Multiple temperature sensitive devices using two heat pipes

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         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 I, wherein: 
 the first heat pipe has a longitudinal direction;    the non-condensable gas has a moving front with a range of motion within the condenser of the first heat pipe;    when the moving front is at a first boundary of the range of motion, the working fluid does not access a portion of the condenser in which the evaporator of the second heat pipe is located; and    when the moving front is at a second boundary of the range of motion, the working fluid accesses a portion of the condenser in which the evaporator of the second heat pipe is located.    
     
     
         3 . The heat pipe assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink or a plurality of fins attached to a condenser of the second heat pipe.  
     
     
         4 . The heat pipe assembly of  claim 3 , wherein: the first heat pipe has no heat sink or fins attached directly thereto.  
     
     
         5 . The heat pipe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the evaporator of the second heat pipe is contained inside of the condenser of the first heat pipe.  
     
     
         6 . The heat pipe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is external to the first heat pipe, and communicates with the condenser of the first heat pipe.  
     
     
         7 . The heat pipe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is internal to the first heat pipe.  
     
     
         8 . 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.    
     
     
         9 . The heat pipe assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the conductive members are a plurality of radial fins.  
     
     
         10 . The heat pipe assembly of  claim 8 , 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.  
     
     
         11 . 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.  
     
     
         12 . The heat pipe assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the insulator is ceramic.  
     
     
         13 . The heat pipe assembly of  claim 11 , 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.  
     
     
         14 . The heat pipe of  claim 13 , wherein the evaporator of the second heat pipe is located within the section formed of the thermally insulating material.  
     
     
         15 . The heat pipe of  claim 13 , wherein the non-condensable gas has a moving front with a range of motion within the section formed of the thermally insulating material.