Non-contacting thermal rotary joint

• US 7,836,939 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meehan, Robert F., Zimmerman, Kurt, Rust, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg; Teresa J
• Application Number:
  US11/832,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20090032223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 165/104.19, 165/104.28, 165/104.34, 165/86, 165/90, 165/168, 165/169, 165/170, 165/DIG.139, 165/DIG.153, 165/DIG.156, 165/DIG.159, 165/DIG.160, 165/DIG.161, 165/80.1, 277/360, 277/401, 277/408
• US Class Current: 165/80.1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0054 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0029 Heat sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2013/005 Thermal joints
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 5/00 Elements specially adapted for movement

Abstract

An apparatus (100) for transferring heat from a first substrate (140) rotatably mounted to a second substrate (150). The apparatus (100) is comprised of at least a first fin ring (145) disposed concentrically on a first side surface (141) of the first substrate (140). A plurality of heat generating devices (130) is disposed on a second side surface (142) of the first substrate (140). There is at least a second fin ring (155) disposed concentrically on a first side surface (151) of the second substrate (150). The first fin ring (145) interleaves with the second fin ring (155) while allowing the first substrate (140) to rotate unobstructed relative to the second substrate (150). The second substrate (150) has at least a first port (160) for introducing moving air into a gap (G) defined between the first fin ring (145) and the second fin ring (155) for improving heat convection there between.

Claims

1. A thermally conducting rotary joint, comprising:

a first substrate having a first side surface;

a second substrate having a first side surface, said first substrate being rotatably coupled to said second substrate and said first side surface of said first substrate is disposed adjacent to the first side surface of said second substrate;

a plurality of first fin rings defined concentrically on said first side surface of said first substrate;

a plurality of second fin rings defined concentrically on a first side surface of said second substrate, said plurality of second fin rings configured to interleave with said plurality of first fin rings and move relative to said plurality of first fin rings, said plurality of second fin rings being oriented adjacent to and substantially parallel to said plurality of first fin rings with a gap defined by and disposed between said plurality of first fin rings and said plurality of second fin rings, said plurality of first fin rings and said plurality of second fin rings defining a thermal path between said first substrate and said second substrate;

at least a first port defined in the second substrate configured for delivering moving air to said gap, wherein said gap is unobstructed in both the clockwise direction and the counter-clockwise direction from said first port, to provide distribution of said moving air in both the clockwise direction and the counter-clockwise direction around said plurality of first fin rings and said plurality of second fin rings; and

wherein each of said plurality of first fin rings and said plurality of second fin rings has a predetermined height and the predetermined height is varied between said adjacent first and second fin rings to vary the radial leak rate of the moving air.

2. The rotary joint of claim 1, further comprising a thermal transfer means configured for transferring thermal energy across said gap from said plurality of first fin rings to said plurality of second fin rings through convection and radiation.

3. The rotary joint of claim 2, further comprising a moving air source coupled to said first port and configured for communicating said moving air to at least said first port.

4. The rotary joint of claim 2, wherein said second substrate defines at least a second port configured for exhausting the moving air from said plurality of gaps.

5. The rotary joint of claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of first fin rings and said plurality of second fin rings has a first edge configured for allowing moving air to exit a gap of said plurality of gaps by radially bleeding over said first edges.

6. The rotary joint of claim 1, wherein said first substrate comprises a second side surface wherein heat generating devices are disposed.

7. The rotary joint of claim 1, wherein said second substrate has a cooling loop defined therein configured for circulating a cooling fluid for removing heat from said second substrate.

8. The rotary joint of claim 1, wherein said second substrate is thermally coupled to a heat sink.

19. The rotary joint of claim 1, wherein said plurality of first fin rings are disposed between adjacent ones of second fin rings.

9. A thermally conducting rotary joint, comprising:

a first substrate having a first side surface;

a second substrate having a first side surface, said first substrate being rotatably coupled to said second substrate and said first side surface of said first substrate is disposed adjacent to the first side surface of said second substrate;

at least a first fin ring defined concentrically on said first side surface of said first substrate;

at least a second fin ring defined concentrically on a first side surface of said second substrate, said second fin ring configured to interleave with said first fin ring and move relative to said first fin ring, said second fin ring being oriented adjacent to and substantially parallel to said first fin ring with a gap defined by and disposed between said at least first fin ring and said at least second fin ring, said first fin ring and said second fin ring defining a thermal path between said first substrate and said second substrate;

at least a first port defined in the second substrate configured for delivering moving air to said gap, wherein said gap is unobstructed in both the clockwise direction and the counter-clockwise direction from said first port, to provide distribution of said moving air in both the clockwise direction and the counter-clockwise direction around said at least first fin ring and said at least second fin ring; and

a thermal transfer means configured for transferring thermal energy across said gap from said first fin ring to said second fin ring through convection and radiation;

wherein at least one second fin ring includes at least one discontinuity that provides a gas passageway in a radial direction through said second fin ring, said gas passageway adjacent to the first port,

wherein said second substrate defines at least a second port configured for exhausting the moving air from said gap,

wherein said at least first fin ring is a plurality of first fin rings and said second fin ring is a plurality of second fin rings, and each of said first fin rings and said second fin rings have a first edge configured for allowing moving air to exit said gap by radially bleeding over said first edges, and

wherein said first fin rings and said second fin rings each have a predetermined height and the predetermined height is varied between adjacent first fin rings and second fin rings to vary the radial leak rate of the moving air.

10. A thermally conducting rotary joint, comprising:

a first substrate having a first side surface;

a second substrate having a first side surface, said first substrate being rotatably coupled to said second substrate and said first side surface of said first substrate is disposed adjacent to the first side surface of said second substrate;

a plurality of first fin rings defined concentrically on said first side surface of said first substrate;

a plurality of second fin rings defined concentrically on a first side surface of said second substrate, said plurality of second fin rings configured to interleave with said plurality of first fin rings and move relative to said plurality of first fin rings, said plurality of second fin rings being oriented adjacent to and substantially parallel to said plurality of first fin rings with a gap defined by and disposed between said plurality of first fin rings and said plurality of second fin rings, said plurality of first fin rings and said plurality of second fin rings defining a thermal path between said first substrate and said second substrate;

at least a first port defined in said second substrate configured for delivering moving air to said gap, wherein said gap is unobstructed in both the clockwise direction and the counter-clockwise direction from said first port, to provide distribution of said moving air in both the clockwise direction and the counter-clockwise direction around said plurality of first fin rings and said plurality of second fin rings; and

wherein each of said plurality of first fin rings and said plurality of second fin rings has a predetermined height and the predetermined height is varied between said adjacent first and second fin rings to vary the radial leak rate of the moving air.

11. The rotary joint of claim 10, further comprising a thermal transfer means configured for transferring thermal energy across said gap from said plurality of first fin rings to said plurality of second fin rings by convection and radiation.

12. The rotary joint of claim 10, further comprising a moving air source coupled to said first port and configured for communicating moving air to at least said first port.

13. The rotary joint of claim 10, further comprising at least a second port defined in said second substrate configured for exhausting the moving air from said gap.

14. The rotary joint of claim 10, wherein said plurality of first fin rings and said plurality of second fin rings each have a first edge configured for allowing the moving air to exit said gap by radially bleeding over said first edges.

15. The rotary joint of claim 10, wherein said first substrate comprises a second side surface wherein heat generating devices are disposed.

16. The rotary joint of claim 10, wherein said plurality of first fin rings are disposed between adjacent ones of said plurality of second fin rings.

17. A thermally conducting rotary joint, comprising:

a first substrate having a first side surface;

a second substrate having a first side surface, said first substrate being rotatably coupled to said second substrate and said first side surface of said first substrate is disposed adjacent to the first side surface of said second substrate;

a plurality of first fin rings defined concentrically on said first side surface of said first substrate;

a plurality of second fin rings defined concentrically on a first side surface of said second substrate, said second fin rings configured to interleave with said first fin rings and move relative to said first fin rings, said second fin rings being oriented adjacent to and substantially parallel to said first fin rings with a gap defined by and disposed between said first fin rings and said second fin rings, said first fin rings and said second fin rings defining a thermal path between said first substrate and said second substrate;

at least a first port defined in said second substrate configured for delivering moving air to said gap, wherein said gap is unobstructed in both the clockwise direction and the counter-clockwise direction from said first port, to provide distribution of said moving air in both the clockwise direction and the counter-clockwise direction around said plurality of first fin rings and said plurality of second fin rings; and

wherein at least one second fin ring includes at least one discontinuity that provides a gas passageway in a radial direction through said second fin ring, said gas passageway adjacent to the first port,

wherein said first fin rings and said second fin rings each have a first edge configured for allowing the moving air to exit said gap by radially bleeding over said first edges, and

wherein said first fin rings and said second fin rings each have a predetermined height and the predetermined height is varied between adjacent first fin rings and said second fin rings to vary the radial leak rate of the moving air.

18. A thermally conducting rotary joint, comprising:

a first substrate having a first side surface;

a second substrate having a first side surface, said first substrate being rotatably coupled to said second substrate and said first side surface of said first substrate is disposed adjacent to the first side surface of said second substrate;

at least a first fin ring defined concentrically on said first side surface of said first substrate;

at least a second fin ring defined concentrically on a first side surface of said second substrate, said second fin ring configured to interleave with said first fin ring and move relative to said first fin ring, said second fin ring being oriented adjacent to and substantially parallel to said first fin ring with a gap defined by and disposed between said at least first fin ring and said at least second fin ring, said first fin ring and said second fin ring defining a thermal path between said first substrate and said second substrate; and

at least a first port defined in the second substrate configured for delivering moving air to said gap, wherein said gap is unobstructed in both the clockwise direction and the counter-clockwise direction from said first port, to provide distribution of said moving air in both the clockwise direction and the counter-clockwise direction around said at least first fin ring and said at least second fin ring;

wherein at least one second fin ring includes at least one discontinuity that provides a gas passageway in a radial direction through said second fin ring, said gas passageway adjacent to the first port, and

wherein said discontinuity comprises a tapered portion of said second fin ring, the tapered portion tapered in a lateral direction parallel to said first side surface of said second substrate.

20. A thermally conducting rotary joint, comprising:

a first substrate having a first side surface;

a second substrate having a first side surface, said first substrate being rotatably coupled to said second substrate and said first side surface of said first substrate is disposed adjacent to the first side surface of said second substrate;

a plurality of first fin rings defined concentrically on said first side surface of said first substrate;

a plurality of second fin rings defined concentrically on a first side surface of said second substrate, said second fin rings configured to interleave with said first fin rings and move relative to said first fin rings, said second fin rings being oriented adjacent to and substantially parallel to said first fin rings with a gap defined by and disposed between said first fin rings and said second fin rings, said first fin rings and said second fin rings defining a thermal path between said first substrate and said second substrate; and

at least a first port defined in said second substrate configured for delivering moving air to said gap, wherein said gap is unobstructed in both the clockwise direction and the counter-clockwise direction from said first port, to provide distribution of said moving air in both the clockwise direction and the counter-clockwise direction around said plurality of first fin rings and said plurality of second fin rings;

wherein at least one second fin ring includes at least one discontinuity that provides a gas passageway in a radial direction through said second fin ring, said gas passageway adjacent to the first port, and

wherein said discontinuity comprises a tapered portion of said second fin ring, the tapered portion tapered in a lateral direction parallel to said first side surface of said second substrate.