Abstract: A detector, in particular an IR detector in the seeker head of a guided missile, is cooled with expanding gas generated by depressurizing a pressurized fluid. A mixture which forms a positive azeotrope, including argon or nitrogen as a main component and at least one alkane as a secondary component, is expanded as the fluid. The composition is preferably in the region of a eutectic mixture in order to avoid a component freezing adjacent to the expansion nozzle. This makes it possible to considerably extend the life of the cooler in comparison to that when using pure cooling gases such as nitrogen or argon, and to cool the detector down more quickly, subject to the same constraints.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus (10) for cooling a detector (52), the cooling apparatus including an inner and an outer countercurrent heat exchanger (12 and 14, respectively) for a first and a second gas in a thermally insulating housing (16), the inner countercurrent heat exchanger (12) being arranged within a sublength of the outer countercurrent heat exchanger (14), and the inner countercurrent heat exchanger (12) being spatially separated from the outer countercurrent heat exchanger (14) by an outer sleeve (18). In this apparatus, the outer sleeve (18) has a partition plate (32) between an expansion nozzle (28) for the first gas located at the end of the inner countercurrent heat exchanger (12) and the remaining part of the outer countercurrent heat exchanger (14).

Abstract: A cooling apparatus (10) for cooling a detector (52), the cooling apparatus including an inner and an outer countercurrent heat exchanger (12 and 14, respectively) for a first and a second gas in a thermally insulating housing (16), the inner countercurrent heat exchanger (12) being arranged within a sublength of the outer countercurrent heat exchanger (14), and the inner countercurrent heat exchanger (12) being spatially separated from the outer countercurrent heat exchanger (14) by an outer sleeve (18). In this apparatus, the outer sleeve (18) has a partition plate (32) between an expansion nozzle (28) for the first gas located at the end of the inner countercurrent heat exchanger (12) and the remaining part of the outer countercurrent heat exchanger (14).

Abstract: In a seeker head assembly in a guided missile, particularly a high-speed guided missile, the seeker head (22) is covered by a dome (28) which is rotatably mounted in the structure and is rotated. The dome (28) is circumferentially surrounded by the structure (10) of the guided missile except for a window section (14). A coolant is supplied to an interspace (46) formed between dome (28) and structure (10) of the guided missile.

Abstract: In a cooling apparatus for cooling an object by means of expanding a pressurized gas which is precooled below its inversion temperature, the pressurized, precooled gas is passed through a depressurization outlet and thereby expanded in a manner such that a gas jet exits from the depressurization outlet and is directed towards a surface of the object to be cooled. This surface has a central impingement area which is impinged upon by the gas jet and which is surrounded by a plurality of spiral-shaped outwardly extending ribs. The heat transfer is thereby improved. The gas, which is in the saturated condition, forms a vortex and, as a result, droplets are separated from the gas. This enables utilizing the heat of vaporization of such droplets.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus for cooling a pivotable detector contains a first cooler which serves for cooling the detector and contains a depressurization outlet through which pressurized argon which has been precooled below its inversion point, is depressurized and thereby cooled. A second cooler is operated using pressurized methane and serves for precooling the pressurized argon. The second cooler constitutes a Joule-Thomson cooler containing a depressurization nozzle for depressurizing and thereby cooling the pressurized methane, and a countercurrent heat exchanger arranged upstream of the depressurization nozzle for precooling the infed pressurized methane by the depressurized and cooled methane. The first cooler constitutes an expansion cooler containing a depressurization outlet and a heat exchanger upstream of the depressurization outlet for exclusive heat exchange between the pressurized argon and the depressurized and cooled methane.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus utilizing the Joule-Thomson effect contains a lead conduit including an inlet end connectable to a source of pressurized gas, and an outlet end, a relief nozzle provided at the outlet end of the lead conduit whereby pressurized gas inflowing through the lead conduit is depressurized at the relief nozzle with cooling, a return for the cooled and depressurized gas, and a countercurrent heat exchanger by which the pressurized gas inflowing through the lead conduit is in heat conductive contact with the cooled and depressurized gas outflowing through the return. Peltier elements serve for additional cooling of the inlet end of the lead conduit and have cold sides which are in immediate contact with the inlet end of the lead conduit. A heat exchanger is provided at the warm sides of the Peltier elements and is throughflown by the gas from the return.

Abstract: A detector (24) in an optical seeker is cooled by means of the Joule-Thomson effect by expansion of pressurized gas. The pressurized gas is generated by a compressor (10) and is guided through a molecular filter (18) to the cooling device (22). The molecular filter (18) adsorbs disturbing components of the pressurized gas. In order to regenerate the molecular filter (18) a gas flow is periodically guided in opposite direction from a storage vessel (30) through the molecular filter (18) to an outlet. In normal operation the molecular filter (18) is cooled by Peltier elements (38). During the regeneration it is heated.