U.S. patent application number 14/099695 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-14 for flat-plate type capillary structure and plate heat pipe having the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Hao PAI. Invention is credited to Hao PAI.
Application Number | 20150129177 14/099695 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50510974 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150129177 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PAI; Hao |
May 14, 2015 |
FLAT-PLATE TYPE CAPILLARY STRUCTURE AND PLATE HEAT PIPE HAVING THE
SAME
Abstract
A plate heat pipe includes a hollow housing formed in a plate
shape and a flat-plate type capillary structure. The flat-plate
type capillary structure includes a capillary boundary part and a
plurality of primary capillary transportation parts; wherein the
capillary boundary part is surroundingly arranged at the periphery
of a vaporization portion of the plate heat pipe, and a hollow
vapor flowing zone is defined between the capillary boundary part
and the vaporization portion. Each of the primary capillary
transportation parts is disposed in the vapor flowing zone and
extended from the capillary boundary part to the vaporization
portion so as to be respectively gathered on the vaporization
portion.
Inventors: |
PAI; Hao; (New Taipei City,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PAI; Hao |
New Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
50510974 |
Appl. No.: |
14/099695 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/104.26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 15/046 20130101;
F28D 15/0233 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/104.26 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/04 20060101
F28D015/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 8, 2013 |
TW |
102140726 |
Claims
1. A flat-plate type capillary structure, including: a capillary
boundary part, surroundingly arranged at the periphery of a
vaporization portion of a plate heat pipe, wherein a hollow vapor
flowing zone is defined between the capillary boundary part and the
vaporization portion; and a plurality of primary capillary
transportation parts, disposed in the vapor flowing zone and
extended from the capillary boundary part to the vaporization
portion so as to be respectively gathered on the vaporization
portion.
2. The flat-plate type capillary structure according to claim 1,
further including a capillary vaporization part disposed on the
vaporization portion, wherein the primary capillary transportation
parts are respectively connected to the capillary vaporization
part.
3. The flat-plate type capillary structure according to claim 2,
wherein the capillary vaporization part is made of a woven net,
sintering powders or sintering fibers, and disposed at a front end
of each of the primary capillary transportation parts.
4. The flat-plate type capillary structure according to claim 2,
wherein the capillary vaporization part is formed with a plurality
of heat transferring holes.
5. The flat-plate type capillary structure according to claim 2,
wherein the thickness of each of the primary capillary
transportation parts is greater than that of the capillary
vaporization part, and the thickness of each of the primary
capillary transportation parts is equal to that of the capillary
boundary part.
6. The flat-plate type capillary structure according to claim 1,
wherein a plurality of gas channels are formed on the capillary
boundary part and arranged at intervals, and each of the gas
channels is formed as being communicated from the outer edge to the
inner edge of the capillary boundary part so as to be communicated
with the vapor flowing zone.
7. The flat-plate type capillary structure according to claim 2,
wherein a plurality of secondary capillary transportation parts are
formed between the primary capillary transportation parts, and the
secondary capillary transportation parts are extended from the
capillary boundary part towards the capillary vaporization part but
not connected to the capillary vaporization part.
8. The flat-plate type capillary structure according to claim 7,
wherein a plurality of auxiliary capillary transportation parts are
formed between the primary capillary transportation parts, the
auxiliary capillary transportation parts are extended from the
capillary boundary part towards the capillary vaporization part but
not connected to the capillary vaporization part, and the length of
the secondary capillary transportation part is longer than that of
the auxiliary capillary transportation part.
9. The flat-plate type capillary structure according to claim 8,
wherein the thickness of the secondary capillary transportation
part and the thickness of the auxiliary capillary transportation
part are equal to or smaller than that of the primary capillary
transportation parts.
10. The flat-plate type capillary structure according to claim 9,
wherein a connection rib is provided between two adjacent primary
capillary transportation parts, two adjacent secondary capillary
transportation parts or two adjacent auxiliary capillary
transportation parts for the purpose of lateral connection.
11. The flat-plate type capillary structure according to claim 2,
wherein each of the primary capillary transportation parts is
laterally extended with a capillary transportation surface having a
thinner thickness.
12. The flat-plate type capillary structure according to claim 2,
wherein the vapor flowing zone is installed with a plurality of
flat supporting structures.
13. A plate heat pipe, including: a hollow housing, formed in a
plate shape; and a flat-plate type capillary, disposed in the
housing to support a top and a bottom inner walls of the housing,
wherein flat-plate type capillary includes: a capillary boundary
part, surroundingly arranged at the periphery of a vaporization
portion of a plate heat pipe, wherein a hollow vapor flowing zone
is defined between the capillary boundary part and the vaporization
portion; and a plurality of primary capillary transportation parts,
disposed in the vapor flowing zone and extended from the capillary
boundary part to the vaporization portion so as to be respectively
gathered on the vaporization portion.
14. The plate heat pipe having the flat-plate type capillary
structure according to claim 13, wherein the housing includes a
base and a top cover engaged to the base to form a plate shape.
15. The plate heat pipe having the flat-plate type capillary
structure according to claim 13, wherein a distance is formed
between the outer edge of the capillary boundary part of the
capillary structure and a lateral inner wall of the housing.
16. The plate heat pipe having the flat-plate type capillary
structure according to claim 13, wherein the inner wall of the
housing is formed with a plurality of grooves surrounding the
capillary structure and partially connected to the capillary
structure, and the depth of the groove is smaller than 30% of the
wall thickness of the housing.
17. The plate heat pipe having the flat-plate type capillary
structure according to claim 16, wherein the depth of the groove is
smaller than 0.03 mm.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a thinned plate heat pipe,
especially to a flat-plate type capillary structure and a plate
heat pipe having the capillary structure.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] The main trend for developing electronic product is to be
thinner, smaller and lighter, so a heat pipe installed therein and
used for dissipating or transferring heat is also required to be
thinner. For example, an ultra-thin plate heat pipe has a thickness
smaller than 1.5 mm.
[0005] However, the thickness of the ultra-thin plate heat pipe is
thinned, the thickness of a capillary structure installed therein
has to be thinner and narrower or there may not be enough space
inside the heat pipe for forming gas channels, and because of the
capillary structure being thinned, the returning amount of working
fluid is also reduced, so it is hard to have enough space inside
the plate heat pipe for the installation of any supporting
structure. As such, in the ultra-thin plate heat pipe, the
capillary structure is also served as a supporting structure.
[0006] According to the above-mentioned disadvantages, the
distribution of the capillary structure inside the plate heat pipe
is unable to be comprehensively designed, and a vapor channel zone
and the capillary structure disposed in the plate heat pipe cannot
individually provide its best performance. For example, the
capillary structure is unable to be provided with a sufficient
vaporization surface area, a sufficient condensing surface area and
a sufficient liquid transporting cross area, and the interior of
the plate heat pipe is unable to provide a sufficient space for the
vapor channel zone, and an internal supporting structure having a
better structural strength is unable to be provided, so a recessing
problem is very likely to happen to the plate heat pipe and an
issue of having larger contact thermal resistance is caused, thus
the heat transferring efficiency cannot be further enhanced or
performed.
[0007] In view of the above, the applicant of the present invention
has devoted himself for improving the mentioned disadvantages, thus
the present invention having a novel design and capable of
effectively improving the above-mentioned disadvantages is
provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is to provide a flat-plate type
capillary structure and a plate heat pipe having the capillary
structure. The flat-plate type capillary structure is able to be
effectively distributed in a vapor flowing zone of the plate heat
pipe, a liquid-state working fluid is enabled to be returned to a
vaporization portion in a most effective manner, and the vapor
flowing zone is provided with a sufficient pace for allowing the
vaporized working fluid to be transported towards an edge for
condensing, so the capillary structure is provided with a better
heat transferring efficiency under the situation of the plate heat
pipe being thinned.
[0009] Accordingly, the present invention provides a flat-plate
type capillary structure including: a capillary boundary part and a
plurality of primary capillary transportation parts; wherein the
capillary boundary part is surroundingly arranged at the periphery
of a vaporization portion of the plate heat pipe, and a hollow
vapor flowing zone is defined between the capillary boundary part
and the vaporization portion. Each of the primary capillary
transportation parts is disposed in the vapor flowing zone and
extended from the capillary boundary part to the vaporization
portion so as to be respectively gathered on the vaporization
portion.
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention provides a plate heat
pipe including a hollow housing formed in a plate shape and the
above-mentioned flat-plate type capillary structure disposed in the
housing to support a top and a bottom inner walls of the
housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the capillary structure
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the zone A of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the zone B of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view showing the plate heat
pipe according to the first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the
plate heat pipe according to the first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the
plate heat pipe according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 6 taken alone
7-7;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the
plate heat pipe according to a third embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded view showing the capillary
structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the
plate heat pipe according to the fourth embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the
plate heat pipe according to a fifth embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0022] FIG. 12 is a partial cross sectional view showing the plate
heat pipe according to a sixth embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the drawings.
[0024] Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, wherein FIG. 1 is
a perspective view showing the capillary structure according to a
first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a perspective
exploded view showing the plate heat pipe according to the first
embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 5 is a perspective
view showing the assembly of the plate heat pipe according to the
first embodiment of the present invention. A plate heat pipe of the
present invention includes a hollow housing 2 formed in a plate
shape, and a flat-plate type capillary structure 1 of the present
invention is formed in a flat plate shape and disposed in the
housing 2 to support a top and a bottom inner walls of the housing
2.
[0025] Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the capillary
structure 1 is formed through sintering fibers, fabrics or metal
powders, or a combination of the above, thereby forming a
flat-plate shaped member. The capillary structure 1 is disposed in
the housing 2, and formed with a capillary vaporization part 10
corresponding to a vaporization portion (i.e. a heating portion) of
the plate heat pipe, and a capillary boundary part 11 surroundingly
formed at the periphery of the capillary vaporization part 10. A
hollow vapor flowing zone 100 is defined between the capillary
vaporization part 10 and the capillary boundary part 11. The
capillary structure 1 is further formed with a plurality of primary
capillary transportation parts 12 arranged in the vapor flowing
zone 100 and extended from the capillary boundary part 11 to
connect the capillary vaporization part 10, thereby forming a main
transportation passage allowing a working fluid to be returned. In
addition, the capillary vaporization part 10 is formed with a
plurality of heat transferring holes 101 for enhancing the heat
transferring effect. Moreover, the thickness of each of the primary
capillary transportation parts 12 can be greater than that of the
capillary vaporization part 10, and the thickness of each of the
primary capillary transportation parts 12 is equal to that of the
capillary boundary part 11, and a plurality of gas channels 110 are
formed on the capillary boundary part 11 and arranged at intervals,
each of the gas channels 110 is formed as being communicated from
the outer edge to the inner edge of the capillary boundary part 11
so as to be communicated with the vapor flowing zone 100.
[0026] For increasing the return transporting amount of the working
fluid being collected towards the capillary vaporization part 10,
between the primary capillary transportation parts 12 there can be
further formed with a plurality of secondary capillary
transportation parts 13 having different lengths and a plurality of
auxiliary capillary transportation parts 130, which are all
extended from the capillary boundary part 11 towards the capillary
vaporization part 10 but not connect to the capillary vaporization
part 10, thereby being distributed in the vapor flowing zone 100.
The thickness of the secondary capillary transportation part 13 and
the thickness of the auxiliary capillary transportation part 130
can be equal to or smaller than that of each of the primary
capillary transportation parts 12, and the length of the secondary
capillary transportation part 13 is longer than that of the
auxiliary capillary transportation part 130.
[0027] Please refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the housing 2 includes a
base 20 and a top cover 21 engaged with the base 20 to form the
plate shape, the thickness of the housing 2 is smaller than 0.6 mm,
and when the capillary structure 1 is disposed in the housing 2 and
in contact with a top and a bottom inner walls of the housing 2, a
distance d is formed between the outer edge of the capillary
boundary part 11 of the capillary structure 1 and a lateral inner
wall of the housing 2, so after the vaporized working fluid is
transported from the vapor flowing zone 100 towards the capillary
boundary part 11, the working fluid is enabled to be further
transported to the outer edge of the capillary structure 1 through
each of the gas channels 110 for condensing, and the condensed
working fluid in a liquid state is then returned to the capillary
vaporization part 10 from the capillary boundary part 11 through
each of the primary capillary transportation parts 12. According to
this embodiment provided by the present invention, a lateral side
of the housing 2 is installed with a gas discharging pipe 22 for
allowing the plate heat pipe to be processed with an operation of
gas filling or discharging, the gas discharging pipe 22 is sealed
after the mentioned operation is finished.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, for enabling the liquid-state
working fluid to be rapidly transported through each of the primary
capillary transportation parts 12 for return, each of the primary
capillary transportation parts 12 is laterally extended with a
capillary transportation surface 120 having a thinner thickness,
and the capillary transportation surface 120 is served to enlarge
the surface area defined between the capillary structure 1 and the
vapor flowing zone 100, thereby allowing the vapor flowing
resistance to be lowered and the capillary surface area for the
working fluid being returned to the capillary structure 1 to be
enlarged under the situation of maintaining the existence of the
vapor flowing zone 100, so an excellent heat exchanging effect can
be provided by the thinned plate heat pipe.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 8, for increasing the strength among the
primary capillary transportation parts 12, the secondary capillary
transportation parts 13 and the auxiliary capillary transportation
parts 130 so as to simplify the production, a connection rib 121 is
provided between two adjacent primary capillary transportation
parts 12, two adjacent secondary capillary transportation parts 13
or two adjacent auxiliary capillary transportation parts 130 for
the purpose of lateral connection to increase the structural
strength and meanwhile assist the transportation of the
liquid-state working fluid.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the capillary vaporization
part 10 can also be made of a woven net, sintering powders or
sintering fibers, and disposed at a front end 120 of each of the
primary capillary transportation parts 12 through a sintering or
adhering process.
[0031] In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, the capillary structure 1
does not require the installation of the capillary vaporization
part 10; in other words, the capillary structure 1 is used for
allowing a vaporization portion (i.e. the heating portion of the
heat pipe) to transfer heat, so the capillary boundary part 11 is
surroundingly arranged at the periphery of the vaporization
portion, and the vapor flowing zone 100 is formed between the
capillary boundary part 11 and the vaporization portion, each of
the primary capillary transportation parts 12 is extended from the
capillary boundary part 11 to the vaporization portion for being
respectively gathered thereon. According to the present invention,
each of the primary capillary transportation parts 12 is able to
allow the working fluid to be smoothly returned, and the vapor
flowing zone 100 is provided with a sufficient space, so the vapor
flowing zone 100 has enough space for being installed with a
plurality of flat supporting structures 102.
[0032] What shall be addressed is that: as shown in FIG. 12, the
inner wall of the housing 2 can be further formed with a plurality
of grooves 23 surrounding the capillary structure 1 and partially
connected to the capillary structure 1, and the depth of the groove
23 is smaller than 0.03 mm and usually smaller than 30% of the wall
thickness of the housing 2, so the structure thereof is very
compact, and the grooves 23 being formed on the inner wall of the
housing 2 do not affect the vapor flowing zone 100 being formed.
The grooves 23 allow the working fluid to be collected on the
capillary structure 1 due to surrounding the capillary structure 1
and partially connected to the capillary structure 1. As such, the
grooves 23 can be used for assisting the capillary structure 1 so
as to work with the capillary structure 1 for forming a capillary
transportation network which completely covers the inner wall of
the housing 2. In addition, the grooves 23 can be used for
condensing in a large scale in the condensing zone, and the
condensed working fluid is enabled to be returned to the capillary
structure 1 thereby reducing the condensing thermal resistance; and
the capillary structure 1 in the vaporizing zone is able to utilize
the grooves 23 to allow the vaporization area of the heated working
fluid to be enlarged thereby reducing the vaporizing thermal
resistance; and the condensed working fluid can be prevented from
being formed as tiny water drops adhered on the inner wall of the
housing 2 and unable to be returned, so interfering the vapor flow
is avoided thereby reducing the thermal resistance of vapor
channel; meanwhile, the thermal resistance of the plate heat pipe
in the vaporizing zone, the condensing zone and the vapor flowing
zone 100 can be effectively reduced.
[0033] Moreover, beside being completely formed on the inner wall
of the housing 2, the grooves 23 can also be formed at a partial
portion of the inner wall of the housing 2, and the grooves 23 can
utilize the vaporization portion as the center for being expanded
in a concentric or helical direction (e.g. right helical, left
helical or both of left and right helical) to the capillary
boundary part 11 so as to be formed on the inner wall of the
housing 2, the grooves 23 can also be formed in an irregular
shape.
[0034] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the foregoing preferred embodiment, it will be
understood that the invention is not limited to the details
thereof.
[0035] Various equivalent variations and modifications can still
occur to those skilled in this art in view of the teachings of the
present invention. Thus, all such variations and equivalent
modifications are also embraced within the scope of the invention
as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *