Kenneth Lyle Price

US Patent:

7062922, Jun 20, 2006

Filed:

Jan 22, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/762867

Inventors:

Carl S. Kirkconnell - Huntington Beach CA, US
Kenneth D. Price - Long Beach CA, US
Michael C. Barr - Torrance CA, US
Anthony T. Finch - Hawthorne CA, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

F25B 9/00

US Classification:

62 6

Abstract:

A two-stage cryocooler () includes an ambient temperature portion (), a first-stage temperature portion (), and a second-stage temperature portion (). The ambient temperature portion includes a surge volume () that is coupled to and in communication with the first-stage temperature portion. The surge volume may be coupled to a first-stage interface () of the first-stage temperature portion by use of an inertance tube (). Locating the surge volume in the ambient temperature portion may advantageously reduce size and mass of the first-stage temperature portion. Also, thermal losses may be reduced by maintaining the surge volume at ambient temperature. Space and structural requirements for maintaining the system may be met more easily with the surge volume maintained in the ambient temperature portion of the two-stage cooler. The surge volume may be a separate unit, or may be a plenum or other chamber within an expander in the ambient temperature portion.

US Patent:

7089750, Aug 15, 2006

Filed:

Dec 11, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/733504

Inventors:

Gerald R. Pruitt - San Pedro CA, US
Kenneth D. Price - Long Beach CA, US
Carl S. Kirkconnell - Huntington Beach CA, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

F25D 9/00
F25B 19/02

US Classification:

62 6, 62 512

Abstract:

A cryogenic refrigeration system includes an expansion nozzle having a high-pressure nozzle inlet and a low-pressure nozzle outlet, and a compressor having a compression device, such as a pair of opposing pistons, operable to compress gas within a compression volume. The compression volume has an inlet port and an outlet port. A flapper inlet valve has an inlet valve inlet, and an inlet valve outlet in gaseous communication with the inlet port of the compression volume. The inlet valve opens when a gaseous pressure at the inlet valve inlet is sufficiently greater than a gaseous pressure in the compression volume to overcome a spring force of the flapper inlet valve. A flapper outlet valve has an outlet valve inlet in gaseous communication with the outlet port of the compression volume, and an outlet valve outlet in gaseous communication with the nozzle inlet. The outlet valve opens when a gaseous pressure in the compression volume is greater than a gaseous pressure at the outlet valve outlet to overcome a spring force of the flapper outlet valve. A drive motor system is in driving mechanical communication with the compression pistons.

US Patent:

7093449, Aug 22, 2006

Filed:

Jul 28, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/628897

Inventors:

Kenneth D. Price - Long Beach CA, US
Carl S. Kirkconnell - Huntington Beach CA, US
Ken J. Ciccarelli - Huntington Beach CA, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

F25B 9/00
F25B 7/00

US Classification:

62 6, 62335

Abstract:

A two-stage hybrid cryocooler includes a first-stage Stirling expander having a first-stage regenerator having a first-stage-regenerator inlet and a first-stage-regenerator outlet, and a second-stage pulse tube expander. The second-stage pulse tube expander includes a second-stage regenerator having a second-stage regenerator inlet in gaseous communication with the first-stage regenerator outlet, and a second-stage regenerator outlet, and a pulse tube having a pulse-tube inlet in gaseous communication with the second-stage regenerator outlet, and a pulse-tube outlet. The second-stage regenerator and the pulse tube together provide a first gas-flow path between the first-stage regenerator and the pulse-tube outlet. A pulse tube pressure drop structure has a pulse-tube-pressure-drop inlet in gaseous communication with the pulse-tube outlet, and a pulse-tube pressure-drop outlet, and a gas volume is in gaseous communication with the pulse-tube pressure-drop outlet. A gas flow shunt provides gaseous communication between the first-stage regenerator and the pulse-tube outlet.

US Patent:

7263838, Sep 4, 2007

Filed:

Oct 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/974154

Inventors:

Carl S. Kirkconnell - Huntington Beach CA, US
Gerald R. Pruitt - San Pedro CA, US
Kenneth D. Price - Long Beach CA, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Corporation - Waltham MA

International Classification:

F25B 9/00

US Classification:

62 6

Abstract:

A regenerative refrigeration system includes one or more control devices that utilize micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Such MEMS devices may be small in size, on a scale such that it can be introduced into a refrigeration system, such as a cryocooler, without appreciably affecting the size or mass of the refrigeration system. Through the use of MEMS devices, dynamic control of the system may be achieved without need for disassembly of the system or making the system bulky. Suitable regenerative refrigeration systems for use with the MEMS devices include pulse tube coolers, Stirling coolers, and Gifford-McMahon coolers.

US Patent:

7779640, Aug 24, 2010

Filed:

Sep 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/223518

Inventors:

Kenneth D. Price - Long Beach CA, US
Robert C. Hon - Playa Del Rey CA, US
Julian A. Shrago - Garden Grove CA, US
Michael C. Barr - Torrance CA, US
Michael H. Kieffer - Redondo Beach CA, US
Michael J. Ramirez - Torrance CA, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

F25B 9/00

US Classification:

62 6, 318128, 318122, 60520

Abstract:

Disclosed are a low vibration cryocooler and a method of reducing vibration in a cryocooler. The cryocooler can be a Stirling class cryocooler includes at least one motor that drives a mass, the motor having a main drive winding and a separate trim winding. A motor controller outputs a main drive signal that is coupled to the main drive winding and a separate vibration reducing signal that is coupled to the trim winding.

US Patent:

8302410, Nov 6, 2012

Filed:

Oct 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/981184

Inventors:

Sidney W. Yuan - Los Angeles CA, US
Carl S. Kirkconnell - Huntington Beach CA, US
Kenneth D. Price - Long Beach CA, US
Anthony T. Finch - Long Beach CA, US
Gerald R. Pruitt - San Pedro CA, US

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

International Classification:

F25B 9/00

US Classification:

62 555

Abstract:

An inertance tube and a surge volume for a pulse tube refrigerator system may be integrally coupled together, such as by the inertance tube being at least in part a channel in a wall of the surge volume. The surge volume may have a helical channel in an outer wall that forms part of the inertance tube. The surge volume tank may be surrounded by a cover that closes off the channel to form the inertance tube as an integral part of the surge volume. The inertance tube may have a non-circular cross section shape, such as a square shape or non-square rectangular shape. The channel may be tapered, perhaps changing aspect ratio. Alternatively, the inertance tube may be a separate tube having a non-circular shape, which may be wrapped around at least part of the surge volume.

US Patent:

D2718162, Dec 13, 1983

Filed:

Nov 10, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/205873

Inventors:

Kenneth E. Price - Whittier CA

International Classification:

D1505

US Classification:

D32 32

US Patent:

61677078, Jan 2, 2001

Filed:

Apr 16, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/292028

Inventors:

Kenneth D. Price - Long Beach CA
Carl S. Kirkconnell - Huntington Beach CA
Stephen C. Neville - El Segundo CA

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Lexington MA

International Classification:

F25B 900

US Classification:

62 6

Abstract:

A hybrid two stage expander having a first stage Stirling expander coupled to a second stage pulse tube expander. Both stages are pneumatically driven by a common reciprocating compressor in a typical application. The first stage Stirling expander provides high thermodynamic efficiency which removes a majority of the heat load from gas within the cryocooler. The second stage pulse tube expander provides additional refrigeration capacity and improved power efficiency with little additional manufacturing complexity since it has no moving parts.