Patent Number: 048658022
Section: claims

1. An accumulator whose principal purpose is to allow for thermal expansion of a liquid where said accumulator is adapted to operate in a zero gravity environment comprising: a single closed vessel containing a plurality of elongated tubes, each tube having a fluid passageway therethrough for capillary containment of said liquid;  a grid member having openings therein for receiving one end of each of said tubes in sealing engagement such that the passageways in said tubes provide the sole means for fluid communication through said grid plate;  a housing having wall members surrounding the periphery of and in sealing engagement with said grid plate and a base member, said wall member, base member and grid member forming a liquid zone;  a body of said liquid in said liquid zone and extending partially into each of said tubes;  a body of gas contained in an opposite end of said tubes; and  a conduit means located adjacent said base member of said vessel for the introduction of said liquid into and withdrawal of said liquid from said liquid zone to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction respectively of said liquid. 2. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein said liquid is a liquid metal and said gas is an inert gas. 3. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein each of said tubes has an internal diameter within the range of from about 0.5 to 10 millimeters. 4. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein said tubes and grid member are totally enclosed within said housing. 5. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein each of said tubes are closed at an end opposite said grid member for containing said body of gas. 6. The accumulator of claim 1 wherein said conduit means is in fluid communication with the primary coolant of a liquid metal-cooled nuclear reactor required to operate in a space environment. 7. The accumulator of claim 2 wherein each of said tubes has an internal diameter within the range of from about 0.5 to 100 millimeters. 8. The accumulator of claim 7 wherein said tubes and grid member are totally enclosed within said housing. 9. The accumulator of claim 7 wherein each of said tubes are closed at an end opposite said grid member for containing said body of gas. 10. The accumulator of claim 8 or 9 wherein said conduit means is in fluid communication with the primary coolant of a liquid metal-cooled nuclear reactor required to operate in a space environment.