US4953366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustic cryocooler
Assignee: COMMERCE United States, Secretary of
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Filing: 1989-09-26
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Granted: 1990-09-04
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Expires: 2009-09-26
Abstract
Abstract An acoustic cryocooler with no moving parts is formed from a thermoacoustic driver (TAD) driving a pulse tube refrigerator (PTR) through a standing wave tube. Thermoacoustic elements in the TAD are spaced apart a distance effective to accommodate the increased thermal penetration length arising from the relatively low TAD operating frequency in the range of 15-60 Hz. At these low operating frequencies, a long tube is required to support the standing wave. The tube may be coiled to reduce the overall length of the cryocooler. One or two PTR's are located on the standing wave tube adjacent antinodes in the standing wave to be driven by the standing wave pressure oscillations. It is predicted that a heat input of 1000 W at 1000 K will maintian a cooling load of 5 W at 80 K.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory W. Swift
- 👤 Richard A. Martin
- 👤 Ray Radenbaugh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:43
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/14; F25B9/145; F02; F02G; F02G2243/00; F02G2243/30; F02G2243/50; F02G2243/52; F02G2243/54; F25B2309/00; F25B2309/14; F25B2309/1403; F25B2309/1408; F25B2309/1413; F25B2309/1416; F25B2309/1419; F25B2309/1424; F25B2309/1425
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A thermoacoustic cryocooler having no moving parts, comprising: a pulse tube refrigerator including a pulse tube, a first heat exchanger adjacent said pulse tube for inputting heat from a thermal load, and second heat exchanger for removing heat transferred from said first heat exchanger across said pulse tube; said pulse tube being responsive to a fluid driving frequency for moving heat from said first heat exchanger to a higher temperature at said second heat exchanger; a thermoacoustic prime mover for generating a standing acoustic wave at said fluid driving frequency and at a pressure amplitude effective to drive said pulse tube for obtaining a selected temperature at said first heat exchanger; and a standing wave tube supporting said standing wave and defining an antinode adjacent said pulse tube refrigerator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A thermoacoustic cryocooler having no moving parts, comprising: a pulse tube refrigerator including a pulse tube, a first heat exchanger adjacent said pulse tube for inputting heat from a thermal load, and second heat exchanger for removing heat transferred from said first heat exchanger across said pulse tube; said pulse tube being responsive to a fluid driving frequency for moving heat from said first heat exchanger to a higher temperature at said second heat exchanger; a thermoacoustic prime mover for generating a standing acoustic wave at said fluid driving frequency and at a pressure amplitude effective to drive said pulse tube for obtaining a selected temperature at said first heat exchanger; and a standing wave tube supporting said standing wave and defining an antinode adjacent said pulse tube refrigerator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A cryocooler according to claim 1, wherein said pulse tube refrigerator includes a regenerator having surface elements axially aligned within said pulse tube refrigerator and having a heat capacity greater than a heat capacity of said fluid and a thermal conductivity providing a high resistance to axial heat conduction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cryocooler according to claim 2, wherein said pulse tube refrigerator further includes an orificed reservoir for providing a fluid flow in phase with said standing wave.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cryocooler according to claims 1, 2, and 3, wherein said pulse tube refrigerator is located adjacent said antinode of said standing wave that is spaced 1/2 wavelength from said prime mover.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A cryocooler according to claim 4, wherein said standing wave tube is coiled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cryocooler according to claim 5, wherein said standing wave tube has a diameter effective to minimize viscous and acoustic losses in said tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cryocooler according to claim 4, wherein said standing wave tube has a diameter effective to minimize viscous and acoustic losses in said tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cryocooler according to claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein said pulse tube refrigerator is located adjacent said antinode of said standing wave that is adjacent said prime mover.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A cryocooler according to claim 8, wherein said standing wave tube is coiled.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cryocooler according to claim 9, wherein said standing wave tube has a diameter effective to minimize viscous and acoustic losses in said tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cryocooler according to claim 8, wherein said standing wave tube has a diameter effective to minimize viscous and acoustic losses in said tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cryocooler according to any of claims 1-3, wherein said frequency is in the range of 15-60 Hz and said pressure amplitude is in the range of 0.1-0.5 MPa.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
A thermoacoustic cryocooler having no moving parts, comprising: at least one pulse tube refrigerator including a pulse tube, a first heat exchanger adjacent said pulse tube for inputting heat from a thermal load, and a second heat exchanger for removing heat transferred from said first heat exchanger across said pulse tube; said pulse tube being responsive to a fluid driving frequency for moving heat from said first heat exchanger to a higher temperature at said second heat exchanger; two thermoacoustic prime movers for generating standing acoustic waves at said fluid driving frequency and at a pressure amplitude effective to drive said pulse tube for obtaining a selected temperature at said first heat exchanger; and a standing wave tube supporting said standing wave and defining antinodes adjacent said two prime movers and said at least one pulse tube refrigerator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
138 words
A thermoacoustic cryocooler having no moving parts, comprising: at least one pulse tube refrigerator including a pulse tube, a first heat exchanger adjacent said pulse tube for inputting heat from a thermal load, and a second heat exchanger for removing heat transferred from said first heat exchanger across said pulse tube; said pulse tube being responsive to a fluid driving frequency for moving heat from said first heat exchanger to a higher temperature at said second heat exchanger; two thermoacoustic prime movers for generating standing acoustic waves at said fluid driving frequency and at a pressure amplitude effective to drive said pulse tube for obtaining a selected temperature at said first heat exchanger; and a standing wave tube supporting said standing wave and defining antinodes adjacent said two prime movers and said at least one pulse tube refrigerator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A cryocooler according to claim 13, wherein said at least one pulse tube refrigerator includes two pulse tube refrigerators, each of said pulse tube refrigerators being located adjacent a corresponding one of said prime movers and within an antinode of said standing wave.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cryocooler according to claim 14, wherein each said pulse tube refrigerator further includes an orificed reservoir spaced from said regenerator for providing a fluid flow in phase with said standing wave.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cryocooler according to claim 14, wherein said pulse tube refrigerators are connected together through an orifice for controlling fluid flow through said pulse tubes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cryocooler according to claim 13, wherein said two thermoacoustic prime movers are connected by a standing wave tube having a diameter effective to minimize viscous and acoustic losses in said tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cryocooler according to any of claims 13-16 wherein said standing wave tube is coiled.
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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) | 1993-09-03 | 1994-03-05 | 1994-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-03 | 1998-03-05 | 1998-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-03 | 2002-03-05 | 2002-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |