Patent ID: 6220311
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: B67D

Abstract:
A volumetric displacement device for maintaining a substantially full-fill state and thereby preventing usable material (50, 50c, 50d) from degrading due to atmospheric exposure, comprising:a usable material chamber (46);a displacement matter chamber (48);displacement partition means (28) separating said usable material chamber (46) from said displacement matter chamber (48) comprising a flexible membrane;usable material passageway means (16) for removing said usable material (50, 50c, 50d) stored in said usable material chamber (46), from said usable material chamber (46); anddisplacement matter passageway means (44) for introducing displacement matter (52, 52a, 52d) into said displacement matter chamber (48); wherein:in an initial state, a positive initial volume of usable material (50, 50a, 50d) occupies said usable material chamber (46) and a non-negative initial volume of displacement matter (52, 52a, 52d) is introduced into said displacement matter chamber (48) so as to substantially fill said device and substantially remove atmospheric air from said device and particularly from contact with said usable material (50, 50c, 50d), wherein the sum of said initial volume of usable material (50, 50c, 50d) plus said initial volume of displacement matter (52, 52a, 52d) defines a total initial material volume;at least some volume of said usable material (50, 50c, 50d) is removed from said usable material chamber (46), leaving a remaining volume of said usable material (50, 50c, 50d);a volume of new displacement matter (52, 52a, 52d) substantially equivalent to the volume of said usable material (50, 50c, 50d) so-removed from said usable material chamber (46) is introduced into said displacement matter chamber (48) resulting in a subsequent volume of displacement matter (52, 52a, 52d), so as to again substantially fill said device and substantially remove atmospheric air from said device and particularly from contact with said usable material (50, 50c, 50d), wherein the sum of said remaining volume of usable material (50, 50c, 50d) plus said subsequent volume of displacement matter (52, 52a, 52d) is substantially equal to said total initial material volume; andsaid usable material (50, 50c, 50d) is repeatedly so-removed from said usable material chamber (46) and new displacement matter (52, 52a, 52d) is repeatedly so-introduced into said displacement matter chamber (48), to substantially continuously maintain said device in a substantially-full state and substantially remove atmospheric air from said device and particularly from contact with said usable material (50, 50c, 50d), as often as desired, until substantially all of said usable material (50, 50c, 50d) has been removed from said device.