Window assembly facilitates observation of cryogenic liquids flowing through a smooth pipe at pressures up to several hundred pounds per square inch. This high-pressure cryogenic observation assembly which houses a thin wall glass pipe held within a steel retainer can accommodate fluids under a wide range of pressures and temperatures

Hobart, H. E.

Minkin, H. L.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

Snap 
Thin-'
August 1966	 Brief 66-10394 
S	 NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U. S. space 
program and to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
High Pressure Cryogenic Liquid Flow Sight Assembly Provides

Streamlined Flow for Easy Observation 
Sight Member 
Buffer Ring 
The problem: 
To observe cryogenic liquids flowing through a 
smooth pipe at pressures up to several hundred 
pounds per square inch. Previous methods usually 
necessitated bonding a section of glass pipe into the 
metal piping; a difficult and expensive operation 
because of differences in the coefficient of expan-
sion of metal and glass under cryogenic conditions.
Also, the glass pipe must necessarily have an ex-
tremely heavy wall thickness to contain the pres-
sures involved. 
The solution: 
A high-pressure cryogenic observation window 
assembly which houses a thin wall glass pipe held 
within a steel retainer. 
AK	
(continued ovcfkaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States 	 will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19660000393 2020-03-11T17:35:46+00:00Z
How it's done: 
A thin wall glass cylinder is mounted within the 
1-joint assembly and connected into the metal piping 
to provide a continuous smooth flow path. Breakage 
of the sight tubing is eliminated by providing con-
trolled leakage paths around the ends to equalize the 
interior and exterior pressure and to provide a stream-
lined fluid flow path which eliminates eddying and 
turbulence of the fluid. An observation window is 
also mounted in the 1-joint assembly by a pressure 
seal with a lead gasket bearing on a serrated metal 
flange and held • in compression by a bolt and nut 
arrangement. The T-joint observation window as-
sembly is of high pressure construction and designed 
to contain the high pressure fluid surrounding the 
glass tubing. Since the hardware is exposed to cryo-
genic temperatures, this entire 1-joint assembly is en-
closed in an insulating vacuum environment by en-
capsulation in a second, more conventional, sight 
assembly unit.
Notes: 
1. The sight assembly which consists of relatively in-
expensive components can accommodate fluids 
under wide range of pressures and temperatures. 
2. Inquiries concerning this invention may be di-
rected to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Lewis Research Center 
21000 Brookpark Road 
Cleveland, Ohio 44135 
Reference: B66-10394 
Patent status: 
This invention is owned by NASA, and patent
application has been filed. Royalty-free, nonexclusive

licenses for its commercial use will be granted by

NASA. Inquiries concerning license rights should be

made to NASA, Code GP, Washington, D.C. 20546.

Source: H. E. Hobart and H. L. Minkin

(Lewis-310) 
Brief 66-10394	 Category 01


High pressure cryogenic liquid flow sight assembly provides streamlined flow for easy observation

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server