US4712388A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cryostat cooling system
Assignee: Control Data Corp
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Filing: 1987-01-07
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Granted: 1987-12-15
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Expires: 2007-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A cryostat cooling system cools the central processor (CP) circuit boards of a computer to enhance the performance of the electronic components of the central processor. The cryostat includes a pair of concentrically positioned circular cylindrical shells. The inner shell is suspended from the outer shell by a thin (small cross-section) thermal isolation support ring. A vacuum chamber is formed between the inner and the outer shells. The top of the inner shell is covered by an inner shell top plate having a pair of openings through which the CP boards are inserted. A pair of containment vessels are mounted below the inner shell top plate to receive the CP boards. An inlet supply tube is connected to the containment vessel to supply liquid nitrogen. Overflow vents permit excess liquid nitrogen and nitrogen gas to flow from the containment vessels into the interior of the inner shell. A drain tube is connected to the inner shell to remove and recirculate the gaseous and liquid nitrogen from the interior of the inner shell. Each CP board is connected to an associated central processor memory board by a connector block which seals the opening while permitting the flow of signals between the central processor memory and the central processor.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel C. Sullivan
- 👤 Earl A. Mazorol, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:40
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/20; H05K7/2029; H05K7/20372; F; F17; F17C; F17C3/00; F17C3/02; F17C3/08; F17C3/085; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/01; F17C2221/014; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/05; F17C2270/0518; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/884; Y10S505/885
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A cryostat comprising: an outer shell having a side wall and a closed bottom; an inner shell positioned within the outer shell, the inner shell having a side wall, a closed botton and an open top; means for connecting the inner and outer shells to define a vacuum chamber therebetween; an inner shell top plate covering the open top end of the inner shell, the inner shell top plate having a first opening therein; a first containment vessel mounted below the inner shell top plate and within an interior of the inner shell for receiving a first device to be cooled; supply means connected to the first containment vessel for supplying liquid cryogenic coolant to the first containment vessel; and means for suspending the device in the first containment vessel while covering the first opening and while providing transmission of signals to and from the first device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A cryostat comprising: an outer shell having a side wall and a closed bottom; an inner shell positioned within the outer shell, the inner shell having a side wall, a closed botton and an open top; means for connecting the inner and outer shells to define a vacuum chamber therebetween; an inner shell top plate covering the open top end of the inner shell, the inner shell top plate having a first opening therein; a first containment vessel mounted below the inner shell top plate and within an interior of the inner shell for receiving a first device to be cooled; supply means connected to the first containment vessel for supplying liquid cryogenic coolant to the first containment vessel; and means for suspending the device in the first containment vessel while covering the first opening and while providing transmission of signals to and from the first device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cryostat of claim 1 wherein the outer shell and the inner shell are cylinders are of generally circular cross-section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cryostat of claim 2 wherein the outer shell and inner shell are essentially concentrically positioned with the inner shell inside of the outer shell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cryostat of claim 3 wherein the containment vessel is of generally rectangular cross-section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The cryostat of claim 4 wherein the device to be cooled is a circuit board having first and second generally parallel major surfaces, and wherein the first containment vessel has first and second side walls which are generally parallel to the first and second major surfaces of the circuit board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cryostat of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting is a thermal isolation ring which extends between the outer shell and the inner shell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cryostat of claim 6 wherein the thermal isolation ring is connected at its upper end to the outer shell and is connected at its lower end to the inner shell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The cryostat of claim 1 and further comprising: an outer shell top plate mounted on the outer shell and covering a top end of the outer shell, the outer shell top plate having a first opening positioned over the first opening in the inner shell top plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The cryostat of claim 8 and further comprising: means for defining a cavity between the first opening of the outer shell top plate and the first opening of the inner shell top plate for receiving the means for suspending the device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
8 words
The cryostat of claim 9 and further comprising:
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
thermal insulation means positioned between the outer shell top plate and the inner shell top plate and generally surrounding the cavity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
thermal insulation means positioned between the outer shell top plate and the inner shell top plate and generally surrounding the cavity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The cryostat of claim 1 wherein the means for suspending comprises: a cover; means extending through the cover for providing transmission of signals to and from the device; and means for attaching the cover to the inner shell top plate to cover the first opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The cryostat of claim 11 wherein the means for mounting comprises a plurality of bolts, each bolt having an upper end with a head, a lower end with a threaded shank and a thermally insulating sleeve connecting the upper end and the lower end.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The cryostat of claim 11 wherein the device to be cooled is a circuit board, and wherein the means for providing transmission of signals is a seal board which extends through and is sealed to the cover, and is connected at its lower end to an upper end of the circuit board.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cryostat of claim 1 wherein the supply means comprises: an inlet coupling exposed at an exterior of cryostat; and means extending from the inlet coupling through the inner shell to the first containment vessel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cryostat of claim 14 and further comprising: a pant leg surrounding and sealed to the inlet coupling at a first end and connected at a second end to the side wall of the outer shell.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
The cryostat of claim 1 and further comprising: overflow vent means for providing a passage for the coolant from the first containment vessel to the interior of the inner shell; and drain means connected to the inner shell to remove coolant from within the interior of the inner chamber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
105 words
The cryostat of claim 1 and further comprising: a second opening in the inner shell top plate generally parallel to the first opening; a second containment vessel mounted below the inner shell top plate and within the interior of the inner shell for receiving a second device to be cooled; wherein the supply means is connected to the second containment vessel for supplying liquid cryogenic coolant to the second containment vessel; and second mounting means for suspending the second device to be cooled in the second containment chamber while covering the second opening and while providing transmission of signals to and from the second device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
153 words
A cryogencially cooled computer system comprising: a central processor circuit board having a plurality of integrated circuits mounted thereon which form a computer central processor; a central processor memory having a plurality of memory elements which are associated with the central processor; a cryostat having a containment vessel for receiving the central processor circuit board and having inlet supply means for supplying liquid cryogenic collant to the containment vessel to cool the central processor circuit board to a cryogenic temperature; and mounting means connected to the central processor circuit board and the central processor memory for suspending the central processor circuit board within the containment vessel, the mounting means including means for sealing the containment vessel from the exterior of the cryostat, means for providing transmission of signals between the central processor circuit board and the central processor memory, and power feed-through means for providing electrical power to the central processor circuit board.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
153 words
A cryogencially cooled computer system comprising: a central processor circuit board having a plurality of integrated circuits mounted thereon which form a computer central processor; a central processor memory having a plurality of memory elements which are associated with the central processor; a cryostat having a containment vessel for receiving the central processor circuit board and having inlet supply means for supplying liquid cryogenic collant to the containment vessel to cool the central processor circuit board to a cryogenic temperature; and mounting means connected to the central processor circuit board and the central processor memory for suspending the central processor circuit board within the containment vessel, the mounting means including means for sealing the containment vessel from the exterior of the cryostat, means for providing transmission of signals between the central processor circuit board and the central processor memory, and power feed-through means for providing electrical power to the central processor circuit board.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention of claim 18 wherein the cryostat includes: an outer shell; an inner shell positioned within the outer shell; means for connecting the inner and outer shells to define a vacuum chamber therebetween; and wherein the containment vessel is mounted within an interior of the inner shell.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 19 and further comprising: supply means connected to the containment vessel for supplying liquid cryogenic coolant to the containment vessel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 20 and further comprising: overlow vent means for providing a passage for the coolant from the containment vessel to the interior of the inner shell.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 20 and further comprising: drain means connected to the inner shell to remove coolant from within the interior of the inner chamber.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 19 wherein the outer shell and the inner shell are cylinders of generally circular cross-section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 23 wherein the outer shell and inner shell are essentially concentrically positioned with the inner shell inside of the outer shell.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 24 wherein the containment vessel is of generally rectangular cross-section.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention of claim 19 wherein the means for connecting is a thermal isolation ring which is connected at its upper end to the outer shell and is connected at its lower end to the inner shell.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 18 wherein the integrated circuits, mounted on the central processor circuit board are CMOS integrated circuits.
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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) | 1990-12-14 | 1991-06-15 | 1991-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-12-14 | 1995-06-15 | 1995-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-12-14 | 1999-06-15 | 1999-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |