Assembly shock mounting and heat coupling system

Claim 2

A shock mounting and heat coupling system providing a shock free mounting and heat conductive coupling between an assembly and a heat reservoir comprising: heat coupling means comprising relatively short, flexible, inelastic, heat conductive wires forming a relatively short annular ring of wires connected between the heat reservoir and assembly; structural housing means comprising low heat conductive material rigidly connected to and extending from said heat reservoir; and structural mounting means comprising flexible, highly damped, low heat conductive disc means interposed between the assembly and housing, the disc means including cut-out portions providing passageways through the disc means to increase the dampening effect.

Claim 3

A detector shock mounting and heat coupling system providing a shock free mounting and heat conductive coupling between a detector assembly and heat sink comprising: an elongate rod of heat conductive material; housing means of low heat conductive material rigidly connected to and coaxially extending from said rod; mounting means comprising an annular support ring of low heat conductive, flexible, highly damped material positioned within said housing for mounting said detector assembly coaxially within said housing means and for isolating and dampening said detector assembly from longitudinal vibrations of said housing means; and heat coupling means comprising a plurality of non-rigid strands of heat conductive material connected between the rod and detector assembly to provide a flexible, inelastic pathway between said rod and detector assembly.

Claim 4

A detector shock mounting and heat coupling system providing a shock free mounting and heat conductive coupling between a detector assembly and heat sink comprising: an elongate rod of heat conductive material; housing means of low heat conductive material rigidly connected to and coaxially extending from said rod; mounting means comprising an annular support ring of low heat conductive, flexible, highly damped material positioned within said housing for mounting said detector assembly coaxially within said housing means and for isolating and dampening said detector assembly from longitudinal vibrations of said housing means; and heat coupling means comprising a plurality of non-rigid strands of heat conductive material connected between the rod and detector assembly to provide a flexible, inelastic pathway between said rod and detector assembly.

Claim 5

A detector shock mounting and heat coupling system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said support ring comprises an annular ring of low heat conductive, flexible but highly damped material having an outer perimeter for engaging the housing means and an inner perimeter for engaging the detector assembly, said support ring formed with cutout portions around the inner and outer perimeters to provide passageways through the ring, reduce surface contact with the housing means and detector assembly and increase damping of vibrations, said support ring also formed with a depending annular skirt between the inner and outer perimeters, defining an annular space open at the ring surface to further increase damping of vibrations.

Claim 6

A detector shock mounting and heat coupling system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said detector assembly comprises an X-ray spectrometer comprising a plate of silicon, a field effect transistor rigidly coupled with respect to said silicon plate, and circuitry for providing a stage of amplification for the detector output comprising an electrical connection between the silicon plate and the gate of said transistor, a light diode actuated by said transistor output and positioned to provide a light actuated feedback loop for the transistor, and a light vaLve interposed in the light actuated feedback loop comprising a first polaroid filter and a light pipe segment having a second polaroid filter formed on one end adjacent the first polaroid filter, said light pipe segment mounted for rotation relative to the first polaroid filter.

Claim 7

A detector shock mounting and heat coupling system as set forth in claim 4 wherein electrical contact with the silicon plate is made with a ball of gold wire thread pressed against the silicon plate.

Claim 8

A detector shock mounting and heat coupling system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said silicon plate is covered on one side by a boron nitrite plate and wherein a second electrical contact is made by metal foil adhered to the boron nitrite plate.

Claim 9

A shock mounting and heat coupling system for mounting an X-ray spectrometer assembly in a high temperature differential environment provided by a cold rod insertable in liquid nitrogen comprising: a common housing for supporting the cold rod and spectrometer assembly said housing comprising a tube of low heat conductive material rigidly connected to the cold rod; a support ring of low heat conductive material, flexible but highly damped at low temperatures, said ring having an outer perimeter for engaging the housing and an inner perimeter for engaging the spectrometer assembly, said ring formed with cutout portions around the inner and outer perimeters to provide passageways through the ring, reduce surface contact with the housing and spectrometer assembly, and increase damping of vibrations, said ring also formed with a depending annular skirt formed between the inner and outer perimeters and defining an annular space at the opening of the ring surface to further increase damping of vibrations; and a plurality of flexible wires non-rigidly connected between the cold rod and spectrometer to provide a flexible inelastic heat pathway between the cold rod and spectrometer.

Claim 10

A shock mounting and heat coupling system for mounting an X-ray spectrometer assembly in a high temperature differential environment provided by a cold rod insertable in liquid nitrogen comprising: a common housing for supporting the cold rod and spectrometer assembly said housing comprising a tube of low heat conductive material rigidly connected to the cold rod; a support ring of low heat conductive material, flexible but highly damped at low temperatures, said ring having an outer perimeter for engaging the housing and an inner perimeter for engaging the spectrometer assembly, said ring formed with cutout portions around the inner and outer perimeters to provide passageways through the ring, reduce surface contact with the housing and spectrometer assembly, and increase damping of vibrations, said ring also formed with a depending annular skirt formed between the inner and outer perimeters and defining an annular space at the opening of the ring surface to further increase damping of vibrations; and a plurality of flexible wires non-rigidly connected between the cold rod and spectrometer to provide a flexible inelastic heat pathway between the cold rod and spectrometer.

Claim 11

A detector shock mounting and heat coupling system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said spectrometer assembly comprises a plate of silicon, a field effect transistor rigidly coupled to said silicon plate, and circuitry for providing a stage of amplification for the detector output comprising an electrical connection between the silicon plate and the gate of said transistor, a light diode actuated by said transistor output and positioned to provide a light actuated feedback loop for the transistor, and a light valve interposed in the light actuated feedback loop comprising a first polaroid filter and a light pipe segment having a second polaroid filter formed on one end adjacent the first polaroid filter, said light pipe segment mounted for rotation relative to the first polaroid filter.