TANK ASSEMBLY COLLAR MOUNT

• US 20110101001A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Veenstra, Michael Jon
• Granted Patent: US 9,671,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/581
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/16 constructed of plastics materials shaping of plastics B29C
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0604 Liners
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0619 with two layers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0636 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0646 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/066 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0673 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0305 Bosses, e.g. boss collars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0323 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/037 Quick connecting means, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0394 in direct contact with the pressure vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/2154 Winding
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/228 by screws, bolts or rivets
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/234 of closing end pieces, e.g. caps
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/035 High pressure (>10 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/013 Reducing manufacturing time or effort
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/036 : Avoiding leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0105 : Ships
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0171 : Trucks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0173 : Railways
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0176 : Buses
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0178 : Cars
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0189 : Planes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0194 : for use under microgravity conditions, e.g. space
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage

Abstract

A tank assembly having a gas impermeable liner having a neck for storing a compressed gas is provided. The neck has a threaded bore. An annular collar having a generally circular opening is disposed around the neck. A structural layer substantially envelopes the liner and secures the collar to the neck.

Claims

1. A tank assembly comprising:

a gas impermeable liner having a neck having a threaded bore for storing compressed gas;

an annular collar having a generally circular opening, the collar being disposed around the neck; and

a structural layer substantially enveloping the liner and securing the annular collar to the neck.

2. The tank assembly of claim 1 wherein the annular collar includes a raised annular flange.

3. The tank assembly of claim 2 wherein the raised annular flange defines a plurality of mounting bores.

4. The tank assembly of claim 3 wherein the plurality of mounting bores are threaded.

5. The tank assembly of claim 1 wherein the annular collar includes a generally circular channel defined in a surface of the collar, the channel being generally concentric with the generally circular opening of the annular collar.

6. The tank assembly of claim 5 wherein the annular collar further includes a raised annular flange disposed concentrically with the channel.

7. The tank assembly of claim 6 wherein the raised annular flange has a smaller diameter than the channel.

8. The tank assembly of claim 7 wherein the raised annular flange defines a plurality of threaded mounting bores disposed about the raised annular flange.

9. The tank assembly of claim 1 wherein the liner comprises metal.

10. A tank assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a gas impermeable liner having a neck for storing compressed gas;

an annular collar having a generally circular opening, a first surface, and an annular flange protruding above the first surface and disposed generally concentrically with the opening, the annular collar being disposed around the neck such that the first surface is substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the neck; and

a structural layer substantially enveloping the liner and securing the annular collar to the neck.

11. The tank assembly of claim 10 wherein a surface of the annular collar defines a generally circular channel disposed generally concentrically with the opening, the channel having a larger diameter than a diameter of the annular flange.

12. The tank assembly of claim 10 wherein the annular flange defines mounting bores.

13. The tank assembly of claim 12 wherein the mounting bores are disposed about the annular flange such that each mounting bore is substantially equidistant from each adjacent mounting bore.

14. The tank assembly of claim 12 wherein a surface of the annular collar defines a generally circular channel disposed generally concentrically with the opening, the channel having a larger diameter than a diameter of the annular flange.

15. The tank assembly of claim 12 wherein the mounting bores are threaded.

16. A tank assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a gas impermeable liner having a neck that defines a passage for storing compressed gas;

an annular collar having a generally circular collar opening and a raised annular flange disposed generally concentrically with the opening, the collar being disposed around the neck such that the neck is received in the collar opening;

an annular mounting bracket having a generally circular bracket opening, the mounting bracket being rotatably mounted on the collar such that the bracket opening engages the raised annular flange of the annular collar; and

a structural layer substantially enveloping the liner and securing the collar to the neck.

17. The tank assembly of claim 16 wherein the raised annular flange defines a plurality of mounting bores and the tank assembly further comprises a plurality of fasteners, each fastener being secured within a respective one of the mounting bores, wherein the plurality of fasteners are configured to inhibit rotation of the mounting bracket with respect to the raised annular collar.

18. The tank assembly of claim 17 wherein the raised annular collar defines a substantially circular channel disposed substantially concentrically with the collar opening, the channel having a larger diameter than a diameter of the flange, and wherein the tank assembly further comprises a sealing member disposed within the channel, wherein a bottom surface of the annular mounting bracket engages the sealing member such that the bottom surface and the sealing member cooperate to provide a gas-tight fit between the annular mounting bracket and the annular collar when the plurality of fasteners engage the mounting bores.

19. The tank assembly of claim 18 wherein the plurality of mounting bores are threaded and the plurality of fasteners comprise threaded fasteners that are in threaded engagement with the mounting bores.