US 11,486,656 B2 · Variable conductivity metamaterials and thermal control systems employing the same

Abstract

Thermal control systems that include variable conductivity metamaterial units are provided. The metamaterial unit a plurality of thermally conductive plates, a plurality of first bonds, each of which connects two adjoining thermally conductive plates, and a plurality of second bonds, each of which connects two adjoining thermally conductive plates. Also included is a load inducer constructed to cause the plurality of thermally conductive plates to move between a non-contact state, in which opposing surfaces of the plurality of thermally conductive plates are not in direct contact, to a contact state, in which the opposing surfaces of the plurality of thermally conductive are in at least partial direct contact, so as to change a thermal conductivity of the metamaterial unit from a first value to a second value. Through the ability to design the effective thermal conductivity as a function of temperature a passive thermal control capability is achieved by the introduction of thermal stability regions that will passively ensure thermal stability.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A thermal control system, comprising:

a metamaterial unit that includes:
a plurality of thermally conductive plates,
a plurality of first bonds, wherein each first bond connects two adjoining thermally conductive plates, and
a plurality of second bonds, wherein each second bond connects two adjoining thermally conductive plates;
a load inducer constructed to cause the plurality of thermally conductive plates to move between a non-contact state, in which opposing surfaces of the plurality of thermally conductive plates are not in direct contact, to a contact state, in which the opposing surfaces of the plurality of thermally conductive plates are in at least partial direct contact, so as to change a thermal conductivity of the metamaterial unit from a first value to a second value,
wherein two or more of the plurality of thermally conductive plates are curved in an unloaded state so as to contact adjoining thermally conductive plates.

3 more elements

A thermal control system, comprising:

a metamaterial unit that includes:
a plurality of thermally conductive plates,
a plurality of first bonds, wherein each first bond connects two adjoining thermally conductive plates, and
a plurality of second bonds, wherein each second bond connects two adjoining thermally conductive plates;
a load inducer constructed to cause the plurality of thermally conductive plates to move between:
(i) an unloaded state, where no load is applied to the plurality of thermally conductive plates and in which opposing surfaces of the plurality of thermally conductive plates are in a first contact state, and
(ii) a loaded state, where a load is applied to the plurality of thermally conductive plates and in which the opposing surfaces of the plurality of thermally conductive plates are in a second contact state where an area of contact between the opposing surfaces of the plurality of thermally conductive plates is greater than in the unloaded state,
so as to change a thermal conductivity of the metamaterial unit from a first value to a second value,
wherein two or more of the plurality of thermally conductive plates are curved in the unloaded state so as to contact adjoining thermally conductive plates.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Variable conductivity metamaterials and thermal control systems employing the same

Life of this patent

Variable conductivity metamaterials and thermal control systems employing the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14