US4231418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cryogenic regenerator
Assignee: Raytheon Co
•
Filing: 1979-05-07
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Granted: 1980-11-04
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Expires: 1999-05-07
Abstract
Abstract Regenerator for a cryogenic system has lead sphere 58 packing and has grooves 54 and 56 in the regenerator walls to prevent gas bypass. Felt packing 66 between screens 64 and 68 causes continued compression of the regenerator packing as it changes size due to temperature changes. Gas spaces between the regenerator spheres is maintained low and regenerator sphere damage due to high intersphere loading is minimized.
Inventors
- 👤 George P. Lagodmos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:22
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; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/009; Y10S165/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A thermal regenerator comprising: a wall enclosing a regenerator space with an inlet at one end of said wall and an outlet at the other end of said wall to define a flow direction, grooves in said wall, said grooves having a width, said grooves being oriented at an angle with respect to the flow direction; regenerator packing positioned within said regenerator and constrained by said walls, said regenerator packing being formed of discrete members which can exchange heat with gas passing through said regenerator packing, said discrete members having a major dimension at least as small as the width of said grooves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A thermal regenerator comprising: a wall enclosing a regenerator space with an inlet at one end of said wall and an outlet at the other end of said wall to define a flow direction, grooves in said wall, said grooves having a width, said grooves being oriented at an angle with respect to the flow direction; regenerator packing positioned within said regenerator and constrained by said walls, said regenerator packing being formed of discrete members which can exchange heat with gas passing through said regenerator packing, said discrete members having a major dimension at least as small as the width of said grooves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The regenerator of claim 1 wherein said grooves are annular grooves substantially at right angles to the flow direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The regenerator of claim 2 wherein said regenerator packing comprises metallic spheres made principally of lead.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The regenerator of claim 1 wherein there is a wool felt pad adjacent at least one end of said regenerator and a screen is positioned against said wool felt pad so that said regenerator packing is compressed by said wool felt pad and is separated from said wool felt pad by said screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The regenerator of claim 4 wherein there is a wool felt pad and a screen at each end of said regenerator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The regenerator of claim 5 wherein said regenerator packing is metal substantially in the form of spheres and principally made out of lead and said lead screen on said wool felt pad has sufficiently small openings to prevent said spheres from passing said screen and entering said wool felt pad.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The regenerator of claim 4 wherein said regenerator packing is metal substantially in the form of spheres and principally made out of lead and said lead screen on said wool felt pad has sufficiently small openings to prevent said spheres from passing said screen and entering said wool felt pad.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The regenerator of claim 7 wherein said grooves are arranged at substantially right angles with respect to the flow direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The regenerator of claim 8 wherein said grooves are annular.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The cryogenic regenerator of claim 1 wherein said regenerator walls comprise a substantially cylindrical outer wall having an inner surface and a substantially cylindrical inner wall on the same axis and having an outer surface with said regenerator space annularly positioned between said walls, a cryogenic gas piston positioned within said inner wall, with the spaces on opposite ends of said piston being connected at opposite ends of said regenerator so that said regenerator is annular around said piston.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The regenerator of claim 10 wherein there is a wool felt pad adjacent at least one end of said regenerator and a screen is positioned against said wool felt pad so that said regenerator packing is compressed by said wool felt pad and is separated from said wool felt pad by said screen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The regenerator of claim 11 wherein there is a wool felt pad and a screen at each end of said regenerator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The regenerator of claim 12 wherein said regenerator packing is metal substantially in the form of spheres and principally made out of lead and said lead screen on said wool felt pad has sufficiently small openings to prevent said spheres from passing said screen and entering said wool felt pad.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The regenerator of claim 13 wherein said grooves are arranged at substantially right angles with respect to the flow direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
10 words
The regenerator of claim 14 wherein said grooves are annular.
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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) | 1983-11-04 | 1984-05-05 | 1984-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-04 | 1988-05-05 | 1988-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-04 | 1992-05-05 | 1992-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |