Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for the cryogenic treatment and heating of materials

US4667478A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
11References
48Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 18, 1984
Grant dateMay 26, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 18, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25D3/10
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

The apparatus comprises an insulated storage tank adapted to hold a liquified cryogenic fluid and vapor emanating from the liquified cryogenic fluid, an insulated working chamber adapted to hold an object to be treated, and a vacuum pump for evacuating the interior of the working chamber. The storage tank is in fluid communication with the working chamber, either directly, or through a vapor reservoir adapted to hold the vapor emanating from the cryogenic fluid. The method comprises introducing the vapor and/or liquid cryogen into the working chamber either in discrete or continuous amounts. The working chamber can be evacuated to a specific negative pressure either prior to introducing the vapor and/or liquid cryogen or simultaneously as the cryogens are introduced. The apparatus also provides the capability of heating materials from cryogenic levels to room-or-higher-temperature levels in a choice of ambient gases.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.