Magnetically coupled conductive thermal interface
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorJonathan Allison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Magnetically Coupled Conductive Thermal Interface (MCCTI) for transferring heat from a client to a servicer, the MCCTI providing a thermal interface using an array of electropermanent magnets (EPMs) interfacing with a ferrous target (FT) to create sufficient interfacial pressure to provide a low interfacial thermal resistance that permits heat transfer across the interface without using fasteners such as bolts, adhesives, and the like. Various embodiments use separate heat pipes mounted on each side of the interface which permit spacecraft on both sides of the interface to efficiently transport heat therebetween via the interface.
Claims22
Apparatus to transport heat between separable/rejoinable spacecraft from a client to a servicer when docked, comprising:
- a Magnetically Coupled Conductive Thermal Interface (MCCTI) for transferring heat from a client to a servicer, the MCCTI comprising:
- a client portion configured to couple heat from a client thermal control system (TCS) toward a client thermal interface, and a first portion of an electromagnetic coupling mechanism configured to urge the client thermal interface toward a corresponding servicer thermal interface when activated;
- a servicer portion configured to couple heat from a servicer thermal interface toward a servicer TCS, and a second portion of the electromagnetic coupling mechanism configured to urge the servicer thermal interface toward a corresponding client thermal interface when activated;
- the first and second portions of the electromagnetic coupling mechanism being positioned to magnetically cooperate with each other;
- wherein the electromagnetic coupling mechanism comprises a ferrous target (FT) portion and an electropermanent magnet (EPM) portion.
A spacecraft docking interface including a Magnetically Coupled Conductive Thermal Interface (MCCTI) for transferring heat from a client to a servicer, the MCCTI comprising:
- a client portion configured to couple heat from a client thermal control system (TCS) toward a client thermal interface, and a first portion of an electromagnetic coupling mechanism configured to urge the client thermal interface toward a corresponding servicer thermal interface when activated;
- a servicer portion configured to couple heat from a servicer thermal interface toward a servicer TCS, and a second portion of the electromagnetic coupling mechanism configured to urge the servicer thermal interface toward a corresponding client thermal interface when activated;
- the first and second portions of the electromagnetic coupling mechanism being positioned to magnetically cooperate with each other;
- wherein the electromagnetic coupling mechanism comprises a ferrous target (FT) portion and an electropermanent magnet (EPM) portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.