US4030316A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Passive cooler
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1975-12-11
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Granted: 1977-06-21
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Expires: 1995-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A three stage passive cooler for use in a spacecraft for cooling an infra-red detector includes a detector mounting cold plate for mounting the detector directly to the telescope optics. The telescope optics collect and direct the infra-red radiation from the earth, for example, to the infra-red detector, and are mounted directly to the spacecraft. The remaining stages of the cooler are mounted with thermal insulators to each other and to the spacecraft at separate locations from the detector mounting cold plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert Irving Aronson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:46
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B23/00; F25B23/003; G; G01; G01J; G01J5/00; G01J5/02; G01J5/06; G01J5/061; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A passive device arranged to be mounted on a support body for maintaining an optical article at a given temperature in the presence of a thermal radiation sink comprising: an article cooling and supporting member having a high emissive surface exposed to the ambient for cooling said article thermally coupled thereto, a radiation shield member disposed in spaced relation with respect to said supporting member for inhibiting the impingement of thermal radiation on said supporting member, said shield member including means for mounting said shield member on said support body thermally isolated from said body and supporting member, optical means arranged to be secured to said body for collecting selected radiation to be directed to said article, and securing and optical coupling means connected to said supporting member and said optical means for directing said collected radiation to said article and for securing said supporting member to said optical means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A passive device arranged to be mounted on a support body for maintaining an optical article at a given temperature in the presence of a thermal radiation sink comprising: an article cooling and supporting member having a high emissive surface exposed to the ambient for cooling said article thermally coupled thereto, a radiation shield member disposed in spaced relation with respect to said supporting member for inhibiting the impingement of thermal radiation on said supporting member, said shield member including means for mounting said shield member on said support body thermally isolated from said body and supporting member, optical means arranged to be secured to said body for collecting selected radiation to be directed to said article, and securing and optical coupling means connected to said supporting member and said optical means for directing said collected radiation to said article and for securing said supporting member to said optical means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said securing and optical coupling means is a tubular member including means for focusing said collected radiation at said supporting member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said tubular member includes a plurality of optical lenses secured in the core thereof, at least one of said lenses sealing said core from the ambient at one end of said tubular member, said supporting member sealing the other end of said tubular member from the ambient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said securing and optical coupling means includes a rigid member for rigidly securing said last-mentioned means to said optical means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said securing and optical coupling means includes a thin walled tubular member having negligible heat conductivity between said supporting member and said optical means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
148 words
A passive device including means for securing the device to a body for maintaining an article responsive to radiation in a given bandwidth at a predetermined temperature lower than said body, said device comprising: an article support member adapted to radiate thermal energy to the ambient, a radiation shield member disposed in spaced relationship with respect to said member and thermally isolated from said support member for shielding said support member from thermal radiation, means connected to said shield member for securing said shield member to said body, means for collecting radiation in said given bandwidth and adapted to be secured to said body, and radiation directing means secured to said collecting means and said support member for securing said support member to said radiation collecting means in thermal isolation from said radiation collecting means and for directing the radiation in said given bandwidth at said support member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
A passive device including means for securing the device to a body for maintaining an article responsive to radiation in a given bandwidth at a predetermined temperature lower than said body, said device comprising: an article support member adapted to radiate thermal energy to the ambient, a radiation shield member disposed in spaced relationship with respect to said member and thermally isolated from said support member for shielding said support member from thermal radiation, means connected to said shield member for securing said shield member to said body, means for collecting radiation in said given bandwidth and adapted to be secured to said body, and radiation directing means secured to said collecting means and said support member for securing said support member to said radiation collecting means in thermal isolation from said radiation collecting means and for directing the radiation in said given bandwidth at said support member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said radiation directing means includes an optical member defining a space through which said radiation in said given bandwidth is transmitted and which space is hermetically sealed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said directing means includes means for rigidly connecting said support member to said radiation collecting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said radiation directing means is an elongated tubular member adapted to exhibit negligible heat conduction between said support member and said radiation collecting means and for rigidly connecting said collecting means to said support member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
137 words
A passive device arranged to be mounted on a support body for maintaining an article responsive to radiation in a given bandwidth, at a predetermined temperature lower than said body comprising: a plurality of thermally isolated nested spaced members, at least one of said members including means for connecting that one member to said body in thermal isolation from said body, a second of said members supporting the article whose temperature is to be maintained, means exhibiting negligible thermal conductivity, rigidly connected to said second member providing the sole support for said second member for securing said second member to said body in thermally isolated spaced relationship with respect to said one member and said body, and means secured to said body for collecting and directing radiation at said article through said means exhibiting negligible thermal conductivity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
137 words
A passive device arranged to be mounted on a support body for maintaining an article responsive to radiation in a given bandwidth, at a predetermined temperature lower than said body comprising: a plurality of thermally isolated nested spaced members, at least one of said members including means for connecting that one member to said body in thermal isolation from said body, a second of said members supporting the article whose temperature is to be maintained, means exhibiting negligible thermal conductivity, rigidly connected to said second member providing the sole support for said second member for securing said second member to said body in thermally isolated spaced relationship with respect to said one member and said body, and means secured to said body for collecting and directing radiation at said article through said means exhibiting negligible thermal conductivity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a passive cooler including a plurality of thermally isolated stages including an article supporting member and cooling stage, a support member for the article cooling stage comprising: a hollow tubular member including at least one member substantially transparent to radiation of interest sealing the cavity of said tubular member at one end from the ambient, said radiation of interest passing through said substantially transparent member and tubular member to the other end of said tubular member, said tubular member being constructed to provide thermal conductive isolation between the ends thereof, and means fixedly securing said other end of said tubular member to said cooling stage, said cooling stage serving to seal said cavity from the ambient at said other end, and said tubular member providing the sole support for said cooling stage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a passive cooler including a plurality of thermally isolated stages including an article supporting member and cooling stage, a support member for the article cooling stage comprising: a hollow tubular member including at least one member substantially transparent to radiation of interest sealing the cavity of said tubular member at one end from the ambient, said radiation of interest passing through said substantially transparent member and tubular member to the other end of said tubular member, said tubular member being constructed to provide thermal conductive isolation between the ends thereof, and means fixedly securing said other end of said tubular member to said cooling stage, said cooling stage serving to seal said cavity from the ambient at said other end, and said tubular member providing the sole support for said cooling stage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
138 words
A suspension member for securing a radiation focusing means to a radiation collecting member and for thermally isolating said radiation focusing means from said collecting member comprising: an elongated tubular member the end portions of which are thermally isolated from one another, fixedly secured at one end to said collecting member and serving as the sole support therefor; an element substantially transparent to the radiation of interest sealing the other end of said tubular member from the ambient; means fixedly securing said radiation focusing means to said other end of said tubular member in a position such said radiation passes through said substantially transparent element and said tubular member to said collecting member, said tubular member thermally isolating said optical device from said collecting member; and means sealing said one end of said tubular member from the ambient.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
138 words
A suspension member for securing a radiation focusing means to a radiation collecting member and for thermally isolating said radiation focusing means from said collecting member comprising: an elongated tubular member the end portions of which are thermally isolated from one another, fixedly secured at one end to said collecting member and serving as the sole support therefor; an element substantially transparent to the radiation of interest sealing the other end of said tubular member from the ambient; means fixedly securing said radiation focusing means to said other end of said tubular member in a position such said radiation passes through said substantially transparent element and said tubular member to said collecting member, said tubular member thermally isolating said optical device from said collecting member; and means sealing said one end of said tubular member from the ambient.
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) | 1980-06-20 | 1980-12-20 | 1981-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-20 | 1984-12-20 | 1985-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-20 | 1988-12-20 | 1989-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |