US4057963A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat pipe capable of operating against gravity and structures utilizing same
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1976-03-11
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Granted: 1977-11-15
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Expires: 1996-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A heat pipe has its evaporator at its upper end and its condenser at its lower end and an adiabatic section separating the two so that capillary wicks or grooves do not extend through the heat pipe. A central liquid return tube extends between the evaporator and condenser. A vapor bubble generator is placed at the condenser section in the reservoir where the liquid state of the working fluid collects. When the vapor bubble generator is operated, bubbles form which, because of their buoyancy, will rise to the top of the central tube. As they rise, small amounts of working fluid in its liquid state will be carried with the bubbles and spill over the top of the tube and onto the evaporator wick. As a consequence, the heat pipe is insensitive to its vertical height and can operate against gravitational forces.
Inventors
- 👤 Algerd Basiulis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:12
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D15/00; F28D15/02; F28D15/04; F28D15/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A heat pipe capable of operating against gravity comprising: means for defining a heat pipe envelope; means for defining a working fluid in said envelope means; means for defining evaporator and condenser sections in said envelope means with means therein for exerting capillary attraction on said working fluid means in its liquid state, said evaporator means being gravitationally higher than said condenser means; means in said envelope means for maintaining a physical separation between said capillary attraction means of said evaporator and condenser section means; means for defining a conduit coupled between said evaporator and condenser section means for said working fluid means in its liquid state; and means producing bubbles for transporting said working fluid means in its liquid state through said conduit means from said condensing section means to said evaporator section means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A heat pipe capable of operating against gravity comprising: means for defining a heat pipe envelope; means for defining a working fluid in said envelope means; means for defining evaporator and condenser sections in said envelope means with means therein for exerting capillary attraction on said working fluid means in its liquid state, said evaporator means being gravitationally higher than said condenser means; means in said envelope means for maintaining a physical separation between said capillary attraction means of said evaporator and condenser section means; means for defining a conduit coupled between said evaporator and condenser section means for said working fluid means in its liquid state; and means producing bubbles for transporting said working fluid means in its liquid state through said conduit means from said condensing section means to said evaporator section means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A heat pipe as in claim 1 wherein said conduit means comprises a tube extending substantially centrally in said enclosure means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
A heat pipe as in claim 2 further including a reservoir at one end of said enclosure means for defining a terminus of said condenser section means and for collecting said working fluid means upon condensation thereof into its liquid state; and means on said conduit means extending into said reservoir for effecting at least a partial barrier between said bubble producing means and said capillary attraction means of said condenser section means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A heat pipe as in claim 1 wherein said bubble producing means comprises a heater element coupled to a low power, high temperature electric power supply for enabling the bubbles to form at said heater element, to rise to the top of said conduit means, and to carry therewith small amounts of said working fluid means in its liquid state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
A heat pipe as in claim 4 wherein said partial barrier means comprises a first substantially conical baffle secured to said conduit means, and further including a second substantially conical baffle secured to said conduit means at the evaporator section end thereof opposite to said first substantially conical baffle, both said first and second baffles extending from said conduit means and towards said reservoir end of said enclosure means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A heat pipe as in claim 1 further including a habitable structure, a solar collector on a surface of said habitable structure and adjacent said evaporator section means, and means for defining thermal storage at said condenser section means for heating purposes including supply of hot water and temperature control in said habitable structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
127 words
A heat pipe as in claim 1 for using thermal gradients in warm and cold currents in a large body of water further including means for defining a turbine and an electric generator coupled thereto, and means including an evaporator and a condenser for defining a closed loop extending through said turbine for containing and transmitting a working fluid, one of said evaporator and condenser of said closed loop means being thermally coupled to said heat pipe enclosure means and the other of said evaporator and condenser of said closed loop means being thermally coupled to one of the warm and cold currents, and one of said heat pipe evaporator section and condenser section means being thermally coupled to the other of the warm and cold currents.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A heat pipe as in claim 7 wherein said large body of water comprises an ocean and said evaporator of said closed loop means is thermally coupled to said heat pipe condenser section means, said condenser of said closed loop means is thermally coupled to the cold ocean current, and said heat pipe evaporator section means is thermally coupled to the warm ocean current.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
A heat pipe as in claim 7 wherein said large body or water comprises an ocean and said evaporator of said closed loop means is thermally coupled to the warm ocean current, said condenser of said closed loop means is thermally coupled to said heat pipe evaporator section means, and said heat pipe condenser section means is thermally coupled to the cold ocean current.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-11-14 | 1981-05-16 | 1981-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-14 | 1985-05-16 | 1985-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-14 | 1989-05-16 | 1989-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |