US3704597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cooling apparatus
Assignee: The Hymatic Engineering Co Ltd
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Filing: 1970-12-07
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Granted: 1972-12-05
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Expires: 1990-12-07
Abstract
Abstract Cooling apparatus of the Joule Thomson type includes a load situated below and spaced from the nozzle, a body of absorbent material in heat exchange relationship with the load, and a valve controlling the effective area of the nozzle to vary the flow of refrigerant automatically under the control of a sensor situated in heat exchange relationship with the absorbent material. To achieve the required heat exchange relationship between them the sensor may be in contact with the absorbent material, or separated from it by a metal wall, or even slightly spaced from it, provided that sufficient heat flow can occur from the sensor to the absorbent material to cause the response to depend on the extent to which the absorbent material is saturated with liquid refrigerant.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Edmund Nicholds
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:36
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J1/00; F25J1/02; F25J1/0243; F25J1/0257; F25J1/0275; F25J1/0276; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/02; F25B2309/00; F25B2309/02; F25B2309/022; F25J2290/00; F25J2290/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
Cooling apparatus of the Joule Thomson type which includes a heat exchanger affording first and second paths through the first of which refrigerant gas from a supply under pressure, and at a temperature below its inversion temperature, is supplied to an expansion nozzle located adjacent the cold end of the heat exchanger, whence the low pressure gas returns through the second path, to effect cooling by expansion and produce liquid refrigerant in a container, including a load situated below and spaced from the nozzle, a body of absorbent material in heat exchange relationship with the load, a valve controlling the effective area of the nozzle, means for directing the refrigerant liquid from the nozzle so as to impinge on the absorbent material, a sensor situated in the path of liquid from the absorbent material to the second path of the heat exchanger while being shielded from direct impingement by liquid projected from the nozzle toward the load, said sensor responding to the balance between heat flowing to it from the hot end of the apparatus and heat extracted from it to the liquid refrigerant, and means under the control of the sensor for operating the valve to vary the flow of refrigerant automatically in accordance with the amount of liquid in the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
Cooling apparatus of the Joule Thomson type which includes a heat exchanger affording first and second paths through the first of which refrigerant gas from a supply under pressure, and at a temperature below its inversion temperature, is supplied to an expansion nozzle located adjacent the cold end of the heat exchanger, whence the low pressure gas returns through the second path, to effect cooling by expansion and produce liquid refrigerant in a container, including a load situated below and spaced from the nozzle, a body of absorbent material in heat exchange relationship with the load, a valve controlling the effective area of the nozzle, means for directing the refrigerant liquid from the nozzle so as to impinge on the absorbent material, a sensor situated in the path of liquid from the absorbent material to the second path of the heat exchanger while being shielded from direct impingement by liquid projected from the nozzle toward the load, said sensor responding to the balance between heat flowing to it from the hot end of the apparatus and heat extracted from it to the liquid refrigerant, and means under the control of the sensor for operating the valve to vary the flow of refrigerant automatically in accordance with the amount of liquid in the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the sensor is in contact with the absorbent material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the sensor is separated from the absorbent material by a metallic wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the sensor is spaced from the absorbent by a gap so small that sufficient heat flow can occur from the sensor to the absorbent material to cause the response to depend on the extent to which the absorbent material is saturated with liquid refrigerant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the sensor includes a vapor bulb containing a liquid in eQuilibrium with vapor the pressure of which controls the operation of the valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the sensor includes portions near the periphery of the container at points distributed around the axis, so as to be immersed before the nozzle if the device is tiled about any horizontal axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the sensor has a portion of annular form surrounding the axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the nozzle is provided with a duct extending at least part of the distance between it and the load, so as to confine the refrigerant and direct it towards the load and cause it to impinge on the absorbent material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the duct extends into contact with the absorbent material so that the refrigerant is constrained to pass through the latter on its way to exhaust via the low pressure path of the heat exchanger.
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) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |