Patent ID: 7344045

Claim:
A container for holding a cryogenic fluid, said container comprising: (a) an inner vessel defining a cryogen space and having a horizontal elongated axis; (b) an outer vessel surrounding said inner vessel, defining an evacuatable space between said outer vessel and said inner vessel; and (c) a structure for supporting said inner vessel within said outer vessel, wherein said structure is designed to carry up to a predetermined axial load in a direction parallel to a horizontal axis, and up to a predetermined radial load in directions transverse from said horizontal axis, said structure comprising: a conduit attached at a first point to an inner vessel support bracket associated with said inner vessel, and attached at a second point to an outer vessel support bracket for said outer vessel, said conduit carrying a substantial portion of said predetermined axial load and wherein said cryogenic fluid can be conveyed into and/or out of said cryogen space through said conduit; at least one non-metallic support spanning between said inner vessel and said outer vessel, said non-metallic support providing a bearing surface associated with respective opposite facing surfaces associated with said inner vessel and said outer vessel for transferring substantially all radial loads transverse to said horizontal axis from said inner vessel to said outer vessel, and wherein said non-metallic support is fixedly attached to said opposite facing surfaces whereby said non-metallic support also carries a portion of said predetermined axial load; and wherein the collective axial load carrying capacity of said conduit and said non-metallic support is equal to said predetermined axial load.