US3699775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas and liquid processing system
Assignee: SUB MARINE SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1969-12-11
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Granted: 1972-10-24
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Expires: 1989-12-11
Abstract
Abstract In a liquid processing system, a container includes a liquid and a pressurizing gas which is substantially non-reactive with respect to the liquid and establishes a controlled pressure differential between the interior of the container and its surroundings. A porous conduit, extending between the interior and exterior of the container, is maintained in contact with the liquid. The conduit transports liquid along its length, forming a meniscus of extended surface upon portions of the conduit not submerged in the liquid. The meniscus defines a gas barrier; the conduit nevertheless transports fluid at a selected rate between the container and its surroundings. When employed in a cryogenic system, fluid may be transported in response to heat interchange by the container, the rate depending on the temperature change required. The fluid further may be ejected into an extremely high pressure environment without the use of a power source.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth W Cowans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:53
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C9/00; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0104; F17C2201/0109; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/06; F17C2203/0602; F17C2203/0612; F17C2203/0626; F17C2203/0629; F17C2203/0634; F17C2203/0636; F17C2203/0639; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/013; F17C2221/014; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A liquid processing system for transporting liquid through a pressure differential between ambient pressure and internal pressure by internally generated forces, comprising: a closed vessel having at least one orifice; pressurizing gas within the vessel; and liquid-permeable conduit means extending between the interior and the exterior of the vessel through the orifice, said conduit means being in sealed relation to the orifice and being impermeable to the gas when substantially any portion of said conduit means is in contact with the liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A liquid processing system for transporting liquid through a pressure differential between ambient pressure and internal pressure by internally generated forces, comprising: a closed vessel having at least one orifice; pressurizing gas within the vessel; and liquid-permeable conduit means extending between the interior and the exterior of the vessel through the orifice, said conduit means being in sealed relation to the orifice and being impermeable to the gas when substantially any portion of said conduit means is in contact with the liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said liquid-permeable conduit means contacts the liquid substantially independently of attitude of the vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gas is maintained at a selected pressure to control liquid transport rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The inveNtion as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conduit comprises at least one porous tube, an extended surface of the liquid being formable upon said porous tube during contact between said porous tube and said liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein a liquid is disposed within said vessel, said liquid having a main body and a main surface, said main surface being associated with said main body, and wherein said extended surface is disposed over substantially all of said at least one porous tube surface which is within said vessel and extends outside said main body of liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein pressure within the vessel is greater than the ambient pressure, and wherein said porous tube comprises a coil element and a stainless steel micron cloth having apertures no larger than approximately five microns in diameter, said stainless steel micron cloth enclosing said coil element and being seam welded thereto, said porous tube being disposed adjacent the interior surface of said vessel.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
123 words
A system for heat interchange with controlled accompanying temperature variation, including zero variation, comprising: a closed vessel having at least one orifice; a liquid within said vessel substantially in thermodynamic phase equilibrium with a first gas comprising a vapor of said liquid, said liquid having a main surface and a main body, said surface being associated with said main body; liquid permeable conduit means for transporting liquid between the interior and exterior of said vessel at rates related to desired temperature variation rates under heat interchange, said conduit means being impermeable to said gas while substantially any portion of said conduit means is in contact with said liquid; and means for providing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of said vessel.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
123 words
A system for heat interchange with controlled accompanying temperature variation, including zero variation, comprising: a closed vessel having at least one orifice; a liquid within said vessel substantially in thermodynamic phase equilibrium with a first gas comprising a vapor of said liquid, said liquid having a main surface and a main body, said surface being associated with said main body; liquid permeable conduit means for transporting liquid between the interior and exterior of said vessel at rates related to desired temperature variation rates under heat interchange, said conduit means being impermeable to said gas while substantially any portion of said conduit means is in contact with said liquid; and means for providing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of said vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein said conduit means comprises a porous tube communicating with the exterior of said vessel through said orifice in said vessel, an extended surface of said liquid being disposed over any portion of said porous tube within said vessel which extends outside said main body of said liquid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein at least a portion of said porous tube contacts said liquid in substantially all orientations of said vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein at least a portion of said porous tube passes adjacent at least one interior surface of said vessel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein said conduit comprises a flexible member having a porous surface wherein the heat interchange comprises isothermal heat absorption by the system and wherein said porous tube contacts said liquid in all orientations of said vessel when said vessel is filled with liquid to about 10% or more of its volume.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for providing the pressure differential comprises a second gas within said vessel, said second gas being substantially nonreactive with said first gas and said liquid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention as set forth in claim 9 further including means responsive to pressure within the vessel for varying the amount of said second gas within the vessel to maintain a selected pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the vessel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
136 words
The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein said heat interchange comprises isothermal heat absorption by said liquid from a flow of fluid in thermal contact therewith, wherein said conduit comprises a helical steel spring, a stainless steel porous fine micron cloth having apertures of about 5 micron size and a stiffener, said stainless steel micron cloth sheathing said helical steel spring and defining the boundary of said conduit means and being seam welded to said helical steel spring except in at least one portion of said porous tube adjacent said orifice wherein said stiffener comprising a copper tube encloses said helical steEl spring and is soldered thereto and to said stainless steel micron cloth; wherein said liquid comprises liquid nitrogen; and wherein said porous tube is disposed adjacent the interior surface of said vessel.
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) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |