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US 7,032,768 B2Granted
Inert-metal lined steel-bodied vessel end-closure device
OwnerJohn W. Felbauminventor
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OwnerJohn W. Felbauminventor
Estimating the term…
A steel-body vessel, suitable for storing ultra-high purity gases, has a relatively inert metal lining which covers the interior surface of the steel vessel body, preventing the stored gas from making any contact and reacting with the steel vessel body. The relatively inert metal lining extends into the vessel end pieces which are interiorly threaded, in the steel, proximate the relatively inert metal lining. The surface of the inert metal lining is conditioned to be smooth, preferably to 15 μRa or better. The vessel end pieces are sealed with end closure devices, which are secured by a securing portion carrying exterior threads to matingly engage the interior threads on the vessel end pieces. The end closure devices contain a sealing portion constructed of the relatively inert metal, which retains an annular sealing gland to seal the vessel in a removable, non-contaminating manner at service pressures when the end closure device is seated within the vessel end piece by means of the securing portion.
An end closure device for a steel-body gas storage vessel, wherein said steel-body gas storage vessel has an interior surface defining a volume and at least one vessel end piece having a rim and a threaded interior surface, wherein said vessel interior surface and said vessel end piece interior surface are covered by a corrosion resistant, metal coating which is inert relative to the gas to be stored in said vessel, comprising:
A steel-body gas storage vessel having an interior surface defining an interior volume and at least one vessel end piece, wherein said at least one vessel end piece has a rim and a threaded interior surface, wherein a coating of corrosion resistant metal which is inert relative to the gas to be stored in said vessel covers entirely said vessel interior surface and said at least one vessel end piece proximate said threaded portion;
A seamless steel-body gas storage cylinder having an exterior surface, an interior surface, an interior region, and first and second vessel end pieces, wherein at least one vessel end piece has interior threads, wherein a coating of corrosion resistant metal which is inert relative to the gas to be stored in said vessel entirely covers the interior surface of said cylinder and at least one vessel end piece proximate the interior threaded portion, and at least one end closure device having a sealing portion being formed from a first metal that is corrosion resistant and inert relative to the gas to be stored in said vessel, and a securing portion being formed from a second metal greater strength than the first metal, bearing exterior threads for engaging the interior threads of the threaded vessel end piece, wherein the sealing portion further carries an annular sealing gland in communication with the surface of the sealing portion such that the securing portion of said at least one end closure device in said vessel end piece retains said sealing portion to facilitate sealing engagement of the sealing gland with the metal coating on the interior surface of the vessel end piece by radially compressing the sealing gland between the interior surface of the coated vessel end piece and the surface of the sealing portion.
A vessel end closure device for a steel-body gas storage vessel for the pressurized storage and transfer of ultra-pure gases having an electroplated lining of a metal which is inert relative to the stored gas, wherein the vessel has at least one vessel end piece, having a rim and carrying internal threads, the vessel end closure device comprising a sealing portion being formed from a first metal that is corrosion resistant and inert relative to the gas to be stored in the vessel;
A method for sealing a steel-body gas storage vessel for the pressurized storage and transfer of ultra-pure gases, said vessel having an electroplated lining of a metal which is inert relative to the stored gas, and having at least one vessel end piece, carrying internal threads and having a corrosion resistant coating which is inert relative to the gas to be stored in the vessel, said vessel further having a vessel end closure device comprised of a sealing portion being formed from a first metal that is corrosion resistant and inert relative to the gas to be stored in the vessel, and a securing portion being formed from a second metal of greater strength than the first metal, having exterior-engaging threads for engaging the interior threads of the at least one vessel end piece;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.