Gas filled swivel joint for cryogenic heat pipes

Claim 2

A movable heat conductive joint structure for an assembly subjected to vacuum and low temperature conditions, said joint structure comprising: first and second heat pipes, interengaging, relatively movable heat conductive heat pipe support members defining a gap of from 0.0012 inches to 0.0024 inches therebetween and being fixed respectively to said heat pipes, and means for maintaining a gas at a pressure of about 30 torr within said gap to effect a low impedance heat path across said gap and between said relatively movable, interengaging heat pipe support members, without impedance to relative movement of said support members.

Claim 3

The movable joint structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interengaging relatively movable heat conductive heat pipe support members comprise respectively ball and socket members, and said means for maintaining a pressurized gas within the gap between said members comprises conduit means extending through said socket member and opening to said gap between the periphery of the ball member and a spherical surface of said socket member closely receiving said ball member and pressurized gas within said conduit means.

Claim 4

The movable joint structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said support members comprises a socket assembly defining a spherical cavity, and said other member comprises a ball member of slightly smaller diameter than that of said spherical cavity, carried within said spherical cavity and movable orthogonally with respect to said socket assembly.

Claim 5

The movable joint structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein said socket assembly comprises a large diameter opening within one end of the same, said ball member has a shaft projecting radially through said large diameter opening and thermally coupled to said first heat pipe member and said socket assembly comprises a cylindrical opening fixedly receiving one end of said other heat pipe.

Claim 6

The movable joint structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for maintaining a pressurized gas with said gap comprises fluid passage means extending through said socket assembly and opening into said spherical cavity for directing pressurized gas to said gap at the side of said socket assembly opposite that of said large diameter opening through which said ball member shaft projects and said socket assembly further comprises an annular groove concentric with said fluid passageway within the spherical cavity and adjacent said large diameter opening and annular resilient seal means carried within said annular groove in sealing contact with the periphery of said ball and at least one surface of said groove to prevent escape of low pressure gas from said gap through large diameter opening.

Claim 7

The movable joint structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein said socket assembly comprises: threadably engaged ring socket and cup socket halves, and wherein said enlarged diameter opening is formed within said ring socket half and said gas inlet passage is formed within said cup socket half.

Claim 8

The movable joint structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said socket assembly comprises: threadably engaged ring socket and cup socket halves, and wherein said enlarged diameter opening is formed within said ring socket half and said gas inlet passage is formed within said cup socket half.

Claim 9

A movable heat conductive joint structure for an assembly subjected to vacuum and low temperature conditions, said joint structure comprising: first and second heat pipes, interengaging, relatively movable heat conductive heat pipe support members, said heat pipe support members being fixed respectively to said heat pipes, one of said support members comprising a socket assembly defining a spherical cavity and the other support member comprising a ball member of slightly smaller diameter than that of said spherical cavity and being carried within said spherical cavity and movable orthogonally with respect to said socket assembly, said socket assembly comprising a large diameter opening within one end of the same, said ball member having a shaft projecting radially through said large diameter opening and thermally coupled to said first heat pipe member, said ball member and said socket assembly forming a gap, said socket assembly comprising a cylindrical opening fixedly receiving one end of said other heat pipe, means for maintaining a gas under light pressure within said gap to effect a low impedance heat path across said gap and between said heat pipe support members without impedance to the relative movement of said support members, said means for maintaining a gas under light pressure within said gap comprising fluid passage means extending through said socket assembly and opening into said spherical cavity for directing gas under pressure to said gap at the side of said socket assembly opposite that of said large diameter opening through which the ball member shaft projects, and said socket assembly further comprising an annular groove concentric with said fluid passageway within said spherical cavity and adjacent said large diameter opening, annular resilient seal means carried within said annular groove in sealing contact with the periphery of said ball and at least one surface of said groove to prevent escape of low pressure gas from said gap through said large diameter opening, a second annular groove within said socket assembly cavity coaxial with said first groove and positioned intermediate of said first groove and said gas passage, and split ring means positioned within said groove and in contact with the periphery of said ball for maintaining said gap between said ball and said spherical cavity wall and for permitting distribution of said low pressure gas between the opposed surfaces of the ball periphery and the socket cavity to effect creation of a low thermal impedance path between said ball and socket members.

Claim 10

A movable heat conductive joint structure for an assembly subjected to vacuum and low temperature conditions, said joint structure comprising: first and second heat pipes, interengaging, relatively movable heat conductive heat pipe support members, said heat pipe support members being fixed respectively to said heat pipes, one of said support members comprising a socket assembly defining a spherical cavity and the other support member comprising a ball member of slightly smaller diameter than that of said spherical cavity and being carried within said spherical cavity and movable orthogonally with respect to said socket assembly, said socket assembly comprising a large diameter opening within one end of the same, said ball member having a shaft projecting radially through said large diameter opening and thermally coupled to said first heat pipe member, said ball member and said socket assembly forming a gap, said socket assembly comprising a cylindrical opening fixedly receiving one end of said other heat pipe, means for maintaining a gas under light pressure within said gap to effect a low impedance heat path across said gap and between said heat pipe support members without impedance to the relative movement of said support members, said means for maintaining a gas under light pressure within said gap comprising fluid passage means extending through said socket assembly and opening into said spherical cavity for directing gas under pressure to said gap at the side of said socket assembly opposite that of said large diameter opening through which the ball member shaft projects, and said socket assembly further comprising an annular groove concentric with said fluid passageway within said spherical cavity and adjacent said large diameter opening, annular resilient seal means carried within said annular groove in sealing contact with the periphery of said ball and at least one surface of said groove to prevent escape of low pressure gas from said gap through said large diameter opening, a second annular groove within said socket assembly cavity coaxial with said first groove and positioned intermediate of said first groove and said gas passage, and split ring means positioned within said groove and in contact with the periphery of said ball for maintaining said gap between said ball and said spherical cavity wall and for permitting distribution of said low pressure gas between the opposed surfaces of the ball periphery and the socket cavity to effect creation of a low thermal impedance path between said ball and socket members.

Claim 11

The movable joint structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein said socket assembly comprises: threadably engaged ring socket and cup socket halves, and wherein said enlarged diameter opening is formed within said ring socket half and said gas inlet passage is formed within said cup socket half.

Claim 12

The movable joint structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said cup socket half comprises axially extending threads on a radially outer face, said ring socket half comprises an axially projecting portion overlying a portion of said cup socket half and having internal threads threadably engaging the threads of said cup socket half and said socket halves include radially projecting portions in axial confronting position at one end of the threaded peripheral portion, and a weld between said radially projecting portions of respective socket halves to effect a leakproof seal therebetween.