# US 12,760,842 B2 · Flight storage system for cryogenic fluids > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,760,842 B2 - Document ID: US12760842B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/168,962 - Filed: 2023-02-14 - Published: 2024-08-15 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-02-14 - Assignees: NEOEx Systems, Inc. - Applicants: NEOEx Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Mark S. Haberbusch; Alec D. Romesberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760842B2 ## CPC - F17C 9/00: Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure - F17C 2201/0119: with flat end-piece - F17C 2203/0391: by vacuum - F17C 2203/0629: Two walls - F17C 2203/0643: Stainless steels - F17C 2203/0646: Aluminium - F17C 2203/0673: Polymers - F17C 2205/0338: Pressure regulators - F17C 2221/012: Hydrogen - F17C 2223/0161: cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG - F17C 2227/0302: by heating - F17C 2227/0339: using the same fluid - F17C 2250/04: Indicating or measuring of parameters as input values - F17C 2270/0189: Planes - H01M 8/04208: {Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs} - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY ## Abstract An exemplary flight storage system for storing a cryogenic fluid and then discharging it as a vapor. The flight storage system includes an inner tank, a heat exchanger that is in fluid communication with the inner tank, an outer jacket assembly, and a cooling assembly. The storage system is configured to store high specific energy fuel such as liquid hydrogen, or other cryogenic fluids, for energy for propulsion use. The cooling assembly is configured to use the flow of the liquid hydrogen for cooling critical sensor packages The outer jacket assembly includes a first jacket cylinder and a second jacket cylinder. The outer jacket assembly further includes a first connector body 30 and a second connector body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for storing a cryogenic fluid and discharging a vapor comprising: an inner tank; a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the inner tank; a cooling assembly including: a plate heat exchanger; a bottom drain tube and a vapor return line fluidly connected to the inner tank and the plate heat exchanger such that liquid hydrogen from the inner tank is configured to feed out the bottom drain tube and into the plate heat exchanger and vaporized hydrogen is configured to leave the plate heat exchanger through the vapor return line to the inner tank; an outer jacket assembly including: a first jacket cylinder and a second jacket cylinder; a first flange and a second flange, wherein the first flange is affixed to the first jacket cylinder and the second flange is affixed to the second jacket cylinder; and a first connector body and second connector body, wherein the first connector body has a first face, and the second connector body has a second face, the connector bodies are configured such that they are disposed between the first and second flanges, when in a connected state the first face of the first connector body abuts the second face of the second connector body and at least one fastener connects the first and second flanges and the first and second connector bodies together; and a first sealing ring disposed between the first flange and first connector body, and a second sealing ring disposed between the second flange and second connector body, wherein the inner tank, the heat exchanger, and the cooling assembly are encased by the outer jacket assembly. ### Claim 2 A system for storing a cryogenic fluid and discharging a vapor comprising: an inner tank; a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the inner tank; and an outer jacket assembly including: a first jacket cylinder and a second jacket cylinder; a first flange and a second flange, wherein the first flange is affixed to the first jacket cylinder and the second flange is affixed to the second jacket cylinder; and a first connector body and second connector body, wherein the first connector body has a first face, and the second connector body has a second face, the connector bodies are configured such that they are disposed between the first and second flanges, when in a connected state the first face of the first connector body abuts the second face of the second connector body and at least one fastener connects the first and second flanges and the first and second connector bodies together; and a first sealing ring disposed between the first flange and first connector body, and a second sealing ring disposed between the second flange and second connector body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 2, wherein the first and second connector bodies in the connected state are adhered together by a cryogenic rated epoxy. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 2, wherein in the connected state the outer jacket assembly is configured to create a vacuum seal around the inner tank. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 2, wherein the first connector body has a first semicircular opening, and the second connector body has a corresponding second semicircular opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 2, wherein the first connector body has a first semicircular opening, and the second connector body has a corresponding second semicircular opening, wherein in the connected state the first semicircular opening and second semicircular opening form a circular aperture. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 2, wherein the first connector body has a first semicircular opening and a first depression, and the second connector body has a corresponding second semicircular opening and second depression, wherein in the connected state the first semicircular opening and second semicircular opening form a circular aperture and the first and second depression form a plate cavity circumscribing the circular aperture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 2, wherein the first connector body has a first semicircular opening and a first depression, and the second connector body has a corresponding second semicircular opening and second depression, wherein in the connected state the first semicircular opening and second semicircular opening form a circular aperture and the first and second depression form a plate cavity circumscribing the circular aperture, wherein the plate cavity receives a vacuum jacket connection plate having formed thereon a fill tube receiving aperture for receiving a fill tube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 2, wherein the first connector body has a first semicircular opening and a first depression, and the second connector body has a corresponding second semicircular opening and second depression, wherein in the connected state the first semicircular opening and second semicircular opening form a circular aperture and the first and second depression form a plate cavity circumscribing the circular aperture, wherein the plate cavity receives a vacuum jacket connection plate having formed thereon a fill tube receiving aperture that aligns with the circular aperture, a bellows is operably connected to the vacuum jacket connection plate circumscribing the fill tube receiving aperture, a fill tube disposed within the bellows and the fill tube receiving aperture, wherein the fill tube is in fluid communication with the inner tank and the bellows is in fluid communication with the outer jacket assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 2, wherein the outer jacket assembly is configured such that the first jacket cylinder, the second jacket cylinder, or both are independently removable to access the inner tank. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 2, wherein the first and second connector bodies are comprised of a high-pressure laminate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 2, wherein the inner tank and tubular heat exchanger are encased by the outer jacket assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 2, wherein the first and second sealing rings are serrated, wherein the first and second flanges include machined in serrations for sealing on a first and second gasket, respectively. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 2, comprising a cooling assembly including: a plate heat exchanger; a bottom drain tube and a vapor return line fluidly connected to the inner tank and the plate heat exchanger such that liquid hydrogen from the inner tank is configured to feed out the bottom drain tube and into the plate heat exchanger and vaporized hydrogen is configured to leave the plate heat exchanger through the vapor return line to the inner tank. ### Claim 15 A system for storing a cryogenic fluid and discharging a vapor comprising: an inner tank; a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the inner tank; an outer jacket assembly including: a first jacket cylinder and a second jacket cylinder; a first flange and a second flange, wherein the first flange is affixed to the first jacket cylinder and the second flange is affixed to the second jacket cylinder; and a first sealing ring disposed between the first flange and a first connector body, and a second sealing ring disposed between the second flange and a second connector body, wherein both the first and second sealing rings are positioned between the first jacket cylinder and the second jacket cylinder; wherein the inner tank and the heat exchanger are encased by the outer jacket assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 15, comprising: a cooling assembly in fluid communication with the inner tank, the cooling assembly including: a drain tube connected to the inner tank at a lower portion of the inner tank; a plate heat exchanger that is configured to receive cryogenic fluid from the drain tube and produce a vapor; and a vapor return line that is configured to return the vapor from the plate heat exchanger to an upper portion of the inner tank, wherein the cooling assembly is encased by the outer jacket assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 16, comprising a sensor thermally connected to the plate heat exchanger, wherein the inner tank, the sensor, and the cooling assembly are encased by the outer jacket assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 17, wherein when in a connected state the outer jacket assembly is configured to create a vacuum seal around the inner tank, the sensor, and the cooling assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 17, wherein the sensor is a sensor package containing a plurality of or a combination of devices selected from quantum communications devices, gas sampling devices, or cryogenically cooled sensors. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The system for storing the cryogenic fluid and discharging the vapor of claim 15, wherein the first and second connector bodies are connectable and in a connected state are adhered together by a cryogenic rated epoxy. ### Claim 21 A system for storing a cryogenic fluid and discharging a vapor comprising: an inner tank; a fitting or tube; a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the inner tank; a bellows; and an outer jacket assembly within which the inner tank and the heat exchanger are disposed, the outer jacket assembly including: a first jacket portion and a second jacket portion; a connector body configured to operably connect between the first jacket portion and the second jacket portion and having an aperture operably connected to the bellows such that the fitting or tube passes through the aperture and the bellows with an annular gap therebetween, the bellows in fluid communication with the outer jacket assembly through the annular gap, and the fitting or tube in fluid communication with the inner tank.