Heat pipe

Abstract

A heat pipe has a tube and an evaporator wick. The tube has multiple groove structures, an evaporator section, and a condenser section. The groove structures are disposed on an inner surface of the tube and extend to two opposite ends of the tube to reduce flow resistance of liquid phase working fluid. The evaporator wick is disposed in the evaporator section. The evaporator wick is made of metal powder and sintered to adhere to the groove structures. The evaporator wick is uniform in thickness and uniformly adheres to the groove structures. The evaporator wick vaporizes the working fluid in the evaporator section. As a result, the heat pipe has good manufacturing process repeatability and is reliable, easy to manufacture, and low-cost.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat pipe comprising:
 a tube having
 multiple groove structures disposed on an inner surface of the tube and arranged along a circumference of the tube; each one of the groove structures extending along an axial direction of the tube and extending to two opposite ends of the tube; 
 an evaporator section; and 
 a condenser section; 
   two end-caps; each one of the two end-caps disposed at a respective one of the two opposite ends of the tube; the two end-caps sealing the tube; and   an evaporator wick disposed in the evaporator section, the evaporator wick made of metal powder and sintered to adhere to the groove structures; the evaporator wick being uniform in thickness and uniformly adhering to the groove structures; the evaporator wick vaporizing a working fluid in the evaporator section.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the groove structures are evenly arranged along the circumference of the tube. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the groove structures are integrally formed in the tube. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the groove structures are integrally formed in the tube. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe comprises
 a first condenser wick disposed in the condenser section; the first condenser wick made of metal powder and sintered to adhere to the groove structures; the first condenser wick being uniform in thickness and uniformly adhering to the groove structures; the first condenser wick connected to the evaporator wick, the first condenser wick transferring condensed working fluid in the condenser section to the evaporator section via the evaporator wick.   
     
     
         6 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe comprises
 a first condenser wick disposed in the condenser section; the first condenser wick made of metal powder and sintered to adhere to the groove structures; the first condenser wick being uniform in thickness and uniformly adhering to the groove structures; the first condenser wick connected to the evaporator wick, the first condenser wick transferring condensed working fluid in the condenser section to the evaporator section via the evaporator wick.   
     
     
         7 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a thickness of the first condenser wick is greater than a thickness of the evaporator wick. 
     
     
         8 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein a thickness of the first condenser wick is greater than a thickness of the evaporator wick. 
     
     
         9 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe has
 a transfer section disposed between the evaporator section and the condenser section; and   a transfer wick disposed in the transfer section; the transfer wick made of metal powder and sintered to adhere to the groove structures; the transfer wick being uniform in thickness and uniformly adhering to the groove structures; the transfer wick connected to the evaporator wick, the transfer wick transferring condensed working fluid in the transfer section to the evaporator section.   
     
     
         10 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the heat pipe has
 a transfer section disposed between the evaporator section and the condenser section; and   a transfer wick disposed in the transfer section; the transfer wick made of metal powder and sintered to adhere to the groove structures; the transfer wick being uniform in thickness and uniformly adhering to the groove structures; the transfer wick connected to the evaporator wick, the transfer wick transferring condensed working fluid in the transfer section to the evaporator section.   
     
     
         11 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the thickness of the transfer wick is greater than the thickness of the evaporator wick. 
     
     
         12 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the thickness of the transfer wick is greater than the thickness of the evaporator wick. 
     
     
         13 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the tube extends transversely;   the heat pipe comprises
 a second condenser wick disposed in the condenser section, the second condenser wick made of metal powder or mesh and sintered to adhere to the groove structures that are arranged along an upper half of the circumference of the tube, the second condenser wick having a surface exposed to an inner space of the tube and being planar, the second condenser wick connected to the evaporator wick, and the second condenser wick transferring condensed working fluid in the condenser section to the evaporator section. 
   
     
     
         14 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the tube extends transversely;   the heat pipe comprises
 a second condenser wick disposed in the condenser section, the second condenser wick made of metal powder or mesh and sintered to adhere to the groove structures that are arranged along an upper half of the circumference of the tube, the second condenser wick having a surface exposed to an inner space of the tube and being planar, the second condenser wick connected to the evaporator wick, and the second condenser wick transferring condensed working fluid in the condenser section to the evaporator section. 
   
     
     
         15 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein a thickness of the second condenser wick is greater than a thickness of the evaporator wick. 
     
     
         16 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein a thickness of the second condenser wick is greater than a thickness of the evaporator wick. 
     
     
         17 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the second condenser wick extends to the evaporator section, and the second condenser wick adheres to the evaporator wick that is disposed on the upper half of the circumference of the tube. 
     
     
         18 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the second condenser wick extends to the evaporator section, and the second condenser wick adheres to the evaporator wick that is disposed on the upper half of the circumference of the tube. 
     
     
         19 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a shape of a cross section of each one of the groove structures is triangular. 
     
     
         20 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a shape of a cross section of each one of the groove structures is triangular. 
     
     
         21 . A heat pipe comprising:
 a tube having
 multiple groove structures disposed on an inner surface of the tube and arranged along a circumference of the tube; each one of the groove structures extending along an axial direction of the tube and extending to two opposite ends of the tube, and the groove structures reducing flow resistance of liquid phase working fluid; 
 an evaporator section; and 
 a condenser section; and 
   an evaporator wick disposed in the evaporator section and adhering to the groove structures, and the evaporator wick vaporizing a working fluid in the evaporator section.   
     
     
         22 . The heat pipe as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the groove structures are evenly arranged along the circumference of the tube.