Heat pipe having improved dielectric strength

Claim 2

A heat pipe comprising: a hermetically sealed housing having a heat input portion and a heat output portion and an electrically insulating portion disposed between said input and said output portions; first capillary wick means disposed within said housing substantially along a surface of said heat input portion, second capillary wick means disposed within said housing substantially along a surface of said heat output portion, electrically insulating wick means connecting said first and second wick means; a volatile working fluid contained within said housing and within at least portions of said wick means; a substantially chemically inert gas contained with said housing and having a dielectric strength greater than the dielectric strength of said Fluid when in the vapor state at a predetermined operating temperature, said gas also having a boiling point below that of said fluid; and means for enhancing separation of said fluid in the vapor state and said gas when heat is being transferred from said heat input portion to said heat output portion by means of said fluid.

Claim 3

A heat pipe according to claim 1 wherein said fluid is selected from the group consisting of Dowtherm A, FC43, Dowcorning 200, Freon 13, and Freon 12; and said inert gas is selected from the group consisting of N2, SF6, C3F8, C4F8, 8, C4F10 and C2F6.

Claim 4

A heat pipe according to claim 1 wherein the volatile working fluid contained within said housing is sufficient to substantially saturate each said wick means, and the quantity of said inert gas disposed within said housing is sufficient to maintain electrical insulation between said heat output portions at said operating temperature.

Claim 5

A heat pipe according to claim 1 wherein the last named means is an interface shield disposed within said output portion of said housing.

Claim 6

A heat pipe according to claim 1 wherein the last named means includes a chamber spaced from but operatively coupled to said heat output portion such that said gas may pass from said housing into said chamber, whereby during the operation of said heat pipe said inert gas substantially resides in said chamber and said working fluid substantially resides in said housing.

Claim 7

A heat pipe comprising: a hermetically sealed housing of substantially tubular shape having a heat input portion and a heat output portion and an electrically insulating portion disposed between said input and said output portions; first capillary wick means disposed within said housing substantially along a surface of said heat input portion, second capillary wick means disposed within said housing substantially along a surface of said heat output portion, electrically insulating wick means connecting said first and second wick means; a volatile working fluid contained within said housing and within at least portions of said wick means; a substantially chemically inert gas contained with said housing and having a dielectric strength greater than the dielectric strength of said fluid when in the vapor state at a predetermined operating temperature, said gas also having a boiling point below that of said fluid; a chamber annularly disposed around the longitudinal axis of said housing and extending both radially outwardly of and longitudinally beyond said housing; wall means spaced from the outer surface of said housing for forming in conjunction therewith a cooling channel for allowing the removal of heat from said housing; and throat means extending into said channel for providing a passageway for the flow of inert gas and working fluid between said housing and said chamber.

Claim 8

A heat pipe comprising: a hermetically sealed housing of substantially tubular shape having a heat input portion and a heat output portion and an electrically insulating portion disposed between said input and said output portions; first capillary wick means disposed within said housing substantially along a surface of said heat input portion, second capillary wick means disposed within said housing substantially along a surface of said heat output portion, electrically insulating wick means connecting said first and second wick means; a volatile working fluid contained within said housing and within at least portions of said wick means; a substantially chemically inert gas contained with said housing and having a dielectric strength greater than the dielectric strength of said fluid when in the vapor state at a predetermined operating temperature, said gas also having a boiling point below that of said fluid; a chamber annularly disposed around the longitudinal axis of said housing and extending both radially outwardly of and longitudinally beyond said housing; wall means spaced from the outer surface of said housing for forming in conjunction therewith a cooling channel for allowing the removal of heat from said housing; and throat means extending into said channel for providing a passageway for the flow of inert gas and working fluid between said housing and said chamber.

Claim 9

A heat pipe comprising: a hermetically sealed housing of a substantially tubular shape having a heat input portion and a heat output portion and an electrically insulating portion disposed between said input and said output portions; first capillary wick means disposed within said housing substantially along a surface of said heat input portion, second capillary wick means disposed within said housing substantially along a surface of said heat output portion, first electrically insulating wick means connecting said first and second wick means; a volatile working fluid contained within said housing and within at least portions of said wick means; a substantially chemically inert gas contained with said housing and having a dielectric strength greater than the dielectric strength of said fluid when in the vapor state at a predetermined operating temperature, said gas also having a boiling point below that of said fluid; a chamber annularly disposed around the longitudinal axis of said housing and extending both radially outwardly of and longitudinally beyond Said housing; wall means spaced from the outer surface of said housing for forming in conjunction therewith a cooling channel for allowing the removal of heat from said housing; a plurality of throats extending into said channel for providing passageways for the flow of inert gas and working fluid between said housing and said chamber; third capillary wick means disposed within said chamber and said throats, substantially along a surface of said chamber and of said throats, said third capillary wick means being connected to said second capillary wick means; and second electrically insulating wick means connecting said first and said third capillary wick means.

Claim 10

A heat pipe comprising: a hermetically sealed housing of a substantially tubular shape having a heat input portion and a heat output portion and an electrically insulating portion disposed between said input and said output portions; first capillary wick means disposed within said housing substantially along a surface of said heat input portion, second capillary wick means disposed within said housing substantially along a surface of said heat output portion, first electrically insulating wick means connecting said first and second wick means; a volatile working fluid contained within said housing and within at least portions of said wick means; a substantially chemically inert gas contained with said housing and having a dielectric strength greater than the dielectric strength of said fluid when in the vapor state at a predetermined operating temperature, said gas also having a boiling point below that of said fluid; a chamber annularly disposed around the longitudinal axis of said housing and extending both radially outwardly of and longitudinally beyond Said housing; wall means spaced from the outer surface of said housing for forming in conjunction therewith a cooling channel for allowing the removal of heat from said housing; a plurality of throats extending into said channel for providing passageways for the flow of inert gas and working fluid between said housing and said chamber; third capillary wick means disposed within said chamber and said throats, substantially along a surface of said chamber and of said throats, said third capillary wick means being connected to said second capillary wick means; and second electrically insulating wick means connecting said first and said third capillary wick means.

Claim 11

A heat pipe comprising: a hermetically sealed housing of substantially tubular shape having a heat input portion and a heat output portion and an electrically insulating portion disposed between said input and said output portions; first capillary wick means disposed within said housing substantially along a surface of said heat input portion, second capillary wick means disposed within said housing substantially along a surface of said heat output portion, first electrically insulating wick means connecting said first and second wick means; a volatile working fluid contained within said housing and within at least portions of said wick means; a substantially chemically inert gas contained with said housing and having a dielectric strength greater than the dielectric strength of said fluid when in the vapor state at a predetermined operating temperature, said gas also having a boiling point below that of said fluid; a chamber annularly disposed around and substantially longitudinally coextensive with said housing, said chamber and said housing forming a cooling channel for allowing the removal of heat from said housing; a plurality of throats extending radially outwardly from said housing and into said channel for providing a passageway for the flow of inert gas and working fluid between said housing and said chamber; third capillary wick means disposed within said chamber and said throats substantially along a surface of said chamber and of said throats, said third capillary wick means being connected to said second capillary wick means; and second electrically insulating wick means connecting said first and said third capillary wick means.

Claim 12

A heat pipe comprising: a hermetically sealed housing of substantially tubular shape having a heat input portion and a heat output portion and an electrically insulating portion disposed between said input and said output portions; first capillary wick means disposed within said housing substantially along a surface of said heat input portion, second capillary wick means disposed within said housing substantially along a surface of said heat output portion, first electrically insulating wick means connecting said first and second wick means; a volatile working fluid contained within said housing and within at least portions of said wick means; a substantially chemically inert gas contained with said housing and having a dielectric strength greater than the dielectric strength of said fluid when in the vapor state at a predetermined operating temperature, said gas also having a boiling point below that of said fluid; a chamber annularly disposed around and substantially longitudinally coextensive with said housing, said chamber and said housing forming a cooling channel for allowing the removal of heat from said housing; a plurality of throats extending radially outwardly from said housing and into said channel for providing a passageway for the flow of inert gas and working fluid between said housing and said chamber; third capillary wick means disposed within said chamber and said throats substantially along a surface of said chamber and of said throats, said third capillary wick means being connected to said second capillary wick means; and second electrically insulating wick means connecting said first and said third capillary wick means.