초록 ▼

A thermal switch having relatively high gain for stabilizing the temperature of a heat source or a heat sink, especially useful in vacuum applications. A strip of heat conducting material is disposed to conduct heat from one heat station to another heat station. The contact made between the strip of

A thermal switch having relatively high gain for stabilizing the temperature of a heat source or a heat sink, especially useful in vacuum applications. A strip of heat conducting material is disposed to conduct heat from one heat station to another heat station. The contact made between the strip of heat conducting material and a heat station is subjected to a variable contact pressure. This contact pressure varies in response to changes in the temperature of a quantity of a heat expandable fluid material confined to a chamber thermally connected to whichever heat station is to be subjected to temperature control. This fluid preferably has a high bulk modulus. The fluid actuates a piston disposed to bear against the strip of heat conducting material whereby the pressure at the interface between the strip and the contacted heat station is varied. The heat conducting materials in contact with each other at this interface preferably have a low yield strength. Other features of the invention provide for accurate alignment of the contacting surfaces to each other and for eliminating mechanical offset at a desired initial point on the operating characteristic of the thermal switch.

대표청구항 ▼

A thermal switch comprising: a first heat station of heat conducting material; a second heat station of heat conducting material; a strip of heat conducting material extending between said first heat station and said second heat station, said strip having a thermal conduction interface with said fir

A thermal switch comprising: a first heat station of heat conducting material; a second heat station of heat conducting material; a strip of heat conducting material extending between said first heat station and said second heat station, said strip having a thermal conduction interface with said first heat station at a first region of said strip, a thermal conduction interface with said second heat station at a second region of said strip wherein said second region is longitudinally displaced along said strip from said first region, and an intermediate region extending longitudinally along said strip between said first and second regions, wherein, in said intermediate region, said strip comprises a plurality of thin ribbons consisting of metal foil formed in a flaccid stack; and thermal actuator means for varying contact pressure at said thermal interface of said strip with a selected one of said first and second heat stations in response to temperature changes of said first heat station.