Patent Publication Number: US-9845919-B2

Title: Cryogenic plumbing support for vehicles

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to plumbing supports for a vehicle and, more particularly, to cryogenic plumbing supports for a storage container transported by a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In some vehicles with diesel-cycle engines a gaseous fuel is used in place of diesel fuel. In these applications, the gaseous fuel is typically stored in a liquefied state at a cryogenic temperature. As an example, the vehicle may have a cryogenic storage tank that stores liquefied natural gas (LNG). The cryogenic plumbing used to deliver the LNG from the cryogenic storage tank to the engine of the vehicle experiences thermal cycles ranging from ambient temperature to LNG temperatures. As the temperature approaches LNG temperatures thermal contraction of the cryogenic plumbing occurs. In order to accommodate for the thermal contraction, conventional LNG plumbing systems employ various techniques such as using flexible hoses, bellows, and bends in the plumbing, to name a few examples. These traditional techniques help reduce stresses, caused from the thermal contraction, on the rigid support systems for the LNG plumbing. While effective, such support systems for the LNG plumbing, however, do not accommodate for the vertical and horizontal shock loads created during movement of the vehicle. 
     Although the various techniques of using flexible hoses, bellows, and bends in the plumbing help to reduce stresses in traditional LNG plumbing systems, these techniques commonly occupy a substantial amount of space. As such, these traditional techniques are non-ideal for space-limited vehicles. Additionally, such traditional techniques are also non-ideal for cryogenic plumbing systems that utilize high-pressure direct-injection (HPDI) systems, which require rigid plumbing. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,775,391 (the &#39;391 patent) discloses a container for holding a cryogenic fuel. While the &#39;391 patent teaches a straight conduit portion of the plumbing, it fails to teach the straight conduit portion of the plumbing in relation to being supported on the exterior of the container to accommodate for vertical shock loads and thermal contraction of the plumbing. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a cryogenic plumbing support for supporting cryogenic plumbing on a vehicle from vertical shock loads and allowing for thermal contraction of the cryogenic plumbing that includes a first coefficient of thermal expansion associated with a cryogenic temperature is provided. The cryogenic plumbing support may include a bracket including a second coefficient of thermal expansion approximately equal to the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The cryogenic plumbing support may also include a slide assembly. The slide assembly may include first and second end blocks, at least one slider, and a plurality of rods. The first end block may be coupled in spaced relationship to the second end block by the plurality of rods. The at least one slider may be slidably coupled to the plurality of rods and may be coupled to the bracket. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a storage container for storing a gaseous fluid in a cryogenic state is provided. The storage container may include a head. A manifold may be coupled to the head. A cryogenic plumbing assembly may be fluidly coupled to the manifold. A slide assembly may include first and second end blocks, at least one slider, and a plurality of rods. The first end block may be coupled in spaced relationship to the second end block by the plurality of rods. The at least one slider may be slidably coupled to the plurality of rods and may be coupled to the cryogenic plumbing assembly. First and second support blocks may be disposed on the head. The first and second end blocks may be coupled to a plurality of posts. At least one post of the plurality of posts may extend from the first support block and at least one other post of the plurality of posts may extend from the second support block. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the disclosure, a method for supporting a cryogenic plumbing on a vehicle is provided. The method may entail the step of providing a slide assembly onto a head of a storage container. The slide assembly may include at least one slider. Another step may be coupling the at least one slider to the cryogenic plumbing for supporting the cryogenic plumbing from vertical shock loads during movement of the vehicle and for allowing the cryogenic plumbing to operationally slide with the at least one slider during thermal contraction of the cryogenic plumbing. 
     Other aspects and features of the disclosed systems and methods will be appreciated from reading the attached detailed description in conjunction with the included drawing figures. Moreover, selected aspects and features of one example embodiment may be combined with various selected aspects and features of other example embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For further understanding of the disclosed concepts and embodiments, reference may be made to the following detailed description, read in connection with the drawings, wherein like elements are numbered alike, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a storage container with a cryogenic plumbing support in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the cryogenic plumbing support of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed cross-sectional view of the cryogenic plumbing support taken a long line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  with portions broken away to show details in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed side view of an exemplary alternative embodiment of a cryogenic plumbing support with portions sectioned and broken away to show details in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a sample sequence of steps which may be practiced in accordance with the teaching of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     It is to be noted that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting with respect to the scope of the disclosure or claims. Rather, the concepts of the present disclosure may apply within other equally effective embodiments. Moreover, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of certain embodiments. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure provides systems and methods for supporting the cryogenic plumbing on a vehicle. Such systems and methods may support the cryogenic plumbing to allow for thermal contraction of the cryogenic plumbing. Such systems and methods may also support the cryogenic plumbing to accommodate for vertical shock loads in a mobile environment. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary storage container constructed in accordance with the present disclosure is generally referred to by reference numeral  10 . The storage container  10  may have a cylindrical shape and may have a convex shaped head  12 . The storage container  10  may be associated with a vehicle (not shown) such as, but not limited to, a large mining truck so that the storage container  10  is operationally secured thereto and absorbs any vertical shock loads during travel. A gaseous fuel in a cryogenic state such as, but not limited to, liquefied natural gas (LNG) may be stored in the storage container  10  to fuel the vehicle. A container flange  14  may be disposed on the head  12 . The container flange  14  may be approximately centrally located on the head  12  and may have a circular shape. A pump flange  16  may be disposed on the container flange  14  to secure a pump  18  to the container flange  14 . The pump  18  may be fluidly associated with the interior of the storage container  10 . Pump tubes  20  may be fluidly coupled to the pump  18  and may extend outwardly through the pump flange  16 . 
     The pump tubes  20  are also fluidly coupled to a manifold  22  via connecting tubes  24  extending from a first side  26  of the manifold  22 . A cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  may be fluidly coupled to a second side  30  of the manifold  22 . The first side  26  may be orthogonal to the second side  30 . The cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  may include a plumbing grouping  32 , a 4-way manifold  34 , first and second hand valves  36 ,  38 , a delivery tube  40 , and a plumbing member  42 . The plumbing grouping  32 , the second hand valve  38 , the delivery tube  40 , and the plumbing member  42  may all be fluidly coupled to the 4-way manifold  34  such that the plumbing grouping  32  may be disposed opposite the second hand valve  38  and the plumbing member  42  may be disposed opposite the delivery tube  40 . The delivery tube  40  may include a fitting  44 , which may be coupled to a vehicle. The first hand valve  36  may be operationally coupled to the plumbing grouping  32 . The plumbing member  42  may be, but not limited to, a pressure relief valve (PRV) having an outlet end that may be coupled to a vent piping via a flexible line. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a plate  46  may be mounted to the container flange  14 . The manifold  22  may be mounted to the plate  46  so as to be securely fixed to the container flange  14 . Furthermore, the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  may be supported by a support assembly  48 , which may include a support bracket  50  and a slide assembly  52 . The support bracket  50  may include a first and second end  54 ,  56 . The support bracket  50  also includes a longitudinal expanse  58  disposed between the first end  54  and the second end  56 . A valve flange  60  may extend outwardly from the longitudinal expanse  58  proximate the first end  54 . A member flange  62  may extend outwardly from the longitudinal expanse  58 , in an opposite direction of the valve flange  60 , proximate the second end  56 . The first end  54  may be secured to the plate  46 . A plurality of apertures  64  may be disposed through the support bracket  50  in an area of the longitudinal expanse  58  that is adjacent the second end  56  and the member flange  62 . 
     The cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  may be supported by, and be in thermal contact with, the support bracket  50  of the support assembly  48  in such a way that the second hand valve  38  may be coupled to the longitudinal expanse  58  adjacent the second end  56 ; the 4-way manifold  34  may be coupled to the longitudinal expanse  58  adjacent the plurality of apertures  64 ; the plumbing member  42  may be coupled to the member flange  62  via an L-bracket  65 ; the plumbing grouping  32  may be coupled to the longitudinal expanse  58  between the first end  54  and the plurality of apertures  64 ; the first hand valve  36  may be coupled to the valve flange  60 ; and the delivery tube  40  may also be coupled to the valve flange  60 . The first and second hand valves  36 ,  38 , the 4-way manifold  34 , the plumbing grouping  32  and the delivery tube  40  may be coupled to the support bracket  50  by a plurality of clamps  66  or other suitable means known in the industry. The cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  and the support bracket  50  may be manufactured from similar materials known in the industry that have approximately similar coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) associated with cryogenic temperatures. 
     The slide assembly  52  may include at least one slider  68  that is operationally slidable between first and second end blocks  70 ,  72 . The first end block  70  may be coupled to the second end block  72  by a plurality of rods  74  along which the at least one slider  68  may slide. The slide assembly  52  may also include a plurality of posts  76  and first and second support blocks  78 ,  80 . First and second support blocks  78 ,  80  may be disposed on the head  12  of the storage container  10  and spaced apart from each other. The first and second support blocks  78 ,  80  securely support the plurality of posts  76  so that at least two posts of the plurality of posts  76  extend outwardly from each of the first and second support blocks  78 ,  80 . In such a manner, the first end block  70  may be adjustably secured to the plurality of posts  76  corresponding with the first support block  78  such that the first end block  70  and the first support block  78  are in spaced relationship with each other. Similarly, the second end block  72  may be adjustably secured to the plurality of posts  76  corresponding with the second support block  80  such that the second end block  72  and the second support block  80  are in spaced relationship with each other. The at least one slider  68  may be manufactured from a polytetrafluoroethylene material or similar material known in the industry. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the at least one slider  68  may be coupled to the support bracket  50 . In particular, the at least one slider  68  may be coupled to the longitudinal expanse  58  adjacent the plurality of apertures  64  in such a manner that each post of the plurality of posts  76  extend through corresponding apertures of the plurality of apertures  64 . The plurality of posts  76  extend through the plurality of apertures  64  without making contact so that a clearance  82  is provided between each post and aperture. 
     In an exemplary alternative embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4 , the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  may be directly coupled to the slide assembly  52  without the use of the support bracket  50 . For example, the 4-way manifold  34  may be coupled directly to the at least one slider  68 . Additionally, the first and second support blocks  78 ,  80  securely support the plurality of posts  76  so that at least one post of the plurality of posts  76  extends outwardly from each of the first and second support blocks  78 ,  80 . While  FIG. 4  illustrates this arrangement the first and second support blocks  78 ,  80  may also support the plurality of posts  76  so that as least two posts of the plurality of posts  76  extend outwardly from each of the first and second support blocks  78 ,  80 . This arrangement of at least one post of the plurality of posts  76  extending outwardly from each of the first and second support blocks  78 ,  80  may also similarly be applied to the support assembly  48  described above in reference to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart  500  of a sample sequence of steps which may be performed to support the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  onto the head  12  of the storage container  10  on a vehicle. Box  510  shows the step of providing the slide assembly  52  onto the head  12  of the storage container  10 . The slide assembly  52  may include at least one slider  68 . Another step as illustrated in box  512  is coupling the at least one slider  68  to the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  for supporting the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  from vertical shock loads during movement of the vehicle and for allowing the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  to operationally slide with the at least one slider  68  during thermal contraction of the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28 . The support bracket  50  may couple the at least one slider  68  to the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28 . The support bracket  50  and the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  may have approximately similar coefficients of thermal expansion associated with a cryogenic temperature so that both undergo thermal contraction at approximately the same rate. The support bracket  50  and the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  may be in thermal contact with each other. The method may also include clamping the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  to the support bracket  50 . The support bracket  50  may include a plurality of apertures  64  that receive the plurality of posts  76  of the slide assembly  52  such that the clearance  82  may be provided between each aperture of the plurality of apertures  64  and each corresponding post of the plurality of posts  76 . 
     While the present disclosure has shown and described details of exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by claims supported by the written description and drawings. Further, where these exemplary embodiments (and other related derivations) are described with reference to a certain number of elements it will be understood that other exemplary embodiments may be practiced utilizing either less than or more than the certain number of elements. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     Based on the foregoing, it can be seen that the present disclosure sets forth systems and methods for supporting the cryogenic plumbing on a vehicle from vertical and horizontal shock loads while allowing for thermal contraction of the cryogenic plumbing. For example, during operation, the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  undergoes thermal cycles that approximately range from ambient temperature to cryogenic temperature such as, but not limited to, LNG temperature, which may be approximately −160° C. As the temperature approaches cryogenic levels, the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  thermally contracts towards the manifold  22 , which remains stationary. In one exemplary embodiment with the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  being in thermal contact with the support bracket  50 , the support bracket  50  also undergoes thermal contraction toward the manifold  22  due to the thermal conduction between the support bracket  50  and the cryogenic plumbing  28 . Moreover, the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  and the support bracket  50  have approximately similar coefficients of thermal expansion so that both undergo thermal contraction toward the manifold  22  at approximately the same rate. Because the support bracket  50  is also coupled to the at least one slider  68 , the support bracket  50  is able to thermally contract toward the manifold  22  without causing any stresses on the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  and the plurality of posts  76  of the support assembly  48 . The clearance  82  between each post of the plurality of posts  76  and each aperture of the plurality of apertures  64  is designed to also allow the support bracket  50  to thermally contract without causing any stresses on the plurality of posts  76  and the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28 . The clearance  82  accommodates for the distance that the support bracket  50  contracts toward the manifold  22 . While the support assembly  48  allows for thermal contraction of the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28 , it also supports the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28 , due to the coupling of the first and second end blocks  70 ,  72  to the plurality of posts  76  and the support blocks  78 ,  80 , as well as, the coupling of the support bracket  50  to the plate  46 , from any vertical and horizontal shock loads that may be experienced during movement of the vehicle. 
     In an alternative exemplary embodiment without the support bracket  50 , the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  is directly coupled to the slide assembly  52  to accommodate for the thermal contraction of the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  toward the manifold  22 . As such, the coupling of the slide assembly  52  to the plurality of posts  76  supports the cryogenic plumbing assembly  28  from any vertical and horizontal shock loads that may be experienced during movement of the vehicle. 
     The exemplary embodiments discussed above support the cryogenic plumbing of a vehicle onto a storage container having ambient temperatures. The exemplary embodiments may be useful for vehicles that have space restrictions and cannot accommodate the use of large space-restrictive components such as expensive insulated cryogenic plumbing supports and/or flexible hoses, bellows, or bends found in prior art cryogenic plumbing. Additionally, the exemplary embodiments may use rigid piping and tubing in the cryogenic plumbing and, as such, may be utilized in applications that employ high-pressure direct-injection (HPDI) systems, which require rigid piping and tubing to accommodate for the high pressure. Moreover, the slide assembly includes tight tolerances that enable the handling of the vertical and horizontal shock loads, which are not accommodated for in prior supports for stationary applications because these prior supports typically lack tight tolerances and are only capable of withstanding the downward gravity load.