US4101045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cryogenic container
Assignee: Baltek Inc
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Filing: 1977-04-12
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Granted: 1978-07-18
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Expires: 1997-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A cryogenic container adapted to store or transport liquified gases, the container including an outer tank formed by walls which have thermal insulation properties and are structurally capable of supporting the load, the walls incorporating a liquid and gas-impervious secondary barrier. Received within the outer tank and readily removable therefrom is a prefabricated independent inner tank constituted by a flexible bladder whose geometry roughly conforms to the contours of the inner surface of the outer tank. The bladder is formed of a synthetic plastic fabric material that is coated to render it liquid and gas-impervious to define a primary barrier, which coated fabric material maintains its flexibility and other physical characteristics at cryogenic temperatures and has sufficient structural strength to sustain the cryogenic liquid load without any danger of rupture even in those areas thereof in which the bladder does not fully conform to the contour of the outer tank surface and is not backed thereby.
Inventors
- 👤 William Melchior Roberts
- 👤 Jean Kohn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:33
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B25/00; B63B25/02; B63B25/08; B63B25/12; F; F17; F17C; F17C3/00; F17C3/02; F17C3/025; B63B2025/022; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0176; F17C2201/018; F17C2201/05; F17C2201/052; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/01; F17C2203/014; F17C2203/018; F17C2203/03; F17C2203/0304; F17C2203/0329; F17C2203/0333; F17C2203/0354; F17C2203/0358; F17C2203/06; F17C2203/0602; F17C2203/0612; F17C2203/0626; F17C2203/0631; F17C2203/0634; F17C2203/0636; F17C2203/0646; F17C2203/0658; F17C2203/0663; F17C2203/0678; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/011; F17C2221/014; F17C2221/03; F17C2221/032; F17C2221/033; F17C2221/035; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; F17C2223/03; F17C2223/033; F17C2260/00; F17C2260/01; F17C2260/011; F17C2260/015; F17C2260/03; F17C2260/035; F17C2260/036; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/01; F17C2270/0102; F17C2270/0105; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A cryogenic container for storing or shipping a liquified gas, such as LNG, at atmospheric pressure, in quantities comparable to those carried by LNG containers designed for transoceanic transport, said container comprising: A. an enclosed rigid outer tank having structural walls which afford thermal insulation and incorporate a non-metallic secondary liquid and gas-impervious barrier, the inner surface of the outer tank having a predetermined configuration, the top wall of said outer tank having an inlet port; B. an independent tank for containing a load of liquified gas and constituted by a collapsible bladder of flexible material which may be lowered in the collapsed state into the rigid outer tank through said port and which includes a neck portion that lines said inlet port, said bladder when lowered into said outer tank being suspended from said neck portion, said bladder material being constituted by a fabric of synthetic plastic fibers coated with a compatible film having sufficient strength to support said liquified gas and operative as a primary barrier, said bladder having a geometry roughly conforming to said inner surface configuration whereby those areas of the bladder which fail to exactly conform to the inner surface and are therefore unsupported are not subject to rupture by forces imposed by said load, and C. detachable means at selected positions to anchor said collapsible inner tank on the wall of the outer tank to maintain the normal shape of said collapsible tank when it is empty.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
A cryogenic container for storing or shipping a liquified gas, such as LNG, at atmospheric pressure, in quantities comparable to those carried by LNG containers designed for transoceanic transport, said container comprising: A. an enclosed rigid outer tank having structural walls which afford thermal insulation and incorporate a non-metallic secondary liquid and gas-impervious barrier, the inner surface of the outer tank having a predetermined configuration, the top wall of said outer tank having an inlet port; B. an independent tank for containing a load of liquified gas and constituted by a collapsible bladder of flexible material which may be lowered in the collapsed state into the rigid outer tank through said port and which includes a neck portion that lines said inlet port, said bladder when lowered into said outer tank being suspended from said neck portion, said bladder material being constituted by a fabric of synthetic plastic fibers coated with a compatible film having sufficient strength to support said liquified gas and operative as a primary barrier, said bladder having a geometry roughly conforming to said inner surface configuration whereby those areas of the bladder which fail to exactly conform to the inner surface and are therefore unsupported are not subject to rupture by forces imposed by said load, and C. detachable means at selected positions to anchor said collapsible inner tank on the wall of the outer tank to maintain the normal shape of said collapsible tank when it is empty.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said structural walls are formed by sandwich panels havin a balsa wood core.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said core is constituted by at least two layers of balsa wood which are bonded together by a film of synthetic plastic material forming said secondary barrier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A container as set forth in claim 3, wherein said balsa layers are in an end grain formation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said panels are mounted on the walls of the hold of a vessel to define said outer tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said panels are mounted within a shell to define said outer tank therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A container as set forth in claim 6, wherein said shell is of thin aluminum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fabric is woven from a polyester material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fabric is coated with a silicone-rubber elastomer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fabric is woven from an aramid fiber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bladder is provided with a neck that lies within said port and is provided with an upper flange that lies against the top wall of the outer container whereby said bladder is suspended within said outer tank by said neck.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container as set forth in claim 11, further including a ring secured to said top wall to clamp said flange thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container as set forth in claim 11, further including a hatch cover receivable within said neck.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-07-17 | 1982-01-16 | 1982-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-17 | 1986-01-16 | 1986-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-17 | 1990-01-16 | 1990-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |