Gas Compression, Heat Regeneration And Expansion, E.g., Stirling Cycle Patents (Class 62/6)
  • Patent number: 5357757
    Abstract: A compressor for compression-evaporation cooling systems, which requires no moving parts. A gaseous refrigerant inside a chamber is acoustically compressed and conveyed by means of a standing acoustic wave which is set up in the gaseous refrigerant. This standing acoustic wave can be driven either by a transducer, or by direct exposure of the gas to microwave and infrared sources, including solar energy. Input and output ports arranged along the chamber provide for the intake and discharge of the gaseous refrigerant. These ports can be provided with optional valve arrangements, so as to increase the compressor's pressure differential. The performance of the compressor in either of its transducer or electromagnetically driven configurations, can be optimized by a controlling circuit. This controlling circuit holds the wavelength of the standing acoustical wave constant, by changing the driving frequency in response to varying operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Macrosonix Corp.
    Inventor: Timothy S. Lucas
  • Patent number: 5355679
    Abstract: An expansion engine incorporates various structural features in which all cold seals are stationary, and only warm seals move. Moving parts which are subject to cryogenic temperatures are designed with gas bearings, while tight tolerances and material choices inhibit wear and steady state heat loss. Numerous other features include structural design to relieve stresses, combined fabrication of key parts, initial bias of the inlet and outlet valves which contract on cooldown to desired alignment, and a gas-purged upper seal housing, eliminate various sources of expansion engine failure and heat loss during operation and result in high reliability and thermal efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: PHPK Technologies, Incorporated
    Inventor: James G. Pierce
  • Patent number: 5351490
    Abstract: A cryogenic refrigerator comprises a compressor including a compressor housing within which a cylinder is mounted, and a piston reciprocal within the cylinder, and a cold finger including a low temperature cylinder within which a displacer is reciprocable, and a regenerater mounted within the displacer. A plurality of flat piston suspension springs include a plurality of spiral slits to provide a plurality of spiral arms deflectable as the piston is reciprocated within the compressor cylinder. A plurality of annular inner retainers are secured to the piston and adapted to sandwich the inner peripheral edges of the piston suspension springs. A plurality of annular outer retainers are secured to the compressor housing and include a plurality of projections extending inwardly from the outer ends of the spiral slits to sandwich the outer peripheral edges of the flat piston suspension springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuru Ohishi, Kazuki Niitsu, Hiroyuki Kiyota, Nobuo Fujii, Yoshihiro Katagishi, Takeshi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 5349823
    Abstract: The present invention is an integrated computer module that has a chip carrier assembly attached to a cryogenic cooler. The carrier assembly includes a multichip that has a CPU comprising a plurality of high speed chips. The carrier also has a plurality of external pins that allow the chips to be coupled to an external device. Attached to the carrier is a vacuum-sealed enclosure constructed to eliminate moisture condensation on the pins, and minimize the heat flow from the ambient to the coldplate of the cooler. The vacuum-sealed enclosure is connected to the coldplate with springs to ensure good thermal contact between the cooler and the carrier assembly. The refrigerator runs on a Stirling cycle and contains pressurized helium as the cooling fluid. The coldplate temperature can be maintained at a constant temperature as low as -60.degree. C. while removing 40 watts of active heat load generated by the CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond Solomon
  • Patent number: 5345770
    Abstract: Disclosed is a low-temperature regenerative type refrigerator installed in a low temperature environment, in which a cooling water flow rate controller for adjusting the flow rate of cooling water automatically in accordance with the temperature of gas fed to an expansion unit from a compressor, is provided in a water cooling type cooler for cooling the compressor, to keep the temperature of the gas discharged from the compressor high to the extent of not deteriorating the function of a seal due to shrinkage or not causing convection or deflecting flow in a regenerator, whereby it is made possible to prevent the deterioration in the cooling efficiency of the regenerator which is caused by a lowering of the ambient temperature in the refrigerator installed place, and hence possible to prevent the deterioration of the refrigerating capacity as the entire refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Inaguchi
  • Patent number: 5345769
    Abstract: A system for providing a cold environment which has a number of cooling stages with variable displacement volumes into which input fluid from a compressor flows in an input channel to and from the displacement volumes and output fluid flows in an output channel to the compressor. Volume changers vary the volumes of the displacement volumes and input fluid flowing to a first set of displacement volumes is pre-cooled by regenerative heat exchange and counterflow heat exchange and input fluid flowing to the final displacement volume is pre-cooled primarily by counterflow heat exchange. The volume changer at at least one of the stages is thermally decoupled from the input and output channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Boreas, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony G. Liepert, James A. Crunkleton, Gregory R. Gallagher, Joseph L. Smith, Jr., Frederick J. Cogswell
  • Patent number: 5343707
    Abstract: A cyclic noise removing method first generates a template of a cyclic noise caused by a cryogenic refrigerator, which template is generated by arithmetically averaging the output signal from a magnetic sensor by every vibration cycle of the cryogenic refrigerator, the magnetic sensor being cooled by the cryogenic refrigerator, then removes noise included in the output signal of the magnetic sensor by subtracting the template from the output signal of the magnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ken-ichi Sata
  • Patent number: 5339639
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a cylinder containing a bed of adsorbent material and a gas, e.g. carbon dioxide. A piston compresses the gas which is adsorbed by the adsorbent material and the heat of adsorption is dissipated by fins to atmosphere. The piston, when retracted, decompresses the gas which desorbs from the adsorbent material. Repeated compression and decompression of the gas causes a cold zone to be created within the material which is thermally linked to a location to be refrigerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: The BOC Group Plc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Garrett
  • Patent number: 5339640
    Abstract: The efficiency of a thermoacoustic device including a gas-filled, elongated resonator tube (10), an acoustic driver (16) and a tube (10) for establishing a standing wave therein, an elongated stack (20) within the tube (10) having opposite (24, 26) spaced from the driver (16) can be increased with first and second heat exchangers (28, 30) in proximity to the stack (20) at each end (24, 26) thereof where each of the heat exchangers comprises at least one tube (56, 70) formed into a plurality of spaced runs (58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82). The tubes (56, 70) have an inlet (96) and an outlet (102) spaced therefrom and fins (94) are bonded to the tubes (56, 70) in the spaces between the runs (58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Michael J. Reinke
  • Patent number: 5335505
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pulse tube refrigerator, comprising a regenerator having an inlet port and an outlet port, a pulse tube having one end portion connected in series to the outlet port of the regenerator, a gas compressor connected to the inlet port of the regenerator, a first valve disposed between the discharge port of the gas compressor and the inlet port of the regenerator, a second valve disposed between the suction port of the gas compressor and the inlet port of the regenerator, a first valve controller for selectively opening/closing alternately the first and second valves to permit a high pressure coolant gas discharged from the discharge port of the gas compressor to be guided into the pulse tube through the regenerator and, then, to permit said coolant gas to be sucked into the gas compressor through the suction port thereof via the reverse passageway so as to generate coldness, a third valve disposed between the other end portion of the pulse tube and the discharge port of the gas co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasumi Ohtani, Hideo Hatakeyama, Toru Kuriyama, Hideki Nakagome, Yoichi Matsubara
  • Patent number: 5335506
    Abstract: A regenerative heat pump includes a main compartment divided into three chambers by two reciprocable displacers. Gas in the main compartment is heated. A drive mechanism is driven by a start-up motor and is connected to the displacers to reciprocate those displacers. A flow path interconnects the chambers and exchanges heat with a heat exchanger. A secondary compartment contains a piston and communicates with the main compartment so that gas from the main compartment drives the piston. The piston is connected to the drive mechanism so that when the heat pump reaches a steady state, the start up motor can be shut-off, whereupon the piston reciprocates the displacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lee Byoung-Moo
  • Patent number: 5333460
    Abstract: A 250 watt cryocooler employs a Stirling cycle and is capable of maintaining a constant temperature of 77.degree. K. while fitting a standard electronic equipment rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Russell G. Lewis, Howard H. Fraser, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5332029
    Abstract: Disclosed is a regenerator loaded with a relatively cheap heat regenerative material which exhibits excellent specific heat, heat transfer capability and recuperativeness under cryogenic temperatures lower than, for example, the liquid nitrogen temperature. The regenerator is filled with a heat regenerative material comprising at least one R-M system compound, where R is at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, HO, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu, and M is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, In and Tl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoichi Tokai, Akiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5323615
    Abstract: A closed system for effecting cryogenic cooling. The system includes a cylinder which houses therewithin a piston disposed for reciprocation within the cylinder. The cylinder is in fluid communication with a closed reservoir. A conduit interconnects the reservoir to a first chamber defined at a first end of the cylinder. A branch passage diverges from the conduit to provide fluid communication between the conduit and a second chamber defined within the cylinder at a second end thereof. A first conduit segment is, thereby, defined between the intersection of the branch passage and the entrance of the conduit into the cylinder at the first end thereof, and a second conduit segment is defined between the intersection of the branch passage with the conduit and the entry of the conduit into the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Inventor: Eric R. Glans
  • Patent number: 5319948
    Abstract: In a low temperature generation process, compressed gas (3) at high pressure enters from an inlet nozzle (1) and alternately expands into one of two resonator tubes (A,B) of an expansion engine. The expanding gas excites standing acoustic waves (4) in the resonator tubes (A,B). The acoustic energy of the waves (4) is converted into electrical energy by acoustic/electric power converters and is led away outside the "cold area" of the tubes. The expansion engine contains one or more resonator tubes with a common inlet nozzle (1). Each resonator tube has an acoustic/electric power converter (5) and an exhaust port (6). Together with a compressor, a heat exchanger and a heat sink, the expansion engine provides a very effective cooling system which may be used for the cooling of small electronic devices like chips or modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Inventors: Arnold Blum, Manfred Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5319938
    Abstract: An acoustic resonator includes a chamber which contains a fluid. The chamber has a geometry which produces self-destructive interference of at least one harmonic in the fluid to avoid shock wave formation at finite acoustic pressure amplitudes. The chamber can have reflective terminations at each end or a reflective termination at only one end. A driver mechanically oscillates the chamber at a frequency of a selected resonant mode of the chamber. The driver may be a moving piston coupled to an open end of the chamber, an electromagnetic shaker or an electromagnetic driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Macrosonix Corp.
    Inventor: Timothy S. Lucas
  • Patent number: 5318412
    Abstract: This invention relates to linear motor compressors which operate without the use of oil and a gas bearing while providing a flexible suspension for such a compressor. Such structures of this type, generally, provide a highly reliable oil-free compressor for use with cryogenic refrigeration equipment so as to attain unattended, continuous operation without maintenance over extended periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Evangelos T. Laskaris, Constantinos Minas
  • Patent number: 5317878
    Abstract: The invention provides a controlled connection, or heat switch, between a source of cryogenic cooling and an item which is to be cooled, using control valve means which is not itself subjected to the cryogenic temperatures involved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: British Technology Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bradshaw, Anna H. Orlowska
  • Patent number: 5317874
    Abstract: The seal bellows of a Stirling cycle device is connected between the bottom of a reciprocating piston and a cylinder wall to form a buffer space between the cycle working space and the lubricated crankcase. The piston and cylinder wall form a noncontact clearance seal between the buffer space and the working space in which an expander piston has a vented clearance seal to reduce the thermal loss due to cold gas leaking along the clearance seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence B. Penswick, Carl D. Beckett
  • Patent number: 5309716
    Abstract: There is disclosed a rotary pump or engine or compressor or expander comprising a spherical cavity divided by a pivotable disc into two sections. First and second wedges are pivotally connected at opposed disc surfaces. One wedge may be driven causing the disc to pivot and rotate the second wedge covering and uncovering suitably positioned inlet and outlet ports for transferring fluid. Novel constructions to simplify manufacturing and improve sealing are described. Other features include a transparent housing part, altering the angle between input and output shafts to vary the displacement and output, and a combined compressor-expander interconnected by a Cardan joint to reduce vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: Herman J. Kolbinger
  • Patent number: 5303555
    Abstract: Electronic chips are cooled to an efficient operating temperature by engaging their exposed planar surfaces with a heat sink assembly. The heat sink assembly is a part of the cold end heat sink of a thermoacoustic heat pump that utilizes either traveling wave or standing wave heat pumping to transport heat from the cold end heat exchanger to the warm end heat exchanger, utilizing a coaxial pulse tube refrigerator to pump or transport the heat from the electronic chips and the cold end heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Chrysler, David T. Vader
  • Patent number: 5301506
    Abstract: Vuilleumier type heat pumps and other thermal regenerative devices of the same type are improved by the provision of agitation and circulation of the working fluid within the working spaces for greater efficiency of heat exchange to/from these spaces. The circulation may be by means of fans, with electric motors, jet circulators, controlled direct exit of the working fluid from displacers, rotor blades located on a shaft operated from outside the device and other suitable means. The device may be single- or multi-unit. It may provide power to drive itself and/or for other uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Inventor: Tom K. Pettingill
  • Patent number: 5295355
    Abstract: A multi-bypass pulse tube refrigerator comprising a pressure wave generator, a regenerator, a heat exchanger of cold ends (cold finger), a pulse tube, an orifice means and a reservoir volume, connecting in serial. Matrix material made of material of high heat capacity is packed in the regenerator. Rectifying means are arranged at the ends of the pulse tube. The outlet of the pressure wave generator is connected with the hot end of the regenerator. The connection between the cold ends of the regenerator and the pulse tube forms the heat exchanger of cold ends. The reservoir volume is connected with the hot end of the pulse tube through the orifice means. Resistance means are properly arranged in the pulse tube, so as to for gas to pass through the pulse tube uniformly and smoothly. At least one bypass with a throttling means is provided to connect the regenerator and the pulse tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Cryogenic Laboratory of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Yuan Zhou, Junjie Wang, Wenxiu Zhu, Jinghui Cai
  • Patent number: 5293749
    Abstract: In a multi-stage cold accumulation type refrigerator including a compressor disposed at an ordinary temperature, a helium gas as a common operating fluid to be compressed by the compressor, and one or more expansion chambers and cold accumulators of different temperature levels; a cold accumulating member of the cold accumulators is formed of an alloy or compound containing a rare earth metal, so that the efficiency of the refrigerator can be improved. Further, a heat generation quantity due to sliding resistance of a seal is set to be smaller than a theoretical generated refrigeration quantity to be obtained on the assumption of isothermal expansion in the expansion chambers, so that the refrigerating capacity can be improved. The refrigerator is applied to a cooling device for cooling a superconducting magnet, SQUID, superconducting computer, infrared telescope, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Nagao, Hideto Yoshimura, Takashi Inaguchi
  • Patent number: 5293748
    Abstract: The guide portion of the cylinder of a Stirling cycle device is located at least partially within and is axially coextensive with the bellows thereby providing a reduction in the height/length of the piston, cylinder and bellows assemblies. The reduction is the distance between the guide surface and the top of the piston reduces the moment arm for canting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Paul J. Flanigan
  • Patent number: 5284022
    Abstract: A Stirling cycle type cold air generating device comprising a Stirling module having a module cylinder and a module piston disposed in the module cylinder to be vertically reciprocated, a magnetic pole piston extending downwardly from a lower end of the module piston, the magnetic pole piston being moved integrally with the module piston, a pump cylinder disposed beneath a module cylinder of a module and isolated therefrom, and a pump piston disposed in the pump cylinder to be vertically reciprocated, the pump piston defining an upper pumping chamber for pumping the heat transfer medium and a lower pumping chamber for pumping the brine in the interior of the pump cylinder. The magnetic pole piston and the pump piston are magnetically connected by means of a magnetic coupling disposed around both the module cylinder and the pump cylinder to move vertically therealong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Goldstar Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo S. Chung
  • Patent number: 5275002
    Abstract: A pulse tube refrigerating system includes a first space, a second space, a pulse tube disposed between the first and the second spaces so as to constitute a closed operating space in which an amount of operating fluid is filled, a driving device for establishing opposite phase fluctuations of the operating fluid by an expansion and an compression of the first space and the second space in alternative manner, a first set of a radiator and an accumulator disposed in the pulse tube so as to be located at a side of the first space, a second set of a radiator and an accumulator disposed in the pulse tube so as to be located at a side of the second space, a phase control oscillator disposed in the pulse tube and set to be be vibrated with a phase relative to the fluctuation of the operating fluid, and a control device for controlling the phase of the phase control oscillator relative to the fluctuation of the operating fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Aisin Newhard Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Inoue, Akira Tominaga
  • Patent number: 5269147
    Abstract: A pulse tube refrigerating system comprising a compressing cavity for compressing a working fluid, a heat radiator connected with the compressing cavity and a regenerator connected with the heat radiator. A pulse tube is provided and connected with the heat radiator through a refrigerating section. The pulse tube is connected through a heat exchanger and a flow regulating valve with an expansion cavity which is operable with a phase difference with respect to the compressing cavity, whereby the working fluid from the compressing cavity is cooled by the heat radiator and passed through the refrigerating section into the pulse tube, the working fluid in the pulse tube being compressed by the working fluid from the refrigerating section to be increased in temperature and passed to the heat exchanger to radiate heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Ecti Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ishizaki, Takayuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 5269854
    Abstract: The present invention provides a regenerative material having a peak specific heat at a low temperature. The material is made of a solid solution of at least two different magnetic type metal compounds, for example, ferromagnetic Er.sub.3 Co and antiferromagnetic Er.sub.3 Ni. From these compounds, the regenerative material Er.sub.3 (Ni,Co) in solid-solution form is produced and the material has a lower magnetic phase transition point than each of the compounds. The regenerative material is utilized for a regenerator of a refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akiko Takahashi, Yoichi Tokai, Masashi Sahashi
  • Patent number: 5261799
    Abstract: This invention relates to balanced linear motor compressors which operate without the use of oil and externally tuned resonant balancers. Such structures of this type, generally, provide a highly reliable oil-free compressor which is internally balanced for use with cryogenic refrigeration equipment so as to attain unattended, continuous operation without maintenance over extended periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Evangelos T. Laskaris
  • Patent number: 5259197
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a compression type heat pump which can obtain cooling and heating output by way of pressure changes in gases, comprising a casing member formed with a housing space outside a guiding spacer, which is constituted for first and second displacers to reciprocate up and down smoothly; a low temperature heat exchanger which generates cooling output, being housed in lower area of housing space of said casing member; a low temperature heat regenerator which emits and discharges heat, being placed on the upper area of said low temperature heat exchanger; an intermediate temperature heat exchanger which generates heating output, being placed on the upper area of said low temperature heat regenerator; an intermediate temperature heat regenerator which discharges or absorbs heat, being layed on the upper area of said intermediate temperature heat exchanger, and the lid fixed to the upper area of said casing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lee Byung-Mu
  • Patent number: 5255521
    Abstract: A gas cycle engine for a small-sized, low-vibration and long-life refrigerator which is high in centering accuracy of a moving member and excellent in durability. In the gas cycle engine for such a refrigerator, a thermodynamic gas cycle is performed by using a moving member (2 and 3) disposed in a cylinder (1), supported by leaf springs so as to be movable in the axial direction of the cylinder and driven by a linear motor (9, 12 and 13), the leaf springs (4a and 4b) being made of an electrical conductor used also as current leads for supplying a current to the linear motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Norihisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5251448
    Abstract: A heat machine comprising a displacer reciprocating within a housing. The displacer incorporates first and second independent, co-axial, overlapping regenerators. A first working volume is formed between the displacer and the housing at a hot end of the heat machine. Second and third working volumes are formed between the displacer and the housing at a cold end of the heat machine. A partition separates the second and third working volumes. A gas flow path exists from the first working volume to the third working volume via the first regenerator, the second working volume, a gas path within the partition, and the second regenerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Lucas Industries, public limited company
    Inventor: Keith P. Rodger
  • Patent number: 5249425
    Abstract: A cryostat in which a venting conduit is connected to a reservoir of the cryostat but no venting of cryogen within the reservoir can occur while fluid is flowing under pressure within the heat exchanger of the cryostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: APD Cryogenics Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph C. Longsworth
  • Patent number: 5247799
    Abstract: To set defined final temperatures of a regenerative gas refrigerating machine, it is suggested that a control gas with defined partial pressure be added to the working gas as a heat exchange medium in the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs GmbH
    Inventor: Bruno Lindl
  • Patent number: 5245830
    Abstract: An adaptive control includes a digital error correction system (DECS) to reduce control system error to near zero by anticipating a problem and feeding forward in time a correction to deal with the problem before it happens. The adaptive control is used in a controlled system of the kind which is cyclical in operation and which operates in response to repetitive cycle commands so that the operation of the system is substantially predictable for a significant number of cycles of operation. The adaptive control is incorporated in a refrigerator system in which two Stirling cycle refrigerators are mounted in opposition to one another. The adaptive control permits accurate control of the command waveform frequency and shape, enables the refrigerator system to be more thermodynamically efficient, and enables the two refrigerators to exactly cancel each other's vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Noel Aubrun, Kenneth R. Lorell, Paul J. Reshatoff, Robert R. Clappier
  • Patent number: 5239833
    Abstract: The four processes of a reverse Stirling heat pump cycle; isothehermal compression with the heat of compression being transmitted to a constant, relatively high temperature sink, regenerative cooling, isothermal expansion with heat flow from a cooler, constant temperature source followed by regenerative heating from the heat derived from the previously compressed gas are all performed with constant rather than intermittent flow. A constant flow, constant volume counter-flow heat exchanger, placed between the compressor and expander, rather than an alternately heated and cooled heat storage matrix, provides for the steady flow regenerative heat transfer as required for a steady reverse Stirling cycle heat pump. This invention therefore provides for increased heat pump rate per unit volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Fineblum Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Solomon S. Fineblum
  • Patent number: 5214923
    Abstract: A Vuilleumier heat pump comprises an inner cylinder, and an outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder. An annular space is created between the wall of the inner cylinder and that of the outer cylinder. At the top of the space, a heat regenerator is positioned. Under the heat regenerator, an intermediate level heat exchanger is positioned. At the bottom of the space, a cold regenerator is positioned. Between the intermediate level heat exchanger and the cold regenerator, a cold heat exchanger is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong R. Kown
  • Patent number: 5214922
    Abstract: A cryogenic cooler 100 for cooling a plurality of detector arrays 106 having a single compressor 102 for reciprocating a cooling gas within the cryogenic cooler. A primary transfer line 108 is connected to the compressor for transferring the cooling gas. A reducing coupler 112 is connected to the primary transfer line for distributing the cooling gas between the primary transfer line and a plurality of equally sized secondary transfer lines 118. Each of the secondary transfer lines are connected to one of a plurality of modified expander elements 104. Each of the expander elements are in thermal communication with one of the plurality of detector arrays for cooling that one detector array as the gas is reciprocated within the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: John J. Dopazo
  • Patent number: 5197295
    Abstract: A double stage Stirling cryogenic cooler with an IR Focal Plane array detector directly mounted on top of the cooler's expander second stage and with the radiation shield assembly mounted and cooled by the expander first stage to a temperature range of 200-100 K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Inventor: Nachman Pundak
  • Patent number: 5186765
    Abstract: The extremely low temperature cold accumulating material for use in refrigerators, for example, comprises particles containing at least one kind of rare earth element selected from a group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb. The proportion of particles each having a particle size of 0.01 to 3 mm is 70% or greater by weight with respect to the whole particles and the proportion of particles each having a shape such that the ratio of the major diameter to the minor diameter is not greater than 5 is 70% or greater by weight with respect to the whole particles. The particles are manufactured by quenching and solidifying a molten metal containing at least one kind of rare earth element described above. The thus manufactured extremely low temperature cold accumulating material is improved in cold accumulating efficiency and is specifically improved in mechanical strength and in chemical stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomohisa Arai, Naoyuki Sori, Masashi Sahashi, Yoichi Tokai
  • Patent number: 5182914
    Abstract: The rotary dipole active magnetic regenerative refrigerator (10) of the present invention comprises a stationary first regenerative magnetic bed (12) positioned within a stationary first inner dipole magnet (14), a stationary second regenerative magnetic material bed (16) positioned within a stationary second inner dipole magnet (18), an outer dipole magnet (20) that rotates on a longitudinal axis and encloses the inner dipole magnets (14, 18), a cold heat exchanger (22), hot heat exchangers (24, 26), a fluid displacer (28), and connective plumbing through which a heat transfer fluid is conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Astronautics Corporation of America
    Inventors: John A. Barclay, Joseph A. Waynert, Anthony J. DeGregoria, Joseph W. Johnson, Peter J. Claybaker
  • Patent number: 5181383
    Abstract: In a refrigerator having a compressor settled in a room temperature portion and an expander which is connected to the room temperature portion, a piston of the expander is settled in the room temperature portion and pressure variation at a low temperature portion is transferred to the piston through a gas column in a pipe connecting the room temperature portion and the low temperature portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignees: Research Development Corporation of Japan, Junpei Yuyama
    Inventors: Eiichi Goto, Qiquan Geng, Junpei Yuyama
  • Patent number: 5177971
    Abstract: A refrigerator comprising: a movable coil which is formed by winding a conductor on a cylindrical bobbin, and which, when a.c. current flows therethrough, reciprocates in a magnetic field produced by a magnetic circuit; a piston operatively coupled to the movable coil to reciprocate in a cylinder; a compression space, the volume of which is varied by the reciprocation of the piston; a cold cylinder; a displacer which divides the inside of the cold cylinder into a cold space and a hot space, and which reciprocates in the cold cylinder; a regenerator arranged in the displacer; and a changeover mechanism for short-circuitting the conductor wound to form the movable coil when the refrigerator is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kiyota
  • Patent number: 5174130
    Abstract: A compression-evaporation refrigeration system, wherein gaseous compression of the refrigerant is provided by a standing wave compressor. The standing wave compressor is modified so as to provide a separate subcooling system for the refrigerant, so that efficiency losses due to flashing are reduced. Subcooling occurs when heat exchange is provided between the refrigerant and a heat pumping surface, which is exposed to the standing acoustic wave within the standing wave compressor. A variable capacity and variable discharge pressure for the standing wave compressor is provided. A control circuit simultaneously varies the capacity and discharge pressure in response to changing operating conditions, thereby maintaining the minimum discharge pressure needed for condensation to occur at any time. Thus, the power consumption of the standing wave compressor is reduced and system efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Sonic Compressor Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy S. Lucas
  • Patent number: 5172554
    Abstract: A cryogenic refrigerator cools a heat source by cyclically concentrating and diluting the amount of .sup.3 He in a single phase .sup.3 He-.sup.4 He solution. The .sup.3 He in superfluid .sup.4 He acts in a manner of an ideal gas in a vacuum. Thus, refrigeration is obtained using any conventional thermal cycle, but preferably a Stirling or Carnot cycle. A single phase solution of liquid .sup.3 He at an initial concentration in superfluid .sup.4 He is contained in a first variable volume connected to a second variable volume through a superleak device that enables free passage of .sup.4 He while restricting passage of .sup.3 He. The .sup.3 He is compressed (concentrated) and expanded (diluted) in a phased manner to carry out the selected thermal cycle to remove heat from the heat load for cooling below 1 K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Gregory W. Swift, Vincent Y. Kotsubo
  • Patent number: 5167124
    Abstract: A compressor for compression-evaporation cooling systems, which requires no moving parts. A gaseous refrigerant inside a chamber is acoustically compressed and conveyed by means of a standing acoustic wave which is set up in the gaseous refrigerant. This standing acoustic wave can be driven either by a transducer, or by direct exposure of the gas to microwave and infrared sources, including solar energy. Input and output ports arranged along the chamber provide for the intake and discharge of the gaseous refrigerant. These ports can be provided with optional valve arrangements, so as to increase the compressor's pressure differential. The performance of the compressor in either of its transducer or electromagnetically driven configurations, can be optimized by a controlling circuit. This controlling circuit holds the wavelength of the standing acoustical wave constant, by changing the driving frequency in response to varying operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Sonic Compressor Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy S. Lucas
  • Patent number: 5165243
    Abstract: A compact acoustic refrigeration system actively cools components, e.g., electrical circuits (22), in a borehole environment. An acoustic engine (12, 14) includes first thermodynamic elements (12) for generating a standing acoustic wave in a selected medium. An acoustic refrigerator (16, 26, 28) includes second thermodynamic elements (16) located in the standing wave for generating a relatively cold temperature at a first end of the second thermodynamic elements (16) and a relatively hot temperature at a second end of the second thermodynamic elements (16). A resonator volume (18) cooperates with the first and second thermodynamic elements (12, 16) to support the standing wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Gloria A. Bennett
  • Patent number: 5156005
    Abstract: The displacement of a Stirling cycle cryocooler is controlled as a function of temperature by controlling the amplitude of the fundamental component of an AC signal which is applied to the motor at its operating frequency. A pulse train is generated, having a frequency which is a harmonic of the operating frequency. The duty cycle of the pulse train is modulated between 50% and 100% as a function of the temperature. The modulated pulse train is applied to the motor during one-half of the load's operating period and the complement of the pulse train is applied to the load during the other half of its operating period. Modulating the duty cycle of the pulse train (and consequently simultaneously of its complement) as a function of temperature variably controls the amplitude of the fundamental component of the drive voltage and therefore variably controls the displacement of the motor and, as a consequence, of the cryocooler piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Sunpower, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Redlich
  • Patent number: 5152147
    Abstract: A refrigerator having a pressurizing device, a coldness generating device for generating coldness by expanding a portion of operating fluid which has been pressurized by the pressurizing device and a fluid passage through which the operating fluid is, via a device to be cooled, again circulated to the pressurizing device after the residual portion of the operating fluid has been cooled by the coldness generating device. A regenerator type heat exchanger is disposed in the fluid passage through which the operating fluid passes, and a switch device switches the flow of the operating fluid in the fluid passage to the reverse direction at a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihide Saho, Takeo Nemoto, Hisanao Ogata, Susumu Harada, Kozo Matsumoto, Teruhiro Takizawa