A flexible heat pipe is disclosed for use with evaporator and condenser
elements for removing heat from electronic components. The flexible heat
pipe comprises a bellows member fixed at one end to a condenser member
and at an opposite end to an evaporator member. A cable artery is
disposed within the bellows and is fixed at one end to the evaporator,
and slidingly engages the condenser at the opposite end. The bellows acts
as a flexible vapor envelope, and the cable artery acts as a flexible
wick for directing condensed working fluid from the condenser back to the
evaporator. The sliding connection between the cable artery and the
condenser allows relative axial movement, and the inherent flexibility of
the cable artery allows relative lateral movement. Thus, the condenser
and evaporator can move in all directions with respect to each other,
which can provide desired vibration isolation of the two components.