US4507927A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low-temperature magnetic refrigerator
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
•
Filing: 1983-05-26
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Granted: 1985-04-02
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Expires: 2003-05-26
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure is directed to a low temperature 4 to 20 K. refrigeration apparatus and method utilizing a ring of magnetic material moving through a magnetic field. Heat exchange is accomplished in and out of the magnetic field to appropriately utilize the device to execute Carnot and Stirling cycles.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Barclay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:20
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B21/00; F25B2321/00; F25B2321/002; F25B2321/0021; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/888; Y10S505/889; Y10S505/891
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
An about 4 to about 20 K. refrigeration apparatus comprising: a generally U-shaped housing having a base and two arms, said housing comprising electromagnets on the insides of the tips of the arms, said electromagnets being spaced opposed to one another; a hermetically sealed container, said container comprising a wheel-shaped part and a rotatable driveshaft enclosing drive post shield perpendicular thereto at the center thereof, said wheel-shaped part comprising a rotatable rim portion, said rim portion containing a ring of fluid contactable magnetic material disposed therein, said driveshaft and said ring being substantially frictionlessly rotatable within said container; means for affixing said driveshaft within said drive post shield to said ring of magnetic material; means for rotating said driveshaft and thereby rotating said ring of magnetic material at a selected speed; first means for heat exchange comprising means for contacting a first fluid with a first portion of said ring of magnetic material disposed substantially outside a magnetic field produced by said electromagnets; and second means for heat exchange comprising means for contacting a second fluid with a second portion of said ring of magnetic material disposed inside said magnetic field.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
An about 4 to about 20 K. refrigeration apparatus comprising: a generally U-shaped housing having a base and two arms, said housing comprising electromagnets on the insides of the tips of the arms, said electromagnets being spaced opposed to one another; a hermetically sealed container, said container comprising a wheel-shaped part and a rotatable driveshaft enclosing drive post shield perpendicular thereto at the center thereof, said wheel-shaped part comprising a rotatable rim portion, said rim portion containing a ring of fluid contactable magnetic material disposed therein, said driveshaft and said ring being substantially frictionlessly rotatable within said container; means for affixing said driveshaft within said drive post shield to said ring of magnetic material; means for rotating said driveshaft and thereby rotating said ring of magnetic material at a selected speed; first means for heat exchange comprising means for contacting a first fluid with a first portion of said ring of magnetic material disposed substantially outside a magnetic field produced by said electromagnets; and second means for heat exchange comprising means for contacting a second fluid with a second portion of said ring of magnetic material disposed inside said magnetic field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said driveshaft rotating means comprises means for magnetically driving said driveshaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said driveshaft to ring affixing means comprises a substantially circular plate secured essentially at its center to said driveshaft and secured outwardly therefrom to said ring of magnetic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said magnetic material comprises Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 1 comprising means for operating said first and second heat exchange means to substantially achieve Carnot cycle refrigeration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 1 comprising means for operating said first and second heat exchange means to substantially achieve Stirling cycle refrigeration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said U-shaped housing comprises means for conducting liquid coolant therethrough at superconductive temperatures to cool said housing and thereby said electromagnets therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said second heat exchange means comprises means for containing helium gas and for pumping helium gas to contact a portion of said ring of magnetic material disposed within said magnetic field.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said first heat exchange means comprises means for containing and pumping hydrogen to contact a portion of said ring of magnetic material disposed substantially outside said magnetic field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said first and second heat exchange means comprise first and second means for pumping said fluid substantially radially with respect to said ring of magnetic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 10 wherein said ring of magnetic material is radially porous and substantially circumferentially fluid flow resistant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said ring of magnetic material is porous.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 12 wherein said ring of porous magnetic material is radially segmented to substantially eliminate circumferential fluid flow therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 12 wherein said ring of porous material is radially segmented with aperture containing plates to provide some circumferential fluid flow through said plates.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 12 wherein said ring of porous material is radially segmented with plates smaller in cross sectional area than is said ring of material to provide some circumferential fluid flow past said plates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said ring of magnetic material is substantially rectangular in cross-section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said wheel-shaped container comprises stainless steel.
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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) | 1988-04-01 | 1988-10-01 | 1989-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-04-01 | 1992-10-01 | 1993-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-04-01 | 1996-10-01 | 1997-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |