Reduced volume gas spring or surge tank for cryocooler
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Space & Mission Systems Corp.
InventorMichael Benedict Petach
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fibrous packing material (210) is distributed throughout the interior space of a surge tank (118). The packing material (210) makes the compression and expansion of gas within the surge tank (118) relatively more isothermal as compared to an empty tank. Thus, a smaller volume tank can be used without sacrificing performance. As a result, the size and weight requirements of the surge tank (118 ) have been reduced.
Claims15
A cryocooler comprising a surge tank, wherein the tank encloses a space, and fibrous packing material is distributed within the space enclosed by the tank.
A cryocooler comprising a surge tank, wherein fibrous packing material is distributed substantially throughout a space enclosed by the surge tank to make compression and expansion of gas within the surge tank relatively more isothermal as compared to the surge tank when empty.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.