Edward B Carr

US Patent:

45152063, May 7, 1985

Filed:

Jan 24, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/573140

Inventors:

Edward F. Carr - Orono ME

Assignee:

Board of Trustees of the University of Maine - Bangor ME

International Classification:

F28F 1316

US Classification:

165 1

Abstract:

Method and apparatus are described for regulating the transfer of heat between a first element and second element by interposing a fluid layer of mesomorphic phase liquid crystal material between the elements and thermally coupling the elements through the fluid layer, and by applying an electric field across the fluid layer of liquid crystal material. The electric field actively controls and regulates heat transfer according to either a first mode by reorienting the director of the liquid crystal material and therefore switching the thermal conductivity, or by a second mode electrically inducing convection current flow cells for increasing heat transfer between the elements by a factor as great as 10 or more.