Patents Assigned to Chart Inc.
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Patent number: 6581390Abstract: A cryogenic fluid delivery system includes an insulated storage tank containing a supply of cryogenic liquid, a pump, a heat exchanger and a gas and liquid mixer. The pump includes a pumping cylinder within which a sliding pumping piston is positioned. The pump also includes an actuating cylinder within which a sliding actuating piston is positioned. The pumping and actuating pistons are joined by a connecting rod. A portion of the cryogenic liquid pumped from the storage tank by the pumping piston and cylinder is vaporized in the heat exchanger and introduced into the actuating cylinder on alternating sides of the actuating piston to power the pump. The vaporized cryogen is also used to heat the pumped cryogenic liquid in the mixer. The conditioned cryogenic liquid is then dispensed from the mixer via a dispensing line.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Chart Inc.Inventors: Claus Emmer, Thomas K. Drube, Jesse Gamble
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Patent number: 6542848Abstract: A differential pressure gauge for a cryogenic storage tank provides onboard entry, by an operator, of tank dimensions, tank orientation, and the type of liquid stored within the tank. A differential pressure sensor supplies a signal corresponding to a differential pressure. The gauge uses the information supplied by an operator, combined with stored formulas and liquid characteristics, to perform real-time liquid volume computations. The liquid volume may be displayed on the gauge itself or may be transmitted via telemetry to an external device.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Chart Inc.Inventors: Timothy Neeser, Robert Kuechenmeister
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Patent number: 6533334Abstract: A vacuum-jacketed bayonet pipe spool system for cryogenic fluid. The pipe spool comprises a male bayonet to fit within a female bayonet of an opposing pipe and an expansion-contraction second bellows about the outer end of the male bayonet for stress-free movement.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2000Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Chart Inc.Inventor: John W. Bonn
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Patent number: 6505469Abstract: A cryogenic vessel features an inner tank containing cryogenic liquid with a head space above and a jacket surrounding the inner tank. An internal pressure builder coil is helically disposed about the inner tank, connected to the jacket and in communication with the bottom of the inner tank. An external pressure building heat exchanger is connected to the internal pressure builder coil and the head space of the inner tank. Liquid from the inner tank flows into the internal pressure builder coil and the exiting fluid is driven by a resulting pumping action to the external pressure building heat exchanger where it is vaporized and warmed. The warmed gas is directed to the head space of the inner tank to rapidly build the pressure therein. Gas may be dispensed directly from the head space of the vessel via an economizer valve. Alternatively, liquid may be withdrawn from the inner tank by a dip tube and vaporized in a vaporizer and dispensed.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2001Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Chart Inc.Inventors: Paul Drube, Paul Sjogren
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Patent number: 6505470Abstract: In a system for detecting overflow of a liquid cryogen storage tank, a differential pressure gauge measures the pressure of the tank at the top and bottom of the tank while liquid cryogen is introduced into the tank. Once the measurement reaches a predetermined amount, the operator terminates the fill. Alternatively, the differential pressure gauge sends a signal to the controller and the controller shuts the valves off. The tank includes an outlet pipe connected to either an audible device or avisual device and a vent stack. The excess cryogen, liquid or vapor, flows out of the tank through the outlet pipe. The audible device whistles when vapor passes through but is silent when the liquid passes through the audible device. This audible device provides a back-up warning which signifies when liquid cryogen is flowing out of the tank so that the operator may shut off the valves.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2002Date of Patent: January 14, 2003Assignee: Chart Inc.Inventors: Thomas K. Drube, Claus Emmer, Brian Bostrom
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Patent number: 6474115Abstract: A cartridge housing surrounds a shaft for rotating a basket within the pressurized cleaning vessel of a dry cleaning system that utilizes liquid carbon dioxide as a solvent. Primary and secondary seals are disposed between the cartridge housing and the shaft in a spaced relationship so that a primary chamber is defined. A final seal is also disposed between the cartridge housing and the shaft and spaced from the secondary seal so that a secondary chamber is defined. The primary chamber houses an inboard bearing while the secondary chamber houses an outboard and thrust bearings. Primary and secondary tanks containing supplies of oil communicate with the primary and secondary chambers, respectively, via their head spaces and wet sides. As a result, the bearings are lubricated. Solvent leaking across the primary seal is vaporized and delivered to the head space of the primary tank so that the pressure differential across the primary seal is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2000Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Chart Inc.Inventors: A. Duane Preston, Jon R. Turner
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Liquid helium transport container with longitudinally-mounted external liquid nitrogen coolant tanks
Patent number: 6453680Abstract: The invention is directed to novel cryogenic liquid transport and storage containers, which utilize external coolant tanks to supply cooling to a cryogenic liquid storage tank. The coolant tanks are mounted above the cryogenic liquid storage tank such that the length of the cryogenic liquid storage tank is capable of extending the entire length of the transport container.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2001Date of Patent: September 24, 2002Assignee: Chart Inc.Inventor: Mark S. Allen -
Patent number: 6442980Abstract: A carbon dioxide dry cleaning system features a pair of liquid carbon dioxide storage tanks in communication with a compressor. A sealed cleaning chamber contains the objects to be cleaned. By selectively pressurizing the storage tanks with the compressor, liquid carbon dioxide is made to flow to the cleaning chamber through cleaning nozzles so as to provide agitation of the objects being dry cleaned. Liquid carbon dioxide displaced from the cleaning chamber returns to the storage tanks. In an alternative embodiment, a single storage tank is pressurized via a compressor with gas from the cleaning chamber so that liquid solvent from the storage tank travels to the cleaning chamber through nozzles. The objects in the cleaning chamber are agitated by a rotating basket. After a prewash cycle, liquid solvent from the cleaning chamber is directed to a still. The liquid solvent in the still is boiled through a connection with the head space of the cleaning chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2001Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Chart Inc.Inventors: A. Duane Preston, Jon R. Turner, Charles Svoboda
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Patent number: 6393847Abstract: An improved liquid cryogen dewar for storing cryobiological materials is disclosed having an inner tank with a reservoir holding a pool of liquid cryogen. A rotatable tray is contained within the inner tank, containing a platform, vertical dividers and a thermally conductive cylindrical outer sleeve, which contains a skirt extending into the pool of liquid cryogen. The sleeve transfers entering heat away from the cryobiological materials and into the liquid cryogen pool. The sleeve maintains a consistently low temperature throughout the vertically disposed shelves of the cryobiological materials contained within the inner tank.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2001Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Chart Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Brooks, Keith Gustafson
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Patent number: 6354088Abstract: A system for dispensing cryogenic liquid to a use device tank from a bulk storage tank containing a supply of cryogenic liquid features a pump in communication with the bulk storage tank, a dispensing line in communication with the pump and a heater in communication with the dispensing line. A system control device controls the operation of the pump and heater. A liquid level sensor and temperature or pressure sensor communicate with the use device tank and the system control device and the system control device. As a result, the conditions of the cryogenic liquid initially in the use device tank may be used by the system control device to calculate the appropriate amount of cryogenic liquid and heat that should be added to the cryogenic liquid as it is dispensed so that the use device tank becomes substantially filled with saturated cryogenic liquid. A liquid level sensor may alternatively be used as the sole use device tank sensor.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2000Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignee: Chart Inc.Inventors: Claus Emmer, Tom Drube, Keith Gustafson
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Patent number: 6336344Abstract: A cryogenic process for the separation of one light gas component from a heavier gas component in a gas feed stream, by injecting a liquid hydrocarbon additive stream into the top or upper portion of a dephlegmator-heat exchanger, to increase the rectification temperature, or to maintain the temperature and reduce the additive flow rate relative to the respective values required with a conventional, single stage condenser.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2000Date of Patent: January 8, 2002Assignee: Chart, Inc.Inventor: John V. O'Brien
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Patent number: 6333445Abstract: The olefin-hydrogen effluent vapor stream from a dehydrogenation process is separated by a cryogenic separation method utilizing a cryogenic separation system. The method does not require external refrigeration and reheats and portions an expander feed stream to extract energy and controls the warm end and cold end temperature differences in the primary heat exchanger to provide energy savings and economical operation and material use.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1999Date of Patent: December 25, 2001Assignee: Chart, Inc.Inventor: John V. O'Brien
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Patent number: 6134893Abstract: A method and system for dispensing cryogenic fluids, such as liquified natural gas (LNG), using a swivel bayonet joint interconnecting first and second sections of cryogenic pipe. The swivel bayonet joint includes a male bayonet joint and a corresponding female bayonet joint. An insertion stem of the male bayonet joint is dimensioned to have a very high tolerance fit within the receiving sleeve of the female joint that extends a sufficient length for formation of a vapor trap by the cryogenic fluid between the insertion end of the stem and the clamp end of the receiving sleeve. The vapor trap prohibits movement beyond the vapor trap of any cryogenic fluid passing through the joint, consequently, elastomeric seals in the bayonet joint remain insulated from extremely cold temperatures of the cryogenic fluid.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1999Date of Patent: October 24, 2000Assignee: Chart Inc.Inventor: John W. Bonn