Electro-mechanical heat switch for cryogenic applications
US6532759B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 21, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 21, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S165/132
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A heat switch includes two symmetric jaws. Each jaw is comprised of a link connected at a translatable joint to a flexible arm. Each arm rotates about a fixed pivot, and has an articulated end including a thermal contact pad connected to a heat sink. The links are joined together at a translatable main joint.To close the heat switch, a closing solenoid is actuated and forces the main joint to an over-center position. This movement rotates the arms about their pivots, respectively, forces each of them into a stressed configuration, and forces the thermal contact pads towards each other and into compressive contact with a cold finger.The closing solenoid is then deactivated. The heat switch remains closed due to a restoring force generated by the stressed configuration of each arm, until actuation of an opening solenoid returns the main joint to its starting open-switch position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.