Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02588276 2007-05-09
BURST PRESSURE SUPPORT RIB
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The subject invention relates to a container assembly and, more
particularly, to
a tank for storing materials under pressure
2. Description of the Prior Art
[0002] Pressure vessels, also known in the prior art as tanks, are commonly
used for
storing liquid gases at low and high pressure In the case of tanks containing
high
pressures, various constructions are employed in order to withstand the
associated high
operating pressure levels One construction utilized employs a longitudinal
structure
around the tank The structure is commonly referred to as a flange, stringer or
weld-
flange.
[0003] Pressure from the gas and/or liquid is exerted on interior walls of
the tank
An excessive amount of pressure can cause the tank to burst As such, the
stringer is
constructed to surround the tank and absorb the pressure exerted on the wall
of the tank
The typical construction includes a plurality of stringers being joined
together at pre-
determined assembly joints The stress exerted on the wall of the tank is
absorbed by the
stringers and distributed across the stringers and the assembly joints of the
stringers
[0004] The assembly joints enable assembly techniques such as fastening,
adhesives
or welding and are typically fiat and possess a small cross sectional area for
absorbing
the stresses The small cross sectional area only allows for minimum stress
absorption.
Although the assembly joints are configured to absorb the stress exerted on
the wall of
the tank, the assembly joints define a weak point as in the assembly joints
tend to be
weaker than the geometry they intend to support When excessive amounts Of
stress
build up at the surface areas of the assembly joints, the assembly joints may
deflect and
break apart because the small cross sectional area only allows for minimum
stress
absorption in the presence of multi-axis forces
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
[0005] The present invention provides a container assembly comprising a
tank for
storing materials under pressure. A plurality of hoop stringers surround the
tank and
cross one another at at least one intersection to define joints there between.
The
invention is distinguished by a portion of the hoop stringers extending
radially outward
to increase a cross sectional area of the stringers for retaining the
pressurized materials in
the tank
[0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a container assembly
comprising
stringers that distribute stress concentrations at the assembly joints across
a larger cross
sectional area than that utilized in the prior art. The larger cross sectional
area allows for
a greater amount of stress absorption. This construction minimizes the
possibility of the
assembly joints deflecting and breaking apart because larger amounts of stress
are
distributed among a larger surface area in the presence of multi-axis forces.
More specifically, the invention as claimed is directed to a container
assembly comprising:
a tank formed of a polymeric material with said tank having a first half and a
second half for storing
materials under pressure with said first half having a first inner surface and
a first outer surface
terminating at a first open edge and said second half having a second inner
surface and a
second outer surface terminating at a second pen edge with said edges facing
each other when
said halves form said tank, said first and second inner surfaces being
substantially smooth
between said edges,
a first longitudinal hoop stringer formed of a polymeric material and mounted
to said first outer
surface of said first half adjacent said first edge,
a second longitudinal hoop stringer formed of a polymeric material and mounted
to said second outer
surface of said second half adjacent said second edge with said first and
second longitudinal
hoop stringers facing each other when said halves form said tank,
at least one first radical hoop stringer formed of a polymeric material and
mounted on said first outer
surface and intersecting said first longitudinal hoop stringer to define a
first joint there
between, and
at least one second radial hoop stringer formed of a polymeric material and
mounted on said second
outer surface and intersecting said second longitudinal hoop stringer to
define a second joint
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there between with said first and second joints aligning with each other,
wherein a portion of each of said hoop stringers at said first and second
joints extends radially
outward beyond a height of each respective hoop stringer with said portions of
said hoop
stringers including an inclined surface extending from said height of each of
said respective
hoop stringer to an apex of said joints to increase a cross sectional area of
said hoop stringers
at said joints for retaining the pressurized materials in said tank.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated, as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed
description when
considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container assembly of the
present
invention;
[0009] Figure 2 is an exploded view of a first half and a second half of
the container
assembly; and
[0010] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a joint of the assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate
corresponding parts
throughout the several views, a container assembly is generally shown in
Figures 1 and 2
having a tank 20 for storing materials under pressure. The tank 20 includes a
first half'
16 and a second half' 18 with each of' the halves 16,18 having an outer
periphery and a
cylindrical outer surface 24 terminating at flat ends 22 The tank 20 is shown
as a closed
cylinder but it should be known and appreciated by those skilled in the art
that the tank
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CA 02588276 2007-05-09
20 can be shaped differently For example, and not meant to be limiting, the
tank 20
could be spherical or longitudinally extending without a cylindrical shape,
etc. As
shown, the tank 20 is formed of a rigid polymeric material, such as Nylon,
Isoprene,
Polypropylene, Polyurethane, or Stylene. As appreciated, the tank 20 could be
formed of
any suitable material such as, but not limited, to Steel, Aluminum, or Copper.
Alternatively, the cylindrical outer surface 24 of the tank 20 could be
unitary with the
flat ends 22 being welded to the outer surface 24 of the tank 20. Further, the
tank 20
could include a plurality of sections in addition to the first 16 and second
18 halves
Also, the tank 20 would typically include an inlet valve (not shown) and an
outlet valve
(not shown) for infusing and diffusing, respectively, pressurized materials
into and out of
the tank 20
100121 Referring also to Figure 3, the container assembly also includes a
plurality of
hoop stringers 26 surrounding the tank 20 and crossing 28 one another at at
least one
intersection to define joints 30 there between It should be appreciated that
not every
hoop stringer 26 will intersect every other hoop stringer 26 As is apparent
from the
discussion below, it is only necessary that at least one hoop stringer 26
intersect at least
one other hoop stringer 26 to form a joint 30 The hoop stringers 26 are
provided to
absorb the associated operating pressure stress levels exerted on the tank 20
by the
pressurized material within the tank 20 Preferably, the hoop stringers 26 are
integral
with the tank 20 and are formed of a polymeric material hi the most preferred
embodiment, the polymeric material used to form the tank 20 and hoop stringers
26 is
Nylon
[0013] The hoop stringers 26 include a longitudinal hoop stringer 40
extending about
each outer periphery, a radial hoop stringer 42 extending about each
cylindrical outer
surface 24, and an end hoop stringer 44 extending about each flat end 22 of
the halves
16,18 Preferably, the longitudinal hoop stringer 40 is integral with the outer
periphery
and extends along a length of each of the halves 16,18 of the tank 20 Even
more
preferably, each half 16,18 includes a pair of opposing longitudinal hoop
stringers 40
with corresponding longitudinal hoop stringers 40 engaging each other such
that the tank
20 is enclosed by four longitudinal hoop stringers 40 Preferably, the radial
hoop
stringers 42 are integral with the cylindrical outer surface 24 and extend
around each of
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CA 02588276 2007-05-09
the halves 16,18 of the tank 20 to the crossing 28 at the longitudinal hoop
stringer 40 to
define the joint 30 there between Even more preferably, each half 16,18
includes a pair
of longitudinal hoop stringers 40 such that the tank 20 includes four radial
hoop stringers
42 The end hoop stringer 44 is integral with the flat ends 22 at the outer
periphery of
the halves 16,18 of the tank 20 Even more preferably, each half 16,18 includes
a pair of
opposing end hoop stringers 44 with corresponding end hoop stringers 44
engaging each
other such that the tank 20 is enclosed by four end hoop stringers 44 It
should be
known and appreciated by one skilled in the art that the number and shape of
the hoop
stringers 26 used to enclose the tank 20 may vary depending upon the size and
style of
the tank 20 employed to house the pressurized materials
[0014] A portion 31
of the hoop stringers 26 extend radially outward to increase a
cross sectional area of the hoop stringers 26 for retaining the pressurized
materials in the
tank 20 Preferably, each portion 31 of the hoop stringer 26 terminates at an
apex 32
Additionally, each hoop stringer 26 includes an inclined section 38 that leads
to the apex
32 The hoop stringers 26 disposed about the outer periphery on each half 16,18
include
the portion 31 extending radially outward and are fused together for form the
tank 20
Preferably, there are two portions 31 of the hoop stringers 26 on each
longitudinal hoop
stringer 40 for extending across the cylindrical outer surface 24 Also,
preferably, there
is one portion 31 of the hoop stringers 26 on each end hoop stringer 44 for
extending
across the flat ends 22 The fusing of the portions 31, hoop stringers 26 and
halves 16,18
is preferably accomplished by welding the hoop stringers 26 together. By
example and
not meant to be limiting, hot plate, vibration or ultrasonic welding can be
performed to
fuse the hoop stringers 26 and halves 16,18 together to form the tank 20
[0015] A plurality
of the portions 31 of the hoop stringers 26 extend radially outward
at the crossing 28 or intersection of the hoop stringers 26 to increase a
cross sectional
area of the hoop stringers 26 at the joints 30. Preferably, there are two
portions 31 of the
hoop stringers 26 on each radial hoop stringer 42 for intersecting the
portions 31 on each
longitudinal hoop stringer 40 Once the halves 16,18 are put together to form
the tank
20, the portions 31 of the hoop stringers 26 each define a pyramid 34 having
four corners
36 at each joint 30 Each hoop stringer 26 defines a rectangular cross section
extending
outwardly from the tank 20 whereby the inclined sections 38 of the hoop
stringers 26
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define the four corners 36 of the pyramid 34 at each joint 30 It should be
known and
appreciated by one skilled in the art that the cross section of the hoop
stringer 26 may be
of any suitable design
[0016] Obviously,
many modifications and variations of the present invention are
possible in light of the above teachings The invention may be practiced
otherwise than
as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims
