Side-Ported Filament Wound Pressure Vessels

摘要

A method of making a cylindrical pressure vessel ( 11 ) with a large diameter port in its sidewall includes the step of providing a mandrel ( 23 ) of desired diameter and filament winding upon the same. After winding one overall innermost layer, an annular reinforcement belt ( 16 ) is helically wound atop a defined region using a band ( 60 ) of resin impregnated parallel strands ( 39 ) under tension. The annular belt ( 16 ) is then itself helically overwound with the resin impregnated parallel strands of filamentary material under tension to provide two complete outer layers. After curing and removal from the mandrel ( 23 ) at least one aperture ( 71 ) is cut in the sidewall within the reinforcement belt ( 16 ) and a side port fitting ( 75 ) is installed in the aperture ( 71 ).