×

Switchable on-off heat pipe

  • US 4,413,671 A
  • Filed: 05/03/1982
  • Issued: 11/08/1983
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1982
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A switchable heat pipe for enabling a heat generating device to warm rapidly to, and be maintained at, a predetermined operating temperature range comprising:

  • an evaporator section to which said device is coupled for receiving the heat generated thereby;

    a heat dissipating condenser section;

    a thermally insulating section joining said evaporator and condenser sections;

    a capillary structure in and joining said sections;

    measured amounts of working fluid and inert gas in said sections;

    a reservoir for receiving said inert gas and communicating with said condenser section; and

    means coupling said condenser section and said reservoir to a heat sink, and defining a path of higher thermal conductivity between said reservoir and said heat sink than between said condenser section and said heat sink;

    the amounts of said working fluid and said inert gas being selected so that, at temperatures below the predetermined operating temperature range, said working fluid as a vapor has a partial pressure which is less than that of said inert gas for enabling said inert gas to occupy said thermally insulating section, to prevent heat pipe operation and to enable said device to be thermally insulated from said heat sink and, at temperatures within the predetermined operating temperature range, the partial pressure of said working fluid vapor increases to cause displacement of said inert gas from said thermally insulating section into said gas reservoir and thereby to permit heat pipe conduction of the heat from said device to said heat sink.

View all claims
  • 3 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×