Patent ID: 6827134
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: F28D,G06F,H01L

Abstract:
A parallel-plate heat pipe apparatus, comprising:(a) a hollow sealed container comprising a pair of substantially parallel major outer surfaces, and further comprising a pair of substantially parallel major inner surfaces within the container; (b) a plurality of evaporator regions located on one of the major inner surfaces of the container, with each evaporator region being spaced apart from an adjacent evaporator region; (c) a condenser region located within the container proximate to an edge of one of the major inner surfaces; (d) a working fluid disposed within the container for transferring heat from each evaporator region to the condenser region wherein the working fluid is condensed from a vapor state to a liquid state; and (e) a plurality of shaped capillary wick structures formed within the container on one or both of the major inner surfaces of the container, with each capillary wick structure further comprising a plurality of curvilinear capillary grooves directly connecting the condenser region to each evaporator region to provide a capillary flow of the working fluid in the liquid state from the condenser region to one of the plurality of evaporator regions.