Trw Limited

Jeffrey L Baker

Theodore W Nye

Garrett R Wittkopp

David Antoniuk

There is provided a heat pipe assembly 10 formed of dissimilar materials for the heat pipe 18 integrated with the host structure 16 in a manner that optimizes removal of unwanted heat generated by various devices on a space or terrestrial platform 14. A conventional heat pipe construction 18 mounted within a circular cross-section channel 28 formed in a retaining block 26 leaving an annular gap 30 between the outside surface wall 33 of the heat pipe and the inside surface wall 32 of the channel 28. A heat conductive fluid 40 is injected into the annular gap 30 permitting the dissimilar CTE materials to thermally expand and contract as the platform or structure 14 experiences extreme temperature changes.

Embedded heat pipe structure

A low vibroacoustic structure 10 according to the present invention comprises a first facesheet 12 defining a plurality of first holes 22, a second facesheet 16 defining a plurality of second holes 36, and a core 14. The first and second facesheets are attached to opposed surfaces of the core. The core defines a plurality of passages 32 in communication with the first and second holes to form channels 38 through the structure. The core is typically a honeycomb sheet. The first and second facesheets and the core are formed of lightweight materials such as lightweight metals, metal matrix composites, or polymer matrix composites. The perforated structure reduces structural acoustic coupling and acoustically induced vibration. The structure can be formed as a panel. The panel can be attached to support structures exposed to high-energy acoustic environments to reduce acoustically induced vibration of the structures.

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Huntington Beach, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey L Baker