Non-contacting thermal energy transfer assembly
AssigneeFord Aerospace & Communications Corporation
InventorsElias Reisman, David S. Goodsell, Fred S. Masino
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal conducting path between a relatively movable heat source and a relatively fixed heat sink element, defined as a relatively narrow non-contacting conducting gap between opposing conducting surfaces. In an embodiment where the heat source is gimbal mounted, for movement with respect to two orthogonal axes, its conductive surface has a convex partial spherical shape while the relatively fixed surface of the heat sink element has a concave partial spherical shape. In order to maintain a constant gap, the opposing surfaces have a common spherical center located at the crossover of said orthogonal axes and the spherical radii dimensions differ by the distance of said relatively narrow non-contacting gap therebetween.
Claims16
A heat transfer device including:
- means for producing heat energy;
- means for removing heat from said producing means and transferring said heat to a first heat conducting path element;
- a heat sink mounted to receive said heat from said first heat conducting path element;
- means for mounting said heat producing means, said removing means and said first heat conducting path element for movement and variable orientation with respect to said heat sink;
- and
- means for providing a continuous non-contacting low thermal resistivity path between said first heat conducting path element and said heat sink.
A device including:
- means for supplying heat energy;
- means defining a heat sink;
- means for mounting said supplying means so as to be relatively movable with respect to said heat sink means;
- means for transferring said heat energy from said movable supplying means to said heat sink means;
- and
- means within said transferring means for providing a non-contacting low resistance path between said movable supplying means and said heat sink means wherein said path providing means defines a continuous space between said movable supplying means and said heat sink means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.