US3929247A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cryogenic tank
Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp
•
Filing: 1973-07-11
•
Granted: 1975-12-30
•
Expires: 1993-07-11
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to an internally insulated tank for the transportation and storage of cryogenic liquids, such as liquified natural gas. The inner surfaces of the tank are lined with rigid, closed cell polyurethane foam to which is bonded a thin impervious sheet material, such as aluminum foil.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert H Borup
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:16
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C3/00; F17C3/02; F17C3/04; F17C3/06; B; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/18; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/05; F17C2201/052; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/03; F17C2203/0304; F17C2203/0329; F17C2203/0333; F17C2203/0345; F17C2203/06; F17C2203/0602; F17C2203/0612; F17C2203/0626; F17C2203/0631; F17C2203/0634; F17C2203/0636; F17C2203/0639; F17C2203/0643; F17C2203/0646; F17C2203/0648; F17C2203/0658; F17C2203/0663; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/03; F17C2221/032; F17C2221/033; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; F17C2223/03; F17C2223/033; F17C2260/00; F17C2260/01; F17C2260/011; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/01; F17C2270/0102; F17C2270/0105; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
AN INTERNALLY INSULATED TANK CAPABLE OF STORING OR TRANSPORTING A LARGE VOLUME OF LIQUID AT TEMPERATURE DOWN TO -260*F COMPRISING AN OUTER SUPPORT SHELL, A LAYER OF RIGID CLOSED CELL POLYURETHANE FOAM HAVING A DENSITY OF ABOUT 2.5 TO 10 POUNDS/FT3 ATTACHED TO THE INNER SURFACES OF SAID SUPPORT SHELL AND A THIN IMPERVIOUS METALLIC LAYER LESS THAN 0.015 INCH THICK COMPLETELY BONDED TO THE INNER SURFACES OF SAID FOAM LAYER WITH THE BOND THEREBETWEEN BEING AT LEAST AS STRONG AS THE FOAM TO RESTRICT THE THERMAL CONTRACTION OF SAID FOAM SURFACE AT CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURE AND THEREBY MINIMIZE CRACK FORMATION THEREIN, SAID METALLIC LAYER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION AND A SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER TENSILE STRENGTH THAN SAID FOAM AND FURTHER CHARACTERIZED BY HIGH DUCTILITY AT LOW TEMPERATURES.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
AN INTERNALLY INSULATED TANK CAPABLE OF STORING OR TRANSPORTING A LARGE VOLUME OF LIQUID AT TEMPERATURE DOWN TO -260*F COMPRISING AN OUTER SUPPORT SHELL, A LAYER OF RIGID CLOSED CELL POLYURETHANE FOAM HAVING A DENSITY OF ABOUT 2.5 TO 10 POUNDS/FT3 ATTACHED TO THE INNER SURFACES OF SAID SUPPORT SHELL AND A THIN IMPERVIOUS METALLIC LAYER LESS THAN 0.015 INCH THICK COMPLETELY BONDED TO THE INNER SURFACES OF SAID FOAM LAYER WITH THE BOND THEREBETWEEN BEING AT LEAST AS STRONG AS THE FOAM TO RESTRICT THE THERMAL CONTRACTION OF SAID FOAM SURFACE AT CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURE AND THEREBY MINIMIZE CRACK FORMATION THEREIN, SAID METALLIC LAYER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION AND A SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER TENSILE STRENGTH THAN SAID FOAM AND FURTHER CHARACTERIZED BY HIGH DUCTILITY AT LOW TEMPERATURES.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The insulated tank of claim 1 wherein said impervious material has a coefficient of expansion of at least 5 X 10 6 in/in/*F. less than the foam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The insulated tank of claim 1 wherein said impervious layer has a coefficient of expansion of at least 10 X 10 6 in/in/*F. less than the foam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The insulated tank of claim 1 wherein said support shell is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum alloys, stainless steel, Invar, 9% Ni steel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The insulated tank of claim 1 wherein said polyurethane foam is characterized by a density of about 2.5-5 lbs/ft3, a tensile strength exceeding 50 psi, an elongation exceeding 4% at a temperature of -260*F. and a compressive strength at room temperature exceeding 20 psi.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The insulated tank of claim 1 wherein an additional thin impervious layer is disposed within the layer of foam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The insulated tank of claim 6 wherein said additional thin impervious layer is disposed within the layer of foam at a distance of about one-third to about one-eighth of the thickness of said foamed layer from the impervious layer bonded to the surfaces of said foam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The insulated tank of claim 1 wherein said impervious layer is formed from an aluminum alloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The insulated tank of claim 8 wherein said aluminum alloy is selected from the group consisting of 1100, 1145, 5052 and 3003 aluminum alloys.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The insulated tank of claim 8 wherein said impervious layer has a thickness from about 0.001 to about 0.01 inch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The insulated tank of claim 10 wherein said impervious layer has a recurring pattern embossed on the surface thereof.
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) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |