A deployable radiator panel system for a small spacecraft includes fusible metal thermal hinge having a hinge leaf affixed to a spacecraft fixed radiator panel and the corresponding hinge leaf affixed to a deployable radiator panel with fusible metal filling the interstices between knuckles of each leaf to provide a conductive heat transfer path from the spacecraft fixed radiator panel through its leaf to the intervening fusible metal and then to the deployable radiator panel leaf and finally to the deployable radiator panel. A method is provided to heat and melt the fusible metal, release the deployable radiator panel from a stowed position, apply torque to open the fusible thermal metal hinge and latch the deployable radiator panel in a deployed position, and cool and solidify fusible metal.
Deployable radiator panel system
2024-06-11
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS / E05F DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION , Vorrichtungen zum Bewegen der Flügel in die Offen- oder Schließstellung / F28D Wärmetauscher, soweit in keiner anderen Unterklasse vorgesehen, in denen die Wärmetauschmittel nicht in direkte Berührung miteinander kommen , HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT / E05D Scharniere oder andere Aufhängevorrichtungen für Türen, Fenster oder Flügel , HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS, OR WINGS |