US3756268A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for transporting petroleum products through a frozen medium
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-04-16
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for transmitting petroleum products through a frozen medium, in which the petroleum is pumped at an elevated temperature through an inner conduit, the inner conduit being surrounded by an outer coaxially-disposed annular conduit spaced from the inner conduit and containing a refrigerant medium. The refrigerant medium takes up heat from the petroleum products to protect the frozen medium, and a heat pipe and heat exchanger are connected with the annular conduit to maintain the stability of the refrigerant medium as it takes up heat. The system associated with the refrigerant medium is also useful to effectively transport cryogenic materials.
Inventors
- 👤 K Lefever
- 👤 R Campbell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:24
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/024; F16L1/026; F16L53/00; F16L53/70; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/6416; Y10T137/6579; Y10T137/6851; Y10T137/7036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of transmitting a liquid cryogenic material through a pipeline arrangement, comprising the steps of: transmitting said liquid material through a conduit; and remoVing from said conduit through a semipermeable means vapors formed from said liquid cryogenic material because of heat transfer thereto whereby to relieve pressure buildup in said conduit and to stabilize the liquid cryogenic material, said semipermeable means being impervious to said cryogenic material when such is in its liquid state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of transmitting a liquid cryogenic material through a pipeline arrangement, comprising the steps of: transmitting said liquid material through a conduit; and remoVing from said conduit through a semipermeable means vapors formed from said liquid cryogenic material because of heat transfer thereto whereby to relieve pressure buildup in said conduit and to stabilize the liquid cryogenic material, said semipermeable means being impervious to said cryogenic material when such is in its liquid state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as recited in claim 1, including the additional steps of: treating said vapor to return the same to substantially the same state as the cryogenic material in the conduit; and returning said treated cryogenic material to said conduit.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
86 words
The method of transmitting materials through a pipeline, comprising the steps of: transmitting said material through an inner conduit; simultaneously maintaining a liquid refrigerant medium in an outer conduit disposed concentrically about said inner conduit; and removing from said outer conduit through a semipermeable means vapor formed by the transfer of heat to said refrigerant medium, whereby to maintain a relatively stable liquid state and temperature for said refrigerant medium, said semipermeable means being impervious to said refrigerant medium when such is in its liquid state.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
86 words
The method of transmitting materials through a pipeline, comprising the steps of: transmitting said material through an inner conduit; simultaneously maintaining a liquid refrigerant medium in an outer conduit disposed concentrically about said inner conduit; and removing from said outer conduit through a semipermeable means vapor formed by the transfer of heat to said refrigerant medium, whereby to maintain a relatively stable liquid state and temperature for said refrigerant medium, said semipermeable means being impervious to said refrigerant medium when such is in its liquid state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as recited in claim 3, including the further steps of: treating said vapor to return the same to substantionally the same state as the refrigerant medium in said outer conduit; and returning said treated refrigerant medium vapor to said outer conduit.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
109 words
The method of transmitting a heated material through a permafrost layer which is structurally unstable at temperatures above about 32* comprising the steps of: transmitting said heated material through an inner conduit; simultaneously maintaining a liquid refrigerant medium in an outer conduit disposed concentrically about said inner conduit; and removing from said outer conduit through a semipermeable means vapor formed by the transfer of heat to said liquid refrigerant medium from said inner conduit, said refrigerant medium being effective to maintain said permafrost layer adjacent said pipeline in a structurally stable state, and said semipermeable means being impervious to said refrigerant medium when such is in its liquid state.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
109 words
The method of transmitting a heated material through a permafrost layer which is structurally unstable at temperatures above about 32* comprising the steps of: transmitting said heated material through an inner conduit; simultaneously maintaining a liquid refrigerant medium in an outer conduit disposed concentrically about said inner conduit; and removing from said outer conduit through a semipermeable means vapor formed by the transfer of heat to said liquid refrigerant medium from said inner conduit, said refrigerant medium being effective to maintain said permafrost layer adjacent said pipeline in a structurally stable state, and said semipermeable means being impervious to said refrigerant medium when such is in its liquid state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said refrigerant medium is maintained in said outer conduit by establishing a continuing flow of said medium therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as recited in claim 5, including the additional steps of: treating said removed vapor to return the same to substantially the same state as the refrigerant medium in said outer conduit; and returning said treated refrigerant medium vapor to said outer conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said outer conduit is closed to the flow of refrigerant medium therethrough, whereby a closed loop system is established.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said outer conduit is spaced from said inner conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
A closed system transmission line arrangement for transmitting liquid cryogenic materials, comprising: a first primary conduit for transmitting said cryogenic materials; a second vapor collector conduit; and semipermeable means connecting said first primary conduit with said second collector conduit, said means being porous only to vapors formed in said cryogenic material by the transfer of heat thereto and being impervious to said cryogenic materials when such are in their liquid state, whereby said second vapor collector serves to collect vapors occurring in said primary conduit without loss of cryogenic materials in a liquid state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
A closed system transmission line arrangement for transmitting liquid cryogenic materials, comprising: a first primary conduit for transmitting said cryogenic materials; a second vapor collector conduit; and semipermeable means connecting said first primary conduit with said second collector conduit, said means being porous only to vapors formed in said cryogenic material by the transfer of heat thereto and being impervious to said cryogenic materials when such are in their liquid state, whereby said second vapor collector serves to collect vapors occurring in said primary conduit without loss of cryogenic materials in a liquid state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A transmission line as recited in claim 10, wherein said second conduit is received within said first conduit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A transmission line as recited in claim 10, wherein said second conduit is external of said first conduit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A transmission line as recited in claim 10, including additionally: treatment means connected with said second conduit for treating vapors collected thereby to return said vapors to substantially the state of said cryogeNic material, the outlet of said treatment means being connected to said first conduit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
99 words
A pipeline for transmitting materials, including: an inner conduit for transmitting said materials; an outer conduit disposed about said inner conduit, for containing a liquid refrigerant medium; collector conduit means; and semipermeable means connecting said outer conduit with said collector conduit means, said semipermeable means being porous only to vapors formed in said liquid refrigerant medium by the transfer of heat thereto and being impervious to said refrigerant medium when such is in its liquid state, whereby said collector conduit serves to collect vapors occurring in said outer conduit without loss of refrigerant medium in a liquid state therefrom.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
99 words
A pipeline for transmitting materials, including: an inner conduit for transmitting said materials; an outer conduit disposed about said inner conduit, for containing a liquid refrigerant medium; collector conduit means; and semipermeable means connecting said outer conduit with said collector conduit means, said semipermeable means being porous only to vapors formed in said liquid refrigerant medium by the transfer of heat thereto and being impervious to said refrigerant medium when such is in its liquid state, whereby said collector conduit serves to collect vapors occurring in said outer conduit without loss of refrigerant medium in a liquid state therefrom.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
A pipeline as recited in claim 14, and further including: treatment means connected with said collector conduit means for treating vapors collected thereby to return the same to substantially the state of said refrigerant medium in said outer conduit, the outlet of said treatment means being connected with said outer conduit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
84 words
A pipeline for transmitting materials, including: an inner conduit for transmitting said materials; an outer conduit disposed about said inner conduit; an intermediate conduit disposed between and spaced from said inner conduit and said outer conduit, the space between said outer conduit and said intermediate conduit containing a refrigerant medium; collector conduit means; and semipermeable means connecting said outer conduit with said collector conduit means, said semipermeable means being porous only to vapors formed in said refrigerant medium by the transfer of heat thereto.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
84 words
A pipeline for transmitting materials, including: an inner conduit for transmitting said materials; an outer conduit disposed about said inner conduit; an intermediate conduit disposed between and spaced from said inner conduit and said outer conduit, the space between said outer conduit and said intermediate conduit containing a refrigerant medium; collector conduit means; and semipermeable means connecting said outer conduit with said collector conduit means, said semipermeable means being porous only to vapors formed in said refrigerant medium by the transfer of heat thereto.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A pipeline as recited in claim 16, wherein said collector conduit means is received between said intermediate conduit and said outer conduit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
A pipeline as recited in claim 16, wherein the annular space between said inner conduit and said intermediate conduit comprises said collector conduit means, said semipermeable means being mounted in the wall of said intermediate conduit.
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) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |