Low-temperature magnetic refrigerator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An about 4 to about 20 K. refrigeration apparatus comprising:
- a generally U-shaped housing having a base and two arms, said housing comprising electromagnets on the insides of the tips of the arms, said electromagnets being spaced opposed to one another;
a hermetically sealed container, said container comprising a wheel-shaped part and a rotatable driveshaft enclosing drive post shield perpendicular thereto at the center thereof, said wheel-shaped part comprising a rotatable rim portion, said rim portion containing a ring of fluid contactable magnetic material disposed therein, said driveshaft and said ring being substantially frictionlessly rotatable within said container;
means for affixing said driveshaft within said drive post shield to said ring of magnetic material;
means for rotating said driveshaft and thereby rotating said ring of magnetic material at a selected speed;
first means for heat exchange comprising means for contacting a first fluid with a first portion of said ring of magnetic material disposed substantially outside a magnetic field produced by said electromagnets; and
second means for heat exchange comprising means for contacting a second fluid with a second portion of said ring of magnetic material disposed inside said magnetic field.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure is directed to a low temperature 4 to 20 K. refrigeration apparatus and method utilizing a ring of magnetic material moving through a magnetic field. Heat exchange is accomplished in and out of the magnetic field to appropriately utilize the device to execute Carnot and Stirling cycles.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An about 4 to about 20 K. refrigeration apparatus comprising:
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a generally U-shaped housing having a base and two arms, said housing comprising electromagnets on the insides of the tips of the arms, said electromagnets being spaced opposed to one another; a hermetically sealed container, said container comprising a wheel-shaped part and a rotatable driveshaft enclosing drive post shield perpendicular thereto at the center thereof, said wheel-shaped part comprising a rotatable rim portion, said rim portion containing a ring of fluid contactable magnetic material disposed therein, said driveshaft and said ring being substantially frictionlessly rotatable within said container; means for affixing said driveshaft within said drive post shield to said ring of magnetic material; means for rotating said driveshaft and thereby rotating said ring of magnetic material at a selected speed; first means for heat exchange comprising means for contacting a first fluid with a first portion of said ring of magnetic material disposed substantially outside a magnetic field produced by said electromagnets; and second means for heat exchange comprising means for contacting a second fluid with a second portion of said ring of magnetic material disposed inside said magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification