US3753364A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat pipe and method and apparatus for fabricating same
Assignee: Q Dot Corp
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Filing: 1971-02-08
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Granted: 1973-08-21
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Expires: 1991-02-08
Abstract
Abstract A unit for recovering thermal energy which utilizes a plurality of unique heat pipes, and the method and apparatus for fabricating the heat pipes is disclosed. The heat pipes are disposed horizontally and are filled with a volume of working fluid sufficient to cause the liquid phase to travel in either direction by gravity. Circumferential capillary grooves in the side walls of the heat pipes transport the liquid phase vertically above the liquid level to increase the area of the liquid-vapor interface. Additionally, the solid metal strips which form the grooves provide a low impedance thermal path from the walls of the heat pipe to the liquid-vapor interface where evaporation and condensation occur. These two factors significantly increase the efficiency of the system. A divider plate having an X-shaped cross section separates the liquid phase from the high velocity vapor phase to prevent slugging under high energy transfer conditions. The divider plate is operative when the unit is disposed in either of two horizontal positions. The method and apparatus provides a means for fabricating a spiraled capillary groove by cutting the metal from the wall of the tube and raising and folding the cut metal over to provide a groove having a narrow opening for a maximum capillary action. The cutting tool has a curved cutting edge formed by the intersection of a planar surface and a cylindrical surface. Apparatus for driving the cutting tool is also described.
Inventors
- 👤 J Runyan
- 👤 G Grover
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:54
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D15/00; F28D15/02; F28D15/04; B; B21; B21C; B21C37/00; B21C37/06; B21C37/15; B21C37/20; B21C37/207; B21J; B21J5/00; B21J5/06; B21J5/068; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/10; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4935; Y10T29/49353; Y10T29/49377; Y10T29/49378; Y10T29/49385
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
The method for producing a capillary wick in a thermal transfer tube which comprises simultaneously cutting and folding a series of circumferentially extending strips of material from the interior wall of the tube such that successive strips of the material form the side walls of circumferentially extending grooves.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
48 words
The method for producing a capillary wick in a thermal transfer tube which comprises simultaneously cutting and folding a series of circumferentially extending strips of material from the interior wall of the tube such that successive strips of the material form the side walls of circumferentially extending grooves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the strips of material are cut as at least one substantially continuous spiral strip to form at least one substantially continuous spiral groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the spiral strip is deformed into a curved profile to produce a groove having a narrowed opening and therefore more efficient capillary action.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein each successive strip of material is progressively cut from the surface downwardly and is simultaneously progressively folded outwardly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each successive strip is cut at an acute angle to the interior surface of the tube and folded away from the cut to produce grooves of greater depth than the depth of the cut.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 5 wherein each successive strip is also compressed to increase the width of the lower portions of the grooves formed between adjacent strips.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
117 words
The system for producing a capillary wick in an elongated tube which comprises: a drive shaft adapted to pass through the tube, support means for supporting the tube, drive means for simultaneously rotating the drive shaft and moving the support means to cause the drive shaft to pass through a tube supported by the support means at a uniform rate in relation to the rotation of the drive shaft, tool holder means mounted on the drive shaft, and a cutting tool mounted in the tool holder means for simultaneously cutting and folding a continuous strip of material from the inside surface of the tube to form a spiral capillary groove in the interior surface of the tube.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
117 words
The system for producing a capillary wick in an elongated tube which comprises: a drive shaft adapted to pass through the tube, support means for supporting the tube, drive means for simultaneously rotating the drive shaft and moving the support means to cause the drive shaft to pass through a tube supported by the support means at a uniform rate in relation to the rotation of the drive shaft, tool holder means mounted on the drive shaft, and a cutting tool mounted in the tool holder means for simultaneously cutting and folding a continuous strip of material from the inside surface of the tube to form a spiral capillary groove in the interior surface of the tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the cutting tool includes a curved cutting edge defined generally by the intersection of a plane and a cylindrical surface, the plane being disposed at an angle to the axis of the cylindrical surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the cutting tool comprises a cylindrical body having a planar face disposed at an angle to the axis of the cylindrical body to define an elliptically shaped planar surfaCe having major and minor axes, one edge of the elliptical surface defining a cutting edge, the cutting tool being secured in the holder such that the profile of the elliptical cutting edge along the line of travel of the cutting tool relative to the tube is an elliptical shape having a minor axis substantially less than the minor axis of the elliptical planar surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the planar surface faces away from the direction of travel of the cutting tool relative to the tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the cutting tool and the tool holder includes mating indexing means for automatically positioning the cutting tool at the proper rotational position within the tool holder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the end of the drive shaft remote from the drive means is journaled in a sleeve which slidably engages the interior surface in advance of the cutting tool to center the cutting tool as it rotates.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
118 words
The cutting tool for producing a capillary wick in an elongated tube which comprises a generally cylindrical body having a generally planar face at one end intersecting the longitudinal axis of the body at an acute angle to form an elliptically shaped cutting edge having major and minor axes and means for moving the tip of the cutting edge through the surface of the material such that the profile of the cutting edge presented to metal to be cut is elliptical and has a minor axis substantially less than the minor axis of the cutting edge whereby the metal will be cut and folded away from the wall to produce alternate fins and grooves of predetermined cross section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
The cutting tool for producing a capillary wick in an elongated tube which comprises a generally cylindrical body having a generally planar face at one end intersecting the longitudinal axis of the body at an acute angle to form an elliptically shaped cutting edge having major and minor axes and means for moving the tip of the cutting edge through the surface of the material such that the profile of the cutting edge presented to metal to be cut is elliptical and has a minor axis substantially less than the minor axis of the cutting edge whereby the metal will be cut and folded away from the wall to produce alternate fins and grooves of predetermined cross section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cutting tool of claim 13 wherein a body is positioned with the generally planar face facing away from the direction in which the tool moves relative to the material being cut.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
116 words
The thermal transfer device comprising a cylindrical tube of heat conductive material having a plurality of circumferentially extending fins formed integrally with the interior surface of the tube, each fin having a greater radial dimension than the width of the opening between adjacent fins, the adjacent fins forming capillary grooves for the liquid phase of a fluid to be vaporized by heat transferred through the walls of the tube, the fins having a cross sectional configuration characterized by one portion near the end which extends toward an adjacent fin to a greater extent than the portion of the fin near the root to form a capillary groove having a cross section characterized by a restricted opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
116 words
The thermal transfer device comprising a cylindrical tube of heat conductive material having a plurality of circumferentially extending fins formed integrally with the interior surface of the tube, each fin having a greater radial dimension than the width of the opening between adjacent fins, the adjacent fins forming capillary grooves for the liquid phase of a fluid to be vaporized by heat transferred through the walls of the tube, the fins having a cross sectional configuration characterized by one portion near the end which extends toward an adjacent fin to a greater extent than the portion of the fin near the root to form a capillary groove having a cross section characterized by a restricted opening.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |