# US 2015/0144643 A1 · Expandable high pressure tank for air compressor

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- Number: US 2015/0144643 A1
- Document ID: US20150144643A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/087,470
- Filed: 2013-11-22
- Published: 2015-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2013-11-22
- Inventors: Paul Cruz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150144643A1

## CPC

- F17C 1/16: constructed of plastics materials {(shaping of plastics B29C)}
- F17C 9/02: with change of state, e.g. vaporisation
- F17C 2201/0109: with exteriorly curved end-piece
- F17C 2201/018: with bladders
- F17C 2201/056: Small (<1 m3)
- F17C 2203/0663: in form of fibers or filaments
- F17C 2203/0685: flexible
- F17C 2221/011: Oxygen
- F17C 2221/014: Nitrogen
- F17C 2221/031: Air
- F17C 2223/0123: gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
- F17C 2223/035: High pressure (>10 bar)
- F17C 2227/0157: Compressors
- F17C 2260/018: Adapting dimensions
- F17C 2265/07: Generating electrical power as side effect
- F17C 2270/025: Breathing
- F17C 2270/05: for industrial use
- F17C 2270/0554: Hydraulic applications
- F17C 2270/0563: Pneumatic applications
- F17C 2270/07: for household use
- F17C 2270/0781: Diving equipments
- F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25)

## Abstract

The present invention is directed, in part, to an apparatus and methods related to an expandable storage tank for compressed gas, the storage tank prepared from a puncture resistant, flexible fabric material in which the storage tank is expandable to a desired volume when inflated and when deflated. During periods of non-use the storage tank is retracted in a compact and folded manner to save space compared to when the tank is inflated. The storage tank is utilized by employing its use in conjunction with a traditional air compressor and can be configured with or without a rigid outer shell that expands in relation to the amount of compressed air transferred into the expandable storage tank.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An expandable storage tank attached to a traditional air compressor to generate and store compressed gas, the storage tank comprising a puncture resistant, self-sealing, flexible fabric material, wherein said flexible fabric material comprises one or more layers of fabric material, wherein said storage tank stores compressed gas at pressures between 60 and 12,000 psi, the storage tank being expandable to a desired volume when inflated and when deflated, said storage tank being retractable to a compact configuration to save space compared to when said storage tank is inflated, wherein, said storage tank further comprises an exterior rigid shell that regulates the volume of said compressed gas contained within the storage tank wherein, said exterior rigid shell fully encapsulates said storage tank, wherein said exterior rigid shell is adjustable to vary the volume of compressed gas contained within the expandable storage tank to a desired volume wherein, said adjustment of volume is carried out by locking one or more buttons located on the exterior rigid shell, said buttons corresponding to a desired storage tank volume, the storage tank further comprising a gas compressor nozzle and pressure regulator, wherein said compressor nozzle attaches to and delivers said compressed gas from said storage tank to pneumatic power tools and to equipment that require compressed gas for operability of said equipment.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The storage tank of claim 1 wherein said puncture resistant material comprises at least one outer layer comprising a self sealing material and a membrane for maintaining said compressed gas in the storage tank wherein, said puncture resistant material stores compressed gas at pressures between 60 and up to 12,000 psi.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The storage tank of claim 1 wherein said exterior rigid shell expands proportionately with the volume of the compressed gas contained in said storage tank wherein said exterior rigid shell is expanded by unlocking buttons located on the exterior rigid shell, said buttons corresponding to a desired storage tank volume.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The storage tank of claim 2 wherein said expandable storage tank and attached traditional air compressor occupy between 10 and 50% of the space required for a similarly powered traditional air compressor attached to and configured with metal storage tanks

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The storage tank of claim 2 wherein said expandable storage tank and attached traditional air compressor weigh between 10 and 50% less by mass than a similarly powered traditional air compressor attached to and configured with metal storage tanks

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The storage tank of claim 1 wherein said flexible fabric comprises carbon nanotube-containing material, wherein, said storage tank stores compressed gas at pressures between 60 and 12,000 psi.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The storage tank of claim 1 wherein said traditional air compressor is attached to one or more of said storage tanks simultaneously.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The storage tank of claim 1 wherein said expandable storage tank comprises a geotextile fabric.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The storage tank of claim 1 wherein said expandable storage tank comprises a Kevlar composite material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The storage tank of claim 1 wherein said storage tank is attached to scuba diving gear so to provide and deliver compressed gas to a user employing use of said scuba diving gear.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The storage tank of claim 1 wherein said storage tank is attached to an oxygen respirator to deliver high purity grade oxygen to a patient in need of oxygen.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The storage tank of claim 1 wherein said storage tank is attached to an automobile engine, said engine being powered by compressed gas in which pistons and other engine parts are driven by said compressed gas delivered from said storage tank.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The storage tank of claim 1 wherein said storage tank delivers compressed gas to electrical generating equipment wherein said compressed gas generates electricity when delivered to said electrical generating equipment.

### Claim 14

An expandable storage tank attached to a traditional air compressor to generate and store compressed gas, the storage tank comprising a puncture resistant, self-sealing, flexible fabric material, wherein said flexible fabric material comprises one or more layers of fabric material, wherein said storage tank stores compressed gas at pressures between 60 and 12,000 psi, the storage tank being expandable to a desired volume when inflated and when deflated, said storage tank being retractable to a compact configuration to save space compared to when said storage tank is inflated, wherein, the storage tank further comprising a gas compressor nozzle and pressure regulator, wherein said compressor nozzle attaches to and delivers said compressed gas to pneumatic power tools and equipment that requires compressed gas for operability of said equipment.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The storage tank of claim 14 wherein said flexible fabric comprises carbon nanotube-containing material, wherein, said storage tank stores compressed gas at pressures between 60 and 12,000 psi.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The storage tank of claim 14 wherein said traditional air compressor is attached to one or more expandable storage tanks simultaneously.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The storage tank of claim 14 wherein said storage tank is attached to scuba diving gear so to provide and deliver compressed gas to a user employing use of said scuba diving gear.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The storage tank of claim 14 wherein said storage tank is attached to an oxygen respirator to deliver high purity grade oxygen to a patient in need of oxygen.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The storage tank of claim 14 wherein said storage tank is attached to an automobile engine, said engine being powered by compressed gas in which pistons and other engine parts are driven by said compressed gas delivered from said storage tank.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The storage tank of claim 14 wherein said storage tank delivers compressed gas to electrical generating equipment wherein said compressed gas generates electricity when delivered to said electrical generating equipment.