Raytheon Company

Andrew J Pitts

James E Benedict

Adam C Wood

An apparatus includes a thermal actuator switch configured to control a transfer of thermal energy through the thermal actuator switch. The thermal actuator switch includes first and second plates and a piston movable laterally between the first and second plates. The thermal actuator switch also includes a phase change material configured to (i) expand to move a surface of the piston into a first position and (ii) contract to allow the surface of the piston to move into a second position. The surface of the piston thermally contacts the first plate and increases thermal energy transfer between the first and second plates when in one of the first and second positions. The surface of the piston is spaced apart from the first plate and decreases thermal energy transfer between the first and second plates when in another of the first and second positions.

Phase change material (PCM)-based conductive thermal actuator switches and associated stacked and arrayed systems

A heat spreading element is provided. The heat spreading element includes compressible pyrolytic graphite sheets and rigid pyrolytic graphite sheets interleaved with the compressible pyrolytic graphite sheets.

Growing community of inventors

Newton, MA, United States of America

Andrew J Pitts