Two cylindrical tanks with piston bladders and associated components for automatic filling and emptying use liquid inventory readout devices in control of water flow. Unit provides for adaptive water collection, storage, and dispensation in weightlessness environment

Hall, J. B., Jr.

Williams, E. F.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

December 1972
	 B72-10663 
NASA TECH BRIEF S	 -	 £ Langley Research Center
 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Automatic Water Inventory, Collecting, and Dispensing Unit 
	
An automatic water inventory, collecting, and dis-
	 operations that require automatic collection and dis-
	
pensing unit has been devised for operation in zero
	 pensing of liquids, while simultaneously maintaining a 
	
gravity. It is possible for this unit to be used in
	
liquid inventory. 
Gas In 
NC V1NO 
Solenoid- 
3-Way 
.Valve
_Tankl
INC 
 
IM
Rotary 
Potentiometer 
1
Piston 
Thnk2 
Piston
Rolled 
Bladders 
NO,S'17..NC	
NC IIIN 
NO 
V2 	 II	 V4 
$ 
Liquid Out 
U	 NC - Normally Closed 
•	
.	 Liquid In	 NO - Normally Open
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National
	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States
	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
	 will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19720000662 2020-03-17T03:42:51+00:00Z
The unit consists of two cylindrical tanks with 
piston-bladders and associated components which auto-
matically control the filling and emptying of the tanks. 
Liquid inventory readout devices are also provided 
which indicate the quantity of liquid in each tank as 
well as the number of times each tank has emptied. 
The tanks are equipped with three-way solenoid valves 
and spring loaded rotary potentiometers that track the 
movement of the piston-bladders to perform these 
functions. (See Figure). 
Operation: 
In a situation where tank 1 is empty and tank 2 is 
full, the operation proceeds as follows: 
1. Tank 1 can be filled through the NO (normally open) 
port of V2 (valve 2) while the gas side of the bladder 
is vented through the NO portof V 1 . Simultaneously, 
tank 2 can be emptied through the normally closed 
(NC) port of V4 . Gas entering tank 2 through the NC 
port of V3 forces the piston down, which purges the 
water from the tank. When tank 2 is empty and tank 
1 is full, the solenoid valve ports are switched 
through control circuits connected to the potentio-
meters which track the positions of the piston 
bladders in the tanks. 
2. In tank 1, which had been filling, the NO ports are 
closed and the NC ports are opened. Gas enters the 
back side of the bladder which forces the water out 
of the tank through the NC port of V 2 , simultane-
ously, tank 2 can be filled through the NO port of 
V4 , while the gas side of the bladder is vented 
through the NO port of V3.. 
3. The above events occur simultaneously, when tank 1 
is full and tank 2 is empty, the unit reverses,and tank 
1 will empty while tank 2 is filling.
The movement of the bladders and pistons in the 
tanks is continuously monitored, and readout is provided 
during all stages of operation. 
Possible Use: 
This equipment could be used to collect, store, and 
dispense liquids as well as maintain a liquid inventory 
during testing of water reclamation or other liquid 
systems. Spherical tanks containing form-fitting dia-
phragms could be used as well as the piston cylinder 
tanks with rolled diaphragms. 
Note: 
No additional documentation is available. Specific 
inquiries, however, may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Langley Research Center 
Mail Stop 139-A 
Hampton, Virginia 23365 
Reference: B72.10663 
Patent status:	 ( 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commercial 
use of this invention may be made to: 
Patent Counsel. 
Langley Research Center 
Mail Stop 173 
Hampton, Virginia 23365 
Source: John B. Hall, Jr. and
Edwin F. Williams
Langley Research Center 
(LAR-1 1071)
I 
a 
I 
B72lO663
	 Category 06


Automatic water inventory, collecting, and dispensing unit

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