Composite heat pipe structure

Abstract

A composite heat pipe structure is provided. In various embodiments, the composite heat pipe structure includes an outer body and a plurality of internal heat pipes sequentially disposed in a longitudinally adjacent relationship within an interior cavity of the outer body. The internal heat pipes are sequentially thermally coupled to one another along a portion of each respective internal heat pipes so that heat absorbed at a first end of the outer body is transferred to a second end of the outer body, via the internal heat pipes, with a high rate of thermal efficiency.

1 . A composite heat pipe structure comprising:
 an outer body;   a plurality of internal heat pipes sequentially disposed in a longitudinally adjacent relationship within an interior cavity of the outer body such that internal heat pipes are sequentially thermally coupled to one another along a portion of each respective internal heat pipe so that heat absorbed at a first end of the outer body is transferred to a second end of the outer body, via the internal heat pipes, with a high rate of thermal efficiency.   
   
   
       2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the outer body comprises cylindrical pipe. 
   
   
       3 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the outer body comprises a frame and end cap of a motor and the interior cavity comprises a space between the frame and end cap, and a stator assembly of the motor. 
   
   
       4 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the outer body comprises a portion of a turbine housing and the interior cavity comprises a space within the turbine housing. 
   
   
       5 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the outer body comprises a portion of a gearbox housing and the interior cavity comprises a space within the gearbox housing. 
   
   
       6 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the structure further comprises a heat conductive medium disposed within the interior cavity and surrounding the internal heat pipes, whereby the heat conductive medium improves the efficiency of a transfer of heat between the thermally coupled longitudinally adjacent heat pipes. 
   
   
       7 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the structure further comprises a plurality of mini lateral heat pipes disposed within the interior cavity and thermally connecting the longitudinally adjacent heat pipes, whereby the mini lateral heat pipes improve the efficiency of a transfer of heat between the thermally coupled longitudinally adjacent heat pipes. 
   
   
       8 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the structure further comprises a plurality of mini axial heat pipes disposed within the interior cavity and thermally connecting the longitudinally adjacent heat pipes, whereby the mini axial heat pipes improve the efficiency of a transfer of heat between the thermally coupled longitudinally adjacent heat pipes 
   
   
       9 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein each internal heat pipe comprises a male node formed at a first end and a female node receptor formed at an opposing second end such that the internal heat pipes are sequentially thermally coupled to one another by securely physically coupling the male node of each internal heat pipe into the female node receptacle of the respective longitudinally adjacent internal heat pipe. 
   
   
       10 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein each internal heat pipe comprises an interior reservoir filled with a working fluid structured to rapidly and efficiently transfer heat absorbed at an evaporator end of each internal heat pipe to a condenser end of the respective internal heat pipe. 
   
   
       11 . A composite heat pipe structure comprising:
 an outer body;   a plurality of internal heat pipes longitudinally disposed within an interior cavity of the outer body such that a condenser end of each internal heat pipe is thermally coupled with an evaporator end of at least one longitudinally adjacent internal heat pipe so that heat absorbed at a first end of the outer body is transferred to a second end of the outer body, via the internal heat pipes, with a high rate of thermal efficiency.   
   
   
       12 . The structure of  claim 11 , wherein the outer body comprises cylindrical pipe. 
   
   
       13 . The structure of  claim 11 , wherein the outer body comprises a frame and end cap of a motor and the interior cavity comprises a space between the frame and end cap, and a stator assembly of the motor. 
   
   
       14 . The structure of  claim 11 , wherein the outer body comprises a portion of a turbine housing and the interior cavity comprises a space within the turbine housing. 
   
   
       15 . The structure of  claim 11 , wherein the outer body comprises a portion of a gearbox housing and the interior cavity comprises a space within the gearbox housing. 
   
   
       16 . The structure of  claim 11 , wherein the structure further comprises a heat conductive medium disposed within the interior cavity and surrounding the internal heat pipes, whereby the heat conductive medium improves the efficiency of a transfer of heat between the thermally coupled condenser ends of the internal heat pipes to the evaporator ends of the respective longitudinally adjacent heat pipes. 
   
   
       17 . The structure of  claim 11 , wherein the structure further comprises a plurality of mini lateral heat pipes disposed within the interior cavity and thermally connecting the condenser ends of the internal heat pipes to the evaporator ends of the respective longitudinally adjacent heat pipes, whereby the mini lateral heat pipes improve the efficiency of a transfer of heat between the thermally coupled condenser ends and evaporator ends. 
   
   
       18 . The structure of  claim 11 , wherein the structure further comprises a plurality of mini axial heat pipes disposed within the interior cavity and thermally connecting the longitudinally adjacent heat pipes, whereby the mini axial heat pipes improve the efficiency of a transfer of heat between the thermally coupled longitudinally adjacent heat pipes 
   
   
       19 . The structure of  claim 11 , wherein each internal heat pipe comprises a male node formed at the condenser end and a female node receptor formed at evaporator end such that the internal heat pipes are sequentially thermally coupled to one another by securely physically coupling the male node of each internal heat pipe into the female node receptacle of the respective longitudinally adjacent internal heat pipe. 
   
   
       20 . The structure of  claim 11 , wherein each internal heat pipe comprises an interior reservoir filled with a working fluid structured to rapidly and efficiently transfer heat absorbed at the evaporator end of each internal heat pipe to the condenser end of the respective internal heat pipe. 
   
   
       21 . A composite heat pipe structure comprising:
 an outer body;   a plurality of internal heat pipe stages longitudinally disposed within and along a length of an interior cavity of the outer body, each heat pipe stage including:
 at least one internal heat pipe, each internal heat pipe having an interior reservoir filled with a working fluid structured to rapidly and efficiently transfer heat from an evaporator end of the internal heat pipe to a condenser end of the respective internal heat pipe, and each internal heat pipe being longitudinally disposed within the interior cavity of the outer body such that the condenser end of the at least one internal heat pipe of each stage is thermally coupled with the evaporator end of a respective one of the at least one internal heat pipe of the longitudinally adjacent heat pipe stage so that heat absorbed at a first end of the outer body is transferred, via the internal heat pipe stages, to a second end of the outer body with a high rate of thermal efficiency. 
   
   
   
       22 . The structure of  claim 21 , wherein the outer body comprises cylindrical pipe. 
   
   
       23 . The structure of  claim 21 , wherein the outer body comprises a frame and end cap of a motor and the internal cavity comprises a space between the frame and end cap, and a stator assembly of the motor. 
   
   
       24 . The structure of  claim 21 , wherein the outer body comprises a portion of a turbine housing and the interior cavity comprises a space within the turbine housing. 
   
   
       25 . The structure of  claim 21 , wherein the outer body comprises a portion of a gearbox housing and the interior cavity comprises a space within the gearbox housing. 
   
   
       26 . The structure of  claim 21 , wherein the structure further comprises a heat conductive medium disposed within the cavity and surrounding the heat pipe stages, whereby the heat conductive medium improves the efficiency of a transfer of heat between the thermally coupled condenser ends and evaporator ends of the at least one internal heat pipe of each longitudinally adjacent heat pipe stage. 
   
   
       27 . The structure of  claim 21 , wherein the structure further comprises a plurality of mini lateral heat pipes disposed within the cavity and thermally connecting the condenser ends and evaporator ends of the at least one internal heat pipe of each longitudinally adjacent heat pipe stage, whereby the mini lateral heat pipes improve the efficiency of a transfer of heat between the thermally coupled condenser ends and evaporator ends. 
   
   
       28 . The structure of  claim 21 , wherein the structure further comprises a plurality of mini axial heat pipes disposed within the interior cavity and thermally connecting the longitudinally adjacent heat pipes, whereby the mini axial heat pipes improve the efficiency of a transfer of heat between the thermally coupled longitudinally adjacent heat pipes 
   
   
       29 . The structure of  claim 21 , wherein each internal heat pipe comprises a male node formed at the condenser end and a female node receptor formed at evaporator end such that the internal heat pipes are sequentially thermally coupled to one another by securely physically coupling the male node of each internal heat pipe into the female node receptacle of the respective longitudinally adjacent internal heat pipe. 
   
   
       30 . The structure of  claim 21 , wherein each heat pipe stage comprises a single internal heat pipe. 
   
   
       31 . The structure of  claim 21 , wherein each heat pipe stage comprises two or more internal heat pipes.