A reusable automatic drainable reservoir

Abstract

A reusable automatic liquid discharge tank comprises a tank body, a light-weight piston, a tank cover, a filling and liquid discharge valve, a spring power system, a pipeline system and a piston traction rope; wherein the tank body is used for storing solution; the upper port is sealed by the tank cover, the lower end is conical, and the lower port is connected to the pipeline system; the light-weight piston is located inside the tank body, the outer envelope is a cone matched with the lower end of the tank body, and the edge is close to the inner wall of the tank body; the pipeline system comprises two pipelines, the spring power system is arranged on the pipeline located on the axis of the tank body; the filling and liquid discharge valve is installed on the other pipeline perpendicular to the axis of the tank body; one end of the piston traction rope pulls the light-weight piston, and the other end is connected to the spring power system; when the spring power system works, the light-weight piston is driven to move by the piston traction rope. The present application does not need to additionally increase the air pressure system or the pump pipeline system, and can efficiently utilize the space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a reusable automatic drain tank, belonging to the field of propellant tanks. Background Technology

[0002] The future development trend of spacecraft and launch vehicles is towards high payload capacity, which means minimizing their own weight and saving space. Titanium alloy tanks are liquid propellant management devices primarily used in single-use space launch vehicles. They provide energy to the propulsion system while ensuring the system can perform refueling and defueling functions normally, making them one of the most important components of a space launch vehicle.

[0003] As industrial development places increasingly higher demands on structural design, lightweight, reusable, and space-efficient technologies are gradually becoming new research hotspots. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a reusable, lightweight, and space-efficient storage tank for space launch vehicles.

[0004] Currently, the world's mainstream storage tanks are squeeze-type and pump-pressurized type. Squeeze-type tanks are mostly diaphragm tanks, which are thin-walled pressure vessels, generally for single use, and require an additional pneumatic system to release pressurized gas. Although the tank itself is relatively lightweight, the added pressure system occupies space and also adds to its mass. Similarly, pump-pressurized tanks, which are reusable, require additional pump piping and valve systems that occupy excessive space and have a relatively high mass. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem solved by this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies and provide a reusable automatic draining tank that eliminates the need for additional pneumatic or pump systems, thus enabling efficient space utilization. The technical solution of this invention is: a reusable automatic draining tank, comprising: a tank body, a lightweight piston, a tank cover, a filling and draining valve, a spring-driven system, a piping system, and a piston traction rope; wherein:

[0006] The tank body is cylindrical and used to store solutions; the upper port is sealed by a tank cover, and the lower end is conical, with the lower port connected to the piping system;

[0007] The lightweight piston is located inside the tank body, and its outer envelope is a cone that matches the lower end of the tank body, with its edge tightly attached to the inner wall of the tank body;

[0008] The piping system includes two pipelines. One pipeline, located on the axis of the storage tank, is equipped with a spring-driven system. The other pipeline, perpendicular to the axis of the storage tank, is equipped with a filling and draining valve for filling or draining the solution in the storage tank.

[0009] One end of the piston traction rope pulls the lightweight piston, and the other end is connected to the spring power system. When the spring power system is working, it drives the lightweight piston to move through the piston traction rope.

[0010] Preferably, the tank body is made of titanium alloy and has an installation thread at the top for installation with the tank cover.

[0011] Preferably, the tank cover is made of titanium alloy and has threads at the contact position with the tank body for installation.

[0012] The tank cover has a vent and contains aerogel to absorb any small amounts of leaked liquid.

[0013] Preferably, the lightweight piston comprises: a mesh skeleton, a sealing portion, and a skin; wherein:

[0014] The skin is located below the mesh frame, that is, closer to the lower end of the tank body; the edges of the spider web frame and the skin are welded together;

[0015] The sealing part is equipped with a rubber ring sealing structure, located at the edge of the spider web-like skeleton and skin welding position, and in contact with the inner wall of the storage tank, to ensure a seal between the lightweight piston and the inner wall of the storage tank.

[0016] Preferably, the spring-powered system includes an inner rotating shaft, an outer rotating shaft, a one-way control block assembly, a rope groove, an outer housing, and a spring, specifically:

[0017] The inner rotating shaft is fixed inside the outer housing, and the outer rotating shaft is dumbbell-shaped with a rope groove in the middle, on which the traction rope can be wound. The inner rotating shaft passes through the inside of the outer rotating shaft. The one-way control block assembly and the spring are installed at both ends of the inner rotating shaft and adjacent to the inner walls of both ends of the outer rotating shaft. The one-way control block assembly controls the relative rotation of the inner rotating shaft and the outer rotating shaft. The spring is installed at both ends of the inner rotating shaft and the outer rotating shaft to store elastic potential energy, so that the inner rotating shaft and the outer rotating shaft can rotate relative to each other.

[0018] Preferably, there are annular notches on the inner walls at both ends of the rotating outer shaft;

[0019] The one-way control block assembly includes a spring, an electrically controlled magnetic attraction, and a wedge. Both the spring and the electrically controlled magnetic attraction are connected to and control the wedge: When the electrically controlled magnetic attraction is in the released state, the one-way control block assembly ejects the wedge outward under the action of the spring, causing the wedge to engage with the annular notch of the rotating outer shaft. At this time, the rotating outer shaft can still rotate, driving the lightweight piston downward. The rotation direction of the rotating outer shaft is defined as positive, and the reverse rotation of the rotating outer shaft can be blocked by the wedge. When the electrically controlled magnetic attraction is engaged, the wedge of the one-way control block retracts from the annular notch of the rotating outer shaft under the action of the spring, no longer blocking the relative rotation between the rotating outer shaft and the rotating inner shaft.

[0020] Preferably, the tapered design at the lower end of the storage tank is used to concentrate the liquid at the tapered end during the drainage process, thereby improving the drainage rate.

[0021] Preferably, when the solution needs to be discharged, the filling and draining valve is opened. When the one-way control block's electro-magnetic attraction is not activated, the spring power system rotates forward under the action of elastic potential energy. The rotating outer shaft of the spring power system winds the piston traction rope, driving the lightweight piston to the lowest position of the storage tank, draining the solution inside the storage tank. The discharge speed can be stopped or controlled midway by closing the filling and draining valve or controlling its opening.

[0022] Preferably, when solution needs to be added, the filling and draining valve opens, the one-way control block's electro-magnetic attraction engages, and the wedge retracts from the annular notch of the rotating outer shaft under the action of the spring. The filling port of the external filling system is connected to the filling and draining valve. Under the pressure of the filling liquid, the lightweight piston moves upward, increasing the internal space until it reaches the uppermost end and stops. After the solution is full, external filling stops, the filling and draining valve closes, the one-way control block's electro-magnetic attraction is de-energized, and it is in a natural state under the action of the spring.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0024] (1) The piston of the present invention adopts a lightweight design, with a spider web-like skeleton and skin structure, and the tank body is made of high-quality titanium alloy plate to reduce the overall weight as much as possible.

[0025] (2) The end of the storage tank of the present invention adopts a conical design, which concentrates the liquid at the end of the cone during the drainage process, effectively improving the drainage rate;

[0026] (3) The spring system has a unidirectional control block structure during the discharge process, which can determine whether unidirectional action is possible according to control requirements. This can effectively prevent unnecessary damage caused by changes in tank volume due to vibration or other special circumstances during the process;

[0027] (4) The filling pipeline and the draining pipeline are the same pipeline, which effectively reduces the pipeline and space, while also reducing the overall weight and complexity of the system, making the overall quality easier to control. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a reusable automatic draining tank according to the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the spring-driven power system of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the lightweight piston spiderweb skeleton structure of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solution adopted in this design is as follows: A reusable automatic draining tank includes a tank body 1, a lightweight piston 2, a tank cover 3, a filling and draining valve 4, a spring-driven power system 5, a piping system 6, and a piston traction rope 7. The lightweight piston 2 is located inside the tank body, and its center is pulled by the piston traction rope 7, the other end of which is connected to the spring-driven power system 5. The upper end of the tank body 1 is sealed by the tank cover 3, and the lower end is connected to the piping system 6. The piping system 6 and the tank body 1 are directly opposite the spring-driven power system 5. Another branch of the piping system is for filling or draining the solution, and the filling and draining valve 4 is installed on it.

[0032] The tank body 1 is generally made of titanium alloy and is cylindrical in shape. The upper end has a threaded installation for mounting with the tank cover 3. The lower end of the tank body 1 is tapered and connected to the pipeline system 6.

[0033] The tank cover 3 is also generally made of titanium alloy, with threads on the cylindrical part for installation with the tank body 1. It also has a small vent hole on the top, and the vent hole is filled with aerogel to absorb small amounts of leaked liquid, while also having flame-retardant properties.

[0034] The lightweight piston 2 includes a mesh skeleton 2.1, a sealing part 2.2, and a skin 2.3. The skin 2.3 is located below the mesh skeleton 2.1, that is, closer to the lower end of the storage tank 1. The edges of the mesh skeleton 2.1 and the skin 2.3 are welded together. The sealing part 2.2 is equipped with a rubber ring sealing structure, located at the edge of the mesh skeleton 2.1 and the skin 2.3, and in contact with the inner wall of the storage tank 1, to ensure the seal between the lightweight piston 2 and the storage tank 1.

[0035] The piping system 6 at the bottom of the storage tank 1 is divided into two lines. The straight line is connected to the spring power system 5, and the branch line is equipped with a filling and draining valve 4, which is used for filling and draining the solution inside the storage tank.

[0036] The spring-driven power system 5 includes: an inner rotating shaft 5.1, an outer rotating shaft 5.2, a one-way control block assembly 5.3, a rope groove 5.4, and an outer housing 5.5; wherein:

[0037] The inner rotating shaft 5.1 is fixed inside the outer housing 5.5. The outer rotating shaft 5.2 is dumbbell-shaped, with a rope groove 5.4 in the middle, around which the traction rope 7 can be wound. The inner rotating shaft 5.1 passes through the interior of the outer rotating shaft 5.2. A one-way control block assembly 5.3 and a spring-loaded spring 5.6 are installed at both ends of the inner rotating shaft 5.1 and adjacent to the inner walls of both ends of the outer rotating shaft 5.2. The one-way control block assembly 5.3 controls the relative rotation of the inner rotating shaft 5.1 and the outer rotating shaft 5.2. The spring-loaded spring 5.6 is installed at both ends of the inner rotating shaft 5.1 and the outer rotating shaft 5.2 to store elastic potential energy, enabling relative rotation between the inner rotating shaft 5.1 and the outer rotating shaft 5.2. The inner walls at both ends of the outer rotating shaft 5.2 have annular notches.

[0038] The one-way control block assembly 5.3 includes a spring, an electrically controlled magnetic attraction, and a wedge. Both the spring and the electrically controlled magnetic attraction are connected to and control the wedge. When the electrically controlled magnetic attraction is in the released state, the one-way control block assembly 5.3 ejects the wedge outward under the action of the spring, causing the wedge to engage with the annular notch of the rotating outer shaft 5.2. Even with the wedge blocking this movement, the rotating outer shaft 5.2 can still rotate clockwise, driving the lightweight piston 2 downward. The downward movement of the lightweight piston 2 is defined as the positive direction. The reverse rotation of the rotating outer shaft 5.2 is blocked by the wedge. When the electrically controlled magnetic attraction is engaged, the wedge of the one-way control block 5.3 retracts from the annular notch of the rotating outer shaft 5.2 under the action of the spring, no longer obstructing the relative rotation between the rotating outer shaft 5.2 and the rotating inner shaft 5.1.

[0039] As this storage tank is part of the space launch vehicle, it does not have its own independent control system and is controlled by the space launch vehicle's control system. When it is necessary to drain the solution, the filling and draining valve 4 opens, the electromagnetic attraction of the one-way control block 5.3 is not activated, and the one-way control block 5.3 is in its natural state under the action of its spring. The spring system 5 rotates forward under the action of elastic potential energy, and the spring spring 5.6 is released from its wound state, driving the rotating outer shaft 5.2 to rotate. While rotating, the rotating outer shaft 5.2 winds the piston traction rope 7, and the lightweight piston 2 reaches the lowest position of the storage tank 1 under the action of the piston traction rope 7, draining all the solution inside the storage tank. If it is necessary to stop midway or control the draining speed, the filling and draining valve 4 can be closed or its opening degree controlled. Moreover, in the middle position, the spring system, under the action of the one-way control block 5.3, can prevent it from shaking outward under vibration or other forces.

[0040] When solution needs to be added, the filling and draining valve 4 opens, and the electromagnetic attraction of the one-way control block 5.3 engages. Under the action of its spring, the one-way control block 5.3 is in a tightened state; that is, the wedge of the one-way control block 5.3 retracts from the annular notch of the rotating outer shaft 5.2 under the action of the spring. The filling port of the external filling system connects to the filling and draining valve 4. Under the pressure of the added liquid, the lightweight piston 2 moves upward, increasing the internal space until it reaches its uppermost position and stops, indicating the solution is full. External filling stops, and the filling and draining valve 4 closes. The electromagnetic attraction of the one-way control block 5.3 is de-energized, and the one-way control block 5.3 returns to its natural state under the action of the spring. This prevents the lightweight piston 2 from moving upward under external forces such as vibration. Filling is complete.

[0041] In this design, the lightweight piston 2 adopts a lightweight design, using a spider web-like skeleton and skin structure to reduce the overall weight as much as possible.

[0042] The tank body 1 is made of high-quality titanium alloy plate to minimize weight. Simultaneously, the overall structure includes a cylindrical section of a certain length that fits into the tank body 1, ensuring smooth lengthwise expansion and contraction during the filling and draining process. This effectively prevents instability and deformation during the process and minimizes lateral movement of the center of gravity. The tank end features a tapered design, concentrating the liquid at the tapered end during draining, effectively improving the draining rate.

[0043] In the design, the lightweight piston 2 is sealed with rubber or copper rings when it contacts the storage tank body 1, which ensures reliable sealing and allows for reuse.

[0044] The piston traction rope between the lightweight piston and the spring mechanism can be either nylon rope or corrosion-resistant steel wire rope.

[0045] Except for the upper and lower ends, the main body of the storage tank can also be cylindrical or hexahedral. In this case, the outer envelope of the lightweight piston 2 is designed to adapt to the shape of the storage tank.

[0046] The design utilizes a clockwork system 5 as its power system, eliminating the need for additional gas compression or pump systems, thus saving space and reducing weight to the greatest extent. Furthermore, the clockwork system features a unidirectional control block structure during the discharge process, allowing for unidirectional operation as needed. This effectively prevents unnecessary damage caused by vibrations or other special circumstances affecting tank volume changes.

[0047] The design incorporates a single pipeline for both filling and draining, effectively reducing piping and space requirements, while also decreasing overall weight. This simplified system makes overall quality control easier.

[0048] The lightweight piston 2 can be sealed with a double seal of rubber and copper rings when it comes into contact with the tank body 1, which ensures reliable sealing and allows for reuse.

[0049] The contents not described in detail in this specification are existing technologies known to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A reusable automatic draining tank, characterized in that... include: The tank body (1), lightweight piston (2), tank cover (3), filling and draining valve (4), spring power system (5), piping system (6), and piston traction rope (7); among which: The tank body (1) is cylindrical and used to store solutions; the upper end is sealed by the tank cover (3), the lower end is conical, and the lower end is connected to the pipeline system (6). The lightweight piston (2) is located inside the storage tank (1), and its outer envelope is a cone that matches the lower end of the storage tank (1), with its edge tightly attached to the inner wall of the storage tank (1); The pipeline system (6) includes two pipelines, one of which is located on the axis of the storage tank (1) and is equipped with a spring-driven system (5); the other pipeline, which is perpendicular to the axis of the storage tank (1), is equipped with a filling and draining valve (4) for filling or draining the solution in the storage tank. One end of the piston traction rope (7) pulls the lightweight piston (2), and the other end is connected to the spring power system (5). When the spring power system (5) is working, it drives the lightweight piston (2) to move through the piston traction rope (7). The spring-driven system (5) includes an inner rotating shaft (5.1), an outer rotating shaft (5.2), a one-way control block assembly (5.3), a rope groove (5.4), an outer housing (5.5), and a spring (5.6), specifically: The inner rotating shaft (5.1) is fixed inside the outer housing (5.5), and the outer rotating shaft (5.2) is dumbbell-shaped with a rope groove (5.4) in the middle, on which the piston traction rope (7) can be wound. The inner rotating shaft (5.1) passes through the inside of the outer rotating shaft (5.2). The one-way control block assembly (5.3) and the spring (5.6) are installed at both ends of the inner rotating shaft (5.1) and adjacent to the inner walls of both ends of the outer rotating shaft (5.2). The one-way control block assembly (5.3) controls the relative rotation of the inner rotating shaft (5.1) and the outer rotating shaft (5.2). The spring (5.6) is installed at both ends of the inner rotating shaft (5.1) and the outer rotating shaft (5.2) to store elastic potential energy, so that the inner rotating shaft (5.1) and the outer rotating shaft (5.2) can rotate relative to each other. The inner walls at both ends of the rotating outer shaft (5.2) have annular notches; The one-way control block assembly (5.3) includes a spring, an electrically controlled magnetic attraction, and a wedge. The spring and the electrically controlled magnetic attraction are both connected to and control the wedge. When the electrically controlled magnetic attraction is in the released state, the one-way control block assembly (5.3) ejects the wedge outward under the action of the spring, so that the wedge is engaged in the annular notch of the rotating outer shaft (5.2). At this time, the rotating outer shaft (5.2) can still rotate and drive the lightweight piston (2) to move downward. The rotation direction of the rotating outer shaft (5.2) is defined as positive. At this time, the reverse rotation of the rotating outer shaft (5.2) can be blocked by the wedge. When the electrically controlled magnetic attraction is engaged, the wedge of the one-way control block assembly (5.3) retracts from the annular notch of the rotating outer shaft (5.2) under the action of the spring, and no longer blocks the relative rotation between the rotating outer shaft (5.2) and the rotating inner shaft (5.1).

2. The reusable automatic drain tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tank body (1) is made of titanium alloy and has an installation thread at the top for installation with the tank cover (3).

3. The reusable automatic draining tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tank cover (3) is made of titanium alloy and has threads at the contact position with the tank body (1) for installation with the tank body (1); The tank cover (3) has an exhaust hole and contains aerogel to absorb small amounts of leaked liquid.

4. The reusable automatic draining tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lightweight piston (2) comprises: a mesh skeleton (2.1), a sealing portion (2.2), and a skin (2.3); wherein: The skin (2.3) is located below the mesh frame (2.1), that is, closer to the lower end of the tank body (1); the mesh frame (2.1) and the skin (2.3) are welded at their edges; The sealing part (2.2) is equipped with a rubber ring sealing structure, located at the edge of the welding position of the mesh skeleton (2.1) and the skin (2.3), and in contact with the inner wall of the storage tank body (1) to ensure the seal between the lightweight piston (2) and the inner wall of the storage tank body (1).

5. The reusable automatic draining tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tapered design at the lower end of the storage tank (1) is used to concentrate the liquid at the tapered end during the drainage process, thereby improving the drainage rate.

6. The reusable automatic draining tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the solution needs to be discharged, the filling and draining valve (4) is opened. When the electromagnetic attraction of the one-way control block assembly (5.3) is not activated, the spring power system (5) rotates in the forward direction under the action of elastic potential energy. The rotating outer shaft (5.2) of the spring power system (5) winds the piston traction rope (7) tightly, driving the lightweight piston (2) to the lowest position of the tank body (1) to drain the solution inside the tank. The discharge speed can be stopped or controlled by closing the filling and draining valve (4) or controlling its opening.

7. The reusable automatic draining tank according to claim 1, characterized in that: When solution needs to be added, the filling and draining valve (4) opens, the one-way control block assembly (5.3) is electrically and magnetically attracted, and the wedge of the one-way control block assembly (5.3) retracts from the annular notch of the rotating outer shaft (5.2) under the action of the spring. The filling port of the external filling system is connected to the filling and draining valve (4). Under the action of the filling liquid pressure, the lightweight piston (2) moves upward, the internal space increases until it reaches the uppermost end and stops. After the solution is filled, the external filling stops, the filling and draining valve (4) closes, the one-way control block assembly (5.3) is de-energized, and is in a natural state under the action of the spring.

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