Patent ID: 8776870

Claim:
A tunable nanoscale device for varying heat transfer between a heat source and a heat drain, comprising: (a) a multiwalled nanotube structure having a continuous first axial length and an adjacent, discontinuous second axial length, permitting relative movement of walls of the multiwalled nanotube structure to form an exposed portion having a length along the first axial length; (b) a heat source attached to one axial end of the multiwalled nanotube structure; (c) a heat drain attached to an opposite end of the multiwalled nanotube structure; and (d) a moveable member for expanding said exposed portion to reduce the heat transfer by increasing the length of the exposed portion of the multiwalled nanotube structure attached to said heat source and to said heat drain; and (e) a sensor, responsive to thermal conditions, connected to a controller constructed to vary thermal transmission between the heat source and the heat drain by actuating the moveable member.