IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,353,334
Granted Patent B2
US 8,353,334 · App. 12/163,766 · Granted Jan 15, 2013

Nano tube lattice wick system

Inventors: Yuan Zhao (Thousand Oaks, CA); Chung-Lung Chen (Thousand Oaks, CA)
Assignee: Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,353,334
App. No.
12/163,766
Granted
Jan 15, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lattice wick system that has a plurality of nano tube wicking walls configured to transport liquid through capillary action in a first direction, each set of the plurality of granular wicking walls forming respective vapor vents between them to transport vapor. A plurality of nano tube interconnect wicks embedded between respective pairs of the plurality of nano tube wicking walls transport liquid through capillary action in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The nano tube interconnect wicks have substantially the same height as the nano tube wicking walls so that the plurality of nano tube wicking walls and the plurality of nano tube interconnect wicks enable transport of liquid through capillary action in two directions and the plurality of vapor vents transport vapor in a direction orthogonal to the first and second directions.

Claims (17)

1. A lattice wick apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of nano tube wicking walls configured to transport liquid through capillary action in a first direction, each set of said plurality of granular wicking walls forming respective vapor vents between them to transport vapor; and

a plurality of nano tube interconnect wicks embedded between respective pairs of said plurality of nano tube wicking walls to transport liquid through capillary action in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction;

wherein said plurality of nano tube wicking walls and said plurality of nano tube interconnect wicks enable transport of liquid through capillary action in both said first direction and said second direction and said plurality of vapor vents transport vapor in a direction orthogonal to said first and second directions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a monodispersed reservoir wick connected to at least one of said plurality of nano tube wicking walls to receive a reservoir of liquid for supply to said at least one of said plurality of nano tube wicking walls.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:

a liquid feeding tube positioned adjacent said monodispersed reservoir to transport liquid to said monodispersed reservoir wick.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:

a reservoir trough connected to said monodispersed reservoir wick to receive a reservoir of liquid for transport to said monodispersed reservoir wick.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of nano tube interconnect wicks further comprises:

a nano tube wicking support extending away from said at least one of said plurality of nano tube interconnect wicks to provide lattice wick structure support and liquid transport.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of nano tube wicking walls comprise a plurality of carbon nano tubes.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of nano tube wicking walls have a rectangular cross section.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a wick structure base, said wick structure base comprising a plurality of nano tubes, each of said plurality of nano tubes having a height less than and positioned between each of said plurality of nano tube wicking walls and said plurality of nano tube interconnect wicks to receive a thin-film layer of liquid.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of nano tube interconnect wicks have substantially the same height as said plurality of nano tube wicking walls.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the height of said plurality of nano tube interconnect wicks is different from the height of said plurality of nano tube wicking walls.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2008
From: ZHAO, YUAN; CHEN, CHUNG-LUNG
To: TELEDYNE SCIENTIFIC & IMAGING, LLC
Reel/Frame 021164/0865 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 11960480 · Dec 19, 2007
Related Publication 20090159243A1 · Jun 25, 2009