Abstract: The heat pipe has a condensing area at one end and an evaporating area at the other end. An ion drag pump is within the condensing area to receive dielectric refrigerant condensate in its inlet. There is a liquid carrying tube having one end connected to the pump outlet and having its other end terminating adjacent the evaporating area to discharge refrigerant condensate therein. The evaporating area has heat receiving flow paths into which the condensate is adapted to flow and be vaporized, there being a vapor flow path from the evaporating area through which the vaporized refrigerant returns to the condensing area.The method includes cooling one end of the heat pipe to liquefy refrigerant therein to form a condensate, flowing the condensate into an ion drag pump and applying a sufficiently high voltage across a cathode and anode of the pump to produce ions in the refrigerant condensate, the ions then being accelerated toward the anode so as to create fluid motion and pumping action through the pump inlet.

Abstract: An improved heat pipe (115) of increased heat transport capacity comprising a vapor tube (120) and a liquid-condensate return tube (130). An outwardly extending conduit (125), disposed in both the evaporator section (135) and evaporator section (140) of the heat pipe (115), provides fluid communication between the vapor tube (120) and the return tube (130). Circumferential v-shaped grooves (145) terminate at a slot-like opening (165) formed in each of the conduits (125). A cap member (170) traverses each opening (165) and coacts with the grooves (145) to form a plurality of fluid passageways (175).

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus made up of a plurality of sheets, desirably made of thin film plastic, bonded one to another to form a unitized heat exchange structure. Alternate first pairs of sheets are bonded one to another along a first set of longitudinally extending bond lines positioned at first transverse locations along width dimensions of the sheets. There is a second set of pairs of alternately spaced sheets (made up of adjacent sheets of adjoining first pairs of sheets) which are bonded one to another along a second set of longitudinally extending bond lines positioned transversely intermittent of the first set of longitudinal bond lines. These sheets are expanded from one another to form a plurality of diamond-shaped heat exchange passageways arranged in parallel rows. In the preferred form, each end of the heat exchange structure is bonded into a molded base member, which in turn is connected to a related manifold structure.

Abstract: A device for generating an air jet without the use of moving parts is proed. High voltage is used to create a corona discharge electric wind in a ducted, compact, portable generator that can be used for augmentation cooling applications where high voltage is available.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning contaminated surfaces such as hydro-carbon contaminant films in high vacuum environments including a plasma discharge housing for allowing a plasma to be generated in an environment having a higher pressure than the surface which is to be cleaned. A ground electrode and a radio frequency electrode partially surround a quartz plasma tube, for the introduction of an ionizable gas therein. These electrodes ionize the gas and help generate the plasma. This plasma flows through a non-constrictive aperture, through the plasma discharge housing and then on to the contaminated surface.