US3759443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal flux transfer system
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1971-06-16
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1991-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A thermal flux transfer system for use in maintaining the thrust chamber of an operative reaction motor at given temperatures. The system is characterized by an hermetically sealed chamber surrounding a thrust chamber to be cooled, having seated therewithin a plurality of parallel, longitudinally spaced, diskshaped wick members formed of a metallic mesh and employed in delivering a working fluid, in its liquid state, radially toward the thrust chamber and subsequently delivering the working fluid, in its vapor state, away from the nozzle for thereby effecting a cooling of the nozzle, in accordance with known principles of an operating heat pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 J Fletcher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:07
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02K; F02K9/00; F02K9/97; F02K9/972; F05; F05D; F05D2260/00; F05D2260/20; F05D2260/208
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
A thermal flux transfer system for cooling a thrust chamber of a reaction motor comprising: A. means defining an hermetically sealed chamber including a cylindrical shell adapted to be concentrically related to a given thrust chamber; B. means for maintaining the temperature of the shell substantially below that of said thrust chamber; C. a working fluid confined within said sealed chamber having a vapor phase at a temperature substantially below the operating temperature of said thrust chamber and a liquid phase at a temperature substantially above the operating temperature of said shell; and D. means defining multiple paths for conducting said fluid radially through said sealed chamber including a plurality of axially spaced, coaxially related wicks concentrically related to said thrust chamber, each of said wicks being characterized by a disk shaped laminated structure including a corrugated base plate having a plurality of radially extended corrugations, and a pair of components fabricated from metallic mesh sandwiching said base plate therebetween, whereby said working fluid is conducted as a vapor between said wicks from a region of vaporization located adjacent to said thrust chamber to a region of condensation located adjacent to said shell, and returned as a liquid to said region of vaporization through said plurality of wick members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
A thermal flux transfer system for cooling a thrust chamber of a reaction motor comprising: A. means defining an hermetically sealed chamber including a cylindrical shell adapted to be concentrically related to a given thrust chamber; B. means for maintaining the temperature of the shell substantially below that of said thrust chamber; C. a working fluid confined within said sealed chamber having a vapor phase at a temperature substantially below the operating temperature of said thrust chamber and a liquid phase at a temperature substantially above the operating temperature of said shell; and D. means defining multiple paths for conducting said fluid radially through said sealed chamber including a plurality of axially spaced, coaxially related wicks concentrically related to said thrust chamber, each of said wicks being characterized by a disk shaped laminated structure including a corrugated base plate having a plurality of radially extended corrugations, and a pair of components fabricated from metallic mesh sandwiching said base plate therebetween, whereby said working fluid is conducted as a vapor between said wicks from a region of vaporization located adjacent to said thrust chamber to a region of condensation located adjacent to said shell, and returned as a liquid to said region of vaporization through said plurality of wick members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said working fluid is selected from a class of working fluids including sodium, lithium and silver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means defining an hermetically sealed chamber further includes a transverse end plate having a plurality of concentrically related corrugations for accommodating temperature-induced stress as it is developed within said system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising thermal flux transfer means coupled with said shell for conducting heat away from the shell including means defining a cylindrical chamber concentrically related to said sealed chamber, and a fluid circuit for conveying a standing flow of gas through said cylindrical chamber along a path having a segment cIrcumscribing a portion of said shell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising thermal flux transfer means coupled with said shell for conducting heat away from said shell including means defining a cylindrical chamber concentrically related to said sealed chamber and a plurality of contiguous bars of a solid mass disposed within said cylindrical chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said thermal flux transfer means further includes means for circulating a cooling liquid about the periphery of said cylindrical chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said thermal flux transfer means further includes means for circulating a cooling liquid about the periphery of said cylindrical chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |