1. A multi-channel conduit segment configured to transfer cryogenic fluid into and out of a cryogenic storage tank with minimal heat transfer, the conduit segment comprising:
a first channel having a first cross-sectional area and adapted to transport cryogenic liquid from a supply source to the storage tank;
a second channel having a second cross-sectional area and adapted to transport gas from the storage tank to an end user,
wherein the conduit is formed from a single piece of material having at least one welded fold along a longitudinal axis such that said first channel is separated from said second channel.
2. The conduit segment of claim 1, wherein said first and second cross-sectional areas are substantially equal.
3. The conduit segment of claim 1, wherein said first and second cross-sectional areas are substantially half-circle shaped.
4. The conduit segment of claim 1, further comprising a third channel having a third cross-sectional area.
5. The conduit segment of claim 1, wherein said first, second and third cross-sectional areas are substantially equal.
6. The conduit segment of claim 1, further adapted for use with a manifold assembly.
7. The conduit segment of claim 1, fabricated from a metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, aluminum, and alloys and mixtures thereof.
8. The conduit segment of claim 1, comprising a plurality of welded folds, each extending along a longitudinal axis.
9. The conduit segment of claim 1, comprising a wall thickness between about 0.5 to about 2 mm.
10. The conduit segment of claim 1, comprising a wall thickness of less than about 1 mm.
11. The conduit segment of claim 1, wherein said conduit is fabricated using extrusion techniques.
12. The conduit segment of claim 11, wherein said conduit is lined or plated with a metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, aluminum, and alloys and mixtures thereof.
13. A cryogenic fluid storage tank comprising:
a tank reservoir adapted to receive, store, and discharge cryogenic fluid; and
a substantially circular conduit segment in fluid communication with said reservoir and adapted for both receiving and discharging a cryogenic fluid;
wherein said conduit segment comprises a unitary material having at least one welded fold along a longitudinal axis that forms at least two discrete channels therein.
14. The storage tank of claim 13, wherein said conduit segment has an inner diameter of between about 10 to about 15 mm.
15. The storage tank of claim 13, wherein said conduit segment comprises a plurality of welded folds, each extending along a longitudinal axis.
16. The storage tank of claim 13, wherein said conduit segment comprises a wall thickness between about 0.5 to about 2 mm.
17. The storage tank of claim 13, wherein said conduit segment comprises a wall thickness less than about 1 mm.
18. The storage tank of claim 13, wherein said conduit segment comprises:
a filling channel adapted to provide fluid communication between said tank reservoir and an external cryogenic fluid source; and
a supply channel adapted to provide fluid communication between said tank reservoir and an external discharge line.
19. The storage tank of claim 18, wherein a pressure differential between said tank reservoir and said external discharge line is less than about 10 bar.
20. The storage tank of claim 18, wherein said conduit segment further comprises a heat transfer channel.
21. The storage tank of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of said conduit segment extends to a bottom area of said tank reservoir.
22. The storage tank of claim 13, wherein said conduit segment comprises a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, aluminum, and alloys and mixtures thereof.
23. The storage tank of claim 13, adapted for use with a PEM fuel cell assembly.
24. The storage tank of claim 13, wherein said cryogenic fluid is hydrogen.
25. A method for transporting cryogenic fluid into and out of cryogenic storage while minimizing heat transfer, the method comprising:
providing an insulated storage tank enclosing a containment volume;
providing a unitary conduit segment having an integral inner wall separating first and second channels formed therein, wherein the unitary conduit segment includes at least one welded fold extending along a longitudinal axis that forms one of the first and second channels;
introducing a volume of cryogenic fluid from a source through said first channel to said containment volume; and
releasing a volume of gaseous fluid through said second channel to an end user for use with a PEM fuel cell assembly.
26. The method according to claim 25, further providing a pressure differential of less than about 10 bar between said insulated tank and the ambient environment.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An imaging apparatus comprising:
(a) a drive mechanism capable of moving an imaging device subunit, in which an imaging device for creating an image signal associated with a subject is mounted, in a first direction and a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;
(b) a first actuator for moving the imaging device subunit in the first direction;
(c) a second actuator for moving the imaging device subunit in the second direction;
(d) sensing means for detecting the direction of gravity; and
(e) dust-removing means for shaking off dust adhering to the imaging device subunit by moving the imaging device subunit using at least one of the first and second actuators;
wherein the dust-removing means has (e-1) setting means for setting a direction of motion in which the imaging device subunit is moved, based on the direction of gravity detected by the sensing means and (e-2) selecting means for selecting an actuator used to drive the imaging device subunit in the direction of motion set by the setting means from the first and second actuators.
2. An imaging apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism has given stoppers for limiting movement of the imaging device subunit in at least one of the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the dust-removing means removes the dust by moving the imaging device subunit in the direction of motion and bringing the subunit into collision with the given stopper.
3. An imaging apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the imaging device subunit has an optical filter ahead of a photosensitive surface of the imaging device.
4. An imaging apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensing means has (d-1) a posture sensor for detecting posture of the imaging apparatus, and wherein the sensing means detects the direction of gravity based on a result of detection performed by the posture sensor.
5. An imaging apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein there is further provided (f) velocity-detecting means for detecting a velocity at which the imaging device subunit moves;
wherein the first and second actuators drive the imaging device subunit to slide it; and
wherein the sensing means has (d-2) gravity direction-sensing means for detecting the direction of gravity, based on information about the motion velocity detected by the velocity-detecting means.
6. An imaging apparatus as set forth in claim 5,
wherein a vector representing the direction of gravity is resolved into a first vector component parallel to the first direction and a second vector component parallel to the second direction, and wherein the gravity direction-sensing means has:
motion velocity detection means, which when the imaging device subunit is reciprocated horizontally, applies driving signals which make the motion velocity substantially uniform between going and returning paths of the reciprocated imaging device subunit to the first and second actuators and detects the motion velocity of the imaging device subunit in the going and returning paths in the first and second directions by means of the velocity-detecting means,
first decision means which, when the motion velocity in the first direction detected by the velocity-detecting means is greater in the going path than in the returning path, judges that the first vector component lies in the direction of the going path and which, when the motion velocity is greater in the returning path than in the going path, judges that the first vector component lies in the direction of the returning path, and
second decision means which, when the motion velocity in the second direction detected by the velocity-detecting means is greater in the going path than in the returning path, judges that the second vector component lies in the direction of the going path and which, when the motion velocity is greater in the returning path than in the going path, judges that the second vector component lies in the direction of the returning path.
7. An imaging apparatus as set forth in claim 5,
wherein a vector representing the direction of gravity is resolved into a first vector component parallel to the first direction and a second vector component parallel to the second direction, and wherein the gravity direction detection means has:
motion velocity detection means for applying certain driving signals which do not move the imaging device subunit horizontally to the first and second actuators and detecting the motion velocity of the imaging device subunit in the first and second directions by means of the velocity-detecting means,
first decision means which, when motion velocity of the imaging device subunit is detected in the first direction by the velocity-detecting means, judges that the first vector component lies in the direction of the motion velocity, and
second decision means which, when motion velocity of the imaging device subunit is detected in the second direction by the velocity-detecting means, judges that the second vector component lies in the direction of the motion velocity.
8. An imaging apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the certain driving signals applied are of a pulse sequence having a duty cycle of 50%.
9. An imaging apparatus comprising:
(a) a drive mechanism capable of moving an imaging device subunit, in which an imaging device for creating an image signal associated with a subject is mounted, in a first direction and a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;
(b) a first actuator for moving the imaging device subunit in the first direction;
(c) a second actuator for moving the imaging device subunit in the second direction;
(d) a sensing unit configured to detect the direction of gravity; and
(e) a dust-removing unit configured to shake off dust adhering to the imaging device subunit by moving the imaging device subunit using at least one of the first and second actuators;
wherein the dust-removing unit has (e-1) a setting unit configured to set a direction of motion in which the imaging device subunit is moved, based on the direction of gravity detected by the sensing unit and (e-2) a selecting unit configured to select an actuator used to drive the imaging device subunit in the direction of motion set by the setting unit from the first and second actuators.