Heat Transport Apparatus

Abstract

A heat transport apparatus that is thermally connectable to an object to be temperature adjusted includes a plurality of heat pipes thermally connected along a heat transport direction to form a heat transport path. The heat transport apparatus is used under an environment at or below a melting point of a working fluid of at least one heat pipe among the plurality of heat pipes.

1 . A heat transport apparatus that is thermally connectable to an object to be temperature adjusted, comprising:
 a plurality of heat pipes thermally connected along a heat transport direction to form a heat transport path,   the heat transport apparatus being used under an environment at or below a melting point of a working fluid of at least one heat pipe among the plurality of heat pipes.   
     
     
         2 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one end of the heat transport path is thermally connected to a temperature adjusting mechanism, and types and/or numbers of the heat pipes are selected in such a manner that a heat transport capability at the one end is greater than a heat transport capability at another end. 
     
     
         3 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heater thermally connected to at least one of the plurality of heat pipes. 
     
     
         4 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a part of or an entirety of the heat transport path is accommodated in an accommodating member that is thermally connectable to the plurality of heat pipes and the object to be temperature adjusted. 
     
     
         5 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a working fluid of at least one heat pipe among the plurality of heat pipes has a melting point different from a melting point of that of the other heat pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein neighboring heat pipes are thermally connected by thermally connecting end portion side surfaces thereof with each other. 
     
     
         7 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein neighboring heat pipes are thermally connected by thermally connecting tip end surfaces thereof with each other. 
     
     
         8 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the object to be temperature adjusted represents a plurality of objects to be temperature adjusted. 
     
     
         9 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of objects to be temperature adjusted are a plurality of battery cells. 
     
     
         10 . A heat transport apparatus that is thermally connectable to an object to be temperature adjusted, comprising:
 a plurality of heat pipes thermally connected along a heat transport direction to form a heat transport path, each of the plurality of heat pipes comprising a working fluid,   the heat transport apparatus being adapted to be used under an environment at or below a melting point of the working fluid of at least one heat pipe among the plurality of heat pipes,   the heat transport apparatus having a first end and a second end, the first end of the heat transport apparatus being defined at least in part by a first one of the plurality of heat pipes, the second end of the heat transport apparatus being defined by at least a second one of the plurality of heat pipes, the first end of the heat transport apparatus being adapted to be in heat transfer communication with a temperature adjusting source, the plurality of heat pipes being configured and arranged in such a manner that a heat transport capability at one of the first and second ends is greater than a heat transport capability at the other of the first and second ends,   the first one of the plurality of heat pipes being of a first length, the second one of the plurality of heat pipes being of a second length, the first length being different from the second length.   
     
     
         11 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of heat pipes is configured and arranged in such a manner that the heat transport capability at the first end is greater than the heat transport capability at the second end, and wherein the first length is smaller than the second length. 
     
     
         12 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a heater in heat transfer communication with at least the second one of the plurality of heat pipes, the heater constituting the temperature adjusting source. 
     
     
         13 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising a heater thermally connected to at least one of the plurality of heat pipes. 
     
     
         14 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein a part of or an entirety of the heat transport path is accommodated in an accommodating member that is thermally connectable to the plurality of heat pipes and the object to be temperature adjusted. 
     
     
         15 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the working fluid of at least one heat pipe among the plurality of heat pipes has a melting point different from a melting point of that of the other heat pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein neighboring heat pipes are thermally connected by thermally connecting end portion side surfaces thereof with each other. 
     
     
         17 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein neighboring heat pipes are thermally connected by thermally connecting tip end surfaces thereof with each other. 
     
     
         18 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the object to be temperature adjusted represents a plurality of objects to be temperature adjusted. 
     
     
         19 . The heat transport apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of objects to be temperature adjusted are a plurality of battery cells.