Stirring and heating stored gases and liquids is accomplished by using the deformation of a bimetallic structure which deforms significantly when heated. The deformation is used to effect gradual or impulsive motion of a piston, vane, wire, or diaphram for displacement of the fluid. The heated bimetallic is also employed for heating the stored fluid

Canning, T. N.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGYON. D.C. 205s5
RG'LYTO
A7T.S Cr: va- JAN 2 1 1974
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In accordance v/i'cri the procedures agreed upon by Code GP
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U.S. patent No. :
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Elizabeth A. carter
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Copy of- patent cited above-
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19740088520 2020-03-19T20:00:15+00:00Z
United States Patent
Canning
[in 3,782,699
[45] Jan. 1, 1974
[54]
[75]
[73]
[22]
[21 ]
BIMETALLIC FLUID DISPLACEMENT
APPARATUS
Inventor: Thomas N. Canning, Sunnyvale,
Calif.
Assignee: The United States of America as
represented by the Administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, Washington, D.C.
Filed: Aug. 11, 1972
Appl. No.: 280,029
[52] U.S. Cl 259/98, 417/471, 417/470
[51 ] Int. Cl BOlf 5/12
[58 1 Field of Search '. 259/1 R, 95, 97,
259/98, DIG. 30; 62/467; 415/12; 92/1;
417/470,471
[56] References Cited
UNITED STATES PATENTS
2.032,007 2/1936 Fee
2,114,567 4/1938
2,659,390 11/1953
3,567,185 3/1971
3,690,113 9/1972
Mercur 415/12
MacLea 92/1
Ross 259/1
Mokadam 62/467
Primary Examiner—Robert W. Jenkins
Attorney—Darrell G. Brekke
[57] ABSTRACT
92/1
Stirring and heating of stored gases and liquids is ac-
complished by using the deformation of a bimetallic
structure which deforms significantly when heated.
The deformation is used to effect gradual or impulsive
motion of a piston, vane, wire, or diaphram for dis-
placement of the fluid. The heated bimetallic is also
employed for heating the stored fluid.
10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures
PATENTED JAN 11974 3,782,699
Fig.±
LOW k METAL
,18
SEQUENCER
12
HIGH k METAL
Fig-2
26
21
24
35
\
38 36
JET JET
Fig.5
3,782,699
1 2
BIMETALLIC^FLUm DISPLACEMENT ^
 DESCRIpJION Q
The invention described herein was made by an em- FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in block
ployee of the United States Government and may be diagram form, of fluid storage apparatus incorporating
manufactured and used by or for the government for 5 features of the present invention,
governmental purposes without the payment of any FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the structure
royalty thereon or therefore. of FIG. 1 taken along line 2—2 in the direction of the
arrows,
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 FIG 3 is a ,ongitudinal sectional view of an alterna-
Heretofore, stored cryogenic gases and liquids have I0 t>ve bimetallic fluid stirring apparatus of the present in-
been stirred and heated by separate heaters and motor vention,
driven impellers, the combined operation of which pro- FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alterna-
duced the-desired heating and mixing of the stored cry- »'ve fluid stirring apparatus of the present invention,
ogenic gases and liquids. and
Prior impellers for mixing have generally employed 15 FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alterna-
an electrical motor which, heretofore, required hazard- tive fluid stirring apparatus of the present invention,
ous materials and electrical circuits to be installed in- ' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
side the fluid-storage tanks. Additional disadvantages EMBODIMENTS
of the earlier art were excessive complexity, weight and ,n
cost of such motorized mixers and electrical heaters. Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a cryogenic
The danger arises from the use of motorized impellers fluid storage tank l incorporating a fluid stirring device
in that incompatible materials were ignitable by sparks 2 incorporating features of the present invention. More
from the motor's electrical circuits, particularly when particularly, the stirring device 2, includes a hollow cy-
the stored fluid was oxygen. 25 lindrical chamber 3 disposed within and in fluid corn-
It is also known from the prior art to use a bimetallic rnunication with the cryogenic fluid 4 stored within
impeller blade in pumps that may change its shape with sto™Se tfnk 1". ™e volumef °f **. chamb^ 3 is typi-
temperature of the fluid to compensate for changes in c^ a «*stanUal fract'°» of that of the tank 1 ,n which
viscosity of the fluid being pumped to retain an effi- 'l !S 'nsta'le^ ln a W?1 "ample the cryogenic fluid
• . • H ui j i. c u • _ • j- in 4 1S liquified oxygen. Ports 5 and 6 permit passage of
cient impeller blade shape. Such a prior art pump is dis- 30 . . . . . . . 7, i_ i_ ^ •_ ^ 5 i.i j • 11 o i> »; -i i. -. cf, • j A ,r> the fluid 4 to and fro between the chamber 3 and the
closed in U. S. Pat. No. 2,114,567 issued Apr. 19, . . „, .. „ - . , . _ . • .
-._ . r > tank 1. The bimetallic helix 7, as shown in greater de-
tail in FIG. 2, includes a pair of metallic helices 11 and
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 12, each of semi-cylindrical cross section. The helices
_. - - i i _ . ^ i_ . . . . . ic 11 and 12 are disposed in mutually opposed relationThe principal object of the present invention is the •" ,. . , , . . . , .- . .,
. .
F
 / .J . „ - . . . , and joined together at their mating edges 13 as by weld-prov,s,on of an improved fluid displacement means . ^
 a aui J^ adhesjve to fonn*a c* ite b[metal.
particularly useful for storing and mixing stored cryo- ^
 ho,low hdix ? An e,ectrica, heati element 14 is
gemc flu,ds where natural convection ,s meffective.
 coaxia,, dig fa ^ hol,ow interior
K
of ^  bimetal.
In one feature of the present invention, stirring of
 4Q ,ic he,jx ? .„ an electricall insuiative relation there-
stored fluids is accomplished by heat cycling a bimetal-
 from yia ^ intermedi of a dielectric insuiative fill-
lie structure to produce a cyclical deformation of the .
 materia] 15 m of ceramic
bimetallic structure to effect a cyclical displacement of
 The upper half j j of the composite birnetal,ic heiix
the fluid to be mixed or stirred.
 7 is made of a materiai having a iower coefflcient of
In another feature of the present invention, a helical
 45 therma, expansion ^^ the lower haif 12 such that,
bimetallic member having a piston affixed thereto is
 upon heating of ^ helix 7> the ^tom half 12 expands
heat cycled to produce periodic elongation and con-
 more rapidly Aaa ^ upper half , , to cause ^  overal,
traction of the helical structure for urging the piston to
 heljx 7 to expand axial,y ^^ ^ cyiindrical housing
and fro in the stored liquid, thereby producing stirring
 2. A metallic disc 16 is affixed to the free end of the bi-
and mixing of the fluid. 50 metallic helix 7 to form a piston 16 for displacing fluid
In another feature of the present invention, a bime-
 withjn the housing 2 as the helix expands and contracts,
tallic vane is supported on one end and heat cycled to -j^e |Ower end of the bimetallic helix 7 is affixed to the
produce cyclical bending and flexing of the vane for closed end wall 9 of the housing 3.
stirring of fluids adjacent said vane. At the lower end of the helix 7, the bimetallic mem-
In another feature of the present invention, a plural- 55
 ber 7 passes through an opening in the housing 2 near
ity of bimetallic wires or rods are affixed at one end to jts closed end 9 and thence through a suitable fluid
a support structure and are heat cycled to produce cy- tight fitting, not shown, in the wall of the tank 1. A
clical flexing of the rods for stirring of fluids communi- power supply 17 supplies power to the heating element
eating with said rods or wires. 14 for heating of the bimetallic helix 7. A sequencer 18
In another feature of the present invention, a bime- causes the power to the heating element 14 to be se-
tallic disc is heat cycled to produce cyclical impulsive quentially applied to produce a cyclical movement of
deformation of the disc to impart a stirring motion to , the helix 7 and piston 16. More particularly, during the
fluid communicating with the disc. heating portion of the operating cycle, the helix 7 ex-
Other features and advantages of the present inven- pands towards the upper end of the housing for displac-
tion will become apparent upon a perusal of the follow- ing fluid within the housing into the tank 1 by way of
ing specification taken in connection with the accom- port 5. Also, as the piston 16 moves toward the upper
panying drawings wherein: end of the- housing, replacement fluid is drawn in
3,782,699
3 4
through the lower port 6 to the region behind the mov- having a heating element 38 directly affixed thereto or
ing piston 16. affixed to the outside of the housing 36 at 39 such that
Upon termination of the heating cycle the fluid 4 re- the heating element is placed in heat exchanging rela-
moves heat from the helix 7 via conduction and con- tion with the bimetallic disc 37. In addition, the periph-
vection causing the helix to contract and to displace 5 ery of the disc 37 is restrained against axial translation
fluid from behind the piston 16 into the tank via port within the cylindrical housing 36, however, the periph-
6. As fluid is exiting port 6, replacement fluid is flowing
 ery of the disc 37 is preferably free to expand and con-
into the upper portion of the housing 2 via port 5. Thus
 tract slightly in the radial direction,
fluid within the storage tank 1 is being stirred and Upon heating of the bimetallic disc 37, the disc flexes
heated continuously by operation of the stirring device 10
 from the cold position, as indicated at 37, to the hot po-
2- sition as indicated by dotted line 41, thereby expelling
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an alterna-
 fluid within the housing 36 through port 42 into the
live stirring device 21 incorporating features of the
 s e tank not shown As the fluid js bej lled
present invention. In stirring device 21, the housing 22
 th h 42> Iacement fluid is drawn into the
,s of
 P,e-shaped cross section and elongated in the di- 15 ho ^ ^ ^ termination of the heat-
rection into the paper. A bimetallic vane or flapper 23 . ^
 Q{ ^ J ^ disc 3? fa a,_
is contained within the housing 22. The flapper 23 . , . . *, . . ., _ .. . .
, . , . . . . .
 6
 i,. • J- • • lowed to cool by conduction to the fluid and it returns
comprises two sheets of dissimilar metal having dissimi- . .'. ... ., ... , . , _ , ,
lar coefficients of thermal expansion joined together at to lts cold P™110"."» indl<;a'ed b* s°hd .llne J7'. UP°"
their abutting faces to form the composite bimetallic 20 -ts return, the fluid ,s expelled from housmg 36 via port
flexible vane 23. Vane 23 is fixedly supported along 43 ™d replacement fluid ,s drawn into the housing 36
one side edge to the housing 22 at 24 and an electrical vla Port 42' The disc 37 imParts a raPld or lmPulse ^P6
heating element 25 is disposed in heat exchanging rela- motion to the fluid due to the "oil canning" effect of
tion with the vane 23, as by being affixed to one side the bimetallic disc 37, thereby obtaining a vigorous stir-
of the vane 23. Ports 26 and 27 are provided in the 25 ring motion for the fluid in communication with the
housing 22 to provide fluid communication between sitrring device 35.
the housing 22 and the storage tank, not shown, in The advantage of the bimetallic stirring devices of
which the stirring device 21 is immersed. the present invention is that unnecessary rotating ma-
in the cold position, vane 23 is bent or flexed to the chinery and electrical circuits are eliminated and haz-
pcsiticr. shown in solid lines. Upon heating of the vane 30 ardous materials are more easily eliminated from
23, by means of the heating element 25, the metal sheet contact with the stored fluid,
having the higher coefficient of thermal expansion What is claimed is:
causes the vane 23 to bend to the dotted position indi- 1. In a fluid displacement apparatus, fluid displacing
cated at 28 for expelling fluid from within the housing means for displacing a volume of fluid to produce
22 into the tank 1 via port 27 and into the housing 22 35 movement of said fluid, bimetallic means coupled to
from the tank via port 26. Upon termination of the said fluid displacement means for imparting movement
heating portion of the operating cycle, the vane 23 is to said fluid displacement means, and heater means dis-
cooled by conduction to the fluid and it returns to its ' posed in heat exchanging relation with said bimetallic
cold position expelling fluid through port 26 and draw- means for heating said bimetallic means for imparting
ing in replacement fluid through port 27. movement to said fluid displacement means.
Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown an alternative
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for cy-
stirring device 29 of the present invention. In the stir-
 clically operating said heater to produce cyclical move-
ring device 29, a plurality of bimetallic wires or rods 31
 ment of sajd fluid dispiacernent means,
are affixed at their ends 32 to a thermally conductive
 3 The apparatus of claim 2 including, chamber
sleeve 33. An electrical heating coil 34 is disposed
 means fm containing a fluid to be stirred, said fluid dis-
within the sleeve 33 in heat exchanging relation there-
 placement means being disposed in fluid communica-
with for heating the sleeve and the appended bimetallic
 &m wfth ^ flufa| fa sajd chamber for stjrring the fluid
WI
.^L°r F. . . • -,„ • • j • i_ i- * 'n said chamber in response to cyclical movement ofWhen the heating element 3418 energized with heat-
 5Q ^ fluid disp,acement means.
ing current, the heat thus liberated ,s conducted
 4 ^
 F
aratus of daim , wherein ^ bimetallic
through the support sleeve 33 and into the appended ,rr .. ~ . . . . .0
 . Jlr,, • . .. » . . _ . _ • . n- • means and said fluid displacement means are a corn-
wires or rods 31. Upon heating of the bimetallic wires r
or rods 31 they are caused to flex to the position shown ' . .
in solid lines and upon termination of theheating cycle „ *• The aPParatus of claim 4 including, support means
the rods or wires 31 are cooled by conduction and re- 55 affixed to sald common means at a support region of
tract to their cold position as indicated by the dotted «ud common means for supporting said common
Unes means and wherein said bimetallic means flexes about
The transfer of heat into the surrounding fluid is en- said suPP°rt region due to the unequal thermal expan-
hanced by the induced motion of the wires or rods 31 sion and contraction of said bimetallic means upon
through the fluid. In addition the motion of the rods or heating and cooling of said bimetallic means,
wires through the fluid produces a stirring motion 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bimetallic
thereof. The stirring device 29 is preferably immersed . means comprises a helical structure having a pair of op-
in the cryogenic fluid 4 within the storage tank 1. posed helical portions joined together and being of dif-
Referring now to FIG. 5 there is shown an alternative
 65 ferent coefficients of thermal expansion,
stirring device 35 incorporating features of the present 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fluid dis-
invention. Stirring device 35 includes a hollow cylindri- placing means includes a movable wall affixed to a
cal housing 36 containing a domed bimetallic disc 37 movable end of said bimetallic helical structure.
3,782,699
8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said helical
structure is hollow to accommodate said heating means
therewithin.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bimetallic
means includes a bimetallic composite sheet having
first and second metallic sheet portions joined together
in mutually opposed relation, said first and second
sheets having differing coefficients of thermal expan-
sion.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bimetallic
means is disposed in heat exchanging relation with the
fluid to be displaced for heating the fluid to be dis-
placed.
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Bimetallic fluid displacement apparatus

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