FAST COOLDOWN CRYOSTAT FOR LARGE INFRARED FOCAL PLANE ARRAYS

Abstract

A dual Joule-Thompson cryostat assembly (10) is provided which includes first and second concentrically aligned cryostats (100) and (102), respectively, which are disposed in the coldwell of a detector assembly (12). Each of the cryostats is connected to a source of pressurized gas which is discharged into the coldwell. The pressurized gas is directed at the components to be cooled such that the relatively high discharge velocity produces a relatively high film coefficient for maximizing heat transfer. Both the inner and outer cryostats, (100) and (102), respectively, of the dual cryostat assembly (10) are designed to direct pressurized gas at an electromagnetic detector (26). In addition, the inner cryostat (100) directs pressurized gas toward the outer cryostat (102) for precooling the outer cryostat (102). Furthermore, the outer cryostat (102) is designed to direct pressurized gas for cooling a coldshield (50) surrounding the detector (26).

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1WALLACE Y. KUNIMOTO

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