Process for installing liner in pressure vessel

Claim 1

A method of lining a containment vessel with elasto­mer, said method comprising: (a) providing a shell for said containment vessel, said shell having a configuration includ­ing that of a cylinder; (b) providing a mandrel having a cen­tral axis and enclosed at least in part with an inflatable bladder, said mandrel and bladder adapted to fit within said shell; (c) providing an applicator for applying a thin, tacky ribbon comprising elastomer to the outer surface of said blad­der; (d) affixing said ribbon to a first surface portion of said bladder; (e) causing relative rotation between said man­drel and said applicator around said central axis while mov­ing said applicator along said central axis so as to adjacent­ly position and tack together integral segments of said ribbon on the surface of said bladder whereby a layer of said elasto­mer is formed around said bladder, said layer of elastomer having dimensions generally corresponding to those required for the liner or portion thereof of said vessel; (f) placing within said shell said mandrel and said bladder having said layer of elastomer; (g) expanding said bladder so as to cause said layer of elastomer to contact the inside of said shell and to bond said shell together with said layer of elastomer as the liner or portion thereof for said vessel; (h) with­drawing said bladder from said layer of elastomer bonded to said shell; (i) withdrawing said mandrel and said bladder from the inside of said shell.

Claim 2

A method of lining a containment vessel with elasto­mer, said method comprising: (a) providing a shell for said containment vessel, said shell having a configuration includ­ing that of a cylinder; (b) providing a mandrel having a cen­tral axis and enclosed at least in part with an inflatable bladder, said mandrel and bladder adapted to fit within said shell; (c) providing an applicator for applying a thin, tacky ribbon comprising elastomer to the outer surface of said blad­der; (d) affixing said ribbon to a first surface portion of said bladder; (e) causing relative rotation between said man­drel and said applicator around said central axis while mov­ing said applicator along said central axis so as to adjacent­ly position and tack together integral segments of said ribbon on the surface of said bladder whereby a layer of said elasto­mer is formed around said bladder, said layer of elastomer having dimensions generally corresponding to those required for the liner or portion thereof of said vessel; (f) placing within said shell said mandrel and said bladder having said layer of elastomer; (g) expanding said bladder so as to cause said layer of elastomer to contact the inside of said shell and to bond said shell together with said layer of elastomer as the liner or portion thereof for said vessel; (h) with­drawing said bladder from said layer of elastomer bonded to said shell; (i) withdrawing said mandrel and said bladder from the inside of said shell.

Claim 3

The method in accordance with claim l, wherein said ribbon comprises curable elastomer.

Claim 6

The method in accordance with claim l, wherein said bladder is expanded by means including creating a vacuum be­tween said shell and said bladder having said elastomer layer.

Claim 7

The method in accordance with claim l, wherein said ribbon comprises cured elastomer.

Claim 8

A method of lining a containment vessel with elasto­mer, said method comprising: (a) providing a shell for said containment vessel, said shell having a configuration includ­ing that of a dome shape; (b) providing a mandrel having a central axis and a dome shape, said central axis extending through the apex of said dome shape; (c) providing an inflat­able mandrel that encloses said mandrel including around a portion of said dome shape; (d) providing an applicator for applying a thin, tacky ribbon to the outer surface of said bladder; (e) affixing said ribbon to a first surface portion of said bladder; (f) causing relative rotation between said applicator and said mandrel about said central axis while mov­ing said applicator along said central axis so as to adjacent­ly position and tack together integral segments of said ribbon on said mandrel whereby a layer of said elastomer is formed around said bladder, said layer of elastomer having dimensions after cure substantially corresponding to those of the liner or portion thereof of said vessel; (g) placing within said shell said mandrel and said bladder having said layer; (h) expanding said bladder so as to cause said layer of elastomer to contact the inside of said shell and bond said layer of elastomer and shell together; (i) curing said layer of elasto­mer; (j) withdrawing said bladder from said layer of elasto­mer bonded to said shell; (k) withdrawing said mandrel and said bladder from said shell.

Claim 9

A method of lining a containment vessel with elasto­mer, said method comprising: (a) providing a shell for said containment vessel, said shell having a configuration includ­ing that of a dome shape; (b) providing a mandrel having a central axis and a dome shape, said central axis extending through the apex of said dome shape; (c) providing an inflat­able mandrel that encloses said mandrel including around a portion of said dome shape; (d) providing an applicator for applying a thin, tacky ribbon to the outer surface of said bladder; (e) affixing said ribbon to a first surface portion of said bladder; (f) causing relative rotation between said applicator and said mandrel about said central axis while mov­ing said applicator along said central axis so as to adjacent­ly position and tack together integral segments of said ribbon on said mandrel whereby a layer of said elastomer is formed around said bladder, said layer of elastomer having dimensions after cure substantially corresponding to those of the liner or portion thereof of said vessel; (g) placing within said shell said mandrel and said bladder having said layer; (h) expanding said bladder so as to cause said layer of elastomer to contact the inside of said shell and bond said layer of elastomer and shell together; (i) curing said layer of elasto­mer; (j) withdrawing said bladder from said layer of elasto­mer bonded to said shell; (k) withdrawing said mandrel and said bladder from said shell.