US4593529A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature and pressure of confined substances
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-12-03
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Granted: 1986-06-10
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Expires: 2004-12-03
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for controlling the temperature and pressure of confined substances is disclosed. Heat may be removed from or added to a substance within a tank or pipe by means of thermal conduction between the substance and a thermoelectric heat pump. As a result, undesired vaporization and soldification of the substance within the tank is prevented and the temperature and pressure thereof may be controlled. A temperature and/or pressure sensor is utilized to activate the heat pump at appropriate times and various ways are disclosed to provide maximum thermal heat transfer between the substance within the tank and the heat pump.
Inventors
- 👤 Valentine L. Birochik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:05
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1919; F; F17; F17C; F17C13/00; F17C13/02; F25; F25B; F25B21/00; F25B21/02; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0104; F17C2201/0119; F17C2201/03; F17C2201/035; F17C2203/00; F17C2203/06; F17C2203/0634; F17C2203/0636; F17C2203/0639; F17C2203/0646; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/013; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/03; F17C2223/033; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/03; F17C2227/0302; F17C2227/0304; F17C2227/0337; F17C2227/0341; F17C2227/0367; F17C2227/0369; F17C2227/0376; F17C2227/0383; F17C2250/00; F17C2250/04; F17C2250/0404; F17C2250/043; F17C2250/0439; F17C2250/06; F17C2250/0605; F17C2250/0626; F17C2250/0631; F17C2250/07; F17C2250/072; F17C2260/00; F17C2260/03; F17C2260/031; F17C2260/032; F17C2265/00; F17C2265/03; F17C2265/032; F17C2265/033; F17C2265/034; F25D; F25D31/00; F25D31/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for controlling the temperature and pressure of confined substances comprising: a. tank means having interior and exterior portions and adapted to receive a pressurized substance within the interior portion thereof; b. thermoelectric heat pump means including cold plate means, heat sink means, a semiconductor material positioned between said cold plate and heat sink means and a power supply electrically connected to said semiconductor material, said heat pump means attached to said tank in a manner whereby undesired heat may be removed from and desired heat may be added to the interior of the tank by means of thermal conduction between the heat pump means and the tank interior; c. temperature sensing means and pressure sensing means each operatively associated with the interior of the tank and electrically connected to the heat pump means to activate the heat pump to remove heat from the tank when at least one of the temperature and pressure rises above a predetermined maximum level and to add heat to the tank when at least one of the temperature and pressure falls below a predetermined minimum level; and d. auxiliary heat conducting means attached directly to at least one surface of the cold plate of the heat pump means and placed in thermal communication with the interior of the tank to increase the efficiency of thermal transfer between the cold plate and the tank interior.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
231 words
An apparatus for controlling the temperature and pressure of confined substances comprising: a. tank means having interior and exterior portions and adapted to receive a pressurized substance within the interior portion thereof; b. thermoelectric heat pump means including cold plate means, heat sink means, a semiconductor material positioned between said cold plate and heat sink means and a power supply electrically connected to said semiconductor material, said heat pump means attached to said tank in a manner whereby undesired heat may be removed from and desired heat may be added to the interior of the tank by means of thermal conduction between the heat pump means and the tank interior; c. temperature sensing means and pressure sensing means each operatively associated with the interior of the tank and electrically connected to the heat pump means to activate the heat pump to remove heat from the tank when at least one of the temperature and pressure rises above a predetermined maximum level and to add heat to the tank when at least one of the temperature and pressure falls below a predetermined minimum level; and d. auxiliary heat conducting means attached directly to at least one surface of the cold plate of the heat pump means and placed in thermal communication with the interior of the tank to increase the efficiency of thermal transfer between the cold plate and the tank interior.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said tank is fabricated from a thermally conducting material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a layer of insulation is provided around the exterior of the tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cold plate means is placed into direct contact with the exterior surface of said tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cold plate means is positioned in the interior of the tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary heat conducting means comprises tubing means attached to said cold plate and extending into the interior of the tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary heat conducting means comprises a plurality of thermally conducting heat pipes attached to said cold plate and extending downwardly therefrom through a plurality of openings provided in an upper portion of said tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary heat conducting means comprises a sealed heat transfer container means, said container means containing one of chemical salts and chemical gels, said container attached to said exterior surface of said tank and directly coupled to said cold plate means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
241 words
An apparatus for keeping carbon dioxide liquid comprising: a. tank means having interior and exterior portions and adapted to receive pressurized carbon dioxide within the interior portion thereof; and b. thermoelectric heat pump means including cold plate means, heat sink means, a semiconductor material positioned between said cold plate and heat sink means and a power supply electrically connected to said semiconductor material, said heat pump means attached to said tank in a manner whereby undesired heat may be removed from said desired heat may be added to the interior of the tank by means of thermal conduction between the heat pump means and the tank interior thereby preventing unwanted vaporization and solidification of the carbon dioxide within the tank; c. temperature sensing means and pressure sensing means each operatively associated with the interior of the tank and electrically connected to the heat pump means to activate the heat pump to remove heat from the tank when at least one of the temperature and pressure rises above a predetermined maximum level and to add heat to the tank when at least one of the temperature and pressure falls below a predetermined minimum level; and d. auxiliary heat conducting means attached directly to at least one surface of the cold plate of the heat pump means and placed in thermal communication with the interior of the tank to increase the efficiency of thermal transfer between the cold plate and the tank interior.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
241 words
An apparatus for keeping carbon dioxide liquid comprising: a. tank means having interior and exterior portions and adapted to receive pressurized carbon dioxide within the interior portion thereof; and b. thermoelectric heat pump means including cold plate means, heat sink means, a semiconductor material positioned between said cold plate and heat sink means and a power supply electrically connected to said semiconductor material, said heat pump means attached to said tank in a manner whereby undesired heat may be removed from said desired heat may be added to the interior of the tank by means of thermal conduction between the heat pump means and the tank interior thereby preventing unwanted vaporization and solidification of the carbon dioxide within the tank; c. temperature sensing means and pressure sensing means each operatively associated with the interior of the tank and electrically connected to the heat pump means to activate the heat pump to remove heat from the tank when at least one of the temperature and pressure rises above a predetermined maximum level and to add heat to the tank when at least one of the temperature and pressure falls below a predetermined minimum level; and d. auxiliary heat conducting means attached directly to at least one surface of the cold plate of the heat pump means and placed in thermal communication with the interior of the tank to increase the efficiency of thermal transfer between the cold plate and the tank interior.
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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) | 1989-06-09 | 1989-12-09 | 1990-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-09 | 1993-12-09 | 1994-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-09 | 1997-12-09 | 1998-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |