Patents by Inventor Ralph C. Longsworth

Ralph C. Longsworth has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4785879
    Abstract: A counter flow heat exchanger comprising a plurality of tubes disposed in a bundle array or tube within tube configuration to enhance heat transfer between high and low pressure tubes in the array or tube in tube configuration. Also disclosed are a method of increasing the heat transfer capacity of a tube bundle heat exchanger and a liquid helium temperature refrigerator or a reliquefier utilizing the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: APD Cryogenics
    Inventors: Ralph C. Longsworth, William A. Steyert
  • Patent number: 4781033
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for a fast cooldown cryostat having high pressure and low pressure flow paths wherein a low pressure flow path is defined by a finely divided matrix which in turn defines a plurality of flow paths and said high pressure flow path is disposed in heat exchange relationshp to said matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: APD Cryogenics
    Inventors: William A. Steyert, Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 4763725
    Abstract: A counter flow heat exchanger comprising a plurality of tubes disposed in a bundle array or tube within tube configuration to enhance heat transfer between high and low pressure tubes in the array or tube in tube configuration. Also disclosed are a method of increasing the heat transfer capacity of a tube bundle heat exchanger and a liquid helium temperature refrigerator or a reliquefier utilizing the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Inventors: Ralph C. Longsworth, William A. Steyert
  • Patent number: 4697635
    Abstract: A counter flow heat exchanger comprising a plurality of tubes disposed in a bundle array or tube within tube configuration to enhance heat transfer between high and low pressure tubes in the array or tube in tube configuration. Also disclosed are a method of increasing the heat transfer capacity of a tube bundle heat exchanger and a liquid helium temperature refrigerator or a reliquefier utilizing the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: APD Cryogenics Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph C. Longsworth, William A. Steyert
  • Patent number: 4643001
    Abstract: A counter flow heat exchanger comprising a central low pressure return tube deformed intermediate its ends to enhance heat transfer capability wrapped by a high pressure tube to conduct fluid to an expansion device. Also disclosed are a method of increasing the heat transfer capacity of a tube bundle heat exchanger and a liquid helium temperature refrigerator or a reliquefier utilizing the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph C. Longsworth, William A. Steyert
  • Patent number: 4606201
    Abstract: Enhanced thermal contact between axially aligned heat stations on a refrigerator and axially aligned heat stations on a device to be cooled wherein at least one of said heat stations on said device being cooled is allowed to move or float axially relative to the other heat station on said device being cooled to accommodate thermal contraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 4593530
    Abstract: A cryopump and method for using cryopumping to enhance the sensitivity of a leak detection system. The cryopump is used to control the relative pumping speeds of the gases normally frozen out on the pump or adsorbed in a cold adsorbent to thereby achieve the enhanced sensitivity of the system. The system is characterized by controlled access to the cold panel which is disposed within the warm panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 4567943
    Abstract: A counter flow heat exchanger comprising a central low pressure return tube deformed intermediate its ends to enhance heat transfer capability wrapped by a high pressure tube to conduct fluid to an expansion device. Also disclosed are a method of increasing the heat transfer capacity of a tube bundle heat exchanger and a liquid helium temperature refrigerator or a reliquefier utilizing the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph C. Longsworth, William A. Steyert
  • Patent number: 4514204
    Abstract: A bakeable cryopump having a housing and means to removeably receive the displacer end of a cryogenic refrigerator to cool internal cryopanels said cryopumps adapted for removal of the refrigerator without loss of vacuum inside the cryopump and further adapted to be heated under vacuum to remove pumped gases primarily water so that the cryopumps after cooling can be used at vacuum of at least 10.sup.-10 Torr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn E. Bonney, Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 4484458
    Abstract: An apparatus for condensing cryogen (e.g., helium) boil-off in a confined space such as the neck tube of a helium cryostat comprising a Joule-Thompson heat exchanger and valve disposed around a displacer-expander cryogenic refrigerator so the thermal gradient in the heat exchanger matches that of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 4430863
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the refrigeration capacity of a displacer-expander type cryogenic refrigerator pneumatically actuated by a rotary valve by increasing the number of ports of the rotary valve to increase reciprocating speed of the displacer without increasing speed of rotation of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 4283948
    Abstract: Environmental gases, e.g. air are collected in an apparatus wherein a sample bottle containing a metering orifice for admitting the gas is contained within and cooled by a bath of liquid cryogen thus creating a partial vacuum inside the bottle to draw gas into the bottle where it is condensed and stored. The apparatus includes a source of cryogenic refrigeration disposed in an evacuated space above the liquid cryogen to condense liquid cryogen boil-off. By combining evacuation and cryogenic refrigeration the sample bottle holder can be rapidly cooled to operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 4279127
    Abstract: A cryostat for maintaining an inventory of a liquefied cryogen including a vacuum jacketed reservoir (Dewar) containing heat shields in the vacuum jacket, the heat shields cooled to different temperatures and a cryogen recondenser cooled by a cryogenic refrigerator. Included in the cryostat is an access passage to place objects in the cryogen and to support the refrigerator, the access passage including means to remove the refrigerator without opening the liquid cryogen to ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 4277951
    Abstract: A cryopump consisting of cryopanels attached to an elongated source of refrigeration in which heat is transferred from cryopumping surfaces to various stages of refrigeration by conduction including a chevron baffle or louver mounted parallel to the long axis of the refrigerator source and directly to the warmest stage of refrigeration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 4277949
    Abstract: A cryostat including a source of refrigeration disposed within an evacuated chamber containing a reservoir of liquified cryogen wherein refrigeration is directed to heat stations disposed in the access means to the reservoir to intercept heat leak into said reservoir and to recondense cryogen boil-off from said reservoir. Thermal convective couplings are used to cool the heat stations and to minimize heat leakage in the event the refrigeration source is disabled. Cryogen boil-off is condensed in an apparatus utilizing low thermal conductive conduits to direct the vapors to a refrigeration zone and return the condensed cryogen to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 4237699
    Abstract: A cryostat for producing an inventory of a liquefied working fluid by expansion of the working fluid through an orifice, the cryostat including means to rapidly cool the cryostat to operating temperature and to maintain fluid flow at low temperature and high working fluid pressure to maintain maximum heat transfer between the working fluid and an object being cooled by the cryostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph C. Longsworth, Matthew G. Chalmers
  • Patent number: 4223540
    Abstract: A cryostat for maintaining an inventory of a liquefied cryogen including a vacuum jacketed reservoir (Dewar) containing heat shields in the vacuum jacket, the heat shields cooled to different temperatures and a cryogen recondenser cooled by a cryogenic refrigerator. Included in the cryostat is an access passage to place objects in the cryogen and to support the refrigerator, the access passage including means to remove the refrigerator without opening the liquid cryogen to ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1980
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 4219588
    Abstract: Cryopumping speed of nitrogen, helium, hydrogen and neon can be increased by omitting the chevron baffle in a conventional cryopump and preventing incident radiation of about 300.degree. K. from striking surfaces used to cryosorb helium, hydrogen and neon. An apparatus is disclosed utilizing three pumping surfaces created from open ended opposed nested cylinders. A radiation absorbent coating is placed on one of the surfaces to shield the helium, hydrogen and neon pumping surface. Refrigeration can be provided by a two-stage closed cycle cryogenic refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1980
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 4152903
    Abstract: A demand-flow cryostat wherein a refrigerant is supplied through an elongated heat exchanger disposed in a container and the refrigerant is expanded through a Joule-Thompson expansion orifice at one end of the heat exchanger to provide an inventory of liquid in the container at that end and wherein a valve member for controlling a refrigerant flow through the orifice is located adjacent thereto and is movable relative to the orifice; whereby a throttling movement is effected with a reduction in temperature. The operation of the orifice and valve member characterized in that each is affixed to separate mounting means, each of which mounting means is associated with a separate control element composed of different materials whose mean cryogenic linear coefficients of expansion differ by at least about 1.times.10.sup.-5 (.degree. K.sup.-1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 4150549
    Abstract: Cryopumping speed of nitrogen, helium, hydrogen and neon can be increased by omitting the chevron baffle in a conventional cryopump and preventing incident radiation of about 300.degree. K. from striking surfaces used to cryosorb helium, hydrogen and neon. An apparatus is disclosed utilizing three pumping surfaces created from open ended opposed nested cylinders. A radiation absorbent coating is placed on one of the surfaces to shield the helium, hydrogen and neon pumping surface. Refrigeration can be provided by a two-stage closed cycle cryogenic refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth