Cold transport line

Claim 2

A COLD TRANSPORT LINE COMPRISING FIRST TUBE MEANS FOR COLD TRANSPORT MEDIUM, A RADIATION SHIELD SURROUNDING SAID FIRST TUBE MEANS WITH A FIRST ANNULAR SPACE DEFINED BETWEEN SAID SHIELD AND FIRST TUBE MEANS, FIRST FLEXIBLE WIRE MEANS OF LOW HEAT-CONDUCTIVITY ENGAGING AND SUSPENDING SAID FIRST TUBE MEANS WITHIN SAID SHIELD, SECOND TUBE MEANS FOR COOLING MEDIUM SITUATED OUTSIDE AND PARALLEL TO SAID SHIELD AND IN THERMAL CONTACT THEREWITH, A VACUUM JACKET FORMED AS A FLEXIBLE TUBULAR BELLOWS SURROUNDING SAID SHIELD WITH A SECOND ANNULAR SPACED DEFINED BETWEEN SAID JACKET AND SHIELD, SECOND FLEXIBLE WIRE MEANS OF LOW HEAT-CONDUCTIVITY ENGAGING AND SUSPENDING SAID SHIELD WITHIN SAID JACKET, SAID FIRST AND SECOND TUBE MEANS, RADIATION SHIELD AND JACKET MADE OF SYNTHETIC MATERIAL, AND SEALING MEANS CLOSING THE ENDS OF SAID JACKET ABOUT SAID FIRST AND SECOND TUBE MEANS AND SHIELD FOR DEFINING SAID VACUUM SPACE THEREIN.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of axially spaced-apart rings fixedly positioned generally concentrically within said bellows, said second flexible wire means engaging said rings and said shield.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprises a wall closing each end of said bellows, each wall including apertures corresponding to said first and second tube means, and a connection tube secured in each aperture with one end of the connection tube engaging one end of one of said tube means.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second tube means and first and second wire means are made of nylon.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said radiation shield is made of polytetrafluoroethene.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said radiation shield is made of polyethylene.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second tube means comprises first and second tubes, the first tube being in thermal contact with said shield, and heat conducting tape wrapped around and enveloping said first tube and shield with a portion of said tape extending between said first tube and said shield, said second tube situated parallel to said first tube, outside said tape, and means urging said second tube inwardly against said portion of tape, and thereby maintaining this tape in tension despite shrinkage of the tubes during transport of cold medium therethrough.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said tape comprises copper foil.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a layer of radiation reflective ribbon wrapped around and enveloping said first and second tubes and tape.

Claim 11

A cold transport line comprising first tube means for cold transport medium, a radiation shield surrounding said first tube means with a first annular space defined between said shield and first tube means, first flexible wire means of low heat-conductivity engaging and suspending said first tube means within said shield, second tube means comprising first and second tubes for cooling medium situated outside and parallel to said shield, with the first tube in thermal contact with said shield and heat conducting tape wrapped around and enveloping said first tube and shield with a portion of said tape extending between said first tube and said shield, said second tube situated parallel to said first tube and outside said tape, and means urging said second tube inwardly against said portion of tape and thereby maintaining this tape in tension despite shrinkage of the tubes during transport of cold medium therethrough, a tubular vacuum jacket surrounding said shield with a second annular space defined between said jacket and shield, second flexible wire means of low heat-conductivity engaging and suspending said shield within said jacket, said first and second tube means, radiation shield and jacket made of synthetic material, and sealing means closing the ends of said jacket about said first and second tube means and shield for defining said vacuum space therein.

Claim 12

A cold transport line comprising first tube means for cold transport medium, a radiation shield surrounding said first tube means with a first annular space defined between said shield and first tube means, first flexible wire means of low heat-conductivity engaging and suspending said first tube means within said shield, second tube means comprising first and second tubes for cooling medium situated outside and parallel to said shield, with the first tube in thermal contact with said shield and heat conducting tape wrapped around and enveloping said first tube and shield with a portion of said tape extending between said first tube and said shield, said second tube situated parallel to said first tube and outside said tape, and means urging said second tube inwardly against said portion of tape and thereby maintaining this tape in tension despite shrinkage of the tubes during transport of cold medium therethrough, a tubular vacuum jacket surrounding said shield with a second annular space defined between said jacket and shield, second flexible wire means of low heat-conductivity engaging and suspending said shield within said jacket, said first and second tube means, radiation shield and jacket made of synthetic material, and sealing means closing the ends of said jacket about said first and second tube means and shield for defining said vacuum space therein.