Heat transfer system having a flexible deployable condenser tube

Claim 1

A closed-loop heat transfer system adapted to transfer heat from a heat source within a housing to an external heat sink by means of a working fluid having a liquid phase and a gaseous phase, said heat transfer system comprising: an evaporator within said housing having a plurality of capillaries adapted to accept heat from said heat source, each of said capillaries having a first end and a second end, said first ends receiving a flow of said working fluid, with heat from said heat source causing said working fluid flowing through said capillaries to convert to said gaseous phase which exits through said second ends; a radiator structure external to said housing; a hinge permitting said radiator structure to rotate about a predetermined axis with respect to said housing; and an elongated wickless condenser tube adapted to reject heat from said working fluid to said heat sink and thereby convert said gaseous phase working fluid to its liquid phase, said condenser tube having: (a) a first end sealed in fluid communication with said evaporator, adapted to receive said gaseous phase working fluid exiting from said second ends of said capillaries; (b) a radiator segment external to said housing, secured to said radiator structure; (c) a first helically coiled segment between said first end and said radiator segment; (d) a second end adapted to return said liquid phase working fluid to said first ends of said capillaries; and (e) a second helically coiled segment between said radiator segment and said second end; said first and second coiled segments being wound about said axis to permit said radiator structure to be deployed from a first predetermined position to a second predetermined position with respect to said housing by deformation of said coiled segments.