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US 9,429,371 B2Granted
Radiator systems
AssigneeParagon Space Development Corporation
InventorsThomas William Morin, Taber K. MacCallum, Norman Jacob Hahn, John Zaniel Maccagnano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system of spacecraft radiators comprising pre-formed thermal-transfer modules joined together by at least one solid-state welding process. Critical failure points are eliminated by forming the thermal-transfer modules as a single unitary piece, preferably by an extrusion process. The thermal-transfer modules allow the formation of larger radiator assemblies, which may comprise a wide range of sizes and physical geometries.
Claims20
A radiator system comprising:
- a plurality of thermal interaction facesheets configured to thermally interact with a surrounding environment, each thermal interaction facesheet having a sheet thickness and a sheet surface area;
- and
- a plurality of fluid channels configured to transport a heat transfer fluid within the radiator system, each fluid channel having a wall thickness and having an integrally formed wall, wherein each fluid channel is integrated with each thermal interaction facesheet as a single extruded material, at least some of the material separating the surrounding environment and the fluid channel by at least the sheet thickness and the wall thickness;
- wherein the thermal interaction facesheets are fixedly joined with each other by a solid-state weld.
1 more element
A thermal transfer module comprising:
- a thermal interaction facesheet configured to thermally interact with a surrounding environment, the thermal interaction facesheet having a sheet thickness and a sheet surface area;
- a fluid channel configured to transport a heat transfer fluid within the thermal transfer module, the fluid channel having a wall thickness and an integrally formed wall, the fluid channel and the thermal interaction facesheet being integrated as a single extruded material, at least some of the material separating the surrounding environment and the fluid channel by at least the wall thickness and the sheet thickness;
- and
- a modular engagement structure along at least one continuous edge of the thermal interaction facesheet, the modular engagement structure being fixedly joined to another modular engagement structure by a solid-state weld.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.