Thermally Conductive Vibration Isolation System (TCVIS)
Technology Applications Inc (TAI)
Combined thermal-transport and 6-axis vibration-cancellation assembly for cryocooler-to-detector-dewar interfaces, co-developed with CSA Engineering and tested at NIST.
Technical specifications
- Function
- Combined thermal transport (via GFTS graphite fiber strap) and 6-axis active vibration cancellation
- Vibration reduction (axial, drive frequency)
- > 40 dB (100:1 reduction)
- Vibration reduction (radial, drive frequency)
- 31 - 37 dB (37:1 to 70:1 reduction)
- Harmonic reduction (next 4 harmonics)
- Average 22 dB reduction
- Isolation components
- Compact electromagnetic actuators, force sensors, passive isolators
- Thermal link
- Flexible Graphite Fiber Thermal Strap (GFTS) from aluminum cryocooler mounting flange to heat rejection interface
- Qualification testing
- Tested at NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology); exceeded all requirements
- Single-axis variant
- Axial reduction: >-42 dB at drive frequency; -20 to -40 dB (1st-4th harmonics); -16 dB avg. (5th-10th harmonics)
- Developed with
- CSA Engineering (co-development partner)
About
With growing demand for high-temperature cryoelectronics and sensitive spaceborne infrared imaging/detection systems, mechanical cryocoolers have become an enabling but problematic technology: they generate both vibration (which degrades optical alignment and induces spurious electrical signals) and heat (which reduces cryocooler efficiency, reliability, and lifetime). To address both issues simultaneously, Technology Applications, Inc. and CSA Engineering co-developed the Thermally Conductive Vibration Isolation System (TCVIS), which integrates thermal transport and vibration isolation into a single compact, lightweight assembly fitted between the cryocooler and the detector dewar assembly.
TCVIS uses six-axis vibration cancellation via compact electromagnetic actuators, force sensors, and passive isolators, combined with an aluminum mounting flange that conducts heat from the cryocooler through a flexible Graphite Fiber Thermal Strap (GFTS) to the heat-rejection interface. Tested at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the system exceeded all requirements, demonstrating over 40 dB (100:1) vibration reduction in the axial direction and 31-37 dB (37:1 to 70:1) in the two radial directions at the cryocooler drive frequency, with the next four harmonics reduced an average of 22 dB. A simpler single-axis vibration isolator derived from the six-axis TCVIS is also available, providing greater than -42 dB axial reduction at the drive frequency.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
