Method and apparatus for evacuating and filling heat pipes and similar closed vessels
This patent describes an elongated heat pipe comprising: a metal wall defining a closed heat pipe chamber, a substantially planar face on the wall; a passage extending through the heat pipe wall to provide access to the chamber in the heat pipe to provide a filling port for the heat pipe, the passage having a counter bore therein into the heat pipe from the planar face, a threaded section recessed below the planar face; and valve means in the passage for selectively closing off the passage, the valve means including a substantially square seat in the recess between the threaded section and the counter bore, the valve means including a metal valve member having a threaded end threaded into the passage, the valve member having a conical shoulder configured to sealingly engage on the valve seat in the valve passage, a non-round receptacle in the metal valve member configured for engagement by a corresponding non-round driver to rotate the valve member with respect to the heat pipe so that the valve member can be screwed into the passage to forcibly engage the shoulder on the valve seat in metal-to-metal engagement to close the passage, the valve member having a bore therethrough from the threaded end terminating on the side of the shoulder toward the threaded end, the valve member when closing the passage being positioned within the passage recessed from the external surface so as to provide a flush surface on the face for permitting evacuation of the chamber and filling of the chamber with a selected amount of heat pipe fluid without valve structure extending beyond the face.
- Assignee:
- Hughes Aircraft Co., Los Angeles, CA
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4776389
- OSTI ID:
- 6531805
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 3 Feb 1986
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Apparatus and method for controlling injection fluid flow in a well annulus
Automatic fill-up floating apparatus