US3672181A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for carbon dioxide cooling
Assignee: Liquid Carbonic Corp
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Filing: 1970-02-26
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1990-02-26
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for cooling articles using carbon dioxide as a refrigerant including an enclosure adapted for cooling articles to be conveyed therethrough and a cooling system having snow nozzles in the upper portion thereof. A heat-exchanger is disposed in a lower portion of the enclosure and a conduit connects a source of high pressure CO2 to the inlet of the heatexchanger. The outlet from the heat-exchanger is connected to the snow nozzles whereby snow falling into the lower portion of the enclosure and coming to rest on the heat-exchanger absorbs heat during its change of state thereby precooling the high pressure Co2. The orifice openings in the nozzles are varied with pressure, and blowers assure a blizzard of snow is created within the enclosure.
Inventors
- 👤 Lewis Tyree Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:43
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/12; F25D3/127; F25D3/10; F25D3/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein a tank is provided, wherein expansion means is provided in association with said tank for expanding high pressure CO2 to lower pressure lower temperature CO2, wherein second heat-exchange means is disposed in heat-exchange relationship with said lower temperature liquid in said tank and wherein third conduit means is provided for connecting said second heat-exchange means between said high pressure CO2 source and said first heat-exchange means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said source of CO2 is a storage vessel and wherein a compressor is provided for withdrawing CO2 vapor from said tank and returning the compressed vapor to said CO2 storage vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein first temperature control means is provided which senses the temperature of the high pressure liquid CO2 in said second conduit means, and wherein first valve means is provided in said first conduit means which is operated by said temperature control means, said first valve means being effective to direct the liquid CO2 through said second heat-exchange means whenever the temperature in said second conduit means rises above a preselected value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein a pump is provided for pumping the high pressure liquid CO2 through said cooling system, wherein second valve means is provided in connection with said second conduit means and wherein second temperature control means is provided for sensing the temperature within said enclosure and controlling said second valve means appropriately to decrease or increase the pressure in said second conduit means and thereby regulate flow of high pressure CO2 through said nozzle means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said nozzle means includes an orifice the effective area of which is dependent upon the liquid pressure at the nozzle, being designed to enlarge the effective area of said orifice as the liquid pressure increases.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said nozzle means includes means in association therewith for preventing flow therethrough whenever the pressure in said second conduit means falls below a preselected value of at least about 100 psig.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for cooling material using carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, which method comprises conveying material to be cooled through an enclosure, expanding high pressure liquid carbon dioxide into the enclosure through spray nozzle means to produce carbon dioxide snow and directing said snow onto the material being conveyed therethrough, some of said snow falling below the material being conveyed, collecting said carbon dioxide snow falling therebelow on heat-exchange means, and employing the cooling capacity of said carbon dioxide snow collected upon the heat-exchange means to precool liquid CO2 flowing toward the nozzle means to thereby prevent excessive snow build-up at the bottom of the enclosure and increase the efficiency of said expansion of said high pressure liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein liquid CO2 is pumped from a source to the nozzle means so the pressure differential at the nozzle means is at least about 350 psi., wherein a portion of said high pressure CO2 is diverted to heat-exchange means where it is flashed to a lower pressure low temperature liquid-gas system and wherein said high pressure liquid CO2 is caused to at least intermittently flow in heat-exchange relationship with the low temperature liquid in heat-exchange means to achieve a desired amount of precooling.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the liquid reaching the nozzle means is precooled to a temperature of at least as low as about -60* F.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for cooling material using carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, which method comprises moving material to be cooled through an enclosure, expanding high pressure liquid CO2 through snow nozzle means to create CO2 vapor and snow within said enclosure, sensing the temperature within said enclosure, changing the effective area of an orifice in the snow nozzle means in response to said temperature sensed to increase or decrease the flow therethrough and achieve a desired temperature within said enclosure and maintaining a predetermined minimum pressure of liquid CO2 at said snow nozzle orifice when the orifice is closed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the pressure of the high pressure liquid CO2 being fed to said snow nozzle means is regulated in response to said temperature sensed and wherein said change in orifice effective area directly results from the change in liquid CO2 pressure at said snow nozzle means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein lowering of said liquid CO2 pressure to said predetermined minimum pressure results in closing the orifice to flow therethrough and wherein said predetermined minimum pressure is not less than about 100 psig.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for cooling material using CO2 as a refrigerant, which apparatus comprises means defining an enclosure, means for moving material to be cooled through said enclosure, snow nozzle means having orifice means through which high pressure liquid CO2 is expanded to create CO2 snow and vapor, means for connecting said snow nozzle means to a source of high pressure CO2, means for sensing the temperature within said enclosure, and means for changing the effective area of said orifice means in response to said temperature sensed within said enclosure and for closing said orifice to flow of liquid CO2 therethrough while maintaining a predetermined minimum pressure of liquid CO2 at said snow nozzle orifice when said orifice is closed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein pressure regulator means connected to said temperature sensing means is provided for changing the pressure of said liquid CO2 being supplied to said snow nozzle means and wherein said means for changing the effective area of said orifice means is operated directly by the liquid CO2 pressure at said snow nozzle means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said snow nozzle means includes a tapered plug proportioned to fit into said orifice to close said orifice and means mounting said plug and said orifice for relative movement and biasing same to the closed position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said mounting means includes a preloaded tension spring biasing said plug and said orifice to the closed position and means for adjusting the tension upon said spring to thereby alter said predetermined minimum pressure at which opening and closing of said orifice occurs.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |