MULTIPLE TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE DEVICES USING TWO HEAT PIPES
A heat pipe assembly comprises a first heat pipe having a condenser and a working fluid. A reservoir communicates with the condenser of the first heat pipe and contains a non-condensable gas which variably permits access of the working fluid to the condenser of the first heat pipe, depending on a pressure of the working fluid. A second heat pipe has an evaporator. At least a portion of the evaporator of the second heat pipe is contained inside of the condenser of the first heat pipe.
1 . A heat pipe assembly, comprising:
a first heat pipe having a condenser and a working fluid;
a reservoir containing a non-condensable gas which variably permits access of the working fluid to the condenser of the first heat pipe, depending on a pressure of the working fluid; and
a second heat pipe having an evaporator that is in thermal contact with the first heat pipe.
2 . The heat pipe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is internal to the first heat pipe.
3 . The heat pipe assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first heat pipe has an envelope, and
the second heat pipe has conductive members connecting the evaporator of the second heat pipe to an inside of the envelope of the first heat pipe at the condenser thereof.
4 . The heat pipe assembly of claim 3 , wherein the conductive members are a plurality of radial fins.
5 . The heat pipe assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a heat sink or a plurality of fins attached to the condenser of the second heat pipe, wherein the first heat pipe has no heat sink or fins attached directly thereto.
6 . The heat pipe assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an insulator that reduces heat transfer between an envelope of the first heat pipe and an envelope of the second heat pipe,
7 . The heat pipe assembly of claim 6 , wherein the envelope of the first heat pipe has a section formed of a thermally insulating material at the condenser of the first heat pipe.
8 . The heat pipe assembly of claim 7 , wherein the evaporator of the second heat pipe is located within the section formed of the thermally insulating material.
9 . The heat pipe assembly of claim 7 , wherein the non-condensable gas has a moving front with a range of motion within the section formed of the thermally insulating material.