Radiation cooling devices and processes

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is based on the discovery that intensified infrared cooling of a restricted subject region can be achieved by locating the subject region in the path defined by a geometric configuration, in which a small infrared radiation sink and a large infrared radiation condenser, e.
g.
a converging reflector, are axially related.
Preferably the radiation sink is isolated from the atmosphere by an infrared transmitting envelope which precludes precipitation of moisture and which transmits infrared radiation directed from the subject region via the radiation condenser to the radiation sink.
Preferably heat is removed from the radiation sink by a thermo-electric heat exchanger which is connected to the radiation sink by a heat conductor that includes an externally insulated pipe and internally convective fluid.
The radiation sink, particularly the surface area communicating with the radiation condenser, is operationally electrostatic, i.
e.
is not a component of a closed electrical loop.
In other words the heat sink is electromotively isolated so as to be free of power dissipation that is significant in relation to infrared radiation received from the subject.
The cooling configuration of the present invention is the antithesis of irradiating configurations of the prior art in the sense that the present invention predeterminedly locates a "point" radiation sink in adjacence to the focal point of an optical condensing system whereas the prior art predeterminedly locates a point radiation source in adjacence to the focal point of an optical condensing system.
The present invention is believed to take advantage of the scientific principle that the aperture of an optical system assumes the radiance of the object it is imaging when viewed from the image point.
The present invention effectively reduces mechanical problems previously inherent in radiation cooling devices.
These devices are particularly useful in the maintainance of controlled temperatures for individualized cooling or medical therapy or for scientific or industrial procedures in which convenient mechanical access is precluded, for example, with respect to subject surfaces of irregular shape or minute size