Abstract: The in-line fluid connector serves to separate the upstream and downstream portions of flexible or semi-flexible conduit to allow maintenance on the flow system. The connector includes a female valve and sleeve attached to one portion of the conduit and a male housing attached to the other portion of the conduit. An installation tool that is either hand operated or motor driven consists of a pushout rod whose outer diameter fits into the sleeve for pushing the valve out of the female housing and into the sleeve and for positioning seals to straddle the passageways formed in the female portion and seals in the pushout rod to prevent leakage from the upstream and downstream portions. A locking ring secures the female and male portions and a ball screw motor driven actuator may be used to stroke the installation tool.

Abstract: A life support back pack 14 for use during extravehicular activity in space incorporates a cooling apparatus 20 comprised of five panels 22 each of which include in layered fashion a LCG coolant heat exchange coil 32, a heat distribution plate 42, and a heat dissipation module 50A or 50B having an outer radiator surface 52. Each module 50A houses a first phase change material 55A, for example hexadecane paraffin, and each module 50B houses a second phase change material 55B, for example tetradecane paraffin, which has a phase change temperature which is less than the phase change temperature of the first phase change material 55A. The cooling apparatus 20 is equipped with a coolant heat exchange circuit provided with mode selection valves 84 and 86 which are operated by a controller 88 to selectively direct the LCG coolant to be cooled through the cooling apparatus in one of three operating modes.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing heat energy of a cooling medium passing from a space suit liquid cooling garment includes a heat sink assembly for absorbing and rejecting the heat energy and a heat transfer means for transferring the heat energy of the cooling medium to the heat sink assembly. The heat transfer means, which is comprised of an array of thermoelectric modules, regulates the quantity of heat energy transferred from the cooling medium to the heat sink assembly. The heat sink assembly includes a material which isothermally changes phase while absorbing heat energy.

Abstract: A high effectiveness contour matching contact heat exchanger (10) includes two opposing plates (12,13), each having alternating double rows (25) of attached pins (20). The ends (23) of the pins (20) opposite their respective plates (12,13) are received in tight-fitting holes (40) in the opposite plate (12,13), providing for flexibility of the heat exchanger (10) to maintain efficient thermal transfer contact between the plates (12,13) and the external thermal sources (50,51) of heat or cold, without causing gaps between the ends (23) of the pins (20) and their respective opposite plates (12,13) that decrease heat transfer effectiveness by adversely affecting flow distribution of the fluid flowing therepast.