US3882687A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for the cooling of an object
Assignee: Linde GmbH
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Filing: 1974-01-23
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1994-01-23
Abstract
Abstract An object, such as a superconductive magnet or a super-conductor cable in a housing or cryostat, is cooled with a cryogenic fluid passed continuously from one vessel into the housing or cryostat and then conducted after expansion into a second vessel where part of the cryogenic liquid is converted to vapor by expansion. A vapor/liquid separation is carried out in the second vessel and the liquid phase is delivered to a third vessel serving as a storage reservoir and intermittently connected to the first vessel to return liquid coolant thereto. During the accumulation of liquid in the third vessel, both the second and third vessels are maintained at a pressure lower than that in the first vessel, the pressure difference driving the liquid coolant through the housing or cryostat.
Inventors
- 👤 Stefan Asztalos
- 👤 Rudolf Kneuer
- 👤 Alfred Stephan
- 👤 Reinhard Glatthaar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:32
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S505/00; Y10S505/825; Y10S505/888; Y10S505/897; Y10S505/899
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of cooling an object to be maintained at a cryogenic temperature comprising the steps of: continuously feeding a liquid cryogen from a supply vessel to said object; maintaining a pressure in said vessel sufficient to displace said liquid cryogen to said object; expanding liquid cryogen upon its passage to said object to form a vapor/liquid phase mixture of the liquid cryogen; separating said phase mixture into a liquid phase and a vapor phase in a second vessel; transferring the liquid phase from said second vessel directly to a third storage vessel; and at least intermittently feeding said liquid cryogen from said storage vessel to said supply vessel upon the liquid level in said storage vessel attaining a predetermined height and at substantially the pressure in said supply vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of cooling an object to be maintained at a cryogenic temperature comprising the steps of: continuously feeding a liquid cryogen from a supply vessel to said object; maintaining a pressure in said vessel sufficient to displace said liquid cryogen to said object; expanding liquid cryogen upon its passage to said object to form a vapor/liquid phase mixture of the liquid cryogen; separating said phase mixture into a liquid phase and a vapor phase in a second vessel; transferring the liquid phase from said second vessel directly to a third storage vessel; and at least intermittently feeding said liquid cryogen from said storage vessel to said supply vessel upon the liquid level in said storage vessel attaining a predetermined height and at substantially the pressure in said supply vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein a first valve is provided between said storage vessel and said supply vessel and a second valve is provided between said second vessel and said storage vessel, said method further comprising the step of controlling said valves in response to the liquid level in said storage vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of super-cooling the liquid cryogen from said supply vessel prior to its use to cool said object in heat exchange with the expanded cryogen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of shielding the liquid cryogen in contact with said object with the expanded cryogen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of shielding the liquid cryogen between said supply vessel and said object with the expanded cryogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein a radiation shield is provided around said object, said method further comprising the step of cooling said radiation shield with the vapor phase separated from said liquid phase.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for cooling an object, comprising a supply vessel for a liquid cryogen; conduit means connecting said supply vessel with said object; an expansion valve receiving liquid cryogen from said object; a second vessel communicating with said expansion valve and receiving a vapor-liquid phase mixture of said cryogen therefrom; a storage vessel connected to said supply vessel for delivering liquid cryogen thereto; and means connecting said second vessel to said storage vessel for delivering said liquid cryogen to said storage vessel upon its separation from the vapor phase of said mixture in response to the liquid level in said storage vessel.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for cooling an object, comprising a supply vessel for a liquid cryogen; conduit means connecting said supply vessel with said object; an expansion valve receiving liquid cryogen from said object; a second vessel communicating with said expansion valve and receiving a vapor-liquid phase mixture of said cryogen therefrom; a storage vessel connected to said supply vessel for delivering liquid cryogen thereto; and means connecting said second vessel to said storage vessel for delivering said liquid cryogen to said storage vessel upon its separation from the vapor phase of said mixture in response to the liquid level in said storage vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus defined in claim 7 further comprising a heat exchanger having a first section traversed by the liquid cryogen between said supply vessel and said object and a second section traversed by a vapor-liquid phase mixture from said expansion valve for super-cooling the liquid cryogen prior to the use thereof to cool said object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus defined in claim 7, further comprising a radiation shield surrounding said object and means for passing the vapor-liquid phase mixture formed upon expansion of said liquid cryogen in said expansion valve into heat exchanging relation with said radiation shield.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for cooling an object, comprising a supply vessel for a liquid cryogen; conduit means connecting said supply vessel with said object; an expansion valve receiving liquid cryogen from said object; a second vessel communicating with said expansion valve and receiving a vapor-liquid phase mixture of said cryogen therefrom; a storage vessel connected to said supply vessel for delivering liquid cryogen thereto; and means connecting said second vessel to said storage vessel for delivering said liquid cryogen to said storage vessel upon its separation from the vapor phase of said mixture a valve being provided between said second vessel And said third vessel and another valve being provided between said second vessel and said storage vessel and another valve being provided between said storage vessel and said supply vessel, said apparatus further comprising a liquid level sensor in said storage vessel for controlling said valves.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for cooling an object, comprising a supply vessel for a liquid cryogen; conduit means connecting said supply vessel with said object; an expansion valve receiving liquid cryogen from said object; a second vessel communicating with said expansion valve and receiving a vapor-liquid phase mixture of said cryogen therefrom; a storage vessel connected to said supply vessel for delivering liquid cryogen thereto; and means connecting said second vessel to said storage vessel for delivering said liquid cryogen to said storage vessel upon its separation from the vapor phase of said mixture a valve being provided between said second vessel And said third vessel and another valve being provided between said second vessel and said storage vessel and another valve being provided between said storage vessel and said supply vessel, said apparatus further comprising a liquid level sensor in said storage vessel for controlling said valves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein a pressure control device is provided for regulating the relative pressures in said vessels above that in said supply vessel to displace liquid cryogen from said storage vessel to said supply vessel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said conduit means comprises a central passage traversed by the liquid cryogen and a plurality of annular passages surrounding said central passage, at least one of said annular passages being connected to one of said vessels for passage of cryogenic fluid therethrough.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |