Abstract A laminated heat pipe comprised of outer layers defining therebetween a heat pipe chamber, porous wick layers bonded to the inner surfaces of the outer layers, and an inner porous plenum layer located between and bonded to the wick layers. The porous wick layers are configured so that capillary flow of a contained working fluid will occur in the conventional manner, while the porous plenum layer is configured so that capillarity attraction thereto of the working fluid is lower than its attraction to the wick layers. Hence, the liquid phase working fluid is present substantially entirely in the wick layers, and the plenum layer provides both for a vapor flow path and structural support of the outer layers. The method of manufacture includes the step of first forming a laminate comprised of outer solid sheets, a pair of wick layers and an innermost sandwiched plenum layer all bonded together. The desired heat pipe configuration is then cut from the laminate, with the cut edge then sealed about its periphery save for a small opening through which the working fluid is introduced and which is subsequently sealed.
A heat pipe comprising: a laminate formed of a pair of outer solid sheets, at least one porous wick sheet comprised of a layer of mesh between said outer solid sheets and an innermost porous plenum sheet comprised of a layer of mesh also disposed between said outer solid sheets, all of said sheets sandwiched together to form said laminate, said openings in said porous plenum sheet being coarser than the openings in said wick sheet; means sealing said laminate about the periphery thereof; and a quantity of working liquid disposed within said laminate, whereby the coarser sizing of said openings of said porous plenum sheet tend to create preferential capillary attraction to said porous wick sheet of said working liquid to tend to create a vapor flow path through said porou plenum sheet openings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A heat pipe comprising: a laminate formed of a pair of outer solid sheets, at least one porous wick sheet comprised of a layer of mesh between said outer solid sheets and an innermost porous plenum sheet comprised of a layer of mesh also disposed between said outer solid sheets, all of said sheets sandwiched together to form said laminate, said openings in said porous plenum sheet being coarser than the openings in said wick sheet; means sealing said laminate about the periphery thereof; and a quantity of working liquid disposed within said laminate, whereby the coarser sizing of said openings of said porous plenum sheet tend to create preferential capillary attraction to said porous wick sheet of said working liquid to tend to create a vapor flow path through said porou plenum sheet openings.