U.S. patent application number 16/033497 was filed with the patent office on 2019-10-31 for loop heat pipe partitioned into vapor channel and liquid channel.
The applicant listed for this patent is TAI-SOL ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yueh-Lung CHUANG, Chuan-Chi TSENG, Xiao-Long WU.
Application Number | 20190331430 16/033497 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65431731 |
Filed Date | 2019-10-31 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190331430 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TSENG; Chuan-Chi ; et
al. |
October 31, 2019 |
LOOP HEAT PIPE PARTITIONED INTO VAPOR CHANNEL AND LIQUID
CHANNEL
Abstract
A loop heat pipe partitioned into a vapor channel and a liquid
channel includes an evaporation chamber, a loop tube, a coupling
cover, and a heat-dissipating unit disposed outside the loop tube.
The evaporation chamber has a casing. The casing has therein a
wick, a working fluid and an evaporation space. The loop tube has a
connecting end and an engaging end. The connecting end connects to
the casing. The loop tube has therein at least one partition
element for partitioning the loop tube into a vapor channel and a
liquid channel. The coupling cover is engaged with the engaging end
of the loop tube and spaced apart from the at least one partition
element by a predetermined distance to thereby form a circulation
zone whereby the at least one vapor channel and the liquid channel
communicate.
Inventors: |
TSENG; Chuan-Chi; (TAIPEI
CITY, TW) ; CHUANG; Yueh-Lung; (TAIPEI CITY, TW)
; WU; Xiao-Long; (WUJIANG CITY, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TAI-SOL ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
65431731 |
Appl. No.: |
16/033497 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 15/0266 20130101;
F28D 15/0283 20130101; F28D 15/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/02 20060101
F28D015/02; F28D 15/04 20060101 F28D015/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 26, 2018 |
TW |
107114328 |
Claims
1. A loop heat pipe partitioned into a vapor channel and a liquid
channel, comprising: an evaporation chamber having a casing, the
casing having therein a wick and being filled with a working fluid,
the wick not occupying an inside of the casing fully, so as for an
evaporation space to be formed between the wick and the casing; a
loop tube having two ends defined as a connecting end and an
engaging end, respectively, the connecting end connecting to the
casing to allow the loop tube to be in communication with a space
within the casing, the loop tube having therein at least one
partition element for partitioning the loop tube into at least two
channels not in communication with each other, the at least two
channels being defined as at least one vapor channel and a liquid
channel, respectively; a heat-dissipating unit disposed outside the
loop tube and positioned proximate to the engaging end; and a
coupling cover engaged with the engaging end of the loop tube and
spaced apart from the at least one partition element in the loop
tube by a predetermined distance to form a circulation zone, the
circulation zone allowing communication between the liquid channel
and the at least one vapor channel in the loop tube.
2. The loop heat pipe partitioned into a vapor channel and a liquid
channel according to claim 1, wherein the coupling cover has a
concave portion, the concave portion being substantially stepwise
and hole-shaped and having an opening end of a large diameter, a
bottom end of a small diameter, and an annular blocking portion
formed between the opening end and the bottom end, such that the
engaging end of the loop tube is inserted into the concave portion
through the opening end and blocked by the annular blocking
portion, and the circulation zone is formed between an end portion
of the engaging end of the loop tube and the bottom end of the
concave portion of the coupling cover.
3. The loop heat pipe partitioned into a vapor channel and a liquid
channel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one partition
element is of a smaller length than the loop tube, extends from the
connecting end to the engaging end of the loop tube, and forms a
retracted space together with an end portion of the engaging end,
whereas the coupling cover has a bottom portion of a large
diameter, a top portion of a small diameter, and an annular
blocking portion formed between the bottom portion and the top
portion, such that the top portion of the coupling cover is
inserted into and engaged with the retracted space at the engaging
end, not only allowing the circulation zone to be formed between
the top portion of the coupling cover and the retracted space, but
also allowing the engaging end of the loop tube to be blocked by
the annular blocking portion and thus positioned in place.
4. The loop heat pipe partitioned into a vapor channel and a liquid
channel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one partition
element is provided in a plural number, arranged to jointly form a
V-shaped pattern when viewed from a sectional perspective, and
adapted to partition the loop tube into two vapor channels and one
liquid channel.
5. The loop heat pipe partitioned into a vapor channel and a liquid
channel according to claim 1, wherein the wick has an extending
portion corresponding in position to the liquid channel of the loop
tube and protruding into the liquid channel by a specific length.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to heat-dissipating devices
and, more particularly, to a loop heat pipe partitioned into a
vapor channel and a liquid channel.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] CN106052448A discloses a loop heat pipe which has a
hollow-cored pipe. The hollow-cored pipe bends backward and divides
into two pipeline channels, namely an evaporation segment and a
condensation segment. The two pipe ends fit together by a closed
end lid. The closed end lid has a closed end and an inserted end.
The inserted end has an opening. Opposing pipe walls of the two
pipe ends have flat wall surfaces and fit each other tightly;
hence, the two pipe ends are inserted into the opening of the
closed end lid and thus fit together. CN106052449A discloses a loop
heat pipe which has a hollow-cored pipe. The hollow-cored pipe
divides to form an evaporation segment and a condensation segment.
The loop heat pipe includes a closed end lid which has a closed end
and an inserted end. The inserted end has an opening. When the two
pipe ends are inserted into the opening, gaps between the opening
and the two pipe ends are filled with a gap-filler. The evaporation
segments and the condensation segments provided by the aforesaid
two citations are pipes of the same diameter and are not specially
designed to facilitate ease of flow of liquid formed by
condensation. As a result, a liquid working fluid circulating is
unlikely to return to an evaporation chamber smoothly, thereby
slowing down its circulation and reducing its heat dissipation
efficiency. Furthermore, it is difficult for the closed end lid to
be engaged with the pipes; in an attempt to overcome this drawback,
changing the shape of the pipes or filling the gaps between the
opening and the two pipe ends with the gap-filler is a feasible
solution but adds to manufacturing costs.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is an objective of the present disclosure to partition a
loop tube by at least one partition element into at least one vapor
channel and one liquid channel, allow the loop tube to be engaged
with a coupling cover, form a circulation zone for enabling
communication between the at least one vapor channel and the liquid
channel in the loop tube, form a fluid slug from a liquid working
fluid, move the fluid slug under a pressure difference, allow the
liquid working fluid to return to an evaporation chamber smoothly,
so as to enhance heat dissipation efficiency.
[0004] In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the
present disclosure provides a loop heat pipe partitioned into a
vapor channel and a liquid channel, comprising: an evaporation
chamber having a casing, the casing having therein a wick and being
filled with a working fluid, the wick not occupying an inside of
the casing fully, so as for an evaporation space to be formed
between the wick and the casing; a loop tube having two ends
defined as a connecting end and an engaging end, respectively, the
connecting end connecting to the casing to allow the loop tube to
be in communication with a space within the casing, the loop tube
having therein at least one partition element for partitioning the
loop tube into at least two channels not in communication with each
other, the at least two channels being defined as at least one
vapor channel and a liquid channel, respectively; a
heat-dissipating unit disposed outside the loop tube and positioned
proximate to the engaging end; and a coupling cover engaged with
the engaging end of the loop tube and spaced apart from the at
least one partition element in the loop tube by a predetermined
distance to form a circulation zone, the circulation zone allowing
communication between the liquid channel and the at least one vapor
channel in the loop tube.
[0005] Therefore, according to the present disclosure, a loop tube
is partitioned by at least one partition element into at least one
vapor channel and one liquid channel such that a liquid working
fluid forms a fluid slug to be moved under a pressure difference,
so as for the liquid working fluid to return to an evaporation
chamber smoothly, thereby enhancing heat dissipation
efficiency.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a loop heat pipe according
to the first preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the loop heat pipe of FIG.
1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a front view of the loop heat pipe of FIG. 1,
including a heat-dissipating unit;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the loop heat pipe of
FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of sections of a loop tube of the
loop heat pipe of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a loop heat pipe according to
the second preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the loop heat pipe of
FIG. 6;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of sections of a loop tube of the
loop heat pipe of FIG. 6;
[0014] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a loop heat pipe according to
the third preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the loop heat pipe
according to the third preferred embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a loop heat pipe according to
the fourth preferred embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0017] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the loop heat pipe
according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Technical features of the present disclosure are illustrated
by preferred embodiments, depicted by drawings, and described
below.
[0019] In the first preferred embodiment of the present disclosure,
a loop heat pipe 10 partitioned into a vapor channel and a liquid
channel essentially comprises an evaporation chamber 11, a loop
tube 15, a coupling cover 19 and a heat-dissipating unit 100. All
the preferred embodiments described below are exemplified by two
loop tubes.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, the first preferred
embodiment of the present disclosure provides the loop heat pipe 10
partitioned into a vapor channel and a liquid channel.
[0021] The evaporation chamber 11 has a casing 111. The casing 111
has therein a wick 12 and is filled with a working fluid 13. The
wick 12 does not occupy the inside of the casing 111 fully and
thereby an evaporation space 14 is formed between the wick 12 and
the casing 111. The casing 111 comprises an upper lid 1111 and a
receiving box 1112. The wick 12 is disposed in the receiving box
1112. The upper lid 1111 covers the receiving box 1112. Each side
of the receiving box 1112 is defined as a sidewall. Each sidewall
has a hole 1113. The holes 1113 and the evaporation space 14 are
positioned on the same side of the receiving box 1112 and are in
communication with each other. The holes 1113 are penetrable by the
loop tubes 15.
[0022] In this embodiment, the wick 12 is made of sintered copper
powder and has a plurality of channels 121. The channels 121 each
have a channel opening 122 which is in communication with the
evaporation space 14. An extending portion 123 extending outward by
a predetermined length is disposed on the same side of the wick 12
as the channel openings 122 of the channels 121 are.
[0023] The working fluid 13 in this embodiment is exemplified by
pure water that fills the evaporation chamber 11, is adsorbed to
the wick 12, and exists at a portion of the loop tubes 15.
[0024] The loop tubes 15 each have two ends defined as a connecting
end 151 and an engaging end 152, respectively. The connecting ends
151 are inserted into and engaged with the holes 1113 of the casing
111 and thus are in communication with a space within the casing
111. The loop tubes 15 each have therein a partition element 16. In
this embodiment, each partition element 16 is panel-shaped and
partitions the corresponding one of the loop tubes 15 into a vapor
channel 17 and a liquid channel 18. In each loop tube 15, there is
no communication between the vapor channel 17 and the liquid
channel 18. In a manufacturing process, the partition element 16 is
integrally formed with the loop tube 15. The extending portion 123
of the wick 12 corresponds in shape to the liquid channels 18 of
the loop tubes 15. The extending portion 123 is a hemisphere in
this embodiment and thus can protrude into the liquid channels 18
by a specific length, so as to block the passage between the
evaporation space 14 and the liquid channel 18 and prevent entry of
a gaseous working fluid into the liquid channel 18 (as shown in
FIG. 5). The extending portion 123 in this embodiment is optional
and thus is not restrictive of the present disclosure.
[0025] The coupling cover 19 has a concave portion 191. The concave
portion 191 is substantially stepwise and hole-shaped. The concave
portion 191 has an opening end 1911 and a bottom end 1912. The
opening end 1911 has a larger inner diameter than the bottom end
1912. An annular blocking portion 1913 is formed between the
opening end 1911 and the bottom end 1912. When inserted into and
engaged with the opening end 1911 of the concave portion 191, the
engaging end 152 of the loop tube 15 is blocked by the annular
blocking portion 1913 and thus positioned in place; hence, the
engaging end 152 of the loop tube 15 is not in contact with the
bottom end 1912 of the concave portion 191 of the coupling cover
19. A circulation zone 192 is formed between an end portion of the
engaging end 152 of the loop tube 15 and the bottom end 1912 of the
concave portion 191 of the coupling cover 19. The vapor channel 17
and the liquid channel 18 within the loop tube 15 become in
communication with each other because of the circulation zone 192
as soon as the coupling cover 19 covers and engages with the
engaging end 152 of the loop tube 15.
[0026] The heat-dissipating unit 100 is disposed outside the loop
tube 15 and positioned proximate to the engaging end 152. In
practice, the heat-dissipating unit 100 is a plurality of fins.
[0027] The structure of the loop heat pipe in the first preferred
embodiment is described above. The operation of the loop heat pipe
in the first preferred embodiment is described below.
[0028] Given the aforesaid structure, before using the loop heat
pipe 10, a user places a heat source, such as an electronic device,
on the evaporation chamber 11. After operating for a time period,
the heat source (not shown) begins to generate heat. The heat thus
generated is transferred, by conduction, from the heat source to
the evaporation chamber 11 and then to the wick 12. The working
fluid 13 is stored in the wick 12 mostly in liquid form. As soon as
heat is taken up by the wick 12, the temperature of the wick 12
rises such that a liquid working fluid stored in the wick 12 takes
up sufficient heat and thus gradually evaporates into a gaseous
working fluid. The gaseous working fluid moves out of the channel
openings 122 of the channels 121 of the wick 12 so as to reach and
accumulate in the evaporation space 14; afterward, the gaseous
working fluid enters the vapor channel 17 of the loop tube 15,
moves toward the coupling cover 19, and finally enters the coupling
cover 19. The heat from the gaseous working fluid 13 is taken up by
the heat-dissipating unit 100 disposed outside the loop tubes 15
and positioned proximate to the engaging end 152 and taken away by
air. The gaseous working fluid 13 passing through the condensation
segment of the heat-dissipating unit 100 cools and condenses into
droplets of the liquid working fluid 13. As time passed, the
resultant liquid working fluid 13 in droplets becomes massive
enough to form a fluid slug 131 (shown in FIG. 4). The fluid slug
131 is moved under a pressure difference such that the liquid
working fluid 13 returns to the evaporation chamber 11 smoothly and
easily, so as to enhance heat dissipation efficiency. The aforesaid
process recurs and thus guides heat out of the electronic device
continuously, thereby performing heat dissipation well.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 6 through FIG. 8, the second preferred
embodiment of the present disclosure provides a loop heat pipe 20
partitioned into a vapor channel and a liquid channel. The second
preferred embodiment is substantially identical to the first
preferred embodiment except for the distinguishing technical
features described below.
[0030] A loop tube 25 has therein three partition elements 26
arranged to jointly form a V-shaped pattern when viewed from a
sectional perspective. The three partition elements 26 partition
the loop tube 25 into two vapor channels 27 and one liquid channel
28. In the loop tube 25, the two vapor channels 27 and the liquid
channel 28 are not in communication with each other. In a
manufacturing process, the three partition elements 26 are not only
integrally formed, but are also integrally formed with the loop
tube 25.
[0031] A wick 22 has an extending portion 223 corresponding in
position to the liquid channel 28 of the loop tube 25. In this
embodiment, the extending portion 223 is fan-shaped and thus can
protrude into the liquid channel 28 by a specific length, so as to
block the passage between an evaporation space 24 and the liquid
channel 28 and prevent entry of a gaseous working fluid into the
liquid channel 28 (as shown in FIG. 8). The extending portion 223
in this embodiment is optional and thus is not restrictive of the
present disclosure.
[0032] The three partition elements 26 partition the loop tube into
two vapor channels 27 and one liquid channel 28. The liquid working
fluid 13 in the liquid channel 28 forms the fluid slug 131. The
fluid slug 131 is moved under a pressure difference such that the
liquid working fluid 13 returns to the evaporation chamber 21
smoothly, so as to enhance heat dissipation efficiency.
[0033] The other structural features and achievable advantages of
the second preferred embodiment are substantially identical to
those of the first preferred embodiment and thus, for the sake of
brevity, are not described herein.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the third preferred
embodiment of the present disclosure provides a loop heat pipe 30
partitioned into a vapor channel and a liquid channel. The third
preferred embodiment is substantially identical to the first
preferred embodiment except for the distinguishing technical
features described below.
[0035] In this embodiment, a partition element 36 is panel-shaped
and partitions a loop tube 35 into a vapor channel 37 and a liquid
channel 38. The loop tube 35 has a connecting end 351 and an
engaging end 352. The partition element 36 is of a smaller length
than the loop tube 35, extends from the connecting end 351 to the
engaging end 352 of the loop tube 35, and forms a retracted space
353 together with an end portion of the engaging end 352. A
coupling cover 39 has a bottom portion 391 of a large diameter, a
top portion 392 of a small diameter, and an annular blocking
portion 393 formed between the bottom portion 391 and the top
portion 392. The top portion 392 of the coupling cover 39 is
inserted into and engaged with the retracted space 353 at the
engaging end 352; hence, not only is a circulation zone 394 formed
between the top portion 392 of the coupling cover 39 and the
retracted space 353, but the end portion of the engaging end 352 of
the loop tube 35 is also blocked by the annular blocking portion
393 and thus positioned in place.
[0036] A wick 32 is disposed in a receiving box 3112 and has a
plurality of channels 321 (but the wick 32 does not have any
extending portion). Channel openings 322 of the channels 321 are in
communication with an evaporation space 34.
[0037] The other structural features and achievable advantages of
the third preferred embodiment are substantially identical to those
of the first preferred embodiment and thus, for the sake of
brevity, are not described herein.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the fourth preferred
embodiment of the present disclosure provides a loop heat pipe 40
partitioned into a vapor channel and a liquid channel. The fourth
preferred embodiment is substantially identical to the first
preferred embodiment except for the distinguishing technical
features described below.
[0039] A loop tube 45 has therein three partition elements 46
arranged to jointly form a V-shaped pattern when viewed from a
sectional perspective. The three partition elements 46 partition
the loop tube 45 into two vapor channels 47 and one liquid channel
48. The partition elements 46 are of a smaller length than the loop
tube 45 such that a retracted space 453 is formed at an end portion
of an engaging end 452 of the loop tube 45. A coupling cover 49 has
a bottom portion 491 of a large diameter, a top portion 492 of a
small diameter, and an annular blocking portion 493 formed between
the bottom portion 491 and the top portion 492. The top portion 492
of the coupling cover 49 is inserted into and engaged with the
retracted space 453 at the engaging end 452; hence, not only is a
circulation zone 494 formed between the top portion 492 and the
retracted space 453, but an end portion of the engaging end 452 of
the loop tube 45 is also blocked by the annular blocking portion
493 and thus positioned in place.
[0040] A wick 42 is disposed in a receiving box 4112 and has a
plurality of channels 421 (but the wick 42 does not have any
extending portion). Channel openings 422 of the channels 421 are in
communication with an evaporation space 44.
[0041] The other structural features and achievable advantages of
the fourth preferred embodiment are substantially identical to
those of the first preferred embodiment and thus, for the sake of
brevity, are not described herein.
[0042] Therefore, in the aforesaid preferred embodiments of the
present disclosure, the loop tube 15 has therein the partition
element 16 and thereby is partitioned into the vapor channel 17 and
the liquid channel 18. The coupling cover 19 is coupled to an end
of the loop tube 15, so as to form the circulation zone 192 whereby
the vapor channel 17 and the liquid channel 18 are in communication
with each other. Compared with the prior art, the present
disclosure provides the coupling cover 19 which is structurally
simple, dispenses with the need to change the shape of pipes, and
reduces manufacturing costs.
* * * * *