A method of improving optical characteristics of an optical window operating in a flow of fluid and having first and second panes of optically transmissive material—each having an edge adjacent to, parallel with, and at least partially coextensive with each other—is described herein. The method includes inserting a thermally conductive blade between two adjacent edges of the first and second panes of optically transmissive material; and lifting an adverse flow stagnation zone forward of the optical window by protruding the thermally conductive blade into the flow of fluid from an outer surface of the panes of the optical window.

A window assembly heat transfer system is disclosed in which a window member has a selected transparency to monitored or sensed light wavelengths. One or more passages are provided in the window member for flowing a single-phase or two-phase heat transfer fluid, the passages being optically non-transparent to the monitored or sensed light wavelengths. A mechanism allows either evaporation or condensation of the fluid and/or balancing of a flow of the fluid within the passages. In one embodiment, the window assembly can be made by producing passages in a top surface of a first single plate, optionally producing passages in a bottom surface of a second single plate and bonding the top surface of the first plate to a bottom surface of a second single plate to form the window member with the passage or passages. In another embodiment, the window assembly can be made by providing a core around which the window member material is grown and thereafter removing the core to produce the passage or passages.

A system, apparatus and method for mitigating the shock front of a rocket or aerospace plane flying at hypersonic speeds while simultaneously distilling liquid chemical elements regeneratively from the ambient air by means of vortex inversion splines. The splines may additionally be tuned by geometry to function as both centripetal and/or isentropic thrust augmentation attribute and/or double-decker Joule-Thomson refrigeration means. Because of the stochastic stagnation flux that reaches into the absolute zero zone by means of precooling, a splined stochastically switched hypersonic nosecone may be constructively tuned into a complex Carnot refrigeration engine commanding both personal and enterprise liquid Helium distilling means with orders of magnitude efficacy gains over existing methods.

A system, apparatus and method for mitigating the shock front of a rocket or aerospace plane flying at hypersonic speeds while simultaneously distilling liquid chemical elements regeneratively from the ambient air by means of vortex inversion splines. The splines may additionally be tuned by geometry to function as both centripetal and/or isentropic thrust augmentation attribute and/or double-decker Joule-Thomson refrigeration means. Because of the stochastic stagnation flux that reaches into the absolute zero zone by means of precooling, a splined stochastically switched hypersonic nosecone may be constructively tuned into a complex Carnot refrigeration engine commanding both personal and enterprise liquid Helium distilling means with orders of magnitude efficacy gains over existing methods.

A sensor system and method of reducing plasma-induced communication inhibition for a main antenna includes using auxiliary antennas for detecting a density of plasma that affects operation of the main antenna, and re-orienting an electromagnetic field around the main antenna in response to the density detected to reduce effect of the plasma on the main antenna. The auxiliary antennas are also operable for data link communication and switchable such if the density of the plasma inhibits receipt or sending of signals by one of the auxiliary antennas, another one of the auxiliary antennas may be used for data link communication.

A cooling device uses an endothermic chemical reaction for cooling. The cooling device includes a sealed casing with at least two reagents that generate an endothermic chemical reaction when they come into contact. The cooling device further includes a separating membrane separating the reagents in a storage position; a contact-making system which can be activated and configured to bring the reagents into contact with one another when activated, an interface element for activating the contact-making system; and a thermal interface with a thermally conductive metal base plate. One of the surfaces of the base plate is subjected to the endothermic chemical reaction, and the other surface of the base plate is accessible from outside the cooling device.

A cooling device uses an endothermic chemical reaction for cooling. The cooling device includes a sealed casing with at least two reagents that generate an endothermic chemical reaction when they come into contact. The cooling device further includes a separating membrane separating the reagents in a storage position; a contact-making system which can be activated and configured to bring the reagents into contact with one another when activated, an interface element for activating the contact-making system; and a thermal interface with a thermally conductive metal base plate. One of the surfaces of the base plate is subjected to the endothermic chemical reaction, and the other surface of the base plate is accessible from outside the cooling device.

There is disclosed a missile comprising an outer skin, an electronics unit, and a thermal link between the electronics unit and the outer skin. The thermal link comprises a jumping drop vapour chamber arranged such that, when the outer skin is at an elevated temperature relative to the electronics unit, the electronics unit is thermally insulated from the outer skin; and such that, when the outer skin is at a lower temperature relative to the electronics unit, the electronics unit is thermally linked to the outer skin.

There is disclosed a missile comprising an outer skin, an electronics unit, and a thermal link between the electronics unit and the outer skin. The thermal link comprises a jumping drop vapour chamber arranged such that, when the outer skin is at an elevated temperature relative to the electronics unit, the electronics unit is thermally insulated from the outer skin; and such that, when the outer skin is at a lower temperature relative to the electronics unit, the electronics unit is thermally linked to the outer skin.

An apparatus includes multiple layers of phase-stable material, where adjacent layers of the phase-stable material are separated by multiple spaces. The apparatus also includes liquid phase change material in the spaces between the adjacent layers of the phase-stable material. The liquid phase change material is configured to become gaseous phase change material based on thermal energy absorbed by the liquid phase change material. The apparatus further includes at least one release configured to block passage of the liquid phase change material out of the spaces between the adjacent layers of the phase-stable material. The at least one release is also configured to allow passage of the gaseous phase change material out of the spaces between the adjacent layers of the phase-stable material.