Suspension system for a cryogenic tank
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsErnst Wolfgang Stautner, Constantinos Minas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cryogenic system includes a cryogenic tank containing a liquid cryogen and a vacuum vessel surrounding the cryogenic tank and providing a vacuum space between an inner surface of the vacuum vessel and an outer surface of the cryogenic tank. The cryogenic system further includes a suspension system arranged within the vacuum space so as to support the cryogenic tank within the vacuum vessel and to maintain the cryogenic tank within the vacuum vessel in a desired position. The suspension system includes a plurality of roller elements arranged within the vacuum space and contacting the inner surface of the vacuum vessel and the outer surface of the cryogenic tank.
Claims17
A cryogenic system, comprising:
- a cryogenic tank containing a liquid cryogen;
- a vacuum vessel surrounding the cryogenic tank and providing a vacuum space between an inner surface of the vacuum vessel and an outer surface of the cryogenic tank;
- and
- a suspension system arranged within the vacuum space so as to support the cryogenic tank within the vacuum vessel and to maintain the cryogenic tank within the vacuum vessel in a desired position, the suspension system comprising:
- a pair of axial suspension members disposed at axially opposite ends of the cryogenic tank;
- and
- a plurality of radial suspension members radially spaced and arranged circumferentially around the cryogenic vessel, each of the pair of axial suspension members and the plurality of radial suspension members comprising a plurality of roller elements arranged within the vacuum space and having a rounded outer surface in simultaneous point contact with the inner surface of the vacuum vessel and the outer surface of a tank wall of the cryogenic tank that bounds an interior volume containing the liquid cryogen.
A method of assembling a cryogenic system, the method comprising:
- securing a suspension system having a plurality of roller elements circumferentially around a cryogenic tank containing a liquid cryogen;
- arranging the plurality of roller elements in an axial direction in the vacuum space via one or more axial suspension members and in a radial direction in the vacuum space via one or more radial suspension members;
- sliding the cryogenic tank into a vacuum vessel via the plurality of roller elements such that a radial space is created between an inner surface of the vacuum vessel and an outer surface of the cryogenic tank and a rounded outer surface of each roller element of the plurality of roller elements is in simultaneous point contact with the inner surface of the vacuum vessel and the outer surface of a tank wall of the cryogenic tank that bounds an interior volume containing the liquid cryogen;
- and
- creating a vacuum within the radial space, wherein the suspension system supports the cryogenic tank within the vacuum vessel and maintains the cryogenic tank within the vacuum vessel in a desired position.
A cryogenic fuel system for a turbojet engine, the cryogenic fuel system comprising:
- a cryogenic tank containing a liquid cryogen fuel for the turbojet engine;
- a vacuum vessel surrounding the cryogenic tank and providing a vacuum space between an inner surface of the vacuum vessel and an outer surface of the cryogenic tank;
- and
- a plurality of roller elements arranged within the vacuum space and having a rounded outer surface in simultaneous point contact with the inner surface of the vacuum vessel and the outer surface of a tank wall of the cryogenic tank that bounds an interior volume containing the liquid cryogen fuel at a plurality of different points along a radial length and an axial length of the cryogenic tank so as to support the cryogenic tank within the vacuum vessel and maintain the cryogenic tank within the vacuum vessel in a desired position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.