US3971435A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat transfer device
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
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Filing: 1973-10-18
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Granted: 1976-07-27
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Expires: 1993-10-18
Abstract
Abstract The invention contemplates a heat-transfer device or heat pipe characterized by integral screen-wick structure providing relatively great contact area between the internal working fluid or condensable medium and the heat input.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne P. Peck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:56
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D15/00; F28D15/02; F28D15/04; F28D15/046; B; B21; B21D; B21D53/00; B21D53/02; F28D15/0233; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4935; Y10T29/49353
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A heat-transfer device comprising a sealed container defining an enclosed space having an evaporator region and a condenser region, an internal surface of said container having a plurality of spaced elongated grooves therein and extending continuously and without obstruction through and between said regions, said grooves being of such restricted sectional dimension as to assure capillary liquid flow therethrough for a given condensable fluid selected for use therewith, and a smooth metal plate covering and continuously and integrally united to and in heat-transfer contact with said surface on both sides of and extending over each of said grooves, said plate having a plurality of openings registering with each of said grooves for communication between said grooves and the interior of said container, said openings for each groove being of lesser sectional dimension than the plate-spanned width of the groove, and said container including a condensable fluid medium in an amount sufficient to enter said grooves when condensed to a liquid and to be transported by capillary action in said grooves from the condenser region to the evaporator region of said container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A heat-transfer device comprising a sealed container defining an enclosed space having an evaporator region and a condenser region, an internal surface of said container having a plurality of spaced elongated grooves therein and extending continuously and without obstruction through and between said regions, said grooves being of such restricted sectional dimension as to assure capillary liquid flow therethrough for a given condensable fluid selected for use therewith, and a smooth metal plate covering and continuously and integrally united to and in heat-transfer contact with said surface on both sides of and extending over each of said grooves, said plate having a plurality of openings registering with each of said grooves for communication between said grooves and the interior of said container, said openings for each groove being of lesser sectional dimension than the plate-spanned width of the groove, and said container including a condensable fluid medium in an amount sufficient to enter said grooves when condensed to a liquid and to be transported by capillary action in said grooves from the condenser region to the evaporator region of said container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A heat-transfer device as defined in claim 1, wherein the container is made of a heat-conductive metallic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A heat-transfer device as defined in claim 2, wherein the metallic material is copper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A heat-transfer device as defined in claim 1, wherein the condensable fluid is water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A heat-transfer device as defined in claim 1, wherein the condensable medium is normally a gas, and wherein the sealed volume and pressure condition of said medium within said container is such as enable a liquid-vapor phase cycle between the condenser and evaporator regions of said container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A heat transfer device according to claim 1, in which said container is an elongated cylinder and in which said internal surface is cylindrical with said plate facing radially inwardly within said space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A heat transfer device according to claim 1, in which said container is an elongated cylindrical annulus and in which said internal surface is cylindrical with said plate facing radially outwardly with said space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
The device of claim 1, in which said container is elongate and comprises an elongate channel body and a separate closure panel having sealed engagement to the opposed walls of the open side of the channel of said body, the inner surface of said panel facing and being spaced from the inner bottom surface of the channel, the grooves of said container being formed in the inner surface of said panel, and said plate with openings geing united to said inner surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 8, in which interengaging guide formations on said panel and channel walls determine the spaced relation of said panel inner surface and of said inner channel surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 9, in which said guide formations are of generally dovetail configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 9, in which said panel and channel side walls are permanently sealed with heat-conducting material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 11, in which said sealing material is a metal solder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
172 words
A heat-transfer device comprising a container including a generally rectangular base, side walls, end walls and a covering wall opposed to and spaced from said base and enclosing an interior space forming an evaporator region and a condenser region, the internal surface of said base containing a plurality of spaced grooves therein and having an integral metallic plating covering and electrolytically bonded to said surface and extending over said grooves, said grooves being of such restricted sectional dimension as to assure capillary liquid flow therethrough for a given condensable fluid selected for use therewith, said plating containing a plurality of openings for communication between each of said grooves and the interior space, said openings for each groove being of lesser sectional dimension than the plate-spanned width of the groove, and said interior space containing a condensable fluid medium in an amount sufficient to enter said grooves when condensed to a liquid and to be transported by capillary action in said grooves from the condenser region to the evaporation region of said container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
172 words
A heat-transfer device comprising a container including a generally rectangular base, side walls, end walls and a covering wall opposed to and spaced from said base and enclosing an interior space forming an evaporator region and a condenser region, the internal surface of said base containing a plurality of spaced grooves therein and having an integral metallic plating covering and electrolytically bonded to said surface and extending over said grooves, said grooves being of such restricted sectional dimension as to assure capillary liquid flow therethrough for a given condensable fluid selected for use therewith, said plating containing a plurality of openings for communication between each of said grooves and the interior space, said openings for each groove being of lesser sectional dimension than the plate-spanned width of the groove, and said interior space containing a condensable fluid medium in an amount sufficient to enter said grooves when condensed to a liquid and to be transported by capillary action in said grooves from the condenser region to the evaporation region of said container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 13, wherein said grooves are parallel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A heat-transfer device according to claim 13, and including a spacer element rigidly and indirectly spacing said base and said covering wall at a location inwardly removed from spaced support thereof by said side and end walls, said grooves being laterally spaced from said support.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A heat-transfer device according to claim 15, wherein said spacer is tubular and registers with an opening in said base, said grooves being locally detoured in arcs around said spacer to avoid registry therewith and to maintain substantially uniform groove spacing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A heat-transfer device as defined in claim 13, wherein the container is made of copper.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A heat-transfer device as defined in claim 13, wherein the condensable medium is water.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
135 words
A heat-transfer device, comprising an elongate metal body having flat opposed sides, said body having an elongate groove open to one of said sides, and a separate elongate metal closure panel having sealed engagement to the opposed walls of the grooves, the inner surface of said panel facing and being spaced from the groove bottom, and the longitudinal ends of said engaged panel and body being sealed to close the longitudinal ends of the groove, the inner surface of said panel having longitudinal screen-wick formations, and said body having a closable port for admission of condensable liquid; said panel having a body with plural elongate grooves in the inner surface thereof, and said screen-wick formations comprising a single thin foraminated plate integrally united to the grooved inner surface and smoothly and uniformly bridging the grooves.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
135 words
A heat-transfer device, comprising an elongate metal body having flat opposed sides, said body having an elongate groove open to one of said sides, and a separate elongate metal closure panel having sealed engagement to the opposed walls of the grooves, the inner surface of said panel facing and being spaced from the groove bottom, and the longitudinal ends of said engaged panel and body being sealed to close the longitudinal ends of the groove, the inner surface of said panel having longitudinal screen-wick formations, and said body having a closable port for admission of condensable liquid; said panel having a body with plural elongate grooves in the inner surface thereof, and said screen-wick formations comprising a single thin foraminated plate integrally united to the grooved inner surface and smoothly and uniformly bridging the grooves.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A heat-transfer device according to claim 19, in which said panel and body are engaged at sealed mating dovetail formations.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
A heat-transfer device according to claim 19, in which the dovetail formation in said body is a groove extending the full length of longitudinal overlap with said panel and in which said elongate groove is characterized by an elongate recessed bottom surface which extends short of the extreme longitudinal ends of the dovetail groove.
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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) | 1979-07-27 | 1980-01-26 | 1980-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-27 | 1984-01-26 | 1984-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-27 | 1988-01-26 | 1988-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |