Liquid reservoir for microgravity system
AssigneeSpacePharma SA
InventorsIra Naot, Molly K. Mulligan, Alexander Pekin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid reservoir for use in a microgravity environment includes a bladder for holding a liquid. The bladder includes flexible walls and an opening for extraction of the liquid from the bladder. An internal structure is shaped so as to form a channel to conduct the liquid from an end of the bladder that is distal to the opening. The internal structure is configured to prevent the walls of the bladder from blocking the channel when suction is applied to the opening.
Claims5
A liquid reservoir for use in a microgravity environment, the reservoir comprising:
- a bladder for holding a liquid, the bladder including flexible walls and an opening for extraction of the liquid from the bladder;
- and
- a central internal tubular structure that is shaped so as to form at least one channel to conduct the liquid from an end of the bladder that is distal to the opening, wherein the central internal tubular structure is sufficiently rigid to prevent the walls of the bladder from blocking said at least one channel when suction is applied to the opening, and wherein the flexible walls of the bladder are away from the central internal tubular structure when the bladder is filled and come in contact with the central internal tubular structure when at least partially collapsed, and
- wherein the bladder further comprises an additional opening at an end thereof that is distal to the opening.
A liquid reservoir for use in a microgravity environment, the reservoir comprising:
- a bladder for holding a liquid, the bladder including flexible walls and an opening for extraction of the liquid from the bladder;
- and
- a central internal tubular structure that is shaped so as to form at least one channel to conduct the liquid from an end of the bladder that is distal to the opening, wherein the central internal tubular structure is sufficiently rigid to prevent the walls of the bladder from blocking said at least one channel when suction is applied to the opening, and wherein the flexible walls of the bladder are away from the central internal tubular structure when the bladder is filled and come in contact with the central internal tubular structure when at least partially collapsed,
- wherein the central internal tubular structure comprises a plurality of projections that extend laterally, and wherein each of said plurality of projections comprises a longitudinal fin, and
- wherein each channel of said at least one channel is formed between each pair of adjacent fins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.