초록 ▼

A toroidal pressure vessel storing pressurized gas defines an outwardly exposed axially extending structural part of an automotive vehicle. Heat transfer from outside the vehicle directly to the pressure vessel advantageously offsets gas-expansion refrigeration effect when gas is used from the vesse

A toroidal pressure vessel storing pressurized gas defines an outwardly exposed axially extending structural part of an automotive vehicle. Heat transfer from outside the vehicle directly to the pressure vessel advantageously offsets gas-expansion refrigeration effect when gas is used from the vessel.

대표청구항 ▼

A toroidal pressure vessel comprising a first annular part and a complementary second annular part, said first part and said second part cooperating to bound a toroidal chamber therewithin, said first part and said second part further cooperating to define a pair of circumferentially extending joint

A toroidal pressure vessel comprising a first annular part and a complementary second annular part, said first part and said second part cooperating to bound a toroidal chamber therewithin, said first part and said second part further cooperating to define a pair of circumferentially extending joints which are spaced apart both axially and radially, means sealingly uniting said first part and said second part at said pair of joints, axially extending structural interface means integral with said toroidal pressure vessel for allowing the latter to define a longitudinal portion of an elongate airframe structure, and said vessel defining radially outwardly disposed surface means in heat transfer relation therewith for both defining a longitudinal outer surface portion of said airframe structure and conducting aerodynamic heating from external of said airframe structure into said pressure vessel. The method of providing a supply of pressurized gas within an airborne vehicle comprising the steps of: providing a toroidal pressure vessel defining a longitudinally extending structural portion of said vehicle; utilizing a radially outer wall of said pressure vessel to define a radially outwardly disposed longitudinal portion of an outer surface of said vehicle; storing pressurized gas within said pressure vessel; controllably releasing said stored gas from said pressure vessel during flight of said vehicle to result in gas-expansion cooling of said pressure vessel and contents; and utilizing said longitudinal portion of said vehicle outer surface to conduct aerodynamic heating into said pressure vessel and contents in offset to said cooling thereof.