U.S. patent application number 11/841110 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-11 for heat-dissipating device with high heat-dissipating efficiency.
This patent application is currently assigned to MAN ZAI INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Su-Chen Hu, Hao-Hui Lin.
Application Number | 20080302508 11/841110 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39323464 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080302508 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Hao-Hui ; et
al. |
December 11, 2008 |
HEAT-DISSIPATING DEVICE WITH HIGH HEAT-DISSIPATING EFFICIENCY
Abstract
A heat-dissipating device includes a planar plate, a cap-like
cover, a finned structure, and a discharge pipe. The cap-like cover
includes a base wall, and a surrounding wall that interconnects the
planar plate and the base wall, that cooperates with the planar
plate and the base wall to define an inner space thereamong, and
that defines an inlet. The finned structure includes a plurality of
partitioning plates that form a continuous meandering fluid path,
and a plurality of heat-dissipating fins that are disposed in the
meandering fluid path. The discharge pipe is connected to the
surrounding wall of the cap-like cover, is in fluid communication
with the second compartment, and has an open end disposed adjacent
to the base wall of the cap-like cover.
Inventors: |
Lin; Hao-Hui; (Taitung City,
TW) ; Hu; Su-Chen; (Tainan City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY
5670 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, SUITE 2100
LOS ANGELES
CA
90036-5679
US
|
Assignee: |
MAN ZAI INDUSTRIAL CO.,
LTD.
Tainan City
TW
|
Family ID: |
39323464 |
Appl. No.: |
11/841110 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/80.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 23/473 20130101;
F28F 3/12 20130101; H01L 2924/0002 20130101; H01L 2924/0002
20130101; F28F 3/02 20130101; H01L 2924/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/80.3 |
International
Class: |
F28F 7/00 20060101
F28F007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 6, 2007 |
TW |
096209304 |
Claims
1. A heat-dissipating device, comprising: a planar plate; a
cap-like cover including a base wall spaced apart from said planar
plate, and a surrounding wall that interconnects said planar plate
and said base wall, that cooperates with said planar plate and said
base wall to define an inner space thereamong, and that defines an
inlet, said inner space being divided into first and second
compartments; a finned structure including a plurality of
partitioning plates disposed in said first compartment so as to
divide said first compartment into a plurality of partitioned
sections that are connected to form a continuous meandering fluid
path for permitting fluid communication between said first and
second compartments, said meandering fluid path having first and
second ends that are respectively connected to said inlet and said
second compartment, and a plurality of heat-dissipating fins
disposed in each of said partitioned sections; and a discharge pipe
connected to said surrounding wall of said cap-like cover, in fluid
communication with said second compartment, and having an open end
disposed adjacent to said base wall of said cap-like cover.
2. The heat-dissipating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
base wall of said cap-like cover has a wall portion that is convex
and that defines a recess, and the remainder of said base wall is
flat, said discharge pipe being disposed at least partially
adjacent to said recess.
3. The heat-dissipating device as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a partitioning member disposed in said inner space so as
to cooperate with a portion of said finned structure to divide said
inner space into said first and second compartments.
4. The heat-dissipating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
partitioning member extends parallel to said planar plate, is
disposed between and spaced apart from said planar plate and said
base wall of said cap-like cover, is connected to said surrounding
wall of said cap-like cover, and has an end that is spaced apart
from said surrounding wall of said cap-like cover, said
partitioning plates of said finned structure being formed on said
bottom surface of said planar plate and abutting against said
partitioning member.
5. The heat-dissipating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
discharge pipe is disposed externally of said inner space, said
open end of said discharge pipe being connected to an exterior of
said surrounding wall of said cap-like cover.
6. The heat-dissipating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
discharge pipe extends through said surrounding wall of said
cap-like cover and into said second compartment.
7. The heat-dissipating device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
discharge pipe is generally L-shaped, and has a first leg that
extends through said surrounding wall of said cap-like cover and
into said second compartment, and a second leg that is disposed in
said second compartment and that has said open end.
8. The heat-dissipating device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
discharge pipe extends along a straight line, through said
surrounding wall of said cap-like cover, and into said second
compartment.
9. The heat-dissipating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
partitioning plates of said finned structure are formed on said
bottom surface of said planar plate and abut against said base wall
of said cap-like cover.
10. The heat-dissipating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
partitioning member extends parallel to said planar plate, is
disposed between and spaced apart from said planar plate and said
base wall of said cap-like cover, is connected to said surrounding
wall of said cap-like cover, and defines a hole therethrough, said
partitioning plates of said finned structure being formed on said
bottom surface of said planar plate and abutting against said
partitioning member, said second end of said meandering fluid path
being connected to and in fluid communication with said second
compartment through said hole in said partitioning member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a heat-dissipating device, more
particularly to a heat-dissipating device that has a high
heat-dissipating efficiency.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional heat-dissipating device 11
that includes a planar plate 111, a plurality of heat-dissipating
fins 112, and a fan unit 113. The planar plate 111 has top and
bottom surfaces. The heat-dissipating fins 112 are formed on a
right end portion of the top surface of the planar plate 111. The
fan unit 113 is mounted on a left end portion of the top surface of
the planar plate 111.
[0005] During assembly, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the bottom
surface of the planar plate 111 is first disposed on a heat source,
such as a graphics processing unit (GPU) 13 of a video graphics
array (VGA) card 1. Thereafter, the fan unit 113 is connected to a
power source.
[0006] During a cooling operation, heat generated by the heat
source is conducted through the planar plate 111 to the
heat-dissipating fins 112, and, at the same time, the fan unit 113
generates airflow to cool the heat-dissipating fins 112, thereby
removing the heat conducted by the heat-dissipating fins 112.
[0007] Although the aforementioned conventional heat-dissipating
device 11 achieves its intended purpose, the conventional
heat-dissipating device 11 has a low heat-dissipating
efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a heat-dissipating device that has a high heat-dissipating
efficiency.
[0009] According to the present invention, a heat-dissipating
device comprises a planar plate, a cap-like cover, a finned
structure, and a discharge pipe. The cap-like cover includes a base
wall and a surrounding wall. The base wall of the cap-like cover is
spaced apart from the planar plate. The surrounding wall of the
cap-like cover interconnects the planar plate and the base wall,
cooperates with the planar plate and the base wall to define an
inner space thereamong, and defines an inlet. The inner space is
divided into first and second compartments. The finned structure
includes a plurality of partitioning plates and a plurality of
heat-dissipating fins. The partitioning plates of the finned
structure are disposed in the first compartment so as to divide the
first compartment into a plurality of partitioned sections that are
connected to form a continuous meandering fluid path for permitting
fluid communication between the first and second compartments. The
meandering fluid path has first and second ends that are
respectively connected to the inlet and the second compartment. The
heat-dissipating fins of the finned structure are disposed in each
of the partitioned sections. The discharge pipe is connected to the
surrounding wall of the cap-like cover, is in fluid communication
with the second compartment, and has an open end disposed adjacent
to the base wall of the cap-like cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional
heat-dissipating device;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the conventional
heat-dissipating device in a state of use;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment of a heat-dissipating device according to this
invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment in an assembled state;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a finned
structure of the first preferred embodiment;
[0016] FIGS. 6 to 9 are schematic views of modified embodiments of
the first preferred embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional of the second preferred
embodiment of a heat-dissipating device according to this
invention;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the third preferred
embodiment of a heat-dissipating device according to this
invention; and
[0019] FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view of the third preferred
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first preferred embodiment
of a heat-dissipating device according to this invention is shown
to include a planar plate 31, a cap-like cover 32, a finned
structure 33, and a discharge pipe 50.
[0022] The planar plate 31 has top and bottom surfaces 311, 312. In
this embodiment, the planar plate 31 is made from a material having
a high thermal conductivity.
[0023] The cap-like cover 32 includes a base wall 321 and a
surrounding wall 322. The base wall 321 of the cap-like cover 32 is
spaced apart from the planar plate 31, and has a left wall portion
3211, a right wall portion 3212, and an intermediate wall portion
3213 that interconnects the left and right wall portions 3211, 3212
thereof. In this embodiment, the left wall portion 3211 of the base
wall 321 of the cap-like cover 32 is convex and defines a recess
3210, and the intermediate and right wall portions 3213, 3212 of
the base wall 321 of the cap-like cover 32 are flat. The
surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like cover 32 interconnects the
bottom surface 312 of the planar plate 31 and the base wall 321 and
cooperates with the bottom surface 312 of the planar plate 31 and
the base wall 321 to define an inner space 30 thereamong. In this
embodiment, the surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like cover 32 has
left and right wall portions 3221, 3222, and front and rear wall
portions 3223, 3224 that interconnect the left and right wall
portions 3221, 3222 thereof. The front wall portion 3223 of the
surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like cover 32 defines an inlet
40.
[0024] The heat-dissipating device further includes a partitioning
member 34 that is disposed in the inner space 30, that extends
parallel to the planar plate 31, and that is disposed between and
spaced apart from the planar plate 31 and the base wall 321 of the
cap-like cover 32. In this embodiment, the partitioning member 34
has a right end connected to the right wall portion 3222 of the
surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like cover 32, front and rear ends
respectively connected to the front and rear wall portions 3223,
3224 of the surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like cover 32, and a
left end spaced apart from the left wall portion 3221 of the
surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like cover 32.
[0025] The finned structure 33 includes a plurality of partitioning
plates 331 and a plurality of heat-dissipating fins 332.
[0026] The partitioning plates 331 are formed on the bottom surface
312 of the planar plate 31, are disposed in the inner space 30, and
abut against the partitioning member 34.
[0027] The partitioning member 34 cooperates with one of the
partitioning plates 331 of the finned structure 33, which is
disposed farthest from the right wall portion 3222 of the
surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like cover 32, to divide the inner
space 30 into first and second compartments 301, 302.
[0028] With further reference to FIG. 5, the partitioning plates
331 divides the first compartment 301 into a plurality of
partitioned sections 3010 that are connected to form a continuous
meandering fluid path for permitting fluid communication between
the first and second compartments 301, 302. In this embodiment, the
meandering fluid path has a first end that is directly connected to
and that is in fluid communication with the inlet 40, and a second
end that is directly connected to and that is in fluid
communication with the second compartment 302.
[0029] The heat-dissipating fins 332 are formed on the bottom
surface 312 of the planar plate 31 and are disposed in each of the
partitioned sections 3010 of the first compartment 301.
[0030] The discharge pipe 50 is disposed externally of the inner
space 30 and has an open end 501. In this embodiment, the open end
501 of the discharge pipe 50 is connected to an exterior of the
front wall portion 3223 of the surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like
cover 32, is in fluid communication with the second compartment
302, is disposed adjacent to a junction of the left wall portion
3211 of the base wall 321 of the cap-like cover 32 and the left and
front wall portions 3221, 3223 of the surrounding wall 322 of the
cap-like cover 32, and is further disposed at least partially
adjacent to the recess 3210 defined by the left wall portion 3211
of the base wall 321 of the cap-like cover 32.
[0031] During assembly, as best shown in FIG. 4, the top surface
311 of the planar plate 31 is first disposed on a heat source, such
as a graphics processing device (GPU) 21 of a video graphics array
(VGA) card 2. Then, the inlet 40 and the discharge pipe 50 are
connected to a pump (not shown).
[0032] During a cooling operation, heat generated by the heat
source is conducted through the planar plate 31 to the finned
structure 33. At the same time, the pump supplies a coolant (not
shown) into the first compartment 301 through the inlet 40, and
draws the coolant out of the second compartment 302 through the
discharge pipe 50. During this operation, the coolant passes
through the meandering fluid path and cools the finned structure
33, thereby permitting efficient dissipation of the heat conducted
by the finned structure 33.
[0033] It is noted that, during the above-mentioned cooling
operation, the amount of coolant is gradually reduced due to
evaporation. However, since the open end 501 of the discharge pipe
50 is disposed adjacent to the base wall 321 of the cap-like cover
32 (i.e., at a position closes to the base wall 321 of the cap-like
cover 32, it is ensured that the cooling operation of the
heat-dissipating device of this embodiment may continue for a
relatively long period of time.
[0034] In another embodiment, the heat-dissipating device is
provided with a refill mechanism (not shown) for filling the inner
space 30 with the coolant at anytime as needed.
[0035] In yet another embodiment, the left wall portion 3211 of the
base wall 321 of cap-like cover 32 is flat, one of the intermediate
and right wall portions 3213, 3212 of the base wall 321 of cap-like
cover 32 is convex, and the other of the intermediate and right
wall portions 3213, 3212 is flat.
[0036] FIG. 6 illustrates a modified embodiment of the first
preferred embodiment according to this invention. In this
embodiment, the discharge pipe 50 is generally L-shaped, and has a
first leg 51 that extends through the front wall portion 3223 of
the surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like cover 32 and into the
second compartment 302, and a second leg 52 that is disposed in the
second compartment 302 and that has the open end 501.
[0037] FIG. 7 illustrates another modified embodiment of the first
preferred embodiment according to this invention. In this
embodiment, the discharge pipe 50 extends along a straight line,
through the front wall portion 3223 of the surrounding wall 322 of
the cap-like cover 32, and into the second compartment 302. The
open end 501 of the discharge pipe 50 is disposed adjacent to a
junction of the left wall portion 3211 of the base wall 321 of the
cap-like cover 32 and the left and rear wall portions 3221, 3224 of
the surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like cover 32.
[0038] FIG. 8 illustrates yet another modified embodiment of the
first preferred embodiment according to this invention. In this
embodiment, the discharge pipe 50 is disposed externally of the
inner space 30, and is connected to an exterior of the left wall
portion 3221 of the surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like cover 32.
The open end 501 of the discharge pipe 50 is disposed adjacent to a
junction of the left wall portion 3211 of the base wall 321 of the
cap-like cover 32 and the left and rear wall portions 3221, 3224 of
the surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like cover 32.
[0039] FIG. 9 illustrates still yet another modified embodiment of
the first preferred embodiment according to this invention. In this
embodiment, the discharge pipe 50 is disposed externally of the
inner space 30, and is connected to an exterior of the rear wall
portion 3224 of the surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like cover 32.
The open end 501 of the discharge pipe 50 is disposed adjacent to a
junction of the left wall portion 3211 of the base wall 321 of the
cap-like cover 32 and the left and rear wall portions 3221, 3224 of
the surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like cover 32.
[0040] FIG. 10 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of a
heat-dissipating device according to this invention. When compared
with the first preferred embodiment, the partitioning member 34
(see FIG. 4) is dispensed with. The partitioning plates 331 of the
finned structure 33 abut against the intermediate and right wall
portions 3213, 3212 of the base wall 321 of the cap-like cover
32.
[0041] Since the assembly and the cooling operation of the
heat-dissipating device of this embodiment are similar to those
described hereinabove in connection with the first preferred
embodiment, a detailed description of the same will be dispensed
with herein for the sake of brevity.
[0042] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the third preferred embodiment of
a heat-dissipating device according to this invention. When
compared to the first preferred embodiment, the left and right ends
and the front and rear ends of the partitioning member 34 (the rear
end of the partitioning member 34 is not visible in FIG. 12) are
respectively connected to the left and right wall portions 3221,
3222 and front and rear wall portions 3223, 3224 of the surrounding
wall 322 of the cap-like cover 32.
[0043] The partitioning member 34 is formed with a hole 304
therethrough.
[0044] The left wall portion 3211 of the base wall 321 of the
cap-like cover 32, like the intermediate and right wall portions
3213, 3212 of the base wall 321 of the cap-like cover 32, is
flat.
[0045] The open end 501 of the discharge pipe 50 is disposed
adjacent to a junction of the right wall portion 3212 of the base
wall 321 of the cap-like cover 32, and the right and front wall
portions 3222, 3223 of the surrounding wall 322 of the cap-like
cover 32.
[0046] The second end of the meandering fluid path is connected to
and is in fluid communication with the second compartment 302
through the hole 304 in the partitioning member 34.
[0047] Since the assembly and the cooling operation of the
heat-dissipating device of this embodiment are similar to those
described hereinabove in connection with the first preferred
embodiment, a detailed description of the same will be dispensed
with herein for the sake of brevity.
[0048] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *