U.S. patent application number 13/349813 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-02 for flattened heat pipe.
This patent application is currently assigned to COOLER MASTER CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Chang-Yin Chen, Lei-Lei Liu. Invention is credited to Chang-Yin Chen, Lei-Lei Liu.
Application Number | 20130105131 13/349813 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46464096 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130105131 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Chang-Yin ; et
al. |
May 2, 2013 |
FLATTENED HEAT PIPE
Abstract
The flattened heat pipe includes a flattened tube, a first wick
structure, a second wick structure and a working fluid. The
flattened tube has an annular wall and a chamber formed within the
annular wall. The first wick structure is disposed on a portion of
the annular wall. The second wick structure is disposed on another
portion of the annular wall, and not overlapping with each other.
The working fluid is filled in the chamber.
Inventors: |
Chen; Chang-Yin; (New Taipei
City, TW) ; Liu; Lei-Lei; (Hui Zhou City,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Chen; Chang-Yin
Liu; Lei-Lei |
New Taipei City
Hui Zhou City |
|
TW
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
COOLER MASTER CO., LTD.
|
Family ID: |
46464096 |
Appl. No.: |
13/349813 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/177 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 15/046 20130101;
H01L 23/427 20130101; H01L 2924/0002 20130101; F28D 15/0233
20130101; H01L 2924/0002 20130101; H01L 2924/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/177 |
International
Class: |
F28F 1/00 20060101
F28F001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 27, 2011 |
TW |
100220210 |
Claims
1. A flattened heat pipe comprising: a flattened tube, having an
annular wall and a chamber formed within the annular wall; a first
wick structure, disposed on a portion of the annular wall; a second
wick structure, disposed on another portion of the annular wall,
and not overlapping with each other; and a working fluid filled in
the chamber.
2. The flattened heat pipe of claim 1, wherein the flattened tube
has two parallel sheets, and an overall height of the two sheets
and the chamber is less than 2 mm.
3. The flattened heat pipe of claim 1, wherein the first wick
structure is a plurality of grooves formed on the annular wall, and
the second wick structure is sintered metal powder attached on the
annular wall.
4. The flattened heat pipe of claim 1, wherein the first wick
structure is a plurality of grooves formed on the annular wall, and
the second wick structure is a mesh structure attached on the
annular wall.
5. The flattened heat pipe of claim 1, wherein the first wick
structure is a plurality of grooves formed on the annular wall, and
the second wick structure is a bundle of fibers attached on the
annular wall.
6. The flattened heat pipe of claim 1, wherein the first wick
structure is sintered metal powder attached on the annular wall,
and the second wick structure is sintered metal powder attached on
the annular wall and formed with a plurality of grooves.
7. The flattened heat pipe of claim 1, wherein the first wick
structure is a mesh structure attached on the annular wall, and the
second wick structure is sintered metal powder attached on the
annular wall.
8. The flattened heat pipe of claim 1, further comprising a pair of
third wick structures, wherein the first wick structure is a mesh
structure attached on the annular wall, the second wick structure
is a mesh structure attached on the annular wall, and the third
wick structures are separately attached on a remaining area of the
annular wall, are out of contact with each other and do not overlap
with the first and second wick structures.
9. The flattened heat pipe of claim 1, further comprising a pair of
third wick structures, wherein the first wick structure is a mesh
structure attached on the annular wall, the second wick structure
is a mesh structure attached on the annular wall, and the third
wick structures are separately attached on a remaining area of the
annular wall, are in contact with each other and do not overlap
with the first and second wick structures.
10. The flattened heat pipe of claim 1, wherein the first wick
structure is a plurality of grooves formed on the annular wall, the
second wick structure is sintered metal powder attached on the
annular wall, and a remaining portion of the annular wall is formed
with a smooth surface.
11. A flattened heat pipe comprising: a flattened tube, having an
annular wall and a chamber formed within the annular wall; a first
wick structure, disposed on a portion of the annular wall and
continuously over a front half and a rear half of the flattened
tube; a second wick structure, disposed on another portion of the
annular wall and continuously over a front half and a rear half of
the flattened tube, and not overlapping with each other; and a
working fluid filled in the chamber.
12. The flattened heat pipe of claim 11, wherein the flattened tube
has two parallel sheets, and an overall height of the two sheets
and the chamber is less than 2 mm.
13. The flattened heat pipe of claim 11, wherein the first wick
structure is a plurality of grooves formed on the annular wall, and
the second wick structure is sintered metal powder attached on the
annular wall.
14. The flattened heat pipe of claim 11, wherein the first wick
structure is a plurality of grooves formed on the annular wall, and
the second wick structure is a mesh structure attached on the
annular wall.
15. The flattened heat pipe of claim 11, wherein the first wick
structure is a plurality of grooves formed on the annular wall, and
the second wick structure is a bundle of fibers attached on the
annular wall.
16. The flattened heat pipe of claim 11, wherein the first wick
structure is sintered metal powder attached on the annular wall,
and the second wick structure is sintered metal powder attached on
the annular wall and formed with a plurality of grooves.
17. The flattened heat pipe of claim 11, wherein the first wick
structure is a mesh structure attached on the annular wall, and the
second wick structure is sintered metal powder attached on the
annular wall.
18. The flattened heat pipe of claim 11, further comprising a pair
of third wick structures, wherein the first wick structure is a
mesh structure attached on the annular wall, the second wick
structure is a mesh structure attached on the annular wall, and the
third wick structures are separately attached on a remaining area
of the annular wall, are out of contact with each other and do not
overlap with the first and second wick structures.
19. The flattened heat pipe of claim 11, further comprising a pair
of third wick structures, wherein the first wick structure is a
mesh structure attached on the annular wall, the second wick
structure is a mesh structure attached on the annular wall, and the
third wick structures are separately attached on a remaining area
of the annular wall, are in contact with each other and do not
overlap with the first and second wick structures.
20. The flattened heat pipe of claim 11, wherein the first wick
structure is a plurality of grooves formed on the annular wall, the
second wick structure is sintered metal powder attached on the
annular wall, and a remaining portion of the annular wall is formed
with a smooth surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The invention relates to heat pipes, particularly to
flattened heat pipes used for transferring heat from a heat
source.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] Heat pipes, which are used for heat sources such as CPUs,
can effectively overcome more and more heat generated from
electronic heat sources. Thus heat pipes have become necessary for
heat sinks with high efficiency of heat dissipation. In recent
years, portable electronic devices are very popular around the
world. As a result, heat sinks must be continuously improved to
satisfy their requirements.
[0005] A typical heat pipe includes a circular tube, a wick
structure and a working fluid. A chamber is formed in the circular
tube. The wick structure is attached on an inner side of the tube.
The working fluid is filled in the chamber and contained in the
wick structure.
[0006] However, the circular tube is not suitable for thinned
electronic devices. Further, the wick structure is of a single
type, so it will make the internal heated vapor flows too fast when
its density is large. This will cause dryout easily. When the
density of the wick structure is small, the heated vapor flows too
slowly. This will decrease the efficiency of heat transfer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An object of the invention is to provide a flattened heat
pipe, which can increase flowing speed of the internal vapor and
liquid and improve efficiency of heat transfer.
[0008] To accomplish the above object, the flattened heat pipe of
the invention includes a flattened tube, a first wick structure, a
second wick structure and a working fluid. The flattened tube has
an annular wall and a chamber formed within the annular wall. The
first wick structure is disposed on a portion of the annular wall.
The second wick structure is disposed on another portion of the
annular wall, and not overlapping with each other. The working
fluid is filled in the chamber.
[0009] To accomplish the above object, the flattened heat pipe of
the invention includes a flattened tube, a first wick structure, a
second wick structure and a working fluid. The flattened tube has
an annular wall and a chamber formed within the annular wall. The
first wick structure is disposed on a portion of the annular wall
and continuously over a front half and a rear half of the flattened
tube. The second wick structure is disposed on another portion of
the annular wall and continuously over a front half and a rear half
of the flattened tube, and not overlapping with each other and not
overlapping with each other. The working fluid is filled in the
chamber.
[0010] The invention arranges two layers of wick structures with
different density. This can promote the vapor to flow fast and add
volume of the internal liquid contained in the wick structure for
preventing from dryouting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the
invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the
invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the third embodiment of the
invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the
invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the fifth embodiment of the
invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the sixth embodiment of the
invention; and
[0018] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the seventh embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. The flatten heat pipe of the
invention includes a flattened tube 10, a first wick structure 20,
a second wick structure 30 and a working fluid 40.
[0020] The flattened tube 10 is made of copper, aluminum or their
alloys with great thermo-conductivity and tractility. The tube 10
of the shown embodiment is of a strip shape and composed of an
upper sheet 11, a lower sheet 12 and two arcked sheets 13
connecting therebetween. These sheets 11, 12, 13 constitute an
annular wall 10a. Two ends of the tube 10 are sealed by welding. A
chamber 14 is formed within the sheets 11, 12, 13. The overall
height of the upper sheet 11, the lower sheet 12 and the chamber 14
is less than 2 mm.
[0021] The first wick structure 20 is a plurality of grooves 201
formed on the right area of the upper sheet 11 and the lower sheet
12 and the right arcked sheet 13. The first wick structure 20
continuously covers the front half and the rear half of the tube 10
along an axis of the tube 10. The second wick structure 30 is
attached on the left area of the upper sheet 11 and the lower sheet
12 and the left arcked sheet 13. Also, the second wick structure 30
continuously covers the front half and the rear half of the tube 10
along an axis of the tube 10. The second wick structure 30 is
sintered metal powder and does not overlap with the first wick
structure 20. However, edges of the first and second wick
structures 20, 30 may be in contact with each other as shown in the
figures or may be out of contact with each other.
[0022] The working fluid 40 may be pure water or alcohol filled in
the chamber 14. At a room temperature, the working fluid 40 is
liquid and contained in the wick structures 20, 30. The working
fluid 40 will be evaporated to transfer a large amount of heat to
an area with lower temperature when it is heated.
[0023] Please refer to FIG. 3, which shows the second embodiment of
the invention. In this embodiment, the first wick structure 20 is a
plurality of grooves 201 formed on the right area of the upper
sheet 11 and the lower sheet 12 and the right arcked sheet 13. The
second wick structure 30a is attached on the left area of the upper
sheet 11 and the lower sheet 12 and the left arcked sheet 13. The
second wick structure 30a is a mesh structure woven by metal wires.
The mesh structure does not overlap with the grooves 201 as the
first wick structure 20.
[0024] Please refer to FIG. 4, which shows the third embodiment of
the invention. In this embodiment, the first wick structure 20 is a
plurality of grooves 201 formed on the right area of the upper
sheet 11 and the lower sheet 12 and the right arcked sheet 13. The
second wick structure 30b is a bundle of fibers attached on the
left area of the upper sheet 11 and the lower sheet 12 and the left
arcked sheet 13. The bundle of fibers does not overlap with the
grooves 201 as the first wick structure 20.
[0025] Please refer to FIG. 5, which shows the fourth embodiment of
the invention. In this embodiment, the first wick structure 20a is
attached on the right area of the upper sheet 11 and the lower
sheet 12 and the right arcked sheet 13. The first wick structure
20a is formed by sintered metal powder with a plurality of grooves
201a. The second wick structure 30 is the same as the first
embodiment.
[0026] Please refer to FIG. 6, which shows the fifth embodiment of
the invention. In this embodiment, the first wick structure 20b is
attached on the right area of the upper sheet 11 and the lower
sheet 12, the right arcked sheet 13 and the right portion of the
chamber 14. The first wick structure 20b is formed by sintered
metal powder. The second wick structure 30a is the same as the
second embodiment, thereby volume of the liquid contained in the
wick structures 20b, 30a can be increased.
[0027] Please refer to FIG. 7, which shows the sixth embodiment of
the invention. In this embodiment, the first wick structure 20c is
attached on the right area of the upper sheet 11 and the lower
sheet 12 and the right arcked sheet 13. The first wick structure
20c is a mesh structure. The second wick structure 30c is attached
on the left area of the upper sheet 11 and the lower sheet 12 and
the left arcked sheet 13. The second wick structure 30c is a mesh
structure, too. A pair of third wick structures 50 are separately
disposed on the middle portions of the upper and lower sheets 11,
12. The pair of third wick structures 50 are made of sintered metal
powder and in contact with each other. Other arrangements and
shapes are available. The two third wick structures 50 may be out
of contact with each other (not shown). The third wick structures
50 can increase volume of the liquid contained therein to prevent
from dryouting.
[0028] Please refer to FIG. 8, which shows the seventh embodiment
of the invention. In this embodiment, the first wick structure 20
is a plurality of grooves 201 formed on the right area of the upper
sheet 11 and the lower sheet 12 and the right arcked sheet 13. The
second wick structure 30d is attached on the left area of the upper
sheet 11 and the lower sheet 12 and the left arcked sheet 13. The
second wick structure 30d is sintered metal powder. Additionally,
the middle portion of the upper sheet 11 is formed with a smooth
surface 60 for increasing vapor flow space and reducing vapor flow
resistance.
[0029] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
the above embodiments have been described by way of example only
and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and
modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *