US1140250A - Means for handling and transporting liquid gas. - Google Patents

Description

G. L. CABOT.

MEANS FOR HANDLING AND TRANSPORTING LIQUID GAS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I2. I9I4.

Patented May 18, 1915.

5T Lung,

MWA

GODFREY L. CABO?, OF BOSTON, ESBAGHUSETTS.

MEANS roisJ HANDLING AND 'rnANsron'rINd maurov das.'

inatteso.

T0 all 'whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, Gournay L. Canoa', a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Handling and Transporting Liquid Gas; and I do declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for handling and transporting liquid gas and the primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for delivering the li uid gas to receptacles and transporting t e receptacles containing the same which will positively retain the gas at the temperature necessary for liquefaction.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a tank or the like insulated against heat radiation and a further object resides in providing means in connection with the tank to permit the evaporated gas therein to be conveniently utilized for providing the energy necessary for the transportation of sai tanks.

A still further object resides in providing means in connection with the tanks for causing a gas evaporation such as desired when nich gas is necessary for lighting, heating or propulsion purposes.

Still another object resides in providing an apparatus which is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and one which will be very efficient in use.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this ap lication: Figure 1 is a top plan view of t e device constructed in accordance with my invention and applied to use; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section therethrough as seen on line 2 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a vertical section as seen on 'line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking in .the direction of the arrow.

It is a well known fact that gas can only exist in a liquid state when under action of intense cold, great pressure or a combination Specification of Letters Patent Patentes Mas is, isis.

Application filed October 12, 1914. Serial No. 866,415.

gas composed of the higher homologues of methane and having the nature of extremely light and fugitive gasolene. Such gases are transported in steel cylinders tested at an v internal pressure of something like 150 to 200 atmospheres, which obviously requires the weight of the containing receptacle to greatly exceed the weight of the gas contained therein. very large amount of methane and a variable but lesser amount of its higher homologues, something like 70% by volume of natural gas, has been successfully compressed and shipped in such cylinders, without accident. The liquid therein contained consists in the first instance of the higher homologues of methane, containing, however, a very large amount of methane in solution, probabl up to 40%. It is obvious that under suc conditions of manufacture in the first place, at least 30% of the natural gas would not be available for sale in this manner and it would probably often be a much larger percentage for the natural gas of which 70% would be obtained in the liquid form, would be especially carbonaceous, and. of higher specific gravity than the average. While this business of manufacturing, liquefying and shipping in steel cylinders a fuel hydro-carbon gas has been ancre or less successfully carried on in certain countries it is a well known fact that in view of the strong containers which must be provided therefor, the same must necessarily be of great weight. Thus the expense connected with the ship ing thereof, first with the containers filled? and then the return thereof empty, would be such as to make it impracticable from a commercial standpoint. y

My invention primarily contemplates a means for handling and transportinga lique- Natural gas containing a.

lfied gas in a cheaper and more expeditious manner than heretofore known, the sainel involving the control of the temperature and the' pressure. rl`here is no reason to suppose that the vessels that would naturally be used for such transportation would sutl'er any injury by reason of the, lowering ot' the tempcratui'e, although their tensile strength and toughness to resist shock and other'pliysical wear and tear Vmight be seriously aii'ected and therefore necessitate extraordinary precaution in the handling'tliereof. The chief' diliculty in such transportation will lie in the absorption oi' heat during transportation, the consequent e\apora tion ot a portion of the goods tra nsporied, and the expense and danger thereby implied. To 'overcome these dilliculties and Vreduce the vcommercial loss within feasible limits, it willv be necessary in the y[ii-st .place to transport the liquid gas in very large quantities, for instance, in tanks of considerable size. Second, it -will he necessary to insulate these tanksl against ,i'heat radiation so a'r as it is possible to do so; third, to provide a vent so that the-'gases evaporating may be either f lconveniently utilized -for providing` energy necessary in the transportation of the commodity or be allowed to escape liaimlessly in the open air without dangerof explosion 'or accidental fire which lattei' provision'also eliminates the internal pressure caused by volatilization. Fourth, to provide appliances fortlie necessary"trans-shipment of this unusual commodity for safetyand convenience and without appreciable loss by leakage and other means. f`

Leading to the dome 5 in each ofthe tanks is a'short pipe section 6 which plaees'the domes in communication with 'each other for a purpose hereinafter to be specified. To

simultaneously till theV tanks 1 I provide a transversely extendingpipe '8 which'latter is provided with downwardly projecting extensions 3ia whose lower extremities open into the domesl 5. As at times it may be desirable to fill only one of the tanks 1, I include in the aforesaid 'extensions Sa lthe valves 7 for controlling the supply as will be readily understood. Furthermore to prevent the emission of the liquefied gas from the unused extremity of pipe 8, I provide a threaded plug 8 which may be transferred from one extremity of said pipe V8 to the other dependent on' which'Y of said extreinities is attached to; the supplyV pipe. Inasmuch as these tanks 'are intended to be conveyedk from place to place as heretoforev communicate with tlie'short pipe sections G leading trom the two domes 5. Included within the branch sections 10" are the two blow-oli' valves 9 and lil'whieh enables the pressure by the volatilized gasV in the Vtanks toglie relieved and the latter conveyed tol some distant `point on the iloat through the pipe 10". Also arranged in connection with the pipe section (5 is an additional pipe 11 leading to a gas engine 1l1n which ina-y he i V used in the operation ol the conveying ineinbei' as will he readily understood. l'Vhile` every precaution is provided to prevent absorption of the heat in the handling andA transportation of thi's liquelied ga-s, a certain amount nevertheless will be volatilized, and-this l propose to utilize as far as possible for the operation of the gas engine 11.A`

It will be apl'n'eciated. however, that :it

certain times therewill he a greater aniouiit stated. It may be possible that when itis Y desired toutilize. certain of the escaping gases from the tanks, none. will be available and-consequently it has 'been' deemed ad` visablef to provide means for quickly Vvolatilizing the liqueliec gas, and to this end tliereare the two burnersI 12 disposed upon the member 4 just below the tanks V1, these burners beingconnected bythe pipe 6 with the short sectionpipe-G. For controlling the flow ot' .gas to burners 12, I also provide a valve 6 as' clearly shown in Fig. 2. 4 From this it will be seen thatby heating the tanks to a icertain extent' the evaporation process will lbe effected, and the volatilized gas formed thereby can be utilized for any purpose desirable. i

In transporting .a commodity of the character specified, it has been found necessary to equalize the amount of liquid on each side of the fioiitmsothat the saineV will be properly balanced, consequently I provide the pipe 21 connecting the bottoms of theVY two tanks so that the level of the' liquid therein will remain the saine at all times.

It may be here stated that this' invention is particularly well adapted for usexin connection with the apparatus'covered by my companion application filed October 26, 1914, Serial No. 868,680, `on an apparatus for condensing gas under high pressure.' However, it will be understood thatr this apparatus may beiised in connection with any apparatus knownV for the purpose of forming liquefied gas. In supplyingthe tanks 1 which are vpreferably supported on a float, with-Athis liquefied gas I desire to provide a mast'l which is mounted on the ground' at a point adj aeent to the memberff. Mounted for oscillation on this mast 13 is a ipe section 1"!v extending longitudinally o the lattcr and having connection at its lower end with a gas supply pipe section 15. Connected with the upper end ofthe pipe section 14 is a laterally extending pipe section 16 which leads outwardly to a point adjacent to the tanks. The pipe sections 14, 15 and 1G are also covered with non-conducting material 3 as are the tanks 1, so that the liquefied gas passing therethrough will be substantially retained at a permanent temperature. (lonnected with the outer end of the pipe sei-tion 1G is a flexible tubular section 1T which is also covered With non-conductingr material and adapted to be connected directly with the'inlet pipe 8 of the tanks 1. 'l'he pipe section 16 is supported on the mast l2) by means of the guy Wires 18 .Which in turn connect with a ring or the like 19 rotatably mounted on the upper end of said mast. Through the medium of this construction, it will be seen that the arm 16 may be directed to various positions, according to the position of the tank With rcspect to the mast and in view of the flexible connection 17, engagement with the 1nlet pipes of the tanks will be readily had.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that 1 have provided a simple, inexpensive 'wand cflicient means for carrying out the objects of the invention and while I have particularl y described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to, within the scope of the appended claims, Without departing from the spiiit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention. l

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim is:

l. In an apparatus of the class described, a supporting member, a pair of intercommunicating tanks mounted thereon, heat insulation completely ineasing said tanks to retain the contents thereof at predetermined temperatures, means for simultaneously filling the tanks on either side thereof, an insulated pipe connection between said tanks, and expansion valves mounted in the length of said pipe connection for the escape of volatilized contents of said tanks, for maintaining said other contents at a continuing low. pressure.

2. The combination with an insulated vertically disposed supply pipe having a swivelly mounted right angularly projecting extension, the latter being provided at its outer extremity with a fiexible attaching member, and means for supporting said right angular extension member; of a supporting` member, a pair of tanks mounted thereon, eachhaving a dome, heat iiisulation completely incasing said tanks to retain the contents thereof at predetermined temperatures, means for. simultaneously filling said tanks, the latter being adapted to receive said fiexible attaching member, a pipe connection between the domes of said tanks, said pipe connection being also insulated, and a pair of safety valves arranged in the length of said pipe connection for escape of the volatilized contents of said tanks;

3. .An apparatus for transporting liquefied gas in bulk at a predetermined temperature and continuing low pressure consisting of a transporting member, a tank thereon, a dome disposed upon said tank and communicating With the interior of the latter, heat insulation completely enveloping said tank and dome, means for filling said tank, an outlet pipe communication With the upper portion of said dome, and an expansion valve included in said outlet pipe whereby the prod.- uets of volatilization may be conveyed from said tank to a distant point for maintaining a continuing low pressure Within the latter substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. An apparatus for transporting liquefied gas in bulk at a predetermined temperature and continuing low pressure consisting of a transporting member, a tank thereon, a dome disposed upon said tank and communicating with the interior of the latter, heat insulation completely enveloping said tank and dome, an outlet pipe communicating with the upper portion of said dome, means connected with said outlet pipe for conveying the contents of said pipe to a distant point for utilization, and a blow-off pipe connected with said outlet pipe and including in the length thereof a safety valve whereby When the pressure within said tank exceeds a predetermined amount the latter may escape through said valve substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. An apparatus for transporting liquefied gas in bulk at a predetermined temperature, a pair of tanks eontiguously disposed thereon, a dome disposed upon the upper portion of each ofl said tanks, heat insulation pai'- tially enveloping said tanks, means for simultaneously filling both of said tanks, a short section pipe interposed between said tanks having its extremities communicating with the domes of the latter, heat insulation disposed around said pipe, means connected with said short section pipe for conveying the volatilized contents of said tanks to a distant point for utilization, a blow-off pipe. also connected with said short section pipe and including safety valves in the length thereof whereby to automatically control the pressures in said tanks, a burner disposed beneath each of said tanks, and means connecting said burners with said outlet pipe whereby to supply the former with the products' of volatilization issuing from the contents of said tanks substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a supporting member, a pair o tanks mounted thereon and Vcapable of containing a large quantity of liquefied gas, a hollow cylindrical member arising from the upper surface'of each of said tanks, said members having their upper ends closed and the lower ends thereof communicating with the interior of said tanks, heat insulation completely enveloping said tanks, and hollow members arising therefrom, a supply pipe spaced from and extending transversely across said heat insulation, branch pipes depending from the extremities of said supply pipe and having their lower .ends communicating with the upper ends of said hollow cylindrical members, valves in connection with said'branch pipes, an outlet pipe embedded in said heat insulation and having its extremities also communicating with the interior of said cylindrical members, and a blow-ofi pipe connected with said outlet pipe and including in the length lthereof a safetyvalve whereby when the pressure within said tank exceeds a predetermined amount the latter may esca e through'the valve substantially as and or the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GODFREY L CABOT.

Witnesses L. O. HILTON, M. H. STUARD..

Images