US3780761A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus including an equalization chamber for discontinuous venting of a vessel
Assignee: Applied Automation Inc
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Filing: 1972-02-10
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1992-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A vessel to be vented on a discontinuous basis is connected by first conduit means, containing a first valve means, to the inlet of a compressor. An equalization chamber is connected by second conduit means, containing a second valve means, to the first condut means at a point between the first valve means and the inlet of the compressor. The valves are selectively actuated to initially connect the vessel and the equalization chamber to permit the gas pressures therein to equalize, then to close off the chamber while the compressor withdraws additional gas from the vessel until the desired pressure is reached, and finally to withdraw gas from the chamber. The equalization chamber and compressor can be employed to sequentially vent a plurality of vessels. A control means can be utilized to perform the selective actuation of the valves.
Inventors
- 👤 B Whitson
- 👤 J Morgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:58
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D16/00; G05D16/20; G05D16/2006; G05D16/2013; G05D16/2026; G05D16/206; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/85978; Y10T137/85986; Y10T137/86002; Y10T137/86187; Y10T137/86196
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
Apparatus for venting a vessel on a discontinuous basis comprising a first vessel from which gas is to be vented; a compressor having an inlet and an outlet; first conduit means connected to said inlet of said compressor and to said first vessel to provide fluid communication between the interior of said first vessel and the inlet of said compressor; a first valve means operatively positioned in said first conduit means; a second vessel; second conduit means connected to said second vessel and to said first conduit means at a point between said first valve means and said inlet of said compressor to provide fluid communication between the interior of said second vessel and said first conduit means; second valve means operatively positioned in said second conduit means; said first and second conduit means being of sufficient size to permit the gas pressures in said first and second vessels to at least substantially reach an equilibrium condition within a period of time after both of said first and second valve means are actuated to open positions; and control means for initially actuating said first and second valve means to open positions and for actuating said compressor each time said first vessel is to be vented, for actuating said second valve means to a closed position at the expiration of said period of time after said initial actuation of said first and second valve means to open positions, for actuating said first valve means to a closed position after the gas pressure in said first vessel has been reduced a significant amount below the value thereof at said equilibrium condition, for actuating said second valve means to an open position for reducing the pressure in said second vessel after said first valve means has been actuated to a closed position, and for deactuating said compressor after the gas pressure in said second vessel has been reduced to the desired value therefor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
Apparatus for venting a vessel on a discontinuous basis comprising a first vessel from which gas is to be vented; a compressor having an inlet and an outlet; first conduit means connected to said inlet of said compressor and to said first vessel to provide fluid communication between the interior of said first vessel and the inlet of said compressor; a first valve means operatively positioned in said first conduit means; a second vessel; second conduit means connected to said second vessel and to said first conduit means at a point between said first valve means and said inlet of said compressor to provide fluid communication between the interior of said second vessel and said first conduit means; second valve means operatively positioned in said second conduit means; said first and second conduit means being of sufficient size to permit the gas pressures in said first and second vessels to at least substantially reach an equilibrium condition within a period of time after both of said first and second valve means are actuated to open positions; and control means for initially actuating said first and second valve means to open positions and for actuating said compressor each time said first vessel is to be vented, for actuating said second valve means to a closed position at the expiration of said period of time after said initial actuation of said first and second valve means to open positions, for actuating said first valve means to a closed position after the gas pressure in said first vessel has been reduced a significant amount below the value thereof at said equilibrium condition, for actuating said second valve means to an open position for reducing the pressure in said second vessel after said first valve means has been actuated to a closed position, and for deactuating said compressor after the gas pressure in said second vessel has been reduced to the desired value therefor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second vessel is at least substantially as large as said first vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control system comprises first pressure sensing means for determining the gas pressure in said first vessel and second pressure sensing means for determining the pressure in said first conduit means at a poInt between said first valve means and said inlet of said compressor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said control means further comprises electrical relay circuits for selectively actuating said first valve means and said second valve means and containing at least one relay switch actuatable by a signal from said first pressure sensing means and at least one relay switch actuatable by signal from said second pressure sensing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising another vessel from which gas is to be vented, third conduit means connected to said another vessel and to said first conduit means at a point between said first valve means and said inlet of said compressor to provide fluid communication between the interior of said another vessel and said first conduit means, third valve means operatively positioned in said third conduit means, said control means further comprising means for selectively actuating said third valve means instead of said first valve means when said another vessel is to be vented.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said control means comprises means for initially actuating said third valve means and said second valve means to open positions and for actuating said compressor when it is desired to vent said another vessel while maintaining said first valve means in a closed position, for then actuating said third valve means to a closed position after the gas pressures in said another vessel and said third vessel have at least substantially reached equilibrium condition, and then for deactuating said compressor after the gas pressure in said second vessel has been reduced to the desired value therefor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2404869A
Cited
US2769455A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |