Expulsion bladder equipped storage tank structur

Koch, E. F.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

March 3, 1964 JAMES E. WEBB 
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL 
AERONAUTICS AND SPACE 
ADMINISTRATION 
EXPULSION BLADDER-EQUIPPED STORAGE TANK STRUCTURE 
Filed Oct. 4, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 
INVENTOR 
EDGAR FKOCH 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19700028866 2020-03-17T02:13:56+00:00Z
March 3, 1964 JAMES E. WEBB 
ADMINISTRATOR O F  THE NATIONAL 
3,123,248 
AERONAUTICS AND SPACE 
ADMINISTRATION 
EXPULSION BLADDER-EQUIPPED STORAGE TANK STRUCTURE 
Filed Oct. 4, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 
Ftg 6 
INVENTOR 
3,123,248 United States Patent Office , ,, , ,, 
EXPULSION ~ADDER~EQUBPPED STORAGE 
TANK STRUCTURE 
James E. Webb, Admh&trator of tbe National' Aeromu- 
tics and &ace A d d i a t i o n ,  wi& respect to an in- 
vent%~ of EdgarF. Xocb. 
Filed Oct. 4 1962, Ser. P40. 228,507 
6 C l h .  (Cl* 220-63) 
for sealing engagement with the flange 8 through a washer 
1Q. Beyond the washer 10, the fitting 9 forms a reduced 
portion 11 which is externally screw-threaded, and which 
is provided with an internal bore for connection to a 
flow line, not shown. 
The zone of the bladder 6, surrounding the nipple 
7, is preferably thickened to form a reinforcement 12. 
Mametrically disposed or distal from the nipple 7 
the bladder 6 is equipped with an eyelet 13 having-; base 
This invention. relates to expulsion, bladder-equipped, 10 f4 which is mol&ed into the wall of the bladder 6. The 
storage tank structures, and included in the objects of zone surrounding the base 14 of the eyelet 13 is provided 
rn 
this invention are: with reinforcing ribs IS, radiating from the base 14, so 
First, to provide an expulsion, bladder-equipped, stor- as to form circumferentially within this zone alternate 
- age tank structure so arranged that the bladder collapses regions of greater and lesser flexibility. The ribs 15 may 
A in a predetermined pattern as its contents are depleted, 15 extend approximately a third of the surface distance of 
. or, conversely, expands in a complementary pattern as the bladder 6 from the eyelet 13 to the nipple 7. 
the bladder is filled; the pattern of collapse or expansion A tension spring 1.6 is attached by one end to the 
being such that three-corner folding or other creasing of eyelet M and' by its other end to the seal plug 4, so as 
the bladder, which would introduce localized stresses in to exert a farce tending to elongate t ie  bladder 6 in the 
the walls of the bladder and consequent wear or rupture 20 direction of the axis between the nipple 7 and the eyelet 
of the bladder, is avoidkd. f3. 
Second, to provide an expulsion, bladder-equipped, The dimension of the shell r between its nipple 2 and 
storage tank stracture wherein mass movement of the tube 3 is approximately equal to one-half the circum- 
contents of the bladder is mininlized. ference of the Gladder 6 in the plane of the eyelkt 13 
Third, to provide an expulsion, bladder-equipped, 25 and nipple 7. 
storage tank structure wherein a normally spherical blad- Operation of Cie expulsion, bladder-equipped, storage 
der is provided with a yieldabIe support diametrically op- tanlc structure is as follows: 
posite its outlet, and is contained in a tank having a When the bladder 6 is filled with a fluid, for exam- 
dimension along tile axis of the bladder between the out- ple, a liquid propellant, it tends to assume the spherical 
let and yieldable support, which is a t  least equal to the 30 shape shown in FIGURE 1. The bladder G will also 
extended length of the bradder, when its contents are assume this shape if Nled with a gaseous fluid at a 
depleted, so that the bladder folds radially inwazdly, but pressure greater than the pressure in the region between 
it not forced to fold longitudinally. the bladder 6 and the shell 1. 
With the above and other object* in view, as may ap- As the contents of the bladder 6 are discharged, for 
pear hereinafter, reference is directed ta  the accompany- 35 example, by the application of fluid pressure to the region 
ing drawhgsin which: between the bladder 6 and the tank, the walls of the 
FIGURE 1 is a side view of the expulsion, bladder- bladder between the eyeiet 13 and the nipple 7 cor- 
equipped, storage tank structure with portions broken rugate inwardly, as shown in FIGURES 3 through 6 .  
away and in seetion t o  illustrate the internal C O ~ S ~ ~ C -  The corrugations become more pronounced as the con- 
tion, and showing the bladder in its fluid-filled condition; 40 tents are discharged, and at the same time the bladder 
FIGURE 2 is a reduced top view of the bladder in its 6 elongates along the axis between the eyelet 13 and nip- 
fully Nled condition; ple 7 due to the tension exerted by the spring 16. 
FIGURE 3 is a partial top view, partial sectional view In the structure shown, four reinforcing ribs 15 are il- 
taken through 3-3 of FIGURE 4, showing the bladder 45 lustrated so that the bladder 6, when collapsed, assumes 
in its initial stages of collapse as its contents are dis- an  essential!^ cross shape. It should be understood, how- 
charged; ever, that, depending upon the size of the bladder, a great- 
FIGURE 4 is a side view of the bladder in its condi- er or lesser number of reinforcing ribs 15 may be pro- 
tion corresponding to FIGURE 3; vided. 
FIGURE 5 is a partial p!an view, partial sectional view 50 It will be observed that the reinforcing ribs 15 provide 
taken through 5-5 of FIGURE 6, showing the bladder regions of decreased flexibility so that the portions be- 
as it approaches its final stage of collapse; tween these ribs have a greater tendency to collapse. 
FIGURE 6 is a side view corresponding to FIGURE 5. Once the corrugations are formed, the collapsing of the 
The expulsion, bladder-equipped, storage tank strut- bladder 6 continues uniformly without producing creases 
ture includes a storage tank shell I, which is illustrated 55 or other areas of concentrated stress. 
as spherical but may be cylindrical. At one end the stor- While a particular embodiment of this invention has 
age tank is provided with a nipple 2 which is externally been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the 
screw-threaded, and diametrically opposite therefrom the same to the exact details of the construction set forth, 2nd 
shell 1 is provided with a spring-receiving tube 3 closed it embraces such changes, modifications, and equivalents 
by a seal plug 4. A lateral inlet 5 communicates with 60 of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come 
the tube 3. within the purview of the appended claims. 
The storage tank shell 1 receives a bladder 6 molded What is claimed is: 
of rubber or other elastomer. Alternatively, the bladder 1. A storage tank structure, comprising: 
6 may be molded of material which is flexible, but which (a) a rigid storage tank shell having an outlet opening 
is relatively nonstretchable. 65 and an inlet opening; 
The bladder 6 is equipped with a nipple 7 which ex- ( b )  a flexible storage bladder adapted to be filled with 
tends through the nipple 2 and forms both the inlet and a fluid and having an outlet means secured in the out- 
outlet to the bladder 6. The extremity of the nipple let opening of said shell; 
7 is provided with a flange 8 which fits over the ex- (c) tension means attached to said bladder and to said 
tremity of the nipple 2. shell at locations diametrically opposite from said 
A fitting 9 having an enlarged end, which is internally outlet means and exerting a force in a direction to 
screw-threaded to receive the nipple 2, fits over the nipple elongate said bladder; 
%f 
* * . -  
3,125,248 
3 
( d )  and reinforcing for said bladder radiating from the 
a 
( d )  said bladder being symmetrical with respect to an 
attachment location of said tension means thereto, for axis extending between said opening and distal end; 
causing said bladder to corrugate in planes transverse (el and flexible reinforciqg ribs radiating from the re- 
to the axis between said outlet means and said at- gion of attachment of said spring whereby, periph- 
tachment locations as the contents of said bladder are 5 erally, said bladder has alternately regions of greater 
depleted. and lesser flexibility -to cause said bladder to be- 
2. A storage tank structure, comprising: come peripherally corrugated as its contents are dis- 
( a )  a flexible storage bladder having an opening for in- charged. 
gress and egress of fluid; 5. A storage tank structure, comprising: 
( b )  means for securing said bladder in the region of 10 ( a )  a flexible storage bladder having an opening for in- 
said opening; gress and egress of fluid; 
( c )  tension means secured to said bladder at a location ( b )  a shell surrounding said bladder and attached to 
distal from said opening for elongating said bladder said bladder adjacent said opening, said shell extend- 
along an axis therebetween, said bladder being con- ing beyond the end of said bladder distal from said 
structed to assume, when filled, a circular shape in 15 opening; 
planes transverse to said axis; ( c )  said bladder being symmetrical with respect to an 
( d )  and reinforcing means for said bladder radiating axis extending between said opening and distal end; 
from said location, and causing said bladder to cor- ( d )  said bladder having a zone surrounding said distal 
mgate in said planes as the contents of said bladder end circumferentially divided into segments of great- 
are depleted. 20 er and lesser flexibility, to cause said bladder to be- 
3. A storage tank structure, comprising: come circumferentially corrugated as said bladder is 
( a )  a flexible storage bladder having an opening for axially extended and its contents are discharged; 
ingress and egress of fluid; (e) and means for axially extending said bladder. 
( b )  a shell surrounding said bladder and attached to 6. A storage tank structure, comprising: 
said bladder adjacent said opening, said shell extend- 25 ( a )  a flexible storage bladder having an opening for in- 
ing beyond the end of said bladder distal from said gress and egress of fluid; 
opening; ( b )  said bladder having' an end distal from said open- ( c )  a tension spring secured to said distal end of said ing defining therewith an axis about which said blad- 
bladder and to the shell beyond said distal end, said der is symmetrically disposed; 
spring tending to elongate said bladder; 30 (c) said bladder having a zone surrounding said distal ( d )  and means integral with said bladder, tending to end circumferentially divided into segments of great- 
corrugate the side walls of said bladder as the blad- er and lesser flexibility, to cause said bladder to be- 
der is elongated. come circumferentially corrugated as said bladder 
4. A storage tank structure, comprising: .is axially extended and its contents are discharged; 
( a )  a flexible storage bladder having an opening for in- 35 (d) and means for axially extending said bladder. 
gress and egress of fluid; ( b )  a shell surrounding said bladder and attached to References Cited in the file of this patent 
said bladder adjacent said opening, said shell extend- 
ing beyond the end of said bladder distal from said UNITED STATES PATENTS 
opening; 2,394,853 Goddard -----------,--- Feb. 12, 1946 
( C )  a tension spring secured to said d i s d  end of said 40 2,721,580 Greer ------------------ Oct. 25, 1955 
bladder and to the shell beyond said distal end, said FOREIGN PATENTS 
spring tending to elongate said bladder; 1,161,905 France -,---------,---, Mar. 31, 1958 


Expulsion bladder-equipped storage tank structure Patent

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