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.

Date of Patent:
Dec. 09, 2003

Filed:

Oct. 05, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:

Anker Gram, Vancouver, CA;

Stephen Duncan Noble, West Vancouver, CA;

Assignee:

Westport Research Inc., Vancouver, CA;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F04B 1/508 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
F04B 1/508 ;
Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for supplying both cryogenic liquid and vapor from a storage tank to a pump to reduce the need for venting. The pump is operable to pump cryogenic liquid or a mixture of liquid and vapor. Different operating modes are selectable to control mass flow rate through the pump. With one operating mode a high flow rate is achieved by supplying only cryogenic liquid to the pump. By selecting another operating mode, a lower mass flow rate is achieved by simultaneously supplying liquid and vapor from the storage tank to the pump. The pump preferably has an inducer with at least two chambers and valves for recycling excess fluid within the inducer instead of returning it to the storage tank. The reciprocating pump is preferably double acting such that fluid is discharged from the pump during both extension and retraction strokes.


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