| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 5764482 |
Integrated circuit heat seat |
June 9, 1998 |
| The apparatus is a heat sink for an integrated circuit chip which uses heat pipe cooling to remove the heat. The heat sink is a heat conductive structure such as a bowl which is associated with the integrated circuit socket, with the heat conductive structure held against the integrated |
| 5642776 |
Electrically insulated envelope heat pipe |
July 1, 1997 |
| The disclosure is for a heat pipe in the form of a simple foil envelope and a method of constructing such a heat pipe. Two plastic coated metal foil sheets are sealed together on all four edges to enclose a semi-rigid channeled sheet of plastic foam, and the envelope is evacuated and loa |
| 5586549 |
Combined solar and gas heater |
December 24, 1996 |
| The apparatus is a hybrid solar collector which permits heating by both solar energy and fossil fuels. The hollow solar collector structure acts as the vapor space for a heat pipe for which the heat utilization device acts as the condenser. A solar evaporator wick covers the inside surfa |
| 5579576 |
Reaction motor structure and method of construction |
December 3, 1996 |
| The apparatus is a cooling structure for reaction engine throats. The constriction in the throat is cooled by a group of heat pipes which radiate outward from the constriction to a larger diameter perimeter surface where the heat is dissipated. The entire structure can be constructed |
| 5566751 |
Vented vapor source |
October 22, 1996 |
| The apparatus is a non-condensible gas venting device for vapor sources which can include a sonic orifice for vapor pressure reduction in high vapor pressure systems. A typical vapor source has a evaporator chamber with an evaporating wick containing liquid which is heated and produces |
| 5558720 |
Rapid response vapor source |
September 24, 1996 |
| The apparatus is a rapid response evaporator for material deposition in vapor. The structure is a vessel which is heated to a temperature just above the melting temperature of the liquid which it contains. Inserted into the heated liquid is a funnel shaped evaporator structure in which |
| 5549155 |
Integrated circuit cooling apparatus |
August 27, 1996 |
| The apparatus is a cooling device for an integrated circuit chip which includes a heat conductive pad for contact with the top surface of the chip and for attachment to a heat pipe to dispose of the heat. One surface of the pad is flat and contacts the circuit chip while the opposite |
| 5495978 |
Bonding diverse thermal expansion materials |
March 5, 1996 |
| The disclosure is for a method of bonding materials with severely mismatched coefficients of thermal expansion, such as carbon/carbon and a composite of aluminum oxide and niobium and for the structure of the bonded joint. The key to a good bond between such materials is the use of a |
| 5492570 |
Hybrid thermal electric generator |
February 20, 1996 |
| The apparatus is a combined Alkali Metal Thermal to Electric Converter (AMTEC) and a thermionic energy converter which are mated by the use of a common heat transfer device which can be a heat pipe, pumped fluid or a simple heat conduction path. By adjusting the heat output surface area |
| 5442910 |
Reaction motor structure and method of construction |
August 22, 1995 |
| The apparatus is a cooling structure for reaction engine throats. The constriction in the throat is cooled by a group of heat pipes which radiate outward from the constriction to a larger diameter perimeter surface where the heat is dissipated. The entire structure can be constructed |
| 5329996 |
Porous layer heat exchanger |
July 19, 1994 |
| The invention is a cooling structure for a high power density surface. Fluid is pumped along interconnected and continuous multiple channels on the backside of a sintered metal wick bonded to the cooled surface. The channels are located within a fluid layer which also includes multiple |
| 5273635 |
Electrolytic heater |
December 28, 1993 |
| A heater which uses the electrolysis of a liquid to produce heat from electricity and transfers the heat from the electrolyte by means of a heat exchanger. One embodiment includes electrodes of nickel and platinum and an electrolyte of potassium carbonate with a heat exchanger immersed i |
| 5267611 |
Single phase porous layer heat exchanger |
December 7, 1993 |
| The invention is a cooling structure for a high power density surface. Liquid is pumped along interconnected and continuous multiple channels on the backside of a sintered metal wick bonded to the cooled surface. The channels are located within a liquid delivery layer which also includes |
| 5219516 |
Thermionic generator module with heat pipes |
June 15, 1993 |
| A thermionic electric converter module integrated with heating and cooling heat pipes. Two heat pipes are arranged concentrically, with the annular emitter heat pipe on the outside of the module to isothermally distribute heat from a source located in any direction around the unit to the |
| 5168921 |
Cooling plate with internal expandable heat pipe |
December 8, 1992 |
| A heat pipe cooling plate in which one or more heat pipes sandwiched between cover plates is an expandable heat pipe made with thin flexible walls forming the heat pipe casing. One advantage of such an expandable heat pipe within the cooling plate structure is that the heat pipe need |
| 5076352 |
High permeability heat pipe wick structure |
December 31, 1991 |
| A high permeability wick structure for heat pipes. A thin capillary liquid transport structure is encased within relatively thick sections of a plastic bonded aluminum powder wick. The capillary structure is formed of two layers of fine mesh screen separated only by small, randomly locat |
| 5002122 |
Tunnel artery wick for high power density surfaces |
March 26, 1991 |
| A heat transfer surface structure for cooling high power density surfaces and the method of constructing it. The surface includes a sintered capillary layer with a complex configuration of tunnels within it constructed adjacent to the heated surface which is subject to very high powe |
| 4941527 |
Heat pipe with temperature gradient |
July 17, 1990 |
| A heat pipe which maintains a controlled temperature gradient over its length. An annular heat pipe is constructed to have a core area which is a working furnace and to have the heat input at one end and a heat sink at the other end of the annular structure. The core is surrounded by an |
| 4917177 |
Cooled artery extension |
April 17, 1990 |
| An artery vapor trap. A heat pipe artery is constructed with an extension protruding from the evaporator end of the heat pipe beyond the active area of the evaporator. The vapor migrates into the artery extension because of gravity or liquid displacement, and cooling the extension conden |
| 4880052 |
Heat pipe cooling plate |
November 14, 1989 |
| A flat cooling plate which is assembled with individual heat pipes which are annealed, flattened tubes with sintered wicks formed within them. The completely constructed and pre-tested heat pipes are set into slots in a spacer plate which is sandwiched between two unslotted flat sheets. |
| 4857421 |
Alkali metal thermoelectric genreator |
August 15, 1989 |
| An alkali metal heat engine. A thermoelectric generator which circulates alkali metal through a cationic barrier to produce electricity. The device is capable of operating in a reduced gravity or gravity-free environment and without mechanical pumps because it collects and recirculates t |
| 4854379 |
Vapor resistant arteries |
August 8, 1989 |
| A vapor block resistant liquid artery structure for heat pipes. A solid tube artery with openings is encased in the sintered material of a heat pipe wick. The openings are limited to that side of the artery which is most remote from the heat source. The liquid in the artery can thus exit |
| 4815528 |
Vapor resistant arteries |
March 28, 1989 |
| A vapor block resistant liquid artery structure for heat pipes. A solid tube artery with openings is encased in the sintered material of a heat pipe wick. The openings are limited to that side of the artery which is most remote from the heat source. The liquid in the artery can thus exit |
| 4807697 |
External artery heat pipe |
February 28, 1989 |
| 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 materi |
| 4799537 |
Self regulating heat pipe |
January 24, 1989 |
| A structure for more accurately automatically controlling the heat transfer characteristics of a heat pipe with a non-condensible gas. The gas, intermixed with the heat transfer vapor, is largely contained by an expanding and contracting bladder. This permits the vapor pressure of the |
| 4789026 |
Polished surface capillary grooves |
December 6, 1988 |
| Capillary grooves in a heat pipe which are specifically constructed to suppress boiling. Conventionally shaped grooves are constructed with highly polished surfaces. The high polish discourages vapor bubbles which otherwise interfere with the liqud transport function of the arteries. A |
| 4697205 |
Heat pipe |
September 29, 1987 |
| A semiconductor circuit construction in which the semiconductor junction is constructed as an integral part of a heat pipe to eliminate the casing which interferes with heat flow. The semiconductor chip material directly forms one wall of the casing of a heat pipe which is constructed as |
| 4696010 |
Thermally stabilized laser cavity |
September 22, 1987 |
| A support structure for a gas laser cavity in which the longitudinal support members are constructed as identical heat pipes with a common thermal interconnection. With this common thermal system, thermal effects and, therefore, thermal expansions are equalized for all members and the |
| 4683940 |
Unidirectional heat pipe |
August 4, 1987 |
| A heat pipe with limited heat transfer capabilities in one direction. The heat pipe, which transfers heat in one direction in normal fashion, also transfers heat in the reverse direction, but only up to a prescribed point, beyond which the reverse heat flow cuts off. It operates because |
| 4565243 |
Hybrid heat pipe |
January 21, 1986 |
| A heat pipe constructed to be bent to conform to a particular mechanical configuration after is is constructed. The wick in the evaporator region is constructed from sintered metal powder; while the wick in another region of the heat pipe is constructed with a screen wick to permit b |
| 4547130 |
Capillary input for pumps |
October 15, 1985 |
| A condensation collector for accumulating liquid for input to a pump. The collector is a device which is independent of gravity for feeding a pump collecting condensate from a vapor system. A decreasing cross section condenser is cooled to the dew point of the vapor with which it is in |
| 4478275 |
Abrasion resistant heat pipe |
October 23, 1984 |
| A specially constructed heat pipe for use in fluidized bed combustors. Two distinct coatings are spray coated onto a heat pipe casing constructed of low thermal expansion metal, each coating serving a different purpose. The first coating forms aluminum oxide to prevent hydrogen permeatio |
| 4451210 |
Diaphragm vapor pump |
May 29, 1984 |
| A diaphragm pump for liquids operating by heating and vaporizing a part of the pumped liquid on the motive side of the diaphragm. A center spindle upon which the diaphragm slides is shaped to permit a limited amount of liquid to leak through into the vapor side while also permitting a re |
| 4408661 |
Cabinet cooler heat exchanger |
October 11, 1983 |
| A mass produced, easily assembled heat exchanger for use in cooling a cabinet or other enclosure by convection over both ends of fins which penetrate the wall of the enclosure. The configuration of the preferred embodiment has offset fins alternating in and out of the enclosure with |
| 4380154 |
Clean coal power system |
April 19, 1983 |
| A coal burning power plant which produces electricity at high efficiency and with very low levels of atmospheric contamination. A fluidized bed of limestone and coal is used to burn the coal with little air pollution, and a large quantity of specially constructed heat pipes transfer the |
| 4352392 |
Mechanically assisted evaporator surface |
October 5, 1982 |
| A mechanically assisted evaporator layer for use in both open and evacuated heat transfer systems, in which a pump and spray nozzle operate in conjunction with a sintered metal evaporator layer to reduce the temperature difference required to transfer heat across the thickness of the |
| 4345642 |
Articulated heat pipes |
August 24, 1982 |
| A multiple section heat pipe with swivel junctions between the sections. The individual sections are independent individual heat pipes configured to interlock with each other at rotatable joints filled with high heat conductivity liquid. The clearance between the sections is maintained |
| 4309986 |
Solar heater |
January 12, 1982 |
| A self-pumping solar liquid heating system which includes two solar collectors, a high temperature collector for generating vapor which expands and pumps fluid through the system, and a separate collector for collection of heat of utilization. A heat pipe transfers the heat from the |
| 4274479 |
Sintered grooved wicks |
June 23, 1981 |
| A heat pipe capillary wick constructed from a sintered metal cylinder formed in close contact with the inner diameter of the heat pipe casing, and containing longitudinal grooves on the wick's inner surface, adjacent to the vapor space. The grooves provide longitudinal capillary pumping |
| 4259946 |
Solar collector |
April 7, 1981 |
| An improved construction for a solar collector within a cylindrical container. The collector is a split cylindrical metal sleeve held inside another cylinder by the expansion action of a spring clip. The spring clip also expands the split sleeve so a pipe which is captured by a reentrant |
| 4248295 |
Freezable heat pipe |
February 3, 1981 |
| A heat pipe whose fluid can be repeatedly frozen and thawed without damage to the casing. An additional part is added to a conventional heat pipe. This addition is a simple porous structure, such as a cylinder, self-supporting and free standing, which is dimensioned with its diameter |
| 4230173 |
Closely coupled two phase heat exchanger |
October 28, 1980 |
| A closely coupled two phase heat exchanger. The heat is transferred between gas streams by multiple intermediate fluid paths. Each of the several intermediate fluid paths passes alternately between the hot and the cold gas stream many times during its travel from the pump. The heat excha |
| 4212347 |
Unfurlable heat pipe |
July 15, 1980 |
| A heat pipe which can be rolled up for storage and automatically deploys when heat is applied. Two highly flexible parallel sheets are bonded together at their edges, thus permitting compact rolled storage. The inside portions of the joined edges form creases which act as capillary c |
| 4196504 |
Tunnel wick heat pipes |
April 8, 1980 |
| A high performance heat pipe and the method for constructing it. A unique wick structure of sintered metal is formed directly into the heat pipe casing and contains simultaneously formed tunnels which permit the flow of large quantities of liquid with low pressure loss. A method of c |
| 4194559 |
Freeze accommodating heat pipe |
March 25, 1980 |
| A heat pipe wick which can survive freezing of the heat transfer fluid within the heat pipe and return to full operation automatically. A flexible high lift wick is used with a limited liquid inventory to prevent damage from freezing. The limited amount of liquid is completely retained |
| 4082575 |
Production of liquid compatible metals |
April 4, 1978 |
| A process for producing liquid compatible metals and a heat pipe manufactured by that process. One example of the process comprises the formation of an aluminum oxide surface layer on an aluminum bearing steel alloy by heating the steel to a high temperature in an oxidizing environme |
