US6021844A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat exchange apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1998-06-03
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Granted: 2000-02-08
•
Expires: 2018-06-03
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus to transfer heat from a heat source to a heat absorber, the apparatus consisting of a thermally conductive rotor, a thermal transfer fluid, and a composite substrate with an internal cavity containing the thermally conductive rotor and the thermal transfer fluid. The surface of the composite substrate receives the heat source and the heat absorber. An external means impels the rotor to rotate within the internal cavity. Heat from the heat source is conducted through the surface of the composite substrate and through the thermal transfer fluid into the rotor. Heat is conducted from the rotating rotor through the thermal transfer fluid and through the surface of the composite substrate to the heat absorber. In the most preferred embodiment the thermal transfer fluid is a low melt metallic alloy, the rotor is a copper disk, and the rotor is motivated to rotate in the internal cavity of the composite substrate due to eddy currents generated by an external moving magnetic fields.
Inventors
- 👤 John Samuel Batchelder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:35
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02K; H02K7/00; H02K7/10; H02K7/11; F; F24; F24V; F24V99/00; F28; F28D; F28D15/00; F28F; F28F3/00; F28F3/02; H10; H10W; H10W40/00; H10W40/40; H10W40/43; F28D15/02; F28D2015/0291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
An apparatus for transferring heat from a heat producing component to a heat absorbing component, comprising: a) a thermal transfer fluid; b) a composite substrate containing an interior cavity, the composite substrate having a surface, a first portion of the interior cavity containing the thermal transfer fluid, a first portion of the surface of the composite substrate receiving the heat producing component, a second portion of the surface of the composite substrate receiving the heat absorbing component; c) a thermally conductive rotor contained in a second portion of the interior cavity of the composite substrate; and d) an external means for rotating the thermally conductive rotor, whereby the majority of the heat produced by the heat producing component is transferred through the first portion of the surface of the composite substrate and through the thermal transfer fluid into the thermally conductive rotor, the external means rotates the thermally conductive rotor, and the heat in the thermally conductive rotor is transferred through the thermal transfer fluid and through the second portion of the surface of the composite substrate to the heat absorbing component.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
182 words
An apparatus for transferring heat from a heat producing component to a heat absorbing component, comprising: a) a thermal transfer fluid; b) a composite substrate containing an interior cavity, the composite substrate having a surface, a first portion of the interior cavity containing the thermal transfer fluid, a first portion of the surface of the composite substrate receiving the heat producing component, a second portion of the surface of the composite substrate receiving the heat absorbing component; c) a thermally conductive rotor contained in a second portion of the interior cavity of the composite substrate; and d) an external means for rotating the thermally conductive rotor, whereby the majority of the heat produced by the heat producing component is transferred through the first portion of the surface of the composite substrate and through the thermal transfer fluid into the thermally conductive rotor, the external means rotates the thermally conductive rotor, and the heat in the thermally conductive rotor is transferred through the thermal transfer fluid and through the second portion of the surface of the composite substrate to the heat absorbing component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer fluid is a metallic alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the metallic alloy is composed of at least one of the following constituents: bismuth, cadmium, copper, gallium, indium, lead, mercury, potassium, silver, sodium, and tin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the interior cavity of the composite substrate is hermetically sealed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive rotor is cylindrically symmetric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive rotor is composed of at least one of the following constituents: aluminum, beryllium, chromium, copper, graphite, iron, and titanium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the maximum tangential velocity of the rotating thermally conductive rotor is greater than 100 centimeters per second.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive rotor contains a high thermal conductivity radial insert, whereby the temperature difference between the center and the periphery of rotor is minimized.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the external means is an external moving magnetic field, and wherein a portion of the composite substrate is permeable to the external moving magnetic field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the thermally conductive rotor contains a permanent magnet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein a portion of the thermally conductive rotor is electrically conductive, whereby the external moving magnetic field generates eddy currents in the electrically conductive portion of the thermally conductive rotor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the external means is an axle that penetrates the surface of the composite substrate, the axle rotatably coupling the thermally conductive rotor to an external motor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the heat source is contained within the composite substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as in claim 13, wherein the heat source is flexibly mounted to the composite substrate and the heat source is immersed in the thermal transport fluid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the heat absorber is a fin means in thermal contact with the surface of the composite substrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as in claim 14, further comprising a second thermal transfer fluid external to the composite substrate, wherein the second thermal transfer fluid external to the composite substrate is impelled to pass in thermal contact with the fin means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus as in claim 16, further comprising: a) a motor; and b) an impeller external to the composite substrate, wherein the motor rotates the impeller external to the composite substrate, whereby the rotation of the impeller motivates the flow of the second thermal transfer fluid to pass in thermal contact with the fin means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the motor generates the externally generated moving magnetic field that rotates the thermally conductive rotor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as in claim 18, wherein a permanent magnet external to the composite substrate is rotated by the motor, whereby the rotating permanent magnet generates the moving magnetic field.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the motor is rotatably coupled to the thermally conductive rotor by an axle that penetrates the surface of the composite substrate.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
296 words
An apparatus for transferring heat from a heat producing component to the atmosphere, comprising: a) a thermal transfer fluid; b) a fin means in intimate contact with the atmosphere; c) a composite substrate containing an interior cavity, the composite substrate having a surface, a first portion of the interior cavity containing the thermal transfer fluid, a first portion of the surface of the composite substrate receiving the heat producing component, a second portion of the surface of the composite substrate receiving the fin means, and a portion of the composite substrate being penetrable by an external moving magnetic field; d) a thermally and electrically conductive rotor rotatably contained in a second portion of the interior cavity; e) an impeller external to the composite substrate capable of impelling the atmosphere to flow passed the fin means; f) a rotatable permanent magnet external to the composite substrate, whereby rotating the permanent magnet generates the external moving magnetic field, the external moving magnetic field penetrates the portion of the composite substrate, the external moving magnetic field generates an eddy current in the thermally and electrically conductive rotor, and the eddy current reacts with the moving magnetic field to rotate the thermally and electrically conductive rotor; and g) a motor that rotates the impeller, which impels the atmosphere to flow passed the fin means, the motor also rotating the rotatable permanent magnet, whereby heat is transferred from the heat producing component through the first portion of the surface of the composite substrate through the thermal transfer fluid to the thermally and electrically conductive rotating rotor, and heat from the thermally and electrically conductive rotating rotor is transferred through the thermal transfer fluid through the second portion of the surface of the composite substrate through the fin means into the atmosphere.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
296 words
An apparatus for transferring heat from a heat producing component to the atmosphere, comprising: a) a thermal transfer fluid; b) a fin means in intimate contact with the atmosphere; c) a composite substrate containing an interior cavity, the composite substrate having a surface, a first portion of the interior cavity containing the thermal transfer fluid, a first portion of the surface of the composite substrate receiving the heat producing component, a second portion of the surface of the composite substrate receiving the fin means, and a portion of the composite substrate being penetrable by an external moving magnetic field; d) a thermally and electrically conductive rotor rotatably contained in a second portion of the interior cavity; e) an impeller external to the composite substrate capable of impelling the atmosphere to flow passed the fin means; f) a rotatable permanent magnet external to the composite substrate, whereby rotating the permanent magnet generates the external moving magnetic field, the external moving magnetic field penetrates the portion of the composite substrate, the external moving magnetic field generates an eddy current in the thermally and electrically conductive rotor, and the eddy current reacts with the moving magnetic field to rotate the thermally and electrically conductive rotor; and g) a motor that rotates the impeller, which impels the atmosphere to flow passed the fin means, the motor also rotating the rotatable permanent magnet, whereby heat is transferred from the heat producing component through the first portion of the surface of the composite substrate through the thermal transfer fluid to the thermally and electrically conductive rotating rotor, and heat from the thermally and electrically conductive rotating rotor is transferred through the thermal transfer fluid through the second portion of the surface of the composite substrate through the fin means into the atmosphere.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for transferring heat from a heat producing component to the atmosphere, comprising: a) a thermal transfer fluid; b) a fin means in intimate contact with the atmosphere; c) a composite substrate containing an interior cavity, a first portion of the interior cavity containing the thermal transfer fluid, the composite substrate enclosing the heat producing component, the composite substrate receiving the fin means; d) a thermally conductive rotor contained in a second portion of the interior cavity of the composite substrate; and e) an external means for rotating the thermally conductive rotor, whereby the majority of the heat produced by the heat producing component is transferred through the thermal transfer fluid into the thermally conductive rotor, the external means rotates the thermally conductive rotor, and the heat in the thermally conductive rotor is transferred through the thermal transfer fluid through the fin means into the atmosphere.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for transferring heat from a heat producing component to the atmosphere, comprising: a) a thermal transfer fluid; b) a fin means in intimate contact with the atmosphere; c) a composite substrate containing an interior cavity, a first portion of the interior cavity containing the thermal transfer fluid, the composite substrate enclosing the heat producing component, the composite substrate receiving the fin means; d) a thermally conductive rotor contained in a second portion of the interior cavity of the composite substrate; and e) an external means for rotating the thermally conductive rotor, whereby the majority of the heat produced by the heat producing component is transferred through the thermal transfer fluid into the thermally conductive rotor, the external means rotates the thermally conductive rotor, and the heat in the thermally conductive rotor is transferred through the thermal transfer fluid through the fin means into the atmosphere.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for transferring heat from a heat producing object to a heat absorbing object, the method comprising the steps of: a) rotating a thermally conductive rotor in an interior cavity of a composite substrate, a portion of the interior cavity of the composite substrate also containing a thermal transfer fluid; b) transferring the majority of the heat from the heat producing object through a first portion of the surface of the composite substrate through the thermal transfer fluid into the thermally conductive rotor, the first portion of the surface of the composite substrate receiving the heat producing object; and c) transferring heat from the thermally conductive rotor through the thermal transfer fluid through a second portion of the surface of the composite substrate into the heat absorbing object, the second portion of the surface of the composite substrate receiving the heat absorbing object.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for transferring heat from a heat producing object to a heat absorbing object, the method comprising the steps of: a) rotating a thermally conductive rotor in an interior cavity of a composite substrate, a portion of the interior cavity of the composite substrate also containing a thermal transfer fluid; b) transferring the majority of the heat from the heat producing object through a first portion of the surface of the composite substrate through the thermal transfer fluid into the thermally conductive rotor, the first portion of the surface of the composite substrate receiving the heat producing object; and c) transferring heat from the thermally conductive rotor through the thermal transfer fluid through a second portion of the surface of the composite substrate into the heat absorbing object, the second portion of the surface of the composite substrate receiving the heat absorbing object.
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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) | 2003-02-07 | 2003-08-09 | 2004-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-07 | 2007-08-09 | 2008-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-07 | 2011-08-09 | 2012-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |