Gas storage and recovery system

Claim 2

A gas storage system comprising an inflatable variable volume enclosure for holding the gas, the enclosure having an inlet through which gas flows into the enclosure from a gas source, a pressure maintenance means comprising a venting relief valve between the inlet and the enclosure for maintaining a desired pressure of gas on the inlet from the enclosure, and the enclosure having an outlet through which gas stored in the enclosure flows from the enclosure.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein the venting relief valve filters gas flowing therethrough.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein the venting relief valve comprises a base with a gas flow channel therethrough, a cap member spaced apart from and secured to the base for gas flow therebetween, a movable poppet movably mounted in a poppet recess in the cap member, the poppet movable to close off flow through the gas flow channel of the base, and a filtering means disposed between the base and the cap member for filtering gas flowing therebetween.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 wherein in the venting relief valve a plurality of bolts secure the cap member to the base in spaced apart relation and the filtering means comprises a filter element extending circumferentially around an opening of the gas flow channel in the base and is sealingly mounted in recesses in both the base and in the cap member.

Claim 6

A gas storage system comprising an inflatable variable volume enclosure for holding the gas, the enclosure having an inlet through which gas flows into the enclosure from a gas source, a pressure maintenance means between the inlet and the enclosure for maintaining a desired pressure of gas on the inlet from the enclosure, the enclosure having a plurality of stiffening elements formed therein or secured thereto, and the enclosure having an outlet through which gas stored in the enclosure flows from the enclosure.

Claim 7

A gas storage system comprising an inflatable variable volume enclosure for holding the gas, the enclosure having an inlet through which gas flows into the enclosure from a gas source, a pressure maintenance means between the inlet and the enclosure for maintaining a desired pressure of gas on the inlet from the enclosure, the enclosure having a plurality of stiffening elements formed therein or secured thereto, and the enclosure having an outlet through which gas stored in the enclosure flows from the enclosure.

Claim 8

The system of claim 5 wherein the stiffening elements are a plurality of inflatable ribs secured to the enclosure, each rib having a gas flow opening and inflatable by gas from a gas source.

Claim 9

The system of claim 6 wherein a gas manifold intercommunicates with the enclosure through which gas flows to and from the inflatable ribs.

Claim 10

The system of claim 5 including also gas purification means communicating with the enclosure for purifying gas flowing out from the enclosure.

Claim 11

The system of claim 7 including also control means in communication with the enclosure and the gas manifold for controlling gas flow to and from the inflatable ribs to thereby control volume of the enclosure, the control means having a pressure transducer for sensing interior pressure in the enclosure and at least one control valve for regulating gas flow to and from the inflatable ribs.

Claim 12

The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one control valve selectively permits gas flow either to the gas manifold from a gas storage device or from the gas manifold to the enclosure.

Claim 13

The system of claim 9 wherein gas for inflating the inflatable ribs is provided from at least one gas storage tank in communication with the gas manifold through a secondary gas flow line, and the control means controlling flow through the secondary line.

Claim 14

The system of claim 5 wherein the enclosure has a metallized plastic liner.

Claim 15

The system of claim 6 wherein an attachment member disposed over each inflatable rib holds each rib on the enclosure, each attachment member secured to the enclosure, a portion of an exterior of the enclosure's surface and a portion of the interior of the attachment member defining a space containing an inflatable rib and in which the rib is permitted to inflate.

Claim 16

The system of claim 5 wherein the enclosure is generally semi-cylindrical in shape.

Claim 17

The system of claim 5 wherein the gas is helium.

Claim 18

The system of claim 5 including at least one gas storage tank in communication with the outlet of the enclosure, and a gas compressor disposed between the outlet and the at least one gas storage tank for providing compressed gas to the storage tank.

Claim 19

A gas storage system comprising an inflatable variable volume enclosure for holding the gas, the enclosure having an inlet through which gas flows into the enclosure from a gas source, a pressure maintenance means between the inlet and the enclosure for maintaining a desired pressure of gas on the inlet from the enclosure, control means for controlling volume of the enclosure and back pressure at the inlet, and the enclosure having an outlet through which gas stored in the enclosure flows from the enclosure.

Claim 20

A gas storage system comprising an inflatable variable volume enclosure for holding the gas, the enclosure having an inlet through which gas flows into the enclosure from a gas source, a pressure maintenance means between the inlet and the enclosure for maintaining a desired pressure of gas on the inlet from the enclosure, control means for controlling volume of the enclosure and back pressure at the inlet, and the enclosure having an outlet through which gas stored in the enclosure flows from the enclosure.

Claim 21

A gas storage system for storing helium gas, the system comprising an inflatable variable volume enclosure generally semi-cylindrical in shape with a gas inlet through which gas flows from a gas source having a plurality of stiffening ribs secured thereto, each rib having a gas flow opening and inflatable by gas flowing into the enclosure through the inlet, the enclosure having a metallized plastic liner, a pressure maintenance means between the inlet and the enclosure for maintaining a desired pressure of gas in the enclosure, the pressure maintenance means comprising a venting relief valve, a gas manifold intercommunicating with the enclosure and with gas storage tanks, and through which gas flows to and from the ribs, control means for controlling volume of the enclosure and back pressure at the gas inlet and disposed in a gas flow line from the enclosure to the gas storage tanks, and for controlling gas flow to and from the ribs, the control means having a pressure transducer for sensing interior pressure in the enclosure and control valves for regulating gas flow to and from the ribs, the control valves selectively permitting gas flow either to the gas manifold from the storage tanks or from the gas manifold to the enclosure, and the enclosure having an outlet for gas flow from the enclosure.

Claim 22

A gas storage system for storing helium gas, the system comprising an inflatable variable volume enclosure generally semi-cylindrical in shape with a gas inlet through which gas flows from a gas source having a plurality of stiffening ribs secured thereto, each rib having a gas flow opening and inflatable by gas flowing into the enclosure through the inlet, the enclosure having a metallized plastic liner, a pressure maintenance means between the inlet and the enclosure for maintaining a desired pressure of gas in the enclosure, the pressure maintenance means comprising a venting relief valve, a gas manifold intercommunicating with the enclosure and with gas storage tanks, and through which gas flows to and from the ribs, control means for controlling volume of the enclosure and back pressure at the gas inlet and disposed in a gas flow line from the enclosure to the gas storage tanks, and for controlling gas flow to and from the ribs, the control means having a pressure transducer for sensing interior pressure in the enclosure and control valves for regulating gas flow to and from the ribs, the control valves selectively permitting gas flow either to the gas manifold from the storage tanks or from the gas manifold to the enclosure, and the enclosure having an outlet for gas flow from the enclosure.