Heat switch radiators for variable rate heat rejection
First Claim
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1. A heat switch radiator, comprising:
- a heat sink;
a coolant tube movable with respect to the heat sink along a longitudinal axis of the coolant tube; and
an actuator coupled between the heat sink and the coolant tube,wherein the actuator is configured to move the coolant tube between the first and second positions such that heat flows between the coolant tube and the heat sink at a first rate in the first position and at a second rate in the second position, wherein the second rate is greater than the first rate,wherein the heat sink has a first tooth and a second tooth laterally offset from the first tooth relative to the longitudinal axis of the coolant tube, the first and second teeth defining therebetween a channel, wherein the coolant tube has a coolant tube tooth disposed within the channel, wherein movement of the coolant tube between the first and second positions displaces the coolant tube tooth longitudinally relative to the longitudinal axis of the coolant tube within the channel.
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Abstract
A heat switch includes a heat sink, a coolant tube, and an actuator. The coolant tube is movable with respect to the heat sink. The actuator couples between the heat sink and the coolant tube and configured to move the coolant tube between a first position and a second position. Heat flow from the coolant tube into the heat sink is greater in the second position than in the first position for enhanced heat transfer from the coolant tube.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A heat switch radiator, comprising:
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a heat sink; a coolant tube movable with respect to the heat sink along a longitudinal axis of the coolant tube; and an actuator coupled between the heat sink and the coolant tube, wherein the actuator is configured to move the coolant tube between the first and second positions such that heat flows between the coolant tube and the heat sink at a first rate in the first position and at a second rate in the second position, wherein the second rate is greater than the first rate, wherein the heat sink has a first tooth and a second tooth laterally offset from the first tooth relative to the longitudinal axis of the coolant tube, the first and second teeth defining therebetween a channel, wherein the coolant tube has a coolant tube tooth disposed within the channel, wherein movement of the coolant tube between the first and second positions displaces the coolant tube tooth longitudinally relative to the longitudinal axis of the coolant tube within the channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A high turn-down radiator, comprising:
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a heat sink with a first row of heat sink teeth laterally offset from a second row of heat sink teeth, the rows of heat sink teeth having facing surfaces; a movable coolant tube with a row of coolant tube teeth and a guide support, the coolant tube teeth being disposed between first and second rows of heat sink teeth; thermal gaskets arranged between the teeth of coolant tube and the heat sink teeth; a tube guide slidably received within the guide support; an enclosure coupling the heat sink to the tube guide; and an actuator coupled to the enclosure and the coolant tube, wherein the actuator is configured to move the coolant tube between first and second positions such that heat flow between the heat sink and the coolant tube in the second position is greater than the heat flow between the heat sink and the coolant tube in the first position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification