US4013195A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Expulsion bladder
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
•
Filing: 1975-02-18
•
Granted: 1977-03-22
•
Expires: 1995-02-18
Abstract
Abstract A liquid expulsion device having a tank enclosing a flexible bladder containing liquid to be expelled and an insoluble gas. Prior to expulsion the combined liquid and gas volume remains constant so that during environmental changes the bladder is forced into intimate flush contact with the tank and is incapable of flexing and becoming ruptured. Liquid is expelled through a surface tension screen that blocks passage of the gas.
Inventors
- 👤 DeLacy F. Ferris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:42
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D83/00; B65D83/771; F; F17; F17C; F17C7/00; F17C7/02; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0104; F17C2201/0109; F17C2201/0176; F17C2201/018; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/04; F17C2250/00; F17C2250/06; F17C2250/0605; F17C2250/0626; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/01; F17C2270/0102; F17C2270/0131; F17C2270/0186
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A liquid expulsion tank device containing both liquid and gas, said tank device having a framework inside of a bladder for controlling the deformation configuration of the bladder as it is being collapsed within said tank, said expulsion device further having a screen sufficient to produce a surface tension barrier to block passage therethrough of said gas, the improvement which comprises: means to keep a constant cumulative liquid and inert gas volume in said bladder prior to liquid expulsion from said tank whereby an ullage gas bubble within said bladder is greater than the pressure of the atmosphere surrounding said expulsion device to maintain said bladder pressed out against the interior walls of said tank to prevent bladder flexure during tank temperature cycling and liquid sloshing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A liquid expulsion tank device containing both liquid and gas, said tank device having a framework inside of a bladder for controlling the deformation configuration of the bladder as it is being collapsed within said tank, said expulsion device further having a screen sufficient to produce a surface tension barrier to block passage therethrough of said gas, the improvement which comprises: means to keep a constant cumulative liquid and inert gas volume in said bladder prior to liquid expulsion from said tank whereby an ullage gas bubble within said bladder is greater than the pressure of the atmosphere surrounding said expulsion device to maintain said bladder pressed out against the interior walls of said tank to prevent bladder flexure during tank temperature cycling and liquid sloshing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inert gas is argon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said liquid is a liquid fuel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein said fuel is an oxidizer propellant such as chlorine trifluoride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
192 words
The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means to keep a constant cumulative liquid and inert gas volume in said bladder when approximately 400 pounds of oxidizer at a temperature of 55° F and approximately 1/4 pounds of argon where said argon is introduced in said tank under a pressure of about 40 psia, said oxidizer will assume a volume of about 550 cubic inches and said argon will assume a volume of 1600 cubic inches, said oxidizer and said inert gas combining to keep said bladder pressed against the interior wall of said tank, when said tank temperature reaches approximately 200° F, said inert gas will exert a pressure of about 600 psi while assuming about 2 percent of constant bladder volume and when said tank temperature reaches approximately -65° F said inert gas will exert a pressure of about 20 psi and assume approximately one-third of the constant bladder volume, the external pressure surrounding said tank being less than 20 psi will keep said bladder pressed against said interior walls of said tank regardless of temperature cycles and propellant sloshing prior to liquid expulsion from said tank.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3067810A
Cited
US3175882A
Cited
US3286463A
Cited
US3339803A
Cited
US3404813A
Cited
US3486302A
Cited
US3883046A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-21 | 1980-09-20 | 1981-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-21 | 1984-09-20 | 1985-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-21 | 1988-09-20 | 1989-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |