Heat pipe thermal expansion modification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2026071824-A1
Application number	US-202418827710-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 7, 2024
Priority date	Sep 7, 2024
Publication date	Mar 12, 2026
Grant date	—

Abstract

A heat pipe includes: an elongate tube defining a longitudinal axis; an annular wick positioned in the elongate tube; a wick plug positioned in the elongate tube and attached to an end of the annular wick, where the wick plug includes an annular body defining an opening; a thermal expansion modification device including: an annular plug attached to an end of the elongate tube; and an elongate stem extending from the annular plug and through the opening in the wick plug, where the elongate stem defines a protrusion extending radially relative to the longitudinal axis toward the elongate tube, and where the wick plug is positioned intermediate the protrusion and the annular plug; and an end cap attached to the annular plug.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A heat pipe, comprising:
an elongate tube defining a longitudinal axis; an annular wick positioned in the elongate tube; a wick plug positioned in the elongate tube and attached to an end of the annular wick, wherein the wick plug comprises an annular body defining an opening; a thermal expansion modification device, comprising:
an annular plug attached to an end of the elongate tube; and
an elongate stem extending from the annular plug and through the opening in the wick plug, wherein the elongate stem defines a protrusion extending radially relative to the longitudinal axis toward the elongate tube, and wherein the wick plug is positioned intermediate the protrusion and the annular plug; and
an end cap attached to the annular plug.

2 . The heat pipe of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is an arcuate protrusion.

3 . The heat pipe of claim 1 , wherein the wick plug and the annular wick are longitudinally movable relative to the elongate stem and the elongate tube.

4 . The heat pipe of claim 1 , wherein the wick plug is retainably positioned between the protrusion and the annular plug.

5 . The heat pipe of claim 1 , wherein the wick plug comprises a first material having a first co-efficient of thermal expansion and the thermal expansion modification device comprises a second material having a second co-efficient of thermal expansion that is different than the first co-efficient of thermal expansion.

6 . The heat pipe of claim 5 , wherein the second co-efficient of thermal expansion is less than the first co-efficient of thermal expansion.

7 . The heat pipe of claim 1 , wherein the annular plug and the elongate stem define an internal passageway therethrough.

8 . The heat pipe of claim 1 , wherein the elongate stem comprises a body defining a plurality of axial slots intermediate a plurality of fingers.

9 . The heat pipe of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of fingers are flexible relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate tube.

10 . The heat pipe of claim 1 , wherein the wick plug comprises a keyway and the elongate stem defines a protrusion extending into the keyway to prevent rotation of the wick plug relative to the elongate stem about the longitudinal axis of the elongate tube.

11 . A heat pipe, comprising:
an elongate tube defining a longitudinal axis; an annular wick positioned in the elongate tube; a wick plug positioned in the elongate tube and attached to an end of the annular wick, wherein the wick plug comprises an annular body defining an opening; and a tube plug, comprising:
an annular plug attached to an end of the elongate tube; and
a shaft extending from the annular plug and through the opening in the annular wick, wherein the shaft defines a protrusion extending radially toward the elongate tube, and wherein the wick plug is positioned intermediate the protrusion and the annular plug.

12 . The heat pipe of claim 11 , wherein the protrusion is an arcuate protrusion.

13 . The heat pipe of claim 11 , wherein the wick plug and the annular wick are longitudinally movable relative to the tube plug and the elongate tube.

14 . The heat pipe of claim 11 , wherein the wick plug is retainably positioned between the protrusion and the annular plug.

15 . The heat pipe of claim 11 , wherein the wick plug comprises a first material having a first co-efficient of thermal expansion and the tube plug comprises a second material having a second co-efficient of thermal expansion that is different than the first co-efficient of thermal expansion.

16 . The heat pipe of claim 15 , wherein the second co-efficient of thermal expansion is less than the first co-efficient of thermal expansion.

17 . The heat pipe of claim 11 , wherein the annular plug and the shaft define an internal passageway therethrough.

18 . The heat pipe of claim 11 , wherein the shaft defines a plurality of axial slots intermediate a plurality of fingers.

19 . The heat pipe of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of fingers are flexible relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate tube.

20 . The heat pipe of claim 11 , wherein the wick plug comprises a keyway and the shaft defines a radial protrusion extending into the keyway to prevent rotation of the wick plug relative to the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the elongate tube.

21 . A thermal expansion modification device, comprising:
an annular plug attached to an end of an elongate tube; an elongate stem extending from the annular plug, the elongate stem defining a longitudinal axis, an exterior surface, and a protrusion extending radially outward from the exterior surface; and an internal passage extending through the annular plug and the elongate stem.

22 . The thermal expansion modification device of claim 21 , wherein the protrusion is arcuate.

23 . The thermal expansion modification device of claim 21 , wherein the elongate stem comprises a body defining a plurality of axial slots intermediate a plurality of fingers.

24 . The thermal expansion modification device of claim 23 , wherein the plurality of fingers are flexible relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate stem.

Assignees

• Westinghouse Electric Co Llc

Inventors

• Lojek Iii John
• Imprescia Tyler
• Blunt Rory A F
• Nestor Christopher M

Classifications

• F28F9/26

  Arrangements for connecting different sections of heat-exchange elements, e.g. of radiators (connecting different sections in water heaters F24H9/14 {, connecting headers with inlet or outlet fittings F28F9/0246}) · CPC title

• F28F2265/26

  for allowing differential expansion between elements · CPC title

• F28D15/0208

  using moving tubes · CPC title

• F28D15/0275

  Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores · CPC title

• F28D15/04 Primary

  with tubes having a capillary structure · CPC title