Development of Advanced Tools for Cryogenic Integration

This paper describes four advanced devices (or tools) that were developed to help solve problems in cryogenic integration. The four devices are: (1) an across‐gimbal nitrogen cryogenic loop heat pipe (CLHP); (2) a miniaturized neon CLHP; (3) a differential thermal expansion (DTE) cryogenic thermal switch (CTSW); and (4) a dual‐volume nitrogen cryogenic thermal storage unit (CTSU). The across‐gimbal CLHP provides a low torque, high conductance solution for gimbaled cryogenic systems wishing to position their cryocoolers off‐gimbal. The miniaturized CLHP combines thermal transport, flexibility, and thermal switching (at 35 K) into one device that can be directly mounted to both the cooler cold head and the cooled component. The DTE‐CTSW, designed and successfully tested in a previous program using a stainless steel tube and beryllium (Be) end‐pieces, was redesigned with a polymer rod and high‐purity aluminum (Al) end‐pieces to improve performance and manufacturability while still providing a miniaturized de...