Dual gas pressure vessel

DETAILED DESCRIPTION While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to embodiment illustrated.
The dual gas pressure vessel shown in FIG.
1 comprises a generally hemispherical upper housing portion 10, and a generally hemispherical lower housing portion 12, the upper and lower portions being joined along their common circumference by welding 14.
Within the vessel there is a generally cylindrical or tube-like corrugated metallic bellows 16, the upper end 18 of which is fixedly attached to the upper housing portion 10.
The other end of the bellows tube is closed by a circular substantially rigid plate 20.
Accordingly, the bellows 16 divides the interior of the vessel into a first chamber 22 and a second chamber 24.
To prevent diffusion of gases from one chamber to the other through the bellows, the bellows are constructed of an impermeable material, for example metal.
In the position shown in FIG.
1, the plate 20 rests upon the upper surface of an inverted generally cup shaped support member 26 fixedly attached to the lower housing portion 12.
The support ensures that the volumes of the first and second chambers 22,24 are well defined; in addition, it imparts rigidity to the bellows 16 during charging of the device (as will be explained below).
An aperture 28 is provided centrally of the upper housing portion, and opening into the first chamber 22.
Received within the aperture 28 is a plug 30, and passing through the plug is an exhaust 29.
The interior end of the exhaust is contained within a sharp edged probe 32, mounted in the plug 30, and extending into the first chamber 22.
A charging aperture 34, closed by a second plug 36, is provided centrally of the lower housing portion 12, and opens into the interior volume of the support member 26