Accumulator

• US 6,615,609 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: National Space Development Agency of Japan
• Original Assignee: National Space Development Agency of Japan
• Inventors: Kawasaki, Haruo, Toyama, Shinʼichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jiang, Chen Wen
• Application Number:
  US10/084,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20030145622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 625/03, 625/12, 624/74, 624/68, 210/283, 210/284, 210/285
• US Class Current: 62/503
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/50 for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/506 Heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0266 with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers F28D15/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/043 forming loops, e.g. capillary pumped loops

Abstract

The present invention provides an accumulator 21 for evaporating and condensing a refrigerant in a pressure vessel 22 thereof to control pressure or the like in a closed-loop type controlled unit. The accumulator comprises liquid-phase refrigerant holding means 23 for holding the refrigerant in liquid phase, heating means 25 for heating and evaporating the refrigerant in liquid-phase, cooling means 24 for cooling and condensing the refrigerant in vapor-phase, and a connection port 28 in fluid communication with the controlled unit. The liquid-phase refrigerant holding means 23 includes a vane 32 made of a material capable of absorbing the refrigerant in liquid phase, and the end 35 of the vane 32 has a shape in contact with the inner surface of the pressure vessel 22. The accumulator is adapted to heat or cool the pressure vessel 22 by the heating means 25 or the cooling means 24 to evaporate or condense the refrigerant in the pressure vessel 22 so as to control pressure or refrigerant amount in the controlled unit.

Claims

1. An accumulator for evaporating and condensing a refrigerant in a pressure vessel thereof to control pressure or the like in a closed-loop type controlled unit, said accumulator comprising:

liquid-phase refrigerant holding means for holding the refrigerant in liquid phase;

heating means for heating and evaporating the refrigerant in liquid-phase;

cooling means for cooling and condensing the refrigerant in vapor-phase; and

a connection port in fluid communication with said controlled unit, wherein said liquid-phase refrigerant holding means includes a vane made of a material capable of absorbing the refrigerant in liquid phase, and the end of said vane has a shape in contact with the inner surface of said pressure vessel.

2. An accumulator according to claim 1, wherein said vane is formed in a wave shape.

3. An accumulator according to claim 1, wherein said connection port is disposed between the inner surface of said pressure vessel and the end of said vane.

4. An accumulator according to claim 3, wherein said connection port includes a slit facing to a space between the inner surface of said pressure vessel and the end of said vane to allow the refrigerant in liquid phase to flow in and out through said slit.

5. An accumulator according to claim 1, wherein said liquid-phase refrigerant holding means includes a wick provided on the inner surface of said pressure vessel, said wick being made of a material capable of absorbing the refrigerant in liquid phase.

6. An accumulator according to claim 5, wherein said vane is formed in a wave shape, and wherein said wave-shaped vane is provided in a plural number, wherein said connection port is provided in the space between each of said plurality of vanes and the inner surface of said pressure vessel.

7. An accumulator according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of wave-shaped vanes include a crossing portion therebetween, said crossing portion having a surface smoothly connected to each of said vanes.