Including Cryostat Patents (Class 62/51.1)
  • Patent number: 10074172
    Abstract: An imaging device is provided for localizing structures through the surface of an object such as a wafer, with a view to positioning a measuring sensor relative to the structures, includes: (i) an imaging sensor; (ii) an optical imager able to produce, on the imaging sensor, an image of the object in a field of view; and (iii) an illuminator for generating an illuminating beam and lighting the field of view in reflection, in which the illuminating beam and lighting the field of view in reflection, in which the illuminator is able to generate an illuminating beam the spectral content of which is adapted to the nature of the object, such that the light of the beam is able to essentially penetrate into the object. Also provided is a system and a method for carrying out dimensional measurements on an object such as a wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: UNITY SEMICONDUCTOR
    Inventors: Gilles Fresquet, Sylvain Perrot
  • Patent number: 10006579
    Abstract: Embodiments for a cryohead heat transfer coupling as well as methods for extracting heat from an article using these couplings are provided. Couplings employ a component made from a material having a greater mean thermal coefficient of expansion than the mean thermal coefficient of expansion of other coupling components and of the article. As a result, differential contraction during cryocooling contributes a shrink fitting of a portion of the coupling resulting in enhanced thermal conduction when cooling and a releasing of the coupling when ambient temperature is restored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: SUPERCONDUCTING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Nadder Pourrahimi, Shahin Pourrahimi
  • Patent number: 9967586
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for spatial motion vector prediction (MVP) candidate derivation for Direct mode and Skip mode in three-dimensional video coding are disclosed. The motion vector of each neighboring block is associated with a corresponding reference picture index pointing to a corresponding reference picture. For both the Direct mode and the Skip mode, the motion vector of each neighboring block is selected as the spatial MVP candidate for each neighboring block only if the corresponding reference picture index is the same as a selected target reference picture index. In one embodiment, the target reference picture index is set to 0. In another embodiment, the target reference picture index corresponds to a majority of the corresponding reference picture indexes associated with the neighboring blocks in Direct mode or Skip mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Jian-Liang Lin, Yi-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 9933196
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provide a low cost and effective system and method for simultaneous cooling and heating of a sample matrix during solid and liquid phase extraction methods. A cooling device is attached to atop of a sample vial and a heater is placed below the sample to simultaneous cooling and heating of the sample. The cooling device comprises two concentric metallic cylinders capped with welding. Two stainless steel capillary tubes are inserted respectively into two ends of the capped space for passing in and exiting out liquid carbon dioxide from the cooling device to cool the extracted analytes. The dimensions of the cylinders in the cooling device are suitably adjusted so that the cooling device is suited for use in liquid phase as well as solid phase micro-extraction processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventors: Ali Reza Ghiasvand, Nahid Heidari, Shahriar Shadabi, Masoumeh Pirdadeh Beiranvand
  • Patent number: 9709313
    Abstract: Provided is an ultra-low-temperature device that enables the cold head of a refrigeration device to be coupled in a detachable manner so as to be capable of highly efficient heat transfer with respect to an object being cooled, while effectively suppressing the infiltration of heat into the object being cooled. This ultra-low-temperature device is equipped with: a cooled object container (16); a cold head insertion unit (18) having a cylindrical part (32) and a base part (34); a thermal coupling formation part (60) forming a thermal coupling part between the low-temperature end (28) of the cold head (26) and the base part (34); and a heat switch (70) provided between the base part (34) and the cooled object (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Miki
  • Patent number: 9671159
    Abstract: A liquefier includes a Dewar having a storage portion and a neck portion extending therefrom. A hermetically isolated liquefaction chamber is disposed within the neck of the Dewar. One or more control components including a temperature and pressure sensor are coupled to a CPU and disposed within the liquefaction chamber for dynamic control of liquefaction conditions. A gas flow control is coupled to the CPU for regulating an input gas flow into the liquefaction chamber. A volume surrounding the liquefaction chamber may be adapted to provide a counter-flow heat exchange. These and other features provide improved liquefaction efficiency among other benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: QUANTUM DESIGN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jost Diederichs, Ronald Sager
  • Patent number: 9640308
    Abstract: A high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet coil disposed within a cryostat is configured with a thermo-siphon cooling system containing a liquid cryogen. The cooling system is configured to indirectly conduction cool the HTS magnet coil by nucleate boiling of the liquid cryogen that is circulated by the thermo-siphon in a cooling tube attached to a heat exchanger bonded to the outside surface of the HTS magnet coil. A supply dewar is configured with a re-condenser cryocooler coldhead to recondense boiloff vapors generated during the nucleate boiling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Evangelos Trifon Laskaris, James Pellegrino Alexander, Kiruba Sivasubramaniam, Tao Zhang
  • Patent number: 9632017
    Abstract: The present invention provides the method and apparatus to acquire three-dimensional images of cells. The present invention comprises (a) preparing the solid-state specimen containing (i) cells, (ii) viruses, (iii) the liquid containing the cells, or (iv) the liquid containing the viruses; (b) acquiring the surface information on the said solid-state specimen; (c) removing the surface of the said solid-state specimen and forming a new surface; and (d) acquiring the information on the new surface. According to the present invention, provided is the cell imaging method to acquire information to grasp practically the condition of the cell. Also, the present invention can provide information on the molecules and atoms consisting various biomolecules and organelles present in the cells. Furthermore, the present invention can provide the information on the interaction between the biomolecules present in the cells and the organic relationship among intracellular organelles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Hanbat National University Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventor: Sang Mo Shin
  • Patent number: 9458969
    Abstract: A cryostat with a PTR cooling and a boiling fluid medium including a two stage sample holder thermalization, especially convenient for AC susceptibility measurement; wherein: a 1st PTR stage is connected to a recondenser with a thermal link only; the recondenser partially penetrates through the walls of a chamber into a dewar region above a boiling fluid level, wherein the recondenser includes an integrally built thermalization point with the internal thread; whereby a 2nd PTR stage thermally connected to the thermalization block by the use of a non-flexible thermal link, wherein said thermal block includes an another thermalization point. The thermalization block enables relative vertical movement of a sample holder with respect to the cryostat without loss of excellent thermal contact with the thermalization point. Outside the vacuum chamber there are magnetic coils immersed in the boiling fluid, thus achieving substantial reduction of the parasitic effects in measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Institut za fiziku
    Inventors: Mladen Prester, Duro Drobac
  • Patent number: 9442495
    Abstract: A method supplies a gas, stored in multiple vessels, to a drive assembly of a motor vehicle. Each vessel is assigned a valve for opening and closing the vessel and a gas sensor, in the form of a temperature sensor, for determining a temperature as a state variable of the gas in the vessel. The vessels are connected to the drive assembly via a common line. Along the common line, there is arranged at least one gas sensor, which is common to all of the vessels, for determining at least one state variable of the gas. For the supply to the drive assembly, in each case only one of the valves is opened and all of the other valves are closed. The open valve is closed when at least one determined state variable deviates from a setpoint value by a tolerance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Rene Van Doorn
  • Patent number: 9328943
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for integrated detector cooler assemblies (IDCAs) and multi-circuit cryostats are discussed herein. Solutions include using cryostats with multiple cooling circuits. Some cryostat variations may include a rapid cooldown circuit and a temperature maintenance circuit. In some cases, the temperature maintenance circuit may be a closed-loop circuit run by a compressor instead of an open-loop circuit run on a pressurized gas bottle/cartridge. Variations of a cryostat may also include a gas expander portion that replaces the coldfinger of typical IDCAs. Further variations of cooling circuits may include circuits that perform reverse-flow heat exchange to pre-cool incoming refrigerant and also cooling circuits that have heat bridges disposed thereon to assist in such heat exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vincent Loung, Elna Saito, Jeff W. Scott
  • Patent number: 9305691
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a superconducting magnet apparatus includes: a first superconducting coil and a second superconducting coil respectively arranged in a vacuum container; a first cooling unit configured to cool the first superconducting coil; and a second cooling unit configured to cool the second superconducting coil and controlled independently from the first cooling unit by a cooling method different from the cooling method of the first cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Masahiko Takahashi, Taizo Tosaka, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Sadanori Iwai
  • Patent number: 9299532
    Abstract: The invention relates to a low interference sensor head for a radiation detector and a radiation detector containing said low interference sensor head. Preferably, the radiation detector according to the invention is an X-ray detector. The invention further relates to the use of the low interference sensor head or the radiation detector, in particular of the X-ray detector for radiation analysis, in particular for (energy dispersive) X-ray analysis in microscopy using optics for charged particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Bruker Nano GmbH
    Inventors: Meiken Falke, Robert Kroemer
  • Patent number: 9285141
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for pulsed charge cooling of a component of a Tokamak. The method uses a refrigeration device that subjects a working fluid such as helium to a work cycle including: compression, cooling, and decompression, as well as heat exchange with the member and heating. The refrigeration power produced by the refrigeration device is increased to a relatively high level when the Tokamak is in a plasma generation phase and is decreased to a relatively low level when the Tokamak is no longer in a plasma generation phase. The increase in refrigeration power produced by the refrigeration device is automatically triggered in response to a signal produced during a step for starting plasma in the Tokamak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Gerald Aigouy, Jean-Marc Bernhardt, Pierre Briend, Eric Fauve, David Grillot, Vincent Heloin
  • Patent number: 9146545
    Abstract: A system and approach for development of setpoints for a controller of an engine or powertrain. The controller may be parametrized as a function of setpoints to provide performance variables that are considered acceptable by a user or operator for normal operating conditions of the engine or powertrain. With each iteration of the setpoints, the controller may be reconfigured to provide more stable and dynamically performant control of the engine or powertrain. The present system and approach may automate a previously labor intensive approach for designing setpoints for the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory E. Stewart
  • Patent number: 9134048
    Abstract: A regenerative refrigerator includes a cylinder, a regenerator containing a regenerator material, and a partitioning member provided in the regenerator and partitioning off the regenerator material. The partitioning member includes a ring member having a center opening and having an outer circumferential surface fitting with the inner circumferential surface of the regenerator, and a layered body provided on the ring member to close its center opening. The layered body includes a filter member and a reinforcing member stacked in multiple layers. The filter member is configured to prevent passage of the regenerator material and to allow passage of a refrigerant gas. The reinforcing member is configured to reinforce the filter member. The layered body has a peripheral edge portion held tight from the first and second opposite sides of the layered body in its stacking direction by the ring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Matsubara
  • Patent number: 9130079
    Abstract: A detector apparatus is configured to receive light and generate electrical signals. The detector apparatus includes a light sensor having a light incidence side and a cooling component. The cooling component is in direct contact with at least one of the light sensor, on the light incidence side, or a substrate carrying the light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Schreiber, Bernd Widzgowski, Holger Birk
  • Patent number: 9113576
    Abstract: A photonics assembly (8-16) is housed within an hermetically sealed container (24) mounted within an outer container (20), and is cooled by a fluidic arrangement comprising a liquid flow path (28) defined between the outer container and the sealed container, the outer container having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet (30, 32), whereby cooling liquid can flow around the hermetically sealed container to remove heat. The photonics assembly including photonics devices, has a composite thermally conductive substrate (17, 19) contacting a thermally conductive wall (22) of the sealed container, whereby the cooling liquid cools said photonics devices. Liquid flow passageways (48-66) are provided in wall (22) and substrate (17, 19) for improving fluidic cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: John Daly
  • Patent number: 9074798
    Abstract: When cooling a superconducting magnet for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, a two-stage cryocooler (42) employs a first stage cooler (52) to cool a working gas (e.g., Helium, Hydrogen, etc.) to approximately 25 K. The working gas moves through a tubing system by convection until the magnet (20) is at approximately 25K. Once the magnet (20) reaches 25 K, gas flow stops, and a second stage cooler (54) cools the magnet (20) further, to about 4 K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Robert A. Ackermann, Philippe A. Menteur
  • Publication number: 20150135732
    Abstract: A method, a system, and an article of manufacture are disclosed for cryogenic cooling of systems operating at cryogenic temperatures or higher. Applications of this disclosure are as varied as trucking of meat and vegetable to mine sweeping and MRI systems. A cooling network is formed by coupling blocks of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) modules together with optional thermal switches or valves and optionally with an active cooling component to maintain a cryogenic temperature in a cryostat. The TES modules are combinations of thermal conducting elements to conduct heat and solid storage elements to absorb heat. The cooling component may be one or more cryocoolers for steady state and transient heat transfer conditions and may be coupled with the TES modules via thermal shunt connections. The thermal switches or valves may be deployed within the thermal shunts to control the flow of heat between different TES modules and cooling components, thus reconfiguring the cooling network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Shahin Pourrahimi, Leslie Bromberg
  • Publication number: 20150135731
    Abstract: A multi-stage closed-cycle cryogenic refrigeration system is disclosed. The system includes an adsorption refrigerator having a multi-chambered pump unit that can be flexibly configured in the context of the cryogenic refrigeration system resulting in a more efficient design that has a smaller overall size than prior systems and other advantages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Photon Spot, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikas Anant, Brian Siu-Fung Ma
  • Publication number: 20150111753
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet apparatus is provided, which comprises a superconducting coil, an induction coil to be in inductive coupling with the superconducting coil, a first refrigerant vessel charged with a first refrigerant in which the superconducting coil is installed; and a second refrigerant vessel charged with a second refrigerant having a melting temperature higher than or a boiling temperature higher than a boiling temperature of the first refrigerant, the second refrigerant vessel in which the induction coil is installed, wherein the second refrigerant vessel is thermally isolated from the first refrigerant vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Ryoji NAKAGAWA, Ryuya ANDO, Manabu AOKI
  • Patent number: 9010134
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optronics system equipped with: a detector cooler having a cooling machine, a cryostat, an IR detector placed in the cryostat, and a sensor for measuring the temperature TD of the detector; and a processing card which includes means for servocontrolling the cooling machine according to the temperature TD. The system includes a sensor for sensing the system's internal temperature TS, and the processing card includes means for calculating: the refrigerating time (TMF) based on the temperatures TD and TS, on each “on-off” cycle of the detector cooler, the trend of the drift in the refrigerating time TMF, as a function of the number of “on-off” cycles of the detector cooler, a sudden drift as a function of said trend of the drift of the TMF, and means for storing data used in said calculations; these data are aggregated data and not the measurements of temperatures TD and TS, nor said TMFs, in order to limit the size of the storage means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Didier Bihannic
  • Patent number: 9010131
    Abstract: A Dewar apparatus includes a focal plane array (FPA) component coupled to an FPA carrier, and a cold bridge coupled to the FPA carrier. A cold shield is aligned with the optical axis and coupled to the cold bridge (e.g., via a direct-metal bond), and at least one cryostat enclosure is similarly coupled to the cold bridge such that it has an axis that is noncollinear with the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Daniel W. Brunton, Justin C. Jenia, Paul M. Lyons, Jim R. Hicks, Bret J. Ashby, Barry A. Rovner
  • Patent number: 9006576
    Abstract: A superconductive cable which has a cryostat with two concentric metal pipes where the cryostat has at least a first axial section with a first axial spring constant, and at least a second axial section which has a second axial spring constant which at most is 20%, more preferred at most 10%, of the axial spring constant of the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Mark Stemmle, Rainer Soika
  • Patent number: 8991196
    Abstract: A helium-cooling type regenerator configured to retain cold temperatures of working gas includes a first section through which the working gas flows, a second section configured to accommodate helium gas as a regenerator material, and a regenerator material pipe connected to the second section and to a helium source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mingyao Xu
  • Publication number: 20150082813
    Abstract: An assembly for thermal insulation of an MR magnet system during such a transport has a container for accommodating an MR magnet, the container being equipped with thermal insulation, and the container has an opening for accommodating a cooling unit. The assembly further has a protective cap, such that the opening is sealed in a reversible manner by the protective cap, and the protective cap is likewise equipped with thermal insulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Stefan Popescu
  • Patent number: 8988176
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet device is configured to include: a refrigerant circulation flowpath in which a refrigerant (R) circulates; a refrigerator for cooling vapor of the refrigerant (R) in the refrigerant circulation flowpath; a superconducting coil cooled by the circulating refrigerant (R); a protective resistor thermally contacting the superconducting coil and having an internal space (S); a high-boiling-point refrigerant supply section for supplying a high-boiling-point refrigerant having a higher boiling point than the refrigerant (R) and frozen by the refrigerant (R) to the internal space (S) in the protective resistor; and a vacuum insulating container for at least accommodating the refrigerant circulation flowpath, the superconducting coil, and the protective resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Aoki, Ryuya Ando, Yukihiro Murata, Ryoji Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8973378
    Abstract: Systems and methods from removing heat generated by a heat sink of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system are provided. One system includes a coldhead sleeve cooling arrangement for a coldhead of the MRI system. The coldhead sleeve cooling arrangement includes a coldhead sleeve configured to receive therein a coldhead of an MRI system and a cooling system surrounding an outer surface of the coldhead sleeve. The cooling system uses helium gas to remove heat from the coldhead sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Longzhi Jiang, Jalal Zia, John Scaturro, Jr., William Einziger
  • Publication number: 20150065780
    Abstract: A multi-orientation cryostat 5 for a superconducting magnet 4 for use in a plurality of orientations. The cryostat 5 comprises a vessel 6 for holding cryogenic liquid and, leading away from the vessel, a quench duct 7 for allowing escape from the vessel of gas generated by boiling of the cryogenic liquid due to quenching of the magnet. The quench duct 7 is sinuous so as to provide at least to differently orientated anti-convection portions 71, each portion for functioning as an anti-convection portion with the cryostat in a respective corresponding orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Benjamin David Leigh, Masayuki Nakatsu
  • Patent number: 8950194
    Abstract: In order to minimize the loss of cryogen during transportation of superconductive magnet systems, or indeed at any time that the refrigerator is turned off, part of the boil-off gas is directed from the cryogen vessel through the refrigerator interface and past the refrigerator to cool the refrigerator. Some of the heat conducted along the refrigerator into the system is intercepted and removed by that part of the boil-off gas. The heat load onto the cryogenic vessel is thereby reduced, which in turn reduces the boil-off of cryogen from the cryogenic vessel. This part of the boil-off gas is then vented from the system along with the remainder of the boil-off gas, for example to leave the cryogenic liquid vessel via the access neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens PLC
    Inventors: Timothy John Hughes, Stephen Paul Trowell, Keith White
  • Publication number: 20150007586
    Abstract: A method for converting a cryostat configuration (1) having a first container (2) with a liquid helium bath (3) and a second container (6) which is filled with liquid nitrogen (7) is characterized in that a cooling medium (12) which is in a gaseous state at a temperature of 60K and a pressure of 1 bar, is introduced into the second container and is cooled by a refrigerator (16) by means of a cooling circuit (11), the coolant lines of which are guided into the second container, to an operating temperature of ?60K. With this retrofit for existing cryostat configurations that utilize both liquid helium and also liquid nitrogen for cooling a superconducting coil, use of liquid nitrogen can be completely avoided and the evaporation rate of the liquid helium can also be considerably reduced without having to re-liquefy the cryogens used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Andreas Kraus, Robert Schauwecker, Joerg Hinderer
  • Publication number: 20150007587
    Abstract: A device for cooling a superconducting machine is disclosed, including a storage vessel which receives condensed coolant and from which the coolant can be fed via a pipe to the machine, wherein the storage vessel has a storage region and an evaporator region, which is separated from the former, with a heat source which continuously has a temperature above the boiling point of the coolant. The evaporator region is connected via a curved overflow pipe to the storage region in such a way that, when a defined coolant filling level is reached in the storage region, coolant flows via the overflow pipe automatically into the evaporator region and evaporates there.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Michael Frank, Peter Van Hasselt
  • Publication number: 20150011395
    Abstract: A free liquid helium volatilization superconductive magnetic suspension device includes a low temperature container, a refrigeration, a cold screen, a liquid helium container, a superconductive rotor, a suspension coil, a rotor chamber, a liquid tube, a condenser and a pole-axis displacement sensor. The heat generated by the wires of the suspension coil can be prevented transferring to the liquid helium container by the room temperature current lead joint, the high temperature superconducting current lead joint and low temperature superconducting current lead joint. Therefore the volatilization of the liquid helium in the liquid helium container can be reduced. The status of free liquid helium volatilization in the liquid helium container can be reached through refrigeration cooling condenser to liquefy the helium. The device needs not to be input the liquid helium time after time and can run independently for a long term.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Xinning Hu, Qiuliang Wang, Yinming Dai, Baozhi Zhao, Hui Wang, Chunyan Cui
  • Patent number: 8908089
    Abstract: An imaging device for in vivo medical applications that enables minimally invasive surgical procedures. The imaging device includes an elongated frame having a base, a module housing, and an optional helical member interposed between the base and module housing. The imaging device further includes an actuation unit positioned within the frame that engages the module housing causing the frame to bend at the optional helical member. The module housing includes an imaging module and may include other modules including tools used for laparoscopic surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Richard Gitlin, Craig Lusk, Shekhar Bhansali, Alexander Rosemurgy
  • Publication number: 20140345298
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid nitrogen cooling sensor device container and liquid nitrogen cooling sensor equipment, and effectively reduces low-frequency noise while maintaining the ease with which a probe can be inserted in and removed from liquid nitrogen. Said invention comprises: a liquid nitrogen containing insulating container that contains liquid nitrogen; a sensor fixing member which has a distal end portion to which a sensor operating at a temperature of the liquid nitrogen is attached; and a fixing buffer member which is for fixing the sensor fixing member to the liquid nitrogen containing insulating container, wherein the fixing buffer member exerts a buffering effect in the liquid nitrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicants: JAPAN OIL, GAS AND METALS NATIONAL CORPORATION, INTERNATIONAL SUPERCONDUCTIVITY TECHNOLOGY CENTER
    Inventors: Tsunehiro Hato, Keiichi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8893516
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising a vacuum container vacuumized inside thereof, a liquid refrigerant container installed in the vacuum container to store liquid refrigerant therein, a superconducting member installed inside the liquid refrigerant container to be rendered superconductive by being impregnated in the liquid refrigerant and allow current to flow therethrough, and a cryo-cooler connected to an insertion port provided in the liquid refrigerant container to re-condense gas evaporated from the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant container. The pressure in the liquid refrigerant container is caused to be raised to prevent air from flowing into the insertion port of the liquid refrigerant container from the outside of the vacuum container, and the cryo-cooler is replaced while the pressure in the liquid refrigerant container is greater than that of the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Munetaka Tsuda
  • Patent number: 8897845
    Abstract: An arrangement for electrically conductively connecting two electrical units by means of a bipolar high voltage direct current transmission, in which between the units are arranged at least two electrical direct current cables constructed as superconductive cables. The superconductive cables are mounted separately from each other in a cryostat (1,2) suitable for conducting a cooling agent which has at least one metal pipe provided with a thermal insulation. The cryostats (1,2) are connected with at least one of their ends to a cooling plant (7) supplying the cooling agent and a pipeline (3) is placed parallel to the two cryostats (1,2). The pipeline (3) is connected at both its ends to the two cryostats (1,2) through valves (15,16,17) which are closed during uninterrupted operation and, in the case of an interruption at one of the superconductive cables, the pipeline (3) serves with the then open valves for conducting the cooling agent intended for the cryostat of the impaired cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Mark Stemmle, Erik Marzahn
  • Publication number: 20140329688
    Abstract: A superconducting magnet device is configured to include: a refrigerant circulation flowpath in which a refrigerant (R) circulates; a refrigerator for cooling vapor of the refrigerant (R) in the refrigerant circulation flowpath; a superconducting coil cooled by the circulating refrigerant (R); a protective resistor thermally contacting the superconducting coil and having an internal space (S); a high-boiling-point refrigerant supply section for supplying a high-boiling-point refrigerant having a higher boiling point than the refrigerant (R) and frozen by the refrigerant (R) to the internal space (S) in the protective resistor; and a vacuum insulating container for at least accommodating the refrigerant circulation flowpath, the superconducting coil, and the protective resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Manabu Aoki, Ryuya Ando, Yukihiro Murata, Ryoji Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8857196
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optronics system equipped with: a detector cooler having a cooling machine, a cryostat, an IR detector placed in the cryostat, and a sensor for measuring the temperature TD of the detector; and a processing card which includes means for servocontrolling the cooling machine according to the temperature TD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Didier Bihannic
  • Publication number: 20140302994
    Abstract: A cryostat cartridge is disclosed. The cryostat cartridge may include a cryostat having a cryogen inlet, a cryogen outlet, and a superconductor material inside the cryostat configured to be cooled by a cryogen entering the cryostat through the cryogen inlet and exiting the cryostat through the cryogen outlet. The cryogen inlet is configured to be detachable from a cryogen source. The cryostat cartridge may be inserted into an activation module for activating the superconductor material and may also be inserted into a superconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Dean Sarandria, Kuan-Chen Chen, Glenn Knierim
  • Patent number: 8844298
    Abstract: A sample mounting apparatus for a cryo-cooler is provided having a housing with an outer wall surface for connecting to the cryo-cooler, and an inner wall surface. An inert gas is sealed inside the housing for thermal transfer, and a delicate mount is attached to the inner wall surface of the housing for supporting the sample and substantially preventing vibrations from being transferred to the sample from the cryo-cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: S2 Corporation
    Inventors: Alex Woidtke, Peter B. Sellin, Luke Mauritsen, David Snow
  • Publication number: 20140283530
    Abstract: A method for the transmission/reception of RF signals for NMR measurements uses a heat exchanger (1) for cooling heat sources (5), the heat exchanger having a contact element (4.2) for thermal connection between a cryogenic fluid and the heat source, is characterized in that the heat exchanger comprises a container having an interior volume VB into which a first cryogenic fluid F1 that has a liquid component F1L and a gaseous component F1G flows through an inflow conduit (8) and from which a second cryogenic fluid F2 that has liquid component F2L and a gaseous component F2G flows out through an outflow conduit (9). The inflow conduit has a flow cross-section QZ and a circumference UZ from which an associated parameter VZ=4·Q2Z/UZ results, wherein VB>10·VZ, and the outflow conduit has a flow diameter QA wherein QA?QZ. The contact element is in close thermal contact with both the liquid volume component VL of the cryogenic fluid and with the heat source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Marc A. Schnell, Marc Enrique Paredes, Cengiz Cetrefli, Philippe Stauffenegger, Daniel Marek
  • Patent number: 8826674
    Abstract: A cryostat for electric power conditioner comprising external walls (1, 3, 11) in contact with an ambient medium, internal walls (2, 12, 13) in contact with a cooled medium and a thermal insulating gap (4, 14) formed between the external walls (1, 3, 11) and the internal walls (2, 12, 13). At least one part of the at least one external wall (1, 3, 11) and/or at least one part of the at least one internal wall (2, 12, 13) of the cryostat comprises a layered structure (15, 16, 17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Bruker HTS GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Usoskin
  • Publication number: 20140235449
    Abstract: A method of cooling at least one superconductive cable is disclosed which is arranged in a cryostat having at least one thermally insulated pipe with a free space surrounded by the pipe, wherein the cable and at least one tubular structure are arranged in the free space, and wherein a cooling agent is conducted through the free space from a feeding point located at one end to a distal end. The cooling agent is conducted through the cryostat and the tubular structure exclusively in one direction of the cable until it reaches its temperature of operation and is discharged to the outside at the distal end. After reaching the temperature of operation, the cooling agent is returned from the distal end of the arrangement through the tubular structure to the feeding point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Erik Marzahn, Mark Stemmle, Beate West
  • Patent number: 8787998
    Abstract: A superconducting coil apparatus and a superconducting apparatus including the superconducting coil apparatus are provided. The superconducting coil apparatus includes a superconducting coil 10, an inner container 50 that holds the superconducting coil 10 therein, and an outer container 60. The inner container 50 and the outer container 60 are made of FRP. At a corner portion 71 of the inner container 50 and the outer container 60, a sealing reinforcement portion 2 made of a resin is formed so as to extend along the corner portion 71. Opening portions 53 and 63 are formed in side surfaces of the inner container 50 and the outer container 60. The sealing reinforcement portion 2 is disposed at the corner portion 71 of the opening portions 53 and 63, whereby the sealing performance of the container can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Shinzato, Hitoshi Oyama
  • Patent number: 8763410
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses that facilitate dissolving a hyperpolarized agent within a polarizer and transporting it to a receiver is provided. The methods include delivering water to a hyperpolarized agent contained within a polarizer, forming a hyperpolarized aqueous solution, transporting the aqueous solution through a fluid path system out of the polarizer, filtering the aqueous solution through a partical size exclusion filter to a receiver, and modifying the pH of the filtered hyperpolarized aquous solution with a dissolution medium contained in the receiver. Also disclosed herein are apparatuses for dissolving a hyperpolarized agent comprising a vial for containing a hyperpolarized imaging agent therein, a dissolution fluid path, a delivery fluid path, a particle size exclusion filter, and a receiver connected to the particle size exclusion filter and positioned to receive the filtered aqueous solution of the hyperpolarized imaging agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Brandon Whitt, Andrew Michael Leach, Peter Miller, Eric Telfeyan
  • Publication number: 20140162883
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided at least one superconductive cable (4) and a first cryostat (K1). A second cryostat (K2) is provided, formed coaxially with and at a distance from the first cryostat (K1). Arranged in the intermediate space (12) between the first cryostat (K1) and the second cryostat (K2) is a high voltage resistant insulation (16) which completely surrounds the outer pipe (10) of the first cryostat (K1), and which rests on the latter, where liquefied gas conducted during the operation of the arrangement flows through the intermediate space (12) around the insulation and impregnates the insulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Erik Marzahn, Christian Eric Bruzek
  • Patent number: 8746008
    Abstract: A vertical support rigidly mounted to a planar base positions and supports a cryocooler expander unit off axis and away from a sample to be examined. The sample support is likewise rigidly mounted to the planar base with a rigidly mounted sample housing therein. The cryocooler expander unit is suspended in the vertical support by spring dampening bearings. A pair of opposing flexible vacuum bellows connects the cryocooler expander unit to the sample housing and vertical support. This configuration isolates the sample from vibration. Flexible thermal links associated with an predictive electronic closed loop control sequence maintains sample temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Montana Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Luke R. Mauritsen, Michael B. Simmonds, Dan Griffing
  • Patent number: 8739556
    Abstract: A cryopreservation device of the present invention includes: a cryopreservation vessel; a house which houses the cryopreservation vessel; and a handling robot provided on the house, wherein the cryopreservation vessel comprises a vessel body which holds a low-temperature liquefied gas, a cap which closes an opening section of the vessel body and has a plurality of insertion holes formed to pass through in a vertical direction, and ampoule storing tools which are housed so as to be able to pass through the insertion holes of the cap, in which the ampoule storing tools are each comprised of a support pillar and a plurality of ampoule storing sections which are attached to the support pillar so as to be arrayed in a vertical direction of the support pillar, and an ampoule-putting-in/out work hole is formed in the cap so as to pass through in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Shigehiro Yoshimura, Hidetoshi Ohta, Mamoru Fujita