Abstract: An apparatus includes a heat receiving portion which receives heat within a footprint from a heat generating structure, and a cooling arrangement which causes flow of a coolant that absorbs heat at the heat receiving portion, the cooling arrangement being disposed in its entirety within a width of the footprint in a particular direction. A different feature involves an apparatus which includes a heat receiving portion at which a coolant receives heat, and a coolant separating portion which receives coolant traveling away from the heat receiving portion, and which separates liquid coolant from vapor coolant.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a thermal management system for electronic components includes a plastic coldplate having a mounting surface for mounting one or more electronic components, one or more passageways configured to have a fluid flow therethrough disposed within the plastic coldplate, and a highly conductive material disposed within the plastic coldplate and thermally coupled to the mounting surface. The highly conductive material is operable to transfer heat from the mounting surface to the fluid flow.

Abstract: An apparatus includes heat-generating structure disposed in an environment having an ambient pressure, and a cooling system for removing heat from the heat-generating structure. The cooling system includes a fluid coolant, structure which reduces a pressure of the coolant to a subambient pressure at which the coolant has a boiling temperature less than a temperature of the heat-generating structure; and structure which directs a flow of the liquid coolant at the subambient pressure so that it is brought into thermal communication with the heat-generating structure, the coolant then absorbing heat and changing to a vapor. A method for cooling heat-generating structure disposed in an environment having an ambient pressure includes providing a fluid coolant and reducing a pressure of the coolant to a subambient pressure at which the coolant has a boiling temperature less than a temperature of the heat-generating structure.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a thermal management system for electronic components includes a plastic coldplate having a mounting surface for mounting one or more electronic components, one or more passageways configured to have a fluid flow therethrough disposed within the plastic coldplate, and a highly conductive material disposed within the plastic coldplate and thermally coupled to the mounting surface. The highly conductive material is operable to transfer heat from the mounting surface to the fluid flow.

Abstract: A heat sink which comprises an enclosure having a highly thermally conductive surface region and defining an enclosed cavity. A porous, highly thermally conductive material is disposed in the cavity, preferably homogeneously therein, and is thermally coupled to the thermally conductive surface. A phase change material changing from its initial phase, generally solid, to its final phase, generally liquid, responsive to the absorption of heat is disposed in the enclosed cavity and in the porous material. In accordance with a first embodiment, the highly thermally conductive surface region is preferably aluminum and the porous medium is a highly thermally conductive porous medium, preferably aluminum. In accordance with a second embodiment, the thermally conductive surface is composed of highly thermally conductive fibers disposed in a matrix and the porous material is a plurality of the thermally conductive fibers extending from the thermally conductive surface into the cavity.

Abstract: A cooling technique involves: reducing a pressure of a cooling fluid to a subambient pressure at which the cooling fluid has a boiling temperature less than a temperature of a heat-generating structure; bringing the cooling fluid at the subambient pressure into thermal communication with the heat-generating structure, so that the coolant absorbs heat, boils and vaporizes; thereafter removing heat from the coolant so as to condense substantially all of the coolant to a liquid; and thereafter extracting a selected portion of the cooling fluid that has been cooled, the selected portion being a vapor that includes a non-condensable gas.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heat receiving portion which receives heat within a footprint from a heat generating structure, and a cooling arrangement which causes flow of a coolant that absorbs heat at the heat receiving portion, the cooling arrangement being disposed in its entirety within a width of the footprint in a particular direction. A different feature involves an apparatus which includes a heat receiving portion at which a coolant receives heat, and a coolant separating portion which receives coolant traveling away from the heat receiving portion, and which separates liquid coolant from vapor coolant.

Abstract: A cooling technique involves: reducing a pressure of a cooling fluid to a subambient pressure at which the cooling fluid has a boiling temperature less than a temperature of a heat-generating structure; bringing the cooling fluid at the subambient pressure into thermal communication with the heat-generating structure, so that the coolant absorbs heat, boils and vaporizes; thereafter removing heat from the coolant so as to condense substantially all of the coolant to a liquid; and thereafter extracting a selected portion of the cooling fluid that has been cooled, the selected portion being a vapor that includes a non-condensable gas.

Abstract: A heat-conducting device for conducting heat between a circuit board and an airframe of a missile includes a thermal plane onto which the circuit board is mounted, and a pair of feet that partially protrude from the slots in the thermal plane. Slot-engaging portions of the feet freely float within the slots, allowing repositioning of the feet in two dimensions relative to the slots. Resilient devices such as springs urge outer portions of the feet into contact with the airframe. Locking mechanisms may prevent extension of the feet until after the heat-conducting device is installed in the missile. The feet self-align into contact with the airframe, automatically adjusting to compensate for misalignment and/or warping.

Abstract: A thermal management system is provided. The system has a thermal management apparatus which may be disposed adjacent to and connected with a heat source. The thermal management apparatus may include a body having a porous fluid transfer element disposed therein. The body may also have a heat transfer fluid disposed therein. The heat source may create relatively liquid-rich and liquid-poor regions within the thermal management apparatus. The wicking action of the porous fluid transfer element may be used to force heat transfer fluid from liquid-rich regions toward liquid-poor regions.

Abstract: A dynamic, user-friendly financial and illustration system for evaluating, exposing and re-balancing, to the user's appropriate risk tolerance, the inherent risk in such financial planning areas as retirement, insurance, estate decision-making and targeted financial goal funding, e.g., college education, long-term care decisions, etc. This system provides a basis for both calculating and visualizing the elements of risk, and the re-balancing of that risk in accordance with the user's risk tolerance, in any financial decision when the underlying elements of risk are known and can be inputted or computed.

Abstract: A tail fin assembly for a guided projectile which is capable of withstanding the high pressures experienced during launch, which is also capable of stabilizing the projectile during initial flight shortly after emergence from the cannon or large gun barrel and which is also capable of freely spinning relative to the projectile front section for the remainder of the flight to minimize projectile roll to accomplish all of these capabilities sequentially during a single launch. The assembly includes the projectile and a rotatable member, preferably a tail fin assembly with tail fins which is rotatable about the projectile major axis and which is normally locked against rotation about the projectile. A locking structure is provided for locking the rotatable member against the rotation which is responsive to a predetermined condition to permit rotation of the rotatable member about the projectile.

Abstract: A cold plate for use in a thermal management system and a method of thermal management which comprises an inlet channel having coolant fluid disposed therein at a substantially uniform pressure throughout the inlet channel and an outlet channel having coolant fluid disposed therein at a substantially uniform pressure lower than the pressure in the inlet channel throughout the outlet channel. The cold plate includes a highly thermally-conductive metallic porous matrix filling the fluid passage, preferably of aluminum. The porous matrix is preferably from about two percent to about 15 percent percent solid.

Abstract: A coolant distribution system and method for a plurality of devices requiring cooling where the coolant source is of limited capacity. The system and method apportion coolant to each of the devices requiring cooling based upon instantaneous knowledge of the waste heat load of the devices. This is accomplished by providing a scheduler, which is preferably a computer having a data base, to concurrently determine the instantaneous amount of coolant apportioned for each of the devices. In response to this determination the flow of coolant from the coolant source to the devices is controlled in accordance with the apportioned flow of coolant for each device based upon a predetermined schedule. The coolant flow rate is controlled by providing a controllable valve coupled to the coolant source, determining the flow rate of coolant through the valve and a flow controller responsive to the scheduler and the determination of the flow rate of coolant through said controllable valve to control the controllable valve.

Abstract: A thermal management system using an expendable liquid which undergoes phase change to a vapor as waste heat is absorbed and also possesses a high latent heat of vaporization. The vapor is expelled, carrying with it the waste heat. A vacuum source lowers the vapor pressure to lower the vaporization temperature. In first embodiments, regulated fluid flows into a heat exchanger wherein a vacuum system lowers the pressure. Waste heat transported to the heat exchanger by a coolant loop causes the liquid to boil at a desired temperature. A flow regulator controls the rate of fluid flow from the pressurized reservoir to the heat exchanger. The refrigeration effect is produced by the liquid being converted from the liquid to the vapor phase and absorbing heat from the coolant fluid during the phase change. The vacuum system provides a system pressure that results in a suitable temperature at which vaporization occurs. The fluid flow is controlled, based upon the demand from the heat load produced.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a seismic vibrator having an airbag isolator, a transducer for monitoring the instantaneous air pressure within the airbags, a summer to add the pressures within each air bag and a calibrated weighting network to convert the composite pressure for display as holdown weight on a meter and for comparing the measured holdown against a preset threshold that is used to enable or disable sweep generation or operation of an inducer. The system also includes structure for comparing the measured holdown against a preset threshold that is used as a feedback signal to the lift system and for providing a signal proportional to holdown weight to the sweep generator for use as a feedback signal to modify the amplitude of the force generated by the actuator.

Abstract: A transportable hydraulic seismic transducer has a seismic energy source connected to a pad for imparting elastic waves to the underlying ground. The energy source has a reaction mass with a single diameter cylinder formed therein, a double ended piston reciprocally mounted in the cylinder with a piston rod extending from opposite ends of the piston and a pair of bushings fitted within the cylinder at opposite ends to provide bearing surfaces for the opposite ends of the piston rod. A piston may be ringed and a liner fitted into place within the cylinder with the rings forming a seal with the liner. The piston may also be ringless and a liner made of a bushing material fitted within the cylinder so that between the piston and the liner, an adequate seal is provided. The use of the single diameter cylinder or bore permits the total machining of inserted parts such as the bushings and liners to be done before inserting in the reaction mass bore.

Abstract: A vibratory seismic energy source capable of generating significant energy over a broad frequency band. The vibrating baseplate and associated structure are designed to have minimum weight while still retaining sufficient structural integrity to permit the use of high actuator forces. This, coupled with a large reaction mass results in the generation of significant energy levels in the earth at high frequencies.

Abstract: A dual mode vibrator (DMV), in its hydraulic cylinder, automatically provides a shorter stroke for higher frequencies and a longer stroke for lower frequencies. The cylinder contains a pair of sleeves, each sleeve having one diameter portion sufficient to slideably engage the piston and having a smaller diameter portion to slideably engage the piston rod. The sleeves themselves are moveable within the cylinder, such movement being effected by the application of high pressure on one end or the other. When the sleeves are moved together, the stroke is effectively shortened. When the sleeves are moved apart, the stroke is effectively lengthened.

Abstract: A vibratory seismic energy source capable of generating significant energy over a broad frequency band. The vibrating baseplate and associated structure are designed to have minimum weight while still retaining sufficient structural integrity to permit the use of high actuator forces. This, coupled with a large reaction mass results in the generation of significant energy levels in the earth at high frequencies.