US3704600A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cryogenic refrigerator
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1970-10-05
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Granted: 1972-12-05
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Expires: 1990-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A cryogenic refrigerator including cooling means for H2 before it is expanded in a throttle valve and flows back to one of two containers which are filled with an alloy of A and B in powder form, in which the ratio A : B can vary from 1 : 3 to 2 : 17, wherein A is Ca or one or more of the rare earths, if desired combined with Th and/or Zr and/or Hf, and wherein B is mainly Ni and/or Co, this alloy having the property of readily absorbing H2 at low temperature and readily desorbing H2 at high temperature, which gas is again directed to said throttle.
Inventors
- 👤 Gijsbert Prast
- 👤 Clifford Mcdonald Hargreaves
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:47
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B17/00; F25B17/12; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y02A30/27; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A device for producing cold at low temperatures having a system of inlet ducts which comprises one or more counter flow heat exchangers and one or more precoolers in which a highpressure medium supplied to said system is cooled to below its inversion temperature associated with said pressure and communicates with a throttle device in which the medium expands, as well as a system of outlet ducts which communicates with the throttle device and along which low-pressure medium can flow away via the said counter flow heat exchangers, characterized in that the medium is hydrogen and the device furthermore comprises at least one container which is filled with an alloy of A and B in powder form, in which the ratio A : B can vary from 1 : 3 to 2 : 17, wherein A is Ca or one or more of the elements of the rare earths, if desirable combined with Th and/or Zr and/or Hf, and wherein B is mainly Ni and/or Co, each of the containers being communicable with the system of inlet or outlet ducts, each of the containers furthermore comprising a heater and a cooler which can be switched alternately.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
196 words
A device for producing cold at low temperatures having a system of inlet ducts which comprises one or more counter flow heat exchangers and one or more precoolers in which a highpressure medium supplied to said system is cooled to below its inversion temperature associated with said pressure and communicates with a throttle device in which the medium expands, as well as a system of outlet ducts which communicates with the throttle device and along which low-pressure medium can flow away via the said counter flow heat exchangers, characterized in that the medium is hydrogen and the device furthermore comprises at least one container which is filled with an alloy of A and B in powder form, in which the ratio A : B can vary from 1 : 3 to 2 : 17, wherein A is Ca or one or more of the elements of the rare earths, if desirable combined with Th and/or Zr and/or Hf, and wherein B is mainly Ni and/or Co, each of the containers being communicable with the system of inlet or outlet ducts, each of the containers furthermore comprising a heater and a cooler which can be switched alternately.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least three of the said containers are present.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each of the containers contains one of the alloys LaNi5; La0.8Y0.2Ni5; La0.9Zr0.1Ni5; LaxCe1 xNi5 wherein 0.4< x <1; La Ni, wherein La is an alloy containing 85 percent by weight of La, 10 percent by weight of Nd, 4 percent by weight of Pr and 1 percent by weight of Ce.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
131 words
A device for compressing hydrogen gas particularly suitable for use in a device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said device comprises at least one container which is filled with an alloy of A and B in powder form, in which the ratio A : B can vary from 1 : 3 to 2 : 17, wherein A IS Ca or one or more of the elements of the rare earths, if desirable, combined with Th and/or Zr and/or Hf, and wherein B is mainly Ni and/or Co, in which each of the containers can be made to communicate with an outlet for high-pressure hydrogen gas and an inlet for low-pressure hydrogen gas, each of the containers furthermore comprising a heater and a cooler which can be switched alternately.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that each of the containers comprises one of the alloys LaNi5; La0.8Y0.2Ni5; La0.9Zr0.1Ni5; LaxCe1 xNi5; wherein 0.4< x <1; La Ni, wherein La is an alloy containing 85 percent by weight of La, 10 percent by weight of Nd, 4 percent by weight of Pr and 1 percent by weight of Ce.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
187 words
Apparatus for producing cold comprising at least one container having therein an alloy of members A and B in powder form in which the ratio of A : B by weight is from 1 : 3 to 2 : 17, and wherein A is a member selected from the group consisting of calcium, the rare earth elements, mixtures of calcium and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Th, Zr, and Hf, and mixtures of a rare earth element and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Th, Zr, and Hf, and where B is a member selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and mixtures thereof, a source of high pressure H2, an inlet duct for flowing said H2 to said container, an outlet duct for flowing H2 out of said container, means for cooling H2 in said outlet duct to below its inversion temperature, throttle means for expanding said cooled H2 to provide said cold, first means for cooling said container, second means for heating said container, and third means for selectively activating said first and second means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
187 words
Apparatus for producing cold comprising at least one container having therein an alloy of members A and B in powder form in which the ratio of A : B by weight is from 1 : 3 to 2 : 17, and wherein A is a member selected from the group consisting of calcium, the rare earth elements, mixtures of calcium and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Th, Zr, and Hf, and mixtures of a rare earth element and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Th, Zr, and Hf, and where B is a member selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and mixtures thereof, a source of high pressure H2, an inlet duct for flowing said H2 to said container, an outlet duct for flowing H2 out of said container, means for cooling H2 in said outlet duct to below its inversion temperature, throttle means for expanding said cooled H2 to provide said cold, first means for cooling said container, second means for heating said container, and third means for selectively activating said first and second means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 comprising at least two containers as described and switch means for selectively operating said first means for heating one of said containers while operating said second means for cooling the other container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each of said containers contains one of the alloys in the group consisting of LaNi5, La0.8Y0.2Ni5, La0.9Zr0.1Ni5, LaxCe1 xNi5 wherein 0.4< x <1, and La Ni, wherein La is an alloy containing 85 percent by weight of La, 10 percent by weight of Nd, 4 percent by weight of Pr and 1 percent by weight of Ce.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for cooling H2 in the outlet duct comprises at least one counter-flow heat-exchanger cooled by the flow of expanded and cooled H2 in said inlet duct.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
163 words
Apparatus for compressing H2 comprising at least one container having therein an alloy of members A and B in powder form in which the ratio of A : B by weight is from 1 : 3 to 2 : 17, and wherein A is a member selected from the group consisting of calcium, the rare earth elements, mixtures of calcium and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Th, Zr, and Hf, and mixtures of a rare earth element and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Th, Zr, and Hf, and where B is a member selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and mixtures thereof, a source of low pressure H2, an inlet duct for flowing said H2 to said container, an outlet duct for flowing H2 out of said container, first means for cooling said container, second means for heating said container and third means for selectively activating said first and second means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
163 words
Apparatus for compressing H2 comprising at least one container having therein an alloy of members A and B in powder form in which the ratio of A : B by weight is from 1 : 3 to 2 : 17, and wherein A is a member selected from the group consisting of calcium, the rare earth elements, mixtures of calcium and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Th, Zr, and Hf, and mixtures of a rare earth element and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Th, Zr, and Hf, and where B is a member selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and mixtures thereof, a source of low pressure H2, an inlet duct for flowing said H2 to said container, an outlet duct for flowing H2 out of said container, first means for cooling said container, second means for heating said container and third means for selectively activating said first and second means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each of said containers contains one of the alloys in the group consisting of LaNi5, La0.8Y0.2Ni5, La0.9Zr0.1Ni5, LaxCe1 xNi5 wherein 0.4<x<1, and La Ni, wherein La is an alloy containing 85 percent by weight of La, 10 percent by weight of Nd, 4 percent by weight of Pr and 1 percent by weight of Ce.
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 |