Heat pipe material and garment

摘要

A heat pipe material suitable for making wearable garments is disclosed. The material has a sandwich structure including a conduction layer, a separation layer, a wick layer and an insulating layer. The conduction layer is made of discs of a rigid, thermal conducting material connected by a flexible, impermeable material. The separation layer is flexible, porous to gas and maintains a separation between the outer layers. The wick layer transfers a working fluid by capillary action. The insulating layer is the outer skin of the garment made from the heat pipe material and is flexible, impermeable to air and has a low thermal conductance. To create a functioning heat pipe, the material is sealed about its periphery and contains a working fluid. A thermal source is functionally connected to the working fluid. The heat pipe garment help maintains a wearer's body temperature close to 37 degrees Celsius.

主权项

1. A flexible, heat pipe material, comprising:
a conduction layer comprising:
a plurality of flat, rigid, highly thermally conductive metal discs each of which is between 1 mm and 4 mm thick and wherein each of said discs have a radially protruding sealing appendage;a flexible, elastic material that is impermeable to air and has a plurality of through-holes matched in size and shape to said flat, rigid discs and wherein each of said through holes has a circular horizontal slot, said slots being matched in shape and size to receive said sealing appendage, and wherein said sealing appendages are inserted into said slots, thereby joining said discs and said flexible elastic material; a butyl rubber insulating layer, said insulating layer being flexible, impermeable to air and having a low thermal conductance; a separation layer comprising a plurality of metal or plastic springs and structured to be flexible and porous to gases, said separation layer being disposed between said conduction layer and said insulating layer; a first wick layer comprising a flexible material structured to transfer a fluid by capillary action and being located between said conduction layer and said separation layer thereby transferring heat away from said conduction layer; and a second wick layer, comprising a flexible material structured to transfer a fluid by capillary action and being located between said insulation layer and said separation layer thereby transferring heat towards said conduction layer.