US3857441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat pipe wick restrainer
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1970-03-06
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1990-03-06
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates in general to heat pipes and more particularly to a tubular heat pipe wick restrainer which includes a tubular member with an outside diameter equal to the desired inside diameter of the wick structure. The tubular member has circumferentially placed holes which allow the heat pipe working fluid to evaporate and condense at the evaporator and condenser sections respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 F Arcella
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:00
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D15/00; F28D15/02; F28D15/04; F28D15/046; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4935; Y10T29/49353
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A heat pipe comprising a sealed tubular outer casing, a tubular wick structure positioned in said outer casing and closely received by the inner surface thereof, and a tubular substantially nonresilient, wick restrainer position within said casing and closely received by the inner surface of said wick structure, said wick restrainer being formed to provide uniform support to said wick structure, to maintain the same in engagement with said inner surface of said outer casing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
A heat pipe comprising a sealed tubular outer casing, a tubular wick structure positioned in said outer casing and closely received by the inner surface thereof, and a tubular substantially nonresilient, wick restrainer position within said casing and closely received by the inner surface of said wick structure, said wick restrainer being formed to provide uniform support to said wick structure, to maintain the same in engagement with said inner surface of said outer casing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The heat pipe of claim 1 wherein said wick restrainer has an outside diameter approximaTely equal to the desired inside diameter of the wick structure, said wick restrainer extending over the evaporator and condenser regions of the heat pipe and being perforated along the evaporator and condenser regions to allow the heat pipe working fluid respectively to evaporate at the wick/vapor interface of the evaporator section and condense at the wick/vapor interface of the condenser section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The heat pipe of claim 2 wherein said perforation in said wick restrainer has a diameter approximately equal to one-third of the outside diameter of said wick restrainer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The heat pipe of claim 2 wherein the perforations in said wick restrainer are arranged in a hexagonal pattern.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The heat pipe of claim 2 wherein the perforations are arranged in a pattern extending over the entire surface of said wick restrainer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The heat pipe of claim 1 wherein said wick restrainer is rigid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The heat pipe of claim 1 wherein said tubular wick structure comprises wire mesh screen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2797554A
Cited
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US3429122A
Cited
US3528494A
Cited
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US3554183A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |