U.S. patent application number 12/400746 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-27 for plate-type heat pipe and method for manufacturing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Chuen-Shu Hou.
Application Number | 20100126701 12/400746 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42195164 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100126701 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hou; Chuen-Shu |
May 27, 2010 |
PLATE-TYPE HEAT PIPE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME
Abstract
A plate-type heat pipe includes a base plate having a first wick
structure secured thereon and a covering plate mounted on the base
plate. The base plate includes a central heat-absorbing plate and a
pair of extending plates angling upwardly from opposite ends of the
heat absorbing plate. The first wick structure includes a first
adhering portion securely fixed to a top surface of a central
portion of the heat absorbing plate, two second adhering portions
angling upwardly from opposite ends of the first adhering portion
and securely fixed to the top surface of lateral portions of the
heat absorbing plate and top surfaces of the extending plates. The
first adhering portion is thinner than the second adhering portion,
and the second adhering portion thins from a central portion to
opposite ends thereof.
Inventors: |
Hou; Chuen-Shu; (Tu-Cheng,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PCE INDUSTRY, INC.;ATT. Steven Reiss
288 SOUTH MAYO AVENUE
CITY OF INDUSTRY
CA
91789
US
|
Assignee: |
FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY CO.,
LTD.
Tu-Cheng
TW
|
Family ID: |
42195164 |
Appl. No.: |
12/400746 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/104.26 ;
29/890.032 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 15/0233 20130101;
F28D 15/046 20130101; B22F 5/10 20130101; Y10T 29/49353
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/104.26 ;
29/890.032 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/02 20060101
F28D015/02; B21D 53/02 20060101 B21D053/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 25, 2008 |
CN |
200810305727.5 |
Claims
1. A plate-type heat pipe comprising: a base plate comprising a
central heat absorbing plate and a pair of extending plates angling
upwardly from opposite ends of the heat absorbing plate; a covering
plate mounted on a top of the base plate; and a first wick
structure fixed to a top surface of the base plate, the first wick
structure comprising a first adhering portion securely fixed to a
central portion of a top surface of the heat absorbing plate of the
base plate, two second adhering portions angling upwardly from
opposite ends of the first adhering portion and securely fixed to
lateral portions of the top surface of the heat absorbing plate and
top surfaces of the extending plates of the base plate; wherein the
first adhering portion is thinner than each of the second adhering
portions of the first wick structure, and the each of the second
adhering portions thins from a central portion to distal ends
thereof.
2. The plate-type heat pipe as in claim 1, wherein a second wick
structure is fixed to a bottom surface of the covering plate and
connects with the first wick structure, the second wick structure
being thicker than the first adhering portion of the first wick
structure.
3. The plate-type heat pipe as in claim 1, wherein the first wick
structure comprises a first metal powder, and the second wick
structure comprises a second metal powder.
4. The plate-type heat pipe as in claim 3, wherein a particle size
of the first metal powder of the first wick structure is smaller
than a particle size of the second metal powder of the second wick
structure.
5. The plate-type heat pipe as in claim 1, wherein a cross section
of the first adhering portion of the first wick structure is
rectangular and a cross section of the each of the second adhering
portions of the first wick structure is pentagonal.
6. The plate-type heat pipe as in claim 1, wherein the base plate
further comprises two engaging plates extending outwardly from ends
of the two extending plates respectively, the first wick structure
further comprises two third adhering portions extending from the
two second adhering portions and fixed to top surfaces of the two
engaging plates.
7. The plate-type heat pipe as in claim 6, wherein the third
adhering portion comprises a first joining portion angling upwardly
from an end of a corresponding second adhering portion and a second
joining portion extending outwardly from an end of the first
joining portion, wherein thickness of the first joining portion
increases from an inner end to an outer end.
8. The plate-type heat pipe as in claim 7, wherein a top surface of
the corresponding second adhering portion and a top surface of the
first joining portion of the third adhering portion are
coplanar.
9. The plate-type heat pipe as in claim 8, wherein the first
joining portion is thinner than the second joining portion and the
outmost end of the first joining portion is as thick as an inner
end of the second joining portion of the third adhering portion of
the first wick structure.
10. The plate-type heat pipe as in claim 7, wherein a step angles
outwardly from a joint of the first joining portion of the third
adhering portion and the corresponding second adhering portion of
the first wick structure.
11. The plate-type heat pipe as in claim 10, wherein the first
joining portion is thinner than the second joining portion and the
outmost end of the first joining portion is thinner than an inner
end of the second joining portion of the third adhering portion of
the first wick structure.
12. The plate-type heat pipe as in claim 7, wherein a cross section
of the second joining portion is rectangular and a cross section of
the first joining portion is trapezoidal.
13. A method for manufacturing a plate-type heat pipe comprising:
providing a base plate, the base plate comprising a heat absorbing
plate and two extending plates angling upwardly from opposite ends
of the heat absorbing plate; providing a first mold having a
structure corresponding to the base plate, the first mold engaging
the base plate to cooperatively define a first cavity, the first
cavity comprising a first receiving portion corresponding to a
central portion of the heat absorbing plate of the base plate, and
two second receiving portions angling outwardly from opposite ends
of the first receiving portion and corresponding to lateral
portions of the heat absorbing plate and the extending plates of
the base plate, wherein the first receiving portion of the first
cavity is shallower than each of the second receiving portions of
the first cavity, and the each of the second receiving portions
shallows from a central portion to distal ends thereof; providing a
covering plate and a second mold, the second mold engaging the
covering plate to cooperatively define a second cavity; filling a
first metal powder into the first cavity and a second metal powder
into the second cavity; heating the first and second metal powders
to obtain a first wick structure fixed to a top surface of the base
plate and a second wick structure fixed to a bottom surface of the
covering plate, the first wick structure comprising a first
adhering portion securely fixed to a top surface of the central
portion of the heat absorbing plate of the base plate, two second
adhering portions securely fixed to the surface of the lateral
portions of the heat absorbing plate and top surfaces of the
extending plates of the base plate; removing the first and second
molds from the first and second wick structures respectively;
assembling the first and second wick structures and the covering
and base plates together with a chamber defined between the first
and second wick structures; and injecting the chamber with a work
fluid; evacuating the chamber by vacuum; and sealing the
chamber.
14. The method as in claim 13, wherein the second cavity is deeper
than the first receiving portion of the first cavity.
15. The method as in claim 13, wherein the base plate further
comprises two engaging plates extending outwardly from ends of the
extending plates respectively and facing apart, the first mold of
the mold enclosing the engaging plates to define two third
receiving portions between the engaging plates of the base plate
and the first mold, and two third adhering portions of the first
wick structure are formed in the third receiving portions and fixed
to top surfaces of the engaging plates of the base plate.
16. The method as in claim 15, wherein each of the third receiving
portions comprises a first connecting portion angling outwardly
from an end of a corresponding one of the second receiving portions
and a second connecting portion extending outwardly from an end of
the first connecting portion, the first connecting portion being
shallower than the corresponding one of the second connecting
portions.
17. The method as in claim 16, wherein the first connecting portion
of the third receiving portion deepens from an end connected with
the second receiving portion to an end connected with the second
connecting portion of the each of the third receiving portions.
18. The method as in claim 17, wherein an outmost end of the first
connecting portion of the each of the third receiving portions is
shallower than the second connecting portion of the each of the
third receiving portions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to plate-type heat pipes and, more
particularly, to a plate-type heat pipe with enhanced heat
dissipation efficiency. The plate-type heat pipe has a wick
structure therein; the wick structure has a cross-section with a
varied thickness.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Generally, plate-type heat pipes efficiently dissipate heat
from components such as central processing units (CPU). Referring
to FIGS. 7-8, a conventional plate-type heat pipe comprises a top
plate 100, a base plate 101 engaging the top plate 100, and a wick
structure 102 of uniform thickness mounted on the base plate 101. A
heat absorbing portion 103 extends downwardly from a center portion
of the base plate 101, contacting the heat-generating components.
When heat from a component enters the plate-type heat pipe via its
heat absorbing portion 103, working fluid in the wick structure 102
absorbs the heat and vaporizes. If the wick structure 102 is too
thick, the vapor remains therein, increasing heat resistance of the
heat pipe and raising a temperature of the base plate 101, possibly
inflicting damage thereon. If the wick structure 102 is too thin,
the working fluid vaporizes too quickly, damaging the wick
structure 102.
[0005] It is therefore desirable to provide a plate-type heat pipe
which has a wick structure of optimum thickness to engage the
plate-type heat pipe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better
understood with reference to the following drawings. The components
in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis
instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of
the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference
numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a cross-section showing a plate-type heat pipe
formed in a mold in accordance with a first embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the plate-type heat pipe of
FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a cross-section showing a plate-type heat pipe
formed in a mold in accordance with a second embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the plate-type heat pipe of
FIG. 3.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a cross-section showing a plate-type heat pipe
formed in a mold in accordance with a third embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the plate-type heat pipe of
FIG. 5.
[0013] FIG. 7 is an exploded, cross-section of a related plate-type
heat pipe.
[0014] FIG. 8 is an assembled view of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a method for manufacturing a
plate-type heat pipe 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of
the disclosure is detailed as follows.
[0016] A bowl-shaped base plate 11 and a covering plate 13 are
provided. The base plate 11 comprises a central heat absorbing
plate 112, a pair of extending plates 114 angling upwardly from
opposite ends of the heat absorbing plate 112, two engaging plates
116 extending outwardly from ends of the extending plates 114
respectively and facing apart, and two sidewalls 118 extending
upwardly from ends of the engaging plates 116.
[0017] A mold 15 is provided. The mold 15 comprises a first mold
151 and a second mold 153. The first mold 151 encloses the base
plate 11 therein. The first mold 151 and the base plate 11 define a
first cavity 152 therebetween. The second mold 153 encloses the
covering plate 13 therein. The second mold 153 and the covering
plate 13 define a second cavity 154 therebetween. A cross-section
of the second cavity 154 is rectangular. The first cavity 152
comprises a first receiving portion 1522 corresponding to a central
portion of the heat absorbing plate 112 of the base plate 11, two
second receiving portions 1524 angling outwardly from opposite ends
of the first receiving portion 1522 and corresponding to lateral
portions of the heat absorbing plate 112 and the extending plates
114 of the base plate 11, and two third receiving portions 1526
extending outwardly from ends of the second receiving portions 1524
and corresponding to the engaging plates 116 of the base plate 11.
The first, second and third receiving portions, 1522, 1524, 1526
connect and communicate with each other in series. A cross-section
of the first receiving portion 1522 is rectangular. A cross-section
of the second receiving portion 1524 is pentagonal. The third
receiving portion 1526 comprises a first connecting portion 1526a
angling outwardly from an end of the second receiving portion 1524
and a second connecting portion 1526b extending outwardly from an
end of the first connecting portion 1526a. A cross-section of the
first connecting portion 1526a of the third receiving portion 1526
is trapezoidal. A cross-section of the second connecting portion
1526b of the third receiving portion 1526 is rectangular. The
second receiving portion 1524 of the first cavity 152 is deeper
than the first receiving portion 1522. Depth of the second
receiving portion 1524 first increases and then decreases along a
laterally outwardly direction. The third receiving portion 1526 is
deeper than the second receiving portion 1524 of the first cavity
152. Depth of the first connecting portion 1526a of the third
receiving portion 1526 of the first cavity 152 increases from an
inner end connected with the second receiving portion 1524 to an
outer end opposite to the inner end. An inner end of the second
connecting portion 1526b is of the same depth as the outer end of
the first connecting portion 1526a.
[0018] A first metal powder is filled into the first cavity 152 and
a second metal powder is filled into the second cavity 154. The
first and second metal powder are copper powder. Particle size of
the first metal powder is less than that of the second metal
powder. The first metal powder filled in the first cavity 152 and
the second metal powder filled in the second cavity 154 are heated
to a high temperature, sufficient to execute sintering, to obtain a
sintered first wick structure 16 securely fixed to a top surface of
the base plate 11 and a sintered second wick structure 17 securely
fixed to a bottom surface of the covering plate 13. The first wick
structure 16 and the second wick structure 17 are porous, with
apertures of the first wick structure 16 fewer than those of the
second wick structure 17. The first wick structure 16 comprises a
first adhering portion 161 securely fixed to a top surface of the
central portion of the heat absorbing plate 112 of the base plate
11, two second adhering portions 163 securely fixed to top surfaces
of the lateral portions of the heat absorbing plate 112 and the
extending plates 114 of the base plate 11, and two third adhering
portion 165 securely fixed to top surfaces of the engaging plates
116 of the base 11. The third adhering portion 165 receives a first
joining portion 1651 in the first connecting portion 1526a and a
second joining portion 1653 in the second connecting portion 1526b
of the third receiving portion 1526 of the first cavity 152. A top
surface of the second adhering portion 163 and a top surface of the
first joining portion 1651 of the third adhering portion 165 of the
first wick structure 16 are coplanar.
[0019] The first mold 151 and the second mold 153 of the mold 15
are removed from the first and second wick structures 16, 17
respectively. The base plate 11 with the first wick structure 16
attached thereto and the covering plate 13 with the second wick
structure 17 attached thereto are assembled together. A chamber 18
is defined between the first and second wick structures 16, 17 and
the chamber 18 is vacuumed and filled with a working fluid (not
shown) such as water, alcohol, methanol, or the like, and sealed.
The disclosed plate-type heat pipe 10 is thus obtained. In this
state, opposite ends of the second wick structure 17 and the second
joining portions 1653 of the third adhering portions 165 of the
first wick structure 16 are combined.
[0020] In this embodiment, a cross-section of the first adhering
portion 161 of the first wick structure 16 is rectangular. A
cross-section of the second adhering portion 163 of the first wick
structure 16 is pentagonal. A cross-section of the first joining
portion 1651 of the third adhering portion 165 of the first wick
structure 16 is trapezoidal. A cross-section of the second joining
portion 1653 of the third adhering portion 165 of the first wick
structure 16 is rectangular. A cross-section of the second wick
structure 17 is rectangular. The first adhering portion 161 of the
first wick structure 16 is thinner than the second wick structure
17. Work fluid contained in the first adhering portion 161 of the
first wick structure 16 absorbs heat and is vaporized quickly to
generate vapor. The vapor then reaches the second wick structure
17. The second adhering portion 163 of the first wick structure 16
is thicker than the first adhering portion and thins from a central
portion to distal ends thereof. Third adhering portion 165 thickens
from an inner end connected with the second adhering portion 163 to
an outer end opposite to the inner end. The second and third
adhering portions 163, 165 collect condensate work fluid from the
second wick structure 17. When generated heat enters the plate-type
heat pipe 10 via heat absorbing portion 112, the work fluid
contained in the first adhering portion 161 of the first wick
structure 16 absorbs the heat and vaporizes, and the working fluid
contained in the second and third adhering portions 163, 165 of the
first wick structure 16 flows to the first adhering portion
161.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 3-4, a plate-type heat pipe 20 is
manufactured using the method previously described, differing only
in that configuration of the first connecting portion 2526a of the
first cavity 252 is different from that of the first connecting
portion 1526a of the first cavity 152 of the first embodiment. The
first connecting portion 2526a is shallower than the first
connecting portion 1526a of the first embodiment. A joint of the
first connecting portion 2526a and the second receiving portion
2524 defines a hollow protruding portion 2517 thereof. The
protruding portion 2517 angles upwardly from the joint of the first
joining 2526a and the second receiving portion 2524. The first
joining portion 2651 of first wick structure 26 is thinner than the
first joining portion 1651 of the first wick structure 16 of the
first embodiment. A step is formed at a joint of the first joining
portion 2651 and the second adhering portion 263.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 5-6, a plate-type heat pipe 30 is
manufactured using the method previously described, differing only
in that configuration of the first connecting portion 3526a of the
first cavity 352 is different from that of the first connecting
portion 1526a of the first cavity 152 of the first embodiment. A
cross-section of an outer end of the first connecting portion 3526a
is rectangular. The outer end of the first connecting portion 3526a
is shallower than an outer end of the first connecting portion
1526a. Thus, a cross-section of an outer end of a first joining
portion 3651 of the first wick structure 36 is rectangular. The
outer end of the first joining portion 3651 is thinner than the
first joining portion 1651 of the first embodiment. A chamber 38 of
the plate-type heat pipe 30 is larger than the chamber 18 of the
plate-type heat pipe 10 of the first embodiment. Therefore, the
vaporized work fluid contained in the chamber 38 is cooled quickly
and the heat dissipation efficiency of the plate-type heat pipe 30
is enhanced.
[0023] It is believed that the disclosed embodiments and their
advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and
it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or
sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples
hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary
embodiments of the disclosure.
* * * * *