U.S. patent application number 14/135452 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-16 for thin heating pipe.
This patent application is currently assigned to Wistron Corp.. The applicant listed for this patent is Wistron Corp.. Invention is credited to Yung-Li Jang, Jianbing Shan.
Application Number | 20140305616 14/135452 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51669600 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140305616 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jang; Yung-Li ; et
al. |
October 16, 2014 |
THIN HEATING PIPE
Abstract
A thin heating pipe includes a pipe, a main capillary structure,
a first capillary structure, and a second capillary structure. The
pipe has a hollow chamber and a connecting chamber. The first
capillary structure is disposed in the chamber and between the
first and the second capillary structures. The first capillary
structure has a first channel, the second capillary structure has a
second channel, and the connecting chamber is communicated with the
first channel and the second channel.
Inventors: |
Jang; Yung-Li; (New Taipei
City, TW) ; Shan; Jianbing; (New Taipei City,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wistron Corp. |
New Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
Wistron Corp.
New Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
51669600 |
Appl. No.: |
14/135452 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/104.26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 15/0233 20130101;
F28D 15/046 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/104.26 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/04 20060101
F28D015/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 12, 2013 |
CN |
201310126504.3 |
Claims
1. A thin heating pipe, comprising: a pipe having a hollow chamber
and a connecting chamber communicated with the hollow chamber,
wherein the hollow chamber is extended along an extending path; a
main capillary structure, disposed in the hollow chamber, extended
along the extending path; a first capillary structure, disposed on
a side surface of the main capillary structure, having a first
channel parallel to the extending path; and a second capillary
structure, disposed on an opposite side surface of the main
capillary structure, having a second channel parallel to the
extending path, wherein the connecting chamber is communicated with
the first channel and the second channel, wherein the main
capillary structure is located between the first channel and the
second channel, and wherein the hollow chamber has a top surface
and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, and the main
capillary structure and the first and second capillary structures
are disposed on the top surface and the bottom surface.
2. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main
capillary structure and the first and second capillary structures
are formed as a single piece and have the same material.
3. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow
chamber has a central zone extended along the extending path, the
main capillary structure is located at the central zone, and the
central zone is located between the first channel and the second
channel.
4. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow
chamber has a first side surface and a second side surface opposite
to the first side surface, the first capillary structure is
disposed on the first side surface, the second capillary structure
is disposed on the second side surface, the first channel is
adjacent to the first side surface, and the second channel is
adjacent to the second side surface.
5. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow
chamber has a heating zone and a cooling zone, the first and second
capillary structures are located at the heating zone, the main
capillary structure is located the heating zone and the cooling
zone, and the connecting chamber is adjacent to the cooling
zone.
6. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first
channel and the second channel are extended to the cooling
zone.
7. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 5, wherein transverse
cross-section areas of the first and second channels at the cooling
zone are greater than transverse cross-section areas of the first
and second channels at the heating zone.
8. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the
first and second capillary structures has a ring transverse
cross-section, and the first and second channels are respectively
located in the ring transverse cross-sections.
9. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
extending path is straight.
10. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thin
heating pipe is a flat sealed structure.
11. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main
capillary structure and the first and second capillary structures
are powder structures or meshed structures.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of China Patent Application
No. 201310126504.3, filed on Apr. 12, 2013, the entirety of which
is incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a heating pipe, and in
particular, to a thin heating pipe.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Recently, since portable computers, such as notebooks or
tablet computers, have become thinner, thin heating pipes are being
used therein, instead of the conventional cylindrical heating
pipes, due to the larger size of the conventional cylindrical
heating pipes.
[0006] However, since the conventional thin heating pipes have a
wider width and thinner thickness, the central zone of the thin
heating pipe is easily collapse, causing damage thereto. Moreover,
because the capillary structure at the heating end of the thin
heating pipe is less, a dry out condition may occur, thus,
negatively affecting the performance of the heating pipe.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] To solve the problems of the prior art, the present
disclosure provides a thin heating pipe with the capillary
structure. The strength of the heating pipe is increased by the
capillary structure, and the capillary structure in the heating
zone of the thin heating pipe is increased to prevent the heating
pipe from drying out.
[0008] The present disclosure provides a thin heating pipe
including a pipe, a main capillary structure, a first capillary
structure, and a second capillary structure. The pipe has a hollow
chamber and a connecting chamber communicated with the hollow
chamber. The hollow chamber is extended along an extending path.
The main capillary structure is disposed in the hollow chamber
extended along the extending path. The first capillary structure is
disposed on a side surface of the main capillary structure and has
a first channel parallel to the extending path. The second
capillary structure is disposed on an opposite side surface of the
main capillary structure and has a second channel parallel to the
extending path.
[0009] The connecting chamber is communicated with the first
channel and the second channel. The main capillary structure is
located between the first channel and the second channel. The
hollow chamber has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to
the top surface, and the main capillary structure and the first and
second capillary structures are disposed on the top surface and the
bottom surface.
[0010] In summary, the main capillary structure of an embodiment of
the invention located at the central zone of the pipe prevents the
central zone of the thin heating pipe from collapsing, and
increases the strength of the heating pipe. Moreover, by being
disposed around the first and second channels, the capillary
structure is increased and thus, prevents the heating pipe from
drying out.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention can be more fully understood by reading the
subsequent detailed description and examples with references made
to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the thin heating pipe of an
embodiment of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view according to
the thin heating pipe of an embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views along the line AA of
FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line BB of FIG.
2; and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line CC of FIG.
2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the thin heating pipe 1 of
an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal
cross-sectional view according to the thin heating pipe 1 of an
embodiment of the invention. The thin heating pipe 1 includes a
pipe 10, a main capillary structure 20, a first capillary structure
30 and a second capillary structure 40. The pipe 10 is a flat
sealed structure. The width of the pipe 10 is at least three, four
or five times that of the thickness thereof. The pipe 10 has a
first outer surface S1 and a second outer surface S2, and the first
outer surface S1 is parallel to the second outer surface S2. The
pipe 10 includes thermal conductive material, such as metal, and
extends along an extending path R1. In the embodiment, the
extending path R1 is extended straight along an extending direction
D1. In another embodiment, the extending path R1 may include a
straight section and/or curved section.
[0018] The pipe 10 has a hollow chamber C1 and a connecting chamber
C2. The hollow chamber C1 is extended along the extending path R1,
and has a heating zone Z1 and a cooling zone Z2. The heating zone
Z1 is adjacent to a heating end E1 of the pipe 10, and the cooling
zone Z2 is adjacent to a cooling end E2 of the pipe 10. The hollow
chamber C1 also has a central zone Z3 extending along the extending
path R1.
[0019] The connecting chamber C2 is adjacent to the cooling zone Z2
and the cooling end E2, and communicated with the hollow chamber
C1. In the embodiment, the widths, heights and transverse
cross-section areas of the hollow chamber C1 and the connecting
chamber C2 are substantially the same. In the present disclosure,
the transverse direction is defined as a direction perpendicular to
the extending direction D1 or the extending path R1, and the
longitudinal direction is defined as a direction parallel to the
extending direction D1 or the extending path R1.
[0020] FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views along the line AA of
FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line BB of FIG.
2. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line CC of FIG. 2.
The hollow chamber C1 has a top surface C11, a bottom surface C12,
a first side surface C13, and a second side surface C14. The bottom
surface C12 is opposite to the top surface C11, and the second side
surface C14 is opposite to the first side surface C13.
[0021] The top surface C11 is respectively connected to the first
side surface C13 and the second side surface C14, and the bottom
surface C12 is respectively connected to the first side surface C13
and the second side surface C14. Namely, the top surface C11, the
bottom surface C12, the first side surface C13 and the second side
surface C14 are formed as a ring surface. In the embodiment, the
top surface C11 and the bottom surface C12 are flat, and the top
surface C11, the bottom surface C12, the first outer surface S1,
and the second outer surface S2 are parallel to each other. The
first and second side surfaces C13 and C14 are curved surfaces.
[0022] In the embodiment, the main capillary structure 20 and the
first and second capillary structures 30 and 40 are formed as a
single piece, and have the same materials. The main capillary
structure 20 and the first and second capillary structures 30 and
40 are powder structures or meshed structures.
[0023] The main capillary structure 20 is located at the heating
zone Z1 and the cooling zone Z2 of the hollow chamber C1, and
extended along the extending path R1. The main capillary structure
20 is disposed on the central zone Z3 and disposed on the top
surface C11 and the bottom surface C12 of the hollow chamber C1.
Therefore, the main capillary structure 20 is used as a support
structure to prevent the central zone Z3 from collapsing and to
increase the strength of the pipe 10.
[0024] The first capillary structure 30 is disposed in the heating
zone Z1 of the hollow chamber C1, and disposed on the top surface
C11, the bottom surface C12, the first side surface C13, and a side
surface of the main capillary structure 20. The first capillary
structure 30 has a first channel B1 adjacent to the first side
surface C13 of the hollow chamber C1. The first channel B1 is
extended along the extending direction D1, parallel to the
extending path R1, and extended into the cooling zone Z2 of the
hollow chamber C1. As shown FIG. 4, in a transverse cross-section
of the pipe 10, the first capillary structure 30 has a ring
transverse cross-section, and the first channel B1 is located in
the ring transverse cross-section.
[0025] The second capillary structure 40 is disposed in the heating
zone Z1 of the hollow chamber C1, and disposed on the top surface
C11, the bottom surface C12, the second side surface C14, and
another side surface opposite to the side surface of the main
capillary structure 20. The second capillary structure 40 has a
second channel B2 adjacent to the second side surface C14 of the
hollow chamber C1. The second channel B2 is extended along the
extending direction D1, parallel to the extending path R1, and
extended into the cooling zone Z2 of the hollow chamber C1. As
shown in FIG. 4, in a transverse cross-section of the pipe 10, the
second capillary structure 40 has a ring transverse cross-section,
and the second channel B2 is located in the ring transverse
cross-section.
[0026] In the embodiment, the cooling zone Z2 at the hollow chamber
C1 excludes the first and second capillary structures 30 and 40.
The first channel B1 is formed by the top surface C11, the first
side surface C13, the bottom surface C12 of the hollow chamber C1
and a side surface of the main capillary structure 20. The second
channel B2 is formed by the top surface C11, the second side
surface C14, the bottom surface C12 of the hollow chamber C1 and
another opposite side surface of the main capillary structure 20.
In the embodiment, the transverse cross-section areas of the first
and second channels B1 and B2 in the cooling zone Z2 are greater
than the transverse cross-section areas of the first and second
channels B1 and B2 in the heating zone Z1.
[0027] By the first and second capillary structures 30 and 40 in
the heating zone Z1, liquid is fully supplied to the heating zone
Z1, and thus, the dry out condition of the heating pipe 1 is
prevented. Further, since the cooling zone Z2 excludes the first
and second capillary structures 30 and 40, the transverse
cross-section areas of the first and second channels B1 and B2 in
the cooling zone Z2 is greater. Thus, gas is able to smoothly flow
through the first and second channels B1 and B2 in the cooling zone
Z2.
[0028] The central zone Z3 of the main capillary structure 20 and
the hollow chamber C1 are located between the first and second
capillary structures 30 and 40, and located between the first and
second channels B1 and B2. The connecting chamber C2 is
communicated with the first and second channels B1 and B2, but the
main capillary structure 20 and the first and second capillary
structures 30 and 40 are not disposed on the connecting chamber C2.
In the embodiment, gas flows between the first and second channels
B1 and B2 via the connecting chamber C2, and thus the pressure and
the flow of the gas in the first and second channels B1 and B2 are
balanced, thus improving the circulation of gas in the thin heating
pipe 1.
[0029] In another embodiment, the first and second capillary
structures 30 and 40 are extended to the cooling zone Z2 of the
hollow chamber C1. The first and second channels B1 and B2 are
respectively located in the first and second capillary structures
30 and 40. The structures in the heating zone Z1 and the cooling
zone Z2 are the same.
[0030] In conclusion, the main capillary structure of the
invention, located at the central zone of the pipe, prevents the
central zone of the thin heating pipe from collapsing, and
increases the strength of the heating pipe. Moreover, by being
disposed around the first and second channels, the capillary
structure is increased and thus, prevents the heating pipe from
drying out.
[0031] While the invention has been described by way of example and
in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended
to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would
be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of
the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation
so as to encompass all such modifications and similar
arrangements.
* * * * *