Raymond Rd Tate

US Patent:

62200526, Apr 24, 2001

Filed:

Aug 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/375663

Inventors:

Raymond E. Tate - Felton CA
Harold M. Lee - Los Gatos CA

Assignee:

Liberty Fuels, Inc. - Watsonville CA

International Classification:

F25J 100
F25B 1902

US Classification:

62613

Abstract:

Apparatus for liquefying natural gas supplied from a source comprising a compressor for compressing the natural gas. A chiller reduces the temperature of the compressed gas, a heat exchanger for further cooling the cooled compressed gas. A Joule-Thompson valve is provided having an inlet and an orifice in communication with the inlet and the dewar for changing the size of the orifice. A pipe is connected from the heat exchanger to the Joule-Thompson valve and supplies cooled compressed gas to the inlet of the Joule-Thompson valve. The inlet of the Joule-Thompson valve has an inlet pressure. The dewar has a pressure therein substantially less than the pressure in the inlet whereby when the cooled compressed gas from the inlet piping passes through the Joule-Thompson valve there is an expansion of the gas to provide further cooling and liquefaction of a substantial portion of the gas as it passes into the dewar. A controller is coupled to the needle valve for adjusting the position of the needle valve with respect to the orifice to thereby adjust the size of the orifice to maintain a substantially constant pressure of the cooled compressed gas in the inlet to the Joule-Thompson valve to thereby provide a controlled expansion of the cooled compressed natural gas from a high pressure to the lower pressure in the dewar.

US Patent:

61962805, Mar 6, 2001

Filed:

Aug 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/375662

Inventors:

Raymond E. Tate - Felton CA
Harold M. Lee - Los Gatos CA
Alan T. Ziegler - Santa Cruz CA

Assignee:

Liberty Fuels, Inc. - Watsonville CA

International Classification:

B65B 104

US Classification:

141302

Abstract:

A combination of a nozzle and a fuel tank fitting for delivering liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a dispenser to a fuel tank. The fuel tank fitting comprises first and second valve assemblies coupled to the fuel tank in close proximity to each other. Each valve assembly has a flow passage extending therethrough in communication with the interior of the tank. The nozzle comprises a housing forming a handle portion and a nozzle portion for mating with the valve assemblies of the fuel tank fitting to form a liquid-tight seal therebetween. First and second flow passages extend through the nozzle and provide respectively a fuel supply line and a vent return line. First and second valve assemblies are disposed in the first and second flow passages in the nozzle. A releasable cooperative clamp is carried by the fuel tank fitting and the nozzle for securing the nozzle to the tank fitting when the nozzle has been mated to the fuel tank fitting.