US 7,255,133 B2Granted

Fluid pressure system including free floating bladder

AssigneeIn-Well Technologies, Inc.

InventorsKenneth A. Meyers, Thomas A. Moon

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A fluid pressure system (S) includes a flexible diaphragm bladder (172) located inside a pressure tank (164) installed within a fluid system such as well (168). In preferred aspects, the bladder (172) can be inflated by the introduction of air and is located within a flexible confining tube (198) or confining element (298) for preventing over expansion of the bladder (172). The bladder (172) and the confining tube or element (198, 298) are free floating in and without physical connection with the pressure tank (164) in preferred forms. The pressure tank (164) includes a flexible side wall (196) to allow folding or willing of the assembled fluid pressure system (S) in preferred forms. Confining tube (198) in a preferred form is of a cylindrical configuration and arranged concentrically around the bladder (172). Confining element (298) is carried by the bladder (172) and creates a barrier extending along a chord of a cross section of pressure tank (164).

Claims17

Dependent claims

Fluid pressure system comprising, in combination:

a pressure tank through which fluid passes, with the pressure tank having an axial length and including annular cross sections of a circular shape;
and a bladder defining a volume which can compress or expand according to pressure of fluid intermediate the bladder and the pressure tank, with the bladder formed from a cylindrical side wall extending for an axial length between an inlet end plug and an outlet end plug, with the cylindrical side wall including annular cross sections of a circular shape;
and a confining element separately formed from the cylindrical side wall of the bladder and intermediate the cylindrical side wall and the pressure tank of an axial length parallel to and at least equal to the axial length of the bladder, with a portion of the confining element having a configuration perpendicular to the axial length of the portion of the confining element which only partially encircles the bladder to prevent the bladder from completely engaging the pressure tank along a peripheral portion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/277,002Filed 20 Mar 2006 · continuation in part
Priority: 17 Nov 2003
Published: US 2006/0144455 A16 Jul 2006
Granted: 14 Aug 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

F16L 55/04
Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems: devices damping pulsations or vibrations in fluids
E03B 7/003
Water main or service pipe systems: arrangement for testing of watertightness of water supply conduits
F16L
Pipes
E03B
Installations or methods for obtaining, collecting, or distributing water

Family

Application60/495,588Us provisional application · filed 17 Nov 2003
Application10/990,618Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 17 Nov 2004
US 2006/0144455 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Jul 2006
US 7,013,924 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 7,255,133 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.