초록 ▼

The cylindrical liner and surrounding annular support structure of a pressure vessel are segmented axially with the axial segments of the liner being slightly longer than the axial segments of the annular support structure to provide an axial space between opposed annular support structure segments

The cylindrical liner and surrounding annular support structure of a pressure vessel are segmented axially with the axial segments of the liner being slightly longer than the axial segments of the annular support structure to provide an axial space between opposed annular support structure segments to permit substantially uniform axial compressive stress to be produced along the entire length of said axially segmented cylindrical liner and to seal opposed intermediate annular surfaces of cylindrical liner axial segments; the axial segmentation also provides economies of original cost, repair and replacement costs and ease of assembly and disassembly.

대표청구항 ▼

In a pressure vessel including a cylindrical liner for surrounding and containing a pressurized meduim applying radially outwardly directed pressure to said liner producing circumferential tensile stress therein and annular pressure vessel support structure surrounding and engaging said liner and ap

In a pressure vessel including a cylindrical liner for surrounding and containing a pressurized meduim applying radially outwardly directed pressure to said liner producing circumferential tensile stress therein and annular pressure vessel support structure surrounding and engaging said liner and applying radially inwardly directed pressure to said liner producing circumferential compressive stress therein opposing said tensile stress, said circumferential compressive stress enhancing the ability of said liner to contain said pressurized medium, said pressure vessel having a center line, wherein the improvement comprises: said annular pressure vessel support structure segmented axially into annular segments of a first axial length and said cylindrical liner segmented axially into cylindrical segments of a second axial length greater than said first axial length by a predetermined axial length, each liner cylindrical segment residing axially centrally of one of said pressure vessel annular segments and extending in each axial direction beyond said pressure vessel annular segment an axial length equal to substantially one-half said predetermined axial length to cause adjacent pressure vessel annular segments to be spaced apart axially a distance equal to said predetermined axial length; a plurality of annular registration rings, each registration ring engaging predetermined outer peripheral portions of adjacent pressure vessel annular segments and for maintaining said annular segments in radial registration with said center line; and compression means for producing substantially uniform axial compressive stress in said axially segmented cylindrical liner, said axial compressive stress cooperating with said circumferential compressive stress to further enhance the ability of said liner to contain said pressurized medium.