Device for transferring liquified gas

Claim 1

A device for controlling the flow of a liquefied gas comprising: a. means defining a flowpath; b. a valve actuatable to an open condition and a closed condition for opening and closing said means defining a flowpath; c. means comprising a gas-filled closed circuit comprising an expandible and contractible hollow elastic member connected in said flow path directly to said valve and responsive to the temperature of said flow liquefied gas for biasing said valve to said open condition when said valve is closed and biasing said valve to said closed condition when said valve is open; d. means having a normally operative state and an inoperative state for locking said valve in said open condition and for locking said valve in said closed condition; and e. means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative whereby said valve changes condition.

Claim 2

A device for controlling the flow of a liquefied gas comprising: a. means defining a flowpath; b. a valve actuatable to an open condition and a closed condition for opening and closing said means defining a flowpath; c. means comprising a gas-filled closed circuit comprising an expandible and contractible hollow elastic member connected in said flow path directly to said valve and responsive to the temperature of said flow liquefied gas for biasing said valve to said open condition when said valve is closed and biasing said valve to said closed condition when said valve is open; d. means having a normally operative state and an inoperative state for locking said valve in said open condition and for locking said valve in said closed condition; and e. means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative whereby said valve changes condition.

Claim 4

A device for controlling the flow of a liquefied gas comprising: means defining a flowpath; a valve actuatable to an open condition and a closed condition for opening and closing said means defining a flowpath; means comprising a gas-filled closed circuit comprising an expandible and contractible hollow elastic member connected in said flow path directly to said valve and responsive to the temperature of said flow liquefied gas for biasing said valve to said open condition when said valve is closed and biasing said valve to said closed condition when said valve is open; means having a normally operative state and an inoperative state for locking said valve in said open condition and for locking said valve in said closed condition; means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative whereby said valve changes condition; and means for biasing said valve comprising means defining said closed circuit comprising a hollow elastic member filled with a gas comprises a bellows, means connecting said hollow elastic member between said valve and said means defining a flow path, and means for increasing a pressure of said gas to bias said valve to open and for decreasing a pressure of said gas to bias said valve to close, said means for increasing and for decreasing a pressure of said gas comprising means defining a gas chamber in communication with the interior of said hollow elastic member, a gas absorbing body in said means defining a gas chamber, and means defining a thermal flowpath between said means defining a gas chamber and a portion of said means defining said flowpath downstream of said valve whereby the gas contained in said means defining a gas chamber can exchange heat with a liquefied gas flowing through said means defining a flowpath.

Claim 5

A device for controlling the flow of a liquefied gas comprising: means defining a flowpath; a valve actuatable to an open condition and a closed condition for opening and closing said means defining a flowpath; means comprising a gas-filled closed circuit comprising an expandible and contractible hollow elastic member connected in said flow path directly to said valve and responsive to the temperature of said flow liquefied gas for biasing said valve to said open condition when said valve is closed and biasing said valve to said closed condition when said valve is open; means having a normally operative state and an inoperative state for locking said valve in said open condition and for locking said valve in said closed condition; means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative whereby said valve changes condition; and means for biasing said valve comprising means defining said closed circuit comprising a hollow elastic member filled with a gas comprises a bellows, means connecting said hollow elastic member between said valve and said means defining a flow path, and means for increasing a pressure of said gas to bias said valve to open and for decreasing a pressure of said gas to bias said valve to close, said means for increasing and for decreasing a pressure of said gas comprising means defining a gas chamber in communication with the interior of said hollow elastic member, a gas absorbing body in said means defining a gas chamber, and means defining a thermal flowpath between said means defining a gas chamber and a portion of said means defining said flowpath downstream of said valve whereby the gas contained in said means defining a gas chamber can exchange heat with a liquefied gas flowing through said means defining a flowpath.

Claim 7

A device for controlling the flow of a liquefied gas comprising: means defining a flowpath; a valve actuatable to an open condition and a closed condition for opening and closing said means defining a flowpath; means comprising a gas-filled closed circuit comprising an expandible and contractible hollow elastic member connected in said flowpath directly to said valve and responsive to the temperature of said flow liquefied gas for biasing said valve to said open condition when said valve is closed and biasing said valve to said closed condition when said valve is open; means having a normally operative state and an inoperative state for locking said valve in said open condition and for locking said valve in said closed condition; and means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative whereby said valve changes condition, said means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative comprising means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative when said valve is in said closed condition whereby said valve opens, and means responsive to a temperature of said means defining a flowpath for automatically rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative when said valve is in said open condition after a predetermined quantity of liquefied gas flows through said means defining said flowpath whereby said valve closes.

Claim 8

A device for controlling the flow of a liquefied gas comprising: means defining a flowpath; a valve actuatable to an open condition and a closed condition for opening and closing said means defining a flowpath; means comprising a gas-filled closed circuit comprising an expandible and contractible hollow elastic member connected in said flowpath directly to said valve and responsive to the temperature of said flow liquefied gas for biasing said valve to said open condition when said valve is closed and biasing said valve to said closed condition when said valve is open; means having a normally operative state and an inoperative state for locking said valve in said open condition and for locking said valve in said closed condition; and means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative whereby said valve changes condition, said means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative comprising means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative when said valve is in said closed condition whereby said valve opens, and means responsive to a temperature of said means defining a flowpath for automatically rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative when said valve is in said open condition after a predetermined quantity of liquefied gas flows through said means defining said flowpath whereby said valve closes.

Claim 11

A device controlling the flow of a liquefied gas comprising: means defining a flowpath; a valve actuatable to an open condition and a closed condition for opening and closing said means defining a flowpath; means comprising a gas-filled closed circuit comprising an expandible and contractible hollow elastic member connected in said flowpath directly to said valve and responsive to the temperature of said flow liquefied gas for biasing said valve to said open condition when said valve is closed and biasing said valve to said closed condition when said valve is open; means having a normally operative state and an inoperative state for locking said valve in said open condition and for locking said valve in said closed condition; and means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative whereby said valve changes condition, said means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative comprising, means responsive to a temperature of said means defining said flowpath for automatically rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative when said valve is in said closed condition and a temperature of said means defining a flowpath exceeds a first predetermined temperature and for automatically rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative when said valve is in said open condition and the temperature of said means defining a flowpath is less than a second predetermined temperature, said second temperature being less than said first temperature, whereby said valve is automatically opened and closed to control the flow of a liquefied gas to maintain the temperature of said means defining a flowpath between approximately said first and said second temperatures.

Claim 12

A device controlling the flow of a liquefied gas comprising: means defining a flowpath; a valve actuatable to an open condition and a closed condition for opening and closing said means defining a flowpath; means comprising a gas-filled closed circuit comprising an expandible and contractible hollow elastic member connected in said flowpath directly to said valve and responsive to the temperature of said flow liquefied gas for biasing said valve to said open condition when said valve is closed and biasing said valve to said closed condition when said valve is open; means having a normally operative state and an inoperative state for locking said valve in said open condition and for locking said valve in said closed condition; and means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative whereby said valve changes condition, said means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative comprising, means responsive to a temperature of said means defining said flowpath for automatically rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative when said valve is in said closed condition and a temperature of said means defining a flowpath exceeds a first predetermined temperature and for automatically rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative when said valve is in said open condition and the temperature of said means defining a flowpath is less than a second predetermined temperature, said second temperature being less than said first temperature, whereby said valve is automatically opened and closed to control the flow of a liquefied gas to maintain the temperature of said means defining a flowpath between approximately said first and said second temperatures.

Claim 13

A device for controlling the flow of a liquefied gas comprising: means defining a flowpath; a valve actuatable to an open condition and a closed condition for opening and closing said means defining a flowpath; means comprising a gas-filled closed circuit comprising an expandible and contractible hollow elastic member connected in said flowpath directly to said valve and responsive to the temperature of said flow liquefied gas for biasing said valve to said open condition when said valve is closed and biasing said valve to said closed condition when said valve is open; means having a normally operative state and an inoperative state for locking said valve in said open condition and for locking said valve in said closed condition; and means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative whereby said valve changes condition, said means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative comprising means responsive to an externally sensed temperature for rendering means for locking said valve inoperative when said sensed temperature is greater than a predetermined value and said valve is closed whereby said valve opens, and means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative when said valve is open and said sensed temperature is less than said predetermined value whereby said valve closes.

Claim 14

A device for controlling the flow of a liquefied gas comprising: means defining a flowpath; a valve actuatable to an open condition and a closed condition for opening and closing said means defining a flowpath; means comprising a gas-filled closed circuit comprising an expandible and contractible hollow elastic member connected in said flowpath directly to said valve and responsive to the temperature of said flow liquefied gas for biasing said valve to said open condition when said valve is closed and biasing said valve to said closed condition when said valve is open; means having a normally operative state and an inoperative state for locking said valve in said open condition and for locking said valve in said closed condition; and means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative whereby said valve changes condition, said means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative comprising means responsive to an externally sensed temperature for rendering means for locking said valve inoperative when said sensed temperature is greater than a predetermined value and said valve is closed whereby said valve opens, and means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative when said valve is open and said sensed temperature is less than said predetermined value whereby said valve closes.

Claim 15

A device for controlling the flow of a liquefied gas comprising: means defining a flowpath; a valve actuatable to an open condition and a closed condition for opening and closing said means defining a flowpath; means comprising a gas-filled closed circuit comprising an expandible and contractible hollow elastic member connected in said flowpath directly to said valve and responsive to the temperature of said flow liquefied gas for biasing said valve to said open condition when said valve is closed and biasing said valve to said closed condition when said valve is open; means having a normally operative state and an inoperative state for locking said valve in said open condition and for locking said valve in said closed condition; and means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative whereby said valve changes condition, means defining a hollow sealed cavity disposed around at least a portion of said means defining a flowpath for thermally insulating at least a portion of said means defining a flowpath, and further comprising, means separating said means defining a hollow sealed cavity into an inner portion and an outer portion, said inner portion and said outer portion not being in communication, means defining a gas chamber disposed for exchanging heat with said means defining a flowpath, a gas absorbing body disposed in said means defining said gas chamber, and means for providing communication between said inner portion and said means defining a gas chamber.

Claim 16

A device for controlling the flow of a liquefied gas comprising: means defining a flowpath; a valve actuatable to an open condition and a closed condition for opening and closing said means defining a flowpath; means comprising a gas-filled closed circuit comprising an expandible and contractible hollow elastic member connected in said flowpath directly to said valve and responsive to the temperature of said flow liquefied gas for biasing said valve to said open condition when said valve is closed and biasing said valve to said closed condition when said valve is open; means having a normally operative state and an inoperative state for locking said valve in said open condition and for locking said valve in said closed condition; and means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative whereby said valve changes condition, means defining a hollow sealed cavity disposed around at least a portion of said means defining a flowpath for thermally insulating at least a portion of said means defining a flowpath, and further comprising, means separating said means defining a hollow sealed cavity into an inner portion and an outer portion, said inner portion and said outer portion not being in communication, means defining a gas chamber disposed for exchanging heat with said means defining a flowpath, a gas absorbing body disposed in said means defining said gas chamber, and means for providing communication between said inner portion and said means defining a gas chamber.

Claim 17

A device for controlling the flow of a liquefied gas comprising: means defining a flowpath; a valve actuatable to an open condition and a closed condition for opening and closing said means defining a flowpath; means comprising a gas-filled closed circuit comprising an expandible and contractible hollow elastic member connected in said flowpath directly to said valve and responsive to the temperature of said flow liquefied gas for biasing said valve to said open condition when said valve is closed and biasing said valve to said closed condition when said valve is open; means having a normally operative state and an inoperative state for locking said valve in said open condition and for locking said valve in said closed condition; and means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative whereby said valve changes condition, said valve being disposed slidable in an axial direction of said means defining a flowpath, said valve having an axial cylindrical hollow extension provided with recesses longitudinally disposed on an inner surface thereof, said means for locking said valve comprising a sleeve extending into said cylindrical extension, said sleeve having at least one recess disposed on an outer surface thereof opposite said recesses in said cylindrical extension, and at least one ball disposed to engage the recess in said sleeve and one of said recesses in said cylindrical extension thereby preventing relative displacement between said sleeve and said valve.

Claim 18

A device for controlling the flow of a liquefied gas comprising: means defining a flowpath; a valve actuatable to an open condition and a closed condition for opening and closing said means defining a flowpath; means comprising a gas-filled closed circuit comprising an expandible and contractible hollow elastic member connected in said flowpath directly to said valve and responsive to the temperature of said flow liquefied gas for biasing said valve to said open condition when said valve is closed and biasing said valve to said closed condition when said valve is open; means having a normally operative state and an inoperative state for locking said valve in said open condition and for locking said valve in said closed condition; and means controllable for rendering said means for locking said valve inoperative whereby said valve changes condition, said valve being disposed slidable in an axial direction of said means defining a flowpath, said valve having an axial cylindrical hollow extension provided with recesses longitudinally disposed on an inner surface thereof, said means for locking said valve comprising a sleeve extending into said cylindrical extension, said sleeve having at least one recess disposed on an outer surface thereof opposite said recesses in said cylindrical extension, and at least one ball disposed to engage the recess in said sleeve and one of said recesses in said cylindrical extension thereby preventing relative displacement between said sleeve and said valve.