Abstract: A heat pipe deicing system is disclosed for preventing accumulation of ice on portions of structures such as the deck, handrails, and ladders of a fishing vessel operating in very cold oceans. The heat pipe includes an evaporator in contact with a source of heat such as exhaust gases of an engine, one or more condensers positioned above the evaporator to cover surfaces to be deiced, and an insulated transition section for transporting a heat transfer fluid between the evaporator and condenser. The transition section and condenser have legs arranged to provide multiple passageways which assure continuous gravity-assisted return flow of condensed heat transfer fluid to the evaporator and a high level of deicing capacity even during pitching and rolling of the structure on which the deicing system is installed.

Abstract: An energy source for a heat-utilizing device which includes a source of gamma radiation, an absorber of such radiation and a heat-utilization device in heat-transfer relationship with the absorber of gamma radiation. The enclosure of the energy source is so constructed that additional heat-utilizing device may also be energized from the same source of gamma radiation.