Thermally actuated wedge block

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:863492

Queen, Jr., Charles C. ^[1]

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1. (Knoxville, TN)

This invention relates to an automatically-operating wedge block for maintaining intimate structural contact over wide temperature ranges, including cryogenic use. The wedging action depends on the relative thermal expansion of two materials having very different coefficients of thermal expansion. The wedge block expands in thickness when cooled to cryogenic temperatures and contracts in thickness when returned to room temperature.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4184665
• OSTI ID: 863492
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

thermally
actuated
wedge
block
relates
automatically-operating
maintaining
intimate
structural
contact
wide
temperature
ranges
including
cryogenic
wedging
action
depends
relative
thermal
expansion
materials
coefficients
expands
thickness
cooled
temperatures
contracts
returned
temperature ranges
cryogenic temperature
cryogenic temperatures
temperature range
thermal expansion
wide temperature
thermally actuated
wedge block
relative thermal
wedging action
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