the invention is a diaphragm accumulator.

Lightweight composite overwrapped pressure vessels with sectioned liners

The present invention provides a metal-lined composite gas storage device comprising a phase-change material coated on the exterior surface of a metallic liner. The presence of the phase-change material on the exterior surface of the metal liner reduces the temperature change within the interior of the metal liner during a gas filling process compared to a similar vessel that does not have a phase-change material coating, thereby allowing a significantly greater amount of gas to be filled at a given pressure.

Pressure vessel with PCM and method of use

The present invention provides a Type 3 pressure vessel comprising a polar boss that is attached to a metallic liner and provides reinforced static strength, fatigue strength, endurance, chemical resistance and/or corrosion resistance of the liner orifice or neck region. In particular, the material of the polar boss has higher static strength, fatigue strength, endurance, chemical resistance and/or corrosion resistance relative to that of the liner material.

Metallic liner pressure vessel comprising polar boss

A linerless tank structure has a body that defines an enclosed interior volume. The body has a cylindrical section having an axis of symmetry and a dome section coupled with the cylindrical section. The construction of the pressure vessel includes multiple fiber plies. At least one of the fiber plies is a helical ply having fibers traversing the dome helically about the axis of symmetry. At least a second of the fiber plies is a braided or woven ply.

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Denver, CO, United States of America

John Cronin