IP Library Granted Patent US 10,670,189
Granted Patent B2
US 10,670,189 · App. 15/654,438 · Granted Jun 2, 2020

Systems and methods for storing and distributing gases

Inventors: Ernst Wolfgang Stautner (Niskayuna, NY); Paul St. Mark Shadforth Thompson (Stephentown, NY); Anbo Wu (Clifton Park, NY); Alexander Kagan (Guilderland, NY); Minfeng Xu (Ballston Lake, NY); Evangelos Trifon Laskaris (Schenectady, NY); Justin Michael Ricci (Niskayuna, NY)
Assignee: General Electric Company
F17C7/00F17C13/04G01R33/3403G01R33/34023G01R33/3804H01L23/445H01L39/04F17C2205/0302G01R33/3815
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,670,189
App. No.
15/654,438
Granted
Jun 2, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes a storage tank storing gas. The storage tank includes a storage tank interface portion made from a first material. The system also includes a nozzle that includes a nozzle interface portion and a first portion. The first portion is made from a second material different from the first material. Additionally, the system includes a connection formed by coupling the storage tank interface portion and the nozzle interface portion to one another, and the connection is configured to maintain a leak rate of the gas equal to or less than 1×10 −4 standard cubic centimeters per second (std. cc/s).

Claims (28)

1. A system comprising:

a storage tank storing gas, wherein the storage tank comprises a storage tank neck and a storage tank interface both made from a first material, wherein the storage tank neck defines the storage tank interface, and wherein a channel is formed within the storage tank neck;

a nozzle comprising a nozzle interface and a first portion, wherein the first portion is made from a second material different from the first material, wherein an inner portion is formed within the nozzle, and wherein the inner portion is aligned with the channel such that the inner portion and the channel are joined and in fluid communication with each other to form a passage for the gas to exit from the storage tank to the inner portion through the channel; and

a friction weld connection formed by coupling the storage tank interface and the nozzle interface to one another, wherein the connection is configured to maintain a leak rate of the gas equal to or less than 1×10 −4 standard cubic centimeters per second (std. cc/s).

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first material is aluminum, and the second material is stainless steel.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the nozzle interface is made from the first material.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the storage tank is made from the first material and a third material, wherein the third material comprises carbon fiber.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the connection is configured to maintain the leak rate equal to or less than 1×10 −7 std. cc/s.

6. A system comprising:

a storage tank storing gas, wherein the storage tank comprises a storage tank neck and a storage tank interface both made from a first material, wherein the storage tank neck defines the storage tank interface, and wherein a channel is formed within the storage tank neck; and

a nozzle comprising a nozzle interface and a first portion, wherein the first portion is made from a second material different from the first material, wherein an inner portion is formed in the nozzle, and wherein the inner portion is aligned with the channel such that the inner portion and the channel are joined and in fluid communication with each other to form a passage for the gas to exit from the storage tank to the inner portion through the channel; and

a connection formed by coupling the storage tank interface and the nozzle interface to one another, wherein the connection is configured to maintain a leak rate of the gas equal to or less than 1×10 −4 standard cubic centimeters per second (std. cc/s), wherein the connection comprises a threaded connection, wherein the system further comprises a gasket, wherein the gasket forms a seal between the storage tank and the nozzle.

7. The system of claim 6 , comprising an epoxy disposed around and sealing the threaded connection.

8. A method comprising:

providing a storage tank storing gas, wherein the storage tank comprises a storage tank neck and a storage tank interface both made from a first material, wherein the storage tank neck defines the storage tank interface, and wherein a channel is formed within the storage tank neck; and

providing a nozzle, wherein the nozzle comprises a nozzle interface and a first portion, wherein the first portion is made from a second material that is different from the first material, wherein an inner portion is formed within the nozzle, and wherein the inner portion is aligned with the channel such that the inner portion and the channel are joined and in fluid communication with each other to form a passage for the gas to exit from the storage tank to the inner portion through the channel; and

frictionally welding the storage tank interface to the nozzle interface to form a connection such that a leak rate of the gas equal to or less than 1×10 −4 standard cubic centimeters per second (std. cc/s) is maintained.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the connection is formed such that the leak rate is equal to or less than 1×10 −6 std. cc/s.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the connection is formed such that the leak rate is equal to or less than 1×10 −9 std. cc/s.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first material is aluminum, and the second material is stainless steel.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the storage tank is made of the first material and a third material.

13. A system comprising:

a storage tank storing gas, wherein the storage tank comprises a storage tank neck and a storage tank interface both made from a first material, wherein the storage tank neck defines the storage tank interface, and wherein a channel is formed within the storage tank neck;

a nozzle comprising a nozzle interface and a first portion, wherein the first portion is made from a second material different from the first material, wherein an inner portion is formed within the nozzle, and wherein the inner portion is aligned with the channel such that the inner portion and the channel are joined and in fluid communication with each other to form a passage for the gas to exit from the storage tank to the inner portion through the channel;

a connection formed by coupling the storage tank interface and the nozzle interface to one another, wherein the connection is configured to maintain a leak rate of the gas equal to or less than 1×10 −7 standard cubic centimeters per second (std. cc/s), wherein the connection comprises a friction weld; and

a cooling system configured to receive the gas from the storage tank, wherein the cooling system is configured to use the gas to cool a superconducting unit.

14. The system of claim 13 , comprising a connector, wherein the connector is configured to connect the nozzle to the cooling system and is made from the second material.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the leak rate is equal to or less than 1×10 −10 std. cc/s.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2020
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
Reel/Frame 052381/0908 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2017
From: STAUTNER, ERNST WOLFGANG; THOMPSON, PAUL ST. MARK SHADFORTH; WU, ANBO; KAGAN, ALEXANDER; XU, MINFENG; LASKARIS, EVANGELOS TRIFON; RICCI, JUSTIN MICHAEL
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 043048/0120 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190024846A1 · Jan 24, 2019