Internal hydroforming method for manufacturing heat pipe wicks utilizing a hollow mandrel and sheath
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsJohn LOJEK, III, Matthew M SWARTZ, William A. BYERS, Gregory A. KUSTRA, David M. GROSS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A forming assembly for forming a wick is disclosed. The forming assembly includes a tube inflatable to an inflated configuration. A wick mesh is configured to be wrapped about the tube. The forming assembly further includes a sheath positionable about the tube and the wick mesh. The tube and the sheath are configured to compress the wick mesh and form the wick based on the tube inflating towards the inflated configuration.
Claims20
A forming assembly for forming a wick, comprising:
- a tube inflatable to an inflated configuration, wherein a wick mesh is configured to be wrapped about the tube;
- and
- a sheath positionable about the tube and the wick mesh, wherein the tube and the sheath are configured to compress the wick mesh and form the wick based on the tube inflating towards the inflated configuration.
A method of forming a wick using a mandrel, the method comprising:
- positioning a wick mesh about the mandrel;
- positioning a sheath about the mandrel and the wick mesh;
- coupling a first fitting to the mandrel, wherein the first fitting comprises an adapter configured to couple with a source of pressure;
- and
- pressurizing the mandrel with the source of pressure to hydraulically expand the mandrel such that that mandrel compresses the wick mesh against the sheath and forms the wick.
A forming assembly for forming a wick, comprising:
- an inner enclosure hydraulically expandable to an expanded configuration, wherein a wick mesh is configured to be wrapped about the inner enclosure;
- and
- an outer enclosure positionable about the inner enclosure and the wick mesh, wherein the inner enclosure and the outer enclosure are configured to compress the wick mesh and form the wick based on the inner enclosure hydraulically expanding towards the expanded configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.