Abstract: An expander unit of a cryogenic refrigerator device includes a moving assembly with a porous regenerative heat exchanger configured to move back and forth along a longitudinal axis. A magnetic spring assembly includes a stationary magnetic assembly fixed to the cold finger base that includes one or more magnetic rings fixedly arranged about a bore. A movable magnetic assembly includes one or more movable magnetic rings fixed to the moving assembly, An outer lateral dimension of each of the movable magnetic rings is less than an inner lateral dimension of the bore. The stationary magnetic assembly and the movable magnetic assembly are configured such that, when the moving assembly is displaced along the longitudinal axis from an equilibrium position, attractive and repulsive forces between the movable magnetic assembly and the stationary magnetic assembly yield a restoring force that is directed to restore the moving assembly to the equilibrium position.

Abstract: An expander unit of a cryogenic refrigerator device includes a moving assembly with a porous regenerative heat exchanger configured to move back and forth along a longitudinal axis. A magnetic spring assembly includes a stationary magnetic assembly fixed to the cold finger base that includes one or more magnetic rings fixedly arranged about a bore. A movable magnetic assembly includes one or more movable magnetic rings fixed to the moving assembly. An outer lateral dimension of each of the movable magnetic rings is less than an inner lateral dimension of the bore. The stationary magnetic assembly and the movable magnetic assembly are configured such that, when the moving assembly is displaced along the longitudinal axis from an equilibrium position, attractive and repulsive forces between the movable magnetic assembly and the stationary magnetic assembly yield a restoring force that is directed to restore the moving assembly to the equilibrium position.

Abstract: A compressor unit of a refrigeration device includes a compression chamber. A piston is configured to be moved back and forth along an axis to alternately compress and decompress a gas in the chamber. An electromagnetic actuator is configured to drive the piston and includes a stator assembly with a driving coil that is coaxial with the axis and two permanent ring magnets that are radially magnetized identically to one another in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis. The ring magnets are located on opposite sides of the driving coil along the axis. A ferromagnetic shaft is elongated parallel to the axis and connected to the piston. When an alternating electrical current flows through the coil, the shaft is magnetized such that the shaft is alternately attracted to one of the ring magnets and repelled by the other to drive the piston back and forth.

Abstract: A compressor unit of a cryogenic refrigeration device includes a compression chamber that is connectable via a transfer line to an expander unit. A piston is configured to alternately compress and decompress a gaseous working agent in the compression chamber. An electromagnetic actuator includes a stator assembly with a driving coil that is wound about the longitudinal axis and that is enclosed within a toroidal back iron except for a coaxial cylindrical gap in a radially outward facing surface. A movable assembly connected to the piston includes two movable permanent magnets separated by a ferromagnetic spacer radially exterior to the stator assembly. The movable magnets are magnetized parallel to the longitudinal axis and opposite to one another such that an alternating electrical current in the driving coil causes the movable assembly to parallel to the longitudinal axis to periodically drive the piston into and out of the compression chamber.

Abstract: An expander unit of a cryogenic refrigerator device includes a moving assembly with a porous regenerative heat exchanger configured to move back and forth along a longitudinal axis. A magnetic spring assembly includes a stationary magnetic assembly fixed to the cold finger base that includes one or more magnetic rings fixedly arranged about a bore. A movable magnetic assembly includes one or more movable magnetic rings fixed to the moving assembly. An outer lateral dimension of each of the movable magnetic rings is less than an inner lateral dimension of the bore. The stationary magnetic assembly and the movable magnetic assembly are configured such that, when the moving assembly is displaced along the longitudinal axis from an equilibrium position, attractive and repulsive forces between the movable magnetic assembly and the stationary magnetic assembly yield a restoring force that is directed to restore the moving assembly to the equilibrium position.

Abstract: Integral linear cryogenic Stirling refrigerator comprised of the free piston positive displacement pressure wave generator, the moving assembly of which is connected to the free piston displacer by the dynamic “spring-mass-spring” mechanical phase shifter the mechanical properties of which (spring rates and weight) are selected to provide a predetermined phase lag of motion of the displacer piston relative to the moving assembly of pressure wave generator.

Abstract: A split Stirling cryogenic refrigerator device may include a resonant pneumatic expander comprising a resonant displacer assembly supported by a spring and configured to slide back and forth along a longitudinal axis within a housing of the resonant pneumatic expander, the resonant displacer assembly comprising a tubular displacer containing a regenerator and coupled to a sealing piston, and a driving piston coupled to the sealing piston by an elongated radially compliant and axially rigid connecting member.

Abstract: A split Stirling cryogenic refrigerator device may include a resonant pneumatic expander comprising a resonant displacer assembly supported by a spring and configured to slide back and forth along a longitudinal axis within a housing of the resonant pneumatic expander, the resonant displacer assembly comprising a tubular displacer containing a regenerator and coupled to a sealing piston, and a driving piston coupled to the sealing piston by an elongated radially compliant and axially rigid connecting member.

Abstract: Integral linear cryogenic Stirling refrigerator comprised of the free piston positive displacement pressure wave generator, the moving assembly of which is connected to the free piston displacer by the dynamic “spring-mass-spring” mechanical phase shifter the mechanical properties of which (spring rates and weight) are selected to provide a predetermined phase lag of motion of the displacer piston relative to the moving assembly of pressure wave generator.

Abstract: A mechanical system, such as cryogenic refrigerator system, is described. The system comprises two or more axial moving elements generating two or more cyclic forces along parallel axes and a vibration attenuation unit. The cyclic forces are provided with common frequency and certain phase difference between them. The vibration attenuation unit is configured for attenuating vibrations corresponding to two or more modes of vibrations characterized by a frequency corresponding to operation frequency of said two or more cyclic forces.

Abstract: An Integrated Dewar Detector Assembly (IDDA) is presented. The IDDA comprises: a cold finger base; an elongated Dewar envelope having a proximal end associated with the cold finger base and a distal end comprising an optical window; an elongated tubular cold finger located inside said elongated Dewar envelope and having a proximal end at the cold finger base and a distal end for carrying a detector so as to expose the detector to incoming radiation through said optical window; an internal front support member extending from an inner surface of the Dewar envelope at its distal end to the distal end of the cold finger; and at least one wideband dynamic vibration absorber assembly located outside the Dewar envelope and attached to at least one location on an exterior surface of the Dewar envelope, said dynamic vibration absorber thereby attenuating vibration of the cold finger and the detector.

Abstract: A mechanical system, such as cryogenic refrigerator system, is described. The system comprises two or more axial moving elements generating two or more cyclic forces along parallel axes and a vibration attenuation unit. The cyclic forces are provided with common frequency and certain phase difference between them. The vibration attenuation unit is configured for attenuating vibrations corresponding to two or more modes of vibrations characterized by a frequency corresponding to operation frequency of said two or more cyclic forces.

Abstract: An Integrated Dewar Detector Assembly (IDDA) is presented. The IDDA comprises: a cold finger base; an elongated Dewar envelope having a proximal end associated with the cold finger base and a distal end comprising an optical window; an elongated tubular cold finger located inside said elongated Dewar envelope and having a proximal end at the cold finger base and a distal end for carrying a detector so as to expose the detector to incoming radiation through said optical window; an internal front support member extending from an inner surface of the Dewar envelope at its distal end to the distal end of the cold finger; and at least one wideband dynamic vibration absorber assembly located outside the Dewar envelope and attached to at least one location on an exterior surface of the Dewar envelope, said dynamic vibration absorber thereby attenuating vibration of the cold finger and the detector.