Patents by Inventor Adam C. Wood
Adam C. Wood has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240093678Abstract: An apparatus includes a thermal actuator switch configured to control a transfer of thermal energy through the thermal actuator switch. The thermal actuator switch includes first and second plates and a piston movable laterally between the first and second plates. The thermal actuator switch also includes a phase change material configured to (i) expand to move a surface of the piston into a first position and (ii) contract to allow the surface of the piston to move into a second position. The surface of the piston thermally contacts the first plate and increases thermal energy transfer between the first and second plates when in one of the first and second positions. The surface of the piston is spaced apart from the first plate and decreases thermal energy transfer between the first and second plates when in another of the first and second positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Andrew J. Pitts, Adam C. Wood
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Publication number: 20230184595Abstract: A thermal testing system includes a mirror array, having tiltable mirror elements, that reflects thermal radiation output from a radiative heat source. The mirror elements can be tilted as required to achieve a desired radiative heating profile, for example on an object to be tested. The thermal testing system may also have additional mirror arrays, and/or a heat sink. The radiative heat source may be stationary, and may have different zones (for example with different bulbs) that may be controlled separately, for example by having separate illumination intensity control for the different zones. The testing system may be configured for different tests, and/or to provide time-varying heating profiles.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2021Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventor: Adam C. Wood
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Patent number: 11346615Abstract: An apparatus includes multiple layers of phase-stable material, where adjacent layers of the phase-stable material are separated by multiple spaces. The apparatus also includes liquid phase change material in the spaces between the adjacent layers of the phase-stable material. The liquid phase change material is configured to become gaseous phase change material based on thermal energy absorbed by the liquid phase change material. The apparatus further includes at least one release configured to block passage of the liquid phase change material out of the spaces between the adjacent layers of the phase-stable material. The at least one release is also configured to allow passage of the gaseous phase change material out of the spaces between the adjacent layers of the phase-stable material.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Leonel A. Olivarez, Adam C. Wood
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Patent number: 10883777Abstract: A thermal interface is provided. The thermal interface includes a shape memory material and a thermally-conductive material. The thermal interface is configured to be formed as a compressed thermal interface and as an expanded thermal interface. The compressed thermal interface is configured to partially fill a thermal gap between a first component and a second component. The expanded thermal interface is configured to substantially fill the thermal gap between the first and second components.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Adam C. Wood, Charles J. Bersbach
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Publication number: 20200363139Abstract: An apparatus includes multiple layers of phase-stable material, where adjacent layers of the phase-stable material are separated by multiple spaces. The apparatus also includes liquid phase change material in the spaces between the adjacent layers of the phase-stable material. The liquid phase change material is configured to become gaseous phase change material based on thermal energy absorbed by the liquid phase change material. The apparatus further includes at least one release configured to block passage of the liquid phase change material out of the spaces between the adjacent layers of the phase-stable material. The at least one release is also configured to allow passage of the gaseous phase change material out of the spaces between the adjacent layers of the phase-stable material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2019Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Leonel A. Olivarez, Adam C. Wood
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Publication number: 20190249937Abstract: A thermal interface is provided. The thermal interface includes a shape memory material and a thermally-conductive material. The thermal interface is configured to be formed as a compressed thermal interface and as an expanded thermal interface. The compressed thermal interface is configured to partially fill a thermal gap between a first component and a second component. The expanded thermal interface is configured to substantially fill the thermal gap between the first and second components.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Adam C. Woods, Charles J. Bersbach
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Patent number: 10267578Abstract: A thermal interface is provided. The thermal interface includes a shape memory material and a thermally-conductive material. The thermal interface is configured to be formed as a compressed thermal interface and as an expanded thermal interface. The compressed thermal interface is configured to partially fill a thermal gap between a first component and a second component. The expanded thermal interface is configured to substantially fill the thermal gap between the first and second components.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2015Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Adam C. Wood, Charles J. Bersbach
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Publication number: 20190045655Abstract: A heat sink includes a lower shell, an upper shell, and an internal matrix having a space. The space is configured to receive a phase change material. The lower shell, the upper shell and the internal matrix are formed as a single component using additive manufacturing techniques. The upper shell can include a fill port and a vent port. The fill port can be configured to provide a path into the space of the internal matrix for the phase change material. The fill port and the vent port can each be configured to receive a seal plug, such as an expansion plug.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2018Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Jeremy T. Evans, Adam C. Wood, Chad E. Boyack, Richard Piekarski
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Patent number: 10151542Abstract: According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an encapsulated phase change material (PCM) heat sink is provided. The encapsulated PCM heat sink includes a lower shell, an upper shell, an encapsulated phase change material, and an internal matrix. The internal matrix includes a space that is configured to receive the encapsulated phase change material. Thermal energy is transferrable between the encapsulated phase change material and at least one of the lower shell and the upper shell. For a particular embodiment, the upper shell is coupled to the lower shell at room temperature and room pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2014Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventor: Adam C. Wood
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Patent number: 10123456Abstract: A heat sink is provided that includes a lower shell, an upper shell and an internal matrix. The lower shell, the upper shell and the internal matrix are formed as a single component using additive manufacturing techniques. The internal matrix includes a space that is configured to receive a phase change material.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2015Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Jeremy T. Evans, Adam C. Wood, Chad E. Boyack, Richard Piekarski
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Patent number: 9952026Abstract: A method includes absorbing heat generated at a flight vehicle using a heat sink, where the heat sink includes a matrix. The matrix includes a porous structure having multiple pores at least partially filled with one or more phase change materials. The method also includes converting the matrix into an insulator as the one or more phase change materials change state and exit the porous structure due to the absorbed heat. The matrix with the one or more phase change materials could include an alcogel, and the insulator could include an aerogel. The matrix could reside within a pressurized container that includes at least one seal. The at least one seal can fail due to increased pressure within the pressurized container as the heat is absorbed by the heat sink in order to allow the one or more phase change materials to exit the porous structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2015Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventor: Adam C. Wood
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Publication number: 20170127557Abstract: A heat sink is provided that includes a lower shell, an upper shell and an internal matrix. The lower shell, the upper shell and the internal matrix are formed as a single component using additive manufacturing techniques. The internal matrix includes a space that is configured to receive a phase change material.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2015Publication date: May 4, 2017Inventors: Jeremy T. Evans, Adam C. Wood, Chad E. Boyack, Richard Piekarski
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Publication number: 20170108321Abstract: A method includes absorbing heat generated at a flight vehicle using a heat sink, where the heat sink includes a matrix. The matrix includes a porous structure having multiple pores at least partially filled with one or more phase change materials. The method also includes converting the matrix into an insulator as the one or more phase change materials change state and exit the porous structure due to the absorbed heat. The matrix with the one or more phase change materials could include an alcogel, and the insulator could include an aerogel. The matrix could reside within a pressurized container that includes at least one seal. The at least one seal can fail due to increased pressure within the pressurized container as the heat is absorbed by the heat sink in order to allow the one or more phase change materials to exit the porous structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2015Publication date: April 20, 2017Inventor: Adam C. Wood
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Patent number: 9626853Abstract: Technology for a thermal switch is described. The thermal switch can include a first conducting layer. The thermal switch can include a second conducting layer. The thermal switch can include a material layer in between the first conducting layer and the second conducting layer. The material layer can be a conductor when above a defined temperature and a dielectric when below the defined temperature. The thermal switch can be operable to close an electrical circuit when the material layer is a conductor and open the electrical circuit when the material layer is the dielectric.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventor: Adam C. Wood
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Publication number: 20170038159Abstract: A thermal interface is provided. The thermal interface includes a shape memory material and a thermally-conductive material. The thermal interface is configured to be formed as a compressed thermal interface and as an expanded thermal interface. The compressed thermal interface is configured to partially fill a thermal gap between a first component and a second component. The expanded thermal interface is configured to substantially fill the thermal gap between the first and second components.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2015Publication date: February 9, 2017Inventors: Adam C. Wood, Charles J. Bersbach
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Publication number: 20170011607Abstract: Technology for a thermal switch is described. The thermal switch can include a first conducting layer. The thermal switch can include a second conducting layer. The thermal switch can include a material layer in between the first conducting layer and the second conducting layer. The material layer can be a conductor when above a defined temperature and a dielectric when below the defined temperature. The thermal switch can be operable to close an electrical circuit when the material layer is a conductor and open the electrical circuit when the material layer is the dielectric.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2015Publication date: January 12, 2017Applicant: Raytheon CompanyInventor: Adam C. Wood
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Publication number: 20150285564Abstract: According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an encapsulated phase change material (PCM) heat sink is provided. The encapsulated PCM heat sink includes a lower shell, an upper shell, an encapsulated phase change material, and an internal matrix. The internal matrix includes a space that is configured to receive the encapsulated phase change material. Thermal energy is transferrable between the encapsulated phase change material and at least one of the lower shell and the upper shell. For a particular embodiment, the upper shell is coupled to the lower shell at room temperature and room pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2014Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: Raytheon CompanyInventor: Adam C. Wood