Refrigeration by direct vapor condensation

Claim 1

A REFRIGERATED STORAGE SYSTEM FOR THE STORAGE OF LIQUID, NORMALLY GASEOUS PRODUCTS, SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING: A LIQUID PRODUCT STORAGE TANK HAVING A LIQUID PRODUCT ZONE AND A VAPOR ZONE; MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TANK FOR REMOVING A PORTION OF SAID LIQUID PRODUCT; REFRIGERATION MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID LIQUID PRODUCT REMOVAL MEANS FOR REDUCING THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID PORTION OF LIQUID PRODUCT; AND A VAPOR-LIQUID CONTACTOR LOCATED ABOVE SAID TANK, CLOSED TO THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE AND DISPOSED BETWEEN AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID VAPOR ZONE AND SAID REFRIGERATION MEANS FOR BRINGING SAID REFRIGERATED PORTION OF LIQUID PRODUCT INTO INTIMATE CONTACT WITH VAPOR WITHDRAWN FROM SAID VAPOR ZONE INTO SAID CONTACTOR, SAID CONTACTOR INCLUDING: A VERTICALLY DISPOSED CHAMBER PORTION; AN OUTLET AT THE TOP OF SAID CHAMBER FOR REMOVING ACCUMULATED NON-CONDENSABLE VAPORS; FLOW CONTROL MEANS ON SAID OUTLET; PIPE MEANS FOR CONDUCTING VAPOR FROM SAID VAPOR ZONE IN SAID TANK, SAID PIPE MEANS HAVING A VAPOR WITHDRAWING PORTION DEPENDING FROM SAID CHAMBER INTO SAID VAPOR ZONE AND A REMAINING PORTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY WITHIN SAID CHAMBER, SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE THEREWITH, AND TERMINATING AT AN UPPER OPENING;