Storage system for two phase fluids

Claim 2

A storage apparatus for providing a selected one of two fluids from the storage apparatus continuously on demand until the selected fluid is substantially depleted, said selected fluid being a liquid, comprising: a closed storage container having an inner surface; a first opening for admitting fluids into said container; a second opening for withdrawing said selected fluid from said container; and means for providing a continuous flow path of said selected fluid to said second opening, said means including a generally planar elongated member in said container disposed adjacent said inner surface and extending toward said second opening, said member being positioned along said inner surface to form a corner with a portion of the surface of said member and a portion of the inner surface to support a flow path of fillets of liquid as liquid in said container is depleted, said inner surface and the surface of said member being formed of a material that is preferentially wetted by said selected fluid whereby said flow path only of said selected fluid is continuously maintained to said second opening as said selected liquid is depleted from said apparatus, said selected fluid flowing to said second opening along a fillet path formed by capillary action in said corner of said member and said inner surface, the respective densities of said two fluids being selected such that the flow of said selected fluid is substantially independent of body forces on said apparatus subjected to acceleration fields.

Claim 3

A storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said elongated member is formed so that the exposed surface area thereof increases as the distance from the output port decreases.

Claim 4

A storage apparatus according to claim 1 including: a plurality of said members disposed in substantially symmetrical relation within said container to provide thereby a plurality of flow paths.

Claim 5

A storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said elongated member extends from said second opening to said first opening.

Claim 6

A storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said two fluids are liquids and said selected liquid has a higher degree of wetting on the surface of said elongated member and the inner surface of said container than the other of said two liquids.

Claim 7

A storage apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the density of each of said liquids is substantially equal.

Claim 8

A storage apparatus according to claim 1 further including a second member in said container disposed adjacent said inner surface and extending from said second opening.

Claim 9

A storage apparatus according to claim 3 including a plurality of said second members disposed in substantially symmetrical relation within said container and said elongated member for providing additional flow paths for said selected fluid.

Claim 10

A storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said container is a hollow sphere.

Claim 11

A storage apparatus according to claim 1 further including foraminous means positioned over said second opening.

Claim 12

A storage apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said selected liquid is a mixture of chloroform and hexane and said other liquid is water, said members and said inner surface being coated with tetrafluoro ethylene.

Claim 13

Storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one edge of said member is contiguous with said inner surface.

Claim 14

A storage apparatus for providing a selected one of two fluids from the storage apparatus continuously on demand until the fluid is substantially depleted, said selected fluid being a liquid, comprising: a closed spherical storage container having an inner surface; a first opening for admitting fluids into said container; a second opening for withdrawing said selected fluid from said container; means for providing a continuous flow path of said selected fluid to said second opening, said means including a plurality of generally elongated planar members in said container disposed adjacent and extending along said inner surface between said first opening and said second opening, each of said elongated members having a width extending radially from said inner wall, wherein said width of each of said elongated members increases continuously from said first opening to said second opening, each of said members being respectively positioned and spaced from each other along said inner surface to form a corner with a portion of the surface of the respective planar surfaces of each of said members and a portion of the inner surface to support a flow path of fillets of liquid in each of said corners as liquid in said container is depleted, said inner surface and the surfaces of each of said members being formed of a material that is preferentially wetted by said selected fluid whereby said flow path only of said selected fluid is continuously maintained to said second opening as said selected fluid is depleted from said apparatus, said selected fluid flowing to said second opening along fillet paths formed by capillary action in each of said corners of each of said members and said inner surface, the respective densities of said two fluids being selected such that the flow of said selected fluid Is substantially independent of body forces on said apparatus subjected to acceleration fields.

Claim 15

A storage apparatus for providing a selected one of two fluids from the storage apparatus continuously on demand until the fluid is substantially depleted, said selected fluid being a liquid, comprising: a closed spherical storage container having an inner surface; a first opening for admitting fluids into said container; a second opening for withdrawing said selected fluid from said container; means for providing a continuous flow path of said selected fluid to said second opening, said means including a plurality of generally elongated planar members in said container disposed adjacent and extending along said inner surface between said first opening and said second opening, each of said elongated members having a width extending radially from said inner wall, wherein said width of each of said elongated members increases continuously from said first opening to said second opening, each of said members being respectively positioned and spaced from each other along said inner surface to form a corner with a portion of the surface of the respective planar surfaces of each of said members and a portion of the inner surface to support a flow path of fillets of liquid in each of said corners as liquid in said container is depleted, said inner surface and the surfaces of each of said members being formed of a material that is preferentially wetted by said selected fluid whereby said flow path only of said selected fluid is continuously maintained to said second opening as said selected fluid is depleted from said apparatus, said selected fluid flowing to said second opening along fillet paths formed by capillary action in each of said corners of each of said members and said inner surface, the respective densities of said two fluids being selected such that the flow of said selected fluid Is substantially independent of body forces on said apparatus subjected to acceleration fields.