US4475346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refrigeration system with linear motor trimming of displacer movement
Assignee: Azenta Inc
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Filing: 1982-12-06
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Granted: 1984-10-09
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Expires: 2002-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A split Stirling refrigerator includes a pneumatically driven displacer, the displacer is driven substantially through an entire stroke by the pressure differential across a piston element extending from the displacer. A small linear trimming motor is provided to assure proper phasing of the displacer movement with the refrigerator pressure wave, to prevent overstroke, and to assure complete stroke of the displacer.
Inventors
- 👤 Neils O. Young
- 👤 Robert Henderson
- 👤 Peter J. Kerney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:55
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/14; F01; F01B; F01B11/00; F01B11/02; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; F02G1/0435; F02G1/044; F02G1/0445; F02G1/053; F02G1/0535; F02G2250/00; F02G2250/18; F25B2309/00; F25B2309/001; F25B2309/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A refrigerator having a gas displacer which reciprocates in a housing to displace gas in a working volume of gas through a regenerator, the fluid pressure in the working volume varying between maximum and minimum pressures, the refrigerator further comprising: a spring volume of gas having a fluid pressure intermediate the maximum and minimum pressures in the working volume; a piston element extending axially from the displacer into the spring volume, the cross sectional areas of the piston element and the displacer being such that the pressure differential across the piston element, between the working volume and the spring volume, drives the displacer through a substantially full stroke, substantially retarded relative to the fluid pressure in the working volume, in each direction; and electrically powered linear motor drive means for driving the displacer in each of two directions to trim the movement of the displacer resulting from the pressure differential across the piston the load handling capability of the linear motor drive means being substantially less than the load of the driven displacer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A refrigerator having a gas displacer which reciprocates in a housing to displace gas in a working volume of gas through a regenerator, the fluid pressure in the working volume varying between maximum and minimum pressures, the refrigerator further comprising: a spring volume of gas having a fluid pressure intermediate the maximum and minimum pressures in the working volume; a piston element extending axially from the displacer into the spring volume, the cross sectional areas of the piston element and the displacer being such that the pressure differential across the piston element, between the working volume and the spring volume, drives the displacer through a substantially full stroke, substantially retarded relative to the fluid pressure in the working volume, in each direction; and electrically powered linear motor drive means for driving the displacer in each of two directions to trim the movement of the displacer resulting from the pressure differential across the piston the load handling capability of the linear motor drive means being substantially less than the load of the driven displacer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A refrigerator as claimed in claim 1 comprising sensor means for sensing position of the displacer, wherein the electrically powered linear drive means is responsive to the sensed position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A refrigerator as claimed in claim 2 wherein the electrically powered linear drive means is energized to assure a full stroke of the displacer, to prevent overstroke of the displacer and to assure a proper phase relationship between the displacer and the working fluid pressure waves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A refrigerator as claimed in claim 2 wherein the electrically powered linear drive means is energized in response to the direction of movement signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A refrigerator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrically powered linear drive means is energized to assure full stroke of the displacer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A refrigerator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrically powered linear drive means is energized to prevent overstroke of the displacer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A refrigerator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrically powered linear drive means is energized to assure proper phasing of the displacer relative to the working fluid pressure wave.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, that refrigerator being a split Stirling refrigerator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
177 words
A refrigerator having a gas displacer which reciprocates in a housing to displace gas in a working volume of gas through a regenerator, the fluid pressure in the working volume varying between maximum and minimum pressures, the refrigerator further comprising: a spring volume of gas having a fluid pressure intermediate the maximum and minimum pressures in the working volume; a piston element extending axially from the displacer into the spring volume, the cross sectional area of the piston element being such that the pressure differential across the piston element, between the working volume and the spring volume, drives the displacer element through a substantially full stroke in each direction; sensor means for sensing the axial position of the displacer; and electrically powered linear drive means responsive to the sensor means for driving the displacer in each of two directions to trim phasing and amplitude of the movement of the displacer resulting from the pressure differential across the piston the load handling capability of the linear drive means being substantially less than the load of the driven displacer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
177 words
A refrigerator having a gas displacer which reciprocates in a housing to displace gas in a working volume of gas through a regenerator, the fluid pressure in the working volume varying between maximum and minimum pressures, the refrigerator further comprising: a spring volume of gas having a fluid pressure intermediate the maximum and minimum pressures in the working volume; a piston element extending axially from the displacer into the spring volume, the cross sectional area of the piston element being such that the pressure differential across the piston element, between the working volume and the spring volume, drives the displacer element through a substantially full stroke in each direction; sensor means for sensing the axial position of the displacer; and electrically powered linear drive means responsive to the sensor means for driving the displacer in each of two directions to trim phasing and amplitude of the movement of the displacer resulting from the pressure differential across the piston the load handling capability of the linear drive means being substantially less than the load of the driven displacer.
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) | 1987-10-09 | 1988-04-09 | 1988-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-09 | 1992-04-09 | 1992-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-09 | 1996-04-09 | 1996-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |