The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 30, 2018
Filed:
Mar. 05, 2012
Oliver J. Dumas, East Sandwich, MA (US);
Maureen C. Buonpane, Mansfield, MA (US);
Doreen J. Ball-difazio, Hopkinton, MA (US);
Ronald N. Morris, Bedford, MA (US);
Allen J. Bartlett, Uxbridge, MA (US);
Leonard A. Loranger, Medfield, MA (US);
Joseph Chopy, Jr., Cumberland, RI (US);
Robert P. Sullivan, Wilmington, MA (US);
John J. Varone, Sanbornville, NH (US);
Paul E. Amundsen, Ipswich, MA (US);
Oliver J. Dumas, East Sandwich, MA (US);
Maureen C. Buonpane, Mansfield, MA (US);
Doreen J. Ball-DiFazio, Hopkinton, MA (US);
Ronald N. Morris, Bedford, MA (US);
Allen J. Bartlett, Uxbridge, MA (US);
Leonard A. Loranger, Medfield, MA (US);
Joseph Chopy, Jr., Cumberland, RI (US);
Robert P. Sullivan, Wilmington, MA (US);
John J. Varone, Sanbornville, NH (US);
Paul E. Amundsen, Ipswich, MA (US);
Brooks Automation, Inc., Chelmsford, MA (US);
Abstract
A refrigerant management system controls the supply of refrigerant from two or more variable speed and fixed speed compressors to a plurality of cryogenic refrigerators. The system employs a plurality of sensors to monitor and regulate the overall refrigerant supply to deliver an appropriate refrigerant supply to each of the cryogenic refrigerators. The amount of refrigerant to supply is based on an aggregate demand for refrigerant from the plurality of cryogenic refrigerators and a refrigerant correction metric. An appropriate supply of refrigerant is distributed to each cryogenic refrigerator by adjusting the speed of the variable speed compressors or, alternatively, selectively turning the compressors on or off. The speed of the variable speed compressors is adjusted by determining an amount of refrigerant to supply to the plurality of cryogenic refrigerators. If the aggregate demand for refrigerant exceeds the capacity of the compressors, then the speed of a refrigerator within the plurality of refrigerators is adjusted.