Abstract: A chemical pump system that utilizes a self-driven compressor to increase the system pressure while obviating the need for a one-way valve and liquid head to provide the driving force for the reactants, thus enhancing long distance transport. The system comprises a chemical heat pipe employing reversible endothermic/exothermic chemical reactions to transfer thermal energy between a heat source and a heat sink. At least one reactant is self-driven substantially unidirectionally through the heat pipe by compressing the reactant(s) with a compressor and heating the reactant(s) to a predetermined pressure and temperature sufficient to form a reaction product having at least a 150% molar increase. The reaction product is expanded with an expander that is linked mechanically to the compressor. The expansion energy is sufficient to compress the reactants to the predetermined pressure while maintaining the self-driven unidirectional flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a self-driven chemical heat pipe are provided in a circuit including an endothermic reaction chamber and an exothermic chamber connected by a pair of arms extending therebetween. Reactant is endothermically reacted near the heat source to create reaction product at a pressure greater than exists at the exothermic reaction chamber to promote flow thereof through one of the arms. Reaction product is exothermically reacted in the exothermic reaction chamber near the heat sink to liberate heat and form recombined gaseous reactant. That gaseous reactant is converted to liquid form, which liquid-form reactant occludes part of the other arm and flows therethrough toward the endothermic chamber to complete the cycle. The liquid occlusion of that arm ensures adequate unidirectional flow about the circuit. Provision may be made for selectively reversibly storing reaction product or reactant to accommodate differences in time between heat production at the source and heat demand at the sink.

Abstract: An improved process for fabricating a sealing flange assembly useful for oval and other noncircular access ports in high vacuum equipment is disclosed. The process is applicable to sealing flange assemblies of the type which include relatively hard metallic flange members having opposed, mating surfaces at least a portion of which are chamfered to define a V-shaped notch therebetween and a relatively soft metallic sealing member disposed in the notch under compression against the chamfered surfaces. The process relates specifically to the machining of the chamfered sealing surfaces by a milling process which utilizes a specially ground end mill and selected depths of cut to provide a more or less grooved sealing surface profile essentially devoid of tool chatter marks and metal folds which represent nonsealable surface defects. The as-milled chamfered sealing surfaces are much coarser (32.mu. inch finish) than those produced by grinding (8.mu.