Patent ID: 9403606
Filing Date: 2016-08-02
CPC Classification: B64G,F28D,F28F

Claim Text:
1. A radiator panel for a spacecraft, the radiator panel comprising: two spaced-apart face-sheets including an inside face-sheet and an outside face-sheet; at least one heat pipe positioned between the two spaced-apart face-sheets and operatively engaged and in thermal communication with the two spaced-apart face-sheets, wherein the at least one heat pipe includes a side extension with a substantially planar extension surface that is perpendicular to the two spaced-apart face-sheets; a core positioned between the two spaced-apart face-sheets; an insert positioned adjacent to the at least one heat pipe, wherein the insert includes a substantially planar insert surface that is perpendicular to the two spaced-apart face-sheets and that is operatively engaged with the substantially planar extension surface of the at least one heat pipe, wherein the insert is configured with at least one feature useful in the operative securing of a package to the inside face-sheet opposite the at least one heat pipe and the insert so that heat from the package may operatively conduct from the package through the inside face-sheet to the at least one heat pipe, wherein the insert extends from the inside face-sheet to the outside face-sheet, wherein the insert engages the inside face-sheet and the outside face-sheet, wherein the insert includes a positioning structure extending adjacent to the substantially planar insert surface, wherein the positioning structure includes a lip that wraps around a first edge of the side extension of the at least one heat pipe, and wherein the insert includes a retaining structure extending adjacent to the substantially planar insert surface opposite the positioning structure relative to the planar extension surface and that includes a clip that engages a second edge of the side extension of the at least one heat pipe; and at least one external structural reinforcement member extending across an external side of the outside face-sheet and substantially spanning an entire width of the radiator panel, wherein the at least one external structural reinforcement member defines a void between the at least one external structural reinforcement member and the outside face-sheet, wherein each of the at least one external structural reinforcement member has a longitudinal axis; wherein the radiator panel is free of heat pipes that are directly opposite, relative to the outside face-sheet, and longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal axis of at least one of the at least one external structural reinforcement member.