What is it ?

[JerryK]

I bought this at a yard sale last year,
posted it on another forum a few months ago, and
couldn’t find out what it was.
Maybe someone here knows ? ( about 5” diameter )

 

[4GSR]

Sponick prototype satellite?

 

[4GSR]

I've seen similar vessels that were designed to handle liquefied gasses or just gasses in general.

 

[shooter123456]

This diagram came to mind when I saw it: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Azzy9_ox...ith+diaphragm+(left)+and+bladder+(right)..jpg

Corresponding to this site: http://okigihan.blogspot.com/p/withnitrogen-or-air.html

Looks similar, but not exactly the same.

 

[RJSakowski]

The boiler for a still?

 

[JerryK]

The fittings on top are 1/4 NPT brass, probably for air.
The bottom one with the red cap is stainless steel
with a 7/16-20 internal thread. I believe the sphere
and stand are 304 SS

 

[Terrywerm]

This diagram came to mind when I saw it: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Azzy9_ox...ith+diaphragm+(left)+and+bladder+(right)..jpg

Corresponding to this site: http://okigihan.blogspot.com/p/withnitrogen-or-air.html

Looks similar, but not exactly the same.

Similar yes, but the same? Nope. It is simply an empty sphere, made of stainless steel (probably 300 series), welded together. As for accumulators, they can be cylindrical in shape, nothing says that they have to be spherical. The brass fittings dictate that pressures are relatively low, probably less than 200 PSI. I suspect it was set up as a surge tank or small reservoir of some sort that allowed either drainage of water from a compressed air system, or it simply helped to eliminate pulses in pressure in one part of a system from affecting other components.

On the other hand, I could be so far off that somebody reading this is laughing hysterically right now.

 

[Firestopper]

Reminds me of a retard chamber used in fire protection systems. The fitting at 2 O'clock throws me off though. It also reminds me of a reservoir found on aircraft "environmental systems"that store liquid oxygen (LOX) as it appears to be made stainless, but then again the tig welds aren't to standards found on aircraft.

 

[JerryK]

There are two stamps on it
first CVFW 815 , second CVFW 1059
I think welding inspection stamps, but
I couldn’t find those numbers

 

[pineyfolks]

If it weren't for the legs on it it kind of reminds me of those old torches used along side of the railroad tracks. Of course that's been a long time ago.