Temperature control of gas filling process
US7159405B1 · kind B1 · utility
0Cited by
2References
26Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 24, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jan 9, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 24, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16L53/32
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for controlling and raising the temperature of a fitting used to transfer liquefied gas to a storage vessel. A hollow metal tube containing heated inert gas contacts the fitting such that heat is transferred to the fitting. By raising the temperature of the fitting, problems such as leakage due to freezing the o-ring seal can be reduced. The method utilizes a vortex tube as the heat source to avoid problems with sparking when an incendiary gas such as hydrogen is being transferred to the storage vessel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.