skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Internal hydroforming method for manufacturing heat pipe wicks

Patent ·
OSTI ID:2293689
; ;

A forming assembly configured to form a wick is disclosed. The forming assembly includes an expandable tube and a forming shell assembly. The expandable tube is hydraulically expandable to an expanded configuration. A wick mesh is configured to be wrapped about the expandable tube. The forming shell assembly includes a first forming shell comprising a first recess defined therein and a second forming shell comprising a second recess defined therein. The first recess and the second recess cooperate to define an outer diameter of the wick. The expandable tube and the wick mesh are positionable between the first recess and the second recess. The expandable tube and the forming shell assembly are configured to deform the wick mesh and form the wick based on the expandable tube hydraulically expanding towards the expanded configuration.

Research Organization:
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
NE0008853
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Seneca, PA)
Patent Number(s):
11,780,122
Application Number:
16/853,270
OSTI ID:
2293689
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 04/20/2020
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (8)

Method of manufacturing a golf shaft of complex shape by internal bladder pressurization patent June 2000
Method and apparatus for forming a hollow FRP article by internal pressure molding patent March 2010
Equipment for making composite tubes including an inflatable heated bladder and a composite mold having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion patent December 1991
Pipe couplings patent November 1983
Method of forming a wick for a heat pipe patent June 1976
Method making a composite bicycle frame using composite lugs patent April 1997
Automatic line for coated metal mould casting patent February 1980
Method for preparing molded articles of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene patent October 1989

Similar Records

Related Subjects