Fluid storage tank employing a shear seal
AssigneeArde, Inc.
InventorKirk Sneddon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid storage tank utilizing a shear seal in which a leak proof static shear seal covers the entire head of the piston of the storage tank requiring only a single fluid tight seam to seal off the fluid storage chamber from the remainder of the storage tank. The shear seal has a circumferential notch located proximate to its outer periphery which permits the shear seal to rupture along a predetermined path. Elastomeric annular seals on the piston provide a dynamic seal to prevent the fluid from leaking while the piston is moving to eject the stored fluid. The head of the piston flattens any protruding portions of the ruptured shear seal against the walls of the storage tank.
Claims20
A cylindrical tank for storing fluid comprising:
- a cylindrical body (2) forming a wall of the tank, said cylindrical body having an inner surface in which is formed a circumferential wall recess (15);
- an exit endpiece (4) fixedly attached to an exit end (3) of said cylindrical body (2) by a fluid tight seal;
- an inlet endpiece (10) fixedly attached to an inlet end (10) of said cylindrical body (2) by a fluid tight seal;
- a piston (5) slidably mounted within said cylindrical body (2) between said exit endpiece (4) and said inlet endpiece (10);
- an annular seal (17) mounted on said piston (5) so that said annular seal (17) tightly contacts the inner surface of said cylindrical body (2) to provide a fluid tight seal between stud piston (5) and said cylindrical body (2);
- and
- a shear seal member (13) mounted within said cylindrical body (2) between said piston (5) and said exit endpiece (4) and fixedly attached by a fluid tight seal to the inner surface of said cylindrical body (2) within said circumferential wall recess (15), said shear seal member (13) forming a fluid tight storage chamber (7) within said cylindrical body (2) between said shear seal member (13) and said exit endpiece (4) in which to store fluid, said shear seal member (13) having a circumferential notch (22) located proximate to an outer periphery of said shear seal member (13), the circumferential notch (22) reducing the thickness of said shear seal member (13) so that when said piston (5) is pressurized said shear seal member (13) ruptures along said circumferential notch (22).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.