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US3847310A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Rolling diaphragm for expelling liquid from tapered tanks

Assignee: ATK Launch Systems LLC
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Filing: 1966-12-16
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Granted: 1974-11-12
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Expires: 1986-12-16
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Abstract

Abstract Disclosure relates to a rolling diaphragm for expelling a liquid, such as a propellant for a rocket engine, from a tank of frusto-conical shape in which the diaphragm is of the same frusto-conical shape as the tank has a flange at the end of the larger diameter which is directed radially inward and connected to the periphery of a piston of smaller diameter and so constructed that longitudinal movement of the piston by fluid pressure applied to one side thereof draws the peripheral wall of the diaphragm inwardly as it is moved with the piston longitudinally to fold the diaphragm from a larger to a smaller diameter as it rolls along the wall of the tank.

Inventors

  • 👤 G Rabe

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 20:58
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16J; F16J3/00; F16J3/06; F02; F02K; F02K9/00; F02K9/42; F02K9/60; F02K9/605; F05; F05D; F05D2250/00; F05D2250/20; F05D2250/29; F05D2250/292

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 171 words
Apparatus for expelling liquid from a tank of the type comprising a rolling diaphragm in the form of a sleeve having one end attached to the wall of the tank and its opposite end attached to a piston with means for supplying a pressurizing fluid through an inlet port to actuate the piston along the tank and roll the diaphragm attached thereto and expel liquid from the tank through an outlet port, that improvements which comprises providing a piston of smaller diameter than the diameter of the tank, an annular flange at the end of the diaphragm extending radially inward toward and attached to the outer periphery of the piston, and said end flange having indentations therein in the form of ribs extending from the outer periphery of the piston to the outer periphery of the diaphragm to cause the flange to initially buckle forwardly when pressure is applied and draw the outer periphery of the diaphragm inwardly as the flange moves forwardly to control the rolling action of the diaphragm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 171 words
Apparatus for expelling liquid from a tank of the type comprising a rolling diaphragm in the form of a sleeve having one end attached to the wall of the tank and its opposite end attached to a piston with means for supplying a pressurizing fluid through an inlet port to actuate the piston along the tank and roll the diaphragm attached thereto and expel liquid from the tank through an outlet port, that improvements which comprises providing a piston of smaller diameter than the diameter of the tank, an annular flange at the end of the diaphragm extending radially inward toward and attached to the outer periphery of the piston, and said end flange having indentations therein in the form of ribs extending from the outer periphery of the piston to the outer periphery of the diaphragm to cause the flange to initially buckle forwardly when pressure is applied and draw the outer periphery of the diaphragm inwardly as the flange moves forwardly to control the rolling action of the diaphragm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 166 words
A rolling diaphragm for expelling liquid from a tank comprising a sleeve having one end attached to the wall of the tank, a piston attached to the opposite end of the diaphragm, an inlet port for supplying motive fluid to one side of the piston to cause it to move forwardly and roll the diaphragm back within itself, an outlet port through which the liquid in the tank is expelled during the rolling of the diaphragm, the end of said diaphragm adjacent the piston having a larger diameter than the end connected to the wall of the tank, the piston having a diameter less than the smallest diameter of The tank, a radial flange projecting inwardly from the end of the diaphragm to the periphery of the piston, and said radial flange having indentations therein to control the buckling of the flange between the diaphragm and piston as the piston moves forwardly and to draw the outer periphery of the diaphragm inwardly as it moves forwardly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 166 words
A rolling diaphragm for expelling liquid from a tank comprising a sleeve having one end attached to the wall of the tank, a piston attached to the opposite end of the diaphragm, an inlet port for supplying motive fluid to one side of the piston to cause it to move forwardly and roll the diaphragm back within itself, an outlet port through which the liquid in the tank is expelled during the rolling of the diaphragm, the end of said diaphragm adjacent the piston having a larger diameter than the end connected to the wall of the tank, the piston having a diameter less than the smallest diameter of The tank, a radial flange projecting inwardly from the end of the diaphragm to the periphery of the piston, and said radial flange having indentations therein to control the buckling of the flange between the diaphragm and piston as the piston moves forwardly and to draw the outer periphery of the diaphragm inwardly as it moves forwardly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 59 words
A rolling diaphragm in accordance with claim 2 in which the indentations are impressed in the flange and extend radially, and at least some of said impressed indentations providing starting creases for crimping the material of the diaphragm sleeve as it is drawn inwardly to displace the material as the sleeve decreases from a larger to a smaller diameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 81 words
A rolling diaphragm in accordance with claim 2 in which the sleeve has ribs extending around its periphery to stiffen the sleeve against radial collapse, and the indentations in the end flange forming stiffening ribs extending radially to resist buckling between the piston and sleeve whereby to cause the end flange to buckle as a unit as the piston moves forwardly, and the peripheral ribs facilitating the inward movement of the diaphragm as it is drawn forwardly by the end flange.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 65 words
A rolling diaphragm in accordance with claim 2 in which the diaphragm sleeve is conical, the piston is of less diameter than the smallest diameter of the diaphragm sleeve, and the radial flange connecting the end of the sleeve having the largest diameter and the periphery of the piston whereby to roll the diaphragm sleeve back on itself from a larger to a smaller diameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 43 words
A rolling diaphragm in accordance with claim 2 in which the peripheral edge of the piston has an annular recess in which the inner edge of the radial flange seats, and means for attaching the inner edge of the flange to the piston.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 47 words
A rolling diaphragm in accordance with claim 2 in which a collar is provided at the outer periphery of the piston and attached thereto, and the inner edge of the annular flange of the rolling diaphragm being clamped between the face of the piston and the collar.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3112845A Cited
US3162328A Cited
US3158296A Cited
US3321112A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-11-11 1978-05-13 1978-11-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-11-11 1982-05-13 1982-11-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-11-11 1986-05-13 1986-11-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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