US 6,438,966 B1 · Cryocooler interface sleeve

Abstract

A sleeve assembly for thermally interconnecting a pulse tube, two stage cryocooler with a superconducting device includes a heat transfer cylinder, a heat transfer receptacle and a wall extending therebetween to define a passageway. The heat transfer receptacle is formed with a tapered recess wherein a tapered cooling probe of the cryocooler is urged against the heat transfer receptacle to establish thermal communication therebetween. A cooling element of the cryocooler is disposed in the heat transfer cylinder to establish thermal communication therebetween. In operation, the cryocooler moves relative to the sleeve assembly between a first configuration wherein the cryocooler is engaged with the sleeve assembly to establish thermal communication therebetween and a second configuration wherein the cryocooler is disengaged with the sleeve assembly. An expandable bellows which interconnects the cryocooler with the sleeve assembly will maintain thermal insulation therebetween when the cryocooler is disengaged from the sleeve assembly.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A sleeve assembly for receiving a cryocooler having a cooling element and a tapered cooling probe which comprises:

a heat transfer cylinder;
a heat transfer receptacle formed with a recess;
a midsection interconnecting said heat transfer cylinder with said heat transfer receptacle to define a passageway therebetween;
a means for moving said cryocooler relative to said sleeve assembly between a first configuration wherein said sleeve assembly is engaged with said cryocooler, with said tapered cooling probe urged against said heat transfer receptacle to establish thermal communication therebetween and with said cooling element of said cryocooler positioned in said heat transfer cylinder to establish thermal communication therebetween to set a temperature for said sleeve assembly, and a second configuration wherein said cryocooler is disengaged from said sleeve assembly;
and
a means for interconnecting said heat transfer cylinder with said cryocooler to create an enclosed space between said cryocooler and said sleeve assembly for effectuating thermal insulation therebetween to maintain said sleeve assembly at substantially said temperature when said sleeve assembly is in said second configuration.

3 more elements

A sleeve for receiving a cryocooler having a cooling probe and a cooling element which comprises:

a heat transfer cylinder;
a heat transfer receptacle formed with a recess;
a wall interconnecting said heat transfer cylinder with said heat transfer receptacle to define a passageway therebetween;
a means for inserting said cryocooler into said sleeve to urge said cooling probe into said recess of said heat transfer receptacle to establish thermal communication therebetween and to position said cooling element in said heat transfer cylinder to establish thermal communication therebetween to set a temperature for said sleeve;
a bellows attached to said heat transfer cylinder and to said cryocooler to establish a collapsible chamber therebetween;
a means for disengaging said cryocooler from said sleeve to create said chamber as an enclosed space between said cryocooler and said sleeve to effectuate thermal insulation therebetween and to maintain said sleeve at substantially said temperature;
and
a helium source attached to said sleeve in fluid communication with said chamber.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cryocooler interface sleeve

Life of this patent

Cryocooler interface sleeve

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17