Other

Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Katsuhiro Narasaki

Kazufusa Noda

Yutaro Sekimoto

A thermal link assembly provides thermal connection between a first thermally conductive part to which it is secured, and a second thermally conductive part which is generally disk-shaped and has a peripheral cylindrical surface. The thermal link assembly includes an annular ring made of thermally conductive material, generally in a shape of a revolution with respect to an axis, including an annular base portion to be secured to the first part and a series of contact tongues arranged along the base portion. Each contact tongue has a stem and a head. The stem has i) a longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to the axis of the annular ring, ii) a first longitudinal end connected to the base portion, and iii) a second longitudinal end connected to the head. The head has a contact surface to be in contact with the peripheral cylindrical surface of the second part. The stem is capable of twisting and bending elastic deformation with respect to the longitudinal axis, so that the contact surface of the head is capable of tilting in any direction and displacing in the radial direction of the annular ring. The thermal link assembly further includes an annular band fitted around the annular ring for exerting a force to the head of each contact tongue so as to urge the contact surface of the head against the peripheral cylindrical surface of the second part.

Growing community of inventors

Ehime-ken, Japan

Katsuhiro Narasaki