Patent ID: 8656989

Claim:
A modified isogrid panel comprising of longitudinal and transverse reinforcing ribs that intersect each other, said ribs being attached to an inner surface of a face sheet and said face sheet having an outer surface, the isogrid panel modified for the purpose of thermal control and further comprising: a. hollow longitudinal ribs providing a primary fluid flow pathway, said hollow longitudinal ribs having essentially the same mass as the longitudinal solid ribs of an unmodified isogrid panel; b. one or more fluid distribution channels embedded in said face sheet immediately under the outer surface of said face sheet, each of said one or more fluid distribution channels a fluid input point and a fluid outflow point; c. a passive thermally-coupled flow control valve located in a passageway connecting said primary fluid flow pathway to each of said fluid input points; d. a return passageway between each of said fluid outflow points and said primary fluid flow pathway, whereby excess heat absorbed by said face sheet fluid from a heat-producing subsystem can be directed through a radiator system to cool said fluid and on to a pump to circulate said fluid through said modified isogrid panel.