Hydropneumatic pressure vessel having an improved diaphragm assembly

• US 5,368,073 A
• Filed: 10/07/1993
• Issued: 11/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fleck Controls, LLC
• Original Assignee: Essex Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Murphy, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, III, James E.
• Application Number:
  US08/132,845
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 138/26, 138/30, 220/85 B
• US Class Current: 138/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/053 the gas in the reservoir being separated from the fluid in the pipe

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A hydropneumatic filament-wound pressure vessel having a split tank closure and diaphragm assembly comprising first and second cup-shaped plastic tank liners, said liners having oblate ellipsoidal end portions and cylindrical sidewall portions terminating in circular open mouth portions having opposed first and second annular end faces, a cylindrical ring having third and fourth annular end faces respectively fused to said first and second end faces to seal said liners into a unitary pressure vessel liner, said cylindrical ring having inside and outside surfaces having diameters corresponding to inside and outside diameters of said cylindrical sidewall portions of said liners, a stiffly flexible elastomeric cup-shaped diaphragm having an oblate ellipsoidal end portion and a cylindrical sidewall portion terminating in an open mouth, said diaphragm being nested within one of said liners and having a segmental area of its sidewall, adjacent said open mouth, fused to the inside surface of said cylindrical ring, and a resin-impregnated filament winding covering the liners and the outside surface of said ring cylindrical in a predetermined winding pattern.

2. A hydropneumatic filament-wound pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the opposed first and second annular end faces of said liners are extrusion-welded to the third and fourth annular end faces of said cylindrical ring.

3. A hydropneumatic filament-wound pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein a diaphragm separates an interior cavity of said unitary pressure vessel liner into a pair of pressure chambers, means in said liner for connecting one of said pressure chambers to a source of pressurized air including a one-way check valve filtering means in said liner adapted to connect another one of said pressure chambers to a water source.

4. A hydropneumatic filament-wound pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein said winding pattern is a helical pattern.