Heat pipe system for heat reduction in automobiles

Abstract

A heat pipe system for an automobile comprising: a separator layer, at least one wick layer in contact with the separator layer, at least two outer walls enclosing the separator layer and the at least one wick layer, one of the at least two outer walls being spaced away from the at least one wick layer to form a vapor space therebetween.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat pipe system for an automobile comprising: 
 a separator layer;    at least one wick layer in contact with the separator layer;    at least two outer walls enclosing the separator layer and the at least one wick layer, one of the at least two outer walls being spaced away from the at least one wick layer to form a vapor space therebetween.    
     
     
         2 . The heat pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two outer walls are formed of plastic.  
     
     
         3 . The heat pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two outer walls comprise: 
 a first reinforcing layer; and,    a first metal layer secured to the first reinforcing layer by a first adhesive layer.    
     
     
         4 . The heat pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two outer walls comprise: 
 a first reinforcing layer; and,    a first metal layer disposed adjacent to the first reinforcing later.    
     
     
         5 . The heat pipe system of  claim 4 , wherein the first reinforcing layer comprises a layer of polypropylene.  
     
     
         6 . The heat pipe system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least two outer walls further comprise: 
 a second reinforcing layer disposed adjacent to the first reinforcing later.    
     
     
         7 . The heat pipe system of  claim 6 , wherein the second reinforcing layer comprises a layer of polypropylene.  
     
     
         8 . The heat pipe system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least two outer walls further comprise: 
 a second reinforcing layer secured to the reinforcing layer by a second adhesive layer.    
     
     
         9 . The heat pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein another of the at least two outer walls is disposed adjacent to the at least one wick layer.  
     
     
         10 . The heat pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein said one of the at least two outer walls is fixedly attached to a roof of the automobile.  
     
     
         11 . The heat pipe system of  claim 1 , further comprising a working liquid disposed inside the heat pipe structure.  
     
     
         12 . The heat pipe system of  claim 1 , further comprising heat dissipating fins disposed on one of the at least two outer walls.  
     
     
         13 . The heat pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator layer comprises at least one wire mesh layer.  
     
     
         14 . The heat pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two outer walls comprise: 
 a first reinforcing layer;    a first metal layer disposed adjacent the first reinforcing layer;    a second reinforcing layer disposed adjacent the first metal layer;    a second metal layer disposed adjacent the second reinforcing layer;    a third reinforcing layer disposed adjacent the second metal layer;    a fourth reinforcing layer disposed adjacent the third reinforcing layer.    
     
     
         15 . The heat pipe system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two outer walls comprise: 
 a first reinforcing layer;    a first metal layer secured to the first reinforcing layer by a first adhesive layer;    a second reinforcing layer;    a second metal layer secured to the second reinforcing layer by a second adhesive layer;    a third reinforcing layer secured to the second metal layer by a third adhesive layer;    a fourth reinforcing layer secured to the third reinforcing layer by a fourth adhesive layer.    
     
     
         16 . An automobile comprising: 
 a roof overlying a cabin area;    a heat pipe disposed between the cabin area and the roof of the automobile, said heat pipe comprising a separator layer, at least one wick layer in contact with the separator layer, at least two outer walls enclosing the separator layer and the at least one wick layer, at least one of the at least two outer walls being spaced away from the at least one wick layer to form a vapor space therebetween.    
     
     
         17 . The automobile of  claim 16 , wherein the at least two outer walls are formed of plastic.  
     
     
         18 . The automobile of  claim 16 , wherein the at least two outer walls further comprise: 
 a first reinforcing layer; and,    a first metal layer secured to the first reinforcing layer by a first adhesive layer.    
     
     
         19 . The automobile of  claim 18 , wherein the first reinforcing layer comprises a layer of polypropylene.  
     
     
         20 . The heat pipe system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least two outer walls further comprise: 
 a second reinforcing layer disposed adjacent to the first reinforcing later.    
     
     
         21 . The heat pipe system of  claim 20 , wherein the second reinforcing layer comprises a layer of polypropylene.  
     
     
         22 . The heat pipe system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least two outer walls further comprise: 
 a second reinforcing layer secured to the reinforcing layer by a second adhesive layer.    
     
     
         23 . The automobile of  claim 16 , wherein another of the at least two outer walls is disposed adjacent to the at least one wick layer.  
     
     
         24 . The automobile of  claim 16 , wherein said one of the at least two outer walls is fixedly attached to the roof of the automobile.  
     
     
         25 . The automobile of  claim 16 , further comprising an additional compartment disposed between the heat pipe and the cabin area.  
     
     
         26 . The automobile of  claim 16 , wherein the separator layer comprises at least one wire mesh layer.  
     
     
         27 . A method for cooling a passenger compartment of an automobile, comprising the steps of: 
 disposing a heat pipe between the passenger compartment and a roof of the automobile.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , comprising the further steps of: 
 permitting heated air within the passenger compartment to contact an evaporator portion of the heat pipe; and,    permitting solar radiation impinging on the roof of the automobile to contact a condenser portion of the heat pipe.    
     
     
         29 . A cooling system comprising: 
 a passive heat removal system disposed in an automobile between a passenger compartment and a roof of the automobile.    
     
     
         30 . The cooling system of  claim 29 , wherein the passive heat removal system comprises a heat pipe including a separator layer, at least one wick layer in contact with the separator layer, at least two outer walls enclosing the separator layer and the at least one wick layer, at least one of the at least two outer walls being spaced away from the at least one wick layer to form a vapor space therebetween.