Apparatus for storing and delivering liquid cryogen and apparatus and process for filling same

An apparatus for storing and delivering a liquid cryogenic fluid, comprising:

• an insulated pressure vessel comprising first and second substantially circular walls joined by a side wall, the first wall being at least one of substantially concave and convex;
• first means through which liquid cryogen may be supplied to and delivered from the pressure vessel;
• second means through which a gas may be supplied to the pressure vessel and vented from the pressure vessel;
• said first means including:
• intake means having an open end and extending into the pressure vessel;
• first means mounting the internal portion of said first means for rotating in the vessel about a first axis;
• and
• the inner wall of the pressure vessel concentric to the first axis being so formed and said internal portion being of such length that the open end of the intake means passes closely to the interior wall as the pressure vessel is caused to incline with respect to a plane passing through said first axis.

An apparatus for storing and delivering a liquid cryogenic fluid, comprising:

• an insulated pressure vessel comprising first and second substantially circular walls joined by a side wall, the second wall being a least one of substantially concave and convex,
• first means through which liquid cryogen may be supplied to and delivered from the pressure vessel;
• second means through which a gas may be supplied to the pressure vessel and vented from the pressure vessel;
• said first means including:
• intake means having an open end and extending into the pressure vessel;
• first means mounting the internal portion of said first means for rotating in the vessel about a first axis:
• and
• the inner wall of the pressure vessel concentric to the first axis being so formed and said internal portion being of such length that the open end of the intake means passes closely to the interior wall as the pressure vessel is caused to incline with respect to a plane passing through said first axis.

An apparatus for storing and delivering a liquid cryogenic fluid, comprising:

• an insulated pressure vessel;
• first means through which liquid cryogen may be supplied to and delivered from the pressure vessel;
• second means through which a gas may be supplied to the pressure vessel and vented from the pressure vessel;
• said first means including:
• intake means having an open end and extending into the pressure vessel;
• first means mounting the internal portion of said first means for rotating in the vessel about a first axis;
• the inner wall of the pressure vessel concentric to the first axis being so formed and said internal portion being of such length that the open end of the intake means passes closely to the interior wall as the pressure vessel is caused to incline with respect to a plane passing through said first axis;
• and
• an expansion valve.

A system for filling a dewar with liquid cryogen wherein the dewar includes:

• an insulative housing;
• a pressure vessel mounted within the housing;
• means for venting gas from the pressure vessel to prevent overpressurization of the pressure vessel;
• and
• means of supplying cryogen to the pressure vessel;
• said system comprising:
• a source of gas under supercritical pressure;
• means for cooling the gas to a subcritical temperature at a supercritical pressure to obtain a supercritical cryogenic fluid;
• and
• means for reducing the pressure of the cryogen fluid within the dewar to cool the cryogenic fluid to subcritical levels and thereby condense the cryogenic fluid to a liquid state as it enters the pressure vessel.

A process for filling a liquid cryogen dewar comprised of a pressure vessel mounted within an insulative housing, the process comprising the steps of:

• cooling a gas received at a supercritical pressure and a supercritical temperature to a subcritical temperature to produce a supercritical cryogenic fluid;
• reducing the pressure of the cryogenic fluid within the dewar as the cryogenic fluid enters the pressure vessel to condense the cryogenic fluid to a liquid state;
• and
• selectively venting gas from the pressure vessel to prevent overpressurization of the pressure vessel.