Space conformable pressurized gas storage system

Abstract

A pressurized-gas storage vessel includes a liner defining a chamber therein, the chamber being configured to receive a gas; a first wrapping surrounding the liner; and a second wrapping surrounding the liner. Methods of manufacturing and using the storage vessel are also disclosed.

1 .- 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A pressurized-gas storage vessel comprising:
 a liner defining a chamber therein, the chamber being configured to receive a gas;   a first wrapping surrounding the liner;   a second wrapping surrounding the liner; and, wherein one of the first wrapping and the second wrapping is configured to resist pressure extending radially from the chamber in a first direction perpendicular to the central axis, and wherein the other of the first wrapping and the second wrapping is configured to resist pressure extending axially from the chamber in a second direction parallel to the central axis.   
     
     
         49 . The storage vessel of  claim 48 , wherein the first wrapping is between the second wrapping and the liner. 
     
     
         50 . The storage vessel of  claim 49 , wherein the storage vessel has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the storage vessel being cylindrical and defining a central axis extending between the first and second ends through the center of the chamber. 
     
     
         51 . The storage vessel of  claim 50 , further comprising a first end cap at the first end and a second end cap at the second end; and
 wherein at least one of the first and second end caps defines a channel configured to receive the second wrapping.   
     
     
         52 . The storage vessel of  claim 51 , wherein the vessel includes two second wrappings that are disposed to intersect one another on the first and second end caps. 
     
     
         53 . The storage vessel of any of  claim 48 , further comprising a port in fluid communication with the chamber, the port being openable to atmosphere. 
     
     
         54 . The storage vessel of  claim 49 , wherein the first wrapping is configured to resist pressure extending radially, and the second wrapping is configured to resist pressure extending axially. 
     
     
         55 . The storage vessel of  claim 48 , wherein the liner includes one of steel, the storage vessel of claim  4 , wherein at least one of the first and second end caps is dome-shaped. 
     
     
         56 . The storage vessel of  claim 51 , wherein the first wrapping includes between 30 and 150 total plies. 
     
     
         57 . The storage vessel of  claim 51 , wherein the first wrapping includes hoop style and helical style wrappings, the hoop style wrapping comprising more than 50% of the first wrapping. 
     
     
         58 . The storage vessel of  claim 51 , wherein the first wrapping includes hoop style and helical style wrappings, the hoop style wrapping comprising more than 75% of the first wrapping. 
     
     
         59 . The storage vessel of  claim 51 , wherein the first wrapping includes hoop style and helical style wrappings, the hoop style wrapping comprising more than 90% of the first wrapping. 
     
     
         60 . The storage vessel of  claim 51 , wherein the first wrapping includes hoop style wrappings and is devoid of helical style wrappings. 
     
     
         61 . A method of forming a pressurized-gas storage vessel configured to receive a gas therein, the method comprising:
 providing a liner having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the liner defining a chamber therein and defining a central axis extending through the center of the chamber between the first end and the second end;   applying a first wrapping circumferentially around the liner, the first wrapping including a plurality of fibers being arranged radially around the central axis;   applying a second wrapping around the liner axially, the second wrapping including a plurality of fibers, wherein at least some of the plurality of fibers of the second wrapping are parallel to the central axis; and,   wherein one of the first wrapping and the second wrapping is configured to resist pressure extending radially from the chamber in a first direction perpendicular to the central axis, and wherein the other of the first wrapping and the second wrapping is configured to resist pressure extending axially from the chamber in a second direction parallel to the central axis.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the step of applying the first wrapping is repeated a predetermined number of times. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the step of applying the second wrapping is repeated a predetermined number of times. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the pressurized-gas storage vessel includes a first end cap at the first end and a second end cap at the second end, and where the step of applying the second wrapping includes disposing the second wrapping in a channel defined on the first end cap and the second end cap.