Method of making a composite tank

Details Method of making a composite tank Method of making a composite tank

2000-06-19

2001-02-27

Kuhns, Allan R. (Department: 1732)

Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes

Pore forming in situ

Composite article making

C156S172000, C156S173000, C264S046400, C264S162000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06193917

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to composite tanks.
2. Prior Art
It is known to make tanks from composite materials for various purposes. There has been considerable prior art in general for double-walled tanks for puncture resistant underground storage of environmentally hazardous chemicals, for example. There is a need for tanks and pressure vessels for the containment of fuels for aerospace and military applications. The new launch vehicles for NASA and DOD require extremely light weight hardware that is compatible with the containment of cryogenic liquid fuels and oxidizers. Long term deep space missions have even more critical and stringent storage requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method of making a composite tank for containing liquid oxygen wherein a water-soluble mandrel having the desired tank configuration and a cylindrical protuberance on at least one end is fitted with an inner boss conforming to the configuration of the mandrel and an outer boss conforming to the configuration of the inner boss, the bosses each having a tubular portion for receiving the protuberance on the mandrel and a spherical portion. The mandrel and the bosses are first coated with a nickel coating. The mandrel is then wrapped with graphite fibers wetted with an epoxy resin and this resin is cured. A layer of insulating foam is the applied to the tank and cured. The insulating foam is machined to a desired configuration and a layer of aramid fibers wetted with a second epoxy resin is wrapped around the tank. The second resin is cured and the water soluble mandrel is washed from inside the tank.


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