COMPOSITE PRESSURE VESSEL AND METHOD OF MOUNTING FLUID PORT TO COMPOSITE STRUCTURE SIDE WALL OF COMPOSITE PRESSURE VESSEL

摘要

A composite pressure vessel (1) including a fluid port (22) extending through the composite sidewall structure (2) formed by providing a radial hole (26) through the sidewall structure (2) for receipt of an externally removable porting plug (24). The porting plug (24) is retained within the radial hole (26) by threaded engagement in an internally threaded grommet (28) which may either be incorporated into the composite windings (4, 6) of the sidewall structure (2) or held in place against the exterior surface of the sidewall structure (2) by local composite windings (30). At the inner end of the porting plug (24) is a seal groove (38) containing a ring seal (40) which is sized to form a fluid-tight seal around a porting hole (48) in a liner member (8) in the interior of the sidewall structure (2) to prevent fluid leakage between the porting plug (24) and liner member (8). The inner diameter of the seal groove (38) is formed by a reduced diameter end portion (36) at the inner end of the porting plug (24), whereas the outer diameter of the seal groove (38) is formed by a back-up ring (42) surrounding such reduced diameter end portion (36) in radial spaced relation therefrom. The back-up ring (42) is preloaded against the liner member (8) during threading of the porting plug (24) into the grommet (28) to ensure a tight fit between the back-up ring (42) and liner member (8).