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AssigneeThermal Corp.
InventorsRyan James McGlen, John Gilbert Thayer
Estimating the term…
A capillary device (102) for use in a heat pipe in which heat is transferred from at least one evaporation region to at least one condensation region by means of evaporated working fluid is disclosed. The capillary device comprises a body portion defining chambers (108) containing powdered material (110) therein, wherein at least part of the periphery of at least one said chamber is porous to allow flow of condensed working fluid, by means of capillary action, through said powdered material in said chamber when flowing from a condensation region to an evaporation region.
1-16. (canceled)
A capillary device for use in a heat transfer apparatus in which heat is transferred from at least one first region to at least one second region by means of working fluid, the capillary device comprising a body portion defining at least one chamber containing unfused powdered material therein, wherein at least part of the periphery of at least one said chamber is porous to allow flow of condensed working fluid through said unfused powdered material in said chamber by means of capillary action.
A method of manufacturing a body portion of a capillary device for use in a heat transfer apparatus in which heat is transferred from at least one first region to at least one second region by means of working fluid, the method comprising forming successive layers of said body portion by means of selective melting of powdered material by means of an energetic beam, such that at least part of said body portion is porous to enable flow of condensed working fluid therethrough, wherein said selective melting of powdered material provides fused powdered material and unfused powdered material, and said body portion defines at least one chamber containing unfused powdered material therein, and wherein at least part of the periphery of at least one said chamber is porous.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.