Patent US3692099A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3692099A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultra low temperature thermal regenerator
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1968-06-20
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Granted: 1972-09-19
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Expires: 1988-06-20
Abstract
Abstract Temperatures below 10* K can be achieved operating on a GiffordMcMahon cycle by the utilization of a thermal regenerator having a pressure-regulated helium reservoir positioned within an annulus circumferentially disposed about a helium refrigerant flow channel. Thermal conduction between the cyclically flowing helium refrigerant and the helium reservoir is effected by a plurality of porous metallic plates disposed at a perpendicular attitude relative to the refrigerant flow stream with adjacent plates being separated by thermal insulators, e.g. plastic rings, bonded to the plates to inhibit longitudinal thermal conduction in the regenerator. Preferably the bonded rings are concentrically disposed to form external sidewalls defining the helium refrigerant flow channel and to contain the helium reservoir. Because the helium heat reservoir is situated at a location remote from the channel wherein the helium refrigerant flows, the heat capacity of the reservoir can be varied by adding or removing helium from the reservoir without adversely effecting the helium refrigerant flow through the regenerator.
Inventors
- 👤 Loyd B Nesbitt
- 👤 Robert B Fleming
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:46
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J5/00; F25J5/002; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/14; F28; F28D; F28D17/00; F28F; F28F27/00; F28F3/00; F28F3/08; F28F3/086; F25B2309/00; F25B2309/003; F25J2205/00; F25J2205/24; F25J2215/00; F25J2215/30; F25J2270/00; F25J2270/90; F25J2270/912; F25J2290/00; F25J2290/32; F25J2290/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
In a cyclically operating thermal regenerator for operation at temperatures below 16* K wherein heat from a fluid stream flowing in a first direction is received and stored for a finite period by a helium reservoir prior to transfer of said heat to a fluid stream flowing in the opposite direction, the improvement comprising means for controlling the pressure of helium within said reservoir by varying the quantity of helium in said reservoir as the helium temperature changes within said reservoir.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a cyclically operating thermal regenerator for operation at temperatures below 16* K wherein heat from a fluid stream flowing in a first direction is received and stored for a finite period by a helium reservoir prior to transfer of said heat to a fluid stream flowing in the opposite direction, the improvement comprising means for controlling the pressure of helium within said reservoir by varying the quantity of helium in said reservoir as the helium temperature changes within said reservoir.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A cyclically operating thermal regenerator according to claim 1 wherein said helium reservoir is situated within a housing externally located relative to said fluid stream flow channel, said thermal contact between said helium reservoir and said fluid streams being effectuated by a high thermal conductivity material protruding through the walls of said helium reservoir housing and extending into both said helium reservoir and said fluid streams flow channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cyclically operating thermal regenerator according to claim 1 wherein the helium within said reservoir is at a pressure above 5 atmospheres and at a temperature of below 16* K.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A cyclically operating thermal regenerator according to claim 2 wherein said high thermal conductivity material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, and sapphire, said material being a porous structure disposed substantially uniformly in said fluid streams flow channel to assure uniform distribution of flow at any cross-section of said flow channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A cyclically operating thermal regenerator according to claim 2 wherein said thermal contact between the reservoir and the flow streams is effectuated by a plurality of porous metallic plates spaced in insulated relationship with respect to one another within the path of said fluid streams at a generally perpendicular attitude to the direction of fluid flow.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
134 words
A cyclically operating thermal regenerator for operation at temperatures below 16* K comprising a channel for the cyclic flow of a fluid refrigerant therethrough, a reservoir containing a gaseous medium, said reservoir being positioned adjacent said flow channel to sequentially receive, store and transmit heat to said fluid refrigerant during a complete flow cycle of said fluid refrigerant, means for controlling the pressure of the gaseous medium within said reservoir by varying the quantity of said medium in said reservoir as the temperature within said reservoir changes, and a plurality of spaced-apart, high conductivity metallic elements spaced in insulated relationship with respect to one another, said elements forming an apertured obstruction within said refrigerant flow stream and protruding through the sidewalls separating said flow channel from said reservoir to extend into said gaseous medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
134 words
A cyclically operating thermal regenerator for operation at temperatures below 16* K comprising a channel for the cyclic flow of a fluid refrigerant therethrough, a reservoir containing a gaseous medium, said reservoir being positioned adjacent said flow channel to sequentially receive, store and transmit heat to said fluid refrigerant during a complete flow cycle of said fluid refrigerant, means for controlling the pressure of the gaseous medium within said reservoir by varying the quantity of said medium in said reservoir as the temperature within said reservoir changes, and a plurality of spaced-apart, high conductivity metallic elements spaced in insulated relationship with respect to one another, said elements forming an apertured obstruction within said refrigerant flow stream and protruding through the sidewalls separating said flow channel from said reservoir to extend into said gaseous medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
A cyclically operating thermal regenerator for operation at temperatures below 16* K comprising a channel for the cyclic flow of a refrigerant therethrough, a generally stagnant helium heat reservoir positioned adjacent said channel, and a plurality of porous, high heat conductivity elements disposed within said cyclic flow channel and extending into said helium reservoir to conduct heat between said Reservoir and said refrigerant upon the existence of a thermal gradient between said helium and said refrigerant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
A cyclically operating thermal regenerator for operation at temperatures below 16* K comprising a channel for the cyclic flow of a refrigerant therethrough, a generally stagnant helium heat reservoir positioned adjacent said channel, and a plurality of porous, high heat conductivity elements disposed within said cyclic flow channel and extending into said helium reservoir to conduct heat between said Reservoir and said refrigerant upon the existence of a thermal gradient between said helium and said refrigerant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cyclically operating thermal regenerator according to claim 7 wherein said refrigerant cyclically flows through a plurality of channels and said helium reservoir is disposed on opposite sides of each of said channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
A cyclically operating thermal regenerator according to claim 7 wherein said heat conductivity elements are a plurality of porous metallic plates disposed at a perpendicular attitude relative to the refrigerant flow, adjacent of said plates being separated both by peripherally positioned thermal insulators and by interiorly positioned thermal insulators, said interiorly positioned thermal insulator functioning to define the sidewalls for said cyclic flow channel and said peripherally positioned thermal insulators functioning to form a sidewall for said helium reservoir.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cyclically operating thermal regenerator according to claim 8 wherein helium in said reservoir is at a pressure above 5 atmospheres at temperatures below 16* K and said plate has between 30 to 60 percent open area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cyclically operating thermal regenerator according to claim 9 wherein said metallic plates are aluminum and said thermal insulators are a thermoplastic.
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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) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |