Patent US4150662A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3696959A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3696959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cryogenic storage vessel constructed of dissimilar materials
Assignee: Lox Equipment Co
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Filing: 1971-01-11
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1991-01-11
Abstract
Abstract A vessel for storing and transporting cryogenic fluids such as liquid hydrogen, nitrogen and helium. The vessel comprises inner and outer elongated containers supported one within another in coaxial circumjacent relation by support means that includes transverse support structure adjacent each end of the vessel to constrain the containers against transverse or radial displacements relative to each other. The inner and outer containers are constructed of materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion; the inner container being formed of a material having a high coefficient such as aluminum and the outer container being formed of material having a lower coefficient such as steel. The transverse support structure includes elements comprised of each such material, and the invention is particularly concerned with a means for uniting the dissimilar materials at their junction adjacent the ends of the inner container.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul J Eifel
- 👤 Cesar E Cavanna
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:18
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C13/00; F17C13/08; F17C13/086; F17C3/00; F17C3/02; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0104; F17C2201/0109; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/01; F17C2203/011; F17C2203/012; F17C2203/014; F17C2203/015; F17C2203/06; F17C2203/0602; F17C2203/0612; F17C2203/0626; F17C2203/0629; F17C2203/0634; F17C2203/0636; F17C2203/0639; F17C2203/0643; F17C2203/0646; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/012; F17C2221/014; F17C2221/016; F17C2221/017; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; F17C2223/03; F17C2223/033; F17C2260/00; F17C2260/01; F17C2260/011; F17C2260/012; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/32; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
In a vessel for cryogenic fluids and the like provided with a pair of longitudinally extending containers supported one within another in space apart relation, apparatus for structurally interconnecting the inner container of said vessel with the outer container thereof, comprising: a pad fixedly related to an end wall of said inner container adjacent the longitudinal center thereof; a mounting plate rigidly united with said pad; and a plurality of outwardly extending spokes fixedly secured at their inner ends to said mounting plate and attached at their outer ends to said outer container; said inner container and pad being formed of lightweight material and said outer container, spokes, and mounting plate being formed of a material having superior strength characteristics relative to said inner container and being non-weldable thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
In a vessel for cryogenic fluids and the like provided with a pair of longitudinally extending containers supported one within another in space apart relation, apparatus for structurally interconnecting the inner container of said vessel with the outer container thereof, comprising: a pad fixedly related to an end wall of said inner container adjacent the longitudinal center thereof; a mounting plate rigidly united with said pad; and a plurality of outwardly extending spokes fixedly secured at their inner ends to said mounting plate and attached at their outer ends to said outer container; said inner container and pad being formed of lightweight material and said outer container, spokes, and mounting plate being formed of a material having superior strength characteristics relative to said inner container and being non-weldable thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The vessel of claim 1 and further comprising an additional pad, mounting plate and plurality of spokes interrelated onE with another and with said inner and outer containers as aforesaid at the opposite end of said vessel, the spokes at one end vessel being flexible to accommodate thermally induced relative expansion and contraction of said containers and being stiff at the opposite end of said vessel to fixedly relate said inner and outer containers thereat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The vessel of claim 2 in which each of said pads comprises a unitary part of the associated end wall of said inner container; and in which said inner container and pads are aluminum, said outer container is carbon steel, and said spokes and mounting plates are stainless steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vessel of claim 1 in which said pad has an annular channel in the outer surface thereof, and in which said mounting plate is ring-shaped and is seated within said annular channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
138 words
The vessel of claim 4 in which said inner container and pad and said outer container, spokes and mounting plate are formed of materials having different coefficients of linear expansion with the coefficient of said inner container and pad being substantially greater than that of said outer container, spokes, and mounting plate, the inner and outer diameters of said annular channel and of said ring-shaped mounting plate being held to relatively close tolerances, and the inner diameter of said mounting plate being smaller than the inner diameter of said annular channel at ordinary ambient temperatures, said mounting plate being thermally fitted at least in part within said channel so as to compressively grip the inner circumferential edge of said channel at ordinary ambient temperatures and be compressively gripped by the circumjacent edge of said channel at cryogenic temperatures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
The vessel of claim 5 and further comprising an additional pad, mounting plate and plurality of spokes interrelated one with another and with said inner and outer containers as aforesaid at the opposite end of said vessel, the spokes at one end of said vessel being flexible to accommodate thermally induced relative expansion and contraction of said containers and being stiff at the opposite end of said vessel to fixedly relate said inner and outer containers thereat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vessel of claim 5 and further comprising confining means secured to said pad in overlying relation with said mounting plate to insure confinement thereof within said channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vessel of claim 7 in which said confining means is a ring secured to said pad and at least partially overlying said mounting plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The vessel of claim 7 in which said confining means comprises a plurality of angularly spaced ribs each secured to said pad and overlying said mounting plate throughout a restricted area thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The vessel of claim 7 and further comprising an additional pad, mounting plate and plurality of spokes interrelated one with another and with said inner and outer containers as aforesaid at the opposite end of said vessel, the spokes at one end said vessel being flexible to accommodate thermally induced relative expansion and contraction of said vessel to fixedly relate said inner and outer containers thereat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The vessel of claim 10 in which said confining means comprises at the flexible end of said vessel a ring secured to said pad and at least partially overlying said mounting plate, and comprises at the fixed end of said vessel a plurality of angularly spaced ribs each secured to the associated pad and overlying the associated mounting plate throughout a restricted area thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
The vessel of claim 11 in which each of said pads comprises a unitary part of the associated end wall of said inner container; and in which said inner container and pads are aluminum, said outer container is carbon steel, and said mounting plates are stainless steel; said confining ring and confining ribs being welded to the respectively associated pads and said spokes being welded to the respectively associated mounting plates.
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) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |