Heat pipe and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

An exemplary heat pipe includes a hollow tube, a wick structure configured on an inner surface of the tube and a working medium formed in the tube. Two ends of the tube are sealed and the tube defining a chamber therein. The tube comprises an evaporating section and a condensing section, and the evaporating section is isolated from the condensing section. The wick structure extends from the evaporating section to the condensing section along the inner surface of the tube to form a working medium channel. A pair of through holes is defined in each of the evaporating section and the condensing section of the tube. A pair of metal pipes communicate the through holes of the evaporating section with those of the condensing section to form a pair of vapor channels. A method for manufacturing the heat pipe is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat pipe comprising
 a hollow tube, two ends of the tube being sealed and the tube defining a chamber therein;   a wick structure provided on an inner surface of the tube; and   a working medium provided in the chamber;   wherein the tube comprises an evaporating section and a condensing section, the evaporating section is isolated from the condensing section, the wick structure extends from the evaporating section to the condensing section along the inner surface of the tube to form a working medium channel, a through hole is defined in each of the evaporating section and the condensing section of the tube, and a metal pipe communicates the through hole of the evaporating section with the through hole of the condensing section, respectively, to form a vapor channel.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , further comprising a metal layer therein, wherein the evaporating section is isolated from the condensing section by the metal layer, the metal layer comprises a tapered portion and a cylindrical portion connected to a right end of the tapered portion, the tapered portion tapers from the evaporating section to the condensing section until the tapered portion terminates at a closed end thereof, and the tapered portion and the cylindrical portion are attached to the wick structure of the tube. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pipe of  claim 2 , wherein the tube further comprises a reduced section between the evaporating section and the condensing section, the reduced section is located outside the metal layer, the evaporating section and the condensing section of the tube have a same inner diameter and a same outer diameter which constitute an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the tube, respectively, and an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the reduced section are less than the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the tube, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pipe of  claim 3 , wherein the reduced section has a middle portion and two end portions located at two ends of the middle portion, an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the middle portion are constant, the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the middle portion are less than the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the tube, respectively, and an inner diameter and an outer diameter of each end portion increases along a direction away from the middle portion until the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the end portion are equal to the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the tube, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the evaporating section is less than that of the condensing section. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is made of thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pipe of  claim 1 , wherein the wick structure is selected from the group consisting of fine grooves, sintered powder, screen mesh, and bundles of fiber. 
     
     
         8 . A method for manufacturing a heat pipe, the method comprising:
 providing a tube with a wick structure on an inner surface thereof, the tube defining a chamber therein, and further defining an evaporating section and a condensing section;   insolating the evaporating section from the condensing section by blocking the chamber, the wick structure extending from the evaporating section to the condensing section along the inner surface of the tube to form a working medium channel;   evacuating the evaporating section and the condensing section, injecting a working medium into the tube, and sealing the tube;   defining at least one through hole in each of the evaporating section and the condensing section of the tube; and   arranging at least one metal pipe to communicate the at least one through hole of the evaporating section with the at least one through hole of the condensing section, thereby defining at least one vapor channel.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein insolating the evaporating section from the condensing section further comprises:
 providing a metal layer in the tube between the evaporating section and the condensing section, the metal layer being attached to the wick structure of the tube;   pressing the tube at the metal layer to obtain a reduced section of the tube, an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the reduced section being less than an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the tube, respectively, one portion of the metal layer in the reduced section tapering in a direction from the evaporating section to the condensing section until terminating at a closed end of said one portion, another portion of the metal layer in the evaporating section remaining attached to the wick structure of the tube, the evaporating section thereby being insolated from the condensing section by the metal layer.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the reduced section has a middle portion and two end portions located at two ends of the middle portion, an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the middle portion are constant and both less than that of the tube, and an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the end portion increase along a direction away from the middle portion until the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the end portion being equal to that of the tube. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tube is made of thermally conductive materials. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the wick structure is selected from fine grooves, sintered powder, screen mesh, and bundles of fiber. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a length of the evaporating section is less than that of the condensing section. 
     
     
         14 . A heat pipe comprising
 a hollow tube, two ends of the tube being sealed and the tube defining a chamber therein;   a wick structure provided on an inner surface of the tube; and   a working medium provided in the chamber;   wherein the tube comprises an evaporating section and a condensing section, the evaporating section is isolated from the condensing section, the wick structure extends from the evaporating section to the condensing section along the inner surface of the tube to form a working medium channel, two through holes are defined in each of the evaporating section and the condensing section of the tube, and two metal pipes communicate the two through holes of the evaporating section with the two through holes of the condensing section, respectively, to form two vapor channels.   
     
     
         15 . The heat pipe of  claim 14 , further comprising a metal layer therein, wherein the evaporating section is isolated from the condensing section by the metal layer, the metal layer comprises a tapered portion and a cylindrical portion connected to a right end of the tapered portion, the tapered portion tapers from the evaporating section to the condensing section until closed, and the tapered portion and the cylindrical portion are attached to the wick structure of the tube. 
     
     
         16 . The heat pipe of  claim 15 , wherein the tube further comprises a reduced section between the evaporating section and the condensing section, the reduced section is located outside the metal layer, and an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the reduced section are both less than that of the tube respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The heat pipe of  claim 16 , wherein the reduced section has a middle portion and two end portions located at two ends of the middle portion, an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the middle portion are constant, and the inner diameter and outer diameter of the middle portion both less than that of the tube, and an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the end portion increase along a direction away from the middle portion, until the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the end portion being equal to that of the tube. 
     
     
         18 . The heat pipe of  claim 14 , wherein a length of the evaporating section is less than that of the condensing section. 
     
     
         19 . The heat pipe of  claim 14 , wherein the tube is made of thermally conductive materials. 
     
     
         20 . The heat pipe of  claim 14 , wherein the wick structure is selected from fine grooves, sintered powder, screen mesh, and bundles of fiber.