Satellite with a thermal switch and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11459131-B2
Application number	US-202017092972-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2020
Priority date	Aug 28, 2017
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

A satellite includes a satellite housing, a temperature sensitive component carried by the satellite housing, and a thermal radiator carried by the satellite housing. A thermal switch is movable between a coupled state and a decoupled state. In the coupled state, the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator are thermally coupled. In the decoupled state, the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator are thermally decoupled.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A method of maintaining a temperature sensitive component of a satellite within a temperature range, the satellite comprising a thermal radiator, an electrically powered heater, and a thermal switch movable between a coupled state with the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator being thermally coupled, and a decoupled state with the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator being thermally decoupled, the method comprising:
moving the thermal switch to the coupled state when a sensed temperature of the temperature sensitive component is above the temperature range; and
operating the electrically powered heater to heat the temperature sensitive component and move the thermal switch to the decoupled state when the sensed temperature of the temperature sensitive component is below the temperature range.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the thermal switch, when in the decoupled state, defines a vacuum gap between the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the thermal switch comprises an electromagnetically operated actuator.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the electromagnetically operated actuator comprises a solenoid coil, and at least one flexure mount coupled between the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein the electromagnetically operated actuator comprises at least one solenoid fastener coupled between the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator.

6. The method according to claim 1 comprising positioning a compressible thermal interface layer between the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator when the thermal switch is in the coupled state.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensitive component comprises an electronic circuit device.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the temperature sensitive component comprises a battery.

9. A method of maintaining a temperature sensitive component of a satellite within a temperature range, the satellite comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the temperature sensitive component, a thermal radiator, an electrically powered heater, and a thermal switch movable between a coupled state with the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator being thermally coupled, and a decoupled state with the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator being thermally decoupled, the method comprising:
operating a controller coupled to the temperature sensor, electrically powered heater, and thermal switch to
move the thermal switch to the coupled state when a sensed temperature of the temperature sensitive component is above the temperature range, and
operate the electrically powered heater to heat the temperature sensitive component and move the thermal switch to the decoupled state when the sensed temperature of the temperature sensitive component is below the temperature range.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the thermal switch, when in the decoupled state, defines a vacuum gap between the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator.

11. The method according to claim 9 wherein the thermal switch comprises an electromagnetically operated actuator.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the electromagnetically operated actuator comprises a solenoid coil, and at least one flexure mount coupled between the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein the electromagnetically operated actuator comprises at least one solenoid fastener coupled between the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator.

14. The method according to claim 9 comprising positioning a compressible thermal interface layer between the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator when the thermal switch is in the coupled state.

15. The method according to claim 9 wherein the temperature sensitive component comprises an electronic circuit device.

16. The method according to claim 9 wherein the temperature sensitive component comprises a battery.

17. A temperature control system for a temperature sensitive component of a satellite, the satellite comprising a thermal radiator, and an electrically powered heater associated with the temperature sensitive component, the temperature control system comprising:
a thermal switch movable between a coupled state with the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator being thermally coupled, and a decoupled state with the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator being thermally decoupled; and
a controller configured to
move the thermal switch to the coupled state when a sensed temperature of the temperature sensitive component is above a temperature range, and
operate the electrically powered heater to heat the temperature sensitive component and move the thermal switch to the decoupled state when the sensed temperature of the temperature sensitive component is below the temperature range.

18. The temperature control system according to claim 17 wherein the thermal switch, when in the decoupled state, defines a vacuum gap between the temperature sensitive component and the thermal radiator.

19. The temperature control system according to claim 17 wherein the thermal switch comprises an electromagnetically operated actuator.

20. The temperature control system according to claim 17 wherein the temperature sensitive component comprises an electronic circuit device.

21. The temperature control system according to claim 17 wherein the temperature sensitive component comprises a battery.

Assignees

• Harris Corp

Inventors

• Newlin Christopher R
• Mast Alan W

Classifications

• B64G1/503 Primary

  Radiator panels · CPC title

• B64G1/50 Primary

  for temperature control · CPC title

• B64G1/10

  Artificial satellites; Systems of such satellites; Interplanetary vehicles (space shuttles B64G1/14) · CPC title

• B64G1/66

  Arrangements or adaptations of apparatus or instruments, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• H01H37/02

  Details · CPC title