Method of forming a heat switch
AssigneeOxford Instruments Nanotechnology Tools Limited
InventorAnthony Matthews
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for forming a gas gap heat switch is provided comprising the following steps: (a) providing first and second conductors, and first and second connecting members, wherein the connecting members each have a thermal conductivity at least five times smaller than that of the conductors when at a temperature of 100K; (b) fusing the first conductor to the first connecting member and the second conductor to the second connecting member; (c) aligning the conductors such that the first and second conductors extend along a common major axis; (d) bringing proximal ends of the aligned conductors into contact with each other when said conductors are at a first temperature; and (e) joining the first connecting member to the second connecting member so as to form a chamber around at least the proximal ends of the conductors.
Claims20
A method for forming a gas gap heat switch comprising the following steps:
- (a) providing first and second conductors, and first and second connecting members, wherein the first and second connecting members each have a thermal conductivity at least five times smaller than that of the first and second conductors when at a temperature of 100 K;
- (b) fusing the first conductor to the first connecting member and the second conductor to the second connecting member;
- (c) aligning the first and second conductors such that the first and second conductors extend along a common major axis;
- (d) bringing proximal ends of the aligned first and second conductors into contact with each other when said first and second conductors are at a first temperature;
- and
- (e) joining the first connecting member to the second connecting member so as to form a chamber around at least the proximal ends of the first and second conductors;
- wherein the first and second connecting members forming the chamber each have a coefficient of thermal expansion that is less than that of the first and second conductors such that, when the first and second conductors are cooled to a second temperature which is below the first temperature, a length of the first and second conductors along the major axis decreases with respect to a length of the chamber along the major axis so as to form a gap between the proximal ends of the first and second conductors;
- and
- wherein the switch is arranged to selectively provide a thermally conductive gas into the chamber when in use to cause operation of the switch.
A gas gap heat switch comprising:
- a first conductor and a second conductor aligned along a common major axis, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor each have a length of at least 5 cm along the major axis;
- and
- a first connecting member and a second connecting member forming a chamber around at least proximal ends of the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein the first connecting member and the second connecting member have a thermal conductivity at least five times smaller than that of the first conductor and the second conductor when at a temperature of 100 K,
- wherein the first connecting member and the second connecting member each have a coefficient of thermal expansion that is less than that of the first conductor and the second conductor,
- wherein the proximal end of the first conductor is separated from the proximal end of a second conductor by a gap of less than 50 μm, and
- wherein a switch is arranged to selectively provide a thermally conductive gas into the chamber when in use to cause operation of the switch.
A cryogenic system comprising:
- a gas gap heat switch comprising:
- a first conductor and a second conductor aligned along a common major axis, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor each have a length of at least 5 cm along the major axis;
- and
- a first connecting member and a second connecting member forming a chamber around at least proximal ends of the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein the first connecting member and the second connecting member have a thermal conductivity at least five times smaller than that of the first conductor and the second conductor when at a temperature of 100 K,
- wherein the first connecting member and the second connecting member each have a coefficient of thermal expansion that is less than that of the first conductor and the second conductor,
- wherein the proximal end of the first conductor is separated from the proximal end of the second conductor by a gap of less than 50 μm, and
- wherein a switch is arranged to selectively provide a thermally conductive gas into the chamber when in use to cause operation of the switch;
- a mechanical refrigerator coupled to the first conductor;
- and
- a target apparatus coupled to the second conductor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.