Patent US3715519A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3602003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of and apparatus for transporting cryogenic liquids
Assignee: Lox Equipment Co
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Filing: 1969-03-20
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1989-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A method of and apparatus for reducing the rate at which the heat content of a cryogenic liquid such as liquefied oxygen or nitrogen increases as a consequence of its being necessarily shipped in a partially filled container. The method includes dividing a predetermined volume of the liquid which ordinarily would be loaded into a shipping container therefor into major and minor fractions, the first of which is significantly larger than the second. The major fraction is confined within a container compartment having substantially the same volume as that of the major fraction, and the minor fraction is confined within a container compartment having a substantially larger volume than that of the minor fraction so as to accommodate any enlargement in the volume of the major fraction as a consequence of increases in the heat content thereof. Any such increases in the volume of the major fraction are withdrawn from the container compartment confining the same and are delivered to the container compartment confining the minor fraction. The apparatus includes a tank car having a large container provided with inner and outer wall structures separated from each other to define a heat-insulated space therebetween. The container is subdivided by a bulkhead into major and minor compartments, and means are provided for filling the container with a cryogenic liquid and for withdrawing such liquid therefrom. The minor and major compartments are flow interconnected by valve-equipped conduits that enable any overflow of liquid from the major compartment resulting from temperature-induced volumetric increases in the liquid confined therein to pass into the minor compartment.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert S Hampton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:24
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C13/00; F17C13/005; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0104; F17C2201/0109; F17C2201/0147; F17C2201/0166; F17C2201/05; F17C2201/054; F17C2201/056; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/03; F17C2205/00; F17C2205/03; F17C2205/0302; F17C2205/0323; F17C2205/0335; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/901; Y10S220/918
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A container structure for transporting thermoexpansible liquids including cryogenic liquids and the like, comprising an inner wall structure defining a container chamber therewithin, an outer wall structure spaced from said inner wall structure and defining an insulating space therebetween, an intermediate bulkhead within said chamber subdividing the same into major and minor compartments flow-isolated one from the other, means associated with said major compartment for filling the same with such liquid and for removing the same therefrom, means associated with said minor compartment for introducing liquid thereinto and for removing the same therefrom, and flow conduit means interconnecting said compartments to enable overage from said major compartment to flow into said minor compartment so as to accommodate thermal expansion of such liquid confined within said major compartment, said flow conduit means interconnecting said compartments including valve devices therealong comprising a pressure equalizing check valve permitting flow of liquid from the major to the minor compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A container structure for transporting thermoexpansible liquids including cryogenic liquids and the like, comprising an inner wall structure defining a container chamber therewithin, an outer wall structure spaced from said inner wall structure and defining an insulating space therebetween, an intermediate bulkhead within said chamber subdividing the same into major and minor compartments flow-isolated one from the other, means associated with said major compartment for filling the same with such liquid and for removing the same therefrom, means associated with said minor compartment for introducing liquid thereinto and for removing the same therefrom, and flow conduit means interconnecting said compartments to enable overage from said major compartment to flow into said minor compartment so as to accommodate thermal expansion of such liquid confined within said major compartment, said flow conduit means interconnecting said compartments including valve devices therealong comprising a pressure equalizing check valve permitting flow of liquid from the major to the minor compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
240 words
A container structure for transporting thermoexpansible liquids including cryogenic liquids and the like and being elongated axially in the direction in which it travels during transport thereof, comprising an inner wall structure defining an axially elongated container chamber therewithin, an outer wall structure spaced from said inner wall structure and defining an insulating space therebetween, an intermediate bulkhead within said chamber in relatively close proximity to one end thereof subdividing the chamber into a long major compartment adapted to be filled substantially to capacity with such liquid to restrict the permissible freedom of movement thereof relative to said wall structure and a minor compartment flow isolated from said major compartment and adapted to be partially filled with such liquid and being short in the axial direction relative to said major compartment so as to restrict the axial extent of the uninterrupted wave motion of any liquid partially filling the same, means associated with said major compartment for filling the same with such liquid and for removing the same therefrom, means associated with said minor compartment for introducing liquid thereinto and for removing the same therefrom, flow conduit means interconnecting said compartments to enable overage from said major compartment to flow automatically into said minor compartment so as to accommodate thermal expansion of such liquid confined within said major compartment, and flow-inhibiting means for prohibiting reverse flow of liquid through said flow conduit means from said minor to said major compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
240 words
A container structure for transporting thermoexpansible liquids including cryogenic liquids and the like and being elongated axially in the direction in which it travels during transport thereof, comprising an inner wall structure defining an axially elongated container chamber therewithin, an outer wall structure spaced from said inner wall structure and defining an insulating space therebetween, an intermediate bulkhead within said chamber in relatively close proximity to one end thereof subdividing the chamber into a long major compartment adapted to be filled substantially to capacity with such liquid to restrict the permissible freedom of movement thereof relative to said wall structure and a minor compartment flow isolated from said major compartment and adapted to be partially filled with such liquid and being short in the axial direction relative to said major compartment so as to restrict the axial extent of the uninterrupted wave motion of any liquid partially filling the same, means associated with said major compartment for filling the same with such liquid and for removing the same therefrom, means associated with said minor compartment for introducing liquid thereinto and for removing the same therefrom, flow conduit means interconnecting said compartments to enable overage from said major compartment to flow automatically into said minor compartment so as to accommodate thermal expansion of such liquid confined within said major compartment, and flow-inhibiting means for prohibiting reverse flow of liquid through said flow conduit means from said minor to said major compartment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The container structure of claim 2 and further comprising pressure relief means connected with said major compartment for limiting the maximum permissible pressure therewithin, the aforesaid prohibition of reverse flow through said flow conduit means being effective during and subsequent to operation of said pressure relief means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The container structure of claim 2 in which said flow conduit means connects with said minor compartment adjacent the upper end thereof so as to be above the elevation of liquid partially filling the same to define at least a part of said flow-inhibiting means and effect the aforesaid prohibition of reverse flow from said minor to said major compartment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The container structure of claim 2 in which said flow conduit means is connected with said major compartment adjacent the upper extremity thereof so that said major compartment is continuously maintained in a substantially completely filled condition when filled with any such liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The container structure of claim 5 in which said flow conduit means connects with said minor compartment adjacent the upper end thereof so as to be above the elevation of liquid partially filling the same to define at least a part of said flow-inhibiting means and effect the aforesaid prohibition of reverse flow from said minor to said major compartment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The container structure of claim 6 and further comprising pressure relief means connected with said major compartment for limiting the maximum permissible pressure therewithin, the aforesaid prohibition of reverse flow through said flow conduit means being effective during and subsequent to operation of said pressure relief means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The container structure of claim 7 in which a pressure equalizing check valve permitting flow of liquid from the major to the minor compartment is included in said flow conduit means to define a further part of said flow-inhibiting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
197 words
In a method of minimizing the development of kinetic energy and conversion thereof into heat during transport of a thermoexpansible liquid such as a cryogenic liquid or the like, the steps of confining a predetermined large volume of such liquid within an axially elongated major chamber having substantially the same volume as that of the liquid therein so as to restrict the permissible freedom of movement of the liquid relative thereto, confining a substantially smaller volume of such liquid within a minor chamber to partially fill the same and which minor chamber has a much smaller capacity than that of the major chamber but at least as great as the normally expected volumetric increase of the liquid within said major chamber due to any increase in the heat content thereof, restricting the axial extent of the uninterrupted wave motion of any liquid within the minor chamber by minimizing the axial length thereof, withdrawing from the major chamber any volumetric increases in the liquid therein that tend to exceed the capacity of the major chamber and delivering such withdrawn quantities into the minor chamber, and confining liquid within the minor chamber against flow thereof into the major chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
197 words
In a method of minimizing the development of kinetic energy and conversion thereof into heat during transport of a thermoexpansible liquid such as a cryogenic liquid or the like, the steps of confining a predetermined large volume of such liquid within an axially elongated major chamber having substantially the same volume as that of the liquid therein so as to restrict the permissible freedom of movement of the liquid relative thereto, confining a substantially smaller volume of such liquid within a minor chamber to partially fill the same and which minor chamber has a much smaller capacity than that of the major chamber but at least as great as the normally expected volumetric increase of the liquid within said major chamber due to any increase in the heat content thereof, restricting the axial extent of the uninterrupted wave motion of any liquid within the minor chamber by minimizing the axial length thereof, withdrawing from the major chamber any volumetric increases in the liquid therein that tend to exceed the capacity of the major chamber and delivering such withdrawn quantities into the minor chamber, and confining liquid within the minor chamber against flow thereof into the major chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 9 in which any such volumetric increases in the liquid within the major chamber are continuously withdrawn therefrom and delivered into the minor chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 in which the volume of liquid within the major chamber is initially about nine times greater than the volume within the minor chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11 in which said minor chamber has a capacity about twice the volume of the liquid initially confined therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |