U.S. patent application number 10/186924 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-19 for wick, plate type heat pipe and container.
Invention is credited to Kawabata, Kenya, Nakamura, Toshiaki, Niekawa, Jun, Noda, Hajime.
Application Number | 20020189793 10/186924 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26540854 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020189793 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Noda, Hajime ; et
al. |
December 19, 2002 |
Wick, plate type heat pipe and container
Abstract
A plate type thin heat pipe comprises: a group of wire members
comprising a plurality of first metal wire members placed in a same
plane in parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out, and a
plurality of second metal wire members placed in a same plane in
parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out and placed so as to
cross the plurality of first metal wire members; a container having
a hollow portion which is reduced in inner pressure and
hermetically sealed comprising an upper plate member and a lower
plate member placed face to face, each of which is made of thin
copper plate, formed in such a manner that each of the upper plate
member and the lower plate member contacts the group of wire
members, and the group of wire members are sandwiched by the upper
and lower plate members, and water as a working fluid received in
the container.
Inventors: |
Noda, Hajime; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Kawabata, Kenya; (Tokyo, JP) ; Nakamura,
Toshiaki; (Tokyo, JP) ; Niekawa, Jun; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET
FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
26540854 |
Appl. No.: |
10/186924 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10186924 |
Jun 28, 2002 |
|
|
|
09655664 |
Sep 6, 2000 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
165/104.26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 15/046 20130101;
F28D 15/0233 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/104.26 |
International
Class: |
F28D 015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 7, 1999 |
JP |
252748/1999 |
Sep 7, 1999 |
JP |
252749/1999 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A plate type thin heat pipe, comprising: a container having a
hollow portion which is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically
sealed, formed by an upper plate member comprising a thin copper
plate and a lower plate member comprising a thin copper plate; a
wick comprising a unit of punched metal plates formed by combining
two punched metal plates in which at least one of said punched
metal plates have a plurality of protruding portions, and said two
punched metal plates are placed face to face with a distance
corresponding to a height of said protruding portion and a wire
member wound around said unit of punched metal plates; and a
working fluid received in said container.
2. The plate type thin heat pipe of claim 1 wherein another wire
member is further arranged in such manner that said another wire
member crosses said wire member arranged on both of outer surfaces
of said unit of punched metal plates of said wick.
3. A plate type thin heat pipe, comprising: a plurality of spaced
apart metal wire members placed in parallel and in substantially
the same plane; a container having a hollow portion which is
reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed comprising an
upper plate member and a lower plate member placed face to face,
each of which is made of thin copper plate, formed in such a manner
that either one or both of said upper plate member and said lower
plate member contacts said wire members, and said wire members are
sandwiched by said upper and lower plate members; and water as a
working fluid received in said container.
4. The plate type thin heat pipe of claim 3, additionally
comprising a second plurality of spaced apart metal wire members
placed in parallel and in substantially the same plane and placed
so as to cross said plurality of first metal wire members.
5. A plate type thin heat pipe, comprising: a group of wire members
comprising a first substantially planar array of spaced apart metal
wire members, and a second substantially planar array of spaced
apart metal wire members, wherein said second array is placed so as
to cross said first array; a container having a hollow portion
formed by an upper plate member made of thin copper plate, in a
central portion of which a recessed portion is formed to receive
said wire members and in a corner portion of which a passage
connecting said recessed portion to outside is formed, and a flat
lower pate member made of thin copper plate, outer peripheral
portion of which are joined and said passage is caulked so as to be
hermetically sealed and inner pressure thereof is reduced, said
group of wire members being received in said hollow portion and
each of inner surface of said upper plate member and said lower
plate member contacting at least some of said wire members; and
water as a working fluid received in said container.
6. The plate type thin heat pipe of claim 5, wherein said upper
plate member is integrally formed as a single piece member by
press-working.
7. The plate type thin heat pipe of claim 5, further comprising: a
plurality of protruding portions being formed on an inner surface
of said upper plate member or said lower plate member; said wick
received in said container in such a manner that said wick is
pressed by said plurality of protruding portions to an opposing
inner surface of said container.
8. The plate type thin heat pipe of claim 5, wherein said wick
comprises a unit of punched metal plates formed by combining two
punched metal plates in which at least one of said punched metal
plates have a plurality of protruding portions, and said two
punched metal plates are placed face to face with a distance
corresponding to a height of said protruding portion and a wire
member wound around said unit of punched metal plates;
9. The plate type thin heat pipe of claim 8, wherein another wire
member is further arranged in such manner that said another wire
member crosses said wire member arranged on both of outer surfaces
of said unit of punched metal plates of said wick.
10. The plate type thin heat pipe of claim 9, wherein said upper
plate member is integrally formed as a single piece member by
press-working.
11. A heat transfer apparatus comprising: a first plate member; a
second plate member; a first plurality of wire members arranged in
parallel and disposed between said first plate member and said
second plate member; and a second plurality of wire members
arranged perpendicular to said first plurality of wire members and
disposed between said first plurality of wire members and said
second plate member.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a third plate
member disposed a predetermined distance from said second plate
member; a fourth plate member; a third plurality of wire members
arranged in parallel and disposed between said third plate member
and said fourth plate member; and a fourth plurality of wire
members arranged perpendicular to said third plurality of wire
members and disposed between said third plurality of wire members
and said fourth plate member
13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a protruding
portion disposed between said second and third plate members.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a fluid disposed
between said second and third plate members.
15. A method of manufacturing an electronic cooling device
comprising: combining two punched metal plates with a space
provided therebetween; winding a first wire in a first direction on
respective outer surfaces of each of the two punched metal plates;
winding a second wire in a direction orthogonal to said first
direction on respective outer surfaces of said first wire; and
placing two flat plate members on respective outer surfaces of the
second wire.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the windings of the second wire
on the respective outer surfaces of said first wire closely contact
each of the flat plate members.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a
vaporized fluid in said space between the two punched metal
plates.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a
protruding portion in said space between the two punched metal
plates.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/655,664, filed Sep. 6, 2000, the entire disclosure of
which is hereby incorporated by reference, and which claims
priority to Japanese Application Nos. 1999-252748, filed on Sep. 7,
1999, and 1999-252749, filed on Sep. 7, 1999. This application is
related to U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. 10/______ , filed
on even date herewith (having attorney docket number
KAWAW6.0001DV1), the entire disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a plate type heat pipe,
wick and container used for cooling electronic devices.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] As one of the means to effectively dissipate the heat
generated from semiconductor chips in the electronic devices which
has been increasing, there is proposed a heat pipe. In particular,
a plate type heat pipe is perceived to be effective among various
heat pipes because the heat receiving surface thereof to the
surface of the chip can be secured and the function of heat
diffusion is excellent.
[0006] The heat pipe comprises a hermetically sealed container
which has a hollow portion therein, and the pressure within the
container is reduced to be vacuum. An appropriate amount of liquid
is enclosed within the container as a working fluid. When heat is
received in an outer portion of the container, the fluid existing
in the corresponding portion within the container to the outer
portion to which the heat is received evaporates and absorbs the
latent heat of the evaporation. The vapor flows to every corner of
the container and fills the whole inner side of the container due
to the difference in pressure. The flowed vapor condenses at the
inner surface of the container except the heat receiving portion to
discharge the latent heat of the evaporation. The condensed fluid
returns to the evaporating portion by means of a fluid circulating
mechanism which is arranged in the inner surface of the container
and called as wick comprising mesh, wire or the like. Thus
circulated fluid evaporates again in the heat receiving portion.
The above-mentioned circulation of the fluid-vapor-fluid is
repeated, and as a result, the heat is diffused and transferred to
the whole of the container.
[0007] The working fluid is poured into the container, and then gas
in the container is removed while the working fluid is remained
therein and the container is hermetically sealed in the final stage
to complete the fabrication of the heat pipe. The heat pipe
includes a portion to be sealed in either case that the working
fluid is vaporized to remove the gas from the interior of the
container, or that the gas is removed by a vacuum pump from the
container. The portion to be sealed is kept opened toward outside
until the final stage of the fabrication of the heat pipe.
[0008] A heat pipe comprises in general a pipe-shaped heat pipe in
which one of the end portions becomes the portion to be sealed.
After pouring the working fluid into the container under vacuum
condition, or after pouring the working fluid and removing the gas,
the above-mentioned end portion is in general caulked and then
welded to be hermetically sealed.
[0009] However, when the heat pipe comprises a plate type heat
pipe, it is impossible to apply the above-mentioned method to seal
the container. FIG. 14 shows a conventional portion to be sealed in
the plate type heat pipe. As shown in FIG. 14, a hexahedron body
having six flat surfaces is formed by arranging and brazing an
upper plate member 104, a lower plate member 105 and side plate
members 106. In the above case, a small tube 107 is inserted into
the side plate member 106 to form the portion to be sealed.
[0010] FIG. 11 shows a conventional plate type heat pipe. The plate
type heat pipe shown in FIG. 11 comprises an aluminum container 101
which is formed by extrusion. However, although the aluminum
container shown in FIG. 11 can be formed by extrusion, it is
difficult to form the container shown in FIG. 11 which is made of
copper by means of extrusion. In addition, water is an excellent
working fluid. However, there is a problem in which water cannot be
used as working fluid in the container made of aluminum. More
specifically, aluminum reacts with water to deteriorate the
function of the heat pipe.
[0011] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, there is
proposed a plate type heat pipe as shown in FIG. 12 or FIG. 13
which comprises a container having a hollow portion formed by an
upper plate member 108 and a lower plate member 109 in which a mesh
110 is inserted therein. Since the container shown in FIG. 12 is
made of copper, water can be used as the working fluid. However, in
the plate type heat pipe shown in FIG. 12, there is a problem in
which it is difficult to insert the mesh stably in the container,
thus producing the heat pipes with different property.
[0012] Furthermore, a conventional wick comprising mesh, braid or
wire has the following problem. More specifically, when the wire is
used as shown in FIG. 6, since the acute angle portion designated
by A in the cross-sectional view which is formed by the inner
surface of the container and the outer surface of the wire exists
continuously and uniformly along the axis of the wire, it can be
expected that the working fluid effectively circulates. However,
even if the wire is received within the container, it is very
difficult to securely fix the wire on the inner surface of the
container in view of the structure of the container so as to form
the acute angle portion therebetween. When the wire is not securely
fixed on the inner surface of the container, for example, the side
surface of the wire is partly contacted with the inner surface of
the container, the wire does not effectively function as the wick.
Furthermore, in the plate type heat pipe, it is required that the
working fluid flows not along only one direction, but in all
direction across the plane, depending on the manner in which the
heat pipe is positioned.
[0013] Furthermore, in case of the wick comprising the mesh or the
braid, since the mesh or the braid has a first element running in
the first direction and a second element running in the second
direction perpendicular to the first direction, contrary to the
wire in which the circulating direction of the working fluid is
uniform along the axis of the wire, the above-mentioned second
element disturbs the flow of the working fluid along the axis of
the first element.
[0014] In addition, there is the following problem in the plate
type heat pipe using the above-mentioned conventional wick.
[0015] More specifically, as described above, in the technical
field of cooling semiconductor chip or the like mounted in the
electronic device, there is a tendency in which a whole electronic
device is downsized and the density of the integration of the chip
becomes higher to cause the density of generated heat to remarkably
increase. However, the conventional wick does not effectively
function.
[0016] Furthermore, the conventional portion to be sealed has the
following problem. More specifically, as described above, in the
technical field of cooling semiconductor chip or the like mounted
in the electronic device, there is a tendency in which a whole
electronic device is downsized and the density of the integration
of the chip becomes higher. Accordingly, the plate type heat pipe
has a large restriction in the thickness of the plate type heat
pipe. For example, when the total height of the heat pipe is 1 mm,
the thickness of the plate member of the heat pipe is 0.2 mm, which
is a general size of this kind of the plate type heat pipe, the
outer diameter of the small tube 107 inserted in the side plate
member as shown in FIG. 14 is 0.6 mm.phi. and the inner diameter
thereof is 0.4 mm.phi.. It is therefore impossible to pour the
working fluid into the container by the needle of the injector
commercially used. Furthermore, since the small tube is inserted
into the side plate member of the container, the small tube
protrudes out of the container. In addition, since the small tube
is positioned in the side portion of the container, the gas remains
in the corner of the container when the gas is removed.
[0017] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide
a container, a plate type thin heat pipe and a wick which may
effectively cool semiconductor chip or the like in the electronic
device with remarkably increasing heat generating density and
enable to easily seal the portion to be sealed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] To solve the problems in the conventional art, the present
inventors have been studying hard. As a result, the following
findings are obtained. More specifically, it is important in a wick
that the wick has a capillary power. The capillary power can be
obtained in general by placing mesh along the inner wall surface of
the tube. It is the most ideal structure of the wick in which the
acute angle portion in the cross-sectional view, for example as
described above with reference to FIG. 6, which is formed by the
inner surface of the container and the outer surface of the wire
exists continuously and uniformly along the axis of the wire. Even
in FIG. 6, the portion to effectively circulate the working fluid
is the portion designated by A. More specifically, since the mesh
or the braid comprises an assembly of wires in microscopic
analysis, the portion A may be formed when the wire is fixed on the
inner wall surface of the heat pipe so as to effectively circulate
the working fluid.
[0019] Accordingly, it has been found that when a plurality of
protruding portions are arranged in one of the inner wall surfaces
of the container to fix the mesh or the like to the other inner
wall surface of the container, the space for the vaporized working
fluid may be secured and the above-mentioned acute angle portion
may be obtained between the inner wall surface of the container and
the outer surface of wire member which has a circular cross
section, since the mesh is closely attached on the inner wall
surface of the container, thus effectively circulating the working
fluid.
[0020] In addition it has been found that when a mesh comprising a
combined wire members running in X direction and Y direction in a
lattice shape are closely attached on the inner wall surface of the
container, the above-mentioned acute angle portion may be obtained
between the inner wall surface of the container and the outer
surface of wire member which has a circular cross section, thus
effectively circulating the working fluid.
[0021] Furthermore, it has been found that when a recessed portion
is formed in a central portion of a thin copper plate in such
manner that there is a difference in level between the outer
peripheral portion and the central portion, and a passage
connecting to outside is formed in a corner portion as a portion to
be sealed, the container may be hermetically sealed only by
caulking the corner portion, and in addition, since the portion to
be sealed is formed in the corner portion, the gas is hardly
remained within the container in case of removing the gas.
[0022] The present invention was made based on the above-mentioned
findings.
[0023] The first embodiment of the wick of the present invention
comprises a flat plate member and a wire member wound around said
flat plate member, said wick being received within a container
having a hollow portion of a plate type thin heat pipe, inner
pressure of which container is reduced and which is hermetically
sealed.
[0024] The second embodiment of the wick of the present invention
comprises a wick, wherein said flat plate member comprises a unit
of punched metal plates formed by combining two punched metal
plates in which at least one of said punched metal plates have a
plurality of protruding portions, and said two punched metal plates
are placed face to face with a distance corresponding to a height
of said protruding portion.
[0025] The first embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises: (1) a plurality of metal wire members
placed in a same plane in parallel with a prescribed distance
spaced out; (2) a container having a hollow portion which is
reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed comprising an
upper plate member and a lower plate member placed face to face,
each of which is made of thin copper plate, formed in such a manner
that each of said upper plate member and said lower plate member
contacts said wire members, and said wire members are sandwiched by
said upper and lower plate members; and (3) water as a working
fluid received in said container.
[0026] The second embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of
the present invention comprises: (1) a group of wire members
comprising a plurality of first metal wire members placed in a same
plane in parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out, and a
plurality of second metal wire members placed in a same plane in
parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out and placed so as to
cross said plurality of first metal wire members; (2) a container
having a hollow portion which is reduced in inner pressure and
hermetically sealed comprising an upper plate member and a lower
plate member placed face to face, each of which is made of thin
copper plate, formed in such a manner that each of said upper plate
member and said lower plate member contacts said group of wire
members, and said group of wire members are sandwiched by said
upper and lower plate members; and (3) water as a working fluid
received in said container.
[0027] The third embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow
portion which is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed,
formed by an upper plate member comprising a thin copper plate and
a lower plate member comprising a thin copper plate; (2) a wick
comprising a flat plate member and a wire member wound around said
flat plate member, received in said container; and (3) a working
fluid received in said container.
[0028] The fourth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of
the present invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow
portion which is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed,
formed by an upper plate member comprising a thin copper plate and
a lower plate member comprising a thin copper plate; (2) a wick
formed by being arranged on an inner surface of one of said upper
plate member and said lower plate member, which is positioned
within said container; (3) a working fluid received in said
container.
[0029] The fifth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow
portion which is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed,
formed by an upper plate member comprising a thin copper plate and
a lower plate member comprising a thin copper plate, a plurality of
protruding portions being formed on an inner surface of said upper
plate member or said lower plate member; (2) a wick comprising a
flat plate member and a wire member wound around said flat plate
member, received in said container in such a manner that said wick
is pressed by said plurality of protruding portions to an opposing
inner surface of said container; (3) a working fluid received in
said container.
[0030] The sixth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow
portion which is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed,
formed by an upper plate member comprising a thin copper plate and
a lower plate member comprising a thin copper plate; (2) a wick
comprising a unit of punched metal plates formed by combining two
punched metal plates in which at least one of said punched metal
plates have a plurality of protruding portions, and said two
punched metal plates are placed face to face with a distance
corresponding to a height of said protruding portion and a wire
member wound around said unit of punched metal plates; and (3) a
working fluid received in said container.
[0031] The seventh embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of
the present invention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe,
wherein another wire member is further arranged in such manner that
said another wire member crosses said wire member arranged on both
of outer surfaces of said unit of punched metal plates of said
wick.
[0032] The eighth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of
the present invention comprises: (1) a group of wire members
comprising a plurality of first metal wire members placed in a same
plane in parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out, and a
plurality of second metal wire members placed in a same plane in
parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out and placed so as to
cross said plurality of first metal wire members; (2) a container
having a hollow portion formed by an upper plate member made of
thin copper plate, in a central portion of which a recessed portion
is formed to receive said group of wire members and in a corner
portion of which a passage connecting said recessed portion to
outside is formed, and a flat lower pate member made of thin copper
plate, outer peripheral portion of which are joined and said
passage is caulked so as to be hermetically sealed and inner
pressure thereof is reduced, said group of wire members being
received in said hollow portion and each of inner surface of said
upper plate member and said lower plate member contacting said
group of wire members; (3) water as a working fluid received in
said container.
[0033] The ninth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow
portion formed by an upper plate member made of thin copper plate,
in a central portion of which a recessed portion is formed and in a
corner portion of which a passage connecting said recessed portion
to outside is formed, and a flat lower pate member made of thin
copper plate, outer peripheral portion of which are joined and said
passage is caulked so as to be hermetically sealed and inner
pressure thereof is reduced; (2) a wick comprising a flat plate
member and a wire member wound around said flat plate member,
received in said container; (3) a working fluid received in said
container.
[0034] The tenth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow
portion formed by an upper plate member made of thin copper plate,
in a central portion of which a recessed portion is formed and in a
corner portion of which a passage connecting said recessed portion
to outside is formed, and a flat lower pate member made of thin
copper plate, a plurality of protruding portions being formed on an
inner surface of said upper plate member or said lower plate
member, outer peripheral portions of which are joined and said
passage is caulked so as to be hermetically sealed and inner
pressure thereof is reduced; (2) a wick comprising a flat plate
member and a wire member wound around said flat plate member,
received in said container in such a manner that said wick is
pressed by said plurality of protruding portions to an opposing
inner surface of said container; and (3) a working fluid received
in said container.
[0035] The eleventh embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of
the present invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow
portion formed by an upper plate member made of thin copper plate,
in a central portion of which a recessed portion is formed and in a
corner portion of which a passage connecting said recessed portion
to outside is formed, and a flat lower pate member made of thin
copper plate, outer peripheral portions of which are joined and
said passage is caulked so as to be hermetically sealed and inner
pressure thereof is reduced; (2) a wick comprising a unit of
punched metal plates formed by combining two punched metal plates
in which at least one of said punched metal plates have a plurality
of protruding portions, and said two punched metal plates are
placed face to face with a distance corresponding to a height of
said protruding portion and a wire member wound around said unit of
punched metal plates; (3) a working fluid received in said
container.
[0036] The twelfth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of
the present invention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe,
wherein another wire member is further arranged in such manner that
said another wire member crosses said wire member arranged on both
of outer surfaces of said unit of punched metal plates of said
wick.
[0037] The thirteenth embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe
of the present invention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe,
wherein said upper plate member is integrally formed as one piece
member by press-working.
[0038] The first embodiment of the container of the present
invention comprises a container of a plate type heat pipe formed by
combining a flat plate having a recessed portion in a central
portion thereof and a passage connecting to outside in a corner
portion of an outer peripheral portion thereof, and another flat
plate, then brazing said outer peripheral portion of said flat
plate to said another flat plate, and caulking said passage to form
a hermetically sealed hollow portion.
[0039] The second embodiment of the container of the present
invention comprises a container, wherein said flat plate and said
another flat plate have corresponding recessed portions in
respective central portions and corresponding passages in
respective corner portions.
[0040] One embodiment of the method for manufacturing a plate type
thin heat pipe of the present invention comprises steps of:
[0041] (1) preparing metal wire member placed in a same plane in
parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out;
[0042] (2) sandwiching said wire member by a copper thin upper
plate member and a copper thin lower plate member in such manner
that solder is applied on portions of said upper plate member and
lower plate member with which said wire member contacts to
provisionally fabricate a container;
[0043] (3) applying a heat treatment to thus provisionally
fabricated container at a prescribed temperature to form a
hermetically sealed container in which said wire member, said upper
plate member and said lower plate member are integrated as a one
piece member;
[0044] (4) reducing an inner pressure of said container, and
filling water as a working fluid.
[0045] Other embodiment of the wick of the present invention
comprises a wick, wherein said flat plate member of said wick
comprises a circular shaped or a polygonal shaped plate with
notches or columns arranged in the end portion thereof, said wire
member being wound with the use of said notches or columns as
turn-around points and arranged on one surface of said flat plate
member.
[0046] Other embodiment of the wick of the present invention
comprises a wick, wherein said flat plate member of said wick
comprises a punched metal having a plurality of punched holes.
[0047] Other embodiment of the wick of the present invention
comprises a wick, wherein another wire member is further arranged
in such manner that said another wire member crosses said wire
member arranged on both of outer surfaces of said unit of punched
metal plates of said wick.
[0048] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein
mesh is further provided between said wire member and said upper
plate member or said lower plate member, between said wire member
and said another wire member, and between said group of wire
members and said upper plate member or said lower plate member.
[0049] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein
said flat plate member of said wick comprises a circular shaped or
a polygonal shaped plate with notches or columns arranged in the
end portion thereof, said wire member being wound with the use of
said notches or columns as turn-around points and arranged on one
surface of said flat plate member.
[0050] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises a wick, wherein said flat plate member
of said wick comprises a circular shaped or a polygonal shaped
plate, said wire member being wound on both surfaces of said plate
member.
[0051] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein
said flat plate member of said wick comprises a punched metal
having a plurality of punched holes.
[0052] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein
another wire member is further arranged in such manner that said
another wire member crosses said wire member arranged on both of
outer surfaces of said unit of punched metal plates of said
wick.
[0053] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein at
least one of said upper plate member and said lower plate member
have a recessed portion in a central portion, and said upper plate
member and said lower plate member are fitted and outer peripheral
portions are joined to form said container including said hollow
portion.
[0054] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein
said unit of punched metal plates comprises a circular shaped or a
polygonal shaped plate, and said wire member is arranged on both of
outer surfaces of said unit of punched metal plates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0055] FIG. 1 is a view to show elements of one of the embodiment
of the plate type heat pipe of the present invention;
[0056] FIG. 2 is a schematic view to show other arrangement of the
wire member shown in FIG. 1;
[0057] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing one
embodiment of the wick of the present invention;
[0058] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of other embodiment of the wick
of the present invention;
[0059] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one
embodiment of the plate type heat pipe of the invention;
[0060] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a contact portion
between one plate member and wire member;
[0061] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing other
embodiment of the plate type heat pipe of the invention;
[0062] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of other embodiment of the wick
of the present invention;
[0063] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing a portion to
be sealed in the container of the invention;
[0064] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a lower plate member
including a portion to be sealed shown in FIG. 9;
[0065] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a
conventional aluminum container;
[0066] FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a
conventional heat pipe;
[0067] FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a
conventional heat pipe; and
[0068] FIG. 14 is a view to show elements of a conventional plate
type heat pipe including a portion to be sealed.
[0069] FIG. 15 illustrates a wick comprising a flat plate member
and a wire member wound around the flat plate member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0070] The present invention is described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0071] One embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises (1) a plurality of metal wire members
placed in a same plane in parallel with a prescribed distance
spaced out, (2) a container having a hollow portion which is
reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed comprising an
upper plate member and a lower plate member placed face to face,
each of which is made of thin copper plate, formed in such a manner
that each of said upper plate member and said lower plate member
contacts said wire members, and said wire members are sandwiched by
said upper and lower plate members, and (3) water as a working
fluid received in said container.
[0072] Furthermore, other embodiment of the plate type thin heat
pipe of the present invention comprises (1) a group of wire members
comprising a plurality of first metal wire members placed in a same
plane in parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out, and a
plurality of second metal wire members placed in a same plane in
parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out and placed so as to
cross said plurality of first metal wire members, (2) a container
having a hollow portion which is reduced in inner pressure and
hermetically sealed comprising an upper plate member and a lower
plate member placed face to face, each of which is made of thin
copper plate, formed in such a manner that each of said upper plate
member and said lower plate member contacts said group of wire
members, and said group of wire members are sandwiched by said
upper and lower plate members, and (3) water as a working fluid
received in said container.
[0073] In addition, in the plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention, mesh may be further provided between said wire member
and said upper plate member or said lower plate member, between
said wire member and said another wire member, and between said
group of wire members and said upper plate member or said lower
plate member.
[0074] The above-mentioned embodiments of the plate type thin heat
pipe of the present invention are described in more detail. As
shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of wire members 2 are arranged in
parallel each other, for example. Solder is applied in advance on
the portions of the thin flat plates with which the wire members
contact, and the wire members arranged in parallel are sandwiched
by the two copper thin flat plates 1, 3. Thus prepared wire members
and flat plates are introduced into a furnace to obtain the
container as substantially shown in FIG. 11 without limiting the
material of the container to aluminum. Since the wire member
positioned in the outer most end forms the outer wall of the
container, a square wire member may be used in stead of a round
wire member.
[0075] According to the above-mentioned container of the present
invention, contrary to the conventional container shown in FIG. 11
in which each of partition members vertically extend from the lower
member to form a corner of right angles, the outer surface of the
round wire member 2 and the flat plate 2, 3 forms acute angle, thus
the round wire member per se functions as a wick to reduce the
numbers of the parts which is favorable.
[0076] Furthermore, in case of the conventional container formed by
extrusion shown in FIG. 11, the heat transfer along the X direction
(i.e., the direction across the partition member of the container)
is inferior to the heat transfer along the Y direction (i.e., the
direction along the partition member). On the other hand, in the
above-mentioned container of the present invention, for example as
shown in FIG. 2(b), since the wire members 2 are intermittently
arranged, the heat transfer property in the X direction can be
improved together with that in the Y direction. In this case, when
the mesh 8 is interposed between one of the plate member 7 and the
wire member 9, as shown in FIG. 4, a required strength can be
provided with the container.
[0077] As shown in FIG. 3, the group of the wire members 5 arranged
in parallel each other are placed in such manner as crossing the
other group of the wire members 5 arranged in parallel each other,
and then the two groups of the wire members are sandwiched by the
plate member 4, 6 to form the container of the plate type thin heat
pipe. In the above-mentioned container, the space along the X
direction is connected to the space along the Y direction without
intermittently placing the wire members.
[0078] Furthermore, as described above, in the structure in which
mesh is further interposed between the group of wire members 9 and
the plate member 7, the wire member 9 functions as a part of the
wick, and in addition, functions to fix the mesh 8 as the main wick
to one surface of the plate member 7 and secure the passage for the
vaporized fluid
[0079] In addition, other embodiment of the plate type thin heat
pipe of the present invention may comprises: (1) a container having
a hollow portion which is reduced in inner pressure and
hermetically sealed, formed by an upper plate member comprising a
thin copper plate and a lower plate member comprising a thin copper
plate, a plurality of protruding portions being formed on an inner
surface of said upper plate member or said lower plate member; (2)
a wick comprising a flat plate member and a wire member wound
around said flat plate member, received in said container in such a
manner that said wick is pressed by said plurality of protruding
portions to an opposing inner surface of said container; and (3) a
working fluid received in said container.
[0080] As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of protruding portions 12
are provided with one of the flat plate 11 of two flat plates, and
two flat plates are placed face to face to form the container. In
this case, when one of the flat plate is formed so as to have a
recessed portion in the central portion thereof, the recessed
portion forms the inner space of the container. In particular, in
case of the very thin type of container required, the recessed
portion can be easily formed by press-working. The above-mentioned
protruding portions 12 can be formed together with the recessed
portion. The protruding portions 12 are provided on all the surface
of the recessed portion 11 in an arrangement of equilateral
triangle, for example. The shape of the protruding portion may be
cylindrical or square pole. The height of the protruding portion is
prepared so as to be equal to the difference between the thickness
of the layered meshes received in the container and the distance
from the inner surface of one of the plate member to the inner
surface of the other plate member of the container.
[0081] Two flat plates 11, 14 with the recessed portion and the
protruding portions respectively formed according to the above are
placed face to face, then, the layered meshes 13 are interposed
therebetween, and then the outer peripheral portions are brazed so
that the container is hermetically sealed. At the same time, a
small tube is interposed in a part of the outer peripheral
portions. A working fluid is injected into the container, and the
air is removed through the small tube. Then, the small tube is
caulked, thus the plate type thin heat pipe is prepared.
[0082] The protruding portion 12 functions to press the meshes
against the inner surface of the flat plate, and at the same time,
according to the protruding portions, the passage space for flowing
the vaporized fluid therethrough is secured. Furthermore, the
portion of the wick most effectively functioning to circulate the
working fluid is the portion of the acute angle formed by the inner
wall of the container and the outer surface of the circular wire
member as shown above in the cross-section. According to the plate
type heat pipe of the present invention, since the mesh is surely
and closely pressed to the inner wall of the container, the working
fluid is effectively circulated.
[0083] The structure of the wick is not limited to the
above-mentioned mesh. The structure of the wick may comprises a
group of wire members or a group of braid. With those wick, the
same effect as described above can be obtained.
[0084] Furthermore, in addition to the group of protruding portions
described above, a second group of protruding portions are
preferably provided, the height of which is equal to the distance
between the inner surface of one of the flat plate and the inner
surface of the other flat plate of the container. The second group
of protruding portions thus formed function to reinforce the
strength of the container. The density of the second group of the
protruding portions may be lower than that of the first group of
the protruding portions. However, when the wick structure comprises
a mesh or layered meshes, the punched holes corresponding to the
protruding portions in shape and arrangement are preferably
prepared in advance in the mesh or the layered meshes. In this
case, when the wick structure is sandwiched by the two flat plates,
the tip ends of the second group of protruding portions contact
with the inner surface of the opposing flat plate. When the
above-mentioned tip ends are brazed in the same manner as the outer
peripheral portions, the walls of the container can be prevented
from being deformed even when the inner pressure of the heat pipe
becomes higher than the pressure of the open air.
[0085] Then, embodiments of the wick of the present invention is
described. One embodiment of the wick of the present invention
comprises a flat plate member and a wire member wound around said
flat plate member, as illustrated in FIG. 15, for example. The wick
may be received within a container having a hollow portion of a
plate type thin heat pipe, inner pressure of which container is
reduced and which is hermetically sealed.
[0086] Furthermore, other embodiment of the wick of the present
invention comprises a wick, wherein said flat plate member
comprises a unit of punched metal plates formed by combining two
punched metal plates in which at least one of said punched metal
plates have a plurality of protruding portions, and said two
punched metal plates are placed face to face with a distance
corresponding to a height of said protruding portion.
[0087] In addition, other embodiment of the wick of the present
invention comprises a wick, wherein said flat plate member of said
wick comprises a circular shaped or a polygonal shaped plate with
notches or columns arranged in the end portion thereof, said wire
member being wound with the use of said notches or columns as
turn-around points and arranged on one surface of said flat plate
member.
[0088] In addition, other embodiment of the wick of the present
invention comprises a wick, wherein said flat plate member of said
wick comprises a punched metal having a plurality of punched
holes.
[0089] In addition, other embodiment of the wick of the present
invention comprises a wick, wherein another wire member is further
arranged in such manner that said another wire member crosses said
wire member arranged on both of outer surfaces of said unit of
punched metal plates of said wick.
[0090] Then, other embodiments of the plate type thin heat pipe of
the present invention are described.
[0091] Other embodiment of the plate type thin heat pipe of the
present invention comprises: (1) a container having a hollow
portion which is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically sealed,
formed by an upper plate member comprising a thin copper plate and
a lower plate member comprising a thin copper plate; (2) a wick
comprising a flat plate member and a wire member wound around said
flat plate member, received in said container; and (3) a working
fluid received in said container.
[0092] In addition, other embodiment of the plate type thin heat
pipe of the present invention comprises: (1) a container having a
hollow portion which is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically
sealed, formed by an upper plate member comprising a thin copper
plate and a lower plate member comprising a thin copper plate; (2)
a wick formed by being arranged on an inner surface of one of said
upper plate member and said lower plate member, which is positioned
within said container; (3) a working fluid received in said
container.
[0093] In addition, other embodiment of the plate type thin heat
pipe of the present invention comprises: (1) a container having a
hollow portion which is reduced in inner pressure and hermetically
sealed, formed by an upper plate member comprising a thin copper
plate and a lower plate member comprising a thin copper plate; (2)
a wick comprising a unit of punched metal plates formed by
combining two punched metal plates in which at least one of said
punched metal plates have a plurality of protruding portions, and
said two punched metal plates are placed face to face with a
distance corresponding to a height of said protruding portion and a
wire member wound around said unit of punched metal plates; and (3)
a working fluid received in said container.
[0094] Furthermore, the plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention may comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein
another wire member is further arranged in such manner that said
another wire member crosses said wire member arranged on both of
outer surfaces of said unit of punched metal plates of said
wick.
[0095] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention may comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein said
flat plate member of said wick comprises a circular shaped or a
polygonal shaped plate with notches or columns arranged in the end
portion thereof, said wire member being wound with the use of said
notches or columns as turnaround points and arranged on one surface
of said flat plate member.
[0096] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention may comprises a wick, wherein said flat plate member of
said wick comprises a circular shaped or a polygonal shaped plate,
said wire member being wound on both surfaces of said plate
member.
[0097] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention may comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein said
flat plate member of said wick comprises a punched metal having a
plurality of punched holes.
[0098] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention may comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein
another wire member is further arranged in such manner that said
another wire member crosses said wire member arranged on one or
both of outer surfaces of said unit of punched metal plates of said
wick.
[0099] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention may comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein at
least one of said upper plate member and said lower plate member
have a recessed portion in a central portion, and said upper plate
member and said lower plate member are fitted and outer peripheral
portions are joined to form said container including said hollow
portion.
[0100] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention may comprises a plate type thin heat pipe, wherein said
unit of punched metal plates comprises a circular shaped or a
polygonal shaped plate, and said wire member is arranged on both of
outer surfaces of said unit of punched metal plates.
[0101] Furthermore, the method for manufacturing a plate type thin
heat pipe of the present invention comprises steps of:
[0102] (1) preparing metal wire member placed in a same plane in
parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out;
[0103] (2) sandwiching said wire member by a copper thin upper
plate member and a copper thin lower plate member in such manner
that solder is applied on portions of said upper plate member and
lower plate member with which said wire member contacts to
provisionally fabricate a container;
[0104] (3) applying a heat treatment to thus provisionally
fabricated container at a prescribed temperature to form a
hermetically sealed container in which said wire member, said upper
plate member and said lower plate member are integrated as a one
piece member;
[0105] (4) reducing an inner pressure of said container, and
filling water as a working fluid.
[0106] Furthermore, further other embodiment of the plate type thin
heat pipe of the present invention is described in detail. More
specifically, when copper material is selected as the material for
the container and the wick which can use water as a working fluid,
it is impossible to practically place a copper wire having a
diameter up to 0.5 mm.phi. along the inner surface of the
container. Accordingly, in the present invention, a copper thin
plate is used as a supporting material to place the above-mentioned
wire along the inner surface of the container, and the copper thin
plate with the wire wound is received as a wick within the
container.
[0107] For example, the wire is wound around a square copper thin
plate in such manner that the wire is guided along the front
surface of the copper thin plate from one end to the other end
which faces each other, and then along the back surface of the
copper thin plate, and then along the front surface again, thus the
wire is densely wound. In this case, the end of the wire is
entangled to a notch or the like formed in the corner of the thin
plate and fixed. The plate-shaped wick having the most effective
mechanism for circulating the working fluid along a uni-direction
can be thus obtained. Thus prepared wick may be received in the
container in the same manner as the mesh, and in addition, as shown
in FIG. 5, the above-mentioned wick may be pressed by the group of
the protruding portions 12 formed on one of the inner surface of
the container to the other inner surface of the container.
[0108] The wick can be received in the container having six sides
formed by combining the upper plate member, the lower plate member
and the side plate members. In case of a very thin heat pipe, the
wick can be received in the container formed by combining one flat
plate and the other plate with a recessed portion formed in the
central portion thereof.
[0109] However, in that case, since the vaporized fluid is not
supplied to the wires wound on one of the sides of the thin copper
plate, i.e., the vaporized fluid is supplied to the wires wound on
the other side of the thin copper plate, there occurs no
condensation of the working fluid in the above-mentioned side of
the thin copper plate, thus causing to provide dead space. It is
required in the plate type heat pipe to make the container thinner,
thus the dead space is not preferable in the plate type heat pipe.
It is possible to wind wire on one side of the thin copper plate
with notches provided at appropriate interval (pitch) in the short
ends of the plate, more specifically, the wire is placed along the
side surface of the copper plate, and turned around at the notches
to return back, thus repeating in such manner as described above to
be wound on the single side of the copper plate. In this case, the
dead space can be removed.
[0110] In case that the wire is wound on one surface of the thin
plate, the thin plate with the wire wound can be used as one of the
plate member of the container, thus reducing the numbers of the
component of the heat pipe and being preferable.
[0111] Although, the thin plate with the wire wound comprises an
ordinary flat plate, a punched metal plate having a plurality of
punched holes can be used in stead of the above-mentioned flat
plate. In this case, even if the wire is wound on both sides of the
punched metal plate, there is no such dead space as in the flat
plate. More specifically, the vaporized working fluid condenses on
both surfaces of the punched metal plate so that both surfaces of
the punched metal plate with the wire wound can function as a
circulating passage for the working fluid.
[0112] In addition, in case that the wire is wound along one
direction on the surface of thin plate, the function of circulating
working fluid is effective in one direction, thus the function of
the plate type heat pipe is limited. Accordingly, there is proposed
a method for circulating the working fluid in two directions (two
dimensions) of a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction in
which the first wire is wound between short ends of the punched
metal plate, and then the second wire is wound between long ends of
the punched metal plate in such manner that the first wire and the
second wire cross on the surface of the punched metal plate.
Although the above-mentioned structure resembles a mesh at first
glance, the practical effect between the above-mentioned structure
and a mesh are totally different.
[0113] More specifically, in case of the mesh, the first wire
extends along the inner surface of the container and the second
wire extends to cross the first wire in such manner that the second
wire extends alternatively to the upper side of the first wire and
the lower side of the first wire, while the first wire extends
alternatively to the upper side of the second wire and the lower
side of the second wire. Therefore, the wire does not constantly
contact with the inner surface of the container. On the other hand,
in the present invention, the wire constantly contact with the
inner surface of the container and the portion A shown in FIG. 6
formed between the inner surface of the container and the outer
surface of the wire is maintained along the whole length of the
wire. In other words, in the present invention, the wick has a
structure in which there are two straight passages comprising an
upper straight passage and a lower straight passage for the working
fluid formed by the wires. The above-mentioned structure is shown
in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the protruding portions 17 are
formed on the inner surface of the upper flat plate 15 having a
recessed portion, and the wick comprising the punched metal plate
18 with the X directional wire 19 and the Y directional wire 20
wound is received in the recessed portion and pressed by the
protruding portions against the inner surface of the other flat
plate 16.
[0114] However, although the above-mentioned type of the wick
secures the passage for vaporized fluid in upper side of the
container formed by the protruding portions, the vaporized working
fluid only condenses there, since there is no circulating
structure. The wick structure using mesh as shown in FIG. 5 has the
same limitation as described above.
[0115] To improve the above-mentioned structure of the wick, there
is proposed another structure of the wick, in which a unit of
punched metal plates formed by two punched metal plates with a
prescribed vaporized passage provided therebetween is prepared, and
then, the wire is wound on the outer surface of the unit of punched
metal plates. According to the above-mentioned structure, the space
within the container can be effectively used, and the same function
can be provided with both surfaces of the punched metal plates.
[0116] As shown in FIG. 8, the protruding portions (not shown) are
formed on one of the punched metal plates, and then a unit of
punched metal plates are prepared by combining two punched metal
plates with a space provided therebetween, and then, the wire 22 is
wound in X direction on the respective outer surface of the punched
metal plates, and the wire 24 is wound in Y direction on the
respective outer surface of the punched metal plates with the wire
22 wound. The thus prepared wick is then received within the
container formed by the upper flat plate member 21 and the lower
flat plate member 25. In this case, when the container is designed
so as to have the inner height, i.e., the distance between the
inner surface of the upper plate member and the inner surface of
the lower plate member, which is equal to a total of the thickness
of the both plate members, the difference between the punched metal
plates (i.e., the height of the protruding portion), and 4 times of
outer diameter of the wire, the group of outer wires 24 (i.e., Y
direction) closely contact with the respective inner surfaces 21,
25 of the container. The group of inner wires 22 (i.e., X
direction) closely contact with the respective punched metal plates
23. The space between the two punched metal plates function as the
passage for vaporized fluid, and the vaporized working fluid
condenses on the group of wires. Thus, the plate type heat pipe of
the present invention has a wick structure in which the straight
passages for circulation in both of X direction and Y direction are
arranged on both of the upper and lower inner surfaces of the heat
pipe so as to secure the passage for vaporized working fluid.
[0117] The first embodiment of the container of the present
invention comprises a container of a plate type heat pipe formed by
combining a flat plate having a recessed portion in a central
portion thereof and a passage connecting to outside in a the outer
of an outer peripheral portion thereof, and another flat plate,
then brazing the outer peripheral portion of the flat plate to the
another flat plate, and caulking the passage to form a hermetically
sealed hollow portion.
[0118] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing a portion to
be sealed in the container of the invention. FIG. 10 is a plan view
showing a lower plate member including a portion to be sealed shown
in FIG. 9.
[0119] As shown in FIG. 9, a square copper plate is press-worked to
form a central portion 32 recessed from the square outer peripheral
portion 31. The corner portion 33 which is a part of the outer
peripheral portion is positioned on the same plane to the recessed
central portion.
[0120] Solder is applied on the outer peripheral portion 31, and
then the other flat copper plate and the copper plate with the
recessed portion formed are combined and adhered to form the
container having the opening portion in the corner portion 33.
[0121] Working fluid is injected from the corner portion 33, and
then the container is heated to remove gas within the container.
The corner portion 33 is obliquely caulked, and then welded to
prepare the plate type heat pipe of the present invention.
[0122] The tip portion of the corner portion 33 may be received in
the vacuum system including a soft packing on the opening portion
thereof, and introducing the vapor into the container, and then
removing gas under reduced pressure to form the plate type heat
pipe.
[0123] According to the present invention, the plate type heat pipe
having, for example, a thickness of the container: 1 mm, a
thickness of the plate member: 0.2 mm, and inner height of the
container (the distance between the upper inner surface of the
plate member and the lower inner surface of the plate member): 0.6
mm can be fully prepared.
[0124] In addition, the protruding portions having the same height
as the inner height of the container are formed on the inner
surface of one of the plate member in a prescribed interval, and
solder is applied on the tip portion of the protruding portions,
the plate type heat pipe can be prepared. According to the above,
the strength of the thin heat pipe is reinforced. For example, when
the protruding portions are arranged in a regular square form with
10 mm pitch, the heat pipe can be prevented from being deformed,
even under the inner pressure of 1 kg/cm.sup.2.
[0125] The press-worked copper is the most effective material for
the container shown in FIG. 9. Aluminum is excellent in
workability, however, water cannot be used with aluminum container.
In the present invention, copper can be effectively used for the
material of the container, thus remarkably effective in
property.
[0126] Furthermore, the plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention comprises: (1) a group of wire members comprising a
plurality of first metal wire members placed in a same plane in
parallel with a prescribed distance spaced out, and a plurality of
second metal wire members placed in a same plane in parallel with a
prescribed distance spaced out and placed so as to cross said
plurality of first metal wire members; (2) a container having a
hollow portion formed by an upper plate member made of thin copper
plate, in a central portion of which a recessed portion is formed
to receive said group of wire members and in a corner portion of
which a passage connecting said recessed portion to outside is
formed, and a flat lower pate member made of thin copper plate,
outer peripheral portion of which are joined and said passage is
caulked so as to be hermetically sealed and inner pressure thereof
is reduced, said group of wire members being received in said
hollow portion and each of inner surface of said upper plate member
and said lower plate member contacting said group of wire members;
(3) water as a working fluid received in said container.
[0127] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention may comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portion
formed by an upper plate member made of thin copper plate, in a
central portion of which a recessed portion is formed and in a
corner portion of which a passage connecting said recessed portion
to outside is formed, and a flat lower pate member made of thin
copper plate, outer peripheral portion of which are joined and said
passage is caulked so as to be hermetically sealed and inner
pressure thereof is reduced; (2) a wick comprising a flat plate
member and a wire member wound around said flat plate member,
received in said container; (3) a working fluid received in said
container.
[0128] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention may comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portion
formed by an upper plate member made of thin copper plate, in a
central portion of which a recessed portion is formed and in a
corner portion of which a passage connecting said recessed portion
to outside is formed, and a flat lower pate member made of thin
copper plate, a plurality of protruding portions being formed on an
inner surface of said upper plate member or said lower plate
member, outer peripheral portions of which are joined and said
passage is caulked so as to be hermetically sealed and inner
pressure thereof is reduced; (2) a wick comprising a flat plate
member and a wire member wound around said flat plate member,
received in said container in such a manner that said wick is
pressed by said plurality of protruding portions to an opposing
inner surface of said container; and (3) a working fluid received
in said container.
[0129] In addition, the plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention may comprises: (1) a container having a hollow portion
formed by an upper plate member made of thin copper plate, in a
central portion of which a recessed portion is formed and in a
corner portion of which a passage connecting said recessed portion
to outside is formed, and a flat lower pate member made of thin
copper plate, outer peripheral portions of which are joined and
said passage is caulked so as to be hermetically sealed and inner
pressure thereof is reduced; (2) a wick comprising a unit of
punched metal plates formed by combining two punched metal plates
in which at least one of said punched metal plates have a plurality
of protruding portions, and said two punched metal plates are
placed face to face with a distance corresponding to a height of
said protruding portion and a wire member wound around said unit of
punched metal plates; (3) a working fluid received in said
container.
[0130] In the above-mentioned embodiment of the plate type thin
heat pipe of the present invention, the passage formed in the
corner can be sealed only by caulking the corner portion. In
addition, since any protruding portion is not formed near the
portion to be sealed and the portion to be sealed is formed in the
corner portion, gas is hardly remained when removing gas in the
container.
[0131] In addition, in the plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention, another wire member is further arranged in such manner
that the another wire member crosses the wire member arranged on
both of outer surfaces of the unit of punched metal plates of the
wick.
[0132] In addition, in the plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention, the above-mentioned upper plate member may be integrally
formed as a one piece member by press-working.
[0133] As described above, according to the container of the
present invention, gas can be easily removed by a boiling method.
In particular, gas is hardly remained. In addition, since the
corner portion is only caulked, the container is easily
manufactured at low cost.
EXAMPLE
Example 1
[0134] According to the present invention, a container of a plate
type heat pipe of the present invention is formed by using two
copper plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 20 mm and
length 50 mm, ten pieces of copper wire of a diameter of 0.2
mm.phi. and length of 50 mm, and 4 sheets of #200 screen meshes, as
follows:
[0135] 10 pieces of the copper wires are placed in parallel each
other with 2 mm pitch on one of the copper plate, and then 4 sheets
of the meshes are interposed between the disposed wires and the
other copper plate. Solder is applied in advance to the side
portions of the copper wire to contact with the copper plate and
the mesh, and each end of the meshes. A square bar is placed on
each end of the copper plate so as to seal the container.
[0136] Then, thus formed copper plates with the copper wire and
meshes placed and pinched by a fixing fig are introduced into a
furnace as they are.
[0137] In addition, a small copper tube is interposed in advance so
as to extrude from the inside of the container to outside, and then
the air within the container is removed and a working fluid is
injected into the container by the use of the tube. Thus, a plate
type thin heat pipe of the present invention having a width of 20
mm, a length of 50 mm, and a thickness of 1 mm is formed. When a
chip generating heat was cooled by thus formed plate type thin heat
pipe of the present invention, the chip was effectively cooled.
Example 2
[0138] The same material as in Example 1 except the following
material are used and a plate type heat pipe of the present
invention is formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except the
following. More specifically, 4 sheets of the meshes are divided
into respective 2 sheets. The group of copper wires placed in
parallel are interposed between a set of 2 sheets of meshes, and
then, thus formed copper wires and meshes are interposed by two
copper plates to form a plate type thin heat pipe of the present
invention having a width of 20 mm, a length of 50 mm, and a
thickness of 1 mm. When a chip generating heat was cooled by thus
formed plate type thin heat pipe of the present invention, the chip
was effectively cooled.
Example 3
[0139] According to the present invention, the plate type heat pipe
of the present invention schematically shown in FIG. 3 is formed by
using two copper plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 40
mm and a length 60 mm, 36 pieces of copper wire of a diameter of
0.3 mm.phi. and length of 60 mm, and 56 pieces of copper wire of a
diameter of 0.3 mm.phi. and length of 40 mm, as follows:
[0140] Copper wires 5 are placed in parallel each other with 1 mm
pitch on one of the copper plate 4. Solder is applied in advance to
the side portions of the copper wire to contact with the copper
plate. Copper wires are bundled before being cut to be the above
mentioned size, and applied tensile force, and then pressed and
adhered to the end portions of the copper placed below, thus
forming a unit. In the same manner, another unit in which copper
wires 5 are placed on the copper plate 5 is formed.
[0141] The above-mentioned two units are placed face to face in
such manner that axis directions of the copper wires are
perpendicular to each other, and a square bar is placed on each end
of the copper plate, and then the container is brazed in the same
manner as in Example to integrally form as a one piece member.
[0142] In addition, a small copper tube is interposed in advance so
as to extrude from the inside of the container to outside, and then
the air within the container is removed and a working fluid is
injected into the container by the use of the tube. Thus, a plate
type thin heat pipe of the present invention having a width of 40
mm, a length of 60 mm, and a thickness of 1 mm is formed. When a
chip generating heat was cooled by thus formed plate type thin heat
pipe of the present invention, the chip was effectively cooled.
Example 4
[0143] According to the present invention, a recessed portion
having a depth of 0.8 mm is formed in the center portion of a
square copper plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 25 mm
and a length 50 mm in such manner that a peripheral portion having
a width of 2 mm in the copper plate is remained intact, i.e., being
flat. Then, on one of the corners of the square copper plate, a
passage portion to be connected outside is formed. The passage has
a width of 1 mm and the same height of the recessed portion (i.e.,
0.8 mm). An angle formed by the passage and the end of the copper
plate is 45 degrees. The above-mentioned plate was formed by
press-working.
[0144] In addition, cylindrical protruding portions having a height
of 0.4 mm and a diameter of 1 mm.phi. are formed in a square
pattern with 3 mm pitch on other copper plate having the same size
as the copper plate with the protruding portions formed. The
above-mentioned plate was formed by press-working.
[0145] Four sheets of meshes (#120) having a width of 20 mm and a
length of 45 mm are prepared as a wick, and placed in the recessed
portion in the above-mentioned copper plate. Solder is applied to
the outer peripheral portion having width of 2 mm of the
above-mentioned copper plate, and then the other copper plate with
the protruding portions formed are placed face to face on the
above-mentioned copper plate. Thus formed container is fix by a
clip, and is introduced into a furnace to integrally form a one
piece member.
[0146] Water is injected by a injector through the opening portion
of the passage portion having a height of 0.8 mm and width of 1 mm,
and then the container is heated so as for the water to be boiled.
Thus, a plate type thin heat pipe of the present invention having a
width of 25 mm, a length of 50 mm, and a thickness of 1.2 mm is
formed. When a chip generating heat was cooled by thus formed plate
type thin heat pipe of the present invention, the chip was
effectively cooled.
Example 5
[0147] According to the present invention, a recessed portion
having a depth of 1 mm is formed in the center portion of a square
copper plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 50 mm and a
length 100 mm in such manner that a peripheral portion having a
width of 2 mm in the copper plate is remained intact, i.e., being
flat. Then, cylindrical protruding portions having a height of 1 mm
and a diameter of 3 mm.phi. are formed in a square pattern with 10
mm pitch on the center portion of the copper plate. The
above-mentioned plate was formed by press-working.
[0148] In addition, cylindrical protruding portions having a height
of 0.5 mm and a diameter of 3 mm.phi. are formed in a square
pattern with 5 mm pitch on other copper plate having the same size
as the copper plate. The above-mentioned plate was formed by
press-working.
[0149] Six sheets of meshes (#200) having a width of 45 mm and a
length of 95 mm are prepared as a wick, and layered. The
corresponding holes to the above-mentioned cylindrical protruding
portions, having a diameter of 3 mm.phi. are formed in a square
pattern with 10 mm pitch on the meshes. Thus formed meshes are
placed in the recessed portion in such manner that the cylindrical
protruding portions are inserted in the corresponding holes.
[0150] Solder is applied to the outer peripheral portion having
width of 2 mm of the above-mentioned copper plate and the tip ends
of the cylindrical protruding portions, and then the other copper
plate are placed face to face on the above-mentioned copper plate.
Thus formed container is fix by a clip, and is introduced into a
furnace to integrally form a one piece member.
[0151] Water is injected by a injector through an opening portion
of a passage portion having a height of 1 mm and width of 1 mm, and
then the container is heated so as for the water to be boiled.
Thus, a plate type thin heat pipe of the present invention having a
width of 50 mm, a length of 100 mm, and a thickness of 1.4 mm is
formed. When a chip generating heat was cooled by thus formed plate
type thin heat pipe of the present invention, the chip was
effectively cooled.
Example 6
[0152] According to the present invention, on the square portion of
21 mm.times.66 mm in the square copper plate having a thickness of
0.2 mm, a width of 25 mm and a length of 70 mm except a peripheral
portion having a width of 2 mm, dimples having a height of 0.8 mm
and a diameter of 0.2 mm.phi. are arranged along the two short ends
having a length of 21 mm of the above-mentioned square portion of
the copper plate with 0.5 mm pitch. The total of the dimples on the
short end was 40. The copper wire having a diameter of 0.2 mm.phi.
are wound on one side of the copper plate using the dimples as a
turn-around point. Both ends of the copper wire are fixed to the
far end dimples, respectively.
[0153] In addition, a recessed portion having a depth of 0.6 mm is
formed in the center portion of a square copper plate having a
thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 25 mm and a length 70 mm in such
manner that a peripheral portion having a width of 2 mm in the
copper plate is remained intact, i.e., being flat. Then, on one of
the corners of the square copper plate, a passage portion to be
connected outside is formed. The passage has a width of 1 mm and
the same height of the recessed portion (i.e., 0.6 mm). An angle
formed by the passage and the end of the copper plate is 45
degrees. The above-mentioned plate was formed by press-working.
[0154] Solder is applied to the outer peripheral portion having
width of 2 mm of the above-mentioned copper plate, and then the
other copper plate with the dimples formed are placed face to face
on the above-mentioned copper plate. Thus formed container is fix
by a clip, and is introduced into a furnace to integrally form a
one piece member.
[0155] Water is injected by a injector through the opening portion
of the passage portion having a height of 0.6 mm and width of 1 mm,
and then the container is heated so as for the water to be boiled.
Thus, a plate type thin heat pipe of the present invention having a
width of 25 mm, a length of 70 mm, and a thickness of 1.0 mm is
formed. When a chip generating heat was cooled by thus formed plate
type thin heat pipe of the present invention, the chip was
effectively cooled.
Example 7
[0156] Copper wire having a diameter of 0.2 mm.phi. is wound on a
punched copper plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 20 mm
and a length of 65 mm, the punched holes of which are formed in a
square pattern with 2 mm pitch, each being a size of 1 mm.phi.. The
wire is wound on both sides of the punched copper plate in such
manner that it is wound 38 times between two short ends having
length of 20 mm respectively with 0.5 mm pitch from the front side
surface to the back side surface, and the front side surface again,
thus repeated. Both ends of the copper wire are fixed to the far
end punched holes, respectively.
[0157] In addition, a recessed portion having a depth of 1.0 mm is
formed in the center portion of a square copper plate having a
thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 25 mm and a length 70 mm in such
manner that a peripheral portion having a width of 2 mm in the
copper plate is remained intact, i.e., being flat. Then, on one of
the corners of the square copper plate, a passage portion to be
connected outside is formed. The passage has a width of 1 mm and
the same height of the recessed portion (i.e., 1.0 mm). An angle
formed by the passage and the end of the copper plate is 45
degrees. The above-mentioned plate was formed by press-working.
Furthermore, other copper plate having the same size as the
above-mentioned copper plate is prepared. On the other copper
plate, protruding portions having a height of 4 mm, and a diameter
of 1 mm.phi. are formed in a square pattern with 3 mm pitch. The
above-mentioned other plate was formed by press-working.
[0158] The punched copper plate with wire wound as a wick is
received in the recessed portion of the copper plate. Then, solder
is applied to the outer peripheral portion having width of 2 mm of
the above-mentioned copper plate, and then, the other copper plate
with the protruding portions formed are placed face to face on the
above-mentioned copper plate. Thus formed container is fix by a
clip, and is introduced into a furnace to integrally form a one
piece member.
[0159] Water is injected by a injector through the opening portion
of the passage portion having a height of 1 mm and width of 1 mm,
and then the container is heated so as for the water to be boiled.
Thus, a plate type thin heat pipe of the present invention having a
width of 25 mm, a length of 70 mm, and a thickness of 1.4 mm is
formed. When a chip generating heat was cooled by thus formed plate
type thin heat pipe of the present invention, the chip was
effectively cooled.
Example 8
[0160] A punched copper plate A is prepared which has a thickness
of 0.1 mm, a width of 20 mm and a length of 65 mm, the punched
holes of which are formed in a square pattern with 2 mm pitch, each
being a size of 1 mm.phi.. Then, other punched copper plate B is
prepared which has a thickness of 0.1 mm, a width of 20 mm and a
length of 65 mm, the punched holes of which are formed in a square
pattern with 2 mm pitch, each being a size of 1 mm.phi., and
furthermore, cylindrical dimples having a height of 0.2 mm and a
diameter of 1 mm.phi., with 10 mm pitch are formed. Thus prepared
copper plates A and B are placed face to face with the dimples
positioned therebetween, thus forming a unit of punched metal
plates.
[0161] The copper wire having a diameter of 0.2 mm.phi. is wound on
both sides of the unit of the punched metal plates in such manner
that it is wound 65 times between two long ends having length of 65
mm respectively with 1 mm pitch from the front side surface to the
back side surface, and the front side surface again, thus repeated.
Furthermore, the copper wire is wound on both sides of the unit of
the punched metal plates with the wire wound as described above, in
such manner that it is wound 38 times between two short ends having
length of 20 mm respectively with 0.5 mm pitch from the front side
surface to the back side surface, and the front side surface again,
thus repeated. The Both ends of the copper wire are fixed to the
far end punched holes, respectively.
[0162] In addition, a recessed portion having a depth of 1.2 mm is
formed in the center portion of a square copper plate having a
thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 25 mm and a length 70 mm in such
manner that a peripheral portion having a width of 2 mm in the
copper plate is remained intact, i.e., being flat. Then, on one of
the corners of the square copper plate, a passage portion to be
connected outside is formed. The passage has a width of 1 mm and
the same height of the recessed portion (i.e., 1.2 mm). An angle
formed by the passage and the end of the copper plate is 45
degrees. The above-mentioned plate was formed by press-working.
Furthermore, other plat copper plate having the same size as the
above-mentioned copper plate is prepared. The above-mentioned other
plate was formed by press-working.
[0163] The unit of the punched copper plates with the copper wire
wound as a wick is received in the recessed portion of the copper
plate. Then, solder is applied to the outer peripheral portion
having width of 2 mm of the above-mentioned copper plate, and then,
the other flat copper plate are placed face to face on the
above-mentioned copper plate. Thus formed container is fix by a
clip, and is introduced into a furnace to integrally form a one
piece member.
[0164] Water is injected by a injector through the opening portion
of the passage portion having a height of 1.2 mm and width of 1 mm,
and then the container is heated so as for the water to be boiled.
Thus, a plate type thin heat pipe of the present invention having a
width of 25 mm, a length of 70 mm, and a thickness of 1.6 mm is
formed. When a chip generating heat was cooled by thus formed plate
type thin heat pipe of the present invention, the chip was
effectively cooled.
Example 9
[0165] According to the present invention, a recessed portion
having a depth of 0.6 mm is formed in the center portion of a
square copper plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 25 mm
and a length 50 mm in such manner that a peripheral portion having
a width of 2 mm in the copper plate is remained intact, i.e., being
flat. Then, on one of the corners of the square copper plate, a
passage portion to be connected outside is formed. The passage has
a width of 1 mm and the same height of the recessed portion (i.e.,
0.6 mm). An angle formed by the passage and the end of the copper
plate is 45 degrees. The above-mentioned plate was formed by
press-working.
[0166] In addition, cylindrical protruding portions having a height
of 0.6 mm and a diameter of 3 mm.phi. are formed in a square
pattern with 10 mm pitch on other copper plate having the same size
as the copper plate with the recessed portion formed. The
above-mentioned plate was formed by press-working.
[0167] Four sheets of meshes (#120) having a width of 20 mm and a
length of 45 mm are prepared as a wick, and layered. The
corresponding holes to the above-mentioned cylindrical protruding
portions, having a diameter of 3 mm.phi. are formed in a square
pattern with 10 mm pitch on the meshes. Thus formed meshes are
placed in the recessed portion in such manner that the cylindrical
protruding portions are inserted in the corresponding holes.
[0168] Solder is applied to the outer peripheral portion having
width of 2 mm of the above-mentioned copper plate and the tip ends
of the cylindrical protruding portions, and then the other copper
plate are placed face to face on the above-mentioned copper plate.
Thus formed container is fix by a clip, and is introduced into a
furnace to integrally form a one piece member.
[0169] Water is injected by a injector through an opening portion
of a passage portion having a height of 0.6 mm and width of 1 mm,
and then the container is heated so as for the water to be boiled.
Thus, a plate type thin heat pipe of the present invention having a
width of 25 mm, a length of 50 mm, and a thickness of 1 mm is
formed. When a chip generating heat was cooled by thus formed plate
type thin heat pipe of the present invention, the chip was
effectively cooled.
[0170] According to the present invention, it is possible to
fabricate the plate type heat pipe made of copper which is
substantially a multiple through holes type of heat pipe with the
use of water as a working fluid.
[0171] Furthermore, in the present invention, mesh is fixed to the
inner surface of the container, thus the passage for a vaporized
working fluid can be stably secured. In addition, it is possible to
provide a wick structure by the use of wire without using mesh.
Furthermore, it is possible to provide a large amount of the
above-mentioned heat pipe and the wick.
[0172] Furthermore, according to the present invention, in
comparison with the conventional heat pipe in which mesh is simply
received within the container, since the mesh surly and firmly
contact with the inner surface of the container, the passage for
vaporized working fluid is secured so as to remarkably increase the
amount of the transferred heat.
[0173] In addition, it is possible to obtain the plate type thin
heat pipe without deformation by the inner pressure thereof. In
addition, it is possible to surely fix the wire to the inner
surface of the container in the plate type heat pipe. Furthermore,
it is possible to provide a plate type thin heat pipe in which the
working fluid can circulate in X direction and Y direction in the
same manner as in the mesh without losing an excellent property of
the wire as a wick.
[0174] Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is
possible to provide a plate type heat pipe which can secure the
passage for a vaporized working fluid, and includes an excellent
wick structure on both of the upper inner surface and the lower
inner surface of the container.
[0175] In addition, according to the present invention, it is
possible to provide the plate type heat pipe which has a portion to
be simply and easily sealed. In particular, it is possible to
provide a portion to be effectively sealed even in the plate type
thin heat pipe having a total thickness of up to 1.5 mm.
* * * * *