Spacecraft radiator panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9238513-B2
Application number	US-201213412906-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2012
Priority date	Mar 6, 2012
Publication date	Jan 19, 2016
Grant date	Jan 19, 2016

Abstract

Spacecraft, radiator panels for spacecraft, kits for radiator panels, inserts associated with radiator panels, heat pipes associated with radiator panels, and methods of assembling radiator panels are disclosed herein. Radiator panels according to the present disclosure include at least one insert that is positioned adjacent to a heat pipe between two spaced-apart face-sheets, with the insert being configured to secure a package to the inside face-sheet opposite of the heat pipe.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A radiator panel for a spacecraft, the radiator panel comprising:
two spaced-apart face-sheets including an inside face-sheet and an outside face-sheet;
a heat pipe positioned between the two spaced-apart face-sheets and operatively engaged and in thermal communication with the two spaced-apart sheets, wherein the heat pipe includes a side extension with a substantially planar extension surface that is perpendicular to the two spaced-apart face sheets; and
an insert positioned adjacent to the heat pipe, wherein the insert includes a substantially planar insert surface that is perpendicular to the two spaced-apart face sheets and that is operatively engaged with the substantially planar extension surface of the heat pipe, wherein the insert is configured with at least one feature useful in the operative securing of a package to the inside face-sheet opposite the heat pipe and the insert so that heat from the package may operatively conduct from the package through the inside face-sheet to the heat pipe, wherein the insert extends from the inside face-sheet to the outside face-sheet, wherein the insert engages the inside face-sheet and the outside face-sheet, wherein the insert includes a positioning structure extending adjacent to the substantially planar insert surface, wherein the positioning structure includes a lip that wraps around a first edge of the side extension of the heat pipe, and wherein the insert includes a retaining structure extending adjacent to the substantially planar insert surface opposite the positioning structure relative to the planar extension surface and that includes a clip that engages a second edge of the side extension of the heat pipe.

2. The radiator panel of claim 1 , wherein the insert is configured to operatively receive a fastener for securing the package to the inside face-sheet.

3. The radiator panel of claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is positioned completely between the two spaced-apart face-sheets.

4. The radiator panel of claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe does not extend through, or penetrate, the inside face-sheet and does not extend through, or penetrate, the outside face-sheet.

5. The radiator panel of claim 1 , wherein the insert includes a plurality of inserts corresponding to a footprint associated with the package.

6. The radiator panel of claim 1 ,
wherein the substantially planar extension surface is a first substantially planar extension surface and the heat pipe further includes a second substantially planar extension surface that is perpendicular to the two spaced-apart face sheets; and
wherein the insert is a first insert, the substantially planar insert surface is a first substantially planar insert surface, and the radiator panel further comprises a second insert positioned adjacent to the heat pipe generally opposite the first insert, wherein the second insert includes a second substantially planar insert surface that is perpendicular to the two spaced-apart face sheets and that is operatively engaged with the second substantially planar extension surface of the heat pipe, wherein the second insert is configured with at least one feature useful in the operative securing of the package to the inside face-sheet opposite the heat pipe from the second insert.

7. The radiator panel of claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe is a first heat pipe, the radiator panel further comprising:
a second heat pipe positioned transverse to the first heat pipe.

8. The radiator panel of claim 1 , further comprising:
the package, wherein the package is secured to the inside face-sheet opposite the heat pipe, wherein the heat pipe is a first heat pipe, and wherein the package includes a second heat pipe positioned transverse to the first heat pipe.

9. The radiator panel of claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe includes a cylindrical core and an extension extending from the cylindrical core, wherein the extension defines the substantially planar extension surface.

10. The radiator panel of claim 1 , further comprising:
corrugated structure positioned between the two spaced-apart face-sheets.

11. A spacecraft including the radiator panel of claim 1 .

12. A kit for assembling a radiator panel for a spacecraft, the kit comprising:
an inside face-sheet;
an outside face-sheet;
one or more heat pipes for being positioned between the inside face-sheet and the outside face-sheet, wherein the one or more heat pipes each include a side extension with a substantially planar extension surface that when positioned between the inside face-sheet and the outside face-sheet is perpendicular to the inside face-sheet and the outside face-sheet; and
a plurality of inserts, wherein each insert is configured to be positioned adjacent to and in operative engagement with the substantially planar extension surface of a heat pipe of the one or more heat pipes between the inside face-sheet and the outside face-sheet, wherein each insert is configured to extend from the inside face-sheet to the outside face-sheet, wherein each insert is configured to engage the inside face-sheet and the outside face-sheet when positioned in operative engagement with the substantially planar extension surface, wherein each insert is configured to operatively secure a package to the inside face-sheet opposite the heat pipe without penetration of the inside face-sheet with the heat pipe, wherein each insert includes a positioning structure extending adjacent to the substantially planar insert surface, wherein the positioning structure includes a lip that is configured to wrap around a first edge of the side extension of the heat pipe, and wherein each insert includes a retaining structure extending adjacent to the substantially planar insert surface opposite the positioning structure relative to the planar extension surface and that includes a clip that is configured to engage a second edge of the side extension of the heat pipe.

13. The kit of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of inserts includes a first subset of inserts having a first width and a second subset of inserts having a second width that is greater than the first width.

14. The kit of claim 12 , wherein the inside face-sheet, the outside face-sheet, the one or more heat pipes, and the plurality of inserts are configured to be assembled selectively into an assembled configuration of the radiator panel, wherein in the assembled configuration, the heat pipe does not extend through an opening in the inside face-sheet and the plurality of inserts do not extend through bores in the inside face-sheet.

15. The radiator panel of claim 1 , wherein the insert does not extend through a bore in the inside face-sheet, and wherein the heat pipe does not extend through an opening in the inside face-sheet.

Assignees

• Aston Richard William
• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Aston Richard William

Classifications

• F28F2275/08

  by clamping or clipping · CPC title

• B64G1/503 Primary

  Radiator panels · CPC title

• F28D15/0275

  Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores · CPC title

• B64G1/506

  Heat pipes · CPC title

• F28F2240/00

  Spacing means · CPC title