US3850001A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lng ship tank inert gas generation system
Assignee: Chicago Bridge and Iron Co
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Filing: 1973-06-15
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1993-06-15
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus comprising an enclosed supply tank containing a liquefied gas, an enclosed storage tank containing a cryogenic liquefied gas having a lower temperature than the liquefied gas, and a heat pipe for transferring heat from the supply tank to the storage tank is disclosed. In a particular embodiment useful for selectively introducing an inert gas into an enclosure containing inflammable liquefied gas, the apparatus includes an enclosed supply tank containing liquefied inert gas, a vaporizer for vaporizing the liquefied inert gas, a conduit from the vaporizer to the storage tank for injecting the vaporized inert gas into the storage tank and a heat pipe for transferring heat from the supply tank to the storage tank to maintain the inert gas in a liquefied state as long as the storage tank is not being inerted.
Inventors
- 👤 S Locke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:11
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C9/00; A; A62; A62C; A62C3/00; A62C3/06; A62C99/00; A62C99/0009; A62C99/0018; A62C3/07; A62C3/10; B; B63; B63B; B63B25/00; B63B25/02; B63B25/08; B63B25/12; B63B25/16; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0128; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/014; F17C2221/03; F17C2221/032; F17C2221/033; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/03; F17C2227/0302; F17C2227/0367; F17C2227/0388; F17C2227/0393; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/01; F17C2270/0102; F17C2270/0105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for selectively inerting a storage tank containing inflammable liquefied gas, the apparatus comprising: an enclosed supply tank containing liquefied inert gas; an enclosed storage tank containing a liquefied gas having a lower temperature than the liquefied inert gas; a vaporizer for vaporizing the liquefied inert gas; a conduit from the vaporizer to the storage tank for injecting the vaporized inert gas into the storage tank; and heat transfer means thermally connecting the supply tank to the storage tank for transferring heat from the supply tank to the storage tank to maintain the inert gas in a liquefied state as long as the enclosure is not being inerted.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for selectively inerting a storage tank containing inflammable liquefied gas, the apparatus comprising: an enclosed supply tank containing liquefied inert gas; an enclosed storage tank containing a liquefied gas having a lower temperature than the liquefied inert gas; a vaporizer for vaporizing the liquefied inert gas; a conduit from the vaporizer to the storage tank for injecting the vaporized inert gas into the storage tank; and heat transfer means thermally connecting the supply tank to the storage tank for transferring heat from the supply tank to the storage tank to maintain the inert gas in a liquefied state as long as the enclosure is not being inerted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a ship having an enclosed storage tank containing inflammable liquefied gas, an apparatus for selectively inerting the enclosed storage tank, the inerting apparatus comprising: an enclosed supply containing liquefied inert gas having a higher temperature than the inflammable liquefied gas; a vaporizer for varporizing the liquefied inert gas; a conduit from the vaporizer to the storage tank for injecting the vaporized inert gas therein; and a heat pipe for transferring heat from the supply tank to the storage tank to maintain the inert gas in a liquefied state as long as the storage tank is not being inerted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a ship having an enclosed storage tank containing inflammable liquefied gas, an apparatus for selectively inerting the enclosed storage tank, the inerting apparatus comprising: an enclosed supply containing liquefied inert gas having a higher temperature than the inflammable liquefied gas; a vaporizer for varporizing the liquefied inert gas; a conduit from the vaporizer to the storage tank for injecting the vaporized inert gas therein; and a heat pipe for transferring heat from the supply tank to the storage tank to maintain the inert gas in a liquefied state as long as the storage tank is not being inerted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An inerting apparatus according to claim 2 in which a conduit from the supply tank to the vaporizer is included for passing the liquefied inert gas to the vaporizer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
An inerting apparatus according to claim 2 in which the inflammable liquefied gas is liquefied natural gas, the heat transferred from the supply tank to the storage tank vaporizing the liquefied natural gas to fuel a ship power system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An inerting apparatus according to claim 2 in which the inert gas is nitrogen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
135 words
In a ship having an enclosed storage tank containing liquefied natural gas at about -258* F., an apparatus for selectively inerting the enclosed storage tank, the inerting apparatus comprising: an enclosed supply tank containing liquefied nitrogen gas at about -234* F. and about 477 psia; a conduit from the supply tank to a vaporizer for vaporizing the liquefied nitrogen gas; a conduit from the vaporizer to the storage tank for injecting the vaporized nitrogen gas into the storage tank; and a heat pipe having one end extending into the vapor space in the supply tank and its other end submerged in the liquefied natural gas in the storage tank for transferring heat from the supply tank to the storage tank to condense the nitrogen vapor as long as the storage tank is not being inerted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
135 words
In a ship having an enclosed storage tank containing liquefied natural gas at about -258* F., an apparatus for selectively inerting the enclosed storage tank, the inerting apparatus comprising: an enclosed supply tank containing liquefied nitrogen gas at about -234* F. and about 477 psia; a conduit from the supply tank to a vaporizer for vaporizing the liquefied nitrogen gas; a conduit from the vaporizer to the storage tank for injecting the vaporized nitrogen gas into the storage tank; and a heat pipe having one end extending into the vapor space in the supply tank and its other end submerged in the liquefied natural gas in the storage tank for transferring heat from the supply tank to the storage tank to condense the nitrogen vapor as long as the storage tank is not being inerted.
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) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |