Patents by Inventor Mack W. Dowdy

Mack W. Dowdy has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4957157
    Abstract: A closed-loop two-phase thermal control loop includes an evaporator which receives subcooled coolant liquid from a condenser and heat from a source, and vaporizes the coolant to form coolant vapor. A condenser which is coupled to a thermal radiator accepts the coolant vapor and radiates thermally to space, thereby condensing the coolant vapor to liquid and subcooling the liquid. As the temperature of the environment surrounding the condenser radiator changes, the mass of vapor within the system tends to change, thereby causing undesirable pressure changes. A spherical wicked coolant reservoir is coupled to the liquid side of the closed thermal control loop. The reservoir is exposed foro thermal radiation and electrically heated, so that the temperature is thereby controlled in order to control vapor pressure within the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Mack W. Dowdy, Doanld J. Benko