Cryogenic fluid delivery system
AssigneeHypres, Inc.
InventorsGert K. G. Hohenwarter, John A. Grange
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for delivering a cryogenic fluid to cool devices, such as electronic devices, in an open-cycle environment. The system comprises a dewar which stores a cold fluid, a cryogenic module for holding a device to be cooled and a cold fluid transfer line which delivers the cold fluid from the dewar to the device within the cryogenic module. The system further comprises an interlock mechanism to hold the transfer line and the dewar securely together and a coupling mechanism to allow the transfer line to securely engage the cryogenic module. The system also comprises a control subsystem which monitors and controls the flow of cold fluid from the dewar and through the transfer line.
Claims21
A cryogenic delivery and cooling system, comprising:
- first means for storing a cryogenic fluid;
- second means for holding a device to be cooled;
- third means for transferring the cryogenic fluid to said second means;
- fourth means for adaptively interlocking said first means and said third means;
- and
- fifth means for drawing said second means into a coupled arrangement with said third means.
A system for delivering a coolant to a device comprising:
- first means for holding the device;
- second means for storing the coolant;
- third means for transferring the coolant to the device;
- fourth means for adaptively interlocking said second means and said third means;
- control means for providing a controlled flow of coolant from said second means into said third means;
- fifth means for coupling said first means and said third means;
- and
- sixth means for controlling said fifth means.
Apparatus for delivering a cold fluid to a device to be cooled held within a cooling chamber, said chamber to be coupled to a cold fluid delivery tube which directs a stream of cold fluid to cool the device and a return tube which vents the expended cold fluid from the cooling chamber, comprising:
- a. means for storing cold fluid in a manner to substantially prevent heat transfer between the cold fluid and the environment outside the means for storing, the means for storing being configured to adaptively engage one end of the cold fluid delivery tube;
- b. means for securing a second end of the cold fluid delivery tube to one end of the cooling chamber configured to adaptively engage the second end of the delivery tube such that the second end of the delivery tube is positioned to deliver from the means for storing a stream of cold fluid to cool the device;
- c. means for driving the cold fluid from the means for storing into the one end of the delivery tube adaptively engaged thereto so that the cold fluid is carried via the delivery tube into the cooling chamber which is adaptively engaged to the second end of the delivery tube, the second end of the delivery being positioned to direct a stream of the cold fluid to cool the device held within the chamber;
- and
- d. means for insulating the cold fluid while being carried by the delivery tube from the environment outside the delivery tube and from the return tube which vents the expended cold fluid from the cooling chamber so as to substantially prevent heat transfer between the cold fluid and the outside environment and the cold fluid and the return tube.
Apparatus for delivering a cold fluid to a device to be cooled held within a cooling chamber, said chamber to be coupled to a cold fluid delivery tube which directs a stream of cold fluid to cool the device and a return tube which vents the expended cold fluid from the cooling chamber, comprising:
- a. a container which stores cold fluid and is configured at a first end to adaptively engage one end of the cold fluid delivery tube, said container constructed to insulate the cold fluid stored therein so as to substantially prevent heat transfer between the cold fluid and the environment outside the container, said container also constructed to withstand a predetermined amount of pressurization of the cold fluid;
- b. means for securing a second end of the cold fluid delivery tube to one end of the cooling chamber configured to adaptively engage the second end of the delivery tube such that the second end of the delivery tube is positioned to deliver from the container a stream of cold fluid to cool the device;
- c. means for pressurizing the cold fluid in the container so as to drive the cold fluid from the container into the one end of the delivery tube adaptively engaged thereto so that the cold fluid is carried via the delivery tube to the cooling chamber which is adaptively engaged to the second end of the delivery tube, the second end of the delivery tube being positioned to direct a stream of pressurized cold fluid to cool the device held within the chamber;
- d. means for insulating the cold fluid while being carried by the delivery tube from the environment outside the delivery tube and from the return tube which vents the expended cold fluid from the cooling chamber so as to substantially prevent heat transfer between the cold fluid and the outside environment and the cold fluid and the return tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.