Abstract: An advanced thermal container has a thermally insulated open receptacle, a thermally insulated closure member, a data monitoring system incorporated into the container that can send and receive information via wireless communication, and a sealing system to minimize heat transfer and air exchange between the interior and exterior of the container. Hard plastic casing enclosing foam-encased vacuum insulation panels is used to construct the insulated receptacle and closure member. The closure member and receptacle each have an elongated portion with shoulders above and below the elongated portion. When the container is closed, a lower seal and an upper seal are compressed between the mating lower and upper shoulders, respectively. The onboard data monitoring system records important parameters concerning the internal and external environments of the container, particularly temperature information, as well as other significant events such as the number of times the container was opened during transit.

Abstract: An enclosure thermal shield (10) has a thermally insulated open container (12), a thermally insulated closure member (14), a thermally conductive liner (16) along the container's inner surface and along the inner surface of the closure member (14) forming a thermal circuit when the closure member (14) closes the container (12), and a heat reservoir (18) in thermal contact with the thermal circuit. The heat reservoir (18) can be placed within the container (12) or incorporated into the closure member (14). If incorporated into the closure member (14), the heat reservoir (18) can be placed in direct thermal contact with the thermal circuit or connected to the thermal circuit via a thermal conduit (28). The thermal shield (10) can further comprise a layer (26) of insulating material lining the interior surface of the conductive liner (16). Heat pipes can also be employed as a part of the thermal circuit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the method and apparatus for the robotic harvesting of solids from liquids as exemplified by harvesting protein crystals. Further, the present invention is directed to a fluid/solid management system in a chamber that automates the task of solid harvesting. The fluid/solid management system includes two supporting structures for at least one pipette on one structure and a second pipette on the other structure, the two pipettes in tip-to-tip alignment. The pipettes each having a drop of liquid at the end thereof are moved apart to form a liquid bridge in which the solid crystal is isolated. A robotic arm has a device on the end thereof for the harvesting of the solid at the working point between the tips of the pipettes. The system has a flash freezing system in the chamber for the safe storage of the harvested solid.

Abstract: An advanced thermal container has a thermally insulated open receptacle, a thermally insulated closure member, a data monitoring system incorporated into the container that can send and receive information via wireless communication, and a sealing system to minimize heat transfer and air exchange between the interior and exterior of the container. Hard plastic casing enclosing foam-encased vacuum insulation panels is used to construct the insulated receptacle and closure member. The closure member and receptacle each have an elongated portion with shoulders above and below the elongated portion. When the container is closed, a lower seal and an upper seal are compressed between the mating lower and upper shoulders, respectively. The onboard data monitoring system records important parameters concerning the internal and external environments of the container, particularly temperature information, as well as other significant events such as the number of times the container was opened during transit.

Abstract: An enclosure thermal shield has a thermally insulated open container, a thermally insulated closure member, a thermally conductive liner along the container's inner surface and along the inner surface of the closure member forming a thermal circuit when the closure member closes the container, and a heat reservoir in thermal contact with the thermal circuit. The heat reservoir can be placed within the container or incorporated into the closure member. If incorporated into the closure member, the heat reservoir can be placed in direct thermal contact with the thermal circuit or connected to the thermal circuit via a thermal conduit. The thermal shield can further comprise a layer of insulating material lining the interior surface of the conductive liner to further inhibit heat transfer into or out of the interior chamber of the container. The thermal shield and method for directing heat flow regulate the thermal environment of the chamber.

Abstract: A thermal barrier enclosure system, comprising one or more thermal barriers, providing active temperature control without an active heat pump, and enabling rapid recharge and thermal isolation of the onboard thermal storage material or payload. The thermal barrier enclosure system is used to control the temperature in a shipping container or a refrigerator. Thermal control is achieved with one or more thermal control barriers comprised of an insulation barrier, a temperature sensitive device, and a thermal conduit through which energy flows. The combination of the temperature sensitive device and thermal conduit forms a thermal regulator that varies the thermal energy flow as the regulator is operated from its open to its closed position, and vise versa. By positioning one or more thermal control barriers in a thermal enclosure, tight-tolerance temperature control can be achieved even when the external temperature may vary above or below the control volume temperature.

Abstract: There are disclosed several embodiments of dewars each of which include an insulated apparatus for storing and delivering a liquid cryogen and a capacitance gauge for measuring the liquid level of cryogen. A process for rapidly filling the vessel with cryogen is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for storing and delivering a liquid cryogen. The apparatus is a dewar having a rotating liquid cryogen intake, a rotating gas supply/vent, and a rotating capacitance gauge. The rotating capacitance gauge comprises two elongated plates having outer edges shaped concentrically with the inner profile of the dewar on both ends that are electrically isolated from but fastened to one another with a small gap therebetween and electrical leads to the exterior of the dewar.

Abstract: A metal seal has features that make it particularly useful for wide temperature variations of the fluid flowing through the conduits that it seals. The seal ring locates within a groove in the face of each conduit. The seal ring engages the outer wall of the grooves. The seal ring has inner legs that engage the inner wall of the grooves. The legs are separated from a mid-section of the seal ring by a slot. The radial width of the seal ring is greater than the distance radially across the grooves so as to provide an interference fit. The deformation of the seal is elastic, not permanent. The sealing surfaces are cylindrical or conical. The seal is not axially compressed.