Cryogenic vacuum break thermal coupler
First Claim
1. A coupler for thermally coupling, to an object to be cooled, a cooling device having at least a first and a second, colder, cooling stages, which stages are rigidly coupled to each other, the coupler comprising:
- a. an intermediate temperature station, configured to couple releasably with the first stage of the cooling device;
b. a cold station, configured to fixedly connect to the object to be cooled and also to couple releasably with the second, colder stage of the cooling device;
c. a fixture that rigidly connects the cold station to an actuator support;
d. a linearly extendable actuator that couples the actuator support to the intermediate temperature station, the actuator and fixture configured such that energization of the actuator forces a movable end of the actuator in the direction toward the cold station and away from the actuator support until the movable end of the actuator meets the intermediate temperature station, which causes the intermediate temperature station to move away from the actuator support in the direction of the colder stage of the cooling device, also forcing the first stage, and the entire cooling device, including the second colder stage, in the direction of the colder stage of the cooling device, and also brings into contact;
i. the intermediate temperature station with the first stage, of the cooling device; and
ii. the cooling device colder stage with the cold station such that pressure increases at an interface joining the colder stage and the cold station as well as at an interface joining the intermediate temperature station and the first stage of the cooling device;
thereby establishing a force on the first stage and the actuator support, which forces are substantially equal and opposite to each other, without any force being applied to the object to be cooled;
e. a cooling device vacuum enclosure shaped and sized to house a cooling device vacuum around the cooling device, comprising the cold station; and
f. a cooled object vacuum enclosure, shaped and sized to house an object to be cooled, the cooled object vacuum enclosure being hydraulically independent of the cooling device vacuum enclosure, such that a vacuum within the cooling device vacuum enclosure can be broken without breaking a vacuum within the cooled object vacuum enclosure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A novel thermal coupler apparatus and method to couple a cryocooler or another cooling device to a superconducting magnet or cooled object allows for replacement without a need to break the cryostat vacuum or to warm up the superconducting magnet or other cooled object. A method uses a pneumatic actuator for coupling, and a retractable mechanical actuator for uncoupling. Mechanical closing forces are balanced between the intermediate temperature and low temperature cooling surfaces and do not transfer to the cooled object. The pneumatic actuator provides permanent control under mechanical closing forces in the thermal coupling.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A coupler for thermally coupling, to an object to be cooled, a cooling device having at least a first and a second, colder, cooling stages, which stages are rigidly coupled to each other, the coupler comprising:
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a. an intermediate temperature station, configured to couple releasably with the first stage of the cooling device; b. a cold station, configured to fixedly connect to the object to be cooled and also to couple releasably with the second, colder stage of the cooling device; c. a fixture that rigidly connects the cold station to an actuator support; d. a linearly extendable actuator that couples the actuator support to the intermediate temperature station, the actuator and fixture configured such that energization of the actuator forces a movable end of the actuator in the direction toward the cold station and away from the actuator support until the movable end of the actuator meets the intermediate temperature station, which causes the intermediate temperature station to move away from the actuator support in the direction of the colder stage of the cooling device, also forcing the first stage, and the entire cooling device, including the second colder stage, in the direction of the colder stage of the cooling device, and also brings into contact; i. the intermediate temperature station with the first stage, of the cooling device; and ii. the cooling device colder stage with the cold station such that pressure increases at an interface joining the colder stage and the cold station as well as at an interface joining the intermediate temperature station and the first stage of the cooling device; thereby establishing a force on the first stage and the actuator support, which forces are substantially equal and opposite to each other, without any force being applied to the object to be cooled; e. a cooling device vacuum enclosure shaped and sized to house a cooling device vacuum around the cooling device, comprising the cold station; and f. a cooled object vacuum enclosure, shaped and sized to house an object to be cooled, the cooled object vacuum enclosure being hydraulically independent of the cooling device vacuum enclosure, such that a vacuum within the cooling device vacuum enclosure can be broken without breaking a vacuum within the cooled object vacuum enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method to thermally couple to an object to be cooled, a cooling device having a first and a second, colder, cooling stage, which stages are rigidly connected to each other, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a thermal coupler comprising; i. an intermediate temperature station, configured to couple releasably with the first stage of the cooling device; ii. a cold station configured to fixedly connect to the object to be cooled and also to couple releasably with the second, colder stage of the cooling device; iii. a fixture that rigidly connects the cold station to an actuator support; iv. connected to the first stage, at least one wing extension configured to fit through at least one corresponding opening in the intermediate temperature station; v. a linearly extendable actuator that couples the actuator support to the intermediate temperature station, the actuator and fixture configured such that energization of the actuator forces a movable end of the actuator in the direction toward the cold station and away from the actuator support until the movable end of the actuator meets the intermediate temperature station, which causes the intermediate temperature station, to move away from the actuator support in the direction of the colder stage of the cooling device, also forcing the first stage, and the entire cooling device, including the second colder stage, in the direction of the colder stage of the cooling device, and also brings into contact; A. the intermediate temperature station with the first stage of the cooling device; and B. the cooling device colder stage with the cold station such that pressure increases at an interface joining the colder stage and the cold station as well as at an interface joining the intermediate temperature station and the first stage of the cooling device; thereby establishing a force on the first stage and the actuator support, which forces are substantially equal and opposite to each other, without any force being applied to the object to be cooled; vi. a cooling device vacuum enclosure shaped and sized to house a cooling device vacuum that surrounds the cooling device, comprising the cold station; and vii. a cooled object vacuum enclosure, shaped and sized to house an object to be cooled, the cooled object vacuum enclosure being hydraulically independent of the cooling device vacuum enclosure, such that a vacuum within the cooling device vacuum enclosure can be broken without breaking a vacuum within the cooled object vacuum enclosure; b. introducing the cooling device into the cooling device vacuum enclosure such that the at least one wing extension passes through the corresponding opening in the actuator support; c. positioning the first stage of the cooling device in an uncoupled position by rotating the cooling device so that the at least one wing extension is opposite the intermediate temperature station; and d. energizing the actuator, so that contact arises between; i. the intermediate temperature station with the first stage of the cooling device; and ii. the cooling device colder stage with the cold station. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification