Heat Pipe Fastener Structure for Internal Fastener Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fasteners rely on ambient air convection for cooling, which is inefficient due to low heat transfer rates, especially for fastening surfaces not in direct contact with ambient air, leading to slow cooling and potential overheating.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a heat pipe within the fastener to circulate a working fluid that changes state from solid/liquid to gaseous, rapidly absorbing heat from the fastener's tip and body portions, enhancing cooling efficiency by channeling heat away through a continuous pipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ambient air is circulated around the outer surface of the fastener for cooling, then the fastener is cooled to within acceptable operating temperature limits, but the heat transfer rate is slow and cooling efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cooling function from the external environment (ambient air) and relocates it inside the fastener by integrating a heat pipe. The heat pipe contains a working fluid that circulates within the fastener structure, removing the dependency on external air circulation and enabling internal heat extraction from critical areas like the tip and body portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pipe acts as an intermediary device between the hot fastener surfaces and the cooling system. The working fluid inside the heat pipe serves as a mediator that absorbs heat from the fastener tip and body portions through phase change (evaporation and condensation), efficiently transferring thermal energy away from critical areas without requiring direct contact with ambient air.
2Device complexity
If ambient air is used for cooling the fastener, then the system structure remains simple, but the heat absorption rate per unit mass of cooling medium is low
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the cooling system by using a working fluid with superior thermodynamic properties compared to ambient air. The working fluid undergoes phase changes (liquid to vapor and back), which dramatically increases its heat absorption capacity per unit mass. This parameter change enables much more efficient heat removal without proportionally increasing system complexity.
3Reliability
If fastening surfaces are secured to mating surfaces in high temperature environments, then the fastener performs its fastening function, but heat accumulates along the longitudinal length and cooling becomes ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the heat removal process by placing heat pipe sections at specific critical locations within the fastener, particularly at the tip and body portions. This segmentation allows targeted cooling of areas that are most susceptible to heat accumulation and where thermal management is most critical for maintaining fastening reliability in high-temperature environments.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The heat pipe system rapidly cools the fastener to within acceptable operating temperatures, improving efficiency and longevity by maintaining the fastener within design limits, even in high-temperature environments, while reducing material costs and mechanical maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a working fluid that changes state from solid/liquid to gaseous, rapidly absorbing heat from the fastener's tip and body portions
Implementation Method 2
as the working fluid is in a gaseous state after absorbing heat from at least one of the tip portion and the body portion of the fastener
Implementation Method 3
circulate a working fluid through a heat pipe that is integrated within the fastener to cool at least one of the tip portion and the body portion of the fastener
Implementation Method 4
The working fluid that is channeled through the heat pipe comes in contact with at least one of the tip portion and the body portion of the fastener and that operates in the high temperature environment
Implementation Method 5
The heat from the head portion of the fastener is allowed to flow through the heat pipe that is integrated therein, and discharged all along a longitudinal length of the fastener
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener with a heat pipe integrated therein is disclosed. The fastener with the heat pipe integrated therein comprises a head portion, a body portion extending from the head portion, and a tip portion extending from the body portion. The heat pipe is integrated within the fastener and adapted to withdraw heat away from the body portion of the fastener. The heat pipe contains working fluid that absorbs heat from at least one of the tip portion and the body portion of the fastener. The heat pipe extends through a hole defined within the head portion and through the hole defined within the body portion of the fastener such that the working fluid that flows through the heat pipe towards the head portion of the fastener channels heat away from the body portion of the fastener and discharges heat to the head portion of the fastener is also disclosed.