Pipes and tubular conduits – Plural duct – Coaxial
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-22
2004-01-20
Brinson, Patrick (Department: 3752)
Pipes and tubular conduits
Plural duct
Coaxial
C138S126000, C138S125000, C138S149000, C138S137000, C062S050700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06679294
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to a method and apparatus for conduction of cryogenic liquids, and, in particular, to a cryogenic fluid system having a flexible conduit which enables transfer of cryogenic fluids with minimal leakage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Several attempts have been made in the past to address the need to efficiently transport cryogenic fluids using a flexible conduit. While these past attempts have provided designs that claim to achieve successful transfer of cryogenic fluids, they have demonstrated certain shortcomings. Most notably, these shortcomings relate to the lack of flexibility of the conduit and the manufacturing costs associated with producing a functional flexible conduit.
Conventional conduits for transporting cryogenic materials are generally constructed from rigid, metallic tubing incorporating costly, welded-in metal bellows which are made of a pleated metal and are ideally capable of one or more of axial, angular, lateral, and torsional movement. While these metal bellows may enable a particular conduit to lengthen/shorten, they traditionally have not however, provided for substantial flexibility (i.e. the ability to bend) throughout the substantial length of the conduit. To the contrary, most conventional cryogenic conduits have merely provided for limited flexibility in discrete locations along the length of the conduit through the use of such above-described metal bellows. While some cryogenic conduits may disclose flexibility throughout the length of the cryogenic conduit, the cost of producing such conduits eliminates the feasibility of their commercial use. Further, such conventional cryogenic conduits having metal bellows often incorporate costly (as well as rigid/inflexible) vacuum jacketing. An exemplary cryogenic conduit that includes vacuum jacketing would be arranged having an inner stainless steel tube through which the cryogenic liquid flows, an outer stainless steel tube that seals a vacuum space forming the “vacuum jacket” between the inner and outer tubes, multi-layered insulation between the tubes, and bellows interconnecting adjacent conduit tube sections to accommodate axial extension/contraction and/or flexure of the cryogenic conduit at the section(s) of the conduit which include these bellows.
In addition, adjacent segments of conventional cryogenic conduits generally are attached to one another utilizing one of two time-consuming, inflexible, and costly joint connection options: tube-in-tube connections and welded connections. A tube-in-tube connection is generally a joint device having telescoping male and female components. These tube-in-tube connections generally utilize an in-line seal placed between flanges to inflexibly join adjacent bellow-based cryogenic tubes together. Alternatively, welded connections (generally vacuum insulated) can be made between adjacent pieces of cryogenic conduit. Usually, the welded joint of the adjacent cryogenic conduits is then insulated, and a coupling is moved into place over the welded section, thus immobilizing (i.e. making rigid) that section of the cryogenic conduit.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop a cryogenic conduit that exhibits flexibility substantially throughout the length of the cryogenic conduit. Additionally, it would be desirable to develop a method of fabricating a cryogenic conduit that reduces the assembly time and cost of the associated welding and tooling required to assemble the cryogenic conduit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally directed to a cryogenic fluid system and method of making the same. More specifically, the method and apparatus of the present invention are generally directed to a flexible tube-in-tube-type conduit that is specifically adapted for conducting cryogenic fluid. Herein the term “cryogenic fluid” generally refers to a liquid or gas (or combination of liquids and/or gases) that has temperature below (i.e., colder than) about −100° F. (Fahrenheit). The cryogenic fluid system of the present invention desirably addresses the lack of conduit flexibility associated with conventional cryogenic fluid systems. Particularly desirable applications of this cryogenic fluid system are in the cooling systems of aircraft/spacecraft flight and/or ground systems. Additional application can be found in using the cryogenic fluid system of the present invention for conduction of cryogenic propellants/fuel and/or fuel components for launch vehicles, aircrafts, spacecrafts, and/or rockets. While various preferred applications of the present invention have been mentioned above, the cryogenic fluid system of the present invention may be utilized in any appropriate application for which conduction of cryogenic fluid is desired/required.
A first aspect of the present invention is embodied in a cryogenic fluid system that has a cryogenic conduit that includes a first tube made of a first composite and having an inner wall and an outer wall. The cryogenic conduit also has a second tube made of a second composite and disposed about the first tube. At least one of these first and second tubes utilizes a silicone rubber-impregnated glass cloth in its construction. A tube liner is disposed against the inner wall of the first tube, and thereby interfaces with a cryogenic fluid that may flow through the first tube. This fluid liner is made from a fluorocarbon polymer. Based upon this construction, the first tube is generally positioned between the second tube and the tube liner. In other words, the tube liner is surrounded by the first tube, which in turn is surrounded by the second tube. Herein, a “composite” refers to a construction that utilizes multiple layers and/or materials, wherein each of these layers and/or materials can be formed of the same, similar, or different substances/compositions.
Various refinements exist of the features noted in relation to the subject first aspect of the present invention as well. Further features may also be incorporated in the subject first aspect of the present invention as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, the cryogenic conduit that is associated with the first aspect may be used to fluidly interconnect any appropriate components of a cryogenic fluid system. In one embodiment, a cryogenic fluid source is fluidly interconnected with one end of the cryogenic conduit, while an opposite end of the cryogenic conduit is fluidly interconnected with another component of the cryogenic system (e.g., a rocket engine, cooling jacket, or propellant storage tank). Herein, “fluidly interconnected” refers to a joining of a first component to a second component or to one or more components which may be connected with the second component, or to joining the first component to part of a system that includes the second component so that the molecules of a substance(s) (such as a liquid or gas) may be substantially confined to the system and capable of flowing through the system, including through both the first and second components.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, at least one of and more preferably both of the first composite and the second composite include silicone rubber-impregnated glass cloth as at least a part thereof. At least one of the first and second tubes may utilize a reinforcement cord in its corresponding composite construction. This reinforcement cord generally may be embedded within the first composite of the first tube and/or define at least part of the outer wall of the first tube. Reinforcement cord(s) may additionally or alternatively be embedded within the second composite of the second tube and/or define at least part of the outer wall of the second tube. Put another way, reinforcement cord(s) may be one or both “sandwiched” between layers of the respective composite material or positioned about the periphery of the first and/or second tube. Generally, each reinforcement cord may be arranged in a helical configuration about a first reference axis; accordingly, bo
Helgesen Bryan R.
Ringelberg John C.
Sakla Steven P.
Vigil Eric P.
Zegler Frank C.
Brinson Patrick
Marsh & Fischmann & Breyfogle LLP
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