Abstract:
A process for fabricating a carbon composite structure that is lightweight, structurally sound, and characterized by high heat capacity. A carbon structure is devised with cavities therein receiving a phase change medium. The phase change medium demonstrates both high energy absorption capacity and high thermal conductivity and is formed from a carbon fiber to establish a high porosity medium having a large volume fraction. The surface energy of the carbon fibers is enhanced in various ways as by deposition of a carbide former, a metallurgical coating or a precursor liquid or by electroplating or etching the surfaces of the carbon fibers. The enhanced surface energy allows for the retention of phase change material.
Abstract:
A process for fabricating a carbon composite structure that is lightweight, structurally sound, and characterized by high heat capacity. A carbon structure is devised with cavities therein receiving a phase change medium. The phase change medium demonstrates both high energy absorption capacity and high thermal conductivity and is formed from a carbon fiber to establish a high porosity medium having a large volume fraction. The surface energy of the carbon fibers is enhanced in various ways as by deposition of a carbide former, a metallurgical coating or a precursor liquid or by electroplating or etching the surfaces of the carbon fibers. The enhanced surface energy allows for the retention of phase change material.
Abstract:
A bicycle disc brake caliper is provided with a cooling system that transfers heat away from the actuating fluid. Basically, the bicycle disc brake caliper has a housing and a piston unit, with a coolant member of the cooling system attached to the housing. The housing has a frame mounting member sized to be coupled to a portion of a bicycle frame. The piston unit is movably coupled to the housing between a release position, in which the piston unit is spaced from a brake disc mounted to a wheel of a bicycle, and a braking position, in which the piston unit engages the brake disc of the bicycle wheel. The coolant member has a coolant area for receiving coolant to create a coolant heat sink that transfers heat from the housing. The housing has an actuating passage in fluid communication with the piston unit to move the piston unit via an actuating fluid. In one embodiment, the cooling system includes a pump and a reservoir. In another embodiment, a coolant or water bottle is a attached to the coolant member for manually adding coolant thereto. In another embodiment, the coolant member is filled with a high specific heat gel.
Abstract:
A free flowing, conformable powder-like mix of silica particles and a phase change material (PCM) is provided. The silica particles have a critical size of about 0.005 to about 0.025 microns and the PCM must be added to the silica in an amount of 75% or less PCM per combined weight of silica and PCM. The powder-like mix can be used in tableware items, medical wraps, tree wraps, garments, quilts and blankets, and particularly in applications for heat protection for heat sensitive items, such as aircraft flight recorders, and for preventing brake fade in automobiles, buses, trucks and aircraft.
Abstract:
Free flowing, conformable powder-like mix of silica particles and a phase change material (p.c.m.) is disclosed. The silica particles have a critical size of about 7.times.10.sup.-3 to about 7.times.10.sup.-2 microns and the pcm must be added to the silica in an amount of 80 wt. % or less pcm per combined weight of silica and pcm. The powder-like mix can be used in tableware items, medical wraps, tree wraps, garments, quilts and blankets, and in cementitious compositions of the type in which it is beneficial to use a pcm material. The silica-pcm mix can also be admixed with soil to provide a soil warming effect and placed about a tree, flower, or shrub.
Abstract:
A vehicle wheel and rotor assembly is provided for use with a vehicle having a disc-type brake. The assembly includes a wheel for threaded connection with an axle and a rotor. The rotor has a core section joined to an annular ring section and the core section has apertures aligned for threadably joining the rotor to the wheel. Heat pipes are embedded within said rotor core. The heat pipes provide a heat sink for the annular ring section of the rotor causing a fluid within the heat pipe to vaporize on an end of the heat pipes more adjacent to the annular ring section and to condense on an end of the heat pipe more adjacent to the wheel to transfer heat from the annular ring to the wheel.
Abstract:
A magnetic particle-type electromagnetic coupling apparatus is cooled by a plurality of heat pipes which are partially embedded in the outer periphery of a rotating coupling member near the portion of the coupling member which is in contact with magnetic particles during operation. Heat is removed from the coupling member by a working fluid which is sealed within the heat pipes and is dissipated to the atmosphere through cooling fins attached to the heat pipes.
Abstract:
The segments (1) of the braking track (112) fixed to the rotor of an alternator driven by a water turbine are cooled by circulating water by means of a thermosiphonic effect from tanks (5) which are also fixed to the rotor.Application to the security of safety water-driven turbo-alternator units.
Abstract:
A disc brake cooling arrangement in which the rotating brake disc friction surfaces are in heat transfer contact with the evaporator section of a heat pipe arrangement. The heat transferred during low levels of braking is transmitted to ambient air or other heat exchange means by conduction and convection. When sufficiently severe braking loads occur so that the conduction mode of heat transfer will not carry away the heat at a sufficient rate, the heat pipe liquid is vaporized and builds up vapor pressure to bring the heat pipe into efficient operation. As the cooling system quickly shifts into this mode of operation the entire heat pipe assembly in effect suddenly increases its thermal conductivity by several orders of magnitude and the heat is rapidly carried away to the heat pipe condenser section, where it is then removed by a suitable heat exchanger arrangement. The heat pipe assembly is provided as a part of each disc brake pad assembly, and is replaceable with the pad.