| 摘要 |
The specification and drawings disclose two embodiments of heat pipe structures arranged to readily conduct heat in one direction and conduct only a limited amount of heat in the opposite direction. In both embodiments, the heat pipe is shown as comprising a hollow, sealed tube having wick material positioned in engagement with selected portions of the inner surface. A vaporizable fluid is placed in the tube in an amount sufficient to wet the wick. In one embodiment, the wick extends over and is in engagement with only those portions of the wall surface from which it is desired to transfer heat. The other portions of the wall surface are bare. Consequently, fluid in the wick can be vaporized and flow to the bare wall portion for condensation. However, if the bare wall portions are at a higher temperature, heat cannot be transferred to the wicked portion except by conduction through the tube wall. In the second embodiment, the entire inner surface is covered by a wick but in certain areas, the wick is spaced from the surface. The spaced areas function in the manner of the bare areas of the first embodiment but allow the unit to be used in any orientation since droplet formation in the spaced wick areas permit the droplets to engage the spaced wick for capillary flow to the heated wick portion.
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