Abstract: A component for use in pulse tube cryorefrigerators which integrates the reservoirs (buffer volumes) as well as the housing for the rotary valve and valve plate and drive motor into a convenient, unified assembly. Other components required by the pulse-tube refrigerators, such as the heat sink, orifices, phase shifting valves, connecting tubing, etc., may also be integrated into the buffer volume/valve/motor housing within the teachings of the invention.

Abstract: A regenerator unit arranged for mounting in the flow circuit carrying a refrigerant (helium gas) between stages of a two-stage Gifford-McMahon cryorefrigerator. The unit is housed in a sleeve extending between the expansion chamber of the first stage and the low temperature heat exchanger. A locking mechanism both suspends and seals the regenerator within the sleeve so that the regenerator cannot move either axially or radially and refrigerant cannot bypass the unit. The locking mechanism makes assembling and disassembling the unit in the refrigerator readily simple.