U.S. patent application number 11/421235 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-14 for heat pipe component deployed from a compact volume.
Invention is credited to Kevin L. Wert.
Application Number | 20060201654 11/421235 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34911793 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060201654 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wert; Kevin L. |
September 14, 2006 |
HEAT PIPE COMPONENT DEPLOYED FROM A COMPACT VOLUME
Abstract
A component of a heat pipe assembly (100) has hollow fluid
transport sections (108) communicating with hollow bendable fluid
transport sections (110); the bendable fluid transport sections
(110) being bendable to deploy the transport sections (108) from a
compact volume.
Inventors: |
Wert; Kevin L.; (Halifax,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DUANE MORRIS LLP;IP DEPARTMENT
30 SOUTH 17TH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103-4196
US
|
Family ID: |
34911793 |
Appl. No.: |
11/421235 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10792198 |
Mar 3, 2004 |
7080681 |
|
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11421235 |
May 31, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
165/104.21 ;
165/45 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 1/14 20130101; F28D
15/0266 20130101; F28D 15/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/104.21 ;
165/045 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/02 20060101
F28D015/02 |
Claims
1.-19. (canceled)
20. A component of a heat pipe assembly comprising: hollow rigid
fluid transport sections communicating with hollow bendable fluid
transport sections wherein the hollow bendable fluid transport
sections are bendable to stack the rigid fluid transport sections
in a compact volume; and a liquid line and a fluid line extending
through the hollow rigid fluid transport sections and hollow
bendable fluid transport sections wherein the liquid line and fluid
line are in a concentric relationship to one another.
21. The component of claim 20, further comprising a further
bendable hollow fluid transport section connecting the component in
a heat pipe assembly.
22. The component of claim 20, further comprising the component
being a sub-cooler of a heat pipe assembly.
23. A heat pipe assembly comprising: a hollow envelope having an
evaporator and a condenser containing a quantity of working fluid;
hollow rigid fluid transport sections communicating with hollow
bendable fluid transport sections wherein the hollow bendable fluid
transport sections are bendable to stack the rigid fluid transport
sections in a compact volume; and a liquid line and a fluid line
extending through the hollow rigid fluid transport sections and
hollow bendable fluid transport sections wherein the liquid line
and fluid line are in a concentric relationship to one another.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a heat pipe assembly that is
deployed from a compact volume, and more particularly, to a
component of a heat pipe assembly with a reduced compact volume for
shipping and handling.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A loop heat pipe assembly may require a lengthy condenser
section for adequate heat transfer. However, the lengthy condenser
section may be too long to fit within a maximum packaging volume
that is set in cubic inches, as a requirement for shipping and
handling. Thus, a need exists for a component of a heat pipe
assembly that assumes a compact volume for packaging, and that
deploys to a length that would exceed the packaging volume
limitations. U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,718 discloses a radiator that can
be folded or rolled up, without disclosing how the radiator is
packaged or how the radiator is deployed.
[0003] Further, it would be desirable to have a component of a heat
pipe assembly that would assume a number of dimensional
configurations, straight or curvilinear for example, with a
serpentine shape, a U-shape or J-shape, for example, to route the
heat pipe assembly away from spatial obstacles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The invention is a component of a heat pipe assembly that
has bendable sections, which allow the component to assume a number
of dimensional configurations. The component can be reduced to a
compact configuration, for example, to fit within a maximum
packaging volume, and can be deployed to a length that exceeds the
maximum packaging volume. The component according to the invention
allows a heat pipe of larger size and greater effectiveness than a
heat pipe that would be restricted in size by its packaging
dimensions.
DRAWING DESCRIPTION
[0005] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a side view of a heat pipe assembly with a
deployed condenser component.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a hollow fluid transport
section of the condenser component disclosed by FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of a hollow bendable fluid
transport section of the condenser component.
[0009] FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of another hollow bendable fluid
transport section of the condenser component.
[0010] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an evaporator in the heat
pipe assembly disclosed by FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a heat pipe assembly with its
condenser component folded in a serpentine configuration.
[0012] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a heat pipe assembly in a
compact configuration.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a section view of a tee manifold of a sub-cooler
component of the heat pipe assembly disclosed by FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a heat pipe
assembly (100) has a condenser end with an elongated condenser
(102). An evaporator end of the heat pipe assembly (100) has an
evaporator (104) with a compensation chamber (106). The evaporator
(104) and the compensation chamber (106) are of known construction.
The condenser (102) is a component according to the invention.
[0015] The condenser (102) has multiple rigid condenser sections
(108). At locations where flexibility is desired, bendable
condenser sections (110) are connected to the rigid condenser
sections (108). The rigid sections (108) are relatively more rigid
than the bendable sections (110). The bendable sections (110) are
more easily bent than the relatively rigid sections (108). In a
continuous condenser (102), the bendable sections (110) connect the
rigid sections (108), one to another. For example, an embodiment of
the condenser (102) has an alternating series of rigid condenser
sections (108) and bendable condenser sections (110).
[0016] FIG. 2 discloses that each rigid section (108) has a heat
transferring outer tube (200) providing a vapor line section for
transporting vapor phase working fluid in an annular space (202)
between the outer tube (200) and an inner tube (204) providing a
liquid line for returning condensate to the compensation chamber
(106). According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the
vapor and liquid lines are switched, such that the inner tube (204)
is the vapor line, and the space (202) provides the liquid line for
returning condensate.
[0017] FIG. 2 further discloses an embodiment of the invention
having a thin, heat dissipating, external fin (206) in thermal
communication with the exterior side (208) of each corresponding
rigid section (108). For example, the external fin (206) is in
thermal communication by being attached to the exterior side (208).
The fin (206) is not easily deformed, and thus adds rigidity to the
heat transferring tube (200). Heat is transferred and dissipated by
conduction in the fin (206) as well as the side (208) of the tube
(200) of the rigid section (108). The fin (206) has a channel
portion (210) that conforms to the exterior side (208) of a
corresponding rigid section (108). For example, the channel portion
(210) and the exterior tube (108) are highly conducting, and are
intimately joined, for example, by welding, brazing or conducting
epoxy, to conduct and dissipate heat from the interior of the
corresponding rigid section (108). The fin (206) is disclosed as a
one-piece. Alternatively, the fin (206) can be formed by multiple
pieces that are joined to the exterior tube (108). For example,
subsequent to joining the fin (206) and the outer tube (200), the
assembly (100) is plated for corrosion resistance. Alternatively,
when the working fluid is corrosive, the outer tube (200) and the
inner tube (204) are fabricated of corrosion resistant metal, for
example, stainless steel. According to an alternative embodiment of
the invention, the side (208) of each rigid section (206)
dissipates heat sufficiently without one or more external fins
(206).
[0018] In a heat pipe assembly (100), a vacuum tight envelope is
provided by the length of the heat pipe assembly (100), from the
evaporator (104) at the evaporator end, to the condenser (102) at
the condenser end. The vacuum tight envelope contains a quantity of
working fluid that establishes an equilibrium of liquid and vapor.
Liquid phase working fluid flows from the compensation chamber
(106) to the evaporator (104), where the equilibrium is upset by
vapor that is generated by heat transferred to the working fluid by
the evaporator (104). The vapor separates from the liquid in the
evaporator (104). The vapor at slightly increased vapor pressure
transports along the condenser (102) where the vapor gives up it
latent heat of vaporization, causing condensate to form and enter
the liquid line provided by the tube (204). The condensate returns
to a reservoir of the compensation chamber (106).
[0019] The liquid line extends continuously along the rigid
sections (108) and the bendable sections (110) to return condensate
to the compensation chamber (106). The condenser rigid sections
(108) and bendable sections (110) transport two-phase working
fluid. Vapor phase working fluid is transported by the condenser
(102), along the annular space (202), while heat is dissipated by
conduction in the exterior sides (208) of the tubes (200) of the
rigid sections (108), by the fins (206), and by the exterior sides
of the bendable sections (110). The condensate returns via the
liquid line to the compensation chamber (106), for example, by one
or more, of, gravity, capillary fluid flow in the evaporator (104)
and vapor pressure. Heat interchange between the vapor and the
condensate is minimized by isolating the condensate in the liquid
line, i.e., the tube (204), made of bendable material that is
non-reactive and chemically compatible with the fluid. Under
certain operating conditions, the tube (204) may transport vapor as
well as the fluid, and is thereby, non-reactive and chemically
compatible with the vapor. According to an embodiment of the
invention, the tube (204) is made, for example, of
polytetrafluroethylene, PTFE, formed into bendable tubing. Thermal
insulation properties of the tube (204) provides insulation against
thermal interaction between the vapor and the condensate.
[0020] FIG. 3A discloses an embodiment of each condenser bendable
section (110), which is made bendable by a hollow tubular bellows
(300) providing the vapor line. The bellows (300) is flexible in
addition to being bendable. Each open end of the bellows (300)
couples with the outer tube (200) of a corresponding condenser
rigid section (108) with an hermetic seal to provide a continuous
vapor line. The bellows (300) has an hermetically sealed,
continuous exterior side that has a series of pleats (302)
extending between an enlarged diameter and a smaller diameter. The
shape of the pleats (302) can vary. For example, the pleats (302)
can be folded, or serpentine without folds. Further, the pleats
(302) can be ring-like or spiral, for example. The pleats (302) can
stretch, and can collapse to move farther apart and closer
together, which allows the bellows (300) to bend and to further
deform in torsion. Bending forces and torsion forces are
distributed along the bellows (300) by movement of the pleats
(302), which avoids rupture of the bellows (300).
[0021] FIG. 5 discloses that the condenser (102) can assume a
curvilinear configuration by bending the bendable sections (110).
The particular curvilinear configuration disclosed by FIG. 5 has
the condenser (102) bent into a serpentine configuration, with the
elongated fins (206) being parallel and in series, and with the
rigid sections (108) being parallel and in series, and with the
bendable sections (110) being curvilinear. The bendable sections
(110) become bent, when the elongated fins (206) are laid in series
along a generally flat surface or flat plane.
[0022] FIG. 3B further discloses another embodiment of the bendable
section (110) that comprises annealed ductile metal tubing, for
example, annealed copper tubing is satisfactory for exposure to
non-corrosive working fluid, or annealed stainless steel tubing is
resistant to a corrosive working fluid, for example, ammonia and
its various compositions. The bendable sections (110) are pre-bent
to the curvilinear positions, as disclosed by FIG. 5, and then
annealed. Thereafter, the bendable sections (110) are ductile, and
are suitable to be bent to a desired configuration until becoming
work hardened.
[0023] FIG. 5 further discloses that the bendable section (110)
between the compensation chamber (106) and the nearest condenser
rigid section (108) has been bent to move the nearest rigid section
(108) and the compensation chamber (106)-evaporator (104)
combination in conformal registration with each other.
[0024] FIG. 6 discloses that the condenser (102) is rolled up, to
wrap around the compensation chamber (106)-evaporator (104)
combination, using the compensation chamber (106)-evaporator (104)
combination as mandrel or core to roll up the condenser (102).
Successive fins (206) are rotated into position to surround the
compensation chamber (106)-evaporator (104) combination and the
condenser (102), and form a compact, rolled-up assembly (100). As
each fin (206) is rotated into position in the rolled-up assembly
(100), the bendable section (110) connecting the subsequent fin
(206) in the series will twist in torsion by an amount that is
equal to, and out of phase with, the twist in torsion of the next
bendable section (110) in the series.
[0025] In FIG. 6, the compact, rolled-up assembly (100) will fit in
a compact package. For example, the rolled-up assembly (100) fits
within a tubular volume that is set with a length limitation and a
diameter limitation, which would be within limits set for a volume
limitation. Multiple rolled-up assemblies (100) may be packaged and
shipped, and then unpackaged and assembled together to build a
radiator.
[0026] The fins (206) on corresponding condenser rigid sections
(108) have been shaped to conform in shape to that of the
compensation chamber (106)-evaporator (104) combination. In FIG. 6,
the exterior shape of the compensation chamber (106)-evaporator
(104) combination is curved cylindrical. Thus, for a cylindrical
compensation chamber (106)-evaporator (104) combination, the fins
(206) are curvilinear. The compensation chamber (106)-evaporator
(104) combination may have an alternative shape, such as having
flat exterior surfaces to which the fins (206) are shaped to
conform to the alternative shape.
[0027] The fins (206) are curved with a slightly larger radius of
curvature than that of the compensation chamber (106)-evaporator
(104) combination, which allows stacking of the fins (206) in
registration against the compensation chamber (106)-evaporator
(104) combination. Further, successive fins (206) stack in
registration against previous fins (206) in the rolled-up assembly
(100). The successive fins (206) have successively enlarged radii
of curvature to fit in stacked registration against prior fins
(206) in the rolled-up assembly (100). According to an embodiment
of the invention, each fin (206) can have a different radii.
According to another embodiment of the invention, to simplify
manufacturing, three different radii are used. Each fin (206) has
one of three different radii depending on its relative position in
the rolled-up assembly (100). The radius of curvature increases
with the distance wrapped around the compensation chamber
(106)-evaporator (104) combination.
[0028] FIG. 6 further discloses a condenser terminus (600). The
terminus (600) is initially an open end of the outer tube (108)
that has been evacuated to evacuate the heat pipe assembly (100),
and the working fluid is introduced into an open end of the fluid
line. Then the open end of the outer tube (108) is plugged by being
fitted with a hermetic sealed plug or by being swaged or brazed or
welded shut to form the terminus (600).
[0029] The heat pipe assembly (100) is adapted for subterranean
imbedding, for example, to provide a portion of a radiator.
Alternatively, the heat pipe assembly (100) is adapted for
deployment by unfolding either by manual or remote manipulation in
an atmosphere or in space. The heat pipe assembly (100) is adapted
with or without a sub-cooler (400) disclosed by FIG. 4.
[0030] FIG. 4 discloses an embodiment of the invention, a
sub-cooler (400) as a hollow fluid transport section component of
the assembly (100). The sub-cooler (400) has an external liquid
line section (402) with an external heat dissipating fin (206)
extending from a hollow tubular section of the liquid line (402).
The fin (206) is shaped to conform to the shape of the compensation
chamber (106)-evaporator (104) combination, which allows stacking
of the sub-cooler (400) in a small package volume, together with
the compensation chamber (106)-evaporator (104) combination and the
condenser (102). The sub-cooler (400) has its liquid line section
(402) connected by a corresponding bendable section (110) to the
interior of the compensation chamber (106). The length of the
bendable section (110) determines how far away the sub-cooler (400)
can be spaced from the compensation chamber (106). The heat pipe
assembly (100) may have one or more sub-coolers (400).
[0031] The sub-cooler (400) has an hollow external vapor line
section (404) to transport vapor phase working fluid externally of
the external liquid line section (402), which avoids latent heat
interchange between the vapor and the condensate. The vapor line
section (404) connects to the interior of the evaporator (104) at a
coupling (406) for transporting vapor from a vapor collection
portion of the evaporator (104) to the condenser (102). The
sub-cooler (400) separates the liquid line section (402) from the
vapor line section (404), and dissipates heat from the condensate
returning to the compensator (106), to sub-cool the condensate
below its condensation temperature. In an alternative embodiment of
the invention, the liquid line section (402) and the vapor line
section (404) are switched.
[0032] FIG. 7 discloses a coupling tee (700) that separates the
liquid line section (402) from the vapor line section (404). The
liquid line section (402) has an enlarged diameter liquid line
section (402a) making a coupling connection with a corresponding
bendable section (110). In turn, the corresponding bendable section
(110) couples with the liquid line (402) of the sub-cooler (400).
The liquid line section (402) has a reduced diameter liquid line
section (402b) having a coupling connection with the liquid line
tube (204) of the condenser (102). The liquid line section (402)
transports condensate from the tube (204), through the
corresponding bendable section (110) and to the compensation
chamber (106). The coupling between (204) and (402b) does not
require an hermetic seal. Thus the coupling is a liquid tight
friction connection without an hermetic seal being necessary. When
the sub-cooler (400) is not used in an embodiment of the invention,
the liquid line section (402a) of the coupling tee (700) makes a
coupling connection with the corresponding bendable section (110)
shown in FIG. 4, and, in turn, the corresponding bendable section
(110) couples to the compensation chamber (106).
[0033] An hermetic seal is provided between the exterior of the tee
(700) and the vapor line section (404). The vapor line section
(404) has a reduced diameter section (404a) and an enlarged
diameter section (404b) concentric with the internal liquid line
section (402b). The enlarged vapor line section (404b) is separated
by an interior wall (702) from the enlarged liquid line section
(402a). The enlarged vapor line section (404b) has an exterior end
(404c) making a coupling connection with a corresponding bendable
section (110) and then with the condenser (102).
[0034] With continued reference to FIG. 7, according to an
alternative embodiment of the present invention, the coupling tee
(700) would switch the vapor line section and the liquid line
section. For example, a vapor line would connect the sections
(404a) and (402b) to each other to form the vapor line. Further, a
liquid return line would connect the sections (402a) and (404b) to
each other, by eliminating the wall (702), to form a continuous
liquid return line.
[0035] Although a preferred embodiment has been described, other
embodiments and modifications of the invention are intended to be
covered by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *