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Title: Cryogenic transport
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A system for anchoring a cryogenic liquid holding tank of aluminum metal construction to and integrating such tank with an outer envelope-like supporting structure of ferrous metal comprising the combination of an aluminum cryogenic liquid holding tank, cryogenic insulation secured to the interior metal surfaces of the cryogenic liquid holding tank, a ferrous metal envelope-like supporting structure encompassing in spaced relation at least the major outer surface portions of the cryogenic liquid holding tank and transition connector means anchoring the aluminum cryogenic liquid holding tank to and fully integrating the said tank with the ferrous metal envelope-like supporting structure to form a composite stress resistant unit, said transition connector means including bonded together composite aluminum and ferrous metal transition stringer inserts interposed between the tank and said supporting structure the aluminum portion of an insert being directly and rigidly connected to the outer surfaces of the aluminum cryogenic liquid holding tank while the ferrous metal portion of an insert being directly and rigidly connected to the ferrous metal envelope-like supporting structure. 2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ferrous metal envelope-like supporting structure comprises the hull of a vessel. 3. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cryogenic insulation comprises alternate layers of cryogenic foam insulating material and thin aluminum foil membranes with the portion of the insulation that is adapted to be in direct contact with the tank liquid comprising a thin aluminum foil membrane that serves as the primary liquid containment barrier. 4. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cryogenic liquid holding tank includes corrugated wall portions. 5. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the aluminum portion of an insert has a greater width than the ferrous metal portion of an insert. 6. A system for anchoring a cryogenic liquid holding tank of aluminum metal construction to and integrating such tank with an outer envelope-like supporting hull structure of ferrous metal comprising the combination of an aluminum cryogenic liquid holding tank, cryogenic insulation anchored to the interior surfaces of the aluminum cryogenic liquid holding tank, a ferrous metal envelope-like supporting hull structure encompassing in spaced relation at least the major outer surface portions of the aluminum cryogenic liquid holding tank and transition connector means interposed between the tank and hull structure and anchoring the aluminum cryogenic liquid holding tank to and integrating such tank with the ferrous metal envelope-like supporting hull structure to form a composite stress resistant unit, said transition connector means including aluminum stringer elements rigidly and directly connected to the outer surfaces of the aluminum tank and ferrous metal stringer elements rigidly and directly connected to the inner surface of the ferrous metal envelope-like supporting hull structure and said aluminum and ferrous metal elements also being directly and rigidly bonded to each other. 7. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein an aluminum stringer element is bonded by pressure welding to its associated ferrous metal stringer element. 8. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least certain of the stringer elements are perforated. 9. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein certain wall portions of the aluminum tank are corrugated. 10. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least certain of the stringer elements are perforated and means are provided for circulating the air in a space between said aluminum tank and said envelope-like supporting hull structure. 11. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the aluminum stringer elements have a substantially greater width than the ferrous metal stringer elements and extend across the major portion of the space between the aluminum tank and the ferrous metal hull structure. 12. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said ferrous metal hull structure is enclosed within and secured to a further and outermost ferrous metal hull structure. 13. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said cryogenic insulation is comprised of alternating layers of cryogenic foam insulating material and thin aluminum foil membranes with the portion of the insulation that is in direct contact with the tank liquid comprising a thin aluminum foil membrane. 14. A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the transition connector stringer elements comprise composite aluminum and stainless steel inserts pressure welded to a soft aluminum alloy bonding element sandwiched therebetween and said inserts being pressure welded together at a point located closely adjacent the ferrous metal hull structure. 15. A system as set forth in claim 6, including transverse bulkheads interconnected with said aluminum tank said hull structure and said transition connector means, said bulkheads comprising transition inserts made up of aluminum and steel portions pressure welded to each other, and with the aluminum portion of an insert being affixed to another element of aluminum metal and with the ferrous metal portion of an insert being affixed to an element of ferrous metal. 16. A system for anchoring a cryogenic bulk liquid holding tank of aluminum metal construction to and integrating such tank with an outer envelope-like supporting hull structure of ferrous metal comprising the combination of an aluminum cryogenic bulk liquid holding tank, cryogenic insulation anchored to the interior surfaces of the aluminum tank, said insulation comprising alternate layers of relatively rigid closed cell polyurethane foam material and thin aluminum foil membranes with the portion of the insulation that is exposed to and in direct contact with the liquid in the tank being an aluminum foil membrane, a ferrous metal envelope-like supporting hull structure encompassing in spaced relation at least the major outer surface portions of the aluminum liquid holding tank and transition connector means interposed between the tank and hull structure and anchoring the aluminum liquid holding tank to and integrating such tank with the ferrous metal envelope-like supporting hull structure to form a composite stress resistant unit, said transition connector means comprising a plurality of spaced composite stringer elements each of which is made up of an aluminum portion affixed directly and rigidly to said aluminum tank's outer surfaces and a ferrous metal portion affixed directly and rigidly to the inner surface of the ferrous metal envelope-like supporting hull structure and the aluminum and ferrous metal portions of a stringer element also being directly and rigidly bonded to each other. 17. A system as set forth in claim 16, wherein at least certain of the stringer elements are perforated. 18. A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein certain wall portions of the aluminum tank are corrugated. 19. A system as set forth in claim 18, including separate rigid blocks of closed cell polyurethane foam disposed in the recessed portions of the corrugations that open inwardly toward the inside of the tank and forming in conjunction with the corrugations backup and supporting surfaces for a further layer of rigid closed cell polyurethane foam. 20. A system as set forth in claim 16, wherein at least certain of the stringer elements are perforated and means are provided for circulating the air in a space between said aluminum tank and said envelope-like supporting hull structure. 21. A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein the aluminum portion of a stringer element has a substantially greater width than the ferrous metal portion and extends across the major portion of the space between the aluminum tank and the ferrous metal hull structure. 22. A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said ferrous metal hull structure is enclosed within and secured to a further and outermost ferrous metal hull structure. 23. A system as set forth in claim 16, wherein a stringer element comprises aluminum and stainless steel portions pressure welded to a soft aluminum alloy bonding element sandwiched therebetween and with the pressure welded areas of said aluminum and stainless steel portions being located closely adjacent the ferrous metal hull structure. Other info: Inventors: McLaughlin, Hollis G. (Walnut Creek, CA, US) Application Number: 455445 Filing Date: 1974-03-27 Publication_date: 1976-03-02 Assignee: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation (Oakland, CA) Primary Class(es): 220/560.11 62/45.1, 62/51.1, 62/53.2, 62/240, 114/74A, 220/901 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs:
Thomas, LNG Carriers: The Current State of the Art, Pub.: Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, Nov., 1971. | |