Gerald M Pruitt, 741422 Clipperton Ave, Henderson, NV 89074

7089750, Aug 15, 2006

Dec 11, 2003

10/733504

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

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

F25D 9/00
F25B 19/02

62 6, 62 512

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.

7263838, Sep 4, 2007

Oct 27, 2004

10/974154

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

Raytheon Corporation - Waltham MA

F25B 9/00

62 6

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.

8302410, Nov 6, 2012

Oct 31, 2007

11/981184

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

Raytheon Company - Waltham MA

F25B 9/00

62 555

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.

5966936, Oct 19, 1999

Jun 4, 1998

9/090196

Gerald R. Pruitt - San Pedro CA

Raytheon Company - Lexington MA

F01B 2910

60520

A driven armature cylinder and piston link with reduced side loads and cross-bearing loads which uses a pin inserted through a dual coaxial tapered through bore in the drive piston to secure a drive piston to a displacer or compressor module cylinder, as applicable to Stirling cycle cryocoolers. Another embodiment is a method of coupling a piston to an armature cylinder with a linkage pin inserted through a dual coaxial tapered through bore to assure that the impact forces between the linkage pin and the drive piston occur at the centerline of the drive piston for centered loading and reduction of side and cross-bearing loads.

5944302, Aug 31, 1999

Jan 26, 1995

8/380223

Anthony S. Loc - Alhambra CA
Gerald R. Pruitt - San Pedro CA

Raytheon Company - El Segundo CA

F16F 102
F16F 104

267180

A linear compressor (60) includes a reciprocating piston (20) for varying the volume of a compression chamber (12). A moving coil motor (26) causes the piston (20) to reciprocate against the force of an integrally machined double-helix spring (62) about a position in which the spring (62) is in a free state. The spring (62) includes a retainer (72) which is attached to the piston (20), a fixed flange (66) and two resilient helical members (78,80) which extend between the flange (66) and retainer (72) along a longitudinal axis (82). The helical members (78,80) are configured such that lateral reaction forces thereof are mutually canceling. The helical members (78,80) have the same twist direction, are interspersed with each other along the longitudinal axis (82) and are rotationally displaced from each other about the longitudinal axis (82) by substantially 180. degree. Alternatively, a spring (90) includes helical members (100,102) which have opposite twist directions and are spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis (104), and are interconnected at their inner ends by a center member (106).

5596875, Jan 28, 1997

Aug 10, 1995

8/513647

Robert L. Berry - Ashville NC
Gerald R. Pruitt - San Pedro CA

Hughes Aircraft Co - Los Angeles CA

F25B 900

62 6

A split Stirling cycle type of cryogenic cooler (10) includes a compressor portion (12) and an expander portion (14). The expander portion (14) is of the "cold finger" type, and is configured to operate in near-resonance with the characteristic cyclic operating rate of the compressor portion (12). As a result, an improved performance of the cooler results both during cool down from ambient temperatures and after cool down. Additionally, a quiet operation of the cooler is provided both during and after cool down to cryogenic temperatures.

5542254, Aug 6, 1996

Aug 5, 1994

8/286859

Gerald R. Pruitt - San Pedro CA

Hughes Aircraft Company - Los Angeles CA

F25B 900
F25B 1900
F25D 1900

62 06

An improved cryogenic cooler 100 includes a flange 106 with an elongated pressure vessel 120 extending therefrom. The pressure vessel 120 is connected to the flange 106 at a proximal end thereof. The pressure vessel 120 is adapted to cool a surface in the proximity of the distal end thereof. Vibration isolation is provided at both proximal and distal ends of the elongated pressure vessel. A coupler 126 serves to maintain a gap between the distal end of the pressure vessel 120 and the surface at cryogenic temperatures. In a specific embodiment, the coupler 234 has a coefficient of thermal expansion which is less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of an end cap 224 on the pressure vessel. The coefficients of expansion are chosen to provide a tight slip fit between the cooler and the coupler at ambient temperatures and a very small continuous air gap at cryogenic temperatures. Another novel feature is the provision of an energy-absorbing ring 114 within the flange to dissipate vibration therein.