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Apparatus and method for rapidly freezing small objects

Apparatus and method for rapidly freezing small objects description/claims

This application claims priority benefit as a continuation-in-part application of US application Ser. No. 10/908,590, filed by Kanamori and Wysokinski on May 18, 2005, incorporated herein by reference.

This invention relates generally to the field of gas liquefaction systems.

Cryogenics (technology that uses very low temperatures) is already popular in applications such as high-end medical equipment, scientific research, food processing and semiconductor industries. Liquid gas, such as liquid nitrogen (“LN2”), has enormous potential for a broader application of this technology in various new marketplaces and industries.

LN2 is used in many commercial and medical applications, including: medical and veterinary treatment, research and laboratory applications; education; machinery shops; and, obviously, refrigeration. One limitation in applying cryogenic technology more broadly is the limitations of the current supply system of LN2, which is generally available from industrial gas suppliers only for customers who purchase large amounts and live in urban areas. This is because the supply of LN2 suffers from a host of difficulties. LN2 is produced at an industrial site and can be delivered to a purchaser, generally within two days of placing an order (provided a sufficiently large quantity is ordered, e.g. 100 litres). Once the LN2 has been delivered, it must be stored. The longer it is stored, (and the further the delivery site is from the industrial site) the more LN2 is lost through boil off. Storage of large amounts of LN2 presents a hazard and may require transfer to smaller containers for handling.

These problems point to the need for a means of liquid gas supply that is readily available on site, and doesn't suffer from the drawbacks associated with transfer and storage of large quantities of liquid gas.

A small-scale gas liquefaction system is provided that can be used in, for example, medical office, restaurant and bar, and machine shop settings. The liquefaction system requires little or no special set up and can be simply plugged into a standard (single-phase 115 VAC) wall outlet. Depending on the specific embodiment, it will produce 1-20 liters of liquefied gas per day. It provides an economical option for users of relatively small quantities of, for example, LN2 to obtain liquefied gas.

The invention comprises a gas generator, a cooling unit having a stirling, pulse-tube or stirling-pulse-tube cooler, and an insulated container below said cooling unit to receive the liquefied gas. The liquefied gas falls from the cooling unit directly into an insulated container or dewar, which is connected to the cooling unit with a gas-tight seal. The insulated container can be quickly and easily disengaged from the cooling unit, thereby eliminating the need to transfer the liquefied gas to portable containers. The risks associated with handling the liquefied gases are thereby minimized.

The aforesaid components are sized and configured to allow the liquefaction system to be located on a desk or counter top. Although in the preferred embodiment the invention is used to produce LN2 from air, alternate embodiments may be used to produce liquid oxygen, natural gas, argon, or air.

The invention itself both as to organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof will become readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. Every drawing does not show every element of the invention, because in some drawings it is necessary to omit selected elements or features in order to clearly show the elements discussed in the drawing. The drawings are not necessarily to scale.

FIG. 1 shows the major components of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cooling unit with the insulated container;

FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of the cooling unit elements and the insulated container.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an embodiment of the invention employing a liftable platform;

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