Thermal energy switch

A thermal switching system for controlling thermal energy flow paths comprising:

• a source of thermal energy;
• a thermal energy heat sink;
• a low resistance path connection between said source and said heat sink to define a first thermal energy conduction path therebetween;
• a thermal conducting member movable between a first position in thermal conducting contact with said low resistance connection and a second position thermally insulated from said connection;
• a thermal energy dissipator in thermal conducting contact with said movable member when said member is in said first position;
• at least one bimetallic actuator in thermal conducting contact with said dissipator and mounted adjacent said movable member for forcing said a member to its first position when the temperature of said dissipator is below a predetermined value and;
• at least one biasing spring mounted for forcing said movable member to its second position when the temperature of said dissipator goes above said predetermined value.

In a missile containing a radiant energy detector and a cooling system for said detector, a thermal switch system comprising:

• means for storing thermal energy;
• means providing a first thermal energy conduction path between said cooling system and said storing means;
• means in thermal conducting contact with the skin of said missile for responding to changes in the temperature of said skin about a predetermined temperature value by predictably changing its physical geometry;
• and
• means mounted to follow the physical change of said responding means, to provide a thermal energy conducting path between said first path means and said skin when said skin temperature is below said predetermined value and to provide a non-conducting path therebetween when said skin temperature is above said predetermined value.