Patent ID: 6070576
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: A01M,B01D,F17C

Abstract:
A gas storage and dispensing system, comprising:a gas storage and dispensing vessel, holding a physical adsorbent medium having sorptive affinity for the gas, and desorptive thereof under dispensing conditions;a compressible bladder defining an interior volume therewithin;a first conduit interconnecting the bladder and vessel in gas flow communication;a first unidirectional flow control valve in said first conduit, permitting flow only from the vessel to the bladder;a second conduit coupled at a first end thereof in gas flow communication with the bladder and terminating at a second, discharge end thereof;a second unidirectional flow control valve in said second conduit, permitting flow only from the bladder to the second, discharge end of said second conduit;a third conduit coupled at a first end thereof in gas flow communication with the vessel and terminating at a second, inlet end thereof;a third unidirectional flow control valve in said third conduit, permitting flow only from an ambient environment into the vessel;wherein:compression of the bladder effects discharge of gas in the interior volume thereof through the second conduit to the second, discharge end thereof;subsequent release of the bladder after discharge of gas therefrom exerts a reduced pressure dispensing condition on the physical adsorbent medium, to effect desorption of gas from the physical adsorbent medium, flow of desorbed gas from the vessel through the first conduit to the bladder, and reduction of gas pressure in the vessel;reduction of gas pressure in the vessel effects flow of ambient gas from the ambient environment through the third conduit into the vessel to relieve underpressure resulting from reduction of gas pressure in the vessel; andsubsequent compression of the bladder effects dispensing of desorbed gas from the bladder, at the second, discharge end of the second conduit;whereby repetitive compression and relaxation of the bladder is employable for dispensing of a desired quantity of the gas.