Gear-Style Retainer for Thermal Management in Aerospace Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional retainers in aerospace and aviation industries fail to provide an adequate conductive heat path and convective heat transfer systems for cooling electronic components, leading to overheating and system shutdowns due to point or near-point contact thermal interfaces, which are inefficient in vacuum atmospheres and high altitudes.
Innovation Solution
A retainer/module system with a center body comprising a plurality of troughs that couples with complementary troughs, providing a continuous conductor path and increased contact surface area for enhanced conductive and convective heat transfer, utilizing gear-style contact and load schemes to ensure stability across varying temperatures and environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional wedge-style retainers are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the heat transfer efficiency deteriorates due to point or near-point contact thermal interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is divided into multiple segments including a center body segment and wedge segments, where each segment can be independently configured to optimize thermal contact. The center body segment provides a continuous conductor path while wedge segments apply clamping force, separating the thermal conduction function from the mechanical fastening function.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer transitions from point or near-point contact in conventional designs to extended surface contact through the center body segment. This dimensional expansion of the contact interface creates a continuous thermal pathway that significantly improves heat transfer efficiency from electronic components to heat sinks.
2Temperature
If conventional retainers with limited contact area are used, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the thermal resistance increases leading to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The center body segment merges multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural support, creates continuous thermal conduction pathways, and maintains clamping force distribution. This integration of thermal management and mechanical fastening functions reduces the need for separate thermal interface materials or additional cooling components.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer utilizes composite construction with segments that can be made from different materials optimized for specific functions. The center body segment can be constructed from high thermal conductivity materials while wedge segments use materials optimized for mechanical properties, creating a composite structure that optimizes both thermal and mechanical performance.
3Loss of energy
If conventional retainers are used in vacuum atmospheres, then the device simplicity is maintained, but the convective heat transfer capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer's center body segment automatically provides continuous thermal conduction pathways without requiring additional active cooling systems. The design self-adjusts to maintain optimal thermal contact between electronic components and heat sinks, eliminating reliance on convective heat transfer that is unavailable in vacuum environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The design replaces convective heat transfer (fluid-based) with conductive heat transfer (solid-based) through the retainer structure. This substitution allows the system to function effectively in vacuum atmospheres where convection is unavailable, maintaining thermal management capability without requiring complex vacuum-compatible cooling systems.
4Loss of energy
If point contact thermal interfaces are used, then the retainer design is simplified, but the heat dissipation capability is insufficient leading to system shutdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is divided into multiple segments including a center body segment and wedge segments, where each segment can be independently configured to optimize thermal contact. The center body segment provides a continuous conductor path while wedge segments apply clamping force, separating the thermal conduction function from the mechanical fastening function.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer transitions from point or near-point contact in conventional designs to extended surface contact through the center body segment. This dimensional expansion of the contact interface creates a continuous thermal pathway that significantly improves heat transfer efficiency from electronic components to heat sinks.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces thermal resistance, improves heat dissipation, extends the life of electronic components, and reduces operational costs by increasing the contact surface area by up to 100% compared to conventional wedge-style retainers, optimizing conductive heat transfer in challenging environments.
Implementation Method 1
Adequate heat exchange of electronic components depends on the steady, low resistance contact between the component(s) generating the heat or thermal energy and the surrounding components, modules or space
Implementation Method 2
Conventional apparatus fail to provide an adequate conductive heat path and convective heat transfer systems for the cooling of electronic components
Data Source
Figure 1A~2
Figure 3A~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
Retainers (10) are described that comprise at least one center body component (12) comprising a plurality of center body troughs (14, 16), and at least one compatible component (20, 24) comprising a plurality of compatible troughs. (22, 26), wherein at least part of the plurality of the compatible troughs couple with at least part of the plurality of center body troughs. In addition, thermal displacement devices are described that incorporate at least one retainers and at least one additional component, wherein the at least one retainer is coupled at least in part to the at least one additional component through a contact area or a substrate, surface or combination thereof, wherein the at least one retainer is coupled with the substrate, surface or combination thereof through a contact area.