US3793846A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Decontamination method and apparatus for cryogenic refrigerators
Assignee: Raytheon Co
•
Filing: 1972-11-28
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Granted: 1974-02-26
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Expires: 1992-11-28
Abstract
Abstract Cryogenic refrigerator system is provided with a contaminant adsorber in the cold region of the refrigerator which can be selectively connected into the cryogen gas circuit in such a position as to receive warm gas passing out of the regenerator to purge the regenerator into the adsorber.
Inventors
- 👤 A Dehne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:43
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/14; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; F02G1/044; F02G1/0445; F02G2250/00; F02G2250/18; F25B2309/00; F25B2309/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus for decontamination of a cryogenic refrigerator in combination with a cryogenic refrigerator, said cryogenic refrigerator comprising: a cold cylinder in which refrigerant gas is expanded to produce refrigeration; a regenerator connected to receive in its cold end cold refrigerant gas from said cold cylinder, said regenerator having a warm refrigerant gas connection on its warm end opposite said cold end; a refrigerated insulated zone, the improvement comprising: an adsorber vessel containing an Adsorbent for adsorbing contaminants from the refrigerant gas at cryogenic temperatures, a control valve serially connected with said adsorber vessel, said adsorber vessel and control valve combination being connected in parallel to said regenerator, said adsorber vessel being positioned within said insulated zone so that, when said control valve is opened, refrigerant gas flowing from the warm end of said regenerator passes into said refrigerated adsorber vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
An apparatus for decontamination of a cryogenic refrigerator in combination with a cryogenic refrigerator, said cryogenic refrigerator comprising: a cold cylinder in which refrigerant gas is expanded to produce refrigeration; a regenerator connected to receive in its cold end cold refrigerant gas from said cold cylinder, said regenerator having a warm refrigerant gas connection on its warm end opposite said cold end; a refrigerated insulated zone, the improvement comprising: an adsorber vessel containing an Adsorbent for adsorbing contaminants from the refrigerant gas at cryogenic temperatures, a control valve serially connected with said adsorber vessel, said adsorber vessel and control valve combination being connected in parallel to said regenerator, said adsorber vessel being positioned within said insulated zone so that, when said control valve is opened, refrigerant gas flowing from the warm end of said regenerator passes into said refrigerated adsorber vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control valve is outside of said insulated zone so that said control valve is substantially unrefrigerated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said control valve is a shut-off valve and further including a checkvalve in series with said adsorber vessel and connected to said regenerator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said checkvalve is connected between the adsorber vessel and the cold end of said regenerator and is positioned so that refrigerant gas flow can proceed from said adsorber vessel toward the cold end of said regenerator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said adsorber vessel is connected to be refrigerated by said cold cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein there is a second checkvalve in series with said shut-off valve connected therebetween, said adsorber vessel and the warm end of said regenerator, said second checkvalve being positioned to pass refrigerant flow from the warm end of said regenerator into said adsorber vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said refrigerator apparatus includes a warm cylinder, said control valve being a three-way valve, said three-way valve being connected to the warm end of said regenerator, being connected to said adsorber vessel and being connected to said warm cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further including a refrigerant gas line connected between said warm cylinder in parallel to said adsorber vessel and to said checkvalve so that, upon switching said three-way valve from a connection between said warm cylinder and the warm end of said regenerator to a connection between said adsorber vessel and the warm end of said regenerator, warm gas flows said warm cylinder through said by-pass line and through said checkvalve into the cold end of said regenerator and thence into said regenerator vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said checkvalve is a first checkvalve and there is a second checkvalve, said second checkvalve being positioned between said adsorber vessel and said first checkvalve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said adsorber vessel is a first adsorber vessel and wherein there is a second adsorber vessel positioned outside of said insulated zone, said second adsorber vessel being connected between the warm end of said regenerator and said first adsorber so that adsorption of contaminants from the refrigerant gas first occurs into the second adsorber vessel at ambient temperature and then the refrigerant gas flows through said first adsorber vessel or adsorption at cryogenic temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said refrigerator apparatus is a Stirling refrigerator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said refrigerator apparatus is a Vuilleumier cycle refrigerator.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
226 words
The method of removing contaminants from the refrigerant gas in a cryogen refrigerator where the refrigerator includes a cold cylinder, a regenerator connected on one end to the cold cylinder to receive cold refrigerant gas from the cold cylinder and thereby define a cold end on the regenerator, the regenerator also having a warm end connected to ambient temperature, an adsorber vessel serially connected with a control valve and connected in parallel to the regenerator and connected to be refrigerated by the cold cylinder, the process comprising the steps of: maintaining the control valve closed so that refrigeration is produced at the cold end of the cold cylinder and the adjacent end of the regenerator is cooled, together with reciprocation of refrIgerant gas through the regenerator with heat exchange between the refrigerant gas and the regenerator resulting in deposition of contaminants from the refrigerant gas in the regenerator, and cooling of the contaminant adsorber vessel; and opening the control valve so that refrigerant gas passes out of the warm end of the regenerator into the adsorber vessel and from the adsorber vessel through the regenerator from the cold into the warm end thereof so that the regenerator has its contaminants flushed out by relatively warm refrigerant gas passing from the cold end to the warm end of the regenerator and then into the contaminant adsorber vessel.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
226 words
The method of removing contaminants from the refrigerant gas in a cryogen refrigerator where the refrigerator includes a cold cylinder, a regenerator connected on one end to the cold cylinder to receive cold refrigerant gas from the cold cylinder and thereby define a cold end on the regenerator, the regenerator also having a warm end connected to ambient temperature, an adsorber vessel serially connected with a control valve and connected in parallel to the regenerator and connected to be refrigerated by the cold cylinder, the process comprising the steps of: maintaining the control valve closed so that refrigeration is produced at the cold end of the cold cylinder and the adjacent end of the regenerator is cooled, together with reciprocation of refrIgerant gas through the regenerator with heat exchange between the refrigerant gas and the regenerator resulting in deposition of contaminants from the refrigerant gas in the regenerator, and cooling of the contaminant adsorber vessel; and opening the control valve so that refrigerant gas passes out of the warm end of the regenerator into the adsorber vessel and from the adsorber vessel through the regenerator from the cold into the warm end thereof so that the regenerator has its contaminants flushed out by relatively warm refrigerant gas passing from the cold end to the warm end of the regenerator and then into the contaminant adsorber vessel.
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) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |