Low vibration cryocooled system for low temperature microscopy and spectroscopy applications
AssigneeMontana Instruments Corporation
InventorsLuke R. Mauritsen, Michael B. Simmonds, Dan Griffing
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vertical support rigidly mounted to a planar base positions and supports a cryocooler expander unit off axis and away from a sample to be examined. The sample support is likewise rigidly mounted to the planar base with a rigidly mounted sample housing therein. The cryocooler expander unit is suspended in the vertical support by spring dampening bearings. A pair of opposing flexible vacuum bellows connects the cryocooler expander unit to the sample housing and vertical support. This configuration isolates the sample from vibration. Flexible thermal links associated with a predictive electronic closed loop control sequence maintains sample temperature.
Claims20
A method for preparing a conductive bundle of flexible thermal links that are to be used to extend between a heat conductive arm and a thermal sample support of an apparatus for low temperature microscopy and/or spectroscopy, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of individual links, each individual link of the plurality extending from a first end to a second end;
- annealing each of the individual links;
- coupling the first ends of the individual links to one another and coupling the second ends of the individual links to one another;
- providing spacing between at least some of the individual links to form the conductive bundle, the spacing defining at least a portion of the individual links that do not adjacent links;
- and
- affixing the bundle between the heat conductive arm and the thermal sample support of the apparatus for low temperature microscopy and/or spectroscopy.
A method for preparing a conductive bundle of flexible thermal links that are to transfer heat between two elements within an apparatus for low temperature microscopy and/or spectroscopy, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of individual links, each individual link of the plurality spanning from a first end to second end;
- bonding the first ends of the individual links to form a first flange;
- bonding the second ends of the individual links to form a second flange;
- providing spacing between at least some of the individual links to form the conductive bundle, the spacing defining at least a portion of the individual links that do not touch adjacent links;
- and
- affixing the conductive bundle between the two elements within an apparatus for low temperature microscopy and/or spectroscopy.
A method for preparing a conductive thermal link assembly that is to be used to transfer heat between two elements, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of individual straps, each individual strap of the plurality extending from a first end to a second end;
- annealing each individual strap;
- and
- after annealing each individual strap, coupling the first ends of each of the individual straps to one another and coupling the second ends of each of the individual straps to one another to form the conductive thermal link assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.