Apparatus for Drawing a Cryogenic Liquid from a Container

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention comprises an apparatus or system for withdrawing a cryogenic liquid from a container wherein the liquid may be drawn from the container independent of the orientation of the container. The apparatus comprises a conduit having a flexible metallic hose portion and a metallic head. The flexible hose portion has a first end in fluid communication with an outlet portal of the container and a second end to which the head is attached.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an SCBA with a flexible conduit mounted in the interior of the tank.

FIG. 2 is an elevational and partial sectional view of the conduit in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of the tank in a tilted position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the tank of the SCBA in FIG. 1 illustrating the attachment of the conduit to the tank.

FIG. 5 is an embodiment of the invention with the conduit connected to a tube that enters the tank at a point above the bottom of the tank.

FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the invention with the conduit mounted to a bottom of the tank.

FIG. 7 is a detail of an attachment of the conduit to the tank.

Claims

1. An apparatus for withdrawing a cryogenic liquid from a container, comprising: a conduit having a flexible metallic hose portion and a metallic head; and,wherein the flexible hose portion has a first end in fluid communication with an outlet portal of the container and a second end to which the head is attached.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the head has an opening and a plurality of protrusions are disposed circumferentially around the opening and a plurality of notches are on the head with each notch disposed between consecutive protrusions for drawing the liquid through the opening of the head.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a tube disposed within an interior of the container and having a first end attached to the first end of the hose portion and a second end attached to the container in fluid communication with the outlet portal.

4. An apparatus for withdrawing a cryogenic liquid from a container, comprising: a conduit having a corrugated flexible metallic hose portion and a metallic head; and,wherein the flexible hose portion has a first end in fluid communication with an outlet portal of the container and a second end to which the head is attached, and the head follows a contour of the container when the contain is reoriented from a standard operating position to draw the liquid from the container independent of the orientation of the container.

5. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 4 wherein the head has an opening and a plurality of protrusions are disposed circumferentially around the opening and a plurality of notches are on the head with each notch disposed between consecutive protrusions for drawing the liquid through the opening of the head.

6. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a tube, rigid in comparison to the flexible conduit, disposed within the tank and affixed to a second end of the conduit of, and the tube is in fluid communication with the conduit, the outlet portal and the heat exchanger.

7. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 6 wherein the outlet portal is disposed on a top of the tank and the tube has a first end mounted to the tank in fluid communication with the outlet portal and a second end that is mounted to the conduit.

8. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 6 wherein the outlet portal is disposed on a side of the tank and the tube has a first end mounted to the tank in fluid communication with the outlet portal and a second end that is mounted to the conduit, and the tube has a first section extending laterally from the side of the tank and a second section attached to the first section depending there from and connected to the conduit.

9. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 4 wherein the outlet portal is disposed on a bottom of tank and the first end of the hose portion of the conduit is attached to the tank in fluid communication with the outlet portal.

10. A self-contained breathing apparatus having a supply of cryogenic liquid air, comprising: a tank within which a supply of cryogenic liquid is held;a regulator for controlling pressure within the tank;an outlet portal through which the cryogenic liquid is drawn;a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the outlet portal and an interior of the tank;a flexible metallic conduit disposed within the tank and in fluid communication with the interior of the tank, the outlet portal and the heat exchanger; and,a mask for breathing air having been created by the liquid air traveling from the tank through the heat exchanger.

11. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the conduit comprises a metallic corrugated hose having a first end and a first end of the in fluid communication with outlet portal and heat exchanger and a second end having a head mounted thereon distal the first end.

12. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 11 wherein the head has an opening and a plurality of protrusions are disposed circumferentially around the opening and a plurality of notches are on the head with each notch disposed between consecutive protrusions for drawing the liquid through the opening of the head.

13. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a tube, rigid in comparison to the flexible conduit, disposed within the tank and affixed to a second end of the conduit of, and the tube is in fluid communication with the conduit, the outlet portal and the heat exchanger.

14. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the outlet portal is disposed on a top of the tank and the tube has a first end mounted to the tank in fluid communication with the outlet portal and a second end that is mounted to the conduit.

15. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the outlet portal is disposed on a side of the tank and the tube has a first end mounted to the tank in fluid communication with the outlet portal and a second end that is mounted to the conduit, and the tube has a first section extending laterally from the side of the tank and a second section attached to the first section depending there from and connected to the conduit.

16. The self-contained breathing apparatus of claim 11 wherein the outlet portal is disposed on a bottom of tank and the first end of the hose portion of the conduit is attached to the tank in fluid communication with the outlet portal.