US3858404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Phase separator for cryogenic fluid
Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corp
•
Filing: 1973-06-25
•
Granted: 1975-01-07
•
Expires: 1993-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A system for maintaining a liquid head of cryogen in a separator vessel for a 2-phase cryogenic fluid comprising in combination a separator vessel having discharge lines for liquid and vapor in the bottom and top sections, respectively; a diaphragm-operated vent valve disposed in the vapor discharge line; and a pressure regulating valve to control the flow of cryogen from the source of cryogenic fluid to the separator vessel. A pneumatic computing relay is connected to the vessel in combination with an amplifier to actuate the vapor vent valve such that the valve will open and close in response to changes of liquid level in the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Bruce Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:17
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C13/00; F17C13/02; F17C13/025; F17C2205/00; F17C2205/03; F17C2205/0302; F17C2205/0323; F17C2205/0332; F17C2205/0338; F17C2205/0388; F17C2205/0394; F17C2205/0397; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; F17C2223/03; F17C2223/033; F17C2250/00; F17C2250/04; F17C2250/0404; F17C2250/043; F17C2250/0434; F17C2250/06; F17C2250/0605; F17C2250/061; F17C2250/0636; F17C2265/00; F17C2265/01; F17C2265/015; F17C2265/017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
21 words
A system for maintaining a liquid head of cryogen in a separator vessel for a 2-phase cryogenic fluid comprising in combination:
Claim 2
Independent Claim
21 words
A system for maintaining a liquid head of cryogen in a separator vessel for a 2-phase cryogenic fluid comprising in combination:
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
a sealed separator vessel, partially filled with a 2-phase cryogenic fluid forming a vapor phase in the top section and a liquid phase in the bottom section thereof, having discharge lines for liquid and vapor in said bottom and top sections, respectively, and a conduit connecting said vessel to a source of cryogenic fluid;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
a sealed separator vessel, partially filled with a 2-phase cryogenic fluid forming a vapor phase in the top section and a liquid phase in the bottom section thereof, having discharge lines for liquid and vapor in said bottom and top sections, respectively, and a conduit connecting said vessel to a source of cryogenic fluid;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
a sealed separator vessel, partially filled with a 2-phase cryogenic fluid forming a vapor phase in the top section and a liquid phase in the bottom section thereof, having discharge lines for liquid and vapor in said bottom and top sections, respectively, and a conduit connecting said vessel to a source of cryogenic fluid;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
a sealed separator vessel, partially filled with a 2-phase cryogenic fluid forming a vapor phase in the top section and a liquid phase in the bottom section thereof, having discharge lines for liquid and vapor in said bottom and top sections, respectively, and a conduit connecting said vessel to a source of cryogenic fluid;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
a pressure regulating valve disposed in said conduit for controlling the flow of cryogenic fluid from said source to said separator vessel, said regulating valve being responsive to the vapor phase pressure in said vessel so as to close said valve when said vapor phase pressure exceeds the desired operating pressure in said vessel;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
a pressure regulating valve disposed in said conduit for controlling the flow of cryogenic fluid from said source to said separator vessel, said regulating valve being responsive to the vapor phase pressure in said vessel so as to close said valve when said vapor phase pressure exceeds the desired operating pressure in said vessel;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
a pressure regulating valve disposed in said conduit for controlling the flow of cryogenic fluid from said source to said separator vessel, said regulating valve being responsive to the vapor phase pressure in said vessel so as to close said valve when said vapor phase pressure exceeds the desired operating pressure in said vessel;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
a pressure regulating valve disposed in said conduit for controlling the flow of cryogenic fluid from said source to said separator vessel, said regulating valve being responsive to the vapor phase pressure in said vessel so as to close said valve when said vapor phase pressure exceeds the desired operating pressure in said vessel;
Claim 11
Independent Claim
21 words
A system for maintaining a liquid head of cryogen in a separator vessel for a 2-phase cryogenic fluid comprising in combination:
Claim 12
Independent Claim
21 words
A system for maintaining a liquid head of cryogen in a separator vessel for a 2-phase cryogenic fluid comprising in combination:
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
a pneumatic diaphragm-operated vapor venting valve of the air to close type disposed in said vapor discharge line for controlling the flow of vapor from the separator vessel;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
a pneumatic diaphragm-operated vapor venting valve of the air to close type disposed in said vapor discharge line for controlling the flow of vapor from the separator vessel;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
a pneumatic diaphragm-operated vapor venting valve of the air to open type disposed in said vapor discharge line for controlling the flow of vapor from the separator vessel;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
a pneumatic diaphragm-operated vapor venting valve of the air to open type disposed in said vapor discharge line for controlling the flow of vapor from the separator vessel;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
a pneumatic computing relay for actuating said diaphragm-operated valve, said relay being connected to the separator vessel to sense the differential pressure caused by the varying liquid head, the relay having one pressure signal line in the top vapor phase section of the vessel and a second pressure signal line in the bottom liquid phase section; and
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
a pneumatic computing relay for actuating said diaphragm-operated valve, said relay being connected to the separator vessel to sense the differential pressure caused by the varying liquid head, the relay having one pressure signal line in the top vapor phase section of the vessel and a second pressure signal line in the bottom liquid phase section; and
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
a pneumatic computing relay for actuating said diaphragm-operated valve, said relay being connected to the separator vessel to sense the differential pressure caused by the varying liquid head, the relay having one pressure signal line in the top vapor phase section of the vessel and a second pressure signal line in the bottom liquid phase section; and
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
a pneumatic computing relay for actuating said diaphragm-operated valve, said relay being connected to the separator vessel to sense the differential pressure caused by the varying liquid head, the relay having one pressure signal line in the top vapor phase section of the vessel and a second pressure signal line in the bottom liquid phase section; and
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
113 words
an amplifier for multiplying the output signal of said computing relay by a factor of from about 3:1 to 6:1, said relay having its bias adjusted such that at the maximum allowable liquid head in the vessel the resulting amplified signal from the relay is at least equal to the maximum operating pressure in the diaphragm operating range thereby enabling the vapor venting valve to open and close in response to the changing liquid level in the vessel and produce a corresponding change in the vapor phase pressure of said vessel such that the flow rate of cryogen into the vessel will be regulated so as to continually maintain a liquid head therein.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
113 words
an amplifier for multiplying the output signal of said computing relay by a factor of from about 3:1 to 6:1, said relay having its bias adjusted such that at the maximum allowable liquid head in the vessel the resulting amplified signal from the relay is at least equal to the maximum operating pressure in the diaphragm operating range thereby enabling the vapor venting valve to open and close in response to the changing liquid level in the vessel and produce a corresponding change in the vapor phase pressure of said vessel such that the flow rate of cryogen into the vessel will be regulated so as to continually maintain a liquid head therein.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
113 words
an amplifier for multiplying the output signal of said computing relay by a factor of from about 3:1 to 6:1, said relay having its bias adjusted such that at the maximum allowable liquid head in the vessel the resulting amplified signal from the relay is at least equal to the minimum operating pressure in the diaphragm operating range thereby enabling the vapor venting valve to open and close in response to the changing liquid level in the vessel and produce a corresponding change in the vapor phase pressure of said vessel such that The flow rate of cryogen into the vessel will be regulated so as to continually maintain a liquid head therein.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
113 words
an amplifier for multiplying the output signal of said computing relay by a factor of from about 3:1 to 6:1, said relay having its bias adjusted such that at the maximum allowable liquid head in the vessel the resulting amplified signal from the relay is at least equal to the minimum operating pressure in the diaphragm operating range thereby enabling the vapor venting valve to open and close in response to the changing liquid level in the vessel and produce a corresponding change in the vapor phase pressure of said vessel such that The flow rate of cryogen into the vessel will be regulated so as to continually maintain a liquid head 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) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |