US3667246A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for precise temperature control
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1970-12-04
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Granted: 1972-06-06
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Expires: 1990-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A temperature control system for maintaining a cryogenic load at a predetermined temperature by circulating a wet mixture of a coolant through tubing that is in heat-transfer relationship with the load while maintaining the coolant in a saturated condition throughout the tubing at a constant temperature that is slightly cooler than the predetermined load temperature. The system includes a preconditioning chamber from which liquid coolant is supplied to the tubing. The chamber is partially filled with liquid coolant, with the remainder of the chamber filled with vaporous coolant. Inlet and outlet metering valves for the tubing are mounted in the chamber and controls are provided for maintaining the entire interior environment of the chamber including the valves, interconnecting tubing and both the liquid and vaporous coolant in a state of thermodynamic equilibrium at a temperature that is a few tenths of a degree lower than the predetermined temperature of the load. Sensors are provided at the load and in the tubing for actuating controllers that manipulate the valves to regulate the coolant flow to be at a rate that maintains the coolant in its saturated wet-mixture condition in all sections of the tubing during heat transfer from the load to the coolant.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven J St Lorant
- 👤 Phillip L Dow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:06
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C13/00; F17C13/02; F17C13/026; F17C2205/00; F17C2205/03; F17C2205/0302; F17C2205/0323; F17C2205/0326; F17C2205/0329; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/012; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/01; F17C2227/0107; F17C2227/03; F17C2227/0302; F17C2227/0304; F17C2227/0309; F17C2227/0323; F17C2227/0337; F17C2227/0341; F17C2227/0355; F17C2227/0367; F17C2227/0369; F17C2227/0372; F17C2227/0374; F17C2250/00; F17C2250/04; F17C2250/0404; F17C2250/043; F17C2250/0439; F17C2250/06; F17C2250/0605; F17C2250/0631; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A temperature-control system for precisely maintaining a heat load at a predetermined temperature, comprising: a heat-emitting mass that is arranged as a heat load within said system; a supply of liquid coolant; preconditioning means for bringing said supply of liquid coolant to a state of thermodynamic equilibrium at a temperature that is below said predetermined load temperature; conduit having an inlet and an outlet for conducting coolant from said supply into heat-transfer relationship with said heat-emitting mass to absorb heat therefrom; means for circulating coolant from said supply through said conduit; means for sensing changes in temperature-pressure condition of coolant in said conduit; and controlling means responsive to said sensing means for adjusting the rate of coolant flow through said conduit to establish throughout said conduit a wet mixture of coolant in a condition of saturation at a temperature slightly below said predetermined load temperature, a portion of said controlling means being in heat-transfer relationship with the coolant circulating within said system, and said preconditioning means including a preconditioning chamber with said portion being mounted within said chamber to be maintained in thermodynamic equilibrium with the coolant contained in said preconditioning means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A temperature-control system for precisely maintaining a heat load at a predetermined temperature, comprising: a heat-emitting mass that is arranged as a heat load within said system; a supply of liquid coolant; preconditioning means for bringing said supply of liquid coolant to a state of thermodynamic equilibrium at a temperature that is below said predetermined load temperature; conduit having an inlet and an outlet for conducting coolant from said supply into heat-transfer relationship with said heat-emitting mass to absorb heat therefrom; means for circulating coolant from said supply through said conduit; means for sensing changes in temperature-pressure condition of coolant in said conduit; and controlling means responsive to said sensing means for adjusting the rate of coolant flow through said conduit to establish throughout said conduit a wet mixture of coolant in a condition of saturation at a temperature slightly below said predetermined load temperature, a portion of said controlling means being in heat-transfer relationship with the coolant circulating within said system, and said preconditioning means including a preconditioning chamber with said portion being mounted within said chamber to be maintained in thermodynamic equilibrium with the coolant contained in said preconditioning means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 1, further including, means for maintaining said chamber filled with liquid coolant and vaporous coolant in the ratio of at least one volume of vaporous coolant to one volume of liquid coolant; and wherein said chamber is arranged to provide the liquid coolant with a large free-liquid surface area that is at least one-fourth of the total area bounding the volume of liquid coolant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said portion mounted within said chamber includes, an inlet metering valve connected to said inlet of said conduit for controlling the flow of coolant from said supply into said conduit; and an outlet metering valve connected to said outlet of said conduit for controlling the flow of coolant from said conduit to a low-pressure area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 3, wherein said inlet and outlet metering valves are adjusted to provide a slight flow of said coolant in a wet-mixture state beyond said outlet metering valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said preconditioning means includes means for adding heat to said supply of coolant upon the temperature of said coolant supply falling below said temperature that is below said predetermined load temperature, and means for removing heat from said coolant upon the temperature of said coolant rising above said temperature that is below said predetermined load temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said preconditioning means includes means for maintaining said supply of liquid coolant in a continuously boiling state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1, further including means for preheating coolant Circulated from said supply through said conduit during initial cooling of said mass, said preheating means being mounted within said chamber to be maintained in thermodynamic equilibrium with the coolant in said chamber during operation of said system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-06 | 1975-12-06 | 1976-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-06 | 1979-12-06 | 1980-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-06 | 1983-12-06 | 1984-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |