Passive heat exchanger for gimbal thermal management

Abstract

A passive heat exchanger for gimbal thermal management is disclosed. In one embodiment, a thermal management system includes one or more electronics and/or sensor equipment. Further, the thermal management system includes a thermally conductive shell configured to house the electronics and/or sensor equipment. Furthermore, the thermally conductive shell includes an external surface and an internal surface. In addition, at least some portion of the external surface and the internal surface of the thermally conductive shell include an extended surface configured to reduce thermal resistance between an interior region of the thermally conductive shell and ambient air.

1 . A thermal management system, comprising:
 one or more electronics and/or sensor equipment; and   a thermally conductive shell configured to house the one or more electronics and/or sensor equipment, wherein the thermally conductive shell includes an external surface and an internal surface, and wherein at least some portion of the external surface and the internal surface of the thermally conductive shell include an extended surface configured to reduce thermal resistance between an interior region of the thermally conductive shell and ambient air.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive shell is configured so that when the extended surface of the external surface and the internal surface is attached to the configured thermally conductive shell forming a complete thermally conductive shell. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive shell is configured such that the extended surface of the external surface and the internal surface is integral with a remaining portion of the thermally conductive shell without including the extended surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the extended surface of the external surface and the extended surface of the internal surface comprise a plurality of fins, wherein the plurality of fins is configured to reduce the thermal resistance between the interior region of the thermally conductive shell and the ambient air. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal management system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of fins extends orthogonally or at a slant from the external surface and the internal surface of the thermally conductive shell. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal management system of  claim 4 , wherein a material of the thermally conductive shell including the extended surface of the external surface and the internal surface is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, beryllium, and a composite of aluminum and beryllium. 
     
     
         7 . A gimbal, comprising:
 a thermally conductive sphere configured to house rotatably one or more electronics and/or sensor equipment, wherein the thermally conductive sphere includes an external surface and an internal surface, and wherein at least some portion of the external surface and the internal surface of the thermally conductive sphere include an extended surface configured to reduce thermal resistance between an interior region of the thermally conductive sphere and ambient air.   
     
     
         8 . The gimbal of  claim 7 , wherein the thermally conductive sphere is configured so that when the extended surface of the external surface and the internal surface is attached to the configured thermally conductive sphere forming a complete thermally conductive sphere. 
     
     
         9 . The gimbal of  claim 7 , wherein the thermally conductive sphere is configured such that the extended surface of the external surface and the internal surface is integral with a remaining portion of the thermally conductive sphere without including the extended surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The gimbal of  claim 7 , wherein the extended surface of the external surface and the extended surface of the internal surface comprise a plurality of fins, wherein the plurality of fins is configured to reduce thermal resistance between the interior region of the thermally conductive sphere and the ambient air. 
     
     
         11 . The gimbal of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of fins extends orthogonally or at a slant from the external surface and the internal surface of the thermally conductive sphere. 
     
     
         12 . The gimbal of  claim 10 , wherein a material of the thermally conductive sphere including the extended surface of the external surface and the internal surface is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, beryllium, and a composite of aluminum and beryllium.