U.S. patent application number 16/574913 was filed with the patent office on 2021-03-18 for manufacturing method for vapor chamber without injection tube and apparatus thereof.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ching-Chung WANG, San-Hsi WANG, Tzu WANG. Invention is credited to San-Hsi WANG.
Application Number | 20210080191 16/574913 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004377296 |
Filed Date | 2021-03-18 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210080191 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WANG; San-Hsi |
March 18, 2021 |
MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR VAPOR CHAMBER WITHOUT INJECTION TUBE AND
APPARATUS THEREOF
Abstract
A manufacturing method for a vapor chamber without an injection
tube and an apparatus thereof, includes the steps of preparing two
plates for covering onto each other to form a vapor chamber
housing, injecting a working fluid between the two plates, and
further preparing a sealed space having a refrigeration device
installed therein, and then placing the two plates having the
working fluid injected therein onto the refrigeration device,
thereby maintaining a temperature of the working fluid below a
boiling point under a vacuum state; next, performing evacuation on
the sealing space, and then sealing perimeters of the two plates.
Consequently, a vapor chamber without any injection tube can be
obtained through such manufacturing method.
Inventors: |
WANG; San-Hsi; (Taoyuan
City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WANG; San-Hsi
WANG; Ching-Chung
WANG; Tzu |
Taoyuan City
Taoyuan City
Taoyuan City |
|
TW
TW
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004377296 |
Appl. No.: |
16/574913 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 15/04 20130101;
F28D 15/0283 20130101; F28F 9/001 20130101; F28F 9/005 20130101;
F28F 2275/06 20130101; F28F 2230/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/02 20060101
F28D015/02; F28D 15/04 20060101 F28D015/04; F28F 9/00 20060101
F28F009/00 |
Claims
1. A manufacturing method for a vapor chamber without an injection
tube, the steps comprising: a) preparing two plates for covering
onto each other to form a vapor chamber housing, and injecting a
working fluid between the two plates; b) preparing a sealed space
having a refrigeration device installed therein, and placing the
two plates having the working fluid injected therein onto the
refrigeration device, thereby maintaining a temperature of the
working fluid below a boiling point under a vacuum state; and c)
performing evacuation on the sealing space, and sealing perimeters
of the two plates.
2. The manufacturing method for a vapor chamber without an
injection tube according to claim 1, wherein in step a), any one of
the plates is placed on a processing platform flatly first, and an
injector filled with the working fluid is used to inject the
working fluid into such plate, followed by covering the other plate
onto such plate.
3. The manufacturing method for a vapor chamber without an
injection tube according to claim 2, wherein the two plates include
a supporting structure formed therein.
4. The manufacturing method for a vapor chamber without an
injection tube according to claim 1, wherein step a) further
includes preparing a supporting structure for installing inside the
two plates, and using an injector filled with the working fluid to
inject the working fluid onto a surface of the supporting
structure, followed by installing the supporting structure inside
the two plates.
5. The manufacturing method for a vapor chamber without an
injection tube according to claim 2, wherein in step a), a pressing
mold is used for pressing onto the other plate.
6. The manufacturing method for a vapor chamber without an
injection tube according to claim 2, wherein in step a), a latch is
used for clamping and securing the two plates.
7. The manufacturing method for a vapor chamber without an
injection tube according to claim 1, wherein step b) is performed
inside a vacuum box.
8. The manufacturing method for a vapor chamber without an
injection tube according to claim 7, wherein the refrigeration
device is a refrigeration disk or freezer disk.
9. The manufacturing method for a vapor chamber without an
injection tube according to claim 1, wherein in step c), a welding
gun is used to perform sealing of the two plates.
10. A vapor chamber apparatus without an injection tube,
comprising: a housing formed by two plates covering onto each
other, and the two places both having a protruded accommodating
portion and a sealing edge formed to extend along and continuously
surround a circumference of the accommodating portion; and a
capillary structure arranged at an inner wall of the accommodating
portion of the two plates; wherein the sealing edge of the two
plates are attached onto each other and is continuously surrounded
by an outer edge of the two plates and is formed via an edge
sealing in order to seal the working fluid inside the accommodating
portion of the two plates.
11. The vapor chamber apparatus without an injection tube according
to claim 10, wherein the sealing edge of the two plates are
completely flat and attached onto each other.
12. The vapor chamber apparatus without an injection tube according
to claim 10, wherein the two plates include two through holes
respectively formed thereon and corresponding to each other, and an
outer of the two through holes is respectively formed of a hole
edge for attachment onto each other.
13. The vapor chamber apparatus without an injection tube according
to claim 12, wherein any one of the accommodating portions of the
plate is indented inward to form an outer hole wall, and the outer
hole wall is integrally connected to the hole edge thereof.
14. The vapor chamber apparatus without an injection tube according
to claim 10, wherein any one of the accommodating portions of the
plate is indented inward to form a blind hole; the blind hole is
formed by a bottom edge connected to a circumferential wall outside
the bottom edge, and attached onto another plate via the bottom
edge.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The technical field relates to the manufacturing method of a
vapor chamber, in particular, to a manufacturing method of a vapor
chamber without the need of an injection tube during the
manufacturing method, and a vapor chamber apparatus without any
injection tube after the completion of the manufacturing
method.
Description of Related Art
[0002] According to a commonly known manufacturing process for a
conventional vapor chamber, such as Taiwan Invention Patent
Application No. 103125191, it often requires the use of an
injection tube (also known as a degassing tube) to complete, such
as the works of injection of working fluid, degassing or vacuum
extraction, in order to further use welding to seal the edges and
opening, thereby forming a vapor chamber.
[0003] However, since the aforementioned injection tube has been
installed during the manufacturing process, consequently, after the
completion of the process, such injection tube is often left in the
vapor chamber. As a result, the outer appearance of the
conventional vapor chamber contains a protruded tubular object
thereon, which often affects the installation of the vapor chamber
onto a slim 3C product. Accordingly, in the currently existing
manufacturing process of vapor chambers, such as Taiwan Invention
Patent Application No. 104129879, the protruded portion of the
injection tube is further cut off in order to maintain the
uniformity of the outer appearance at the circumference of the
vapor chamber in light of overcoming the issue associated with the
installation of vapor chamber in a confined space.
[0004] Nevertheless, the impact of the injection tube on a vapor
chamber is greater than the drawback mentioned above. In view of
the demand for slim and compact 3C products nowadays, vapor
chambers are also requested to adopt slimmer design, such as Taiwan
Invention Patent Application No. 104118900. However, if an
injection tube is required to perform the aforementioned
manufacturing process, since the injection tube has a certain outer
diameter, the thickness of the vapor chamber needs to be at least
equivalent to the outer diameter of the injection tube, such that
it is difficult to achieve the requirement for a slimmer design.
Furthermore, since the manufacturing process also requires the
installation of the injection tube first and further processing
work to remove such tube at the end of the manufacturing process,
consequently, it is inevitable that the edge of the vapor chamber
housing is left with the trace and mark of previously installed
injection tube. If a portion of the injection tube, indentation or
welding material etc. provided for the installation of the
injection tube is left thereon, it can cause the housing edge of
the vapor chamber to fail to constitute a true continuous and
integral sealing edge.
[0005] Moreover, in terms of the current technologies, most of the
manufacturing processes utilize the method of extending the vapor
chamber housing to be used as an injection tube for injecting the
working fluid, degassing or vacuum extraction. The tube diameter
can be generally equivalent to the thickness of the vapor chamber,
and once the manufacturing process is complete, the opening gap
then undergoes a secondary press sealing process, followed by
cutting the injection tube off. Nevertheless, in such manufacturing
process, it still requires the installation of the injection tube
in order to perform the processes of injection of working fluid,
degassing or vacuum extraction. As a result, the injection tube
still has certain level of impact on the manufacturing process of
vapor chambers, and in such conventional manufacturing process,
injection tubes are still considered to be essential rather than
unnecessary.
[0006] In view of above, the inventor seeks to overcome the
aforementioned drawbacks associated with the currently existing
technology after years of research and development along with the
utilization of academic theories, which is also the objective of
the development of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a manufacturing method of a vapor chamber without an injection tube
and an apparatus thereof. During the manufacturing method of a
vapor chamber of the present invention, it does not require the
installation of the element of an injection tube at all, such that
the present invention is able to achieve the manufacturing method
technology for a vapor chamber without any injection tube, thereby
the vapor chamber is no longer affected by the existence of the
injection tube during the manufacturing process.
[0008] To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present
invention provides a manufacturing method for a vapor chamber
without an injection tube, the steps comprising:
[0009] a) preparing two plates for covering onto each other to form
a vapor chamber housing, and injecting a working fluid between the
two plates;
[0010] b) preparing a sealed space having a refrigeration device
installed therein, and placing the two plates having the working
fluid injected therein onto the refrigeration device, thereby
maintaining a temperature of the working fluid below a boiling
point under a vacuum state; and
[0011] c) performing evacuation on the sealing space, and sealing
perimeters of the two plates.
[0012] To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present
invention provides a vapor chamber apparatus without an injection
tube, comprising a housing and a capillary structure. The housing
is formed by two plates covering onto each other, and the two
places both include a protruded accommodating portion and a sealing
edge formed to extend along and continuously surround a
circumference of the accommodating portion. The capillary structure
is arranged at an inner wall of the accommodating portion of the
two plates. In addition, the sealing edge of the two plates are
attached onto each other and is continuously surrounded by an outer
edge of the two plates and is formed via an edge sealing in order
to seal the working fluid inside the accommodating portion of the
two plates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
[0013] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating the steps of the
manufacturing method of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the vapor chamber
apparatus of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the process of injection
of working fluid in the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the process of covering
the two plates onto each other in the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the degassing process in
the vacuum box in the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the process of edge
sealing in the vacuum box in the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective outer view of the vapor chamber
apparatus of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the vapor chamber
apparatus of the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of
manufacturing method for injection of the working fluid in the
present invention.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of another
embodiment of a finished product of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The following provides a detailed technical content of the
present invention along with the accompanied drawings. However, the
accompanied drawings are provided for reference and illustrative
purpose only such that they shall not be used to limit the scope of
the present invention.
[0024] Please refer to FIG. 1, a flowchart showing steps of the
manufacturing method of the present invention. The present
invention provides a manufacturing method for a vapor chamber
without an injection tube and an apparatus thereof. During the
manufacturing of the vapor chamber, the injection tube commonly
used in the currently existing technology is not required to
achieve the processes of working fluid injection, degassing or
vacuum extraction etc. for the manufacturing of a vapor
chamber.
[0025] Please refer to FIG. 2 along with step S1 illustrated in
FIG. 1. Prepare two places 10, 11 for covering onto each other to
form a vapor chamber housing 1. The two plates 10, 11 cover onto
each other and have a shape symmetrical to each other. In other
words, the two plates 10, 11 both respectively have a large flat
surface area and protruded accommodating portions 100, 110 as well
as sealing edges 101, 111 continuously surrounding the perimeter of
the accommodating portions 100, 110. In addition, the inner walls
of the accommodating portions 100, 110 of the two plates 10, 11
include a capillary structure 2 formed thereon. The capillary
structure 2 can be formed of sintered powder or knitted web
materials etc. capable of providing capillary force. In addition,
the accommodating portions 100, 110 of the two plates 10, 11 can
further include a supporting structure 3 installed therein in order
to abut against the capillary structure 2 at the inner walls of the
accommodating portion 100, 110 of the two plates 10, 11.
[0026] According to the above, a working fluid 20 is injected into
the aforementioned two plates 10, 11. As shown in FIG. 3, in an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, any one of the
plates 10 can be placed flatly on a processing platform 4 first,
i.e. the outer surface of its accommodating portion 100 lies on
processing platform 4 in order to allow the inner wall of its
accommodating portion 100 to face upward. Then, an injector 40
filled with the working fluid 20 is used to inject an appropriate
amount of working fluid 20. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the other
plate 11 can be covered onto the plate 10, and a pressing mold 41
can be used for pressing onto the other plate 11, or use other
latch means (not shown in the drawings) to clamp and secure the two
plates 10, 11, in order to maintain the working fluid 20 injected
within the two plates 10, 11. At this time, if the aforementioned
supporting structure 3 is to be installed inside the vapor chamber,
it shall also be installed at the internal thereof before the
covering of the two plates 10, 11 onto each other.
[0027] Please refer to FIG. 5 along with step S2 illustrated in
FIG. 1. Prepare a sealed space 50, and the sealed space 50 having a
refrigeration device 42 installed therein, and place the two plates
10, 11 having the working fluid 20 injected therein onto the
refrigeration device 42, thereby maintaining a temperature of the
working fluid 20 below a boiling point under a vacuum state. In
addition, the aforementioned sealed space 50 can be achieved via a
vacuum box 5. The vacuum box 5 includes a vacuum device 51 capable
of performing vacuum extraction or evacuation on the sealed space
50. The vacuum device 51 can be a vacuum pump and uses a vacuum
tube 510 to connect to the internal of the sealed space 50 in order
to perform vacuum extraction or evacuation on the sealed space 50.
Furthermore, the refrigeration device 42 is used to reduce the
temperature of the working fluid 20 inside the two plates 10, 11.
The refrigeration device 42 can be a refrigeration disk or freezer
disk, such that by contacting with any one of the plate 10, it is
able to carry heat away from the working fluid 20 in order to
maintain the working fluid 20 at a low temperature required. The
aforementioned low temperature refers to that the working fluid 20
is below the boiling point under the vacuum state in order to
prevent complete vaporization of the working fluid 20.
[0028] Finally, please refer to FIG. 6 along with step S3
illustrated in FIG. 1. After performing evacuation on the
aforementioned sealed space 50, the perimeters of the two plates
10, 11 are sealed, in order to achieve the vapor chamber without an
injection tube. In addition, by using the aforementioned vacuum
device 51 to perform vacuum extraction or evacuation on the sealed
space 50, the working fluid 20 at the internal of the sealed space
50 of two plates 10, 11 can be vaporized. Once it is complete, a
welding gun 43 can be used for welding the sealing edges 101, 111
of the two plates 10, 11 in order to seal the two. Consequently, a
vapor chamber (as shown in FIG. 7) can be manufactured completely
without the element of injection tube that is commonly used in the
known arts.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 8, the sealing edges 101, 111 of the two
plates 10, 11 of the vapor chamber are attached onto each other,
and a continuous sealing edge is formed by using a welding gun 43.
In addition, since the two plates 10, 11 are under the vacuum state
when the edge sealing is performed, there is no need to install an
injection tube. During the welding process, it is not required to
stop the welding or to cross over the injection tube; consequently,
the sealing edges 101, 111 are sealed with each other to form a
continuous loop without any disconnected portions or gaps and
continuously surrounding the outer edges of the two plates 10, 11
(such as a loop formed by welds on the sealing edges 101, 111 via
arc welding). In other words, the sealing edges 101, 111 of the two
plates 10, 11 have no traces or marks of any previously installed
injection tube, such as any grooves installed for an injection
tube, or welding material or waste material due to the welding of
injection tube. The two sealing edges 101, 111 continuously
surround the two plates 10, 11 and are completely flat and attached
onto each other. The aforementioned flat shape means that there are
no traces or marks as described above. Accordingly, the working
fluid 20 is sealed inside the accommodating portions 100, 110 of
the two plates 10, 11.
[0030] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, during the process of
injection of the working fluid 20, if the supporting structure 3 is
to be additionally installed, the supporting structure 3 can also
be used to carrying the working fluid 20. In other words, the
injector 40 can also inject an appropriate amount of the working
fluid 20 onto the surface of the supporting structure 3, and after
placing the supporting structure 3 on one plate 10, the other plate
11 can be covered thereon in order to proceed with the subsequent
manufacturing process in the sealed space 50.
[0031] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, in another embodiment of a
vapor chamber of the present invention, the accommodating portions
100, 110 of the two plates 10, 11 further include two through holes
102, 111 respectively formed thereon and corresponding to each
other in order to allow fasteners, such as, screw bolts, to
penetrate through and to secure at the portions of the vapor
chamber provided for corresponding installation. The quantity of
the two through holes 102, 112 can be additionally provided in
pairs according to the area of the two plates 10, 11, and the
outers of the two through holes respectively includes hole edges
102a, 112a for attachment with each other, such that the method of,
such as, welding can be used to seal the hole edges 102a, 112a. To
be more specific, any one of the accommodating portions of plate 11
can be indented inward to form an outer hole wall 112b, and the
outer hole wall 112b is integrally connected to its hole edge 112a.
In addition, any one of the accommodating portions 110 of the plate
11 can be indented inward to form a blind hole 113. The blind hole
113 is formed by a bottom edge 113a connected to a circumferential
wall 113b outside of the bottom edge 113a, and attached onto
another plate 10 via the bottom edge 113a. Its quantity can be
further increased depending upon the area of the two plates 10, 11.
Accordingly, it can be used as a support between the two plates 10,
11 without the aforementioned supporting structure while
maintaining the flatness and structural strength of the surfaces of
the two plates 10, 11 at the same time.
[0032] Accordingly, through the aforementioned structural assembly,
the manufacturing method for a vapor chamber without an injection
tube and an apparatus thereof of the present invention can be
achieved.
[0033] Consequently, with the manufacturing method for a vapor
chamber without an injection tube and an apparatus thereof of the
present invention, during the manufacturing process, since the
known element of injection tube is completely eliminated, the
entire process is not affected by the injection tube such that the
objective of automation and mass production can be easily achieved,
thereby further increasing the product yield rate and reducing
costs. In addition, it is most suitable to be applied to satisfy
the demand for vapor champers with reduced thickness (such as
applicable to situation where thickness of 0.4 mm is required) or
extremely small area. Moreover, the outer appearance of the vapor
chamber is free from any limitation or difficulty due to the
existence of the injection tube. As a result, in terms of its outer
appearance, it also provides greater flexibility in its style
variation and design.
[0034] In view of the above, the present invention is a novel
design capable of achieving the objectives of the present invention
and overcoming the drawbacks of known arts. The present invention
is novel and of inventive step, which satisfies the patentability
requirements. The above describes the preferable and feasible
exemplary embodiments of the present invention for illustrative
purposes only, which shall not be treated as limitations of the
scope of the present invention. Any equivalent changes and
modifications made in accordance with the scope of the claims of
the present invention shall be considered to be within the scope of
the claim of the present invention.
* * * * *