The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 03, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 02, 1995
Paul D Agnello, Wappingers Falls, NY (US);
Thomas O Sedgwick, Croton-on-Hudson, NY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A method of maintaining an optimum pressure and purity level in a vessel having an inlet gas flow and an outlet gas flow during shutdown of the vessel that prevents imploding of the vessel when the inlet and outlet gas flows are discontinued. Gas from the vessel is directed to a containment portion in communication with the vessel. The pressure of the gas in the containment portion is monitored; the containment portion is backfilled with a purified inert gas when the monitored pressure drops to a predetermined lower level; and the containment portion is vented when the monitored pressure rises to a predetermined higher level. Apparatus for maintaining an optimum pressure and purity level in a vessel having an inlet gas flow and an outlet gas flow during shutdown of the vessel that prevents imploding of the vessel when the inlet and outlet gas flows are discontinued is also provided. The apparatus includes a containment portion adjacent to the vessel and in communication with the vessel for containing gas from the vessel, a back-pressure regulator and a conventional regulator for monitoring the pressure of the containment portion, a high-purity inert purge gas source in communication with the conventional regulator, adapted to backfill the containment portion with purified inert gas when the monitored pressure drops to a predetermined lower level, the back-pressure regulator adapted to vent the containment portion when the monitored pressure rises to a predetermined higher level.