Abstract:
A brake cooling system in which the brake drum is in heat transfer contact with the evaporator section of a heat pipe arrangement. The heat transferred during low levels of braking is transmitted to ambient air or other heat exchange means by conduction and convection. When sufficiently severe braking loads occur so that the conduction mode of heat transfer will not carry away the heat at a sufficient rate, the heat pipe liquid is vaporized and builds up vapor pressure to bring the heat pipe into efficient operation. As the cooling system quickly shifts into this mode of operation the entire heat pipe assembly in effect suddenly increases its thermal conductivity by several orders of magnitude and the heat is rapidly carried away to the heat pipe condenser section, where it is then removed by a suitable heat exchanger arrangement.
Abstract:
An electrogasdynamic converter is attached to the exhaust port of an internal combustion reciprocating engine so that the exhaust gases assist in operation of the converter which produces a pulse of electrical energy for each pulse of exhaust gas. For a multicylinder engine, an EGD converter is provided for each cylinder and the converters are connected in parallel to produce a high voltage DC output or are connected in pairs with opposite polarities to provide a multiphase AC output.
Abstract:
A disc brake cooling arrangement in which the rotating brake disc friction surfaces are in heat transfer contact with the evaporator section of a heat pipe arrangement. The heat transferred during low levels of braking is transmitted to ambient air or other heat exchange means by conduction and convection. When sufficiently severe braking loads occur so that the conduction mode of heat transfer will not carry away the heat at a sufficient rate, the heat pipe liquid is vaporized and builds up vapor pressure to bring the heat pipe into efficient operation. As the cooling system quickly shifts into this mode of operation the entire heat pipe assembly in effect suddenly increases its thermal conductivity by several orders of magnitude and the heat is rapidly carried away to the heat pipe condenser section, where it is then removed by a suitable heat exchanger arrangement. The heat pipe assembly is provided as a part of each disc brake pad assembly, and is replaceable with the pad.
Abstract:
For converting heat to electrical energy, a heat pipe is fitted with attractor, collector and wire electrodes to form an electrogasdynamic converter within the heat pipe. In one embodiment, a high voltage is supplied across the attractor and wire electrodes to produce a corona for ionizing the vapor within the heat pipe. In another, Uranium-235 in the heat pipe subject to a neutron flux produces fission fragments which ionize the vapor by bombardment.
Abstract:
A closed cycle vapor engine has evaporator and condensor elements utilizing liquid carrying wick means arranged to provide surfaces for the evaporation and condensation of the engine working fluid and to transport said fluid in liquid form from the condensor to a condensate pump and from the condensate pump to the evaporator. Vapor passages connect the evaporator and condensor with the intake and exhaust openings of the expander, providing a closed system in which the evaporator and condensor operate essentially on the principle of a heat pipe.
Abstract:
In preferred form, a heat pipe joining a heat source and a heat sink through an evacuated control section. A reservoir is located in direct fluid communication with the evacuated control section and has a predetermined quantity of control fluid therein. A heat-pipe wick within the control section has its wetness varied in accordance with changes in the condition of the control fluid to vary the rate of heat transport between the heat source and heat sink by the heat pipe itself; ''''wetness'''' hereinafter being taken as the fraction of total interconnected void volume of the wick that is filled with liquid. In a test device heat transport in the ''''off'''' state was increased by a factor of approximately 6 in the ''''on'''' state.
Abstract:
A brake-cooling system in which the rotating brake friction surfaces are in heat transfer contact with the evaporator section of a heat pipe arrangement. The heat transferred during low levels of braking is transmitted to ambient air or other heat exchange means by conduction and convection. When sufficiently severe braking loads occur so that the conduction mode of heat transfer will not carry away the heat at a sufficient rate, the heat pipe liquid is vaporized and builds up vapor pressure to bring the heat pipe into efficient operation. As the cooling system quickly shifts into this mode of operation the entire heat pipe assembly in effect suddenly increases its thermal conductivity by several orders of magnitude and the heat is rapidly carried away to the heat pipe condenser section, where it is then removed by a suitable heat exchanger arrangement.