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US3754594A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Unilateral heat transfer apparatus

Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
•
Filing: 1972-01-24
•
Granted: 1973-08-28
•
Expires: 1992-01-24
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Abstract

Abstract Unilateral heat transfer apparatus comprises an evacuated heat transfer chamber having a variable pore size capillary structure therein with the pore size of the capillary structure in the evaporator portion of the heat transfer device being smaller than the pore size of the capillary structure in the condenser portion thereof. Further, the working fluid within the heat transfer device is limited to that amount which will saturate the capillary structure in the evaporator section only.

Inventors

  • 👤 J Ferrell

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 10:18
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D15/00; F28D15/02; F28D15/04; F28D15/046

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 79 words
Unilateral hea4 transfer apparatus, comprising: a closed evaporative heat transfer chamber having an evaporator portion and a condenser portion; a variable pore size capillary structure disposed on the interior surfaces of said chamber, said capillary structure defining larger capillary pores in the condenser portion than in the evaporator portion; and a volatile working fluid disposed within said chamber, the amount of said working fluid being limited to that necessary to saturate the capillary structure in the evaporator portion only.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 79 words
Unilateral hea4 transfer apparatus, comprising: a closed evaporative heat transfer chamber having an evaporator portion and a condenser portion; a variable pore size capillary structure disposed on the interior surfaces of said chamber, said capillary structure defining larger capillary pores in the condenser portion than in the evaporator portion; and a volatile working fluid disposed within said chamber, the amount of said working fluid being limited to that necessary to saturate the capillary structure in the evaporator portion only.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
Unilateral heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said capillary comprises first and second wicks coupled to one another to provide a continuous condensate flow path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
Unilateral heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 2, said first and second wicks disposed in the evaporator and condenser portions of said chamber, respectively, with said first wick being thicker than said second wick in order to provide a working fluid storage volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
Unilateral heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said second wick comprises a single layer oF wire screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
Unilateral heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said first wick comprises a felted metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
Unilateral heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said first wick comprises a sintered metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
Unilateral heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 1, said closed evapOrative heat transfer chamber further including an adiabatic portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
Unilateral heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 7, the amount of said working fluid being limited to that necessary to saturate the capillary structure in the evaporator and adiabatic portions only.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 97 words
Unilateral heat transfer apparatus, comprising: a closed evaporative heat transfer chamber having an evaporator portion, a condenser portion and an adiabatic portion; a variable pore size capillary structure diSposed on the interior surfaces of said chamber, said capillary structure defining larger cai lary pores in the condenser portion than in the evaporator portion, said capillary structure having a greater volume in said evaporator portion than in said condenser portion; and a volatile working fluid disposed within said chamber, the amount of said working fluid being substantiFlly that necessary to saturate said thicker portion of said capillary structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 97 words
Unilateral heat transfer apparatus, comprising: a closed evaporative heat transfer chamber having an evaporator portion, a condenser portion and an adiabatic portion; a variable pore size capillary structure diSposed on the interior surfaces of said chamber, said capillary structure defining larger cai lary pores in the condenser portion than in the evaporator portion, said capillary structure having a greater volume in said evaporator portion than in said condenser portion; and a volatile working fluid disposed within said chamber, the amount of said working fluid being substantiFlly that necessary to saturate said thicker portion of said capillary structure.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3305005A Cited
US3528494A Cited
US3686040A Cited
US3587725A Cited
US3666005A Cited
US3700028A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-08-27 1977-02-26 1977-08-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-08-27 1981-02-26 1981-08-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-08-27 1985-02-26 1985-08-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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