Patent · US Expired

Cryogen delivery apparatus and method for regulating the cooling potential of a flowing cryogen

US5101636A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
3References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 26, 1990
Grant dateApr 7, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 26, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF17C2270/05
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cryogen delivery apparatus and method for delivering a flowing cryogen with a regulated cooling potential. The apparatus includes a pressure vessel for receiving a liquid form of the cryogen. A liquid-vapor interface is maintained within the pressure vessel so that a gaseous form of the cryogen having a low cooling potential is situated above the liquid-vapor interface and a liquid form of the cryogen having a high cooling potential is situated below the liquid-vapor interface. An outlet conduit is provided for delivering the gas and liquid forms of the cryogen from the pressure vessel. The conduit has a moveable end section located within the pressure vessel. When the moveable end section is oscillated above and below the level of a liquid-vapor interface, a two-phase flow of cryogen is delivered comprising the pure gaseous and liquid forms of the cryogen. A timing control circuit is provided to selectively regulate the time intervals that moveable end section is above and below the liquid-vapor interface during each period of oscillation. Such regulation in turn regulates the proportions of the gaseous and liquid forms and thus, the cooling pote…

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