Improvements in Receptacles for Holding and Storing Liquids, more particularly Liquid Air or other Liquefied Gases.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1899-Accepted, 1st July, 1899
Improvements in Receptacles for Holding and Storing Liquids, more
particularly Liquid Air or other Liquefied Gases.
I, OSCAR PATRIC OSTERGREN, of 220, Broadway, New York City, United States
of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:--
My invention relates to receptacles for holding and storing liquid air or other
liquefied gases, and to this end consists of a vessel duly insulated and protected
from external latent heat.
The receptacle embodying my invention is arranged to be surrounded at all
times by an envelope of intensely cold air or gas which has been given off, or
evaporated from the liquid within the inner vessel, and which is at all times
between the inner vessel and the outer atmosphere. I have also arranged in some
forms of my device that this cold air or gas shall be maintained around this inner
vessel at a predetermined pressure, so that its function shall be at all times to
drive or force back the warmer air which is at atmospheric pressure.
The object of my invention is to preserve and store liquefied air by keeping the
latent heat of the atmosphere as much as possible away from it.
My invention further consists in details of construction and combination of parts
as shall hereinafter be more fully set forth.
I will now proceed to describe a receptacle embodying my invention, and will
then point out the novel features in claims.
Referring to the drawings;
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the receptacle embodying my improve-
ment.
Figure 2 is an elevation of a pipe and valve which may be employed in con-
nection therewith.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional detail of the swivel joint and valve illustrated in
elevation in Figure 2.
Figure 3 is a central vertical section of a receptacle of slightly modified form.
Figure 4 is a similar view of a still further modification.
Figure 5 is a central vertical section of a receptacle, embodying my invention
in its simplest form, in which there is no outer casing, or sheathing and pressure
valve for maintaining a predetermined pressure around the inner vessel.
Figure 6 is a detail view of a modified form of construction of a porous casing
employed.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding parts in the several drawings.
Numeral 5 designates a vessel adapted to receive the liquid to be stored; it is
preferably of globular form though it may be of any desired shape as may be con-
venient. This vessel I prefer to make of glass; it may, of course, be of any other
suitable material. It is provided at or near its highest point with an orifice 6

page_text: through which it may be filled and emptied; 7 designates a hollow casing con-
forming in shape to the interior vessel 5 which it is adapted to surround. Its
interior diameter, however, is slightly greater than the exterior diameter of the
hollow vessel 5; a hollow space 8 is thus left between them. The vessel 5 is
supported within the casing 7 by the spacing 9. The said casing is made of some
porous material, such for instance as porous carbon or pressed cork formed into
the shape required. The casing might also be made up of two vessels arranged
one within the other, the space between them being filled with saw dust or the
like, the vessels themselves being perforated for the products of evaporation to pass
therethrough. A small portion of a casing of this description is illustrated in
Figure 6.
The casing, whether of one form or the other, is preferably made up in two parts
in order that the vessel 5 may be placed in position therein. It is provided with
an opening 10 which is opposite the orifice 6 in the said vessel 5.
Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, 11 designates an outer sheathing
surrounding the casing 7 and spaced therefrom by suitable spacing pieces 12,
thus leaving a hollow space 13 between the casing 7 and the sheathing 11, similar
to the space 8 between the casing 7 and the interior vessel 5; 14 designates a suit-
able support for the receptacle and 15 a handle, by which the same may be carried;
16 designates a screw plug, extending through an opening 10 in the casing 7
It is provided with a series of discharge ports 17 arranged on different levels and
communicating through the interior of the plug with the opening 10. 18 is a
valve or closure of flexible material, preferably leather, secured to the lower end
of the stem of the plug 16 and adapted when the said plug is screwed down to rest
upon and close the orifice 6 against the passage of currents of air in one direction
thus acting as a check valve; 19 designates a blow-off valve mounted in the outer
sheathing 11, and communicating with the interior thereof. It is held closed by
spring pressure which may be adjusted to any suitable or predetermined tension.
The operation of the device is as follows: it being desired to fill the vessel,
the screw plug 16 is removed and the liquefied air or other gas which it is desired
to store may be poured through the opening 10, and orifice 6 into the vessel 5;
the screw plug is then returned to its place and is screwed down home.
The heat of the vessel will cause à certain amount of the liquefied air to
evaporate, which vapour will pass upward through the orifice 6 lifting the valve
leather 18 and will fill the hollow space 8. The intensely cold products of
evaporation will then attempt to force their way through the porous casing, and,
in fact, will gradually do so, repelling the warm atmospheric air on the exterior
of the casing and thus effectively insulating the interior vessel from the latent
heat of the atmosphere.
In the form of device shown in Figure 1, the atmosphere will act upon the outer
sheathing 11 and will tend to warm the air within the space 13, and this warm
air will begin to penetrate the porous casing 7, It will, however, be met by the
outcoming stream of cold air under pressure and will be driven back until the
pressure has arrived at a point above that at which the blow-off valve 19 is set,
the air will then escape therethrough, the exterior or warmest air being driven out
first.
This will continue until an equilibrium has practically been formed, at which
time vaporization will almost entirely cease, a very slight current in the outward
direction being sufficient to hold the heat back and effectively insulate the mass
in the interior vessel.
When it is desired to utilize the liquid air for such purposes as refrigeration,
it is only necessary to partially unscrew the plug 16. This will release the pres-
sure in the space surrounding the interior vessel 5 and the cold air contained in
such space will pass outwardly through the said ports. There being nothing now
to hold back the effect of the latent heat upon the exterior casing such heat will
pass through to the inner vessel and cause a continuous and steady vaporization
of the contents thereof. The extent and volume of the vaporization may be con-

page_text: trolled by the position of the plug according to whether a greater or lesser number
of the ports 17 are unscrewed. If a still more rapid vaporization is required, said
plug may be entirely removed, in which case the warm atmospheric air will enter
through the opening, directly into the interior vessel supplying sufficient caloric
units to permit the vaporization.
In Figure 3, I have shown an additional outer sheathing or jacketting 20
inclosing a space 21 between the said jacketing 20 and the sheathing 11.
As an additional protection, I propose to exhaust the air from the space 21
maintaining therein as nearly as possible a vacuum. I also if desired silver or
highly polish the exterior of the sheathing 11 in order to reflect the heat rays in
a manner well known.
In Figure 4, I have shown the vacuum chamber 21, but have omitted the porous
casing.
In Figure 2, I have shown a convenient means for emptying the receptacle,
which consists in a stem 30, a valve 31, a screw plug 32, a discharge spout 33,
having a swivel valve connection 34 with the stem 30. When now it is desired
to empty the receptacle, the plug 16 is removed and the plug 32 and stem 30
is inserted in its place.
The plug 32 is screwed down until the valve 31 closes the orifice 6; the pressure
within the vessel 5 due to the evaporation of the contents which have now no
means of escape will act upon the top of the liquid and force same upwardly
through the stem 30 and out of the discharge spout 33. This action is precisely
similar to that which takes place in what is commonly known as a seltzer syphon.
When it is desired to stop the flow of the liquid, such can be effected by unscrew-
ing the plug sufficiently to free the valve 31, and by turning the spout 33 so as to
close the valve in the swivel connection 34. This will permit the evaporated air
to pass through the orifice 6 into the chamber 8 and should the pressure then
rise too high it will blow off through the valve 19.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A vessel for holding liquid having a porous casing arranged around same in
such a manner and of such size as to leave a space between the said vessel and
said porous casing, the said interior vessel having an opening into the exterior
vessel.
2. A vessel for holding liquid having an inlet and discharge orifice, and a check
valve arranged therein and provided with a porous casing arranged around same,
whereby a space is left between the said vessel and the said porous casing, the said
inlet and discharge orifice communicating with the said space.
3. A vessel for holding liquid having an inlet or discharge orifice, and a check
valve arranged therein and provided with a porous casing surrounding same, the
said porous easing having an inlet and discharge orifice and provided with a valve
adapted to open and close said orifice.
:
4. In a receptacle for holding liquid, the combination of an interior vessel for
holding the liquid, an exterior vessel surrounding the same, an opening from the
interior vessel into the exterior vessel, a non-return valve in said opening whereby
fluid is normally prevented from entering said interior vessel a blow-off valve
adapted to blow off to the atmosphere any products arising from the vaporization
of said fluid at a predetermined pressure; an opening in the exterior vessel
arranged substantially opposite the opening in the interior vessel and a valve
fitted to said opening, whereby, when said valve is opened, the said products of
evaporation may be drawn off or the interior vessel may be filled, substantially
as specified.
5. In a receptacle for holding liquid, the combination of an interior vessel for
holding the liquid, an exterior vessel surrounding the same, an opening from the
interior vessel into the exterior vessel; a non-return valve in said opening whereby

page_text: fluid is normally prevented from entering said interior vessel; a blow-off valve
adapted to blow-off to the atmosphere any products arising from the vaporization
of said fluid at a predetermined pressure; an opening in the exterior vessel, a valve
fitted to said opening and a connection between said valve and said non-return
valve, whereby, when said valve is opened, said non-return valve is rendered inopera-
tive, thereby permitting the passage of fluid in either direction, substantially
as specified.
6. In a receptacle for holding liquids, the combination of an interior vessel for
holding the liquid, an exterior vessel surrounding the said interior vessel, a
porous casing arranged between the interior and exterior vessels, an orifice in the
interior vessel communicating with the exterior vessel on the interior of the porous
casing therein and a blow off valve arranged in the exterior vessel, whereby the
products of evaporation may be discharged at a predetermined pressure, sub-
stantially as specified.
7. In a receptacle for holding liquids, the combination of an interior vessel
for holding the liquid, an exterior vessel surrounding the said interior vessel, a
casing of porous carbon arranged between the interior and exterior vessels, an
orifice in the interior vessel communicating with the exterior vessel on the interior
of the porous casing therein, and a blow-off valve arranged in the exterior vessel
whereby the products of evaporation may be discharged at a predetermined pres-
sure, substantially as specified.
8. In a receptacle for holding liquids, the combination of an interior vessel for
holding the liquid, an exterior vessel surrounding the said interior vessel, a jacket
surrounding the said exterior vessel, the space enclosed thereby being held below
atmospheric pressure, a porous casing arranged between the interior and exterior
vessels, an orifice in the interior vessel communicating with the exterior vessel
on the interior of the porous casing therein, and a blow-off valve arranged in the
exterior vessel, whereby the products of evaporation may be discharged at a pre-
determined pressure, substantially as specified.
9. In a receptacle for holding liquids, the combination of an interior vessel for
holding the liquid, an exterior vessel surrounding the same, a porous casing
arranged between the interior and exterior vessels, an orifice in the interior vessel,
communicating with the exterior vessel on the interior of the porous casing there-
in, an opening in the porous casing and in the exterior vessel, a valve fitted to
said opening, and a blow-off valve arranged in the exterior vessel, whereby the
products of evaporation may be discharged at a predetermined pressure, sub-
stantially as specified.
10. In a receptacle for holding liquids, the combination of an interior vessel
for holding the liquid, an exterior vessel surrounding the same, a porous casing
between the interior and exterior vessels so arranged that there shall be a space
between the exterior vessel and the said casing and between the said casing and
the interior vessel, an orifice in the interior vessel communicating with the space
between the casing and the said interior vessel, an opening through the porous
casing and the exterior vessel, the said opening being closed to the space between
the porous casing and the said exterior vessel, a valve fitted to the said opening,
a check valve fitted to the orifice in the interior vessel, the said check valve being
controlled by the movement of the first mentioned valve, so that when the said
valve is opened the check valve will permit current of air in either direction, and the
blow-off valve fitted to the exterior vessel whereby products of evaporation may be
discharged at a predetermined pressure, substantially as specified.
11. The combination with a receptacle for holding liquid, comprising an interior
vessel for holding the liquid, an exterior vessel surrounding the same, an orifice
in the interior vessel communicating with the exterior vessel and an opening in
the exterior vessel, of a plug removably fitted to said opening, a valve carried by
said plug and adapted to close the communication between said interior vessel and
said exterior vessel, and a discharge pipe carried by said plug, arranged to enter

page_text: said liquid in said interior vessel through the said orifice therein and to discharge
said liquid under pressure when said orifice is otherwise closed by said valve,
substantially as specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co..
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.