GB1108899A - Refrigerating machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1,108,899. Refrigerating. CHICAGO BRIDGE & IRON CO. 25 Oct., 1966 [23 Feb., 1966], No. 47915/66. Heading F4H. A cold gas refrigerator comprises a cylinder 64 and a piston 72 which are relatively movable in non-simple harmonic manner and a regenerator 90 which is within the cylinder and which is also movable -in non-simple harmonic manner. As illustrated the piston 72 is fixed and the cylinder 64 is movable. Gas is introduced to and exhausted from the cylinder chamber 79 via gas passages 77 and 78, a three-way valve 82 and a port 84. The three-way valve is appropriately adjusted during a cycle by a rack 86 moved through control lines 88. The regenerator 90 comprises alternating layers of copper screen 94 and glass cloth 95 located between slotted plates 91 and 92 and includes a coil 96 for the abstraction of cold from the refrigerator. Conduits 97 and 98 serve to circulate fluid through the coil 96 and their upper parts are surrounded by rigid plastics sheaths 102 which are a sliding fit in the top of the piston and are connected to a bar 108. An actuating cylinder 122 moves the regenerator through the bar 108 at constant velocity. A flexible seal 69 is connected between the piston and cylinder. and the latter is connected to actuators 121 which serve to restrain movement of the cylinder when compressed gas is admitted to the latter and allow it to move upwardly with constant velocity and which also serve to move the cylinder downwardly with constant velocity during an exhaust stroke. Energy stored by the actuators during the initial restraint may be used to reduce the energy requirements of the apparatus. The cycle is as follows. Starting from the Fig. 7 position, compressed gas is admitted through the passage 78 to raise the cylinder 64, the regenerator being simultaneously raised by the actuator 122 to the Fig. 6 position. The regenerator is then lowered until it is adjacent the top of the piston. Valve 82 is actuated to close the passage 78 and open the passage 77 thereupon gas under pressure in the chamber 79 exhausts through the passage 77. The cylinder is then lowered to expel residual gas. A second cylinder and piston may be arranged in opposition to the first above a plate 66, the two cylinders being integral and thereby moving together.