Cryogenic Refrigerator Flexible Line Holder Against External Forces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cryogenic refrigerators are vulnerable to unexpected external forces, particularly when the thermal switch is off, which can cause the refrigerator to shift or collide with surrounding structures, potentially leading to damage.

Innovation Solution

The cryogenic refrigerator includes a flexible line holder that securely attaches flexible lines, such as working gas lines and power supply cables, to the vacuum container, preventing external forces from directly affecting the cold head and maintaining its position and posture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the cryogenic refrigerator is connected to the cooling target via a bellows using upward or downward movement, then the thermal switch can connect or disconnect the cryogenic refrigerator from the cooling target, but the refrigerator becomes vulnerable to unexpected external forces that can cause it to shift or collide with surrounding structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal connection/disconnection capabilityVSAvoidstability against external forces

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate functional components: the bellows mechanism for thermal connection/disconnection is separated from the flexible line management, and the flexible line holder is introduced as an independent component to manage line positioning and prevent external force transmission to the cold head

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible line holder acts as an intermediary component between the flexible lines and the vacuum container, providing a fixed reference point that prevents external forces from directly affecting the cold head while allowing the bellows to perform its thermal switching function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the flexible line is left unsecured, then the device complexity is reduced, but the flexible line can be affected by external forces and transmit them to the cold head, causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of componentsVSAvoidexternal force transmission to cold head

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible line holder serves as an intermediary that secures the flexible line to the vacuum container, creating a fixed reference point that prevents external forces from being transmitted along the flexible line to the cold head, while adding minimal structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible line holder pre-establishes a secure mounting point for the flexible line before external forces can act on the system, preventing potential damage by eliminating the vulnerability of unsecured lines

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250116434A1Cryogenic refrigerator

Publication Date: 2025.04.10 SUMITOMO HEAVY IND LTD

AI summary

A cryogenic refrigerator includes a cold head that is mountable on a vacuum container, a cold head mount configured to couple the cold head with the vacuum container to allow movement of the cold head with respect to the vacuum container, a flexible line that is connected to the cold head outside the vacuum container, and a flexible line holder configured to hold the flexible line in a fixed manner with respect to the vacuum container.