US 12,247,774 B2
Gas gap heat switch configuration
Anthony Matthews, Oxfordshire (GB)
Assigned to Oxford Instruments Nanotechnology Tools Limited, Oxon (GB)
Appl. No. 17/798,862
Filed by Oxford Instruments Nanotechnology Tools Limited, Oxon (GB)
PCT Filed Feb. 16, 2021, PCT No. PCT/GB2021/050375
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 10, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/170975, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2002653 (GB), filed on Feb. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0088083 A1, Mar. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. F25B 9/12 (2006.01); F25B 9/10 (2006.01); F25B 9/14 (2006.01); F25D 19/00 (2006.01); F28D 15/02 (2006.01); F28F 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 9/12 (2013.01) [F25B 9/10 (2013.01); F25B 9/145 (2013.01); F25D 19/006 (2013.01); F28D 15/02 (2013.01); F28F 2013/008 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cryogenic cooling system comprising:
a cooled plate thermally coupled to a cryogenic refrigerator;
a target assembly, wherein the target assembly comprises a target refrigerator configured to obtain a lower base temperature than the cryogenic refrigerator;
a heat switch assembly comprising one or more gas gap heat switches, the heat switch assembly having a first end thermally coupled to the cooled plate and a second end thermally coupled to the target assembly; and
a sorption pump configured to control the thermal conductivity across the heat switch assembly in accordance with the temperature of the sorption pump, wherein the sorption pump is thermally coupled to the cryogenic refrigerator by a thermal link extending from the cooled plate to the heat switch assembly, wherein the sorption pump is arranged at a position along the thermal link between the heat switch assembly and the cooled plate;
wherein the thermal link comprises a first connecting member and a second connecting member, wherein the first connecting member extends between the heat switch assembly and the sorption pump, and wherein the second connecting member extends between the sorption pump and the cooled plate; and
wherein the first connecting member comprises a conduit for conveying gas between the sorption pump and one or more gas gap heat switches of the heat switch assembly.