Open flow helium cryostat system and related method of using
AssigneeThe University of Toledo
InventorsA. Alan Pinkerton, Anthony Martin, Kristin Kirschbaum
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Abstract
An open flow helium cryostat system for cooling a sample crystal to be examined using X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, or a similar method. The cryostat system including a primary helium supply to provide a first stream of liquid helium onto the sample crystal and a secondary helium supply to provide a second stream of gaseous helium around at least a portion of the primary helium supply at a temperature warmer than the first stream of liquid helium to prevent the formation of ice on the sample crystal.
Claims22
An open flow helium cryostat system for cooling a sample crystal, the cryostat system comprising:
- a primary helium supply to provide a first stream of helium onto the sample crystal;
- and
- a secondary helium supply to provide a second stream of helium around at least a portion of the primary helium supply at a temperature warmer than the first stream of helium to prevent the formation of ice solid air on the sample crystal.
An open flow helium cryostat system for cooling a sample crystal to be examined, the cryostat system comprising:
- a housing having a primary helium inlet and a secondary helium inlet,
- the primary helium inlet including an outer sleeve surrounding an inner sleeve, the outer sleeve formed as an integral part of the housing and receives the inner sleeve in communication with a primary helium supply line;
- the secondary helium inlet including an outer sleeve surrounding an inner sleeve, the outer sleeve formed as an integral part of the housing and receives the inner sleeve in communication with a secondary helium supply line;
- an outer nozzle assembly including an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve and a primary helium nozzle, the outer sleeve formed integral with the housing and receiving an inner sleeve accommodating therein a primary helium nozzle defining a passage there between, the primary helium nozzle in communication with the primary helium supply line and the passage in communication with the secondary helium supply line.
An open flow helium cryostat system for cooling a sample crystal, comprising:
- a housing;
- a primary helium inlet connected to said housing for providing a primary source of helium at a first temperature onto the sample crystal;
- a secondary helium inlet connected to said housing for providing a
- secondary source of helium at a second temperature;
- and
- an outer nozzle assembly connected to said housing for providing the primary source of helium and the secondary source of helium,
- wherein the second temperature of the secondary source of helium is at a higher temperature than the first temperature of the primary source of helium, thereby preventing the formation of a frozen substance on the sample crystal.
An open flow helium cryostat system for cooling a sample crystal, comprising:
- a cryostat;
- a helium source and back flow system connected to said cryostat the helium source providing a first stream of helium and the back flow system providing a second stream of helium which is a bleed off or back flow from the first stream;
- and
- a cryostat retention assembly for supporting said cryostat.
A method for cooling a sample crystal, the method comprising the steps of:
- mounting the sample crystal on a sample retention assembly;
- causing helium from a primary source of helium to flow onto the sample crystal at a first temperature;
- and
- causing helium from a secondary source of helium to flow around at least a portion of the primary helium supply at a second temperature,
- whereby the second temperature of the secondary source of helium is at a higher temperature than the first temperature of the primary source of helium, thereby preventing the formation of a frozen substance on the sample crystal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.