(19)
(11) EP 1 586 833 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
11.10.2006 Bulletin 2006/41

(43) Date of publication A2:
19.10.2005 Bulletin 2005/42

(21) Application number: 05251855.2

(22) Date of filing: 24.03.2005
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F25B 25/00(2006.01)
H01F 6/04(2006.01)
 F25B 9/14(2006.01)
G01R 33/3815(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR LV MK YU

(30) Priority: 14.04.2004 GB 0408312

(71) Applicant: Oxford Instruments Superconductivity Limited
Witney, Oxon OX29 4TL (GB)

(72) Inventors:
  • Kirichek, Oleg
    Oxon OX26 2EL (GB)
  • Kouzmenko, Gregory
    Bicester Oxon OX26 6XT (GB)

(74) Representative: Skone James, Robert Edmund 
Gill Jennings & Every LLP Broadgate House 7 Eldon Street
London EC2M 7LH
London EC2M 7LH (GB)

   


(54) Cooling apparatus


(57) Cooling apparatus comprises a cooling system defining a closed path around which a coolant flows. The system includes a pump (13) for causing coolant flow, a supply line (26) extending from the pump to a cold location, positioned in a cryostat, in order to cool that location, and a return line extending (28) from the cold location to the pump. The pump is located externally of the cryostat. A first heat exchanger (17) is positioned within the cryostat and links the supply and return lines to allow heat exchange therebetween such that coolant flowing in the supply line is cooled by coolant flowing in the return line. A refrigerator is provided having a cooling stage within the cryostat and coupled to the supply line downstream of the first heat exchanger such that coolant reaching the first cooling stage has been precooled by the first heat exchanger.







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