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US 10,865,000 B2Granted
Satellite with a thermal switch and associated methods
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorsChristopher R. Newlin, Alan W. Mast
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A satellite includes a satellite housing, a temperature sensitive component carried by the satellite housing, and a thermal radiator carried by the satellite housing. A thermal switch is movable between a coupled state and a decoupled state. In the coupled state, the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator are thermally coupled. In the decoupled state, the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator are thermally decoupled.
Claims13
A satellite comprising:
- a satellite housing;
- a temperature sensitive component carried by said satellite housing;
- a thermal radiator carried by said satellite housing;
- an electrically powered heater configured to heat said temperature sensitive component;
- a thermal switch movable between a coupled state with said temperature sensitive component and said thermal radiator being thermally coupled, and a decoupled state with said temperature sensitive component and said thermal radiator being thermally decoupled;
- a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of said temperature sensitive component;
- and
- a controller configured to
- move said thermal switch to the coupled state when the sensed temperature of said temperature sensitive component is above a temperature range, and
- operate said electrically powered heater to heat said temperature sensitive component and move the thermal switch to the decoupled state when the sensed temperature of said temperature sensitive component is below the temperature range.
7 more elements
A satellite comprising:
- a satellite housing;
- a temperature sensitive component carried by said satellite housing;
- a thermal radiator carried by said satellite housing;
- an electrically powered heater configured to heat said temperature sensitive component;
- a thermal switch movable between a coupled state with said temperature sensitive component and said thermal radiator being thermally coupled, and a decoupled state with said temperature sensitive component and said thermal radiator having a vacuum gap therebetween, said thermal switch comprising an electromagnetically operated actuator;
- a temperature sensor configured to heat said temperature sensitive component;
- and
- a controller configured to
- move said thermal switch to the coupled state when the sensed temperature of said temperature sensitive component is above a temperature range, and
- operate said electrically powered heater to heat the temperature sensitive component and move the thermal switch to the decoupled state when the sensed temperature of said temperature sensitive component is below the temperature range.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.