Segmented vapor plug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10859211-B2
Application number	US-201816025811-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2018
Priority date	Jul 2, 2018
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and device, such as a vapor plug, which partially seals an opening of a dewar. The vapor plug includes a vapor plug cover. The vapor plug cover is configured to cover an opening of a dewar. The vapor plug includes a neck that is formed from multiple disks and multiple sheets. The vapor plug includes a fastener that connects the multiple disks, the multiple sheets and the vapor plug cover.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vapor plug, comprising:
a vapor plug cover that is configured to cover an opening of a container;
a neck formed from a plurality of disks and a plurality of sheets and having a thermocouple channel along an outer periphery of the neck, wherein the vapor plug cover has a circumference greater than a circumference of the neck and the neck is configured to be inserted into the opening of the container; and
a fastener that connects the plurality of disks, the plurality of sheets and the vapor plug cover.

2. The vapor plug of claim 1 , wherein a portion of each sheet of the plurality of sheets extends outward from the plurality of disks and is configured to obstruct gas or liquid that escapes the container and reduces evaporation of the gas or liquid within the container.

3. The vapor plug of claim 2 , wherein the portion of each sheet that extends outward from the plurality of disks is a fin.

4. The vapor plug of claim 1 , wherein each disk of the plurality of disks has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface has a dimple and the bottom surface has a cavity, wherein a shape of the dimple corresponds with a shape of the cavity.

5. The vapor plug of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of disks include a first disk and a second disk, wherein the dimple of the first disk interlocks with the cavity of the second disk.

6. The vapor plug of claim 1 , wherein the vapor plug cover has a recess that is configured to receive the fastener, wherein the fastener has a pin that is configured to be inserted into the recess of the vapor plug cover and through an opening in each disk of the plurality of disks and in each sheet of the plurality of sheets to connect the plurality of disks and the plurality of sheets with the vapor plug cover.

7. The vapor plug of claim 6 , wherein the fastener has a push nut and a plate, wherein the plate is positioned at an end of the neck and opposite the vapor plug cover, wherein the plurality of disks and the plurality of sheets are positioned between the vapor plug cover and the plate, wherein a head of a pin is configured to push against the push nut and the plate to hold the plurality of disks and the plurality of sheets in between the plate and the vapor plug cover.

8. The vapor plug of claim 1 , wherein each disk of the plurality of disks has a channel, wherein the channel of each disk is aligned with the channel of the other disks of the plurality of disks to form the thermocouple channel of the neck when the plurality of disks form the neck.

9. The vapor plug of claim 1 , wherein each disk of the plurality of disks and each sheet of the plurality of sheets has a central cylindrical opening that is configured to receive the fastener to connect the plurality of disks and the plurality of sheets with the vapor plug cover.

10. The vapor plug of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of disks are made from a polystyrene material, wherein the plurality of sheets are formed from Tyvek.

11. A cryogenic storage or transport system, comprising:
a dewar having an inner vessel and an outer vessel; and
a vapor plug positioned within the inner vessel of the dewar such that there is a gap between the vapor plug and the inner vessel, the vapor plug having:
a vapor plug cover that is configured to cover an opening of the dewar;
a neck formed from a plurality of disks and a plurality of sheets, the neck having a thermocouple channel along an outer periphery of the neck and being configured to be inserted into the opening of the dewar; and
a fastener that connects the plurality of disks, the plurality of sheets and the vapor plug cover.

12. The cryogenic storage or transport system of claim 11 , wherein the neck is cylindrically shaped and the plurality of disks and the plurality of sheets are cylindrically shaped, wherein an outer diameter of each sheet of the plurality of sheets is greater than an outer diameter of each disk of the plurality of disks to form a plurality of protrusions within the inner vessel of the dewar.

13. The cryogenic storage or transport system of claim 12 , wherein the fastener is inserted through a central opening in each disk, a central opening in each sheet, and into a recess of the vapor plug cover to interconnect each disk, each sheet and the vapor plug cover.

14. The cryogenic storage or transport system of claim 12 , wherein the fastener includes a push nut and a central pin, wherein the central pin is inserted in an opening in each disk of the plurality of disks and an opening in each sheet of the plurality of sheets, wherein the plurality of disks and the plurality of sheets are positioned between a plate and the vapor plug cover, wherein the central pin is inserted into the push nut and the plate to hold the plurality of sheets and the plurality of disks in between the plate and the vapor plug cover.

15. A vapor plug, comprising:
a vapor plug cover configured to cover an opening of a dewar;
a plurality of disks;
a plurality of sheets, each sheet of the plurality of sheets being sandwiched in between two disks of the plurality of disks and having a portion that protrudes away from the two disks to reduce evaporation of gases within the dewar; and
a fastener that is configured to connect the vapor plug cover, the plurality of disks and the plurality of sheets.

16. The vapor plug of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of disks are formed from a polystyrene material.

17. The vapor plug of claim 15 , wherein the vapor plug cover has a recess that is configured to receive the fastener, wherein the fastener has a central pin that is configured to be inserted into the recess of the vapor plug cover and through an opening in each disk of the plurality of disks and an opening in each sheet of the plurality of sheets to connect the plurality of disks and the plurality of sheets with the vapor plug cover.

18. The vapor plug of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of disks include a first disk and a second disk, wherein a dimple of the first disk interlocks with a recess of the second disk.

Assignees

• Cryoport Inc

Inventors

• Bollinger Bret

Classifications

• F17C2223/0161

  cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG · CPC title

• F17C2201/0109

  with exteriorly curved end-piece · CPC title

• F17C2270/0509

  "Dewar" vessels · CPC title

• F17C2205/0311

  Closure means · CPC title

• F17C2203/0629

  Two walls · CPC title