US3823569A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circulation system for low-temperature fluids
Assignee: Linde GmbH
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Filing: 1972-11-13
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1992-11-13
Abstract
Abstract A low-temperature fluid, delivered by a stationary cooling plant to a rotating load, passes to and from the load by way of two coaxial ducts which are thermally shielded from each other and from the outside by vacuum spaces, these ducts and spaces being formed by four jointly rotating coaxially nested tubes. The return duct lies between the inner and the outer tube pair, the latter pair terminating at an outlet between two ball bearings respectively supporting the outer and the inner tube pair; the bearings are located in stationary journal boxes containing annular seals which elastically engage the outer tube of the respective pair, these seals being located in chambers maintained at near-ambient temperature by heat transfer through the metallic wall of the box. Between these journal boxes the tubes are surrounded by an outer jacket forming another vacuum space around them; the seal chamber of each box communicates with one of the fluid-circulating ducts through a narrow annular clearance formed between the outermost rotating tube and an enveloping fixed tube, this clearance being sandwiched between vacuum spaces and long enough to develop a low temperature gradient therealong. The pairs of rotating tubes are interconnected at one end by corrugated expansion joints allowing relative dimensional changes due to temperature variations.
Inventors
- 👤 A Sellmaier
- 👤 A Noppel
- 👤 G Sippel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:23
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K9/00; H02K9/19; H02K9/193; F; F16; F16L; F16L59/00; F16L59/06; F16L59/065; F16L59/14; F16L59/141; F16L59/16; F16L59/18; F16L59/185; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/10; H02K55/00; H02K55/02; H02K55/04; F16C; F16C2361/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E40/00; Y02E40/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A system for supplying a low-temperature fluid from a stationary source to a rotating load, comprising: a set of coaxially nested tubes including an inner first tube and a surrounding second tube, said first tube forming a feed channel for the delivery of said fluid to the load, said second tube forming an inner thermally insulating space around said first tube; a stationary structure including a jacket surrounding said tubes and a thermally conductive wall forming a chambeR around a portion of said second tube, said jacket adjoining said wall and forming an outer thermally insulating space around said second tube; antifriction bearing in said chamber supporting said tubes for rotation with the load relative to said structure, said bearing means engaging said portion of said second tube; elastomeric annular seal means in said chamber peripherally engaging said second tube and defining with said bearing means an annular compartment closed by said wall against the atmosphere; and stationary tube means in said outer space separated with narrow clearance from said second tube, said clearance communicating with said feed channel at a location remote from said chamber and further communicating with said chamber on a side of said seal means opposite said bearing means for holding a substantially stationary body of fluid establishing a temperature gradient from said compartment to said feed channel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
222 words
A system for supplying a low-temperature fluid from a stationary source to a rotating load, comprising: a set of coaxially nested tubes including an inner first tube and a surrounding second tube, said first tube forming a feed channel for the delivery of said fluid to the load, said second tube forming an inner thermally insulating space around said first tube; a stationary structure including a jacket surrounding said tubes and a thermally conductive wall forming a chambeR around a portion of said second tube, said jacket adjoining said wall and forming an outer thermally insulating space around said second tube; antifriction bearing in said chamber supporting said tubes for rotation with the load relative to said structure, said bearing means engaging said portion of said second tube; elastomeric annular seal means in said chamber peripherally engaging said second tube and defining with said bearing means an annular compartment closed by said wall against the atmosphere; and stationary tube means in said outer space separated with narrow clearance from said second tube, said clearance communicating with said feed channel at a location remote from said chamber and further communicating with said chamber on a side of said seal means opposite said bearing means for holding a substantially stationary body of fluid establishing a temperature gradient from said compartment to said feed channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer space is evacuated, further comprising getter means in said outer space supported by said tube means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system defined in claim 1 wherein said clearance has a width on the order of one-hundredth the diameter of said first tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein the length of said clearance from said chamber to said location substantially exceeds said inner diameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
212 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said set of tubes includes a third tube surrounding part of said second tube and defining therewith a discharge channel for returning spent fluid from said load, and a fourth tube forming another thermally insulating space around said third tube, said structure including an extension of said jacket spacedly surrounding said fourth tube and another thermally conductive wall adjoining said extension of said jacket and forming a second chamber around a portion of said second tube, further comprising second antifriction bearing means engaging said portion of said fourth tube in said second chamber, said discharge channel terminating at an outlet in said structure between said jacket and said extension thereof, part of said stationary tube means defining with said fourth tube a narrow second clearance open to said second chamber and communicating with said discharge channel at said outlet, and second elastomeric annular seal means in said second chamber peripherally engaging said fourth tube at a location spaced from said second bearing means, said second clearance communicating with said second chamber on a side of said second seal means remote from said second bearing means for holding a substantially stationary body of fluid establishing a temperature gradient from said second chamber to said outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said clearances has width on the order of one-hundredth the diameter of said first tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said clearances has an effective length substantially exceeding said inner diameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said second and fourth tubes are provided with polished surface positions of increased thickness in said chambers engaged by the seal means thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said first and second tubes and said third and fourth tubes are interconnected by respective expansion joints at their ends remote from said load and are fixedly interconnected at their ends proximal to said load.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system as defined in claim 9 wherein said expansion joints comprise corrugated sleeves at the remote ends of said first and third tubes enveloped by and secured to said second and fourth tubes, respectively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3626717A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |