Patent ID: 9746248
Date: 2017-08-29
CPC Classifications: F28D,F28F

Claim:
1. A heat pipe system for conducting thermal energy, comprising: a sealed tube having along its length a reservoir region, an evaporator region, and a condenser region, the tube having a first end, a second end, and an inside wall; a wick structure disposed adjacent the inside wall of the tube, the wick structure comprising a first portion corresponding to the reservoir region of the tube, and a second portion adjacent the first portion, the second portion of the wick structure corresponding to the evaporator region of the tube, wherein the first portion of the wick structure is thicker than the second portion of the wick structure, and wherein the second portion of the wick structure does not extend to the second end of the tube, such that a portion of the tube between the first and second ends does not include a wick structure; and a working fluid contained within the tube, wherein the volume of working fluid in the tube is such that (i) when heat is applied to the evaporator region, working fluid in the first portion of the wick structure is drawn up to the second portion of the wick structure to completely dry out the first portion of the wick structure and (ii) when no heat is applied to the wick structure all of the working fluid is absorbed by the wick structure.