Cylinder rupture vessel
AssigneeEarth Resources Corporation
InventorsJeffrey W. Gold, Dan A. Nickens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A waste cylinder rupture vessel for release and recontainerization of toxic contents of compressed gas cylinders is defined by an enclosed chamber which accommodates a plurality of bearing surfaces for supporting and positioning a target cylinder thereon. A puncture spike disposed within the chamber is adapted to puncture the target cylinder at its mid-section, thereby releasing its contents. Connections are provided communicating with the enclosed chamber for evacuating and recontainerizing the contents released by a punctured cylinder without release of the contents into the environment. All of the cylinder processing operations may be provided remotely.
Claims34
A system for accessing the contents of a target container comprising:
- a first enclosed chamber including an upper housing and a lower housing integral with the upper housing;
- a support on which a target container may be supported within the first enclosed chamber, the target container comprising a wall portion and being capable of containing at least one of high pressure gas;
- high-pressure, reactive gas;
- and a toxic substance;
- a first access member connected to the first enclosed chamber, the target container being loaded into the system through the first access member;
- a first seal disposed between the first access member and the first enclosed chamber;
- at least one removal port connected to the first enclosed chamber;
- at least one pump connected to one of the at least one removal ports, each pump evacuating gas from the first enclosed chamber;
- at least one purge connection connected to the first enclosed chamber through which an inert gas is introduced to purge gas from the first enclosed chamber;
- a mechanism that enables access to the contents of the target container through the wall portion of the target container;
- and
- wherein the pump is operable to remove gas, contents of the target container and the inert gas from the first enclosed chamber.
A system for accessing the contents of a target container comprising:
- a first enclosed chamber including an upper housing and a lower housing integral with the upper housing;
- a support on which a target container may be supported within the first enclosed chamber, the target container comprising a wall portion and being capable of containing at least one of high pressure gas;
- high-pressure, reactive gas;
- and a toxic substance;
- a first access member connected to the first enclosed chamber, the target container being loaded into the cylinder rupture system through the first access member;
- a first seal disposed between the first access member and the first enclosed chamber;
- at least one removal port connected to the first enclosed chamber;
- at least one pump connected to one of the at least one removal ports, each pump evacuating air from the first enclosed chamber;
- and
- a mechanism that enables access to the contents of the target container through the wall portion of the target container.
A method for releasing the contents of a target container in a vessel, wherein the vessel comprises a sealable chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a target container into the chamber;
- sealing the chamber;
- purging substantially all of the air located within the chamber;
- and
- rupturing at least a portion of the target container.
A method for evacuating the contents of a target container in a chamber comprising the steps of:
- locating the target container within the chamber;
- sealing the chamber;
- purging air from the chamber;
- forming an opening in the target container;
- and
- evacuating the released contents of the ruptured target container.
A method for accessing the contents of a target container in a vessel, wherein the vessel comprises at least one sealable chamber and the target container comprises a wall portion, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting the target container into a first chamber;
- sealing the first chamber;
- purging air located within the first chamber;
- and
- accessing the contents of the target container through the wall portion.
A system for accessing the contents of a target container comprising:
- an enclosed chamber;
- a target container supported within the enclosed chamber, the target container comprising a wall portion and being capable of containing at least one of high pressure gas;
- high-pressure, reactive gas;
- and a toxic substance;
- means for sealing the enclosed chamber;
- inlet means for introducing supercooled liquid into the enclosed chamber;
- outlet means for purging air and supercooled liquid from the enclosed chamber;
- and
- a mechanism disposed within the enclosed chamber to enable access to the contents of the target container through the wall portion of the target container.
A method for releasing the contents of a target container in a vessel, wherein the vessel comprises a sealable chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a target container into the sealable chamber;
- sealing the chamber;
- purging air located within the chamber;
- introducing supercooled liquid into the chamber;
- and
- accessing the contents of the target container.
A method for releasing the contents of a target container in a vessel, wherein the vessel comprises a sealable chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a target container into the chamber;
- sealing the chamber;
- purging air located within the chamber;
- forming an opening in the target container;
- removing the contents of the chamber;
- and
- rinsing the chamber with a neutralization solution.
A method for releasing the contents of a target container in a vessel, wherein the vessel comprises a sealable chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a target container into the chamber;
- sealing the chamber;
- purging air located within the chamber;
- removing the contents of the target container from the chamber;
- and
- disposing of the contents of the target container.
A method for releasing the contents of a target container in a vessel, wherein the vessel comprises a sealable chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a target container into the chamber;
- sealing the chamber;
- purging air located within the chamber;
- accessing the contents of the target container;
- and
- analyzing the contents of the chamber.
A system for accessing the contents of a target container comprising:
- an enclosed chamber;
- a target container supported within the enclosed chamber, the target container comprising a wall portion and being capable of containing at least one of high pressure gas;
- high-pressure, reactive gas;
- and a toxic substance;
- means for sealing the enclosed chamber;
- inlet means for introducing an inert gas into the enclosed chamber to purge air from the enclosed chamber;
- outlet means for purging air and inert gas from the enclosed chamber;
- a mechanism disposed within the enclosed chamber to enable access to the contents of the target container through the wall portion of the target container;
- and
- means, remote from the enclosed chamber, for controlling the mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.