Self-valving fluid reservoir and bubble trap

Claim 1

A self-valving fluid reservoir for a fluid flow line which comprises a tubular fluid flow conduit which carries a tranverse, flow-blocking partition within the flow path of said conduit, said conduit defining upstream and downstream lateral port means on each side of the partition to permit fluid communication between the interior and exterior of said conduit, and a flexible, expansible and collapsible, sealed reservoir chamber mounted on said conduit and enclosing said lateral ports, said sealed chamber being elongated in a first direction normal to said fluid flow conduit with respect to a second direction normal to said first direction and said fluid flow conduit, to receive excess fluid by expansion, and to collapse against and occlude said downstream port means in the absence of excess fluid in said reservoir chamber, said fluid reservoir having a venting port defined in said reservoir chamber to remove gas bubbles collected in said chamber, said venting port being remotely spaced in said first direction from said fluid flow conduit, and a conduit carried exterior of said reservoir chamber, said conduit being in fluid communication with said venting port to receive gas bubbles therethrough.