Strip-shaped braided capillary structure of heat exchanger and braided method thereof
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- US · United States
- Patent Type
- Applications(United States)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NIDEC CHAUN-CHOUNG TECH CORP
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-06
Smart Images
Figure US20260227134A1-D00000_ABST
Abstract
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURETechnical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a capillary structure, and particularly relates to a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger and a braided method thereof. Description of Related Art
[0002] Related-art strip-shaped braided capillary structures are typically formed by braiding copper wires or fiber threads along the lengthwise direction of a cylindrical tube, then removing the body of the cylindrical tube to form a strip-shaped capillary structure. Meshes formed by weaving are applied within heat exchangers such as heat pipes or vapor chambers to allow a working fluid in the heat exchanger to be stored in the woven meshes, enabling the working fluid to be transported or returned through capillary force; for example, the working fluid is transported from the condensation area to the evaporation area within the heat exchanger. To increase the storage and transfer capacity for the working fluid, the related-art strip-shaped braided capillary structure is woven in multiple layers to increase its thickness.
[0003] However, the related-art braided capillary structures face challenges in multi-layer weaving due to the tendency of fiber threads to loosen during the process of braiding the fibers layer by layer, making their fabrication relatively difficult.
[0004] In view of the deficiencies of the related art, the present discloser conducted researches based on the existing technologies and the application of theories, and finally developed a reasonable design in accordance with the present disclosure to overcome the deficiencies of the related art. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] The primary objective of the present disclosure is to provide a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger and a braided method thereof, and this structure facilitates the multi-layer weaving process by placing a mesh capillary to be sheathed on the outer layer of woven fiber capillary and enables the inner layer to weave more stably without unraveling. After weaving, varying porosity enhances the storage capacity and transfer capacity of the working fluid, thereby improving the heat transfer performance.
[0006] To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present disclosure provides a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger, which includes an inner fiber layer, a mesh capillary layer, and an outer fiber layer; the inner fiber layer is strip-shaped and hollow, the mesh capillary layer is extended along the strip-shaped inner fiber layer and sheathed on the inner fiber layer, and the outer fiber layer is extended along the mesh capillary layer and disposed outside the mesh capillary layer.
[0007] To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present disclosure provides a braided method of a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger, which includes the steps of:
[0008] a) preparing a shed stick;
[0009] b) weaving one or more inner fiber layers along the lengthwise direction of the shed stick;
[0010] c) sheathing a mesh capillary layer on the inner fiber layer;
[0011] d) continuously weaving one or more outer fiber layers on the outside of the mesh capillary layer; and
[0012] e) removing the shed stickBRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a wound shed stick of the present disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the present disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of Section 3-3 of FIG. 1; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the present disclosureDETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The detailed description and technical contents of the present disclosure are illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended for the illustrative purposes only, but not intended for limiting the disclosure.
[0018] With reference to FIG. 1 for the plan view of a wound shed stick of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger and a braided method thereof; the strip-shaped braided capillary structure of the heat exchanger includes an inner fiber layer 1, a mesh capillary layer 2, and at least one outer fiber layer 3.
[0019] In FIGS. 1 and 4, during weaving, the present disclosure first performs the step S1 as shown in FIG. 4 to prepare a shed stick 4, wherein the shed stick 4 has a certain strength to resist deformation and a certain length, and then performs the step S2 as shown in FIG. 4 to weave one or more inner fiber layers 1 along the lengthwise direction of the shed stick 4, so that the inner fiber layer 1 is woven along the lengthwise direction of the shed stick 4, and the inner fiber layer 1 is woven and formed by cross-linking a plurality of fiber threads.
[0020] The present disclosure further performs the step S3 as shown in FIG. 4 to sheath a mesh capillary layer 2 on the inner fiber layer 1, wherein the mesh capillary layer 2 is pre-formed into a roll shape for placement over the inner fiber layer 1. Alternatively, a single-sheet form of the mesh capillary layer 2 is curled to wrap around the inner fiber layer 1 to allow the mesh capillary layer 2 to tightly bind the inner fiber layer 1, thus preventing excessive looseness during subsequent weaving processes that could otherwise disrupt the weaving operation. In addition, the mesh density of the mesh capillary layer 2 is greater than the weave density of the inner fiber layer 1. Since higher density results in smaller pores, the mesh capillary layer 2 with its higher density and smaller pores provides the inner fiber layer 1 with enhanced capillary force and improved water content of its liquid-state working fluid.
[0021] Next, as shown in the step S4 of FIG. 4, one or more outer fiber layers 3 are continuously woven on the mesh capillary layer. The outer fiber layer 3 is woven by cross-knitting a plurality of fiber threads, and the outer fiber layer 3 in some embodiments has one or more layers, and the weave density of the outer fiber layer 3 is greater than the mesh density of the mesh capillary layer 2. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the outer fiber layer 3, sequentially from the innermost to the outermost, includes a first outer fiber layer 30, a second outer fiber layer 31, and a third outer fiber layer 32. The weave density of the first outer fiber layer 30 is greater than the mesh density of the mesh capillary layer 2, and the weave density of the first outer fiber layer 30 is smaller than the weave density of the second outer fiber layer 31, while the weave density of the second outer fiber layer 31 is also smaller than the weave density of the third outer fiber layer 32. In other words, when the outer fiber layer 3 consists of multiple layers, the weave density of each layer gradually increases from the innermost layer to the outermost layer. Of course, it is also possible to set equal weave density for each layer.
[0022] Finally, as shown in the step S5 of FIG. 4: The shed stick 4 is removed. The inner fiber layer 1 will also become hollow due to the removal of the shed stick 4. Thus, a strip-shaped braided capillary structure for the heat exchanger is obtained.
[0023] Through the aforementioned structural configuration, the strip-shaped braided capillary structure of the present disclosure heat exchanger and its braiding method are obtained.
[0024] In FIGS. 2 and 3, through the steps disclosed in the present disclosure, a plurality of fiber threads are first woven into an inner fiber layer 1 on the shed stick 4 in a multi-layered strip-shaped braided capillary structure, and then the mesh capillary layer 2 is sheathed on the outer surface of the inner fiber layer 1 to prevent the innermost fiber layer from unraveling due to insufficient tension during weaving, or expansion due to the inherent elasticity of the fiber material itself, thereby preserving its intended woven dimensions or outer diameter. The present disclosure prevents the occurrence of the aforementioned situation by tightly binding the mesh capillary layer 2 to the inner fiber layer 1, thereby facilitating the continued weaving of the outer fiber layer 3 and promoting the weaving process. Upon completion of the aforementioned weaving process, the present disclosure further enhances the storage capacity and transfer capacity of the working fluid by leveraging a differing porosity of the mesh capillary layer 2. This approach consequently improves heat transfer performance.
[0025] In summary, the present disclosure surely achieves the intended purposes described in the specification, thereby overcoming the deficiencies of the related art. With novelty and inventive step, the present disclosure fully meets the requirements for patent application, and is thus filed for application in accordance with the Patent Law. We respectfully request a thorough examination and grant of the patent to safeguard the rights of the inventor.
[0026] The above examples merely represent preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and they are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, any equivalent techniques, means, or variations made by utilizing the content of the specification and drawings of the disclosure are likewise included within the scope of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger, comprising:an inner fiber layer, being strip-shaped and hollow; a mesh capillary layer, extended along the inner fiber layer and sheathed on the strip-shaped inner fiber layer; and at least one outer fiber layer, extended along the mesh capillary layer and disposed outside the mesh capillary layer.
2. The strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the inner fiber layer and the outer fiber layer are formed by a plurality of fiber threads cross-knitted and woven together.
3. The strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the mesh capillary layer is in a cylindrical shape and sheathed on the inner fiber layer.
4. The strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the mesh capillary layer is curled to wrap around the inner fiber layer.
5. The strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the outer fiber layer has a weave density greater than the mesh density of the mesh capillary layer.
6. The strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 5, wherein the outer fiber layer has a weave density greater than the mesh density of the mesh capillary layer.
7. The strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according toclaim 6, wherein the outer fiber layer is formed by a plurality of layers stacked together.
8. The strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein each layer in the outer fiber layer has a weave density gradually increasing from the innermost layer to the outermost layer.
9. The strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the outer fiber layer is formed by a plurality of layers stacked together.
10. The strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 9, wherein each layer in the outer fiber layer has a weave density gradually increasing from the innermost layer to the outermost layer.
11. A braided method of a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger, comprising the steps of:a) preparing a shed stick; b) weaving one or more inner fiber layers along the lengthwise direction of the shed stick; c) sheathing a mesh capillary layer on the inner fiber layer; d) continuously weaving one or more outer fiber layers on the outside of the mesh capillary layer; and e) removing the shed stick.
12. The braided method of a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the inner fiber layer and the outer fiber layer is formed by a plurality of fiber threads cross-knitted and woven together.
13. The braided method of a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the mesh capillary layer is in a cylindrical shape and sheathed on the inner fiber layer.
14. The braided method of a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the mesh capillary layer is curled and wrapped around the inner fiber layer.
15. The braided method of a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the outer fiber layer has a weave density greater than the mesh density of the mesh capillary layer.
16. The braided method of a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 15, wherein the outer fiber layer has a weave density greater than the mesh density of the mesh capillary layer.
17. The braided method of a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the outer fiber layer is formed by a plurality of layers stacked together.
18. The braided method of a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 17, wherein each layer in the outer fiber layer has a weave density gradually increasing from the innermost layer to the outermost layer.
19. The braided method of a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein each layer in the outer fiber layer has a weave density gradually increasing from the innermost layer to the outermost layer.
20. The braided method of a strip-shaped braided capillary structure of a heat exchanger according to claim 19, wherein each layer in the outer fiber layer has a weave density gradually increasing from the innermost layer to the outermost layer.