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US 6,719,564 B2Granted
Space simulation chamber and method
AssigneeChart Inc.
InventorsYatming R. Than, David A. McWilliams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A space simulation chamber for simulating the temperature and pressure conditions of deep space comprises a vacuum chamber containing a thermal shroud and a coolant system for cooling the thermal shroud by heat exchange with helium gas.
Claims11
Apparatus for simulating the temperature and pressure conditions of outer space comprising:
- a vacuum chamber,
- a thermal shroud in the vacuum chamber defining a test cavity therein, and
- a cooling system for direct cooling of the thermal shroud by a coolant within the cooling system,
- wherein the coolant is a gas having a specific heat of at least about 1500 J/kg-K and a condensation temperature of at most 77° K.
1 more element
Apparatus for simulating the temperature and pressure conditions of outer space comprising:
- a vacuum chamber,
- a thermal shroud in the vacuum chamber defining a test cavity therein, and
- a cooling system for direct cooling of the thermal shroud by helium within the cooling system,
- wherein the helium is a gas having a specific heat of at least about 1500 J/kg-K and a condensation temperature of at most 77° K;
- and
- further comprising at least one heater inside the vacuum chamber for heating a test object located in the test cavity.
3 more elements
A method of subjecting a test object to the vacuum pressures and variable temperatures encountered in deep space comprising:
- placing the object in the test cavity of a space simulation chamber having a vacuum chamber provided with a shroud of thermal insulation defining the test cavity, and
- directly cooling the thermal shroud to a test temperature varying between 100° K or less and about 293° K or more with a coolant gas having a specific heat of at least about 1500 J/kg-K and a condensation temperature of at most about 77° K.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.