公开(公告)号：WO2022074372A1

公开(公告)日：2022-04-14

申请号：PCT/GB2021/052565

申请日：2021-10-05

Applicant: ICEOXFORD LIMITED

Inventor： KELLY, Paul ,  GRAF, Gergo

IPC: F25B9/10 ,  F25B9/14 ,  F25B9/00 ,  F25D19/00

Abstract: A cryogenic apparatus comprising a first enclosure, a thermo-mechanical cooler thermally coupled to said first enclosure, a second enclosure spatially distanced from the first enclosure. An elongate tubular link member configured to thermally couple the first and second enclosures across the space between them. A liquid helium containing vessel located in or proximal to said second enclosure for holding liquid helium, in use, a liquid helium delivery assembly for delivering helium from said thermo-mechanical cooler to said liquid helium containing vessel. A helium gas extraction duct for carrying helium gas returned from said from said second enclosure, via said link member, to said thermo-mechanical cooler. A connecting device located in said first enclosure and comprising a plurality of fluidly coupled ports, wherein a first port of said connecting device is coupled, via first vibration-suppressing means, to an end of said tubular link member. A second port of said connecting device is coupled, via second vibration- suppressing means, to an end of said helium gas extraction duct, and a third port of said connecting device is coupled, via third vibration suppressing means, to a wall of said first enclosure.

公开(公告)号：WO2017055865A2

公开(公告)日：2017-04-06

申请号：PCT/GB2016/053049

申请日：2016-09-30

Applicant: ICEOXFORD LIMITED

Inventor： KELLY, Paul

IPC: F25B9/10 ,  F25B9/12 ,  F25B9/14 ,  F25J1/02 ,  F25D19/00

CPC classification number: F25B9/10 ,  F25B9/12 ,  F25B9/14 ,  F25B9/145 ,  F25D19/006

Abstract: A cryogenic apparatus (10) comprises: an enclosure (12); a thermo-mechanical cooler (22) and a sample tube (20) that both project into the enclosure (12), where the sample tube (20) has a closed end; a pump (92) with a pump inlet and a pump outlet, and a duct to supply helium gas from the pump outlet to the thermo-mechanical cooler (22) to produce cold helium. The sample tube (20) has a first inlet (74) to allow a fluid into the sample tube (20), and a second inlet (83) to supply fluid to a thermal element (42) in thermal contact with the sample tube (20), and also has a first outlet (26) to withdraw fluid from within the sample tube (20), and a second outlet (28) to withdraw fluid from the thermal element (42). The apparatus also comprises a first duct including a first valve (80) to supply the cold helium to the first inlet (74) and a second duct including a second valve (82) to supply the cold helium to the second inlet (83); and either or both of the first outlet (26) and the second outlet (28) may be connected to the inlet of the pump (92). This enables a specimen to be cooled either in a static mode, relying on natural convection, or in a dynamic mode, with a forced gas flow, or using both modes at once. These different options enable an operator to achieve different cooling rates.

Abstract translation: 低温装置（10）包括：外壳（12）; 一个热机械式冷却器（22）和一个样品管（20），两者均投入到外壳（12）中，样品管（20）具有封闭端; 具有泵入口和泵出口的泵（92）和用于从所述泵出口向所述热机械冷却器（22）供应氦气以产生冷氦的管道。 样品管（20）具有允许流体进入样品管（20）的第一入口（74）和用于将流体供应到与样品管热接触的热元件（42）的第二入口（83） 20），并且还具有从样品管（20）内抽出流体的第一出口（26）和用于从热元件（42）抽出流体的第二出口（28）。 该设备还包括第一管道，其包括用于将冷氦气供应到第一入口（74）的第一阀门（80）和包括第二阀门（82）的第二管道，以将冷氦气供应到第二入口（83）; 并且第一出口（26）和第二出口（28）中的任一个或两者可以连接到泵（92）的入口。 这使得样品能够以静态模式，依靠自然对流，或以动态模式，强制气体流动，或同时使用两种模式进行冷却。 这些不同的选项使操作员能够实现不同的冷却速度。

公开(公告)号：WO2018172772A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-27

申请号：PCT/GB2018/050739

申请日：2018-03-21

Applicant: ICEOXFORD LIMITED

Inventor： GRAF, Gergo ,  KELLY, Paul

IPC: F25B9/10 ,  F25B9/14 ,  F25D19/00

Abstract: A cryogenic apparatus (10) includes an enclosure (12), a first thermo-mechanical cooler (20) and a second thermo-mechanical cooler (22) which project into the enclosure (12), at least the second thermo-mechanical cooler (22) being a two-stage cooler, and each cooler (20, 22) having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for each stage, and a helium gas extraction flow duct (40) which extends into the enclosure (12) and which communicates with a vessel (42) to contain liquid helium within the enclosure (12). There is a first heat exchanger (62) within the gas flow duct (40). A first duct (74) carries cold helium gas from a fluid outlet (73) of the first thermo-mechanical cooler (20) and through the first heat exchanger (62) to the fluid inlet (75) of the second stage of the second thermo-mechanical cooler (22). A second duct (77) carries liquid helium from the fluid outlet (76) of the second thermo-mechanical cooler (22) into the vessel (42) to contain liquid helium. In operation a pump (80) supplies helium gas to the first thermo-mechanical cooler (20), and withdraws helium gas from the gas flow duct (40). The apparatus (10) can provide rapid cooling, and can achieve significant cooling power at temperatures below 1 K.