Claims
- 1. An integral heat pipe, heat exchanger, and clamping assembly comprising:
- an evaporator comprising a first and second plurality of wick-lined channels containing a working fluid;
- said first plurality of wick-lined channels extending internally and laterally in a first dimension across said evaporator;
- said second plurality of wick-lined channels extending internally and laterally across said evaporator in a second dimension substantially perpendicular to said first dimension and intersecting said first plurality of wick-lined channels;
- a plurality of plugs disposed in said second plurality of wick-lined channels, said plugs isolating said working fluid within particular regions of said second plurality of wick-lined channels and preventing fluid communication between said first plurality of wick-lined channels;
- condenser means coupled to said evaporator for condensing evaporated working fluid vapor; and,
- heat exchanger means connected to said condenser means for transferring heat absorbed by said condenser means.
- 2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of channels are in fluid communication with said second plurality of channels.
- 3. The assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said evaporator further comprises a plurality of structural strengtheners for increasing torsional rigidity and bending stiffness of said evaporator.
- 4. The assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said structural strengtheners comprise regions of said evaporator wherein said first and second pluralities of channels do not extend.
- 5. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said condenser means comprises a plurality of elongated thin-walled tubes extending perpendicularly from said evaporator and hermetically sealed to said evaporator.
- 6. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said evaporator further comprises a third plurality of wick-lined channels extending internally across said evaporator in a third dimension substantially perpendicular to said first and second dimensions and intersecting said first and second pluralities of channels where said first and second pluralities of channels intersect, said third plurality of channels placing said condenser means in fluid communication with said first and second pluralities of channels.
- 7. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger means comprises a plurality of fins laterally extending and thermally joined to said elongated thin-walled tubes.
- 8. An integral heat pipe, heat exchanger, and clamping assembly comprising:
- an evaporator comprising a first, a second, and a third plurality of wick-lined channels containing a working fluid;
- said first plurality of wick-lined channels extending internally and laterally in a first dimension across said evaporator;
- said second plurality of wick-lined channels extending internally and laterally across said evaporator in a second dimension substantially perpendicular to said first dimension and intersecting said first plurality of wick-line channels;
- said third plurality of wick-lined channels extending internally across said evaporator in a third dimension substantially perpendicular to said first and second dimensions and intersecting said first and second pluralities of channels where said first and second pluralities of channels intersect;
- a plurality of structural strengthens coupled to said evaporator for increasing torsional rigidity and bending stiffness of said evaporator
- a plurality of elongated thin-walled tubes extending perpendicularly from said evaporator and hermetically sealed to said evaporator for condensing evaporated working fluid vapor;
- a plurality of plugs disposed in said second plurality of wick-lined channels, said plugs isolating said working fluid within particular regions of said second plurality of wick-lined channels and preventing fluid communication between said first plurality of wick-lined channels; and,
- a plurality of fins extending to and thermally joined to said elongated thin-walled tubes for transferring heat absorbed by said plurality of thin-walled tubes.
- 9. The assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein said third plurality of channels place said elongated thin-walled tubes in fluid communication with said first and second pluralities of channels.
- 10. The assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein said structural strengtheners comprise regions of said plate wherein said first, second, and third pluralities of channels do not extend.
- 11. A method for providing an integral heat pipe, heat exchanger, and clamping assembly, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an evaporator comprising a first and a second plurality of wick-lined channels containing a working fluid;
- extending said first plurality of wick-lined channels internally and laterally in a first dimension across said evaporator;
- extending said second plurality of wick-lined channels internally and laterally across said evaporator in a second dimension substantially perpendicular to said first dimension and intersecting said first plurality of wick-lined channels;
- providing condenser means coupled to said evaporator for condensing evaporated working fluid vapor;
- providing heat exchanger means connected to said condenser means for transferring heat absorbed by said condenser means; and
- providing a plurality of plugs disposed in said second plurality of wick-lined channels, said plugs isolating said working fluid within particular regions of said second plurality of wick-lined channels and preventing fluid communication between said first plurality of wick-lined channels.
Parent Case Info
This is divisional of application Ser. No. 07/820,566, filed Jan. 14, 1992 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,702.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3368359 |
English et al. |
Feb 1968 |
|
3528276 |
Schmidt et al. |
Sep 1970 |
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Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
820566 |
Jan 1992 |
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