Patent Description:
A heat pipe is a hermetically sealed, two-phase heat transfer component used to transfer heat from a primary side (evaporator section) to a secondary side (condenser section). <FIG>, as an example, illustrates a heat pipe <NUM> comprising the aforementioned evaporator section <NUM> and condenser section <NUM>, along with an adiabatic section <NUM> extending therebetween. The heat pipe <NUM> further includes a working fluid (such as water, liquid potassium, sodium, or alkali metal) and a wick <NUM>. In operation, the working fluid is configured to absorb heat in the evaporator section <NUM> and vaporize. The saturated vapor, carrying latent heat of vaporization, flows towards the condenser section <NUM> through the adiabatic section <NUM>. In the condenser section <NUM>, the vapor condenses into a liquid pool <NUM> and gives off its latent heat. The condensed liquid is then returned to the evaporator section <NUM> through the wick <NUM> by capillary action. The aforementioned flow path of the working fluid is illustrated by segmented arrows in <FIG>. The phase change processes and two-phase flow circulation continues as long as the temperature gradient between the evaporator and condenser sections is maintained. Due to the very high heat transfer coefficients for boiling and condensation, heat pipes are highly effective thermal conductors.

In nuclear systems, heat pipes are utilized by placing the evaporator section of the heat pipe within the reactor core containing nuclear fuel and the condenser section is placed near heat exchangers. The nuclear fuel vaporizes the working fluid and heat exchangers absorb the latent heat at the condenser section. Example heat pipes in nuclear applications are described in <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

Another example use for heat pipes in nuclear systems is with micro-reactors, which are nuclear reactors that generate less than 10MWe and are capable of being deployed for remote applications. These micro-reactors can be packaged in relatively small containers, operate without active involvement of personnel, and operate without refueling/replacement for a longer period than conventional nuclear power plants. One such micro-reactor is the eVinci Micro Reactor system, designed by Westinghouse Electric Company. The eVinci system is a heat pipe cooled reactor power system that utilizes heat pipes to act as passive heat removal devices that efficiently move thermal energy out of the reactor core to heat exchangers.

The heat pipes used in the micro-reactors experience extreme operating temperatures (><NUM>) and requires an internal wick that is made from materials that can withstand these temperatures and are compatible with the working fluid. This wick can be constructed from a wire mesh that is rolled and diffusion bonded together into a tube-like structure. The wick tube allows for the working fluid within the heat pipe to pass through it radially (such as after the latent heat is given off and the working fluid is absorbed by the wick) and along its axis (transferring the working fluid back toward the evaporator section with capillary action) while remaining rigid.

Manufacturing a wick for insertion into a heat pipe requires a highly complex and detailed process. At a very high level, a wick is manufactured by rolling a sheet of woven wick mesh material into a desired shape, compressing materials (such as tubing) into the wick to forcefully deform the wick into the desired shape, diffusion bonding the mesh together in an oven at vacuum levels while maintaining the wick in a compressed state, and then removing materials used to hold the wick in the compressed state during diffusion bonding. An example of this method for wick forming method are described in <CIT>, titled "METHOD OF FORMING A WICK FOR A HEAT PIPE".

<CIT> discloses a method for manufacturing a heat pipe, which includes installing a heat pipe wick in the form of a porous material on a rod and then assembling the wick with the heat pipe body by pulling the rod with the wick into the heat pipe body with a wire. Before assembling the wick with the body of the heat pipe, the cavity of the rod is filled with a working agent under an overpressure and, after completion of the assembly process, the cavity of the rod is discharged from the pressure of the working agent and removed from the heat pipe. <CIT> discloses a method of fixing a wick in a heat pipe, including inserting a resilient tube into a wick of fine copper wire in a tubular form, the outer diameter of the tube being smaller than the inner diameter of the wick. Spaced metal rings with the same outer diameter as the resilient tube are fitted on the outside of the tube, such that the resilient tube can be inserted into the wick without deforming the same. A rigid spherical member with a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe is forced into the resilient tube, and liquid is charged under pressure into tube, urging spherical member forward while expanding the inner diameter of tube, so that the wick is brought into close contact with the inner wall surface of the pipe and fixed tightly in place by the rings. <CIT> discloses a method of enhancing corrosion and wear resistance of a metal pipe, including inserting a inner protective tube of copper into the pipe, the tube having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe, inserting a tube-expanding unit into the tube, and expanding the tube with the tube-expanding unit until the tube and the pipe are coupled.

Known methods of forming a rolled wire mesh wick in preparation for diffusion bonding utilize a copper mandrel and sheath which is drawn down using a drawing operation to permanently deform both a copper mandrel and sheath to compress the wick mesh to its final dimension. Copper drawing, however, requires different drawing die sizes to be used every time a newly sized wick is formed. This is time consuming and a costly process to change die designs multiple times, especially considering that the design of wick geometries is continuously changing as reactor designs change.

It is the goal of the present disclosure to provide an assembly and method for forming wicks at significantly lower cost and time than other publically documented methods, such as the copper drawing process, described above.

In various embodiments, a method of forming a wick using a mandrel is disclosed. The method includes positioning a wick mesh about the mandrel, positioning a sheath about the mandrel and the wick mesh, and coupling a first fitting to the mandrel. The first fitting includes an adapter configured to couple with a source of pressure. The method further includes pressurizing the mandrel with the source of pressure to hydraulically expand the mandrel such that that mandrel compresses the wick mesh against the sheath and forms the wick, and pressurizing the mandrel such that the mandrel is permanently deformed into the wick.

In various embodiments, a forming assembly for forming a wick is disclosed. The forming assembly includes an inner enclosure hydraulically expandable to an expanded configuration. A wick mesh can be wrapped about the inner enclosure. The forming assembly further includes an outer enclosure positionable about the inner enclosure and the wick mesh. The inner enclosure and the outer enclosure are configured to compress the wick mesh and form the wick based on the inner enclosure hydraulically expanding towards the expanded configuration. The forming assembly includes a first fitting couplable with the inner enclosure, wherein the first fitting comprises an adapter couplable with a source of pressure for pressurizing the inner enclosure to hydraulically expand the inner enclosure towards the expanded configuration to compress the wick mesh against the outer enclosure, and the inner enclosure maintains the wick mesh compressed against the outer enclosure as the source of pressure depressurizes the inner enclosure.

Various features of the embodiments described herein, together with advantages thereof, may be understood in accordance with the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows:.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate various embodiments of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

Applicant of the present application owns the following patent application that was filed concurrently herewith:.

<CIT>
Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the embodiments as described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Well-known operations, components, and elements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described in the specification. The reader will understand that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and illustrative. Variations and changes thereto may be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

<FIG> illustrates a forming assembly <NUM>, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. The forming assembly <NUM> includes a mandrel, tube, or inner enclosure <NUM>. The mandrel <NUM> can be any suitable, hollow shape, such as a circular tube, a square tube, or an oval tube, as examples. For circular tube mandrels <NUM>, the outside diameter can be <NUM> (<NUM> inches), as an example. Other embodiments are envisioned where the mandrel <NUM> has an outside diameter of more or less than <NUM> (<NUM> inches).

The mandrel <NUM> is fully annealed such that, when pressure is applied to an internal surface of the mandrel <NUM>, as will be described in more detail below, the mandrel <NUM> can deform and inflate, or hydraulically expand, outwardly. Fully annealing the mandrel <NUM> allows the mandrel <NUM> to inflate without rupturing. The mandrel <NUM> can be fabricated out of any suitable material, such as copper, carbon steel, or any other suitable material that can be deformed and inflate upon pressure being applied to an inner surface of the mandrel <NUM>. The mandrel <NUM> can be fabricated with any suitable thickness, such as about <NUM> (<NUM> inches), as an example. Other embodiments are envisioned where the mandrel <NUM> includes a thickness of more or less than <NUM> (<NUM> inches). In one embodiment, the mandrel <NUM> can have a thickness between about <NUM> and <NUM> (<NUM> and <NUM> inches). In another embodiment, the mandrel <NUM> can have a thickness between about <NUM> and <NUM> (<NUM> and <NUM> inches).

A sheet, or a plurality of layered sheets, of wick mesh <NUM> can be tightly rolled or wrapped about the mandrel <NUM>. The wick mesh <NUM> can be fabricated out of any suitable material in which a wick is desired to be formed, such as stainless steel (<NUM> stainless steel, as an example) or molybdenum, as examples. As shown in <FIG>, the length of the wick mesh <NUM> is cut shorter than the length of the mandrel <NUM>. As an example, the length of the wick mesh <NUM>w can be about <NUM> (<NUM> inches) and the length of the mandrel Lm can be about <NUM> (<NUM> inches). Other lengths of the wick mesh <NUM> and mandrel <NUM> are contemplated. In various embodiments, the length of the wick mesh <NUM>w and the length of the mandrel Lm can be identical, or at least substantially identical. In one example embodiment, the length of the wick mesh <NUM>w can be <NUM>% of the length of the mandrel Lm. In one example embodiment, the length of the wick mesh <NUM>w can be <NUM>% of the length of the mandrel Lm. In one example embodiment, the length of the wick mesh <NUM>w can be <NUM>% of the length of the mandrel Lm. In one example embodiment, the length of the wick mesh <NUM>w can be greater than the length of the mandrel Lm.

The forming assembly <NUM> can further includes a sheath, outer tube, or outer enclosure <NUM>. The sheath <NUM> can be positioned about the mandrel <NUM> and the wick mesh <NUM>. In operation, as described above, pressure can be applied to an internal surface of the mandrel <NUM>. The mandrel <NUM>, along with the wick mesh <NUM> wrapped about the mandrel <NUM>, can expand outwardly towards an inside surface of the sheath <NUM>. The sheath <NUM> and the mandrel <NUM> can compress and deform the wick mesh <NUM> therebetween, forming the wick.

The sheath <NUM> can define a final, outside diameter or shape or the wick. The sheath <NUM> may comprise any suitable cross-section shapes that may be desired of a wick, such as a circle, an oval, a square, or any shape in which a wick may desired. For circular tube sheaths <NUM>, the outside diameter can be about <NUM> (<NUM> inches), as an example. Other embodiments are envisioned where the sheath <NUM> has an outside diameter of more or less than <NUM> (<NUM> inches). In one embodiment, the sheath <NUM> can have an outside diameter between about <NUM> and <NUM> (<NUM> and <NUM> inches). In another embodiment, the sheath <NUM> can have an outside diameter between about <NUM> and <NUM> (<NUM> and <NUM> inches).

As shown in <FIG>, the length of the sheath Ls can be shorter than the length of the mandrel Lm, but greater than the length of the wick mesh Lw. As an example, the length of the sheath Ls can be about <NUM> (<NUM> inches). Having a sheath <NUM> that is greater in length than the wick mesh <NUM> can prevent the wick mesh <NUM> from expanding outwardly from between the sheath <NUM> and the mandrel <NUM>, helping maintain a uniform shape of the wick. In alternative embodiments, the length of the wick mesh Lw and the length of the sheath Ls can be identical, or at least substantially identical. In alternative embodiments, the length of the wick mesh Lw can be greater than the length of the sheath Ls. In one embodiment, the length of the wick mesh Lw can be <NUM>% the length of the sheath Ls. In one embodiment, the length of the wick mesh Lw can be <NUM>% the length of the sheath Ls. In one embodiment, the length of the wick mesh Lw can be less <NUM>% the length of the sheath Ls.

The sheath <NUM> can include different shapes, diameters, lengths, and sizes and can be manufactured to custom dimensions to create wicks of various sizes, shapes, and geometries. While the final size and shape of the wick is determined by the outside diameter or shape of the sheath <NUM>, the final thickness of the wick is determined by the number of layers and thickness of the wick mesh <NUM>. In one embodiment, the final thickness of the wick is determined by the number of times a wick mesh <NUM> has been wrapped about the mandrel <NUM>, and/or the number of layers of wick mesh <NUM> utilized and the thickness of the wick mesh <NUM>.

The sheath <NUM> is cold worked or drawn to provide extra strength to stop the mandrel <NUM> and wick mesh <NUM> from further deforming when compressed against the inner surface of the sheath <NUM>. The sheath <NUM> can be fabricated out of any suitable material, such as copper, carbon steel, or any other suitable material that can stop further deformation of the mandrel <NUM> and wick mesh <NUM> upon pressure being applied to an inner surface of the sheath <NUM>.

The forming assembly <NUM> can further include a first fitting <NUM>. The first fitting <NUM> can include a first flange <NUM> and a first adapter <NUM>. The first flange <NUM> can be slidable and/or positionable about a first end of the mandrel <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first adapter <NUM> can be threadably coupled with the first flange <NUM>. Other suitable means of coupling the first adaptor <NUM> to the first flange <NUM> are contemplated by the present disclosure. such as with a quick connection or at latch. for example. In other embodiments, the first flange <NUM> and the first adapter <NUM> are of unitary construction. The connection between the first flange <NUM> and the first adapter <NUM> can provide a seal therebetween such that when a pressurized medium is applied through the first adapter <NUM> and the first flange <NUM>, as will be described below, the pressurized medium does not leak out from between the first flange <NUM> and the first adapter <NUM>. Other embodiments are envisioned where o-rings are used to further define a seal between the interfaces of the first flange <NUM> and the first adapter <NUM>.

The first adaptor <NUM> can include a hydraulic opening <NUM> that can interface and/or couple with a source of pressure, such as a hydraulic pressure source. The source of pressure can supply a pressurized medium, such as hydraulic water or air, that passes through the first adaptor <NUM> and the first flange <NUM> and into the mandrel <NUM>. The pressurized medium can pressurize the mandrel <NUM>, causing the mandrel <NUM> and the wick mesh <NUM> to inflate, or hydraulically expand, toward the sheath <NUM>. The source of pressure can pressurize the mandrel <NUM> with the pressurized medium until the mandrel <NUM> has compressed the wick mesh <NUM> into the sheath <NUM> and the mandrel <NUM> permanently deforms into the wick mesh <NUM>.

The forming assembly <NUM> can further include a second fitting <NUM>. The second fitting <NUM> can include a second flange <NUM>, a second adapter <NUM>, and a cap <NUM>. The second flange <NUM> can be slid and/or positioned about the mandrel <NUM>. The second adapter <NUM> can be coupled with the second flange <NUM> and the cap <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the second adaptor <NUM> can be threadably coupled to the second flange <NUM> and the cap <NUM>. Other suitable means of coupling the second adaptor <NUM> to the second flange <NUM> and the cap <NUM> are contemplated by the present disclosure, such as with a quick connection or at latch, as example. In other embodiments, the second flange <NUM> and the second adapter <NUM> are of unitary construction. The connections between the second flange <NUM>, the second adapter <NUM>, and the cap <NUM> can provide a seal such that when a pressurized medium flows through the second flange <NUM>, the second adapter <NUM> and the cap <NUM>, the pressurized medium does not leak out of the connections therebetween. Other embodiments are envisioned where o-rings are used to further define a seal between the interfaces of the second flange <NUM>, the second adapter <NUM> and the cap <NUM>.

Prior to pressurizing the mandrel <NUM>, as discussed above, the cap <NUM> can be removed from the second adapter <NUM>, allowing for venting of all gasses within the forming assembly <NUM>. Once vented, the cap <NUM> can be recoupled to the second adapter <NUM> such that, when the pressurized medium is applied through the forming assembly <NUM> and the pressurized medium flows through the second fitting <NUM>, the pressurized medium does not escape, allowing for the mandrel <NUM> to be pressurized.

As described above, the source of pressure can pressurize the mandrel <NUM> with the pressurized medium until the mandrel <NUM> has compressed the wick mesh <NUM> into the sheath <NUM> and the mandrel <NUM> permanently deforms into the wick mesh <NUM>. Once sufficiently pressurized and deformed, the pressurized medium can be drained from the forming assembly <NUM>. The mandrel <NUM>, now permanently deformed, maintains the compression force against the wick mesh <NUM> and the sheath <NUM>.

In preparation for diffusion bonding, the first fitting <NUM> and the second fitting <NUM> can be removed from the mandrel <NUM>. In alternative embodiments, the first fitting <NUM> and second fitting <NUM> are not removed before diffusion bonding. In one embodiment, the first fitting <NUM> can be removed by cutting the mandrel <NUM> at a first cut point <NUM> and the second fitting <NUM> can be removed by cutting the mandrel <NUM> at a second cut point <NUM>. The cut points <NUM>, <NUM> are defined by gaps between ends of the sheath <NUM> and the fittings <NUM>. Once the first fitting <NUM> and the second fitting <NUM> are removed from the mandrel <NUM>, the remaining, deformed mandrel <NUM>, the wick mesh <NUM>, and the sheath <NUM> are diffusion bonded at a high temperature (such as greater than or equal to about <NUM>) and at a low vacuum pressure. The mandrel <NUM> and the sheath <NUM> function as a support structure to maintain compression support on the wick mesh <NUM> to maintain the shape thereof during the diffusion bonding process. Once the diffusion bonding process is complete, the mandrel <NUM> and sheath <NUM> can be chemically dissolved/removed from the wick, as will be described in more detail below.

Referring now to <FIG>, a method <NUM> of forming a wick using a mandrel is disclosed, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. The method <NUM> can include positioning <NUM> a wick mesh about the mandrel, positioning <NUM> a sheath about the mandrel and the wick mesh, and coupling <NUM> a first fitting to the mandrel. The first fitting can include an adapter that can couple with a source of pressure. The method <NUM> can further includes pressurizing <NUM> the mandrel with the source of pressure to hydraulically expand the mandrel such that that mandrel compresses the wick mesh against the sheath and forms the wick. The method <NUM> can optionally include pressurizing the mandrel such that the mandrel is permanently deformed into the wick. The method <NUM> can also optionally include depressurizing the mandrel and diffusion bonding the wick and the mandrel. The method <NUM> can also optionally include chemically removing the mandrel from the wick after diffusion bonding the wick and the mandrel. The method <NUM> can also optionally include coupling a second fitting to the mandrel and venting gas within the mandrel.

As discussed above, after the diffusion bonding process, the mandrel <NUM> and sheath <NUM> can be chemically dissolved and/or removed from the wick. The chemical dissolution/removal of the mandrel <NUM> and sheath <NUM> requires the use of specific chemicals depending on the material of the wick mesh <NUM>. The chemical solution must react with the mandrel <NUM> and sheath <NUM> at a higher rate than with the wick mesh <NUM> to avoid damaging the wick during the removal process; thus, the material selection of the mandrel <NUM> and sheath <NUM> must consider specific chemicals required for removal and the chemicals ability to not damage the wick. As one example, the mandrel <NUM> and sheath <NUM> can be fabricated out of copper and the wick mesh <NUM> can be stainless steel. Nitric acid, as an example, was found to successfully remove the mandrel <NUM> and sheath <NUM> from the wick without significantly removing/damaging the wick.

The above-described forming assembly <NUM> and method is not limited to stainless steel wick meshes <NUM> and copper mandrels <NUM> and sheaths <NUM>. As an example. in one embodiment, the wick mesh <NUM> can be fabricated out of molybdenum. When utilizing a molybdenum wick mesh <NUM>, the material of the mandrel <NUM> and sheath <NUM> would need to be selected considering chemical dissolution/removal factors, discussed above, as well as considering the higher diffusion bonding temperatures for molybdenum. As one example. when utilizing a molybdenum wick mesh <NUM>, a carbon steel mandrel <NUM> and sheath <NUM> can be utilized. Although different mandrels <NUM> and sheaths <NUM> are required for different wick meshes, the process of manufacturing the wick, discussed above, does not change.

The forming assembly <NUM> described herein allows for forming wicks at many different sizes and shapes with minimal cost differences. The forming assembly only requires selection of a different mandrel and/or sheath tube, thus giving flexibility to make wicks of different materials, shapes, and sizes quickly as microreactor designs change. The forming assembly has been found to produce a permanently deformed wick containing uniform pore sizes, as confirmed by bubble tests. The forming assembly <NUM> and associated steps described above produce a wick which. after diffusion bonded, has been tested and proven to contain the proper dimensions (outside diameter, thickness), tolerances (approximately ±<NUM> (±<NUM> inch) diameter), pore size and strength required to be utilized in a heat pipe. The forming assembly <NUM> and associated steps has also been proven to be highly repeatable through multiple trials. The forming assembly <NUM> allows for formation of wicks at many different sizes with minimal cost difference as the forming device only requires selection of a different mandrel <NUM> and sheath <NUM>, thus giving the flexibility to make wicks of different materials, shapes, and sizes quickly as the microreactor design changes.

Various aspects of the subject matter described herein are set out in the following examples.

Example <NUM> - A forming assembly for forming a wick, comprising a tube inflatable to an inflated configuration. A wick mesh is configured to be wrapped about the tube. The forming assembly further comprises a sheath positionable about the tube and the wick mesh. The tube and the sheath are configured to compress the wick mesh and form the wick based on the tube inflating towards the inflated configuration.

Example <NUM> - The forming assembly of Example <NUM>, wherein the tube comprises an annealed tube.

Example <NUM> - The forming assembly of Examples <NUM> or <NUM>, wherein the sheath comprises a cold drawn sheath.

Example <NUM> - The forming assembly of any one of Examples <NUM>-<NUM>, wherein the sheath is configured to define an outside diameter of the wick.

Example <NUM> - The forming assembly of any one of Examples <NUM>-<NUM>, further comprising a first fitting couplable with the tube. The first fitting comprises an adapter couplable with a source of pressure.

Example <NUM> - The forming assembly of Example <NUM>, wherein the source of pressure is configured to pressurize the tube to transition the tube towards the inflated configuration to compress the wick mesh against the sheath.

Example <NUM> - The forming assembly of Example <NUM>, wherein the tube maintains the wick mesh compressed against the sheath as the source of pressure depressurizes the tube.

Example <NUM> - The forming assembly of any one of Examples <NUM>-<NUM>, further comprising a second fitting couplable with the tube, wherein the second fitting comprises a vent.

Example <NUM> - A method of forming a wick using a mandrel, the method comprising positioning a wick mesh about the mandrel, positioning a sheath about the mandrel and the wick mesh, and coupling a first fitting to the mandrel. The first fitting comprises an adapter configured to couple with a source of pressure. The method further includes pressurizing the mandrel with the source of pressure to hydraulically expand the mandrel such that that mandrel compresses the wick mesh against the sheath and forms the wick.

Example <NUM> - The method of Example <NUM>. further comprising pressurizing the mandrel such that the mandrel is permanently deformed into the wick.

Example <NUM> - The method of Examples <NUM> or <NUM>, further comprising depressurizing the mandrel and diffusion bonding the wick and the mandrel.

Example <NUM> - The method of Example <NUM>, further comprising chemically removing the mandrel from the wick after diffusion bonding the wick and the mandrel.

Example <NUM> - The method of any one of Examples <NUM>-<NUM>, further comprising coupling a second fitting to the mandrel and venting gas within the mandrel.

Example <NUM> - A forming assembly for forming a wick, comprising an inner enclosure hydraulically expandable to an expanded configuration. A wick mesh is configured to be wrapped about the inner enclosure. The forming assembly further comprises an outer enclosure positionable about the inner enclosure and the wick mesh. The inner enclosure and the outer enclosure are configured to compress the wick mesh and form the wick based on the inner enclosure hydraulically expanding towards the expanded configuration.

Example <NUM> - The forming assembly of Example <NUM>. wherein the inner enclosure comprises an annealed tube.

Example <NUM> - The forming assembly of Examples <NUM> or <NUM>, wherein the outer enclosure comprises a cold drawn tube.

Example <NUM> - The forming assembly of any one of Examples <NUM>-<NUM>. wherein the outer enclosure is configured to define an outside diameter of the wick.

Example <NUM> - The forming assembly of any one of Examples <NUM>-<NUM>, further comprising a first fitting couplable with the inner enclosure, wherein the first fitting comprises an adapter couplable with a source of pressure.

Example <NUM> - The forming assembly of Example <NUM>, wherein the source of pressure is configured to pressurize the inner enclosure to hydraulically expand the inner enclosure towards the expanded configuration to compress the wick mesh against the outer enclosure.

Example <NUM> - The forming assembly of Example <NUM>, wherein the inner enclosure maintains the wick mesh compressed against the outer enclosure as the source of pressure depressurizes the inner enclosure.

Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the foregoing disclosure, it is appreciated that, throughout the foregoing disclosure, discussions using terms such as "processing," "computing. " "calculating. " "determining," "displaying," or the like. refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

One or more components may be referred to herein as "configured to," "configurable to," "operable/operative to," "adapted/adaptable," "able to. " "conformable/conformed to," etc. Those skilled in the art will recognize that "configured to" can generally encompass active-state components and/or inactive-state components and/or standby-state components, unless context requires otherwise.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim. and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to claims containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"): the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations.

In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A. etc." is used. in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be typically understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B.

With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art will appreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed in any order. Also, although various operational flow diagrams are presented in a sequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may be performed in other orders than those which are illustrated, or may be performed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental, preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variant orderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like "responsive to," "related to," or other past-tense adjectives are generally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictates otherwise.

It is worthy to note that any reference to "one aspect," "an aspect," "an exemplification," "one exemplification," and the like means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the aspect is included in at least one aspect. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one aspect," "in an aspect," "in an exemplification," and "in one exemplification" in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same aspect. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more aspects.

The terms "comprise" (and any form of comprise, such as "comprises" and "comprising"), "have" (and any form of have, such as "has" and "having"), "include" (and any form of include, such as "includes" and "including") and "contain" (and any form of contain, such as "contains" and "containing") are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a system that "comprises," "has," "includes" or "contains" one or more elements possesses those one or more elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Likewise, an element of a system, device, or apparatus that "comprises," "has," "includes" or "contains" one or more features possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features.

The term "substantially", "about", or "approximately" as used in the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, means an acceptable error for a particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, which depends in part on how the value is measured or determined. In certain embodiments, the term "substantially", "about", or "approximately" means within <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> standard deviations. In certain embodiments, the term "substantially", "about", or "approximately" means within <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, or <NUM>% of a given value or range.

Claim 1:
A method of forming a wick using a mandrel, the method comprising:
positioning (<NUM>) a wick mesh (<NUM>) about the mandrel (<NUM>);
positioning (<NUM>) a sheath (<NUM>) about the mandrel (<NUM>) and the wick mesh (<NUM>);
coupling (<NUM>) a first fitting (<NUM>) to the mandrel (<NUM>), wherein the first fitting (<NUM>) comprises an adapter (<NUM>) configured to couple with a source of pressure; and
pressurizing (<NUM>) the mandrel (<NUM>) with the source of pressure to hydraulically expand the mandrel (<NUM>) such that that mandrel (<NUM>) compresses the wick mesh (<NUM>) against the sheath (<NUM>) and forms the wick;
characterized by
pressurizing the mandrel (<NUM>) such that the mandrel (<NUM>) is permanently deformed into the wick.