US3763928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrostatically controlled heat shutter
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1972-06-28
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Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1992-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A heat transfer assembly for conducting thermal energy includes a hermetically sealed container enclosing a quantity of inert gas such as nitrogen. Two opposed walls of the container have high thermal conducting characteristics while the connecting walls have low thermal conducting characteristics. Electrodes are positioned adjacent the high thermal conducting walls and biased relative to the conducting walls to a corona potential for creating an ionic gas wind which must contact the conducting walls to be neutralized. The contact of the gas molecules permits the maximum thermal energy transfer between the walls. Baffles can be positioned adjacent the electrodes to regulate gas flow between the high thermal conducting surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 J Fletcher
- 👤 L Derr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:41
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F13/00; F28F13/16; B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/46; B64G1/50; B64G1/503
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A heat transfer assembly for conducting thermal energy comprising: a hermetically sealed container having one surface transmitting thermal energy into the container and another surface transmitting thermal energy from the container; a set quantity of gas sealed within the container for conducting thermal energy; at least a pair of electrodes, one positioned adjacent the surface transmitting thermal energy into the container and the other positioned adjacent the surface transmitting thermal energy out of the container; and means for biasing the two electrodes to a corona potential relative to their respective surfaces thereby creating a corona wind of the thermal conducting gas at each electrode for contacting the respective surfaces and transmitting thermal energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A heat transfer assembly for conducting thermal energy comprising: a hermetically sealed container having one surface transmitting thermal energy into the container and another surface transmitting thermal energy from the container; a set quantity of gas sealed within the container for conducting thermal energy; at least a pair of electrodes, one positioned adjacent the surface transmitting thermal energy into the container and the other positioned adjacent the surface transmitting thermal energy out of the container; and means for biasing the two electrodes to a corona potential relative to their respective surfaces thereby creating a corona wind of the thermal conducting gas at each electrode for contacting the respective surfaces and transmitting thermal energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A heat transfer assembly as in claim 1 where the surfaces of the container connecting the heat transmitting surfaces are of a low heat conducting material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A heat transfer assembly as in claim 1 where the means for biasing the electrodes includes a variable voltage source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A heat transfer assembly as in claim 1 where additional electrodes are positioned adjacent the surface transmitting thermal energy out of the container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A heat transfer assembly as in claim 1 where the container has a cone shape with the surface transmitting thermal energy into the container being the smallest surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A heat transfer assembly as in claim 1 where the electrodes have a cone shape with a solid angle of about 60*.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A heat transfer assembly as in claim 1 where the thermal conducting gas is inert.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A heat transfer assembly as in claim 1 further including baffle members positioned adjacent the high pressure zone of the electrodes to establish separate flow conduits within the sealed container for the relatively hot and cold thermal conducting gases.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A heat transfer assembly as in claim 1 further including means for controlling the bias of the electrodes in response to the temperature of the surface transmitting thermal energy into the container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A heat transfer assembly as in claim 3 where the variable voltage source is direct current and the electrodes are positioned as close to the heat transmitting surfaces as possible without arcing at the maximum potentials of voltage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A heat transfer assembly as in claim 4 where the heat transferring surface adjacent the multiple electrodes has a surface configuration to maximize the contact of the generated corona winds with the surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A heat transfer assembly as in claim 7 where the inert gas is nitrogen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A heat transfer assembly as in claim 7 where the inert gas is neon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
154 words
A heat transfer assEmbly for conducting thermal energy from a space vehicle comprising: a hermetically sealed container having a high heat conducting surface transmitting thermal energy into the container and another separate high heat conducting surface transmitting thermal energy from the container for radiation from the space vehicle; a quantity of inert thermal conducting gas sealed within the container; at least a pair of electrodes, one positioned adjacent the surface transmitting thermal energy into the container and the other positioned adjacent the surface transmitting thermal energy out of the container; means for variably biasing the two electrodes to a corona potential relative to their respective surfaces thereby creating a corona wind of the thermal conducting gas at each electrode for contacting the respective surfaces and transmitting thermal energy; and baffle means positioned adjacent the high pressure zone of the electrodes for establishing separate flow conduits for the relatively hot and cold themal conducting gases.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
154 words
A heat transfer assEmbly for conducting thermal energy from a space vehicle comprising: a hermetically sealed container having a high heat conducting surface transmitting thermal energy into the container and another separate high heat conducting surface transmitting thermal energy from the container for radiation from the space vehicle; a quantity of inert thermal conducting gas sealed within the container; at least a pair of electrodes, one positioned adjacent the surface transmitting thermal energy into the container and the other positioned adjacent the surface transmitting thermal energy out of the container; means for variably biasing the two electrodes to a corona potential relative to their respective surfaces thereby creating a corona wind of the thermal conducting gas at each electrode for contacting the respective surfaces and transmitting thermal energy; and baffle means positioned adjacent the high pressure zone of the electrodes for establishing separate flow conduits for the relatively hot and cold themal conducting gases.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A heat transfer assembly as in claim 14 further including means for controlling the bias of the electrodes in response to the temperature of the surface transmitting thermal energy into the container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A heat transfer assembly as in claim 15 where the inert gas is nitrogen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |