U.S. patent application number 11/426049 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-26 for connection of fill tube to a two-phase heat dissipation device.
This patent application is currently assigned to NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY. Invention is credited to Shwin-Chung Wong.
Application Number | 20070089376 11/426049 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37984029 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070089376 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wong; Shwin-Chung |
April 26, 2007 |
Connection of Fill Tube to a Two-Phase Heat Dissipation Device
Abstract
This invention discloses a cold-work method to connect the metal
wall of a two-phase heat dissipation device with a fill tube.
First, place the fill tube into a hole prepared in the wall, then
push a squeezer slightly larger than the inner diameter of the fill
tube to create permanent deformation and hence hermetical bonding
thereof. Finally, draw out the squeezer to finish the cold work.
This method simplifies the procedure and equipment by avoiding a
relatively high-temperature soldering or brazing process.
Inventors: |
Wong; Shwin-Chung; (Taiwan,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LOWE HAUPTMAN BERNER, LLP
1700 DIAGONAL ROAD
SUITE 300
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
NATIONAL TSING HUA
UNIVERSITY
101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road Hsin-Chu
Taiwan
CN
|
Family ID: |
37984029 |
Appl. No.: |
11/426049 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/50 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 15/0283 20130101;
B23P 15/26 20130101; B23P 2700/09 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
053/050 |
International
Class: |
B65B 61/20 20060101
B65B061/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 12, 2005 |
TW |
094135544 |
Claims
1. A method to hermetically connect a fill tube to the metal
container wall of a two-phase heat dissipation device, comprises
the steps of: (1) placing a front section of said fill tube into a
hole prepared in said container wall; (2) forcing a squeezer with
diameter somewhat larger than the inner diameter of said front
section of said fill tube into said front section of said fill
tube, to cause permanent plastic deformation of said fill tube; and
(3) drawing out said squeezer.
2. A method as describe in claim 1, wherein said squeezer is a
cylindrical object.
3. The method as describe in claim 1, wherein said squeezer is a
screw-type cylindrical object.
4. The method as describe in claim 1, wherein an interfacial
material is added between the connecting surfaces of said fill tube
and said container wall.
5. The method as describe in claim 4, wherein said interfacial
material is a deformable metal.
6. The method as describe in claim 4, wherein said interfacial
material is a deformable non-metal.
7. The method as describe in claim 4, wherein said interfacial
material is a binding agent.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (1) Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to the installation of a fill tube in
two-phase heat dissipation devices, such as flat plate heat pipes,
loop heat pipes, capillary pumped loops, spray cooling devices, et
al., which need to be evacuated and filled with working fluids.
[0003] (2) Brief Description of Related Art
[0004] The interior of two-phase heat dissipation devices, such as
flat plate heat pipes, loop heat pipes, capillary pumped loops,
spray cooling devices, et al., must be free from non-condensable
gases. Therefore, hermetic sealing is required for the containers.
Also, the connection between the container and the fill tube,
through which evacuation and filling of the working fluid is
performed carefully, must be hermetic. Afterwards, the sealing is
completed by pinching off the fill tube. Conventionally, the
hermetic connection between the container and the fill tube is
handled by soldering, brazing, or welding. However, these methods
are carried out at a relative high temperature working conditions.
The procedure as well as the equipment is more complicated.
Moreover, when the working temperature is above the anneal
temperature, the rigidity of the container decreases seriously.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This invention disclosed a simple cold-work method for
hermetic connection of the fill tube to the container at a
relatively low temperature. Not only the rigidity of the container
can be maintained, but also the cost can be reduced with simpler
procedure and equipment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 shows step 1 of a first embodiment according to the
present invention, a fill tube inserting into a hole on the wall of
the container.
[0007] FIG. 2 shows step 2 of the first embodiment, a squeezer
inserting into the fill tube.
[0008] FIG. 3 shows a different squeezer can be used according to
the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 shows an interfacial layer can be inserted in between
the connection surface before connection according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] A cold-work procedure to connect a fill tube to a container
at a relatively low working temperature, or room temperature, is
disclosed. Under this low temperature connection procedure, the
rigidity of the container is maintained, and the cost is reduced
with a simpler procedure and equipment.
[0011] FIG. 1 shows step 1 to put the fill tube 3 into a hole of
the container wall 1 of a two-phase heat dissipation device. FIG. 2
shows step 2, when a squeezer 4a is inserted into the fill tube 3.
The front section 7 of a cylindrical fill tube 3 is inserted into a
hole 2 in the metal container wall 1. The inner diameter of the
hole 2 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the front
section 7 of the fill tube 3. The surfaces of the connecting parts
should be cleaned beforehand. With the container wall 1 clamped
with a fixer 5, a cylindrical squeezer 4a having a diameter
somewhat larger than the inner diameter of the front section 7 of
the fill tube 3 is squeezed in to cause permanent plastic
deformation of the front section of the fill tube 3 and hermetic
connection between the fill tube 3 and the container wall 1, as
shown in FIG. 2. Afterwards, the squeezer 4a is withdrawn to finish
the cold connection. Although not shown in FIG. 2, fixing of the
fill tube 3 is needed as the squeezer is being squeezed in and
withdrawn. The extension section 8 of the fill tube 3 has a larger
diameter than that of the front section 7 for easy movement of the
squeezer 4a. Preferably, the fill tube 3 is annealed beforehand for
easy deformation. The fixer 5 is used to clamp the container wall 1
and restrict its deformation so that only the front section 7 of
the fill tube 3 is deformed. Spinning of the squeezer 4a while it
is moved in and out can make the process smoother.
[0012] FIG. 3 discloses a screw-type squeezer 4b can be used
alternatively. To screw the squeezer 4b in causing permanent
deformation and hermetic connection of the fill tube 3 into the
container wall 1. Again, fixing of the fill tube 3 is needed as the
squeezer is squeezed in and withdrawn.
[0013] FIG. 4 indicates that a layer of interfacial material 6 can
be put between the surface of the front section 7 of the fill tube
3 and the container wall 1. The interfacial material 6 can be soft
metals, such as lead, tin, or lead-tin alloy, etc.; soft
non-metals, such as a plastic sheet, a rubber sheet, or a silicone
rubber sheet, etc.; or binding agents, such as epoxy resin or
silicone resin, etc.
[0014] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
of the present invention. Such modifications are all within the
scope of this invention.
* * * * *