Thermal expansion/surge reduction water tank

• US 8,523,001 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Conservation Technology Distribution, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Conservation Technology Distribution, Inc.
• Inventors: Acker, Larry K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANDRA, CHETAN GATTU
• Application Number:
  US12/632,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20110132904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 220/584, 220/720, 220/721, 220/723, 138/30
• US Class Current: 220/584
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 12/00 Pressure vessels in general covers therefor F16J13/00; for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B01J, F17C, G21C
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 3/02 Diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/1008 expansion tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/1016 Tanks having a bladder
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/1041 Flow-through

Abstract

A thermal expansion/surge reduction water tank includes a hollow housing with a bladder sealed to an inside of the housing forming two compartments therein. A compressed air inlet in communication with a first of the compartments is provided for expanding the first compartment by focusing the bladder into an abutting relationship with the housing inside. A water inlet and a water outlet in communication with a second of the compartments is provided and disposed for causing non-laminar flow of water through the second compartment for both expanding the second compartment by forcing said bladder into the first compartment and flushing the second compartment to effect self-cleaning thereof. A plurality of protuberances disposed on a side of said bladder facing the second compartment are provided for preventing sealing of the bladder in an area of abutment with the housing inside between the water inlet and outlet thereby enabling fluid flow between the water inlet and outlet with said bladder abutting the housing inside.

Claims

1. A thermal expansion/surge reduction water tank comprising:

a) a hollow housing;

b) a bladder sealed to an inside of the housing forming two compartments therein;

c) a compressed air inlet in communication with a first of the compartments for expanding the first compartment by forcing said bladder into an abutting relationship with an upper inside surface of the hollow housing;

d) a water inlet and a separate water outlet both in fluid communication with a second of the compartments, the orientation of the water inlet and the water outlet to each other being structured to produce one-way non-laminar flow of water from the inlet to the outlet through the second compartment upon application of water pressure through the water inlet, thereby flushing the second compartment with water through said outlet to effect self-cleaning thereof and expanding the second compartment by forcing said bladder into the first compartment;

e) a plurality of protuberances disposed on a side of said bladder facing the second compartment and extending along a portion thereof abutting said upper inside surface of the hollow housing between said inlet and said outlet in order to prevent sealing of said bladder to the inside surface of said housing; and

f) a plurality of fluid channels between said bladder and said housing in an abutment area between said inlet and said outlet, formed by said protuberances when water pressure does not displace the bladder into the first compartment, thereby enabling continued fluid flow between the water inlet and separate water outlet with said bladder abutting the housing inside.

2. The tank according to claim 1 wherein a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet are perpendicularly oriented with one another.

3. The tank according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of protuberances are molded into said bladder.

4. The tank according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of protuberances are spaced apart discrete protuberances.

5. The tank according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of protuberances comprises spaced apart ribs, the protuberances forming a channel for water flow between the water inlet and water outlet when said bladder abuts the housing.

6. A thermal expansion/surge reduction water tank comprising:

a) a hollow housing;

b) a fluid inlet;

c) a fluid outlet separate from the fluid inlet;

d) a compressed air inlet;

e) a bladder sealed to an inside of the housing having the fluid inlet and fluid outlet spaced apart from one side of the bladder and the air inlet spaced apart from another side of said bladder, wherein introduction of compressed air into the housing through the air inlet causes said bladder to abut an abutment area of said housing inside surface between the fluid inlet and said fluid outlet; and

f) a plurality of fluid channels between said bladder and said housing;

said channels formed by a plurality of protuberances disposed on a side of said bladder facing said abutment area between said inlet and said outlet when water pressure through said fluid inlet does not prevent said bladder from abutting said abutment area of said housing, thereby enabling continued fluid flow between the fluid inlet and the separate fluid outlet with said bladder abutting the abutment area of said housing.

7. The tank according to claim 6 wherein a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet are perpendicularly oriented with one another.

8. The tank according to claim 6 wherein said plurality of protuberances are molded into said bladder.

9. The tank according to claim 6 wherein said plurality of protuberances are spaced apart discrete protuberances.

10. The tank according to claim 6 wherein said plurality of protuberances comprises spaced apart ribs.

11. A thermal expansion/surge reduction water tank comprising:

a) a hollow housing;

b) a fluid inlet;

c) a fluid outlet separate from the fluid inlet;

d) a compressed air inlet;

e) a bladder sealed to an inside of the housing having the fluid inlet and fluid outlet spaced apart from one side of the bladder and the air inlet spaced apart from another side of said bladder, wherein introduction of compressed air into the housing through the air inlet causes said bladder to abut said housing in an abutment area inside surface between the fluid inlet and said fluid outlet; and

f) a plurality of fluid channels between said bladder and said housing;

said channels formed by a plurality of protuberances disposed on a side of said bladder facing said abutment area between said inlet and said outlet when water pressure through said fluid inlet does not prevent said bladder from abutting said abutment area of said housing, thereby enabling fluid flow between the fluid inlet and the separate fluid outlet with said bladder abutting the abutment area of said housing.

12. The tank according to claim 11 wherein said plurality of protuberances comprise spaced apart ribs.

13. A water tank, comprising:

a hollow housing comprising a top and a bottom;

a flexible bladder sealed to an inside of the hollow housing defining an upper volume between the flexible bladder and the top of the hollow housing, and defining a lower volume between the flexible bladder and the bottom of the hollow housing;

a fluid inlet connected to the top of the hollow housing in fluid communication with the upper volume;

a separate fluid outlet connected to the top of the hollow housing in fluid communication with the upper volume;

a compressed air inlet connected to the bottom of the hollow housing in pneumatic communication with the lower volume; and

a plurality of fluid channels between said bladder and said housing;

said channels formed by a plurality of protuberances disposed on a side of said bladder facing an abutment area of an inside surface of said housing between said fluid inlet and said outlet when said bladder abuts said abutment area of said housing.