US5057490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Low-temperature thermoelectric refrigerating device using current-carrying superconducting mode/nonsuperconducting mode junctions
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1989-10-26
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Granted: 1991-10-15
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Expires: 2009-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A refrigerating device (34 or 46) is formed using a refrigerating unit (10) having a hot end (32) at which heat is transferred to a heat sink (22), a cold end (30) at which heat is transferred from a cooling load (28) to the unit (10), a first junction (14) of a material (16) carrying electrical current in a nonsuperconducting mode to a material (12) carrying electrical current in a superconducting mode nearest the hot end (32), a second junction (18) of a material (12) carrying electrical current in a superconducting mode to a material (20) carrying electrical current in a nonsuperconducting mode nearest the cold end (30), and an electrical current source (24) that forces a flow of electrical current in the direction from the first junction (14) toward the second junction (18). As the electrical current flows, heat is transferred from the cooling load (28) into the cold end (30), and expelled to the heat sink (22) at the hot end (32). Preferably, a number of the refrigerating units (10) are connected electrically in series, to form single stage (34) or multistage (46) refrigerating devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Matthew M. Skertic
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:27
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10N; H10N10/00; H10N10/80; H10N10/85; H10N10/851; H10N10/855; H10N10/8552; F; F25; F25B; F25B21/00; F25B21/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/888; Y10S505/891
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A refrigerating device that produces cooling below a preselected temperature, comprising: a heat sink operable to produce the preselected temperature; a refrigerating unit, including a first piece of a first material that is electrically conducting but not superconducting at the preselected temperature, a second piece of a second material that is superconducting at the preselected temperature, the second piece being electrically connected to the first piece at a first junction, the first piece and the heat sink in the region of the first junction, and a third piece of a third material that is electrically conducting but not superconducting at the preselected temperature, the third piece being electrically connected to the second piece at a second junction, wherein the first material, the second material, and the third material are of the same composition, and the cross sectional areas of the first piece and the third piece are smaller than the cross sectional area of the second piece; and means for causing an electrical current to flow from the first piece, into the second piece, and into the third piece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A refrigerating device that produces cooling below a preselected temperature, comprising: a heat sink operable to produce the preselected temperature; a refrigerating unit, including a first piece of a first material that is electrically conducting but not superconducting at the preselected temperature, a second piece of a second material that is superconducting at the preselected temperature, the second piece being electrically connected to the first piece at a first junction, the first piece and the heat sink in the region of the first junction, and a third piece of a third material that is electrically conducting but not superconducting at the preselected temperature, the third piece being electrically connected to the second piece at a second junction, wherein the first material, the second material, and the third material are of the same composition, and the cross sectional areas of the first piece and the third piece are smaller than the cross sectional area of the second piece; and means for causing an electrical current to flow from the first piece, into the second piece, and into the third piece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The refrigerating device of claim 1, further including a second refrigerating unit having substantially the same construction as the refrigerating unit of claim 1, wherein the second refrigerating unit is electrically connected in series with the refrigerating unit such that the electrical current flows from the third piece of the refrigerating unit to the first piece of the second refrigerating unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The refrigerating device of claim 1, further including a plurality of refrigerating units, each having substantially the same construction as the refrigerating unit of claim 1, wherein all of the refrigerating units are electrically connected in series.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
135 words
A refrigerating device, comprising: a refrigerating unit, including a first piece of a first material that carries current in the nonsuperconducting mode, a second piece of a second material that carries current in the superconducting mode. a third piece of a third material that carries current in the nonsuperconducting mode, a first junction between the first piece of material and the second piece of material, and a second junction between the second piece of material and the third piece of material; heat sink means adjacent and in thermal communication with the first junction for maintaining the second piece of material below its superconducting transition temperature; and electrical current means for causing an electrical current to flow from the first piece of material, through the second piece of material, and into the third piece of material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
135 words
A refrigerating device, comprising: a refrigerating unit, including a first piece of a first material that carries current in the nonsuperconducting mode, a second piece of a second material that carries current in the superconducting mode. a third piece of a third material that carries current in the nonsuperconducting mode, a first junction between the first piece of material and the second piece of material, and a second junction between the second piece of material and the third piece of material; heat sink means adjacent and in thermal communication with the first junction for maintaining the second piece of material below its superconducting transition temperature; and electrical current means for causing an electrical current to flow from the first piece of material, through the second piece of material, and into the third piece of material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The refrigerating device of claim 4, wherein the first material, the second material, and the third material are of the same composition, and the cross sectional areas of the first piece and the third piece are smaller than the cross sectional area of the second piece.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The refrigerating device of claim 4, wherein the first material and the third material are of the same composition, and the second material is of a different composition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The refrigerating device of claim 4, wherein the second piece of material is an n-type superconductor, and the electrical current means causes a current of electrons to flow.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The refrigerating device of claim 4, wherein the second piece of material is an p-type superconductor, and the electrical current means causes a current of holes to flow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The refrigerating device of claim 4, wherein at least one of the nonsuperconductor materials is aluminum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The refrigerating device of claim 4, further including a second refrigerating unit having substantially the same construction as the refrigerating unit of claim 6, wherein the second refrigerating unit is electrically connected in series with the refrigerating unit such that the electrical current flows from the third piece of the refrigerating unit to the first piece of the second refrigerating unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The refrigerating device of claim 4, further including a plurality of refrigerating units, each having substantially the same construction as the refrigerating unit of claim 4, wherein all of the refrigerating units are electrically connected in series.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
151 words
A refrigerating device, comprising: a hot end from which heat is transferred from the device to the external environment; a cold end at which heat is transferred from an external cooling load to the device; at least one refrigerating unit, each such refrigerating unit including a first junction at the hot end, the first junction being formed between a material that can carry an electrical current in a nonsuperconducting mode and a material that can carry an electrical current in a superconducting mode, and a second junction at the cold end, the second junction being formed between a material that can carry electrical current in a superconducting mode and a material that can carry electrical current in a nonsuperconducting mode, the first junction and the second junction being in electrical communication; and means for maintaining each material that can carry an electrical current in a superconducting mode within its superconducting range.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
151 words
A refrigerating device, comprising: a hot end from which heat is transferred from the device to the external environment; a cold end at which heat is transferred from an external cooling load to the device; at least one refrigerating unit, each such refrigerating unit including a first junction at the hot end, the first junction being formed between a material that can carry an electrical current in a nonsuperconducting mode and a material that can carry an electrical current in a superconducting mode, and a second junction at the cold end, the second junction being formed between a material that can carry electrical current in a superconducting mode and a material that can carry electrical current in a nonsuperconducting mode, the first junction and the second junction being in electrical communication; and means for maintaining each material that can carry an electrical current in a superconducting mode within its superconducting range.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The refrigerating device of claim 12, wherein the materials forming the first junction and the materials forming the second junction are all the same material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The refrigerating device of claim 12, wherein one of the materials forming the first junction is of the same composition as one of the materials forming the second junction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The refrigerating device of claim 12, further including an electrical current source that causes an electrical current to flow serially through the first junction and the second junction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The refrigerating device of claim 12, wherein each refrigerating unit is formed as a thin film structure on a substrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The refrigerating device of claim 12, wherein each refrigerating unit is formed as a thin film structure, and a plurality of the refrigerating units are deposited upon a single substrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The refrigerating device of claim 12, further including a second refrigerating unit having substantially the same construction as the refrigerating unit of claim 12, wherein the second refrigerating unit is electrically connected in series with the refrigerating unit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The refrigerating device of claim 12, further including a plurality of refrigerating units, each having substantially the same construction as the refrigerating unit of claim 12, wherein all of the refrigerating units are electrically connected in series.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
162 words
The refrigerating device of claim 12, wherein the refrigerating unit of claim 12 provides a first stage of refrigerating, and further including a second stage of refrigerating having at least one refrigerating unit, each such refrigerating unit including a first junction adjacent the cold end of the first stage, the first junction being formed between a material that can carry current in a nonsuperconducting mode at the temperature of the cold end of the first stage and a material that can carry current in a superconducting mode at the temperature of the cold end of the first stage, and a second junction at a location spaced apart from the cold end of the first age, the second junction being formed between a material that can carry electrical current in a superconducting mode at the temperature of the cold end of the first stage and a material that can carry electrical current in a nonsuperconducting mode at the temperature of the second junction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The refrigerating device of claim 12, wherein at least one of the materials that can carry an electrical current in the nonsuperconducting mode is aluminum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4362023A
Cited
US4493939A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-14 | 1995-04-15 | 1995-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-14 | 1999-04-15 | 1999-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-14 | 2003-04-15 | 2003-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |