US 6,575,159 B1Granted

Portable liquid oxygen unit with multiple operational orientations

AssigneeMallinckrodt Inc.

InventorsMark Robert Frye, Leonardo Shiki Toma, Richard Scott Remes

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Abstract

A portable liquid oxygen (LOX) storage/delivery apparatus is provided, including an insulated (LOX) container having an interior, a bottom portion and a sidewall, the sidewall including a first side portion and a second side portion, both extending between the top portion and the bottom portion, and a port system in communication with the interior of the container for charging the container and for withdrawing LOX and gaseous oxygen from the container. The gaseous oxygen is withdrawn from the container through a first outlet and LOX is withdrawn from the container through a second outlet. Gaseous oxygen can be withdrawn from the container through the first outlet and LOX can be withdrawn from the container through the second outlet when the container is positioned in a first orientation with the sidewall vertically oriented, as well as when the container is positioned in a second orientation with the second side portion oriented downwardly and with the first side portion oriented upwardly and overlying the second side portion, and any position in between.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A portable liquid oxygen (LOX) storage/delivery apparatus, comprising:

an insulated (LOX) container having an interior for containing LOX, the LOX container having a top portion, a bottom portion and a sidewall between the top and bottom portions, the sidewall including a first side portion extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the container, and a second side portion extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the container, the second side portion being on an opposite side of said container from said first side portion;
a port system in communication with said interior of said container for charging said container with LOX, and for withdrawing LOX and gaseous oxygen from said container, wherein said gaseous oxygen is withdrawn from said container through a first outlet communicating with the interior of said container, said first outlet being located adjacent a first juncture between said top portion and said first side portion of said container;
wherein LOX is withdrawn from said container through a second outlet communicating with the interior of said container, said second outlet being located adjacent a second juncture between said bottom portion and said second side portion;
wherein gaseous oxygen can be withdrawn from said container through said first outlet and LOX can be withdrawn from said container through said second outlet when said container is positioned in a first orientation with said sidewall vertically oriented, and also when said container is positioned in a second orientation with said second side portion oriented downwardly and with said first side portion oriented upwardly and overlying said second side portion;
wherein said first outlet communicates with a first port in said container, said first port being located adjacent said first outlet and said first juncture;
and wherein said second outlet is in communication with a second port, said second port being located adjacent said first port and adjacent said first juncture, said second outlet being connected to said second port by a LOX conduit extending through the interior of said container;
wherein said first port is substantially concentric with said second port;
and
wherein said second port is within said first port and said LOX conduit extends through said first outlet.

6 more elements

A portable liquid oxygen (LOX) storage/delivery apparatus, comprising:

an insulated (LOX) container having an interior for containing LOX, the LOX container having a top portion, a bottom portion and a sidewall between the top and bottom portions, the sidewall including a first side portion extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the container, and a second side portion extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the container, the second side portion being on an opposite side of said container from said first side portion;
a port system in communication with said interior of said container for charging said container with LOX, and for withdrawing LOX and gaseous oxygen from said container, wherein said gaseous oxygen is withdrawn from said container through a first outlet communicating with the interior of said container, said first outlet being located adjacent a first juncture between said top portion and said first side portion of said container;
wherein LOX is withdrawn from said container through a second outlet communicating with the interior of said container, said second outlet being located adjacent a second juncture between said bottom portion and said second side portion;
wherein gaseous oxygen can be withdrawn from said container through said first outlet and LOX can be withdrawn from said container through said second outlet when said container is positioned in a first orientation with said sidewall vertically oriented, and also when said container is positioned in a second orientation with said second side portion oriented downwardly and with said first side portion oriented upwardly and overlying said second side portion;
wherein said container is charged with LOX by way of said port system through a third port located adjacent a third juncture between said first side portion and said bottom portion, and a LOX delivery conduit extending from said third port through said LOX container, terminating at an open end of said LOX delivery conduit, said open end being located within said LOX container adjacent said top portion.

2 more elements

A portable liquid oxygen (LOX) storage/delivery apparatus, comprising:

an insulated (LOX) container having an interior for containing LOX, the LOX container having a top portion, a bottom portion and a sidewall between the top and bottom portions, the sidewall including a first side portion extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the container, and a second side portion extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the container, the second side portion being on an opposite side of said container from said first side portion;
a port system in communication with said interior of said container for charging said container with LOX, and for withdrawing LOX and gaseous oxygen from said container, wherein said gaseous oxygen is withdrawn from said container through a first outlet communicating with the interior of said container, said first outlet being located adjacent a first juncture between said top portion and said first side portion of said container;
wherein LOX is withdrawn from said container through a second outlet communicating with the interior of said container, said second outlet being located adjacent a second juncture between said bottom portion and said second side portion;
wherein gaseous oxygen can be withdrawn from said container through said first outlet and LOX can be withdrawn from said container through said second outlet when said container is positioned in a first orientation with said sidewall vertically oriented, and also when said container is positioned in a second orientation with said second side portion oriented downwardly and with said first side portion oriented upwardly and overlying said second side portion;
wherein said LOX container is insulated by a vacuum between said LOX container and an outer shell wall, the LOX container being supported by the outer shell wall by top and bottom insulated support systems, the top insulated support system including a top container support connected to the top portion of the LOX container, the top container support being supported by a first insulated support, and the first insulated support being supported by a first outer shell support connected to said outer shell, wherein the top container support does not contact the first outer shell support and is separated therefrom by the first insulated support;
and
wherein the bottom support system includes a bottom container support connected to said bottom portion of the LOX container, the bottom container support being supported by a second insulated support and the second insulated support being supported by a second outer shell support connected to said outer shell, wherein said bottom container support does not contact said second outer shell support and said bottom container support is separated from said second outer shell support by said second insulated support.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/696,208Filed 26 Oct 2000 · us provisional application
Priority: 29 Oct 1999
Granted: 10 Jun 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

F17C 13/006
For medium-size and small storage vessels not under pressure: for Dewar vessels or cryostats
F17C 3/08
With provision for thermal insulation: by vacuum spaces, e.g. Dewar flask
F17C 7/04
Discharging liquefied gases: with change of state, e.g. vaporisation
F17C 9/02
Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure: with change of state, e.g. vaporisation