Abstract:
There is disclosed a compressed air delivery system for delivering clean, dry, compressed air from a source of compressed air to a compressed air appliance. The compressed air delivery system includes a vertical, cylindrical tank with an inlet located in the lower 1/3 of the tank and an outlet located near the top of the tank so that the air in the tank becomes stratified with the light, clean air at the top. The inlet to the tank includes in series a connector connected to a source of compressed air, a stepdown regulator, a check valve, an inlet port, and an inlet tube filled with packing material. The outlet of the tank includes in series a drop tube inside the tank, an outlet port, a shut off valve, a particulate filter, a coalescing filter, a stepdown regulator, and an output coupler.
Abstract:
A handle assembly is provided for a generally cylindrical compressed air tank having a longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a substantially annular mounting piece having an outer perimeter and an opening formed therein for receiving an axial section of the air tank. The mounting piece is releasably fastened to the received section of the air tank, and a handle that is disposed entirely within the outer perimeter of the annular portion is attached to the mounting piece to facilitate manipulation of the tank.
Abstract:
The selective corrosion of a pressure vessel is facilitated to reduce the adverse consequences of a corrosion induced vessel wall rupture. A corrosion resistant coating is applied to the pressure vessel except in a region within the bounds of a restrictor located within the vessel. The region may have a reduced wall thickness. An accelerant material may be applied to the region to facilitate corrosion. Any corrosion induced rupture will occur in the region, and the pressure release due to rupture of the vessel wall will be controlled by the restrictor.
Abstract:
Portable emergency breathing apparatus is disclosed which is comprised of a compressed breathing gas container having a housing mounted on the open end thereof which supports a pressure gauge, a pressure reducing valve assembly, and burst valve, fill valve and needle valve components. The pressure reducing valve controls the flow of breathing gas from the container to a breathing hose attached to the housing and leading to a face mask or hood worn by the user. The housing has a flat axially outer end relative to the container and a radially outer periphery which is within the cylindrical plane of the side wall of the container, and the housing is structured for mounting on the container so as to optimize compactness of the apparatus and protection of the pressure gauge and the pressure reducing, burst, fill and needle valves from damage during storage and use. A modification of the housing enables the apparatus to include two or more compressed breathing gas containers in side-by-side relationship, thus to increase the duration of use of the apparatus.
Abstract:
A controlled stream of liquid cryogen is delivered from a system comprising: (a) a source of liquid cryogen at a substantially constant pressure, remote from the outlet; (b) a conduit connecting the liquid cryogen source to the outlet; (c) means to maintain cryogen flowing through the conduit sub-cooled at all points along the conduit (i.e., at any given point in the conduit, the cryogen's equilibrium vapor pressure is below the pressure experienced at that point in the conduit), and to deliver the cryogen to the outlet at a temperature equal to or below its boiling point at atmospheric pressure; and (d) a flow-rate control restriction, positioned in the conduit. By maintaining the cryogen sub-cooled, the flow is kept substantially (at least about 95% by volume) liquid. Therefore, the flow in the conduit is controlled reliably as to pressure, flow rate, and size. Specifically, the rate at which liquid cryogen is delivered at the outlet is controlled by the cross-sectional area of the flow-control restriction, and severe flashing at the outlet is avoided.
Abstract:
A manifolding system for gas containers, such as propane gas cylinders, comprising interconnecting hoses between the containers for permitting gas flow from the containers to an outlet. Each hose has a non-return valve at its end nearer the outlet and an excess-flow valve at its other end, as safety means, in the event of a ruptured hose for example.
Abstract:
A container for the storage of liquids at temperatures that deviate widely from ambient temperature in which the container is formed with an outer vessel and an inner vessel supported by a neck tube from the outer vessel and which includes an annular ring member spanning the space between the outer and inner vessels adjacent their upper ends to stabilize the inner vessel within the outer vessel.
Abstract:
A cryogenic storage tank having inner and outer storage vessels having spaced top, bottom, and upstanding side walls defining an annular insulating space therebetween. Granular insulating material is provided in the annular insulating space between the side walls, and a composite, resilient, insulating blanket, which remains elastically compressible at cryogenic temperatures and which has a flexible, high tensile strength facing on at least one side thereof, is likewise provided in the annular insulating space. The compressibility of the blanket compensates for dimensional changes in the annular insulating space, which would otherwise cause attrition of the granular insulating material, and the high tensile strength flexible facing on the blanket prevents local tearing or rupturing of the blanket when subjected to the vertical drag forces of the behavior of the granular material and due to the thermally induced changes in the dimensions of the annular insulating space.A composite, resilient, insulating blanket provided by a sheet of fiber glass having a flexible layer of high tensile strength fiber glass bonded thereto by a fused film of polyethylene to increase the tensile strength of the blanket.A method of making a composite, compressively resilient, high tensile strength, insulating blanket useable at cryogenic temperatures.
Abstract:
A pallet for handling and transporting a plurality of pressurized gas cylinders includes a floor structure on which the cylinders stand and side walls to retain the cylinders in place on the floor structure. For certain gas delivery applications it is desired to gang the cylinders by connecting them to a common manifold which is protectively supported on the pallet. To this end, a pair of upright center posts are provided at opposite sides of the pallet. The posts extend above the tops of the cylinders. A cross bar interconnects the upper ends of the posts and provides a structure for protectively supporting a manifold. An elongate manifold depends from and is supported by the cross bar. The manifold has ports which are connected by flexible high pressure hoses to each of the cylinders. The cross bar preferably takes the form of a truss structure which additionally cooperates with the center posts to provide a lifting frame that can be engaged by a crane for handling the pallet.
Abstract:
A cryogenic device and a method for selectively dispensing a jet of gas or a mixture of gas and liquid cryogen particles, that is, single phase or two phase fluid, at the user's option, from a nozzle selected from a range of nozzle sizes. Pressurized liquid cryogen is supplied through an orifice to a nozzle-equipped expansion chamber also connected to a pressure regulated source of gas. A valve-controlled passage venting to the atmosphere from the expansion chamber is normally closed but, when open, is effective to reduce the chamber pressure by a major fraction of 1 psig provided the gas flow from the pressurized gas source is interrupted. The single phase gas jet dispensed in the non-venting mode substantially instantly converts to a stable two phase jet of gas and liquid particles irrespective of which one of the nozzle sizes is then in use. If the liquid cryogen pressure falls during the use of a larger nozzle, the pressure is quickly re-established by briefly admitting gas from the pressure regulated source via the expansion chamber and back flow into the liquid supply.