US3827252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of regulation of the frigorific power of a joule-thomson refrigerator and a refrigerator utilizing said method
Assignee: Air Liquide SA
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Filing: 1973-03-19
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Granted: 1974-08-06
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Expires: 1993-03-19
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a method of and apparatus for the regulation of the frigorific power supplied by a refrigerator utilizing the Joule-Thomson expansion of a refrigerant fluid at a temperature below its inversion temperature, in which the flowrate of the expanded refrigerant fluid is automatically regulated in dependence on the frigorific output to be supplied, and is regulated to a value higher than the flow-rate corresponding to the minimum frigorific power to be supplied, under steady operating conditions, by the expansion of said refrigerant fluid, so as to compensate for the thermal losses of said refrigerator under these operating conditions. The refrigerator comprises an expansion device consisting of an expansion orifice, a seating and a needle-valve, one of said two latter elements being fixed and the other movable, and a temperature-responsive detection device forming part of the regulation system and acting on said movable element in dependence on the temperature detected; the regulation may be effected by proportional action or by direct action, in the latter case, the temperature-responsive regulation chamber being constituted by a bellows member containing a charge of heat-expandable fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 P Chovet
- 👤 C Rollin
- 👤 H Galasso
- 👤 R Prost
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:34
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/02; F25B2309/00; F25B2309/02; F25B2309/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
A Joule-Thomson refrigerator for the isenthalpic expansion of a refrigerant fluid at a temperature below the inversion temperature thereof, from a high pressure to a low pressure, comprising: a heat-exchanger including a first passage for said fluid under high pressure, and a second passage for said fluid under low pressure, in heat-exchange relation with one another, an expansion device to adjust the flow rate of the expanded refrigerant fluid, the upstream side of which is in fluid communication with said first passage, said expansion device comprising a seating having an expansion orifice, and a needle valve defining with said expansion orifice an adjustable expansion passage for said refrigerant fluid, one of said seating and said needle valve being movable in a longitudinal direction while the other remains fixed, a reception chamber for said refrigerant fluid under low pressure, in fluid communication with the downstream side of said expansion device and with said second passagE, direct-action regulating means comprising a temperatureresponsive regulation chamber containing a charge of fluid expandable under the effect of temperature, at least partly in heat-exchange relation with at least part of the low-pressure circuit of said refrigerant fluid, a bellows member comprising at least part of a wall of said chamber and extending in said longitudinal direction, one extremity of which is fixed, whereas the other extremity is movable along said longitudinal direction and actuates the movable element of said expansion device in said longitudinal direction, said expandable fluid being at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, helium and neon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
257 words
A Joule-Thomson refrigerator for the isenthalpic expansion of a refrigerant fluid at a temperature below the inversion temperature thereof, from a high pressure to a low pressure, comprising: a heat-exchanger including a first passage for said fluid under high pressure, and a second passage for said fluid under low pressure, in heat-exchange relation with one another, an expansion device to adjust the flow rate of the expanded refrigerant fluid, the upstream side of which is in fluid communication with said first passage, said expansion device comprising a seating having an expansion orifice, and a needle valve defining with said expansion orifice an adjustable expansion passage for said refrigerant fluid, one of said seating and said needle valve being movable in a longitudinal direction while the other remains fixed, a reception chamber for said refrigerant fluid under low pressure, in fluid communication with the downstream side of said expansion device and with said second passagE, direct-action regulating means comprising a temperatureresponsive regulation chamber containing a charge of fluid expandable under the effect of temperature, at least partly in heat-exchange relation with at least part of the low-pressure circuit of said refrigerant fluid, a bellows member comprising at least part of a wall of said chamber and extending in said longitudinal direction, one extremity of which is fixed, whereas the other extremity is movable along said longitudinal direction and actuates the movable element of said expansion device in said longitudinal direction, said expandable fluid being at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, helium and neon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said regulating means and said expansion means adjusts the total expansion section through said expansion device, from said first passage toward said reception chamber, above a minimum expansion section, different from a substantially zero section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein said expansion section is equal to at least 2 percent of the section of said expansion orifice.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
241 words
A Joule-Thomson refrigerator for the isenthalpic expansion of a refrigerant fluid at a temperature below the inversion temperature thereof, from a high pressure to a low pressure, comprising: a heat-exchanger including a first passage for said fluid under high pressure, and a second passage for said fluid under low pressure, in heat-exchange relation with one another, an expansion device to adjust the flow rate of the expanded refrigerant fluid, the upstream side of which is in fluid communication with said first passage, said expansion device comprising a seating having an expansion orifice, and a needle valve defining with said expansion orifice an adjustable expansion passage for said refrigerant fluid, one of said seating and said needle valve being movable in a longitudinal direction while the other remains fixed, a reception chamber for said refrigerant fluid under low pressure, in fluid communication with the downstream side of said expansion device and with said second passage, regulating means comprising a temperature-responsive detection element at least partly in heat-exchange relation with at least part of the low-pressure circuit of said refrigerant fluid, for moving the movable element of said expansion device in said longitudinal direction in response to the temperature detected by said detection element, at least one of said regulating means and said expansion means adjusting the total expansion section through said expansion device, from said first passage toward said reception chamber, above a minimum expansion section, different from a substantially zero section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
241 words
A Joule-Thomson refrigerator for the isenthalpic expansion of a refrigerant fluid at a temperature below the inversion temperature thereof, from a high pressure to a low pressure, comprising: a heat-exchanger including a first passage for said fluid under high pressure, and a second passage for said fluid under low pressure, in heat-exchange relation with one another, an expansion device to adjust the flow rate of the expanded refrigerant fluid, the upstream side of which is in fluid communication with said first passage, said expansion device comprising a seating having an expansion orifice, and a needle valve defining with said expansion orifice an adjustable expansion passage for said refrigerant fluid, one of said seating and said needle valve being movable in a longitudinal direction while the other remains fixed, a reception chamber for said refrigerant fluid under low pressure, in fluid communication with the downstream side of said expansion device and with said second passage, regulating means comprising a temperature-responsive detection element at least partly in heat-exchange relation with at least part of the low-pressure circuit of said refrigerant fluid, for moving the movable element of said expansion device in said longitudinal direction in response to the temperature detected by said detection element, at least one of said regulating means and said expansion means adjusting the total expansion section through said expansion device, from said first passage toward said reception chamber, above a minimum expansion section, different from a substantially zero section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein said expansion section is equal to at least 2 percent of the section of said expansion orifice.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said regulating means and said expansion means adjusts the section of said expansion passage above a substantially zero section, and wherein said expansion device comprises a calibrated leakage passage having a section corresponding to said minimum expansion section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein said calibrated leakage passage is located inside said needle valve of the expansion device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein said calibrated leakage passage is located inside said seating of the expansion device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein said at least one of said regulating means and said expansion means adjusts the section of said expansion passage above said minimum expansion section.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-05 | 1978-02-04 | 1978-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-05 | 1982-02-04 | 1982-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-05 | 1986-02-04 | 1986-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |