US4966229A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Leading edge heat pipe arrangement
Assignee: RTX Corp
•
Filing: 1989-12-26
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Granted: 1990-10-30
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Expires: 2009-12-26
Abstract
Abstract Heat pipe (10) includes an acute angle leading wedge shape form (38) with a radiused leading edge (26). Engine fuel supply (65) cools the trailing wedge shape form (40). The intense heat flux at the leading edge is cleanly dissipated and spread over substantial heat pipe cooling surface (64, 66). A coating (36) on the external surface of the leading edge wedge shape form is formed of a layer of iridium and a layer of oxide.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald R. Senterfitt
- 👤 James R. Mullaly
- 👤 Larry D. Hamner
- 👤 Abdus S. Khan
- 👤 John G. Smeggil
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:02
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D15/00; F28D15/02; F28D15/0233; B; B64; B64C; B64C1/00; B64C1/38; B64D; B64D37/00; B64D37/34; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/46; B64G1/50; B64G1/506; B64G1/52; B64G1/58
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
In hypersonic engine driven aircraft; a leading edge cooling apparatus comprising: an acute angle diamond shaped heat pipe having a containment material thickness, and containing a vaporizable medium; said heat pipe having an acute angle leading wedge shape form having sides at an included angle between 4 degrees and 10 degrees, and a radius joining the two sides between 2 and 20 times the thickness of the containment material at the radius location; said heat pipe having an acute angle trailing wedge shape having sides at an included angle between 4 degrees and 10 degrees; outwardly extending heat exchanger surface longitudinally extending along the containment material of said trailing wedge shape; a fuel supply means for the engine; and confinement means for passing fuel from said fuel supply means in heat exchange relationship with said heat exchange surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
In hypersonic engine driven aircraft; a leading edge cooling apparatus comprising: an acute angle diamond shaped heat pipe having a containment material thickness, and containing a vaporizable medium; said heat pipe having an acute angle leading wedge shape form having sides at an included angle between 4 degrees and 10 degrees, and a radius joining the two sides between 2 and 20 times the thickness of the containment material at the radius location; said heat pipe having an acute angle trailing wedge shape having sides at an included angle between 4 degrees and 10 degrees; outwardly extending heat exchanger surface longitudinally extending along the containment material of said trailing wedge shape; a fuel supply means for the engine; and confinement means for passing fuel from said fuel supply means in heat exchange relationship with said heat exchange surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus as in claim 1: said vaporizable medium being lithium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 1: said leading edge having a radius less than 0.250 inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 1: the included angle of the sides of said leading wedge shape being between 5 degrees and 7 degrees.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as in claim 1: a thermal skin arranged as a continuation of the surface of said leading wedge shape form; and said confinement means establishing a coolant flowpath from the apex of said trailing wedge shape along said heat exchange surface, and thence adjacent said thermal skin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 3: the included angle of the sides of said leading wedge shape being between 5 degrees and 7 degrees.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as in claim 6: a thermal skin arranged as a continuation of the surface of said leading wedge shape form; and said confinement means establishing a coolant flowpath from the apex of said trailing wedge shape along said heat exchange surface, and thence adjacent said thermal skin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus as in claim 7: said vaporizable medium being lithium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as in claim 7: a coating of iridium on the outer surface of said leading wedge shape form; and a coating of oxide on said coating or iridium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as in claim 9: said coating or iridium being between 0.001 and 0.005 inches thick.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as in claim 10: said coating of oxide being between 0.0001 and 0.0005 inches thick.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US3682100A
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US3369782A
Cited
US3517730A
Cited
US3929305A
Cited
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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) | 1993-10-29 | 1994-04-30 | 1994-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-29 | 1998-04-30 | 1998-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-29 | 2002-04-30 | 2002-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |