# US 4,397,408 A · Surface tension storage device with buffer-tank > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,397,408 A - Document ID: US4397408A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/272,384 - Filed: 1981-06-10 - Granted: 1983-08-09 - Earliest claimed: 1980-07-08 - Assignees: Societe Europeenne de Propulsion - Inventors: Michel Robert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4397408A ## CPC - F17C 13/008: {for use under microgravity conditions} - B64G 1/402: {Propellant tanks; Feeding propellants} - B64G 1/4021: {Tank construction; Details thereof} - B64G 1/42: Arrangements or adaptations of power supply systems - F02K 9/605: {Reservoirs} - F17C 9/00: Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure - F17C 2201/0128: spherical or elliptical - F17C 2260/027: Making transfer independent of vessel orientation - F17C 2270/0194: for use under microgravity conditions, e.g. space - 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) - B64G: COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - F02K: JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (features of jet-propulsion plants common to gas-turbine plants, air intakes or fuel supply control of air-breathing jet-propulsion plants F02C7/00, F02C9/00) ## Abstract The invention relates to a storage system comprising: an enclosure containing a liquid and a pressurant gas and a liquid-expelling device comprising a structure made up of rigid elements which define a grid-like interior surface forming a gas barrier and which delimit a central outlet passage and gaps whose width increases as a function of the distance to the central passage from a minimum value selected for the said gas barrier, to a maximum value selected so as to prevent the liquid contained inside the structure from being expelled into the enclosure as long as the acceleration does not exceed a given threshold, said structure constituting a buffer-tank from where the liquid can be expelled through the central passage under the effect of the gas at every phase of utilization and which is re-filled with liquid contained inside the enclosure by means of a feeding device which converges to a liquid input provided in the structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Surface tension storage system comprising: an enclosure designed to contain a liquid and a pressurant gas, a liquid-expelling device situated close to an outlet of said enclosure and means for feeding liquid to the expelling device, wherein the said liquid-expelling device consists of a structure made up of an assembly of rigid elements defining: a grid-like interior surface of the structure which delimits a central passage surrounded by the structure and communicating with the outlet, a grid-like exterior surface which opens on to the inside of the enclosure, a set of gaps delimited by the surfaces of the said elements, which extend continuously between the interior surface and the exterior surface of the structure and the width of which increases in relation to the distance to the central passage, from a minimum value selected so as to form a gas barrier along the inner surface delimiting the central passage, up to a maximum value selected so as to prevent the liquid contained inside the structure from being expelled into the tank, as long as the ambient acceleration, does not exceed a given threshold, and a liquid input to where the feeding system arrives, said structure constituting a buffer-tank from where the liquid may be expelled through the central passage under the effect of the pressurant gas at each liquid-utilizing phase and which is re-filled with the liquid contained in the enclosure by means of the feeding device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said buffer-tank and said central passage are closed at the level of the end of said passage which is farthest from the outlet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said width increases in the strict sense at least in one part of the structure situated all around the said central passage and bordering said latter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) Storage system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said structure comprises a set of plane blades arranged radially around the said central passage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Storage system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said structure comprises at least an extra set of plane elements arranged around said set of radial blades. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Storage system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said plane elements are parallel and create between them gaps of constant length. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) Storage system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said plane elements are discs surrounding the said radial blades and perpendicular thereto. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said structure occupies a cylindrical volume whose axis is that of the said central passage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Storage system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the said structure has a rectangular-shaped meridian section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said structure is separated from the part of the enclosure wall containing the outlet, by a gap where the feeding (system) converges. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Storage system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said structure is supported by a plate which faces the said wall part and is provided with apertures for re-filling the buffer tank with liquid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said feeding device consists of a set of blades arranged substantially parallel to the enclosure wall and converging to the buffer tank. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Storage system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the distance separating the blades from the interior wall of the enclosure is greater than the minimum distance between adjacent elements of the structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) Storage system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the distance separating the blades from the interior wall of the enclosure reduces towards said buffer-tank. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) Storage system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the width of the blades increases towards said buffer-tank.