Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue (“micrografts”) to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and/or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and/or viability of the harvested tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus for dissipating thermal energy including a baseplate including a first body having a first groove and a second groove intersecting one another, the first groove and the second groove formed in and only accessible from a first side of the baseplate. The apparatus including a first heat pipe and a second heat pipe arranged and disposed to provide both an overlapping arrangement and a nonoverlapping arrangement within the first groove and the second groove of the baseplate.

Abstract: A heat pipe device comprising at least two of the following: an axially grooved bore for thermal transport, the axially grooved bore having an axial groove wick; a phase change material bore for thermal storage, the phase change material bore having internal fins to enhance heat transfer, the internal fins extend along the axis of the phase change material bore; and a porous media bore for accepting high heat fluxes, the porous media bore having a porous media wick in areas of high heat flux.

Abstract: A cool storage system comprising which includes a plurality of heat pipes. Each of the heat pipes has a lower evaporator section, a hybrid evaporator/condensing section, and an upper condensing section. The hybrid evaporator/condensing section positioned between the lower evaporator section and the upper condensing section. Each of the heat pipes contains a selected amount of a heat transfer fluid adapted to transfer heat from the lower evaporator section to the hybrid evaporator/condensing section and the upper condensing section through a vapor/condensation cycle, or the heat transfer fluid is vaporized in the hybrid evaporator and condensed in the upper evaporator section. A thermal storage medium is provided in thermal engagement with the hybrid evaporator/condensing section. A heat source is located in said lower evaporator section, and a cooling source, located in said upper condensing section.

Abstract: A heat pipe assembly that includes at least one axial groove heat pipe and at least one porous media heat pipe. The porous media heat pipe may be embedded into a flange of the axial groove heat pipe, or embedded into a wall of the axial groove heat pipe, or embedded into another bore of the axial groove heat pipe. The evaporator of the at least one porous media heat pipe may be located remotely and can accept a high heat flux, while a condenser of the at least one porous media heat pipe is attached to the axial groove heat pipe.

Abstract: A heat pipe assembly that includes at least one axial groove heat pipe and at least one porous media heat pipe. The porous media heat pipe may be embedded into a flange of the axial groove heat pipe, or embedded into a wall of the axial groove heat pipe, or embedded into another bore of the axial groove heat pipe. The evaporator of the at least one porous media heat pipe may be located remotely and can accept a high heat flux, while a condenser of the at least one porous media heat pipe is attached to the axial groove heat pipe.

Abstract: A heat pipe with a capillary structure that consists of heat conductive capillary grooves in the condenser region that meet with a porous wick in the evaporator section. The embodiments include several structures of the interface at the junction of the porous wick and the capillary grooves. One such interface is a simple butt joint. Others have interlocking shapes on the wick and the grooves such as parts of the wick that fit into or around the grooves.

Abstract: An evaporator for a loop heat pipe with high input heat transfer. The heat transfer is attained by constructing a heat pipe on the loop heat pipe evaporator heat input surface. The heat pipe then distributes the heat from limited input areas over the entire surface of the loop heat pipe evaporator, and that entire evaporator surface functions as the loop heat pipe heat input area as opposed to limited smaller areas into which the heat usually enters.

Abstract: A turbocharger with a high pressure (HP) and low pressure (LP) stage, designed such that swirl in a conduit providing fluid communication between the LP compressor outlet and the HP compressor inlet is received by the second stage compressor counter to the direction of rotation of the second stage compressor wheel. This is achieved without requiring vanes such as inlet guide vanes, and thus is highly efficient as well as free of blockage and excitation.

Abstract: The apparatus is a capillary loop evaporator in which the vapor space is the internal volume of a cup shaped evaporator wick with sidewalls in full contact with the outer casing of the evaporator. Liquid is furnished to the wick through thicker wick wall sections, slabs protruding from the liquid-vapor barrier wick, eccentric wick cross sections, or tunnel arteries. The tunnel arteries can also be formed within heat flow reducing ridges protruding into the vapor space. The tunnel arteries can be fed liquid by bayonet tubes or cable arteries, and can be isolated from the heat source with regions of finer wick to impede vapor flow into the liquid. Tunnel arteries also enable separation of the evaporator and the reservoir for thermal isolation and structural flexibility. A wick within the reservoir aids collection of liquid in low gravity applications.

Abstract: A turbocharger with a high pressure (HP) and low pressure (LP) stage, designed such that swirl in a conduit providing fluid communication between the LP compressor outlet and the HP compressor inlet is received by the second stage compressor counter to the direction of rotation of the second stage compressor wheel. This is achieved without requiring vanes such as inlet guide vanes, and thus is highly efficient as well as free of blockage and excitation.

Abstract: A heat transfer loop system includes a primary passive two-phase flow segment with an evaporator, a condenser and a liquid reservoir, and a secondary actively pumped liquid flow segment in which the liquid in the reservoir is drawn by a liquid pump into the evaporator, where a portion of the liquid is vaporized by the heat input and moves into the primary segment while the excess liquid is pumped back to the reservoir. The evaporator consists of a porous wick and one or more liquid arteries encased in the porous wick. The liquid arteries have porous walls to allow liquid phase working fluid to flow into the surrounding porous wick. The liquid arteries have porous walls to allow liquid phase working fluid to flow into the surrounding porous wick. The excess liquid continues to move through the arteries and eventually out of the evaporator and into the reservoir. The porous wick provides sufficient capillary force to separate the liquid inside the arteries and the vapor in the evaporator.

Abstract: The apparatus is a heat pipe with an internal, multiple chamber evaporator for cooling a turbine engine stator vane. The evaporator comprises leading edge, middle, and trailing edge chambers within the stator vane, with the chambers defined by structural support ribs. Each chamber is constructed with a continuous fine pore metal powder wick coating the internal surfaces of the chamber and enclosing the chamber's central vapor space, except the wick at the very trailing edge of the vane is formed by screen embedded in the adjacent powder wick. The evaporator chambers have capillary arteries which extend through the adiabatic section of the heat pipe and terminate in a condenser wick within a heat sink structure exposed to cooler air. A capillary artery also interconnects the wick of the trailing edge chamber to the wick of the middle chamber.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator includes an actuator rod having a plurality of magnetic assemblies disposed about a longitudinal axis of the actuator rod. Each plurality of magnetic assemblies develops alternating magnetic flux along the longitudinal axis. The electromagnetic actuator further includes a plurality of stator windings secured to a support structure and disposed about the longitudinal axis. Each stator winding has a pole facing a portion of one of the plurality of magnetic assemblies and the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A brushless direct current motor includes a permanent magnet rotor and a set of stator windings. The motor further includes a circuit for changeably connecting the set of stator windings to operate in a first electrical configuration or a second electrical configuration. In the second electrical configuration, the circuit connects only some of the stator windings for receiving current. The circuit electrically isolates the unused stator windings from the used or connected stator windings.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator includes an actuator rod having a plurality of magnetic assemblies disposed about a longitudinal axis of the actuator rod. Each plurality of magnetic assemblies develops alternating magnetic flux along the longitudinal axis. The electromagnetic actuator further includes a plurality of stator windings secured to a support structure and disposed about the longitudinal axis. Each stator winding has a pole facing a portion of one of the plurality of magnetic assemblies and the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A brushless direct current motor includes a permanent magnet mounted to a rotor and a set of commutated stator windings. The motor further includes a circuit for changeably connecting the set of stator windings to operate in a first electrical configuration or a second electrical configuration and a circuit for commutating the set of stator windings when connected in the first electrical configuration or the second electrical configuration.

Abstract: The apparatus is a cooling structure for reaction engine throats. The constriction in the throat is cooled by a group of heat pipes which radiate outward from the constriction to a larger diameter perimeter surface where the heat is dissipated. The entire structure can be constructed by embedding pretested heat pipes around a base structure with plasma sprayed metal.

Abstract: The apparatus is a non-condensible gas venting device for vapor sources which can include a sonic orifice for vapor pressure reduction in high vapor pressure systems. A typical vapor source has a evaporator chamber with an evaporating wick containing liquid which is heated and produces vapor. The invention is a venting chamber connected to the evaporator chamber so that the vapor has access to the venting chamber. The venting chamber also includes a condensing wick interconnected to the evaporating wick in the evaporator chamber by a capillary capillary device through which the condensed liquid is returned to the evaporating wick. The condenser chamber is vented to a lower pressure region or vacuum so that non-condensible gas present moves out of the condenser chamber into the lower pressure while the vapor is trapped by the condensing wick and is retained in the system.

Abstract: The apparatus is a combined Alkali Metal Thermal to Electric Converter (AMTEC) and a thermionic energy converter which are mated by the use of a common heat transfer device which can be a heat pipe, pumped fluid or a simple heat conduction path. By adjusting the heat output surface area of the thermionic converter and the heat input surface area of the AMTEC, the heat transfer device accomplishes not only the transfer of heat from the output of the thermionic converter to the input of the AMTEC, but also the transformation of the heat density to match the requirements of the AMTEC input. The electrical current through the combined devices is also matched by adjusting the heated surface area of the AMTEC.