Interactive sealing arrangement pressurized fluid storage system and method

Abstract

An interactive sealing arrangement includes a sealing member operatively disposed across a gap between a first wall and a second wall that is moveable relative to the first wall and at least partially defines a storage chamber. A passage extends through the second wall and is in fluid communication with the sealing member such that a portion of an associated fluid at an elevated pressure within the storage chamber can interact with the sealing member and thereby urge at least a portion of the sealing member into abutting engagement with the first wall. A pressurized fluid storage system for containing a quantity of an associated fluid at an elevated pressure level that includes such an interactive sealing arrangement and a method of sealing are also included.

1 . A pressurized fluid storage system for containing a quantity of an associated fluid at an elevated pressure level, said system comprising: a pressure vessel including a vessel wall that at least partially defines a storage chamber for storing a quantity of the associated fluid, said vessel wall including an opening providing access to said storage chamber; a moveable wall structure displaceably supported within said pressure vessel and extending across said opening to at least partially retain a quantity of the associated fluid in said storage chamber, said moveable wall structure including: an outer peripheral wall disposed adjacent said vessel wall such that a gap is formed between said outer peripheral wall and said vessel wall; an end wall disposed toward said storage chamber; a groove extending into said moveable wall structure from along said outer peripheral wall such that said groove is in fluid communication with said storage chamber through said gap; and, at least one passage extending through at least a portion of said moveable wall structure and in fluid communication between said groove and said storage chamber; and, an interactive sealing arrangement operatively disposed between said pressure vessel and said moveable wall structure and capable of forming a substantially fluid-tight seal therebetween, said interactive sealing arrangement including: a first sealing member positioned between said moveable wall structure and said vessel wall and disposed at least partially within said groove of said moveable wall structure, said first sealing member including a first peripheral portion disposed toward said vessel wall and a second peripheral portion disposed along said groove in fluid communication with said at least one passage such that a portion of the associated fluid at an elevated pressure within said storage chamber can interact with said second peripheral portion of said first sealing member and thereby urge said first peripheral portion of said first sealing member into abutting engagement with said vessel wall of said pressure vessel. 
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one passage includes a first passage having a first end in fluid communication with said groove and an opposing second end in fluid communication with said storage chamber. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said sealing arrangement includes a piston supported on said moveable wall structure that is displaceable between a first position on said moveable wall structure in which said second end of said passage is substantially fluidically-isolated from said storage chamber and a second position on said moveable wall structure in which said second end of said passage is in fluid communication with said storage chamber. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein said sealing arrangement includes a second sealing member supported on one of said moveable wall structure and said piston and operative to form a substantially fluid-tight seal between said moveable wall structure and said piston in at least said first position of said piston. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 4 , wherein said second sealing member is supported on said moveable wall structure and said sealing arrangement includes a third sealing member supported on said moveable wall structure in spaced relation to said second sealing member such that said third sealing member forms a substantially fluid-tight seal between said moveable wall structure and said piston said second position of said piston. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 5 , wherein said groove extending into said moveable wall structure is a first groove and said moveable wall structure includes a second groove extending thereinto adjacent said piston, said third sealing member includes a first peripheral portion disposed toward said piston and a second peripheral portion disposed along said second groove, said at least one passage is disposed in fluid communication between said first groove, said second groove and said storage chamber in said second position of said piston such that a portion of the associated fluid at an elevated pressure within said storage chamber can interact with said second peripheral portion of said first and third sealing members and thereby urge said first peripheral portion of said first sealing member into abutting engagement with said vessel wall of said pressure vessel and said first peripheral portion of said third sealing member into abutting engagement with said piston. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least one passage includes a first passage having a first portion with a first end in fluid communication with said first groove, a second portion with a second end in fluid communication with said second groove and a third portion with a third end in fluid communication with said storage chamber. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said first passage is one of a plurality of first passages disposed in circumferentially-spaced relation to one another about said moveable wall structure. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said third end of said third portion of said first passage is fluidically isolated from said storage chamber in said first position of said piston. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein said moveable wall structure includes a third groove extending thereinto from along said outer peripheral wall and in spaced relation along said outer peripheral wall from said first groove, and said interactive sealing arrangement includes a fourth sealing member at least partially disposed within said third groove of said moveable wall structure such that a portion of said gap disposed between said first and fourth sealing members at least partially defines an intermediate chamber. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 10 , wherein said at least one passage includes a first passage having a first portion with a first end in fluid communication with said first groove, a second portion with a second end in fluid communication with said second groove, a third portion with a third end in fluid communication with said storage chamber, and a fourth portion with a fourth end in fluid communication with said third groove. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least one passage includes a first passage having a first portion with a first end in fluid communication with said first groove, a second portion with a second end in fluid communication with said second groove and a third portion with a third end in fluid communication with said storage chamber, and said moveable wall structure includes an exhaust passage in fluid communication between said first passage and an associated external atmosphere. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein said interactive sealing arrangement includes a valve in fluid communication across said exhaust passage, said valve being selectively operable to permit fluid flow through said exhaust passage. 
     
     
         14 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one passage includes a first passage having a first portion with a first end in fluid communication with said first groove and a second portion with a second end in fluid communication said storage chamber, and a second passage in fluid communication between said intermediate chamber and said second groove. 
     
     
         28 . A system according to  claim 27 , said first passage is one of a plurality of first passages disposed in circumferentially-spaced relation to one another about said moveable wall structure, and said second passage is one of a plurality of second passages disposed in circumferentially-spaced relation to one another about said moveable wall structure. 
     
     
         29 . A system according to  claim 27 , wherein said second sealing member includes a first peripheral portion disposed toward said vessel wall and a second peripheral portion disposed along said second groove such that at least a portion of the associated fluid at an elevated pressure within said intermediate chamber can interact with said second peripheral portion of said second sealing member through said second passage and thereby urge said first peripheral portion of said second sealing members into abutting engagement with said vessel wall of said pressure vessel. 
     
     
         30 . A system according to  claim 27 , wherein said interactive sealing arrangement includes a valve in fluid communication across said second passage, said valve being selectively operable to permit fluid flow through said second passage. 
     
     
         31 . A system according to  claim 27 , wherein said intermediate chamber is a first intermediate chamber, said moveable wall structure includes a third groove extending thereinto from along said outer peripheral wall and in spaced relation along said outer peripheral wall from said second groove in a direction generally opposite said first groove, and said interactive sealing arrangement includes a third sealing member positioned between said moveable wall structure and said vessel wall and disposed at least partially within said third groove of said moveable wall structure such that a portion of said gap is disposed between said second and third sealing members at least partially defines a second intermediate chamber. 
     
     
         32 . A system according to  claim 31 , wherein said at least one passage includes a third passage in fluid communication between said second intermediate chamber and said third groove. 
     
     
         33 . A system according to  claim 32 , said third passage is one of a plurality of third passages disposed in circumferentially-spaced relation to one another about said moveable wall structure. 
     
     
         34 . A system according to  claim 32 , wherein said valve is a first valve and said interactive sealing arrangement includes a second valve in fluid communication across said third passage, said second valve being selectively operable to permit fluid flow through said third passage. 
     
     
         35 .- 78 . (canceled)