David R Wolf

US Patent:

7708053, May 4, 2010

Filed:

Oct 28, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/694387

Inventors:

Edward J. Kroliczek - Davidsonville MD, US
Michael Nikitkin - Ellicott City MD, US
David A. Wolf - Baltimore MD, US

Assignee:

Alliant Techsystems Inc. - Edina MN

International Classification:

F28D 15/00

US Classification:

16510421, 16510426, 16510433, 29890032

Abstract:

A thermodynamic system includes a cyclical heat exchange system and a heat transfer system coupled to the cyclical heat exchange system to cool a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system. The heat transfer system includes an evaporator including a wall configured to be coupled to a portion of the cyclical heat exchange system and a primary wick coupled to the wall and a condenser coupled to the evaporator to form a closed loop that houses a working fluid.

US Patent:

20020007937, Jan 24, 2002

Filed:

Jun 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/896561

Inventors:

Edward Kroliczek - Davidsonville MD, US
David Wolf - Baltimore MD, US
James Yun - Silver Spring MD, US

International Classification:

F28D015/00

US Classification:

165/104260, 165/104210

Abstract:

A capillary pump two phase heat transport system that combines the most favorable characteristics of a capillary pump loop (CPL) with the robustness and reliability of a loop heat pipe (LHP). Like a CPL, the hybrid loop has plural parallel evaporators, plural parallel condensers, and a back pressure flow regulator. Unlike CPLs, however, the hybrid system incorporates elements that form a secondary loop, which is essentially a LHP that is co-joined with a CPL to form an inseparable whole. Although secondary to the basic thermal management of the system thermal bus, the LHP secondary loop portion of the system provides for important operational functions that maintain healthy, robust and reliable operation. The LHP secondary loop portion provides a function of fluid management during start-up, steady state operation, and heat sink/heat source temperature and power cycling.

US Patent:

20030178184, Sep 25, 2003

Filed:

Mar 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/388955

Inventors:

Edward Kroliczek - Davidsonville MD, US
Kimberly Wrenn - Sykesville MD, US
David Wolf - Baltimore MD, US

International Classification:

F28D015/00

US Classification:

165/104260

Abstract:

A capillary wick for use in capillary evaporators has properties that prevent nucleation inside the body of the wick, resulting in suppression of back-conduction of heat from vapor channels to the liquid reservoir. Use of a central liquid flow channel in the wick is eliminated, and pore size in the wick is chosen to maximize available pressure for fluid pumping, while preventing nucleation in the wick body. The wick is embodied with different geometries, including cylindrical and flat. A flat capillary evaporator has substantially planar heat input surfaces for convenient mating to planar heat sources. The flat capillary evaporator is capable of being used with working fluids having high vapor pressures (i.e., greater that 10 psia). To contain the pressure of the vaporized working fluid, the opposed planar plates of the evaporator arc brazed or sintered to opposing sides of a metal wick. Additionally, a terrestrial loop heat pipe and a loop heat pipe having overall flat geometry are disclosed.

US Patent:

20040182550, Sep 23, 2004

Filed:

Oct 2, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/676265

Inventors:

Edward Kroliczek - Davidsonville MD, US
Michael Nikitkin - Ellicott City MD, US
David Wolf - Baltimore MD, US

International Classification:

F28D015/00

US Classification:

165/104260

Abstract:

A heat transfer system includes an evaporator, a condenser having a vapor inlet and a liquid outlet, a vapor line providing fluid communication between a vapor outlet of the evaporator and the vapor inlet, and a liquid return line providing fluid communication between the liquid outlet and a liquid inlet entering the evaporator. The evaporator includes a heated wall, a liquid barrier wall containing working fluid, a primary wick positioned between the heated wall and the inner side of the liquid barrier wall, a vapor removal channel located at an interface between the primary wick and the heated wall, and a liquid flow channel located between the liquid barrier wall and the primary wick. The working fluid flows only along the inner side of the liquid barrier wall. The vapor removal channels extend to the vapor outlet and the liquid flow channel receives liquid from the liquid inlet.

US Patent:

20050061487, Mar 24, 2005

Filed:

Jul 14, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/890382

Inventors:

Edward Kroliczek - Davidsonville MD, US
James Yun - Beltsville MD, US
David Bugby - Beltsville MD, US
David Wolf - Baltimore MD, US

International Classification:

F28F007/00

US Classification:

165139000

Abstract:

A system includes a primary evaporator facilitating heat transfer by evaporating liquid to obtain vapor. The primary evaporator receives the liquid from a liquid line and outputs the vapor to a vapor line. The primary evaporator also outputs excess liquid received from the liquid line to an excess fluid line. A condensing system receives the vapor from the vapor line, and outputs the liquid and excess liquid to the liquid line. The excess liquid is obtained at least partially from a reservoir. A primary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, and the vapor line, and provides a heat transfer path. Similarly, a secondary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, the vapor line, and the excess fluid line. The secondary loop provides a venting path for removing undesired vapor within the liquid or excess liquid from the primary evaporator.

US Patent:

20050166399, Aug 4, 2005

Filed:

Oct 28, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/974968

Inventors:

Edward Kroliczek - Davidsonville MD, US
James Yun - Silver Spring MD, US
Michael Nikitkin - Ellicott City MD, US
David Wolf - Baltimore MD, US

International Classification:

B23P011/02
B23P017/00

US Classification:

029890070, 029447000

Abstract:

A method of making an evaporator includes orienting a vapor barrier wall, orienting a liquid barrier wall, and positioning a wick between the vapor barrier wall and the liquid barrier wall. The vapor barrier wall is oriented such that a heat-absorbing surface of the vapor barrier wall defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the evaporator. The exterior surface is configured to receive heat. The liquid barrier wall is oriented adjacent the vapor barrier wall. The liquid barrier wall has a surface configured to confine liquid. A vapor removal channel is defined at an interface between the wick and the vapor barrier wall. A liquid flow channel is defined between the liquid barrier wall and the primary wick.

US Patent:

20050252643, Nov 17, 2005

Filed:

Jun 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/167759

Inventors:

Edward Kroliczek - Davidsonville MD, US
Kimberly Wrenn - Sykesville MD, US
David Wolf - Baltimore MD, US

International Classification:

F28D015/00

US Classification:

165104260

Abstract:

A two-phase heat transfer system includes an evaporator, a condenser, a vapor line, and a liquid return line. The evaporator includes a liquid inlet, a vapor outlet, and a capillary wick having a first surface adjacent the liquid inlet and a second surface adjacent the vapor outlet. The condenser includes a vapor inlet and a liquid outlet. The vapor line provides fluid communication between the vapor outlet and the vapor inlet. The liquid return line provides fluid communication between the liquid outlet and the liquid inlet. The wick is substantially free of back-conduction of energy from the second surface to the first surface due to an increase in a conduction path from the second surface to the first surface and due to suppression of nucleation of a working fluid from the second surface to the first surface to promote liquid superheat tolerance in the wick.

US Patent:

20080138759, Jun 12, 2008

Filed:

Sep 19, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/858076

Inventors:

Neal D. Kravitz - Fairfax Station VA, US
David Wolf - Lakewood CO, US
Leon W. Laub - Fort Collins CO, US

International Classification:

A61C 7/00

US Classification:

433 21, 433 18, 433 24

Abstract:

An orthodontic appliance for orthodontic treatment includes first and second eyelets connected to coil spring at each end of the coil spring, thereby forming a double eyelet and spring unit. In one embodiment, a connector for detachably attaching a spring to an orthodontic appliance includes a means for engaging an appliance. In one embodiment the connector is an eyelet having an aperture in its central region for allowing the spring to be detachably attached to the orthodontic appliance. The aperture may have a variety of shapes. Alternatively, the connector may comprise a hook or equivalent structure for facilitating the spring to be attached to the orthodontic appliance.