US 12,630,312 B2Granted

Electrically conductive spacer for multilayer insulation grounding

AssigneeQuest Thermal Group LLC

InventorsScott A. Dye, Phillip N. Tyler

Life of this patent

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Abstract

As spacecraft electronic control and human support systems get increasingly sophisticated, protection for those systems becomes more critical. Multilayer insulation (MLI) is a common thermal protection system on spacecraft, and it includes layers of metalized film that may build up electrostatic charge that can be hazardous in many respects. MLI should be electrically grounded to prevent the unwanted electrostatic buildup while meeting thermal performance requirements. Aspects of the present disclosure involve a significant improvement in grounding methods within a multilayer insulation structure with minimal thermal performance degradation. Metalized spacers create electrical continuity through layers and may have only a single layer connecting to chassis ground. Multiple spacers can be utilized for larger blankets for grounding redundancy. Thermal performance penalty can be orders of magnitude smaller than conventional techniques.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A multilayer insulation comprising:

a first insulation layer;
a second insulation layer;
a third insulation layer;
a first conductive structural spacer structure positioned between the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer, the first conductive structural spacer structure including a metalized outer surface with defined features and geometries to minimize solid thermal conductivity and provide electrical continuity between the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer;
a second conductive structural spacer positioned between the second insulation layer and the third insulation layer, the second conductive structural spacer structure including a metalized outer surface with defined features and geometries to minimize solid thermal conductivity and provide electrical continuity between the second insulation layer and the third insulation layer;
and
an electrical connection between the first conductive structural spacer and the second conductive structural spacer providing an electrical path between the first insulation layer, first conductive structural spacer, second insulation layer, second conductive structural spacer and the third insulation layer.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/381,137Filed 17 Oct 2023 · us provisional application
Priority: 17 Oct 2022
Published: US 2024/0124164 A118 Apr 2024
Granted: 19 May 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B64G 1/58
Protection, safety or emergency devices; Survival aids: thermal protection, e.g. heat shields
B64G 1/546
Protection against radiation: shielding electronic equipment
H05F 3/02
Carrying-off electrostatic charges: by means of earthing connections
B64G
Cosmonautics