Non-rigid inflatable gas storage apparatus

Abstract

A non-rigid inflatable gas storage apparatus comprising a plurality of layers of which one is gas impermeable and at least one controllable gas inlet and outlet component wherein the apparatus is substantially spherical when inflated and has a diameter of approximately 10 ft to 40 ft and can store gas at a range of pressure between 140 psi and 500 psi.

1 . A non-rigid inflatable gas storage apparatus comprising a plurality of gas impermeable layers and at least one controllable gas inlet and outlet component wherein the apparatus is substantially spherical when inflated and has a diameter of approximately 10 ft to 40 ft and can store gas at a range of pressure between 140 psi and 500 psi. 
   
   
       2 . The gas storage apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of gas impermeable layers wherein at least two layers comprise uniform aligned fibers wherein the separate fiber layers are oriented in different directions. 
   
   
       3 . The gas storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one layer is comprised of separate sections bound together by stitching, adhesive, tape or fused bonding, or riveting. 
   
   
       4 . The gas storage apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the sections include elongated pieces with narrow or tapered ends and wide middle portions. 
   
   
       5 . The gas storage apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the sections include 5 sided segments and 6 sided segments. 
   
   
       6 . A non-rigid inflatable gas storage apparatus comprising:
 a) a first layer comprising multiple segmented sections bound together by stitching, adhesive, tape or fused bonding; and   b) a second layer comprising multiple segmented sections bound together by stitching, adhesive, tape or fused bonding wherein the wherein the bound segmented sections of the second layer are not contiguous with the bound segmented sections of the first layer.   
   
   
       7 . A non-rigid inflatable gas storage apparatus comprising multiple segmented sections connected together with tongue and groove edges wherein at least one segment has a grooved component at its edge and at least one counterpart segment has a tongue component at its edge and the segments are riveted together. 
   
   
       8 . The gas storage apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising metal or polymer strips contiguous to a juncture of two segment edges.