대표
청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, comprising: a plurality of flexible tubes, each of said tubes having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end and a second end; first and second end caps, each of said end caps having a receptacle for either of the first and second ends of each of said flexible tubes, a collecting reservoir, a surrounding outer rim and an outer perimeter perpendicular to said surrounding outer rim; at least one of said first and second end caps having a passageway connecting to said colle...
The invention claimed is: 1. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, comprising: a plurality of flexible tubes, each of said tubes having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end and a second end; first and second end caps, each of said end caps having a receptacle for either of the first and second ends of each of said flexible tubes, a collecting reservoir, a surrounding outer rim and an outer perimeter perpendicular to said surrounding outer rim; at least one of said first and second end caps having a passageway connecting to said collecting reservoir as a connection to either of a passageway of another pressure vessel and a valve; each of said receptacles having a surrounding wall, a base and an orifice penetrating said base; said orifice connecting said receptacle to either of said collecting reservoir and said passageway; said wall having an interior surface, said interior surface being sized and shaped to fit frictionally over said outer surface of one of said flexible tubes at either of said first and second ends; said collecting reservoir having an outer surface and connecting said base of each of said receptacles to a common space, said common space being either of closed and connected to said passageway; said surrounding outer rim extending outwardly from said outer surface of said collecting reservoir for a first predetermined distance along said flexible tubes and serving to constrain said flexible tubes; means for securing said first and second end caps to said flexible tubes; a valving means, said valving means being capable of controlling a flow of either of a liquid and a gas through said passageway and being attached to a distal end of said passageway; and whereby, when said flexible tubes are inserted into said receptacles of said end caps and secured thereto, a flexible pressure vessel will be formed capable of containing either of a liquid and a gas at high pressure. 2. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, wherein the means for securing the first and second end caps to the flexible tubes is selected from the group comprising: radio frequency welding, high-strength adhesive, mechanical fastening and sonic welding. 3. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, further comprising: a protruding rim, said protruding rim being disposed at said outer perimeter of said first and second end caps and upper and lower receiving notches disposed above and below said protruding rim; a reinforcing ring, said reinforcing ring having an inner surface, an outer surface, being formed of high-strength material and being sized and shaped to fit tightly about the outer perimeter of said end caps; said reinforcing ring having an upper and lower projecting ribs and a central receiving notch disposed between said upper and lower projecting ribs; said projecting ribs being sized, shaped and disposed to fit said upper and lower receiving notches of said end caps; said central receiving notch being sized, shaped and disposed to fit said protruding rim of said end caps; said reinforcing ring having an aperture, said aperture extending from said inner surface to said outer surface and being sized, shaped and disposed to accommodate said passageway of said end caps; whereby, when said reinforcing ring is disposed about the outer perimeter of said first and second end caps, the pressure handling capacity of said pressure vessel is increased. 4. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, further comprising: a protruding rim; said protruding rim being disposed at said outer perimeter of said first and second end caps and upper and lower receiving notches, said upper and lower receiving notches being disposed above and below said protruding rim; upper and lower a reinforcing rings, each of said reinforcing rings having an inner surface, an outer surface, being formed of high-strength material and being sized and shaped to fit tightly in either of said upper and lower receiving notches; at least one of said reinforcing rings having an aperture, said aperture extending from said inner surface to said outer surface and being sized, shaped and disposed to accommodate said passageway connecting to said collecting reservoir; and whereby, when said reinforcing rings are disposed about the outer perimeter of said first and second end caps, the pressure handling capacity of said pressure vessel is increased. 5. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel as described in claim 4, further comprising means for fastening said upper reinforcing ring to said lower reinforcing ring. 6. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, further comprising: A protruding rim, said protruding rim being disposed at said outer perimeter of said first and second end caps; at least one groove disposed about said outer perimeter above said protruding rim; at least one groove disposed about said outer perimeter below said protruding rim; upper and lower reinforcing rings, each of said reinforcing rings having an inner surface, an outer surface, being formed of high-strength material and being sized and shaped to fit tightly about said outer perimeter on either side of said protruding rim; each of said reinforcing rings having at least one rib disposed upon the inner surface thereof, said rib being sized, shaped and disposed to engage said groove; and whereby, when said reinforcing rings are disposed about the outer perimeter of said first and second end caps, the pressure handling capacity of said pressure vessel is increased. 7. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel as described in claim 6, further comprising means for fastening said upper reinforcing ring to said lower a reinforcing ring. 8. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel as described in claim 1, further comprising: a sintactic foam filler, said foam filler being disposed within said collecting reservoir of at least one of said first and second end caps; said foam filler having a series of canals therethrough, each of said canals connecting said orifice of said receptacle to said passageway; an opening in said end caps, said opening providing means for introduction of said sintactic foam into said end caps; a sealing plug, said sealing plug being sized and shaped to fit sealably into said opening in said end caps; and whereby, when said sintactic foam is introduced into said end caps, the pressure handling capacity of said pressure vessel is increased. 9. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel as described in claim 1, further comprising: a sintactic foam filler, said foam filler being disposed within said collecting reservoir of at least one of said first and second end caps; said foam filler being penetrated by a series of flexible microtubes, each of said microtubes connecting said orifice of said receptacle to said passageway; an opening in said end caps, said opening providing means for introduction of said sintactic foam into said end caps; a sealing plug, said sealing plug being sized and shaped to fit sealably into said opening in said end caps; and whereby, when said microtubes are connected to the orifices of said receptacles in said end caps, the purity of either of liquids and gasses stored in said pressure vessel is increased. 10. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, further comprising: an overwrapping of high-strength braiding material, said braiding material extending over said flexible tubes and said first and second end caps; and whereby, when the flexible pressure vessel is so overwrapped, its pressure-handling capability will be increased. 11. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 10, further comprising a plastic overcoating, said overcoating further increasing the pressure-handling capability of the pressure vessel. 12. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 10, further comprising: a pressure relief device, said pressure relief device disposed upon an outer surface of said flexible pressure vessel and comprising at least one projecting member, said at least one projecting member being sized and shaped to penetrate said high-strength braiding material at a predetermined location; and whereby, when said high-strength braiding material is penetrated by said projecting member and said flexible pressure vessel is subjected to an overpressure condition, said vessel will fail at said predetermined location. 13. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 12, wherein said at least one projecting member is removably attached to said outer surface of said flexible pressure vessel. 14. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 10, further comprising: either of a weakening and a spreading of fibers in said high-strength braiding material at a predetermined location; said predetermined location being above an outer surface of said pressure vessel; and whereby, when said high-strength braiding material has said fibers weakened or spread in said predetermined location and said pressure vessel is subjected to an overpressure condition, said pressure vessel will fail at said predetermined location. 15. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, further comprising: hoop winding with high-strength materials, said hoop winding extending over said flexible tubes and said first and second end caps; and whereby, when the flexible pressure vessel is so hoop wound, its pressure-handling capability will be increased. 16. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 15, further comprising: a pressure relief device, said pressure relief device disposed upon an outer surface of said flexible pressure vessel and comprising at least one projecting member, said at least one projecting member being sized and shaped to penetrate said high-strength material at a predetermined location; and whereby, when said high-strength material is penetrated by said projecting member and said flexible pressure vessel is subjected to an overpressure condition, said vessel will fail at said predetermined location. 17. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 16, wherein said at least one projecting member is removably attached to said outer surface of said flexible pressure vessel. 18. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 15, further comprising: either of a weakening and a spreading of fibers in said high-strength material at a predetermined location; said predetermined location being above an outer surface of said pressure vessel; and whereby, when said high-strength material has said fibers weakened or spread in said predetermined location and said pressure vessel is subjected to an overpressure condition, said pressure vessel will fail at said predetermined location. 19. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 15, further comprising a plastic overcoating, said overcoating further increasing the pressure-handling capability of the pressure vessel. 20. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, further comprising: a first flexible blanket, said first blanket having an upper surface, a lower surface and being sized and shaped to cover said pressure vessel and extending outwardly beyond outer edges thereof; said first blanket being fixedly attached at its lower surface to an upper surface of said pressure vessel; a second flexible blanket, said second blanket having an upper surface, a lower surface and being sized and shaped to cover said pressure vessel and extending outwardly beyond said outer edges; said second blanket being fixedly attached at its upper surface to a lower surface of said pressure vessel; and whereby, when said first and second flexible blankets are attached to said pressure vessel, the pressure handling capability of the pressure vessel will be increased. 21. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel as described in claim 20, wherein heavy duty stitching is used to attach the first blanket to the second blanket, said stitching penetrating the first and second blankets and serving to further reinforce and increase the pressure-handling capabilities of the pressure vessel. 22. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel as described in claim 21, wherein the heavy duty stitching is high pressure hoop and lock braiding. 23. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 20, further comprising: a pressure relief device, said pressure relief device disposed upon an outer surface of said flexible pressure vessel and comprising at least one projecting member, said at least one projecting member being sized and shaped to penetrate either of said first and second flexible blankets at a predetermined location; and whereby, when either of said first and second flexible blankets is penetrated by said projecting member and said flexible pressure vessel is subjected to an overpressure condition, said vessel will fail at said predetermined location. 24. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 23, wherein said at least one projecting member is removably attached to said outer surface of said flexible pressure vessel. 25. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 20, further comprising: either of a weakening and a spreading of fibers in either of said first flexible blanket and said second flexible blanket at a predetermined location; said predetermined location being above an outer surface of said pressure vessel; and whereby, when either of said first flexible blanket and said second flexible blanket has said fibers weakened or spread in said predetermined location and said pressure vessel is subjected to an overpressure condition, said pressure vessel will fail at said predetermined location. 26. A method for making the cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel as described in claim 25, comprising the steps of: providing a supply roll of flexible blanket material; supporting said supply roll; moving said flexible blanket material from said supply roll to a work area; tensioning said flexible blanket material in said work area; providing at least one separating member, said separating member being sized and shaped to penetrate and separate fibers of said flexible blanket material; moving said separating member into said tensioned flexible blanket material at a predetermined location in said material, thereby either of weakening and separating said fibers; retracting said separating member from said tensioned flexible blanket material; moving said flexible blanket material from work area to a storage area; and whereby, said flexible blanket material will have either of weakened or separated fibers in said predetermined location prior to application to said pressure vessel. 27. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the outer surface of the flexible tubing is selected from the group comprising: square, triangular, round, hexagonal, ovoid, octagonal and star-shaped. 28. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface of the flexible tubing is selected from the group comprising: square, triangular, round, hexagonal, ovoid, octagonal and star-shaped. 29. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the flexible pressure vessel is selected from the group comprising: square, triangular, round, hexagonal, ovoid, octagonal, pillow shaped, saddle shaped and a flattened mat shape. 30. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, wherein: each of said receptacles are of a concave form selected from the group comprising: conical, dome-shaped, ellipsoid and stair-stepped. 31. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 30, wherein said first and second ends of each of said flexible tubes are sized and shaped to fit sealably into said receptacles. 32. A cellular reservoir pressure vessel as described in claim 1, further comprising: upper and lower reinforcing panels, said reinforcing panels being formed of high-strength woven material and being shaped as a form to cover at least half of a surface area of said pressure vessel with extensions projecting from a perimeter of said form; and said reinforcing panels being adhered to an outer surface of said pressure vessel, thereby increasing the pressure handling capability of said vessel. 33. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel as described in claim 32, wherein the method of adhesion is selected from the group comprising: high-strength adhesive, sonic welding and RF welding. 34. A cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel as described in claim 32, wherein the woven material is prepregnated with either of adhesive and laminating material and subjected to heat and pressure. 35. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 32, further comprising: a pressure relief device, said pressure relief device disposed upon said outer surface of said flexible pressure vessel and comprising at least one projecting member, said at least one projecting member being sized and shaped to penetrate either of said upper and lower reinforcing panels at a predetermined location; and Whereby, when said either of said upper and lower reinforcing panels is penetrated by said projecting member and said flexible pressure vessel is subjected to an overpressure condition, said vessel will fail at said predetermined location. 36. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 35, wherein said at least one projecting member is removably attached to said outer surface of said flexible pressure vessel. 37. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 32, further comprising: either of a weakening and a spreading of fibers in either of said upper and lower reinforcing panels at a predetermined location; said predetermined location being above said outer surface of said pressure vessel; and whereby, when either of said upper and lower reinforcing panels has said fibers weakened or spread in said predetermined location and said pressure vessel is subjected to an overpressure condition, said pressure vessel will fail at said predetermined location. 38. A method for making the cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel as described in claim 37, comprising: providing a supply roll of reinforcing panel material; means for supporting said supply roll; moving said reinforcing panel material from said supply roll to a work area; tensioning said reinforcing panel material in said work area; providing at least one separating member, said separating member being sized and shaped to penetrate and separate fibers of said reinforcing panel material; moving said separating member into said tensioned reinforcing panel material at a predetermined location in said material, thereby either of weakening and separating said fibers; retracting said separating member from said tensioned reinforcing panel material; moving said reinforcing panel material from work area to a storage area; and whereby, said reinforcing panel material will have either of weakened and separated fibers in said predetermined location prior to application to said pressure vessel. 39. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, further comprising: a first pressure relief device, said first pressure relief device disposed upon an inner surface of either of said first and second end caps and comprising a reduction in thickness of said end cap at a predetermined location; whereby, when said pressure vessel is subjected to an overpressure condition it will fail at said predetermined location. 40. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 39, wherein said first pressure relief device comprises an indentation in said inner surface of either of said first and second end caps, said indentation having side walls angled inwardly from said inner surface. 41. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, further comprising: a pressure relief device, said pressure relief device comprising a weakened section of said passageway; and whereby, when said flexible pressure vessel is subjected to an overpressure condition, said flexible pressure vessel will fail at said weakened section of said passageway. 42. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 41, wherein said weakened section of said passageway has a smaller cross-sectional area than a balance of said passageway. 43. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, further comprising high-strength braiding material wound about said passageway, thereby providing additional resistance to pressure for said flexible pressure vessel. 44. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 43, further comprising: a pressure relief device, said pressure relief device comprising either of a weakening and an absence of high-strength braiding material at a predetermined location along said passageway; and whereby, when said flexible pressure vessel is subjected to an overpressure condition, said flexible pressure vessel will fail at said predetermined location along said passageway. 45. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, further comprising hoop winding about said passageway, thereby providing additional resistance to pressure to said flexible pressure vessel. 46. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 45, further comprising: a pressure relief device, said pressure relief device comprising either of a weakening and an absence of hoop winding at a predetermined location along said passageway; and whereby, when said flexible pressure vessel is subjected to an overpressure condition, said pressure vessel will fail at said predetermined location along said passageway. 47. The cellular reservoir flexible pressure vessel, as described in claim 1, wherein said connection to either of a passageway of another vessel and a valve further comprises: a capillary tube, said capillary tube having a proximate end and a distal end, being formed of resilient material and being sized and shaped to fit slidably within said passageway; high-strength braiding material, said braiding material disposed about said capillary tube and extending along said capillary tube to within a first predetermined distance from said proximate end; said proximate end of said braiding covered capillary tube being inserted into said passageway and either of radio frequency welded and secured with adhesive therein; whereby, when said proximate end of said capillary tube is either of welded and secured with adhesive within said passageway, it will be permanently attached thereto.
