Cryogenic heat station and apparatus incorporating the same

Claim 2

In a cryogenic apparatus in which a refrigerating chamber of variable volume is defined within a fluid tight enclosure housing and is in fluid communication with a fluid flow path in which a fluid stream is circulated, a heat station adapted to effect indirect heat transfer between at least a portion of said fluid stream circulating in said fluid flow path and an external load and comprising means external of said enclosure housing defining narrow fluid passage means around at least a portion of said refrigerating chamber, said narrow fluid passage means within said heat station providing fluid communication between said fluid flow path and said refrigeraTing chamber.

Claim 3

fluid communication means between said heat storage means and said narrow fluid passage means and between said narrow fluid passage means and said chamber with which said heat station means are associated.

Claim 4

fluid communication means between said heat storage means and said narrow fluid passage means and between said narrow fluid passage means and said chamber with which said heat station means are associated.

Claim 5

A cryogenic apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said narrow fluid passage means comprises a fluid passage associated with the end of said enclosure housing.

Claim 6

A cryogenic apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said narrow fluid passage means comprises at least one annular passage around said enclosure housing.

Claim 7

A cryogenic apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said narrow fluid passage means comprises a fluid passage associated with the end of said enclosure housing and a plurality of concentric connected fluid passages around the side of said enclosure housing.

Claim 8

A cryogenic apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further characterized by having fluid communication means providing a direct fluid connection between said fluid flow path and said refrigeration chamber and having fluid flow control means.

Claim 9

A cryogenic apparatus in which a movable member defines within an enclosure a chamber of variable volume and in which a high pressure expansible fluid is introduced through a fluid flow path into said chamber and then discharged into a low pressure reservoir through said flow path, said flow path incorporating heat storage means as an integral part thereof; said flow path being characterized as including heat station means comprising means external of said enclosure defining narrow fluid passage means around at least a portion of said refrigerating chamber, said narrow fluid passage means providing at least a portion of a fluid connection between said heat storage means and said refrigeration chamber.

Claim 10

A cryogenic apparatus in which a movable member defines within an enclosure a chamber of variable volume and in which a high pressure expansible fluid is introduced through a fluid flow path into said chamber and then discharged into a low pressure reservoir through said flow path, said flow path incorporating heat storage means as an integral part thereof; said flow path being characterized as including heat station means comprising means external of said enclosure defining narrow fluid passage means around at least a portion of said refrigerating chamber, said narrow fluid passage means providing at least a portion of a fluid connection between said heat storage means and said refrigeration chamber.

Claim 11

A cryogenic apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said heat storage means is located within said movable member.

Claim 12

A cryogenic apparatus in accordance with claim 7 further characterized by having a fluid channel incorporating check valve means adapted to provide direct fluid communication between said heat storage means and said chamber for high pressure fluid entering said chamber.

Claim 13

A cryogenic apparatus in which a movable member defines within one end of a cylindrical enclosure a chamber of variable volume and in which a high pressure expansible fluid is introduced through a fluid flow path into said chamber to be expanded and then discharged through said flow path, said flow path incorporating heat storage means as an integral part thereof, and including heat station means, said heat station means comprising in combination a. a heat station housing surrounding at least portion of said one end of said enclosure and defining with the external walls of said enclosure annular passage means and a substantially circular passage at the end of said enclosure in fluid communication with said annular passage means; b. fluid communication means between said heat storage means and said substantially circular passage; and c. a plurality of fluid ports in said enclosure wall providing fluid communication between said annular passage means and said expansion chamber.

Claim 14

A cryogenic apparatus in which a movable member defines within one end of a cylindrical enclosure a chamber of variable volume and in which a high pressure expansible fluid is introduced through a fluid flow path into said chamber to be expanded and then discharged through said flow path, said flow path incorporating heat storage means as an integral part thereof, and including heat station means, said heat station means comprising in combination a. a heat station housing surrounding at least portion of said one end of said enclosure and defining with the external walls of said enclosure annular passage means and a substantially circular passage at the end of said enclosure in fluid communication with said annular passage means; b. fluid communication means between said heat storage means and said substantially circular passage; and c. a plurality of fluid ports in said enclosure wall providing fluid communication between said annular passage means and said expansion chamber.

Claim 15

A cryogenic device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said annular passage means comprises a plurality of concentric annular passages in fluid communication with each other.

Claim 16

A cryogenic apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said heat station housing comprises an annular stainless steel ring, a stainless steel sleeve and a copper plate joined in fluidtight relationship.

Claim 17

A cryogenic apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said annular passage means and said circular passage substantially surround that portion of said wall which defines said chamber at maximum volume.

Claim 18

A cryogenic apparatus, comprising in combination a. a cryogenic multistage refrigerator, in each stage of which is a movable member defining within one end of a cylindrical enclosure a chamber of variable volume and in which a high pressure expansible fluid is introduced through fluid flow path means into each of said chambers to be expanded and then discharged through said flow path means, said flow path means incorporating heat Storage means as an integral part thereof; b. separate heat station means associated with each of said chambers and forming an integral part of said flow path means, each of said heat station means comprising in combination

Claim 19

A cryogenic apparatus, comprising in combination a. a cryogenic multistage refrigerator, in each stage of which is a movable member defining within one end of a cylindrical enclosure a chamber of variable volume and in which a high pressure expansible fluid is introduced through fluid flow path means into each of said chambers to be expanded and then discharged through said flow path means, said flow path means incorporating heat Storage means as an integral part thereof; b. separate heat station means associated with each of said chambers and forming an integral part of said flow path means, each of said heat station means comprising in combination

Claim 20

A cryogenic apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said narrow fluid passage means comprise annular passage means surrounding each of said enclosures and passage means essentially corresponding to the bottom portion of said external wall of each of said enclosures.

Claim 21

A cryogenic apparatus in accordance with claim 13 including heat exchange means associated with each of said heat stations means and adapted to effect indirect heat exchange with a fluid circulating through said heat exchange means.

Claim 22

An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said heat exchange means are integral parts of a Joule-Thomson loop.