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US 8,091,495 B2Granted
Compressed natural gas barge
AssigneeFrank Wegner Donnelly
InventorsFrank Wegner Donnelly, Michael H. Kobler, John D. Watson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a maritime vessel that uses a solid or semi-solid material to enclose substantially natural gas storage vessels in the hold of the vessel.
Claims19
A maritime vessel, comprising:
- a deck;
- a hull;
- a hold defined by the deck and hull;
- a plurality of gas storage containers in the hold;
- and
- at least one of a semi-solid and solid material positioned between adjacent gas storage containers, whereby the at least one of a semi-solid and solid material at least one of maintains the gas storage containers in substantially fixed positions relative to the hull and confines substantially a rupture of any gas storage container;
- wherein the at least one of the plurality of gas storage containers and the at least one of a semi-solid and solid material provide substantial structural integrity to the maritime vessel;
- wherein the at least one of a semi-solid and solid material is maintained in compression by opposing, interconnected structural members;
- and
- wherein the interconnected structural members are positioned within the hull and connected at one or more substantially longitudinal positions.
7 more elements
A method, comprising:
- (a) receiving, at a first location, a valuable gas stored in a plurality of gas storage containers carried by a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a deck and a hull, wherein at least one of a semi-solid and solid material substantially surrounds the gas storage containers, whereby the at least one of a semi-solid and solid material at least one of maintains the gas storage containers in substantially fixed positions relative to one another and confines substantially a rupture of any gas storage container, wherein at least one of the plurality of gas storage containers carried by the vehicle and the at least one of a semi-solid and solid material provide substantial structural integrity to the maritime vehicle, wherein the at least one of a semi-solid and solid material is maintained in compression by opposing, interconnected structural members, wherein the interconnected structural members are positioned within the hull and connected at one or more substantially longitudinal positions;
- and
- (b) relocating the vehicle and gas storage containers to a second location, wherein, at the second location, the stored valuable gas is removed from the gas storage containers.
A maritime vehicle, comprising:
- a deck;
- a hull;
- a plurality of interconnected gas storage containers;
- and
- at least one of a semi-solid and solid material positioned between and/or substantially surrounding adjacent gas storage containers, whereby the at least one of a semi-solid and solid material at least one of maintains the gas storage containers in substantially fixed positions relative to the maritime vehicle and confines substantially a rupture of any gas storage container;
- wherein at least one of the plurality of gas storage containers and the at least one of a semi-solid and solid material provide substantial structural integrity to the maritime vehicle, wherein at least one of a semi-solid and solid material is maintained in compression by opposing, interconnected structural members,
- wherein the interconnected structural members are positioned within the hull and connected at one or more substantially longitudinal positions.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.