Passive thermally-switched heat transfer system

A passive thermally-switched heat transfer system, comprising:

• a heat-conducting U-shaped frame having a base, a first leg extending from said base, and a second leg extending from said base;
• a sheet of thermal interface material in thermal contact with said base and adapted to be in contact with at least one electronics component mounted on a printed circuit board;
• a wax motor coupled to and in thermal engagement with said first leg, said wax motor having a piston operable for movement towards said second leg when the at least one electronics component is in operation and is heated to a threshold temperature;
• a thermal conductor having a first end and a second end, said first end disposed between said piston and said second leg, and said second end adapted to be in thermal engagement with a cold source;
• and
• a set of springs coupled to said first end of said thermal conductor, said set of springs operable to move said first end into thermal engagement with said second leg in correspondence with said movement of said piston when the at least one electronics component is heated to the threshold temperature, and said set of springs operable to move said first end out of thermal engagement with said second leg when the at least one electronics component cools to below the threshold temperature.

A passive thermally-switched heat transfer system, comprising:

• a thermally-conductive case adapted to be disposed in a space environment;
• a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted in said case;
• at least one electronics component mounted on said PCB, said at least one electronics component operable to perform at least one function in the space environment wherein said at least one electronics component generates heat;
• a heat-conducting U-shaped frame having a base, a first leg extending from said base, and a second leg extending from said base;
• a sheet of thermal interface material in thermal contact with said base and said at least one electronics component;
• a wax motor coupled to and in thermal engagement with said first leg, said wax motor having a piston operable for movement towards said second leg when said heat generated by said at least one electronics component attains a threshold temperature;
• a thermal conductor having a first end and a second end, said first end disposed between said piston and said second leg, and said second end in thermal engagement with said case;
• and
• a set of springs coupled to said first end of said thermal conductor, said set of springs operable to move said first end into thermal engagement with said second leg in correspondence with said movement of said piston when said at least one electronics component attains said threshold temperature, and said set of springs operable to move said first end out of thermal engagement with said second leg when said at least one electronics component cools to below said threshold temperature.