Refrigeration – Storage of solidified or liquified gas – With vapor discharged from storage receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-31
2001-08-28
Doerrler, William (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Storage of solidified or liquified gas
With vapor discharged from storage receptacle
C062S050200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279326
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to transportable devices for storing and supplying cryogenic fluid, of the type comprising a storage reservoir for the fluid in liquid phase, a supply circuit for the fluid in gaseous phase to at least one user station, arranged on the upper portion of the reservoir and comprising at least one vaporization coil, and handling the device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A device of this type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,086 (Beatrice Foods Company). In this document, the transport and handling of the device are ensured by pivoted handles fixed on the sidewalls of the reservoir, which does not permit correct nor easy handling by the user. Moreover, the supply circuit for the fluid in gaseous phase is enclosed in a closed housing constituted by the sealed assembly of a cover substantially free from openings and a base with a T-shaped profile welded on the reservoir. Such an arrangement does not permit suitable heat exchange nor the evacuation of water vapor accumulating in the cover, particularly because of the cold vaporization coil.
More recently, there have been proposed analogous devices with a profiled base support for the cover connected by a tube projecting outwardly from the cover to a small bottle suspended laterally from the reservoir and receiving the condensate accumulating in the base, in an inconvenient and hardly optimum arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has for its object to provide an improved device permitting, simply and effectively, at low cost and offering a great versatility, the collection and accumulation with high efficiency of the condensates in the cover whilst greatly facilitating handling of the device and optimizing the performance of the vaporization coil.
To do this, according to one characteristic of the invention, the handling means of the device are at least in part constituted by a profiled flange mounted on the reservoir, forming a trough for the collection and evacuation of the condensate and provided with an outlet opening for the condensate.
According to other characteristics of the invention:
the flange comprises a downwardly curved external portion forming a handrail for gripping and handling, connecting to a central mounting portion on the reservoir by an intermediate upwardly curved portion and provided with at least one hollow radial passage, thereby permitting free circulation of liquid between the central portion and the external portion.
at least one portion of the circuit is sheltered in a pierced cover, comprising typically a lower end in the form of a flared skirt that comes into bearing against the periphery of the flange, thereby enclosing the handrail, the skirt-shaped portion comprising typically angular aeration openings angularly spaced about the cover.
the cover comprises means for attaching a receptacle for collecting condensate, having typically a condensate reception trough extending below the evacuation opening of the flange in the assembled arrangement.
the cryogenic is medical oxygen, typically for home oxygen therapy treatments.
The present invention also relates to devices for vaporizing a cryogenic liquid suitable for transportable storage and supply devices for cryogenic fluid defined above, more particularly atmospheric devices for vaporization and reheating of a cryogenic liquid containing oxygen for oxygen therapy, of the type comprising a coil constituted by several coaxial windings with ordinarily a substantially vertical axis, having a first end connected to a source of cryogenic liquid and a second end connectable to a user circuit, for example for the supply of a respiratory mask.
In known devices of this type, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,086 mentioned above, the coil comprises superposed windings of substantially constant diameter and of an axial spacing which is also substantially constant. These devices have the drawback that, in use, the condensation of water which inevitably takes place along the coil, is accompanied by the formation of drops of water falling downwardly of the coil, which is to say onto the colder turns, accumulating on these lower turns in the form of layers of ice which greatly reduce the heat exchange performance of the coil and require in practice an increased length, hence an increase in the overall volume. This phenomenon of condensation and deposit of ice is further increased when the coil is enclosed in a cover capping the cryogenic gas reservoir constituting said source.
The present invention also has for its object to provide a simple vaporization device, which will be reliable and inexpensive, eliminating the above problems and permitting guaranteeing, in a compact form easily disposable in an envelope, by a vaporization output that is substantially constant with time.
To do this, according to one characteristic of the invention, at least the two lower turns of the coil have a greater diameter than the other turns.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1417292 (1922-05-01), Andrews
patent: 1464319 (1923-08-01), Heylandt
patent: 2454934 (1948-11-01), Mathis et al.
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patent: 4211086 (1980-07-01), Leonard et al.
patent: 4716738 (1988-01-01), Tatge et al.
patent: 05041 (1915-06-01), None
Bertarione Herve
Boucher Guillaume
Doerrler William
L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'
Young & Thompson
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