US4846861A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cryogenic refrigerator having a regenerator with primary and secondary flow paths
Assignee: Raytheon Co
•
Filing: 1988-05-06
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Granted: 1989-07-11
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Expires: 2008-05-06
Abstract
Abstract A cryogenic refrigerator is disclosed having a displacer with a regenerator therein. The regenerator opens at one end to a warm volume and at the other end to a cold volume. The opening at the cold volume includes an end hole and a plurality of radial holes. The radial holes serve as secondary passageways should the end hole become blocked with contaminants. The life of the cryogenic refrigerator is thereby greatly enchanced.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Berry
- 👤 Samuel G. Siciliano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:44
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/14; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; F02G1/044; F02G1/0445; F02G1/053; F02G2250/00; F02G2250/18; F25B2309/00; F25B2309/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A cryogenic refrigerator comprising: a tubular member having a cold end; a substantially cylindrical displacer reciprocally mounted within said tubular member and separating said tubular member into a cold volume at said cold end and a warm volume at the other end of said tubular member; said displacer defining a regeneration chamber therein in fluid communication between said warm volume and said cold volume, and further defining a hole in its end facing said cold end and a plurality of radially extending holes in its lateral surface a short distance from said end; and pressure response means for alternately urging said displacer toward the cold and the warm ends of said cylinder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A cryogenic refrigerator comprising: a tubular member having a cold end; a substantially cylindrical displacer reciprocally mounted within said tubular member and separating said tubular member into a cold volume at said cold end and a warm volume at the other end of said tubular member; said displacer defining a regeneration chamber therein in fluid communication between said warm volume and said cold volume, and further defining a hole in its end facing said cold end and a plurality of radially extending holes in its lateral surface a short distance from said end; and pressure response means for alternately urging said displacer toward the cold and the warm ends of said cylinder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional area of said hole in said end is about the same as the total cross-sectional area of said radial holes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 1 wherein said radial holes are equally circumferentially spaced around said displacer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 3 wherein said plurality of passageways includes a plurality of radial holes in the range of four to eight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 4 wherein said plurality of passageways includes one end hole and four radial holes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 1 further comprising a compressor coupled to said warm volume.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 6 wherein said compressor is a rotary compressor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 6 wherein said compressor is a linear compressor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 1 further including a device to be cooled thermally attached to said cold end of said cylinder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
A cryogenic refrigerator, comprising: a fluid-tight housing; a plurality of chambers adapted to be maintained at different temperature levels within said housing; a displacer reciprocally mounted within said housing for varying the volume of at least two of said plurality of chambers; a regenerator located within said displacer connected to said at least two of said plurality of chambers, said regenerator having an axial hole at one end and a plurality of radial holes near said one end; and driving means for reciprocating said displacer such that said refrigerator is operated through a predetermined cycle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
A cryogenic refrigerator, comprising: a fluid-tight housing; a plurality of chambers adapted to be maintained at different temperature levels within said housing; a displacer reciprocally mounted within said housing for varying the volume of at least two of said plurality of chambers; a regenerator located within said displacer connected to said at least two of said plurality of chambers, said regenerator having an axial hole at one end and a plurality of radial holes near said one end; and driving means for reciprocating said displacer such that said refrigerator is operated through a predetermined cycle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 10 wherein said radial holes have a combined cross-sectional area about that of said one axial hole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 11 wherein said plurality of radial holes is in the range of three to eight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 12 wherein said plurality of radial holes is four.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 10 further including a device to be cooled thermally coupled to said fluid- tight housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
A displacer for a cryogenic refrigerator, comprising: an elongated cylindrically shaped member having two ends; a regenerator located within said elongated cylindrically-shaped member and defining an elongated chamber with at least one opening at one end and at least one opening at the other end, and further defining a plurality of radial openings near said other end; and heat transfer means located within the elongated chamber of said regenerator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
A displacer for a cryogenic refrigerator, comprising: an elongated cylindrically shaped member having two ends; a regenerator located within said elongated cylindrically-shaped member and defining an elongated chamber with at least one opening at one end and at least one opening at the other end, and further defining a plurality of radial openings near said other end; and heat transfer means located within the elongated chamber of said regenerator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The displacer defined in claim 15 wherein said heat transfer means is a plurality of adjacently stacked screens.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The displacer defined in claim 15 wherein said heat transfer means includes a plurality of closely packed thermally conductive balls.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The displacer defined in claim 15 wherein said plurality of radial openings is in the range of from about three to eight.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The displacer defined in claim 18 wherein said plurality of radial openings is four.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The displacer defined in claim 18 wherein the cross-sectional area of said end opening at said other end is about the same as the total cross-sectional area of said radial holes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
88 words
A refrigerator comprising: a fluid-tight enclosure having an elongated chamber therein; a displacer located in said elongated chamber dividing it into a cold volume and a warm volume, said displacer having a regenerator therein opening at one end to said warm volume and at the other end to said cold volume, the opening into said cold volume including an end hole and plurality of radial holes; drive means coupled to said displacer for reciprocating said displacer; and means for supplying a fluid under pressure to said warm volume.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
88 words
A refrigerator comprising: a fluid-tight enclosure having an elongated chamber therein; a displacer located in said elongated chamber dividing it into a cold volume and a warm volume, said displacer having a regenerator therein opening at one end to said warm volume and at the other end to said cold volume, the opening into said cold volume including an end hole and plurality of radial holes; drive means coupled to said displacer for reciprocating said displacer; and means for supplying a fluid under pressure to said warm volume.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The refrigerator defined in claim 21 wherein said means for supplying fluid under pressure is a rotary compressor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The refrigerator defined in claim 21 wherein said means for supplying fluid under pressure is a linear compressor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The refrigerator defined in claim 21 further including a device to be refrigerated thermally attached to said fluid-tight enclosure adjacent said cold volume.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
86 words
A cryogenic refrigerator, comprising: a tubular member having a cold end; a piston reciprocally mounted within said enclosure defining a cold volume at said cold end of said tubular member; said piston defining a regenerative chamber therein in fluid communication with said cold volume defined by a hole in its end facing said cold end and a plurality of radially extending holes in its lateral surface a short distance from said end; and means for reciprocating said piston to vary the volume of said cold volume.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
86 words
A cryogenic refrigerator, comprising: a tubular member having a cold end; a piston reciprocally mounted within said enclosure defining a cold volume at said cold end of said tubular member; said piston defining a regenerative chamber therein in fluid communication with said cold volume defined by a hole in its end facing said cold end and a plurality of radially extending holes in its lateral surface a short distance from said end; and means for reciprocating said piston to vary the volume of said cold volume.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 25 wherein the cross-sectional area of said hole in said end is about the same s the total cross-sectional area of said radial holes.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 26 wherein said radial holes are equally circumferentially spaced around said displacer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 25 further comprising a compressor coupled to said warm volume.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 28 wherein said compressor is a rotary compressor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cryogenic refrigerator defined in claim 29 wherein said compressor is a linear compressor.
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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) | 1992-07-10 | 1993-01-09 | 1993-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-10 | 1997-01-09 | 1997-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-10 | 2001-01-09 | 2001-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |