U.S. patent application number 13/566422 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-28 for heat-dissipating fin and heat-dissipating fin assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Wistron Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Meng-Ting Chiang, Yao-Lung Tsai, Wei-Hsing Wang. Invention is credited to Meng-Ting Chiang, Yao-Lung Tsai, Wei-Hsing Wang.
Application Number | 20130075073 13/566422 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47909961 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130075073 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang; Wei-Hsing ; et
al. |
March 28, 2013 |
HEAT-DISSIPATING FIN AND HEAT-DISSIPATING FIN ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A heat-dissipating fin comprises a first longitudinal section, a
second longitudinal section, a first contacting section extending
transversely from the first longitudinal section, a second
contacting section extending transversely from the second
longitudinal section, and a third contacting section connected
between the first longitudinal section and the second longitudinal
section and extending transversely. When a plurality of
heat-dissipating fins are assembled, contact among the first
contacting sections, among the second contacting sections, and
among the third contacting sections of the heat-dissipating fins
are established.
Inventors: |
Wang; Wei-Hsing; (New Taipei
City, TW) ; Chiang; Meng-Ting; (New Taipei City,
TW) ; Tsai; Yao-Lung; (New Taipei City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wang; Wei-Hsing
Chiang; Meng-Ting
Tsai; Yao-Lung |
New Taipei City
New Taipei City
New Taipei City |
|
TW
TW
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
Wistron Corporation
New Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
47909961 |
Appl. No.: |
13/566422 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/185 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 2924/0002 20130101;
H01L 2924/00 20130101; H01L 2924/0002 20130101; H01L 23/3672
20130101; F28F 3/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/185 |
International
Class: |
F28F 7/00 20060101
F28F007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 28, 2011 |
TW |
100134978 |
Claims
1. A heat-dissipating fin comprising: a first longitudinal section
extending along a longitudinal direction; a first contacting
section extending transversely from said first longitudinal section
along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal
direction; a second longitudinal section connected with said first
longitudinal section and extending along the longitudinal
direction; a second contacting section extending transversely from
said second longitudinal section; and a third contacting section
connected between said first longitudinal section and said second
longitudinal section and extending transversely, wherein said first
contacting section, said second contacting section, and said third
contacting section of said heat-dissipating fin are provided in
such a manner that, when said heat-dissipating fin is assembled
with an additional heat-dissipating fin, said first contacting
section of said heat-dissipating fin is contacted with said first
contacting section of said additional heat-dissipating fin, said
second contacting section of said heat-dissipating fin is contacted
with said second contacting section of said additional
heat-dissipating fin, and said third contacting section of said
heat-dissipating fin is contacted with said third contacting
section of said additional heat-dissipating fin.
2. The heat-dissipating fin of claim 1, wherein said first
contacting section includes a first plate portion connected with
said first longitudinal section and extending transversely, a
second plate portion higher than said first plate portion and
extending transversely, and a third plate portion connected between
said first plate portion and said second plate such that, when said
heat-dissipating fin is assembled with said additional
heat-dissipating fin, said second plate portion of said
heat-dissipating fin is stacked with said first plate portion of
said another heat-dissipating fin.
3. The heat-dissipating fin of claim 2, further comprising a first
engaging mechanism and a second engaging mechanism that are
provided at said first contacting section, wherein, when said
heat-dissipating fin is assembled with said additional
heat-dissipating fin, said first engaging mechanism of said
heat-dissipating fin is engaged with said second engaging mechanism
of said additional heat-dissipating fin.
4. The heat-dissipating fin of claim 3, wherein said second
contacting section has a connecting end connected with said second
longitudinal section, and a free end distal from said second
longitudinal section, such that, when said heat-dissipating fin is
assembled with said additional heat-dissipating fin, said free end
of said second contacting section of said heat-dissipating fin is
contacted with said connecting end of said second contacting
section of said additional heat-dissipating fin.
5. The heat-dissipating fin of claim 1, wherein said second
contacting section has a connecting end connected with said second
longitudinal section, and a free end distal from said second
longitudinal section, such that, when said heat-dissipating fin is
assembled with said additional heat-dissipating fin, said free end
of said second contacting section of said heat-dissipating fin is
contacted with said connecting end of said second contacting
section of said additional heat-dissipating fin.
6. The heat-dissipating fin of claim 5, wherein said third
contacting section has a first end and a second end that are
opposite to each other, said first longitudinal section and said
second longitudinal section being respectively connected with said
second end and said first end of said third contacting section such
that, when said heat-dissipating fin is assembled with said
additional heat-dissipating fin, said second end of said third
contacting section of said heat-dissipating fin is contacted with
said first end of said third contacting section of said additional
heat-dissipating fin.
7. The heat-dissipating fin of claim 1, wherein said third
contacting section has a first end and a second end that are
opposite to each other, said first longitudinal section and said
second longitudinal section being respectively connected with said
second end and said first end of said third contacting section such
that, when said heat-dissipating fin is assembled with said
additional heat-dissipating fin, said second end of said third
contacting section of said heat-dissipating fin is contacted with
said first end of said third contacting section of said additional
heat-dissipating fin.
8. The heat-dissipating fin of claim 3, wherein said third
contacting section has a first end and a second end that are
opposite to each other, said first longitudinal section and said
second longitudinal section being respectively connected with said
second end and said first end of said third contacting section such
that, when said heat-dissipating fin is assembled with said
additional heat-dissipating fin, said second end of said third
contacting section of said heat-dissipating fin is contacted with
said first end of said third contacting section of said additional
heat-dissipating fin.
9. A heat-dissipating fin assembly comprising: at least two
heat-dissipating fins, each of said heat-dissipating fins
including: a first longitudinal section extending along a
longitudinal direction; a first contacting section extending
transversely from said first longitudinal section along a
transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; a
second longitudinal section connected with said first longitudinal
section and extending along the longitudinal direction; a second
contacting section extending transversely from said second
longitudinal section; and a third contacting section connected
between said first longitudinal section and said second
longitudinal section and extending transversely, said first
contacting sections of said heat-dissipating fins being contacted
with each other, said second contacting sections of said
heat-dissipating fins are contacted with each other, and said third
contacting sections of said heat-dissipating fins being contacted
with each other.
10. The heat-dissipating fin assembly of claim 9, wherein said
first contacting section includes a first plate portion connected
with said first longitudinal section and extending transversely, a
second plate portion higher than said first plate portion and
extending transversely, and a third plate portion connected between
said first plate portion and said second plate portion and
extending longitudinally, said second plate portion of one of said
heat-dissipating fins being stacked with said first plate portion
of the other one of said heat-dissipating fins.
11. The heat-dissipating fin assembly of claim 10, wherein each of
said heat-dissipating fins further includes a first engaging
mechanism and a second engaging mechanism provided at said first
contacting section, said first engaging mechanism of one of said
heat-dissipating fins being engaged with said second engaging
mechanism of the other one of said heat-dissipating fins.
12. The heat-dissipating fin assembly of claim 11, wherein said
second contacting section of each of said heat-dissipating fins has
a connecting end connected with said second longitudinal section,
and a free end distal from said second longitudinal section, said
free end of said second contacting section of one of said
heat-dissipating fins being contacted with said connecting end of
said second contacting section of the other one of said
heat-dissipating fins.
13. The heat-dissipating fin assembly of claim 9, wherein said
second contacting section of each of said heat-dissipating fins has
a connecting end connected with said second longitudinal section,
and a free end distal from said second longitudinal section, said
free end of said second contacting section of one of said
heat-dissipating fins being contacted with said connecting end of
said second contacting section of the other one of said
heat-dissipating fins.
14. The heat-dissipating fin assembly of claim 12, wherein said
third contacting section is shaped as a plate and has a first end
and a second end that are opposite to each other, said first
longitudinal section and said second longitudinal section being
respectively connected with said second end and said first end of
said third contacting section, wherein, when said heat-dissipating
fins are assembled, said second end of said third contacting
section of one of said heat-dissipating fins is contacted with said
first end of said third contacting section of another one of said
heat-dissipating fins.
15. The heat-dissipating fin assembly of claim 9, wherein said
third contacting section of each of said heat-dissipating fins has
a first end and a second end that are opposite to each other, said
first longitudinal section and said second longitudinal section of
each of said heat-dissipating fins being respectively connected
with said second end and said first end of said third contacting
section of a corresponding one of said heat-dissipating fins, said
second end of said third contacting section of one of said
heat-dissipating fins being contacted with said first end of said
third contacting section of the other one of said heat-dissipating
fins.
16. The heat-dissipating fin assembly of claim 11, wherein said
third contacting section of each of said heat-dissipating fins has
a first end and a second end that are opposite to each other, said
first longitudinal section and said second longitudinal section of
each of said heat-dissipating fins being respectively connected
with said second end and said first end of said third contacting
section of a corresponding one of said heat-dissipating fins, said
second end of said third contacting section of one of said
heat-dissipating fins being contacted with said first end of said
third contacting section of the other one of said heat-dissipating
fins.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Patent
Application No. 100134978, filed on Sep. 28, 2011, the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosure
[0003] The disclosure relates to a heat-dissipating fin, more
particularly to a unitary structure of a heat-dissipating fin.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A conventional heat sink comprises a plurality of elongate
heat-dissipating fins assembled together. Each of the
heat-dissipating fins is made of an aluminum plate or other
materials of good thermal conductivity, and has a bent structure
for being engaged with an adjacent one of the heat-dissipating
fins. However, the conventional heat sink has following defects.
With the bent structures, only point contact or linear contact may
be generated between each adjacent pair of heat-dissipating fins
assembled together through interconnected engaging portions, which
results in poor thermal conduction among the heat-dissipating fins
along a transverse direction (that is, a direction in which the
heat-dissipating fins are arranged), thereby resulting in heat
accumulation.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] Therefore, an object of this disclosure is to provide a
heat-dissipating fin and a heat-dissipating fin assembly that can
solve the problem of transverse thermal conduction among the
heat-dissipating fins associated with the prior art.
[0007] According to an aspect of this disclosure, a
heat-dissipating fin comprises a first longitudinal section
extending along a longitudinal direction, a first contacting
section extending transversely from the first longitudinal section
along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal
direction, a second longitudinal section connected with the first
longitudinal section and extending along the longitudinal
direction, a second contacting section extending transversely from
the second longitudinal section, and a third contacting section
connected between the first longitudinal section and the second
longitudinal section and extending transversely. When two
heat-dissipating fins are interconnected, the first contacting
sections of the heat-dissipating fins are contacted with each
other, the second contacting sections of the heat-dissipating fins
are contacted with each other, and the third contacting sections of
the heat-dissipating fins are contacted with each other.
[0008] Therefore, the effect of this disclosure is that, the
heat-dissipating fins are interconnected in such a manner that at
least surface contact is generated between the first contacting
sections, between the second contacting sections, and between the
third contacting sections, thereby increasing the contact area
among the heat-dissipating fins, and enhancing the transverse
thermal conduction between the heat-dissipating fins along an
arrangement direction thereof. Therefore, an overall
heat-dissipating fin assembly has a relatively uniform temperature
distribution on the heat-dissipating fins to enhance the
heat-dissipating effect of the overall heat-dissipating fin
assembly.
[0009] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a
heat-dissipating fin assembly comprises a plurality of the
above-mentioned heat-dissipating fins interconnected along the
transverse direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The above-mentioned and other technical contents, features,
and effects of this disclosure will be clearly presented from the
following detailed description of the embodiments in coordination
with the reference drawings, of which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a
heat-dissipating fin according to this disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of the heat-dissipating fin of the
embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an assembly of a
plurality of the heat-dissipating fins of the embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a side view of the assembly in FIG. 3; and
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a variation of the heat-dissipating fin
of the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a heat-dissipating fin 1 in an
embodiment of this disclosure is integrally formed from, for
example, an aluminum plate or other materials of good thermal
conductivity by stamping. The heat-dissipating fin 1 includes a
first longitudinal section 11, a second longitudinal section 12, a
first contacting section 13, a second contacting section 14, and a
third contacting section 15. When a plurality of the
heat-dissipating fins 1 are interconnected, the first contacting
sections 13 of the heat-dissipating fins 1 are contacted with each
other, the second contacting sections 14 of the heat-dissipating
fins 1 are contacted with each other, and the third contacting
sections 15 of the heat-dissipating fins 1 are contacted with each
other, so as to enhance the thermal conduction efficiency among the
heat-dissipating fins 1 to thus improve the heat-dissipating effect
of the heat-dissipating fins 1, which will be described below in
detail.
[0017] Each of the first and second longitudinal sections 11, 12
extends along a longitudinal direction (i.e., a vertical direction
in this embodiment). The first contacting section 13 extends
transversely from the first longitudinal section 11. In particular,
in this embodiment, both the first longitudinal section 11 and the
second longitudinal section 12 extend in a vertical direction. The
first contacting section 13 includes a first plate portion 131
extending transversely from a top end of the first longitudinal
section 11, a second plate portion 132 higher than the first plate
portion 131 and also extending transversely, and a third plate
portion 133 connected between the first plate portion 131 and the
second plate portion 132 and extending longitudinally. In practice,
the first contacting section 13 is bent from the first longitudinal
section 11. Due to the presence of the third plate portion 133, a
height difference is generated between the first plate portion 131
and the second plate portion 132.
[0018] The second contacting section 14 extends transversely from
the second longitudinal section 12. In particular, in this
embodiment, the second contacting section 14 extends transversely,
and includes a connecting end 141 and a free end 142 that are
opposite to each other. The connecting end 141 is connected to a
bottom end of the second longitudinal section 12. The free end 142
extends in a direction away from the second longitudinal section
12. In practice, the second contacting section 14 is bent from the
second longitudinal section 12. Certainly, the second contacting
section 14 may have the same structure as that of the first
contacting section 13, and includes three plate portions that are
similar respectively to the first plate 131, the second plate 132,
and the third plate 133 of the first contacting section 13.
[0019] The third contacting section 15 is connected between the
first longitudinal section 11 and the second longitudinal section
12, and extends transversely. In particular, in this embodiment,
the third contacting section 15 includes a first end 151 and a
second end 152 that are opposite to each other. The first end 151
of the third contacting section 15 is connected with a top end of
the second longitudinal section 12. The second end 152 is connected
with a bottom end of the first longitudinal section 11. That is,
the first longitudinal section 11, the third contacting section 15
and the second longitudinal section 12 are formed by stamping from
a single plate. Due to the presence of the third contacting section
15, the first longitudinal section 11 and the second longitudinal
section 12 are misaligned from each other. In this embodiment, the
first contacting section 13, the second contacting section 14 and
the third contacting section 15 of the heat-dissipating fin 1 are
parallel to one another.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, when the heat-dissipating fins 1
are interconnected along a rectilinear direction 101, the first
longitudinal sections 11 of any two adjacent ones of the
heat-dissipating fins 1 are spaced apart from each other, and the
second longitudinal sections 12 of any two adjacent ones of the
heat-dissipating fins 1 are spaced apart from each other. The
second plate portion 132 of the first contacting section 13 of each
heat-dissipating fin 1 is overlapped on the first plate portion 131
of the first contacting section 13 of an adjacent one of the
heat-dissipating fins 1. The second end 152 of the third contacting
section 15 of one heat-dissipating fin 1 is contacted with the
first end 151 of the third contacting section 15 of the other
heat-dissipating fin 1. The free end 142 of the second contacting
section 14 of each heat-dissipating fin 1 is contacted with the
connecting end 141 of the second contacting section 14 of an
adjacent one of the heat-dissipating fins 1.
[0021] It should be noted that, when the second plate portion 132
of the first contacting section 13 of one heat-dissipating fin 1 is
overlapped on the first plate portion 131 of the first contacting
section 13 of another heat-dissipating fin 1, a surface contact
occurs therebetween. Preferably, the second plate portions 132 of
the two adjacent heat-dissipating fins 1 are further connected with
each other. More particularly, the ends of the second plate
portions 132 of the two adjacent heat-dissipating fins 1 are
further contacted with each other. In this case, an additional
linear contact or surface contact is generated between the ends of
the second plate portions 132.
[0022] In addition, a linear contact or surface contact is
generated between the free end 142 of the second contacting section
14 of each heat-dissipating fin 1 and the connecting end 141 of the
second contacting section 14 of an adjacent one of the
heat-dissipating fins 1.
[0023] A linear contact or surface contact is also generated
between the second end 152 of the third contacting section 15 of
each heat-dissipating fin 1 and the first end 151 of the third
contacting section 15 of an adjacent one of the heat-dissipating
fins 1.
[0024] Thus, as mentioned above, when a plurality of the
heat-dissipating fins 1 are interconnected to form a
heat-dissipating fin assembly 100, linear contacts or surface
contacts are generated at least among the first contacting sections
13 of the heat-dissipating fins 1, among the second contacting
sections 14 of the heat-dissipating fins 1, and among the third
contacting sections 15 of the heat-dissipating fins 1.
Consequently, the contact area among the heat-dissipating fins 1 is
increased, the thermal conduction effect of the heat-dissipating
fins 1 in a transverse direction, i.e., the rectilinear direction
101, is enhanced, heat accumulation at some of the heat-dissipating
fins 1 is avoided, and the influences on a surface temperature of
the heat-dissipating fins 1, in which heat is accumulated is
reduced. Thus, the heat-dissipating fin assembly 100 has a
relatively uniform temperature distribution on the heat-dissipating
fins 1, so as to enhance the heat-dissipating effect of the overall
heat-dissipating fin assembly 100.
[0025] To sum up, the heat-dissipating fins 1 are formed by
stamping to have the transversely extending first contacting
section 13, the transversely extending second contacting section 14
and the transversely extending third contacting section 15 so that,
when the heat-dissipating fins 1 are interconnected, the contact
area between the heat-dissipating fins 1 is increased
significantly.
[0026] The arrangement of heat-dissipating fins 1 may be changed.
For example, in other variations, by adjusting the shapes of the
heat-dissipating fins 1, the heat-dissipating fins 1 maybe arranged
in other manners such as in an annular arrangement, while still
maintaining contacts among the first contacting sections 13, among
the second contacting sections 14 and among the third contacting
sections 15.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the heat-dissipating fin 1 in
this embodiment further comprises a first engaging mechanism 16 and
a second engaging mechanism 17. The first engaging mechanism 16 and
the second engaging mechanism 17 are provided at two positions on
the first contacting section 13, respectively, such that the first
engaging mechanism 16 of each heat-dissipating fin 1 of the
heat-dissipating fin assembly 100 can be engaged with the second
engaging mechanism 17 of an adjacent one of the heat-dissipating
fins 1 of the heat-dissipating fin assembly 100. Specifically, the
first engaging mechanism 16 includes at least one tab (a pair of
tabs) projecting from one end of the second plate portion 132
distal from the third plate portion 133, and the second engaging
mechanism 17 includes at least one engaging groove (a pair of
engaging grooves in this embodiment) that is shaped as a notch and
recessed from the other end of the second plate portion 132 (i.e.,
the end of the second plate portion 132 connected with the third
plate portion 133). As two heat-dissipating fins 1 are
interconnected, the first engaging mechanism 16 (tab) of one
heat-dissipating fin is engaged into the second engaging mechanism
17 (engaging groove) of the other heat-dissipating fin 1, such that
the second plate portion 132 and the first plate portion 131 of the
two heat-dissipating fins 1 are stacked with each other.
[0028] Further, in this embodiment, the first longitudinal section
11 and the second longitudinal section 12 are misaligned from each
other. However, in another variation, as shown in FIG. 5, a first
longitudinal section 11' and a second longitudinal section 12' may
be interconnected and aligned. In this case, a first contacting
section 13', a second contacting section 14' and a third contacting
section 15' are spaced vertically, such that the heat-dissipating
fin 1' as a whole is shaped as a character "E" as seen from the
side. Certainly, the structural variations of the heat-dissipating
fin are not limited thereto.
[0029] To sum up, in this disclosure, with the structural design of
the first contacting section 13, the second contacting section 14
and the third contacting section 15 of the heat-dissipating fin 1,
when a plurality of heat-dissipating fins 1 are interconnected,
contacts among the first contacting sections 13, among the second
contacting sections 14 and among the third contacting sections 15
are established, which increases the contact area among the
heat-dissipating fins 1, and enhances the thermal conductivity
among the interconnected heat-dissipating fins 1. As such, the
heat-dissipating fins 1 interconnected in a transverse direction
have a relatively uniform temperature distribution, thereby
enhancing the heat-dissipating effect of the heat-dissipating fins
1 and thus achieving the object of this disclosure.
[0030] While this disclosure has been described in connection with
what is considered the most practical embodiments, it is understood
that this disclosure 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.
* * * * *