US5214922A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-expander cryogenic cooler
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1991-10-24
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Granted: 1993-06-01
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Expires: 2011-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A cryogenic cooler 100 for cooling a plurality of detector arrays 106 having a single compressor 102 for reciprocating a cooling gas within the cryogenic cooler. A primary transfer line 108 is connected to the compressor for transferring the cooling gas. A reducing coupler 112 is connected to the primary transfer line for distributing the cooling gas between the primary transfer line and a plurality of equally sized secondary transfer lines 118. Each of the secondary transfer lines are connected to one of a plurality of modified expander elements 104. Each of the expander elements are in thermal communication with one of the plurality of detector arrays for cooling that one detector array as the gas is reciprocated within the cooler. In a specific implementation, the pressure wave of the cooling gas during the compression cycle causes the expander elements to cycle a displacer piston 130 to compress the gas at the cold end volume 144, thus allowing a screen mesh 142 in a regenerator 134 to absorb the heat caused by gas compression in a constant volume. During the expansion cycle, the regenerator 134 is cycled in the opposite direction expanding and cooling the gas at the cold. The regenerator screen mesh permits the heat of compression to be dissipated while storing the cooling effect at the cold tip 122 for cooling the detector array.
Inventors
- 👤 John J. Dopazo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:43
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A cryogenic cooler for use in cooling a plurality of detector arrays comprising: means for reciprocating a cooling gas within said cryogenic cooler; primary conduit means in mechanical communication with said reciprocating means for transferring said cooling gas; means for distributing said cooling gas between said primary conduit means and secondary conduit means, said distributing means being in mechanical communication with said primary conduit means, and said secondary conduit means comprising a plurality of secondary gas transfer lines, each of said secondary gas transfer lines being equally sized and having equivalent lengths and inside diameters; and a plurality of expander elements for cooling said plurality of detector arrays, each of said plurality of expander elements being connected to one of said secondary gas transfer lines and in thermal communication with one of said plurality of detector arrays for cooling said one detector array as said cooling gas is reciprocated within said cryogenic cooler.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A cryogenic cooler for use in cooling a plurality of detector arrays comprising: means for reciprocating a cooling gas within said cryogenic cooler; primary conduit means in mechanical communication with said reciprocating means for transferring said cooling gas; means for distributing said cooling gas between said primary conduit means and secondary conduit means, said distributing means being in mechanical communication with said primary conduit means, and said secondary conduit means comprising a plurality of secondary gas transfer lines, each of said secondary gas transfer lines being equally sized and having equivalent lengths and inside diameters; and a plurality of expander elements for cooling said plurality of detector arrays, each of said plurality of expander elements being connected to one of said secondary gas transfer lines and in thermal communication with one of said plurality of detector arrays for cooling said one detector array as said cooling gas is reciprocated within said cryogenic cooler.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 1 wherein said reciprocating means is a compressor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 1 wherein said plurality of detector arrays includes an infrared detector array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 1 wherein said cooling gas is helium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 1 wherein said primary conduit means is a primary gas transfer line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 1 wherein said distributing means comprises a gas reducing coupler.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of expander elements further includes a plunger assembly and a displacer piston wherein said plunger assembly and said displacer piston are arranged to extend the stroke of said displacer piston for increasing the cooling capacity of each of said expander elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 1 wherein said plurality of expander elements each comprise a plunger assembly for operating a displacer piston in a reciprocating manner.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 8 wherein said plurality of expander elements each comprise a regenerator positioned within said displacer piston for removing heat from a terminal end of each of said expander elements, said terminal end being in thermal communication with said one detector array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 9 wherein said regenerator further includes a porous matrix of screen mesh, wherein heat is transferred between said porous matrix of screen mesh and said cooling gas reciprocated within said cryogenic cooler.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
128 words
A cryogenic cooler for use in cooling a plurality of detector arrays comprising: a compressor for reciprocating a cooling gas within said cryogenic cooler; a primary transfer line in mechanical communication with said compressor for transferring said cooling gas; a reducing coupler in mechanical communication with said primary transfer line for distributing said cooling gas between said primary transfer line and a plurality of equally sized secondary transfer lines; and a plurality of expander elements for cooling said plurality of detector arrays, each of said plurality of expander elements being connected to one of said equally sized secondary transfer lines and in thermal communication with one of said plurality of detector arrays for cooling said one detector array as said cooling gas is reciprocated within said cryogenic cooler.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
128 words
A cryogenic cooler for use in cooling a plurality of detector arrays comprising: a compressor for reciprocating a cooling gas within said cryogenic cooler; a primary transfer line in mechanical communication with said compressor for transferring said cooling gas; a reducing coupler in mechanical communication with said primary transfer line for distributing said cooling gas between said primary transfer line and a plurality of equally sized secondary transfer lines; and a plurality of expander elements for cooling said plurality of detector arrays, each of said plurality of expander elements being connected to one of said equally sized secondary transfer lines and in thermal communication with one of said plurality of detector arrays for cooling said one detector array as said cooling gas is reciprocated within said cryogenic cooler.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 11 wherein said plurality of detector arrays includes infrared detector arrays.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 11 wherein said cooling gas is helium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 11 wherein said plurality of expander elements each comprise a plunger assembly for operating a displacer piston in a reciprocating manner.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 14 wherein said plurality of expander elements each comprise a regenerator positioned within said displacer piston for removing heat from a terminal end of each of said expander elements, said terminal end being in thermal communication with said one detector array.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 15 wherein said regenerator further includes a porous matrix of screen mesh, wherein heat is transferred between said porous matrix of screen mesh and said cooling gas reciprocated within said cryogenic cooler.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The cryogenic cooler of claim 11 wherein each of said plurality of expander elements further includes a plunger assembly and a displacer piston wherein said plunger assembly and said displacer piston are arranged to extend the stroke of said displacer piston for increasing the cooling capacity of each of said expander elements.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for cooling a plurality of detector arrays employing a single cryogenic cooler, said method comprising the steps of: reciprocating a cooling gas within said cryogenic cooler with a single compressor; transferring said cooling gas within said single cryogenic cooler through a primary transfer line in communication with said single compressor; distributing said cooling gas between said primary transfer line and a plurality of equally sized secondary transfer lines through a reducing coupler; and cooling said plurality of detector arrays with a plurality of expander elements, each of said plurality of expander elements being connected to one of said plurality of equally sized secondary transfer lines and in thermal communication with one of said plurality of detector arrays for cooling said one detector array as said cooling gas is reciprocated within said single cryogenic cooler.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for cooling a plurality of detector arrays employing a single cryogenic cooler, said method comprising the steps of: reciprocating a cooling gas within said cryogenic cooler with a single compressor; transferring said cooling gas within said single cryogenic cooler through a primary transfer line in communication with said single compressor; distributing said cooling gas between said primary transfer line and a plurality of equally sized secondary transfer lines through a reducing coupler; and cooling said plurality of detector arrays with a plurality of expander elements, each of said plurality of expander elements being connected to one of said plurality of equally sized secondary transfer lines and in thermal communication with one of said plurality of detector arrays for cooling said one detector array as said cooling gas is reciprocated within said single cryogenic cooler.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method for cooling a plurality of detector arrays of claim 10 further including the step of arranging a plunger assembly and a displacer piston within each of said plurality of expander elements to extend the stroke of said displacer piston for increasing the cooling capacity of each of said expander elements.
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) | 1996-05-31 | 1996-11-30 | 1997-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-31 | 2000-11-30 | 2001-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-31 | 2004-11-30 | 2005-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |