Tank for use in microgravity
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.
InventorsAshley Rose Himmelmann Schuster, Kevin Litton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modified tank for use in microgravity environments is provided. The modified tank includes a membrane defining an interior and including an inlet leading to the interior and first and second outlets from the interior. The modified tank further includes first and second filters for the first and second outlets, respectively, and an outlet wiping pair. The outlet wiping pair includes a wiper in the interior and a wiping boss at an exterior of the membrane. The wiping boss is operably coupled to the wiper whereby operation of the wiping boss causes the wiper to wipe at least one of the first and second filters.
Claims18
A modified tank for use in microgravity environments, the modified tank comprising:
- a membrane defining an interior and comprising an inlet leading to the interior and first and second outlets from the interior;
- first and second filters for the first and second outlets, respectively;
- and
- an outlet wiping pair comprising:
- a wiper in the interior;
- and
- a wiping boss at an exterior of the membrane, which is operably coupled to the wiper whereby operation of the wiping boss causes the wiper to wipe at least one of the first and second filters,
- wherein the membrane is continuous and unopened between the wiper and the wiping boss.
A modified tank for use in microgravity environments, the modified tank comprising:
- a membrane defining an interior and comprising an inlet leading to the interior and first and second outlets from the interior;
- and
- a stirrer pair comprising:
- a stirrer at the interior of the membrane;
- and
- a stirring boss at an exterior of the membrane, which is operably coupled to the stirrer whereby operation of the stirring boss causes the stirrer to stir the interior of the membrane,
- wherein the membrane is continuous, smooth and unopened between the stirrer and the stirring boss.
A modified tank for use in microgravity environments, the modified tank comprising:
- a membrane defining an interior and comprising an inlet leading to the interior and first and second outlets from the interior;
- first and second filters for the first and second outlets, respectively;
- and at least one of:
- a magnetic outlet wiping pair comprising a wiper in the interior and a wiping boss at an exterior of the membrane, which is magnetically coupled to the wiper whereby manual rotation of the wiping boss causes the wiper to wipe at least one of the first and second filters;
- and
- a magnetic stirrer pair comprising a stirrer at the interior of the membrane and a stirring boss at the exterior of the membrane, which is magnetically coupled to the stirrer whereby manual rotation of the stirring boss causes the stirrer to stir the interior of the membrane,
- the membrane is continuous, smooth and unopened between the wiper and the wiping boss and between the stirrer and the stirring boss.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.