Multiaxial thermal dissipation and structurally-compliant device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12306455-B2
Application number	US-202318313966-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2023
Priority date	Oct 5, 2021
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus includes a Dewar having an endcap. The apparatus also includes a heat sink and a multiaxial thermal shoe having a thermal interface material and configured to thermally couple the endcap of the Dewar to the heat sink via one of at least two axial surfaces. The multiaxial thermal shoe is configured to transfer thermal energy between the endcap of the Dewar and the heat sink without structurally coupling the Dewar to the heat sink. The multiaxial thermal shoe may be configured to hold the thermal interface material against the endcap. The multiaxial thermal shoe may couple to the heat sink via a first axial surface in-line with an optical centerline or a second axial surface crosswise to the optical centerline.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a Dewar having an endcap;
a heat sink; and
a multiaxial thermal shoe comprising a thermal interface material and configured to thermally couple the endcap of the Dewar to the heat sink via one of at least two axial surfaces, the multiaxial thermal shoe configured to transfer thermal energy between the endcap of the Dewar and the heat sink without structurally coupling the Dewar to the heat sink.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multiaxial thermal shoe couples to the heat sink via one of: a first axial surface in-line with an optical centerline or a second axial surface crosswise to the optical centerline.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multiaxial thermal shoe has (i) a smaller cross-sectional size in a portion of the multiaxial thermal shoe contacting the thermal interface material and (ii) a larger cross-sectional size in a portion of the multiaxial thermal shoe contacting the heat sink.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heat sink comprises a coldwall with fins.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an imaging device positioned within the Dewar.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multiaxial thermal shoe is configured to compensate for a tip/tilt or thermal expansion of one or more optics positioned proximate to the Dewar.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the thermal interface material comprises an amorphous pliable material; and
the multiaxial thermal shoe includes oversized mounting holes configured to couple the multiaxial thermal shoe to the heat sink and allow for at least one plane self-alignment.

8. A method comprising:
obtaining a Dewar having an endcap;
obtaining a multiaxial thermal shoe;
obtaining a heat sink;
coupling the heat sink to the multiaxial thermal shoe via one of at least two axial surfaces; and
placing a thermal interface material between the endcap and the multiaxial thermal shoe to thermally couple the endcap of the Dewar to the heat sink, the multiaxial thermal shoe configured to transfer thermal energy between the endcap of the Dewar and the heat sink without structurally coupling the Dewar to the heat sink.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the multiaxial thermal shoe couples to the heat sink via one of: a first axial surface in-line with an optical centerline or a second axial surface crosswise to the optical centerline.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the multiaxial thermal shoe has (i) a smaller cross-sectional size in a portion of the multiaxial thermal shoe contacting the thermal interface material and (ii) a larger cross-sectional size in a portion of the multiaxial thermal shoe contacting the heat sink.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the heat sink comprises a coldwall with fins.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
positioning an imaging device within the Dewar.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the multiaxial thermal shoe is configured to compensate for a tip/tilt or thermal expansion of one or more optics positioned proximate to the Dewar.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the thermal interface material comprises an amorphous pliable material; and
the multiaxial thermal shoe includes oversized mounting holes configured to couple the multiaxial thermal shoe to the heat sink and allow for at least one plane self-alignment.

15. A method comprising:
removing thermal energy from a Dewar having an endcap;
passing the thermal energy through a thermal interface material and a multiaxial thermal shoe; and
providing the thermal energy to a heat sink;
wherein the multiaxial thermal shoe thermally couples the endcap of the Dewar to the heat sink via one of at least two axial surfaces and transfers thermal energy between the endcap of the Dewar and the heat sink without structurally coupling the Dewar to the heat sink.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the multiaxial thermal shoe couples to the heat sink via one of: a first axial surface in-line with an optical centerline or a second axial surface crosswise to the optical centerline.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the multiaxial thermal shoe has (i) a smaller cross-sectional size in a portion of the multiaxial thermal shoe contacting the thermal interface material and (ii) a larger cross-sectional size in a portion of the multiaxial thermal shoe contacting the heat sink.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the thermal interface material comprises an amorphous pliable material; and
the heat sink comprises a coldwall with fins.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
operating an imaging device positioned within the Dewar.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the multiaxial thermal shoe is configured to compensate for a tip/tilt or thermal expansion of one or more optics positioned proximate to the Dewar; and
the multiaxial thermal shoe includes oversized mounting holes configured to couple the multiaxial thermal shoe to the heat sink and allow for at least one plane self-alignment.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Girard Adam R
• Aranda James A
• Payan Gabriel A
• Chesser John M
• Nguyen Ly Dinh

Classifications

• F17C2227/0397

  characterised by fins · CPC title

• F17C2227/0383

  outside the vessel · CPC title

• F17C2270/0509

  "Dewar" vessels · CPC title

• F17C13/006 Primary

  for Dewar vessels or cryostats · CPC title

• G02B7/008 Primary

  with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation · CPC title