Dual bladder fuel tank
AssigneeKontak LLC
InventorsDavid O'Connor, Damien Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid tank comprising can include an outer housing comprising a housing volume, a first fluid bladder positioned within the housing volume, and a second fluid bladder positioned within the housing volume. The first fluid bladder can comprise a first conduit and the second fluid bladder can comprise a second conduit. The first fluid bladder can be configured to release fluid through the first conduit in response to introduction of fluid into the second fluid bladder via the second conduit. The housing volume can be maintained at a substantially constant pressure when fluid is released from the first fluid bladder through the first conduit and fluid is introduced into the second fluid bladder through the second conduit
Claims21
A fluid tank comprising:
- an outer housing comprising a housing volume;
- a first fluid bladder positioned within the housing volume;
- a first conduit in fluid communication with the first fluid bladder;
- a second fluid bladder positioned within the housing volume;
- and
- a second conduit in fluid communication with the second fluid bladder;
- wherein:
- the first fluid bladder is configured to release fluid through the first conduit in response to introduction of fluid into the second fluid bladder via the second conduit;
- and
- the housing volume is maintained at a substantially constant pressure when fluid is released from the first fluid bladder through the first conduit and when fluid is introduced into the second fluid bladder through the second conduit.
A method of storing and distributing fluid, the method comprising:
- storing unspent fluid in a first fluid bladder;
- positioning the first fluid bladder within a rigid enclosure;
- positioning a second fluid bladder within the rigid enclosure;
- withdrawing unspent fluid from the first fluid bladder via a first fluid conduit connected to the first fluid bladder;
- introducing spent fluid to the second fluid bladder via a second fluid conduit connected to the second fluid bladder;
- wherein:
- introducing spent fluid to the second fluid bladder occurs in response to withdrawing unspent fluid from the first fluid bladder;
- a total combined volume of both the first and second fluid bladders remains substantially constant during withdrawal of unspent fluid from the first fluid bladder;
- a pressure within the rigid enclosure remains substantially constant during withdrawal of unspent fluid from the first bladder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.