Abstract: A coupler for electrically-isolating two conductive sections of fluid-passing line includes two nonconductively-interconnected pieces of tubing for insertion in the line. The pieces of tubing each have a divergently-flared end, and the flared ends are nonconductively-interconnected within two dielectric wafers. Each wafer has a tapered hole extending through it that matches the flared ends and enlarges to a face on the wafer. The flared ends are each bonded within a separate one of the tapered holes in a position recessed from the face with the flare of the end paralleling the taper of the hole, and the faces are bonded together with the larger ends of the tapered holes aligned and the flared ends sealed in fluid communication with an electrically-nonconductive gap between them.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus for an infrared up-convertor incorporates a transparent heat sink in a conductive heat exchange relationship with a surface of the up-convertor and a Joule-Thomson effect cryostat located outside of the incoming and emitted image paths for cooling the heat sink. In this manner, the cooling apparatus does not obscure the path of the image to or from the up-convertor.

Abstract: A separable electrical isolator for coupling two pieces of conductive tubing carrying high pressure cryogenic gas includes a gas-impervious dielectric spacer with a bore in which the pieces of tubing are sealed axially-aligned in fluid communication with an electrically-nonconductive gap between them. A pair of complementary coupling members are rigidly attached to the pieces of tubing to define outwardly-extending annular flanges that are each sealed about the periphery of a corresponding one of the pieces in a position slightly set back from an end of the piece. Each flange has an annular rib protruding from it toward the end of the piece. The coupling members are separably and nonconductively interconnected with the annular ribs applying compressive force to the spacer to thereby effect the seal.

Abstract: A coupler for electrically-isolating two conductive sections of fluid-passing line includes two nonconductively-interconnected pieces of tubing for insertion in the line. The pieces of tubing each have a divergently-flared end, and the flared ends are nonconductively-interconnected within two dielectric wafers. Each wafer has a tapered hole extending through it that matches the flared ends and enlarges to a face on the wafer. The flared ends are each bonded within a separate one of the tapered holes in a position recessed from the face with the flare of the end paralleling the taper of the hole, and the faces are bonded together with the larger ends of the tapered holes aligned and the flared ends sealed in fluid communication with an electrically-nonconductive gap between them.

Abstract: A separable electrical isolator for coupling two pieces of conductive tubing carrying high pressure cryogenic gas includes a gas-impervious dielectric spacer with a pair of opposing surfaces and a bore extending therebetween in which the pieces of tubing are sealed axially-aligned in fluid communication with an electrically-nonconductive gap between them. A pair of complementary coupling members are rigidly attached to the pieces of tubing to define outwardly-extending annular surfaces that are each sealed about the periphery of a corresponding piece in a position slightly set back from and facing an end of the piece. The coupling members are separably and nonconductively interconnected with the annular surfaces facing the spacer surfaces and O-ring seals in between to apply compressive force to the spacer and seals and thereby effect the seal.

Abstract: The leads for an infrared detector unit are arranged to pass through bores in a cooled detector housing with intimate contact with the cooled detector housing for precooling the leads extending from the detector elements to the respective preamp leads.

Abstract: A cooled infrared detector post includes a detector post formed of a stack of wafer disks with a detector substrate wafer forming one end of the post and a cooling chamber adjacent to the detector substrate with coolant supply and return passages formed in the series of wafers with a supply passage contained to a supply port with a supply passage forming a plurality of serpentine passages at various planes within the post and a return passage including a plurality of precooling chambers with the wafer stacked in a predetermined arrangement and fused together to form a monolithic post structure.