Patents by Inventor Tom Drube

Tom Drube has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10125751
    Abstract: Disclosed is an liquid natural gas supply and delivery system with a multimode fuel gas delivery system and process. The tender is capable of supplying gaseous methane fuel to an cryogenic tank via direct pumping, pressure transfer, or any combination mode due to a configuration of pumps, heat exchangers, and piping and controls. There is redundancy in the tender and it can operate with saturated or unsaturated liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Chart, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Johnson, Tom Drube
  • Patent number: 9869428
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for cryogenic fluid delivery to achieve the lowest reasonable saturation pressure while dispensing a cryogenic fluid such as liquefied natural gas to a holding tank on a use device. The systems and methods utilize a liquid nitrogen component and a liquefaction engine, very cold liquefied natural gas and a liquefaction engine, or a combination of both very cold liquefied natural gas and a liquid nitrogen component to deliver LNG to a holding tank on a use device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Chart Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Drube
  • Publication number: 20170363254
    Abstract: A cryogenic fluid delivery manifold system includes a plurality of cryogenic supply tanks. A liquid flow manifold permits flow of liquid a use device. A vapor pressure manifold is coupled to the supply tanks and to a pusher tank for regulating and/or balancing pressure across the plurality of supply tanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Chart Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Drube
  • Patent number: 9551330
    Abstract: A frangible closure coupling is used with or on pipe of a tank that contains a potentially dangerous fluid, such as liquid natural gas. The closure coupling mitigates the uncontrolled release of fluid from the tank in the event of a rupture of a pipe attached to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Chart Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Drube
  • Publication number: 20150144203
    Abstract: A frangible closure coupling is used with or on pipe of a tank that contains a potentially dangerous fluid, such as liquid natural gas. The closure coupling mitigates the uncontrolled release of fluid from the tank in the event of a rupture of a pipe attached to the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Tom Drube
  • Publication number: 20150143821
    Abstract: Disclosed is an liquid natural gas supply and delivery system with a multimode fuel gas delivery system and process. The tender is capable of supplying gaseous methane fuel to an cryogenic tank via direct pumping, pressure transfer, or any combination mode due to a configuration of pumps, heat exchangers, and piping and controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Terry Johnson, Tom Drube
  • Publication number: 20140311591
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for cryogenic fluid delivery to achieve the lowest reasonable saturation pressure while dispensing a cryogenic fluid such as liquefied natural gas to a holding tank on a use device. The systems and methods utilize a liquid nitrogen component and a liquefaction engine, very cold liquefied natural gas and a liquefaction engine, or a combination of both very cold liquefied natural gas and a liquid nitrogen component to deliver LNG to a holding tank on a use device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: CHART INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Tom Drube
  • Patent number: 6354088
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Chart Inc.
    Inventors: Claus Emmer, Tom Drube, Keith Gustafson
  • Patent number: 5682750
    Abstract: A portable self-contained delivery station for liquid natural gas (LNG) is provided on a movable skid frame and equipped with an instant -on delivery system which may initiate LNG delivery immediately to a use vehicle. The skid is equipped with a spill containment feature such that the LNG may be contained in the event of spillage. A variable speed pump both controls LNG dispensing and saturation levels of the stored LNG. The pump is submerged in a sump tank which is separate from the bulk storage tank. The sump tank is flooded with an amount of LNG such that the pump is submerged. Delivery of LNG may thus occur instantly, without pre-cooling of the pump or associated meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: MVE Inc.
    Inventors: Duane Preston, Michael Lutgen, Tom Drube, Paul Drube, Tom Chrisfield
  • Patent number: 5616838
    Abstract: A cryogenic meter is mounted in an insulated container having an inlet and outlet in circuit with the LNG delivery flow path. The container is filled with LNG to a level above the cryogenic meter to pre-cool it to a desired operating temperature. To maintain the level of LNG in the container during use and to separate vapor from liquid, a float device allows vapor to be returned to the storage tank from the container to refill it with LNG. Because the meter is continuously immersed in LNG during use, it is maintained at a constant temperature permitting the quantity of LNG delivered to a use device to be accurately metered. Temperature and/or pressure signals are sent to a microprocessor which computes the density of the LNG and displays the metered amount of LNG on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: MVE, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane Preston, Tom Drube, Paul Drube