Tank assembly collar mount

• US 9,671,066 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): MATHEW, FENN C
• Application Number:
  US12/609,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20110101001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,776 Days
• Field of Search: 220581, 220582
• 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 to receive a valve for providing compressed gas;

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

an annular mounting bracket including a generally circular opening for being rotatably mounted on the annular collar to surround the valve; and

a structural layer substantially enveloping the liner and securing the annular collar to the neck, wherein the annular mounting bracket includes a mounting portion for receiving and securing a regulator thereon, the regulator being in fluid communication with the valve to regulate a flow of the compressed gas therefrom.

2. The tank assembly of claim 1 wherein the annular mounting bracket includes a first end for being rotatably mounted on the annular collar and a second end for receiving the regulator.

3. The tank assembly of claim 2 further comprising a fitting positioned above annular mounting bracket for being coupled to the valve and to the regulator for providing the compressed gas from the valve to the regulator.

4. The tank assembly of claim 3 wherein the fitting includes a threaded portion at one end thereof for engaging the valve.

5. The tank assembly of claim 1 wherein the annular collar includes a raised annular flange for receiving the annular mounting bracket.

6. The tank assembly of claim 5 wherein the raised annular flange defines a plurality of mounting bores, one or more of the plurality of mounting bores being arranged to receive a fastener to secure the annular mounting bracket to the raised annular flange.

7. A tank assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a gas impermeable liner having a neck to receive a valve for providing 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;

an annular mounting bracket including a generally circular opening for being rotatably mounted on the annular collar to surround the valve; and

a structural layer substantially enveloping the liner and securing the annular collar to the neck, wherein the annular mounting bracket includes a mounting portion for receiving and securing a regulator thereon, the regulator being in fluid communication with the valve to regulate a flow of the compressed gas therefrom.

8. The tank assembly of claim 7 wherein the annular mounting bracket includes a first end for being rotatably mounted on the annular collar and a second end for receiving the regulator.

9. The tank assembly of claim 8 further comprising a fitting positioned above the annular mounting bracket for being coupled to the valve and to the regulator for providing the compressed gas from the valve to the regulator.

10. The tank assembly of claim 9 wherein the fitting includes a threaded portion at one end thereof for engaging the valve.

11. A tank assembly comprising:

a liner including a neck having a threaded bore to receive a valve for providing compressed gas;

an annular collar being disposed around the neck;

an annular mounting bracket including a first end for being rotatably mounted on the annular collar and for surrounding the valve and a second end for receiving a regulator; and

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

12. The tank assembly of claim 11 wherein the annular collar includes a raised annular flange for receiving the annular mounting bracket.

13. The tank assembly of claim 12 wherein the raised annular flange defines a plurality of mounting bores, one or more of the plurality of mounting bores being arranged to receive a fastener to secure the annular mounting bracket to the raised annular flange.

14. The tank assembly of claim 11 wherein the annular mounting bracket includes a mounting portion for receiving and securing the regulator thereon, the regulator being in fluid communication with the valve to regulate a flow of the compressed gas therefrom.

15. The tank assembly of claim 14 further comprising a fitting positioned above the annular mounting bracket for being coupled to the valve and to the regulator for providing the compressed gas from the valve to the regulator.

16. The tank assembly of claim 15 wherein the fitting includes a threaded portion at one end thereof for engaging the valve.