Material Containment System

Abstract

Containment packages ( 10 ) having utility for transport of hazardous gases and security systems for controlling access to packages, e.g., hazardous gas containment packages ( 20 ). In a specific implementation, a containment package includes an overpack ( 11 ) for improving the safety and security of gas-containment vessels during transportation, e.g., air shipment, in which the overpack is pressurized by a protective gas at pressure in excess of the pressure in the gas-containment vessels, and a global positioning system (GPS) coordinated programmable lock and key system ( 30 ) is integrated with the containment package for controlled access to the gas-containment vessels only when the GPS component indicates that the containment package is at a specific geographic location.

1 .- 70 . (canceled) 
   
   
       71 . A container package useful for transport of fluid storage and dispensing vessel(s), comprising an overpack defining an interior volume adapted for holding at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel in an environment of containment gas in the interior volume of the overpack at pressure that is above pressure of fluid contained in the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel, wherein the overpack includes at least one of:
 (i) an anti-tamper system adapted to restrict access to the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel therein;   (ii) a thermal management system for maintaining the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel at temperature within a predetermined temperature range; and   (iii) a tracking system adapted for communication with a communication system.   
   
   
       72 . The container package of  claim 71 , including said anti-tamper system in a configuration selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) the anti-tamper system comprising a programmable electromechanical lock and key system;   (b) (a), and a GPS system adapted to selectively actuate the programmable electromechanical lock and key system; and   (c) (a), (b), and an electronic key that is operable to unlock the programmable electromechanical lock when the GPS system indicates that the container package is at a predetermined location or within predetermined geographic coordinates.   
   
   
       73 . The container package of  claim 71 , including a thermal management system comprising a phase change gel pack arranged to maintain temperature in said interior volume in a predetermined range during variable environmental temperature conditions. 
   
   
       74 . The container package of  claim 71 , wherein the overpack includes a pressurizing port adapted for introduction of pressurizing gas into the interior volume, to establish pressure therein that is above pressure of fluid contained in the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel, and a pressure monitor adapted to monitor pressure in the interior volume. 
   
   
       75 . The container package of  claim 71 , including at least one feature selected from the group consisting of:
 (1) a positional fixation structure in the interior volume, adapted to positionally retain the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel in a fixed position in the interior volume;   (2) a pressure monitor;   (3) a pressure monitor comprising an analog pressure gauge;   (4) a pressure monitor comprising a pressure transducer;   (5) a thermal management device or structure in said overpack;   (6) a thermal controller adapted to maintain a predetermined temperature level of fluid in said at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel;   (7) active heating and cooling componentry;   (8) thermal insulation in said interior volume;   (9) dunnage in said interior volume;   (10) foam material in said interior volume defining at least one cavity for retention of the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel;   (11) a time-temperature monitoring system adapted to provide a record of temperature in the interior volume over a predetermined period of time;   (12) temperature control and monitoring capability;   (13) a leak detector adapted to monitor gas leaks into or within the overpack;   (14) a gas-specific detector;   (15) a port in said overpack, having a gas-specific sensor disposed therein;   (16) a gas-specific sensor providing a visual output indicative of occurrence of leak;   (17) an adsorbent material in said interior volume, adapted to take up or immobilize leaking gas therein;   (18) a physical adsorbent in said interior volume;   (19) a chemisorbent in said interior volume;   (20) a heater;   (21) a cooler;   (22) a pressure relief device;   (23) a shock absorber;   (24) a shock sensor;   (25) a tracking device;   (26) an RFID tracking device;   (27) a global positioning satellite (GPS) tracking device;   (28) scannable identification indicia; and   (29) detectable identification indicia.   
   
   
       76 . The container package of  claim 71 , containing at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel. 
   
   
       77 . The container package of  claim 76 , having at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:
 (1) subatmospheric pressure in at least one of said at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel;   (2) containment gas pressure in said interior volume above ambient pressure exterior to the container package;   (3) leak-tight sealing of the overpack against an exterior environment thereof;   (4) containment gas in said interior volume comprising inert gas;   (5) each of the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel including a valve head comprising a valve wheel that is protectively secured by a tensioned strap secured to the valve wheel;   (6) each of the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel including a valve head that is protectively secured by a valve cap;   (7) each of the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel including a valve head protectively secured by shrinkwrapping thereof;   (8) each of the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel being wrapped in shrinkwrapping material;   (9) the enclosure being adapted to hold from 6 to 24 fluid storage and dispensing vessels;   (10) each of the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel having a fluid storage volume in a range of from 0.4 L to 6.6 L;   (11) the interior volume being constructed to hold a number of fluid storage and dispensing vessels, wherein said number is selected from the group consisting of 6, 12 and 24.   
   
   
       78 . The container package of  claim 76 , wherein the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel contains a semiconductor manufacturing fluid. 
   
   
       79 . The container package of  claim 76 , wherein the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel contains fluid selected from the group consisting of boron trifluoride, arsine, phosphine, silicon tetrafluoride, germanium tetrafluoride, arsenic pentafluoride, phosphorus trifluoride, hydrogen selenide, diborane, decaborane, and silane. 
   
   
       80 . The container package of  claim 76 , wherein the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel holds gas adsorbed on a carbon adsorbent, at sub-atmospheric pressure. 
   
   
       81 . A gas management method, comprising use of a container package as claimed in  claim 71 , involving at least one activity selected from the group consisting of:
 (1) introducing at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel into the interior volume of the overpack;   (2) transporting said container package containing at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel in the interior volume of the overpack;   (3) tracking said container package containing at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel in the interior volume of the overpack, during transport thereof;   (4) maintaining said overpack in a locked and tamper-resistant mode during transport thereof;   (5) remotely opening a previously locked overpack of said container package at a predetermined location or under predetermined conditions;   (6) maintaining said overpack interior volume containing at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel at temperature in a predetermined temperature range, during storage or transport thereof;   (7) utilizing said container package in a supply chain.   
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel contains a semiconductor manufacturing gas. 
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel contains a fluid selected from the group consisting of boron trifluoride, arsine, phosphine, silicon tetrafluoride, germanium tetrafluoride, arsenic pentafluoride, phosphorus trifluoride, hydrogen selenide, diborane and decaborane. 
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the overpack comprises a communication capability enabling trackability of the container package. 
   
   
       85 . A supply chain management system, comprising
 (a) a communication system comprising at least one system selected from the group consisting of (1) active RFID systems, (2) GPS communication systems, (3) global digital communications networks and (4) cellular telephony communication systems; and   (b) a container package adapted for transport of fluid storage and dispensing vessel(s), comprising an overpack defining an interior volume adapted for holding at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel in an environment of containment gas at pressure that is above pressure of fluid contained in the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel, wherein the container package is adapted to communicate with said communication system.   
   
   
       86 . The supply chain management system of  claim 85 , wherein the system is adapted to track the location of the container package. 
   
   
       87 . The supply chain management system of  claim 85 , wherein the overpack includes at least one of (a) an anti-tamper device adapted to restrict access to the at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel therein, and (b) a thermal management capability, for maintaining temperature of said at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel within a predetermined range. 
   
   
       88 . The supply chain management system of  claim 85 , wherein the system is adapted for integration with an inventory and warehouse control system. 
   
   
       89 . The supply chain management system of  claim 85 , wherein the container package comprises an alerting capability for notification via the communication system that the container package has been compromised. 
   
   
       90 . The supply chain management system of  claim 85 , wherein at least one fluid storage and dispensing vessel is contained in said container package, and contains a fluid.