An object of the present invention is to improve, using a simple configuration, heat dissipation of a regenerative resistor that is disposed in a vacuum pump control device (controller) connected to a vacuum pump. The regenerative resistor disposed in the vacuum pump control device is stored in an aluminum die-cast casing. More concretely, a housing of the vacuum pump control device is prepared by aluminum die casting (metal mold casting). A regenerative resistor storing portion (aluminum die-cast casing) provided with a hollow portion is provided on a top panel of the aluminum die cast, the hollow portion being designed to have a size accommodating the entire regenerative resistor. The regenerative resistor is fitted into the hollow portion, and an opening section of the hollow portion is sealed with an aluminum sheet of the same material as that of the casing. In this manner, the regenerative resistor can removably be stored in the aluminum die-cast casing.

An arrangement for damping vibrations during microscopic examinations of inorganic and organic material specimens in an evacuated measuring at low temperatures that are cooled by an electromechanical cryocooler suppresses transfer of vibrations from the cryocooler onto the specimen, the microscope table and the instrument table. The arrangement includes a cryocooler unit and a microscopy unit combined with a damping unit preferably located on a common longitudinal axis. The damping unit has a series arrangement of inter-coupled evacuable compensation chambers arranged along the longitudinal axis, the series arrangement being combined with damper groups, two of which act at least diametrically. A clamping unit is operationally connected to the damping unit at at least two points on the series arrangement. A tension force of the damping unit is adjustable.

An arrangement for damping vibrations during microscopic examinations of inorganic and organic material specimens in an evacuated measuring at low temperatures that are cooled by an electromechanical cryocooler suppresses transfer of vibrations from the cryocooler onto the specimen, the microscope table and the instrument table. The arrangement includes a cryocooler unit and a microscopy unit combined with a damping unit preferably located on a common longitudinal axis. The damping unit has a series arrangement of inter-coupled evacuable compensation chambers arranged along the longitudinal axis, the series arrangement being combined with damper groups, two of which act at least diametrically. A clamping unit is operationally connected to the damping unit at at least two points on the series arrangement. A tension force of the damping unit is adjustable.

A cryostat has a cooling arm with a first thermal contact surface which can be brought into thermal contact with a second thermal contact surface on an object to be cooled. A hollow volume (2) between the inner side of the neck tube, the cooling arm, and the object is filled with gas and the cooling arm is pressurized by the inner pressure of the gas and also by atmospheric pressure. A contact device brings the first and the second contact surfaces into thermal contact below a threshold gas pressure and moves them away from each other when the threshold pressure has been exceeded such that a gap (13) filled with gas thermally separates the first and second contact surfaces. Operationally safe and fully automatic reduction of the thermal load acting on the object to be cooled is thereby obtained in case the cooling machine fails.

Cryocooler assemblies are provided that can include: a first mass configured to generate mechanical responses; a second mass operably engaged with the first mass; and an assembly between the first and second mass, the assembly configured to allow movement of the first mass in relation to the second mass. Methods for isolating mechanical responses within a cryocooler assembly are provided. The methods can include: generating a mechanical response about a first mass within a cryocooler assembly; suspending the first mass in relation to a second mass of the assembly; and operatively engaging the second mass as a cold source for the cryocooler assembly.

Cryocooler assemblies are provided that can include: a first mass configured to generate mechanical responses; a second mass operably engaged with the first mass; and an assembly between the first and second mass, the assembly configured to allow movement of the first mass in relation to the second mass. Methods for isolating mechanical responses within a cryocooler assembly are provided. The methods can include: generating a mechanical response about a first mass within a cryocooler assembly; suspending the first mass in relation to a second mass of the assembly; and operatively engaging the second mass as a cold source for the cryocooler assembly.

An installation for pumping cryogenic fluid including a fluidtight enclosure to contain a bath of cryogenic fluid, the enclosure housing a compression chamber communicating with the bath and a movable piston to compress the fluid in the compression chamber, the piston being mounted at a first end of a rod, the apparatus including a drive mechanism driving a second end of the rod in a back and forth movement in a longitudinal direction, the drive mechanism including a motor equipped with a rotary shaft and a mechanical conversion system converting the rotational movement of the rotary shaft into a translational movement, in the configuration of operation of the installation, the longitudinal direction of travel of the piston rod being vertical, the motor being fixed rigidly to an upper mounting structure.

An installation for pumping cryogenic fluid including a fluidtight enclosure to contain a bath of cryogenic fluid, the enclosure housing a compression chamber communicating with the bath and a movable piston to compress the fluid in the compression chamber, the piston being mounted at a first end of a rod, the apparatus including a drive mechanism driving a second end of the rod in a back and forth movement in a longitudinal direction, the drive mechanism including a motor equipped with a rotary shaft and a mechanical conversion system converting the rotational movement of the rotary shaft into a translational movement, in the configuration of operation of the installation, the longitudinal direction of travel of the piston rod being vertical, the motor being fixed rigidly to an upper mounting structure.

An installation for pumping cryogenic fluid including a fluidtight enclosure configured to contain a bath of cryogenic fluid, the enclosure housing a compression chamber communicating with the bath and a piston that moves in order to compress the fluid in the compression chamber, the piston being mounted at a first end of a rod, the installation including a drive mechanism driving a second end of the rod) in a back and forth movement in a longitudinal direction of travel, the drive mechanism including a motor equipped with a rotary shaft and a mechanical conversion system converting the rotational movement of the rotary shaft into a translational movement, in the configuration of operation of the installation, the longitudinal direction of travel of the piston rod being vertical, the motor being fixed rigidly to an upper mounting structure.

A vapor collection system that can be used at an extra-terrestrial body is envisioned to collect target gaseous atoms and molecules that are floating around in a shielded environment at a pressure at or less than 1?10.sup.?5 bar. The shielded environment is defined within sidewalls and in some cases is defined within a cover. A condensation surface in the shielded environment is maintained at a temperature between 2? Kelvin and 100? Kelvin to collect the target gas that is floating around, which condenses on the condensation surface as a liquid. A collection receptacle at the condensation surface collects the liquid. A heating element in the shielded environment is made to heat and release the target gas from minerals at or beyond the rim. The gas floats around in the shielded environment.