US3721101A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for cooling a load
Assignee: Cryogenic Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1971-01-28
•
Granted: 1973-03-20
•
Expires: 1991-01-28
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for cooling a load such as a sample for spectroscopic analysis, an electronic component or a cryopumping surface. A constant source of cryogenic refrigeration is controllably thermally engaged with the load by externally actuated means. That part of the refrigeration system requiring insulation is contained within an evacuatable chamber while the working zone containing the load is normally contained within another separate evacuatable chamber. These chambers may be in controllable fluid communication.
Inventors
- 👤 J Sheppard
- 👤 T Hosmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:11
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D19/00; F25D19/006; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; F02G1/044; F02G1/0445; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/14; F25D3/00; F25D3/10; F02G2250/00; F02G2250/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
An apparatus for providing a working zone in which a refrigeration load can be maintained at a predetermined controllable low temperature in vacuum-insulated surroundings, comprising in combination a. primary fluid-tight housing means incorporating within it a first evacuatable chamber in which said working zone is located; b. cryogenic refrigeration means extending into said primary housing means and being adapted to deliver refrigeration from a first heat station means; c. auxiliary housing means, within said primary housing means, defining around the portion of said refrigeration means which extends into said housing means a second evacuatable chamber; d. second heat station means within said working zone; e. pumping means adapted to evacuate said first evacuatable chamber; f. heat flow path means in fixed thermal contact with said first heat station means of said refrigeration means and adapted to make controllable thermal engagement with said second heat station means thereby to control the temperature of said second heat station means and of a load in thermal contact therewith; and g. actuating means adapted to effect the controlled thermal engagement of said heat flow path means with said second heat station means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
188 words
An apparatus for providing a working zone in which a refrigeration load can be maintained at a predetermined controllable low temperature in vacuum-insulated surroundings, comprising in combination a. primary fluid-tight housing means incorporating within it a first evacuatable chamber in which said working zone is located; b. cryogenic refrigeration means extending into said primary housing means and being adapted to deliver refrigeration from a first heat station means; c. auxiliary housing means, within said primary housing means, defining around the portion of said refrigeration means which extends into said housing means a second evacuatable chamber; d. second heat station means within said working zone; e. pumping means adapted to evacuate said first evacuatable chamber; f. heat flow path means in fixed thermal contact with said first heat station means of said refrigeration means and adapted to make controllable thermal engagement with said second heat station means thereby to control the temperature of said second heat station means and of a load in thermal contact therewith; and g. actuating means adapted to effect the controlled thermal engagement of said heat flow path means with said second heat station means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said primary fluid-tight housing means has window system means positioned so that radiation transmitted therethrough reaches said working zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
a movable plunger within said fluid tight cylinder member and defining with the inner wall of said cylindrical member a narrow annular spacing;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
a movable plunger within said fluid tight cylinder member and defining with the inner wall of said cylindrical member a narrow annular spacing;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
pressurized helium filling the void volume of said cylindrical member; and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
pressurized helium filling the void volume of said cylindrical member; and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said window system means comprises a plurality of window systems and said working zone is adapted to contain a sample in optical alignment with said window systems for spectrographic analysis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cryogenic refrigeration means comprises a mechanical cryogenic refrigerator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
thermal connection means between said first heat station of said refrigerator means and one of said relative thick cylindrical sections of said cylindrical member; and wherein said actuating means comprises
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
thermal connection means between said first heat station of said refrigerator means and one of said relative thick cylindrical sections of said cylindrical member; and wherein said actuating means comprises
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
means to move said plunger within said cylindrical member, the distance between the end of said plunger and the internal surface of said plug being used to control the temperature of said second heat station means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
means to move said plunger within said cylindrical member, the distance between the end of said plunger and the internal surface of said plug being used to control the temperature of said second heat station means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cryogenic refrigeration means comprises means to provide a liquefied cryogen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 including radiation shielding means substantially surrounding said means to provide said liquefied cryogen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein a portion of said primary fluid-tight housing means also comprises at least a portion of said auxiliary housing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including valve-controlled fluid communication means between said first and second evacuatable chambers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said valve-controlled fluid communication means are located external of said primary fluid-tight housing means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first and second evacuatable chambers are isolated by a wall and said valved-controlled fluid communication means comprise an opening in said wall and a valve plug operable within said opening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second heat station means comprises a screw member adapted for engagement with said refrigeration load.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second heat station means comprises a flat surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second heat station means comprises tubing adapted for the circulation of a liquid cryogen therethrough.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pumping means adapted to evacuate said first evacuatable chamber comprises mechanical and cryopumping means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including pumping means adapted to evacuate said second evacuatable chamber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said pUmping means adapted to evacuate said second evacuatable chamber serves also as said pumping means adapted to evacuate said first evacuatable chamber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said pumping means adapted to evacuate said second evacuatable chamber comprises mechanical and cryopumping means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flow path means comprises a flexible copper strip adapted for engagement with and disengagement from said second heat station and said actuating means comprises means to effect such engagement and disengagement.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flow path means comprises a copper strip attached to said first heat station means, a spring support in thermal contact with said copper strip, a helical spring affixed to said spring support, and a copper disk to which said second heat station means is affixed; and said actuating means comprises means to move said spring support whereby a controlled number of the coils of said spring may be brought into contact with said disk.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flow path means comprises a closed tubing adapted for circulation of pressurized helium and pump means to circulate said helium therethrough at a variable rate; and said actuating means comprises means to control the speed of said pump means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said flow path means comprises
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second heat station means comprises a plurality of separate heat stations separately in controllable thermal engagement with said first heat station means.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for providing a working zone in which a refrigeration load can be maintained at a predetermined controllable low temperature in vacuum-insulated surroundings, comprising in combination a. fluid-tight housing means; b. wall means within said housing means defining therein first and second evacuatable chambers; c. refrigeration-load heat station means located within said first evacuatable chamber; d. cryogenic refrigeration means extending into said second evacuatable chamber and having a refrigerator heat station; e. vacuum pumping means adapted to evacuate said first and second evacuatable chambers; f. thermal switch means intersecting said wall means and in fixed thermal contact with said refrigerator heat station and adapted to make controllable thermal engagement with said refrigeration-load heat station means and a load in thermal contact therewith; and g. actuating means adapted to effect the controlled thermal engagement of said thermal switch means with said refrigeration-load heat station means.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for providing a working zone in which a refrigeration load can be maintained at a predetermined controllable low temperature in vacuum-insulated surroundings, comprising in combination a. fluid-tight housing means; b. wall means within said housing means defining therein first and second evacuatable chambers; c. refrigeration-load heat station means located within said first evacuatable chamber; d. cryogenic refrigeration means extending into said second evacuatable chamber and having a refrigerator heat station; e. vacuum pumping means adapted to evacuate said first and second evacuatable chambers; f. thermal switch means intersecting said wall means and in fixed thermal contact with said refrigerator heat station and adapted to make controllable thermal engagement with said refrigeration-load heat station means and a load in thermal contact therewith; and g. actuating means adapted to effect the controlled thermal engagement of said thermal switch means with said refrigeration-load heat station means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said wall means extends across the entIre cross section of said housing means and has associated with it means to extend the heat leak path around said thermal switch means where it intersects said wall means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein said wall means has an opening and a valve plug operable within said opening whereby fluid communication between said evacuatable chambers may be controlled.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said walls means is of the same cross sectional configuration as said housing means, is mounted concentric therewith to define a spacing between it and the internal wall of said housing means and is affixed to said housing on one end across said spacing and has an end member on the other end which is intersected by said thermal switch.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 including valve-controlled fluid conduit means connecting said first and second evacuatable chambers.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 27 wherein said vacuum pumping means comprise mechanical pumping means connected with said second evacuatable chamber and cryopumping means located within said second evacuatable chamber.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 including a refrigeration load in thermal contact with said refrigeration-load heat station means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 29 wherein said refrigeration load is low thermal mass cryopanel means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 29 wherein said refrigeration load is an electronic component.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 29 wherein said refrigeration load is a spectrographic sample.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for cooling a load, comprising in combination a. cryogenic refrigeration means having a refrigerator heat station; b. housing means defining an evacuatable chamber around at least that portion of said cryogenic refrigeration means which requires thermal insulation and providing a thermal barrier between said evacuatable chamber and its surroundings; c. refrigeration-load heat station means external of said evacuatable chamber and adapted for thermal connection to a refrigeration load; d. thermal switch means intersecting said thermal barrier, in fixed thermal contact with said refrigerator heat station and adapted to make controllable thermal engagement with said refrigeration-load heat station means and a load thermally connected thereto; and e. actuating means adapted to effect the controlled thermal engagement of said thermal switch means with said refrigeration-load heat station means.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for cooling a load, comprising in combination a. cryogenic refrigeration means having a refrigerator heat station; b. housing means defining an evacuatable chamber around at least that portion of said cryogenic refrigeration means which requires thermal insulation and providing a thermal barrier between said evacuatable chamber and its surroundings; c. refrigeration-load heat station means external of said evacuatable chamber and adapted for thermal connection to a refrigeration load; d. thermal switch means intersecting said thermal barrier, in fixed thermal contact with said refrigerator heat station and adapted to make controllable thermal engagement with said refrigeration-load heat station means and a load thermally connected thereto; and e. actuating means adapted to effect the controlled thermal engagement of said thermal switch means with said refrigeration-load heat station means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 33 including auxiliary housing means adapted to define an auxiliary evacuatable chamber around said refrigeration-load heat station means and its associated load, said thermal barrier comprising a portion of said auxiliary housing means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 34 including valve-controlled conduit means providing fluid communication between said evacuatable chamber in which said refrigeration means is located and said auxiliary evacuatable chamber.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for maintaining a refrigeration load at a controllable temperature, comprising the steps of a. providing an evacuated working zone around said load; b. maintaining said load in contact with a refrigeratable heat station within said working zone; c. providing a source of refrigeration in an evacuated auxiliary zone maintained separate and distinct from said working zone by a barrier; and d. transferring a controlled amount of refrigeration from said source of refrigeration to said refrigeratable heat station along a heat flow path which is in fixed thermal engagement with said source of refrigeration and which intersects said barrier separating said evacuated working zone from said auxiliary zone.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for maintaining a refrigeration load at a controllable temperature, comprising the steps of a. providing an evacuated working zone around said load; b. maintaining said load in contact with a refrigeratable heat station within said working zone; c. providing a source of refrigeration in an evacuated auxiliary zone maintained separate and distinct from said working zone by a barrier; and d. transferring a controlled amount of refrigeration from said source of refrigeration to said refrigeratable heat station along a heat flow path which is in fixed thermal engagement with said source of refrigeration and which intersects said barrier separating said evacuated working zone from said auxiliary zone.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method in accordance with claim 36 wherein said providing of an evacuated working zone and of an evacuated auxiliary zone comprises in part the cryopumping of residual gases after mechaniCal vacuum pumping on a cryogenically cooled cryopumping surface.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 36 wherein said providing a source of refrigeration comprises cooling a heat station by a cryogenic fluid circulating in a mechanical refrigerator.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 36 wherein said providing a source of refrigeration comprises cooling a heat station by circulating a cryogen fluid in contact therewith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3237419A
Cited
US3364687A
Cited
US3423955A
Cited
US3485054A
Cited
US3371498A
Cited
US3492830A
Cited
US3483709A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-19 | 1976-09-18 | 1977-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-19 | 1980-09-18 | 1981-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-19 | 1984-09-18 | 1985-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |