Elastomeric bladder for positive expulsion tank

Claim 2

A positive expulsion tank comprising in combination: a tank shell having a product opening and an expulsion fluid opening; a bladder formed of a resiliently deformable material, said bladder having an as-fabricated cylindrical configuration; and a diffuser assembly fixed within said tank shell and to opposite ends of said bladder for mounting said bladder centrally within said tank shell such that said bladder is in an essentially relaxed condition when in said cylindrical configuration, said assembly cooperating with said bladder to define a product receiving cavity, said product opening being in flow communication with said cavity through said assembly, said expulsion fluid opening being in flow communication with said shell exteriorally of said bladder, and said bladder assuming a tensioned tank-full configuration wherein it closely conforms to said tank shell and a tensioned tank-empty configuration wherein it closely conforms to said assembly, characterized in that the portion of said bladder intermediate said opposite ends is unsupported and remains free of abrading contact with said tank shell and said assembly throughout substantially the whole of its range of deformation between said tank-full and tank-empty configurations.

Claim 3

A positive expulsion tank according to claim 1, wherein said diffuser assembly includes a pair of end members having facing essentially concially shaped surfaces, and said opposite ends of said bladder are fixed peripherally of each of said end members.

Claim 4

A positive expulsion tank according to claim 2, wherein said end members are rigidly interconnected and placed in flow communication by a conduit extending between facing apex portions thereof, and said conically shaped surfaces are apertured to afford flow communication between said product opening and said cavity.

Claim 5

A positive expulsion tank according to claim 1, wherein said tank shell has a cylindrical central portion and rounded end portions.

Claim 6

A positive expulsion tank according to claim 1, wherein said tank shell is of essentially spherical configuration.

Claim 7

A positive expulsion tank according to claim 1, wherein said bladder incorporates a reinforcing matrix for preventing stretch of said bladder material beyond its elastic limit and for variably controlling biaxial expansion of axially spaced portions of said bladder disposed intermediate said opposite ends whereby to pattern said bladder to closely conform to the configuration of said tank shell when in said tank-full configuration.

Claim 8

A positive expulsion tank comprising in combination: a tank shell; means defining a stored product opening and an expulsion fluid opening; a bladder formed of a resiliently deformable material, said bladder having an as-fabricated cylindrical configuration; means for fixedly supporting opposite ends of said bladder such that said bladder is disposed centrally within said tank shell and in an essentially relaxed condition when in said cylindrical configuration, said supporting means closing said opposite ends and placing the interior of said bladder in flow communication with said product opening whereby stored product may be introduced into and discharged from within said bladder, said stored product when introduced into said bladder sequentially filling said bladder and thereafter resiliently expanding said bladder to assume a tank-full configuration wherein said bladder is under tension and closely conforms to an inner surface of said tank shell, said expulsion fluid opening being in flow communication with the interior of said tank shell outwardly of said bladder for admitting expulsion fluid into said tank shell to force said stored product from within said bladder outwardly through said product opening whereby to sequentially return said bladDer to said cylindrical configuration and thereafter resiliently deform said bladder to assume a tank-empty configuration wherein said bladder is under tension and substantially all of said stored product is expelled therefrom, characterized in that the portion of said bladder intermediate said opposite ends is unsupported and remains free of abrading contact with said tank shell and said supporting means throughout substantially the whole of its range of deformation between said tank-full and tank-empty configurations.

Claim 9

A positive expulsion tank comprising in combination: a tank shell; means defining a stored product opening and an expulsion fluid opening; a bladder formed of a resiliently deformable material, said bladder having an as-fabricated cylindrical configuration; means for fixedly supporting opposite ends of said bladder such that said bladder is disposed centrally within said tank shell and in an essentially relaxed condition when in said cylindrical configuration, said supporting means closing said opposite ends and placing the interior of said bladder in flow communication with said product opening whereby stored product may be introduced into and discharged from within said bladder, said stored product when introduced into said bladder sequentially filling said bladder and thereafter resiliently expanding said bladder to assume a tank-full configuration wherein said bladder is under tension and closely conforms to an inner surface of said tank shell, said expulsion fluid opening being in flow communication with the interior of said tank shell outwardly of said bladder for admitting expulsion fluid into said tank shell to force said stored product from within said bladder outwardly through said product opening whereby to sequentially return said bladDer to said cylindrical configuration and thereafter resiliently deform said bladder to assume a tank-empty configuration wherein said bladder is under tension and substantially all of said stored product is expelled therefrom, characterized in that the portion of said bladder intermediate said opposite ends is unsupported and remains free of abrading contact with said tank shell and said supporting means throughout substantially the whole of its range of deformation between said tank-full and tank-empty configurations.

Claim 10

A bladder for use in a positive expulsion tank having a given shell configuration, characterized as having an as-fabricated cylindrical configuration with annular attachment areas at opposite ends of an intermediate area, said bladder being formed of a resiliently deformable material and incorporating a reinforcing matrix, said matrix being patterned to prevent stretch deformation of said attachment areas and to provide for nonuniform biaxial stretch characteristics within said intermediate area whereby to permit said bladder intermediate area to be resiliently deformed radially from said cylindrical configuration to assume a tank-full configuration corresponding to said shell configuration.

Claim 11

A bladder for use in a positive expulsion tank having a given shell configuration, characterized as having an as-fabricated cylindrical configuration with annular attachment areas at opposite ends of an intermediate area, said bladder being formed of a resiliently deformable material and incorporating a reinforcing matrix, said matrix being patterned to prevent stretch deformation of said attachment areas and to provide for nonuniform biaxial stretch characteristics within said intermediate area whereby to permit said bladder intermediate area to be resiliently deformed radially from said cylindrical configuration to assume a tank-full configuration corresponding to said shell configuration.