US Patent 9746248 Heat pipe having a wick with a hybrid profile

A heat pipe system for conducting thermal energy. The heat pipe system includes a sealed tube having along its length a reservoir region, an evaporator region, and a condenser region, the tube having a first end and a second end and an inside wall. The system also includes a wick disposed adjacent the inside wall of the tube, the wick including a first portion at the first end of the tube and a second portion adjacent the first portion, wherein the first portion of the wick is thicker than the second portion of the wick, and wherein the second portion of the wick does not extend to the second end of the tube. The system also includes a working fluid contained within the tube.