Apparatus for mixing a multiple constituent liquid into a container and method

An apparatus for providing a liquid having at least two liquid constituents, which comprises:

• a) a closed container means;
• b) a fill conduit means communicating between an interior of the container means and the outside thereof;
• c) a first conduit means communicating between the interior and the outside of the container means and having a first opening disposed inside the container means at a first position;
• and
• d) a second conduit means communicating between the interior of the container means and the outside thereof and having a second opening disposed inside the container means at a second position spaced apart from the first position of the first opening, wherein with the container means oriented such that the second position is at a higher altitude than the first position and with fluid flow communicable between the interior and the outside of the container means through the fill conduit means, the first conduit means and the second conduit means, a first liquid constituent is fillable into the container means through the fill conduit means until the first liquid constituent communicates to the outside of the container means through the first conduit means, and wherein with communication through the first conduit means closed, a second liquid constituent is fillable into the container means through the fill conduit means until the combined first and second liquid constituents communicate to the outside of the container means through the second conduit means, and wherein communication through the fill conduit means and the second conduit means is closable.

An apparatus for providing a liquid having at least two liquid constituents, which comprises:

• a) a closed container means;
• b) a first conduit means communicating between an interior of the container means and the outside thereof and having a first opening disposed inside the container means at a first altitude;
• c) a second conduit means communicating between the interior and the outside of the container means and having a second opening disposed inside the container means at a second altitude spaced above the first altitude of the first opening;
• d) a third conduit means communicating between the interior of the container means and the outside thereof and having a third opening disposed inside the container means at a third altitude spaced above the second altitude of the second opening, wherein with fluid flow communicable between the interior and the outside of the container means through the first conduit means, the second conduit means and the third conduit means, a first cryogenic liquid constituent predominantly comprising one of oxygen or nitrogen is fillable into the container means through the first conduit means until the first liquid constituent communicates to the outside of the container means through the second conduit means, and wherein with communication through the second conduit means closed, a second cryogenic liquid constituent predominantly comprising the other of oxygen or nitrogen is fillable into the container means through the first conduit means until the combined first and second liquid constituents communicate to the outside of the container means through the third conduit means, and wherein communication through the first conduit means and third conduit means is closable.

A method of providing a liquid having at least two liquid constituents, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a closed container means having at least a first conduit means and a second conduit means, both communicating between the outside of the container means and the interior thereof, wherein a first opening of the first conduit means is disposed inside the container means spaced apart from a second opening of the second conduit means;
• b) orientating the container means into a fill position such that the first opening of the first conduit means is disposed at a first altitude and the second opening of the second conduit means is disposed at a second altitude spaced above the first altitude;
• c) filling a first liquid constituent into the container means through the second conduit means until the first liquid constituent communicates between the interior of the container means and the outside thereof through the first conduit means;
• d) filling a second liquid constituent into the container means through the first conduit means until the combined first and second liquid constituents communicate between the interior of the container means and the outside thereof through the second conduit means;
• and
• e) closing fluid flow communication through the first conduit means and the second conduit means.

A method of providing a liquid having at least two liquid constituents, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a closed container means having a fill conduit means, a first conduit means and a second conduit means, all communicating between the outside of the container means and the interior thereof, wherein a first opening of the first conduit means is disposed inside the container means spaced apart from a second opening of the second conduit means;
• b) orientating the container means into a fill position such that the first opening of the first conduit means is disposed at a first altitude and the second opening of the second conduit means is disposed at a second altitude spaced above the first altitude;
• c) filling a first liquid constituent into the container means through the fill conduit means with fluid flow communication through the first conduit means open until the first liquid constituent contacts the first opening and communications between the interior of the container means and the outside thereof through the first conduit means;
• d) closing off fluid flow communication through the first conduit means;
• e) filling a second liquid constituent into the container means through the fill conduit means with fluid flow communication through the second conduit means open until the combined first and second liquid constituents contact the second opening and communicate between the interior of the container means and the outside thereof through the second conduit means;
• and
• f) closing fluid flow communication through the fill conduit means and the second conduit means.

A method of providing a liquid having at least two liquid constituents, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a closed container means having a first conduit means, a second conduit means and a third conduit means, all communicating between the outside of the container means and the interior thereof, wherein a first opening of the first conduit means is disposed inside the container means spaced apart from a second opening of the second conduit means and wherein a third opening of the third conduit means is spaced apart from the first opening and the second opening;
• b) orientating the container means into a fill position such that the first opening of the first conduit means is disposed at a first altitude, the second opening of the second conduit means is disposed at a second altitude spaced above the first altitude and the third opening of the third conduit means is disposed at a third altitude spaced above the second altitude;
• c) filling a first cryogenic liquid constituent predominantly comprising one of oxygen or nitrogen into the container means through the first conduit means with fluid flow communication opening through the second conduit means until the first liquid constituent contacts the second opening and communicated between the interior of the container means and the outside thereof through the second conduit means;
• d) closing off fluid flow communication through the second conduit means;
• e) filling a second cryogenic liquid constituent predominantly comprising the other of oxygen and nitrogen into the container means through the first conduit means with fluid flow communication open through the third conduit means until the combined first and second cryogenic liquid constituents contact the third opening and communicate between the interior of the container means and the outside thereof through the third conduit means;
• and
• f) closing off fluid flow communication through the first conduit means and the third conduit means.