US4300360A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Small-size hermetic helium 3 refrigeration stage
Assignee: Bpifrance Financement SA
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Filing: 1980-02-19
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Granted: 1981-11-17
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Expires: 2000-02-19
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a small-size hermetic refrigeration stage containing helium 3 and easily incorporated in a conventional helium 4 metal cryostat. The stage consists essentially of a metallic enclosure containing a certain volume of helium 3 and having a first receptacle constituting the pumping chamber and consisting a mass of an adsorbing body for the helium 3 at a very low temperature, a second receptacle constituting a condenser for the cooled helium 3 and a duct. The stage of the invention is particularly suited for maintaining the sensitive element of an infrared detector at a temperature of less than 1° K.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald Chanin
- 👤 Jean-Pierre Torre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:26
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/10; F17; F17C; F17C3/00; F17C3/02; F17C3/08; F17C3/085; F25B; F25B17/00; F25B17/08; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/016; F17C2221/017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A helium 3 cyrostat, comprising a fluid-tight metallic enclosure containing a charge of helium 3, at a pressure which is high at the ambient temperature, said enclosure including two receptacles and a duct of very low thermal conductivity communicatively connecting said receptacles to each other; a mass of a body able to adsorb the entire volume of helium 3 contained in the enclosure, said mass being provided in one of said receptacles; means for heating said mass to a temperature at which the desorption of helium 3 in said one receptacle is substantially complete with attendant condensation of helium 3 in the other of said receptacles; a helium 4 cooler having a wall; and means for intermittently establishing thermal contact between said receptacles and said wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A helium 3 cyrostat, comprising a fluid-tight metallic enclosure containing a charge of helium 3, at a pressure which is high at the ambient temperature, said enclosure including two receptacles and a duct of very low thermal conductivity communicatively connecting said receptacles to each other; a mass of a body able to adsorb the entire volume of helium 3 contained in the enclosure, said mass being provided in one of said receptacles; means for heating said mass to a temperature at which the desorption of helium 3 in said one receptacle is substantially complete with attendant condensation of helium 3 in the other of said receptacles; a helium 4 cooler having a wall; and means for intermittently establishing thermal contact between said receptacles and said wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The helium 3 cryostat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body consists of active charcoal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The helium 3 cryostat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receptacles consist of electrolytic copper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The helium 3 cryostat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said duct consists of a metallic material selected from the group consisting of iron, chrome and nickel alloys and stainless steel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The helium 3 cryostat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for establishing thermal contact between the other of said receptacles and said cooler is a substance whose thermal conductivity increases rapidly at temperatures between 0.3° K. and the temperature of said cooler.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The helium 3 cryostat as claimed in claim 5, wherein said substance is beryllium oxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The helium 3 cryostat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for establishing thermal contact between said cooler and said one receptacle is a copper wire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The helium 3 cryostat as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for establishing thermal contact between said cooler and at least one of said receptacles comprises a controlled heat switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The helium 3 cryostat as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for retaining said mass in position in said one receptacle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The helium 3 cryostat as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for retaining the liquid helium 3 in the other of said receptacles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The helium 3 cryostat as claimed in claim 10, wherein said retaining means comprises a metal sponge.
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) | 1984-11-16 | 1985-05-18 | 1985-11-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-11-16 | 1989-05-18 | 1989-11-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-11-16 | 1993-05-18 | 1993-11-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |