Variable volume reservoir and method for its use
AssigneeMilad Limited Partnership
InventorJames W. Hendry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressurized fluid reservoir having a variable working volume includes a cylinder body having a fixed storage volume and a first inlet and exhaust structure for allowing a compressible fluid to enter and leave the cylinder. A second inlet and exhaust structure is also provided for allowing a substantially incompressible fluid to enter and leave the cylinder. A first charge mechanism pumps the compressible fluid into the cylinder. A second charge mechanism pumps the substantially incompressible fluid into the cylinder to reduce the cylinder fixed storage volume to a desired working volume into which the compressible fluid can be pumped by the first charge mechanism.
Claims20
A compressible fluid reservoir having a variable working volume, comprising:
- a storage body having a fixed storage volume;
- a first inlet and exhaust means for allowing a compressible fluid to enter the storage body and to leave said storage body at a predetermined initial first pressure and at a fluid pressure substantially reduced from the initial fluid pressure;
- a second inlet and exhaust means for allowing a substantially incompressible fluid to enter and leave said storage body;
- a first charge means for pumping the compressible fluid into said storage body;
- a second charge means for pumping the substantially incompressible fluid into said storage body to reduce said storage body fixed storage volume to a desired working volume into which the compressible fluid can be pumped by said first charge means wherein the storage body stores the compressible fluid in the desired working volume at the predetermined initial fluid pressure approximately between 2,000 psi and 15,000 psi;
- and
- means for enlarging said storage body fixed storage volume in response to the substantially reduced fluid pressure.
An assembly for pressurizing and storing gas, comprising:
- a gas supply source for supplying a gas;
- a pump means for pressurizing the gas;
- a first gas line which communicates said gas supply container and said gas pressurizing means;
- a first valve means in said first gas line for controlling the flow of gas through said first gas line;
- a gas reservoir for storing the gas pressurized by said pump means, said reservoir having a fixed storage volume;
- a second gas line which communicates said gas pressurizing means and said gas reservoir;
- a second valve means in said second gas line for controlling the flow of gas in said second gas line;
- a substantially incompressible fluid charge means for varying the amount of a substantially incompressible fluid stored in said gas reservoir fixed storage volume thereby also varying a working volume of the reservoir into which the gas can flow;
- and, means for enlarging the working volume of the reservoir in response to a substantial decrease in pressure of the gas in the working volume of the reservoir.
A method for providing a reservoir with a variable working volume to enable to predetermined amount of gas, having a desired initial pressure and a desired final pressure substantially reduced from the desired initial pressure, to be delivered from the reservoir, said method comprising:
- providing a reservoir having an interior storage chamber of a set initial volume, the reservoir having a first end including a gas inlet and exhaust means and a second end including a lubricant inlet and exhaust means;
- pumping a predetermined amount of lubricant into the reservoir through said lubricant inlet and exhaust means to reduce the reservoir storage chamber initial volume to a desired working volume;
- subsequently blocking the flow of lubricant through said lubricant inlet and exhaust means to trap lubricant in the reservoir;
- pumping a gas into the reservoir through said gas inlet and exhaust means;
- ceasing the pumping of gas when said gas in the reservoir working volume is at a desired first pressure the desired initial pressure being approximately between 2,000 and 15,000 psi;
- and
- enlarging the working volume of the reservoir in response to the desired final pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.