# US 2021/0278028 A1 · Johnston coupling with additional vacuum enclosure

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- Number: US 2021/0278028 A1
- Document ID: US20210278028A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/149,341
- Filed: 2021-01-14
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2020-01-17
- Assignees: Nexans
- Applicants: Nexans
- Inventors: Holger SCHULZ; Christian FROHNE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210278028A1

## CPC

- F16L 59/141: {in which the temperature of the medium is below that of the ambient temperature}
- F16L 59/065: using vacuum (F16L59/075 takes precedence)
- F16L 59/182: {Joints with sleeve or socket}
- F16L 59/184: {Flanged joints}
- F17C 6/00: Methods and apparatus for filling vessels not under pressure with liquefied or solidified gases
- Y02E 60/32: Hydrogen storage
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- 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)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A plug-in coupling for connecting a first to a second double-walled, vacuum-insulated cryogenic line is proposed. The plug-in coupling comprises a coupling plug and a coupling socket. The coupling plug has an inner and an outer pipe piece and a first connecting flange and is connected to the first cryogenic line. The coupling socket has an inner and an outer pipe piece and a second connecting flange and is connected to the second cryogenic line. In an assembled state of the plug-in coupling, the coupling plug has been plugged into an open annular gap in the coupling socket. The annular gap is surrounded both at its inner circumference and at its outer circumference by an insulating vacuum, whereby the thermal insulation of the plug-in coupling is improved. This construction makes possible a shorter design of the plug-in coupling, which, while achieving good thermal insulation, is space-saving and easy to handle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A plug-in coupling for connecting a first to a second double-walled, vacuum-insulated cryogenic line, wherein the plug-in coupling comprises:
a coupling plug and a coupling socket,
wherein the coupling plug has an inner and an outer pipe piece and a first connecting flange and is connected to the first cryogenic line,
wherein the coupling socket has an inner and an outer pipe piece and a second connecting flange and is connected to the second cryogenic line, wherein between the inner and the outer pipe piece of the coupling socket, there is formed an annular gap which is open in the region of the second connecting flange and which is surrounded both at its inner circumference and at its outer circumference by an insulating vacuum.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The plug-in coupling according to claim 1, wherein, when the plug-in coupling has been assembled, the coupling plug has been plugged into the open annular gap.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The plug-in coupling according to claim 1, wherein, on the coupling socket, there is arranged a seal holder which bears a seal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The plug-in coupling according to claim 1, wherein the outer and the inner pipe piece of the coupling plug are connected in each case by way of a first end to the first connecting flange and by way of the in each case second end to a connecting ring, wherein, between the inner and the outer pipe piece, there is formed an annular gap in which an insulating vacuum prevails.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The plug-in coupling according to claim 4, wherein the annular gap is connected via at least one flow channel to an insulating vacuum in the first cryogenic line.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The plug-in coupling according to claim 1, wherein the second connecting flange is connected to an outer pipe of the second cryogenic line.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The plug-in coupling according to claim 1, wherein the inner pipe piece is connected to the outer pipe piece of the coupling socket by means of a connecting ring.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The plug-in coupling according to claim 1, wherein the coupling socket and the coupling plug have mutually complementary centring means.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The plug-in coupling according to claim 1, wherein the inner pipes of the first and second cryogenic lines are, in the region of the plug-in connection, thermally insulated with respect to the exterior space by three insulating vacuums layered one above the other.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A loading facility for cryogenic fluids having a plug-in coupling according to claim 1.