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US 5,511,955 AGranted
Cryogenic pump
AssigneeCryogenic Group, Inc.
InventorsBruce G. Brown, Robert E. Crowl, Phillip J. Westermann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cryogenic pump capable of operating with a sub-zero net positive suction head includes a reciprocating piston positioned in a cylindrical housing for dividing the interior of the housing into a supercharger chamber and an evacuation chamber on opposite sides of the piston. A supercharger chamber valve, positioned directly behind the reciprocating piston, controls the flow of liquified gas from a gas inlet into the supercharger chamber. A fixed piston, extending into the evacuation chamber, engages a cylindrical skirt carried by the reciprocating piston to form a high pressure chamber between the two pistons. Liquified case from the high pressure chamber is supplied to a gas outlet via a passageway in the fixed piston.
Claims25
A cryogenic pump for liquified gases comprising:
- a cylindrical housing having a longitudinal axis and an inlet section at one end and discharge section at the other end;
- a moveable piston positioned in the cylindrical housing for reciprocating movement therein from the end of its forward stroke adjacent the outlet end of the housing to the end of the return stoke, adjacent the inlet end of the housing, the moveable piston dividing the interior of the cylindrical housing into a supercharger chamber and an evacuation chamber on opposite sides of the piston, the piston having a skirt extending into the evacuation chamber;
- a liquified gas inlet;
- at least one supercharger inlet port extending through the cylindrical housing in the inlet section thereof for channeling liquified gas from the liquified gas inlet into the supercharger chamber, the port being positioned behind the moveable piston whereby the position of the port does not interfere with an optimum position for the end of the return stroke of the moveable piston;
- a supercharger chamber valve communicating with the supercharger inlet port for controlling the flow of liquified gas through the port;
- a fixed piston mounted in the housing in sliding engagement with the moveable piston skirt to form a high pressure chamber between the moveable and fixed pistons;
- a high pressure chamber suction valve disposed between the supercharger chamber and the high pressure chamber for controlling the flow of liquified gas into the high pressure chamber;
- a high pressure outlet extending through the fixed piston and the discharge section;
- and
- a discharge valve positioned in the high pressure outlet for controlling the flow of liquified gas through the outlet.
7 more elements
A cryogenic pump for liquified gases comprising:
- a first cylindrical housing arranged symmetrically about a longitudinal axis and having an inner cylindrical wall;
- a moveable piston positioned in the first cylindrical housing for sliding engagement with the inner wall of the first cylindrical housing along the longitudinal axis, the moveable piston dividing the interior of the first housing into a supercharger chamber and an evacuation chamber on opposite sides of the piston, the moveable piston having a skirt extending into the evacuation chamber, the skirt having an inner wall;
- a liquified gas inlet;
- a supercharger chamber valve connected between the supercharger chamber and the liquified gas inlet for admitting liquified gas into the supercharger chamber;
- a fixed piston mounted in the housing in sliding engagement with the inner wall of the moveable piston skirt to form a high pressure chamber between the moveable and fixed pistons;
- a high pressure suction chamber valve connected between the supercharger chamber and the high pressure chamber for controlling the flow of liquified gas into the high pressure chamber;
- a high pressure outlet extending through the fixed piston;
- a discharge valve positioned in the outlet for controlling the flow of liquified gas through the outlet;
- a vent conduit;
- an evacuation chamber duct connecting the evacuation chamber to the vent conduit for conducting fluid therebetween independently of the position of the moveable piston and;
- an excess fluid duct connecting the supercharger chamber to the vent conduit for venting excess fluid from the supercharger chamber.
8 more elements
A cryogenic pump for transferring liquified gases from a liquified gas inlet to an outlet comprising:
- a inner cylindrical housing arranged symmetrically about a longitudinal axis and having an inlet section at one end and a discharge section at the other end;
- a moveable piston positioned in the inner cylinder for reciprocating movement therein, the moveable piston dividing the interior of the inner housing into a supercharger chamber and an evacuation chamber on opposite sides of the piston, the piston having a skirt extending into the evacuation chamber;
- means for connecting the liquified gas inlet to the supercharger chamber;
- a fixed piston mounted in the housing in contact with the moveable piston skirt forming a high pressure chamber between the moveable and fixed pistons;
- an outlet passageway in the fixed piston in fluid communication with the pump outlet;
- means for selectively connecting the supercharger chamber to the high pressure chamber;
- means for selectively connecting the high pressure chamber to the outlet passageway in the fixed piston;
- an outer cylindrical housing in fluid communication with the liquified gas inlet and enclosing at least a portion of the inner housing to form an enclosed space substantially surrounding the supercharger and high pressure chambers, whereby liquified gas from the liquified gas inlet will flash into a vapor in the enclosed annular space and extract heat from the pump when the gas inlet conduit is initially connected to a source of liquified gas;
- and
- means for venting vapor from the enclosed space.
7 more elements
A cryogenic pump for liquified gases comprising:
- a cylindrical housing having a longitudinal axis and an inlet section at one end and discharge section at the other end;
- a moveable piston positioned in the cylindrical housing for reciprocating movement therein the moveable piston dividing the interior of the cylindrical housing into a supercharger chamber and an evacuation chamber on opposite sides of the piston, the piston having a skirt extending into the evacuation chamber;
- a liquified gas inlet;
- at least one supercharger inlet port extending through the cylindrical housing in the inlet section thereof for channeling liquified gas from the liquified gas inlet into the supercharger chamber, the port being positioned behind the moveable piston to minimize the minimum volume of the supercharger chamber;
- a supercharger chamber valve communicating with a supercharger inlet port for controlling the flow of liquified gas through the port;
- a fixed piston mounted in the housing in sliding engagement with the moveable piston skirt to form a high pressure chamber between the moveable and fixed pistons;
- a high pressure chamber suction valve connected between the supercharger chamber and the high pressure chamber for controlling the flow of liquified gas into the high pressure chamber;
- a high pressure outlet extending through the fixed piston and the discharge section;
- and
- a discharge valve positioned in the high pressure outlet for controlling the flow of liquified gas through the outlet;
- a vent conduit;
- an evacuation chamber duct connecting the evacuation chamber to the vent conduit for conducting fluid therebetween;
- and
- an excess fluid duct connecting the supercharger chamber to the vent conduit for venting excess fluid from the supercharger chamber.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.