Patent US4693124A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4693124A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Temperature controlling apparatus for use with pore volume and surface area analyzers
Assignee: Micromeritics Instrument Corp
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Filing: 1986-02-25
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Granted: 1987-09-15
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Expires: 2006-02-25
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for maintaining a constant temperature within a vessel immersed in a liquid by surrounding a portion of the vessel, extending above the surface of the liquid, with a wick. The wick conducts liquid up to a predetermined point on the vessel and maintains the liquid at that point, regardless of changes in the level of the liquid due to evaporation. The wick is encased within a layer of heat insulating or heat conducting material to further aid in maintaining a constant temperature within the vessel. A second embodiment, including alternating layers of heat conducting and heat insulating material, is disclosed for increased temperature control. The disclosed apparatus is particularly useful for maintaining a constant temperature within a vessel attached to a scientific instrument, such as a pore volume and surface area analyzer.
Inventors
- 👤 Graham R. Killip
- 👤 Ronnie W. Camp
- 👤 Clyde Orr, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:34
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L7/00; F; F17; F17C; F17C3/00; F17C3/02; F17C3/08; F17C3/085; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of cooling a sample contained in a vessel, comprising the steps of: immersing said vessel in a container of volatile cooling liquid with a portion of said vessel extending above the surface of said liquid; and conducting said liquid from a location at or below the surface of said liquid in said container along said vessel to a predetermined point along the length of said vessel, said point being above the surface of said liquid, regardless of changes in the level of the surface of said liquid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of cooling a sample contained in a vessel, comprising the steps of: immersing said vessel in a container of volatile cooling liquid with a portion of said vessel extending above the surface of said liquid; and conducting said liquid from a location at or below the surface of said liquid in said container along said vessel to a predetermined point along the length of said vessel, said point being above the surface of said liquid, regardless of changes in the level of the surface of said liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of conducting said liquid along said vessel comprises conducting said liquid by capillary action.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of thermally shielding said liquid being conducted along said vessel from ambient temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said step of shielding said liquid from ambient temperature comprises conducting ambient heat to the surface of said liquid in said container.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for cooling a sample contained in an elongate vessel, comprising: a container of volatile cooling liquid, said vessel being immersed in said liquid and extending above the surface of said liquid; and means for conducting said liquid from a location at or below the surface of said liquid in said container along said vessel to a predetermined point along the length of said vessel, said point being above the surface of said liquid, regardless of changes in the level of the surface of said liquid.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for cooling a sample contained in an elongate vessel, comprising: a container of volatile cooling liquid, said vessel being immersed in said liquid and extending above the surface of said liquid; and means for conducting said liquid from a location at or below the surface of said liquid in said container along said vessel to a predetermined point along the length of said vessel, said point being above the surface of said liquid, regardless of changes in the level of the surface of said liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for conducting said liquid comprises means for conducting said liquid by capillary action.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means for conducting said liquid by capillary action comprises a wick including connected capillary passageways and extending from below the surface of said liquid to said predetermined point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said capillary passageways have an average diameter of about 20 microns.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a thermally insulating layer contacting the outer surface of said wick and extending below the surface of said liquid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The appartus of claim 7, wherein said wick comprises a sleeve surrounding said vessel, and further comprising: an insulating sleeve surrounding the outer surface of said wick; and a heat conducting sleeve surrounding said first insulating sleeve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said insulating sleeve comprises epoxy-filled woven glass filaments.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said heat conducting sleeve comprises a heat conductive metal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said metal comprises copper.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said wick comprises fibrous material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said wick comprises refractory fibers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said wick comprises spun kaolin clay.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said wick comprises glass fibers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said wick comprises cellulose fibers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said wick comprises packed particles.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said wick comprises porous ceramic material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said liquid comprises liquid nitrogen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said wick comprises a material capable of retaining capillary properties upon being cooled to the temperature of liquid nitrogen.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said wick comprises a sleeve surrounding said vessel, and further comprises an outer sleeve of material impervious to said liquid, surrounding said wick.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said outer sleeve comprises a heat insulating material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said outer sleeve comprises epoxy-filled woven glass filaments.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said outer sleeve comprises a refractory material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said wick and sleeve are one with the inner region being porous and the outer surface fused into an impermeable barrier.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said outer sleeve comprises a heat conducting material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said outer sleeve comprises an impervious layer formed of the material of said wick.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said predetermined point is as much as 10 inches above the surface of said liquid.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said liquid comprises liquid nitrogen.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for cooling a sample contained in an elongate vessel comprising: a container of a volatile cooling liquid, said vessel being immersed in said liquid and extending above the surface of said liquid; and conducting means for conducting said liquid from a location at or below the surface of said liquid in said container to a predetermined point along the length of said vessel, said point being above the surface of said liquid, regardless of changes in the level of the surface of said liquid, said conducting means extending, during conduction of said liquid, from a location at or below the surface of said liquid to said point.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for cooling a sample contained in an elongate vessel comprising: a container of a volatile cooling liquid, said vessel being immersed in said liquid and extending above the surface of said liquid; and conducting means for conducting said liquid from a location at or below the surface of said liquid in said container to a predetermined point along the length of said vessel, said point being above the surface of said liquid, regardless of changes in the level of the surface of said liquid, said conducting means extending, during conduction of said liquid, from a location at or below the surface of said liquid to said point.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of cooling a sample contained in a vessel, comprising the steps of: immersing said vessel in a container of a volatile cooling liquid with a portion of said vessel extending above the surface of said liquid; and conducting said liquid from a location at or below the surface of said liquid in said container along said vessel to a predetermined point along the length of said vessel, said point being above the surface of said liquid, regardless of changes in the level of the surface of said liquid, while said container contains at least a predetermined minimum amount of said liquid.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of cooling a sample contained in a vessel, comprising the steps of: immersing said vessel in a container of a volatile cooling liquid with a portion of said vessel extending above the surface of said liquid; and conducting said liquid from a location at or below the surface of said liquid in said container along said vessel to a predetermined point along the length of said vessel, said point being above the surface of said liquid, regardless of changes in the level of the surface of said liquid, while said container contains at least a predetermined minimum amount of said liquid.
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) | 1990-09-14 | 1991-03-16 | 1991-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-09-14 | 1995-03-16 | 1995-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-09-14 | 1999-03-16 | 1999-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |