US4807697A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
External artery heat pipe
Assignee: Aavid Thermacore Inc
•
Filing: 1988-02-18
•
Granted: 1989-02-28
•
Expires: 2008-02-18
Abstract
Abstract An improved heat pipe with an external artery. The longitudinal slot in the heat pipe wall which interconnects the heat pipe vapor space with the external artery is completely filled with sintered wick material and the wall of the external artery is also covered with sintered wick material. This added wick structure assures that the external artery will continue to feed liquid to the heat pipe evaporator even if a vapor bubble forms within and would otherwise block the liquid transport function of the external artery.
Inventors
- 👤 Nelson J. Gernert
- 👤 Donald M. Ernst
- 👤 Robert M. Shaubach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:00
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D15/00; F28D15/02; F28D15/0233; F28D15/04; F28D15/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
An improved external artery heat pipe structure comprising: a vapor transport enclosure with regions located adjacent to a heat source and a heat sink, with the internal wall surface of the vapor transport enclosure covered by a first sintered wick layer, and with a continuous slot in the wall surface of the vapor transport enclosure, the slot being completely filled with a sintered wick structure which is continuous with the first sintered wick layer; and a liquid artery enclosure located outside the vapor transport enclosure with its internal surface adjacent to an open surface of the continuous slot so that the continuous slot interconnects the vapor transport enclosure to the liquid artery enclosure, with the internal wall surface of the liquid artery enclosure covered by a second sintered wick layer which is continuous with the wick structure in the continuous slot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
An improved external artery heat pipe structure comprising: a vapor transport enclosure with regions located adjacent to a heat source and a heat sink, with the internal wall surface of the vapor transport enclosure covered by a first sintered wick layer, and with a continuous slot in the wall surface of the vapor transport enclosure, the slot being completely filled with a sintered wick structure which is continuous with the first sintered wick layer; and a liquid artery enclosure located outside the vapor transport enclosure with its internal surface adjacent to an open surface of the continuous slot so that the continuous slot interconnects the vapor transport enclosure to the liquid artery enclosure, with the internal wall surface of the liquid artery enclosure covered by a second sintered wick layer which is continuous with the wick structure in the continuous slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The improved external artery heat pipe structure of claim 1 wherein the first sintered wick layer in the vapor transport enclosure and the wick structure in the continuous slot are of a larger pore size than the second wick layer in the liquid artery enclosure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improved external artery heat pipe structure of claim 1 wherein the continuous slot is located over essentially the entire length of the vapor transport enclosure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improved external artery heat pipe structure of claim 1 wherein the continuous slot is interconnected with the liquid artery enclosure over essentially the entire length of the liquid artery enclosure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The improved external artery heat pipe structure of claim 1 further including a third wick layer located within the liquid artery enclosure in intimate contact with the inside surface of the second sintered wick layer, the third wick layer having a finer pore structure than the other wicks within the heat pipe structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improved external artery heat pipe structure of claim 5 wherein the third wick layer is constructed of sintered wick.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improved external artery heat pipe structure of claim 5 wherein the third wick layer is constructed of a woven fiberglass tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4274479A
Cited
US4470451A
Cited
US4422501A
Cited
US4545427A
Cited
US4627487A
Cited
US4515209A
Cited
US4515207A
Cited
US4520865A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-02-28 | 1992-08-29 | 1993-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-28 | 1996-08-29 | 1997-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-28 | 2000-08-29 | 2001-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |