Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080282706 | Stirling cycle cryogenic cooler with dual coil single magnetic circuit motor - A method and mechanism for eliminating one of the magnetic circuits in a conventional two motor Stirling cryocooler. The inventive cooler is a Stirling cycle cryogenic cooler with a magnetic circuit for generating a field of magnetic flux in two separate magnetic gaps; a first coil disposed in the flux field of one gap; and a second coil disposed in the flux field of the second gap. The second coil is mounted for independent movement relative to the first coil. In a specific embodiment, the first coil is a compressor coil and the second coil is a displacer coil. The coils are energized with first and second variable sources of electrical energy in response to signals from a controller. | 11-20-2008 |
20080282707 | Cryocooler with moving piston and moving cylinder - A thermal-cycle cryocooler, such as a Stirling-cycle cryocooler, has a single working volume that is utilized by both the compressor and the displacer. The compressor and the displacer have respective movable parts, one of which is surrounded by the other. One of the parts may be a piston, a portion of which moves within a central bore or opening in a cylinder that is the other movable part. The piston may be a component of the compressor and the cylinder may be a component of the displacer, or vice versa. The working volume is located in part in a bore of the cylinder, between the piston and a regenerator that is coupled to the cylinder. Movements of either the piston or the cylinder can directly (i.e. without the use of a gas transfer line or flow passage) cause compression or expansion of the working gas in the working volume. | 11-20-2008 |
20080282708 | Cryocooler split flexure suspension system and method - A cryocooler in which two independently moving flexure systems are split across a single magnetic structure, decreasing package size and increasing resistance to cantilevered mass sag due to external forces. A series of concentrically oriented flexure coupling shafts are provided that allow two independently moving flexure assemblies to be split across a single motor. A series of connectors are included on the forward side of the motor that pass through the outer shaft and allow the inner connecting shaft to be mounted to its flexures without interference. A series of close-out connections are included on the aft flexure stacks that makes assembly possible, providing firm mechanical connections without interference. | 11-20-2008 |
20100313577 | HIGH EFFICIENCY COMPACT LINEAR CRYOCOOLER - A method of removing heat due to compression of a working gas from a linear cryocooler is disclosed. The cryocooler includes a sealed housing, a displacer including a displacer piston and a displacer cylinder, and a compressor all arranged within the housing. The compressor includes a compressor piston that is movable within a compression chamber. The method includes providing a port in the compression chamber to remove heat from the compression chamber due to the compression of the working gas to the housing prior to entering the displacer piston. | 12-16-2010 |
20120000208 | LONG LIFE SEAL AND ALIGNMENT SYSTEM FOR SMALL CRYOCOOLERS - In one embodiment, a compressor includes a moving assembly configured to compress a gas within a compression volume; a guide rod connected to the moving assembly which reciprocates axially with the moving assembly; and a bellows seal positioned between the moving assembly and a stationary housing which at least partially defining the compression volume. In another embodiment, a compressor includes a motor assembly configured to compress a gas within a compression volume, the motor assembly including: a stationary coil assembly; a moving assembly having at least one magnet, and a gap located between the stationary coil assembly and the moving assembly; wherein the moving assembly is configured to reciprocate axially with respect to the stationary coil assembly when electrical current is applied to the stationary coil assembly, and to change the width of the gap between the stationary coil assembly and the moving assembly so as to provide magnetic axial stiffness against motion of the moving assembly. One or more embodiments may be used in a cryocooler assembly. | 01-05-2012 |
20120067556 | ADVANCED HEAT EXCHANGER - A heat exchanger comprises a glass body having a first flat face and a second flat face on opposing ends, and defining a longitudinal axis therebetween. A plurality of holes in the glass body are elongated along the longitudinal axis by extending from said first flat face to said second flat face. The plurality of holes are configured to receive and direct a gas therethrough, to exchange heat between the gas and the glass body. | 03-22-2012 |
20140069115 | CRYOCOOLER HAVING VARIABLE-LENGTH INERTANCE CHANNEL FOR TUNING RESONANCE OF PULSE TUBE - A system includes a pulse tube, a compressor configured to create pulses of fluid in the pulse tube, and a surge tank. The surge tank includes a housing that defines a surge volume configured to receive the fluid from the pulse tube. An inertance channel defines a passageway through which the fluid flows to and from the surge volume. At least part of the inertance channel has an open side to the surge volume. The surge tank also includes an adjustable seal configured to block at least part of the open side of the inertance channel and to move in order to change a functional length of the inertance channel. The housing may include a material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion, and the adjustable seal may include a material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion. | 03-13-2014 |
20150041619 | NON-ROTATING FLEXURE BEARINGS FOR CRYOCOOLERS AND OTHER DEVICES - A system includes a device, a support structure, and a flexure bearing configured to connect the device to the support structure. The flexure bearing includes an outer hub and an inner hub, where the hubs are configured to be secured to the support structure and to the device. The flexure bearing also includes multiple sets of flexure arms connecting the outer and inner hubs. Each set of flexure arms includes symmetric flexure arms. The flexure bearing could include three sets of flexure arms positioned radially around a central axis of the flexure bearing and having a spacing of about 120°. Each flexure arm can follow a substantially curved path between the outer hub and the inner hub. The symmetric flexure arms in each set can be configured such that twisting of one flexure arm in one set is substantially counteracted by twisting of another flexure arm in that set. | 02-12-2015 |