Heat pipe with one wick structure supporting another wick structure in position

Abstract

An exemplary heat pipe includes a tube, a first wick structure and a second wick structure received in the tube, and working liquid filling the tube. The first wick structure is disposed in an evaporating section of the tube. The second wick structure is located between the first wick structure, and supports the first wick structure partially contacting an inner face of the evaporating section of the tube. The first wick structure defines a gap between two opposite ends thereof. The second wick structure extends from the evaporating section through an adiabatic section to a condensing section of the tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat pipe comprising:
 a tube comprising an evaporating section, a condensing section, and an adiabatic section interconnecting the evaporating section and the condensing section;   a first wick structure partially covering an inner face of the evaporating section of the tube and intimately contacting the inner face, the first wick structure defining a gap between two opposite ends thereof;   a second wick structure between the first wick structure and supporting the first wick structure in position intimately contacting the inner face of the evaporating section of the tube; and   working liquid received within the tube.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises a top wall, a bottom wall spaced from the top wall, and a first side wall and a second side wall interconnecting the top wall and the bottom wall, the top wall, the bottom wall, the first side wall and the second wall cooperatively defining a chamber, the chamber having the first wick structure, the second wick structure and the working liquid received therein. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pipe of  claim 2 , wherein a distance between the top wall and the bottom wall is less than that between the first side wall and the second side wall. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pipe of  claim 2 , wherein the first wick structure comprises a top portion contacting the top wall of the tube, a bottom portion contacting the bottom wall of the tube, and a side portion contacting the second side wall of the tube. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pipe of  claim 4 , wherein the gap is defined between an end of the top portion and an end of the bottom portion of the first wick structure. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pipe of  claim 5 , wherein the gap is located at the first side wall of the tube. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pipe of  claim 4 , wherein the first wick structure further comprises another side portion contacting the first side wall of the tube. 
     
     
         8 . The heat pipe of  claim 7 , wherein the gap is defined between an end of the top portion and an end of the another side portion of the first wick structure. 
     
     
         9 . The heat pipe of  claim 8 , wherein the gap is located at the top wall of the tube adjacent to the first side wall of the tube. 
     
     
         10 . The heat pipe of  claim 4 , wherein the second wick structure is sandwiched between the top portion and the bottom portion of the first wick structure. 
     
     
         11 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the first wick structure does not extend to the adiabatic section and the condensing section. 
     
     
         12 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the second wick structure extends from the evaporating section through the adiabatic section to the condensing section. 
     
     
         13 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the second wick structure is disposed along a central axis of the tube. 
     
     
         14 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the second wick structure defines a vapor passage therein. 
     
     
         15 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the second wick structure is made of material different from that of the first wick structure. 
     
     
         16 . A heat pipe comprising:
 a tube comprising an evaporating section, a condensing section and an adiabatic section interconnecting the evaporating section and the condensing section;   a first wick structure disposed in the evaporating section only of the tube and intimately contacting an inner face of the evaporating section, the first wick structure being discontinuous along a transverse circumferential path of the tube;   a second wick structure between the first wick structure and supporting the first wick structure in position intimately contacting the inner face of the tube, the second wick structure extending along a longitudinal direction of the tube perpendicular to the circumferential path of the tube; and   working liquid received in the tube.   
     
     
         17 . The heat pipe of  claim 16 , wherein the first wick structure defines a gap at a discontinuous position thereof, the gap being located between two opposite ends of the first wick structure. 
     
     
         18 . The heat pipe of  claim 17 , wherein the gap is located corresponding to a lateral side of the tube. 
     
     
         19 . The heat pipe of  claim 17 , wherein the gap is located corresponding to a top side of the tube adjacent to a lateral side of the tube. 
     
     
         20 . The heat pipe of  claim 17 , wherein the second wick structure defines a vapor passage therein.