Thermally disconnecting passive parallel orbital supports

A spacer for cryogenic containers, comprising

• a rigid member including a clevis and a clevis pin at each end,
• a pair of connectors, one at each end of the rigid member, each connector including a link portion passing around the clevis pin at one end of the rigid member and forming an inner engagement surface and an outer engagement surface, each connector inner engagement surface having a shape and size such that a significant space may be maintained between the link and the clevis pin,
• a second member engaging the outer engagement surfaces of the pair of connectors and having such length that, when installed, the second member through tension holds a pair of connectors spaced one from the other so that the clevis pins and the inner engagement surfaces are free of contact, said second member, when exposed to forces significantly in excess of the forces imposed by gravity, being deformable by the increased tension sufficiently that the connector links engage the clevis pins of the rigid member and further force is carried by the rigid member, said deformation thereby being limited to about twice the space between the clevis pin and the link and below the elastic limit of the second member, said second member, upon termination of the exposure of forces in excess of those imposed by gravity, relaxing to again space the connectors so that the link and the clevis pins of the rigid member are free of contact.

A cryogen container support, comprising

• first connector means and second connector means,
• a first support extending between the first and second connector means, said first support being constructed of high-strength metal and being adapted at its ends for structural engagement and support of said first and second connector means,
• means between the first support and the first and second connector means at each end of the first support to urge their disengagement and provide a thermal isolation space between the first support and the first and second connector means, and
• a second support extending between said first and second connector means, said second support being constructed of material having low thermal conductivity and a degree of elasticity and providing support of said first connector means from said second connector means in the presence of normal forces imposed by the container and its contents,
• said second support being deformable in response to forces significantly in excess of the normal gravitational forces imposed by the container and its contents to permit the structural engagement of the first support with the first and second connection means.