Screen mesh wick and method for producing the same

Abstract

A screen mesh wick ( 14 ) and a method of making the same are disclosed. The wick is made separately and is adaptive for inserting into a heat pipe as a wick structure. The wick includes a plurality of elongated wires ( 141, 142 ) woven together and a plurality of protruding portions ( 145 ) formed on the wires. The protruding portions may be small metal powders attached to outer surfaces of the wires. The method includes the steps of weaving a plurality of wires to form a mesh ( 14 ′) firstly and then forming a plurality of protruding portions on the mesh, for example, by spreading the metal powders onto the mesh while the mesh is subject to heating. With these protruding portions formed on the wires, the effective pore size defined between the wires is reduced and therefore the wick is capable of providing a larger capillary pressure.

1 . A screen mesh wick being made separately and adaptive for inserting into a heat pipe as a wick structure, the screen mesh wick comprising a plurality of elongated wires woven together and a plurality of protruding portions formed on the wires.  
   
   
       2 . The wick of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding portions are small powders attached to outer surfaces of the wires.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the wires are flexible and are constructed from a single material or different materials.  
   
   
       4 . The wick of  claim 3 , wherein the protruding portions are formed from materials including copper, aluminum, stainless steel and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The wick of  claim 4 , wherein the melting points of the wires are higher than those of the small powders.  
   
   
       6 . The wick of  claim 3 , wherein the wires are formed from materials including copper, aluminum, stainless steel and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The wick of  claim 2 , wherein the small powders have an average particles size that is substantially one-fifth to one-third of a diameter or a width of the wires.  
   
   
       8 . The wick of  claim 1 , wherein the wires includes a first wire having a plate-type configuration and a second wire having a rod configuration.  
   
   
       9 . A method for manufacturing a screen mesh wick for a heat pipe comprising the steps of: forming a mesh by weaving technology; and forming a plurality of protruding portions on the mesh.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mesh is formed by weaving a plurality of flexible wires that are constructed from a single material or different materials.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the protruding portions are formed by spreading small powders onto the mesh while the mesh is heated.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the melting points of the wires are higher than those of the small powders.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the protruding portions formed on the mesh are small powders, and the small powders are combined to the mesh by applying the mesh to the small powders after the mesh is heated.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the melting points of the wires are higher than those of the small powders.  
   
   
       15 . A screen mesh wick being inserted into a heat pipe for transmitting heat from one end to another end thereof, comprising: a mesh made of wires woven together, the mesh defining a plurality of pores between the wires; and a plurality of protrusions having a size smaller than that of the wires, secured to the wires and protruding into the pores prior to insertion into the heat pipe.  
   
   
       16 . The screen mesh wick of  claim 15 , wherein the protrusions are made of powders.  
   
   
       17 . The screen mesh wick of  claim 15 , wherein the wires have a rod-shaped configuration and a flat-plate configuration.  
   
   
       18 . The screen mesh wick of  claim 16 , wherein the powders are made of a metal of one of copper, aluminum and stainless steel.  
   
   
       19 . The screen mesh wick of  claim 16 , wherein the powders have a diameter which is about one-fifth to one-third of a diameter of the wires.  
   
   
       20 . The screen mesh wick of  claim 15 , wherein the protrusions are secured to outer surfaces of the wires.